@article {pmid41367418,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Z and Kuang, X and Shan, G and Wu, J},
title = {Repeated Aedes albopictus bites reshape gut microbiota and repattern inflammatory readouts in a murine colitis model.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1702365},
pmid = {41367418},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The gut microbiota represents a stable and dynamic symbiotic community that maintains host health and shapes immune homeostasis. Environmental exposures can disturb this symbiosis, yet the impact of repeated vector biting on host microbial communities has not been explored. Here, we investigated how repeated Aedes albopictus mosquito bites influence gut microbiota composition and stability in a murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Mice were repeatedly exposed to mosquito bites over several weeks prior to DSS treatment, and fecal microbiota were profiled using 16S rRNA sequencing at baseline, during inflammation (day 7), and recovery (day 14). Mosquito biting acted as a "press disturbance," increasing microbial richness and community dispersion at baseline compared to unbitten controls. During DSS challenge, mosquito-exposed mice exhibited distinct microbial trajectories relative to DSS-only mice, including altered relative abundance of taxa such as Lactobacillus. These microbiota shifts were associated with changes in host inflammatory readouts, including elevated IL-6 during induction and partial normalization by day 14, as well as modest hematological adjustments. Our findings demonstrate that repeated vector exposure can reshape the gut microbiota, modulating the stability and composition of this core host symbiosis under inflammatory stress. These results highlight the sensitivity of symbiotic microbial communities to ecological perturbations and suggest that vector-host interactions may represent an underappreciated factor influencing host-microbe partnerships.},
}
@article {pmid41366724,
year = {2025},
author = {Papachristos, K and Miller, WJ and Klasson, L},
title = {A co-speciation dilemma and a lifestyle transition with genomic consequences in Wolbachia of Neotropical Drosophila.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12340-z},
pmid = {41366724},
issn = {1471-2164},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Long-term persistent symbiotic associations may result in co-speciation and can be inferred if species trees of hosts and symbionts are congruent in topology and divergence times. Co-speciation has been seen to occur relatively frequently in obligate associations, but is less common in parasitic or facultative ones, mainly due to the difference in horizontal transmission rates. The long-term vertical inheritance and close host association of obligate endosymbionts also generally result in smaller genomes than in facultative endosymbionts. Here, we investigate co-speciation and genome reduction using highly similar strains of the endosymbiont Wolbachia infecting Drosophila species from the willistoni and saltans groups, where only one strain, wPau, infecting D. paulistorum, is obligate.<br><br>RESULTS: We sequenced the Wolbachia genomes from five species of the willistoni and saltans groups and constructed phylogenies. Topological congruence was found between these Wolbachia strains and the nuclear DNA of their hosts, except for wPau and D. paulistorum, but full topological congruence was observed between Wolbachia and the host mitochondrial DNA. However, assuming temporal congruence, we estimated extremely low evolutionary rates in Wolbachia of 10[-&#x2009;10]-10[-&#x2009;11] changes/site/year. Additionally, the obligate wPau strain was found to have a larger genome than closely related facultative strains, mainly due to an ongoing expansion of an IS4 element. Furthermore, wPau has lost a large proportion of its prophage WO genes, but the cif genes, known to be involved in the CI phenotype, are intact. Finally, nine of the eleven genes from the prophage WO-associated Undecim cluster are uniquely duplicated.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The congruent topologies between Wolbachia and their willistoni and saltans group hosts indicate co-speciation. However, the high similarity between Wolbachia strains, which results in low mutation rate estimates, challenges this interpretation. Contrary to the expectations of the genome reduction theory, we observed an increase in genome size in the obligate wPau strain, potentially driven by a decreased population size. Finally, the duplication of the Undecim cluster, despite a major loss of other prophage-associated genes, suggests that the genes in the Undecim cluster are under strong selection and potentially play a role in the obligate association between wPau and their D. paulistorum hosts.},
}
@article {pmid41366253,
year = {2025},
author = {Breselge, S and de Paula Dias Moreira, L and Skibinska, I and Yin, X and Brennan, L and Kilcawley, K and Porcellato, D and Cotter, PD},
title = {Water kefir multi-omics reveals functional redundancies despite taxonomic differences and the underappreciated contribution of yeast.},
journal = {NPJ science of food},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {265},
pmid = {41366253},
issn = {2396-8370},
support = {818368//European Union's Horizon 2020/ ; 818368//European Union's Horizon 2020/ ; SFI/12/RC/2273_P2/SFI_/Science Foundation Ireland/Ireland ; SFI/12/RC/2273_P2/SFI_/Science Foundation Ireland/Ireland ; USIRL-2019-1//HRB/SFI/ ; USIRL-2019-1//HRB/SFI/ ; SFI/16/RC/3835//Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine/ ; TC/2018/0025//Food for Health Ireland/ ; NA-AGFOODDEVELAUTH20201216//Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutritional Sciences/ ; 101060218//European Union's Horizon Europe/ ; },
abstract = {Water kefir (WK) is a fermented beverage produced by a complex symbiotic community of microbes, including yeasts, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and acetic acid bacteria (AAB). Here, we combined shotgun metagenomics, NMR metabolomics, GC-MS volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis, and metaproteomics to investigate microbial succession, functional dynamics, and the roles of yeasts and Zymomonas in WK fermentations representative of two WK types, i.e., one dominated by yeast-LAB-AAB and another by Zymomonas. Metagenomic profiling revealed that yeast-LAB-AAB communities exhibited dynamic microbial succession, whereas Zymomonas-dominated communities remained stable. Despite differing microbial compositions, both fermentations maintained consistent global metabolic functions, although specialized metabolic pathways and VOC profiles diverged. Metaproteomic analysis revealed a strong underappreciation of yeast contributions in metagenomic datasets, with yeasts representing a larger fraction of the proteome than predicted by DNA-based abundance. Lentilactobacillus hilgardii was enriched on WK grains, suggesting a specialized niche role. Our findings highlight the value of integrating multi-omics approaches to uncover microbial activity and community function in fermented foods and offer insights for the design of tailored WK starter cultures.},
}
@article {pmid41365119,
year = {2025},
author = {Fallah, SF and Afshar-Mohammadian, M},
title = {The physiological impacts of three AMF species and Bacillus thuringiensis (vegetative and endospore forms) in strawberry under different phosphorus availability.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {230},
number = {},
pages = {110901},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110901},
pmid = {41365119},
issn = {1873-2690},
abstract = {The interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) and Bacillus thuringiensis can enhance plant growth, yet their combined effects under varying phosphorus (P) conditions remain unclear. This study evaluated three AMF species, Funneliformis mosseae (AMF1), Funneliformis caledonium (AMF2), and Acaulospora langula (AMF3), in combination with vegetative and endospore forms of B. thuringiensis in strawberry grown under no P addition, insoluble P, and P-available conditions. Under insoluble P, vegetative B. thuringiensis produced the greatest growth improvements, particularly with AMF3 (up to 89 % above the uninoculated control) and AMF2 (up to 80 %). Dual inoculation with vegetative cells increased root length to 29.3 cm, biomass to 1.45 g DW, and total protein content to 2.1 mg g[-1] FW, though root P sometimes decreased (0.13 %), suggesting a growth-dilution effect. In contrast, In P-available soil, dual inoculation reduced AMF colonization (11 %), root length (16 cm), and biomass (0.45 g DW), but increased root P (0.19 %), reflecting indicating downregulation of symbiosis when external P is sufficient. PAL and POD activities were modulated by both P availability and bacterial form. FTIR analyses showed that vegetative cells enhanced polysaccharide deposition, whereas endospores increased lignin-associated features. Multivariate analyses (PCA, NMDS) identified P availability as the primary driver of plant-microbe interaction outcomes. Overall, the benefits of AMF-B. thuringiensis were most evident under conditions of insoluble P, emphasizing their potential to enhance nutrient uptake in low P soil.},
}
@article {pmid41363624,
year = {2025},
author = {Gellért, C and Ebrahimkhalili, N and Siwakoti, S and Zhu, H and Kereszt, A},
title = {Not All Allies Are Welcome: Partner Discrimination in Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-25-0108-FI},
pmid = {41363624},
issn = {0894-0282},
abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between leguminous plants and soil bacteria, collectively termed rhizobia, is a major contributor of fixed nitrogen to the biosphere. The ability of legumes to secure nitrogen from the atmosphere underlies their ecological success and has made them important crops in both traditional and modern sustainable agriculture. Many genes directing the establishment and functioning of this beneficial interaction have been identified under laboratory conditions using a limited number of bacterial strains and plant species in pairwise combinations. Under natural and field conditions, however, plants encounter numerous potential partners, as soil microbiomes contain diverse bacteria equipped with the necessary toolkit for symbiosis. Consequently, legumes must possess mechanisms to select for or against specific partners. This review highlights how legumes employ elements of their immune system for the negative selection of rhizobia via processes resembling the gene-for-gene model of effector-triggered immunity in plant-pathogen interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41362231,
year = {2025},
author = {Sánchez-Cañizares, C and Ledermann, R and McKenna, J and Underwood, TJ and Mendoza-Suárez, M and Green, R and Ramakrishnan, K and East, AK and Webb, I and Kirchhelle, C and Jorrín, B and Saalbach, G and James, EK and Moreira-Leite, F and Terpolilli, J and Poole, PS},
title = {Developmental fates and N2-fixing efficiency of terminally-differentiated versus undifferentiated bacteroids from legume nodules.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf613},
pmid = {41362231},
issn = {1532-2548},
abstract = {Within legume root nodules, rhizobia differentiate into bacteroids, which reduce N2 into NH3 for secretion to the plant. Bacteroids may be swollen and terminally differentiated or non-swollen and can regenerate outside nodules. It is unclear why these different endosymbiotic lifestyles exist and whether they differ in symbiotic efficiency. Here, we compared N2 fixing bacteroids of the near isogenic strains Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli 4292 (Rlp4292) and R. leguminosarum bv. viciae A34 (RlvA34), nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) and Pisum sativum (pea), respectively. The larger bean plants fixed more N2, but peas fixed 1.6-3-fold more per unit nodule mass. Values per unit volume were similar between bean and pea because bean nodules are 2.7-fold denser (i.e., mass per unit volume). Bean nodules have higher numbers of smaller (∼1/5 the volume) bacteroids than peas. Bean bacteroids are denser (i.e., 2.5-fold protein per unit volume) although less closely packed than pea bacteroids (i.e. more space between bean bacteroids). Critically, pea bacteroids, fix N2 at higher rates versus bean per unit bacteroid protein, as protein expression is skewed towards N2 fixation and TCA-cycle enzymes. Pea bacteroids infect 1.6 times the percentage of nodule volume of beans (i.e., 14.2% versus 9.1%). Overall, the increased packing density of pea bacteroids, as well as the bias of their proteome to nitrogenase, associated N2 fixation processes, and dicarboxylate metabolism, contributes to their greater symbiotic efficiency, which is likely driven by plant antimicrobial peptides.},
}
@article {pmid41361370,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, J and Su, B and Miao, J and Li, S and Zhang, Q and Wang, F and Lin, Y and Lin, L},
title = {Whole-genome sequencing and analysis of the symbiotic Mycena sp. L02 with Gastrodia Elata.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12405-z},
pmid = {41361370},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {CB22144SO29A//Major Science and Technology Projects in Yunnan Province/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mycena is a widespread genus of mushroom capable of decomposing various dead plant substrates. Gastrodia elata is a fully mycoheterotrophic orchid whose seed germination depends on specific Mycena strains. However, only a few Mycena species are capable of inducing germination, necessitating the identification of novel germinating fungal resources.<br><br>RESULTS: The genome of Mycena sp. L02 was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platforms. The final assembly spanned 160.06&#xa0;Mb, with 36,246 genes predicted and repetitive sequences accounting for 31.90% (46,496,154&#xa0;bp) of the genome. A total of 1,339 CAZyme genes were annotated, along with 3,772 genes involved in host-pathogen interactions, 88.33% of which were associated with loss of pathogenicity, reduced virulence, or unaffected pathogenicity. Comparative genomic analysis between germinating and non-germinating Mycena strains revealed that their CAZymes and PHI gene characteristics represent common traits shared across the Mycena genus, with no distinctive features identified. Furthermore, pathways enriched in unique gene families of the germinating fungi-such as glutathione metabolism, sulfur metabolism, phosphatidylinositol signaling system, and inositol phosphate metabolism-may contribute to the germination of G. elata seeds.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The abundance of CAZymes and low-virulence genes in L02 ensures sufficient nutrient acquisition and may facilitate hyphal penetration of the lignin-rich seed coat of G. elata, thereby enabling successful symbiosis. Additionally, KEGG pathways enriched in the unique gene families of the germinating fungi may contribute to the stimulation of seed germination in G. elata. Overall, this study provides a valuable genomic foundation for screening high-performance germinating fungi and further investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiosis with G. elata.},
}
@article {pmid41361240,
year = {2025},
author = {Vondrák, J and Svoboda, S and Říha, P and Hauser, T and Kantnerová, V and Škaloud, P and Kubásek, J},
title = {Semilichen, an unjustly neglected symbiotic system between green biofilms and true lichens.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-30542-z},
pmid = {41361240},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {67985939//Akademie V&#x11b;d &#x10c;esk&#xe9; Republiky/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic systems of photosynthetic microorganisms and fungi are widespread in terrestrial biomes and lichens are probably the most advanced and complex. Conversely, the least complex systems are "green biofilms" with a completely unexplored mycobiome. We describe here a new system intermediate between green biofilms and lichens-semilichens. Light and fluorescence microscopy, eDNA sequencing, molecular phylogeny, Chlorophyll a fluorescence and [13]C labelling/metabolomics were used to study algal and fungal identity, morphology and physiology of the symbiosis. Tight contact between algae and a single predominant fungus (mycobiont) is revealed in semilichens. The algae are from the symbiotic lineages of Trebouxiophyceae and Ulvophyceae, the fungi belong to Arthoniomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Lecanoromycetes and Lichinomycetes. Algae are alive and perform substantial photosynthetic activity. [13]C labelled photosynthates are partially converted into specific fungal polyols (arabitol, mannitol) demonstrating the C-flow from algae to fungi. The new symbiotic system was defined and compared with other terrestrial algal-fungal symbioses. It is characterized by minimalist environmental requirements and extremely low production of biomass. As a result, it also inhabits environments unfavourable for lichens. Our research supports the hypothesis that the long-term existence of algae and fungi in terrestrial conditions affected by frequent and repeated drying is likely dependent on their mutual coexistence.},
}
@article {pmid41361211,
year = {2025},
author = {Lange, K and Blanckaert, A and Marcus Do Noscimiento, MI and Grover, R and Fine, M and Reynaud, S and Ferrier-Pagès, C},
title = {Extracellular enzymatic activities of octocorals and scleractinian corals under environmental stress.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {43351},
pmid = {41361211},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Anthozoa/enzymology/physiology/microbiology ; Animals ; *Stress, Physiological ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; Carbon/metabolism ; Leucyl Aminopeptidase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Extracellular enzymes, released by coral holobionts (coral host, symbiotic dinoflagellates and associated microorganisms) are involved in nutrient cycling and can serve as diagnostic indicators of coral health and reef ecosystem functionality. For example, α-glucosidases (α-Glu), Leucine-aminopeptidases (LAP) and alkaline phosphatases (APA), hydrolyze large molecules into assimilable nutrients containing carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. This study investigated the extracellular activity (EEA) of these three enzymes in octocoral and hexacoral species under different environmental conditions. Results revealed that EEA from mucus-associated microbes was low, while entire coral holobionts exhibited significant activity. Furthermore, under identical environmental conditions and substrate concentrations, LAP activity was the highest, followed by APA and α-Glu, suggesting nitrogen and phosphorus limitation rather than carbon. Heat and light stress significantly influenced enzyme activities, with APA showing the strongest increase, reflecting an increased demand for phosphorus and adaptive strategies to mitigate phosphorus limitation. Finally, all three EEAs were much lower in octocorals than in hexacorals. By investigating the mechanisms controlling enzymatic activities in corals, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of coral physiology and nutrient metabolism in response to changing environmental conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41358334,
year = {2025},
author = {Benjamin, G and Pacoud, M and Boutet, S and Clement, G and Brouquisse, R and Gatti, JL and Poirié, M and Frendo, P},
title = {Nitrogen-fixing symbiosis induces differential accumulation of Medicago truncatula leaf defence metabolites in response to pea aphid infestation.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1670344},
pmid = {41358334},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Legume symbiosis with rhizobial nitrogen-fixing bacteria enables legumes to grow in nitrate-depleted soils. Rhizobial symbioses also induce systemic plant defence against bioaggressors. We investigated how nitrogen-fixing symbiosis (NFS) in the legume Medicago truncatula can prime plant defence against the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. We analysed metabolite modification using both gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and defence pathway gene expression using qPCR in the leaves of both NFS and nitrate-fed [non-inoculated (NI)] plants after aphid infestation (Amp). The accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites was modulated by both NFS and aphid infestation. Sixty-two defence-related metabolites, such as salicylate, pipecolate, gentisic acid, and several soluble sugars, were differentially regulated by aphid infestation under both NFS and NI conditions. Nineteen metabolites, including triterpenoid saponins, accumulated specifically under NFS_Amp conditions. Gene expression analysis showed that aphid-infested plants exhibited significantly higher expression of chalcone isomerase, flavonol synthase, hydroxyisoflavone-O-methyl transferase, and pterocarpan synthase, while D-pinitol dehydrogenase was only significantly induced in NI-infested leaves. Our data suggest that NFS, in addition to being a plant nitrogen provider, stimulates specific legume defences upon pest attack and should also be considered a potential tool in Integrated Pest Management strategies.},
}
@article {pmid41358162,
year = {2025},
author = {Nicolas-Asselineau, L and Speth, DR and Zeller, LM and Woodcroft, BJ and Singleton, CM and Liu, L and Dueholm, MKD and Milucka, J},
title = {Occurrence and temporal dynamics of denitrifying protist endosymbionts in the wastewater microbiome.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf209},
pmid = {41358162},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Effective wastewater treatment is of critical importance for preserving public health and protecting natural environments. Key processes in wastewater treatment, such as denitrification, are performed by a diverse community of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes. However, the diversity of the microbiome and the potential role of the different microbial taxa in some wastewater treatment plant setups is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the presence and diversity of denitrifying bacteria of the candidate family Azoamicaceae that form obligate symbioses with protists in wastewater treatment plants. Our analyses showed that denitrifying endosymbionts belonging to the Ca. Azoamicus genus are present in 20%-50% of wastewater treatment plants worldwide. Time-resolved amplicon data from four Danish WWTPs showed high temporal fluctuations in the abundance and composition of the denitrifying endosymbiont community. Twelve high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes of denitrifying endosymbionts, four of which were circular, were recovered. Genome annotation showed that a newly described, globally widespread species, Ca. Azoamicus parvus, lacked a nitrous oxide reductase, suggesting that its denitrification pathway is incomplete. This observation further expands the diversity of metabolic potentials found in denitrifying endosymbionts and indicates a possible involvement of microbial eukaryote holobionts in wastewater ecosystem dynamics of nitrogen removal and greenhouse gas production.},
}
@article {pmid41356942,
year = {2025},
author = {Alasbily, H and Mohamed, HH and Asheibi, A and Bazina, MS and Alkaseh, A and Ghaith, HM and Ali Fahmi, F},
title = {Probiotics in Periodontal Diseases: Mechanisms, Evidence Mapping, Limitations, and Future Directions.},
journal = {Cureus},
volume = {17},
number = {11},
pages = {e96042},
pmid = {41356942},
issn = {2168-8184},
abstract = {Periodontal disease represents a spectrum of inflammatory disorders that impact the teeth's supporting tissues. It is initiated by the buildup of microbial plaque and sustained by dysbiosis, an imbalance in the oral microbiome that causes tissue damage and disturbs host-microbe homeostasis. These diseases can range from reversible inflammation of the gingiva (gingivitis) to irreversible destruction of the periodontal apparatus (periodontitis). While scaling and root planing, with or without antimicrobials, can effectively reduce bacterial burden, mechanical debridement by itself may not restore microbial symbiosis and may allow disease-associated microbial populations to persist. Incomplete pathogen clearance from deep pockets, residual calculus, or inaccessible root surfaces frequently results in bacterial regrowth and disease progression. Probiotics have emerged as a possible alternative or supplement in periodontal therapy. Their possible benefits include microbial balance restoration in the oral cavity, as well as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and bone-preserving actions. Nonetheless, the strain-specific effects, dosage regimen, safety profile especially in certain patients and the absence of large-scale, long‑term randomized controlled trials to definitively establish their efficacy remain as concerns. This review discusses the mechanisms through which probiotics may influence periodontal diseases, systematically maps preclinical and clinical evidence, and highlights current limitations and future directions for their application in periodontal therapy.},
}
@article {pmid41356629,
year = {2025},
author = {Lee, JH and Kim, Y and Park, JT and Lee, DH and Hee-Young, J},
title = {Morphological and Phylogenetic Characterization of Raffaelea xyleboricola sp. nov. from Xyleborus Beetles in Korea.},
journal = {Mycobiology},
volume = {53},
number = {6},
pages = {867-876},
pmid = {41356629},
issn = {1229-8093},
abstract = {A fungal isolate was obtained from ambrosia beetles (Xyleborus sp.) collected using beetle traps placed in an apple orchard in Gunwi-gun, Daegu, Republic of Korea. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequencing confirmed that the beetles belonged to the genus Xyleborus. The fungal isolate, designated ARI-25-A12, was subjected to morphological and molecular identification and characterization. On malt extract agar (MEA), colonies exhibited a white, fur-like surface, and hyphae penetrated the medium along the margins. As the colony matured, the center became dull yellow, and after 20 days of incubation, the colony diameter reached 49.6-56.0 mm. Morphologically, conidiophores were hyaline, simple or occasionally branched, and conidia were hyaline, thin-walled, unicellular, and globose. Conidia produced yeast-like sprout cells through a budding-like process, and the average conidial size was 5.2 × 5.2 μm (n = 100). Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, SSU, and β-TUB gene sequences indicated that ARI-25-A12 is classified within the genus Raffaelea. Phylogenetic trees constructed from ITS sequences and a combined dataset of LSU, SSU, and β-TUB gene sequences consistently classified the isolate as a distinct lineage, clearly separated from previously reported Raffaelea species, with additional morphological differences supporting its distinct classification. Based on these results, ARI-25-A12 is described herein as Raffaelea xyleboricola sp. nov.},
}
@article {pmid41356477,
year = {2025},
author = {Chakraborty, A and Roy, A and He, S and Castellano-Hinojosa, A and Asiegbu, FO and Coutinho, TA},
title = {Editorial: Forest microbiome: dynamics and interactions in the anthropocene era.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1729625},
pmid = {41356477},
issn = {1664-302X},
}
@article {pmid41356475,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, L and Liu, W and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Luo, J and Zhu, X and Cui, J and Gao, X},
title = {Cross-generational ripples: sublethal fipronil exposure alters Binodoxys communis microbiome without lethal consequences.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1637234},
pmid = {41356475},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Fipronil, a broad-spectrum phenylpyrazole insecticide, demonstrates high efficacy against Aphis gossypii (cotton aphid). However, its potential effects on Binodoxys communis, a key natural enemy of A. gossypii, remain largely unexplored. This study comprehensively assessed the safety of fipronil for B. communis, with particular emphasis on sublethal effects and associated microbiome alterations.<br><br>METHODS: We evaluated the sublethal effects of fipronil on the development of B. communis across parental (F0) and offspring (F1) generations. Furthermore, the alterations in the microbial diversity and community structure of B. communis were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Functional prediction of the microbiota was performed via PICRUSt2.<br><br>RESULTS: Indirect fipronil exposure significantly prolonged larval development in the parental generation (F0, p = 0.017), while showing no statistically significant impact on the offspring generation (F1). 16S rRNA sequencing revealed apparent alterations in the microbial community. In adults, the dominant genus shifted from Akkermansia to Muribaculum after 1 h exposure, while the dominant phylum showed significantly reduced abundance after 3 d. In larvae, the major phylum (Proteobacteria) remained unchanged, but the major genus shifted from Brevitalea to Vicinamibacter. Functional prediction indicated that the predicted genes were predominantly enriched in metabolic pathways (75% of the functional repertoire).<br><br>DISCUSSION: These results suggest that fipronil exposure induces previously unrecognized sublethal effects on a key natural enemy insect, primarily by disrupting its symbiotic microbiota, which may play a major role in host metabolism. Our findings highlight the ecological risks of fipronil and emphasize the need for pesticide risk assessments that consider sublethal effects on beneficial insects and their microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid41356471,
year = {2025},
author = {Shigeta, K and Shiraishi, K and Schroll, M and Lauer, R and Keppler, F and Sakai, Y and Yurimoto, H},
title = {Methylotrophic yeast Candida boidinii enhances the colonization of plant growth-promoting yeast Papiliotrema laurentii in the phyllosphere.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1677102},
pmid = {41356471},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Methanol-utilizing microbes are ubiquitous in the phyllosphere, where they assimilate methanol released from pectin, the major component of the plant cell wall. While methylotrophic bacteria Methylobacterium spp. are well studied for their symbiotic relationships with the host plants, the ecology and functional roles of methylotrophic yeasts on plants remain poorly understood. In the effort to isolate yeasts from 26 phyllosphere samples, we identified Candida boidinii as the only methylotrophic yeast, while the remaining isolates, categorized into 17 species in 12 genera, lacked this metabolic trait. To obtain insight into the role of methylotrophic yeasts in the phyllosphere, we investigated the interaction of C. boidinii with a plant growth-promoting yeast (PGPY), Papiliotrema laurentii, one of the identified yeast species during isolation. We found that the colonization of P. laurentii was enhanced by the presence of C. boidinii on Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. Co-cultivation assays revealed that the cell yield of P. laurentii was enhanced by C. boidinii during cultivation on pectin and that the methanol-utilizing ability and pectin methylesterase (PME) activity of C. boidinii contributed to this enhancement. Stable carbon isotope labeling of pectin methylester groups unambiguously confirmed their assimilation by C. boidinii, but not by P. laurentii. These findings suggest that C. boidinii not only survives in the phyllosphere by utilizing pectin-derived methanol but also contributes to the fitness of other yeast species through metabolic cooperation. This study provides new insights into the niche construction and survival strategies of phyllosphere methylotrophic yeasts, highlighting their potential role in shaping microbial community dynamics and promoting beneficial plant-microbe interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41353278,
year = {2025},
author = {Guibert, I and Conti-Jerpe, IE and Pons, L and Tayaban, K and Sayco, SL and Cabaitan, P and Conaco, C and Baker, DM},
title = {Trophic niche partitioning in giant clams.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s42003-025-09313-z},
pmid = {41353278},
issn = {2399-3642},
abstract = {Ecosystems are influenced by competition for limited resources, a driver of niche partitioning. Over time, the emergence of novel traits facilitating new resource exploitation can reduce competition. However, additional layers of complexity, like symbiosis, complicate our understanding of the patterns shaping reef communities. Therefore, empirical evidence of niche partitioning reducing competition in symbiotic benthic communities is limited. Using a unique common garden experiment, we examined the nutritional strategies of six giant clam holobionts and characterized their symbiont assemblages. Variation in trophic strategies confirmed trophic niche partitioning, as species fell along a continuum from highly heterotrophic to highly autotrophic. Tridacna gigas and T. derasa, listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively, were the most autotrophic and fast-growing species. We found significant phylogenetic signals in trophic niche scores, growth rate, and shell length, indicating the role of natural selection in shaping giant clam nutritional ecology. We conclude that niche partitioning is a driver of giant clam evolution with benefits and costs; high autotrophy reliance results in greater growth rates yet may increase vulnerability to disturbances. Given the impact of human activities on giant clams, conservation efforts should focus on these ecosystem engineers, especially highly autotrophic and geographically constrained species.},
}
@article {pmid41352734,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and Zhang, Z and Chen, D and Chen, Z and Li, L and Song, Z and Li, J and Li, W and Wang, E and Wang, R and Huang, R and Zhao, P and Sun, H and Cai, J and Zhang, L and Hu, H and Li, Y and Kang, Y and Ou, H and Xu, H and Cheng, X},
title = {Microbial mediators of environmental change in the Yellow River basin: Flavobacterium and pollution dynamics during the dry season.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {123509},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.123509},
pmid = {41352734},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {The Yellow River basin, densely populated and characterized by intensive industrial and agricultural activities, faces significant water quality concerns. However, the impact of different pollution sources (e.g., industrial, domestic, and mixed wastewater) on the microbial spectrum in sections of the Yellow River during the dry season remains unclear. This research seeks to address this knowledge gap by examining the variations of microbial community structure and ecology influenced by different pollution sources. Our results showed that pH, NO3-N, TP and turbidity differed significantly among the different pollution groups. Industrial pollution increased species richness, while domestic wastewater reduced microbial diversity. Flavobacterium abundance increased significantly with domestic pollution but decreased dramatically with industrial pollution. Specific genera linked to domestic pollution included Pseudarcicella and Denitratisoma, while industrial pollution was associated with Sulfurimonas Trichococcus, Halomonas, and fungal genera such as Fusarium. Network analysis revealed the pollutants disrupted the community structure and dissolved symbiotic interactions, thereby promoting the emergence of new dominant microorganisms. KEGG analysis found that domestic sources were associated with amino acid metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, while industrial sources enhanced activity in isoflavonoid biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Our findings provide a comprehensive microbial ecological analysis of the sediment-rich core industrial area of the Yellow River, shedding light on the impacts of different pollution sources and river section locations on microbial networks, offering valuable insights for ecological safety and protection.},
}
@article {pmid41352522,
year = {2025},
author = {Torres de Farias, S and José, M},
title = {The Natural history of the transition between RNA to DNA in the early stages of life.},
journal = {Bio Systems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {105671},
doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2025.105671},
pmid = {41352522},
issn = {1872-8324},
abstract = {In this work we examine different hypotheses for the fixation of DNA as the principal informational molecule. The emergence of protein RNA-dependent RNA polymerases heralded the beginning of a process that ultimately culminated in the transition from RNA to DNA as the primary informational molecule. To understand this pivotal transition, it is necessary to examine the evolutionary history of nucleic acid polymerases, with particular emphasis on RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, RNA-dependent DNA polymerases, and DNA-dependent DNA polymerases. Instead of resolving the debates over single versus multiple origins of DNA, we adhere to the need to conceptualize early evolution as a dynamic network, driven by horizontal transfer, molecular innovation, and symbiosis between cells and viruses.},
}
@article {pmid41352348,
year = {2025},
author = {Wagner, JM and Wong, JH and Millar, JG and Haxhimali, E and Brückner, A and Naragon, TH and Boedicker, JQ and Parker, J},
title = {Enforced specificity of an entrenched symbiosis.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.10.066},
pmid = {41352348},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {The Metazoa encompasses inordinate lineages of symbionts and ecological specialists that obligately depend on particular hosts. The maintenance and fidelity of these lifestyles are often posited to hinge on sensory tuning to host-derived cues, a paradigm supported by studies of neural function in host-specific models. We experimentally reconstituted a socially complex relationship between an obligately symbiotic rove beetle and its single, natural host ant species, permitting us to probe its sensory basis. We show that cuticular hydrocarbons-the ant's nestmate recognition pheromones-elicit host recognition by the beetle and the execution of ant grooming behavior, enabling the beetle to chemically mimic its host and infiltrate the nest as a parasitic impostor. The beetle also follows host trail pheromones, permitting inter-colony dispersal. Yet the beetle also performs these symbiotic behaviors with non-host ants separated by up to ∼95 million years, is able to socially assimilate into their colonies, and shows minimal sensory preference for its natural host over non-host species. Agent-based modeling reveals that the specificity of the beetle emerges not from sensory tuning but from physiological limits on dispersal and negative fitness interactions with alternative hosts, constraining the otherwise promiscuous beetle to its natural host. Recreating the in silico model with living insects empirically demonstrates specificity arising from these enforcing barriers. Our findings show how entrenched symbioses can obviate selection for taxonomically precise host recognition, with specificity emerging from forces external to the symbiont. Chance realization of latent compatibilities with alternative hosts may facilitate host switching, explaining the diversification and deep-time success of such taxa.},
}
@article {pmid41352302,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, J and An, M and Chen, Y and Li, X and Qu, G and Liang, J},
title = {Terpenoids are associated with cytokinin and auxin signaling during mycorrhiza formation in the Suillus bovinus-Pinus yunnanensis symbiosis.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {230},
number = {},
pages = {110852},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110852},
pmid = {41352302},
issn = {1873-2690},
abstract = {Suillus bovinus is an ecologically significant wild ectomycorrhizal fungus that forms symbiotic associations with pine trees. Terpenoids are known to play a key role in interactions between fungi and plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of terpenoids on the formation of symbiotic associations with S. bovinus remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of S. bovinus terpenoids on root development and mycorrhizal formation in Pinus yunnanensis using physiological, transcriptomic, and phytohormone assays. Our findings revealed that terpenoids from S. bovinus were associated with alterations in the synthesis and signaling of cytokinin in P. yunnanensis, evidenced by changes in the expression of specific genes in the mevalonate synthesis pathway and signaling transduction, such as CKXs, AHP, and A-ARRs. Similarly, these terpenoids correlated with changes in auxin synthesis and signaling, indicated by modulated tryptophan levels and the expression of specific enzyme genes, such as GH3, AUX1, AUX/IAA, and SAUR. This suggests that terpenoids from S. bovinus may contribute to lateral root development and mycorrhizal formation in P. yunnanensis, potentially by influencing the relative levels of cytokinin and auxin. These results shed light on the potential involvement of terpenoids produced by S. bovinus in establishing symbiotic interactions between ectomycorrhizal fungi and their host plants, warranting further direct functional validation.},
}
@article {pmid41352299,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, J and Zhang, J and Guo, P and Jia, B and Chen, Y and Zhang, Z and Guo, W},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance maize tolerance to combined La-NaCl stress by restructuring the rhizosphere bacterial community.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {230},
number = {},
pages = {110849},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110849},
pmid = {41352299},
issn = {1873-2690},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant rhizosphere microbes help alleviate the combined abiotic stress of plants. However, the microbial mechanisms by which AMF symbiosis improves plant tolerance to combined rare earth-salt stress remain unclear. We conducted a pot experiment to assess the effects of AMF on maize growth, nutrient contents, toxic ion accumulation, and rhizosphere bacterial community in La or combined La-NaCl stress (La-NaCl). The results revealed that in La and La-NaCl, AMF significantly increased plant biomass, P, Mg, and La contents (35.14 %-468.79 %), significantly decreased soil available P and K concentrations (6.52 %-28.30 %). In La-NaCl, AMF significantly increased Na[+] content (41.41 %-305.75 %) and decreased the concentrations and translocation rates of La and Na[+] of plants (13.50 %-56.55 %). Additionally, AMF significantly altered the rhizosphere bacterial community structure and significantly increased the Firmicutes abundance by 15.97 % (La) and 62.51 % (La-NaCl). Moreover, AMF increased the modularity of networks in La and La-NaCl, altered biomarkers and keystones in La (e.g., Noviherbaspirillum) and La-NaCl (e.g., Ramlibacter), thus reshaping the key microorganisms. Molecular ecological networks revealed that AMF strengthened the key microorganisms' positive correlation with plant indices in La-NaCl. The structural equation model further indicated that AMF can affect plant growth by regulating the composition, diversity, and network characteristics of rhizosphere bacterial community in La-NaCl. To summarize, the findings of this study improved our understanding of the underlying microbial mechanisms by which AMF promote plant resistance to combined La-NaCl stress.},
}
@article {pmid41352032,
year = {2025},
author = {Fu, M and Xu, Y and Liu, X and Huang, T and Ma, B and Li, F and Shi, W and Zhang, H},
title = {Water lifting aerators control algal growth in drinking water reservoirs: Performance, mechanism and application.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {290},
number = {},
pages = {125022},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.125022},
pmid = {41352032},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Artificial mixing has gained extensive attention owing to its strong applicability and effective inhibition of algae. However, few studies have explored the mechanisms by which water lifting aerators (WLAs) control algae growth. Here, a laboratory simulation of vertical light and temperature conditions in a reservoir was conducted to explore the mechanisms affecting algal growth. The mechanism of artificial mixing in controlling algae growth was investigated in situ. The results revealed that algal cell growth was inhibited under low temperature (15 °C, 5 °C) and lightless (0 lx) conditions, leading to suppressed synthesis of Chlorophylla and carotenoids, as well as reduced photosynthetic activity. Soluble microbial products content remained largely unchanged, whereas soluble protein content increased. After artificial mixing, nutrient and pollutant concentrations in the water, as well as algae density, were significantly reduced, and changes in algal community structure were observed. The interspecific relationships among the algae were primarily mutualistic symbiosis, which weakened at the action point after artificial mixing. Phosphorus (p < 0.05) and carbon (p < 0.05) contents significantly influenced algae community structure at the action point, with carbon (p < 0.05) content being a significant factor affecting algae abundance. The results provide a solid theoretical foundation for exploring the mechanism by which artificial mixing inhibits algae growth and proliferation, and offer scientific support for applying WLAs to control algae growth in drinking water reservoirs.},
}
@article {pmid41351674,
year = {2025},
author = {Hikosaka, A and Nishimoto, A and Takeda, N and Hikosaka-Katayama, T},
title = {Occurrence of 12 Acoela Species in the Seto Inland Sea.},
journal = {Zoological science},
volume = {42},
number = {6},
pages = {540-555},
doi = {10.2108/zs240106},
pmid = {41351674},
issn = {0289-0003},
mesh = {Animals ; Phylogeny ; Japan ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; *Animal Distribution ; Species Specificity ; },
abstract = {The Acoela is a notable taxon in terms of the early evolution of bilaterians and the photosynthetic symbiosis between animals and microalgae. There are approximately 416 described species of Acoela worldwide, which are classified into 16 families. In total, 21 species have been reported in Japan, of which five have been reported in the Seto Inland Sea. We surveyed acoels in the intertidal zone of beaches along the Seto Inland Sea coast of Hiroshima Prefecture and collected specimens. A comparison of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences and molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that they could be divided into 12 species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using 18S rRNA sequences suggested that these species belonged to five families: Convolutidae, Otocelididae, Dakuidae, Actinoposthiidae, and Isodiametridae. There have been no previous reports of Dakuidae or Actinoposthiidae in Japan and no reports of Isodiametridae in the Seto Inland Sea. These results suggested that the diversity of Acoela in Japan and the Seto Inland Sea is far richer than is currently known.},
}
@article {pmid41351672,
year = {2025},
author = {Ikuta, T and Sugimura, M and Yuasa, A and Amari, Y},
title = {Successful Maintenance of Chemosynthetic Symbiotic Bacterial Abundance in Hydrothermal Mussels During Long-Term Rearing Experiments Exceeding 1000 Days.},
journal = {Zoological science},
volume = {42},
number = {6},
pages = {521-531},
doi = {10.2108/zs250041},
pmid = {41351672},
issn = {0289-0003},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Mytilidae/microbiology/physiology ; Gills/microbiology/anatomy &amp; histology ; *Bivalvia/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria is a biological phenomenon that has enabled animals to adapt to deep-sea environments. The deep-sea vent mussel Bathymodiolus septemdierum harbors sulfur-oxidizing symbionts in its gills, which serve as its main source of nutrients. However, the establishment and maintenance of this symbiosis process remain poorly understood, partly because culturing deep-sea mussels and their symbionts is difficult and experimental studies are rare. In the present study, we aimed to establish a rearing method for B. septemdierum and investigate the effects of sodium sulfide (Na2S) addition and gas concentration control in rearing tanks. Three tanks were prepared: a normal tank (tank N), one with Na2S (tank S), and one with Na2S and control dissolved oxygen (tank SO). Mussels were maintained for more than 1000 days, and host survival, gill histology, and the abundance of symbionts were investigated. In tanks N and S, symbionts were depleted within a short period, whereas in tank SO, gill morphology and symbiont abundance were maintained at levels comparable to those of freshly collected individuals, even after 1000 days. However, the survival rate of the host did not correspond to symbiont maintenance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the symbiont RuBisCO exists in Form II, which is generally adapted to low-O2 and high-CO2 environments. These results suggest that the long-term maintenance of B. septemdierum symbionts is possible by adding Na2S and controlling the dissolved gas concentration. Further improvements in rearing methods could contribute to a deeper understanding of host-symbiont interactions in this unique deep-sea organism.},
}
@article {pmid41351265,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, J and Zhang, X and Fan, Z and Huang, Y and Cao, Y and Ren, J and Yang, L and Tian, J and Yu, Y and Kong, Z},
title = {Symbiosome membrane-localized cationic amino acid transporters support symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {Plant communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101636},
doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101636},
pmid = {41351265},
issn = {2590-3462},
abstract = {Legumes engage in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia, wherein it is well established that host legumes supply dicarboxylates as a carbon source to rhizobia, while rhizobia reciprocate by providing ammonium to the host plants. Apart from the classical model, accumulating evidence suggests that amino acid exchange is also essential to legume-rhizobium symbiosis. However, it remains unclear whether amino acid transporters are present on the symbiosome membrane (SM) to mediate amino acid exchange in symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). In this study, we identified three amino acid transporters in Medicago truncatula-MtCAT1a, MtCAT1b, and MtCAT1c-belonging to a clade of the plant Cationic Amino acid Transporter (CAT) family known for transporting a wide range of amino acids. Notably, MtCAT1b and MtCAT1c are predominantly expressed in infected cells of nodules and are localized to the SM. Genetic analyses further demonstrate that both MtCAT1b and MtCAT1c are required for amino acid exchange on the SM, with additional evidence indicating that metabolism of bacteroids is disturbed in the mutant. Transport assays reveal that both MtCAT1b and MtCAT1c exhibit broad substrate specificity. Collectively, our findings identify MtCAT1b and MtCAT1c as key mediators of cross-kingdom amino acid exchange, essential for maintaining efficient SNF in root nodules.},
}
@article {pmid41350987,
year = {2025},
author = {Du, E and Li, P and Chen, Y and Lin, H and Xu, Q and Huang, X and Gui, F},
title = {Positive feedback effect of rhizosphere Bacillus on the growth and defense of Ageratina adenophora.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1686},
pmid = {41350987},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {2024J0428//he Scientific Research Foundation of Education Department of Yunnan Province/ ; 202401AS070003//Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects/ ; },
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Bacillus/physiology ; *Ageratina/growth &amp; development/microbiology/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Animals ; Symbiosis ; Herbivory ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The formation of symbiotic relationships between invasive plants and soil microorganisms in invaded regions, which enhances their adaptive capacity has been extensively studied. Bacillus, as a representative soil beneficial microorganism, can be recruited by invasive plants to their rhizosphere to promote growth. However, it remains unclear how dominant Bacillus species in the rhizosphere changes, and what feedback effects these changes may have, when invasive plants encounter biotic resistance in the invaded region, particularly from plant competition and insect herbivory.<br><br>RESULTS: This study investigated the contents of Bacillus idriensis, B. mycoides, B. thuringiensis in the rhizosphere soil of Ageratina adenophora under different biotic resistance. It showed that B. idriensis exhibited the highest increase in the rhizosphere during plant competition, whereas B. thuringiensis showed the most significant increase under Aphis gossypii infestation. The effect of these Bacillus species on the competitive interactions between A. adenophora and native plant Rabdosia amethystoides were assessed. Inoculation with B. idriensis led to an 185.66% increase in biomass for monocultured A. adenophora and a 175.83% increase in mixed culture, thereby enhancing the positive effect of interspecific competition on the growth of A. adenophora. Additionally, the responses of A. adenophora to infestation by the generalist herbivorous A . gossypii following Bacillus inoculation were examined. B.thuringiensis inoculated significantly increased the levels of jasmonic acid, total phenols, flavonoids in A. adenophora infested by A. gossypii by 49.38%, 20.78%, 18.59%, while significantly reducing the survival rate and nymph density of A. gossypii, indicating enhanced resistance to the herbivore. B. idriensis improved the tolerance of A. adenophora to A. gossypii through growth promotion.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the abundance of distinct Bacillus species in the rhizosphere of A. adenophora varies in response to diverse biotic resistance encountered in the invaded region. These rhizobacterial interactions generate specific feedback effects that collectively enhance the invasiveness of the species.},
}
@article {pmid41349338,
year = {2025},
author = {Bastías, DA and Johnson, LJ and Jáuregui, R and Applegate, ER and Liu, X and Mace, WJ and Card, SD},
title = {Paenibacillus taichungensis strain E222: Mother and progeny plant growth promotion and association with an Epichloë fungal endophyte.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {230},
number = {},
pages = {110851},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110851},
pmid = {41349338},
issn = {1873-2690},
abstract = {There are limited publications evaluating the effects of bacteria on plant-fungal symbioses. We evaluated the effects of a bacterium (designated strain E222) on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) symbiotically associated with an Epichloë endophyte. Within this tripartite symbiosis, E222 was characterised as an ectosymbiont of Epichloë sp. AR135, the latter a mutualistic endophytic fungus of L. perenne. We hypothesised that (i) E222 would promote host plant growth and not interfere with the in planta production of AR135-derived antiherbivore alkaloids and AR135 growth and (ii) the Epichloë hyphal colonisation of plant seeds would facilitate the E222 entry into the progeny seeds. Via whole genome analysis, E222 was identified as Paenibacillus taichungensis and predicted to possess plant growth-promoting traits. E222 was inoculated on seeds of perennial ryegrass associated with AR135 and the bacterium was systemically present in the subsequent seedlings. E222 promoted the growth of AR135-associated plants, as expected, but reduced AR135-derived alkaloid concentrations and decreased the AR135 biomass at an early plant stage. AR135, but not E222, was detected in the progeny seeds and in line with the absence of E222, growth of progeny seedlings was not affected by the bacterial inoculation of mother plants. The bacterial effects on plants and Epichloë may be explained by the predicted abilities of E222 to promote plant growth (e.g., auxin production) and compete with AR135 for alkaloid precursors (e.g., tryptophan).},
}
@article {pmid41349301,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, C and Sun, H and Xi, Y and Li, Y and Wang, X and Huang, Z and Li, W and Zeng, X and Jia, Y},
title = {Phycosphere bacterial communities mediate arsenic accumulation and speciation in coastal macroalgae: Evidence from field investigation.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {501},
number = {},
pages = {140647},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140647},
pmid = {41349301},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Macroalgae are known to efficiently accumulate arsenic, however, the role of their phycosphere bacterial communities in modulating arsenic uptake and transformation remains poorly understood. This study investigates the impact of phycosphere bacterial communities on arsenic accumulation and speciation in three coastal macroalgae species: Laminaria japonica (brown alga), Ulva pertusa Kjellman (green alga), and Mazzaella japonica (red alga). Among the three, L. japonica exhibited higher total arsenic content than M. japonica and U. pertusa. Phycosphere bacterial communities differed significantly among the macroalgae species in both α- and β-diversity and were strongly correlated with variations in intracellular arsenic species. Functional gene predictions indicated enrichment of pst and GST genes in L. japonica and M. japonica, associated with enhanced arsenic uptake and detoxification, while arsC was more abundant in the U. pertusa phycosphere, suggesting a preference for arsenate reduction pathways. These findings reveal the distinct roles of phycosphere bacterial communities among different macroalgae and their influence on the conversion of inorganic to organic arsenic, providing new insights into arsenic biogeochemistry in marine macroalgae-bacteria symbiotic systems.},
}
@article {pmid41347882,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, Y and Zhang, F and Chen, X and Zhang, M and Chen, Z},
title = {Synergistic Interactions between Nitrogen Fixation and Phosphorus Uptake in Legumes: Insights from the Root Nodule Bacterium En1.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08432},
pmid = {41347882},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {The synergistic interaction between symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation and phosphorus (P) nutrition in legumes remains poorly understood yet critical for mitigating grassland degradation under nutrient limitations. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we compared bacterial communities in root nodules, rhizosphere, and bulk soils of three wild legumes (Trifolium repens L., Medicago sativa L., and Indigofera amblyantha Craib). Nodules showed reduced bacterial diversity but shared core microbes derived from soil reservoirs, including Ensifer. We isolated an Ensifer strain (En1) and genomic analysis revealed genes specifically involved in nitrogen fixation and phosphate uptake. Functionally, En1 solubilized and mineralized phosphate (calcium phytate and calcium phosphate). Inoculation experiments confirmed that En1 enhances plant P acquisition. Our findings demonstrate a mechanism whereby nitrogen-fixing rhizobia directly facilitate P uptake, establishing a self-sustaining N-P coprovision system in legume-microbe symbiosis, offering a novel strategy for grassland restoration by concurrently addressing N and P limitations.},
}
@article {pmid41347246,
year = {2025},
author = {Mishra, S and Shukla, AC and Craven, KD},
title = {Editorial: Microbial symbionts of lower plants.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1727008},
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2025.1727008},
pmid = {41347246},
issn = {1664-302X},
}
@article {pmid41346372,
year = {2025},
author = {Villanueva-Castañeda, M and Antunez-Mojica, M and Tapia-Maruri, D and Ramírez, OCM and Delgado, RD and Barrera-Molina, AI},
title = {Development and Morphological/Microstructural Characterization of a Novel Synergic Synbiotic Co-Encapsulated Lactobacillus spp. Consortium and Kale Powder.},
journal = {Food science &amp; nutrition},
volume = {13},
number = {12},
pages = {e71314},
pmid = {41346372},
issn = {2048-7177},
abstract = {Kale, a nutrient-dense leafy green rich in bioactive compounds, has emerged as a promising prebiotic candidate for enhancing probiotic viability and functionality. This study investigated the effects of kale powder and its polyphenolic compounds on the growth and stability of a Lactobacillus spp. consortium. Growth kinetics experiments revealed that 1% kale powder significantly enhanced bacterial growth, with a pronounced increase observed after 5 h of incubation compared to the control. Furthermore, a synergistic synbiotic was successfully co-encapsulated using a 1.3% alginate-based matrix combined with 1% kale powder and Lactobacillus spp. consortium. Morphological characterization under varying temperature conditions demonstrated that co-encapsulated particles maintained structural integrity at 4°C and during freezing, while dehydration led to significant size reduction due to moisture loss. Encapsulation efficiency reached 93%, with the alginate matrix effectively protecting bacterial viability, as evidenced by only a 13% reduction in viability after storage at 4°C. Microscopic analyses confirmed the presence of polyphenols within the co-encapsulated system, with confocal microscopy revealing distinct autofluorescence attributed to phenolic compounds. Electron microscopy further showed that co-encapsulated particles remained intact under refrigeration and freezing but exhibited morphological changes after dehydration. Growth kinetics of the Lactobacillus spp. consortium in medium supplemented with kale-derived polyphenols indicated optimal growth at 0.4% concentration, while higher concentrations (0.6%) led to reduced growth, suggesting substrate inhibition. These findings highlight the dual role of kale polyphenols as prebiotic substrates and protective agents, underscoring their potential in developing stable and functional synbiotic delivery systems for probiotic applications.},
}
@article {pmid41345699,
year = {2025},
author = {Yilmaz, A and Kasap, OE},
title = {Prevalence of Wolbachia in natural sand fly (diptera: psychodidae) populations from Türkiye and its potential role in mitochondrial divergence.},
journal = {Parasites &amp; vectors},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s13071-025-07157-4},
pmid = {41345699},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {2211-A National PhD Scholarship Program//T&#xdc;B&#x130;TAK/ ; 101057690//European Commission/ ; 10038150 and 10038150//UK Research and Innovation/ ; TBAG 105T205 and SBAG 114S999//T&#xfc;rkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Ara&#x15f;t&#x131;rma Kurumu/ ; 09D01601002 and 01001601001//Hacettepe University Scientific Research Unit/ ; W911QY-16-C-0160//AFHSB-GEIS/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of various pathogens, most notably Leishmania spp. Symbiotic bacteria have recently gained considerable attention owing to their effects on hosts and on other organisms co-infecting the same host. In this study, we investigated the natural Wolbachia infection status of sand fly taxa distributed in Türkiye and examined its potential role in driving the deep mitochondrial divergence observed within certain taxa.<br><br>METHODS: We analysed 858 sand fly specimens, mostly collected between 2005 and 2016, with additional samples obtained in 2023. Specimens were morphologically identified, and the mitochondrial cox1 gene was sequenced for DNA barcoding. For selected taxa showing marked mitochondrial divergence, species delimitation methods were applied, and genetic diversity indices and neutrality tests were calculated. Wolbachia infection was detected via PCR amplification of the wsp gene, and strain diversity was characterised using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of five housekeeping genes. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between infection status and mitochondrial lineage, sex or collection period.<br><br>RESULTS: Wolbachia infection was detected in 16.67% of specimens, occurring exclusively in Phlebotomus papatasi, Ph. major s.l., Ph. tobbi, Ph. economidesi and Sergentomyia minuta. Analyses of wsp and MLST data identified all sequences as belonging to Supergroup A, with multiple strains present within and across host taxa. Infection among the five Ph. major s.l. lineages delineated by species delimitation was significantly associated with lineage, with lineages 3-5 showing a higher probability of infection. The reduced haplotype and nucleotide diversity, along with a significant negative deviation from neutrality observed in lineage 5, suggest a selective sweep likely driven by Wolbachia infection.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first comprehensive screening of Wolbachia infection in sand fly taxa distributed across T&#xfc;rkiye, during which several novel Wolbachia strains were identified. Our findings suggest a potential role of Wolbachia infection in driving lineage differentiation within certain sand fly taxa. However, further detailed investigations are required to elucidate the mechanisms by which Wolbachia influences sand fly diversification and to assess the broader epidemiological implications related to sand fly-borne diseases (SFBDs).},
}
@article {pmid41344242,
year = {2025},
author = {Araújo, AS and Cavalcanti, IMF and de Almeida Campos, LA and de Souza, FRA and Gonçalves, DA and Teixeira, JAC and Nobre, C and Stamford, TCM},
title = {Enhancing coconut-based beverages with symbiotic microcapsules: Evaluation of physical-chemical traits and probiotic stability during gatrointestinal digestion.},
journal = {Food chemistry},
volume = {499},
number = {},
pages = {147359},
doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.147359},
pmid = {41344242},
issn = {1873-7072},
abstract = {This study highlights the effectiveness of ionic gelation combined with vibratory extrusion and chitosan hydrochloride coating as a robust strategy for the microencapsulation of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG intended for application in complex food matrices. The developed symbiotic microcapsules demonstrated desirable morphological and structural characteristics and provided significant protection to the encapsulated probiotic under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. When incorporated into a coconut water-soluble extract, the microcapsules influenced the physicochemical properties of the food matrix, promoting increased acidity, soluble solids content, and lightness, while preserving probiotic viability above the critical threshold of 6 log CFU/mL throughout storage. The additional chitosan hydrochloride coating further enhanced the protective capacity of the capsules, improving resistance to extreme pH and bile salts during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. These results support the potential of this encapsulation approach to enhance the stability and functionality of probiotics in functional foods.},
}
@article {pmid41344091,
year = {2025},
author = {Yuan, H and Yang, W and Ali, S and Behan, AA and Chen, L and Li, W and Gao, W and Arain, MA and Nabi, F and Buzdar, JA and Li, Z},
title = {From ponds to pastures: Azolla as a functional and climate-smart feed resource for poultry and livestock.},
journal = {Poultry science},
volume = {105},
number = {1},
pages = {106168},
doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2025.106168},
pmid = {41344091},
issn = {1525-3171},
abstract = {The escalating challenge of securing sustainable, climate-resilient feed resources necessitates the exploration of novel alternatives. This review critically evaluates the potential of Azolla, a small aquatic fern, as a functional and climate-smart feed ingredient for livestock and poultry. Owing to its symbiotic association with the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae, Azolla achieves rapid biomass accumulation without external nitrogen input, thereby offering a uniquely low-carbon low-cost cultivation system. Nutritionally, Azolla contains 15-35 % crude protein (dry matter), and serve as a valuable source of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and diverse bioactive compounds that may contribute to improved animal health and product quality. Evidence from feeding trials in poultry and other livestock species consistently demonstrate that Azolla supplementation significantly enhance growth performance, feed efficiency, egg and milk production, immune functions, and overall product attributes, while simultaneously lowering feed cost. Notably, its bioactive profile supports gut integrity, antioxidant capacity, and methane mitigation, emphasizing its dual potential to improve productivity and reduce the environmental footprint of animal agriculture. Azolla's adaptability across agro-climatic zones and capacity for year-round cultivation further reinforce its suitability as a climate-smart feed resource. Despite these advantages, constraints related to large-scale production, preservation, nutrient variability, and the presence of anti-nutritional factors highlight the need for standardized cultivation protocols and innovative processing technologies. This review consolidates current evidence on the nutritional, functional, and ecological value of Azolla and identifies key research priorities to support its broader adoption as a sustainable feed resource for livestock and poultry.},
}
@article {pmid41343712,
year = {2025},
author = {Su, C and Wan, Y and He, D and Cai, T and He, S and Li, J and Wan, H},
title = {Acetobacter Protects DmDuox-Deficient Drosophila melanogaster from Impaired Detoxification.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c12535},
pmid = {41343712},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {Dual oxidase (Duox) is essential for host physiological homeostasis. Loss of Duox disrupts host physiology and alters microbiota composition, potentially affecting the host tolerance to environmental stress. However, whether symbiotic bacteria can influence these detrimental effects remains unclear. This study investigated the role of symbiotic bacteria and DmDuox in regulating host detoxification gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster. Bioassays showed that silencing DmDuox increased D. melanogaster sensitivity to neonicotinoid insecticides, while axenic D. melanogaster displayed an even greater sensitivity. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene amplicons sequencing revealed DmDuox silencing significantly increased Acetobacter abundance, and reintroduction of the isolated Acetobacter oryzifermentans strain to axenic DmDuoxRNAi D. melanogaster reduced host insecticide sensitivity. Further studies showed that DmDuox and A. oryzifermentans regulated P450 gene expression and enzyme activity. These findings demonstrate that A. oryzifermentans protects DmDuox-deficient D. melanogaster from impaired detoxification and enriches the mechanism underlying the host-symbiont synergistic response to xenobiotic toxins.},
}
@article {pmid41342927,
year = {2025},
author = {Vaessen, L and Russ, K and Kirchmair, M and Neuhauser, S and Schlick-Steiner, BC and Steiner, FM},
title = {How carton-nest fungi of the ant Lasius fuliginosus interact with each other and with the root-rot fungus Armillaria mellea.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-9},
doi = {10.1080/00275514.2025.2568230},
pmid = {41342927},
issn = {1557-2536},
abstract = {Lasius fuliginosus, a fungus-growing ant species distributed across Europe, hosts various fungi inside its carton nests in trees, including the nest fungus SP1 of the order Chaetothyriales, as well as the nest fungi SP5 and SP4 of the order Venturiales. The goal of this study was to gain a better understanding of the fungal interactions inside the L. fuliginosus nests as well as of potential interactions around the nests, including the effects of Armillaria mellea-a root-rot fungus infecting potential host trees. We performed two types of confrontation experiments on Petri dishes between the isolated nest fungi and A. mellea. Firstly, using de Wit experiments, we tested the fungal species in pairwise combinations at three different initial confrontation concentrations. Secondly, a linear confrontation setup focused on differences in directional growth of the fungal species in pairwise combinations as well as on the development of A. mellea rhizomorphs. For the fungi SP1, SP5, and SP4, we found positive influences on each other (SP1 on SP5, SP4 on SP1 and SP5, and SP5 on SP1) alongside no influence (SP1 on SP4, SP5 on SP4). SP1 had a significantly negative impact on the surface growth and directional growth of A. mellea, and SP5 triggered the strongest rhizomorph development of A. mellea, possibly a stress reaction of the root-rot fungus. Armillaria mellea did not negatively impact any of the nest fungi and even promoted the surface growth of SP1. The de Wit setup and the linear setup turned out to be complementary and together facilitated first insights into potential roles of the nest fungi in this association of ants and fungi in trees. Follow-up studies will need to assess how these findings under Petri dish conditions transfer to conditions in natural habitat, in the presence of both the ant and the tree host.},
}
@article {pmid41342399,
year = {2025},
author = {Xiang, T and Peak, SL and Huitt, EC and Grossman, AR},
title = {Distinct transcriptomic strategies underlie differential heat tolerance in Symbiodiniaceae symbionts.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf268},
pmid = {41342399},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Dinoflagellate algae in the family Symbiodiniaceae, symbionts of many marine cnidarians are critical for the metabolic integrity of reef ecosystems, which are increasingly threatened by environmental stress. The resilience of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis depends on thermotolerance of the partner organisms; coral hosts that harbor heat-resistant symbionts exhibit greater resistance to bleaching. Although coral responses to heat stress are well-documented, transcriptomic adaptation/acclimation of Symbiodiniaceae to elevated temperatures are limited. Here, we compare thermal responses of two species representing two genera of Symbiodiniaceae, Symbiodinium linucheae (strain SSA01; ITS2 type A4) and Breviolum minutum (strain SSB01; ITS2 type B1). SSA01 in culture maintained photosynthetic function at elevated temperatures and mounted a rapid transcriptomic response characterized by early downregulation of a JMJ21-like histone demethylase coupled with prompt upregulation of transcripts associated with DNA repair and oxidative stress, which would likely contribute to enhanced resilience to heat stress. In contrast, SSB01 experienced a decline in photosynthetic efficiency and a delayed transcriptomic response that included upregulation of transcripts encoding proteasome subunits and reduced transcripts encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis and metabolite transport. These findings indicate that a rapid and moderate transcriptomic response that results in increased expression of genes related to the synthesis and repair of biomolecules might be crucial for thermal tolerance in the Symbiodiniaceae whereas sensitivity to elevated temperatures may be reflected by increased protein turnover and a marked decline in anabolic processes. Understanding these differences is vital for predicting coral responses to warming seas and developing strategies to mitigate heat-stress impacts on reefs.},
}
@article {pmid41342220,
year = {2025},
author = {Misaki, A and Suzuki, S and Maeno, S and Endo, A and Sasaki, Y and Enomoto, G and Yokota, K and Kajikawa, A},
title = {The response regulator FpsR controls the flagella-pili transition and mucosal colonization in Ligilactobacillus ruminis.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2596807},
doi = {10.1080/19490976.2025.2596807},
pmid = {41342220},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {Animals ; *Flagella/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Mice ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Fimbriae, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; *Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; Flagellin/metabolism/genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 5/metabolism/genetics ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Humans ; Female ; },
abstract = {Ligilactobacillus ruminis is a flagellated lactic acid bacterium found in the intestines of various mammals, including humans. Although this species harbors a complete flagellar gene cluster, flagella formation has not been observed in human-derived strains, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we isolated a motility-acquired mutant of L. ruminis ATCC 25644 that exhibited full flagellation and a measurable chemotactic response under acidic conditions (pH 3.0). Whole-genome sequencing revealed a ~35 kb deletion encompassing multiple regulatory genes. Functional complementation identified a single response regulator, designated FpsR (flagellation-piliation switchover regulator), as a central switch that suppresses flagella formation while promoting pilus expression. The motility-acquired mutant displayed reduced pilus production, diminished adhesion to murine intestinal mucus and fibronectin, and increased susceptibility to acid (pH 3.0) and bile (0.25-0.5%), resulting in a complete loss of intestinal colonization in a murine model. Furthermore, while flagellin from the motile strain activated TLR5 and induced proinflammatory responses comparable to those of pathogenic bacteria, no such inflammation was observed in vivo, likely due to the strain's colonization failure. These findings reveal FpsR as a previously unrecognized genetic mechanism that coordinates motility and mucosal colonization in a human commensal bacterium and provide insight into how flagella are regulated and silenced in the gut environment to support host-microbe symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41341309,
year = {2025},
author = {Chang, OC and Lin, WY},
title = {Genotype-specific modulation of drought tolerance by arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in foxtail millet.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1696600},
pmid = {41341309},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Drought stress is a major environmental factor limiting crop productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as beneficial soil microbes, can improve plant growth and stress resilience; however, the effectiveness of this symbiosis is often influenced by the host plant's genetic background. In this study, we investigated the interaction between AM symbiosis and drought tolerance in two foxtail millet (Setaria italica) accessions with contrasting drought responses: the drought-tolerant ISE42 and the drought-sensitive TT8. Following a 14-day drought treatment, both accessions exhibited wilting, but AMF-colonized plants reduced malondialdehyde accumulation, indicating alleviated oxidative stress. Notably, only colonized ISE42 plants recovered upon rewatering. Although AMF colonization was confirmed by staining and qRT-PCR, AM symbiosis-conserved genes were strongly induced in ISE42 and TT8 only at 7 days post-treatment. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed that AM symbiosis significantly enhanced the expression of genes involved in nitrogen transport, assimilation, lignin metabolism, and cellulose biosynthesis in ISE42, suggesting improved nutrient uptake and cell wall reinforcement as key mechanisms underlying enhanced drought tolerance. In addition, drought-induced stress hormone signaling pathways were downregulated in colonized ISE42 roots, pointing to AM symbiosis-mediated stress alleviation. Together, these results demonstrate genotype-specific effects of AMF on drought tolerance and recovery capability, and highlight the importance of considering host genetic variation in the application of AMF for crop improvement.},
}
@article {pmid41341062,
year = {2025},
author = {Tan, EX and Nguyen, LBT and Jin, Y and Lv, Y and Phang, IY and Ling, XY},
title = {SERS Cheminformatics: Opportunities for Data-Driven Discovery and Applications.},
journal = {ACS central science},
volume = {11},
number = {11},
pages = {2034-2052},
pmid = {41341062},
issn = {2374-7943},
abstract = {Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique offering ultrasensitive, nondestructive molecular fingerprinting. However, challenges such as spectral overlap, noise, and signal variability, especially in complex mixtures, limit its reliability and reproducibility. With increasing volumes of complex SERS data, there is a pressing need for advanced tools to manage and interpret this information. Cheminformatics amalgamates chemical knowledge with computational methods to deliver solutions for spectral preprocessing, database management, molecular modeling, pattern recognition, and multimodal data integration. This Outlook presents a vision for uniting SERS and cheminformatics to enhance the reliability of (bio)-chemical analysis and discovery. We propose a conceptual framework built upon four interconnected pillars: (1) centralized SERS databases, (2) molecular modeling for mechanistic insights, (3) machine learning (ML) for spectral analysis, and (4) automation and artificial intelligence for expanding the SERS chemical space. Together, these four pillars form a dynamic, feedback-driven system that enhances interpretability, accelerates data-driven discovery, and facilitates real-time SERS analysis. The symbiotic relationship between SERS and cheminformatics positions this integration at the forefront of data-driven chemical research with transformative applications in materials science, catalysis, biomedical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring.},
}
@article {pmid41340927,
year = {2025},
author = {Samuel David, AV and María Del Rocío, PR},
title = {Termites and their gut microbiome in animal nutrition: Advances and biotechnological applications.},
journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)},
volume = {23},
number = {},
pages = {527-534},
pmid = {41340927},
issn = {2405-6383},
abstract = {Since the late 20th century, termites have attracted attention due to the vast potential of their gut microbiome and digestive enzymes, which enable them to efficiently degrade lignocellulosic biomass, making them a promising resource for animal nutrition, particularly for recovering fibrous waste. Termite gastrointestinal symbionts and enzymes are highly effective at decomposing plant fiber, thus positioning them as natural bioreactors with significant biotechnological potential. This review examines the evolving applications of termites in animal feed, including their incorporation as protein sources in diets for monogastric animals and fish, as well as the utilization of bacteria, fungi, and enzymes derived from their guts as additives to enhance the digestibility of agricultural byproducts in both ruminants and non-ruminants. Furthermore, recent developments have demonstrated the identification and heterologous expression of lignocellulolytic enzymes and metabolites with prebiotic and detoxifying properties. The diversity of termite species offers an exceptional source of microbial communities. These communities highly adaptable to various fibrous substrates due to their diet, which enhances their potential despite existing limitations in cultivation and process standardization. However, their gut microbiota remains an untapped resource with immense potential to improve feed efficiency, promote sustainability, and reduce reliance on conventional inputs. It is concluded that at larger scale in vivo studies are needed to fully realize the potential of these symbiotic systems in animal nutrition.},
}
@article {pmid41338748,
year = {2025},
author = {Zeng, Y and Shen, Z and Cao, Y and Luo, X and Yang, L and Lu, Q and Li, R},
title = {Deciphering the regulatory mechanisms of color formation in Naematelia sinensis fruiting bodies through multi-omics approaches.},
journal = {Fungal biology},
volume = {129},
number = {8},
pages = {101667},
doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101667},
pmid = {41338748},
issn = {1878-6146},
mesh = {*Fruiting Bodies, Fungal/genetics/metabolism ; *Pigments, Biological/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Transcriptome ; Metabolomics ; *Basidiomycota/genetics/metabolism ; *Agaricales/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Metabolome ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Color ; Multiomics ; },
abstract = {Naematelia sinensis fruiting bodies, a complex composed of Naematelia sinensis and Stereum hirsutum, exhibit unique characteristics due to the symbiosis of these two fungi and their distinct color features. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying the coloration of N. sinensis fruiting bodies and the interactions between the two fungi remain poorly understood. In this study, we integrated transcriptomic and non-targeted metabolomic data from three variants of N. sinensis fruiting bodies-white fruiting bodies (control), yellow variant (treatment_1), and yellow fruiting bodies (treatment_2)-to investigate the relationship between the two fungi and color accumulation. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the transcriptomic and metabolomic data showed overlap between control and treatment_1 but a clear separation from treatment_2, indicating the reliability of the data. Integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome has unveiled key metabolic pathways associated with pigment accumulation in N. sinensis fruiting bodies. These pathways include the biosynthesis of cofactors, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, as well as the metabolism of tryptophan. In riboflavin metabolism, one gene (NAU27003364) was identified in N. sinensis, while three genes (STEHIDRAFT_95968, STEHIDRAFT_153579, and STEHIDRAFT_86958) were identified in S. hirsutum. The quantification of riboflavin and qRT-PCR results also indicated that most of them exhibited differences. This study represents the first multi-omics investigation into the functional pathways underlying color transformation in the fruiting bodies of N. sinensis, elucidating the regulatory interactions between N. sinensis and S. hirsutum. Our findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms of color transformation and the selective cultivation of fungal strains.},
}
@article {pmid41338345,
year = {2025},
author = {Dong, T and Cui, Y and Zhang, L and Yang, J and Yang, C and Qian, W and Peng, Y},
title = {Photocatalyst-driven microalgal-bacterial symbiosis enables organic carbon-free and energy-efficient nitrogen removal in a pilot-scale wastewater treatment.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133744},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133744},
pmid = {41338345},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {The sustainability of simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) is hindered by high aeration demands and external carbon input. Here, a g-C3N4-driven microalgal-bacterial symbiotic SND system was deployed in an 8 m[3] pilot-scale reactor for low-C/N practical wastewater. Photocatalyst-driven spatially structured bacterial-algal cooperation facilitated > 92.50 % total nitrogen removal, eliminating external carbon addition and reducing aeration energy by 38.10 %. Photocatalysis selectively enriched phototrophic Sphingomonadaceae, boosting EPS secretion by 2.77-2.99-fold. The resulting adhesive, oxygen-diffusion-limiting EPS matrix immobilized g-C3N4 and supported stratified biofilms hosting anaerobic denitrifiers, phototrophs, and microalgae. Oxygenic microalgae colonized the aerobic exterior, whereas denitrifiers occupied the anoxic core, mitigating oxygen-induced antagonism. Furthermore, photocatalysis potentially shifted algal metabolism to preferentially assimilate ammonium over nitrate, minimizing substrate competition with denitrifiers. This algal-bacterial synergy supported nitrification via algal oxygen. Meanwhile, denitrifiers, fueled exclusively by photogenerated electrons, activated narGHI and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to enable organic carbon-independent nitrogen removal.},
}
@article {pmid41338199,
year = {2025},
author = {Yamada, T and Palm, NW},
title = {A host-centric view of the microbiota metabolome.},
journal = {Immunity},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.immuni.2025.11.006},
pmid = {41338199},
issn = {1097-4180},
abstract = {Host-associated microbes produce thousands of metabolites that influence diverse aspects of mammalian physiology, including the immune system. However, the organizing principles governing these interactions remain largely unclear. Here, we propose a host-centric teleological framework for classifying microbiota metabolites based on their impacts on host biology and co-evolutionary principles of host-microbiota symbiosis. We outline three broad functional categories of metabolite-mediated impacts on the host-niche expansion, perception, and (maladaptive) noise. We then discuss transitions between these categories over short and long-term timescales and define specific microbial features that may influence these transitions. Finally, because most microbial metabolites remain uncharacterized, we review approaches to discover novel bioactive microbial metabolites with a view toward comprehensive mapping of small molecule-mediated host-microbe interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41337959,
year = {2025},
author = {Dong, D and Xie, Z and Wang, B and Ou, W and Tang, Y and Yang, J and Guo, Y and Fa, X},
title = {Effects of a forage-native multi-PGPM consortium symbiotic system on rhizosphere ecology and microbial regulation for remediating PAHs-contaminated very-high-altitude coal mines.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {501},
number = {},
pages = {140653},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140653},
pmid = {41337959},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {The very-high-altitude coal mines face polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution, yet studies on microbial degradation of PAHs in this region remain scarce. In this study, a native multi-plant growth-promoting microorganism consortium (N-M-PGPM-C, comprising four Tibetan Plateau strains: Trichoderma, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Floccularia luteovirens) was constructed. Their effects on forage growth, PAHs degradation, rhizosphere microbes, and soil metabolites were systematically investigated via high-throughput sequencing and LC-MS/MS metabolomics. The results showed that the N-M-PGPM-C significantly improved forage growth (93.81 %-120.05 % increase in dry weight compared to single PGPM treatment), degraded aromatic compounds in the rhizosphere soil, and enriched seven plant-beneficial microorganisms (e.g., Lysinibacillus, Solibacillus). In addition, it promoted the colonization and proliferation of two strains from the N-M-PGPM-C (i.e., Trichoderma by 3.20-fold and Bacillus by 9.41-fold) by reshaping the rhizosphere microbial community. According to the metabolomic analysis, the N-M-PGPM-C modulated 114 metabolites, enriching pathways for bisphenol, toluene, and benzoate degradation. The metabolite 2'-deoxyguanosine was strongly correlated with the enrichment of seven plant-beneficial microorganisms such as Lysinibacillus and Solibacillus and synergized with Trichoderma and Bacillus. Laboratory validations confirmed that Trichoderma and Bacillus possess intrinsic PAH-degrading capabilities, and exogenous application of 2'-deoxyguanosine significantly alleviated PAH stress in forages. These findings reveal the mechanism by which the N-M-PGPM-C remediates PAH contamination through the forage- native multi-PGPM consortium symbiotic system, providing a promising strategy for ecological restoration in the very-high-altitude regions.},
}
@article {pmid41334814,
year = {2025},
author = {López-Gutiérrez, JC and López-Hernández, D and Toro, M},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Phosphorus-mobilizing Microorganisms Mediate Organic Phosphorus Cycling in Tropical Savanna Soils.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaf135},
pmid = {41334814},
issn = {1574-6968},
abstract = {In highly weathered tropical soils, organic phosphorus (Po) constitutes a primordial reservoir for plant P-nutrition. We studied the dynamics of Po fractions, soil phosphatase activity and P-mobilizing microflora in root compartments of non-mycorrhizal (rhizosphere and bulk soil) and mycorrhizal (mycorrhizosphere and hyphosphere) Urochloa brizantha plants growing in rhizoboxes with a low P-sorbing Entisol and a high P-sorbing Ultisol from native neotropical savannas. Inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi resulted in an improvement in plant P-status, particularly in the high P-sorbing soil, that coincided with transformations in more recalcitrant P fractions, a higher phosphatase activity and a higher proportion of P-solubilizing and P-mineralizing organisms in mycorrhizal compartments. We provide evidence for a mycorrhizospheric effect in low P-fertility soils that allows plants to access specific P-pools via symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
}
@article {pmid41333292,
year = {2025},
author = {Turudu, V and Kutlu, I and Gulmezoglu, N},
title = {Biochemical and molecular responses of maize to low and high temperatures in symbiosis with mixed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi cultures.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e20419},
pmid = {41333292},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {*Zea mays/microbiology/metabolism/genetics/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Hot Temperature ; Lipid Peroxidation ; *Cold Temperature ; Temperature ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Minerals/metabolism ; },
abstract = {In this study, changes in mineral element concentrations, physiological parameters, and gene expression of heat shock proteins were investigated in maize plants subjected to mycorrhiza under low and high temperature stress. The application of seven different temperatures (5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, 25 °C, 35 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C) under five different mixed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) culture treatments (M0, M1, M2, M3, and M4) constituted the factors of the experiment. With the application of mycorrhiza, the plant dry weight was found to be the highest at 25 °C, and the M3 group was applied. The highest values in mineral element concentrations were detected at 25 °C in the maize plant, where M4 had N, P, K, Ca, and Fe concentrations; M3 had Cu and Mn concentrations; and M2 had Mg and Zn concentrations. Lipid peroxidation gradually increased with temperature changes in all the applications, and the protective effect of proline was more pronounced at high temperatures than at low temperatures. Antioxidant enzyme activities were altered by applications of mycorrhiza and temperature. For all mycorrhiza applications, the expression of HSP70 and HSP90 reached a maximum at 10 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C. It has been revealed that low- and high-temperature applications in maize plants cause serious changes in the mycorrhizal symbiosis on the basis of investigated parameters, and these changes occur at different levels depending on the temperature changes and the differences between mixed AMF cultures. However, it can be said that the M3 application has the capacity to facilitate the growth of maize even in conditions of low (-10 °C) and high (45 °C) temperature.},
}
@article {pmid41331913,
year = {2025},
author = {Jannesar, M and Bassami, B and Dalir, G and Sheikhzadeh, S and Tabrizchi, J and Seyedi, SM},
title = {Rice miRNA-mediated trans-kingdom gene regulation in pathogenic and symbiotic fungal interactions.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12386-z},
pmid = {41331913},
issn = {1471-2164},
}
@article {pmid41331875,
year = {2025},
author = {Kong, L and Mao, Y and Zheng, R and Feng, Y and Chen, B and Wu, X and Zhu, Q and Feng, J and Liu, S},
title = {Overlooked siderophore producers favor ammonium oxidation in global wastewater treatment plants.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s40168-025-02290-9},
pmid = {41331875},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {523B2095//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; Nos. 52270016//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022YFC3203003//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Iron is essential for biological nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as a significant portion of microbial nitrogen-transforming enzymes require iron. However, iron bioavailability is a global challenge for nitrogen removal microbes in WWTPs, where it often exists in insoluble forms due to its complexation with various wastewater constituents.<br><br>RESULTS: Combined laboratory experiment and metagenomic analysis of 52 global WWTPs, we found that siderophore-producing bacteria (SPB) were previously uncharacterized dominant members in activated sludge. SPB enhance the iron uptake of activated sludge microbial communities by facilitating the transport of iron ions from insoluble sources into the cells. Of the 1328 total recovered metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from global WWTPs, 6.2% were identified as SPB, while 79.3% of MAGs could utilize siderophores, indicating widespread sharing of siderophores in WWTPs. Interestingly, nearly all ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) from WWTPs lacked siderophore-producing capacity, and exogenous siderophore (20&#xa0;&#xb5;M pyochelin) addition boosted ammonium oxidation rates by 28.2%. Moreover, strong indications were found for an association between AOB and the SPB in global WWTPs, suggesting their symbiotic interaction is a common and critical process to maintain ammonium oxidation performance. SPB in WWTPs were predominantly aerobic or facultative anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria, exhibiting low taxonomic diversity but high abundance.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals SPB as previously overlooked but crucial contributors to biological nitrogen removal in global WWTPs, providing foundational insights into iron-based microbial cooperation within engineered systems. Modulating SPB activity based on their metabolic characteristics is a promising strategy to cope with low iron bioavailability issue for biological processes in WWTPs. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid41331684,
year = {2025},
author = {Núñez-Pons, L and Cusano, LM and Chiarore, A and Mirasole, A and Teixidó, N and Efremova, J and Mazzella, V},
title = {Too hot for my bugs: mediterranean heatwave disrupts associated microbiomes in the sponge Petrosia ficiformis.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s40793-025-00830-2},
pmid = {41331684},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {CN_00000033//National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC/ ; CN_00000033//National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC/ ; P05//EuroMarine-EMBRC 2020 call/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Global climate change exacerbates the incidence of marine heatwaves (MHWs), which have increased in intensity and frequency over the past years, causing severe impacts on marine coastal ecosystems. MHWs have already triggered mass mortalities of habitat-forming species, including corals, sponges and gorgonians, in temperate, tropical and polar seas. In the Mediterranean, these high peaks of temperature have been shown to affect several sponge species, and likely, their symbiotic microbial communities. During the summer of 2022, populations of the sponge Petrosia ficiformis (Poiret, 1789) were conspicuously observed with signs of thermal stress linked to a MHW around the Gulf of Naples (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). These included depigmentation spots and tissue texture alterations, which often evolved in necrotic processes and eventual death. At the peak of the MHW, however, apparently thermoresistant sponges co-occurred with sensitive unhealthy specimens. In order to explore potential microbial drivers correlated with these divergent thermal-stress tolerances, Healthy and Unhealthy individuals were sampled along the coast of Ischia Island in early September 2022.<br><br>RESULTS: Prokaryotic community characterization based on the 16&#xa0;S rRNA gene revealed dissimilar compositions in Unhealthy versus apparently Healthy sponges. Increased alpha diversity richness and low evenness in thermosensitive sponges were due to an extensive presence of rare taxa, and to the introduction of potentially pathogenic groups (e.g., Vibrio spp.). Major microbial families regularly associated with P. ficiformis - SAR202, Caldilineaceae, Poribacteria or TK17, were replaced in thermosensitive specimens by professed opportunistic groups within Lentimicrobiaceae, Rhodobacteraceae or Flavobacteriaceae. In turn, conservancy of hub microbes and thermotolerant symbionts (e.g., Rhodothermaceae, Thermoanaerobaculaceae) in Healthy sponges were observed during this disrupting event. Unhealthy microbiomes reflected lower network stability with respect to Healthy holobionts, due to the inconsistency of functional keystone taxa and prevalence of transient microbes.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Dysbiotic shifts due to colonization of scavenger groups and opportunistic microbes, and interconnectivity loss characterized thermally stressed sponges. In contrast, resistant specimens retained keystone symbionts that could have ensured functional cooperation, and maintenance of prokaryotic community cohesion under thermal stress. The existence of stress-resistant phenotypes in sponge holobionts offers a glimmer of hope for species persistence, and their study may identify potential source populations for ecosystem recovery.},
}
@article {pmid41331417,
year = {2025},
author = {Fiege, K and Asbun, AA and Boeren, S and Engelmann, JC and Villanueva, L},
title = {Membrane changes during syntrophic interactions of an archaeal-bacterial coculture.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12866-025-04509-z},
pmid = {41331417},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {735929LPI//Moore-Simons Project on the Origin of the Eukaryotic Cell/ ; 735929LPI//Moore-Simons Project on the Origin of the Eukaryotic Cell/ ; 024.002.002//Soehngen Institute for Anaerobic Microbiology (SIAM)/ ; 024.002.002//Soehngen Institute for Anaerobic Microbiology (SIAM)/ ; },
abstract = {Syntrophic interactions between bacteria and archaea are vital for anaerobic processes, relying on close cell-to-cell contact for efficient metabolite and electron transfer. Membrane-associated proteins and lipids likely play key roles in stabilizing these contacts, though little is known about membrane changes during syntrophy. These interactions are also central to theories of eukaryogenesis, where a symbiosis between an archaeal host - likely an Asgard archaeon - and a bacterial partner may have arisen from prior syntrophic interactions. Model systems of syntrophic microbes provide valuable insights into how such intimate associations could have led to the emergence of eukaryotic life. Here, we used syntrophic cocultures of the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris and the methanogenic archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis to investigate membrane changes during a syntrophic interaction involving cell-to-cell contact. Evolved cocultures after several generations under syntrophic conditions were analyzed by proteomics and transcriptomics to identify differentially expressed proteins connected to cell-to-cell interactions, as well as by lipid analyses to determine changes in the cell membrane of both syntrophic partners. These data suggest a higher impact on the archaeon M. maripaludis, affecting transmembrane, signaling, and lipid biosynthesis proteins. To investigate the impact of evolutionary adaptation, both partners were re-isolated from a non-evolved ancestral coculture (coculture after mixing species), as well as from evolved (several generations) cocultures. While lipid profiles had changed in the coculture due to evolutionary adaptation, isolates were found to revert their lipid composition to the wildtype profile when growing independent again. This in-depth analysis of a model syntrophic coculture provides clues on how interdomain cell-to-cell interactions might have led to membrane changes during early eukaryogenesis.},
}
@article {pmid41330321,
year = {2025},
author = {McMillan, CK},
title = {Climate change: Nitrogen fixing trees contribute to permafrost thaw.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {23},
pages = {R1149-R1151},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.10.057},
pmid = {41330321},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Permafrost ; *Climate Change ; *Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Arctic Regions ; Root Nodules, Plant/physiology/microbiology ; Tundra ; },
abstract = {Siberian alder (Alnus hirsuta) is expanding into Arctic tundra, and a new study shows it can heat permafrost through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing root nodules. This discovery introduces a biologically mediated feedback in which plant-microbe partnerships actively engineer soil thermal balance.},
}
@article {pmid41329233,
year = {2025},
author = {Guarino, M and Di Ciaula, A and Portincasa, P and De Giorgio, R},
title = {Narrative review on microbiota and sepsis: the host's betrayal?.},
journal = {Internal and emergency medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41329233},
issn = {1970-9366},
abstract = {Sepsis remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota, long considered a "less relevant" to human body health, it plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Disruption of the host-microbe balance contributes to impaired barrier integrity, microbial translocation, and dysregulated immune responses. This perspective raises the possibility that dysbiosis is not merely a consequence of critical illness, rather an active driver of septic progression. This narrative review explores the relationship between sepsis and gut microbiome. PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE were searched from inception to September 2025. Recent studies have highlighted the triangular interplay between the intestinal barrier, gut microbiota, and immune system. Altered microbial composition and increased permeability foster systemic inflammation and immune dysfunction. Biomarkers such as diamine oxidase and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein are emerging as promising indicators of gut injury. Experimental therapies (i.e., faecal microbiota transplantation, targeted probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and personalized antibiotic regimens guided by microbial profiling) provide potential to modulate host-microbe interactions. Integration of microbiome analysis with multi-omics and advanced bioinformatics may enable stratification of septic patients by microbial signatures, paving the way for precision medicine approaches. Modulation of gut microbiota represents a novel therapeutic frontier in sepsis. Conceptualizing sepsis as a disease of disrupted host-microbe symbiosis may unravel new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Future research should aim at prioritizing high-quality trials, innovative designs, and equitable implementation to target microbiota to improve survival and recovery in patients with sepsis.},
}
@article {pmid41328923,
year = {2025},
author = {Cazalé, A-C and Navarro, M and Doin de Moura, GG and Hoarau, D and Bellvert, F and Valière, S and Baroukh, C and Remigi, P and Guidot, A and Capela, D},
title = {Disruption of putrescine export in experimentally evolved Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum enhances symbiosis with Mimosa pudica.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0122525},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.01225-25},
pmid = {41328923},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Polyamines are essential molecules across all domains of life, but their role as signaling molecules in host-microbe interactions is increasingly recognized. However, because they are produced by both the host and the microbe, their dual origin makes their functional dissection challenging. The plant pathogen Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum GMI1000 secretes large amounts of putrescine both in vitro and in the xylem sap of host plants. In this study, we investigated the genetic changes underlying its experimental evolution into a legume symbiont. We showed that the paeA gene (RSc2277), which was repeatedly mutated during this process, encodes a putrescine exporter. Mutations in paeA completely abolished putrescine excretion in vitro and enhanced bacterial proliferation within nodules during interaction with the legume Mimosa pudica. When these mutations occurred in symbionts already capable of intracellular infection, they further increased bacterial load in nodules and allowed the detection of nitrogenase activity. In addition, paeA-mutated symbionts modulated host gene expression toward a more functional symbiotic state by repressing defense-related genes and inducing nodule development genes. These nodule development genes include genes encoding leghemoglobins and an arginine decarboxylase, a key enzyme in plant putrescine biosynthesis. These results indicate that bacterial and plant putrescine have distinct functions in legume symbiosis and highlight the complex role of polyamines in plant-microbe interactions.IMPORTANCERhizobia, the nitrogen-fixing symbionts of legumes, emerged through repeated and independent horizontal transfers of some essential symbiotic genes. However, these transfers alone are often insufficient to convert the recipient bacterium into a functional legume symbiont. In a laboratory experiment, we evolved the plant pathogen Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum into a nodulating and intracellularly infecting symbiont of Mimosa pudica. This transition required genomic modifications in the recipient bacterium to activate its acquired symbiotic potential. Here, we demonstrated that one of these key adaptive modifications is the inactivation of bacterial putrescine export. This polyamine, when produced by the microsymbiont, appears to act as a negative signal for the plant. This study provides new insights into the distinct roles of bacterial- and plant-derived putrescine in plant-microbe interactions, highlighting their functional divergence despite being produced by both organisms.},
}
@article {pmid41327776,
year = {2025},
author = {Sokolova, IM and Sokolov, EP and Piontkivska, H and Timm, S and Amorim, K and Zettler, ML},
title = {Unravelling Hypoxia Tolerance: Transcriptomic and Metabolic Insights From Lucinoma capensis in an Oxygen Minimum Zone.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70194},
doi = {10.1111/mec.70194},
pmid = {41327776},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {03V01279//Bundesministerium f&#xfc;r Bildung und Forschung/ ; GZ INST 264/125-1FUGG//Hochschul-Bau-F&#xf6;rderungsgesetz/ ; //Mare Balticum Fellowship, Universit&#xe4;t Rostock/ ; RPIV00812019//National Commission on Research, Science and Technology/ ; },
abstract = {The lucinid clam Lucinoma capensis thrives at the oxygen minimum zone margins in the Benguela Upwelling System, where oxygen levels fluctuate dramatically. Understanding its adaptation to such extreme conditions provides key insights into survival strategies under fluctuating oxygen availability. We investigated the transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of L. capensis under normoxia, hypoxia, and recovery, focusing on the gills and digestive gland. Our findings highlight distinct organ-specific responses, with the gills showing strong transcriptional changes to oxygen fluctuations, in contrast to the more stable profile observed in the digestive gland. Under hypoxic conditions, the gills exhibited coordinated downregulation of protein synthesis, transposable element activity, and immune function, suggesting a tightly regulated energy conservation strategy and mechanisms to preserve symbiont stability and genomic integrity. Activation of prokaryotic metabolism in the gills supports the symbionts' role in host energy acquisition and sulfide detoxification during hypoxia. In contrast, the digestive gland showed minimal transcriptional shifts during anoxia, with upregulation of pathways supporting structural maintenance. Upon reoxygenation, the gills displayed an active and asymmetric recovery, characterised by rapid restoration of protein synthesis and gradual normalisation of protein degradation and immune functions. Despite significant transcriptomic changes, the metabolome remained largely stable, reflecting L. capensis's resilience to oxygen fluctuations. However, an overshoot in TCA cycle intermediates and derepression of previously downregulated pathways indicate that reoxygenation involves active metabolic reprogramming, not merely a return to baseline. This study highlights the specialised tissue responses and symbiotic contributions that enable L. capensis to thrive in one of the ocean's most challenging environments.},
}
@article {pmid41326395,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, L and Sun, Y and Ren, J and Gao, H and Xiao, G},
title = {Construction of waste-to-resource knowledge graph for industrial symbiosis identification using large language models.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-66599-7},
pmid = {41326395},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {RG10/23//Ministry of Education - Singapore (MOE)/ ; },
abstract = {Circular Economy offers a promising approach to achieve sustainability goals by circulating resources and closing resource loops. Industrial Symbiosis adopts similar concept in industrial systems that reduces raw material consumption and waste production through collaborative waste-to-resource exchanges. While waste-to-resource databases provide valuable knowledge for IS opportunity identification, existing databases are mainly constructed manually and are restricted by their sizes and scalability. In this work, we propose an automated framework to construct a Waste-to-Resource Knowledge Graph (W2RKG) from pertinent research papers using Large Language Models, which enhances coverage, scalability, and standardisation of the resulting database. The framework comprises a Retrieving Module, an Extraction Module, and a Fusion Module, that collectively transform unstructured text into a well-organised knowledge graph. The final constructed database contains 3518 waste entities, 4471 resource entities and 33,679 waste-to-resource relationships. Extensive experiments and evaluation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method and the overall high quality of the constructed database. The study, thereby, contributes an automatic framework for waste-to-resource database construction and provides a readily accessible W2RKG to support Industrial Symbiosis practitioners in identification applications.},
}
@article {pmid41326106,
year = {2026},
author = {Chantab, K and Rao, Z and Zheng, X and Ngamhui, N and Han, R and Cao, L},
title = {Ascaroside-mediated modulation of host microbiota and survival in galleria mellonella by symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematode.},
journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology},
volume = {216},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {106744},
doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106744},
pmid = {41326106},
issn = {1095-9939},
mesh = {Animals ; Symbiosis ; *Moths/microbiology/drug effects ; Larva/microbiology/drug effects ; Photorhabdus/physiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Nematoda ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Hemolymph/microbiology ; Bacteria ; Quorum Sensing/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Microbial symbionts and host pheromones are recognized as important mediators in the interactions between insect and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). However, the influence of EPN-derived ascarosides and associated symbiotic bacteria on the insect's microbial community remains poorly understood. In this study, Galleria mellonella larvae were injected with nematode ascarosides (ascr#9 and ascr#11) and/or symbiotic bacteria (Photorhabdus luminescens) to investigate changes in the bacterial communities of larval haemolymph and gut. The result showed that the haemolymph was dominated by Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidia, while the gut microbiota was enriched with Bacilli. Burkholderiaceae and Enterococcaceae were the predominant families in the haemolymph and gut, respectively. Significant differences in bacterial community composition were observed across treatments. Notably, co-injection of ascarosides and P. luminescens significantly reduced the bacterial abundance of Ralstonia (commensal bacteria) and Photorhabdus (invader bacteria). The co-injection with ascarosides and symbiotic bacteria significantly contributed to prolonged host survival and sustained physiological stability compared to being exposed to bacteria alone. Mechanistically, ascarosides selectively upregulated the quorum sensing gene luxD in P. luminescens, suggesting that nematode pheromones modulate bacterial communication and collective behavior to regulate population dynamics. These findings indicate that ascarosides function as key microbial modulators, suppressing harmful bacterial growth and fostering a balanced community that supports host viability.},
}
@article {pmid41326105,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, S and Li, S and Yang, D and Wen, C and Wen, J},
title = {Wolbachia-mediated regulation of EscrGST1 modulates pesticide resistance in Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus.},
journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology},
volume = {216},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {106743},
doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106743},
pmid = {41326105},
issn = {1095-9939},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/physiology/drug effects ; Neonicotinoids/pharmacology ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; *Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; *Insect Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Weevils/microbiology/drug effects/genetics ; Pyrethrins/pharmacology ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism/genetics ; Nitro Compounds/pharmacology ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis ; RNA Interference ; Tetracycline/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted intracellular symbiont widely distributed in arthropods, regulates diverse host functions including detoxification. Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a specialist borer pest of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, it exclusively damages the host tree through larval boring and adult supplemental feeding, constituting a major wood-boring insect in China's forestry ecosystems. This study investigated the role of Wolbachia in modulating the detoxification capacity of E. scrobiculatus. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses demonstrated that 21-day tetracycline treatment (15 mg/mL) effectively eliminated Wolbachia (99.96 % reduction). Compared to symbiotic controls, Wolbachia-depleted weevils exhibited significantly reduced activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), while carboxylesterase (CES) activity increased. Subsequently, transcriptomic analysis further revealed that Wolbachia-depleted weevils exhibited diminished expression of the detoxification gene EscrGST1 and reduced tolerance to the insecticides imidacloprid and cypermethrin. RNA interference (RNAi) silencing of EscrGST1 induced a compensatory increase in Wolbachia abundance during gene suppression, demonstrating a bidirectional regulatory mechanism between symbiont dynamics and host detoxification pathways. These findings demonstrate that Wolbachia mediates pesticide resistance in E. scrobiculatus by modulating EscrGST1 activity, providing novel strategies for controlling E. scrobiculatus, and offering new perspectives for developing pest control approaches through targeted disruption of symbiotic relationships.},
}
@article {pmid41324084,
year = {2025},
author = {Zheng, P and Ding, P and Gao, WZ and Chen, X and Shi, L},
title = {The Jarman-Bell principle revisited: Gut microbiota facilitate body size-dependent nutritional strategies in herbivores.},
journal = {Current research in microbial sciences},
volume = {9},
number = {},
pages = {100508},
pmid = {41324084},
issn = {2666-5174},
abstract = {Body size is a key determinant of nutritional strategies in herbivores, yet the role of gut microbiota in mediating these strategies remains insufficiently explored. To address this gap, we examined two sympatric ungulates of contrasting body sizes in an arid ecosystem-red deer (Cervus elaphus, large-bodied) and goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa, small-bodied)-to test three predictions derived from the Jarman-Bell principle (JBP). We applied dietary DNA metabarcoding, plant nutritional profiling, and 16S rRNA sequencing of gut microbiota to assess how body size shapes macronutrient intake, microbial composition, and functional adaptations. Both species exhibited similar macronutrient ratios dominated by carbohydrates (∼88-90 %), supporting the nutritional balancing hypothesis. However, they differed in nutrient targets and microbial profiles: red deer consumed more non-structural carbohydrates and fats, with enriched gut microbial taxa (Paludibacter, Turicibacter) linked to energy metabolism, reflecting an energy maximization strategy. In contrast, goitered gazelles ingested more crude protein and harbored microbial taxa (Prevotella) associated with protein digestion, alongside immune-supporting microbes (Butyricicoccus, Coprococcus, and Victivallis), consistent with a protein maximization strategy. Red deer also demonstrated a greater microbial capacity for fiber degradation (Fibrobacter, Ruminococcus albus) and detoxification of plant secondary metabolites (Clostridium, Desulfovibrio, Prevotella, Variovorax). Functional pathway analysis revealed enrichment in lignocellulose and terpenoid metabolism, indicating an adaptation to low-quality forage. In contrast, goitered gazelles showed limited microbial associations with fiber or phytotoxin regulation, suggesting weaker microbial-mediated adaptation to low-quality diets. These results demonstrate that body size governs distinct nutritional strategies in sympatric herbivores, mediated through differential gut microbiota composition and function. Larger species, such as red deer, exhibit enhanced microbial capacity for fiber and toxin regulation, allowing them to utilize lower-quality forage more efficiently.},
}
@article {pmid41322278,
year = {2025},
author = {Hao, T and Su, H and Quan, Z and Zhang, R and Yu, M and Xu, J and Li, J and Li, S and Warren, A and Al-Farraj, SA and Yi, Z},
title = {Distinct evolutionary origins and mixed-mode transmissions of methanogenic endosymbionts are revealed in anaerobic ciliated protists.},
journal = {Marine life science &amp; technology},
volume = {7},
number = {4},
pages = {700-716},
pmid = {41322278},
issn = {2662-1746},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Methanogenic endosymbionts are the only known intracellular archaeans and are especially common in anaerobic ciliated protists. Studies on the evolution of associations between anaerobic ciliates and their methanogenic endosymbionts offer an excellent opportunity to broaden our knowledge about symbiosis theory and adaptation of eukaryotes to anoxic environments. Here, the diversity of methanogenic endosymbionts was analyzed with the addition of nine anaerobic ciliate populations that were newly studied by various methods. Results showed that diverse anaerobic ciliates host methanogenic endosymbionts that are limited to a few genera in orders Methanomicrobiales, Methanobacteriales, and Methanosarcinales. For the first time, anaerobic ciliates of the classes Muranotrichea and Prostomatea were found to host methanogenic endosymbionts. Distinct origins of endosymbiosis were revealed for classes Armophorea and Plagiopylea. We posit that armophoreans and plagiopyleans might have harbored Methanoregula (order Methanomicrobiales) and Methanocorpusculum (order Methanomicrobiales), respectively, as methanogenic endosymbionts at the beginning of their evolution. Subsequently, independent endosymbiont replacement events occurred in methanogen-ciliate associations, probably due to ecological transitions, species radiation of ciliate hosts, and vertical transmission bottlenecks of endosymbionts. Our results shed light on the evolution of associations between anaerobic ciliates and methanogens, and identifies the necessary preconditions for illustrating mechanisms by which endosymbioses between these partners were established.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-025-00295-9.},
}
@article {pmid41322272,
year = {2025},
author = {Kim, JM and Choi, BJ and Bayburt, H and Lee, JK and Jeon, CO},
title = {Identifying potential keystone bacterial species within the phycosphere of marine algae and unveiling their metabolic characteristics.},
journal = {Marine life science &amp; technology},
volume = {7},
number = {4},
pages = {989-1007},
pmid = {41322272},
issn = {2662-1746},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Metabolic interactions between microbiomes and algal hosts within the phycosphere of marine macroalgae are drawing increasing attention due to their roles in food webs, global nutrient cycles, industries, and their potential as food resources. However, these relations remain poorly understood. In this study, 43 marine macroalgae, including red, brown, and green algae, were collected from the coastal areas of Korea. We identified the bacterial communities within the loosely and tightly attached environments (LAEs and TAEs, respectively) of the phycosphere, along with those in the surrounding seawater, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. β-Diversity analysis revealed significant differences between the bacterial communities among the three, with minimal variation related to sampling location or algal color. Indicator value analysis identified Pseudoalteromonas (in the LAE and TAE), Psychromonas (in the LAE), Marinomonas (in the LAE), and Litorimonas (in the TAE) as the dominant taxa in the phycosphere, in contrast to seawater. Network analysis suggested positive correlations among taxa within the same environments and negative correlations between those in the LAE and TAE, highlighting their distinct ecological conditions. Analysis using the Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways revealed functional variations between the phycosphere- and seawater-residing microbes. The microbial taxa-function relationships were assessed through Spearman's rank-order correlation. Additionally, bacterial species belonging to the core taxa were isolated and their genomes sequenced. Their metabolic traits were analyzed via bioinformatics, recognizing key metabolic features essential for symbiotic interactions with algal hosts and survival within the phycosphere. The findings of this study advance our understanding of the marine algal phycosphere microbiome by detailing the metabolic characteristics of potential keystone species.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-025-00325-6.},
}
@article {pmid41321819,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, J and Zhou, S and Song, J and Xia, C and Yang, X and Yang, K and Li, F},
title = {Diet-microbiome coevolution: the core mechanism for semi-aquatic adaptation and cross-habitat niche coexistence of the web-footed shrew (Nectogale elegans).},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1711143},
pmid = {41321819},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The adaptation of mammals to semi-aquatic niches represents a pivotal ecological transition, in which the coevolution of dietary specialization and gut microbiome is regarded as playing a fundamental role. However, the general mechanisms that link these traits to survival across habitats remain insufficiently investigated, particularly in small mammals with high metabolic constraints. Using the web-footed shrew (Nectogale elegans), a rare small mammal with extreme semi-aquatic specialization, this study supplements the understanding of host-microbe symbiosis in the process of small mammals adapting to new ecosystem. To address how diet facilitates semi-aquatic adaptation, we integrated benthic community surveys and dietary DNA metabarcoding. Our results showed that the web-footed shrew primarily utilizes benthic macroinvertebrates (Diptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera), consistent with the composition of local benthic biomass, and supplemented by Cypriniformes fish. Comparative analysis of DNA metabarcoding with sympatric terrestrial rodents further revealed that semi-aquatic shrews achieve niche differentiation through two complementary mechanisms: habitat partitioning (aquatic vs. terrestrial) and trophic level differentiation (secondary consumers of invertebrates vs. consumers of plants). This discovery extends niche theory, demonstrating how habitat-specific resource utilization shapes trophic stratification. Compared to the terrestrial group, the gut microbiome of the semi-aquatic shrew exhibited significant differences in both microbiome composition and functional potential: dominance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, reduced abundances of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), as well as selective enrichment of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism. These results reflect the high-fat, high-protein niche of semi-aquatic shrews. Additionally, the seasonal stability of the microbiome of the semi-aquatic shrew mirrors the consistency of benthic resources, and maintaining metabolic homeostasis is key to long-term adaptation to fluctuating environments. Overall, this study demonstrates a framework for semi-aquatic adaptation in small mammals: dietary specialization drives niche differentiation, which in turn selects for gut microbiome adaptation, optimizing habitat-specific resource utilization. This research underscores the role of diet-microbiome coevolution in enabling semi-aquatic adaptation, offering novel insights into ecological niche differentiation and specialization mechanisms in small mammals.},
}
@article {pmid41320831,
year = {2025},
author = {Abbot, B and Field, S and Carneal, L and White Iii, RA and Buchan, A and West, C and Lee, L and Carter, ME},
title = {Comparative genomics reveals multipartite genomes undergoing loss in the fungal endosymbiotic genus Mycetohabitans.},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/gbe/evaf231},
pmid = {41320831},
issn = {1759-6653},
abstract = {Endosymbiotic bacteria extensively impact phenotypes of their eukaryotic hosts, while experiencing dramatic changes to their own genome as they become more host-restricted in lifestyle. Understanding the trajectory of such a genome has largely been done through study of animal-associated bacteria, especially insect endosymbionts. Yet, endofungal bacteria provide another natural experimental model for investigating how microbial genomes change when living inside of a host cell. Mycetohabitans spp. are culturable bacterial endosymbionts of the Mucoromycota fungus Rhizopus microsporus. To investigate the genome dynamics resulting from the endohyphal nature of this emerging model genus, we long-read sequenced and assembled new complete genomes to combine with previous assemblies, creating a global dataset of 28 complete Mycetohabitans genomes. All genomes were between 3.3 and 3.9 Mbp in size and were multipartite, structured into two conserved replicons with some strains having an additional plasmid. Based on evolutionary rate and gene content analysis of the different replicons, we termed the two major ones a chromosome and chromid. The differential presence of a third, mobilome-rich plasmid in some strains and the proliferation of transposable elements provide putative mechanisms for recombination or gene loss. The conservation of intact prophage and putative toxin-antitoxin systems, and extensive enrichment of secondary metabolite clusters in the Mycetohabitans genomes highlight the dynamic nature of this reducing genome. With fungal-bacterial symbioses becoming increasingly apparent phenomena, lessons learned from this symbiosis will inform our understanding of bacterial adaptation to novel hosts, and the process of microbe-microbe coevolution.},
}
@article {pmid41320684,
year = {2025},
author = {Moraes, MP and Paraginski, JA and Mayer, NA and Bianchi, VJ},
title = {Effect of Substrate Type and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth and Quality of Own-Rooted 'Koroneiki' Olive Nursery Trees.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {83},
number = {1},
pages = {51},
pmid = {41320684},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {*Olea/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Mycorrhizae/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Fertilizers/analysis ; Biomass ; Symbiosis ; Trees/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to improve nutrient uptake and growth of perennial crops, including olive trees. In nursery systems, substrate type and microbial associations can strongly influence the establishment and quality of own-rooted plants. Evaluate the effects of different growing media and Rhizophagus intraradices inoculation on the growth and early vigor of own-rooted nursery trees of Olea europaea 'Koroneiki'. A completely randomized design was used with six treatments consisting of different substrate compositions - commercial substrates (Carolina Soil[®], Turfa Fértil[®], and Beifort[®] S-10B) - combined with two fertilizer doses (1 and 3 g dm[- 3] of controlled-release fertilizer), either with or without R. intraradices inoculation. Growth parameters assessed included plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, root volume and length, shoot and root fresh and dry biomass, shoot/root ratio, and Dickson Quality Index. Mycorrhizal colonization parameters (frequency and intensity) were also evaluated. Nursery tree height, root development, and biomass accumulation were significantly influenced by substrate composition and AMF inoculation (p < 0.05). Turfa Fértil[®] and Beifort[®] S-10B promoted greater height growth, while Carolina Soil[®] enhanced root volume and length. AMF inoculation improved dry biomass accumulation, particularly in Turfa Fértil[®]. The highest Dickson Quality Index values were observed in Carolina Soil[®] and Beifort[®] S-10B treatments, indicating greater structural robustness. Mycorrhizal colonization intensity was highest in Carolina Soil[®], suggesting favorable conditions for AMF symbiosis. Carolina Soil[®], with or without R. intraradices inoculation, and Beifort[®] S-10B proved to be the most effective substrates for enhancing early vigor and structural quality in 'Koroneiki' olive nursery trees.},
}
@article {pmid41319642,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, XH and Wang, XD and Song, H and Chen, S},
title = {Endophyte synergistic phytoremediation is a sustainable solution for the removal of heavy metals and organic pollutants.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {396},
number = {},
pages = {128126},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.128126},
pmid = {41319642},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {In recent decades, rapid economic growth has exacerbated environmental pollution, necessitating sustainable remediation strategies. Phytoremediation, an eco-friendly biotechnology leveraging plant microbe interactions, has emerged as a promising solution. Endophytes, the symbiotic microorganisms inhabiting plants, play a pivotal role in enhancing phytoremediation efficiency by promoting plant growth, improving stress tolerance, and facilitating pollutant degradation. This review systematically examines the mechanisms by which endophytes synergistically enhance phytoremediation, focusing on: (1) growth promotion and nutrient acquisition mediated by phytohormones; (2) restructuring of soil microbial communities to improve soil health; (3) boosting metal tolerance and bioaccumulation in plants; and (4) enzymatic degradation of organic contaminants. Furthermore, we critically evaluate recent advancements in endophyte synergistic phytoremediation, highlighting its potential for large-scale application in mitigating heavy metals and organic pollutants. Despite its promise, challenges such as scalability, environmental variability, and mechanistic uncertainties remain. In this review, we identify key research gaps and propose future directions to optimize the interactions between endophytes and plants for sustainable environmental remediation. By integrating theoretical insights with practical applications, this review provides a comprehensive foundation for advancing phytoremediation technologies.},
}
@article {pmid41319531,
year = {2025},
author = {Rodríguez-Caballero, G and Torres, P and Díaz, G and Roldán, A and Caravaca, F},
title = {Lower specificity of mycorrhizal associations in the invader Nicotiana glauca could mediate adaptive advantages over the native plant species during the drought season.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1009},
number = {},
pages = {181053},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181053},
pmid = {41319531},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Mycorrhizal associations involving arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can play a critical role in the success of plant invasion processes, particularly under environmental stress conditions such as drought. This study investigated the effects of plant invasiveness, seasonal soil moisture (wet vs. dry seasons), and characteristics of invaded sites on AMF communities associated with the roots of the invasive species Nicotiana glauca and co-occurring native plants in Mediterranean semiarid ecosystems. High-throughput MiSeq sequencing identified 546 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of AMF, with members of the family Glomeraceae predominating in all samples. Native plants exhibited significantly greater AMF richness (the Chao1 richness estimator ranged from 21.8 under wet conditions to 40.4 under dry conditions) and diversity (the Shannon-Weaver diversity index ranged from 2.4 under wet conditions to 2.9 under dry conditions), whereas the AMF communities associated with N. glauca were less diverse and characterized by generalist taxa independently soil moisture (the Shannon-Weaver diversity index ranged from 2.0 under wet conditions to 2.1 under dry conditions). The rhizosphere of invasive plants exhibited higher enzymatic activities-including dehydrogenase, urease, and alkaline phosphomonoesterase (approximately 70 %, 33 %, and 26 % higher, respectively, than those in the rhizosphere of native plants)-with enzyme values remaining more stable across seasons. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that the AMF community composition was influenced by soil biochemical parameters, particularly the alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity related to phosphorus cycling. Moreover, rhizospheric soils of N. glauca displayed greater structural stability, especially during the dry season. These findings indicate that N. glauca supports resilient and functionally efficient AMF associations under varying water availability, which may enhance its ecological success in drought-affected environments.},
}
@article {pmid41318663,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, S and Zhao, Z and Ji, Y and Zhu, H and Sun, Y and Li, M and Yu, Q},
title = {Synthetic bacterium-facilitated colonization of nitrogen-fixing bacteria for remodeling the rhizosphere microbiome and improving plant yield.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s40168-025-02189-5},
pmid = {41318663},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {32170102//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024YFD1701100//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; U23A20158//Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; NCC2022-PY-09//Foundation of Nankai University-Cangzhou Bohai New Area Green Chemical Research Institute/ ; 63253191//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFBs) play a critical role in biological nitrogen fixation for supplying essential nitrogen nutrients to plants in agriculture and natural ecosystems. Especially, these bacteria and Leguminosae plants form symbiosis to improve plant growth and soil fertility. Theoretically, the inoculation of NFBs into soils increases biological nitrogen fixation, but the efficiency of NFBs is frequently compromised by the low capacity of NFB root colonization. In this study, we introduced the synthetic bacterium EcCMC, which was genetically engineered to express the surface-displayed artificial polysaccharide (PS)-recognizing protein Cmc, to test if it can improve NFBs root colonization in representative Leguminosae plants, including Astragalus sinicus and Medicago sativa. Rhizosphere microbiomes, biochemical indicators, and plant yields were evaluated after 28 days in the three treatments, i.e., the control group without addition of any exogenous bacterium, the NFBs plus EcM (bacteria only expressing mCherry rather than Cmc) group, and the NFBs plus EcCMC group (n = 3).<br><br>RESULTS: Owing to its polysaccharide-binding capacity, EcCMC strongly bound to the surface of A. sinicus roots. This binding was followed by the increased recruitment of the exogenous NFBs, Sinorhizobium meliloti and Sphingomonas endophytica, on the roots. As revealed by amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, a combined inoculation of EcCMC and the NFBs increased the relative abundance of both Rhizobiales and Sphingomonadales, two important bacterial groups involved in nitrogen fixation. Consistently, metabolomic analysis showed that the metabolites involved in nitrogen fixation remarkably accumulated in the rhizosphere soils inoculated with NFBs plus EcCMC. Moreover, inoculation of NFBs plus EcCMC increased the activity of nitrogenase from 10.8&#x2009;~&#x2009;11.3 to 16.2&#xa0;nmol/min/g (significant difference, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05, t-test), together with the total soil nitrogen levels from 217&#x2009;~&#x2009;258 to 414&#xa0;mg/kg (significant difference, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05), and the soil organic matter levels from 19.5&#x2009;~&#x2009;20.8 to 23.6&#xa0;mg/kg (significant difference, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Consequently, the yield of A. sinicus was remarkably improved by the inoculation of NFBs plus EcCMC. Similar results were observed in the experiments using Medicago sativa.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds a novel light on a synthetic biology-assisted regulation of rhizosphere microbiomes for enhanced nitrogen fixation and soil fertility in Leguminous plants. The designed polysaccharide-binding protein may be used as a universal tool to promote plant growth and enhance crop resilience in the future. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid41315966,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, R and Li, K and Wang, D and Meng, W and Wei, X},
title = {Dual gradient dynamics: morpho-anatomical and symbiotic fungal communities in Fraxinus Mandshurica fine roots across root order and habitats.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-025-07675-4},
pmid = {41315966},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {145309629//Basic Research Business Fee Project for Provincial Undergrad-uate Universities in Heilongjiang Province/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The cooperation between fine roots and mycorrhizal fungi is of great significance in terms of adapting to harsh environments and acquiring resources. Nevertheless, how this cooperative relationship responds in different environments remains unclear. To understand the mechanisms of the interaction between root order structure and morphology and endophytic fungi in different habitats, we investigated the anatomical and chemical traits of first five order roots, as well as the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization and the community structure of root-inhabiting fungi of Fraxinus mandshurica in the semi-arid and humid habitats of Northeast China.<br><br>RESULTS: In contrast to humid habitats, the fine roots of F. mandshurica in semi-arid habitats exhibited more conservative resource-acquisition traits, characterized by greater root diameter and tissue density alongside reduced specific root length, specific root surface area and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Concurrently, anatomical traits showed adaptations for symbiotic fungi association: cortical cell thickness, cell size and the ratio of cortical thickness to half of the stele diameter were higher in absorptive roots. The diversity of symbiotic fungi, represented by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization were significantly higher than those in humid habitats, enhancing resource acquisition. It is worth noting that in semi-arid habitats, not only do the absorptive roots of F. mandshurica habour a higher proportion of AMF, but AMF hyphae and vesicles were also observed in the transport roots. Moreover, AMF extending from absorptive roots to transport roots was detected, representing a novel resource-acquisition strategy.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The semi-arid habitat promotes the development of conservative resource-acquisition traits in the fine roots of F. mandshurica and expands the spatial extent of root nutrient exchange. It also enhances the ability of fine roots to recruit symbiotic fungi and facilitates the extension of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae from absorptive roots to transport roots, thereby strengthening the response of roots and mycorrhizal fungi to adverse conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41314145,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and Lin, X and Dong, Z and Zhou, R and Niu, Q},
title = {Biomass ratio regulates methane conversion and carbon fixation in a methanotrophs-microalgae symbiotic system: Efficiency optimization and mechanisms driven by co-metabolism.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {290},
number = {},
pages = {125016},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.125016},
pmid = {41314145},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {The methanotrophs-microalgae symbiotic system for greenhouse gas treatment is a novel biological carbon fixation technology. However, practical applications are limited by low conversion efficiency, which arises from metabolic heterogeneity in growth rates and carbon-nitrogen resource utilization within the system. To improve metabolic stability of such symbiotic systems, this study systematically assessed CH4 metabolic fluxes by regulating the methanotrophs-microalgae biomass ratio, and further revealed synergistic mechanisms that enhance system stability. Experimental results indicated that at a methanotrophs to microalgae ratio of 1:5, the CH4 consumption rate peaked at 1.1 L CH4/d/g biomass. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory and the laser confocal revealed that the co-aggregation force of methanotrophs and microalgae was significantly enhanced at the optimal ratio. This enhancement was crucial for regulating the spatial mutualistic growth and metabolic interactions within the methanotrophs-microalgae symbiotic community. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) exerts a significant negative effect on methane consumption (-0.68***). Metagenomics results indicated that at the optimal methanotrophs-microalgae ratio, the relative abundance of genes associated with the methane oxidation center metabolic pathway increased by 1.38 times. This significantly enriched Type I methanotrophs (1.89 times) and Type II methanotrophs (1.51 times), while the relative abundance of genes involved in the PHB production pathway decreased by 16 %. This change accelerated the conversion and assimilation of methane carbon, ultimately improving the carbon fixation efficiency by 16 %. This study provided theoretical foundations and technical support for advancing the engineering application of methanotrophs and microalgae symbionts to achieve efficient, stable methane conversion and simultaneous carbon sequestration.},
}
@article {pmid41313925,
year = {2025},
author = {Mechri, B and Guesmi, A and Tekaya, M and Chehab, H and Ben Hamadi, N},
title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis drives a carbon-dependent metabolic reprogramming in olive tree rhizosphere and leaves.},
journal = {Journal of plant physiology},
volume = {316},
number = {},
pages = {154661},
doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154661},
pmid = {41313925},
issn = {1618-1328},
abstract = {We investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis on the triacylglycerol fatty acids (TAGFA) profile in the rhizosphere of olive trees colonized by Rhizophagus (R.) irregularis. The TAGFA 16:1ω5 was used as a marker of AM fungal storage structures, whereas TAGFA 18:2ω6 was used as a marker of saprotrophic fungal storage structures. Our results showed that the rhizospheres of AM and non-mycorrhizal (NM) plants differed significantly in their TAGFA composition, a finding reported here for the first time. In particular, root colonization by R. irregularis increased TAGFA 16:1ω5 by 76 % and decreased TAGFA 18:2ω6 by 45 %, suggesting that less carbon was allocated to saprotrophic fungal storage structures. This redistribution of carbon in AM plant rhizospheres strongly influenced the content of cyclopropyl fatty acids in microbial cytomembranes, which are widely used as classical indicators of nutritional stress in soil microorganisms. The cyclopropyl-to-precursor ratio decreased significantly in AM rhizospheres, indicating that AM symbiosis effectively alleviates microbial stress in olive rhizospheres. These marked changes in the AM rhizosphere were associated with metabolic rearrangements in olive leaves. AM symbiosis generally had a positive impact on amino acid levels, particularly those of the glutamate family (glutamic acid, arginine, ornithine, and glutamine). Metabolic reprogramming also enhanced other pathways of secondary metabolism, notably flavonoids (luteolin 7-O-glucoside and luteolin 7-O-rutinoside) and the secoiridoid oleuropein. Taken together, our results highlight the pivotal role of AM fungi in regulating the allocation of photosynthates from aboveground tissues to belowground structures, including roots and their associated mycorrhizal partners, thereby driving rhizospheric changes and priming the accumulation of defensive compounds in olive leaves. This may (1) decrease leaf water potential, making it more negative and thereby facilitating water movement from the stem to the leaves, and (2) enhance tolerance to environmental stresses.},
}
@article {pmid41312132,
year = {2025},
author = {S, CB and Mahto, RK and Singh, RK and V, R and Singh, KK and Kushwah, S and Lavanya, GR and Kudapa, H and Kumar Valluri, V and Vemula, AK and Yadav, RR and Yadav, LB and Upadhyaya, HD and Hamwieh, A and Kumar, R},
title = {Genome-wide association studies identified novel SNPs associated with efficient biological nitrogen fixation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1652315},
pmid = {41312132},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the second most important food legume crop, capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3) in symbiotic association with Mesorhizobium cicero through a process called biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). BNF shows promise in effectively diminishing reliance on exogenous nitrogen applications, enhancing soil sustainability and productivity in pulse crops. Notably, there are limited studies on the molecular basis of root nodulation in chickpea. In order to identify new sources of highly nodulating genotypes and gain deep insights into genomic regions governing BNF, a diverse chickpea global germplasm collection (284) was evaluated for nodulation and yield traits in four different environments in an augmented randomized block design. The genotypes exhibited significant trait variation, encompassing all traits under study. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation of nodulation traits on yield within the chickpea population. The genotypes ICC 7390, ICC 15, ICC 8348, and ICC 2474 were identified as high nodulating across the locations. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified noteworthy and stable marker-trait associations (MTAs) linked to the traits of interest. For the traits number of nodules (NON) and nodule fresh weight (NFW), 65 and 109 significant MTAs were identified, respectively. In addition, two SNPs, Ca1pos289.52482.1 and 6_33340878, identified in our earlier studies were validated by independent population studies, which are crucial in evaluating the accuracy and reliability of the projections. Subsequent analysis revealed that a substantial proportion of these MTAs were situated within intergenic regions, with the potential to modulate genes associated with the focal traits. The candidate genes identified could be converted to Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers and exploited in marker-assisted breeding, accentuating their impact on future chickpea breeding efforts.},
}
@article {pmid41312105,
year = {2025},
author = {Ye, K and Zheng, J and Dong, Z and Wang, S and Huang, S},
title = {Harnessing omics to decode the mechanisms of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
journal = {aBIOTECH},
volume = {6},
number = {4},
pages = {602-617},
pmid = {41312105},
issn = {2662-1738},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is predominantly observed in legumes, which form specialized structures termed nodules on their roots that contain symbiotic rhizobia. This mutualistic association provides reciprocal benefits: rhizobia convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, supplying essential nitrogen to their host plants, while obtaining reduced carbon in return. The increasing reliance on nitrogen fertilizers to satisfy escalating demands for food has prompted various approaches aimed at unravelling the mechanisms underlying symbiotic nodulation, seeking to transfer this capacity to non-nodulating crops. Transcriptome-based analyses have revealed that nodulation is a complex developmental program involving many genes. To comprehensively investigate this phenomenon, multiple omics technologies have been deployed and integrated, yielding exciting breakthroughs. In this review, we outline how omics have accelerated research in this area and discuss how advancements in technologies, such as artificial intelligence, could further deepen our understanding of nodulation.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-025-00208-5.},
}
@article {pmid41312095,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Q and Dong, Q and Chen, ZC},
title = {Nutrient storage and release in uninfected cells of soybean nodules support symbiotic nitrogen fixation in infected cells.},
journal = {aBIOTECH},
volume = {6},
number = {4},
pages = {790-802},
pmid = {41312095},
issn = {2662-1738},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) between legumes and rhizobia contributes to sustainable agriculture. In root nodules, infected cells (ICs) are the primary sites of rhizobial colonization and nitrogen fixation. However, the function of the neighboring uninfected cells (UCs) has received little attention and is poorly understood. In this study, we employed a symplastic tracing approach to elucidate the role of UCs in nutrient storage and transport within root nodules. We uncovered an extensive network of plasmodesmata connecting ICs and UCs, while direct IC-IC connections were absent. By artificially inducing callose deposition at plasmodesmata, we demonstrate that plasmodesmata permeability between ICs and UCs regulates nutrient import into ICs, thereby influencing nutrient homeostasis and the SNF ability of nodules. Furthermore, high nitrogen levels triggered callose deposition at plasmodesmata, restricting nutrient transport, which may represent one mechanism by which excessive nitrogen inhibits SNF. These findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of SNF and underscore the crucial role of UCs in optimizing nitrogen fixation efficiency.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-025-00247-y.},
}
@article {pmid41312060,
year = {2025},
author = {Kim, IH and Wang, J and Ivanenko, VN},
title = {A new Hemicyclops (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Clausidiidae) associated with the scleractinian coral Galaxea from the South China Sea.},
journal = {ZooKeys},
volume = {1260},
number = {},
pages = {93-109},
pmid = {41312060},
issn = {1313-2989},
abstract = {The genus Hemicyclops Boeck, 1873 is known for its association with various marine invertebrates, including cnidarians, crustaceans, polychaetes, and sponges, with some species also occurring in planktonic communities. Here, we report the first association of Hemicyclops with the scleractinian coral Galaxea fascicularis (Linnaeus, 1767) (Scleractinia, Euphylliidae). Hemicyclops cyanus sp. nov. is described based on a female specimen collected from this coral host in the lagoon (depth 10 m) of Dongsha Atoll, Pratas Islands, South China Sea. The new species is readily distinguished from its congeners by its characteristic genital double-somite, which bears prominent anterolateral expansions, and by the flexed, elongated exopodal segment of leg 5, which is more than three times longer than wide. In H. cyanus sp. nov., the paired spermatophores attached to the female are fused into a butterfly-shaped, highly modified complex with large lateral wings and a central tube into which the female urosome is inserted. To aid in species identification, we present the first comparative plate with schematic illustrations of the genital double-somites for the group of 25 species, including the type species.},
}
@article {pmid41310464,
year = {2025},
author = {Batool, A and Wang, C and Xia, Y and Xiao, L and Ahmad, J and Liu, L and Ge, L and Chen, C},
title = {Transcriptional profiles of endophyte Serendipita indica associated with plant growth improvement in watermelon.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-025-07659-4},
pmid = {41310464},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {CARS-25-17//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-25-17//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-25-17//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-25-17//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-25-17//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-25-17//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-25-17//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-25-17//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endophytes play an important role in improving the nutrient regime and growth status of host plants via symbiosis. Considering the importance of endophytes for maintaining good plant growth and development, we executed current study and investigated the effect of S. indica on watermelon plant growth, nutrient uptake efficiency and spatiotemporal variations in root-specific characteristics. Briefly, the surface sterilized seeds of three watermelon accessions were sowed on peat, perlite, and vermiculite media (3:2:1) in dark at 25 °C, the photosynthetic photon flux density 880 µmol/m[2]/s, 28[◦]C/21[◦]C day/night temperature and 68% relative humidity was maintained. The plants were inoculated with the endophyte S. indica at one-to two-leaf stage except the control plants. Serendipita indica was cultivated on Potato Dextrose Agar at 28 °C, and mass multiplied in 200 ml Potato Dextrose Broth after inoculating mycelial discs from freshly grown PDA and incubated at 28 °C with constant shaking at 150-200 rpm. After filtration, the viable fungal homogenate was used as inoculant, two weeks later the root fungal structures were observed. The morphological/physiological and molecular perspectives were determined as described in material method section.<br><br>RESULTS: The ZJU-accession (ZJU-197) with maximum colonization capacity has better plant growth (60.54%) and photosynthetic assimilation rate with maximum chlorophyll contents and more nutrients acquisition (N, P), thus making this symbiotic association helpful for watermelon plant physiological and morphological attributes. The endophyte S. indica upregulated Phosphomethylethanolamine N-methyltransferase domain proteins which are essential for the synthesis of secondary metabolites and participate in plant growth and nutrient uptake. Additionally, the colonized watermelon plants showed overexpression of dual affinity NRT1/PTR 7.3/6.3, similar to nitrate reductase and other metabolizing enzymes, thus making absorbed nutrients efficiently assimilated in the leaves to increase photosynthetic efficiency, resulting in biomass accumulation. Overexpression of genes facilitating nutrient uptake confirmed the influence of endophytes on nutrient acquisition in treated watermelon plants compared to that in untreated plants. The shared gene module enabled us to identify various auxin and secondary metabolite-regulated interlinked genes that contributed to watermelon plant growth induced by the S. indica inoculation.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Improved watermelon plant growth and nutrients availability have been elucidated from different physiological and molecular perspectives, and the phenotypic and genotypic variations in various plant traits are the definitive explanations for our hypothesis. These results emphasize the synergistic effects of S. indica on the nutritional status and growth characteristics of watermelon plants through the upregulation of certain secondary metabolites and other plant processes.},
}
@article {pmid41309565,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, YX and Li, WH and Zhang, MY and Zhao, S and Lv, ZJ and Lin, HT and Liao, LS and Wang, XD},
title = {Organic parallel grouping crystals without grain boundary.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {10647},
pmid = {41309565},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {52173177//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 524B2169//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
abstract = {Organic crystal-based micro/nanostructures with morphology-driven photons/electrons transport characteristics demonstrate exceptional potential for the development of optoelectronic functional materials. However, the construction of continuities and lossless interfaces within multicomponent structures remains a significant challenge, primarily due to inherent material differences and current technology limits. Herein, organic parallel grouping crystals (OPGCs), which devoid of grain boundaries between crystals via a solution viscosity-induced binuclear co-growth strategy, are designed to enhance photon transmission efficiency. Notably, the symbiotic phenomenon among components within OPGCs is precisely regulated by manipulating the solvent viscosity to exceed 0.5 mPa·s through adjustments in factors such as the cooling rate, solvent type, concentration. Compared with the low photon transmission efficiency (2.1%) caused by the discontinuous splicing interface, the elimination of grain boundaries significantly enhances the interlayer photon transmission efficiency of OPGCs, resulting in an overlap degree-dependent adjustable transmission efficiency ranging from 21.3% to 54.9%. This symbiotic strategy demonstrates universality to small molecules, coordination compounds, and cocrystals, enabling the construction of parallel grouping structures comprising single- or multi-component crystals.},
}
@article {pmid41308222,
year = {2025},
author = {Dorawa, P and Kolniak-Ostek, J},
title = {Green and roasted coffee as novel substrates for kombucha fermentation: Modulation of bioactivity and phenolic profile.},
journal = {Food chemistry},
volume = {498},
number = {Pt 2},
pages = {147162},
doi = {10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.147162},
pmid = {41308222},
issn = {1873-7072},
abstract = {Fermentation of coffee beverages with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) is an emerging alternative to traditional tea-based kombucha. This study examined the effects of SCOBY fermentation on the chemical composition and bioactivity of infusions prepared from green and roasted beans of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. Fermentation for 14 days markedly altered the phenolic profile and enhanced the antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticholinesterase activities. Green C. canephora showed the highest antidiabetic and neuroprotective potential, while roasted coffees exhibited stronger antioxidant effects. Multivariate analyses (PCA and Pearson correlation) revealed close associations between phenolic transformation, sugar metabolism and biological functions. The results demonstrate that coffee, particularly in its green form, is a promising substrate for SCOBY fermentation and may serve as a basis for developing novel functional beverages with targeted health-promoting properties.},
}
@article {pmid41307238,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, Y and Liu, Y and Li, J and Yu, H and Yang, J and Li, Q and Lyu, L and Zhang, S},
title = {Adaptive Feeding Strategies Facilitate Resilience of Deep-Sea Cold Seep Molluscs Confronting Climate Change.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70190},
doi = {10.1111/mec.70190},
pmid = {41307238},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {42494884//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42306171//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; SCSIO202202//Development fund of South China Sea Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; GML20190609//PI project of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)/ ; 2025A1515010932//Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; 2023B1212060047//Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China/ ; },
abstract = {Molluscs living in dynamic deep-sea cold seep environments have evolved distinct feeding strategies for survival. Here, we present the chromosome-level genomes of two sympatric mollusc species with distinct feeding strategies, a symbiosis-dependent mussel Gigantidas haimaensis and a predatory snail Phymorhynchus buccinoides. Comparative genomic analysis revealed gene family expansions related to the bacterial component degradation (e.g., b4GalTs) in G. haimaensis, suggesting an adaptation to symbiotic life. Conversely, P. buccinoides exhibited gene family expansions associated with appetite regulation (e.g., ox2r) and the digestive system (e.g., sult1 and chst), indicating genetic modifications for deep-sea predation. Furthermore, we conducted an in situ experiment mimicking a scenario in which ocean warming and sea-level rise resulted in a mass methane leakage in deep-sea cold seeps. Interestingly, G. haimaensis increased its metabolic rate and exhibited transcriptional responses. However, P. buccinoides suppressed energy production and responses at translational and posttranslational levels, which is compatible with their distinct feeding strategies. Collectively, our results provide insights on the evolutionary basis and resilience mechanisms related to energy management, which may facilitate methane tolerance of molluscs in the deep-sea cold seeps threatened by climate change.},
}
@article {pmid41307056,
year = {2025},
author = {Allen-Waller, L and Glass, BH and Jones, KG and Dworetzky, AG and Barott, KL},
title = {The temperate coral Astrangia poculata maintains acid-base homeostasis through heat stress.},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {12},
number = {11},
pages = {251528},
pmid = {41307056},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Heat stress can disrupt acid-base homeostasis in reef-building corals and other tropical cnidarians, often leading to cellular acidosis that can undermine organismal function. Temperate cnidarians experience a high degree of seasonal temperature variability, leading us to hypothesize that temperate taxa have more thermally robust pH homeostasis than their tropical relatives. To test this, we investigated how elevated temperature affects intracellular pH and calcification in the temperate coral Astrangia poculata. Clonal pairs were exposed to elevated (30°C) or control (22°C) temperatures for 17 days. Despite causing damage to host tissues and symbiont cells, elevated temperature did not affect intracellular pH or inhibit calcification in A. poculata. These responses contrast with those of tropical cnidarians, which experience cellular acidification and decreased growth during heat stress. Astrangia poculata therefore appears to have thermally resilient cellular acid-base homeostasis mechanisms, possibly because of adaptation to large seasonal temperature variations. However, we also observed tissue damage and lower egg densities in heat-treated individuals, suggesting that increasingly severe marine heatwaves can still threaten temperate coral fitness. These results provide insight into corals' nuanced adaptive capacity across latitudes and biological scales.},
}
@article {pmid41306926,
year = {2025},
author = {Melis, S and Gammuto, L and Castelli, M and Nardi, T and Bisaglia, B and Duron, O and Cafiso, A and Botman, J and Lambert, O and Olivieri, E and Sprong, H and Plantard, O and Sassera, D},
title = {Genetic and genomic variability of Spiroplasma and Midichloria endosymbionts associated with the tick Ixodes frontalis.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf202},
pmid = {41306926},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Ixodes frontalis, an ornithophilic tick species, is widely distributed all over Europe exhibiting two genetically diverging haplogroups based on differences in the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene. Despite its broad distribution, little is known about the presence of symbiotic bacteria in I. frontalis, while symbionts are generally widespread in ixodid ticks and responsible for important effects on host fitness. We collected I. frontalis from France and Italy (n = 277) and assessed that the most prevalent haplogroup was A (73%). We then investigated the presence of the symbionts, Midichloria mitochondrii and Spiroplasma ixodetis. They were both found at a high prevalence in adult ticks (66% and 77% respectively), while the number of positive immature ticks was significantly lower (18% for both). The experimental analysis of larvae hatched from egg clutches obtained from four females hints at vertical transmission of both symbionts. We obtained three genomes of Spiroplasma and one of Midichloria, and used them to perform comparative genomic analysis. Average nucleotide identity among available Spiroplasma or Midichloria genomes from I. frontalis are all extremely high, suggesting low genetic variability for both symbionts. Gene presence/absence analysis confirmed the presence of B vitamin synthesis genes in the genome of M. mitochondrii, and also showed the presence of the ETX/MTX2 gene, the RIP family and a partial Spaid-like gene in S. ixodetis. This gene repertoire indicates a nutritional role for Midichloria, while for S. ixodetis we hypothesize a role of this bacterium as a defensive symbiont or a manipulator of the host reproduction.},
}
@article {pmid41305496,
year = {2025},
author = {Morgese, EA and Ferrell, BD and Toth, SC and Polson, SW and Wommack, KE and Fuhrmann, JJ},
title = {Comparative Analysis Reveals Host Species-Dependent Diversity Among 16 Virulent Bacteriophages Isolated Against Soybean Bradyrhizobium spp.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {17},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/v17111474},
pmid = {41305496},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {1736030//U.S. National Science Foundation/ ; P20 GM103446/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 1S10OD028725-01A1/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/virology ; *Glycine max/microbiology ; *Bacteriophages/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/classification/physiology/pathogenicity ; Host Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; Genome, Viral ; },
abstract = {Phages play a role in shaping ecosystems by controlling host abundance via cell lysis, driving host evolution via horizontal gene transfer, and promoting nutrient cycling. The genus Bradyrhizobium includes bacteria able to symbiotically nodulate the roots of soybean (Glycine max), providing the plant with a direct source of biologically fixed nitrogen. Optimizing this symbiosis can minimize the use of nitrogen fertilizers and make soybean production more sustainable. Phages targeting Bradyrhizobium may modify their hosts' genotype, alter phenotypic traits such as symbiotic effectiveness, and mediate competition among strains for nodulation sites. Sixteen phages were isolated against B. diazoefficiens strain USDA110 and B. elkanii strains USDA94 and USDA31. Comparative analyses revealed host species-dependent diversity in morphology, host range, and genome composition, leading to the identification of three previously undescribed phage species. Remarkably, all B. elkanii phages shared a siphophage morphology and formed a single species with >97% nucleotide identity, even when isolated from farms separated by up to ~70 km, suggesting genomic stability across geographic scales. In contrast, phages isolated against B. diazoefficiens had a podophage-like morphology, exhibited greater genetic diversity, and divided into two distinct species. Although no phages were recovered against the B. japonicum strains or native Delaware Bradyrhizobium isolates tested, some Delaware Bradyrhizobium isolates showed susceptibility in a host range assay. The phage genomes demonstrated features predicting phenotypes. The phage terminase genes predicted headful packaging which promotes generalized transduction. The B. elkanii phages all carried tmRNA genes capable of rescuing stalled ribosomes, and all but one of the phages isolated against the two host species carried DNA polymerase A indicating greater phage control of genome replication. State-of-the-art structural annotation of a hypothetical gene shared by the B. diazoefficiens phages, having a mean amino acid identity of ~25% and similarity of ~35%, predicted a putative tail fiber function. Together this work expands the limited knowledge available on soybean Bradyrhizobium phage ecology and genomics.},
}
@article {pmid41305123,
year = {2025},
author = {Teng, S and Lin, X and Wang, Y},
title = {Robust Beamforming Design for Energy Efficiency and Spectral Efficiency Tradeoff in Multi-STAR-RIS-Aided C-HRSMA.},
journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {25},
number = {22},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/s25226917},
pmid = {41305123},
issn = {1424-8220},
abstract = {This paper investigates a simultaneous transmitting and reflecting reconfigurable intelligent surface (STAR-RIS)-assisted cognitive hierarchical rate-splitting multiple access (C-HRSMA) system to enhance the system performance under imperfect channel state information (ICSI). By exploiting the natural user grouping afforded by the STAR-RIS and its distinct channel manipulation capabilities for the transmission and reflection users, we effectively mitigate inter-group common stream interference within C-HRSMA, consequently facilitating the achievement of higher spectral efficiency. Subsequently, the design is formulated as a non-convex optimization problem that incorporates the phase-shift matrix of STAR-RIS, the beamforming vector of the base station, and the common rate allocation vector. To address this non-convex problem, an alternating optimization (AO) technique is employed to decouple the primary problem and solve the subproblems using S-procedure and successive convex approximation (SCA). The simulation results validate that the proposed algorithm exhibits superior SE and EE performance against benchmark algorithms.},
}
@article {pmid41304966,
year = {2025},
author = {Hontana-Moreno, N and Morales, D},
title = {Biological Activities of Novel Kombuchas Based on Alternative Ingredients to Replace Tea Leaves.},
journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {18},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ph18111722},
pmid = {41304966},
issn = {1424-8247},
abstract = {Background/Objectives: Traditional kombucha is produced by fermenting a sweetened infusion of Camellia sinensis leaves with a symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY). The growing interest in this beverage has driven the exploration of alternative substrates, including a wide range of plant-based raw materials, such as leaves, fruits, flowers, and seeds. Consequently, numerous products are being investigated for their differential properties, not only organoleptic but also nutritional and bioactive. This review aims to summarize recent advances in alternative kombucha research, focusing on the substrates used, their physicochemical and biochemical characteristics, and the biological activities studied. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to select articles related to alternative kombuchas. A critical analysis of their current state was carried out through the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) methodology. Results: The SWOT analysis led to the identification of strengths, including promising in vitro results and growing consumer interest; weaknesses, including a lack of animal studies, clinical trials, and approved health claims, and an excessive focus on antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds; opportunities, including substrate diversity, innovation, and consumer education; and threats, including elaboration risks, misinformation, competitors, and potential consumer rejection. Conclusions: Despite the promising results achieved to date, it is essential that the scientific community and the food industry continue efforts to generate robust evidence, particularly through clinical validation, in order to draw reliable conclusions regarding the benefits of alternative kombuchas for human health.},
}
@article {pmid41304609,
year = {2025},
author = {Bojórquez-Armenta, YJ and Sarmiento-López, LG and Pozo, MJ and Castro-Martínez, C and Lopez-Meyer, M},
title = {Characterization of Endoglucanase (GH9) Gene Family in Tomato and Its Expression in Response to Rhizophagus irregularis and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {22},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14223458},
pmid = {41304609},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {A1-S-31400//Secretar&#xed;a de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnolog&#xed;a e Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; 20230746//Instituto Polit&#xe9;cnico Nacional/ ; },
abstract = {In this study, we report bioinformatics analysis of the endoglucanase GH9 gene family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) using the SL5.0 genome, confirming the presence of 19 members that clustered into classes A, B, and C. To explore their potential role in plant-microbe interactions, we determined the transcriptional regulation of 10 SlGH9 gene members in tomato leaves and roots during interactions with the mutualistic root mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the foliar pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The upregulation of several SlGH9 genes in the leaves of mycorrhizal plants suggests that they are involved in cellulose remodeling and biosynthesis rather than its degradation. This would be consistent with the observed increase in foliar area. On the other hand, downregulation of some SlGH9 genes in leaves of pathogen-infected mycorrhizal plants suggests that these genes may play a role in the enhanced resistance observed by reducing cellulose degradation, thereby maintaining cell wall integrity. The potential involvement of endoglucanase genes in expansive growth (foliar area) and in defense in mycorrhizal and pathogen-infected plants may reflect a growth-defense trade-off.},
}
@article {pmid41304310,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, L and Zhang, J and Qiao, S and Xu, J and Li, J and Zhang, W and Yi, Q and Wu, Y and Wang, T and Bian, P},
title = {The Effects of Feeding ybfQ-Deficient Gut Bacteria on Radio-Tolerance in Symbiotic Caenorhabditis elegans: The Key Role of Isoscoparin.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13112626},
pmid = {41304310},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {12135016//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 12475335//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 12075275//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; GXXT-2022-001//the University Synergy Innovation Program of Anhui Province/ ; 2022AH050727//the Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Educational Committee/ ; },
abstract = {It is inevitable for life on earth to be exposed to various types of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, underscoring the importance of radioprotection. The symbiotic interaction between gut microbiota and the host provides a strategy for protecting the organism against these stressors. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying this interaction remain poorly understood due to the complexity and diversity of gut microbiota. In this study, we employed a symbiotic experimental system involving Caenorhabditis elegans and Escherichia coli to systemically investigate the effects of bacterial genetic alterations on host responses to radiation exposure. Our findings revealed that deletion of the bacterial ybfQ gene (ΔybfQ) significantly enhanced worm tolerance to UV-B radiation. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated an enhanced antioxidant capacity in ΔybfQ-fed worms, as evidenced by reduced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restored oxidative homeostasis. Notably, ΔybfQ bacteria exhibited overproduction of isoscoparin, and exogenous supplementation with isoscoparin similarly enhanced worm radio-tolerance, underscoring its crucial role in ΔybfQ-mediated antioxidant of host worm. Both interventions retained their protective effects in IIS-deficient worms (daf-16). However, the protective effects of ΔybfQ feeding, but not isoscoparin treatment, were attenuated in daf-2 worms with a constitutively activated IIS pathway, accompanied by reduced bacteria gut colonization. Collectively, our results provide novel insights into the genetic basis of host-microbe interactions and propose a potential pharmacological strategy for radiation protection.},
}
@article {pmid41304279,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, M and Li, Q and Han, Y and Wang, Q and Yang, H and Li, H and Hu, C},
title = {Sulfur Cycling and Life Strategies in Successional Biocrusts Link to Biomass Carbon in Dryland Ecosystems.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13112594},
pmid = {41304279},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {32370125//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 41877419//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 41877339//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; XDA17010502//Strategic Priority Research Program at the Chinese Academy of Science/ ; },
abstract = {Examining the changing patterns and underlying mechanisms of soil biomass carbon stocks constitutes a fundamental aspect of soil biology. Despite the potential influence of the sulfur cycle and the life strategies of organisms on community biomass, these factors have rarely been studied in tandem. Biocrusts are model systems for studying soil ecosystems. In this study, metagenomic analysis of biocrusts related to different life strategies from five batches over four consecutive years demonstrated that, in free-living communities, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) synthesis, via assimilatory sulfate reduction (ASR), is primarily coupled with the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate and Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycles. These pathways are affected by the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh), pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient levels. The decomposition of organic carbon (OC) via dissimilatory sulfate reduction (DSR) was accompanied by the production of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which was influenced by the C/S ratio and moisture, whereas the synthesis of MBC by symbiotic communities was found to be affected by Eh and pH, and decomposition was affected by the C/S ratio. The MBC stock was influenced by all strategies, with resource strategies having the greatest impacts during the growing season, and the contribution of chemotrophic energy was most significant in free-living communities. In conclusion, the MBC in biocrusts is associated with both ASR and DSR and is facilitated by the A-, S-, and P-strategies under the regulation of the stoichiometric C/S ratio. The exploration of microbial life strategies and sulfur cycling in biocrusts within arid ecosystems in this study offers a new perspective on the patterns of change in soil biomass carbon stocks.},
}
@article {pmid41304215,
year = {2025},
author = {Arruda, ISA and Cavalcante, CDS and Rubens, RS and Castro, LNPF and Nóbrega, YKM and Dalmolin, TV},
title = {Changes in the Gut Microbiota of Patients After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: What Do We Know?.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13112529},
pmid = {41304215},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {DPI/BCE n&#xba; 01/2025//University of Brasilia/ ; FAPDF n&#xba; 09/2023//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Apoio &#xe0; Pesquisa do Distrito Federal/ ; },
abstract = {COVID-19 can cause long-term symptoms, such as a post-infection syndrome, known as Long-COVID. Among the symptoms present during this period, the most reported are gastrointestinal symptoms. This study discusses the effects of changes in the gut microbiota of post-COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with significant alterations in gut microbial composition, disturbing its homeostasis and promoting a reduction in the abundance of beneficial symbiotic bacteria and an increase in the abundance of opportunistic pathogens. Furthermore, the composition of the gut microbiota may play a role in the prognosis of patients with post-COVID-19 infection. The microbiota of the intestinal tract and the respiratory tract influence each other; therefore, the gut-lung axis has attracted increasing interest in understanding COVID-19. Moreover, the brain-gut axis has been studied, since there have been reports of anxiety and depression along with post-COVID-19 gastrointestinal symptoms. Treatments options for intestinal dysbiosis in Long-COVID patients include probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation. These treatments may serve as an approach to improve gastrointestinal symptoms during Long-COVID, increasing microbiome diversity, strengthening the integrity of intestinal barrier functions, and consequently influencing the treatment of COVID-19.},
}
@article {pmid41304149,
year = {2025},
author = {Msiza, LJ and Ngmenzuma, TY and Mohammed, M and Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD},
title = {Cross-Infectivity of 11 Different Legume Species by 15 Native Rhizobia Isolated from African Soils.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13112463},
pmid = {41304149},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Selecting symbiotic rhizobia for use as inoculants in agriculture is a major challenge, though it is necessary for exploiting biological nitrogen fixation as an eco-friendly source of N in contrast to chemical N fertilizers which can pollute the environment. In addition to high symbiotic efficiency, bacterial strain ability to infect and effectively nodulate a wide range of host plants is also desired. Cross-infectivity studies are therefore important for identifying rhizobial strains that are highly effective with a broad host range. The legume/rhizobia symbiosis has the potential to contribute about 80% or more N to agricultural systems, thus providing a sustainable source of N in cropping systems. This study assessed the cross-nodulation, colony morphology, relative symbiotic effectiveness and N2 fixation of native rhizobial isolates from Africa that nodulate diverse legume species. The results showed that the rhizobial isolates differed significantly in symbiotic performance and relative symbiotic effectiveness. As a result, they differed markedly in nodulation and shoot DM induced in their host plants.},
}
@article {pmid41303664,
year = {2025},
author = {Ershova, NM and Sheshukova, EV and Kamarova, KA and Alimova, AR and Savchenko, YY and Antimonova, AA and Komarova, TV},
title = {Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylase/Hydrolase Downregulation Increases Nicotiana benthamiana Tolerance to Tobacco Mosaic Virus Infection.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {22},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms262211183},
pmid = {41303664},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {19-74-20031//Russian Science Foundation/ ; 125091010191-6//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation/ ; },
mesh = {*Nicotiana/virology/genetics/enzymology ; *Tobacco Mosaic Virus/physiology/pathogenicity ; *Glycosyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Diseases/virology/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Down-Regulation ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; },
abstract = {The biological functions of the multiple members of the xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase (XTH) protein family are rather diverse: XTHs are cell wall remodeling enzymes that participate in plant growth and development, are involved in responses to various environmental stresses and interactions with pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms. However, XTHs' role upon viral infection remains poorly understood. Here we identified and characterized Nicotiana benthamiana XTH (NbXTH) which is involved in responses to viral infection. We demonstrated that NbXTH is a positive regulator of intercellular transport. NbXTH suppression leads to the inhibition of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) local spread, resulting in the increased tolerance of N. benthamiana plants to TMV. Therefore, NbXTH could be regarded as a susceptibility factor.},
}
@article {pmid41303524,
year = {2025},
author = {Valitova, JN and Khabibrakhmanova, VR and Babayev, VM and Khajrullina, AF and Gurjanov, OP and Gazizova, NI and Beckett, RP and Minibayeva, FV},
title = {Sterol Composition in the Lichens Lobaria pulmonaria and Lobaria retigera: Does Photobiont Matter?.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {22},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms262211041},
pmid = {41303524},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {22-14-00362P//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Lichens/chemistry/metabolism ; *Sterols/chemistry/analysis/metabolism ; *Ascomycota/chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Phytosterols/chemistry/analysis/metabolism ; Ergosterol ; Nostoc/chemistry/metabolism ; Cholesterol/analogs &amp; derivatives ; },
abstract = {The lipid composition of the mycobint and photobiont symbiotic partners of lichenized ascomycetes varies greatly. The aim of this study was to compare the profile of the major sterols in two closely related lichens from the genus Lobaria with different photobionts. The three-component lichen Lobaria pulmonaria has two photobionts. While the main photobiont is the chlorophycean alga Symbiochloris reticulata, this lichen contains small amounts of the cyanobacterium Nostoc. By contrast, the cyanobacterium Nostoc is the main photobiont in Lobaria retigera. Relatively loosely bound sterols were extracted using a chloroform-methanol mixture, and subsequently, more tightly bound sterols by alkaline saponification. The initial chloroform-methanol extraction step indicated that ergosterol is the principal sterol in both species, with phytosterols constituting a minor fraction. However, the addition of an alkaline saponification step to the standard protocol of sterol extraction greatly increases the release of tightly bound phytosterols, such as campesterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol from L. pulmonaria, but not from L. retigera. Therefore, the mycobionts and Nostoc mainly possess sterols extractable by the standard mixture of chloroform/methanol, while the chlorophycean algal photobiont contains tightly bound sterols. This observation could be important when studying the roles of sterols in the stress tolerance of lichens.},
}
@article {pmid41302914,
year = {2025},
author = {Bykov, R and Shatalova, E and Andreeva, I and Khodakova, A and Ryabinin, A and Demenkova, M and Ilinsky, Y},
title = {Endosymbiotic Bacteria Spiroplasma and Wolbachia in a Laboratory-Reared Insect Collection.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16111168},
pmid = {41302914},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {24-24-00378//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Many insect and other arthropod species are maintained as non-model laboratory stocks and are used for fundamental and applied studies. Their biology may be affected by symbionts, such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. Thirty stocks of different insect species that are maintained at the Laboratory of biological control of phytophagous and phytopathogens in the Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies were screened to find Spiroplasma/Wolbachia-host associations. We used 16S rDNA and fusA loci for Spiroplasma characterization and five MLST genes for Wolbachia. Seven out of thirty stocks harbored symbionts. Five stocks were infected with only Wolbachia, one with only Spiroplasma, and one with both symbionts. Two stocks were occasionally characterized by false-positive signals of Spiroplasma infection that were explained by contamination from food sources, viz. infected insects. Five Wolbachia isolates belonged to supergroup B and one to supergroup A. Only the MLST haplotype of Nabis ferus was previously known (ST-522), while the other haplotypes contained new alleles. One Spiroplasma isolate was clustered in the Ixodetis clade and another was basal to the Apis clade. We noted the importance of non-model insects for fundamental studies of host-symbiont interactions and their significance for applied research and practice.},
}
@article {pmid41302872,
year = {2025},
author = {Mu, K and Zhang, B and Cai, Z and Chen, J and Zhang, J and Su, J},
title = {Diversity and Influencing Factors of Endosymbiotic Bacteria in Tetranychus truncatus Sourced from Major Crops in Xinjiang.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16111126},
pmid = {41302872},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2022B02043//Key Research and Development Project of Autonomous Region/ ; U2003112//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024B02003//Key Research and Development Project of the Xinjiang/ ; },
abstract = {The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, situated in northwest China, boasts a unique geographical position and a consequent variety of environmental characteristics. T. truncatus is prevalent throughout this region as the primary pest affecting various crops. In this study, we analyzed the microbial community structures of endosymbiotic bacteria in T. truncatus collected from 17 regions and three host plants in Xinjiang using 16S rRNA sequencing. Through composition analysis of the endosymbiotic bacteria in T. truncatus from Xinjiang, it was found that the dominant bacterial phyla were Pseudomonadota and Bacillota. At the genus level, in addition to Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Spiroplasma (common symbiotic bacteria in T. truncatus), the infection rate of Rickettsia in T. truncatus in Xinjiang was found to be 92.8%. The diversity of the endosymbiotic bacteria community in T. truncatus is shaped by both host plant species and geographical region. Specifically, the endosymbiotic bacterial diversity in T. truncatus populations on corn was significantly higher than that observed in populations on cotton and soybean (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we discovered the diversity of endosymbiotic bacteria in T. truncatus was significantly higher in southern Xinjiang than in northern Xinjiang (p < 0.05).},
}
@article {pmid41302101,
year = {2025},
author = {Tan, Y and Ning, Y and Wang, S and Li, F and Cao, X and Wang, Q and Ren, A},
title = {Multilayered Regulation of Fungal Phosphate Metabolism: From Molecular Mechanisms to Ecological Roles in the Global Phosphorus Cycle.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/life15111676},
pmid = {41302101},
issn = {2075-1729},
support = {GHYF2024012//International Science &amp; Technology Cooperation Program of Hainan Province/ ; No. SCKJ-JYRC-2023-37//Project of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City/ ; No. ZDYF2024KJTPY005//Hainan ProvinceScience and Technology&#x2002;Special Fund/ ; },
abstract = {Phosphates are essential nutrients for living organisms, and they are involved in various biological processes, including lipid metabolism, energy synthesis, and signal regulation. Recent studies have elucidated the fundamental components and transport proteins of phosphate signaling pathways, thereby providing a more profound understanding of phosphate metabolism in fungi. In this review, we concentrate on synthesizing the recent findings concerning phosphate metabolism in fungi over the past five years. These findings include the role of phosphates in the global phosphorus cycle, their effect on fungal growth and development, the variations in PHO signaling pathways among different species, and their pivotal role in symbiosis with plants. A mounting body of research substantiates the notion that phosphates play a pivotal role in regulating fungal life activities through a multifaceted mechanism. This regulatory function encompasses the promotion of growth and development, adaptation to environmental variations among different fungal species, and the evolution of distinct regulatory factors and transport proteins. Consequently, this fosters fungal diversity.},
}
@article {pmid41302095,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, S and Yang, W and Tao, Z and Li, F and Wei, B and Yue, C and Deng, Y and Shang, L and Chai, Z and Tang, YZ},
title = {In Situ Harvesting and Molecular Identification for the Germinating Species Diversity of Dinoflagellate Resting Cysts in Jiaozhou Bay, China.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/life15111670},
pmid = {41302095},
issn = {2075-1729},
support = {42406210//the National Science Foundation of China/ ; KFJ-SWYW047//the Key Research Infrastructures in the CAS Field Stations of the Chinese Academy of Science/ ; 2024YFF0506901//the National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; U23A203//the National Science Foundation of China/ ; ZR2024MD109//Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Dinoflagellate resting cysts are critical to dinoflagellate ecology, acting as a key seed source for initiating harmful algal blooms (HABs) through their germination. However, the in situ germination dynamics of these cysts remain poorly understood due to technical challenges. To overcome this, we utilized the Germlings Harvester (GEHA), an in situ germination device we designed, to collect water samples containing dinoflagellate cysts germinated from marine sediments in Jiaozhou Bay, China, after 5 and 20 days of incubation. By combining the GEHA with metabarcoding analysis targeting 28S rDNA-specific primers for dinoflagellates, we identified 44 dinoflagellate species spanning 31 genera, 18 families, and 7 orders. Of these, 12 species were linked to HABs or recognized as toxic, including Azadinium poporum, Alexandrium leei, Alexandrium pacificum, Akashiwo sanguinea, Karlodinium veneficum, Stoeckeria algicida, and Luciella masanensis. Additionally, five species were newly identified as cyst producers, and one symbiotic dinoflagellate, Effrenium voratum, was detected. Our results also found that germinated dinoflagellate species increased from 23 to 34 with extended incubation, and the ratio of mixotrophic to heterotrophic species was approximately 2:1 in the samples of in situ sediments and seawater outside GEHA, as well as across germination durations (Sg-5 d vs. Sg-20 d). These findings provide essential field evidence for the role of resting cysts in driving HAB formation in this region and highlight the efficacy of the GEHA-based approach for studying in situ cyst germination dynamics, offering a robust tool for monitoring, early warning, prevention, and forecasting of HABs.},
}
@article {pmid41301944,
year = {2025},
author = {Yuan, Z and Fei, J and Li, S and Wu, Y and Liu, P},
title = {From Compensation to Collapse: UVB-Driven Disruption of Host-Microbiota Homeostasis Exacerbates Amphibian Ecological Risk.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {15},
number = {22},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ani15223236},
pmid = {41301944},
issn = {2076-2615},
support = {KXB202310//the Scientific and Technological Innovation Ascend Plan of Harbin Normal University/ ; },
abstract = {The synergistic effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and climate change are intensifying surface ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation, posing a severe threat to amphibians-one of the most endangered vertebrate groups globally. Xenopus laevis, with its cutaneous respiration and limited photoprotective mechanisms, exhibits high sensitivity to UVB, making it a suitable model for ecotoxicological studies. While UVB is known to cause DNA damage, immune suppression, and microbial dysbiosis, its mechanisms in multi-organ interactions, dose-response thresholds, and host-microbiome regulatory networks remain poorly understood. This study employed a gradient UVB exposure regime integrated with histopathology, oxidative stress assays, and 16S rRNA sequencing to systematically evaluate the effects of UVB on (1) cascade damage across skin, liver, and intestinal barriers; (2) immune cell distribution; (3) redox dynamics; and (4) microbial community structure and function. Our findings demonstrate that low-dose UVB activated compensatory antioxidant defenses without structural disruption, whereas exposure beyond a critical threshold induced nonlinear redox collapse, microbial dysbiosis, and multi-organ barrier failure, collectively exacerbating ecological adaptation risks. These results reveal a cross-scale mechanism by which UVB impairs amphibian health via disruption of host-microbe homeostasis, providing a conceptual and empirical framework for assessing species vulnerability under ongoing climate change.},
}
@article {pmid41301093,
year = {2025},
author = {Pokharel, U and Neelgund, G and Ray, RL and Balan, V and Kumar, S},
title = {Biochar for Soil Amendment: Applications, Benefits, and Environmental Impacts.},
journal = {Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {12},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/bioengineering12111137},
pmid = {41301093},
issn = {2306-5354},
support = {02D48123//U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/ ; },
abstract = {The excessive use of chemical fertilizers results in environmental issues, including loss of soil fertility, eutrophication, increased soil acidity, alterations in soil characteristics, and disrupted plant-microbe symbiosis. Here, we synthesize recent studies available from up to 2025, focusing on engineered biochar and its application in addressing issues of soil nutrient imbalance, soil pollution from inorganic and organic pollutants, soil acidification, salinity, and greenhouse gas emissions from fields. Application of engineered biochar enhanced the removal of Cr (VI), Cd[2+], Ni[2+], Zn[2+], Hg[2+], and Eu[3+] by 85%, 73%, 57.2%, 12.7%, 99.3%, and 99.2%, respectively, while Cu[2+] and V[5+] removal increased by 4 and 39.9 times. Adsorption capacities for Sb[5+], Tl[+], and F[-] were 237.53, 1123, and 83.05 mg g[-1], respectively, and the optimal proportion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) removal was 57%. Herbicides such as imazapyr were reduced by 23% and 78%. Low-temperature pyrolyzed biochar showed high cation exchange capacity (CEC) resulting from improved surface functional groups. Although biochar application led to a yield increase of 43.3%, the biochar-compost mix enhanced it by 155%. The analysis demonstrates the need for future studies on the cost-effectiveness of biochar post-processing, large-scale biochar aging studies, re-application impact, and studies on biochar-compost or biochar-fertilizer mix productivity.},
}
@article {pmid41300498,
year = {2025},
author = {Baldelli, S and Aiello, G and De Bruno, A and Castelli, S and Lombardo, M and Stocchi, V and Tripodi, G},
title = {Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Potential of Truffles: A Comprehensive Review.},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antiox14111341},
pmid = {41300498},
issn = {2076-3921},
support = {2022K272X8//Prin 2022/ ; },
abstract = {Truffles are edible symbiotic hypogeal fungi and highly prized worldwide for their unique aroma and rich nutritional profile. Belonging to the order Pezizales and family Tuberaceae, with the genus Tuber being the most notable, truffles contain a diverse array of bioactive compounds including phenols, terpenoids, polysaccharides, anandamide, fatty acids, and ergosterols. These compounds contribute to a wide range of biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anticancer effects. This review comprehensively summarizes current scientific evidence on the biochemical composition, nutritional and aromatic properties, and biological activities of truffles, with special emphasis on their antioxidant and anti-tumor potential. Additionally, factors influencing truffle productivity and quality as well as advanced extraction and storage techniques to preserve bioactivity are discussed, highlighting their potential as valuable functional foods and sources of natural antioxidants.},
}
@article {pmid41300412,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Q and Zheng, J and Xing, Y and Guo, X and Qu, Y and Dong, Z and Yu, W and Zhang, G},
title = {Organic Mulching Enhances Soil Health and Fungal Diversity to Promote Growth of Aralia continentalis Kitag: A Sustainable Alternative to Conventional Fertilization in Agroecosystems.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14111624},
pmid = {41300412},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {20250203140SF//Key R&amp;D Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province/ ; ZKP202202//Climbing Project of Changchun University/ ; },
abstract = {Soil degradation from long-term chemical fertilization poses serious challenges to the sustainability of black soil agroecosystems in Northeast China, particularly for the cultivation of medicinal plants such as Aralia continentalis Kitag. To evaluate eco-friendly alternatives, we compared decomposed leaf mulching (LM), conventional fertilization (CF), and an untreated control (CK) in a five-year field experiment. LM significantly improved soil structure by reducing bulk density by 12.8% (p < 0.05) and increasing porosity by 15.6% while enhancing organic carbon and humus fractions by 23.4% and 31.7%, respectively. These changes promoted microbial biomass carbon by 28.2% (p < 0.01) and enriched beneficial fungi such as Mortierella, which correlated with nutrient mobilization and plant growth. Fungal richness and diversity were higher under LM (+18.4% and +12.6%, respectively), whereas CF reduced evenness and favored dominance of stress-tolerant taxa. Functional predictions indicated that LM sustained saprotrophic and symbiotic guilds, while CF weakened mycorrhizal associations. Structural equation modeling identified microbial community composition as a central mediator linking soil properties, microbial diversity, and biomass (R[2] = 0.78), with LM exerting the strongest cascading effects. At the plant level, LM achieved the highest above- and belowground biomass, outperforming CF and CK by 26.3% and 34.5%, respectively. Overall, decomposed leaf mulching represents a sustainable strategy to restore soil quality, enhance microbial diversity, and support medicinal plant cultivation in cold-region agroecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41300391,
year = {2025},
author = {Oberprieler, C},
title = {Towards a Research Programme Aiming at Causes and Consequences of Reticulate Evolution.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14111601},
pmid = {41300391},
issn = {2079-7737},
abstract = {Evolution is reticulate. Reticulation increases diversity and complexity on the different levels of the evolutionary hierarchy. In addition to the tendency for diversity and complexity to increase in unchecked evolutionary systems by ongoing divergence ('Zero-Force Evolutionary Law', 'Biology's First Law'), reticulate evolution, therefore, acts as a second mechanism for the establishment of evolutionary novelty and the rise in biodiversity and biocomplexity ('Biology's Second Law'). This provides the raw material for subsequent diversity-confining drift and selection processes. In order to fully appreciate reticulation processes as part of an updated paradigm of evolutionary biology, a research programme on the topic should encompass the identification of the fundamental evolutionary entities as vertices and the study of the relationships among these vertices as edges in the resulting network architectures. Additionally, along with surveys on the underlying determinants, this will lead to the study of emergent boundary conditions for reticulations and for the porosity of evolutionary entities. Finally, the programme should address the question whether there are equilibrium conditions between the complete fusion and complete isolation of evolutionary entities ('Goldilocks Zones') that foster reticulate evolution. As tools in this research programme, machine learning and modelling approaches, along with methods in the field of network reconstruction, transcriptomics, epigenetics, and karyology, are identified.},
}
@article {pmid41299971,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, D and Zhong, X and Wu, Y and Guo, J and Song, L and Yang, L},
title = {From Artisan Experience to Scientific Elucidation: Preparation Processes, Microbial Diversity, and Food Applications of Chinese Traditional Fermentation Starters (Qu).},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {22},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/foods14223814},
pmid = {41299971},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {No.QianKeHeJiChu- ZD[2025]018//Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Program (Natural Science)/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Qu was the core starter of traditional Chinese fermentation and had long relied on artisan experience, which led to limited batch stability and standardization. This review organized the preparation processes, microbial diversity, and application patterns of qu in foods from experience to science perspective.<br><br>METHODS: This work summarized typical process parameters for daqu, xiaoqu, hongqu, wheat bran or jiangqu, douchi qu, and qu for mold curd blocks used for furu. Parameters covered raw material moisture, bed thickness, aeration or turning, drying, final moisture, and classification by peak temperature. Multi-omics evidence was used to analyze the coupling of temperature regime, community assembly, and functional differentiation. Indicators for pigment or enzyme production efficiency and safety control such as citrinin in hongqu were included.<br><br>RESULTS: Daqu showed low, medium, and high temperature regimes. Thermal history governed differences in communities and enzyme profiles and determined downstream fermentation fitness. Xiaoqu rapidly established a three-stage symbiotic network of Rhizopus, Saccharomyces, and lactic acid bacteria, which supported integrated saccharification and alcohol fermentation. Hongqu centered on Monascus and achieved coordinated pigment and aroma formation with toxin risk control through programmed control of temperature, humidity, and final moisture. Wheat bran or jiangqu served as an enzyme production engine for salt-tolerant fermentation, and the combined effects of heat and humidity during the qu period, aeration, and bed loading determined hydrolysis efficiency in salt. Douchi and furu mold curd blocks used thin-layer cultivation and near-saturated humidity to achieve stable mold growth and reproducible interfacial moisture.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Parameterizing and online monitoring of key variables in qu making built a process fingerprint with peak temperature, heating rate, and moisture rebound curve at its core. Standardization and functional customization guided by temperature regime, community, and function were the key path for the transition of qu from workshop practice to industry and from experience to science. This approach provided replicable solutions for flavor consistency and safety in alcoholic beverages, sauces, vinegars, and soybean products.},
}
@article {pmid41299080,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, ZZ and Ma, RF and Gu, LC and Wang, LZ and Chen, T and Yang, P and Zou, JN and Zhu, JY and Wu, ZW and Zhou, YN and Shi, M and Shen, XX and Huang, JH and Chen, XX},
title = {Dual interference with host neuropeptide signaling allows parasitoid wasp to hijack host sugar metabolism.},
journal = {The EMBO journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41299080},
issn = {1460-2075},
support = {U22A20485//MOST | NSFC | National Natural Science Foundation of China-Zhejiang Joint Fund for the Integration of Industrialization and Informatization (NSFC-Zhejiang Joint Fund)/ ; 32272607//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2023YFD1400800//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; 226-2024-00070//MOE | Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Fundamental Research Fund for the Central Universities)/ ; },
abstract = {Changes in host carbohydrate metabolism determine the outcome of host-parasite relationships, but the underlying mechanistic basis remains elusive. Here, we show that the parasitoid wasp Cotesia vestalis induces trehalose accumulation in its host, the moth Plutella xylostella, largely independently of insulin/adipokinetic hormone signalling and food intake. Instead, parasitoids rewire host carbohydrate metabolism via two pathways activated by the evolutionarily conserved short neuropeptide F (sNPF), a functional analogue of mammalian neuropeptide Y. Parasitoid-derived teratocytes secrete sNPF that interacts with the sNPF receptor (sNPFR) on host cells, and contributes to host hypertrehalosemia by promoting glycogenolysis in the fat body. We further find that a parasitoid-symbiotic virus induces expression of host-encoded sNPF, which stimulates glycolysis in the host midgut. Furthermore, we show that the host sNPF-sNPFR complex stimulates Gq/Ca[2+] signalling, while the parasitoid sNPF, exhibiting higher receptor affinity, triggers Gi/cAMP signalling. Molecular docking analyses suggest that the observed distinct receptor activation properties may be attributed to structural variations in the sNPF-sNPFR binding pocket. Collectively, our findings uncover an unexpected role of peripheral sNPFs in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism during host-parasite interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41298861,
year = {2025},
author = {Han, H and Zhang, K and Qian, Z},
title = {Adaptability analysis and spatial correlation characteristics of water-energy-food-ecology system in the Yellow River Basin from the perspective of symbiosis.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {42266},
pmid = {41298861},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {2025-ZZJH-052//2025 General Project of Humanities and Social Science Research of Universities in Henan Province/ ; 2024CJJ151//2024 Philosophy and Social Sciences Planning project in Henan Province/ ; 42301357//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Based on the symbiosis theory, the concept of compatibility within the regional water-energy-food-ecology (WEFE) system was proposed. An indicator system for adaptability analysis was constructed from three subsystems: coordination, stability, and sustainability. Using the co-evolution model and partial autocorrelation analysis, the spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns and spatial correlation patterns of WEFE adaptability in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) from 2011 to 2022 were assessed. The results indicated that: (1) The order of subsystem weights was: stability > sustainability > coordination. (2) The absolute adaptability of the indicator was significantly higher than the relative adaptability. The adaptability degree of the three subsystems increased to varying degrees. Overall, the adaptability of the WEFE system in the middle and lower reaches of the YRB was obviously higher than in the upper reaches. (3) In terms of system coordination, the coordination and stability subsystems improved, whereas the coordination of the sustainability subsystem gradually declined. (4) The adaptability levels of the WEFE system in the YRB had a random distribution. In terms of local spatial autocorrelation, there were significant spatial disparities and path dependencies in the WEFE system adaptability across the YRB. This study enhances the understanding of the symbiotic adaptability development among water resources, food, energy and ecology in the YRB and provides important insights for regional multi-resource collaborative management.},
}
@article {pmid41298464,
year = {2025},
author = {Ricci, F and Bay, SK and Nauer, PA and Wong, WW and Ni, G and Jimenez, L and Jirapanjawat, T and Leung, PM and Bradley, JA and Eate, VM and Hall, M and Stubbusch, AKM and Fernández-Marín, B and de Los Ríos, A and Cook, PLM and Schroth, MH and Chiri, E and Greening, C},
title = {Metabolically flexible microorganisms rapidly establish glacial foreland ecosystems.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-66734-4},
pmid = {41298464},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {APP1178715//Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/ ; DE230101346//Department of Education and Training | Australian Research Council (ARC)/ ; DE250101210//Department of Education and Training | Australian Research Council (ARC)/ ; 101115755//EC | Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020)/ ; PID2019-105469RB-C22//Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness | Agencia Estatal de Investigaci&#xf3;n (Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigaci&#xf3;n)/ ; },
abstract = {An overriding question in ecology is how new ecosystems form. This question can be tested by studying colonisation of environments with little to no pre-existing life. Here, we investigated the functional basis of microbial colonisation in the forelands of a maritime Antarctic and an alpine Swiss retreating glacier, by integrating quantitative ecology, metagenomics, and biogeochemical measurements. Habitat generalists and opportunists rapidly colonise both forelands and persist across soil decadal chronosequences serving as proxies for temporal community dynamics. These microbes are metabolically flexible chemotrophic aerobes that overcome oligotrophic conditions by using organic and inorganic compounds, including atmospheric trace gases and sulphur substrates, for energy and carbon acquisition. They co-exist with metabolically flexible early-colonising opportunists and metabolically restricted later-colonising specialists, including Cyanobacteria, ammonia-oxidising archaea, and obligate predatory and symbiotic bacteria, that exhibit narrower habitat distributions. Analysis of 589 species-level metagenome-assembled genomes reveals early colonisation by generalists and opportunists is strongly associated with metabolic flexibility. Field- and laboratory-based biogeochemical measurements reveal the activity of metabolically flexible microbes rapidly commenced in the forelands. Altogether, these findings suggest primary succession in glacial foreland soils is driven by self-sufficient metabolically flexible bacteria that mediate chemosynthetic primary production and likely provide a more hospitable environment for subsequent colonisation.},
}
@article {pmid41297937,
year = {2025},
author = {Endo, K and Mutoh, A and Satoh, M and Ogawa, K and Shimatani, K and Suzuki, N},
title = {Urban veterinary accessibility and community well-being in Japan: a cross-sectional analysis using regional indicators.},
journal = {The Journal of veterinary medical science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1292/jvms.25-0396},
pmid = {41297937},
issn = {1347-7439},
abstract = {Access to medical care is important not only for humans, but also for companion animals. However, the distribution of veterinary services and their potential benefits to human well-being remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between veterinary clinics and community well-being in urban areas of Japan. The dataset included total 191 wards in Tokyo (a metropolitan city) and 19 ordinance-designated cities. Veterinary clinical locations were obtained from a high-resolution commercial database provided by ZENRIN Marketing Solutions Co., Ltd. Community well-being scores were obtained from the Digital Agency of Japan. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to predict the well-being scores based on the number of veterinary or human clinics per 100,000 residents. The results of veterinary clinics showed positive satisfaction with environmental symbiosis (β=1.17), natural disasters (β=1.04), community connections (β=1.00), self-efficacy (β=1.18), health status (β=1.32), employment and income (β=0.89), recreation and entertainment (β=0.91), culture and arts (β=1.53), abundance of educational opportunities (β=1.34), and business creation (β=1.03), while the results of human clinics showed negative satisfaction with public spaces (β=-0.69). Findings suggest that residents who place a high value on pets and the care they require may be attracted to areas with high concentrations of art, entertainment, education, and business resources. Although unmeasured confounding factors were related, this study posits a new assumption that the enrichment of animal welfare services is associated with regional well-being.},
}
@article {pmid41297850,
year = {2025},
author = {Dell'Aglio, E and Ferrarini, MG and Rebollo, R},
title = {Epigenetics and non-coding RNAs in host-endosymbiont interactions: insights from Wolbachia and beyond.},
journal = {Current opinion in insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101464},
doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2025.101464},
pmid = {41297850},
issn = {2214-5753},
abstract = {Symbioses are widespread in nature and are among major evolutionary forces. Insects have recurrently established intracellular symbioses with bacteria, balancing between immune responses and homeostasis. The processes involved in endosymbiosis establishment, maintenance, and control have recently been associated with epigenetic pathways and non-coding RNAs, which are known to regulate a wide range of cellular processes, including development, differentiation, immune response, and metabolism. Using the well-studied Wolbachia-Aedes aegypti model as a reference, we summarize how these mechanisms influence host gene expression, endosymbiont maintenance, and antiviral defence. Beyond Wolbachia, only a few examples have provided functional evidence of the role of epigenetics in regulating natural insect-bacteria associations. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that epigenetic factors can act as mediators of host-endosymbiont coordination; however, determining if such factors are drivers or by-products of symbiosis establishment will require further investigation.},
}
@article {pmid41297327,
year = {2025},
author = {Fuad, MTI and Dong, Y and Li, Z and Ge, M and Sharifuzzaman, SM and Liu, X and Zhang, X and Xu, Q},
title = {Seasonal gut microbiota and functional dynamics in brittle star (Ophiothrix exigua) from the Yellow Sea, China.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {213},
number = {},
pages = {107734},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107734},
pmid = {41297327},
issn = {1879-0291},
abstract = {The gut microbiota forms a complex symbiotic community that performs essential functions for the host, including metabolism, nutrient absorption, and environmental adaptation, while being shaped by both environmental and intrinsic host factors. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation of seasonal gut microbiota diversity in brittle stars, examining Ophiothrix exigua from the Yellow Sea using full-length 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. A total of 565 amplicon sequence variants were identified from gut samples, distributed across 20 phyla, 135 genera, and 46 species. The dominant phyla included Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetota, with Salinispira identified as the core genus. Seasonal variations in microbiota diversity were evident, with Caulobacter predominating in summer, and Kistimonas and Trichococcus driving winter community shift. Corresponding seasonal changes in gut microbiota functions and functional pathways were observed. Fatty acid biosynthesis pathways were enriched in winter, while aromatic compound degradation pathways showed elevated activity in summer. Although seawater microbiota exerted relatively minor influence on gut microbial diversity, correlations with abiotic factors such as pH were observed. This study highlights the intricate relationship between gut microbiota, environmental microbiota, and abiotic factors in shaping the seasonal gut microbiota diversity of O. exigua, contributing to a better understanding of the host-microbiome ecology of invertebrates.},
}
@article {pmid41297304,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, J and Wang, D and Ji, B and Li, A and Li, XY},
title = {Effect of Nitrosomonas europaea on Chlorella vulgaris in bio-hydrogels for startup of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge: Performance and microscopic mechanism.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {289},
number = {Pt B},
pages = {125023},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.125023},
pmid = {41297304},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Algal-bacterial granular sludge technology holds significant promise for treating municipal wastewater with carbon emission reduction. However, its practical application has been constrained by the long startup period. In this study, bio-hydrogels co-encapsulating autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (Nitrosomonas europaea) and photomixotrophic microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) were used in a microalgal-bacterial granules system (MBGS) for the treatment of low C/N wastewater. The operating conditions of the MBGS system included inoculation volume ratio of 1:6 (bio-hydrogel granules: wastewater), initial biomass of 0.33 g suspended solids (SS) /L, light intensity of 300 μmol/m[2]·s, and no aeration. The results showed that this strategy reduced the typical MBGS startup period to just 6 days, with biomass accumulation (1.53 g SS/L, >4 g SS/L after running 120 days) and efficient chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN) removal (effluent COD <20.00 mg/L and TN <2.50 mg/L). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the symbiosis with Nitrosomonas significantly upregulated the expression of the PetH gene, which encodes a reductase (EC:1.18.1.2) in the photosynthetic system of Chlorella (log2 fold change=13.63), thereby enhancing the supply of NADPH required for the Calvin cycle. Concurrently, the expression of the rbcL gene, encoding the large subunit of Rubisco in Chlorella, was upregulated by 1.4-fold, which promoted photosynthetic carbon fixation. The symbiosis also suppressed heterotrophic metabolism in Chlorella, as evidenced by downregulation of 72.5 % of genes in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of encapsulating material biodegradation on the bio-hydrogel structure. In addition, cell proliferation of Chlorella was stimulated (over 13-fold upregulation of DNA replication licensing factors MCM5 and MCM6), which increased biomass and nutrient removal efficiency. Furthermore, a higher light intensity of 400 μmol/m[2]/s promoted a significant increase in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content (106.76 mg/g SS), improved granule stability (integrity coefficient < 20 %), and enhanced biomass production (4.68 g SS/L after 120 days of operation). These findings highlight a promising strategy for sustainable wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid41297084,
year = {2025},
author = {Cameron, CC and Gebbie, W and Bowman, C and Waters, ER and Kalyuzhnaya, MG},
title = {Characterization and description of plant-growth-promoting methanotrophic bacteria belonging to the genus of Methylocaldum.},
journal = {Systematic and applied microbiology},
volume = {49},
number = {1},
pages = {126670},
doi = {10.1016/j.syapm.2025.126670},
pmid = {41297084},
issn = {1618-0984},
abstract = {Arid soil microbiomes present untapped resources of microbial diversity. Here, we describe twelve isolates, all belonging to the Methylocaldum genus. Based on metagenomic studies, the isolates represent the major clades of methanotrophic bacteria inhabiting the arid biomes of Southern California, comprising up to 0.03 % of the total soil microbiota. Phenotyping of isolates indicates that they are obligate methanotrophic bacteria, some capable of methanol utilization. All strains can fix nitrogen, use nitrate and ammonia as a N-source, and have key genetic signatures of autotrophy, methylotrophy, and N2O assimilation. Based on the 16S rRNA phylogeny and whole -genome analyses, all strains are assigned to the species M. gracile. Three isolates from the rhizosphere of native Californian plants (Strains 0917, YM2 and S3V3) and GT1B-W are set apart from the other M. gracile strains, despite sharing <98 % of average nucleotide identity. Microbes isolated from plant rhizosphere display 150 unique genetic features and a series of tandem gene duplications predicted to contribute to their interactions with plants, including the 20-gene polyketide biosynthesis cluster and the TRAP C4-dicarboxylate transport system. Consistent with the genetic properties that may indicate an enhancement of plant-cooperation functions, the rhizosphere isolates support the survival of plants, Boechera depauperata and Arabidopsis thaliana, under drought conditions. Based on genetic and phenotypic characteristics, we propose to designate strains 0917, YM2, S3V3, and GT1B-W as a new subspecies of Methylocaldum gracile - Methylocaldum gracile subspecies dēsertum, L.n. dēsertum - a desert, to represent the native habitat of the species. The amended description of the M.gracile species is provided.},
}
@article {pmid41295393,
year = {2025},
author = {Tame, A},
title = {Integrated Regulation of Immunity and Nutritional Symbiosis in Deep-Sea Mussels.},
journal = {Marine drugs},
volume = {23},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/md23110425},
pmid = {41295393},
issn = {1660-3397},
support = {JP24K18110//the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) through KAKENHI/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/immunology ; *Bivalvia/immunology/microbiology ; Gills/immunology/microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Phagocytosis/immunology ; Hemocytes/immunology ; Bacteria ; },
abstract = {Deep-sea mussels of the genus Bathymodiolus exhibit adaptability to nutrient-poor deep-sea environments by establishing nutritional intracellular symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria harbored within the gill epithelial cells. However, this poses a conflict for the innate immune system of the host, which must balance the tolerance of beneficial symbiotic bacteria with the need to eliminate exogenous microbes. This review synthesizes existing knowledge and recent findings on Bathymodiolus japonicus to outline the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing this symbiotic relationship. In the host immune system, hemocytes are responsible for systemic defense, whereas gill cells are involved in local symbiotic acceptance. Central to the establishment of symbiosis is the host's phagocytic system, which non-selectively engulfs bacteria but selectively retains symbionts. We highlight a series of cellular events in gill cells involving the engulfment, selection, retention and/or digestion of symbionts, and the regulatory mechanism of phagocytosis through mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1, which connects bacterial nutrient supply with host immune and metabolic responses. This integrated model of symbiosis regulation, which links immunity, metabolism, and symbiosis, provides a fundamental framework for understanding how hosts establish and maintain a stable coexistence with microbes, offering a new perspective on symbiotic strategies in diverse organisms.},
}
@article {pmid41295187,
year = {2025},
author = {Luna-Fontalvo, JA and Balocchi, O and Martínez, O and Alonso, M and Ferrada, E},
title = {Symbiosis Between Epichloë Fungi and Bromus Grasses: A Review of Current Knowledge and Future Directions.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11110807},
pmid = {41295187},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {1220448//Agencia Nacional de Investigaci&#xf3;n y Desarrollo/ ; },
abstract = {Epichloë is a genus of endophytic fungi that forms systemic, vertically transmitted, and asymptomatic mutualistic associations with grasses in the subfamily Pooideae. These symbioses are non-pathogenic and are of considerable importance in agronomic and livestock systems due to their roles in enhancing host fitness under biotic and abiotic stress. Several studies have reported associations between Epichloë endophytes and species of the genus Bromus, a taxonomically complex group characterized by varying ploidy levels and frequent hybridization. Among its sections, Bromopsis includes the highest number of species naturally colonized by Epichloë fungi, while sections Bromus and Ceratochloa show lower infection rates. In South America, endophytes such as E. pampeana, E. tembladerae, E. typhina, and morphotypes of Neotyphodium spp. have been documented in species including B. auleticus, B. brachyanthera, and B. setifolius, where they appear to contribute to stress resilience. Although most findings originate from Argentina, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the diversity and distribution of these endophytes in native Bromus species across the continent. This review synthesizes the current understanding of Epichloë-Bromus interactions, emphasizing their ecological and agronomic relevance, particularly in South America. Key factors influencing the establishment of these symbioses are examined, and future research directions are proposed to advance the study of these associations.},
}
@article {pmid41295153,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, S and Cheng, Z and Pan, H and Liu, S and Qu, H and Gao, M and Yang, L and Zhou, J},
title = {High Fire Drives the Reorganization of Taiga Soil Fungal Communities with Ascomycota as the Dominant Phylum After Long-Term Recovery.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11110772},
pmid = {41295153},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {GZ2024066//Guidance Project of Heilongjiang Provincial Key Research and Development Plan/ ; GZCG2023-024//Forestry and Grassland Ecological Protection and Restoration Funds Project/ ; CZKYF2024-1-A008//the Financial Special Project of Heilongjiang Province/ ; },
abstract = {Forest fires are key disturbance factors in forest ecosystems, and soil fungi play an irreplaceable role in post-fire recovery. This study focused on forest areas burned in 2000 in the Daxing'anling region of China, targeting long-term recovery sites with different fire intensities. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to analyze the structural characteristics of fungal communities and their environmental drivers. Results showed that compared with the control check (CK), the Shannon index of the low fire group (L) increased significantly (p < 0.05), while moderate (M) and high (H) fire groups reduced fungal diversity significantly. PCoA indicated significant differences in community structure (R[2] = 0.97, p = 0.001). In highly burned areas, the relative abundance of Ascomycota reached 94.17%, and Basidiomycota lost its dominance. Spearman analysis showed that pH, available phosphorus, available potassium, soil fluorescein diacetate hydrolase, soil dehydrogenase, and soil urease were significantly positively correlated with fungal alpha diversity. RDA revealed that total nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil water content, alkaline nitrogen, active potassium, and dissolved organic carbon had extremely significant effects on soil fungal community composition (p < 0.01). Co-occurrence network analysis indicated that symbiotic relationships dominated all groups. Networks in L and M groups were more complex, while that in H group was simplified and severely damaged. This study indicated that after long-term recovery, soil fungal communities in low fire areas returned to pre-fire levels; those in moderate and high fire areas did not recover, with high fire burns causing severe damage and community structure reorganization.},
}
@article {pmid41295138,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, P and Liu, J and Zhang, S and Zhu, Y and Yin, X and Xing, L and Wei, D and Jin, L},
title = {Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Levels on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Associated Bacterial Communities in Culture.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11110757},
pmid = {41295138},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {KJCX20230116; ZHS202306//Special Project for the Construction of Scientific and Technological Innovation Capacity of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish mutualistic symbioses with plant roots, enhancing plant growth and improving soil fertility through nutrient exchange. Among these, soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are critical for symbiosis formation, directly influencing nutrient uptake and translocation within the symbiotic system. This study aimed to examine the regulatory roles of N and P levels on AM fungal development and associated bacterial communities in culture. Sorghum was used as the host plant in pot experiments with two AM fungi, Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae, under varying N and P concentrations. The analyzed parameters included mycorrhizal colonization, propagule production, plant biomass, nutrient contents (N, P, and K), and bacterial community diversity. N3P1 treatment (150 mg/L N, 30 mg/L P) yielded the highest colonization rate, spore production, and arbuscule abundance in both AM fungal symbionts. At equivalent N and P concentrations, the N, P, and K contents in inoculated plants were significantly higher than those in controls. AM fungal inoculation markedly increased the bacterial diversity in the culture (Shannon index raised by 15.2-28.7%) and enriched beneficial taxa, such as Bradyrhizobium and Pseudomonas. N and P concentrations substantially influenced AM fungal symbiosis, with optimal development observed under N3P1 conditions. By regulating AM symbiotic establishment, N and P levels reshaped microbial community composition, providing theoretical guidance for industrialized AM fungal cultivation and inoculant production.},
}
@article {pmid41294327,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, J and Xu, S and Liu, J and Wang, Q and Han, L and Ji, M and Lei, C and Zhu, Q and Chen, H},
title = {The viral proteins of influenza A virus competitively bind to TRIM31 with MAVS to fine-tune the antiviral innate immunity.},
journal = {Journal of virology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0189325},
doi = {10.1128/jvi.01893-25},
pmid = {41294327},
issn = {1098-5514},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The influenza A virus (IAV) continues to pose a serious threat to animals and humans, making it urgent to reveal more about IAV-host interactions. Tripartite motif protein 31 (TRIM31), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has been identified as an agonist of the type-I interferon (IFN-I) response against RNA viruses by targeting mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS). Here, we demonstrated that TRIM31 plays critical and novel roles in the life cycle of IAV. TRIM31 promoted the IFN-I signaling induced by IAV; however, it was surprisingly found that TRIM31 does not affect IAV replication. Instead, IAV replication was significantly promoted by TRIM31 in MAVS- or interferon receptor-deficient cells, suggesting TRIM31 may facilitate IAV replication in an interferon-independent manner. Mechanistically, TRIM31 interacted specifically with the basic polymerase 1 (PB1), acidic polymerase (PA), and hemagglutinin (HA) proteins of different subtypes of IAV. The interaction between TRIM31 and the PB1, PA, and HA proteins enhances the stability and polymerase and membrane fusion activities of these viral proteins by catalyzing the K63-linked ubiquitination. Further, the PB1, PA, and HA proteins competitively bind to TRIM31 for IAV replication, leading to the attenuation of the TRIM31-MVAS complex-mediated IFN-I signaling activation. Therefore, the antiviral and proviral effects of TRIM31 reach a balance in IAV-infected cells, resulting in no significant impact on IAV replication. Our novel findings revealed an IAV-specific mechanism that IAV exploits TRIM31 to fine-tune the antiviral innate response and maintain the homeostasis of viral replication.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: During the long-term symbiosis with the host, IAVs have evolved a series of unique mechanisms to adapt to the host and support their own replication. The MAVS-mediated IFN-I signaling pathway is crucial for host cells to defend against RNA virus invasion, with TRIM31 functioning as a specific agonist for the activation of IFN-I antiviral response. In the present study, we demonstrated that IAV exploits TRIM31 to promote the stability and activity of viral proteins and reduces the positive effect of TRIM31 on the IFN-I response, thereby preventing TRIM31 from inhibiting IAV replication. Therefore, our results revealed a novel mechanism employed by IAV to adapt to host antiviral response and expanded our understanding of virus-host interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41294280,
year = {2025},
author = {Ullah, I and Zhou, D and Khan, AR and Muhammad, M and Zhang, Q and Ma, J and Egamberdieva, D and Shurigin, V and Li, L},
title = {Unveiling the Adaptation Mechanisms of Symbiotic Microbial Communities in Glycyrrhiza glabra Under Extreme Environmental Conditions.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxaf291},
pmid = {41294280},
issn = {1365-2672},
abstract = {Glycyrrhiza glabra is a medicinal legume species that is adapted to arid and saline environments, as well as climate stressors such as drought, salinity and extreme heat. This review highlights the latest developments in understanding the microbial communities associated with G. glabra, which enhance stress tolerance through nutrient acquisition, phytohormone modification, the production of antioxidants and osmotic regulation. This review synthesizes research on the distribution, diversity, and functionality of these microbial communities including endophytes, rhizobacteria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi within the ecological context of degraded and marginal soils, which functionally enhances G. glabra as a model plant for studying plant-microbial interactions in extreme environments. We specifically highlight the microbial regulation of glycyrrhizin biosynthesis, a critical defense-related secondary metabolite with known therapeutic applications. Finally, we present an overview of new and emerging multi-omics tools that elucidate the molecular mechanisms underpinning these beneficial microbial interactions, and their potential in developing bio-inoculants for climate-resilient agriculture and providing a blueprint for harnessing native microbial partnerships to enhance plant survival, productivity, and soil restoration under climate uncertainty.},
}
@article {pmid41293613,
year = {2025},
author = {Zecca, N and Lücking, L and van Dijk, HAJ and Manzolini, G},
title = {Techno-Economic Assessment of Industrial Symbiosis Between Steel and Urea Plants: The INITIATE Process.},
journal = {Energy &amp; fuels : an American Chemical Society journal},
volume = {39},
number = {46},
pages = {22293-22310},
pmid = {41293613},
issn = {0887-0624},
abstract = {The steelmaking and fertilizer industries accounted for approximately 10% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions in 2024. This study examines an industrial symbiosis concept, termed INITIATE, which integrates these two sectors to enhance resource efficiency and to reduce CO2 emissions. The proposed system utilizes process gases from steel production as a feedstock for urea synthesis, using the sorption enhanced water gas shift (SEWGS) technology for simultaneous CO2 capture and production of a H2-N2 mixture. This stream is suitable for ammonia synthesis, which subsequently reacts with part of captured CO2 in a downstream urea production process. Two sizes of fertilizer production are analyzed: a small-scale configuration producing 224 turea/day and a large-scale case with a production capacity of 1500 turea/day. Simulation results indicate that the integrated symbiotic configuration of the INITIATE system enables substantial reductions in both the natural gas consumption and direct CO2 emissions. Under scenarios utilizing renewable electricity, the level of CO2 avoidance can reach up to 68%. The specific primary energy consumption per unit of CO2 avoided (SPECCA) ranges from -2.5 to 2.5 GJ/tCO2 . Negative values reflect a net reduction in primary energy demand, resulting from process integration and efficient resource utilization. From an economic perspective, the cost of CO2 avoidance is estimated at 24 €/tCO2 for the small-scale plant, increasing to 130 €/tCO2 for the large-scale configuration. Sensitivity analyses reveal that these costs are highly dependent on the prices of electricity and natural gas, with lower electricity prices and higher natural gas prices improving the economic performance of the INITIATE system compared with the base and reference cases.},
}
@article {pmid41292562,
year = {2025},
author = {Ullah, F and Zaman, F and Ishfaq, M and Ullah, H and Wang, C and Zhifang, L and Geilfus, CM},
title = {Sustainable Greenhouse Tomato Production: Benefits of Inoculation With Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Under Low Nitrogen and Phosphorus Conditions.},
journal = {Plant-environment interactions (Hoboken, N.J.)},
volume = {6},
number = {6},
pages = {e70058},
pmid = {41292562},
issn = {2575-6265},
abstract = {The effects of overused chemical fertilizers, which threaten soil, plant, and human health, have always remained a topic of interest in theory and practice, emphasizing the judicious use of mineral nutrients. This study was aimed at reducing the harmful effects of excessive chemical fertilizer application and at exploring alternative approaches that can improve soil fertility without environmental and health damage. The experimental design involved a controlled greenhouse setup where tomato cultivars were inoculated with different AMF species under varying nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) doses. The tomato cultivars Rio Grande and Nadir were inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species, including Glomus claroideum, Glomus etunicatum, Glomus fasciculatum, and Glomus mosseae-within a commercial greenhouse. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of these fungi on tomato growth physiology, yield, and fruit quality when subjected to varying doses of N and P. Glomus mosseae significantly increased plant height by 14%, stem diameter by 22.25%, dry matter by 23.59%, yield by 38.57%, N uptake by 16.40%, P uptake by 37.5%, potassium (K) uptake by 18.55%, chlorophyll a (Chl a) content by 15.18%, and chlorophyll b (Chl b) content by 25.19% when compared to untreated controls. Additionally, Glomus mosseae improved fruit diameter by 9.98%, fruit firmness by 18.45%, juice content by 15.20%, titratable acidity (TA) by 10.42%, and ascorbic acid concentration by 16.75%. The interaction between the N and P levels of 140:42 mg L[-1] and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) species Glomus mosseae resulted in the highest improvement in growth, yield, and fruit quality-related traits. Among the cultivars, Rio Grande exhibited the greatest root colonization, plant dry matter content, N, P, K uptake, plant height, Chl a, Chl b, and yield when compared to the control. In contrast, cultivar Nadir showed the highest stem diameter, fruit size, firmness, ascorbic acid, fruit juice contents, and TA. This study recommends that AMF inoculation in combination with a low N and P supply can be promising for improving tomato growth, productivity, and fruit quality on a commercial scale with minimum threats to the environment and human health. This study suggests the exploration of long-term sustainability and scalability of AMF inoculation methods in diverse agricultural settings.},
}
@article {pmid41292049,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, Z and Zhang, K and Sheng, S and Kan, C and Han, F and Sun, X},
title = {The Role of Lactate Metabolism in Tumors: From Metabolic Byproduct to Signaling Molecule.},
journal = {American journal of clinical oncology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1097/COC.0000000000001276},
pmid = {41292049},
issn = {1537-453X},
abstract = {Lactate, once viewed as a metabolic by-product of glycolysis, is now recognized as a central regulator in cancer biology. Accumulating evidence reveals that lactate actively participates in tumor progression by functioning as a metabolic fuel, signaling mediator, epigenetic modifier, and immune modulator. Tumor cells exhibit elevated glycolytic flux through the Warburg effect, producing large quantities of lactate through LDHA and exporting it through MCTs, which acidifies the tumor microenvironment and drives metabolic symbiosis, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. Lactate also stabilizes HIF-1α and activates the receptor GPR81, triggering signaling pathways that promote proliferation, invasion, and immune checkpoint expression. Epigenetically, lactate regulates histone acetylation and lactylation, modulating gene expression and supporting adaptive transcriptional programs. Immune suppression is reinforced through direct inhibition of effector T and NK cells and expansion of Tregs and MDSCs. Given its multifaceted role, lactate metabolism has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. Inhibitors of LDHA, MCT1/4, and GPR81 are under active development and show synergistic potential with immunotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. This review summarizes current advances in lactate biology and therapeutic strategies, highlighting the need for personalized approaches that consider tumor-specific lactate dependencies and signaling contexts.},
}
@article {pmid41291109,
year = {2025},
author = {Cohen, DD and Faigenboim, A and Elingold, I and Sher, Y and Galpaz, N and Minz, D},
title = {Dynamics in Microbial Communities Associated with the Development of Soil Fatigue in Banana.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s00248-025-02637-7},
pmid = {41291109},
issn = {1432-184X},
abstract = {Soil fatigue, well documented in various crops, presents a significant challenge to banana production by causing fast and then gradual declines in plant growth and yield over years of cultivation. Despite its impact on profitability, the underlying mechanisms driving soil fatigue remain poorly understood; however, a strong link to shifts in the soil microbiome has been suggested. We investigated the dynamics of microbial communities in relation to soil fatigue, using a novel semi-controlled outdoor experimental system. Soil at different stages of fatigue (0 to 42 months of banana cultivation) was generated in large containers filled with initially healthy soil. Banana plants grown in these soils were replaced with new plants which showed soil age-dependent growth. Three months postplanting, soil and root samples were collected for analyses of soil parameters and microbial community composition using bacterial (16S) and fungal (ITS) amplicon sequencing. We identified minor age-related shifts in mainly pH, potassium, and organic matter in the soil. While alpha diversity remained unchanged, significant shifts in bacterial and fungal community composition were observed in fatigued soils. Notably, the relative abundance of bacterial families such as Flavobacteriaceae, Pseudomonaceae, and Acidibacter increased, as did some fungal taxa (many from groups with known pathogens)-Ceratobasidiaceae (including Rhizoctonia), Dothideomycetes, and Stachybotryaceae. Simultaneously, the relative abundance of bacterial families with known beneficial members, including Gemmatimonadaceae, Moraxellaceae, Sphingomonadaceae, and Azospirillaceae, as well as symbiotic fungal taxa such as Glomeraceae and Lasiosphaeriaceae, declined. Thus, soil fatigue may be correlated to the proliferation of pathogenic populations and a loss of beneficial microorganisms.},
}
@article {pmid41290716,
year = {2025},
author = {Caesar, L and Barksdale, C and Valiati, VH and Newton, I},
title = {Spatial segregation and cross-kingdom interactions drive stingless bee hive microbiome assembly.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-66678-9},
pmid = {41290716},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {2022049//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 2005306//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; },
abstract = {Studying host-associated microbiome assembly is key to understanding microbial and host evolution and health. While honey bee microbiome have been a central model for such investigations among pollinators, they overlook the diversity of eusocial dynamics and multi-kingdom interactions. Stingless bees-a diverse group of highly eusocial insects that includes managed species, varies in colony biology, and harbors a symbiotic yeast essential for larval development in at least one species-offer a valuable complementary system to study microbiome assembly under an eco-evolutionary context. Using amplicon sequencing, metagenomics, and microbial experiments, we investigate the drivers of microbiome assembly in stingless bee colonies. We reveal a spatially structured, site-adapted microbiome, where high microbial influx hive components are segregated from the brood, which harbors a stable, multi-kingdom community. We show that the brood microbiome is not only physically protected but also maintained through selective bacterial-fungal interactions and abiotic conditions shaped by bees and their symbionts, such as temperature and pH. Our findings uncover multi-layered mechanisms shaping eusocial superorganism microbiomes, from host biology to cross-kingdom interactions, while providing critical insights into microbiome maintenance of important pollinators.},
}
@article {pmid41290652,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, ZL and Gao, SM and Peng, SX and Tang, LY and Luo, ZH and Lao, XW and Zhang, SY and Shu, WS and Meng, F and Huang, LN},
title = {Biogeography and host interactions of CPR and DPANN viruses in acid mine drainage sediments.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {10492},
pmid = {41290652},
issn = {2041-1723},
mesh = {*Geologic Sediments/virology/microbiology ; Genome, Viral/genetics ; China ; Virome/genetics ; Metagenomics ; Mining ; Metagenome ; Phylogeny ; Ecosystem ; Acids ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; },
abstract = {The CPR and DPANN superphyla are globally distributed in anoxic habitats including extreme environments. However, the biogeography and potential ecological functions of their viruses remain unexplored. Here, we recover diverse CPR/DPANN metagenomic viral genomes from 90 acid mine drainage (AMD) sediments sampled across southeast China. Our data reveal deterministic processes as the primary driver of virome assembly shaping the distinct distribution patterns of CPR and DPANN viruses. While lifestyle prediction shows higher lytic virus diversity associated with DPANN, both CPR/DPANN viruses likely use the Piggyback-the-winner (PtW) strategy to co-exist with hosts in AMD sediments, with CPR viromes exhibiting increased lysis in low host-density regimes under intensive acidity/salinity conditions. A subsequent metatranscriptomic analysis uncovers diverse functional genes encoded by CPR and DPANN viruses actively expressed in situ, potentially supplementing host metabolisms yet diverging in replication, transcription, and translation-related functions. Furthermore, partial correlation network analysis suggests that putative symbiotic hosts of the CPR/DPANN may confer protection against viral infection through enhanced antiviral defense. Our results highlight the complex interplays between viruses, DPANN and CPR organisms, and their symbiotic hosts.},
}
@article {pmid41290153,
year = {2025},
author = {Spilmont, N and Zardi, GI and Nicastro, KR},
title = {Intertidal mussel-symbiont associations act as CO2 sinks during daily emersion.},
journal = {Biology letters},
volume = {21},
number = {11},
pages = {20250498},
doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2025.0498},
pmid = {41290153},
issn = {1744-957X},
support = {//EMIMA experimental platform (Lille University)/ ; //FEDER/ ; //ANR/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Mytilus edulis/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; *Cyanobacteria/physiology ; *Carbon Sequestration ; Carbon Cycle ; },
abstract = {Human activities have disrupted the global carbon cycle, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake by tidal wetlands and submerged vegetation. This exacerbates climate challenges, including rising temperatures and ocean acidification. Coastal systems such as mangroves and seagrasses serve as key carbon sinks, promising for CO2 removal (CDR). Growing attention is being given to bivalves, whose calcification and reef-building activities shape coastal carbon dynamics. Most studies reduce bivalve impacts to a balance between individual CO2 emissions and the carbon stored in their shells and tissues, often overlooking species interactions-such as symbioses-that may modulate carbon fluxes. Here, we examined the mussel-symbiont holobiont using Mytilus edulis under emersion in a controlled chamber to quantify CO2 exchange. Mussels hosting cyanobacterial symbionts exhibited net atmospheric CO2 uptake during daily air exposure, a critical phase of the tidal cycle. To evaluate the potential significance at larger ecological scales, we combined laboratory-derived CO2 uptake data with field-based estimates of symbiont prevalence to model carbon fluxes at the mussel bed scale and compared them with values of established blue carbon systems. This research highlights the importance of species interactions in coastal carbon cycling and underscores the need to incorporate the mussel-symbiont holobiont into CDR models.},
}
@article {pmid41289393,
year = {2025},
author = {He, T and Zhao, Y and Wang, X and Qiu, Y and Deng, J and Zhang, K and Xu, X and Zhao, Y and Qian, K and Wang, H and Bai, T and Zhang, Y and Feng, C and Guo, L and Chen, H and Guo, L and Wang, Y and Hu, S},
title = {Precipitation increase promotes soil organic carbon formation and stability via the mycorrhizal fungal pathway.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {48},
pages = {e2519072122},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2519072122},
pmid = {41289393},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {32371626//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; BK20240193//JST | Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Jiangsu Natural Science Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism/physiology ; *Carbon/metabolism ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; *Rain ; Climate Change ; Grassland ; Biomass ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with roots of most terrestrial plants, playing a crucial role in regulating soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. While precipitation increase (Pi) is a major facet of climate change, its impacts on root- and AMF-mediated SOC formation and stability remain largely unexplored. Here, we combined a meta-analysis across global grasslands with a multiyear precipitation manipulation experiment in a semiarid grassland on the Loess Plateau to disentangle the relative effects of roots and their associated AMF on microbial communities and SOC as influenced by Pi. We show that Pi induced tradeoffs between roots and AMF, and promoted SOC formation and stability via the mycelium- rather than the root-pathway, leading to an increase of 136% (±40) and 297% (±90) in mycelium-derived C and mineral-associated organic C (MAOC), respectively. Pi altered plant community composition, favoring subshrubs and forbs over grasses. Also, Pi reduced specific root length, but increased root diameter, tissue density, and root colonization and extraradical biomass of AMF. Furthermore, Pi-induced change in AMF shifted the soil bacterial community by favoring K-strategists, increasing bacterial necromass C and promoting MAOC accumulation. Our findings provide direct evidence that Pi enhances AMF-driven SOC sequestration by expanding the mycorrhizosphere and promoting microbiota with high C use efficiency, highlighting a key mechanism by which mycorrhizal fungi mediate SOC formation and stability under shifting precipitation regimes.},
}
@article {pmid41289084,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, H and Li, M and Zhong, Z and Seim, I and Wang, M and Lian, C and Zhuo, L and Wan, X and Wang, H and Han, G and Zhou, L and Zhang, H and Cao, L and Li, C},
title = {Function and Development of Deep-sea Mussel Bacteriocytes Revealed by SnRNA-seq and Spatial Transcriptomics.},
journal = {Genomics, proteomics &amp; bioinformatics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/gpbjnl/qzaf109},
pmid = {41289084},
issn = {2210-3244},
abstract = {The deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems are among one of the most unusual ecosystems on Earth, where most megafauna form close symbiotic associations with chemosynthetic microbes to obtain nutrition and shelter from the toxic environment. Despite the diverse forms of symbiotic organs in these deep-sea holobionts, the function and development of bacteriocytes, the host cells harboring symbionts, are still largely uncharacterized. Here, we have conducted the in situ decolonization assay and state-of-the-art single-nucleus and spatial transcriptomics to reveal the function and development of deep-sea mussel bacteriocytes. The bacteriocytes appear to optimize immune processes to facilitate recognition, engulfment, and elimination of endosymbionts. They also interact directly with them in carbohydrate and ammonia metabolism by exchanging metabolic intermediates via transporters such as SLC37A2 and RHBG-A. Bacteriocytes arise from three different proliferating cell types, and their successive development trajectory was delineated by multi-omics data and 3D reconstruction analyses. The molecular functions and the developmental processes of bacteriocytes were found to be guided by the same set of molluscan-conserved transcription factors and may be influenced by endosymbionts through sterol metabolism. The coordination in the functions and development of bacteriocytes and between the host and symbionts highlights the phenotypic plasticity of symbiotic cells, and underpins host-symbiont interdependence in adaptation to the deep sea.},
}
@article {pmid41288984,
year = {2025},
author = {Hernandez-Benitez, EM and Martínez-Romero, E and Aguirre-Noyola, JL and Farias-Rico, JA and Ledezma-Tejeida, D},
title = {Computational inference of Rhizobium phaseoli transcriptional regulatory network predicts Transcription Factors involved in nodulation.},
journal = {Briefings in functional genomics},
volume = {24},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/bfgp/elaf020},
pmid = {41288984},
issn = {2041-2657},
support = {IA204925//Universidad Nacional Aut&#xf3;noma de M&#xe9;xico, Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigaci&#xf3;n e Innovaci&#xf3;n Tecnol&#xf3;gica/ ; 2057038//Programa de Maestr&#xed;a en Ciencias Bioqu&#xed;micas, Universidad Nacional Aut&#xf3;noma de M&#xe9;xico/ ; //Secretar&#xed;a de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnolog&#xed;a e Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; },
mesh = {*Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; *Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Phaseolus/microbiology/genetics ; *Computational Biology/methods ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; },
abstract = {Growth of the common bean plant Phaseolus vulgaris is tightly linked to its symbiotic relationship with diverse rhizobial species, particularly Rhizobium phaseoli, an alphaproteobacterium that forms root nodules and provides high levels of nitrogen to the plant. Molecular cross-talk is known to happen through plant-derived metabolites, but only flavonoids have been identified as nodulation signals, which act through the activation of the NodD Transcription Factor (TF). The identification of signals that mediate nodulation via TFs can aid in the rational design of biofertilizers that promote plant-bacteria symbiosis. Here, we identified 57 TFs in the R. phaseoli genome through sequence conservation from Escherichia coli, and predicted a transcriptional regulatory network comprising 16 TFs, and 1,371 target genes. We identified the regulatory interactions relevant to nodulation via transcriptome analysis, and hypothesize that PuuR is a TF involved in nodulation, potentially acting via its known binding metabolite putrescine. Sequence and structural evidence predict a model where putrescine acts as a signaling metabolite in nodulation via the TF PuuR, and the regulation of the nodI gene.},
}
@article {pmid41288789,
year = {2025},
author = {Carrara, JE and Smith, AH and Heller, WP},
title = {Application of spent mushroom compost enhances wheat yield but reduces mycorrhizal associations and grain nutrient concentration.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {6},
pages = {67},
pmid = {41288789},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {8072-12000-014-000-D//USDA-ARS in-house project/ ; },
mesh = {*Triticum/growth &amp; development/microbiology/metabolism/chemistry ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Composting ; Soil Microbiology ; *Agaricales ; Nutrients/analysis/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Edible Grain/chemistry/growth &amp; development ; },
abstract = {Developing management practices that enhance crop yield while maintaining soil health is the foremost objective of the regenerative agriculture movement. One avenue to achieving this goal is using biofertilizers and alternative soil amendments to supplement or replace agrochemicals. Here we report the results of a pairwise field trial of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) wherein we investigated individual and combined impacts of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and a spent mushroom compost amendment (herein mushroom compost). The symbiotic relationship between AMF and plants has been demonstrated to benefit the yield and nutritional quality of many crops by enhancing access to mineral nutrients and water. Mushroom compost, consisting of the devitalized residual substrate following harvest of edible mushrooms, is a byproduct of the mushroom industry and is comprised of a variety of nutrient-rich organic material inputs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to (1) determine the effect to which AMF and mushroom compost individually impact wheat yield and nutritional quality, and (2) examine if these effects are synergistic or antagonistic when both amendments are applied together. We found that mushroom compost addition, regardless of AMF inoculation, enhanced grain yield by ~ 40%, but reduced AMF root colonization level by ~ 25-40%. Additionally, despite yield increases, mushroom compost addition reduced grain phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations by ~ 10% and boron concentration by ~ 45%. In fact, grain P, K, and Mg concentrations were all correlated with mycorrhizal colonization level. These results suggest that while spent mushroom compost additions enhanced grain yield, this may have led to a mineral nutrient 'dilution effect' exacerbated by negative impacts on AMF colonization and community composition.},
}
@article {pmid41288749,
year = {2025},
author = {Ndabankulu, KP and Zama, N and Suinyuy, TN and Magadlela, A},
title = {Soil Microbe Interaction and Extracellular Enzyme Activity Mediated by Encephalartos villosus in KwaZulu-Natal Scarp Forest Ecosystems.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {132},
pmid = {41288749},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {129403//National Research Foundation, South Africa/ ; 138091//National Research Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; South Africa ; Soil/chemistry ; Forests ; *Bacteria/classification/enzymology/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Cycads are ancient gymnosperms that play a crucial role in the soil health of scarp forests through their symbiotic associations with nutrient-cycling bacteria. However, the abundance of cycads in scarp forests has been decreasing at an alarming rate, highlighting the importance of determining the role of these species in nutrient cycling, microbial dynamics, and soil health. This study examined soil nutrient and microbial dynamics associated with Encephalartos villosus across four scarp forest sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere zones (3-5 m away from the canopy) of mature plants. Results show that collection point did not influence soil nutrient and properties statistically; however, site-level variation was evident, with Hlathikhulu showing higher pH and nutrient concentrations, while Vernon Crookes exhibited lower pH and nutrient availability. Rhizosphere soils supported a greater diversity of nutrient-cycling bacteria, particularly taxa from the genera Bacillus, Burkholderia, Enterobacter, Luteibacter, and Pseudomonas with N-fixing, P-solubilizing, and N-cycling functions. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed that site differences, mainly driven by Mg, Ca, K, Zn, pH, and total cations, were stronger predictors of soil nutrient and microbial community variation than collection point alone. Enzyme assays showed that glucosaminidase and acid phosphatase were associated with community differences. These findings indicate that E. villosus enhances soil nutrient enrichment and microbial functional diversity in scarp forests, although the strength of these effects depends on local site conditions. Conservation of E. villosus is therefore critical, not only for species survival but also for sustaining soil fertility and ecosystem functioning in nutrient-limited scarp forest habitats.},
}
@article {pmid41288716,
year = {2025},
author = {Chatterjee, A and Ghosh, P and Das, S and Sharaff, M and Mandal, S and Bhattacharya, PM and Chaudhuri, T and Pal, H},
title = {Mangrove derived coactive bacterial inoculant triggered biochemical traits rejuvenating plant cell function under salt stress.},
journal = {Plant cell reports},
volume = {44},
number = {12},
pages = {280},
pmid = {41288716},
issn = {1432-203X},
support = {IGSTC/Call 2019/CirCulTex/19/2020-2021/165//Indo-German Science and Technology Centre/ ; },
mesh = {*Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/physiology/metabolism/drug effects ; *Salt Stress/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Plant Cells/metabolism ; Salt Tolerance ; },
abstract = {Novel endophytic bacterial consortium promotes the growth of Solanum lycopersicum surviving salt stress by differentially regulating the primary and secondary metabolic pathways. Crop yield is being impacted by global warming, which threatens food security. Salinization of soil or irrigation water is becoming increasingly prevalent in most agricultural terrain, especially around the coast. In India, it is estimated that approximately 10% of additional area is getting salinized, and around 50% of the arable land would be salt-affected by the year 2050. Finding innovative techniques that enable farmers to sustain production in an increasingly saline environment is crucial given the world's population expansion and the depletion of natural resources used in agriculture. Biostimulants are naturally occurring compounds or microorganisms that are used to promote plant functions, such as nutrient absorption, nutrient utilisation efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, and the overall quality of the resulting agricultural products. In the present work, we evaluated the agronomic effectiveness of a novel formulated biostimulant consisting of four strains of endophytic bacteria isolated from the roots of mangrove plants of Sundarbans in a crop of great interest (Tomato) under controlled conditions and salt stress. Our research has shown that our product had a positive effect on the biochemical parameters in tomato plants under salt stress. The application of our biostimulant also increased osmolyte production and maintained Na[+]/K[+] homeostasis under salt conditions. Similarly, when exposed to salinity, the biostimulant increased the concentration of signature molecules, including primary metabolites, phenolic compounds, polyamines, and phytohormones inside the plant cell. This study enriched our body of knowledge by providing novel perspectives on the mechanism of salt resistance that endophytic microbes provide through symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41288338,
year = {2025},
author = {Kamel Urmia, H and Koosha, M and Yakhchali, B and Moosa-Kazemi, SH and Oshaghi, MA},
title = {Environmental persistence and transmission dynamics of Serratia AS1 in mosquito habitats: advancing paratransgenesis for malaria control.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0184025},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01840-25},
pmid = {41288338},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Malaria remains a major global health challenge, particularly in developing countries, necessitating innovative control strategies. With rising resistance of Plasmodium to drugs and Anopheles mosquitoes to insecticides, paratransgenesis-using engineered symbiotic bacteria to deliver anti-pathogen molecules-offers a promising alternative. Translating this approach to field applications requires rigorous evaluation under semi-field conditions. We evaluated the environmental stability and transmission dynamics of Serratia AS1-mCherry, a paratransgenesis candidate, in Anopheles stephensi habitats under semi-field conditions in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Serratia AS1 successfully colonized mosquito midguts and ovaries, persisted in larval breeding water for 14 days, and remained stable on sugar-soaked cotton pads for 4-6 days. Transmission routes include transstadial, venereal, and vertical transmission, in addition to adult acquisition from larval habitats (sipping), demonstrating robust colonization and dissemination. Water-based delivery effectively disseminates Serratia AS1 among mosquito populations, highlighting its potential for paratransgenesis-based malaria control. This study establishes the feasibility of using Serratia AS1 with effector molecules in field settings, offering a sustainable strategy for managing vector-borne diseases.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Malaria remains a major health challenge, especially in developing countries where traditional control methods like insecticides and drugs are becoming less effective due to resistance. This study explores a promising new approach called paratransgenesis, which uses genetically modified bacteria to fight malaria. We tested a bacterium called Serratia AS1, which can live inside mosquitoes and spread through their populations. Our experiments showed that Serratia AS1 can survive in mosquito breeding sites and spread effectively among mosquitoes through multiple routes, such as larval water, sugar sources, and even from parent mosquitoes to their offspring. These findings suggest that Serratia AS1 could be used to deliver anti-malaria molecules to mosquitoes in the wild, offering a sustainable and innovative way to control the disease. This work brings us one step closer to using paratransgenesis as a practical tool to reduce malaria transmission and save lives.},
}
@article {pmid41287631,
year = {2025},
author = {Kranawetter, C and Sumner, LW},
title = {Differential root zone secretions and the role of root border cells in rhizosphere manipulation.},
journal = {Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe},
volume = {24},
number = {6},
pages = {5639-5658},
pmid = {41287631},
issn = {1568-7767},
abstract = {Root tissues are broadly divided into mature tissue, elongation zone (developing tissue), root tip, and border cells. While each zone contributes individually to the overall root secretion profile, border cells are emphasized in this review due to their specialized secretory functions. Border cells are often overlooked in plant root focused studies, thus excluding an important component of root functionality. Border cells are a specialized cell type surrounding the root apical meristematic region of most plant species, with the exception of the Brassicaceae family that possess border-like cells. Both cell types share the commonality of complete detachment from the root tip and reliance on internal starch reserves to perform metabolic processes. However, border cells release from the root tip as single/individual cells whereas border-like cells separate as cohesive sheets. Furthermore, border cells, but not border-like cells, secrete a complex matrix consisting of mucilage, proteins, DNA, and metabolites. Many of these secreted compounds are bioactive (e.g. secreted mucilage supports microbial growth and DNA physically entangles pathogens) thus mediating symbiosis and pathogen defense. We are interested in metabolites secreted from individual root regions, with a heavy emphasis on those specifically arising from border cells. Border cell metabolite secretion is in need of further investigation, as current research indicates they secrete symbiosis-inducing, allelopathic, and defense oriented metabolites. This review will summarize current literature regarding metabolite secretions by specific root cell types and regions. In particular, it will focus on border cell contributions to the rhizosphere chemistry relative to other root tissue types.},
}
@article {pmid41286654,
year = {2025},
author = {Benmrid, B and Idbella, M and Bonanomi, G and Khourchi, S and Gherardelli, M and Bargaz, A and Cherki, G},
title = {Drought-tolerant rhizobacterial consortia with diverse plant growth promoting traits enhance wheat and faba bean growth under water and low-P availability promising multi-traits.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {771},
pmid = {41286654},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {AS1-UM6P-Anhalt//OCP Group/ ; AS1-UM6P-Anhalt//OCP Group/ ; AS1-UM6P-Anhalt//OCP Group/ ; },
mesh = {*Triticum/growth &amp; development/microbiology/metabolism ; *Vicia faba/growth &amp; development/microbiology/metabolism ; Droughts ; *Phosphorus/metabolism/deficiency ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Rhizosphere ; *Bacteria/metabolism/classification/genetics ; Water/metabolism ; *Microbial Consortia/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Stress, Physiological ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Staple crops like wheat and faba bean are increasingly subjected to multiple and simultaneous stresses, resulting in substantial yield reduction. Although vast available knowledge about the role of root-rhizosphere microbes in enhancing crop tolerance to single stress, few is known about the potential of bacterial consortia rationally assembled from strains with defined and complementary ecological functions to improve crop tolerance to combined drought and phosphorus (P) deficiency. This study evaluated wheat (Triticum durum) or faba bean (Vicia faba) morpho-physiological response to three functionally diverse drought-tolerant bacterial consortia (C7, C8, C9), in greenhouse conditions, under low-P well-watered conditions (rock phosphate (RP), 80% field capacity (FC)) or low-P drought conditions (RP, 40% FC).<br><br>RESULTS: Assessment of agro-physiological parameters identified consortium C8 as particularly effective, leading to significant increases in root biomass, leaf area, and shoot inorganic P content, of both wheat and faba bean plants under combined drought and low-P availability. This improvement is likely driven by bacterial traits related to drought tolerance, increased root biomass allocation, and enhanced rhizosphere P availability, as indicated by enhanced physiological traits related to leaf area, photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm ratio), and chlorophyll content. Additionally, soil P availability and acquisition improved in response to bacterial inoculation that positively influenced faba bean nodulation, indicating that these bacterial consortia plausibly increased faba bean symbiotic effectiveness through optimizing P use efficiency as a potential mechanism among others. Additionally, the ability of bacterial consortia to produce phytohormones (e.g. Auxins) could partially explain induced root development and nodulation under water stress, given the key role of these phytohormones in root growth and rhizobia-legume symbiosis establishment.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our findings provide consistent evidence on the effectiveness of bacterial consortia - comprising functionally diverse PGP traits - in enhancing plant growth and nutrient acquisition under stressful conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41286598,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Wen, H and Li, Q and Lu, Y and Zhang, Z and Sui, L},
title = {From function to omics: endophytic Beauveria bassiana promotes maize growth by activating phytohormone signaling pathways under elevated carbon dioxide.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-025-07763-5},
pmid = {41286598},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {32271683//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Several entomopathogenic fungal (EPF) species can colonise and establish symbiotic relationships with plants as endophytes, which affects crop growth under elevated carbon dioxide (eCO2) concentrations. However, how EPF facilitates eCO2 in plants is poorly understood, especially at the transcriptional and metabolic levels. Here, the authors used transcriptomics and metabolomics to examine the effects of a widely used EPF, Beauveria bassiana, on maize growth under eCO2, and how it regulated enzyme activity and endogenous hormone metabolism.<br><br>RESULTS: Beauveria bassiana colonisation significantly enhanced maize growth across CO&#x2082; concentrations. Key effects include: 39.64% greater leaf area than controls at ambient CO&#x2082; during S3. Significant developmental divergence in leaf area between S3-S4 under eCO&#x2082;, 11.8% higher 100-grain weight in eCO&#x2082;+Bb vs. eCO&#x2082; alone. Concurrent increases in stress-responsive enzymes and hormones aligned with omics-revealed activation of primary metabolic pathways (ZMA01100) and secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways (ZMA01110).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that B. bassiana colonization modulates plant growth under eCO2 by regulating the expression of related genes, and in turn, enzyme activity and hormone metabolism. The findings of the present study offered a theoretical foundation for elucidating the interactions between EPFs and plants under climate change.},
}
@article {pmid41286473,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, H and Yang, Y and Zhang, H and Chen, X and Zhang, R and Hou, W and Zhang, G},
title = {Symbiotic N-Fixing Bacteria in the Root and Leaf of Typical Alpine Grassland Plants.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {127},
pmid = {41286473},
issn = {1432-184X},
mesh = {Grassland ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Plant Leaves/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Tibet ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Phylogeny ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Alpine plants in nitrogen-deficient environments can acquire nitrogen by associating with endophytic nitrogen-fixing microorganisms that inhabit their roots and leaves to form symbiotic relationships. However, research is limited on nitrogen-fixing bacterial communities in the roots and leaves of alpine grassland plants, especially regarding the differences between various plant parts. In this study, we compared the root and leaf bacterial communities of four alpine plant families (Asteraceae, Leguminosae, Poaceae, and Rosaceae) in the alpine meadow ecosystem of Naqu, Tibet, using culture-based methods, 16S rRNA, and nifH gene pyrosequencing. The results showed greater bacterial diversity in the root compared to the leaf, and Fabaceae plants harbored a higher abundance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Interestingly, the roots and leaves of non-Fabaceae plants (Kobresia, Festuca ovina, and Leontopodium) also harbored abundant nitrogen-fixing communities such as Microbacterium, Curtobacterium, and Rhodococcus. Compared with subtropical environments, Cyanobacteria are important symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in plants of alpine ecosystems. These findings indicate that plant species and plant parts strongly influence the selection of bacterial populations. Understanding these microbial ecological functions in alpine grasslands provides scientific insights for optimizing agricultural practices and ecosystem management.},
}
@article {pmid41286138,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, XQ and An, XP and He, WX and Xu, XH and Hashem, A and Abd-Allah, EF and Wu, QS},
title = {Hairy Vetch Intercropping Attenuates Mycorrhizal Benefits to Walnut Growth and Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration via Glomalin.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {128},
pmid = {41286138},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {SCXX-XZCG-22016//Hubei Province '14th Five-Year' Major Science and Technology Aid Tibet Project/ ; ORF-2025-356//Ongoing Research Funding program, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/ ; },
mesh = {*Juglans/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Carbon Sequestration ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Carbon/metabolism/analysis ; Biomass ; *Agriculture/methods ; *Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; *Glycoproteins/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Intercropping is a prevalent soil management strategy within walnut orchards, while its impacts on the functionality of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in walnuts (Juglans regia) remain unclear, especially concerning soil carbon (C) sequestration via glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP). This study aimed to explore the effects of inoculation with the AMF species Diversispora spurca and intercropping with hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) on walnut biomass accumulation, soil water-stable aggregate (WSA) stability, leaf and root C (Cleaf and Croot) content, soil organic carbon (SOC), GRSP, and GRSP-contained C (CGRSP), in addition to the contribution rate of CGRSP to SOC. The intercropping treatment significantly inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization rate, soil hyphal length, and spore density in AMF-inoculated walnut plants. Individual AMF inoculation, rather than individual intercropping, significantly promoted shoot and root biomass accumulation, WSA stability, SOC, Cleaf and Croot, the levels of purified easily extractable (EEG), difficultly extractable (DEG), and total GRSP (TG), as well as their C contents. The combination treatment (AMF inoculation + intercropping) displayed limited benefits, improving just WSA stability without yielding synergistic advantages over individual treatments. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation significantly increased CGRSP, especially CDEG, while individual intercropping resulted in a reduction of CDEG. The combination treatment elevated both CDEG and CTG, albeit to a lesser extent than AMF alone. The contribution rates of CEEG, CDEG, and CTG to SOC were 0.33% - 0.53%, 1.16% - 1.78%, and 1.49% - 2.31%, respectively. Although AMF inoculation significantly increased the contribution rates of CDEG and CTG to SOC, this effect was diminished when combined with intercropping. Notably, CDEG, rather than CEEG, exhibited a significantly positive correlation with SOC and WSA stability. The findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of SOC sequestration in walnuts grown in controlled environments and offer a theoretical basis for the application of AMF in walnut cultivation.},
}
@article {pmid41285821,
year = {2025},
author = {Karimzadeh, S and Safaie, N and Mojerlou, S and Ebrahimi, L},
title = {Identity and diversity of culturable endophytic fungi associated with Capparis spinosa L. in Iran.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {41502},
pmid = {41285821},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Endophytes/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; Iran ; *Fungi/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi play a crucial role in plant health, contributing to stress tolerance, disease resistance, and ecological adaptation. However, the diversity and richness of endophytic fungal communities associated with Capparis spinosa L. in the Alborz, Tehran, and Qom provinces-ranging from semi-arid and slightly temperate to arid and desert climatic conditions-have not yet been investigated. Using morphological and molecular methods, we identified a diverse fungal assemblage comprising 3 phyla, 7 classes, 14 orders, 28 families, and 36 genera. Among the genera shared across all three provinces, Alternaria (28.8%) was the most dominant among the isolates, whereas Simplicillium (1.6%) was the least abundant. Analysis of the isolates using diversity indices revealed that species distribution in all three provinces tended toward evenness, with a similar pattern observed across different tissues. Qom exhibited the highest diversity and richness of fungal species. Additionally, a detailed comparison of different plant tissues revealed that roots consistently harbored the greatest variety and the highest number of isolates compared to stems, leaves, and fruits. Diversity metrics suggest a potential link between climatic gradients and endophyte diversity. These findings enhance our understanding of fungal-plant interactions and provide insights into the microbial contributions to C. spinosa resilience in harsh environmental conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41285752,
year = {2025},
author = {Schulz, F and Yan, Y and Weiner, AKM and Ahsan, R and Katz, LA and Woyke, T},
title = {Single-cell genomics reveals complex microbial and viral associations in ciliates and testate amoebae.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {10336},
pmid = {41285752},
issn = {2041-1723},
mesh = {Single-Cell Analysis/methods ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Amoeba/virology/microbiology/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Ciliophora/virology/microbiology/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Genomics/methods ; Giant Viruses/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Viruses/genetics/classification ; },
abstract = {Protists play important roles in nutrient cycling across ecosystems, yet the composition and function of their associated microbiomes remain poorly studied. Here, we use cultivation-independent single-cell isolation and genome-resolved metagenomics to investigate the microbiomes and viromes of more than 100 uncultivated ciliates and amoebae from diverse environments. Our findings reveal unique microbiome structures and complex associations with bacterial symbionts and viruses, with stark differences between ciliates and amoebae. We recover 117 microbial genomes affiliated with known eukaryotic endosymbionts, including Holosporales, Rickettsiales, Legionellales, Chlamydiae, and Babelota, and 258 genomes linked to host-associated Patescibacteriota. Many show genome reduction and genes related to toxin-antitoxin systems and nucleotide parasitism, indicating adaptation to intracellular lifestyles. We also identify more than 80 giant viruses from diverse lineages, some actively expressing genes in single-cell transcriptomes, along with other viruses predicted to infect eukaryotes or symbiotic bacteria. The frequent co-occurrence of giant viruses and microbial symbionts, especially in amoebae, suggests multipartite interactions. Together, our study highlights protists as hubs of microbial and viral associations and provides a broad view of the diversity, activity, and ecological importance of their hidden partners.},
}
@article {pmid41284260,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, H and Dowdell, K and Delafont, V and Skerlos, S and Raskin, L},
title = {The Neglected Role of Heterotrophic Protists in Engineered Water Systems.},
journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c04958},
pmid = {41284260},
issn = {1520-5851},
abstract = {Heterotrophic protists can be considered the dark matter of microbial communities in engineered water systems. They are ubiquitous and ecologically significant yet remain largely overlooked. Although a growing body of research demonstrates their pivotal roles (e.g., predation, symbiosis, and nutrient cycling) in microbial communities in natural ecosystems, their functions in engineered water systems are poorly characterized, and heterotrophic protists are frequently excluded from microbial analyses. This is largely due to methodological constraints that have only recently been overcome. Recent advances in imaging, high-throughput sequencing, and meta-omics approaches, combined with expanding reference databases, have revolutionized studies of protist diversity and functions in a wide range of natural environments. Drawing on research from the fields of protistology, microbial ecology, and environmental microbiology, this review explores how the well-documented ecological roles of heterotrophic protists in natural environments translate to engineered ecosystems, offering insights into their functions in water treatment. We critically evaluate recent literature to synthesize both beneficial roles and potential risks of heterotrophic protists in various water treatment systems, while identifying key knowledge gaps and proposing directions for future research. We advocate for a shift in perspective that recognizes heterotrophic protists as important players and call for their integration into microbial community characterization and ecological frameworks in microbial ecology studies of engineered water systems. This integration will transform our understanding of microbial communities in engineered water systems, ultimately enabling novel, mechanistic, and ecologically informed management strategies.},
}
@article {pmid41282262,
year = {2025},
author = {Geddes, B and Levin, G and Luu, C and Visich, N and Hoselton, S and Lipzen, A and Zhao, S and Li, L and diCenzo, G and Finan, T},
title = {Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis by Sinorhizobium meliloti drives a host-specific collapse in symbiosis with Medicago sativa.},
journal = {Research square},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-7715224/v1},
pmid = {41282262},
issn = {2693-5015},
abstract = {Naturally occurring root-nodule bacteria (rhizobia) vary substantially in their effectiveness at promoting growth of different plant hosts via symbiotic nitrogen fixation. These variations in rhizobial partner quality have important implications for the productivity of nitrogen-fixing symbioses in natural and agricultural ecosystems, yet we have a limited understanding of the genetic basis for this variation. In a case of host-specific reduction in symbiotic effectiveness (N 2 -fixation) with Medicago sativa , we identified the causative genetic elements from the pSymA replicon of Sinorhizobum meliloti HM006 and show them to be involved in polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. Transfer of this gene region to a strain that forms an effective symbiosis with Medicago sativa resulted in a complete loss of symbiotic N 2 -fixation. We showed the mechanism for symbiotic collapse is the diversion of succinate semialdehyde pools in the bacteroid to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) by an iron-containing dehydrogenase, GhbD. These findings reveal unexpected impacts of carbon metabolism changes in nodules on symbiont performance and provide a rare example of mechanism for variation in rhizobium partner quality, suggesting that host-specific metabolic incompatibility may be a key player in the variations in partner quality observed in nature.},
}
@article {pmid41281664,
year = {2025},
author = {Lan, X and Zhang, F and Cui, G and Hu, B and Lai, Y and Lin, H and Huang, H and Zhou, D and Yu, M and Yao, G},
title = {Microbiota-directed lactic acid depleting nanoenzyme reactivates antitumor immunity and chemosensitivity in hypoxic tumor.},
journal = {Materials today. Bio},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {102493},
pmid = {41281664},
issn = {2590-0064},
abstract = {The acidification of the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains a major obstacle contributing to malignant progression and impeding therapeutic development. While traditionally attributed to anaerobic glycolysis, increasing evidence suggests that hypoxia-induced colonization of intratumoral symbiotic microbiota, particularly anaerobes, produce lactic acid (LA) metabolites serves as a significant contributor to TME acidification. Although antibiotic-based combination therapies have been explored for the hypoxic tumor treatment, the efficiency was restricted in reversing acidification-induced immunosuppression and chemoresistance. To tackle this challenge, we engineered a delivery platform (TML NPs) for lactate oxidase (LOX) and chemotherapeutic drug tirapazamine (TPZ) by modifying the carrier with metronidazole (MTZ), an antibiotic bearing hypoxia-responsive functional group. By directly targeting the symbiotic anaerobic bacterial metabolism, this strategy introduces a novel paradigm for modulating TME acidification, reversing the LA-mediated suppression of anti-tumor immune responses and chemosensitivity. Our strategy offers a promising translational platform for the precise treatment of TNBC and other hypoxic malignancies.},
}
@article {pmid41280275,
year = {2026},
author = {Qi, X and Zhang, Y and Sun, Z and Wang, G and Ling, F},
title = {A simplified synthetic microbial community enhances resistance of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) to Aeromonas hydrophila infection through host immune activation.},
journal = {Synthetic and systems biotechnology},
volume = {11},
number = {},
pages = {407-418},
pmid = {41280275},
issn = {2405-805X},
abstract = {Bacterial diseases represent a major bottleneck in the sustainable development of aquaculture. The gut microbiota plays a vital role in host growth and health, including the enhancement of disease resistance. Although substantial progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms of disease resistance in fish, the precise role of the gut microbiota in enhancing pathogen resistance in aquatic animals remains poorly understood. In this study, crucian carp (Carassius auratus) were used as a model to investigate the role of intestinal microbiota in modulating resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila. Individual crucian carp exhibited distinct clinical phenotypes following A. hydrophila infection. Specifically, significant differences were observed in the composition of the intestinal microbiota between fish displaying mild symptoms and those exhibiting severe phenotypic manifestations (α diversity: p < 0.01; β diversity: p = 0.001). Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments demonstrated that fish with mild symptoms conferred enhanced resistance to A. hydrophila when their intestinal contents were transplanted into other individuals (p = 0.006). Further microbial analysis identified Cetobacterium (p = 0.013), Paraclostridium (p < 0.01), and Pseudomonas (p < 0.01) as key differential taxa. A simplified microbial community comprising these three strains was subsequently constructed. Feeding experiments confirmed that administration of this community significantly improved host resistance to A. hydrophila (p < 0.05) by activating intestinal immune responses and reinforcing the gut barrier. Overall, our findings underscore the potential of the microbial community as a novel strategy for disease prevention and control in aquaculture, providing a theoretical foundation for the development of microbiome-based therapies in fish health management.},
}
@article {pmid41279359,
year = {2025},
author = {Chi, X and Wang, CH and Parisotto, YF and Nyberg, WA and Cabric, V and Gelineau, A and Cao, Y and Owen, DL and Ambjörnsson, J and Mathis, D and Eyquem, J and Brown, CC and Benoist, C},
title = {Decoding Peripheral Tolerance: TCR Rules for pTreg differentiation in the Gut.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.10.20.683415},
pmid = {41279359},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Peripheral differentiation of regulatory T cells (pTregs) promoted by foreign antigens encountered in barrier tissues is considered a unique contributor to immunological tolerance to obligate non-self, like food or symbiotic microbes. The relative importance of adaptive recognition via the T cell receptor (TCR) vs environmental small-molecule or neuroimmune cues, is poorly understood. We leverage CRISPR-based TCR editing to perform in primary T cells in vivo , with a large panel of TCRs, a screen to assess pTreg differentiation induced by self, microbial, or dietary antigens. All antigen classes drive pTreg differentiation, which varies with the origin of the TCR: TCRs derived from Tregs enable pTreg differentiation much more effectively than those from Tconv. TCRs recognizing self, microbial, or dietary antigens elicit distinct pTreg phenotypes, Helios[+], RORγ[+], or both. Mechanistically, these trace to different types of antigen-presenting-cell involved. That Treg-derived TCRs preferentially drive tolerogenic fate speaks to preferential drivers of tolerogenic therapy.},
}
@article {pmid41279009,
year = {2025},
author = {Morgese, EA and Ferrell, BD and Toth, SC and Polson, SW and Wommack, KE and Fuhrmann, JJ},
title = {Comparative Analysis Reveals Host Species-Dependent Diversity Among 16 Virulent Bacteriophages Isolated Against Soybean Bradyrhizobium spp.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.10.06.680108},
pmid = {41279009},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Phages play a role in shaping ecosystems by controlling host abundance via cell lysis, driving host evolution via horizontal gene transfer, and promoting nutrient cycling. The genus Bradyrhizobium includes bacteria able to symbiotically nodulate the roots of soybean (Glycine max), providing the plant with a direct source of biologically fixed nitrogen. Optimizing this symbiosis can minimize the use of nitrogen fertilizers and make soybean production more sustainable. Phages targeting Bradyrhizobium may modify their hosts' genotype, alter phenotypic traits such as symbiotic effectiveness, and mediate competition among strains for nodulation sites. Sixteen phages were isolated against B. elkanii strains USDA94 and USDA31, and B. diazoefficiens strain USDA110. Comparative analyses revealed host species-dependent diversity in morphology, host range, and genome composition, leading to the identification of three previously undescribed phage species. Remarkably, all B. elkanii phages shared a siphophage morphology and formed a single species with >97% nucleotide identity, even when isolated from farms separated by up to ∼70 km, suggesting genomic stability across geographic scales. In contrast, phages isolated against B. diazoefficiens displayed podophage-like morphology, greater genetic diversity, and divided into two distinct species. Although no phages were recovered against B. japonicum strains or native Delaware Bradyrhizobium isolates tested, some Delaware isolates showed susceptibility during the host range assay. The phage genomes demonstrated features predicting phenotypes. Terminase genes predicted headful packaging among the phages which is critical for generalized transduction. The B. elkanii phages all carried tmRNA genes capable of recruiting stalled ribosomes and both phage groups carried DNA polymerase A indicating greater control of phage genome replication. State-of-the-art structural annotation revealed a tail fiber gene within a phage genome having the highest proportion (80.77%) of unknown genes. Together this work expands the limited knowledge available on soybean Bradyrhizobium phage ecology and genomics.},
}
@article {pmid41278752,
year = {2025},
author = {Lubin, MB and Teixeira, DH and Belin, BJ},
title = {Characterization of chemotaxis in soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.10.14.682368},
pmid = {41278752},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Symbiotic relationships between nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria and legumes provide nearly half of all biologically fixed nitrogen on Earth, playing a crucial role in sustainable agriculture. These relationships rely on bacterial navigation of complex, dynamic soil environments to reach their plant hosts. Central to this behavior are bacterial motility and chemotaxis, the ability to sense and move toward host-derived signals in the rhizosphere. In the soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110, motility is controlled by dual flagellar systems, and this strain contains three putative but uncharacterized chemotaxis operons (che1 , che2 , and che3). Using targeted deletions of all three predicted cheA genes, we show that cheA2 is the primary driver of chemotaxis toward soybean seed exudate in soft agar assays, and that the greater contribution of cheA2 vs. cheA1 in soft agar chemotaxis is due to its genomic context. Interestingly, we also found that B. diazoefficiens mutants that are incapable of chemotaxis in semisolid media retain wild type-like swimming speeds in aqueous media. These findings provide insight into how the agricultural inoculant B. diazoefficiens coordinates its chemosensory systems to respond to its host plant.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Chemotaxis is crucial for the establishment of beneficial plant-microbe associations, yet mechanistic studies of chemotaxis have been limited to a handful of soil bacterial models, namely Azospirillum brasilense , Sinorhizobium meliloti , and Rhizobium leguminosarum . These three models represent only a fraction of the diversity found among plant- beneficial bacteria and agricultural inoculants. The soybean symbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110 is a commonly used soybean inoculant with exceptional nitrogen fixation efficiency, but the genetic control of chemotaxis in B. diazoefficiens has not been examined. Establishing B. diazoefficiens as a model of chemotaxis provides an opportunity to understand how multiple chemotaxis systems coordinate root colonization in this major agricultural symbiont and can enable comparative analyses of plant-microbe recognition strategies across agricultural bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid41278148,
year = {2025},
author = {Dely, A and Racicot, R and Samples, R and Giddings, LA},
title = {Draft genome sequence and metabolomics data for Streptomyces sp. ADLamb9 isolated from the rhizosphere of Lavandula dentata.},
journal = {Data in brief},
volume = {63},
number = {},
pages = {112199},
pmid = {41278148},
issn = {2352-3409},
abstract = {Iron-chelating molecules or siderophores play pivotal roles in soil ecosystems, particularly in facilitating plant iron uptake as well as the phytoremediation of metal-polluted environments. Lavandula dentata, commonly referred to as French Lavender, is a valuable species for siderophore production due to its ability to thrive in iron-deficient Mediterranean soils by forming symbiotic relationships with siderophore-producing rhizosphere microbes. Here, we used a Chrome Azurol S (CAS) overlay assay to isolate a yellow-pigmented L. dentata rhizosphere siderophore-producing bacterium. This isolate also demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal activities against Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. Genomic sequencing revealed that the isolate was Streptomyces sp. ADLamb9 with a genome size of 8.2 Mb and 71.77% GC content. antiSMASH analysis of the Streptomyces sp. ADLamb9 genome identified four putative siderophore biosynthetic gene clusters as well as the catecholate siderophore mirubactin. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) masses consistent with desferrioxamine B (561.3604 m/z), IC202C (517.3342 m/z), mirubactin (605.2207 m/z), as well as previously unreported desferrioxamine A1C. Notably, the presence of the rare earth element cerium differentially affected the accumulation of catecholate and hydroxamate siderophores, highlighting our incomplete understanding of the complex regulation and relationship between siderophore biosynthesis genes. These datasets, deposited at NCBI under the BioProject accession number PRJNA1224804, contribute to the broader scientific understanding of metabolite diversity and genomic features of Streptomyces sp. ADLamb9, providing insight into its use in bioremediation, especially in the presence of rare earth elements.},
}
@article {pmid41277186,
year = {2025},
author = {Sinha, A and Kumar, S},
title = {Symbiotic Relationships Between Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Essential Oil-Producing Herbs: A Review of Recent Advances.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70127},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70127},
pmid = {41277186},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {//The authors received no specific funding for this work./ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) significantly impact on the growth, nutritional intake, and secondary metabolite synthesis of essential oil-producing plants by forming crucial symbiotic relationships with their roots. Recent research findings that demonstrate the diverse functions of AMF in improving the amount and chemical makeup of essential oils are compiled in this article. In sustainable agriculture, particularly in organic farming systems that utilize minimal synthetic inputs, AMF and medicinal herbs have demonstrated a positive relationship. AMF also supports ecological stability by promoting biodiversity and enhancing soil structure. The molecular and pharmacological mechanisms underlying these plant-fungal interactions are still not fully known, however. This study highlights the need for further research into the mechanisms of action of AMF, the development of effective inoculation methods, and the evaluation of novel herb-fungus combinations. It also reveals present research gaps. These revelations will open the door to more environmentally friendly farming methods and the efficient use of AMF in the manufacture of essential oils. AMF and medicinal plants have a promising interaction in sustainable agriculture, especially in organic farming systems that employ fewer synthetic inputs. Additionally, AMF improves soil structure and encourages biodiversity, both of which support ecological stability.},
}
@article {pmid41276973,
year = {2025},
author = {Luo, X and Yang, X and He, L and Wang, K and Gao, Y and Zhang, J and Yang, L and Li, Z and Zhao, X and Zhao, R and Zhao, S},
title = {Interaction Mechanisms between 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) and Soil-Soybean System: Insight from Biodegradation, Phytotoxicity, and Microbial Shifts.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c11903},
pmid = {41276973},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {As an important perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) substitute, 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) has been widely detected in soil. However, the interaction mechanisms between 6:2 FTSA and the soil-plant system are still unknown. Here, we explored the biodegradation, phytotoxicity, and microbial impact of 6:2 FTSA in a soil-soybean system. The biodegradation of 6:2 FTSA in plants was mediated by both enzymes and coexisting microorganisms. 6:2 FTSA (2.97 nmol/g) inhibited soybean growth and caused oxidative damage, while soybeans enhanced their stress tolerance and metabolism of 6:2 FTSA by modulating genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, hormone signaling, oxidative stress, xenobiotic detoxification, and transmembrane transport. 6:2 FTSA affected rhizospheric and root endophytic microbial communities, with symbiotic fungi being more sensitive to 6:2 FTSA stress than bacteria. Five 6:2 FTSA-degrading rhizospheric and endophytic bacterial strains belonging to genera Acinetobacter, Rhodococcus, and Klebsiella were isolated and identified, with the rhizosphere bacteria exhibiting more effective degradation. Our findings reveal the ecological risks and detoxification mechanisms of emerging PFOS alternatives in soil-crop systems.},
}
@article {pmid41276563,
year = {2025},
author = {Thériault, V and De la Rosa, CMA and Miard, S and Taubert, S and Picard, F},
title = {Impact of bacterial inactivation methods on Caenorhabditis elegans feeding and healthspan.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-27444-5},
pmid = {41276563},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {RGPIN-2024-06781//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; },
abstract = {Accurate bacterial inactivation methods are essential for nutritional and microbiota studies in Caenorhabditis elegans, to determine whether the observed effects arise from nutrients provided by ingested bacteria or from active symbiotic interactions. However, some inactivation methods alter bacterial palatability, complicating conclusions about their direct impact. We aimed to identify an effective method for inactivating the bacterial strain Escherichia coli OP50, the standard food source for most C. elegans experiments, that preserves normal behavior and physiology in C. elegans. We compared heat inactivation (65 °C for 35 min) with 0.5% paraformaldehyde (PFA) inactivation. Worms fed PFA-inactivated bacteria showed no food aversion, and maintained wild-type pharyngeal pumping levels, fertility rates, and lipid accumulation, closely resembling the behavior and physiology of worms fed alive E. coli OP50. In contrast, heat‑inactivated bacteria elicited strong food avoidance, reduced pumping activity, activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR[mt]), decreased lipid stores and fertility, and increased survival relative to the other groups. These findings demonstrate that 0.5% PFA inactivation more accurately preserves C. elegans physiological and behavioral traits than heat inactivation, making it a more suitable method for microbiota and nutritional studies.},
}
@article {pmid41276306,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, L and Gupta, A and Li, W and Wang, G and Jiang, D and Yan, Y and Jia, Z and Tran, LP and Tian, C},
title = {Utilization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis-related genes from host plants in biotechnology for sustainable agriculture.},
journal = {Critical reviews in biotechnology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-12},
doi = {10.1080/07388551.2025.2581883},
pmid = {41276306},
issn = {1549-7801},
abstract = {In recent years, interest in the role of nutrient cycling in sustainable agriculture has significantly increased. The potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (AMFs) in nutrient cycling and plant growth improvement has long been recognized. However, there have been only a few studies on the identification and exploration of AM symbiosis-related plant genes for sustainable agriculture. We have developed a new constructive model for using host plant-derived AM symbiosis-related genes to improve breeding and AMF utilization for sustainable agriculture, particularly in the context of climate change. This model include: 1) the discovery of AM symbiosis-related genes in crop wild-relatives for molecular breeding and 2) the screening and propagation of AMFs that can help improve water-use efficiency and nutrient-use efficiency by crops, thereby reducing chemical fertilizer use in agricultural production. The first approach uniquely facilitates the identification of host plant-derived AM symbiosis-related genes, such as CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (OsCERK1) from Dongxiang (DY) wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) (OsCERK1DY), MILDEW RESISTANCE LOCUS 1 (MLO1) from wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum), and WRKY60 from wild soybean (Glycine soja), for breeding purposes. The second one involves identifying soil-borne AMF species, such as Rhizophagus intraradices and Glomus mosseae for practical applications in the field. This suggestive model presents an emerging biotechnological potential for engineering climate-resilient crops.},
}
@article {pmid41275102,
year = {2025},
author = {Bruzzese, DJ and Gstöttenmayer, F and Weiss, BL and Khalil, H and Mach, RL and Abd-Alla, AMM and Aksoy, S},
title = {Comparative genomics and transcriptomics of the Spiroplasma glossinidia strain sGff reveal insights into host interaction and trypanosome resistance in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-025-12351-w},
pmid = {41275102},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {R21AI163969/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R21AI163969/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; D42017//International Atomic Energy Agency/ ; },
}
@article {pmid41274117,
year = {2025},
author = {Imai, Y and Kimura, S and Kitajima, S and Sadato, N and Chiba, R and Hibino, H and Adachi-Akahane, S},
title = {Toward the promotion of "One Health" - part I: How do humans work to live together with humans, other organisms, and xenobiotics on Earth?.},
journal = {The journal of physiological sciences : JPS},
volume = {76},
number = {1},
pages = {100050},
doi = {10.1016/j.jphyss.2025.100050},
pmid = {41274117},
issn = {1880-6562},
abstract = {Thirty years from now, society will be transformed by dramatic advances in digital transformation, life infrastructure, and personalized medicine. People will communicate seamlessly in virtual spaces, and older adults will enjoy more fulfilling lives. Nevertheless, increasingly complex lifestyles will place immense pressure on ecosystems, affecting the environment and organisms and leading to serious health challenges. To address these issues, the Japanese Association of Anatomists, the Physiological Society of Japan (PSJ), and the Japanese Pharmacological Society have launched a collaborative initiative on "One Health". This framework aims to integrate the protection of flora and fauna with the health of humans, animals, and the planet, extending even to outer space. In the symposium held at 2025 APPW congress cohosted by PSJ, experts from multiple disciplines discussed how humans can coexist with microbes, xenobiotics, humans, and robots on Earth, fostering a sustainable and resilient future. This article summarizes this One Health symposium.},
}
@article {pmid41273130,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, XY and Li, DG},
title = {Immunoglobulin G and Aging: Biological Functions and Its Crosstalk with the Gut Microbiota.},
journal = {Rejuvenation research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1177/15491684251396176},
pmid = {41273130},
issn = {1557-8577},
abstract = {Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in physiological integrity, often accompanied by chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation. Immunoglobulin G (IgG), a key effector of humoral immunity, undergoes substantial structural and functional remodeling with age, particularly through changes in its glycosylation profile. These modifications shift IgG toward a proinflammatory state, linking it to inflammaging and multiple age-related diseases. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding how IgG contributes to immune aging, with a specific focus on its glycosylation-dependent functions, tissue accumulation, and bidirectional crosstalk with the gut microbiota. We also highlight the potential of IgG as a biomarker and therapeutic target in aging-related interventions. We discuss the dual functional architecture of IgG and how age-related glycan shifts-namely, increased agalactosylation, afucosylation, and bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-enhance binding to activating Fcγ receptors, amplifying proinflammatory signaling. Experimental studies demonstrate that IgG accumulation in adipose tissue contributes to metabolic dysfunction via Neonatal Fc Receptor (FcRn)-dependent pathways. Additionally, sex hormones modulate IgG glycosylation patterns, partially explaining sex-specific differences in immune aging. The concept of "glycan clocks" has emerged as a tool to assess biological age and intervention responsiveness. Moreover, the gut microbiota plays a critical role in shaping the IgG repertoire, and aging disrupts this IgG-microbiota axis, resulting in altered mucosal immunity and systemic inflammation. Interventions targeting this axis-including microbiota modulation and glycoengineering-offer promising translational avenues for immune rejuvenation. Finally, we review emerging therapeutic strategies that leverage the gut-immune interface to mitigate aging-associated cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. IgG is not merely a biomarker but an active participant in the aging process, functioning at the intersection of immune regulation, microbial symbiosis, and systemic inflammation. Its age-associated transformation reflects broader changes in host immunity and highlights new opportunities for precision interventions in immunosenescence.},
}
@article {pmid41272488,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, R and Pan, H},
title = {Identification and functional evaluation of cyclin-dependent kinase genes reveals that CDKB1;1 and CDKB2;2 contribute to the balance of mitosis and endoreduplication in Medicago truncatula nodule.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1617},
pmid = {41272488},
issn = {1471-2229},
mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics/enzymology/microbiology ; *Mitosis/genetics ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; *Cyclin-Dependent Kinases/genetics/metabolism ; *Endoreduplication/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Symbiosis ; Protein Interaction Maps ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) critically regulate plant cell cycle transitions, including mitosis-to-endoreduplication switches essential for growth and adaptation. In Medicago truncatula, nodules form through symbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobia. The terminal differentiation of bacteroids within nodule cells is critical for efficient nitrogen fixation. To maintain and optimize the functionality of these differentiated symbiosomes, host nodule cells undergo repeated rounds of endoreduplication. However, which CDKs are involved in regulating endoreduplication in nodule cells to support effective symbiotic nitrogen fixation remains largely unknown.<br><br>RESULTS: We identified and characterized 29 CDK genes (15 CDKs and 14 CDKLs) classified into eight conserved subgroups. These genes displayed diverse exon/intron structures and protein motifs, with CDKA, CDKB, and CDKL subfamilies showing strong conservation with Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression analysis revealed specific downregulation of CDKB1;1, CDKB2;2, and CDKL13 in nodule infection to fixation zones. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and Gene ontology (GO) analyses demonstrated CDKB1;1 and CDKB2;2 involvement in cell cycle regulation. Overexpression of CDKB1;1 or CDKB2;2 disrupted endoreduplication and nitrogen fixation, with CDKB1;1 having the most pronounced effect, while CDKL13 appeared dispensable for symbiosis.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our study presents the comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the CDK gene family in M. truncatula, demonstrating that the essential role of CDKB1;1 and CDKB2;2 downregulation in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and endoreduplication offers new insights into cell cycle regulation in nodules. It also identifies potential targets for improving nitrogen fixation efficiency in legumes.},
}
@article {pmid41271942,
year = {2025},
author = {Dmitrieva, M and Shelkovnikova, V and Morgunova, M and Malygina, E and Imidoeva, N and Belyshenko, A and Telnova, T and Vavilina, T and Konovalov, A and Batalova, A and Lipatova, O and Listopad, A and Axenov-Gribanov, D},
title = {Genetic and biotechnological potential of thermophilic Streptomyces sp. isolated from Baikal freshwater psychrophilic sponge.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {41403},
pmid = {41271942},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {FZZE-2024-0003//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; FZZE-2024-0013//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; },
mesh = {*Streptomyces/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Animals ; Fresh Water/microbiology ; Biotechnology/methods ; Biological Products/metabolism/pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Temperature ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Microorganisms inhabiting extreme environmental conditions receive special attention because they possess different adaptations to adverse conditions. Currently, their biotechnological potential and ability to isolate biologically active metabolites have increased. The increasing mortality due to different diseases has become particularly important as one of the notable challenges in modern healthcare. This highlights the necessity of discovering new producers of natural products (NPs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic and biotechnological potential through the assessment of NP synthesis and genome annotation of the thermophilic strain Streptomyces sp. LPB2020-019-1HS. The thermophilic strain was isolated from the Baikal endemic cold water sponge Lubomirskia baikalensis. Subsequently, Streptomyces sp. LPB2020-019-1HS was cultivated at six temperatures ([Formula: see text]C, [Formula: see text]C, [Formula: see text]C, [Formula: see text]C, [Formula: see text]C, and [Formula: see text]C) in twelve nutrient media with different compositions (nutrient rich and nutrient poor). Using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry approaches, the synthesis of compounds by the strain was assessed at [Formula: see text]C, [Formula: see text]C, and [Formula: see text]C. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated at all temperatures (from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]C). We demonstrated the presence of antibiotic activity against Bacillus subtilis for strains cultivated at 28 °C, [Formula: see text]C, and [Formula: see text]C. Additionally, we observed activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis when the strain was cultivated at [Formula: see text]C, [Formula: see text]C, [Formula: see text]C, and [Formula: see text]C. Furthermore, the strain exhibited activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, and Candida glabrata when cultured at [Formula: see text]C. Overall, we found that Streptomyces sp. LPB2020-019-1HS produces a family of NPs related to Nocardamine and hypothesized that freshwater Actinobacteria have mechanisms for chelating iron ions, making them available for plants/sponges or other symbiotic organisms. Therefore, our research findings underscore the importance of studying extremophilic microorganisms from Lake Baikal in the context of developing new pharmaceuticals and biotechnological solutions for contemporary healthcare challenges.},
}
@article {pmid41271671,
year = {2025},
author = {Shahul Hameed, UF and Balakrishna, A and Wang, JY and Alvarez, D and Momin, AA and Schwarzenberg, A and Al-Babili, S and Arold, ST},
title = {Molecular Basis for Catalysis and Regulation of the Strigolactone Catabolic Enzyme CXE15.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {10290},
pmid = {41271671},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {BAS/1/1056-01-01//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)/ ; },
mesh = {*Lactones/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism/chemistry/genetics ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Catalytic Domain ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Catalysis ; *Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Protein Multimerization ; },
abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are pivotal plant hormones involved in developmental, physiological, and adaptive processes. SLs also facilitate symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and trigger germination of root parasitic Striga plants. The carboxylesterase CXE15, recently identified as the SL catabolic enzyme in Arabidopsis thaliana, plays a crucial role in regulating SL levels. Our study elucidates the structural and regulatory mechanisms of CXE15. We present four crystal structures capturing the conformational dynamics of CXE15, revealing a unique N-terminal extension (Nt) that transitions from a β-sheet in monomers to an intertwined helical structure in dimers. Only the dimeric form is catalytically active, as it forms a hydrophobic cavity for SLs between its two active sites. The moderate dimerisation affinity allows for genetic regulation through protein expression levels. Additionally, we identify an environment-controlled regulation mechanism. Under oxidising conditions, a disulphide bond forms between Cys14 of the two monomers, blocking the active site and inhibiting SL cleavage. This redox-sensitive inhibition of SL catabolism, triggered by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to abiotic stress, suggests a mechanism for maintaining high SL levels under beneficial conditions. Our findings provide molecular insights into the regulation of SL homeostasis and catabolism under stress conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41270733,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, Z and Lan, Y and Meng, L and Wang, H and Li, L and Li, Y and Zhang, N and Lu, R and Cui, Z and Song, Y and Wang, Y and Li, Y and Yue, Z and Fan, G and Li, Q and Gu, Y and Liu, S and Qian, PY and Meng, L and Shao, C},
title = {Hologenomic insights into the molecular adaptation of deep-sea coral Bathypathes pseudoalternata.},
journal = {Cell host &amp; microbe},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.10.020},
pmid = {41270733},
issn = {1934-6069},
abstract = {Deep-sea coral ecosystems support biodiversity and nutrient cycling through interactions with symbionts. However, their molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, hologenomic analyses of Bathypathes pseudoalternata are applied to uncover molecular adaptations underpinning host-symbiont interactions. Genomic evidence reveals that B. pseudoalternata exhibits adaptations in nutrient transport, immune response, and lysosomal digestion, reflecting its genomic adjustments for a stable symbiosis. Candidatus Nitrosopumilus bathypathes (78.43% ± 3.65%) is inferred to oxidize host-derived ammonia to synthesize amino acids and vitamins to provision the host. The presence of CRISPR-Cas and restriction-modification (R-M) systems suggests that Ca. Bathyplasma bathypathes and Ca. Thalassoplasma bathypathes (10.68% ± 2.99%) may protect the host from viral infections. Ca. Bathybacter bathypathes (8.39% ± 1.53%) is hypothesized to synthesize heme, lipoic acid, and glutathione, which serve dual functions as antioxidants and nutrients. These findings collectively provide insights into how the hologenome contributes to the survival of B. pseudoalternata in the extreme environment.},
}
@article {pmid41267536,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, J and Zhang, W and Guo, Q and Liu, X and Wei, C},
title = {Initially Coexisting Endosymbionts Migrate Into Different Tissues During Ontogeny of Host Cicadas.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {11},
pages = {e70185},
doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.70185},
pmid = {41267536},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {32270496//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2025KYCXZ05//Northwest A&amp;F University Doctoral Candidates' Independent Innovation Research Project Funding/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Animals ; *Fungi/physiology ; },
abstract = {Endosymbionts play pivotal roles in driving ecological and evolutionary diversification of many insects, yet the morphogenesis and evolutionary origin of their specialised symbiotic organs (e.g., bacteriomes) remain poorly understood. Here we investigated the bacteriome morphogenesis in Cicadidae using microscopy-based methods. We revealed that bacteriomes originate either from both the original bacteriocytes that emerged after anatrepsis and the novel bacteriocytes that appeared during katatrepsis, or solely from the latter. Bacteriomes expand via "budding" proliferation to increase the bacteriome unit number, and bacteriome developmental patterns closely correlate with the presence/absence of the yeast-like fungal symbionts (YLS) and their colonisation dynamics. The obligate endosymbiont Karelsulcia and YLS, coexisting in bacteriomes during early stages of host ontogeny, may compete for ecological niches, potentially resulting in translocation of YLS into fat bodies. This indicates that bacteriomes may have initially functioned as immune organs like fat bodies, but evolved specifically for accommodating bacterial endosymbionts. The translocation of YLS from bacteriomes to fat bodies during the later development of host cicadas indicates that immune-mediated regulation occurs in such symbiotic organs as host insects mature. This study sheds light on how symbiont-host interactions shape the symbiotic organogenesis, which provides insights into adaptive evolution of specialised symbiotic organs in plant sap-feeding insects.},
}
@article {pmid41266970,
year = {2025},
author = {Jin, L and Xu, Q and Miao, C and Zhan, J and Zhang, Y and Li, M and Cheng, J and Liu, P and Yang, Y and Zhou, H and Hu, Z and Li, F and Wu, C},
title = {Dynamic multi-omics analysis reveals the correlation between aroma compounds and symbiotic microbial community during tobacco leaf aging process.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-025-07765-3},
pmid = {41266970},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {110202102033//the Key Grant of China National Tobacco Corporation, China/ ; },
}
@article {pmid41266614,
year = {2025},
author = {Wiles, EL and Kakumanu, ML and Schal, C},
title = {Wolbachia-supplemented B-vitamins are critical for blood digestion in the bed bug Cimex lectularius.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {40962},
pmid = {41266614},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {2023348287//National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program/ ; NC02639//U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Bedbugs/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; *Wolbachia/physiology ; *Riboflavin/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Digestion ; Symbiosis ; *Vitamin B Complex/pharmacology ; Biotin/pharmacology ; Female ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia, a bacterial endosymbiont, acts as an obligate nutritional mutualist in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius. Wolbachia in C. lectularius (wCle) supplements B-vitamins, namely riboflavin (B2) and biotin (B7), which are deficient in the bed bug's diet of vertebrate blood. Experimental elimination of wCle significantly impairs fitness in bed bugs, resulting in slow development, low egg production and egg hatch rate, and smaller adult body size. Although this obligatory symbiosis has been well-documented, the specific physiological mechanisms by which wCle-supplemented B-vitamins promote bed bug fitness remain unclear. We hypothesized that B-vitamin deficiency impairs digestion in aposymbiotic bed bugs, and in this study we investigated the effects of wCle elimination on three digestive processes in the bed bug - diuresis, erythrocyte (red blood cell) lysis, and protein catabolism. Our results show that wCle elimination significantly slows both diuresis and protein catabolism. We also demonstrate that riboflavin is critical for the breakdown of hemoglobin, the main protein component of red blood cells, but not albumin, the main protein component of plasma. We propose that the lack of wCle-supplemented riboflavin results in systemic protein deficiency, driving various fitness-related deficits in aposymbiotic bed bugs. These findings enhance our understanding of bed bug digestive physiology and the wCle-bed bug nutritional mutualism, with broader implications for other blood-feeding arthropods.},
}
@article {pmid41266521,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, Y and Zhu, P and Xia, Y and Hassan, Z},
title = {The mutualistic symbiosis of public and scientific attention in science communication.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {41151},
pmid = {41266521},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {22YB013//Jiangxi Provincial Education Science '14th Five-Year Plan' 2022 General Topic: Research on Red Gene Inheritance of Contemporary College Students Based on Heart Stream Experience/ ; 2023JSYJC20//Public Security Ministry Technical Research Program/ ; G2024507002//Hebei Natural Science Foundation: Research on Modeling of Public Opinion Risks in Online Communities and Intelligent Governance Algorithms/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Symbiosis ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Models, Theoretical ; *Communication ; *Information Dissemination/methods ; *Science ; *Scholarly Communication ; },
abstract = {This study examines the bidirectional tension between public and scientific attention amid informatization, analyzing their mutualistic symbiosis to address science communication challenges. We constructed a mathematical model of mutualistic symbiosis in their relationship was developed based on the Logistic Model. Subsequently, numerical simulations were employed to investigate the evolutionary trends and patterns of scientific attention, public attention, and the effectiveness of science communication under varying modes of public attention and initial values of scientific attention. Furthermore, using "COVID-19" as a case study, an empirical analysis was conducted on to assess the correlation between public attention and scientific attention and evaluate the constructed mathematical Model, verifying its scientific validity and effectiveness. This study underscores the critical role of science communication in fostering advantageous interactions between scientific and public attention. Nonetheless, it is imperative to adopt tailored science communication strategies that accommodate diverse public attention modes and initial levels of scientific attention while selecting appropriate symbiotic models for specific contexts. This proposed approach ensures the effective dissemination of scientific information and fosters a robust science communication ecosystem.},
}
@article {pmid41266356,
year = {2025},
author = {Deng, Y and Zhao, H and Zhang, L and Yang, S and Zou, D and Ma, M and Hou, C},
title = {Symbiotic Enterococcus faecalis potentiates viral pathogenesis via fructose-1,6-bisphosphate-mediated insect gut epithelial damage.},
journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {215},
pmid = {41266356},
issn = {2055-5008},
support = {32300418//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32300418//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024RC1069//The Science and Technology of Innovation Program of Hunan Province/ ; CAAS-BRC-CB-2025-01//Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program/ ; GLKY-2022-16//Guangxi Forestry Science and Technology Promotion and Demonstration Project/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Enterococcus faecalis/physiology/genetics ; Bees/virology/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Larva/virology/microbiology ; Apoptosis ; },
abstract = {Chinese sacbrood virus (CSBV) is highly lethal to Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) larvae. While gut symbionts are known to regulate viral infection, their role in CSBV pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of the field-collected honey bees, we found that the larvae had a substantially higher relative abundance of Enterococcus than pupae or adults. Metagenome sequencing analysis of field-collected larvae demonstrated that CSBV infection significantly induced more than 45-fold enhancement in the abundance of Enterococcus faecalis, an opportunistic pathogen implicated in the development of purulent cystic lesions. In microbiota-free (MF) bees, colonization with E. faecalis markedly suppressed phospholipid metabolism and elevated levels of 4-guanidinobutyric acid and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP). These metabolic changes were associated with cytotoxicity and apoptosis, which worsened goblet cell damage and thereby facilitated CSBV infection, as indicated by metabolomics and pathological section analysis. Crucially, exogenous FBP administration directly enhanced cytotoxicity and apoptosis of gut in CSBV-infected MF bees, mirroring the CSBV susceptibility was mediated by E. faecalis. Our study unveiled a symbiotic bacteria's involvement in promoting RNA virus infection through metabolic reprogramming and epithelial barrier dysfunction, providing new insights into host-microbe-virus interactions in pollinators.},
}
@article {pmid41265612,
year = {2025},
author = {Ranjbar, M and Ahmadpour, M and Kiani, M and Govahi, M},
title = {Myco-macromolecular symbiosis: Chitosan-folate ZnO nanoplatforms from Trametes versicolor for dual-functional oncological and antibacterial therapy.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {149140},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.149140},
pmid = {41265612},
issn = {1879-0003},
abstract = {The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and cancer necessitates the development of novel, targeted therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to develop a multifunctional nanoplatform combining antibacterial and anticancer properties through green synthesis and strategic surface functionalization. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were biosynthesized using Trametes versicolor extract as a reducing and capping agent, then surface-functionalized with chitosan (Cs) for enhanced biocompatibility and conjugated with folic acid (FA) for targeted delivery. The NPs were characterized using multiple analytical techniques and evaluated for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. Cytotoxicity was assessed in cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and normal cells (MCF-10 A), followed by gene expression analysis of key oncogenic and apoptotic markers. Characterization confirmed the formation of crystalline, core-shell structures with successful ligand attachment. Cs-ZnO NPs demonstrated significantly enhanced antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains compared to bare ZnO NPs. FA-Cs-ZnO NPs exhibited selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells while maintaining biocompatibility with normal cells. Gene expression analysis revealed down-regulation of cancer stemness genes (CD44, SOX2) and proliferation markers (mTOR, β-catenin), coupled with up-regulation of the apoptotic marker Caspase 3. This green-synthesized, dual-functional nanoplatform demonstrates promising potential for combined antibacterial and targeted anticancer therapy, warranting further in vivo evaluation for clinical translation.},
}
@article {pmid41265272,
year = {2025},
author = {Jia, J and Xue, X and Wang, Z and Xiong, X and Hu, H and Wu, C},
title = {Phycosphere as a hotspot of antibiotic resistomes in aquatic environments.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {500},
number = {},
pages = {140513},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140513},
pmid = {41265272},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Algal-bacterial interactions represent fundamental ecological processes in aquatic environments, crucially governing nutrient cycling and energy flow within food webs. Beyond their ecological roles, the algal phycosphere has recently been identified as a critical hotspot for the proliferation and enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). It's reported that the total abundance of ARGs in the phycosphere of microalgae is up to 47-fold higher than in the surrounding water. However, a systematic understanding of how the phycosphere drives ARG dynamics in aquatic ecosystems remains limited. This review synthesizes current evidence to evaluate the mechanisms by which algae influence ARG proliferation within aquatic ecosystems. Findings indicate that in the phycosphere, algal-bacterial interactions shape ARG fate by modulating bacterial community composition. The symbiotic bacteria are specifically enriched in the phycosphere and play important roles in the proliferation of ARGs. Furthermore, exogenous factors (e.g., nutrients, antibiotics, microplastics, and warming) alter these interactions, thereby changing the phycospheric bacterial community and further affecting ARG evolution. Algal blooms typically enhance the dominance of key ARG hosts, promoting aquatic ARG proliferation. The review concludes by outlining research priorities essential for advancing mechanistic insights into algal-associated ARG dynamics.},
}
@article {pmid41265199,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and Shi, F and Zhou, M and Su, H and Liu, X and Wei, Y and Wang, F},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi change toxic effects of different types of microplastics on Lactuca sativa L. by influencing plant metabolic processes.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {307},
number = {},
pages = {119443},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119443},
pmid = {41265199},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Soil microplastics (MPs) pollution is becoming more serious, and symbiotic microorganisms in soil-plant systems may influence the environmental behavior and related plant responses to MPs stress. In this study, common primary plastic products were broken down into MPs to investigate the toxic effects and migration behavior of MPs on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Our findings show that symbiotic AMF reduce the uptake and toxic effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by increasing nucleotide metabolism and zeatin biosynthesis, resulting in a 20.64 % drop in PET uptake and an 11.43 % increase in lettuce biomass. In contrast, AMF promoted the absorption of polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) by lettuce, inhibiting ascorbate metabolism and lysine biosynthesis, and causing poorer lettuce growth. The positive regulatory effect of AMF on the nutritional quality and health status of plants under PET stress shows that AMF have the potential to alleviate the toxicity of MPs to lettuce in farmland and to remediate the MPs-related pollution in agricultural areas.},
}
@article {pmid41262929,
year = {2025},
author = {Asatulloev, T and Yusupov, Z and Cai, L and Chen, Q and Gurung, B and Tojibaev, KS and Sun, W},
title = {Comparative root associated microbial community analysis of Oreocharis mileensis, a resurrection plant species with extremely small populations.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1692695},
pmid = {41262929},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Plants dynamically interact with their microbiomes through phytohormonal signaling and defense responses, shaping microbial diversity and ecosystem function. While resurrection plants host growth-promoting and drought associated microbes, prior studies on different resurrection plants have been limited to localized sampling, potentially underestimating microbial diversity. We analyzed bacterial and fungal communities across five populations of Oreocharis mileensis, a resurrection plant, during hydrated and dehydrated states to examine population-level microbiome differences or affinity, identify microorganisms that may assist during plant desiccation, and assess their conservation across populations. We found that microbial composition was strongly influenced by compartment (bulk soil, rhizosphere, and endosphere) but exhibited only moderate drought-induced changes, suggesting that O. mileensis maintains a stable microbiome under stress. Core phyla (e.g., Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Ascomycota) were conserved across populations, but genus-level core taxa varied relatively between populations, reflecting niche specialization and host genotype. Drought increased bacterial alpha diversity while reducing beta diversity, indicating homogenization driven by stress-tolerant taxa such as Actinobacteriota. Fungal responses differed, with increased beta diversity suggesting drought-enhanced compositional turnover. Key bacterial genera (e.g., Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Bacillus, Rhizobium) dominated hydrated states, while drought enriched Actinobacteria (e.g., Microlunatus, Rubrobacter) and other drought-resistant taxa. Fungal communities shifted from saprotroph-dominated hydrated states to symbiotic taxa (e.g., Paraboeremia, Helotiales) under drought conditions. Functional profiling revealed compartment-specific metabolic specialization, with drought enriching stress-response pathways (e.g., secondary metabolite biosynthesis, signal transduction). These findings demonstrate that O. mileensis microbiomes are structured by compartmental filtering and exhibit drought-driven functional plasticity, with conserved stress-adapted taxa potentially supporting host resilience. Overall, this study expands our understanding of microbiome assembly in resurrection plants and highlights candidate microbes for microbiome engineering to enhance crop stress tolerance.},
}
@article {pmid41262890,
year = {2025},
author = {Chuang, PS and Hsu, TC and Lu, CY and Yu, SP and Liu, PY and Lim, SL and Chen, YH and Chiou, YJ and Yang, SH and Wang, PL and Tang, SL},
title = {Metabolic interactions between coral animal and endolithic bacterial communities.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf193},
pmid = {41262890},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Coral skeletons constitute sources of nutrients and energy for holobiont. Although bacteria predominate in endolithic microbiomes of corals, their ecological functions have long been masked by those of symbiotic microalgae. In the skeleton of Isopora palifera, previous studies showed the absence of microalgae and a green layer dominated by green sulfur bacteria. This system, which excludes a contribution from microalgae, provides a perfect model for studying the role of endolithic bacteria in corals. Using this model, we examined the metabolite profile and translocation of organic matter between coral tissue and skeleton. Chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry revealed distinct metabolic profiles in tissue and different skeletal layers. A stable isotope incubation experiment further demonstrated [13]C translocation between tissue and the green layer, but no translocation of [15]N. These findings suggest communication between the two compartments that is generally carbon-based, possibly in the form of carbohydrates and bioactive compounds, such as corticosterone and domoic acid. Nevertheless, some nitrogenous compounds appear to have an endolithic source, indicating a possible contribution of the skeleton to coral animal. Notably, antibiotic treatment greatly increased [15]N translocation in the tissue but not in the green layer. This highlights an important role of bacteria in nitrogen cycling in the holobiont and in establishing the nitrogen-limiting green layer. Altogether, this study provides the first data about coral skeletal metabolomes. Based on these findings, we propose a model of interactions between coral animal and skeletal bacterial communities, offering a new perspective on the ecological role of endolithic bacteria in corals.},
}
@article {pmid41261892,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, M and Michalik, A and Deng, J and Hu, Y and Łukasik, P},
title = {Contrasting genomic trajectories of Bartonellaceae symbionts of planthoppers.},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/gbe/evaf216},
pmid = {41261892},
issn = {1759-6653},
abstract = {Symbioses with microorganisms have shaped the nutritional biology and evolution of many insects. For example, several ant clades have adapted to nutrient-poor diets through symbiosis with a specific clade of bacteria in the family Bartonellaceae (Hyphomicrobiales), notorious for also including virulent vertebrate pathogens. Here we show that Bartonellaceae phylogenetically placed within the clade that has only encompassed ant symbionts to date - Candidatus genus Tokpelaia - have established as symbionts in four different clades of planthoppers (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha). Genome size and contents indicate different levels of integration of these strains into the planthopper biology and their diverse roles. Symbionts infecting one of the clades have some of the largest genomes among Bartonellaceae, at ca. 2 Mb, two others are under 700 kb, and the fourth is reduced to barely 158 kb. The planthopper-associated Tokpelaia strains with larger genomes, similarly to ant symbionts, encode multiple amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis genes, complementing the degraded nutritional capabilities of their hosts' ancient heritable endosymbionts. Strikingly, the smallest Tokpelaia genome lacks any genes linked to essential amino acid biosynthesis, in contrast to all other known insect-associated bacteria with genomes of comparable size. We identified a single vitamin biosynthesis gene and iron-sulfur cluster assembly genes as its only putative contributions to the host biology. Our results broaden the host spectrum of non-pathogenic Bartonellaceae, indicating that they have contributed to nutrition and symbiotic consortium function in diverse diet-restricted host clades. They also highlight an unexpectedly broad range of evolutionary outcomes for this important bacterial group.},
}
@article {pmid41261810,
year = {2025},
author = {Peng, L and Yang, Y and Martin, FM and Yuan, Z},
title = {Endophytes with mycorrhizal potentials: biological and ecological implications.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70772},
pmid = {41261810},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2022YFD2201900//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 32471839//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; CAFYBB2023QC001-02//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Nonprofit Research of Chinese Academy of Forestry/ ; Z25C010004//Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Generally, the root mycobiome is dominated by endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi with mutualistic potential to enhance plant fitness. In some cases, however, the distinction between the two biotrophic guilds is challenged by the ability of several endophytic fungi to colonize roots and transfer nutrients to the plants. With more research on harnessing plant-endophyte combinations using a gnotobiotic system, more endophytes endowed with mycorrhizal-like traits have been identified. They often benefit nonmycorrhizal plants by employing a set of responses to nutrient deficiency similar to those from mycorrhizal plants, orchestrate the development of ectomycorrhizal-like structures under controlled conditions, and share genetic traits with true mycorrhizal fungi, such as a lower content of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes and gene networks reminiscent of mutualistic interactions. Based on these characteristics, we propose the term 'mycorrhizal-like endophytes' to describe these fungi, which likely represent a transitional state along the endophyte-mycorrhizal mutualistic continuum.},
}
@article {pmid41261196,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, WQ and Qiu, H and Sun, YP and Zhao, MW and Shi, L},
title = {Microorganisms' perception, scavenging, and adaptation to reactive oxygen species signals in microbe-plant interactions.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {12},
pages = {466},
pmid = {41261196},
issn = {1573-0972},
support = {No. CARS20//the China Agriculture Research System of the MOF and MARA/ ; (2024)171//the Project of Science and Technology Programs of Guizhou Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Plants/microbiology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Signal Transduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Plant Immunity ; },
abstract = {Plant-microbial interactions represent a complex biological process in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) play central roles in both plant immunity and symbiosis establishment. ROS act as defense signaling molecules to activate immune responses and as symbiotic cues to regulate microbial colonization. To cope with plant-derived ROS, microbes have evolved sophisticated sensing and scavenging mechanisms; however, a systematic understanding of these responses remains limited. Recent advances in molecular biology and genetics have revealed that microbes can directly sense ROS via transcription factors or indirectly perceive oxidative stress through bio macromolecular damage. They maintain intracellular redox homeostasis through enzymatic antioxidant systems-including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxiredoxin/thioredoxin (Prx/Trx)-as well as non-enzymatic mechanisms such as melanin and extracellular polysaccharides. This review systematically summarizes microbial ROS perception and scavenging strategies, highlighting functional distinctions and evolutionary adaptations in pathogenic infection versus symbiosis. These insights provide a theoretical framework for understanding plant-microbial interactions and suggest potential ROS-related strategies for improving agricultural productivity and ecological resilience.},
}
@article {pmid41257969,
year = {2025},
author = {Arenas, F and Marqués-Gálvez, JE and Guarnizo, &#xc1;L and Andreu-Ardil, L and Morte, A and Navarro-Ródenas, A},
title = {Winter soil mycelium dynamics of Terfezia claveryi are shaped by rainfall and temperature in Mediterranean shrublands.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {40727},
pmid = {41257969},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {145/MSJD/22//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; 123/MTAI/22//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; R.D. 103/2019//Universidad de Murcia/ ; MCIN/AEI/10.13039/50110001103//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; PRTR-C17.I1//Fundaci&#xf3;n S&#xe9;neca/ ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Shrubland ecosystems play a crucial role in Mediterranean forests, contributing to soil protection, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem restoration. In semi-arid regions, mycorrhizal woody plants such as Helianthemum spp. form ectendomycorrhizal symbiosis with edible desert truffles, representing an emerging and sustainable crop with significant potential for rural development and economic diversification. Significant progress has been made in the breeding of Terfezia claveryi Chatin, but key aspects of its life cycle, such as the temporal and spatial behaviour of the soil mycelium, remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal dynamics of T. claveryi soil mycelium in plantations and wild areas of the Region of Murcia (Spain) using real-time quantitative PCR. The relationship between fungal biomass and host plant phenology and environmental parameters was also investigated. Our results showed that T. claveryi soil mycelium was higher in plantations than in wild areas, and in Xerolls than in Orthents soils. Fungal dynamics lacked seasonal or annual patterns; however winter mycelium showed a strong correlation with preceding agroclimatic variables, especially precipitation and maximum temperature. This research sheds light on the ecological processes underlying the desert truffle shrublands and offers practical implications for optimising T. claveryi cultivation strategies and promoting ecosystem restoration.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-24621-4.},
}
@article {pmid41259095,
year = {2025},
author = {Morel Revetria, MA and Sanjuan, J and Berriel, V and Velázquez, E},
title = {Bradyrhizobium monzae sp. nov. isolated from a root nodule of the introduced legume Crotalaria ochroleuca in Uruguay.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {11},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006973},
pmid = {41259095},
issn = {1466-5034},
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Crotalaria/microbiology ; Uruguay ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Base Composition ; Genome, Bacterial ; Fatty Acids/chemistry ; },
abstract = {A strain, namely Oc8[T], was isolated from a root nodule of Crotalaria ochroleuca in Uruguay. This strain induced effective nodules in roots of Crotalaria ochroleuca, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis and Cajanus cajan. Oc8[T] belongs to the genus Bradyrhizobium according to the results of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and it forms an independent lineage within a cluster encompassing 13 described species of this genus. From them, the type strains closest related to the strain Oc8[T] with more than 99.5% similarity in 16S rRNA gene sequence were those of Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense, Bradyrhizobium cytisi, Bradyrhizobium guangdongense and Bradyrhizobium rifense (99.71%, 99.65%, 99.60% and 99.57%, respectively). A genome-based phylogeny showed that B. ganzhouense JCM 19881[T], B. cytisi CTAW11[T] and B. rifense CTAW71[T] were the closest type strains to the strain Oc8[T]. Values lower than the species cutoff of 95% and 70% were found after average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization calculation between the genome of the strain Oc8[T] and those available genomes of the closest related Bradyrhizobium species. These results, together with those of the symbiotic nodC gene analysis, support the affiliation of this strain to the symbiovar cyanophyllae of a new species of Bradyrhizobium for which the name Bradyrhizobium monzae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Oc8[T] (=LMG 33261[T]=CECT 30885[T]).},
}
@article {pmid41258495,
year = {2025},
author = {Gutiérrez-Sarmiento, W and Fosado-Mendoza, M and Lozano-Flores, C and Varela-Echavarría, A},
title = {The Body Wall Microbiome of the Terrestrial Slug Deroceras laeve Reveals Potential Endosymbionts and Shares Core Organisms with Other Mollusks.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s00248-025-02652-8},
pmid = {41258495},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {CBF2023-2024-834//SECIHTI/ ; IN211322//DGAPA-UNAM PAPIIT/ ; },
abstract = {The marsh slug Deroceras laeve is an invasive mollusk found in gardens, field crops, and wetlands. It lacks a protective shell, suggesting that microbial communities are associated with its adaptability to the environment. Here, we used a whole shotgun metagenomic approach to analyse the complex microbiome of D. laeve and compared it to that of other mollusks. This demonstrated the presence in D. laeve of bacteriophages such as Erwinia phage, Certrevirus, and Machinavirus, which target plant pathogen bacteria. In the Archaea domain the halophilics Halovivax and Halobaculum predominated, but also present were the methanogens Methanobacterium, Methanobrevibacter, Methanocaldococcus, Methanococcus, and Methanosarcina, involved in phosphate solubilization and methanogenesis during decomposition of organic matter. The Bacteria domain was dominated by γ-Pseudomonadota such as Buttiauxella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Kluyvera, Leclercia, and Pseudomonas which are producers of enzymes that degrade biomass and complex carbohydrates. Regarding the fungal community, filamentous or yeast ascomycetes predominated such as Debaryomyces, Puccina, and Pyricularia known as plant pathogens or associated with decaying organic matter. Consistent with these findings, functional analysis revealed enrichment in genes involved in fermentation and carbohydrate metabolism. Remarkably, regardless of species, ecosystem, and tissue type, we found that the core microbiome of the mollusks in this study is mainly structured by the Phyla Uroviricota, Euryarchaeaota, Pseudomonadota, and Ascomycota, with diversity at the genus level. This suggests ancient symbiotic interactions of these mollusks with specific types of microbes which may have been critical for adaptability to their environment.},
}
@article {pmid41257557,
year = {2025},
author = {Ehsanzadeh, P and Feizabadi, S and Razmjoo, J},
title = {Enhanced grain yield of mycorrhizae-inoculated modern and ancient wheats across different salinities: the gains stem from physiological, photosynthetic, and root attributes.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1597},
pmid = {41257557},
issn = {1471-2229},
mesh = {*Triticum/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Salinity ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Edible Grain/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Genotype ; },
abstract = {The current salinization of soils and water resources not only reduces crop yield, but it may also alter the known beneficial symbiotic relationships in the rhizosphere of different plant species, including different types of wheat. Shedding light on the symbiotic association of the mycorrhizae (AMF) and ancient wheats under saline conditions may pave the way for tackling salt-induced penalties of wheat grain yield and, hence, solving the current global food security concerns. A two-year field experiment and a pot experiment were carried out, where 10 and 11 wheat genotypes (including modern bread and durum and ancient spelt and emmer wheats), respectively, were exposed to 0 -120 mM NaCl salinity and either left uninoculated or inoculated with AMF (Funnelliformis mosseae). Salinity suppressed plant chlorophylls by up to 20%, carotenoids by 33%, relative water content by 16%, K and P concentrations by 17 and 35%, respectively, grain yield by 19%, total plant dry mass by 7%, root length by 37%, volume by 49%, area by 35%, and root branching by 41%, while increasing Na accumulation by 35%, and proline concentration by 72%. The negative effects of salinity tended to be milder in some of the ancient emmer and spelt wheat genotypes. AMF inoculation ameliorated the adverse effects of salinity on photosynthetic attributes, rooting traits, grain yield components, total dry mass (7%), leaf relative water content (5%), K (21%) and P (23%) concentrations, while reducing the Na (6%) concentration under both saline and non-saline conditions. The maintained chlorophyll levels, root development, K and P concentrations, and total dry mass of the salt-stressed ancient emmer (and to a lesser extent spelt) genotypes were further sustained by AMF inoculation. Overall, findings from the field and pot experiments showed that AMF inoculation is effective in ameliorating salt damages in wheat. These findings depict AMF inoculation of ancient emmer, spelt, and Khorasan wheats as a promising practical strategy for tackling the ever-increasing threats of salt stress to wheat production and food security.},
}
@article {pmid41256368,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, A and Newhart, V and Flory, M and Alam, A},
title = {Pro-restitutive Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron reprograms the transcriptome of intestinal epithelial cells by modulating the expression of genes essential for proliferation and migration.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.09.30.679439},
pmid = {41256368},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {The mammalian intestine harbors a highly complex, very diverse, and numerically vast community of symbiotic microorganisms, which profoundly influence the development and maintenance of the intestinal barrier function. Alterations in microbial composition, known as dysbiosis, are observed in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), colorectal cancer (CRC), and gastrointestinal infections; however, the exact causal relationship between these changes and the resolution of intestinal inflammation and the repair of damaged mucosa remains unclear. Notably, IBD is not only marked by dysbiosis but also by changes in microbial metabolic pathways and metabolite landscape in the intestinal lumen. The small molecules and microbial metabolites present in the intestinal lumen have emerged as potential regulators of gut pathology, cancer, and mucosal repair. Investigating how altered microbiota and microbial metabolic activities influence intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) can provide insights into their role in the regeneration of mucosal epithelia and restoration of gut barrier functions. This knowledge can be harnessed to promote intestinal homeostasis, prevent relapse, and prolong remission of IBD. To dissect the complex interplay between the gut microbiome and IEC, we focused on the overrepresented bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron . Here, we show that B. thetaiotaomicron and Akkermansia muciniphila , the dominant members of gut microbiota, expand during the repair &amp; resolution phase of the chemically induced acute murine colitis. Furthermore, our bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that the elevated relative abundance of B. thetaiotamicron was also accompanied by rewiring of bacterial metabolic programs towards the essential amino acid metabolism, polyamine synthesis and utilization, stress response mechanisms, cell envelope biogenesis, and nutrient scavenging. Our RNA sequencing and transcriptomic analysis of primary human colonic epithelial cells cocultured with B. thetaiotaomicron showed that B. thetaiotaomicron stimulates the expression of genes and pathways involved in different cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, lipid metabolism, migration, chemotaxis, and receptor expression. Our study emphasizes the crucial functions of the gut microbiome and metabolic activities in regulating the functions of intestinal epithelial cells during the repair of injured gut mucosa. Thus, these microorganisms and their metabolism hold promise as potential therapeutic agents.},
}
@article {pmid41254159,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, J and Chu, L and Ye, X and King, WL and Shao, J and Wang, Z and Liu, J and Chen, C and Yu, M},
title = {Low soil phosphorus and high symbiotic fungal richness inhibits plant aboveground biomass in fragmented forests in China.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {1598},
pmid = {41254159},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {32101269//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 31930073//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; LQ22C030002//Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Phosphorus/analysis ; China ; *Forests ; *Symbiosis ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Biomass ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; *Fungi/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; },
abstract = {Habitat fragmentation is a major threat to biodiversity, and it usually leads to microclimate variations. Habitat quality (e.g. nutrients and moisture) and fungal symbioses play important roles in plant growth and ecosystem productivity. However, the impact of habitat fragmentation on plant aboveground biomass (AGB) is unclear. We examined the soil nutrients, rhizosphere fungal richness, and the AGB of 10 woody plant species on 10 islands of the same age but varying in size and isolation, in a land-bridge island system of subtropical China. Here we show that island size, soil nutrients, and fungal symbioses are key factors driving plant growth patterns in a fragmented island system. Plant AGB is positively correlated with soil phosphorus (P) but negatively correlated with richness of symbiotic fungi, suggesting that P content is more impactful than fungal symbiosis on plant growth in subtropical fragmented forests. Across all islands, low soil P and high symbiotic fungal richness lead to decreased plant AGB on small islands. These findings highlight the critical role of environmental filtering in shaping plant development within island fragments.},
}
@article {pmid41254011,
year = {2025},
author = {Medina, S and Medrano-Padial, C and Guillén, S and Pérez-Través, L and Pérez-Novas, I and Periago, P and García-Viguera, C and Domínguez-Perles, R},
title = {SCOBY-based, innovative, and sustainable production of gallic acid from sucrose towards multipurpose applications.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {40536},
pmid = {41254011},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci&#xf3;n,Spain/ ; },
mesh = {*Gallic Acid/metabolism ; Fermentation ; *Sucrose/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Kombucha Tea/microbiology ; *Yeasts/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Kombucha is a traditional beverage obtained from the fermentation of sugared tea by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), whose metabolism contributes significantly to the phytochemical composition and health-promoting properties of the final product. Among the phenolics present, gallic acid stands out as a multifunctional molecule with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardio-protective activities, making it a compound of growing interest for the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals and cosmetics. While gallic acid in kombucha has typically been attributed to plant-derived precursors, its potential de novo microbial origin has remained largely unexplored. In this work, robust evidence supports that SCOBY can synthesise gallic acid directly from sugars, without the contribution of tea or other plant materials. Metabolomic analyses combined with physicochemical characterisation (pH, ethanol, acetic acid, total soluble solids, sucrose, glucose, and fructose) revealed a linear increase in gallic acid production under standard fermentation conditions, associated with the microbial community's tolerance to high sugar concentrations and its metabolic capacity to generate bioactive phenolics. This finding highlights a previously unrecognised role of SCOBY as a natural cell factory for gallic acid production. In contrast to metabolic engineering approaches in model microorganisms such as Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas, our study demonstrates that a non-engineered microbial consortium can achieve this transformation simply and sustainably. These results open a novel route for the plant-free biosynthesis of gallic acid with potential applications across the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.},
}
@article {pmid41253823,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, J and Guo, Q and Han, X and Zhang, W and Huang, Z and Dietrich, CH and Wei, C},
title = {Genome degradation results in nested symbiosis and endosymbiont replacement in cicadas.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {10104},
pmid = {41253823},
issn = {2041-1723},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Animals ; *Genome, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {Gradual genome degradation and fragmentation in primary nutritional endosymbionts have required symbiont-dependent hosts periodically to replace such symbionts over evolutionary timescales, yet the processes involved in de novo emergence of endosymbiosis and symbiont replacement are challenging to ascertain. Here we show that phylogenetic relationships of two ancient vertically-transmitted bacterial endosymbionts of cicadas, Hodgkinia and Karelsulcia, mirror host phylogeny, particularly indicating a single ancestral infection of cicadas by Hodgkinia with subsequent host-symbiont codiversification before being replaced by yeast-like fungal symbionts (YLS). We demonstrate a case of co-existence of Hodgkinia with Karelsulcia and a YLS, representing an advanced ongoing symbiont replacement process. In some individuals of the cicada Chremistica ochracea, the Hodgkinia is highly degenerated but colonizes (instead of neighboring) its partner Karelsulcia. The physical fusion of these two bacterial endosymbionts yields a nested symbiosis while the new YLS is recruited, probably preserving essential metabolic pathways necessary for host nutrition and facilitating continued vertical symbiont transmission. Such fusion may have provided refuge for the degrading bacterial endosymbiont and delayed symbiont replacement. Our study sheds light on adaptive and non-adaptive evolutionary mechanisms involved in symbiont loss and replacement, offering fresh insights into endosymbiotic origins of cellular organelles.},
}
@article {pmid41253704,
year = {2025},
author = {Zecua-Ramirez, P and Dunken, N and Charura, NM and Llamas, E and De Quattro, C and Mandel, A and Langen, G and Dagdas, Y and Zuccaro, A},
title = {Autophagy restricts symbiosis-associated cell death and regulates colonization by Serendipita indica in Arabidopsis.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf590},
pmid = {41253704},
issn = {1532-2548},
abstract = {Endophytic colonization of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) by the beneficial root endophyte Serendipita indica is characterized by an initial biotrophic phase, followed by a confined host cell death phase that facilitates fungal accommodation. However, the host molecular pathways that restrict S. indica proliferation and regulate symbiosis-associated cell death remain largely unknown. Our study demonstrates that autophagy, a key cellular degradation pathway that maintains homeostasis, is locally activated during colonization and is required to limit fungal proliferation and immunometabolic stress. Autophagy-deficient mutants exhibit elevated basal root cell death, increased colonization, and hypersensitivity to the fungal-derived purine metabolite 2'-deoxyadenosine (dAdo), an immunometabolic signal that modulates host cell viability and reprograms immune and metabolic responses via ENT3 (equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3)-mediated uptake. In ent3 and atg5 ent3 mutants, suppression of dAdo import reduces S. indica-induced cell death, confirming the central role of ENT3-mediated uptake. Despite increased colonization and stress sensitivity, autophagy-deficient plants retain S. indica-mediated root growth promotion, indicating that mutualistic benefits can occur independently of immunometabolic stress resilience. Based on these findings, we propose that autophagy-mediated pro-survival responses are essential for maintaining symbiotic homeostasis by integrating immunometabolic signals and preserving host cell viability.},
}
@article {pmid41253152,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Qiu, J and Liu, Z and Xiao, H and Wang, B and Dong, Y and Xiao, Y and Wang, Q and Dong, J and Cui, M},
title = {Phytate enhances gut Parasutterella colonization to alleviate radiation injury.},
journal = {Cell chemical biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.chembiol.2025.10.009},
pmid = {41253152},
issn = {2451-9448},
abstract = {Food as medicine shows promise for disease intervention or treatment. Here, we found phytate, an active ingredient of plant-based diets, exhibits properties in mitigating radiotherapy-related complications. Oral gavage of phytate restored hematogenic organ atrophy, elevated peripheral blood neutrophils and white blood cells, reduced inflammation, and improved gastrointestinal (GI) integrity in irradiated mice. Phytate intake modulated the gut microbiota, facilitating the colonization of symbiotic Parasutterella in GI tract, thus combating intestinal radiation toxicity. In vitro assays and untargeted metabolomics identified 3-phenyllactic acid (PLA) and N-acetyl-L-leucine (NL) as functional metabolites produced by Parasutterella. In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models showed that PLA induces M2-like polarization in macrophages, while NL reduced oxidative stress, both counteracting radiation toxicity and working synergistically. Our findings offer mechanistic insights into phytate for alleviating radiation-associated complications and suggest that Parasutterella and its metabolites might be employed as promising probiotics or postbiotics for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.},
}
@article {pmid41251823,
year = {2025},
author = {Della Mónica, IF and Godeas, AM and Scervino, JM},
title = {Hyphosphere interactions: P-solubilizing fungi modulate AMF phosphatase activity and mycorrhizal symbiosis via exudate-mediated communication.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {6},
pages = {66},
pmid = {41251823},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {UBACyT 20020220400300BA//Secretar&#xed;a de Ciencia y T&#xe9;cnica, Universidad de Buenos Aires/ ; PIBAA 28720210100694CO//Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient&#xed;ficas y T&#xe9;cnicas/ ; PICT 01283-2021//Agencia Nacional de Promoci&#xf3;n de la Investigaci&#xf3;n, el Desarrollo Tecnol&#xf3;gico y la Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; PINI 04/B253//Fundaci&#xf3;n de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue para el Desarrollo Regional/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/enzymology ; *Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Phosphorus/metabolism ; Acid Phosphatase/metabolism ; *Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/metabolism ; Daucus carota/microbiology ; *Glomeromycota/physiology/enzymology ; *Phosphates/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with plant roots, enhancing water and nutrient absorption. Phosphate-solubilizing fungi (PSF) can solubilize and mineralize phosphorus, an essential nutrient with low bioavailability, and eventually interact with AMF. However, the understanding of how they interact in the hyphosphere, where root influence is absent, remains limited. Furthermore, the effect of PSF on the phosphatase activity of AMF, related to the P efficiency in acquisition and utilization, within the hyphosphere and mycorrhizosphere zones, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of three different PSF (Talaromyces flavus, T. helicus, and T. diversus) exudates on extracellular acid phosphatases and alkaline phosphatases associated with intra- and extraradical AMF structures in the hyphosphere and mycorrhizosphere, in vitro. To achieve this aim, the AMF Rhizophagus intraradices was cultured with Ri T-DNA transformed carrot roots in a system using Petri dishes that mimicked the hyphosphere (with 2 sections: (a) with roots and AMF, and (b) with only AMF) and the mycorrhizosphere (with roots and AMF in the same place). Different concentrations of PSF exudates were placed in either the hyphosphere or the mycorrhizosphere, and at the end of the experiment (8 weeks), the phosphatase activity of the AMF was measured. This research highlights that the enzymatic activity of AMF is modulated by PSF exudates, depending on whether these exudates are present in the hyphosphere or the mycorrhizosphere. Exudates in the hyphosphere, where PSF are directly associated with AMF hyphae, have a more pronounced effect on AMF extraradical alkaline phosphatases than acid phosphatases, and promote symbiosis efficiency. In contrast, PSF exudates in the mycorrhizosphere had a neutral or negative effect on symbiosis efficiency, improving the extraradical alkaline phosphatases of AMF and the acid phosphatases of the roots. Also, the effect depends on the fungal identity. AMF act as mediators in this context, improving communication between the roots and the hyphosphere microbiome. When exploring the soil, the hyphae encounter compounds produced by microorganisms, thus establishing a complex network of interactions. These interactions enhance the symbiotic efficiency of AMF, modulating the host plant without direct contact. These results show that microbial interactions not only influence the efficiency of phosphorus transfer to plants but also have broader implications for soil health and fertility management.},
}
@article {pmid41251487,
year = {2025},
author = {Kennedy, SJ and Risser, DD and Paul, BG},
title = {Diel expression dynamics in filamentous cyanobacteria.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0377924},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.03779-24},
pmid = {41251487},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Filamentous cyanobacteria of the Nostocaceae family can differentiate into multicellular forms to adapt to environmental stresses, and members can establish symbiosis with various embryophytes. Representative laboratory strains are typically grown under continuous light to maintain stable metabolic conditions; however, this departure from a natural diel cycle can result in extended stress. Early genomic examination of Nostoc punctiforme suggests the genetic potential for a circadian clock, but we lack insight into global cellular dynamics through the natural diel cycle for this model organism. Here, we comprehensively assess changes in expression of core cellular processes and the mobilome of accessory genetic elements during diel growth of N. punctiforme PCC 73102. The primary transcriptome confirmed that multicellular cyanobacteria precisely coordinate photosynthesis and carbon assimilation for cell division during the day, while control of DNA recombination and repair appeared to be sequestered to darkness. Moreover, we expanded the known repertoire of light-sensing proteins to uncover a putative regulator of circadian rhythm that itself exhibits striking oscillation between day-night expression. This was in sharp contrast to the arrhythmic pattern observed for a homolog of the canonical circadian input kinase in unicellular cyanobacteria. Looking beyond cellular coordination of diel growth, we uncovered dynamic mobile elements and, notably, targeted hypermutation by retroelements that are likely maintained for conflict mitigation, which is crucial for a multicellular lifestyle.IMPORTANCEModel strains of filamentous cyanobacteria are typically cultivated under controlled laboratory conditions that poorly reflect the natural environment, including growth under constant light. Our study addresses this discrepancy to provide a new benchmark for investigating gene expression in the model organism, Nostoc punctiforme. By analyzing changes in the global transcriptome over a diel cycle, we found a clear partition of cellular processes between periods of light and darkness, with metabolism dominating in the light and cell maintenance and repair processes dominating in the dark. In addition, an active mobilome of genetic elements was uncovered with dynamic expression patterns throughout a diel cycle. Our findings highlight the importance of considering diel cycles in cyanobacterial research and provide new insight into the regulatory complexity, genome plasticity, and adaptive mechanisms of these ecologically important organisms. Our study reinforces the need to consider the natural diel cycle in laboratory models of filamentous cyanobacteria, bringing new insights into their regulatory complexity and revealing adaptive drivers of genome plasticity that may enable members of Nostoc to occupy a wide variety of ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41251484,
year = {2025},
author = {Hamm, JN},
title = {Nutrient availability affects optimal growth strategy in predatory DPANN.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0147525},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.01475-25},
pmid = {41251484},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {The DPANN archaea comprise a major microbial lineage that appears to be primarily host dependent. Despite the relative ubiquity of DPANN archaea across the biosphere, our understanding of their ecological role is limited due to the absence of cultivated representatives for most DPANN lineages. The majority of cultivated DPANN species are characterized as mildly parasitic ectosymbionts due to reliance on physical interactions with host cells. However, Candidatus Nanohaloarchaeum antarcticus has been reported to adopt a predatory lifestyle, resulting in the lysis of large numbers of host cells. The factors influencing DPANN-host interactions that drive Ca. Nha. antarcticus to adopt an aggressive lifestyle, although other DPANN appear not to, remain unclear. Here, I present a framework for understanding the ecological pressures specific to the Ca. Nha. antarcticus-Halorubrum lacusprofundi system and why a more aggressive, predatory lifestyle improves population persistence compared with a lifestyle more similar to other DPANN.},
}
@article {pmid41251315,
year = {2025},
author = {Yurchenko, OV and Chernyshev, AV},
title = {Spermatozoon Ultrastructure in the Symbiotic Hoplonemertean, Malacobdella japonica Takakura, 1897.},
journal = {Journal of morphology},
volume = {286},
number = {11},
pages = {e70101},
doi = {10.1002/jmor.70101},
pmid = {41251315},
issn = {1097-4687},
mesh = {Male ; Animals ; *Spermatozoa/ultrastructure ; Symbiosis ; Mitochondria/ultrastructure ; *Invertebrates/ultrastructure/physiology ; Acrosome/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Cell Nucleus/ultrastructure ; },
abstract = {The sperm morphology of Malacobdella japonica, a symbiotic nemertean living in the clam Spisula sachalinensis, has been examined using light and electron microscopy. In this species, the structure of the elongated spermatozoon, consisting of a straight head and a posteriorly oriented flagellum, is similar to that of Malacobdella grossa, as previously studied. In both species, the sperm head has an acrosomal complex, an elongated nucleus, and a neck region. The small acrosomal complex, including a thimble-like acrosomal vesicle, a post-acrosomal ring of electron-dense material, and a subacrosomal space, is located asymmetrically at the anterior end of the nucleus. However, there are some differences between the species in the structure and organization of the mitochondrial compartment. In M. grossa, the mitochondria are elongated along the nucleus and remain separate all along their length. In M. japonica, the mitochondria merge at the base of the neck region, forming a ring around the distal centriole. Above this area, they remain separate, similarly to the pattern observed in M. grossa. This finding suggests M. japonica to be an intermediate stage between M. grossa, distinguished by its unique separate mitochondria, and other hoplonemerteans that have a single, ring-like mitochondrion. We assume that the ultrastructure of spermatozoa in symbiotic nemerteans is shaped rather by the mode of fertilization than by their lifestyle. With external fertilization, without forming clutches, the lifestyle does not lead to the development of highly modified spermatozoa.},
}
@article {pmid41250913,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, H and Huang, S and Wang, J and Wang, T and Han, Q and Wu, K and Gao, Z and Shi, X and Tu, T and Wang, M and Huang, L and Chen, J and Liu, Y and Zhang, Y and Lin, G and Chen, Z and Chen, X},
title = {Soybean Auxin Transporter PIN3 Regulates Nitrate Acquisition to Improve Nitrogen Use and Seed Traits.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e11907},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202511907},
pmid = {41250913},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {2022YFA0912100//National Key Research, Development Program of China/ ; 32222009//National Natural Science Foundation-Outstanding Youth Foundation/ ; 133-725025010B//Funding for a World-Class Plant Protection Discipline/ ; 32300277//National Natural Science Foundation of China -Youth Fund Project/ ; 2022J01161//Natural Science Foundation of Fujian/ ; 2023J01482//Natural Science Foundation of Fujian/ ; SKLJPR2505//Joint Research Program of State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity/ ; },
abstract = {Enhancing nitrogen-use efficiency is essential for boosting crop yields and advancing sustainable agriculture, particularly in the absence of synthetic fertilizers. Despite the inherent nitrogen-fixation capacity of the staple legume crop soybean (Glycine max) by symbiotic rhizobia, improving nitrogen use has been challenging. Here, a role for the auxin-efflux transporters PIN3a and PIN3b in soybean nitrate acquisition is uncovered. PIN3a/b localizes to the plasma membrane, and high environmental nitrate induces PIN3a degradation and its accumulation at cell junctions. Disrupting PIN3 homologs results in auxin over-accumulation, impairs pavement-cell polarity, and enhances signaling via the transcription factors ARF and STF3/4. These transcription factors separately bind to and activate the NPF2.13 promoter, thereby strengthening nitrate uptake. pin3ab and pin3abd mutants have enhanced nitrate acquisition and resistant to high nitrate on pavement-cell growth. The elevated nitrogen accumulation translates to higher oil contents in pin3ab mutant seeds in an elite cultivar background across multiple years and field locations. The findings shed light on the regulation of nitrate uptake in crop-plant development and demonstrate the unexpected potential of manipulating auxin transporters to enhance soybean nitrogen-use efficiency and agronomic performance.},
}
@article {pmid41249874,
year = {2025},
author = {Ruan, HQ and Li, CL and Dong, YJ and Yu, X and Ye, SM and Zhang, HY and Liu, J and Guo, RP and Zeng, W and Song, L and Xie, ZP and Staehelin, C},
title = {Exo-oligosaccharide signaling in Lotus japonicus roots promotes synthesis and secretion of symbiotic phenylpropanoids resulting in increased production of Nod factors in rhizobia.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70719},
pmid = {41249874},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology/ ; 10251027501000014//Guangdong Natural Science Foundation/ ; 31670241//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //Science Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol/ ; },
abstract = {Besides lipo-chitooligosaccharidic Nod factors (NFs), rhizobial exo-oligosaccharides (EOS), derived from exo-polysaccharides (EPS), are symbiotic signals that promote nodule formation on legume roots. However, plant genes regulated by EOS signaling remain unidentified. Here, we used purified EPS and the rhizobial glycanase ExoK to produce EOS in vitro. EOS was applied to Lotus japonicus roots to identify genome-wide gene expression changes. Mutants of Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234 and L. japonicus were used to investigate the symbiotic roles of EOS and NFs. Transcriptomic analysis showed that EOS induced the expression of many phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes, among other transcriptome alterations. EOS signaling occurred in both L. japonicus wild-type plants and mutants with impaired NF signaling, but not in epr3 mutant plants defective in the EOS receptor. Root exudates from EOS-treated plants showed increased genistein levels and enhanced activation of nodulation genes in NGR234, leading to higher NF production. Further experiments demonstrated that both EOS and NFs upregulate the expression of genes involved in flavonoid synthesis. Inoculation tests with NGR234 and its mutants revealed that EOS, rather than EPS, plays a role in promoting infection thread development in L. japonicus. In conclusion, we identified L. japonicus genes regulated by EOS signaling and found that EOS can stimulate the production of symbiotic phenylpropanoids that upregulate NF synthesis in rhizobia.},
}
@article {pmid41247772,
year = {2025},
author = {Rawlings, TM and Guttridge, SA and Lucas, ES},
title = {New models of implantation: towards a whole better than the sum of parts.},
journal = {Human reproduction (Oxford, England)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/humrep/deaf223},
pmid = {41247772},
issn = {1460-2350},
support = {//Next-Generation Fellowship at the Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge/ ; SBF0010\1091//Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard/ ; },
abstract = {Recent advances in the development of stem-cell-based embryo models and endometrial assembloids have fuelled understanding of their respective biology. However, a faithful combined approach is required to truly advance our understanding of implantation processes. This mini-review considers the most recent developments in producing reliable in vitro models of the human endometrium and human embryo, and the next steps required to combine their respective potential. While the fundamental biology of implantation is the primary driver of in vitro model development, the combined effort of embryo and endometrial models to generate new models of implantation provides the opportunity to manipulate either compartment to further understand the aetiologies of reproductive dysfunction. Through combining both systems, their efforts are symbiotic, each extending the relevance and utility of their counterpart to generate a whole greater than the sum of its parts.},
}
@article {pmid41247017,
year = {2025},
author = {Carpentier, J and Derocles, SA and Chéreau, S and Marquer, B and Linglin, J and Lebreton, L and Legeai, F and Vannier, N and Cortesero, A and Mougel, C},
title = {Contrasting glucosinolate profiles in rapeseed genotypes shape the rhizosphere-insect continuum and microbial detoxification potential in a root herbivore.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0126925},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.01269-25},
pmid = {41247017},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {Plant secondary metabolites are key mediators of plant-insect-microbiome interactions, yet their role in structuring functionally relevant insect-associated microbial communities remains poorly understood. Here, we combined a factorial experiment using Brassica napus genotypes differing in glucosinolate (GLS) content with distinct succession to investigate the eco-evolutionary dynamics of the microbiota of the root herbivore Delia radicum. Amplicon sequencing and microbial culturing revealed that both rhizospheric and gut microbial communities are shaped by plant genotype and soil legacy, with a subset of bacterial taxa shared across compartments. Notably, Pseudomonas brassicacearum, harboring the isothiocyanates (ITC) detoxifying gene saxA, was consistently recovered from both plant and insect habitats. Functional assays confirmed its capacity to degrade 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a major toxic GLS hydrolysis product. Other gut-derived microbial isolates exhibited heterogeneous responses to PEITC, ranging from growth inhibition, promotion, or growth recovery after a prolonged lag phase. Despite the toxicity of ITC, insect fitness proxies were enhanced on GLS +plants, suggesting microbiota-mediated adaptation to host chemical defenses. Our findings reveal a plant genotype-specific filtering of environmentally acquired microbes and highlight the role of detoxifying symbionts in Delia radicum performance.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding how herbivorous insects adapt to plant chemical defenses is important in the context of new agricultural practices. This study highlights that the host plant genotype shapes not only rhizospheric and gut microbial communities but also promotes the acquisition of symbiotic bacteria capable of detoxifying harmful isothiocyanates. These findings reveal a functional microbial pathway for insect adaptation to plant defenses, with potential implications for pest management strategies. By uncovering the role of plant-associated microbiota, the acquisition of beneficial microbes, and their functional contributions to host fitness, this work provides a foundation for innovative agroecological approaches that leverage plant-microbe-insect interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41247016,
year = {2025},
author = {Beilinson, V and Chen, GY and Hargadon, AC and Ruby, EG and McFall-Ngai, MJ},
title = {Strain matters: host responses reflect symbiont origin in the squid-vibrio symbiosis.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0049825},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.00498-25},
pmid = {41247016},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Understanding the cause and consequences of bacterial strain variation remains a challenge in the study of symbioses. While the diverse reactions of the host immune system to strain variants have been well studied in pathogenesis, much less is known about how strain variation influences beneficial associations. From the complex vertebrate gut microbiome to the more tractable invertebrate models of symbiosis, the host's cellular and molecular responses to this diversity remain largely a mystery. Here, we explore strain diversity in Vibrio fischeri, the bioluminescent bacterial symbiont of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. Phylogenetic analyses of the genomes of 62 V. fischeri strains, including 50 light organ-associated and 12 planktonic isolates, revealed several genes that were absent in planktonic strains, but uniformly present in symbiotic ones. To better understand the consequences of this diversity to the host, we selected five light-organ associated strains: three from E. scolopes but having different combinations of colonization factors, one from a congeneric squid host, and one from a marine fish. We colonized juvenile E. scolopes with these strains and, using RNAseq, found that (i) the most similar host transcriptomic responses occurred among the native E. scolopes strains, (ii) intermediate was the strain from the related squid, and (iii) least similar was the fish strain. Importantly, native strains downregulated immune-related genes more than non-native ones. Finally, host development was atypical or delayed when colonized by non-native strains. These experiments point the way to more targeted studies of the mechanisms underlying host responses to symbiont strain diversity.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Variation among strains of a bacterial species is a powerful factor underlying the intensity of host responses during pathogenic infections. Less is known about the cellular and molecular responses of host tissues to differences between the strains present in an animal's normal microbiome. We use a natural, species-specific, symbiosis to explore the influence of strain-level differences on host gene expression and morphogenesis. Analysis of symbiotic strains from squids and fishes, as well as free-living strains, shows that the carriage of colonization determinants, while critical to competitive success among strains of a species, has a minimal effect on the transcriptional response of the host. We provide evidence that a more important driver of normal gene expression during the development of symbiosis is the history of a strain's co-diversification with its host species. Such studies, using simple invertebrate models, allow the recognition of otherwise obscured interactions underlying the more complex microbiomes of vertebrates.},
}
@article {pmid41246383,
year = {2025},
author = {Panthalil, BS and Vogts, A and Benavides, M and Harke, MJ and Hassenrück, C and Subramaniam, A and Montoya, JP and Voss, M},
title = {Novel pennate diatom symbionts support high N2 fixation rates.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf190},
doi = {10.1093/ismeco/ycaf190},
pmid = {41246383},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Diazotrophy is the most important nitrogen source in the oligotrophic surface ocean, but the organisms involved and their contributions are incompletely understood due to limited observations. Only diazotrophic organisms possess the nifH gene to reduce dinitrogen to ammonium, but their distribution and activity can only be quantified through sampling and experiments during research cruises. Some recent studies document small diatoms with symbionts able to fix nitrogen, a new source of biologically available nitrogen in addition to the well-known cyanobacterial species such as Trichodesmium or symbionts of haptophytes (UCYN-A) and diatoms (Diatom-Diazotroph Associations, or DDAs). Here, we document a very active symbiosis between small pennate diatoms such as Mastogloia and Haslea with rhizobial and cyanobacterial symbionts in waters of the Western tropical North Atlantic influenced by the Amazon River plume. We used NanoSIMS analysis of [15]N2 tracer experiments to quantify high rates of nitrogen fixation in generally abundant, symbiont-bearing pennate diatoms. This newly described symbiosis may contribute a previously unquantified flux of biologically available nitrogen to oceanic systems. Pennate diatoms and their symbionts may close a key gap in our understanding of the supply of nutrients to the ocean and provide a previously unknown biological sink for carbon dioxide.},
}
@article {pmid41246320,
year = {2025},
author = {Dey, P},
title = {Genes, guts, and microbes: decoding host-driven microbial regulation using intestine-specific conditional knockouts.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1674913},
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2025.1674913},
pmid = {41246320},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology/genetics ; Humans ; Dysbiosis ; Mice, Knockout ; *Intestines/microbiology/immunology ; *Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism/microbiology/immunology ; *Host Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Mice ; },
abstract = {This narrative review underscores the influence of host genetics in actively regulating gut microbiota composition and function, highlighting the distinctive advantages of intestine-specific conditional knockout (cKO) models in gut microbiome research. In contrast to whole-body knockouts or germ-free animals, these precision models, enabled by Cre-loxP technology, eliminate confounding systemic effects to elucidate how localized host genes within intestinal cells regulate the gut microbial ecology. The review identifies three fundamental host-driven regulatory mechanisms through the analysis of specific gene deletions: (1) barrier integrity (e.g., mucus and junction proteins), (2) immune defenses (e.g., antimicrobial peptides and glycan synthesis), and (3) metabolic signaling (e.g., bile acid receptors and glucose transporter). These pathways jointly impose microbial symbiosis, and their disruption leads to dysbiosis characterized by increased abundance of pathobionts (e.g., Escherichia, Proteobacteria), directly connecting host genetics to inflammatory and metabolic disorders. This host-centric viewpoint emphasizes the gut as an active regulator, rather than a passive microenvironment for the microbiota, providing significant insights for creating tailored therapeutics that focus on host pathways to restore microbial balance in disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases.},
}
@article {pmid41245697,
year = {2025},
author = {San-Blas, E and Morales-Montero, P and Bastidas, B and Půža, V and Machado, RAR},
title = {Heterorhabditis caligo n. sp. (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae): A New Entomopathogenic Nematode from Pichilemu Sand Dunes, Chile.},
journal = {Journal of nematology},
volume = {57},
number = {1},
pages = {20250045},
doi = {10.2478/jofnem-2025-0045},
pmid = {41245697},
issn = {0022-300X},
abstract = {During a survey of the nematode biodiversity in the Petrel wetland (central Chile), a population of Heterorhabditis sp. was found in the coastal dune samples. Morphological, morphometric, and molecular studies indicated that this nematode belonged to the megidis group, and represented a novel species, which we named Heterorhabditis caligo n. sp. This nematode species resembles H. marelatus but it is different in the morphometrics of its infective juvenile in the following ways: pharynx length (135-150 μm vs. 120-138 μm), and the position of the excretory pore from the anterior end (105-128 μm vs. 81-113 μm). In males, the fourth and eighth pairs of the bursal papillae are shorter and do not reach the edge of the bursa in H. caligo n. sp., whereas all the papillae in H. marelatus reach the edge of the bursa. The excretory pore of amphimictic females of H. caligo n. sp. is located more posteriorly than in those of H. marelatus 193 (169-224) μm vs. 157 (139-178) μm, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of the genus based on whole nuclear and mitochondrial genome sequences and on five gene markers showed a clear separation of Heterorhabditis caligo n. sp. from the other species, placing it within the megidis group.},
}
@article {pmid41242729,
year = {2025},
author = {Takeguchi, Y and Shibuya, R and Kondo, M and Betsuyaku, E and Itakura, M and Minamisawa, K and Sugawara, M and Betsuyaku, S},
title = {Unipolar Polysaccharide-mediated Attachment of the N2O-reducing bacterium Bradyrhizobium ottawaense SG09 to Plant Roots.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1264/jsme2.ME25043},
pmid = {41242729},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Arabidopsis/microbiology ; *Nitrous Oxide/metabolism ; *Bacterial Adhesion ; Glycine max/microbiology ; *Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolism/genetics ; Multigene Family ; },
abstract = {Agricultural soils are an important source of nitrous oxide (N2O), which has greenhouse and ozone-depleting effects. Bradyrhizobium ottawaense SG09 is a nitrogen-fixing rhizobium with high N2O-reducing activity. Rhizobia form symbiotic nodules in leguminous plants. The initial physical attachment of bacteria to plant roots is a critical step in the establishment of symbiotic interactions. In the present study, we performed a microscopic anal-ysis using DsRed-expressing B. ottawaense SG09. We revealed that B. ottawaense SG09 attached to both the root surface and root hairs via single cellular poles. This polar attachment was observed not only to the symbiotic host soybean, but also to non-leguminous plants, such as Arabidopsis, rice, corn, and wheat. We identified and analyzed the unipolar polysaccharide (upp) gene cluster, which is proposed to be involved in the polar attachment of rhizobia, in the genome of B. ottawaense SG09. We established an Arabidopsis-based interaction assay and demonstrated that uppC and uppE play a critical role in attachment to both the root surface and root hairs.},
}
@article {pmid41242215,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, X and Yu, J and Liu, Y and Tan, L and Fu, M and Chen, Y and Xia, L and Zhang, S},
title = {Sexual dimorphism in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal-assisted zinc detoxification: female poplars emerge as superior phytoremediator through lignin-flavonoid pathways.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {229},
number = {Pt D},
pages = {110751},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110751},
pmid = {41242215},
issn = {1873-2690},
abstract = {Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient but becomes cytotoxic at elevated levels. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are known to enhance plant tolerance to potential toxic elements, but it is unclear how AM symbiosis mediates the sexually dimorphic responses to Zn toxicity in dioecious poplars. In this study, female and male Populus cathayana inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae were used to investigate the mechanisms of AM symbiosis to alleviate Zn toxicity. The results showed that non-mycorrhizal males exhibited greater resistance to Zn toxicity than females, primarily through the synthesis of organic acids. However, AM symbiosis altered defense strategies in both sexes, enhancing Zn tolerance through cysteine- and ethylene-mediated pathways. In female roots, AM symbiosis increased lignin (34.00 %) and flavonoid (77.47 %) accumulation, thereby enhancing Zn resistance and alleviating oxidative stress. Critically, AM symbiosis significantly upregulated the expression of metal chelation and transport genes (PcMT1d, PcZIP6 and PcZIP7) in females, resulting in higher Zn uptake and translocation efficiency. Zn accumulation in females increased by 44.26 %, while soil available Zn decreased by 44.19 %, highlighting their potential for phytoremediation. Therefore, this study clarifies the sexually differential mechanisms to Zn resistance in P. cathayana, and reveals the promising application of female P. cathayana and AM fungi in the remediation of Zn-contaminated soils.},
}
@article {pmid41241951,
year = {2025},
author = {Van Nynatten, A and Cunning, R and Tietjen, KL and Baum, JK},
title = {Marine Heatwaves Transform Coral Symbioses With Enduring Effects.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {28},
number = {11},
pages = {e70263},
doi = {10.1111/ele.70263},
pmid = {41241951},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {//British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund/ ; //Rufford Foundation/ ; //Pew Charitable Trusts/ ; NFRFT-2020-00073-BIOSCAN//New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF)/ ; //Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; OCE-1446402//National Science Foundation (NSF) RAPID grant/ ; 10.13039/100000001//National Science Foundation (NSF) RAPID grant/ ; //National Geographic Society/ ; 10.13039/501100000196//Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)/ ; //Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives, University of Victoria/ ; //University of Victoria Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives/ ; //David and Lucile Packard Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; *Coral Reefs ; Climate Change ; *Hot Temperature ; *Extreme Heat/adverse effects ; },
abstract = {Climate change-amplified extreme weather events are reshaping ecological communities globally. On coral reefs, heatwaves typically disrupt the obligate coral-algal symbiosis, with symbiont identity a prime determinant of coral resilience to these thermal extremes. Yet, whether heatwaves have long-term effects on coral symbioses remains unclear due to a lack of longitudinal symbiont data. Here, we report on a decadal coral symbiont survey (2013-2023), spanning the most prolonged tropical marine heatwave on record (2015-2016) and its aftermath. Concomitant with mass coral mortality, we document wholesale transformation of the symbiont assemblages in two coral species, the legacy of which was persistent for 7 years post heatwave. We also found evidence suggestive of a symbiont's local extinction, of local human disturbance impeding symbiont recovery, and of new coral recruits hosting symbiont assemblages distinct from survivors. Our study demonstrates heatwaves can have long-lasting impacts on symbioses raising concern for coral resilience to future heatwaves.},
}
@article {pmid41240368,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, JH and Agake, SI and Tanabata, S and Cui, Y and Su, L and Montes-Luz, B and Xu, D and Stacey, G},
title = {Phloem-specific translational regulation of soybean nodulation: insights from a phloem-targeted TRAP-Seq approach.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf570},
pmid = {41240368},
issn = {1532-2548},
abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) root nodulation is a symbiotic process that requires complex molecular and cellular coordination. The phloem plays a crucial role not only in nutrient transport but also in long-distance signaling that regulates nodulation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phloem-specific regulation during nodulation remain poorly characterized. Here, we developed a phloem-specific Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification sequencing (TRAP-seq) system to investigate the translational dynamics of phloem-associated genes during nodulation. Using a phloem-specific promoter (Glyma.01G040700) combined with the GAL4-UAS amplification system, we successfully captured the translatome of soybean root phloem at early (72 hours post-inoculation, hpi) and late (21 days post-inoculation, dpi) nodulation stages. Differential expression analysis revealed dynamic translational reprogramming, with 2,636 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 72 hpi and 8,422 DEGs at 21 dpi. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses showed stage-specific regulatory shifts, including early activation of ethylene and defense pathways and late-stage enhancement of nutrient transport and vascular development. Transcription factor analysis identified GmbHLH121 as a key phloem-specific regulator of nodulation. Functional validation using RNAi knockdown and overexpression experiments demonstrated that GmbHLH121 negatively regulates nodule formation, likely acting downstream of or independently from early nodulation signaling pathways. Additionally, we uncovered dynamic regulation of cell wall-modifying enzyme (PME and PMEI) in the phloem, implicating their role in modulating plasmodesmata (PD) permeability and facilitating symplastic connectivity during nodulation. Our findings highlight the critical role of phloem-mediated translational regulation in coordinating root nodulation, emphasizing the phloem as an active regulatory hub for long-distance signaling and symbiotic efficiency.},
}
@article {pmid41240364,
year = {2025},
author = {Khan, M},
title = {Gatekeeping symbiosis: Autophagy shapes Serendipita indica -Arabidopsis thaliana Interaction.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf593},
pmid = {41240364},
issn = {1532-2548},
}
@article {pmid41240200,
year = {2025},
author = {Bashir, S and Zargar, SM and Husaini, AM},
title = {Epigenetic-modifications induced by plant-microbial interactions modulate plant immunity, Defense-response and mutualistic associations.},
journal = {Molecular biology reports},
volume = {53},
number = {1},
pages = {86},
pmid = {41240200},
issn = {1573-4978},
mesh = {*Plant Immunity/genetics ; *Epigenesis, Genetic/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Plants/microbiology/genetics/immunology ; Mycorrhizae ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/genetics/immunology ; },
abstract = {Plants live in intricate ecological niches where they are in continual contact with a wide variety of microorganisms, including both beneficial symbionts and dangerous diseases. For plants to survive and be healthy, they must be able to discriminate between these various microorganisms and deploy the proper defenses. Recent studies show that epigenetic processes, in addition to traditional signaling pathways, are essential for regulating how plants react to microbial interactions. The comprehensive summary examines how epigenetic changes control plant immunity by regulating pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), effector-triggered immunity (ETI), systemic acquired resistance (SAR), and defense priming. Additionally, we explore the role that these epigenetic variables play in the establishment and maintenance of mutualistic relationships with beneficial microbes such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and rhizobia. The paper also highlights how chromatin-based regulatory mechanisms and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) networks, such as microRNAs, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), facilitate two-way communication between microorganisms and plants. Recent developments in high-throughput sequencing and functional genomics have revealed the plasticity and memory capacity of the plant epigenome, providing intriguing opportunities for crop enhancement. Researchers are exploring the ability of epigenome editing techniques, such as synthetic transcriptional regulators and CRISPR-dCas9-based systems, to accurately modify stress-responsive genes. This review highlights the potential of epigenetic engineering as a sustainable strategy for enhancing plant immunity, stress tolerance, and symbiotic efficiency by elucidating the epigenetic frameworks that regulate interactions between microbes and plants.(Fig. 1).},
}
@article {pmid41239036,
year = {2025},
author = {Casanova-Hernández, D and Pinacho-Pinacho, CD and Calixto-Rojas, M and Rubio-Godoy, M and Hernández-Velázquez, IM and Guevara-Avendaño, E and Méndez, O and Velázquez-Velázquez, E and Zamora-Briseño, JA},
title = {Challenging the paradigm: the Asian fish tapeworm (Schyzocotyle acheilognathi, Yamaguti 1934) lacks an intrinsic symbiotic bacterial community.},
journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41239036},
issn = {1618-1905},
abstract = {Schyzocotyle acheilognathi is an invasive generalist cestode with a high capacity for adaptation to multiple hosts and freshwater environments. Recent reports suggest that this parasite possesses an intrinsic symbiotic microbiota distinct from that of its fish hosts, and its presence induces gut dysbiosis in the host. In this study, we reassessed these ideas. For this, we collected naturally parasitized fish specimens from different locations in Mexico, encompassing different host species, including Cyprinus carpio, Pseudoxiphophorus bimaculatus, Tlaloc hildebrandi, and Vieja hartwegi. We also tested whether this parasite induces a dysbiotic process in the gut bacterial community of Tlaloc hildebrandi. Parasites were identified based on morphological and molecular criteria, and their bacterial communities were characterized using metataxonomy. Our results revealed that S. acheilognathi does not harbor a consistent microbial community among the different host species surveyed. We also did not detect any dysbiotic effect on the gut microbiota of Tlaloc hildebrandi. These findings contradict previous data and provide evidence of the loose relationship between this parasite and bacteria, which we propose could be a part of its successful generalist strategy. The results presented herein offer a novel perspective on the quest for understanding the microbial ecology in generalist cestodes of freshwater fish.},
}
@article {pmid41238942,
year = {2025},
author = {Cummings, J and Dahlin, KJ and Gross, E and Hauenstein, JD},
title = {Routing Functions for Parameter Space Decomposition to Describe Stability Landscapes of Ecological Models.},
journal = {Bulletin of mathematical biology},
volume = {87},
number = {12},
pages = {177},
pmid = {41238942},
issn = {1522-9602},
support = {2316455//Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences/ ; 1945584//Division of Mathematical Sciences/ ; 2331400//Division of Mathematical Sciences/ ; 00005696//Simons Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Changes in environmental or system parameters often drive major biological transitions, including ecosystem collapse, disease outbreaks, and tumor development. Analyzing the stability of steady states in dynamical systems provides critical insight into these transitions. This paper introduces an algebraic framework for analyzing the stability landscapes of ecological models defined by systems of first-order autonomous ordinary differential equations with polynomial or rational rate functions. Using tools from real algebraic geometry, we characterize parameter regions associated with steady-state feasibility and stability via three key boundaries: singular, stability (Routh-Hurwitz), and coordinate boundaries. With these boundaries in mind, we employ routing functions to compute the connected components of parameter space in which the number and type of stable steady states remain constant, revealing the stability landscape of these ecological models. As case studies, we revisit the classical Levins-Culver competition-colonization model and a recent model of coral-bacteria symbioses. In the latter, our method uncovers complex stability regimes, including regions supporting limit cycles, that are inaccessible via traditional techniques. These results demonstrate the potential of our approach to inform ecological theory and intervention strategies in systems with nonlinear interactions and multiple stable states.},
}
@article {pmid41238653,
year = {2025},
author = {Wielkopolan, B and Szabelska-Beręsewicz, A and Obrępalska-Stęplowska, A},
title = {Bacteria associated with the cereal leaf beetle act as the insect's allies in adapting to protease inhibitors, but impair its development in laboratory condition.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {39944},
pmid = {41238653},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {UMO-2020/37/N/NZ9/02577//Narodowe Centrum Nauki/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology/growth &amp; development/drug effects ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development/drug effects ; *Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology ; *Bacteria ; Microbiota ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; Edible Grain/parasitology ; },
abstract = {Oulema melanopus [L.] (cereal leaf beetle, CLB) is one of the most serious cereal pests. Plant protease inhibitors (PIs) are known for their insecticidal properties. The role of CLB-associated bacteria in insect adaptation to PIs is not yet known. We investigated the role of CLB-associated bacteria in adaptation to PIs, and whether the reduction of bacteria will affect the CLB development. We found a decrease in proteases activity in insects with a diminished bacterial community compared to those with an intact bacterial community. Thus, the study showed that the CLB-associated bacteria participate in the adaptation of CLB larvae to PIs. On the other hand, regardless of the type of PI used, ultimately a higher survival rates were recorded for larvae with a reduced bacterial community compared to insects with a natural microbiome in laboratory conditions. In such conditions, higher larval survival rates and a higher percentage of larvae reaching the pupal and imago stages were recorded in insects whose bacterial community was reduced. Since the CLB bacterial microbiome showed a negative impact on the development of the insect's host and its survival in response to PIs in laboratory conditions, it can be concluded that CLB-associated bacteria can be an ally of its insect host, but also an adversary when conditions are not optimal for symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41238138,
year = {2025},
author = {Bae, S and Ha, GS and Cheong, DY and Baek, G},
title = {Evaluating the potential of treating organic acid-pretreated mixed fruit waste in a 13-L microbial electrolysis cell.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133641},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133641},
pmid = {41238138},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) offer a sustainable approach to producing hydrogen (H2) from organic waste. However, industrialization of MECs is hindered by a low H2 production rate (HPR), mainly due to inefficient mass transfer between microbes and electrodes. To overcome this limitation, efficient dual-chamber MEC reactor design and evaluation of various substrate applicability are essential. In this study, we investigated the potential of mixed fruit waste (MFW) as an MEC substrate and its impact on microbial community dynamics in a multi-stack MEC reactor designed for H2 production. To enhance microbial utilization, MFW was pretreated with eco-friendly organic acids (i.e., citric acid), achieving a high carbohydrate extraction efficiency of 82 %. Physicochemical analyses of MFW before and after pretreatment confirmed effective hydrolysis. MEC operation with 25 % MFW extract achieved a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 77 % and a maximum current density of 0.71 A/m[2] (16.36 A/m[3]). Organic components in the MFW extract, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furan derivatives, were completely decomposed during MEC operation. Notably, microbial community analysis revealed distinct spatial distributions across the anode's vertical positions. Fermentative bacteria predominated in the bottom section, while electroactive genera such as Geobacter and Comamonas dominated the top section, likely due to the upward flow and recirculation of the organic substrate introduced at the bottom. The proposed multi-stack MEC process enhanced substrate utilization and microbial symbiosis interactions, highlighting its potential for industrial-scale applications.},
}
@article {pmid41234736,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Q and Ma, S and Wang, R and Li, L and Zhang, Q and Ju, M and Gu, P},
title = {Diversity and drivers of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere soil of wine grape in the eastern foot of Helan Mountain in Ningxia of China.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1700411},
pmid = {41234736},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic microorganisms that exert positive effects on their host plants. However, their colonization and community diversity in wine grapes remain unclear.<br><br>METHODS: This study investigated roots and rhizosphere soils from Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines in vineyards in seven ecological regions at the eastern foot of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia, China. We employed Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing to analyze AMF community composition and diversity in the rhizosphere soil, and examined the effects of soil factors on AMF communities.<br><br>RESULTS: The results showed that the grapevine root system was colonized by AMF, with significant spatial heterogeneity in colonization rates and spore densities across the sample plots. Differences in the diversity of the AMF communities in the rhizosphere soil of wine grapes in the different sample plots were observed, and these AMF communities were further divided into three groups. In total, 168 operational taxonomic units were detected in the rhizosphere soil, corresponding to 40 AMF species from five orders, seven families, and seven genera. The Glomus and Glomus melanosporum were the dominant genus and species, respectively. Claroideoglomus and Glomus were identified as biomarkers. Soil pH and organic matter were key factors influencing AMF colonization, abundance, diversity, and community composition.<br><br>DISCUSSION: The grape rhizosphere in this region hosts a rich diversity of AMF. This finding provides a reference for the protection and commercial cultivation of AMF in wine grape rhizospheres.},
}
@article {pmid41233936,
year = {2025},
author = {Modolon, F and N Garritano, A and J Hill, L and Duarte, G and Bendia, A and de Moura, R and Pellizari, V and Thomas, T and Peixoto, RS},
title = {Putative promiscuous symbionts in deep-sea corals and crinoids may contribute to nitrogen cycling.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {234},
pmid = {41233936},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {141954/2019-1//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico/ ; ANP 21005-4//Shell, Brazil/ ; BAS/1/1095-01-01 and FCC/1/1976-40-01//KAUST/ ; },
mesh = {*Anthozoa/microbiology ; Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; Metagenomics/methods ; Microbiota ; Brazil ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Crinoids (feather stars) are frequently found in association with corals, yet the physiological and microbial interactions between these organisms remain poorly understood. Both corals and crinoids host symbiotic microorganisms, but the functional roles of these symbionts, particularly in deep-sea environments, are largely unexplored. This study characterizes the microbiomes of the deep-sea corals Desmophyllum pertusum and Solenosmilia variabilis and their associated crinoid Koehlermetra sp. (Thalassometridae) from the Campos Basin, Brazil, to investigate potential cross-host microbial interactions and their ecological implications. We used multiple approaches for this investigation, including amplicon sequencing surveys, genome-resolved metagenomics, and fluorescence in situ hybridization.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that the same endosymbiotic members of the families Endozoicomonadaceae and Nitrosopumilaceae inhabit both corals and the crinoids, suggesting promiscuity in host-symbiont relationships. Metagenomic analysis revealed a novel and dominant Endozoicomonas species (E. promiscua sp. nov.), whose genome encodes pathways for dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA). This metabolic capability could provide a substrate for ammonia-oxidizing archaea (Nitrosopumilaceae), indicating a potential cross-host nitrogen-cycling network. Shared microbial taxa between corals and crinoids further support the hypothesis of symbiont promiscuity, where metabolic redundancy may facilitate colonization across species.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that nitrogen cycling plays a key role in structuring microbial symbioses in deep-sea coral-crinoid holobionts. The promiscuous distribution of symbionts across hosts implies that metabolic interactions, such as DNRA-driven ammonia provisioning, could underpin resilience in nutrient-limited environments. This study highlights the importance of microbial versatility in deep-sea ecosystems and provides new insights into how cross-host symbiosis may contribute to biogeochemical cycling in the ocean. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid41233919,
year = {2025},
author = {Vohsen, SA and Gruber-Vodicka, HR and Osman, EO and Saxton, MA and Joye, SB and Dubilier, N and Fisher, CR and Baums, IB},
title = {Deep-sea corals near cold seeps associate with sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophs in the family Ca. Thioglobaceae.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {232},
pmid = {41233919},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {ECOGIG//Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Corals are known for their symbiotic relationships, yet there is limited evidence of chemoautotrophic associations. This is despite some corals occurring near cold seeps where chemosymbiotic fauna abound including mussels that host sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophs from the SUP05 cluster (family Ca. Thioglobaceae). We investigated whether corals near cold seeps associate with related bacteria and report here that these associations are widespread.<br><br>RESULTS: We screened corals, water, and sediment for Thioglobaceae using 16S metabarcoding and found ASVs associated with corals at high relative abundance (10 - 91%). These ASVs were specific to coral hosts, absent in water samples, and rare or absent in sediment samples. Using metagenomics and transcriptomics, we assembled the genome of one phylotype associated with Paramuricea sp. B3 (ASV 4) which contained the genetic potential to oxidize sulfur and fix carbon, and confirmed that these pathways were transcriptionally active. Furthermore, its relative abundance was negatively correlated with the stable isotopic composition of its host coral's tissue suggesting some contribution of chemoautotrophy to the coral holobiont.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We propose that some lineages of Thioglobaceae may facultatively supplement the diet of their host corals through chemoautotrophy at seeps or may provide essential amino acids or vitamins. This is the first documented association between chemoautotrophic symbionts and corals at seeps and suggests that the footprint of chemosynthetic environments is wider than currently understood.},
}
@article {pmid41233523,
year = {2025},
author = {Dell, M and Kogawa, M and Streiff, AB and Shiraishi, T and Lotti, A and Meier, CM and Schorn, MA and Field, C and Cahn, JKB and Yokoyama, H and Yamada, Y and Peters, E and Egami, Y and Nakashima, Y and Tan, KC and Rückert, C and Alanjary, M and Kalinowski, J and Kuzuyama, T and Cardenas, P and Pomponi, S and Sipkema, D and Wright, A and Takada, K and Abe, I and Wakimoto, T and Takeyama, H and Piel, J},
title = {Chemical richness and diversity of uncultivated 'Entotheonella' symbionts in marine sponges.},
journal = {Nature chemical biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41233523},
issn = {1552-4469},
support = {22H05120//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 16H06279//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP21H02635//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; JP22H05128//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; },
abstract = {Marine sponges are the source of numerous bioactive natural products that serve as chemical defenses and provide pharmaceutical leads for drug development. For some of the compounds, symbiotic bacteria have been established as the actual producers. Among the known sponge symbionts, 'Candidatus Entotheonella' members stand out because of their abundant and variable biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Here, to obtain broader insights into this producer taxon, we conduct a comparative analysis on eight sponges through metagenomic and single-bacterial sequencing and biochemical studies. The data suggest sets of biosynthetic genes that are largely unique in 14 'Entotheonella' candidate species and a member of a sister lineage named 'Candidatus Proxinella'. Four biosynthetic loci were linked in silico or experimentally to cytotoxins, antibiotics and the terpene cembrene A from corals. The results support widespread and diverse bacterial roles in the chemistry of sponges and aid the development of sustainable production methods for sponge-derived therapeutics.},
}
@article {pmid41232537,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, B and Liu, R and Ramm, E and Tong, P and Dannenmann, M and Chen, Z and Zou, T and Shi, X and Chen, X and Haensch, R and Schloter, M and Rennenberg, H},
title = {Impaired sustainability of thawing permafrost peatland ecosystems by Siberian alder colonization.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.10.021},
pmid = {41232537},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Anthropogenic climate warming causes thawing of permafrost soil in pan-Arctic areas of the Northern Hemisphere, thereby triggering changes in ecosystem biodiversity and biogeochemistry. Here, we analyzed the consequences of Siberian alder colonization for the thawing of permafrost soil, soil microbial biodiversity, and the performance of neighboring peatland vegetation. We show, for the first time, that heat dissipation from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by alder-Frankia symbiosis in numerous nodule clusters accelerates the thawing of permafrost soil in alder forests. On an areal basis, a rough estimate of heat dissipation from BNF amounts to 4,330-34,630 MJ year[-1] per hectare. The maximum value of this estimate is of the same order of magnitude as the reported areal heat dissipation from microbial organic matter decomposition and accounts for ∼7.6% of the heat dissipation from this decomposition. Colonization by Siberian alder trees strongly modified microbial biodiversity in the top peat and organic soil layers and had nursing effects on dominant peatland plant species neighboring alder forests, as indicated by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures. These results reveal the mechanism of permafrost soil thawing attributed to BNF-mediated heat dissipation by Siberian alder forests at both the site-specific and ecosystem levels. They complement present knowledge on microbial-decomposition-driven soil heating and carbon release in permafrost regions under global warming. In addition, they show that colonization by Siberian alder has significant feedback on climate-change-mediated thawing of permafrost soil, thereby impairing the sustainability of pan-Arctic peatland ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41230826,
year = {2025},
author = {Lextrait, G and Joardar, S and Cossard, R and Kikuchi, Y and Ohbayashi, T and Mergaert, P},
title = {Strict gut symbiont specificity in Coreoidea insects governed by interspecies competition within Caballeronia strains.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf240},
pmid = {41230826},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Host-bacteria symbioses are often specific and transgenerationaly stable. In hosts that acquire their symbionts from the environment across successive generations, selective mechanisms are required to identify and maintain beneficial partners from diverse environmental microorganisms. In Coreoidea stinkbugs, which house environmentally acquired symbionts in a specialized midgut region, bacterial competition plays a key role in shaping symbiont specificity whereby Caballeronia strains consistently outcompete bacteria of other genera. Here, we show that competition within the gut also occurs among Caballeronia strains themselves, driving specificity at a finer taxonomic scale. Specifically, the stinkbugs Riptortus pedestris and Coreus marginatus, when reared on the same soil sample, preferentially select for α- and β-subclade Caballeronia, respectively. Using a gnotobiotic infection system, we demonstrate that representative strains from the α-, β-, and γ-subclades can independently colonize the midgut of both insect species in monoculture. However, in pairwise co-culture infections, each host exhibits a marked selectivity for either α- or β-subclade strains, consistent with patterns observed in the soil inoculation experiment. In R. pedestris, we further find that interspecies competition outcomes are shaped by both priority effects and displacement mechanisms. At the molecular level, differences among symbionts in metabolic capabilities, resistance to antimicrobial peptides, and chemotactic behavior influence their competitive success in the gut. Finally, we show that in R. pedestris, the reproductive fitness benefits conferred by the symbiosis align with the observed strain specificity in the tested strain panel, suggesting a functional link between symbiont selection and host fitness, despite these processes occurring at distinct stages of the symbiotic relationship. Our findings highlight that the gut in Coreoidea species constitutes a multifactorial, species-specific selective environment that contributes to the colonization of the symbiotic midgut region by the best-adapted Caballeronia strain.},
}
@article {pmid41229147,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, L and Zhang, M and Tan, W and Yang, Z and Zhao, S and Jia, M and Wei, G and Chou, M},
title = {Uclacyanin MtUC1 Is Involved in the Regulation of Nodule Senescence in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {Molecular plant pathology},
volume = {26},
number = {11},
pages = {e70171},
doi = {10.1111/mpp.70171},
pmid = {41229147},
issn = {1364-3703},
support = {41977052//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42377131//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U21A2029//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023YFD1900900//National Key Research and Development Plan Project of China/ ; 2024YFD1200200//National Key Research and Development Plan Project of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/genetics/microbiology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; *Plant Senescence/genetics ; },
abstract = {Phytocyanins (PCs) are ancient plant-specific blue copper proteins that play an important role in plant growth and development, and stress tolerance. In this study, the role of MtUC1, a member of the uclacyanin subfamily of the PC family, was analysed in the nodule symbiosis of Medicago truncatula. MtUC1 was mainly expressed in the nodule interzone and strongly induced in the later nodule developmental stage. RNA interference (RNAi) and mutation of MtUC1 led to reduced root nodule formation and degeneration of bacteroids within nodules. Cysteine protease activity in the MtUC1-RNAi inoculated roots and uc1 mutant nodules was significantly increased, the leghaemoglobin content and the expression of nitrogen-fixing enzyme genes in the uc1 mutant nodules were significantly reduced, and the nodule cells showed signs of senescence, suggesting that MtUC1 expression is required to avert nodule senescence. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that many symbiotic genes were significantly downregulated, and the senescence/defence-related genes were significantly upregulated in roots 7 days post-inoculation (dpi) and in the nodules of the uc1 mutant at 28 dpi. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiments showed that MtUC1 interacted with MtBI-1 (Bax-Inhibitor 1). Both MtUC1 and MtBI-1 were localised and co-localised to the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. In addition, MtBI-1 also showed a significantly high expression level in the mature nodules. In summary, MtUC1 may prevent the premature aging of root nodules by interacting with MtBI-1.},
}
@article {pmid41228649,
year = {2025},
author = {Shavyrkina, NA and Gladysheva, EK and Zenkova, AA and Skiba, EA},
title = {From Low-Cost Miscanthus × giganteus to Valuable Bacterial Nanocellulose: A Complete Technological Cycle.},
journal = {Polymers},
volume = {17},
number = {21},
pages = {},
pmid = {41228649},
issn = {2073-4360},
support = {grant No. 22-13-00107-P//The research was carried out at the expense of the Russian Science Foundation , https://rscf.ru/project/22-13-00107 (accessed on 10 June 2025)./ ; },
abstract = {The concept of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) production from low-cost cellulosic raw materials is evolving across the world, as it reduces the production cost of this valuable polymer and expands its technical applications. Miscanthus × giganteus is a widely recognized energy crop with high cellulose content, but its potential as a feedstock for BNC production is underexplored. The cellulose content in the biomass of Miscanthus × giganteus from the Russian breeding stock was 54% in the present study. The Miscanthus × giganteus biomass was subjected to chemical pretreatment by four different techniques: classical alkaline delignification and three authors' own methods using diluted nitric acid solutions at atmospheric pressure. The resultant substrates were then enzymatically hydrolyzed under identical conditions, yielding carbohydrate-based culture media on which bacterial nanocellulose biosynthesis was carried out using a SCOBY symbiotic culture. All the four chemical pretreatment methods were found to be extremely efficient because they provide a 28-31-fold increase in the biomass reactivity to enzymatic hydrolysis compared to untreated Miscanthus × giganteus. This study clearly demonstrates that it is most expedient to carry out the biomass pretreatment in a single stage using a dilute nitric acid solution in the BNC production technology from Miscanthus × giganteus. In this case, the substrate yield from the feedstock for subsequent hydrolysis was 50%, the recovery of reducing sugars from the Miscanthus × giganteus biomass reached its maximal value (65.2%), and the yield of BNC was 1.1-1.3 times higher compared to the other three methods of biomass pretreatment.},
}
@article {pmid41227388,
year = {2025},
author = {Odo, TI and Saleh, M},
title = {O-GlcNAcylation: A Nutrient-Sensitive Metabolic Rheostat in Antiviral Immunity and Viral Pathogenesis.},
journal = {Cells},
volume = {14},
number = {21},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cells14211743},
pmid = {41227388},
issn = {2073-4409},
support = {RGPIN-2025-07017//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Virus Diseases/immunology/metabolism/virology ; Animals ; *Viruses/pathogenicity/immunology ; *Acetylglucosamine/metabolism ; *Nutrients/metabolism ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Glycosylation ; Hexosamines/biosynthesis/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Viruses account for the most abundant biological entities in the biosphere and can be either symbiotic or pathogenic. While pathogenic viruses have developed strategies to evade immunity, the host immune system has evolved overlapping and redundant defenses to sense and fight viral infections. Nutrition and metabolic needs sculpt viral-host interactions and determine the course and outcomes of the infection. In this review, we focus on the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP), a nutrient-sensing pathway that controls immune responses and host-viral interactions. The HBP converges on O-GlcNAcylation, a dynamic post-translational modification of cellular proteins, that emerged as a critical effector of immune cell development, differentiation, and effector functions. We present a broad overview of uncovered O-GlcNAc substrates identified in the context of viral infections and with a functional impact on antiviral immunity and viral restriction, or conversely on exacerbating viral-induced pathologic inflammation or viral oncogenesis. We discuss the clinical implications of these findings, current limitations, and future perspectives to harness this pathway for therapeutic purposes.},
}
@article {pmid41226121,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, Y and Zhao, L and Mi, N and He, J and Xu, J},
title = {Silicon@Carbon Composite with Bioinspired Root-Nodule Nanostructures as Anode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {30},
number = {21},
pages = {},
pmid = {41226121},
issn = {1420-3049},
support = {No. 24JRRM004//Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province/ ; No. 20JR10RA137//Youth Science and Technology Fund of Gansu Province/ ; No. 25YFGM001//Key Research and Development Program of Gansu Province-Industry Project/ ; No.25YFGM002//Key Research and Development Program of Gansu Province-Industry Project/ ; 2024QB-117//Young Doctor Support Project of Gansu Province/ ; No. QY-STK-2024A-141//Key Research and Development Program of Qingyang City-Industry Project/ ; HXZK2511//Crossing Research Project of Longdong University/ ; },
abstract = {Silicon (Si) is a promising high-capacity anode material for lithium-ion batteries but faces challenges such as severe volume fluctuations during cycles and the formation of unstable solid-electrolyte interphase films on the electrode surface. To address these limitations, we developed a bioinspired Si@C composite anode through polydopamine-mediated self-assembly of aromatic polyamide nanofibers and nano-Si, followed by controlled pyrolysis at 1000 °C under N2. The resulting hierarchical architecture mimics the symbiotic root-nodule structure of legumes, featuring vascular bundle-like carbon frameworks and chemically bonded Si/C interfaces. The optimized composite delivers an initial capacity of 1107.0 mAh g[-1] at 0.1 A g[-1] and retains 580.0 mAh g[-1] after 100 cycles with 52.4% retention. The exceptional electrochemical properties arise from the optimized architecture and surface interactions. The nature-inspired carbon network minimizes ionic transport resistance via vertically aligned porous pathways while simultaneously boosting lithium-ion adsorption capacity. Furthermore, radially aligned graphitic ribbons are generated through controlled polyamide thermal transformation that effectively mitigates electrode swelling and maintains stable interfacial layers during cycling.},
}
@article {pmid41225918,
year = {2025},
author = {Carmo-Filho, ADS and Rego, CHQ and Ribeiro, GFR and Alves, RM and Almeida, LA and Rodak, BW and Lavres, J and Gomes-Junior, FG},
title = {Seed-Applied Cobalt, Molybdenum, and Nickel Improve Nitrogen Metabolism in Soybean Plants Across Seed Vigor Levels.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {21},
pages = {},
pmid = {41225918},
issn = {2223-7747},
abstract = {Cobalt, molybdenum, and nickel are elements directly involved in biological nitrogen fixation in legume plants. However, there is a lack of information about the effects of the interaction among these elements on seed vigor and plant development. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses of these elements on soybean seeds with higher and lower vigor, focusing on nitrogen metabolism and plant development under controlled conditions. The two lots of soybean seeds (higher and lower vigor) were treated with doses of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mL kg[-1] of seeds of a liquid commercial product composed of cobalt, molybdenum, and nickel. At the full flowering stage, urease and nitrogenase activities, dry biomass of shoots, roots, and nodules, nitrogen concentration in shoots, plant height, number of nodules, and the efficiency of biological nitrogen fixation (measured by nitrogen-15 isotopic ratio) were assessed. Urease activity increased by 191% in high-vigor seed plants and 65% in low-vigor seed plants. Nitrogenase activity was higher in higher-vigor plants. Nodule dry biomass increased by 42% in lower-vigor plants compared to the control treatment, while in higher-vigor plants, it decreased with increasing doses. Shoot biomass was 30% higher than the control at the 2 mL kg[-1] dose. In general, the best responses to the application of the elements in the evaluated variables were observed with the doses of 2 and 4 mL kg[-1]. It is concluded that the appropriate application of cobalt, molybdenum, and nickel on seeds enhances growth and symbiotic efficiency. However, excessive doses may cause phytotoxic effects.},
}
@article {pmid41225836,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Z and Wu, Y and Liu, X and Adnan, M},
title = {Gatekeepers and Gatecrashers of the Symplasm: Cross-Kingdom Effector Manipulation of Plasmodesmata in Plants.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {21},
pages = {},
pmid = {41225836},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {20114BA205006//jiangxi natural science foundation/ ; S20258731//Key program of natural science foundation of jiangxi province/ ; jxsq2023101036//Talents Program of Jiangxi Province/ ; },
abstract = {Plasmodesmata (PD) are dynamic nanochannels interconnecting plant cells and coordinating development, nutrient distribution, and systemic defense. Their permeability is tightly regulated by callose turnover, PD-localized proteins, lipid microdomains, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) tethers, which together form regulatory nodes that gate symplastic exchange. Increasing evidence demonstrates that effectors from diverse kingdoms-fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, nematodes, insects, parasitic plants, and symbiotic microbes-converge on these same nodes to modulate PD gating. Pathogens typically suppress callose deposition or destabilize PD regulators to keep channels open, whereas mutualists fine-tune PD conductivity to balance resource exchange with host immunity. This review synthesizes current knowledge of effector strategies that remodel PD architecture or exploit PD for intercellular movement, highlighting novel cross-kingdom commonalities-callose manipulation, reprogramming of PD proteins, lipid rewiring, and co-option of ER-PM tethers. We outline unresolved questions on effector-PD target specificity and dynamics, and identify prospects in imaging, proteomics, and synthetic control of PD. Understanding how effectors reprogram PD connectivity can enable engineering of crops that block pathogenic trafficking while safeguarding beneficial symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid41225799,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, YY and Liu, JL and Wang, X and Cao, X and Liu, KH and Luo, YT and Chen, JY and Zhang, J and Fan, YH},
title = {A Review of the Regulatory Role of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria in Alfalfa Under Stress Conditions.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {21},
pages = {},
pmid = {41225799},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {2022B02053-2//The Key R&amp;D Program Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/ ; },
abstract = {Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a crucial plant for saline and alkaline soil development, which is crucial for managing the salinization of global land resources. It can withstand saline and alkaline stress and can fix nitrogen. By secreting phytohormones, fixing nitrogen, and boosting antioxidant capacity, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, rhizobacteria, and other inter-root biotrophic bacteria encourage alfalfa development and reduce salinity stress. Alfalfa's symbiotic association also encourages other plants to tolerate salinity and greatly boosts the amount of nitrogen in the soil. The mechanism by which inter-root growth-promoting bacteria mitigate saline and alkaline stress in alfalfa remains a prominent research focus. This paper reviews the current state of research on inter-root probiotic bacteria associated with alfalfa, utilizing literature mining to summarize the resource information of inter-root nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in saline-alkaline soils. We elucidate their nitrogen-fixing mechanisms and adaptive characteristics, explore their roles and potential applications in the improvement of saline-alkaline lands, and provide a theoretical foundation for the development of novel nitrogen-fixing bacterial fertilizers and restoration technologies for saline-alkaline environments.},
}
@article {pmid41225765,
year = {2025},
author = {Luo, XB and Chen, XW and Zhai, FH and Zhang, X and Zhao, YX and Zhang, H and Li, HH and Xu, B and Ouyang, JX and Li, H and Rillig, MC},
title = {Enhanced chromium detoxification mediated by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus via arbutin-derived hydroquinone.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70734},
pmid = {41225765},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2021B1515020014//Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation/ ; 42077298//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42107001//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42277211//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42322711//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42477118//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024A04J6285//Guangzhou Science and Technology Program/ ; },
abstract = {Chromium (Cr) is a highly toxic carcinogen, posing serious ecological and health risks. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, symbiotic partners of most terrestrial plants, transform highly toxic Cr(VI) into far less toxic Cr(III). However, how AM fungi mediate electron transfer and reduce Cr(VI) remains elusive. We employed metabolomics, functional group analysis, and electrochemical techniques searching for redox-active substances that reduce Cr(VI). Further, in vivo and in vitro tests were conducted to decipher the Cr(VI) reduction mechanism. The AM fungus increased lettuce yield by 24% and lowered soil Cr (initial total Cr = 120 mg kg[-1]) bioavailability by 11%. Cr(VI) increased arbutin in the presence of the AM fungus. Through enzymatic reactions catalyzed by glucosidase, arbutin was subsequently decomposed to glucose and hydroquinone (H2Q). Glucose can support energy metabolic activities, while H2Q directly provides electrons to Cr(VI), thereby producing Cr(III). Additionally, H2Q can mitigate oxidative stress by reacting with hydroxyl radicals and can mobilize iron as a potential nutrient. We first discovered a previously ignored electron transfer mechanism facilitated by AM fungi in reducing Cr(VI) to Cr(III) for detoxification. Harnessing this fungal potential in real-world conditions can efficiently detoxify Cr in the food chain, simultaneously reducing health risks and enhancing crop yield.},
}
@article {pmid41225119,
year = {2026},
author = {Suárez, LJ and Mera, J and Garzón, HS and Arce, RM and S Souza, JG and Shibli, JA},
title = {Immunomodulation Strategies in Oral Diseases: From Microbiome Manipulation to Pro-resolution Therapies.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1492},
number = {},
pages = {627-649},
pmid = {41225119},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Humans ; *Immunomodulation/drug effects ; *Microbiota/immunology/drug effects ; *Periodontitis/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Animals ; *Mouth Diseases/immunology/microbiology/therapy ; Biofilms ; Peri-Implantitis/immunology/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Host-response and inflammatory processes commonly triggered by dental biofilms play a crucial role in the pathogenesis pathways of prevalent oral diseases, such as periodontitis and implant-related infections, which have been widely explored by scientific evidence. The role of the oral microbiome and the interaction between microorganisms and immune components in the onset and development of such inflammatory conditions has been a primary focus for scientists and clinicians and has opened new possibilities for therapeutic targets to modulate disease progression. Such knowledge and new strategies with the aim of promoting microbial transition to a symbiotic state or modulating immune response have paved the way for innovative approaches to control, treat, and prevent oral diseases. This chapter presents the concepts of immunomodulation related to oral diseases, including the initial changes in resolving the inflammatory response (pro-resolution of inflammation) and how inflammatory processes can be modulated by immune modulatory agents in periodontal and peri-implant diseases.},
}
@article {pmid41159561,
year = {2025},
author = {Romero Picazo, D and Muccino, F and Kwasigroch, P and Hartmann, L and Hülter, NF and Dagan, T},
title = {Evolution of the Plant-Associated Pantoea was Accompanied by Plasmid Domestication Events.},
journal = {Molecular biology and evolution},
volume = {42},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {41159561},
issn = {1537-1719},
mesh = {*Pantoea/genetics ; *Plasmids/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; Domestication ; Plants/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Plasmids are important drivers of evolutionary transformations and ecological adaptation in prokaryotes. Plasmids supplying the host with beneficial functions may become domesticated and gain a stable inheritance within the host lineage. Domesticated plasmids may comprise core genes that are present in all taxon members. The origin of plasmid core genes remains poorly understood and alternative scenarios entailing gene translocation or genetic redundancy are debated. Studying plasmid evolution in the plant-associated Pantoea, we show that the large Pantoea plasmids (LPP-1 and LPP-2) are domesticated. We infer that the LPP-1 was acquired in the ancestor of plant-associated Pantoea species. The LPP-2 acquisition is traced to the ancestor of plant growth-promoting species. We show that both plasmids are vertically inherited and the LPP-1 replication is furthermore coordinated with chromosome replication. Both plasmids harbor core gene families at the genus (LPP-1) or species (LPP-2) level. Using phylogenomics we infer a deep divergence between plasmid and chromosomal core genes, indicating rare gene translocation between the replicons. Our results suggest that the LPP-1 and LPP-2 acquisition introduced genetic redundancy with chromosomal genes, that was followed by successive waves of differential gene loss. The domestication of both plasmids likely contributed to species divergence in Pantoea.},
}
@article {pmid41223237,
year = {2025},
author = {Robinson, C and Li, J and Li, R and Avila-Magaña, V},
title = {Heat stress disrupts early development and photosymbiosis in Cassiopea jellyfish.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {11},
pages = {e0323922},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0323922},
pmid = {41223237},
issn = {1932-6203},
abstract = {Photosymbioses between Cnidarians and algae are widespread in marine ecosystems. The jellyfish Cassiopea-Symbiodinium symbiosis serves as a valuable model for studying host-symbiont interactions in photosymbiotic organisms. Despite its ecological similarity to coral symbiosis, the effects of rising sea surface temperatures on Cassiopea symbiosis, particularly during early developmental stages, remain unexplored. By exposing Symbiodinium cultures to heat stress and subsequently using these symbionts to colonize jellyfish polyps under ambient and elevated temperature conditions, we study the impact of heat on microbe-stimulating strobilation. We observed a significant reduction in chlorophyll concentration in heat-stressed Symbiodinium algae. Polyps colonized with these symbionts exhibited delayed strobilation under ambient conditions and failed to undergo strobilation under continued heat stress. Additionally, we found abnormal ephyra morphology and increased rates of asexual reproduction under heat stress. Our findings suggest that ocean warming may disrupt critical stages of Cassiopea strobilation and development, ultimately threatening their population stability under warming marine environments.},
}
@article {pmid41222742,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, S and Bi, Y},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance the quality of Polygala tenuifolia through metabolomic reprogramming.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {6},
pages = {64},
pmid = {41222742},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {2022YFF1303303//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2022YFF1303303//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic associations with most plants and play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of medicinal plants. Although AMF is widely applied to improve growth and pharmacological properties, their regulatory mechanisms in Polygala tenuifolia remain unclear. In this study, we systematically examined the effects of five AMF species on the growth and metabolism of P. tenuifolia through pot experiments, integrating phenotypic traits, physiological indices, and untargeted metabolomics. Among the tested fungi, Funneliformis mosseae significantly promoted plant growth and induced the highest accumulation of 3',6-disinapoylsucrose (DISS), a key bioactive metabolite. Metabolomic profiling revealed that AMF, particularly F. mosseae, reprogrammed root metabolism by modulating biosynthetic pathways related to unsaturated fatty acids, diterpenoids, and flavonoids. Correlation analysis revealed that DISS levels were strongly associated with AMF-induced growth promotion index (GPI), total chlorophyll, and flavonoid content, and closely linked to shifts in key metabolites within these pathways. These findings suggest that AMF enhance P. tenuifolia growth and medicinal quality through metabolic reprogramming. This study provides a theoretical basis for selecting efficient AMF species for precision cultivation of medicinal plants and lays the groundwork for future exploration of gene-level mechanisms driving quality formation in P. tenuifolia.},
}
@article {pmid41222661,
year = {2025},
author = {Bhatt, S and Kaur, J and Goswami, D and Saraf, M},
title = {Identification of distinct N-acyl homoserine lactone profiles in non-hemolytic plant-associated symbiotic and non-symbiotic rhizobacteria.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {208},
number = {1},
pages = {17},
pmid = {41222661},
issn = {1432-072X},
abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) is a critical bacterial communication system in the plant rhizosphere regulating interactions and biofilm formation, which are essential for survival. While AHL profiles in rhizobacteria are important for sustainable agriculture, a comprehensive understanding of their diversity, particularly in beneficial, non-hemolytic strains, remains limited. This study addresses this gap by providing a comparative analysis of N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) profiles and biofilm capabilities in a panel of symbiotic Ensifer meliloti and non-symbiotic Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella quasi-pneumoniae strains. For definitive taxonomic identification, the two MTCC strains (Ensifer meliloti RM and SINO) were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Initial biosensor screening confirmed AHL production in all tested strains. Four strong AHL producers were selected for in-depth analysis. While Autoinducer Type-II (AI-2) signaling was absent, all strains demonstrated robust biofilm formation. Detailed LC-MS/MS profiling revealed distinct AHL profiles for each strain, highlighting significant intra-species diversity. Notably, this study reports the first identification of N-3-oxo-hexanoyl-HSL (C6-oxo-HSL) in Ensifer meliloti strain RM (10499). Furthermore, the non-hemolytic Klebsiella strains exhibited a profile dominated by 3-O-C8-HSL and 3-O-C12-HSL, which significantly differs from profiles reported in pathogenic Klebsiella strains, suggesting a link between QS systems and bacterial lifestyle. The identification of these specific AHL signals in robust biofilm-forming, non-hemolytic bacteria underscores their potential as safe and effective bioinoculants for enhancing rhizosphere colonization and supporting sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41222147,
year = {2025},
author = {Vogel, H and Weiss, B and Rama, F and Rinklef, A and Engl, T and Kaltenpoth, M and Vilcinskas, A},
title = {A multi-partner symbiotic community inhabits the emerging insect pest Pentastiridius leporinus.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0310325},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.03103-25},
pmid = {41222147},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {The planthopper Pentastiridius leporinus has emerged as a severe crop pest, rapidly expanding both its host plant range and the affected areas in central Europe. Originating as a monophagous herbivore of reed grass, P. leporinus recently adopted polyphagous feeding and is now a pest of sugar beet, potato, carrot, and onion, suggesting rapid ecological niche expansion. P. leporinus vectors two bacterial pathogens: the γ-proteobacterium Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus (CAP) and the stolbur phytoplasma Candidatus Phytoplasma solani (CPS), which are responsible for a range of disease syndromes, including syndrome basses richesses in sugar beet. We used long-read metagenomic sequencing to characterize the genomes of microbes associated with P. leporinus, resulting in the complete sequences of CAP and CPS, as well as obligate symbionts of the genera Purcelliella, Karelsulcia, and Vidania, and facultative symbionts Rickettsia and Wolbachia. The obligate symbionts are inferred to provide or contribute to the biosynthesis of 10 essential amino acids and to B vitamin. The genomes of CPS and CAP encode numerous pathogenicity factors, enabling the colonization of different hosts. Bacterial fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed the tissue distribution, cellular localization, relative abundance, and transmission patterns of these bacteria. The intracellular presence of all obligate symbionts in bacteriomes, the intracellular presence of Wolbachia, and the intranuclear localization of Rickettsia suggest vertical transmission. CPS was restricted to salivary glands, suggesting strict horizontal, plant-mediated transmission, whereas CAP colonized all tissue types, allowing for horizontal and vertical transmission. Our data suggest that P. leporinus hosts an exceptionally broad range of symbionts, encompassing mutualistic, commensal, and pathogenic interactions.IMPORTANCEThe planthopper Pentastiridius leporinus has recently expanded its host plant range and emerged as a severe pest of sugar beet and potato crops in central Europe, which is exacerbated by its capacity to vector bacterial pathogens to its host plants. Because microbial symbionts may play an important role for both the host plant shifts and the transmission of pathogens, we used metagenomic sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization to characterize the microbial community associated with P. leporinus. We detected three bacteriome-localized obligate symbionts that together provision all essential amino acids and several B-vitamins to the host, as well as two intracellular bacteria with a broader tissue distribution. In addition, we infer localization, transmission, and putative pathogenicity factors for the two major phytopathogens that are vectored by P. leporinus. Our results reveal a complex community of symbiotic bacteria that likely shapes the interaction of this emerging pest with its host plants.},
}
@article {pmid41220333,
year = {2025},
author = {Ruangwicha, J and Cheirsilp, B and Billateh, A and Suyotha, W and Songtipya, P},
title = {Intensifying Biovalorization of Squid Pen Waste to Produce β-Chitin and Bioactive Peptides through Co-Lactic Acid Fermentation and Enzymatic Post-Treatment.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c13422},
pmid = {41220333},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {This study demonstrates the effective biovalorization of squid pen waste (SPW) to produce high-purity β-chitin and other valuable biomolecules following the biorefinery concept. Symbiotic colactic acid fermentation (Co-LAF) cultivated in mature coconut water was used to deproteinize SPW. The optimal conditions were 4% sugar content, 10% inoculum, and 12.5-fold liquid-to-solid ratio. This process not only deproteinized SPW into crude chitin but also provided a lactic acid yield of 20.26 ± 0.25 g/L and a soluble protein yield of 105 ± 3.6 mg/g-SPW with antioxidant activity toward the DPPH radical (54.2 ± 2.3 μmol-Trolox equivalent (TE)/g-protein). Crude chitin was post-treated using alkaline protease (10 U/mg-crude chitin), resulting in the maximum deproteinization of 98.1 ± 1.1%, a β-chitin yield of 28.2 ± 1.3%, and a soluble protein yield of 374.85 ± 2.1 mg/g-crude chitin with antioxidant activity (25.01 ± 0.28 μmol-TE/g-protein). The final β-chitin retained crystallinity (75.7%) and ∼100% degree of acetylation. These results suggest that Co-LAF and enzymatic post-treatment can effectively valorize SPW, potentially making a significant contribution to sustainable waste valorization.},
}
@article {pmid41220092,
year = {2025},
author = {Gai, P and Liu, J and Wang, J and Bai, Y and Meng, W and Xu, L},
title = {Plant growth promotion and biocontrol potential of Parametarhizium and its genomic adaptations for cross-kingdom colonization.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70354},
pmid = {41220092},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Parametarhizium, a phylogenetically and morphologically distinct genus in Clavicipitaceae erected in 2021, represents an emerging model for multifunctional ecology (root colonizers, entomopathogens and saprophytes) in hypocrealean fungi.<br><br>RESULT: This study presents the first genomic characterization of Parametarhizium species (P.&#x2009;changbaiense and P.&#x2009;hingganense) and their beneficial effects on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), specifically addressing growth promotion and biocontrol potential. Comparative genomics revealed distinctive traits including compacted genomes, elevated GC content, expanded CAZymes (carbohydrate-active enzymes) and GPCRs (G-protein coupled receptors). Notably, significant expansions in key glycoside hydrolase families (GH6, GH7, GH13, GH16, GH18) underpin adaptations for plant colonization, insect pathogenesis, and saprophytic nutrition. Functionally, both species enhanced the growth of common bean through root symbiosis, with P.&#x2009;changbaiense exhibiting biocontrol activity against Rhizoctonia solani.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These findings establish Parametarhizium not only as a novel clade in Clavicipitaceae with unique genomic signatures, but also as a promising candidate for developing multifunctional biocontrol agents and biofertilizers. &#xa9; 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}
@article {pmid41219846,
year = {2025},
author = {Hsiao, WY and Yeh, CS and Liu, HI and Tung, L and Chang, TH},
title = {Genome-wide screen uncovers novel host factors for L-A virus maintenance and a potential mutualistic-symbiosis relationship in yeast.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {729},
pmid = {41219846},
issn = {1471-2180},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Viruses are traditionally viewed as intracellular parasites that exploit host resources to propagate, often at the host's expense. However, emerging evidence suggests more nuanced interactions, including potential mutualism. The L-A double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus, a non-lytic, cytoplasmic virus commonly found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, presents an intriguing case, as it lacks clear pathogenic effects in the absence of its M1 satellite.<br><br>RESULTS: To address how and why L-A persistently resides in its yeast host, we conducted a genome-wide screen using yeast deletion and temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant collections, covering approximately 93% of annotated genes, to identify host factors required for efficient L-A maintenance. This screen revealed 96 genes spanning diverse biological processes. Transcriptomic profiling indicated that L-A presence alters the host stress-response gene expression. Furthermore, competitive fitness assays under stress conditions demonstrated that L-A can enhance host resilience, suggesting a mutualistic relationship.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our findings uncover a previously unrecognized virus-host mutualism, wherein L-A benefits its host under environmental stress. These results not only expand our understanding of persistent viral infections in eukaryotes but also challenge the canonical view of viruses as purely parasitic, offering new insights into virus-host co-evolution and endogenous viral persistence.},
}
@article {pmid41219593,
year = {2025},
author = {Taibukahn, N and Ab Majid, AH},
title = {Differentiation in bacterial symbiont growth between insecticide treated and untreated tropical bed bug.},
journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek},
volume = {118},
number = {12},
pages = {190},
pmid = {41219593},
issn = {1572-9699},
support = {203/PBIOLOGI/67116810//Fundamental Research Grant (FRGS)/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria are closely associated with insect adaptability and survival, particularly in species with nutritionally limited diets. In the tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus, these microbial partners synthesize essential nutrients such as B vitamins and amino acids that are absent from blood meals. The global resurgence of bed bug infestations, fueled by increased international travel and insecticide resistance, has challenged conventional control methods. Microbial symbionts are increasingly suspected to contribute to resistance mechanisms, but their role remains poorly defined. This study investigated the impact of four insecticides-chlorfluazuron, tebufenozide, pyriproxyfen, and a combination of β-cyfluthrin and imidacloprid-on the culturable bacterial symbionts of C. hemipterus using surface contact bioassays at concentrations of 100, 500, 1000, and 10,000 parts per million (ppm). Results showed a statistically significant reduction in colony-forming units (CFUs) in treated groups (p = 0.01), with the greatest suppression observed at 10,000 ppm. A significant negative correlation was observed between CFU abundance and mortality in pyriproxyfen-treated groups (p = 0.005), suggesting a potential link between bacterial suppression and sublethal physiological effects. DNA sequencing identified Bacillus species-particularly B. cereus and B. thuringiensis-as predominant symbionts across all treatments, indicating core microbiota stability despite insecticidal stress. These findings highlight that while bacterial abundance can be reduced by insecticides, core symbionts persist, which may contribute to host resilience. This study provides foundational evidence for integrating symbiont-targeted strategies with existing chemical controls to improve bed bug management.},
}
@article {pmid41216943,
year = {2025},
author = {Horbay, R and Syrvatka, V and Bedzay, A and van der Merwe, M and Burger, D and Beug, ST},
title = {From Mitochondria to Immunity: The Emerging Roles of Mitochondria-Derived Vesicles and Small Extracellular Vesicles in Cellular Communication and Disease.},
journal = {Journal of extracellular vesicles},
volume = {14},
number = {11},
pages = {e70192},
doi = {10.1002/jev2.70192},
pmid = {41216943},
issn = {2001-3078},
support = {#935202//Cancer Research Society/ ; #PJT-169126//Canadian Institutes for Health Research/ ; },
abstract = {According to the endosymbiotic theory of mitochondrial origin, an α-proteobacterium entered a prokaryotic cell and, through symbiosis, evolved into the mitochondria-the powerhouse of the cell. Like other bacteria, the α-proteobacteria generate their own extracellular vesicles (EVs), a trait that was passed onto the mitochondria, enabling them to generate mitochondria-derived vesicles (MDVs). MDVs, similar to small EVs (sEVs), are vesicles ranging from 30 to 200 nm in diameter and carry cargo for degradation by lysosomes and peroxisomes. MDVs share several features with sEVs, including targeted cargo degradation, biogenesis, packaging into multivesicular bodies, nucleic acid and protein transportation, induction of immune responses, and surface antigen presentation. MDVs may also be released from the cell in a manner similar to sEVs, potentially influencing intercellular communication and immune responses. Furthermore, the presence of MDVs presents opportunities for early disease detection, including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. In this review, we explore the differences and similarities between MDVs and EVs, including their roles in immunity.},
}
@article {pmid41216838,
year = {2025},
author = {Yoshii, K and Liu, Z and Shimoyama, A and Hirayama, Y and Iemitsu, K and Node, E and Hosomi, K and Kiyono, H and Fukase, K and Kunisawa, J},
title = {Alcaligenes lipid A as a sublingual adjuvant to augment protective immune responses in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.},
journal = {International immunology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/intimm/dxaf066},
pmid = {41216838},
issn = {1460-2377},
abstract = {We previously identified Alcaligenes as symbiotic bacteria residing within Peyer's patches and demonstrated that their primary components, lipopolysaccharides, and their active center, lipid A, are excellent adjuvants for mucosal vaccination. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of Alcaligenes-derived lipid A as an adjuvant for sublingual immunization, a novel vaccination route. Mice sublingually immunized with Alcaligenes lipid A and ovalbumin (OVA) showed enhanced production of OVA-specific IgA in both the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. In addition, increased serum levels of OVA-specific and IgG antibodies were elicited through germinal center reactions in the draining lymph nodes without excessive inflammation at the administration sites. These results demonstrated superior efficacy not previously achieved through other routes of administration (e.g., intranasal, subcutaneous, intramuscular administration) or by existing adjuvants (e.g., CpG-ODN). In addition, sublingual immunization with cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) and lipid A led to an elevated CTB-specific IgG response in the systemic compartment and an elevated IgA response in the intestinal tract, effectively suppressing the diarrhea induced by oral challenge with cholera toxin. Furthermore, immunization with pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) plus Alcaligenes lipid A elicited strong PspA-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation and Th17 responses, as well as IgA and IgG responses, in both the respiratory tract and the systemic compartment. These effects enhanced pneumococcal clearance in the lungs and subsequent protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Together, our findings suggest that Alcaligenes-derived lipid A is a potent sublingual vaccine adjuvant with potential efficacy against both respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases.},
}
@article {pmid41214905,
year = {2025},
author = {Tagirdzhanova, G and Raistrick, J and Talbot, NJ},
title = {Chromosome-level genome assembly of the photobiont microalga Trebouxia sp. 'A48' from the lichen Xanthoria parietina.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70728},
pmid = {41214905},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//The Gatsby Charitable Foundation/ ; //The Halpin Family/ ; BBS/E/J/000PR9798/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; },
abstract = {Lichens are symbiotic assemblies consisting of multiple organisms, chiefly a fungus and a photosynthetic microorganism, or photobiont. Among diverse photobionts, the most prevalent is the chlorophyte alga Trebouxia. We produced a chromosome-level assembly of Trebouxia sp. 'A48', a photobiont of Xanthoria parietina. The genome was assembled into 20 contigs, of which 16 had telomeric repeats at both ends and likely represent complete chromosomes. We compared this genome with those of other Trebouxia species and analyzed it to investigate adaptations to the lichen lifestyle. We then used the genome to profile gene expression in axenic culture and in lichen thalli. The predicted secretome is enriched in hydrolases and redox enzymes and contains carbohydrate-binding proteins potentially involved in cell-to-cell recognition and adhesion. We identified genes potentially involved in carbon concentrating and confirmed two instances of ancient horizontal gene transfer from fungi. The genome and the strain of Trebouxia sp. 'A48' provide a resource for the community to research algal evolution and lichen symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41214514,
year = {2025},
author = {Szczerba, A and Płażek, A and Kopeć, P and Surówka, E and Dubert, F},
title = {Mitigating soil drought effects in soybean with Bradyrhizobium Japonicum inoculants.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1533},
pmid = {41214514},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {HOR.zg.832.11.2017//Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development/ ; },
abstract = {Soybean is valued for its high protein content and its symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum. This study evaluated whether commercial inoculants could mitigate drought effects in soybean grown in pots at 20% (drought) and 70% (control) field water capacity. Inoculation with Rhizobium Bio-Gen improved photosystem II efficiency under water deficit, while Nitragina IUNG prevented drought-induced losses in water status, biomass, nodulation, and yield. Nitragina Biofood promoted the highest share of biologically fixed nitrogen under optimal watering (leaves: 65.5%; seeds: 57.0%) and further enhanced N2 fixation during drought (leaves: 79.9%; seeds: 57.8%). Across watering regimes, δ[13]C values were highest in leaves and lowest in pods and seeds, indicating drought-driven recycling of respired CO2. Overall, application of Nitragina IUNG in soybean cultivation can effectively mitigate the adverse effects of soil drought on yield, whereas Nitragina Biofood appears particularly well suited for crops intended as green manure or as preceding crops for winter cereals.},
}
@article {pmid41214457,
year = {2025},
author = {Millanes, AM and Nogerius, VT and Freire-Rallo, S and Diederich, P and Periáñez, J and Westberg, M and Merinero, S and Johannesson, H and Wedin, M},
title = {Different Patterns of Frequency, Lichen Specificity and Thallus Location Between the Yeast and Filamentous Phases of Two Lichen-Inhabiting Basidiomycetes.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {11},
pages = {e70203},
doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.70203},
pmid = {41214457},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {CGL2016-803-71-P//Ministerio de Ciencia Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; PID2023-146866NB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; 2016-03589//Swedish Research Council/ ; 2022-02933//Swedish Research Council/ ; STI 2016-27 4.3//Swedish Taxonomy Initiative (administered by the Swedish Species Information Centre)/ ; STI 2020.4.3-231//Swedish Taxonomy Initiative (administered by the Swedish Species Information Centre)/ ; //Bergianus foundation/the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {Many fungi have a dimorphic life cycle, alternating between unicellular yeast and multicellular filamentous phases. Although dimorphism is assumed for many lichen-associated basidiomycetes, the existence of a yeast stage has rarely been confirmed. Using taxon-specific PCR and FISH-CLSM, we studied Tremella hypogymniae and T. tubulosae Tremellomycetes), two presumably dimorphic species previously known only from their filamentous phase in galls on the lichens Hypogymnia physodes and H. tubulosa, respectively. We investigated their presence and frequency, lichen ranges and within-thallus distribution of life-cycle stages. We also explored the co-occurrence of both species with Cystobasidiomycetes-one of the most widespread lichen-associated yeast lineages-in the same lichen thalli. The filamentous phase of Tremella hypogymniae and T. tubulosae was confined to a single lichen species each, whereas the yeast phase occurred in several closely related lichens. Both phases co-occurred with various Cystobasidiomycete lineages. Filamentous structures were restricted to galls, whereas gall-free thalli contained Tremella yeasts in the cortex, soredia and medulla, and pseudohyphae in the cortex. The presence of yeasts in soredia suggests co-dispersal with other lichen symbionts. These findings reveal narrow specificity in the filamentous phase but broader associations in the yeast phase, pointing to complex interactions within the lichen symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41213871,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, S and Xiao, Y and Ao, B and Yan, Q and Wu, F and Han, Y and Jing, S and Qu, Y and Zhang, J},
title = {GRAS51 promotes legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation and salt tolerance of nodulation by directly regulating NIN expression.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf571},
pmid = {41213871},
issn = {1532-2548},
abstract = {Abiotic stresses affect the symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobia and nodule formation. Salt stress suppresses rhizobial infection, nodule development, and nitrogen fixation efficiency; however, the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we identified a GRAS transcription factor, designated MaGRAS51, that interacts with Nodulation Signaling Pathway 1 (MaNSP1) and jointly binds to the promoter of the Nodule Inception (MaNIN) gene to activate its expression. NSP1 and NIN genes are essential for rhizobial infection, nodule initiation, and symbiotic gene expression in legumes. Overexpression or knockdown of MaGRAS51 in Melilotus albus resulted in increased or decreased nodule number, respectively, which correspondingly led to the significant up- and downregulated expression of MaNIN. Interestingly, MaGRAS51 was highly induced by salt stress during nodulation and activated the expression of MaNIN by directly binding to its promoter independently, thereby maintaining symbiotic nodulation under salt stress. In conclusion, we identified a transcriptional activator of MaNIN and revealed the mechanism by which MaGRAS51 acts as a network node to coordinate the expression of MaNIN and symbiotic nodulation under salt stress conditions, providing insights to improve symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes under environmental stress conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41212995,
year = {2025},
author = {Parker, BJ and Rozo-Lopez, P},
title = {Heritable Viruses as Hidden Drivers of Insect Phenotypes and Evolution.},
journal = {Annual review of entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013439},
pmid = {41212995},
issn = {1545-4487},
abstract = {Recent studies using metatranscriptome sequencing have revealed a diversity of viruses associated with insects. Researchers have used various approaches to establish patterns of transmission of insect-specific viruses and have shown that insects often harbor viruses that are inherited from parents to offspring. It remains unclear, however, whether heritable viral symbioses can be understood in the same ecological and evolutionary framework that has been established for bacterial symbiosis. We review studies showing beneficial and pathogenic effects of heritable viruses on their hosts, and we discuss additional ways that heritable viruses shape insect evolution. We also compare bacterial and viral symbiosis and review ways that this emerging field can be used for biocontrol of pests and insect-borne pathogens. Heritable viruses are a key part of the ecology and evolution of insects. A framework for studying symbiosis between insects and these microbes is important for a comprehensive understanding of insect biology.},
}
@article {pmid41212884,
year = {2025},
author = {Luccioni, MD and Wyman, JT and Espinoza, EO and O'Connell, LA},
title = {Diet and chemical defenses of the Sonoran Desert toad.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {11},
pages = {e0335661},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0335661},
pmid = {41212884},
issn = {1932-6203},
abstract = {The Sonoran Desert toad (Incilius alvarius) is the only animal known to secrete the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT as a chemical defense, but the source of 5-MeO-DMT in I. alvarius remains unknown. Some amphibians produce chemical defenses endogenously or through symbiotic interactions, while others acquire them from specialized diets. In this study we analyzed toxin gland secretions and diet profiles from wild I. alvarius and sympatric anurans from native and urban habitats around Tucson, Arizona to explore possible links between diet and 5-MeO-DMT production. All I. alvarius secreted high concentrations of 5-MeO-DMT, whereas other sympatric toads did not. The diet of I. alvarius was similar to that of sympatric anurans, indicating that I. alvarius does not exhibit relative dietary specialization. We found slight dietary differences between I. alvarius in native and urbanized habitats. Taken together, these lines of evidence suggest that diet is not directly linked to 5-MeO-DMT production and support the alternative hypotheses that I. alvarius synthesizes 5-MeO-DMT endogenously or via a microbial symbiont.},
}
@article {pmid41212030,
year = {2025},
author = {Vereau Gorbitz, D and Schwarz, CP and McMullen, JG and Cerón-Romero, M and Doyle, RT and Lau, JA and Whitaker, RJ and Vanderpool, CK and Heath, KD},
title = {Plasmid transmission dynamics and evolution of partner quality in a natural population of Rhizobium leguminosarum.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0249725},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.02497-25},
pmid = {41212030},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Many bacterial traits important to host-microbe symbiosis are determined by genes carried on extrachromosomal replicons, such as plasmids, chromids, and integrative and conjugative elements. Multiple such replicons often coexist within a single cell and, due to horizontal mobility, have patterns of variation and evolutionary histories that are distinct from each other and from the bacterial chromosome. In nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium, genes carried on multiple plasmids make up a third of the genome, are necessary for the formation of symbiosis, and underlie bacterial traits, including host plant benefits. Thus, the genomics and transmission of plasmids in Rhizobium underlie the ecology and evolution of this important model symbiont. Here, we leverage a natural population of clover-associated Rhizobium in which partner quality has declined in response to long-term nitrogen fertilization. We use 62 novel, reference-quality genomes to characterize 256 replicons in the plasmidome and study their genomics and transmission patterns. We find that, of the four most frequent plasmid types, two (types II and III) have more stable size, larger core genomes, and track the chromosomal phylogeny (display more vertical transmission), while others (type I and type IV, or symbiosis plasmid, pSym) vary substantially in size and shared gene content and have phylogenies consistent with frequent horizontal transmission. We also find differentiation in pSym subtypes driven by long-term nitrogen fertilization. Our results highlight the variation in plasmid transmission dynamics within a single symbiont and implicate plasmid horizontal transmission in the rapid evolution of partner quality.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding how bacterial genes move through natural populations is critical for understanding how bacterial traits evolve. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria Rhizobium leguminosarum live in symbiosis with plants and are a model for studying plasmid transmission and how mobile genetic elements impact the evolution of bacteria and plants. Here, we characterize the genomes of a natural bacterial population, then use novel approaches to show that mechanisms of gene transmission vary across multiple plasmid types that coexist within R. leguminosarum cells. We find that changes in the frequency of specific pSym types are associated with the decline of symbiotic partner quality in strains isolated from environments undergoing long-term fertilization. These results underscore the importance of plasmid transmission and evolution in shaping ecosystem processes like nitrogen cycling via bacterial-plant symbiosis. Our study provides a framework for probing plasmid dynamics within natural bacterial populations and how plasmid transmission affects genetic diversity and ecological interactions in bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid41211985,
year = {2025},
author = {Hypša, V and Martinů, J and Mahmood, S and Gupta, S and Nováková, E and Roth, S and Balvín, O},
title = {Dynamic but constrained: repeated acquisitions of nutritional symbionts in bed bugs (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) from a narrow taxonomic pool.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0124725},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.01247-25},
pmid = {41211985},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {Bed bugs (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) harbor obligate bacterial symbionts that supplement their blood diet with missing nutrients, especially B vitamins. The primary symbiont, transovarially transmitted Wolbachia, is notable for a horizontally acquired biotin operon. Additional maternally inherited bacteria, including Symbiopectobacterium and Tisiphia, have been detected but are considered facultative and nonessential. However, nearly all current knowledge is derived from the human-associated Cimex lectularius, leaving symbiont diversity across more than 100 bed bug species largely unknown. Using amplicon and metagenomic data, we identified Wolbachia, Symbiopectobacterium, Sodalis, Serratia, and Tisiphia as candidate symbionts, with at least 16 independent acquisition events across the cimicid species, sometimes involving multiple strains per host. Phylogenetic comparisons indicated that some of these origins were followed by cospeciation. Wolbachia was present in most hosts except Cacodminae, where Symbiopectobacterium occurred as the sole symbiont, suggesting its obligate role. Analysis of 23 draft genomes revealed heterogeneity in size and gene content, consistent with varying stages of symbiotic reduction. Most lineages lost many biosynthetic pathways; only riboflavin and lipoic acid synthesis remained universally conserved. Our survey reveals a dynamic evolution of bed bug symbioses, with repeated symbiont acquisitions, cospeciation, and frequent coinfections. Despite independent origins, most symbionts belong to Wolbachia, Symbiopectobacterium, or Sodalis, implying unknown mechanisms shaping host specificity. Two points merit further study. First, Symbiopectobacterium as the sole obligate symbiont in Cacodminae suggests broader sampling may uncover greater symbiotic diversity. Second, uncertainties in biotin synthesis function call for deeper investigation into the evolution of this pathway in symbiotic bacteria.IMPORTANCEBed bugs are obligate blood-feeding insects that depend on bacterial partners to supply nutrients missing from their diet. Most previous research has focused on the human-associated species Cimex lectularius, leaving little known about symbiont diversity across other species. By surveying a broad phylogenetic range, we found that bed bugs have repeatedly acquired different bacteria as symbionts, including lineages not previously recognized as essential. Notably, finding Symbiopectobacterium as the sole symbiont in one subfamily shows that the nutritional partnerships in bed bugs are more dynamic than previously thought. At the same time, the majority of the 16 independent acquisitions involve only four bacterial genera, suggesting efficient mechanisms that constrain and shape bed bug-symbiont specificity.},
}
@article {pmid41211760,
year = {2025},
author = {Layton, EM and Vance, MT and Hardy, RW and Newton, ILG},
title = {Complete genome sequence of Wolbachia strain wMel colonizing Drosophila melanogaster JW18 cells.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0064325},
doi = {10.1128/mra.00643-25},
pmid = {41211760},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {Wolbachia are widespread insect endosymbionts known for manipulating host reproduction, aiding vector-borne disease control, and influencing host evolution. Here, we provide the complete genome sequence of the Wolbachia strain wMel derived from the Drosophila melanogaster JW18 cell culture and assembled using a hybrid approach combining Illumina and Oxford Nanopore reads.},
}
@article {pmid41210642,
year = {2025},
author = {Sankar, P and Govindaraj, K and Rajaram, PS and Rupert, S and Sathyanesan, J},
title = {In-vitro evaluation of probiotics isolated from traditionally fermented South Indian rice varieties using earthen pot.},
journal = {Journal of food science and technology},
volume = {62},
number = {12},
pages = {2372-2380},
pmid = {41210642},
issn = {0022-1155},
abstract = {An increasing demand for health-promoting foods beyond their nutrients and taste has led to a rise in recognition of probiotic rich fermented food. In this study, the probiotic bacteria isolated from three varieties of traditionally fermented rice water were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Upon identification, the isolates were characterized for their probiotic properties by evaluating their tolerance ability towards low pH, gastric juice, bile, and haemolytic activity. Four different probiotic species belonging to the Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) group were grown during fermentation, namely, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus taiwanensis, Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, and Lactococcus lactis ssp. tructae. All the isolates showed a higher survival rate at pH 3.0 and 0.3% bile. In simulated gastric juice at pH 2.5, the Lactococcus lactis (36.33%) from raw rice survived up till 60 min. The isolates from raw rice and parboiled white ponni rice maintained survivability in gastric juice at pH 3.0 for 15 min, whereas Lactococcus lactis from raw rice has a better tolerance for up to 60 min. Furthermore, the absence of β-haemolytic activity ensures the avirulent nature of the strain. Therefore, fermented rice water enriched in probiotics will improve the intestinal flora with beneficial bacteria via a symbiotic relationship.},
}
@article {pmid41209566,
year = {2025},
author = {Lee, MC and Chen, CY and Hsu, YJ and Lin, SW and Tsai, YS and Chen, YL and Chen, CC and Huang, CC},
title = {Clostridium butyricum GKB7 increase Physical Performance and Improve Biochemistry Profile on Mice with Inherently Low Aerobic Capacity.},
journal = {International journal of medical sciences},
volume = {22},
number = {16},
pages = {4418-4431},
pmid = {41209566},
issn = {1449-1907},
abstract = {Introduction: This study investigates the effects of Clostridium butyricum GKB7 (CB), a product manufactured by Grape King Bio Ltd., on enhancing exercise performance and blood biochemistry in mice with intrinsically low aerobic exercise capacity. Methods: Using a low aerobic exercise capacity mouse model (n = 48), animals were divided into six groups (n = 8 per group) based on body weight balancing principles: Control group (Vehicle), Positive control group (BCAA), Low-dose CB group (CB-L; 0.01 g human equivalent dose), High-dose CB group (CB-H; 0.1 g human equivalent dose), Low-dose heat-killed CB group (HK-CB-L; 0.01 g human equivalent dose), and High-dose heat-killed CB group (HK-CB-H; 0.1 g human equivalent dose). After four weeks of continuous supplementation, aerobic endurance and balance-related tests were performed, including weight-loaded swimming to exhaustion, treadmill running to exhaustion, and rotarod running, along with oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) assessments. The experimental protocol involved daily supplementation of CB in different dosages, followed by endurance performance assessments and biochemical analyses. Results: We evaluated the effects of four-week supplementation with live or heat-killed Clostridium butyricum GKB7 (CB; low/high dose) on performance and energy stores in mice with low innate exercise capacity. Both live and heat-killed CB improved aerobic endurance versus vehicle: weight-loaded swimming time increased 1.49-1.87-fold, and treadmill running time increased 1.16-1.22-fold (all p<0.05 vs vehicle; BCAA: 1.09-fold vs vehicle; no significant CB-BCAA differences on treadmill). Neuromotor performance also improved: maximum and average balance times increased 1.49-2.13-fold and 1.61-2.29-fold versus vehicle (p<0.05); heat-killed CB groups were higher than BCAA on balance (≈1.20-1.43-fold for maximum; 1.24-1.47-fold for average). CB elevated energy reserves versus vehicle, with hepatic glycogen increased 2.55-2.74-fold and skeletal muscle glycogen increased 1.18-1.24-fold (p<0.05). Additionally, both live and heat-killed CB increased gut microbiota diversity and enriched symbiotic beneficial taxa. Alpha diversity increased in HK-CB-L vs. CB-L/CB-H and BCAA (p<0.05); F/B ratio was lower in CB-L and CB-H vs. their heat-killed counterparts (p<0.05). LEfSe identified taxa enriched toward dominant/symbiotic beneficial bacteria. Collectively, CB-viable or heat-killed-enhances aerobic endurance, balance performance, and glycogen storage, with heat-killed CB showing advantages over BCAA on balance. Conclusions: Four-week supplementation of C. butyricum GKB7, significantly enhanced gut microbiota diversity and symbiotic bacterial proportions in mice with naturally low exercise capacity. Moreover, supplementation significantly improved aerobic endurance, balance performance, and glycogen storage, demonstrating its potential as an ergogenic aid.},
}
@article {pmid41207013,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, X and Wang, Q and Xu, Q and Wang, J and Lei, Z and Lee, DJ},
title = {Algal-bacterial granular sludge process for sustainable wastewater treatment: Technological advances and challenges.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {289},
number = {Pt A},
pages = {124906},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.124906},
pmid = {41207013},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {The algal-bacterial granular sludge (ABGS) process is a promising solution for sustainable wastewater treatment, owing to its synergistic contaminant removal, carbon sequestration potential, and reduced energy demand. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in the ABGS process, emphasizing key determinants of granule formation and stability under dynamic and static conditions. Existing knowledge and uncertainties throughout the entire treatment continuum are systematically discussed. Laboratory-scale explorations that rely on synthetic wastewater and batch operations fail to fully capture the complexity of real influent characteristics, geographic variability, and seasonal fluctuations. Sustaining a balanced algal-bacterial consortium is essential yet challenging, as uncontrolled proliferation disrupts community structure and diminishes efficiency in long-term practical operation. These limitations call for novel reactor designs and process optimizations that regulate mass transfer, dissolved oxygen (DO), and light availability while ensuring performance consistency at scalable capacities. Imbalanced algal-bacterial symbiosis may result in overestimated biodegradation performance, greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation claims, and underestimated N2O emissions, while the real environmental footprint and gene transfer risks still require further validation. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) strategies is crucial for predicting system performance, optimizing microbial activities, and enhancing system efficiency. Critical knowledge gaps and emerging opportunities for future research are also outlined. This review reconceptualizes ABGS as a biotechnological innovation and an integrated, scalable solution within the broader context of the circular bioeconomy.},
}
@article {pmid41206876,
year = {2025},
author = {Catano, CP and DuBose, JG and Fuller-Hall, L and Chavez, J and de Roode, JC},
title = {Experimental Immigration Mediates Ecological Selection and Drift in Monarch Microbiome Assembly.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {28},
number = {11},
pages = {e70252},
doi = {10.1111/ele.70252},
pmid = {41206876},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {IOS-2202255//National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {The distribution of biodiversity depends on processes operating across scales, yet multiscale paradigms have struggled to permeate host-microbiome research. Instead, host-microbiome research has focused on host selection and has struggled to explain the high variation in microbial composition across individuals. By integrating multi-scale ecological theory with experimental manipulation of bacteria colonizing monarch butterfly caterpillars, we test the hypothesis that immigration from the regional species pool alters the importance of niche selection and drift in causing variation in gut bacterial communities across individuals and through ontogeny. Higher immigration increased the dominance of certain bacteria, causing greater convergence in bacterial composition across the caterpillar life stage. Conversely, limited immigration made colonization more stochastic, resulting in more unpredictable variability in bacterial composition across individuals. Our study reveals that immigration mediates the balance between host selection and drift, demonstrating that processes operating at scales beyond the individual are underappreciated but critical for structuring host-microbiome symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid41206659,
year = {2025},
author = {Siddiqui, R and Maciver, SK and Khan, NA},
title = {Beyond Predation: Potential Metabolic Roles of Intracellular Bacteria in Acanthamoeba Ecology.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaf124},
pmid = {41206659},
issn = {1574-6968},
abstract = {Although Acanthamoeba is well known as a reservoir and "Trojan horse" for other microbes, its relationship with intracellular organisms may extend beyond protection. Here, we discuss that certain bacteria contribute metabolically to the host, breaking down complex substrates and providing nutrients that expand its ecological adaptability. The proposed model reframes amoebae not only as predators and shelters, but also as metabolic consortia, with implications for environmental microbiology, protist ecology, and the evolution of opportunistic pathogens. Further studies using integrated multi-omics and co-culture approaches, combining metagenomic and metabolomic profiling of Acanthamoeba-bacteria interactions and transcriptomic analyses will help identify bidirectional metabolic exchange and functional gene expression within the symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41206514,
year = {2025},
author = {Lopez-Raez, JA and Banasiak, J and Becana, M and Goormachtig, S and Lanfranco, L and Larrainzar, E and Lefebvre, B and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Frugier, F},
title = {Molecular mechanisms modulating beneficial plant root-microbe interactions: What's common?.},
journal = {Plant communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101592},
doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101592},
pmid = {41206514},
issn = {2590-3462},
abstract = {In the current climate change context, there is a need to develop more sustainable agri-food strategies. As an alternative to the intensive use of chemically-synthesized fertilizers and pesticides that pollute water and impact biodiversity, there is a growing interest in using beneficial microbes as biostimulants and/or bioprotection agents. However, their implementation in agriculture remains a challenge due to highly variable outcomes and benefits. Furthermore, there are major knowledge gaps about the molecular mechanisms regulating the different plant-microbe interactions. In the present review, we summarize current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms controlling the different beneficial plant root-microbe interactions, namely arbuscular mycorrhiza, the rhizobium-legume symbiosis, ectomycorrhiza, as well as fungal and bacterial endophytic associations. This includes the signalling pathways required for microbes to be recognized as beneficial, metabolic pathways that provide nutritional benefits to the plant, and the regulatory pathways modulating the extent of the symbiosis establishment depending on soil nutrient availability and plant needs. The aim is to highlight what are the main common mechanisms, as well as the knowledge gaps, in order to promote their use, either individually or in consortia, within the framework of sustainable agriculture that is less dependent on chemicals and more protective of biodiversity and water resources.},
}
@article {pmid41204768,
year = {2025},
author = {Panthapulakkal Narayanan, S and Dotson, BR and Noack, L and Holla, S and Ren, S and Dörmann, P and Widell, S and Persson, S and Lager, I and Rasmusson, AG},
title = {Arabidopsis phospholipid modifications mediate cellulase-induced resistance to a fungal peptide antibiotic by imposing cell polarity.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70721},
pmid = {41204768},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2020.4.3 651//SLU Grogrund funding/ ; //Sven och Lilly Lawskis Fond f&#xf6;r Naturvetenskaplig Forskning/ ; 2020-05417//Swedish Research Council Vetenskapsr&#xe5;det/ ; CTS 2019:295//Carl Tryggers Stiftelse f&#xf6;r Vetenskaplig Forskning/ ; },
abstract = {Plant-symbiotic Trichoderma fungi attack microorganisms by secreting antibiotic membrane-permeabilising peptaibols such as alamethicin. These peptaibols also permeabilise plant root epidermis plasma membranes (PMs), but mild pretreatment with Trichoderma cellulase activates a unique cellulase-induced resistance to alamethicin (CIRA), via an unknown mechanism. We identify two Arabidopsis genes that are essential for the CIRA process: CIRA12 encodes a phosphatidylserine (PS) decarboxylase and CIRA13, a phospholipase Dζ, implying that specific changes in anionic membrane lipids mediate alamethicin resistance. Fluorescent sensors revealed that cellulase induced a laterally asymmetric decrease in PS and surface charge to outer periclinal root epidermal PMs. Consistently, the CIRA response was reversed by addition of lysoPS. CIRA13 is essential for vesicle trafficking, which in turn is crucial for CIRA induction. Overall, cellulase induces a cellular polarity with respect to phospholipids, not previously observed in plants, that is leading to increased lipid packing and preventing peptaibol permeabilization of the outer periclinal membrane.},
}
@article {pmid41204437,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Sunagawa, N and Kashima, T and Igarashi, K and Miyanaga, A and Fushinobu, S},
title = {Structural insights into lacto-N-biose I recognition by a family 32 carbohydrate-binding module from Bifidobacterium bifidum.},
journal = {FEBS letters},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/1873-3468.70217},
pmid = {41204437},
issn = {1873-3468},
support = {23H00322//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP22ama121001//AMED/ ; },
abstract = {Bifidobacterium bifidum, a predominant colonizer of the infant gut, utilizes lacto-N-biose I (LNB), a prominent component of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), through a dedicated metabolic pathway. Among a diverse set of extracellular glycosidases involved in HMO degradation, lacto-N-biosidase (LnbB) plays a pivotal role by releasing LNB. We investigated the structure and function of the carbohydrate-binding module family 32 (CBM32) domain located at the C-terminus of the glycoside hydrolase family 20 catalytic domain in LnbB. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that CBM32 binds LNB with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 98 μm. The crystal structure of the CBM32 complexed with LNB reveals the molecular basis for its specific recognition. Impact statement Bifidobacteria are beneficial gut microbes, and infant-associated strains establish symbiosis by degrading human milk oligosaccharides. This study uncovers the molecular mechanism by which Bifidobacterium bifidum captures lacto-N-biose I, a key disaccharide, functioning as a cross-feeder that promotes the growth of other bifidobacteria and supports the infant gut ecosystem.},
}
@article {pmid41201327,
year = {2025},
author = {DuBose, JG and Uhm, T and Bowen, J and Fiedorek, P and Hoogshagen, M and Haselkorn, TS and DiSalvo, S},
title = {The roles of dispersal limitation and pre-adaptation in shaping Paraburkholderia endosymbiont frequencies in social amoeba communities.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0161525},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01615-25},
pmid = {41201327},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Endosymbiotic interactions have long played fundamental roles in shaping the evolution and diversification of eukaryotes. However, we still have a limited understanding of how ecological processes govern the distribution of endosymbionts that are still segregating in host populations. To contribute to this understanding, here, we use the interactions between Paraburkholderia endosymbionts and their dictyostelid social amoeba hosts as a model system to investigate the role of dispersal, a fundamental ecological process, in shaping the distribution and evolution of endosymbiotic interactions. We first found that patterns of endosymbiont diversification were highly biogeographic, suggesting a significant degree of dispersal limitation. We then experimentally mediated the dispersal of several endosymbiont species into environments with multiple host species and found that each symbiont was able to sustain a high prevalence in each host population. The benefit/detriment of these mediated interactions did not change with increasing phylogenetic distance from what is suspected to be the focal amoeba host species in nature. Taken together, our findings suggest Paraburkholderia endosymbionts are generally pre-adapted to occupy a variety of dictyostelid host environments, and their distribution among host populations is subject to a high degree of dispersal limitation. Overall, our findings have significant implications for our understanding of how ecological processes facilitate and limit the evolution of endosymbiotic interactions.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Endosymbiotic interactions are ubiquitous in complex eukaryotes, as organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts represent the remnants of what were once free-living prokaryotes. However, how ecological processes facilitate the transition from free-living to host-associated is less understood. Selection is the most commonly invoked process to explain this transition: symbionts that are better at infecting hosts and potentially confer some benefit rise in frequency because they are selected for (and otherwise selected against). However, this only describes one fundamental process that can shape the ecology of symbiotic interactions. Here, we present evidence that the importance of dispersal (and its limitations) likely exceeds that of selection in shaping the distribution and frequency of Paraburkholderia endosymbionts in their dictyostelid social amoeba host communities. These findings highlight the need to consider regional ecological processes that operate at a scale beyond the individual when studying ecology and evolution of endosymbiotic interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41201244,
year = {2025},
author = {Dregni, J and Lindsey, ARI and Ferrer-Suay, M and Celis, SL and Heimpel, GE},
title = {Wolbachia-mediated parthenogenesis induction in the aphid hyperparasitoid Alloxysta brevis (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Charipinae).},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0130825},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01308-25},
pmid = {41201244},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Thelytokous parthenogenesis (thelytoky), in which females can produce female offspring without mating, can be caused by parthenogenesis-inducing endosymbiotic bacteria in the genus Wolbachia. This interaction is well known in hymenopteran parasitoids, where unfertilized eggs typically develop as males via haplodiploidy in the absence of parthenogenesis-inducing bacteria. We report on a case of thelytoky in Alloxysta brevis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), a globally widespread aphid hyperparasitoid. A previous study had shown that sex ratios of this species collected in Minnesota (USA) were extremely female-biased, and we found here that unmated females reared from field-collected hosts produced female offspring without exposure to males. This result demonstrated thelytoky, and we tested for the role of bacterial endosymbionts by comparing offspring production of unmated females fed the antibiotic rifampicin to offspring production of control females not fed antibiotics. Antibiotic-fed females produced almost exclusively male offspring, and control females produced mainly females. This result showed that antibiotic treatment facilitated male production by unmated A. brevis females, thus implicating bacterial symbiosis in the expression of thelytoky. We then used full-length 16S rRNA sequencing to determine the identity of the symbiont. These analyses identified a Wolbachia strain from supergroup B and excluded other bacteria known to mediate parthenogenesis induction, such as Cardinium and Rickettsia. While Wolbachia had been previously detected by molecular analysis in this species, these are the first experiments demonstrating Wolbachia-mediated parthenogenesis in the figitid subfamily Charipinae. To our knowledge, this also constitutes the first documented case of endosymbiont-mediated thelytoky in any hyperparasitoid species.IMPORTANCEParthenogenesis induction in insects can have important environmental and economic consequences. This is especially true if pests or their natural enemies are affected. The case of Alloxysta brevis is of particular interest, as this species is a hyperparasitoid of aphids, meaning that they attack and kill primary parasitoids of aphids. The populations of many species of pest aphids are controlled by primary parasitoid species, and hyperparasitoids thus have the potential to interfere with this mechanism of control. The role of hyperparasitoid parthenogenesis in the suppression of aphids by primary parasitoids remains unexplored. Thus, the results of this set of studies provide a starting point for determining whether parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia in hyperparasitoids should be expected to improve or hinder biological control of pest aphids by primary parasitoids. The focus on A. brevis as a model for these questions could be particularly instructive, since it is a species of worldwide distribution that is involved in numerous economically important aphid-parasitoid interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41199996,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, D and Chen, H and Jia, N and Niu, F and Wang, X and Yu, J and Chi, D},
title = {Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with Hylurgus ligniperda, including six new species from eastern China.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e169382},
pmid = {41199996},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {Hylurgus ligniperda is a highly successful invader among bark beetles (Scolytinae), and has become established in every continent where its host plants occur. Bark beetles maintain a close symbiotic relationship with ophiostomatoid fungi whose morphology is highly adapted for beetle dispersal, and the presence of these fungal symbionts actively facilitates successful bark beetle invasions. At present, the fungal community associated with H. ligniperda in the newly invaded eastern China is still unknown. The aims of this study were therefore to characterize the ophiostomatoid communities associated with H. ligniperda in China. To achieve this, a total of 435 ophiostomatoid fungal strains were isolated from 326 adult samples collected in galleries and traps. Through morphological analysis and multilocus phylogenetic approaches, 13 species across six genera (Ceratocystiopsis, Graphilbum, Hawksworthiomyces, Leptographium, Masuyamyces, and Ophiostoma) were identified, of which six species were described as new. Fungal recovery rates differed significantly between gallery-derived and trap-collected adults (χ[2] test, p < 0.01). Furthermore, comparative analysis of ophiostomatoid fungal communities associated with H. ligniperda across five continents revealed distinct and well-defined assemblage patterns in each geographical region. This study elucidates the symbiotic relationship between H. ligniperda and ophiostomatoid fungi during invasion, providing a theoretical foundation for further research on their cooperative invasion and colonization mechanisms.},
}
@article {pmid41199726,
year = {2025},
author = {Grillo, JF and Tirpitz, V and Reichert, J and Canesi, M and Reynaud, S and Douville, E and Ziegler, M},
title = {Coral Skeletal Cores as Windows Into Past Symbiodiniaceae Community Dynamics.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {31},
number = {11},
pages = {e70575},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70575},
pmid = {41199726},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {469364832//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; ANR-22-CE02-0025//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; //German Academic Exchange Service/ ; },
mesh = {*Anthozoa/physiology ; Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Palau ; },
abstract = {The symbiosis between the dinoflagellate Symbiodiniaceae family and reef-building corals underpins the productivity of coral reefs. This relationship facilitates the deposition of calcium-carbonate skeletons that build the reef structure thanks to the energy derived from photosynthesis. The loss of Symbiodiniaceae from coral tissues-resulting in coral bleaching-impedes coral growth and can lead to mass mortality if the symbiosis fails to recover. Given that Symbiodiniaceae communities are dynamic and can shift in response to environmental stressors in the decades to centuries-long lifespan of coral colonies, understanding these changes is crucial. Although the reconstruction of Symbiodiniaceae communities from coral skeleton records has recently been demonstrated as feasible, no studies have yet assessed reconstructions across different species and locations. Here, we present an approach to use coral skeletons for reconstructing the Symbiodiniaceae community on decadal and centennial scales and for resolving dynamics related to coral species and the environmental history of sampling locations. For this, we used dated coral skeleton cores from Porites lobata and Diploastrea heliopora, species commonly used as climate archives, sampled in Palau and Papua New Guinea. We also examined the effect of various DNA extraction protocols on community reconstruction. Here we show that the reconstructed Symbiodiniaceae communities significantly varied across all cores and DNA extraction methods, with decalcification-based protocols enhancing the retrieval of skeletal-bound DNA. Moreover, we observed distinct community dynamics related to the specific coral host and sampling location. Notably, associations of Symbiodiniaceae dynamics with past heat stress events were apparent in cores of both species from Palau. Our findings enable a deeper understanding of the temporal and spatial variability in Symbiodiniaceae communities, offering insights that may refine the use of paleobiological proxies in climate studies and reveal broader ecological trends and microbially aided adaptation pathways in corals.},
}
@article {pmid41199582,
year = {2025},
author = {Büyüktaş, D and Lorberg, ES and de Vries, S},
title = {Evolution of molecular communication in the permanent Azolla symbiosis.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70699},
pmid = {41199582},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {515101361//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 516452003//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; //Nieders&#xe4;chsisches Ministerium f&#xfc;r Wissenschaft und Kultur/ ; },
abstract = {Heritable symbioses exist across eukaryotes with different degrees of intimacy. In most cases, the symbionts are obligate and require inheritance for their survival. On the host side, symbiont retention can facilitate fitness benefits. Only rarely are these symbioses interwoven to the point that host survival relies on the symbiont. In land plants, the symbiosis of the water fern Azolla with its symbiotic cyanobacterium shows such a degree of high co-dependence. The symbiosis originated in the last common ancestor of Azolla and exists continuously for at least 60 million years with no evolutionarily stable, secondary loss of the symbiont reported. This is a feat achieved by interactions on an organellar-like level or those considered recent organelle acquisitions. Yet, Azolla's symbiont is extracellular. How can loss of autonomy concomitant with full co-dependence be accommodated in this extracellular symbiosis? Here, we synthesize what we know from the Azolla symbiosis on the consequences of evolutionary co-dependence and stable symbiont retention. We discuss the need for symbiotic integration into environmental responsiveness if host survival depends on symbiont well-being. Cross-organismal integration of environmental stress responses may be one of the key steps that favor this evolutionarily stable permanent integration.},
}
@article {pmid41198841,
year = {2025},
author = {Corretto, E and Štarhová Serbina, L and Dittmer, J and Michalik, A and Schuler, H},
title = {Evolutionary dynamics of obligate endosymbiosis in the psyllid genus Cacopsylla.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {1540},
pmid = {41198841},
issn = {2399-3642},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Biological Evolution ; *Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/physiology/classification ; },
abstract = {Phloem-sucking hemipterans maintain obligate, heritable symbiotic bacteria to overcome nutritional deficiencies caused by their unbalanced diet. While some groups retain ancient primary symbionts, others supplement or replace them with additional symbionts conferring adaptive benefits. Here, we explore the diversity and evolutionary dynamics of multiple endosymbionts in psyllids of the genus Cacopsylla. While the primary symbiont Carsonella is found in all analysed species, the ancient co-primary symbiont Psyllophila is absent in Cacopsylla pyrisuga, which instead harbours a Sodalis symbiont with a larger genome, located in the syncytium of the bacteriome. Phylogenomic analyses demonstrated co-divergence of Carsonella and Psyllophila with their hosts, whereas the occurrence of closely related Sodalis across different psyllid lineages indicates several independent acquisitions. The presence of additional facultative Sodalis and Serratia symbionts further highlights the dynamic host-symbiont relationships in psyllids and their essential roles in insect niche adaptation and evolution.},
}
@article {pmid41198545,
year = {2025},
author = {Stefano, GB},
title = {Adaptability Beyond Darwin: Microbial Evolution, Mitochondria, and the Thermodynamic Frontiers of Survival.},
journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)},
volume = {30},
number = {10},
pages = {45962},
doi = {10.31083/FBL45962},
pmid = {41198545},
issn = {2768-6698},
mesh = {*Mitochondria/physiology/metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Thermodynamics ; Humans ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; Bacteria/genetics ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Charles Darwin hypothesized that evolution is based on adaptations to a changing environment, and that organisms that developed even slightly favorable variations would ultimately be most likely to survive. This concept is clearly reflected in the life cycles of pathogenic species. While modern antibiotics, antiviral agents, and vaccines can successfully eliminate many pathogens and prevent infections, only susceptible strains are affected. Bacteria and viruses that can adapt and develop resistance mechanisms will survive and thrive in the absence of ongoing competition. We build on this framework by considering the evolutionary impact of microbial-mediated adaptations experienced by the host. For example, intracellular mitochondria, largely believed to be descendants of symbiotic ancestral bacteria, can be specifically targeted by viral pathogens. Taken one step further, we hypothesize that Darwinian theory may also apply to atoms and molecules, which are not "alive" by any conventional definition, but interact with one another and self-assemble according to the principles of thermodynamics that promote stability in defined environments. Building on these foundations, our hypotheses and conceptual framework will facilitate further exploration into the evolution of microbial mechanisms that modulate behavior, shape the development of the immune system, and promote host evolution.},
}
@article {pmid41197509,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Q and Zhang, T and Zhao, X and Zhang, H and Guo, M and Meng, X and Hou, N and Hao, Q and Li, L},
title = {Driving synergistic Fe-N-Plastic co-metabolism and functional microbial symbiosis via nZVI@RA for enhanced decontamination in constructed wetlands.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {500},
number = {},
pages = {140342},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140342},
pmid = {41197509},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Nanoplastics (NPs) significant challenges to nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). Although nano-zero valent iron (nZVI)-based composites have shown potential in enhancing pollutant removal, the integrated mechanisms governing iron, nitrogen, and plastic metabolism, as well as their influence on the microbial network remain poorly understood. Here, we developed recycled aggregates-supported nZVI (nZVI@RA) and systematically investigated its impact on microbial nitrogen metabolism and plastic degradation within CWs. The results revealed that nZVI@RA profoundly reshaped the microbial symbiotic network, promoting Exiguobacterium and Bacillus as dominant genera and facilitating synergistic interactions. Mechanistically, nZVI@RA enhanced iron metabolism and electron transfer, leading to the upregulation of key genes and enzymes involved in nitrogen transformation (e.g., amoABC and nirKS) and NP degradation (e.g., styA and styC). These processes, coupled with superior adsorption capacity, improved removal efficiencies of COD (64.57 ± 3.57 %), TN (70.79 ± 4.19 %), and NPs (92.46 ± 3.66 %). Structural equation modeling revealed strong correlations between iron metabolism, microbial activity (0.82), nitrogen metabolism (0.51), and plastic degradation (0.40) in the nZVI@RA system, underscoring the central role of iron cycling. This study elucidates the critical function of nZVI@RA in orchestrating microbial interactions and optimizing pollutant removal, providing a foundation for advanced CW design.},
}
@article {pmid41197331,
year = {2025},
author = {Fan, K and Wu, Y and Qin, Y and He, H and Lv, L and Li, G and Liu, J and Qin, R and Liu, H},
title = {Functional characterization of GmSRS14 in regulating root nodule development of soybean.},
journal = {Journal of plant physiology},
volume = {315},
number = {},
pages = {154649},
doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154649},
pmid = {41197331},
issn = {1618-1328},
abstract = {SHORT INTERNODES (SHI)-related sequence (SRS) proteins are plant-specific transcription factors that modulate hormone biosynthesis and signalling. Their contribution to legume-rhizobium symbiosis, however, remains largely unexplored. Phylogenetic and collinearity analyses of legume SRS genes classified 12 subclasses and revealed soybean's evolutionary relationships, including large-scale gene duplication. GmSRS14 was specifically highly expressed in root nodules and localised in the nucleus only. Exogenous IAA modulates its expression at low concentrations (1 μM), while high concentrations (100 μM) decrease nodule expression. All ABA concentrations tested (10, 20 and 50 μM) inhibited nodule growth, nitrogenase activity and GmSRS14 expression. Functional validation via hairy root transformation demonstrated GmSRS14 overexpression (GmSRS14-OE) increased nodule number, weight, and nitrogenase activity, while GmSRS14 silencing (GmSRS14-RNAi) suppressed nodulation. This study provides a new idea for breeding soybean varieties with high efficiency of nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid41196415,
year = {2025},
author = {He, Y and Yang, T and Mi, J and He, S and Yang, Z and Lu, S and Yue, K and Huang, Y and Song, L and Xiao, Y and Ren, Z},
title = {B.uniformis IM01-derived IAA alleviates asthma via AhR/NLRP3 pathways in mice.},
journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS},
volume = {82},
number = {1},
pages = {388},
pmid = {41196415},
issn = {1420-9071},
support = {2023YFC0871200//the National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; 33054//the National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; 29172//the National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism ; *Asthma/pathology/metabolism/immunology/drug therapy ; *NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism ; *Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism/pharmacology ; Mice ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology ; Female ; Lung/pathology ; Interleukin-22 ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; Th2 Cells/immunology ; Interleukins/metabolism ; *Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic flora exhibits a strong association with the pathogenesis of allergic disorders. Certain Bacteroides species have demonstrated potential in ameliorating allergic conditions. However, the specific role of Bacteroides uniformis in allergic asthma and its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study demonstrates that oral administration of B.uniformis IM01 significantly enhanced the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), suppressed airway inflammatory cell airway infiltration and aberrant T helper 2 (Th2) immune responses, and improved the epithelial barrier function in a murine model of asthma. Mechanistically, B.uniformis IM01 upregulated tryptophan metabolism, elevating IAA levels in both colon and serum, which activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and induced interleukin-22 (IL-22) production. Activated AhR may inhibit NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and facilitate the splenic differentiation of Foxp3[+] regulatory T cells (Tregs), thus attenuating lung barrier dysfunction and improving allergic asthma symptoms. In summary, our results revealed that B.uniformis IM01 upregulated production of IAA to activate AhR leading to inhibited NF-κB/NLRP3-mediated immune responses, and ameliorated allergic asthma through the gut-lung axis.},
}
@article {pmid41195911,
year = {2025},
author = {Pai, YC and Huang, CY and Lin, LY and Li, YH and Yu, LC},
title = {Infectious Carcinogens Derived from Intestinal Microflora: Mechanisms of Microbial Transitions from Eubionts to Pathobionts.},
journal = {Journal of physiological investigation},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.4103/ejpi.EJPI-D-25-00045},
pmid = {41195911},
issn = {2950-6344},
abstract = {A diverse community of microorganisms inhabits the gastrointestinal tract in a physiological state. While a symbiotic relationship exists between commensal bacteria and the healthy host, an imbalanced microbial population (dysbiosis) is associated with the development of colitis-associated colorectal cancers. The decline of beneficial microbes (eubionts) and the expansion of commensal-derived opportunistic pathogens (pathobionts) are widely recognized as key factors in the microbial etiology of various diseases. In particular, certain bacteria with emerging virulence elements are present in the gut microbiome and have been implicated as contributors to the development of colon cancer, such as Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Bacterial virulent factors, including lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae and adhesins, and toxins, promote oncogenesis through direct or indirect mechanisms. These microbial products modify host cellular functions, resulting in DNA damage, increased epithelial proliferation, and intensified inflammation, all of which ultimately contribute to tumor formation. Although the existence of pathobionts is generally accepted nowadays, an open question remains regarding why bacteria shift from harmless commensals to disease-causing pathobionts. Accumulating evidence suggests that host epithelial functions influence the composition of the intestinal microbiota by regulating oxygen availability in the lumen, providing antimicrobial defense, activating innate immune responses, synthesizing mucin glycoproteins, and establishing a physical barrier through the organization of microvilli. This review examines the various aspects of mucosal drivers that shape microbiota and provides evidence that intraepithelial stress plays a significant role in configuring colitogenic and tumorigenic microflora. Understanding the mechanisms by which microbes transition from eubionts to pathobionts that promote cancer progression is crucial for developing bacterial precision medicine. Identifying the roles of intestinal pathobionts and the critical time point for host-microbe interactions in tumorigenesis could lead to the development of new strategies for prevention and therapy.},
}
@article {pmid41195882,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, M and de Kruijff, M and Poulsen, M and Beemelmanns, C},
title = {Genome-Mining Based Discovery of Pyrrolomycin K and L from the Termite-Associated Micromonospora sp. RB23.},
journal = {Journal of natural products},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5c01051},
pmid = {41195882},
issn = {1520-6025},
abstract = {Natural products derived from symbiotic microbes remain a rich source of structurally diverse and bioactive molecules. In this study, we report de novo genome sequencing of the termite-associated isolate Micromonospora sp. RB23. Genome mining uncovered a type I polyketide synthase (T1PKS) biosynthetic gene cluster encoding five halogenases, predicted to produce pyrrolomycin-like antimicrobial compounds. Mass-spectrometry-based molecular networking facilitated the identification and isolation of N-methylated pyrrolomycin K and mycothiol-adduct, pyrrolomycin L. Structure elucidation was accomplished based on liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) alongside 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Based on the evaluated of antimicrobial activity, we propose that N-methylation and mycothiol-based conjugation in pyrrolomycins are possible detoxification mechanisms that play a role in enhancing self-tolerance.},
}
@article {pmid41195197,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Long, L},
title = {The innovation paradox in human-AI symbiosis: ambidextrous effects of AI technology adoption on innovative behavior.},
journal = {Frontiers in artificial intelligence},
volume = {8},
number = {},
pages = {1635246},
pmid = {41195197},
issn = {2624-8212},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: AI is radically changing workplace ecosystems in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, making human-machine collaboration a need for organizations. The ambidextrous processes by which AI simultaneously encourages and constrains inventive behaviors need systematic examination, even though employee innovation is still essential for maintaining competitive advantage. In order to understand the paradoxical consequences of AI, this study builds a dual-path moderated mediation model based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) paradigm.<br><br>METHODS: Using a two-wave longitudinal design with a 3-month interval and multi-source data from 250 experts in China, we combined survey measurements with quasi-experimental manipulations. The following findings were obtained using structural equation modeling (SEM) and bootstrapping.<br><br>RESULTS: (1) AI technology adoption is a job resource that increases Felt Obligation for Constructive Change (FOCC), but it also acts as a job demand that inhibits innovation by creating a sense of job insecurity; (2) task crafting is a crucial boundary condition that amplifies the positive mediation path while attenuating the negative pathway.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Based on the aforementioned findings, this study highlights the importance of considering employees' psychological states and behavioral changes while fostering technological innovation, exposing the intricacy of artificial intelligence technology in HRM from both a subjective and objective standpoint. Job insecurity is a possible drawback of technology use, hence businesses should take appropriate steps to lessen employee uneasiness while using new technologies. Felt Obligation for Constructive Change, on the other hand, is a crucial strategy for encouraging creative behavior. To do this, managers must investigate and enhance employees' intrinsic motivation for their everyday tasks and foster a culture of creativity. Task crafting, as an effective self-management and driving factor, is also very important to reduce the negative effects of technology adoption and increase its positive effects. For this reason, businesses should support and encourage employees to improve their autonomy and flexibility, iterate on their work methods, and stimulate their ability to innovate. This will not only help employees develop their own skills but also give businesses a competitive edge and continuous innovation motivation.},
}
@article {pmid41194726,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, C and Peng, YL and Liu, XY and Cao, TT and Shi, M and Wang, ZK and Li, Q and Song, XZ},
title = {Effects of phosphorus addition on phosphorus acquisition strategies in Phyllostachys edulis rhizome roots.},
journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology},
volume = {36},
number = {10},
pages = {3061-3068},
doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202510.004},
pmid = {41194726},
issn = {1001-9332},
mesh = {*Phosphorus/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Rhizome/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Poaceae/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Plant Roots/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {To elucidate the root phosphorus (P) acquisition strategies of Phyllostachys edulis to maintain high productivity under P deficiency, we conducted an in situ P addition experiment (0, 50, 100 kg P·hm[-2]·a[-1] defined as CK, low-P (LP), and high-P (HP) addition). We investigated the regulatory effects of P addition on morphological and physiological traits of rhizome root, root exudates, and mycorrhizal symbiosis characteristics. The results showed that P addition significantly increased specific root surface area (LP:19.1%; HP:23.4%), root nitrogen (LP:42.6%; HP:37.7%) and P contents (LP:83.8%; HP:115.3%), but significantly decreased phosphatase activity (LP:22.2%; HP:30.4%) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) infection rate (LP:24.1%; HP:25.3%). There were no significant differences between low-P and high-P treatments for these impacts. P addition significantly increased rhizosphere soil pH, citrate-P, enzyme-P, HCl-P and microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen and P in the rhizosphere soil. Notably, citrate-P, enzyme-P, and HCl-P contents in HP treatment were significantly higher than those in LP treatment. There were significant correlations between rhizosphere soil P fractions and specific root surface area, phosphatase activity, as well as AMF infection rate, indicating that rhizosphere soil P fractions were important drivers of P acquisition pathways in rhizome roots. Under P addition, rhizome roots shifted from a conservative pathway relying on "root exudation and mycorrhizal symbiosis" to an acquisitive pathway characte-rized by "high surface area".},
}
@article {pmid41194578,
year = {2025},
author = {Kalem, M and Ozgan Kurt, A and Goktepeli, G and Onen, V and Ahmetli, G and Yel, E},
title = {Thermochemical treatment of waste polypropylene (PP) using marble sludge as catalyst-II: Evaluation of chemicals recovery potential from pyrolytic fluids.},
journal = {Waste management &amp; research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {734242X251385853},
doi = {10.1177/0734242X251385853},
pmid = {41194578},
issn = {1096-3669},
abstract = {In this study, waste polypropylene (PP) was pyrolysed together with marble processing industry effluents physicochemical treatment sludge (named as K1) catalyst, and the valuable component recovery and usage potential from resulting liquid and gaseous products were investigated. In the fixed bed pyrolysis reactor under inert conditions with N2 gas, the studied experimental variables were temperature and mixing ratio. The resultant liquid and gaseous fractions were characterized via GC-MS, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and calorific value analyses. Liquid products contain predominantly paraffinic and olefinic, but minor aromatic hydrocarbons (HCs) and also minor amounts of oxygenated compounds with 20-30% K1 catalyst. Heating values of the liquid products were around 10 kcal.g[-1]. The gas products predominantly contain alkanes, alkenes and aromatic HC compounds with economic value such as benzene isotridecanol, heptanol, ketone and terpene. Ca and Mg carbonate structure of K1 catalyst increased the compound diversity in the pyrolysis gas, especially in the aliphatic groups. The detected low C number alkane compounds were pentane, heptane, cyclohexane and high C number long-chain n-alkane aliphatic compounds were docosane, hexacosane and hexatriacontane. The recoverable compounds are economically and environmentally important as they can be used in many industries such as cleaning, cosmetics, pharmacology and petrochemistry as feedstock. The proposed pyrolysis provided symbiotic solution to these two types of wastes and the resultant products of this application have potential for energy and compound recovery. Recovery methods can be further studied.},
}
@article {pmid41193803,
year = {2025},
author = {Tsitsikli, M and Simonsen, B and Luu, TB and Larsen, MM and Andersen, CG and Gysel, K and Lironi, D and Krönauer, C and Rübsam, H and Hansen, SB and Bærentsen, R and Wulff, JL and Johansen, SH and Sezer, G and Stougaard, J and Andersen, KR and Radutoiu, S},
title = {Two residues reprogram immunity receptors for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41193803},
issn = {1476-4687},
abstract = {Receptor signalling determines cellular responses and is crucial for defining specific biological outcomes. In legume root cells, highly similar and structurally conserved chitin and Nod factor receptor kinases activate immune or symbiotic pathways, respectively, when chitinous ligands are perceived[1]. Here we show that specific amino acid residues in the intracellular part of the Nod factor receptor NFR1 control signalling specificity and enable the distinction of immune and symbiotic responses. Functional investigation of CERK6, NFR1 and receptor variants thereof revealed a conserved motif that we term Symbiosis Determinant 1 in the juxtamembrane region of the kinase domain, which is key for symbiotic signalling. We show that two residues in Symbiosis Determinant 1 are indispensable hallmarks of NFR1-type receptors and are sufficient to convert Lotus CERK6 and barley RLK4 kinase outputs to enable symbiotic signalling in Lotus japonicus.},
}
@article {pmid41193506,
year = {2025},
author = {Voß, L and Keller, I and Schröder, R and Mehner-Breitfeld, D and Specht, A and Dräger, G and Rinne, J and Franke, J and Medina-Escobar, N and Herde, M and Brüser, T and Neuhaus, HE and Witte, CP},
title = {A plastid carbohydrate carrier mediates ribose recycling from nucleotide catabolism and glucose export from starch degradation.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {9747},
pmid = {41193506},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {452173586//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 423879281//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; CRC175, project B03//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {*Plastids/metabolism ; Arabidopsis/metabolism/genetics ; *Starch/metabolism ; *Glucose/metabolism ; *Ribose/metabolism ; *Nucleotides/metabolism ; Phaseolus/metabolism/genetics ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Glycine max/metabolism/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Mutation ; Fructose/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Cytosol/metabolism ; Escherichia coli/metabolism/genetics ; Biological Transport ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; },
abstract = {In plants, nucleotide degradation releases ribose in the cytosol. An unidentified transporter then brings the ribose into the plastids for phosphorylation. This process of ribose recycling is particularly prominent in root nodules of soybean (Glycine max) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) during symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In this biological context, we identified a plastid ribose transporter, which is an ortholog of the putative plastid glucose transporter (pGlcT) of Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that Arabidopsis mutants of At-pGlcT, but not of the related At-pGlcT2, accumulate ribose and fructose constitutively, whereas glucose accumulates only at night. Uridine feeding experiments leading to cytosolic ribose release indicated that At-pGlcT transports ribose from the cytosol into the plastids. Uptake assays with complemented Escherichia coli sugar transport mutants directly demonstrated that At-pGlcT transports ribose, glucose, and fructose. Ribose and fructose accumulation were also observed in CRISPR-induced bean nodule mutants of Pv-pGlcT. Additionally, our data show that ribose recycling is important for producing allantoin, a nitrogen fixation product used for nitrogen export from nodules to shoots. We conclude that pGlcT is a plastid facilitator for the import of ribose from nucleotide catabolism, for the export of glucose from nocturnal starch breakdown, and for cytosol-plastid fructose exchange in vivo.},
}
@article {pmid41192520,
year = {2025},
author = {Sehrawat, A and Corpas, FJ},
title = {Pivotal role of Nitric oxide in regulating beneficial plant-microbe interactions under both physiological and stress conditions.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {112851},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112851},
pmid = {41192520},
issn = {1873-2259},
abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions involve a complex communication network, where microbes can serve as either beneficial partners or harmful pathogens. Nitric oxide (NO) is a crucial signaling molecule that regulates plant growth and development, while enhancing tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. It does this by interacting directly with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulating antioxidant enzyme activity through post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as S-nitrosation and nitration. Additionally, NO affects transcription factors that regulate gene expression and modulates phytohormone signaling, which helps alleviate oxidative stress. NO plays a pivotal role in symbiotic relationships between plant roots and microbes. In legumes, it is essential for rhizobial recognition, root hair curling, infection thread formation, nodule initiation, development, and senescence. Similarly, NO supports positive interactions with mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), which enhance nutrient availability, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, and improve plant resilience under stress. At the molecular level, NO regulates symbiosis-related gene expression and modifies proteins through PTMs such as S-nitrosation of nitrogenase and tyrosine nitration of glutamine synthetase and leghemoglobin, while maintaining cellular redox balance. This review provides an updated and comprehensive overview of NO signaling in beneficial plant-microbe interactions under both physiological and stress conditions. It further analyzes the specific sources, regulatory mechanisms, and molecular targets of NO, which remain poorly understood. In addition, it highlights the application of omics-based approaches to unravel these processes, offering insights that could guide the development of new strategies to enhance crop productivity through the targeted exploitation of symbiotic associations.},
}
@article {pmid41192114,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, B and Wang, H and Yang, Y and Wang, W and Zuo, M and Zhou, J and Tang, S and Zhai, R and Liu, S and Ai, Y and Guo, Z and Liu, R},
title = {Microbial metabolite tigloside alleviates osteoarthritis by repolarizing macrophages from M1 to M2 phenotype through Trafd1 destabilization and Trafd1-mediated NF-κB/STAT6 signaling pathways.},
journal = {International immunopharmacology},
volume = {168},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {115747},
doi = {10.1016/j.intimp.2025.115747},
pmid = {41192114},
issn = {1878-1705},
abstract = {Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease among the middle-aged and elderly individuals, primarily characterized by synovitis and cartilage damage. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to manage OA, they fail to fundamentally prevent or alleviate cartilage damage and can cause severe gastrointestinal or cardiovascular side effects. Therefore, developing OA drugs that address both symptoms and underlying causes is of significant importance. Our study found that tigloside (TIG), a main metabolite derived from symbiotic actinomyces, could repolarize macrophages from pro-inflammatory M1 type to anti-inflammatory M2 type, suppress the release of multiple inflammatory factors and facilitate the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, thereby creating a favorable microenvironment for chondrocyte regeneration and extracellular matrix (ECM), and alleviating pain, synovitis and OA cartilage damage. Mechanistically, TIG competes with the signaling adaptor molecule Traf1 to bind at the middle region (aa 104-414) of Trafd1, disrupting the interaction between Trafd1 and Traf1. This disruption promotes the degradation of Trafd1 and Traf1 via proteasome-ubiquitination pathway, leading to a reduction in their protein levels. Consequently, the downregulation of Trafd1 further inhibits NF-κB signaling and M1 polarization while promoting STAT6 pathway and M2 polarization, resulting in the repolarization of macrophages from M1 to M2 type and the amelioration of OA. Importantly, these findings were further validated in human macrophages derived from OA patients. In summary, this study highlights the potential of TIG as a disease-modifying drug for OA, and identifies Trafd1 as a novel therapeutic target for OA treatment.},
}
@article {pmid41192042,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, J and Yin, H and Li, Y and Zhao, L and Guo, H and Xu, C and Shang, J and Fu, X and Ma, F and Song, R},
title = {Dynamic drivers of PAHs transformation in the spatial and temporal continuum of the rhizosphere: An analysis of plant-microbe synergistic mechanism.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {303},
number = {},
pages = {128380},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128380},
pmid = {41192042},
issn = {1618-0623},
abstract = {The migration and transformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil systems are inherently constrained by their low solubility, strong sorption affinity to soil particles, and limited bioavailability for biological uptake and degradation. As a critical ecological interface mediating plant-microbe interactions, the rhizosphere plays a pivotal role in facilitating PAHs mobilization and transformation processes. This review systematically examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of PAHs migration and transformation within rhizosphere systems under plant-microbe collaborative regulation, characterized by sequential temporal phases (initial desorption-solubilization, intermediate absorption-accumulation, and terminal degradation-transformation) and spatial stratification (rhizosphere soil-liquid interface, root surface microenvironment, and internal root tissues). We particularly emphasize the synergistic plant-microbe interactions that drive PAHs desorption, solubilization, phytoaccumulation, and biodegradation. Furthermore, we elucidate four potential mechanistic pathways: AHL analogs in root exudates activate bacterial quorum sensing systems to stimulate surfactant production and PAHs-degrading enzyme synthesis; Microbial-derived IAA enhances H[+] -ATPase activity in plants, facilitating PAHs/H[+] co-transport mechanisms; Coordinated AHL-IAA signaling promotes Ca[2+] uptake and upregulates root nodule symbiosis-related gene expression; ROS in root exudates activate bacterial c-di-GMP signaling pathways to enhance microbial colonization and PAHs-degrading enzyme production. We also analyze the practical limitations affecting rhizoremediation efficacy, including climatic conditions, soil heterogeneity, and variations in pollutant types, and propose corresponding future research directions toward the end of the article. This comprehensive analysis establishes a theoretical framework for understanding the mechanistic basis of plant-microbe synergism in rhizospheric PAHs remediation, offering a foundation for advancing rhizosphere engineering and phytoremediation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid41191165,
year = {2025},
author = {Steffen, GPK and Steffen, RB and Schú, AL and da Silva Sousa, TC and da Costa, LC and de São José, JFB},
title = {Impact of urea and Azospirillum brasilense on soybean nodulation and early growth.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {11},
pages = {437},
pmid = {41191165},
issn = {1573-0972},
mesh = {*Glycine max/growth &amp; development/microbiology/drug effects ; *Azospirillum brasilense/physiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; Bradyrhizobium/growth &amp; development/physiology/metabolism ; *Urea/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Leghemoglobin/analysis ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Chlorophyll/analysis ; Fertilizers ; },
abstract = {The effects of isolated and combined inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum (SEMIA 3079 and 5080) and Azospirillum brasilense (Ab-V5), with and without nitrogen fertilization, on nodulation and early soybean growth were evaluated in a greenhouse under controlled temperature and irrigation conditions, using non-sterilized soil. The experimental design included five treatments: (1) urea (200 kg ha[-1]); (2) B. japonicum; (3) A. brasilense; (4) co-inoculation (B. japonicum + A. brasilense); and (5) B. japonicum + 100 kg ha[-1] of urea. Evaluations were carried out 50 days after sowing and included plant height, shoot and root dry mass, number and fresh mass of nitrogen-fixing nodules, Falker chlorophyll index, and leghemoglobin content. Co-inoculation increased the number of nodules by 26.13% compared to B. japonicum alone (88 → 111 nodules), while A. brasilense alone also promoted nodulation (113.3 nodules), indicating synergy with native soil rhizobia. Higher leghemoglobin levels were observed in nodules under co-inoculation, suggesting enhanced symbiotic functionality, whereas urea application reduced this indicator. Nitrogen fertilization strongly suppressed symbiosis (-75.77% in nodule number and - 83.36% in nodule fresh mass; B. japonicum + N vs. B. japonicum), confirming the inhibitory effect of mineral nitrogen on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). It is concluded that co-inoculation with B. japonicum (SEMIA 3079 and 5080) and A. brasilense (Ab-V5) enhances nodule functionality and BNF in non-sterile soil conditions, providing a biological basis for reducing reliance on mineral nitrogen in soybean production systems.},
}
@article {pmid41190647,
year = {2025},
author = {Bromfield, ESP and Cloutier, S},
title = {Analysis of the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens 172S4, a highly efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiont of soybeans, reveals large-scale genomic inversion.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0088925},
doi = {10.1128/mra.00889-25},
pmid = {41190647},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {We announce the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens 172S4, a highly efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiont isolated from a soybean root nodule. The chromosome (~9.1 Mb) exhibits a large inversion (~5.3 Mb) and encodes genes for symbiosis, nitrogen fixation, N2O reduction, and hydrogen uptake, highlighting the potential of 172S4 for sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41189400,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, L and Liu, J and Xing, C and Qiu, X and Xia, J and Zhao, C and Dou, X and Feng, C},
title = {Conformation-Matched Symbiotic Noncovalent Sites Facilitated Supramolecular Nanotwists Featuring both P and M Sub-Helical Domains.},
journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e16712},
doi = {10.1002/anie.202516712},
pmid = {41189400},
issn = {1521-3773},
support = {2024YFB3814600//National Key Research and Development Program/ ; 52533014//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52403193//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52373147//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52403161//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 25CL2900600//Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality/ ; GZB20240420//CPSF/ ; 2024M751970//Chinese Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 2024M762008//Chinese Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Living system can use homochiral blocks to simultaneously fabricate diverse structures with opposite chirality (e.g., right-handed α-helices and left-handed polyproline-II helices) for maintaining three-dimensional conformations and functions of biostructures, but realizing this process in artificial systems remains exceptional challenge due to difficulty in constructing precise noncovalent pattern for diverse chirality transfer. Herein, we report a strategy to fabricate helical nanofibers featuring P and M sub-domains by delicately introducing symbiotic noncovalent sites in the terminal of l-phenylalanine derivatives (LCN). Benefiting from the conformation match of LCN, two symbiotic sites (C≡N, Ar─Hortho) in terminal cyanophenyl group can synergistically form noncovalent with different sites (C≡N⋯Hmeta─Ar; Ar─Hortho⋯N≡C), resulting in a precise noncovalent network. Furthermore, these two noncovalent facilitate the simultaneous formation of M-type and P-type domains due to their opposite spatial direction. Similar phenomenon is also observed from symbiotic sites in another terminal hydroxy group (O, H), further confirming an unusual chirality transfer where molecular homochirality propagates to supramolecular domains with opposite handedness. Besides, these helical domains can further cooperatively organize into higher-order P-type helices, in which fiber longitudinal axes aligns with the screw axes of noncovalent-defined helices. This study accelerates the understanding of diverse chirality transfer based on homochirality in nature and takes into a realm of constructing helical nanostructures with diverse sub-helices by homochiral blocks.},
}
@article {pmid41189012,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, Z and Li, J and Bai, L},
title = {Ecological Modules Link Soil Aggregate Stability, Chemical Properties and Fungal Communities Under Plant Species-Based Revegetation.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {17},
number = {6},
pages = {e70228},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70228},
pmid = {41189012},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {LJKMZ20221053//The Educational Department of Liaoning Province/ ; X2021012//Shenyang Agricultural University/ ; },
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Mycobiome ; *Plants/microbiology/classification ; Grassland ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {The establishment of native grassland species is widely implemented on abandoned land as a strategy to restore degraded soils. However, its effects on soil properties are highly species-specific, as plant-driven physicochemical changes subsequently reshape microbial community structure. The linkages between soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities following native grassland establishment remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the effects of 11 native grassland species on soil physicochemical properties and fungal community structure. Using co-occurrence network analysis, we elucidate how plants drive fungal community reorganisation through soil-mediated trophic pathways. The results showed that soil aggregate stability, chemical properties, and fungal communities differed significantly among the 11 species. Soil chemical properties, such as pH and EC, correlated with symbiotic fungi dominated modules; both soil aggregate stability and chemical properties were linked to pathogenic fungi dominated modules, while saprophytic fungi dominated modules displayed no linkage to either soil aggregate stability or chemical properties. These findings establish that fungal trophic modes govern species-dependent restoration outcomes via modular soil-microbe linkages, thereby offering predictive frameworks for species-specific management of abandoned soils.},
}
@article {pmid41188658,
year = {2025},
author = {Nysanth, NS and Yadav, V and Gambhir, S and Pooniya, V and Sagar, D and Lama, A and Pal, KK and Swarnalakshmi, K},
title = {Endophytic Bacillus strains enhance chickpea growth and performance under controlled and field conditions.},
journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek},
volume = {118},
number = {12},
pages = {186},
pmid = {41188658},
issn = {1572-9699},
support = {ICAR-Extramural project [12-174] and ICAR-AINP [21-30]//Indian Council of Agricultural Research/ ; },
abstract = {Endophytic Bacillus species are known to improve legume symbiosis and plant performance through an array of mechanisms. This study evaluated the potential of endophytic Bacillus strains (B. firmus, B. subtilis, and B. tequilensis) to promote growth and productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) grown under rainfed conditions. Among the Bacillus strains evaluated for in vitro plant growth-promoting traits, B. firmus exhibited the highest potential for phosphate solubilization (pH drop to 5.0) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production (28.9 PPM). Seed biopriming with Bacillus strains enhanced antioxidant accumulation in chickpea seedlings, with B. subtilis markedly boosting key antioxidant enzymes, while B. tequilensis and B. firmus exerted distinct tissue-specific effects, as revealed by principal component analysis (PCA). At the critical threshold of 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), which inhibit chickpea seed germination, B. firmus and B. tequilensis maintained viability and biopriming chickpea seeds with these strains restored germination (25% and 41.7%, respectively), whereas UnInoculated and B. subtilis bioprimed seeds failed to germinate. In a controlled pot study, B. firmus inoculation enhanced chickpea biomass, increasing root and shoot growth by 37.4% and 27.7%, respectively, over the UnInoculated control. Field study showed that co-inoculation of B. firmus with Mesorhizobium ciceri enhanced leghemoglobin content (79.6%), nodule biomass (69.0%), nutrient uptake (N: 13.8%, P: 20.3%), plant biomass (14%) and seed yield (8%) over the absolute control. Ordination analysis clearly indicated that co-inoculation of M. ciceri with B. firmus had the strongest effect on chickpea performance under field conditions. Our findings establish B. firmus as a promising bioinoculant for improving chickpea productivity under rainfed conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41188575,
year = {2025},
author = {Botana, MT and Lewis, RE and Quaranta, A and Salamin, O and Revol-Cavalier, J and Oakley, CA and Feussner, I and Hamberg, M and Grossman, AR and Suggett, DJ and Weis, VM and Wheelock, CE and Davy, SK},
title = {Octadecanoids as emerging lipid mediators in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {1519},
pmid = {41188575},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {2022-00796//Vetenskapsr&#xe5;det (Swedish Research Council)/ ; },
abstract = {Oxylipin signaling has been suggested as a potential mechanism for the inter-partner recognition and homeostasis regulation of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, which maintains the ecological viability of coral reefs. Here we assessed the effects of symbiosis and symbiont identity on a model cnidarian, the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana, using mass spectrometry to quantify octadecanoid oxylipins (i.e., 18-carbon-derived oxygenated fatty acids). A total of 84 octadecanoids were reported, and distinct stereospecificity was observed for the synthesis of R- and S-enantiomers for symbiont-free anemones and free-living cultured dinoflagellate symbionts, respectively. Symbiont-derived 13(S)-hydroxy-octadecatetraenoic acid (13(S)-HOTE) linked to a putative 13(S)-lipoxygenase was translocated to the host anemone with a 32-fold increase, suggesting it as a biomarker of symbiosis and as a potential agonist of host receptors that regulate inflammatory transcription. Only symbiosis with the native symbiont Breviolum minutum decreased the abundance of pro-inflammatory 9(R)-hydroxy-octadecadienoic acid (9(R)-HODE) in the host. In contrast, symbiosis with the non-native symbiont Durusdinium trenchii was marked by higher abundance of autoxidation-derived octadecanoids, corroborating previous evidence for cellular stress in this association. The putative octadecanoid signaling pathways reported here suggest foundational knowledge gaps that can support the bioengineering and selective breeding of more optimal host-symbiont pairings to enhance resilience and survival of coral reefs.},
}
@article {pmid41188239,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Nie, MM and Li, DN and Bai, S and Liu, Q and Qin, DN and Li, QR and Zhou, BW and Zhuang, KX and Wu, X and Lu, JY and Shen, RF and Chen, ZC},
title = {Maintaining sulfur supply to the symbiosome delays nodule senescence in soybean.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {9736},
pmid = {41188239},
issn = {2041-1723},
mesh = {*Glycine max/metabolism/microbiology/genetics/physiology ; *Sulfur/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Reactive Nitrogen Species/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Glutathione/metabolism ; Rhizobium/metabolism ; Plant Senescence ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in legume-rhizobia represents a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to chemical nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture. Identifying key factors involved in nodule senescence, is crucial for enhancing SNF by effectively extending the lifespan of nodules. Here, we reveal that sulfur (S), an essential element for SNF, plays a major regulatory role in the senescence of soybean (Glycine max) nodules. Blocking S input into the symbiosome by knocking out either S transporter genes SULTR2;1 or SULTR3;5, resulted in a significant decrease in glutathione levels. This reduction impairs the capacity for reactive nitrogen species scavenging, thereby accelerating nodule senescence. Notably, reducing reactive nitrogen species (RNS) production in rhizobia or increasing S input in soybean nodules through genetic manipulation, can effectively mitigate high nitrogen-induced nodule senescence. Our findings demonstrate that SULTR-mediated S input is a pivotal step in regulating nodule senescence, and provide insights for developing strategies to enhance SNF in legumes by delaying nodule senescence.},
}
@article {pmid41187913,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, LJ and Hembry, DH and Hao, K and Wu, YH and Yao, G and Sun, QL and Liu, TT and Luo, SX},
title = {Network structure variation across scales offers clues to the macroevolutionary persistence of specialized mutualisms.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {292},
number = {2058},
pages = {20250926},
doi = {10.1098/rspb.2025.0926},
pmid = {41187913},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Biological Evolution ; *Moths/physiology ; China ; *Pollination ; Ants ; },
abstract = {Highly intimate (symbiotic) mutualisms, such as ant-myrmecophyte and brood pollination mutualisms, are characterized by reciprocally specialized and modular network architecture and constitute evolutionary paradoxes. Few examples of these mutualisms are known, fewer are species-rich, and theory suggests that they should be vulnerable to extinction. However, no studies have examined their structure at both multiple local sites and regional scales. Here, we examine these phenomena using a brood pollination mutualism between leafflower trees (Phyllanthaceae: Glochidion) and leafflower moths (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae: Epicephala) across eight sites in tropical and subtropical China. We find that significant reciprocal specialization is conserved across local and regional scales in these networks, but we also find local-regional discrepancies in whether networks are significantly modular, resulting in adjacent local networks that differ in architecture. Interaction turnover is almost entirely due to species turnover rather than interaction rewiring among widely distributed species. Unexpectedly, we find that two regional networks are significantly nested, while none of the local networks are. Theory suggests that nestedness may confer robustness to species loss but also should not evolve in symbiotic mutualisms. The finding that some regional networks are nested in this system suggests a possible explanation for the macroevolutionary persistence of such specialized mutualisms.},
}
@article {pmid41187175,
year = {2025},
author = {Chiwala, B and Makasa, M and Zulu, JM},
title = {Power and interest levels in safely managed sanitation services in Zambia: A stakeholder mapping.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {11},
pages = {e0335130},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0335130},
pmid = {41187175},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Zambia ; Humans ; *Sanitation/methods ; *Stakeholder Participation ; Qualitative Research ; Focus Groups ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Access to safely managed sanitation (SMS) in sub-Saharan Africa including Zambia remains a challenge. Variations in power and interest among stakeholder significantly influence access to SMS. However, there is limited contextualization of how power and interest levels among stakeholders influenced access to SMS. The study aimed to explore and analyze how stakeholders perceived their power and interest in the context of providing SMS. The study applied the Mendelow Stakeholder Matrix to identify, characterize and analyze the actors involved in the provision of SMS in peri-urban areas in Lusaka, Zambia.<br><br>METHODS: A narrative qualitative research design was employed in this study. Ninety-four (94) respondents participated in the study - 25 key informants who were representatives from Government Institutions/Departments, Cooperating Partners, NGOs and community level stakeholders; 60 discussants who participated in focus group discussions, while nine (9) community leaders took part in transect walks conducted in the target areas of Kanyama, Chawama and George. Nvivo14 was utilized for data management and analysis.<br><br>RESULTS: The main results suggested that stakeholders displayed interrelationships that were symbiotic as they depended on each other to deliver their mandates. Stakeholders categorized into Mendelow quadrants displayed varying levels of homogeneity in power and interest. In addition, some stakeholders such as the Local Authority shifted quadrants when seen to perform dual roles for example to implement and enforce the policies aimed at improved public health.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The stakeholders' quadrant position coupled with persisted changes in their positions influenced their capacity to contribute effectively to the implementation of strategies to enhance access to SMS. This equally meant that implementers of SMS interventions have to regularly assess their engagement mechanisms to foster dialogue and coordination among stakeholders. Policy implications, especially to Government, may mean allocation of adequate resources to key players to enable them deliver on their respective mandates. Similarly, implications to practitioners might be the need to periodically review stakeholders and forge alliances coupled with conducting multi-sectoral meetings aimed to streamline their functions for the successful delivery of SMS.},
}
@article {pmid41186346,
year = {2025},
author = {Caruso, DJ and Zaferanloo, B and Palombo, EA and Moulton, SE},
title = {Development of antibacterial hydrogel using endophytic Alternaria fungus extract isolated from Australian native plant.},
journal = {Journal of materials chemistry. B},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1039/d5tb01529d},
pmid = {41186346},
issn = {2050-7518},
abstract = {To address the problems associated with pathogenic bacteria in healthcare settings, the development of novel antibacterial materials is of high priority. For such purposes, endophytic fungi - symbiotic microorganisms residing within healthy plant tissues - represent a promising yet largely unexplored source of antibacterial compounds. In this study, an antibacterial extract derived from an endophytic Alternaria fungus previously isolated from Eremophila longifolia was incorporated within gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) to produce a novel antibacterial hydrogel. Whilst rheological and compression testing revealed the addition of the extract resulted in reduction in the crosslink density of the hydrogel, all GelMA-extract formulations produced a solid mechanical stable hydrogel. The GelMA hydrogel containing a range of extract concentrations demonstrated variable inhibition of bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus) growth, with a concentration of 10 mg mL[-1] extract demonstrating complete inhibition over 24 h, while showing no toxicity toward brine shrimp nauplii, indicating good biocompatibility. The GelMA-extract demonstrated minimal rapid release from the hydrogel, followed by a slower release at longer times. As such, the developed hydrogel composite is promising for antibacterial applications in biomedical settings, while the results also highlight the potential for utilising endophytic extracts in the development of novel antibacterial materials.},
}
@article {pmid41186231,
year = {2025},
author = {Banerjee, S and Saha, KK and Pramanik, K and Biswas, R and Parveen, M and Balachandran, S and Roubík, H and Mandal, NC},
title = {Biocontrol, plant growth-promoting, and bioremediation potential of Aeromonas veronii CMF from the gut of Chrysomya megacephala.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0162225},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01622-25},
pmid = {41186231},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {Gut system of chitinivorous insect Chrysomya megacephala was purposefully targeted to find unexplored microbial resources based on the rationale of their usual food habits. A phytobeneficial bacterial strain Aeromonas veronii CMF was successfully isolated and characterized up to genomic approaches. The gut isolate A. veronii CMF is a non-pathogenic strain, as proven by the negative results from the hemolysis and DNase tests. Antifungal enzyme production by the CMF exhibited 22.14 ± 2.12, 16.09 ± 0.476, and 1.89 ± 0.46 U/mL chitinase, protease, and β-1,3-glucanase production, respectively. Further, in vitro and in vivo studies also elucidate the effective utilization of such gut bacterial attributes against as many as nine plant pathogenic fungi, demonstrating plant growth-promoting (PGP) and root-colonizing activities with Cicer arietinum and Oryza sativa IR36, as well as heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) resistance, removal, and bioaccumulation potential. Hence, the current study revealed the potential of the gut symbiont CMF to respond against both the biotic and abiotic stresses with PGP attributes for sustainable agriculture.IMPORTANCEGut symbiont A. veronii CMF, with integrated antifungal (chitinase, protease, and β-1,3-glucanase activity), plant growth-promoting (including plant root colonizing potential), and bioremediational attributes can be harnessed as a biotechnological tool for sustainable agriculture and human welfare by fulfilling several sustainable developmental goals. On the basis of such multidimensional gut symbiotic attributes which are validated through genomic-phenotypic observations during this study, it can be suggested that this gut symbiont can perform the host beneficial attributes in the plant rhizosphere, i.e., the "plant gut system" and consequently act as "plant gut symbionts."},
}
@article {pmid41186223,
year = {2025},
author = {Denisova, EY and Kirichek, EA and Tsyganov, VE},
title = {Genome sequence of a native nitrogen-fixing Bradyrhizobium sp. strain RCAM1614 isolated from lupine nodules.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0104825},
doi = {10.1128/mra.01048-25},
pmid = {41186223},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {This report describes the genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain RCAM1614, which was isolated from the root nodules of Lupinus angustifolius L. in the Leningrad district of Russia. The genome has a size of 9.77 Mbp and shows 96.1% completeness, which enables precise taxonomic classification.},
}
@article {pmid41185456,
year = {2025},
author = {He, L and Ge, S and Li, L and Mei, Y and Liu, R and Lin, R and Wang, L and Kang, H and Yu, J and Thomas, HR and Zhou, Y},
title = {SlWRI5a and SlHY5 co-activate SlFatM-mediated fatty acid biosynthesis during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70691},
pmid = {41185456},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2023YFD2300701//National Key Research and Development of China/ ; 32330094//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U21A20233//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; SN-ZJU-SIAS-0011//Starry Night Science Fund of Zhejiang University Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) is a ubiquitous mutualistic interaction between many terrestrial plants and fungi, with lipids playing a pivotal role in nutrient exchange. However, few genetic regulators of AMS have been functionally validated in tomato. To investigate candidate genes, we employed CRISPR-Cas9 and VIGS to generate knockout and knockdown lines. A comprehensive suite of molecular biology techniques, including yeast-1/2-hybridization, BiFC, ChIP-qPCR, and RNA-sequencing, was used to elucidate the regulatory roles of SlWRI5a, SlHY5, and SlFatM in fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis and AMS in tomato. FA composition was analyzed using gas chromatography. In this study, we validated SlWRI5a and SlFatM as key regulators of 16-carbon FA biosynthesis during AMS in tomato and demonstrated physical interactions between SlWRI5a and SlHY5. SlHY5 expression was induced by AMS and promoted root FA biosynthesis. Finally, we demonstrated that SlWRI5a and SlHY5 can co-regulate SlFatM-mediated FA accumulation, thereby influencing AMF colonization efficiency in tomato. Our findings reveal the SlWRI5a/SlHY5-SlFatM regulatory module, offering new insights into lipid-mediated AMS in tomato. This work also highlights a novel role for HY5 during fungal symbiosis, underscoring its broader significance in plant-microbe interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41185303,
year = {2025},
author = {Pérez-Bermúdez, I and Fiallos-Maravilla, N and Opazo-Navarrete, M and Petzold, G and Orellana-Palma, P},
title = {Exploring centrifugal-percolation as an innovative external force in block freeze concentration technology applied to peppermint infusion.},
journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)},
volume = {221},
number = {Pt 4},
pages = {117550},
doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2025.117550},
pmid = {41185303},
issn = {1873-7145},
mesh = {*Mentha piperita/chemistry ; Centrifugation/methods ; Antioxidants/analysis ; Flavonoids/analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Polyphenols/analysis ; *Freezing ; *Food Handling/methods ; *Plant Extracts/chemistry/analysis ; },
abstract = {This study investigates the use of centrifugal-percolation block freeze concentration (CP-BFC) at three cycles to obtain concentrate fractions from peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) infusion. The process parameters, physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds (total polyphenol (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) content, and HPLC analyses), and antioxidant capacity of the concentrated fractions were evaluated. After three CP-BFC cycles, the process parameters were close to 95 % and 66 % for efficiency of separation and solute yield, respectively. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the percolation system can be incorporated in the centrifugation step, and thus, both separation steps carry out a successful extraction of concentrate solutes (11.7 % w/w and 13.5°Brix) from the ice fraction, with TPC and TFC values of 13.21 mg gallic acid equivalents/mL and 15.93 mg catequin equivalents/mL, respectively. Vanillic acid, rutin, and kampferol presented the highest concentration among all the phenolic compounds. While, antioxidant capacity changes ranged until 47 and 206 μmol trolox equivalents/mL, for DPPH and FRAP assays, respectively. These findings (high extraction and high concentration of solutes, bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity) highlight the potential by adding a percolation system in the centrifugation process as a novel symbiotic strategy for high-quality liquid food concentration, effectively balancing process parameters and product quality, with potential for semi-industrial scale concentration of solutes and bioactive compounds. Therefore, centrifugal-percolation is an alternative external force to couple with BFC technology due to the double separation, since the process increased and preserved bioactive compounds to produce concentrated solutions with endless possibilities for multifarious food, medical, and pharmaceutical applications.},
}
@article {pmid41184748,
year = {2025},
author = {Yoshioka, Y and Kawachi, M and Kawamitsu, M and Murzabaev, A and Satoh, N and Shinzato, C and Shoguchi, E},
title = {First genome sequences of the dinoflagellate Effrenium voratum strain isolated from the coral Hydnophora exesa in temperate Japanese region.},
journal = {BMC genomic data},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {83},
pmid = {41184748},
issn = {2730-6844},
support = {JP23KJ2129//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP20H03235//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP23K26825//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Dinoflagellates are important unicellular eukaryotes found in freshwater and marine ecosystems. The Family Symbiodiniaceae is well-known as symbiotic algae in various marine organisms, including many endosymbiotic species living in cnidarian cells. In contrast, the genus Effrenium is non-symbiotic, exhibiting traits such as resting cyst formation and heterotrophic feeding. Effrenium strains have been used as controls in symbiosis-related comparative studies. The only described species, E. voratum, is cosmopolitan, and draft genomes of three strains have been reported. However, genomic data from strains originating in temperate Japanese regions are lacking. A high-quality draft genome of an additional E. voratum strain will provide valuable resources for molecular biology of symbiosis and comparative genomics on local adaptation in Symbiodiniaceae.<br><br>DATA DESCRIPTION: We describe the first draft genome (version 1) of E. voratum strain NIES-2908, which was isolated from the coral Hydnophora exesa in the temperate Japanese coastal water of Goto islands, Japan. Using PacBio HiFi sequencing, the genome was assembled to a total size of 1,006 Mbp, comprising 6,051 contigs. The GC content was 50.5%, and repetitive sequences accounted for 37.9% of the genome. Gene prediction identified 54,346 protein coding genes, with 68.4% completeness based on the BUSCO alveolate dataset.},
}
@article {pmid41184724,
year = {2025},
author = {Eliassen, LK and Altin, D and Andersen, T and Riemann, L and Dunthorn, M and Titelman, J},
title = {Long Term Copepod Culture Houses a Rich Microbial Eukaryotic Community Including New and Known Symbionts.},
journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology},
volume = {72},
number = {6},
pages = {e70053},
doi = {10.1111/jeu.70053},
pmid = {41184724},
issn = {1550-7408},
support = {315892//Norges Forskningsr&#xe5;d/ ; //Utdannings- og forskningsdepartementet/ ; },
mesh = {*Copepoda/microbiology/parasitology ; Animals ; *Symbiosis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; *Eukaryota/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Phylogeny ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Copepods, dominant marine zooplankton, are hosts to microbial eukaryotic symbionts, but the copepod eukaryome remains largely unexplored. We used 18S rRNA gene primers with reduced metazoan amplification to identify microbial eukaryotes in a culture of Calanus finmarchicus (Copepoda). Samples were taken from the inlet water (99.5% of reads from non-copepod sources) and the contents of the culture, which included ambient water (99.7%), bulk (many crushed copepods, 60.2%), individual copepods (1%-41%, mean = 7.4), and bulk fecal pellets (74%). The microbial eukaryotic community in the culture differed from the inlet water. The culture contained saprotrophs and bacterivores typical of eutrophic aquacultures and known parasites of copepods. Individual copepod eukaryomes varied in richness (8-33 operational taxonomic units, mean = 16.1) and revealed variation in non-copepod read yields related to specific taxa. Perkinsea, not previously reported in copepods, as well as Ascomycota and Basidiomycota (Fungi), formed the core eukaryome (found in > 90% of individuals), indicating potentially important symbiosis. The small eukaryome, relative to reported microbiomes in C. finmarchicus, suggests that ecological inferences from microbiomes, which largely address bacteria, are not readily applicable to the eukaryotic microbes. The study underpins the need for investigations of eukaryomes.},
}
@article {pmid41183989,
year = {2025},
author = {Kiyota, H and Watanabe, K and Oyama, H and Tachibana, M and Shimizu, T and Watarai, M},
title = {Legionella Confer Survival Benefits to Paramecium Hosts by Inhibiting Phagocytosis.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1264/jsme2.ME25022},
pmid = {41183989},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {*Phagocytosis ; *Paramecium/microbiology/physiology ; *Legionella/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; Microbial Viability ; },
abstract = {Legionella survive in the natural environment by remaining within protist host cells. Many protist species, including Paramecium spp., are potential hosts for Legionella. However, the factors and mechanisms involved in the establishment of this relationship are unknown. The advantages gained by Paramecium spp. when they maintain Legionella are also unclear, and the existence of these relationships has not been confirmed. In the present study, feeding with Legionella increased the number of Paramecium cells over time. However, the growth-promoting effect of Legionella was weaker than that of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which is considered the optimal bacterial feed for Paramecium. Phagocytosis was strongly inhibited in Paramecium cells fed Legionella, indicating that this relationship prevents the uptake of harmful organisms. The inhibition of phagocytosis was also observed when Paramecium cells were treated with the Legionella culture supernatant. Despite the inhibition of phagocytosis, the presence of live Legionella within host cells allowed Paramecium spp. to survive and even increase in number, as observed earlier. This result suggests that Legionella support the survival of Paramecium hosts from a nutritional aspect. Although it is difficult to definitively state whether the relationship between Legionella and Paramecium hosts is completely mutualistic, the present results provide one rationale for defining their relationship.},
}
@article {pmid41182813,
year = {2025},
author = {Caiafa, MV and Rowe, MA and Healy, R and Lemmond, B and Nouhra, E and Pfister, DH and Sandoval-Leiva, P and Furci, G and Smith, ME},
title = {Unearthing two new ectomycorrhizal Pezizales truffle species from Nothofagaceae forests in southern South America.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-15},
doi = {10.1080/00275514.2025.2562792},
pmid = {41182813},
issn = {1557-2536},
abstract = {Truffles are enclosed, hypogeous fruiting bodies that have evolved hundreds of times across different fungal groups. Truffles are particularly diverse within Pezizales, a large and diverse order of Ascomycota where truffle forms have evolved multiple times. The majority of truffle species are ectomycorrhizal symbionts of trees and rely on animals for dispersal. Because of their hypogeous nature, truffles remain understudied and many new taxa remain to be discovered. Due to their obligate symbiosis with host plants and their dependence on animal dispersal, ectomycorrhizal truffle species often show distinct host associations, are restricted to certain forest types, and have notable biogeographic distribution patterns. Here, we present morphological and phylogenetic evidence in support of two new truffle species associated with Nothofagaceae trees in southern South America, Geomorium nahuelbutense (Geomoriaceae) and Paragalactinia nothofagacearum (Pezizaceae). The closest described relatives of these species form aboveground, apothecial ascomata, suggesting that these taxa are derived from independent evolutionary events leading to the truffle morphology. Paragalactinia nothofagacearum is widespread in northern Patagonia and has been documented as an ectomycorrhizal associate of Lophozonia alpina (= Nothofagus nervosa) seedlings. In contrast, Geomorium nahuelbutense has only been found in a well-preserved coastal forest in Chile toward the northern extent of the range of Nothofagaceae in South America. This is a conservation priority area that has been heavily impacted by fires, deforestation, and other human activities. This species is known only from two modern collections from Parque Nacional Nahuelbuta and one preserved specimen collected by Roland Thaxter near Concepción, Chile, in 1906.},
}
@article {pmid41181086,
year = {2025},
author = {Hiruma, K and Sugiyama, A},
title = {Preface to the special issue "Diverse Symbiotic Relationships between Plants and Microbes in the Phyllosphere and Rhizosphere".},
journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)},
volume = {42},
number = {3},
pages = {189-191},
pmid = {41181086},
issn = {1342-4580},
}
@article {pmid41181081,
year = {2025},
author = {Araragi, M and Songwattana, P and Teaumroong, N and Masuda, S and Shibata, A and Shirasu, K and Kawaharada, Y},
title = {Improved rapid and efficient hairy root transformation using Rhizobium rhizogenes in legume crops.},
journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)},
volume = {42},
number = {3},
pages = {279-288},
pmid = {41181081},
issn = {1342-4580},
abstract = {Hairy root transformation mediated by Rhizobium rhizogenes is a widely used tool for molecular analysis and root material for secondary metabolite production. However, this method is time-intensive, technically demanding, and exhibits low transformation efficiency. To address these limitations, we developed a rapid and efficient hairy root transformation system for legume crops, optimizing protocols with the soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) cultivar Fukuyutaka. Sterilizing seeds with vapor of 5% sodium hypochlorite and germinating them in a double-tier container resulted in over 90% healthy, straight seedlings ideal for transformation, with 3- to 5-day-old seedlings showing the highest transformation rates. Exposing the plant shoot during co-cultivation by covering only the injection area, combined with low nitrogen levels in the hydroponic solution, significantly enhanced hairy root production, yielding up to 16 transgenic hairy roots per plant. Additionally, low nitrogen concentrations were crucial for promoting nodule formation in transgenic hairy roots. These optimized conditions were validated across 12 soybean, 1 cowpea, and 1 mungbean cultivars. The protocol's effectiveness was confirmed through the induction of symbiotic gene expression of GmEnod40a and GmErn1b using a promoter β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter system in transgenic hairy roots. Expression of these genes was detected in both premature and mature nodules, while GmErn1b expression was also observed in epidermal cells during early nodulation. This optimized hairy root transformation protocol, requiring under 22 days from seed sterilization to transgenic root induction and 61 days to expression analysis, offers a promising approach for efficient gene function studies in legume crops.},
}
@article {pmid41181077,
year = {2025},
author = {Higashi, Y and Ambiru, H and Saito, H and Egusa, M and Miura, C and Tominaga, T and Kaminaka, H},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza-induced growth promotion and disease resistance are fine-tuned by growth-defense tradeoffs in Lotus japonicus and tomato.},
journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)},
volume = {42},
number = {3},
pages = {289-298},
pmid = {41181077},
issn = {1342-4580},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are representative symbiotic partners of plants, and trade nutrients with them. This symbiotic association confers plants with the agronomically beneficial traits such as plant growth promotion and stress tolerance. Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are divided into two morphotypes, the Arum-type and the Paris-type, based on fungal structures within the host plant cells. Although the phylogeny of host plants typically determines the AM morphotype, the AMF, Rhizophagus irregularis and Gigaspora margarita, can form Arum-type AM and Paris-type AM, respectively, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). In this study, the traits resulting from the AM symbiosis and root transcriptomes between Lotus japonicus and tomato inoculated with these two phylogenetically distal AMF were compared. In L. japonicus, Arum-type AMs formed when colonized by both AMF, as expected. Shoot growth in both plants was significantly promoted when inoculated by these AMF, although the impact of G. margarita was greater than that by R. irregularis colonization. A transcriptome analysis of both plants inoculated by the two AMF strongly suggested changes in the expression levels of genes associated with defense response. AMF inoculation induced resistance against Fusarium diseases in both plants, but the level of disease resistance in Rhizophagus-colonized plants was higher than in Gigaspora-colonized plants. Thus, the colonized AMF identity, and not the AM morphotype, determines the level of AM-induced traits, plant growth promotion and disease resistance. Negative relationships between these two traits would exist as a growth-defense tradeoff to fine-tune the balance in response to limited resources, and to optimize fitness.},
}
@article {pmid41181076,
year = {2025},
author = {Suwa, S and Ando, M and Kashiwagi, K and Kyotani, T and Hasegawa, K and Safiullah, H and Kifushi, M and Nishikawa, Y and Anai, T and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N and Takeyama, H},
title = {Single-cell Raman spectroscopic analysis of bacteroids in soybean nodules to observe the relationship between biomolecular constituents and symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity.},
journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)},
volume = {42},
number = {3},
pages = {335-343},
pmid = {41181076},
issn = {1342-4580},
abstract = {Nitrogen fixation in soybean occurs as a result of symbiosis between the plant and rhizobia in the nodules. This process allows both the plant and the symbiont to acquire vital nutrition. To fully understand the symbiosis, many researchers have attempted to attain a deeper interpretation of the biomolecular behavior or enhance the nitrogen fixation activity of bacteroids. However, most studies have focused on forward and reverse genetics approaches to evaluate the contribution of a particular gene/enzyme in nitrogen fixation. Few studies have observed the bacteroids' overall biomolecular behavior in the nodules. Thus, we grew soybean plants and recorded acetylene reduction assay (ARA) results at several growth stages. Simultaneously, we analyzed the biomolecular compounds in the bacteroids in the nodules at the single-cell level by Raman microspectroscopy. Random forest regression, a machine learning method, was applied to discover the biomolecular contribution to the ARA, as it predicted ARA results with high accuracy. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biopolymer significantly contributed to predicting ARA results, suggesting its potential relevance in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean. Further studies related to PHB behavior will lead to a deeper understanding of symbiotic nitrogen fixation and may help achieve better control of this process to increase crop yields.},
}
@article {pmid41181073,
year = {2025},
author = {Erdenetugs, E and Harada, S and Erdenetugs, E and Sentoku, T and Arai, M and Saito, K and Kobae, Y},
title = {Various types of mycorrhizal fungi sequences detected in single intracellular vesicles.},
journal = {Plant biotechnology (Tokyo, Japan)},
volume = {42},
number = {3},
pages = {299-307},
pmid = {41181073},
issn = {1342-4580},
abstract = {A diverse range of microbes have been observed to coexist in plant roots in the field, among which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) are universal and have recently been shown to be of two types: one belonging to the subphylum Glomeromycotina (G-AMF) and the other to the subphylum Mucoromycotina (M-AMF). These two types of mycorrhizal fungi are known to co-occur in roots. This is because, in addition to the morphological evidence, diverse ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences, including those of G-AMF, are detected in mycorrhizae colonized with M-AMF. However, it is difficult to physically distinguish between these AMFs, and amplification bias of G-AMF and M-AMF by PCR has hampered analysis of the detailed symbiotic behaviour of both AMFs. In this study, we isolated a single vesicle of lipid-accumulating AMF in the root and sequenced its rRNA gene by PCR using uniquely designed primers with reduced amplification bias. Notably, G-AMF and M-AMF rRNA gene sequences were detected in one vesicle. These results suggest new avenues for mycorrhizal research on the overlooked morphology of AMF vesicles and their mode of genetic co-occurrence of G-AMF and M-AMF.},
}
@article {pmid41180406,
year = {2025},
author = {Xiong, Q and Zheng, L and Zhang, Q and Li, T and Zheng, L and Song, L},
title = {Comparative genomics and evolutionary analyses of Sphaeropleales.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1534646},
pmid = {41180406},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Sphaeropleales is a diverse group with over one thousand species described, which are found in a wide range of habitats showed strong environmental adaptability. This study presented comprehensive genomic analyses of seven newly sequenced Sphaeropleales strains with BUSCO completeness exceeding 90%, alongside comparative assessments with previously sequenced genomes. The genome sizes of Sphaeropleales species ranged from 39.8 Mb to 151.9 Mb, with most having a GC content around 56%. Orthologous analysis revealed unique gene families in each strain, comprising 2 to 3.5% of all genes. Comparative functional analysis indicated that transporters, genes encoding pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase and antioxidant enzymes played a crucial role in adaptation to environmental stressors like salinity, cold, heavy metals and varying nutrient conditions. Additionally, Sphaeropleales species were found to be B12 auxotrophy, acquiring this vitamin or its precursors through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. Phylogenetic studies based on 18S rDNA and the low copy othologues confirmed species identification and the relationships inside core Chlorophyta and between prasinophytes. Evolutionary analyses demonstrated all the species exhibited a large count of gene family expansions and contraction, with rapidly evolving and positive selected genes identified in terrestrial Bracteacoccus species, which contributed to their adaptation to terrestrial habitat. These findings enriched the genomic data for Sphaeropleales, particularly the genus Bracteacoccus, which can help in understanding the ecological adaptations, evolutionary relationships, and biotechnological applications of this group of algae.},
}
@article {pmid41179241,
year = {2025},
author = {Sotomayor-Alge, A and Inda, LA and Ángel-Beamonte, E and Zabalgogeazcoa, &#xcd; and Catalán, P},
title = {Unveiling an asymmetric plant-fungal symbiosis: morphological, cytogenetic, and molecular characterization of a haploid Epichloë festucae strain associated with three polyploid cytotypes of the Iberian endemic grass Festuca rothmaleri.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e162692},
pmid = {41179241},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {The ecological and evolutionary outcomes of plant-fungal interactions are strongly influenced by genome size and ploidy, yet the ploidy level of both partners is rarely assessed simultaneously. Epichloë symbioses with Pooideae grasses are established model systems for exploring these dynamics, but associations between polyploid hosts and haploid endophytes remain poorly documented. In this study, the association of the Iberian endemic Festuca rothmaleri-which includes tetraploid, hexaploid, and octoploid cytotypes-with Epichloë fungal endophytes is documented for the first time. An integrative, method-rich framework combining cytogenetics, morphometrics, and multilocus phylogenetics revealed a strikingly asymmetric interaction, with all cytotypes harboring a single haploid strain of Epichloë festucae. Two methodological innovations were developed: (i) an image-based tool for automated measurement of asexual structures, including the novel metric "conidial area," and (ii) a flow cytometry protocol for estimating fungal genome size. Despite morphological variability, all fungal isolates shared similar genome sizes and formed a well-supported monophyletic lineage in a coalescent species tree based on nuclear loci sequences (actG, CalM, ITS, tefA, tubB). This work provides the first comprehensive characterization of a haploid Epichloë endophyte spanning multiple naturally distributed host ploidy levels and highlights a rare but promising system for future evolutionary, physiological, and ecological studies of plant-fungal interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41178244,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhu, L and Liu, D and Wu, Y and Qi, M and Ai, Z and Sun, Y and Li, Z and Guo, D and Chen, H and Wang, W and Lin, F and Yuan, J and Ye, X and Zhang, Q and Zhang, W},
title = {Sugar Transporter GmSWEET38 Controls Nodule Development and Seed Yield in Soybean.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70269},
pmid = {41178244},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was supported by the grants from the National Key R&amp;D Program of China (2022YFD1201700) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (KJJQ2024007) to Q.Z., and the National Natural Science Foundation (32171956) to W.Z./ ; },
abstract = {The transport of sugars produced by photosynthesis between source and sink tissues controls multiple biological processes in growth and development. However, the key factors, both genetic and environmental, that influence sugar transport and crop yield are largely unknown. We identified a plasma membrane-localized sugar transporter, GmSWEET38, that facilitates the translocation of sugars to seeds and nodules in soybean (Glycine max L.). GmSWEET38 exhibited both efflux and influx activities of sucrose and fructose in Xenopus oocytes. GmSWEET38 expression was high in the vascular system of roots and nodules, and overexpression of GmSWEET38 enhanced the sugar contents of roots and seeds, consequently promoting nodule development and seed production. Loss of GmSWEET38 function exerted the opposite effects. Intriguingly, GmSWEET38 specifically transported fructose into the rhizosphere, where it is used by beneficial bacteria. By modulating sugar transport and allocation to enhance symbiotic nitrogen fixation, GmSWEET38 can be used for the breeding of high-yielding soybean cultivars.},
}
@article {pmid41178122,
year = {2025},
author = {Arumugam, B and Deotale, S and Chakravarty, I and Ninawe, Y and Dadhe, P and Deshpande, KY and Mandavgane, SA},
title = {Enzyme Treated Sapota Seed Dietary Fibre Is a Novel Prebiotic Feed Additive: In Vitro Studies.},
journal = {Biotechnology and applied biochemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/bab.70086},
pmid = {41178122},
issn = {1470-8744},
support = {//Department of Science and Technology, Government of India/ ; //Merino Industries Limited Hapur/ ; //SreePV Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {The valorization of agro-industrial fruit by-products presents a sustainable strategy to enhance animal nutrition while reducing environmental waste. This study investigates the physicochemical attributes, dietary fiber profile, and prebiotic potential of the enzyme treated Manilkara zapota (sapota) seed powder (eSSP) for functional use in poultry feed. The eSSP flour demonstrated high crude fiber content (23.94 ± 1.86 g/100 g), with total dietary fiber comprising 83.45% insoluble and 16.54% soluble fractions. Enzymatic hydrolysis optimized at 6 h revealed peak concentrations of fermentable oligosaccharides, including galacto-oligosaccharides (12.06 ± 0.45%), manno-oligosaccharides (8.04 ± 0.30%), fructo-oligosaccharides (9.83 ± 0.25%), and xylo-oligosaccharides (10.83 ± 0.50%). Supplementation with e6SSP resulted in a significant increase in both qualitative and quantitative volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, indicating its prebiotic potential. Notably, the high xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) content (∼10%) contributed to elevated butyric acid levels in fermentation assays, reinforcing the stimbiotic properties of eSSP. Symbiotic assays with Lactobacillus casei confirmed the eSSP's capacity to support probiotic growth, while in vitro fermentation demonstrated enhanced production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate. Antioxidant profiling further validated the seed's bioactive potential, with total phenolic content of 767.65 ± 1.24 mg GAE/100 g and flavonoid content of 2223.6 ± 0.87 mg QE/100 g. These findings establish eSSP as a potent, cost-effective, and natural prebiotic candidate for improving gut health and sustainability in animal feed systems.},
}
@article {pmid41177671,
year = {2025},
author = {Botero, LM and Al-Niemi, T and McDermott, TR},
title = {Observations Concerning Rhizobium tropici Bacteroid Phosphorus Stress Response During Symbiosis With Phaseolus vulgaris.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {17},
number = {6},
pages = {e70220},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70220},
pmid = {41177671},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {923310//Montana Agricultural Experiment Station/ ; },
mesh = {*Phaseolus/microbiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Rhizobium tropici/metabolism/physiology/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism/genetics ; Stress, Physiological ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Bacteroid inorganic phosphorus (Pi) metabolism in the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis differs between indeterminate and determinate legume nodules. In contrast to alfalfa bacteroids, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) bacteroids exhibit high levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP), the native reporter enzyme for the bacterial Pi stress response. [14]C and [32]Pi whole plant labelling techniques were used in conjunction with diagnostic mutants (lacking AP or lacking high affinity Pi transport) to assess the relative importance of the Pi stress response in Rhizobium tropici bacteroids during symbiosis. The AP- mutant was not defective for symbiosis and did not differ from wildtype bacteroids for Pi acquisition. [14]C-CO2 feeding to host plants revealed [14]C-carbon uptake and accumulation in AP- mutant bacteroids, and their nodules were increased relative to wildtype bacteroids, implying that organo-P compounds may account for meaningful levels of carbon exchange between symbionts. [32]Pi tracer experiments implied that the high affinity transporter is important to bacteroid Pi acquisition and symbiotic performance in determinate nodules, but that the symbiosome Pi concentration does not meet the capacity of the high affinity transporter. [32]P tracer work also illustrated that Pi taken up into the nodule does not remain in the nodule, but rather is redistributed to the host.},
}
@article {pmid41177652,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, L and Huang, Z and Fan, S and Zhen, L and Lv, J},
title = {Effects and interactions of freeze-thaw leaching on cadmium forms, soil chemical properties, and microbial community structure in cadmium-contaminated soil.},
journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)},
volume = {160},
number = {},
pages = {70-81},
doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2025.02.048},
pmid = {41177652},
issn = {1001-0742},
mesh = {*Cadmium/analysis/chemistry ; *Soil Pollutants/analysis/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; Freezing ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Heavy metal contamination of soil is one of the major challenges to sustainable agriculture. This contamination can be transmitted through the soil food chain and poses a serious threat to human health. In this study, we found that freeze-thaw leaching (FTL) effectively complements the low removal rate of chemical leaching, and investigated the effects of different numbers of FTL on Cd contamination, soil chemical properties and microbial communities. The results showed that repeated FTL significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the total Cd content in the top soil (19.02 %-49.35 %) and subsoil (0.41 %-21.13 %) and promoted the transformation of Cd to a more stable form, mainly through various removal mechanisms such as complexation, ion-exchange, and chemical precipitation. This finding was supported by reductions in several soil properties, including pH, available potassium (AK), and available phosphorus (AP). FTL treatment initially increased the bioavailability of Cd compared to chemical leaching, but bioavailability of Cd progressively decreased as the number of freeze-thaw cycles increased. Additionally, FTL reduced the richness and diversity of bacteria communities, destabilized ecological symbiotic networks, while increasing the richness and diversity of fungi in the soil. Various model analyses indicated that FTL treatment, available Cd, soil pH, AP and AK were the key drivers influencing the changes in microbial community structure. This study provides new insights and scientific bases for the effective management of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils, the restoration of ecosystem health, and the improvement of soil sustainability.},
}
@article {pmid41177600,
year = {2026},
author = {Ponce-Hernández, A and Carranza-Álvarez, C and Castro-Longoria, E and Hernández-Martínez, R and Martínez-Soto, D},
title = {Fungus Neosartorya (Aspergillus) fischeri improves the fitness, tolerance and absorption of heavy metals in Typha latifolia.},
journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)},
volume = {160},
number = {},
pages = {218-230},
doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2025.05.049},
pmid = {41177600},
issn = {1001-0742},
mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Metals, Heavy/metabolism/toxicity ; *Typhaceae/physiology/microbiology/metabolism ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism/toxicity ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Aliivibrio fischeri/physiology ; },
abstract = {Heavy metal contamination is a global issue caused by anthropogenic activities leading to severe negative effects on the environment and human health. To address this problem, bioremediation strategies utilizing plants such as Typha latifolia and their symbiotic fungi have been adopted to remediate contaminated areas and mitigate the harmful effects of these pollutants. In this study, the endophytic fungus Neosartorya fischeri was isolated from the roots of T. latifolia plants growing in heavy metal-contaminated sites. N. fischeri colonized the epidermis and root cortex and showed high tolerance to toxic concentrations of silver (Ag) (1 mg/kg), copper (Cu) (60 mg/kg) and cadmium (Cd) (8 mg/kg). N. fischeri removed 8.7 % ± 0.5 % Cd from the medium, biosorbed 15.24 ± 0.2 mg/kg into its biomass, and enhanced the tolerance and bioaccumulation of Cd (184.18 ± 1.14 mg/kg) in plant roots. Moreover, N. fischeri produces siderophores, volatile compounds and solubilizes phosphates, which improve plant fitness. This was evidenced by a 28 % increase in photosynthetic pigments in T. latifolia plants colonized with N. fischeri. Additionally, N. fischeri inhibits the growth of important phytopathogens from the Fusarium genus. These findings highlight the important role of N. fischeri in enhancing the fitness and resilience of T. latifolia in hostile environments, demonstrating the potential of N. fischeri-T. latifolia association for the bioremediation of contaminated sites.},
}
@article {pmid41177409,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, S and Pan, M and Ma, Y and Chen, Z and Lyu, T and Dong, R and Ruan, R and Liu, S},
title = {Microalgae-mediated shaping of bacterial communities enhances antibiotic removal and antibiotic resistance control.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133577},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133577},
pmid = {41177409},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {The microalgae-bacteria symbiosis sludge (MBSS) system offers a promising strategy for efficient wastewater treatment and nutrients upcycling. However, maintaining stable and effective performance facing antibiotic stress remains a significant challenge. This study explored the regulation strategy of microbial succession towards sulfadiazine (SDZ)-containing wastewater remediation while controlling antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spread in MBSS system. The MBSS achieved efficient SDZ removal of up to 99.8%, with an optimal microalgae-to-activated sludge inoculation ratio of 1:3. However, the highest nutrient upcycling efficiencies (33.7% for nitrogen and 98.6% for phosphorus) were observed at an inoculation ratio of 1:1. Metagenomics analysis revealed that genera Chlorella and Micractinium of Chlorophyta were strongly positively correlated with SDZ removal. Moreover, microalgae inoculation significantly modulated the microbial community structure, promoting the dominance of genera Rhodanobacter and Dokdonella in MBSS. This microbial succession could potentially facilitate bacterial co-degradation of SDZ and contribute to a substantially reduced level of ARGs (with the relative abundance of sul1 and sul2 decreasing to 22.9% post-treatment). Overall, the strategy of regulating microalgae inoculation in the MBSS significantly enhanced antibiotic removal and nutrient recovery while controlling the proliferation and spread of ARGs by directing microbial community succession.},
}
@article {pmid41175869,
year = {2025},
author = {Flori, S and Mikus, F and Flaum, E and Moog, K and Guessoum, S and Beavis, T and Zwahlen, SM and Romero-Brey, I and Oorshot, V and Olivetta, M and Steele-Ogus, M and Yeh, E and , and Dudin, O and Schwab, Y and Dey, G and Vincent, F},
title = {Diatom ultrastructural diversity across controlled and natural environments.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.10.024},
pmid = {41175869},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Diatoms are ubiquitous aquatic microalgae critical to our planet and were among the pioneer model organisms in cell biology because of their large and transparent cell structure. However, their robust silica cell wall, which renders diatoms impermeable to many dyes and antibodies, as well as challenging for gene editing tools, likely hindered the broader establishment of diatoms as standard model species, despite their unique cellular physiology and remarkable ecological success. Here, we demonstrate that cryo-fixation combined with ultrastructural expansion microscopy (cryo-ExM) can overcome the silica barrier across diverse diatom species spanning over 80 million years of evolutionary time. We illustrate cryo-ExM's potential to provide scalable, cost-effective volumetric imaging of diatom ultrastructure in laboratory cultures, as well as field-collected samples from the pan-European TREC expedition. We first reveal striking similarities in interphase microtubule organization across diverse diatom species by characterizing cytoskeletal arrangements throughout cell cycles and populations, uniting both pennate and centric morphologies under shared principles. We further unveil diatom photosynthetic diversity through qualitative and quantitative comparative analyses of chloroplast and pyrenoid morphologies, demonstrating that each diatom species architects unique photosynthetic machinery. Using cryo-ExM on environmental samples further exposes intricate diatom symbioses, revealing tight spatial organization of ecological interactions. This methodology makes diatoms more accessible for modern and comparative cell biology research, providing new opportunities to investigate the cellular physiology of one of Earth's most successful photosynthetic groups.},
}
@article {pmid41175755,
year = {2025},
author = {Tang, K and Cao, X and Geng, X and Huang, W and Liu, H and Yan, Z and Wu, Z and Yang, C and Tang, J and Zhou, Z},
title = {Microbiome dysbiosis and decreased survival in coral larvae exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics and sulfamethoxazole.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {499},
number = {},
pages = {140297},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140297},
pmid = {41175755},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Scleractinian corals are increasingly threatened by environmental contaminants such as nanoplastics (NPs) and antibiotics. The early life stages of corals are particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors, yet their impacts under environmentally relevant concentrations remain poorly understood. Here, we exposed Pocillopora damicornis larvae to NPs (100 μg/L) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX, 0.1 μg/L) for 48 h to assess their effects on larval survival, settlement, tissue structure, and bacterial symbionts. Exposure to NPs and SMX significantly reduced larval survival, caused tissue necrosis and mesenterial filament dissociation, and altered the composition of bacterial symbionts, such as a decrease in Pseudoalteromonas abundance. Compared to the single exposure group, co-exposure to NPs and SMX induced more severe tissue damage and broader functional shifts in microbial communities, including elevated methylotrophy, photoheterotrophy, photoautotrophy, and reduced anaerobic respiration. These findings suggest that coral larvae are highly sensitive to NPs and SMX, which can alter bacterial symbiont community to disturb nutrient cycling and energy metabolism, cause tissue damage, and ultimately impair larval survival, thereby threatening coral reef replenishment and recovery.},
}
@article {pmid41174857,
year = {2025},
author = {Bhardwaj, A and Gupta, M and Bhattacharjee, O and Raul, B and Ghosh, AK and Nagalla, LVS and Yadav, P and Bandyopadhyay, K and Ranjan, A and Sinharoy, S},
title = {RSD-mediated suppression of NIN and NLP2 transcription is crucial for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70697},
pmid = {41174857},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {AB was supported by CSIR (09/803(0141)/2017-EMR-I)//Human Resource Development Centre, Council of Scientific And Industrial Research/ ; HRD-16016/23/2025-HRD-DBT-E-21386//Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council/ ; SPG/2022/000171-G//Science and Engineering Research Board/ ; 37WS(0043)/2023-24/EMR-II//Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India/ ; },
abstract = {Indeterminate nodules establish a developmental gradient along their longitudinal axis, separating cell differentiation from symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). The apex contains differentiating cells, while the differentiated leghemoglobin-rich cells of the nitrogen-fixation zone shield the rhizobial nitrogenase complex from oxygen to facilitate SNF. By combining biochemical, genetic, and genomic approaches, we demonstrate the pivotal role of the Regulator of Symbiosome Differentiation (RSD), a transcriptional repressor, in the transition from symbiosome development to SNF. Interacting Protein of DMI3 (IPD3) activates RSD expression in the invasion zone (ZII) and interzone (IZ). RSD interacts with Nodule Inception (NIN), and NIN-like protein 2 (NLP2) through a novel protein-protein interaction domain. RSD determines cell fate in ZII and the IZ by suppressing several targets of NIN and NLP2, including Leghemoglobins, Nodule-specific Cysteine-Rich genes, and Symbiotic Cysteine-rich Receptor-like Kinase. Our findings underscore the critical role of RSD-mediated suppression of transcription in facilitating the transition from bacteroid differentiation to SNF.},
}
@article {pmid41174492,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, JH and Tang, F and Wang, YW and Liu, QY and Yi, FY and Zhang, ZQ and Gao, CP},
title = {Integrated proteomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal that the Rj4-mediated immunity network restricts soybean-rhizobia symbiosis.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {981},
pmid = {41174492},
issn = {1471-2164},
}
@article {pmid41174464,
year = {2025},
author = {Lamrabet, M and Missbah El Idrissi, M},
title = {Comparative genomic analysis of native Bradyrhizobium spp. nodulating Retama dasycarpa in Moroccan semi-arid ecosystems: insights into symbiotic diversity and environmental adaptation.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {984},
pmid = {41174464},
issn = {1471-2164},
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics/classification/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Morocco ; *Genomics/methods ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Ecosystem ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Retama dasycarpa, a drought-resistant legume endemic to Morocco's High Atlas Mountains, thrives in harsh conditions due to its association with nitrogen-fixing Bradyrhizobium strains. Despite the ecological significance of this symbiosis, the genetic diversity, symbiotic mechanisms, and stress adaptation strategies of these microsymbionts remain poorly understood. In this study we employed a comparative genomic approach to elucidate the genomic and functional traits of five strains isolated from R. dasycarpa nodules, with a focus on their symbiotic and stress-responsive gene repertoires.<br><br>RESULTS: Phylogenomic analysis revealed that four of the five strains likely represent novel Bradyrhizobium species, as indicated by average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values below species delineation thresholds. Genomic comparisons identified core symbiotic genes, including nod, nif, and fix genes, essential for nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Interestingly, strain RDT46 lacked canonical nod genes but retained a minimal Type III Secretion System (T3SS), suggesting alternative symbiotic pathways. Pangenome analysis of 56 Bradyrhizobium genomes highlighted an open pangenome with extensive accessory gene content, reflecting adaptive versatility. Stress adaptation genes, such as those involved in osmoprotectant synthesis, oxidative stress response, and heat shock, were conserved across the five strains, underscoring their resilience to semi-arid conditions.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study uncovers previously unknown genomic diversity in R. dasycarpa-associated Bradyrhizobim spp., including evidence for non-canonical symbiosis mechanisms. The strains' genetic toolkit for stress tolerance highlights their potential as inoculants for revegetation of degraded semi-arid lands.},
}
@article {pmid41174113,
year = {2025},
author = {Besharati-Fard, M and Moosawi-Jorf, SA and Shams-Ghahfarokhi, M and Razzaghi-Abyaneh, M},
title = {First report and diversity analysis of endophytic fungi associated with Ulva sp. from Iran.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {38264},
pmid = {41174113},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Iran ; *Endophytes/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Phylogeny ; *Ulva/microbiology ; *Fungi/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Biodiversity ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi are diverse microorganisms that colonize plants symbiotically without causing overt infections. While numerous studies have focused on endophytes in terrestrial plants, there are no prior reports of endophytes associated with algae in Iran. Samples of Ulva sp. were collected during the fall of 2022 from the Bandar Abbas Fishery Coast, Iran, and transported to the laboratory. Following surface sterilization, the samples were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and incubated at 25 °C for 3 weeks. The resulting isolates were purified using the hyphal tip method. This study identified 33 fungal isolates from Ulva sp. collected at the Bandar Abbas Fishery Coast, Iran. Morphological and molecular analyses classified these isolates into 7 species across 6 genera: Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Syncephalastrum. Aspergillus was the most abundant genus (34% of isolates), while Alternaria and Syncephalastrum were the least frequent (9% each). Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, β-tubulin, GAPDH, TEF, and LSU gene sequences supported the morphological identification of the isolates. Species identified included Alternaria alternate, Aspergillus caespitosus, Aspergillus terreus, Chaetomium globosum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium digitatum, and Syncephalastrum racemosum. All species are reported here for the first time as endophytes of Ulva sp. in Iran. Furthermore, this study represents the first documentation of endophytic fungi associated with the marine alga Ulva sp. in Iranian waters. This research enhances understanding of the ecological interactions between fungal endophytes and marine algae in Iranian ecosystems, emphasizing the diversity of symbiotic relationships in aquatic environments.},
}
@article {pmid41172140,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, L and Lin, G and Ma, J and Deng, J and Yu, D and Zhou, L and Wang, QW},
title = {Canopy spectral cues affect plant growth and root-associated fungal communities of tree species with different mycorrhizal types.},
journal = {Tree physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpaf137},
pmid = {41172140},
issn = {1758-4469},
abstract = {Soil fungi establish symbiotic associations with plant roots, which provide nutrients in exchange for photosynthate from the host. Despite the recognized importance of fungal symbiosis, how root-associated fungal communities respond to light qualities remains unclear. In this study, we conducted on a novel spectral attenuation experiment involving seedlings of two temperate tree species, Quercus mongolica (ectomycorrhizal, ECM) and Acer mono (arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM). The experimental design incorporated five spectral treatments, including ambient full-spectrum as control and various attenuations of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. We quantified tree growth and root traits, and profiled root-associated fungal communities through high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that tree growth and root traits varied depending on tree species and spectral treatments. Blue light significantly promoted total biomass of Q. mongolica, but reduced root exudative carbon, sugar and phenolics. In contrast, A. mono showed no spectral changes in biomass and had the lowest root exudative sugar and phenolics in control. Higher root exudative carbon and phenolics were observed in A. mono than in Q. mongolica. Root-associated fungal communities also showed distinct responses to spectral treatments and tree species. Sob's and Chao1 indices of Q. mongolica fungal communities were significantly lower than those of A. mono under UV attenuation, and alterations in community structure were more pronounced in A. mono. These changes were strongly associated with root traits, particularly exudative carbon, sugar, and total phenolics. Within fungal communities, Q. mongolica was dominated by ECM and saprotrophic fungi, and A. mono by AM and saprotrophic fungi. The relative abundance of ECM fungi in Q. mongolica and that of AM fungi in A. mono was lowest when UV-B radiation was attenuated. In total, these findings highlight the crucial role of root traits and their interaction with fungi when exploring plant adaptation to varying light environments.},
}
@article {pmid41171549,
year = {2025},
author = {Sojoudi, A and SoltaniToularoud, A and GoliKalanpa, E and Nematollahzadeh, A},
title = {Effects of Ensifer meliloti and Rhizophagus intraradices on alfalfa growth indices under cadmium sulfide nanoparticle stress.},
journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41171549},
issn = {1614-7499},
abstract = {Cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS-NPs) are increasingly applied across various industries because of their unique properties. However, their accumulation in soil ecosystems and subsequent uptake by terrestrial plants can negatively affect plant growth. Beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere play an important role in mitigating the toxic effects of nanoparticles, thereby supporting plant health. Nevertheless, the role of these microorganisms in alleviating CdS-NP-induced stress in alfalfa remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the effects of different CdS-NPs concentrations (0, 100, 200, and 350 mg kg[-1] soil) on alfalfa, both in the presence and absence of Ensifer meliloti (a symbiotic bacterium) and Rhizophagus intraradices (an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus). The experimental treatments included a non-inoculated control, inoculation with E. meliloti or R. intraradices individually, and dual inoculation (R. intraradices + E. meliloti). Exposure to CdS-NPs in non-inoculated alfalfa induced significant oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased peroxidase and catalase activities, which were positively correlated with NP concentration (r > 0.90**). This stress reduced cell membrane stability, chlorophyll content and index, plant height, root length, biomass, and nodule number, with the strongest effects observed at 350 mg kg[-1] soil. In contrast, dual-inoculated plants showed improved growth, with cell membrane stability increased by 35%, chlorophyll content by 8%, chlorophyll index by 12%, nodule number by 37%, and POD and CAT activities reduced by 28% and 38%, respectively. Although no significant differences were observed between individual bacterial and fungal inoculations, bacterial inoculation was numerically more effective. These results demonstrated that microbial inoculation substantially enhanced alfalfa tolerance to CdS-NP toxicity and highlighted the need for further studies to investigate the underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms.},
}
@article {pmid41171541,
year = {2025},
author = {Joseph, JS and Selvamani, SB and Thiruvengadam, V and Ramasamy, GG and Subramanian, S and Menon, G and Sivakumar, G and Manjunath, C},
title = {Gut microbiota profiling of Apis cerana indica across biodiversity hotspots in the Western Ghats, India.},
journal = {Molecular biology reports},
volume = {53},
number = {1},
pages = {35},
pmid = {41171541},
issn = {1573-4978},
mesh = {Bees/microbiology ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; India ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome of honey bees plays a crucial role in regulating key physiological traits and metabolic processes, including digestion, detoxification, nutrient assimilation, development and immunity. However, information on the gut bacterial diversity of Apis cerana indica bee populations in India remains limited. This study aims to address this critical knowledge gap in Western Ghats, India with outcomes that may provide valuable insights for improving beekeeping practices in the region.<br><br>METHODS AND RESULTS: To fill this gap, we investigated and characterized the gut bacteriome of A. cerana indica collected from two ecologically distinct regions within the Western Ghats. We employed a combination of next-generation sequencing (NGS) using the Oxford Nanopore platform and traditional culture-based methods targeting the 16S rRNA gene to analyze the microbial communities. Our results revealed that the gut bacterial communities of foraging A. cerana indica bees from both locations displayed unique and overlapping microbiome profiles. A total of 225 bacterial species across 30 bacterial orders were identified via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, with 92 species shared between the two sites. Prominent symbiotic bacterial groups included Gammaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Flavobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinomycetota. Notably, core bee-associated symbionts exhibited a negative correlation with pathogenic bacterial taxa.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These findings offer valuable insights into the ecological and functional roles of the gut microbiome in A. cerana indica, a native honeybee species of the Western Ghats. The presence of shared bacterial species across regions suggests their potential significance in formulating conservation strategies for indigenous bee populations.},
}
@article {pmid41170986,
year = {2025},
author = {Mallikaarachchi, KS and Huang, JL and Madras, S and Cuellar, RA and Huang, Z and Gega, A and Rathnayaka-Mudiyanselage, IW and Nandana, V and Al-Husini, N and Saldaña-Rivera, N and Ma, LH and Ng, E and Christensen, K and Pendar, N and Li, S and Deleon, NR and Chen, JC and Schrader, JM},
title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti BR-bodies promote fitness during host colonization.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0249025},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.02490-25},
pmid = {41170986},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Biomolecular condensates are non-membrane-bound assemblies of proteins and nucleic acids that facilitate specific cellular processes. Like eukaryotic P-bodies, the recently discovered bacterial ribonucleoprotein bodies (BR-bodies) organize the mRNA decay machinery in α-proteobacteria; however, the similarities in molecular and cellular functions across species have been poorly explored. Here, we examine the functions of BR-bodies in the nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti, which colonizes the roots of compatible legume plants. Similar to Caulobacter crescentus, assembly of BR-bodies into visible foci in S. meliloti cells requires the C-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of RNase E in vivo and in vitro, and foci fusion is readily observed in vivo, suggesting that they are liquid-like condensates that form via mRNA sequestration. Using Rif-seq to measure mRNA lifetimes, we found a global slowdown in mRNA decay in a mutant deficient in BR-bodies, indicating that compartmentalization of the degradation machinery promotes efficient mRNA turnover across α-proteobacteria. Although BR-bodies are constitutively present during exponential growth, the abundance of BR-bodies increases upon cell stress, whereby they promote resistance to environmental stresses. Finally, we show that BR-bodies enhance competitive fitness during Medicago truncatula root colonization and appear to be required for effective symbiosis, as mutants without BR-bodies failed to promote robust plant growth on nitrogen-free medium. These results suggest that BR-bodies provide a fitness advantage for bacteria during host colonization, perhaps by enabling better resistance against the host immune response.IMPORTANCEAlthough eukaryotes often organize their biochemical pathways in membrane-bound organelles, bacteria generally lack such subcellular structures. Instead, membraneless compartments called biomolecular condensates have recently been found in bacteria to organize and enhance biochemical activities. Bacterial ribonucleoprotein bodies (BR-bodies), as one of the most characterized bacterial biomolecular condensates identified to date, assemble the mRNA decay machinery via the intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of proteins. However, the implications of such assemblies are unclear. Using a plant-associated symbiont, we show that the absence of BR-bodies results in slower mRNA decay, sensitivity to environmental stresses, and ineffective symbiosis, suggesting that BR-bodies play critical roles in regulating biochemical pathways and promoting fitness during host colonization.},
}
@article {pmid41170502,
year = {2025},
author = {Stepchuk, I and Pérez-Fortes, M and Ramírez, A},
title = {From Feedstock to Future Chemicals: Rethinking Carbon Sources in Industrial Propylene Clusters.},
journal = {ACS sustainable chemistry &amp; engineering},
volume = {13},
number = {42},
pages = {17869-17880},
pmid = {41170502},
issn = {2168-0485},
abstract = {The rising pressure to defossilize the chemical industry has driven research toward producing chemicals that use alternative carbon sources (ACS). However, the challenges and impacts of replacing already implemented processes and symbiotic relationships remain largely underexplored. This paper systematically assesses the impacts of defossilizing existing processes, both individually and simultaneously, in a propylene cluster in the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Nine fossil-based processes and three ACS-based processes (i.e., CO2-based polyol, biopropylene glycol (bio-PG), and biomethyl-tert-butyl-ether (bio-MTBE)) were included in the assessment. Integrating a single ACS-based process enlarges the propylene cluster and results in an excess of upstream chemicals that are no longer required by the ACS processes. Still, relatively simple technologies can reduce total energy and water use, resulting in lower direct CO2 emissions and water consumption of the cluster. Deploying multiple processes in parallel can drive the full defossilization of the cluster, but it requires a complete overhaul. The results illustrate the extent to which combining ACS-based processes could change the layout of an existing petrochemical cluster, affecting its performance. The paper stresses the importance of assessing such deployments, considering the existing conditions in industrial clusters.},
}
@article {pmid41169718,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, Y and Yang, Y and Deng, S and Ying, Z},
title = {Role of Azolla in sustainable agriculture and climate resilience: a comprehensive review.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1661720},
pmid = {41169718},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Agriculture faces mounting challenges from climate change, soil degradation, and unsustainable agrochemical use, highlighting the need for eco-friendly solutions. Azolla, a fast-growing aquatic fern, has emerged as a multifunctional resource for sustainable farming and climate resilience. Through its symbiosis with Anabaena azollae, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers and improving soil health. Azolla also serves as a protein-rich feed for livestock and aquaculture, suppresses weeds and pests in rice systems, and supports water conservation. Beyond agriculture, it contributes to carbon sequestration, mitigates methane emissions, and shows promise in wastewater treatment, bioremediation, and as a feedstock for biofuels and bioplastics. However, large-scale adoption is limited by challenges such as short shelf life, ecological risks, and preservation constraints. This review synthesizes current knowledge on Azolla, emphasizing its biological and ecological functions, highlights practical applications across agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, and environmental management, and outlines key research priorities needed to overcome limitations and enable its integration into climate-smart agricultural and environmental systems.},
}
@article {pmid41168779,
year = {2025},
author = {Boss, A and Toepfer, S and Erb, M and Machado, RAR},
title = {Genetic architecture of resistance to plant secondary metabolites in Photorhabdus entomopathogenic bacteria.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {975},
pmid = {41168779},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {GRS-079/19//Gebert R&#xfc;f Foundation/ ; 186094//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; },
mesh = {*Photorhabdus/genetics/metabolism/drug effects ; Animals ; *Secondary Metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Benzoxazines/pharmacology/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Plants/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Entomopathogenic nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis establish a symbiotic association with Photorhabdus bacteria. Together, they colonize and rapidly kill insects, making them important biological control agents against agricultural pests. Improving their biocontrol traits by engineering resistance to plant secondary metabolites (benzoxazinoids) in Photorhabdus symbiotic bacteria through experimental evolution has been shown to increase their lethality towards benzoxazinoid-defended larvae of the western corn rootworm, a serious crop pest of maize, and it is therefore a promising approach to develop more efficient biocontrol agents to manage this pest. To enhance our understanding of the genetic bases of benzoxazinoid resistance in Photorhabdus bacteria, we conducted an experimental evolution experiment with a phylogenetically diverse collection of Photorhabdus strains from different geographic origins. We cultured 27 different strains in medium containing 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA), a highly active benzoxazinoid breakdown product, for 35 24 h-cycles to select for benzoxazinoid-resistant strains. Then, we carried out genome-wide sequence comparisons to uncover the genetic alterations associated with benzoxazinoid resistance. Lastly, we evaluated the resistance of the newly isolated resistant Photorhabdus strains to eight additional bioactive compounds, including 2-benzoxazolinone (BOA), nicotine, caffeine, 6-chloroacetyl-2-benzoxazolinone (CABOA), digitoxin, fenitrothion, ampicillin, and kanamycin.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that benzoxazinoid resistance evolves rapidly in Photorhabdus in a strain-specific manner. Across the different Photorhabdus strains, a total of nineteen nonsynonymous point mutations, two stop codon gains, and one frameshift were associated with higher benzoxazinoid resistance. The different genetic alterations were polygenic and occurred in genes coding for the EnvZ/OmpR two-component regulatory system, the different subunits of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase, and the AcrABZ-TolC multidrug efflux pump. Apart from increasing MBOA resistance, the different mutations were also associated with cross-resistance to 2-benzoxazolinone (BOA), nicotine, caffeine, and 6-chloroacetyl-2-benzoxazolinone (CABOA) and with collateral sensitivity to fenitrothion, ampicillin, and kanamycin. Targeted mutagenesis will provide a deeper mechanistic understanding, including the relative contribution of the different mutation types.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals several genomic features that are associated with resistance to xenobiotics in this important group of biological control agents and enhances the availability of molecular tools to develop better biological control agents, which is essential for more sustainable and ecologically friendly agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid41167316,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, X and Zhang, Q and Wang, H and Li, M and Chen, J and He, Q and Dong, X},
title = {Revealing the dynamical effects of diurnal dynamics on community assembly in the electro-enhanced algal-bacterial symbiosis system for mariculture wastewater.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {123235},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.123235},
pmid = {41167316},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {This study evaluated the intrinsic effect of different light-dark cycles (H1-0L:12D; H2-3.5L:8.5D; H3-8L:4D) on mariculture wastewater degradation and nitrogen removal in Electro-enhanced Algal-Bacterial Symbiosis System. While chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal remained comparable (>72.9 %), H2 achieved 82 % total nitrogen removal, outperforming H1 (67 %) and H3 (68.8 %). The different nitrogen removal performance among the three systems was primarily attributable to the significant impairment of conventional nitrification and denitrification functions in both H1 and H3. Light/dark cycles caused a shift in the complexity and community structure. Microbial community assembly shifted from deterministic (R[2]=0.356, H1) to stochastic (R[2]=0.567, H3) selection with extended illumination. Crucially, H2, a unique balancer of both strategies (R[2]=0.54), enhanced bacterial-algal synergism and denitrification performance (denitrification efficiency increased 22.16 %) through stochastic-selected communities dominated by Tropicibacter (8.7 %) and Nitrogeniibacter (12.4 %), demonstrating light-cycle-induced ecological memory effects. These findings enabled engineered photoperiod control for energy-efficient mariculture wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid41166108,
year = {2025},
author = {Motnenko, A and Hawkins, JP and Ordoñez, PA and Oresnik, IJ},
title = {Sinorhizobium prairiense sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing symbiont of Phaseolus vulgaris isolated from Canadian prairie soil.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006947},
pmid = {41166108},
issn = {1466-5034},
mesh = {*Phaseolus/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Plasmids/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Manitoba ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {Three symbiotic bacteria (K101[T], C101 and M103) were obtained from nodule-trapping experiments using Phaseolus vulgaris, which was inoculated with soil samples from three distinct field sites in Manitoba, Canada. Here, we provide a phenotypic characterization and genomic analysis of these bacteria. Based on a core phylogeny (424 core genes), digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide alignment, these isolates group within the Sinorhizobium clade and are closely related to Sinorhizobium meliloti. Each strain contains four replicons that include a chromosome (3.5 Mb), a putative chromid (1.7 Mb) and two plasmids (plasmid A, 0.56 Mb; plasmid B, 0.77 Mb). The chromosome, chromid and plasmid B are closely related to the replicons found in S. meliloti, as shown by phylogenies constructed from the concatenation of either the parAB genes for the chromosome or the repABC genes for the chromid and plasmid B. The remaining plasmid was found to group with a plasmid from Sinorhizobium americanum. Consistent with this, the nodulation genes on this plasmid were also more similar to those in S. americanum, as seen in a phylogeny generated from the concatenation of the nodABC genes. Examination of the nodC phylogeny suggests a close association with the mediterranensis symbiovar. All three isolates were capable of symbiotic nitrogen fixation with P. vulgaris. Based on genomic and phenotypic data, we propose these isolates as a novel species within the Sinorhizobium clade, named Sinorhizobium prairiense sp. nov., for which the type strain is K101[T] (=LMG 33767[T]=DSM 118657[T]).},
}
@article {pmid41165958,
year = {2025},
author = {Helmich, RE and Zettler, LW and Dvorak, CJ and DiSalvo, S},
title = {Fluridone stimulates in vitro seed germination of a rare hardy terrestrial orchid (Platanthera leucophaea).},
journal = {Botanical studies},
volume = {66},
number = {1},
pages = {37},
pmid = {41165958},
issn = {1817-406X},
support = {American Orchid Society//American Orchid Society/ ; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service//U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Seeds of temperate terrestrial (hardy) orchids are considered more difficult to germinate compared to their tropical epiphytic counterparts, presumably because they have higher levels of abscisic acid (ABA) in their seed coats which prevents seeds from germinating prematurely during winter dormancy. In nature, ABA is gradually broken down (stripped) by natural weathering, triggering germination. This process can be shortened artificially, however, by using chemical bleaching agents and cold-moist stratification with mixed results. In this study, we explored the use of fluridoneto break seed dormancy in a hardy orchid native to North America, Platanthera leucophaea (Nutt.) Lindl. This organic compound (IUPAC name: 1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-[3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl] pyridin-4(1H)-one) is a commercial herbicide that inhibits ABA biosynthesis. We added fluridone directly to agar media prior to seed sowing in vitro. Both symbiotic and asymbiotic germination techniques were applied that involved two different agar media, with and without added fluridone. Symbiotic germination was carried out using standard oatmeal agar inoculated with a mycorrhizal fungus (Ceratobasidium), whereas asymbiotic treatments utilized P723 agar medium.<br><br>RESULTS: Seedling development within some of the replicate plates progressed to Stage 3 in all treatments, but development was marked in all asymbiotic plates containing fluridone leading to leaf elongation, 385 days after sowing.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: As an herbicide, fluridone's use as a media additive to propagate a rare photosynthetic orchid seems counterintuitive, but its use in vitro to stimulate seedling development has the potential to benefit conservation efforts for this and possibly other hardy orchid species.},
}
@article {pmid41165784,
year = {2025},
author = {Yoda, A and Kodama, K and Shimamura, M and Kyozuka, J},
title = {Spatial Localization of Strigolactone Biosynthesis and Secretion in Marchantia paleacea.},
journal = {Plant &amp; cell physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcaf144},
pmid = {41165784},
issn = {1471-9053},
abstract = {Phosphorus is an essential nutrient critical for plant growth and development, yet its availability in soil is often limited. Consequently, most land plants establish symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to enhance phosphate uptake. Strigolactones (SLs) function as rhizosphere signaling molecules that promote AMF symbiosis, distinct from their role as phytohormones regulating various plant functions. We previously identified an SL in Marchantia paleacea and demonstrated that the SLs primarily serve as rhizosphere signals rather than phytohormones in M. paleacea due to the absence of cognate receptors. In this study, we investigate the spatial localization of SL biosynthesis and secretion in M. paleacea. We find that SL biosynthesis genes are predominantly expressed in the basal region of the thallus compared to the distal region. Using Citrine driven by the promoter of MpaCCD8B, an SL biosynthesis gene, we show expression in smooth rhizoids and the ventral epidermis adjacent to these rhizoids, under phosphate-deficient conditions. When plants are cultured on medium, fluorescence is also detected in parenchymal cells, where AMF colonization occurs. In soil conditions, AMF colonization enhances MpaCCD8B expression in parenchymal cells, where AMF colonize. Furthermore, we assess SL secretion through germination assay of root parasitic plant seeds, revealing that exudates from the basal and midrib region exhibit the highest activity. These findings underscore that SLs are synthesized in the basal ventral tissues of M. paleacea and secreted into the rhizosphere, facilitating effective communication with AMF.},
}
@article {pmid41165610,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, X and Xie, D and Chen, H and Jia, N and Jiang, L and Pan, Z and Wang, Y and Dai, Y and Chi, D and Yu, J},
title = {Effects of Hylurgus ligniperda (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)-microorganism symbiosis complex damage severity on physiological and defensive responses in Pinus thunbergii.},
journal = {Journal of economic entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jee/toaf292},
pmid = {41165610},
issn = {1938-291X},
support = {2021YFD1400300//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {To explore the defense response of Pinus thunbergii to different damage levels of Hylurgus ligniperda, 4-yr-old P. thunbergii saplings were transplanted in pots in the field. After enclosing the base of the saplings with insect-proof nets, adult H. ligniperda were introduced for infestation. Terminal and lateral shoot growth of P. thunbergii were measured at 0, 20, 40, and 60 d post-release (dpr) of adult beetles, while samples were collected at 7, 17, 37, 57, and 67 dpr. At each sampling time point, the damage area inflicted by H. ligniperda on P. thunbergii and the pest population density were recorded. Based on the damage area, the trees were classified into five severity grades: healthy pines (no pest released), and those with damage areas of <1%, 1% to 5%, 5% to 20%, and >20%. Laboratory analyses assessed changes in defense-related indices, root vitality, and nutrient content across damage grades. Additionally, H. ligniperda adults were reared on bark from differently damaged trees to evaluate the impact of P. thunbergii defensive responses. Results revealed that H. ligniperda infestation significantly inhibited shoot growth in P. thunbergii, impairing tree development and ultimately causing death. An overall trend of initial increase followed by a decrease was observed in the tree's root vitality and defense indices with increasing damage, which ultimately failed to prevent H. ligniperda colonization. Furthermore, these defensive responses suppressed weight gain and reduced reserves of glycogen, protein, and free fatty acids in adult H. ligniperda, adversely affecting their development.},
}
@article {pmid41165394,
year = {2025},
author = {Rozo-Lopez, P and Torres, V and Torres, J and Drolet, BS and Käfer, S and Parker, BJ},
title = {Heritable viral symbionts in the family Iflaviridae are widespread among aphids.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0160625},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01606-25},
pmid = {41165394},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Heritable microbes shape host phenotypes and serve as important drivers of evolution. While interactions between insects and bacterial symbionts have been extensively studied, the prevalence and evolution of insect-viral symbioses remain poorly understood. We discovered multiple new species of iflaviruses in aphids, an important model for research on symbiosis, and found these microbes to be widespread across aphid species. We show that iflaviruses are persistently maintained in asexual host lines without apparent fitness costs while being transmitted vertically from mothers to offspring. Using field data and phylogenetic evidence, we found that aphid iflaviruses move horizontally among host species, but laboratory experiments showed that horizontal transmission does not result in persistent infections. Using quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry, we discovered that viral infections localize in the host fat bodies and developing embryos. Surprisingly, we also found viral infections inside bacteria-housing cells called bacteriocytes, along with a positive correlation between viral and bacterial symbiont density. Together, our work suggests that iflaviruses are widespread heritable symbionts in aphids.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: In recent years, the rise of metatranscriptome sequencing has led to the rapid discovery of novel viral sequences in insects. However, few studies have carefully investigated the dynamics of insect-virus interactions to produce a general understanding of viral symbiosis. Aphids are an important model for understanding the evolution and molecular basis of symbiosis, but whether viruses are forming persistent symbiotic relationships with aphids remains unclear. Here, we show that heritable iflaviruses are a widespread but previously unrecognized part of the aphid heritable microbiome. Aphid iflaviruses are transmitted alongside bacteria from mothers to offspring, potentially via specialized bacteriocytes that house symbiotic microbes. Our findings suggest that aphids establish persistent relationships with iflaviruses and are likely coevolving with these viral symbionts.},
}
@article {pmid41164861,
year = {2025},
author = {Fowler, JC and Moutouama, J and Miller, TEX},
title = {Increasing Prevalence of Plant-Fungal Symbiosis Across Two Centuries of Environmental Change.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {31},
number = {11},
pages = {e70577},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70577},
pmid = {41164861},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {//Texas Ecolab Program/ ; 1754468//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 2208857//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Climate Change ; *Epichloe/physiology ; *Endophytes/physiology ; *Elymus/microbiology ; *Poaceae/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Species' distributions and abundances are shifting in response to ongoing global climate change. Mutualistic microbial symbionts can provide hosts with protection from environmental stress that may promote resilience under environmental change; however, this change may also disrupt species interactions and lead to declines in hosts and/or symbionts. Symbionts preserved within natural history specimens offer a unique opportunity to quantify changes in microbial symbiosis across broad temporal and spatial scales. We asked how the prevalence of seed-transmitted fungal symbionts of grasses (Epichloë endophytes) has changed over time in response to climate change, and how these changes vary across host species' distributions. Specifically, we examined 2346 herbarium specimens of three grass host species (Agrostis hyemalis, Agrostis perennans, Elymus virginicus) collected over the past two centuries (1824-2019) for the presence or absence of Epichloë symbiosis. Analysis of an approximate Bayesian spatially varying coefficients model revealed that endophytes increased in prevalence over the last two centuries from ca. 25% to ca. 75% prevalence, on average, across three host species. Changes in seasonal climate drivers were associated with increasing endophyte prevalence. Notably, increasing precipitation during the peak growing season for Agrostis species and decreasing precipitation for E. virginicus were associated with increasing endophyte prevalence. Changes in the variability of precipitation and temperature during off-peak seasons were also important predictors of increasing endophyte prevalence. Our model performed favorably in an out-of-sample predictive test with contemporary survey data from across 63 populations, a rare extra step in collections-based research. However, there was greater local-scale variability in endophyte prevalence in contemporary data compared to model predictions, suggesting new directions that could improve predictive accuracy. Our results provide novel evidence for a cryptic biological response to climate change that may contribute to the resilience of host-microbe symbiosis through fitness benefits to symbiotic hosts.},
}
@article {pmid41163851,
year = {2025},
author = {Rai, N and Kachore, A and Julka, JM and Panigrahi, A and Das, SP and Nan, FH},
title = {Symbiotic strategies: deciphering the role of gut microbiota in the nutrition and metabolism of fish and shellfish.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1639426},
pmid = {41163851},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Fishes/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; *Shellfish/microbiology ; Aquaculture ; *Symbiosis ; Probiotics ; Prebiotics ; Diet ; },
abstract = {The gastrointestinal microbiota is crucial for the health and physiology of aquatic organisms, influencing their nutrition, metabolism, and immune responses. This review compares the diversity and function of gut microbial communities in finfish and shellfish, highlighting differences between freshwater and marine species as well as variations within shellfish taxa. We examine how these microbes aid in digesting complex dietary substrates, assimilating nutrients, and synthesizing essential metabolites, all of which are vital for host health. The structure of these microbial communities is shaped by a complex interplay of environmental factors, such as water temperature, salinity, and pH, and host-specific factors, including genetics and diet. A comprehensive understanding of these interactions is key to improving gut health and nutrient use in aquaculture. This review also identifies future research directions, focusing on the use of probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary interventions. These strategies, combined with multi-omics approaches, have great potential to enhance the sustainability of aquaculture by improving growth performance, feed conversion efficiency, and disease resistance in farmed aquatic species.},
}
@article {pmid41163484,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, S and Zuo, R and Zou, F and Wang, T and Chang, M and Masabni, J and Yuan, D and Xiong, H},
title = {Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis Enhances Mineralization of Phytate by Inducing Host-Derived Purple Acid Phosphatase Secretion in Castanea henryi.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {6},
pages = {e70614},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70614},
pmid = {41163484},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {32001309//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2025JJ60143//National Natural Science Foundation of Hunan/ ; 2024RC1059//Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Acid Phosphatase/metabolism/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Phytic Acid/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Fagaceae/microbiology/metabolism/enzymology/genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Plant symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) promotes soil phosphorus (P) uptake, and studies have suggested that acid phosphatase (ACP) produced by ECMF promotes soil organic phosphorus (Po) mineralization and thus aids in plant P uptake. However, how the host plant plays a role, if any in this process, is not clear. We explored the response of the host plant, Castanea henryi, to phytate and its utilization mechanism after inoculation with Pisolithus orientalis LY-8. In this study, ECMF inoculation significantly enhanced plant biomass, and soil available phosphorus, labile organic phosphorus, moderately labile organic phosphorus content, and Po mineralization rate. After inoculation, the ACP activity of plant root tips was higher than the sum of the ACP secreted by uninoculated root tips and the ACP secreted by fungi. Besides, alkaline phosphatase, and root tip vigor were significantly increased after inoculation. Transcriptome sequencing and RT-qPCR revealed that the relative expression of ChACP genes, especially purple acid phosphatase (ChPAPs) and phosphorus transporter genes were significantly higher in the inoculated treatment than in the uninoculated treatment. These results indicate that ECMF can induce the expression of ChPAPs, thus affecting the secretion of ACP in the root system of C. henryi, which in turn strengthens the ability to mineralize soil Po and promotes plant growth. Our results provide new insights into the understanding of the mechanisms of the role of ECMF in plant P nutrient acquisition.},
}
@article {pmid41163404,
year = {2025},
author = {Ricks, KD and Raglin, SS and Kent, AD},
title = {Signatures of local nitrogen adaptation in the Brachypodium distachyon root microbiome.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70684},
pmid = {41163404},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {NREC 2021-2-360190-334//Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council/ ; ILLU-875-637//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; DE-SC0018420//Biological and Environmental Research/ ; },
abstract = {Plants associate with diverse microbiomes that impact their fitness, yet the contribution of the microbiome to plant adaptation is uncertain. As plant recruitment of its microbiome can be both highly variable and genetically determined, we hypothesized this recruitment process may be the result of adaptive evolution, and contributing to plant local adaptation. We investigated the evolution and adaptive benefit of plant-microbiome recruitment by characterizing the rhizosphere communities across a genotypic panel of Brachypodium distachyon in a common garden experiment. By linking microbial communities to their host genotype's historic environment, we identified signatures of selection on plant-microbiome recruitment. Plant-microbiome composition was significantly correlated with the host genotype's historic environment, with enrichment of microbial traits aligned to local resource conditions. For example, genotypes from low-nitrogen environments recruited communities enriched in nitrogen acquisition traits. In a complementary experiment evaluating plant nitrogen response, these same genotypes were well-adapted to low-nitrogen environments, contingent on the presence of key nitrogen-cycling microbes. These results suggest that local adaptation in plants may partially be mediated by recruitment of beneficial microbiomes. This perspective suggests that plant adaptation may be an emergent property of host-microbe interactions, where evolutionary responses favor traits that promote recruitment of locally beneficial microbiomes.},
}
@article {pmid41163130,
year = {2025},
author = {Cole, J and Raguideau, S and Abbaszadeh-Dahaji, P and Hilton, S and Muscatt, G and Mushinski, RM and Nilsson, RH and Ryan, MH and Quince, C and Bending, GD},
title = {Comparative genomic analysis of a metagenome-assembled genome reveals distinctive symbiotic traits in a Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {967},
pmid = {41163130},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {BB/T00746X/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; DP180103157//Australian Research Council/ ; DP180103157//Australian Research Council/ ; NE/S010270/1//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; NE/S010270/1//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Endophytes/genetics ; *Genomics ; *Metagenome ; *Genome, Fungal ; Glomeromycota/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Recent evidence shows that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, as defined by the presence of arbuscules, is established by two distinct fungal groups, with the distinctive 'fine root endophyte' morphotype formed by fungi from the subphylum Mucoromycotina rather than the sub-phylum Glomeromycotina. While FRE forming fungi are globally distributed, there is currently no understanding of the genomic basis for their symbiosis or how this symbiosis compares to that of other mycorrhizal symbionts.<br><br>RESULTS: We used culture-independent metagenome sequencing to assemble and characterise the metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) of a putative arbuscule forming fine root endophyte, which we show belonged to the family Planticonsortiaceae within the order Densosporales. The MAG shares key traits with Glomeromycotina fungi, which indicate obligate biotrophy, including the absence of fatty acid and thiamine biosynthesis pathways, limited enzymatic abilities to degrade plant cell walls, and a high abundance of calcium transporters. In contrast to Glomeromycotina fungi, it exhibits a higher capacity for degradation of microbial cell walls, a complete cellulose degradation pathway, low abundances of copper, nitrate and ammonium transporters, and a complete pathway for vitamin B6 biosynthesis.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These differences, particularly those typically associated with saprotrophic functions, highlight the potential for contrasting interactions between Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina fungi with their host plant and the environment. In turn, this could support niche differentiation in resource acquisition and complementary ecological functions.},
}
@article {pmid41163086,
year = {2025},
author = {Mooney, R and Corbett, E and Giammarini, E and Rodgers, K and Donet, C and Mui, E and Ansari, ATA and Ransingh, A and Vernekar, PS and Walia, HK and Sharma, J and Connolly, J and Hursthouse, A and Mukherji, S and Mukherji, S and Henriquez, FL},
title = {The Microbial Trojan Horse and Antimicrobial Resistance: Acanthamoeba as an Environmental Reservoir for Multidrug Resistant Bacteria.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {11},
pages = {e70193},
doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.70193},
pmid = {41163086},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {NE/T012986/1//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; BT/IN/Indo-UK/AMR-Env/01/SM/2020-21//Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India/ ; },
mesh = {*Acanthamoeba/microbiology ; *Bacteria/drug effects/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; },
abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is shaped by environmental pressures, yet the role of microbial predators such as Acanthamoeba in resistance dynamics remains poorly characterized. In this study, Acanthamoeba-associated bacterial communities (AAB) exhibited significantly higher multidrug resistance than sediment-associated bacterial communities (SAB) in a polluted estuarine system. All isolated amoebae belonged to the T4 genotype, suggesting selection for resilient host organisms. AAB displayed elevated multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices and increased resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, particularly aminoglycosides, macrolides, fluoroquinolones and β-lactams. Correlation analysis revealed that resistance in AAB, but not SAB, was associated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) known to influence phagocyte survival, including arsenic, vanadium, and calcium. These elements may select for traits that confer metal and antibiotic resistance. The findings support a model where protists act as selective environments for AMR, favoring bacteria that possess enhanced tolerance mechanisms. This work provides the first direct evidence linking PTE exposure to the intracellular resistome of Acanthamoeba-associated bacteria. It underscores the need for AMR monitoring frameworks that include protist-bacteria interactions, with implications for One Health and environmental risk assessment strategies. Moreover, this approach is scalable for application in low/middle-income countries, where AMR burden is greatest and surveillance capacity remains limited.},
}
@article {pmid41162683,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, Y and He, J and Zhang, Q and Li, Y and Ke, J and Lin, C and Yao, B and Zhang, C and Tan, N},
title = {Aerococcus christensenii: an emerging pathogen associated with infections and bacteremia in pregnancy-genomic insights and pathogenicity evaluation.},
journal = {Functional &amp; integrative genomics},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {229},
pmid = {41162683},
issn = {1438-7948},
support = {868-000001033222//The Scientific Foundation for Youth Scholars of Shenzhen University/ ; 868-000001033222//The Scientific Foundation for Youth Scholars of Shenzhen University/ ; 868-000001033222//The Scientific Foundation for Youth Scholars of Shenzhen University/ ; },
mesh = {Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; *Bacteremia/microbiology ; Animals ; *Aerococcus/genetics/pathogenicity/drug effects/isolation &amp; purification ; Mice ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/microbiology ; Virulence/genetics ; *Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/microbiology ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; },
abstract = {Aerococcus christensenii (A. christensenii) is a symbiotic bacterium that primarily colonizes the vagina. Infections caused by A. christensenii are rare but can also pose a significant health threat. In this study, two rare cases of A. christensenii bacteremia in pregnant women complicated with chorioamnionitis were investigated; and two strains KSW23 and KWL24, which were isolated from blood samples, were analyzed for their genomic characteristics and pathogenic potential. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the genome sizes of KSW23 and KWL24 were approximately 1.6 Mb, and predicted multiple genes associated with pathogenicity (tuf, eno, plr/gapA, galU, galE, groEL, gndA, sugC, lplA1, mgtB, clpC, clpP, and lmb), antibiotic resistance (ermB and tet(M)), and mobile genetic elements (plasmid replicon repUS43 and transposon Tn6009). Correspondingly, these strains showed multidrug resistance to Macrolides, Lincosamides, and Tetracyclines. Pangenome analysis revealed close evolutionary relationships and significant genomic conservation between these two strains and the previously isolated strains, especially with respect to genes related to pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance. Notably, a mouse bacteremia model confirmed the pathogenicity and virulence of A. christensenii strains KSW23 and KWL24, which induced bacteremia and mortality, but not as strongly as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strain ATCC25923. Additionally, A. christensenii exhibited a robust survival ability in human blood comparable to those observed in S. aureus strain ATCC25923. To our knowledge, this study is the first genomic research on A. christensenii, and confirms the species' bloodstream invasive capacity and pathogenicity based on genomic studies and experimental validation. These findings underscore its role as a pathogen in the ascending genital tract in the obstetric population.},
}
@article {pmid41162617,
year = {2025},
author = {Salama, SG and Marie, AH and Bedair, R},
title = {Floristic assessment and soil-vegetation dynamics in an arid zone: a case study of the old Katameya-Ain Sokhna Road, Eastern Desert, Egypt.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {37742},
pmid = {41162617},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Egypt ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Desert Climate ; *Ecosystem ; *Plants/classification ; Biodiversity ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; },
abstract = {In the hyper-arid deserts of Egypt, where extreme environmental conditions prevail, understanding the symbiotic relationship between the sparse vegetation cover and the underlying soil is crucial for unraveling the mechanisms of plant survival and ecosystem functioning. This study investigates vegetation composition, environmental drivers, and their interactions in an unprotected area of Egypt's northern Eastern Desert, which has recently experienced substantial anthropogenic disturbances. Primary threats to vegetation include road construction, unregulated quarrying, and overexploitation of natural resources. To represent the habitats present in the study area, 20 stands were selected. In each stand, the existing plant species were recorded, soil samples were taken from each stand, and multivariate statistics (DCA) were conducted to show the relationship between the distinctive plant indicators for each stand, as well as the most influential soil factors in each stand. Then, the state of the vegetation cover in previous years (2014) was compared with the state in the study year (2024). A total of 75 plant species were documented, with Asteraceae (15 species) and Fabaceae (6 species) representing the most diverse families. Perennials (73%), chamaephytes (44%), and Saharo-Arabian species (71%) dominated the flora. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) revealed that the studied stands were divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D). Each group was ecologically similar to the other. Each group of stands had distinctive plant indicators and the soil factors most closely associated with them. Based on the IUCN Red List, conservation status assessments were provided for each species (65 species were unevaluated, while only 11% of the total species are classified as Least Concern, with no taxa appearing in the threatened category). The presence of invasive non-native taxa, such as Beta vulgaris and Centaurea calcitrapa, which threaten native biodiversity, was noted. Analysis of the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) revealed a reduction in vegetation cover between 2014 (SAVI range: -0.523911 to 0.860437) and 2024 (SAVI range: -0.574714 to 1.08698). The recorded plant species include 16 medicinal plants. Escalating habitat destruction and anthropogenic pressures underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to safeguard biodiversity in this vulnerable region.},
}
@article {pmid41162221,
year = {2025},
author = {Hodžić, A},
title = {The contribution of the Midichloria mitochondrii endosymbiont to Borrelia infection dynamics.},
journal = {Trends in parasitology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2025.10.003},
pmid = {41162221},
issn = {1471-5007},
abstract = {Recent studies have revealed a positive correlation between the presence of the Midichloria mitochondrii endosymbiont and Borrelia species in the tick vector, suggesting potential interactions that may influence pathogen infection and the transmission dynamics of Lyme borreliosis. This article discusses the possible mechanistic pathways underlying these interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41162177,
year = {2025},
author = {Nam, Y and Seo, G and Kim, Y and Kim, SR and Kim, JN},
title = {Comparative Analysis of Microbial Communities and Biopolymer Production in Kombucha.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {e2508004},
doi = {10.4014/jmb.2508.08004},
pmid = {41162177},
issn = {1738-8872},
mesh = {Cellulose/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Fermentation ; Biopolymers/biosynthesis/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Microbiota ; *Kombucha Tea/microbiology ; Yeasts/metabolism/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Ethanol/metabolism ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Phylogeny ; Acetobacteraceae/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {While the microbial diversity of kombucha has been previously investigated, only a limited number of studies have explicitly distinguished between the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) and the liquid broth, and even fewer have directly associated microbial diversity with bacterial cellulose production. This study investigated the microbial communities present in commercially available kombucha products by using both culture-based and molecular analysis methods, along with metabolite profiling by chemical analyses. Culture-based methods identified key cellulose-producing strains, including Komagataeibacter intermedius, K. rhaeticus, and Novacetimonas hansenii, while next-generation sequencing revealed Komagataeibacter as the dominant bacterial genus in kombucha. Yeast communities in kombucha were predominated by Zygosaccharomyces bisporus and Z. parabailii. As fermentation progressed, all kombucha samples exhibited typical fermentation dynamics, characterized by progressive sucrose depletion and an increase in ethanol and acetate production. Given the promising industrial applications of bacterial cellulose, the biopolymer content of kombucha was evaluated. Among the kombucha samples, K2 showed the highest cellulose yield (4.50 ± 2.28 g), and N. hansenii was identified as the most efficient cellulose producer among the isolates. This integrative approach provides critical insights into the role of microbial communities in regulating kombucha fermentation. Specifically, this study delineated the core microbiota required for stable fermentation and identified strains with enhanced cellulose-producing capacity. Beyond defining the key microbial taxa associated with kombucha production, these findings underscore the industrial potential of kombucha-derived cellulose producers and present a strategy for optimizing bacterial cellulose yield in large-scale applications.},
}
@article {pmid41161318,
year = {2025},
author = {Balmand, S and Rivard, C and Peignier, S and Santarella-Mellwig, R and Ghanem-Debbache, M and Maire, J and Engl, T and Galvão Ferrarini, M and Dell'Aglio, E and Soriano-Saiz, B and Dalverny, C and La Padula, V and Turunen, P and Rahioui, I and Vallier, A and Vincent-Monégat, C and Vierne, B and Parisot, N and Condemine, G and Da Silva, P and Jaurand, X and Schwab, Y and Kaltenpoth, M and Heddi, A and Zaidman-Rémy, A},
title = {Bacterial tubular networks channel carbohydrates in insect endosymbiosis.},
journal = {Cell},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2025.10.001},
pmid = {41161318},
issn = {1097-4172},
abstract = {Symbiosis is widespread in nature and plays a fundamental role in organism adaptation and evolution. In nutritional endosymbiosis, host cells accommodate intracellular bacteria and act as a "metabolic factory," requiring extensive metabolic exchanges between host and endosymbiont. To investigate the mechanisms supporting these exchanges, we used the association between the bacterium Sodalis pierantonius and the insect Sitophilus spp. that thrives on an exclusive cereal diet. Volume electron microscopy uncovered that endosymbionts generate complex membranous tubular networks (tubenets) that connect bacteria and drastically increase their exchange surface with the host cytosol. In situ high spatial resolution chemical analysis indicated that tubenets are enriched in carbohydrates, which are the main substrate used by bacteria to generate nutrients for the host. Multiple membranous structures favoring nutrient absorption are described in multicellular organisms. This work demonstrates that bacteria have convergently evolved a similar "biostrategy" that enhances nutrient acquisition by increasing membrane interface.},
}
@article {pmid41160691,
year = {2025},
author = {Becker-Kerber, B and Brocks, JJ and Archilha, NL and Rodella, CB and Petkov, V and deAzevedo, ER and Pimentel, T and Garcia, R and Petts, D and Czas, J and Ardakani, OH and Chappaz, A and Albuquerque, &#xc2; and Ortega-Hernández, J and Lerosey-Aubril, R and Kipp, MA and Johnson, B and Thoury, M and Oliveira, CMA and Pimentel, HHLSM and Freitas, RO and Vicentin, FC and Borges, LGF and Almer, J and Park, JS and Polo, CC and Kerber, G and Del Mouro, L and Figueiredo, M and Prado, GMEM and Ahmed, S and Basei, MAS},
title = {The rise of lichens during the colonization of terrestrial environments.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {11},
number = {44},
pages = {eadw7879},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adw7879},
pmid = {41160691},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Lichens/physiology ; *Fossils ; *Ecosystem ; Biological Evolution ; Brazil ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {The origin of terrestrial life and ecosystems fundamentally changed the biosphere. Lichens, symbiotic fungi-algae partnerships, are crucial to nutrient cycling and carbon fixation today, yet their evolutionary history during the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems remains unclear due to a scarce fossil record. We demonstrate that the enigmatic Devonian fossil Spongiophyton from Brazil captures one of the earliest and most widespread records of lichens. The presence of internal hyphae networks, algal cells, possible reproductive structures, calcium oxalate pseudomorphs, abundant nitrogenous compounds, and fossil lipid composition confirms that it was among the first widespread representatives of lichenized fungi in Earth's history. Spongiophyton abundance and wide paleogeographic distribution in Devonian successions reveal an ecologically prominent presence of lichens during the late stages of terrestrial colonization, just before the evolution of complex forest ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41160687,
year = {2025},
author = {Okada, K and Fujiwara, T and Hirooka, S and Kobayashi, Y and Onuma, R and Miyagishima, SY},
title = {The closed nutrient recycling system in the Paramecium-Chlorella photosymbiosis contributes to survival under oligotrophic conditions.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {11},
number = {44},
pages = {eadz0004},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adz0004},
pmid = {41160687},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Paramecium/physiology/metabolism ; *Chlorella/physiology/metabolism ; *Nutrients/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Light ; },
abstract = {Endosymbiotic relationships between a heterotrophic host and a unicellular algal endosymbiont are observed across many eukaryotic lineages. Although these relationships are prevalent in oligotrophic environments, how they function and provide an advantage under such conditions remains largely unknown. To address these issues, we examined the behavior of the ciliate Paramecium bursaria hosting Chlorella endosymbionts under nitrogen- and prey-depleted conditions. The Paramecium host survived for up to 5 weeks while maintaining the number of Chlorella endosymbionts, whereas aposymbiotic Paramecium and free-living Chlorella either died or bleached, respectively, under the same conditions. In the symbiotic state, the host continuously fed on the endosymbionts without excreting nitrogenous waste into the medium, while the remaining endosymbionts continued to proliferate using heterotrophic metabolites from the host and light energy. Thus, the cyclical farming of endosymbionts by the host maintains a high concentration of nutrients within the closed system, providing a selective advantage in oligotrophic environments.},
}
@article {pmid41160089,
year = {2025},
author = {Abuzahrah, SS},
title = {The microbiome of marine sponges located on the Saudi Arabia coast of the Red sea using high-throughput 16S amplicon sequencing.},
journal = {AMB Express},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {160},
pmid = {41160089},
issn = {2191-0855},
support = {PROJECT NO.: CRP/SAU24-02//International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)/ ; },
abstract = {Marine sponges (Porifera) from the Red Sea host diverse microbial communities that are integral to sponge health, nutrient cycling, and ecological resilience. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we characterized the bacterial diversity and functional potential across several Red Sea sponge species. Our findings revealed that these microbiomes are dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Roseobacteraceae, with notable contributions from bacterial taxa involved in nitrogen fixation, organic matter degradation, and antimicrobial compound production. Functional predictions indicate that these symbionts support sponge nutrition, defense, and adaptation to the extreme Red Sea environment, including high salinity and temperature. Compared to sponge microbiomes from other marine regions, the Red Sea communities display unique taxonomic compositions and enhanced metabolic and defensive capacities. This highlights the essential ecological roles and potential biotechnological applications of these symbiotic assemblages. Our study underscores the significance of exploring sponge-associated microbiomes in understudied and extreme marine ecosystems. These results provide a foundation for future bioprospecting and work on adaptive mechanisms, emphasizing the value of Red Sea sponges and their microbiota for marine biotechnology and ecosystem resilience.},
}
@article {pmid41159495,
year = {2025},
author = {Kurimoto, SI and Nishie, K and Kubota, T},
title = {Absolute Configuration of Symbiodinolactone A.},
journal = {Journal of natural products},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5c01163},
pmid = {41159495},
issn = {1520-6025},
abstract = {The absolute configurations at five stereogenic centers in symbiodinolactone A, a 12-membered macrolide isolated from the symbiotic marine dinoflagellate Symbiodinium sp. associated with an acoelomorpha Amphiscolops sp., were determined to be 7R,11R,12R,13R,14R. A combination of different techniques was applied in this regard such as Rychnovsky's method, Kishi's universal NMR databases, the modified Mosher's method, and comparison of the NMR data of the bis(S)-MTPA ester of a degradation product of symbiodinolactone A with those of synthesized reference compounds. In addition, symbiodinolactone A was found to exhibit cytotoxicity against L1210 murine leukemia cells.},
}
@article {pmid41159488,
year = {2025},
author = {Ge, X and Li, N and Zhang, J and Fan, X and Chen, L and Zhao, N and Ren, A},
title = {Epichloë endophyte-infected Achnatherum sibiricum and neighbouring non-host grasses exhibit associational resistance to soil-borne diseases.},
journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/plb.70112},
pmid = {41159488},
issn = {1438-8677},
support = {32271586//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Grasses and Epichloë endophytes often form mutualistic symbiotic defence systems. Studies have shown Epichloë endophytes improve resistance of host plants to airborne diseases. However, whether endophytes affect soil-borne disease resistance of host or neighbouring non-host plants remains unclear. We used endophyte-infected (EI) and endophyte-free (EF) Achnatherum sibiricum as host grass, Leymus chinensis as non-host grass, and Rhizoctonia solani as pathogen to explore the effects of endophyte infection on disease resistance of host and neighbouring non-host grasses. To clarify the contribution of root exudates to disease resistance of the non-host grass, three different root separation methods were employed between host and non-host plants: plastic barrier (PB), nylon mesh barrier (NL, allowing root exudates to pass through), or no barrier (NB). Epichloë endophytes decreased the disease index (DI) of the host A. sibiricum and reduced pathogen abundance in both host roots and soil. The DI of L. chinensis was affected by the interaction between root separation and endophyte infection. Under NL and NB treatments, the DI of L. chinensis with an EI neighbour was significantly lower than that with an EF neighbour, indicating that endophytic fungi can alleviate disease in non-host plants by influencing root exudates. Additionally, endophytic fungi increased the content of total phenolic compounds and salicylic acid in L. chinensis through activation of host root exudates, which could be one reason for the reduced DI of L. chinensis. Upon analysing root exudate components of the host, we found 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were the main antifungal compounds mediated by endophyte infection. Epichloë endophytes improved soil-borne disease resistance of the host and enhanced resistance of the neighbouring non-host grass through host root exudates; overall, host and non-host plants showed "associational resistance" to soil-borne diseases. This study highlights that Epichloë endophytes could potentially serve as efficient biological control agents against R. solani-associated diseases in grassland communities.},
}
@article {pmid41158803,
year = {2025},
author = {Totleben, L and Thomas, J and Austin, D},
title = {Drug-mediated disruption of the aging gut microbiota and mucosal immune system.},
journal = {Frontiers in aging},
volume = {6},
number = {},
pages = {1603847},
pmid = {41158803},
issn = {2673-6217},
abstract = {The human gut microbiota is comprised predominantly of bacteria, and also includes archaea, fungi, and viruses. The gastrointestinal epithelium, mucosal barrier, and mucosal immune system balance protection against infection at mucosal entry points with symbiosis and tolerance to non-harmful organisms and antigens. Aging is associated with notable changes in both gut microbiota and mucosal immunity, including reduced microbial diversity, increased proportion of pathobionts relative to commensals, immunosenescence, and chronic inflammation. These changes may disrupt gastrointestinal function and homeostasis and increase susceptibility to infection and inflammatory conditions. Multiple drug classes are also associated with disruption of the gut microbiota and mucosal immunity, including antibacterials, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), metformin, and steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. This review describes the mechanisms by which these drugs affect the gut microbiota and mucosal immunity to provide perspective of the concurrent effects of drugs and age-related changes.},
}
@article {pmid41158770,
year = {2025},
author = {Peng, Y and Huang, D and Li, J and Sun, X and Zhang, Q and Zhang, R and Yang, R and Li, B and Kong, T and Xiong, Z and Huang, Y and Chang, Z and Su, Y and Shang, Y and Ghani, MU and Wang, Y and Sun, W},
title = {Investigation of the role of sulfide oxidation in the gill-associated microbiota of freshwater mussel Limnoperna fortunei.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1671425},
pmid = {41158770},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Limnoperna fortunei is a notable invasive freshwater species, altering structure and function of natural and engineered aquatic ecosystems. The host-associated microbiomes play a critical role in the survival and thriving of L. fortunei, with the gill-associated microbiomes being particularly significant due to their involvement in filter feeding, nutrient metabolism, and symbiosis. However, research on microbiomes associated with L. fortunei remains limited, and studies specifically focusing on gill-associated microbiota are scarce, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of their ecological roles.<br><br>METHODS: In this study, gill-associated bacterial communities of the L. fortunei were compared with their surrounding water microbial populations in the largest water diversion projects (the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project) to elucidate their environmental adaptations and potential contribution to their hosts. Analyses included assessing bacterial diversity and composition, conducting Neutral Community Model (NCM) analysis to explore community assembly processes, constructing an environmental-microbial co-occurrence network to identify key environmental factors, and performing metagenomic analysis of gill samples to investigate functional genes.<br><br>RESULTS: Significant variations were observed in bacterial diversity and composition between gills and surrounding water. Sulfur oxidizing bacteria Pirellula, SM1A02, and Roseomonas were significantly enriched in gill-associated microbiota. Neutral community model (NCM) analysis unveiled that the assembly of gill microbial communities was primarily governed by stochastic processes, constrained by determined processes. Moreover, environmental-microbial co-occurrence network identified reduced sulfur as the key factor shaping the composition of bacterial communities. Metagenomic binning of gill samples further revealed that metagenome assembled genomes associated with Pirellula within the phylum Planctomycetota contained functional genes related to sulfide oxidation and resistant to oxidative stress.<br><br>DISCUSSION: This study provides systematic insights into the microbial community diversity, assembly patterns, and functional characteristics of L. fortunei gill-asscociated microbiota, contributing to a mechanistic understanding of their ecological roles.},
}
@article {pmid41158324,
year = {2025},
author = {Fatemi, S and Kriefall, NG and Yogi, D and Weber, D and Hynson, NA and Medeiros, MCI and Sadowski, P and Amend, AS},
title = {Microbial composition and function are nested and shaped by food web topologies.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf175},
pmid = {41158324},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Food webs govern interactions among organisms and drive energy fluxes within ecosystems. With an increasing appreciation for the role of symbiotic microbes in host metabolism and development, it is imperative to understand the extent to which microbes conform to, and potentially influence, canonical food web efficiencies and structures. Here, we investigate whether bacteria and their taxa and functional genes are compositionally nested within a simple model food web hierarchy, and the extent to which this is predicted by the trophic position of the host. Using shotgun and amplicon sequencing of discrete food web compartments within replicate tank bromeliads, we find that both taxonomy and function are compositionally nested and largely mirror the pyramid-shaped distribution of food webs. Further, nearly the entirety of bacterial taxa and functional genes associated with hosts are contained within host-independent environmental samples. Community composition of bacterial taxa did not significantly correlate with that of functional genes, indicating a high likelihood of functional redundancy. Whereas bacterial taxa were shaped by both location and trophic position of their host, functional genes were not spatially structured. Our work illustrates the advantages of applying food web ecology to predict patterns of overlapping microbiome composition among unrelated hosts and distinct habitats. Because bacterial symbionts are critical components of host metabolic potential, this result raises important questions about whether bacterial consortia are shaped by the same energetic constraints as hosts, and whether they play an active role in food web efficiency.},
}
@article {pmid41157958,
year = {2025},
author = {Stillson, PT and Sim, SB and Corpuz, RL and Ravenscraft, A},
title = {Symbiont Gene Expression Predicts Insect Host's Response to High Temperatures.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70154},
doi = {10.1111/mec.70154},
pmid = {41157958},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {0201-88888-002-000D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; 0201-88888-003-000D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; 2040-22430-028-000-D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; 2019-67013-29407//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 2023-67013-39897//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 2024-67012-43746//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 2146512//National Science Foundation/ ; //University of Texas at Arlington/ ; },
abstract = {Microbial symbionts play crucial roles in host nutrition, defence, and detoxification. However, host-symbiont interactions are context-dependent, and environmental stressors can disrupt these benefits. Diverse hosts, including corals, insects and leguminous plants, have been shown to suffer under thermal stress due to the negative impact of high temperatures on their symbionts. This failure is often linked to a symbiont's poor transcriptional regulation of heat shock genes, causing vulnerability at high temperatures. In the bug-Caballeronia model system, insect performance at elevated temperatures varies based on the hosted symbiont species. Here, we explore the underlying mechanisms that drive this variation using comparative metatranscriptomics and two symbionts with contrasting host outcomes at high temperatures. We evaluated both host and symbiont transcriptional responses to elevated temperature, testing the hypothesis that symbionts conferring improved host outcomes at high temperatures will have more upregulated heat shock genes under thermal stress compared to those conferring worse host outcomes. Our findings reveal that host transcription did not change with different symbionts but rather only at different temperatures. Furthermore, symbionts had distinct gene expression profiles across temperatures. At 36°C, the heat-resistant symbiont not only increased expression of heat shock genes but surprisingly upregulated flagellar genes, which are normally turned off during symbiosis. This suggests that symbiont, not host, transcription underlies host benefits at low versus high temperatures and ultimately furthers our understanding of context dependence in the outcomes of symbiotic associations.},
}
@article {pmid41157763,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhuang, H and Tang, X and Ning, Z and Zhou, C and Zhao, Q and Wang, H and Xing, Y and Zhang, A},
title = {The Impact of Reduced Nitrogen Fertilizer Application and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Inoculation on Nitrogen Utilization in Intercropped Areca catechu L. and Vanilla planifolia Andrews.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {20},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14203207},
pmid = {41157763},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {322RC779//Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; CATASCXTD202510//Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences for Science and Technology Innovation Team of National Tropical Agricultural Science Center/ ; 32360796//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 1630042025014//the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research fund/ ; ZDYF2025XDNY087//Science and Technology special fund of Hainan Province/ ; },
abstract = {Areca (Areca catechu L.) is an important economic crop in tropical regions, but excessive nitrogen application leads to low nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency (approximately 30%). Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews) can be intercropped with areca to enhance land use efficiency. However, the impact of combined nitrogen reduction and Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the intercropping system of areca and vanilla remains unclear. This study examined the impact of nitrogen reduction (at levels of conventional fertilization, a 30% reduction and a 60% reduction) and the inoculation of AMF on the photosynthetic characteristics, physiological metabolism, and nitrogen utilization within an areca and vanilla intercropping system, employing a two-factor experimental design. The nitrogen reduction significantly inhibited SPAD value (chlorophyll content) (decreased by 46.21%), net photosynthesis (Pn) (decreased by 71.13%), and transpiration rate (Tr) (decreased by 44.34%) of vanilla without inoculation of AMF, but had little effect on the photosynthesis of areca. Inoculation with AMF, notably Funneliformis mosseae, alleviated the adverse effects of reduced nitrogen on vanilla. The net photosynthesis and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) significantly increased by 76.23% and 69.48%, respectively. Additionally, the nitrogen uptake efficiency of the areca was improved, with root vitality increasing by 39.96%. Additionally, AMF enhanced the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) (increased by 38.86% in vanilla) and nitrate reductase (NR) (increased by 53.77% in areca), promoting soil mineral nutrient activation and nitrogen metabolism. The nitrogen reduction combined with AMF inoculation can improve the nitrogen use efficiency of the areca and vanilla intercropping system, revealing its synergistic mechanism in the tropical intercropping system.},
}
@article {pmid41157245,
year = {2025},
author = {Breivik, TJ and Gjermo, P and Opstad, PK and Murison, R and von Hörsten, S and Fristad, I},
title = {Brain Structures, Circuits, and Networks Involved in Immune Regulation, Periodontal Health, and Disease.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/life15101572},
pmid = {41157245},
issn = {2075-1729},
abstract = {The interaction between microorganisms in the dental microfilm (plaque) at the gingival margin, the immune system, and the brain is vital for gingival health. The brain constantly receives information regarding microbial composition and inflammation status through afferent nerves and the bloodstream. It modulates immune responses via efferent nerves and hormonal systems to maintain homeostasis. This relationship determines whether the gingiva remains healthy or develops into gingivitis (non-destructive inflammation) or periodontitis (a destructive condition), collectively referred to as periodontal disease. Factors associated with severe periodontitis heighten the responsiveness of this homeostatic system, diminishing the adaptive immune system's defence against symbiotic microorganisms with pathogenic properties, known as pathobionts. This leads to excessive innate immune system activation, effectively preventing infection but damaging the periodontium. Consequently, investigating the microbiota-brain axis is vital for understanding its impact on periodontal health and disease. Herein, we examine recent advancements in how the defence against pathobionts is organised within the brain, and how it regulates and adapts the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune balance, controlling microbiota composition. It also discussed how pathobionts and emotional stress can trigger neurodegenerative diseases, and how inadequate coping strategies for managing daily stress and shift work can disrupt brain circuits linked to immune regulation, weakening the adaptive immune response against pathobionts.},
}
@article {pmid41156846,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Shang, Y and Wang, X and Li, X and Yu, Z and Zeng, Z and Chen, Z and Wang, L and Xiang, T and Huang, X},
title = {Metagenomics and In Vitro Growth-Promoting Experiments Revealed the Potential Roles of Mycorrhizal Fungus Humicolopsis cephalosporioides and Helper Bacteria in Cheilotheca humilis Growth.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13102387},
pmid = {41156846},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {31872181//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021QDL062//Research Start-up Funds from the Hangzhou Normal University/ ; 2025JCXK01//Interdisciplinary Research Project of Hangzhou Normal University/ ; },
abstract = {In mycorrhizal symbiotic relationships, non-photosynthetic myco-heterotrophic plants are unable to supply photosynthates to their associated fungi. On the contrary, they rely on fungal carbon to sustain their own growth. Mycorrhizal fungi can mediate plant interactions with the rhizosphere microbiome, which contributes to the promotion of plant growth and nutrient uptake. However, the microbial community and key microbial species that function during the growth of the myco-heterotrophic plant Cheilotheca humilis remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the microbial community associated with Cheilotheca humilis, which was confirmed via morphological characteristics typical of this plant species. Metagenomic analysis showed that the Afipia carboxidovorans was dominant at species level. Based on the LDA score, Bradyrhizobium ottawaense exhibited the higher abundance in the CH-B group (related to bud) while Afipia carboxidovorans was identified from the CH-F group (related to flower). Microbial co-occurrence networks showed that the Rhizobium genus, Herbaspirillum genus, and Cyanobacteriota were defined as core functional microbial species. To explore the potential microorganisms, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of the rhizosphere microbiome identified 14 medium- and high-quality MAGs, mainly involved in carbon fixation, nitrogen transformation, and phosphorus metabolism, possibly providing nutrients for the plant. Furthermore, a total of 67 rhizospheric and 66 endophytic microorganisms were isolated and obtained. In vitro experiments showed that the mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHBs) Rhizobium genus and Pseudomonas genus possessed the ability of nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, and siderophores production. Most importantly, the mycorrhizal fungus Humicolopsis cephalosporioides was obtained, which could potentially produce cellulase to supply carbohydrates for host. The findings suggest the mycorrhizal fungus Humicolopsis cephalosporioides and helper bacteria have great potential in the growth of the myco-heterotrophic plant Cheilotheca humilis.},
}
@article {pmid41156827,
year = {2025},
author = {Yüksel, E and Lahlali, R and Barış, A and Sameeullah, M and Ulaş, F and Koca, AS and Ait Barka, E and İmren, M and Dababat, A},
title = {Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Bioactive Compounds of Their Bacterial Endosymbionts Act Synergistically in Combination with Spinosad to Kill Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a Serious Threat to Food Security.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13102368},
pmid = {41156827},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {FAPD-2025-15290//Erciyes University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit/ ; },
abstract = {As a staple food, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) (Solanaceae) is one of the most produced food crops to ensure food security. The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a major pest of potato, damaging both the growing and storage processes. In recent years, green pest control strategies have been gaining importance to reduce the adverse effects of chemicals and protect the environment. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and their bacterial endosymbionts (Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus spp.) have been one of the top topics studied in sustainable pest control approaches. In the present study, the two most common EPN species, Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, and their bacterial associates, Xenorhabdus bovienii and Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. kayaii were evaluated against PTM larvae separately and in combination with spinosad. The survival rates of infective juveniles (IJs) of EPNs were over 92% after 72 h of direct exposure to spinosad. Co-application of EPNs and bioactive compounds (BACs) of endosymbiotic bacteria with spinosad induced synergistic interactions and achieved the maximum mortality (100%) in PTM larvae 48 h post-treatment. Spinosad and BAC combinations were highly efficient in controlling the PTM larvae and provided LT50 values below 23.0 h. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 29 compounds in total, 20 of which belonged to P. luminescens subsp. kayaii. The results indicate that the integration of EPNs and BACs of endosymbiotic bacteria with spinosad presents a synergistic interaction and enhances pest control efficacy.},
}
@article {pmid41156804,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, Q and Dong, P and Chen, M and Wang, H and Wang, L and Yuan, J and Hu, C and Liu, Z and Li, Y and Fan, Q},
title = {Soybean-Bupleurum Rotation System Can Optimize Rhizosphere Soil Microbial Community via Impacting Soil Properties and Enzyme Activities During Bupleurum Seedling Stage.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13102346},
pmid = {41156804},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {the Youth Fund of the Shanxi Provincial Basic Research Program, Grant No.202203021212442;//Mengni Chen/ ; Sub-project of the Key Science and Technology Special Program with a "Revealing the Rank and Appointing the Leader" Approach in Shanxi Province, No. 202301140601014-01A//Hui Wang/ ; Surface project funded by the Shanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology, No. 202303021211103//Hui Wang/ ; Scientific Research and Development Fund of the Cotton Research Institute, Shanxi Agricultural University, No.SJJCX2023-03//Peng Dong/ ; },
abstract = {To avoid continuous cropping problems with Bupleurum, we screened suitable preceding crops for rotation with Bupleurum through different crop rotations. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find out the relationships between microbial community characteristics, soil properties, and enzyme activities under four different rotation patterns, including fallow-Bupleurum (CK), maize-Bupleurum (M), soybean-Bupleurum (So), and sunflower-Bupleurum (Su). Results indicated that under all four rotation patterns, So treatment significantly enhanced soil nutrients and enzyme activities compared to CK. So not only optimized the composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities but markedly enhanced microbial α diversity. Additionally, So exhibited high similarity in bacterial and fungal community composition with M, and featured complex symbiotic relationships within the soil microbial network. While no clear discrepancies were detected in the abundance of the top twenty metabolic pathways in the predictive functions of bacterial and fungal communities across four rotation patterns, the metabolic pathway function MET-SAM-PWY (methionine synthesis pathway) in bacterial communities and the metabolic pathway function VALSYN-PWY (valine synthesis pathway) in fungal communities were particularly prominent under the So rotation pattern. RDA suggested that soil properties (available phosphorus and pH) and enzyme activities (sucrase and alkaline phosphatase activities) were the driving forces for bacterial community composition, while soil properties (soil organic matter and available potassium) and enzyme activities (sucrase and catalase activities) regulated fungal community composition. Hence, the soybean-Bupleurum rotation pattern represents a cultivation practice more beneficial for the sustainable development of the bupleurum industry, which can significantly improve soil fertility and the micro-ecological environment.},
}
@article {pmid41156693,
year = {2025},
author = {Aranda-Pérez, J and Sánchez-Aguilar, MDC and Cutiño-Gobea, AM and Pérez-Montaño, F and Medina, C},
title = {Cyclic di-GMP Modulation of Quorum Sensing and Its Impact on Type VI Secretion System Function in Sinorhizobium fredii.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13102232},
pmid = {41156693},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {PID2020-118279RA-I00//Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU)/ ; PPIT2024-31787//FEDER program/ ; },
abstract = {Effective rhizobium-legume symbiosis depends on multiple molecular signaling pathways, integrating not only classical nodulation factors and surface polysaccharides but also diverse protein secretion systems. Among them, the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) has emerged as a key player, due to its dual roles in interbacterial competition and interactions with eukaryotic hosts, though its contribution to symbiosis remains unclear. Key regulatory messengers, including the main autoinducer of the quorum sensing (QS) systems, the N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), and the second messenger cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP), modulate the transition between motility and biofilm formation, especially in the context of bacteria interacting with eukaryotes, including rhizobia. While c-di-GMP's impact on exopolysaccharide production in these organisms is well established, its influence on protein secretion systems, particularly in conjunction with QS, is largely unexplored. To contribute to the study of such interplay, we artificially increased intracellular c-di-GMP levels by overexpressing a heterologous diguanylate cyclase in three Sinorhizobium fredii strains of agronomic relevance. This engineering revealed strain-specific outcomes, since elevated c-di-GMP enhanced biofilm development in two strains, but reduced it in another. Furthermore, using β-galactosidase expression assays, we confirmed that both high c-di-GMP and/or AHL concentrations contribute to the transcriptional activation of T6SS. These results demonstrate a direct regulatory link between c-di-GMP, QS signals, and T6SS expression, shedding light on the multilayered control mechanisms that structure beneficial rhizobia-plant interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41156619,
year = {2025},
author = {Sultankulova, KT and Kozhabergenov, NS and Shynybekova, GO and Almezhanova, MD and Zhaksylyk, SB and Abayeva, MR and Chervyakova, OV and Argimbayeva, TO and Orynbayev, MB},
title = {Metagenomic Profile of Bacterial Communities of Hyalomma scupense and Hyalomma asiaticum Ticks in Kazakhstan.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/pathogens14101008},
pmid = {41156619},
issn = {2076-0817},
mesh = {Animals ; Kazakhstan ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Ixodidae/microbiology ; Male ; Female ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Cattle ; *Microbiota ; *Metagenome ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; },
abstract = {Ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals, posing a serious threat to health. For the first time, we studied the metagenomic profile of the microbial composition of Hyalomma scupense and Hyalomma asiaticum ticks in Kazakhstan. A total of 94 adult H. asiaticum and H. scupense ticks collected from randomly selected cattle in Kazakhstan in 2023 were analyzed. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using the Ion Torrent NGS platform. Taxonomic classification was carried out in the BV-BRC platform with the Kraken2 database. Metagenomic analysis revealed 26 bacterial genera, including both pathogenic and symbiotic taxa. In H. scupense, the dominant groups were Francisella (89.0%), Staphylococcus (76.0%) and Candidatus Midichloria (61.0%), while in H. asiaticum, they were Francisella (99.0% and 95.0%) and Helcococcus (65.0%). In male H. scupense, the proportion of Francisella reached 89%, whereas in females, it varied from 2% to 28%. In H. asiaticum, Helcococcus accounted for 65% in males compared to 11% in females. This is the first report on the metagenomic profile of the microbiota of H. scupense and H. asiaticum in Kazakhstan. The detection of pathogens indicates a risk of their transmission to humans and animals and highlights the need to develop new tick control strategies.},
}
@article {pmid41155435,
year = {2025},
author = {Kuprin, A and Baklanova, V},
title = {The Microbiome as a Protagonist of Xylophagous Insects in Adaptation to Environmental Conditions and Climate Change.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {20},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms262010143},
pmid = {41155435},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {Animals ; *Climate Change ; *Insecta/microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; Forests ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; },
abstract = {Xylophagous insects represent a diverse group of species whose life cycles are trophically associated with wood at various stages of decomposition. In forest ecosystems, they play a pivotal role in wood degradation and biogeochemical nutrient cycling. Their remarkable adaptation to feeding on structurally complex and nutrient-poor woody substrates has been largely mediated by long-term symbiotic interactions with gut microbiota. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular and ecological mechanisms underlying insect-microbiota interactions, with particular attention paid to the impact of environmental stressors-including elevated temperature, shifts in moisture regimes, and pollution-on microbial community structure and host adaptive responses. We critically evaluate the strength of evidence linking climate-driven microbiome shifts to functional consequences for the host and the ecosystem. The ecological implications of microbiota restructuring, such as impaired wood decomposition, decreased disease resistance, facilitation of xylophagous species spread, and alterations in key biotic interactions within forest biocenoses, are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of multi-omics technologies and functional assays for a deeper, mechanistic understanding of microbiota roles. We also assess the potential and limitations of microbiome-based approaches for insect population management, with the overall goal of maintaining and enhancing the resilience of forest ecosystems under ongoing climate change.},
}
@article {pmid41154803,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, Y and Tian, T and Ji, J and Tan, L and Peng, K and Liu, Z and Zhao, W and Wang, C and Liu, F and Zhang, X},
title = {Dissecting the Functional Interplay Between Heme Oxygenase LjHO1 and Leghemoglobins in Lotus japonicus Nodules.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14101401},
pmid = {41154803},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {2308085QC75//Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2023AH052250//Major Natural Science Foundation of the Anhui Educational Committee/ ; 2022BSK023, 2022BSK030//Doctoral Startup Research Fund/ ; 2024XHX216//the industry-funded project/ ; },
abstract = {Heme metabolism is crucial for the function and longevity of legume nodules, with leghemoglobins (Lbs) serving as the primary heme sink and heme oxygenase (HO) mediating heme degradation. However, the precise functional relationship between HO and Lbs remains unclear. Here, we show that Lotus japonicus HO1 (LjHO1) is strongly induced in early-stage Lb-deficient nodules, but its expression gradually decreases during nodule development. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that LjHO1 is plastid-localized in uninfected cells of lb123 mutant nodules, consistent with its localization in wild-type nodules. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated a quadruple ho1lb123 mutant lacking LjHO1 and all three Lb isoforms in L. japonicus. Phenotypic analyses revealed that Lbs deficiency predominantly impairs nitrogen fixation, whereas loss of LjHO1 further reduces nodule formation. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis revealed that loss of Lbs strongly decreased heme accumulation, whereas LjHO1 deficiency slightly increased heme levels in nodules. These results demonstrate that Lbs are essential for heme accumulation and nitrogen fixation, while LjHO1 fine-tunes heme turnover, highlighting their complementary roles in maintaining nodule heme homeostasis and symbiotic efficiency.},
}
@article {pmid41154716,
year = {2025},
author = {Kumru, E and Korkmaz, AF and Ekinci, F and Aydoğan, A and Güzel, MS and Akata, I},
title = {Deep Ensemble Learning and Explainable AI for Multi-Class Classification of Earthstar Fungal Species.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14101313},
pmid = {41154716},
issn = {2079-7737},
abstract = {The current study presents a multi-class, image-based classification of eight morphologically similar macroscopic Earthstar fungal species (Astraeus hygrometricus, Geastrum coronatum, G. elegans, G. fimbriatum, G. quadrifidum, G. rufescens, G. triplex, and Myriostoma coliforme) using deep learning and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques. For the first time in the literature, these species are evaluated together, providing a highly challenging dataset due to significant visual overlap. Eight different convolutional neural network (CNN) and transformer-based architectures were employed, including EfficientNetV2-M, DenseNet121, MaxViT-S, DeiT, RegNetY-8GF, MobileNetV3, EfficientNet-B3, and MnasNet. The accuracy scores of these models ranged from 86.16% to 96.23%, with EfficientNet-B3 achieving the best individual performance. To enhance interpretability, Grad-CAM and Score-CAM methods were utilised to visualise the rationale behind each classification decision. A key novelty of this study is the design of two hybrid ensemble models: EfficientNet-B3 + DeiT and DenseNet121 + MaxViT-S. These ensembles further improved classification stability, reaching 93.71% and 93.08% accuracy, respectively. Based on metric-based evaluation, the EfficientNet-B3 + DeiT model delivered the most balanced performance, with 93.83% precision, 93.72% recall, 93.73% F1-score, 99.10% specificity, a log loss of 0.2292, and an MCC of 0.9282. Moreover, this modeling approach holds potential for monitoring symbiotic fungal species in agricultural ecosystems and supporting sustainable production strategies. This research contributes to the literature by introducing a novel framework that simultaneously emphasises classification accuracy and model interpretability in fungal taxonomy. The proposed method successfully classified morphologically similar puffball species with high accuracy, while explainable AI techniques revealed biologically meaningful insights. All evaluation metrics were computed exclusively on a 10% independent test set that was entirely separate from the training and validation phases. Future work will focus on expanding the dataset with samples from diverse ecological regions and testing the method under field conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41154033,
year = {2025},
author = {Gantner, M and Piotrowska, A and Kostyra, E and Hallmann, E and Ponder, A and Sionek, B and Neffe-Skocińska, K},
title = {Influence of Herbal Additives on the Physicochemical, Microbiological, Polyphenolic, and Sensory Profile of Green Tea-Based Kombucha.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {20},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/foods14203497},
pmid = {41154033},
issn = {2304-8158},
abstract = {Kombucha is a functional beverage with growing popularity due to its health-promoting properties. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of herbal infusions on the quality of green tea-based kombucha. Four variants were prepared: a control (K1) and three experimental samples combining 70% green tea with 30% (v/v) Mentha spicata (K2), Hibiscus sabdariffa (K3), or Clitoria ternatea (K4). Fermentation lasted four days at 24 ± 1 °C. Physicochemical parameters, polyphenol profile (HPLC), microbiological safety, and sensory quality were assessed using QDA and electronic tongue analysis. K3 showed the highest polyphenol content (291 mg/L), especially catechins. K4 achieved the highest overall sensory quality due to its fruity aroma, balanced sweet-sour taste, and favorable microbiological profile. K2 had the lowest caffeine content (114 mg/L) and a distinct minty flavor. All samples were microbiologically safe. Herbal additives influenced fermentative microbiota: K3 had fewer acetic acid bacteria, while K4 had the highest lactic acid bacteria count. Electronic tongue analysis confirmed sensory panel results and revealed distinct taste profiles among the variants. Herbal infusions significantly enhance the nutritional and sensory properties of kombucha. Their use offers a promising strategy for developing functional beverages with tailored characteristics.},
}
@article {pmid41153433,
year = {2025},
author = {Lalawmpuii, K and Jacob, SS and Tolenkhomba, TC and Behera, P and Lalmuanpuia, J and Lalremsanga, HT and Lalrintluanga, K and Lalchhandama, C and Biakzuala, L and Lalrinkima, H},
title = {Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA Analyses of Rhipicephalus microplus from Mizoram, Northeast India: Insights into Genetic Diversity and Endosymbiont.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/genes16101216},
pmid = {41153433},
issn = {2073-4425},
mesh = {Animals ; India ; *Rhipicephalus/genetics/microbiology/classification ; Phylogeny ; *DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Haplotypes ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Cell Nucleus/genetics ; },
abstract = {Background/Objectives: In this study, we conducted molecular identification of R.microplus and explored the genetic diversity of R. microplus for the first time in Mizoram, a Northeastern Hill (NEH) state of India bordering Myanmar. Methods: To assess genetic variation and evolutionary relationships, we employed phylogenetic analyses, genetic divergence metrics, and haplotype network construction based on mitochondrial (COX1 and 16S rDNA) and nuclear (ITS-2 and 18S rDNA) markers. Additionally, multivariate Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) was used to visualize genetic differentiation among R. microplus populations. Results: Our analyses indicated that populations of R. microplus sensu lato from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan form a closely related matrilineal lineage distinct from R. microplus sensu stricto, clustering within clade C of the COX1-based phylogeny. Globally, 24 COX1 haplotypes were recovered, with 1 haplotype identified in India. The Mizoram population exhibited a single 16S rDNA haplotype; however, intraspecific divergence was evident across India, with seven matrilineal haplotypes detected and nineteen globally. Further, five haplotypes were identified within R. microplus using the ITS-2 marker, while five haplotypes were observed within the Rhipicephalus genus using the 18S rDNA marker. Moreover, this study revealed the presence of Coxiella-like endosymbionts in 95% of the tick specimens analyzed. Conclusions: This study fills a critical knowledge gap by providing the first molecular documentation of tick diversity in Mizoram, a strategic region along the Indo-Myanmar border, and offers novel insights into the phylogeography and symbiotic associations of R. microplus and related tick taxa.},
}
@article {pmid41152548,
year = {2025},
author = {Guedán, ML and Smykala, M and Käfer, S and Mueller, JS and Lohmus, K and Pieck, D and Engelen, B and Gerlach, G},
title = {Seasonal and spatial dynamics of the microbiome of the polychaete Lanice conchilega in the Wadden Sea.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {37731},
pmid = {41152548},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Animals ; *Polychaeta/microbiology ; *Seasons ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Ecosystem ; Germany ; Oceans and Seas ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Rapidly changing abiotic conditions, particularly temperature variations, pose adaptation challenges to many animal communities across the globe. Lanice conchilega, a key polychaete in the ecosystem of the German Wadden Sea, faces an increasing threat hampered by its limited mobility. The microbiome can alleviate stress, alter local environmental conditions, and provide new metabolic capabilities, contributing to host adaptation. To understand the potential roles of the microbiome of L. conchilega, we analysed a broad sample set via 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We compared the bacterial composition of the microbiome of L. conchilega with that of the surrounding sediment, and the effect of seasonality, zonation, tidal, and diurnal cycles. Our findings reveal a set of ASVs exclusive to the microbiome of L. conchilega. Community composition was mostly shaped by seasonality, slightly influenced by zonation, day/night cycles, and tides. Notably, Endozoicomonas ASVs were found only in the L. conchilega microbiome and were particularly abundant during summer. These bacteria, known for their symbiotic relationships, broad metabolic capabilities, and linked to heat resistance in corals, are predicted to contribute unique metabolic functions in L. conchilega. This work provides novel insights into the host-microbiome relationship of L. conchilega and highlights the potential role of symbionts in the environmental adaptation of these and similar animals.},
}
@article {pmid41151998,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, D and Wu, J and Zeng, X and Xie, F and Lin, H and Chen, D and Wang, L and Li, Y},
title = {The Extracellular Loop2 domain of the rhizobia outer membrane protein MhOpa22 mediates symbiotic nodulation and nitrogen fixation.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf535},
pmid = {41151998},
issn = {1532-2548},
abstract = {The Mesorhizobium huakuii opacity protein (MhOpa22) is essential for effective nodulation and nitrogen fixation in rhizobium-legume symbiosis. Astragalus sinicus AsGLP1 interacts with MhOpa22, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of MhOpa22 to mediate symbiosis remain elusive. This study demonstrated that the Loop2-3 domains of MhOpa22 interact with AsGLP1 in planta. Inoculating A. sinicus with different M. huakuii loop deletion mutants revealed that the Loop2 mutant gives rise to fewer root nodules and decreased nodule nitrogenase activity relative to inoculation with the wild-type strain. The Loop2 mutation also significantly affects ROS production and the coordinated expression of defense and symbiosis genes in host plant roots during early symbiosis. Furthermore, MhOpa22 was confirmed to be a membrane protein that exerts its function via outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Taken together, these results provide molecular insights into the function of the outer membrane protein MhOpa22 and its critical extracellular Loop2 domain during symbiosis. MhOpa22 inhibits host defense responses through OMVs during early symbiosis and plays an essential role in rhizobial infection and nodule formation.},
}
@article {pmid41151337,
year = {2025},
author = {Yurdunkulu, A and Bulut, MA and Göçen, A},
title = {From academics to Aidemics: Unpacking the human-AI symbiosis in higher education.},
journal = {Acta psychologica},
volume = {261},
number = {},
pages = {105796},
doi = {10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105796},
pmid = {41151337},
issn = {1873-6297},
abstract = {The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education is reshaping both academic roles and organizational practices. This transformation is not merely technical; it also introduces psychological and ethical tensions as academics negotiate new forms of work. This qualitative study advances the concept of Aidemics-academics who efficiently, ethically, and critically employ AI to enhance their professional practice-and examines how AI reconfigures intellectual tasks while challenging traditional academic identities. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with twenty academics (informed by five pilot interviews), we show that Aidemics engage in a symbiotic, human-in-the-loop relationship with AI: they exploit efficiencies for routine tasks, yet safeguard creative and critical work, actively auditing AI outputs and setting clear boundaries of use. Participants also surface structural concerns-framed as AI colonialism-about the potential of AI to entrench power asymmetries and epistemic inequities in global knowledge production. Key challenges include hallucinations, erosion of human agency, and unequal access to AI tools. We argue for policies and professional-development strategies that preserve human agency and ethical judgment while enabling responsible, explainable, and context-sensitive AI use. The findings specify the competencies of Aidemics and outline supports for balanced human-AI collaboration at individual and institutional levels.},
}
@article {pmid41150878,
year = {2025},
author = {Roces, F and Bollazzi, M},
title = {Nest Building in Leaf-Cutting Ants: Behavioral Mechanisms and Adaptive Value.},
journal = {Annual review of entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013337},
pmid = {41150878},
issn = {1545-4487},
abstract = {Leaf-cutting ants, which comprise more than 50 species distributed from Patagonia to North America, build the largest nests among ants. Workers forage plant fragments to cultivate a symbiotic fungus inside underground chambers, which serves as the primary food source for the colony. While digging the nest, workers respond to local cues such as soil temperature, moisture, and CO2 levels, resulting in the emergence of a nest architecture that provides a proper environment for fungus growth. Leaf-cutting ants have species-specific nest architectures, which evolved from a basal design consisting of a vertical tunnel and a few interconnected chambers. Some species developed, in addition, architectural innovations aimed at the control of both hygiene and nest climate, including waste chambers, ventilatory turrets, and a nest thatch. A fine-tuned climate control is achieved by the relocation of fungus gardens within the nest following the workers' environmental preferences and by nesting plasticity.},
}
@article {pmid41150726,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, M and Li, Q and Wu, F and Zhu, B and Lu, H and Zhang, D and Łukasik, P and Hu, Y},
title = {Symbiotic solutions for colony nutrition: Conserved nitrogen recycling within the bacterial pouch of Tetraponera ants.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {44},
pages = {e2514882122},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2514882122},
pmid = {41150726},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {32370448//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2243200009//MOE | Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Fundamental Research Fund for the Central Universities)/ ; },
mesh = {*Ants/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; Animals ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Microbiota/physiology ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Urea/metabolism ; },
abstract = {While microbial symbioses are fundamental to the nutrition of many animal groups, current paradigms focus on symbiont functions at the host individual level. It remains unclear whether microbial symbioses can sustain colony-level fitness in social insects, whose ecological success depends on nutrient coordination across castes. Here, we investigate the specialized bacterial pouch, a symbiont-containing organ present exclusively in adult workers of Tetraponera nigra-group ants, revealing its crucial role in colony-wide nutrient provisioning. Using a combination of microscopy, amplicon and metagenomic sequencing, and [15]N-urea feeding experiments on four species in the group, we show that its adult-specific pouch-associated microbiota, primarily Tokpelaia, recycle nitrogen from urea and convert it into amino acids which are provisioned to adult workers and developing larvae. Disruption of this nitrogen-recycling symbiosis severely impairs larval growth and overall colony fitness. Our results show how caste-restricted microbial organs can centralize metabolic functions at the colony level, challenging individual-centric paradigms of host-microbe mutualism and providing insights into the pivotal role of microbial symbionts in superorganismal adaptation to nutritional constraints.},
}
@article {pmid41149927,
year = {2025},
author = {He, JY and Xie, XY and Liang, ZQ and Zhang, JX and Liu, S and Zhao, XL},
title = {Comparative Symbiotic Effects of Mycorrhizal Fungal Strains from Different Hosts on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth in Dendrobium officinale.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11100737},
pmid = {41149927},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {31770740//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; HZU202528//Huizhou University independent innovation capability enhancement program author contributions/ ; },
abstract = {Compatible fungal partners of orchids can significantly enhance seed germination and increase seedling establishment under both in vitro and in situ conditions. This study isolated 14 Tulasnella isolates from five-year-old potted plants of three D. officinale cultivars. Three phylogenetically representative strains (Dca122, Dca222, and Dca113) and two additional orchid mycorrhizal fungus (OMFs, ML01 and Pi) were selected to evaluate their effects on D. officinale seed germination and seedling development in vitro, and subsequent seedling growth under greenhouse conditions. All five OMFs supported seed germination and seedling development in vitro. Notably, Dca113, Pi, and ML01 exhibited the most pronounced effects, producing protocorms 3-4 times larger in volume than controls. By day 25, 37.54%, 37.34%, and 42.6% of protocorms developed cotyledons with these isolates, respectively. Furthermore, after 120 days, ML01 and Dca113 treatments yielded 35.6% and 30.68% autotrophic seedlings with fully differentiated roots. Under greenhouse, ML01, Pi, and Dca122 significantly enhanced fresh weight accumulation, plant height, and stem node number in potted seedlings. In contrast, Dca222 primarily stimulated sprouting tillers and adventitious root formation. Our results demonstrate that the mycorrhizal effectiveness of OMFs from different hosts varies significantly in D. officinale. ML01 and Dca113 are ideal candidates for reintroduction programs due to their strong promotion of seed germination and rapid formation of rooted seedlings. ML01 proved the most effective OMF for enhancing growth in potted seedlings, while Dca222 demonstrated potential for co-inoculation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid41149907,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, X and Sun, R and Hu, D and Yang, Y and Cheng, Z and Hu, P and Fei, Y},
title = {Serendipita indica Enhances Drought Tolerance in Phoebe sheareri Seedlings by Improving Photosynthetic Efficiency, Stimulating the Antioxidant Defense System, and Modulating Hormone Synthesis.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11100717},
pmid = {41149907},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {E [2025]TG 30//the Central Financial Forestry Science and Technology Extension Demonstration Fund/ ; 2023AFB298//General Program of the Hubei Province Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {In the context of contemporary climate change, drought is widely recognized as a major stressor affecting plant growth. While numerous studies have demonstrated that Serendipita indica enhances stress resistance in host plants and is widely used in agriculture, research on its symbiotic interactions with woody plants for improving drought tolerance remains limited. This study investigated the effects of S. indica inoculation on the growth of Phoebe sheareri seedlings under varying drought conditions-well-watered (WW), moderate drought (MD), and severe drought (SD)-and explored the physiological mechanisms underlying improved drought resistance. The results showed that under WW conditions, S. indica inoculation promoted seedling growth and development. Under MD and SD conditions, although drought stress inhibited growth, inoculation significantly increased plant biomass, root parameters, chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic efficiency. Additionally, it alleviated drought-induced damage by reducing REC, MDA, H2O2, and O2[-] levels, while enhancing SOD, POD, and CAT activities, and increasing root ABA, GA, IAA, and CTK content. Under MD stress, adaptive changes in root architecture and hormone levels were observed, including increases in total root length, surface area, volume, average diameter, and elevated IAA and CTK levels-all of which were further enhanced by S. indica inoculation. In conclusion, symbiosis with S. indica improved drought tolerance in P. sheareri seedlings likely through enhanced photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity, and hormone regulation.},
}
@article {pmid41149186,
year = {2025},
author = {Asad, U and Khalid, A and Lughmani, WA and Rasheed, S and Khan, MM},
title = {A Human Intention and Motion Prediction Framework for Applications in Human-Centric Digital Twins.},
journal = {Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {10},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biomimetics10100656},
pmid = {41149186},
issn = {2313-7673},
abstract = {In manufacturing settings where humans and machines collaborate, understanding and predicting human intention is crucial for enabling the seamless execution of tasks. This knowledge is the basis for creating an intelligent, symbiotic, and collaborative environment. However, current foundation models often fall short in directly anticipating complex tasks and producing contextually appropriate motion. This paper proposes a modular framework that investigates strategies for structuring task knowledge and engineering context-rich prompts to guide Vision-Language Models in understanding and predicting human intention in semi-structured environments. Our evaluation, conducted across three use cases of varying complexity, reveals a critical tradeoff between prediction accuracy and latency. We demonstrate that a Rolling Context Window strategy, which uses a history of frames and the previously predicted state, achieves a strong balance of performance and efficiency. This approach significantly outperforms single-image inputs and computationally expensive in-context learning methods. Furthermore, incorporating egocentric video views yields a substantial 10.7% performance increase in complex tasks. For short-term motion forecasting, we show that the accuracy of joint position estimates is enhanced by using historical pose, gaze data, and in-context examples.},
}
@article {pmid41148922,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, TP and Hao, BR and Wang, CH and Xu, JJ and Wang, XT and Xie, JC and Wang, ZH and Ye, SC and Zhao, LQ},
title = {Biological Characteristics and Bacterial Community of Invasive Pest Corythucha ciliata (Hemiptera: Tingidae).},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16101055},
pmid = {41148922},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {32301594//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {The sycamore lace bug Corythucha ciliata (Hemiptera: Tingidae), an invasive North American forest pest, owes its strong dispersal and adaptability to biological characteristics and symbiotic microbes, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study examined its outdoor-collected (LYGO) and indoor-reared (LYGI) populations using morphological observation, biological parameter assessment, and 16S rRNA sequencing. Key findings include: (1) Nymphs develop through five instars, with body size increasing significantly across stages; growth accelerated during 4th and 5th instars, reflecting a pattern of "low-instar accumulation and high-instar acceleration". (2) Adult survival differed by sex, with females outliving males after 30 days; nymphs develop in 14.81 days, and each adult pair produced an average of 17 eggs, demonstrating a concentrated reproductive strategy; (3) Both populations shared dominant bacterial taxa (including the phyla Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria and the genus Cardinium) but diverged in non-dominant taxa; core microbial functions were conserved, while specific functions (e.g., glutathione S-transferase activity) varied. These results suggest a potential synergy between the insect's biological characteristics (efficient development, concentrated reproduction) and the adaptive functions of its associated microbes in enhancing its invasiveness. The study supplements its basic biological data and offers a new view of its ecological adaptability.},
}
@article {pmid41148869,
year = {2025},
author = {Kucuk, RA and Trendle, BR and Jones, KC and Makarenko, A and Patel, V and Oliver, KM},
title = {Ecological Mercenaries: Why Aphids Remain Premier Models for the Study of Ecological Symbiosis.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16101000},
pmid = {41148869},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2240392//U.S. National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Aphids remain exceptional models for symbiosis research due to their unique experimental advantages that extend beyond documenting symbiont-mediated phenotypes. Nine commonly occurring facultative bacterial symbionts provide well-characterized benefits, including defense against parasitoids, pathogens, and thermal stress. Yet the system's greatest value lies in enabling diverse research applications across biological disciplines through experimental tractability combined with ecological realism. Researchers can create controlled experimental lines through symbiont manipulation, maintain clonal host populations indefinitely, and cultivate symbionts independently. This experimental power is complemented by extensive knowledge of symbiont dynamics in natural populations, including temporal and geographic distribution patterns-features generally unavailable in other insect-microbe systems. These advantages facilitate investigation of key processes in symbiosis, including transmission dynamics, mechanisms, strain-level functional diversity, multi-partner infections, and transitions from facultative to co-obligate relationships. Integration across biological scales-from genomics to field ecology-enables research on symbiont community assembly, ecological networks, coevolutionary arms races, and agricultural applications. This combination of experimental flexibility, comprehensive natural history knowledge, and applied relevance positions aphids as invaluable for advancing symbiosis theory while addressing practical challenges in agriculture and invasion biology.},
}
@article {pmid41148868,
year = {2025},
author = {Dong, J and Yao, X and Zhang, Y and Wu, X and Liu, X and Zhang, H and Jiang, H and Hou, J and Yan, J and Sun, J},
title = {Gut Bacteria Mediate Aggregation Pheromone Release in the Borer Beetle Trigonorhinus sp.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {10},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16100999},
pmid = {41148868},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {32160372//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2020BS03014//Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2025SYFHH0087//Key Research and Technology Transformation Program of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Re-gion-Technology which supports the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin/ ; YZ2024002//Inner Mongolia Agricultural University experimental teaching equipment development and specimen making project/ ; LX2024-KYTD001//Inner Mongolia Agricultural University Internally Funded Research Project of the First-Level Discipline of Forestry/ ; },
abstract = {Gut microbial symbionts are increasingly recognized as key modulators of host insect physiology and behavior, yet their role in pheromone-mediated chemical communication remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated the wood-boring beetle Trigonorhinus sp., a pest of Caragana liouana, to determine the necessity of gut bacteria for male aggregation pheromone release. A combination of antibiotic-mediated bacterial depletion, quantitative PCR, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and Y-tube olfactometry was employed. Antibiotic treatment resulted in a marked reduction in gut bacterial load and a concomitant decrease of more than 85% in the emission of two key pheromone components, 2,6,10,14-tetramethylheptadecane and heptacosane. Behavioral assays demonstrated that females no longer exhibited significant attraction to treated males. Furthermore, defined recolonization with a single cultured gut isolate, Acinetobacter guillouiae, was sufficient to rescue pheromone emission. This indicates that particular gut taxa, rather than microbial biomass alone, are essential for pheromone biosynthesis. These findings demonstrate a decisive role of gut bacteria in the chemical communication of Trigonorhinus sp. and highlight the potential of symbiont-targeted strategies for pest management.},
}
@article {pmid41148150,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, NN and Li, ML and Shi, WT and Jiao, J and Xu, YH and Tian, Y and Guo, JN and Chen, YQ and Tong, H and Tian, CF},
title = {Cyclic-di-GMP interferes with DNA-MucR-DNA bridging to derepress genes targeted by the xenogeneic silencer MucR.},
journal = {Nucleic acids research},
volume = {53},
number = {20},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/nar/gkaf1069},
pmid = {41148150},
issn = {1362-4962},
support = {2022YFA0912100//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 32430004//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; SKLPERKF2403//Innovative Project of State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience/ ; 2024TC014//Chinese Universities Scientific Fund/ ; //China Agricultural University/ ; },
mesh = {*Cyclic GMP/analogs &amp; derivatives/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *DNA, Bacterial/metabolism/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; *DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {The tradeoff between the benefits and costs of maintaining AT-rich accessory genes is vital in bacterial ecology and evolution. MucR is a conserved xenogeneic silencer for AT-rich accessory genes within α-proteobacteria, but its anti-silencing mechanisms remain unknown. By focusing on Sinorhizobium fredii, a facultative nitrogen-fixing microsymbiont of diverse legumes, this work reports that elevated c-di-GMP promotes the condition-dependent expression of various MucR1-targets, while downregulating the energy production and conversion pathway and reducing the NAD+/NADH ratio under both free-living and symbiotic conditions. Among the MucR1 targets responsive to c-di-GMP, an accessory module directing the biosynthesis of costly exopolysaccharides has been further studied. This anti-silencing process involves the sequential disruption of the DNA-MucR1-DNA bridging complex and the activation of a local transcriptional activator, CuxR. c-di-GMP directly binds to the C-terminal DNA-binding domain of MucR1, thereby facilitating intra- and inter-molecular interactions of MucR1. These interactions effectively alleviate the DNA-MucR-DNA bridging in the promoter region of target genes. This consequently enables the recruitment of the CuxR-c-di-GMP complex to the specific CuxR binding sites, which subsequently activates gene transcription. Collectively, accessory functions that are energetically costly and repressed by MucR1 can be harnessed by the ubiquitous messenger c-di-GMP through an integrated global-local signaling pathway.},
}
@article {pmid41147782,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, L and Yang, G and Zhang, C and Ji, B and Wu, D},
title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and recycling in xylophagous insects: insights from gut microbiota of Apriona swainsoni larvae.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70323},
pmid = {41147782},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {81503115//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; JNFX2025192//Domestic Visiting Program for Young Key Teachers of Anhui Province/ ; BK2012816//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; 201409/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; CX (16)1005//Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Independent Innovation Project/ ; 2023AH050727//Natural Science Foundation (Key project) of the University in Anhui Province/ ; 2024AH050921//Natural Science Foundation (Key project) of the University in Anhui Province/ ; HZR2436//Hefei Municipal Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2024A755//Anhui Postdoctoral Scientific Research Program Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Xylophagous insects, as nitrogen-limited organisms, face severe nutritional constraints due to the inherently low nitrogen content of lignocellulosic substrates-insufficient for growth. To alleviate this limitation, they rely on gut microbiota-mediated symbiotic nitrogen fixation and nitrogenous waste recycling. Apriona swainsoni, a model wood-boring cerambycid, exemplifies this adaptation: under extreme nitrogen scarcity in its xylem diet. While gut symbionts are hypothesized to overcome nitrogen limitation, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.<br><br>RESULTS: First, metagenomic sequencing and functional gene analysis revealed enrichment of nitrogenase and urease genes in the posterior hindgut (PHG). Metaproteomics detected the nitrogenase gene nifU but no urease proteins, identifying nitrogen fixation as the primary nitrogen limitation mitigation strategy in A. swainsoni larvae. Subsequently, in vivo/in vitro [15]N isotope tracing showed peak [15]N in the PHG (105.02% higher than the natural environment) and&#x2009;~&#x2009;25-fold greater [15]N incorporation in cultured Klebsiella oxytoca versus controls. Targeted amino acid profiling further demonstrated [15]N enrichment in both essential and non-essential amino acids, with a spatial gradient (intestinal tissues > extra-intestinal tissues > frass)-indicating efficient microbial conversion of nitrogen into host-utilizable amino acids. Importantly, we identified that intestinal microbiota primarily mediate ammonia-to-amino acid conversion via the glutamine synthetase-glutamate synthase (GS/GOGAT) pathway in the PHG. This is the first reported GS/GOGAT-mediated nitrogen fixation pathway in cerambycids.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive analysis of gut microbial nitrogen metabolism might elucidate a set of mechanisms by which some xylophagous insects may overcome nutritional constraints in nitrogen-deficient niches, via evolutionarily optimized host-microbe metabolic interactions. &#xa9; 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}
@article {pmid41147741,
year = {2025},
author = {Davis, BR and Lickwar, CR and Löhr, CV and Wen, J and Morash, M and Sweeney, MI and Reich, EL and Moore, PJ and Tobin, DM and Rawls, JF},
title = {Epithelial transcription factor Elf3 mediates host immune responses to microbiota and protects against aerocystitis in zebrafish.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0226725},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.02267-25},
pmid = {41147741},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Animals defend against infections and other diseases by adaptively responding to the microbiota they encounter. These adaptations are driven by changes in gene expression programs; however, our understanding of the transcription factors regulating host responses to microbiota remains limited. By leveraging gene expression and chromatin accessibility data from zebrafish and mice, we identified the epithelial-specific E74-like ETS transcription factor 3 (Elf3) as a conserved microbially responsive transcription factor. Transcriptomic analysis of gnotobiotic elf3 mutant zebrafish larvae revealed that elf3 is required for a normal host response to microbiota, including induction of immune response genes. Mutation of elf3 led to immune-related pathologies such as inflammation and infection of the swim bladder, granuloma formation, and reduced survival in adulthood. These results establish elf3 as an important mediator of host-microbe interactions in zebrafish.IMPORTANCEAnimals use epithelial barriers to protect themselves from the commensal and pathogenic microorganisms they encounter. These epithelia adapt their function in response to microbial-derived signals, and impairments in these adaptive responses can lead to infection and inflammatory disorders. Improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying host adaptation to microbes can thus be expected to lead to new approaches for promoting health in humans and other animals. Here, we identify the epithelial transcription factor E74-like ETS transcription factor 3 (Elf3) as a mediator of host-microbe interactions in zebrafish. Functional genomic approaches indicated that Elf3 is upregulated by microbiota in both mouse and zebrafish. Using elf3 mutant zebrafish, we find that elf3 mediates induction of host immune responses in larval stages and protects against immune-related pathologies and health deterioration in adults. These results advance our understanding of the transcriptional mechanisms mediating host responses to microbes and provide a new Elf3 deficiency model of epithelial and immune pathology.},
}
@article {pmid41147731,
year = {2025},
author = {Jones, JA and Moczek, AP and Newton, ILG},
title = {The dung beetle microbiome complements host metabolism and nutrition.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0117225},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.01172-25},
pmid = {41147731},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {Many multicellular organisms rely on communities of microbial organisms to properly benefit from their diets, for instance, by assisting in the breakdown of complex polysaccharides, the synthesis of essential resources, detoxification, or even preventing putrefaction. Dung beetles commonly rely on herbivore dung as their main source of nutrition, a diet rich in recalcitrant, hard-to-digest plant polysaccharides yet poor in essential amino acids, which animals typically cannot synthesize on their own. The work presented here investigates the potential role of the host-associated microbial community in allowing these insects to thrive on their nutrient-poor diet. Specifically, we investigated whether the microbiota of the bull-headed dung beetle, Onthophagus taurus, may be capable of synthesizing amino acids and breaking down complex plant polysaccharides. To do so, we functionally annotated genes within metagenomically assembled genomes (MAGs) obtained via shotgun-metagenomic sequencing. The annotation of these MAGs revealed that bacteria found in association with O. taurus possess the metabolic potential necessary to bridge the gap between host metabolic needs and the limitations imposed by their diet. Specifically, O. taurus microbiota contain amino acid biosynthesis pathways and genes encoding cellulases and xylanases, both of which are absent in the beetle genome. Further, multiple functionally relevant bacterial taxa identified here have also been observed in other studies across diverse dung beetle species, possibly suggesting a conserved pool of dung beetle symbionts and metabolic functions.IMPORTANCEHost-symbiont interactions allow animals to take advantage of incomplete and/or challenging diets and niches. The work presented here aims to identify the physiological and metabolic means by which host-associated microbial species shape the ecology of one of the most speciose genera in the animal kingdom: dung beetles in the genus Onthophagus. Both larva and adult stages of most Onthophagus rely on herbivore dung, a diet rich in recalcitrant, hard-to-digest plant polysaccharides yet poor in essential amino acids, which animals typically cannot synthesize on their own. To utilize such a challenging diet, Onthophagus vertically transmits a maternally derived microbial community which supports normative development in immature individuals and maintenance and reproduction in adults. Taken together, Onthophagus' extraordinary diversity, complex ecology, and varied relationship with their microbial associates make them an ideal system to investigate mechanisms and diversification of host-diet-microbiome interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41147708,
year = {2025},
author = {Mack, JM and Bely, AE},
title = {From Mud to Meat: Comparative Metabarcoding Reveals Two Different Evolutionary Paths to Carnivory in a Group of Meiofaunal Annelids.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70151},
doi = {10.1111/mec.70151},
pmid = {41147708},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {//Washington Biologist's Field Club/ ; 1923429//National Science Foundation/ ; //University of Maryland/ ; },
abstract = {Evolutionary transitions to carnivory represent profound shifts in feeding mode that are often accompanied by widespread changes in organismal function, behaviour and ecology. Such transitions have evolved numerous times among animals, and predator-prey interactions have been major drivers of animal evolution. Despite the ecological and evolutionary importance of carnivory, the evolutionary steps leading to this feeding mode are poorly understood. Although relatively rare, lineages that have recently adopted predatory lifestyles are particularly valuable for understanding the evolution of carnivory. The annelid genus Chaetogaster, composed of small freshwater oligochaetes, is unusual in having recently evolved carnivory not just once but twice, making it an excellent model to infer evolutionary steps from detritivory to carnivory. We performed a gut-content analysis of eight Chaetogaster species and a detritivorous outgroup, using 18S rDNA metabarcoding complemented by visual gut content assessment to infer diets. We found that species within the lineages presumed to be carnivorous had large fractions of animal metabarcoding reads, as predicted. Their closest relatives, however, differed in dietary profiles. We infer that the closest relatives of one carnivorous lineage, which are generalist predators, primarily feed on ciliates, while the closest relatives of the second carnivorous lineage, which are mollusc symbionts, are detritivores. Our data suggest that carnivory evolved two ways in Chaetogaster, with one transition mediated by ciliate feeding and a second mediated by symbiosis. Overall, this study suggests that carnivory can evolve from noncarnivorous ancestors through distinct evolutionary pathways, even among closely related lineages.},
}
@article {pmid41146004,
year = {2025},
author = {Pu, SQ and Zheng, FL and Wu, QS and Hashem, A and Abd-Allah, EF and Zou, YN},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mediate leaf sugar profile in water-stressed trifoliate orange.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1456},
pmid = {41146004},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {ORF-2025-356//The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Ongoing Research Funding program, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; *Citrus/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Droughts ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Water/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance plant drought tolerance partly by promoting soluble sugar accumulation, the mechanisms by which AMF colonization influences host sugar metabolism and associated gene expression under drought remain poorly understood. This study therefore examined the effects of inoculation with Funneliformis mosseae (T.H. Nicolson &amp; Gerd.) C. Walker &amp; A. Schüßler on the growth, water status, sugar profiles, and the expression/activity of sucrose-associated genes in the leaves of trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata L.) under water stress conditions.<br><br>RESULTS: Over a 10-week water stress period, the root colonization by F. mosseae decreased by 14.36%, compared with ample water controls. Under water stress, F. mosseae inoculation significantly promoted plant growth performance (height, leaf number, and stem thickness), leaf water potential, nitrogen balance index, and chlorophyll index compared to those without inoculation. Ten sugar components (eight monosaccharides and two disaccharides) were detected. Inoculation with F. mosseae significantly elevated leaf contents of D-fructose, D-galactose, glucose, and inositol under both ample water and water stress conditions. It also increased leaf contents of D-arabinose under water stress, while decreasing the sucrose content under ample water conditions. The presence of the fungus boosted the acid invertase (AI) activity under water stress and up-regulated the relative expression of CtAI, CtNI, and CtSPS genes in leaves under both conditions. These gene expressions displayed a significantly positive correlation with root mycorrhizal colonization rate and glucose content, but a negative correlation with sucrose content.<br><br>CONCLUSION: F. mosseae modulated leaf sugar profiles in trifoliate orange under water stress, particularly by regulating sucrose synthesis and cleavage through modulating the expression of sucrose-associated genes. Since this study focused on a single AMF species and leaf response, further work should investigate diverse AMF species and sugar profiles in other plant tissues under water stress.},
}
@article {pmid41144501,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, T and Li, C and Pan, Z and Wang, Y and Chen, X and Song, J and Zhu, K and Yang, Y and Hou, Y and Sun, L and Zhao, H and Liu, J and Gu, Y and Tao, B},
title = {Gut Microbiota-Decanoic Acid-Interleukin-17A Axis Orchestrates Hyperglycemia-Induced Osteoporosis in Male Mice.},
journal = {Diabetes},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.2337/db25-0471},
pmid = {41144501},
issn = {1939-327X},
support = {22YF1440000//Shanghai Sailing Program/ ; 82070865//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82201396//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82270931//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82301005//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Hyperglycemia (HG) is a well-established risk factor for secondary osteoporosis, primarily due to suppressed osteoblast activity. While gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis has been implicated in various diseases, its role in HG-induced osteoporosis remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that HG mice develop low-turnover osteoporosis accompanied by reduced GM diversity. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from HG mice (GMHG-FMT) induced osteoporosis in recipient mice, independent of blood glucose levels. A depletion of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum was associated with bone loss, whereas supplementation with either microbiota of normoglycemic mice or B. pseudolongum alleviated osteoporosis in HG mice. Both HG and GMHG-FMT recipient mice exhibited elevated serum interleukin-17A (IL-17A) levels, and anti-IL-17A antibody treatment mitigated osteoporosis in the GMHG-FMT model. Furthermore, decanoic acid levels were elevated in the feces of HG mice and the serum of GMHG-FMT recipients. Decanoic acid promoted the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into T helper17 cells, leading to increased IL-17A production. These findings reveal a microbiome dysbiosis-driven decanoic acid/IL-17A axis in HG-induced osteoporosis and highlight the therapeutic potential of microbiome-associated targets.<br><br>ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: This study investigated the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in hyperglycemia-induced osteoporosis, a condition with unclear mechanisms. We explored whether gut microbiota dysbiosis drives bone loss in hyperglycemia and identified key microbial and molecular pathways. Hyperglycemic mice showed disturbed gut microbiota symbiosis, decreased Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, and elevated decanoic acid, which promoted T helper 17 differentiation and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) production, leading to osteoporosis. Fecal microbiota transplantation from control mice, B. pseudolongum supplementation, and IL-17A blockade alleviated bone loss, highlighting both B. pseudolongum supplementation and IL-17A inhibition as potential therapeutic strategies for hyperglycemia-induced osteoporosis.},
}
@article {pmid41144277,
year = {2025},
author = {Carvajal-Acosta, AN and Snook, JS and Szendrei, Z and Wetzel, WC},
title = {Effects of a heat wave event on the chemical ecology of species interactions in the potato agroecosystem.},
journal = {Environmental entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ee/nvaf104},
pmid = {41144277},
issn = {1938-2936},
support = {2020-67013-31919//Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive/ ; //US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; },
abstract = {Heat waves, brief periods of unusually high temperatures, are increasing in frequency and intensity globally. Such extreme weather events can alter plant chemistry, disrupting species interactions that contribute to pest suppression or increase their performance. Yet, most heat wave studies focus on pairwise interactions, leaving us with a poor understanding of how complex agroecosystems respond to temperature extremes. We addressed this knowledge gap by simulating an experimental heat wave in the field on potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) and the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in the presence or absence of their mutualistic microbial symbionts and another pest, the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas)). We assessed beetle performance alongside changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and glycoalkaloids from host plants. Beetle performance declined in the absence of their microbial symbionts and under aphid competition, but this effect was reversed under heat wave conditions. These results corresponded with a downregulation in glycoalkaloids, suggesting that potato prioritizes heat stress response over herbivore attack by divesting resources from the production of defensive compounds. The heat wave strongly affected VOCs composition, reducing emissions of multiple compounds while increasing others, but these changes were not directly linked with CPB performance. Overall, our results demonstrate that heat wave effects on crop-pest dynamics are dependent on the agroecological context and mediated by specialized metabolites. Importantly, under dual herbivore pressure, potato crops appear to prioritize coping with heat over defending against pests, underscoring the urgent need for pest management strategies that account for extreme climate events.},
}
@article {pmid41143515,
year = {2025},
author = {Kulanthaivel, K and Rameshkumar, N},
title = {Wild rice-associated Vibrio promotes plant growth and exhibits genomic and phenotypic plasticity for plant adaptations.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0091025},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.00910-25},
pmid = {41143515},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {Vibrio is an important marine heterotroph, primarily studied for its pathogenesis or symbiotic relationship with marine organisms and humans. However, little is known about the association of vibrios with plants in brackish environments and their potential benefits. To address this knowledge gap, we focused on Vibrio porteresiae MSSRF30[T] and brackish-grown Pokkali rice as our research subjects for this study. MSSRF30[T] displays multifaceted plant beneficial traits, including nitrogen fixation, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase production, and zinc and tricalcium phosphate solubilization. Further, MSSRF30[T] efficiently colonizes the host roots and significantly improves the Pokkali rice growth in nitrogen-replete and nitrogen-limiting brackish conditions, highlighting its plant growth-promoting ability, a trait previously not well recognized in vibrios. Additionally, MSSRF30[T] can utilize various carbon-rich substrates derived from plant roots, demonstrating its metabolic adaptation to the plant rhizosphere niche. Using in planta root transcriptome analysis and whole-genome sequencing, we provide the first insights into how MSSRF30[T] interacts with Pokkali rice in brackish conditions. Additionally, we have identified several genome features for a plant-associated lifestyle, previously unreported in this genus. These features include plant expansin, PEP-CTERM surface anchoring with exopolysaccharides, plant-associated Hrp-type three secretion system, ACC deaminase production, PQQ-independent glucose dehydrogenase pathway for phosphate solubilization, plant-derived sugar/organic acids utilization operons, carbohydrate utilization loci, and specific plant depolymerizing CAZymes. Notably, MSSRF30[T] lacks key genome features critical for the animal association. Overall, this study adds new knowledge in the field of Vibrio biology, especially Vibrio-plant beneficial interactions, a relationship largely underexplored.IMPORTANCEThe genus Vibrio comprises over 150 species of marine heterotrophic bacteria, many of which are opportunistic pathogens affecting humans and marine animals. Most research has predominantly focused on pathogenic Vibrio species, often overlooking the significance of other Vibrio species inhabiting other ecological niches, such as plants, a relationship largely uncharacterized. This study focused on V. porteresiae MSSRF30[T] and its relationship with brackish-grown Pokkali rice. We discovered that MSSRF30[T] possesses multiple plant growth-promoting traits, effectively colonizes roots, and enhances plant growth in brackish conditions. Additionally, MSSRF30[T] possesses several genome features commonly associated with plant-microbe interactions, previously unrecognized in Vibrio species, and lacks features typically associated with animal interactions, underscoring its specialized adaptation for plant niches. For the first time, this study highlights the beneficial interactions between Vibrio and plants, emphasizing their role in promoting plant growth and health in brackish environments.},
}
@article {pmid41143049,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y},
title = {GPT is all you need.},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1549755},
pmid = {41143049},
issn = {1664-1078},
abstract = {The advent of Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) models, exemplified by systems like ChatGPT, has begun to reshape how humans think, learn, and interact. This paper explores GPT's role as a cognitive scaffold, supporting structured thinking, conversational agility, emotional regulation, and interdisciplinary learning. Grounded in established psychological frameworks-Cognitive Load Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, and Zone of Proximal Development-this work proposes theoretical mechanisms through which GPT may influence cognition, including neuroplasticity, meta-cognition, and implicit learning. While these claims remain speculative, the paper outlines future research pathways for empirically testing GPT's long-term cognitive impacts. It also introduces the concepts of multi-modal GPT and Hybrid AGI, defined as human-AI symbiosis systems that may extend cognition through sensory integration and co-adaptive learning. Limitations such as hallucination, surface-level learning, and cognitive overreliance are critically examined, alongside practical recommendations for educators, users, and developers. By offering a conceptual foundation and forward-looking agenda, this paper aims to catalyze interdisciplinary dialogue on GPT's evolving role in human cognition and learning.},
}
@article {pmid41141375,
year = {2025},
author = {Safeer, AA and Kleijburg, FEL and Wösten, HAB and Baldus, M},
title = {Solid-state NMR spectroscopy reveals unique properties of Trichoderma harzianum cell wall components.},
journal = {Cell surface (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {100156},
pmid = {41141375},
issn = {2468-2330},
abstract = {Trichoderma harzianum is a saprophyte and a mycoparasite and is also capable of forming symbiotic connections with plants. This fungus interacts with the (a)biotic environment through its cell wall and as a mycoparasite secretes enzymes that degrade the cell wall polymers of its target fungi. The organization of the T. harzianum cell wall is not well known. We used solid-state NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to probe the molecular composition and architecture of the T. harzianum cell wall at the atomic level. Our results revealed that the inner core of the T. harzianum rigid cell wall phase is largely composed of chitin, which is complemented with a more mobile cell wall layer that contains β-(1,3)-glucan. The outer dynamic phase of the cell wall is mainly composed of α- and β-glucans, arabinan, mannan and proteins. The relative abundance of both rigid and dynamic cell wall components changed when T. harzianum was grown on isolated fungal cell wall material instead of glucose. Our results suggest that T. harzianum forms a cell wall that is chemically distinct from other fungal species to prevent harmful self-digestion by its secreted lytic enzymes that do degrade the cell wall of target fungi.},
}
@article {pmid41140402,
year = {2025},
author = {Asad, S and Chen, M and Priyashantha, AKH and Gu, P and Liu, J and Shan, Z and Tibpromma, S and Niu, C and Qadir, M and Akhtar, M and Kan, X and Xu, Y and Liu, Z and Karunarathna, SC and Zhang, J},
title = {Mapping of plant-fungal interactions on agriculture perception: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1612428},
pmid = {41140402},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {In nature, plants are always destined to interact with fungi. Thus, plant-fungal interactions are one of the unavoidable fields of study, particularly for agronomists. Fungi interact with plants in different lifestyles, pathogenic and symbiotic. Pathogenic relationships have adverse effects, causing devastating diseases in plants, while symbiotic interactions provide numerous benefits, promoting the growth and development of plants. The intricate relationship between fungi and plants has been the subject of extensive research, especially in the tropics, where there is a higher plant diversity and a strong positive correlation with fungi diversity. This extensive research has provided us with a wealth of knowledge about these interactions. In this study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis and systematic review, analyzing 733 research articles. A considerable growth was revealed in this field, particularly over the previous decade. Many studies during this period are concentrated in China, with a plethora of emerging researchers. More attention has been paid to genetic/molecular-based work over the last decade. In addition, researchers are promoting the use of plant-fungal interactions for sustainable agriculture, highlighting their crucial importance in mitigating crop stresses under both biotic (pests) and abiotic stresses, such as heavy metal pollutants, nutritional depletion, temperature rises, changes in water regimes, and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations. Considering future studies, further research is needed to elucidate the relationships between plants and fungi, particularly through multi-omics approaches. Network mapping and the influence of indigenous fungi on plant-fungal interactions are other, less-studied, important areas to focus on.},
}
@article {pmid41140005,
year = {2025},
author = {Kokkoris, V},
title = {Mycelial dynamics in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70688},
pmid = {41140005},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {101076062/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; 024.004.014//Exacte en Natuurwetenschappen, NWO/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), similar to other filamentous fungi, develop extensive hyphal networks collectively known as mycelia. AMF mycelia are complemented by a variety of specialized structures such as spores, vesicles, and auxiliary cells, which together form integrated and functionally diverse AMF networks. AMF mycelia have long been conceptually fragmented, with research disproportionately focusing on the intraradical phase and especially on intraradical structures such as arbuscules, while usually neglecting the extraradical mycelial phase. Moreover, they are often examined from a plant-centric perspective, where they are usually viewed as mediators of nutrient transfer to host roots. However, AMF mycelia are now increasingly recognized as a crucial component of AMF integrated networks with complex structural, physiological, and ecological dynamics. To encourage broader investigation into this underexplored domain, I synthesize both recent advances and historically overlooked findings on mycelial morphogenesis, growth strategies, resilience, cellular coordination mechanisms, and inter-mycelial interactions. By reframing the mycelium as a single, responsive, and functionally central unit of AMF biology, I propose novel mechanisms that may shape mycelial function, highlight methodological opportunities, and suggest key open questions that must be addressed to fully understand how these hyphal networks function across scales.},
}
@article {pmid41139696,
year = {2025},
author = {Montilla-Bascon, G and Cristescu, SM and Mur, LAJ and Prats, E},
title = {Phytoglobin Scavenging of Nitric Oxide Is Associated With Ethylene Reduction and Drought Tolerance in Oat (Avena sativa).},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {6},
pages = {e70597},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70597},
pmid = {41139696},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {PID2022-142574OB-I00//MICIU/ ; RYC2022-037656-I//MICIU/ ; QUAL21_023 IAS//Junta de Andaluc&#xed;a/ ; //FEDER/ ; //UE/ ; },
mesh = {*Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Droughts ; *Ethylenes/metabolism ; *Avena/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Drought Resistance ; },
abstract = {Drought stress significantly impacts crop productivity and plant physiology. Nitric oxide (NO) signalling is essential for drought tolerance. This study explores the relationship between in vivo NO levels, mediated by NO scavenging phytoglobin (encoded by Pgb, non-symbiosis associated hemoglobin), and drought tolerance in oat (Avena sativa). Real-time in vivo NO measurements suggested increased production under moderate to high water stress in the susceptible cultivar Flega compared to the resistant Patones. This elevated NO correlated with increased senescence in Flega. Conversely, the resistant cultivar Patones showed a marked increase in Pgb gene expression, which correlated with reduced NO levels in vivo. This suggested that Pgb acts as a protective mechanism against NO-induced stress. Water stress-induced NO increases fed into the polyamine pathway, leading to a significant rise in arginine decarboxylase (ADC) expression, leading to putrescine accumulation in the susceptible cultivar, whereas the resistant Patones maintained lower ADC expression and polyamine levels. Elevated in vivo ethylene production was also observed in the susceptible cultivar Flega, correlating with severe drought-induced senescence symptoms and linked to the naturally high NO levels in this cultivar. Assessment of other oat genotypes confirmed a negative correlation between Pgb expression and drought symptoms. These results underscore an important role of phytoglobins in modulating NO levels to counter drought in oat and suggest a potential target for genetic improvement of oat for drought tolerance.},
}
@article {pmid41138412,
year = {2025},
author = {Hou, X and Chen, D and Li, M and Jiang, X and Shen, J},
title = {Structure-informed risk assessment of algal metabolic disruption by pyridine derivatives in algal-bacterial symbiotic systems.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {499},
number = {},
pages = {140165},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140165},
pmid = {41138412},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Pyridine derivatives are widespread nitrogenous pollutants in industrial wastewater. Algal-bacterial symbiotic systems (ABSS) provide a green and efficient approach for their treatment by coupling algal photosynthesis with bacterial degradation and nitrogen cycling. In ABSS, algae were more sensitive to toxic pollutants than bacteria, making their physiological tolerance the key to maintaining ABSS stability under high contaminant loads. However, conventional toxicity assessments often overlook sublethal metabolic effects on algae, thereby underestimating their impact on system performance. In this study, a mechanism-informed, structure-based screening framework was established to prioritize sublethal risk, with an application ratio (AR) introduced as a mechanism-linked endpoint. High predictive performance was obtained with a back-propagation neural network (R[2] = 0.972), and LUMO energy and log Kow were identified as the most influential descriptors by feature-importance analysis. Algal physiological assays showed trends consistent with AR-based predictions for three representative pyridine derivatives. Structure-dependent effects were observed, involving membrane permeability, redox imbalance, and enzymatic inhibition. Molecular docking and dynamics further showed that spatial complementarity in the CYP450 active site, rather than binding affinity alone, was the primary determinant of inhibition potency. Collectively, these results support the use of AR thresholds as a screening basis for classifying pollutants into actionable risk categories. This approach may facilitate pollutant prioritization, operational adjustment, and adaptive management of ABSS under complex wastewater conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41138376,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, C and Du, W and Meng, K and Chen, X and Zhang, H and Xu, M},
title = {Exploring the potential ecological risks of cadmium accumulation in coastal sediments: implications for diversity, function, and assembly of fungal community.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {395},
number = {},
pages = {127726},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127726},
pmid = {41138376},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Understanding how cadmium (Cd) accumulation affects microbial community assembly and species coexistence is critical for revealing the diversity and functional evolution of ecosystems under pollution stress. This study identified Cd as the predominant ecological risk factor in coastal sediments, as determined by the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (Er[i]). Its presence was significantly associated with alterations in fungal community diversity and structure. Elevated sedimentary Cd levels led to significant declines in fungal richness and diversity, shifts in community composition, and increased the relative abundances of pathogenic, symbiotic, and saprotrophic fungi. Under high Cd stress, fungal community assembly was primarily shaped by deterministic processes, characterized by strong environmental filtering, reduced niche breadth, and greater species homogenization, with only minor influence from dispersal limitation. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed declines in modularity, module count, and keystone taxa, indicating reduced network stability. However, the predominance of positive correlations suggested strengthened cooperative interactions and a degree of internal self-regulation within the fungal community. Overall, these findings offer novel insights into the ecological impacts of heavy metal contamination in marine sediments and underscore the value of microbial communities as indicators for pollution monitoring and ecological risk assessment.},
}
@article {pmid41138177,
year = {2025},
author = {Casto-Rebollo, C and Pocrnic, I and Gorjanc, G and Ibáñez-Escriche, N},
title = {HoloSimR: a comprehensive framework for simulating breeding programs including the hologenome scenario.},
journal = {Journal of animal science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jas/skaf371},
pmid = {41138177},
issn = {1525-3163},
abstract = {Including microbiome information in breeding schemes may be helpful to improve the selection response of livestock populations. However, the complexity of the microbiome makes modelling across species and traits difficult. The estimation of the microbiability and the identification of the microbial species are highly dependent on the methodology used. Indeed, it is complicated to decide which is the best method because we fail to know the true underlying scenario. This study proposes an R package named HoloSimR for simulating the coevolution of the genome and the microbiota under a selection process. HoloSimR allows the user to explore the effect of the microbiota on the phenotypic response to selection and the effects of the environment, host genetics and symbiosis between microbial species on the composition of the microbiota. HoloSimR demonstrated strong computational performance even under complex simulation settings. To assess its efficiency, a divergent selection process was simulated over ten generations across three different scenarios. These scenarios integrated genetic, microbiota, and hologenome-based phenotypic models, including real data-based microbiota structure and heritability. The simulation of those scenarios took 68.42 minutes on a standard laptop with 16 GB of RAM. Despite the complexity, the package effectively reproduced real microbiota distributions, heritability structures, and interspecies correlations, confirming its scalability and robustness. HoloSimR provides a valuable research platform, allowing researchers to test hypotheses and develop new approaches in a controlled in silico environment before applying them to real-world breeding programmes. This ultimately advances our understanding of host-microbiota interactions in the context of animal breeding.},
}
@article {pmid41137887,
year = {2025},
author = {Cao, Z and He, C and Li, J and Yang, K and Zhang, Y and Fan, X and Qi, D and Song, F and Chang, W},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance plant salt tolerance to salt stress using endogenous phytohormones.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {207},
number = {12},
pages = {334},
pmid = {41137887},
issn = {1432-072X},
support = {32571883//The National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; GA23B006//The-Key Research and Developmentand Guidance Program of-Heilongjiang Province/ ; C2018052//Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province/ ; 2022-KYYWF-1083//Special fund project of Heilongjiang University of: Basic ScientificResearch Business Expenses for Provincial Universities of Heilongjiang Province/ ; LH2024C091//Natural Science Foundation (Joint Guidance)of Heilongjiang Province/ ; LJGXCG 2023-088//Heilongjiang Province "Double First-Class" Discipline Collaborative Innovation Achievement Project/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Salt Tolerance ; *Salt Stress ; Symbiosis ; *Plants/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Soil salinization poses a significant threat to global agricultural productivity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), forming symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plants, play a pivotal role in enhancing host plant tolerance to salt stress. Endogenous phytohormones are central signaling molecules governing plant growth and stress adaptation. However, the current understanding of how AMF modulate these phytohormonal pathways to confer salt tolerance remains fragmented. This review synthesizes the mechanisms by which AMF regulate endogenous phytohormones to improve plant resilience under salinity, focusing on four key aspects: facilitating mycorrhizal symbiosis, enhancing water use efficiency, activating antioxidant defense systems, and improving photosynthetic performance. A critical insight emerging from this synthesis is the interplay between different hormonal pathways, yet the complexity of this multi-hormonal crosstalk mediated by AMF is still underexplored. We highlight significant knowledge gaps, particularly concerning the role of understudied phytohormones such as melatonin and peptide hormones, as well as the unresolved mechanistic links between AMF-induced hormonal signals and ionic homeostasis (e.g., Na[+]/K[+] balance and Ca[2+]/Mg[2+] nutrition). Finally, we propose future research directions focused on deciphering this comprehensive hormonal regulatory network. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for leveraging AMF technology to improve saline-alkali soil utilization and advance sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41137720,
year = {2025},
author = {Reiss, K and Mander, &#xdc; and Öpik, M and Sepp, SK and Kanger, K and Schindler, T and Soosaar, K and Pihlatie, M and Butterbach-Bahl, K and Putkinen, A and Niinemets, &#xdc; and Espenberg, M},
title = {Temporal and spatial dynamics of microbial communities and greenhouse gas flux responses to experimental flooding in riparian forest soils.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaf109},
pmid = {41137720},
issn = {1574-6941},
abstract = {Extreme rainfall and flooding are expected to increase in Northern sub-boreal habitats, altering soil hydrology and impacting greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes by shifting redox potential and microbial communities as soils transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions. This study examined the effects of a two-week growing-season flash flood on bacterial, archaeal, and fungal communities and microbial processes driving CH4 and N2O fluxes in riparian alder (Alnus incana) forests. Flooding reduced soil nitrate accumulation as determined by qPCR and promoted dinitrogen-fixing, nifH gene-carrying bacteria like Geomonas. Sequencing data showed that anaerobic bacteria (Oleiharenicola, Pelotalea) increased during the flood, while N2O emissions declined, indicating a shift towards complete denitrification to N2. However, drier patches within the flooded area emitted N2O, suggesting nitrification or incomplete denitrification. A diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal community was detected, including genera Acaulospora, Archaeospora, Claroideoglomus, Diversispora, and Paraglomus. Flooding increased the abundance of the fungal genera Naucoria, Russula, and Tomentella and the family Thelephoraceae, which symbiotically support alder trees in nitrogen uptake and carbon sequestration. Microtopographic differences of 0.3-0.7 m created spatial variability in GHG emissions during flooding, with some waterlogged areas emitting CH4, while others enhanced CH4 oxidation (determined by FAPROTAX) and promoted nitrification-driven N2O emissions in drier, elevated zones. We conclude that flash flooding during the active growing season significantly affects nitrogen-fixing and nitrifying microbes and alters symbiotic fungal community composition, creating spatial variability in GHG emissions.},
}
@article {pmid41137426,
year = {2025},
author = {Alperovitz, CH and David, NB and Gross, A and Mizrahi, B},
title = {Living Materials Approach for In Situ Bio-Polymers Production Using Bacillus Paralicheniformis in Microneedles.},
journal = {Advanced healthcare materials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e03630},
doi = {10.1002/adhm.202503630},
pmid = {41137426},
issn = {2192-2659},
support = {No. 515/20//Israeli Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Living biomaterials, which integrate live organisms with traditional macromolecular scaffolds, function as "live manufacturers" capable of sensing their environment, synthesizing, and releasing biomolecules while remaining stable under physiological conditions. While systems that produce small biomolecules continue to advance, in situ production and secretion of high-molecular-weight biopolymers remain relatively underexplored. Here, a microneedle (MN) patch system is presented encapsulating Bacillus paralicheniformis (B. paralicheniformis) - a non-pathogenic, Gram-positive bacterium known for its production of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA). The MNs are designed to painlessly penetrate the stratum corneum and reach the dermis. Bacteria are uniformly distributed within the patch, and their presence has minimal impact on the microneedles' morphology and mechanical integrity. Upon application, B. paralicheniformis is released from the MNs and successfully produced γ-PGA, with molecular weights ranging from 64 to 563 kDa. Growth studies revealed that Luria-Bertani (LB) medium supports optimal bacterial proliferation, while E medium enhances γ-PGA biosynthesis. In vivo studies confirmed that B. paralicheniformis colonized mouse skin following MN administration and secreted γ-PGA without eliciting toxicity or inflammatory responses. Given the increasing therapeutic use of biopolymers and proteins for treating chronic and acute skin conditions, this living bacterial delivery system offers a promising platform for sustainable and symbiotic dermal therapies.},
}
@article {pmid41135873,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, Z and Su, M and Yu, M and Huang, E and Hu, B and Chen, Y},
title = {KRAS/ACTN4/p65-NR2A axis mediates glutamine-glutamate metabolic coupling between schwann cells and pancreatic cancer promoting perineural invasion.},
journal = {Journal of advanced research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jare.2025.10.030},
pmid = {41135873},
issn = {2090-1224},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits aggressive perineural invasion (PNI), a hallmark of poor prognosis observed in 70-100% of cases. Schwann cells (SCs), key components of the tumor microenvironment, drive PNI via multiple pathways, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.<br><br>OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the hypothesis that PDAC cells and SCs establish a glutamine-glutamate metabolic symbiosis to fuel PNI.<br><br>METHODS: Integrated approaches, including LC-MS metabolomics, isotopic tracing, co-culture systems, and in vivo models, were employed to analyze bidirectional metabolite exchange. Molecular assays and functional studies elucidated signaling pathways. The therapeutic potential of targeting glutamine transporters (SLC1A5/SLC7A5) and glutamate receptor NR2A was tested using inhibitors V9302 and PEAQX.<br><br>RESULTS: SCs secreted glutamine, which PDAC cells internalized via SLC1A5 and converted to glutamate. Glutamate activated SCs through NR2A, inducing ROS/NRF2-expression and upregulating glutamine synthetase (GS) and GLT-1, thereby regenerating glutamine to sustain the metabolic loop. KRAS-ACTN4-p65 signaling amplified this cycle by transcriptionally activating SLC1A5/SLC7A5 and GLS, while leucine uptake via SLC7A5 activated mTORC1 to promote invasion and PNI. In vivo, dual inhibition of SLC1A5/SLC7A5 (V9302) and NR2A (PEAQX) synergistically reduced tumor growth, PNI length, and improved sciatic nerve function in mice.<br><br>CONCLUSION: This study identifies a reciprocal glutamine-glutamate metabolic symbiosis between PDAC cells and SCs as a driver of PNI, orchestrated by KRAS-ACTN4-NF-&#x3ba;B signaling and glutamate-NR2A-ROS-NRF2 pathways. Disrupting this axis with V9302 and PEAQX offers a novel therapeutic strategy to target PDAC's metabolic adaptability and neurotrophic microenvironment.},
}
@article {pmid41133767,
year = {2025},
author = {Nakamura, Y and Hoshino, O and Saito, N and Nagatsuka, S},
title = {New Combination of the "Rhizarian Rider" Phenomenon, Brachyscelus crusculum Bate, 1861 (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Brachyscelidae) and Odontosphaera sp. (Radiolaria, Collodaria, Collosphaeridae).},
journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology},
volume = {72},
number = {6},
pages = {e70052},
doi = {10.1111/jeu.70052},
pmid = {41133767},
issn = {1550-7408},
support = {LEADER Grant 202390030//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 25K07471//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24K01788//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24K00718//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 23K25953//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 21H04521//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JPMJPR24G4//Japan Science and Technology Agency/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Amphipoda/parasitology/physiology ; Female ; Japan ; *Cercozoa/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {A new combination of the "rhizarian rider" phenomenon was observed in the sea area affected by the Kuroshio current, off Japan: a female of Brachyscelus crusculum (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Brachyscelidae) holding a colony of Odontosphaera sp. (Radiolaria, Collodaria, Collosphaeridae). The "rhizarian rider" phenomenon of Collosphaeridae and B. crusculum was first recorded. The large colony size (ca. 13 mm) and color (pale blue) of Odontosphaera sp. are also newly reported by this study. Brachyscelus crusculum presumably utilizes Odontosphaera sp. as a float, food source, and breeding bed.},
}
@article {pmid41133427,
year = {2025},
author = {Zekavat, M},
title = {Planetary health and emancipatory worlding.},
journal = {Global health promotion},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {17579759251378432},
doi = {10.1177/17579759251378432},
pmid = {41133427},
issn = {1757-9767},
abstract = {This study critiques the prevailing anthropocentric and neoliberal frameworks within planetary health discourses, advocating for multi-species wellbeing-a departure from the dominant models of planetary health that tend to prioritize human interests and overlook the symbiotic relationships among holobionts. Drawing on posthumanism and relational theories to critique anthropocentrism and promote emancipatory worlding, it highlights the role of socio-economic disparities in environmental degradation and the unequal distribution of power and responsibility. This study further reveals the inadequacy of resilience and adaptation strategies often promoted by neoliberal agendas, calling instead for systemic change. True planetary health requires a shift from anthropocentric paradigms to a symbiotic model that incorporates material justice and restitution. Addressing global health disparities and environmental degradation must move beyond market-based solutions, prioritizing the interconnectedness of all species and their environments.},
}
@article {pmid41132378,
year = {2025},
author = {Kong, CC and Wang, J and Shan, B and Zhang, HX and Qin, S and Ren, CG},
title = {Marine endophytes: biosynthetic engines for novel bioactive metabolites.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1684777},
pmid = {41132378},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Marine endophytes are prolific sources of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with significant pharmaceutical potential, including anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant agents. However, their commercial utilization is hindered by genomic instability in axenic cultures and inconsistent metabolite yields. While current studies focus on symbiotic interactions and compound discover, critical gaps persist in harnessing their biosynthetic capabilities. This review synthesizes knowledge on marine fungal metabolites and proposes a paradigm shift toward resource-driven research. It addresses strain improvement limitations and suggests strategies like mutagenesis, protoplast fusion, and metabolic engineering to bolster production stability and efficiency. The paper also discusses biological process optimization, including fermentation tuning, inducer and precursor addition, and adsorbent use, to enhance natural product synthesis. By identifying these research gaps and proposing a strategic roadmap, the review advances the stable and scalable production of bioactive metabolites, unlocking the commercial and therapeutic potential of marine endophytic fungi.},
}
@article {pmid41131807,
year = {2025},
author = {Reiermann, V and Winter, M and Kotschik, P and Zielinski, F and Schoenfeld, J and Pieper, S and Schlich, K},
title = {The spore germination test (ISO 10832) with funneliformis mosseae for use in an environmental risk assessment for chemicals-necessary adaptations and exemplary testing.},
journal = {Integrated environmental assessment and management},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/inteam/vjaf146},
pmid = {41131807},
issn = {1551-3793},
abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi play a fundamental role in terrestrial ecosystems. Through the root symbiosis they form with about 80% of all terrestrial plants, they contribute to multiple ecosystem services like e.g. nutrient exchange or pest control. However, ecotoxicological studies have shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are sensitive to chemicals. It is therefore crucial to consider these key organisms in an environmental risk assessment (ERA), especially as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has proposed the inclusion of AMF as test organisms for future ERA. Our aim was to determine the effect of various pesticides, a veterinary pharmaceutical and a biocide using the spore germination test (ISO 10832) with Funneliformis mosseae, to compare the results with the currently in ERA used Nitrogen(N)-transformation test (OECD 216), and to evaluate the potential use of the spore germination test for future ERA. Furthermore, recommendations for a revision of the ISO 10832 were elaborated, aiming to use natural soils as an alternative to artificial soil. Evaluation of the spore germination test revealed a significant and higher sensitivity, compared to the results of the N-transformation test for the three tested substances ethofumesate, pyraclostrobin and tiamulin hydrogen fumarate. A reduced maximum water holding capacity (WHCmax) to 50%, compared to the recommended WHCmax of 90% according to ISO 10832, led to a sufficient germination rate of F. mosseae in natural soil. Additionally, pH plays an important role for germination; when using natural soils with a pH below 5.5, a sufficient spore germination of 75% could not be reached. If WHC is reduced and a pH of above 5.5 is tested, the established germination test with F. mosseae is suitable for testing different substances in natural soils and could be a valuable addition to the current ERA for chemicals like pesticides, veterinary pharmaceuticals or biocides.},
}
@article {pmid41131669,
year = {2025},
author = {Pál, A and Lima, RM and Tiricz, H and Ayaydin, F and Kereszt, A and Kondorosi, &#xc9; and Ábrahám, E},
title = {Diverse triggers, common outcome: Senescence in Fix[-] Medicago truncatula nodules.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf518},
pmid = {41131669},
issn = {1532-2548},
abstract = {Nodule senescence in barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) can occur as a natural, developmentally regulated process or be triggered prematurely by environmental stress or ineffective symbiotic interactions. In this study, we examined five M. truncatula Fix[-] mutants (dnf4, dnf7-2, TR183, TRV36 and TR36) that fail to fix nitrogen to determine whether they share common senescence-related traits. Our findings reveal that, despite distinct genetic defects, all mutants exhibit similar hallmarks of premature senescence: a rapid decline in the transcription of nitrogen-fixation-related genes (as indicated by DINITROGENASE REDUCTASE (NifH) expression), early degradation of bacteroids and symbiotic cells, recolonization of nodules by saprophytic rhizobia, premature closure of the nodule endodermis, impaired post-mitotic differentiation of the symbiotic cells, and upregulation of senescence marker genes (CYSTEINE PROTEASE 2 (CP2), CYSTEINE PROTEASE 6 (CP6), CHITINASE 2 and PURPLE ACID PHOSPHATASE 22 (PAP22). Neither symbiotic maintenance genes (DEFECTIVE IN NITROGEN FIXATION 2 (DNF2), Symbiotic CYSTEINE-RICH RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SymCRK) and REGULATOR OF SYMBIOSOME DIFFERENTIATION (RSD) that inhibit plant defense responses nor the defense-related gene PATHOGENESIS-RELATED PROTEIN 10.1 (PR10.1) were upregulated, suggesting that premature senescence in these mutants is driven primarily by proteolytic activities rather than immune responses. These results indicate that early nodule senescence is a common feature of ineffective M. truncatula-Sinorhizobium medicae interactions, independent of the specific genetic mutation. Understanding nodule longevity and functionality may contribute to the development of strategies to enhance symbiotic efficiency in legumes for sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41130803,
year = {2025},
author = {deMayo, JA and Brennan, RS and Pespeni, M and Jaspers, C and Varpe, &#xd8; and Lee, CE and Dam, HG},
title = {Recognizing adaptation costs in the Anthropocene.},
journal = {Trends in ecology &amp; evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2025.09.020},
pmid = {41130803},
issn = {1872-8383},
abstract = {While populations can adapt to rapid environmental change in the Anthropocene, adaptation costs may limit evolutionary rescue, even when standing population genetic variation is high. Here, we argue that adaptation costs are linked to evolutionary trade-offs involving scenario- or system-specific traits that usually promote environmental specialization and species coexistence. Adaptation costs can be cryptic, and are more likely to emerge in populations under fluctuating environments or under multiple stressors. Adaptation costs mediated by ecological processes such as competition and symbiosis can limit population growth and species ranges. We advocate for considering adaptation costs in global change studies to improve predictions of future population responses, biological production, and ecosystem resilience.},
}
@article {pmid41129320,
year = {2025},
author = {Thoms, D and Chen, MY and Liu, Y and Fulton, L and Luo, Y and Hiott, DE and Song, S and Morales Moreira, Z and Wang, NR and Zorio, D and Rejzek, M and Potter, R and Carella, P and Haney, CH},
title = {A bacterial exotoxin-triggered plant immune response restricts pathogen growth.},
journal = {Cell reports},
volume = {44},
number = {11},
pages = {116457},
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116457},
pmid = {41129320},
issn = {2211-1247},
abstract = {For optimal growth and development, hosts must promote healthy symbiotic interactions while restricting pathogens. To ask whether hosts can distinguish phylogenetically similar pathogens and beneficial bacteria, we used two closely related plant root-associated strains within the Pseudomonas fluorescens species complex. Despite having similar immunogenic microbe-associated molecular patterns, one strain is beneficial and the other exhibits exotoxin-dependent virulence. We show that the two strains co-exist in vitro, but the beneficial strain outcompetes the pathogen in the rhizosphere. We find that plants respond to the pathogen, but not the beneficial strain, predominantly via an exotoxin-triggered defense response in roots. The purified exotoxin is sufficient to induce immunity and restrict bacterial growth in a BAK1/BKK1/CERK1-dependent manner. We show that these immune components are also required for balancing the growth between the beneficial and pathogenic strains. We conclude that plant immunity can distinguish phylogenetically similar microbes with distinct lifestyles, in part, through perception of exotoxins.},
}
@article {pmid41129090,
year = {2025},
author = {Kumar, A and Kumar, R and Singh, P and Kalaichelvan, S and Santos-Villalobos, SL and Kumar, N and Fernando, L and Kumar, R and Solanki, MK and Joshi, NC and Babalola, OO},
title = {Emerging Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture: From Biology to Field Application.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {14},
number = {5},
pages = {e70082},
doi = {10.1002/mbo3.70082},
pmid = {41129090},
issn = {2045-8827},
support = {//The authors received no specific funding for this work./ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Agriculture/methods ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Agricultural Inoculants/physiology ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; },
abstract = {In recent years, increasing consumer demand for organic food and chemical free agricultural products has driven a shift toward microbial-based approaches, which are being adopted to replace traditional agrochemicals, used for nutrient supplementation and protection against plant pathogens. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can form symbiotic associations with up to 80% of plant roots, are widely employed as bio stimulants, biofertilizers, or biopesticides to improve agricultural productivity. Currently, a range of AMF strains are commercially produced and applied as soil inoculants to improve agricultural yields. Although the effectiveness of these inoculants depends on multiple factors, including the selection of AMF strains, choice of carrier materials and methods of application. In addition, production strategies play a critical role in determining both the concentration and the viability of the inoculum. Despite significant technological advancements, only a limited number of AMF strains have been commercially exploited as inoculants. Thus, the present review aims to briefly discuss the latest aspects of AMF biology, their functional role in abiotic and biotic stress management. Furthermore, this review paper also discusses different production strategies and highlights the challenges associated with the commercialization of AMF inoculants, including limited strain diversity, propagule viability, formulation stability, and inconsistent field performance.},
}
@article {pmid41128430,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, Y and Luo, Z and Ye, Z and Zhong, N and Zhao, L and Zhang, L and Li, X and Chen, Z and Chen, Y},
title = {Applications, Challenges, and Prospects of Generative Artificial Intelligence Empowering Medical Education: Scoping Review.},
journal = {JMIR medical education},
volume = {11},
number = {},
pages = {e71125},
doi = {10.2196/71125},
pmid = {41128430},
issn = {2369-3762},
mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence/trends ; Humans ; *Education, Medical/methods/trends ; Generative Artificial Intelligence ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nowadays, generative artificial intelligence (GAI) drives medical education toward enhanced intelligence, personalization, and interactivity. With its vast generative abilities and diverse applications, GAI redefines how educational resources are accessed, teaching methods are implemented, and assessments are conducted.<br><br>OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review the current applications of GAI in medical education; analyze its opportunities and challenges; identify its strengths and potential issues in educational methods, assessments, and resources; and capture GAI's rapid evolution and multidimensional applications in medical education, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for future practice.<br><br>METHODS: This scoping review used PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus to analyze literature from January 2023 to October 2024, focusing on GAI applications in medical education. Following PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, 5991 articles were retrieved, with 1304 duplicates removed. The 2-stage screening (title or abstract and full-text review) excluded 4564 articles and a supplementary search included 8 articles, yielding 131 studies for final synthesis. We included (1) studies addressing GAI's applications, challenges, or future directions in medical education, (2) empirical research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, and (3) English-language articles. We excluded commentaries, editorials, viewpoints, perspectives, short reports, or communications with low levels of evidence, non-GAI technologies, and studies centered on other fields of medical education (eg, nursing). We integrated quantitative analysis of publication trends and Human Development Index (HDI) with thematic analysis of applications, technical limitations, and ethical implications.<br><br>RESULTS: Analysis of 131 articles revealed that 74.0% (n=97) originated from countries or regions with very high HDI, with the United States contributing the most (n=33); 14.5% (n=19) were from high HDI countries, 5.3% (n=7) from medium HDI countries, and 2.2% (n=3) from low HDI countries, with 3.8% (n=5) involving cross-HDI collaborations. ChatGPT was the most studied GAI model (n=119), followed by Gemini (n=22), Copilot (n=11), Claude (n=6), and LLaMA (n=4). Thematic analysis indicated that GAI applications in medical education mainly embody the diversification of educational methods, scientific evaluation of educational assessments, and dynamic optimization of educational resources. However, it also highlighted current limitations and potential future challenges, including insufficient scene adaptability, data quality and information bias, overreliance, and ethical controversies.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: GAI application in medical education exhibits significant regional disparities in development, and model research statistics reflect researchers' certain usage preferences. GAI holds potential for empowering medical education, but widespread adoption requires overcoming complex technical and ethical challenges. Grounded in symbiotic agency theory, we advocate establishing the resource-method-assessment tripartite model, developing specialized models and constructing an integrated system of general large language models incorporating specialized ones, promoting resource sharing, refining ethical governance, and building an educational ecosystem fostering human-machine symbiosis, enabling deep tech-humanism integration and advancing medical education toward greater efficiency and human-centeredness.},
}
@article {pmid41127834,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhong, Z and Hu, M and Yu, F and Yang, P and Li, L and Wang, J and Wang, Y},
title = {Aging Enhances the Ecotoxicological Effects of Biobased Microplastic Poly(Lactic Acid) and Its Adsorbed Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate on Mussels.},
journal = {Environment &amp; health (Washington, D.C.)},
volume = {3},
number = {10},
pages = {1245-1260},
pmid = {41127834},
issn = {2833-8278},
abstract = {The biodegradable plastic poly-(lactic acid) (PLA) has been widely used to reduce plastic pollution in the environment, but PLA does not readily degrade completely and is more prone to form microplastics (MPs) and age. In this study, MP-PLA was aged by simulating the behavior of the marine environment and combined with plastic additive tris-(1-chloro-2-propyl)-phosphate (TCPP) according to their susceptibility to adsorb environmental pollutants. Mussels were the exposed subjects, and exposure concentrations of MPs and TCPP were set at 0.2 mg/L, 1 mg/L, and 0.5 μg/L, respectively. The ecotoxicity of PLA, aged-PLA, TCPP, and TCPP+aged-PLA was compared based on the result that aged-PLA could adsorb more TCPP. Biomarker assays revealed that mussels ingesting and accumulating contaminants underwent a severe oxidative (ROS) and immune stress response in the organism, with disruption of energy metabolism for energy supply, leading to apoptosis, resulting in tissue damage, and disruption of the homeostasis of the symbiotic intestinal microbiota. Comparisons showed that aging enhanced the adverse effects of PLA and ecotoxicological effects are further exacerbated by the adsorption of TCPP on aged-PLA. Therefore, with the widespread use of degradable plastics, long-term environmental impacts such as incomplete degradation and release of additives must be a concern.},
}
@article {pmid41127793,
year = {2025},
author = {Yoshikawa, A and Izumi, T and Kanki, T and Moritaki, T and Kitajima, M and Ohtsuchi, N and Kimura, T and Gou, Y and Hattori, R and Yumiba, M and Shirai, K and Mitchell, ML and Fujita, T and Yanagi, K},
title = {Mutualism on the deep-sea floor: a novel shell-forming sea anemone in symbiosis with a hermit crab.},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {12},
number = {10},
pages = {250789},
pmid = {41127793},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Interspecific species interactions are fundamental evolutionary forces that shape the traits and adaptive strategies of biological communities. However, their diversity and dynamics in deep-sea ecosystems are poorly understood because of their inaccessibility. Here, we report and describe a newly identified species-specific, hermit crab-associated sea anemone named Paracalliactis tsukisome sp. nov. The sea anemone secretes and constructs a unique shell-like structure known as a carcinoecium, which expands the host hermit crab's living space. Stable isotope analyses (δ[13]C and δ[15]N) suggested that P. tsukisome sp. nov. consumes nutritional benefits by consuming host faeces and suspended organic particles from the surrounding environment. Three-dimensional computed tomography imaging elucidated a unidirectional attachment pattern, which was consistently positioned near the shell aperture or carcinoecium edge-a likely adaptation linked to feeding behaviour and carcinoecium formation. The host, Oncopagurus monstrosus (Alcock, 1894), substantially benefits from this association, attaining larger body sizes than other Oncopagurus species, highlighting the functional role of the carcinoecium as an effective shell enhancement in the deep-sea environment. This study provides the first quantitative evidence of mutualism in carcinoecium-forming associations, highlighting a remarkable example of deep-sea symbiosis and hypothesizing how reciprocal benefits are refined over time, fostering the evolution of carcinoecium-forming abilities and species-specific mutualistic relationships.},
}
@article {pmid41126179,
year = {2025},
author = {Heuberger, M and Wehrkamp, CM and Pfammatter, A and Poretti, M and Graf, JP and Herger, A and Isaksson, J and Schlagenhauf, E and Honegger, R and Wicker, T and Sotiropoulos, AG},
title = {A reference metagenome sequence of the lichen Cladonia rangiformis.},
journal = {BMC biology},
volume = {23},
number = {1},
pages = {319},
pmid = {41126179},
issn = {1741-7007},
support = {310030_212428//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; },
mesh = {*Lichens/genetics/microbiology ; *Metagenome ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Genome, Fungal ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; Chlorophyta/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lichens are an ancient symbiosis comprising the thalli of lichen-forming fungi, their photoautotrophic partners, and their microbiome. So far, they were poorly studied at the genome sequence level. Here, we present a reference metagenome for the holobiont of Cladonia rangiformis, aiming to illuminate the genomic complexity and evolutionary interactions within lichen symbioses.<br><br>RESULTS: Using long-read sequences from an entire symbiotic complex, plus short-read libraries from 28 additional diverse European lichen samples, we were able to separate genome sequences of 20 individual species. We constructed chromosome-scale assemblies of the C. rangiformis fungus and its trebouxioid green algal photobiont Asterochloris mediterranea. The genome of the fungus comprises&#x2009;~&#x2009;22% transposable elements and is highly compartmentalized into genic regions and large TE-derived segments which show extensive signatures of repeat-induced point mutations (RIP). We found that A. mediterranea centromeres are predominantly derived from two interacting retrotransposon families. We also identified strong candidates for genes that were horizontally transferred from bacteria to both alga and fungus. Furthermore, we isolated 18 near-complete bacterial genomes, of which 13 are enriched in the lichen compared to surrounding soil. Analysis of gene content in fungus, algae, and bacteria identified 22 distinct biosynthetic gene cluster categories for known secondary metabolites.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that the thalli of C. rangiformis have a highly complex microbiome, comprising a mix of species that may include opportunists, ecologically obligate symbionts and possibly even lichen-beneficial bacteria. This study provides the first chromosome-scale genomic framework for a lichen holobiont, offering a foundational resource for future research into metagenomics, symbiosis, and microbial ecology in lichens.},
}
@article {pmid40925005,
year = {2025},
author = {Belosokhov, A and Spribille, T},
title = {Making Fungal-Photobiont Symbioses in the Lab: Past, Present, and Future of the Elusive In Vitro Lichen.},
journal = {Annual review of microbiology},
volume = {79},
number = {1},
pages = {713-730},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-051524-031834},
pmid = {40925005},
issn = {1545-3251},
mesh = {*Lichens/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Symbiosis ; *Fungi/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Coculture Techniques ; },
abstract = {The ability to synthesize lichen symbioses in vitro from pure cultures of transformable symbionts would be a game changer for experiments to identify the metabolic interplay that underpins the success of lichens. However, despite multiple reports of successful lichen resynthesis, no lichen lab model system exists today. We reviewed 150 years of in vitro lichen studies and found that the term resynthesis is applied to many types of fungal-photobiont cocultures that do not resemble lichens. Some of the most lichen-like results, for their part, were obtained from nonaxenic tissue culture. Only a few studies reported obtaining natural-looking lichens from axenic input cultures, but all appear to have been isolated successes obtained against the background of extensive contamination. We suggest revisiting resynthesis experiments in light of recent advances in our understanding of lichen microbial composition to test whether in vitro lichen morphogenesis requires microbial inputs beyond those of the canonical fungal and algal symbionts.},
}
@article {pmid41125883,
year = {2025},
author = {Vaga, CF and Quattrini, AM and Galvão de Lossio E Seiblitz, I and Huang, D and Quek, ZBR and Stolarski, J and Cairns, SD and Kitahara, MV},
title = {A global coral phylogeny reveals resilience and vulnerability through deep time.},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41125883},
issn = {1476-4687},
abstract = {Global climate change and its consequences for the symbiosis between corals and microalgae are impacting coral reefs worldwide-ecosystems that support more than one-quarter of marine species and sustain nearly one billion people[1-3]. Understanding how stony corals, the primary architects of both shallow and deep reef ecosystems, responded to past environmental challenges is key to predicting their future[4]. Here we describe a time-calibrated molecular phylogenetic analysis that includes hundreds of newly sequenced coral taxa, and sheds light on the deep-time evolution of scleractinian corals. We date the emergence of the most recent common ancestor of Scleractinia to about 460 million years ago and infer that it was probably a solitary, heterotrophic and free-living organism-or one that could reproduce through transverse division-thriving in both shallow and deep waters. Our analyses suggest that symbiosis with photosynthetic dinoflagellates was established around 300 million years ago and spurred coral diversification. However, only a few photosymbiotic lineages survived major environmental disruptions in the Mesozoic era. By contrast, solitary, heterotrophic corals with flexible depth and substrate preferences appear to have thrived in the deep sea despite these environmental disturbance events. Even though ongoing environmental changes are expected to severely affect shallow reefs[5], our finding that stony corals have shown resilience throughout geological history offers hope for the persistence of some lineages in the face of climate and other environmental changes.},
}
@article {pmid41125850,
year = {2025},
author = {Salloum, Y and Gros, G and Quintero-Castillo, K and Garcia-Baudino, C and Rabahi, S and Janardhana Kurup, A and Diabangouaya, P and Pérez-Pascual, D and Morales Castro, RA and Boekhorst, J and Villablanca, EJ and Ghigo, JM and Feijoo, CG and Brugman, S and Hernandez, PP},
title = {IL-26 from innate lymphoid cells regulates early-life gut epithelial homeostasis by shaping microbiota composition.},
journal = {The EMBO journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41125850},
issn = {1460-2075},
support = {ANR-24-INBS-0005 FBI BIOGEN//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-II-INBS-0014//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-11- LBX-0044//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-10-IDEX- 0001-02 PSL//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-10-LABX-62-IBEID//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; 2020 DAE 78//Ville da Paris Emergence Program/ ; AJE201905008718//Fondation pour la Recherche M&#xe9;dicale (FRM)/ ; FDT202304016654//Fondation pour la Recherche M&#xe9;dicale (FRM)/ ; R21045DS//ATIP-Avenir Starting Program/ ; 101041422//EC | European Research Council (ERC)/ ; },
abstract = {Animals host symbiotic microbial communities that shape gut health. However, how the host immune system and microbiota interact to regulate epithelial homeostasis, particularly during early development, remains largely unclear. Human interleukin-26 (IL-26) is associated with gut inflammation and has intrinsic bactericidal activity in vitro, yet its in vivo functions are largely unknown, primarily due to its absence in rodents. To examine the role of IL-26 in early life, we used zebrafish and found that gut epithelial cells in il26-/- larvae exhibited increased proliferation, faster turnover, elevated DNA damage, and altered cell population abundance. This epithelial dysregulation occurred independently of the IL-26 canonical receptor and resulted from dysbiosis in il26-/- larvae. Moreover, IL-26 bactericidal activity was conserved in zebrafish, suggesting a potential role of this property in regulating microbiota composition. We further identified innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) as the primary source of IL-26 at this developmental stage. These findings establish IL-26 as a central player in a regulatory circuit linking the microbiota, ILCs, and intestinal epithelial cells to maintain gut homeostasis during early life.},
}
@article {pmid41124367,
year = {2025},
author = {Oladipupo, SO and Hochstrasser, M},
title = {Deubiquitylases and nucleases in bacterial symbiont-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility.},
journal = {Biochemical Society transactions},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1042/BST20253047},
pmid = {41124367},
issn = {1470-8752},
abstract = {In myriad arthropod species, maternally transmitted symbiotic bacteria spread through populations by manipulating host reproduction, most frequently by a mechanism called cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). CI occurs when bacterially infected males fertilize uninfected females, typically causing paternal chromatin condensation and segregation defects and usually embryonic arrest in the first zygotic cell cycle. Embryos survive if the female is similarly infected, which promotes bacterial spread. The endosymbiont best known for CI is Wolbachia, now widely used against mosquitoes that vector viral diseases such as dengue fever. Although CI is induced by Wolbachia resident in testes, mature sperm carry no bacteria, indicating they alter sperm in a way that, following fertilization, interferes with embryogenesis. CI-inducing factors (Cifs) are expressed from syntenic Wolbachia cifA-cifB genes. CifB is required in the male germline to induce CI, while CifA expression in the host female is sufficient to rescue viability. Importantly, CifA suppresses lethality through its binding to CifB. Different CifB proteins have distinct CI-relevant enzymatic functions, in particular, deubiquitylase and nuclease activities. Consistent with these genetic data, CifB is packaged into sperm during spermiogenesis. While sperm morphological disruption has been observed in fruit flies carrying cif transgenes, a causal role in CI is unclear. Also not understood is how maternally provisioned CifA rescues embryo viability. Exciting new findings with diverse symbiotic bacteria reveal cifA-cifB-like operons on extrachromosomal plasmids. These results suggest far wider deployment of Wolbachia-related CI factors than previously thought and multiple mechanisms for lateral cif gene transfer.},
}
@article {pmid41124138,
year = {2025},
author = {Bennett, JA and Elshamy, O and Trefiak, M and Wasan, JP},
title = {Fertilizer and fungicide reduce herbicide efficacy and enhance growth of invasive common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {10},
pages = {e0333818},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0333818},
pmid = {41124138},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Herbicides/pharmacology ; *Fertilizers ; *Introduced Species ; *Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; *Tanacetum/growth &amp; development/drug effects/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/drug effects ; Biomass ; },
abstract = {Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare; Asteraceae) is a widespread invasive species in North America that threatens biodiversity and agricultural productivity by displacing resident vegetation. Combined with being unpalatable, it can be toxic and thus poses significant challenges for the livestock industry. Current tansy control strategies are largely chemical and rely on a suite of synthetic auxin herbicides. The need for reapplication may lead to resistance development in addition to significant biodiversity losses. Recent work suggests that invasive Asteraceae may rely on symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to give them a competitive advantage. We hypothesized that suppressing AMF would reduce tansy growth and reduce reliance on more damaging herbicides. Fungicides and fertilizers, known to suppress AMF, may be potential tools for tansy suppression by reducing its competitive ability; however, both may also enhance invader growth and represent a significant risk. We conducted a two-year experiment crossing three herbicides, with varying degrees of residual control, with fungicide and fertilizer treatments to explore their effects on tansy. Despite initially reducing AMF abundances, both fertilizer and fungicide unexpectedly improved tansy growth, especially when applied with the non-residual herbicide (2,4-D), where strong control was eliminated by either treatment. This suggests that, at least at our study site, any suppression of AMF did not affect tansy strongly enough to overcome the benefits of increased nutrients and pathogen suppression. Independent of fungicide or fertilizer, all three herbicides reduced tansy biomass and increased community biomass by year two, driven by increases in grasses. The most effective herbicide (picloram), however, also caused the greatest declines in broadleaf plants, leading to significant species losses. Conversely, 2,4-D was only slightly less effective after two years, while having limited non-target effects. Non-residual herbicides, like 2-4D, may offer a better balance between tansy control and biodiversity conservation.},
}
@article {pmid41122663,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, Z and Ren, G and Guo, X and Su, Y and Wang, Y and Zhang, S and Qi, X and Lu, H and Lian, J and Liang, Y},
title = {Cysteine-rich receptor-like secreted protein 1 promotes intercellular infection and enhances nodulation in Aeschynomene indica.},
journal = {Horticulture research},
volume = {12},
number = {10},
pages = {uhaf185},
pmid = {41122663},
issn = {2662-6810},
abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing bacteria establish symbiotic relationships with their host plants via two different entry systems: root hair-mediated (intracellular) entry and intercellular entry. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the intercellular entry system have received relatively little research attention. In this study, we compared the transcriptomes of the nodules and roots of Myrica rubra, which forms an ancient type of symbiosis with Frankia via intercellular entry. We found that cysteine-rich receptor-like secreted protein 1 (CRRSP1) was highly upregulated in M. rubra nodules. We then investigated the function of MrCRRSP1 in Aeschynomene indica, which establishes symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS285 through an intercellular entry system. The overexpression of MrCRRSP1 and AiCRRSP1 in A. indica enhanced the nodule number and plant growth. Exogenous application of glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged MrCRRSP1 and AiCRRSP1 in A. indica promoted rhizobial attachment at cracks in the lateral root base, as well as rhizobial motility and biofilm formation. These results suggest that CRRSP1 promotes nodulation by enhancing rhizobial attachment to lateral root cracks. In addition to providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying nodule formation through intercellular entry, this research enhances our understanding of actinorhizal plant-Frankia symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41120889,
year = {2025},
author = {Lu, BF and Kang, WJ and Shi, SL and Jing, F and Guan, J},
title = {Comparative transcriptomics reveals differential carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in roots and nodules of Rhizobia-Inoculated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1413},
pmid = {41120889},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {No. GSAU-DKZY-2024-002//The Joint Fund for Counterpart Support Research of China Agricultural University/ ; No. GSAU-DKZY-2024-002//The Joint Fund for Counterpart Support Research of China Agricultural University/ ; No. GSAU-DKZY-2024-002//The Joint Fund for Counterpart Support Research of China Agricultural University/ ; No. GSAU-DKZY-2024-002//The Joint Fund for Counterpart Support Research of China Agricultural University/ ; No. GSAU-DKZY-2024-002//The Joint Fund for Counterpart Support Research of China Agricultural University/ ; No. KLGE-2022-01//The Open Project of Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Ecosystems of Ministry of Education (Gansu Agricultural University)/ ; No. KLGE-2022-01//The Open Project of Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Ecosystems of Ministry of Education (Gansu Agricultural University)/ ; No. KLGE-2022-01//The Open Project of Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Ecosystems of Ministry of Education (Gansu Agricultural University)/ ; No. KLGE-2022-01//The Open Project of Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Ecosystems of Ministry of Education (Gansu Agricultural University)/ ; No. KLGE-2022-01//The Open Project of Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Ecosystems of Ministry of Education (Gansu Agricultural University)/ ; },
mesh = {*Medicago sativa/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; *Lipid Metabolism/genetics ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; *Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; Symbiosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing system formed between alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and rhizobia requires precise regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism to sustain their high-energy-demand system. However, metabolic divergence between roots and nodules remains poorly characterized.<br><br>RESULTS: Using comparative transcriptomics, we analyzed gene expression profiles in pink nodules (PN), white nodules (WN), Pink nodule roots (PNR), white nodule roots (WNR), non-nodule roots (NNR) and control roots (CKR) from rhizobia-inoculated plants at 35 days post-inoculation. Key findings revealed metabolic specialization between tissues: PN exhibited elevated expression of lipid catabolism genes (MsECHIA, MsACX) and key genes of the TCA cycle regulators, driving direct energy supply for nitrogenase activity. PNR, WNR preferentially expressed glycolysis (MsPKP2) and pentose phosphate pathway (MsG6PD5) genes to convert photoassimilates into dicarboxylic acids via a directional transport system to nodules. WN showed enriched fatty acid elongation genes (MsKCR1, MsHACD2), suggesting compensatory synthesis of structural lipid to maintain symbiotic interfaces under carbon limitation. NNR, CKR retained starch metabolism dominance. Weighted geneco-expression network analysis revealed that symbiotic signaling synchronizes nodule lipid degradation with root carbon repartitioning to prioritize photoassimilate allocation to nodules. Nodulated roots may supplement nodule energetics through lipid precursor synthesis or storage lipid hydrolysis, thereby forming a "root-nodule metabolic relay" mechanism. Our results demonstrate that the alfalfa-rhizobia symbiosis establishes a hierarchical energy distribution network through tissue-specific regulation of metabolic genes, coordinating nitrogen fixation efficiency with energy supply homeostasis.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates metabolic coordination mechanisms underlying legume-rhizobial symbiosis, providing a theoretical framework for optimizing symbiotic energy economics through targeted gene editing approaches.},
}
@article {pmid41120066,
year = {2025},
author = {Brioukhanov, AL and Chelebieva, ES and Kladchenko, ES and Podolskaya, MS and Gavruseva, TV and Andreyeva, AY},
title = {Gill microbiome and tissue microstructural damages of the Pacific oyster Magallana gigas following the infection with boring sponge Pione vastifica.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108477},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108477},
pmid = {41120066},
issn = {1096-0805},
abstract = {Clionid boring sponges are pests that may colonize the shells of bivalve mollusks, including Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas). Infection with the boring sponge Pione vastifica can be associated with fitness of oysters by reducing their growth rate and survival. Microbial communities play an important role in the host's ability to adapt and survive under disease, and they are extremely sensitive to invasions by pathogens and parasites. In this study, we compared the diversity of gill microbiomes in a group of Pacific oysters that were parasitized by the boring sponge (P. vastifica), and a control group of healthy oysters without signs of sponge presence on shells. In addition, we evaluated histopathological lesions in gills of sponge-infected oysters. The microstructure of gills was significantly damaged in oysters with the boring sponge settled on shells and showed numerous histological lesions including inflammation, necrosis and abnormalities of filaments. Abundant hemocyte infiltration indicated active immune response in respiratory tissue of infected oysters. Histopathological changes in gills were accompanied with the transition of the microbial community to disbalance state. The taxonomic diversity of symbiotic microorganisms in the infected oysters was significantly lower than in the healthy mollusks. The drastic changes at both higher and lower levels of taxonomic ranks of microorganisms were observed. These findings indicate that infection by boring sponges is associated with the substantial changes in gill microbiome and provide new insights into the effects of boring sponges on symbiotic bacterial communities within the Pacific oysters they inhabit.},
}
@article {pmid41119448,
year = {2025},
author = {Gallego, D and Dios, MNG and Riba-Flinch, JM and Garca-Reina, A and Galin, J and Mas, H and Lencina, JL and Zafra, M and Henares, I and Rodrguez, F and Alczar, MD and Knek, M and Gmez, DF},
title = {Euwallacea similis (Ferrari), a new ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) for the Iberian Peninsula, and new records on Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff), Xyleborus bispinatus Eichhoff and Amasa parviseta Knek &amp; Smith.},
journal = {Zootaxa},
volume = {5673},
number = {1},
pages = {63-78},
doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5673.1.4},
pmid = {41119448},
issn = {1175-5334},
mesh = {Animals ; Spain ; *Weevils/classification/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Animal Distribution ; Male ; Female ; Introduced Species ; Ecosystem ; Animal Structures/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development ; Body Size ; Organ Size ; },
abstract = {The rise of invasive species is a global concern, increasingly driven by international trade and climate change. Ambrosia beetles (Xyleborini) are particularly successful invaders due to their ability of asexual reproduction and symbiotic relationship with fungi. Here we report and map the distribution of Xyleborini alien species in the Iberian Peninsula, expanding knowledge about the distribution of already established species and identifying a new host plant for Xyleborus bispinatus. Some populations have been detected through early detection trapping networks. The presence of Euwallacea fornicatus and E. similis is confirmed for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula, with E. similis establishing populations in Southeastern Spain, while E. fornicatus is confirmed in the South, affecting avocado crops. Additionally, the distribution of X. bispinatus has been expanded. Amasa parviseta was also recorded, suggesting a broader distribution than previously known. The study highlights the increasing arrival and establishment of invasive Xyleborini in Spain, likely driven by trade, climate change, and urban development. This work underscores the urgent need for monitoring and early detection programs to manage and mitigate potential impacts.},
}
@article {pmid41119352,
year = {2025},
author = {Syomin, V and Anker, A and Kolbasova, G and Carvalho, S},
title = {Parahesione dudahamra sp. nov., an eye-catching symbiotic worm from the Red Sea, with complementary description and notes on Leocrates giardi Gravier, 1900 (Annelida: Phyllodocida: Hesionidae).},
journal = {Zootaxa},
volume = {5673},
number = {2},
pages = {189-212},
doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5673.2.2},
pmid = {41119352},
issn = {1175-5334},
mesh = {Animals ; Indian Ocean ; Male ; Female ; Symbiosis ; Saudi Arabia ; *Polychaeta/anatomy &amp; histology/classification/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Animal Distribution ; Body Size ; Animal Structures/growth &amp; development/anatomy &amp; histology ; Organ Size ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {A new, brightly red-coloured, symbiotic hesionid worm, Parahesione dudahamra sp. nov., is described based on the holotype and single specimen collected in the shore waters of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The new species is characterized by simple lateral antennae without distinct ceratophores, longest dorsal cirri reaching chaetiger 12, and longest ventral cirri reaching only chaetiger 4. The holotype was extracted from a burrow of an unknown host in very shallow water, close to mangrove roots. The diversified burrowing fauna of the type locality, including the possible infaunal hosts of P. dudahamra sp. nov., is briefly discussed. In addition, a full description and ecological notes are provided for another hesionid worm, Leocrates giardi Gravier, 1900, of which several specimens were extracted from burrows at the type locality of P. dudahamra sp. nov.},
}
@article {pmid41119268,
year = {2025},
author = {Boyko, CB and Williams, JD},
title = {New records of crustacean (Isopoda: Bopyridae and Cirripedia: Rhizocephala) and molluscan (Bivalvia: Galeommatoidea) symbionts from gebiid mud shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Gebiidea) with description of a new species of Gyge Cornalia &amp; Panceli, 1861 from Iran.},
journal = {Zootaxa},
volume = {5621},
number = {5},
pages = {571-586},
doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5621.5.5},
pmid = {41119268},
issn = {1175-5334},
mesh = {Animals ; Male ; *Isopoda/anatomy &amp; histology/classification/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Female ; Symbiosis ; Animal Distribution ; Body Size ; Animal Structures/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development ; Organ Size ; *Bivalvia/physiology/classification/anatomy &amp; histology ; *Decapoda/parasitology ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Gebiid mud shrimps host numerous symbionts including nearly 40 described species of parasitic epicaridean isopods as well as rhizocephalan barnacles and bivalve molluscs. Collections of gebiids from the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut were examined to locate new and previously cited specimens bearing bopyrid, rhizocephalan and mollusc symbionts. We report on material from Japan consisting of four species of bopyrid isopods from three genera (Gyge, Phyllodurus, and Procepon), one rhizocephalan barnacle (Parasacculina shiinoi), and one symbiotic bivalve (Peregrinamor ohshimai). The record of the abdominal bopyrid Phyllodurus sp. is based on a single male specimen but likely represents a new species although more material is needed to make that determination. We also report on an additional two species of Gyge: one from European waters (G. branchialis) and one new species from the Persian Gulf. The new species can be distinguished from its closest congener based on the female uropods being visible in dorsal view and having a straight posterior lobe of the first oostegite plus the male having large midventral tubercles on the posterior five pereomeres and all pleomeres. A key to females of all species of Gyge is provided.},
}
@article {pmid41119070,
year = {2025},
author = {Nel, WJ and Duong, TA and Fell, S and Herron, DA and Paap, T and Wingfield, MJ and Beer, ZW and Hulcr, J and Johnson, AJ},
title = {A checklist of South African bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, Platypodinae).},
journal = {Zootaxa},
volume = {5648},
number = {1},
pages = {1-101},
doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5648.1.1},
pmid = {41119070},
issn = {1175-5334},
mesh = {Animals ; South Africa ; *Weevils/classification/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development ; Male ; Female ; Animal Distribution ; Checklist ; *Coleoptera/classification ; Biodiversity ; },
abstract = {The global spread of bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), together with their symbiotic fungi, has become a major threat to forest health in recent years. Consequently, they have been extensively studied in many Northern Hemisphere countries where their species diversities are relatively well documented. In contrast, these insects have attracted relatively little research interest in the Southern Hemisphere. In this study we address this knowledge gap by cataloguing the bark and ambrosia beetle diversity of South Africa. More than 200 species of bark and ambrosia beetles were found to be present in the country, 16 of which are reported for the first time. This catalogue will provide a foundation for future surveys and studies on bark and ambrosia beetles not only in South Africa but also on the African continent.},
}
@article {pmid41117958,
year = {2025},
author = {Koech, N and Muoma, J and Banerjee, A and Okoth, P and Wekesa, C},
title = {Modular evolution and regulatory diversification of nodD-like LysR-type transcriptional regulators in α-Proteobacteria.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {207},
number = {12},
pages = {327},
pmid = {41117958},
issn = {1432-072X},
mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; *Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/classification/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Operon ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {The nodD gene encodes a LysR-type transcriptional regulator critical for nodulation gene expression in rhizobia, yet its evolutionary origin, structural plasticity, and regulatory reach beyond symbiosis remain incompletely resolved. Here we investigate the genomic organization, structural variation, and functional diversification of nodD and its homologs across α-proteobacteria with selected outgroups. Using orthogroup-based pangenome clustering, dated species trees, and gene-tree-species-tree reconciliation, we reconstruct the evolutionary trajectory of nodD, indicating emergence from ancient LTTRs deep in proteobacterial history. Reconciliation reveals widespread duplication and horizontal gene transfer (HGT), with several rhizobia showing notable duplication and exchange, and marine/non-rhizobial taxa contributing to a mosaic of nodD-like genes. Gene-neighborhood and operon analyses show conserved syntenic tendencies in classical rhizobia but extensive architectural divergence in free-living lineages, including frequent monocistronic anchors with extended upstream regions and, when polycistronic, enrichment for transporters and local metabolic enzymes within compact multi-regulator cassettes. Structural comparisons with AlphaFold and PyMOL confirm the canonical LTTR fold while uncovering species-specific deviations concentrated in effector-binding loops and interfaces. Motif discovery and genome-wide scanning identify targets involved in metabolism, stress responses, and transcriptional control, and network analysis reveals modular connectivity spanning core metabolism and accessory processes such as secondary metabolism, transport, and biofilm-associated functions. These findings portray nodD as a structurally conserved yet functionally flexible regulator repeatedly reshaped by duplication, HGT, and local genome context, extending nodD-like systems beyond symbiosis and broadening the regulatory landscape of bacterial LTTRs.},
}
@article {pmid41117506,
year = {2025},
author = {Mineo, CR and Jiang, J and Martinez-Gomez, NC},
title = {XoxF and the Calvin-Benson cycle mediate lanthanide-dependent growth on methanol in Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0130425},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01304-25},
pmid = {41117506},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Nodule-forming bacteria play crucial roles in plant health and nutrition by providing fixed nitrogen to leguminous plants. Despite the importance of this relationship, how nodule-forming bacteria are affected by plant exudates and soil minerals is not fully characterized. Here, the effects of plant-derived methanol and lanthanide metals on the growth of nitrogen-fixing Rhizobiales are examined. Prior work has demonstrated that select Bradyrhizobium strains can assimilate methanol only in the presence of lanthanide metals; however, the pathway enabling assimilation remains unknown. In this study, we characterize Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA 110, Bradyrhizobium sp. USDA 3456, and Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011 to determine the pathways involved in methanol metabolism in previously characterized strains, other clades of Bradyrhizobium, and the more distantly related Sinorhizobium. Based on genomic analyses, we hypothesized that methanol assimilation in these organisms occurs via the lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenase XoxF, followed by oxidation of formaldehyde via the glutathione-linked oxidation pathway, subsequent oxidation of formate via formate dehydrogenases, and finally assimilation of CO2 via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. Transcriptomics revealed upregulation of the aforementioned pathways in Bradyrhizobium sp. USDA 3456 during growth with methanol. Enzymatic assays demonstrated increased activity of the glutathione-linked oxidation pathway and formate dehydrogenases in all strains during growth with methanol compared to succinate. [13]C-labeling studies confirmed the presence of CBB intermediates and label incorporation during growth with methanol. Our findings provide multiple lines of evidence supporting the proposed XoxF-CBB pathway and, combined with genomic analyses, suggest that this metabolism is widespread among Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium species.IMPORTANCENitrogen-fixing soil bacteria such as Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium promote plant growth while reducing dependence on artificial, energy-intensive fertilizers. Numerous studies have attempted to increase bacterial nitrogen fixation and colonization of plant tissues by identifying the micronutrients and plant exudates that promote successful symbiotic relationships. Among the compounds encountered by rhizobacteria, lanthanides have received little attention, despite reports that plant growth is affected by the presence of lanthanides. We characterized three agriculturally relevant Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium strains, demonstrated that they gain the capacity to utilize methanol when lanthanides are present, and experimentally determined the pathway by which this metabolism occurs. This study provides a foundation for understanding the lanthanide-dependent metabolism of Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium, which may influence their physiology and abundance in the environment.},
}
@article {pmid41116206,
year = {2025},
author = {Hang, B and Wang, Y},
title = {Interplay between gut microbiota and intestinal lipid metabolism:mechanisms and implications.},
journal = {Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B},
volume = {26},
number = {10},
pages = {961-971},
doi = {10.1631/jzus.B2500102},
pmid = {41116206},
issn = {1862-1783},
support = {32271213 and 32471189//the National Natural nce Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Animals ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Dysbiosis ; Obesity/metabolism ; *Intestines/microbiology ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism ; Metabolic Diseases/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The gut microbiota is an indispensable symbiotic entity within the human holobiont, serving as a critical regulator of host lipid metabolism homeostasis. Therefore, it has emerged as a central subject of research in the pathophysiology of metabolic disorders. This microbial consortium orchestrates key aspects of host lipid dynamics-including absorption, metabolism, and storage-through multifaceted mechanisms such as the enzymatic processing of dietary polysaccharides, the facilitation of long-chain fatty acid uptake by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), and the bidirectional modulation of adipose tissue functionality. Mounting evidence underscores that gut microbiota-derived metabolites not only directly mediate canonical lipid metabolic pathways but also interface with host immune pathways, epigenetic machinery, and circadian regulatory systems, thereby establishing an intricate crosstalk that coordinates systemic metabolic outputs. Perturbations in microbial composition (dysbiosis) drive pathological disruptions to lipid homeostasis, serving as a pathogenic driver for conditions such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This review systematically examines the emerging mechanistic insights into the gut microbiota-mediated regulation of intestinal lipid metabolism, while it elucidates its translational implications for understanding metabolic disease pathogenesis and developing targeted therapies.},
}
@article {pmid41114582,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Z and Wang, Z and Teng, P and Yu, T and Zhang, Y},
title = {Oxygen-tolerant nitrogen fixation in a marine alga-colonizing Planctomycetota.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0131625},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01316-25},
pmid = {41114582},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The microbiomes colonizing macroalgal surfaces orchestrate nutrient fluxes and symbiotic interactions within the algal environment. Among these communities, Planctomycetota are often dominant taxa. Although nitrogenase (nif) gene clusters have been identified in Planctomycetota isolates and metagenome-assembled genomes, functional validation of nitrogen fixation in pure culture has remained elusive. Moreover, the mechanisms enabling these bacteria to overcome oxygen sensitivity and fix nitrogen in algal-associated oxic niches remain unexplored. Here, we isolated Crateriforma sp. HD03, a Planctomycetota strain from the surface of Saccharina japonica (kelp), and provided the first experimental evidence of nitrogen-fixing activity in pure-cultured Planctomycetota. Strain HD03 harbors a complete nifHDKBEN gene cluster and exhibits a remarkable nitrogen fixation rate of 14.2 ± 1.5 nmol C2H4/(10[7] cells)/h under aerobic conditions. Genomic and physiological analysis reveals a suite of adaptations that likely mitigate oxygen stress, including genes associated with biofilm formation, hopanoid lipid synthesis, FeSII protein, hydrogenase, and bacterial microcompartments. Notably, while strain HD03 demonstrates oxygen-tolerant nitrogen fixation in pure culture, co-culture experiments with kelp under a photoperiod revealed that nifH (nitrogenase reductase gene) expression peaks during the low-oxygen dark phase, indicating that HD03 utilizes diurnal rhythms to temporally separate nitrogen fixation from photosynthetic oxygen production. A genomic survey of 142 Planctomycetota strains from NCBI GenBank database and HD03 identified two distinct clades harboring complete nifHDK gene clusters, suggesting a nitrogen-fixing potential across the phylum. By bridging the gap between genomic potential and functional validation, this study establishes Planctomycetota as important but underappreciated contributors to marine nitrogen input.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Planctomycetota are abundant colonizers of macroalgal surfaces, yet their role in nitrogen fixation has remained unresolved despite genomic evidence of nitrogenase (nif) genes. Until now, no functional validation of nitrogen fixation in pure-cultured Planctomycetota has been reported. Here, we isolated Crateriforma sp. HD03 from kelp and for the first time demonstrated its ability to fix nitrogen in pure culture, confirming this key metabolic potential in marine Planctomycetota. Strain HD03 overcomes oxygen stress through a combination of biofilm formation and diurnal regulation of nifH expression, allowing nitrogen fixation under aerobic conditions to cope with the algal environment's oxic nature. Furthermore, genomic surveys revealed nitrogen fixation gene clusters across multiple Planctomycetota clades, suggesting widespread nitrogen-fixing capability in this phylum. Collectively, these findings identify Planctomycetota as important nitrogen providers in the ocean.},
}
@article {pmid41114576,
year = {2025},
author = {Ruiz-González, C and Mena, C and Cornejo-Castillo, FM and Romano-Gude, D and Arandia-Gorostidi, N and Gasol, JM},
title = {Diverse Patescibacteria assemblages and prevalence of ultra-small free-living Parcubacteria along a subterranean estuary.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0112525},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.01125-25},
pmid = {41114576},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Patescibacteria are a group of novel, mostly uncultivated bacteria characterized by ultra-small cell sizes and streamlined genomes. They are ubiquitous in diverse ecosystems, often prevailing in subsurface environments, yet basic aspects such as variability in cell size, abundance, and niche preferences of different taxa within Patescibacteria remain unknown, particularly along salinity gradients. Combining flow cytometry, catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we characterized Patescibacteria assemblages along a Mediterranean subterranean estuary resulting from the mixing of fresh groundwater with seawater. Patescibacteria occupied the entire subterranean salinity gradient through the replacement of taxa prevailing in fresh (Magasanikbacteria, Jorgensenbacteria UBA9983), brackish (Portnoybacteria, Yanosfkybacteria, and Peribacteria), and saline groundwater (Nomurabacteria, unidentified Gracilibacteria). Most of the detected ASVs showed less than 95% similarity to their closest match, pointing to high novelty within coastal groundwater Patescibacteria. Flow cytometry unveiled a clear population of ultra-small prokaryotes that increased in abundance from fresh to saline groundwater, and which coincided with the presence of free-living minute coccoid cells identified as Parcubacteria by CARD-FISH. Some symbiotic-like associations with prokaryotes and eukaryotes were also observed, at least within Parcubacteria. These results provide one of the rare visual observations of Patescibacteria, and the substantial diversity of yet-unidentified taxa suggests an overlooked importance of this group in coastal groundwater.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Patescibacteria are an enigmatic group of bacteria of ultra-small sizes and reduced genomes, commonly found in subsurface environments but largely unexplored in terms of their ecological roles. Despite being present in both freshwater and marine systems, no study has explored how they distribute along salinity gradients. This study provides new insights into their distribution, diversity, and niche partitioning along a Mediterranean subterranean estuary characterized by a strong salinity gradient. We show that Patescibacteria taxa seem to adapt to varying groundwater salinity conditions, displaying a remarkable capacity to occupy fresh, brackish, and saline niches through changes in composition. The identification of ultra-small coccoid cells and symbiotic-like associations highlights a diversity of lifestyles within these groups and provides one of the scarce visual proofs of Patescibacteria. With most detected taxa being highly novel, these findings point to an overlooked importance of Patescibacteria in coastal aquifers, biogeochemically active sites ubiquitous along most coastlines.},
}
@article {pmid41114144,
year = {2025},
author = {Shoaib, M and Li, G and Liu, X and Arshad, M and Zhang, H and Asif, M and Brestic, M and Skalicky, M and Wu, J and Zhang, S and Hu, F and Li, H},
title = {Nanoplastic alters soybean microbiome across rhizocompartments level and symbiosis via flavonoid-mediated pathways.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1676933},
pmid = {41114144},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Plastic pollution, particularly its breakdown into nanoplastics (NPs), poses a significant threat to ecosystem services, with notable effects on soil-plant-microbe interactions in agricultural systems. However, there is limited understanding of how NPs influence the soil microbiome and plant symbiotic functions. In this study, we applied polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) NPs, measuring 20 to 50 nm, to soybean growing conditions. We evaluated soil physicochemical properties, nodule counts, nitrogenase activity, and bacterial community composition in nodule, rhizosphere, and bulk soil under different concentrations of these NPs (200, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of soil w/w). Our results revealed that the impact of NPs on soil physicochemical properties was type-dependent, with PE-NPs exerting a more pronounced effect on soil enzyme activities than PP-NPs. Both NPs treatments accelerated nodulation and increased nitrogenase activity, with lower doses inducing more significant effects. Furthermore, PE and PP-NPs enriched bacterial species such as Ensifer and Arthrobacter, which positively interact with diazotrophs such as Bradyrhizobium, supporting symbiosis and biological nitrogen fixation. NPs treatments also significantly affected the bacteriome assembly process in the bulk soil, rhizosphere, and nodule, with an increased source ratio from the rhizosphere to the nodule and homogenous selection in the nodule bacteriome, likely benefiting bacteria involved in nodulation. Exposure to 500 mg/kg of both NPs caused alterations in the metabolic exudation profile of the plant rhizosphere, particularly influencing the biosynthesis pathways of flavonoids and isoflavonoids. Metabolites such as genistein and naringenin emerged as key mediators of plant-microbe interactions, further enhancing plant symbiotic processes under NPs exposure. This study demonstrates that NPs influence plants' symbiotic potential both directly, by altering the composition of the soil bacteriome, and indirectly, by affecting exudation potential. It provides strong evidence that NPs, especially those smaller than a micrometer, can have long-term effects on the stability and functionality of agricultural ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41113655,
year = {2025},
author = {Mote, S and De, K and Nanajkar, M and Gupta, V},
title = {Unraveling the bacterial composition of a coral and bioeroding sponge competing in a marginal coral environment.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1550446},
pmid = {41113655},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The newly described bioeroding sponge Cliona thomasi, part of the Cliona viridis complex, is contributing to coral decline in the central eastern Arabian Sea, the West Coast of India. While its morphological and allelopathic mechanisms in coral invasion are well investigated, the role of its microbial communities in spatial competition is underexplored. This study focuses on the coral Turbinaria mesenterina and sponge C. thomasi, both known for their distinct symbiotic associations with Symbiodiniaceae. A 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon next-generation sequencing approach, followed by processing through the DADA2 algorithm, was used to analyze the bacterial composition. The results showed higher bacterial richness and diversity in coral samples, identifying 30 distinct phyla, compared to 14 in sponge samples. The coral samples were dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, and Patescibacteria, while Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Actinobacteria were dominant in the sponge. Enrichment analysis revealed higher dominance of Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Dadabacteria, Firmicutes, Fusobacteriota, and Patescibacteria in the coral samples, while the sponge samples showed enrichment for Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Bdellovibrionota. Beta-diversity analysis (PERMANOVA and nMDS) showed significant differences, with an average dissimilarity of 81.44% between sponge and coral samples (SIMPER). These differences highlight variations in microbial profiles between sponges and corals, competing in the same vulnerable environment. Exploring the microbiome aspect, therefore, may elucidate physiological and ecological functions of the holobiont while also representing a health status biomarker for corals, supporting their conservation.},
}
@article {pmid41110358,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, M and Huang, Q and Liu, H and Fu, H and Cao, L and Wei, H and Yan, R and Wang, W and Zhang, K and Zhang, Q},
title = {Sulfurized nano zero-valent iron loaded graphene oxide enhances the anaerobic fermentation treatment of swine manure: Insights from microbial community analysis and DFT calculations.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {394},
number = {},
pages = {127622},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127622},
pmid = {41110358},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {To enhance anaerobic treatment of livestock and poultry waste, the integration of nano-zero-valent iron and graphene oxide has been explored, given their individual limitations. This study introduced a vulcanization-modified nZVI supported on GO (S-nZVI@GO), aiming to augment reactivity in pig manure treatment. The removal rate of COD (74.00 %) and methane production (104.92 mL/g VS) were improved significantly by employing S-nZVI@GO with S/Fe = 0.04:1 and GO/S-nZVI = 0.08:1. Due to the presence of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes bacteria and S-nZVI@GO with the change of pH, the yield of acetic acid was increased, which optimized the anaerobic fermentation with pig manure as substrate. Microbial community characteristics indicate that a high GO/S-nZVI mass ratio favors an increase in methanogen abundance, with Methanosarcina in Halobacterota exhibiting the highest abundance increase of 18.10 %, stable microbial symbiotic metabolism promote the anaerobic fermentation of pig manure. In conjunction with density functional theory computations, this study has, for the first time, elucidated the two principal routes by which S-nZVI@GO contributes to methane generation within anaerobic fermentation systems: the first entails the conversion of monosaccharides into glyceraldehyde, which is subsequently isomerized into lactic acid, ultimately yielding acetic acid and CO2; the second involves the transformation of monosaccharides into glycolaldehyde, with the intermediate product directly producing acetic acid. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the modification of iron-based materials and their composite applications with carbon-based matrices, offering significant guidance for optimizing the anaerobic fermentation process in the utilization of livestock and poultry manure resources.},
}
@article {pmid41110306,
year = {2025},
author = {Bi, K and Yang, W and Lin, Q and Lu, K and Zhu, J},
title = {Quantifying the relative contributions of different sources to the gut microbiota of Bellamya aeruginosa under cyanobacterial bloom stress.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {305},
number = {},
pages = {119223},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119223},
pmid = {41110306},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Freshwater snails play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems. However, their primary activity zones often overlap with the accumulation zones of cyanobacterial scum during bloom events, resulting in direct exposure to cyanobacteria and their toxins. Cyanobacterial bloom exposure often alters the symbiotic microbiota of gastropods and consequently affects the survival of host snails. This study focused on Bellamya aeruginosa as the research subject, investigating the effects of cyanobacterial blooms on the ultrastructure, microcystin accumulation and enzyme activity in hepatopancreas. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was employed to characterize the composition and potential sources of gut and fecal under cyanobacterial bloom stress. Our results demonstrate that cyanobacterial blooms substantially reshaped the gut microbiota of B. aeruginosa, reducing bacterial richness and diversity in the gut, feces, and surrounding water. Community composition of environmental and host-associated microbiota shifted markedly between non-bloom and bloom periods; meanwhile, Microcystis became more prevalent in fecal microbiota than in the gut microbiota. SourceTracker analysis indicates that bacteria from the sediment are the main source of gut microbiota during non-bloom period, whereas during bloom period, bacteria from the water became the major contributors, and they were also acting as the primary source of cyanobacteria in feces. These characteristics were further supported by structural equation modeling and random forest analysis. By elucidating the shifts in host-associated and environmental microbiomes under cyanobacterial bloom stress, this study reveals alterations in the microbiota sources of B. aeruginosa and provides a theoretical framework for ecological risk assessment and pollution management in eutrophic aquatic ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41110288,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, H and He, Y and Liu, M and Shen, Z and Zhang, W and Zhang, Z and Pu, X},
title = {Mycelial pathway carbon input enhances nitrogen utilization in cotton more than the root pathway in symbiotic relationships.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {229},
number = {Pt C},
pages = {110620},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110620},
pmid = {41110288},
issn = {1873-2690},
abstract = {Plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) significantly impact soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) processes. However, it remains unclear whether there are differences in the priming effects of new C input from roots and extraradical mycelia under different N application rates in agricultural fields, and how these differences affect crop N uptake. Therefore, this study used upland cotton (Xinluzao No. 84) as the experimental material and employed a two-chamber partitioned growth system (length × width × height: 13 × 10 × 13 cm) to investigate the effects of different N application rates (1.5, 1 and 0 g per device) on soil microbial activity, the priming effects induced by C inputs from roots and mycelia, and the N uptake by roots and mycelia. This study found that, compared to no N fertilizer, root and mycelial C inputs under reduced N condition increased soil organic carbon (SOC) by 17.2 % and 73.7 %, respectively. Furthermore, the content of mycelial C input showed a significant negative correlation with the soil original C content (P < 0.05), whereas root C input exhibited a positive correlation (P < 0.01). Additionally, the study revealed a significant positive linear relationship between the mycelia to cotton N contribution and SOC content (P < 0.05), as well as significantly higher activities of soil extracellular enzymes (e.g., PPO and NAG) via the mycelial pathway compared to the root pathway under the same N rates. These results demonstrate that new C input from mycelia under reduced N condition induced a positive priming effect, thereby enhancing the decomposition and utilization of N-containing organic matter in agricultural soil. Concurrently, N reduction increased the uptake of soil NO3[-]-N by the mycelia. Ultimately, the timely release of stored N by the mycelia, coupled with its functional shift from parasitism to symbiosis, significantly enhanced N delivery to the host plant. In contrast, as a component of soil new C input, root C input induced a negative priming effect, which contributed to soil C accumulation and helped maintain the balance of the soil C pool. These findings provide important insights into the mechanisms by which plant-AMF symbiosis regulates soil C- N process under different N conditions, and hold significant implications for improving N use efficiency and promoting sustainable agricultural development.},
}
@article {pmid41109795,
year = {2025},
author = {Ghataora, JS and Ellis, T},
title = {Rewiring holobiont systems with synthetic biology.},
journal = {Trends in biotechnology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.09.017},
pmid = {41109795},
issn = {1879-3096},
abstract = {Holobionts are complex communities comprising a host and its diverse microbiota. Their intricate relationships are crucial for biological processes like nutrient uptake, immune function, and environmental adaptation. However, understanding these complex interactions remains challenging. We review how synthetic biology can help address these challenges. We highlight advances in bacterial biosensor design, engineering interkingdom communication, surface display, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) systems to both understand and manipulate holobiont interactions. We also highlight progress in engineering non-model microbiota members and provide rationale for a new field at the intersection of holobiont research and synthetic biology, which we term de novo holobiont design. The integration of synthetic biology with holobiont research promises to deepen our understanding of host-microbiota relationships and open new frontiers in biotechnology.},
}
@article {pmid41108161,
year = {2025},
author = {Ghantasala, S and Roy Choudhury, S},
title = {Legume Lessons: Structural and Functional Advancements in Nod Factor Receptors for Translating Root Nodule Symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf443},
pmid = {41108161},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Translating the nitrogen-fixing ability of legume-rhizobia symbiosis to other crops has long been a dream for molecular biologists. Over the past two decades, several crucial genes involved in the pathway have been identified, that prevails as an intricate network governing root nodule symbiosis (RNS). RNS signaling employs the common symbiotic signaling pathway required for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis (plant-fungal symbiosis) that is widely known in several crop plants. Therefore, understanding the similarities and divergence between the two signaling pathways has always been a hotspot for research. The major adjuvants in the RNS pathway are the Nod Factor Receptors (NFRs - that perceive Nod Factors released by rhizobia), and a Nodule-INception protein (NIN - a transcription factor that activates cortical cell division), which direct the pathway from AMS towards RNS. Therefore, understanding the structure and the signaling mechanism(s) of NFRs and NIN is crucial for the success of translational approaches. In this article, we will be highlighting the most recent discoveries pertaining to the functionality of NFRs, which have taken us a few steps closer towards receptor engineering into non-nodulating plants.},
}
@article {pmid41107452,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, Y and Gutiérrez-Preciado, A and Liu, Y and Moreira, D and Yakimov, MM and López-García, P and Krupovic, M},
title = {Viruses and virus satellites of haloarchaea and their nanosized DPANN symbionts reveal intricate nested interactions.},
journal = {Nature microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41107452},
issn = {2058-5276},
support = {ANR-23-CE13-022//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-21-CE11-0001//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-23-CE02-0016//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; GBMF9739//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation)/ ; ERC-2023-AdG 101141745//EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council)/ ; },
abstract = {Nested symbioses, including hyperparasitism in which parasites exploit other parasites within a host, are common in nature. However, such nested interactions remain poorly studied in archaea. Here we characterize this phenomenon in ultra-small archaea of the candidate phylum Nanohaloarchaeota, members of the DPANN superphylum (named after its first representative phyla: Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota and Nanohaloarchaeota) that form obligate interactions with halophilic archaea of the class Halobacteria. We reconstructed the viromes from geothermally influenced salt lakes in the Danakil Depression, Ethiopia, and find that nanohaloarchaea and haloarchaea are both associated with head-tailed, tailless icosahedral, pleomorphic and spindle-shaped viruses, representing 16 different families. These viruses exhibit convergent adaptation to hypersaline environments, encode diverse auxiliary metabolic genes and exchange genes horizontally with each other. We further characterize plasmid-derived satellites that independently evolved to parasitize spindle-shaped viruses of haloarchaea and nanohaloarchaea, revealing another layer of nested symbiosis. Collectively, our findings highlight the complexity of virus-host and virus-virus interactions in hypersaline environments.},
}
@article {pmid41106607,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, T and Pu, Y and Qin, Y},
title = {Silicate intervention in Navicula-bacteria symbiosis system: nitrogen removal performance and microbial community.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133516},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133516},
pmid = {41106607},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {To address the long-term instability of the Navicula-bacteria symbiosis system, this study achieved stable autotrophic nitrogen removal by adding silicates and regulating light/dark cycles. The nitrite accumulation rate reached 92.05 % during the enrichment of Navicula sp. (a diatom genus), which became the dominant algae with the supplementation of silicate and enhanced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production. The increased EPS promoted the formation of dense biofilms, facilitating the growth of anaerobic microorganisms. When the ratio of light/dark was adjusted to 8 h:16 h, the system achieved the highest total nitrogen removal rate of 82.69 %. Nitrosomonas (1.26 %) was the dominant bacteria in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Denitratisoma (3.75 %) was the dominant bacteria in denitrifying bacteria. Anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were naturally enriched without artificial inoculation. The relative abundance of Candidatus Brocadia reached 7.99 %. This study demonstrates an autotrophic pathway for sustainable wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid41106584,
year = {2025},
author = {Knight, HJ and McKinley, KO and Tsaousis, AD and Dodd, JA and Rückert, S},
title = {The effect of gregarine (Apicomplexa) colonisation on the functional response of the amphipod host.},
journal = {International journal for parasitology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.10.002},
pmid = {41106584},
issn = {1879-0135},
abstract = {Gregarines are a notably understudied but widespread group of protists that colonise aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. This limited understanding of gregarines and their interactions with their hosts results partly from the absence of established culturing techniques and our understanding therefore has heavily relied on field collections. This study utilised for the first time cultured Gammarus pulex populations and comparative functional response models to explore the effects of gregarine colonisation on the host's consumption of Chironomid prey. This study shows that both positive and negative G. pulex displayed a Type II functional response. There were no statistical differences in the functional response parameters between the two groups. These results suggest that, under the study conditions, gregarines may function as commensal symbionts within their G. pulex host. This is consistent with growing evidence for gregarines acting across a range of symbiotic roles within their hosts. These findings provide insight into the role of gregarines in G. pulex, an invertebrate species frequently used for field- and lab-based experiments, contributing to the evidence of the complex and varied gregarine host-symbiont interactions.},
}
@article {pmid41105922,
year = {2025},
author = {Melicher, F and Dobeš, P and Komárek, J and Faltinek, L and Korsák, M and Sýkorová, P and Houser, J and Wimmerová, M},
title = {Structural and functional characterization of the newly identified Photorhabdus laumondii tumor necrosis factor-like lectin.},
journal = {The FEBS journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/febs.70293},
pmid = {41105922},
issn = {1742-4658},
support = {730872//CALIPSOplus/ ; 21-29622S//Grantov&#xe1; Agentura &#x10c;esk&#xe9; Republiky/ ; LM2023042//Ministerstvo &#x160;kolstv&#xed;, Ml&#xe1;de&#x17e;e a T&#x11b;lov&#xfd;chovy/ ; },
abstract = {Photorhabdus bacteria live in mutualistic relationships with Heterorhabditis nematodes, and together, they act as effective insect pathogens. These bacteria produce a diverse array of lectins, sugar-binding proteins that are believed to play crucial roles in the complex tripartite interaction among Photorhabdus, nematodes, and their insect hosts. One such lectin, Photorhabdus laumondii tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like lectin (PLTL), identified in Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. laumondii TTO1, exhibits notable sequence similarity to the N-terminal domain of the BC2L-C lectin (BC2L-CN), a TNF-like lectin recognized for its specificity toward fucosylated glycans associated with human embryonic stem cells and certain cancers. Through glycan array analysis and surface plasmon resonance, we identified PLTL's binding preference for branched histo-blood group oligosaccharides. The crystallographic structure of PLTL in complex with the BLe[b] pentasaccharide reveals a network of direct and water-mediated hydrogen bonds simultaneously stabilizing the Fucα1-2 and Galα1-3 moieties, which define its narrow glycan specificity. A combination of mass spectrometry, protein crystallography, and analytical ultracentrifugation showed a unique hexameric PLTL architecture stabilized by intermolecular disulfide bridges. Our data suggest that PLTL may contribute to the mutualistic relationship between Photorhabdus and its nematode symbiont, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, rather than playing a role in the interaction with the insect host. This study provides a structural and functional characterization of PLTL, a newly identified member of the TNF-like lectin family. Comparative analysis with BC2L-CN highlights both conserved and distinct structural features, suggesting potential applications in glycan recognition-based diagnostics or biotechnological tools beyond its biological role. Our findings underscore its complex glycan specificity and offer insights into its potential role in Photorhabdus-nematode symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41105806,
year = {2025},
author = {Moloney, A and Stuart, L},
title = {Cultural Safety and clinical safety: A symbiotic relationship for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities' health outcomes.},
journal = {Contemporary nurse},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-11},
doi = {10.1080/10376178.2025.2573155},
pmid = {41105806},
issn = {1839-3535},
abstract = {DISCUSSION: While the link between Cultural Safety and patient outcomes is clear, consistent application in practice is lacking. Cultural Safety is equally vital as clinical safety in ensuring quality care, particularly for Indigenous Australians affected by culturally unsafe practices.<br><br>RECOMMENDATIONS: In healthcare delivery Indigenous Australians health and the 'Closing the Gap' agenda is everybody's business, it is not the responsibility of the patient, their family or their Community. The authors propose a reconceptualisation of the way health and wellbeing is perceived by health professionals, in which providing culturally safe care is symbiotic with providing clinically safe care. As an integrated foundation for quality and safety in health care, this strategy brings together the social determinants of culturally safe care with competent, evidence-based, equitable and non-bias care for all, and could help advance the Closing the Gap agenda.},
}
@article {pmid41105737,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and An, JL and Yang, WQ and Liu, TX and Zhang, SZ},
title = {Regulation of lipid metabolism in Spodoptera frugiperda by the symbiotic bracovirus of the gregarious parasitoid Cotesia ruficrus.},
journal = {PLoS pathogens},
volume = {21},
number = {10},
pages = {e1013605},
doi = {10.1371/journal.ppat.1013605},
pmid = {41105737},
issn = {1553-7374},
abstract = {Parasitoids alter host energy homeostasis to create a favorable environment for their own development. However, the mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unexplored, especially for gregarious parasitoids. Cotesia ruficrus, a gregarious endoparasitoid native to China, targets the invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW) and has been shown to effectively control FAW populations. This study investigates the role of the polydnavirus (PDV) produced by C. ruficrus in regulating lipid metabolism of FAW larvae. The results demonstrated that, following PDV injection for 5 days, both triglyceride concentrations and lipid droplet diameters in the fat bodies of FAW larvae significantly increased. RNA interference (RNAi) targeting the PDV gene CrBV3-31 led to a reduction in triglyceride concentrations and lipid droplet size, along with an upregulation of the LSD1 gene. Furthermore, silencing CrBV3-31 decreased triglyceride levels in C. ruficrus pupae and lowered its eclosion rate. These findings suggest that the PDV gene CrBV3-31 plays a crucial role in enhancing lipid accumulation in FAW larvae, thereby supporting the survival of C. ruficrus offspring. This study uncovers a novel mechanism by which gregarious endoparasitoids exploit symbiotic bracovirus genes to regulate host energy metabolism, increasing lipid levels to meet the developmental needs of their multiple offspring.},
}
@article {pmid41105100,
year = {2025},
author = {Arellano, AA and Prack, JL and Coon, KL},
title = {Host-mediated niche construction of bacterial communities in an aquatic microecosystem.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf233},
pmid = {41105100},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Microbes coordinate homeostasis in host-associated and environmental ecosystems alike, but the connectivity of these biomes is seldom considered. Hosts exert controls on the composition and function of their internally associated symbionts, but an underappreciated modality of microbiome curation is external to the host through changes to the environmental species pool from which they recruit microbial symbionts. Niche construction theory describes how organisms alter their environment and the selective landscape of their offspring and conspecifics. We hypothesize that host-driven manipulation of environmental microbial communities is an underexplored form of this concept. Using the pitcher plant mosquito (Wyeomyia smithii) as a model, we tested how hosts shape microbial communities across developmental stages and gradients of pre-existing community complexity. We report three lines of evidence supporting host-mediated niche construction, leveraging amplicon sequencing and microbiota manipulation experiments with germ-free (axenic) and selectively recolonized (gnotobiotic) mosquitoes. First, single female egg-laying assays showed repeatable adult inoculation of sterile water with beneficial bacteria capable of sustaining robust larval development. Second, increasing larval density in assays inoculated with complex, field-derived microbial communities selected for environmental and host-associated bacteria that correlated with increased larval fitness. Finally, exposing axenic larvae to mixtures of parentally and environmentally derived microbiota demonstrated that prior conditioning by conspecifics enhanced offspring fitness. Although the bacterial taxa associated with mosquito structuring varied, members of the Actinobacteriota and Acetobacteraceae were consistently associated with increased fitness. Overall, our results provide an example of host-mediated niche construction to favor environmental microbial communities that positively impact host fitness.},
}
@article {pmid41104963,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, H and Weinberger, N and Powell, JR},
title = {Functional Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Drives Divergent Plant Resource Allocation Strategies Under Nitrogen Limitation.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf459},
pmid = {41104963},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi shape plant nutrient acquisition, yet their functional roles under nitrogen (N) limitation remain unclear. Using Plantago lanceolata inoculated with five AM fungi strains under N-limited conditions, we demonstrate that fungal identity critically regulates symbiotic outcomes. Despite interspecific variation in extraradical mycelium production and hyphal traits (carbon/nitrogen/phosphorus concentrations [C/N/P], diameter), AM fungi universally failed to enhance plant biomass. We identified three plant-AM fungal phenotypic strategies under N-limitation: (1) high mycelial investment with carbon drain (Rhizophagus irregularis WFVAM23, Funneliformis mosseae WFVAM45), where sustained fungal growth reduced shoot biomass; (2) early mycelial growth with root trait modulation (R. irregularis DAOM10, Scutellospora calospora WFVAM35), showing rapid initial mycelial growth that plateaus, exerting neutral effects on plant biomass. Meanwhile, S. calospora WFVAM35 reduced root diameter while R. irregularis DAOM10 increased RTD; and (3) low mycelial production with minimal host impact (Gigaspora margarita WFVAM21), with minimal mycelial biomass across all growth stages. AM fungi functional diversity reshapes plant resource allocation across a mutualism-parasitism spectrum under N limitation, mediated by fungal mycelium traits and root architectural reconfiguration. N availability and fungal identity emerge as pivotal determinants of mycorrhizal phenotypic plasticity, emphasizing the critical role of trait-based frameworks to predict plant-fungal adaptation dynamics in nutrient-limited ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41103917,
year = {2025},
author = {Iorizzo, M and Ganassi, S and Testa, B and Di Donato, LM and Albanese, G and Succi, M and Coppola, F and Cozzolino, R and Matarazzo, C and Di Criscio, D and Tedino, C and De Cristofaro, A},
title = {Ascosphaera apis as a target for the antifungal activity of symbiotic Bifidobacteria in honey bees.},
journal = {Frontiers in insect science},
volume = {5},
number = {},
pages = {1669013},
pmid = {41103917},
issn = {2673-8600},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The genus Bifidobacterium is a key component of the honey bee gut microbiota, playing a fundamental role in maintaining host health and colony well-being. Alongside other core genera such as Bombilactobacillus, Gilliamella, Lactobacillus, and Snodgrassella, Bifidobacterium contributes to essential functions including nutrient digestion, immune modulation, and protection against pathogens. Among threats to honey bee health, Chalkbrood disease, caused by fungus Ascosphaera apis, remains a major concern due to detrimental effects on colony strength and honey yield.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We characterized enzymatic activity and carbohydrate assimilation of nine Bifidobacterium strains isolated from the honey bee intestinal tract. In parallel, we assessed antifungal potential against A. apis strains, focusing on volatile organic compounds (VOCs).<br><br>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Notably, Bifidobacterium asteroides 3CP-2B exhibited enzymatic capabilities supporting digestive functions and metabolism of sugars potentially harmful to honey bees. This strain showed marked antifungal activity against A. apis, mediated by volatile and non-volatile bioactive metabolites. Among VOCs identified, propanoic acid, ethanol, acetic acid, ethyl propionate, and 1-propanol were the most prominent compounds associated with the antifungal effect.},
}
@article {pmid41102371,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, S and Gao, Y and Wu, S},
title = {Diversity and Antimicrobial Activity of Potential Endophytic Fungi Isolated from the Medicinal Plant Gmelina arborea.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {12},
pages = {561},
pmid = {41102371},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {grant No. 32260110//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/physiology ; *Fungi/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/physiology ; *Plants, Medicinal/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Verbenaceae/microbiology ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Gmelina arborea, a medicinal plant belonging to the Verbenaceae family, is extensively utilized in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medical system. Endophytic fungi, which engage in mutualistic symbiosis with host plants, are recognized as significant microbial resources due to their ability to produce a diverse array of bioactive compounds. In this study, 131 potential endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers of G. arborea. Phylogenetic analysis classified these fungi into 3 phyla, 6 classes, 13 orders, 23 families, and 27 genera. Diversity analysis indicated significant variations in isolation frequency among different tissues, with the highest frequency observed in roots, followed by flowers, leaves, and stems. The dominant genera identified were Diaporthe (17.6%), Fusarium (12.2%), and Mucor (12.2%). Antimicrobial screening against seven pathogenic microorganisms demonstrated that 23 potential endophytic strains (17.6%) exhibited significant inhibitory activity. These findings establish a foundation for further investigation into the antagonistic capabilities of potential endophytic fungi from G. arborea against pathogens and provide valuable insights into their diversity.},
}
@article {pmid41101029,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, L and Liu, F and Zhou, M and Zhang, M and Zheng, J and Wang, Z and He, Z and Yan, Q and Wu, B and Wang, C and Shu, L},
title = {Amoebae contribute to the diversity and fate of antibiotic resistance genes in drinking water system.},
journal = {Environment international},
volume = {204},
number = {},
pages = {109867},
doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2025.109867},
pmid = {41101029},
issn = {1873-6750},
abstract = {Free-living amoebae represent a significant eukaryotic group that thrives in drinking water systems, posing considerable risks to water quality due to their inherent pathogenicity and associations with various microorganisms. However, the symbiotic microbial profiles of different amoeba species and the impact of amoeba-bacteria interactions on the antibiotic resistome within drinking water systems remain poorly understood. In this study, we obtained 24 amoeba isolates from tap water, encompassing diverse phyla within the amoeba lineage. Through metagenome sequencing, we uncovered variations in symbiotic microbiome composition across different amoeba species and strains. Notably, amoebae acted as vectors for human pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. The majority of symbionts carried multiple antibiotic-resistance genes and virulence factors. Furthermore, dominant symbiotic species could be cultured independently, underscoring the critical role of amoebae in preserving and transmitting antibiotic-resistant opportunistic pathogens in drinking water systems. Disinfection experiments demonstrated highly diverse viability of amoebae and their protective capabilities for symbionts against chlorine disinfection. Our findings expand the germplasm bank for amoebae and symbiotic bacteria derived from tap water and emphasize the necessity for further research on amoeba-bacteria symbiosis to ensure drinking water quality and public health safety.},
}
@article {pmid41100614,
year = {2025},
author = {Nishino, T and Moriyama, M and Mukai, H and Tanahashi, M and Hosokawa, T and Chang, HY and Tachikawa, S and Nikoh, N and Koga, R and Kuo, CH and Fukatsu, T},
title = {Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs.},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {390},
number = {6770},
pages = {279-283},
doi = {10.1126/science.adp6699},
pmid = {41100614},
issn = {1095-9203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; Female ; Hyphae/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Wasps/physiology ; Oviposition ; *Heteroptera/microbiology/anatomy &amp; histology ; *Hypocreales/physiology ; Ovum/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Dinidorid stinkbugs were reported to possess a conspicuous tympanal organ on female hindlegs. In this study, we show that this organ is specialized to retain microbial symbionts rather than to perceive sound. The organ's surface is not membranous but consists of porous cuticle in which each pore connects to glandular secretory cells. In reproductive females, the hindleg organ is covered with fungal hyphae that grow from the pores. Upon oviposition, the females transfer the fungi from the organ to the eggs, where the hyphae physically protect the eggs against wasp parasitism. The fungi comprise a diversity of mostly low-pathogenicity Cordycipitaceae.},
}
@article {pmid41099535,
year = {2025},
author = {Rusanova, A and Mamontov, V and Ri, M and Meleshko, D and Trofimova, A and Fedorchuk, V and Ezhova, M and Finoshin, A and Lyupina, Y and Isaev, A and Sutormin, D},
title = {Taxonomically different symbiotic communities of sympatric Arctic sponge species show functional similarity with specialization at species level.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0114725},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.01147-25},
pmid = {41099535},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Marine sponges harbor diverse communities of associated organisms, including eukaryotes, viruses, and bacteria. Sponge-associated microbiomes contribute to the health of host organisms by defending them against invading bacteria and providing them with essential metabolites. Here, we describe the microbiomes of three sympatric species of cold-water marine sponges-Halichondria panicea, Halichondria sitiens, and Isodictya palmata-sampled at three time points over a period of 6 years in the White Sea. We identified the sponges as low microbial abundance species and detected stably associated bacteria that represent new taxa of sponge symbionts within Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria. The sponges carried unique sets of unrelated species of symbiotic bacteria, illustrating the varying complexity of their microbiomes. At the community level, sponge-associated microbiomes shared common symbiotic features: they encoded multiple eukaryotic-like proteins, biosynthetic pathways and transporters of amino acids and vitamins essential for sponges. At the species level, however, different classes of eukaryotic-like proteins and pathways were distributed between dominant and minor symbionts, indicating specialization within microbiomes. Particularly, the taurine and sulfoacetate import and degradation pathways were associated exclusively with dominant symbionts in all three sponge species, suggesting that these pathways may represent symbiotic features. Our study indicates convergent evolution in the microbiomes of sympatric cold-water sponge species, as reflected by strong functional similarity despite the presence of distinct, taxonomically unrelated symbiotic communities.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Sponges are regarded among the earliest multicellular organisms and the most ancient examples of animal-bacterial symbiosis. The study of host-microbe interactions in sponges has advanced rapidly due to the application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies that help overcome the challenges of investigating their communities. However, many sponge species, particularly those from polar ecosystems, remain poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that three sympatric cold-water sponge species, including two analyzed for the first time, harbor distinct sets of bacterial symbionts, stably associated over 6 years. Using CORe contigs ITerative Expansion and Scaffolding, an algorithm developed in this study, we reconstructed high-quality symbiont genomes and revealed shared features indicative of convergent evolution toward symbiosis. Notably, we identified a potentially novel symbiotic feature-a gene cluster likely involved in sulfoacetate uptake and dissimilation. We also observed shifts in microbiome composition, associated with increasing water temperatures, raising concerns about the impact of global warming on cold-water ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41098857,
year = {2025},
author = {Schurr, A},
title = {Glioma neuron symbiosis: a hypothesis.},
journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience},
volume = {19},
number = {},
pages = {1646148},
pmid = {41098857},
issn = {1662-4548},
abstract = {Glioma cells, just like all cancerous cells, consume substantial amounts of glucose for their energy needs, using glycolysis, an inefficient metabolic pathway (Warburg effect) to produce only two moles of adenosine triphosphate and two moles of lactate for each mole of glucose consumed. By contrast, neurons consume glucose via glycolysis and utilize its end-product lactate as the substrate of the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle and its coupled oxidative phosphorylation, a process eighteen times more efficient at adenosine triphosphate than glycolysis alone. It hypothesizes here that glioma-produced lactate is the preferred oxidative energy substrate of their surrounding neurons. Consequently, by using lactate, neurons bypass glycolysis, sparing their glucose and making it readily available for the glucose-craving cancer cells. Moreover, glioma cells' ability to secrete glutamate, which excites glutamatergic neurons, could drive the latter to consume even more lactate, sparing more glucose. Such symbiotic exchange, especially at the initial stages of malignancy, assures the budding cancer cells an ample glucose supply ahead of the development of additional vasculature. While this hypothesis focuses on gliomas, it may also apply to other cancer types.},
}
@article {pmid41097855,
year = {2025},
author = {Ou, H and Xie, D and Yao, R and Shan, X},
title = {Strigolactones: Biosynthesis, transport, perception and signal transduction.},
journal = {Molecular plant},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2025.10.008},
pmid = {41097855},
issn = {1752-9867},
abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived phytohormones that regulate plant development and mediate rhizosphere interactions. Synthesized from β-carotene through a multistep enzymatic pathway, SLs modulate key physiological processes, including shoot branching, leaf development, flowering, and root growth. Beyond their endogenous roles, SLs are exuded into the soil, where they serve as ecological signals. The exuded SLs facilitate symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for nutrient exchange, while also are exploited by parasitic weeds to locate host plants. Although the core SL biosynthesis and signaling pathways have been elucidated, emerging research continues to uncover new layers of complexity in their regulation and function. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of SLs, summarizing and updating current knowledge and recent advances in their biosynthesis, transport, perception and signal transduction, along with their multifaceted functions. Moreover, we discuss the challenges currently faced in SL research and identify urgent questions for future investigation. Addressing these issues would further enhance our understanding of the SL pathway and promote its application in agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41097293,
year = {2025},
author = {Besharati, M and Ciavatta, ML and Carbone, M and Cacciapuoti, N and Aversa, M and Roscetto, E and Castaldi, S and Perrone, G and Boari, A and Gialluisi, K and Catania, MR and Moosawi-Jorf, SA and Evidente, A},
title = {Extraction and Identification of the Bioactive Metabolites Produced by Curvularia inaequalis, an Endophytic Fungus Collected in Iran from Echium khuzistanicum Mozaff.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {30},
number = {19},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/molecules30193870},
pmid = {41097293},
issn = {1420-3049},
support = {Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP B83C22002930006//National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC supported by European Commission - NextGeneration EU Project and funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (PNRR, Mission 4 Component 2, "Dalla ricerca all'impresa", Investimento 1.4, CN00000033)/ ; },
mesh = {*Ascomycota/chemistry/metabolism ; Iran ; *Endophytes/chemistry/metabolism ; *Echium/microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry/isolation &amp; purification ; Plants, Medicinal/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi (EF) are microorganisms that colonize the internal tissues of host plants, providing a range of benefits to them. In this symbiosis, they act as a reservoir of bioactive metabolites that are important for enhancing the host's defense mechanisms as a resistance against pathogens. These molecules usually possess antimicrobial properties that can be exploited for application in agriculture and medicine. In this context, the current work was designed to evaluate the phytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of the endophytic fungus Curvularia inaequalis, isolated for the first time from the Iranian medicinal plant Echium khuzistanicum. Culture filtrates, their organic extracts, and isolated metabolites were tested against a series of plants to assess their phytotoxicity, as well as against a wide range of plant and human pathogens to evaluate their antimicrobial activity. The main compounds characterizing the organic extract of C. inaequalis have been identified as (R)-phomalactone, catenioblin A, and (-) asperpentyn (1-3) by using spectroscopic techniques, NMR mainly, and HR-ESI-MS. In the bioactivity evaluation carried out in this study, (R)-phomalactone (1) stood out as the most promising compound, exhibiting significant non-host phytotoxic activity on tomato leaves; potent antibacterial activity against a wide range of human pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains; and marked antifungal activity against several economically important phytopathogens. (-)-Asperpentyn (3) also showed robust and selective antifungal activity against phytopathogens, while catenioblin A (2) exhibited only a slight phytotoxic effect and limited overall bioactivity in this study. These findings reveal that the isolated endophytic fungi hold considerable promise as an untapped source of bioactive metabolites with antibacterial, antifungal, and phytotoxic activities.},
}
@article {pmid41096566,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, J and Zhang, Y and Zhang, M and Zhang, Z and Liu, Y and Duan, X and Tao, Z and Jiang, W},
title = {Study on the Molecular Mechanism of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Regulating Polysaccharide Synthesis in Dendrobium officinale.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {19},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms26199298},
pmid = {41096566},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {32102485//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2025SNJF011//Three Rural Areas and Nine Directions" Science and Technology Collaboration Program of Zhejiang Province/ ; ZX2024005-1//Wenzhou Agricultural New Varieties Breeding Collaboration Group Project/ ; ZN2023005//Wenzhou Major Science and Technology Innovation Research Project/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics ; *Dendrobium/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Polysaccharides/biosynthesis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis represents a ubiquitous mutualistic relationship in nature, wherein mycorrhizal fungi enhance the host plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. In return, the host plant supplies the fungi with essential nutrients necessary for their metabolic activities. However, research focusing on the regulatory mechanisms governing mycorrhizal symbiosis in Dendrobium officinale remains limited. This study systematically investigates the regulatory mechanisms of mycorrhizal symbiosis on transcriptional synthesis in D. officinale by establishing a mycorrhizal symbiotic system, complemented by phenotypic observation, physiological measurement, and transcriptome sequencing. The results indicate that mycorrhizal symbiosis promotes both growth and nutrient absorption in D. officinale, concurrently increasing polysaccharide content. Through transcriptome analysis, we identified 59 differentially expressed genes associated with polysaccharide metabolism, alongside key genes and transcription factors integral to the regulatory network. Notably, the glycosyltransferase gene DoUGT83A1 was found to negatively regulate the mycorrhizal symbiotic system when heterologously expressed in tomato. This study provides a fundamental theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying polysaccharide synthesis in D. officinale and offers new insights for optimizing cultivation practices to enhance medicinal quality.},
}
@article {pmid41095127,
year = {2025},
author = {Kitaeva, AB and Kusakin, PG and Gorshkov, AP and Tsyganova, AV and Tsyganov, VE},
title = {Tubulin Cytoskeleton Organization in Cells of Determinate Nodules in Vigna radiata, Vigna unguiculata, and Lotus corniculatus.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {19},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14192986},
pmid = {41095127},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {24-16-00156//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Tubulin cytoskeleton rearrangements play an important role in the cell differentiation of symbiotic nodules in legumes. However, the organization of the tubulin cytoskeleton has been investigated only for four legume species forming determinate nodules (with limited nodule meristem activity). In this study, microtubule organization was studied in three species (Vigna radiata, V. unguiculata, and Lotus corniculatus) with determinate nodules using confocal laser scanning microscopy and quantitative analyses. Histological organization in young nodules of V. radiata and V. unguiculata resembled the recently reported zonation in young nodules of Glycine max. In addition, bacteroids in nodules of these species were significantly enlarged compared to free-living bacteria. Organization of endoplasmic and cortical microtubules in young infected cells and uninfected cells and that of cortical microtubules in nitrogen-fixing cells demonstrated general patterns for determinate nodules, whereas endoplasmic microtubules in nitrogen-fixing cells showed species-specific patterns. Thus, the presence of both general and species-specific patterns of tubulin cytoskeleton organization was confirmed in determinate nodules.},
}
@article {pmid41095116,
year = {2025},
author = {Navarro, BB and Machado, MJ and Figueira, A},
title = {Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Agriculture: Integrating Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Novel Delivery Systems for Sustainable Agriculture.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {19},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14192974},
pmid = {41095116},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {140619/2022-4//National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; 140991/2022-0//National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; 88887.615059/2021-00//Coordena&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de N&#xed;vel Superior/ ; 001//Coordena&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de N&#xed;vel Superior/ ; 310645/2021-2//National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; },
abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is the primary macronutrient that supports global agriculture. The Haber-Bosch process revolutionized the use of synthetic N fertilizers, enabling significant increases in crop yield. However, N losses from fertilization led to negative impacts on the environment. Improving crops' N use efficiency (NUE) has been constrained by the limited understanding of N uptake and assimilation mechanisms, and the role of plant-microbe interactions. Among biological approaches, N fixation by cover crops and rhizobia symbioses represents a cornerstone strategy for improving NUE. The adoption of plant growth-promoting bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi may enhance N acquisition by increasing root surface, modulating phytohormone levels, and facilitating nutrient transfer. Advances in plant molecular biology have identified key players and regulators of NUE (enzymes, transporters, and N-responsive transcription factors), which enhance N uptake and assimilation. Emerging biotechnological strategies include de novo domestication by genome editing of crop wild relatives to combine NUE traits and stress resilience back into domesticated cultivars. Additionally, novel fertilizers with controlled nutrient release and microbe-mediated nutrient mobilization, hold promise for synchronizing N availability with plant demand, reducing losses, and increasing NUE. Together, these strategies form a multidimensional framework to enhance NUE, mitigate environmental impacts, and facilitate the transition towards more sustainable agricultural systems.},
}
@article {pmid41094757,
year = {2025},
author = {Sharma, A and Mukherjee, S and Verma, A and Aryan, A and Chandran, D},
title = {The Pea Inner Nuclear Membrane SUN Domain Protein Modulates Plant (a)biotic Stress Responses by Regulating Nuclear Dynamics.},
journal = {Molecular plant pathology},
volume = {26},
number = {10},
pages = {e70158},
doi = {10.1111/mpp.70158},
pmid = {41094757},
issn = {1364-3703},
support = {//Regional Centre for Biotechnology/ ; //Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India/ ; },
mesh = {*Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *Pisum sativum/metabolism/genetics/microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological/genetics ; *Nuclear Envelope/metabolism ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Cell Nucleus/metabolism ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Plant inner nuclear membrane (INM) Sad1/UNC-84 (SUN) proteins are essential for maintaining nuclear morphology, positioning and gene expression during development and environmental stress conditions. Recent studies suggest their involvement in symbiosis and pathogen defence, but their precise role in plant immunity remains unclear. Given the importance of nuclear dynamics during plant-pathogen interactions, understanding the function of SUN proteins in immune signalling is essential. Here, we identify and characterise the pea (Pisum sativum) C-terminal SUN. Using knockdown (KD) and overexpression (OE) strategies in pea and/or Arabidopsis, we demonstrate that PsSUN localises to the INM and regulates pathogen-induced nuclear positioning, nuclear morphology and defence gene expression. PsSUN-KD increased nuclear circularity and sphericity, impaired nuclear relocation to the fungal penetration site, and inhibited powdery mildew growth. PsSUN-OE deformed the nuclear envelope (NE) and enhanced defence gene expression and pathogen resistance. PsSUN-OE also increased plant abiotic stress-responsive gene expression and abscisic acid sensitivity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that interactions between PsSUN and the Arabidopsis lamin-like protein KAKU4 likely influence both their localisation at the nuclear periphery and the architecture of the NE, with the extent of these effects depending on the expression levels of the two proteins. Our results suggest that SUN and nuclear lamina coordinately regulate plant NE architecture and stress responses.},
}
@article {pmid41094593,
year = {2025},
author = {Gervais, O and Tignat-Perrier, R and Armougom, F and Voolstra, CR and Allemand, D and Ferrier-Pagès, C},
title = {Functional stability of Spirochaetota symbionts in the precious octocoral Corallium rubrum under heat stress.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {132},
pmid = {41094593},
issn = {2524-6372},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Octocoral gorgonians are the engineer species of the Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages, but they are threatened with collapse due to recurring marine heat waves. These extreme events disrupt their symbiotic relationship with their associated microbes, promoting pathogen proliferation and tissue-degrading diseases. While the effects of seawater warming on microbial taxonomic diversity have been extensively studied, the functional response of bacterial symbionts and opportunists to thermal stress in Mediterranean octocorals has not yet been investigated. To fill this gap, we investigated a unique and very stable symbiosis between the emblematic red coral Corallium rubrum and its Spirochaetota symbionts. Although the relative and absolute abundances of Spirochaetota are not affected by heat stress, these symbionts may lose their functions within the coral holobiont.<br><br>RESULTS: Our results infer that the Spirochaetota bacterial symbionts of C. rubrum underwent only limited functional changes in response to thermal stress, consistent with their stable abundance in coral tissue. These symbionts may play a role in enhancing the tolerance of C. rubrum to temperature fluctuations by maintaining essential amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis. However, thermal stress affected other groups of bacteria, with Gammaproteobacteria showing reduced functionality (with the exception of Vibrionales, which may contribute to the deterioration of coral health) and Alphaproteobacteria showing increased opportunistic activity. In addition, many differentially expressed genes were associated with the sulfur cycle, highlighting its key role in shaping coral-associated bacterial communities under thermal stress.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The stability of the bacterial symbionts of C. rubrum, especially Spirochaetota, despite thermal stress, is consistent with their constant presence in octocoral tissues. These symbionts contribute to coral resilience by maintaining essential biosynthetic processes. However, the increased activity of opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria such as Vibrio suggests that C. rubrum may be susceptible to the recurring heat waves of the summer season.},
}
@article {pmid41094138,
year = {2025},
author = {Levy, S and Grau-Bové, X and Kim, IV and Najle, SR and Księżopolska, E and Elek, A and Montes-Espuña, L and Montgomery, SA and Mass, T and Sebé-Pedrós, A},
title = {The evolution of facultative symbiosis in stony corals.},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41094138},
issn = {1476-4687},
abstract = {Most stony corals are obligate symbionts that are dependent on nutrients provided by the photosynthetic activity of dinoflagellates residing within specialized cells[1]. Disruption of this symbiotic consortium leads to coral bleaching and, ultimately, mortality[2]. However, a few coral species exhibit facultative symbiosis, allowing them to survive extended periods of bleaching[3,4]. Despite this resilience, the underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we investigate the genomic and cellular basis of facultative symbiosis in Oculina patagonica, a thermotolerant Mediterranean coral[5,6]. We sequenced and annotated a chromosome-scale genome of O. patagonica and built cell atlases for this species and two obligate symbiotic corals. Comparative genomic analysis revealed karyotypic and syntenic conservation across all scleractinians, with species-specific gene expansions primarily driven by tandem duplications. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of symbiotic and naturally aposymbiotic wild specimens identified an increase in phagocytic immune cells and a metabolic shift in gastrodermal gene expression from growth-related functions to quiescent, epithelial-like states. Cross-species comparison of host cells uncovered Oculina-specific metabolic and signalling adaptations indicative of an opportunistic, dual-feeding strategy that decouples survival from symbiotic state.},
}
@article {pmid41093569,
year = {2025},
author = {Ying, C and Nozawa, S and Kusakabe, S and Songwattana, P and Piromyou, P and Boonchuen, P and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Mitsui, H and Sato, S and Teaumroong, N and Hashimoto, S},
title = {The Type III Effector NopM from Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 Induces a Hypersensitive Response in Lotus japonicus Root Nodules.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1264/jsme2.ME25020},
pmid = {41093569},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; *Lotus/microbiology/genetics/immunology ; Symbiosis ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/immunology/metabolism ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Leguminous plants establish root nodule symbiosis, which is initiated by the recognition of rhizobial nodulation factors by plant receptor kinases. However, other factors, such as Type III effector proteins, also affect host specificity. We herein investigated the role of nodulation outer protein M (NopM), a Type III effector of Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61, in symbiosis with Lotus japonicus MG-20 and Lotus burttii. NopM, annotated as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, triggers an early senescence-like response, inducing brown nodules that hinder effective symbiosis. NopM shares structural features with E3 ubiquitin ligases derived from both pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria, including a leucine-rich-repeat and E3 ubiquitin ligase domain. The deletion of these domains or substitution of the cysteine residue, predicted to be the active site of the ubiquitin ligase domain, suppressed the formation of brown nodules. These results suggest that NopM interacts with target proteins through its leucine-rich-repeat domain and mediates ubiquitination via its ligase domain, thereby contributing to the induction of brown nodules. A transcriptome ana-lysis further suggested that the early senescence-like response closely resembled the plant hypersensitive response, with the up-regulation of defense-related genes. Therefore, L. japonicus may recognize NopM in infected nodule cells, leading to an immune response that disrupts symbiosis. The present study provides insights into the mole-cular mechanisms by which rhizobial effectors modulate symbiotic interactions in infected nodule cells, highlighting the ability of L. japonicus to activate immune responses even in nodule cells where rhizobia have been accepted.},
}
@article {pmid41093294,
year = {2025},
author = {Dediu, V and Buşilă, M and Ungureanu, C and Grigore-Gurgu, L and Cotârleṭ, M and Romanitan, C and Tucureanu, V and Brincoveanu, O and Vasile, BS and Bahrim, GE},
title = {Cellulose-Silver and Cellulose-Gold Bioactive Nanocomposites Obtained Using SCOBY Purified Membranes.},
journal = {ACS applied bio materials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acsabm.5c00395},
pmid = {41093294},
issn = {2576-6422},
abstract = {The green synthesis of bioactive nanomaterials is becoming more attractive in various fields like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, etc. In this study, bacterial cellulose-silver and bacterial cellulose-gold bionanocomposites were obtained through an environmentally friendly and low-cost method without using additional reducing agents. In the first step, the bacterial cellulose, a byproduct from kombucha production using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), was purified using an alkaline solution. In the second step, the purified bacterial cellulose (SBC) was used to obtain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on the bacterial cellulose matrix, starting only from metal precursors in different media: water, black tea, and kombucha. Gold and silver nanoparticles were obtained on cellulose fibrils in all media, even in water, indicating the reducing role of cellulose. The morphology and structural features of the noble metal nanoparticles/bacterial cellulose nanocomposites (AgNPs/SBC and AuNPs/SBC) were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show nanoparticles with an irregular shape with dimensions ranging from a few nanometers up to 70 nm, depending on the synthesis medium. TEM analysis revealed mostly quasi-spherical nanoparticles distributed along the surface of the cellulose fibers or within the interfibrillar pores. All nanoparticles are well crystallized and generally formed from more than two nanocrystallites, except AuNPs obtained in kombucha which are monocrystalline. XRD analysis shows the characteristic diffractograms of Iβ cellulose allomorphs and confirms the formation of crystalline AgNPs and AuNPs. The antioxidant capacity tests determined that the best activity was registered for the AgNPs/SBC composites obtained in kombucha and fresh black tea. The antimicrobial potential was evaluated against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Cellulose-silver and cellulose-gold nanocomposites showed increased antimicrobial activity compared with raw SBC, especially in the case of kombucha medium for green synthesis. The highest antioxidant activity, determined by DPPH and ABTS assays, was obtained for AgNPs/SBC produced in kombucha and fresh black tea. Based on the results, cellulose-silver and cellulose-gold nanocomposites could be considered as bioactive materials for multiple practical applications, such as the medical field and food packaging.},
}
@article {pmid41093188,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, L and Guo, Y and Zhang, Z and Wang, X},
title = {Genome-wide identification and functional analysis of the IQD gene family in Medicago truncatula: Implications for nodule formation.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {148204},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.148204},
pmid = {41093188},
issn = {1879-0003},
abstract = {Microtubule plays a key role in the process of legume-Rhizobium nodule symbiosis. The IQ67-domain (IQD) family which is a group of plant-specific microtubule associated protein, plays diverse roles in plant development and in responses to environmental stress. However, IQD family members, and which are involved in nodulation in Medicago truncatula (M. truncatula) remain unclear. In this study, 31 MtIQD genes were first identified from the M. truncatula genome and named MtIQD1-MtIQD31. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into five groups. All MtIQD proteins contain the highly conserved IQ67 domain, while exhibiting diverse and characteristic structural features. The promoters of the MtIQD genes contain multiple cis-acting elements associated with hormone signaling, stress responses, and developmental processes. Tissue-specific expression profiling indicated a variety of expression patterns among MtIQD gene family members. Notably, MtIQD6, MtIQD8, MtIQD17, MtIQD22, and MtIQD31 showed highly specific expression in nodules and co-localized with microtubules, suggesting a potential role in cytoskeletal dynamics. Additionally, functional analysis revealed that MtIQD22 and MtIQD31 participate in nodule formation. Together, these findings provided new insights into the evolution and functional diversification of the MtIQD gene family and establish a foundation for future research on their roles in nodule development, with potential applications in the genetic improvement of leguminous crops.},
}
@article {pmid41093027,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, KY and Zhou, JL and Tian, ZH and Gao, F},
title = {N-acyl-homoserine lactone regulation of nutrient removal, microbial community assembly, and process efficacy in dialysis membrane-algal-bacterial photobioreactors.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133502},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133502},
pmid = {41093027},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {Quorum sensing is a central mechanism by which signal bacteria sense and integrate signaling molecules to coordinate gene expression and physiological activities at the community level. To investigate how exogenous signal molecules regulate the maintenance of algal-bacterial symbiosis, this study constructed a dialysis membrane-coupled algal-bacterial photobioreactor and separately amended it with N-butyryl-l-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL), N-hexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL), and N-(3-oxodecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C10-HSL), systematically investigated their effects on nutrient removal, microbial community composition, and functional characteristics within the system. Compared with the control, all three N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) enhanced total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal and stimulated biomass (sludge) growth, while redirecting microalgal carbon allocation toward lipid accumulation; notably, the C6-HSL treatment achieved the highest nitrogen (80.39 %) and phosphorus (53.01 %) removal efficiencies. Metagenomic analyses revealed that exogenous AHLs exerted selective effects on the microbial assemblage, enriching dominant signal-responsive bacteria whose relative abundance was positively correlated with nitrogen and phosphorus removal performance. Furthermore, genes associated with nitrogen metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and glycolysis were more abundant in the 3-oxo-C10-HSL and C6-HSL groups, indicating that strengthened metabolic coupling likely underpins the observed biomass increase and enhanced nutrient removal. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that AHL-mediated signaling is a key driver shaping algal-bacterial interactions, community assembly, and functional expression.},
}
@article {pmid41093016,
year = {2025},
author = {Jalili, C and Hosseinkhani, F and Dayer, D and Tabandeh, MR and Abbasi, A and Nasta, TZ},
title = {Indole-3-propionic acid Function through PXR and AhR, Molecular Signaling Pathways, and Antitoxic Role in Underlying Diseases.},
journal = {The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {106877},
doi = {10.1016/j.jsbmb.2025.106877},
pmid = {41093016},
issn = {1879-1220},
abstract = {The host organism's balance within the body relies on its crucial symbiotic relationship with gut microbiota. This balance, known as homeostasis, can be influenced by various factors. One significant factor is the role of bacterial metabolites from different substrates, such as tryptophan. Recent research has revealed that these metabolites impact many biological processes. Microbial metabolites, such as Indole-3-Propionic Acid (IPA), are produced by the intestinal microbiota by converting dietary tryptophan. IPA is absorbed by intestinal epithelial cells, transported via the portal circulation, undergoes minimal hepatic metabolism, and is subsequently released into the systemic circulation to reach peripheral tissues and exert its biological effects. The Pregnane X receptor (PXR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) are the two main receptors of IPA which induce different gene expression profiles and subsequently diverse biological pathways in different tissues. Once absorbed by intestinal epithelial cells, IPA is released into the circulatory system and can significantly affect the immune, cardiovascular, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems. Furthermore, IPA has been found to have positive effects on a cellular level by inhibiting oxidative stress injury and preventing the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. Numerous studies have highlighted IPA's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, dysbiosis of IPA contributes to disorders such as metabolic syndromes, inflammatory conditions, cancer, and neuropsychiatric diseases. This review provides a detailed examination of the most recent studies on indole-3-propionic acid function through PXR and AhR, outlining its molecular signaling pathways and correlation with various diseases.},
}
@article {pmid41092906,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, L and Li, Y and Wang, W and Deng, L and Ge, H and Cui, M and Bi, N},
title = {Gut microbiota predictive of the efficacy of consolidation immunotherapy and chemoradiotherapy toxicity in lung cancer.},
journal = {Med (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {100877},
doi = {10.1016/j.medj.2025.100877},
pmid = {41092906},
issn = {2666-6340},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota (GM) predict responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with advanced lung cancer. However, its role in patients with locally advanced lung cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy (CRT) combined with consolidation ICIs remains unclear.<br><br>METHODS: A total of 177 fecal samples were collected pre- and post-CRT. Using 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing and metagenomic data from an internal cohort and published studies, the kinetics of microbiota were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, while prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) were identified using Cox regression modeling and machine learning algorithms.<br><br>FINDINGS: The GM configuration was unaffected by traditional CRT. However, in cases of CRT with consolidation ICIs, patients with long-PFS showed a higher alpha diversity at baseline, followed by a reduction during treatment, contrasting with the stable diversity observed in the short-PFS group. Enrichment of the symbiotic microbe Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) after CRT was observed, with its increased abundance correlating with extended distant metastasis-free survival in patients undergoing CRT with consolidation ICIs. Notably, the trend in Akk variation was a prognostic indicator of survival outcomes in patients undergoing CRT combined with ICIs. GM was also involved in the development of treatment-related pneumonia and was a promising predictive marker for severe pneumonia.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: CRT with consolidation ICIs has more pronounced effects on the GM than CRT alone in patients with locally advanced lung cancer. The dynamic variation in Akk has predictive potential for patient survival in this context.<br><br>FUNDING: This study was supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project.},
}
@article {pmid41092274,
year = {2025},
author = {Batnini, M and Kumar, A},
title = {Nutrient-symbiosis cross talk links phosphate starvation signaling with nodulation control.},
journal = {Plant &amp; cell physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcaf133},
pmid = {41092274},
issn = {1471-9053},
}
@article {pmid41090560,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, YF and Luo, Y and Li, QM and Zhang, ZQ and Guo, YL and Yang, WC},
title = {CPOP1 is a key enzyme required for nodule microenvironment control and successful symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jipb.70037},
pmid = {41090560},
issn = {1744-7909},
support = {2023YFD1200605//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2016YFA0500500//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2023ZD04068//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; YSBR-011//CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research/ ; XDA24010205//Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; XDA26030105//Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes requires the exquisite regulation of the environment within the infected region of the nodule. The microaerobic environment critical for nitrogenase activity is maintained through the physical oxygen diffusion barrier of the cortex and locally the oxygen-binding protein leghemoglobin (Lb). Leghemoglobin binds and releases oxygen with heme moiety to maintain oxygen gradients inside the infected cell (IC) during nitrogen fixation. Heme binds to diverse proteins and plays critical roles in different redox reactions. However, the role and regulation of host-controlled heme production during symbiotic nitrogen fixation are not clear. Here, we identified coproporphyrinogen III oxidase plastid related 1 (CPOP1) as a key regulator of symbiotic heme biosynthesis in Lotus japonicus. CPOP1 is specifically highly expressed in nitrogen-fixing nodules, and knocking out CPOP1 alone causes leaf etiolation and dwarfism which could be recovered by the exogenous application of nitrogen source, indicating nitrogen fixation defect. The IC-specific expression of CPOP1 was directed by the -881 to -740 bp promoter region. The cpop1 mutant shows significantly increased nodule oxygen level and decreased nitrogen fixation activity compared to the wild-type. Intriguingly, bacteria proliferation is inhibited due to the down-regulation of cell division-related gene expression upon CPOP1 knockout. Our data showed that CPOP1 is essential for the microaerobic environment control of ICs and the activation of rhizobial nitrogenase required for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, through host-regulated nodule heme synthesis.},
}
@article {pmid41089933,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, Y and Xu, X and Xie, M and Tao, J and Jin, H and Liu, Y and Liu, L and Song, X and Meng, S and Cheong, IH and Wang, Y and Wei, Q},
title = {The lung microbiome in patients with HIV complicated with community-acquired pneumonia: a cross-sectional pilot study.},
journal = {Current research in microbial sciences},
volume = {9},
number = {},
pages = {100480},
pmid = {41089933},
issn = {2666-5174},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The composition of lung flora in HIV-combined community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) populations may be associated with the duration and severity of the disease. Additionally, a correlation may exist between lung flora balance and the body's autoimmune status. However, the number of studies in this area is limited. Therefore, we collected alveolar lavage fluid from 110 HIV-positive CAP patients at Beijing Ditan Hospital. We preliminarily explored the lung flora of this population using 16S amplicon analysis, and found some clues about the relationship between flora and immune status by comparing the flora of two groups of people with different immune status.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that the lung microbiome of HIV patients with CAP exhibited a "high-level aggregation-low-level dispersion" pattern across taxonomic hierarchies, this was characterised by dominant taxa at higher classification levels and dispersed, low-abundant taxa at lower levels. Microbial diversity in the AIDS group (CD4[+] counts < 200 cells/&#x3bc;L) was marginally lower than in the HIV group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The AIDS group exhibited increased relative abundances of pathogenic taxa (Gammaproteobacteria, Fusobacteriia) and decreased relative abundances of symbiotic taxa (Bacilli, Cyanobacteriia). LEfSe revealed significant enrichment of oral- and gut-associated microbial communities in the HIV group, as opposed to pathogen-enriched communities in the AIDS group. Microbial network analysis showed enhanced modularization in the AIDS group, with reduced clustering coefficients and network density, indicating destabilized microbial communities. Immune collapse appeared to drive a shift from cooperative hub-based to competitive modular microbial structures.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Immune status profoundly influenced the composition and function of the pulmonary microbiome in HIV infection. AIDS patients exhibited pathogen-dominated, less stable microbial communities. These findings provided foundational insights into interactions among HIV, CAP, and the pulmonary microbiome, and informed the development of microbiome-targeted interventions.},
}
@article {pmid41088742,
year = {2025},
author = {Lyu, X and Liu, K and Guo, T and Wang, X and Gong, Z and Ma, C},
title = {Nitrogen Fertilization Modulates Soybean Nodulation and Nitrogen Fixation via NO-Mediated S-Nitrosylation.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c11100},
pmid = {41088742},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {Soybean, a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing crop, experiences suppressed nodule nitrogen fixation under excessive nitrogen fertilizer. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule regulating development and stress, primarily via protein S-nitrosylation, although its role in soybeans is unclear. Using a unilateral nodulation system, treatments with nitrogen, an NO scavenger, and an NO donor were applied. Results showed that nitrogen application increased the NO content in the nodules and reduced the nitrogen fixation capacity. Conversely, the NO scavenger lowered the NO levels but enhanced fixation. Exogenous NO inhibited fixation by damaging the nodule structure, reducing leghemoglobin, and disrupting NO homeostasis. Quantitative proteomics with iodoTMT labeling identified 287 S-nitrosylation sites on 238 nodule proteins. Nitrogen-altered proteins were involved in nitrogenase activity, stress response, and ABC transporters. This study establishes the 'nitrogen level-NO signal-S-nitrosylation-nodule function' pathway, offering molecular insights into S-nitrosylation's role in nodule regulation.},
}
@article {pmid41088378,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, Z and Jia, Y and Li, H and Fan, R and Cao, Y and Ni, L and Yang, L and Yuan, Z and Zhu, K and Gao, Y and Lin, Y},
title = {Effects of zacopride and multidimensional impacts of cross-kingdom symbiosis: gut microbiota modulates coronary microvascular dysfunction via the chlorophyll/heme-tryptophan metabolic axis.},
journal = {Journal of translational medicine},
volume = {23},
number = {1},
pages = {1097},
pmid = {41088378},
issn = {1479-5876},
support = {20210302123485//Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province/ ; BYJL065//Shanxi Province Higher Education "Billion Project" Science and Technology Guidance Project/ ; NSFC-82102104//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021M702054//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; *Tryptophan/metabolism ; Male ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Benzamides/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Coronary Vessels/drug effects/physiopathology ; *Microvessels/drug effects/physiopathology ; Rats ; *Microcirculation/drug effects ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction (CMD) represents a critical pathological substrate for ischemic heart disease and is strongly associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Zacopride, known for its dual cardiovascular regulatory properties targeting the 5-HT4 receptor and Kir2.1 channel, lacks evidence regarding its systemic impact on the gut microbiota-metabolism axis. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the structural and metabolic characteristics of gut bacteria and fungi in CMD, and to explore the multidimensional therapeutic mechanisms of Zacopride through "microbial remodeling-metabolic regulation-microcirculation repair."<br><br>METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), healthy control (NC), and Zacopride intervention (ZAC). CMD and ZAC groups received high-fat diet plus streptozotocin (STZ, 35&#xa0;mg/kg) for modeling. ZAC rats were orally administered 5&#xa0;mg/kg Zacopride daily for 7&#xa0;days. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography measured left anterior descending coronary artery resting/stress peak flow velocity and coronary flow reserve (CFR). Ileocecal contents underwent bacterial-fungal metagenomic sequencing to identify differential metabolic pathways. Spearman's correlation assessed cross-kingdom ecological interactions. Nine machine learning algorithms constructed classification models, with Random Forest (RF) and an optimal model identifying key genera. Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size validated microbial biomarkers.<br><br>RESULTS: Zacopride partially restored the CFR in CMD rats, demonstrating a therapeutic effect, and exerted a beneficial influence on the structure and diversity of the gut microbiota. The CMD state significantly reduced the expression levels of the Chlorophyll a and tryptophan metabolic pathways in the gut microbiota. Zacopride specifically restored the Chlorophyll a pathway but did not significantly recover the tryptophan metabolic pathway. RF and Elastic Net (ENET) identified JC017, Chromelosporium, and Barnesiella as biomarker microbiota for CMD. Notably, JC017 primarily mediate the therapeutic effects of Zacopride via direct or indirect modulation of the Chlorophyll a metabolic pathway. Chromelosporium, acting as an interactive hub between fungi and bacteria, formed a cross-kingdom symbiotic relationship with Bradyrhizobium. Additionally, the reduction in Barnesiella abundance constitutes a distinctive feature of gut microbial dysbiosis in CMD.<br><br>CONCLUSION: This study provides the first evidence that the gut microbiota modulates the pathogenesis of CMD through the "chlorophyll/heme-tryptophan metabolic axis." Furthermore, we demonstrate that Zacopride exerts therapeutic effects by remodeling microbiota-host interactions and regulating this metabolic axis, revealing a novel mechanistic link between microbial metabolism and CMD progression.},
}
@article {pmid41086923,
year = {2025},
author = {Liang, Y and Yu, J and Yao, Z and Sun, Y and Feng, J and Shen, R and Luo, J and Zhao, L},
title = {Decoding microbial interactions: Interaction networks and regulatory strategies for medium-chain fatty acid biosynthesis through anaerobic chain elongation.},
journal = {Biotechnology advances},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108735},
doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108735},
pmid = {41086923},
issn = {1873-1899},
abstract = {The anaerobic biosynthesis of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) as valorized bio-based chemicals relies on intricate and dynamic interaction networks within microbial communities. This review systematically summarizes the key mechanisms and regulatory strategies driving MCFA biosynthesis in terms of microbial interactions, with a focus on electron donor-acceptor generation and chain elongation (CE) processes. The functional stability and resilience of anaerobic fermentation systems are collectively sustained by microbial diversity via modular functional partitioning, metabolic complementarity, resilience against perturbations, and environmental adaptation. Notably, substrate competition and syntrophic symbiosis between functional taxa directly govern the directionality and efficiency of the metabolic flux. Carbon source preferences and environmental factors synergistically steer pathway selection, while exogenous interventions such as enhanced electron transfer or niche occupation optimize microbial cooperation. In addition, quorum sensing and electrochemical synergy further balance inter-species competition to achieve a dynamic equilibrium between metabolic branch inhibition and enrichment of CE consortia. These multidimensional interaction mechanisms provide high-purity electron donors and stable metabolic foundations for MCFA synthesis to guide directional microbial engineering strategies to enhance product yields. This study systematically summarized how microbial interaction networks drive efficient MCFA biosynthesis via a multi-scale coordination between various mechanisms, including metabolic flux partitioning control, environmental response feedback, and functional modularization design, providing a theoretical foundation for resolving critical challenges during anaerobic MCFA fermentation.},
}
@article {pmid41086911,
year = {2025},
author = {Tu, C and Fan, R and Wu, Y and Liu, F and Xiao, W and Ziyodillo Ugli, OI and Qiong, Z and Peng, Y and Liu, J and Xu, F and Zhu, Y},
title = {Ultra-low concentrations of a botanical insecticide blend alter microbiota composition and gene expression in the ladybeetle Propylea japonica.},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {127252},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127252},
pmid = {41086911},
issn = {1873-6424},
abstract = {Botanical pesticides are increasingly promoted as environmentally benign alternatives to synthetic chemicals in integrated pest management. However, the ecological safety of their persistent ultra-low residues remains poorly understood, particularly regarding non-target natural predators. In this study, we investigated the chronic toxicological effects of an ultra-low concentration (ULC; 1/100 of LC30 of 15.106 mg/mL) of a botanical pesticide mixture-composed of commercially available tea saponin and matrine mixed at a ratio of 10:1 (v:v)-on the generalist Propylea japonica. Long-term exposure significantly prolonged larval development, reduced pupal mass, and compromised female fecundity, indicating potential disruptions to population stability and biocontrol efficacy. Gene expression analyses revealed stage-specific alterations in detoxification and hormone-related pathways: fourth-instar larvae exhibited elevated expression of GST and DuoX, downregulation of JHAMT1 and PjIRS1, and upregulation of EcR, whereas adult females showed marked suppression of JHDK, FOXO, PjIRS1, and Vg. These changes point to endocrine disruption and impaired reproductive capacity. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that ULC exposure significantly decreased microbial diversity and altered symbiont composition, particularly in adult beetles. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that even ultra-low residues of botanical pesticides can impose sublethal physiological stress and reshape symbiotic microbial communities in beneficial insects. This work underscores the need for refined ecological risk assessments of green pesticides and advocates for pest management strategies that balance effective control with the conservation of natural enemies.},
}
@article {pmid41086499,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Zheng, X and He, H and Hu, R and Han, Z and Tao, J and Lin, T and Chen, W},
title = {Microalgal-bacterial granular sludge enhances oxytetracycline removal: Microbial responses, degradation pathways, and adaptive mechanisms.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {499},
number = {},
pages = {140103},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140103},
pmid = {41086499},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Oxytetracycline (OTC), an emerging "low-concentration, high-toxicity" contaminant, presents considerable hurdles to wastewater treatment processes. This study systematically evaluated for the first time the impacts of OTC on the operational performance, sludge characteristics, and microbial metabolic activity across three treatment systems: microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS), aerobic granular sludge (AGS), and activated sludge (AS). Results demonstrated that MBGS exhibited superior treatment efficiency, maintaining stable removal of 500 μg/L OTC at 88.06 ± 1.45 % (p < 0.05). MBGS adapted to OTC exposure by increasing ATP content and reducing lactate dehydrogenase release. Acclimated MBGS primarily removed OTC through biodegradation. Moreover, multiple OTC transformation products with reduced toxic potential were detected, signifying that MBGS systems achieve efficient microbial degradation. Metagenomic analyses revealed that Pseudomonadota in MBGS displayed high adaptability under OTC exposure. Additionally, OTC exposure upregulated carbohydrate and energy metabolism in MBGS, thereby enhancing overall microbial metabolic activity. Alphaproteobacteria contributed most significantly to key functional genes, underscoring their critical role in contaminant removal in the MBGS. Redundancy analysis highlights a robust association between Alphaproteobacteria and the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes. This study confirms the MBGS's resilience to OTC-contaminated wastewater, highlighting its potential for efficient antibiotic wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid41086179,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, M and Liu, H},
title = {Spatiotemporal coupling and coordinated development of rural revitalization and rural tourism in Jiangsu.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {10},
pages = {e0334241},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0334241},
pmid = {41086179},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Rural Population/statistics &amp; numerical data ; China ; Humans ; *Tourism ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; },
abstract = {Rural tourism is pivotal in addressing the unidirectional urban-to-rural flow of resources, such as labor migration. However, the interaction between rural tourism and rural revitalization in developed regions remains poorly understood. This study establishes an evaluation index system for rural revitalization and rural tourism, examining their interrelationship. Using the entropy method and coupling coordination degree model, we assess the development levels and coordination degrees of these aspects in Jiangsu Province from 2012 to 2023. Furthermore, the geographical detector model is utilized to pinpoint the primary drivers influencing this coordination. The findings are: (1) Both rural revitalization and tourism exhibit significant growth, with southern Jiangsu outperforming the north; (2) The coupling coordination between these systems has strengthened, indicating a profound symbiotic relationship; (3) Spatial distribution differences are notable, with the coupling coordination degree D value in southern Jiangsu being 26.4% higher than in the north. This disparity is primarily attributable to the wider urban-rural income gap and greater fiscal investment in southern Jiangsu. Notably, the traditional "resource dependence theory" appears ineffective in Jiangsu, as the density of rural tourism resources is relatively low. Accordingly, the study proposes differentiated policy recommendations: northern Jiangsu should focus on talent attraction and the integration of culture and tourism, while southern Jiangsu should explore mechanisms to facilitate the two-way flow of urban-rural elements. This research provides a theoretical framework for coordinating "policy-market" dynamics in the rural transformation of developed regions.},
}
@article {pmid41085894,
year = {2025},
author = {Menaa, B and Ribeiro, I and Oliveira, M and Rahal, S and Carvalho, MF and Chekireb, D},
title = {Isolation and characterization of endophytic actinobacteria associated with Artemisia judaica L. ssp. sahariensis from desert regions in Algeria.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41085894},
issn = {1678-4405},
abstract = {Endophytic actinobacteria, known for symbiotic relationships with plants and production of bioactive compounds, occur in diverse environments, including deserts. The Sahara's nutrient scarcity, high temperatures, and salinity drive unique microbial adaptations, making it a promising reservoir of novel taxa. This study reports, for the first time, the isolation and characterization of endophytic actinobacteria from Artemisia judaica L. ssp. sahariensis, a medicinal plant of the Algerian desert. Forty-two actinobacterial isolates were obtained from root and leaf tissues and identified through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, revealing their affiliation with five genera: Micromonospora, Nonomuraea, Nocardiopsis, Gordonia, and predominantly Streptomyces. These isolates were characterized for morphological, physiological, and bioactive traits, including stress tolerance, phosphate solubilization, extracellular enzyme production, and antibacterial activity. More than 93% exhibited antagonistic effects against at least one tested pathogen. The most active strains showed minimum inhibitory concentration values between 4 and 8 µg/mL, highlighting their strong antibacterial potential. All isolates tolerated up to 5% NaCl, and several, including AJR36, AJR38, and AJR16, grew at 15%. Phosphate solubilization was observed in 36% of isolates, while 38% displayed diverse enzymatic activities. Although this study focused on a single plant species, the observed functional diversity underscores the biotechnological potential of these desert-associated endophytes. These findings suggest that unexplored desert ecosystems harbor valuable Actinomycetota resources, supporting further investigations for the discovery of novel species and their potential applications in agriculture and medicine.},
}
@article {pmid41084897,
year = {2025},
author = {Desai, V and Sharma, AK and Chauhan, P},
title = {Endophytes and Plants Interaction: A Hidden Microbial World Inside the Plant.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70112},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70112},
pmid = {41084897},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {//The authors received no specific funding for this work./ ; },
abstract = {Endophytes are a diverse group of microbes that colonize internal plant tissues without causing harm to the host. They play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress management. The is a complex mechanism involving evasive strategies to bypass host immune response, significant alteration in plant gene expression and establishment of a balance mutualistic relationship. Endophytes enhance plant health through various direct and indirect mechanisms, including the production of phytohormones such as auxin, gibberellins, and cytokinin. Moreover, they also solubilize nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus. A significant contribution of endophytes is the induction of induced systemic resistance (ISR), a defense response that primes the plant against a broad spectrum of pathogens and environmental stressors. The colonization of endophytes is governed by complex signaling pathways, immune modulation and tissue specificity, influenced by host genotype, age, and environmental conditions. This review highlights the ecological significance, mechanisms of colonization and functional contribution of endophytes to host plants. Furthermore, the review emphasizes that endophytes can recruit or influence other beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere region of host plants. Conclusively, this review synthesizes current understanding of the molecular strategies these microbes employ to survive within plant tissue and modulate plant immune system. We emphasize the immense, yet underexploited, potential of endophytes in enhancing plant resilience and productivity and advocates further research into their mechanisms and applications to meet growing demands of global agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41083440,
year = {2025},
author = {Prasad, A and Pallujam, AD and Siddaganga, R and Suryanarayanan, A and Mazel, F and Brockmann, A and Yek, SH and Engel, P},
title = {Evolution of gut microbiota across honeybee species revealed by comparative metagenomics.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {9069},
pmid = {41083440},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {225148//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)/ ; 180575//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Bees/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; Metagenome/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Studying gut microbiota evolution across animals is crucial for understanding symbiotic interactions but is hampered by the lack of high-resolution genomic data. Honeybees, with their specialized gut microbiota and well-known ecology, offer an ideal system to study this evolution. Using shotgun metagenomics on 200 worker bees from five honeybee species, we recover thousands of metagenome-assembled genomes and identify several novel bacterial species. While microbial communities were mostly host-specific, we found both specialists and generalists, even among closely related bacterial species, with notable variation between honeybee hosts. Some bacterial generalists emerged host-specific only at the strain level, suggesting recent host switches. While we found some signal of co-diversification between hosts and symbionts, this was not more than expected by chance and was much less pronounced than what has been observed for gut bacteria of hominids and small mammals. Instead, symbiont gains, losses, and replacements emerged as important factors for honeybees. This highly dynamic evolution of the specialized honey bee gut microbiota has led to taxonomic and functional differences across hosts, such as the ability to degrade pollen-derived pectin. Our results provide new insights into the evolutionary processes that govern gut microbiota diversity across closely related hosts and uncover the functional potential of the previously underexplored gut microbiota of these important pollinators.},
}
@article {pmid41083230,
year = {2025},
author = {Caiafa, MV and Kaminsky, L and Healy, R and Sheffer, LP and Willis, CB and Deitz, K and Richter, BS and Lemmond, BR and Borland, D and Roy, BA and Dawson, HA and Delevich, CA and Conery, JS and Warner, D and Caboň, M and Karlsen-Ayala, E and Grupe, AC and Kraisitudomsook, N and Reynolds, NK and Drechsler-Santos, ER and Truong, C and Corrales, A and Mujic, AB and Kennedy, PG and Jusino, MA and Swenie, RA and Noffsinger, CR and Grootmyers, D and Matheny, PB and Wilson, AW and Smith, ME},
title = {Think globally, barcode locally: nine years of macrofungi sampling reveals extensive biodiversity at the ordway-swisher biological station, a subtropical site in Florida.},
journal = {Fungal biology},
volume = {129},
number = {7},
pages = {101643},
doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101643},
pmid = {41083230},
issn = {1878-6146},
mesh = {Florida ; *Biodiversity ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Fungal/genetics/chemistry ; *Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; },
abstract = {The Ordway-Swisher Biological Station (OSBS) is a 38-km[2] reserve owned by the University of Florida and is part of the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). The reserve contains several iconic Florida habitats, such as sandhill, mesic hammock, and scrubby flatwoods. While plants and animals have been extensively studied at OSBS, the fungi remain poorly known. Fungal inventories are critical to increase knowledge of both fungal diversity and species ranges, and thus to provide foundational data for a wide array of applications in ecology and resource management. Here, we present the results of a nine-year effort to collect, preserve, and DNA barcode the macrofungi at OSBS. This effort generated >1200 vouchered specimens and 984 ITS rDNA sequences, representing more than 546 species. Our sampling was dominated by Basidiomycota and revealed a high diversity of symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi, particularly species of Amanita, Cortinarius, and Russula. Sampling curves and both Chao1 and Jacknife1 richness estimators suggest that our DNA barcoding efforts captured only about half of the macrofungi species and that a more complete inventory would detect 897-1177 macrofungi species at OSBS. Our sampling found more species of macrofungi at OSBS than the known number of vertebrate animal species at the reserve and our estimates also suggest that there are likely more macrofungi species than plant species at OSBS. This study is the first comprehensive macrofungi inventory within a NEON site and highlights the importance of long-term monitoring to provide novel data on fungal diversity, community structure, conservation, biogeography, and taxonomy.},
}
@article {pmid41082848,
year = {2025},
author = {Chu, W and Li, X and Li, P and Li, J and Wang, Z and Zhou, H and Yang, X and Chen, S and Zhou, M and Wang, S and Zheng, J and Chen, Y and Yu, Y and Tan, Z},
title = {Enhanced treatment of low C/N domestic wastewater in a membrane photobioreactor: Operational control of microalgal-bacterial symbiosis for synergistic pollutant and antibiotic resistance genes removal.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {394},
number = {},
pages = {127398},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127398},
pmid = {41082848},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Conventional wastewater treatment technologies face significant limitations, including high CO2 emissions, poor resource recovery, and growing challenges from emerging contaminants such as antibiotics and their associated antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health. In response to these challenges and within the framework of China's carbon neutrality goals, this study developed a microalgae-activated sludge membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) to enable synergistic pollutant removal and resource recovery from low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) domestic wastewater. Under the optimized internal circulation flow rate of 13.5 m[3]/d, the MPBR system achieved high removal efficiencies for ammonia nitrogen (NH4[+]-N, 99.48 %), total nitrogen (TN, 72.89 %), chemical oxygen demand (COD, 63.20 %), and total phosphorus (TP, 80.37 %). Simultaneously, ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were reduced by approximately one log, attributed to two primary mechanisms: (1) suppression of ARGs in the sludge zone through the regulation of drug-resistant bacterial populations, and (2) inhibition of horizontal gene transfer in the microalgal zone via nitrogen-driven suppression of ARGs host bacteria, as well as enhanced microalgae-bacteria co-metabolism and community optimization. Furthermore, the optimization of microalgae photosynthesis and nitrogen cycling, along with microbial cooperation under anoxic conditions, supported efficient nutrient recovery while maintaining low-carbon operation. This study offers a novel, carbon-efficient strategy for integrating wastewater purification with ARGs risk mitigation, contributing to sustainable water management aligned with the circular economy and carbon neutrality objectives.},
}
@article {pmid41082055,
year = {2025},
author = {Aderolu, AZ and Salam, LB and Lawal, MO and Kabiawu-Mutiu, LF and Bassey, ME and Shobande, MA},
title = {Microbial ecology and functional landscape of black soldier fly larval bioconversion of orange waste: A metataxonomic perspective.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {10},
pages = {377},
pmid = {41082055},
issn = {1573-0972},
mesh = {Animals ; Larva/microbiology/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Simuliidae/microbiology ; *Citrus sinensis/metabolism ; *Diptera/microbiology ; Nigeria ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {The accumulation of citrus waste, particularly orange waste (OW), presents significant environmental and economic challenges in Nigeria and worldwide. This study presents the first high-resolution, species-level metataxonomic analysis of OW bioconversion mediated by black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) in a West African context, addressing a critical gap in region-specific microbial ecology. Using long-read PacBio 16S rRNA sequencing and PICRUSt2-based functional prediction, microbial communities were profiled across three ecologically distinct substrates: untreated OW, BSFL gut microbiota (OW-BSFL), and post-digestion frass (OWF). Results revealed a dramatic microbial shift driven by host filtering: the OW-BSFL metagenome was overwhelmingly dominated (> 96%) by Lysinibacillus and Cytobacillus, while OWF exhibited markedly higher diversity (263 species), including Mycolatisynbacter and Sphingobacterium. Functional analysis revealed a significant enrichment of genes associated with carbohydrate (e.g., COG2814, COG0726) and amino acid metabolism (e.g., COG1173, COG0444) in the BSFL gut, indicating an elevated enzymatic processing capacity during waste digestion. In contrast, OWF displayed unique enrichment in genes associated with residual carbohydrate turnover and environmental colonization. This microbial succession highlights the selective enrichment and functional specialization that occur across the substrate-gut-frass continuum. By elucidating keystone taxa and metabolic signatures, the study not only advances understanding of insect-microbiome symbiosis but also provides a microbial blueprint for optimizing waste-to-value strategies. The findings support the deployment of BSFL bioconversion as a scalable, sustainable solution for organic waste valorization and biofertilizer production in sub-Saharan Africa's circular bioeconomy.},
}
@article {pmid41081965,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, L and Zhou, Y and Jin, X and Wang, Z and Song, Z and Zhang, X and Ding, H and Li, Y},
title = {Species diversity and drought tolerance of culturable dark septate endophytes in Anemone tomentosa in the Taihang mountain area.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {5},
pages = {59},
pmid = {41081965},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {HBCT2025190206//Innovation Team on Dry Fruits of Hebei Provincial Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System/ ; 2020YFD1000700//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; LC2025-08//Expert Support Team Project for Forest, Fruit and Flower Industry in Hebei Province/ ; 21326802D//Hebei Science and Technology Support Project/ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/physiology/classification ; *Droughts ; *Biodiversity ; *Anemone/microbiology/physiology ; China ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Stress, Physiological ; Drought Resistance ; },
abstract = {Frequent drought events pose escalating threats to global ecosystems, driving vegetation degradation, biodiversity loss, while destabilizing ecosystem functions. Dark septate endophytes (DSE), which exhibit drought stress tolerance in vitro and have the potential to enhance plant drought tolerance in arid environments, represent a key microbial component possibly mitigating drought impacts. Therefore, this study focuses on the dominant drought-tolerant plant Anemone tomentosa (A. tomentosa) and its symbiotic DSE in the drought-prone Taihang Mountain area, aiming to reveal the community composition, spatial distribution and functions of DSE, explore their application potential in arid environments, and provide a basis for fully utilizing DSE resources to promote vegetation restoration and ecological reconstruction in arid regions. Root and soil samples of A. tomentosa were collected from six sampling sites in the Taihang Mountain area to systematically investigate DSE colonization, community composition, species diversity and their correlations with soil environmental factors across different sites. Then six DSE strains with high isolation frequencies were selected for the drought resistance study in pure cultures, and varying polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) concentrations (0%, 15%, 25%, And 35%) were set to simulate drought stress. The results showed that the roots of A. tomentosa at all six sampling sites in the Taihang Mountain area were highly colonized by DSE, forming typical dark-colored septate hyphae And microsclerotia structures. A total of 20 DSE strains belonging to 14 genera were isolated and identified, and the community composition of DSE at different sampling sites differed significantly (P < 0.05). The results of redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil organic carbon and soil total phosphorus were the Main factors influencing the community composition of DSE. The growth of 5 frequently isolated DSE strains under pure culture conditions was not adversely affected by drought stress, except for Exophiala xenobiotica (Ex), and biomass accumulation increased significantly with increasing drought stress, which was related to the content of antioxidant enzymes, osmotic adjustment substances, membrane lipid peroxidases and melanin in the different fungi. In summary, A. tomentosa in Taihang Mountain has rich DSE species diversity, and the two can form a symbiotic relationship, thus enhancing the adaptability of A. tomentosa to the environment. Five DSE strains exhibited drought stress tolerance under in vitro culture conditions, which enriched the understanding of the ecological functions and adaptive mechanisms of DSE in arid environments and provided a basis for the development and application of drought-resistant and water-preserving microbial agents.},
}
@article {pmid41081895,
year = {2025},
author = {Yamaoka, NK and Packard, EE and Jones, MD},
title = {Nitrogen accumulation accompanies ectomycorrhiza formation in pine germinants the first growing season after wildfire or clearcutting.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {5},
pages = {58},
pmid = {41081895},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {RGPIN-2018-03927//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-2018-03927//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-2018-03927//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/growth &amp; development/physiology/metabolism ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Pinus/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; Seasons ; Seedlings/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Wildfires ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Germination ; Ascomycota ; },
abstract = {Early stages of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis have rarely been studied on seedlings germinating in the field. By collecting lodgepole and ponderosa pine seedlings during their first growing season in recent clearcuts and burned areas, we were able to identify when colonization of pine roots first began, the rate at which ectomycorrhizal fungi colonized new germinants, and how this related to nitrogen nutrition and growth. Pine seedlings were first colonized in July, a month after germination was first observed. As the first seedlings became mycorrhizal, ectomycorrhizal lodgepole pine seedlings contained approximately 40% more nitrogen and > 60% greater biomass compared to uncolonized seedlings collected at the same time. Nitrogen content was 47% higher in mycorrhizal than nonmycorrhizal naturally-regenerating ponderosa pine seedlings. Ascomycetes, with a Pustularia sp. and Wilcoxina spp. most abundant, formed 80% of the ectomycorrhizae. Because all collected seedlings had ectomycorrhizae present on their roots by the end of the season, we concluded that inoculum of ectomycorrhizal fungi, especially of ruderal ascomycetes, was not limiting colonization of seedlings on these severely burned or recently clearcut sites. Our results are consistent with a role for ectomycorrhizal fungi in nitrogen acquisition, even within the first weeks after mycorrhiza formation; however, it is also possible that larger, more nitrogen-replete seedlings became colonized earlier than smaller seedlings. We saw no evidence of nitrogen loss by mycorrhizal pine seedlings as observed in previous studies.},
}
@article {pmid41081502,
year = {2025},
author = {Castro-Camacho, V and Robles-Azor, R and Rodríguez-Burdock, L and Rojas-Jimenez, K and Mendoza-Guido, B},
title = {Draft genome sequence of Methylobacterium aquaticum LEGMi-203a, isolated from root nodules of Pithecellobium hymenaeifolium.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0075425},
doi = {10.1128/mra.00754-25},
pmid = {41081502},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {We report the draft genome of Methylobacterium aquaticum LEGMi-203a, a root nodule isolated from Pithecellobium hymenaeifolium. Genomic analysis supports its classification as M. aquaticum, and annotated nitrogen fixation and nodulation genes underscore its possible functional capabilities as a symbiont in tropical plants.},
}
@article {pmid41081364,
year = {2025},
author = {Barrinha, A and Loyola-Machado, AC and Mariano Dos Santos, MD and Carvalho, PC and de Souza, W and Valente, AP and Galina, A and Motta, MCM},
title = {Endosymbiosis in trypanosomatids: the bacterium regulates the intermediate and oxidative metabolism of the host cell.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0045725},
doi = {10.1128/msphere.00457-25},
pmid = {41081364},
issn = {2379-5042},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Endosymbiosis in trypanosomatids involves a mutualistic association between a symbiotic bacterium and a host protozoan and represents an excellent model for studying metabolic coevolution and the origin of organelles. This work investigated the influence of the symbiont on the metabolism of Angomonas deanei by comparing wild-type and aposymbiotic strains under different nutritional conditions. The presence of the symbiont enhanced cell proliferation in the medium containing a single carbon source and increased O2 consumption. Wild-type cells utilized oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP, whereas aposymbiotic cells relied on substrate-level glycolysis, resulting in the excretion of greater amounts of fermentative products, such as acetate, succinate, and ethanol. Proteomic analysis revealed an increased expression of glycolytic and fermentative enzymes by the aposymbiotic strain and oxidative phosphorylation enzymes by symbiont-harboring cells. These findings highlight the role of the symbiotic bacterium in optimizing host metabolism and provide insights into the evolution of parasitism in trypanosomatids when A. deanei is compared with pathogenic species.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: This work provides groundbreaking insights into the metabolic and evolutionary dynamics of endosymbiosis, a topic of central importance to cellular evolution. Angomonas deanei, a trypanosomatid species, has become a paradigm for investigating the evolution of eukaryotic cells and the origin of organelles through endosymbiosis. Harbored in the cytoplasm of this protozoan, the symbiont engages in intricate metabolic exchanges, offering a time window to analyze the processes and evolutionary history that underlie the establishment of permanent endosymbiotic relationships. By employing a multidisciplinary approach, we have uncovered how the symbiotic bacterium regulates the oxidative metabolism of the trypanosomatid, integrating glucose catabolism and optimizing energy production. Our discoveries have broad implications for understanding the metabolic integration of organelles, such as mitochondria and glycosomes, with the bacterial endosymbiont. Beyond unravelling the complexities of metabolic adaptations during symbiosis, our work may contribute to the general understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of parasitism within the Trypanosomatidae family.},
}
@article {pmid41080487,
year = {2025},
author = {Boyle, JA and Murphy, B and Teng, F and Babaei Zadeh, P and Ensminger, I and Stinchcombe, JR and Frederickson, ME},
title = {Mutualism Mediates Legume Response to Microbial Climate Legacies.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {10},
pages = {e72271},
pmid = {41080487},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Climate change is altering both soil microbial communities and the ecological context of plant-microbe interactions. Heat, drought, and their legacies can alter soil microbiomes and potential plant symbionts, but the direct consequences of these microbial changes on plant performance and plant investment in symbiosis remain underexplored. Predicting how soil microbes modulate plant resilience to heat and drought is critical to mitigating the negative effects of climate change on ecosystems and agriculture. In this proof of concept study, we conducted growth chamber experiments to isolate the microbially mediated indirect effects of heat and drought on plant performance and symbiosis. In the first experiment, focused on drought, we found that drought and drought-treated microbes, along with their interaction, significantly decreased the biomass of Medicago lupulina plants compared to well-watered microbiomes and conditions. In a second experiment, we then tested how the addition of a well-known microbial mutualist, Sinorhizobium meliloti, affected heat- and drought-treated microbiomes' impact on M. lupulina. We found that drought-adapted microbiomes negatively impacted legume performance by increasing mortality and reducing branch number, but that adding rhizobia erased differences in plant responses to climate-treated soils. In contrast, heat-adapted microbiomes did not differ significantly from control microbiomes in their effects on a legume. Our results suggest microbial legacy effects, mutualist partners, and their interactions are important in mediating plant responses to drought, with some mutualists equalizing plant responses across microbial legacies.},
}
@article {pmid41080445,
year = {2025},
author = {Burchardt, S and Wojtaczka, P and Kućko, A and Ostrowski, M and Wilmowicz, E},
title = {Advancing 2-DE Techniques: High-Efficiency Protein Extraction From Lupine Roots.},
journal = {Bio-protocol},
volume = {15},
number = {19},
pages = {e5461},
pmid = {41080445},
issn = {2331-8325},
abstract = {Protein isolation combined with two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) is a powerful technique for analyzing complex protein mixtures, enabling the simultaneous separation of thousands of proteins. This method involves two distinct steps: isoelectric focusing (IEF), which separates proteins based on their isoelectric points (pI), and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), which separates proteins by their relative molecular weights. However, the success of 2-DE is highly dependent on the quality of the starting material. Isolating proteins from plant mature roots is challenging due to interfering compounds and a thick, lignin-rich cell wall. Bacterial proteins and metabolites further complicate extraction in legumes, which form symbiotic relationships with bacteria. Endogenous proteases can degrade proteins, and microbial contaminants may co-purify with plant proteins. Therefore, comparing extraction methods is essential to minimize contaminants, maximize yield, and preserve protein integrity. In this study, we compare two protein isolation techniques for lupine roots and optimize a protein precipitation protocol to enhance the yield for downstream proteomic analyses. The effectiveness of each method was evaluated based on the quality and resolution of 2-DE gel images. The optimized protocol provides a reliable platform for comparative proteomics and functional studies of lupine root responses to stress, e.g., drought or salinity, and symbiotic interactions with bacteria. Key features • Protocol tailored for isolating proteins from lupine roots, including those involved in symbiotic relationships with bacteria. • Our method is suitable for analyzing complex protein mixtures through IEF and SDS-PAGE for high-resolution separation. • Optimized precipitation method increases protein yield for downstream mass spectrometry and comparative proteomic analyses.},
}
@article {pmid41079636,
year = {2025},
author = {He, W and Wang, M and Zhong, Z and Chen, H and Xi, S and Zhang, H and Li, M and Sun, W and Zhang, Y and Wang, Y and Guo, X and Li, L and Du, Z and Luan, Z and Li, C and Zhang, X},
title = {In situ semi-quantitative imaging of intracellular metabolic interaction by confocal Raman microscopy.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {10},
pages = {113558},
pmid = {41079636},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Non-destructive subcellular metabolite quantification can reveal critical insights into biological interactions (e.g., endosymbiont-host crosstalk). Therefore, we developed a multivariate semi-quantitative imaging method using internal standardization to resolve simultaneous subcellular distributions of multiple metabolites, leveraging confocal Raman microscopy's (CRM's) high spatial resolution. The method was applied to the endosymbiotic mussel Gigantidas platifrons, whose symbiotic interaction mechanism has not been elucidated because symbionts cannot be cultivated. The results showed that the aggregated distribution of distinct phenotypes of symbiont strains was characterized by different glycogen abundances, indicating niche-driven metabolic strategies. Our data may provide direct evidence suggesting that symbionts supply intermediates to the host for cholesterol synthesis, potentially via vesicular trafficking. This work demonstrates CRM's capacity for comparative, spatially resolved metabolite quantification across cellular compartments. While semi-quantitative, CRM emerges as a powerful non-invasive tool for probing metabolic network dynamics and compartmentalization in challenging biological systems where traditional methods are limited.},
}
@article {pmid41077848,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, JP and Kumar, A},
title = {RAM1-WRI Synergy: A GRAS-AP2 Regulatory Axis for Nutrient Exchange in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70237},
pmid = {41077848},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//We would like to acknowledge finding support to Jin-Peng Gao by a grant to the University of Cambridge by the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (grant no. OPP1028264) known as the Enabling Nutrient Symbioses in Agriculture (ENSA) project./ ; },
}
@article {pmid41077805,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, C and Wu, C and Han, H and Bai, D and Zhang, Z and Li, Y and Wang, H},
title = {Metabolomics Reveals Concentration-Specific Adaptive Mechanisms of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Cadmium Translocation and Detoxification in Arundinoideae (Phragmites australis).},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70230},
pmid = {41077805},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52070064, 42330705) and Science Research Project of Hebei Education Department (BJK2024161)./ ; },
abstract = {The symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Phragmites australis (Pa) is an effective biological strategy for cadmium (Cd) remediation, however, the bioaccumulation and translocation mechanisms underlying this symbiosis remain underexplored. In this study, Cd and nutrient element concentrations in four Pa tissues were analyzed, along with ultrastructure observations and root metabolomics profiling, under different Cd concentrations (1 mg/L, 5 mg/L) and exposure durations (7 days, 30 days). The root metabolomics analysis, in combination with Cd accumulation patterns and ultrastructural observations, provided crucial insights into the biochemical pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in Cd detoxification, nutrient redistribution, and subcellular structural changes in the AMF-Pa symbiotic system. AMF reduced Cd accumulation in all Pa tissues under 1 mg/L Cd for 7 days and in roots under 5 mg/L Cd for 30 days. Conversely, with AMF, Pa accumulated more Cd in the other exposure groups. Under 5 mg/L Cd for 30 days, AMF facilitated Cd translocation from roots to aboveground parts. AMF altered Cu, Zn and P bioaccumulation in old roots and significantly influenced Fe accumulation in roots across all treatments. While 5 mg/L Cd disrupted cellular ultrastructure, AMF inoculation protected intracellular organ integrity and promoted cell wall thickening. This study reveals the dynamic mechanisms by which AMF regulate Cd translocation and accumulation under varying Cd concentrations. Under high Cd concentrations, AMF enhance energy metabolism and chelation, promoting Cd translocation from roots to aerial parts while mitigating Cd toxicity in the endodermis. In contrast, under low Cd concentrations, AMF suppress Cd uptake and promote its immobilization within root tissues by activating amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, reducing Cd translocation to aboveground parts. Additionally, AMF strengthen cell walls through phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, offering protection against Cd toxicity. These findings provide crucial theoretical insights for the application of AMF in phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soils.},
}
@article {pmid41077488,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, H and Li, X and Wang, S and Yang, Y and Chen, X and Chen, C and Wang, H},
title = {Trichoderma harzianum for the control of agricultural pests: Potential, progress, applications and future prospects.},
journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2025.09.004},
pmid = {41077488},
issn = {0325-7541},
abstract = {This paper systematically reviews the taxonomic characteristics, pest control mechanisms, and field application cases of Trichoderma harzianum. As a non-toxic and environmentally friendly biocontrol fungus, T. harzianum exerts its pest control effects through various modes of action, including direct actions (such as parasitism, the production of insecticidal metabolites, and the release of antifeedant and repellent compounds) and indirect actions (such as inducing plants to enhance their resistance, attracting natural enemies of pests, and affecting insect symbiotic fungi). It can effectively control various agricultural pests, including nematodes and aphids. Moreover, the paper focuses on analyzing how modern formulation technologies (e.g., microencapsulation), synergistic strategies (in combination with biological and/or chemical agents), and genetic engineering enhance its biocontrol efficiency. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for constructing a sustainable pest management system based on T. harzianum, addressing pest control challenges within the context of increasing global food demand and supporting sustainable agricultural development.},
}
@article {pmid41077112,
year = {2025},
author = {Zonnequin, M and Vallet, M and Delage, L and Pohnert, G and Leblanc, C and Markov, GV},
title = {Differential impact of copper stress in two Ectocarpales: metabolic disruption and defensive signaling in the free-living Ectocarpus sp7 and the endophytic Laminarionema elsbetiae.},
journal = {Biochimie},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.biochi.2025.10.006},
pmid = {41077112},
issn = {1638-6183},
abstract = {Algae are photosynthetic organisms, responsible for the primary production in oceans and lakes. Brown algae have evolved independently from other major eukaryotic lineages, such as the Opistokonts (animals, fungi) or Archaeplastida (land plants, green and red algae). Within this lineage, there is considerable variation between species, which differ in ecology, diversity, and evolutionary features, suggesting specific adaptations in their changing marine environment. In this context, several questions remain regarding the evolution of brown algal metabolism, particularly in response to oxidative stress. This study explored the consequences of copper stress on two brown algae from the Ectocarpales order: the free-living Ectocarpus sp7 and the endophytic Laminarionema elsbetiae. Using PAM-based fluorescence measurements, we revealed that high copper exposure reduces the photosynthetic capacity and activity of the endophyte. Through a cutting-edge untargeted metabolomic approach using UHPLC-HRMS profiling, we detected metabolic alterations induced by short-term exposure to moderate copper concentration in both free-living and endophytic Ectocarpales. The metabolite-regulated response appears to be substantial in Ectocarpus sp7 compared to L. elsbetiae, as a greater number of up- and down-regulated features were detected. Among the discriminant ions identified by tandem mass spectrometry, our results confirmed that copper exposure triggers the metabolism of algal defense signaling, primarily through the upregulation of oxylipins, but mainly in Ectocarpus sp 7. Altogether, our findings suggest that in Ectocarpales, fine metabolic adaptation may have altered the metabolism linked to defense signaling, such as the oxylipin pathway, particularly in ecological niches like endophytic life.},
}
@article {pmid41074950,
year = {2025},
author = {Zimmermann, F and Bouffaud, ML and Herrmann, S and Göttig, M and Graf, R and Tarkka, M and Opgenoorth, L and Croll, D and Peter, M and Dauphin, B},
title = {An ectomycorrhizal fungus alters developmental progression during endogenous rhythmic growth in pedunculate oak.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {5},
pages = {57},
pmid = {41074950},
issn = {1432-1890},
mesh = {*Quercus/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Basidiomycota/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Ascomycota/physiology ; Biomass ; },
abstract = {Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.), a long-lived forest tree species, forms symbiotic relationships with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, which can promote nutrient uptake, stress resilience, and growth. Like other tropical and temperate tree species, pedunculate oak exhibits endogenous rhythmic growth (ERG), a trait conferring the ability to repeatedly alternate root and shoot flushes as well as growth cessation as response to changing environmental conditions. However, the effects of different ECM fungal species on the ERG dynamics remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of two ECM fungi-Piloderma croceum, a basidiomycete previously shown to promote growth while not found in natural oak stands, and Cenococcum geophilum, an oak-native ascomycete with broad ecological range-on growth performance, biomass partitioning, and ERG patterns in a clonal oak system (clone DF159). By combining in vitro experiments with Bayesian modelling, we show that P. croceum promotes tree growth among treatments, without disrupting the endogenous growth rhythm. In contrast, C. geophilum, while showing high mycorrhization rates, led to reduced biomass accumulation and altered developmental progression through the ERG stages, especially by prolonging the steady state development stage-part of the root flush and characterized by peak net carbon assimilation. Co-inoculation revealed a competitive advantage of C. geophilum in root colonization, yet growth responses resembled those of the control. Our findings demonstrate that ECM species exert species-specific effects on biomass production and temporal development of plants, underscoring the functional importance of ECM fungi in shaping host development. Assessing these interactions provides new insights into the functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis and can inform forest management strategies aimed at enhanced resilience in oak-dominated ecosystems under rapidly changing climatic conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41072151,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, Y and Man, XY},
title = {The epidermal immune microenvironment plays a central role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.},
journal = {Current opinion in immunology},
volume = {97},
number = {},
pages = {102674},
doi = {10.1016/j.coi.2025.102674},
pmid = {41072151},
issn = {1879-0372},
abstract = {Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disease whose inflammation can affect other systems and lead to various comorbidities. As a model inflammatory skin disease, while advances in mechanistic insights and targeted therapies have improved outcomes, unmet clinical needs persist. Modern technologies like single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics reveal that skin immunity operates as a complex network involving neuroregulation, symbiotic microbial immunity, metabolic abnormalities, and reprogramming. These findings underscore the complexity of the local immune microenvironment in the skin and its central role in disease pathogenesis. In psoriatic inflammation, the epidermal immune microenvironment - driven by keratinocytes, dendritic cells, T cells, and skin microbiota - emerges as a core pathogenic mechanism. Keratinocytes, acting as both inflammatory effectors and disease drivers, interact with immune cells to initiate and amplify responses. Studying this microenvironment offers novel therapeutic targets for psoriasis and related inflammatory skin diseases.},
}
@article {pmid41070750,
year = {2025},
author = {Seah, BKB},
title = {Database Release: PPSDB, a Linked Open Data Knowledge Base for Protist-Prokaryote Symbioses.},
journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology},
volume = {72},
number = {6},
pages = {e70049},
doi = {10.1111/jeu.70049},
pmid = {41070750},
issn = {1550-7408},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Eukaryota/physiology/classification/genetics ; *Knowledge Bases ; *Archaea/physiology/genetics ; *Databases, Factual ; *Prokaryotic Cells/physiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Software ; },
abstract = {As the ecological and evolutionary importance of symbiotic interactions between protists (microbial eukaryotes) and prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) is better appreciated, keeping an overview of their diversity and the literature becomes a growing and ongoing challenge. Here I present the Protist-Prokaryote Symbiosis Database (PPSDB), comprising 1146 manually curated interaction statements sourced from 443 publications, where biological taxonomy, anatomical localization, and analytical methods applied have been annotated and mapped to external databases and ontologies, such as Wikidata, NCBI Taxonomy, and Gene Ontology. I describe how its data model deals practically with challenges such as incomplete information and inconsistent taxon concepts, which will be applicable to similar projects. Both the model and underlying Wikibase software platform are highly extensible, so new items and properties can easily be added. Unlike a static table or list of citations, PPSDB is a structured knowledge base that enables programmatic access and powerful, integrated semantic queries. The database is available at https://ppsdb.wikibase.cloud/.},
}
@article {pmid41068596,
year = {2025},
author = {Torrescassana, EC and Del Carmen Montero-Calasanz, M and Knight, M and Stach, J and Howard, TP},
title = {Genomic and functional analyses reveal Pseudomonas granadensis CT364 is a plant growth-promoting endophyte.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {651},
pmid = {41068596},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {BB/T008695/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; RYC2019-028468-I//Ram&#xf3;n y Cajal Research Grant, Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness/ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/genetics/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; *Pseudomonas/genetics/physiology/isolation &amp; purification/classification ; Rhizosphere ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Plant Development ; Genomics ; Soil Microbiology ; Olea/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Arabidopsis/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plant-associated endophytes offer promising agricultural, environmental, and biotechnological applications. Despite their potential utility, difficulties in culturing these microorganisms under laboratory conditions have limited both their isolation and a comprehensive understanding of their biology, function, and ecological role. Against this background, Pseudomonas granadensis strain CT364-isolated from the olive tree rhizosphere-emerged as a potential endophyte of interest due to its cultivability and its ability to promote rooting across diverse species, including olive trees, rapeseed, mung bean and cowpea.<br><br>RESULTS: Genome Annotation and in silico predictions identified 564 genes linked to rhizosphere competence, plant colonisation and plant growth-promoting traits. Experimental findings confirmed the strain's motility, capacity for biofilm formation, and ability to sense and respond to plant-derived signals. P. granadensis CT364 effectively colonises the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and internal tissues of Arabidopsis, confirming its endophytic nature without exhibiting any pathogenic traits. Inoculation experiments demonstrated significant effects on root architecture and increases in plant biomass and rosette area. Notably, these benefits were retained under salinity and osmotic stress, underscoring its plant growth-promoting ability. Finally, both genome analysis and experimental tests confirmed its resistance to osmotic stress and heavy metal toxicity, highlighting the strain's ability to survive in difficult environments.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The integration of genomic insights and experimental validation supports the conclusion that P. granadensis CT364 is a plant growth-promoting endophytic bacterium. Its ability to enhance plant development under both optimal and stressful conditions, combined with its ability to colonise Arabidopsis and non-pathogenic nature, positions this strain as a potential bioinoculant for sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, the identification of specific genes related to plant sensing and colonisation, and its genetic tractability, open avenues for exploring underlying mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions. In summary, P. granadensis CT364 therefore not only holds potential for improving crop performance under challenging environmental conditions but also offers a valuable model for the study of beneficial plant-bacterial symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41068135,
year = {2025},
author = {Cleveland, D and Nayak, R and Joseph, F and Nguyen, TA},
title = {Characterization of sustainable bacterial cellulose from Indigenous Vietnamese biomass for potential textile applications.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {35267},
pmid = {41068135},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {IRG2022/1//RMIT International University/ ; },
mesh = {*Cellulose/chemistry/metabolism ; *Textiles/microbiology ; *Biomass ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Vietnam ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; *Acetobacter/metabolism/chemistry ; },
abstract = {This research explored the fabrication and characterization of bacterial cellulose (BC), with a distinct emphasis on leveraging indigenous Vietnamese biomass sources. A diverse sample library consisting of 150 BC samples was prepared, with six samples selected for objective evaluation, based on the standard test methods. These samples were subjected to characterization techniques including Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier Transformation Infrared (FTIR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to explore potential applications of BC in fashion and textiles. Moreover, the growth medium (or SCOBY- Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), from which the BC was cultivated, was analyzed to identify the constituent bacterial and yeast strains. The EDX analysis showed the major elements of BC were Carbon (C) followed by Oxygen (O), which accounted for 99% of the elemental composition of BC. The cellulosic structure was confirmed by the FTIR results, which indicated the characteristics bonds of BC. The DSC results showed that thermal stability can be achieved for the fashion and textiles produced from BC. Bacterial analysis showed the presence of Acetobacter Indonesiensis, a gram-negative bacterium, in all the BC samples. The outcomes of this study established a deeper comprehension of the morphological, thermal, biological, and chemical attributes of BC, as well as the microbial dynamics within the SCOBY mother. This exploration not only augments the existing knowledge on BC's potential in material design but also paves the way for further research on the influence of local ingredients on biomaterial production, thereby contributing to the burgeoning field of sustainable material innovation within a localized context.},
}
@article {pmid41066987,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, C and Zhang, Y and Diao, G and Hou, N and Zhao, X and Li, D},
title = {Decoding pyrene-induced reactive oxygen species production in the rhizosphere and their role in biodegradation: The repair mechanism of symbiotic driving by Fe(II) and microorganisms.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {499},
number = {},
pages = {140073},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.140073},
pmid = {41066987},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered key drivers of biogeochemical processes. However, there is limited research on the factors influencing ROS generation in the rhizosphere due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) pollution during plant-microbe joint remediation, as well as their role in biodegradation. This study demonstrated that exposure to pyrene at a concentration of 100 mg/kg significantly enhanced the release of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and superoxide anions (O2•[-]) in the rhizosphere of ryegrass during root development. The concentrations of these reactive oxygen species were 1.5-7.8 times higher than those in the control group. Additionally, the Fe(II) concentration increased by 37.5 ± 3.2 %, and the pyrene degradation rate reached 26.8 ± 1.4 %. These results indicate that pyrene serves as a major factor stimulating ROS generation in ryegrass. Among these processes, Fe(II) catalyzes the production of •OH, which directly attacks the benzene ring structure of pyrene. High-throughput analysis further revealed that ROS enhanced the diversity, cohesion, and robustness of the rhizosphere microbial community structure. Furthermore, Pseudomonas, Marmoricola, Nocardioides and Dietzia were identified as core microbial genera involved in pyrene degradation and ecological restoration. Metagenomics analysis suggests that rhizosphere microorganisms respond to ROS-induced oxidative stress by enhancing ATP synthesis, which provides energy for antioxidant-related protein production and damage repair, thereby accelerating pyrene degradation. These results elucidate the ROS-mediated driving mechanism behind microbial pyrene degradation in plant-microbe combined remediation systems, thereby providing a theoretical basis for optimizing bioremediation strategies for organically contaminated soils.},
}
@article {pmid41066576,
year = {2025},
author = {Frison, M and Lockey, BS and Nie, Y and Golder, Z and Theiaspra, E and Ryall, CD and Lyons, C and Burr, SP and Prater, M and Bozhilova, LV and Glynos, A and Stewart, JB and Jones, NS and Chiaratti, MR and Chinnery, PF},
title = {Ubiquitin-mediated mitophagy regulates the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA mutations.},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {390},
number = {6769},
pages = {156-163},
doi = {10.1126/science.adr5438},
pmid = {41066576},
issn = {1095-9203},
mesh = {*Mitophagy/genetics ; Animals ; *DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Mice ; *Mutation ; *Mitochondria/genetics/metabolism ; *Ubiquitin/metabolism ; Heteroplasmy ; Humans ; *Thiolester Hydrolases/metabolism/antagonists &amp; inhibitors/genetics ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/metabolism ; Mitochondrial Diseases/genetics ; Zygote ; Female ; },
abstract = {Mitochondrial synthesis of adenosine triphosphate is essential for eukaryotic life but is dependent on the cooperation of two genomes: nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). mtDNA mutates ~15 times as fast as the nuclear genome, challenging this symbiotic relationship. Mechanisms must have evolved to moderate the impact of mtDNA mutagenesis but are poorly understood. Here, we observed purifying selection of a mouse mtDNA mutation modulated by Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 30 (Usp30) during the maternal-zygotic transition. In vitro, Usp30 inhibition recapitulated these findings by increasing ubiquitin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy). We also found that high mutant burden, or heteroplasmy, impairs the ubiquitin-proteasome system, explaining how mutations can evade quality control to cause disease. Inhibiting USP30 unleashes latent mitophagy, reducing mutant mtDNA in high-heteroplasmy cells. These findings suggest a potential strategy to prevent mitochondrial disorders.},
}
@article {pmid41066235,
year = {2025},
author = {Kaur, R and Kalra, M and Imchen, M and Crowley, BL and McGarry, A and Carpenter, L and Bordenstein, SR},
title = {Histone acetylation modulation by a small molecule inhibitor recapitulates symbiont-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility.},
journal = {Cell reports},
volume = {44},
number = {10},
pages = {116416},
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116416},
pmid = {41066235},
issn = {2211-1247},
abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between arthropod hosts and microorganisms have garnered global attention for their influence on host ecology, evolution, and vector control. A major gap in the field is to mechanistically define and reconstitute symbiotic traits in the absence of microbes. Here, we address this omission by identifying an evolutionarily conserved host mechanism that recapitulates Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI)-a paternal-effect embryonic lethality trait. We first show that Wolbachia alter histone acetylation during sperm development in Drosophila melanogaster. By chemically inhibiting histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity in aposymbiotic males, we reprogram the chromatin landscape of developing sperm to induce a rescuable CI phenotype. This phenotype is further modulated through transgenic knockdown of HAT and histone deacetylase enzymes, providing tunable control over natural CI intensity. Our findings uncover histone acetylation as a key host-intrinsic pathway, capable of inducing symbiont-independent CI for new avenues of basic and applied studies.},
}
@article {pmid41065807,
year = {2025},
author = {Choi, BJ and Kim, JM and Bayburt, H and Choi, DG and Choi, SH and Jeon, CO},
title = {Description of Tateyamaria algicola sp. nov. and Tateyamaria rhodophyticola sp. nov., Isolated from Marine Algae.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {11},
pages = {545},
pmid = {41065807},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {20210469//Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries (KR)/ ; NIBR No. 2024-02-001//National Institute of Biological Resources/ ; 2024//Chung-Ang University/ ; },
mesh = {RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Base Composition ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Ubiquinone ; Phospholipids/analysis ; Seawater/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Genome, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {Two aerobic, non-motile, Gram-stain-negative strains, designated SN3-11ᵀ and SN6-1ᵀ, were isolated from marine algae. Both strains were oxidase- and catalase-positive, with rod-shaped morphology. Strain SN3-11ᵀ grew optimally at 25 ℃, pH 7.0-8.0, and 2.0-5.0% (w/v) NaCl, while strain SN6-1ᵀ showed optimal growth at 25 ℃, pH 8.0, and 2.0-3.0% NaCl. Both strains contained ubiquinone-10 as the sole respiratory quinone, and their major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c), C16:0, and C19:0 cyclo ω8c. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol were dominant polar lipids, with diphosphatidylglycerol additionally present in SN3-11ᵀ. Strains SN3-11ᵀ and SN6-1ᵀ had genome sizes of 4,762 Kb and 4,157 Kb with G + C contents of 61.3% and 62.0%, respectively. They shared 96.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, 77.0% average nucleotide identity (ANI), and 20.2% digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), supporting their classification as distinct species. Their closest relative, Tateyamaria armeniaca KMU-156ᵀ, exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.6% to SN3-11ᵀ and 97.7% to SN6-1ᵀ. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA and whole-genome sequences placed both strains in distinct lineages within Tateyamaria. ANI and dDDH values between the two isolates and other Tateyamaria species were < 78.5% and < 21.0%, respectively. Strains SN3-11ᵀ and SN6-1ᵀ harbored genes encoding diverse carbohydrate-active enzymes and biosynthetic pathways for lycopene, pantothenate, and riboflavin, suggesting potential symbiotic roles with algal hosts. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genomic characteristics, SN3-11ᵀ and SN6-1ᵀ represent two novel species, Tateyamaria algicola sp. nov. (SN3-11ᵀ = KACC 23689ᵀ = JCM 36649ᵀ) and Tateyamaria rhodophyticola sp. nov. (SN6-1ᵀ = KACC 23127ᵀ = JCM 35962ᵀ).},
}
@article {pmid41065102,
year = {2025},
author = {Pérez-Sepúlveda, M and Jones, AP and Higuita-Aguirre, MI and Holdstock, A and Kafle, A and Cardoso, AA and Vann, R and Mullen, MD and Garcia, K},
title = {Nodulation Is Maintained and Salinity Tolerance Enhanced in Two Soybean Cultivars Inoculated With Sinorhizobium fredii Under Brackish Water.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {5},
pages = {e70570},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70570},
pmid = {41065102},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {2020-67013-31800//USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/microbiology/physiology/drug effects ; *Salt Tolerance/physiology ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Salinity ; Symbiosis ; Plant Shoots/physiology/microbiology ; Biomass ; Potassium/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Salinity is an increasing threat to agriculture, particularly in coastal regions affected by seawater intrusion and sea-level rise. This study evaluated the halotolerance and symbiotic potential of Sinorhizobium fredii USDA 208 in two soybean cultivars (includer and excluder) under three salinity levels-low (freshwater), moderate (brackish water), and high (seawater). The results demonstrated that S. fredii not only tolerates but also exhibits enhanced growth under moderate salinity. Nodulation was successfully established when salinity and inoculation occurred simultaneously. Nodulation was also maintained when salinity occurred after the inoculation, particularly in fresh and brackish water. Root development declined with increasing salinity, but the includer cultivar showed better root system architecture plasticity in brackish water, while the excluder cultivar exhibited higher shoot and root biomass across salinity levels. Bacterial inoculation improved shoot phosphorus uptake, the potassium: sodium ratio, and carotenoid retention, particularly in the includer cultivar, suggesting an enhanced physiological tolerance to moderate salinity. Inoculation also resulted in higher shoot nitrogen and maintained pigment content. Using a seawater recipe provides a better understanding of salinity than traditional NaCl-based studies and highlights the role of S. fredii USDA 208 in supporting soybean performance when salts accumulate in coastal agricultural soils.},
}
@article {pmid41064789,
year = {2025},
author = {Farias, A and Neves, EG and Johnsson, R},
title = {Kuayguara etymatee sp. nov., a New Genus and Species of Artotrogidae (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) with an Uncommonly Atrophied Leg 1.},
journal = {Zoological studies},
volume = {64},
number = {},
pages = {e10},
pmid = {41064789},
issn = {1810-522X},
abstract = {Artotrogidae Brady, 1880 is a cosmopolitan family with 23 valid genera and 131 known species. However, a considerable number of these species were subject of reexaminations and redescriptions recently. With the crescent number of new species discovered, it is becoming possible to better understand their boundaries. This study presents a new genus and species of Artotrogidae, recovered from unidentified hosts in debris of benthonic samples from Todos-os-Santos Bay, northeastern coast of Brazil. Kuayguara etymatee gen. et sp. nov. exhibits an underdeveloped first leg, which possess an unsegmented protopod and 1-segmented exopod, a unique set of morphological characteristics that differentiates it from all other genera of the family.},
}
@article {pmid41064419,
year = {2025},
author = {Corkery, RW and Garvey, CJ and Houston, JE},
title = {In hospite and ex hospite architecture of photosynthetic thylakoid membranes in Symbiodinium spp. using small-angle neutron scattering.},
journal = {Journal of applied crystallography},
volume = {58},
number = {Pt 5},
pages = {1516-1525},
pmid = {41064419},
issn = {0021-8898},
abstract = {We demonstrate that small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) can resolve the architecture of photosynthetic thylakoid membranes in live symbiotic algal cells, both extracted from and living inside their respective hosts (ex hospite and in hospite, respectively). This enables a new non-destructive approach to probing thylakoid organization in coral symbioses, relevant to understanding the mechanisms of coral bleaching. A biologically realistic triple-vesicle model, guided by electron microscopy and established biochemical constraints, was fitted to SANS data from live Symbiodinium associated with both the coral analogue Aiptasia and the reef-building coral Acropora. The resulting compartment scattering length densities, together with established biochemical constraints, define a limited compositional range that supports the plausibility of the structural solution. These fits capture key scattering features and yield dimensional parameters, including inter-thylakoid (IT) gap widths, with uncertainties small enough to test models of stress-related membrane rearrangement. A focused covariance analysis shows that this SANS framework can resolve an IT-gap expansion of ∼2.4 nm with >7σ sensitivity, sufficient to distinguish structural changes proposed in thylakoid stress-response models. This provides a robust baseline for future live-cell studies.},
}
@article {pmid41064255,
year = {2025},
author = {Kong, C and Huang, LB and Yang, MF and Yue, NN and Luo, D and Zhang, Y and Tian, CM and Song, Y and Wei, DR and Shi, RY and Liang, YJ and Yao, J and Wang, LS and Li, DF},
title = {Microbiome engineering: unlocking therapeutic potential in inflammatory bowel disease.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1610029},
pmid = {41064255},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The human gut microbiome, traditionally linked to infectious diseases, is now recognized as a hub of non-pathogenic microorganisms that play pivotal roles in host communication and homeostasis. Advances in microbiome engineering have enabled the design of "smart" living therapeutics for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leveraging engineered symbiotic bacteria, yeasts, and bacteriophages. This review synthesizes recent progress in reprogramming microbes using synthetic biology tools, emphasizing their capacity to sense pathological signals and deliver targeted therapies. We critically evaluate three key approaches: synthetic gene circuits in bacteria for precision drug delivery, phage-mediated modulation of dysbiotic microbiota, and yeast-based systems for metabolic intervention (e.g., butyrate production). Challenges in biocontainment, genetic stability, and clinical translation are discussed, alongside emerging strategies such as outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) for immunomodulation. By distilling these advances, we highlight a roadmap for translating engineered microbes into safe and effective IBD therapies.},
}
@article {pmid41063423,
year = {2025},
author = {Bartz, PM and Grullón-Penkova, IF and Cavaleri, MA and Reed, SC and Shahid, S and Wood, TE and Bachelot, B},
title = {Experimental warming alters free-living nitrogen fixation in a humid tropical forest.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70592},
pmid = {41063423},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {1754713//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 2120085//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 89243018S-SC-000014//Basic Energy Sciences/ ; 89243018S-SC-000017//Basic Energy Sciences/ ; 89243021S-SC-000076//Basic Energy Sciences/ ; DE-SC-0011806//Basic Energy Sciences/ ; DE-SC-0018942//Basic Energy Sciences/ ; DE-SC0012000//Basic Energy Sciences/ ; DE-SC0022095//Basic Energy Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {Microbial nitrogen (N) fixation accounts for c. 97% of natural N inputs to terrestrial ecosystems. These microbes can be free-living in the soil and leaf litter (asymbiotic) or in symbiosis with plants. Warming is expected to increase N-fixation rates because warmer temperatures favor the growth and activity of N-fixing microbes. We investigated the effects of warming on asymbiotic components of N fixation at a field warming experiment in Puerto Rico. We analyzed the function and composition of bacterial communities from surface soil and leaf litter samples. Warming significantly increased asymbiotic N-fixation rates in soil by 55% (to 0.002 kg ha[-1] yr[-1]) and by 525% in leaf litter (to 14.518 kg ha[-1] yr[-1]). This increase in N fixation was associated with changes in the N-fixing bacterial community composition and soil nutrients. Our findings suggest that warming increases the natural N inputs from the atmosphere into this tropical forest due to changes in microbial function and composition, especially in the leaf litter. Given the importance of leaf litter in nutrient cycling, future research should investigate other aspects of N cycles in the leaf litter under warming conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41062940,
year = {2025},
author = {Feng, Y and Zou, Z and Liu, C and Zhang, D and Wang, Y and Ma, Y and Cao, Y and Wu, P},
title = {A LjBAK1-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase, LjPUB7, negatively regulates early symbiosis by targeting NFRs.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1334},
pmid = {41062940},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {24KJB180002//Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China/ ; 32090063//The National Science Fundation of China/ ; AMLKF202510//the State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism/genetics ; Nicotiana/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Lotus/genetics/enzymology/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; Ubiquitination ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Nod factor receptors (NFRs) are essential for initiating symbiotic signaling in legumes, mediating rhizobial infection and nodule development. Tight regulation of NFR levels is crucial to prevent inappropriate immune responses and maintain cellular homeostasis. Co-expression of LjNFR1 and LjNFR5 triggers cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana, which is specifically inhibited by LjBAK1-mediated ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, suggesting the existence of a LjBAK1-E3 ligase complex for NFR protein turnover. Further analysis identified LjPUB7, a plant U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase in Lotus japonicus, as a regulator of early symbiotic interactions. LjPUB7 interacts with both LjBAK1 and NFRs, and directly ubiquitinates NFRs. Loss-of-function Ljpub7 mutants display increased infection thread formation, enhanced nodule development, and elevated expression of early nodulation genes. These findings reveal that LjPUB7 negatively regulates early rhizobial infection by targeting NFR1 and NFR5 for ubiquitination and degradation, thereby providing insights into the fine-tuned control of symbiotic signaling in legumes.},
}
@article {pmid41061564,
year = {2025},
author = {Marcos-Torres, FJ and Pérez, J and Torrens-González, D and García-Pedrosa, M&#xc1; and Contreras-Moreno, FJ and Moraleda-Muñoz, A},
title = {Global copper response of the soil bacterial predator Myxococcus xanthus and its contribution to antibiotic cross-resistance.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {302},
number = {},
pages = {128357},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128357},
pmid = {41061564},
issn = {1618-0623},
abstract = {Copper accumulation in agricultural soils poses environmental challenges by selecting copper-resistant bacteria and also contributing to the co-selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In addition, copper influences bacterial predator-prey interactions, potentially altering microbial ecosystems. Myxococcus xanthus, a soil-dwelling bacterium, preys on other microorganisms, including Sinorhizobium meliloti, a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium associated with leguminous plants. The role of copper in M. xanthus interactions remains poorly understood, although it accumulates at the predator-prey interface. In this study, we explore the transcriptomic response of M. xanthus to copper stress in both monocultures and co-cultures with S. meliloti. Our analysis identified many myxobacterial copper-regulated transcripts, and studies on mutant strains in some copper-induced genes revealed the role of two efflux pumps in cross-resistance to copper and tetracyclines. These findings provide new insights into the adaptive mechanisms of M. xanthus in response to copper, with implications for the co-selection of antibiotic resistance and the broader impact of copper on microbial community dynamics in soil ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41061519,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, J},
title = {How does university-industry collaboration motivate enterprise participation and promote human resource development?.},
journal = {Acta psychologica},
volume = {260},
number = {},
pages = {105686},
doi = {10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105686},
pmid = {41061519},
issn = {1873-6297},
abstract = {In the knowledge economy era, university-industry collaboration (UIC) has become a vital mechanism for fostering innovation, enhancing enterprise competitiveness, and strengthening human resource development. Yet, enterprise participation in UIC remains uneven and unpredictable, limiting the effectiveness of policies aimed at cultivating talent through academic-industry partnerships. To address this gap, this study integrates Social Cognitive Theory and Symbiosis Theory to develop a cognitive-symbiotic framework that explains the mechanisms driving enterprise willingness to participate in UIC and how such participation facilitates enterprise-level human resource development. Drawing on survey data from 398 Chinese enterprises and structural equation modeling, the findings reveal: (1) Observational learning of successful symbiotic relationships (β = 0.187), symbiotic self-efficacy (β = 0.312), and symbiotic outcome expectations (β = 0.385) significantly enhance enterprise participation willingness, while perceived symbiotic imbalance risk (β = -0.156) inhibits it; (2) Policy support indirectly promotes participation through a dual mediation pathway-enhancing symbiotic self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.163) and reducing imbalance risk perception (indirect effect = 0.037), with a total indirect effect of 0.232; (3) Innovation capability significantly moderates the effects of cognitive-symbiotic drivers on participation, amplifying their influence in high-innovation enterprises. This study uncovers the cognitive-psychological and relational mechanisms underpinning enterprise engagement in UIC and highlights how such engagement contributes to organizational learning, capability upgrading, and long-term human resource development. It offers actionable insights for policymakers to design dual-pathway interventions that simultaneously build participation confidence and reduce perceived relational risks, and for enterprise leaders to leverage UIC as a strategic channel for developing high-quality talent and innovation capacity.},
}
@article {pmid41060927,
year = {2025},
author = {Ling, H and Xu, F and Shabbir, I and Sulaiman, Z and Shahbaz, M and Al Farraj, DA},
title = {Efficacy of peat-based bioformulation of microbial co-inoculants with silicon for growth promotion of rubber plants.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {10},
pages = {e0331899},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0331899},
pmid = {41060927},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Silicon/pharmacology ; *Hevea/growth &amp; development/microbiology/drug effects ; *Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; *Enterobacter/physiology ; Rhizosphere ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Agricultural Inoculants ; },
abstract = {Recently, microbial consortia of rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) had demonstrated the potential as plant growth promoting microbes in sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a peat moss-based formulation of Enterobacter sp. UPMSSB7, Glomus mosseae, and silicon (Si) on the survival of microbial inoculants under storage conditions for 24 weeks. The study further assessed the potential of this bioformulation to promote the growth of rubber plants in a glasshouse trial. The Enterobacter sp. UPMSSB7 isolated from rubber tree's rhizosphere, can solubilize silicates and has plant growth promoting properties. G. mosseae is an AMF, having symbiotic relationship with majority of cultivated crops. The application of Si has emerged as a sustainable strategy for crop health. It improves soil fertility through nutrient maintenance and also alleviates various biotic and abiotic stresses. Results from laboratory test revealed that bioformulation of co-inoculants with Si sustained a high survivability of Enterobacter sp. (18 × 108 CFU g-1) and G. mosseae (35 spores per 10 g) in formulation for up to 24 weeks of storage. Results from the glasshouse experiment revealed that 24 weeks after treatment with bioformulation of co-inoculants with Si increased the stem height, girth, leaf area, dry weight of shoot and root, chlorophyll content, microbial population of Enterobacter sp. (1.4 × 108 CFU g-1 soil) and G. mosseae (78 spores/10 g soil) in rhizosphere and also increased N, P, K and Si contents in rubber seedlings than bioformulation of single inoculant with Si and control. Our findings indicate that peat moss-based formulation of co-inoculants Enterobacter sp. UPMSSB7 and G. mosseae added with Si proved to be the most effective. This formulation not only maintained good microbial survivability but also significantly enhanced the rubber plants growth compared to the bioformulation of single inoculants. This promising approach using a peat moss-based formulation of microbial co-inoculants with Si, could be further explored for growth enhancement of rubber trees under field conditions.},
}
@article {pmid41060577,
year = {2025},
author = {Abrham, AB and Degefa, AM and Awlachew, ZT},
title = {Phenotypic diversity, symbiotic effectiveness and plant growth promoting characteristics of rhizobia nodulating chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) from central and south gondar zones, Ethiopia.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41060577},
issn = {1678-4405},
}
@article {pmid41060240,
year = {2025},
author = {Toro-Delgado, E and Laetsch, DR and Hayward, A and Talavera, G and Lohse, K and Vila, R},
title = {Wolbachia Host Shifts and Widespread Occurrence of Reproductive Manipulation Loci in European Butterflies.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70125},
doi = {10.1111/mec.70125},
pmid = {41060240},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {NE/L011522/1//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; BB/N020146/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; /ERC_/European Research Council/International ; 2021-SGR-00420//Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya/ ; 2021-SGR-01334//Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya/ ; FPU22/02358//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; PID2022-139689NB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; PID2023-152239NB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia is the most frequent bacterial endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes. Although it is mostly vertically transmitted, from parent to offspring through the egg cytoplasm, horizontal transfer of Wolbachia is thought to be common over evolutionary timescales. However, the relative frequency of each transmission mechanism has not been studied systematically in closely related species. Additionally, while Wolbachia is generally regarded as a reproductive manipulator, it is unclear how frequently the symbiont induces such effects. In this study, we investigated the presence, phenotypes and phylogenetic relationships among Wolbachia strains in whole genome sequence data for 18 European butterfly sister-species pairs. We find that sister-species share Wolbachia strains more often than random species pairs and that the probability of strain sharing is higher for younger pairs of host species, especially those with greater range overlap. We also find that split times between Wolbachia strains that infect the same sister-species pair generally pre-date host divergence, ruling out co-divergence in favour of horizontal transfer. However, some strains are younger than the mitochondrial split times of their hosts, so introgressive transfer cannot be ruled out in some cases. In addition, all newly assembled Wolbachia genomes contained putative homologues of genes associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility and male killing. This supports the potential for reproductive manipulation in Wolbachia strains infecting European butterflies, which until now was only inferred from mitochondrial diversity patterns. Our results show that horizontal and introgressive transfer of Wolbachia are frequent even between recently speciated host taxa, suggesting the symbiont's turnover rate is higher than had been inferred previously from surveys of distantly related hosts.},
}
@article {pmid41059966,
year = {2025},
author = {Dittmer, J and Mahillon, M and Debonneville, C and Faoro, F and Foissac, X and Schumpp, O and Chouaia, B},
title = {The Endosymbiont Consortia of Two Cixiidae Planthoppers Reveal an Ancient Symbiosis With 'Candidatus Mirabilia Symbiotica'.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {17},
number = {5},
pages = {e70204},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70204},
pmid = {41059966},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {2020/33/LES-Z II//Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture/ ; 792813//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Hemiptera/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {Insects of the suborder Auchenorrhyncha harbour multiple ancient endosymbionts that jointly produce essential nutrients lacking from the host's diet. Compared to cicadas, leafhoppers, and spittlebugs, our understanding of the multipartite symbioses among planthoppers, an extremely diverse insect group, is still very limited. Herein, we assembled the genomes of the primary endosymbionts of two planthopper species from the Cixiidae family, Cixius wagneri and Pentastiridius leporinus, both vectors of phytopathogenic Arsenophonus in Europe. Each species harboured a different tripartite endosymbiont consortium: while P. leporinus carried the well-known combination 'Candidatus Karelsulcia muelleri', 'Ca. Vidania fulgoroideae', and 'Ca. Purcelliella pentastirinorum', C. wagneri harboured a yet unknown Gammaproteobacterium in addition to Karelsulcia and Vidania. This new endosymbiont 'Ca. Mirabilia symbiotica' is likely much older than Purcelliella, considering its extremely reduced genome. In both species, Karelsulcia and Vidania jointly produce the 10 essential amino acids, whereas Purcelliella and Mirabilia provide the non-essential amino acid cysteine and slightly different gene sets encoding B vitamins. Our findings confirm the functional stability of multipartite planthopper endosymbiont consortia despite changing partners over evolutionary time. In addition, we describe a new Rickettsia strain from the Meloidae group colonising P. leporinus, highlighting the diversity of bacterial endosymbionts associated with planthoppers.},
}
@article {pmid41059924,
year = {2025},
author = {Priyam, A and Caballero Aguilar, LM and Mahmoudi, N and Barrow, CJ and Nisbet, DR and Williams, RJ},
title = {Staying one step ahead of chronic wounds by designing symbiotic, responsive functionality into dynamic nanohydrogels.},
journal = {Journal of materials chemistry. B},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1039/d5tb01558h},
pmid = {41059924},
issn = {2050-7518},
abstract = {The dynamic environment of chronic wounds makes them an on-going clinical challenge. Conventional treatments often fail to respond to the pharmacological complexities of the system effectively, which compounded by ineffective pharmacokinetics, means a new multifactorial paradigm is required. Simple hydrogels have long been proposed to be effective wound dressings, as they can provide a highly hydrated and regenerative microenvironment; however, their colloidal instability and inefficient loading parameters may cause burst release of therapeutics and require multiple reapplications, which is both pharmacologically and economically unfavourable. Nanomaterials, on the other hand, facilitate sustained therapeutic release and are generally regarded as stable; however, to avoid off target effects, they need to be spatially defined in a controlled fashion. Here, we discuss the progress made towards engineering the activity of these nanohydrogels through developments in multicomponent materials. The goal is to meet both the wound and clinically relevant demands via the inclusion of symbiotic features across multiple length scales. We introduce critical developments enabled by this approach and discuss their potential application as therapeutic delivery agents to treat various common chronic wounds. We propose future directions to further develop nanohydrogels as function-at-demand topical wound dressings to contain chronic wounds.},
}
@article {pmid41056871,
year = {2025},
author = {Ji, K and Yu, X and Sun, B and Yang, Z and Wang, J and Zhao, Y and Qiu, T and Tang, X and Xiao, H},
title = {The short-term effects of ocean acidification on the epiphytic bacterial community of Sargassum thunbergii via high-throughput sequencing.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {212},
number = {},
pages = {107531},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107531},
pmid = {41056871},
issn = {1879-0291},
abstract = {Marine macroalgae and their epiphytic bacteria have established a symbiotic relationship. Although the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on macroalgae have been extensively studied, its impact on these epiphytic bacteria remains unclear. This study investigated the OA-induced shifts in the epiphytic bacterial community of Sargassum thunbergii from Qingdao's intertidal zone using 16S rDNA sequencing. The results indicated that elevated CO2 altered bacterial community structure and function, reducing diversity while maintaining dominant taxa but significantly changing their relative abundances. The abundances of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobiota declined, whereas Campylobacterota, Desulfobacterota, and Spirochaetota increased. The specific phyla like Cloacimonadota, Calditrichota and Entotheonellaeota also emerged. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of these altered bacterial taxa, it is speculated that these shifts were linked to the environmental adaptability and stress resistance of epiphytic bacteria as well as the metabolic activities of the host algae. Functional predictions revealed that OA primarily affected nitrogen and sulfur metabolism in the epiphytic bacterial community, with effects intensifying over time. Specifically, nitrogen fixation increased, while dark oxidation of sulfur compounds, dark sulfite oxidation, and dark sulfur oxidation decreased. These results suggest that ocean acidification may influence epiphytic bacterial communities through two potential pathways: it could induce abundance changes in bacterial taxa with varying stress resistance and adaptability, while potentially promoting shifts in bacterial taxa closely associated with host algal metabolic activities, which may ultimately lead to restructuring of the epiphytic bacterial community on S. thunbergii. These findings provided new insights into the macroalgae-epiphytic bacteria interactions under ocean acidification and provided important guidance for macroalgal cultivation.},
}
@article {pmid41056267,
year = {2025},
author = {Sadowski, VA and Sapountzis, P and Kooij, PW and Boomsma, JJ and Adams, RMM},
title = {Bacterial communities of fungus-growing ant queens are species-specific and suggest vertical transmission.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {10},
pages = {e0306011},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0306011},
pmid = {41056267},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Female ; Species Specificity ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Fungi/growth &amp; development ; *Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Multipartite symbioses are inherently complex, involving dynamic ecological interactions between organisms with intertwined yet distinct evolutionary histories. The fungus-growing (attine) ants facilitate maintenance of a symbiotic species network through maternal vertical transmission of a fungal symbiont. While the gut microbiomes of fungus-growing ant species are remarkably simple, their fungus gardens support diverse microbial communities. Here, we focus on the garden pellet stored in the nest-founding queen's infrabuccal pocket-a food filter in the head that allows ants to expel large particles. The pellet is an inoculate of the new fungal garden but also contains other microbes. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to reconstruct the extent of vertical transmission of bacteria to new gardens via queen pellets in four sympatric fungus-growing ant species from Central Panama (Atta sexdens, Atta cephalotes, Acromyrmex echinatior, and Mycetomoellerius mikromelanos). We also characterized the bacterial communities associated with queen eggs and tissues (mesosomas, guts and ovaries) to assess whether queens are likely to transmit symbiotic bacteria, such as cuticular Actinomycetota and endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Mesoplasma, and Spiroplasma). We made within and between species comparisons, focusing on three hypotheses: (H1) Queens vertically transmit garden-associated bacteria in the garden pellet. (H2) Fungus-growing ant-associated bacteria are maintained through vertical transmission by queens. (H3) Vertically transmitted bacterial communities have host ant species-specificity. While we found mixed evidence for vertical transmission of garden bacteria, our results support maternal transmission as an important route for ant-associated symbionts. The ant species-specificity we see in queen bacterial microbiota mirrors patterns of known symbiont presence in workers from previous studies. Overall, our results suggest that vertical transmission of bacterial associates is mediated by the ant hosts, however the mechanism behind bacterial acquisition before a mating flight and dispersal is not yet understood.},
}
@article {pmid41054315,
year = {2025},
author = {Ayra, L and Jiménez-Nopala, G and de la Rosa, C and Fuentes, SI and Ramírez, M and Leija, A and Hernández, G},
title = {The Common Bean miR172c microRNA, a Relevant Regulator of the N-Fixing Symbiosis, Is Activated by SPL and AGL/MADS-Domain Transcription Factors.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {5},
pages = {e70566},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70566},
pmid = {41054315},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {A1-S-22570//CONAHCYT/ ; IN203722//DGAPA/UNAM/ ; IN204825//DGAPA/UNAM/ ; },
mesh = {*MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Phaseolus/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Nicotiana/genetics ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; },
abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing symbiosis (NFS) between rhizobia and legume plants is a complex and tightly regulated process. Modules of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets from different legumes, such as miR156-SPL and miR172-AP2-1, form part of complex cascades relevant for the regulation of NFS. Based on our previous analysis of the regulatory role of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) miR172c-AP2-1 module, as well as in reports from other legumes about the transcriptional regulation of MIR172 in the NFS, in this work, we demonstrated that PvMIR172c is transcriptionally activated by PvSPL9 and PvFUL-like transcription factors from the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE and AGL (AGAMOUS-LIKE/MADS domain) families, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of the PvMIR172c gene promoter revealed statistically enriched binding sites for both SPL and AGL transcription factors. The PvSPL9 and PvFUL-like genes are highly expressed in roots/nodules from inoculated plants as compared to roots from fertilized plants. Effector/reporter assays in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves transiently transformed with fluorescent reporter constructs confirmed that PvSPL9d and PvFUL-like activate PvMIR172c expression. In addition, we showed an increased level of miR172c in common bean transgenic roots and nodules overexpressing PvSPL9d or PvFUL-like, while the opposite results held in silenced transgenic tissues. These findings provide an additional understanding of the complex regulatory network controlling NFS in common bean plants.},
}
@article {pmid41054270,
year = {2025},
author = {Six, DL and Hammerbacher, A and Trowbridge, A and Bullington, L},
title = {From beginning to end: the synecology of tree-killing bark beetles, fungi, and trees.},
journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/brv.70084},
pmid = {41054270},
issn = {1469-185X},
abstract = {Over a century of research has revealed an amazing complexity of behaviours and physiological adaptations that allow tiny bark beetles to overcome large trees, sometimes resulting in outbreaks that kill millions of trees. Turning a tree into a home and successfully raising offspring involves constant interactions among the beetles, the tree, its microbiome, and the beetles' associated microbes, all influenced by abiotic factors that can determine success or failure. While we have learned much about these systems, substantial knowledge gaps remain. This synthesis aims to clarify and integrate current understanding, identify gaps, challenge long-held assumptions, and address interpretative issues that impede progress toward a holistic understanding of these systems. We advocate for expanding perspectives using synecological approaches to understand these complex systems better. We encourage expanding research into how colonization by the bark beetle-fungi complex influences subsequent tree decay and forest carbon dynamics. An explicit goal is to provide a comprehensive resource for new researchers while encouraging them to question established hypotheses and to explore new avenues of enquiry.},
}
@article {pmid41053782,
year = {2025},
author = {Giannetti, D and Giovannini, I and Massa, E and Schifani, E and Rebecchi, L and Guidetti, R and Grasso, DA},
title = {Dispersion and new shelters offered by ants: myrmecophoresy of tardigrades.},
journal = {Frontiers in zoology},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {30},
pmid = {41053782},
issn = {1742-9994},
support = {E93C22001090001//Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU/ ; },
abstract = {The present study investigates the potential role of ants as dispersal hosts for tardigrades and for the first time provides evidence of ant-mediated tardigrade phoresy. Tardigrades are microscopic cosmopolitan animals which have limited autonomous dispersal abilities but can withstand extreme conditions in a desiccated state. Being dominant terrestrial organisms, ants interact with many components of ecosystems, yet their role in dispersing meiofaunal organisms is unknown. In a field survey, four arboreal ant species were first analyzed to test the presence of tardigrades in their nests (i.e. tree galls), and on their bodies. In another experiment, galls were maintained isolated, then exposed to ant colonization to evaluate any transport of tardigrades by ants. Finally, the behavior of the ant Colobopsis truncata was tested by crafting an experimental apparatus to verify the actual phoresy of tardigrades. The field survey and gall colonization experiments show an association of tardigrades, especially with C. truncata. Gall colonization and laboratory experiments reveal that the ants transport tardigrades and other meiofaunal organisms, such as nematodes and rotifers. This phoresy can be direct (transporting animals) or indirect (transporting substrates with animals), over significant distances, thereby suggesting an unknown ecological interaction. Thanks to the widespread presence and abundance of ant species, this myrmecophoretic dispersion could play a crucial role in the spreading of meiofaunal organisms in terrestrial environments. These findings may represent just the 'tip of the iceberg' of an unexplored passive dispersal modality for terrestrial meiofauna micrometazoans, expanding our knowledge of phoretic relationships.},
}
@article {pmid41053368,
year = {2025},
author = {An, J and Fang, L and Cremers, W and Aleksejeva, K and Wang, Y and Li, G and Zhang, M and Huang, J and Ma, X and Cao, Q and Bisseling, T and Limpens, E},
title = {A mobile DELLA controls Medicago truncatula root cortex patterning to host arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {Nature plants},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41053368},
issn = {2055-0278},
abstract = {Cell division and specification are crucial for plant development and coping with diverse environmental cues. Most land plants rely on symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to cope with soil nutrient limitations by forming arbuscules in root inner cortex cells. What determines the AM susceptibility of these inner cortex cells is currently unknown. Here we show that DELLA transcriptional regulators control the number of inner cortex cells with an AM-susceptible identity at the root stem cell niche of Medicago truncatula in a dose-dependent manner. Genetic analyses suggest that this activity converges with the well-known mobile SHORT-ROOT transcription factor regulating ground tissue development. Furthermore, we show that MtDELLA1 protein moves from the stele/endodermis to the cortex in the mature part of the root to facilitate arbuscule formation. We propose that the formation of a root inner cortex cell identity controlled by mobile DELLA and SHORT-ROOT is a fundamental basis for AM symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41051678,
year = {2026},
author = {Kumar, A and Li, F and Li, Q},
title = {Quantifying Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonization via Anthocyanin Pigmentation in Medicago truncatula Roots.},
journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)},
volume = {2988},
number = {},
pages = {195-205},
pmid = {41051678},
issn = {1940-6029},
mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Anthocyanins/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Pigmentation ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Plant responses to environmental stimuli are often shaped by a history of previous interactions, forming the foundation for stress memory and adaptive plasticity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish a mutualistic relationship with most land plants, enhancing nutrient uptake and stress resilience, and are increasingly recognized as biological agents contributing to plant stress memory. However, quantifying AM colonization, especially in large-scale or time-course experiments investigating priming or memory effects, remains a technical bottleneck. Conventional staining methods are time-consuming, destructive, and incompatible with live imaging. This chapter presents a robust, nondestructive, and quantitative protocol to assess AM colonization in Medicago truncatula roots using a visible anthocyanin pigmentation marker. The method employs a synthetic construct expressing the R2R3 MYB transcription factor MtLAP1, driven by the AM-inducible Kunitz Protease Inhibitor 106 (KPI106) promoter, enabling visualization of arbuscule-containing root cells through purple/red pigmentation. The protocol encompasses Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation, standardized mycorrhization assays, and anthocyanin pigment extraction and quantification. Anthocyanin accumulation correlates strongly with conventional staining-based colonization estimates, and the system enables early detection, live imaging, and high-throughput screening of mutants with altered AM phenotypes. This method offers a powerful tool for dissecting the functional role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant stress memory and is especially suited for forward genetic screens, stress priming experiments, and live-tracking of root-fungus interactions over time.},
}
@article {pmid41051369,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, C and Xing, S and Ma, J and Sui, M},
title = {Synergistic Piezoelectric-Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron Catalyst for Peroxyacetic Acid Activation: A Self-Driven Advanced Oxidation Process.},
journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c08828},
pmid = {41051369},
issn = {1520-5851},
abstract = {Conventional advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) that utilize iron-based catalysts encounter several limitations, including rapid deactivation and low electron transfer efficiency. Although piezoelectric materials have shown potential for mechanochemical energy conversion, their practical application is often hindered by the need for substantial external energy inputs. This requirement results in considerable energy consumption and waste. Herein, we innovatively designed a symbiotic self-driven nZVI@BTO catalyst through dual incorporation of nZVI within the barium titanate (BTO) lattice and its surface, achieving breakthrough synergy between piezoelectric activation and peracetic acid (PAA)-mediated oxidation. The nZVI@BTO/PAA system completely degraded sulfamethoxazole (SMX) within 10 min, exhibiting 12-fold enhancement in kobs compared to the nZVI/PAA system. The hydraulic vortex-induced piezoelectric polarization of nZVI@BTO generated a surface-enhanced built-in electric field (BIEF), creating a localized reducing microenvironment. This enhanced charge carrier separation and promoted the efficient regeneration of Fe[2+], ensuring a sustained abundance of active Fe[2+] sites on the catalyst surface. Surface Fe[2+] sites enabled rapid PAA activation, generating hydroxyl radical ([•]OH), singlet oxygen ([1]O2), and acetylperoxy radical (CH3C(O)OO[•]). Our findings demonstrated the efficiency, stability (maintaining >80% SMX removal after 5 cycles), and practicality of the nZVI@BTO/PAA system for real-world applications. The nZVI@BTO/PAA system represented a sustainable strategy for AOPs, advancing the development of environmentally resilient water treatment technologies.},
}
@article {pmid41050163,
year = {2025},
author = {Ando, M and Kito, I and Rachi, T and Matsuda, T and Oshima, K},
title = {Formation of the intestinal microbiota during mouse weaning promotes maturation of the IgA repertoire after growth.},
journal = {Bioscience of microbiota, food and health},
volume = {44},
number = {4},
pages = {261-271},
pmid = {41050163},
issn = {2186-6953},
abstract = {Secretory IgA (sIgA) is a class of antibodies that plays a pivotal role in mucosal immunity. The sIgA secreted into the intestinal tract acts to prevent luminal pathogens and food antigens from penetrating across the intestinal epithelial barrier, thereby contributing to the suppression of infections and food allergies. Furthermore, it binds extensively to symbiotic bacteria, exerting a significant impact on the gut microbiota. The antigen recognition specificity of antibodies is determined by the amino acid sequence of the variable region. Therefore, the type of IgA repertoire influences the formation and maintenance of the gut microbiota and susceptibility to infection and food allergy. The initial repertoire of IgA is induced by the extensive colonization of intestinal bacteria during the weaning period and is maintained for an extended period. However, the relationship between the initial gut microbiota and IgA repertoire development has yet to be fully analyzed. In the present study, the weaning gut microbiota was disrupted with antibiotics, and the IgA repertoire was subsequently analyzed in young adulthood. The administration of antibiotics during the weaning period resulted in the suppression of somatic hypermutation in the variable regions of IgA expressed in the small intestine, as well as an impact on multivalent reactivity in IgA during early childhood. Additionally, disturbances in the weaning gut microbiota led to alterations in the microbiota structure of adolescent mice. These findings suggest that the weaning gut microbiota plays a role in promoting the maturation of IgA function.},
}
@article {pmid41049555,
year = {2025},
author = {Lee, MH and Morris, RA and Phillips, R and Rio, RVM},
title = {mir-31 mediated control of bacteriome size in tsetse flies.},
journal = {Current research in insect science},
volume = {8},
number = {},
pages = {100117},
pmid = {41049555},
issn = {2666-5158},
abstract = {Tsetse flies are the primary vectors of African trypanosomes, which are transmitted through blood feeding. To supplement this nutritionally limited diet, tsetse evolved an obligate mutualism with the bacterium Wigglesworthia glossinidia, housed within a specialized organ called the bacteriome. While the functional contributions of this symbiosis towards tsetse fitness have been studied, host morphological changes that accommodate this relationship remain less understood. In pregnant flies, variable expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) regulates protein expression, but the specific impacts are unknown. During pregnancy, high expression of fatty acyl-CoA reductase (far) within the bacteriome is indirectly correlated with miR-31 abundance and coincides with bacteriome size increase. We explored the roles of far and miR-31 towards this morphological change. Although RNAi effectively reduced far expression, bacteriome size still increased, suggesting its expansion is independent of far. In contrast, disrupting miR-31 activity resulted in significantly enlarged bacteriomes in virgin flies, resembling those of mated females. These results suggest that gene(s) other than far are regulated by miR-31 and may contribute to bacteriome remodeling during pregnancy, potentially to meet increased symbiosis demands. Ultimately, disrupting this obligate mutualism may present a promising target for future vector control strategies.},
}
@article {pmid41049204,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, L and Du, X and Liu, J and Zhang, J and Lv, S},
title = {Effects of grazing on plant functional groups across spatial scales in Stipa breviflora desert steppe.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1643655},
pmid = {41049204},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {This study investigated the Stipa breviflora desert steppe through multi-scale (50m×50m, 25m×25m, 2.5m×2.5m) and grazing intensity (no grazing vs. heavy grazing) comparative analyses, revealing the response mechanisms of plant functional group diversity, interspecific associations, and stability. Key findings include: (1) Heavy grazing significantly reduced functional group diversity and evenness, while the Margalef richness index increased at the 25m×25m scale due to patchy invasion of grazing-tolerant species. (2) Interspecific associations exhibited scale-dependent patterns: Large-scale (50m×50m) associations were driven by environmental heterogeneity (e.g., resource competition and complementarity), whereas small-scale (2.5m×2.5m) interactions were dominated by direct species interactions (mutualism or exclusion). (3) Grazing-induced structural simplification through "environmental filtering", heavy grazing reduced functional group quantity, forming simplified symbiotic networks (PC≥0.6) between perennial grasses and annual/biennial plants, while significantly suppressing woody plants and forbs (Perennial forbs, Shrubs and semi-shrubs). (4) Stability analysis demonstrated higher stability of perennial grasses and forbs in ungrazed areas, though the overall system remained unstable. Annual/biennial plants and shrubs/semi-shrubs generally exhibited low disturbance resistance. The study proposes a multi-scale grassland restoration strategy: optimizing resource allocation at large scales while enhancing key species interactions at small scales. These findings provide theoretical foundations for the ecological restoration of degraded desert steppes and adaptive grazing regimes. Future research should integrate climate change and socioeconomic factors to develop more resilient grassland ecosystem management frameworks.},
}
@article {pmid41047046,
year = {2025},
author = {Cho, M and Choi, E and Lee, SJ and Choi, S and Kim, I and Shin, D and Kim, W and Hur, JS and Kim, JH and Rhee, JS and Park, H},
title = {Whole-genome sequence of the lichen-forming fungus Cetrariella delisei reveals an expanded repertoire of biosynthetic gene clusters.},
journal = {Genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {111131},
doi = {10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.111131},
pmid = {41047046},
issn = {1089-8646},
abstract = {Lichens represent a distinctive symbiotic relationship between fungi and photosynthetic algae, allowing them to persist in harsh and extreme habitats. While known for their adaptability, the genomic features of lichen-forming fungi remain relatively understudied. In this study, the genome of the lichen-forming fungus Cetrariella delisei was assembled into 40 contigs, spanning 45.8 Mbp, with a BUSCO completeness of 96.7 %. Repetitive sequences comprised 18.14 % of the genome. A total of 11,716 genes were annotated, including 401 putative carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), though polysaccharide lyases were absent. Comparative analysis with five additional Parmeliaceae species showed that C. delisei contains a markedly higher number of auxiliary activity genes. Notably, C. delisei harbors 79 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), exceeding the 50 to 65 clusters typically observed in related species, reflecting an expanded biosynthetic repertoire potentially underlying enhanced natural product diversity. These results improve our understanding of lichen symbiosis and provide a valuable genomic resource for future research.},
}
@article {pmid41046273,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, Q and Tian, XY and Wu, WS and Yu, FJ and Shao, ZQ and Zeng, Z},
title = {The metabolic landscape of tomato roots during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis reveals lipid-related metabolic rewiring.},
journal = {Plant cell reports},
volume = {44},
number = {10},
pages = {230},
pmid = {41046273},
issn = {1432-203X},
support = {32400186//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32270241//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; GZB20230303//Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF/ ; 2023ZB796//Jiangsu Excellent Postdoctoral Funding/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Solanum lycopersicum/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; *Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; *Lipid Metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {This study reveals lipid-related metabolic rewiring in tomato roots during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, identifying potential candidate lipids for fungal carbon transfer and signaling. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis induces substantial metabolic rearrangement in host plants to facilitate nutrient exchange and symbiotic efficiency. While previous metabolomic studies have characterized metabolite shifts in AM symbiosis, the lipid-related metabolic rewiring underlying nutrient exchange in host plant roots remains poorly resolved. Here, we investigated the metabolic response in tomato roots colonized by AM fungi. A total of 219 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified by the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, with lipids and lipid-like molecules representing the predominant classes. The most significantly upregulated metabolite was 2-(14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoyl) glycerol, a 2-monoacylglycerols (2-MAGs) mapped to arachidonic acid metabolism. This compound represents a C20-based epoxy fatty acid-derived 2-MAG, distinct from the C16:0 2-MAG induced by AM symbiosis in legumes, thereby implying the possibility of transferring diverse lipid substrates from different host plants to AM fungi. Concurrently, enhanced accumulation of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) in AM fungi colonized roots underscored alterations of arachidonic acid metabolism and unsaturated fatty acid pathway. Gene set enrichment analysis based on the transcriptome data revealed significant transition of the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway, primarily driven by multiple lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) species that showed significant upregulation. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis identified 31 overlapping KEGG pathways, emphasizing the importance of lipid and amino acid metabolism. In summary, our integrated analysis demonstrates that lipid-related metabolic reprogramming, represented by the induction of 2-MAGs and LPCs, is a feature of AM symbiosis that enables cross-kingdom nutrient exchange and host metabolic adaptation.},
}
@article {pmid41045972,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, X and Meng, H and Yang, T and Li, Y and Zheng, F and Yan, X},
title = {Female accessory reproductive glands of Paederus fuscipes serve as a reservoir of symbiotic pederin-producing bacteria.},
journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {104408},
doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104408},
pmid = {41045972},
issn = {1879-0240},
abstract = {Paederus fuscipes, an ecologically and medically important species, is known for its blistering toxin pederin in hemolymph. Evidence demonstrates that the toxin is synthesized by the uncultured symbiotic pederin-producing bacteria (PPB) in P. fuscipes, but the biological characteristics of PPB within the beetle host remain poorly characterized. Here, we investigated PPB abundance variations in P. fuscipes across different factors (sexes, life stages, habitats, and organs), along with their colonization sites and metabolic potentials. The findings revealed that the PPB abundance in female P. fuscipes at the level of individuals and tissues exhibited stable colonization patterns, independent of habitat and time changes. Notably, PPB dominated the bacterial community in females (relative abundance ≥ 66.08%) and nearly occupied reproductive organs (relative abundance ≥ 96.31%). Moreover, our results indicated that PPB were predominantly enriched in the accessory glands of female reproductive organs, which could serve as a reservoir for PPB proliferation. Although PPB were not cultured in this study, metagenomic binning yielded the draft genome of PPB (CheckM completeness = 85.14%, contamination = 0), in which genes related to pederin biosynthesis were identified. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that PPB formed a sister clade to Pseudomonas aeruginosa rather than nesting within the P. aeruginosa lineage. Metabolic module prediction analysis revealed specific deficiencies in PPB's energy metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis pathways, suggesting limited free-living potential for PPB. Collectively, this study provides insights into PPB biological characteristics within their beetle host and paves the way for biotechnological exploitation related to pederin production.},
}
@article {pmid41045963,
year = {2025},
author = {Lu, S and Miao, Y and Wang, D and Xu, D and Liu, R and Liu, X and Zhang, Y and Zhang, X and Qin, H},
title = {Engineered tumor-symbiotic bacterial membrane nanovesicles enable precise immuno-chemotherapy of colorectal cancer.},
journal = {Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {114291},
doi = {10.1016/j.jconrel.2025.114291},
pmid = {41045963},
issn = {1873-4995},
abstract = {Gut microorganisms show promising therapeutic effects and drug delivery potential for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment, but are limited by their insufficient targeting ability and side effects. Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is a key symbiotic bacterium in CRC, which can preferentially accumulate in tumor tissues and invade tumor cells, while its tumorigenicity restricts the application in drug delivery. Herein, we engineered Fn with anchored PD-L1 antibody (αPD-L1), and then isolated the Fn membranes to construct bacterial membrane nanovesicles (ab-FMNVs) for precise delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. The ab-FMNVs exploited Fn's inherent tumor colonization capabilities to achieve tumor-targeted delivery through the specific membrane protein FadA-mediated pathway, and modulated the PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway for tumor immunotherapy. Simultaneously, ab-FMNVs were internalized into CT26 cells to release the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin, synergistically inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. In a CRC-bearing mouse model, doxorubicin-loaded ab-FMNVs increased tumor accumulation and demonstrated superior antitumor efficacy against both primary and recurrent CRC progression without inducing any side effects. This innovative approach holds promise for precision cancer therapies by harnessing the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and CRC.},
}
@article {pmid41045882,
year = {2025},
author = {Hao, J and Shah, NS and Zhou, B},
title = {S[2]CAC: Semi-supervised coronary artery calcium segmentation via scoring-driven consistency and negative sample boosting.},
journal = {Medical image analysis},
volume = {107},
number = {Pt A},
pages = {103823},
doi = {10.1016/j.media.2025.103823},
pmid = {41045882},
issn = {1361-8423},
abstract = {Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring plays a pivotal role in assessing the risk for cardiovascular disease events to guide the intensity of cardiovascular disease preventive efforts. Accurate CAC scoring from gated cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) relies on precise segmentation of calcification. However, the small size, irregular shape, and sparse distribution of calcification in 3D volumes present significant challenges for automated CAC assessment. Training reliable automatic segmentation models typically requires large-scale annotated datasets, yet the annotation process is resource-intensive, requiring highly trained specialists. To address this limitation, we propose S[2]CAC, a semi-supervised learning framework for CAC segmentation that achieves robust performance with minimal labeled data. First, we design a dual-path hybrid transformer architecture that jointly optimizes pixel-level segmentation and volume-level scoring through feature symbiosis, minimizing the information loss caused by down-sampling operations and enhancing the model's ability to preserve fine-grained calcification details. Second, we introduce a scoring-driven consistency mechanism that aligns pixel-level segmentation with volume-level CAC scores through differentiable score estimation, effectively leveraging unlabeled data. Third, we address the challenge of incorporating negative samples (cases without CAC) into training. Directly using these samples risks model collapse, as the sparse nature of CAC regions may lead the model to predict all-zero maps. To mitigate this, we design a dynamic weighted loss function that integrates negative samples into the training process while preserving the model's sensitivity to calcification. This approach effectively reduces over-segmentation and enhances overall model performance. We validate our framework on two public non-contrast gated CT datasets, achieving state-of-the-art performance over previous baseline methods. Additionally, the Agatston scores derived from our segmentation maps demonstrate strong concordance with manual annotations. These results highlight the potential of our approach to reduce dependence on annotated data while maintaining high accuracy in CAC scoring. Code and trained model weights are available at: https://github.com/JinkuiH/S2CAC.},
}
@article {pmid41045547,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, X and Li, Y and Wang, T and Li, Z and Zhuang, Q and Liang, C and Wang, X and Tian, J},
title = {GmSPX5 regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and phosphate acquisition through modifying transcription profile and microbiome in soybean.},
journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology},
volume = {124},
number = {1},
pages = {e70511},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.70511},
pmid = {41045547},
issn = {1365-313X},
support = {2021YFF1000500//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2024A1515013054//Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation/ ; 2023ZD04072//STI 2030-Major Project/ ; 2022B0202060005//Key Areas Research and Development Programs of Guangdong Province/ ; 2022SDZG07//the Open Competition Program of Ten Major Directions of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation for the 14th Five-Year Plan of Guangdong Province/ ; 32172658//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32172659//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32302662//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Phosphates/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; *Microbiota/genetics ; },
abstract = {Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is a crucial strategy for plant adaptation to low phosphorus (P) stress. However, the mechanisms underlying how phosphate (Pi) signaling regulators participate in AM colonization remain largely unknown in soybean (Glycine max). In this study, the expression of GmSPX5, one member of the SPX (SYG1/Pho81/XPR1) family, was induced by AM fungal inoculation in soybean roots. Furthermore, the expression of GmSPX5 seems to overlap with AM infection structures through analyzing GUS activity of transgenic soybean plants harboring ProGmSPX5:GUS. Four transgenic lines with GmSPX5 overexpression (OX8 and OX12) and suppression (Ri9 and Ri11) were subsequently used to examine the functions of GmSPX5 on AM symbiosis and Pi acquisition. Despite no difference between Ri and wild-type (WT), the overexpression of GmSPX5 significantly increased AM colonization as reflected by 8.4% in OX8 and 8.7% in OX12, respectively. Consistently, the dry weight and total P content of OX8 and OX12 were higher than WT. Furthermore, a total of 3483 genes were found to exhibit differential expression patterns in roots between OX12 and WT, including genes related to linolenic acid metabolism and flavonoid metabolism. Meanwhile, the composition of the bacterial community in the roots of OX12 was distinct from that in WT through β-diversity analysis. Particularly, an ASV19 (Sphingomonadales) was enriched in OX12 roots, which was positively related to total P content and AM fungi colonization. Taken together, these results highlight that GmSPX5 can regulate AM symbiosis, as well as Pi acquisition in soybean. Our findings advance the understanding of SPX functions in plant-microbe interaction.},
}
@article {pmid41044905,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, W and Cheng, H and Yan, X and Suo, B and Wen, S and Liu, W and Wei, G and Chen, J},
title = {H2S-Mediated GH3.1 Persulfidation Regulates IAA Homeostasis to Enhance Nodulation Formation and Nitrogen Fixation in Robinia pseudoacacia.},
journal = {Molecular plant pathology},
volume = {26},
number = {10},
pages = {e70145},
doi = {10.1111/mpp.70145},
pmid = {41044905},
issn = {1364-3703},
support = {42477370//National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2023yfd1900502//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects/physiology ; *Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; *Robinia/metabolism/drug effects/microbiology/genetics ; *Hydrogen Sulfide/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a gaseous signalling molecule, plays a multifaceted role in plant physiology by enhancing adaptability to environmental stresses. However, the regulatory mechanism of symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation by H2S in indeterminate nodules of woody legumes remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which H2S promotes nodulation and N fixation in the woody legume Robinia pseudoacacia. Exogenous H2S significantly enhanced rhizobium infection, nodule formation and nitrogenase activity, demonstrating its positive role in the symbiotic process. Transcriptomic analysis of roots and nodules revealed that H2S signalling modulates auxin metabolism, particularly through the regulation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) homeostasis. H2S was found to promote free IAA accumulation and reduce IAA conjugation (IAA-Asp and IAA-Glu). Further investigation revealed that H2S directly targets GH3.1, a key IAA-amido synthetase responsible for IAA conjugation. Specifically, H2S mediated persulfidation at Cys304 of GH3.1, inhibiting its enzymatic activity and preventing IAA inactivation. This modification was confirmed by LC-MS/MS, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and site-directed mutagenesis. This post-translational modification maintained active IAA levels, facilitating early nodule development. These findings highlight the active role of H2S in regulating IAA homeostasis, thereby enhancing indeterminate nodule formation and N fixation through persulfidation of the Cys304 residue of GH3.1 in R. pseudoacacia.},
}
@article {pmid41044678,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, C and Meng, Y and Liu, Y and Wang, Y and Wang, H and Liu, Y and Liu, C and Fan, X and Zhang, S},
title = {Probiotic Bacillus subtilis enhances silkworm (Bombyx mori) growth performance and silk production via modulating gut microbiota and amino acid metabolism.},
journal = {Animal microbiome},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {103},
pmid = {41044678},
issn = {2524-4671},
support = {No. SDAIT-18//Modern Agricultural Technology System of Shandong Province/ ; No. CARS-18//China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Artificial diet-reared silkworms (Bombyx mori) exhibit reduced gut microbial diversity and impaired growth performance compared to mulberry-fed counterparts. While Bacillus subtilis is widely used as a probiotic in livestock and aquaculture, its impact on silkworms remains unexplored. This study investigates whether dietary supplementation with B. subtilis enhances larval development and elucidates the underlying mechanisms involving gut microbiota and metabolic pathways.<br><br>RESULTS: Supplementing artificial diets with B. subtilis (6&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10[5] CFU/g) significantly increased larval body weight by 9.1-22.1% during instar stages and improved feed utilization efficiency (FUE) by 4.09%-6.80% compared to controls. Cocoon quality metrics, including cocoon shell weight (+&#x2009;9.77% in females) and cocoon shell ratio (+&#x2009;6.56%), also improved. Mechanistically, B. subtilis did not colonize the midgut but transiently modulated gut physiology: it elevated midgut fluid pH and enhanced &#x3b1;-amylase, trypsin, and lipase activities. 16&#xa0;S rRNA sequencing revealed reduced gut microbial diversity (Shannon index, P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01) and shifts in community structure, with decreased abundances of potential pathogens (e.g., Pseudomonas) and commensals (e.g., Lactobacillus). Targeted metabolomics identified a 3.1-fold increase in phenylalanine levels in hemolymph, linked to upregulated aromatic amino acid metabolism pathways (KEGG). Dietary phenylalanine supplementation (0.4%) replicated B. subtilis-induced growth promotion, confirming its pivotal role in host-microbe interactions.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: B. subtilis enhances silkworm growth and silk production through multi-faceted mechanisms: reshaping gut microbiota composition, improving digestive enzyme activity, and elevating phenylalanine biosynthesis. These findings establish B. subtilis as a promising probiotic for optimizing artificial diet systems in Lepidoptera and highlight the central role of amino acid metabolism in insect-microbiome symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41042365,
year = {2025},
author = {Bernal-Castro, C and Camargo-Herrera, &#xc1; and Gutiérrez-Cortés, C and Díaz-Moreno, C},
title = {Probiotic and Technological Potential of Native Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains from High Andean Forest Bee Bread: In Vitro Study.},
journal = {Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)},
volume = {80},
number = {4},
pages = {163},
pmid = {41042365},
issn = {1573-9104},
mesh = {*Probiotics ; *Bread/microbiology ; Animals ; Bees ; *Lactobacillales/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Pollen ; *Pediococcus pentosaceus/isolation &amp; purification/growth &amp; development/genetics ; *Pediococcus/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/growth &amp; development ; Functional Food ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Bile Acids and Salts ; },
abstract = {Bioprospecting of lactic acid bacteria with probiotic potential from apicultural products is an important key for the research in functional foods. The in vitro evaluation of the probiotic and technological potential of commercial HOWARU strains and native strains isolated from bee bread was conducted in this study. The strains were molecularly identified (16S rRNA sequencing), revealing differences between molecular characterization and the microorganisms described in the technical datasheet. Most native strains belong to the genus Pediococcus. The ability to resist simulated gastrointestinal conditions (acidic pH and bile salts), as well as tolerance to extreme conditions (high temperature and osmotic pressure), was determined. VEGE 092 culture showed survival levels above 80%, and Pediococcus pentosaceus exceeded 95%. Finally, growth on alternative substrates (by-product of supercritical fluid extraction of bee pollen, car-rot waste flour, and turmeric flour) was evaluate by the quantitative prebiotic index. This study demonstrated that the best symbiotic combination was VEGE 092 and turmeric (prebiotic index = 0.96), and P. pentosaceus with the pollen extraction by-product, demonstrating a strain-substrate relationship. This study highlights the potential use of these strains in functional food applications, emphasizing their resilience and ability to thrive in various substrates.},
}
@article {pmid41042234,
year = {2025},
author = {Sathe, S and Becks, L},
title = {Reciprocal effects of programmed cell death on fitness in unicellular endosymbiotic Chlorella and its ciliate host.},
journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jeb/voaf119},
pmid = {41042234},
issn = {1420-9101},
abstract = {Programmed cell death (PCD), the genetically controlled active cellular suicide mechanism in multicellular organisms, also exists in unicellular organisms. However, explaining the evolution of PCD by natural selection in these organisms remains a challenge. PCD likely emerged during early endosymbiotic events as an initial antagonistic adaptation, enabling unicellular parasitic proto-endosymbionts to exploit their hosts, for example, by triggering host death in response to nutrient depletion or releasing offspring. Over time, during endosymbiont domestication and, as proposed, through horizontal gene transfer from endosymbionts to the host, PCD evolved in the host, providing benefits to both the host and the endosymbionts. However, the underlying assumption of this hypothesis, that PCD benefits and non-PCD (necrosis) harms the endosymbionts and/or the host, remains untested. Here, we investigated the fitness consequences of heat-shock-induced PCD in the endosymbiotic chlorophyte Chlorella variabilis and its facultative symbiotic ciliate host Paramecium bursaria, the non-symbiotic C. sorokiniana, and the predatory host P. duboscqui. Heat-shock triggered PCD in C. variabilis and the two ciliate species, causing significant fitness consequences. The supernatant from C. variabilis PCD enhanced the growth of its own clones and endosymbiotic host while inhibiting the growth of the predatory host. The supernatants from necrotic C. variabilis reduced growth of both Chlorella and Paramecium. Similarly, PCD in the symbiotic Paramecium host benefited Chlorella, whereas PCD and necrosis in the predatory Paramecium host were detrimental. These results expand the understanding of unicellular PCD, highlighting its dual role in benefiting clonal populations and their specific endosymbiotic partners, thereby affecting endosymbiosis evolution.},
}
@article {pmid41041976,
year = {2025},
author = {Breusing, C and Hauer, MA and Hughes, IV and Becker, JS and Casagrande, D and Phillips, BT and Girguis, PR and Beinart, RA},
title = {Contrasting Genomic Responses of Hydrothermal Vent Animals and Their Symbionts to Population Decline After the Hunga Volcanic Eruption.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70126},
doi = {10.1111/mec.70126},
pmid = {41041976},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {//Schmidt Ocean Institute/ ; EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement OIA-#1655221//National Science Foundation/ ; OCE-0732369//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; OCE-1536331//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; OCE-1736932//Division of Ocean Sciences/ ; 1747454//National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program/ ; //Argonne National Laboratory/ ; },
abstract = {Genetic bottlenecks are evolutionary events that reduce the effective size and diversity of natural populations, often limiting a population's ability to adapt to environmental change. Given the accelerating human impact on ecosystems worldwide, understanding how populations evolve after a genetic bottleneck is becoming increasingly important for species conservation. Ash deposits from the 2022 Hunga volcanic eruption in the Southwest Pacific led to a drastic decline of animal symbioses associated with hydrothermal vents in this region, allowing insights into the effects of population bottlenecks in the deep sea. Here, we applied metagenomic sequencing to pre- and post-eruption samples of mollusc-microbial symbioses from the Lau Basin to investigate patterns of genetic variation and effective population size. Our data indicate that animal host populations currently show only small changes in genome-wide diversity but in most cases experienced a long-term decline in effective size that was likely intensified by the volcanic impact. By contrast, host-associated symbiont populations exhibited a notable decrease in genomic variation, including potential loss of certain habitat-specific strains. However, detection of environmental sequences resembling mollusc symbionts suggests that lost host-associated symbiont diversity might be recovered from the free-living symbiont pool. The differences between host and symbiont populations might be related to their contrasting genetic structures and pre-existing levels of connectivity, although the full extent of population bottlenecks in the host animals might only be recognisable after a few generations. These results add to our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of animal-microbe populations following a natural disturbance and help assess their resilience to both natural and anthropogenic impacts.},
}
@article {pmid41040871,
year = {2025},
author = {Zeng, L and Qian, Y and Cui, X and Zhao, J and Ning, Z and Cha, J and Wang, K and Ge, C and Jia, J and Dou, T and Chen, H and Liu, L and Bao, Z and Jian, Z},
title = {Immunomodulatory role of gut microbial metabolites: mechanistic insights and therapeutic frontiers.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1675065},
pmid = {41040871},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The gut microbiota modulates host immunity through a wide array of metabolic products that function as signaling molecules, thereby linking microbial activity with both mucosal and systemic immune responses. Notably, short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, tryptophan-derived indoles, polyamines, and lipid derivatives play pivotal roles in regulating innate and adaptive immune functions via G protein-coupled receptors, nuclear receptors, and epigenetic pathways. These metabolites modulate immune cell differentiation, epithelial barrier integrity, and the resolution of inflammation in a dose- and site-specific manner. Recent advancements in spatial metabolomics, synthetic biology, and nanomedicine have facilitated the spatiotemporal delivery of these immunomodulatory compounds, revealing novel therapeutic avenues for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. This review summarizes the biosynthesis and immunoregulatory functions of key microbial metabolites, highlights the compartmentalized and systemic mechanisms of action, and discusses emerging therapeutic approaches, including postbiotics, engineered probiotics, and receptor-targeting drugs. We also explore the challenges in achieving personalized microbiome-immune modulation and propose future directions integrating multiomics and AI-driven predictive modeling. Understanding the metabolite-immune axis paves the way for novel interventions targeting host-microbe symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41040407,
year = {2025},
author = {Tan, CH and Schwartz, HT and Rodak, NY and Sternberg, PW},
title = {Evolution of parasitism-related traits in nematodes.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.09.26.678730},
pmid = {41040407},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The abundant resources provided by the host provide an evolutionary rationale for parasitism and drive the metabolic and developmental divergence of parasitic and free-living animals. Two evolutionally distant nematode genera, Steinernema and Heterorhabditis , independently evolved an entomopathogenic lifestyle, in which they invade insects and kill them with the assistance of specifically associated symbiotic pathogenic bacteria. It had been generally assumed that the worm, being a bacterivore, feeds on its symbiotic bacteria, which rapidly reproduce while consuming the insect host. The evolutionary adaptations of entomopathogenic nematodes to a parasitic lifestyle developmentally, and the symbiotic relationships of entomopathogenicity, remain largely unknown. We developed an axenic culture medium that allows for robust and sustained growth of Steinernema hermaphroditum , allowing finite control of nutrients available to the nematodes. We found that, uniquely among nematodes tested, the hatchlings of S. hermaphroditum cannot endure in a nutrient-poor environment; this ability is impaired but still present in Heterorhabditis bacteriophora . Similarly, the ability to forage for food is completely lost in H. bacteriophora hatchlings and severely compromised in S. hermaphroditum . We reasoned that these traits were lost because they are unnecessary to obligate parasites that always hatch in a resource-rich host. We further found that Steinernema and, to a limited extent, Heterorhabditis nematodes can successfully invade, develop, and reproduce inside a living insect host independent of their symbiotic bacteria, apparently feeding on the hemolymph, and emerge carrying bacteria found within, explaining the evolutionary origins of entomopathogenic nematodes.<br><br>HIGHLIGHTS: A simple but robust axenic culturing method for the emerging model nematode Steinernema hermaphroditum and other invertebrate parasitic nematodes. Convergent evolution led to the loss of hatchling survival traits in entomopathogenic nematodes.Nematode adaptation to parasitism is associated with changes in modes of feeding.Entomopathogenic nematodes evolved from parasitoid ancestors.},
}
@article {pmid41040397,
year = {2025},
author = {Sankari, S and Arnold, MF and Babu, VMP and Deutsch, M and Walker, GC},
title = {Exploiting Peptide Chirality and Transport to Dissect the Complex Mechanism of Action of Host Peptides on Bacteria.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.09.24.678446},
pmid = {41040397},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Elucidation of the complex mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is critical for improving their efficacy. A major challenge in AMP research is distinguishing AMP effects resulting from various protein interactions from those caused by membrane disruption. Moreover, since AMPs often act in multiple cellular compartments, it is challenging to pinpoint where their distinct activities occur. Nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides secreted by legumes, including NCR247, have evolved from AMPs to regulate differentiation of their nitrogen-fixing bacterial partner during symbiosis as well as to exert antimicrobial actions. At sub-lethal concentrations, NCR247 exhibits strikingly pleiotropic effects on Sinorhizobium meliloti . We used the L- and D-enantiomeric forms of NCR247 to distinguish between phenotypes resulting from stereospecific, protein-targeted interactions and those caused by achiral interactions such as membrane disruption. In addition, we utilized an S. meliloti strain lacking BacA, the transporter that imports NCR peptides into the cytoplasm. BacA plays critical symbiotic roles by reducing periplasmic peptide accumulation and fine-tuning symbiotic signaling. Use of the BacA-deficient strain made it possible to distinguish between phenotypes resulting from peptide interactions in the periplasm and those occurring in the cytoplasm. At high concentrations, both L- and D-NCR247 permeabilize bacterial membranes, consistent with nonspecific cationic AMP activity. In the cytoplasm, both NCR247 enantiomers sequester heme and trigger iron starvation in an achiral but BacA-dependent manner. However, only L-NCR247 activates bacterial two-component systems via stereospecific periplasmic interactions. By combining stereochemistry and genetics, this work disentangles the spatial and molecular complexity of NCR247 action. This approach provides critical mechanistic insights into how host peptides with pleiotropic functions modulate bacterial physiology.<br><br>AUTHOR SUMMARY: Many organisms produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to fight infections, but legumes have uniquely co-opted these molecules to control their symbiotic partners. During symbiosis between Medicago truncatula and Sinorhizobium meliloti , the plant secreted Nodule-specific Cysteine-Rich (NCR) peptides, transforms free-living bacteria into differentiated bacteroids that fix nitrogen but cannot reproduce outside the host. One such peptide, NCR247, exerts pleiotropic effects on the bacteria, acting on different subcellular locations, including membrane, heme, and proteins. Using a mirror-image (D-form) peptide, we disentangled peptide effects arising from generic physiochemical interactions versus stereospecific binding. The inner membrane protein BacA is known to play a protective role by importing NCR peptides into the cytoplasm. Using a bacterium lacking BacA, we were able to distinguish the effects of the peptide within and outside the cytoplasm. It was thought that BacA safeguards symbiotic bacteria by internalizing NCR peptides, thereby limiting their toxic membrane lytic effects, yet this has not been demonstrated. We show that BacA prevents lethal overstimulation of signaling pathways in the periplasm by internalizing the peptides. Our methods provide a framework for testing mechanism of action of new peptide-based antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid41040118,
year = {2025},
author = {Bonnette, H and Savitt, LR},
title = {Optimizing Colorectal Surgery Outcomes: The Role of the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) in Developing a Center for Pelvic Floor Disorders and Maximizing Scope of Practice for APPs.},
journal = {Clinics in colon and rectal surgery},
volume = {38},
number = {6},
pages = {411-416},
pmid = {41040118},
issn = {1531-0043},
abstract = {Many patients with pelvic floor disorders who are referred to colorectal surgery do not actually need surgery. The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Pelvic Floor Disorders (PFDC) was established in 2008 out of a recognition of the need for a specialized comprehensive treatment for patients living with a pelvic floor disorder. To describe the model that we have created utilizing advanced practice providers (APPs) within the PFDC at the MGH as an example of a model of care for patients who historically may have been managed by colorectal surgeons. The utilization of APPs in surgery has increased, which in turn has had positive effects on patient care and can help reduce the demands put on surgeons to see patients who ultimately do not end up having surgery. There is also a potential for both direct and indirect revenue production through the utilization of APPs at the top of their scope of practice as well as increased access to care for these patients. Training APPs to work at the top of their scope within a surgical practice increases patient's access to care, allows surgeons to focus on those who ultimately require surgery, and can lead to better patient outcomes at a reduced healthcare cost. In order for this symbiotic relationship between APPs and surgeons to be successful, it is essential that there is mutual collaboration and trust between providers. It requires commitment from surgeons to appropriately train their APPs.},
}
@article {pmid41039684,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, N and Yang, X and Li, C and Zhang, C and Guo, M},
title = {Identification and functional characterization of chemoreceptors for phenolic acids in Agrobacterium tumefaciens.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {302},
number = {},
pages = {128348},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128348},
pmid = {41039684},
issn = {1618-0623},
abstract = {Phenolic acids influence host-pathogen interactions and function as key signals in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation or plant-microbe symbiosis. Agrobacterium tumefaciens uses chemotaxis to detect plant-secreted phenolic compounds and migrates to infection sites, though the chemotactic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, starting with structurally simple phenolic acids, the chemotactic response of A. tumefaciens C58 was investigated. The chemotaxis of A. tumefaciens toward 4-hydroxybenzoate and protocatechuate is not impacted by the methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) Atu0387 and Atu0738, which share a four-helix bundle domain with previously discovered phenolic-sensing MCPs. To identify chemoreceptors for phenolic acids, a heterologous expression and functional screening system was constructed in Escherichia coli. Among the 13 MCPs, Atu0872 could respond to both 4-hydroxybenzoate and protocatechuate. Furthermore, atu0872 deletion weakened chemotaxis toward vanillin, acetosyringone, guaiacol, caffeic, vanillic, salicylic, gallic, p-coumaric, syringic, and sinapinic acids. Although the ligand-binding domain of Atu0872 was predicted to be a nitrate- and nitrite-sensing domain, the A. tumefaciens deletion mutant Δatu0872 did not affect chemotaxis toward nitrate and nitrite. In addition to chemotaxis, atu0872 deletion decreased the tumor weight on Daucus carota roots, Kalanchoe daigremontiana leaves, and the number of bacterial colonies per 0.1 g of tumor, implying that atu0872 affects bacterial colonization on the host by regulating chemotactic behavior. To our knowledge, this is for the first study identifying Atu0872 as a core chemoreceptor in A. tumefaciens for phenolic compounds, providing a theoretical foundation for elucidating the chemotaxis-pathogenicity relationship in A. tumefaciens and optimizing its use in genetic transformations.},
}
@article {pmid41039422,
year = {2025},
author = {Wong, ELY and Calchera, A and Otte, J and Schmitt, I},
title = {Temperature variability and other climatic attributes linked to genomic features in the lichen-forming fungal genus Umbilicaria.},
journal = {BMC biology},
volume = {23},
number = {1},
pages = {293},
pmid = {41039422},
issn = {1741-7007},
support = {LOEWE/1/10/519/03/03.001(0014)/52//Hessisches Ministerium f&#xfc;r Wissenschaft und Kunst/ ; },
mesh = {*Genome, Fungal ; *Temperature ; *Lichens/genetics ; *Climate ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many species of lichen-forming fungi exhibit large geographical ranges and broad thermal niches, making them excellent models for investigating the genomics of climate adaptation. In this study, we examined the impacts of climatic variables on genomic features in 11 Umbilicaria species. We compared PacBio genomes of individuals from the same species collected in different climate zones: alpine, cold temperate, or Mediterranean.<br><br>RESULTS: Our findings revealed several links between climatic and genomic features: (1) Selection pressure: in each climate zone, specific genes are under strong selection. (2) Genomic feature correlations: certain temperature variables (BIO2: mean diurnal range, BIO4: seasonality, BIO6: minimum in coldest month, BIO7: annual range) are correlated with GC content and the usage of the amino acids arginine and valine, suggesting these variables may drive convergent evolution of these genomic features. (3) Temperature variability: bioclimatic variables representing temperature variability, e.g. BIO2,4,7 are more influential in shaping genomic features than temperature means or extrema, with BIO6 also playing a significant role. (4) Epigenetic modifications: the rate of 5-methylcytosine (5mc) methylation within species is generally higher in samples from the colder habitat, suggesting that epigenetic modifications may contribute to climate adaptation.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study shows that genome evolution is partially shaped by climate and, particularly, temperature variability. This aligns with numerous ecological and climate modelling studies, which show that climate variability has a stronger impact on species behaviour and evolution than climate means and extrema. Further genomics studies are required to provide additional evidence on this topic.},
}
@article {pmid41038270,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, T and Lin, H and Tian, Z},
title = {Genetic innovations underlying the evolution of root nodule symbiosis in Leguminosae.},
journal = {Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jgg.2025.09.008},
pmid = {41038270},
issn = {1673-8527},
abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is a mutualistic association formed between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia or Frankia and host plants limited to four orders within Rosid I-Fabales, Fagales, Cucurbitales and Rosales-which comprise the so-called 'Nitrogen Fixing Nodulation Clade' (NFNC). The majority of nodulation studies have focused on Leguminosae, given their agricultural and environmental importance, as well as the widespread occurrence of nodulation among members of this family. Endowing cereal crops with nitrogen fixation, like Leguminosae, presents a strategy to reduce the detrimental effects of synthetic fertilizer overuse. Different hypotheses on the origin of RNS have been proposed, however key genetic innovations underlying the evolution of RNS, even in Leguminsoae, have been rarely reported. In this review, we begin by examining current knowledge of genetic innovations-including gene gain, gene loss, and the acquisition or loss of conserved noncoding sequences (CNS) in preexisting genes. We explore the available evidence supporting these genetic innovations underlying the evolution of RNS in Leguminosae and offer the phylogenomics approach that could be applied to uncover these genetic innovations. Finally, we conclude by proposing a model of genetic innovations underlying the evolution of RNS in Leguminsoae and consider the potential implications for the development of nitrogen-fixing crops.},
}
@article {pmid41038028,
year = {2025},
author = {Almeida, AC and Reid, M and Lillicrap, A},
title = {Specific toxicity of octinoxate and octocrylene on Symbiodinium sp., a symbiotic microalga with corals.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {304},
number = {},
pages = {119151},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119151},
pmid = {41038028},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {The widespread use of UV filters in sunscreens and personal care products has raised concerns about their detrimental effects to the aquatic environment. This study examined the specific toxicity of two UV filters, octinoxate and octocrylene to Symbiodinium sp., a photosynthetic dinoflagellate essential for coral symbiosis, nutrient acquisition, and reef structure. The study employed a comprehensive set of sub-lethal endpoints analyzed through flow cytometry, including cell viability, pigment fluorescence, cell size, complexity, metabolic activity, production of reactive oxygen species and membrane potential. The exposure of exponentially proliferating Symbiodinium sp. to octinoxate and octocrylene demonstrated pronounced toxicity, with octinoxate exhibiting toxicity levels significantly greater than those of octocrylene. This disparity underscores the different ecological impacts of these UV filters. Even at lower concentrations, octinoxate significantly influenced cellular parameters, including cell size, complexity, viability, and metabolic activity, as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation (LPO) and neutral lipid accumulation, alongside a reduction in cellulose levels, suggesting potential structural alterations in cellular components. In contrast, octocrylene's sub-lethal effects are manifested as enhanced cell complexity and LPO, with elevated neutral lipids and cellulose levels. However, at elevated concentrations, octocrylene adversely affected cell viability and metabolic activity, indicative of severe membrane depolarization. These findings highlight the importance of an early warning system to protect Symbiodinium sp. and consequently corals. Flow cytometry proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool for detecting sub-lethal effects, providing insights into Symbiodinium sp. health status and, consequently, the resiliency of coral reef ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41037855,
year = {2025},
author = {Reynoso, MA},
title = {Update on translational control modes in plant cell signaling.},
journal = {Current opinion in plant biology},
volume = {88},
number = {},
pages = {102799},
doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102799},
pmid = {41037855},
issn = {1879-0356},
abstract = {Protein synthesis can contribute to plant cell signaling at multiple regulatory levels. Recent studies have expanded the conditions that are directly impacted by translational regulation. This control can balance responses to developmental, environmental, and diverse stress stimuli. Processes with evidence of translational regulation include: immunity to bacterial pathogens, symbiotic interactions, abiotic responses, hormonal perception, light-dependent metabolism, and developmental programs for lateral root initiation, root hair growth, and sepal initiation. Translational control modes rely on the sequence and secondary structure of mRNAs due to the presence of upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and/or internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), protein-binding regions or structures, and the decoding of the epitranscriptomic mRNA modifications such as N[6]-methyladenosine, N[4]-acetylcytidine or pseudouridine. In addition, the post-translational modification of ribosomal proteins and eukaryotic initiation factors such as eIF4G, eIFiso4G, eIF2, as well as changes in ribosome protein composition contribute to translational control. These factors, mRNAs, regulatory proteins and other RNAs can be confined by the formation of biomolecular condensates such as stress granules, processing bodies and others, resulting in paths that modulate translation both globally and specifically. The covered topics place translation as a hub for cell responses during development and within the environmental context. Current understanding of translation has allowed the development of applications in crops, reinforcing the relevance of the study of translational control in plants.},
}
@article {pmid41037509,
year = {2025},
author = {Pardo-De la Hoz, CJ and Haughland, DL and Thauvette, D and Toni, S and Goyette, S and White, W and Medeiros, ID and Cornet, L and Dvořák, P and Garfias-Gallegos, D and Miadlikowska, J and Magain, N and Lutzoni, F},
title = {Rapid radiations outweigh reticulations during the evolution of a 750-million-year-old lineage of cyanobacteria.},
journal = {Molecular biology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/molbev/msaf244},
pmid = {41037509},
issn = {1537-1719},
abstract = {Species are a fundamental unit of biodiversity. Yet, the existence of clear species boundaries among bacteria has long been a subject of debate. Here, we studied species boundaries in the context of the phylogenetic history of Nostoc, a widespread genus of photoautotrophic and nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria that includes many lineages that form symbiotic associations with plants (e.g., cycads and bryophytes) and fungi (e.g., cyanolichens). We found that the evolution of Nostoc was characterized by eight rapid radiations, many of which were associated with major events in the evolution of plants. In addition, incomplete lineage sorting associated with these rapid radiations outweighed reticulations during Nostoc evolution. We then show that the pattern of diversification of Nostoc shapes the distribution of average nucleotide identities (ANIs) into a complex mosaic, wherein some closely related clades are clearly isolated from each other by gaps in genomic similarity, while others form a continuum where genomic species boundaries are expected. Nevertheless, recently diverged Nostoc lineages often form cohesive clades that are maintained by within-clade gene flow. Boundaries to homologous recombination between these cohesive clades persist even when the potential for gene flow is high, i.e., when closely related clades of Nostoc cooccur or are locally found in symbiotic associations with the same lichen-forming fungal species. Our results demonstrate that rapid radiations are major contributors to the complex speciation history of Nostoc. This underscores the need to consider evolutionary information beyond thresholds of genomic similarity to delimit biologically meaningful units of biodiversity for bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid41036755,
year = {2025},
author = {Rahman, A and Borah, P and Hussain, S and Sen, A and Bharalee, R and Chabukdhara, M and Upadhyaya, H and Verma, AK},
title = {Chemical Diversity of Carotenoids Derived from Aquatic Animals and their Therapeutic, Biomedical, and Natural Colorant Applications.},
journal = {Combinatorial chemistry &amp; high throughput screening},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.2174/0113862073377688250903053348},
pmid = {41036755},
issn = {1875-5402},
abstract = {Carotenoids, prevalent in a diverse range of aquatic animals, perform critical and multifaceted roles essential for marine and freshwater ecosystems. This review examines the distribution, biological functions, and potential biomedical applications of carotenoids sourced from various aquatic animals. Carotenoids are acquired through food consumption or metabolic pathways, playing vital roles such as photoprotection, antioxidant defense, and nutritional enhancement, particularly provitamin A. Marine sponges and cnidarians display a diverse spectrum of carotenoids, crucial for symbiosis and photoprotection. Molluscs and crustaceans exhibit varied carotenoid profiles corresponding to their trophic strategies, whereas fish and echinoderms utilize carotenoids in reproductive and developmental processes. In biomedical contexts, carotenoids act as potential anti-cancer agents and antioxidants. Lycopene, β-carotene, and astaxanthin demonstrate anti-proliferative and antioxidant effects, pivotal in cancer prevention and therapeutic interventions. Their applications extend to biomedical technologies like Raman spectroscopy and drug delivery systems, underscoring their diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Carotenoids, as powerful antioxidants, neutralize free radicals and diminish oxidative stress, which is linked to chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. Some carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, are precursors to vitamin A, vital for vision, immune response, and cell communication. Furthermore, carotenoids have anti-inflammatory properties that modulate inflammatory pathways and provide therapeutic potential in diseases like inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis, which are marked by chronic inflammation. Furthermore, carotenoids provide photoprotection, safeguarding the skin and other tissues from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. This paper highlights the integral role of carotenoids in biomedical advancements, emphasizing their significance in human health research.},
}
@article {pmid41035639,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Wang, S and Yao, D and Zhang, K and Yin, Y and Kong, X and Li, J and Zeng, L and Zhang, R and Zhang, Z},
title = {A taste of one's own medicine: Bacillus velezensis isolated from adult housefly intestines demonstrates effective fly control.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1575292},
pmid = {41035639},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Animals ; *Bacillus/physiology/isolation &amp; purification/immunology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Houseflies/microbiology/immunology ; Larva/microbiology/immunology ; *Intestines/microbiology/immunology ; Transcriptome ; *Pest Control, Biological/methods ; Symbiosis ; Immunity, Humoral ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Bacillus spp. are widely used as biological agents for managing diseases in crops, livestock, poultry, and aquatic animals. Bacillus velezensis, a novel species within the Bacillus genus, is extensively used in the biological control of animal and plant diseases. However, the association between B. velezensis and insect hosts remains a complex and poorly understood process.<br><br>METHODS: In this study, we utilized a housefly larvae model to investigate the relationship between B. velezensis and houseflies by examining the changes in intestinal microbiota, transcriptomics, and humoral immunity following symbiotic B. velezensis treatment.<br><br>RESULTS: The results revealed striking dynamic changes in the bacterial community composition of larvae in the treatment group at the genus level. Notably, Providencia and Morganella content increased, while Enterobacter content decreased, leading to inhibited larval growth. Moreover, the bacterial association with the larva significantly impacted the larval transcriptome, modulating the expression of genes involved in various biological pathways, including host growth and development, macronutrient metabolism, and energy production, which are essential for insect development and survival. Oral feeding of B. velezensis also caused significant morphological changes in the larval gut, resulting in notable larval mortality, cell degeneration, shrinkage, and the formation of various vacuoles. Additionally, we observed a significant decrease in immune response in housefly larvae, with a reduction in phenoloxidase activity and melanization ability in treated larvae compared to controls.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Therefore, B. velezensis can damage the vital functions of housefly larvae and may be utilized as a microecological regulator for the green prevention and control of housefly populations.},
}
@article {pmid41035504,
year = {2025},
author = {Olaguez-Gonzalez, JM and Chairez, I and Breton-Deval, L and Alfaro-Ponce, M},
title = {In-silico assessment of dynamic symbiotic microbial interactions in a reduced microbiota related to the autism spectrum disorder symptoms.},
journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal},
volume = {27},
number = {},
pages = {4078-4088},
pmid = {41035504},
issn = {2001-0370},
abstract = {The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in human health, with growing evidence linking its composition to the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, inconsistencies in previous studies have hindered the identification of a definitive microbial signature associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Machine learning models have emerged as powerful tools for analyzing microbiome data, yet their interpretability remains limited. In this study, we integrate in silico simulations with machine learning predictions to explore microbial interactions under different dietary conditions and provide biological context to features of the intestinal microbiota that are linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder. This study employs constraint-based modeling to simulate metabolic exchanges among key bacterial taxa in order to assess their ecological relationships. Findings reveal that high-fiber diets foster mutualistic and balanced interactions, whereas Western-style diets promote competitive and parasitic dynamics, potentially contributing to gut dysbiosis in Autism Spectrum Disorder. In addition, the presence of oxygen (a factor associated with colonocyte permeability, a pathological condition of the colon) significantly alters microbial interactions, influencing metabolic dependencies and the overall structure of the community. This integrative approach enhances the interpretability of machine learning-based Autism Spectrum Disorder classifiers, bridging computational predictions with mechanistic insights. By identifying diet-dependent microbial interactions, our study highlights potential dietary interventions to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota in Autism Spectrum Disorder. These findings underscore the value of combining in silico modeling and machine learning for unraveling complex microbiome-host relationships and improving Autism Spectrum Disorder biomarker identification.},
}
@article {pmid41034188,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, S and Wang, Y and Zhang, Z and Xu, H and Wu, S and Jin, H and Han, X and Liu, Y and Wen, X and Wu, Y and Zhang, Z and Hu, L and Hu, L and Zhang, C and Wang, J and Yan, R and Chen, M and Xiao, G and Sun, G and Zhang, D and Wang, S},
title = {Sodium nitrate protects against metabolic syndrome by sialin-mediated macrophage rebalance.},
journal = {Signal transduction and targeted therapy},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {323},
pmid = {41034188},
issn = {2059-3635},
support = {82201054//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 82030031, L2224038//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *Metabolic Syndrome/drug therapy/genetics/pathology/metabolism ; *Macrophages/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; *Nitrates/pharmacology/administration &amp; dosage ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy/genetics/pathology/metabolism ; Male ; Disease Models, Animal ; },
abstract = {Metabolic syndrome, characterized by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), poses a significant threat to patients' health worldwide; however, efficient treatment is currently unavailable. Here, we show that oral administration of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) greatly attenuates the development and advancement of MASLD-like and T2DM-like phenotypes in mice induced by choline-deficient high-fat, western, or methionine/choline-deficient diet. NaNO3 attenuates metabolic turbulence by rebalancing CD206[+]/CD11C[+] polarization (anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory) and the function of bone marrow-derived macrophages (MoMFs). Using metabolic disorder animal models and bone marrow-reconstituted mice with mutated gene function in Slc17a5, which encodes sialin, we demonstrate that NaNO3 protects against metabolic disorders through the actions of sialin in MoMFs. NaNO3 can directly regulate MoMFs polarization and function in vitro and in mice, in which nitric oxide production from oral and enteral symbiotic bacteria is essentially abolished. At the molecular level, sialin, via the inhibition of the key transcription factor Rel, inhibits cathepsin L (CtsL) expression and thereby activates the Nrf2 pathway to modulate macrophage homeostasis and ameliorate metabolic abnormalities. Interestingly, the sialin-CtsL-Nrf2 pathway is downregulated in human macrophages from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) patients. Overall, we demonstrate the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of NaNO3 on metabolic syndrome and reveal a new macrophage rebalancing strategy involving NaNO3 through a novel sialin pathway. Our research indicates that NaNO3 may be a pharmaceutical agent for managing and alleviating metabolic turbulence in humans.},
}
@article {pmid41033381,
year = {2025},
author = {Avgousti, K and Dushku, E and Spyropoulou, A and Kotzamanidis, C and Staikou, A and Yiangou, M},
title = {Revealing probiotic properties of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecalis in Cornu aspersum animal model.},
journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {105481},
doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2025.105481},
pmid = {41033381},
issn = {1879-0089},
abstract = {This study explores the probiotic potential, immunomodulatory capacity, and safety of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from the intestinal tract of the edible terrestrial snail Cornu aspersum maxima. Although host-microbe interactions are well studied in vertebrates, such research remains limited in invertebrates, particularly snails. To address this gap, 12 lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated and screened for tolerance to the defense mechanisms of snails and probiotic-associated traits, followed by machine learning (ML) predictions of immunomodulatory potential. According to results, 10 strains exhibited high tolerance to the external and internal defense mechanisms of snails (pedal and gastric mucus, gastric juices, low gut pH) in association with increased autoaggregation and hydrophobicity values and were predicted to have 100% probability of eliciting immunomodulatory activity in vivo. Five strains, the L. plantarum Spp1 and Spp11 and E. faecalis Spp3, Spp8, Spp19, were selected for in vivo evaluation. Strain-specific immune responses were observed, with some strains mainly induced cellular immune responses, such as chemotaxis and phagocytic activity of hemocytes, while others also induced humoral responses. However, safety evaluations revealed that certain E. faecalis strains exhibited antimicrobial resistance or induced inflammatory reactions. Only two strains, the L. plantarum Spp11 and E. faecalis Spp19, were validated as safe and effective immunomodulatory probiotics in vivo. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of the functionality of probiotic Lactiplantibacillus and Enterococcus strains in snails. These findings advance our understanding of snail-microbe symbiosis, particularly in the context of host-probiotic interactions, and support the use of C. aspersum as a valuable invertebrate model for probiotic research.},
}
@article {pmid41032286,
year = {2025},
author = {Krall, E and Benza, K and Kannenberg, R and Medina-Jimenez, K and Mukhia, S and Vanyo, V and Bravo, A},
title = {Conservation of Genes Required for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-05-25-0065-CR},
pmid = {41032286},
issn = {0894-0282},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is an ancient association that played a key role in the adaptation of plants to terrestrial environments. Originating over 400 million years ago at the dawn of land plants, this interaction depends on a core set of conserved genes that enable hosts to establish and maintain symbiotic relationships with AM fungi. The AM symbiotic program includes distinct genetic components for each stage of development, from signal perception to nutrient exchange. While AM-host plants have retained key genes dedicated to symbiosis, non-host lineages have independently lost these genes multiple times over evolutionary history. Recent studies in the liverwort Marchantia paleacea demonstrate that core mechanisms underlying AM symbiosis are conserved from bryophytes to angiosperms. Comparative genomic studies continue to uncover how symbiosis-specific genes are integrated with broadly conserved cellular machinery to sustain this interaction. Understanding these deeply conserved genetic modules is essential for uncovering the evolutionary foundations of plant-microbe associations and for harnessing their potential in sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41031293,
year = {2025},
author = {Rui, J and Long, X and Wang, X and Xiong, X and Zhu, J},
title = {Soil microclimate and vegetation dynamics shape elevational and seasonal variations of diazotrophic communities in alpine grasslands.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1587343},
pmid = {41031293},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Diazotrophs play critical roles in maintaining ecosystem nitrogen (N) cycling in alpine grasslands. However, the elevational and seasonal variations of diazotrophic communities in these ecosystems remain poorly understood. This gap in knowledge limits our ability to predict how N fixation will respond to environmental change. Here, we investigated the seasonal dynamics of soil diazotrophic communities across a 3200-4000 m elevational gradient in Qinghai-Tibetan alpine grasslands during the growing season.<br><br>METHODS: Soil samples were collected across an elevational gradient (3200-4000 m) throughout the growing season. The diazotrophic community composition was assessed by sequencing the nifH gene, which was also quantified using quantitative PCR. Soil nitrogenase activity was measured to assess N fixation potential. Key environmental variables, such as soil temperature, moisture, and plant biomass (particularly legume biomass), were monitored.<br><br>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our results revealed that diazotrophic alpha-diversity followed an inverted V-shaped pattern along the elevational gradient, primarily driven by soil temperature and moisture. Beta-diversity analyses demonstrated that diazotrophic communities generally exhibited similar elevational distribution patterns throughout the growing season, also primarily influenced by temperature and moisture. Seasonal variations in diazotrophic communities were more pronounced at lower elevations, primarily associated with plant biomass dynamics, including delayed legume emergence at 3200 m in June and their subsequent biomass accumulation after July. In contrast, soil microclimate (particularly temperature) dominated community shifts at higher elevations. Notably, nifH gene abundance and soil nitrogenase activity were higher in the early growing season, suggesting free-living diazotrophs may play a crucial role in N fixation. Abundant species were key contributors to diazotrophic beta-diversity. Symbiotic Mesorhizobium was more abundant at low elevations, while free-living Geobacter at high elevations. Conversely, associative diazotrophs peaked later in the growing season, in contrast to Geobacter. Rare species played a key role in shaping alpha diversity, particularly at mid-elevations, where soil moisture was the highest. Our study underscores the complex interactions between soil microclimate change and plant dynamics in regulating diazotrophic communities. Furthermore, it highlights the essential roles of both abundant and rare species in sustaining ecosystem functions in alpine grasslands. These findings provide new insights into the biogeochemical processes supporting N cycling in alpine grasslands and highlight the potential impacts of vegetation and climate change on these fragile ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41030555,
year = {2025},
author = {Worku, AT and Sciarretta, A and Guarnieri, A and Falcone, M and Brancazio, N and Minwuyelet, A and Cutuli, MA and Atenafu, G and Nicolosi, D and Colacci, M and Yewhalaw, D and Di Marco, R and Petronio Petronio, G},
title = {Microbial gatekeepers: midgut bacteria in Aedes mosquitoes as modulators of arboviral transmission and targets for sustainable vector control.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1656709},
pmid = {41030555},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Arboviral diseases such as Dengue virus, Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, and West Nile virus pose significant global public health and economic challenges, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. The absence of effective vaccines and sustainable vector control strategies continues to drive high morbidity and mortality rates. Symbiotic bacteria residing in the mosquito midgut can produce antimicrobial compound, stimulate the host immune response, disrupt nutrient pathways critical for pathogen development, and interfere with the pathogen's lifecycle and dissemination. Additionally, these microbes may reduce vector reproduction and shorten the lifespan of both immature and adult stages. Genetically modified symbiotic bacteria can release effector molecules that target pathogens without harming mosquitoes. Advances in genomic and metagenomic tools have deepened our understanding of the mosquito gut microbiome. This review highlights current knowledge of gut bacteria and arbovirus interactions and explores strategies to reduce arboviral transmission. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted using global databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, with a focus on English-language publications.},
}
@article {pmid41030195,
year = {2025},
author = {Vancaester, E and Oldrieve, GR and Reid, A and Koutsovoulos, G and Laetsch, DR and Makepeace, BL and Tanya, V and Poppert, S and Krücken, J and Wolstenholme, A and Blaxter, M},
title = {Ghosts of symbionts past: The hidden history of the dynamic association between filarial nematodes and their Wolbachia endosymbionts.},
journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkaf226},
pmid = {41030195},
issn = {2160-1836},
abstract = {Many, but not all, parasitic filarial nematodes (Onchocercidae) carry intracellular, maternally-transmitted, alphaproteobacterial Wolbachia symbionts. The association between filarial nematodes and Wolbachia is often portrayed as mutualist, where the nematode is reliant on Wolbachia for an essential but unknown service. Wolbachia are targets for anti-filarial chemotherapeutic interventions for human disease. Wolbachia of Onchocercidae derive from four of the major supergroups (C, D, F and J) defined within the genus. We explored the evolutionary history of the filarial nematode-Wolbachia symbiosis in twenty-two nematode species, sixteen of which have current Wolbachia infections, by screening the nematode nuclear genome sequences for nuclear Wolbachia transfers, fragments of the Wolbachia genome that have been inserted into the nuclear genome. We identified Wolbachia insertions in five of the six species that have no current Wolbachia infection, showing they have previously had and have now lost Wolbachia infections. In currently-infected species we found a diversity of origins of the insertions, including many cases where they derived from a different supergroup to the current live infection. Mapping the origins of the insertions onto the filarial nematode phylogeny we derive a complex model of evolution of Wolbachia symbiosis. The history of association between Wolbachia and onchocercid nematodes includes not only cospeciation, as would be expected from a mutualist symbiosis, but also loss (in the five Wolbachia-free species), frequent symbiont replacement, and dual infection. This dynamic pattern is challenging to models that assume host-symbiont mutualism.},
}
@article {pmid41029997,
year = {2025},
author = {Ferreras-Garrucho, G and Chancellor, T and Paszkowski, U},
title = {Integrating single-cell omic techniques to resolve the spatio-temporal complexity of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf404},
pmid = {41029997},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) is a ubiquitous and ancient interaction between plant root systems and fungi of the Glomeromycotina subphylum. The resulting relationship is mutually beneficial and deeply intimate where the fungus intracellularly colonises root cortex cells to receive organic carbon and deliver minerals and water to the plant. Fungal colonisation of plant roots and cells is extremely dynamic and asynchronous across the root system. Symbiosis development must therefore result from spatio-temporally fine-tuned molecular control mechanisms of plant and fungus. Although the plant genetic program underpinning AMS has been extensively studied, little is known about its dynamic regulation across root cell layers and developmental stages of the association. Thus, many questions remain outstanding: how do different cell-types transcriptionally respond to AMS, how are distinct cell-type specific regulatory states coordinated, and what are the transcriptional activities in the fungus associated with discrete stages of root colonisation? The advent of single cell-based techniques now enables the high-resolution analysis to address these questions. In this review, we recapitulate the current knowledge on the spatio-temporal control of AMS, we evaluate the relevance of existing spatial datasets to AMS research and provide new perspectives for future study.},
}
@article {pmid41029519,
year = {2025},
author = {Modara, B and Rahimi, MM and Abdipour, M and Hosseinifarahi, M},
title = {Physiological and antioxidant responses of marjoram (Origanum Majorana L.) under drought stress mediated by Salicylic acid and mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1248},
pmid = {41029519},
issn = {1471-2229},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Salicylic Acid/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Droughts ; *Antioxidants/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Stress, Physiological ; },
abstract = {Drought stress, exacerbated by climate change, is a major limiting factor for herbs cultivation. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of salicylic acid (SA) and mycorrhizal fungi (MF) on marjoram under drought stress conditions. The experiment was conducted over two years (2022-2023) using a split factorial design within a randomized complete block with three replications. The study's primary factor was drought stress at three levels: 90% (D0), 70% (D1), and 35% (D2) of field capacity (FC). The secondary factor included two sub-factors: SA concentrations (0, 100, and 300 mg L[-1]) and MF inoculation (non-inoculated (M0) and inoculated with Glomus hoi (M1)). Results demonstrated that drought stress decreased relative water content (RWC) (46.8%), chlorophyll content (35%), carotenoids (25.7%), and dry weight (49.3%), while increasing proline (38.6%), soluble sugars (29.4%), electrolyte leakage (44.8%), superoxide dismutase (35.2%), peroxidase (43.1%), and catalase activities (29.3%). Additionally, the combined treatment of SA and MF enhanced water status by 44%, proline content by 12%, and soluble sugar content by 6% under severe drought conditions. Antioxidant enzyme activities (Catalase) were also significantly increased by up to 91% with the combined treatments, supporting the hypothesis that the synergy of SA and MF can effectively mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress on marjoram. Overall, this study demonstrated that the combined application of SA and MF could be a promising strategy for enhancing drought tolerance in marjoram, especially in drought-prone areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study does not involve clinical trials or human participants and, as such, does not require clinical trial registration.},
}
@article {pmid41028587,
year = {2026},
author = {Anandakumar, S and Senthamilselvi, D and Kalaiselvi, T},
title = {Estimation of Foliar Volatiles Emitted by Mycorrhizal Colonized Blackgram (Vigna mungo L) Infested with Spodoptera litura.},
journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)},
volume = {2966},
number = {},
pages = {233-243},
pmid = {41028587},
issn = {1940-6029},
mesh = {*Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis/metabolism ; Animals ; *Spodoptera/physiology ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Plant Leaves/metabolism/chemistry/parasitology ; *Vigna/metabolism/parasitology/microbiology/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Plant-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a significant role in signaling and tolerance to biotic stressors, including insect pest infestation. Mycorrhizae, a symbiotic fungus, improves the tolerance of blackgram plants to Spodoptera litura by altering the profiling of foliage VOCs. Recently, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with headspace (HS) trapping of VOCs is the most frequently used analytical technique to understand the metabolic process and responses of plants to biotic stresses. This method performs four steps such as (i) trapping of HS-VOCs, (ii) concentration and enrichment of VOCs, (iii) transfer of VOCs from air sample to analytical device, and (iv) detection and identification of compounds. HS volatiles is trapped using fiber polymers like Tenax TA and desorbed thermally in GC-MS with TD autosampler and thermal desorption (TD). The identification of VOCs compounds is performed by searching mass spectral peaks against NIST mass spectral library. This chapter provides the detailed procedure for the estimation of plant-produced VOCs using HS sapling coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) with TD autosampler and thermal desorption method.},
}
@article {pmid41027965,
year = {2025},
author = {Cao, J and Wang, J and Yang, Q and Guo, B and Colombi, T and Valverde-Barrantes, OJ and Ding, J and Zhang, Y and Wu, H and Feng, Z and Yang, X and Kong, D},
title = {Root anatomy governs bi-directional resource transfer in mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {8731},
pmid = {41027965},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {32471824, 32171746, 31870522, and 31670550//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Plant Roots/anatomy &amp; histology/microbiology/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Models, Biological ; },
abstract = {Plants form mycorrhizal symbioses to enhance nutrient acquisition, yet the biophysical principles governing carbon and nutrient exchange remain unclear. Here, we develop a theory of bi-directional carbon-nutrient transfer that integrates root anatomy, energetic costs, and mycorrhizal positioning. We show that nutrient uptake per unit carbon or energy investment declines with increasing root diameter due to higher carbon demands across thicker cortical tissues. Mycorrhizal fungi mitigate this constraint by enabling more carbon-efficient nutrient uptake, particularly when arbuscules are positioned in inner cortical layers. This spatial optimization minimizes the carbon cost of transporting nutrients to the stele. Our framework reconciles anatomical variation, symbiotic structure, and functional efficiency across root types and mycorrhizal strategies and offers a new lens for understanding the coevolution between roots and mycorrhizal fungi.},
}
@article {pmid41027223,
year = {2025},
author = {Jing, X and Zhang, X and Wang, X and Chen, H and Xing, S and Jin, Z and Yang, D and Li, J and Wu, S and Hao, Z and Song, F and Chen, B},
title = {Bidirectional interference between nanoplastics and arsenic in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: Reciprocal modulation of uptake, transformation and translocation.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {498},
number = {},
pages = {139983},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139983},
pmid = {41027223},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Nanoplastics, which persist in the environment with high specific surface areas, interact with the well-documented pollutant arsenic, thereby exacerbating its phytotoxicity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, forming symbiotic relationships with most plants and enhancing their arsenic tolerance, possess hyphae capable of capturing nanoplastics. However, no studies have investigated either how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi absorb and transfer arsenic during nanoplastics co-exposure, or whether nanoplastics are internalized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi hyphae and translocated to mycorrhizal tissues under arsenic stress. In this study, a two-compartment in vitro monoxenic cultivation system was used to investigate the synergistic translocation and transformation of arsenic-nanoplastic co-contaminants at the plant-microbe interface. The results indicated that nanoplastics hindered the arsenic absorption by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi hyphae and promoted the transformation of inorganic arsenic to organic arsenic via upregulating the relative expression of the RiMT-11 gene in the hyphae. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging confirmed nanoplastics internalization by hyphae and subsequent translocation to mycorrhizae under arsenic exposure. This study deciphers nanoplastic-arsenic-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi interaction mechanisms and validates arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi's potential role in the bioremediation of arsenic-nanoplastic co-contaminated soils.},
}
@article {pmid41026427,
year = {2025},
author = {Kumar, SC and Kumar, M and Singh, R and Saxena, AK},
title = {Selection of competitive and effective rhizobial strain for enhanced chickpea production under Indo-Gangetic plains of India.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41026427},
issn = {1678-4405},
support = {Application of Microorganisms in Agriculture and Allied Sectors (AMAAS).//Application of Microorganisms in Agriculture and Allied Sectors (AMAAS)./ ; },
abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital legume crop, but its productivity is often limited by poor soil fertility. This study aimed to assess the nodulation efficacy and plant growth-enhancing activities of six Mesorhizobium spp. strains in the chickpea cultivar Pusa 362 through the Leonard jar experiment and field trial. The strains, including two strains from ICRISAT (reference strains), were tested for solubilization of phosphate, potassium, and zinc, and production of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA). Strain C5 excelled in phosphate solubilization (61.40 µg/ml), while C7 was superior in potassium (26.10 µg/ml) and zinc phosphate (69.15 µg/ml) solubilization; C17 showed the highest IAA production (25.75 µg/ml). In the Leonard jar experiment, inoculation of strains M. ciceri C5 and M. helmanticense C17 exhibited the highest nodule number and root dry weight, while treatments with M. ciceri C5 and M. helmanticense C7 inoculation recorded the maximum nodule dry weight and shoot dry weight. Field trials indicated significant improvements in nodulation, biomass, and nitrogen content in chickpeas inoculated with these strains. Treatment with strain C7 led to the highest increase in nodule number and root dry weight over the control, while strain C5 inoculation recorded maximum grain yield. Correlation analysis showed positive relationships between yield and several growth parameters. Nodule occupancy tests revealed that strain C7 had the highest occupancy (32.98%), followed by C5 (31.92%), indicating superior nodulation competitiveness under field conditions. These results suggest that inoculation with specific Mesorhizobium strains can significantly enhance chickpea productivity through improved nodulation and nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid41026187,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, P and Liu, F and Li, L and Wu, S and Xiao, W and Zong, Q and Liu, T and Peng, Y},
title = {Impact of Tebuconazole On the Development and Symbiotic Microbial Communities of Pardosa Pseudoannulata.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {97},
pmid = {41026187},
issn = {1432-184X},
mesh = {*Triazoles/toxicity ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; Animals ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Bacteria/drug effects/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Fungi/drug effects/classification/genetics ; *Fungicides, Industrial/toxicity ; *Spiders/microbiology/drug effects/growth &amp; development/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Animals, Poisonous ; },
abstract = {Tebuconazole is a widely used triazole fungicide to control fungal diseases. While there have been reported side effects on non-target arthropods, its ecological risks to natural enemies remain poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the developmental toxicity and symbiotic microorganism responses of the wolf spider Pardosa pseudoannulata, an important predator in rice ecosystems, following exposure to tebuconazole. The results indicated that tebuconazole did not significantly increase the mortality rate of spiderlings; however, it did lead to a significant decrease in spiderling body weight, as well as the length and width of the carapace. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 regions and the ITS region revealed that tebuconazole significantly reduced bacterial diversity indices in the short term, with a gradual recovery over time. In contrast, the impact on the fungal community was continuous and irreversible, with a significant decrease in the Shannon index observed after 15 days. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Cupriavidus and Staphylococcus in the bacterial community decreased significantly after tebuconazole exposure, while Stenotrophomonas increased. In the fungal community, Fungi_gen_Incertae_sedis decreased significantly, and Simplicillium increased. Our findings highlight the ecological risks of fungicide exposure to beneficial predators and underscore the importance of considering symbiotic microbiota in pesticide risk assessments.},
}
@article {pmid41025674,
year = {2025},
author = {Ste-Croix, DT and Gagnon, A&#xc8; and Mimee, B},
title = {The genome and stage-specific transcriptomes of the carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis, reveal adaptive mechanisms for host specialisation and symbiotic interactions.},
journal = {Insect molecular biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/imb.70012},
pmid = {41025674},
issn = {1365-2583},
support = {J-002846//Alternative Pest Management Solutions initiative/ ; //Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ ; },
abstract = {Throughout their evolution, insects have become specialised to occupy diverse ecological niches. The carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis, is an important agricultural pest that exhibits a very specific host range. In this study, we characterised the genome and transcriptomes of each developmental stage of L. oregonensis and its Wolbachia endosymbiont to gain deeper knowledge of the genetic determinants controlling its biology. We annotated 14,637 genes and showed expression profiles across the developmental stages. We also compared orthologous genes between L. oregonensis and nine other species, with particular focus on chemoreceptors and detoxification genes. We identified 24 distinct odorant-binding protein genes and 41 genes for receptors involved in stimulus perception, relatively low numbers compared with other species, which would be consistent with a narrow host range. In contrast, we found a high number of detoxification genes, with significant expansion of certain gene families. Among the annotated genes, 46 were putatively acquired through horizontal gene transfer, with 17 showing strong evidence for this, including several cell-wall degrading enzymes. The phylogeny of a cytolethal distending toxin gene also suggests an initial transfer from a prokaryotic source and vertical dissemination in members of Curculionidae through recent evolution. The presence of the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia (supergroup A) was confirmed in all tested L. oregonensis individuals from several regions in northeastern North America and showed very little diversity. This study enhances our understanding of the genomic, functional, and evolutionary aspects of a significant agricultural pest and makes important and useful databases available to the scientific community.},
}
@article {pmid41025407,
year = {2025},
author = {Esquinas-Ariza, RM and Villar, I and Minguillón, S and Zamarreño, &#xc1; and Pérez-Rontomé, C and Reeder, BJ and Sandal, N and Yan, D and García-Mina, JM and Duanmu, D and Martínez-Júlvez, M and Becana, M},
title = {Structural and functional comparison of hemoglobin Glb2-1 of Lotus japonicus with Glb1-1 and leghemoglobins.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf434},
pmid = {41025407},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {The legume Lotus japonicus expresses nine hemoglobins, including leghemoglobins (Lbs), class 1 phytoglobin (Glb1-1), and an unusual phytoglobin (Glb2-1). Quantitative PCR, proteomics, and plant mutant analyses indicate that Glb2-1 is mainly present in nodules without replacing Lb function, but is also in roots and photosynthetic tissues. Comparison of hormonal profiles of the knock-out mutants glb1-1, glb2-1, and glb1-1/2-1 reveals that Glb1-1 and Glb2-1 have distinct functions. The increase of salicylic acid in the leaves of glb1-1 reveals a role of Glb1-1 in the defense response, which was corroborated by accumulation of pipecolic acid, a metabolite involved in plant immunity. In contrast, the decrease of bioactive jasmonoyl-isoleucine in glb2-1 is consistent with a role of Glb2-1 in the plant's reproductive stage. The mutants also showed changes in cytokinins, gibberellins, and polyamines, but without clear distinctive patterns. The crystal structure of Glb2-1 was determined to 1.6 Å resolution and compared with those of soybean Lba and Arabidopsis Glb1. In combination with mutant versions of Glb2-1, residues Tyr31, His64, and Cys65 were identified as critical for O2-binding stability. Spectral changes in heme coordination when Tyr31 is substituted for Phe highlights the importance of the residue at the B10 position for Lb and Glb function.},
}
@article {pmid41025248,
year = {2025},
author = {Park, YJ and Lim, JK and Lee, YJ and Kwon, KK},
title = {Protocol for efficient recovery of high-quality DNA from microbiome of marine invertebrates.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology (Seoul, Korea)},
volume = {63},
number = {9},
pages = {e2507003},
doi = {10.71150/jm.2507003},
pmid = {41025248},
issn = {1976-3794},
support = {EA0311//Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries/ ; KIMST 20210469//Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *DNA, Bacterial/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Aquatic Organisms/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/classification ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Republic of Korea ; *Invertebrates/microbiology ; Anthozoa/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; },
abstract = {Marine organisms often form symbiotic relationships with various microorganisms to adapt and thrive in harsh environments. These symbiotic microbes contribute to host survival by providing nutrition, modulating the hosts' immune system, and supporting overall physiological stability. Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have enabled a deeper understanding of the structure and function of symbiotic microbial communities, as well as host-microbe interactions. Notably, symbiotic bacteria associated with marine invertebrates such as corals and sponges are recognized as a potential source of useful bioactive compounds, including antibiotics and enzymes. However, obtaining high-quality microbial DNA from host tissues still remains a technical challenge due to the presence of unknown substances. This study focuses on optimizing sample preparation and DNA extraction procedures and additional purification to improve the recovery of microbial DNA while minimizing host DNA contamination. Comparison between several methods was conducted using sponge samples to evaluate DNA quality and microbial recovery. A sample designated as 2110BU-001 was collected from the east coast of the Republic of Korea and used for culture-independent microbial cell isolation. Total bacterial DNA was extracted by using a manual Phenol-Chloroform protocol and three commercial kits. DNA extracted using the standard manual method showed both the highest yield and the largest fragment size. However, PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) test showed that quality of manually extracted DNA was not enough for sequencing. Therefore, the quality of DNA was improved through additional purification steps. Briefly, host eukaryotic cells were removed by mechanical process and almost only bacterial DNA was successfully obtained by combination of manual extraction method and further purification processes. The established protocol was successfully introduced to extraction of metagenomic DNA from mussel and jellyfish microbiomes, indicating that it can be widely applied to various marine organisms.},
}
@article {pmid41024490,
year = {2025},
author = {Speijer, D},
title = {Eukaryogenesis From FECA to LECA: Radical Steps Along the Way.},
journal = {BioEssays : news and reviews in molecular, cellular and developmental biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70063},
doi = {10.1002/bies.70063},
pmid = {41024490},
issn = {1521-1878},
abstract = {The characteristics of the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) population and the root of the eukaryotic tree have been coming into focus lately. However, the trajectory taking the host, related to present-day Asgard archaea and the endosymbiont, related to present-day alphaproteobacteria, toward such fully integrated and complex organisms is still unclear. Here I marshal recent evidence supporting the early arrival of the "mitochondrion-to-be", setting up the evolutionary dynamic for a series of mutual adaptations leading to eukaryotes. Upon critical analysis of some presuppositions in phylogenomic reconstructions of eukaryogenesis, I again propose that pre-symbiosis, efficient ATP generation, internal reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and enhanced retention of genes supplied by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) interdependently allowed this unique transformation to occur.},
}
@article {pmid41024329,
year = {2025},
author = {Manjili, MH},
title = {The Invisible Lens: Why Theoretical Models Are Essential for Interpreting Immune Phenomena.},
journal = {Scandinavian journal of immunology},
volume = {102},
number = {4},
pages = {e70057},
doi = {10.1111/sji.70057},
pmid = {41024329},
issn = {1365-3083},
support = {W81XWH2210793//U.S. Department of Defense/ ; P30 CA 016059/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Models, Theoretical ; *Models, Immunological ; *Immune System/immunology ; *Allergy and Immunology ; },
abstract = {Immunology progresses not merely by accumulating data but by evolving the conceptual lenses through which those data are interpreted; yet for six decades the self-non-self/infectious-non-self (SNS/INS) paradigm-casting allogeneity as activating signal and 'self' as intrinsically tolerogenic-has dominated research design, peer review and curriculum. This, in turn, systematically amplifies concordant findings while attenuating evidence for tissue integrity, metabolic, symbiotic and network-centric cues. This conceptual monoculture appears as a hidden dogma that impedes breakthroughs in our understanding of the immune system and the development of curative therapies. By institutionalising theoretical immunology as a formal discipline and treating models as explicit, testable tools rather than hidden assumptions, immunologists can sharpen hypothesis generation and achieve a better understanding of existing data. This essay provides an overview of empirically grounded theoretical models to counter monoculture, clarify how frames shape interpretation, and expand the field's conceptual toolkit.},
}
@article {pmid41024212,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Gong, L and Dong, D and Li, X},
title = {Metagenomic binning reveals community and functional characteristics of sulfur- and methane-oxidizing bacteria in cold seep sponge ground.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {122},
pmid = {41024212},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {KEXUE2020GZ01//The Senior User Project of R/V Kexue/ ; 42176114//The National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ZR2023MD100//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cold seep sponges typically reside in the carbonate rock areas surrounding the vents, often comprising only a few individuals of a limited number of species. Previous limited studies have indicated that sponges living in seeps or vents host chemolithotrophic microorganisms, including sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB), regardless of their feeding habits. This suggests that they may utilize compounds from their environment. However, when multiple sponge species are found co-occurring in a single sponge ground sharing identical environmental and material conditions, it remains unclear how their symbiotic community structure will behave. Specifically, it is uncertain whether the community will exhibit greater similarity or, as seen in most studies, demonstrate host specificity.<br><br>RESULTS: We utilize metagenomics and binning analysis to characterize six new sponge species belonging to two classes and two distinct dietary habits, all discovered in the same cold seep. Our findings reveal that their associated microbial communities, primarily composed of SOB and MOB from the phylum Proteobacteria, exhibit a high abundance of groups with the same chemosynthetic functions. Binning recovered diverse, novel MAGs (metagenome-assembled genomes) primarily dominated by order PS1 (SOB) and order Methylococcales (MOB). This similarity extends beyond the dietary habits and higher taxonomic levels of the sponge hosts. Phylogenetic and abundance difference analyses of MAGs indicate significant host specificity in the selection of symbiotic microbial species among different sponge species. Notably, these MOB and SOB exhibit potential novelty within their clade compared to known taxa. Furthermore, the genomes of these SOB and MOB contain abundant functions related to their adaptation to the chemoautotrophic environment and symbiotic lifestyle within the cold seep.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The chemosynthetic environment shapes the high relative abundance of key functional groups that dominate the symbiotic community, while the species differences among host sponges determine the strain selection within these groups. The metabolic functions expressed by this "convergence with divergence" community structure collectively endow the holobionts with the ability to adapt to the cold seep environment.},
}
@article {pmid41023112,
year = {2025},
author = {Chakraborty, S and Sharma, R and Bhat, A and Curtin, SJ and Wen, J and Mysore, KS and Paape, T},
title = {Partners in root nodule symbiosis respond uniquely to heavy metal stresses in a host genotype-dependent manner.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {33518},
pmid = {41023112},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {3093-53000-001-000D &amp; 5062-21000-035-000D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology/drug effects ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/genetics/drug effects/metabolism ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Genotype ; Cadmium/toxicity ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology/drug effects ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; Zinc/toxicity ; Mutation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; },
abstract = {The mutualistic symbiosis between legume roots and soil rhizobia culminates in the formation of root nodules, where nitrogen is fixed. Root nodule symbiosis is inhibited by heavy metal stress. In this study, we investigated the relative responses of the symbiotic partners to a non-essential heavy metal cadmium (Cd) and an essential heavy metal zinc (Zn) stress and identified patterns in gene expression. We performed dual transcriptomics in nodules, using the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiotic system. Phenotypes were measured in the wild-type Medicago truncatula and a mutant in an ABC transporter gene (Mtabcg36), which showed compromised nodule formation in control conditions and further after heavy metal treatment. We observed that the rhizobia were particularly sensitive to Zn in mutant nodules. The greatest degree of differential gene expression in the host plant were observed under Cd and Zn treatments in wild-type nodules. Most Cd-regulated host genes were also differentially regulated by Zn, revealing little discernment between an essential and a non-essential ion under increased exposure. Furthermore, the host response to both the stresses affected auxin and iron homeostasis genes in a host genotype-dependent manner. Our results suggested impaired cadmium export from the mutant nodules. These results have potential implications in agricultural management systems and bioremediation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid41022930,
year = {2025},
author = {Charaabi, K and Hamdene, H and Djobbi, W and Fadhel, S and Tanfouri, N and Saidi, M and Guerfali, MM},
title = {Assessing gut microbiota diversity and functional potential in resistant and susceptible strains of the mediterranean fruit fly.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {33456},
pmid = {41022930},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/genetics ; *Ceratitis capitata/microbiology/drug effects ; *Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; Insecticides/pharmacology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Biodiversity ; Malathion/pharmacology ; Macrolides/pharmacology ; Dimethoate/pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; },
abstract = {The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a destructive polyphagous pest that affects many agricultural crops. While insecticides are commonly used to control its populations, the widespread and excessive use of these chemicals has led to increased resistance globally. Gut microbiota may influence insect behavior and physiology, potentially contributing to this resistance. In this study, high throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to characterize the gut microbiota of both insecticide-susceptible and insecticide-resistant strains of C. capitata, aiming to investigate the potential role of symbiotic bacteria in the medfly resistance development in. Three resistant strains were selected under laboratory conditions by exposing the adult-rearing diet to increasing concentrations of malathion, dimethoate, and spinosad over successive generations. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) analyses revealed significant differences in gut microbiota structure between resistant and susceptible strains (p < 0.001). Insecticide-resistant strains showed a microbiota composition shift upon insecticide exposure. Notably, Serratia spp. and Buttiauxella spp. exhibited a sharp decline in resistant strains, while Enterococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. showed a significant increase (p < 0.001). Resistant strains showed lower bacterial richness and diversity, suggesting an enrichment of bacteria that have a competitive advantage under insecticide selection pressure. Functional predictions indicated distinct metabolic differences, with resistant strains displaying enhanced activities related to xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism. This suggests a potential association between these bacteria and insecticide resistance; however, further studies are necessary to determinate whether these bacteria directly contribute to the degradation or detoxification of insecticides.},
}
@article {pmid41021533,
year = {2025},
author = {Matsui, H and Hata, Y},
title = {Group-level matching behavior in phototaxis of acoel flatworm Praesagittifera naikaiensis.},
journal = {Journal of comparative psychology (Washington, D.C. : 1983)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1037/com0000430},
pmid = {41021533},
issn = {1939-2087},
abstract = {The matching law, which posits that animals allocate their responses in proportion to the rate of reinforcement, has been supported across diverse animal taxa. Although originally formulated in the context of operant choice, matching also applies to time allocation in foraging and to Pavlovian responses, indicating its generality across behavioral domains. However, empirical evidence has thus far been largely limited to vertebrates and arthropods. Addressing the broader applicability of this principle requires extending investigations beyond these taxonomic groups, across a wider phylogenetic spectrum. Here, we examined phototactic behavior in the acoel flatworm Praesagittifera naikaiensis, a species that acquires nutrients through photosynthesis by symbiotic algae and exhibits positive phototaxis. Using a custom-built T-maze in which the number of illuminated LEDs varied across arms, we found that the animals distributed themselves in proportion to relative brightness, consistent with matching behavior. Moreover, prior exposure to light for 24 hr attenuated this pattern. This manipulation was intended to induce a state of nutritional sufficiency, and the resulting decline in phototactic responses suggests that internal physiological states can modulate even seemingly reflexive locomotor behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).},
}
@article {pmid41021075,
year = {2025},
author = {Leng, C and Yang, G and Hou, M and Huang, X and Xing, Y and Yang, B and Chen, J},
title = {Fungi of the family Psathyrellaceae are symbiotic partners of the mycoheterotrophic orchid Danxiaorchis yangii.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {5},
pages = {56},
pmid = {41021075},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {No. tsqn202211233//Special Fund for Taishan Scholar Project/ ; 2021-I2M-1-032//the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences/ ; },
mesh = {*Orchidaceae/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; China ; Endophytes/physiology/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics ; *Basidiomycota/physiology/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Rhizome/microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; },
abstract = {Fully mycoheterotrophic orchids rely entirely on fungal symbionts for carbon acquisition and are often highly specialized in their fungal associations. Danxiaorchis yangii is a fully mycoheterotrophic orchid species with an extremely limited population in its endemic region of southeastern China. Its fungal symbionts remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the fungal associations of D. yangii using both the isolation of culturable fungal endophytes and high-throughput sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS1) region. Six strains of Psathyrellaceae were isolated from rhizomes (underground stems) of D. yangii and phylogenetic analysis revealed that they belong to two main taxa. High-throughput sequencing further confirmed that the fungal community within the rhizomes was dominated by Psathyrellaceae. Moreover, an in vitro symbiotic seed germination assay demonstrated that one of the isolated strains could promote the growth of germinating seeds to the protocorm stage. These findings are significant for advancing our understanding of the mycoheterotrophic symbiosis in D. yangii.},
}
@article {pmid41019754,
year = {2025},
author = {Foster, LR and Yang, J and Riethoven, JM and Mukhtar, H and Schachtman, DP},
title = {Inoculation frequency and maize genotype influence plant growth-promoting effects of soil bacteria under low nitrogen conditions.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1637156},
pmid = {41019754},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Global agriculture relies heavily on the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer to meet the current global food demand. Unfortunately, the average nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) is as low as 50%. Improving the NUE of maize is essential for feeding the ever-increasing world population while also decreasing the negative environmental impacts of nitrogen fertilizer due to runoff and volatilization. Harnessing the symbiotic relationship between plants and soil microorganisms may be one method for increasing the NUE in crops such as maize. In the present study, a set of potentially beneficial bacterial species chosen based on genetic information from the host was investigated for their ability to improve NUE-related traits in maize grown under nitrogen-deficient conditions. This was carried out through non-repeated and repeated bacterial inoculations using different maize genotypes. We identified several growth-promoting bacterial isolates and observed a significant interaction between the bacterial isolates and the maize genotype, suggesting a strong interaction between the host genetics and the effects of bacterial isolates. In addition, our results showed a significant growth response to repeated inoculations with a beneficial bacterial isolate. In summary, when evaluating the plant-growth-promoting effects of a bacterial species, it is essential to consider the interaction between host plant genotype and bacterial isolate. In addition, when inoculating with bacterial isolates, multiple inoculations appear to be more effective than a single inoculation after bacterial seed priming.},
}
@article {pmid41019523,
year = {2025},
author = {Eaker, AA and Rowe, SL and Friesen, ML},
title = {Antagonism within mutualism: host control of symbionts through nodule-specific antimicrobial peptides.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1622262},
pmid = {41019523},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Legumes (Fabaceae) have developed a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia to meet their nitrogen needs. Legumes recruit rhizobia from the soil, house them in root organs called nodules, and manipulate bacterial metabolism, providing carbon and receiving bacterially fixed nitrogen in return. One mechanism of host control is through a family of antimicrobial peptides that only appears in the inverted repeat lacking clade (IRLC) of the legumes, though the Dalbergioid clade has similar peptides. They are named nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides due to their exclusive expression in the nodule during symbiosis and the shared 4 or 6 cysteine residue motif. These genes and subsequent proteins vary in number, sequence, and function, but evolutionary genomics research shows that they are adapted from the plant immune system for the new function of symbiont manipulation. In this review, we present the current understanding of NCR peptide biology, expression, and function. We examine NCR genomic and biochemical features and explore their roles in shaping symbiotic outcomes. Finally, we discuss emerging applications and key open questions. Understanding host manipulation of bacterial symbionts within plant tissues provides researchers with targets for engineering more efficient nitrogen-fixing symbioses. In addition, NCR peptides show promise as therapeutic agents with the potential to control both plant and animal pathogens.},
}
@article {pmid41019521,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, L and Liu, L and Gao, W and Li, B and Guo, S},
title = {Symbiotic relationship between Polyporus umbellatus and Armillaria gallica shapes rhizosphere bacterial community structure and promotes fungal growth.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1658060},
pmid = {41019521},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {AIMS: Polyporus umbellatus sclerotium, known for its diuretic properties, relies on a symbiotic association with Armillaria for its growth and quality development. However, the impact of soil microorganisms on this symbiosis remains uncertain and warrants investigation. The primary objective of this research is to characterize the microorganisms capable of enhancing the symbiotic interaction between Armillaria gallica and Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia in the rhizosphere soil.<br><br>METHODS: Symbiotic cultivation experiments were conducted in woodland habitats with four groups: symbiotic group (Z0), control group (Z1), A. gallica-only group (Z2), and P. umbellatus-only group (Z3). Rhizosphere soil community profiling analysis was conducted using high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Subsequently, bacterial strains were isolated, purified, and back-inoculated with A. gallica to assess their effects on this symbiotic relationship.<br><br>RESULTS: A total of 10,009 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified, with the symbiotic group (Z0) showing higher bacterial richness and diversity (ACE, Chao1, Shannon indices) compared to Z2 and Z3. Dominant phyla such as Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Bacteroidota were notably more abundant in Z0. Notably, Rhodococcus sp. Z2-1 significantly promoted A. gallica rhizomorph growth (diameter increased by 112.2%, branches by 160.9%) and symbiosis establishment (100% contact rate in inoculated pots vs. 0-22.2% in controls).<br><br>CONCLUSION: The symbiotic relationship between P. umbellatus and A. gallica shapes rhizosphere bacterial communities, with specific bacteria like Rhodococcus sp. enhancing fungal growth and symbiotic efficiency. This study presents the potential for developing a bio-bacterial fertilizer for cultivation of medicinal material.},
}
@article {pmid41019519,
year = {2025},
author = {Ning, Y and Chen, Y and Wu, Z and Yang, T and He, X and Yue, H},
title = {Seasonal and regional structuring of rhizosphere fungal communities in Macadamia integrifolia.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1634222},
pmid = {41019519},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Rhizosphere fungal communities are pivotal to plant nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and ecosystem functionality. However, the diversity and ecological roles of these communities in tropical cash crops like Macadamia integrifolia (macadamia) remain understudied-particularly how they respond to seasonal, geographic, and root-type variations. This knowledge gap hinders targeted management of rhizosphere microbes for sustainable macadamia production.<br><br>METHODS: To address this, we examined the spatiotemporal structuring of rhizosphere fungal communities in M. integrifolia across four major production regions in Yunnan Province, China (Changning, Yingjiang, Lancang, Yunxian). We accounted for three key variables: season (dry season: November-April; rainy season: May-October), root type (normal roots vs. cluster roots), and geography. A total of 80 soil samples were collected (4 regions &#xd7; 2 seasons &#xd7; 2 root types &#xd7; 5 biological replicates). High-throughput sequencing of the fungal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region was used to analyze community composition, diversity, and functional guilds; co-occurrence network analysis and PERMANOVA were also employed to interpret community dynamics.<br><br>RESULTS: Season and geographic location significantly shaped fungal community structure, while the effect of root type was context-dependent. Fungal diversity was higher in the rainy season, with Ascomycota (55-65%), Basidiomycota (20-30%), and Mortierellomycota (5-10%) as the dominant phyla. Cluster roots enriched symbiotic and beneficial taxa: Glomus and Trichoderma were 1.8- and 2.3-fold more abundant in cluster roots than in normal roots, respectively. PERMANOVA confirmed significant effects of season and region on community structure (p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.001). Co-occurrence networks showed seasonal shifts in core taxa: dry-season networks were dominated by Talaromyces and Penicillium (Ascomycota), while rainy-season networks featured Cladosporium (Ascomycota) and Mortierellaceae (Mortierellomycota)-with 35% of edges being negative interactions in the rainy season, indicating heightened resource competition. FUNGuild predictions revealed saprotrophic fungi were predominant (50-55%), with a 10% higher proportion in rainy-season samples than in dry-season samples.<br><br>DISCUSSION: This study clarifies the dynamic and region-specific nature of M. integrifolia rhizosphere fungal communities, highlighting how environmental factors drive their composition and function. These findings fill a critical knowledge gap and provide a foundational framework for future research on rhizosphere fungi in macadamia cultivation, supporting efforts to improve crop sustainability.},
}
@article {pmid41018663,
year = {2025},
author = {Barreto, CB and Barbalho Neto, FC and Bastos-Filho, CJA and Wu, QS and da Silva, MDC and da Silva, FSB},
title = {Does Mycorrhizal Biotechnology Modulate Lectin Accumulation in the Stem of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi Seedlings?.},
journal = {ACS omega},
volume = {10},
number = {37},
pages = {43291-43299},
pmid = {41018663},
issn = {2470-1343},
abstract = {It is well-established that mycorrhizal symbiosis can alter lectin expression in plant roots, whereas little is known about its role in lectin accumulation in other plant organs and whether such behavior is related to the production of antioxidant secondary metabolites. This study aimed to evaluate whether the lectin accumulation profile in the stems of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi seedlings is modulated in response to inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) consortium. A greenhouse experiment was set up with two inoculation treatments: a noninoculated control and an AMF treatment (consortium of Acaulospora longula, Entrophospora etunicata, and Dentiscutata heterogama). After 191 days, stem tissues were harvested to prepare aqueous extracts. Primary and secondary metabolites were quantified spectrophotometrically, and in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated. The hemagglutinating activity assay was performed to detect lectins, and the specific hemagglutinating activity (SHA) was determined. The AMF consortium significantly (p ≤ 0.01) enhanced the accumulation of metabolites, antioxidant activity, and SHA by over 110%, in comparison to control plants. The anabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and phenols was highly correlated (r ≥ 0.8) with stem SHA. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the effect of mycorrhizal symbiosis on the specific hemagglutinating activity of plant extracts, revealing the presence of bioactive lectins in S. terebinthifolia stems and its relation to the production of other bioactive compounds. It suggests that AMF can quantitatively and qualitatively modulate lectin accumulation, a process closely tied to the host's anabolism.},
}
@article {pmid41017241,
year = {2025},
author = {Abd-Alla, AMM and Geiger, A and Haymer, D and Herrero, S and Jehle, JA and Khamis, F and Liedo, P and Malacrida, AR and Njiokou, F and Mastrangelo, T and Pagabeleguem, S and Ramırez-Santos, EM and Ros, VID and Segura, DF and Tsiamis, G and Weiss, BL},
title = {Improvement of colony management in insect mass-rearing for sterile insect technique applications.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70081},
pmid = {41017241},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {D42017//International Atomic Energy Agency/ ; },
abstract = {Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) applications against major insect pests and disease vectors rely on the cost-effective production of high-quality sterile males. This largely depends on the optimal management of target pest colonies by maximizing the benefits provided by a genetically rich and pathogen-free mother colony, the presence of symbiotic microorganisms, and efficient domestication, mass-rearing, irradiation, and release processes. At the same time microbial (bacteria, fungi, microsporidia, and viruses) pathogen outbreaks should be minimized or eliminated, and the use of hazardous chemicals restricted. The optimization of the colony management strategies for different SIT target insects will ensure a standardized high-quality mass-rearing process and the cost-effective production of sterile males with enhanced field performance and male mating competitiveness. The aims of the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) were to develop best practices for insect colony management for the cost-effective production of high-quality sterile males for SIT applications against major insect pests and disease vectors through a multidisciplinary approach involving entomologists, geneticists, ecologists, microbiologists, pathologists, virologists, and mass-rearing experts.},
}
@article {pmid41017211,
year = {2025},
author = {Policelli, N and Nuñez, MA},
title = {Invasive ectomycorrhizal fungi: belowground insights from South America.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70608},
pmid = {41017211},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//Fundaci&#xf3;n Williams/ ; //Society for the Protection of Underground Networks SPUN/ ; },
abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) are essential for nutrient cycling and plant symbiosis, yet their invasions remain understudied, particularly in South America. Large-scale forestry introductions have spread non-native EMF across the continent. Although definitions vary, EMF are invasive when they disperse, colonize new environments, and overcome natural barriers. Invasive EMF alter soil biogeochemistry and local microbial and plant communities, sometimes preceding plant invasions. Despite their importance, invasive EMF remain poorly documented, with major knowledge gaps. Research must strengthen local networks, expand access to molecular tools, and integrate traditional knowledge. In turn, unregulated commercial inoculants pose risks, requiring policy intervention. South America offers a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration and regional research to help elucidate and prevent future EMF invasions while guiding conservation.},
}
@article {pmid41015590,
year = {2025},
author = {Hameed, AK and Rab, SO and Ahmed, TA and Chandra, M and Mohammed, JS and S, R and Nayak, PP and Tomar, P and Hussn, A and Ali, AF},
title = {CAF-derived exosomes: orchestrators of dysregulated signaling pathways in breast cancer progression.},
journal = {Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41015590},
issn = {1432-1912},
abstract = {Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a pivotal role in breast cancer (BC) progression by modulating the tumor microenvironment through exosome-mediated interactions. CAF-derived exosomes are rich in bioactive molecules such as metabolites, proteins, and non-coding RNAs that influence metabolic reprogramming in BC cells. These exosomes facilitate the transfer of metabolic enzymes and signaling molecules that enhance glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation, thereby supporting tumor growth, therapy resistance, and metastasis. This review highlights the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of CAF-derived exosomes in BC metabolism, with a focus on their contributions to metabolic plasticity and tumor progression. Potential therapeutic strategies targeting CAF exosome biogenesis, release, or uptake will also be discussed to shed light on innovative approaches for disrupting this metabolic symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid41015552,
year = {2025},
author = {Traubenik, S and Reynoso, MA and Sánchez-Rodríguez, F and Yacullo, M and Christ, A and Hummel, M and Blein, T and Crespi, M and Bailey-Serres, J and Blanco, FA and Zanetti, ME},
title = {Subunit 3 of the SUPERKILLER complex mediates microRNA172-directed cleavage of Nodule Number Control 1 in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf425},
pmid = {41015552},
issn = {1532-2548},
abstract = {Legumes and rhizobia establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis that involves the formation of a lateral root organ, the nodule, and the infection process that allows intracellular accommodation of rhizobia within nodule cells. This process involves substantial gene expression changes regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. We have previously shown that a transcript encoding subunit 3 of the SUPERKILLER Complex (SKI), which guides mRNAs to the exosome for 3´-to-5´ degradation, is required for nodule formation and bacterial persistence within the nodule, as well as the induction of early nodulation genes including early nodulin40 (MtENOD40) during the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis. Here, we reveal through transcript degradome and small RNA sequencing analysis that knockdown of MtSKI3 impairs the miR172-directed endonucleolytic cleavage of the mRNA encoding Nodule Number Control 1 (MtNNC1), an APETALA2 transcription factor that negatively modulates nodulation. Knockdown of MtNNC1 enhances nodule number, bacterial infection, and the induction of MtENOD40 upon inoculation with S. meliloti, whereas overexpression of an miR172-resistant form of MtNNC1 significantly reduces nodule formation. This work identifies miR172 cleavage of MtNNC1 and its control by MtSKI3, a component of the 3´-to-5´mRNA degradation pathway, as a regulatory hub controlling indeterminate nodulation.},
}
@article {pmid41014716,
year = {2025},
author = {Řezáč, M and Řezáčová, V and Némethová, E and Gloríková, N and Tranová, S and Heneberg, P},
title = {Tissue-resident microbiomes shape stress resilience and dispersal behavior in an agrobiont spider.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {394},
number = {},
pages = {127431},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127431},
pmid = {41014716},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Spiders serve as key biological control agents in agroecosystems, but they face repeated disturbances due to common agricultural practices. The wolf spider Pardosa agrestis, a dominant agrobiont species, recolonizes these disrupted habitats via dispersal strategies such as ballooning, particularly during juvenile stages. This study investigated how nutrition and insecticide exposure influence ballooning behavior and the structure-function dynamics of the spider's tissue-resident microbiome. We found that dispersal behavior in P. agrestis is structured and repeatable, driven by environmental cues such as light and wind, and further modulated by previous exposure. Although diet significantly impacted growth and development, it had a minimal influence on the dispersal strategy. The tissue-resident microbiome analysis revealed a diverse, core symbiotic community with notable responsiveness to both dietary and pesticide-induced stress. Specific tissue-resident microbial taxa shifted their predicted metabolic output under nutrient deprivation, suggesting adaptive biosynthetic activity. Importantly, distinct predicted microbial metabolic profiles were associated with spider behaviors (e.g., ballooning) and physiological traits (e.g., endurance), indicating a microbiome-mediated influence on the dispersal capacity. Moreover, tissue-resident microbial community function was correlated with host survival after insecticide exposure, implicating its role in detoxification and resistance. These findings highlight the role of the tissue-resident microbiome as a functional partner in arthropod stress resilience and dispersal behavior in agroecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid41014709,
year = {2025},
author = {Domini, M and Vahidzadeh, R and Vaccari, M and Sbaffoni, S and De Marco, E and Beltrani, T and Bertanza, G},
title = {Regional industrial symbiosis networks for waste minimisation: a case study from Italy.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {394},
number = {},
pages = {127376},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127376},
pmid = {41014709},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Industrial symbiosis supports a circular economy by fostering resource recovery through inter-industry synergies. Despite growing network scales, regional-level industrial symbiosis networks (ISNs) remain underexplored representing a key research problem. The objective of this study is to develop and demonstrate an innovative methodological framework to investigate the ISN in the highly industrialized province of Brescia. The methodology applies Social Network Analysis (SNA) across three scenarios: the current network (ISNP), a potential network identified through facilitation and research activities (ISNR), and a hypothetical scaled-up network (ISNF) that integrates ISNP with ISNR. By integrating SNA with material flow analyses, novel indicators were developed to evaluate ISNs' impact on regional waste management (WM) performance and the influence of contextual factors. The results reveal that, despite having 459 industrial nodes, the ISNs show low density and high centralisation, dominated by metallurgical companies. The transition to ISNF reveals two key advantages over ISNP: a quantitative increase in recovery of wastes otherwise disposed of (from 1 % to 18 %) and enhanced diversity of waste flows (from 39 to 57 European Waste Codes), aligning with an increased contribution to reducing waste transportation and disposal (from 14 % to 51 %). Barriers to scaling the ISN include limited industrial diversity, insufficient partners for waste transformation, and few WM permits, while key drivers involve internal reuse strategies and untapped company participation. In conclusion, the study provides an innovative methodology and case study for analysing ISNs at a regional scale, contributing valuable insights to inform further research and support development of industrial circularity initiatives.},
}
@article {pmid41014378,
year = {2025},
author = {Upadhyay, A and Khandelwal, V},
title = {Endophytes in Medicinal Plants: A Sustainable Solution for Coping with Environmental Stresses.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {11},
pages = {529},
pmid = {41014378},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {*Endophytes/physiology ; *Plants, Medicinal/microbiology/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Humans ; COVID-19 ; Symbiosis ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {The increasing need for integrative and alternative medical therapies, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 epidemic, has emphasized the importance of medicinal plants in worldwide healthcare. These plants, which contain abundant bioactive secondary metabolites, provide a sustainable and cost-effective option for medicinal, adaptogenic, and immune-boosting purposes. Blooming medicinal plants that exist are at risk of becoming extinct because of excessive harvesting, deforestation, and wildfires. Medicinal plants have complex physiological defenses against stress, which are strengthened by their symbiotic relationship with endophytes. Endophytes are microbial colonies that live within plant tissues without causing harm and play a vital role in maintaining the health of plants by helping them to tolerate stress, promoting development, acquiring nutrients, synthesizing phytohormones, breaking down toxic substances, and improving plant resistance to environmental pressures such as high salt levels, lack of water, and exposure to heavy metals. In addition, endophytes have a role in managing biotic stress by engaging in antibiosis, synthesizing lytic enzymes, producing secondary metabolites, and regulating hormones. Their function in preserving the health and well-being of the host, ensuring proper nutrition intake, and enhancing resistance against pathogens highlights their potential as agents for biological control and biofertilization, providing a safer option compared to chemical pesticides. Endophytic inoculants have the potential to significantly transform crop yield in agriculture by reducing the impact of abiotic problems and improving soil health. This review critically evaluates causal studies and recent omics-based advances, highlighting their crucial significance for sustainable bioinoculant development and practical applications in climate-resilient agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41013533,
year = {2025},
author = {Miao, W and Zang, H and Liu, Q and Zheng, T and Zhou, Y and Liu, C and Yang, N and Zhang, H and Zhang, Y and Zhang, Y and Li, S and Zhang, S and Zhang, H},
title = {From chaos to symbiosis: exploring adaptive co-evolution strategies for generative AI and research integrity systems.},
journal = {BMC medical ethics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {120},
pmid = {41013533},
issn = {1472-6939},
support = {2024SK02//Project supported by the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University/ ; 2021G10//Project supported by the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University/ ; KC23118//the Soft Science Research Project of Xuzhou Policy Guidance Program/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence/ethics ; Research Personnel/ethics ; *Ethics, Research ; *Biomedical Research/ethics ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The information age has transformed technologies across disciplines. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), as an emerging technology, has integrated into scientific research. Recent studies identify GenAI-related scientific research integrity concerns. Using Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory, this research examines risk factors and preventive measures for each agent within the scientific research integrity management system during GenAI adoption, providing new perspectives for integrity management.<br><br>METHOD: This study applies CAS theory to analyze the scientific research integrity management system, identifying four core micro-level agents: researchers, research subjects, scientific research administrators, and academic publishing institutions. It examines macro-system complexity, agent adaptability, and the impact of agent interactions on the overall system. This framework enables analysis of GenAI's effects on the research integrity management system.<br><br>RESULTS: The scientific research integrity management system exhibits structural, hierarchical, and multidimensional complexities, with internal circulation of policy, funding, and information elements. In response to GenAI integration, four micro-level agents-researchers, research subjects, scientific research administrators, and academic publishing institutions-adapt their behaviors to systemic changes. Through these interactions, behavioral outcomes emerge at the macro level, driving evolution of the research integrity management system.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Risks of scientific misconduct permeate the entire research process and require urgent governance. This study recommends that scientific research administrators promptly define applicable boundaries for GenAI in research to guide researchers. Concurrently, they should collaborate with relevant departments to establish regulatory frameworks addressing potential GenAI-related misconduct. Academic publishing institutions must assume quality assurance responsibilities by strengthening review and disclosure protocols. Furthermore, research integrity considerations should be systematically integrated into GenAI's technological development and refinement.<br><br>HIGHLIGHTS: &#x25cf; Develops an analytical framework grounded in Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory to map evolving interactions among researchers, research subjects, scientific research administrators, and academic publishing institutions within GenAI-integrated research ecosystems. &#xa0;&#x25cf;&#xa0;Identifies self-reinforcing dynamics between GenAI adoption and integrity governance, wherein adaptive rule adjustments by agents reshape system-wide integrity thresholds. &#xa0;&#x25cf;&#xa0;Proposes adaptive governance mechanisms that balance innovation safeguards with integrity guardrails, emphasizing context-sensitive policy calibration over universal solutions.},
}
@article {pmid41012068,
year = {2025},
author = {Paladines-Beltrán, GM and Venegas, NA and Suárez, JC},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Antioxidant Defense Systems in Sugarcane Under Soil Cadmium Stress.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {18},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14182916},
pmid = {41012068},
issn = {2223-7747},
abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal that affects living organisms even at low concentrations, causing physiological alterations and biomass reduction in plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) represent a biological strategy that increases tolerance to heavy metals, although their specific mechanisms in sugarcane remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, an open-field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of AMF on Cd accumulation, oxidative stress, photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic antioxidant system, and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds in sugarcane variety CC 01-1940, using a randomized block design. Results showed that AMF established symbiosis with plants, retaining Cd in the roots and reducing its translocation to leaves. Additionally, they decreased Cd-induced oxidative stress by reducing lipid peroxidation (MDA) and proline content. Although an initial decrease in photosynthetic capacity was observed, AMF helped maintain stable levels of photosynthetic pigments, preserving photosynthetic efficiency. They also activated antioxidant enzymes and increased antioxidant compounds such as reduced glutathione (GSH), non-protein thiols (NP-SH), ascorbic acid (AA), and phytochelatins (PC). These findings demonstrate that symbiosis with AMF protects sugarcane plants from cellular oxidative damage and reduces Cd concentrations in leaves. Therefore, the use of AMF represents an effective strategy to improve the antioxidant defense and resistance of sugarcane plants to cadmium stress.},
}
@article {pmid41012062,
year = {2025},
author = {Yin, X and Zhao, J and Pan, L and Wang, E and Chen, N and Xu, J and Jiang, X and Zhao, X and Ma, J and Li, S and Xie, H and Yang, Z and Yu, S and Chi, X},
title = {Genome-Wide Identification of Arachis hypogaea LEC1s, FUS3s, and WRIs and Co-Overexpression of AhLEC1b, AhFUS3b, AhWRI1a and AhWRI1d Increased Oil Content in Arabidopsis Seeds.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {18},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14182910},
pmid = {41012062},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {CXGC2025F19 and CXGC2025C19//The Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shandong Academy of Agricultur-al Sciences/ ; CARS-13//The China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA/ ; 2022A02008-3//The Major Scientific and Technological Project in Xinjiang/ ; NO.tstp20240523 and NO.tsqn202312292//The Taishan Scholar Project Funding/ ; ZR2023QC146 and ZR2023QC177//The Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; KF2024007//The Open Project of Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/ ; 2024LZGC035//Shandong Province Key Research and Development Programme Project/ ; 2024ZDJH100//The Science and Technology Development Guidance Plan of Dongying Major Science and Tech-nology Innovation Project/ ; 2022E10012//Open Project of Key Laboratory of Digital Upland Crops of Zhejiang Province/ ; },
abstract = {Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important oil and economic crop widely cultivated worldwide. Increasing the oil yield is a major objective for oilseed crop improvement. Plant LEAFY COTYLEDON1s (LEC1s), FUSCA3s (FUS3s), and WRINKLED1s (WRI1s) are known master regulators of seed development and oil biosynthesis. While previous studies in peanut have primarily focused on two AhLEC1s and one AhWRI1 genes, this study identified a broader set of regulators, including two AhLEC1s, two AhFUS3s, nine AhWRI1s, two AhWRI2s, and four AhWRI3s from the variety HY917. The analyses of phylogenetic trees, gene structures, conserved domains, sequence alignment and identity, and collinearity revealed that they were highly similar to their homologs in other plants. Expression profiling demonstrated that two AhLEC1s, two AhFUS3s, and three AhWRI1s (AhWRI1a/b/c) were specifically expressed in developing seeds, suggesting critical roles in seed development, whereas AhWRI1d, AhWRI1f, and AhWRI1g showed high expression in root nodules, pointing to potential functions in symbiosis and nodulation. Furthermore, co-overexpression of AhLEC1b, AhFUS3b, AhWRI1a, and AhWRI1d in Arabidopsis significantly enhanced seed oil content and thousand-seed weight, but also led to reduced germination rate, plant height, and silique length. The findings allow for the extensive evaluation of AhLEC1s, AhFUS3s, and AhWRIs gene families, establishing a useful foundation for future research into their multiple roles in peanut development.},
}
@article {pmid41011486,
year = {2025},
author = {Vuleta, S and Leggat, WP and Ainsworth, TD},
title = {Photoendosymbiosis of the Blue Subtropical Montipora Corals of Norfolk Island, South Pacific.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13092155},
pmid = {41011486},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Corals exhibit complex and diverse relationships with dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae. Montiporid corals within Norfolk Island's shallow water lagoonal reef systems have been observed to turn a deep fluorescent blue during winter, suggesting potential environmentally driven changes to their photoendosymbiosis. Here, we investigate the photoendosymbiosis of blue Montipora sp. corals over a year-long study, demonstrating that photosynthetic yield and Symbiodiniaceae densities vary seasonally, with the lowest photosynthetic yield occurring within winter periods. We also provide the first characterisation of Symbiodiniaceae species associated with corals from Norfolk Island, identifying blue Montipora sp. as predominantly associating with Cladocopium (formerly Clade C) genotypes (C3aap, C3ig, and C3aao). Finally, we also report on the impact of recent bleaching conditions (March 2024) on blue Montipora sp. photoendosymbiosis and find the genera is susceptible to increasing sea surface temperatures. Our findings provide insight into the unique biology of subtropical corals within this remote reef and the susceptibility of corals in the region to increasing sea surface temperatures.},
}
@article {pmid41011468,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, M and Wang, Y and Xie, F and Sun, Q and Shao, H and Cheng, X and Wang, X and Tao, X and He, X and Yong, B and Liu, D},
title = {The Ecological Trap: Biodegradable Mulch Film Residue Undermines Soil Fungal Network Stability.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13092137},
pmid = {41011468},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {grant number 31800425//Dongyan Liu/ ; },
abstract = {Biodegradable mulching films are promoted as alternatives to traditional polyethylene films, but their environmental impacts remain controversial. This study investigates how biodegradable films affect microplastic pollution of soil, fungal community structure, and ecological network stability. We conducted a maize field experiment comparing conventional polyethylene (CF, PE) and biodegradable (BF, PLA + PBAT) film residues. We used scanning electron microscopy and high-throughput sequencing of fungal ITS genes. We assessed soil properties, microplastic release, fungal communities, and network stability through co-occurrence analysis. BF degraded rapidly, releasing microplastic concentrations much higher than CF. BF increased soil carbon and nitrogen and substantially enhanced maize biomass. However, it significantly reduced soil pH and decreased key functional fungi (saprotrophs and symbionts) abundance. The fungal ecological network complexity and stability declined significantly. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between saprotrophic and symbiotic fungi abundance and network stability. In contrast, CF reduced some nutrient levels but improved fungal network complexity and stability. This study reveals that biodegradable films create an "ecological trap." Short-term nutrient benefits mask systematic damage to soil microbial network stability. Our findings challenge the notion that "biodegradable equals environmentally friendly." Environmental assessments of agricultural materials must extend beyond degradability to include microplastic release, functional microbial responses, and ecological network stability.},
}
@article {pmid41011327,
year = {2025},
author = {D'Angelo, A and Zenoniani, A and Masci, M and Aceto, GM and Piattelli, A and Curia, MC},
title = {Exploring the Microbiome in Breast Cancer: The Role of Fusobacterium nucleatum as an Onco-Immune Modulator.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13091995},
pmid = {41011327},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {The breast microbiome remains stable throughout a woman's life. The breast is not a sterile organ, and its microbiota exhibits a distinct composition compared to other body sites. The breast microbiome is a community characterized by an abundance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, which represent the result of host microbial adaptation to the fatty acid environment in the tissue. The breast microbiome demonstrates dynamic adaptability during lactation, responding to maternal physiological changes and infant interactions. This microbial plasticity modulates local immune responses, maintains epithelial integrity, and supports tissue homeostasis, thereby influencing both breast health and milk composition. Disruptions in this balance, the dysbiosis, are closely linked to inflammatory breast conditions such as mastitis. Risk factors for breast cancer (BC) include genetic mutations, late menopause, obesity, estrogen metabolism, and alterations in gut microbial diversity. Gut microbiota can increase estrogen bioavailability by deconjugating estrogen-glucuronide moieties. Perturbations of this set of bacterial genes and metabolites, called the estrobolome, increases circulating estrogens and the risk of BC. Fusobacterium nucleatum has recently been associated with BC. It moves from the oral cavity to other body sites hematogenously. This review deals with the characteristics of the breast microbiome, with a focus on F. nucleatum, highlighting its dual role in promoting tumor growth and modulating immune responses. F. nucleatum acts both on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by positively regulating MYC expression and on apoptosis by inhibiting caspase 8. Furthermore, F. nucleatum binds to TIGIT and CEACAM1, inhibiting T-cell cytotoxic activity and protecting tumor cells from immune cell attack. F. nucleatum also inhibits T-cell function through the recruitment of myeloid suppressor cells (MDSCs). These cells express PD-L1, which further reduces T-cell activation. A deeper understanding of F. nucleatum biology and its interactions with host cells and co-existing symbiotic microbiota could aid in the development of personalized anticancer therapy.},
}
@article {pmid41010039,
year = {2025},
author = {Fuentes-Romero, F and López-Baena, FJ and Vinardell, JM and Acosta-Jurado, S},
title = {Updated Sequence and Annotation of the Broad Host Range Rhizobial Symbiont Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 Genome.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/genes16091094},
pmid = {41010039},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {US-1250546//Universidad de Sevilla/ ; PID2022-141156OB-I00//MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033/ ; PREDOC_01119//Junta de Andaluc&#xed;a/ ; },
mesh = {*Genome, Bacterial ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Host Specificity/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Glycine max/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Background: Sinorhizobium fredii HH103 is a fast-growing rhizobial strain capable of infecting a broad range of legumes, including plants forming determinate and indeterminate nodules, such as Glycine max (its natural host) and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, respectively. Previous studies reported the sequence and annotation of the genome of this strain (7.25 Mb), showing the most complex S. fredii genome sequenced to date. It comprises seven replicons: one chromosome and six plasmids. Among these plasmids, pSfHH103d, also known as the symbiotic plasmid pSymA, harbors most of the genes involved in symbiosis. Due to limitations of the sequencing technology used at the time and the presence of high number of clusters of transposable elements, this plasmid could only be partially assembled as four separated contigs. Methods: In this work, we have used a combination of PacBio and Illumina sequencing technologies to resolve these complex regions, obtaining an updated genome sequence (7.27 Mb). Results: This updated version includes an increase in size of the largest replicons (chromosome, pSfHH103d, and pSfHH103e) and a complete and closed symbiotic plasmid (pSfHH103d or pSymA). Additionally, we carried out a re-annotation of the updated genome, merging the previous annotation and the new one found in the remaining gaps. Notably, we found a high number of transposable elements in the HH103 genome, especially in three plasmids (pSfHH103b, pSfHH103c, and pSymA), a feature that is common among S. fredii strains. Conclusions: The combination of PacBio and Illumina sequencing technologies has allowed us to obtain a complete version of the HH103 pSymA. The presence of a high number of mobile elements seems to be a general characteristic among S. fredii strains, a fact that might be related to a high genome plasticity.},
}
@article {pmid41010029,
year = {2025},
author = {Gomes-Domingues, C and Marques, I and Simões Costa, MC and Caperta, AD},
title = {Halotolerant Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Enhances Tolerance in Limonium Species Under Long-Term Salinity.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/genes16091084},
pmid = {41010029},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {UIDB/04129/2020; UIDB/00239/2020; LA/P/0092/2020; 2021.01107.CEECIND/CP1689/CT0001//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e Tecnologia/ ; },
mesh = {*Plumbaginaceae/microbiology/genetics/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Salt Tolerance/genetics ; Salinity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Salt-Tolerant Plants/genetics/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; },
abstract = {To survive in saline environments, plants establish complex symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms, including halotolerant arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The main objective of this study was to uncover how inoculation with a consortium of halotolerant AMF influences recretohalophyte Limonium species tolerance to long-term salinity, at physiological and molecular levels. In this study, the physiological performance, ultrastructure of leaf epidermal cells, and expression of seven genes involved in salinity response were studied in Limonium daveaui and Limonium algarvense plants exposed to 200 mM NaCl and inoculated with an AMF consortium, dominated by Rhizoglomus invernaius. An isohydric response was observed for both species after one year in salinity. Inoculation with AMF led to higher stomatal conductance for plants in non-saline conditions and improved photosystem II efficiency under salinity. In L. algarvense, inoculation enhanced stomata and salt gland epidermal area under tap water. While salinity significantly increased salt gland, stomata and pavement cells areas but not cell size. In L. daveaui, AMF led to an increased salt gland density as well as salt gland size under saline conditions. In both species, salinity increased the expression of Na[+]/H[+] antiporter AtSOS1, aquaporin TIP5, and salt gland development related genes LbTRY, Lb7G34824 and Lb4G22721GIS2. The expression of such genes was significantly reduced in AMF-inoculated plants under salinity. Besides, higher levels of gene expression were observed in L. algarvense than in L. daveaui. Overall, our findings highlight the protective role of halotolerant AMF and emphasize their potential as sustainable effective bio-inoculants for enhancing plant salinity tolerance.},
}
@article {pmid41008602,
year = {2025},
author = {Johnson, K and Pourkeramati, D and Korf, I and Powers, T},
title = {Metabolic Adaptations Determine the Evolutionary Trajectory of TOR Signaling in Diverse Eukaryotes.},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {15},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biom15091295},
pmid = {41008602},
issn = {2218-273X},
mesh = {*Signal Transduction ; *Eukaryota/metabolism/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2/metabolism/genetics ; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1/metabolism/genetics ; *TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism/genetics ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Eukaryotes use diverse nutrient acquisition strategies, including autotrophy, heterotrophy, mixotrophy, and symbiosis, which shape the evolution of cell regulatory networks. The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) kinase is a conserved growth regulator that in most species functions within two complexes, TORC1 and TORC2. TORC1 is broadly conserved and uniquely sensitive to rapamycin, whereas the evolutionary distribution of TORC2 is less well-defined. We built a sensitive hidden Markov model (HMM)-based pipeline to survey core TORC1 and TORC2 components across more than 800 sequenced eukaryotic genomes spanning multiple major supergroups. Both complexes are present in early-branching lineages, consistent with their presence in the last eukaryotic common ancestor, followed by multiple lineage-specific losses of TORC2 and, more rarely, TORC1. A striking pattern emerges in which TORC2 is uniformly absent from photosynthetic autotrophs derived from primary endosymbiosis and frequently lost in those derived from secondary or tertiary events. In contrast, TORC2 is consistently retained in mixotrophs, which obtain carbon from both photosynthesis and environmental uptake, and in free-living obligate heterotrophs. These findings suggest that TORC2 supports heterotrophic metabolism and is often dispensable under strict autotrophy. Our results provide a framework for the evolutionary divergence of TOR signaling and highlight metabolic and ecological pressures that shape TOR complex retention across eukaryotes.},
}
@article {pmid41007441,
year = {2025},
author = {Hou, Y and Bao, Y and Jia, R and Zhou, L and Song, L and Yang, B and Li, B and Zhu, J},
title = {The Stone Moroko Pseudorasbora parva Altered the Composition and Stability of Sediment Microbial Communities Within the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) Polyculture Pond.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14091297},
pmid = {41007441},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {CARS-45//China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA/ ; 2023TD64//Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund, CAFS/ ; },
abstract = {Integrated aquaculture, centered around polyculture involving multiple species, is a typical practice for the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry, capable of enhancing resource utilization efficiency, environmental stability, and overall productivity through establishing symbiotic interactions among species. This study employed multi-amplicon high-throughput sequencing to assess the ecological impacts of two polyculture methods involving river crabs on sediment bacteria, fungi, and protists. One method involved polyculturing river crabs with mandarin fish, silver carp, and the stone moroko (SPC), and the other involved polyculturing river crabs with only mandarin fish and silver carp (SMC). The results showed that, compared to the SMC group, the SPC group remarkably increased the Chao1 index of bacterial communities in pond sediment and decreased the Pielou_J index of protists. The relative abundances of all fungal phyla and most dominant bacterial and protistan phyla (top 10 in relative abundance) in the SPC group were considerably different from those in the SMC group. In the co-occurrence networks of bacterial, fungal, and protistan communities, the numbers of edges and nodes were higher in the SPC group than in the SMC group, and the habitat niche breadth of bacterial community was also notably increased in the SPC group. The levels of total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and phosphates within pond sediment in the SPC group were obviously lower than those in the SMC group, and were significantly correlated with the microbial communities, with TC being identified as the primary contributor driving changes in the microbial communities. All the findings collectively demonstrate that the polyculture of river crabs with mandarin fish, silver carp, and the stone moroko enhances the stability of bacterial, fungal, and protistan communities in sediment and enhances resource utilization efficiency in aquaculture, thereby preventing the environmental risks associated with excessive nutrient accumulation in sediment. Polyculture systems integrating river crabs with mandarin fish, silver carp, and the stone moroko represent a sustainable aquaculture model with significant ecological benefits.},
}
@article {pmid41007393,
year = {2025},
author = {Oh, JH and Kim, E and Cho, M},
title = {Biofilm Formation by Rice Rhizosphere Nitrogen-Fixing Microorganisms and Its Effect on Rice Growth Promotion.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14091249},
pmid = {41007393},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {PJ017406012025//National Institute of Agricultural Sciences Program/ ; },
abstract = {Excessive nitrogen fertilizer use contributes to environmental pollution and undermines agricultural sustainability. Enhancing symbiotic interactions between rice and nitrogen-fixing microorganisms offers a promising strategy to potentially improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This study investigates the role of rice root exudates in promoting biofilm formation by nitrogen-fixing microbes to enhance nitrogen fixation. Nine nitrogen-fixing microbial strains were evaluated for biofilm formation in response to flavone and apigenin treatments, with Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus KACC 12358 serving as the reference strain. The most responsive strain was selected, and a library of 1597 natural compounds was screened to identify those that promote biofilm formation in both the selected and reference strains. A. indigens KACC 11682 exhibited the highest biofilm-forming capacity, with apigenin treatment showing an OD595 value approximately 1.4 times higher than the DMSO control. Screening identified 68 compounds that enhanced biofilm formation by more than 500% compared to the control. Among them, eight compounds induced strong biofilm formation (O.D. > 2.0) in A. indigens. Cardamomin, a chalconoid flavonoid, emerged as one of the most effective compounds, showing a 245% increase in biofilm formation. Growth promotion assays showed that A. indigens increased rice fresh weight by approximately 128% compared to untreated controls. This study demonstrates the potential of rice root exudate-derived compounds to promote beneficial symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing microbes. These findings offer a novel approach that may contribute to enhancing rice NUE. Future research will focus on evaluating the long-term effects of these compounds and microorganisms, assessing their applicability in real agricultural settings, and conducting further validation across various rice cultivars.},
}
@article {pmid41007378,
year = {2025},
author = {da Silva, MB and Medeiros, AB and Dos Anjos, AIM and Ferreira Cavalcante, JV and Santiago, BCF and Monteiro, SS and Vital, AC and Dalmolin, RJS and Lisboa, HM and Pasquali, MAB},
title = {Changes in the Microbiota of the Scale Insect (Diaspis echinocacti, Bouché, 1833) in Opuntia stricta Cladodes: Taxonomic and Metagenomic Analysis as a Function of Infestation Levels.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14091233},
pmid = {41007378},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {306165/2023-6//National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; },
abstract = {Drought-tolerant cactus Opuntia stricta sustains livestock in Brazil's semi-arid Northeast but suffers yield losses from the armored scale insect Diaspis echinocacti. Symbiotic bacteria are thought to underpin scale fitness; however, their response to pest pressure remains unexplored. We characterized the bacterial communities of D. echinocacti collected from cladodes displaying low, intermediate, and high infestation (n = 3 replicates per level) using 16S-rRNA amplicon sequencing, processed with nf-core/ampliseq. Shannon diversity declined from low to high density, and Bray-Curtis ordination suggested compositional shifts, although group differences were not significant (Kruskal-Wallis and PERMANOVA, p > 0.05). The obligate endosymbiont "Candidatus Uzinura" dominated all samples (>85% relative abundance) irrespective of density, indicating a resilient core microbiome. PICRUSt2 predicted a contraction of metabolic breadth at higher infestations, with convergence on energy- and amino acid biosynthesis pathways. Taken together, increasing pest density was associated with modest loss of diversity and functional streamlining, rather than wholesale turnover. These baseline data can guide future work on microbiome-based strategies to complement existing scale-insect control in dryland cactus systems.},
}
@article {pmid41006547,
year = {2025},
author = {Parry, AJ and Klein, SG and Duarte, CM},
title = {Thermal extremes likely trigger metabolic imbalance in coral holobionts.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {33181},
pmid = {41006547},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {BAS/1/1071-01-01//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/ ; BAS/1/1071-01-01//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/ ; BAS/1/1071-01-01//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Temperature ; Hot Temperature ; Oxygen/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Rising ocean temperatures are constraining the availability of dissolved oxygen and simultaneously increasing the respiratory oxygen requirements of marine organisms. This is particularly relevant for tropical corals, as periods of anomalously high temperature destabilize the symbiosis between corals and Symbiodiniaceae, resulting in coral bleaching. These observations point towards a possible role of mismatched rates of photosynthetic oxygen production and consumption in contributing to the breakdown of the holobiont under heat stress. Here we use a global dataset comprising experimentally derived relationships between coral metabolic rates and temperature to investigate this hypothesis. Across all available relationships, we calculated and analysed the activation energy (E), optimum temperature (Topt) of respiration, net productivity, gross productivity and where possible, P: R ratio. Despite known variations in the thermal tolerances among corals in our database, we resolved composite thermal performance curves for scleractinian corals and provide insight into differences between tropical and temperate corals and among selected genera. We show that after the theoretical Topt is exceeded, photosynthesis declines at a faster rate than respiration. At temperatures exceeding the theoretical Topt for net productivity, this metabolic mismatch could possibly contribute to the destabilization of the coral-symbiont association. Specifically, we postulate that a lack of symbiont oxygen production and heightened holobiont respiratory demand at peak temperatures represents a burden on the oxygen budget of the holobiont.},
}
@article {pmid41005673,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhu, X and Fang, L and Xu, F and Sun, J and Zhang, X and Cai, J},
title = {Deciphering effect of complex organics on Anammox-sulfide autotrophic denitrification coupling system for landfill leachate treatment.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133388},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133388},
pmid = {41005673},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {The inhibitory effects of complex organics on Anammox-sulfide autotrophic denitrification (SAD) coupled systems are not well understood in full-strength leachate conditions. This research examines the removal of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, alongside microbial symbiosis and metabolic alterations, within an Anammox-SAD system that processes raw landfill leachate.. The system attained a total nitrogen removal rate of 98.54 ± 0.42 %, with contributions of 89.47 % from Anammox and 10.53 % from SAD. The system attained a total nitrogen removal rate of 98.54 ± 0.42 %, with contributions of 89.47 % from Anammox and 10.53 % from SAD. GC × GC-TOFMS analysis indicated removal rates of 72.33 %, 51.05 %, and 53.81 % for small-, medium-, and large-molecular-weight organics, respectively, by the Anammox system, thereby reducing stress on SAD. Metagenomics studies revealed that low-molecular-weight organics promoted DNRA, partial denitrification, and Anammox through enhancing electron transfer and functional gene expression. The role of Anammox bacteria in carbon fixation decreased, whereas sulfur metabolism in SAD became increasingly dependent on Sulfurimonas-mediated Sox pathways, indicating metabolic adaptation in response to organic stress and competition between autotrophs and heterotrophs. This study provides novel insights into the application of Anammox-SAD coupled processes for landfill leachate treatment.},
}
@article {pmid41005092,
year = {2025},
author = {Dou, XX and Mao, BD and Li, A and Gu, JJ and Zhang, XL and Fu, CW and Zhang, XJ and Lan, BJ and Xu, JW and Zhang, BX and Zheng, HJ and Gao, F},
title = {Algal-bacterial symbiosis strengthens the treatment of high-salinity phenolic wastewater and its molecular mechanism.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {498},
number = {},
pages = {139957},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139957},
pmid = {41005092},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {This study developed algal-bacterial symbiotic flocs (ABSF) for high-salinity phenolic wastewater treatment, showcasing superior performance over activated sludge (AS). ABSF exhibited exceptional structural stability, producing 417.64 mg g[-1] extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and accumulating 51.2 % lipids. It achieved complete phenol removal and significantly reduced effluent total nitrogen (9.36 vs. 23.59 mg L[-1] in AS) and COD (77.76 vs. 105.34 mg L[-1]), maintaining efficiency even at a 1-day hydraulic retention time. Metagenomic analysis revealed ABSF's diverse microbial community, enriched with functional genera (Candidatus Nitrosocosmicus, Synechocystis, Thauera) linked to nitrogen and aromatic degradation. Enhanced quorum sensing was evidenced by elevated N-acyl-homoserine lactones (C6-HSL: 38.56 ng mL[-1]) and upregulated signal transduction genes (5.4 % abundance). ABSF also showed higher expression of phenol-degrading enzymes and metabolic genes (e.g., succinate dehydrogenase: 0.19 %), accelerating the TCA cycle for efficient pollutant mineralization. Key mechanisms included EPS-mediated stress resistance, microbial synergy, and robust metabolic activity. These findings highlight ABSF as a sustainable solution for refractory industrial wastewater, combining high treatment efficiency with resource recovery potential, offering both environmental and economic benefits.},
}
@article {pmid41005089,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, R and Wang, H and Zou, D and Zhu, M and Xia, H and Wang, Y and Zhu, Y and Huang, L and Liu, L and Du, S},
title = {Herbicide enantiomer selectivity drives soil heavy metal bioavailability: An "Investment-Return" framework in plant-soil-microbe symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {498},
number = {},
pages = {139944},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139944},
pmid = {41005089},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {The co-contamination of heavy metals (HMs) and herbicides in agricultural soils presents a significant environmental challenge, with stereoisomeric herbicides' impact on HMs availability remaining poorly understood. Here, we elucidated how napropamide (NAP) stereoisomers differentially modulate soil HM availability in plant-soil-microbe symbiosis, deciphering the "black-box" mechanisms. Interestingly, diametrically contrasting effects of R- and S-NAP on soil HMs availability were observed between the isolated "soil" and the "plant-soil" system, implicating root-mediated regulation of isomer-specific activities. Specifically, S-NAP reduced the secretion of menthane monoterpenoids and benzoyl derivatives by the roots, which subsequently increasing soil dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Additionally, there are two plant adaptive strategies: (1) a resource allocation trade-off via "Cost by plant-HMs deactivation" dimension, where reduced exudate investment by S-NAP diminished the return and activated soil HMs; (2) an ecological adaptation via "DON-plant growth" dimension driven by root exudates recruiting bacteria (such as Labilithrix), enhancing growth resilience. These findings establish a novel plant-driven "investment-return" trade-off framework for soil HMs activation. It is crucial for predicting environmental risks of chiral herbicides in co-contaminated farmlands, thereby informing targeted strategies to mitigate HM bioavailability. This study provides theoretical insight into plant adaptation mechanisms under composite pollution and offering a foundation for future safe agricultural production.},
}
@article {pmid41005008,
year = {2025},
author = {Jia, R and Xiao, CX and Zhang, YH and Hu, LY and Jun-Jun, Y and Zuo, R and Hu, YF and Xie, YH and Ma, XL and Li, Q and Hou, KJ},
title = {Microbiota in drug resistance.},
journal = {Drug resistance updates : reviews and commentaries in antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapy},
volume = {84},
number = {},
pages = {101311},
doi = {10.1016/j.drup.2025.101311},
pmid = {41005008},
issn = {1532-2084},
abstract = {Drug resistance, particularly those of anticancer drugs and antibiotics, poses a significant challenge in the treatment of diseases, severely compromising therapeutic efficacy and patient survival rates. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have highlighted the dual role of microbiota in either promoting or mitigating drug resistance. The microbiome exists in symbiosis with the host, playing a crucial role in maintaining physiological functions and regulating immune responses. However, dysbiosis within the microbial community may induce or exacerbate drug resistance. While antibiotic-mediated depletion of gut microbiota has been proposed as a strategy to combat resistance, it may paradoxically lead to increased resistance or even worsen treatment outcomes. In this review, we focus on anticancer and antimicrobial agents as representative examples to elucidate the association of microbiome and drug resistance. We provide a detailed discussion on the mechanisms by which microbial dysbiosis contributes to development of drug resistance. Additionally, we systematically summarize the latest advancements in microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at overcoming resistance, including fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics and prebiotics, and bacterial engineering approaches. Finally, we discuss the potential clinical applications of microbiota-modulating strategies for overcoming drug resistance and examine the current challenges and future research directions in this field.},
}
@article {pmid41004340,
year = {2025},
author = {Ali, H and Khan, F and Xuan, W and Liu, Y and Huang, Y and Whitfield, D and Pang, L and Chen, P},
title = {Neuropeptide adrenomedullin remodels stemness and macrophage dynamics in glioblastoma.},
journal = {Cell reports},
volume = {44},
number = {10},
pages = {116342},
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116342},
pmid = {41004340},
issn = {2211-1247},
abstract = {The presence of self-renewing glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells (GSCs) and infiltrating pro-tumor macrophages constitutes two key hallmarks of GBM. Here, we identified the neuropeptide adrenomedullin (ADM) as a key factor regulating GSC-macrophage symbiosis. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression upregulates ADM in GSCs to enhance their self-renewal, glycolysis, and tumor growth by activating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. GSC-secreted ADM promotes macrophage infiltration and pro-tumor reprogramming through activation of ADM receptor (ADMR), thereby engaging both STAT3 and STAT6 pathways. In GBM mouse and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, inhibition of the ADM-ADMR axis, STAT3, or STAT6 suppresses tumor progression, GSC self-renewal, and pro-tumor macrophage abundance, with dual inhibition of STAT3 and STAT6 leading to durable complete tumor regression in a subset of tumor-bearing mice. In human GBM tumors and plasmas, ADM correlates positively with GSC stemness, pro-tumor macrophage abundance, and poor prognosis. These findings highlight ADM-triggered GSC-macrophage symbiosis as a promising therapeutic target for GBM.},
}
@article {pmid41004244,
year = {2025},
author = {Kantnerová, V and Škaloud, P},
title = {The diverse world within: Age-dependent photobiont diversity in the lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaf096},
pmid = {41004244},
issn = {1574-6941},
abstract = {Understanding the initial formation and development of lichens is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms behind the formation of complex lichen thalli and their maintenance in long-term symbioses. These symbiotic relationships provide significant ecological advantages for both partners, expanding their ecological niches and allowing them, in many cases, to overcome extreme environmental conditions. The correct development of thalli likely relies on the selection of suitable photobionts from the environment. In this study, we focused on the impact of lichen age on the overall diversity of photobiont partners and examined how mycobiont preference toward their symbionts changes at different developmental stages. Using the lichen Protoparmeliopsis muralis as a model organism, we observed a strong correlation between the diversity of photobionts and lichen age, confirmed by both molecular data and morphological observations. Our findings indicate greater photobiont diversity in older thalli, suggesting that lichens retain the majority of algae they collect throughout their lifespan, potentially as an adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Additionally, we found that some lichen samples contained only low levels of Trebouxia algae, indicating that P. muralis does not consistently rely on this typical partner and that local environmental conditions may significantly influence its symbiotic composition.},
}
@article {pmid41003701,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, L and Peng, Y and Mao, J and Hu, Q},
title = {Adaptive Evolution in the Mammalian Gut Microbiota: Insights and Discoveries.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {11},
pages = {525},
pmid = {41003701},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {KJZD-K202302801//Key Scientific and Technological Research Project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission/ ; ygzrc2024104//Scientific Research Project of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College/ ; ygzrc2024108//Scientific Research Project of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College/ ; },
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; *Mammals/microbiology ; *Biological Evolution ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Selection, Genetic ; },
abstract = {The gut microbiota is inextricably linked to the host over a long evolutionary process, and the mammalian gut microbiota is the result of the interaction between bacterial species and the host. It plays a vital role in the digestion and absorption of the host, nutrient metabolism, and immune regulation, and the host genetics, diet, age, antibiotic use, and other factors can also cause changes in the gut microbiota. Natural selection serves to maintain a stable dynamic balance between the gut microbiota and the host over an extended period, and the symbiotic system formed by the microbiota and the host under this dynamic equilibrium can clearly indicate the transmission mode of the gut microbiota during the evolutionary process. Hence, the function, influencing factors, and recent advances in the evolution of the gut microbiota in mammals were reviewed, which provides a reference for a deeper understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiota and the host.},
}
@article {pmid41003514,
year = {2025},
author = {Davis, AB and Evans, M and McKindles, K and Lee, J},
title = {Co-Occurrence of Toxic Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria Planktothrix, Cyanophage, and Symbiotic Bacteria in Ohio Water Treatment Waste: Implications for Harmful Algal Bloom Management.},
journal = {Toxins},
volume = {17},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/toxins17090450},
pmid = {41003514},
issn = {2072-6651},
mesh = {Ohio ; *Bacteriophages/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Cyanobacteria/virology/genetics/growth &amp; development ; Water Purification ; *Harmful Algal Bloom ; Symbiosis ; Lakes/microbiology ; Water Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Cyanobacterial blooms are increasingly becoming more intense and frequent, posing a public health threat globally. Drinking water treatment plants that rely on algal bloom-affected waters may create waste (water treatment residuals, WTRs) that concentrates contaminants. Source waters may contain harmful cyanobacteria, cyanophages (bacteriophages that infect cyanobacteria), and bacteria. Cyanophages are known to affect bloom formation and growth dynamics, so there is a need to understand viral-host dynamics between phage and bacteria in these ecosystems for managing cyanobacteria. This study isolated and characterized lytic cyanophages from WTRs of a HAB-affected lake in Ohio that infect toxic bloom-forming filamentous cyanobacteria Planktothrix agardhii. Phage infections in the Lake Erie cyanobacteria culture were examined visually and via microscopy and fluorometry. Whole genome sequencing and metagenomic analyses were also conducted. Observed changes in Planktothrix included sheared and shriveled filaments, reduced clumping, and buoyancy changes. Photosynthetic pigmentation was unexpectedly more apparent during phage infection. Metagenomic analyses identified nineteen phages and seven other co-existing bacterial genera. Annotated bacterial genomes contained metabolic pathways that may influence phage infection efficiency. Viral genomes were successfully tied to microbial hosts, and annotations identified important viral infection proteins. This study examines cyanobacterial-phage interactions that may have potential for bioremedial applications.},
}
@article {pmid41003223,
year = {2025},
author = {Baeza-Guzmán, Y and Vásquez-Jiménez, MS and Morgado-Viveros, E and Sánchez-Landero, LA and Trejo-Aguilar, D},
title = {Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Pinus cembroides subsp. orizabensis, an Endemic Pine in the Arid Zones of the Oriental Basin, Puebla, Mexico.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11090677},
pmid = {41003223},
issn = {2309-608X},
abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) associated with the roots of Pinus cembroides subsp. orizabensis, a key pinyon pine species for local forestry in the Oriental Basin, Puebla, Mexico, were identified and analyzed. The study aimed to evaluate the diversity of EMF in this endemic pine across three sampling transects (T1, T2, T3), each located in sites with different vegetation compositions and pine cover. In each site, a 100 m × 25 m transect was established, and root tips colonized by EMF were collected for morphological and molecular identification. Alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity were calculated for each transect. A total of 16 EMF morphotypes were identified, and molecular analysis confirmed four taxa: Geopora arenicola, Rhizopogon aff. subpurpurascens, Tomentella sp. 1, and Tricholoma sp. 1. The transect with the highest P. cembroides cover showed the greatest fungal richness. Beta diversity, as measured by Sørensen index partitioning, revealed a 30% species turnover between T1 and T2 and a 60% turnover between T2 and T3, suggesting distinct fungal communities. In contrast, no turnover but a nested pattern was observed between T1 and T3, indicating that the less diverse community is a subset of the richer one. These results show that EMF composition varies with pine cover and vegetation heterogeneity, highlighting the influence of disturbance on fungal diversity. This is the first report of EMF fungi associated with Pinus cembroides subsp. orizabensis, as well as the first record of G. arenicola in arid pine forests in Mexico.},
}
@article {pmid41003167,
year = {2025},
author = {Qi, J and Li, XZ and Zhang, M and Liu, Y and Wang, ZX and Tang, C and Xing, R and Vadim, K and Li, M and Li, Y},
title = {Haplotype-Phased Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Floccularia luteovirens Provides Insights into Its Taxonomy, Adaptive Evolution, and Biosynthetic Potential.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11090621},
pmid = {41003167},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {2021YFD1600401//National Key Research and Development Program/ ; 2024NYGG010//Key Core Technology Research and Development in Shaanxi Province Agriculture/ ; },
abstract = {Floccularia luteovirens is a valuable medicinal and edible ectomycorrhizal fungus that is endemic to alpine meadows on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is of significant ecological and pharmacological importance. To overcome the genomic limitations of previous fragmented assemblies, we present the first haplotype-phased, chromosome-scale genome of the Qinghai-derived QHU-1 strain using an integrated approach of PacBio HiFi, Hi-C, and Illumina sequencing. The high-contiguity assembly spans 13 chromosomes with 97.6% BUSCO completeness. Phylogenomic analysis of 31 basidiomycetes clarified a historical misclassification by placing F. luteovirens closest to Mycocalia denudata/Crucibulum laeve, thus confirming its distinct lineage from Armillaria spp. through low synteny and divergent gene family dynamics. Analyses of adaptive evolution revealed strong purifying selection and stable transposable elements, suggesting genomic adaptations to extreme UV/cold stress. AntiSMASH identified 15 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), which encode diverse terpenoids (7), NRPS-like enzymes (4), PKSs (2), and a hybrid synthase with unique KS-AT-PT-A domains, which have the potential to generate novel metabolites. This chromosome-level resource sheds light on the genetic basis of F. luteovirens' taxonomy, alpine survival, and symbiotic functions while also unlocking its potential for bioprospecting bioactive compounds.},
}
@article {pmid41003162,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, S and Wang, S and Song, Y and Xie, L and Xiao, B and Guo, X},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Promote Soil Respiration Primarily Through Mediating Microbial and Root Biomass in Rocky Desertification Habitat.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11090616},
pmid = {41003162},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {32271722//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32060281//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023J0449//Scientific Research Foundation of Yunnan Provincial Department of Education/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can have complicated interactions with plants and soils, which play a critical role in mediating the soil carbon cycle. However, the mechanism by which AM fungi regulate soil respiration is not well documented. This study conducted a completely randomized block-design mesocosm experiment using the inoculation of AM fungi (RI: Rhizophagus intraradices; FM: Funneliformis mosseae) with Fraxinus malacophylla to identify the pathways of AM fungi controlling soil respiration in a rocky desertification habitat. We observed that the average soil respiration rates (3.78 μmol·m[-2]·s[-1]) were significantly higher in two AM fungi inoculation treatments than in the control (2.87 μmol·m[-2]·s[-1]). Soil respiration rates were 1.59-fold higher in RI fungi inoculation and 1.05-fold higher in FM inoculation than in the control. Explanation rates of microbial biomass carbon, biomass nitrogen, and root biomass in RI (57.46-76.49%) and FM (44.81-62.62%) inoculation for soil respiration variation were higher than those in the control (24.51-34.32%). The direct positive pathway of soil respiration was mainly regulated by microbial biomass (59.5%) and root biomass (34.90%), while the indirect positive contributions of soil physicochemical properties (30.00%), colonization level (3.50%), soil microclimate (19.30%), and enzyme activity (3.38%) to respiration dynamics ranked second. Thus, we conclude that soil respiration dynamics can be mainly controlled by AM fungi-mediated changes in microbial and root biomass in rocky desertification areas.},
}
@article {pmid41003088,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, T and Zhao, W and Nadeem, M and Zaheer, U and Rui, Y},
title = {Iron-Integrated Nitrogen-Rich Nanocarriers Boost Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and Growth in Soybean (Glycine max).},
journal = {Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {18},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/nano15181453},
pmid = {41003088},
issn = {2079-4991},
abstract = {Global food security is challenged by population growth and the environmental toll of conventional fertilizers. Enhancing biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in legumes like soybean (Glycine max) is a sustainable fertilization alternative. This study investigates a graphitic carbon nitride/iron oxide (Fe2O3/g-C3N4 or FC) nanocomposite as a dual-functional fertilizer to improve iron (Fe) nutrition and BNF in soybeans. A pot experiment was conducted using different FC concentrations (10, 100, and 200 mg kg[-1]), alongside controls. Results showed that the 100 mg kg[-1] FC treatment (FC2) was most effective, significantly increasing soybean biomass, nodule number, and nodule fresh weight. The FC2 treatment also enhanced photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll content (SPAD values) while reducing stomatal conductance and transpiration, indicating improved water-use efficiency. Furthermore, FC application bolstered the plant's antioxidant system by increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). Elemental analysis confirmed that FC treatments significantly increased the uptake and translocation of Fe and nitrogen (N) in plant tissues. These findings demonstrate that the FC nanocomposite acts as a highly effective nanofertilizer, simultaneously addressing iron deficiency and boosting nitrogen fixation to promote soybean growth. This work highlights its potential as a sustainable solution to enhance crop productivity and nutrient use efficiency in modern agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid41000969,
year = {2025},
author = {Arnold, MFF and Sankari, S and Deutsch, M and Gruber, CC and Guerra-Garcia, FJ and Beis, K and Walker, GC},
title = {The BacA(SbmA) Importer of Symbiotically Important Legume Nodule Cysteine-Rich Peptides: Insights into Protein Architecture, Function, and Evolutionary Implications.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.09.17.676847},
pmid = {41000969},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Some legumes encode families of NCR (Nodule-Cysteine-Rich) peptides that cause their rhizobial partners to terminally differentiate during the development of a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. Sinorhizobium meliloti , whose plant hosts Medicago truncatula and M. sativa express ca . 600 NCR peptides during root nodule development, possesses a symbiotically essential BacA Sm protein that imports certain NCR peptides into the cytoplasm. This import permits proteolytic degradation of the NCR peptides, thereby protecting the endocytosed bacteria from their antimicrobial peptide-like lethality, while also allowing certain NCR peptides to undergo their symbiotically critical interactions with cytoplasmic components, for example heme-sequestration in the case of NCR247. BacA's Escherichia coli ortholog SbmA Ec can restore a wildtype phenotype to a ΔbacA Sm mutant. Our study employed 54 S. meliloti bacA Sm missense mutants (35 to cysteine and 19 to glycine) that we tested for protein production, ability to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, and their susceptibility to killing by higher levels of the NCR247 and the Bac7(1-35) peptides. We also used the Single Cysteine Accessibility Method to make topological inferences. Our detailed genetic, biochemical, structural, and physiological analyses have revealed that BacA Sm and SbmA homodimers function as finely tuned import machines, whose structures can be relatively easily disrupted by single amino acid changes. Our discovery that several mutations that differentially separate nitrogen-fixation, NCR247 import, and Bac7(1-35) import map to the lining of the peptide-binding cavity in the outward-open SbmA/BacA conformation suggests a molecular explanation the other otherwise paradoxical observation that SbmA/BacAs from pathogens can fully replace BacA Sm , whereas BacAs from other rhizobia cannot.<br><br>SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Sinorhizobium meliloti BacA Sm and Escherichia coli SbmA Ec are closely related proteins that function as homodimeric transporters to import peptides and other cargos through the cytoplasmic membrane into the cytoplasm. BacA is critical for S. meliloti to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with its legume hosts because of its ability to import Nodule Cysteine-Rich (NCR) nodule-specific plant peptides. This import protects the bacteria inside the nodule from the potentially lethal effects of these NCR peptides while also enabling NCRs to make their intracellular interactions that are necessary for symbiosis. Our extensive multidisciplinary studies offer new insights into function of BacA/SbmA transporters and provide a molecular explanation for why BacA/SbmA orthologs from mammalian pathogens can replace BacA Sm but those from other rhizobia cannot.},
}
@article {pmid41000239,
year = {2025},
author = {Ajrithirong, P and Krasaesin, A and Sriarj, W and Gavila, P and Chetruengchai, W and Sriwattanapong, K and Manaspon, C and Samaranayake, L and Porntaveetus, T},
title = {The metagenome and metabolome signatures of dental biofilms associated with severe dental fluorosis.},
journal = {Journal of oral microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2560591},
pmid = {41000239},
issn = {2000-2297},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To explore the plaque biofilm microbiome associated with severe dental fluorosis (SF), and to describe its metagenome and metabolome.<br><br>METHODS: Sixteen plaque biofilm samples were collected from eight 6- to 15-year-old Thai children with SF and eight age-matched, caries-free and controls. Biofilms were analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, followed by bioinformatics evaluation.<br><br>RESULTS: Taxonomic profiling of biofilms from SF and controls identified a total of 12 phyla and 354 species. While alpha diversity was similar between the groups, beta diversity analysis (P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.0010) indicated distinct microbial community structures. LEfSe highlighted key discriminatory taxa: five health-associated species (Actinomyces dentalis, Tannerella sp. HOT 286, Candidatus Nanosynbacter sp, Selenomonas noxia and Treponema sp OMZ 804) were enriched in controls, while Neisseria sicca, known for fluoride-sensitive esterase production, was significantly elevated in SF. Functionally, eight metabolic pathways were altered; three of these (phosphatidylcholine acyl editing, anhydromuropeptides recycling II, ubiquinol-7 biosynthesis), hypothesized to support N. sicca activity, were upregulated in the SF group.<br><br>CONCLUSION: SF is associated with a significant shift in the biofilm microbiota, characterized by enrichment of N. sicca and a reduction in health-associated taxa. Altered metabolic pathways supporting N. sicca provide mechanistic insights into its role as a candidate biomarker for fluorosis, warranting further investigation.},
}
@article {pmid40999549,
year = {2025},
author = {Gotze, CR and Tandon, K and Philip, GK and Dungan, AM and Maire, J and Høj, L and Blackall, LL and Oppen, MJHV},
title = {Genomic prediction of symbiotic interactions between two Endozoicomonas clades and their coral host, Acropora loripes.},
journal = {Animal microbiome},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {94},
pmid = {40999549},
issn = {2524-4671},
support = {DP210100630//Australian Research Council/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The bacterial genus Endozoicomonas is a predominant member of the coral microbiome, widely recognised for its ubiquity and ability to form high-density aggregates within coral tissues. Hence, investigating its metabolic interplay with coral hosts offers critical insights into its ecological roles and contributions to coral health and resilience.<br><br>RESULTS: Using long- and short-read whole-genome sequencing of 11 Endozoicomonas strains from Acropora loripes, genome sizes were found to range between 5.8 and 7.1 Mbp. Phylogenomic analysis identified two distinct clades within the family Endozoicomonadaceae. Metabolic reconstruction uncovered clade-specific pathways, including the degradation of holobiont-derived carbon and lipids (e.g., galactose, starch, triacylglycerol, D-glucuronate), the latter of which suggests involvement of Endozoicomonas in host 'sex-type' steroid hormone metabolism. A clade-specific type 6 Secretion System (T6SS) and predicted effector molecules were identified, potentially facilitating coral-bacterium symbiosis. Additionally, genomic analyses revealed diverse phosphorus acquisition strategies, implicating Endozoicomonas in holobiont phosphorus cycling and stress responses.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals clade-specific genomic signatures of Endozoicomonas supporting its mutualistic lifestyle within corals. Findings suggests possible roles in nutrient cycling, reproductive health, and stress resilience, offering novel insights into coral holobiont functioning.},
}
@article {pmid40998528,
year = {2025},
author = {Montero, H and Freund, M and Fukushima, K},
title = {Convergent losses of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in carnivorous plants.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70544},
pmid = {40998528},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {RGY0082/2021//Human Frontier Science Program/ ; 23K20050//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; //Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung/ ; },
abstract = {Most land plants form the ancient arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, while carnivory is a younger trait that evolved in several angiosperm orders. The two biotic interactions similarly help plants acquire mineral nutrients, raising the question of whether they can coexist. However, the mycorrhizal status of carnivorous plants has long remained speculative. We surveyed the occurrence of AM-associated genes across carnivorous plant lineages, performed AM fungal inoculation assays, and microscopically evaluated the patterns of colonization. We found convergent losses of the AM trait either coincident with or predating the emergence of carnivory. Exceptionally, the carnivorous plant Roridula gorgonias retains symbiosis-related genes and forms arbuscules. The youngest carnivorous lineage, Brocchinia reducta, showed signatures of the early stages of AM trait loss. An AM-associated CHITINASE gene encodes a digestive enzyme in the carnivorous plant Cephalotus, suggesting gene co-option. We uncovered a mutually exclusive trend of AM symbiosis and carnivory, with only rare instances of coexistence. These findings illuminate the largely unexplored processes by which plant nutritional strategies evolve and supplant one another over time.},
}
@article {pmid40998411,
year = {2025},
author = {Larsson, EM and Wang, OY and Murray, RM},
title = {A DNA Part Library for Reliable Engineering of the Emerging Model Nematode Symbiotic Bacterium Xenorhabdus griffiniae HGB2511.},
journal = {ACS synthetic biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acssynbio.5c00414},
pmid = {40998411},
issn = {2161-5063},
abstract = {Xenorhabdus griffiniae is a bacterium that lives inside the intestine of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema hermaphroditum and partners with the nematode to infect and kill insect larvae in soil. The construction of gene circuits, such as reporters, in X. griffiniae would provide tools to study and better understand the symbiotic relationship it has with its host. However, because X. griffiniae is not a model organism, information about gene circuit construction in X. griffiniae is limited. We developed and characterized a DNA part library similar to the CIDAR MoClo extension library for E. coli to allow more efficient construction of genetic circuits in X. griffiniae. TurboRFP expressing strains with different constitutive Anderson promoters and different ribosome binding sites (RBS) were constructed to quantify promoter and RBS strengths in X. griffiniae. Furthermore, two fluorescent proteins sfGFP and sfYFP as well as the bioluminescent luxCDABE operon were added to the part library and successfully expressed in X. griffiniae. We then used the characterized parts of the cell to build and characterize IPTG inducible constructs.},
}
@article {pmid40997807,
year = {2025},
author = {Qian, JM and Li, K and Liu, W and Zhang, J and Wylie, A and Arnall, B and Krzmarzick, MJ and Wang, E and Oldroyd, GED and Bai, Y and Feng, F and Zhang, J},
title = {Chitooligosaccharide receptors modulate root microbiota to enhance symbiosis and growth in Medicago.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.09.045},
pmid = {40997807},
issn = {1879-0445},
}
@article {pmid40997670,
year = {2025},
author = {Cho, HS and Lee, JW and Cha, HE and Seo, J and Lim, SK},
title = {Comparative analysis of skin microbiome across 10 sites in Koreans for forensic applications: a pilot study.},
journal = {Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)},
volume = {78},
number = {},
pages = {102706},
doi = {10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102706},
pmid = {40997670},
issn = {1873-4162},
abstract = {Various microorganisms have a symbiotic relationship with human skin cells, influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The composition of the human microbiome varies based on the skin site. To investigate the microbial characteristics of different skin sites in Koreans, microbiome samples were collected from the scalp, forehead, cheek, retroauricular crease, cervical vertebrae, axilla, palm, lateral finger, femur, and plantar skin. The concentrations of human and bacterial DNA were quantified, and QIIME2 and MicrobiomeAnalyst platforms were used for microbial analysis. Forehead and cheek microbiome compositions were similar, with higher proportions of Streptococcus than that at other sites. Palm and lateral finger microbiome compositions were also similar, with higher proportions of Haemophilus than that at other sites. Lawsonella was specifically observed on the scalp, while Mycoplasma was found on cervical vertebrae. Staphylococcus, observed on all sites, was particularly predominant on axilla. The microbial composition of plantar was distinct, with no prevalent genus compared to that at other sites. Further research analyzing skin microbiomes from forensic evidence could help identify the origin of skin samples, aiding in crime scene reconstruction. Comparing our findings from Korean participants with international studies, it suggests that expanding research to include diverse populations could reveal regional and national differences in skin microbiomes, providing valuable insights for forensic science.},
}
@article {pmid40997175,
year = {2025},
author = {Panchal, A and Sen, R and Agarwal, R and Rana, A and Raychoudhury, R},
title = {Fungus-farming termites can protect their crop by confining weeds with fungistatic soil boluses.},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {389},
number = {6767},
pages = {1366-1371},
doi = {10.1126/science.adr2713},
pmid = {40997175},
issn = {1095-9203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Isoptera/microbiology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Plant Weeds/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Weed Control/methods ; Soil ; *Ascomycota/growth &amp; development ; },
abstract = {The symbiotic agriculture of fungus-farming termites can collapse if they fail to prevent invading weeds. Previous studies suggest a role for symbiotic fungistatic microbes in bringing about weed control. However, how termites employ these microbes to suppress fungal weeds without affecting the fungal cultivar remains unknown. We show that the fungus-farming termite Odontotermes obesus uses specific behaviors to remove, isolate, and suppress the growth of the fungal weed Pseudoxylaria, primarily by encasing it with soil boluses containing fungistatic microbes. These behaviors efficiently suppress the weed without affecting the crop. This integration of specific behaviors with termite-derived microbes appears to be the proximate mechanism of how microbes are topically used by termites to confine the weed while keeping the crop unaffected.},
}
@article {pmid40994815,
year = {2025},
author = {Bock, B and Scherer, J and Parrish, F and Burnside, J and Rohrer, C and Gehring, C},
title = {A simple protocol for producing axenic seeds of Sorghum bicolor.},
journal = {microPublication biology},
volume = {2025},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40994815},
issn = {2578-9430},
abstract = {Microbes within seeds can confound research on microbial colonization, symbiosis, and pathogenesis. Sterilization of both external and internal seed tissues is therefore essential in certain experiments, but the method must also preserve seed viability. Here, we present a reliable and simple protocol for sterilizing Sorghum bicolor seeds by submerging them in 95% ethanol for 2 minutes followed by 3.75% sodium hypochlorite for 20 minutes. This approach yielded a low contamination rate (2 out of 95 seeds) and a robust median germination rate (63%). Its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility make it a practical option for experiments requiring axenic seeds.},
}
@article {pmid40994444,
year = {2025},
author = {He, H and Liu, W and Xu, Y and Fang, X and Zhang, W and Kong, Z and Wang, L},
title = {Nodule-specific AhPUGN1.1 positively regulates nodulation in peanuts.},
journal = {aBIOTECH},
volume = {6},
number = {3},
pages = {542-553},
pmid = {40994444},
issn = {2662-1738},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a widely cultivated legume crop that can fix nitrogen by forming root nodules with compatible rhizobia. The initiation and formation of these nodules require complex molecular communication between legumes and rhizobia, involving the precise regulation of multiple legume genes. However, the mechanism underlying nodulation in peanuts remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a gene associated with nodulation in peanuts, named Peanut unique gene for nodulation 1.1 (AhPUGN1.1). Multiple lines of evidence indicate that AhPUGN1.1 is primarily expressed in peanut nodules. Silencing or knocking out AhPUGN1.1 in peanut resulted in fewer nodules, as well as lower fresh weight and nitrogenase activity, while overexpressing AhPUGN1.1 significantly enhanced nodulation ability and nitrogenase activity. Modulating the expression of AhPUGN1.1 also influenced the expression levels of genes associated with the Nod factor signaling pathway and infection via crack entry. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that AhPUGN1.1 likely regulates peanut nodulation by affecting the expression of genes involved in the cytokinin and calcium signaling pathways. Our data thus show that AhPUGN1.1 acts as a crucial regulator promoting symbiotic nodulation in peanuts.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-025-00222-7.},
}
@article {pmid40993906,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, T and Wu, F and Liu, H and Zhang, X and Zhou, Y and Zhang, S and Yang, P},
title = {Symbiotic Nodulation Enhances Legume Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses: Mechanisms and Perspectives.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70207},
pmid = {40993906},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was surpported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32430073 to Peizhi Yang, 31772660 to Peizhi Yang and 32472204 to Senlei Zhang) and the Scientific Startup Foundation for Doctors of Northwest A&amp;F University (1090124002 to Ting Wang)./ ; },
abstract = {Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, heavy metal contamination and cold, pose significant challenges to global agriculture, reducing crop productivity and threatening food security. Legume-rhizobium symbiosis not only facilitates biological nitrogen fixation but also improves plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. Nodulated leguminous plants exhibit better growth and improved productivity under abiotic stress conditions. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding how symbiotic nodulation mitigates abiotic stresses, focusing on physiological and biochemical responses, as well as molecular pathways. We then discuss future research directions to optimise rhizobial applications for stress-tolerant and climate-adaptive farming systems. Rhizobial inoculation is presented as a promising, sustainable and eco-friendly strategy for mitigating abiotic stresses, offering significant potential for stressed agricultural systems.},
}
@article {pmid40993804,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, Y and Wu, Y and Xia, S and Lian, H and Lou, Y and Wang, LJ},
title = {JMJD6-driven epigenetic activation of COL4A2 reprograms glioblastoma vascularization via integrin α1β1-dependent PI3K/MAPK signaling.},
journal = {Acta neuropathologica communications},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {194},
pmid = {40993804},
issn = {2051-5960},
support = {82101401//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Glioblastoma/metabolism/genetics/blood supply/pathology ; Humans ; *Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases/metabolism/genetics ; Animals ; *Brain Neoplasms/metabolism/genetics/pathology/blood supply ; *Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism/genetics ; Mice ; *Collagen Type IV/metabolism/genetics ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism ; *MAP Kinase Signaling System/physiology ; *Epigenesis, Genetic ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Signal Transduction ; Integrin beta1/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; },
abstract = {Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain malignancy in adults, is characterized by extensive vascularization and resistance to conventional anti-angiogenic therapies. In this study, through comprehensive integrative analyses of bulk RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq data, we identify COL4A2 as a critical orchestrator of vascularization in GBM. Elevated COL4A2 not only promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in glioma cells, but also increases vascularization in GBM. Multi-omics profiling and mechanistic investigations reveal that aberrant expression of the anti-pause enhancer JMJD6 mediates the upregulation of COL4A2 in GBM. Furthermore, we demonstrate that COL4A2 promotes GBM vascularization by activating PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK signaling through interaction with ITGA1/ITGB1 receptors on tumor-associated endothelial cells (TECs). Pharmacological inhibition of the COL4A2-ITGA1/ITGB1 axis with obtustatin attenuates pro-angiogenic signaling, suppresses vascularization, and prolongs survival in orthotopic GBM models. Collectively, our findings establish JMJD6-driven COL4A2-ITGA1/ITGB1 axis as a novel anti-angiogenic therapeutic vulnerability, offering a promising strategy to disrupt TEC-tumor symbiosis and impede GBM progression.},
}
@article {pmid40523116,
year = {2025},
author = {Preising, SE and Heck, ML},
title = {Potato Leafroll Virus in the Aphid Holobiont: Interactions Shaping Vector Biology.},
journal = {Annual review of virology},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {59-77},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-103226},
pmid = {40523116},
issn = {2327-0578},
mesh = {*Aphids/virology/physiology ; Animals ; *Plant Diseases/virology ; *Solanum tuberosum/virology/parasitology ; *Luteoviridae/physiology/genetics ; *Insect Vectors/virology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; },
abstract = {The aphid holobiont includes the aphid host and aphid-associated microorganisms, including pathogenic plant viruses. The polerovirus potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is transmitted exclusively by aphids and is one of the most economically significant viruses infecting potatoes. In potato plants, PLRV infection results in stunting, leaf rolling, and net necrosis on tubers. PLRV threatens global potato cultivation, especially in regions where vector management options are limited. In this review, we describe the effect of PLRV on the aphid holobiont and highlight studies of the evolutionary and mechanistic ways in which PLRV influences the aphid holobiont during plant infection. We explore ideas to address the pressing need for aphid and PLRV management strategies by targeting interactions within the holobiont. Approaching PLRV-aphid interactions research through the lens of the holobiont allows a systems-level analysis of host, plant, and microbial effects that influence virus transmission. In turn, this knowledge can be leveraged to develop new virus management strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40990193,
year = {2025},
author = {Fang, L and Qiu, FM and Wang, YC},
title = {[Quantitative determination of tetrodotoxin in poisoned biological samples by two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].},
journal = {Se pu = Chinese journal of chromatography},
volume = {43},
number = {10},
pages = {1162-1169},
doi = {10.3724/SP.J.1123.2024.11026},
pmid = {40990193},
issn = {1872-2059},
mesh = {*Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Humans ; *Tetrodotoxin/urine/analysis/blood/poisoning ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; },
abstract = {Tetrodotoxin （TTX） is a powerful small-molecule neurotoxin primarily produced by specific marine endosymbiotic bacteria and can be enriched during symbiosis with aquatic organisms such as pufferfish， gastropods， and blue-ringed octopuses. TTX prevents sodium ions from entering nerve cells， which affects neuromuscular conduction and leads to progressive paralysis and even death due to respiratory failure. Poisoning ascribable to the ingestion of TTX-containing seafood has occurred occasionally in some coastal areas of China. The early identification of toxins and the administration of symptomatic detoxification therapies can improve the resuscitation success rates of poisoned patients. The concentration of TTX in clinical biological samples reflects the degree of patient poisoning and their prognosis. A method was established for the determination of the TTX in poisoned biological samples by two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （2D-LC-MS/MS）. A human plasma or urine sample （100 μL） was accurately pipetted into a 2-mL centrifuge tube， sequentially added a 10 mg/L kasugamycin solution （10 μL； internal standard）， ultrapure water （150 μL）， and 0.5% （v/v） acetic acid in acetonitrile （250 μL） as the extraction solvent， after which the mixture was subjected to vortex mixing at 2 200 r/min for 10 min and centrifugation for 10 min at 15 000 r/min and 4 ℃. The supernatant was roughly separated using a first-dimensional reverse-phase C18 column （Hypersil Gold C18， 50 mm×2.1 mm， 1.9 μm）. The target fraction was then transferred to a hydrophilic liquid chromatography column （Acquity UPLC BEH Amide， 150 mm×3.0 mm， 1.7 μm） via a six-way switching valve for second-dimensional separation and analysis using positive electrospray ionization and selected reaction monitoring （SRM） modes. Kasugamycin served as the internal standard for TTX quantitation， using matrix-matched calibration combined with the internal standard method. TTX exhibited good linearity in the 0.2-40.0 μg/L range （equivalent to 1.0-200.0 μg/L in biological samples）， with a correlation coefficient exceeding 0.999 4. The TTX in human plasma and urine samples exhibited matrix effects of 80.9% and 98.9%， respectively， with LODs and LOQs of 0.3 and 1.0 μg/L， respectively， determined for both sample types， based on three- and ten-times signal-to-noise ratios， respectively. The TTX in human plasma and urine exhibited intra-day recoveries of 84.4%-98.4% and 84.4%-96.9%， respectively， with inter-day recoveries of 87.7%-96.2% and 84.8%-95.7%， respectively， at spiked levels of 2.0， 10.0， 50.0， and 200.0 μg/L. Intra-day relative standard deviations （RSDs） of 3.2%-7.2% and 2.9%-5.7% were recorded for TTX in human plasma and urine， respectively， with inter-day RSDs of 2.3%-3.2% and 1.0%-7.5%， respectively. The intra-day and inter-day RSDs of both sample types were determined to be lower than 7.5%. The method is accurate， fast， avoids complicated pretreatment steps， and was successfully used to detect TTX in food-poisoning scenarios.},
}
@article {pmid40989903,
year = {2025},
author = {Malygina, EV and Potapova, NA and Imidoeva, NA and Vavilina, TN and Belyshenko, AY and Morgunova, MM and Dmitrieva, ME and Shelkovnikova, VN and Vlasova, AA and Lipatova, OE and Zhilenkov, VM and Batalova, AA and Stoyanova, EE and Axenov-Gribanov, DV},
title = {Microbial communities inhabiting the surface and gleba of white (Tuber magnatum) and black (Tuber macrosporum) truffles from Russia.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e20037},
pmid = {40989903},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {Russia ; *Microbiota ; *Ascomycota/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Symbiosis ; Soil Microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; },
abstract = {The complex symbiotic relationships between truffles and their microbiota, coupled with their obligate mycorrhizal lifestyle, present significant challenges for obtaining axenic mycelium and achieving controlled cultivation. This study aimed to characterize the microbial communities within the surface and gleba of truffle ascomata using 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequencing and identify the taxonomic composition and ecological roles of these microbiota. Specimens of Tuber magnatum (white truffle) and Tuber macrosporum (smooth black truffle) were collected, with T. magnatum representing the first documented discovery of this species in Russia. Metabarcoding profiling identified both species-specific and shared microbial taxa, with the yeast-like fungus Geotrichum spp. emerging as a core symbiont in both truffle species. Its consistent detection in surface and gleba tissues suggests a critical role in mycorrhizal establishment and spore dispersal, potentially mediated by sulfur volatiles that attract mycophagous fauna. In T. magnatum, the bacterial community was dominated by Proteobacteria, particularly Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, with the nitrogen-fixing genus Bradyrhizobium being especially abundant. The truffle microbiota predominantly comprised soil-derived microorganisms (e.g., nitrogen-fixing Rhizobiaceae spp., phenol-degrading Mycoplana spp.) and plant-associated symbionts (e.g., ectomycorrhizal Sebacina spp.), implicating these communities in nutrient cycling, xenobiotic degradation, and host plant interactions. By elucidating the taxonomic and functional profiles of truffle-associated microbiota, this study provides foundational insights into their ecological contributions. Chemical differences align with tissue-specific microbial communities, suggesting microenvironmental specialization in bioactive compound synthesis. These findings advance efforts to replicate critical symbiotic interactions in vitro, a prerequisite for developing sustainable cultivation protocols for T. magnatum and T. macrosporum under controlled conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40988776,
year = {2024},
author = {Chou, PA and Yeh, WB and Su, ZH and Tzeng, HY},
title = {Taxonomic Study of the Chalcidoid Wasps Sycoscapter Saunders (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) Associated with Monoecious Ficus in Taiwan, with Description of Four New Species.},
journal = {Zoological studies},
volume = {63},
number = {},
pages = {e34},
pmid = {40988776},
issn = {1810-522X},
abstract = {As a prominent group of nonpollinating fig wasps widely distributed in the paleotropics, Sycoscapter Saunders has been subject to limited taxonomic attention. This study presents the first comprehensive taxonomic investigation of Sycoscapter wasps associated with five Taiwanese monoecious fig species, employing both molecular and morphological methods. Phylogenetic analyses using COI and COI+28S data revealed the presence of five species associated with monoecious figs in Taiwan and neighboring regions: Sycoscapter gajimaru (Ishii), Sycoscapter piceoscapus Chou &amp; Tzeng sp. nov., Sycoscapter monticola Chou &amp; Tzeng sp. nov., Sycoscapter ishiianus Chou &amp; Tzeng sp. nov., and Sycoscapter littoralis Chou &amp; Tzeng sp. nov. Morphologically, these five Sycoscapter species possessed distinctive characteristics, including the male head shape, which distinguished them from related species. Furthermore, males of all five species exhibited rudimentary wing vestiges, commonly found in wasps associated with monoecious figs but absent in those associated with dioecious figs. Overall, this study enriches our understanding of chalcidoid fauna in Taiwan and provides insight into the mechanisms that sustain intricate ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40987912,
year = {2025},
author = {Kumar, G and Chauhan, A and Sharma, S and Saini, M},
title = {Diverse plant growth-promoting bacteria as microsymbionts in nodules of Leucaena leucocephala.},
journal = {Folia microbiologica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40987912},
issn = {1874-9356},
abstract = {This study characterized 18 endophytic bacterial isolates in association with the root nodules of Leucaena leucocephala through phenotypic and genotypic analyses. The endophytes were associated with the plants and exhibited diverse plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. Phosphate solubilization was observed in 39% of isolates at high levels and 33.3% at moderate levels. Siderophore production was prevalent, with 38.9% displaying high and 33.3% moderate production, aiding iron uptake. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production varied (32.15 to 86.28 µg/ml) among the isolates. Notably, 94.4% of isolates showed positive hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production. Genetic diversity was assessed using the ARDRA clustered the isolates into eight morphotypes, whereas the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences showed the presence of different genera including Rhizobium, Paenibacillus, Bacillus, Agrobacterium, Brucella, and Arthrobacter. On the other hand, these symbiotic endophytes are widely recognized for their mechanisms of plant growth promotion. Therefore, net house studies with rhizobial inoculation on L. leucocephala showed significant improvements in growth parameters such as shoot and root lengths, biomass, and nodulation, particularly with the strain Rhizobium sp. SoL9 (T3). Inoculation also enhanced soil properties, increasing nutrient availability and microbial populations. These endophytic bacterial isolates from L. leucocephala root nodules display genetic diversity and beneficial PGP traits, highlighting the potential for rhizobial biofertilization in enhancing plant development and soil fertility in legumes.},
}
@article {pmid40986639,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, T and Chen, T and Jin, Y and Xue, L and Li, C},
title = {Morphological, phylogenetic, and alkaloid profile analyses of a new Epichloë species symbiotic with Elymus kamoji in China.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-16},
doi = {10.1080/00275514.2025.2543686},
pmid = {40986639},
issn = {1557-2536},
abstract = {The aboveground endophytes of the genus Epichloë are notable for their mutualistic association with the Poaceae family, conferring benefits such as increased stress tolerance, competitiveness, and ecological dominance to host plants. Here, two endophytic fungal strains were isolated from Elymus kamoji in China, exhibiting morphological characteristics typical of Epichloë species. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood method on tubB and tefA gene sequences revealed that two strains from Elymus kamoji represent a novel Epichloë interspecific hybrid species. Allele 1 grouped within Epichloë bromicola, whereas allele 2 grouped within Epichloë calamagrostidis. We propose the name Epichloë tibetica, extending the diversity of Epichloë species known to colonize Elymus kamoji. Both isolates are mating type B (MTB), and no sexual structures or epiphyllous growth was observed on Epichloë-infected El. kamoji. DNA analysis revealed the absence of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids, indole-diterpenes, and 1-aminopyrrolizidines in both isolates. Regarding the pyrrolopyrazine synthetase A gene (ppzA) profiles, the hybrid E. tibetica was found to contain both the ppzA and ppzA-∆R alleles. The ppzA-∆R allele is characterized by large deletions spanning the ppzA-M and ppzA-T2 domains. Within an alternate ppzA allele, we have localized a region downstream of ppzA-A2 whose structural properties block amplification of the ppzA-A2 region using conserved domain-specific primers. These traits characteristics may position E. tibetica as a viable model for studying ppzA allele diversity. Our findings further highlight the necessity of employing diverse primer combinations to elucidate the profiles of alkaloid synthesis genes across hybrid Epichloë species.},
}
@article {pmid40985939,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, L and Frances, L and de Carvalho-Niebel, F and Frendo, P and Boncompagni, E},
title = {Identification of regulatory promoter sequences directing MtCP6 transcription at the onset of nodule senescence in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {Plant &amp; cell physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcaf110},
pmid = {40985939},
issn = {1471-9053},
support = {ANR-10-LABX-41//French National Research grants TULIP/ ; 2024ZD04079//Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project/ ; 32300211//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ANR-15-IDEX-01//IDEX UCAJedi/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0028-01//LABEX SIGNALIFE/ ; ANR-15-CE20-0005//French Government (National Research Agency, ANR)/ ; //China Scholarship Council (CSC)/ ; },
abstract = {The symbiotic association of legumes with rhizobia results in the formation of new root organs called nodules. However, the lifespan of nodules is limited by the senescence process. Increased proteolytic activity is one of the hallmarks of nodule senescence. In Medicago truncatula, a papain cysteine protease encoding gene, MtCP6, is a marker for the onset of nodule senescence under both developmental and stress-induced pathways. To identify the promoter regions responsible for the senescence-related expression of MtCP6, progressive MtCP6 promoter deletions were generated and fused with the GUS reporter for promoter::GUS activity analysis in transgenic M. truncatula roots. In planta, a minimal promoter sequence of 67 bp was identified as sufficient for specific spatiotemporal transcriptional activation of MtCP6 in nodules. The functionality of this promoter regulatory module, thereafter named 'nodule senescence (NS) promoter regulatory module', was validated by both gain- and loss-of-function approaches in M. truncatula. A yeast-one-hybrid (Y1H) screen identified the AP2/ERF transcription factor ERF091, shown to positively regulate nodulation in Lotus japonicus, as an NS- interacting factor. Further Y1H and Nicotiana transactivation assays demonstrated the specificity of ERF91 to interact with and mediate transcription activation of the NS promoter regulatory motif. This work has uncovered a new senescence-related nodule-specific regulatory region and provides evidence for the likely involvement of a stress-related ERF family member in the regulation of MtCP6, at the onset of nodule senescence.},
}
@article {pmid40985409,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, YY and Li, YZ and Shi, ZJ},
title = {Host-Specific and Environment-Dependent Effects of Endophyte Alternaria oxytropis on Three Locoweed Oxytropis Species in China.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {7},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11070516},
pmid = {40985409},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {No. 32061123004//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022YFD1401103//National Key R &amp; D Program of China/ ; 20220104//National Forestry and Grassland Administration/ ; CARS-34//The Earmarked Fund for CARS/ ; },
abstract = {Plant-endophyte symbioses are widespread in grasslands. While symbiotic interactions often provide hosts with major fitness enhancements, the role of the endophyte Alternaria oxytropis, which produces swainsonine in locoweeds (Oxytropis and Astragalus spp.), remains enigmatic. We compared endophyte-infected (E+) and endophyte-free (E-) plants of three main Chinese locoweed species (O. kansuensis, O. glabra, and O. ochrocephala) under controlled conditions, and analyzed environmental factors at locoweed poisoning hotspots for herbivores. The results demonstrated significant species-specific effects: E+ plants of O. glabra and O. ochrocephala exhibited 26-39% reductions in biomass, net photosynthetic rate, and stomatal conductance, with elevated CO2 levels, while O. kansuensis showed no measurable impacts. Swainsonine concentrations were 16-20 times higher in E+ plants (122.6-151.7 mg/kg) than in E- plants. Geospatial analysis revealed that poisoning hotspots for herbivores consistently occurred in regions with extreme winter conditions (minimum temperatures ≤ -17 °C and precipitation ≤ 1 mm during the driest month), suggesting context-dependent benefits under abiotic stress. These findings suggest that the ecological role of A. oxytropis may vary depending on both host species and environmental context, highlighting a trade-off between growth costs and potential stress tolerance conferred by A. oxytropis. The study underscores the need for field validation to elucidate the adaptive mechanisms maintaining this symbiosis in harsh environments.},
}
@article {pmid40985368,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, K and Sun, M and Feng, H and Wei, X and Xie, W and Fu, W and Guo, L and Zhang, X and Hao, Z and Chen, B},
title = {Synergistic Effects of Rhizophagus irregularis and Trichoderma harzianum Co-Inoculation on Enhancing Drought Tolerance and Secondary Metabolite Production in Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis).},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {7},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof11070488},
pmid = {40985368},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {2023YFF1304101//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2022YFE0114000//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 42077039//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42207347//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U21A2024//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42177277//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2060302//Key Project at Central Government Level: the ability establishment of sustainable use for valuable Chinese Medicine Resources/ ; },
abstract = {Drought stress significantly hinders the cultivation of medicinal plants such as licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), valued for its bioactive compounds, glycyrrhizin, and liquiritin. This study aims to investigate how co-inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and Trichoderma harzianum can enhance licorice drought tolerance and secondary metabolite production, providing insights for sustainable agriculture in arid regions. The results demonstrate that inoculation with R. irregularis significantly improved biomass, drought stress tolerance, and increased glycyrrhizin and liquiritin concentrations by 29.9% and 3.3-fold, respectively, particularly under drought conditions. Co-inoculation with T. harzianum further boosted glycyrrhizin yield by 93.7%, indicating a synergistic relationship between the two microbes. The expression of key biosynthetic genes, including squalene synthase (SQS1) for glycyrrhizin and chalcone synthase (CHS) for liquiritin, was significantly upregulated, enhancing water use efficiency and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Nutrient analysis showed improved phosphorus uptake, alongside reduced root carbon and nitrogen concentrations, leading to greater nutrient utilization efficiency. These findings suggest that co-inoculating R. irregularis and T. harzianum is a promising approach to improving licorice growth and medicinal quality under drought stress, with broad applications for sustainable crop management.},
}
@article {pmid40985194,
year = {2025},
author = {Akamatsu, A and Ishikawa, T and Tanaka, H and Kawano, Y and Hayashi, M and Takeda, N},
title = {Accumulation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate inhibits the excessive infection of rhizobia in Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70527},
pmid = {40985194},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {20K15426//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 22K06288//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 23K17998//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 25K01924//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; //Okayama University/ ; //Hyogo Science and Technology Association/ ; //Kwansei Gakuin University/ ; //Sumitomo Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {During the symbiosis of legumes with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, collectively called rhizobia, suppression of excessive rhizobial infection by host plants is important to maximize the benefits of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the suppression remains relatively poorly understood. We performed LC-MS and RNA-Seq analysis using rhizobia-infected Lotus japonicus roots and investigated the role of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylinositol phosphates (PIPs) in the symbiosis. Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP)-like proteins 4 (PLP4), phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate 5-kinase 4 (PIP5K4), and PIP5K6 mutants, which are involved in the vesicular transport of lipids and phosphorylation of PIPs, were used to show the involvement of the signaling of PI and PIPs. Accumulation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] during rhizobial infection was examined by a fluorescent marker 1×TUBBY-C (TUBBY). We found that PI signaling-related genes were upregulated, and the amount of PIP2 increased in L. japonicus roots during rhizobial infection. In the PLP4, PIP5K4, and PIP5K6 mutants, rhizobial infection increased, while PIP2 accumulation failed. Furthermore, the observation of PI(4,5)P2 in rhizobia-infected roots revealed that ectopic accumulation was closely related to the suppression of rhizobial infection. Our findings indicate that the accumulation of PI(4,5)P2, mediated by PLP and PIP5Ks, suppresses excessive rhizobial infection in the root epidermis and cortex, leading to the optimal number of nodules.},
}
@article {pmid40982418,
year = {2025},
author = {Berto, MM and Hajihassani, A and Carrillo, D},
title = {Rearing Phoretic Mites Associated with Wood-Boring Insects.},
journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE},
volume = {},
number = {223},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3791/69039},
pmid = {40982418},
issn = {1940-087X},
mesh = {Animals ; *Mites/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Wood/parasitology ; *Coleoptera/parasitology ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; },
abstract = {Phoretic mites are common associates of a wide range of wood-boring insects, such as Coleoptera: Curculionidae and Cerambycidae. Phoretic mites are among the few groups of organisms capable of accessing their hosts' breeding sites. These organisms are minute, establishing close associations and affinity for biotic and abiotic conditions within wood-boring insects' galleries. Their presence within the galleries may exert a significant influence on beetle behavior and reproduction. Some species may act as natural antagonists of the beetles and their mutualistic fungi, disrupting symbiotic relationships that guarantee their success. These characteristics make phoretic mites promising candidates for biological control programs targeting wood-boring pests. However, reproducible methods for rearing these mites are needed to study their basic biology and ecology and assess their potential as biocontrol agents. Despite their importance, there are currently no detailed protocols for maintaining phoretic mite populations in captivity. This study presents a practical and accessible approach for rearing two groups of phoretic mites, fungivores/detritivores (Acari: Astigmata) (i.e., Histiogaster arborsignis) and predators (Acari: Mesostigmata) (i.e., Proctolaelaps spp.). We propose using rolled barley grains and nematodes as nutritional sources for these mites, respectively. These food sources are practical and widely accessible, requiring minimal maintenance while offering a standardized diet tailored to the nutritional requirements of the target mite groups. A plaster-charcoal-based substrate is used as a humidity-regulating matrix. This combination provides both food resources and a suitable microhabitat for long-term maintenance and reproduction of these mites. The method described is scalable, enabling researchers to expand rearing units in proportion to colony size and experimental requirements. This protocol offers a critical tool for advancing research into the ecological roles of phoretic mites. This experimentally validated system ensures long-term colony viability for several months and multiple generations, while remaining adaptable for rearing other mite taxa under laboratory conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40982385,
year = {2025},
author = {Hernandez, DJ and Pohlmann, GB and Afkhami, ME},
title = {Gene Family Expansions Provide Molecular Flexibility Required for Context-Dependent Species Interactions.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {28},
number = {9},
pages = {e70213},
doi = {10.1111/ele.70213},
pmid = {40982385},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {DBI-2305481//Division of Biological Infrastructure/ ; DEB-1922521//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; DEB-2030060//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; //University of Miami/ ; 2022-67011-36456//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; Gene Duplication ; *Magnoliopsida/genetics/microbiology ; *Multigene Family ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Genome, Plant ; },
abstract = {As environments worldwide change at unprecedented rates during the Anthropocene, understanding context dependency-how species interactions vary depending on environmental context-is crucial. Combining comparative genomics across 42 angiosperms with transcriptomics, genome-wide association mapping and gene duplication origin analyses, we show for the first time that gene family expansions are important to context-dependent regulation of species interactions. Gene families expanded in mycorrhizal fungi-associating plants display up to 200% more context-dependent gene expression and double the genetic variation associated with mycorrhizal benefits to plant fitness. Moreover, we discover these gene family expansions arise primarily from tandem duplications with > 2-times more tandem duplications genome-wide, indicating gene family expansions continuously supply genetic variation, allowing fine-tuning of context dependency in species interactions throughout plant evolution. Taken together, our results spotlight how widespread gene duplications can provide molecular flexibility required for plant-microbial interactions to match changing environmental conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40982090,
year = {2025},
author = {Sharma, M and Sood, G and Chauhan, A},
title = {Bacterial Endophytes of Medicinal Plants: Applications and Recent Developments.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {11},
pages = {519},
pmid = {40982090},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {*Endophytes/physiology/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Plants, Medicinal/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Bacteria/metabolism/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Symbiosis ; Plant Development ; },
abstract = {Endophytic bacteria are endosymbionts that reside within plant tissues without causing apparent disease in the host. Bacteria employ various traits (lipopolysaccharides, flagella, pili, twitching motility, etc.) to colonize host plants. In this colonization process a variety of compounds released by plants in addition to bacteria play a key role in plant growth. Endophytes are in symbiotic association with their host plant and show beneficial effect on them using various direct and indirect mechanisms of plant growth promotion. In addition to plant growth promotion, endophytes also confer stress tolerance in the current scenario of climate change. Furthermore, endophytes have emerged as an important source of novel metabolites, enzymes of industrial importance and as stress alleviators of host plant, but still several features of endophytic associations are unknown. However, little is documented about plant growth-promoting endophytes (PGPE) of medicinal plants. Current review focused on the drivers of endophyte community structure with an attempt to relate it with plant growth promotion, its mechanisms and the current as well as future aspects of molecular techniques to reveal these communities. In-depth knowledge of the mechanism of host infection and role of endophytes could be exploited to enhance agricultural productivity in terms of plant growth promotion and biocontrol.},
}
@article {pmid40981414,
year = {2025},
author = {Lagares, A and Krol, E and Jühling, T and Glatter, T and Becker, A},
title = {A systems-level insight into PHB-driven metabolic adaptation orchestrated by the PHB-binding transcriptional regulator AniA (PhaR).},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0076025},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.00760-25},
pmid = {40981414},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a carbon and energy storage polymer, whose accumulation under nutrient imbalances with excess carbon is common in bacteria. PhaR is a conserved transcriptional regulator that associates with PHB granules in several species. Although its role in modulating PHB storage and metabolism has been extensively studied across the bacterial phylogeny, a systems-level view of PhaR's dual function as a metabolic sensor and regulator is lacking. Here, we integrated co-expression network analysis with proteome profiling across multiple mutant backgrounds (lack of PhaR [AniA] and/or PHB synthesis) in the free-living state of the PHB-accumulating α-proteobacterial root nodule symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti. This analysis was enriched by identifying direct regulatory targets of PhaR through a regulon-centric computational multistep search for DNA-binding site motifs combined with PhaR-DNA-binding and promoter-reporter assays. We confirmed that the model of accumulated PHB sequestering PhaR, and thereby relieving phasin and PHB depolymerase gene repression to control cellular PHB levels, also applies to S. meliloti and showed that PhaR-mediated regulation also occurs in the symbiotic state. Our integrated analyses of the impact of PHB-mediated PhaR titration on cellular functions revealed exopolysaccharide production as well as central carbon metabolism (pdh and bkd), gluconeogenesis (ppdK and pyc), entry into the TCA cycle (gltA), and the initial steps of the Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway (zwf, pgl, and edd) as major regulatory targets, along with target genes of yet unknown function. Our findings highlight a pivotal role for PhaR in orchestrating carbon metabolism.IMPORTANCEPoly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a carbon and energy storage polymer typically associated with bacterial survival under nutrient-limited conditions. Its accumulation reflects the cellular metabolic balance, and the transcriptional regulator PhaR has been shown to bind PHB and control the expression of genes involved in its metabolism. At the same time, PhaR has been implicated in broader regulatory roles affecting global gene expression, although the connection between this function and its ability to sense PHB has remained unresolved. In this study, we used the model legume symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti to bridge this gap. We demonstrated that PhaR modulates global gene expression in response to the metabolic state signaled by PHB accumulation. Our findings highlight PHB not only as a storage compound, but also as a key integrator of metabolic status that links nutrient availability to coordinated transcriptional responses.},
}
@article {pmid40981373,
year = {2025},
author = {Gómez-Molina, E and Marco, P and Garcia-Barreda, S and González, V and Sánchez, S},
title = {Effect of Selected Truffle-Associated Bacteria and Fungi on the Mycorrhization of Quercus ilex Seedlings with Tuber melanosporum.},
journal = {Biotech (Basel (Switzerland))},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biotech14030069},
pmid = {40981373},
issn = {2673-6284},
support = {RTA2015-00053-00-00//Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology/ ; },
abstract = {The success of truffle cultivation is especially dependent on the quality of truffle-mycorrhized seedlings, which are typically produced in nurseries under aseptic conditions to avoid root colonization by undesired ectomycorrhizal fungi. However, such practices may also eliminate beneficial microorganisms that could support truffle symbiosis and improve seedling quality. In this study, twelve endophytic bacterial and fungal strains, isolated from the Tuber melanosporum environment (gleba tissue, mycorrhizae and truffle brûlé), were tested for their effect on T. melanosporum mycorrhization levels in inoculated Quercus ilex seedlings under nursery conditions. Co-inoculation with a strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens significantly enhanced root colonization by T. melanosporum, supporting its potential role as mycorrhizal helper bacterium. In contrast, a strain of Trichoderma harzianum negatively affected mycorrhization. The remaining strains did not show significant effects on seedling mycorrhization or seedling growth. Our findings support the hypothesis that specific bacterial strains associated with truffles can act as mycorrhizal helper bacteria, highlighting the potential for co-inoculation strategies to enhance quality of truffle-inoculated seedlings in nurseries. However, further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions within the mycorrhizosphere that could contribute to improving nursery seedling quality.},
}
@article {pmid40980884,
year = {2025},
author = {Robinson, CRP and Dolezal, AG and Liachko, I and Newton, ILG},
title = {Hi-C-resolved metagenomics reveals host range variation among mobile genetic elements within the European honey bee.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0224325},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.02243-25},
pmid = {40980884},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as plasmids and bacteriophages, are major contributors to the ecology and evolution of host-associated microbes due to symbiotic interactions and gene flow via horizontal gene transmission. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which are frequently trafficked via MGEs, are known to be enriched within North American honey bee microbiomes due to decades of antibiotic exposure. While previous studies have identified nearly identical MGE-associated ARGs across geographically disparate honey bee colonies, our understanding of how ARGs are distributed and mobilized within and between individual microbiomes is limited. To address this limitation, we leverage Hi-C-resolved metagenomics with the honey bee worker gut microbiome and show that the worker gut contains dense, nested, and highly distinct MGE communities. We show that phage-microbe networks exhibit high variation among individual metagenomes and that phages show broad host range with respect to both the number and phylogenetic distance of their hosts. Comparisons of individual microbiomes reveal highly individualized plasmid communities that exhibit broad host range variation within microbiomes. Finally, we provide specific evidence that antibiotic resistance cassettes are being actively shuttled between honey bee microbes via plasmids and that these broad host range plasmids frequently recombine to share gene content. Our work corroborates early observations of ARG dispersal in honey bee colonies and provides evidence for how these genes are mobilized within and across honey bee-associated microbial communities.IMPORTANCEMobile genetic elements (MGEs) are found in every microbial community and often encode genes conferring antibiotic resistance (ARGs). Within the honey bee worker gut microbiome, ARGs are particularly frequent due to decades of antibiotic exposure. Previous studies have identified nearly identical ARGs in geographically disparate honey bee colonies, which suggests recent mobilization by MGEs into these colonies, but identifying how these ARGs are mobilized and distributed within honey bee colonies remains a challenging task, as most techniques rely on microbial culture. Applying metagenomic Hi-C, we describe how these ARGs are distributed among individual plasmid backbones and how those plasmids are distributed among host microbial populations. Remarkably, we find plasmids exhibit broad host range variation, although they encode nearly identical ARGs. Our work corroborates earlier observations of ARG dispersal in honey bee colonies and provides further evidence for how these ARGs are mobilized across vast geographic distance.},
}
@article {pmid40979862,
year = {2025},
author = {Sri Lokaranjan, D and Ravi, K and Choudhary, S and Talukdar, A and Dandekeri, S and Shunmugavelu, K},
title = {Association of oral pathology, oral microbiology, and oral oncology.},
journal = {GMS hygiene and infection control},
volume = {20},
number = {},
pages = {Doc45},
pmid = {40979862},
issn = {2196-5226},
abstract = {An ecological community of commensals, symbiotic and pathogenic organisms share our body space. Alterations in the ecologically balanced population of microflora result in dysbiosis and are critical determinants of systemic health and diseases, especially in the context of immunosuppression. The oral microbiome and chronic inflammation may have a role in carcinogenesis.},
}
@article {pmid40978801,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, S and Zhuang, P and Cai, Z and Bai, Y and Peng, J and Khan, Z and Zhang, L and Li, R and Yang, J and Cai, H and Xie, L},
title = {A review and case study of Rhododendron moulmainense highlights the feasibility and adaptation of evergreen Rhododedron plants to current environmental challenges.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1468526},
pmid = {40978801},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Alpine rhododendrons have high ecological, ornamental, and recreational value due to its colourful flowers and tall trees, and making it a promising candidate for urban gardens. However, its long growth cycle and lack of adaptation to low altitude environments often result in leaf burning and weak plant growth, hindering its widespread use in urban gardens. Moreover, the existing literature often fails to present key information on propagation techniques and low altitude acclimatisation of alpine rhododendrons in a clear and concise manner. To tackle this issue, we used the example of the alpine evergreen azalea, Rhododendron moulmainense, which grows in the southernmost part of the latitude. We conducted a comprehensive review of research advances in the evolutionary status of rhododendrons, mycorrhizal symbiosis, flower bud differentiation, environmental adaptation, and reproduction. By integrating various aspects, this review offers valuable insights into the domestication of alpine rhododendron at low altitudes and proposes solutions to address their environmental adaptation, with the aim of promoting their use in urban gardens and fully utilising their role in ecological stabilisation.},
}
@article {pmid40976185,
year = {2025},
author = {Ortiz, J and Sanhueza, C and Romero-Munar, A and Sierra, S and Palma, F and Aroca, R and Coba de la Peña, T and López-Gómez, M and Bascuñán-Godoy, L and Del-Saz, NF},
title = {Corrigendum to "Nitrogen source and availability associate to mitochondrial respiratory pathways and symbiotic function in lotus japonicus" [J. Plant Physiol. 2025 (314), November 2025, 154606].},
journal = {Journal of plant physiology},
volume = {314},
number = {},
pages = {154614},
doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154614},
pmid = {40976185},
issn = {1618-1328},
}
@article {pmid40975440,
year = {2025},
author = {Upadhyay, SK and Kumar, P and Jain, D},
title = {Understanding the mechanistic insight and relevance of root hair-driven rhizobia for developing climate-smart crops.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {112779},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112779},
pmid = {40975440},
issn = {1873-2259},
abstract = {Symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia is a basic biological process behind sustainable agriculture. Still, in abiotic circumstances, such as drought, salt, and extreme temperatures, its efficiency is significantly reduced. This review highlights the molecular and physiological mechanisms that regulate root hair-rhizobia interactions, as root hairs serve as essential interfaces for microbial recognition, signal transduction, and infection thread growth. Root hair development in effective rhizobia colonization is influenced by auxin, ethylene, and environmental factors. Reacting to host flavonoids, which are detected by LysM receptor kinases (NFR1/NFR5), rhizobia produce nod factors causing calcium oscillations and corresponding transcriptional reprogramming of CCaMK, NSP1/2, and NIN. The changes in the cytoskeleton, the signaling of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the remodeling of the cell wall all work together to change the shape of root hairs and make it easier for infection pockets to form. Rhizobia can keep symbiosis going even when abiotic stress happens by using adaptive mechanisms such as making exopolysaccharides, storing osmolytes, boosting antioxidant activity, and changing phytohormones signal. Combining multi-omics technologies, precision breeding, and microbial engineering will significantly enhance our understanding and improve root hair-mediated long-term symbiotic performance. This strategy promotes sustainable growth by reducing fertilizer usage, improving soil health, and ensuring food security in the face of changing climatic conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40973683,
year = {2025},
author = {Poquita-Du, RC and Otte, J and Herrmann, N and Büchel, C and Schmitt, I},
title = {Members of the lichen photobiont genus Trebouxia show species-specific photo-physiological and transcriptome-level responses to high light.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf419},
pmid = {40973683},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Members of the common lichen photobiont Trebouxia occur in all terrestrial habitats, from the arctic to the tropics, however, the mechanisms of environmental stress tolerance in Trebouxia are little understood. Currently, lineages belonging to this genus are grouped into clades A, C, I, S, D. Here we study six species, which belong to the S-Clade and A-Clade of Trebouxia, and were isolated from the lichen-forming fungi Umbilicaria pustulata and U. phaea. Three of the Trebouxia species have a climatic niche preference at low elevation (Mediterranean climate), two at high elevation (cold temperate climate), and one is found in both climate zones. These species have demonstrated extensive genomic divergence, particularly in genome regions associated with photosynthesis. Therefore, we hypothesize that they will exhibit differential performance under varying light conditions. We assessed physiological and transcriptomic responses to high light (HL) (control: 60 µmol photons/m2/s; HL:150 µmol photons/m2/s) using a controlled environmental chamber. We examined the cultures´ responses after 1 hour and 3 days (12 hours per day) of HL exposure. We measured photo-physiological parameters including maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration in combination with differential gene expression analysis via RNASeq. Average levels of Fv/Fm and NPQ showed significant reduction following HL exposure, however, this varied among species. Species from high elevation (i.e. Trebouxia S12 C0006 and A10 C0009) exhibited relatively high NPQ capacity throughout the experiment. There was no significant change in average chl a concentration. Further, only a few differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found for specific species following exposure to 1 hour HL, including those associated with chloroplast thylakoid membrane, transposon TX1 and photorespiration. On the other hand, there are more DEGs found for all Trebouxia species exposed to prolonged HL, which involved genes associated to DNA biosynthetic process, cell cycle and cell wall organization. Photoprotection-associated genes related to NPQ, photosystem II repair, oxygen evolving assembly and biosynthesis of photoprotective pigments (carotenoid and chl) also showed differential expression due to prolonged HL. Overall, our findings show that in Trebouxia the capacity to withstand high light conditions is highly species-specific, and not driven by phylogenetic relatedness, or climatic niche preference. We do not observe parallel patterns in species preferring similar climatic niches, with the exception of species from high elevation (Trebouxia S12 C0006 and A10 C0009), which exhibit generally high NPQ capacity.},
}
@article {pmid40973632,
year = {2025},
author = {Lefoulon, E and Bordenstein, SR and Carpenter, LR and Buchser, JL and Nowicki, CJ and Yakhnina, AA and Gutierrez, JB and Kaur, R and Imchen, M and Bordenstein, SR},
title = {Evolutionary Diversification and Functions of the Candidate Male Killing Gene wmk.},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/gbe/evaf179},
pmid = {40973632},
issn = {1759-6653},
abstract = {Symbiont-mediated male killing (MK) is a mechanism that selectively eliminates male offspring, often by disrupting sex-specific developmental processes. In Drosophila melanogaster, the WO-mediated killing gene wmk from Wolbachia prophage WO transgenically reproduces the MK phenotype, yet how the gene evolves and functions across diverse Wolbachia has not been systematically investigated. We analyzed 32 Wolbachia genomes available in the NCBI database to study wmk homologs across different arthropod hosts, reproductive parasitism functions, and Wolbachia supergroups. First, we report at least five distinct wmk phylogenetic clusters (Type I-V), often organized in multigenic dyads or triads. Second, among MK Wolbachia, there is a significantly higher number of wmk genes and diversity in Lepidoptera strains than in Drosophila strains, which exclusively harbor wmk Types I and III. Third, there are three patterns of wmk sequence and genomic organizational changes in Drosophila MK strains that associate with different evolutionary trajectories underpinning the MK phenotype. Fourth, single and combinatory transgenic expression of Types I and III in D. melanogaster uncovers male-biased lethality associated with Type I; however, dual expression of the Types together elicits a major reduction in offspring number. Fifth, wmk genes have low expression level across D. melanogaster developmental stages relative to the cifA and cifB genes, which could explain why cytoplasmic incompatibility is expressed in this system. These findings establish a complex and phylogenetically-informed genetic basis of wmk-induced lethality, highlighting the role of gene copy number and expression, wmk Types, and host background in shaping the phenotype.},
}
@article {pmid40973063,
year = {2025},
author = {Renicke, C and Swinhoe, N and Henderson, C and Meier, E and Ling, L and Keat, GL and Maruyama, S and Rangarajan-Paul, M and Pringle, JR and Cleves, PA},
title = {Development of genetic tools for the sea anemone Aiptasia, a model system for coral biology.},
journal = {Genetics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/genetics/iyaf194},
pmid = {40973063},
issn = {1943-2631},
abstract = {The reef-building corals can thrive in nutrient-poor waters because of the mutualistic symbiosis between the animal hosts and their photosynthetic dinoflagellate endosymbionts. This symbiosis is threatened by climate change and other anthropogenic stressors, so that a deeper mechanistic understanding of its function is not only of great basic biological interest but also crucial for developing rational approaches to coral conservation. The small sea anemone Aiptasia is an attractive model system for studies of this symbiosis but has been limited to date by a lack of effective genetic methods. Here, we describe the use of a simple electroporation protocol to introduce various genetic constructs [plasmid DNAs, mRNAs, and short-hairpin (sh) RNAs] into Aiptasia zygotes. Plasmid-based expression of reporter constructs in the resulting larvae was highly mosaic. In contrast, electroporation of mRNAs into zygotes resulted in uniform expression within the larvae, and success rates were similar when single or multiple mRNAs were introduced. The shRNAs were effective in knocking down expression of both co-electroporated mRNAs and endogenous genes. In this way, we could confirm the previously reported role of BRACHYURY in cnidarian embryonic development. In addition, we could show that knockdown of an Aiptasia homologue of the lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (Lamp1) interfered with larval uptake and/or retention of a symbiosis-compatible algal strain. The ability to use Aiptasia larvae for such reverse-genetic studies should greatly enhance the power of this model system and serve as a starting point for further development of genetic tools in Aiptasia and other cnidarians.},
}
@article {pmid40972461,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, N and Wang, Q and Du, S and Bao, Y and Shao, Y and Jin, L and Zhang, Y and Yan, M and Lee, PKH and Leung, KMY and Lam, PKS and Ruan, Y},
title = {Emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cause intestinal toxicity in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma).},
journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {289},
number = {},
pages = {107574},
doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107574},
pmid = {40972461},
issn = {1879-1514},
abstract = {Perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS) and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonate (6:2 Cl-PFESA) are emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) of growing concern due to their frequent detection in coastal environments and bioaccumulation in marine biota. Given structural similarities to legacy PFAS, it is hypothesized that these emerging PFAS may induce toxic effects on the digestive system in vivo. This study investigated the bioavailability and potential digestive damage of PFECHS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA using marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) as a model animal. Fish were chronically exposed (90 days post-fertilization) to PFECHS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA at environmentally relevant concentrations (nominal: 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 μg/L). Results demonstrated that 6:2 Cl-PFESA had a higher bioconcentration potential than PFECHS, and both emerging PFAS preferred accumulating in liver over intestines. PFECHS exposure caused alterations in intestinal digestive enzyme activities and substantial changes in intestinal microbial community in medaka. Compared with the 6:2 Cl-PFESA-exposure and control groups, PFECHS exposure decreased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides and Pseudomonas), while increased the relative abundance of Alkalimarinus and pathogenic bacteria Vibrio. Co-occurrence network analysis further revealed species interactions were less complex and cooperative in medaka exposed to PFECHS than 6:2 Cl-PFESA. These findings provide critical evidence for the toxic mechanisms of these emerging PFAS regarding their disruption of intestinal homeostasis, enzymatic function, and microbial symbiosis in marine fish.},
}
@article {pmid40972206,
year = {2025},
author = {Moore, OC and Richards, LA and Boothman, C and Shaw, S and Macaulay, BM and Polya, DA and van Dongen, BE and Lloyd, JR},
title = {Probing the mechanisms of Fe(III)/As(V) reduction and As mobilisation using mineral-coated sands; impact of electron donor treatments.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1001},
number = {},
pages = {180512},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180512},
pmid = {40972206},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {The release of geogenic arsenic into groundwater, driven by reductive dissolution of Fe(III)/As(V) oxide phases, poses a severe health risk to millions in South and Southeast Asia. However, the microbes and electron donors responsible for the reductive dissolution remain unclear, due to complex a(biotic) interactions in sediments (traditionally used in microcosm incubation studies). In this study, indigenous microbial communities were sampled from arsenic-prone aquifers in Kandal Province, Cambodia, by filtering groundwater through sands coated with Fe(III)/As(V) minerals. This provided a streamlined inocula to study fundamental Fe(III)/As(V) reduction processes in controlled laboratory experiments. Anoxic incubations with contrasting electron donors suggested that biolabile organics are the main drivers of Fe(III) and As(V) reduction in the sampled aquifers, but methane can also contribute to Fe(III) reduction (at a slower rate) in the absence of labile organics. Known Fe(III)-reducing bacteria (e.g. Geobacter and Geothrix) were implicated in Fe(III)/As(V) reduction. Methane-driven Fe(III) reduction appeared to be mediated by proteobacterial methanotrophs (e.g., Methylomonas and Methylosinus), either directly or via symbiotic interactions with Geobacter through labile organic intermediates (suggested by acetate generation) highlighting the flexibility of proteobacterial methanotrophs under anoxic conditions. No methane-driven As(V) reduction was implicated in this study, while nominal As(V) reduction driven by aquatic organics (sorbed from the groundwater during filtration) was evident in control incubations suggesting some decoupling between Fe(III) and As(V) reduction. Furthermore, the sand filtration approach offers a promising method for producing simplified inocula for further studies of microbe-organic-mineral interactions in arsenic-prone aquifers and other complex biogeochemical systems.},
}
@article {pmid40972194,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, M and Guo, J and Wang, X and Chang, X},
title = {Hazardous substances present in crop-livestock recycling system: hazards to animals and humans.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1001},
number = {},
pages = {180481},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180481},
pmid = {40972194},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between agriculture and animal husbandry has long been a cornerstone of sustainable farming practices. By integrating crop residues and animal wastes back into the farming system, this model promotes resource efficiency and reduces environmental footprints, delineating a path toward ecological farming. However, this system, while sustainable, is not without its challenges. Chief among these are the hazardous substances that can accumulate within the cycle, posing significant risks to animal health and, by extension, to human consumers. These substances can originate from multiple sources - including pesticide residues on crop remnants, heavy metals present in soils absorbed by plants, veterinary pharmaceuticals used in livestock, etc. Their presence within the recycling system necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their distribution patterns, the mechanisms through which they affect animal health, and the potential residual effects on human health through the consumption of animal products. This review aims to delve deeply into these issues. By reviewing recent five years researches and case studies, it seeks to characterize the occurrence, environmental fate, and toxicological effects of hazardous substances within the crop-livestock recycling system, with particular attention to their impacts on both target and non-target organisms. Furthermore, it investigates the physiological and biochemical pathways through which these substances exert detrimental effects on livestock, thereby shedding light on the complexities of their impacts. Understanding these facets is crucial for developing strategic interventions to mitigate these risks. Hence, our discussion will also explore potential solutions and management practices aimed at minimizing the presence and impact of hazardous substances within this integrated system, thereby ensuring its continued viability as a sustainable farming practice.},
}
@article {pmid40971526,
year = {2025},
author = {Decouard, B and Rigault, M and Quilleré, I and Boutet, S and Adam, G and Cueff, G and Perreau, F and Alunni, B and Dellagi, A},
title = {An aeroponic system to characterize maize root exudates in relation to N and P nutrition and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf356},
pmid = {40971526},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Root exudates play major roles in the recruitment of plant microbiota. The metabolic composition of root exudates varies according to plant developmental stage, nutrient availability, (a)biotic stresses and interaction with the root-associated microbiota, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which play a key role in plant mineral nutrition and stress tolerance. While it is well established that AMF can perceive plant root exudate compounds, little is known about plant root exudate modifications in response to AMF inoculation. Here, we developed an aeroponic-based culture system suitable for the analysis of maize root exudates during symbiosis with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis while controlling nutrient availability. We validated the functionality of the system by monitoring both maize root colonization by the AMF and the expression profile of symbiotic root marker genes. We then investigated the composition of root exudates (strigolactones and other specialized metabolites) from mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants grown under different N and P regimes. Comparisons of specialized metabolite profiles from root exudates, root tissues, and fungal extracts allowed us to identify candidate metabolic features specifically accumulating in mycorrhizal root exudates. Thus, we provide an innovative method to better understand the role of root exudate metabolites in shaping the microbiota of mycorrhizal plants.},
}
@article {pmid40970734,
year = {2025},
author = {Osland, HK and Gould, AL},
title = {The Siphamia-Photobacterium symbiosis: a binary vertebrate model for host-microbe interactions.},
journal = {Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0013225},
doi = {10.1128/mmbr.00132-25},
pmid = {40970734},
issn = {1098-5557},
abstract = {SUMMARYAs microbial communities are increasingly recognized as central to animal development and health, simplified animal models have become valuable tools for exploring the complex dynamics of these interactions. The mutualism between siphonfish (Siphamia spp.) and the bioluminescent bacterium Photobacterium mandapamensis offers a naturally occurring, binary, gut-associated symbiosis within a vertebrate host that is a promising system for investigating host-microbe interactions. Over the past decade, the application of genomic, ecological, and microbiological approaches has revealed high levels of strain-level variation within this highly specific and stable symbiosis, highlighting its value for exploring host control and microbial diversity in vertebrate systems. These discoveries demonstrate the potential of the Siphamia-P. mandapamensis system as a powerful model for investigating how vertebrate hosts regulate and maintain long-term bacterial associations, particularly within gut-associated partnerships, as well as the eco-evolutionary processes that shape these relationships. This review aims to consolidate recent findings, evaluate their broader implications for vertebrate-microbe interactions, and propose future directions for research using this association as a model system.},
}
@article {pmid40970722,
year = {2025},
author = {Mendoza-Guido, B and Rojas-Jimenez, K},
title = {Beyond plasmid addiction: the role of toxin-antitoxin systems in the selfish behavior of mobile genetic elements.},
journal = {Journal of bacteriology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0023225},
doi = {10.1128/jb.00232-25},
pmid = {40970722},
issn = {1098-5530},
abstract = {Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems were initially described as "addiction" modules that promote plasmid maintenance through a post-segregational killing (PSK) mechanism. In this process, the cells are forced to retain plasmids to avoid death caused by the longer half-life of the toxin compared to the antitoxin. However, TA systems have since been widely identified across a broad range of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), suggesting that TA systems support the maintenance of these MGEs within bacterial hosts and contribute to the exclusion of competing MGEs such as plasmids and phages. This perspective highlights their broader role beyond plasmid addiction, functioning as key components in safeguarding MGE persistence and enhancing MGE fitness. Therefore, the concept of "plasmid addiction" should be reconsidered as a subset of a more comprehensive phenomenon referred to as "MGE selfishness," which more accurately captures the widespread distribution and conserved, self-serving functions of TA systems across diverse MGEs. Additionally, TA systems facilitate the establishment of MGEs as "molecular symbionts" within bacterial cells. While initially considered parasitic, the relationships can evolve to provide mutual benefits for both the MGE and the host. From a gene-centered evolutionary perspective, the proposed molecular symbiosis may progress to a point where most of the MGE's original content is lost, leaving only essential genes that are retained and functionally co-opted by the host. Further studies should investigate the role of TA systems in MGEs beyond plasmids, as well as their evolutionary trajectories toward specialized functions that may influence the adaptation and evolution of key bacterial groups, including pathogens.},
}
@article {pmid40970586,
year = {2025},
author = {Peng, T and Rennenberg, H and Hu, B},
title = {Response of nitrogen-fixing plant symbioses to changing temperature.},
journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jipb.70041},
pmid = {40970586},
issn = {1744-7909},
support = {cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0002//Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau/ ; cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0020//Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is an effective strategy for legumes and actinorhizal plants to acquire atmospheric nitrogen (N2) for their growth and development. Like other enzymatic processes in roots, the efficiency of SNF is highly dependent on soil temperature. Since global atmospheric temperature change also affects soil temperature, it is essential to know the temperature response of different types of plant-microbial symbioses capable of SNF at the molecular, physiological, and ecosystem levels on air and soil temperature changes. This is of particular significance, because the ability of nitrogen-fixing microbial symbionts to deal with temperature changes in the soil can affect growth and development of legumes and actinorhizal plants and, hence, the sustainability of ecosystems in a changing climate. However, temperature response may differ between different groups of nitrogen-fixing microbial symbionts (e.g., rhizobia vs. Frankia) and between different strains of the same microbial symbiont. In the present review, we summarize current knowledge on the temperature response of SNF, describe unexplored research topics, and propose future basic and applied research avenues under controlled conditions and in field studies. It provides a holistic view on the subject to encourage interdisciplinary research on this subject which has been largely neglected during the last decades, but of increasing significance due to global climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40969425,
year = {2025},
author = {Marques, M and Pascoal, F and Villela, H and Santos, E and Baylina, N and Peixoto, RS and Keller-Costa, T and Costa, R},
title = {Selective shaping of prokaryotic communities and core symbiont maintenance suggest large-scale aquarium facilities as reservoirs of microbiome diversity in octocorals.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1651109},
pmid = {40969425},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Octocorals play a critical role in coral ecosystems, contributing to habitat complexity and marine biodiversity. Despite their ecological importance, the microbial communities associated with octocorals remain understudied, particularly under ex situ conditions.<br><br>METHODS: This study compared the prokaryotic communities of the tropical octocoral Litophyton sp., surrounding seawater, and sediments ("biotopes") from a natural Red Sea reef and a long-term tropical aquarium mesocosm designed to emulate natural reef ecosystems ("habitats"). Using high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we assessed community composition, diversity, and core taxa.<br><br>RESULTS: Distinct prokaryotic assemblages were associated with each biotope, with core symbionts persisting across habitats. While seawater communities diverged between habitats, sediment communities were compositionally more similar, dominated by Nitrosopumilaceae, Pirellulaceae, Woeseiaceae, and Flavobacteriaceae. Litophyton sp. harbored specific symbionts consistently across habitats. Alpha-diversity in Litophyton sp. did not differ significantly between habitats (ANOVA with Tukey's HSD, p&#x202f;>&#x202f;0.05), and beta-diversity patterns were also not significant (PERMANOVA, p&#x202f;>&#x202f;0.05). We identified 19 ASVs shared across Litophyton sp. habitats, dominated by Endozoicomonas, unclassified Campylobacterales, and Marivibrio. Several core families, such as Endozoicomonadaceae, Spirochaetaceae, and Kiloniellaceae were consistently associated with Litophyton sp. across habitats, indicating stability of specific host-microbe associations even after 25&#x202f;years in aquarium conditions. Phylogenetic analysis further demonstrated the selective maintenance of diverse Endozoicomonas lineages in aquarium-kept Litophyton specimens.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that large-scale aquarium ecosystems can preserve, to some extent, the structure and diversity of coral-associated microbiomes over extended time periods. By supporting key symbiotic taxa, multi-trophic integrated aquarium systems may serve as repositories for healthy coral-associated microbial communities and microbiome stewardship, underscoring their value in future conservation efforts to sustain the biodiversity of marine holobionts in the face of growing environmental challenges.},
}
@article {pmid40969384,
year = {2025},
author = {Pastor-Vallés, E and Abadías Llamas, A and Pettersen, JB},
title = {Carbon-Neutral Silicon via Aluminothermic Reduction? Exploring Industrial Symbiosis through Life Cycle Assessment.},
journal = {ACS sustainable chemistry &amp; engineering},
volume = {13},
number = {36},
pages = {14893-14902},
pmid = {40969384},
issn = {2168-0485},
abstract = {Silicon is conventionally produced by carbothermic reduction, which reduces quartz with a carbon source. An alternative process is the aluminothermic reduction, which uses an aluminum source instead, leading to a substantial decrease in direct CO2 emissions. This paper assesses a case study on industrial symbiosis by producing silicon through aluminothermic reduction using aluminum dross resourced as a reductant material. Various process alternatives are evaluated, with inventories constructed from thermodynamic process simulations and mass and energy balances. We find that the impact of global warming and cumulative energy demand can be reduced by up to 80% in the aluminothermic route. Still, other impacts increase due to the strong influence of the expected alternative use of the aluminum scrap fraction and the need for additional input materials. From the different process parameters and configurations studied in the aluminothermic route, recirculating carbonation gases, reprocessing the byproduct slags, and the use of surplus aluminum scrap hold the most significant potential. The methodology used in this article exemplifies the use of prospective Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in support of concept development to identify environmental hotspots and improvement potential in the early phases of production technologies.},
}
@article {pmid40968713,
year = {2025},
author = {Kawa, D and Schneider, HM and Kajala, K},
title = {Coordination of cortex modifications in time, space, and under stress.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70581},
pmid = {40968713},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {101162856/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; OCENW.XL.23.072//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) Domain Exacte en Natuurwetenschappen/ ; OCENW.XS24.4.111//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) Domain Exacte en Natuurwetenschappen/ ; VI.Vidi.193.104//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO) Domain Exacte en Natuurwetenschappen/ ; },
abstract = {In roots, cell-type-specific differentiation enables specialized responses to environmental stress. The cortex, located between the vasculature and epidermis, is a key site for stress-responsive modifications. The distinct specializations of the cortex are controlled by developmental, positional and environmental signals. Cortex layers are developmentally and transcriptionally diverse, with capacities of forming protective barriers such as endodermis and exodermis and other cell-type modifications such as multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma and aerenchyma to aid in edaphic stress tolerance. Additionally, the cortex is essential in forming nitrogen-fixing nodules and arbuscules, and therefore symbiotic interactions. These modifications enhance stress resilience by regulating the two-way fluxes of water, solutes and nutrients between the soil and the plant, increasing mechanical strength or facilitating biotic interactions. Understanding how cortex modifications coexist, synergize to influence plant fitness, or compensate for each other remains a challenge. Future research should focus on their combined effects across root types to reveal trade-offs and optimize stress protection.},
}
@article {pmid40968180,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, C and Maruyama, J and Murata, K and Suzaki, T and Nakabachi, A},
title = {Enigmatic tubular ultrastructure in the bacterial defensive symbiont of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri.},
journal = {Npj imaging},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {44},
pmid = {40968180},
issn = {2948-197X},
support = {RS-2024-00440289//National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; 21687020//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 2015-502//National Institute for Physiological Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {Candidatus Profftella armatura (Betaproteobacteria) is an organelle-like defensive symbiont inhabiting the symbiotic organ of a devastating citrus pest, the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri. Previous two-dimensional electron microscopy hinted at unprecedented ultrastructures in Profftella, but their precise architecture and composition were unknown. Here, using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy, high-voltage electron tomography, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we show that elongated Profftella cells (2.8-136 μm observed) contain multiple tubes (1-43 per cell) up to 45 μm long. These tubes, occupying ~6.3% of the cell volume, are composed of five or six fibers twisted into a right-handed helix with a consistent diameter of ~230 nm. Their stability under high vacuum suggests a mechanical support role in elongated Profftella. Close association with ribosomes implies a possible role in protein synthesis. Our findings provide insight into the structural adaptations of intracellular symbionts and may inform strategies for controlling citrus pests.},
}
@article {pmid40967913,
year = {2025},
author = {Jeon, MS and Hong, JM and Kim, J and Kim, J and Kim, S and Sohn, JH and Han, SJ and Yim, JH and Kim, IC},
title = {Anticancer Activity of Benzomalvin Derivatives Isolated from Penicillium spathulatum SF7354, a Symbiotic Fungus from Azorella monantha.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {e2505003},
doi = {10.4014/jmb.2505.05003},
pmid = {40967913},
issn = {1738-8872},
mesh = {Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects ; *Penicillium/isolation &amp; purification/chemistry/metabolism ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/isolation &amp; purification/chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; HCT116 Cells ; Chile ; Symbiosis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism ; Cell Cycle/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Penicillium spathulatum SF7354 was isolated from the extremophilic plant Azorella monantha collected in Chilean Patagonia and investigated for its anticancer potential. Crude extracts of SF7354 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against multiple human cancer cell lines, with the most pronounced effect observed in HCT116 cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that treatment with the extract induced time-dependent apoptosis and sub-G1 accumulation, indicating activation of programmed cell death. Cell cycle analysis further showed early G0/G1 arrest, followed by a progressive increase in apoptotic populations. Western blot analysis demonstrated notable alterations in PARP and p53 protein levels, suggesting a p53-dependent mechanism of apoptosis. HPLC-based purification of the extract led to the isolation of five benzomalvin derivatives (A-E), all of which exhibited dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that SF7354-derived benzomalvins act through apoptosis-associated mechanisms and represent promising candidates for the development of novel anticancer agents.},
}
@article {pmid40967910,
year = {2025},
author = {Lee, JK and Lee, MW and Moon, CY and Kim, JM and Bayburt, H and Choi, BJ and Jeon, CO},
title = {Carotenoid-Producing Qipengyuania algicola sp. nov. and Qipengyuania rhodophyticola sp. nov., Isolated from Marine Algae, and Emended Description of the Genus Qipengyuania Xu et al. 2020.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {e2507023},
doi = {10.4014/jmb.2507.07023},
pmid = {40967910},
issn = {1738-8872},
mesh = {Phylogeny ; Base Composition ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; *Carotenoids/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; *Rhodophyta/microbiology ; Ubiquinone ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Phospholipids/analysis ; Genome, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {Two Gram-stain-negative, facultatively aerobic, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains DGS2-2[T] (orange-pigmented) and DGS5-3[T] (yellow-pigmented), were isolated from marine red algae collected in Korea. Strain DGS2-2[T] grew at 20-40°C, pH 6.0-10.0, and in 1.0-6.0% (w/v) NaCl, while DGS5-3[T] grew at 15-40°C, pH 6.0-10.0, and in 2.0-6.0% NaCl. Ubiquinone-10 was the sole respiratory quinone. The G+C contents were 62.5% for DGS2-2[T] and 57.5% for DGS5-3[T]. Both strains contained summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c) and C16:0 as major fatty acids, and phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids. The 16S rRNA gene similarity (97.3%), average nucleotide identity (ANI, 72.0%), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH, 18.4%) values between the two strains were below the species delineation thresholds. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences placed both strains in distinct lineages within the genus Qipengyuania. ANI and dDDH values between each strain and Qipengyuania type strains were below 74.5% and 19.5%, respectively, supporting their designation as novel species. Genomic analyses identified putative genes associated with potential algal symbiotic traits, including the biosynthesis of vitamins, siderophores, and hormone-like compounds. Carotenoid biosynthetic genes were also identified, and LC/MS confirmed astaxanthin (DGS2-2[T]) and nostoxanthin (DGS5-3[T]) production. Based on genomic, phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic evidence, strains DGS2-2[T] and DGS5-3[T] represent two novel species of Qipengyuania, for which the names Qipengyuania algicola sp. nov. (DGS2-2[T] =KACC 23855[T] =JCM 37496[T]) and Qipengyuania rhodophyticola sp. nov. (DGS5-3[T] =KACC 23854[T] =JCM 37497[T]) are proposed.},
}
@article {pmid40967406,
year = {2025},
author = {Harwood, M and South, J and Dunn, AM and Stebbing, PD and Burgess, A and Bojko, J},
title = {Pathogen diversity of the non-native narrow-clawed crayfish (Pontastacus leptodactylus) in a UK water body.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108458},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108458},
pmid = {40967406},
issn = {1096-0805},
abstract = {Biological invasions are intrinsically linked to introducing associated symbiotic organisms, some of which can be parasitic or pathogenic. The pathogenic risk of an 'invasive parasite' (aka. exotic pathogen) stems from its potential to infect native hosts and induce behavioural change or mortality, with the pathogen potentially presenting a greater risk than the host. Conversely, parasites translocated by invasive hosts may also reduce the impact of their host, indirectly curbing the hosts impact on the invaded ecosystem. In this study, we develop a pathogen profile for the narrow-clawed crayfish, Pontastacus leptodactylus. This is a non-native species in the United Kingdom, and poses a possible risk as a sink for invasive parasites. We use histopathology, metagenomics and metratranscriptomics to outline the symbiotic diversity harboured by a P. leptodactylus population from West Yorkshire, England. We discovered several protozoan and bacterial species that appear to be putatively commensal with this invader, as well as several RNA viruses (Hepelivirales; Picornavirales; Nodaviridae, and others) that may be more pathogenic in nature. Microsporidia and Nudiviridae were absent in our population sample set, as were all metazoan obligate parasites, such as trematodes and acanthocephalans. Using the novel genomic and pathological data available to us, we have explored the evolutionary history of each symbiotic species and provided an initial assessment on the putative risk to native species.},
}
@article {pmid40966643,
year = {2025},
author = {Brown, A and Proulx, S},
title = {Evolution of phenotypic polymorphism in symbiont-pairing in plant-fungal symbiosis.},
journal = {Evolution; international journal of organic evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/evolut/qpaf170},
pmid = {40966643},
issn = {1558-5646},
abstract = {Temporal environmental variation presents a challenge to organisms, because the optimal phenotype may vary with time. This is particularly problematic for populations in spatially uniform environments, because spatial variation is generally required to maintain genotypic polymorphism. One solution is to produce offspring that share a genotype but have developmental randomness that causes them to vary in phenotype - i.e., to be phenotypically polymorphic. This is known as adaptive coin-flipping or (in some cases) diversifying bet-hedging. Here we investigate how the environment and trait expression affect the initial evolution of polyphenism, as well as the optimal polyphenic traits and frequency of trait expression. We focus on the case of plants allocating resources to mycorrhizal partners. We find that the optimal traits to express polyphenically are close to, but not the same as, the best single trait in each environmental state alone. Similarly, the optimal frequency of expressing each trait is close, but not identical, to the frequency of the environmental states. This reflects the benefit of being somewhat conservative in trait values, to reduce the mismatch between trait and environment, and somewhat risk-taking in trait expression frequency, to capture the benefit of expressing the "right" trait in the more frequent environment.},
}
@article {pmid40965965,
year = {2025},
author = {Sbissi, I and Boussoufa, D and Kammoun, I and Hamra, R and Dali, H and Tarhouni, M and Gtari, M},
title = {Description of Neorhizobium tunisiense sp. nov., reclassification of Neorhizobium xiangyangii as Pseudorhizobium xiangyangii comb. nov. and proposal of Terrirhizobium terrae gen. nov., comb. nov. to accommodate the divergent species Aliirhizobium terrae.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006912},
pmid = {40965965},
issn = {1466-5034},
mesh = {*Phylogeny ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Tunisia ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Alphaproteobacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {The taxonomic affiliations, genomic divergence and ecological potential of strains IRAMC 0178ᵀ and IRAMC 0179, isolated from nodules of Retama raetam growing in coastal northern Tunisia, were investigated using genome-scale phylogenomics, average nucleotide identity (ANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and protein metrics (average amino acid identity, percentage of conserved proteins and core-proteome average amino acid identity). Taxogenomic, ecogenomic and phenotypic analyses were used to classify strains IRAMC 0178ᵀ and IRAMC 0179 - each isolated from nodules of distinct R. raetam trees in northern Tunisia - and to revise the taxonomic status of Neorhizobium xiangyangii and Aliirhizobium terrae. Strain IRAMC 0178ᵀ (=HAMBI 3839=CGMCC 1.65424=DSM 119302[T]) was placed in Neorhizobium, showing low genomic similarity to known species (dDDH <45% and ANI <93%) supporting its recognition as a novel genomic species. Its distinct phenotypic characteristics further justify the proposal of the new species Neorhizobium tunisiense sp. nov. Further genomic analyses revealed discrepancies in the current taxonomy, supporting the reclassification of N. xiangyangii as Pseudorhizobium xiangyangii comb. nov. and the transfer of A. terrae to the newly proposed genus Terrirhizobium terrae gen. nov., comb. nov. Several non-nodulating Neorhizobium strains, including IRAMC 0178ᵀ, either lacked or carried incomplete nod and nif gene sets, suggesting a loss of symbiotic capacity across these lineages. However, strains retained diverse plant growth-promoting traits and stress-adaptive functions. Notably, N. tunisiense sp. nov. exhibited genomic features indicative of a rhizosphere-associated lifestyle, such as osmoprotective systems, moderate growth rates and metabolic versatility. These results highlight the diverse evolutionary pathways within Rhizobiaceae, including both symbiotic and non-symbiotic lineages, and emphasize the overlooked genomic diversity with potential implications for sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40965139,
year = {2025},
author = {Kim, M and Kamagata, Y and Park, S-J},
title = {Genomics and physiological characterizations of an acidotolerant nitrite-oxidizing Nitrospira enriched from freshwater pond.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0152225},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01522-25},
pmid = {40965139},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) play a crucial role in global nitrogen cycling, yet their presence and adaptations in acidic environments remain poorly understood. This study unveils the cultivation and characterization of a novel acid-tolerant NOB, NS4 culture, affiliated with lineage II (Nitrospira_D) within the genus Nitrospira. Enriched and isolated from a freshwater pond sediment, NS4 culture exhibits remarkable physiological and genomic traits that shed light on NOB survival strategies in low pH conditions. NS4 culture demonstrates the optimal growth at pH 6 and 0.5 mM nitrite concentration, with a maximum growth rate of 0.62 day[-1]. Kinetic analyses reveal a high affinity for nitrite (Km(app) = 4.02 µM), suggesting adaptation to oligotrophic environments. Phylogenomic and genomic-relatedness analyses position NS4 culture as a novel member within the genus Nitrospira, for which we propose as "Candidatus Nitrospira acidotolerans." Genomic investigations indicate the presence of a complete reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle and genes for nitrite oxidation, confirming its chemolithoautotrophic lifestyle. Intriguingly, NS4 genome lacks complete pathways for cobalamin biosynthesis, implying a potential dependence on symbiotic partners for this essential cofactor. The NS4 genome harbors genes associated with acid resistance, including chaperones, transporters, and amino acid metabolism, suggesting a genetic potential for adaptation or resistance to low pH conditions. This discovery expands our understanding of NOB diversity and adaptability, offering insights into nitrogen cycling in acid-impacted ecosystems. The physiological and genomic traits of this acid-tolerant NOB open new insights for exploring the ecological significance of NOB in previously overlooked acidic habitats.IMPORTANCENitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) are integral to the global nitrogen cycle, yet their adaptations to acidic environments remain poorly understood. This study introduces Candidatus Nitrospira acidotolerans, an acid-tolerant NOB highly enriched from freshwater pond sediment. By combining physiological and genomic analyses, this work reveals unique adaptations that enable survival and nitrite oxidation under low pH conditions. Notably, the NS4 culture demonstrates high nitrite affinity and resistance to acidic stress, suggesting its ecological significance in acid-impacted ecosystems. Additionally, NS4 genomic traits reveal genetic potential of metabolic dependencies, including reliance on symbiotic partners for cobalamin synthesis. These findings expand our understanding of NOB diversity and their role in nitrogen cycling under extreme conditions, offering novel insights into microbial ecology and potential applications in managing nitrogen processes in acidic environments.},
}
@article {pmid40964997,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, K and Sun, S and Tang, X and Jiao, H and Weng, J and Xu, H and Li, S and Lv, M},
title = {Gastrointestinal Environment Intelligent-Responsive Nanozyme for the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Helicobacter pylori Infection.},
journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e05845},
doi = {10.1002/smll.202505845},
pmid = {40964997},
issn = {1613-6829},
support = {20250323//Youth Talent Support Program of Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology/ ; L2024-ZDYF-ZDYF-SF-0041//Xianyang Key Research and Development Plan project/ ; 2024-KJXX-06//Science and Technology Youth Stars Project of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine/ ; //Research and Innovation Team of Haojing College/ ; HJTD05//Shaanxi University of Science and Technology/ ; 82405030//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82404903//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 306-171020323004//Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine/ ; },
abstract = {Helicobacter pylori is a pathogen that can withstand the pH levels in the stomach and cause gastric infections. It is widely recognized as a major risk factor for gastric diseases, and its eradication could effectively treat peptic ulcers and gastritis, and reduce the mortality rate of gastric cancer. However, the antibiotic combination therapies typically used to eradicate H. pylori can disrupt the gut microbiota. Therefore, this study presents a gastrointestinal environment intelligent-responsive nanozyme (CeOSL) for treatment of multidrug-resistant H. pylori infections and regulation of inflammation. The oxidase-like activity of CeOSL is activated in the gastric juice and mucus, which generates superoxide radicals that eradicate H. pylori. Furthermore, CeOSL can scavenge reactive oxygen species to alleviate inflammation in the gastric epithelium with no significant effect on symbiotic microbiota, which addresses the pathological conditions associated with H. pylori infections. This pH-modulated nanozyme approach provides a safer and more effective strategy for treatment of H. pylori infections.},
}
@article {pmid40964675,
year = {2025},
author = {Corona-Guerrero, I and Maitre, A and Abuin-Denis, L and Morales-García, R and Almazán, C and Obregón, D and Cabezas-Cruz, A and Mosqueda, J},
title = {Babesia bovis infection alters the composition and assembly of Rhipicephalus microplus midgut microbiota.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1608409},
pmid = {40964675},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Babesia bovis is one of the main causative agents of bovine babesiosis. Livestock farmers are constantly struggling to control the population of the tick vector and reduce babesiosis outbreaks. For this reason, the development of new control strategies is necessary. Tick microbiota consists of a diverse group of symbiotic, commensal, and pathogenic microorganisms. It has been shown that altering the microbiota population prevents the transmission of apicomplexan pathogens. This work represents a primary exploratory approach to determine the changes B. bovis infection causes in the microbiota of R. microplus.<br><br>METHODS: Two calves were infested with R. microplus larvae; next, one of the calves was splenectomized and infected with Babesia bovis. Fifteen days after the infestation, engorged females were collected from each calf. Collected ticks were separated into two groups: 0 h and 72 h. Ticks from the 0 h group were dissected to extract their midgut the same day they were collected, while midgut dissection of the other group was done after 72 h of incubation. Thus, samples were separated into 4 experimental groups depending on their infection status and the time of the dissection. Total DNA was purified and the V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq technology.<br><br>RESULTS: Data analysis showed fewer complex networks with reduced connectivity in infected ticks compared to the uninfected group. In both groups, the tick microbiota networks showed reduced node density at 72 h post-repletion. Different keystone taxa were found in all groups, indicating that midgut microbiota assembly is influenced by both tick developmental stage and the infection with B. bovis.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Results of this work aim to serve as a steppingstone in the development of anti-tick microbiota vaccines capable of impairing both the life cycle of R. microplus and B. bovis transmission.},
}
@article {pmid40964674,
year = {2025},
author = {Gu, K and Liu, X and Liu, M and Wei, X and Li, J and Hu, Y and Jiang, Y and Chen, Y and Wang, D and Yang, Y and Su, J and Wang, L},
title = {Tobacco intercropping enhances soil fertility by improving synergic interactions between soil physicochemical and microbial properties.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1647493},
pmid = {40964674},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Intercropping tobacco with other crops has been shown to upregulate soil health by fostering synergistic interactions between physicochemical and microbial properties. This study aims to evaluate the impact of intercropping on physicochemical attributes, rhizospheric microbial community, and functional dynamics of soil cultivated with tobacco plants.<br><br>METHODS: A field experiment was comprised with five treatments, such as tobacco monoculture (TT), soybean monoculture (SS), maize monoculture (MM), tobacco-soybean intercropping (TS), and tobacco-maize intercropping (TM). Soil nutrients observed, while bacterial and fungal community profiles were assessed through high-throughput sequencing targeting the 16S rDNA and ITS hypervariable regions. Microbial interactions and network resilience were assessed through co-occurrence network analysis.<br><br>RESULTS: Intercropping significantly improved the soil nutrient properties. Compared with tobacco monoculture (TT), the tobacco-soybean intercropping (TS) treatment enhanced cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) by 13.9, 13.9, 43.8, and 129.1%, respectively. Tobacco-maize intercropping (TM) enhanced CEC (26.7%) and AK (9.7%). Both intercropping models significantly increased bacterial species richness in tobacco soil, whereas fungal diversity was more pronounced under monoculture conditions. Intercropping favored the proliferation of Proteobacteria and Basidiomycota, while concurrently suppressing Ascomycota. Tobacco-maize intercropping specifically augmented nitrifying bacteria and Actinobacteria, while tobacco-soybean intercropping predominantly facilitated the recruitment of symbiotic fungi. Intercropping intensified microbial network complexity and modularity, upregulate ecosystem resilience to disturbances. Mantel analysis indicated that the bacterial community structure was primarily influenced by soil pH, whereas fungal communities exhibited strong combinations with available potassium and phosphorus.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Intercropping systems substantially improved soil ecological functionality by modulating microbial community composition and nutrient dynamics. Tobacco-maize intercropping reinforced soil ecosystem stability through enrichment of functional microorganisms and optimization of community architecture, while tobacco-soybean intercropping leveraged nitrogen fixation by legumes to augment nitrogen availability and facilitate the establishment of nitrogen-cycling microbes, demonstrating superior efficacy in enhancing soil fertility. These findings suggest that tobacco intercropping can be sustainable agricultural strategy to maintain soil health and productivity in the era of climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40964264,
year = {2025},
author = {Prezza, G and Fansler, RT and Guest, T and Mädler, G and Schlauch, H and Zhu, W and Westermann, AJ},
title = {An RNA regulates iron homeostasis and host mucus colonization in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.09.08.672848},
pmid = {40964264},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria in the human intestinal microbiota provide many pivotal functions to human health and occupy distinct biogeographic niches within the gut. Yet the molecular basis underlying niche-specific colonization remains poorly defined. To address this, we conducted a time-resolved dual RNA-seq experiment to simultaneously monitor the transcriptional co-adaptations of human commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and human gut epithelial cells in an anaerobe-epithelium co-culture system. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of mucus-associated versus supernatant Bacteroides populations unveiled small RNAs (sRNAs) that are differentially regulated between spatially segregated subpopulations. Among these, we identified IroR as a key sRNA that facilitates B. thetaiotaomicron adaptation to the mucus-rich, iron-limiting niche, partly by modulating expression of bacterial capsule genes. This work provides new insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of gut colonization and underscores a previously underappreciated role for bacterial sRNAs in shaping mutualistic interactions between the human microbiota and the gut epithelium.},
}
@article {pmid40964126,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, X and Zhang, F and Yin, Y and Cui, J and Li, J and Xu, J and Hu, X and Tian, Y and Zhou, W and Wu, X and Li, S and Li, K},
title = {[Thoughts and Explorations on the Cultivation of Top Innovative Talents in Nursing With Chinese Characteristics in the New Era].},
journal = {Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition},
volume = {56},
number = {3},
pages = {881-886},
pmid = {40964126},
issn = {1672-173X},
mesh = {China ; Humans ; *Education, Nursing ; *Nursing/trends ; },
abstract = {The cultivation of top innovative nursing talents with Chinese characteristics in the new era lends critical support to the accomplishment of the strategic goal of the Healthy China Initiative. Herein, we reviewed the historical development of nursing science in China, clarified the conceptual framework of nursing science with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and identified the essential qualities and competencies required for top innovative nursing talents. Furthermore, we analyzed the mission and challenges in cultivating these nursing talents, and put forward new approaches, including formulating new ethics and political education theories specific to nursing science with Chinese characteristics, establishing a cross-disciplinary educational model of Nursing + X, and creating a new nursing talent cultivation ecosystem adapted to the era of human-machine symbiosis. This study provides theoretical insights into the cultivation of top innovative nursing talents who align their development well with national strategic needs, embody patriotism, and possess a strong sense of contemporary responsibility.},
}
@article {pmid40963255,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, L and Guo, S and Zhang, J and Field, KJ and Baquerizo, MD and de Souza, TAF and Lee, SJ and Hijri, M and Shang, X and Sun, D and Cao, H and Feng, S and Wang, L and Ji, H and Van der Heijden, M and Siddique, KHM and Gan, GY},
title = {ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL NETWORKS-A CLIMATE-SMART BLUEPRINT FOR AGRICULTURE.},
journal = {Plant communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101526},
doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101526},
pmid = {40963255},
issn = {2590-3462},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal symbiosis offers a transformative solution in mitigating agroecosystem challenges linked with synthetic chemical overuse. However, the potential of AM-plant communications in response to anthropogenic activities and hyphal network functionality remains poorly understood. Here, we reposition AM fungal hyphosphere networks as keystone ecological infrastructure for sustainable agroecosystems. Synthesizing thousands of worldwide experimental studies reveals the main environmental functions of AM fungi-plant communication: enhancing agroecosystem resilience by buffering crops against various (a)biotic stressors through molecular signaling and physiological changes; mediating energy transferring via small RNA-mediated cross-kingdom interactions; facilitating hydraulic redistribution in the soil profile via hyphospheric network; and optimizing root architecture via effective colonization for nutrient acquisition. Some anthropogenic practices-soil disturbance, non-mycorrhizal crop monoculture, and fungicide use-disrupt AM hyphal networks; however, those can be minimized through improved farming practices, such as cropping diversification with legumes and AM fungi-compatible crops, AM-responsive plant genotypes, effective AM fungal inoculation, and microbial consortia amendments. Bridging AM fungal mechanisms with anthropogenic practices and policy supports is essential to scale AM benefits to various ecoregions. Exploring AM fungal functionality can increase nutrient use efficiency, reduce chemical inputs, and enhance ecosystem productivity, offering a microbial-centric blueprint in helping the UN's sustainability goals.},
}
@article {pmid40962757,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, YY and Wu, HX and Liu, GJ and Liu, RJ and Wang, SZ and He, M},
title = {[Distribution Characteristics of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Microbial Communities in the Surface Water Environment of Chaohu Lake].},
journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue},
volume = {46},
number = {9},
pages = {5650-5658},
doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202408021},
pmid = {40962757},
issn = {0250-3301},
mesh = {*Lakes/microbiology ; China ; *Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; *Water Microbiology ; Environmental Monitoring ; Bacteria/genetics ; Fresh Water/microbiology ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; },
abstract = {As the fifth largest lake in China， Chaohu Lake plays a pivotal role in bolstering the coastal economy and is instrumental to the livelihood of the substantial population residing around its shores. Moreover， it harbors a multitude of distinctive biological species that are characteristic of the region. The pollution problem of Chaohu Lake has been a concern for many decades， and many scholars have conducted antibiotic research around the lake. However， there remains a lack of in-depth research on the microbial community and antibiotic resistance genes （ARGs） in the water environment of Chaohu Lake. Surface water samples were collected from five sampling points established in Chaohu Lake. Point CH1 is the only outlet of the Yuxi River in Chaohu Lake， CH2 is the center of Donghu Lake， CH3 is the center of Zhonghu Lake， CH4 is the inlet of the Nanfei River with heavy pollution in the surrounding area， and CH5 is the center of Xihu Lake， which can better reflect the overall condition of the surface water environment of Chaohu Lake. The distribution characteristics of microorganisms and ARGs in the surface water of Chaohu Lake were analyzed thoroughly by using high-throughput sequencing technology. The study found that Proteobacteria， Actinobacteria， and Bacteroidetes were the three dominant phyla of the microbial communities in the surface water of Chaohu Lake and that there were spatial differences in the composition of microbial communities at different points. A total of 146 subtypes of 14 classes of ARGs were detected in the surface water of Chaohu Lake， with aminoglycoside， multi-drug， and sulfonamide ARGs being the main ones. Affected by human activities， the degree of antibiotic pollution in Chaohu Lake has intensified， with the pollution level in the western half of the lake being higher than the level in the eastern half. The microbial diversity and abundance of ARGs in Chaohu Lake are higher in the western half of the lake （CH4 and CH5）， and the overall trend of higher in the west and lower in the east in terms of geographical location may be related to this result. Network co-occurrence analysis was conducted on the top 15 ARGs with relative abundance and microbial phyla. The result showed that there was a high degree of connectivity between microbial communities and ARGs， revealing a significant correlation between microbial communities and ARGs in the surface water of Chaohu Lake. Among them， phyla Armatimonadetes， Firmicutes， Bacteroidetes， and Cyanobacteria had the highest connectivity， and may be potential hosts for multidrug resistance of ARGs. The research results of this in-depth analysis of the microorganisms and ARGs in Chaohu Lake provide data support for the prevention and control of new pollutants in the lake. They also emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring and in-depth research on the relationship between microbial communities and ARGs in the water environment of Chaohu Lake， which provide a scientific basis for water environment management and public health safety of the lake， and a commitment to ensuring the ecological security and public health safety of the local water environment.},
}
@article {pmid40962294,
year = {2025},
author = {Bithell, SL and Asif, MA and Chowdhury, J and Kamiri, AK and Snijders, F and Harden, S and Plett, KL and Plett, JM},
title = {Genetic Insights Into Pathways Supporting Optimized Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Chickpea and Their Interaction With Disease Resistance Breeding.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {5},
pages = {e70514},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70514},
pmid = {40962294},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {DAN00172//Grains Research and Development Corporation/ ; DAN00213 (BLG205)//Grains Research and Development Corporation/ ; },
mesh = {*Cicer/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; *Disease Resistance/genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci/genetics ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology/genetics ; Mesorhizobium/physiology ; *Plant Breeding ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Genotype ; Phytophthora/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {In chickpea (Cicer arietinum), a globally important grain legume, improvements in yield stability are required to address food security and agricultural land loss. One approach is to improve both nutrient acquisition through symbiosis with rhizobial bacteria and biotic stress resistance. To support the simultaneous selection of multiple beneficial traits, we sought to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes linked to improved plant-microbe symbiosis both under symbiosis-promotive growth conditions and when pathogens are present. Our aims were to use the chickpea-Mesorhizobium rhizobial model to identify QTL associated with biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and nutrient acquisition and understand factors promotive of sustained BNF under biotic stress through the impact of Phytophthora root rot (PRR) on BNF across chickpea genotypes on host gene expression. Using two chickpea × C. echinospermum recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, we identified QTL associated with BNF and several associated with macro- and micro-nutrient status of chickpea. From within a set of the most PRR-resistant RIL (n = 70), we successfully identified RIL with both high PRR resistance and N sourced from BNF. In conditions of the tripartite (host:rhizobia:pathogen) interaction, while there was no consistent pathogen impact on the abundance of Mesorhizobium in nodules, PRR-resistant genotypes maintained a higher activity of their N-assimilation genes, while susceptible genotypes repressed these genes. This improved understanding of the genetic support of BNF in chickpea will allow selection for material that maintains higher BNF and is more disease resistant, which together may improve yield stability in chickpea.},
}
@article {pmid40962161,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, LB and Cao, X and Shi, W and Shen, D and Wang, MN and Wang, JY and Ning, JH and Hu, JY and Duan, DZ and Wang, XL and Xiao, J},
title = {Acroeremophilanes A-I, eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids from the Sinomenium acutum-derived symbiotic fungus Acrocalymma cycadis.},
journal = {Phytochemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {114677},
doi = {10.1016/j.phytochem.2025.114677},
pmid = {40962161},
issn = {1873-3700},
abstract = {This study separated nine previously undescribed highly oxygenated eremophilane sesquiterpenoids, designated as acroeremophilanes A-I (1-9), as well as three identified analogs (10-12), in the symbiotic fungus Acrocalymma cycadis derived from Sinomenium acutum. Structural elucidation of the metabolites was achieved using 1D and 2D NMR; HR-ESI-TOF-MS; single-crystal X-ray diffraction; and ECD spectra calculations. Notably, acroeremophilane A (1) was identified as an unusual chlorinated nor-eremophilane sesquiterpenoid incorporating an α,β-unsaturated ketone unit with an enol fragment. Acroeremophilanes F-H (6-8) were characterized as rare glycosylated eremophilane sesquiterpenoids derived from the symbiotic fungus. The in vitro cytotoxicities showed that C-1 substituted chlorinated eremophilane sesquiterpenoids displayed obvious cytotoxicity, in which acroeremophilane C (3) exhibited potent cytotoxicity to HeLa and A549 cells, and IC50 values were 2.89 and 4.55 μM, separately. The results of the apoptosis assays indicated that compound 3 primarily induces apoptotic cell death.},
}
@article {pmid40961934,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Jin, X and Li, J and Dini-Andreote, F and Li, H and Khashi U Rahman, M and Du, M and Wu, F and Wei, Z and Zhou, X and van der Heijden, MGA and Rillig, MC},
title = {Common mycorrhizal networks facilitate plant disease resistance by altering rhizosphere microbiome assembly.},
journal = {Cell host &amp; microbe},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.08.016},
pmid = {40961934},
issn = {1934-6069},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can interconnect the roots of individual plants by forming common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs). These symbiotic structures can act as conduits for interplant communication. Despite their importance, the mechanisms of signal transfer via CMNs and their implications for plant community performance remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that CMNs act as a pathway to elicit defense responses in healthy receiver plants connected to pathogen-infected donors. Specifically, we show that donor plants infected by the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea transfer jasmonic acid via CMNs, which then act as a chemical signal in receiver plants. This signal transfer to receiver plants induces shifts in root exudates, promoting the recruitment of specific microbial taxa (Streptomyces and Actinoplanes) that are directly linked to the suppression of B. cinerea infection. Collectively, our study reveals that CMNs act as interplant chemical communication conduits, transferring signals that contribute to plant disease resistance via modulation of the rhizosphere microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40961931,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, L and Yang, Q and Liu, M and Lin, S and Hua, W and Shi, D and Yan, J and Shi, X and Hoffmann, AA and Zhu, B and Liang, P},
title = {Symbiotic bacteria mediate chemical-insecticide resistance but enhance the efficacy of a biological insecticide in diamondback moth.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.09.022},
pmid = {40961931},
issn = {1879-0445},
}
@article {pmid40961929,
year = {2025},
author = {Fang, J and Wang, X and Li, L and Liu, J and Fang, L and Xiao, Y and Wang, Y and Fang, Z},
title = {A sucrose transporter from Gongronella butleri w5 mediates plant-fungus-bacteria interaction.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.08.043},
pmid = {40961929},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Beneficial fungi in the plant rhizosphere connect plants and soil bacteria by releasing carbon sources as a bridge. Sucrose, a direct product of plant photosynthesis, plays a crucial role in this process. Here, we report that the sucrose transporter (SUT) protein GspSUT1 worked as a key regulator in the plant-beneficial fungus Gongronella butleri w5 (w5) and promoted plant growth by modulating carbon allocation during plant-fungus-bacteria interactions. The GspSUT1 expression was upregulated during the w5-plant interaction, accompanied by a decrease in sucrose in the root of Actinidia chinensis var. Chinensis "Hongyang." Knocking down the expression level of GspSUT1 through host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) led to the accumulation of sucrose in the plant root and a reduction in the release of monosaccharides into the environment, which in turn decreased the abundance of soil nitrogen-fixing bacteria and lowered the available nitrogen content in the soil, thereby weakening the ability of w5 to promote plant growth. Our research suggested that GspSUT1 from w5 played a crucial role in promoting plant growth and proved that the SUTs in beneficial fungi can influence soil microbial composition by regulating carbon allocation during plant-fungus-bacteria interactions, thereby improving soil nutrient availability and promoting plant growth.},
}
@article {pmid40961676,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, J and Sun, H and Ji, Y and He, Q and Chen, L and Han, Y and Bi, P and Zhu, L},
title = {Niche differentiation drives microbial community assembly in an anaerobic/oxic/anoxic-aerobic granular sludge (AOA-AGS) system: Insights into Anammox self-enrichment.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {288},
number = {Pt A},
pages = {124615},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.124615},
pmid = {40961676},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Integrating anammox into the anaerobic/oxic/anoxic-aerobic granular sludge (AOA-AGS) process presents a promising strategy for low-carbon wastewater treatment. Operating under low dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions, the AOA-AGS system enables in situ enrichment of anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) via sludge granulation. This study addresses two key questions: how to drive AnAOB self-enrichment during AGS formation and how microbial aggregates of different sizes contribute to the balance between nitrogen and phosphorus removal. In an AOA-AGS sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operated at a DO concentration of 0.30 mg/L, AnAOB self-enrichment was successfully achieved (0-1.25 %). The system demonstrated efficient and stable nutrients removal, with removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total inorganic nitrogen (TIN), and total phosphorus (TP) reaching 88.70 ± 4.96 %, 84.24 ± 3.59 %, and 96.76 ± 1.67 %, respectively. Microbial community assembly was primarily governed by deterministic processes, with niche differentiation facilitating the enrichment of AnAOB. The granular sludge exhibited a broader niche breadth (0.6596) compared to flocculent sludge (0.5885), supporting the coexistence of AnAOB and other functional microorganisms. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed cooperative or symbiotic relationship among functional bacteria (positive correlations accounted for 54.89 %), with 10 keystone taxa collectively shaping microbial community and function. Functionally, large granules (500-2000 μm) exhibited greater anammox capacity, and large flocs (100-200 μm) and small granules (200-500 μm) contributed to simultaneous nitrification and endogenous denitrification (SNED), whereas small flocs (<100 μm) exhibited stronger phosphorus metabolism potential. Phosphorus-rich flocs were selectively discharged, while AnAOB were effectively retained within granules. These findings offer practical insights for optimizing AOA-AGS system and advancing energy-efficient wastewater treatment technologies.},
}
@article {pmid40961203,
year = {2025},
author = {Girard, EB and Del Rio-Hortega, L and Pratama, AMA and Volkenandt, S and Macher, JN and Wilken, S and Renema, W},
title = {Specific host-algae relationship, yet flexible bacterial microbiome, in diatom-bearing foraminifera.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {11},
number = {38},
pages = {eadx4098},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adx4098},
pmid = {40961203},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Diatoms/microbiology/genetics ; *Foraminifera/microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Whether the adaptive strategies of marine mixotrophs, organisms that combine heterotrophic and autotrophic nutrition, in response to global change are rooted in their symbiotic relationships is debated, especially for larger benthic foraminifera. Despite their importance in the ecosystem, there are controversial findings regarding the specificity of their algal endobionts, preventing a deeper understanding of their adaptive strategies. Using single-cell metabarcoding on 243 diatom-bearing foraminifera specimens from Indonesia, we found one highly dominant diatom strain in each foraminiferal host species bearing at least 90% of the reads in a majority of host species, whereas the bacterial community was very flexible, with only 25% of the variation explained by water depth, substrate type, location, and host species. Our results suggest that the adaptive strategy of the foraminiferal holobiont rather lies within its bacterial endobiome. Its dynamism likely facilitates the adaptive potential of foraminifera, supporting their proliferation across different environmental settings.},
}
@article {pmid40960226,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, X and Ren, Z and Cao, D and Shao, Z and Liu, M and Huang, Y},
title = {Pre-Colonization of Bacillus siamensis on Ocular Surface Mitigates Fusarium keratitis Through Direct Antifungal Activity and Pre-Activation of NF-κB Pathway.},
journal = {Investigative ophthalmology &amp; visual science},
volume = {66},
number = {12},
pages = {38},
doi = {10.1167/iovs.66.12.38},
pmid = {40960226},
issn = {1552-5783},
mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *NF-kappa B/metabolism ; *Eye Infections, Fungal/microbiology/metabolism ; *Bacillus/physiology ; *Fusariosis/microbiology/metabolism ; *Keratitis/microbiology/metabolism ; *Fusarium/isolation &amp; purification ; *Antifungal Agents/pharmacology ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Male ; Female ; Disease Models, Animal ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; *Corneal Ulcer/microbiology ; Blotting, Western ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Cornea/microbiology ; },
abstract = {PURPOSE: Fungal keratitis (FK) is a severe ocular disease that leads to corneal ulceration and permanent vision loss. The ocular surface microbiota comprises beneficial symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate beneficial bacterial strains from the ocular surface and evaluate their effect on Fusarium infections.<br><br>METHODS: Alterations in the ocular surface microbiota of patients with FK were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Candidate bacteria were isolated from mouse eyeballs and evaluated for antifungal activity. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and culture were used to determine the colonization efficiency of Bacillus siamensis (B. siamensis). In addition, its biological safety was assessed. The effects of B. siamensis pre-colonization on Fusarium keratitis were evaluated using slit-lamp examination, clinical scoring, optical coherence tomography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and RNA sequencing. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were used to assess its effects of on NF-&#x3ba;B signaling and inflammation, whereas flow cytometry was used to measure changes in immune cell populations following B. siamensis pre-colonization.<br><br>RESULTS: Ocular surface microbiota of patients with FK had significantly low levels of Bacilli. B. siamensis exhibited significant direct antifungal activity with minimal toxicity. Pre-colonization with B. siamensis mitigated FK-associated corneal edema and opacity, structural damage, inflammation, and fungal burden. Additionally, it enhanced ocular surface immunity into a "pre-immune" state by activating NF-&#x3ba;B pathway in healthy mice cornea.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: B. siamensis on the ocular surface can directly engulf Fusarium hyphae and secrete antifungal substances to exert antifungal effects. Moreover, it enhanced ocular surface immunity into a "pre-immune" state by activating NF-&#x3ba;B pathway to facilitate rapid immune response.},
}
@article {pmid40960018,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Hu, S and Zhu, F and Li, X and You, L and Chen, Z and Hu, B and Zhao, F},
title = {Mitigating Ecological Risks: Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Translocation and Transformation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Constructed Wetlands.},
journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c06131},
pmid = {40960018},
issn = {1520-5851},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are increasingly recognized for their potential to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in constructed wetlands (CWs), but their mechanisms in affecting PFAS removal remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate AMF's impacts on PFAS removal and their role in mitigating the environmental risks posed by residual PFASs in the effluent. The results indicated that the primary removal pathways of PFASs in CWs were substrate adsorption and microbial degradation, while plant uptake contributed minimally (0.2-0.3%). AMF enhanced host plant absorption and translocation of PFASs, thereby increasing PFAS accumulation in plant tissues. Additionally, AMF promoted the enrichment of key microbes (e.g., Chloroflexi and Proteobacteria), which stabilized and enhanced the activity of the rhizosphere microbial network, facilitating PFAS biotransformation and degradation. Through the reinforcement of microbial degradation, substrate adsorption, and plant uptake pathways, AMF symbiosis significantly enhanced PFAS removal, increasing efficiency by 10.5-13.3% compared to treatments without AMF. Notably, long-chain (C > 7) PFASs pose higher ecological risks compared to short-chain (C ≤ 7) PFASs. AMF effectively reduced the ecological risks associated with residual PFASs and their metabolites in the effluent. The results highlight AMF's potential to improve PFAS removal in CWs and offer valuable insights for developing sustainable, high-efficiency pollution control strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40959591,
year = {2025},
author = {Ye, X and Yigitcanlar, T and Goodchild, M and Huang, X and Li, W and Shaw, SL and Fu, Y and Gong, W and Newman, G},
title = {Artificial intelligence in urban science: why does it matter?.},
journal = {Annals of GIS},
volume = {31},
number = {2},
pages = {181-189},
pmid = {40959591},
issn = {1947-5683},
abstract = {Urban science aims to explain, discover, understand, and generalize (EDUG) complex, human-centric systems, emphasizing societal context and sustainability. However, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into urban science presents challenges, including data availability, ethical considerations, and the 'black-box' nature of many AI models. Despite these limitations, AI offers significant opportunities for urban management and planning by leveraging vast, multimodal datasets to optimize infrastructure, predict trends, and enhance resilience. Techniques such as explainable AI and knowledge-driven approaches have begun addressing transparency concerns, aligning AI outputs with urban science's emphasis on interpretability. Urban science reciprocally contributes to AI development by embedding contextual awareness and human-centric insights, enhancing AI's ability to navigate urban complexities. Examples include digital twins for real-time urban analysis and generative AI for inclusive urban modelling. This opinion piece advocates for fostering a symbiotic relationship between AI and urban science, emphasizing co-learning and ethical collaboration. By integrating technical innovation with societal needs, the convergence of AI and urban science - termed the 'New Urban Science' - promises smarter, equitable, and sustainable cities. This paradigm underscores the transformative potential of aligning AI advancements with urban science's foundational goals.},
}
@article {pmid40959553,
year = {2025},
author = {Ottaway, M and Swinnen, J and Verhaevert, K and Ruytinx, J},
title = {Impact of sublethal zinc exposure on ectomycorrhizal Laccaria bicolor x poplar symbiosis.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1656580},
pmid = {40959553},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Soil Zn pollution is a widespread problem that is impacting on plant growth and production. Several tree species can rely on fungal ectomycorrhizal symbionts to mitigate toxicity effects to some extent. Here, we explored the impact of Zn pollution on L. bicolor and its ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with Populus tremula x alba. Next to growth and morphological parameters in sublethal Zn exposure, we investigated responses of symbiosis marker genes, reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes and Zn transporters in presence and absence of a host plant. Our results indicate that the ECM symbiosis development is maintained in excess Zn conditions despite a reduction in fungal and plant growth. Symbiosis marker gene expression showed sensitivity to Zn excess, even when the fungus was cultured in absence of a host. Zn-induced transcriptional responses of ROS scavenging enzymes and Zn transporters were mainly restricted to mycelia in presence of a host and less prevalent without host. Establishment of new homeostatic equilibria, in particular in presence of a host, seem essential to maintain symbiosis, protect the host and adapt physiologically to Zn pollution. This research furthers our understanding of how resilient plant-fungal symbiotic interactions are, and the interplay between both partners in changing environmental conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40959550,
year = {2025},
author = {Mahto, RK and B S, C and Singh, RK and Kumar, A and Kumar, S and Yadav, R and Dey, D and Hamwieh, A and Kumar, R},
title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation for sustainable chickpea yield and prospects for genome editing in changing climatic situations.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1621191},
pmid = {40959550},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital/essential legume crop valued for its nutritional, agricultural, and economic importance, with a relatively large genome size of approximately 738 megabases. Chickpea roots establish symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms, resulting in the formation of root nodules essential for biological nitrogen fixation. In this study, 20 chickpea genotypes were selected from a genome-wide association panel to assess nodulation traits under eight different treatment combinations involving biofertilizers (Rhizobium, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza - VAM) and inorganic fertilizers (NPK) using a randomized block design with three replications. Pre-planting soil preparation included the application of fertilizers and biofertilizers. Comprehensive analyses including descriptive statistics, correlation, path analysis, principal component analysis, agglomerative hierarchical clustering, and gene expression studies were conducted. Among treatments, the NPK+Rhizobium combination significantly enhanced nodulation across genotypes, while the Rhizobium+VAM (T7) treatment identified ICC-9085 as a superior donor for the number of nodules, aiming for sustainable chickpea productivity. Gene expression profiling through qRT-PCR revealed that the RZ+VAM treatment notably upregulated several key genes, including CaNFP, GST, Leghemoglobin, Nodulin6, and CaLYK3, with CaNFP emerging as a pivotal regulator of nodulation. The marked upregulation of CaNFP underlines its potential as a target for enhancing symbiotic efficiency. The availability of the chickpea draft genome opens new avenues for employing genome editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas systems. Targeted editing of the CaNFP gene offers a promising strategy to improve nodule formation, nitrogen fixation, and overall plant vigor. Integrating CaNFP gene through genome editing with potential genotypes and use of microbial treatments can accelerate the development of elite chickpea cultivars, enhancing productivity while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid40959220,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, J and Yin, Y and Wang, Y and Luo, S and Li, Y and Zhao, W and Cao, P and Liu, Y and Ma, H},
title = {Analysis of the community composition and diversity of endophytes in extremely spicy industrial chili peppers from Tibet using high-throughput sequencing.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1630090},
pmid = {40959220},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Industrial chili peppers contain more than 100 times the capsaicin content of common chili peppers; these peppers are primarily used for industrial processing and capsaicin extraction. Chili peppers thrive in warm temperatures, require plenty of sunlight, and are drought-resistant; therefore, making the high-altitude climate of Tibet ideal for their cultivation. Endophytes are microorganisms that can inhabit healthy plants at various stages of their life cycle. Through long-term co-evolution, endophytes and host plants establish a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship, which assists plants in secondary metabolite production. This study investigated the differences in endophyte community structure across various lines of industrial chili peppers. It also explored the relationship between capsaicinoids and endophyte community composition in high-altitude habitats of Tibet using high-throughput sequencing to obtain fundamental data on industrial chili pepper endophytes. The results showed that the diversity of endophyte communities was characterized by conservatism among groups and that the composition and community structure of endophyte communities were specific to different groups. Community composition analysis revealed that there were generally consistent dominant phyla of endophytic microorganisms in industrial chili peppers, although differences in their relative abundance percentage were observed. Bacterial community composition at the genus level was less affected by capsaicin concentration across different groups; however, the fungal community composition at the genus level was more responsive to capsaicinoid concentrations than that of bacteria. Bacterial communities from four different chili pepper varieties showed significant differences in the enrichment of genera. Fungi were differentially enriched in two groups: the td1 group with high capsaicin concentrations and the sylj group with low capsaicin concentrations. Among the four groups, endophytic bacteria exhibited the highest percentage of genes associated with unknown functions, while fungal trophic patterns had the most significant percentage of unknown trophic types. Overall, this study provides a valuable reference for the efficient cultivation and utilization of industrial chili peppers in Tibet.},
}
@article {pmid40958419,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, W and Liu, W and Wang, K and Cheng, H and Bai, X and Zhang, J and Wei, G and Chen, J},
title = {Persulfidation of host NADPH oxidase RbohB by rhizobial 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase maintains redox homeostasis and promotes symbiotic nodulation in soybean.},
journal = {Molecular plant},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2025.09.013},
pmid = {40958419},
issn = {1752-9867},
abstract = {Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in various stages of legume-rhizobium symbiosis, from initial nodulation signaling to nodule senescence. However, how rhizobial redox-related proteins regulate symbiotic nodulation in legumes remains largely unknown. By combining transcriptomics, proteomics, and biochemical and molecular genetics, we investigated the role of the Sinorhizobium fredii Q8 enzyme 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3MST). Although 3MST was not the primary source of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) under our conditions, its absence significantly disrupted symbiotic nodule development, redox homeostasis, infection capacity, and nitrogen fixation efficiency in soybean. We identified host plasma membrane-localized NADPH oxidase (RbohB) as a pivotal regulator that activates immune responses during nodule development. Notably, 3MST localized to the nucleoid and cytoplasmic membrane and was secreted during nodulation, where it interacted with RbohB and persulfidated Cys791 to suppress NADPH oxidase activity. This 3MST-mediated regulation maintained symbiotic redox balance and promoted nodule development. Genetic analysis of soybean involving RbohB overexpression, RNA interference and site-directed mutagenesis at Cys791 supported the model, linking the 3MST-RbohB interaction to effective rhizobial colonization and improved plant growth. Collectively, our findings shed light on a rhizobium-host redox pathway in which a rhizobial sulfurtransferase modulates RbohB via persulfidation to promote nodulation.},
}
@article {pmid40958172,
year = {2025},
author = {Saidi, R and Idbella, M and Ndiaye, PA and Ibnyasser, A and Houasli, C and Rchiad, Z and Miftah Kadmiri, I and Daoui, K and Bargaz, A},
title = {Genotype and Phosphorus Availability Shape Chickpea Symbiotic Efficiency and Rhizosphere Microbiome Composition, Driving Contrasting Agro-Physiological Responses.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70181},
pmid = {40958172},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was financially supported by OCP Foundation at UM6P through UGF (Unit&#xe9; de Gestion des Fonds) within the sustainable agriculture R&amp;D programme between Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and Agronomic Research Institute (INRA) in Morocco./ ; },
abstract = {Co-inoculation of grain legumes, including chickpea, with nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB) improves symbiotic efficiency and plant productivity under low-P availability. However, the extent of chickpea's responsiveness to inoculation and their reliance on symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation remains intricately influenced by plant genotypic diversity and the associated rhizosphere microbiome under different P levels. This study evaluated the agro-physiological, symbiotic and microbial traits of two Moroccan winter chickpea (Cicer arietinum) varieties (Arifi and Bochra) under low-P conditions represented by three rock-P levels (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg P2O5 ha[-1]) and co-inoculation with Mesorhizobium ciceri and Rhanella aceri (PSB). Results showed that inoculation at rock-P levels ≥ 50 kg P2O5 ha[-1], significantly improved symbiotic traits, plant biomass and nutrient uptake in both varieties, with Bochra exhibiting superior performance. At 75 kg P2O5 ha[-1] of rock-P, Bochra exhibited a strong correlation between root morphological traits and P-related rhizosphere traits. Results further highlighted Bochra's robust response to inoculation under 75 kg P2O5 ha[-1] rock-P, driven by its ability to shape the rhizobacterial community composition, where Mesorhizobium dominated and significantly influenced plant and rhizosphere traits. More notably in Bochra than Arifi, rhizobacterial species richness and community composition correlated strongly with nodule traits, plant traits and rhizosphere P-related parameters. These findings elucidate the significant contribution of the rhizosphere bacterial community to the symbiotic performance of Mesorhizobium-inoculated chickpea, which remains both genotype- and P-dependent.},
}
@article {pmid40957907,
year = {2025},
author = {Purahong, W and Tanunchai, B and Ji, L and Stellmach, H and Hilman, B and Schulze, ED and Hause, B and Tarkka, M and Buscot, F and Herrmann, S},
title = {Plasticity of symbiotroph-saprotroph lifestyles of Piloderma croceum associated with Quercus robur L.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {1344},
pmid = {40957907},
issn = {2399-3642},
mesh = {*Quercus/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Wood/microbiology ; *Basidiomycota/physiology ; Mycelium/growth &amp; development ; },
abstract = {Besides their symbiotic association with tree rootlets, ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi have been commonly detected in nature in deadwood and plant debris of various tree species. However, their potential dual roles as symbiotrophs and saprotrophs are still debated. Here, we provide evidence from a series of experiments on the plasticity of symbiotrophic-saprotrophic lifestyles of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Piloderma croceum associated with Quercus robur L. Specifically, we find that P. croceum efficiently colonizes deadwood of oak in an experimental system without living oak. Results based on the productions of hydrolytic enzymes and corticrocin as well as the [14]C content in deadwood and mycelium of P. croceum demonstrate its capability of wood decomposition and assimilation of C from the decomposing wood. Our results also show that in presence of wood pieces colonized by saprotrophic mycelium of P. croceum, the roots of oak plants develop true EM symbiosis with Hartig net formation. Collectively, our results indicate a role for mycelium growing in deadwood as an underestimated EM fungus propagule bank, suggesting that deadwood and other decomposing plant material may indirectly influence the productivity of forest ecosystems by contributing to the recruitment of mycorrhizal fungi, thereby enhancing plant nutrient acquisition.},
}
@article {pmid40961498,
year = {2024},
author = {French, KB and Herrera, MJ and German, DP},
title = {Sea Urchin Larvae (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) Select and Maintain a Unique Microbiome Compared to Environmental Sources.},
journal = {The Biological bulletin},
volume = {247},
number = {1},
pages = {56-73},
doi = {10.1086/736931},
pmid = {40961498},
issn = {1939-8697},
mesh = {Animals ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Microbiota ; *Strongylocentrotus purpuratus/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; Seawater ; Bacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {AbstractMany organisms may rely on microbes that seed the host body and are typically maintained as a consortial symbiosis. Marine invertebrates have highly diverse microbiomes and offer many different life history traits across which to explore the members and functions of these symbionts but are largely absent from the holobiont and microbiome literature compared to humans and vertebrates. We tracked the microbiome of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus larvae and examined the role of vertical transmission via gametes and the role of horizontal transmission via diet and seawater for seeding the developing larvae with microbes potentially critical to holobiont health and fitness. We used 16S short-read sequencing to track the composition and relative abundances of bacteria associated with diet (microalgae) and with habitat (filtered seawater), as well as with S. purpuratus gametes and larvae under standard lab rearing conditions. The larval microbiome differed across developmental stages and between filtered seawater and algae, and specific bacterial taxa were associated with those differences. In this experiment, developing larvae selected and maintained a unique microbiome compared to their diet and habitat. Eggs were a potentially significant source of vertical transmission during embryonic development (genus Psychromonas), while horizontal transmission via filtered seawater was the main contributor to larval feeding stages, suggesting that filtered seawater is likely the most important source of potential symbionts. Gaining new insights into how marine invertebrate larval microbiomes are seeded and with what taxa is important for endangered-species aquaculture and for ecosystem restoration and management to protect inoculation sources for early-life stage organisms.},
}
@article {pmid40957508,
year = {2025},
author = {Maake, MM and Beukes, CW and Van Der Nest, MA and Avontuur, JR and Muema, EK and Stępkowski, T and Venter, SN and Steenkamp, ET},
title = {Argyrolobium legumes from an African centre of endemism associates with novel Bradyrhizobium species harbouring unique sets of symbiosis genes.},
journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108471},
doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108471},
pmid = {40957508},
issn = {1095-9513},
abstract = {Given that several, mainly endemic South African Genisteae genera occupy basal positions in legume phylogenetic trees, this region of Africa is considered a primaeval centre of diversification of this legume tribe. Despite the importance of South Africa in Genisteae evolution, almost all studies have focused on rhizobia nodulating Genisteae species in their centres of diversity in either the Mediterranean Basin or the Americas. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and characterize rhizobial strains associated with Argyrolobium species native to areas of the Grassland biome associated with the Great Escarpment, which dominates the subcontinent's eastern landscape and compare these to bradyrhizobia nodulating Genisteae in the remaining centres of diversity. Phylogenetic analyses of five housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA, and rpoB) separated the 18 Bradyrhizobium strains examined into five well-supported groups. Three of these were conspecific with B. arachidis, B. brasilense/B. australafricanum and B. ivorense, while the remaining two appeared to be new to science. After confirming their novelty using Average Nucleotide Identity, a metric for genome relatedness, and certain phenotypic traits, we recognized them as novel species for which we proposed the names B. spitzkopense sp. nov. (Arg816[Ts]) and B. mpumalangense sp. nov. (Arg237L[Ts]). Phylogenetic analyses of nodA gene sequences showed that about half of the strains examined, irrespective of their species identity, harboured alleles known only from the Grassland biome along the Great Escarpment that previously were detected in Bradyrhizobium strains nodulating Crotalarieae genera endemic to this region. Genome-based analyses of data from this and previous studies further showed that strains with these unique nodA alleles typically encode the nodH gene, the product of which adds a sulfate moiety to the Nod factor (the signalling molecule for establishing the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis). The remaining strains had nodA alleles commonly encountered elsewhere in South Africa and other tropical regions of the world. Also, their genomes lacked nodH but encoded nodZ the gene involved in the fucosylation of the Nod factor. Our findings therefore showed that the root nodules of Genisteae (and its sister tribe Crotalarieae) native to the Grassland biome along the Great Escarpment are often related Bradyrhizobium strains that, however, are distinct from bradyrhizobia nodulating Genisteae in the Mediterranean and the Americas.},
}
@article {pmid40957209,
year = {2025},
author = {Feng, Y and Jiang, C and Zhang, W and Gong, L and Sun, L},
title = {Single and mixture toxicity effects of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on submerged plants and epiphytic biofilms.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {498},
number = {},
pages = {139862},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139862},
pmid = {40957209},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Although per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), often referred to as "forever chemicals," pose persistent threats to aquatic ecosystems, the effects of multiple PFAS types on submerged macrophyte-biofilm symbiotic systems remain poorly understood. In this study, we systematically investigated the impacts of single and combined exposures to both legacy and emerging PFAS on submerged macrophytes, biofilms, and associated microbial risks. Our results show that the growth of Vallisneria natans was inhibited under both single and mixed PFAS stress. Photosynthetic performance and nutrient uptake in V. natans were variably affected depending on the PFAS type. Emerging PFAS were more likely to induce oxidative stress, with malondialdehyde content increasing by 36.7 % under hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid exposure. Notably, PFAS stress significantly altered biofilm morphology and microbial community composition, including enrichment of several human bacterial pathogens. Additionally, PFAS exposure promoted the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and the increased abundance of mobile genetic elements suggested a higher potential for horizontal gene transfer. Co-occurrence network analysis further revealed that potential ARG hosts were affected under PFAS stress.},
}
@article {pmid40956093,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, X and Cai, M and Yin, S and Zhou, Z and Yang, J and Shen, Y and Xia, Z and Tang, Q and Yang, G and Yi, S and Gao, Q},
title = {Interaction of host gene-gut microbiota in male grading of Macrobrachium rosenbergii.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0129025},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01290-25},
pmid = {40956093},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The giant freshwater prawn (GFP; Macrobrachium rosenbergii), a crustacean of high nutritional and economic value, is crucial for aquaculture. During the same growth cycle, male GFPs develop into three distinct forms: small males, orange claw males, and blue claw males. These morphotypes display varying social behaviors, which severely constrain their industrial development. To address this, this study collected male GFP samples at critical developmental time points (100, 110, and 120 days post-hatching) for phenotypic trait measurement and analysis to obtain external morphological data. Through gut microbiota diversity analysis, we identified key gut bacteria (Lactococcus garvieae and Lactobacillus taiwanensis) influencing male morphotype differentiation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed host Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome pathways and key genes (Wnt-6, CTSB, CTSL, PPAE, and TP53) associated with morphotype differentiation. The interactions among phenotypic traits, gut microbiota, and key genes were systematically studied through association analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was employed to construct co-expression modules, from which critical gene modules influencing phenotypic variation were identified. Through association network analysis, we established an "Achromobacter-CD-TRINITY_DN93139_c0_g2 (calpain clp-1)" interaction model. Our findings provide novel insights into the genetic enhancement of GFPs and offer guidelines for future research regarding gut symbiotic bacteria and breeding initiatives.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Male Macrobrachium rosenbergii (giant freshwater prawn [GFP]) in the same growth cycle will develop into small males, orange claw males, and blue claw males. This individual heterogeneity in growth significantly impacts the benefits of aquaculture. However, the factors influencing the differentiation of male GFP morphotype remain unclear. This study analyzed the phenotypic data of various GFP levels, the structure of the intestinal microbiota, and the differential genes within the gonadal transcriptome at critical time points of male GFP-level type differentiation. The aim was to explore the potential role of intestinal microbiota and differential genes in this phenomenon. This study offers new insights into the research on the phenomenon of male GFP-level type differentiation.},
}
@article {pmid40954993,
year = {2025},
author = {Park, SL and Kim, MS and Kim, TH},
title = {Gut Microbiome and Estrogen.},
journal = {Journal of menopausal medicine},
volume = {31},
number = {2},
pages = {95-101},
doi = {10.6118/jmm.24024},
pmid = {40954993},
issn = {2288-6478},
support = {/SCH/Soonchunhyang University/Korea ; },
abstract = {Estrogens are steroid hormones that are involved in regulating the growth, development, and functioning of the human reproductive system as well as in controlling the neuroendocrine, skeletal, adipogenesis, and cardiovascular systems. Estrogen is released into the bloodstream in two different states: as a free hormone or in association with proteins such as sex hormone-binding globulin or albumin. Unbound estrogen, which is not bound to proteins, can freely pass through cell membranes without any regulatory constraints. The microbiome is a distinct microbial population that inhabits a well-defined environment characterized by specific physio-chemical properties. It engages in a symbiotic relationship with the host, assisting in internal equilibrium regulation and immune reaction modulation. Over the years, several research investigations have underscored the importance of the microbiome in promoting wellness and preventing illnesses. An alteration in the microbiome, also known as dysbiosis, can disrupt bodily processes and contribute to the onset of ailments such as cardiovascular disorders, cancers, and respiratory conditions. The microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining human health. Several elements affect the balance of the intestinal microecological system such as dietary habits, medication usage, pathogens, and endocrine factors. Recent research has indicated a disparity between genders in the prevalence of certain diseases associated with the microbiome, with sex hormones playing a crucial role in affecting specific health conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40951973,
year = {2025},
author = {Ser, SL and Ware-Gilmore, F and Dennington, NL and Miller, A and McNulty, BP and Harris, ML and Jones, MJ and Hall, MD and Sgrò, CM and Shea, K and McGraw, EA},
title = {Repeated thermal stress exposure in Aedes aegypti co-infected with Wolbachia and dengue virus.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0012925},
doi = {10.1128/msphere.00129-25},
pmid = {40951973},
issn = {2379-5042},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, affecting the thermal tolerance of mosquitoes and potentially influencing the efficacy of the biological control agent, Wolbachia. This study investigates the impact of repeated thermal stress on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes co-infected with Wolbachia and dengue virus (DENV). We exposed infected mosquitoes (singly and in co-infection) to varying intensities, frequencies, and durations of thermal stress to assess their thermal sensitivity via a "knockdown assay" compared to uninfected controls. Our results demonstrate that co-infection with Wolbachia and DENV significantly increases thermal sensitivity, with mosquitoes exhibiting a twofold faster median knockdown time than either singly infected or uninfected controls in most cases. A comparison of mosquitoes with no prior heat exposure to those given a single exposure revealed some evidence of heat hardening, or a slight lengthening of time to knockdown. Additional exposures provided no substantial benefit, however. Extended thermal stress (60 mins) also significantly reduced DENV loads, while Wolbachia loads remained stable, indicating that prolonged heat may disrupt viral replication without affecting bacterial symbiosis. These findings suggest that heatwaves could lower vector competence and disproportionately affect DENV-infected mosquitoes in Wolbachia-release areas, with implications for biocontrol strategies. Field studies should explore how infection affects mosquitoes' ability to modulate thermal exposure behaviorally, providing insights for optimizing Wolbachia-based control efforts.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Dengue virus (DENV), spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, is a major global health threat affecting millions of people. This study examines how repeated exposures to heat stress affect the thermal tolerance of mosquitoes infected with DENV and/or Wolbachia, a bacterium used for biological control. These repeated exposures mimic the experience of mosquitoes in the wild experiencing heatwaves of increasing frequency under climate change. Our research shows that Ae. aegypti co-infected with Wolbachia and DENV is more susceptible to thermal stress than singly infected or uninfected mosquitoes. We also demonstrate that multiple independent thermal stress exposures do not exacerbate the effect of infection. Understanding these interactions is essential for predicting how climate change may affect dengue transmission and the resilience of Wolbachia-based interventions.},
}
@article {pmid40951533,
year = {2025},
author = {Nie, Y and Shi, Y and Yang, Y},
title = {Gut Microbiota: Implications in Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Target in Primary Biliary Cholangitis.},
journal = {Journal of clinical and translational hepatology},
volume = {13},
number = {9},
pages = {776-784},
pmid = {40951533},
issn = {2310-8819},
abstract = {Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disorder characterized by small non-purulent intrahepatic bile duct destruction (ductopenia) and cholestasis. While the etiology of PBC remains unclear, it is believed to involve genetic-environmental interactions. Emerging evidence highlights gut microbiota dysbiosis in PBC patients, with increased symbiotic bacteria and decreased pathogenic bacteria. Microbial alterations potentially influence disease pathogenesis through multiple mechanisms, including immune dysregulation, intestinal barrier damage, BA metabolic dysregulation, and cholestasis. These findings suggest that the gut microbiota can serve not only as a non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis evaluation but also as a therapeutic target for the disease. In this review, we summarize changes in PBC patients' gut microbiota, explain how these changes affect disease occurrence and development, and discuss treatment methods with potential clinical value that intervene in gut microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40951316,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, B and Sheng, Z and Bu, C and Wang, L and Lv, W and Wang, Y and Xu, Y and Yan, G and Gong, M and Liu, L and Hu, W},
title = {Whipworm infection remodels the gut microbiome ecosystem and compromises intestinal homeostasis in elderly patients revealed by multi-omics analyses.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1663666},
pmid = {40951316},
issn = {2235-2988},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) coexists with symbiotic microbiota in the gastrointestinal ecosystem. There is a paucity of data on the association between whipworm infection and the gut microbiota composition in elderly individuals. This study was designed to investigate changes in gut microbiota and function and its metabolite profile in patients with whipworm infection.<br><br>METHODS: We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify microbial signatures associated with whipworm infection. Subsequently, shotgun metagenomic sequencing revealed functional changes that highlighted disruptions in microbial gene expression and metabolic pathways influencing host health. Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics was used to characterize whipworm infectioninduced metabolic perturbations and elucidate metabolite dynamics linked to microbial activity. Collectively, this multi-omics approach deciphered structural, functional, and metabolic remodeling of the gut ecosystem that distinguished whipworm-infected patients from healthy controls.<br><br>RESULTS: Analyses of the gut microbiome in patients with whipworm infection revealed significantly increased observed species richness and ACE indices, along with an enrichment of Prevotella 9-driven enterotypes. Additionally, metagenomic and metabolomic analyses indicated enrichment in metabolic pathways related to amino acid, energy and carbohydrate metabolism. Metabolic network analysis further suggested that the upregulated Prevotella copri and Siphoviridae sp. were positively correlated with elevated levels of myristic acid and DL-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that whipworm infection significantly remodels the gut microbiome ecosystem and compromises intestinal homeostasis.},
}
@article {pmid40950589,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, YH and Yang, M and Wei, TS and Chen, HG and Gong, L and Wang, Y and Gao, ZM},
title = {Survival strategies for the microbiome in a vent-dwelling glass sponge from the middle Okinawa Trough.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1636046},
pmid = {40950589},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The adaptive mechanisms of sponge microbiomes to harsh deep-sea environments, including hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, remain unclear. Here, we used metagenomics to investigate the microbiome of an undescribed vent-dwelling glass sponge from the middle Okinawa Trough, probably representing a novel species within the family Bolosominae. Eleven high-quality prokaryotic metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were retrieved, none assignable to known species, with two representing new genera. Dominant MAGs included sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea, followed by methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Global distribution analysis suggested that most MAGs were sponge-specific symbionts. Comparative genomics revealed functional redundancy among SOB and early-stage genome reduction in a unique MOB lineage. Additionally, a total of 410 viral contigs were identified, most exhibiting a lytic lifestyle and forming distinct clades from known viruses. Our work expands understanding of the diversity and novelty of deep-sea sponge-associated prokaryotes and viromes, and suggests their niche adaptation to hydrothermal fluid environments.},
}
@article {pmid40948583,
year = {2025},
author = {Corning, C and Dolatmoradi, M and Tran, TH and Stacey, G and Szente, L and Samarah, LZ and Vertes, A},
title = {Degree of polymerization and spatial distributions of acyclic and cyclic oligohexoses in soybean root nodules uncovered by MALDI and nanophotonic laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry.},
journal = {Materials today. Bio},
volume = {32},
number = {},
pages = {101776},
pmid = {40948583},
issn = {2590-0064},
abstract = {In the symbiotic relationship of legumes and rhizobia, disaccharides, mostly sucrose, are produced by the plant and provided as energy and carbon sources for the bacteria. The microbes, in turn, store these carbohydrates as acyclic oligohexoses to buffer fluctuations in supply. Simultaneously, cyclic oligohexoses (β-glucans) of varying sizes and structures are synthesized by nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria both in free living form and in legume root nodules. In the bacteroids, transformed from Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain USDA110 in soybean (Glycine max) root nodules, glucose units are attached by glycosidic bonds and are known to contain degrees of polymerization with 10 ≤ n ≤ 13 repeat units in branched cyclic structures. Whereas cyclic β-glucans (CβGs) are thought to facilitate bacterial adaptation and legume-rhizobia symbiosis, information on their ring sizes, branching from the ring structures, and their spatial distributions within the nodules is scarce. Here we demonstrate that using mass spectrometry (MS), based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and laser desorption ionization (LDI) from emerging silicon nanopost array (NAPA) nanophotonic platforms, the presence of a wider array of potentially cyclic oligohexoses can be discovered with degrees of polymerization in the 2 ≤ n ≤ 14 residue range. On the low end of the oligomer size distribution, the cyclic nature of CYn with n < 10 can be increasingly questioned based on the large strain such macrocycles would exhibit and the DP control during the CβG synthesis by the glucan phosphorylase involved in their synthesis. At the same time, acyclic oligohexoses with a degree of polymerization of 2 ≤ n ≤ 13 were also detected. Tandem MS with collision induced dissociation (CID) indicated that the cyclic structure with n = 12 contained a branching residue. It detached from the macrocycle at lower collision energies (70 instrument units), whereas the rings themselves fragmented at higher energies (90 instrument units). We also prove that the spatial distributions of acyclic and cyclic oligohexoses in the G. max nodules can be captured by MS imaging (MSI) based on MALDI and NAPA-LDI. The acyclic species were more abundant in the infection zone, whereas the cyclic oligohexoses appeared more concentrated in the inner cortex and in the root vasculature. At some locations, possibly in the vascular bundles surrounding the nodule and traversing the root, the cyclic oligohexoses were especially abundant. The distributions of acyclic oligohexoses were also mapped in the nodule sections. These linear or branching molecules were abundant in the infection zone, where the cyclic oligohexoses were less concentrated or absent.},
}
@article {pmid40947489,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Z and Hu, B and Flemetakis, E and Haensch, R and Franken, P and Rennenberg, H},
title = {Convergent evolution and adaptive diversification of root symbioses.},
journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/brv.70077},
pmid = {40947489},
issn = {1469-185X},
support = {cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0002//Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau/ ; cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0020//Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau/ ; },
abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses between plants and microorganisms have served as a cornerstone for terrestrial ecosystem establishment since the colonization of land by plants ca. 470 million years ago (Ma). These mutualisms diversified in symbiont partners and ecological functions in response to dynamic environmental shifts, with root-based architectures emerging later as a key adaptive innovation. Phylogenomic analyses reveal a conserved common symbiotic signalling pathway (CSSP) through the mycorrhizal-actinorhizal-rhizobial (MAR) evolutionary trajectory, underscoring convergent evolutionary mechanisms that facilitated the repeated emergence of mutualistic root-microbe interactions. Despite this shared foundation, recent studies highlight lineage-specific adaptations in symbiont recognition, immune evasion, and nutrient exchange, reflecting divergent evolutionary pressures and ecological niches. For instance, actinorhizal symbioses, although understudied compared to legume-rhizobia systems, exhibit unique adaptations in host specificity and nitrogen-fixation efficiency, offering untapped potential for sustainable agriculture and reforestation. This review synthesizes information from different disciplines to elucidate the origin and diversification of root symbioses, emphasizing molecular innovations and ecological drivers that shaped their evolution. We further explore the role of environmental pressures, such as resource availability and climate change, in driving the adaptive diversification of these symbiotic relationships. By integrating evolutionary, molecular, and ecological perspectives, this work advances our understanding of root symbioses as dynamic systems shaped by both conserved mechanisms and context-dependent adaptations.},
}
@article {pmid40909553,
year = {2025},
author = {Pujhari, S and Heebner, J and Raumann, E and Zhong, T and Rasgon, JL and Swulius, MT and Shaffer, CL and Kaplan, M},
title = {In situ architecture of the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40909553},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {P20 GM130456/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI116636/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM157116/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Hidden within host cells, the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis is the most prevalent bacterial infection in the animal kingdom. Scientific breakthroughs over the past century yielded fundamental mechanisms by which Wolbachia controls arthropod reproduction to shape dynamic ecological and evolutionary trajectories. However, the structure and spatial organization of symbiont machineries that underpin intracellular colonization and orchestrate maternal inheritance remain unknown. Here, we used cryo-electron tomography to directly image the nanoscale architecture of bacterial tools deployed for host manipulation and germline transmission. We discovered that Wolbachia assembles multiple structures at the host-endosymbiont interface including a filamentous ladder-like framework hypothesized to serve as a specialized motility mechanism that enables bacterial translocation to specific host cell compartments during embryogenesis and somatic tissue dissemination. In addition, we present the first in situ structure of the Rickettsiales vir homolog type IV secretion system (rvh T4SS). We provide evidence that the rvh T4SS nanomachine exhibits architectural similarities to the pED208-encoded T4SS apparatus including the biogenesis of rigid conjugative pili extending hundreds of nanometers beyond the bacterial cell surface. Coupled with integrative structural modeling, we demonstrate that in contrast to canonical T4SS architectures, the α-proteobacterial T4SS outer membrane complex assembles a periplasmic baseplate structure predicted to comprise VirB9 oligomers complexed with cognate VirB10 subunits that form extended antennae projections surrounding the translocation channel pore. Collectively, these studies provide an unprecedented view into Wolbachia structural cell biology and unveil the molecular blueprints for architectural paradigms that reinforce ancient host-microbe symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40946610,
year = {2025},
author = {Kochman, NR and Fine, M},
title = {Gulf of Aqaba as a thermal refuge: Insights from four years of intensifying marine heatwaves.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1000},
number = {},
pages = {180463},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180463},
pmid = {40946610},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are intensifying, posing an increasing threat to coral reefs globally. Despite warming faster than the global average, the Gulf of Aqaba (GoA, Northern Red Sea) has been regarded as a climate refuge for corals. In this study, we analyzed coral-algae symbiosis integrity based on algal densities, chlorophyll content, and host and symbiont energy reserves (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids) of tagged colonies of Stylophora pistillata and Pocillopora damicornis throughout four consecutive summers characterized by moderate (2022), strong (2021, 2023), and severe (2024) MHWs. The 2024 MHW, lasting 113 days, was exceptional, with sea surface temperatures reaching 32.6 °C, 3.4 °C above the long-term climatology, and accumulating 30 Degree Heating Weeks, the highest recorded globally during 2024. Nonetheless, S. pistillata and P. damicornis persisted without bleaching, while maintaining stable host energy reserves and higher symbiont carbohydrates in 2024 compared to previous summers. To assess potential species-specific responses, we additionally monitored Seriatopora hystrix, Porites spp., and Cyphastrea spp. colonies before, during, and after the severe 2024 MHW. All monitored colonies endured the unprecedented thermal stress without bleaching or photosynthetic impairment. Porites spp. displayed metabolic tolerance with stable values throughout the event. Only Cyphastrea spp. showed significant symbiont reduction (-55 %) during peak stress, recovering by January 2025. As climate change places 44 % of reef-building corals at risk of extinction, our findings highlight the resilience of GoA corals. However, emerging shallow bleaching suggests that this refuge may be approaching its limit, underscoring the urgent need for regional conservation efforts.},
}
@article {pmid40945623,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, WY and Qin, YS and Zhang, TF and Zou, J and Yang, J and Chen, ZY},
title = {A chromosome-level genome assembly of Termitomyces fuliginosus using Oxford Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing.},
journal = {Genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {111110},
doi = {10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.111110},
pmid = {40945623},
issn = {1089-8646},
abstract = {Termitomyces fuliginosus is a tasty edible mushroom with both nutritional and medicinal values, consumed by native people throughout Asia. However, studies about this mushroom are limited due to lack of fine genomic information, such as the molecular mechanisms underlying development, symbiosis with termites, and plant biomass degradation. In this study, we reported a chromosome-level reference genome of T. fuliginosus assembled using Oxford Nanopore technologies (ONT) and Hi-C technologies. In total, the clean data obtained from ONT and Hi-C sequencing amounted to 10.42 Gb and 21.75 Gb, respectively. The assembled genome consisted of 13 chromosomes with a total length of 65.66 Mb. Completeness evaluations showed that this assembled genome had high quality, with a complete BUSCO score of 91.6 %. In total, 10,319 protein-coding genes were identified, and each gene received at least one functional annotation hit across the queried databases. Based on single-copy orthologous genes, phylogenetic analysis revealed that T. fuliginosus shared a close evolutionary relationship with Termitomyces cryptogamus, Arthromyces matolae, Tricholoma furcatifolium, Tephrocybe rancida, Lyophyllum atratum, and Tricholoma matsutake. A total of 303 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZyme) genes were identified in the T. fuliginosus genome, enabling a better understanding of the carbohydrate degradation capabilities for T. fuliginosus. This chromosome-level genome of T. fuliginosus provides valuable reference data for utilizing the medicinal and nutritional value of this mushroom, such as accurate genomic sequences without gaps, genomic analysis of functional genes, and visualization of chromosomal structural variations.},
}
@article {pmid40945362,
year = {2025},
author = {Bosco, C and Raspati, GS and Maurin, N and Helness, H},
title = {A systematic literature review on resource recovery toward symbiotic circular economy solutions in the water sector.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {393},
number = {},
pages = {127298},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127298},
pmid = {40945362},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Population growth, climate change, and unsustainable water use have prompted the exploration of alternative solutions for sustainable water management. While significant advancements have been made in resource recovery technologies from wastewater, the large-scale implementation of these systems and associated impact on the environment and society are still far from full realization. This paper reviews the scientific state-of-the art on resource recovery in the water sector with respect to the four pillars of symbiotic circular economy solutions, consisting of technological processes, final applications, business models, and stakeholder involvement. A systematic and transparent literature review has been carried out, showing that a variety of technologies for recovering water, materials, energy, and nutrients have been proposed and tested, but widespread application is constrained by multiple barriers. These include the technical limitations of existing recovery processes, financial obstacles, and the difficulties associated with integrating technologies into existing value chains. This work emphasizes the need for additional research on novel approaches to promote alternative business models and bottom-up involvement of stakeholders, from public and private organisations to local communities, in the planning and implementation of resource recovery systems in the water sector.},
}
@article {pmid40945100,
year = {2025},
author = {Caley, A and Marzinelli, EM and Mayer-Pinto, M},
title = {Limited microbial community responses of marine macroalgae to artificial light at night and moderate warming conditions.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {212},
number = {},
pages = {107536},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107536},
pmid = {40945100},
issn = {1879-0291},
abstract = {Multiple stressors such as Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) and warming are increasingly common in marine systems and can interact in complex ways. Microbial communities play critical roles in the functioning of coastal habitat-forming species such as seaweeds, however the effects of ALAN on seaweed-associated microbial communities remain unknown. We tested the independent and combined effects of ALAN and warming on microbial communities associated with the habitat-forming seaweeds Ecklonia radiata and Sargassum sp. In Ecklonia, ALAN increased the relative abundance of two potentially light-responsive taxa: Dokdonia sp000212355 and an unidentified ASV from Pseudomonadales, whereas warming had the opposite effect. Warming increased microbial community dispersion in Ecklonia and resulted in non-significant increases in relative abundance of putative pathogenic and agarolytic taxa (microbes capable of degrading algal polysaccharides). However, further analyses using metagenomics are needed to confirm functional roles. In contrast, neither ALAN nor warming affected dominant taxa associated with Sargassum. Contrary to expectations, cyanobacteria relative abundance was unaffected by ALAN in either seaweed host, despite their photosynthetic capacity. We found limited evidence for interactive effects of ALAN and warming, and community composition remained unchanged in both seaweed species. Our findings highlight the importance of considering species-specific microbial responses to ALAN and warming, with implications for coastal management.},
}
@article {pmid40944660,
year = {2025},
author = {Rondilla, RR and Edrada-Ebel, R},
title = {Recent biotechnological advances in bioprospecting secondary metabolites from endolichenic fungi for drug discovery applications.},
journal = {Critical reviews in microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-16},
doi = {10.1080/1040841X.2025.2556931},
pmid = {40944660},
issn = {1549-7828},
abstract = {Endolichenic fungi (ELF) are symbiotic organisms residing in lichens. Since the initial report of its application in natural products and drug discovery, they have emerged as unique valuable sources of compounds with a wide range of structural diversity and biological activities. In this review, we critically examine current strategies to expand ELF metabolite diversity, with emphasis on the One Strain, Many Compounds (OSMAC) approach and metabolomics-guided profiling. We highlight how co-culture systems, epigenetic modifiers, and advanced data acquisition platforms can open new avenues for chemical space exploration. Genomic and transcriptomic studies, though still limited in ELF, reveal untapped biosynthetic potential and point toward integrative omics pipelines. Recent computational and artificial intelligence tools further accelerate genome-metabolome mining, structural elucidation, and prediction of bioactivity. We propose a forward-looking framework that combines OSMAC, integrative omics, and AI to maximize the natural product bioprospecting potential of ELF, while also uncovering their ecological roles within the lichen holobiome.},
}
@article {pmid40944224,
year = {2025},
author = {Álvarez-Herms, J and Burtscher, M and Corbi, F and González, A and Odriozola, A},
title = {A Narrative Hypothesis: The Important Role of Gut Microbiota in the Modulation of Effort Tolerance in Endurance Athletes.},
journal = {Nutrients},
volume = {17},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/nu17172836},
pmid = {40944224},
issn = {2072-6643},
abstract = {Background: Regulating sensations of fatigue and discomfort while performing maximal endurance exercise becomes essential for making informed decisions about persistence and/or failure during intense exercise. Athletes with a higher effort capacity have competitive advantages over those with a lower one. The microbiota-brain axis is a considered the sixth sense and a modulator of the host's emotional stability and physical well-being. Objectives: This narrative review aims to explore and evaluate the potential mechanisms involved in regulating perceptions during endurance exercise, with a focus on the possible relationship between the gut microbiota balance and the neural system as an adaptive response to high fatigue chronic exposure. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus) were used to identify studies and hypotheses that had documented predefined search terms related to endurance exercise, gut microbiota, the central nervous system, pain, discomfort, fatigue, and tolerance to effort. Results: This narrative review shifts the focus concerning the symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota, the vagus nerve, the central/enteric nervous system, and the regulation of afferences from different organs and systems to manage discomfort and fatigue perceptions during maximal physical effort. Consequently, the chronicity supporting fatigued exercise and nutritional stimuli could specifically adapt the microbiota-brain connection through chronic efferences and afferences. The present hypothesis could represent a new focus to be considered, analysing individual differences in tolerating fatigue and discomfort in athletes supporting conditions of intense endurance exercise. Conclusions: A growing body of evidence suggests that the gut microbiota has rapid adaptations to afferences from the brain axis, with a possible relationship to the management of fatigue, pain, and discomfort. Therefore, the host-microbiota relationship could determine predisposition to endurance performance by increasing thresholds of sensitive afferences perceived and tolerated. A richer and more diverse GM of athletes in comparison with sedentary subjects can improve the bacteria-producing metabolites connected to brain activity related with fatigue. The increase in fatigue thresholds directly improves exercise performance, and the gut-brain axis may contribute through the equilibrium of metabolites produced for the microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40943619,
year = {2025},
author = {Vladimirova, ME and Roumiantseva, ML and Saksaganskaia, AS and Kozlova, AP and Muntyan, VS and Gaponov, SP},
title = {Dark Matter Carried by Sinorhizobium meliloti phiLM21-like Prophages.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms26178704},
pmid = {40943619},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {Agreement of May 29, 2025 No. 075-15-2025-472//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; },
abstract = {A comprehensive comparative analysis was conducted on the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of intact phiLM21-like prophages (phiLM21-LPhs), which currently represent the most prevalent prophages in Sinorhizobium meliloti-a symbiotic partner of Fabaceae plants. Remarkably, the nucleotide sequences of 25 phiLM21-LPhs, identified across 36 geographically dispersed S. meliloti strains, covered no more than 34% of the phiLM21 phage genome. All prophages were integrated into specific isoacceptor tRNA genes and carried a tyrosine-type integrase gene; however, this integration did not exhibit features of tRNA-dependent lysogeny. Only one-fifth of phiLM21-LPhs encoded the minimal set of regulators for lysogenic/lytic cycle transitions, while the remainder contained either uncharacterized regulatory elements or appeared to be undergoing genomic "anchoring" within the host bacterium. The phiLM21-LPhs harbored open reading frames (ORFs) of diverse origins (phage-derived, bacterial, and unknown), yet over half of these ORFs had undeterminable functions, representing genetic "dark matter". The observed diversification of intact phiLM21-like prophages likely stems from recombination events involving both virulent/temperate phages and phylogenetically remote bacterial taxa. The evolutionary and biological significance of the substantial genetic "dark matter" within these prophages in soil saprophytic bacteria remains an unresolved question.},
}
@article {pmid40943531,
year = {2025},
author = {Hao, S and Hua, Z and Yuan, Y},
title = {Stage-Specific Lipidomes of Gastrodia elata Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Fungal Symbiosis.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms26178611},
pmid = {40943531},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {SQ2024YFC3500027//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 82325049//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; CI2023D001/CI2023E002-04//Science and Technology Innovation Project of CACMS/ ; },
abstract = {The mycoheterotrophic orchid Gastrodia elata relies entirely on symbiosis with Armillaria for nutrient acquisition during tuber development. The signaling mechanisms underlying this interaction have long been a research focus, and several pathways, such as phytohormone-mediated signaling, have been reported. However, the role of plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) in G. elata-Armillaria communication remains unexplored. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive lipidomic analysis of G. elata-derived extracellular vesicles (GDEVs) isolated from juvenile, immature (active symbiosis), and mature tubers. By employing high-resolution mass spectrometry and advanced statistical methods, we established a detailed EV lipidome profile for G. elata, identifying 996 lipid species spanning eight major classes. Distinct lipidomic remodeling was observed throughout tuber maturation. Notably, as the immature stage corresponds to the period of peak symbiotic activity, targeted lipidome comparisons enabled the identification of core lipid markers, particularly Glc-sitosterols and the polyketide 7,8-dehydroastaxanthin, which are highly enriched during active symbiosis and potentially associated with inter-kingdom communication. These findings suggest that developmentally regulated lipid transport via EVs plays a critical role in mediating G. elata-Armillaria interaction. Our work not only illuminates the contribution of vesicle lipids to plant-fungal interaction but also provides a methodological foundation for investigating EV-mediated signaling in non-model plant-microbe systems.},
}
@article {pmid40941956,
year = {2025},
author = {Cántaro-Segura, H and Zúñiga-Dávila, D},
title = {Exogenous Application of ENOD40 and CEP1 Peptides Boosts Symbiotic Signaling Gene Expression and Productivity in Common Bean.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14172786},
pmid = {40941956},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {177//Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina/ ; },
abstract = {Small signaling peptides play crucial roles in the regulation of legume-rhizobia symbiosis, yet their potential as exogenous biostimulants remains largely unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the effects of foliar application of the synthetic peptides ENOD40 and CEP1 on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under both greenhouse and field conditions. Using a factorial design, we examined gene expression patterns, nodulation parameters, and yield-related traits in response to peptide treatments alone or in combination with Rhizobium. Results showed that ENOD40 and CEP1 significantly enhanced the transcription of key symbiotic signaling genes (PvENOD40, PvSYMRK, PvCCaMK, PvCYCLOPS, PvVAPYRIN) and modulated defense-related genes (PvAOS, PvICS), with the strongest effects observed at concentrations of 10[-7] M and 10[-8] M. In greenhouse assays, peptide-treated plants exhibited increased root and shoot biomass, nodule number, and seed yield. Field trials confirmed these responses, with CEP1 10[-7] M + Rhizobium treatment achieving the highest grain yield (3322 kg ha[-1]). Our findings provide the first evidence that ENOD40 and CEP1 peptides can function as foliar-applied biostimulants to enhance nodulation efficiency and improve yield in legumes. This approach offers a promising and sustainable strategy to reduce chemical nitrogen inputs and support biological nitrogen fixation in agricultural systems.},
}
@article {pmid40941938,
year = {2025},
author = {Rahbari, A and Esmaielpour, B and Azarmi, R and Fatemi, H and Lajayer, HM and Panahirad, S and Gohari, G and Vita, F},
title = {Symbiotic Fungus Serendipita indica as a Natural Bioenhancer Against Cadmium Toxicity in Chinese Cabbage.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14172773},
pmid = {40941938},
issn = {2223-7747},
abstract = {Heavy metal toxicity, particularly cadmium (Cd), poses a growing threat to agriculture and human health due to its persistence and high solubility, which facilitates its entry into the food chain. Among the strategies proposed to reduce Cd toxicity in plants and the environment, the use of beneficial microorganisms, such as endophytic fungi, has gained attention due to its effectiveness and eco-friendliness. This study investigates the potential of the root-colonizing fungus Serendipita indica (formerly Piriformospora indica) to mitigate cadmium (Cd) stress in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. Pekinensis) grown hydroponically under varying Cd concentrations (0, 1, 3, and 4 mM). Several parameters were assessed, including morphological traits, physiological and biochemical responses, and changes in leaf composition. Exposure to Cd significantly reduced plant growth, increased membrane electrolyte leakage, and decreased relative water content and root colonization, while enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and the accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids, proline, glycine betaine, and carbohydrates. Notably, plants treated with S. indica showed improved tolerance to Cd stress, indicating the potential of the fungus. These findings suggest that S. indica can enhance plant resilience in Cd-contaminated environments and may offer a promising biological strategy for sustainable crop production under heavy metal stress.},
}
@article {pmid40941937,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, J and Wang, Y and Xu, Z and Wu, C and Zhu, Z and Lyu, X and Li, J and Zhang, X and Wang, Y and Luo, Y and Li, W},
title = {Effects of Roxithromycin Exposure on the Nitrogen Metabolism and Environmental Bacterial Recruitment of Chlorella pyrenoidosa.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14172774},
pmid = {40941937},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {32171628, U24A20639//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; BK20241096//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; 24KJD180001, 24KJB210003//NaturalScience Research of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China/ ; SJCX25_2168//Postgraduate Research &amp; Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province, China/ ; },
abstract = {The ecotoxicity induced by macrolides has attracted widespread attention, but their impacts on the nitrogen metabolism and symbiotic environmental bacteria of microalgae remain unclear. This study examined the effects of roxithromycin (ROX) on the growth, chlorophyll levels, and nitrogen metabolism of Chlorella pyrenoidosa; investigated the changes in the composition and functions of environmental bacterial communities; and finally, analyzed the relationship between microalgae and environmental bacteria. The results indicated that all concentrations of ROX (0.1, 0.25, and 1 mg/L) inhibited microalgae growth, but the inhibition rates gradually decreased after a certain exposure period. For instance, the inhibition rate in the 1 mg/L treatment group reached the highest value of 43.43% at 7 d, which then decreased to 18.93% at 21 d. Although the total chlorophyll content was slightly inhibited by 1 mg/L ROX, the Chl-a/Chl-b value increased between 3 and 21 d. The nitrate reductase activities in the three treatments were inhibited at 3 d, but gradually returned to normal levels and even exceeded that of the control group at 21 d. Under ROX treatment, the consumption of NO3[-] by microalgae corresponded to the nitrate reductase activity, with slower consumption in the early stage and no obvious difference from the control group in the later stage. Overall, the diversity of environmental bacteria did not undergo significant changes, but the abundance of some specific bacteria increased, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria (unclassified-f-Rhizobiaceae and Mesorhizobium) and organic contaminant-degrading bacteria (Limnobacter, Sphingopyxis, and Aquimonas). The 0.25 and 1 mg/L ROX treatments significantly enhanced the carbohydrate metabolism, cofactor and vitamin metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism of the environmental bacteria, but significantly downregulated nitrogen denitrification. This study provides new insights into the environmental bacteria-driven recovery mechanism of microalgae under antibiotic stress.},
}
@article {pmid40941930,
year = {2025},
author = {Vásquez, HV and Valqui, L and Valqui-Valqui, L and Bobadilla, LG and Reyna, M and Maravi, C and Pajares, N and Altamirano-Tantalean, MA},
title = {Influence of Nitrogen Fertilization and Cutting Dynamics on the Yield and Nutritional Composition of White Clover (Trifolium repens L.).},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14172765},
pmid = {40941930},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {No. 127-2020-FONDECYT//National Program for Scientific Research and Advanced Studies (PROCIENCIA)/ ; 2253484//Creation of an Agrostology Laboratory Service at the Toribio Rodr&#xed;guez de Mendoza National University/ ; s/n//National University Toribio Rodr&#xed;guez de Mendoza/ ; },
abstract = {White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is known for its ability to fix nitrogen biologically, its high nutritional value, and its adaptability to livestock systems. However, excessive fertilization with synthetic nitrogen alters its symbiosis with Rhizobium and reduces the protein content of the forage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between nitrogen fertilization (0 and 60 kg N ha[-1]), cutting time, and post-cutting evaluation on the morphology, yield, and nutritional composition of white clover. A completely randomized block experimental design with three factors, distributed in three blocks, was used. Within each block, three replicates of each treatment were assigned (six interactions), giving a total of 54 experimental units. The data were analyzed using a three-way analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparison test. Exponential models and generalized additive models (GAMs) were applied to the morphology and yield data to identify the best fit. The treatment with 60 kg N ha[-1] and cutting at 30 days showed significant increases in plant height (47.42%), fresh weight (59.61%), dry weight (98.41%), and leaf width (27.55%) compared to the control. It also produced the highest protein content (28.44%) compared to the other treatments with fertilization, without negatively affecting digestibility. The GAMs best fit most morphological and yield parameters (except leaf height and width). All fertilized treatments had higher fresh and dry weight yields. In conclusion, applying 60 kg N ha[-1] after cutting at 30 days, followed by harvesting between 54 and 60 days, improved both the quality and yield of white clover, which favored sustainable pasture management and reduced excessive nitrogen use.},
}
@article {pmid40941856,
year = {2025},
author = {Yurkov, AP and Puzanskiy, RK and Kryukov, AA and Kudriashova, TR and Kovalchuk, AI and Gorenkova, AI and Bogdanova, EM and Laktionov, YV and Romanyuk, DA and Yemelyanov, VV and Shavarda, AL and Shishova, MF},
title = {The Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus and Phosphorus Treatment on Root Metabolome of Medicago lupulina During Key Stages of Development.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14172685},
pmid = {40941856},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {22-16-00064-&#x3c0;//The Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) effect on the plant metabolome is an actual question of plant biology. Its alteration during host plant development and at different phosphorus supplies is of special interest. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Rhizophagus irregularis (Błaszk., Wubet, Renker &amp; Buscot) C. Walker &amp; A. Schüßler inoculation and/or phosphorus treatment on the root metabolome of Medicago lupulina L. subsp. vulgaris Koch at the first true leaf, second leaf, third leaf development stages, the lateral branching initiation, the flowering and the mature fruit stages. The assessment of metabolic profiles was performed using GC-MS. In total, 327 metabolites were annotated: among them 20 carboxylic acids, 26 amino acids, 14 fatty acids and 58 sugars. The efficient AM was characterized by the upregulation of the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, as well as an increase in the content of phosphates. The tricarboxylic acid abundance was generally lower during mycorrhization. Fourteen metabolic markers of the efficient AM symbiosis were identified. The lateral branching initiation stage was shown to have key importance. Long-lasting metabolomic profiling indicated variances in mycorrhization and Pi supply effects at different key stages of host plant development.},
}
@article {pmid40941841,
year = {2025},
author = {Bravo, TEP and Teixeira, IR and Teixeira, GCDS and Cunha, NMB and Rocha, EC and Comachio, LB and Alves, GPDC},
title = {Optimizing Common Bean Symbiosis via Stage-Specific Reinoculation and Co-Inoculation.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14172676},
pmid = {40941841},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {PR&#xd3;-PROGRAMAS No. 01/2023;//Universidade Estadual de Goi&#xe1;s/ ; },
abstract = {The common bean relies on biological nitrogen fixation to meet part of its nitrogen requirements. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of reinoculation with Rhizobium tropici, alone or combined with Azospirillum brasilense, at different phenological stages. The experiments were conducted in the winter of 2023 and the rainy season of 2023/24, and significant differences were observed between seasons, mainly due to temperature and water stress, which impacted nodulation, plant growth and grain yield. However, appropriate water management mitigated these limitations, allowing reinoculation combined with co-inoculation at the V4 stage to improve nodular and morphophysiological traits, ensuring adequate nutrition through biological nitrogen fixation. This strategy promoted nodulation and plant development, resulting in an 8.5% increase in yield compared to nitrogen fertilization (80 kg ha[-1]), reaching 2197.87 kg ha[-1]. These results suggest that reinoculation with co-inoculation at the V4 stage can enhance biological nitrogen fixation, reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and serve as a sustainable and economically viable alternative.},
}
@article {pmid40941791,
year = {2025},
author = {Bursakov, SA and Karlov, GI and Kroupin, PY and Divashuk, MG},
title = {Microorganisms as Potential Accelerators of Speed Breeding: Mechanisms and Knowledge Gaps.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {17},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14172628},
pmid = {40941791},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {075-15-2025-480//Ministry of science and higher education of the Russian Federation/ ; },
abstract = {The rapid and widespread development of technology is in line with global trends of population growth and increasing demand for food. Significant breakthroughs in science have not yet fully met the needs of agriculture for increased food production and higher yields. The aim of this work is to discuss the current advancements in the application of beneficial microorganisms for crop cultivation and their integration into speed breeding technology to create optimal growing conditions and achieve the ultimate goal of developing new plant varieties. New breeding techniques, such as speed breeding-now a critical component of the breeding process-allow multiple plant generations to be produced in a much shorter time, facilitating the development of new plant varieties. By reducing the time required to obtain new generations, breeders and geneticists can optimize their efforts to obtain the required crop genotypes for both agriculture and industry. This helps to meet the demand for food, animal feed and plant raw materials for industrial use. One potential aspect of speed breeding technology is the incorporation of effective beneficial microorganisms that inhabit both the above-ground and below-ground parts of plants. These microorganisms have the potential to enhance the speed breeding method. Microorganisms can stimulate growth and development, promote overall fitness and rapid maturation, prevent disease, and impart stress resistance in speed breeding plants. Utilizing the positive effects of beneficial microorganisms offers a pathway to enhance speed breeding technology, an approach not yet explored in the literature. The controlled practical use of microorganisms under speed breeding conditions should contribute to producing programmable results. The use of beneficial microorganisms in speed breeding technology is considered an indispensable part of future precision agriculture. Drawing attention to their practical and effective utilization is an urgent task in modern research.},
}
@article {pmid40940224,
year = {2025},
author = {Arai, H and Harumoto, T and Katsuma, S and Nagamine, K and Kageyama, D},
title = {Striking diversity of male-killing symbionts and their mechanisms.},
journal = {Trends in genetics : TIG},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tig.2025.08.003},
pmid = {40940224},
issn = {0168-9525},
abstract = {Symbiosis is a fundamental characteristic of eukaryotic biology. Arthropods, including insects, often harbor maternally inherited endosymbiotic microbes, some of which have evolved the ability to selectively kill male hosts - a phenomenon known as 'male killing.' The evolutionary history and mechanisms of symbiont-induced male killing have remained poorly understood. However, recent studies have revealed a remarkable diversity of male-killing strategies and their associated causative genes in diverse bacteria and viruses that target different aspects of the host reproductive system. Some insects have evolved various suppressor genes to counteract male-killing actions. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the evolution and mechanisms underlying microbe-induced male killing and explores their broader implications for the ecology and evolution of eukaryotic life forms.},
}
@article {pmid40939656,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, Z and Sun, P and Li, H and Wei, Y and Kraslawski, A and An, X and Sun, L},
title = {Novel photocatalytic bacteria-algae coupling system mediated by g-C3N4 nanoparticles: Effects of microbial ratio on performance and microbiome.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133301},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133301},
pmid = {40939656},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {This study explored symbiotic interactions within a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-enhanced bacterial-algal system for advanced wastewater treatment by examining the effects of varying bacterial-algal ratios (10:1, 5:1, and 1:1) on nutrient removal, microbial aggregation, and community dynamics in sequencing batch reactors. The 1:1 ratio (R3) exhibited optimal performance, achieving highest chemical oxygen demand removal (98.7 %) and ammonium nitrogen removal (92.4 %), alongside increased algal biomass. R3 enhanced microbial aggregation via elevated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS, 80.2 mg/g SS), reduced electrostatic repulsion. Microbial profiling revealed higher abundances of Proteobacteria (37.6 %) and Cyanobacteria (9.1 %), synergistically enabling nitrogen assimilation and integration of photocatalytic and biological degradation pathways. The balanced ratio improved dissolved oxygen regulation via algal photosynthesis, while EPS helped mitigate g-C3N4-induced oxidative stress. These findings provide mechanistic insights for the strategic optimization of bacterial-algal consortia in photocatalytically enhanced wastewater treatment systems, with implications for the development of sustainable and energy-efficient water remediation technologies.},
}
@article {pmid40938452,
year = {2025},
author = {Inès, D and Pichereaux, C and Wendehenne, D and Courty, PE and Rosnoblet, C},
title = {Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM197198 modulates the root ubiquitinome of Medicago truncatula in the establishment and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {5},
pages = {54},
pmid = {40938452},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {456 RA21031.AEC.IS//I-SITE UBFC project STRESSPROT/ ; 456 RA21031.AEC.IS//I-SITE UBFC project STRESSPROT/ ; 456 RA21031.AEC.IS//I-SITE UBFC project STRESSPROT/ ; 456 RA21031.AEC.IS//I-SITE UBFC project STRESSPROT/ ; 457 UB18052.AGR.AN//Research National Agency project ALGAE-NOS/ ; 457 UB18052.AGR.AN//Research National Agency project ALGAE-NOS/ ; 457 UB18052.AGR.AN//Research National Agency project ALGAE-NOS/ ; 457 UB18052.AGR.AN//Research National Agency project ALGAE-NOS/ ; ANR-10-INBS-08//ProFI, Proteomics French Infrastructure project/ ; },
abstract = {The regulation of cellular protein homeostasis involves the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) by selectively targeting misfolded or end-of-life proteins. The involvement of the UPS in biotic stresses has been studied mainly in plant-pathogen interactions and poorly in plant-mutualistic interactions. Here, we studied through proteomic approaches (western blot, pull-down of polyubiquinated proteins and nano-LC-MS-MS analysis), the involvement of the UPS during the establishment of the mutualistic interaction between the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM197198 and the roots of Medicago truncatula, as well as in the established symbiosis. Roots of M. truncatula seedlings were harvested 0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 9 h, 12 h, 24 h and 15 days post-inoculation. We characterized a short-time and a-long-time response of the root ubiquitinome. Some proteins as such as flotilins or involved in the translational machinery were less-ubiquitinated, suggesting the facilitation of the de novo synthesis of proteins required to the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. In contrast, other proteins as transporters involved in plant nutrition through the direct pathway (i.e., MtPT5) and some enzymes involved in the lipid biosynthesis pathways were more-ubiquitinated, highlighting their putative degradation. In addition, Cdc48 protein accumulates in roots from 9 to 24 h post-inoculation, suggesting a role of Cdc48 in the transitory immune response during plant-fungal interactions. The activity of the UPS is consequently central in the establishment and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by modulating protein ubiquitination.},
}
@article {pmid40938124,
year = {2025},
author = {Bernabéu-Roda, LM and Rivera-Hernández, G and Cuéllar, V and Núñez, R and Moreno-Ocampo, &#xc1; and Sohlenkamp, C and Geiger, O and Soto, MJ and López-Lara, IM},
title = {Identification of aSinorhizobium meliloti YbgC-like thioesterase that contributes to the production of the infochemical 2-tridecanone.},
journal = {The Biochemical journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1042/BCJ20253120},
pmid = {40938124},
issn = {1470-8728},
abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium that can establish beneficial symbiosis with legume plants. The fadD gene encodes a long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase. Inactivation of FadD in S. meliloti leads to a pleiotropic phenotype, including the overproduction of several volatile methylketones (MKs). One of them, 2-tridecanone (2-TDC), was found to act as an infochemical that affects important bacterial traits and hampers plant-bacteria interactions. Knowledge about bacterial genes involved in MK production is limited. In wild tomato species, MK synthesis requires intermediates of fatty acid biosynthesis and the activity of the methylketone synthase 2 (MKS2), a thioesterase belonging to the hot dog-fold family. In this study, we have identified SMc03960, a conserved hypothetical protein with homology to bacterial YbgC-like thioesterases, as an ortholog of MKS2 in S. meliloti. Heterologous expression of smc03960 in Escherichia coli results in the formation of several MKs, including 2-TDC, and causes the accumulation of free fatty acids. Purified His-SMc03960 showed thioesterase activity for different acyl groups linked either to acyl carrier protein (ACP) or to CoA with preference for C14-long substrates. Moreover, formation of 2-TDC in vitro was achieved by using His-SMc03960 and 3-oxo-myristoyl-ACP. Although deletion of smc03960 in the wild type or in the fadD mutant does not significantly alter the amount of MKs released by S. meliloti, overexpression of the gene results in increased production of 2-TDC in these two strains. Overall, our data demonstrate that SMc03960 is an acyl-ACP/acyl-CoA thioesterase with broad substrate specificity that contributes to 2-TDC formation.},
}
@article {pmid40937477,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhong, W and Lin, Z and Schmidt, EW and Agarwal, V},
title = {Discovery, biosynthesis, and bioactivities of peptidic natural products from marine sponges and sponge-associated bacteria.},
journal = {Natural product reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1039/d5np00048c},
pmid = {40937477},
issn = {1460-4752},
abstract = {Covering 2010 to 2025Sponges are benthic, sessile invertebrate metazoans that are some of the most prolific sources of natural products in the marine environment. Sponge-derived natural products are often endowed with favorable pharmaceutical bioactivities, and paired with their structural complexity, have long served as title compounds for chemical syntheses. Sponges are holobionts, in that the sponge host is associated with symbiotic and commensal microbiome. Natural products isolated from sponges can be produced by the sponge host, or the associated microbiome. Recent genomic studies have shed light on the sponge eukaryotic host as the true producer of several classes of sponge-derived peptidic natural products. In this review spanning years 2010-2025, we describe peptidic natural products isolated from the sponge hosts and the associated microbiome, detail their biosynthetic processes where known, and offer forward looking insights into future innovation in discovery and biosynthesis of peptidic natural products from marine sponges.},
}
@article {pmid40936089,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, Q and Wang, J and Zhang, H and Yao, L and Si, E and Li, B and Meng, Y and Wang, C and Yang, K and Shang, X and Xie, X and Wang, H and Ma, X},
title = {The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of wheat seedlings with contrasting phosphorus use efficiencies under low phosphorus stress.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1201},
pmid = {40936089},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {25ZYJA002//the Central guidance for local scientific and technological development funding projects/ ; 25ZYJA002//the Central guidance for local scientific and technological development funding projects/ ; 24JRRA637//Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province/ ; 24JRRA637//Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province/ ; 24JRRA637//Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province/ ; ZYGG-2025-12-3//the Modern Cold and Drought Characteristic Agricultural Seed Industry Research Project/ ; ZYGG-2025-3//the Modern Cold and Drought Characteristic Agricultural Seed Industry Research Project/ ; 24CXNA038//the Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province/ ; 24CXNA038//the Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province/ ; GSCS-2021-05//the State Key Laboratory of Aridland crop science Open Fund/ ; GSCS-2021-05//the State Key Laboratory of Aridland crop science Open Fund/ ; 24JRRA840//the Gansu Province Science and Technology Joint Plan Fund Project/ ; 24JRRA840//the Gansu Province Science and Technology Joint Plan Fund Project/ ; 24JRRA840//the Gansu Province Science and Technology Joint Plan Fund Project/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can stimulate root development in plants and enhance their ability to adapt to stress conditions. This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation on the growth, hormone dynamics, and phosphorus (P) metabolism of two wheat cultivars with differing phosphorus utilization efficiencies under both normal and low phosphorus concentration conditions. The research focused on the symbiotic interaction between AMF and these wheat varieties to elucidate their responses to varying phosphorus availability.<br><br>RESULT: The experiment showed that phosphorus inefficient wheat SW14 inoculated with AMF for 30 days under low phosphorus stress showed significant enhancement in plant height, biomass, leaf width, stem thickness, root surface area, and vegetative phosphorus content, while total root length and primary root length were reduced, This change in root length was attributed to the fact that the root system undergoes elongation and growth to adapt to the adversity under low phosphorus stress in crops, and inoculation with AMF effectively alleviated the extent of this low phosphorus stress. while IAA, SL, cellulose and lignin hormone levels and APC enzyme activities were significantly elevated, and stem structure was significantly optimized; whereas, the phosphorus-efficient variety, SW2, did not show significant improvement due to its own unique tolerance to low phosphorus stress (Table&#xa0;2). Transcriptomic profiling identified 2,500 differentially expressed genes (DEGs: 983&#x2191;/1,517&#x2193;), enriched in ABC transporters (ko02010), Plant hormone signal transduction (ko04075), and MAPK signaling pathway - plant (ko04016), Cutin, suberin and wax biosynthesis(ko00073). WGCNA further resolved that AMF responded to low phosphorus stress by up-regulating the expression of cellulose, lignin, APC synthesis, and IAA/SL-related genes in SW14, with the most relevant phenotypes shown to correlate to primary root length, total root length, root dry weight and stem diameter.<br><br>CONCLUSION: AMF inoculation significantly enhanced growth and dry matter accumulation in the low-phosphorus-use-efficiency wheat variety SW14 under phosphorus-deficient stress. This treatment concurrently stimulated IAA, SL, and APC activities, resulting in increased phosphorus uptake/accumulation, notable accumulation of cellulose and lignin, and consequently significantly improved stem strength. Although AMF inoculation improved growth in the high-phosphorus-use-efficiency wheat variety SW2, these enhancements failed to reach statistical significance.},
}
@article {pmid40934553,
year = {2025},
author = {Zonneveld, KL and Bustos-Diaz, ED and Francisco, BG and Angelica, CJ},
title = {The cycad coralloid root: is there evidence for plant-microbe coevolution?.},
journal = {Current opinion in microbiology},
volume = {88},
number = {},
pages = {102660},
doi = {10.1016/j.mib.2025.102660},
pmid = {40934553},
issn = {1879-0364},
abstract = {Cycads are survivors, ancient plants originating in the Carboniferous. We hypothesize that cycad resilience and recent diversification could be partially explained by their specialized coral-like (coralloid) roots and their microbiome and that these symbiotic partners are co-evolving. The coralloid root is unique in gymnosperms and rare in vascular plants. Coralloid roots and their associated microbes have been studied since the late 19th century, but a deeper understanding of their taxonomy and function has taken place only recently. And yet, we are at the 'tip of the root' as there are many open questions regarding this specialized organ and its evolutionary history. This review provides an overview of cycad coralloid roots and their microbiome, the technical limitations of their study to date, and the exciting questions that remain to be answered.},
}
@article {pmid40934431,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Liu, M},
title = {Relational vulnerability and technological mediation: The ethics of intelligent eldercare.},
journal = {Nursing ethics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {9697330251374394},
doi = {10.1177/09697330251374394},
pmid = {40934431},
issn = {1477-0989},
abstract = {In current China, the 9073 elderly care system is accelerating the process of intelligentization. The fundamental tension between conventional filial piety ethics and technological rationality is evident in the numerous ethical debates triggered by intelligent older people's care services, despite their convenience. This study proposes an analytical paradigm called relational vulnerability, which creatively combines the philosophy of technology with Confucian relational ethics. Through the use of intricate mechanisms, this framework seeks to shed light on how technological mediation alters intergenerational ethics. According to research, intelligent services that improve physical care for older people while weakening emotional ties have a paradoxical effect that creates new kinds of alienation, such as the measurement of filial duty and the breakdown of ritual-embodied behaviors. By incorporating cultural calibration into the development of human-machine symbiosis, this study addresses this issue by proposing the design concepts of "differential regulation" and "embodiment retention." This counteracts the interpretive shortcomings of the Western autonomy-based ethical paradigm in the context of Chinese older people care, creating new avenues for the application of Confucian bioethics in the age of technology and offering fresh perspectives on moral dilemmas in intelligent older people care.},
}
@article {pmid40931017,
year = {2025},
author = {Montoya, QV and Gerardo, NM and Martiarena, MJS and Solís-Lemus, C and Kriebel, R and Schultz, TR and Sosa-Calvo, J and Rodrigues, A},
title = {Digging into the evolutionary history of the fungus-growing-ant symbiont, Escovopsis (Hypocreaceae).},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {1340},
pmid = {40931017},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {305269/2018-6//Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation | Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Ants/microbiology/physiology ; *Hypocreales/physiology/genetics/classification ; *Biological Evolution ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic relationships shape the evolution of organisms. Fungi in the genus Escovopsis share an evolutionary history with the fungus-growing "attine" ant system and are only found in association with these social insects. Despite this close relationship, there are key aspects of Escovopsis evolution that remain poorly understood. To gain further insight into the evolutionary history of these unique fungi, we delve deeper into Escovopsis' origin and distribution, considering the largest sampling, so far, across the Americas. Furthermore, we investigate Escovopsis' trait evolution, and relationship with attine ants. We demonstrate that, while the genus originated approximately 56.9 Mya, it only became associated with 'higher attine' ants in the last 38 My. Our results, however, indicate that it is likely that the ancestor of Escovopsis lived in symbiosis with early-diverging fungus-growing ants. Since then, the fungi have evolved morphological and physiological adaptations that have increased their reproductive efficiency, possibly to overcome barriers mounted by the ants and their other associated microbes. Taken together, these results provide new clues as to how Escovopsis has evolved within the context of this complex symbiosis and shed light on the evolutionary history of the fungus-growing ant system.},
}
@article {pmid40929513,
year = {2025},
author = {Bhaya, D and Birzu, G and Rocha, EPC},
title = {Horizontal Gene Transfer and Recombination in Cyanobacteriota.},
journal = {Annual review of microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-041522-100420},
pmid = {40929513},
issn = {1545-3251},
abstract = {Cyanobacteria played a pivotal role in shaping Earth's early history and today are key players in many ecosystems. As versatile and ubiquitous phototrophs, they are used as models for oxygenic photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, circadian rhythms, symbiosis, and adaptations to harsh environments. Cyanobacterial genomes and metagenomes exhibit high levels of genomic diversity partly driven by gene flow within and across species. Processes such as recombination and horizontal transfer of novel genes are facilitated by the mobilome that includes plasmids, transposable elements, and bacteriophages. We review these processes in the context of molecular mechanisms of gene transfer, barriers to gene flow, selection for novel traits, and auxiliary metabolic genes. Additionally, Cyanobacteriota are unique because ancient evolutionary innovations, such as oxygenic photosynthesis, can be corroborated with fossil and biogeochemical records. At the same time, sequencing of extant natural populations allows the tracking of recombination events and gene flow over much shorter timescales. Here, we review the challenges of assessing the impact of gene flow across the whole range of evolutionary timescales. Understanding the tempo and constraints to gene flow in Cyanobacteriota can help decipher the timing of key functional innovations, analyze adaptation to local environments, and design Cyanobacteriota for robust use in biotechnology.},
}
@article {pmid40928961,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, X and Li, C and Zhang, K and Li, K and Xie, J and Quan, M and Sun, Y and Hu, Y and Xia, L and Hu, S},
title = {Engineering and Functional Expression of the Type III Secretion System in Xenorhabdus: Enhancing Insecticidal Efficacy and Expanding T3SE Libraries.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c08269},
pmid = {40928961},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematode symbiotic bacteria (EPNB) enhance nematode insecticidal capacity through symbiosis. This study cloned the complete 32-kb type III secretion system (T3SS) gene cluster from Photorhabdus luminescens TT01 using Red/ET recombineering and functionally expressed it in T3SS-deficient Xenorhabdus stockiae HN_xs01. Heterologous T3SS expression significantly enhanced HN_xs01 adhesion and invasion capabilities in CF-203 cells. In Helicoverpa armigera models, the engineered strain induced severe intestinal damage by suppressing antimicrobial peptide expression and demonstrated improved colonization and biocontrol efficacy (LC50 decreased by 3.7-fold). Crucially, the TT01 derived T3SS mediated delivery of XopA─a novel effector exhibiting YopJ-family homology and characteristic T3SS effector features─into host cells. These findings establish the synthetic biology-driven potential of T3SS and its effectors for biological control applications while providing a mechanistic framework for future research.},
}
@article {pmid40928749,
year = {2025},
author = {Fox, PT},
title = {Thirty years of SPM-BrainMap synergy: making and mining coordinate-based literature.},
journal = {Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)},
volume = {35},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/cercor/bhaf240},
pmid = {40928749},
issn = {1460-2199},
support = {AG082661//United States National Institutes of Health/ ; AG066456//United States National Institutes of Health/ ; AG076581//United States National Institutes of Health/ ; MH074457//United States National Institutes of Health/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Brain/physiology/diagnostic imaging ; *Brain Mapping/methods/history ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; *Data Mining ; Databases, Factual ; },
abstract = {Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) adheres to rigorous methodological standards, including: spatial normalization, inter-subject averaging, voxel-wise contrasts, and coordinate reporting. This rigor ensures that a thematically diverse literature is amenable to meta-analysis. BrainMap is a community database (www.brainmap.org; www.portal.brainmap.org) launched contemporaneously with SPM with the goal of efficiently sharing the results and methods of the literature compliant with SPM standards. The SPM-BrainMap symbiosis has motivated the development of coordinate-based meta-analytic methods and a substantial literature of secondary analyses. Collectively this corpus constitutes system-level probabilistic maps and models of the human brain, which details its functional organization, network architecture, and alterations by disease.},
}
@article {pmid40928528,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Chen, L and Li, X and Zhang, L and Deveau, A and Martin, F and Zhang, X},
title = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with Tuber spp. Enhances host performances in Pinus and Carya and induces host-specific patterns in defense-related regulation in the leaf transcriptomes.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {5},
pages = {53},
pmid = {40928528},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {2021YFYZ0026, 2024YFHZ0165//Science and Technology Support Project in Sichuan Province/ ; SCCXTD-2024-07//Sichuan Mushroom Innovation Team/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Pinus/microbiology/genetics/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Plant Leaves/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; *Plant Tubers/microbiology ; *Ascomycota/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) colonize roots to establish symbiotic associations with plants. Sporocarps of the EMF Tuber spp. are considered as a delicacy in numerous countries and is a kind of EMF of great economic and social importance. Elucidating host responses to Tuber colonization would facilitate the exploration of symbiotic interactions and contribute to truffle cultivation. Tuber indicum and T. panzhihuanense, two primary commercial truffle species in China, were selected to colonize Pinus armandii and Carya illinoinensis in a two-and-a-half-year symbiosis experiment. Host performances, including growth, nutrient uptake, and physiological characteristics, were dynamically monitored. The molecular response of host leaf to Tuber symbiosis was further analyzed using RNA-seq. Tuber indicum and T. panzhihuanense exhibited superior colonization of P. armandii compared to that of C. illinoinensis. Both Tuber species enhanced the performance of the two hosts by increasing their height, stem circumference, and biomass. Phosphorus levels and activities of peroxidase and catalase in hosts were observed to increase during Tuber symbiosis. The results confirmed that Tuber colonization led to significant alterations in leaf transcriptomic profiles of the two trees. Tuber indicum and T. panzhihuanense both elicited defense-related regulation in host leaves, such as secondary metabolism, cell wall biogenesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and plant-pathogen interaction, with distinct patterns in P. armandii and C. illinoinensis. Our study provides an evaluation of host performance during truffle symbiosis and highlights the diverse patterns of Tuber-induced systematic defense regulation in hosts, offering insights into the specific symbiotic traits of Tuber-host pairs.},
}
@article {pmid40927988,
year = {2025},
author = {Veresoglou, SD},
title = {Mycorrhizal ecology: In the land of the one-eyed king.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf399},
pmid = {40927988},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Unlike most of the other disciplines in microbial ecology, a substantial fraction of the theory on mycorrhizal ecology originates from times when assaying microbes was laborious and inefficient. Most of those hypotheses target, as a result, the plant partner of the symbiosis, or at best treat the two mycorrhizal partners as a unified organism, a holobiont. I here address the legacy of this era of mycorrhizal ecology, as a means of systematizing our understanding of the discipline, but also identifying gaps of knowledge. First, I pair and review hypotheses that align with the holobiont concept with complementary hypotheses that explicitly consider the fitness of the mycorrhizal fungus. Second, I generate a hierarchy of hypotheses in mycorrhizal ecology to showcase the high potential for classifying theory that the distinction between hypotheses considering mycorrhiza as either a holobiont or an association of two individual partners maintains. Third, I identify settings that might dictate when to better abstract mycorrhizas into holobionts and when to consider all their partners individually to foster research progress. I conclude the review with suggestions on how to further unify expectations in mycorrhizal ecology.},
}
@article {pmid40927683,
year = {2025},
author = {Boyno, G and Danesh, YR and Çevik, R and Teniz, N and Demir, S and Calayır, O and Farda, B and Mignini, A and Mitra, D and Pellegrini, M and Porcel, R and Mulet, JM},
title = {Plant-fungus synergy against soil salinity: The cellular and molecular role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {9},
pages = {113384},
pmid = {40927683},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in disease control by establishing symbiotic relationships with plant roots. AMF improve salinity tolerance in plants by regulating the Na[+]/K[+] ratio through selective ion transport and mediate osmotic regulation by inducing the accumulation of osmotic-compatible solutes such as glycine betaine and proline to enable plant cells to maintain water content and the metabolic balance. AMF can also activate antioxidant defense responses by stimulating enzymes that protect plant cells from harmful oxidation and pathological infections. Plant salinity tolerance induced by AMF depends on abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent signaling mechanisms, calcium-calmodulin-dependent pathways, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-modulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. Therefore, future research should focus on optimizing the production and field efficacy of AMF-based inoculants, including their combined use with microbial biostimulants, to support the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid40926683,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, G and Zhao, C and Xu, W and Lu, B and Zhao, Y and Wang, Z},
title = {Treatment of Aquaculture Wastewater by Utilizing Single and Symbiotic Systems of Microalgae-Based Technology and Strigolactone Induction.},
journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation},
volume = {97},
number = {9},
pages = {e70174},
doi = {10.1002/wer.70174},
pmid = {40926683},
issn = {1554-7531},
support = {212102110105//Henan Science and Technology Research Project of Research and utilization of key microorganisms for nitrogen transformation during composting of pond sediment/ ; HARS-22-16-Z1//Special Fund for Henan Agriculture Research System/ ; 31971514//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31670511//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023ss04//Science and Technology Program of Suzhou/ ; },
mesh = {*Microalgae/physiology/metabolism ; *Aquaculture ; *Wastewater/chemistry ; *Lactones/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/metabolism ; *Chlorella vulgaris/metabolism ; },
abstract = {This study investigated the efficacy of two microalgae treatment systems (Chlorella vulgaris monoculture and a Chlorella vulgaris-S395-2-Clonostachys rosea symbiotic system) in treating aquaculture wastewater, under varying concentrations of synthetic strigolactone analog (GR24). By exposing the systems to four GR24 doses (0, 10[-11], 10[-9], and 10[-7] M), we examined the impact on biomass growth, photosynthesis, and wastewater treatment. Elevated GR24 concentrations bolstered metabolism and photosynthesis in the systems, fostering rapid symbiont growth and enhanced treatment efficiency. Notably, the coculture system outperformed the monoculture in terms of photosynthetic rate, daily biomass accumulation, and nutrient reduction in aquaculture wastewater (p < 0.05). Optimally, at 10[-9] M GR24, the symbiotic system achieved remarkable average removal rates of COD (78.54 ± 6.11%), TN (81.69 ± 7.02%), and TP (82.67 ± 7.58%) from aquaculture wastewater. Additionally, a comparative analysis revealed the system's exceptional capacity to reduce oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) levels, achieving a notable 98.72% removal rate. The outcomes significantly advance bioenhancement approaches and inform the design of efficient algal-bacterial-fungal symbiotic processes for treating antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.},
}
@article {pmid40926201,
year = {2025},
author = {Bakrani, Z and Ehsanzadeh, P},
title = {Mycorrhizal inoculation mitigates drought stress in borage (Borago officinalis L.): Evidence from biochemical, physiological, and growth responses.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1198},
pmid = {40926201},
issn = {1471-2229},
}
@article {pmid40925330,
year = {2025},
author = {Udvardi, M and Mens, C},
title = {Symbiosis: A SWEET deal for nodules.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {17},
pages = {R830-R832},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.07.069},
pmid = {40925330},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; *Glycine max/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Sucrose/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {A new study shows that sucrose allocation within soybean roots by the sucrose transporter GmSWEET3c promotes rhizobial infection, nodulation, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid40925006,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, Y and Moreau, CS},
title = {Nutritional Symbiosis Between Ants and Their Symbiotic Microbes.},
journal = {Annual review of entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013513},
pmid = {40925006},
issn = {1545-4487},
abstract = {Nutritional symbioses with microorganisms have profoundly shaped the evolutionary success of ants, enabling them to overcome dietary limitations and thrive across diverse ecological niches and trophic levels. These interactions are particularly crucial for ants with specialized diets, where microbial symbionts compensate for dietary imbalances by contributing to nitrogen metabolism, vitamin supplementation, and the catabolism of plant fibers and proteins. This review synthesizes recent advances in our understanding of ant-microbe symbioses, focusing on diversity, functional roles in host nutrition, and mechanisms of transmission of symbiotic microorganisms. Despite progress, most research has concentrated on a few ant genera, and further exploration of microbial roles in different ant morphs and life stages and across various ant species is needed. Expanding research to include a broader array of ant lineages and integrating genomic data with additional experimental data will provide deeper insights into the metabolic strategies that facilitate ant success across diverse ecological habitats.},
}
@article {pmid40924927,
year = {2025},
author = {Colombo, M},
title = {Cognitive Symbionts. Expanding the Scope of Cognitive Science With Fungi.},
journal = {Topics in cognitive science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/tops.70024},
pmid = {40924927},
issn = {1756-8765},
abstract = {It has been argued that fungi have cognitive capacities, and even conscious experiences. While these arguments risk ushering in unproductive disputes about how words like "mind," "cognitive," "sentient," and "conscious" should be used, paying close attention to key properties of fungal life can also be uncontroversially productive for cognitive science. Attention to fungal life can, for example, inspire new, potentially fruitful directions of research in cognitive science. Here, I introduce a concept of cognitive symbiosis whose significance for cognitive science becomes salient when we consider the centrality of symbioses in the life of fungi. Like fungi, virtually all cognitive systems live in close association with other kinds of cognitive systems, and this living together can have substantive psychological consequences. Expanding the scope of cognitive science to study a wide variety of cognitive symbioses underwrites the importance of biology and evolution in understanding minds.},
}
@article {pmid40924749,
year = {2025},
author = {Amoros, J and Buysse, M and Floriano, AM and Moumen, B and Vavre, F and Bouchon, D and Duron, O},
title = {Diversity and spread of cytoplasmic incompatibility genes among maternally inherited symbionts.},
journal = {PLoS genetics},
volume = {21},
number = {9},
pages = {e1011856},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1011856},
pmid = {40924749},
issn = {1553-7404},
abstract = {Cytoplasmic Incompatibility (CI) causes embryonic lethality in arthropods, resulting in a significant reduction in reproductive success. In most cases, this reproductive failure is driven by Wolbachia endosymbionts through their cifA/cifB gene pair, whose products disrupts arthropod DNA replication during embryogenesis. While a cif pair has been considered a hallmark of Wolbachia, its presence and functional significance in other bacterial lineages remains poorly investigated. Here, we conducted a comprehensive survey of 762 genomes spanning non-Wolbachia endosymbionts and their close relatives, revealing that the cif pair is far more widespread than previously recognized. We identified cif loci in 8.4% of the surveyed genomes, with a striking incidence of 17.4% in facultative symbionts. Beyond Wolbachia, cif pair occurs across eight bacterial genera spanning α-Proteobacteria, γ-Proteobacteria, Mollicutes, and Bacteroidota. Notably, cif pair has been identified in several intracellular pathogens of mammals showing high rate of transovarial transmission in their arthropod hosts, suggesting a potential role of cif pair and CI in vector-borne disease dynamics. Structural analyses further reveal that the PD(D/E)-XK nucleases and AAA-ATPase-like motifs are consistently conserved across cif pairs in all bacterial taxa. Moreover, cif pairs are frequently integrated within diverse mobile genetic elements, from transposons to large intact WO prophages in Wolbachia and RAGEs in Rickettsiaceae. Phylogenetic analyses reveal recent and potentially ongoing horizontal transfers of cif pair between distantly related bacterial lineages, a process potentially facilitated by mobile genetic elements. Indeed, the PDDEXK2 transposase exhibits a phylogenetic pattern consistent with the co-transmission of cif genes, suggesting that it may facilitate horizontal transfers of cif across bacterial lineages. Furthermore, the detection of endosymbionts harboring cif pair in arthropod groups where Wolbachia is scarce, such as ticks, suggests that CI may be more widespread than previously known, with significant implications for arthropod symbiosis, reproductive manipulation, and future biocontrol strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40924454,
year = {2025},
author = {Finegan, C and Kates, HR and Guralnick, RP and Soltis, PS and Resende, MFR and Ané, JM and Kirst, M and Folk, RA and Soltis, DE},
title = {Convergent evolution of NFP-facilitated root nodule symbiosis.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {37},
pages = {e2424902122},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2424902122},
pmid = {40924454},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {DE-SC0018247//US Department of Energy/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/microbiology ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {The origin and phylogenetic distribution of symbiotic associations between nodulating angiosperms and nitrogen-fixing bacteria have long intrigued biologists. Recent comparative evolutionary analyses have yielded alternative hypotheses: a multistep pathway of independent gains and losses of root nodule symbiosis vs. a single gain followed by numerous losses. A detailed reconstruction of the history of genes involved in signaling between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and potential hosts, particularly lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) signaling, is needed to distinguish between these hypotheses. LCO recognition by plants involves the Nod Factor Perception (NFP) gene family; in the legume model Medicago truncatula (Fabales), MtNFP is essential for establishing rhizobial symbiosis. Here, we document convergent evolution of NFP, indicating multiple origins of LCO-driven symbiosis. In contrast to previous models that explain the recruitment of NFP via a single duplication in the ancestor of the nitrogen-fixing clade, our phylogenomic and synteny results suggest this duplication does not span the entire clade. Tandem duplication in a common ancestor of Cucurbitales and Rosales resulted in the NFP1 and NFP2 groups. In contrast, the phylogenetically closest paralog of MtNFP is MtLYR1, located on a different chromosome within a large syntenic block. All available data indicate that a large-scale duplication resulted in MtNFP and MtLYR1, likely corresponding to a whole-genome duplication in an ancestor of subfamily Papilionoideae of Fabaceae. We show that MtNFP and the NFP2-like group are not orthologous, indicating multiple independent gains of NFP-based LCO signaling. This molecular convergence provides a possible mechanism for multiple gains of root nodule symbiosis across the nitrogen-fixing clade.},
}
@article {pmid40922700,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, S and Wang, X and Adeniji, OD and Batchelor, WD and Wang, Y and Blersch, D and Higgins, BT and Liles, MR and Luo, W and Chen, CY and Feng, Y and Wang, Y},
title = {Targeted Genome Editing of the ACC Deaminase Gene in Bradyrhizobium: Toward Enhanced Plant Growth and Stress Tolerance.},
journal = {Biotechnology and bioengineering},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/bit.70064},
pmid = {40922700},
issn = {1097-0290},
support = {//This study was supported by the National Peanut Board award (APPA-RIA16-PID 488 BID 1664)./ ; },
abstract = {Ensuring sufficient crop yields in an era of rapid population growth and limited arable land requires innovative strategies to enhance plant resilience and sustain, or even improve, growth and productivity despite environmental stress. Besides symbiotic nitrogen fixation, rhizobia may play a central role in sustainable agriculture by alleviating the detrimental effects of ethylene-a key stress hormone in plants-especially under conditions like drought through the deamination of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). In this study, we focused on genetically engineering a new Bradyrhizobium sp. isolate (Strain 9) from peanut root nodules to enhance its ACC deaminase activity. First, we developed a sacB-based genome-engineering tool and used it to knock out the ACC deaminase gene (acdS), confirming that its disruption severely diminished the strain's capacity to degrade ACC. Subsequently, we constructed an acdS-overexpressing strain by integrating a strong promoter and an optimized ribosome binding site upstream of acdS, achieving a five-fold increase in ACC deaminase activity relative to the wild-type. Peanut inoculation experiments demonstrated that both the acdS knockout and overexpression mutants effectively nodulated roots without impairing plant growth and nitrogen fixation, indicating that these modifications did not compromise symbiosis. Overall, this study highlights the utility of sacB-mediated counter-selection for precise genome editing in Bradyrhizobium and underscores the potential of enhanced ACC deaminase activity to improve plant growth under stress conditions. These findings pave the way for developing next-generation bioinoculants with superior ethylene mitigation capabilities, contributing to more productive and sustainable crop systems.},
}
@article {pmid40920925,
year = {2025},
author = {Marks, JC and Zampini, MC and Fitzpatrick, R and Kariunga, SH and Sitati, A and Samo, TJ and Weber, PK and Thomas, S and Hungate, BA and Ramon, CE and Wulf, M and Leshyk, VO and Schwartz, E and Pett-Ridge, J and Power, ME},
title = {Ecosystem consequences of a nitrogen-fixing proto-organelle.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {37},
pages = {e2503108122},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2503108122},
pmid = {40920925},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {2125088//NSF (NSF)/ ; DE-AC52-07NA27344//US Department of Energy/ ; },
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Ecosystem ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Animals ; Food Chain ; Rivers ; *Diatoms/metabolism/physiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; Seasons ; Cyanobacteria/metabolism/physiology ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; Carbon Isotopes ; },
abstract = {Microscale symbioses can be critical to ecosystem functions, but the mechanisms of these interactions in nature are often cryptic. Here, we use a combination of stable isotope imaging and tracing to reveal carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) exchanges among three symbiotic primary producers that fuel a salmon-bearing river food web. Bulk isotope analysis, nanoSIMS (secondary ion mass spectrometry) isotope imaging, and density centrifugation for quantitative stable isotope probing enabled quantification of organism-specific C- and N-fixation rates from the subcellular scale to the ecosystem. After winters with riverbed-scouring floods, the macroalga Cladophora glomerata uses nutrients in spring runoff to grow streamers up to 10 m long. During summer flow recession, riverine N concentrations wane and Cladophora becomes densely epiphytized by three species of Epithemia, diatoms with N-fixing endosymbionts (proto-organelles) descended from a free-living Crocosphaera cyanobacterium. Over summertime epiphyte succession on Cladophora, N-fixation rates increased as Epithemia spp. became dominant, Cladophora C-fixation declined to near zero, and Epithemia C-fixation increased. Carbon transfer to caddisflies grazing on Cladophora with high densities of Epithemia was 10-fold higher than C transfer to caddisflies grazing Cladophora with low Epithemia loads. In response to demand for N, Epithemia allocates high levels of newly fixed C to its endosymbiont. Consequently, these endosymbionts have the highest rates of C and N accumulation of any taxon in this tripartite symbiosis during the biologically productive season and can produce one of the highest areal rates of N-fixation reported in any river ecosystem.},
}
@article {pmid40919919,
year = {2025},
author = {Luo, Y and Srinivas, A and Guidry, C and Bull, C and Haney, CH and Hamilton, C},
title = {GacA regulates symbiosis and mediates lifestyle transitions in Pseudomonas.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0027725},
doi = {10.1128/msphere.00277-25},
pmid = {40919919},
issn = {2379-5042},
abstract = {Through horizontal gene transfer, closely related bacterial strains assimilate distinct sets of genes, resulting in significantly varied lifestyles. However, it remains unclear how strains properly regulate horizontally transferred virulence genes. We hypothesized that strains may use components of the core genome to regulate diverse horizontally acquired genes. To investigate how closely related bacteria assimilate and activate horizontally acquired DNA, we used a model consisting of strains in the brassicacearum/corrugata/mediterranea (BCM) subclade of Pseudomonas fluorescens, including Pseudomonas species N2E2 and N2C3, which exhibit contrasting lifestyles on the model plant Arabidopsis. Pseudomonas sp. N2E2 is a plant commensal and contains genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes for the antifungal compound 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG). In contrast, Pseudomonas sp. N2C3 lacks DAPG biosynthesis and has gained a pathogenic island encoding syringomycin (SYR)- and syringopeptin (SYP)-like toxins from the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. This causes a transition in lifestyle from plant-protective N2E2 to plant-pathogenic N2C3. We found that N2E2 and N2C3 share a highly conserved two-component system GacA/S, a known regulator of DAPG and SYR/SYP. Using knockout mutations, we found that a ΔgacA mutation resulted in loss of expression of SYR/SYP virulence genes and returned pathogenic N2C3 to a plant commensal lifestyle. Our study further explored the conservation of regulatory control across strains by demonstrating that GacA genes from both distant and closely related Pseudomonas strains could functionally complement one another across the genus.IMPORTANCEEmerging pathogens represent a significant threat to humans, agriculture, and natural ecosystems. Bacterial horizontal gene transfer (HGT) aids in the acquisition of novel genes that facilitate adaptation to new environments. Our work shows a novel role for GacA in orchestrating the regulatory changes necessary for virulence and lifestyle transitions facilitated by HGT. These findings suggest that the GacA/S system plays a key role in mediating transitions across diverse Pseudomonas symbiotic lifestyles. This work provides insights into the mechanisms that drive the emergence of pathogenic strains and highlights potential targets for managing bacterial threats to plant health.},
}
@article {pmid40919716,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, T and Lv, J and Wang, L and Wu, H and Chen, Y and Chen, R and Pan, H},
title = {Uninfected cell-specific enzymes coordinate carbon supply and nitrogen assimilation in Medicago truncatula nodules.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70560},
pmid = {40919716},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2024JJ2014; 2025ZYJ003//Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province/ ; 32441035//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32470255//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {In legume root nodules, rhizobia invade host cells to form symbiosomes that drive atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Although the metabolic roles of infected cells (ICs) are well established, the contributions of adjacent uninfected cells (UCs) have remained largely unexplored. Here, through forward genetics methods, we identify DEBINO4, a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) uniquely expressed in UCs, as a pivotal regulator of carbon metabolism essential for sustaining symbiosome function and nitrogen assimilation. DEBINO4-deficient mutants display premature nodule senescence characterized by nonviable symbiosomes in the fixation zone and disrupted carbon and nitrogen metabolic profiles. The nodule-specific PEPC kinases (PPCKs), which are probably involved in DEBINO4 activation, are required to preserve symbiosome integrity, while Glutamine Synthetase 1a (GS1a), also restricted to UCs, is critical for ammonium assimilation and maintaining differentiated symbiosomes. Comprehensive analysis of metabolism-related genes further reveals that UCs execute specialized, stage-specific functions during nitrogen fixation. Collectively, our findings underscore the importance of cell-type-specific metabolic networks in orchestrating successful symbiosis and provide a framework for understanding how distinct nodule cell populations coordinate carbon and nitrogen metabolism to support efficient nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid40919702,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, L and Tian, Y and Li, L and Zhan, W and Sun, H and Ren, N and Tang, Z and Ngo, HH},
title = {Movement Mechanisms Harness Lévy Flight for Energy-Efficient Wastewater Treatment in Microalgae-Bacteria Systems.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e04676},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202504676},
pmid = {40919702},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {52341001//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022M710953//Postdoctoral Research Foundation of China/ ; 2022ZX02C16//Heilongjiang Key R&amp;D Programme/ ; ES202424//The Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment/ ; },
abstract = {Microalgae-bacteria symbiosis system is significant for sustainable and low-carbon wastewater treatment, with self-aggregation being key to its stable operation and effective pollutant removal. Cellular motility is the main driving force behind self-aggregation, crucial for symbiosis stability, but the characteristics and patterns involved still remain largely unexplored. Here, cellular movement dynamics into the microalgae-activated sludge model (ASM3) is incorporated, enabling synchronized simulation of metabolic activities and movement behaviors through physical and biochemical interactions in bioreactor systems. These findings indicate that microalgae induce bacterial movement towards Lévy flights, thereby increasing the bacterial encounter rate by 12.20%, augmenting signaling molecule concentration and biomass by 20.0% and 27.3%, respectively, which in turn strengthens the bacteria self-aggregation effect. Through practical reactor operations with metagenomic analysis, the efficacy of this model in elucidating self-aggregation is further corroborated, improving system stability and pollutant removal efficiency. An optimized microalgae-bacteria system reduces energy costs associated with cellular aggregation processes, economizing on the cost of chemotaxis-related proteins. This study not only elucidate the unique role of Lévy flight in self-aggregation, enhancing the understanding of microalgae-bacteria symbiosis, but also establish response mechanisms between motility patterns and operation dynamics. This allows for targeted regulation across various biosystems, ensuring cost-effective wastewater treatment and proactive prediction.},
}
@article {pmid40917997,
year = {2025},
author = {Meng, G and Li, J and Cao, Y and Li, F and Liu, M and Li, R and Dong, C},
title = {Haplotype-resolved genomes of Phlebopus portentosus reveal nuclear differentiation, TE-mediated variation, and saprotrophic potential.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e161411},
pmid = {40917997},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {Phlebopus portentosus is a widely consumed edible mushroom and the only Boletales species currently cultivated on an industrial scale. Despite its economic importance, its trophic strategy and genomic adaptations remain elusive. Here, we presented high-quality, chromosome-level genome assemblies for two sexually compatible monokaryons (PP78 and PP85) of P. portentosus. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a genome size difference of 1.17 Mb (30.87 vs. 32.04 Mb), primarily attributed to transposable element (TE) expansion in strain PP85. Genome structural variations were largely driven by TEs, particularly LTR retrotransposons. DNA transposons were also involved in structural rearrangement of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, impacting their organization and transcriptional profiles. Functional annotation identified 187 PP78-specific and 236 PP85-specific genes, with the latter enriched in TE-related and putative virulence factors. P. portentosus displays genomic signatures of both ECM symbiosis (reduced lignocellulose-degrading enzymes) and saprotroph (expanded glycoside hydrolase 31 and sugar transporters), supporting a facultative ECM lifestyle. The expansion of non-ribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide synthase pathways, alongside contraction of terpenoid clusters typical of ECM fungi, further indicated its adaptation to saprotroph. These findings highlight the role of TEs in driving genome plasticity, metabolic diversity, and nuclear divergence in P. portentosus, providing valuable genomic resources for this species.},
}
@article {pmid40917749,
year = {2025},
author = {Fu, L and Wang, M and Li, D and Ma, S and Zhang, F and Zheng, L},
title = {Microbial metabolites short chain fatty acids, tight junction, gap junction, and reproduction: a review.},
journal = {Frontiers in cell and developmental biology},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1624415},
pmid = {40917749},
issn = {2296-634X},
abstract = {The gut microbiota, comprising trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, exists in symbiosis with the host. As the largest microbial ecosystem in the human body. The gut microbiota not only shapes the homeostasis of the intestinal microenvironment through gut-derived metabolites but also exerts regulatory effects on the functions of diverse tissues and organs throughout the body via the intricate "gut-distal organ axis" mechanism. Short chain fatty acids, such as acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid are high abundance intestinal metabolites, not only influence the intestinal barrier by regulating tight junction proteins, but also affect intestinal peristalsis by regulating gap junction proteins. These microbial metabolites may also play a important role in the formation and maintenance of the key barriers of the reproductive system, such as the ovarian blood follicle barrier, the testicular blood-testis barrier, and the endometrial epithelial barrier. In reproductive system, Gap junction-mediated intercellular communication, facilitated by connexins, proves essential in germ cell maturation, embryo implantation, and spermatogenesis. The dysregulation of these microbial metabolites leading to abnormal tight junction and gap junction protein functions provides novel perspectives for understanding the pathogenesis of reproductive disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome and premature ovarian failure. This review systematically elucidates the molecular networks through which short-chain fatty acids regulate tight and gap junction proteins, highlighting their potential roles in reproductive physiology.},
}
@article {pmid40916562,
year = {2025},
author = {Sharoni, T and Jaimes-Becerra, A and Lewandowska, M and Aharoni, R and Voolstra, CR and Fine, M and Moran, Y},
title = {Heat Stress Drives Rapid Viral and Antiviral Innate Immunity Activation in Hexacorallia.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70098},
doi = {10.1111/mec.70098},
pmid = {40916562},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {863809//H2020 European Research Council/ ; },
abstract = {The class Hexacorallia, encompassing stony corals and sea anemones, plays a critical role in marine ecosystems. Coral bleaching, the disruption of the symbiosis between stony corals and zooxanthellate algae, is driven by seawater warming and further exacerbated by pathogenic microbes. However, how pathogens, especially viruses, contribute to accelerated bleaching remains poorly understood. Here the model sea anemone Nematostella vectensis is used to explore these dynamics by creating a transgenic line with a reporter gene regulated by sequences from two RIG-I-like receptor genes involved in antiviral responses. Under heat stress, the reporter genes showed significant upregulation. Further, transcriptomes from N. vectensis, Exaiptasia diaphana and the stony coral Stylophora pistillata were analysed to reveal stress-induced activation of a set of bona fide immune-related genes conserved between the three species. Population-specific differences in stress-induced transcriptional responses of immune-related genes were evident in both Nematostella and Stylophora, depending on geographic origin. In Exaiptasia, the presence of zooxanthellae also influenced stress-induced immune gene expression. To test whether the viruses themselves contribute to this immune response under stress, we subjected N. vectensis to heat stress and measured the transcription dynamics of resident viruses as well as selected antiviral genes. While the antiviral genes responded within hours of heat stress, viral gene expression was already upregulated within 30 min, suggesting that their increase might be contributing to the elevated immune response under stress, and consequentially, the further demise of organismal homeostasis. These findings highlight the interplay between environmental stress, viruses, immune responses and symbiotic states in Hexacorallia.},
}
@article {pmid40915801,
year = {2025},
author = {Xue, H and Qiao, X and Du, L and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Cui, J and Zhu, X and Luo, J and Gao, X},
title = {Host-microbe synergy in pesticide resilience: Rhodococcus-driven fitness compensation in chlorpyrifos-stressed Binodoxys communis.},
journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology},
volume = {214},
number = {},
pages = {106609},
doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106609},
pmid = {40915801},
issn = {1095-9939},
mesh = {*Chlorpyrifos/pharmacology/toxicity ; Animals ; *Rhodococcus/physiology/drug effects ; *Insecticides/pharmacology/toxicity ; *Aphids/drug effects ; *Host Microbial Interactions/drug effects ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Chlorpyrifos (CPF), a widely used organophosphate insecticide in cotton cultivation for controlling Aphis gossypii, has Binodoxys communis as the primary parasitic natural enemy of A. gossypii. This study evaluated the impact of two sub-lethal CPF concentrations (LC10 and LC30) on key biological parameters across two generations, transcriptomic responses, and symbiotic bacterial communities in B. communis. CPF exposure significantly reduced F1 generation survival by 39.89 % (LC10) and F2 generation survival by 33.31 % (LC30). Emergence rates were markedly decreased in both F1 (33.43 %) and F2 (19.86 %) generations under LC10 exposure. Furthermore, LC10 treatment significantly prolonged the F1 pre-pupal stage by 31.58 %. Short-term (1 h) CPF exposure markedly suppressed the expression of genes involved in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and PPAR signaling pathways. Notably, CPF exposure (both 1 h and 3 days) resulted in a significant increase in the relative abundance of Rhodococcus, suggesting a potential role of this bacterium in enhancing B. communis fitness under insecticide stress. Our findings not only inform the judicious application of CPF, but also identify molecular targets associated with energy and nutrient metabolism, while laying the groundwork for harnessing bacteria to enhance pesticide resistance in parasitoid wasps.},
}
@article {pmid40894694,
year = {2025},
author = {Regan, MD and Chiang, E and Grahn, M and Tonelli, M and Assadi-Porter, FM and Suen, G and Carey, HV},
title = {Host-microbiome mutualism drives urea carbon salvage and acetogenesis during hibernation.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40894694},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {P41 GM103399/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P41 GM136463/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P41 RR002301/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM008349/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Hibernation is a seasonal survival strategy employed by certain mammals that, through torpor use, reduces overall energy expenditure and permits long-term fasting. Although fasting solves the challenge of winter food scarcity, it also removes dietary carbon, a critical biomolecular building block. Here, we demonstrate a process of urea carbon salvage (UCS) in hibernating 13-lined ground squirrels, whereby urea carbon is reclaimed through gut microbial ureolysis and used in reductive acetogenesis to produce acetate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) of major value to the host and its gut microbiota. We find that urea carbon incorporation into acetate is more efficient during hibernation than the summer active season, and that while both host and gut microbes oxidize acetate for energy supply throughout the year, the host's ability to absorb and oxidize acetate is highest during hibernation. Metagenomic analysis of the gut microbiome indicates that genes involved in the degradation of gut mucins, an abundant endogenous nutrient, are retained during hibernation. The hydrogen disposal associated with reductive acetogenesis from urea carbon helps facilitate this mucin degradation by providing a luminal environment that sustains fermentation, thereby generating SCFAs and other metabolites usable by both the host and its gut microbes. Our findings introduce UCS as a mechanism that enables hibernating squirrels and their gut microbes to exploit two key endogenous nutrient sources - urea and mucins - in the resource-limited hibernation season.},
}
@article {pmid40919466,
year = {2025},
author = {Lian, J and Zou, D and Trebuch, LM and Duan, C and Li, M},
title = {Exploring the interactions between algae and archaea.},
journal = {Marine life science &amp; technology},
volume = {7},
number = {3},
pages = {450-465},
pmid = {40919466},
issn = {2662-1746},
abstract = {Algae and archaea co-exist in diverse aquatic ecosystems and play a significant role in ecological functions and biogeochemical cycles. Compared to well-studied algal-bacterial interactions, there is a lack of information on algal-archaeal interactions and how their interactions affect their physiological fitness and nutrient cycles in either artificial cultivation systems or natural environments. The vast archaeal biodiversity, as indicated by genomic sequencing and computational approaches, has stimulated great interest in exploring uncultivated archaea to expand our knowledge of algae-archaea symbiosis. In this review, we summarize the latest studies on the diversity of algae-associated archaea and their (putative) symbiotic interactions, highlight the effects of algal-archaeal interactions on biogeochemical cycles and extend such knowledge to facilitate novel archaeal isolation and a broad range of algae-based biotechnological applications.},
}
@article {pmid40915677,
year = {2025},
author = {Costa, FF and Lustosa, BPR and Perico, CP and Belmonte-Lopes, R and Carvalho, JLVR and Razzolini, EL and Santos, GDD and Lima, BJFS and Souza-Motta, CM and Raittz, RT and Song, Y and Selbmann, L and de Hoog, GS and Meis, J and Vicente, VA},
title = {In silico search reveals the association of lichens with black yeast-like fungi in the order Chaetothyriales.},
journal = {Fungal biology},
volume = {129},
number = {6},
pages = {101618},
doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101618},
pmid = {40915677},
issn = {1878-6146},
mesh = {*Lichens/microbiology/classification ; *Ascomycota/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Metagenomics ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; Computer Simulation ; Metagenome ; },
abstract = {Lichens exemplify a unique symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria, where fungi (mycobionts) provide structural support, while algae or cyanobacteria (photobionts) provide nutrients. Recent discoveries in the order Chaetothyriales have led to the description of several lichenicolous species, underscoring an intricate relationship of some black yeast-like fungi with lichens. The present study aims to investigate public metagenomic data of lichens available in the SRA database, covering a total of 2888 samples. The analysis incorporated 122 molecular marker sequences (barcodes and padlock probes) previously documented in the literature for species classified within Chaetothyriales. Additionally, 11 novel barcodes for species recently identified in lichens of the genera Cladophialophora and Paracladophialophora are described. The selected metagenomes were then compared with molecular marker sequences using local BLASTn (v2.6.0+), considering only alignments with a coverage cut-off and 100 % identity (perfect match). Reads from each sample were retrieved from the SRA as a multifasta file and analyzed with the SWeeP method for vector-based, alignment-free sequence analysis. The analysis identified fungi that are known as environmental inhabitants and, occasionally, opportunistic pathogens of vertebrates, including species in the genera Cladophialophora, Cyphellophora, and Exophiala. These species were distributed across 11 BioProjects from various locations around the world. The findings of this study corroborate extant knowledge concerning fungal colonization in diverse extremophilic environments, including deserts, tundra, and rocky surfaces.},
}
@article {pmid40915132,
year = {2025},
author = {Shu, P and Zhao, L and Wen, X and Wei, Z and Yuan, C and Liu, H and Zhang, X and Long, X and He, Q and Li, W},
title = {Iron oxide-mediated enhancement of extracellular electron transfer and symbiosis in consortium of electroactive bacteria and microalgae for wastewater treatment.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {287},
number = {Pt B},
pages = {124516},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.124516},
pmid = {40915132},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {This study explores the role of α-Fe2O3 in improving extracellular electron transfer (EET) and symbiotic interactions between electroactive Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, its gene-deficient mutants (ΔmtrC, ΔomcA, and ΔcymA), and microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris). The iron oxide facilitates the efficient transfer of electrons generated by MR-1 to microalgal photosystem via the pathway of CymA-MtrC-OmcA to α-Fe2O3. This process enhances the removals of TOC, TN, and NH4[+]-N in the MR-1 bacterial-algal consortium by 9.99%, 12.32%, and 52.25% respectively via OmcA regulation while boosting phosphorus removal by 16.27% through CymA regulation. The consortium exhibits 26.76% lower CO2 emission and 62.93% higher biomass productivity. When integrated into microbial fuel cells with ΔcymA mutants, α-Fe2O3 elevates open-circuit voltage by 283.33%, confirming its ability to compensate for electron deficiencies caused by CymA defects. α-Fe2O3 enhances energy metabolisms (TCA cycle, quinone pool, and photosynthesis) to modulate the key metabolites including starch/sucrose, glycolysis, amino acids, lipids, and quorum sensing. These adaptations strengthen the symbiotic interactions and utilization of MR-1 bacterial-algal consortium for carbon and nutrients. Reactor experiments validate that α-Fe2O3 integration with the consortium achieves 93.43% COD removal and 55.99% NH4[+]-N removal, while reducing N2O emissions by 61.37%. The results reveal the interplay between OmcA, CymA, and iron oxides in optimizing bacterial-algal consortia and underscore the molecular mechanisms underlying iron oxide-enhanced EET for developing low-carbon, resource-efficient wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40915025,
year = {2025},
author = {Ortiz, J and Sanhueza, C and Romero-Munar, A and Sierra, S and Palma, F and Aroca, R and de la Peña, TC and López-Gómez, M and Bascuñán-Godoy, L and Del-Saz, NF},
title = {Nitrogen source and availability associate to mitochondrial respiratory pathways and symbiotic function in Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {Journal of plant physiology},
volume = {314},
number = {},
pages = {154606},
doi = {10.1016/j.jplph.2025.154606},
pmid = {40915025},
issn = {1618-1328},
abstract = {Legumes form symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, well studied metabolically but less so in terms of respiration. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation demands high respiratory ATP and carbon skeletons, linking nitrogen assimilation and both NADH- and ATP-dependent process to mitochondrial respiration. The plant mitochondrial electron transport chain contains two terminal oxidases that differentially fractionate against [18]O, providing estimations in vivo of the energy efficiency of respiration. The regulation of N2 fixation by plant respiratory parameters remains unknown. To investigate the regulatory interactions of these two metabolic processes, we tested the effect of different plant N status and sources on respiratory parameters and nutrition in Lotus japonicus. Plants were grown with two levels of KNO3 fertilization (5 mM and 25 mM) and with the N2 fixing symbiotic bacteria Mesorhizobium loti, which induced the formation of root nodules (NP). Additionally, we characterized roots containing non-fixing nodules by growing plants that display spontaneous nodule formation (snf) (SNF). We evaluated the natural abundances of [13]C and [15]N, and [18]O discrimination during respiration in leaves and roots using isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. NADH and nutrient content were measured using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. We observed that cytochrome c oxidase activity was higher in nodulated roots capable of nitrogen fixation than in plants fertilized with high availability of nitrate, and that nitrogen status strongly associates to respiratory parameters. These findings highlight the role of cytochrome c oxidase in meeting the carbon and energy demands of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid40914954,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, Y and Wu, Y and Chang, P and Li, P and Hu, S and Liu, L},
title = {Mycorrhizal Network and Symbiotic N-Fixer Jointly Enhance the Interplant Nitrogen Sharing.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {28},
number = {9},
pages = {e70204},
doi = {10.1111/ele.70204},
pmid = {40914954},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {2022YFF1301701//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 32125025//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32330066//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/physiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) enhance nitrogen (N) acquisition in host plants and may promote N transfer to neighbouring plants through mycorrhizal networks (MN). Nevertheless, the extent and mechanisms of this transfer remain unclear. On the basis of a synthesis of [15]N labeling studies, we show that MN and NFB synergistically enhanced interplant N sharing. In the presence of MN, N transfer from N-fixing donors to non-N-fixing receivers increased by an average of 9.7-fold, accounting for 5.61% of the total N in receiver plants. Moreover, greater amounts of N were transferred from N-fixing plants towards their phylogenetically distant plants. Source-sink gradients driven by differences in N content between neighbouring plants further promoted N transfer. Together, our findings highlight the ecological significance of an expanded MN framework in explaining interplant N sharing and provide new insights into how symbiotic guild interactions promote species coexistence and biodiversity maintenance.},
}
@article {pmid40914099,
year = {2025},
author = {Havlik, MN and Geraldi, NR and Hopkins, LW and Hubert, J and Chapuis, L and Gaffney, LP and Wilson, RP and Simpson, SD and Juanes, FJ and Duarte, CM},
title = {Boat noise alters behaviour of two coral reef macroinvertebrates, Lambis lambis and Tridacna maxima.},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {222},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {118650},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118650},
pmid = {40914099},
issn = {1879-3363},
abstract = {Boat noise has been shown to distract and cause harm to many marine organisms. Most of the study effort has focused on fish &amp; marine mammals, even though invertebrates represent over 92 % of all marine life. The few studies conducted on invertebrates have demonstrated clear negative effects of anthropogenic noise pollution. The small giant clam Tridacna maxima and the spider conch Lambis lambis are two invertebrate species which play key roles in coral reef ecosystems, and are little studied for the effects of noise disturbance. T. maxima functions as prey for many fish species, contributes up to 9 % of the reef's calcium carbonate budget, and plays a role in nutrient cycling. The herbivorous strombid L. lambis can occur in large numbers on reef flats and is prey for other snails and several elasmobranchs. Using two case study reefs, we show that both boat noise and biotic sounds are prominent sound sources in Red Sea reef habitats. In-situ controlled exposure experiments were conducted on two shallow central Red Sea reefs, where Daily Diary smart tags were used to measure the reactions of T. maxima and L. lambis during underwater playback of boat noise and ambient reef sound. Both macroinvertebrates exhibited behavioral changes during the boat noise treatment. Our results suggest that L. lambis and T. maxima individuals may spend energy averting the invisible "threat" of boat noise, rather than feeding or staying open for symbiotic algae to perform photosynthesis, in the case of T. maxima. As boat noise is prevalent on Red Sea reefs, invertebrates may be affected on a large scale in the Red Sea.},
}
@article {pmid40913714,
year = {2025},
author = {Lopes, MR and Direito, R and Guiguer, EL and Catharin, VCS and Zutin, TLM and Rubira, CJ and Catharin, VMCS and Sloan, KP and Sloan, LA and Junior, JLY and Laurindo, LF and Barbalho, SM and de Alvares Goulart, R},
title = {Bridging the Gut Microbiota and the Brain, Kidney, and Cardiovascular Health: The Role of Probiotics.},
journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40913714},
issn = {1867-1314},
abstract = {The symbiosis between intestinal bacteria and the human body's physiological processes can modulate health. The intestinal microbiota is linked to the development of neurotrophic factors; therefore, it is increasingly related to the modulation of nervous system pathologies. Moreover, microbiota can interfere with inflammation and oxidative stress, which are closely linked to cardiovascular risk factors and several other inflammatory conditions, such as kidney and neurodegenerative diseases. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help regulate and maintain healthy microbiota; thus, they can help prevent these diseases. Due to these reasons, this review aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics on the gut, kidneys, brain, and heart homeostasis. Clinical trials showed several positive results with the treatment. In the brain, probiotics reduce depressive symptoms (decreases in HAMA, GAD-7, and BDI-II scales), improving patients' sleep quality and fatigue, enhancing cognitive subscales while slowing brain atrophy, and reducing IL-6 levels in the central areas, also modulating REM delta power to reduce high-frequency brain waves. Probiotics can also reduce cardiovascular risk factors, such as inflammation. Probiotics can also benefit the heart by decreasing TMAO, LDL-c, TG, CRP, MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, and urea levels, improving dyslipidemia and toxin profiles. Probiotics also increase HDL-c, ApoE, and insulin sensitivity, decreasing BMI, body fat, and the risk of developing chronic hyperglycemia while increasing lean mass. Besides, probiotic supplementation helped reduce toxic uremic toxins (serum urea) and sodium levels, bringing benefits to the kidneys, and improve energy/amino acid metabolism. Probiotics can also modulate and enhance kidney function due to decreased pro-inflammatory TGFβ-1 and TNF-α levels and RUNX2. Furthermore, enhanced gastrointestinal motility and diversity have been reported using specific bacteria. Although probiotics can bring several health benefits, there are still challenges regarding these supplements, such as dose, frequency, and pharmaceutical formula. Therefore, new studies are welcome to deepen the understanding of these microorganisms.},
}
@article {pmid40913463,
year = {2025},
author = {Mostafa, KM and Cheng, YH and Chu, LW and Nguyen, PT and Liu, CJ and Liao, CW and Posch, T and Leu, JY},
title = {Environment-dependent mutualism-parasitism transitions in the incipient symbiosis between Tetrahymena utriculariae and Micractinium tetrahymenae.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf203},
pmid = {40913463},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Mutualistic endosymbiosis is a cornerstone of evolutionary innovation, enabling organisms to exploit diverse niches unavailable to individual species. However, our knowledge about the early evolutionary stage of this relationship remains limited. The association between the ciliate Tetrahymena utriculariae and its algal endosymbiont Micractinium tetrahymenae indicates an incipient stage of photoendosymbiosis. Although T. utriculariae cells rely on endosymbiotic algae to grow in low-oxygen conditions, they gradually lose the endosymbionts in oxic conditions. In this study, comparative phylogenomics revealed accelerated evolution in mitochondrial DNA and nucleus-encoded mitochondrial genes in T. utriculariae. Symbiotic cells displayed elongated mitochondria that interacted intimately with endosymbionts. Inhibition of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation reduced host fitness but increased the endosymbiont population. Time-series transcriptomics revealed physiological fine-tuning of the host across day-night cycles, highlighting symbiosis-associated regulatory adjustments. Endosymbiotic algae downregulated photosynthesis-related genes compared with free-living cells, which correlated with reduced chlorophyll content, suggesting a shift toward host resource exploitation to compensate for diminished photosynthetic capacity. Under oxic conditions, symbiotic T. utriculariae cells exhibited lower fitness than aposymbiotic cells. Our results demonstrate that incipient endosymbioses employ mitochondrial remodeling and endosymbiont metabolic reprogramming to actively regulate transitions between mutualistic and parasitic states, revealing how symbiotic partnerships navigate environmental pressures during their incipient stage of evolutionary establishment.},
}
@article {pmid40913088,
year = {2025},
author = {Chandola, U and Manirakiza, E and Maillard, M and Lavier Aydat, LJ and Camuel, A and Trottier, C and Tanaka, A and Chaumier, T and Giraud, E and Tirichine, L},
title = {A Bradyrhizobium isolate from a marine diatom induces nitrogen-fixing nodules in a terrestrial legume.},
journal = {Nature microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40913088},
issn = {2058-5276},
abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, essential to the global nitrogen cycle. While cyanobacterial diazotrophs are well characterized, recent studies have revealed a broad distribution of non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs (NCDs) in marine environments, although their study is limited by poor cultivability. Here we report a previously uncharacterized Bradyrhizobium isolated from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Phylogenomic analysis places the strain within photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium, suggesting evolutionary adaptations to marine and terrestrial niches. Average nucleotide identity supports its classification as a previously undescribed species. Remarkably, inoculation experiments showed that the isolate induced nitrogen-fixing nodules in the Aeschynomene indica legume, pointing to symbiotic capabilities across ecological boundaries. Pangenome analysis and metabolic predictions indicate that this isolate shares more features with terrestrial photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium than with marine NCDs. Overall, these findings suggest that symbiotic interactions could evolve across different ecological niches, and raise questions about the evolution of nitrogen fixation and microbe-host interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40911574,
year = {2025},
author = {Chang, ACG and Amaral, MWW and Greenwood, M and Ikudaisi, C and Li, J and Hamsher, SE and Miller, S and Kociolek, P},
title = {Evolutionary dynamics in plastomes and mitogenomes of diatoms.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {9},
pages = {e0331749},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0331749},
pmid = {40911574},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Diatoms/genetics/classification ; *Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; Pseudogenes ; },
abstract = {Diatoms are pivotal in global oxygen, carbon dioxide, and silica cycling, contributing significantly to photosynthesis and serving as fundamental components in aquatic ecosystems. Recent advancements in genomic sequencing have shed light on their evolutionary dynamics, revealing evolutionary complex genomes influenced by symbiotic relationships and horizontal gene transfer events. By analyzing publicly available sequences for 120 plastomes and 70 mitogenomes, this paper aims to elucidate the evolutionary dynamics of diatoms across diverse lineages. Gene losses and pseudogenes were more frequently observed in plastomes compared with mitogenomes. Overall, gene losses were particularly abundant in the plastomes of Astrosyne radiata, Toxarium undulatum, and Proboscia sp. Frequently lost and pseudogenized genes were acpP, ilv, serC, tsf, tyrC, ycf42 and bas1. In mitogenomes, mttB, secY and tatA genes were lost repeatedly across several diatom taxa. Analysis of nucleotide substitution rates indicated that, in general, mitogenomes were evolving at a more rapid rate compared to plastomes. This is contrary to what was observed in synteny analyses, where plastomes exhibited more structural rearrangements than mitogenomes, with the exception of the genus Coscinodiscus and one group of species within Thalassiosira.},
}
@article {pmid40911442,
year = {2025},
author = {Tang, J and Yang, S and Li, S and Yue, X and Jin, T and Yang, X and Zhang, K and Yang, Q and Liu, T and Zhao, S and Gai, J and Li, Y},
title = {Editing a gibberellin receptor gene improves yield and nitrogen fixation in soybean.},
journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jipb.70026},
pmid = {40911442},
issn = {1744-7909},
support = {32372192//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; JBGS-2021-014//Core Technology Development for Breeding Program of Jiangsu Province/ ; BM2024005//Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Soybean Biotechnology and Intelligent Breeding/ ; },
abstract = {Soybean is an important source of oil, protein, and feed. However, its yield is far below that of major cereal crops. The green revolution increased the yield of cereal crops partially through high-density planting of lodging-resistant semi-dwarf varieties, but required more nitrogen fertilizers, posing an environmental threat. Genes that can improve nitrogen use efficiency need to be integrated into semi-dwarf varieties to avoid the overuse of fertilizers without the loss of dwarfism. Unlike cereal crops, soybean can assimilate atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria. Here, we created new alleles of GmGID1-2 (Glycine max GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF 1-2) using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) editing, which improved soybean architecture, yield, seed oil content, and nitrogen fixation, by regulation of important pathways and known genes related to branching, lipid metabolism, and nodule symbiosis. GmGID1-2 knockout reduced plant height, and increased stem diameter and strength, number of branches, nodes on the primary stem, pods, and seeds per plant, leading to an increase in seed weight per plant and yield in soybean. The nodule number, nodule weight, nitrogenase activity, and nitrogen content were also improved in GmGID1-2 knockout soybean lines, which is novel compared with the semi-dwarf genes in cereal crops. No loss-of-function allele for GmGID1-2 was identified in soybean germplasm and the edited GmGID1-2s are superior to the natural alleles, suggesting the GmGID1-2 knockout mutants generated in this study are valuable genetic resources to further improve soybean yield and seed oil content in future breeding programs. This study illustrates the pleiotropic functions of the GID1 knockout alleles with positive effects on plant architecture, yield, and nitrogen fixation in soybean, which provides a promising strategy toward sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40911291,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, G and Yue, Y and Tu, L and Liu, Q and Zhang, Q and Shang, K},
title = {Responses of microbial communities during oilseed plant-based phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxaf226},
pmid = {40911291},
issn = {1365-2672},
abstract = {AIMS: Phytoremediation is an effective method of remediating soils contaminated with heavy metals. However, it has some limitations in practical applications with regard to rare plant species, poor environmental adaptability, and long growth cycles. The dynamic response mechanisms of soil microbial communities during phytoremediation are still unclear, which restricts the optimization and promotion of this approach.<br><br>METHODS AND RESULTS: No ethical approval was required for this study. In this study, soil bacterial, fungal, and archaeal communities during the remediation of Cu-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated soils with five industrial oilseed plants (Xanthium strumarium (XS), Bidens pilosa (BP), Kosteletzkya virginica (KV), Sesbania cannabina (SC), and Commelina communis (CC)) were analyzed using metagenome sequencing. Compared with soil contaminated with heavy metals, remediation through five industrial oilseed plants significantly reduced the content of heavy metals in the soil, with soil Cu, Pb, and Zn decreasing by 44.01%, 46.32%, and 27.62%, respectively, and WSCu, WSPb, and WSZn content decreasing by 28.23%, 50.68%, and 75.26%, respectively. Microbial diversity analysis showed that phytoremediation significantly affected the soil microbial communities, with a significant decrease in archaeal diversity. Variation partitioning analysis and Mantel tests revealed that heavy metals and soil physicochemical properties significantly affected microbial communities, and heavy metals exerted stronger effects on archaeal communities. Meanwhile, soil contaminated with heavy metals was mainly dominated by fungal-fungal interactions, whereas phytoremediation increased the complexity of microbial symbiotic networks.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Collectively, these results provide fundamental insights into the microbial community structure during phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil, which may aid in the bioregulation of phytoremediation.},
}
@article {pmid40911260,
year = {2025},
author = {Irum, S and Cilkiz, M and Al-Kubaisi, N and Elshikh, MS and Iqbal, R},
title = {Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of the chitinase gene family in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) for fungal stress resistance.},
journal = {Molecular biology reports},
volume = {52},
number = {1},
pages = {871},
pmid = {40911260},
issn = {1573-4978},
mesh = {*Cicer/genetics/microbiology/enzymology ; *Chitinases/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/genetics ; *Disease Resistance/genetics ; Stress, Physiological/genetics ; Fusarium/pathogenicity ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/genetics ; Multigene Family ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; Genome, Plant ; },
abstract = {Chitinases, enzymes responsible for hydrolyzing chitin, a significant component of fungal cell walls, play a crucial role in plant defense mechanisms, growth, symbiotic relationships, and stress resistance. In this study, we identified 27 chitinase genes in chickpeas (CaChi) and classified them into five classes based on phylogenetic analysis. Overall, chitinase genes are clustered on eight chromosomes. Among these chromosomes (Chr), Chr-2 displayed the maximum number of genes. Meanwhile, promoter analysis revealed that cis-elements are involved in responses to phytohormones, biotic stress, plant growth, and development. Tissue-based expression analysis indicated that CaChi genes are predominantly expressed in the seedling and floral parts. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis revealed that CaChi genes play diverse roles in plant-environment interactions. Notably, several CaChi members were strongly induced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. and fourteen genes (CaChi20, CaChi25, CaChi11, CaChi3, CaChi16, CaChi14, CaChi1, CaChi4, CaChi5, CaChi8, CaChi9, CaChi21, CaChi18, CaChi13) exhibited elevated expression levels after post-inoculation, depicting a significant function of Chi genes in chickpea resistance to Fusarium wilt. These findings enhance understanding of the chitinase family in chickpea crops and clarify the functions of chickpea chitinase in response to fungal stress.},
}
@article {pmid40910153,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, M and Raisin, A and Judkins, N and Allard, PM and Défossez, E and Stumpe, M and Yruela, I and Becana, M and Reinhardt, D},
title = {Inhibition of rhizobial cheaters by the host Medicago truncatula involves repression of symbiotic functions and induction of defense.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70494},
pmid = {40910153},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033//Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnolog&#xed;a e Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; 310030_200367//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; E35_23R//Gobierno de Arag&#xf3;n/ ; },
abstract = {In symbiotic plant-microbe interactions, the host invests considerable amounts of resources in the microbial partner. If the microbe does not reciprocate with a comparable symbiotic benefit, it is regarded as a cheater. The host responds to cheaters with negative feedback mechanisms (sanctions) to prevent fitness deficits resulting from being exploited. We study sanctioning in the symbiosis between Medicago truncatula and the nitrogen-fixing rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti. We manipulated the exchange of resources between the partners in three ways: by using mutant rhizobia defective in nitrogenase; replacing nitrogen in the atmosphere with argon gas; and supplying rich nitrogen fertilizer to the host. We follow the consequences of simulated cheating by examining the metabolome and proteome of both partners. We find that sanctioning occurs at multiple levels. In particular, we observe repression of essential symbiotic functions and changes in central metabolism that are likely to be relevant for microbial fitness and that could therefore contribute to sanctioning. In addition, sanctioning triggers a broad panel of defense markers. A thorough understanding of the multilevel phenomenon of sanctioning will be essential for its genetic dissection and for the breeding of elite legume crops with efficient symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40909766,
year = {2025},
author = {Bruzzese, DJ and Gstöttenmayer, F and Weiss, BL and Khalil, H and Mach, R and Abd-Alla, AMM and Aksoy, S},
title = {Comparative genomics and transcriptomics of the Spiroplasma glossinidia strain sGff reveal insights into host interaction and trypanosome resistance in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes.},
journal = {Research square},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-7295611/v1},
pmid = {40909766},
issn = {2693-5015},
abstract = {Tsetse (Glossina spp.) are vectors of African trypanosomes, the causative agents of Human and African Animal trypanosomiases, diseases that remain significant medical and socioeconomic challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to trypanosomes, tsetse harbor both obligate and facultative symbiotic bacteria that can influence vector competence and reproductive biology. One such facultative symbiont, Spiroplasma glossinidia , infects several tsetse species within the Palpalis subgroup. In Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Gff), the Spiroplasma glossinidia strain s Gff induces a trypanosome-refractory phenotype and negatively impacts reproductive fitness by reducing female fecundity. However, the mechanisms behind these Spiroplasma -derived phenotypes remain poorly understood. Here, we report successful in vitro cultivation of s Gff and present complete genomes from three sources: in vitro cultured s Gff and s Gff isolated from both laboratory-maintained and wild-caught (Uganda) Gff flies. Comparative genomic analyses revealed a high degree of similarity in gene content and synteny among these s Gff samples, confirming that they represent isolates of the same strain. Phylogenomic analyses placed s Gff within the Spiroplasma poulsonii clade. The s Gff genome is highly dynamic, containing numerous mobile genetic elements. Additionally, in silico annotations indicate that s Gff relies on its host for both lipids and carbohydrates and produces several toxins, all of which could be implicated in the observed trypanosome refractory phenotype. Finally, comparative transcriptomic analysis of s Gff from host hemolymph versus in vitro culture provided insights into potential factors relevant to host-symbiont interactions. Our findings provide a foundation for understanding the nutritional dialogue between s Gff and its host and identify symbiotic products that may contribute to trypanosome resistance. Furthermore, the establishment of an in vitro culture system for s Gff represents a significant resource for future functional studies with potential implications for vector control.},
}
@article {pmid40908936,
year = {2025},
author = {Oguchi, K and Munakata, M and Hiruta, C and Kakui, K},
title = {Intracellular Localization of the Bacterial Endosymbiont Cardinium in the Ostracod Heterocypris spadix.},
journal = {Zoological science},
volume = {42},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.2108/zs250018},
pmid = {40908936},
issn = {0289-0003},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Crustacea/microbiology ; Female ; *Bacteroidetes/physiology ; },
abstract = {Symbiosis is a key driver of evolution in life-history traits and reproductive strategies. Some symbiotic microorganisms manipulate host reproduction to enhance their own transmission, a phenomenon well studied in insects but less understood in crustaceans. Among these microorganisms, Cardinium manipulates host reproductive systems, such as parthenogenesis, cytoplasmic incompatibility, and male killing in arthropods. However, its role in ostracods, small bivalve-shelled crustaceans, remains unclear. Some ostracod species reproduce via parthenogenesis, and high Cardinium infection rates in these lineages suggest a potential link between the symbiont and asexual reproduction. To investigate this relationship, we examined Cardinium localization in the parthenogenetic ostracod Heterocypris spadix from Japan. Using tissue clearing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we visualized Cardinium within the ovaries. FISH observations revealed a widespread infection across the germarium, nurse cells, and oocytes. In early-stage oocytes, bacteria were evenly dispersed throughout the cytoplasm, whereas in more-developed oocytes, they clustered around the nucleus. Additionally, Cardinium was also detected in the hepatopancreas, indicating infection of both the reproductive and digestive systems. The presence of Cardinium in host reproductive structures, particularly the germarium, nurse cells, and developing oocytes, suggests its role in reproductive manipulation. To our knowledge, this study provides the first detailed localization of Cardinium in ostracods, reinforcing its potential influence on reproduction. Future research using antibiotics and genomic analysis will be crucial to confirm Cardinium's role in parthenogenesis induction.},
}
@article {pmid40908830,
year = {2025},
author = {Yamlahi, YE and Remmal, I and Maurady, A and Britel, MR and Bakali, AH and Mokhtar, NB and Galiatsatos, I and Stathopoulou, P and Tsiamis, G},
title = {Characterization of the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) microbiome across diverse geographic regions of Morocco.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70126},
pmid = {40908830},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {22662//International Atomic Energy Agency/ ; },
abstract = {The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) is a significant pest threatening olive production worldwide. Bactrocera oleae relies on symbiotic bacteria for nutrition, development, and adaptation to its environment. Among these, Candidatus Erwinia dacicola is the most dominant symbiont and plays a key role in the fly's physiology and ecological adaptation. Understanding the dynamics between B. oleae, Ca. E. dacicola, and other components of the B. oleae microbiome is essential for developing effective targeted area-wide pest management strategies. This study aims to leverage full 16S rRNA gene sequencing to enhance the characterization of microbiome diversity in wild B. oleae populations from different regions in Morocco: Ouezzane, Rabat, Tanger, Errachidia, and Beni-Mellal. The results revealed distinct microbiome compositions influenced by geographic locations, with Candidatus Erwinia dacicola as the dominant symbiont, followed by Erwinia persicina as a secondary contributor. Other bacterial taxa, including Asaia bogorensis, were also identified, highlighting the functional diversity within the olive fly microbiome. These findings provide insights into the microbial ecology of B. oleae, contributing to the development and enhancement of sustainable pest control strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40908814,
year = {2025},
author = {Afonso, GVF and Johnson, GD and Collins, R and Pastana, MNL},
title = {Associations between fishes (Actinopterygii: Teleostei) and anthozoans (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) in epipelagic waters based on in situ records.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.70214},
pmid = {40908814},
issn = {1095-8649},
abstract = {We formally describe the association of fishes and anthozoans in epipelagic waters, extending this relationship to beyond the benthos. In situ observations and photographs of Aluterus schoepfii, Ariomma regulus, Caranx cf. latus and Brama spp. swimming alongside or holding larval tube anemones (Cerianthidae and Arachnactidae) and larval zoanthids (Sphenopidae) were made during blackwater SCUBA dives off Palm Beach, Florida, USA, and off Punaauia, Tahiti, French Polynesia. We report and illustrate the behaviour of these interactions, and suggest an advantage for the anthozoans.},
}
@article {pmid40908282,
year = {2025},
author = {Nishida, H and Itakura, M and Win, KT and Li, F and Kakizaki, K and Suzuki, A and Ohkubo, S and Duc, LV and Sugawara, M and Takahashi, K and Shenton, M and Masuda, S and Shibata, A and Shirasu, K and Fujisawa, Y and Tsubokura, M and Akiyama, H and Shimoda, Y and Minamisawa, K and Imaizumi-Anraku, H},
title = {Genetic design of soybean hosts and bradyrhizobial endosymbionts reduces N2O emissions from soybean rhizosphere.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {8023},
pmid = {40908282},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {JPNP18016//New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Nitrous Oxide/metabolism ; *Rhizosphere ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil Microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Soybeans fix atmospheric N2 through symbiosis with rhizobia. The relationship between rhizobia and soybeans, particularly those with high nitrous oxide (N2O)-reducing (N2OR) activities, can be leveraged to reduce N2O emissions from agricultural soils. However, inoculating soybeans with these rhizobia under field conditions often fails because of the competition from indigenous rhizobia that possess low or no N2OR activity. In this work, we utilize natural incompatibility systems between soybean and rhizobia to address this challenge. Specifically, Rj2 and GmNNL1 inhibit certain rhizobial infections in response to NopP, an effector protein. By combining a soybean line with a hybrid accumulation of the Rj2 and GmNNL1 genes and bradyrhizobia lacking the nopP gene, we develop a soybean-bradyrhizobial symbiosis system in which strains with high N2OR activity predominantly infect. Our optimize symbiotic system substantially reduces N2O emissions in field and laboratory tests, presenting a promising approach for sustainable agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid40906400,
year = {2025},
author = {Zeng, Q and Wang, Z and Shen, Z and Li, W and Luo, K and Qin, Q and Li, S and Gu, Q},
title = {Microbiome Diversity and Dynamics in Lotus-Fish Co-Culture Versus Intensive Pond Systems: Implications for Sustainable Aquaculture.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14081092},
pmid = {40906400},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {2023YFD2400902//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2023YFD2401605//National Key Research and Development Plan Program/ ; 23B0073//Scientific Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education Department/ ; },
abstract = {The lotus-fish co-culture (LFC) system leverages plant-fish symbiosis to optimize aqua-culture environments, enhancing both economic and ecological yields. However, the eco-logical mechanisms of microbial communities in LFC systems remain poorly understood, particularly regarding the functional roles of fungi, archaea, and viruses. This study compared microbiota (viruses, archaea, fungi) in water, sediment, and fish (crucian carp) gut of LFC and intensive pond culture (IPC) systems using integrated metagenomic and environmental analyses. Results demonstrated that LFC significantly reduced concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and nitrite nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand in water, and organic matter and total nitrogen in sediment compared to IPC. Community diversity analysis, LefSe, and KEGG annotation revealed suppressed viral diversity in LFC, yet increased complexity and stability of intestinal virus communities compared to IPC. Archaeal and functional analyses revealed significantly enhanced ammonia oxidation and OM decomposition in LFC versus IPC, promoting methane metabolism equilibrium and sediment organic matter decomposition. Moreover, crucian carp intestines in LFC harbored abundant Methanobacteria, which contributed to maintaining a low hydrogen partial pressure, suppressing facultative anaerobes and reducing intestinal infection risk. The abundance of fungi in sediment and crucian carp intestine in LFC was significantly higher than that in IPC, showing higher ecological self-purification ability and sustainability potential in LFC. Collectively, LFC's optimized archaeal-fungal networks strengthened host immunity and environmental resilience, while viral community suppression reduced pathogen risks. These findings elucidate microbiome-driven mechanisms underlying LFC's ecological advantages, providing a framework for designing sustainable aquaculture systems through microbial community modulation.},
}
@article {pmid40906396,
year = {2025},
author = {Makwarela, TG and Seoraj-Pillai, N and Nangammbi, TC},
title = {Exploring the Molluscan Microbiome: Diversity, Function, and Ecological Implications.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14081086},
pmid = {40906396},
issn = {2079-7737},
abstract = {Mollusks are among the most ecologically and economically significant invertebrates; yet, their associated microbiomes remain understudied relative to those of other metazoans. This scoping review synthesizes the current literature on the diversity, composition, functional roles, and ecological implications of molluscan microbiomes, with an emphasis on three major groups: gastropods, bivalves, and cephalopods. Drawing on studies from terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems, we identified the dominant bacterial phyla, including Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, and explored how microbiota vary across different habitats, diets, tissue types, and host taxonomies. We examined the contribution of molluscan microbiomes to host functions, including digestion, immune modulation, stress responses, and nutrient cycling. Particular attention was given to the role of microbiota in shell formation, pollutant degradation, and adaptation to environmental stressors. The review also evaluated microbial interactions at different developmental stages and under aquaculture conditions. Factors influencing microbiome assembly, such as the host's genetics, life history traits, and environmental exposure, were mapped using conceptual and graphical tools. Applications of molluscan microbiome research in aquaculture, conservation biology, and environmental biomonitoring are highlighted. However, inconsistencies in the sampling methods, taxonomic focus, and functional annotations limit the generalizability across taxa. We identify key knowledge gaps and propose future directions, including the use of meta-omics, standardized protocols, and experimental validation to deepen insights. By synthesizing emerging findings, this review contributes to a growing framework for understanding mollusk-microbiome interactions and their relevance to host fitness and ecosystem health. It further establishes the importance of mollusks as model systems for advancing microbiome science.},
}
@article {pmid40906361,
year = {2025},
author = {Alcantar-Orozco, EJ and Hernández-Elizárraga, VH and Vega-Tamayo, JE and Ibarra-Alvarado, C and Caballero-Pérez, J and Rodríguez de San Miguel, E and Rojas-Molina, A},
title = {Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Non-Bleached and Bleached Fragments of the Hydrocoral Millepora complanata Reveals Stress Response Signatures Following the 2015-2016 ENSO Event in the Mexican Caribbean.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14081042},
pmid = {40906361},
issn = {2079-7737},
abstract = {The hydrocoral Millepora complanata (fire coral) plays a critical role in reef structure and relies on a symbiotic relationship with Symbiodiniaceae algae. Environmental stressors derived from climate change, such as UV radiation and elevated temperatures, disrupt this symbiosis, leading to bleaching and threatening reef survival. To gain insight into the thermal stress response of this reef-building hydrocoral, this study investigates the proteomic response of M. complanata to bleaching during the 2015-2016 El Niño event. Fragments from non-bleached and bleached colonies of the hydrocoral M. complanata were collected from a coral reef in the Mexican Caribbean, and proteomic extracts were analyzed using nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS). Uni- and multivariate analyses were applied to identify significant differences in protein abundance. A total of 52 proteins showed differential abundance, including 24 that showed increased expression and 28 whose expression decreased in bleached fragments. Differentially abundant proteins were associated with amino acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cytoskeleton organization, DNA repair, extracellular matrix composition, redox homeostasis, and protein modification. These molecular alterations reflect critical physiological adaptations that may influence stress sensitivity or tolerance in hydrocorals. The findings indicate that heat stress induces molecular responses involving protein refolding, enhanced vesicular transport, cytoskeletal reorganization, and modulation of redox activity. This contributes to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying bleaching in reef-building hydrozoans and broadens current knowledge beyond the more extensively studied anthozoan corals.},
}
@article {pmid40906247,
year = {2025},
author = {Mohamed, HI and Ullah, I and Toor, MD and Tanveer, NA and Din, MMU and Basit, A and Sultan, Y and Muhammad, M and Rehman, MU},
title = {Heavy metals toxicity in plants: understanding mechanisms and developing coping strategies for remediation: a review.},
journal = {Bioresources and bioprocessing},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {95},
pmid = {40906247},
issn = {2197-4365},
abstract = {Heavy metal (HM) contamination is an increasing environmental and agricultural concern due to the persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulative nature of metals such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As). These pollutants are primarily introduced through industrial effluents, mining, and agrochemicals, negatively impacting soil health, crop productivity, and food safety, ultimately posing serious risks to both ecosystems and human health. Conventional remediation methods can be costly, labor-intensive, and environmentally disruptive. Heavy metals like Cd, Pb, Hg, and As disrupt cellular homeostasis, inhibit photosynthesis, generate oxidative stress, and interfere with nutrient uptake, leading to significant yield losses in plants. In response to these stresses, plants utilize complex molecular mechanisms for tolerance, including the activation of antioxidant enzymes, upregulation of metal transporters, production of metal-chelating molecules, and modulation of stress-responsive genes and transcription factors. In contrast, bioremediation offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative by leveraging the detoxification capabilities of plants, microbes, and their symbiotic interactions. Techniques such as phytoremediation, microbial-assisted remediation, and integrated strategies involving biochar and organic amendments have demonstrated promising results in restoring heavy metal-contaminated soils. Recent advancements in molecular biology and synthetic biology have further improved the efficiency of bioremediation through the genetic engineering of hyperaccumulator plant species and metal-resistant microbes. This review examines the toxic effects of heavy metals on plants and highlights innovative, nature-based remediation strategies, emphasizing their potential for scalable and sustainable environmental cleanup.},
}
@article {pmid40906125,
year = {2025},
author = {Basit, A and Haq, IU and Hyder, M and Humza, M and Younas, M and Akhtar, MR and Ghafar, MA and Liu, TX and Hou, Y},
title = {Microbial Symbiosis in Lepidoptera: Analyzing the Gut Microbiota for Sustainable Pest Management.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14080937},
pmid = {40906125},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {National Natural Science Foundation of China (U22A20489; 32361143791).//National Natural Science Foundation of China (U22A20489; 32361143791)./ ; },
abstract = {Recent advances in microbiome studies have deepened our understanding of endosymbionts and gut-associated microbiota in host biology. Of those, lepidopteran systems in particular harbor a complex and diverse microbiome with various microbial taxa that are stable and transmitted between larval and adult stages, and others that are transient and context-dependent. We highlight key microorganisms-including Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Saccharomyces, Bifidobacterium, and Wolbachia-that play critical roles in microbial ecology, biotechnology, and microbiome studies. The fitness implications of these microbial communities can be variable; some microbes improve host performance, while others neither positively nor negatively impact host fitness, or their impact is undetectable. This review examines the central position played by the gut microbiota in interactions of insects with plants, highlighting the functions of the microbiota in the manipulation of the behavior of herbivorous pests, modulating plant physiology, and regulating higher trophic levels in natural food webs. It also bridges microbiome ecology and applied pest management, emphasizing S. frugiperda as a model for symbiont-based intervention. As gut microbiota are central to the life history of herbivorous pests, we consider how these interactions can be exploited to drive the development of new, environmentally sound biocontrol strategies. Novel biotechnological strategies, including symbiont-based RNA interference (RNAi) and paratransgenesis, represent promising but still immature technologies with major obstacles to overcome in their practical application. However, microbiota-mediated pest control is an attractive strategy to move towards sustainable agriculture. Significantly, the gut microbiota of S. frugiperda is essential for S. frugiperda to adapt to a wide spectrum of host plants and different ecological niches. Studies have revealed that the microbiome of S. frugiperda has a close positive relationship with the fitness and susceptibility to entomopathogenic fungi; therefore, targeting the S. frugiperda microbiome may have good potential for innovative biocontrol strategies in the future.},
}
@article {pmid40906110,
year = {2025},
author = {Meesil, W and Ardpairin, J and Sharkey, LKR and Pidot, SJ and Vitta, A and Thanwisai, A},
title = {Whole-Genome Sequencing and Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Analysis of Novel Entomopathogenic Bacteria Xenorhabdus thailandensis ALN 7.1 and ALN 11.5.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14080905},
pmid = {40906110},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {PHD / 0084/2561//Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program/ ; R2566B043//Naresuan University (NU) and the National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF)/ ; R2567C003//Global and Frontier Research University Fund, Naresuan University/ ; },
abstract = {Xenorhabdus species are entomopathogenic bacteria that live in symbiosis with Steinernema nematodes and produce a wide range of bioactive secondary metabolites. This study aimed to characterize the complete genomes and biosynthetic potential of two novel Xenorhabdus isolates, ALN7.1 and ALN11.5, recovered from Steinernema lamjungense collected in Northern Thailand. High-quality genome assemblies were generated, and phylogenomic comparisons confirmed that both isolates belonged to the recently described species Xenorhabdus thailandensis. The assembled genomes were approximately 4.02 Mb in size, each comprising a single circular chromosome with a GC content of 44.6% and encoding ~3800 protein-coding sequences, consistent with the features observed in other members of the genus. Biosynthetic gene cluster (BGCs) prediction using antiSMASH identified 19 BGCs in ALN7.1 and 18 in ALN11.5, including known clusters for holomycin, pyrrolizixenamide, hydrogen cyanide, and gamexpeptide C, along with several uncharacterized clusters, suggesting unexplored metabolic potential. Comparative analyses highlighted conserved yet strain-specific BGC profiles, indicating possible diversification within the species. These results provide genomic insights into X. thailandensis ALN7.1 and ALN11.5 and support their potential as valuable sources for the discovery of novel natural products and for future biotechnological applications.},
}
@article {pmid40906071,
year = {2025},
author = {Zeng, X and Chen, J and Liu, G and Zhou, Y and Wang, L and Zhang, Y and Liu, S and Shao, Z},
title = {Host Shaping Associated Microbiota in Hydrothermal Vent Snails from the Indian Ocean Ridge.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology14080954},
pmid = {40906071},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {2023YFC2812903, 2021YFF0501304, and 2018YFC0310702.//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Snails at hydrothermal vents rely on symbiotic bacteria for nutrition; however, the specifics of these associations in adapting to such extreme environments remain underexplored. This study investigated the community structure and metabolic potential of bacteria associated with two Indian Ocean vent snails, Chrysomallon squamiferum and Gigantopelta aegis. Using microscopic, phylogenetic, and metagenomic analyses, this study examines bacterial communities inhabiting the foot and gland tissues of these snails. G. aegis exhibited exceptionally low bacterial diversity (Shannon index 0.14-0.18), primarily Gammaproteobacteria (99.9%), including chemosynthetic sulfur-oxidizing Chromatiales using Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle and methane-oxidizing Methylococcales in the glands. C. squamiferum hosted significantly more diverse symbionts (Shannon indices 1.32-4.60). Its black variety scales were dominated by Campylobacterota (67.01-80.98%), such as Sulfurovum, which perform sulfur/hydrogen oxidation via the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle, with both Campylobacterota and Gammaproteobacteria prevalent in the glands. The white-scaled variety of C. squamiferum had less Campylobacterota but a higher diversity of heterotrophic bacteria, including Delta-/Alpha-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes (classified as Desulfobacterota, Pseudomomonadota, Bacteroidota, and Bacillota in GTDB taxonomy). In C. squamiferum, Gammaproteobacteria, including Chromatiales, Thiotrichales, and a novel order "Endothiobacterales," were chemosynthetic, capable of oxidizing sulfur, hydrogen, or iron, and utilizing the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle for carbon fixation. Heterotrophic Delta- and Alpha-Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes potentially utilize organic matter from protein, starch, collagen, amino acids, thereby contributing to the holobiont community and host nutrition accessibility. The results indicate that host species and intra-species variation, rather than the immediate habitat, might shape the symbiotic microbial communities, crucial for the snails' adaptation to vent ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40904995,
year = {2025},
author = {Haque, MT and Paul, S and Herberstein, ME and Khan, MK},
title = {A parasitic or mutualistic conundrum: can symbiotic protists increase thermal tolerance in a semi-aquatic insect?.},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {12},
number = {9},
pages = {251061},
pmid = {40904995},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves pose a major threat to ectotherms due to their reliance on environmental temperature for physiological processes. Thermal tolerance, the ability to withstand varying temperature, determines how effectively and efficiently individuals can survive under extreme conditions. Host-microbial symbiotic interactions can influence thermal tolerance in insects; however, we have limited information especially for some endosymbionts such as gregarines, a group of apicomplexan endoparasites, which are commonly found in the guts of many aquatic and terrestrial insects. Gregarines are often considered parasitic, while a few recent studies have shown beneficial effects on hosts. Here, we tested the impact of gregarines on thermal tolerance in Ischnura heterosticta damselflies. We found that damselflies naturally infected with gregarines had higher thermal tolerance than damselflies without gregarine infections. Our findings provide evidence in support of gregarines as an endosymbiont of I. heterosticta damselfly. Our study indicates that gregarine endosymbionts may assist damselfly and possibly other semi-aquatic insects to sustain extreme heat and highlights the importance of understanding host-symbiont interactions in the context of climate change and species conservation.},
}
@article {pmid40904700,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, G and Li, B and Huang, M and Lv, M and Liang, Z and Zhu, C and Ge, L and Chen, J},
title = {Polarization of Tumor Cells and Tumor-Associated Macrophages: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets.},
journal = {MedComm},
volume = {6},
number = {9},
pages = {e70372},
pmid = {40904700},
issn = {2688-2663},
abstract = {Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are prominent constituents of solid tumors, and their prevalence is often associated with poor clinical outcomes. These highly adaptable immune cells undergo dynamic functional changes within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), engaging in reciprocal interactions with malignant cells. This bidirectional communication facilitates concurrent phenotypic transformation: tumor cells shift toward invasive mesenchymal states, whereas TAMs develop immunosuppressive, pro-tumorigenic traits. Increasing evidence highlights metabolic reprogramming, characterized by dysregulation of lipid metabolism, amino acid utilization, and glycolytic activity, as the fundamental molecular basis orchestrating this pathological symbiosis. However, a comprehensive understanding of how metabolic reprogramming specifically coordinates the mutual polarization of tumor cells and TAMs is lacking. This review thoroughly examines the molecular mechanisms governing this co-polarization process, detailing critical transcriptional regulators, essential signaling pathways, and the maintenance of adaptive phenotypes within the TME. Furthermore, this review critically assesses promising therapeutic strategies aimed at disrupting this alliance, including the use of metabolically targeted agents, engineered chimeric antigen receptor macrophages, and TAM-selective nanoparticle delivery systems. These insights provide a crucial foundation for the development of next-generation cancer immunotherapies focused on reprogramming pathological polarization dynamics to overcome treatment resistance and improve clinical outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40904148,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, JJ and Yu, QX and Chen, DH and Wu, LS and Si, JP},
title = {[Research progress in key technologies for the development of Dendrobium officinale: from a rare and endangered species to a 10-billion-RMB-level industry].},
journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica},
volume = {50},
number = {13},
pages = {3670-3678},
doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20250508.103},
pmid = {40904148},
issn = {1001-5302},
mesh = {*Dendrobium/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Endangered Species ; Seeds/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Fungi/physiology ; },
abstract = {Dendrobium officinale(DO) is a traditional Chinese medicinal and edible plant, while it is critically endangered worldwide. This article, primarily based on the original research findings of the author's team and available articles, provides a comprehensive overview of the factors contributing to the endangerment of DO and the key technologies for the conservation, efficient cultivation, and value-added utilization of this plant. The scarcity of wild populations, low seed-setting rates, lack of endosperm in seeds, and the need for symbiosis with endophytic fungi for seed germination under natural conditions are identified as the primary causes for the rarity and endangerment of DO. Artificial seed production and tissue culture are highlighted as key technologies for alleviating the endangered status. The physiological and ecological mechanisms underlying the adaptation of DO to epiphytic growth are explored, and it is proposed that breaking the coupling of high temperature and high humidity is essential for preventing southern blight, a devastating affliction of DO. The roles of endophytic fungi in promoting the growth, improving the quality, and enhancing the stress resistance of DO are discussed. Furthermore, the integration of variety breeding, environment selection, and co-culture with endophytic fungi is emphasized as a crucial approach for efficient cultivation. The value-added applications of DO in pharmaceuticals, health foods, food products, and daily chemicals-particularly in the food and daily chemical industries-are presented as key drivers for a 10-billion-RMB-level industry. This systematic review offers valuable insights for the further development, utilization, and industrialization of DO resources, as well as for the broader application of conservation strategies for other rare and endangered plant species.},
}
@article {pmid40904135,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, BL and Pan, C},
title = {[Resource assessment as collaborative bridge: resolving dilemmas and fostering symbiosis in traditional Chinese medicine research and industry].},
journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica},
volume = {50},
number = {13},
pages = {3556-3560},
doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20250508.102},
pmid = {40904135},
issn = {1001-5302},
mesh = {*Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control ; *Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards/economics ; Humans ; *Drug Industry ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {The research and development of new traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) drugs has entered a phase integrating high-quality development with resource assurance. Drawing from 18 new TCM drug registration resource assessment projects, this study systematically summarizes three core challenges in TCM resource management:(1) industrial chain complexity amplifies quantity-quality risks through material heterogeneity(multi-origin variations and wild-to-cultivated genetic shifts) and production chain coupling(germplasm-cultivation-processing whole-chain volatility);(2) structural misalignment among institutions, enterprises, and producers leads to disattachment of research and development from industrial demand;(3) technical barriers exist in quality control systems, involving producing area shift, cultivation evolution, and harvesting and processing innovations. This study proposes a four-dimensional assessment framework prioritizing "species stabilization, quantity availability, quality control, and quality optimization", which is supported by an early-warning system addressing multi-origin selection, adulterant control, endangered species protection, and standardized cultivation. Risk management strategies emphasize supply chain traceability, particularly for imported and ethnic medicinal materials. Using Epimedii Folium as a case study, this study demonstrates a tripartite industrial upgrade paradigm integrating premium germplasm, cultivation technology, and quality control, ultimately establishing an innovation mechanism with deep academia-industry collaboration. The research advocates transforming resource assessment from compliance checks to strategic decision-making tools through enhanced academia-industry collaboration, so as to provide resource assurance for high-quality TCM development.},
}
@article {pmid40903900,
year = {2025},
author = {Yuan, QS and Luo, L and Shi, H and Wang, H and An, J and Gao, Y and Xu, J and Ou, X and Yang, Y and Tabl, KM and Guo, L and Huang, L and Zhou, T},
title = {Fungal symbiont Mycena complements impaired nitrogen utilization in Gastrodia elata and supplies indole-3-acetic acid to facilitate its seed germination.},
journal = {Plant communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101500},
doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101500},
pmid = {40903900},
issn = {2590-3462},
abstract = {Nitrogen and auxin uptake plays pivotal roles in seed germination and development. Gastrodia elata, a fully mycoheterotrophic plant, depends entirely on its symbiotic association with Mycena for early growth and seed germination. The process by which Mycena enables the supply of nitrogen nutrients and auxin, which are deficient in G. elata, remains poorly understood. In this study, a genome-scale dataset for G. elata revealed the loss of genes associated with nitrogen utilization and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis, genes which were present in Mycena. Further evaluation of the dynamic transcriptomic interactions between G. elata seeds and Mycena at different symbiotic stages demonstrated that genes involved in nitrogen- and tryptophan-dependent IAA biosynthesis were significantly upregulated in Mycena. Concurrently, G. elata seeds exhibited increased expression of genes involved in the "hormone signal transduction pathway" and "starch and sucrose metabolism pathway." As representative enzymes in nitrogen assimilation and IAA biosynthesis pathways, functional disruption of nitrite reductase (MyNir, EVM0012344) and amidase (MyAmid, EVM0010270) in Mycena significantly impeded the symbiotic germination of G. elata seeds. This disruption interfered with the energy supply and caused cellular restructuring and hormonal signaling crosstalk. In conclusion, our findings provide novel insights into the mutualistic symbiotic relationship between Mycena and G. elata. Specifically, the fungus Mycena compensated for the incomplete nitrogen metabolism of its plant partner, G. elata, promoting seed germination. These results shed light on plant-fungal symbiotic associations from the perspective of nitrogen utilization.},
}
@article {pmid40900337,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, J and Du, C and Xu, N and Shi, C and Liu, B and Tu, B and Zhang, K and Gao, K},
title = {A novel algae-assisted sequencing batch and intermittent air-lift bioreactor (A-SBIAB) using polyester filament-based carriers for piggery wastewater treatment.},
journal = {Bioprocess and biosystems engineering},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40900337},
issn = {1615-7605},
abstract = {Algae-assisted biological wastewater treatment technology has been widely applied in wastewater treatment due to its low cost and great removal performance. However, the stabilization and sustainability of the alga-bacteria symbiosis system still need to be developed. In this work, an algae-assisted sequencing batch and intermittent air-lift bioreactor (A-SBIAB) system was constructed for removing the nutrients from the piggery wastewater. A strengthened algae-bacterial symbiosis system was also achieved with the aid of a suspended bio-carrier composed of polyester filament fixed on concentric plastic rings, which provided enhanced surface area and illumination access for microbial attachment. The removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were up to 92.0%, 81.7% and 89.3%, respectively, at the optimum parameters (Chl-a concentration of 1000 mg/m[3], light intensity of 6000 lx and lighting time 10 h). The Campylobacteria (72.05%), Desulfuromonadia (11.16%), Spirochaetia (3.10%) and Bacteroidia (1.73%) as the dominant bacterial communities would be responsible for the nitrate ammonification, nitrogen fixation, nitrate reduction and organics degradation, respectively. Meanwhile, Chlorophyceae (98.21%) became the overwhelming algal community, playing a positive effect on the nutrients removal.},
}
@article {pmid40898710,
year = {2025},
author = {Laplanche, V and Speciale, I and De Castro, C and Juge, N},
title = {Cell surface polysaccharides in the gut microbiota: occurrence, structure and role.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2536082},
doi = {10.1080/19490976.2025.2536082},
pmid = {40898710},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/metabolism ; *Bacteria/chemistry/metabolism/genetics/classification ; *Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Animals ; Cell Wall/chemistry/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Polysaccharides/chemistry/metabolism ; Host Microbial Interactions ; },
abstract = {The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is colonized by trillions of microorganisms living in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Commensal bacteria in the gut engage in cross-talks with epithelial and immune cells through effector molecules secreted or attached to the cell surface. Although cell surface polysaccharides have mainly been studied in the context of pathogen-host interactions, these are increasingly being recognized as important factors of the symbiotic interaction between the gut microbiota and the host conferring biological activities and physiological functions. In this review, we focus on the structure and role of polysaccharides surrounding the bacterial cell wall, namely capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and cell wall polysaccharides (CWPS), both tightly linked to the cell surface, and exopolysaccharides (EPS) which are loosely attached to the extracellular surface or secreted into the environment. We will focus on structurally characterized CPS, CWPS and EPS from both gut commensal bacteria and food-derived bacteria found in the gut. These polysaccharides show high structural diversity and are important for the bacteria to adapt to the GI environment and/or influence host immune response. The combined diversity of microbes in the gut provides a vast array of glycans that could be harnessed to benefit human health.},
}
@article {pmid40898197,
year = {2025},
author = {Kamyab, A and Samsampour, D},
title = {How thyme thrives under drought: insights into photosynthetic and membrane-protective mechanisms.},
journal = {BMC biotechnology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {95},
pmid = {40898197},
issn = {1472-6750},
mesh = {*Photosynthesis/physiology ; *Droughts ; *Thymus Plant/physiology/microbiology/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Ferric Compounds/pharmacology/chemistry ; Endophytes/physiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Drought is an abiotic stress that significantly reduces the yield of thyme (Thymus vulgaris). This study investigated how iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs), together with symbiotic bacterial (Azospirillum lipoferum) and fungal (Aspergillus oryzae) endophytes, modulate osmotic adjustment, molecular and biochemical mechanisms related to photosynthesis, and drought tolerance mechanisms in thyme.<br><br>RESULTS: The experiment was evaluated as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications. evaluating three treatment factors: four irrigation levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of field capacity), four FeNPs concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5&#xa0;mg L&#x207b;&#xb9;), and three endophyte treatments (control, bacterial (EB), and fungal (EF) inoculation). At 25% FC, EB and spraying with 1 mg L[-&#x2009;1] FeNPs increased Fv/Fm (maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II), chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll, carotenoids, relative water content (RWC), and protein levels level protein levels by 18.75%, 10.41%, 31.54%, 18.20%, 14.26%, 35.53%, and 125.22% respectively, compared to the control. At 25% FC, electrolyte leakage (EL) was increased by 47.44% with the combination of EF and 1.5 mg L[-&#x2009;1] FeNPs. The highest proline accumulation at 25% FC was observed after inoculation with EF and 1 mg L[-&#x2009;1] FeNPs, resulting in significant increases of 36.36% and 13.04%, respectively, compared to the control. Soluble sugar was remarkably increased by 28.57% under upon treatment with FeNPs (1.5 mg L[-&#x2009;1] FeNPs). At 25% FC, EB and 1.5 mg L[-&#x2009;1] FeNPs showed significant reductions of 17.33% and 37.10%, respectively, in malondialdehyde levels compared to control plants. At 50% FC, 1&#xa0;mg L&#x207b;&#xb9; FeNPs increased Catalase by 15%, peroxidase by 31.25%, and superoxide dismutase by 43.42%, while higher concentrations reduced enzyme activities. Similarly, 1.5&#xa0;mg L&#x207b;&#xb9; FeNPs and EB inoculation enhanced ascorbate peroxidase by 37.44% and 17.37%, respectively. FeNPs acted as abiotic stressors at low levels but became toxic at higher concentrations.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the synergistic application of FeNPs and endophytes significantly enhances drought tolerance in T. vulgaris by optimizing photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm, chlorophyll content) and preserving membrane integrity (RWC, MDA reduction). These results provide a framework for leveraging nano-bio partnerships to improve crop resilience under water scarcity.},
}
@article {pmid40894865,
year = {2025},
author = {Masoudi, A and Joseph, RA and Keyhani, NO},
title = {Spatial organization within social ambrosia beetle nests limits spread of infectious disease.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {9},
pages = {113281},
doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2025.113281},
pmid = {40894865},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Ambrosia beetles are social, fungal-farming insects that nest within tree xylem. Their close living conditions make them potentially vulnerable to microbial infectious diseases. We show that the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae effectively infects and kills Xyleborus affinis adults, even within sawdust-based colony habitats. Healthy beetles did not avoid infected nestmates, and increased contact led to higher mortality and reduced offspring; however, larvae and pupae were still produced, even when colonies began with only infected beetles. Diseased individuals and Metarhizium CFUs were concentrated in the upper third of the nest, while surviving adults and brood were found in the middle/lower areas. A beetle symbiotic fungus, Neocosmospora sp. Xa1 was identified, which inhibited Metarhizium growth, potentially aiding in defense. Our findings suggest spatial structuring and microbial interactions within the nest help protect vulnerable brood to support colony persistence, revealing colony-level mechanisms that buffer against spread of infectious diseases, favoring offspring survival.},
}
@article {pmid40894719,
year = {2025},
author = {De Santiago, A and Barnes, S and Pereira, TJ and Marcellino-Barros, M and Durden, L and Han, MK and Thrash, JC and Bik, HM},
title = {Pseudoalteromonas is a novel symbiont of marine invertebrates that exhibits broad patterns of phylosymbiosis.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.08.22.671635},
pmid = {40894719},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Despite growing insights into the composition of marine invertebrate microbiomes, our understanding of their ecological and evolutionary patterns remains poor, owing to limited sampling depth and low-resolution datasets. Previous studies have provided mixed results when evaluating patterns of phylosymbiosis between marine invertebrates and marine bacteria. Here, we investigated potential animal-microbe symbioses in Pseudoalteromonas, an overlooked bacterial genus consistently identified as a core microbiome taxon in diverse invertebrates. Using a pangenomic analysis of 236 free-living and invertebrate-associated bacterial strains (including two new nematode-associated isolates generated in this study), we confirm that Pseudoalteromonas is a novel symbiont with substantial evidence of phylosymbiosis across at least three marine invertebrate phyla (e.g., Nematoda, Mollusca, and Cnidaria). Patterns of symbiosis were consistent irrespective of geography (including in Antarctica), with FISH images from nematodes indicating that bacterial symbionts form biofilms in the mouth and esophagus. The evolutionary history of Pseudoalteromonas is marked by substantial host-switching and lifestyle transitions, and host-associated genomes suggest that these bacteria are facultative symbionts involved in nutritional mutualisms. In marine environments, we hypothesize that horizontally-acquired symbionts may have co-evolved with invertebrates, using host mucus as a physical niche and food source, while providing their animal hosts with Vitamin B, amino acids, and bioavailable carbon compounds in return.},
}
@article {pmid40894499,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Z and Zhao, X and Yang, J and Chen, X and Cai, Y and Shaaban, M and Peng, QA and Cai, Y},
title = {Microbial removal mechanism of chromium and cadmium by humic acid-loaded nano zero-valent iron prepared by liquid-phase reduction method.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1596063},
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2025.1596063},
pmid = {40894499},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Heavy metal pollution is a global issue that has drawn significant attention due to its environmental and health risks. This thesis focuses on the research of highly toxic chromium and cadmium in the environment. It explores the removal mechanism of Cr and Cd contamination using humic acid-loaded nano-zero-valent iron (NZVI@HA) prepared through a liquid-phase reduction method. Additionally, it investigates the interaction mechanism of removing Cr and Cd contamination by synergizing with the Chromium and Cadmium Symbiotic Bacterial Colony (NZVI@HA+Cr/CdMC). The findings indicate that NZVI@HA exhibited optimal removal efficiency for Cr(VI) at pH=2 (85.7%) and Cd(II) at pH=8 (94.8%). The initial concentration of Cr and Cd pollution showed an inverse relationship with the removal rates of Cd(II) and Cr(VI). Moreover, the reaction temperatures were positively correlated with the removal rates of Cd(II) and Cr(VI). Cu2+ significantly enhanced Cr(VI) removal in the water column (p<0.01), whereas Zn2+ notably inhibited Cd(II) removal (p<0.05). In the NZVI@HA+Cr/CdMC system, extracellular polymers (EPS), tyrosine, and tryptophan, through van der Waals forces, facilitated the removal of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) complexation. This reduced the stress of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) on Cr/CdMC, thereby enhancing the removal of Cr(VI) and Cd(II).},
}
@article {pmid40894109,
year = {2025},
author = {Lopez, JV and Pomponi, SA and Hentschel, U and Erpenbeck, D and Pruzinsky, N and Fiore, C and Mulheron, R and Oatley, G and Sinclair, E and Aunin, E and Gettle, N and Santos, C and Paulini, M and Niu, H and McKenna, V and O'Brien, R and , and , and , and , and , },
title = {The chromosomal genome sequence of the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta Schmidt 1870 and its associated microbial metagenome sequences.},
journal = {Wellcome open research},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {336},
doi = {10.12688/wellcomeopenres.24173.1},
pmid = {40894109},
issn = {2398-502X},
abstract = {We present a genome assembly from a specimen of Xestospongia muta (Caribbean barrel sponge; Porifera; Demospongiae; Haplosclerida; Petrosiidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 158.52 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.56%) is scaffolded into 15 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 18.99 kilobases in length. Several symbiotic bacterial genomes were assembled as MAGs, including Candidatus Poribacteria species, Candidatus Latescibacteria, Acidobacteriota, Actinomycetota Gemmatimonadota, multiple Chloroflexota and the archaeon Nitrosopumilus. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 20,220 protein-coding genes.},
}
@article {pmid40894070,
year = {2025},
author = {Tayeh, M and Sama-Ae, I and Wisessombat, S and Sianglum, W},
title = {Antimigration and Anti-Invasion Properties of Aspergillus aculeatus Extract, an Endophyte Isolated From Capsicum annuum L. on Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells: In Vitro Experiments and In Silico Methods.},
journal = {Scientifica},
volume = {2025},
number = {},
pages = {5676577},
doi = {10.1155/sci5/5676577},
pmid = {40894070},
issn = {2090-908X},
abstract = {Endophytic fungi are microorganisms that infect living plant tissues internally without producing obvious symptoms of infection, existing in a symbiotic relationship with plants for a portion of their life cycle. Currently, endophytic fungi serve as alternate sources for the production of new bioactive chemicals with great efficacy. This study aimed to examine the antimigration and anti-invasion capabilities of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus aculeatus extract, isolated from Capsicum annuum L., utilizing in vitro and in silico methods. This study isolated the endophytic fungus A. aculeatus from the leaves of C. annuum L. LC-MS analysis revealed fifty-five active components within the extract. Ten compounds exhibited favorable results in the in silico assessment. Computational predictions indicate that tajixanthone methanoate (-8.80 kcal/mol) and aspernigerin (-12.95 kcal/mol) exhibited high binding affinity against MMP-2. The A. aculeatus extract demonstrated antiproliferative activity with an IC50 value of 286.36 ± 122.57 μg/mL. The extract, at noncytotoxic concentrations, reduced the migration and invasion of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, A. aculeatus extract demonstrated a marked reduction in MMP-2 activity. According to these results, the compounds may serve as antimigration and anti-invasion agents by inhibiting the MMP-2 protein. The results demonstrated that A. aculeatus extract derived from C. annuum L. inhibited A549 cell migration and invasion via reducing MMP-2 activity. The findings indicated that A. aculeatus extract derived from C. annuum L. may be utilized for the treatment of lung cancer.},
}
@article {pmid40893913,
year = {2025},
author = {Pandit, SS and Meganathan, P and Vedagiri, H},
title = {Harmonizing gut microbiota dysbiosis: Unveiling the influence of diet and lifestyle interventions.},
journal = {Metabolism open},
volume = {27},
number = {},
pages = {100384},
doi = {10.1016/j.metop.2025.100384},
pmid = {40893913},
issn = {2589-9368},
abstract = {The gut microbiota, comprising trillions of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract, is essential to human health and disease. Recent research has illuminated the interactions between many components of human physiology and the gut microbiota, including immune function, metabolism, and neurological health. Central to maintaining this symbiotic relationship is the concept of dysbiosis - an imbalance in the makeup and roles of the gut microbiota. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has emerged as a significant factor in the pathogenesis of numerous health conditions, spanning from gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome to systemic diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and even neurological disorders like depression and anxiety. While dysbiosis can result from a myriad of factors including antibiotic use, stress, and genetic predispositions, emerging evidence suggests that diet and lifestyle choices exert profound influences regarding the make-up and capabilities of the gut microbiota. In this review, We explore the complex interactions among lifestyle, nutrition, and gut microbial dysbiosis. In particular, we investigate how the gut microbiota can be modified and dysbiosis can be mitigated by dietary patterns, food composition, prebiotics, probiotics, and lifestyle factors including exercise, stress reduction, and good sleep hygiene. Restoring microbial balance and enhancing general health and well-being can be achieved through preventive and therapeutic measures that can be made more effective by understanding how dietary and lifestyle changes might affect the gut microbiota. Through this exploration, we aim to elucidate the possibility of using lifestyle and dietary modifications as tools for managing gut microbial dysbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40893412,
year = {2025},
author = {Margarita, V and Nguyen, THT and Petretto, GL and Congiargiu, A and Ligas, A and Diaz, N and Ton Nu, PA and Pintore, G and Rappelli, P},
title = {Effect of essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus grandis, and Mentha arvensis on Trichomonas vaginalis and role of its symbionts Mycoplasma hominis and Ca. Mycoplasma girerdii.},
journal = {Frontiers in parasitology},
volume = {4},
number = {},
pages = {1610965},
doi = {10.3389/fpara.2025.1610965},
pmid = {40893412},
issn = {2813-2424},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease, is caused by the protozoon Trichomonas vaginalis. T. vaginalis can establish a symbiosis with two bacteria, Mycoplasma hominis and Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii, whose intracellular presence may modulate several characteristics of the protozoan, including its sensitivity to 5-nitroimidazoles, the only class of drugs currently effective in treating trichomoniasis. The rising prevalence of T.vaginalis strains resistant to metronidazole, the most commonly used antitrichomonal drug, underscores the need for therapeutic alternatives active against the protozoon.<br><br>METHODS: In this study, we evaluate the antimicrobial activity of essential oils extracted from three plants cultivated in Vietnam - Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus grandis, and Mentha arvensis - against thirty T. vaginalis strains isolated from symptomatic women in Italy and Vietnam. We also assess the influence of M. hominis and Ca. M. girerdii on T. vaginalis susceptibility to essential oils and metronidazole, through dedicated susceptibility assays. Additionally, given the importance of lactobacilli in maintaining vaginal health, we investigate the effects of the essential oils on Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus crispatus. The cytotoxic activity of the oils against HeLa cells was also tested in vitro.<br><br>RESULTS: All three essential oils showed effective antitrichomonal activity without inhibiting lactobacilli growth. Among them, C. citratus oil exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on T. vaginalis, including strains harboring bacterial symbionts. Moreover, the oils demonstrated no cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells at the concentrations effective against the protozoan.<br><br>DISCUSSION: The results support the potential of C. citratus essential oil as a natural antitrichomonal agent. Its effectiveness against both free and symbiont-infected T. vaginalis strains positions it as a promising candidate for developing alternative therapies against drug-resistant trichomoniasis.},
}
@article {pmid40891805,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, P and Wang, Z and Lu, B and Zhao, Y and Zhang, H},
title = {Effect of different concentrations of gibberellins on antibiotics and nutrient removal using microalgae-bacteria consortia system.},
journal = {International journal of phytoremediation},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-10},
doi = {10.1080/15226514.2025.2554172},
pmid = {40891805},
issn = {1549-7879},
abstract = {Phytohormone gibberellins (GAs) were utilized to enhance the removal of tetracycline antibiotics and nutrients from swine wastewater by different algal-bacterial symbiosis. Compared to microalgae monoculture, microalgae-activated sludge, and microalgae-Bacillus licheniformis, microalgae-endophytic bacteria showed better growth, photosynthetic, and purification performance. At 50 mg L[-1] GAs addition concentration, the specific growth rate of Chlorella vulgaris-endophytic bacterial (S395-2) system was 0.331 ± 0.03 d[-1], the maximum removal rate of tetracycline (TC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) was 96.31 ± 2.73%, 86.37 ± 8.31% and 87.26 ± 8.42%, respectively. The purification effect was much higher than the level of microalgae monoculture without GAs addition (TC removal of 81.33 ± 7.71%, TN and TP removal of 62.51 ± 5.95% and 64.25 ± 6.13%, respectively). In summary, exogenous GAs simultaneously promoted the resistance and biomass accumulation of algal symbiosis, which supplied a theoretical foundation for the treatment of high-concentration nutrients and antibiotics wastewater.},
}
@article {pmid40891513,
year = {2025},
author = {McCauley, M and Montesanto, F and Bedgood, SA and Miner, C and Plichon, K and Weis, VM and Loesgen, S},
title = {Manipulation of the Symbiodiniaceae microbiome confers multigenerational impacts on symbioses and reproductive ecology of its Exaiptasia diaphana host.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf189},
pmid = {40891513},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Symbiodiniaceae-associated microbiota strongly affect cnidarian symbioses. We systematically reduced the bacterial and fungal communities associated with Symbiodiniaceae to study effects on the cnidarian holobiont Exaiptasia diaphana (Aiptasia). Clonal anemones were inoculated with xenic Breviolum minutum (SSB01) and microbiome manipulated cultures after antibacterial or antifungal treatment. The asexual reproduction of pedal laceration allowed for three generations of clonal aposymbiotic Aiptasia to be included in this study, from the initial adult generation (G0), to the first (G1) and second (G2) generation. We inoculated small and large G1 Aiptasia with algae and monitored onset of symbiosis, rate of algal proliferation, and holobiont characteristics. Sequencing the 16S and 18S rRNA gene regions identified significant differences in the bacterial and fungal communities of the G0 and G1 generations, alongside differences between the size classes of small and large G1 anemones. The microbiome of larger G1 individuals was distinct to the smaller G1 anemones, suggesting a microbiome maturation process. Control B. minutum cultures exhibited a significantly greater proliferation rate in large G1 anemones when compared to antibacterial or antifungal treated cultures, whereas the opposite trend was documented in the small G1 anemones. Although no differences were observed between algal photochemical parameters, or the growth and behavior of G1 juveniles, we observed a significant influence in the production of G2 clones between treatments. Overall, we provide strong ecological implications of manipulating Symbiodiniaceae microbiome, not for the algae themselves, but for the maturation of the host Aiptasia, as well as for the cnidarian holobiont over multiple generations.},
}
@article {pmid40891201,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, G and Ding, M and Li, X and Jiang, S and Xia, Z and Xie, C and Zhang, W and Wan, Y},
title = {Genome Assembly of Elysia leucolegnote Reveals the Secrets of Autonomous Photosynthesis and Extraordinary Symbiotic Relationships in Photosynthetic Animals.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70155},
pmid = {40891201},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study is supported by Hainan Normal University Talent Research Start-up Fund Project Funding (HSZK-KYQD-202436)./ ; },
}
@article {pmid40891179,
year = {2025},
author = {Orosz, J and Lin, EX and Torres Ascurra, YC and Kappes, M and Lindsay, P and Bashyal, S and Everett, H and Gautam, CK and Jackson, D and Müller, LM},
title = {CORYNE modulates Medicago truncatula inflorescence meristem branching and plays a conserved role in the regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf386},
pmid = {40891179},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {The CLAVATA signaling pathway regulates plant development and plant-environment interactions. CLAVATA signaling consists of mobile, cell-type or environment-specific CLAVATA3/ESR-related (CLE) peptides, which are perceived by a receptor complex consisting of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases such as CLAVATA1 and receptor-like proteins such as CLAVATA2, which often functions with the pseudokinase CORYNE (CRN). CLAVATA signaling has been extensively studied in various plant species for its developmental role in meristem maintenance. In addition, CLAVATA signaling was implicated in plant-microbe interactions, including root nodule symbiosis and plant interactions with mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. However, knowledge on AM symbiosis regulation by CLAVATA signaling is limited. Here, we report a dual role for Medicago truncatula CRN in development and plant-microbe interactions. In shoots, MtCRN modulates inflorescence meristem branching. In roots, the MtCRN promoter is active in vascular tissues and meristematic regions. In addition, MtCRN expression is activated in cortex cells colonized by AM fungi and negatively regulates root interactions with these microbes in a nitrogen-dependent manner; negative AM symbiosis regulation by CRN was also observed in the monocot Zea mays, suggesting this function is conserved across plant clades. We further report that MtCRN functions partially independently of the AM autoregulation signal MtCLE53. Transcriptomic data revealed that M. truncatula crn roots display signs of perturbed nutrient, symbiosis, and stress signaling, suggesting that MtCRN plays various roles in plant development and interactions with the environment.},
}
@article {pmid40889905,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, MF and Gao, YZ},
title = {Application of [15]N stable isotope techniques to biological nitrogen fixation in terrestrial ecosystems.},
journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology},
volume = {36},
number = {7},
pages = {1952-1960},
doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202507.010},
pmid = {40889905},
issn = {1001-9332},
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; *Ecosystem ; *Isotope Labeling/methods ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is an important nitrogen source in terrestrial ecosystems. Accurate estimation of BNF rate is essential to accurately quantify atmospheric nitrogen input to natural ecosystems. [15]N natural abundance is commonly used to measure the BNF in symbiotic and associative nitrogen fixing plants, but are highly dependent on the choice of the reference plants. In contrast, the [15]N isotope labeling technique allows precise determination of BNF rates of symbiotic, free-living, and associative N-fixing types, and surpasses the previous methods in studying plant nitrogen fixation strategies, nitrogen transfer processes, and carbon-nitrogen trading between nodules and hosts. The [15]N isotope dilution method is mainly used for plant nitrogen fixation research. Although the [15]N stable isotope probe technique is technically challenging and expensive, it enables the detection and study of N-fixing microorganisms by labeling DNA or RNA, and provides an effective way for assessing asymbiotic microorganism nitrogen fixation rates. The development of [15]N stable isotope technique provides a strong technical guarantee for biological nitrogen fixation research.},
}
@article {pmid40888447,
year = {2025},
author = {Petinger, C and Crowley, T and Wyk, BV},
title = {Patterns of Transition of Adolescents in an HIV Care Programme in Peri-Urban Cape Town, South Africa: A Photovoice Study.},
journal = {Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care},
volume = {24},
number = {},
pages = {23259582251362908},
doi = {10.1177/23259582251362908},
pmid = {40888447},
issn = {2325-9582},
mesh = {Humans ; South Africa/epidemiology ; Adolescent ; *HIV Infections/psychology/therapy/drug therapy ; Male ; Female ; *Transition to Adult Care ; Focus Groups ; Social Support ; Young Adult ; Photography ; Qualitative Research ; Adult ; },
abstract = {Successful transition from paediatric to adult HIV care programme is a critical developmental milestone in the care trajectory of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). The transition process involves a shift from a structured, caregiver-supported healthcare model to one that requires independence and self-management. This process should be guided and supportive to ensure continued engagement in care and optimal adherence when ALHIV are transferred. This study utilised photovoice methods to explore the transition experiences of ALHIV in the Cape Town Metropole. Audio-recorded focus group data were transcribed verbatim and subjected to reflexive thematic analysis. Three distinctive patterns of behaviour from ALHIV were identified as themes. Type 1: socially reliant, dependent adolescent who heavily relies on family and peer support and struggles with adherence. Type 2: socially disconnected, hyper-independent adolescent, who is self-reliant, seeks solitude, and is generally resistant to external support. We configured a third (ideal) type, who is interdependent and able to self-manage their chronic condition, but within a supportive health care environment that provides positive healthcare and transition experiences. The findings underscore the need for supportive transition models promoting self-management skills, while facilitating a symbiotic relation with healthcare staff promoting sustained engagement in care well into adulthood. We recommend that adolescent or youth friendly services for ALHIV be expanded to support and monitor the transition process and outcomes in the adult HIV program.},
}
@article {pmid40888030,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, H and Wang, Y},
title = {From Fragmentation to Resolution: High-Fidelity Genome Assembly of Zancudomyces culisetae through Comparative Insights from PacBio, Nanopore, and Illumina Sequencing.},
journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/g3journal/jkaf204},
pmid = {40888030},
issn = {2160-1836},
abstract = {Zancudomyces culisetae is an obligate symbiotic fungus inhabiting the digestive tracts of aquatic insect larvae, including black flies, midges, and mosquitoes. With a global distribution and high prevalence in disease-transmitting insects, Z. culisetae serves as a model for studying insect gut fungi. A previous draft genome assembly using Illumina short reads provided insights into its genome composition, such as a low GC ratio and evidence of horizontal gene transfer. However, its fragmented nature has limited deeper exploration of the evolutionary mechanisms shaping these gut symbionts. To address this gap, we generated a wealth of genomic resources for Z. culisetae using multiple sequencing platforms, including Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, PacBio-CLR (Complete Long Reads), and PacBio-HiFi (High Fidelity). This also provides an opportunity to compare these popular sequencing methods to suggest the optimal approach for fungal genome assembly. Our results suggest that PacBio-HiFi produced the most complete assembly, yielding a 27.8 Mb genome size with 26 contigs, representing the highest-quality genome of insect gut fungi to date. Additionally, we generated transcriptomic data to support genome annotation, identifying 8,484 protein-coding genes. Despite the improved genome quality, Z. culisetae lacks approximately 20% of Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologue (BUSCO) commonly found in fungi, reflecting adaptations to its obligate symbiotic lifestyle. This study not only provides valuable genomic resources for insect gut fungal research but also evaluates the strengths and limitations of current genome sequencing and assembly approaches, offering best practices for fungal genome analysis and genetic research.},
}
@article {pmid40885196,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, L and Yang, Q and Liu, M and Lin, S and Hua, W and Shi, D and Yan, J and Shi, X and Hoffmann, AA and Zhu, B and Liang, P},
title = {Symbiotic bacteria mediate chemical-insecticide resistance but enhance the efficacy of a biological insecticide in diamondback moth.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.08.004},
pmid = {40885196},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Insecticide resistance has been a major challenge for pest management worldwide. Here, we investigated how gut symbiotic bacteria in insects might affect resistance to chemical (organophosphate) and biological (Bacillus thuringiensis) insecticides in different ways to create opportunities for strategic pesticide rotations. Using the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) as the target pest, we demonstrated that long-term exposure to chlorpyrifos (an organophosphate insecticide) promotes the proliferation of the gut symbiont Enterococcus mundtii in P. xylostella populations, resulting in chlorpyrifos resistance in field populations across China that correlates closely with the abundance of this bacterium. Metabolic analysis revealed that E. mundtii can directly metabolize chlorpyrifos via a conserved cytochrome P450 enzyme in the genus Enterococcus. However, the accumulation of E. mundtii in the gut of chlorpyrifos-resistant populations may increase their susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis toxins, resulting in the increased efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis in populations with high chemical insecticide resistance. The gut barrier disruption caused by Bacillus thuringiensis promotes invasion of E. mundtii from the gut into the hemolymph, leading to death by septicemia to enhance susceptibility. The study highlights an interaction between resistance to chemically synthesized and biological insecticides mediated by gut symbiotic bacteria and suggests a control strategy involving chemical/biological pesticide rotations that may apply to other cases of resistance to chemically synthesized insecticides.},
}
@article {pmid40885195,
year = {2025},
author = {Grujcic, V and Mehrshad, M and Vigil-Stenman, T and Lundin, D and Foster, RA},
title = {Stepwise genome evolution from a facultative symbiont to an endosymbiont in the N2-fixing diatom-Richelia symbioses.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.08.003},
pmid = {40885195},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {A few genera of diatoms that form stable partnerships with N2-fixing filamentous cyanobacteria Richelia spp. are widespread in the open ocean. A unique feature of the diatom-Richelia symbioses is the symbiont cellular location spans a continuum of integration (epibiont, periplasmic, and endobiont) that is reflected in the symbiont genome size and content. In this study, we analyzed genomes derived from cultures and environmental metagenome-assembled genomes of Richelia symbionts, focusing on characters indicative of genome evolution. Our results show an enrichment of short-length transposases and pseudogenes in the periplasmic symbiont genomes, suggesting an active and transitionary period in genome evolution. By contrast, genomes of endobionts exhibited fewer transposases and pseudogenes, reflecting advanced stages of genome reduction. Pangenome analyses identified that endobionts streamline their genomes and retain most genes in the core genome, whereas periplasmic symbionts and epibionts maintain larger flexible genomes, indicating higher genomic plasticity compared with the genomes of endobionts. Functional gene comparisons with other N2-fixing cyanobacteria revealed that Richelia endobionts have similar patterns of metabolic loss but are distinguished by the absence of specific pathways (e.g., cytochrome bd ubiquinol oxidase and lipid A) that increase both dependency and direct interactions with their respective hosts. In conclusion, our findings underscore the dynamic nature of genome reduction in N2-fixing cyanobacterial symbionts and demonstrate the diatom-Richelia symbioses as a valuable and rare model to study genome evolution in the transitional stages from a free-living facultative symbiont to a host-dependent endobiont.},
}
@article {pmid40884179,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Feng, R and Zhao, Y and Guo, X and Ding, J and Liu, S and Wang, Y and Zhu, J and Li, X},
title = {Solar-Mechano Symbiosis Dual-Mode Janus Bioaerogel for Context-Adaptive Atmospheric Water Harvesting Beyond Solar Reliance.},
journal = {Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e12244},
doi = {10.1002/adma.202512244},
pmid = {40884179},
issn = {1521-4095},
support = {22305192//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52372225//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 22261142666//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52172237//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; KF2301//Opening Project of Engineering Research Center of Eco-friendly Polymeric Materials, Ministry of Education/ ; //Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 2024YFF0506000//the National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2025JC-QYCX-037//the Shaanxi Science Foundation/ ; 20250425//the Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology Youth Talent Support Program/ ; },
abstract = {Solar-driven sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SS-AWH) offers promise for addressing global freshwater scarcity. However, the SS-AWH heavily relies on favorable and sustained solar irradiation; yet real-world solar irradiation exhibits significant spatiotemporal fluctuations, limiting its sustainable application, as non/low-light conditions sharply reduce water productivity. This constraint is fundamentally due to the singleness of the water release pathway via photothermal desorption. Here, a novel dual-mode bio-based Janus aerogel (DBJA) is presented, enabling efficient, all-weather, multi-scenario atmospheric water harvesting via selectively solar-driven and compression-activated water release. The Janus structure optimizes mass/heat transfer between hygroscopic and photothermal domains, achieving the most balanced adsorption-desorption kinetics and compression-recovery strength for solar-mechano symbiosis. Under favorable sunlight, DBJA demonstrates a competitive water release efficiency of 1.32 g g[-1] day[-1] outdoors. Crucially, without solar irradiation, DBJA achieves a total water productivity of 12.80 g g[-1] over 5-cycle adsorption-compression with 98% volume recovery and is stable within 50 cycles. Enhanced physical inlay and multiple chemical interactions ensure limited leakage of Li[+] ions during compression, and the collected water easily conforms to the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards. This work provides a flexible approach for sustainable atmospheric water harvesting beyond solar reliance through multi-mode synergy and gradient architecture.},
}
@article {pmid40882880,
year = {2025},
author = {Niu, Z and Guo, H and Li, D and Xu, Y and Liu, J and Xiao, Y and Li, W and Promboon, A and Xia, Q and Goldsmith, MR and Mita, K},
title = {Characterizing the Symbiotic Relationship between Wolbachia (wSpic) and Spodoptera picta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): From Genome to Phenotype.},
journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {104396},
doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104396},
pmid = {40882880},
issn = {1879-0240},
abstract = {Wolbachia is a genus of symbiotic bacteria prevalent in arthropods, with diverse effects on host reproduction and fecundity; however, it is unclear how Wolbachia modulates the host reproductive system. In this study, a novel Wolbachia strain, wSpic, was identified in the Noctuid moth Spodoptera picta and its effect on the reproduction of this host was investigated. We sequenced and annotated the 1,339,720 bp genome of wSpic. We identified a total of five WO phage regions in the genome and found no evidence of any plasmids associated with wSpic. Evolutionary analysis revealed that wSpic belongs to supergroup B and has undergone horizontal transmission between S. picta and Trichogramma pretiosum, a wasp parasitoid of insect eggs. The removal of Wolbachia by antibiotic treatment resulted in significantly decreased fecundity and abnormal development of S. picta ovaries, but no differences in egg hatching rate. An integrated transcriptome and proteome analysis indicated that major molecular pathways for Wolbachia-induced reproduction fitness benefits include its effects on insect juvenile hormone, vitellogenesis, choriogenesis, and nutritional metabolism. Our findings demonstrate that wSpic plays a critical role in promoting ovary development and sustaining fecundity in S. picta hosts.},
}
@article {pmid40882272,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, K and Xu, J and Luo, X and Yu, Z and Tang, A and Peng, K and Song, J and Chen, X and Ren, M},
title = {Insights into microalgal-bacterial consortia in sustaining denitrification via algal-derived organic matter in harsh low-C/N wastewater.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {393},
number = {},
pages = {127108},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127108},
pmid = {40882272},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Conventional nitrate removal processes are often hampered by insufficient carbon sources for remediating low-C/N wastewater. Herein, a microalgal-bacterial (MB) consortia system was constructed to leverage algal-derived organic matter for sustaining denitrification. The system demonstrated superior nitrate removal performance when assisted by algal-derived organic matter, achieving a 168.62 ± 4.17 % enhancement in nitrate removal capacity compared to the sole bacterial system. Furthermore, Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) analysis of algal-derived organic matter revealed that specific components facilitating nitrate elimination included unsaturated aliphatic compounds, aliphatic/peptide-like/amino sugars, lignin-like, and tannin-like substances. Notably, the consortia showed preferential utilization of unsaturated aliphatic (35.21 %) and aliphatic/amino sugars over aliphatic/peptide-like/amino acids (31.05 %) and aliphatic/peptide-like compounds (31.31 %) within the CHO, CHON, CHON2, and CHON3 classes, respectively. Metagenomic analysis identified notable disparities in microbial community composition between the bacterial and MB consortia systems. Moreover, the MB consortia exhibited higher abundances of genes encoding nitrate removal enzymes, including those involved in denitrification, assimilatory/dissimilatory reduction, and L-glutamate synthesis pathways. Genes associated with lignin degradation were also detected, suggesting potential indirect contributions to nitrate elimination. Besides, the MB symbiotic microspheres were successfully fabricated and achieved efficient nitrate removal. These findings provide novel insights into the development of innovative MB symbiotic systems for nitrate removal under harsh carbon-limited conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40881295,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, X and Li, H and Liu, A and Zhang, Z},
title = {Editorial: Microbial symbiosis and infectious disease dynamics in reptiles and wildfowl.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1673344},
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2025.1673344},
pmid = {40881295},
issn = {1664-302X},
}
@article {pmid40880884,
year = {2024},
author = {Padilla-Serrato, JG and Soriano-Honorato, LD and Kuk-Dzul, JG and Flores-Garza, R and Torreblanca-Ramírez, C and Campos, E},
title = {Rediscovery of Mesotheres unguifalcula (Glassell, 1936) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Pinnotheridae) with Remarks on the Symbiotic Relationship with its New Host, the Spindle Sea Snail Leucozonia cerata (W. Wood, 1828) (Mollusa: Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae).},
journal = {Zoological studies},
volume = {63},
number = {},
pages = {e44},
doi = {10.6620/ZS.2024.63-44},
pmid = {40880884},
issn = {1810-522X},
abstract = {The symbiotic pinnotherid crab Mesotheres unguifalcula was rediscovered in Acapulco Guerrero, Mexico, and was found infesting the spindle sea snail Leucozonia cerata (Fasciolaridae), a new host record for this crab. A total of 432 snails were collected in 2020, with a prevalence of 77%, well explained by the host width frequency. Monthly prevalence varied from 54% to 90%, and the mean intensity was 1.4 +/- 0.5 crabs per host. The sex ratio of snails was 1:1, and the crab did not prefer to infest males or females. The sex ratio of the crabs was positively skewed towards females. Crabs infested both small and large snails; however, most infested snails ranged between 20 and 40 mm in width. Prevalence increased with the host size: with hosts smaller than 30 mm experiencing an average of 53% infestation, while those from 30 mm to 52 mm averaged 93% infestation. The number of crabs by host varied from 1 to 3; solitary females and males were dominant (51%), followed by heterosexual couples (24%) and other combinations that included homosexual couples and triads, which barely represented 2%. Although there are many heterosexual couples, monogamy is ruled out due to the higher number of solitary males and females and the lower number of heterosexual couples compared to those statistically expected. The available evidence about the life history of Mesotheres unguialcula, like that of other studied species of the subfamily Pinnotherinae sensu stricto, suggests a pure-search polygynandry of sedentary females as its mating system (i.e., larger, solitary, and sedentary females, and smaller males who, in reproductive season, are roaming from one host to another in search of females receptive to copulation).},
}
@article {pmid40877949,
year = {2025},
author = {Gonçalves, CS and Catta-Preta, CMC and Repolês, BM and Ferreira, WRR and Morini, FS and Mottram, JC and Cavalcanti, DP and de Souza, W and Fragoso, SP and Machado, CR and Motta, MCM},
title = {From mitochondrial DNA arrangement to repair: a kinetoplast-associated protein with different roles in two trypanosomatid species.},
journal = {Parasites &amp; vectors},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {366},
pmid = {40877949},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {APQ-02533-24, BPD-00548-22//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Amparo &#xe0; Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais/ ; 305299/2022-0//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico/ ; E-26/201.011/2021//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo &#xe0; Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/ ; },
mesh = {*DNA, Kinetoplast/genetics/metabolism ; *Trypanosoma cruzi/genetics/radiation effects/metabolism ; *DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Trypanosomatina/genetics/metabolism ; *Protozoan Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; DNA Replication ; *DNA Repair ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Animals ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: One of the most intriguing and unusual features of trypanosomatids is their mitochondrial DNA, known as kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), which is organized into a network of concatenated circles. The kDNA is contained within the mitochondrial matrix and can exhibit distinct arrangements across different species and during cell differentiation. In addition to kDNA, the kinetoplast contains multiple proteins, including those involved in mitochondrial DNA topology and metabolism, such as the kinetoplast-associated proteins (KAPs). In this work, we obtained mutant cells to investigates the role of KAP7 in two trypanosomatid species, Trypanosoma cruzi and Angomonas deanei, which have distinct kinetoplast shapes and kDNA arrangements.<br><br>METHODS: For this purpose, the kDNA replication process and cell morphology and ultrastructure were evaluated using microscopy methods. Furthermore, the proliferation of cells treated with genotoxic agents, such as cisplatin and ultraviolet radiation, was analyzed.<br><br>RESULTS: In A. deanei, which contains a symbiotic bacterium, KAP7 seems to be essential, since the deletion of one KAP7 allele generated mutants with a decay in cell proliferation, as well as changes in kDNA structure and replication. In T. cruzi, null mutants exhibited disturbances in kDNA replication, although the overall topology remained unaltered. The use of cisplatin and ultraviolet (UV) radiation affected the ultrastructure of A. deanei and T. cruzi. Cisplatin promoted increased kDNA compaction in both KAP7 mutants, but only in T. cruzi did the proliferative capacity fail to recover after treatment, as was also observed following UV radiation exposure.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Proteins associated with DNA are evolutionarily conserved and usually perform similar functions in different organisms. Our findings reveal that KAP7 is involved in kDNA replication, but its roles differ in trypanosomatid species: in A. deanei, KAP7 is associated with kDNA arrangement, while in T. cruzi, it is related to mitochondrial metabolism, such as kDNA replication and damage response.},
}
@article {pmid40876856,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhai, H and Liu, M and Zhang, X and Li, X and Hu, B and Li, H and Gao, S and Wei, Y and Sun, W},
title = {Science mapping of root ecology: a bibliometric review covering 2015-2024.},
journal = {Annals of botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/aob/mcaf200},
pmid = {40876856},
issn = {1095-8290},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Root ecology has rapidly advanced as a key discipline for understanding plant adaptive strategies and ecosystem functioning. However, comprehensive assessments of its overarching framework remain limited. This study provides a global perspective by systematically analyzing research power, intellectual bases, and research frontiers in root ecology.<br><br>METHODS: We analyzed 35,371 articles from the Web of Science Core Collection using CiteSpace and VOSviewer within a customized bibliometric framework. Co-occurrence analyses based on publication volume, citation frequency, and micro-citation labels revealed the spatiotemporal distribution of research power. Intellectual bases and research frontiers were identified through document co-citation and cluster analyses.<br><br>KEY RESULTS: The results indicate a three-phase growth trajectory in root ecology research over the past decade. China (13,027 articles) and the United States (5,679 articles) dominate global academic output. Frontiers in Plant Science (2,721 articles) and Plant and Soil (1,436 articles) are the leading journals in terms of publication volume. Key articles forming the intellectual base of this field were identified and interpreted, encompassing six major aspects, including method standardization and the root economics spectrum theory. The research frontiers were clustered into five core themes - abiotic stress, microbial symbiosis, ecological remediation, functional traits and physiological mechanisms - which were further subdivided into 19 specific research directions.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Root ecology is evolving from a primarily theoretical discipline toward practical applications. To support sustainable agriculture, ecological restoration, and carbon neutrality, the development of global observation networks and multifactorial stress models should be further advanced.},
}
@article {pmid40875413,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, X and Huang, H and Gu, Y and Li, J and Zhang, X and Liu, T},
title = {Low-Cost IMU-Based System for Automated Parkinson's Subtype and Stage Classification to Support Precision Rehabilitation.},
journal = {IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society},
volume = {PP},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1109/TNSRE.2025.3603555},
pmid = {40875413},
issn = {1558-0210},
abstract = {Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, for which early detection and precise rehabilitation planning are essential to alleviate its impact on quality of life and reduce societal burden. Accurate, automated PD subtype classification and staging play a key role in designing effective rehabilitation strategies while minimizing reliance on intensive expert assessments. Unlike existing automated methods that typically depend on high-cost medical imaging (e.g., MRI) or extensive sensor networks, we introduce a low-cost motion measurement system employing only two inertial measurement units (IMUs) placed on the lower legs. We propose a Symbiotic Graph Attention Network (SGAT)-based algorithm that fuses node features and whole-body features for automated PD subtype and stage detection. By establishing a symbiotic mechanism between the subtype and staging tasks and using adaptive fusion weights, our method achieves outstanding performance-subtype accuracy of 0.91 and staging accuracy of 0.85-validated on data from 46 participants. Notably, the entire detection and recognition process requires merely a simple walking task and incurs minimal time cost. The system's affordability, ease of use, and scalability underscore its substantial potential for large‑scale clinical deployment.},
}
@article {pmid40874126,
year = {2025},
author = {Niu, Y and Shao, Y and Chen, L and Wang, Y and Sun, S and Zhang, X},
title = {Social and environmental determinants of disease uncertainty in obstructive sleep apnea: a dyadic qualitative study on patients and co-residents.},
journal = {Frontiers in neurology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1582173},
pmid = {40874126},
issn = {1664-2295},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by upper airway obstruction during sleep, leading to significant health issues and reduced quality of life. Despite its increasing prevalence, particularly among middle-aged and older adults, low awareness and treatment rates contribute to a substantial burden of disease uncertainty for both patients and their co-residents. This study aims to investigate the social and environmental determinants of disease uncertainty experienced by OSA patients and their co-residents, focusing on the impact of these factors on health behaviors and access to care.<br><br>METHODS: The study employed the theoretical model of disease uncertainty as a guiding framework and utilized the KJ method for data analysis. Using purposive sampling, 13 OSA patients and their 13 co-residents were selected to form dyads. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured from all participants prior to the study.<br><br>RESULTS: The analysis of the interview data yielded seven major themes and 19 sub-themes. (1) "The Shadow of Knowing Little"; (2) "The Fog of Night and Day"; (3) "Symbiotic Suffering"; (4) "The Hidden Costs"; (5) "Delay in Seeking Medical Care"; (6) "Complex Choices"; (7) "Vacancies Calling for Attention."<br><br>CONCLUSION: The findings underscore that OSA patients and their co-residents face considerable uncertainty related to disease awareness, symptom experiences, medical decision-making, treatment plans, and social support. This uncertainty leads to delays in seeking care and poor treatment adherence. To mitigate these issues, it is recommended to enhance public health education on OSA, improve disease awareness and self-management skills among patients and their families, and better integrate medical resources and social support networks. These interventions should address the social and environmental determinants of health to reduce the burden of disease uncertainty and improve overall health outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40873703,
year = {2025},
author = {Racioppo, A and Martins, V and Speranza, B and Laranjo, M},
title = {Editorial: Innovative strategies for enhancing crop productivity and soil health using PGPB and nano-organics.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1672604},
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2025.1672604},
pmid = {40873703},
issn = {1664-302X},
}
@article {pmid40873650,
year = {2025},
author = {Niu, Y and Feng, J and Ma, J and Xiao, T and Yuan, W},
title = {Targeting the Tumor Microbiota in Cancer Therapy Basing on Nanomaterials.},
journal = {Exploration (Beijing, China)},
volume = {5},
number = {4},
pages = {e20210185},
pmid = {40873650},
issn = {2766-2098},
abstract = {Intra-tumoral microbiota, which is a potential component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), has been emerging as a key participant and driving factor in cancer. Previously, due to technical issues and low biological content, little was known about the microbial community within tumors. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology and molecular biology techniques, it has been demonstrated that tumors harbor highly heterogeneous symbiotic microbial communities, which affect tumor progression mechanisms through various pathways, such as inducing DNA damage, activating carcinogenic pathways, and inducing an immunesuppressive environment. Faced with the harmful microbial communities in the TME, efforts have been made to develop new technologies specifically targeting the microbiome and tumor microecology. Given the success of nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis and treatment, the development of nanotechnology to regulate microscale and molecular-scale interactions occurring in the microbiome and tumor microecology holds promise for providing new approaches for cancer therapy. This article reviews the latest progress in this field, including the microbial community within tumors and its pro-cancer mechanisms, as well as the anti-tumor strategies targeting intra-tumoral microorganisms using nanotechnology. Additionally, this article delivers prospects for the potential clinical significance and challenges of anti-tumor strategies against intra-tumoral microorganisms.},
}
@article {pmid40872788,
year = {2025},
author = {Jeon, J and Kwon, M and Lee, BC and Kil, EJ},
title = {Comparative Endosymbiont Community Structures of Nonviruliferous and Rice Stripe Virus-Viruliferous Laodelphax striatellus (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in Korea.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {17},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/v17081074},
pmid = {40872788},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {PJ01556601//Rural Development Administration/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/virology ; *Symbiosis ; *Tenuivirus/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Insect Vectors/microbiology/virology ; Republic of Korea ; Oryza/virology ; Wolbachia/genetics ; Plant Diseases/virology ; Burkholderia/genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Rickettsia/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {Insects and their bacterial endosymbionts form intricate ecological relationships, yet their role in host-pathogen interactions are not fully elucidated. The small brown planthopper (Laodelphax striatellus), a polyphagous pest of cereal crops, acts as a key vector for rice stripe virus (RSV), a significant threat to rice production. This study aimed to compare the endosymbiont community structures of nonviruliferous and RSV-viruliferous L. striatellus populations using 16S rRNA gene sequencing with high-throughput sequencing technology. Wolbachia was highly dominant in both groups; however, the prevalence of other endosymbionts, specifically Rickettsia and Burkholderia, differed markedly depending on RSV infection. Comprehensive microbial diversity and composition analyses revealed distinct community structures between nonviruliferous and RSV-viruliferous populations, highlighting potential interactions and implications for vector competence and virus transmission dynamics. These findings contribute to understanding virus-insect-endosymbiont dynamics and could inform strategies to mitigate viral spread by targeting symbiotic bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40872311,
year = {2025},
author = {Etebari, K and Tugaga, AM and Divekar, G and Uelese, OA and Tusa, SSA and Vaega, E and Sasulu, H and Uini, L and Ren, Y and Furlong, MJ},
title = {Characterising the Associated Virome and Microbiota of Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri) in Samoa.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/pathogens14080801},
pmid = {40872311},
issn = {2076-0817},
support = {HORT/2016/185//Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/virology/microbiology ; *Virome/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Citrus/microbiology/parasitology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Phylogeny ; Insect Vectors/microbiology/virology ; },
abstract = {The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) is an economically important pest of citrus as it is a vector of the bacterium (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, CLas) that causes huanglongbing disease (HLB). Understanding the virome of D. citri is important for uncovering factors that influence vector competence, to support biosecurity surveillance, and to identify candidate agents for biological control. Previous studies have identified several D. citri-associated viruses from various geographical populations of this pest. To further investigate virus diversity in this pest, high-throughput sequencing was used to analyse D. citri populations from the Samoan islands of Upolu and Savai'i. Eleven novel viruses from the Yadokariviridae, Botourmiaviridae, Nodaviridae, Mymonaviridae, Partitiviridae, Totiviridae, and Polymycoviridae were identified as well as some that corresponded to unclassified groups. In addition, microbiome analysis revealed the presence of several endosymbiotic microorganisms, including Wolbachia, as well as some plant pathogenic fungi, including Botrytis cinerea. However, the causative agent of HLB disease (CLas) was not detected in the RNA-Seq data. These findings highlight the complex and diverse microbiota associated with D. citri and suggest potential interactions and dynamics between microorganisms and psyllid-associated viruses. Further research is needed to understand the ecological significance of these discoveries, and whether the novel viruses play a role in regulating field populations of the psyllid.},
}
@article {pmid40872269,
year = {2025},
author = {Britto Martins de Oliveira, J and Barbieri, M and Corrêa-Junior, D and Schmitt, M and Santos, LLR and Bahia, AC and Parente, CET and Frases, S},
title = {Urban Mangroves Under Threat: Metagenomic Analysis Reveals a Surge in Human and Plant Pathogenic Fungi.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/pathogens14080759},
pmid = {40872269},
issn = {2076-0817},
support = {CNE//FAPERJ/ ; 001//CAPES/ ; BP//CNPQ/ ; },
mesh = {*Metagenomics/methods ; *Fungi/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Humans ; *Wetlands ; Ecosystem ; Biodiversity ; Mycobiome ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Coastal ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change and anthropogenic pressures, which can disrupt microbial communities and favor the emergence of pathogenic organisms. In this study, we applied metagenomic analysis to characterize fungal communities in sediment samples from an urban mangrove subjected to environmental stress. The results revealed a fungal community with reduced richness-28% lower than expected for similar ecosystems-likely linked to physicochemical changes such as heavy metal accumulation, acidic pH, and eutrophication, all typical of urbanized coastal areas. Notably, we detected an increase in potentially pathogenic genera, including Candida, Aspergillus, and Pseudoascochyta, alongside a decrease in key saprotrophic genera such as Fusarium and Thelebolus, indicating a shift in ecological function. The fungal assemblage was dominated by the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, and despite adverse conditions, symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi remained present, suggesting partial resilience. A considerable fraction of unclassified fungal taxa also points to underexplored microbial diversity with potential ecological or health significance. Importantly, this study does not aim to compare pristine and contaminated environments, but rather to provide a sanitary alert by identifying the presence and potential proliferation of pathogenic fungi in a degraded mangrove system. These findings highlight the sensitivity of mangrove fungal communities to environmental disturbance and reinforce the value of metagenomic approaches for monitoring ecosystem health. Incorporating fungal metagenomic surveillance into environmental management strategies is essential to better understand biodiversity loss, ecological resilience, and potential public health risks in degraded coastal environments.},
}
@article {pmid40872079,
year = {2025},
author = {Xia, M and Tang, L and Zhai, H and Liu, Y and Zhang, L and Chen, D},
title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Evolutionary Analysis of the GATA Transcription Factor Family in Nitrogen-Fixing Legumes.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants14162456},
pmid = {40872079},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {32400295//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 0205-6602-A12201//Research Startup Funding from Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University/ ; },
abstract = {GATA transcription factors are crucial for plant development and environmental responses, yet their roles in plant evolution and root nodule symbiosis are still not well understood. This study identified GATA genes across the genomes of 77 representative plant species, revealing that this gene family originated in Charophyta and significantly expanded in both gymnosperms and angiosperms. Phylogenetic analyses, along with examinations of conserved motifs and cis-regulatory elements in Glycine max and Arabidopsis, clearly demonstrated structural and functional divergence within the GATA family. Chromosomal mapping and synteny analysis indicated that GATA gene expansion in soybean primarily resulted from whole-genome duplication events. These genes also exhibit high conservation and signs of purifying selection in Glycine max, Lotus japonicus, and Medicago truncatula. Furthermore, by integrating phylogenetic and transcriptomic data from eight nitrogen-fixing legume species, several GATA genes were identified as strongly co-expressed with NIN1, suggesting their potential co-regulatory roles in nodule development and symbiosis. Collectively, this study offers a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary dynamics of the GATA gene family and highlights their potential involvement in root nodule symbiosis in legumes, thus providing a theoretical foundation for future mechanistic studies.},
}
@article {pmid40871461,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, T and Qi, Z and Wang, H and Zheng, P and Kao, SJ and Diao, X},
title = {Seasonal Variation in In Hospite but Not Free-Living, Symbiodiniaceae Communities Around Hainan Island, China.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13081958},
pmid = {40871461},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2021M702729//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 41967032//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by global climate change, and mass bleaching and mortality events caused by elevated seawater temperature have led to coral loss worldwide. Hainan Island hosts extensive coral reef ecosystems in China, yet seasonal variation in Symbiodiniaceae communities within this region remains insufficiently understood. We aimed to investigate the temperature-driven adaptability regulation of the symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae community in reef-building corals, focusing on the environmental adaptive changes in its community structure in coral reefs between cold (23.6-24.6 °C) and warm (28.2-30.6 °C) months. Symbiodiniaceae shuffling and rare genotype turnover were discovered in adaptability variations in the symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae community between two months. Symbiodiniaceae genetic diversity increased during warm months, primarily due to temporal turnover of rare genotypes within the Cladocopium and Durusdinium genera. Coral Favites, Galaxea, and Porites exhibited the shuffling of Symbiodiniaceae between tolerant Durusdinium and sensitive Cladocopium. Symbiodiniaceae interactions in G. fascicularis and P. lutea exhibited the highest levels of stability with the increase in temperature, whereas the interactions in A. digitifera and P. damicornis showed the lowest levels of stability. Rare genotypes functioned as central hubs and important roles within Symbiodiniaceae communities, exhibiting minimal responsiveness to temperature fluctuations while maintaining community structural stability. The temperature-driven adaptability regulation of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae could be achieved by Symbiodiniaceae shuffling and rare genotype turnover. The process might be aggravated by concurrent adverse factors, including elevated salinity, pollution, and anthropogenic disturbance. These findings provide insights into how the Symbiodiniaceae community influences the adaptation and resilience of coral hosts to temperature fluctuations in coral reefs. Furthermore, they may contribute to assessing the reef-building coral's capacity to withstand environmental stressors associated with global climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40871434,
year = {2025},
author = {Rincón-Rosales, R and Díaz-Hernández, M and Manzano-Gómez, LA and Rincón-Molina, FA and Ruíz-Valdiviezo, VM and Gen-Jiménez, A and Villalobos-Maldonado, JJ and Maldonado-Gómez, JC and Rincón-Molina, CI},
title = {Analysis of the Bacterial Community and Fatty Acid Composition in the Bacteriome of the Lac Insect Llaveia axin axin.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13081930},
pmid = {40871434},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {22004.25-P//Tecnol&#xf3;gico Nacional de M&#xe9;xico/ ; 21914.25-P//Tecnol&#xf3;gico Nacional de M&#xe9;xico/ ; },
abstract = {Microbial symbioses play crucial roles in insect physiology, contributing to nutrition, detoxification, and metabolic adaptations. However, the microbial communities associated with the lac insect Llaveia axin axin, an economically significant species used in traditional lacquer production, remain poorly characterized. In this study, the bacterial diversity and community structure of L. axin axin were investigated using both culture-dependent and culture-independent (metagenomic) approaches, combined with fatty acid profile analysis. The insects were bred at the laboratory level, in controlled conditions, encompassing stages from eggs to adult females. Bacterial strains were isolated from bacteriomes and identified through 16S rRNA gene amplification and genomic fingerprinting through ARDRA analysis. Metagenomic DNA was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform, and fatty acid profiles were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 20 bacterial strains were isolated, with Acinetobacter, Moraxella, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus detected in first-instar nymphs; Methylobacterium, Microbacterium, and Bacillus in pre-adult females; and Bacillus and Microbacterium in adults. Metagenomic analysis revealed key genera including Sodalis, Blattabacterium, and Candidatus Walczuchella, with Sodalis being predominant in early stages and Blattabacteriaceae in adults. Fatty acid analysis identified palmitic, oleic, linoleic, arachidic, and stearic acids, with stearic acid being the most abundant. These results suggest that dominant bacteria contribute to lipid biosynthesis and metabolic development in L. axin axin.},
}
@article {pmid40871425,
year = {2025},
author = {Danilova, OV and Salova, VD and Oshkin, IY and Naumoff, DG and Ivanova, AA and Suzina, NE and Dedysh, SN},
title = {Isolation of Ultra-Small Opitutaceae-Affiliated Verrucomicrobia from a Methane-Fed Bioreactor.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13081922},
pmid = {40871425},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {25-24-00426//Russian Science Foundation (RSF)/ ; },
abstract = {The bacterial phylum Verrucomicrobiota accommodates free-living and symbiotic microorganisms, which inhabit a wide range of environments and specialize in polysaccharide degradation. Due to difficulties in cultivation, much of the currently available knowledge about these bacteria originated from cultivation-independent studies. A phylogenetic clade defined by the free-living bacterium from oilsands tailings pond, Oleiharenicola alkalitolerans, and the symbiont of the tunicate Lissoclinum sp., Candidatus Didemniditutus mandelae, is a poorly studied verrucomicrobial group. This clade includes two dozen methagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) retrieved from aquatic and soil habitats all over the world. A new member of this clade, strain Vm1, was isolated from a methane-fed laboratory bioreactor with a Methylococcus-dominated methane-oxidizing consortium and characterized in this study. Strain Vm1 was represented by ultra-small, motile cocci with a mean diameter of 0.4 µm that grew in oxic and micro-oxic conditions at temperatures between 20 and 42 °C. Stable development of strain Vm1 in a co-culture with Methylococcus was due to the ability to utilize organic acids excreted by the methanotroph and its exopolysaccharides. The finished genome of strain Vm1 was 4.8 Mb in size and contained about 4200 predicted protein-coding sequences, including a wide repertoire of CAZyme-encoding genes. Among these CAZymes, two proteins presumably responsible for xylan and arabinan degradation, were encoded in several MAGs of Vm1-related free-living verrucomicrobia, thus offering an insight into the reasons behind wide distribution of these bacteria in the environment. Apparently, many representatives of the Oleiharenicola-Candidatus Didemniditutus clade may occur in nature in trophic associations with methanotrophic bacteria, thus participating in the cycling of methane-derived carbon.},
}
@article {pmid40871343,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, X and Lu, Y and Liu, X and Gu, Y and Li, F},
title = {Trichoderma: Dual Roles in Biocontrol and Plant Growth Promotion.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13081840},
pmid = {40871343},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {Qiankehejichu-ZK [2022] Zhongdian 033//Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province/ ; },
abstract = {The genus Trichoderma plays a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture through its multifaceted contributions to plant health and productivity. This review explores Trichoderma's biological functions, including its roles as a biocontrol agent, plant growth promoter, and stress resilience enhancer. By producing various enzymes, secondary metabolites, and volatile organic compounds, Trichoderma effectively suppresses plant pathogens, promotes root development, and primes plant immune responses. This review details the evolutionary adaptations of Trichoderma, which has transitioned from saprotrophism to mycoparasitism and established beneficial symbiotic relationships with plants. It also highlights the ecological versatility of Trichoderma in colonizing plant roots and improving soil health, while emphasizing its role in mitigating both biotic and abiotic stressors. With increasing recognition as a biostimulant and biocontrol agent, Trichoderma has become a key player in reducing chemical inputs and advancing eco-friendly farming practices. This review addresses challenges such as strain selection, formulation stability, and regulatory hurdles and concludes by advocating for continued research to optimize Trichoderma's applications in addressing climate change, enhancing food security, and promoting a sustainable agricultural future.},
}
@article {pmid40871230,
year = {2025},
author = {Iram, N and Ren, Y and Zhao, R and Zhao, S and Dong, C and Han, Y and Zhang, Y},
title = {Deciphering Soil Keystone Microbial Taxa: Structural Diversity and Co-Occurrence Patterns from Peri-Urban to Urban Landscapes.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms13081726},
pmid = {40871230},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {[No.32060011, 32160007, 32260003]//The National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; [Qian Ke He [2020] 6005]//"Hundred" Talent Projects of Guizhou Province/ ; [GNYL [2017]009]//Construction Program of Biology First-class Discipline in Guizhou/ ; },
abstract = {Assessing microbial community stability and soil quality requires understanding the role of keystone microbial taxa in maintaining diversity and functionality. This study collected soil samples from four major habitats in the urban and peri-urban areas of 20 highly urbanized provinces in China using both the five-point method and the S-shape method and explored their microbiota through high-throughput sequencing techniques. The data was used to investigate changes in the structural diversity and co-occurrence patterns of keystone microbial communities from peri-urban (agricultural land) to urban environments (hospitals, wastewater treatment plants, and zoos) across different regions. Using network analysis, we examined the structure and symbiosis of soil keystone taxa and their association with environmental factors during urbanization. Results revealed that some urban soils exhibited higher microbial diversity, network complexity, and community stability compared to peri-urban soil. Significant differences were observed in the composition, structure, and potential function of keystone microbial taxa between these environments. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between keystone taxa and mean annual precipitation (p < 0.05), and a strong positive correlation with soil nutrients, microbial diversity, and community stability (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that diverse keystone taxa are vital for sustaining microbial community stability and that urbanization-induced environmental changes modulate their composition. Shifts in keystone taxa composition reflect alterations in soil health and ecosystem functioning, emphasizing their role as indicators of soil quality during urban development. This study highlights the ecological importance of keystone taxa in shaping microbial resilience under urbanization pressure.},
}
@article {pmid40870637,
year = {2025},
author = {Qi, Q and Li, B and Zhang, X and Chen, X and Chen, H and King-Jones, K},
title = {Ecological Significance of a Novel Nitrogen Fixation Mechanism in the Wax Scale Insect Ericerus pela.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16080836},
pmid = {40870637},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {CAFYBB2019SZ005//Central Non-profit Research Institution of CAF/ ; },
abstract = {As a sessile wax scale insect, Ericerus pela heavily relies on its host plant for nutrition. While E. pela utilizes the nitrogen-poor plant sap as its primary nutrient source, the mechanisms by which this insect overcomes the nitrogen deficiency are poorly understood. In this study, we first confirm the nitrogen fixation capability of E. pela through isotopic tracer experiments and the acetylene reduction assay, which demonstrate that female adults exhibit an efficient nitrogen fixation rate. High-throughput sequencing further revealed 42 nitrogen-fixing bacterial species in the tissues of E. pela, most notably including Rhizobiales and Methylobacterium as the dominant species converting atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. Several critical genes involved in nitrogen fixation, ammonia transporting, amino acid synthesis, and transportation were determined to be transcriptionally active across different developmental stages of E. pela. In addition, the symbiotic fungus Ophiocordyceps-located in the fat body of E. pela-was found to be capable of synthesizing all amino acids, including the essential amino acids required for the survival of E. pela. Taken together, this study demonstrates that E. pela has evolved a highly effective nitrogen acquisition system driven by symbiotic microorganisms, ensuring a sufficient nitrogen supply and enabling it to thrive on nitrogen-deficient food sources. Our findings reveal a unique evolutionary adaptation in which E. pela leveraged both bacterial nitrogen fixation and fungal amino acid synthesis to bolster its growth and development.},
}
@article {pmid40870591,
year = {2025},
author = {Siden-Kiamos, I and Pantidi, G and Vontas, J},
title = {The Journey of the Bacterial Symbiont Through the Olive Fruit Fly: Lessons Learned and Open Questions.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects16080789},
pmid = {40870591},
issn = {2075-4450},
abstract = {Dysbiosis is a strategy to control insect pests through disrupting symbiotic bacteria essential for their life cycle. The olive fly, Bactrocera oleae, has been considered a suitable system for dysbiosis, as the insect is strictly dependent on its unique symbiont Candidatus Erwinia dacicola. Here, we review older and recent results from studies of the interaction of the symbiont and its host fly. We then discuss possible methods for disrupting the symbiosis as a means to control the fly. Specifically, we summarize studies using microscopy methods that have investigated in great detail the organs where the bacterium resides and it is always extracellular. Furthermore, we discuss how genome sequences of both host and bacterium can provide valuable resources for understanding the interaction and transcriptomic analyses that have revealed important insights that can be exploited for dysbiosis strategies. We also assess experiments where compounds have been tested against the symbiont. The hitherto limited efficacy in decreasing bacterial abundance suggests that novel molecules and/or new ways for the delivery of agents will be important for successful dysbiosis strategies. Finally, we discuss how gene drive methods could be implemented in olive fly control, though a number of hurdles would need to be overcome.},
}
@article {pmid40869242,
year = {2025},
author = {Khatoon, A and Aslam, MM and Komatsu, S},
title = {Role of Plant-Derived Smoke Solution on Plants Under Stress.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms26167911},
pmid = {40869242},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {This research was funded by the University-Special Research Grants (Practical application, 2025)//Fukui University of Technology/ ; },
mesh = {*Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; *Smoke ; *Plants/metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Plant Development/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Plants are constantly exposed to various environmental challenges, such as drought, flooding, heavy metal toxicity, and pathogen attacks. To cope with these stresses, they employ several adaptive strategies. This review highlights the potential of plant-derived smoke (PDS) solution as a natural biostimulant for improving plant health and resilience, contributing to both crop productivity and ecological restoration under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. Mitigating effects of PDS solution against various stresses were observed at morphological, physiological, and molecular levels in plants. PDS solution application involves strengthening the cell membrane by minimizing electrolyte leakage, which enhances cell membrane stability and stomatal conductance. The increased reactive-oxygen species were managed by the activation of the antioxidant system including ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase to meet oxidative damage caused by challenging conditions imposed by flooding, drought, and heavy metal stress. PDS solution along with other by-products of fire, such as charred organic matter and ash, can enrich the soil by slightly increasing its pH and improving nutrient availability. Additionally, some studies indicated that PDS solution may influence phytohormonal pathways, particularly auxins and gibberellic acids, which can contribute to root development and enhance symbiotic interactions with soil microbes, including mycorrhizal fungi. These combined effects may support overall plant growth, though the extent of PDS contribution may vary depending on species and environmental conditions. This boost in plant growth contributes to protecting the plants against pathogens, which shows the role of PDS in enduring biotic stress. Collectively, PDS solution mitigates stress tolerance in plants via multifaceted changes, including the regulation of physico-chemical responses, enhancement of the antioxidant system, modulation of heavy metal speciation, and key adjustments of photosynthesis, respiration, cell membrane transport, and the antioxidant system at genomic/proteomic levels. This review focuses on the role of PDS solution in fortifying plants against environmental stresses. It is suggested that PDS solution, which already has been determined to be a biostimulant, has potential for the revival of plant growth and soil ecosystem under abiotic and biotic stresses.},
}
@article {pmid40869153,
year = {2025},
author = {Kwon, EH and Ahmad, S and Lee, IJ},
title = {Melatonin-Producing Bacillus aerius EH2-5 Enhances Glycine max Plants Salinity Tolerance Through Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Modulation.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms26167834},
pmid = {40869153},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {*Melatonin/biosynthesis/metabolism ; *Bacillus/metabolism/genetics ; *Salt Tolerance ; *Glycine max/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development/genetics/metabolism ; Salinity ; Salt Stress ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Oxidative Stress ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Climate change has intensified extreme weather events and accelerated soil salinization, posing serious threats to crop yield and quality. Salinity stress, now affecting about 20% of irrigated lands, is expected to worsen due to rising temperatures and sea levels. At the same time, the global population is projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, demanding a 70% increase in food production (UN, 2019; FAO). Agriculture, responsible for 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions, urgently needs sustainable solutions. Microbial inoculants, known as "plant probiotics," offer a promising eco-friendly alternative by enhancing crop resilience and reducing environmental impact. In this study, we evaluated the plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and melatonin-producing capacity of Bacillus aerius EH2-5. To assess its efficacy under salt stress, soybean seedlings at the VC stage were inoculated with EH2-5 and subsequently subjected to salinity stress using 150 mM and 100 mM NaCl treatments. Plant growth parameters, the expression levels of salinity-related genes, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured to determine the microbe's role in promoting plant growth and mitigating salt-induced oxidative stress. Here, our study shows that the melatonin-synthesizing Bacillus aerius EH2-5 (7.48 ng/mL at 24 h after inoculation in Trp spiked LB media) significantly improved host plant (Glycine max L.) growth, biomass, and photosynthesis and reduced oxidative stress during salinity stress conditions than the non-inculcated control. Whole genome sequencing of Bacillus aerius EH2-5 identified key plant growth-promoting and salinity stress-related genes, including znuA, znuB, znuC, and zur (zinc uptake); ptsN, aspA, and nrgB (nitrogen metabolism); and phoH and pstS (phosphate transport). Genes involved in tryptophan biosynthesis and transport, such as trpA, trpB, trpP, and tspO, along with siderophore-related genes yusV, yfhA, and yfiY, were also detected. The presence of multiple stress-responsive genes, including dnaK, dps, treA, cspB, srkA, and copZ, suggests EH2-5's genomic potential to enhance plant tolerance to salinity and other abiotic stresses. Inoculation with Bacillus aerius EH2-5 significantly enhanced soybean growth and reduced salt-induced damage, as evidenced by increased shoot biomass (29%, 41%), leaf numbers (12% and 13%), and chlorophyll content (40%, 21%) under 100 mM and 150 mM NaCl compared to non-inoculated plants. These results indicate EH2-5's strong potential as a plant growth-promoting and salinity stress-alleviating rhizobacterium. The EH2-5 symbiosis significantly enhanced a key ABA biosynthesis enzyme-related gene NCED3, dehydration responsive transcription factors DREB2A and NAC29 salinity stresses (100 mM and 150 mM). Moreover, the reduced expression of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) by 16%, 29%, and 24%, respectively, and decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxy peroxidase (H2O2) by 12% and 23% were observed under 100 mM NaCl compared to non-inoculated plants. This study demonstrated that Bacillus aerius EH2-5, a melatonin-producing strain, not only functions effectively as a biofertilizer but also alleviates plant stress in a manner comparable to the application of exogenous melatonin. These findings highlight the potential of utilizing melatonin-producing microbes as a viable alternative to chemical treatments. Therefore, further research should focus on enhancing the melatonin biosynthetic capacity of EH2-5, improving its colonization efficiency in plants, and developing synergistic microbial consortia (SynComs) with melatonin-producing capabilities. Such efforts will contribute to the development and field application of EH2-5 as a promising plant biostimulant for sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40868890,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, M and Zhang, Y and Zhao, Z and Deng, F and Jiang, H and Liu, C and Li, Y and Chai, J},
title = {Bacterial-Fungal Interactions: Mutualism, Antagonism, and Competition.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/life15081242},
pmid = {40868890},
issn = {2075-1729},
abstract = {The interaction between bacteria and fungi is one of the key interactions of microbial ecology, including mutualism, antagonism, and competition, which profoundly affects the balance and functions of animal microbial ecosystems. This article reviews the interactive dynamics of bacteria and fungi in more concerned microenvironments in animals, such as gut, rumen, and skin. Moreover, we summarize the molecular mechanisms and ecological functions of the interaction between bacteria and fungi. Three major bacterial-fungal interactions (mutualism, antagonism, and competition) are deeply discussed. Understanding of the interactions between bacteria and fungi allows us to understand, modulate, and maintain the community structure and functions. Furthermore, this summarization will provide a comprehensive perspective on animal production and veterinary medicine, as well as guide future research directions.},
}
@article {pmid40868558,
year = {2025},
author = {Salazar-Páramo, M and de Santos Ávila, F and Ortiz-Velázquez, GE and Ramirez-Jaramillo, I and Delgado-Lara, DLC and Torres-Sánchez, ED and Ortiz, GG},
title = {Inflammatory Joint Pathologies and the Oral-Gut Microbiota: A Reason for Origin.},
journal = {Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/healthcare13161942},
pmid = {40868558},
issn = {2227-9032},
abstract = {The human gut microbiota, which can weigh as much as 2 kg and harbor 100 trillion bacteria, is specific to each individual. In healthy adults, a balanced microbiota-a state known as eubiosis-can be altered by various factors such as diet and lifestyle. Microbiota imbalance-or dysbiosis-can have consequences for host health. Given that 80% of the human immune system is located in the gut, studies have investigated the role of the microbiota in immune system diseases, including joint and inflammatory pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis. A better understanding of this pathology might enable the development of new treatments in the future. The microbiota includes all unicellular organisms in the digestive tract, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea. This complex ecosystem is unique to each individual. Associations between the human body and the microorganisms that it hosts can be considered mutualistic, symbiotic, or parasitic. These microorganisms are responsible for essential functions in maintaining health; the microbiota can even be considered another organ of the body. Microbiota composition varies considerably between early life and older age but remains relatively stable for most of a lifespan.},
}
@article {pmid40867596,
year = {2025},
author = {Lushchak, VI},
title = {Symphony of Digestion: Coordinated Host-Microbiome Enzymatic Interplay in Gut Ecosystem.},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biom15081151},
pmid = {40867596},
issn = {2218-273X},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Digestion/physiology ; Animals ; Probiotics ; Prebiotics ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; },
abstract = {Digestion was once viewed as a host-driven process, dependent on salivary, gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal enzymes to break down macronutrients. However, new insights into the gut microbiota have redefined this view, highlighting digestion as a cooperative effort between host and microbial enzymes. Host enzymes initiate nutrient breakdown, while microbial enzymes, especially in the colon, extend this process by fermenting resistant polysaccharides, modifying bile acids, and transforming phytochemicals and xenobiotics into bioactive compounds. These microbial actions produce metabolites like short-chain fatty acids, which influence gut barrier function, immune regulation, and metabolism. I propose two frameworks to describe this interaction: the "duet," emphasizing sequential enzymatic cooperation, and the "orchestra," reflecting a spatially and temporally coordinated system with host-microbiota feedback. Disruption of this symbiosis, through antibiotics, inflammation, diet, or aging, leads to dysbiosis, impaired digestion, and contributes to metabolic, neurologic, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases. Recognizing digestion as a dynamic, integrated system opens new paths for therapies and nutrition. These include enzyme-targeted prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and personalized diets. Embracing this systems-level perspective enables innovative diagnostics and treatments, aiming to restore enzymatic balance and improve digestive and systemic health.},
}
@article {pmid40867433,
year = {2025},
author = {Gu, Y and He, J and Huang, W and Sun, B},
title = {Professional Development for Teachers in the Digital Age: A Comparative Analysis of Online Training Programs and Policy Implementation.},
journal = {Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/bs15081076},
pmid = {40867433},
issn = {2076-328X},
support = {2025DQJK47//Education Science Planning for Guangdong Province/ ; },
abstract = {In the digital age, online teacher professional development (TPD) has become a key strategy for enhancing instructional quality and ensuring equitable access to continuous learning. This research compares and analyzes Chinese online teacher professional development (TPD) with the United States over a period of ten years, from 2014 to 2024. This study uses a mixed-methods approach based on policy documents, structured surveys, and interviews to investigate how governance regimes influence TPD outcomes for fair education. Both countries experienced a massive expansion of web-based TPD access and engagement, with participation rates over 75% and effectiveness scores over 4.3 by 2024. China focused on fast scaling by way of centralized mandates and investments in infrastructure, while the United States emphasized gradual expansion through decentralized, locally appropriate models. Most indicators had converged by the end of the period, even with these different approaches. Yet, qualitative evidence reveals persisting gaps in functional access and contextual appropriateness, especially in rural settings. Equality frameworks with attention to teacher agency, policy implementation, and digital usability must supplant weak access metrics. A hybrid paradigm presents itself as an attractive means toward building equitable and productive digital TPD environments through the symbiotic integration of China's successful scalability and the United States' professional autonomy.},
}
@article {pmid40865664,
year = {2025},
author = {Mavima, L and Steenkamp, ET and Beukes, CW and Palmer, M and De Meyer, SE and James, EK and Venter, SN and Coetzee, MPA},
title = {Estimated timeline for the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixing Paraburkholderia.},
journal = {Molecular phylogenetics and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108447},
doi = {10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108447},
pmid = {40865664},
issn = {1095-9513},
abstract = {The nitrogen-fixing and nodule-forming symbionts of legumes, which belong to the class Betaproteobacteria, are informally known as beta-rhizobia. Thus far, members of this group have only been found in the genera Paraburkholderia, Trinickia and Cupriavidus. In this study, we investigate the poorly characterized evolutionary history of this trait in the predominant beta-rhizobial genus, Paraburkholderia. This was determined in the context of the current evolutionary theories and date estimates of rhizobia, the genus Paraburkholderia and the earth. Evolutionary divergence dates of rhizobial Paraburkholderia as well as their ancestral nodulation states were estimated using over 800 diverse proteobacterial genomes. Molecular dating was carried out using the software BEAST (Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees) and APE (using the 'chronopl' function). Our results showed that the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of the extant beta-rhizobial species emerged between 2744 and 1752 million years ago (Ma) and later (2135-514 Ma) diverged into the lineages Cupriavidus, Trinickia and Paraburkholderia. However, major diversifications of rhizobial Paraburkholderia occurred in three phases: (i) during the Permian and Triassic periods (400-200 Ma) when Pangaea was fully assembled and its landmass filling up with flora and fauna, (ii) during the Jurassic period (200-150 Ma) when fauna and flora were flourishing in Pangaea, and (iii) during the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods (150-23 Ma) when Gondwana was breaking up. Furthermore, Paraburkholderia were estimated to have acquired their precursor nodulation loci that evolved into their current nodulation loci from different sources between 103 and 48 Ma. Accordingly, our study describes the evolutionary history of rhizobial Paraburkholderia, thus enabling us to understand the past environmental factors that shaped the current geographical distribution of these agriculturally important bacteria, and to identify locations potentially rich in beta-rhizobia.},
}
@article {pmid40757506,
year = {2025},
author = {Min, BR and Lourencon, RV and Nagaraju, I and Pitta, D and Ismael, H and Abdo, H and Chaudhary, S and Hilaire, M and Kanyi, V and Solaiman, S and Puchala, R},
title = {The effect of the forage-to-concentrate ratio of the total mixed ration on ruminal microbiota changes in Alpine dairy goats.},
journal = {Journal of animal science},
volume = {103},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40757506},
issn = {1525-3163},
support = {//USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; ALX-SRS22//McIntire-Stennis/ ; NR233A750004G103//USDA/NRCS Climate-Smart Commodities/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Goats/microbiology/physiology ; *Rumen/microbiology ; *Diet/veterinary ; *Animal Feed/analysis ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Bacteria/classification ; Fermentation ; },
abstract = {This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of the forage-to-concentrate ratio's effects in a total mixed ratio (TMR) on the dry matter intake (DMI) and ruminal microbiome community changes in Alpine dairy goats. Thirty-two multiparous Alpine dairy goats (53.3 ± 1.14 kg body weight [BW]) were used in this experiment. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with two treatments replicated twice, consisting of a TMR diet that contained either a high-concentrate (HC; 60%:40%) or a low-concentrate (LC; 30:70%) diet. Goats were used in a 45-d experiment to assess the effects of feeding different levels of concentrate diets on DMI, rumen fermentation characteristics, and changes in the ruminal microbiome community. The Calan head gate feeders were used to control individual DMI. The present study showed that BW was similar among the diets (P = 0.126), but DMI was lower (P < 0.05) for the LC diet than for the HC diet. The results showed that the most abundant bacterial species were Clostridium spp. (14.8% and 14.8%), followed by Rikenella spp. (8.2% and 9.7%), Prevotella ruminicola (4.1% and 6.3%), Clostridium sp. (3.5% and 4.8%), and Lachnoclostridium eubacterium contortum (3.4% and 1.2%) in the rumen of dairy goats fed HC and LC diets, respectively. According to the Archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences, the most abundant Methanogen species were Methanobrevibacter sp. (97.3%), followed by M. wolinii (0.1% and 1.0%), Methanobrevibacter spp. (0.9%), and M. smithii (0.1% and 0.6%) in the rumen of Alpine dairy goats fed HC and LC diets, respectively. Our findings revealed that the rumen of Alpine dairy goats fed HC compared to LC diet had a higher or tended to have higher DMI and proportion of Firmicutes (55.0 vs. 49.2%; P = 0.07), Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratios (1.9 vs. 1.31; P = 0.06), Chloroflexi (3.7 vs. 1.4%; P < 0.01), Actinobacteria (3.8 vs. 1.5%; P < 0.01), and Tenericutes (1.3 vs. 0.6%; P < 0.01), respectively. Furthermore, the level of Methanobrevibacter sp. was not impacted by diets (P > 0.05). The alpha diversity analysis confirmed that the richness of rumen bacterial species was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) when dairy goats were fed the HC diet compared to the LC diet. The examination of the richness of both Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, in relation to the relative abundance of microbiota, will help elucidate the structure of gut microbiota as an indicator of animal performance (e.g., milk and meat production).},
}
@article {pmid40865576,
year = {2025},
author = {Du, Z and Fang, J and Pang, H and Cai, Y},
title = {Utilising rice straw to prepare a culture medium for synthesizing lactic acid bacteria biofilms and regulating silage fermentation.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133201},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133201},
pmid = {40865576},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {To effectively utilize crop by-product resources, we developed a low-cost natural culture medium using rice straw as material, successfully synthesized a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) biofilm conducive to silage, and activated LAB activity to drive the silage fermentation process. Commercial freeze-dried LAB strains FG1 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) and TH14 (Lacticaseibacillus casei) and their corresponding culture medium, used for the preparation of silage from orchard grass and timothy grass. The crude protein and mineral content in fresh grass was higher than 14.4 % and 3.0 g/kg based on dry matter (DM), respectively, and formed a microbial biofilm structure and symbiotic network dominated by harmful microorganisms. Compared with the control and other treatments, silage prepared using the FG1 medium exhibited excellent fermentation quality, with pH and ammonia nitrogen content below 3.6 and 0.7 g/kg of fresh weight (FW) (P < 0.05), respectively, while lactic acid content exceeded 1.1 g/kg of FW (P < 0.05). The single LAB biofilm constructed using the FG1 medium developed in this study promoted a rapid shift in the silage biofilm community structure from Gram-negative to Gram-positive bacteria. Ultimately, a biofilm structure dominated by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was formed. This structure effectively regulated the dynamic symbiotic network of silage fermentation microorganisms, increasing the relative abundance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum to 35.4 %, significantly driving carbohydrate metabolism and global and overview map metabolic pathways while inhibiting amino acid metabolic pathways. This study achieved low-cost and high-quality silage fermentation by scientifically designing the biofilm structure of microorganisms related to silage fermentation.},
}
@article {pmid40865219,
year = {2025},
author = {Jia, J and Liu, Q and Wang, T and Zou, B and Xiong, X and Xu, J and Wu, C},
title = {Multiple stressors enhance Microcystis dominance and modulate phycospheric antibiotic resistome in aquatic mesocosm.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {497},
number = {},
pages = {139633},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139633},
pmid = {40865219},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Assessing the response of phycospheric antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to pollutants such as antibiotics and microplastics (MPs) under the background of climate warming is crucial for understanding ARG fate in aquatic ecosystems. In this work, we conducted mesocosm experiments to evaluate how these stressors influence phytoplankton dominance, phycospheric bacteria, and ARG evolution. Results showed that in Microcystis-dominant ecosystem, a single stressor strengthened Microcystis dominance (up to 82.37 % of total abundance), but only warming significantly enhanced phycospheric bacterial metabolic activity and promoted phycospheric ARG proliferation (1.34-fold higher on day 16). The increased propagation of Microcystis symbiotic bacteria (e.g., Roseomonas and Methylobacterium) and microcystin-degraders (e.g., Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas) drove the spread of ARGs. Though the single treatment of antibiotics (0.85- and 0.53-fold for days 16 and 30) or MPs (0.72- and 0.20-fold for days 16 and 30) decreased the abundance of ARGs, co-treatment with warming reversed this suppression (e.g., 1.55- and 1.96-fold for WA and MW groups on day 16). The results underscore the necessity of considering the combined warming-pollutant effects in ARG ecological risk assessment in natural waters, particularly under phytoplankton succession scenarios. Such insights are vital for managing antimicrobial resistance in evolving aquatic environments under global change pressures.},
}
@article {pmid40865124,
year = {2025},
author = {Hanrio, E and Severn-Ellis, A and Batley, J and Loh, R and Clode, P and Dang, C},
title = {A novel thraustochytrid in vitro isolate from the abalone Haliotis roei in Western Australia.},
journal = {Protist},
volume = {178},
number = {},
pages = {126114},
doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2025.126114},
pmid = {40865124},
issn = {1618-0941},
abstract = {Thraustochytrids are heterotrophic protozoa that can be saprophytic, parasitic, or symbiotic. They have become increasingly important as a potential source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study describes the isolation and characterisation of a novel thraustochytrid isolate from the abalone Haliotis roei in Western Australia. Isolate W7B6 was propagated in vitro and characterised using optical and electron microscopy as well as phylogenetic analysis. This thraustochytrid exhibits characteristic cell types of the Thraustochytriaceae family, including small sporogenous cells, cysts, encysted amoebosporangia and amoebosporangia. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA sequence of the W7B6 isolate indicate its classification within the Monorhizochytrium clade, nested within the broader Aurantiochytrium super-clade. This study adds a new thraustochytrid strain that potentially has significance in the bio-production of long-chain fatty acids.},
}
@article {pmid40863595,
year = {2025},
author = {You, Y and Zhao, S and Xie, B and Li, Z and Gong, W and Zhang, G and Li, Q and Zhao, X and Xin, Z and Wu, J and Gao, Y and Xiang, H},
title = {A Review of Maricultural Wastewater Treatment Using an MBR: Insights into the Mechanism of Membrane Fouling Mitigation Through a Microalgal-Bacterial Symbiotic and Microbial Ecological Network.},
journal = {Membranes},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40863595},
issn = {2077-0375},
support = {No. 52100036, No. 52270027//The National Natural Science Fund of China/ ; No. ZR2021QE119, ZR2023ME212//The Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China/ ; No. QA202140//Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology/ ; 2023SYLHY13//the Taishan Industrial Experts Program and the Double First-class Discipline Construction Fund Project of Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai/ ; },
abstract = {Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been utilized for maricultural wastewater treatment, where high-salinity stress results in dramatic membrane fouling in the actual process. A microalgal-bacterial symbiotic system (MBSS) offers advantages for photosynthetic oxygen production, dynamically regulating the structure of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and improving the salinity tolerance of bacteria and algae. This study centered on the mechanisms of membrane fouling mitigation via the microalgal-bacterial interactions in the MBSS, including improving the pollutant removal, optimizing the system parameters, and controlling the gel layer formation. Moreover, the contribution of electrochemistry to decreasing the inhibitory effects of high-salinity stress was investigated in the MBSS. Furthermore, patterns of shifts in microbial communities and the impacts have been explored using metagenomic technology. Finally, this review aims to offer new insights for membrane fouling mitigation in actual maricultural wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40863558,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, DM and Wang, SH and Wang, K and Li, JX and Yang, WQ and Han, XX and Cao, B and He, SH and Liu, WW and Zhao, RL},
title = {Species Diversity and Resource Status of Macrofungi in Beijing: Insights from Natural and Urban Habitats.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40863558},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {2019HJ2096001006//the Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China/ ; },
abstract = {This study systematically documented macrofungal diversity in Beijing, China (field surveys conducted from 2020 to 2024) using line-transect and random sampling. A total of 1056 species were identified, spanning 2 phyla, 7 classes, 25 orders, 109 families, and 286 genera. The inventory includes 12 new species, 456 new records for Beijing, 79 new records for China, and comprises 116 edible, 56 edible-medicinal, 123 medicinal, and 58 poisonous species. Among these, 542 species were assessed against China's Macrofungi Redlist, revealing eight species needing conservation attention (seven Near Threatened, one Vulnerable). Analysis revealed stark differences in dominant taxa between natural ecosystems (protected areas) and urban green spaces/parks. In natural areas, macrofungi are dominated by 31 families (e.g., Russulaceae, Cortinariaceae) and 47 genera (e.g., Russula, Cortinarius). Ectomycorrhizal lineages prevailed, highlighting their critical role in forest nutrient cycling, plant symbiosis, and ecosystem integrity. In urban areas, 10 families (e.g., Agaricaceae, Psathyrellaceae) and 17 genera (e.g., Leucocoprinus, Coprinellus) were dominant. Saprotrophic genera dominated, indicating their adaptation to decomposing organic matter in human-modified habitats and the provision of ecosystem services. The study demonstrates relatively high macrofungal diversity in Beijing. The distinct functional guild composition-ectomycorrhizal dominance in natural areas versus saprotrophic prevalence in urban zones-reveals complementary ecosystem functions and underscores the conservation value of protected habitats for maintaining vital mycorrhizal networks. These findings provide fundamental data and scientific support for regional biodiversity conservation and sustainable macrofungal resource development.},
}
@article {pmid40863553,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, Y and Huang, S and Zhang, J and Zhu, L and Zhan, B and Yu, X and Chen, Y},
title = {JA Signaling Inhibitor JAZ Is Involved in Regulation of AM Symbiosis with Cassava, Including Symbiosis Establishment and Cassava Growth.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40863553},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {ZDYF2023XDNY179//Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund/ ; },
abstract = {Mutualism between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is imperative for sustainable agricultural production. Jasmonic acid (JA) signal transduction has been demonstrated to play an important role in AMF symbiosis with the host. In this study, SC9 cassava was selected as the research object to investigate the effect of the jasmonic acid signaling pathway on symbiosis establishment and cassava growth in AMF and cassava symbiosis. It was first found that the symbiosis of cassava and mycorrhizal fungi could increase the biomass of both the aboveground and belowground parts of cassava. Secondly, JA content increased significantly in the early stage of AMF inoculation and auxin content increased significantly in the late stage of AMF inoculation, suggesting that JA signal transduction played an important role in the symbiosis between cassava and mycorrhizal fungi. Transcriptome data were used to analyze the expression differences of genes related to JA synthesis and signal transduction in cassava. The MeJAZ gene positively responded to symbiosis between cassava and mycorrhizal fungi. The analysis of MeJAZ gene family expression and its promoter supported this result. Spraying different concentrations of MeJA on leaves could affect the colonization rate and root biomass of cassava, indicating that JA was an active regulator of mycorrhizal formation. PPI prediction and qPCR analysis suggested that the MeJAZ7 gene might be a key transcriptional regulator responding to jasmonic acid signals and regulating mycorrhizal influence on cassava growth and development.},
}
@article {pmid40863539,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Ma, X and Wang, S and Zhang, P and Sun, L and Jia, Z and Zhang, Y and Bao, Q and Bao, Y and Wei, J},
title = {Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Insights into the Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Root Vegetative Growth and Saline-Alkali Stress Response in Oat (Avena sativa L.).},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40863539},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {32160335//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023YFF1306004//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Soil salinization limits the growth of agricultural crops in the world, requiring the use of methods to increase the tolerance of agricultural crops to salinity-alkali stress. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhance plant stress adaptation through symbiosis and offer a promising strategy for remediation. However, in non-model crops such as oat (Avena sativa L.), research has mainly focused on physiological assessments, while the key genes and metabolic pathways involved in AMF-mediated growth and saline-alkali tolerance remain unclear. In this study, we employed integrated multi-omics and physiological analyses to explore the regulatory mechanisms of AMF in oats under normal and saline-alkali stress. The results indicated that AMF symbiosis significantly promoted oat growth and physiological performance under both normal and saline-alkali stress conditions. Compared to the non-inoculated group under normal conditions, AMF increased plant height and biomass by 8.5% and 15.3%, respectively. Under saline-alkali stress, AMF enhanced SPAD value and relative water content by 16.7% and 7.3%, reduced MDA content by 35.8%, increased soluble protein by 21.8%, and decreased proline by 13.3%. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, and CAT) were elevated by 18.4%, 18.2%, and 14.8%, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that AMF colonization under saline-alkali stress induced about twice as many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) as under non-saline-alkali stressed conditions. These DEGs were primarily associated with Environmental Information Processing, Genetic Information Processing, and Metabolic Processes. According to metabolomic analysis, a total of 573 metabolites were identified across treatments, mainly comprising lipids (29.3%), organic compounds (36.8%), and secondary metabolites (21.5%). Integrated multi-omics analysis indicated that AMF optimized energy utilization and antioxidant defense by enhancing phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism pathways. This study provides new insights into how AMF may enhance oat growth and tolerance to saline-alkali stress.},
}
@article {pmid40862350,
year = {2025},
author = {Lirette, A-O and Ishigami, K and Ohbayashi, T and Kikuchi, Y},
title = {Complete genome sequence of Caballeronia sp. strain HLA56-a bacterial symbiont isolated from midgut crypts of the leaf-footed bug Hygia lativentris.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0060325},
doi = {10.1128/mra.00603-25},
pmid = {40862350},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {Caballeronia sp. strain HLA56 is a bacterial symbiont belonging to the Coreoidea clade in the genus of Caballeronia, isolated from the midgut crypts of phytophagous stink bug Hygia lativentris. Here, we report the complete 7.78 Mb genome of this symbiont, which consists of six circular replicons containing 7,095 protein-coding genes.},
}
@article {pmid40862159,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Jiang, L and Zhou, F and Zhang, Y and Fine, RD and Li, M},
title = {The hidden dancers in water: the symbiotic mystery of Legionella pneumophila and free-living amoebae.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1634806},
pmid = {40862159},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Legionella pneumophila, a Gram-negative bacillus, is the primary etiological agent of Legionnaires' disease, a severe respiratory infection. The symbiotic relationship between L. pneumophila and free-living amoebae (FLAs), particularly Acanthamoeba spp., represents a critical intersection of microbial ecology and human pathogenesis. This symbiosis provides Legionella with a protective intracellular niche, enhancing its resistance to biocides, increasing its pathogenicity, and facilitating horizontal gene transfer. These interactions not only boost the environmental persistence and dissemination of L. pneumophila but also elevate the risk of human exposure through contaminated drinking water systems. This review delves into the sophisticated survival strategies employed by L. pneumophila within host cells, including evasion of endocytic pathways, inhibition of phagosome maturation and acidification, and prevention of phagosome-lysosome fusion. By elucidating these mechanisms, we underscore the critical need for in-depth research into the Legionella-amoebae symbiosis and its broader implications for public health. Additionally, we address the challenges and strategies for mitigating environmental risks, emphasizing the importance of innovative approaches to ensure water system safety and prevent pathogen transmission.},
}
@article {pmid40861366,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, W and Li, Y and Hu, X and Ma, D},
title = {Reframing individual roles in collaboration: digital identity construction and adaptive mechanisms for resistance-based professional skills in AI-human intelligence symbiosis.},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1652130},
pmid = {40861366},
issn = {1664-1078},
abstract = {Amid the unprecedented wave of AI advancement, AI-resistant professional skills play a significant role in enhancing the effectiveness of human-AI collaboration. However, existing research tends to isolate professional skills from their broader context, overlooking the triadic construction of digital identity recognition through individual motivation, structural position, and knowledge articulation. This oversight weakens the sustainability and adaptability of skill expression, thereby hindering innovation performance in AI-HI (Artificial Intelligence-Human Intelligence) collaboration. Drawing on the entropy weight method, gradient descent algorithm, and a residual-matching decision matrix, this study conducted quantitative modeling of 418 participants in the financial co-production sector from 2022 to 2024. The findings reveal that network centrality (NC; β = 0.04[**]) and proactive personality (PP; β = 0.05[**]) significantly amplify the impact of two key AI-resistant skills-foreign language proficiency (FL) and passion/optimism (PO)-on collaboration effectiveness, through structural empowerment and intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, this study develops a digital identity recognition and classification framework that identifies three distinct groups: core innovators, marginal experts, and low performers. By extending the theoretical model of digital identity construction within AI-HI collaboration, this study also proposes a differentiated approach to talent development and resource allocation based on innovation effectiveness and identity alignment, offering new insights into the advancement of digital human capital.},
}
@article {pmid40860189,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, X and Xia, X and Xiao, Y and Shu, H and Xu, Z and Liu, M and Shi, C and Zhang, Y and Wei, Y and Gong, Y and Wang, W and Chen, Y and Liu, J and Huang, J and Shi, M and Wang, J and Wu, W},
title = {Ferroptosis-Resistant Adipocytes Drive Keloid Pathogenesis via GPX4-Mediated Adipocyte-Mesenchymal Transition and Iron-Cystine Metabolic Communication.},
journal = {International journal of biological sciences},
volume = {21},
number = {11},
pages = {5097-5115},
pmid = {40860189},
issn = {1449-2288},
mesh = {*Ferroptosis/physiology ; *Adipocytes/metabolism ; Humans ; *Iron/metabolism ; *Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism/genetics ; Animals ; *Keloid/metabolism/pathology ; Mice ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Fibroblasts/metabolism ; Deferoxamine ; Signal Transduction ; Male ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Background: Keloids are a challenging fibrotic disorder with limited treatment options. The study sought to examine the underlying mechanisms of keloid pathogenesis, emphasizing the influence of dermal adipocytes and ferroptosis resistance in driving fibrosis. Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was employed for determining essential cell populations in keloid tissue. Mechanistic studies assessed iron overload, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) exhaustion, and interferon responses in ferroptosis-resistant adipocytes. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression and TGF-β signaling activation were evaluated in adipocyte-mesenchymal transition (AMT). Paracrine signaling and metabolic symbiosis between adipocytes and fibroblasts were analyzed. Therapeutic interventions (ferroptosis inducer RSL3 and iron chelator deferoxamine DFO) were tested in vivo. Results: Through single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified ferroptosis-resistant dermal adipocytes as key contributors to keloid pathogenesis, exhibiting iron overload, ROS suppression, and impaired interferon responses. These adipocytes demonstrated elevated GPX4 expression, which mechanistically drove AMT via iron-dependent activation of TGF-β signaling pathways. GPX4-activated adipocytes promoted fibroblast collagen production through paracrine signaling while establishing a metabolic symbiosis: adipocytes exported iron via solute carrier family 40 member 1 (SLC40A1) to neighboring fibroblasts, which reciprocally supplied cystine through cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS)/cystinosin, lysosomal cystine transporter (CTNS) to sustain GPX4 activity. This vicious cycle was further amplified by iron/ROS-mediated suppression of interferon signaling, creating a pro-fibrotic feedback loop. Therapeutic targeting with either the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 or iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) effectively disrupted this pathological network, suppressing GPX4/AMT while restoring interferon responses and attenuating keloid growth in vivo. This study clarifies a new adipocyte-focused mechanism in keloid development and identifies ferroptosis regulation as a potential treatment approach for this persistent condition. Conclusions: This study reveals a novel adipocyte-centered mechanism in keloid pathogenesis driven by GPX4-mediated ferroptosis resistance, metabolic symbiosis, and disrupted interferon signaling. The findings establish ferroptosis modulation (via RSL3 or iron chelation) as a promising therapeutic strategy for keloids, offering potential new treatments for this recalcitrant condition.},
}
@article {pmid40859120,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, H and Wang, Y and Cheng, X and He, Y and Shen, Z and Zhang, W and Pu, X},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization facilitates nitrogen uptake in cotton under nitrogen - reduction condition.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1129},
pmid = {40859120},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {32460538//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024DB015//Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Science and Technology Program/ ; 2023ZD049//Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Guiding Science, Technology Program/ ; CXBJ202201//Youth Innovative Talents Project of Shihezi University/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Gossypium/microbiology/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Biomass ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cotton is an economically important global crop, the yield and quality of which are strongly influenced by soil nitrogen. Low nitrogen use efficiency poses an important challenge to improve cotton yield and quality. The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been proposed as an effective solution to this challenge. Therefore, we conducted an indoor experiment using a compartmentalized culture system with cotton as the material and established three nitrogen treatments (1 g·kg[-1], 0.7 g·kg[-1], and 0 g·kg[-1]) to investigate whether symbiosis between AMF and cotton roots could improve the nitrogen absorption capacity of cotton.<br><br>RESULTS: The results showed that under high-nitrogen, low-nitrogen, and nitrogen- free treatments, the contributions of AMF colonization to root NO&#x2083;&#x207b;-N and NH&#x2084;&#x207a;-N were 5.89%, 10.10%, 19.92% and 24.35%, 12.37%, 13.16% respectively. Furthermore, the symbiosis between AMF and roots promoted the absorption of soil NO&#x2083;&#x207b;-N, NH&#x2084;&#x207a; -N, and dissolved organic nitrogen, and was beneficial for increasing the content of soil readily oxidizable carbon. Additionally, AMF colonization was significantly positively correlated with root tissue density, cotton biomass, and soil microbial activity, but significantly negatively correlated with soil total organic carbon.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, under nitrogen - reduction condition, roots will be more dependent on the contribution of mycelium to NO&#x2083;&#x207b;-N, and AMF colonization was significantly positively correlated with root tissue density (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05), suggesting that mycelium may prolong its functional cycle by improving the root structure, thereby reducing the carbon and nitrogen consumption in host organ reconstruction. However, this mechanism needs to be further verified in combination with the direct measurement of root turnover rate.},
}
@article {pmid40858312,
year = {2025},
author = {Schwarz, EM and Baniya, A and Heppert, JK and Schwartz, HT and Tan, CH and Antoshechkin, I and Sternberg, PW and Goodrich-Blair, H and Dillman, AR},
title = {Genomes of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema hermaphroditum and its associated bacteria.},
journal = {Genetics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/genetics/iyaf170},
pmid = {40858312},
issn = {1943-2631},
abstract = {As an entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Steinernema hermaphroditum parasitizes insect hosts and harbors symbiotic Xenorhabdus griffinae bacteria. In contrast to other Steinernematids, S. hermaphroditum has hermaphroditic genetics, offering the experimental scope found in Caenorhabditis elegans. To enable study of S. hermaphroditum, we have assembled and analyzed its reference genome. This genome assembly has five chromosomal scaffolds and 83 unassigned scaffolds totaling 90.7 Mb, with 19,426 protein-coding genes having a BUSCO completeness of 88.0%. Its autosomes show higher densities of strongly conserved genes in their centers, as in C. elegans, but repetitive elements are evenly distributed along all chromosomes, rather than with higher arm densities as in C. elegans. Either when comparing protein motif frequencies between nematode species or when analyzing gene family expansions during nematode evolution, we observed two categories of genes preferentially associated with the origin of Steinernema or S. hermaphroditum: orthologs of venom genes in S. carpocapsae or S. feltiae; and some types of chemosensory G protein-coupled receptors, despite the tendency of parasitic nematodes to have reduced numbers of chemosensory genes. Three-quarters of venom orthologs occurred in gene clusters, with the larger clusters comprising functionally diverse gene groups rather than paralogous repeats of a single venom gene. While assembling S. hermaphroditum, we coassembled bacterial genomes, finding sequence data for not only the known symbiont, X. griffinae, but also for eight other bacterial genera. All eight genera have previously been observed to be associated with Steinernema species or the EPN Heterorhabditis, and may constitute a "second bacterial circle" of EPNs.},
}
@article {pmid40856799,
year = {2025},
author = {Pushkareva, E and Keilholz, L and Böse, J and von Berg, KL},
title = {Genetic Diversity and Potential of Cyanobacteria and Fungi Living on Arctic Liverworts.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {90},
pmid = {40856799},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {PU867/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {Arctic Regions ; *Hepatophyta/microbiology ; *Cyanobacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *Fungi/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; *Genetic Variation ; Symbiosis ; Soil Microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {Liverworts often form symbiotic associations with fungi and cyanobacteria, yet the distribution and specificity of these relationships remain largely unexplored, particularly in Arctic environments. This study used metagenomic sequencing to investigate fungal and cyanobacterial communities associated with Arctic liverworts, analyzing photosynthetic parts of gametophytes and their rhizoids with attached soil separately. The results revealed that Ascomycota dominated the fungal community. The cyanobacterial community was primarily composed of heterocytous Nostoc and non-heterocytous filamentous Leptolyngbya, with Nostoc showing evidence of nitrogen fixation, especially in gametophytes, suggesting a potential role in enhancing nitrogen availability for the host. These findings underscore the ecological significance of liverwort-associated microorganisms in Arctic ecosystems, with microbial composition differing between upper and lower parts of plants, as well as between leafy and thalloid liverworts, indicating possible functional specialization.},
}
@article {pmid40855951,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, NF and Ma, XY and Hong, JS and Luan, JB},
title = {Rickettsia symbionts favor whitefly ovary development by promoting germ cell mitosis.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70167},
pmid = {40855951},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {32225042//National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Maternally inherited symbionts can impact the reproduction of their host insects in various ways. The ovary is critical for the successful reproduction of female insects. Such symbionts have strong ovary tropism. Intracellular symbionts depend on host cells for replication and transmission. However, the cellular mechanisms by which symbionts impact insect reproduction through affecting ovary development have seldom been investigated. Our previous work has shown that the facultative symbiont Rickettsia can be vertically transmitted through eggs in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci and Rickettsia increases female fecundity. This study is aimed to explore the cellular mechanisms of Rickettsia symbionts affecting the whitefly fecundity.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that Rickettsia symbionts are highly concentrated in the tropharium of whitefly ovarioles. We demonstrated that Rickettsia increases whitefly fecundity by promoting ovary development. Moreover, Rickettsia enhances the expression of cell division genes (Cyclin B1 and CDK1) and germ cell mitosis. Furthermore, Cyclin B1 and CDK1 gene silencing or CDK1 inhibitor treatment reduced the germ cell mitosis, delayed ovary development and decreased whitefly fecundity.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Overall, we revealed that Rickettsia promotes ovary development by regulating germ cell mitosis, which enhances whitefly fecundity. These findings suggest that regulating the host cell cycle by the symbiont is important for the maintenance of the intracellular symbiosis. This study provides new insights into the cellular mechanism of symbionts regulating host reproduction. Our study also provides excellent genetic targets for insect control. &#xa9; 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}
@article {pmid40855682,
year = {2025},
author = {Goto-Ito, S and Kato, S and Takahashi, M and Sakamoto, A and Yamagata, A and Lee, Y and Ehara, H and Sato, M and Toyooka, K and Ohkuma, M and Ito, T},
title = {Structural analysis of a symbiotic system involving a Nanobdellati archaeon by cryo-electron tomography.},
journal = {Journal of biochemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jb/mvaf049},
pmid = {40855682},
issn = {1756-2651},
abstract = {Nanobdellati (formerly DPANN) archaea are considered as primitive archaeal organisms that often live in symbiosis with archaeal hosts. In this study, we investigated the symbiotic mechanism between a Nanobdellati archaeon, Nanobdella aerobiophila strain MJ1, and its host archaeon Metallosphaera sedula strain MJ1HA, using cryo-electron tomography. In our tomographic observations, we identified a conical attachment organelle at the interface between MJ1 and MJ1HA during symbiosis. This structure consists of a concentric array of short cylindrical shells, consistent with a previous report. Subtomogram averaging, combined with AlphaFold 3 structural predictions, allowed us to identify a potential component of attachment organelles. Additionally, we inferred potential components of the S-layers in MJ1 and MJ1HA based on tomographic data and subtomogram averages. Based on these analyses, we hypothesize that a MJ1 S-layer component may undergo conformational changes to also serve as a component of attachment organelles, warranting further investigation.},
}
@article {pmid40855672,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, B and Liu, Z and Peng, T and Yin, M and Efrose, R and Flemetakis, E and Franken, P and Rennenberg, H},
title = {Revealing the Role of Actinorhizal Symbioses in Ecosystem Nitrogen Dynamics.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70146},
pmid = {40855672},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was funded by Chongqing Science and Technology Commission (cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0002 &amp; cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0020) and the funding support is acknowledged./ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic associations between plants and microorganisms are crucial to global biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem stability. Mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen (N2)-fixing bacteria are recognized as the two main groups of microorganisms involved in such symbiotic interactions. They not only constitute the most wide-spread symbiotic microorganisms, but also ensure plants to acquire additional N resources directly from the atmosphere. Although plant-microbial interactions, for example, the performance of AM-plant and rhizobia-legume plant symbioses, have been well studied and reviewed in detail previously, still less information is known about these processes in actinorhizal symbioses. The present review is aimed to summarize current knowledge of the interaction of partners in actinorhizal root symbioses, in particular the signalling processes during establishment of BNF, and the specificity of and dependency on different symbiotic partners in this interactions, based on evolution and distribution in the plant and microbial kingdom. The features of nutrient transfer in these root symbiotic relationships and the significance of actinorhizal symbioses for the performance of plants under environmental stress are discussed and compared with AM and rhizobia-legume symbioses. In addition, research gaps in actinorhizal root symbioses research are identified and future research avenues are suggested.},
}
@article {pmid40855059,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, X and Huang, Q and Liu, Y and He, X and Chen, W and Liu, Y and Gan, L and Wei, J and Zhang, H and Chen, T},
title = {Harnessing dual-channel probiotics to synergistically correct intestinal and vaginal dysbiosis after antibiotic disruption.},
journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {174},
pmid = {40855059},
issn = {2055-5008},
support = {82460297//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Probiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; Female ; *Dysbiosis/therapy/microbiology/chemically induced/drug therapy ; Animals ; *Vagina/microbiology/drug effects ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects ; Mice ; Limosilactobacillus reuteri/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Helicobacter Infections/microbiology/drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori/drug effects ; Humans ; *Intestines/microbiology/drug effects ; Lactobacillus crispatus/physiology ; },
abstract = {Antibiotics are widely used to treat infectious diseases, yet antibiotic therapy has been shown to disrupt symbiotic microbiota. Notably, the dosage and duration of antibiotic use for specific infections may exert detrimental effects on microbiota in non-infected sites. Here, we propose a dual-channel probiotic delivery strategy to address gut and vaginal dysbiosis caused by antibiotic therapies. In a Helicobacter pylori infection model, oral administration of Limosilactobacillus reuteri NCU-15 alleviated gastritis and protected the intestinal barrier and microbiota. In a vaginal dysbiosis model, intravaginal delivery of Lactobacillus crispatus NCU-23 reduced local inflammation and apoptosis, restoring vaginal microbial homeostasis. In the entero-vaginal disordered mice, dual-channel probiotic therapy produced synergistic effects by reducing inflammation, inhibiting apoptosis, and reestablishing microbial balance. These findings demonstrate the potential of dual-channel probiotic intervention to modulate gut-vaginal microbiota interactions and offer a scientific basis for developing strategies to prevent or treat antibiotic-induced dysbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40854139,
year = {2025},
author = {Qu, M and Zhang, Y and Woltering, J and Liu, Y and Liu, Z and Wan, S and Jiang, H and Yu, H and Chen, Z and Wang, X and Zhang, Z and Qin, G and Schneider, R and Meyer, A and Lin, Q},
title = {Symbiosis with and mimicry of corals were facilitated by immune gene loss and body remodeling in the pygmy seahorse.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {35},
pages = {e2423818122},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2423818122},
pmid = {40854139},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {42425004//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 42230409//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 42376126//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 42006108//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 42106120//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; ZDBS-LY-DQC004//CAS | BFSE | Key Research Program of Frontier Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences ()/ ; 2022YFC3102403//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; 2023YFC3108800//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; 2023A1515012165//Guangdong basic and applied basic research foundation/ ; XDB42030204//Strategic priority research program of the CAS/ ; 2024PVA0054//CAS president's international fellowship initiative/ ; },
abstract = {A remarkable example of symbiosis involves the pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti). It lives obligatorily on gorgonian corals, mimicking their polyps with pink coloration and skin protuberances. Unique for seahorses, pygmy seahorses retain juvenile paedomorphic stunted snouts, resembling the coral's polyps. We analyzed the tiny seahorse's genome revealing the genomic bases of several adaptations to their mutualistic life including substantial reductions in conserved noncoding elements that are associated with genes in the vicinity of those CNEs that are known to play a role in growth and metamorphosis-related pathways. Comparative RNA- and ATAC-Seq analyses during their ontogeny suggest that their stunted snout might result from craniofacial remodeling associated with hoxa2b defunctionalization. This is consistent also with findings from in situ hybridization and CRISPR experiments. Their immune system shows extremely low numbers of MHC genes and additional considerable losses of other immune-related genes. This is likely facilitated by the host coral's antimicrobial metabolites and by the earlier evolution of male pregnancy that requires immunotolerance.},
}
@article {pmid40853994,
year = {2025},
author = {Meesil, W and Sharkey, LKR and Pidot, SJ and Thanwisai, A},
title = {Comprehensive genomic analysis of Xenorhabdus bovienii strain MEL2.2.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {8},
pages = {e0331132},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0331132},
pmid = {40853994},
issn = {1932-6203},
abstract = {The genome sequences of entomopathogenic bacteria and their functional analyses provide valuable insights for genetic engineering to enhance their use as biocontrol agents. In this study, we examine the draft genome of Xenorhabdus bovienii strain MEL2.2, which was isolated from entomopathogenic nematodes in Melbourne, Australia. The genome of Xenorhabdus strain MEL2.2 spans approximately 4.4 million base pairs and has a G + C content of 44.8%, aligning with known characteristics of the genus. Within the genome, 3,823 protein-coding genes were identified. Functional analysis revealed genes associated with nematode symbiosis and insect virulence. Moreover, 15 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were detected, potentially responsible for synthesizing various secondary metabolites. Comparative genomic analysis indicated a combination of conserved and strain-specific genes when compared to other Xenorhabdus bovienii strains, suggesting genetic traits that may enhance MEL2.2's adaptability and pathogenicity. Altogether, these findings offer a foundation for exploring the strain's utility in further applications.},
}
@article {pmid40853413,
year = {2025},
author = {Kang, R and Xuan, Z and Tong, L and Wang, Y and Jin, S and Xiao, Q},
title = {Nurse Researchers' Experiences and Perceptions of Generative AI: Qualitative Semistructured Interview Study.},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
volume = {27},
number = {},
pages = {e65523},
pmid = {40853413},
issn = {1438-8871},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: With the rapid development and iteration of generative artificial intelligence, the growing popularity of such groundbreaking tools among nurse researchers, represented by ChatGPT (OpenAI), is receiving passionate debate and intrigue. Although there has been qualitative research on generative artificial intelligence in other fields, little is known about the experiences and perceptions of nurse researchers; this study seeks to report on the topic.<br><br>OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the experiences and perceptions of generative artificial intelligence among Chinese nurse researchers, as well as provide a reference for the application of generative artificial intelligence in nursing research in the future.<br><br>METHODS: Semistructured interviews were used to collect data in this qualitative study. Researchers mainly conducted interviews on the cognition, experience, and future expectations of nurse researchers regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence. Twenty-seven nurse researchers were included in the study. Through purposive sampling and snowball sampling, there were 7 nursing faculty researchers, 10 nursing graduate students, and 10 clinical nurse researchers. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.<br><br>RESULTS: Five themes and 12 subthemes were categorized from 27 original interview documents as follows: (1) diverse reflections on human-machine symbiosis, which includes the interplay between substitution and assistance, researchers shaping the potential of generative artificial intelligence, and acceptance of generative artificial intelligence with alacrity; (2) multiple factors of the usage experience, including individual characteristics and various usage scenarios; (3) research paradigm reshaping in the infancy stage, which involves full-process groundbreaking assistive tools and emergence of new research paths; (4) application risks of generative artificial intelligence, including intrinsic limitations of generative artificial intelligence and academic integrity and medical ethics; and (5) the co-improvement of technology and literacy, which concerns reinforcement needs for generative artificial intelligence literacy, development of nursing research generative artificial intelligence and urgent need for artificial intelligence-generated content detection tools. In this context, the first 4 themes form the rocket of the human-machine symbiosis journey. Only when humans fully leverage the advantages of machines (generative artificial intelligence) and overcome their shortcomings can this human-machine symbiosis journey reach the correct future direction (fifth theme).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the experiences and perceptions of nurse researchers interacting with generative artificial intelligence, which was a "symbiotic journey" full of twists and turns, and provides a reference and basis for achieving harmonious coexistence between nurse researchers and generative artificial intelligence in the future. Nurse researchers, policy makers, and application developers can use the conclusions of this study to further promote the application of generative artificial intelligence in nursing research, policy making, and product development.},
}
@article {pmid40853247,
year = {2025},
author = {Baiju, DC and V M, L and Mondal, R},
title = {From Warburg to Warnings: A Genomic Approach to Oral Cancer Surveillance.},
journal = {DNA and cell biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1177/10445498251371120},
pmid = {40853247},
issn = {1557-7430},
abstract = {Mitochondria, originating from symbiotic ancestors, are acknowledged as the powerhouses of the cell. Their relevance to various cancer types is underscored by altered glucose metabolism (Warburg effect). Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays a crucial role in oxidative damage and is a significant contributor to cancer onset and progression. Tobacco and alcohol consumption increases reactive oxygen species generation, inducing oxidative stress that disrupts respiratory activity and mtDNA, thereby promoting carcinogenesis. This review emphasizes the link between mitochondrial dysfunction and cancer, particularly in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), highlighting the role of mtDNA mutations. This review discusses environmental factors, such as tobacco use and human papillomavirus infection, that impact mitochondrial function, stresses the importance of mitochondrial-targeted therapies, and explores the influence of microRNAs (miRNAs) on mitochondrial metabolism in cancer cells. Mitocans and miRNAs have emerged as promising therapeutic agents for OSCC. The subsequent sections delve into recent pivotal research on mitochondria, identifying mtDNA alterations as potential cancer biomarkers. These insights promise new perspectives on noninvasive cancer detection, heralding advancements in cancer therapeutics.},
}
@article {pmid40852815,
year = {2025},
author = {Benrkia, R and Fianu, AE and Ovatlarnporn, C and Olatunji, OJ},
title = {Mediterranean Seaweeds: Bridging Chemistry Knowledge, Microbial Community Profiling, Therapeutic, Nutraceutical, and Industrial Applications.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06430},
pmid = {40852815},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {Mediterranean seaweeds are a valuable source of bioactive compounds that evolved in response to the region's unique conditions. These compounds, initially serving defensive roles, show strong pharmaceutical potential with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer properties. Rich in polysaccharides, polyphenols, and essential fatty acids, these macroalgae are increasingly recognized for their role in functional foods and nutraceuticals. However, research gaps persist, especially in chemical characterization and microbial profiling. The diversity, ecological roles, metabolic capabilities, and nutraceutical potential of the associated microorganisms are still poorly understood. This review offers an overview of the chemical and microbial profiling of Mediterranean seaweeds, emphasizing their pharmacological and nutraceutical value. It highlights the role of symbiotic microorganisms in metabolite biosynthesis and explores strategies to enhance the production of bioactive compounds. By doing so, this review aims to unlock the full potential of Mediterranean seaweeds and their microbial partners for sustainable pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial applications.},
}
@article {pmid40852124,
year = {2025},
author = {Douglas S Stuehler, and Hunter, WB and Qureshi, JA and Cano, LM},
title = {Transcriptomic characterization of Wolbachia endosymbiont from Leuronota fagarae (Hemiptera: Psylloidae).},
journal = {Microbiome research reports},
volume = {4},
number = {2},
pages = {19},
pmid = {40852124},
issn = {2771-5965},
abstract = {Aim: Wolbachia species are among the most abundant intracellular endosymbionts of insects worldwide. The extensive distribution of Gram-negative Wolbachia among insects highlights their evolutionary success and close relationship with many insect host species. This study aimed to characterize a novel Wolbachia strain from the Wild Lime Psyllid, Leuronota fagarae (L. fagarae), to understand its evolutionary relationship with Wolbachia from psyllid pests like Diaphorina citri, the vector of Huanglongbing (HLB). Methods: Wild-caught L. fagarae colonies from Florida, USA, were maintained on Zanthoxylum fagara. RNA was extracted from the salivary glands, heads, and whole bodies of male and female adult L. fagarae. Four cDNA libraries were sequenced using short read technology and de novo transcriptome assembly was performed. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of nine conserved loci and wsp gene analysis classified the strain's phylogeny, while sequence mapping and functional annotation provided insight into host-microbe interactions. Results: The new Wolbachia strain, designated Wolbachia endosymbiont of Leuronota fagarae (wLfag-FL), was assigned to supergroup B, showing relation to Wolbachia strains of other related psyllids. Transcriptome analysis identified 1,359 Wolbachia transcripts with 465 assigned functions encompassing metabolic and secretion system pathways. Ankyrin domain proteins and a partial bacterioferritin sequence were detected, suggesting nutritional provisioning roles. Conclusion: The characterization of wLfag-FL expands the known Wolbachia host range and informs HLB-related pest biology. Its phylogenetic placement and transcript annotations offer insights into symbiotic interactions, potentially guiding environmentally safe pest control strategies targeting psyllid fitness and pathogen transmission.},
}
@article {pmid40851996,
year = {2025},
author = {Nebieridze, A and Abu-Bakr, A and Nazir, A and Ghosson, A and Minova, A and Uwishema, O},
title = {Microbiome and cardiovascular health unexplored frontiers in precision cardiology: a narrative review.},
journal = {Annals of medicine and surgery (2012)},
volume = {87},
number = {7},
pages = {4255-4261},
pmid = {40851996},
issn = {2049-0801},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Gut microbiota has a symbiotic relationship with their host. It is known that the gut microbiome has the potential to affect the host and vice versa. Cardiovascular disease and its comorbidities are the leading cause of death worldwide. Patients with various heart conditions have been observed to have a different composition of the gut microbiome. It has been postulated that the gut microbiome and its derivatives exert various effects on the cardiovascular system, termed the gut-heart axis. In this study, we aim to explore how the gut microbiome and the active metabolites produced by these microorganisms affect patient cardiovascular health. Additionally, we will discuss how gut microbiota can become a target for the new era of precision cardiology.<br><br>METHODS: Data were collected through the online databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Ovid MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect. Articles regarding cardiovascular health and pathology as well as its overlap with gut microbiome and health were used.<br><br>RESULTS: Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiome has a significant influence on cardiovascular disease through its metabolites, such as trimethylamine N-oxide and short-chain fatty acids, which impact cholesterol metabolism, systemic inflammation, and plaque stability. Targeting said derivatives has proven to provide beneficial results for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Finding reported here highlights the importance of microbiome in cardiovascular disease and health and suggest that microbiome-based interventions hold promise for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. More research needs to be conducted to study more concrete effects of specific microorganisms on cardiovascular health. Multicenter, longitudinal studies with a large sample size will provide the best evidence for clinically significant findings. Using precision cardiology, to target the gut microbiome and its derivatives, with medications like antibiotics, and nonpharmacologic interventions like lifestyle modification and fecal transplantation can positively influence cardiovascular health and help with the effective management of ongoing diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40850781,
year = {2025},
author = {Fukunaga, S and Ratu, STN and Okazaki, S},
title = {Regulation of Root Nodule Symbiosis by Soybean Rj Genotypes and Rhizobial Effectors.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1264/jsme2.ME25027},
pmid = {40850781},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/genetics ; Genotype ; *Rhizobium/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; },
abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important crops worldwide. Root nodule symbiosis between soybean and rhizobia has been extensively exami-ned due to its significance for agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Recent advances have enhanced our understanding of the soybean genotypes known as the Rj/rj genotypes, which play a critical role in regulating root nodule symbiosis. Furthermore, the function of rhizobium-secreted proteins, termed effectors, in eliciting specific responses in soybean Rj/rj genotypes has been elucidated. This review summarizes the involvement of soybean Rj/rj genotypes and their corresponding root nodule bacterial effectors in the regulation of nodule formation. We also discussed the potential for manipulating root nodule symbiosis by applying Rj/rj genotypes in soybean breeding programs, which may enhance nitrogen fixation efficiency and subsequently reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural land.},
}
@article {pmid40808381,
year = {2025},
author = {Vargas, JJ and Tarnonsky, F and Maderal, A and Podversich, F and Fernández-Marenchino, I and Cuervo, W and Ramirez, V and Novo, S and Fernández-Lehmann, A and Ruiz-Moreno, M and Schulmeister, TM and Ruiz-Ascacibar, I and Ipharraguerre, IR and DiLorenzo, N},
title = {Impact of supplementing different sources of non-protein nitrogen on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and microbial protein synthesis in beef cattle consuming a corn silage-based diet.},
journal = {Journal of animal science},
volume = {103},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40808381},
issn = {1525-3163},
mesh = {Animals ; Cattle/physiology ; Fermentation/drug effects ; *Rumen/physiology/metabolism ; Male ; Diet/veterinary ; *Digestion/drug effects ; Zea mays/chemistry ; Silage/analysis ; Dietary Supplements/analysis ; *Nitrogen/metabolism/administration &amp; dosage ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Animal Feed/analysis ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Urea/administration &amp; dosage ; },
abstract = {Supplementation of low-protein diets with non-protein nitrogen (NPN) increases ruminal degradable protein and improves rumen fermentation and microbial growth. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of supplementing urea-biuret (UB) and urea-biuret-nitrate (UBN) mixtures relative to urea (U) on rumen fermentation and microbial N outflow in growing steers. Twelve American Aberdeen steers were used in a replicated and balanced 3 × 3 Latin square design (LSD) with 3 periods of 35 d each. Steers were housed in pens and consumed a corn silage-based diet. Steers were stratified by body weight and randomly allocated to 1 of the 3 NPN supplementation treatments. Treatments were supplementation with U, UB, and UBN, adjusted to the amount of N provided by U when included at 1% of the diet on a dry matter (DM) basis. Intake and feeding behavior were individually recorded throughout the experiment. In each period, steers were adapted to increasing levels of NPN during the first 8 days. From days 19 to 23, feed and fecal samples were collected to assess nutrient digestibility. Samples of blood, rumen contents, and omasal digesta were collected on days 20 to 23. On day 24, rumen evacuation was performed, and subsequently steers were dosed with Co-EDTA and YbCl3 to determine the passage rate of digesta flow. Rumen fluid collection was conducted on days 24 and 25. Steers did not receive NPN supplementation from days 26 to 35 during the washout period. Microbial N flow was estimated for each animal within periods. Intake, digestibility, digesta flow, and microbial N flow were analyzed using a 3 × 3 LSD, while blood and rumen fermentation parameters were analyzed using a 3 × 3 LSD with repeated measures. Steers supplemented with UB tended (P < 0.07) to consume more DM and organic matter (OM) than those supplemented with UBN; however, animals supplemented with UBN tended (P = 0.051) to digest more acid detergent fiber in the total tract. Steers supplemented with U and UB showed greater (P < 0.05) DM and OM flow throughout the omasum than those with UBN. Microbial N flow, microbial efficiency, and the concentration of total volatile fatty acids were not different (P > 0.10) among NPN-supplemented treatments. Steers supplemented with UBN showed lesser (P < 0.05) concentration of ammonia than those with U and UB. In conclusion, novel NPN mixtures have the potential to modify ruminal fermentation without affecting microbial protein outflow.},
}
@article {pmid40850636,
year = {2025},
author = {Płoszka, Z and Nowak, KH and Tischer, M and Michalik, A and Kolasa, MR and Łukasik, P},
title = {Dissecting multitrophic interactions: The relationships among Entomophthora, their dipteran hosts, and associated bacteria.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108425},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108425},
pmid = {40850636},
issn = {1096-0805},
abstract = {Interactions with microorganisms across the parasite-mutualist continuum shape the biology of insects at all levels - from individual traits to populations to communities. However, the understanding of pathogens infecting non-model insect species in natural ecosystems, or their interactions with other insect-associated microorganisms, is fragmentary. Here, we tested a conceptually novel approach - the simultaneous sequencing of insect, fungal, and bacterial marker gene amplicons - as a means of dissecting interactions among entomopathogenic fungi in the genus Entomophthora and their dipteran hosts in South Greenland. We aimed to describe the taxonomic diversity of Entomophthora, their dipteran hosts, and the bacterial diversity within a set of field-collected dead insects exhibiting signs of Entomophthora infection. Across nine collected dipteran species, we identified multiple Entomophthora genotypes, with strong but not perfect patterns of host-specificity across the five targeted marker regions. Additionally, we found consistent differences in bacterial community composition among fungus-killed fly species and sampling sites. Our results substantially expand the knowledge of Entomopthora diversity and host associations while providing the very first insights into associated bacteria and their potential roles. We also conclude that multi-target amplicon sequencing can be a powerful tool for addressing broad questions about biological interactions in diverse natural communities.},
}
@article {pmid40850578,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, C and Li, A and Ji, B},
title = {Stirring speed optimization for improved microalgal-bacterial granular sludge morphology and performance in complex organic wastewater treatment.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {133187},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133187},
pmid = {40850578},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {This study investigated the morphology regulation and pollutant removal performance of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) under different organic carbon conditions, specifically comparing simple and complex organics. Results showed that MBGS proliferated faster due to filamentous cyanobacteria dominance in conditions of complex organics, requiring higher stirring speeds (300 rpm, 0.128 Pa) to inhibit excessive growth and maintain stability. Optimizing the stirring speed improved granule morphology in the complex group, reducing size and increasing density, which significantly enhanced pollutant removal efficiencies to 90.2 % for chemical oxygen demand, 86.2 % for total nitrogen, and 82.9 % for total phosphorus. Microbial community analysis further revealed that dominant phyla (Bacteroidota, Planctomycetota, Actinobacteriota) contributed significantly to the abundance of key carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus metabolic genes (mqo, GLT1, ppk) under complex organic conditions. This study highlights the need for higher stirring speed to regulate MBGS in complex wastewater, providing practical strategies for optimizing treatment performance.},
}
@article {pmid40850424,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, T and Lv, J and Bian, B and Wu, Q and Zhou, L and Zhang, S and Song, W and Li, X and Tian, H and Cheng, K and Shi, L},
title = {Postbiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri cultured with Polygonatum kingianum polysaccharides ameliorates high-fat-high-sugar-deteriorated colitis and associated hepatobiliary disorders.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {147065},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.147065},
pmid = {40850424},
issn = {1879-0003},
abstract = {Unhealthy diet exacerbates inflammatory bowel disease and its associated hepatic disruptions. The present study demonstrated the superior efficacy of the heat-inactivated Limosilactobacillus reuteri WX-94 (L. reuteri), cultured with Polygonatum kingianum polysaccharides (PKP postbiotic) in ameliorating a high-fat-high-sugar (HFHS)- deteriorated colitis in rats, which outperforming PKP alone, its symbiotic form, and inactivated L. reuteri cultured without PKP. HFHS deteriorated liver functions in rats following a DSS administration, which were reversed by PKP postbiotic. PKP postbiotic exclusively enriched Prevotella and Lactobacillus while decreasing Escherichia.coil, along with the elevation in fecal short-chain fatty acids, serum bile acids (e.g., taurocholic acid, taurallocholic acid and tauroursocholic acid), indole derivatives (e.g., indolepropionic acid, indoleacetic acid, indolelactic acid) and phospholipids. Mechanistically, PKP postbiotic suppressed colonic inflammation and hepatobiliary disorders through regulating tryptophan catabolism-activated AHR/IL-22 signaling and bile acids-activated TLR4/NFκB/NLRP3 signaling. Furthermore, we utilized human data sourced from Gene Expression Omnibus databases to confirm the involvement of key pathways regulated by PKP postbiotic in the colitis pathogenesis. Mendelian randomization-derived causal associations were observed between PKP postbiotic-elevated indole lactic acid with both colitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Our study presents compelling evidence of a novel property of PKP that augments the health-promoting benefits of inactivated L. reuteri.},
}
@article {pmid40849563,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Z and Yu, S and Du, X and Yan, X and Xin, Y},
title = {Role of branched chain amino acid metabolism on aging.},
journal = {Biogerontology},
volume = {26},
number = {5},
pages = {169},
pmid = {40849563},
issn = {1573-6768},
support = {7244324//Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality/ ; 82400402//NSFC/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/metabolism ; *Aging/metabolism ; Animals ; Homeostasis ; Longevity/physiology ; },
abstract = {Aging is a complex biochemical phenomenon that considerably impacts both individual health and societal dynamics. Recent researches have emphasized the essential function of metabolism in the processes of aging and longevity. Metabolites-chemical byproducts produced by the host organism and its symbiotic partners, including the microbiota, are generated through numerous metabolic pathways. In the last fifteen years, major progress has been made in elucidating the metabolism of BCAAs and the detailed molecular mechanisms that connect BCAAs homeostasis to the aging process. The growing body of literature presents a comprehensive view of the tissue- and disease-specific regulatory mechanisms governing BCAAs and their activation of various molecular pathways. These pathways link fluctuations in BCAA levels to the onset and progression of age-related diseases. This review seeks to consolidate current knowledge on the factors influencing BCAA levels and their metabolic pathways. It further aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking dysregulated BCAA homeostasis to age-related diseases, evaluate epidemiological evidence correlating BCAAs with various cardiovascular conditions, and identify gaps in current understanding that warrant further investigation.},
}
@article {pmid40849284,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, Y and Chu, J and Dong, S and Song, W and Xu, C},
title = {Sugar codes for plant fitness: arabinosylation in small peptide signaling.},
journal = {Trends in plant science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.011},
pmid = {40849284},
issn = {1878-4372},
abstract = {Arabinosylation, a critical post-translational modification (PTM) ubiquitous in plants, has received insufficient scientific attention relative to its biological significance. While small secreted peptides (SSPs) are crucial signaling molecules that orchestrate plant growth, stress adaptation, and host-microbe communication, emerging evidence positions arabinosylation as a key regulatory mechanism modulating SSP functionality. In this review we synthesize current knowledge on arabinosylated SSPs, emphasizing their regulatory roles in developmental programming and reprogramming, stress resilience, and symbiotic interactions. We discuss biochemical mechanisms through which arabinosylation enhances peptide biological activity or stability, including receptor interaction modulation, structural stabilization, and proteolytic resistance. We also evaluate future opportunities for leveraging arabinosylation engineering in developing climate-smart crops through targeted arabinosylated SSPs.},
}
@article {pmid40845095,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, H and Xu, S and Jangir, Y and Wegener, G and Orphan, VJ and El-Naggar, MY},
title = {Redox conduction facilitates direct interspecies electron transport in anaerobic methanotrophic consortia.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {11},
number = {34},
pages = {eadw4289},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adw4289},
pmid = {40845095},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {Electron Transport ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Methane/metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; *Archaea/metabolism ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; *Microbial Consortia ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) form syntrophic partnerships in marine sediments to consume greenhouse gas methane. While direct interspecies electron transport is proposed to enable ANME/SRB symbiosis, its electrochemical properties remain uncharacterized. Here, using sediment-free enrichment cultures, we measured the electron transport capabilities of marine consortia under physiological conditions. Diverse ANME/SRB consortia exhibited high dry conductance close to electrogenic biofilms. This conductance diminished upon exposure to heat or oxygen but was preserved following paraformaldehyde fixation, indicating a biomolecular origin for this electric charge transfer. Cyclic voltammetry revealed redox activity centered at 28 ± 11, 94 ± 6, and 24 ± 7 millivolts for ANME-1/Desulfofervidus, ANME-2a/Seep-SRB1, and ANME-2a+2c/Seep-SRB1+2 consortia, respectively. Generator-collector measurements further demonstrated that these redox components facilitate electron transport over micrometer-scale distances, sufficient to link archaeal and bacterial partners. Collectively, our results establish that marine ANME/SRB symbiosis uses redox conduction, consistent with multiheme cytochrome c, for direct interspecies electron transport.},
}
@article {pmid40844740,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, J and Zhang, X and Tan, Z and Jiao, J and Zhou, C},
title = {Microbiome-host co-oscillation patterns in shaping ruminal ecosystem from birth to puberty in a goat model.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40844740},
issn = {1869-1889},
abstract = {The maturation of the gastrointestinal tract and its interconnected microbial consortia in various ruminant species is essential for their survival and productivity, as this symbiotic group plays a key role in metabolizing phyto-derived feeds into bioavailable nutrients. The rumen mucosa serves as a crucial conduit for complex host-microbiota interplay, while scarce knowledge is available regarding their co-oscillation patterns from birth to puberty. Here, we characterized th overall interaction of five age groups, from 1-day-old to 90-day-old goats. The findings indicated that the composition of the mucosa-attached microbiota underwent significant changes, with Mannheimia, Porphyromonas and Streptococcus taking the lead as the dominant genera at day 1, Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus amylovorus dominated at day 10, and a mature microbiota characterized by Succiniclasticum ruminis, Ruminococcus albus, Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens, and Fibrobacter succinogenes until day 90. Additionally, the rumen mucosa underwent a three-phase temporal shift during early life, from digestive system to immune development, and finally to nutrient metabolism. Furthermore, the integration of mucosal microbiome and host gene expression profiles uncovered a phase-specific interaction between the microbial community and host epithelium, with the early phase emphasizing digestive and immune development and the later phase focusing on enhanced nutrient metabolism. Collectively, microbiome-host co-oscillation in the rumen mucosa shaped the ruminal ecosystem during early life.},
}
@article {pmid40843366,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, JY and Tang, RN and Wang, JW and Chen, WY and Liu, X and Wang, JW and Li, MY and Jiang, FS},
title = {Gymnadenia conopsea orchid: a systematic review.},
journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1595714},
pmid = {40843366},
issn = {1663-9812},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br., a medicinally significant orchid used for millennia in China, is systematically reviewed regarding its botany, resources, ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and propagation strategies to advance therapeutic utilization and conservation.<br><br>METHODS: Using keywords such as "G. conopsea," "phytochemistry," "propagation and breeding," "bioactive compounds," "immunomodulatory effects," and "neuroprotective potential," we systematically searched literature related to G. conopsea plants from databases including Web of Science, SciFinder, PubMed, ACS Publications, CNKI, Wanfang Data, Google Scholar, and Baidu Scholar.<br><br>RESULTS: A total of 1,074 papers were retrieved and 133 full-text articles were ultimately selected and comprehensively reviewed. Up to now, over 203 metabolites have been identified in the tubers of G. conopsea, including benzyl ester glucosides, stilbenoids, phenanthrenes, phenolic derivatives, alkaloids and polysaccharides. Pharmacological studies validate its multi-target therapeutic potential across tonification, anti-fatigue interventions, oxidative stress mitigation, antiviral defense, and management of gastric ulcers and silicosis. Despite extensive research on the pharmacological properties of crude extracts, the relationship between specific bioactive compounds and their corresponding pharmacological activities, particularly in vivo, remains poorly understood. Critically, overexploitation and habitat degradation have led to its classification as an endangered species. Current propagation efforts face significant challenges, including low natural germination rates, and dependence on specific habitats and obligate mycorrhizal fungi, precluding the development of efficient large-scale cultivation and seedling production systems.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Marked progress has been made in characterizing small-molecule metabolites of G. conopsea, yet comprehensive structural elucidation of polysaccharides remains incomplete. Additionally, research must be intensified on synergistic interactions of bioactive constituents, molecular targets, mechanisms of action, and in vivo metabolic pathways to facilitate development of a quality standard system. For propagation, wild-simulated cultivation should be adopted for resource conservation, while optimizing symbiotic germination techniques is critical to overcome propagation bottlenecks, ultimately enabling sustainable utilization.},
}
@article {pmid40842834,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, R and Ying, Z and Yang, Y and Zhang, C and Zhou, W and Zhang, Z and Ding, H and Zhou, Y and Zhang, C},
title = {Changes of intestinal microbiota and liver metabolomics in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) before and after rice flowering in rice-fish symbiosis farmed mode.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1617168},
pmid = {40842834},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The rice-fish symbiosis farming model (RFFM) has been shown to enhance gut microbial diversity and improve immunity in fish. To examine changes in gut microbiota and hepatic metabolism in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) during different rice growth stages, we analyzed samples collected from the pre-flowering (Group P) and after-flowering (Group A) phases. Gut microbiota composition was assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing, with data analyzed using Principal component analysis (PCA), while hepatic metabolic profiles were characterized through untargeted metabolomics using XCMS and metaX for data processing. Our results revealed a significant increase in gut microbial diversity in Group A. Notably, the relative abundances of Pseudomonas and Cetobacterium were significantly lower in Group A compared to Group P, whereas Brevundimonas, Oxyphotobacteria_unclassified, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 were more abundant in Group A. Hepatic metabolic profiles also differed between the two groups, with amino acid metabolism and related pathways being upregulated, while lipid metabolism and associated pathways were downregulated in Group A. Correlation analysis using SPSS suggested that Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, a dominant bacterial group, played a key role in mediating hepatic metabolic changes under the RFFM. These findings indicate that rice flowering in the rice-fish symbiosis system positively influences gut microbiota composition and hepatic metabolism in yellow catfish. Furthermore, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 may have potential as a probiotic for improving fish health in this integrated farming system.},
}
@article {pmid40842833,
year = {2025},
author = {Doni, F and Chen, J and Satyan, KB},
title = {Editorial: Advances in beneficial and pathogenic plant-microbe interactions in cereal crops.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1663889},
pmid = {40842833},
issn = {1664-302X},
}
@article {pmid40842674,
year = {2025},
author = {Réblová, M and Nekvindová, J and Hynar, O and Vohník, M},
title = {From seagrass roots to saline soils: discovery of two new genera in Lulworthiales (Sordariomycetes) from osmotically stressed habitats.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e157688},
pmid = {40842674},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {As part of an ongoing study of marine fungi associated with seagrasses, we discovered a novel root-fungus symbiosis in the Indo-Pacific species Thalassodendronciliatum from Mauritius. Culturing its mycobionts yielded dozens of morphologically and genetically uniform isolates, all representing a previously unknown fungus. A second undescribed fungus was isolated from saline soils in Czechia. Phylogenetic analyses based on three rDNA markers confirmed both taxa as distinct, hitherto unknown lineages within the Lulworthiales, which are introduced here as Thalassodendromycespurpureus gen. et sp. nov. and Halomyrmapluriseptata gen. et sp. nov., respectively. Both species developed characteristic structures under culture conditions that enabled their morphological characterisation: T.purpureus forms distinctive clusters of dark brown monilioid hyphae, while H.pluriseptata is characterised by holoblastic conidiogenesis and solitary, dark brown, multicellular conidia. Thalassodendromyces clustered in a strongly supported clade with Spathulospora, a parasitic genus of the red macroalga Ballia, while the closest relatives of Halomyrma were identified as the asexual genera Halazoon and Halophilomyces (nom. inval. Art. 40.7). An analysis of published metabarcoding ITS rDNA data from environmental samples in the GlobalFungi database indicated that H.pluriseptata is widely distributed across temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The species exhibits a strong preference for aquatic biomes, particularly marine and estuarine, with a few records in terrestrial ecosystems. In contrast, no record of T.purpureus was retrieved from GlobalFungi, suggesting narrower ecological specialisation, a close association with its seagrass host, and/or a restricted geographical range. Our findings expand the ecological and phylogenetic scope of the Lulworthiales, bridging marine and terrestrial fungal communities, and highlight seagrass roots as an important source of novel symbiotic marine fungi. Recent discoveries of the Lulworthiales in saline inland soils challenge their marine exclusivity and raise important questions about their ecological plasticity, dispersal mechanisms, and adaptive strategies. In light of current observations, we discuss the taxonomic challenges of the Spathulosporales and the lulworthialean fungi, integrating molecular and morphological perspectives. We address the importance of combining morphological and molecular approaches to accurately delineate new fungal taxa, as well as the value of environmental DNA metabarcoding for uncovering cryptic fungal diversity and enhancing our understanding of fungal distribution and ecological functions.},
}
@article {pmid40842040,
year = {2025},
author = {Prioux, C and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Lamarca, T and Allemand, D and Tignat-Perrier, R},
title = {Heatwave-driven persistent microbes threaten the resilience of Mediterranean coral holobionts.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {107},
pmid = {40842040},
issn = {2524-6372},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The climate crisis poses a serious threat to octocorals in the Mediterranean Sea as marine heatwaves (MHWs) not only impair coral metabolism but also disrupt the complex symbiosis between the coral host and its microbiome. Since octocorals are the foundation species of the Mediterranean animal forests, understanding their resilience, i.e. ability to recover and survive to MHWs, is crucial to predict their viability under future climatic conditions. Using amplification of 16 S and 18 S rRNA genes for metabarcoding and qPCR analyses to follow the changes in bacterial microbiome and eukaryome as well as host response under stress and recovery conditions, this study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the resilience of an iconic Mediterranean octocoral (the red coral Corallium rubrum) to a mild (19 °C) and more severe (23 °C) heat stress.<br><br>RESULTS: The results of this work indicate a stress response of the host to elevated temperatures, even under mild temperature. The eukaryome was highly sensitive to heat stress and underwent rapid structural changes among the dominant microeukaryotes. In contrast, the relative and absolute abundance of the major bacterial symbionts remained stable throughout the stress. However, heat stress led to a significant increase in the abundance of some taxa such as Vibrionaceae that persisted after a week of recovery.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: While the host recovered from the stress, and the microbiome largely returned to its original composition during recovery, the results highlight the persistent presence of some taxa that might compromise the short-term resilience of octocoral holobionts. This study provides new information on how octocoral holobionts respond to MHWs in the Mediterranean Sea. This knowledge is crucial for the development of effective, science-based strategies for coral protection and restauration.},
}
@article {pmid40841061,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Wang, S and Zhuang, LL and Liu, S and Su, Y and Hu, Z and Wang, X and Cui, S and Peng, G},
title = {The growth-promoting effect and mechanism of microalgae on plants in PAHs contaminated soil.},
journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)},
volume = {158},
number = {},
pages = {883-894},
doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2025.02.007},
pmid = {40841061},
issn = {1001-0742},
mesh = {*Soil Pollutants/metabolism/analysis ; *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/metabolism/analysis ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Microalgae/physiology ; *Triticum/growth &amp; development ; Chlorella vulgaris ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Microalgae can effectively degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water. However, the remediation mechanism of microalgae in PAH-contaminated soil remains unclear. In this study, the growth-promoting effects of wheat by Chlorella vulgaris in PAH-contaminated soil were studied. Structural changes in the rhizosphere bacterial community and the bacterial metabolism were further explored. It revealed that the addition of C. vulgaris promoted wheat's dry weight and height by 10.22 % and 122.15 %, respectively. One explanation was the degradation and transformation of PAHs by C. vulgaris, which relieved the inhibitory effect on wheat growth. Compared with the blank control group, C. vulgaris addition enhanced the degradation efficiencies of phenanthrene (Phe) and pyrene (Pry) by 4.81 % and 8.34 %, respectively (with the initial concentrations in soil of 1.03 × 10[4] and 2.21 × 10[4] µg/g, respectively). The binding state of Phe and Pyr changed to a free state, which facilitated microbial degradation. The Phe and Pyr contents in wheat decreased by 22.23 % and 18.54 %, respectively. The presence of C. vulgaris increased the abundance of Sphingosinomonas bacteria capable of degrading PAHs by 95.24 %. Enzyme activities related to the transport, oxidation, and dehydrogenation of PAHs in the bacterial community also increased. This study demonstrated C. vulgaris' multiple pathways for remediating PAH-polluted soil, including PAH degradation, nutrient and hormone release, and bacterial community adjustment. In conclusion, C. vulgaris addition enhanced the algae-bacteria symbiosis, which was of great significance for the removal of PAHs from the soil and the promotion of plant growth.},
}
@article {pmid40840251,
year = {2025},
author = {Gui, L and Wang, S and Chen, L and Dou, Y and Fan, Y and Huang, S and Wu, T and Tian, X},
title = {Crumpled polyethyleneimine nanofiltration membranes regulated by thermocapillary effect for efficient magnesium-lithium separation.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {287},
number = {Pt A},
pages = {124352},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.124352},
pmid = {40840251},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {The advancement of lithium (Li) extraction from brines is crucial for boosting Li production capacity and meeting the growing demands of emerging energy markets. However, the presence of symbiotic ions, particularly magnesium ions (Mg[2+]), poses significant challenges. Although conventional nanofiltration (NF) membranes have demonstrated considerable potential in magnesium-lithium (Mg[2+]/Li[+]) separation, they often face the inherent trade-off between membrane permeance and salt rejection. In this study, NF membranes with desirable ridge-like structures were fabricated via temperature-gradient-assisted interfacial polymerization. Notably, under the action of thermocapillary effect, the surface morphology of the membranes can be precisely controlled by adjusting the amount of residual aqueous film on the substrate. The separation performances revealed that the unique microscale hollow ridges provided a larger effective filtration area, leading to a substantial improvement in membrane permeance. Compared to conventional polyethyleneimine-based NF membranes, the optimized membrane exhibited a threefold increase in permeance (17.6 L·m[-2]·h[-1]·bar[-1]) while exhibiting a higher Mg[2+] rejection rate (97.6 %) and exceptional Mg[2+]/Li[+] selectivity (SLi[+]/Mg[2+] = 32.2). Additionally, the membrane demonstrated excellent long-term operational and storage stability. These crumpled membranes displayed advantages such as ease of production and high separation efficiency, making them highly promising for practical applications in Mg[2+]/Li[+] separation.},
}
@article {pmid40839311,
year = {2025},
author = {Majhi, P and Prajapati, N and Pradhan, U and Das, SN and Shukla, AK},
title = {Sustainable stress management in crops: unlocking the potential of rhizospheric microbes.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {207},
number = {10},
pages = {233},
pmid = {40839311},
issn = {1432-072X},
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; Fungi ; Bacteria ; },
abstract = {Biotic and abiotic stresses pose significant challenges to global agricultural productivity by adversely affecting soil health, plant vitality, and crop yields. These stresses can lead to economic crises, highlighting the urgent need for cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solutions to mitigate their negative impacts. Traditionally, agrochemicals such as pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, and herbicides have been extensively and often improperly used to protect plants and enhance crop productivity. However, this over-reliance has harmed ecosystems and human health. In response to these challenges, plants have evolved symbiotic relationships with microbes as a natural defense mechanism. Increasingly, attention is being directed toward rhizospheric microbiomes like Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Pantoea sp., Rhizobium sp., Trichoderma sp., Piriformospora sp., Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., etc. for their potential to manage pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and herbivores responsible for biotic stress and abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, high temperature, and metal toxicity in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. Validating these microbial interactions through experimental research is essential to understand their effects on rhizosphere biodiversity, soil heath status, plant growth and crop productivity. This review examines the role of rhizospheric microbes in protecting plants against biotic and abiotic stresses through plant-microbiota symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40839117,
year = {2025},
author = {Oravecz, O and Xie, Y and Balogh, A and Posta, M and Harms, C and Farkas, E and Borowski, S and Szekeres-Barthó, J and Than, NG and Blois, SM},
title = {Maternal and placental galectins: key players in the feto-maternal symbiotic tango.},
journal = {Seminars in immunopathology},
volume = {47},
number = {1},
pages = {35},
pmid = {40839117},
issn = {1863-2300},
mesh = {Humans ; Pregnancy ; *Galectins/metabolism/genetics ; Female ; *Placenta/metabolism/immunology ; Animals ; *Maternal-Fetal Exchange/immunology ; Placentation/immunology ; Immune Tolerance ; },
abstract = {Galectins, a family of β-galactoside-binding proteins, are critical in regulating feto-maternal interactions during pregnancy. Their evolutionary trajectory is reflected in their expression patterns and diverse functions in embryo implantation, trophoblast invasion, and maternal immune and vascular adaptation, contributing to healthy placentation and uncomplicated pregnancy. Galectin-1 (gal-1), one of the most ancient galectins, plays a pivotal role in feto-maternal immune regulation, acting predominantly from the maternal side to promote immune tolerance, a function integrated early in placental mammalian evolution. In contrast, anthropoid primates introduced a unique set of fetal (placental) galectins (gal-13, gal-14, and gal-16) through birth-and-death evolution, with these genes localized on human chromosome 19. Notably, these primate species have evolved varying degrees of deep placentation, with humans exhibiting the deepest, which facilitates enhanced nutrient delivery to the fetus, particularly for brain development. Placental galectins have been implicated in the evolution of immune tolerance mechanisms that support deep placentation. During pregnancy, reduced expression of maternal galectins (e.g., gal-1) and placental galectins (e.g., gal-13) has been associated with severe obstetric complications, signaling disruptions in feto-maternal tolerance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of gal-1, gal-13, gal-14, and gal-16, highlighting their shared and unique roles in maternal and placental immune regulation and placental development. Additionally, the review explores the potential of maternal versus placental galectins as biomarkers and therapeutic targets to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies for adverse pregnancy outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40837223,
year = {2025},
author = {Tang, HM and Zhang, QL and Qiao, X and Dai, MW and Yuan, YS and Tang, XM and Yang, WJ and Jing, R and Li, XC and Zhang, Q and Yan, X and Ma, YC and Huang, YB and Zhou, LX and Long, J and Peng, NN and Cai, CH and Meng, JH and Luo, KJ},
title = {Innexin DNA-binding domains regulate Microplitis bicoloratus bracoviral transcription in symbiotic wasps.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {9},
pages = {113276},
pmid = {40837223},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Bracoviruses have two hosts: symbiotic wasps and infected hosts. Although symbiotic wasps and infected Spodoptera litura larva host bracoviruses, mature virions form only in the wasps after the integrated Microplitis bicoloratus bracovirus (MbBV) proviral genome replicates. However, the associated mechanisms of transcription regulation have not been characterized. Here, we found that innexins (Inxs) of the Microplitis bicoloratus wasp (Mb-Inx1 and Mb-Inx2) contain DNA-binding domains that directly bind to, and regulate transcription promoters of the viral envelope genes MbBVp74 and MbBVe56-1. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that Mb-Inx1 and Mb-Inx2 RNA interference cause abnormal bracoviral virion formation. This led to inhibited virion assembly in wasp ovaries and downregulated envelope genes that are analogous to baculovirus proteins. The ectopic expression of Mb-Inx1 and Mb-Inx2 in the Bac-to-Bac Baculovirus expression system promoted nuclear polyhedra formation. We propose that unique bracoviral transcription strategies regulated by wasp Inx proteins govern virus-wasp interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40837070,
year = {2025},
author = {Bunch, KM and Greeneway, GP and Ansari, DS and Patel, C and Nottmeier, EW and Madhavan, KHS and Pirris, SM and Sama, AA and Brooks, NP},
title = {The symbiosis of robotics, enabling technology and minimally invasive surgery.},
journal = {North American Spine Society journal},
volume = {23},
number = {},
pages = {100769},
pmid = {40837070},
issn = {2666-5484},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Procedural and technical advances in spinal surgery, such as the utilization of minimally-invasive techniques, have evolved alongside the development and distribution of tools such as navigation, robotics, augmented reality (AR), dynamic visualization, and preoperative planning modules. Each innovative advancement in a surgeon's ability to see, measure, and manipulate human tissue entails an improvement or novel application of existing tools. Similarly, given the enormous economic and opportunity costs associated with the research and development of novel technologies, these efforts must be refined to address existing needs and infrastructure gaps. The successful application of enabling technologies such as robotics, navigation, and minimally-invasive techniques, is therefore dependent upon the expansion of new surgical tools and techniques.<br><br>METHODS: We review numerous technological advances (Navigation, Intraoperative Imaging, Robotics, Augmented Reality, Computational Planning and Visualization) within the field of spine surgery and demonstrate their mutually beneficial, yet dependent, relationship with one another in advancing spine surgery technology through both expert opinion and published literature.<br><br>RESULTS: We provide an overview of several different domains of enabling technology as they pertain to novel applications in spinal surgery and review current uses, limitations, and areas of potential improvement.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The integration of augmented reality, robotics, visualization and navigational technologies, minimally invasive techniques, and other advanced tools have enabled the surgeon to perform both standard and novel procedures in unique ways.},
}
@article {pmid40836244,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, LC and Wei, SC and Li, YH and Huang, CY and Pai, YC and Hung, YM and Lai, LC and Ni, YH},
title = {Phenotypic characterization and complete genome of a tumorigenic pathobiont Escherichia coli LI60C3.},
journal = {Gut pathogens},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {63},
pmid = {40836244},
issn = {1757-4749},
support = {NHRI-EX111/112/113-11108BI//National Health Research Institute, Taiwan/ ; NHRI-EX111/112/113-11108BI//National Health Research Institute, Taiwan/ ; NHRI-EX111/112/113-11108BI//National Health Research Institute, Taiwan/ ; NHRI-EX111/112/113-11108BI//National Health Research Institute, Taiwan/ ; NSTC 113-2320-B002-062-MY3, MoST 110-2320-B-002-011-MY3//National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic microbes benefit the host, but the emergence of pathobionts leads to disease. An invasive Escherichia coli LI60C3, isolated from mouse colonocytes, shows colitogenic and tumorigenic properties. Despite extensive research on the role of microbiota in colorectal cancer (CRC) development, the genetic markers associated with this pathobiont remain elusive. The objective is to characterize the tumorigenic E. coli through whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic assays, and validate their presence in human CRC.<br><br>METHODS: The intracellular bacterial counts and proliferation rates of human intestinal epithelial cells were evaluated after exposure to various E. coli strains. Tumor burden was assessed in mice orally administered LI60C3. WGS of LI60C3 was performed on a PacBio Sequel II platform, and the long reads were assembled de novo for gene annotation and detection of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. Bacteria-specific genes were assessed in CRC specimens by qPCR analysis.<br><br>RESULTS: A 100-fold increase in intracellular bacterial count was observed in epithelial cells exposed to LI60C3 compared to commensal E. coli strains. LI60C3 resulted in a threefold increase in epithelial cell cycle rate and a fourfold rise in mouse tumor numbers. WGS revealed a circular chromosome of 4,863,930 bases for LI60C3, demonstrating a high sequence homology to adherent-invasive E. coli LF82 (91%) and NC101 (87%) and to uropathogenic E. coli 536 (88%). Two extrachromosomal plasmids, pTra and pCoMb, were identified. While pTra exhibits sequence homology with other commensal E. coli plasmids, pCoMb has partial matches with those found in pathogenic bacteria. LI60C3 is classified as phylogroup B2 and expresses virulence factors, including Type 1 and P fimbriae, contact-dependent growth inhibition system, iron acquisition system, and hemolysin. Unique gene clusters, named Epm and Phz islands, were identified in the LI60C3 genome. The emergence of LI60C3-specific genes was observed in mouse tumors induced by chemicals and gene mutation, and higher levels of LI60C3 markers were validated in human CRC specimens compared with healthy mucosal samples.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Genetic signatures of LI60C3 were detected in mouse and human CRC. The comparative genome analysis for LI60C3 helps identify pathobionts and may be used as cancer predictors.},
}
@article {pmid40836206,
year = {2025},
author = {Xiong, Q and Zheng, L and Zhang, Q and Li, T and Zheng, L and Song, L},
title = {Comparative genomic insights into ecological adaptations and evolutionary dynamics of Trebouxiophyceae algae.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {764},
pmid = {40836206},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {Grant No.2021xjkk0600//Supported by the Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition Program/ ; },
mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Genomics/methods ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Chlorophyta/genetics/classification ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Trebouxiophyceae is a diverse and species-rich class within the Chlorophyta, exhibiting a wide array of lineages and remarkable variations in morphology and ecology. This group encompasses various lifestyles, including photobionts in symbiotic relationships, free-living forms, and parasitic heterotrophs lacking photosynthetic capacity. Trebouxiophycean algae have attracted considerable scientific interest due to their fundamental biological significance and their promising applications in biotechnology. This study presents a comprehensive genomic analysis of six newly sequenced strains of Trebouxiophyceae, expanding upon a foundation of 25 previously reported high-quality genomes to conduct comparative genomics and evolutionary assessments.<br><br>RESULTS: Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on 18&#xa0;S rDNA and single-copy orthologues confirmed the accurate identification of species. The analyzed strains exhibited variable genome sizes ranging from 2.37&#xa0;Mb to 106.45&#xa0;Mb, with GC content varying between 46.19% and 67.20%, and repeat content ranging from 1.67 to 19.73%. Gene family expansion and contraction analyses revealed that the subaerial species Apatococcus exhibited the most extensive expansions, while Picochlorum, along with the ancestors of the parasitic genera (Auxenochlorella, Helicosporidium, and Prototheca) experienced pronounced contractions. Evolutionary analyses using the branch model and branch-site model in PAML indicated that genera with the most marked gene family expansion and contraction also contained orthogroups undergoing positive selection and rapid evolution. Comparative assessments of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), nitrogen transport and assimilation proteins, hexose-proton symporter-like genes (HUP1, HUP2, and HUP3), and C4-related enzymes across 31 Trebouxiophyceae genomes revealed further patterns of adaptation. Coccomyxa was the only genus containing all the ten types of BGCs, while most other genera exhibited relatively fewer BGCs. The nitrate transporter and the urea active transporter were both absent in the three parasitic genera, and urease, the urease accessory proteins and arginase were nearly universally missing in all the species. All the species possessed the HUP1, HUP2, and HUP3 genes, except that HUP2 was absent in Prototheca and Picochlorum, and the relative abundances of the three genes varied among genera. The NAD-ME, and PCK subtypes of C4-related genes were widely distributed in all the samples, while the malate dehydrogenase (NADP+) was identified only in the four freshwater strains belonging to Chlorella and Coccomyxa.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Expanded gene families, along with the rapid evolution and positive selection genes, likely played important roles in environmental adaption across terrestrial and marine habitat. Conversely, genome streamlining due to widespread gene families likely contributed to the parasitic heterotrophic lifestyles. Additionally, the distribution of BGCs, nitrogen transport proteins and HUP-like genes, and the types of C4-related enzymes perhaps highlighted the potential of Trebouxiophyceae to adapt to complex and varied environmental conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40835991,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, M and Yuan, T and Jiang, L and Zhou, G and Huang, H},
title = {Acclimation mechanisms of reef-building coral Acropora gemmifera juveniles to long-term CO2-driven ocean acidification.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {30655},
pmid = {40835991},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {2018A0303130173//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China/ ; 2023B1212060047//Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China/ ; 2021YFC3100500//National Key Research and Development Project of China/ ; U23A2035//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Ocean acidification (OA) is a major threat to the sexual recruitment of reef-building corals. Acclimation mechanisms are critical but poorly understood in reef-building corals to OA during early life stages. Here, Acropora gemmifera, a common Indo-Pacific coral cultured in in situ seawater from Luhuitou reef at three levels of pCO2 (pH 8.14, 7.83, 7.54), showed significantly delayed larval metamorphosis and juvenile growth, but adapted to long-term high pCO2. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) emerged as a time- and dose-dependent mode of short-term response (3 days post settlement, d p.s.) and long-term acclimation (40 d p.s.), with more DEGs responding to high pCO2 (pH 7.54) than to medium pCO2 (pH 7.83). High pCO2, a presumed threatening seawater baseline for A. gemmifera juveniles, activated DNA repair, macroautophagy, microautophagy and mitophagy mechanisms to maintain cellular homeostasis, recycle cytosolic proteins and damaged organelles, and scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and H[+], but at the cost of delayed development through cell cycle arrest associated with epigenetic and genetic regulation at 3 d p.s.. However, A.gemmifera juveniles acclimated to high pCO2 by up-regulating cell cycle, transcription, translation, cell proliferation, cell-extracellular matrix, cell adhesion, cell communication, signal transduction, transport, binding, Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, development and calcification from 3 d p.s. to 40 d p.s., when energy reallocation and metabolic suppression occurred for high demand but short-term energy limitation in coral cells undergoing flexible symbiosis. All results indicate that acclimation mechanisms of complicated gene expression improve larval and juvenile resilience to OA for coral population recovery and reef restoration.},
}
@article {pmid40834857,
year = {2025},
author = {Teyssendier de la Serve, J and Gautrat, P and Laffont, C and Lesterps, Z and Huault, E and Guerard, F and San Clemente, H and Aguilar, M and Bensmihen, S and Gakière, B and Frei-Dit-Frey, N and Frugier, F},
title = {The sTDIF signaling peptide modulates the root stele diameter and primary metabolism to accommodate symbiotic nodulation.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.07.056},
pmid = {40834857},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Legume plants form specific organs on their root system, the nitrogen-fixing nodules, thanks to a symbiotic interaction with soil bacteria collectively named rhizobia. Rhizobia, however, do not only induce the formation of these nodule organs but also modulate root system architecture. We identified in Medicago truncatula a previously unnoticed increase in the root stele diameter occurring upon rhizobium inoculation. This symbiotic root response, similarly observed in another crop legume, pea, occurs rapidly and locally after rhizobium inoculation, leading to an increased number of vascular cells. Interestingly, this root stele diameter symbiotic response requires tracheary element differentiation inhibitory factor (TDIF) signaling peptides and, notably, the MtCLE37 TDIF-encoding gene whose expression is increased during nodulation, thus being referred to as symbiotic nodulation TDIF (sTDIF). Indeed, a cle37/stdif mutant is not responsive to rhizobium regarding its root stele diameter increase and has a reduced nodule number. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that stdif has a defective primary metabolism, notably affecting carbohydrate/sugar accumulation in both roots and nodules. Remarkably, a sucrose or a malate exogenous treatment is able to rescue the rhizobium-induced stele diameter symbiotic response in stdif. This metabolic deregulation is thus instrumental in explaining the altered symbiotic response of the mutant. Overall, this study highlights a novel function of TDIF signaling peptides in legumes plants, which, beyond regulating stele development, also modulates the root primary metabolism adaptations required for symbiotic nodule development.},
}
@article {pmid40834321,
year = {2025},
author = {Busenitz, K and Lundgren, JG},
title = {No effects of human-grade probiotics on Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) health metrics.},
journal = {Journal of economic entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jee/toaf210},
pmid = {40834321},
issn = {1938-291X},
abstract = {Dietary-administered probiotics may address poor health and performance in honey bees (Apis mellifera L. [Hymenoptera: Apidae]). Human-grade probiotics are an affordable source of general probiotics. We examined the effects of human-grade probiotics by comparing colony and individual level health and performance between colonies administered a probiotic every other week, and those not given probiotic supplementation (control treatment group). We found that probiotics did not statistically increase individual honey bee health and performance as measured by body lipid level, tibial length, and weight of bees, nor colony performance as measured by monthly assessments of brood area, colony weight, and Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) mite infestation rate.},
}
@article {pmid40833415,
year = {2025},
author = {Khan, F and Liu, Y and Whitfield, D and Pang, L and Ali, H and Huang, Y and Zhou, F and Hagan, RS and Frenis, K and Rowe, RG and Chen, P},
title = {Macrophage TBK1 signaling drives the development and outgrowth of breast cancer brain metastasis.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {34},
pages = {e2420793122},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2420793122},
pmid = {40833415},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {R01 NS124594/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01NS127824//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)/ ; W81XWH-21-1-0380//U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)/ ; P30CA043703//HHS | NIH | NCI | Center for Cancer Research (CCR)/ ; },
mesh = {*Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism/genetics ; *Breast Neoplasms/pathology/metabolism/genetics ; Humans ; Female ; *Brain Neoplasms/secondary/metabolism/pathology/genetics ; *Signal Transduction ; Animals ; Mice ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Macrophages/metabolism/pathology ; *Tumor-Associated Macrophages/metabolism/pathology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Cell Movement ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the predominant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment that promote breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM). Here, we identify TANK-binding kinase (TBK1) as a critical signaling molecule enriched and activated in TAMs of BCBM tumors, playing an indispensable role in BCBM development and metastatic outgrowth in the brain. Mechanistically, BCBM cell-secreted matrix metalloproteinase 1 binds to protease-activated receptor 1 and integrin αVβ5 on macrophages, leading to TBK1 activation mediated by the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway. Reciprocally, TBK1-regulated TAMs produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to drive breast cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion, ultimately contributing to BCBM development and brain metastatic outgrowth. Inhibition of TBK1 signaling in TAMs or GM-CSF receptor in cancer cells impedes BCBM development and brain metastatic outgrowth. Correspondingly, the TBK1-GM-CSF signaling axis correlates with lower overall survival in patients with BCBM. Thus, TBK1-mediated tumor-TAM symbiotic interaction provides a promising therapeutic target for patients with BCBM.},
}
@article {pmid40833097,
year = {2025},
author = {Staehelin, C and Forsberg, LS and D'Haeze, W and Gao, M-Y and Carlson, RW and Xie, Z-P and Pellock, BJ and Jones, KM and Walker, GC and Streit, WR and Broughton, WJ},
title = {Correction for Staehelin et al., "Exo-Oligosaccharides of Rhizobium sp. Strain NGR234 Are Required for Symbiosis with Various Legumes".},
journal = {Journal of bacteriology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0015725},
doi = {10.1128/jb.00157-25},
pmid = {40833097},
issn = {1098-5530},
}
@article {pmid40833026,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Z and Lu, Y and Du, P and Zhang, M and Li, D and Xie, F and Chen, D and Lin, H and Li, Y},
title = {A Lipopolysaccharide Lipid A Acyltransferase Gene msbB Is Involved in Soybean Rhizobial Intracellular Colonization and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-25-0018-R},
pmid = {40833026},
issn = {0894-0282},
abstract = {Three major components of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rhizobia, namely core polysaccharide, o-antigen, and lipid A, act as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) to participate in the symbiosis between rhizobia and legume. Rhizobia have a different lipid A structure from other Gram-negative bacteria. The 3-hydroxy group on the 2' or 3' myristate acyl chain of its lipid A is substituted by a unique very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA). VLCFAs are transferred to lipid A by an acyltransferase MsbB. In this research, we constructed the msbB deletion mutant, complementary, and overexpression strains of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103, and investigated their free-living and symbiotic phenotypes. The findings revealed that deletion of msbB had no impact on the autonomous growth of HH103, yet significantly reduced the resistance of rhizobia to abiotic stresses. The promoter-GUS assays revealed that msbB was mainly expressed at the early stage of nodulation. Quantitative analysis of early infection revealed that the mutation of msbB significantly reduced root hair curling, infection threads, and nodule primordia, suggesting impairment of the symbiotic infection process. The nodulation assay and transmission electron microscopy analysis of nodule ultrastructure showed that msbB deletion led to the formation of ineffective root nodules without colonization of rhizobia, thereby causing a loss of nitrogen fixation capacity. RNA-seq analysis indicated that HH103ΩmsbB inoculation trigger a localized defense response in the soybean root to result in symbiotic deficiencies. Taken together, these results reveal the important role of VLCFAs in soybean rhizobia in the establishment of effective symbiosis and nodule nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid40832871,
year = {2025},
author = {Fu, J and Liu, Y and Yoshioka, T and Igai, K and Mabuchi, T and Kihara, K and Murakami, T and Lo, N and Ohkuma, M and Hongoh, Y},
title = {Functional division of labor in motility, lignocellulose digestion, and nitrogen metabolism revealed for the Mixotricha paradoxa holobiont.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf178},
pmid = {40832871},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Mixotricha paradoxa is a large, cellulolytic flagellate present in the hindgut of the termite Mastotermes darwiniensis. This parabasalid flagellate is unique in its reliance on ectosymbiotic spirochetes for motility. We analyzed the transcriptome of M. paradoxa and the genomes of the ectosymbiotic spirochete Propulsinema mixotrichae ("Treponematales"), the rod-shaped ectosymbiont Synergitannerella mixotrichae (Bacteroidales), and the endosymbiont Endomicrobiellum mixotrichae (Endomicrobiales), all of which are obligately associated with M. paradoxa and were taxonomically described in this study. Mixotricha paradoxa highly expressed genes for diverse glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and likely ferments sugars to H2, CO2, acetate, ethanol, and glycerol. Similar to the case for parasitic parabasalids such as Trichomonas vaginalis, transcripts for biosynthesis of nucleotides and many amino acids were not detected in our analyses of M. paradoxa. Propulsinema mixotrichae possesses genes encoding proteins for the assembly of flagella and for those in pathways associated with chemotaxis and dinitrogen fixation. Such genes are absent in Syn. mixotrichae, which instead possesses numerous genes encoding GH enzymes, which are largely complementary to the GH repertoire of M. paradoxa. Endomicrobiellum mixotrichae appears to provide nucleotides and nine amino acids to its host, which in turn likely supplies three amino acids, including tryptophan, to Endo. mixotrichae. Because bacterial cells, in addition to wood particles, were observed in food vacuoles of M. paradoxa, these ecto- and endosymbionts may be digested by the flagellate host. Overall, the distinct roles of each symbiont highlight the efficient functional division of labor that has evolved in this holobiont.},
}
@article {pmid40832279,
year = {2025},
author = {Selmoni, O and Cleves, PA and Exposito-Alonso, M},
title = {Global coral genomic vulnerability explains recent reef losses.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2024.03.25.586253},
pmid = {40832279},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {The dramatic decline of reef-building corals calls for a better understanding of coral adaptation to ocean warming. Here, we characterized genetic diversity of the widespread genus Acropora by building a genomic database of 595 coral samples from different oceanic regions-from the Great Barrier Reef to the Persian Gulf. Through genome-environment associations, we found that different Acropora species showed parallel evolutionary signals of heat-adaptation in the same genomic regions, pointing to genes associated with molecular heat shock responses and symbiosis. We then projected the present and the predicted future distribution of heat-adapted genotypes across reefs worldwide. Reefs projected with low frequency of heat-adapted genotypes display higher rates of Acropora decline, indicating a potential genomic vulnerability to heat exposure. Our projections also suggest a transition where heat-adapted genotypes will spread at least until 2040. However, this transition will likely involve mass mortality of entire non-adapted populations and a consequent erosion of Acropora genetic diversity. This genetic diversity loss could hinder the capacity of Acropora to adapt to the more extreme heatwaves projected beyond 2040. Genomic vulnerability and genetic diversity loss estimates can be used to reassess which coral reefs are at risk and their conservation.},
}
@article {pmid40830815,
year = {2025},
author = {Monzón-Ramos, A and Pérez-González, S and Pulido-Suárez, L and Díaz-Peña, F and Rodríguez-Pérez, A and Reyes-Betancort, JA and León-Barrios, M},
title = {Efficient but Elusive Rhizobia Fix Nitrogen in the Wild Legumes Bituminaria bituminosa and Coronilla Viminalis.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70095},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70095},
pmid = {40830815},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {//This study was financed by the Consejer&#xed;a de Transici&#xf3;n Ecol&#xf3;gica, Lucha contra el Cambio Clim&#xe1;tico y Planificaci&#xf3;n Territorial of the Gobierno de Canarias within the framework of the FEDER Operational Program (2014-2020)./ ; },
abstract = {In ecological restoration of degraded natural habitats, revegetation with wild native plants is a priority. Legumes play a key role in this process through nitrogen (N)-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia, obtaining N for their growth and improving soil fertility, which benefits other nonleguminous plants in the environment. This study explores the rhizobia of two wild legumes, Coronilla viminalis and Bituminaria bituminosa, found in a degraded habitat in Lanzarote (Canary Islands). We found these legumes nodulated by highly efficient N-fixing mesorhizobia harboring the symbiovars canariensis and hedysari in Mesorhizobium species distinct from those originally reported to carry these symbiovars. However, isolating these rhizobia was challenging. Despite the good plant development and the pink color of root nodules indicating effective N-fixation, these rhizobia could not be cultured in most cases. This suggests the presence of unculturable or "fastidious" rhizobia in the nodules, with requirements poorly mimicked in conventional rhizobial media. Additionally, the presence of fast-growing non-rhizobial endophytes in the nodules complicates the isolation of slower-growing rhizobia, which requires special care during the isolation protocol to avoid endophytes and extend incubation times. The difficulty of cultivating the rhizobia of these two wild legumes suggests that their diversity may be greater than described here.},
}
@article {pmid40830270,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, Q and Guo, B and Lu, M and Liu, Y and Kardol, P and Reich, PB and Bardgett, RD and Cornelissen, JHC and Kraft, NJB and Díaz, S and Wright, IJ and He, N and Hogan, JA and Pei, Y and Han, Q and Li, Z and Wang, Z and Yang, W and Ding, J and Yang, Z and Wu, H and Carmona, CP and Valverde-Barrantes, OJ and Li, D and Cai, J and Zeng, H and Zhang, Y and Ren, W and Zhao, Y and Yang, X and Fan, G and Wang, J and Li, G and Kong, D},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal association regulates global root-seed coordination.},
journal = {Nature plants},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40830270},
issn = {2055-0278},
abstract = {Terrestrial plants exhibit immense variation in their form and function among species. Coordination between resource acquisition by roots and reproduction through seeds could promote the fitness of plant populations. How root and seed traits covary has remained unclear until our analysis of the largest-ever compiled joint global dataset of root traits and seed mass. Here we demonstrate that seed mass and seed phosphorus mass scale positively with root diameter in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants, depending on variation in root cortical thickness instead of root vessel size. These findings suggest a dual role of AM association in phosphorus uptake and pathogen resistance which drives the global root-seed coordination, instead of initially expected resource transport via root vessels as the main driver. In contrast, we found no relationship between root traits and seed mass in ectomycorrhizal plants. Overall, our study reveals coordination between roots and seeds in AM plants, which is probably regulated by root-mycorrhizal symbiosis, and may be crucial in shaping global plant diversity and species distributions.},
}
@article {pmid40829788,
year = {2025},
author = {Hadfield, MG and Freckelton, M and Nedved, BT},
title = {Marine Bacterial Biofilms: Shaping Surface Communities.},
journal = {Annual review of microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-051524-024455},
pmid = {40829788},
issn = {1545-3251},
abstract = {The assembly of marine benthic communities has become a focal point in marine ecology. We address how the bottom layers of benthic communities (i.e., the microbes inhabiting the basal biofilm) influence the complex accumulation of eukaryotes that grow on top of them. Specifically, we discuss (a) what organisms make up benthic biofilms, what brings about their attachment to surfaces, and how they vary in space and time; (b) what eukaryotic organisms are in marine benthic communities, how they vary in space and time, and the nature of microbial cues that bring about their recruitment to particular benthic sites; (c) the roles of bacterial-animal symbiosis in the composition of benthic communities; (d) what is happening to biofilms and their roles as habitat engineers in the rapidly changing world; and (e) how the geological history of bacteria and microbial mats on the ocean floor powerfully influenced the evolution of larval-bacterial interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40829558,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, WC and Spang, A},
title = {DPANN archaea.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {16},
pages = {R791-R794},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.06.038},
pmid = {40829558},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Archaea/genetics/physiology/classification/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; *Genome, Archaeal ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Archaea are one of the two primary domains of life alongside Bacteria. Extant archaea play an important role in global nutrient cycles and comprise members that were crucial for the evolution of life on Earth including the origin of eukaryotic cells through a symbiotic integration of an archaeal and bacterial partner. Despite their importance in ecology and evolution, our knowledge of archaeal diversity and function remains limited in part because it has proven challenging to cultivate archaea in the laboratory. Over the last two decades, the use of novel cultivation-independent approaches such as metagenomics has not only led to the discovery of a vast diversity of previously unknown archaeal lineages but also provided a window into their genomic content, allowing researchers to make predictions about metabolic functions and lifestyles. For example, by combining genomics approaches with phylogenetic analyses (that is, the reconstruction of species trees) researchers have uncovered several phylum-level lineages of putative genome-reduced archaea referred to as the 'DPANN' archaea, whose members were shown to have limited metabolic capabilities, indicating their dependency on symbiotic partners. These findings are consistent with observations from cultivation-based studies that have succeeded in enriching some of these small-cell symbionts in co-cultures with their hosts. Although they were initially discovered in extreme environments, DPANN archaea have now been shown to be widespread across a variety of environments and may thus play an important role in not only host evolution but also ecology. Herein, we aim to highlight DPANN archaea by providing an overview of their diversity, genomic and metabolic features, unique cell biology and interactions, and evolutionary origins. We also underscore several fascinating topics that remain underexplored.},
}
@article {pmid40829389,
year = {2025},
author = {Qin, T and Yang, Z and Dou, Y and Wang, J and Wang, L and Tang, L and Wu, Z and Qiu, R},
title = {Effects of artificial humic acid on rhizosphere ecology and microbial regulation in a ryegrass-Bacillus cereus symbiotic system for remediating Cr(VI)-contaminated soil.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {497},
number = {},
pages = {139566},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139566},
pmid = {40829389},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Pollution by heavy metals, particularly hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), has become a significant environmental threat. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of artificial humic acid (A-HA) and Bacillus cereus Q-0 on Cr(VI) remediation in a ryegrass-soil system. A-HA was synthesized, and B. cereus Q-0 was labeled with gfp to enable tracking of its colonization in the soil-plant environment. The results showed that compared with the control group, combined treatment with A-HA and B. cereus Q-0-gfp significantly improved Cr(VI) reduction efficiency, decreasing soil Cr(VI) content from 69.8 mg kg[-1] to 17.07 mg kg[-1]. Simultaneously, the total Cr content in plants increased by 37.2 %, indicating enhanced hyperaccumulation capacity in ryegrass. A-HA promoted the enrichment of functional microbial communities associated with heavy metal resistance, such as Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, reflecting an optimized soil microbial structure. In terms of plant growth, the combined treatment increased ryegrass biomass by up to 790.3 %, root length by 310.0 %, soil organic matter content by 650.12 %, and soil enzyme activity. Additionally, A-HA significantly enhanced the colonization ability of B. cereus Q-0 in both the rhizosphere and endophytic compartments of plants. This study highlights the unique potential of combining A-HA and B. cereus for effective and eco-friendly Cr(VI) remediation, offering a novel strategy to enhance phytoremediation efficiency in contaminated soils.},
}
@article {pmid40829280,
year = {2025},
author = {Papadopoulos, C and Roshanfekrrad, M and Tsikou, D and Papadopoulou, KK and Calonne-Salmon, M and Declerck, S and Karpouzas, DG},
title = {Developing a toolbox of Tier I tests to assess pesticides toxicity on the asymbiotic and symbiotic phases of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {303},
number = {},
pages = {118892},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118892},
pmid = {40829280},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Soil microorganisms are a key protection goal in the European Union (EU) pesticide regulatory framework. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were identified as good proxies for assessing pesticides toxicity on the soil microbiota. This could involve ecotoxicity testing at the different life stages of AMF. We evaluated the effects of five pesticides (pyraclostrobin, fludioxonil, hymexazol, etridiazole, glyphosate) and a transformation product (AMPA), with distinct mode of action, on the development and functionality of Rhizophagus irregularis at the asymbiotic and symbiotic phase using a spore germination assay and a gnotobiotic AMF-host plant system (AMF-sandwich test), respectively. Based on arbuscular colonization in the AMF-sandwich test, fludioxonil was the most toxic (EC50 0.085 mg/L) followed by glyphosate (EC50 2.58 mg/L) and pyraclostrobin (EC50 9.22 mg/L), while etridiazole, hymexazol, and AMPA showed EC50 values higher than the highest tested concentration. However, for glyphosate and pyraclostrobin negative effects on symbiosis functioning were observed at lower concentrations than for colonization, as depicted by the expression of plant marker genes and/or P-uptake, suggesting the establishment of non-functional arbuscular symbiosis. The high toxicity of fludioxonil (EC50 0.03 mg/L) and the low toxicity of AMPA (EC50 > 432 mg/L) on R. irregularis was verified also for the asymbiotic phase via spore germination assay. Comparative tests showed differences in the toxicity of pure active substances and commercial formulations of fludioxonil and pyraclostrobin on the AMF-sandwich test. We propose that the AMF-sandwich system together with the spore germination test could be used as a toolbox for Tier-I assessment of pesticides toxicity on AMF.},
}
@article {pmid40829219,
year = {2025},
author = {Jing, J and Wang, T and Guo, X and Huang, P and Li, C and Qu, Y},
title = {Continuous exogenous bioaugmented remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil: Ecological effects, microbial communities, and mechanisms.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {393},
number = {},
pages = {127007},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127007},
pmid = {40829219},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {The exogenous bioaugmentation technique is a widely employed strategy for remediating petroleum-contaminated soil. However, sustaining exogenous functional bacteria over extended periods in complex petroleum-contaminated environments is challenging, leading to reduced efficacy, and the interaction mechanisms with indigenous microorganisms remain poorly understood. This study utilized the previously developed petroleum-degrading bacterial agent ECT in a continuous bioaugmentation (C-Bio) approach for soil remediation. The outcomes were compared with those from a disposable bioaugmentation (D-Bio) and a control group (CG). After a 200-day remediation period, the C-Bio approach achieved a simulated petroleum degradation rate of 99.42 %. Concurrently, assessments of soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and plant growth demonstrated that C-Bio resulted in favorable ecological restoration. Metagenomic analysis confirmed the successful colonization of the three exogenous bacteria in the C-Bio system. Network analysis revealed that this approach facilitated the directional succession of soil microbial communities, with the newly dominant indigenous bacteria forming cooperative or symbiotic relationships with the exogenous strains. Together, they synergistically degrade alkanes via terminal oxidation pathways and aromatic hydrocarbons through salicylic acid and phthalic acid pathways, leading to effective remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil. This study offers theoretical insights and empirical evidence supporting the development of continuous bioaugmentation processes for the remediation of petroleum-contaminated soils.},
}
@article {pmid40828971,
year = {2025},
author = {Singh, J},
title = {Metabolic Detour, Symbiotic Delay: Insights from Sinorhizobium meliloti Suppressor Mutants.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {38},
number = {4},
pages = {490},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-07-25-0078-CM},
pmid = {40828971},
issn = {0894-0282},
}
@article {pmid40828281,
year = {2025},
author = {Enciso Garcia, JS and Chignola, M and Ragionieri, L and Rey, F and Fluch, M and Borruso, L and Corretto, E and Schuler, H},
title = {High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing for Analyzing Microbial Communities of Insects.},
journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)},
volume = {2935},
number = {},
pages = {237-258},
pmid = {40828281},
issn = {1940-6029},
abstract = {Insects represent more than 80% of all described species on the planet. This diversity is a result of millions of years of evolution, during which insects have colonized nearly every habitat. Their success is partly due to their ability to form symbiotic relationships with a wide variety of other organisms, especially microorganisms. Identifying and characterizing associated microorganisms are crucial to understanding the complexity and dynamics of these symbiotic relationships. To date, advancements in sequencing technologies that provide large sequence data sets have become ideal tools for characterizing insect microbiomes, including information about non-cultivable microorganisms commonly found in insects. Despite the growing number of studies focused on insect microbiome characterization, there are few protocols detailing methodological procedures for fieldwork, DNA extraction, and data processing. Here, we present an overview of the characterization of insect-associated bacterial communities. We cover best practices for data interpretation and visualization, including alpha and beta diversity analyses, community composition profiling, and statistical testing to identify microbial associations of insects.},
}
@article {pmid40827673,
year = {2025},
author = {Ninzatti, L and Sana, TG and Acar, T and Moreau, S and Jardinaud, MF and Marti, G and Coen, O and Carlier, AL},
title = {Artificial symbiont replacement in a vertically transmitted plant symbiosis reveals a role for microbe-microbe interactions in enforcing specificity.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf177},
pmid = {40827673},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Some plants engage in permanent, vertically transmitted symbioses with bacteria. Often, these bacteria are hosted extracellularly within structures on the leaves, where they produce specialized bioactive metabolites that benefit their host. These associations are highly specific, with one plant species associating with a single bacterial species, but little is known about how these symbioses originate and how specificity is maintained. In this study, we show that the symbiotic association between a wild yam and a bacterium can be manipulated experimentally, and that bacteria-free plants are open to colonization by environmental bacteria. Through metabolic profiling, we show that the endophytic niche is rich in organic acids and intermediates of the TCA cycle. Environmental bacteria capable of utilizing these acids, such as the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida, readily colonize aposymbiotic plants. However, successful colonization is contingent upon the absence of the vertically transmitted symbiont or the impairment of its type VI secretion system. Unexpectedly for a vertically transmitted symbiosis, these findings suggest that microbe-microbe interactions, including antagonism, may play a crucial role in maintaining the specificity of an association. However, low transmission rates of synthetic symbionts provide evidence that transmission barriers or bottlenecks may still occur, further enforcing partner fidelity. Together, these results highlight the complexity of mechanisms underlying mutualistic associations, and provide insights into the evolution of bacterial leaf symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40826837,
year = {2025},
author = {Hill, RA and Plett, KL and Wong-Bajracharya, JW and Wang, M and Lipzen, A and Ng, V and Grigoriev, IV and Martin, F and Anderson, IC and Jeffries, TC and Plett, JM},
title = {Eucalyptus grandis MYB-Like and RAN-Like Zinc Finger Proteins Display Dual Roles in Regulating Plant Immunity and Symbiosis Pathways.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {4},
pages = {e70454},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70454},
pmid = {40826837},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {ANR-11- LABX-0002-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; DP160102684//Australian Research Council/ ; DP220103325//Australian Research Council/ ; CSP1953//U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy/ ; },
abstract = {Plant roots live in constant contact with diverse microbes in the soil. Plant fitness, therefore, relies on signaling pathways that mount an effective immune response against pathogens while fostering mutualistic symbioses. Plant pathways, and specifically immune genes that may act as "switches," discriminating between pathogenic or mutualistic fungi, remain largely unknown. Using Eucalyptus grandis as a model system, we investigate alterations to the root transcriptomic landscape during pre-symbiosis with either the pathogen Armillaria luteobubalina or the mutualistic fungus Pisolithus microcarpus. Comparative analyses identified three strongly counter-regulated genes that may act as immune switches to accommodate or to repress fungal colonization. We characterized two of these, a MYB-like and RAN-like zinc finger protein, using a transgenic approach and demonstrated that they have bifunctional roles in the regulation of cell death and a hypersensitive-like response, depending on the lifestyle of the associated fungus. Using co-expression network analysis, we identified hypothetical pathways correlated to these genes. We functionally validated these predictions using plants with transgenic roots with increased or decreased transcription of these genes, thereby showing the power of co-expression networks as an a priori approach to identify key immune response pathways in plants. Overall, our results demonstrate that prior to physical contact with microbes, MYB-like and RAN-like zinc finger proteins are key regulators of plant immune signaling that respond to fungal signals and enable or repress symbiotic establishment.},
}
@article {pmid40825678,
year = {2025},
author = {Nam, Y and Lee, J and Kim, SR and Kim, JN},
title = {Isolation and Purification of Antibacterial Compound from Kombucha of SCOBY.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {e2504012},
doi = {10.4014/jmb.2504.04012},
pmid = {40825678},
issn = {1738-8872},
abstract = {The misuse of antibiotics has contributed to the widespread emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), emphasizing the need for alternative antimicrobial agents. Kombucha, a fermented beverage containing a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), has gained attention for its antibacterial activity and potential health benefits. This study investigated the antibacterial properties of kombucha and SCOBY, isolating and characterizing the active compounds responsible for these effects. Both kombucha broth and dried SCOBY effectively inhibited Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium, with dried SCOBY demonstrating stronger activity. Instrumental analyses identified 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) as the primary antibacterial compound in the SCOBY extracts. HMF significantly inhibited L. monocytogenes and S. aureus, with its antibacterial inhibition surpassing that of chloramphenicol in these two bacterial species. Previous studies have shown that, in addition to its antibacterial effects, HMF has potential applications in the production of polymers and pharmaceuticals, and as a fuel additive, suggesting its potential in the chemical and biofuel industries. This study highlights the antibacterial activity of HMF and underscores the need for further research to evaluate its safety and applicability in various fields.},
}
@article {pmid40810324,
year = {2025},
author = {Aniski, BF},
title = {School Nursing and SchoolYard Gardening: A Tale of Mutual Symbiosis.},
journal = {NASN school nurse (Print)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1942602X251360002},
doi = {10.1177/1942602X251360002},
pmid = {40810324},
issn = {1942-6038},
abstract = {Working within NASN's School Nursing Practice Framework, this author proposes schoolyard gardening as an action oriented approach found in the "Leadership" principle of the Framework. Leadership references "activities related to the mind-set of leadership, not a position." The author suggests that schoolyard gardening is an emerging topic with student health being the desired outcome, as well as, proposing a schoolyard garden is needed in every school. A basic overview of School Nurse Certification in New Jersey is shared along with a 15 year outline of an award-winning schoolyard garden and how a schoolyard garden relates to wellness and teaching health within the New Jersey Student Learning Standards.},
}
@article {pmid40803112,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, S and Guo, R and Wang, Y and Yan, Y and Chu, Q and Cui, N and Zhang, Y and Zhang, L and Jiang, L and Shi, L and Guo, J and Gao, Y and Xing, F and Zhang, T},
title = {Nitrogen and phosphorus addition affected soil organic carbon storage and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi contributions.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {393},
number = {},
pages = {126904},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126904},
pmid = {40803112},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Substantial quantities of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) released by human activities, enter terrestrial ecosystems, thereby affecting the carbon cycling within these ecosystems. Previous studies found that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could affect soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, the impacts of AMF on SOC under nutrients enrichment have yet to be well understood. Here, we conducted an 8-year field experiment involving N and P addition, and a[13]C labeled microcosm experiment labeled with AMF inoculation, to explore how SOC respond to nutrients enrichment, as well as AMF-induced changes in SOC. N addition increased particulate organic carbon (POC) content by 5.03 % by promoting plant primary productivity. Phosphorus (P) addition reduced the mineral-bound organic carbon (MAOC) by 16.0 % by facilitating the microbial degradation process. Correlation analysis showed that AMF intraradical infection intensity (IRII) was positively correlated with both nitrate nitrogen (NO3[-]-N) and MAOC, but negatively correlated with available phosphorus (AP) and total phosphorus (TP). This result suggested that nutrients enrichment potentially modulate MAOC accumulation via affecting AMF-plant symbiosis. Furthermore, Structural equation modeling (SEM) results also showed that AMF are crucial in regulating plant and soil microbial contributions to SOC. [13]C stable isotope labelling experiment results further showed that AMF inoculation increased the [13]C content in the soil by 4.75 % and simultaneously increased plant N uptake by 6.32 %. Therefore, we speculated that AMF could promote the accumulation of SOC by facilitating the exchange of carbon and nitrogen between plants and soil. These findings suggest that global nutrient eutrophication could significantly affect the stability of SOC, highlighting the critical role of AMF in mediating the responses of SOC stability to environmental changes.},
}
@article {pmid40792181,
year = {2025},
author = {You, YH and Bae, HJ and Park, JM and Ku, YB and Nam, GH and Kwak, TW and Bang, YJ and Jeong, TY and Hong, JW},
title = {Fungal and Bacterial Community Dynamics in the Rhizosphere and Rhizoplane of Diabelia spathulata in Relation to Soil Properties.},
journal = {Mycobiology},
volume = {53},
number = {5},
pages = {605-619},
pmid = {40792181},
issn = {1229-8093},
abstract = {Diabelia spathulata, a rare deciduous shrub native to East Asia, is critically endangered in Korea, yet little is known about its interactions with soil fungal communities. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of fungal and bacterial communities in the rhizoplane (RP), rhizosphere (RS), and surrounding soil (SS) of D. spathulata in its natural habitat on Mt. Cheonseong, South Korea. High-throughput sequencing of the ITS and 16S rRNA gene regions revealed distinct microbial assemblages across soil compartments. Fungal taxa such as Russula, Trechispora, and Capronia were enriched in RP and RS, highlighting their potential roles in nutrient cycling, organic matter (OM) decomposition, and symbiosis. In contrast, the SS exhibited greater fungal richness but lower specialization. Among bacteria, root-associated compartments were enriched with plant-beneficial genera such as Bacillus and Bradyrhizobium, while bulk soil hosted more generalist taxa. Soil physicochemical analyses showed higher OM and total nitrogen in RS compared to SS, indicating root-driven enrichment. Correlation and network analyses identified strong links between specific fungal and bacterial taxa and key soil properties including pH, OM, and cation exchange capacity. These results suggest that D. spathulata modulates its RS microbiome to enhance nutrient availability and stress tolerance. This study highlights the ecological significance of fungal communities in root-associated microhabitats and provides foundational knowledge for incorporating soil microbiota into conservation and habitat restoration efforts for endangered plant species.},
}
@article {pmid40749791,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, M and Zhao, G and Li, MM},
title = {Regulatory mechanisms of quorum sensing in microbial communities and their potential applications in ruminant livestock production.},
journal = {Journal of advanced research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jare.2025.07.055},
pmid = {40749791},
issn = {2090-1224},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication system that enables microbial communities to dynamically regulate their metabolism and physiological activities according to the surrounding cell density. The rumen's diverse microbial ecosystem represents a classic example of host-microbiome symbiosis. Despite significant progress in understanding the composition and function of ruminal microbial communities, the underlying communication mechanisms in the rumen ecosystem remain largely enigmatic. Gaining insight into these regulatory mechanisms is crucial for developing knowledge-based strategies to improve animal productivity, health, and sustainability in ruminant livestock production.<br><br>AIM OF REVIEW: This review aims to provide an overview of microbial QS communication systems mediated by diverse signaling molecules, including bacterial intraspecies and interspecies QS, fungal QS, and archaeal QS. We conducted a structured review by searching multiple scientific databases, synthesizing data from relevant studies, and critically evaluating the roles of QS systems in microbial communities. This approach ensures a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding of QS mechanisms and their implications for ruminant livestock. Specifically, we elucidate the identification and potential mechanisms of the QS system facilitated by three prevalent signaling molecules (N-acyl homoserine lactones, autoinducing peptides, and autoinducer 2) in ruminants. Recent advances in understanding the effects of QS on microbial fermentation, immune function, biofilm formation, and virulence factor production are summarized in detail, providing a scientific basis for applying QS in ruminant livestock production.<br><br>The rumen harbors various QS signaling molecules that modulate microbial community dynamics, impacting composition, structure, and function. The versatility of QS allows it to regulate ruminal fermentation and inhibit pathogen growth, thereby improving productivity and reducing disease risk in ruminants. This review synthesizes recent advances in QS mechanisms, crucial for disease prevention, combating antibiotic resistance, and promoting sustainable livestock production. Future research should investigate QS pathways and networks in the rumen microbiome through in vivo experiments and multi-omics analyses to gain a deeper understanding of microbial community regulation.},
}
@article {pmid40695816,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, X and Wang, Q and Sun, T and Gao, H and Gu, R and Yang, J and Zhou, J and Fu, P and Wen, H and Yang, G},
title = {Structural basis for the activity regulation of Medicago calcium channel CNGC15.},
journal = {Cell discovery},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {63},
pmid = {40695816},
issn = {2056-5968},
support = {32422038//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
abstract = {Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGCs) in plants mediate Ca[2+] influx in response to environmental changes. Among numerous plant CNGCs, Medicago truncatula CNGC15a/b/c (MtCNGC15) is localized to the nuclear envelope. The opening and closing cycle of MtCNGC15 is tightly associated with the Ca[2+] oscillation in symbiosis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying MtCNGC15 activity regulation remains unclear. In this study, we present the structures of MtCNGC15 in its apo form and in the presence of CaM. The apo MtCNGC15b exhibits a flexible cytoplasmic domain (CPD), whereas binding of the MtCaM inhibits Ca[2+] currents and stabilizes the highly dynamic CPD. Furthermore, the activity of MtCNGC15b seems to be independent of cGMP. The hypothetical binding pocket for cGMP is occupied by an arginine residue. These findings elucidate the structural basis for the activity regulation of nuclear localized MtCNGC15.},
}
@article {pmid40691349,
year = {2025},
author = {Nobu, MK},
title = {A model 'organism' split to uncover microbial symbiosis.},
journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology},
volume = {23},
number = {9},
pages = {548},
pmid = {40691349},
issn = {1740-1534},
}
@article {pmid40559014,
year = {2025},
author = {Jia, J and Liang, M and Zhao, Z and Huang, W and Feng, Q and Lin, Z and Ji, X},
title = {Effects of Periodic Short-Term Heat Stress on Biological Characteristics and Gut Bacteria of Spodoptera frugiperda.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40559014},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {FW20230002//This work was supported by the technical innovation project of the provincial scientific research institute of the Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China/ ; },
abstract = {In this study, the migratory agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda was exposed to three periodic short-term heat stress regimes at 37 °C, 40 °C, and 43 °C (2 h daily), with a constant 26 °C control. We systematically evaluated the effects of periodic thermal stress on developmental traits across all life stages. Combined with 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, we analyzed the structural and functional characteristics of the gut bacterial community in adults under heat stress. The results demonstrated that 37 °C exposure accelerated egg-to-adult development, whereas 43 °C markedly extended it. Additionally, 43 °C heat stress suppressed pupation and eclosion rates. Increasing stress temperatures were negatively correlated with pupal weight and body size in both sexes. Notably, 43 °C heat stress caused complete loss of hatching ability in offspring eggs, thereby rendering population reproduction unattainable. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that Proteobacteria (>90%) dominated the gut bacterial community at the phylum level across all treatments. Under 43 °C heat stress, although female and male adults exhibited an increase in specific bacterial species within their gut bacteria, Alpha diversity analysis revealed no significant differences in the diversity (Shannon index) and richness (Chao index) of gut bacterial communities between sexes under temperature treatments. PICRUSt2 functional prediction indicated that metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and microbial metabolism in diverse environments constituted the dominant functions of gut bacteria in both sexes, while heat stress exerted minimal effects on the functional profiles of gut bacteria in S. frugiperda. These findings not only provide a theoretical basis for predicting summer population dynamics and formulating ecological control strategies for S. frugiperda but also offer critical insights into the adaptive interactions between this pest and its gut bacterial community under heat stress. The results lay a foundation for further exploring the interactions between insect environmental adaptability and bacterial symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40456416,
year = {2025},
author = {Han, X and Zhou, Y and Feng, X and Wang, Y and Zhang, H},
title = {Potassium uptake function of LbKT1 and LbSKOR from Lycium barbarum and their influence on the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {359},
number = {},
pages = {112587},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112587},
pmid = {40456416},
issn = {1873-2259},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Potassium/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Lycium/metabolism/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; Nicotiana/microbiology/metabolism/genetics/growth &amp; development ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; *Potassium Channels/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Potassium participates in a variety of plant physiological processes and has great impact on plant growth and stress adaptation. The absorption of potassium by Plant is mediated by potassium channels and transporters, and the Shaker potassium channel gene family plays an important role in potassium uptake. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form ubiquitous symbioses with plants and increase plants' potassium uptake. However, few studies have focused on the interaction of plant potassium channels from the Shaker gene family with AM fungi. In this study, the potassium uptake function of LbKT1 and LbSKOR (homologs of AKT1 and SKOR in Arabidopsis) from the Shaker gene family in Lycium barbarum was verified by the complementary assay using a yeast potassium uptake mutant. LbKT1 and LbSKOR were also overexpressed in tobacco to assess their influence on AM fungi under low and normal potassium conditions in a pot experiment. LbKT1 could rescue the phenotype of the yeast mutant, while LbSKOR could not. Overexpression of LbKT1 increased tobacco plant growth and potassium uptake and promoted the colonization of AM fungi. Meanwhile, overexpression of LbSKOR promoted potassium translocation from root to shoot and showed no obvious influence on the colonization of AM fungi. Our results suggested that the AM fungi could promote tobacco growth and potassium uptake, while the plant potassium status and the AM fungal colonization may form positive feedback in promoting tobacco potassium uptake and growth.},
}
@article {pmid40080223,
year = {2025},
author = {Dondero, L and De Negri Atanasio, G and Tardanico, F and Lertora, E and Boggia, R and Capra, V and Cometto, A and Costamagna, M and Fi L S E, and Feletti, M and Garibaldi, F and Grasso, F and Jenssen, M and Lanteri, L and Lian, K and Monti, M and Perucca, M and Pinto, C and Poncini, I and Robino, F and Rombi, JV and Ahsan, SS and Shirmohammadi, N and Tiso, M and Turrini, F and Zaccone, M and Zanotti-Russo, M and Demori, I and Ferrari, PF and Grasselli, E},
title = {Unlocking the Potential of Marine Sidestreams in the Blue Economy: Lessons Learned from the EcoeFISHent Project on Fish Collagen.},
journal = {Marine biotechnology (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {27},
number = {2},
pages = {63},
pmid = {40080223},
issn = {1436-2236},
support = {EcoeFISHent-101036428//European Commission/ ; Research for Programma Operativo Nazionale (PON) Ricerca e Innovazione, FSE REACT-EU: D31B21008650007//Ministero dell'Universit&#xe0; e della Ricerca/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Collagen/chemistry/biosynthesis ; *Fishes/metabolism ; Fisheries/economics ; Aquaculture/economics ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; },
abstract = {This review provides a general overview of collagen structure, biosynthesis, and biological properties, with a particular focus on marine collagen sources, especially fisheries discards and by-catches. Additionally, well-documented applications of collagen are presented, with special emphasis not only on its final use but also on the processes enabling sustainable and safe recovery from materials that would otherwise go to waste. Particular attention is given to the extraction process, highlighting key aspects essential for the industrialization of fish sidestreams, such as hygiene standards, adherence to good manufacturing practices, and ensuring minimal environmental impact. In this context, the EcoeFISHent projects have provided valuable insights, aiming to create replicable, systemic, and sustainable territorial clusters based on a multi-circular economy and industrial symbiosis. The main goal of this project is to increase the monetary income of certain categories, such as fishery and aquaculture activities, through the valorization of underutilized biomass.},
}
@article {pmid39574446,
year = {2024},
author = {El-Sappah, AH and Li, J and Yan, K and Zhu, C and Huang, Q and Zhu, Y and Chen, Y and El-Tarabily, KA and AbuQamar, SF},
title = {Fibrillin gene family and its role in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1453974},
pmid = {39574446},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Fibrillins (FBNs), highly conserved plastid lipid-associated proteins (PAPs), play a crucial role in plant physiology. These proteins, encoded by nuclear genes, are prevalent in the plastoglobules (PGs) of chloroplasts. FBNs are indispensable for maintaining plastid stability, promoting plant growth and development, and enhancing stress responses. The conserved PAP domain of FBNs was found across a wide range of photosynthetic organisms, from plants and cyanobacteria. FBN families are classified into 12 distinct groups/clades, with the 12th group uniquely present in algal-fungal symbiosis. This mini review delves into the structural attributes, phylogenetic classification, genomic features, protein-protein interactions, and functional roles of FBNs in plants, with a special focus on their effectiveness in mitigating abiotic stresses, particularly drought stress.},
}
@article {pmid38150088,
year = {2024},
author = {Wang, XM and Fan, L and Meng, CC and Wang, YJ and Deng, LE and Yuan, Z and Zhang, JP and Li, YY and Lv, SC},
title = {Gut microbiota influence frailty syndrome in older adults: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.},
journal = {Biogerontology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {107-129},
pmid = {38150088},
issn = {1573-6768},
support = {National Traditional Chinese Medicine People's Education Letter[2021] No. 203//the QI HUANG Scholars (Junping Zhang) Special Funding/ ; Jin Wei Zhong[2020]No.732//the Tianjin Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine (Junping Zhang) Inheritance Studio Special Funding/ ; No. CACM-2018-QNRC2-B04//the Young Talent Lifting Project of China Association of Chinese Medicine/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Aged ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Frailty/therapy ; Frail Elderly ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Prebiotics ; },
abstract = {Frailty syndrome denotes a decreased capacity of the body to maintain the homeostasis and stress of the internal environment, which simultaneously increases the risk of adverse health outcomes in older adults, including disability, hospitalization, falls, and death. To promote healthy aging, we should find strategies to cope with frailty. However, the pathogenesis of frailty syndrome is not yet clear. Recent studies have shown that the diversity, composition, and metabolites of gut microbiota significantly changed in older adults with frailty. In addition, several frailty symptoms were alleviated by adjusting gut microbiota with prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiosis. Therefore, we attempt to explore the pathogenesis of frailty syndrome in older people from gut microbiota and summarize the existing interventions for frailty syndrome targeting gut microbiota, with the aim of providing timely and necessary interventions and assistance for older adults with frailty.},
}
@article {pmid23291051,
year = {2013},
author = {Edge, SE and Shearer, TL and Morgan, MB and Snell, TW},
title = {Sub-lethal coral stress: detecting molecular responses of coral populations to environmental conditions over space and time.},
journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {128-129},
number = {},
pages = {135-146},
doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2012.11.014},
pmid = {23291051},
issn = {1879-1514},
mesh = {Alveolata/physiology ; Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*genetics/*metabolism ; *Ecosystem ; Environmental Monitoring ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; *Stress, Physiological ; Time Factors ; },
abstract = {In order for sessile organisms to survive environmental fluctuations and exposures to pollutants, molecular mechanisms (i.e. stress responses) are elicited. Previously, detrimental effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on coral health could not be ascertained until significant physiological responses resulted in visible signs of stress (e.g. tissue necrosis, bleaching). In this study, a focused anthozoan holobiont microarray was used to detect early and sub-lethal effects of spatial and temporal environmental changes on gene expression patterns in the scleractinian coral, Montastraea cavernosa, on south Florida reefs. Although all colonies appeared healthy (i.e. no visible tissue necrosis or bleaching), corals were differentially physiologically compensating for exposure to stressors that varied over time. Corals near the Port of Miami inlet experienced significant changes in expression of stress responsive and symbiont (zooxanthella)-specific genes after periods of heavy precipitation. In contrast, coral populations did not demonstrate stress responses during periods of increased water temperature (up to 29°C). Specific acute and long-term localized responses to other stressors were also evident. A correlation between stress response genes and symbiont-specific genes was also observed, possibly indicating early processes involved in the maintenance or disruption of the coral-zooxanthella symbiosis. This is the first study to reveal spatially- and temporally-related variation in gene expression in response to different stressors of in situ coral populations, and demonstrates that microarray technology can be used to detect specific sub-lethal physiological responses to specific environmental conditions that are not visually detectable.},
}
@article {pmid13483498,
year = {1957},
author = {NETTESHEIM, F and PILLAR, W},
title = {Nil nocere!: tuberculostatics &amp; appendicitis; a contribution on interference with intestinal symbiosis.},
journal = {Munchener medizinische Wochenschrift (1950)},
volume = {99},
number = {38},
pages = {1366-1367},
pmid = {13483498},
issn = {0027-2973},
mesh = {Anti-Bacterial Agents/*adverse effects ; *Antibiotics, Antitubercular ; Appendicitis/*etiology ; *Aviation ; *Dermatologic Agents ; Humans ; *Intestines ; *Symbiosis ; Tuberculosis/*therapy ; },
}
@article {pmid40824823,
year = {2025},
author = {Sunal, E and Castro-Rodriguez, V and Sadoine, M},
title = {Fluorophore-based Genetically Encoded Biosensors for Ratiometric Fluorescence Imaging in Microbes.},
journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE},
volume = {},
number = {222},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3791/68339},
pmid = {40824823},
issn = {1940-087X},
abstract = {Investigating small-molecule dynamics within microbes is essential for comprehensive studies of microbial function. Both intra-organism and inter-organism small molecule dynamics play critical roles in microbial physiology, symbiosis, and disease. However, monitoring these dynamics remains highly challenging using most existing techniques. Fluorophore-based genetically encoded biosensors are powerful tools for tracking small-molecule dynamics in vivo and hold high potential for driving new discoveries. These biosensors are most commonly used in fluorescence imaging, often in combination with perfusion devices that allow precise control over environmental conditions. When integrated with advanced imaging techniques, this approach provides high-resolution, spatially and temporally resolved data, enabling insights into single-cell microbial responses. Despite their promise, implementing such biosensors remains technically challenging. Understanding the key steps is crucial for broader adoption. Here, we present a protocol designed to support the effective deployment of newly engineered biosensors into microbes for quantitative ratiometric fluorescence imaging under controlled conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40824068,
year = {2025},
author = {Sather, LM and Fazeli, N and Kearsley, JVS and Jones, K and Finan, TM},
title = {Unexpected modulation of Hna phage defense activity by the symbiotic regulator NolR.},
journal = {Journal of bacteriology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0018225},
doi = {10.1128/jb.00182-25},
pmid = {40824068},
issn = {1098-5530},
abstract = {The Hna phage defense system is one of many systems that protect bacteria against bacterial viruses (phages). Hna was first discovered in the nitrogen-fixing alphaproteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which forms root nodules on leguminous plants. We report that the efficacy of the Hna system depends on NolR, a transcriptional regulator known to regulate expression of nodulation genes. Strains carrying a mutant nolR gene (e.g., the widely used laboratory strain Rm1021) display dramatically reduced Hna-mediated phage resistance compared to those with the wild-type nolR gene. hna expression is approximately doubled in nolR[+] (wild-type) compared to nolR[-] strains. Integration of a second copy of hna increased phage resistance in a nolR[-] strain >1,000-fold, indicating that a moderate hna expression difference is sufficient to affect the Hna phage resistance phenotype. NolR does not appear to directly regulate hna,as there is no predicted NolR binding site upstream of hna, and purified NolR protein does not bind to the hna upstream sequence. Other genes whose transcription is regulated by NolR were identified through RNA-seq experiments. These include the lipopolysaccharide sulfotransferase gene lpsS, which is located downstream of a NolR binding site. This work illustrates how modest differences in expression between strains can dramatically alter the protective phenotype of a defense system.IMPORTANCEThe ability of a bacterial culture to survive phage infection is significant in both medical (phage therapy) and industrial (e.g., cheese production) contexts. This study describes a factor that influences the efficacy of a recently discovered phage defense system (Hna) in the agriculturally relevant soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Like other phage defense systems, Hna systems undergo extensive horizontal transfer and must be able to maintain functionality across different genetic backgrounds. Our work demonstrates that host factor differences can significantly impact the performance of phage defense systems.},
}
@article {pmid40823834,
year = {2025},
author = {Sarasa-Buisán, C and Nieves-Morión, M and Lindblad, P and Nierzwicki-Bauer, S and Schluepmann, H and Flores, E},
title = {Intercellular communication in the fern endosymbiotic cyanobacterium Nostoc azollae.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0118725},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.01187-25},
pmid = {40823834},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {The water fern Azolla spp. harbors as an endobiont the N2-fixing, filamentous, heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Nostoc azollae. N. azollae provides the fern with fixed nitrogen permitting its growth in nitrogen-poor environments. In the diazotrophic filaments of heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria, intercellular molecular exchange occurs in which heterocysts provide vegetative cells with fixed nitrogen and vegetative cells provide heterocysts with reduced carbon. Intercellular molecular exchange takes place by diffusion through septal junctions and can be probed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis with fluorescent markers such as calcein and 5-carboxyfluorescein. The septal junctions traverse the septal peptidoglycan (PG) through nanopores that can be visualized in isolated septal PG disks by electron microscopy. Here, we obtained from Azolla plants material containing the symbiotic cyanobacterium in a viable state and with different morphologies, including heterocyst-containing filaments. FRAP analysis showed effective transfer of the fluorescent markers between vegetative cells, as well as from vegetative cells to heterocysts. Interestingly, communicating and noncommunicating vegetative cells and heterocysts could be distinguished, showing conservation in the endobiont of a mechanism regulating the septal junctions. PG sacculi were also isolated and showed septal disks with arrays of nanopores that conform to those visualized in other heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. However, a wider range of septal disk size was observed in N. azollae. In spite of its eroded genome, N. azollae maintains the intercellular communication system that is key for its growth as a multicellular organism. Additionally, labeling with the fluorescent sucrose analog esculin suggests sucrose as a source of reduced carbon for the endobiont.IMPORTANCEThe water fern Azolla constitutes a unique symbiotic system in which cyanobacterial endobionts capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen provide the plant with the nitrogen needed for growth. This symbiosis is an important fertilizer for rice crops worldwide, thereby reducing the reliance on fossil fuel-derived nitrogen fertilizers. The symbiotic cyanobacterium, Nostoc azollae, is a heterocyst-forming strain in which a filament of cells is the organismic unit of growth. Here, we show that the intercellular molecular exchange function necessary for the multicellular behavior of the organism is conserved in the endobiotic N. azollae.},
}
@article {pmid40823765,
year = {2025},
author = {Shan, Y and Zhu, X and Wang, T and Zhang, L and Qi, Y and Hu, Z and Jiang, Z and Zhu, Y and Lu, Y and Yao, J and Xiong, H},
title = {Mitochondria-Targeted Ferroptosis Nanodrug for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy via Fatty Acid Metabolism Remodeling and Tumor Bacterial Symbiosis Inhibition.},
journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e06443},
doi = {10.1002/smll.202506443},
pmid = {40823765},
issn = {1613-6829},
support = {2018Z063//Post-doctoral support of Jiangsu Province/ ; },
abstract = {Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, due to its pronounced propensity for metastasis. This challenge is amplified by the critical role of mitochondria in metastasis, regulating processes like fatty acid metabolism that drive tumor cell migration. Moreover, emerging evidence suggests that bacterial infiltration, particularly Staphylococcus xylosus (S. xylosus), could further exacerbate TNBC metastasis. To address both metabolic dysregulation and bacterial involvement, a mitochondria-targeted ferroptosis-activated nanosystem is developed, named ICM, which is integrated the mitochondrial membrane (MM) for mitochondrial targeting, the FeCl3 for ferroptosis therapy, the photosensitizer indocyanine green, and cytochrome c (CytC) through self-assembly technology. During assembly, CytC interacted with cardiolipin on the MM, endowing ICM with peroxidase-like and catalase-like activities. Dual enzymatic activities, combined with phototherapy, enhance FeCl3-induced ferroptosis in tumor cell mitochondria, thereby reprogramming fatty acid metabolism and inhibiting metastasis. Additionally, the amplified ferroptosis effects also effectively inhibit S. xylosus, disrupting the tumor-bacteria symbiosis and further preventing metastatic spread. Finally, ICM nanoparticles significantly suppress TNBC metastasis by modulating lipid metabolism and inhibiting bacterial-mediated metastasis. These findings suggest that ICM offer a multifaceted therapeutic approach for combating TNBC metastasis, providing a potential strategy for cancer treatments.},
}
@article {pmid40822732,
year = {2025},
author = {Daud, M and Qiao, H and Xu, S and Hui, X and Adil, M and Lu, Y},
title = {Understanding abiotic stress in alfalfa: physiological and molecular perspectives on salinity, drought, and heavy metal toxicity.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1627599},
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2025.1627599},
pmid = {40822732},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a vital perennial legume forage, has been widely cultivated owing to a variety of favorable characteristics, including comprehensive ecological resilience, superior nutritive value, digestibility, and nitrogen fixation capacity. The productivity traits of alfalfa, particularly its biomass yield and forage quality, are profoundly influenced by a range of abiotic stress conditions. As a common abiotic stress, drought adversely impacts growth and photosynthetic efficiency, accompanied by increased oxidative damage and stomatal closure as a mechanism to minimize water loss; meanwhile, transgenic approaches have been employed to enhance drought resilience by improving antioxidant activity and water-use efficiency. Salinity stress disturbs ionic balance, resulting in sodium (Na[+]) toxicity and the generation of oxidative damage; however, alfalfa cultivars exhibit salinity tolerance through mechanisms such as Na[+] exclusion, K[+] retention, activation of antioxidant defenses, hormonal regulation, and the upregulation of stress-responsive genes. In addition, heavy metals pose a significant challenge to alfalfa production, as they impair plant development and disrupt symbiotic nitrogen fixation, but recent studies have highlighted the potential of microbial-assisted phytoremediation in mitigating these detrimental effects. By integrating recent findings, this review highlights the intricate physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms involved in alfalfa's responses to key abiotic stressors specifically drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity. Breakthroughs in genetic modification, notably the development of transgenic lines exhibiting altered expression of stress-responsive genes, offer valuable potential for improving stress resilience. Future research should employ omics approaches, advanced gene-editing and de novo gene synthesis to target key regulatory elements responsible for stress adaptation.},
}
@article {pmid40822399,
year = {2025},
author = {Luo, C and Song, Y and Meng, L and Cheng, Y and Dai, H and Qiao, Y and Xie, X},
title = {Transcriptomic insights into the molecular mechanism of abietic acid promoting growth and branching in Armillaria gallica.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1632512},
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2025.1632512},
pmid = {40822399},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Armillaria gallica, a valuable edible and medicinal fungus, is essential for the symbiotic cultivation of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Gastrodia elata. Abietic acid, a plant-derived secondary metabolite, modulates microbial growth and metabolism. This study investigates the effects of abietic acid on A. gallica growth and branching using phenotypic analysis and transcriptomic approaches to uncover underlying molecular mechanisms. The experiment compared an abietic acid treatment group (0.6 g/L) with a control group, assessing growth over several days via biomass measurements, rhizomorph counting, and RNA sequencing for transcriptomic profiling. Abietic acid significantly promoted A. gallica growth and branching, with the most pronounced effects on the third day: dry biomass weight increased by 302% and total rhizomorphs by 378.4% (p < 0.01). Transcriptomic analysis showed upregulation of GH5, GH16, MFS, and NAD(P)-binding protein genes in the treatment group, optimizing carbon utilization, cell wall remodeling, and nutrient transport. These findings elucidate abietic acid's role in regulating A. gallica development and provide a theoretical foundation for enhancing the symbiotic cultivation of G. elata and A. gallica.},
}
@article {pmid40822337,
year = {2025},
author = {Xin Yee Tan, K and Shigenobu, S},
title = {Targeted disruption of the cls gene in Buchnera aphidicola impairs membrane integrity and host symbiont dynamics.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {8},
pages = {113178},
doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2025.113178},
pmid = {40822337},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {The obligate symbiosis between pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum) and Buchnera aphidicola represents metabolic interdependence between the host insect and its bacterial symbiont. Buchnera has a highly reduced genome that has lost nearly all phospholipid synthesis genes except cls, encoding a cardiolipin synthase homologue. We employed in vivo antisense, cell-penetrating peptide (CPP)-conjugated synthetic peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to knock down cls in Buchnera. This intervention resulted in significant downregulation of cls expression, lowered Buchnera titers, pronounced morphological distortions, and reduced aphid reproduction. Notably, Buchnera cells were often detected in the aphid gut following anti-cls PNAs treatment, deviating from their typical intracellular niche within bacteriocytes. Collectively, the cls gene is critical for maintaining Buchnera integrity, proper cellular localization, and symbiont-host interactions. Given that the retention of cls is a common feature among many obligate endosymbionts despite massive gene loss, our findings offer key insights into the evolutionary principles shaping symbiotic relationships involving membrane biology.},
}
@article {pmid40819100,
year = {2025},
author = {Shin, MS and Yang, I and Wang, W and Kim, H},
title = {Diversity and composition of sponge-associated microbiomes from Korean sponges revealed by full-length 16S rRNA analysis.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {30021},
pmid = {40819100},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {NRF-2021R1F1A1063787//Ministry of Science and ICT/ ; RS-2022-NR071935//Ministry of Science and ICT/ ; RS-2023-NR076615//Ministry of Science and ICT/ ; RS-2022-NR072431//Ministry of Science and ICT/ ; },
abstract = {Marine sponges host diverse and specialized microbial communities that serve essential functions in nutrient cycling, ecosystem stability, and biotechnological applications. This study investigates the diversity and composition of sponge-associated microbiomes from eight sponge species collected in Chuksan Harbor, South Korea, using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing and amplicon sequence variant (ASV)-based methods. Our results demonstrate that each sponge species harbors distinct and highly structured microbial communities. Proteobacteria, and especially Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, were generally dominant; however, unique dominance patterns, such as the near-exclusive presence of an uncharacterized Gammaproteobacterial lineage in Cliona celata, suggest strong host-symbiont specificity and possible coevolution. Notably, no ASVs were shared between seawater and sponge samples, confirming that sponge hosts select and maintain unique sets of microbial partners. In several Halichondria species, we detected the presence of Entotheonella, a symbiont with high biosynthetic gene cluster diversity that may contribute to host chemical defense and metabolic versatility. Depth-driven differences in microbial community composition were exemplified by Geodia reniformis, whose microbiome was dominated by deep-sea adapted and metabolically versatile lineages such as SAR202, PAUC34f, and Dadabacteriales. This study establishes a new baseline for understanding sponge-microbe partnerships in Korean marine environments. Our integrative, high-resolution approach not only uncovers remarkable taxonomic and functional diversity, but also provides a valuable genetic resource for future marine natural-product discovery and advances ecological restoration efforts.},
}
@article {pmid40818932,
year = {2025},
author = {Ansari, BK and Shukla, AK and Sinam, G and Upreti, DK},
title = {Active transplantation study of nickel uptake by Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl.: prospection for atmospheric nickel biomonitoring.},
journal = {Environmental technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-14},
doi = {10.1080/09593330.2025.2545633},
pmid = {40818932},
issn = {1479-487X},
abstract = {The prevalence of nickel pollution is anticipated to rise due to the advent of novel low-carbon technologies and electric vehicles. Biomonitoring, which is increasingly overlooked in favour of technology-driven methods, remains a cost-effective approach and enables the monitoring of extensive spatial areas. In the present study, Pyxine cocoes (P. cocoes), a symbiotic lichen, was examined for the first time for its capacity to uptake sprayed nickel (Ni) in vivo and the subsequent effects on its physicochemical parameters. Transplanted P. cocoes was treated with different concentrations of Ni solutions (5 µM, 50 µM, 100 µM, 150 µM, 200 µM). The lichen, P. cocoes, had the capacity to accumulate Ni linearly in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The effect of Ni on photosynthetic parameters, cell membrane integrity, antioxidants and protein content was quantified corresponding to concentrations and durations of treatment. At a low dose (5 µM), a beneficial effect was observed on chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll and protein content in P. cocoes. At higher doses of Ni (150 µM, 200 µM), it exhibited an inhibitory effect as observed by reduced photosynthetic parameters and antioxidant activity. Cell membrane integrity (CMI) deteriorated in response to increasing Ni exposure, as indicated by increased electrolyte conductivity. Using the linear regression coefficient, it was determined that at lower Ni concentrations, the adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-second-order (chemisorption) and, at higher concentrations, it followed pseudo-first-order kinetics (physisorption). This active (transplant) monitoring method is a novel endeavour in monitoring Ni stress and utilising the physicochemical parameters as a bioindicator for Ni pollution.},
}
@article {pmid40816675,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, J and Song, Y and Qiu, Y and Liu, G and Feng, Y},
title = {Simultaneous carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal and energy recovery from wastewater in a zero-energy microbial electrochemical system with algal-bacterial biocathode.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {122607},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.122607},
pmid = {40816675},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {Addressing the challenge of high energy consumption in conventional wastewater treatment, this study develops a zero-energy microbial electrochemical system (MES) featuring an algal-bacterial symbiotic biocathode. Under simulated day-night cycles, this configuration achieves simultaneous and efficient removal of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus pollutants while recovering electrical energy. During the illuminated phase, algal photosynthesis generates oxygen to sustain a stable voltage output (∼600 mV) without external aeration. In the dark phase, the system promotes denitrification, thereby enabling effective nitrogen removal. A petal-like NiO-modified carbon felt biocathode was fabricated, significantly enhancing the cathode's specific surface area and active sites, thereby effectively promoting the formation of a microbial-algal composite biofilm and cathodic reduction reaction. This innovative design and operational strategy enable zero-energy wastewater treatment coupled with resource recovery, offering a promising pathway toward energy self-sufficiency and carbon neutrality in practical wastewater treatment applications.},
}
@article {pmid40815476,
year = {2025},
author = {Papaleo, S and Panelli, S and Bitar, I and Sterzi, L and Nodari, R and Comandatore, F},
title = {Nucleotide composition shapes gene expression in Wolbachia pipientis: a role for MidA methyltransferase?.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0077925},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.00779-25},
pmid = {40815476},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Wolbachia pipientis is an obligate intracellular bacterium, associated with several arthropods and filarial nematodes. Wolbachia establishes a variety of symbiotic relationships with its hosts, with consequent genomic rearrangements, variation in gene content, and loss of regulatory regions. Despite this, experimental studies show that Wolbachia gene expression is coordinated with host developmental stages, but the mechanism is still unknown. In this work, we analyzed published RNA-seq data of four Wolbachia strains, finding a correlation between gene nucleotide composition and gene expression. The strength and direction of this phenomenon changed with the expression of the S-adenosyl-methionine-dependent methyltransferase midA. Specifically, when midA is overexpressed, there is a negative relationship between gene adenine content and gene expression, while downregulation of midA reverses this trend. MidA is known to methylate protein arginine, with potential effect on protein affinity for substrates, including nucleic acids. To expand our understanding of this poorly characterized enzyme, we investigated its ability to methylate DNA expressing it in Escherichia coli. The experiment revealed that the Wolbachia MidA can methylate both adenine and cytosine. Lastly, we found upstream the midA gene, a conserved binding site for the Ccka/CtrA signaling transduction system, and we hypothesize that this mechanism could be involved in the communication between the host and the bacterium. Overall, these findings suggest a cascade mechanism in which the host activates the bacterium Ccka/CtrA signaling system, thus inducing the expression of the midA gene, with subsequent effect on the expression of several Wolbachia genes on the basis of their nucleotide composition.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Wolbachia pipientis is one of the most common intracellular bacteria in insects, and it is currently utilized as a tool for the control of vector-borne diseases. As for many other endosymbiont bacteria, Wolbachia experienced important genome rearrangements, gene content changes, and the loss of several regulatory sequences, affecting the integrity of operons and promoters. Nevertheless, experimental studies have shown that Wolbachia gene expression is coordinated with the host physiology (e.g., developmental stages), although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this work, based on in silico analyses and an experimental study on wOo methyltransferase, we propose that bacterial DNA methylation could be a key mechanism regulating Wolbachia gene expression. Additionally, we found evidence suggesting that the DNA methylation process in Wolbachia can be activated by the host.},
}
@article {pmid40815469,
year = {2025},
author = {Dai, M and Zhao, F and Shi, X and Tian, C and Lin, Y and Bai, L and Li, T and Jin, X and Xiao, L and Kristiansen, K and Li, X and Zhang, Z},
title = {Cultivation and sequencing of microbiota members unveil the functional potential of yak gut microbiota.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0036725},
doi = {10.1128/msystems.00367-25},
pmid = {40815469},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {The animal gut microbiota exhibits extensive taxonomic diversity, yet cultivated isolates and complete genomes from animal hosts remain scarce, hindering functional and ecological insights. We present a cultivated Yak (Bos grunniens) Fecal bacteria genome Reference (YFR), comprising 548 high-quality genomes based on aerobic and anaerobic cultivation. Notably, 216 strains represented novel taxa, classified into 29 species-level clusters spanning 4 phyla and 14 genera. The YFR increased the proportion of cultured ruminant gut bacterial species by 19.39%, significantly expanding the reference database for this ecosystem. Among these, 11 species harbor abundant CAZymes Gene Clusters (CGCs), indicating a high capacity for digesting complex polysaccharides. Biosynthetic Gene Clusters (BGCs) are predicted and demonstrated to possess distinct novelty in YFR genomes, demonstrating a potential for future applications. We demonstrated that the symbiotic relationship between host bacterial strains and bacteriophages can be effectively studied using cultured strains by enabling precise mapping of viral genes to host metabolic adaptations. Culturing animal gut bacterial species not only expands the resources of culturable strains but also provides a basis for subsequent functional mining.IMPORTANCEAs a representative species in high-altitude extreme environments, yaks rely on their gut microbiota to support critical physiological functions and adapt to harsh conditions. This study established a comprehensive pipeline by integrating innovative single-bacterium culture conditions with optimized strategies for the yak gut microbiota. The resulting genomic repository not only expands the culturable microbial resources for extremophile mammals but also reveals unique metabolic traits, including polysaccharide-digesting CAZyme clusters, novel BGCs, and phage-host interactions. This approach provides essential microbial resources for advancing our understanding of host-microbial adaptations to extreme environments and offers tangible tools for industrial enzyme discovery and synthetic biology applications.},
}
@article {pmid40814858,
year = {2025},
author = {DelPercio, R and McGregor, M and Morley, S and Nikaeen, N and Meyers, B and Baldrich, P},
title = {Transcriptional Dynamics of Nitrogen Fixation and Senescence in Soybean Nodules: A Dual Perspective on Host and Bradyrhizobium Regulation.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-25-0037-R},
pmid = {40814858},
issn = {0894-0282},
abstract = {The Soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis enables symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) within root nodules, reducing reliance on synthetic N-fertilizers. However, nitrogen fixation is transient, peaking several weeks after Bradyrhizobium colonization and declining as nodules senesce in coordination with host development. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms governing SNF and senescence, we conducted a temporal transcriptomic analysis of soybean nodules colonized with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110. Weekly nodule samples (2-10 weeks post-inoculation, wpi) were analyzed using RNA and small RNA sequencing, while acetylene reduction assays assessed nitrogenase activity from 4 to 7 wpi. We identified three major nodule developmental phases: early development (2-3 wpi), nitrogen fixation (3-8 wpi), and senescence (8-10 wpi). Soybean showed extensive transcriptional reprogramming during senescence, whereas Bradyrhizobium underwent major transcriptional shifts early in development before stabilizing during nitrogen fixation. We identified seven soybean genes and several microRNAs as candidate biomarkers of nitrogen fixation, including lipoxygenases (Lox), suggesting roles for oxylipin metabolism. Soy hemoglobin-2 (Hb2), previously classified as non-symbiotic, was upregulated during senescence, implicating oxidative stress responses within aging nodules. Upregulation of the Bradyrhizobium paa operon and rpoH during senescence suggested metabolic adaptation for survival beyond symbiosis. Additionally, Bradyrhizobium NIF gene expression showed stage-specific regulation, with nifK peaking at 2 wpi, nifD and nifA at 2 and 10 wpi, and nifH, nifW, and nifS at 10 wpi. These findings provide insights into SNF regulation and nodule aging, revealing temporal gene expression patterns that could inform breeding or genetic engineering strategies to enhance nitrogen fixation in soybeans and other legume crops.},
}
@article {pmid40812734,
year = {2025},
author = {Pu, D and Jin, Y and Wang, L and Wang, R and Li, L and Song, Y and Han, X},
title = {Combined supplementation of short-chain fatty acids reduces hyperphosphorylation of Tau at T181,T231 and S396 sites and improves cognitive impairment in a chemically induced AD mouse model via regulation of HDAC and Keap1.},
journal = {Neurochemistry international},
volume = {189},
number = {},
pages = {106034},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuint.2025.106034},
pmid = {40812734},
issn = {1872-9754},
abstract = {Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the pathological hallmarks of β-amyloid deposition and Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, with memory loss and cognitive dysfunction as its primary clinical manifestations. The incidence of AD has been progressively increasing in recent years. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), key effector molecules in host-gut microbial interactions, play a crucial role in maintaining central nervous system homeostasis. In this study, AD mouse model was established via AlCl3/D-gal induction. The effects of mixed SCFA intervention on spatial learning and memory in AD model mice were assessed using behavioral tests, including the Morris Water Maze. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activities of oxidative stress-related enzymes in brain and colon tissues were quantified using ELISA and commercial kits. Key protein expression levels were analyzed by Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Results demonstrated that SCFAs significantly alleviated cognitive dysfunction in AD model, reduced Tau hyperphosphorylation at T181, T231 and S396 sites, suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine release, and enhanced antioxidant capacity, but with no reversal in elevated Aβ levels in AD model. Mechanistically, SCFAs inhibited glial cell activation, upregulated MCT-1 and tight junction proteins in the blood-brain barrier and strengthened gut-brain barrier integrity, potentially regulating small molecule trans-barrier transport. Furthermore, examination of relevant protein expressions revealed that SCFAs activated HDAC1 and inhibited overexpressed HDAC3 and Keap-1 in AD mice model. These findings suggest that SCFAs may regulate epigenetic modifications in the brain of AD to exert neuroprotective effects. This study provides novel evidence supporting the potential of symbiotic microbe-derived SCFAs in alleviating AD.},
}
@article {pmid40812177,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Tan, X and Wang, E},
title = {Networks of the symbiosis-immunity continuum in plants.},
journal = {Cell host &amp; microbe},
volume = {33},
number = {8},
pages = {1256-1275},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.06.009},
pmid = {40812177},
issn = {1934-6069},
abstract = {Plants continuously interact with diverse microbes. Forming essential symbiotic relationships promotes plant growth, while defending against harmful microbes prevents disease. Plants resist pathogens by detecting molecules released from microbes. Beneficial microbes distinguish themselves from harmful pathogens before establishing symbiosis by releasing molecules and suppressing plant defenses during the infection and colonization stages. Despite their distinct outcomes, symbiotic and immune responses lie on a continuum and share key features, including dynamic cellular remodeling, metabolite rearrangement, and the maintenance of defenses against pathogens. This review explores the regulatory networks governing these processes, highlighting the shared and unique molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic and immune responses. Understanding how plants integrate environmental signals to balance symbiotic compatibility and defense will provide valuable insights into optimizing plant health and productivity in changing ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40812045,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, Y and Zhang, C and Deng, Y and Lei, L and Hu, T},
title = {Oral microecological community- Streptococcus mutans dysbiosis and interaction provide therapeutic perspectives for dental caries.},
journal = {Archives of oral biology},
volume = {178},
number = {},
pages = {106367},
doi = {10.1016/j.archoralbio.2025.106367},
pmid = {40812045},
issn = {1879-1506},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This review aims to provide an overview of the dysbiosis and interaction between Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and other Streptococci, Veillonella spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Candida albicans in the oral cavity, which is a major driver of cariogenicity.<br><br>DESIGN: The search for this narrative review was conducted in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, employing keywords like "Dental caries," "Streptococcus mutans," "Commensal Streptococci," "Veillonella," "Lactobacillus," "Candida albicans," and "Interaction" while manually retrieving the reference lists of journal articles.<br><br>RESULTS: Dental caries has a high prevalence and low treatment rate in the population, which poses a great burden to public health and the social economy. The etiology of dental caries is closely linked to the imbalance of oral microbial communities. S. mutans is the major pathogen of dental caries. The cariogenic mechanism of S. mutans is primarily related to acid production and acid resistance, as well as polysaccharide production, adhesion, colonization, and the formation of cariogenic biofilm. However, there are complex interactions between S. mutans and other symbiotic microorganisms in the oral cavity, which synergistically or antagonistically affect the pathogenicity of microorganisms.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The interactions between S. mutans and oral commensal microorganisms on the microecology provide an in-depth understanding of the etiology of cariogenicity and new pathways for multiple caries prevention and treatment, such as hydrogen peroxide, arginine, farnesol, and probiotics.},
}
@article {pmid40811611,
year = {2025},
author = {Araújo, NH and Landry, D and Quilbé, J and Pervent, M and Nouwen, N and Klopp, C and Cullimore, J and Gully, D and Vicedo, C and Gasciolli, V and Brottier, L and Pichereaux, C and Racoupeau, M and Rios, M and Gressent, F and Chaintreuil, C and Gough, C and Giraud, E and Lefebvre, B and Arrighi, JF},
title = {The receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase AeRLCK2 mediates Nod-independent rhizobial symbiosis in Aeschynomene legumes.},
journal = {The Plant cell},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plcell/koaf201},
pmid = {40811611},
issn = {1532-298X},
abstract = {Many plants interact symbiotically with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to enhance inorganic phosphorus uptake, and legumes also develop a nodule symbiosis with rhizobia for nitrogen acquisition. The establishment and functioning of both symbioses rely on a common plant signaling pathway activated by structurally related Myc and Nod factors. Recently, a SPARK receptor-like kinase (RLK)/receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RLCK) complex was shown to be essential for arbuscular mycorrhiza formation in both monocot and dicot plants. Here, we show that in Aeschynomene legumes, the RLCK component of this receptor complex has undergone a gene duplication event and mediates a unique nodule symbiosis that is independent of rhizobial Nod factors. In Aeschynomene evenia, AeRLCK2 is crucial for nodule initiation but not for arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis. Additionally, AeRLCK2 physically interacts with and is phosphorylated by the cysteine-rich RLK, AeCRK, which is also required for nodulation. This finding uncovers an important molecular mechanism that controls the establishment of nodulation and is associated with Nod-independent symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40811509,
year = {2025},
author = {Pen, IAM and Benedict, C and Broe, MB and Delgado, A and Glon, H and Zhang, M and Daly, M},
title = {Resolving Acuticulata (Metridioidea: Enthemonae: Actiniaria), a clade containing many invasive species of sea anemones.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {8},
pages = {e0328544},
pmid = {40811509},
issn = {1932-6203},
abstract = {Acuticulata is a globally distributed group in the actiniarian superfamily Metridioidea comprised of taxa with ecological, economic, and scientific significance. Prominent members such as Exaiptasia diaphana and Diadumene lineata serve as model organisms for studying coral symbiosis, bleaching phenomena, and ecological invasions. Despite their importance, unresolved phylogenetic relationships and outdated taxonomic frameworks hinder a full understanding of the diversity and evolution of the taxa in this clade. In this study, we employ a targeted sequence-capture approach to construct a robust phylogeny for Acuticulata, addressing long-standing questions about familial monophyly and comparing the results to results from a more conventional five-gene dataset. Specimens from previously underrepresented families and global regions, including the Falkland Islands, were included to elucidate evolutionary interrelationships and improve resolution. Our results support the monophyly of Aliciidae, Boloceroididae, Diadumenidae, Gonactiniidae, and Metridiidae. Our results reiterate the need for taxonomic revision within the family Sagartiidae, as the specimens we included from this family were recovered in four distinct clades. Based on our results, we transfer Paraiptasia from Aiptasiidae to Sagartiidae. These findings emphasize the utility of genome-scale data for resolving phylogenetic ambiguities for morphologically problematic taxa and suggest a framework for future integrative taxonomic and ecological studies within Acuticulata.},
}
@article {pmid40811445,
year = {2025},
author = {Gebre, KY and Demissie, AG and Tesema, AA and Belay, HZ and Akalye, MW and Friew, AB and Baye, FG and Felatie, HB and Yohannes, MA and Eshetu, MA and Shiferaw, WA},
title = {Isolation, biochemical characterization, and greenhouse authentication of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) rhizobia collected from some major chickpea growing areas of Woldia, North Wollo, Ethiopia.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {8},
pages = {e0330169},
pmid = {40811445},
issn = {1932-6203},
abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a vital legume crop worldwide, valued for its high nutritional content and significant contribution to food security and soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation. Despite its importance, chickpea yields remain suboptimal in many regions, including Ethiopia, primarily due to constraints such as poor soil fertility and inadequate use of effective rhizobia inoculants. This study aimed to isolate and characterize native Rhizobium strains from chickpea root nodules collected from fields in the Woldia region and to assess their potential to promote plant growth. A total of 41 bacterial isolates were obtained, of which 12 were presumptively identified as Rhizobium based on growth characteristics on Congo red and bromothymol blue media. These isolates were further characterized morphologically and biochemically. Five biochemically promising isolates were selected for evaluation in a controlled 45-day greenhouse experiment under sterile conditions. Inoculation with these isolates significantly enhanced seed germination and early seedling growth compared to uninoculated controls. The symbiotic effectiveness of the isolates ranged from 74.3% to 121.9%, with isolates WUSFDG-23, WUSFMC-31, and WUSFMC-23 demonstrating high effectiveness, isolate WUSFDG-23 markedly increased nodulation and biomass accumulation. This study highlights the potential of native Rhizobium isolates from Woldia chickpea fields, especially WUSFDG-23, as effective bio-inoculants to promote sustainable chickpea production and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.},
}
@article {pmid40811300,
year = {2025},
author = {Zheng, J and Nishida, Y and Okrasinska, A and Bonito, GM and Heath-Heckman, EAC and Liu, KJ},
title = {The Impact of Species Tree Estimation Error on Cophylogenetic Reconstruction.},
journal = {IEEE transactions on computational biology and bioinformatics},
volume = {22},
number = {4},
pages = {1265-1277},
doi = {10.1109/TCBBIO.2025.3553405},
pmid = {40811300},
issn = {2998-4165},
abstract = {Just as a phylogeny encodes the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms, a cophylogeny represents the coevolutionary relationships among symbiotic partners. Both are primarily reconstructed using computational analysis of biomolecular sequence data. The most widely used cophylogenetic reconstruction methods utilize an important simplifying assumption: species phylogenies for each set of coevolved taxa are required as input and assumed to be correct. Many studies have shown that this assumption is rarely - if ever - satisfied, and the consequences for cophylogenetic studies are poorly understood. To address this gap, we conduct a comprehensive performance study that quantifies the relationship between species tree estimation error and downstream cophylogenetic estimation accuracy. We study the performance of state-of-the-art methods for cophylogenetic reconstruction using in silico model-based simulations. Our investigation also assessed cophylogenetic reproducibility using genomic sequence data from two important models of symbiosis: soil-associated fungi and their endosymbiotic bacteria, and bobtail squid and their bioluminescent bacterial symbionts. Our findings conclusively demonstrate the major impact that upstream phylogenetic estimation error has on downstream cophylogenetic reconstruction. Relative to other experimental factors such as cophylogenetic estimation method choice and coevolutionary event costs, phylogenetic estimation error ranked highest in importance based on a random forest-based variable importance assessment. We conclude with practical guidance and future research directions. Among the many considerations needed for accurate cophylogenetic reconstruction - choice of computational method, method settings, sampling design, and others - just as much attention must be paid to careful species phylogeny estimation using modern best practices.},
}
@article {pmid40810521,
year = {2025},
author = {Kruasuwan, W and Arigul, T and Munnoch, JT and Nutaratat, P and Songvorawit, N},
title = {Gut-associated bacteria and their roles in wood digestion of saproxylic insects: The case study of flower chafer larvae.},
journal = {Insect molecular biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/imb.70010},
pmid = {40810521},
issn = {1365-2583},
support = {FF-2567A10512010//National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF), Thaksin University (Research Project Grant) Fiscal Year 2024/ ; CUFRB65_bcg(20)_088_23_18//Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fund Chulalongkorn University/ ; R016841017//Mahidol University (Fundamental Fund: Fiscal Year 2025)/ ; B13F660073//Program Management Unit for Human Resources &amp; Institutional Development, Research Innovation/ ; },
abstract = {Protaetia acuminata (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and plays a significant role in nutrient cycling by facilitating the decomposition of woody materials, a process that likely relies heavily on the contribution of symbiotic bacteria within their digestive system. However, their gut bacteria have not been thoroughly studied. By using V3-V4 amplicon sequencing, it was revealed that the midgut (MG) of Pr. acuminata larvae and fermented sawdust after rearing (FSD) share a similar microbial community, predominantly composed of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota, as well as functional genes associated with cellulolysis, nitrogen respiration, nitrate reduction and aerobic chemoheterotrophy. In contrast, the bacterial community in the hindgut (HG) was distinctly different, with anaerobic respiration being the dominant metabolic process. Agromyces, Altererythrobacter, Bacillus, Cellulomonas, Lysinibacillus, Pseudoxanthomonas and the family Promicromonosporaceae were the most common genera in MG, HG and FSD samples. The culture-based isolation method yielded 67 isolates from the larvae, with gram-positive bacteria predominating in HG and MG, whereas gram-negative bacteria were primarily found in the FSD. These microorganisms produce a range of lignocellulolytic enzymes including β-endoglucanase, laccase and xylanase that enable the beetles to digest their plant-based diet efficiently and also involve many biochemical pathways relating to biogeochemical cycling. Our results provide valuable insights into the gut-associated Pr. acuminata flower chafer larvae and could serve as a basis and reservoir for future studies on lignocellulolytic enzyme-producing bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40810464,
year = {2025},
author = {González-López, AM and Quiñones-Aguilar, EE and Guizar-González, C and Rincón-Enríquez, G},
title = {Annonacin accumulation in leaves of Annona muricata L. induced by mycorrhizal colonization.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaf085},
pmid = {40810464},
issn = {1574-6968},
abstract = {Annona muricata L. is a tropical tree known for its secondary metabolites, particularly acetogenins, which have cytotoxic and antitumor properties. Research has shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis and drought stress can increase the production of terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds in plants. Our objective was to assess whether AMF symbiosis (both species and consortia) and two irrigation regimens enhanced foliar annonacin concentration, the primary acetogenin in A. muricata leaves. Two irrigation levels were used: normal irrigation (NI) and low irrigation (LI). Trees were inoculated with two AMF consortia: Cerro del Metate (CM) and Agua Duce (AD); and two AMF species: Rhizophagus intraradices (RI) and Funneliformis mosseae (FM). Results showed that annonacin concentration was 83% lower in leaves under LI compared to NI. However, AMF symbiosis increased annonacin concentration, especially under LI conditions. Dry leaf weight was higher in mycorrhizal plants under the LI level than in controls. No growth promotion due to AMF symbiosis was observed under NI. In conclusion, AMF symbiosis promotes foliar annonacin concentration in A. muricata leaves in the two irrigation levels. FM treatment promotes higher annonacin concentration in the NI condition while AD, CM, and FM treatments promotes annonacin concentration in the LI condition.},
}
@article {pmid40810459,
year = {2025},
author = {Boo, KH and Oh, YK and Møller, C and Lee, D and Jeon, GL and Kim, D and Burow, M and Großkinsky, DK and Kim, J and Ryu, MY and Lee, B and Suh, J and Ha, CM and Roitsch, T and Lim, PO and Berger, F and Suh, JW and Kim, SI and Oh, TR and Cho, SK and Kim, W and Kim, S and Riu, KZ and Yang, SW},
title = {Dasineura asteriae Reprograms the Flower Gene Expressions of Vegetative Organs to Create Flower-Like Gall in Aster scaber.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70127},
pmid = {40810459},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (No. 2017R1A2B4010255) and by Samsung Science and Technology Foundation Project SSTF-BA1801-09 to S.W.Y. and was also supported by the Basic Science Research Program of the NRF funded by the Korean Ministry of Education (2016R1A6A1A03012862) and (2017R1D1A1B03034952) to K.Z.R and S.K., respectively. The "Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science &amp; Technology Development (Project No. PJ01319101)" funded by the Korean Rural Development Administration and a grant (715003-07) from the Research Center for Production Management and Technical Development for High Quality Livestock Products through Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Research Center Support Program, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to K.Z.R. Lastly, this study was supported by the National Sustainability Program I (NPU w, grant number LO1415) funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic to T.R. F.B. was supported by core funding from GMI./ ; },
abstract = {Plant galls are abnormal growing tissues induced by various parasitic organisms, exhibiting diverse and complex morphologies. Typically, these galls differ significantly in appearance from their host plants. Here, we report that larvae of a parasitic fly generate unique, rosette galls on Aster scaber, a perennial herb. These galls develop from vegetative organs after the larvae reprogram floral gene expression. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we conducted whole-genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis. Our findings reveal that the larvae induce host organ dedifferentiation into an amorphous callus, activate floral genes, and selectively suppress genes associated with carpel development. As a result, the pseudoflowers consist solely of tepal-like leaflets and a specialized chamber, and the larvae influence pigment biosynthesis. Hijacking plants developmental gene networks by insects to sequentially mediate dedifferentiation, cytokinin regulation, and tepal-like leaflets formation provides a framework to study highly elaborate forms of parasitism and symbiosis between plants and insects.},
}
@article {pmid40809550,
year = {2025},
author = {Gallardo Salamanca, ML&#xc1; and Asorey, C and Macpherson, E},
title = {A new species of Galathea (Decapoda, Galatheidae) from the seamounts of the Easter Island area (Southeast Pacific Ocean Ridge) associated with a sea urchin.},
journal = {ZooKeys},
volume = {1248},
number = {},
pages = {111-123},
pmid = {40809550},
issn = {1313-2989},
abstract = {Galatheatukitukimea sp. nov. is described from the seamounts near Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and represents the first record of the genus for this region of the Pacific Ocean and for Chilean territory. The new species belongs to the group of species having the carapace with median protogastric and cardiac spines. G.tukitukimea has always been observed associated with the sea urchin Stereocidarisnascaensis. This potential mimicry-based association is uncommon in squat lobsters, which warrants further study.},
}
@article {pmid40809039,
year = {2025},
author = {Strzelecki, P and Nowicki, D},
title = {Tools to study microbial iron homeostasis and oxidative stress: current techniques and methodological gaps.},
journal = {Frontiers in molecular biosciences},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {1628725},
pmid = {40809039},
issn = {2296-889X},
abstract = {Iron is a vital nutrient for both microbial pathogens and their eukaryotic hosts, playing essential roles in stress adaptation, symbiotic interactions, virulence expression, and chronic inflammatory diseases. This review discusses current laboratory methods for iron detection and quantification in microbial cultures, host-pathogen models, and environmental samples. Microbial pathogens have evolved sophisticated specialized transport systems, iron acquisition strategies to overcome its limitation, including siderophore production, uptake of heme and host iron-binding. These iron-scavenging systems are closely linked to the regulation of virulence traits such as adhesion, motility, toxin secretion, and biofilm formation. In ESKAPEE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp. and Escherichia coli), iron limitation enhances biofilm development, which protects bacteria from antibiotics and immune responses and promotes persistent infections. Even worse, pathogens can also manipulate host iron metabolism, exacerbating inflammation and disease progression. Although iron is indispensable for microbial growth, excessive intracellular iron promotes reactive oxygen species generation, causing oxidative damage and ferroptosis-like cell death. Understanding the dual role of iron as both a nutrient and a toxic agent highlights its importance in infection dynamics. We provide a critical overview of existing analytical techniques and emphasize the need for careful selection of methods to improve our understanding of microbial iron metabolism, host-pathogen interactions, and to support the development of new therapeutic and environmental monitoring strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40808256,
year = {2025},
author = {Kumar, A and Gao, JP and Murray, JD},
title = {How Plants Discriminate Mutualistic Symbiosis from Immunity.},
journal = {Molecular plant},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2025.08.005},
pmid = {40808256},
issn = {1752-9867},
}
@article {pmid40808187,
year = {2025},
author = {Asan, G and Arslan, O},
title = {Multifunctional, Biocompatible Hybrid Surface Coatings Combining Antibacterial, Hydrophobic and Fluorescent Applications.},
journal = {Polymers},
volume = {17},
number = {15},
pages = {},
pmid = {40808187},
issn = {2073-4360},
abstract = {The hybrid inorganic-organic material concept plays a bold role in multifunctional materials, combining different features on one platform. Once varying properties coexist without cancelling each other on one matrix, a new type of supermaterial can be formed. This concept showed that silver nanoparticles can be embedded together with inorganic and organic surface coatings and silicon quantum dots for symbiotic antibacterial character and UV-excited visible light fluorescent features. Additionally, fluorosilane material can be coupled with this prepolymeric structure to add the hydrophobic feature, showing water contact angles around 120°, providing self-cleaning features. Optical properties of the components and the final material were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy and PL analysis. Atomic investigations and structural variations were detected by XPS, SEM, and EDX atomic mapping methods, correcting the atomic entities inside the coating. FT-IR tracked surface features, and statistical analysis of the quantum dots and nanoparticles was conducted. Multifunctional final materials showed antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus, exhibiting self-cleaning features with high surface contact angles and visible light fluorescence due to the silicon quantum dot incorporation into the sol-gel-produced nanocomposite hybrid structure.},
}
@article {pmid40807545,
year = {2025},
author = {Guzińska, N and Castillo, MDD and Kordialik-Bogacka, E},
title = {Fermentation to Increase the Value of Roasted Coffee Silverskin as a Functional Food Ingredient.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {15},
pages = {},
pmid = {40807545},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {PID2019-11510RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; },
abstract = {Roasted coffee silverskin (RCSS) is a by-product of coffee production characterized by its content of phenolic compounds, both free and bound to macromolecules. In this study, RCSS was fermented to release these compounds and consequently increase its value as a functional food ingredient. Fermentation was carried out using yeast, acetic acid bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria, either as single strains or as a designed microbial consortium. The latter included Saccharomycodes ludwigii, Gluconobacter oxydans, and Levilactobacillus brevis, mimicking a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast commonly used in kombucha fermentation (SCOBY). This symbiotic microbial culture consortium demonstrated notable efficacy, significantly enhancing the total phenolic content in RCSS, with values reaching 14.15 mg GAE/g as determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and 7.12 mg GAE/g according to the Fast Blue BB method. Antioxidant capacity improved by approximately 28% (ABTS) and 20% (DPPH). Moreover, the fermented RCSS supported the viability of probiotic strains (Saccharomyces boulardii SB01 and Levilactobacillus brevis ŁOCK 1152) under simulated intestinal conditions. These results suggest that RCSS, particularly after fermentation with a full symbiotic microbial culture consortium, has strong potential as a clean label, zero-waste functional food ingredient.},
}
@article {pmid40807366,
year = {2025},
author = {Ziemlewska, A and Zagórska-Dziok, M and Nowak, A and Muzykiewicz-Szymańska, A and Wójciak, M and Sowa, I and Szczepanek, D and Nizioł-Łukaszewska, Z},
title = {Enhancing the Cosmetic Potential of Aloe Vera Gel by Kombucha-Mediated Fermentation: Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anti-Aging and Moisturizing Properties.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {30},
number = {15},
pages = {},
pmid = {40807366},
issn = {1420-3049},
abstract = {Aloe vera gel is a valuable raw material used in the cosmetic industry for its skin care properties. The present study analyzed the effects of the fermentation of aloe vera gel with a tea fungus kombucha, which is a symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeast, carried out for 10 and 20 days (samples F10 and F20, respectively). The resulting ferments and unfermented gel were subjected to chromatographic analysis to determine the content of biologically active compounds. The permeability and accumulation of these compounds in pig skin were evaluated. In addition, the methods of DPPH, ABTS and the determination of intracellular free radical levels in keratinocytes (HaCaT) and fibroblasts (HDF) cell lines were used to determine antioxidant potential. The results showed a higher content of phenolic acids and flavonoids and better antioxidant properties of the ferments, especially after 20 days of fermentation. Cytotoxicity tests against HaCaT and HDF cells confirmed the absence of toxic effects; moreover, samples at the concentrations tested (mainly 10 and 25 mg/mL) showed cytoprotective effects. The analysis of enzymatic activity (collagenase, elastase and hyaluronidase) by the ELISA technique showed higher levels of inhibition for F10 and F20. The kombucha ferments also exhibited better moisturizing properties and lower levels of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), confirming their cosmetic potential.},
}
@article {pmid40806669,
year = {2025},
author = {Colby, L and Preskitt, C and Ho, JS and Balsara, K and Wu, D},
title = {Brain Metastasis: A Literary Review of the Possible Relationship Between Hypoxia and Angiogenesis in the Growth of Metastatic Brain Tumors.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {15},
pages = {},
pmid = {40806669},
issn = {1422-0067},
abstract = {Brain metastases are a common and deadly complication of many primary tumors. The progression of these tumors is poorly understood, and treatment options are limited. Two important components of tumor growth are hypoxia and angiogenesis. We conducted a review to look at the possibility of a symbiotic relationship between two transcription factors, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α (HIF1α) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and the role they play in metastasis to the brain. We delve further into this possible relationship by examining commonly used chemotherapeutic agents and their targets. Through an extensive literature review, we identified articles that provided evidence of a strong connection between these transcription factors and the growth of brain metastases, many highlighting a symbiotic relationship. Further supporting this, combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs with varying targets have increased the efficacy of treatment. Angiogenesis and hypoxia have long been known to play a large role in the invasion, growth, and poor outcomes of tumors. However, it is not fully understood how these factors influence one another during metastases. While prior studies have investigated the effects separately, we specifically delve into the synergistic and compounding effects that may exist between them. Our findings underscore the need for greater research allocation to investigate the possible symbiotic relationship between angiogenesis and hypoxia in brain metastasis.},
}
@article {pmid40806290,
year = {2025},
author = {Sonkodi, B},
title = {It Is Time to Consider the Lost Battle of Microdamaged Piezo2 in the Context of E. coli and Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {15},
pages = {},
pmid = {40806290},
issn = {1422-0067},
abstract = {The recent identification of early-onset mutational signatures with geographic variations by Diaz-Gay et al. is a significant finding, since early-onset colorectal cancer has emerged as an alarming public health challenge in the past two decades, and the pathomechanism remains unclear. Environmental risk factors, including lifestyle and diet, are highly suspected. The identification of colibactin from Escherichia coli as a potential pathogenic source is a major step forward in addressing this public health challenge. Therefore, the following opinion manuscript aims to outline the likely onset of the pathomechanism and the critical role of acquired Piezo2 channelopathy in early-onset colorectal cancer, which skews proton availability and proton motive force regulation toward E. coli within the microbiota-host symbiotic relationship. In addition, the colibactin produced by the pks island of E. coli induces host DNA damage, which likely interacts at the level of Wnt signaling with Piezo2 channelopathy-induced pathological remodeling. This transcriptional dysregulation eventually leads to tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. Mechanotransduction converts external physical cues to inner chemical and biological ones. Correspondingly, the proposed quantum mechanical free-energy-stimulated ultrafast proton-coupled tunneling, initiated by Piezo2, seems to be the principal and essential underlying novel oscillatory signaling that could be lost in colorectal cancer onset. Hence, Piezo2 channelopathy not only contributes to cancer initiation and impaired circadian regulation, including the proposed hippocampal ultradian clock, but also to proliferation and metastasis.},
}
@article {pmid40806090,
year = {2025},
author = {Shremo Msdi, A and Wang, EM and Garey, KW},
title = {Prebiotics Improve Blood Pressure Control by Modulating Gut Microbiome Composition and Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Nutrients},
volume = {17},
number = {15},
pages = {},
pmid = {40806090},
issn = {2072-6643},
abstract = {Background: Ingestion of dietary fibers (DFs) is a safe and accessible intervention associated with reductions in blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular mortality. However, the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effects of DFs remain poorly defined. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates how DFs influence BP regulation by modulating gut microbial composition and enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched for interventional studies published between January 2014 and December 2024. Eligible studies assessed the effects of DFs or other prebiotics on systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) in addition to changes in gut microbial or SCFA composition. Results: Of the 3010 records screened, nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria (seven human, twelve animal). A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on six human trials reporting post-intervention BP values. Prebiotics were the primary intervention. In hypertensive cohorts, prebiotics significantly reduced SBP (-8.5 mmHg; 95% CI: -13.9, -3.1) and DBP (-5.2 mmHg; 95% CI: -8.5, -2.0). A pooled analysis of hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients showed non-significant reductions in SBP (-4.5 mmHg; 95% CI: -9.3, 0.3) and DBP (-2.5 mmHg; 95% CI: -5.4, 0.4). Animal studies consistently showed BP-lowering effects across diverse etiologies. Prebiotic interventions restored bacterial genera known to metabolize DFs to SCFAs (e.g., Bifidobacteria, Akkermansia, and Coprococcus) and increased SCFA levels. Mechanistically, SCFAs act along gut-organ axes to modulate immune, vascular, and neurohormonal pathways involved in BP regulation. Conclusions: Prebiotic supplementation is a promising strategy to reestablish BP homeostasis in hypertensive patients. Benefits are likely mediated through modulation of the gut microbiota and enhanced SCFA production.},
}
@article {pmid40806005,
year = {2025},
author = {Thompson, RS and Hopkins, S and Kelley, T and Wilson, CG and Pecaut, MJ and Fleshner, M},
title = {A Prebiotic Diet Containing Galactooligosaccharides and Polydextrose Attenuates Hypergravity-Induced Disruptions to the Microbiome in Female Mice.},
journal = {Nutrients},
volume = {17},
number = {15},
pages = {},
pmid = {40806005},
issn = {2072-6643},
support = {80NSSC19K1038, 16-ROSBFP_PI-0079/NASA/NASA/United States ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Environmental stressors, including spaceflight and altered gravity, can negatively affect the symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiome and host health. Dietary prebiotics, which alter components of the gut microbiome, show promise as an effective way to mitigate the negative impacts of stressor exposure. It remains unknown, however, if the stress-protective effects of consuming dietary prebiotics will extend to chronic altered-gravity exposure.<br><br>METHODS: Forty female C57BL/6 mice consumed either a control diet or a prebiotic diet containing galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and polydextrose (PDX) for 4 weeks, after which half of the mice were exposed to 3 times the gravitational force of Earth (3g) for an additional 4 weeks. Fecal microbiome samples were collected weekly for 8 weeks, sequenced, and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Terminal physiological endpoints, including immune and red blood cell characteristics, were collected at the end of the study.<br><br>RESULTS: The results demonstrate that dietary prebiotic consumption altered the gut microbial community structure through changes to &#x3b2;-diversity and multiple genera across time. In addition, consuming dietary prebiotics reduced the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW-CV). Importantly, the prebiotic diet prevented the impacts of altered-gravity on &#x3b2;-diversity and the bloom of problematic genera, such as Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Turicibacter. Furthermore, several prebiotic diet-induced genera-level changes were significantly associated with several host physiological changes induced by 3g exposure.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the stress-protective potential of consuming dietary prebiotics extends to environmental stressors such as altered gravity, and, potentially, spaceflight.},
}
@article {pmid40805780,
year = {2025},
author = {Xue, DY and Chen, WF and Yang, GP and Li, YG and Zhang, JJ},
title = {Screening and Application of Highly Efficient Rhizobia for Leguminous Green Manure Astragalus sinicus in Lyophilized Inoculants and Seed Coating.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {15},
pages = {},
pmid = {40805780},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {2021YFD1700200//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2024-2027//Professor Workstation of Anhui WeiHua Biotechnology Co., Ltd./ ; },
abstract = {Astragalus sinicus, a key leguminous green manure widely cultivated in Southern China's rice-based cropping systems, plays a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil organic matter sequestration, improving rice yield, and elevating grain quality. The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing association between A. sinicus and its matching rhizobia is fundamental to its agronomic value; however, suboptimal inoculant efficiency and field application methodologies constrain its full potential. To address these limitations, we conducted a multi-phase study involving (1) rhizobial strain screening under controlled greenhouse conditions, (2) an optimized lyophilization protocol evaluating cryoprotectant (trehalose, skimmed milk powder and others), and (3) seed pelleting trails with rhizobial viability and nodulation assessments over different storage periods. Our results demonstrate that Mesorhizobium huakuii CCBAU 33470 exhibits a superior nitrogen-fixing efficacy, significantly enhancing key traits in A. sinicus, including leaf chlorophyll content, tiller number, and aboveground biomass. Lyophilized inoculants prepared with cryoprotectants (20% trehalose or 20% skimmed milk powder) maintained >90% bacterial viability for 60 days and markedly improved nodulation capacity relative to unprotected formulations. The optimized seed pellets sustained high rhizobial loads (5.5 × 10[3] cells/seed) with an undiminished viability after 15 days of storage and nodulation ability after 40 days of storage. This integrated approach of rhizobial selection, inoculant formulation, and seed coating overcomes cultivation bottlenecks, boosting symbiotic nitrogen fixation for A. sinicus cultivation.},
}
@article {pmid40804293,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, M and Zhai, R and Niu, G and Chen, J and Tan, B and Wu, D and Meng, G and Wei, M},
title = {Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly uncovers Wolbachia-driven recurrent male bottleneck effect and selection in a sawfly.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {1211},
pmid = {40804293},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {20232BAB215017//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (Jiangxi Province Natural Science Foundation)/ ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia, a widespread endosymbiotic bacterium, profoundly impacts insect hosts by distorting reproduction and population dynamics. Despite extensive laboratory research, its long-term effects on host evolution in nature remain poorly understood, especially the genomic consequences linked to disruptions in sex determination and reproductive processes. We present the first telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome assembly of the sawfly Analcellicampa danfengensis and the complete genome of its symbiotic Wolbachia. Comparative population genomics across six Analcellicampa species revealed that Wolbachia-infected populations show starkly different demographic signals. While uninfected populations show similar demographic signals for both sexes, infected populations exhibit a lower apparent effective population size (Ne) in males, which may reflect a recurrent male bottleneck effect driven by Wolbachia-induced male scarcity. Genomic scans identified positively selected genes associated with reproductive functions, sensory perception, neural development, and longevity, suggesting that Wolbachia likely manipulates critical host pathways to promote its transmission. These findings provide direct genomic insights into Wolbachia as an evolutionary force, highlighting specific host genes and regions under selection resulting from these altered evolutionary dynamics. This work provides deeper insights into host-endosymbiont coevolution and has important implications for evolutionary theory and pest management strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40804160,
year = {2025},
author = {Majerová, E and Steinle, C and Drury, C},
title = {BAK knockdown delays bleaching and alleviates oxidative DNA damage in a reef-building coral.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {1216},
pmid = {40804160},
issn = {2399-3642},
abstract = {As climate change threatens marine ecosystems, efforts to restore coral reefs using resilient corals are increasing. This conservation approach remains limited by our understanding of cellular mechanisms of resilience and trade-offs. Here, we demonstrate that downregulation of pa-BAK stabilizes the coral-algal endosymbiosis and slows bleaching during acute heat stress in Pocillopora acuta through coordinated expression of gene clusters. The improvement in thermal tolerance was closely related to the downregulation efficiency in individual corals. Oxidative DNA damage, a hallmark of thermal stress response, was prevented in corals with stabilized symbiosis, likely through a decrease in mitochondrial ROS release. We hypothesize that this manipulation causes a cascading molecular response, which may impact other traits such as oxidative mitochondrial damage, proving detrimental over the longer term. Developing our understanding of heat-stress defense mechanisms that promote stability in the coral-algal symbiosis is fundamental for effective modern coral reef restoration practices based on improving ecosystem resilience.},
}
@article {pmid40803427,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, XG and Zhao, X and Zheng, J and Xian, C and Liu, Z and Chen, H},
title = {The potential and underlying mechanisms of punicalagin in mitigating enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea.},
journal = {The Journal of nutrition},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.08.002},
pmid = {40803427},
issn = {1541-6100},
abstract = {Punicalagin is a well-studied polyphenolic compound with a wide array of pharmacological effects. This review summarizes its potential mechanisms of action along with the pathogenic implications and molecular pathways associated with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). One primary mechanism by which punicalagin exerts its effects is through antibacterial activity that suppresses ETEC proliferation and mitigates intestinal infections. It further promotes the growth of beneficial microbiota, including bifidobacteria and lactic acid-producing bacteria, thereby improving the symbiotic balance of the gut microbiome and bolstering resistance to ETEC colonization. In addition, punicalagin has been shown to inhibit the activity of ETEC, thereby enhancing intestinal mucosal integrity and fortifying the intestinal barrier. This action reduces the permeability of harmful substances, ultimately protecting gut health. Moreover, punicalagin has the potential to chelate metals, leading to various biological activities and applications. This positions it as a candidate for further exploration as a novel therapeutic agent or a raw material in health products. In conclusion, this study offers preliminary insights into the potential application of punicalagin in managing ETEC-induced diarrhea, highlighting its pharmacological efficacy. However, it should be emphasized that current clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness for this specific use remains limited and preliminary, requiring validation through rigorous clinical trials.},
}
@article {pmid40802030,
year = {2025},
author = {Gaye, M and Zinai, AZR and Armstrong, N and Herbette, G and Monnier, V and Bassene, H and Diatta, G and Sambou, M and Sokhna, C and Raoult, D and Fenollar, F and Mediannikov, O},
title = {Antibacterial activity of fungus comb extracts from Senegalese fungus-farming termites.},
journal = {AMB Express},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {117},
pmid = {40802030},
issn = {2191-0855},
support = {10-IAHU-03//Fondation M&#xe9;diterran&#xe9;e Infection/ ; },
abstract = {Fungus-farming termites (Macrotermitinae), predominantly found in Africa, are eusocial insects with significant ecological roles. Historically, they have been valued in traditional medicine, human diets, and livestock feed. These termites share a long-standing symbiotic relationship with Termitomyces fungi, which has evolved over millions of years and is critical to their survival and ecological impact. This mutualism promotes a unique monoculture of Termitomyces in the fungus comb while suppressing fungal and bacterial antagonists, likely due to the comb's structural or chemical properties, sparking interest among researchers. In this study, we conducted an extensive examination of 11 fungus combs associated with five termite species collected in Senegal. Our analysis revealed significant antibacterial properties in the crude extracts of the combs, notably against multidrug-resistant strains. Chemical analyses led to the identification of dicrotalic acid (Meglutol) in the active fractions of two combs from agricultural areas. This compound, likely of plant origin, suggests a link between termite feeding habits and the antimicrobial potential of the combs. Although the exact bioactive compounds responsible for the antimicrobial activity have not yet been fully identified, the presence of various metabolites may explain the maintenance of Termitomyces monocultures and the suppression of pathogens. This also illustrates the complex ecological relationship between Termitomyces and termites, which may work together to produce natural bioactive compounds that suppress pathogens.},
}
@article {pmid40801964,
year = {2025},
author = {Neves, AS and van Galen, LG and Vohník, M and Peter, M and Martino, E and Crowther, TW and Delavaux, CS},
title = {Ericoid mycorrhizal growth response is influenced by host plant phylogeny.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {4},
pages = {51},
pmid = {40801964},
issn = {1432-1890},
abstract = {Ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi (ErMF) are crucial for the establishment of thousands of ericaceous species in heathlands and wetlands by increasing their tolerance to harsh conditions and improving nutrient uptake. However, ErM research has largely focused on a limited number of host species and four ErMF species (especially Hyaloscypha hepaticicola and Oidiodendron maius, to a lesser extent H. bicolor/H. finlandica and H. variabilis). Therefore, the degree to which other ericaceous plants and ErMF form functional associations, and corresponding benefits for plant growth, are not well understood. As such, we lack a clear understanding of how changes in fungal partners may influence plant fitness. To address this gap, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with nine ericaceous plant species and eight ErMF isolates to expand baseline knowledge regarding the effects of the ErM symbiosis on host plant growth. By analyzing ErM root colonization and host plant growth response, we observed that the mycorrhizal growth response (MGR) was variable and depended on plant and fungal identity. Moreover, overall inoculation effects on plant growth were independent from colonization levels. Finally, we found evidence that MGR was influenced by plant phylogeny. These results expand our basic understanding of the ErM symbiosis and provide valuable information for future restoration and conservation efforts.},
}
@article {pmid40801536,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, JL and Zhu, H and Sadh, P and Aumiller, K and Guvener, ZT and Ludington, WB},
title = {Commensal acidification of specific gut regions produces a protective priority effect against enteropathogenic bacterial infection.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0070725},
doi = {10.1128/aem.00707-25},
pmid = {40801536},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {The commensal microbiome has been shown to protect against newly introduced enteric pathogens in multiple host species, a phenomenon known as a priority effect. Multiple mechanisms can contribute to this protective priority effect, including antimicrobial compounds, nutrient competition, and pH changes. In Drosophila melanogaster, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum has been shown to protect against enteric pathogens. However, the strains of L. plantarum studied were derived from laboratory flies or non-fly environments and have been found to be unstable colonizers of the fly gut that mainly reside on the food. To study the priority effect using a naturally occurring microbial relationship, we isolated a wild fly-derived strain of L. plantarum that stably colonizes the fly gut in conjunction with a common enteric pathogen, Serratia marcescens. Flies stably associated with the L. plantarum strain were more resilient to oral Serratia marcescens infection as seen by longer life span and lower S. marcescens load in the gut. Through in vitro experiments, we found that L. plantarum inhibits S. marcescens growth due to acidification. We used gut imaging with pH indicator dyes to show that L. plantarum reduces the gut pH to levels that restrict S. marcescens growth in vivo. In flies colonized with L. plantarum prior to S. marcescens infection, L. plantarum and S. marcescens are spatially segregated in the gut, and S. marcescens is less abundant where L. plantarum heavily colonizes, indicating that acidification of specific gut regions is a mechanism of a protective priority effect.IMPORTANCEThe gut microbiomes of animals harbor an incredible diversity of bacteria, some of which can protect their hosts from invasion by enteric pathogens. Understanding the mechanisms behind this protection is essential for developing precision probiotics to support human and animal health. This study used Drosophila melanogaster as a model system due to its low cost, experimentally tractable gut microbiome, and overlap with bacterial species found in mammals. While resident microbes can protect hosts through various means, including toxin production and immune stimulation, we found that acidification was sufficient to limit a pathogen that normally reduces life span. Remarkably, specific gut regions are acidified either by host mechanisms or by the resident bacterium, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, highlighting joint microbial and host control of gut chemistry. These findings are broadly relevant to microbiology and gut health, providing insight into how hosts may manage pathogens through their symbiotic microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40801187,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, L and Mai, C and He, S and Niu, B and Jia, G and Yang, T and Xu, Y and Ren, M and Zhao, X and Liu, X and Kong, Z},
title = {Dynamic 3D chromatin organization and epigenetic regulation of gene expression in peanut nodules.},
journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jipb.70007},
pmid = {40801187},
issn = {1744-7909},
support = {2021xG003//Scientific research fund for talents of Shanxi Agricultural University/ ; 2022xG0014//Scientific research fund for talents of Shanxi Agricultural University/ ; 202204051002013//Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team of Shanxi Province/ ; 202204051001020//Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team of Shanxi Province/ ; 32241045//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32241046//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 20210302123365//Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province/ ; 202103021224146//Fundamental Research Program of Shanxi Province/ ; },
abstract = {Root nodules are specialized organs formed by the symbiotic relationship between legumes and soil-borne rhizobia, facilitating an exchange of energy and nutrients essential for both organisms. This process is accompanied by dynamic changes in genomic organization and gene expression. While the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the genome is known to influence gene regulation, its role in nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we present the first high-resolution (40 kb) 3D genomic map of peanut roots and root nodules, generated using a high-throughput/resolution chromosome conformation capture strategy. Compared to roots, ∼2.0% of chromosomal regions in nodules transition from a repressive (B) to an active (A) compartment and exhibit significant alterations in topologically associated domains (TADs). Peanut nodules also show more extensive cis-interactions, with 100s of differentially expressed genes enriched in symbiotic pathways and nitrate metabolism. Additionally, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing identifies 25,863 and 14,703 open chromatin regions (OCRs) in roots and nodules, respectively. By integrating OCR mapping with epigenomic modifications, we reveal dynamic local OCRs (LoOCRs) and histone modifications associated with nodulation-related genes. Notably, novel TADs and long-range chromatin loops are detected in peanut nodules, including an H3K27me3 modification-mediated loop that may regulate the expression of Nodule Inception. Another altered chromatin loop highlights the nodule highly expressed AhMsrA gene, which positively influences nodulation. Together, these findings shed new light on how chromatin architecture shapes gene expression during legume nodulation and nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid40797046,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, L and Chen, S and Qin, Z and Pan, N and Lan, M and Zhang, T and He, R and Liang, H and Deng, W and Mo, C and Yu, K},
title = {Responses of the Coral Symbiont Cladocopium goreaui to Extreme Temperature Stress in Relatively High-Latitude Reefs, South China Sea.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {88},
pmid = {40797046},
issn = {1432-184X},
abstract = {Global climate change has led to frequent extreme temperature events in oceans. Corals are susceptible to extreme high-temperature stress in summer and extreme low-temperature stress in winter in the relatively high-latitude reef areas of the South China Sea (SCS). The most abundant symbiotic coral Symbiodiniaceae in the higher-latitude reefs of the SCS is Cladocopium goreaui, predominantly associating with dominant coral hosts such as Acropora and Porites. However, to date, relatively few studies have focused on the response and mechanism of C. goreaui to the extreme high- and low-temperature stress. In this study, the responses and regulatory mechanisms of the dominant C. goreaui to extreme high- and low-temperature stress were investigated based on physiological indexes, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and transcriptome analysis. The results showed that (1) under 34 °C heat stress, the disintegration of thylakoids triggered photosynthetic collapse in C. goreaui; survival is enabled through metabolic reprogramming that upregulates five protective pathways and redirects energy via pentose/glucuronate shunting to sustain ATP homeostasis, revealing a trade-off between damage containment and precision energy governance under thermal extremes. (2) Low temperature exposure induced suppression of maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), compounded by glutathione pathway inhibition, crippling ROS scavenging. The transcriptome results revealed that C. goreaui prioritizes gene fidelity maintenance under low temperature stress. These findings reveal that energy allocation trade-offs constitute the core strategy of C. goreaui temperature response: prioritizing energy maintenance under high-temperature stress, while safeguarding genetic fidelity at the expense of antioxidant defense under low-temperature stress.},
}
@article {pmid40796904,
year = {2025},
author = {Nowak, KH and Hartop, E and Prus-Frankowska, M and Buczek, M and Kolasa, MR and Roslin, T and Ovaskainen, O and Łukasik, P},
title = {What lurks in the dark? An innovative framework for studying diverse wild insect microbiota.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {186},
pmid = {40796904},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {2016-203 4.3//Swedish Taxonomy Initiative/ ; 856506//Horizon 2020/ ; 336212//Research Council of Finland/ ; PPN/PPO/2018/1/00015//Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej/ ; 2018/31/B/NZ8/01158//Narodowe Centrum Nauki/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic microorganisms can profoundly impact insect biology, including their life history traits, population dynamics, and evolutionary trajectories. However, microbiota remain poorly understood in natural insect communities, especially in 'dark taxa'-hyperdiverse yet understudied clades.<br><br>RESULTS: Here, we implemented a novel multi-target amplicon sequencing approach to study microbiota in complex, species-rich communities. It combines four methodological innovations: (1) To establish a host taxonomic framework, we sequenced amplicons of the host marker gene (COI) and reconstructed barcodes alongside microbiota characterisation using 16S-V4 rRNA bacterial gene amplicons. (2) To assess microbiota abundance, we incorporated spike-in-based quantification. (3) To improve the phylogenetic resolution for the dominant endosymbiont, Wolbachia, we analysed bycatch data from the COI amplicon sequencing. (4) To investigate the primary drivers of host-microbe associations in massive multi-dimensional datasets, we performed Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities (HMSC). Applying this approach to 1842 wild-caught scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) from northern Sweden, we organised them into 480 genotypes and 186 species and gained unprecedented insights into their microbiota. We found orders-of-magnitude differences in bacterial abundance and massive within-population variation in microbiota composition. Patterns and drivers differed among microbial functional categories: the distribution and abundance of facultative endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma) were shaped by host species, genotype, and sex. In contrast, many other bacterial taxa were broadly distributed across species and sites.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights facultative endosymbionts as key players in insect microbiota and reveals striking variations in distributional patterns of microbial clades. It also demonstrates the power of integrative sequencing approaches in uncovering the ecological complexity and significance of symbiotic microorganisms in multi-species natural communities. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid40796359,
year = {2025},
author = {Szuba, A and Żukowska, WB and Mucha, J and Strugała, A and Marczak, &#x141;},
title = {Low Temperature Enhances N-Metabolism in Paxillus involutus Mycelia In Vitro: Evidence From an Untargeted Metabolomic Study.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {8},
pages = {e70162},
pmid = {40796359},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {DEC-2011/03/D/NZ9/05500//National Science Centre (Poland)/ ; 2022/03/ZB/FBW/00006//Institute of Dendrology/ ; },
abstract = {This metabolomic study investigates, using GC MS/MS analysis, the molecular response of Paxillus involutus mycelia to prolonged low temperature (4°C) exposure. Alongside reduced growth, decreased overall nutrient levels, and increased oxidative stress indicators, analyses revealed a significant increase in nitrogen (N) concentration and enhanced N metabolism, particularly via the GS-GOGAT pathway, which was associated with elevated concentrations of numerous amino acids. In contrast, carbon (C) metabolism was not intensified but largely reprogrammed, with varying changes in carbohydrate abundance but higher levels of several stress-related metabolites, such as trehalose and inositol family members, indicating activation of tolerance mechanisms, all with unchanged C (%). These changes suggest enhanced NH4 [+] uptake and a redirection of glycolysis-derived C skeletons towards N-compound biosynthesis. The lack of massive upregulation of typical anti-stress compounds under low temperature exposure indicates either acclimatisation or mild stress. Mycelial restructuring, including increased dry mass (%) and accumulation of chitin precursors, implies cell wall remodelling and cold acclimatisation, supported by changes in membrane components. All these findings suggest that low temperatures may enhance N metabolism in ECM fungi even without additional carbon supply, potentially affecting symbiotic balance under climate change. Further studies are needed to validate these mechanisms and ecological implications.},
}
@article {pmid40796349,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, WC and Probst, M and Hua, ZS and Szánthó, LL and Szöllősi, GJ and Ettema, TJG and Rinke, C and Williams, TA and Spang, A},
title = {Phylogenomic analyses reveal that Panguiarchaeum is a clade of genome-reduced Asgard archaea within the Njordarchaeia.},
journal = {Molecular biology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/molbev/msaf201},
pmid = {40796349},
issn = {1537-1719},
abstract = {The Asgard archaea are a diverse archaeal phylum important for our understanding of cellular evolution because they include the lineage that gave rise to eukaryotes. Recent phylogenomic work has focused on characterising the diversity of Asgard archaea in an effort to identify the closest extant relatives of eukaryotes. However, resolving archaeal phylogeny is challenging, and the positions of two recently-described lineages - Njordarchaeales and Panguiarchaeales - are uncertain, in ways that directly bear on hypotheses of early evolution. In initial phylogenetic analyses, these lineages branched either with Asgards or with the distantly-related Korarchaeota, and it has been suggested that their genomes may be affected by metagenomic contamination. Resolving this debate is important because these clades include genome-reduced lineages that may help inform our understanding of the evolution of symbiosis within Asgard archaea. Here, we performed phylogenetic analyses revealing that the Njordarchaeales and Pangiuarchaeales constitute the new class Njordarchaeia within Asgard archaea. We found no evidence of metagenomic contamination affecting phylogenetic analyses. Njordarchaeia exhibit hallmarks of adaptations to (hyper-)thermophilic lifestyles, including biased sequence compositions that can induce phylogenetic artifacts unless adequately modelled. Panguiarchaeum is metabolically distinct from its relatives, with reduced metabolic potential and various auxotrophies. Phylogenetic reconciliation recovers a complex common ancestor of Asgard archaea that encoded the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. The subsequent loss of this pathway during the reductive evolution of Panguiarchaeum may have been associated with the switch to a symbiotic lifestyle potentially based on H2-syntrophy. Thus, Panguiarchaeum may contain the first obligate symbionts within Asgard archaea.},
}
@article {pmid40795952,
year = {2025},
author = {Pluer, BD and Travis, J},
title = {The Digestive Microbiome Diversity of the Least Killifish, Heterandria formosa, and Its Implications for Host Adaptability to Varying Trophic Levels.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {17},
number = {4},
pages = {e70164},
pmid = {40795952},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {G2020031598770049//Sigma Xia/ ; //Florida State University/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic microbes, in associations with aquatic hosts, aid in the acquisition of nutrients, breakdown xenobiotics, and contribute to immune system function. If associations with microbial communities facilitate host adaptation to different ecosystems, understanding the important ecological factors that act as drivers of differences among conspecific populations' microbiomes can help conservation efforts to promote beneficial interactions between fish and their microbiome for freshwater fish species facing rapid environmental changes. Here we describe the microbial communities in the gut of a freshwater fish, Heterandria formosa, in spring habitats using 16S rRNA sequencing. We quantified microbiota composition and diversity among springs ranging from oligotrophic to near eutrophic to determine the extent to which the microbiota are associated with different environmental conditions. We found higher microbial richness at sites with lower nutrient load stress. At more eutrophic sites, we detected the potential for increased metabolic capacity for pollutant degradation in the associated microbiota. We noted greater phylogenetic similarity between more environmentally similar sites, supporting previous evidence that the microbiota of freshwater fish is influenced by site water chemistry. Our findings bring to light microbial taxa and pathways that might play critical roles in the bioremediation of stressful environmental conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40795928,
year = {2025},
author = {Moore, LD and Ballinger, MJ},
title = {Evolution of specialized toxin arsenals in a bacterial symbiont of arthropods.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf174},
pmid = {40795928},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Bacteria commonly deploy toxic proteins that act with specificity on target molecules to support invasion and improve survival in competitive environments. Many toxin-encoding bacteria have evolved into host-associated defensive partnerships, in which they use toxins to improve host survival during infection. The stability of these relationships requires that symbiont toxins target diverse parasites while minimizing damage to the host. We investigate the specificity of a group of ribosome-targeting toxins (RIPs) encoded by heritable Spiroplasma symbionts that contribute to defense against parasite infection in fruit fly hosts. Using E. coli to express five divergent copies of this toxin, we show that distantly related members of the family all retain the ability to inactivate ribosomes by adenine cleavage at the α-sarcin/ricin loop, the enzymatic hallmark of RIPs. However, when exposed to live insect and fungal cells, ribosome inactivation varies across the five toxins, suggesting cellular recognition or localization play a role in target specificity. To identify toxin domains required for specificity, we removed rapidly evolving "accessory" domains from two toxins. Both truncated toxins exhibit significantly increased activity on purified ribosomes in vitro, suggesting one role of accessory domains is to reduce toxicity, which may help protect hosts from collateral damage. One of the truncated toxins also showed significantly reduced inactivation of cellular ribosomes in vivo, indicating a role for accessory domains in cell specificity. Together, these data reveal a mechanism for symbiont discrimination between hosts and parasites and highlight how dynamic toxin evolution can contribute to stability and novelty in defensive symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40795033,
year = {2025},
author = {Friar, L and Keepers, K and Garber, AI and McCutcheon, JP and Wing, B and Kane, NC},
title = {Selection maintains photosynthesis in a symbiotic cyanobacterium despite redundancy with its fern host.},
journal = {Molecular biology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/molbev/msaf181},
pmid = {40795033},
issn = {1537-1719},
abstract = {Vertically inherited symbionts experience different physical, chemical, and population genetic environments than free-living organisms. As a result, they can experience long-term reductions in effective population size (Ne) and weaker purifying selection on genes that are less important in the host-associated environment. Over time, these forces result in gene loss. A comparative genomic approach using independently evolved symbiotic bacteria and free-living relatives can reveal which genes are important in the symbiotic state. We apply this approach to understand why some diazotrophic cyanobacteria evolving as vertically inherited symbionts of photosynthetic eukaryotic hosts have lost their ancestral capacity for photosynthesis while others have retained that capacity. We look specifically at Trichormus azollae, a diazotrophic cyanobacterium that remains photosynthetic after 50-90Ma as a vertically inherited symbiont of Azolla ferns. We show that gene loss is ongoing, with different genes lost across the eight T. azollae strains examined. We apply molecular evolutionary models to genomes of T. azollae and free-living relatives, finding genome-wide signatures of drift in T. azollae consistent with long-term reductions in Ne. Ribosomal proteins and proteins from the energy-capturing photosynthetic light reactions are under stronger purifying selection than genes from other pathways, including nitrogen fixation and photosynthetic carbon fixation. Strong purifying selection is expected for the ribosome given its extraordinary levels of conservation, even in ancient vertically inherited symbionts. That genes in the light reactions are under strong purifying selection and never lost in any strain suggests that energy capture, likely required for energy-intensive nitrogen fixation, remains important to this symbiont.},
}
@article {pmid40794807,
year = {2025},
author = {Méndez, SG and Mertens, S and Temmerman, A and Van den Eynde, H and Vermeersch, M and Vlaminck, L and Berteloot, O and Van Dingenen, J and Clarysse, A and De Keyser, A and Beullens, S and de Baenst, I and Roy, N and De Paepe, Q and Michiels, J and Roldan-Ruiz, I and Pannecoucque, J and Willems, A and Maere, S and Goormachtig, S},
title = {Fast track to environmentally adapted rhizobia for growing soybean at northern latitudes using citizen science.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf152},
pmid = {40794807},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Soybean serves as a crucial source of plant-based protein for human diets. Recently, there is a growing incentive to extend the range of this crop to more northern latitudes, in order to enable profitable soybean production in Europe. To reach economic yields, soybean requires inoculation with symbiotic, diazotrophic rhizobial bacteria. However, the performance of commercial inocula is often variable under local conditions. Here, we present the citizen science project "Soy in 1,000 Gardens", a large-scale trapping experiment for isolating local soybean-nodulating rhizobia in Flanders, Belgium. We identified two locally isolated Bradyrhizobium strains performing at least as well as commercial strain B. diazoefficiens G49 in local field trials. Additionally, we found that nutrient content, microbial alpha diversity, and the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil were correlated with nodulation. Finally, we report a correlation between low bacterial alpha diversity and red nodule interior, and identified Tardiphaga as a dominant colonizer of red nodules.},
}
@article {pmid40794795,
year = {2025},
author = {Garfias-Gallegos, D and Pardo-De la Hoz, CJ and Haughland, DL and Magain, N and Aguero, B and Miadlikowska, J and Lutzoni, F},
title = {Central metabolism and development are rewired in lichenized cyanobacteria.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf166},
pmid = {40794795},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Nostoc cyanobacteria are among the few organisms capable of fixing both carbon and nitrogen. These metabolic features are essential for the cyanolichen symbiosis, where Nostoc supplies both carbon (as glucose) and nitrogen (as ammonium) to a cyanolichen-forming fungal partner. This nutrient flow was established by seminal biochemical studies published in the 20th century. Since then, cyanolichen metabolism has received little attention, and the molecular mechanisms that underlie the physiology of lichenized Nostoc remain mostly unknown. Here, we aimed to elucidate the genomic and transcriptional changes that enable Nostoc's metabolic role in cyanolichens. We used comparative genomics across 243 genomes of Nostoc s. lat. Coupled with metatranscriptomic experiments using Peltigera cyanolichens. We found that genes for photoautotrophic carbon fixation are upregulated in lichenized Nostoc. This likely results in a higher rate of carbon fixation that allows Nostoc to provide carbon to the fungal partner while meeting its own metabolic needs. We also found that the transfer of ammonium from Nostoc to the lichen-forming fungus is facilitated by two molecular mechanisms: (i) transcriptional downregulation of glutamine synthetase, the key enzyme responsible for ammonium assimilation in Nostoc; and (ii) frequent losses of a putative high-affinity ammonium permease, which likely reduces Nostoc's capacity to recapture leaked ammonium. Finally, we found that the development of motile hormogonia is downregulated in lichenized Nostoc, which resembles the repression of motility in Nostoc symbionts after they colonize symbiotic cavities of their plant hosts. Our results pave the way for a revival of cyanolichen ecophysiology in the omics era.},
}
@article {pmid40794723,
year = {2025},
author = {Muffett, KM and Labonté, JM and Miglietta, MP},
title = {Florida Keys Cassiopea host benthos-like external microbiomes and a gut dominated by Vibrio, Endozoicomonas and Mycoplasma.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {8},
pages = {e0330180},
pmid = {40794723},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; Florida ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Mycoplasma/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/classification ; *Vibrio/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Scyphozoa/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Interactions with microbial communities fundamentally shape metazoans' physiology, development, and health across marine ecosystems. This is especially true in zooxanthellate (symbiotic algae-containing) cnidarians. In photosymbiotic anthozoans (e.g., shallow water anemones and corals), the key members of the associated microbiota are increasingly well studied, however there is limited data on photosymbiotic scyphozoans (true jellyfish). Using 16S rRNA barcoding, we sampled the internal and external mucus of the zooxanthellate Upside-Down Jellyfish, Cassiopea xamachana during August throughout eight sites covering the full length of the Florida Keys. We find that across sites, these medusae have low-diversity internal microbiomes distinct from the communities of their external surfaces and their environment. These internal communities are dominated by only three taxa: Endozoicomonas cf. atrinae, an uncultured novel Mycoplasma, and Vibrio cf. coralliilyticus. In addition, we find that Cassiopea bell mucosal samples were high diversity and conform largely to the communities of surrounding sediment with the addition of Endozoicomonas cf. atrinae. The microbial taxa we identify associated with wild Florida Keys Cassiopea bear a strong resemblance to those found within photosymbiotic anthozoans, increasing the known links in ecological position between these groups.},
}
@article {pmid40794385,
year = {2025},
author = {Rousk, K},
title = {Moss-cyanobacteria associations: A model for studying symbiotic interactions and evolutionary strategies.},
journal = {American journal of botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70086},
doi = {10.1002/ajb2.70086},
pmid = {40794385},
issn = {1537-2197},
}
@article {pmid40794121,
year = {2025},
author = {Abdalla, MA and Waqas, K and Neugart, S and Mühling, KH},
title = {Flavonol glycosides accumulation in faba bean grown under combined selenium and sulfur application.},
journal = {Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society},
volume = {21},
number = {5},
pages = {113},
pmid = {40794121},
issn = {1573-3890},
mesh = {*Vicia faba/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Flavonols/metabolism/analysis ; *Selenium/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Sulfur/metabolism ; *Glycosides/metabolism/analysis ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolomics/methods ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) leaves are edible; hence, they are primarily used as animal feed in agriculture. Additionally, seed pods and other plant tissues are considered edible and are used as green vegetables in many parts of the world.<br><br>OBJECTIVES: Flavonol glycosides are well-known in faba bean leaves; accordingly, in this study, we followed a targeted metabolomic approach to explore glycosylated flavonols and their concentrations in response to contrasting levels of selenium (Se) and sulfur (S) enrichment under faba bean-Rhizobium symbiosis.<br><br>METHODS: Faba bean plants were cultivated under growth chamber conditions and enriched with different levels of selenium and sulfur under Rhizobium inoculation. Their leaves were extracted using 70% methanol to quantify glycosylated flavonoids. Sample leaves were analyzed through a targeted method using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry detection (HPLC-ESI-Q-ToF-MS/MS).<br><br>RESULTS: The analysis led to semi-quantifying 11 flavonol glycosides. Analysis of the metabolites of the different faba bean leaf extracts confirmed that selenium has a considerable impact on the accumulation of flavonol glycosides, especially under sulfur availability, possibly because it induces chalcone synthase and other enzymes for flavonols' biosynthesis.<br><br>CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate the impact of selenium and sulfur enrichment on the accumulation of faba bean flavonols under atmospheric nitrogen (N2) fixation conditions. This study highlights the medicinal and nutritional benefits of legumes as an essential source of protein in plant-based foods.},
}
@article {pmid40792658,
year = {2025},
author = {Rocha, AP and Palmeiras, MA and deOliveira, MA and Florentino, LH and Cataldi, TR and de C Bittencourt, DM and Labate, CA and Rosinha, GMS and Rech, EL},
title = {Cell-Free Production of Soybean Leghemoglobins and Nonsymbiotic Hemoglobin.},
journal = {ACS synthetic biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acssynbio.5c00197},
pmid = {40792658},
issn = {2161-5063},
abstract = {Hemoglobins are heme proteins and are present in certain microorganisms, higher plants, and mammals. Two types of hemoglobin are found in legume nodules: leghemoglobin (LegH) or symbiotic and nonsymbiotic (nsHb). LegHs occur in high amounts in legume roots, and together with bacteroides, are responsible for the nitrogen fixation process. nsHb Class 1 proteins have very high affinity for O2 and are found in monocotyledons and legumes. LegH has attracted great interest in the vegetable meat industry owing to its organoleptic and nutritional properties. In this study, soybean LegHs A, C1, C2 and C3 and nsHb were produced via Escherichia coli-based cell-free systems (CFS) and their amino acid sequences were correctly synthesized. In addition, certain post-translational modifications were made, which were confirmed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. All LegHs produced in this system exhibited peroxidase activity and heme binding, which were correlated with their concentrations in the assays. Furthermore, all proteins were readily digested by pepsin within 1 min under analog digestion conditions. Thus, LegHs and nsHb proteins were produced in this study using cell-free systems, maintaining their functionality and digestibility. These findings suggest that they could serve as viable alternative food additives for plant-based meat.},
}
@article {pmid40791400,
year = {2025},
author = {Gajigan, AP and Schvarcz, CR and Laughlin, AB and Weatherby, TM and Culley, AI and Edwards, KF and Steward, GF},
title = {A dinoflagellate-infecting giant virus with a micron-length tail.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.07.19.665647},
pmid = {40791400},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Viral infection is a ubiquitous source of marine plankton mortality, but relatively few viruses that infect phytoplankton have been characterized. Here we describe a virus, PelV-1, with unusual morphological and genomic features that infects a dinoflagellate, Pelagodinium sp. Both host and virus were isolated from the epipelagic zone in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. PelV-1 has a ∼200 nm capsid size, and the virion variably exhibits two appendages, the presence and length of which may reflect different stages of virion maturity or artifacts of sample preparation. The appendages are a thinner 30 nm-wide tail-like structure that can extend to 2.3 µm - the longest virus appendage described to date- and a shorter, thicker (>40-70 nm) protrusion, which appears to emerge from a star-shaped capsid opening directly opposite the attachment point of the long, thin tail. Sequencing and assembly of material in a purified lysate generated a high-coverage (> 4,000×) genome of 459 kb (33.8% GC). A second, distinct genome of 504 kb (25.8% GC) was also assembled, but had low read coverage (< 24×), suggesting the presence of a low-abundance, co-cultured virus (co-PelV). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that both PelV-1 and co-PelV are members of Mesomimiviridae . They contain various genes for the metabolism of amino acids (e.g., asparagine synthase), carbohydrates (e.g., epimerase, glycosyl hydrolase, aconitate hydratase, succinate dehydrogenase of the TCA cycle), and lipids (e.g., phospholipases), as well as other noteworthy genes (e.g., light-harvesting complex, rhodopsin, ion channel, sugar transporters, aquaporin). PelV-1 also has ORFs most similar to tail fiber genes of Synechococcus phage and other tail domain-containing protein homologs. The ecological advantages that might be conferred by the extraordinarily long tail and metabolic genes of PelV-1 is unknown, but this isolate expands the scope of morphological and metabolic diversity of viruses and suggests many more unusual marine viruses await discovery.<br><br>AUTHOR SUMMARY: Giant viruses challenged our traditional views of virology due to their large size and the presence of hundreds of auxiliary metabolic genes. But despite the immense giant virus diversity discovered through sequencing, few isolates were described, and those were primarily viruses that infect amoeba host and rarely from phytoplankton. This hampers our understanding of marine host-virus interaction and thus the impact of viruses on the ocean ecosystem. Here we provide genomic and morphological characterization of a novel dinoflagellate giant virus (PelV-1) and a second co-occurring, albeit low abundance, virus (co-PelV). Dinoflagellates are vital in marine symbiosis and algal blooms but only two giant virus isolates have been described with no available genomic resources to date. Thus, this is a significant contribution to the literature on dinoflagellate viruses. Among the notable features of PelV-1 are its unique micron-length tail appendage, phagocytosis-like entry mechanism and its varied auxiliary metabolic genes including photosynthesis and energy generating genes.},
}
@article {pmid40790863,
year = {2025},
author = {Alders, RG},
title = {The broader symbiotic relationships between animals and humans in low-, middle- and high-income countries.},
journal = {The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-4},
doi = {10.1017/S0029665125101201},
pmid = {40790863},
issn = {1475-2719},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Human-animal relationships have evolved over millennia, shaping societies, economies, and ecosystems. Domestic animals play critical roles in food and nutrition security, livelihoods, and cultural practices, with livestock systems varying by region and purpose. Since the 1950s, rising demand for animal products, urbanization, and technological advances have transformed some livestock production systems. Globally, animals support household well-being by contributing to social, spiritual, and physical health, particularly in resource-limited settings. Livestock offer vital services, such as manure production, draft power, and employment, while also supporting agroecosystems through regenerative practices that promote biodiversity and soil health.<br><br>BENEFITS AND ACCESSIBILITY: Animal-source foods (ASF)-including meat, milk, eggs, and offal-are rich in essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and high-quality protein. They are especially important for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. ASF also provide year-round nutritional support in rainfed systems and offer economic security through barter or sale during crises. However, policies must consider local contexts to promote sustainable consumption and production, ensuring equitable access to ASF.<br><br>UTILISATION: Nose-to-tail eating is a traditional, sustainable approach that maximizes resource use, reduces waste, and enhances nutrition by utilizing all edible parts of animals. Organ meats and bone products are nutrient-dense and cost-effective, benefiting low-income communities and honouring ethical consumption values.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This review explores the diverse roles animals play in human societies, with a focus on the contribution of ASF to sustainable human nutrition through the integrated perspectives of One Health and One Welfare. It also provides policy recommendations to foster ethical and responsible human-animal relationships.},
}
@article {pmid40788120,
year = {2025},
author = {Takagi, T and Aoyama, K},
title = {Complete genome sequence of Maribacter sp. strain C-4077, isolated from the cell surface of a symbiotic dinoflagellate of the bivalve Fragum sp.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0035825},
doi = {10.1128/mra.00358-25},
pmid = {40788120},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {A Maribacter sp. strain C-4077 was isolated from an endosymbiotic dinoflagellate of a bivalve and the genome was sequenced using a PacBio Sequel IIe system. The genome consists of a circular 4,085,762 bp chromosome and is predicted to harbor 6 rRNA genes, 39 tRNA genes, and 3,473 coding sequences.},
}
@article {pmid40785991,
year = {2025},
author = {Takeuchi, H and Matsuishi, TF and Hayakawa, T},
title = {Metagenomic Insights Into the Role of Gut Microbes in the Defensive Ink "Tsunabi" of Physeteroid Whales.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {e71910},
pmid = {40785991},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Whales of the superfamily Physeteroidea, which includes the genera Physeter and Kogia, exhibit a unique visual defense mechanism involving the release of dark reddish-brown feces (locally called "tsunabi-ink" in Japan) into the water to obscure themselves from predators and other threats. However, the mechanism underlying pigmentation remains unknown. Because physeteroids possess an enlarged distal colon that retains fecal material, a possible explanation is that symbiont microbial metabolism contributes to the feces pigmentation. To investigate this, we provided a shotgun metagenomic catalog of gut microbiomes from the intestinal tracts of eight cetacean species, including two physeteroids: a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and a pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps). The colonic microbiome of physeteroids exhibited relatively high abundances of tryptophan metabolism genes, particularly indolepyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductases (iorA and iorB), suggesting that physeteroids accumulate indole-3-pyruvate-derived pigments in their colons. Furthermore, bacterial members of the phyla Bacillota and Bacteroidota were identified in the physeteroid colon as primary taxa conferring heavy-metal resistance, which may be related to the primary predation of physeteroids on cephalopods, which bioaccumulate high levels of heavy metals. Prolonged fecal retention can expose gut microbes to chronic heavy-metal stress and colonize them as heavy metal-tolerant microbial communities, some of which may produce pigments to reduce their toxicity. Thus, we propose that tsunabi-ink is a metabolic byproduct of shifts in the gut microbial community, influenced by the host's digestive physiology and foraging behavior through sustained ecological interactions with gut symbionts. Moreover, we believe that further empirical investigation would validate this hypothesis.},
}
@article {pmid40785172,
year = {2025},
author = {Mocci, G and Orrù, G and Elisei, W and Usai Satta, P and Onidi, FM and Tursi, A},
title = {Efficacy of a Preparation based on Symbiotic Association Between Inulin, FOS, L. rhamnosus GG, Bromelin, Boswellia, Vitamin D3, Quercetin and L-tryptophan in Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Pilot Retrospective Multicenter Study.},
journal = {Reviews on recent clinical trials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.2174/0115748871318114250725082904},
pmid = {40785172},
issn = {1876-1038},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several compounds based on short-chain fatty acids and/or probiotics/prebiotics have shown promising results in the therapy of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of a preparation based on symbiotic association between inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, bromelin, Boswellia, vitamin D3, quercetin and L-tryptophanon in patients with active mild-to-moderate UC.<br><br>MATERIALS: andMethods: This was a multicentre, retrospective, observational cohort study between January 2023 and June 2023. Disease activity was assessed using the partial Mayo score. Patients were assessed at baseline, at 8-week, and 16-week follow-up (FU). The primary endopoint was clinical response, defined as a partial Mayo score reduction of at least 2 points, whereas C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC) reduction at weeks 8 and 16 were secondary endpoints.<br><br>RESULTS: Data were collected at baseline from 17 UC patients (M 8, F 9). Median age at diagnosis was 48 years (IQR 20-80), and median disease duration was 10 years (IQR: 2-23). The clinical response at 8 and 16 weeks was observed in 9/17 (52%) and 11/17 (64%) patients, respectively (p =0.697). No difference was observed regarding CRP values, neither at week 8 nor at week 16. Concerning FC levels, we observed a significant decrease from baseline to week 8, from baseline values of 252 (76-359) &#x3bc;g/g to values of 98 (20-448) &#x3bc;g/g at week 8 (p <0.02); no difference was observed from baseline to week 16. Finally, no adverse events were observed during the study period.<br><br>CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, the supplementation with the symbiotic association between inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, bromelin, Boswellia, vitamin D3, quercetin and L-tryptophanon offers real-world potential in controlling disease activity in patients with mild-to-moderate UC. Further multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials are needed to validate our results on larger cohorts of patients with UC.},
}
@article {pmid40784505,
year = {2025},
author = {Peng, L and Shu, M and Fang, L and Xu, Y},
title = {Revealing roles of immobilization in microalgae-bacteria symbiosis system for nutrient removal from wastewater.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {437},
number = {},
pages = {133136},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133136},
pmid = {40784505},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {Limited information is available on immobilization roles in the microalgae-bacteria system for pollutant removal. In this work, nutrient removal performances and pathways were investigated in suspended microalgae-bacteria, immobilized microalgae-bacteria and co-immobilized microalgae-bacteria systems. Alginate immobilization enabled efficient biomass recovery with remarkable settling velocity at 1.88 cm s[-1]. Co-immobilization achieved the highest total nitrogen (TN) removal (50 %) despite the lowest ammonium removal (84 %). Bacterial nitrification dominated ammonium removal, despite contribution variations from 58 % in suspended group to 70 % in immobilized microalgae-bacteria due to decreasing microalgal assimilation, and to 51 % in co-immobilized group ascribed to encapsulation-induced mass transfer limitation. Co-immobilization enhanced bacterial denitrification (17 %) for TN removal. All systems achieved complete phosphorus removal via microalgal assimilation (>90 %), despite slight chemical oxygen demand increase in co-immobilized group originating from polymer hydrolysis. Considering lower separation cost ($0.47 m[-3]) and comparable stability, immobilization would provide alternatives realizing efficient wastewater treatment and resource recovery simultaneously.},
}
@article {pmid40784295,
year = {2025},
author = {Cho, H and Kim, SJ and Choi, YJ and Ji, S and Lee, JW and Hur, JS and Kang, KS and Shim, SH},
title = {Novel oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-3-one derivatives with NO inhibitory and cytotoxic activities, and xanthone derivatives from the endolichenic fungus Exophiala sp.},
journal = {Bioorganic chemistry},
volume = {164},
number = {},
pages = {108843},
doi = {10.1016/j.bioorg.2025.108843},
pmid = {40784295},
issn = {1090-2120},
abstract = {Eight new compounds (1-8) featuring an unusual oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-3-one moiety, along with three new xanthone-type compounds (11-13), were isolated from the culture extracts of the endolichenic fungus Exophiala sp., which lives in symbiosis with the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum. Molecular networking analysis of the culture extract revealed clusters containing nodes with unknown molecular weights with a distinct UV pattern, prompting targeted isolation through chromatographic techniques. Compounds 1-6 feature a unique 2- oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-3-one core linked to a linear methyl-hexatriene and a trimethyl-cyclopentanone moiety. Their structures were completely established by spectroscopic methods combined with computer calculations. In contrast, compounds 7 and 8, which lack the cyclized trimethyl-cyclopentanone moiety seen in 1-6, were found to be unstable and degraded after NMR analysis, preventing the determination of their final stereochemistry. Although similar structural frameworks have been reported in two previous studies, compounds 1-8 differ in the stereochemistry at C-6 and C-13. Additionally, the newly identified xanthone-type new compounds (11-13) exhibit diverse prenyl group modifications. Biological evaluation of the isolated compounds revealed that compound 1 exhibited the strongest NO inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 21 μg/mL.},
}
@article {pmid40784175,
year = {2025},
author = {Duan, S and Qiao, Z and Chen, Y and Shen, Y and Du, Z and Dong, J and Yu, L and Li, Y and Yang, R and Fang, C},
title = {Ultrasound-assisted extraction and flavor quality assessment of in vitro biomimetically fermented Kopi Luwak.},
journal = {Ultrasonics sonochemistry},
volume = {120},
number = {},
pages = {107499},
pmid = {40784175},
issn = {1873-2828},
abstract = {Kopi Luwak, renowned for its distinctive flavor profile, has long been esteemed in specialty coffee circles; however, the conventional animal digestive process is fraught with significant ethical and sustainability controversies. Building upon these findings, the present study established a tightly controlled in vitro biomimetic fermentation system, complemented by ultrasound-assisted extraction and multi-omics analyses, to faithfully reconstruct and elevate the hallmark flavour of civet coffee. Leveraging metagenomic data from the civet gut, thirty core functional strains were selected from 1870 isolates to create a synthetic symbiotic consortium. Fermentation parameters were optimised in three stages-single-factor experiments, Box-Behnken response-surface design, and a genetic-algorithm-artificial-neural-network (GA-ANN) model. Fermentation products were recovered by ultrasound-assisted extraction (40 kHz, 400 W, 10 min); volatile and non-volatile metabolites were quantified in both targeted and untargeted modes via GC-MS and UHPLC-MS/MS, and their temporal dynamics were deciphered through time-series clustering and metabolic-network analysis. The optimal conditions-16.5 % inoculum, initial pH 6.25, 33 ℃, 135 h-yielded an average SCA cupping score of 82.92, with a maximum of 85.25, significantly higher than those of natural fermentation and conventional civet coffee (P < 0.05). Total acidity increased to 0.78 g L[-1], total polyphenol content reached 225.3 mg L[-1], and key bioactive compounds remained stable. GC-MS quantification showed 1.9-2.3-fold increases in 2,3-dimethoxyphenol, phenylethanol, and 5-methylfurfural, alongside 63 % and 41 % reductions in 2-methylpyrazine and caffeine, respectively. Multi-omics evidence indicated that lipid β-oxidation, the amino-acid Ehrlich pathway, and esterification jointly enriched fruity, nutty, and floral notes; the elevated copy numbers of ndmA/B and pyoA/B genes underpinned the attenuation of bitter compounds. Relative to conventional solvent and Soxhlet extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction improved volatile recovery by approximately 28 %, reduced energy consumption by ≥66 %, and halved solvent usage. Overall, this work achieves a high-fidelity in vitro replication of the civet gut microbiome and its metabolic functions, enables precision flavour modulation through intelligent optimisation and green extraction, and demonstrates industrial feasibility-the processing cost per kilogram of raw beans is 76.7 % lower than that of the traditional animal-derived method.},
}
@article {pmid40783937,
year = {2025},
author = {Levin, GJ and Kearsley, JVS and Finan, TM and Geddes, BA},
title = {Stachydrine Catabolism Contributes to an Optimal Root Nodule Symbiosis Between Sinorhizobium meliloti and Medicago sativa.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-25-0021-SC},
pmid = {40783937},
issn = {0894-0282},
abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti forms a robust N2-fixing root-nodule symbiosis with Medicago sativa. We are interested in identifying the minimal symbiotic genome of the model strain S. meliloti Rm1021. This gene set refers to the minimal genetic determinants required to form a robust N2-fixing symbiosis. Many symbiotic genes are located on the 1,354 kb pSymA megaplasmid of S. meliloti Rm1021. We recently constructed a minimalized pSymA, minSymA2.1, that lacked over 90% of the pSymA genes. Relative to the wild-type, minSymA2.1 showed a reduction in M. sativa shoot biomass production and nodule size with an increase in total nodule number. Here we show that the addition of either the stachydrine (stc) or trigonelline (trc) catabolism genes from pSymA to minSymA2.1 restores nodule size and total nodule number to levels indistinguishable from the wild-type but does not restore reduced shoot biomass production. In the context of the complete Rm1021 genome, removing the stc genes reduced nodule size and increased total nodule number while removal of the trc genes alone had no apparent effect. Together, these observations implicate stachydrine catabolism as an important determinant of root nodule symbiosis between S. meliloti and M. sativa while trigonelline catabolism seems to contribute in a more conditional manner, in the context of the minimized genome. These findings highlight the minimal symbiotic genome as a tool for investigating the impact individual genetic determinants have in conferring an optimal symbiosis. Factors whose impact, in the context of a complete genome, may be hidden or dampened due to redundancies.},
}
@article {pmid40783821,
year = {2025},
author = {Butler, MJ and McMurray, SE and Pawlik, JR},
title = {Competition for waterborne food resources among tropical shallow-water sponges.},
journal = {Ecology},
volume = {106},
number = {8},
pages = {e70178},
pmid = {40783821},
issn = {1939-9170},
support = {00D26814//US Environmental Protection Agency/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera/physiology ; Florida ; *Ecosystem ; Seawater/chemistry ; },
abstract = {A recurrent theme in marine ecology is that the community dynamics of sessile, suspension-feeding animals is primarily limited by the availability of space, but in some habitats, filtration by these organisms may locally deplete water column resources, setting the stage for exploitative competition for food. We examined filtration by sponge assemblages in the shallow waters (~2 m depth) of Florida Bay (Florida, USA), where water residence times are often high and filtration by dense communities of sponges was hypothesized to deplete the water column of food, primarily picoplankton and dissolved organic matter (DOM). We transplanted three sponge species into replicate locations that differed by an order of magnitude in natural sponge community biomass. Sponge transplants were clones, enabling us to control for sponge genotype effects across all sites. The growth of sponge clones was recorded seasonally for 18-30 months. Growth of transplants placed in areas devoid of sponges was 10 times greater than growth in areas with dense sponge communities and three times greater than growth in areas with average sponge biomass. Sponge mortality was similar regardless of background sponge density. Measurements of picoplankton, DOM, and PO4 concentration confirmed an inverse relationship with sponge community biomass, whereas nitrogen concentrations in seawater were highest where sponge species replete with nitrogen-fixing symbiotic microbial communities were most abundant. This is striking evidence that filtration of waterborne resources by sponges in shallow, coastal environments can deplete those resources sufficiently to cause exploitative competition that limits sponge growth.},
}
@article {pmid40782379,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, J and Kong, Q and Zhu, J and Li, L and Wang, S and Whelan, J and Shou, H},
title = {Identification and functional verification of key iron homeostasis genes in soybean roots and nodules through integrated transcriptome and proteome analysis.},
journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology},
volume = {123},
number = {3},
pages = {e70406},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.70406},
pmid = {40782379},
issn = {1365-313X},
support = {2023ZD04072//National Science and Technology Major Project/ ; 2021YFF1001204//National Science and Technology Major Project/ ; 32572127//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; B14027//111 project of Ministry of Education/ ; 2021C02057//Key Research and Development Project of Zhejiang Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/metabolism ; *Iron/metabolism ; Homeostasis/genetics ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/genetics ; *Proteome/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Gene Expression Profiling ; },
abstract = {Iron (Fe) is an essential nutrient for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growth and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, the mechanisms underlying Fe homeostasis in nodules remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted integrated transcriptome and proteome analyses of soybean roots and nodules under Fe deficiency to identify distinct Fe regulatory networks. Notably, nodules retained 42% of Fe levels under Fe-deficient conditions, despite severe depletion in roots (85% loss) and leaves (71% loss), suggesting a prioritized Fe allocation mechanism. Transcriptome and proteome sequencing of roots and nodules under Fe-sufficient and -deficient conditions revealed significant differences, confirming distinct expression profiles in nodules compared with roots. Among the differentially expressed genes, those encoding vacuolar Fe transporter-like protein 1a (GmVTL1a), yellow-strip like 7 (GmYSL7), and natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 3a (GmNRAMP3a) were highly expressed in nodules, emerging as key candidates. Transgenic soybeans expressing promoter:GUS fusion constructs for GmVTL1a, GmYSL7, and GmNRAMP3a confirmed their expression in nodules. Functional studies demonstrated that GmVTL1a mediates Fe transport across the symbiosome membrane, while GmYSL7 is critical for nodule development. Knockout of either gene impaired nitrogen fixation and ureide synthesis. Co-expression analysis of GmVTL1a and GmVTL1b identified 19 putative transcription factors potentially regulating GmVTL1a. An immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry assay on nodule protein extracts from the pGmVTL1a-3Flag-gGmVTL1a plants yielded 55 candidate interactors, including 26 nodule-expressed proteins and 17 that overlapped with known symbiosome membrane proteins. Taken together, our study reveals nodule-specific adaptations in Fe homeostasis, highlighting GmVTL1a and GmYSL7 as central players.},
}
@article {pmid40781723,
year = {2025},
author = {Escobar-Prieto, JD and Van Goethem, MW and Vernooij, B and Antony, CP and Cheng, L and Mishra, H and Marasco, R and Daffonchio, D},
title = {Microbial diversity and functional potential of the Halobates melleus (Heteroptera: Gerridae) microbiome from the Red Sea coastline.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {103},
pmid = {40781723},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {CRG-7-3739//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/ ; CRG-7-3739//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/ ; CRG-7-3739//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Halobates, commonly known as sea skaters, are predatory Hemipterans uniquely adapted to tropical marine environments. Their ability to thrive in oligotrophic and environmentally extreme habitats, such as the open ocean surface and marine coastal areas, suggests the evolution of specialised adaptations, possibly including symbiotic associations with microorganisms that can support nutrition, niche adaptation, and stress resilience. To explore this hypothesis, we analysed the bacterial communities associated with Halobates melleus, a species inhabiting the Red Sea coastal mangroves in Saudi Arabia.<br><br>RESULTS: Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic analyses of composite body and gut samples from adult H. melleus revealed a population-level bacterial community dominated by Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, consistent with patterns observed in several terrestrial predatory insects. Members of Providencia and Swaminathania were also detected, along with other minor taxa that may represent transient environmental commensals. The identified bacteria encoded genes for the biosynthesis of essential vitamins and prosthetic groups, such as riboflavin and heme-compounds typically not synthesised de novo by insects-as well as amino acids, likely contributing to the host's nutritional requirements. Notably, the Wolbachia metagenome-assembled genome from H. melleus clustered within the supergroup B, showing high genetic similarity to strains from phylogenetically distant Dipteran and Lepidopteran hosts that nonetheless inhabit common ecological niches, i.e., mangrove and tropical environments. This extends the known ecological breadth of Wolbachia symbioses to marine insects, underscoring their evolutionary and environmental versatility.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the potential nutritional and metabolic roles of the Halobates-associated bacterial microbiome, particularly members of the Wolbachia genus. This emphasises the importance of microbial symbionts in the ecological success and adaptation of marine insects, offering a perspective complementary to previously studied terrestrial insect microbiomes.},
}
@article {pmid40781199,
year = {2025},
author = {Murugesan, P and Sharma, P and Bhowmik, SN and Chowdhury, S and Kaushik, R},
title = {Diversity and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in phosphorus-deficient acidic soils of Northeast India: implications for sustainable agriculture.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {8},
pages = {303},
pmid = {40781199},
issn = {1573-0972},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; India ; *Phosphorus/deficiency/analysis ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Agriculture ; Biodiversity ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Soil acidity significantly impacts plant growth and yield, affecting approximately 90% of India's land, with 54% of acidic soils concentrated in the North-Eastern Region of India. Aluminium (Al) toxicity and phosphorus (P) deficiency coexist under acidic conditions, limiting agricultural productivity. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with plants, enhancing phosphorus uptake and mitigating Al toxicity. This study explores total and root-colonizing AMF diversity in acidic soils from undisturbed and cultivated sites in Mizoram (upland) and Tripura (lowland) using next-generation sequencing of amplicons from nested PCR with AMF-specific primers. Distinct variations in AMF communities were observed between undisturbed and cultivated sites in both regions. We identified 26 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in soil and six in roots, with Glomeraceae dominating. Cultivated sites in Mizoram showed the highest alpha diversity (Shannon: 2.17, Simpson: 0.84), with unique ASVs (e.g., Funneliformis, Diversispsora). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity showed greater AMF community similarity between undisturbed sites in Mizoram and Tripura. Soil parameters such as pH, EC, Al, and Cu significantly influenced AMF community composition. These findings provide crucial ecological insights into AMF communities in acidic soils, guiding the future development of targeted, AMF-based biofertilizers for sustainable crop production.},
}
@article {pmid40781167,
year = {2025},
author = {Carvalho, ASP and Wingert, ST and Kirsch, R and Vogel, H and Kölsch, G and Kaltenpoth, M},
title = {Symbionts with eroded genomes adjust gene expression according to host life-stage and environment.},
journal = {EMBO reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40781167},
issn = {1469-3178},
support = {GRK2526/1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; ERC CoG 819585 SYMBeetle//EC | ERC | HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council (ERC)/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria in long-term host associations frequently undergo extreme genome reduction. While they retain genes beneficial to the host, their repertoire of transcription factors is severely reduced. Here, we assessed whether genome-eroded symbionts can still regulate gene expression by characterizing the transcriptional responses of obligate symbionts in reed beetles to different temperatures and host life stages. These symbionts feature a small genome (~0.5 Mb), encoding for 9-10 essential amino acid biosynthesis pathways, 0-2 pectinases, and 4-5 transcription factors. We found that the symbionts respond to winter conditions by upregulating a heat-shock sigma factor and downregulating translation machinery. Across life stages, symbionts adjusted gene expression to meet the hosts' nutritional demands, upregulating amino acid biosynthesis in larvae, while expression and activity of host and symbiont enzymes involved in plant cell wall breakdown increased in the folivorous adults. In addition, the regulation of symbiont cell morphology genes corresponded to cell shape differences across life stages. Thus, reed beetle symbionts may use their few transcription factors to respond to the host's environment, highlighting the regulatory potential of long-term coevolved symbionts despite severely reduced genomes.},
}
@article {pmid40780365,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, R and Liu, Z and Liu, Y and Yang, Z and Wang, Z and Zhang, Y and Lei, J and Han, T and Wang, J and Li, Z},
title = {Coupling mechanisms of community assembly and pollutant removal in algal-bacterial granular sludge systems.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {437},
number = {},
pages = {133122},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133122},
pmid = {40780365},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {This study comparatively assessed algal-bacterial granular sludge (ABGS) decontamination performance and microbial community mechanisms under two cultivation modes: flocculated sludge transformed into ABGS (AS_ABGS) and aerobic granular sludge transformed into ABGS (AGS_ABGS). The results indicated that, AS_ABGS achieved superior pollutant removal (COD: 92.2 %, TN: 82.1 %, TP: 61.5 %) versus AGS_ABGS (COD: 96.3 %, TN: 75.1 %, TP: 53.3 %). Microbial community analysis revealed deterministic assembly dominated AS_ABGS, narrowing niches, and enhancing functional specialization of N/P-removing taxa. AS_ABGS exhibited higher modularity, robustness, and stronger positive algal-bacterial interactions (52.32 %). Conversely, stochastic assembly in AGS_ABGS yielded weaker interactions (50.45 %). Metagenomics confirmed AS_ABGS enriched N/P metabolic genes (amo, acc) may be driven by Thauera, Micavibrio, and Aquisediminimonas, while AGS_ABGS favored Amaricoccus and Rhodovulum but showed lower N/P gene abundance. This study highlights the effect of algal-bacterial ecological interactions mediated by functional genes on the decontamination efficiency of ABGS and provides valuable insights for advancing this method.},
}
@article {pmid40779939,
year = {2025},
author = {Cao, X and Yan, Z and Tang, K and Xing, Q and Lin, J and Su, H and Wu, Z and Wu, G and Yang, C and Tang, J and Zhou, Z},
title = {Threats of BaA-SM2 as key bioaccumulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and antibiotic components to coral energy dynamics and symbiosis stability.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {287},
number = {Pt A},
pages = {124297},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.124297},
pmid = {40779939},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Scleractinian corals, integral to marine biodiversity, are increasingly threatened by environmental contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and antibiotics. Yet, the mechanisms underlying their bioaccumulation and effects on scleractinian corals within natural reef ecosystems remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the bioaccumulation of PAHs and antibiotics in both coral hosts and algal symbionts of Galaxea fascicularis, and examined the impacts of these pollutants on coral-algal symbiosis and energy metabolism in situ. Our results show that algal symbionts exhibited a higher capacity for PAH accumulation than coral hosts, with benzo [a]anthracene (BaA) and dibenzo [a,h]anthracene (DahA) being preferentially retained by coral hosts and algal symbionts, respectively. However, coral hosts demonstrated a greater propensity for antibiotic accumulation, especially sulfamethazine (SM2), from the surrounding seawater. BaA might play a crucial role in regulating bioaccumulation in both coral hosts and algal symbionts, not only affecting the accumulation of other PAH components but also interacting with SM2. Furthermore, BaA and SM2 could influence coral-algal symbiosis and energy metabolism. The combined bioaccumulation of BaA and SM2 may amplify the overall detrimental effects of pollutants on coral health. Collectively, BaA and SM2 have the potential to serve as biomarkers for assessing the threats of PAHs and antibiotics contamination on coral-algal symbiosis and energy metabolism.},
}
@article {pmid40779019,
year = {2025},
author = {Obayashi, K and Kodama, Y},
title = {Exploring the digestive processes of symbiotic Chlorella sp. in non-endosymbiotic Paramecium species, Paramecium multimicronucleatum.},
journal = {Protoplasma},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40779019},
issn = {1615-6102},
support = {Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Grant Number 20K06768)//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Grant Number 23H02529)//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
abstract = {Chlorella spp. live in mutual symbiosis with Paramecium bursaria. In the present study, we investigated the digestive processes of Chlorella variabilis isolated from P. bursaria ingested by P. multimicronucleatum, a species that does not have the ability to undergo endosymbiosis with algae. The digestion of algae within the digestive vacuole (DV) of P. multimicronucleatum began within 5 min, and complete digestion occurred within 12 h. The digested algae were retained in P. multimicronucleatum even after 72 h of incubation. Additionally, after 0.5 h, some single green alga appeared in the P. multimicronucleatum cytoplasm by budding from the DV membrane. Comparing the re-endosymbiosis process between P. bursaria and Chlorella sp., some algae exhibited temporary lysosomal enzyme resistance in P. multimicronucleatum DVs and appeared from the DVs by budding the DV membrane one cell at a time. However, the differentiation of the DV membrane surrounding a single green alga into a symbiosome membrane, called the perialgal vacuole membrane, localized beneath the P. bursaria cell cortex was not observed in P. multimicronucleatum. These findings provide insights into the digestive process of symbiotic algae in Paramecium species incapable of endosymbiosis and highlight the unique adaptations required for the establishment of endosymbiosis between P. bursaria and Chlorella spp.},
}
@article {pmid40778777,
year = {2025},
author = {Phimphong, T and Hashimoto, S and Songwattana, P and Wongdee, J and Greetatorn, T and Teamtisong, K and Boonchuen, P and Masuda, S and Shibata, A and Shirasu, K and Sibounnavong, P and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Sato, S and Gully, D and Giraud, E and Piromyou, P and Teaumroong, N},
title = {Diversity of bradyrhizobial T3SS systems and their roles in symbiosis with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and Vigna species (V. radiata and V. mungo).},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0060025},
doi = {10.1128/aem.00600-25},
pmid = {40778777},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and intercropped legumes (Arachis hypogaea, Vigna radiata, and V. mungo) was regulated by the type III secretion system (T3SS), which delivers effector proteins (T3Es) into host plant cells to modulate nodulation. To explore this mechanism, we sequenced and analyzed seven Bradyrhizobium genomes, identifying putative T3Es across five T3SS groups (G.1-G.5), which were classified based on the sequence of rhcN, a conserved ATPase gene essential for T3SS function. Phylogenetic analysis of rhcN more closely reflected the evolutionary relationships of nodulation genes than those based on 16S rRNA or whole-genome comparisons, underscoring its symbiotic relevance. Functional assays using rhcN mutants revealed group-specific effects on nodulation; G.1 strains showed neutral effects on A. hypogaea, negative effects on V. radiata, and positive effects on V. mungo. G.2 strains consistently promoted nodulation across all hosts and lacked effectors related to SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) pathways, which have been implicated in host defense regulation. G.3 strains reduced nodulation in A. hypogaea but enhanced it in Vigna species. G.4 strains suppressed nodulation in A. hypogaea, and G.5 strains inhibited nodulation across all tested legumes. These findings highlight the diversity in T3SS organization, effector composition, and symbiotic responses among native Bradyrhizobium strains. The identification of known and uncharacterized effectors suggests roles in host compatibility and specificity. These strains, along with their effector profiles, provide a foundation for future functional studies to better understand T3SS-mediated interactions and support the development of targeted inoculants for legume hosts.IMPORTANCEThis study advances our understanding of legume-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis by examining the genetic organization and evolutionary patterns of T3SS genes. Our findings revealed that T3SS gene evolution does not always align with phylogenies based on 16S rRNA or whole-genome sequences, suggesting that horizontal gene transfer and functional adaptation may shape diversification. The observed variation in T3SS architecture and effector profiles among the five distinct Bradyrhizobium groups was correlated with host-specific nodulation outcomes in A. hypogaea, V. radiata, and V. mungo. We also identified novel candidate genes influencing symbiotic signaling and compatibility. These insights into the diversity and function of T3SS components contribute to a broader understanding of host-microbe communication and may support the development of more targeted and efficient rhizobial inoculants for sustainable legume cultivation and improved biological nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid40778206,
year = {2025},
author = {Umer, M and Anwar, N and Mubeen, M and Li, Y and Ali, A and Alshaharni, MO and Liu, P},
title = {Roles of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant growth and disease management for sustainable agriculture.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1616273},
pmid = {40778206},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the basis symbionts in terrestrial ecosystems, profoundly influencing plant development, nutrient acquisition, and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. This review synthesizes current systematic understandings of AMF-mediated augmentation of plant growth and disease resistance, with a particular emphasis on their role in sustainable crop production. AMF improves host plant performance through enhanced phosphorus, nitrogen, and water uptake via extensive extraradical hyphal networks. Moreover, AMF colonization modulates phytohormonal signaling pathways, including salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid, and nitric oxide, priming SR and upregulating defense-related gene expression. Increased biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, reinforcement of cell walls, and activation of antioxidant enzyme systems often accompany these responses. AMF also engage in synergistic interactions with rhizosphere microbiota such as Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus, enhancing their collective biocontrol efficacy against a broad spectrum of soil-borne pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. Through modulation of root exudates, glomalin-mediated soil aggregation, and microbiome restructuring, AMF contributes to the establishment of disease-suppressive soils. Genomic and transcriptomic studies have elucidated key components of the common symbiosis-signaling pathway, supporting AMF-host specificity and functional outcomes. AMF is a promising biotechnological tool for integrated pest, disease, and nutrient management. Advancing their application in field settings requires targeted research on strain-host-environment interactions, formulation technologies, and long-term ecosystem impacts, aligning AMF-based strategies with the goals of resilient and sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40777803,
year = {2025},
author = {Mensah, A and Bao, Q and Zhang, Z and Chen, Y and Jiang, Q and Cai, P},
title = {Symbiopersonal intelligence towards symbiotic and personalized digital medicine.},
journal = {Fundamental research},
volume = {5},
number = {4},
pages = {1423-1428},
pmid = {40777803},
issn = {2667-3258},
abstract = {In this perspective, we introduce the concept of Symbiopersonal Intelligence (SymAI)-a specialized form of artificial intelligence designed to facilitate and optimize symbiotic interactions between individuals and intelligent devices in digital medicine. SymAI represents a new frontier in personalized intelligent systems, adaptively learning from and catering to individual needs and behaviors. We explore its emergence and potential implementation in both personal and public healthcare, encompassing telemedicine, precision medicine, surgical assistance, chronic disease management, and policy optimization. Key technological frameworks and hardware enablers are outlined, with a particular emphasis on multimodal data retrieval, transmission, and processing, as well as personalized interventions delivered via wearable and implantable devices. By integrating artificial intelligence into sensor technologies and addressing barriers in flexible electronics, SymAI holds the potential to revolutionize digital health, offering more responsive, tailored care and improved health outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40777375,
year = {2025},
author = {Dupuis, S and Lingappa, UF and Purvine, SO and Chiang, L and Gallaher, SD and Nicora, CD and Lipton, MS and Merchant, SS},
title = {Mono-mix strategy enables comparative proteomics of a cross-kingdom microbial symbiosis.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40777375},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Cross-kingdom microbial symbioses, such as those between algae and bacteria, are key players in biogeochemical cycles. The molecular changes during initiation and establishment of symbiosis are of great interest, but quantitatively monitoring such changes can be challenging, particularly when the microorganisms differ greatly in size or are intimately associated. Here, we analyze output from data-dependent acquisition (DDA) LC-MS/MS proteomics experiments investigating the well-studied interaction between the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the heterotrophic bacterium Mesorhizobium japonicum. We found that detection of bacterial proteins decreased in coculture by 50% proteome-wide due to the abundance of algal proteins. As a result, standard differential expression analysis led to numerous false-positive reports of significantly downregulated proteins, where it was not possible to distinguish meaningful biological responses to symbiosis from artifacts of the reduced protein detection in coculture relative to monoculture. We show that data normalization alone does not eliminate the impact of altered detection on differential expression analysis of the cross-kingdom symbiosis. We assessed two additional strategies to overcome this methodological artifact inherent to DDA proteomics. In the first, we combined algal and bacterial monocultures at a relative abundance that mimicked the coculture, creating a "mono-mix" control to which the coculture could be compared. This approach enabled comparable detection of bacterial proteins in the coculture and the monoculture control. In the second strategy, we enhanced detection of lowly abundant bacterial proteins by using sample fractionation upstream of LC-MS/MS analysis. When these simple approaches were combined, they allowed for meaningful comparisons of nearly 10,000 algal proteins and over 4,000 bacterial proteins in response to symbiosis by DDA. They successfully recovered expected changes in the bacterial proteome in response to algal coculture, including upregulation of sugar-binding proteins and transporters. They also revealed novel proteomic responses to coculture that guide hypotheses about algal-bacterial interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40777051,
year = {2025},
author = {Kramer, N and Galindo-Martínez, CT and Jacques, SL and Tresguerres, M and Loya, Y and Wangpraseurt, D},
title = {Depth-dependent microskeletal features modify light harvesting in Turbinaria reniformis corals.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {8},
pages = {113137},
pmid = {40777051},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Coral skeletal morphology modulates light exposure in symbiotic algae, especially in light-limited environments like mesophotic reefs. However, quantifying light capture within complex coral structures remains challenging. Here, we used optical coherence tomography and high-resolution X-ray scanning to explore depth-dependent bio-optical properties of shallow and mesophotic Turbinaria reniformis corals from the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, Red Sea. We identified two distinct skeletal layers: a highly scattering superficial layer and a deeper, more light-penetrating layer. Mesophotic corals showed higher scattering coefficients and a lower anisotropy of scattering values, yielding increased reflectivity. Regardless of depth, coenosteum grooves facilitated forward scattering, while protruding features such as spines and septa increased surface reflectivity and isotropic scattering. Light simulations demonstrated an enhanced fluence rate at the skeleton-water interface, with mesophotic corals enhancing the available light up to 2.7-fold. These findings suggest that microskeletal heterogeneity fine-tunes light capture at the microenvironmental scale, thereby enhancing light-harvesting efficiency across depth.},
}
@article {pmid40774854,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, W and Dong, S and Lambers, H},
title = {Phosphorus acquisition and pathogen defense: synergies versus trade-offs.},
journal = {Trends in plant science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2025.07.010},
pmid = {40774854},
issn = {1878-4372},
abstract = {During their life cycle, plants encounter simultaneous biotic and abiotic stresses. A low availability of inorganic phosphorus (P) commonly limits plant growth in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Pathogen attacks pose risks to plant productivity and biodiversity, causing yield loss and ecosystem degradation. Plants evolved various strategies to cope with P limitation, which, in turn, affect their resistance to pathogens. However, a comprehensive understanding of how efficient plant P-acquisition strategies influence their pathogen resistance under P-limited conditions remains elusive. We highlight how these P-acquisition strategies can enhance or decrease pathogen resistance through multiple mechanisms. We advocate using this information to design more sustainable agricultural systems and explain species turnover in natural ecosystems, especially in the context of global change.},
}
@article {pmid40774824,
year = {2025},
author = {Lee, I and Kim, BS and Suk, KT and Lee, SS},
title = {Gut Microbiome-Based Strategies for the Control of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {e2406017},
pmid = {40774824},
issn = {1738-8872},
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; *Enterobacteriaceae Infections/prevention &amp; control/microbiology/therapy ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Carbapenems/pharmacology ; Antimicrobial Stewardship ; },
abstract = {Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) represent a critical antimicrobial resistance threat due to their resistance to last-resort antibiotics and high transmission potential. While conventional strategies-such as infection control, antimicrobial stewardship, and novel antibiotic development-remain essential, growing attention has shifted toward the gut microbiome, which plays a central role in mediating colonization resistance against CRE. Disruption of the intestinal microbiota-primarily driven by antibiotic exposure and further exacerbated by non-antibiotic drugs such as proton pump inhibitors-reduces microbial diversity and impairs functional integrity, facilitating CRE acquisition, prolonged carriage, and horizontal transmission. In response, microbiome-based strategies-including microbiome disruption indices (MDIs), fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and rationally designed symbiotic microbial consortia-are being explored as novel approaches for CRE prevention and decolonization. Mechanistic studies have shown that colonization resistance is mediated by both direct mechanisms (e.g., nutrient competition, short-chain fatty acid production) and indirect mechanisms (e.g., immune modulation via IL-36 signaling). Advances in metagenomics, metabolomics, and culturomics have enabled high-resolution profiling of gut microbial communities and their functional roles. Emerging preclinical and clinical evidence supports the potential of microbiome-informed interventions to predict infection risk, enhance antimicrobial stewardship, and guide the development of next-generation probiotics targeting CRE. Longitudinal studies continue to evaluate the efficacy of FMT and synthetic microbial consortia in eradicating intestinal CRE colonization. Collectively, these insights underscore the promise of gut microbiome science as a complementary and innovative strategy for CRE control in the post-antibiotic era.},
}
@article {pmid40773571,
year = {2025},
author = {Nahrendorf, M and Ginhoux, F and Swirski, FK},
title = {Immune system influence on physiology.},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {389},
number = {6760},
pages = {594-599},
doi = {10.1126/science.adx4380},
pmid = {40773571},
issn = {1095-9203},
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Cell Communication ; Homeostasis ; *Immune System/physiology ; Leukocytes/physiology/immunology ; Phagocytosis ; Nervous System ; },
abstract = {The immune system's central function is to maintain homeostasis by guarding the organism against dangerous external and internal stressors. Immunity's operational toolbox contains diverse processes, such as phagocytosis, antigen recognition, cell killing, and secretion of cytokines and antibodies. Although immune cells interact with each other, they also communicate with cells typically associated with other organ systems, including the nervous, circulatory, metabolic, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and hematopoietic. This abundant cross-talk shows that immunity transcends defense and homeostasis: It is a network that participates in many physiological processes necessary for life. By accessing the circulation and inhabiting every tissue, leukocytes sense, interpret, and regulate biological processes. In this Review, we highlight recent studies that illustrate the often bidirectional and symbiotic relationships through which the immune system regulates physiology.},
}
@article {pmid40772886,
year = {2025},
author = {Qiu, P and Liu, X and Wei, D},
title = {Iron acquisition in the mutualistic fungus Penicillium herquei: implications of mineral elements in insect-fungus symbiosis.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0105125},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01051-25},
pmid = {40772886},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {Mutualistic interactions between insects and fungi are pivotal in ecosystem dynamics, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study investigates iron acquisition strategies of the mutualistic Penicillium herquei, revealing the involvement of mineral elements in insect-fungus symbiosis. Comparative transcriptomics of weevil-farming strain (WFS) and soil free-living strain (SFS) revealed distinct transcriptional profiles, with 4,357 upregulated genes in WFS. Enrichment analyses highlighted a significant upregulation of genes linked to oxidoreductase activity, iron and heme binding, with a notable prevalence of cytochrome P450 (CYP450). qRT-PCR confirmed differential expression of CYP450 and siderophore-related genes, indicating enhanced iron absorption in WFS. Comparative analysis of iron content further demonstrated significantly higher iron levels in WFS than in SFS and weevil host plant leaves, suggesting a nutritional adaptation for symbiotic lifestyle. These findings provide novel insights into the role of iron metabolism in insect-fungus mutualism, highlighting potential evolutionary mechanisms that bolster symbiotic fitness.IMPORTANCEUnraveling the complex interplay between insects and fungi is crucial for deciphering the intricate dynamics of ecosystems. In this study, a notable upregulation of genes associated with iron and heme binding, as well as a significant increase in iron content within WFS was revealed, suggesting a specialized adaptation strategy to enhance iron acquisition, potentially enabling the fungus to efficiently provide essential nutrients, including bioavailable iron, to weevil host. This research not only advances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing insect-fungus mutualism but also highlights the potential evolutionary mechanisms that bolster symbiotic fitness and contribute to the co-evolution of these interacting species.},
}
@article {pmid40772389,
year = {2025},
author = {Dauphin, B and de Freitas Pereira, M and Croll, D and Cardoso Anastácio, T and Fauchery, L and Guinet, F and Dutra Costa, M and Martin, F and Peter, M and Kohler, A},
title = {Genetic variation among progeny shapes symbiosis in a basidiomycete with poplar.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70395},
pmid = {40772389},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Amparo &#xe0; Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)/ ; //Coordena&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Aperfei&#xe7;oamento de Pessoal de N&#xed;vel Superior (CAPES)/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE/ ; //Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico (CNPq)/ ; //CNPq Research Grant/ ; },
abstract = {Forest trees rely on ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi for acquiring scarce resources such as water and nutrients. However, the molecular mechanisms governing ECM traits remain inadequately understood, particularly the role of intraspecific fungal variation in root-tip colonisation and trophic interactions. This study examined six ECM traits using Pisolithus microcarpus, an ECM fungus capable of forming ECM rootlets in poplar. A collection of 40 sibling monokaryons and their parental dikaryon was analysed through genome and transcriptome sequencing to examine quantitative trait loci, gene expression and mating-type loci. These findings revealed a pronounced phenotypic continuum in poplar root colonisation by sibling monokaryons, ranging from incompatible to fully compatible strains. Genetic recombination among monokaryons was demonstrated, and genomic regions potentially involved in ECM fungal traits were identified. Transcriptomic analysis revealed greater differentiation in transcriptomic profiles between fungal strains than between fungal tissues, and uncovered tissue-specific functional responses for ECM and free-living mycelia. Poplar exhibited distinct transcriptomic responses when interacting with different sibling monokaryons and the parental dikaryon. Allele sorting at 11 mating-type loci confirmed the species' heterothallic tetrapolar system. This study advances understanding of the genetic and transcriptomic mechanisms underlying ECM symbioses, highlighting intraspecific fungal diversity's role in forest ecosystem functioning.},
}
@article {pmid40772380,
year = {2025},
author = {Duan, Y and Zhang, W and Liu, H and Wang, M and Zhong, L and Liu, J and Chen, X and Zhang, S},
title = {Insights into the molecular response mechanisms of fasting stress and refeeding in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) through transcriptome and histological analysis.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.70164},
pmid = {40772380},
issn = {1095-8649},
support = {JATS [2023] 374//Jiangsu Agricultural Industry Technology System/ ; CARS-46//China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA/ ; PZCZ201741//Important New Varieties Selection Project of Jiangsu Province/ ; },
abstract = {Throughout their life cycles, many fish alternate between periods of fasting and feeding due to the temporal and geographical variability of food availability in aquatic environments. The ability to adapt to fasting and restore internal balance after refeeding is fundamental to the long-term survival and symbiotic relationships of aquatic species. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which the fish adapt to fasting and refeeding remains limited. We looked at the growth performance, intestinal and liver histology, and liver gene expression patterns of channel catfish, a significant commercial species, during three weeks of fasting stress and three weeks of refeeding, respectively, in order to clarify the molecular response mechanisms to these two events. Our study revealed that fasting significantly impacts growth, histological characteristics and physiological metabolism. During the fasting period, catfish growth performance was greatly inhibited, but growth compensation was observed after refeeding. Histological analysis showed that liver and intestinal tissues experienced varying degrees of apoptotic injury during fasting, with a modest number of TUNEL-positive cells still present in the liver after refeeding. We identified 787 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the control group in three weeks (CG3) groups versus the fasting-refeeding group inthree week (EG3) group, while only 35 DEGs were defined in the CG6 group versus the EG6 group. Gene Ontology functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses suggested that fasting stress affected gene expression related to the mitotic cell cycle, cell cycle processes, amino acid metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism and immune responses. Metabolism and cellular process response genes were significantly downregulated in the fasting group. Significant alterations in the expression levels of genes related to metabolism and apoptosis were validated by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). This study provides insights into the physiological mechanisms underlying fish adaptation to fasting or nutritional deficiency stress, shedding light on how channel catfish respond to fasting stress and refeeding.},
}
@article {pmid40772276,
year = {2025},
author = {Adil, G and Liu, S and Bao, X and Mamut, R},
title = {The chloroplast genome of the Peltigera elisabethae photobiont Chloroidium sp. W5 and its phylogenetic implications.},
journal = {Frontiers in genetics},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1602048},
pmid = {40772276},
issn = {1664-8021},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Lichens are globally distributed symbiotic organisms comprising fungi (mycobionts) and photosynthetic partners (photobionts), with exceptional adaptability to extreme environments. Despite growing interest in lichen symbiosis, chloroplast genome data for photobionts remain scarce, hindering insights into symbiotic coevolution and genomic architecture.<br><br>METHODS: To address this gap, we characterized the chloroplast genome of Chloroidium sp. W5, a photobiont of the lichen Peltigera elisabethae, using next-generation sequencing. The circular genome (190,579 bp) was assembled and annotated using a combination of bioinformatics tools, including GetOrganelle for genome assembly and GeSeq for annotation. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the genome's structure, gene content, and repetitive elements. Codon usage patterns were assessed using MEGA 11, and phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum likelihood analysis with IQ-tree.<br><br>RESULTS: The circular genome (190,579 bp) lacks the canonical quadripartite structure (LSC/IR/SSC) and exhibits a strong AT bias (56.1%). Annotation identified 110 functional genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 28 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs. Repetitive sequence analysis revealed 5,000 dispersed repeats (2.62% of the genome), predominantly forward and palindromic types, with SSR loci showing a significant A/T preference. Codon usage analysis demonstrated a pronounced bias toward A/U-ending codons (RSCU > 1), suggesting translational adaptation to symbiotic nutrient constraints. Phylogenetic reconstruction robustly placed Chloroidium sp. W5 within the Watanabeales clade (ML = 100), while synteny analysis revealed extensive genomic rearrangements compared to close relatives.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These findings enrich the chloroplast genome database for lichen photobionts, shedding light on symbiosis-driven genomic plasticity and providing a foundation for studying host-photobiont coevolution and lichen ecological adaptation.},
}
@article {pmid40771817,
year = {2025},
author = {Lai, X and Huang, J and Li, Y and Dong, L},
title = {Symbiotic bacteria-mediated imbalance and repair of immune homeostasis: exploring novel mechanisms of microbiome-host interactions in atopic dermatitis.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1649857},
pmid = {40771817},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology/microbiology/therapy/metabolism ; *Homeostasis/immunology ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Animals ; *Microbiota/immunology ; *Symbiosis/immunology ; *Skin/microbiology/immunology ; *Host Microbial Interactions/immunology ; *Bacteria/immunology/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; },
abstract = {The skin surface is colonised by a rich microbiome, and intricate interactions between this microenvironment and microbial communities are critical for maintaining skin homeostasis. Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by skin barrier dysfunction and aberrant immune activation, exhibits a rising global incidence. While conventional therapeutic strategies offer short-term symptom control, their long-term use is limited by adverse effects including skin atrophy, metabolic disorders, and increased infection risk. Critically, these approaches fail to cure AD or reverse the underlying immune imbalance. Recent research has firmly established the skin microbiome as a central driver in AD pathogenesis. The molecular mechanisms underpinning microbiome-host interactions, including the potential for remote regulation via the gut-skin axis, are now being actively investigated. This review systematically analyses how microbial dysbiosis in AD promotes Th2/Th17 immune polarization through three key pathways: microbial metabolites, immune signalling, and barrier integrity. Building on these mechanistic insights and recent advances, we propose novel multimodal therapeutic strategies targeting the microbial-immune axis. We further elucidate the role of commensal bacteria in maintaining immune homeostasis. Ultimately, this synthesis aims to bridge fundamental research with clinical applications, providing a robust theoretical foundation for future therapeutic development and clinical studies in AD management.},
}
@article {pmid40771681,
year = {2025},
author = {Lethielleux-Juge, C},
title = {Review: roles of mycorrhizal symbioses and associated soil microbiomes in ecological restoration.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1456041},
pmid = {40771681},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The ecological roles of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are diverse, providing essential nutrients to host plants, tolerance to stress, and regulation of metabolic pathways, greatly involved in soil C dynamics, unlocking minerals and promoting reactive Fe minerals. Although spores dispersal modes are still not clearly understood, a strong positive relationship exists between intra-and extraradical mycelium at the ecosystem level. AMF are essential in ecosystem restoration by improving soil attributes, above and belowground biodiversity, seedlings survival, growth, and establishment on stressed soils, driving plant succession and preventing plant invasion. AMF inoculants from native and early seral instead of exotics and late seral, consortia instead of few or single species, are more efficient. Plant and AMF communities evolve together after revegetation, fine fescues are among the most resilient species, especially Festuca rubra, whose fungal strategies have been recently finely studied. Distinct AMF communities are associated with functionally different plants, which are related to differences in P and C transportomes and genetic variations within the AMF symbiont. Ligneous species react differently to forest soil inoculations according to their arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AM) or ectomycorrhizal symbiosis (EM) status, and in dual-mycorrhizal plants, costs and benefits are context-dependent, with mycorrhizal switch occurring under various abiotic or biotic factors and resource availability. In mine restoration, root colonization is generally very low during the first year post-reclamation, then increases rapidly before stabilizing. Parallel to plant successions, increased soil parameters, and decreased contaminants, AMF diversity increased and changed, affiliated Glomus genera with small spores being completed by Acaulospora or Gigaspora larger spores under southern climates. A similar recovery period was observed for fungal communities in forest restoration, where ectomycorrhizal mycorrhizal fungi (EMF) species dominate, and diversity increased with time post-revegetation, influenced by edaphic variables and tree species. Under heavy metal (HM) contamination, microorganism classes, enzymes, and AMF efficiency vary with time, soil parameters, restoration treatments, plant species, and levels of soil contamination, with Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria being often predominant. Dual applications of specific microbial and AMF species induced synergistic effects on plant growth and soil resilience. Under other contaminants, several AMF and microbial consortia proved to favorize plant growth and nutrient availability and decrease soil toxicity. New quality indicators to compare rehabilitation studies are proposed.},
}
@article {pmid40770989,
year = {2025},
author = {Javaux, EJ},
title = {A diverse Palaeoproterozoic microbial ecosystem implies early eukaryogenesis.},
journal = {Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences},
volume = {380},
number = {1931},
pages = {20240092},
pmid = {40770989},
issn = {1471-2970},
support = {//Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS/ ; //Belgian Federal Science Policy Office/ ; },
mesh = {*Fossils ; *Biological Evolution ; *Eukaryota/physiology ; *Microbiota ; *Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Microbial interactions may lead to major events in life and planetary evolution, such as eukaryogenesis, the birth of complex nucleated cells. In synergy with microbiology, cellular palaeobiology may shed some light on this very ancient and debated affair and its circumstances. The 1.78-1.73 Ga McDermott Formation, McArthur Basin (Australia), preserves a microfossil assemblage that provides unique insights into the evolution of early eukaryotes. The fossil cells display a level of morphological complexity, disparity and plasticity requiring a complex cytoskeleton and an endomembrane system, pushing back the minimum age of uncontested eukaryotic fossils by more than 100 million years (Ma). They also document an earlier appearance of reproduction by budding, simple multicellularity and diverse programmed openings of cyst wall implying a life cycle, as well as possible evidence for microbial symbiosis and behaviour, including eukaryovory and ectosymbiosis. This microbial community that also includes cyanobacterial cells preserving thylakoids, microbial mats and other microfossils, thrived in supratidal to intertidal marine environments with heterogeneous but mostly suboxic to anoxic redox conditions. Taken together, these observations imply early eukaryogenesis, including mitochondrial endosymbiosis in micro-/nano-oxic niches, and suggest a >1.75 Ga minimum age for the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA), preceded by a deeper history of the domain Eukarya, consistent with several molecular clocks and the fossil record.This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Chance and purpose in the evolution of biospheres'.},
}
@article {pmid40770786,
year = {2025},
author = {Galambos, N and Parisot, N and Vallier, A and Bevilacqua, C and Balmand, S and Vincent-Monégat, C and Rebollo, R and Gillet, B and Hughes, S and Heddi, A and Zaidman-Rémy, A},
title = {Dual-transcriptomics on microdissected cells reveals functional specialisation of symbiont-bearing-cells and contrasted responses to nutritional stress in the cereal weevil.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {182},
pmid = {40770786},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {ANR-19-CE20-0010//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0010//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0010//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0010//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0010//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0010//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0010//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Weevils/microbiology/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Transcriptome ; Stress, Physiological ; Laser Capture Microdissection ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insects thriving on a nutritionally imbalanced diet often establish long-term relationships with intracellular symbiotic bacteria (endosymbionts), which complement their nutritional needs and improve their physiological performances. Endosymbionts are in host specialised cells, called the bacteriocytes, which in many insects group together to form a symbiotic organ, the bacteriome. The cereal weevil Sitophilus oryzae houses multiple bacteriomes at the adult mesenteric caeca.<br><br>RESULTS: Using microscopic cell imaging, we revealed that bacteriomes consist of several cell types, including progenitor cells, peripheral bacteriocytes, central bacteriocytes and epithelial cells. By combining laser capture microdissection and dual RNA-sequencing, we showed that both host cell types and their associated endosymbionts express distinct transcriptional profiles. The comparison between peripheral bacteriocytes and midgut cells from insects artificially deprived from endosymbionts (aposymbiotic) unravelled cellular pathways modulated by the presence of endosymbionts. The cell-specific response to endosymbionts in peripheral bacteriocytes includes a boost of fatty-acid and amino acid metabolisms. We found that central bacteriocytes overexpress transport and G-protein signalling-related genes when compared to peripheral bacteriocytes, indicating a signalling and/or transport function of these cells. Diet composition strongly impacts host and endosymbiont gene expression and reveals a molecular trade-off among metabolic pathways.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence on how endosymbionts interfere and enhance metabolic performances of insect bacteriocytes and highlights key genes involved in the bacteriocyte differentiation and metabolic pathways. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid40770781,
year = {2025},
author = {Boulenger, A and Aires, T and Engelen, AH and Muyzer, G and Marengo, M and Gobert, S},
title = {Microbiome matters: how transplantation methods and donor origins shape the successful restoration of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {99},
pmid = {40770781},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {STARECAPMED//Territorial Collectivity of Corsica/ ; STARECAPMED//Territorial Collectivity of Corsica/ ; STARECAPMED//Rhone-Mediterranean and Corsican Water Agency/ ; STARECAPMED//Rhone-Mediterranean and Corsican Water Agency/ ; FSR2021//University of Liege/ ; FSR2021//University of Liege/ ; ASP 40006932//Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique - FNRS/ ; UIDB/04326/2020//Portuguese national funds FCT/ ; UIDB/04326/2020//Portuguese national funds FCT/ ; RESTORESEAS//Biodiversa/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Posidonia oceanica forms extensive seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean Sea, providing key ecosystem services. However, these meadows decline due to anthropogenic pressures like anchoring and coastal development. Transplantation-based restoration has been explored for decades, yet the role of the plant-associated microbiome in restoration success remains largely unknown.<br><br>RESULTS: 16&#xa0;S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to investigate how different transplantation methods and donor origins influence the bacterial communities of P. oceanica cuttings two years post-transplantation. We tested three transplantation methods, iron staples, coconut fiber mats, and BESE elements, and compared them with control meadows and donor populations from two different origins: naturally uprooted storm-fragments and intermatte cuttings manually harvested from established meadows. Our results show that transplantation methods strongly shape bacterial communities in seagrass roots. Iron staples promoted microbial assemblages most similar to natural meadows, likely due to direct sediment contact enhancing recruitment of key functional bacterial orders such as Chromatiales and Desulfobacterales. In contrast, BESE elements and coconut fiber mats displayed dissimilar bacterial communities compared to control meadows, likely due to material composition and physical separation between the cuttings and the sediment. Donor origin had only subtle effects on bacterial communities' structure, although intermatte cuttings showed higher abundances of Candidatus Thiodiazotropha, a genus thought to be involved sulfur oxidation and nitrogen fixation.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that transplantation methods strongly influence root-associated bacterial communities. Limited sediment contact in elevated substrates delayed the establishment of key functional bacteria, highlighting the importance of direct interaction with the sediment microbial pool. These results imply that restoration strategies should prioritize methods enhancing sediment-root interactions to support microbial recovery. Incorporating microbiome considerations, such as optimized substrates or microbial inoculation, could improve the resilience and long-term success of P. oceanica restoration.},
}
@article {pmid40770683,
year = {2025},
author = {Pu, Z and Zhang, R and Zhang, C and Wang, H and Wang, XX},
title = {The balance between rhizosphere carboxylates and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in wheat phosphorus acquisition.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {1031},
pmid = {40770683},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {2021YFD1901001//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Triticum/microbiology/metabolism/genetics/growth &amp; development ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Rhizosphere ; *Symbiosis ; *Carboxylic Acids/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Changes in plant growth and root traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) vary depending on the level of phosphorus (P) supply. Two important strategies for P acquisition in wheat are the release of carboxylates into the rhizosphere and the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, the relationship between root exudates and P concentration in the shoot and root, as well as the role of AMF in this process, is not yet fully understood. This study was conducted utilizing three P supply rates (0, 50, and 200 mg P kg[-1] soil) in conjunction with AMF inoculation. We examined the effects of AMF on amount of rhizosphere carboxylates and plant P uptake for nine P contrasting wheat genotypes.<br><br>RESULTS: AMF decreased carboxylates, root biomass, root P content of wheat, and AMF reduced wheat root P allocation of wheat under all P levels. Notably, at 50&#xa0;mg kg[-1] P level, the shoot P concentration of AMF-inoculated wheat exceeded that of other P levels, having a positive mycorrhizal responsiveness in all wheat genotypes. Furthermore, analysis revealed that wheat root morphology and acid phosphatase activity significantly influenced mycorrhizal growth responsiveness, while root carboxylates played a significant role in mycorrhizal P responsiveness.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The P acquisition of wheat was found to be contingent upon the interplay of root morphology, AMF, and carboxylate levels, with AMF and carboxylate playing a more crucial role in enhancing P absorption. Consequently, the current research provides important insights for nutrient management in wheat agricultural cultivation.},
}
@article {pmid40770490,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Zhou, Z and Jarman, JB and Chen, H and Miranda-Velez, M and Terkeltaub, R and Dodd, D},
title = {Gut bacteria degrade purines via the 2,8-dioxopurine pathway.},
journal = {Nature microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40770490},
issn = {2058-5276},
support = {K08-DK110335//U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ ; R01-AT011396//U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ ; },
abstract = {Approximately one-third of urate, which at elevated levels contributes to hyperuricaemia and gout, is excreted into the intestinal tract of healthy individuals where bacteria aid its elimination. However, the molecular details of purine metabolism in the gut microbiome are unclear. Here we uncovered the 2,8-dioxopurine pathway, an anaerobic route for purine degradation in the gut bacteria, Clostridium sporogenes and Escherichia coli. Reconstitution with purified enzymes and mutational analysis combined with isotope tracking and mass spectrometry identified a selenium-dependent enzyme, 2,8-dioxopurine dehydrogenase (DOPDH), and seven additional enzymes that connect purine metabolism to short-chain fatty acid synthesis and ATP generation (measured via luciferase assay). Competition experiments in gnotobiotic mice showed that bacteria harbouring this pathway exhibit a fitness advantage, with wild-type bacteria rapidly outcompeting a DOPDH-deficient strain. Widespread presence of these genes across host-associated microbiomes suggests a host-microbe symbiosis, where host-secreted urate fosters a metabolic niche for bacteria that break it down. These findings could have therapeutic implications for the modification and enhancement of intestinal elimination of urate.},
}
@article {pmid40769503,
year = {2025},
author = {Thomas, T and Garritano, AN},
title = {Symbiotic Ammonia Oxidation in the Marine Environment.},
journal = {Annual review of marine science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-marine-040824-032008},
pmid = {40769503},
issn = {1941-0611},
abstract = {Ammonia oxidation is a fundamental step in the marine nitrogen cycle, catalyzing the conversion of ammonia to nitrite or nitric oxide and generating reductive power for the autotrophic growth of microorganisms. The ecology, diversity, and properties of ammonia-oxidizing microbes in the ocean's plankton have been extensively studied, but these microbes can also live in association or symbiosis with marine hosts such as sponges, corals, jellyfish, bivalves, and crustaceans. Sequencing-based studies have revealed that ammonia-oxidizing archaea of the family Nitrosopumilaceae are prevalent in various marine hosts, although other taxa are also found and coexist within the same host. Ammonia oxidation rates are highly variable between host species, even between closely related taxa. Limited knowledge is available on the metabolic interactions that ammonia-oxidizing microbes have, but theoretical considerations indicate that they could make significant contributions to carbon fixation for their hosts. Additionally, ammonia-oxidizing microbes appear to also have undergone specific genomic adaptations to their host environment, and the hosts may also enable ammonia oxidation to occur in habitats where planktonic counterparts might be limited. This review identifies key knowledge gaps and highlights the need for further research to fully understand the ecological significance of symbiotic ammonia oxidation in marine ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40769480,
year = {2025},
author = {Dong, X and Zhang, Q and Li, M and Al-Dhabi, NA and Chen, J and He, J and Wang, H and Tang, W},
title = {Metagenomic analysis of algal-bacteria symbiosis system (ABSS) under aniline stress: Synergistic optimization of aniline degradation and nitrogen metabolism.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {285},
number = {Pt 3},
pages = {122510},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.122510},
pmid = {40769480},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {As an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly algae-bacteria symbiotic system (ABSS), the underlying mechanisms governing its response to aniline remained inadequately explored. To address this, our research conducted a metagenomics-bathe superior performance of an ABSS (R2) over conventional activated sludge (R1) for aniline wastewater treatment. Specifically, R2 exhibited more stable aniline and COD removal capabilities compared to R1, with a 20 % significant increase in total nitrogen removal efficiency. Metagenomic analysis revealed that microbial growth and metabolism in R2 were more vigorous. The abundance of functional genes associated with aniline degradation, ammonia assimilation, and nitrification in R2 was significantly higher than in R1. Notably, OLB12 in R2 made prominent contributions to aniline degradation and nitrogen metabolism. The introduction of microalgae reshaped the functional microbial community structure, collaboratively promoting the efficient operation of the system. These findings provided valuable guidance for the management of aniline wastewater.},
}
@article {pmid40768754,
year = {2025},
author = {Akhtar, JR and O'Connor, EK and Chung, KC},
title = {Parallel Advancements in Art and Anatomy.},
journal = {Annals of plastic surgery},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1097/SAP.0000000000004456},
pmid = {40768754},
issn = {1536-3708},
abstract = {The relationship between art and medicine is symbiotic, and one of its foundations is the anatomical dissection. Dissections simultaneously contributed to an advancement of scientific understanding of the human body and the creation of artwork that depicted accurate human anatomy and body movements, specifically in European painting. Dissections became a standard component of both medical education and art training during the Renaissance, which introduced new expectations for artists to acquire a deep understanding of anatomy and reflect this in their work. With each art movement following the Renaissance, artists continued to strengthen their mastery of illustrating the human body and push the boundaries of artistic representation of the body. This paper outlines a brief history of how cadaver dissections became a cornerstone of both medical education and training for artists in European contexts, and the ways in which medical understanding and anatomical accuracy in art developed simultaneously. This is illustrated through close visual analyses of works from 3 time periods and art movements that exhibit increasing anatomical accuracy leading to mastery and artistic freedom.},
}
@article {pmid40767474,
year = {2025},
author = {Sui, J and Wang, L and Zhou, Y and Chen, F and Wang, T and Chen, SH and Cui, X and Yang, Y and Zhang, W},
title = {Resolving the Dilemma of Dicarboximide Fungicides Residue Contamination: Promises and Challenges of Microbial Degradation.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c04153},
pmid = {40767474},
issn = {1520-5118},
abstract = {Dicarboximide fungicides are widely used due to their low toxicity, broad spectrum, and high efficacy. However, their extensive accumulation in the environment can alter the composition of soil microbial communities, reduce the complexity of symbiotic networks within these communities, and pose potential threats to ecosystems and human health. Therefore, removing dicarboximide fungicide residues from various environmental media is of great practical significance. Microbial degradation has become a key focus in pollutant remediation research. To date, several microorganisms, including Providencia stuartii, Brevundimonas naejangsanensis, Rhodococcus, and Arthrobacter, have been identified as capable of degrading dicarboximide fungicides, with degradation rates ranging from 50% to 80%. This paper reviews the current research and challenges in microbial degradation of dicarboximide fungicide residues, focusing on fungicidal mechanisms, environmental fate, nontarget organism toxicity, potential degrading microorganisms, and molecular mechanisms. The findings serve as a reference for the rational use and bioremediation of dicarboximide fungicides, helping to mitigate their negative impact on the environment and living organisms while promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.},
}
@article {pmid40766715,
year = {2025},
author = {Vlaenderen, LV and Conner, WR and Shropshire, JD},
title = {Counting cytoplasmic incompatibility factor mRNA using digital droplet PCR.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40766715},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R35 GM124701/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia bacteria inhabit over half of all insect species and often spread through host populations via efficient maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), killing aposymbiotic embryos when fertilized by symbiotic males. Wolbachia's cifB gene triggers CI in males, while cifA, expressed in females, rescues embryos from CI-induced lethality. In some systems, cifA also contributes to CI induction. CI strength-the percentage of embryos that die from CI-is a key determinant of Wolbachia's prevalence in host populations, and cifB mRNA levels in testes generally correlate with CI strength. Yet, cifB's rarity can hamper precise quantification, necessitating tissue pooling for reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to achieve reliable measurements, obscuring variation at the level of individual insect tissues. Here, we present four RT digital droplet PCR (RT-ddPCR) assays to count rare cifA and cifB mRNA from wMel Wolbachia in Drosophila melanogaster. These assays count cif transcripts alongside a synthetic spike-in RNA or a D. melanogaster housekeeping gene to normalize for technical or biological variation. These assays have a limit of detection of about 1 cifA and 3 cifB copies per reaction. We expect these methods to be useful for mosquito-control programs that use wMel to block the spread of pathogens from Aedes aegypti to humans. Moreover, the oligos were designed with homology to cifA and cifB sequences from at least 33 Wolbachia strains, suggesting utility beyond wMel. These methods will allow researchers to measure cif mRNA levels from individual insect tissues, enabling efforts to pair molecular and phenotypic data at unprecedented resolutions.},
}
@article {pmid40765519,
year = {2025},
author = {Uchida, T and Li, Y and Yamashita, H and Shimada, G and Shinzato, C},
title = {Microbiome of the Boring Giant Clam Provides Insights Into Holobiont Resilience Under Coral Reef Environmental Stress.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {8},
pages = {e70161},
pmid = {40765519},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {20H03235//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 21H04742//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24KJ0896//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24K01847//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Coral Reefs ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; *Bivalvia/microbiology/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Anthozoa/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Giant clams are key denizens of coral reef ecosystems, forming holobionts through symbiotic relationships with algae of the family Symbiodiniaceae, as in reef-building corals. In this study, we performed a tissue-specific microbiome analysis of the boring giant clam, Tridacna crocea and evaluated the impact of dark-induced bleaching on its outer mantle bacterial community. Using 16S rRNA metabarcoding, Endozoicomonas was identified as the dominant bacterial genus in most tissues, particularly in gills, implying an important contribution to the giant clam holobiont. In contrast, in the outer mantle, where algal symbionts reside, the microbiome exhibited greater diversity, with a significant presence of carotenoid-producing bacteria such as Rubritalea (Rubritaleaceae) and Muricauda (Flavobacteriaceae). These bacteria may protect symbiotic algae from light and thermal stresses, potentially enhancing holobiont resilience in coral reef environments. Although dark-induced bleaching significantly reduced algal cell density, bacterial diversity remained largely unaffected, suggesting a robust bacterial association, independent of algal dynamics. This study highlights the potential ecological significance of Endozoicomonas and carotenoid-producing bacteria in sustaining giant clam holobiont health and provides insights into microbial mechanisms that support stress tolerance in coral reef organisms.},
}
@article {pmid40765126,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, L and Tang, L},
title = {Gut Microbiota in Exercise-Regulated Development, Progression, and Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of the Role and Mechanisms.},
journal = {Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research},
volume = {31},
number = {},
pages = {e947511},
pmid = {40765126},
issn = {1643-3750},
mesh = {Humans ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology/therapy/physiopathology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Exercise/physiology ; Disease Progression ; Insulin Resistance/physiology ; Dysbiosis ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Imbalance of the gut microbiota is considered a possible factor in the rapid progression of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can alter intestinal barrier function and host metabolism, as well as signaling pathways in T2DM patients, which are directly or indirectly associated with insulin resistance. Additionally, symbiotic fungi and opportunistic bacteria can stimulate the local immune system, increasing intestinal permeability and leading to gut leakage. This, in turn, activates systemic inflammation and contributes to insulin resistance. Exercise is known to play a crucial role in disease prevention and blood glucose control, as well as in managing diabetes-related organ complications. Aerobic exercise, in particular, is commonly used to prevent and control diabetes by enhancing skeletal muscle responsiveness to insulin through the upregulation of enzymes involved in cellular glucose utilization. Various forms of exercise can also alter the composition and function of the gut microbiota. This paper focuses on the relationship between the gut microbiota and T2DM, the impact of exercise on gut microbiota, and the role of the gut microbiota in exercise-induced improvement of T2DM, aiming to review the role and mechanisms of the gut microbiota in exercise-regulated development, progression, and management of T2DM.},
}
@article {pmid40764272,
year = {2025},
author = {Peng, Q and Jiang, P and Yi, L and Li, Y and Yang, Q and Wan, X and He, J and Mo, Z and Niu, H and Lan, Q and Jia, H and Xu, D and Wang, C and Yang, H and Liu, Z and Chen, WH},
title = {In vivo systematic analysis of microbiota-prebiotic crosstalk reveals a synbiotic that effectively ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2541028},
pmid = {40764272},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {Animals ; *Synbiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; *Colitis/chemically induced/microbiology/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Dextran Sulfate/adverse effects ; Mice ; Humans ; *Prebiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Female ; Akkermansia ; },
abstract = {Systematic identification of prebiotic-microbe interactions is essential for developing precision microbiome-targeted interventions to improve human health. In this study, we developed an in vivo systematic screening platform to evaluate microbiota-prebiotic crosstalk and applied it to identify a synbiotic combination effective against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Specifically, we first established a humanized gut microbiota mouse model by colonizing mice with 73 microbial strains, which showed highly abundant and prevalent in the human gut. Concurrently, we administered the mice with 28 different prebiotic or prebiotic candidates, including polyphenols, polysaccharides, vitamins, and minerals common in the market. Following the DSS-induced colitis, we evaluated the protective effects of each microbiota-prebiotic pairing. Fourteen prebiotic or prebiotic candidates, designated as the ESS group, significantly alleviated colitis, partly by enriching specific beneficial microbes such as Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum prior to disease onset. Further experiments revealed two symbiotic combinations with the strongest anti-inflammatory effects: calcium-magnesium tablets (CMT) combined with either B. thetaiotaomicron or A. muciniphila. Mechanistically, CMT promoted the growth of B. thetaiotaomicron and alleviated inflammation by upregulating genes associated with probiotic activity. Finally, in an intervention trial involving healthy human volunteers, CMT selectively increased B. thetaiotaomicron abundance without altering the overall gut microbiota composition. Together, our study presents a systematic framework for elucidating microbe-prebiotic interactions, identifying synbiotic combinations with therapeutic potential, and advancing precision microbiome-based strategies for disease prevention and treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40763899,
year = {2025},
author = {Ahmad, F and Bodawatta, KH and Poulsen, M and Zhu, D},
title = {Advancing approaches to cultivate industrially and ecologically relevant microorganisms from termite guts.},
journal = {Biotechnology advances},
volume = {84},
number = {},
pages = {108676},
doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108676},
pmid = {40763899},
issn = {1873-1899},
abstract = {The termite gut harbours a remarkably dense and diverse consortium of symbiotic microbes, encompassing archaeal, bacterial, and eukaryotic taxa. These symbiotic communities hold intricate ecological processes and a pronounced potential for exploitation across multifaceted domains, including industrially important enzymes, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and bioremediation. Despite the conspicuous richness, a substantial portion of microbial assemblages inhabiting the termite gut remains undiscovered and inadequately characterized. Although traditional culture-based and culture-independent molecular-based technologies are broadly used to study termite gut microbiota, they more recent frequently encounter limitations in the isolation, culturing, and characterization of less prevalent microbial lineages and are biased toward certain taxa. The rapid development of molecular techniques has greatly promoted the identification and genomic potential of microbes in termite guts, revealing hidden diversity and application potential. However, limitations in culture-based approaches to build on genomic insights have hampered our understanding of the ecology of most of these microbes and the capitalisation on their properties. To help improve culturomics approaches for termite gut microbes, we provide an overview of past and emerging methodologies for isolation and cultivation of symbiotic microbes. In doing so, we highlight future directions and current challenges that need to be overcome to advance these approaches.},
}
@article {pmid40763740,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, K and Wang, X and Pang, R and Chen, L and Chen, J and Ren, Z and Wang, S and Wang, Y and Li, X and Su, C},
title = {The sucrose transporter GmSWEET3c drives soybean nodulation by regulating root sucrose allocation.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.07.032},
pmid = {40763740},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes, driven by the interaction between rhizobia and host plants, provides essential nitrogen for plant growth but demands substantial energy. Sucrose, the principal product of photosynthesis, is critical in supporting this process. Despite its importance, the mechanisms underlying sucrose allocation following rhizobia inoculation remain poorly understood. Here, we identified and characterized GmSWEET3c, a rhizobia-induced sucrose transporter that is critical for sucrose allocation to the root susceptible zone. Functional analysis of the Gmsweet3c mutant revealed impaired sucrose allocation and a significant reduction in nodule formation, underscoring its critical role in symbiotic nodulation. Using a GmSWEET3c-GFP fusion protein, we found that the protein is located in both the plasma membrane of root cells and the membranes of infection threads, suggesting dual roles of GmSWEET3c in facilitating sucrose transport to the root susceptible zone and directing sucrose toward infection threads. Moreover, we demonstrated that GmNSP1, a key symbiotic transcription factor, directly binds to the promoter region of GmSWEET3c, activating its expression. Collectively, our findings highlight GmSWEET3c as a key mediator of sucrose distribution in soybean roots after rhizobia inoculation, enhancing our understanding of carbohydrate allocation in legume-rhizobia symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40762940,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Zhao, Z and Liu, J and Yang, A and Jacquemyn, H and Yang, L and Qian, X and Li, T and Ding, G and Xing, X},
title = {Contribution of orchids to the carbon budget of fungi in germinating seeds of Gymnadenia conopsea.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40762940},
issn = {1869-1889},
abstract = {Orchids critically rely on mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination and seedling development, but the extent to which the fungus benefits from the orchid is less clear. Recent work in arbuscular mycorrhizae has suggested that plants can provide fatty acids (FAs) to fungi, but empirical evidence in orchids remains limited. Here, we combine lipidomic and transcriptomic analyses to test the hypothesis that the germination-promoting fungus Ceratobasidium sp. GS2 receives carbon in the form of FAs from Gymnadenia conopsea seeds during symbiotic germination. Confocal and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the potential of FA transfer from seeds to the fungus. Symbiosis resulted in significant changes in the lipid composition of the fungus, with increased concentrations of FAs in the external mycelium. RNA-seq showed upregulation of genes associated with FA synthesis in seeds and downregulation of de novo FA synthesis genes in fungi 12 d post-symbiosis, indicating that the increased amounts of FAs in the fungus may originate from the seeds. These results indicate that FAs absorbed by hyphae in the colonized inner cortex cells support hyphal growth, providing evidence for directional carbon flow from the orchid seeds to the fungus and supporting a "give now and get now" model of mutualism in orchid-fungus symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40761278,
year = {2025},
author = {Boyno, G and Rezaee Danesh, Y and Çevik, R and Teniz, N and Demir, S and Demirer Durak, E and Farda, B and Mignini, A and Djebaili, R and Pellegrini, M and Porcel, R and Mulet, JM},
title = {Synergistic benefits of AMF: development of sustainable plant defense system.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1551956},
pmid = {40761278},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a ubiquitous group of soil microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with the roots of over 80% of terrestrial plant species. These beneficial fungi are crucial in plant growth, nutrition enhancement, and abiotic and biotic stress resilience. This review explores the AMF synergistic benefits including their capacity to interact with plant roots system to enhance nutrient absorption, improve stress resilience, and confer disease resistance, and their potential applications in sustainable agriculture. The Review integrates recent insights illustrating the molecular processes responsible for improving plant defense mechanisms by AMF, including the modulation of signaling pathways. It highlights the importance of AMF-induced systemic resistance in enhanced abiotic and biotic stress resistance. Moreover, the article provides an integrative perspective on applying AMF toward sustainable plant protection. Within this context, we discussed how these fungi improve plant performance, including enhanced nutrient acquisition, increased tolerance to environmental stressors, and enhanced protection against pathogens by improving plant resistance to biotic stress through the activation of the plant immune system. We also examine the ecological significance of AMF in maintaining soil health and fertility and highlight the importance of incorporating their management into sustainable agricultural practices. Future research directions and innovative applications are also presented. The literature survey demonstrated these fungi's versatility in improving plant tolerance to several biotic and abiotic stresses. At the scientific level, these abilities are supported by several open-field experiments on different plant species. Available commercial formulations and positive ongoing research of AMF, in combination with other sustainable tools, highlight the solid research outline on these beneficial fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40759634,
year = {2025},
author = {Lee, H and Kim, B and Park, J and Park, S and Yoo, G and Yum, S and Kang, W and Lee, JM and Youn, H and Youn, B},
title = {Cancer stem cells: landscape, challenges and emerging therapeutic innovations.},
journal = {Signal transduction and targeted therapy},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {248},
pmid = {40759634},
issn = {2059-3635},
support = {RS-2023-00207904//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; No. RS-2023-00301938//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology/metabolism/immunology ; *Tumor Microenvironment/genetics ; *Neoplasms/genetics/therapy/pathology/metabolism/immunology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Cancer stem cells (CSCs) constitute a highly plastic and therapy-resistant cell subpopulation within tumors that drives tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and relapse. Their ability to evade conventional treatments, adapt to metabolic stress, and interact with the tumor microenvironment makes them critical targets for innovative therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and multiomics integration have significantly improved our understanding of CSC heterogeneity and metabolic adaptability. Metabolic plasticity allows CSCs to switch between glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and alternative fuel sources such as glutamine and fatty acids, enabling them to survive under diverse environmental conditions. Moreover, interactions with stromal cells, immune components, and vascular endothelial cells facilitate metabolic symbiosis, further promoting CSC survival and drug resistance. Despite substantial progress, major hurdles remain, including the lack of universally reliable CSC biomarkers and the challenge of targeting CSCs without affecting normal stem cells. The development of 3D organoid models, CRISPR-based functional screens, and AI-driven multiomics analysis is paving the way for precision-targeted CSC therapies. Emerging strategies such as dual metabolic inhibition, synthetic biology-based interventions, and immune-based approaches hold promise for overcoming CSC-mediated therapy resistance. Moving forward, an integrative approach combining metabolic reprogramming, immunomodulation, and targeted inhibition of CSC vulnerabilities is essential for developing effective CSC-directed therapies. This review discusses the latest advancements in CSC biology, highlights key challenges, and explores future perspectives on translating these findings into clinical applications.},
}
@article {pmid40758735,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, CL and Zeng, KW and Chen, HC and Deng, YY and Lee, CF and Huang, DC and Liu, LC},
title = {Secure and efficient graduate employment: A consortium blockchain framework with InterPlanetary file system for privacy-preserving resume management and efficient talent-employer matching.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {8},
pages = {e0315277},
pmid = {40758735},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Humans ; *Employment ; *Blockchain ; *Personnel Selection/methods ; Job Application ; *Privacy ; *Computer Security ; Students ; },
abstract = {In recent years, the unemployment situation of teenagers has become increasingly serious, and many college students face the problem of unemployment upon graduation. Concurrently, Companies need more support in their talent acquisition processes, including high costs, security concerns, inefficiencies, and time-consuming sourcing procedures. Moreover, job applicants frequently confront risks associated with potentially compromising their personal information during the application process. Since blockchain technology has the characteristics of non-tampering, traceability, and non-repudiation, it has outstanding significance for solving the trust problem between organizations. Blockchain has emerged as a powerful tool for tackling talent acquisition campaigns. This study proposes a novel approach utilizing consortium chain technology in conjunction with the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) to develop a decentralized talent recruitment system. This approach enables students, educational institutions, and potential employers to encrypt and upload data to the blockchain through consortium chain technology, with strict access controls requiring student authorization for resume data retrieval. The proposed system facilitates a symbiotic relationship between educational institutions and industry partners, allowing students to identify suitable employment opportunities while enabling companies to source candidates with requisite expertise efficiently. Finally, the system could meet the characteristic requirements of various blockchains, perform well in terms of communication cost, computing cost, throughput, and transaction delay in the blockchain, and contribute to solving talent recruitment.},
}
@article {pmid40758630,
year = {2025},
author = {Klamert, L and Brockett, C and Craike, M and Shrestha, N and Parker, AG},
title = {The imperative of planetary mental health: insights, recommendations, and a call to action.},
journal = {Global public health},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {2541220},
doi = {10.1080/17441692.2025.2541220},
pmid = {40758630},
issn = {1744-1706},
mesh = {Humans ; *Mental Health ; *Global Health ; *Environmental Health ; },
abstract = {An alarming progression of human-centred and environmental concerns has marked the Anthropocene, including climatic changes and the inextricably linked deterioration of human mental health. Expanding on the 2015 Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission on Planetary Health, we propose that mental health be explicitly included within the planetary health approach. This inclusion acknowledges the importance of population mental health as part of planetary health and addresses the symbiotic deterioration of global mental health and environmental health. As part of this approach, we conceptualise several types of interventions, including symbiocentric and transformative mental health interventions, with the latter combining active environmentalism with the aim of simultaneously improving mental health and wellbeing. We further identify several areas of opportunity in which transformative interventions could be translated to practice and implemented across a range of settings, including workplaces, educational contexts, and organised sport. Making a call to action, we highlight the urgency of shifting from individualised to collective environmental responsibility, including collective transformative reflection, with different stakeholders coming together to scale up transformative interventions and working towards true planetary (mental) health. Finally, we give recommendations to promote symbiocentric and transformative interventions in policy and reform.},
}
@article {pmid40756436,
year = {2025},
author = {Priya Reddy, YN and Johnson, JM and Oelmüller, R},
title = {A cell wall extract of a Fusarium incarnatum strain requires the mitochondrial POLY(A)-SPECIFIC RIBONUCLEASE AtPARN for inducing cytoplasmic calcium elevation in Arabidopsis roots.},
journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology},
volume = {31},
number = {6},
pages = {851-861},
pmid = {40756436},
issn = {0971-5894},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Cytoplasmic Ca[2+] ([Ca[2+]]cyt) elevation is a rapid response of roots to colonizing beneficial and pathogenic fungi. We have previously demonstrated that the elicitor-active compound cellotriose from a cell wall (CW) extract of the beneficial fungus Piriformospora indica requires the MALECTIN-DOMAIN CONTAINING CELLOOLIGOMER RECEPTOR KINASE1 (CORK1) and the mitochondrial POLY(A)-SPECIFIC RIBONUCLASE AtPARN for [Ca[2+]]cyt elevation in Arabidopsis roots. Here, we show that CW extracts from beneficial and pathogenic Fusarium strains, in particular Fusarium incarnatum strain K23, require AtPARN, but not CORK1 for [Ca[2+]]cyt elevation and the activation of Ca[2+]-dependent downstream responses. [Ca[2+]]cyt elevation by the F. incarnatum strain K23 extract does not require the BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE1 (BAK1) co-receptor or the TWO-PORE Ca[2+] CHANNEL1 (TPC1) but operates synergistically with the cellotriose- and chitin-induced signaling pathways. We propose a convergence of the signaling pathways induced by the CW extracts from P. indica and K23 at AtPARN prior to the increase in [Ca[2+]]cyt ~ 90 s after the stimulus. Furthermore, the elevated [Ca[2+]]cyt levels activate a mild defense response which might be used by the roots to restrict fungal propagation and to balance beneficial and non-beneficial traits in the symbiosis.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-025-01600-7.},
}
@article {pmid40754665,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Gu, L and Yang, G and Liu, C and Huang, K and Chen, Q},
title = {Effects of Isaria cateniannulata on the colonization process and enzyme activity of Fagopyrum tataricum seeds during germination.},
journal = {Virulence},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {2543062},
doi = {10.1080/21505594.2025.2543062},
pmid = {40754665},
issn = {2150-5608},
abstract = {Endophytic colonization of entomopathogenic fungi has garnered significant attention for its role in promoting plant growth. Specifically, Isaria cateniannulata has shown a positive effect on the germination of Fagopyrum tataricum (buckwheat) seeds, but the mechanisms underlying this promotion remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the colonization process of I. cateniannulata in F. tataricum seeds during germination stages, quantify the colonization efficiency and tissue specificity of the fungus, and investigate the temporal dynamics of antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde content triggered by fungal colonization. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential of I. cateniannulata-colonized seedlings to suppress T. urticae populations through oviposition inhibition. The results demonstrated for the first time that I. cateniannulata could successfully colonize germinating F. tataricum seeds during the seed imbibition and germination stages, either by forming dissolution zones with its spores or by germinating and forming mycelia. Initial colonization of all tissues was observed within 16 h, with colonization rates peaking after 5 d, with a preferential colonization rate observed as endosperm > embryo > seed coat. Furthermore, the colonization by I. cateniannulata enhanced peroxidase (POD) activity in the embryo and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Seedlings grown after colonization were also found to effectively reduce the number of eggs laid by T. urticae. These findings provide both theoretical insights and practical foundations for developing a symbiotic system between I. cateniannulata and F. tataricum seeds.},
}
@article {pmid40753811,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, Y and Wang, SP and Zhang, WS and Sun, ZY and Gou, M and Wang, ST and Tang, YQ},
title = {Modified biochar mitigates nitrogen loss in distilled grain waste composting by modulating microbial community assembly and function.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {285},
number = {Pt 3},
pages = {122495},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.122495},
pmid = {40753811},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {Pristine biochar (DB)-assisted composting can enhance product maturity and mitigate nitrogen loss, but its efficacy varies and is limited by feedstock variability and preparation conditions, highlighting the need for surface modifications to optimize performance. This study systematically investigated the effects of DB and KOH-modified biochar (DBK) on compost maturity, nitrogen loss, and the related microbial mechanisms during the composting of distilled grain waste, using a group without biochar addition (D) as the control. Results indicated that DBK exhibited a specific surface area of 644.33 m[2]/g and was rich in pore structures and functional groups. DBK significantly promoted compost maturity, with the seed germination index (GI) reaching 70 % by 23 d and biological nitrification occurring earlier (16 d). Additionally, compared to D and DB, DBK reduced nitrogen loss by 34.13 % and 10.47 %, respectively. DBK accelerates critical nitrogen transformation processes by increasing the abundance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and associated functional genes. Neutral community modeling and symbiotic networks indicated higher microbial community complexity and stochasticity, thereby promoting functional redundancy and improving nitrogen retention. Furthermore, Actinomadura and Chryseolinea were identified as key microbial drivers of nitrogen transformation, with their nxrABC and hao genes playing crucial roles in establishing efficient 'microbe-gene' synergistic mechanisms. Finally, economic analysis indicated that DBK generated a net profit of up to 63.63 RMB/t. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using modified biochar to promote maturity and control nitrogen loss during composting.},
}
@article {pmid40753805,
year = {2025},
author = {Ai, L and Wei, M and Ma, J and Dai, Y and Zhang, J and Chen, F and Qin, Y and Yang, H},
title = {Occurrence patterns and ecological implications of microplastic contamination in citrus orchard soils on Karst Sloping Terrains, South China.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {496},
number = {},
pages = {139391},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139391},
pmid = {40753805},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Microplastics have emerged as pervasive pollutants in soil ecosystems, posing threats to fragile karst environments. However, their occurrence characteristics and ecological consequences remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the pollution characteristics, ecological risks, and relationships among soil environment indicators and microplastics in citrus-cultivated soils in the Lijiang karst sloping terrains, South China. The average concentration of soil microplastics was 3160 ± 342 items/kg, and the particle abundance and pollution load index increased with cultivation years and declined with slope position. Moreover, we detected significant correlations among the abundance, shape, and composition of microplastics and key soil parameters. Notably, microplastics were observed to have significant effects on the structure, network relationships, and functionalities of soil microbial communities. Positive relationships were identified between the soil microplastic abundance and the energy-sourcing function of bacteria and the symbiotic mode of nutrition in fungi. Shape differences of microplastics were significantly positively correlated with saprophytic nutrition in fungi. Our findings provide valuable insights into the ecological risks posed by microplastics and highlight the urgent necessity of implementing sustainable strategies for plastic waste management to mitigate adverse impacts on ecologically sensitive regions, including agricultural soils in the karst sloping terrains of South China.},
}
@article {pmid40752570,
year = {2025},
author = {Igamberdiev, AU},
title = {The development of code systems during eukaryogenesis and the rise of multicellularity.},
journal = {Bio Systems},
volume = {255},
number = {},
pages = {105546},
doi = {10.1016/j.biosystems.2025.105546},
pmid = {40752570},
issn = {1872-8324},
abstract = {The expansion of the set of biological codes associated with the appearance and complexification of eukaryotic cells (eukaryogenesis) and the evolution of multicellularity is based on the development of higher codes operating over the genetic system. In the course of evolution, the perception-action functional cycles described by Jakob von Uexküll become complemented by the secondary meta-cycles, which perceive the work of the primary cycles, and finally by tertiary cycles of meta-reflexivity, which perceive and evaluate the previous activity of the secondary functional cycles and generate a new field of meanings associated with conscious experience. The development of secondary and tertiary cycles forms the basis of higher-level codes operating over the genetic system and resulting in the evolutionary separation between unikonts and bikonts, in the divergence between protostomes and deuterostomes, in all events of cellular differentiation manifested as differentiation trees, and finally in the appearance of consciousness. The expansion of codes associated with the rise of eukaryotic organelles and with the cytoskeleton rearrangements in the ontogenesis of multicellular organisms determines the course of the evolutionary process toward complexification. The internally controlled recombination process, in particular, in the course of meiotic cell division and ontogenetic differentiation, becomes the driving factor of progressive evolution. It corresponds to the growing role of the epigenome and epigenetic regulation in the complexification of biological organization. It is concluded that the evolutionary process unfolds as a propagating non-deducible construction following the generation of functional redundancy, which is achieved through gene duplication, symbiosis, and cell-cell interactions, and becomes an important precondition for the appearance of new evolutionary acquisitions.},
}
@article {pmid40749845,
year = {2025},
author = {Lu, YZ and Di, C and Sun, J and Wang, L and Li, X and Zhu, GC},
title = {Bentazone stress resistance in Methylocystis-Tetradesmus symbiosis: Biochemical and communicative exchanges.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {436},
number = {},
pages = {133053},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133053},
pmid = {40749845},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; *Methylocystaceae/drug effects/physiology/metabolism ; Methane/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Benzothiadiazines ; },
abstract = {Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB)-microalgae symbiosis is vital for greenhouse gas and carbon regulation in shallow aquatic ecosystems (e.g., rice paddies). However, the effects of pesticide exposure on these non-target species and their stress-induced microbial interactions remain poorly understood. In this study, the widely used pesticide bentazone (BTZ), known to occur at concentrations ranging from background levels to higher values (e.g., up to 100 mg/L) in specific contaminated scenarios like agricultural wastewater, was employed as a model stressor to investigate its effects on the symbiotic system formed by Methylocystis bryophila (M. bryophila) and Tetradesmus obliquus (T. obliquus). Results showed that while BTZ exposure (tested at 10-30 mg/L) inhibited key processes like cell proliferation, methane oxidation, and photosynthesis in individual species, the symbiotic system exhibited significantly enhanced resilience. This resilience stemmed from synergistic interactions, including: facilitated gas exchange promoting metabolic recovery; altered metabolic coupling (e.g., MOB porphyrin supporting algal chlorophyll, algal use of MOB-derived acetate); enhanced intercellular exchange of nutrients and protective extracellular polymeric substances formation; and strengthened physical association via algal metabolites promoting bacterial aggregation and mass transfer. This study elucidates key biochemical and communication mechanisms driving enhanced stress tolerance in MOB-microalgae symbiosis, highlighting the crucial role of microbial interactions in mitigating pesticide impacts in aquatic environments.},
}
@article {pmid40749676,
year = {2025},
author = {Qian, JM and Li, K and Liu, W and Zhang, J and Wylie, A and Arnall, B and Krzmarzick, MJ and Wang, E and Oldroyd, GED and Bai, Y and Feng, F and Zhang, J},
title = {Chitooligosaccharide receptors modulate root microbiota to enhance symbiosis and growth in Medicago.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.07.010},
pmid = {40749676},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Plant roots interact with beneficial microbes, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to aid in nutrient uptake. The interaction with AMF is initiated by plant Lysin motif (LysM) receptor-like kinases, CERK1 and LYR4 in Medicago truncatula, that detect AMF signals such as chitooligosaccharides (COs). However, the broader role of AMF-detecting receptors in shaping the root microbial community is largely unknown, and the impact of these receptor-mediated microbial communities on the AMF symbiosis is yet to be determined. This study examines the effects of CERK1 and LYR4 mutations on the root bacterial community, showing that these receptors have significant effects on shaping the bacterial community. Using bacteria isolated from wild-type roots, we created a synthetic bacterial community (SynCom), CO-SynCom. Plants inoculated with CO-SynCom exhibited significantly enhanced growth and AMF colonization in a manner dependent on the CO receptors LYR4 and CERK1, likely due to CERK1- and LYR4-mediated changes in hormone-related pathways and activation of symbiosis signaling. Our results highlight the essential role of plant symbiotic receptors in shaping root microbiota and offer valuable insights into optimizing plant-microbe interactions to enhance symbiosis and support sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40749035,
year = {2025},
author = {Gómez de Las Heras, MM and Carrasco, E and Pérez-Manrique, M and Inohara, N and Delgado-Pulido, S and Fernández-Almeida, &#xc1; and Gálvez-Castaño, MI and Francos-Quijorna, I and Simó, C and García-Cañas, V and Escrig-Larena, JI and Aranda, JF and Soto-Heredero, G and Gabandé-Rodríguez, E and Blanco, EM and Días-Almeida, J and Núñez, G and Mittelbrunn, M},
title = {CD4 T cell therapy counteracts inflammaging and senescence by preserving gut barrier integrity.},
journal = {Science immunology},
volume = {10},
number = {110},
pages = {eadv0985},
doi = {10.1126/sciimmunol.adv0985},
pmid = {40749035},
issn = {2470-9468},
mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *Inflammation/immunology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Aging/immunology ; *CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology/transplantation ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Intestinal Mucosa/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology ; Adoptive Transfer ; Cellular Senescence ; },
abstract = {Healthy aging relies on a symbiotic host-microbiota relationship. The age-associated decline of the immune system can pose a threat to this delicate equilibrium. In this work, we investigated how the functional deterioration of T cells can affect host-microbiota symbiosis and gut barrier integrity and the implications of this deterioration for inflammaging, senescence, and health decline. Using the Tfam[fl/fl]Cd4[Cre] mouse model, we found that T cell failure compromised gut immunity leading to a decrease in T follicular cells and regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and an accumulation of highly proinflammatory and cytotoxic T cells. These alterations were associated with intestinal barrier disruption and gut dysbiosis. Microbiota depletion or adoptive transfer of total CD4 T cells or a Treg cell-enriched pool prevented gut barrier dysfunction and mitigated premature inflammaging and senescence, ultimately enhancing the health span in this mouse model. Thus, a competent CD4 T cell compartment is critical to ensure healthier aging by promoting host-microbiota mutualism and gut barrier integrity.},
}
@article {pmid40748298,
year = {2025},
author = {Cersosimo, A and Longo Elia, R and Condello, F and Colombo, F and Pierucci, N and Arabia, G and Matteucci, A and Metra, M and Adamo, M and Vizzardi, E and LA Fazia, VM},
title = {Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with atrial fibrillation.},
journal = {Minerva cardiology and angiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.23736/S2724-5683.25.06885-1},
pmid = {40748298},
issn = {2724-5772},
abstract = {Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for significant public health and economic burdens. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program designed to aid patients in recovering from cardiac events and to prevent further complications. The aim of CR is to improve their quality of life and prognosis. It involves continued prognostic stratification, clinical stabilization, optimization of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy, management of comorbidities, treatment of disabilities, reinforcement of secondary prevention interventions, and maintenance of adherence to therapy. The most recent European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation (AF) emphasize the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness, recommending that patients engage in moderate-intensity exercise and remain physically active to prevent AF incidence or recurrence. Through this symbiotic relationship, CR addresses all aspect of cardiac fitness in AF management. The program's structured exercise regimens are specifically tailored to address the challenges associated with AF, promoting overall cardiovascular health and reducing the risk for cardiac death. CR is also crucial for emotional well-being, offering support and coping mechanisms for the psychological impact of AF, beyond the physical training program. CR programs involve a multidisciplinary approach that is carried out collaboratively by a team of healthcare professionals, including nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, and dietitians. Moreover, CR in AF patients aims to carry out comprehensive patient support through clinical stabilization and therapy optimization interventions, prescription and implementation of physical activity, educational support on lifestyle risk factors and social-emotional distress, and periodic assessment of outcomes. This narrative review aims to elucidate the role of CR in AF patients, shedding light on the potential benefits and challenges associated with integrating rehabilitation programs into the care of individuals with AF.},
}
@article {pmid40747421,
year = {2025},
author = {Ansaldo, E and Yong, D and Carrillo, N and McFadden, T and Abid, M and Corral, D and Rivera, C and Farley, T and Bouladoux, N and Gribonika, I and Belkaid, Y},
title = {T-bet expressing Tr1 cells driven by dietary signals dominate the small intestinal immune landscape.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.06.30.662190},
pmid = {40747421},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Intestinal immunity defends against enteric pathogens, mediates symbiotic relationships with the resident microbiota, and provides tolerance to food antigens, safeguarding critical nutrient absorption and barrier functions of this mucosal tissue. Despite the abundance of tissue resident activated T cells, their contributions to these various roles remains poorly understood. Here, we identify a dominant population of IL-10 producing, T-bet expressing CD4+ Tr1 T cells, residing in the small intestinal lamina propria at homeostasis. Remarkably, these intestinal Tr1 cells emerge at the time of weaning and accumulate independently of the microbiota displaying similar abundance, function and TCR repertoire under germ-free conditions. Instead, the small intestinal T-bet+ Tr1 program is driven and shaped by dietary antigens, and accumulates in a cDC1-IL-27 dependent manner. Upon activation, these cells robustly express IL-10 and multiple inhibitory receptors, establishing a distinct suppressive profile. Altogether, this work uncovers a previously unappreciated dominant player in homeostatic small intestinal immunity with the potential to play critical suppressive roles in this tissue, raising important implications for the understanding of immune regulation in the intestine.<br><br>SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Establishing immunological tolerance to self and environmental antigens is critical to preserve tissue homeostasis and function. In the intestine, both dietary and microbiota derived antigens are routinely encountered by the immune system, which deploys a variety of mechanisms to maintain tolerance to these innocuous antigens. Understanding how immunological tolerance is established is critical, a when this process goes awry it can lead to severe inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease. However, how tolerance is established in the intestine is still poorly understood. In this study we describe a novel dominant T cell population in the small intestine shaped by dietary components with the potential to play important roles in immune tolerance at this site. back # IntroductionBarrier surfaces such as the gut and skin represent the first line of defense against the environment. These organs must strike a delicate balance between providing protection against environmental and infectious agents, maintaining tissue function, and establishing a homeostatic symbiotic relationship with resident microbes collectively known as the microbiota (1). The immune system plays a critical role in establishing these dynamic and carefully regulated relationships, as evidenced by the large number of immune cells present at these sites. Of particular note, activated T cells are very abundant at barrier tissues, where they orchestrate immune effector functions geared towards these varied tasks (1, 2). In the small intestine, the intraepithelial compartment harbors innate like natural CD8aa&#x207a; IELs, many of which are self reactive; as well as CD4&#x207a;CD8aa&#x207a; and CD8ab&#x207a; IELs responding to dietary and microbial antigens (3). The underlying lamina propria (SILP) harbors predominantly CD4&#x207a; T cells, which participate in responses to commensal-derived and dietary antigens (2, 4). Despite the abundance of small intestinal CD4 T cells, only a handful of cognate immune interactions focusing on Type 17 and T regulatory helper subsets have been described. Thus, whether immune responses in this tissue are truly limited to a small number of antigenic triggers and effector functions remains to be fully elucidated. The small number of gut homeostatic CD4 T cell responses described thus far have been shown to primarily respond to specific commensal bacteria or dietary antigens (1, 2, 5-8): Among other examples, SFB induces cognate Th17 cells in the small intestine (9, 10), a consortium human commensal bacteria induces CD8b&#x207a; cells in the colon (11), and Akkermansia muciniphila indices T FH and other effector cells in the Peyer's patches and lamina propria, respectively (12). Furthermore most regulatory T cells in the colon are induced in response to commensal or pathobiont species at homeostasis, providing critical regulatory functions (13, 14). Cognate immune responses to SFB help contain this commensal species in the intestine (15), but also have systemic impacts on the susceptibility to autoimmune disease (16, 17). Interestingly, despite presenting a classical Th17 effector profile, a subset of SFB-induced Th17 cells possess IL-10 secretion capabilities and suppress cognate immune responses without the expression of Foxp3 (18), suggesting immunoregulatory functions reminiscent of Tr1 cells. Whether these competing capabilities are unique to SFB-specific immune responses or a general hallmark of small intestinal immunity remains unknown. The description of SFB-specific Tr1-like cells in the small intestine was surprising, as this CD4&#x207a; T cell subset, characterized by abundant IL-10 secretion in the absence of Foxp3 expression, has only been described in the context of chronic antigen stimulation, such as chronic infection or cancer (19). The Tr1 cell program is controlled by a variety of transcription factors and upstream signaling pathways, including IL-27 signaling, MAF and AHR (20). AHR-ligands are abundant in the intestine, and MAF is a hallmark of other regulatory commensal-specific responses (21, 14). Furthermore, IL-27, which can induce both proinflammatory and immunoregulatory functions, is abundant in the small intestine (22, 23). This raises the possibility that the Tr1 program is a more general feature of small intestinal immunity, not uniquely restricted to SFB-specific responses. In this study we explore the breadth of CD4&#x207a; T cell responses in the small intestine, and uncover a previously uncharacterized CD4&#x207a;T-bet&#x207a; T cell immune response that is dominant in this tissue. Unexpectedly, these SILP CD4&#x207a;T-bet&#x207a; T cells are independent of the microbiota, maintaining a similar functional profile and shared antigen specificities in germ-free conditions. Instead, we reveal that dietary components drive the accumulation, function, and clonal selection of this T cell population. Finally, we show that, contrary to classical Th1 cells, SILP CD4&#x207a;T-bet&#x207a; T cells adopt a Tr1 immunoregulatory functional program during activation, suggesting that this is a general feature of CD4&#x207a; T cell immunity in the small intestine wired towards immune regulation and tissue homeostasis.},
}
@article {pmid40746883,
year = {2025},
author = {Alvarado-Ortiz, E and Sarabia-SáNCHEZ, MA},
title = {Hypoxic link between cancer cells and the immune system: The role of adenosine and lactate.},
journal = {Oncology research},
volume = {33},
number = {8},
pages = {1803-1818},
pmid = {40746883},
issn = {1555-3906},
mesh = {Humans ; *Adenosine/metabolism ; *Neoplasms/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; *Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Animals ; *Immune System/metabolism/immunology ; Tumor Escape ; },
abstract = {The tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by a symbiosis between cancer cells and the immune cells. The scarcity of oxygen generates hostility that forces cancer cells to alter their biological features in solid tumors. In response to low oxygen availability, the Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIF-1/2/3α) act as metabolic mediators, producing extracellular metabolites in the tumor microenvironment that influence the immune cells. The modulation of lactate and adenosine on immune evasion has been widely described; however, under hypoxic conditions, it has been barely addressed. Evidence has demonstrated an interplay between cancer and the immune cells, and the present review explores the findings that support HIFs bridging the gap between the rise of these metabolites and the immunosurveillance failure in a hypoxic context. Moreover, new insights based on systemic oxygen administration are discussed, which might counterbalance the effect mediated by lactate and adenosine, to recover anti-tumor immunity. Thus, the disruption of anti-tumor immunity has been the focus of recent research and this novel avenue opens therapeutic vulnerabilities that can be useful for cancer patients.},
}
@article {pmid40744917,
year = {2025},
author = {van Galen, LG and Stewart, JD and Qin, C and Corrales, A and Manley, BF and Kiers, ET and Crowther, TW and Van Nuland, ME},
title = {Global divergence in plant and mycorrhizal fungal diversity hotspots.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {6702},
pmid = {40744917},
issn = {2041-1723},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/classification ; *Biodiversity ; Soil Microbiology ; *Plants/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Forests ; Grassland ; Ecosystem ; *Fungi/classification ; },
abstract = {Environmental protection strategies often rely on aboveground biodiversity indicators for prioritising conservation efforts. However, substantial biodiversity exists belowground, and it remains unclear whether aboveground diversity hotspots are indicative of high soil biodiversity. Using geospatial layers of vascular plant, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and ectomycorrhizal fungi alpha diversity, we map plant-fungal diversity associations across different scales and evaluate evidence for potential correlation drivers. Plant-fungal diversity correlations are weak at the global scale but stronger at regional scales. Plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal correlations are generally negative in forest biomes and positive in grassland biomes, whereas plant-ectomycorrhizal fungal correlations are mostly positive or neutral. We find evidence that symbiosis strength, environmental covariation, and legacy effects all influence correlation patterns. Only 8.8% of arbuscular mycorrhizal and 1.5% of ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity hotspots overlap with plant hotspots, indicating that prioritising conservation based solely on aboveground diversity may fail to capture diverse belowground regions.},
}
@article {pmid40744203,
year = {2025},
author = {Fu, H and Chen, W and Guo, T and Huang, W and Xu, H and Qu, Z and Yan, N},
title = {Mitigation of waste sulfur acid in lead smelting: Substance flow analysis of a case study in China.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {285},
number = {Pt 3},
pages = {122472},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.122472},
pmid = {40744203},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {The migration and conversion of sulfur resources throughout the entire production process of lead smelting (LS), a key process in non-ferrous heavy metal production, underscores the significance of analyzing its flow characteristics. This study elucidates the sulfur flow dynamics during the lead smelting process based on production data from a representative group company in China in 2020. We found a predominantly singular structure of sulfur products, resulting in a low corresponding sulfur utilization index (∼89.23 %). Conversely, the sulfur waste index was notably high (∼9.68 %). Here we propose a three-phase optimization strategy: optimizing the structure of raw materials and products in the initial stage, augmenting the scale and structure of primary processes in the middle stage, and advancing industrial symbiosis technology, alongside adjusting industry scale, product structures, and promoting pollutant end-treatment technologies in the latter stages. Through the implementation of these measures, it is anticipated that approximately 180,000 tons of waste acid can be mitigated in the non-ferrous heavy metal industry while 257,600 tons of sulfur resources can be recycled in lead smelting annually in China.},
}
@article {pmid40743974,
year = {2025},
author = {Qin, S and Deng, L and Lin, Y and Jiang, L and Liu, X and Zhang, Q},
title = {Quorum sensing signaling molecules enhance the treatment performance of the HN-AD bacteria-Chlorella symbiotic system in MABR.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {392},
number = {},
pages = {126783},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126783},
pmid = {40743974},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {To enhance the stability of membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) and accelerate the formation of biofilm, this study introduced a symbiotic system composed of heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) bacteria and Chlorella into the MABR, and compared it with a control system inoculated with HN-AD bacteria and activated sludge. The effects of adding 0.8 μM exogenous C8-HSL on biofilm formation and the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus removal were investigated by comparing systems with and without the signaling molecule. Results showed that 0.8 μM C8-HSL enhanced the removal efficiencies of ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) by 25.17 %, 36.22 %, and 38.74 %, respectively, and increased extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production by 68.62 %. High-throughput sequencing identified Desulfomicrobium and Aliidiomarina as the dominant microorganisms involved in nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The nirB gene played a key role in the denitrification process, and phoBR gene was essential for phosphorus removal. This study provides theoretical support for the application of quorum sensing in MABR systems, offering a novel strategy to improve the efficiency and stability of high ammonia wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40741765,
year = {2025},
author = {Baatsen, J and Hosaka, GK and Mondin, M and Azevedo, JL and Hungria, M and Quecine, MC},
title = {Benzoxazinoids stimulate chemotaxis and act as a signaling molecule in Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5, while showing minor effects on Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0141425},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.01414-25},
pmid = {40741765},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Root colonization by plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) involves recruiting beneficial partners from the rhizosphere. Among well-studied PGPB, Azospirillum brazilense Ab-V5 and Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5 are two well-known bacterial strains renowned for their growth-enhancing capacity and extensively used as bio-inputs. Many cereals, such as maize, produce indole-derived benzoxazinoids (BXs), specialized metabolites that shape root-associated microbiomes to promote colonization by plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Although the mechanisms by which BXs recruit PGPB remain unclear, we hypothesize that BXs directly facilitate root colonization by favoring bacteria adapted to these metabolites in the soil environment. In this study, we investigated the impact of the relatively stable lactam BX-derivative, 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA), on two PGPB strains: Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 and Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that MBOA had minimal effects on Pf-5, but triggered extensive gene expression changes in Ab-V5, particularly in pathways related to energy metabolism, chemotaxis, and biofilm formation. Subsequent assays confirmed that MBOA acts as a chemoattractant for Ab-V5 and, at moderate concentrations, enhances both biofilm formation and colonization of Arabidopsis roots. We propose that the chemotactic property of MBOA on Ab-V5 can enhance its establishment in the rhizosphere and that this metabolite can trigger the metabolic transition required for root colonization.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: In this paper, we studied the impact of benzoxaziniods on root colonization mechanisms of two potent plant-growth- promoting bacterial strains. We explored these mechanisms by an RNA sequencing experiment and by microscopy. The paper highlights how biofilm is particularly affected and reports on chemotactic responses. Most of the results we obtained we could validate with phenotypic assays. We show that benzoxazinoids, produced by many cereals, profoundly affect bacterial behavior related to plant-bacterial interactions. The bacteria in this study are known for their ecological roles in the soil, being either in plant protection or as biofertilizers. Thus, this work holds significant socio-economic value for society.},
}
@article {pmid40740717,
year = {2025},
author = {Parmentier, T and Wybouw, N},
title = {Lasius flavus ants protect root aphid eggs from predators and pathogens during winter hibernation.},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {12},
number = {7},
pages = {250217},
pmid = {40740717},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Cooperative brood care is key to the ecology and evolution of social insects. Interestingly, social insects may also care for the brood of other species that dwell in their nests. This study explores how the yellow meadow ant Lasius flavus cares for the eggs of the root aphid Anoecia zirnitsi and how this service affects the resistance of aphid eggs to predators and pathogens. In winter, A. zirnitsi eggs were found exclusively in L. flavus nest chambers near the ant brood. Laboratory experiments showed that L. flavus detects, transports, piles and grooms the aphid eggs. We could recapitulate these caring behaviours in L. flavus using glass beads coated with chemical cues extracted from the aphid egg surface. Other ant species did not collect or nurse the eggs, suggesting a specific interaction between L. flavus and the eggs of A. zirnitsi. We further demonstrated that L. flavus strongly increased the aphid eggs' protection against predators and fungal pathogens. Ants, however, were not essential for the eggs to hatch, and aphid nymphs were capable of independently colonizing grass roots. Our research highlights the crucial protection services L. flavus ants provide to root aphids in winter, while the potential costs and delayed benefits (honeydew provision) of this protection for the ants should be further explored.},
}
@article {pmid40740338,
year = {2025},
author = {Mancabelli, L and Tarracchini, C and Longhi, G and Alessandri, G and Ventura, M and Turroni, F},
title = {Dissecting the molecular interactions between botanical extracts and the human gut microbiota.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1610170},
pmid = {40740338},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Over millions of years, humans and their gut microbes have developed a symbiotic relationship that benefits both organisms. Many plants and herbs consumed as food by humans, such as aloe vera gel and dandelion root extracts, contain bioactive compounds with recognized therapeutic or preventive effects. However, the impact of these botanicals on the composition and functionality of the human gut microbiota is not yet understood. In this study, the molecular impact of these botanicals on reconstructed human gut microbiota was assessed by in-vitro bioreactor experiments followed by metagenomics and transcriptomic approaches, highlighting both taxonomic and functional changes in the human gut microbiome. Furthermore, cross-feeding activities established by common human gut microbial taxa like Bacteroides spp. when cultivated on these extracts were assessed. In conclusion, the results show that botanicals affect intestinal populations that are highly dependent on the microbial taxa present and that trophic interactions are established in few key gut members.},
}
@article {pmid40740254,
year = {2025},
author = {English, EL and Krueger, JM},
title = {Bacterial peptidoglycan levels have brain area, time of day, and sleep loss-induced fluctuations.},
journal = {Frontiers in neuroscience},
volume = {19},
number = {},
pages = {1608302},
pmid = {40740254},
issn = {1662-4548},
abstract = {Sleep-inducing bacterial cell wall components isolated from brain and urine of sleep deprived animals were identified as peptidoglycan (PG) and muropeptides in the 1980s. Following host detection of PG/muropeptides, downstream signaling mechanisms include release of effector molecules, e.g., cytokines involved in sleep regulation. Understanding of physiological brain PG changes has remained limited, in part due to the historic difficulties of PG quantitation. Herein, we report murine brain PG levels in multiple brain areas within the context of animals' rest-wake cycles and after sleep loss. Significant time-of-day changes in brain PG levels occurred in all brain areas; lowest levels occurred during the transition from rest to wake periods, at zeitgeber time 12 (ZT12). Highest levels of PG were in brainstem while olfactory bulb, hypothalamic, and cortical PG levels were lower. After 3 h of sleep disruption, PG levels increased in the somatosensory cortex, but decreased in brainstem, and hypothalamus. After 6 h of sleep disruption, PG increased in the brainstem and olfactory bulb compared to control levels. Further, RNA-seq analyses of somatosensory cortical tissue was used to assess sleep loss-dependent changes in genes previously linked to PG. Multiple PG-related genes had altered expression with sleep loss including PG binding and signaling molecules, e.g., Pglyrp1 and Nfil3. In summary, brain PG levels were dependent on time of day, brain area, and sleep history. Further, sleep loss altered brain gene expression for PG-linked genes. Collectively, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that microbe-host symbiotic interactions are involved in murine sleep regulatory mechanisms.},
}
@article {pmid40739833,
year = {2025},
author = {Fan, JW and Chen, M and Tian, F and Yao, R and Turner, NC and Yang, L and Fang, WY and Abbott, L and Li, FM and Du, YL},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance alfalfa production by changing root morphology and physiology.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf335},
pmid = {40739833},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Soil phosphorus (P) deficiency can severely limit crop and forage productivity. With limited P resources, breeding programs to select high-P efficiency (HPE) genotypes have been developed, but the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in altering root morphology and physiology to increase P use efficiency and production remains poorly understood. In this study, we compared mycorrhizal responsiveness, and plasticity of root morphological and physiological traits between two low-P efficiency (LPE) and two HPE alfalfa genotypes under low and high P treatments. Plants were grown either in soil with naturally occurring AMF or in sterilized soil added with AMF-free bacteria. The results indicated that the AMF symbiosis significantly increased alfalfa productivity and physiological P use efficiency by enhancing total root length and root surface area while reducing carboxylate release. Under low P conditions, HPE genotypes with AMF symbiosis showed higher shoot dry weight, greater mycorrhizal responsiveness, thicker and more robust roots, as well as increased carboxylate release compared to LPE genotypes. We conclude that exploitation of the dominant species in indigenous AMF populations and breeding of crop genotypes with high mycorrhizal responsiveness show promising avenues with which to improve forage productivity and alleviate P-limitation in modern agricultural ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40739792,
year = {2025},
author = {Faghihkhorasani, F and Moosavi, M and Rasool Riyadh Abdulwahid, AH and Kavei, M and Karimi, S and Seyed Karimi, M and Vezvaei, P and Manafi Varkiani, M and Aref, AR and Ebrahimi, N},
title = {Role of monocarboxylate transporters in cancer immunology and their therapeutic potential.},
journal = {British journal of pharmacology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/bph.70110},
pmid = {40739792},
issn = {1476-5381},
abstract = {Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) affect cancer metabolism and the regulation of immune responses, making them targets for cancer therapy. This study examines the roles of MCTs, specifically MCT1 and MCT4, in various cancer types and their influence on the advancement of tumours, metastasis and patient prognosis. We analyse the interaction among MCTs, tumour microenvironments (TMEs) and the immune system, as biomarkers and targets for therapy. Initial clinical trials have demonstrated encouraging outcomes with MCT inhibitors, including AZD3965. The combination of MCT inhibition and immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint blockade, has shown synergistic effects in boosting the antitumour responses of the body's immune system. This study reviews the importance of MCTs and their potential as new targets for enhancing cancer therapy efficacy, especially when used in conjunction with current medicine treatment regimes. In numerous malignancies, tumour cells form a metabolic symbiosis wherein glycolytic cells, marked by elevated MCT4 expression, secrete lactate into the TME, while oxidative cancer cells, expressing MCT1, absorb this lactate as a metabolic substrate for the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Disrupting this lactate shuttle through targeted inhibition of MCTs is a promising strategy to overcome immune evasion and enhance the efficacy of immunotherapies. Targeting monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) in glycolytic and oxidative tumour cells enhances antitumour immunity. Combinational therapy using MCT1 inhibitors (e.g. AZD3965), MCT4 inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockade can suppress lactate-mediated immunosuppression in the TME. By disrupting lactate shuttling between glycolytic and oxidative tumour cells, this strategy promotes T cell function and improves cancer treatment outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40738088,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, H and Yin, J and Jiang, H and Zeng, W and Cheng, Y and Yang, J and Lin, D and Bai, L and Liang, H},
title = {Reduction of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in simulated-sunlight-supported counter-diffusion bacteria-Algae biofilms: Interface properties and functional gene responses.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {286},
number = {},
pages = {124285},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.124285},
pmid = {40738088},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {A novel bacteria-algae symbiotic counter-diffusion biofilm system integrated within simulated-sunlight (designated UV-MABAR) was engineered to simultaneously address antibiotic residuals and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) while maintaining functional microbial consortia under simulated solar irradiation. The non-algal control system (UV-MABR) demonstrated elevated repulsion energy barriers accompanied by significant suppression of ATP synthase (p < 0.01) and DNA repair-related gene clusters, leading to biofilm homeostasis disruption and subsequent sulfamethoxazole (SMX) effluent accumulation peaking at 138.11±2.34 μg/L. In contrast, the UV-MABAR configuration exhibited dynamic quenching of tyrosine-associated fluorescence moieties within extracellular polymeric substances, thereby diminishing complexation potential with SMX aromatic rings and achieving 70.75 %±3.21 % abiotic photodegradation efficiency, which substantially curtailed ARG proliferation pathways, promoting a significant downregulation of sul1 (-1.9 log2 fold-change) and sul2 (-1.1 log2 fold-change) expression compared to conventional MABR controls. Besides, algal in UV-MABAR attenuated the irradiation-induced α-helix/(β-sheet + random coil) conformational shift, moderating biofilm matrix compaction. Crucially, algal proliferation up-regulated bacterial recA expression (1.7-fold increase), thereby preserving catabolic gene integrity and preventing endogenous substances release. These protective measures kept effluent concentrations of SMX, NH4[+]-N, total nitrogen, and COD in UV-MABAR at 19.84 μg/L, 3.88 mg/L, 12.76 mg/L, and 34.97 mg/L, respectively, during 150 days of operation.},
}
@article {pmid40737754,
year = {2025},
author = {Torralbo, F and López, CM and Alseekh, S and Martínez-Rivas, FJ and Reyes, MR and Fernie, AR and Alamillo, JM},
title = {The source of nitrogen conditions transcriptomic responses to water deficit in common bean roots.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {228},
number = {},
pages = {110264},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110264},
pmid = {40737754},
issn = {1873-2690},
abstract = {Drought stress reduces plant growth and yield of crops. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) establishes symbiosis with rhizobia, ensuring an adequate nitrogen supply without fertilizers. However, the relationship with rhizobia is constrained by limited water availability which inhibits both nitrogen fixation and plant growth. In addition, physiological and molecular responses of common bean to drought are conditioned by the form of nitrogen assimilated. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanism(s) triggered in common bean under water-deficit conditions is relevant to identify the best strategies to resist drought stress. With the objective of understanding the molecular responses of roots and nodules from common bean to water-deficit stress, plants cultivated under N2-fixation or nitrate fertilization were exposed to ten days of water deprivation. Afterwards, transcriptomic analysis was performed in roots, while metabolome profiling was carried out in roots and nodules. Physiological results showed that under water-deficit, N2-fixing plants increased their root biomass more than nitrate-fertilized plants. Furthermore, water-deficit stress induced more transcriptional changes in nitrate-fertilized plants than in N2-fixing plants, including a larger number of transcription factors in these plants compared with the N2-fixing plants. On the other hand, roots from N2-fixing plants accumulated more metabolites with potential protective functions such as allantoin, proline, raffinose, abscisic acid, and flavonoids in response to water-deficit stress than plants fertilized with nitrate, indicating that symbiosis might facilitate a faster and more efficient response to water-deficit stress. Moreover, common bean nodules exposed to water-deficit stress accumulated proline and erythritol, but reduced their content of maltose, pyruvic acid and allantoin compared to their respective controls. Taken collectively, these findings suggest that, despite the inhibition of nodule activity, N2-fixing plants respond better to water-deficit stress than nitrate-fertilized plants.},
}
@article {pmid40736480,
year = {2025},
author = {Martin, F},
title = {[Fungal communities in forest soils under climate change].},
journal = {Comptes rendus biologies},
volume = {348},
number = {},
pages = {167-181},
doi = {10.5802/crbiol.179},
pmid = {40736480},
issn = {1768-3238},
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Climate Change ; *Forests ; *Fungi/physiology/classification ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Trees/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; Soil ; },
abstract = {Forest fungi are crucial for the function and sustainability of forest ecosystems. This article reviews the current understanding of the biology and ecology of two main fungal guilds in forests: saprotrophic fungi, which decompose plant detritus and soil organic matter, and symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, which promote tree growth. I will explore the factors influencing the diversity and dynamics of fungal communities in forest soils under climate change conditions. Finally, I briefly discuss research programs aimed at defining the conditions for utilising tree microbiota, particularly mycorrhizal symbionts, in planting and assisted migration projects for forestry species. Controlled mycorrhiza formation allows for the production of young forest seedlings mycorrhized with selected fungal strains, thereby enhancing the mineral and water nutrition of seedlings, stimulating juvenile growth, and increasing resistance to drought and pathogens. It is also used for truffle cultivation and edible mushroom production.},
}
@article {pmid40736419,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and Li, H and Wang, S and Zhang, H and Shao, Y and Chen, Y and Yuan, Z},
title = {Distinct strategies of soil bacterial generalists and specialists in temperate deciduous broad-leaved forests.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0099225},
doi = {10.1128/aem.00992-25},
pmid = {40736419},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Based on global biotic homogenization, habitat generalists and specialists play an important role in maintaining the stability of ecosystems. However, limited information is available about the assembly processes and co-occurrence patterns of soil bacterial habitat specialists and generalists in forest ecosystems, particularly their response mechanisms to environmental factors. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to investigate the role of the ecological assemblage processes of soil bacterial habitat specialists and generalists and their role in maintaining the stability of the symbiotic network in temperate deciduous broad-leaved forests (China). The results showed that compared with specialists, the diversity of bacterial habitat generalists was lower, but their distribution ranges and environmental niche breadth were wider. Results from the null and neutral models indicate that, compared to deterministic processes, the community assembly of habitat generalists and specialists is more strongly influenced by stochastic processes, with generalists exhibiting a higher degree of stochasticity than specialists. Network analysis results showed that habitat specialists played a greater role in maintaining the stability of the bacterial co-occurrence network than the generalists. In addition, bacterial habitat specialists were more likely to be affected by light and spatial feature vectors than generalists. These findings provide a novel perspective for understanding the assembly processes and diversity maintenance mechanisms of the forest soil bacterial community.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Limited information is available about bacterial specialists and generalists in forests. Generalists were more affected by stochastic processes than specialists. Specialists played a more important role in network stability than generalists. Light and spatial vectors had stronger effects on specialists than generalists.},
}
@article {pmid40736175,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, Q and Wei, Z and Pang, J and Qudsi, AI and Wei, M and Zhang, Z and Zhang, Y and Wang, Z and Chen, K and Xu, X and Lu, X and Liang, Q},
title = {Achromobacter in the Conjunctival Sac Microbiota: Potential Association With Acanthamoeba Keratitis Related to Orthokeratology Lenses.},
journal = {Investigative ophthalmology &amp; visual science},
volume = {66},
number = {9},
pages = {71},
pmid = {40736175},
issn = {1552-5783},
mesh = {Humans ; Male ; Female ; *Microbiota ; *Acanthamoeba Keratitis/microbiology/etiology ; *Conjunctiva/microbiology ; Adult ; *Achromobacter/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/physiology ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Orthokeratologic Procedures/adverse effects/instrumentation ; Acanthamoeba ; *Contact Lenses/adverse effects ; Young Adult ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/analysis ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Middle Aged ; },
abstract = {PURPOSE: Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a severe infection linked to orthokeratology lens use, whereas the involvement of conjunctival microbiota in AK remains poorly understood. This study investigates microbiota dysbiosis in AK pathogenesis to inform microbiota-based interventions.<br><br>METHODS: Conjunctival swabs from 14 patients with AK and 10 healthy controls underwent 16S rRNA sequencing. Microbiome analysis compared diversity, taxa, and metabolic pathways. Functional assays quantified Achromobacter-enhanced Acanthamoeba adhesion and migration. Metagenomics and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with species-specific probes confirmed endosymbiosis.<br><br>RESULTS: Patients with AK showed reduced bacterial diversity compared with the healthy controls (P < 0.001) but similar richness. Relative abundance of Achromobacter in the AK group was higher compared to the healthy control group (P < 0.001). Achromobacter dominated microbiota among the AK group, being identified as a key biomarker via the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). In vitro, Achromobacter increased Acanthamoeba adhesion (P = 0.007) and the migration area (P < 0.05). Metagenomic analysis and FISH further showed Achromobacter spp. as potential endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed upregulated phenylalanine, fatty acid, and propanoate metabolism in the AK group (all P < 0.001). MetaCyc highlighted enriched pyruvate fermentation to isobutanol, aerobic respiration I, and L-isoleucine biosynthesis II in the AK group (P < 0.001).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: AK-associated conjunctival dysbiosis features Achromobacter dominance, reduced diversity, and altered metabolism. Achromobacter is associated with enhanced adhesion and migration of Acanthamoeba, indicating a possible symbiotic interaction and its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.},
}
@article {pmid40736111,
year = {2025},
author = {Goginyan, V and Harutyunyan, S and Stepanyan, T and Khachatryan, G and Bagiyan, V and Hovhannisyan, R and Harutyunyan, B and Kinosyan, M and Ghazanchyan, N and Davidyan, T and Verdyan, A and Chitchyan, K},
title = {Effect of complex microbial preparation of free-living and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria for agricultural crops.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia},
volume = {85},
number = {},
pages = {e292171},
doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.292171},
pmid = {40736111},
issn = {1678-4375},
mesh = {*Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/physiology/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Fertilizers/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The aim of this work was to study the newly developed biofertilizer and plant growth-promoting activity of a consortium of bacterial strains Azotobacter chroococcum MDC 6111, Paenibacillus polymyxa MDC 280 and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria Rhizobium leguminosarum MDC 5609, Mesorhizobium ciceri MDC 6048 and Bradyrhizobium japonicum MDC 5789. It should be noted that in the biofertilizer formula, the strains A. chroococcum and P. polymyxa are unaltered components, and the nodule bacteria are included depending on the type of crop, taking into account the specificity of these bacteria to plants. In this case, both the nitrogen-fixing capacity and the phosphate-mobilizing activity of these bacteria were taken into account. It was found that the increase in the organic layer content from 2.73 to 5.79% occurs with the active participation of microbial strains introduced into the soil. During the plant growth period, an increase in mobile nitrogen forms (NO3-) to 71.9 mg-eq/100 g and soil saturation with molecular nitrogen to 16.2 mg/100 g were detected. A decrease in the content of phosphorus salts (Р2О5, РО43-) and potassium (K+) to 2.86, 3.82 and 5.86 mg-eq/100 g, respectively, was shown. Thus, the content of the immobile form of potassium (K2O) decreases approximately 3 times, and the amount of immobile phosphorus (P2O5) - 3.63 times. These processes in the soil are due to the active activity of nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, as well as the use of these ions by plants. At the same time, the nitrogen (N) content increases by 2.38 times, and its mineralized form - NO3- by 3.0 times, respectively. As a result of the field experiments, it was found that the tested soil rhizobacteria actively adhere to seeds and seedlings, spreading in the rhizosphere of plants, contributing to the effective action of the biopreparation, thereby fixing more nitrogen. Microorganisms in the process of metabolism increase the efficiency of obtaining soluble salts of phosphorus, potassium and calcium by plants. In general, it was found that joint inoculation of rhizobacteria strains demonstrated higher growth parameters and plant biomass, and crop ripening is achieved 12-20 days earlier compared to the control options. The use of biopreparation in agriculture allows to improve the content of the organic component of the soil, thereby contributing to the restoration of the ecological balance of the soil.},
}
@article {pmid40735137,
year = {2025},
author = {Yin, M and Yang, M and Han, X and Yin, L and Peng, H and Huang, L},
title = {Spatial metabolic heterogeneity in Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Fushen): Insights from quantitative analysis and widely targeted metabolomics.},
journal = {Food chemistry: X},
volume = {29},
number = {},
pages = {102802},
pmid = {40735137},
issn = {2590-1575},
abstract = {Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf (Fushen) is valued for its nutritional and therapeutic properties. Fushen is commonly processed into slices of different shapes and sizes. We quantified alkali-soluble and water-soluble polysaccharides, total amino acids, and triterpenoids in Fushen slices of varying geometries (square: 1-9 cm width; round: 1-6 cm radii). Results showed that triterpenes and water-soluble polysaccharides initially decreased and then stabilized with increasing slice size, while total amino acids accumulated progressively, indicating spatial metabolic heterogeneity in Fushen. To map metabolite distribution, we segmented the Fushen into seven concentric zones and profiled the metabolites using a widely targeted metabolomics approach. A total of 359 metabolites were identified. The fungal symbiotic matrix exhibited metabolic profiles similar to the intermediate regions, while peripheral regions maintained comparable levels of triterpenes, saccharides, and amino acid derivatives. This study provides a detailed metabolomic blueprint of Fushen and offers insights for standardized processing and optimized medicinal use.},
}
@article {pmid40734651,
year = {2025},
author = {Liao, IJ and Sakagami, T and Lewin, TD and Bailly, X and Hamada, M and Luo, YJ},
title = {Animal-chlorophyte photosymbioses: evolutionary origins and ecological diversity.},
journal = {Biology letters},
volume = {21},
number = {7},
pages = {20250250},
pmid = {40734651},
issn = {1744-957X},
support = {//KAKENHI/ ; //National Science and Technology Council/ ; //Royal Society/ ; //Academia Sinica/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Biological Evolution ; *Chlorophyta/physiology/genetics ; *Photosynthesis ; *Cnidaria/physiology ; *Mollusca/physiology ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Photosynthetic symbiosis occurs across diverse animal lineages, including Porifera, Cnidaria, Xenacoelomorpha and Mollusca. These associations between animal hosts and photosynthetic algae often involve the exchange of essential macronutrients, supporting adaptation to a wide range of aquatic environments. A small yet taxonomically widespread subset of animals host photosymbionts from the core chlorophytes, a phylogenetically expansive clade of green algae. These rare instances of 'plant-like' animals have arisen independently across distantly related lineages, resulting in striking ecological and physiological diversity. Although such associations provide valuable insights into the evolution of symbiosis and adaptation to novel ecological niches, animal-chlorophyte photosymbioses remain relatively understudied. Here, we present an overview of photosymbioses between animals and chlorophytes, highlighting their independent evolutionary origins, ecological diversity and emerging genomic resources. Focusing on Porifera, Cnidaria and Xenacoelomorpha, we review shared and lineage-specific adaptations underlying these associations. We also contrast them with dinoflagellate-based systems to demonstrate their distinct ecological and cellular features. Our work sets the stage for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations, enhancing our understanding of how interspecies interactions drive adaptation to unique ecological niches through animal-chlorophyte symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40733477,
year = {2025},
author = {Leng, J and Xu, R and Liu, Y and Jiang, T and Hu, H and Ding, Z and Dai, S},
title = {Genome-Wide Analysis of GmMYB S20 Transcription Factors Reveals Their Critical Role in Soybean Nodulation.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {40733477},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {32441006//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32070300//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 17DZ2252700//Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Plant Germplasm Resources of China/ ; },
abstract = {Soybean relies on symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) to support sustainable agriculture. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the GmMYB transcription factor subfamily 20, with a focus on GmMYB62a and GmMYB62b. Phylogenetic and structural analyses revealed that these genes are evolutionarily conserved among legumes and possess distinct domain architectures. Expression profiling and GUS staining showed that GmMYB62a and GmMYB62b are constitutively expressed in nodules. Functional analyses revealed that loss of GmMYB62s function significantly reduced nodule density, while overexpression promoted nodulation. Transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) further demonstrated that GmMYB62s regulate key pathways, including hormone signaling, immune responses, and cell wall metabolism, thereby coordinating symbiotic interactions. Collectively, our findings identify GmMYB62a and GmMYB62b as critical molecular regulators of nodulation in soybean, providing promising targets for improving symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency in legume crops.},
}
@article {pmid40733334,
year = {2025},
author = {Radi, H and Koufan, M and Belkoura, I and Koussa, T and Mazri, MA},
title = {In Vitro Mycorrhization for Plant Propagation and Enhanced Resilience to Environmental Stress: A Review.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {40733334},
issn = {2223-7747},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in enhancing plant stress tolerance, nutrient uptake, and overall health, making them essential for sustainable agriculture. Their multifaceted contributions to the rhizosphere-through biofertilization, bioprotection, and biostimulation-have led to growing interest in their application. In recent years, in vitro mycorrhization has emerged as a promising approach for the rapid propagation of economically and ecologically important plant species, offering improved agronomic and physiological traits as well as increased resilience to environmental stressors. However, challenges remain in achieving consistent AMF-plant symbiosis under in vitro conditions across diverse species. This review highlights the potential of in vitro mycorrhization as a controlled system for investigating AMF interactions and their impact on plant development. Various in vitro mycorrhization systems are described and discussed, along with their applications in the mass production of AMF propagules and mycorrhizal plants, and their role in enhancing the acclimatization of micropropagated plantlets to ex vitro conditions. The role of in vitro mycorrhization as an effective tissue culture approach that integrates plant propagation with enhanced resilience to environmental stress is emphasized. The factors influencing the success of in vitro mycorrhization and strategies for the large-scale production of AMF propagules and mycorrhizal plants are explored. Although research in this area is still limited, existing studies underscore the potential of in vitro mycorrhization to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses-an increasingly urgent goal in the context of climate change and global food security.},
}
@article {pmid40732484,
year = {2025},
author = {Ahangar, MN and Farhat, ZA and Sivanathan, A},
title = {AI Trustworthiness in Manufacturing: Challenges, Toolkits, and the Path to Industry 5.0.},
journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {25},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {40732484},
issn = {1424-8220},
support = {123456789//Innovate Uk/ ; },
abstract = {The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into manufacturing is transforming the industry by advancing predictive maintenance, quality control, and supply chain optimisation, while also driving the shift from Industry 4.0 towards a more human-centric and sustainable vision. This emerging paradigm, known as Industry 5.0, emphasises resilience, ethical innovation, and the symbiosis between humans and intelligent systems, with AI playing a central enabling role. However, challenges such as the "black box" nature of AI models, data biases, ethical concerns, and the lack of robust frameworks for trustworthiness hinder its widespread adoption. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of AI trustworthiness in the manufacturing industry, examining the evolution of industrial paradigms, identifying key barriers to AI adoption, and examining principles such as transparency, fairness, robustness, and accountability. It offers a detailed summary of existing toolkits and methodologies for explainability, bias mitigation, and robustness, which are essential for fostering trust in AI systems. Additionally, this paper examines challenges throughout the AI pipeline, from data collection to model deployment, and concludes with recommendations and research questions aimed at addressing these issues. By offering actionable insights, this study aims to guide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in developing ethical and reliable AI systems that align with the principles of Industry 5.0, ensuring both technological advancement and societal value.},
}
@article {pmid40732102,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Ren, J and Yu, B and Liu, S and Cao, X},
title = {Metagenomic and Metabolomic Perspectives on the Drought Tolerance of Broomcorn Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.).},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40732102},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {YDZJSX2022A044//the Central Guiding Local Science and Technology Development Funds/ ; CARS-06-14.5-A16//the earmarked fund for CARS/ ; 2025CYJSTX03-23//the earmarked fund for Modern Agro-Industry Technology Research System/ ; },
abstract = {Drought stress is an important abiotic stress factor restricting crop production. Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) has become an ideal material for analyzing the stress adaptation mechanisms of crops due to its strong stress resistance. However, the functional characteristics of its rhizosphere microorganisms in response to drought remain unclear. In this study, metagenomics and metabolomics techniques were employed to systematically analyze the compositional characteristics of the microbial community, functional properties, and changes in metabolites in the rhizosphere soil of broomcorn millet under drought stress. On this basis, an analysis was conducted in combination with the differences in functional pathways. The results showed that the drought treatment during the flowering stage significantly altered the species composition of the rhizosphere microorganisms of broomcorn millet. Among them, the relative abundances of beneficial microorganisms such as Nitrosospira, Coniochaeta, Diversispora, Gigaspora, Glomus, and Rhizophagus increased significantly. Drought stress significantly affects the metabolic pathways of rhizosphere microorganisms. The relative abundances of genes associated with prokaryotes, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and other metabolic process (e.g., ribosome biosynthesis, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and fructose and mannose metabolism) increased significantly. Additionally, the expression levels of functional genes involved in the phosphorus cycle were markedly upregulated. Drought stress also significantly alters the content of specific rhizosphere soil metabolites (e.g., trehalose, proline). Under drought conditions, broomcorn millet may stabilize the rhizosphere microbial community by inducing its restructuring and recruiting beneficial fungal groups. These community-level changes can enhance element cycling efficiency, optimize symbiotic interactions between broomcorn millet and rhizosphere microorganisms, and ultimately improve the crop's drought adaptability. Furthermore, the soil metabolome (e.g., trehalose and proline) functions as a pivotal interfacial mediator, orchestrating the interaction network between broomcorn millet and rhizosphere microorganisms, thereby enhancing plant stress tolerance. This study sheds new light on the functional traits of rhizosphere microbiota under drought stress and their mechanistic interactions with host plants.},
}
@article {pmid40732090,
year = {2025},
author = {da Silva, IA and de Andrade, JLS and Barbosa, FLA and Almeida, MS and Araújo, MLH and de Souza, AJ and Araujo, ASF and Pereira, APA and Garcia, KGV},
title = {Co-Application of Seaweed Extract (Solieria filiformis) and Silicon: Effect on Sporulation, Mycorrhizal Colonization, and Initial Growth of Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40732090},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Seaweed extracts (SEs) and silicon (Si) are known to enhance plant growth under adverse conditions. However, their combined effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are not yet fully understood. This study evaluated the effect of the co-application of an SE and Si on the AMF spore abundance, mycorrhizal colonization, and early growth of Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia. Plants were grown in a greenhouse for 70 days in soil with or without an SE (Solieria filiformis) and three Si levels (0, 150, and 300 mg kg[-1]). Growth parameters, AMF spore abundance, mycorrhizal colonization, and plant/soil chemical composition were assessed. SE and Si increased the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and shoot dry mass, while higher Si levels reduced the root dry mass and length. Mycorrhizal colonization was highest (64%) at 150 mg kg[-1] Si with SE, whereas AMF spore abundance decreased as Si increased. SE and 300 mg kg[-1] Si raised the Si levels in the shoot, while root Si increased only at 300 mg kg[-1] Si. Shoot Na increased at 300 mg kg[-1] Si without SE, whereas K was highest at 150 mg kg[-1] Si with SE. The soil pH, electrical conductivity, and Na increased at 300 mg kg[-1] Si, while K and P decreased at this level without SE. These findings indicate that SE and Si co-application benefits early growth and may modulate mycorrhizal symbiosis, highlighting the importance of proper management to maximize plant and soil benefits.},
}
@article {pmid40732061,
year = {2025},
author = {Alahmari, AN and Hassoubah, SA and Alaidaroos, BA and Al-Hejin, AM and Bataweel, NM and Farsi, RM and Algothmi, KM and Alshammari, NM and Ashour, ATK},
title = {Antimicrobial Metabolites Isolated from Some Marine Bacteria Associated with Callyspongia crassa Sponge of the Red Sea.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40732061},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {The Red Sea is rich in symbiotic microorganisms that have been identified as sources of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential of marine sponge-associated bacteria as sources of antibacterial compounds, emphasizing their significance in combating antibiotic resistance (AMR). The crude extracts of Micrococcus, Bacillus, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones measuring 12 mm and 14 mm against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and other infectious strains. The DPPH assay showed that the bacterial isolates AN3 and AN6 exhibited notable antioxidant activity at a concentration of 100 mg/mL. To characterize the chemical constituents responsible for the observed bioactivity, a GC-MS analysis was performed on ethyl acetate extracts of the potent strains. The analysis identified a range of antimicrobial compounds, including straight-chain alkanes (e.g., Tetradecane), cyclic structures (e.g., Cyclopropane derivatives), and phenolic compounds, all of which are known to disrupt microbial membranes or interfere with metabolic pathways. The bioprospecting and large-scale production of these compounds are challenging. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential for marine bacteria associated with sponges from the Red Sea to be a source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic relevance.},
}
@article {pmid40732002,
year = {2025},
author = {Jin, Y and Chen, Z and Malik, K and Li, C},
title = {Achnatherum inebrians Bacterial Communities Associated with Epichloë gansuensis Endophyte Infection Under Low-Concentration Urea Treatment: Links to Plant Growth and Root Metabolite.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40732002},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {32201445, 2021M701525, 2024M761243, 22JR5RA434, 22ZSCQD01, 22JR5RA532, lzujbky-2022-kb02, lzujbky-2023-49 and [2021]794.//the National Science Foundation of China , the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Gansu Province Outstanding Doctoral Students Project , Intellectual Property Plan (Targeted Organization) Project of Gansu Administration for Market Regulation, Gansu Pr/ ; },
abstract = {Despite chemical exchange often serving as the first step in plant-microbe interactions, the specialized chemical metabolites produced by grass-Epichloë endophyte symbiosis as mediators of host growth, nutrient acquisition, and modulators of the rhizosphere community under low-nitrogen conditions are areas lacking in knowledge. In this study, we investigated the plant growth-promoting effects of the Epichloë endophyte strain and identified the growth of the Epichloë strain under different types of nitrogen source treatments. In addition to the in vitro test, we evaluated growth performance for Epichloë endophyte-infected plants (E+) and Epichloë endophyte-free plants (E-) in a pot trial under 0.01 mol/L urea treatment. Seedlings from E+ and E- groups were collected to analyze the plant bacterial microbiome and root metabolites. The E. gansuensis endophyte strain was found not to produce indoleacetic acid (IAA), pectinase, or contain ferritin. The nitrogenase gene, essential for nitrogen fixation, was also absent. These results suggest that E. gansuensis endophyte strains themselves do not contain attributes to promote plant growth. Concerning N fertilization, it was observed an increase in the colony diameter of E. gansuensis strain was observed only in the NO3[-]-N (NN) treatment, while inhibition was observed in the urea-N (UN) treatment. E. gansuensis endophyte symbiosis significantly increased tiller number and plant dry weight. Overall, our results suggest that the E+ plants had more root forks and greater average root diameter compared to E- plants under the UN treatment. In a pot experiment using UN, data from 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that E. gansuensis endophyte infection significantly altered the bacterial community composition in shoot and root, and significantly increased Shannon (p < 0.001) and Chao 1 (p < 0.01) indexes. The relative abundance of Acidobacteriota, Actinomycetota, Cyanobacteriota, Fibrobacterota, Myxococcota, and Patescibacteria in the shoot, and Cyanobacteriota, Pseudomonadota, and Verrucomicrobiota in the root were significantly increased by E. gansuensis endophyte infection. Similarly, E. gansuensis endophyte symbiosis shifted the metabolite composition of the host plants, with the E+ plants showing a higher number of metabolites than the E- plants. In addition, co-metabolism network analysis revealed that the positive relevance between exudates and microorganisms in the root of the E+ plants is higher than that of the E- plants. These findings provide valuable insights into the knowledge of the effects of the symbiotic relationship between host plants and Epichloë endophyte on interspecific interactions of plant microbiome, beneficial for harnessing endophytic symbiosis, promoting plant growth.},
}
@article {pmid40731996,
year = {2025},
author = {Asimakis, E and Galiatsatos, I and Apostolopoulou, G and Savvidou, EC and Balatsos, G and Karras, V and Evangelou, V and Dionyssopoulou, E and Augustinos, A and Papadopoulos, NT and Michaelakis, A and Stathopoulou, P and Tsiamis, G},
title = {The Symbiotic Bacterial Profile of Laboratory-Reared and Field-Caught Aedes albopictus Mosquitoes from Greece.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40731996},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {&#xab;moSquITo&#xbb;: Innovative approaches for monitoring and management of the Asian tiger mosquito with emphasis on the Sterile Insect Technique (&#x3a4;&#x391;&#x395;&#x394;&#x39a;06173)//National Recovery and Resilience Plan, "Greece 2.0" &amp; EU Funding - Next Generation EU/ ; },
abstract = {The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is a highly invasive species capable of transmitting human pathogens. For population management, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is considered an effective and sustainable alternative to conventional methods, such as insecticides and reducing or eliminating breeding sites. The use of symbiotic bacteria to improve the application of SIT or design combined SIT/incompatible insect technique (IIT) approaches is currently considered. In this context, exploring the microbiota of local mosquito populations is crucial for identifying interesting components. This study employed 16S rRNA sequencing and microbiological methods to characterize the diversity of laboratory and wild Ae. albopictus in Greece. Differences were recorded between wild and lab-reared mosquitoes, with laboratory samples exhibiting higher diversity. Laboratory treatment, sex, and developmental stage also resulted in variations between communities. Populations reared in the same facility developed mostly similar bacterial profiles. Two geographically distant wild populations displayed similar bacterial profiles, characterized by seasonal changes in the relative abundance of Pantoea and Zymobacter. Wolbachia was dominant in most groups (63.7% relative abundance), especially in field-caught mosquitoes. It was identified with two strains, wAlbA (21.5%) and wAlbB (42.2%). Other frequent taxa included Elizabethkingia, Asaia, and Serratia. Blood feeding favored an increase in Serratia abundance. Various Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Aeromonas, and Acinetobacter strains were isolated from larval and adult mosquito extracts and could be further characterized as diet supplements. These findings suggest that the microbiota of local populations is highly variable due to multiple factors. However, they retain core elements shared across populations that may exhibit valuable nutritional or functional roles and could be exploited to improve SIT processes.},
}
@article {pmid40731987,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhu, F and Liu, Y and Wu, C and Li, K and Hu, Y and Liu, W and Yu, S and Li, M and Dong, X and Yu, H},
title = {Microbial Corrosion Behavior of L245 Pipeline Steel in the Presence of Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria and Shewanella algae.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40731987},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) poses significant challenges in oilfield water injection environments, leading to substantial socioeconomic losses. L245 steel, a low-alloy steel widely used in oil and gas pipelines due to its excellent mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness, remains highly vulnerable to MIC during long-term service. This study uses surface characterization and electrochemical techniques to investigate the corrosion behavior of L245 pipeline steel under short-cycle conditions in a symbiotic environment of iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB) and Shewanella algae (S. algae). Key findings revealed that localized corrosion of L245 steel was markedly exacerbated under coexisting IOB and S. algae conditions compared to monoculture systems. However, the uniform corrosion rate under symbiosis fell between the rates observed in the individual IOB and S. algae systems. Mechanistically, the enhanced corrosion under symbiotic conditions was attributed to the synergistic electron transfer interaction: IOB exploited electron carriers secreted by S. algae during extracellular electron transfer (EET), which amplified the microbial consortium's capacity to harvest electrons from the steel substrate. These results emphasize the critical role of interspecies electron exchange in accelerating localized degradation of carbon steel under complex microbial consortia, with implications for developing targeted mitigation strategies in industrial pipelines exposed to similar microbiological environments.},
}
@article {pmid40731978,
year = {2025},
author = {Garcia, M and Bruna, P and Duran, P and Abanto, M},
title = {Cyanobacteria and Soil Restoration: Bridging Molecular Insights with Practical Solutions.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40731978},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Soil degradation has been accelerating globally due to climate change, which threatens food production, biodiversity, and ecosystem balance. Traditional soil restoration strategies are often expensive, slow, or unsustainable in the long term. In this context, cyanobacteria have emerged as promising biotechnological alternatives, being the only prokaryotes capable of performing oxygenic photosynthesis. Moreover, they can capture atmospheric carbon and nitrogen, release exopolysaccharides (EPSs) that stabilize the soil, and facilitate the development of biological soil crusts (biocrusts). In recent years, the convergence of multi-omics tools, such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics, has advanced our understanding of cyanobacterial dynamics, their metabolic potential, and symbiotic interactions with microbial consortia, as exemplified by the cyanosphere of Microcoleus vaginatus. In addition, recent advances in bioinformatics have enabled high-resolution taxonomic and functional profiling of environmental samples, facilitating the identification and prediction of resilient microorganisms suited to challenging degraded soils. These tools also allow for the prediction of biosynthetic gene clusters and the detection of prophages or cyanophages within microbiomes, offering a novel approach to enhance carbon sequestration in dry and nutrient-poor soils. This review synthesizes the latest findings and proposes a roadmap for the translation of molecular-level knowledge into scalable biotechnological strategies for soil restoration. We discuss approaches ranging from the use of native biocrust strains to the exploration of cyanophages with the potential to enhance cyanobacterial photosynthetic activity. By bridging ecological functions with cutting-edge omics technologies, this study highlights the critical role of cyanobacteria as a nature-based solution for climate-smart soil management in degraded and arid ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40731227,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, CY and Chang, YH and Leong, YK and Chang, JS},
title = {Application of algae-bacteria symbiosis system for ammonia nitrogen wastewater treatment.},
journal = {Journal of bioscience and bioengineering},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jbiosc.2025.06.011},
pmid = {40731227},
issn = {1347-4421},
abstract = {In industrial processes, the primary sources of ammonia nitrogen emissions are organic matter and nitrogen-containing chemicals. When released directly into the environment, these nitrogen compounds elevate aquatic toxicity and reduce dissolved oxygen levels, significantly affecting aquatic ecosystems. This review introduces both traditional and novel ammonia nitrogen wastewater treatment technologies. Traditional methods include physical, chemical, and biological processes. The focus of this review is on novel ammonia nitrogen wastewater treatment technology based on algae-bacteria symbiosis systems. The review discusses key environmental factors influencing the algae-bacteria symbiosis system, such as temperature, light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration, and bioflocculation. Furthermore, it presents innovative large-scale algae-bacteria symbiosis system designed to achieve high carbon dioxide removal efficiency while effectively treating ammonia nitrogen wastewater with low energy consumption. This review aims to provide valuable insights that support the future development of efficient and commercially viable novel technologies for treating ammonia-nitrogen wastewater.},
}
@article {pmid40729388,
year = {2025},
author = {Riaz, MR and Sosa Marquez, I and Lindgren, H and Levin, G and Doyle, R and Romero, MC and Paoli, JC and Drnevich, J and Fields, CJ and Geddes, BA and Marshall-Colón, A and Heath, KD},
title = {Mobile gene clusters and coexpressed plant-rhizobium pathways drive partner quality variation in symbiosis.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {31},
pages = {e2411831122},
pmid = {40729388},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {IOS-1645875//NSF (NSF)/ ; DBI-2022049//NSF (NSF)/ ; IOS-2243821//NSF (NSF)/ ; na//Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnolog&#xed;as (Conahcyt)/ ; na//UofI | UIUC | Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB)/ ; IOS- 2243818//NSF (NSF)/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics ; *Multigene Family ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Transcriptome ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; },
abstract = {Plant-microbe symbioses such as the legume-rhizobium mutualism are vital in the web of ecological relationships within both natural and managed ecosystems, influencing primary productivity, crop yield, and ecosystem services. The outcome of these interactions for plant hosts varies quantitatively and can range from highly beneficial to even detrimental depending on natural genetic variation in microbial symbionts. Here, we take a systems genetics approach, harnessing the genetic diversity present in wild rhizobial populations to predict genes and molecular pathways crucial in determining partner quality, i.e., the benefits of symbiosis for legume hosts. We combine traits, dual-RNAseq of both partners from active nodules, pangenomics/pantranscriptomics, and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) for a panel of 20 Sinorhizobium meliloti strains that vary in symbiotic partner quality. We find that genetic variation in the nodule transcriptome predicts host plant biomass, and WGCNA reveals networks of genes in plants and rhizobia that are coexpressed and associated with high-quality symbiosis. Presence-absence variation of gene clusters on the symbiosis plasmid (pSymA), validated in planta, is associated with high or low-quality symbiosis and is found within important coexpression modules. Functionally our results point to management of oxidative stress, amino acid and carbohydrate transport, and NCR peptide signaling mechanisms in driving symbiotic outcomes. Our integrative approach highlights the complex genetic architecture of microbial partner quality and raises hypotheses about the genetic mechanisms and evolutionary dynamics of symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40729385,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, P and Geng, H and Ma, B and Zhang, Y and Zhu, Z and Li, M and Chen, S and Wang, X and Sun, C},
title = {Integrating spatial omics and single-cell mass spectrometry imaging reveals tumor-host metabolic interplay in hepatocellular carcinoma.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {31},
pages = {e2505789122},
pmid = {40729385},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {82404587//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82273888//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; tsqn202403096//the Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province/ ; tstp20221138//the Taishan Scholar Progarm of Shandong Province/ ; 2024QZJH04//the Youth Excellent Talents Program of Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences)/ ; },
mesh = {*Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism/pathology/diagnostic imaging ; *Liver Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology/diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Single-Cell Analysis/methods ; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism/pathology ; Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Macrophages/metabolism ; Glycolysis ; Metabolomics/methods ; Cell Communication ; Cell Line, Tumor ; },
abstract = {Metabolic crosstalk among diverse cellular populations contributes to shaping a competitive and symbiotic tumor microenvironment (TME) to influence cancer progression and immune responses, highlighting vulnerabilities that can be exploited for cancer therapy. Using a spatial multiomics platform to study the cell-specific metabolic spectrum in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we map the metabolic interactions between different cells in the HCC TME and identify a unique tumor-immune-cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) "interface" zone, where cell-cell interactions are enhanced and accompanied by significant upregulation of lactic acid and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Further combining single-cell mass spectrometry imaging of patient-derived tumor organoids, cocultured CAFs, and macrophages, we demonstrate that CAFs increase glycolysis and secrete lactic acid to the surrounding microenvironment to drive immunosuppressive macrophage M2 polarization. These findings facilitate the understanding of cancer-associated metabolic interactions in complex TME and provide clues for targeted clinical therapies.},
}
@article {pmid40728918,
year = {2025},
author = {Vannette, RL and Williams, NM and Peterson, SS and Martin, AN},
title = {Pollen diet, more than geographic distance, shapes provision microbiome composition in two species of cavity-nesting bees.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {101},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40728918},
issn = {1574-6941},
support = {1929516//National Science Foundation/ ; //USDA/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Bees/microbiology/physiology ; *Pollen/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; Fungi/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Diet ; California ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {The microbial composition of stored food can influence its stability and the microbial species consumed by the organism feeding on it. Many bee species store nectar and pollen in provisions constructed to feed developing offspring. Yet, whether microbial composition is determined by the pollen types within provisions, variation between bee species at the same nesting sites, or geographic distance was unclear. Here, we sampled two species of cooccurring cavity nesting bees in the genus Osmia at 13 sites in California and examined the composition of pollen, fungi, and bacteria in provisions. Pollen composition explained 15% of variation in bacterial composition and ∼30% of variation in fungal composition, whereas spatial distance among sites explained minimal additional variation. Symbiotic microbe genera Ascosphaera, Sodalis, and Wolbachia showed contrasting patterns of association with pollen composition, suggesting distinct acquisition and transmission routes for each. Comparing provisions from both bee species comprised of the same pollens points to environmental acquisition rather than bee species as a key factor shaping the early stages of the bee microbiome in Osmia. The patterns we observed also contrast with Apilactobacillus-dominated provision microbiome in other solitary bee species, suggesting variable mechanisms of microbial assembly in stored food among bee species.},
}
@article {pmid40728316,
year = {2025},
author = {Armitage, DW and Alonso-Sánchez, AG and Coy, SR and Cheng, Z and Hagenbeek, A and López-Martínez, KP and Phua, YH and Sears, AR},
title = {Adaptive pangenomic remodeling in the Azolla cyanobiont amid a transient microbiome.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf154},
pmid = {40728316},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Plants fix nitrogen in concert with diverse microbial symbionts, often recruiting them from the surrounding environment each generation. Vertical transmission of a microbial symbiont from parent to offspring can produce extreme evolutionary consequences, including metabolic codependence, genome reduction, and synchronized life cycles. One of the few examples of vertical transmission of N-fixing symbionts occurs in Azolla ferns, which maintain an obligate mutualism with the cyanobacterium Trichormus azollae-but the genomic consequences of this interaction, and whether the symbiosis involves other vertically transmitted microbial partners, are currently unknown. We generated high-coverage metagenomes across the genus Azolla and reconstructed metagenome assembled genomes to investigate whether a core microbiome exists within Azolla leaf cavities, and how the genomes of T. azollae diverged from their free-living relatives. Our results suggest that T. azollae is the only consistent symbiont across all Azolla accessions, and that other bacterial groups are transient or facultative associates. Pangenomic analyses of T. azollae indicate extreme pseudogenization and gene loss compared to free-living relatives-especially in defensive, stress-tolerance, and secondary metabolite pathways-yet the key functions of nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis remain intact. Additionally, differential codon bias and intensified positive selection on photosynthesis, intracellular transport, and carbohydrate metabolism genes suggest ongoing evolution in response to the unique conditions within Azolla leaf cavities. These findings highlight how genome erosion and shifting selection pressures jointly drive the evolution of this unique mutualism, while broadening the taxonomic scope of genomic studies on vertically transmitted symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40726432,
year = {2025},
author = {Hua, R and Ding, N and Hua, Y and Wang, X and Xu, Y and Qiao, X and Shi, X and Bai, T and Xiong, Y and Zhuo, X and Fan, C and Zhou, J and Wu, Y and Liu, J and Yuan, Z and Li, T},
title = {Ligilactobacillus Murinus and Lactobacillus Johnsonii Suppress Macrophage Pyroptosis in Atherosclerosis through Butyrate-GPR109A-GSDMD Axis.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e01707},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202501707},
pmid = {40726432},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {2021YFA1301201//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; 2021YFA0805400//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; 2024YFA1307004//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; 82000474//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 82370458//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 82370875//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 82430019//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021KJXX-04//Innovative Talents Promotion Plan of Shaanxi Province of China/ ; xzy012019093//Xi'an&#xa0;Jiaotong University/ ; 2020JM-383//Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province/ ; },
abstract = {Gut microbiota and their metabolites are remarkable regulators in atherosclerosis. Oral drugs such as aspirin have recently been found to modulate the gut microbiome. However, the roles of drug-microbiota-metabolite interactions in atherosclerosis have not been explored. Herein, two gut probiotics, Ligilactobacillus murinus (L. murinus) and Lactobacillus johnsonii (L. johnsonii), are identified from mouse models and human cohorts, which are positively correlated with aspirin usage. Specifically, the eradication of these two species eliminated aspirin's anti-atherosclerotic effects, while their transplantation exhibited therapeutic effects against atherosclerosis. Integrative analysis of metagenomic and metabolomic data showed that elevated levels of butyrate are associated with these two species. Mechanically, L. murinus and L. johnsonii form symbiotic networks with butyrate-producing bacteria such as Allobaculum. This study confirmed that gut microbes produce butyrate, which helps preserve the gut barrier and prevents the leakage of lipopolysaccharides. By integrating molecular biology and single-cell sequencing data, G protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A) is confirmed as the direct target of butyrate. Through the activation of GPR109A, butyrate produced by L. murinus and L. johnsonii suppressed the expression of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) in the pyroptosis of macrophages during atherosclerosis. These findings offer novel insights into the drug-microbiota axis that can be targeted to improve the treatment of atherosclerosis.},
}
@article {pmid40725467,
year = {2025},
author = {Ye, S and Wei, X and Chen, J and Luo, S and Jiang, T and Yang, J and Zheng, R and Chen, S},
title = {Research on Key Genes for Flowering of Bambusaoldhamii Under Introduced Cultivation Conditions.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40725467},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {2021YFD2200501301//National Key Research and Development Program of China during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, "Geographical Differentiation of Biomass Formation in Bambusaoldhamii Germplasm"/ ; },
mesh = {*Flowers/genetics/growth &amp; development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Transcriptome/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Plant ; *Bambusa/genetics/growth &amp; development ; *Poaceae/genetics/growth &amp; development ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bambusaoldhamii is an important economic bamboo species. However, flowering occurred after its introduction and cultivation, resulting in damage to the economy of bamboo forests. Currently, the molecular mechanism of flowering induced by introduction stress is still unclear. This study systematically explored the key genes and regulatory pathways of flowering in Bambusaoldhamii under introduction stress through field experiments combined with transcriptome sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), with the aim of providing a basis for flower-resistant cultivation and molecular breeding of bamboo.<br><br>RESULTS: The study conducted transcriptome sequencing on flowering and non-flowering Bambusaoldhamii bamboo introduced from Youxi, Fujian Province for 2 years, constructed a reference transcriptome containing 213,747 Unigenes, and screened out 36,800-42,980 significantly differentially expressed genes (FDR < 0.05). The results indicated that the photosensitive gene CRY and the temperature response gene COR413-PM were significantly upregulated in the flowering group; the expression level of the heavy metal detoxification gene MT3 increased by 27.77 times, combined with the upregulation of the symbiotic signaling gene NIN. WGCNA analysis showed that the expression level of the flower meristem determination gene AP1/CAL/FUL in the flowering group was 90.38 times that of the control group. Moreover, its expression is regulated by the cascade synergy of CRY-HRE/RAP2-12-COR413-PM signals.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study clarifies for the first time that the stress of introducing Bambusaoldhamii species activates the triad pathways of photo-temperature signal perception (CRY/COR413-PM), heavy metal detoxification (MT3), and symbiotic regulation (NIN), collaboratively driving the AP1/CAL/FUL gene expression network and ultimately triggering the flowering process.},
}
@article {pmid40725341,
year = {2025},
author = {López-Hernández, MG and Rincón-Rosales, R and Rincón-Molina, CI and Manzano-Gómez, LA and Gen-Jiménez, A and Maldonado-Gómez, JC and Rincón-Molina, FA},
title = {Diversity and Functional Potential of Gut Bacteria Associated with the Insect Arsenura armida (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40725341},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {19337.24-P and 19414.24-P//Tecnol&#xf3;gico Nacional de M&#xe9;xico/ ; },
abstract = {Insects are often associated with diverse microorganisms that enhance their metabolism and nutrient assimilation. These microorganisms, residing in the insect's gut, play a crucial role in breaking down complex molecules into simpler compounds essential for the host's growth. This study investigates the diversity and functional potential of symbiotic bacteria in the gut of Arsenura armida (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) larvae, an edible insect from southeastern Mexico, using culture-dependent and metagenomic approaches. Bacterial strains were isolated from different gut sections (foregut, midgut, and hindgut) and cultured on general-purpose media. Isolates were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and genomic fingerprinting. Metagenomics revealed the bacterial community structure and diversity, along with their functional potential. A total of 96 bacterial strains were isolated, predominantly Gram-negative bacilli. Rapidly growing colonies exhibited enzymatic activity, cellulose degradation, and sugar production. Phylogenetic analysis identified eight genera, including Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, and others, with significant cellulose-degrading capabilities. Metagenomics confirmed Bacillota as the most abundant phylum. These complementary methods revealed abundant symbiotic bacteria with key metabolic roles in A. armida, offering promising biotechnological applications in enzymatic bioconversion and cellulose degradation.},
}
@article {pmid40725334,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, H and Yin, XJ and Fan, ZH and Gu, XH and Su, ZQ and Luo, BR and Qiu, BL and Zhang, LH},
title = {Effects of Endosymbionts on the Nutritional Physiology and Biological Characteristics of Whitefly Bemisia tabaci.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40725334},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {Grant No.KJQN202400533//Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission/ ; Grant No.23XLB031//Chongqing Normal University Foundation/ ; CSTB2024TIAD-KPX0015//Chongqing Technological Innovation and Application Development Project/ ; },
abstract = {Insects and their endosymbionts have a close mutualistic relationship. However, the precise nature of the bacterial endosymbiont-mediated interaction between host plants and whitefly Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 is still unclear. In the present study, six populations of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 sharing the same genetic background were established by rearing insects for ten generations on different host plants, including poinsettia, cabbage, cotton, tomato, and tobacco, and an additional population was reared on cotton and treated with antibiotics. The physiological and nutritional traits of the insects were found to be dependent on the host plant on which they had been reared. Systematic analysis was conducted on the endosymbiont titers, the amino acid molecules and contents, as well as developmental and oviposition changes in the MEAM1 populations reared on each host plant tested. The results indicate that B. tabaci contained the primary symbiont Portiera and the secondary symbionts Hamiltonella and Rickettsia. In addition, the titer of endosymbiotic bacteria in females is higher than that in males. Among the MEAM1 populations reared on each host plant, the variation pattern of Portiera titer generally corresponded with changes in biological characteristics (body length, weight and fecundity) and AA contents. This suggests that changes in the amino acid contents and biological characteristics of different B. tabaci populations may be due to changes in the Portiera content and the differences in the nutrition of the host plants themselves. Our findings were further confirmed by the reduction in Portiera with antibiotic treatment. The amino acids, body size, body weight, and fecundity of B. tabaci were all reduced with the decrease in the Portiera titer after antibiotic treatment. In summary, our research revealed that host plants can affect the content of symbiotic bacteria, particularly Portiera, and subsequently affect the nutrition (i.e., the essential amino acids content) of host insects, thus changing their biological characteristics.},
}
@article {pmid40725318,
year = {2025},
author = {Prieto, SV and Dho, M and Orrù, B and Gonella, E and Alma, A},
title = {Symbiont-Targeted Control of Halyomorpha halys Does Not Affect Local Insect Diversity in a Hazelnut Orchard.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40725318},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {//Regione Piemonte/ ; },
abstract = {Harmless crop-associated insect communities are a fundamental part of the agroecosystem. Their potential as a reservoir of natural enemies of pests has encouraged their conservation through the development of low-impact pest management programs. The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, represents a serious threat to Italian hazelnut production. Laboratory and field experiments confirmed the susceptibility of this pest to the disruption of the obligated symbiotic interaction with gut bacteria, paving the way for the development of the symbiont-targeted control strategy. Here we present the results of a three-year field assessment of symbiont-targeted control in a hazelnut orchard in northwestern Italy. The use of a biocomplex to disrupt symbiont acquisition by H. halys nymphs was compared to the use of lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide. The effects on the local entomofauna were assessed, as were the trend of H. halys population and the damage caused by stink bugs to harvested hazelnuts. The insecticide consistently reduced the insect diversity in the field, while the anti-symbiont biocomplex had no effect. However, the control of the H. halys population and the stink bug-induced damage to hazelnuts varied over the years in the field plot submitted to the symbiont-targeted approach. Our results indicate that the symbiont-targeted control does not interfere with local insect communities. Key aspects for improving the effectiveness of this tactic are discussed.},
}
@article {pmid40725284,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Zhang, Y and Li, R and Li, Y and Cha, M and Yi, X},
title = {Host Plant Dependence of the Symbiotic Microbiome of the Gall-Inducing Wasp Trichagalma acutissimae.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40725284},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {ZR2024MC092//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria play a pivotal role in the biology and ecology of herbivorous insects, affecting host growth and adaptation. However, the effects of host identity on the symbiotic microbiota of gall-inducing insects remain less explored. In this study, we utilized high-throughput sequencing to investigate the effects of different oak hosts on the structure and diversity of the symbiotic microbial community in the asexual larvae of the gall-inducing wasp Trichagalma acutissimae. Host plant species significantly altered the alpha and beta diversity of symbiotic microbiota of T. acutissimae. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria was the predominant microflora in both groups, with significantly higher abundance in larvae parasitizing Quercus acutissima than in those parasitizing Q. variabilis. Pseudomonas, which has been identified as responsible for tannin decomposition, was the most dominant genus in T. acutissimae larvae infesting both hosts. LEfSe analysis revealed substantial differences in the symbiotic microbial communities between the two hosts while also highlighting some commonalities. Functional prediction analysis indicated no significant difference in the functional roles of symbiotic bacteria between larvae infesting the two hosts. These findings suggest that the symbiotic microbiome of T. acutissimae larvae is influenced by host plant species, yet different microbial compositions may perform similar functions, implying the potential role of symbiotic microbiota in the adaptation to high-tannin oak leaves. This research enhances our understanding of the symbiotic relationship between forest pests and their associated microbes.},
}
@article {pmid40725114,
year = {2025},
author = {Wilgan, R},
title = {Phylogenetic Determinants Behind the Ecological Traits of Relic Tree Family Juglandaceae, Their Root-Associated Symbionts, and Response to Climate Change.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {40725114},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {N.A.//Institute of Dendrology Polish Academy of Sciences/ ; 2020/37/N/NZ8/01403//National Science Center/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Phylogeny ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics ; *Climate Change ; *Trees/microbiology/genetics ; },
abstract = {Dual mycorrhizal symbiosis, i.e., the association with both arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts, is an ambiguous phenomenon concurrently considered as common among various genetic lineages of trees and a result of bias in data analyses. Recent studies have shown that the ability to form dual mycorrhizal associations is a distinguishing factor for the continental-scale invasion of alien tree species. However, the phylogenetic mechanisms that drive it remain unclear. In this study, all the evidence on root-associated symbionts of Juglandaceae from South and North America, Asia, and Europe was combined and re-analysed following current knowledge and modern molecular-based identification methods. The Juglandaceae family was revealed to represent a specific pattern of symbiotic interactions that are rare among deciduous trees and absent among conifers. Closely related phylogenetic lineages of trees usually share the same type of symbiosis, but Juglandaceae contains several possible ones concurrently. The hyperdiversity of root symbionts of Juglandaceae, unlike other tree families, was concurrently found in Central and North America, Asia, and Europe, indicating its phylogenetic determinants, which endured geographical isolation. However, for many Juglandaceae, including the invasive Juglans and Pterocarya species, this was never studied or was studied only with outdated methods. Further molecular research on root symbionts of Juglandaceae, providing long sequences and high taxonomic resolutions, is required to explain their ecological roles.},
}
@article {pmid40724547,
year = {2025},
author = {Golaz, D and Bürgi, L and Egli, M and Bigler, L and Pessi, G},
title = {The Siderophore Phymabactin Facilitates the Growth of the Legume Symbiont Paraburkholderia phymatum in Aluminium-Rich Martian Soil.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40724547},
issn = {2075-1729},
support = {310030_215282/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; 4000144510//prodex/ ; },
abstract = {Beneficial interactions between nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria and legumes offer a solution to increase crop yield on Earth and potentially in future Martian colonies. Paraburkholderia phymatum is a nitrogen-fixing beta-rhizobium, which enters symbiosis with more than 50 legumes and can survive in acidic or aluminium-rich soils. In a previous RNA-sequencing study, we showed that the beta-rhizobium P. phymatum grows well in simulated microgravity and identified phymabactin as the only siderophore produced by this strain. Here, the growth of the beta-rhizobium P. phymatum was assessed in Martian simulant soil using Enhanced Mojave Mars Simulant 2 (MMS-2), which contains a high amount of iron (18.4 percent by weight) and aluminium (13.1 percent by weight). While P. phymatum wild-type's growth was not affected by exposure to MMS-2, a mutant strain impaired in siderophore biosynthesis (ΔphmJK) grew less than P. phymatum wild-type on gradient plates in the presence of a high concentration of MMS-2 or aluminium. This result suggests that the P. phymatum siderophore phymabactin alleviates aluminium-induced heavy metal stress. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) showed that phymabactin can bind to aluminium more efficiently than iron. These results not only deepen our understanding of the behaviour of rhizobia in simulated extraterrestrial environments but also provide new insights into the potential use of P. phymatum for bioremediation of aluminium-rich soils and the multiple roles of the siderophore phymabactin.},
}
@article {pmid40724335,
year = {2025},
author = {Cánovas, BM and Pérez-Novas, I and García-Viguera, C and Domínguez-Perles, R and Medina, S},
title = {Assessment of Winery By-Products as Ingredients as a Base of "3S" (Safe, Salubrious, and Sustainable) Fermented Beverages Rich in Bioactive Anthocyanins.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {40724335},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {PRTR-C17.I1//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; PID2023-148254OB-C21 (FERMISANO) funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by "ERDF/EU"//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; 22300/FPI/23//Fundaci&#xf3;n S&#xe9;neca-Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnolog&#xed;a de la Regi&#xf3;n de Murcia/ ; },
abstract = {Oenological residues may cause environmental pollution when processing does not significantly reduce volume and/or harmful conditions. The lack of proper valorisation alternatives entails high disposal costs and resource inefficiency that jeopardise the sustainability and competitiveness of the industry. Interestingly, wine by-products are underappreciated sources of multipurpose bioactive compounds, such as anthocyanins, associated with health benefits. Alternatively, transforming oenological by-products into valuable co-products will promote sustainability and thus, create new business opportunities. In this context, the present study has assessed the applicability of winery by-products (grape pomace and wine lees) as ingredients to develop new functional kombucha-analogous beverages "3S" (safe, salubrious, and sustainable) by the Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY). Concerning the main results, during the kombucha's development, the fermentation reactions modified the physicochemical parameters of the beverages, namely pH, total soluble solids, acetic acid, ethanol, and sugars, which remained stable throughout the monitored shelf-life period considered (21 days). The fermented beverages obtained exhibited high anthocyanin concentration, especially when using wine lees as an ingredient (up to 5.60 mg/L at the end of the aerobic fermentation period (10 days)) compared with the alternative beverages produced using grape pomace (1.69 mg/L). These findings demonstrated that using winery by-products for the development of new "3S" fermented beverages would provide a dietary source of bioactive compounds (mainly anthocyanins), further supporting new valorisation chances and thus contributing to the competitiveness and sustainability of the winery industries. This study opens a new avenue for cross-industry innovation, merging fermentation traditions with a new eco-friendly production of functional beverages that contribute to transforming oenological residues into valuable co-products.},
}
@article {pmid40723480,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, C and Ding, F},
title = {Analysis of the Alterations in Symbiotic Microbiota and Their Correlation with Intestinal Metabolites in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Under Heat Stress Conditions.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {15},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {40723480},
issn = {2076-2615},
abstract = {Global warming represents one of the most pressing environmental challenges to cold-water fish farming. Heat stress markedly alters the mucosal symbiotic microbiota and intestinal microbial metabolites in fish, posing substantial barriers to the healthy artificial breeding of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). However, the relationship between mucosal commensal microbiota, intestinal metabolites, and host environmental adaptability under heat stress remains poorly understood. In this study, rainbow trout reared at optimal temperature (16 °C) served as controls, while those exposed to maximum tolerated temperature (24 °C, 21 d) comprised the heat stress group. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), we analysed the mucosal commensal microbiota-including gastrointestinal digesta, gastrointestinal mucosa, skin mucus, and gill mucosa-and intestinal metabolites of rainbow trout under heat stress conditions to explore adaptive and regulatory mechanisms. Analysis of microbial composition and diversity revealed that heat stress exerted the greatest impact on the diversity of gill and skin mucus microbiota, followed by gastrointestinal digesta, with relatively minor effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were predominant in the stomach, intestine, and surface mucosa. At the genus level, Acinetobacter showed the greatest increase in abundance in skin and gill mucosa under heat stress, while Enterobacteriaceae exhibited the most pronounced increase in intestinal digesta, gastric digesta, and gastric mucosa. Differential metabolites in the intestinal digesta under heat stress were predominantly enriched in pathways associated with amino acid metabolism, particularly tryptophan metabolism. This study provides a comprehensive characterisation of microbiota and metabolic profile alterations in rainbow trout under heat stress condition, offering a theoretical foundation for understanding the response mechanisms of fish commensal microbiota to thermal stress.},
}
@article {pmid40723436,
year = {2025},
author = {Maimaitiyiming, M and Huang, Y and Jia, L and Wu, M and Chen, Z},
title = {Epichloë Endophyte Alters Bacterial Nitrogen-Cycling Gene Abundance in the Rhizosphere Soil of Perennial Ryegrass.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40723436},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {2014CB138702//National Basic Research Program of China/ ; 32201445//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021M701525//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; IRT17R50//Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University, China/ ; 22JR5RA532//Gansu Provincial Youth Science and Technology Fund Program/ ; 22JR5RA434//Gansu Province Outstanding Doctoral Students Project/ ; B12002//111 Project (B12002)/ ; },
abstract = {Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), an important forage and turfgrass species, can establish a mutualistic symbiosis with the fungal endophyte Epichloë festucae var. lolii. Although the physiological and ecological impacts of endophyte infection on ryegrass have been extensively investigated, the response of the soil microbial community and nitrogen-cycling gene to this relationship has received much less attention. The present study emphasized abundance and diversity variation in the AOB-amoA, nirK and nosZ functional genes in the rhizosphere soil of the endophyte-ryegrass symbiosis following litter addition. We sampled four times: at T0 (prior to first litter addition), T1 (post 120 d of 1st litter addition), T2 (post 120 d of 2nd litter addition) and T3 (post 120 d of 3rd litter addition) times. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) and PCR amplification and sequencing were used to characterize the abundance and diversity of the AOB-amoA, nirK and nosZ genes in rhizosphere soils of endophyte-infected (E+) plants and endophyte-free (E-) plants. A significant enhancement of total Phosphorus (P), Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Ammonium ion (NH4[+]) and Nitrate ion (NO3[-]) contents in the rhizosphere soil was recorded in endophyte-infected plants at different sampling times compared to endophyte-free plants (p ≤ 0.05). The absolute abundance of the AOB-amoA gene at T0 and T1 times was higher, as was the absolute abundance of the nosZ gene at T0, T1 and T3 times in the E+ plant rhizophere soils relative to E- plant rhizosphere soils. A significant change in relative abundance of the AOB-amoA and nosZ genes in the host rhizophere soils of endophyte-infected plants at T1 and T3 times was observed. The experiment failed to show any significant alteration in abundance and diversity of the nirK gene, and diversity of the AOB-amoA and nosZ genes. Analysis of the abundance and diversity of the nirK gene indicated that changes in soil properties accounted for approximately 70.38% of the variation along the first axis and 16.69% along the second axis, and soil NH4[+] (p = 0.002, 50.4%) and soil C/P ratio (p = 0.012, 15.8%) had a strong effect. The changes in community abundance and diversity of the AOB-amoA and nosZ genes were mainly related to soil pH, N/P ratio and NH4[+] content. The results demonstrate that the existence of tripartite interactions among the foliar endophyte E. festucae var. Lolii, L. perenne and soil nitrogen-cycling gene has important implications for reducing soil losses on N.},
}
@article {pmid40723404,
year = {2025},
author = {Fan, Y and Tian, M and Hu, D and Xiong, Y},
title = {Exploring the Biocultural Nexus of Gastrodia elata in Zhaotong: A Pathway to Ecological Conservation and Economic Growth.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40723404},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {81960654//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 101520250000030//the Yunnan Minzu University Talent Introduction Program/ ; },
abstract = {Gastrodia elata, known as Tianma in Chinese, is a valuable medicinal and nutritional resource. The favorable climate of Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, China, facilitates its growth and nurtures rich biocultural diversity associated with Tianma in the region. Local people not only cultivate Tianma as a traditional crop but have also developed a series of traditional knowledge related to its cultivation, processing, medicinal use, and culinary applications. In this study, field surveys employing ethnobotanical methods were conducted in Yiliang County, Zhaotong City, from August 2020 to May 2024, focusing on Tianma. A total of 114 key informants participated in semi-structured interviews. The survey documented 23 species (and forms) from seven families related to Tianma cultivation. Among them, there were five Gastrodia resource taxa, including one original species, and four forms. These 23 species served as either target cultivated species, symbiotic fungi (promoting early-stage Gastrodia germination), or fungus-cultivating wood. The Fagaceae family, with 10 species, was the most dominant, as its dense, starch-rich wood decomposes slowly, providing Armillaria with a long-term, stable nutrient substrate. The cultural importance (CI) statistics revealed that Castanea mollissima, G. elata, G. elata f. flavida, G. elata f. glauca, G. elata f. viridis, and Xuehong Tianma (unknown form) exhibited relatively high CI values, indicating their crucial cultural significance and substantial value within the local community. In local communities, traditionally processed dried Tianma tubers are mainly used to treat cardiovascular diseases and also serve as a culinary ingredient, with its young shoots and tubers incorporated into dishes such as cold salads and stewed chicken. To protect the essential ecological conditions for Tianma, the local government has implemented forest conservation measures. The sustainable development of the Tianma industry has alleviated poverty, protected biodiversity, and promoted local economic growth. As a distinctive plateau specialty of Zhaotong, Tianma exemplifies how biocultural diversity contributes to ecosystem services and human well-being. This study underscores the importance of biocultural diversity in ecological conservation and the promotion of human welfare.},
}
@article {pmid40721058,
year = {2025},
author = {Gerlin, L and Gaget, K and Lapetoule, G and Quivet, Y and Baa-Puyoulet, P and Rahioui, I and Lopes, MR and Da Silva, P and Calevro, F and Charles, H},
title = {Quantifying supply and demand in the pea aphid-Buchnera symbiosis reveals the metabolic Achilles' heels of this interaction.},
journal = {Metabolic engineering},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ymben.2025.07.011},
pmid = {40721058},
issn = {1096-7184},
abstract = {Many herbivorous insects feed on unbalanced diets and rely on bacterial endosymbionts to meet all their nutritional needs. This is the case for the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), a plant pest whose remarkable growth and reproductive capacities cannot be sustained by its sole nutritional resource, the plant phloem sap, and which relies on a symbiotic relationship maintained over millions of years with the intracellular bacterium Buchnera aphidicola for the biosynthesis of amino acids and vitamins. Exploiting original experimental data and metabolic reconstructions, we have built a quantitative genome-scale metabolic model of B. aphidicola and used it to quantify amino acid exchanges between the bacterium and its host. We found metabolites that can rewire pathways, influencing the balance between selfish (growth-focused) and mutualist (amino acid synthesis) behavior. Among the products synthesized by Buchnera, phenylalanine, tyrosine and leucine are the main matter sinks and consume more than 60% of imported glucose and serine. Finally, we compared the predicted bacterial supply to the aphid demand in amino acids. We found that the pea aphid may efficiently regulate its symbiont population density depending on its metabolic requirements, but that embryos are quantitatively not self-sustaining, with embryonic bacteria supply falling short of demand by 50%. Overall, our study highlights candidate compounds and pathways to target for destabilizing this symbiosis or predicting its resilience to environmental or nutritional perturbations.},
}
@article {pmid40716373,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Z and Lei, J and Yang, R and Cheng, L and Du, Y and Zhang, Y and Wang, J and Liu, Y},
title = {An artificial intelligence modeling framework based on microbial community structure prediction enhances the pollutant removal efficiency of the algae-bacteria granular sludge system.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {392},
number = {},
pages = {126648},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126648},
pmid = {40716373},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Algae-bacteria granular sludge (ABGS) technology is a new energy-saving and low-carbon water treatment technology based on the algae-bacteria symbiotic system. However, due to its complex internal microbial system, the regulation mechanism of ABGS is unclear. To address this issue, the present study constructed a two-stage optimal control model for the ABGS system, which includes prediction of microbial community structure and planning of pollutant removal efficiency. This model enabled intelligent optimization of the system's pollutant removal efficiency through the regulation of operational parameters. In the first stage, seven machine learning (ML) algorithms were compared to predict the succession process of microbial community structure under the different conditions (R[2] > 0.94). In the second stage, six ML algorithms were compared to predict the pollutant removal efficiency of the ABGS system, combining regulatory indicators and microbial community structure (R[2] > 0.94). Finally, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm was used to integrate the prediction models of the two stages, and the microbial community structure was selectively shaped to enhance the removal efficiency of any two of the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus pollutants in the ABGS system (removal rate >90 %). The results of this study provided a universally applicable and quantitative intelligent guidance model for the performance optimization of ABGS technology and other biological systems.},
}
@article {pmid40719630,
year = {2025},
author = {Kelleher, LA and Ramalho, MO},
title = {Impact of rising temperatures on the bacterial communities of Aphaenogaster ants.},
journal = {Biology open},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1242/bio.062145},
pmid = {40719630},
issn = {2046-6390},
support = {//The Ohio State University/ ; },
abstract = {Studies have shown that biodiversity will be impacted by global climate change, with the effect on ants just beginning to be documented. The influence on ant symbiotic bacterial communities remains understudied. Aphaenogaster Mayr, 1853, are seed-dispersing ants in deciduous forests and their bacterial communities have just been uncovered; however, much is unknown. We aim to determine the impact that warming temperatures will have on Aphaenogaster survival and on their bacterial communities. Ants from four colonies were collected from West Chester, PA, USA and entire colonies were subjected to a control temperature (22°C). After 6-12 months, the same colonies were subjected to an experimental temperature (32°C). DNA was then extracted from ants of all development stages and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced following the NGS amplicon approach. The findings revealed that Aphaenogaster ant mortality rates increased, and their symbiotic bacterial communities changed in warmer temperatures. This resulted in a decrease in the presence of Wolbachia spp. and an increase in the presence of Corynebacterium sp. This study reveals important information about the impact of warming temperature on Aphaenogaster ants, and we suggest methods to help protect these ants and other insects in the future.},
}
@article {pmid40718908,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, G and Zhang, Y and Jin, C and Jia, Y},
title = {Ultrasound-CT Symbiosis in Pediatric Lung Abscess Volume Tracking.},
journal = {Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/jum.70015},
pmid = {40718908},
issn = {1550-9613},
}
@article {pmid40717827,
year = {2024},
author = {Hui, F and Lin, YT and Perez, M and Qiu, JW and Sun, Y},
title = {A New Species of Natsushima (Annelida: Chrysopetalidae) Living in the Mantle Cavity of a Deep-Sea Solemyid Clam.},
journal = {Zoological studies},
volume = {63},
number = {},
pages = {e41},
pmid = {40717827},
issn = {1810-522X},
abstract = {Natsushima is a genus of deep-sea Chrysopetalidae (Annelida) characterized by numerous bifurcate chaetae. It is poorly known, with three species living in the mantle cavity of bivalves in chemosynthetic habitats. Here we describe Natsushima nanhaiensis n. sp. based on an integrative morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis of specimens collected from the Haima cold seep in the South China Sea. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished from its congeneric species by the shape and number of the neuropodial hooks and bifurcate chaetae, the shape of the parapodia, and the long dorsal cirri. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA gene sequences supported the placement of Natsushima nanhaiensis n. sp. in Natsushima and its status as a distinct species. We also present a key to species of Natsushima and discuss their biogeography.},
}
@article {pmid40717644,
year = {2025},
author = {Gobetti, A and Cornacchia, G and Tomasoni, G and Ramorino, G},
title = {The environmental benefits of industrial symbiosis: A case study on substituting sand with steel slag as filler in epoxy mortar.},
journal = {Waste management &amp; research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {734242X251350543},
doi = {10.1177/0734242X251350543},
pmid = {40717644},
issn = {1096-3669},
abstract = {Electric arc furnace (EAF) slag, a by-product of steelmaking commonly utilized as artificial aggregate, still faces significant landfilling despite extensive reuse. This study explores sustainable alternatives to minimize landfilling by investigating the environmental benefits of incorporating EAF slag as filler in epoxy mortar, as a substitute for a natural material such as river sand. Experimental results demonstrate that slag-filled mortar exhibits comparable or superior mechanical performance to sand-filled mortar, making it a technically feasible substitute. Moreover, the heavy metals leaching of slag, which is one of the major concerns about the reuse of this material, is reduced thanks to the incorporation into the polymeric matrix, ensuring a safe reuse. To quantify these sustainability benefits, a comparative life cycle assessment is conducted for two scenarios involving the production of a functional unit of 1 m[2] of epoxy mortar, typically applied in epoxy screeds, using sand or slag at equal volume fraction. Scenario 1 encompasses slag landfilling and sand extraction, while scenario 2 involves slag reuse as a filler, avoiding landfilling and sand extraction. Life cycle impact assessment using the Environmental Footprint 3.0 method reveals across-the-board reductions. The majority of analyzed impact categories experience a reduction of over 90% attributed to the avoidance of slag disposal and landfill inertization. Overall, reusing slag as an epoxy filler presents significant sustainability benefits compared to disposal, promoting the adoption of this industrial symbiosis application.},
}
@article {pmid40717481,
year = {2025},
author = {Larkin, J and Kassam, R and Crow, W and Hajihassani, A},
title = {Exploring the diversity of turfgrass-associated entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria for root-knot and sting nematode biocontrol.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70077},
pmid = {40717481},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//US Department of agriculture/ ; 2022-51102-38143//Methyl Bromide Transitions Program/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic bacteria from the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus associated with Steinernema and Heterorhabditis entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), respectively, show nematicidal properties against plant-parasitic nematodes. This study investigated the diversity of EPNs in Floridian turfgrass systems and the effect of secondary metabolites of their symbiotic bacteria against grass root-knot (Meloidogyne graminis) and sting (Belonolaimus longicaudatus) nematodes, major pests in turfgrass systems.<br><br>RESULTS: Six isolates of H.&#x2009;indica, four of S.&#x2009;glaseri, and two of S.&#x2009;diaprepesi were isolated and identified molecularly from three turfgrass locations. Additionally, their symbiotic bacteria, X.&#x2009;poinarii, X.&#x2009;griffiniae, X.&#x2009;doucetiae, X.&#x2009;indica, P.&#x2009;akhurstii and P. luminescens were isolated and molecularly identified. Nematicidal efficacy of bacterial secondary metabolites (crude extracts) was tested against M.&#x2009;graminis and B.&#x2009;longicaudatus nematodes in vitro. Bioassays demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in nematode mortality. The isolates X.&#x2009;poinarii 733 and X.&#x2009;griffiniae 1050 exhibited high mortality against M.&#x2009;graminis after 24, 48 and 72&#x2009;h of exposure at 25% concentration (>87%) (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). In addition to these isolates, two others, P.&#x2009;akhurstii 846 and P.&#x2009;luminescens 1189, exhibited high mortality (44-100%) against B.&#x2009;longicaudatus after 72&#x2009;h at 25%, 50% and 100% concentrations (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05).<br><br>CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Florida turfgrass soils harbor a high diversity of EPNs and associated bacteria. Furthermore, our results suggest for the first time that Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus-derived secondary metabolites offer a promising biocontrol approach for managing M.&#x2009;graminis and B.&#x2009;longicaudatus. &#xa9; 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}
@article {pmid40714542,
year = {2025},
author = {Cáceres-Mago, K and Salazar, MJ and Becerra, AG},
title = {Glomalin-related soil protein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: its role in Pb stabilization at heavily contaminated sites.},
journal = {Chemosphere},
volume = {385},
number = {},
pages = {144589},
doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144589},
pmid = {40714542},
issn = {1879-1298},
abstract = {Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plays a key role in stabilizing potentially toxic elements. This study evaluated the impact of Pb contamination on GRSP content in rhizosphere soil and its contribution to Pb binding at heavily contaminated sites. AMF colonization, spore density, and AMF species richness and diversity were also assessed. Additionally, methodological tests were conducted to evaluate the suitability of protocols for quantifying the amount of Pb bound to GRSP. Soil and root samples were collected from three dominant plant species at 20 locations near an abandoned Pb smelter, along with three uncontaminated locations. A Pb concentration gradient (149.28-77,588.77 mg kg[-1]) was identified. GRSP, classified into easily extractable (EE-GRSP: 0.46-1.75 mg g[-1]) and total (T-GRSP: 1.22-3.89 mg g[-1]), was detected at all sites. GRSP content was not directly affected by Pb contamination, but showed a positive association with AMF richness and diversity. The abundance of the morphospecies Acaulospora rehmii, A. scrobiculata, Entrophospora infrequens, Funneliformis geosporus, and Racocetra fulgida correlated positively with T-GRSP. Reliable quantification of Pb bound to GRSP required protein precipitation followed by dialysis. Pb bound to T-GRSP (2.03-548.54 mg g[-1]) increased with soil Pb, while the percentage of soil Pb retained by GRSP decreased (23.13-1.04 %). Nevertheless, the same amount of T-GRSP bound 77 times more Pb in the most contaminated location compared to the least. Therefore, enhancing the GRSP pool, particularly through AMF morphospecies related to higher GRSP content, may be a key strategy for AMF-assisted phytoremediation.},
}
@article {pmid40713930,
year = {2025},
author = {Escudero-Leyva, E and Belle, M and DadkhahTehrani, A and Culver, JN and Araya-Salas, M and Kutza, JP and Goldson, N and Chavarría, M and Chaverri, P},
title = {Genomic insights reveal community structure and phylogenetic associations of endohyphal bacteria and viruses in fungal endophytes.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {95},
pmid = {40713930},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {IOS-2321265//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS-2321265//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS-2321265//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS-2321265//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS-2321265//National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endohyphal microbial communities, composed of bacteria and viruses residing within fungal hyphae, play important roles in shaping fungal phenotypes, host interactions, and ecological functions. While endohyphal bacteria have been shown to influence fungal pathogenicity, secondary metabolism, and adaptability, much remains unknown about their diversity and host specificity. Even less is known about endohyphal viruses, whose ecological roles and evolutionary dynamics are poorly understood. This study integrates genomic and transcriptomic approaches to (1) characterize the diversity of endohyphal bacterial and viral communities in fungal endophytes isolated from Fagus grandifolia leaves, and (2) assess potential host specialization through phylogenetic signal analyses.<br><br>RESULTS: We analyzed 19 fungal isolates spanning eight fungal orders (Amphisphaeriales, Botryosphaeriales, Diaporthales, Glomerellales, Mucorales, Pleosporales, Sordariales, and Xylariales). Bacterial communities were highly diverse and showed significant phylogenetic signal, with core taxa-such as Bacillales, Burkholderiales, Enterobacterales, Hyphomicrobiales, and Pseudomonadales-shared across hosts. Several bacterial groups were associated with specific fungal orders, suggesting host specialization: Moraxellales, Sphingomonadales, and Streptosporangiaceae in Amphisphaeriales; Enterobacterales, Hyphomicrobiales, and Micrococcales in Glomerellales; and Cytophagales in Diaporthales. In contrast, viral communities were less diverse and dominated by double-stranded DNA viruses, primarily Bamfordvirae and Heunggongvirae. No core viral taxa were detected in metatranscriptomic data, and only a few reads of double-stranded RNA viruses were found.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results indicate potential host specialization in bacterial endophytes and limited viral diversity in fungal hosts, with dsDNA viruses dominating the endohyphal virome. These findings provide new insights into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of fungal-associated microbiota. Future work expanding taxonomic reference databases and exploring the functional roles of these microbial symbionts will be essential to understanding their contributions to fungal biology, host interactions, and broader ecosystem processes.},
}
@article {pmid40712359,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Li, S and Song, X and Bartlam, M and Wang, Y},
title = {Differential responses of bacterial and archaeal communities to biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics in river.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {496},
number = {},
pages = {139327},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139327},
pmid = {40712359},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Microplastics are widespread environmental pollutants that pose risks to ecosystems, yet their effects on bacterial and archaeal communities in aquatic ecosystems remain understudied. In this study, we performed a 14-day microcosm experiment combined with metagenomic sequencing to compare bacterial and archaeal responses to a biodegradable microplastic (polylactic acid, PLA) and a non-biodegradable microplastic (polyvinyl chloride, PVC). Microplastics selectively enriched distinct microbial assemblages, with Pseudomonadota and Euryarchaeota identified as the dominant bacterial and archaeal phyla, accounting for 67.83 % and 15.95 %, respectively. Archaeal community in surrounding water were more sensitive to colonization time than bacterial community. Compared to the surrounding water, the plastisphere displayed simpler and more loosely connected microbial networks. Notably, co-occurrence networks of both bacteria and archaea in the PVC plastisphere were predominantly shaped by symbiotic interactions. Both bacteria and archaea carried diverse antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), but PLS-PM indicated that bacteria were the primary drivers of ARG dissemination (path coefficient = 0.952). While the PVC plastisphere showed higher ARG abundance than the PLA plastisphere, elevated intI1 expression in the PLA plastisphere suggests a potentially greater risk of ARG dissemination associated with PLA microplastics. These findings reveal the distinct effects of PLA and PVC microplastics on microbial communities and highlight the role of microplastics in ARG dissemination, emphasizing their ecological risks in aquatic ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40712336,
year = {2025},
author = {Thirunavukkarasu, S and Rajendran, P and Hwang, JS},
title = {Adaptations of Xenograpsus testudinatus to shallow hydrothermal vent environments in the western Pacific: A comprehensive review.},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {221},
number = {},
pages = {118467},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118467},
pmid = {40712336},
issn = {1879-3363},
abstract = {The grapsoid crab Xenograpsus testudinatus, Ng et al. (2000) inhabits unique ecosystems of active shallow-water hydrothermal vents of the western Pacific volcanic rises as the dominant vent metazoan. This species provides a valuable model to explore population expansion, evolutionary ecology, metabolic regulation, genetic adaptation, and meta-population dynamics. A comprehensive literature review revealed that X. testudinatus, a dominant vent metazoan, has evolved robust metabolic strategies driven by mechanisms of acid-base regulation, allowing it to preserve its eco-physiological balance under extreme conditions. The species' physiology and metabolism are intricately linked to symbiotic relationships with beneficial microbiomes, which play a crucial role in its adaptive strategies. The genetic masterpiece of the genomic constitution of vent crabs showed extreme sulfur toxic tolerance through a specified genetic mechanism to H2S detoxification through epithelial and pillar cells of the gill filaments. Furthermore, the isotopic analyses of δ[13]C and δ1[5]N values suggest extensive ingestion of dead zooplankton with microbes forming marine snow in the shallow vents, facilitating a highly efficient recycling trophic system. The overall review highlights critical advancements in our understanding of the eco-physiology, symbiotic relationships, and evolutionary adaptations of marine organisms thriving in one of the earth's most extreme environments.},
}
@article {pmid40711997,
year = {2025},
author = {Hansen, AK and Percy, DM and Mao, S and Degnan, PH},
title = {Effect of oceanic islands on an insect symbiont genome in transition to a host-restricted lifestyle.},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/gbe/evaf153},
pmid = {40711997},
issn = {1759-6653},
abstract = {Islands offer unique opportunities to study adaptive radiations and their impacts on host genome evolution. In Hawaiian Pariaconus psyllids, all species harbor the ancient nutritional symbiont Carsonella, while only free-living and open-gall species on younger islands host a second stable co-symbiont, Makana. In contrast, a third co-symbiont, Malihini, appears to be in an early-stage of host restriction and genome degradation, making it a valuable model for understanding symbiont evolution during island radiations. Here, we examine Malihini genome evolution across multiple Pariaconus lineages using 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomics, phylogenetic reconstruction, and microscopy. We find that Malihini is co-diversifying with its hosts on the oldest island Kaua'i (kamua group; open- and closed-gall makers) and on the younger islands only in free-living species (bicoloratus group). Comparison of five Malihini genomes-including three newly assembled in this study-shows ongoing genome reduction from a large-genome ancestor (>3,900 protein-coding genes), likely driven by relaxed selection, vertical transmission bottlenecks, and island dispersal over the past 5-million-years. On Kaua'i, the galling psyllids appear to depend more heavily on co-symbiont (Malihini) for the biosynthesis of amino acids and B-vitamins than galling species on younger islands-especially closed-gall species, which only have Carsonella. Surprisingly, free-living psyllids on younger islands with all three symbionts, show metabolic reliance similar to Kaua'i gall-makers. Together, our results demonstrate that island biogeography and host plant ecology shape symbiont losses and co-diversification patterns. Malihini represents an early-stage of symbiont genome degradation during host restriction, in sharp contrast to its more stable co-residents, Carsonella and Makana.},
}
@article {pmid40711302,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, Y and Jin, F and Wang, L and Cheng, J and Pan, S},
title = {Role of Gut Microbiota and Metabolite Remodeling on the Development and Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Narrative Review.},
journal = {Veterinary sciences},
volume = {12},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40711302},
issn = {2306-7381},
support = {32072809//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; BK20211119//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; G2023014067L//National Foreign Experts Project (High-end Foreign Experts Introduction Programs of Ministry of Science and Technology)/ ; 22-R-17//Open Fund of Meat Processing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province/ ; SJCX23_2016//Research and Practice Innovation Plan for Postgraduates in Jiangsu Province/ ; 202411117163Y//Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students of Higher Education In-stitutions in Jiangsu Province/ ; SBJC23007//Special Project of Cross-cooperation of Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital/ ; },
abstract = {Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that has a serious impact on both human health and animal production. The gut microbiota is a large and complex symbiotic ecosystem in animals, and the imbalance of gut microbiota is closely related to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including RA. The interactions among the gut microbiota, intestinal barrier, and immune system play key roles in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and affecting the development of RA. Regulating intestinal flora and metabolites provides new ideas for the prevention and treatment of RA. Probiotics can regulate the balance of intestinal flora and metabolites, improve the immune environment, and provide novel therapeutic strategies against RA. In order to summarize the role of gut microbiota and metabolite remodeling in the development and management of RA, this review will elaborate on the role of intestinal flora imbalance in the pathogenesis of RA and assess prospective therapeutic approaches that target the gut flora. Understanding the interaction among intestinal flora, metabolites, and RA will help to clarify the pathogenesis of RA and develop innovative and personalized therapeutic interventions against chronic autoimmune diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40709927,
year = {2025},
author = {De Santiago, A and Barnes, SJ and Pereira, TJ and Marcelino-Barros, M and Bik, HM and Thrash, JC},
title = {Complete genome sequences of two Pseudoalteromonas undina strains isolated from a marine nematode (Oncholaimidae) collected at Tybee Island.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {e0041925},
pmid = {40709927},
issn = {2576-098X},
support = {T32 GM142623/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 9326//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Pseudoalteromonas is known to form symbiotic relationships with various marine invertebrates, but association with nematodes has not been well-explored. Here, we report the genome sequences of two Pseudoalteromonas strains isolated from a predatory marine nematode (Oncholaimidae) collected from Tybee Island, GA, that will facilitate the study of nematode-bacterial interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40708922,
year = {2025},
author = {Long, XN and Zhang, XK and Wu, Y and Tang, SS and Zheng, TX and Chen, D and Cao, GH and Zhou, XH and He, S},
title = {Diversity and functional roles of endophytic and rhizospheric microorganisms in Ophioglossum vulgatum L.: implications for bioactive compound synthesis.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1618667},
pmid = {40708922},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ophioglossum vulgatum L. is a widely utilized medicinal plant, with the entire plant being used for medicinal purposes. This study systematically characterized the endophytic and rhizospheric community structure, taxonomic diversity, and symbiotic networks within distinct compartments of O. vulgatum, while evaluating their potential associations with the accumulation of pharmacologically active metabolites.<br><br>METHODS: Endophytic and rhizospheric community profiling was conducted via Illumina sequencing, while bioactive compounds were identified using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS.<br><br>RESULTS: Roots and leaves harbored beneficial bacteria (e.g., Methylobacterium, Streptomyces, Sphingomonas, and Flavobacterium). Dominant fungi included Archaeorhizomyces (rhizosphere soil) and Homophron (roots/leaves). Dark septate endophytes (DSEs; e.g., Cladosporium, Cladophialophora, and Chaetomium) were abundant across rhizosphere soil, roots, and leaves. Alpha/beta diversity analyses showed higher microbial richness in rhizosphere soil than in plant tissues. Functional predictions (PICRUSt2/FUNGuild) linked endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria to metabolism, human diseases, and biological systems. Network analysis highlighted Basidiomycota as keystone taxa, with modular community structure. Functional predictions revealed that endophytic and rhizospheric microorganisms were associated with critical metabolic pathways, particularly in the biosynthesis of flavonoids and alkaloids (primary bioactive compounds). LEFSe analyses highlighted compartment-specific biomarkers: Acidobacteria, Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota were enriched in distinct zones (rhizosphere, roots, and leaves), with Actinobacteria exhibiting highly significant correlations (P < 0.01) with flavonoids, lipids, and quinones, while Acidobacteria, Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota were strongly linked to steroids and tannins (P < 0.05).<br><br>CONCLUSION: The diversity and abundance of microbial communities in O. vulgatum exhibited tissue-specific and rhizosphere-dependent variations, with distinct patterns strongly correlating to bioactive compound accumulation. Notably, biomarker taxa including Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota demonstrated robust microbe-metabolite interactions, suggesting their critical regulatory role in biosynthesis pathways. These findings establish endophytic-rhizospheric microbiota as key biosynthetic modulators, proposing innovative approaches for enhancing phytochemical production through targeted microbial community manipulation.},
}
@article {pmid40708921,
year = {2025},
author = {Umanzor, EF and Kelly, SE and Ravenscraft, A and Matsuura, Y and Hunter, MS},
title = {The facultative intracellular symbiont Lariskella is neutral for lifetime fitness and spreads through cytoplasmic incompatibility in the leaffooted bug, Leptoglossus zonatus.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1595917},
pmid = {40708921},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The maternally-inherited, intracellular bacterium Lariskella (Alphaproteobacteria: Midichloreaceae) has been widely detected in arthropods including true bugs, beetles, a wasp, a moth, and pathogen-vectoring fleas and ticks. Despite its prevalence, its role in the biology of its hosts has been unknown. We set out to determine the role of this symbiont in the leaffooted bug, Leptoglossus zonatus (Hempitera: Coreidae). To examine the effects of Lariskella on bug performance and reproduction as well as in possible interactions with the bug's obligate nutritional symbiont, Caballeronia, bugs were reared in a factorial experiment with both Lariskella and Caballeronia positive and negative treatments. Lifetime survival analysis (~120 days) showed significant developmental delays and decrease in survival for bugs that lacked Caballeronia, and Caballeronia-free bugs did not reproduce. However, among the Caballeronia carrying treatments, there were no significant differences in lifetime survival or reproduction in treatments with and without Lariskella, suggesting this symbiont is neutral for overall bug fitness. To test for reproductive manipulation, crossing among Lariskella-positive and negative individuals was performed. When Lariskella-negative females were mated with Lariskella positive males, fewer eggs survived early embryogenesis, consistent with a cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) phenotype. Wild L. zonatus from California and Arizona showed high but not fixed Lariskella infection rates. Within individuals, Lariskella titer was low during early development (1st-3rd instar), followed by an increase that coincided with development of reproductive tissues. Our results reveal Lariskella to be among a growing number of microbial symbionts that cause CI, a phenotype that increases the relative fitness of females harboring the symbiont. Understanding the mechanism of how Lariskella manipulates reproduction can provide insights into the evolution of reproductive manipulators and may eventually provide tools for management of hosts of Lariskella, including pathogen-vectoring ticks and fleas.},
}
@article {pmid40708668,
year = {2025},
author = {Beavers, KM and Gutierrez-Andrade, D and Van Buren, EW and Emery, MA and Brandt, ME and Apprill, A and Mydlarz, LD},
title = {Machine learning reveals distinct gene expression signatures across tissue states in stony coral tissue loss disease.},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {12},
number = {7},
pages = {241993},
pmid = {40708668},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has rapidly degraded Caribbean reefs, compounding climate-related stressors and threatening ecosystem stability. Effective intervention requires understanding the mechanisms driving disease progression and resistance. Here, we apply a supervised machine learning approach-support vector machine recursive feature elimination-combined with differential gene expression analysis to describe SCTLD in the reef-building coral Montastraea cavernosa and its dominant algal endosymbiont, Cladocopium goreaui. We analyse three tissue types: apparently healthy tissue on apparently healthy colonies, apparently healthy tissue on SCTLD-affected colonies and lesion tissue on SCTLD-affected colonies. This approach identifies genes with high classification accuracy and reveals processes associated with SCTLD resistance, such as immune regulation and lipid biosynthesis, as well as processes involved in disease progression, such as inflammation, cytoskeletal disruption and symbiosis breakdown. Our findings support evidence that SCTLD induces dysbiosis between the coral host and Symbiodiniaceae and describe the metabolic and immune shifts that occur as the holobiont transitions from healthy to diseased. This supervised machine learning methodology offers a novel approach to accurately assess the health states of endangered coral species, with potential applications in guiding targeted restoration efforts and informing early disease intervention strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40708654,
year = {2025},
author = {Bulaj, G and Forero, M and Huntsman, DD},
title = {Biophilic design, neuroarchitecture and therapeutic home environments: harnessing medicinal properties of intentionally-designed spaces to enhance digital health outcomes.},
journal = {Frontiers in medicine},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {1610259},
pmid = {40708654},
issn = {2296-858X},
abstract = {Digital health technologies (DHT) support patient-centered care by delivering behavioral, educational, self-efficacy and self-management interventions. Yet, multifactorial chronic diseases are shaped by complex interactions between genetics, environment and behavior, embodied in social and commercial determinants of health. Given that people in the United States spend on average 18 h per day at home, the impact of home environment on a person's health is underutilized in medicine. Herein, we discuss opportunities to improve therapy outcomes through bridging digital interventions with intentionally-designed restorative and multisensory environments that simultaneously foster physiological and emotional homeostasis. Harnessing positive effects of biophilic design, neuroarchitecture and therapeutic home environments can enhance the effectiveness of digital interventions, including digital therapeutics (DTx), wearables and drug + digital combination therapies that utilize "prescription drug use-related software" (PDURS) framework. Real-world barriers to advance these solutions include a lack of public awareness about connections between the built environment, health and wellbeing, the knowledge gap in long-term clinical outcomes of biophilic interventions, and a limited funding for advancing "biophilic design as an adjunctive therapy" applications. In conclusion, creating digital health ecosystems that favor symbiosis between digital health interventions and enriched environments can promote sustained behavior change, elevate precision care and improve value-based healthcare outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40708584,
year = {2025},
author = {Jin, C and Kambara, K and Fujino, K and Shimura, H},
title = {Transcriptomic and protein-protein interaction network analyses of the molecular mechanisms underlying the mycorrhizal interaction in Cypripedium macranthos var. rebunense.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1597154},
pmid = {40708584},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Orchid mycorrhizal (OM) symbiosis plays an essential role in orchid seed germination and development, but its molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored.<br><br>METHODS: To comprehensively analyze gene expression associated with early fungal colonization, transcriptome analysis of Cypripedium macranthos var. rebunense was performed using mycorrhizal tissues prepared by inoculating seedling plants with a fungus that exhibited different mycorrhizal interaction properties among subcultures.<br><br>RESULTS: Colonization with the mycorrhizal fungus induced an increased expression of orchid genes encoding enzymes involved in cell wall synthesis, degradation, and modification, as well as those encoding transporters of sugars, amino acids, nucleic acids, and other nitrogen-containing compounds. Enrichment analysis focusing on genes associated with protein-protein interactions (PPI) suggested a potential role of lectin domain-containing receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs) in the recognition of fungal colonization and the induction of cell wall-modifying enzymes and nutrient transporters required for mycorrhizal formation. Kinase genes such as MAPKKK and serine/threonine protein kinase were upregulated in tissues exhibiting continued peloton formation, whereas these genes exhibited no changes in tissues showing no peloton formation four weeks after inoculation.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These results suggest that the continuous phosphorylation signaling cascade plays a crucial role in the regulatory pathway for maintaining mycorrhizal interactions between Cypripedium and its mycorrhizal fungus.},
}
@article {pmid40708289,
year = {2025},
author = {Zheng, Z and Cai, M and Liu, H and Li, X and Xu, H and Mysore, KS and Wen, J and Staehelin, C and Downie, JA and Kong, F and Xie, F},
title = {RinRK1's extracellular domain acts as a host-specific gatekeeper for rhizobial infection in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology},
volume = {123},
number = {2},
pages = {e70340},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.70340},
pmid = {40708289},
issn = {1365-313X},
support = {2023ZD0406905//STI 2030-Major Projects/ ; YSBR-011//CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research/ ; 21XD1403900//the Program of Shanghai Academic/Technology Research Leader/ ; 21ZR1471100//the Shanghai Natural Science Fund/ ; },
mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Symbiosis ; Protein Domains ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/metabolism ; Host Specificity ; },
abstract = {Legume nodulation by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia displays strict host specificity, primarily determined by rhizobial nodulation factors (NFs). While the kinase domain of NF receptors in Lotus japonicus suffices for nodule organogenesis, their extracellular domains govern rhizobial infection. In Sinorhizobium meliloti, specific NF modifications (nodL-dependent acetylation and nodF-dependent N-linked C16:2 acyl chains) are critical for infecting certain Medicago truncatula ecotypes, with LYK2bis essential for nodL-mediated infection. However, how NF receptors discern NF modifications to enable rhizobial infection remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that M. truncatula RinRK1 (MtRinRK1) interacts with NF receptors and is indispensable for root hair infection of ecotype R108 by S. meliloti nodF nodL mutant producing modified NFs. Notably, a screen of 50 M. truncatula natural variants revealed only R108 forms functional nodules with S. meliloti nodF nodL, and we pinpointed three residues in MtRinRK1 extracellular domains essential for this infection. Despite homology with L. japonicus RinRK1 (LjRinRK1), these proteins are functionally non-interchangeable, with their extracellular domains acting as host-specific determinants. Our findings establish RinRK1 as a core regulator of NF-dependent host specificity in rhizobia infection.},
}
@article {pmid40708129,
year = {2025},
author = {Vitale, E and Feuerborn, TR and Walls, M},
title = {Human-Dog Symbiosis and Ecological Dynamics in the Arctic.},
journal = {Evolutionary anthropology},
volume = {34},
number = {3},
pages = {e70009},
pmid = {40708129},
issn = {1520-6505},
mesh = {Animals ; Arctic Regions ; Humans ; *Symbiosis ; Dogs/physiology ; *Inuit ; Archaeology ; Anthropology, Physical ; },
abstract = {Since the Late Pleistocene, humans and dogs have coevolved in the Arctic, forming a symbiotic relationship essential to survival, mobility, and adaptation. Archeological evidence shows dogs were used as traction animals by the Early Holocene, ultimately facilitating Inuit expansion and shaping Arctic settlement patterns. Despite recent declines in sled dog populations due to colonial factors, climate change, and cultural shifts, dogs remain central to Inuit identity. This paper frames the human-dog cooperation as a dynamic system of mutual learning, or enskilment, where both species acquire shared skills through collaboration. Tools like harnesses and whips serve as communicative devices within this system. Drawing on archeological and contemporary Inuit practices, the study highlights how embodied knowledge and animal agency contribute to ecological resilience. By viewing the Arctic as a co-managed landscape shaped by human-dog cooperation, the paper challenges static views of adaptation and underscores the enduring significance of this interspecies relationship.},
}
@article {pmid40707117,
year = {2025},
author = {Stock, ML and Heerema, RJ and Randall, JJ and Romero-Olivares, AL and Belteton, SA and Velasco-Cruz, C and Pietrasiak, N},
title = {Uncovering the morphological and phylogenetic diversity of mushrooms in pecan orchards in the Southwestern United States.},
journal = {Fungal biology},
volume = {129},
number = {5},
pages = {101608},
doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2025.101608},
pmid = {40707117},
issn = {1878-6146},
mesh = {*Phylogeny ; *Carya/microbiology ; *Agaricales/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/cytology ; Southwestern United States ; Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Biodiversity ; Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between pecan tree roots and mycorrhizal fungi may enhance drought and salt tolerance, nutrient absorption, and disease resistance in pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) orchards of the arid Southwestern United States. Saprotrophic fungi contribute to orchard ecosystem health by breaking down organic matter and enriching soil quality. However, we currently have limited, mostly anecdotal knowledge on mushroom-forming fungi in Southwestern pecan orchards, and studies in other regions primarily focus on ectomycorrhizal fungi. This study provides a novel mycological survey of mushroom-forming fungi (both ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic) in pecan orchards across New Mexico, Arizona, West Texas, and California. In collaboration with pecan producers, sporocarps from 31 different fungal taxa were collected for morphological, phylogenetic, and ecological analyses. UNITE and NCBI databases aided in taxon identification to construct a maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree. Common ectomycorrhizal taxa included Scleroderma species, Pisolithus tinctorius, and Tuber lyonii.Saprotrophs included Chlorophyllum molybdites, the regionally-unique Agaricus deserticola, and others. Logistic regression revealed bare soil and tree row location as significant predictors for mycorrhizal fungi presence. This study offers an inaugural characterization of mushroom-forming fungal communities in Southwestern pecan orchards and highlights their potential roles in enhancing orchard ecosystem health and resilience.},
}
@article {pmid40706114,
year = {2025},
author = {Sheng, L and Ke, S and Jiao, W and Li, Z and Zheng, Y and Tao, S and Hu, X and Fan, Z and Zhang, F and Wu, S},
title = {Sugar-inducible promoters mitigate the fitness cost of engineered Serratia marcescens in the control of Monochamus alternatus.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {300},
number = {},
pages = {128282},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128282},
pmid = {40706114},
issn = {1618-0623},
mesh = {*Serratia marcescens/genetics/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Pinus/microbiology ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology/prevention &amp; control ; Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins ; Symbiosis ; Hemolysin Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Sugars/metabolism/pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Microorganisms, Genetically-Modified/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; Endotoxins ; },
abstract = {Pine wilt disease is a devastating disorder of pine trees, vectored and transmitted by Monochamus alternatus Hope. However, vector control strategies for this disease are hampered by the resistance mechanisms of the pathogen, which hinders the long-term survival of control agents in nature. Serratia marcescens, isolated from Pinus massoniana and the gut of M. alternatus, was selected as the carrier strain for engineered bacteria in this study owing to its symbiotic nature. To realize the possibility of the long-term survival of transgenic bacteria in the gut of M. alternatus and the wild, four sugar-inducible promoters were used to construct transgenic strains. The S. marcescens strains with sugar-inducible promoters exhibited higher fitness than the constitutive strain expressing the Cry3Aa-T toxin, while maintaining a growth curve similar to that of the wild-type strain. The conditional expression of the Cry3Aa-T toxin in S. marcescens was triggered by the presence of sugar, and the lactose-induced transgenic symbiotic strain significantly reduced the survival rate of M. alternatus. Thus, this strategy may enable the engineered bacteria to effectively colonize and spread in the wild, indicating a feasible and sustainable vector control approach against M. alternatus.},
}
@article {pmid40705360,
year = {2025},
author = {Feierabend, M and Töpfer, N},
title = {In silico encounters: Harnessing metabolic modelling to understand plant-microbe interactions.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsre/fuaf030},
pmid = {40705360},
issn = {1574-6976},
abstract = {Understanding plant-microbe interactions is vital for developing sustainable agricultural practices and mitigating the consequences of climate change on food security. Plant-microbe interactions can improve nutrient acquisition, reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers, affect plant health, growth, and yield, and impact plants' resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. These interactions are largely driven by metabolic exchanges and can thus be understood through metabolic network modelling. Recent developments in genomics, metagenomics, phenotyping, and synthetic biology now enable researchers to harness the potential of metabolic modelling at the genome scale. Here, we review studies that utilize genome-scale metabolic modelling to study plant-microbe interactions in symbiotic, pathogenic, and microbial community systems. This review catalogues how metabolic modelling has advanced our understanding of the plant host and its associated microorganisms as a holobiont. We showcase how these models can contextualize heterogeneous datasets and serve as valuable tools to dissect and quantify underlying mechanisms. Finally, we consider studies that employ metabolic models as a testbed for in silico design of synthetic microbial communities with predefined traits. We conclude by discussing broader implications of the presented studies, future perspectives, and outstanding challenges.},
}
@article {pmid40705355,
year = {2025},
author = {Mathieson, OL and Schultz, DL and Hunter, MS and Kleiner, M and Schmitz-Esser, S and Doremus, MR},
title = {The ecology, evolution, and physiology of Cardinium: a widespread heritable endosymbiont of invertebrates.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews},
volume = {49},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40705355},
issn = {1574-6976},
support = {#2426306//National Science Foundation/ ; #2002987//National Science Foundation/ ; #2426304//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS #2426305//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS #2003107//National Science Foundation/ ; 2023-67012-39352//National Institute for Food and Agriculture-United States Department of Agriculture/ ; #2023-67013-39897//National Institute for Food and Agriculture-United States Department of Agriculture/ ; },
abstract = {Candidatus Cardinium hertigii (Cardinium) are maternally transmitted obligate intracellular bacteria found in a wide range of invertebrate hosts, including arthropods and nematodes. Infection with Cardinium has substantial consequences for host biology, with many strains manipulating host reproduction to favor symbiont transmission by (i) feminizing male hosts, (ii) altering host sex allocation, (iii) inducing parthenogenesis, or (iv) causing cytoplasmic incompatibility. Other Cardinium strains can confer benefits to their host or alter host behavior. Cardinium-modified host phenotypes can result in selective sweeps of cytological elements through host populations and potentially reinforce host speciation. Cardinium has potential for applications in controlling arthropod pest species and arthropod-vectored disease transmission, although much remains to be explored regarding Cardinium physiology and host interactions. In this review, we provide an overview of Cardinium evolution and host distribution. We describe the various host phenotypes associated with Cardinium and how biological and environmental factors influence these symbioses. We also provide an overview of Cardinium metabolism, physiology, and potential mechanisms for interactions with hosts based on recent studies using genomics and transcriptomics. Finally, we discuss new methodologies and directions for Cardinium research, including improving our understanding of Cardinium physiology, response to environmental stress, and potential for controlling arthropod pest populations.},
}
@article {pmid40705231,
year = {2025},
author = {Ting, TY and Lee, WJ and Goh, HH},
title = {Molecular Genetics and Probiotic Mechanisms of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii.},
journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40705231},
issn = {1867-1314},
support = {FRGS/1/2024/STG01/UKM/02/05//Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia/ ; GUP-2024-092//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; },
abstract = {Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (Sb) is a S. cerevisiae (Sc) strain that has been widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases due to its unique probiotic properties. The key genomic differences that distinguish Sb from Sc include the tetrasomy of chromosome XII, the absence of intact transposon-yeast (Ty) elements, and variations in the copy number of specific genes. These genomic variations may contribute to enhanced thermotolerance, increased acid resistance, and elevated acetate production, collectively supporting its probiotic functions. The probiotic mechanisms of Sb are mediated through luminal actions, mucosal actions, and trophic effects. Its luminal activity involves neutralizing pathogen toxins via the secretion of proteins and inhibiting pathogen growth through the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Additionally, Sb modulates gut microbiota composition by fostering symbiotic relationships, thereby increasing the abundance of beneficial microbes and SCFA levels to promote gut health. The mucosal action of Sb promotes anti-inflammatory responses by regulating the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Meanwhile, its trophic effects, driven by polyamine production, enhance the function of intestinal epithelial cells. Recent findings further suggest that Sb may serve as a potential adjuvant therapy for brain disorders by modulating the gut-brain axis (GBA) to attenuate neuroinflammation. With continued multidisciplinary research, Sb is well-positioned to advance the biotherapeutic landscape. This review aims to synthesize recent advances in the genetics and probiotic mechanisms of Sb, with particular emphasis on its modulatory effects on the GBA.},
}
@article {pmid40705181,
year = {2025},
author = {Mir, R and Javid, J and Ullah, MF and Alrdahe, S and Altedlawi, IA and Mustafa, SK and Jalal, MM and Altayar, MA and Albalawi, AD and Abunab, MK and Alanazi, HS and Barnawi, J and Algehainy, NA and Altemani, FH and Tayeb, FJ},
title = {Metabolic reprogramming and functional crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and A Multi-omics anticancer approach.},
journal = {Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)},
volume = {42},
number = {9},
pages = {373},
pmid = {40705181},
issn = {1559-131X},
mesh = {Humans ; *Tumor Microenvironment/physiology ; *Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology/genetics ; *Metabolomics/methods ; Proteomics/methods ; Genomics/methods ; Animals ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolic Reprogramming ; Multiomics ; },
abstract = {Tumors are characterized by a complex interplay of various cell types, each contributing to the unique metabolic landscape of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The key metabolic interactions explored within the TME include nutrient competition, symbiotic nutrient exchange, and the role of metabolites as signaling messengers. Metabolic flexibility allows cancer cells to survive and proliferate even under harsh conditions, such as hypoxia and nutrient deprivation. Recent advances highlight that tumors possess inherent metabolic heterogeneity, underpinning the intricate web of intra- and extra- tumoral metabolic connections. Harnessing the power of multi-omics approaches offers unprecedented insights into this metabolic diversity, paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies targeting the metabolic crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment. Multi-omics approaches, integrating genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data, provide a comprehensive view of tumor metabolism. This holistic approach allows for the identification of key metabolic pathways and regulatory networks that drive tumor progression, as well as potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we discuss the metabolic symphony within the TME, the intricacies of tumor metabolism through multi-omics methodologies, and the prospects of devising innovative and effective cancer therapeutic strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40703972,
year = {2025},
author = {Muñoz, I and García-Raso, JE and Cuesta, JA},
title = {A New Varunid Subfamily (Decapoda, Brachyura, Grapsoidea, Varunidae) for Crabs From European and West African Waters, With the Description of Two New Genera and Two New Species.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {7},
pages = {e71712},
pmid = {40703972},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {The subfamily Asthenognathinae is currently composed of a single genus, Asthenognathus Stimpson, 1858, with three species, A. inaequipes Stimpson, 1858, A. hexagonus Rathbun, 1909 (both from the Indo-West Pacific), and A. atlanticus Monod, 1933 (European and West Tropical African waters). All Asthenognathus species are difficult to collect due to their small size and symbiotic lifestyle with fossorial organisms. The examination of specimens of A. atlanticus from European and West African waters deposited in scientific collections shows significant morphological and molecular differences with the Indo-West Pacific species, which makes the creation of a new subfamily (Schubartinae n. subf.) and two new genera necessary. The identity of A. atlanticus, the only species found along the East Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, is clarified, and a new genus, Dudekemus n. gen., is established for this species, Dudekemus atlanticus (Monod, 1933) n. gen., n. comb. This study also describes another new genus, Schubartus n. gen., based on morphological differences and genetic data. These two new genera can be distinguished from Asthenognathus by the carapace proportions and differences in the structures of the male pleonal somites, pereiopods and endostome. In addition, two new species distributed in Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania, Schubartus mauritanicus n. gen., sp. nov., and S. ngankeeae n. gen., n. sp., are described. A key for species of the subfamilies Asthenognathinae and Schubartinae n.subf. is provided.},
}
@article {pmid40703634,
year = {2025},
author = {Kauai, F and Wybouw, N},
title = {Reciprocal Host-Wolbachia Interactions Shape Infection Persistence Upon Loss of Cytoplasmic Incompatibility in Haplodiploids.},
journal = {Evolutionary applications},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {e70138},
pmid = {40703634},
issn = {1752-4571},
abstract = {Maternally transmitted symbionts such as Wolbachia spread within host populations by mediating reproductive phenotypes. Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is a reproductive phenotype that interferes with embryonal development when infected males fertilize uninfected females. Wolbachia-based pest control relies on strong CI to suppress or replace pest populations. Host genetic background determines CI strength, and host suppressors that cause weak CI threaten the efficacy of Wolbachia-based pest control programs. In haplodiploids, CI embryos either die (Female Mortality, FM-CI) or develop into uninfected males (Male Development, MD-CI). The reciprocal spread of host suppressors and infection, as well as the interaction with the two CI outcomes in haplodiploids, remains poorly understood. The contribution of sex allocation distortion (Sd), an independent Wolbachia-mediated reproductive phenotype that causes a female-biased sex ratio, to infection persistence in haplodiploids is also poorly understood, especially with imperfect maternal transmission. To address these issues, we developed individual-based simulations and validated this computational tool by tracking Wolbachia spread in experimental Tetranychus urticae populations and by contrasting infection dynamics with deterministic mathematical models. Within ⁓14 host generations, we found that deterministic models inflate infection frequencies relative to simulations by ⁓8.1% and overestimate the driving potential of CI, particularly under low initial infection frequencies. Compared to MD-CI, we show that FM-CI strongly extends infection persistence when nuclear suppressors are segregating in the population. We also quantify how maternal transmission modulates the reciprocal spread of suppressors and infection. Upon loss of CI, we show that hypomorphic expression of Sd (~5%) is sufficient for a stable persistence of infection. We derive a mathematical expression that approximates the stable polymorphic infection frequencies that can be maintained by Sd. Collectively, our results advance our understanding of how symbiosis with CI-inducing Wolbachia and haplodiploid hosts might evolve and inform CI-based pest control programs of potential future risks.},
}
@article {pmid40703233,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Ma, J and Fang, C and Zhu, J and Wang, S and Yang, Z},
title = {Soil types create different rhizosphere ecosystems and profoundly affect the growth characteristics of ratoon sugarcane.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1541329},
pmid = {40703233},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Rhizosphere ecological factors play a crucial role in the soil feedback function of ratoon sugarcane. However, limited information exists regarding the differences and relationships among these factors across various soil types (sandy, loam, and clay) and their impact on sugarcane growth and yield characteristics. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by investigating the rhizosphere ecological dynamics of ratoon sugarcane in different soil types.<br><br>METHODS: A combination of biochemical experiments and high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze the rhizosphere ecological factors of ratoon sugarcane. The study examined biochemical function- and enzymatic activity-related factors in the rhizosphere soil, as well as the microbial community composition and their relationships with sugarcane growth and yield characteristics.<br><br>RESULTS: Biochemical function- and enzymatic activity-related factors in the rhizosphere soil were generally positively correlated with each other and with sugarcane growth characteristics. For instance, soil respiration and soil catalase activity showed significant positive correlations with theoretical sugarcane yield (correlation coefficients of 0.773, p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05 and 0.863, p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.01, respectively). Symbiotic relationships were observed between the rhizosphere soil microbial and root system endophyte communities. Functional differences in microbial communities among different soil types were significant (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05), indicating that soil type strongly influences the functional expression of rhizosphere soil microbial communities. The abundance of bacteria and fungi in the ratoon sugarcane rhizosphere soil was negatively and positively correlated with most soil biochemical functions, respectively. Additionally, correlations existed between the abundance of endophytic bacteria and fungi in the root system and sugarcane yield. Eleven soil biochemical and functional factors were positively correlated with theoretical sugarcane yield and theoretical sugar yield indicators.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that different feedback directions and correlation strengths exist between sugarcane growth characteristics and various ecological factors in their rhizosphere across different soil types and spatial scales. These results provide insights into the complex interactions between sugarcane and its rhizosphere environment, highlighting the importance of soil type in shaping these interactions. The study offers guidance for improving soil microbial community structure to enhance sugarcane growth and yield, serving as a valuable reference for soil management in sugarcane fields.},
}
@article {pmid40702084,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, J and Ye, W and Wang, D and Zhang, H and Wang, J and Li, D},
title = {Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the potential mechanism of seed germination promoted by trametenolic acid in Gastrodia elata Blume.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {26869},
pmid = {40702084},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Germination/drug effects/genetics ; *Gastrodia/genetics/drug effects/growth &amp; development ; *Seeds/genetics/drug effects/growth &amp; development ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; *Transcriptome ; Symbiosis ; Armillaria ; },
abstract = {Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) is a potential medicinal and edible plant with several active components and pharmacological activity that has a high application value in medicine and the food business. However, in natural conditions, GEB seed has a very low germination rate and depends on two specific fungi, germinal and nutritive fungi, to complete the germination process and growth. Armillaria mellea, while acting as a nutrient supplier, actually inhibits the germination of GEB seeds. Mycena strains, as the main germinating fungi, can facilitate germination but cannot support the subsequent growth and development of GEB. It requires symbiotic interactions with Mycena and Armillaria mellea to obtain nutrients for its complex life cycle. Our previous studies have shown that trametenolic acid (TA) can effectively promote seed germination of GEB. The aim of this study was to use transcriptome sequencing to further understand the potential mechanism of seed germination triggered by TA in GEB, in order to lay the groundwork for developing a new germination-growth system for GEB with Armillaria mellea. The untreated symbiotic group (Group A0) did not germinate in the seed germination test. The high-dose TA-treated symbiotic group (Group B), the low-dose TA-treated symbiotic group (Group C), and the non-symbiotic untreated germination group (Group A) had germination rates of 85.01, 61.18 and 27.39%, respectively. This indicates that TA treatment can induce symbiosis with Armillaria mellea in GEB seeds and significantly increase germination rates. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of Groups A, B, and C identified 86,843 annotated genes. There were more down-regulated genes than up-regulated genes, with 3912, 2518, and 814 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between B and A, C and A, and B and C, respectively. The DEGs were mainly involved in DNA transcription factors, cell wall actions, plant-pathogen interactions, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, phytohormone signal transduction, and starch-sucrose metabolism pathways. Six genes were confirmed using qRT-PCR: Down-regulated genes in the lignin biosynthesis pathway include MYB4 and 4CL, while GA20ox1 in the gibberellin biosynthesis pathway was also down-regulated. Up-regulated genes in the plant-pathogen interaction pathway are AIB and WRKY51, with MYB44 in the lignin biosynthesis pathway showing up-regulation. The transcriptomics results supported these expression patterns. Lignin, GA, and abscisic acid (ABA) levels were analyzed in GEB protocorms to understand how TA promotes germination. Results showed that groups B and C had lower lignin and ABA levels, but higher GA levels compared to group A. The study revealed that certain genes play a crucial role in promoting GEB seed germination through TA, by regulating gene expression to alter lignin content and hormone levels, breaking seed dormancy, facilitating seed-fungus interactions, and promoting symbiotic relationships with Armillaria mellea. TA modulates the expression of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis and hormone signaling, leading to an increase in GA content and a decrease in ABA and lignin content. This helps seeds break dormancy and promote germination. Additionally, TA can enhance GEB's defense response against fungi by regulating plant-pathogen interaction genes. It also improves the interactions between GEB and Armillaria mellea, overcoming the technical challenges associated with using Armillaria mellea as a germinating fungus. This establishes a new symbiotic germination-growth system between Armillaria mellea and GEB, laying the foundation for further research on the molecular mechanisms of GEB seed germination.},
}
@article {pmid40702032,
year = {2025},
author = {Jia, B and Li, S and Lin, H and Chen, D and Zhang, J},
title = {Quantitative sources identification of gas emissions in mined-out area of coal seams in the Huanglong coalfield of the Ordos Basin, China.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {26731},
pmid = {40702032},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {This study integrates different geochemical analyses (chemical compositions, carbon isotopes) and a physical mixing model to quantitatively identify gas sources and migration mechanisms in the Nanchuan No.2 coal mine. Results reveal distinct isotopic signatures: gases from mine-out area exhibit intermediate δC1 values (- 55.1‰ to - 49.6‰) between coal-seam methane (avg. δ[13]C1 = - 61.0‰) and Yanchang oil-type gas (avg. δ[13]C1 = - 49.7‰), indicating mixed origins. The mixing model quantifies oil-type gas contributions to goaf emissions as 74.3% (methane) and 75.5% (ethane), dominated by vertical migration from Triassic Yanchang Formation source rocks through mining-induced fractures. Low coal-seam gas content (avg. 0.97 m[3]/t) further supports external hydrocarbon influx. Structural heterogeneity in oil-type gas distribution correlates with spatial variations in contribution ratios (52.7-100%). Mining disturbances disrupt caprock integrity, creating pressure-relief pathways that drive gas migration via fracture networks. This work establishes a framework for optimizing gas control strategies in coal-oil-gas symbiotic systems, emphasizing the critical role of isotopic tracing in hazard mitigation.},
}
@article {pmid40701417,
year = {2025},
author = {Qin, L and Lin, Z and Kong, W and Xu, Y and Xie, J and Chen, S and Xiong, J and Wang, Y and Zhu, H and Wang, S},
title = {Resilience of microalgal-bacterial biofilm for saline wastewater treatment under sulfamethoxazole stress: Insights from microbial physiological and ecological responses.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {436},
number = {},
pages = {133019},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133019},
pmid = {40701417},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects/growth &amp; development ; *Wastewater/microbiology/chemistry ; *Microalgae/drug effects/physiology ; *Sulfamethoxazole/pharmacology ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Water Purification/methods ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Bacteria/drug effects/metabolism ; Ammonia ; Salinity ; },
abstract = {The emerging antibiotics in mariculture wastewater has challenged conventional biological treatment processes, but the impact of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on saline microalgal-bacterial symbiotic systems and the underlying microbial response mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the resilience of a microalgal-bacterial symbiotic moving bed biofilm reactor (MBS-MBBR) treating saline wastewater under SMX stress, focusing on nitrogen removal performance, microbial physiological activities, and ecological interactions. The ammonia removal efficiency remained stable (>99.0%) at 0.1-1 mg/L SMX but decreased to 62.3% at 5 mg/L SMX. Elevated SMX inhibited microbial respiration, but enhanced extracellular polymer substances synthesis and intracellular antioxidant activities. Microbial community analysis revealed that 0.1-1 mg/L SMX promoted the enrichment of denitrifer (Denitromonas), while 5 mg/L SMX suppressed nitrifiers (Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira). SMX exhibited differential impacts to distinct nitrogen metabolic functions. Furthermore, microalgal-bacterial consortia exhibited enhanced cooperative interactions under SMX stress. This study provides theoretical support to stabilize engineering mariculture wastewater treatment processes.},
}
@article {pmid40701356,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, L and Ye, Y and Li, Y and Tan, X and Liu, X and Zhang, T and Wang, J and Du, Z and Ye, M},
title = {Bacteria-algae synergy in carbon sequestration: Molecular mechanisms, ecological dynamics, and biotechnological innovations.},
journal = {Biotechnology advances},
volume = {83},
number = {},
pages = {108655},
doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108655},
pmid = {40701356},
issn = {1873-1899},
mesh = {*Biotechnology/methods ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; *Carbon Sequestration ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Carbon/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Rising atmospheric CO2 levels require innovative strategies to increase carbon sequestration. Bacteria-algae interactions, as pivotal yet underexplored drivers of marine and freshwater carbon sinks, involve multiple mechanisms that amplify CO2 fixation and long-term storage. This review systematically describes the synergistic effects of bacteria-algae consortia spanning both microalgae (e.g., Chlorella vulgaris and Phaeodactylum tricornutum) and macroalgae (e.g., Macrocystis and Laminaria) on carbon sequestration. These effects include (1) molecular-level regulation (e.g., signal transduction via N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), and horizontal gene transfer), (2) ecological facilitation of recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon (RDOC) formation, and (3) biotechnological applications in wastewater treatment and bioenergy production. We highlight that microbial crosstalk increases algal photosynthesis by 20-40 % and contributes to 18.9 % of kelp-derived RDOC storage. Furthermore, engineered systems integrating algal-bacterial symbiosis achieve greater than 80 % nutrient removal and a 22-35 % increase in CO2 fixation efficiency (compared with axenic algal systems), demonstrating their dual role in climate mitigation and a circular economy. This review is the first to integrate molecular mechanisms (e.g., quorum sensing), ecological carbon transformation processes (e.g., the formation of RDOC), and applications in synthetic biology (e.g., CRISPR-engineered consortia) into a unified framework. Moreover, the novel strategy "microbial interaction network optimization" for enhancing carbon sinks is proposed. However, scalability challenges persist, including light limitations in photobioreactors and the ecological risks of synthetic consortia. By bridging microbial ecology with synthetic biology, this work provides a roadmap for harnessing bacteria-algae synergy to achieve carbon neutrality.},
}
@article {pmid40701150,
year = {2025},
author = {Cho, HS and Yoo, JS and Song, X and Goh, B and Diallo, A and Lee, J and Son, S and Hwang, YS and Park, SB and Oh, SF and Kasper, DL},
title = {Structure of gut microbial glycolipid modulates host inflammatory response.},
journal = {Cell},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.016},
pmid = {40701150},
issn = {1097-4172},
abstract = {Commensals are constantly shaping the host's immunological landscape. Lipopolysaccharides found in gram-negative microbes have a terminal lipid A in their outer membrane. Here, we report that structural variations in symbiotic lipid A lead to divergent immune responses with each lipid A structure, eliciting effects distinct from those induced by classical lipid A. Certain lipid A structures can induce a sustained interferon (IFN)-β response orchestrated by Cdc42-facilitated Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) endocytosis and lipid droplet (LD) formation. This lipid A-directed IFN-β response is paramount for colon RORγt[+] regulatory T cell (Treg) induction while simultaneously suppressing colonic TH17 cells and controlling gut inflammation. Intriguingly, the quantitatively dominant penta-acylated lipid A species in Bacteroidetes fails to elicit an IFN-β response. Instead, a less abundant tetra-acylated lipid A species sustainably induces IFN-β, thereby contributing to RORγt[+] Treg homeostasis. Nuances in symbiont lipid A structure contribute to maintaining potent regulation of Tregs to maintain a healthy endobiotic balance.},
}
@article {pmid40700644,
year = {2025},
author = {Marqués-Gálvez, JE and de Freitas Pereira, M and Nehls, U and Ruytinx, J and Barry, K and Peter, M and Martin, F and Grigoriev, IV and Veneault-Fourrey, C and Kohler, A},
title = {Comparative transcriptomics uncovers poplar and fungal genetic determinants of ectomycorrhizal compatibility.},
journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology},
volume = {123},
number = {2},
pages = {e70352},
pmid = {40700644},
issn = {1365-313X},
support = {ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE/ ; CoFUND-FP7-267196//Agreenskills Marie Sklodowska Curie/ ; DE-AC02-05CH11231//Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy/ ; DE-AC05-589 00OR22725//Plant Microbe Interfaces Scientific Focus Area/ ; //NextGenerationEU/ ; //Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico (CNPq)/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; *Populus/microbiology/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis supports tree growth and is crucial for nutrient cycling and temperate and boreal ecosystems functioning. The establishment of functional ectomycorrhiza (ECM) first requires the association of compatible partners. However, host and fungal genetic determinants governing mycorrhizal compatibility are unknown. To identify such factors in poplar and its fungal associates, we mined existing and de novo tree and fungal transcriptional datasets. We identified co-expressed genes enabling ECM symbiosis at early and mature stages of the interaction. These sets of genes can be divided into general fungal-sensing and ECM-specific components. We highlight the importance of fungal modulation of plant JA-related defenses and the regulation of secretory pathways for ECM compatibility, including upregulation of key fungal small secreted proteins, the downregulation of plant secreted peroxidases, and the downregulation of plant cell wall remodeling proteins concomitantly with the upregulation of fungal glycosyl hydrolases acting on pectin. Not only gene regulation, but also its temporal scale and dynamics seem to play a crucial role for mycorrhizal compatibility. The expression profile of the host Common Symbiosis Pathway and nutrient transporters was also studied, revealing constitutive levels of expression and moderate upregulation in compatible ECM interactions. Overall, these results underscore the importance of novel biological functions during the establishment of ECM symbiosis, help us gain insights into the molecular events determining mycorrhiza compatibility, and serve as a data-rich transcriptomic resource to open new research questions in the field.},
}
@article {pmid40700049,
year = {2025},
author = {Suksavate, W and Ngernsaengsaruay, C and Nipitwattanaphon, M and Hasin, S and Phosri, C and Voraphab, I and Sakolrak, B and Choosa-Nga, P and Nakpong, L and Khunkrai, R and Bunlerlerd, K and Kaewgrajang, T},
title = {Effect of climate change on truffle (Tuber species) distribution and host plant interactions in Thailand.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-12},
doi = {10.1080/00275514.2025.2522020},
pmid = {40700049},
issn = {1557-2536},
abstract = {Climate change is an important driver of shifts in species' geographic distributions, including those of several truffle species. Understanding these shifts is essential for effective conservation and sustainable ecosystem management. This study aimed to identify suitable habitats for three Tuber species discovered in Thailand-Tuber lannaense, T. thailandicum, and T. magnatum-and project their future distributions under climate change scenarios. Using MaxEnt modeling and presence-only occurrence data, we predicted current and future suitable habitats under two climate scenarios: SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) and SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) for the year 2050. Annual precipitation (bio12) and mean diurnal range (bio02) were the most influential environmental variables for three Tuber species and their host plants. Currently, suitable habitats for Tuber species and their host trees (Betula alnoides and Carpinus londoniana) are concentrated in mountainous areas of northern and northeastern Thailand, covering approximately 6000 km[2]. By 2050, under both SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, the shared suitable habitat between truffles and their host plants is projected to be completely lost (100%). Carpinus londoniana is expected to lose nearly 100% of its suitable habitat under SSP1-2.6 and retain only 37 km[2] under SSP5-8.5, whereas B. alnoides shows potential for southward range expansion despite some habitat loss. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to preserve Thai Tuber species and their symbiotic hosts under changing climatic conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40699806,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, W and Shang, JX and Li, XY and Zhou, XF and Zhao, LQ},
title = {Nitric Oxide Regulates Multiple Signal Pathways in Plants via Protein S-Nitrosylation.},
journal = {Current issues in molecular biology},
volume = {47},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40699806},
issn = {1467-3045},
support = {DR2024017//Hebei Normal University for Nationalities/ ; },
abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) can perform its physiological role through protein S-nitrosylation, a redox-based post-translational modification (PTM). This review details the specific molecular mechanisms and current detection technologies of S-nitrosylation. It also comprehensively synthesizes emerging evidence of S-nitrosylation roles in plant biological processes, including growth and development, immune signaling, stress responses and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Furthermore, the review analyzes research progress on the crosstalk between S-nitrosylation and other protein PTMs. Finally, unresolved issues such as the spatio-temporal resolution of SNO-proteome mapping and standardized protocols for reproducibility are pointed out. In summary, this work proposes a roadmap for future research.},
}
@article {pmid40698186,
year = {2025},
author = {Lukács, AF and Herczeg, G and Kovács, GM},
title = {Effects of dark septate endophytic fungi on the performance of non-mycorrhizal cabbage plants under normal and low water conditions.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1593265},
pmid = {40698186},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Drought, a major consequence of global environmental change, poses a serious threat to both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Root-associated fungi, particularly the widely distributed dark septate endophytes (DSE), are key components of the plant microbiome and can influence host plant performance in various ways. We conducted two manipulative experiments using two model DSE species from a semiarid habitat to investigate their effects on a non-mycorrhizal host plant (cabbage) under both normal and reduced water supply conditions. The positive effects of Periconia were limited-it not only increased root biomass but also reduced water potential and soil moisture under normal watering conditions. In contrast, Cadophora significantly increased shoot biomass (by up to 50%) and root biomass in one experiment. However, this was also associated with a decline in plant water potential, particularly at the cost of reduced plant water status, and their effects varied on the same host. Interestingly, autoclaved inoculum, also had positive effects on plant growth. Our findings highlight the potential role of symbiotic DSE fungi in mitigating drought stress and suggest their promise as biotechnological tools for addressing the increasing challenges posed by drought.},
}
@article {pmid40696756,
year = {2025},
author = {Peretz, T and Cattan-Tsaushu, E and Conti, C and Rosental, B and Steindler, L and Avrani, S},
title = {Cyanophage Infections in a Sponge Intracellular Cyanobacterial Symbiont.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {7},
pages = {e70155},
pmid = {40696756},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {GBMF9352//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; 933/23//Israel Science Foundation/ ; 1386/20//Israel Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Bacteriophages/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *Porifera/microbiology/virology ; *Synechococcus/virology/physiology/genetics ; Prophages/genetics ; *Cyanobacteria/virology ; Genome, Viral ; },
abstract = {Sponges are sessile animals that play crucial roles in marine ecosystems by facilitating nutrient cycling, enhancing biodiversity, and structuring benthic habitats. Microbial symbionts, including cyanobacteria, are vital to sponges, aiding in nutrient cycling, metabolism, and defence. However, due to the sponge's ability to concentrate phages from seawater, extracellular sponge symbionts are particularly vulnerable to phage infection. By contrast, little is known about the susceptibility of intracellular sponge symbionts to phage predation. Here, we present evidence that Candidatus Synechococcus feldmannii, a facultative, horizontally transmitted cyanobacterial endosymbiont of the sponge Petrosia ficiformis, is susceptible to cyanophages. We analysed four Ca. S. feldmannii genomes and found evidence for phage interactions in two, including CRISPR spacers matching sipho- and T4-like cyanophages. One genome harboured a prophage region resembling freshwater cyanobacterial prophages, featuring conserved regions associated with Type VI secretion systems, similar to Wolbachia endosymbionts prophages. Additionally, we developed a method for isolating cyanophages directly from purified sponge bacteriocytes (specialised sponge cells harbouring symbionts) and identified nine T4-like cyanophages with less than 60% similarity to known relatives. Collectively, our findings indicate that Ca. S. feldmannii is susceptible to cyanophages and suggest potential functional parallels between phages infecting endosymbionts across different animal hosts.},
}
@article {pmid40696482,
year = {2025},
author = {Thaqi, SK and Hensel, N and Vitow, N and Baum, C and Streb, LM and Kublik, S and Leinweber, P and Panten, K and Schloter, M and Schulz, S},
title = {Non-rhizobial endophyte recruitment and diversity in Pisum sativum are strongly shaped by phosphorus fertilizer form.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {92},
pmid = {40696482},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {031B1061B//German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); InnoSoilPhos/ ; 031B1061A//German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); InnoSoilPhos/ ; 031B0509E//German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); InnoSoilPhos/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Non-rhizobial endophytes (NREs) support plant health and nodule function by enhancing symbiotic interactions and nitrogen fixation. However, their recruitment dynamics under fertilizers of varying phosphorus solubility remain poorly understood. This study investigated how four P fertilization treatments-no phosphorus (P0), bone char (BC), surface-modified bone char plus (BC[plus]), and triple superphosphate (TSP)-with increasing solubility influence microbial recruitment and diversity in Pisum sativum, leading to differences in plant-available phosphorus across bulk soil, rhizosphere, roots, and nodules.<br><br>RESULTS: Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we found that nodule-associated microbial communities were primarily recruited from unknown sources, likely seeds, followed by roots, especially under BC[plus]. Phosphorus solubility of treatments significantly influenced recruitment patterns, with solubility further shaping microbial diversity. BC[plus] recruited beneficial taxa like Beijerinckiaceae and Flavobacteriaceae, which are associated with nitrogen fixation and biocontrol. In contrast, the highly soluble TSP treatment expanded recruitment from the rhizosphere, reflecting less stringent environmental filtering and promoting taxa like Steroidobacteraceae and Blastocatellaceae, known for nutrient cycling and pathogen suppression. In the absence of P fertilization (P0), recruitment relied heavily on seeds and roots, with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization prioritized over nodulation. Notably, TSP supported significantly more nodules with greater microbial diversity, potentially enhanced by NREs.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Phosphorus solubility of the applied fertilizers strongly influences NRE recruitment dynamics in P. sativum. Seeds and roots act as primary reservoirs, while highly soluble fertilizers promote broader recruitment from the rhizosphere and increase microbial diversity in nodules. These results underscore the importance of the fertilization form in modulating NRE recruitment.},
}
@article {pmid40694858,
year = {2025},
author = {diCenzo, GC and Gutmanis, SM and Esme, O and Moulin, L},
title = {Re-evaluation of the nodulation capacity of Sphingomonas sediminicola DSM 18106T indicates that this strain is not capable of inducing root nodule formation on Pisum sativum (pea).},
journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1139/cjm-2025-0100},
pmid = {40694858},
issn = {1480-3275},
abstract = {Rhizobia are soil-dwelling proteobacteria that can enter into symbiotic nitrogen-fixing relationships with compatible leguminous plants. Taxonomically, rhizobia are divided into alpha-rhizobia, which belong to the class Alpharoteobacteria, and beta-rhizobia, which belong to the class Betaproteobacteria. To date, all bona fide alpha-rhizobia belong to the order Hyphomicrobiales. However, a recent study suggested that Sphingomonas sediminicola DSM 18106T is also a rhizobium and is capable of nodulating pea plants (Pisum sativum), which would expand the known taxonomic distribution of alpha-rhizobia to include the order Sphingomonadales. Here, we attempted to replicate the results of that previous study. Resequencing and computational analysis of the genome of S. sediminicola DSM 18106T failed to identify genes encoding proteins involved in legume nodulation or nitrogen fixation. In addition, experimental plant assays indicated that S. sediminicola DSM 18106T is unable to nodulate the two cultivars of pea tested in our study, unlike the rhizobium Rhizobium johnstonii 3841T. Taken together, and in contrast to the previous study, these results suggest that S. sediminicola DSM 18106T is not capable of inducing root nodule formation on pea, meaning that the taxonomic distribution of all known alpha-rhizobia remains limited to the class Hyphomicrobiales.},
}
@article {pmid40694187,
year = {2025},
author = {Singh, A and Mandal, PK and Reddy, PM},
title = {Transgene expression and root hair deformation of transgenic rice plants harbouring legume-specific Nod factor receptor genes in the presence and absence of nitrogen when inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti.},
journal = {Molecular biology reports},
volume = {52},
number = {1},
pages = {744},
pmid = {40694187},
issn = {1573-4978},
support = {NRRI/ Incentivizing Research/ BNF / Revised Sanction Order (2023-24)//Indian Council of Agricultural Research/ ; },
mesh = {*Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; *Oryza/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Transgenes/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen-fixing symbiosis is an effect of crosstalk between legumes and rhizobia, mediated by Nod factors (NF) recognized by legume-specific nod factor (NF) receptors. Developing this symbiotic capability in cereal crops like rice is a promising strategy to reduce dependency on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, but it is neither simple nor easy. To find whether legume-specific Nod Factor receptor genes are expressed in rice and whether they can change root hair morphology.<br><br>METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed transgenic rice plants harbouring two NF receptor genes, a co-receptor gene and two NF binding proteins: MtLYK3, MtNFP, MtDMI2, LjLNP, and MtSYMREM1. When transgenic rice roots were inoculated with fluorescent Sinorhizobium meliloti (S. meliloti), colonization of bacteria was observed on the root surface. Still, it was reduced significantly in the presence of nitrogen in the media. Gene expression of all the five transgenes in the S.meliloti inoculated roots increased to 3.5 fold. Root hair deformation was also observed when transgenic rice roots were treated with purified SmNod Factor (SmNF), and the presence of nitrogen in the medium reduced the root hair deformation percentage.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that rice could interact with S. meliloti for colonization and gene expression and also could perceive the NF signal to deform root hair when the legume-specific NF receptor genes along with co-receptor gene and two NF binding proteins were present in the rice plant. This is an initial indication that rice roots can behave like a symbiotic legume if appropriate genes are transferred to it.},
}
@article {pmid40693735,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, Z and Sun, Y and Yang, J and Liu, Z and Niu, Y and Zhang, X},
title = {Gene expression and regulatory networks provide new insights into the similarity between nitrogen fixing and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses.},
journal = {Plant &amp; cell physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcaf082},
pmid = {40693735},
issn = {1471-9053},
abstract = {Although the evolutionarily younger nitrogen-fixing symbioses (NFS) occurring between plants and rhizobia are predominantly confined to legume species, they exhibit a series of highly conserved characteristics in common with the more ancestral arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS). A growing number of symbiosis-regulated genes have been characterized through either genetic analysis or phylogenomic profiling. However, the underlying similarities and specificities of the transcription regulatory machinery in AMS and NFS remain largely unclarified. Here, we systematically profiled the gene expression changes in three legume species, namely Medicago truncatula, Glycine max, and Lotus japonicus, during AMS and NFS. Additionally, we investigated gene expression changes in three non-legume plants, Solanum lycopersicum, Zea mays, and Oryza sativa, during AMS. We identified thousands of genes that were activated by AMS or NFS in their respective host plants. Through comparative genomics analysis, we systematically explored the conservation and specificity of genes responsive to AMS or NFS. Employing M. truncatula and G. max as illustrative cases, we harnessed the XGboost machine-learning model to construct co-expression-based gene regulatory networks for AMS and NFS within these two species. Through this approach, we successfully illuminated the similarities and unique features of the two symbiotic types at the gene regulatory network level. Further, utilizing known symbiosis genes as queries, we pinpointed a multitude of genes that are intimately associated with AMS and NFS. Overall, via in-depth gene expression profiling and regulatory network analysis, our results indicate that, while NFS in legumes has regulatory circuits similar to those of AMS, there exist certain symbiosis type-specific molecular components.},
}
@article {pmid40692024,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, Z and Duan, X and Zhang, T and Bi, S and Noor, Z and Guo, S and Wei, Z and Zhang, Y and Qin, Y and Ma, H and Pan, Y and Yu, Z and Li, J and Zhang, Y},
title = {Adapting to hypo-salinity: Molecular mechanisms in giant clams and symbionts with implications for coral reef resilience under climate change.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {285},
number = {Pt 2},
pages = {122385},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.122385},
pmid = {40692024},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {Typhoon climates and extreme rainy seasons drive changes in seawater salinity and quality, threatening coral reef ecosystems. As key contributors to coral reef ecosystems, giant clams face major survival pressures from salinity fluctuations. Understanding their salinity adaptation and recovery strategies is thus critical for the long-term conservation and sustainable management of coral reefs. Here, we integrated physiological and meta-transcriptomic analyses to investigate responses of Tridacna crocea to hypo-saline conditions (20 ppt, 27 ppt) and subsequent recovery at 34 ppt. Hypo-salinity significantly reduced growth and survival, with only 69 % survival at 20 ppt, while elevated sodium-potassium pump (NKA) activity was observed, facilitating ion balance maintenance. Meta-transcriptomic analysis revealed downregulated genes related to antioxidants (GGT1), ABC transporters (ABCB11, ABCA12), and fatty acid metabolism (ACAA1), alongside upregulated genes involved in amino acid metabolism (AGXT2, ALDH4A1). Symbionts exhibited decreased photosystem II (PSII) activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and expulsion. Notably, partial recovery was achieved under 27 ppt hypo-salinity, whereas 20 ppt induced irreversible damage. Collectively, T. crocea copes with hypo-saline stress through coordinated regulation of ion transport, amino acid metabolism, and symbiont functionality, with 27 ppt potentially emerging as a critical threshold for recoverable adaptation. These findings provide valuable mechanistic insights to inform coral reef conservation strategies under global climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40691718,
year = {2025},
author = {Ikram, RMA and Wang, M and Moayedi, H and Ahmadi Dehrashid, A and Gharibi, S and Han, JC},
title = {Application of smart technologies for predicting soil erosion patterns.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {26479},
pmid = {40691718},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {Soil is a critical natural resource, and accurate erosion susceptibility assessment is vital for the optimal management and development of soil resources. Erosion susceptibility assessment is necessary for long-term conservation plans, but the process can be expensive and time-consuming over large areas. It is imperative to examine the impact of water-induced erosion on cultivated lands, as it can cause significant damage. This study evaluates the effectiveness of four data-driven approaches (biogeography-based optimization, earthworm optimization algorithm, symbiotic organisms search, and whale optimization algorithm) combined with artificial neural network models for the assessment of erosion susceptibility. The examined criteria include 14 geographic and environmental criteria, and the data used in a ratio of 70 to 30 for training and testing operations. And its results were measured by AUC values. The evaluation of AUC accuracy indices revealed compelling results. Specifically, in the case of SOS-MLP, the highest AUC values were observed, reaching 0.9973 for test data and 0.9296 for train data. Conversely, for WOA-MLP, the AUC values obtained were slightly lower but still notable, registering at 0.9809 for test data and 0.959 for train data. These values were also calculated for BBO-MLP (0.999 and 0.9327) and EWA-MLP (0.9304 and 0.9296) in the training and testing phases, respectively. Results showed that all four methods could successfully evaluate erosion susceptibility according to AUC values greater than 0.92, especially the BBO-MLP with the highest AUC values. Therefore, the findings of this study have shown that the combined optimization algorithms and Machine Learning used in this research have a suitable ability to optimize the artificial neural network and are very useful for identifying areas sensitive to erosion.},
}
@article {pmid40690270,
year = {2025},
author = {Kemlein, M and Peters, L and Schulenburg, H and Obeng, N},
title = {Maintenance and loss of microbe-mediated protection in the absence of pathogens.},
journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jeb/voaf090},
pmid = {40690270},
issn = {1420-9101},
abstract = {Protective microbes are known for their service to hosts. While they allow hosts to survive infection, microbes, too, benefit from successful inhibition of incoming pathogens. Under constant pathogen exposure, protective symbionts should thus be selected for. Yet, it is less clear if, and how, microbe-mediated protection is maintained in symbionts in the absence of pathogen pressure. Addressing the stability of protective symbiosis during bacterial adaptation to healthy hosts, we studied microbe-mediated protection of Pseudomonas lurida MYb11 against pathogenic Bacillus thuringiensis Bt247 in its natural host Caenorhabditis elegans MY316. Specifically, we assessed host protection and in vitro inhibition of the pathogen for a collection of derived MYb11 isolates, which were previously evolved during serial passaging in healthy C. elegans hosts. We found that all evolved MYb11 isolates continued to inhibit the pathogen in vitro, while most, albeit not all, continued to protect hosts. We focused on two of these isolates, MT5 and MT11, one with and one without protection, and found that intact protection is associated with high symbiont colonization and resulting lower pathogen proportions. In sum, our study dissects the stability of a natural protective symbiosis and suggests that high colonization ability ensures microbe-mediated protection, even if microbes adapt to host association in the absence of pathogen selection.},
}
@article {pmid40690090,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, YC and Huang, YM and Huang, YL and Liu, SL and He, SH and Zhou, LW and Chen, CC},
title = {New species and new records of Trechispora (Trechisporales, Basidiomycota) from Taiwan.},
journal = {Botanical studies},
volume = {66},
number = {1},
pages = {21},
pmid = {40690090},
issn = {1817-406X},
support = {NSTC 112-2621-B-178-002-MY3//National Science and Technology Council/ ; 113-7.2.6--02//Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture (TW)/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Trechispora (Hydnodontaceae) comprises a diverse group of wood- and soil-inhabiting fungi, primarily functioning as saprotrophs, with some species forming symbiotic associations with plants and animals. Despite the recognition of over 100 species worldwide, its diversity in Taiwan remains understudied. This study presents the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of Trechispora in Taiwan, integrating morphological and phylogenetic analyses based on sequence data from the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) region and the nuc 28S rDNA (28S).<br><br>RESULTS: We describe four new species (Trechispora acerosa, T. floralis, T. formosana, and T. orchidophila) and report seven newly recorded species for Taiwan (T. crystallina, T. dentata, T. latehypha, T. mollusca, T. odontioidea, T. subsinensis, and T. wenshanensis). T. sinensis is synonymized under T. odontioidea. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses support their taxonomic placements, and an identification key to accepted Trechispora species in Taiwan is provided.<br><br>CONCLUSION: This study expands the known diversity of Trechispora in Taiwan to 17 species, highlighting their ecological significance and potential interactions with plants in Taiwan's forest ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40688685,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Du, Y and Mu, Z and Islam, W and Zeng, F and Gonzalez, NCT and Zhang, Z},
title = {Impact of seasonal changes on root-associated microbial communities among phreatophytes of three basins in desert ecosystem.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1554879},
pmid = {40688685},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Seasons often alter climate conditions and affect nutrient cycling by altering plant physiology and microbial dynamics. Plant growth and health depend on a symbiotic relationship with root microbes, however, the root-associated microbiota is key to plant evolution and ecosystem function. Seasonal changes in root-associated microbiome diversity and composition of desert plants are vital for understanding plant adaptation in desert ecosystems. We employed high-throughput sequencing to investigate the seasonal dynamics of root-associated microbial communities, including the root endosphere (RE), rhizosphere soil (RS), and bulk soil (BS), across three basins in Xinjiang, China: Turpan, Tarim, and Dzungaria. Proteobacteria dominated bacterial communities in different seasons, while Ascomycota prevailed in fungi. The spring and summer conditions favor greater microbial differentiation. The RE, RS, and BS bacterial communities in May (spring) showed a noticeable absence of highly connected nodes within and between modules. However, the opposite trend was observed in July (summer) and September (autumn). The community assembly of root-associated microbiome (bacteria and fungi) in different seasons primarily followed a random process. Random forest analysis found that seasonal variations in RE bacterial communities were primarily influenced by scattered radiation, while fungal communities were mainly affected by soil available potassium. Environmental factors affect the BS bacterial community more than the fungal community across different seasons. A structural equation model revealed temperature and precipitation's direct effects on microbial communities, mediated by soil and root nutrient availability. Soil pH and EC predominantly affected root bacterial communities, not fungal communities. The fungal community within the RE was found to be directly influenced by seasonal shifts, whereas the RS fungal community composition was significantly impacted by changes in precipitation patterns driven by seasonal variation. The climate seems to be a crucial factor in influencing the dynamic of the root microbiome in desert plants, surpassing the influence of soil and root nutrient availability. This study underscores seasonal root-associated microbiome variations and their important roles in desert ecosystem functions.},
}
@article {pmid40687751,
year = {2025},
author = {Olaranont, Y and Stewart, AB and Songnuan, W and Traiperm, P},
title = {Analysis of ergot alkaloid gene expression and ergine levels in different parts of Ipomoea asarifolia.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e19692},
pmid = {40687751},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {*Ergot Alkaloids/metabolism/biosynthesis/genetics ; *Ipomoea/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Seeds/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ergot alkaloids are renowned for their pharmacological significance and were historically attributed to fungal symbioses with cereal crops and grasses. Recent research uncovered a symbiotic relationship between the fungus Periglandula ipomoea and Ipomoea asarifolia (Convolvulaceae), revealing a new source for ergot alkaloid synthesis. While past studies have emphasized the storage of both the fungus and alkaloids in leaves and seeds, recent work has found they also occur in other plant parts. This study aimed to examine expression of the dmaW gene, which plays a crucial role in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis, and to quantify ergot alkaloid levels across various organs and growth stages of I. asarifolia.<br><br>RESULTS: Our findings revealed the highest levels of dmaW gene expression in young seeds and young leaves, whereas the highest ergine concentrations were found in mature leaves followed by young leaves. In light of previous studies, we propose three hypotheses to reconcile these conflicting results: the possibility of an inefficient ergot alkaloid biosynthesis pathway, the possibility that different types of ergot alkaloids are produced, and the existence of an ergot alkaloid translocation system within the plant. Furthermore, ergine concentration and ergot alkaloid biosynthesis gene expression were detected in stems, roots, and flowers, indicating that ergot alkaloids are produced and accumulated in all studied parts of I. asarifolia, rather than being solely confined to the leaves and seeds, as previously reported.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our study reveals that ergot alkaloids are produced and accumulated in most parts of I. asarifolia, suggesting a plant-wide biosynthesis and potential transport system, challenging the previous belief that biosynthesis was confined to glandular trichomes on leaves.},
}
@article {pmid40686107,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, EJ and Zhang, YL and Ma, XH and Gong, HQ and Xi, SY and Zhang, GS and Jin, L},
title = {[Research progress on interactions between medicinal plants and microorganisms].},
journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica},
volume = {50},
number = {12},
pages = {3267-3280},
doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20250314.103},
pmid = {40686107},
issn = {1001-5302},
mesh = {*Plants, Medicinal/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {The interactions between microorganisms and medicinal plants are crucial to the quality improvement of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants attract microorganisms to colonize by secreting specific compounds and provide niche and nutrient support for these microorganisms, with a symbiotic network formed. These microorganisms grow in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endophytic tissues of plants and significantly improve the growth performance and medicinal component accumulation of medicinal plants by promoting nutrient uptake, enhancing disease resistance, and regulating the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Microorganisms are also widely used in the ecological planting of medicinal plants, and the growth conditions of medicinal plants are optimized by simulating the microbial effects in the natural environment. The interactions between microorganisms and medicinal plants not only significantly improve the yield and quality of medicinal plants but also enhance their geoherbalism, which is in line with the concept of green agriculture and eco-friendly development. This study reviewed the research results on the interactions between medicinal plants and microorganisms in recent years and focused on the analysis of the great potential of microorganisms in optimizing the growth environment of medicinal plants, regulating the accumulation of secondary metabolites, inducing systemic resistance, and promoting the ecological planting of medicinal plants. It provides a scientific basis for the research on the interactions between medicinal plants and microorganisms, the research and development of microbial agents, and the application of microorganisms in the ecological planting of medicinal plants and is of great significance for the quality improvement of medicinal plants and the green and sustainable development of TCM resources.},
}
@article {pmid40684582,
year = {2025},
author = {Rajabifar, N and Alemi, MH and Rostami, A and Zarrintaj, P and Zare, Y and Munir, MT and Shahrousvand, M and Rhee, KY and Nazockdast, H},
title = {3D printing of hydrogel nanocomposites: A symbiotic union for advanced biomedical applications.},
journal = {Advances in colloid and interface science},
volume = {344},
number = {},
pages = {103602},
doi = {10.1016/j.cis.2025.103602},
pmid = {40684582},
issn = {1873-3727},
abstract = {Hydrogels have emerged as thriving materials for developing biomedical devices due to their biocompatibility and hydrophilic nature, encompassing various fields from biomedical engineering and pharmaceuticals to wound care and tissue scaffolding. Nevertheless, traditional hydrogels are beset with poor mechanical strength, limited controlled release of medicines, and irreversible chain breakage, all of which compromise their efficacy in practice. The desirable performance of hydrogels can be notably lifted upon incorporating nanomaterials, yielding tunable functions for devising next-generation biocompatible structures. Despite the alluring prospects offered by hydrogel nanocomposites, the processing of these materials is still in its infancy and remains full of challenges to produce personalized, tangible items. Herein, we endeavor to bridge the gap between hydrogel nanocomposites for biomedical applications with additive manufacturing processing, providing a useful guideline for comparing and selecting viable three-dimensional (3D) printing approaches. We review the background of synthesizing hydrogel nanocomposites along with the key concepts toward biomedical applications, featuring a survey on the recent reports on 3D printing of hydrogel nanocomposites for developing customized tissues, drug delivery, bioadhesives, wound dressing, and biosensors.},
}
@article {pmid40683892,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, L and Ji, CY and Murray, JD and Liu, CW},
title = {A legume cellulase required for rhizobial infection and colonization in root nodule symbiosis.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {6663},
pmid = {40683892},
issn = {2041-1723},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/enzymology ; *Cellulase/metabolism/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology/enzymology/genetics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Mutation ; },
abstract = {In root nodule symbiosis, the accommodation of rhizobia in legumes necessitates extensive plant cell wall remodeling to build infection threads (ITs) for rhizobia travelling into nodules, and to subsequently release rhizobia from ITs to form nitrogen fixing symbiosomes. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these processes are obscure. Here we report that Medicago truncatula Glycoside Hydrolase 9C2 (GH9C2) is required for both rhizobial infection and nodule colonization. The gh9c2-1 mutant exhibits incompetent nodules with disorganized ITs and defective rhizobial release, likely due to cellulose accumulation. GH9C2 localizes to IT wall and rhizobial release sites, and cellulase activity is indispensable for GH9C2 function. CBM49 domain of GH9C2 is required for rhizobial infection but not for rhizobial release. Furthermore, GH9C1and NPL act synergistically with GH9C2 in rhizobial infection. Our finding reveals transient IT-derived structures, the rhizobial release foci and uncovers a mechanism mediated by host cellulases for the symbiotic colonization by rhizobia.},
}
@article {pmid40683195,
year = {2025},
author = {Younis, C and Camp, EF and Raina, JB and Cresswell, T and Gissi, F},
title = {Effects of selenium on the model cnidarian Exaiptasia diaphana and its symbiotic algae.},
journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {287},
number = {},
pages = {107495},
doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107495},
pmid = {40683195},
issn = {1879-1514},
abstract = {Characterising toxicity thresholds for coral reefs is essential for understanding and safeguarding these ecosystems. Coral reefs are highly sensitive to environmental changes, including pollutants and increased trace element concentrations. Corals and other cnidarians form symbiotic associations with photosynthetic algae (Symbiodiniaceae) allowing for diverse nutrient acquisition methods and effective nutrient transformation and recycling between the host animal and their Symbiodiniaceae. Selenium (Se), an essential element, supports crucial physiological functions in marine taxa but it can become toxic at elevated concentrations. Currently, Se exposure thresholds for cnidarians and Symbiodiniaceae remain unknown. To assess the impact of high inorganic Se concentrations on cnidarians and Symbiodiniaceae, we conducted toxicity tests using the model sea anemone, Exaiptasia diaphana, exposing individuals to Se-enriched seawater using Na2SeO3 (76 - 1100 µg Se/L) for 96 h. Mortality occurred in the highest concentration of Se (1100 µg/L) for all replicates, but 100 % survival was recorded in all lower concentrations, including 570 µg/L. This latter concentration exceeded environmentally relevant levels, negating the need to acquire more refined mortality data. In addition, decreases in oral disk and reduced tentacle length at higher Se exposures indicated potential sublethal effects and physiological stress where E. diaphana exposed to concentrations ranging from 245- 570 µg/L decreasing in size by ∼15-20 %. These findings contribute to our understanding of cnidarian physiology and stress responses, highlighting the importance of trace elements in coral reef environments. This knowledge is crucial for developing effective management strategies to protect and preserve vital ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.},
}
@article {pmid40682706,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, PR and Deng, LJ and Zhang, HZ and Liu, L and Liu, TH and Lu, DC and Du, ZJ},
title = {Zhengella sedimenti sp. nov. and Phycobacter sedimenti sp. nov., two novel bacteria isolated from coastal sediment with genomic and metabolic analysis.},
journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek},
volume = {118},
number = {9},
pages = {117},
pmid = {40682706},
issn = {1572-9699},
support = {ZR2023QC197//the Science Foundation for Youths of Shandong Province/ ; 2022FY101100//the Science and Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 92351301//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Fatty Acids/analysis ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Base Composition ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Genome, Bacterial ; Phospholipids/analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Genomics ; Seawater/microbiology ; },
abstract = {In this study, two novel Gram-stain-negative bacterial strains, K97[T] and ZM62[T], were isolated from sediment samples collected along the coast of Weihai, China, and described using polyphasic taxonomic techniques. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain K97[T] exhibited the highest sequence similarity (98.34%) with Phycobacter azelaicus F10[T] within the genus Phycobacter, followed by Pseudooceanicola marinus AZO-C[T] (97.14%) and Phaeobacter italicus LMG24365[T] (96.85%). Strain ZM62[T] exhibited the highest sequence similarity (98.53%) with Zhengella mangrovi X9-2-2[T] within the genus Zhengella, followed by Phyllobacterium myrsinacearum NBRC 100019[T] (96.49%) and Oricola thermophila MEBiC13590[T] (96.35%). The respiratory quinone was Q-10 for both strains. The major fatty acid in both strains K97[T] and ZM62[T] is Summed Feature 8 (C18:1ω6c/C18:1ω7c). The main polar lipids for strain K97[T] included diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylglycerol (PG), while for strain ZM62[T], the main polar lipids included diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphatidylcholine (PC). Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, strain K97[T] is proposed as a novel species within the genus Phycobacter, for which the name Phycobacter sedimenti is proposed, and the type strain is K97[T] (= KCTC 8365[T] = MCCC 1H01460[T]). Strain ZM62[T] is proposed as a novel species within the genus Zhengella, for which the name Zhengella sedimenti is proposed, and the type strain is ZM62[T] (= KCTC 8813[T] = MCCC 1H01495[T]). Additionally, genomic and metabolic analyses revealed that the genus Phycobacter possesses DMSP synthesis and metabolism genes and a complete CMP-KDO pathway, indicating potential symbiosis with algae. Metabolic analysis of strain ZM62[T] indicates its potential role in the degradation of xenobiotic compounds, supported by the presence of annotated pathways for aminobenzoate (ko00627) and toluene (ko00623) degradation.},
}
@article {pmid40682559,
year = {2025},
author = {Yuan, Z and Zhang, Y and Zhang, X and Wang, L and Ling, G and Zhang, P},
title = {Microalgae and Bioactive Substances Therein: Unveiling Therapeutic Promise against Inflammatory Bowel Disease.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {73},
number = {30},
pages = {18497-18510},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c04341},
pmid = {40682559},
issn = {1520-5118},
mesh = {*Microalgae/chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy/therapy ; Animals ; *Biological Products/chemistry/administration &amp; dosage ; },
abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), represents a chronic and recurrent inflammatory ailment of the intestines. It strikes a harsh blow to patients' quality of life. Currently, there is a dearth of effective treatments for IBD, which causes patients to endure significant distress. Thus, it is of utmost urgency to formulate a treatment plan for IBD that is safe, effective, and affordable. In recent years, natural products have increasingly become a new strategy to alleviate IBD due to their safety and effectiveness. Among many natural products, microalgae have attracted extensive attention from researchers, owing to their abundance in a diverse range of bioactive constituents, such as polysaccharides, phycocyanin, and carotenoids. Microalgae and the bioactive compounds within them can effectively alleviate IBD. Their potential application value is discussed as they are expected to be new strategies concerning the prevention and treatment of this disease. In retrospect, we start from the pathogenesis of IBD, and combining with the deep therapeutic mechanism of microalgae-derived active ingredients, this article expounds on its broad prospects in the treatment of IBD. Meanwhile, the positive effects of microalgae as biological carriers and symbiotic components on the treatment of IBD were summarized.},
}
@article {pmid40682492,
year = {2025},
author = {Milasan, LH and Finta, O},
title = {"Rising Like Phoenix From the Ashes": An Arts-Based Qualitative Study of Mental Health Resilience and Recovery in Romania.},
journal = {Qualitative health research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {10497323251355120},
doi = {10.1177/10497323251355120},
pmid = {40682492},
issn = {1049-7323},
abstract = {The philosophy underpinning mental health care has undergone a shift from a biomedical, deficit model to a recovery-oriented, strengths-based approach prioritizing individual abilities, experiences, and skills. Within this context, it is paramount to understand how resilience is experienced by people living with mental distress, and the role it plays in the recovery process. This arts-based qualitative study aims to explore the meanings and experiences of resilience as part of the recovery journey of nine mental health service users from a community day center in Romania. In Romania, the mental health system and research into mental distress and recovery have been traditionally guided by a biomedical approach. This is the first study conducted from the perspective of people living with mental distress in Romania, revealing the experiential and conceptual complexities of resilience in their recovery. Thematic analysis of data generated through ten creative workshops, a focus group, and art-elicited semi-structured interviews revealed four key themes of resilience intertwined with participants' experiences of recovery: re(dis)covering the authentic self, symbiosis with the day center, navigating conflicts (with self, society, and the psychiatric system), and leaving the past behind. The insights from participants' verbal contributions triangulated with their artwork provided a deeper understanding of resilience within the cultural context of Romania. The findings add to an increasing body of evidence that informs the reformation of mental health practices in line with the perspectives on resilience held by people experiencing mental distress.},
}
@article {pmid40682111,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, Y and Jiang, W and Wu, P and Liu, Y and Ma, Y and Ren, H and Jin, X and Jiang, J and Zhang, R and Li, H and Feng, L and Zhou, X},
title = {Probiotic efficacy of Cetobacterium somerae (CGMCC No. 28843): promoting intestinal digestion, absorption, and structural integrity in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).},
journal = {Journal of animal science and biotechnology},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {103},
pmid = {40682111},
issn = {1674-9782},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Cetobacterium somerae, a symbiotic microorganism resident in various fish intestines, is recognized for its beneficial effects on fish gut health. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of C. somerae on gut health remain unclear. In this experiment, we investigated the influence of C. somerae (CGMCC No.28843) on the growth performance, intestinal digestive and absorptive capacity, and intestinal structural integrity of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and explored its potential mechanisms.<br><br>METHODS: A cohort of 2,160 juvenile grass carp with an initial mean body weight of 11.30&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;0.01&#xa0;g were randomly allocated into 6 treatment groups, each comprising 6 replicates (60 fish per replicate). The experimental diets were supplemented with C. somerae at graded levels of 0.00 (control), 0.68&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079;, 1.35&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079;, 2.04&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079;, 2.70&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079;, and 3.40&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079; cells/kg feed. Following a 10-week experimental period, biological samples were collected for subsequent analyses.<br><br>RESULTS: Dietary supplementation with C. somerae at 1.35&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079; cells/kg significantly enhanced growth performance, intestinal development, and nutrient retention rate in juvenile grass carp (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). The treatment resulted in increased intestinal acetic acid concentration and enhanced activities of digestive enzymes and brush border enzymes (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Furthermore, it reduced intestinal permeability (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05), preserved tight junctions (TJ) ultrastructural integrity, and increased the expression of TJ and adherens junctions (AJ) biomarkers at both protein and transcriptional levels (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Mechanistically, these effects may be correlated with enhanced antioxidant capacity and coordinated modulation of the RhoA/ROCK, Sirt1, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. The appropriate supplementation levels, based on weight gain rate, feed conversion ratio, the activity of serum diamine oxidase and the content of lipopolysaccharide, were 1.27&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079;, 1.27&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079;, 1.34&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079; and 1.34&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;10&#x2079; cells/kg, respectively.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: C. somerae improved intestinal digestive and absorptive capacity of juvenile grass carp, maintained intestinal structural integrity, and thus promoted their growth and development. This work demonstrates the potential of C. somerae as a probiotic for aquatic animals and provides a theoretical basis for its utilization in aquaculture.},
}
@article {pmid40681981,
year = {2025},
author = {El-Sharkawy, HHA and Rashad, YM and El-Blasy, SSA and Amin, BH and Youssef, MAA and Hafez, M and Abd-ElGawad, A and Bourouah, M and Elsherbiny, EA and Yousef, SA},
title = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis and application of vitamin B3-treated Trichoderma Harzianum HE24 additively trigger immunity responses in faba bean plants against Rhizoctonia root rot and promote the plant growth and yield.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {926},
pmid = {40681981},
issn = {1471-2229},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Faba bean is a valuable legume crop, known for its high nutritional value and nitrogen fixing ability. Rhizoctonia root rot of faba bean, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, severely affects the plant growth and yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and application of vitamin B3-treated Trichoderma harzianum HE24 on plant immune responses against Rhizoctonia root rot under greenhouse conditions.<br><br>RESULTS: Results revealed that symbiosis with AMF and the application of vitamin B3-treated T. harzianum HE24 significantly upregulated the defense-related genes CHI II (50.2-fold), PAL1 (13.3-fold), and HQT (37.0-fold). Additionally, this combined treatment led to an increment in the enzymatic activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase recording 23.7 and 14.6-unit min[&#x2212;1]g[&#x2212;1] fresh weight, respectivly. Furthermore, the phenolic content in faba bean plants was enhanced (1402.3&#xa0;mg/g fresh weight) suggesting a strong activation of the plant&#x2019;s biochemical defense mechanisms and metabolic activities. Rhizoctonia root rot severity in faba bean plants was reduced by 80.4% following this treatment. Moreover, the results demonstrated that AMF symbiosis notably improved plant growth, photosynthetic content, and yield, compared to the infected control, leading to enhanced overall plant performance and disease resistance.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the additive interaction between AMF and vitamin B3-treated T. harzianum HE24 provides an effective, eco-friendly alternative for managing root rot of faba bean.},
}
@article {pmid40681704,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, S and Chu, H and Xie, Y and Wu, F and Mu, F and Wei, J and Ni, N and Wang, C and Zhang, J and Chen, M and Li, J and Yu, F and Fu, H and Wang, S and Tian, C and Wang, Z and Gao, YQ},
title = {Assisting and accelerating NMR assignment with restrained structure prediction.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {1067},
pmid = {40681704},
issn = {2399-3642},
mesh = {*Proteins/chemistry ; Protein Conformation ; *Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular/methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods ; Protein Folding ; Models, Molecular ; },
abstract = {Accurate dynamic protein structures are essential for drug design. NMR experiments can detect protein structures and potential dynamics, but the spectrum assignment and structure determination requires expertise and is time-consuming, while deep-learning-based structure predictions may be inconsistent with experimental observations. A symbiosis between experiments and AI methods is therefore essential for solving such problems. Here, we developed a Restraint Assisted Structure Predictor (RASP) model and an iterative Folding Assisted peak ASsignmenT (FAAST) pipeline directly leveraging experimental information to improve the AI-assisted structure prediction and facilitate experimental data analysis in an integrative way. The RASP model improves structure prediction, especially for multi-domain and few-MSA proteins. The FAAST pipeline for NMR NOESY analysis reduces the time consumption to hours and yields high quality structure ensemble. Both methods show high consistency between predicted structures and restraints, provided or iteratively assigned. This strategy can be expanded to other types of sparse experimental information in structure prediction.},
}
@article {pmid40681031,
year = {2025},
author = {Lu, J and Zhang, S and Wu, S and Gao, C},
title = {l-malic acid: A multifunctional metabolite at the crossroads of redox signaling, microbial symbiosis, and therapeutic innovation.},
journal = {Archives of biochemistry and biophysics},
volume = {772},
number = {},
pages = {110554},
doi = {10.1016/j.abb.2025.110554},
pmid = {40681031},
issn = {1096-0384},
abstract = {l-Malic acid, a crucial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediate and gut metabolite, has transcended its traditional role as a mere metabolic substrate. It is now recognized as a multifunctional signaling molecule intricately involved in energy metabolism, redox balance, cellular signaling, and host-microbiota crosstalk. l-Malic acid act both as nutrients and as messenger molecules and can signal to distant organs in the body to shape host pathophysiology. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that dysregulation in the physiological concentration of l-Malic acid within the host is closely associated with various diseases. Consequently, supplementation of l-Malic acid within an appropriate range holds significant potential for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. This review discusses recent groundbreaking advances elucidating the dual roles of l-malic acid as both a metabolic modulator and a therapeutic carrier. We critically evaluate its emerging potential in precision medicine, particularly for cardiovascular diseases, intestinal disorders, and skeletal muscle pathologies, highlighting the mechanistic links and translational opportunities. We argue that targeting l-malate pathways represents a promising, yet underexplored, therapeutic frontier.},
}
@article {pmid40680682,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, T and Zhao, J and Zhang, T and Ba, G and Fan, Q and Sun, Y and Zhang, G and Sadiq, FA and Sang, Y and Gao, J},
title = {Synthetic microbial community mimicking kefir for investigating community dynamics and interspecies interactions.},
journal = {International journal of food microbiology},
volume = {442},
number = {},
pages = {111345},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2025.111345},
pmid = {40680682},
issn = {1879-3460},
abstract = {Kefir grains serve as natural dairy starter cultures, surviving in high-altitude environments with low temperatures and limited oxygen, while maintaining robust fermentation capabilities. In this study, we reconstructed a synthetic microbial community (SMC) within the kefir microbial ecosystem and explored the strategies that keep this SMC stable and functioning within the complex environment. We investigated the interactions among kefir species by comparing their symbiotic capabilities, milk acidification properties, and fermentation profiles during growth in both individual cultures and co-cultures across various media. Additionally, to deepen our understanding of system-level responses within the SMC, we integrated metabolomics with pure culture techniques to elucidate the mechanisms that enable coexistence among SMC members. The composition of the SMC in fermented milk was determined through co-cultivation assessments and flavor profile analysis, which identified the key members as Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens CZ22, Lactococcus lactis CZ19, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y8. The fermented milk produced by SMC shared identical volatile compound profiles with traditional kefir milk, including seven alcohols, seven aldehydes, six ketones, five esters, two carboxylic acids, two ethers, one acyl compound, and five miscellaneous volatile compounds. Our findings revealed that the coexistence mechanism among these three species is based on cross-feeding interactions. Lc. lactis CZ19 provides L. kefiranofaciens CZ22 with amino acids such as tyrosine, proline, and arginine, promoting its growth. Moreover, S. cerevisiae Y8 supplies primary metabolic products, including purines, pyrimidines, and nucleotides, to L. kefiranofaciens CZ22, facilitating the coexistence of all three species. During the fermentation process of the SMC, L. kefiranofaciens CZ22 maintained high abundance and accelerated acidification and enhanced flavor volatiles in milk. The SMC we constructed effectively maintained the core kefir species and fermentation performance of kefir starter cultures, simplified the complex fermentation system and laid the groundwork for the modernization and improvement of the production process. This study systematically elucidates the coexistence strategies employed by synthetic microbial systems in fermented milk production, while enhancing our understanding of microbial interactions in traditional fermented foods.},
}
@article {pmid40680599,
year = {2025},
author = {Kim, J and Khan, M},
title = {Genome assembly of Diadegma fenestrale (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), and genome integration of its symbiotic virus, DfIV.},
journal = {Insect biochemistry and molecular biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {104366},
doi = {10.1016/j.ibmb.2025.104366},
pmid = {40680599},
issn = {1879-0240},
abstract = {Diadegma fenestrale is a parasitic wasp of ecological and agricultural significance, regulating pest populations. However, limited genomic resources have hindered a deeper understanding of its biology and symbiotic interactions. This study presents a chromosome-level genome assembly of D. fenestrale using Nanopore and Illumina sequencing. The assembled 221.1 Mb genome comprises 68 scaffolds, including 11 at the chromosomal level, and exhibits high completeness with a BUSCO completeness score of 99.6%. A total of 13,544 protein-coding genes were predicted, with BUSCO assessment of the gene set indicating 97.5% completeness (single-copy: 96.8%, duplicated: 0.7%), 0.7% fragmented, and 1.8% missing genes. Comparative genomic analysis with closely related hymenopteran species provides new insights into genome evolution, including gene family expansion, contraction patterns, and chromosomal rearrangements. Additionally, this study examines DfIV, a symbiotic virus associated with D. fenestrale, identifying 62 genome segments integrated into the host genome. Most segments are present in one or two copies, while four segments exhibit three copies, suggesting a dynamic interaction between the virus and the host genome that may influence gene regulation and chromosomal stability. This study provides a comprehensive genomic resource for D. fenestrale, enhancing our understanding of its genomic architecture, evolutionary dynamics, and functional adaptations. The findings contribute to broader research on parasitoid wasps, and symbiotic virus-host interactions, with implications for biological pest control and evolutionary biology.},
}
@article {pmid40679585,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, D and Chen, J and Luo, Y and Yan, S and Nan, H and Chen, X and Lin, Z and Jiang, L and Tang, H and Ma, H and Niu, Y and Fang, J and Cao, P and Yuan, L and Ma, X and Zhou, X and Lv, F and Dai, Y and Liu, H},
title = {Clinical features and fusion gene analysis of two Torque Teno Mini virus associated acute promyelocytic leukemia cases.},
journal = {Annals of hematology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40679585},
issn = {1432-0584},
support = {2023013167//Langfang Science and Technology Research and Development Program/ ; 2023013167//Langfang Science and Technology Research and Development Program/ ; },
abstract = {Torque Teno Mini Virus (TTMV), a member of the Anelloviridae family, is a commensal component of the human virome. Since the initial identification of the TTMV::RARA fusion gene as a novel driver of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), 15 cases have been reported in retrospective studies. With advancements in diagnostic methods and increased awareness, the number of newly diagnosed cases has risen, and the clinical and molecular characteristics of TTMV::RARA-APL are becoming clearer. We systematically identified the clinical characteristics, fusion gene analysis, and treatment protocols of two pediatric APL patients harboring the TTMV::RARA fusion on this basis. While the detection of TTMV::RARA contributes to defining pathogenic fusion gene and MRD monitoring indicators in non-PML::RARA-APL cases, the precise pathogenic mechanisms of this ubiquitous symbiotic virus warrant further investigation.},
}
@article {pmid40677241,
year = {2025},
author = {T Prates, E and Demerdash, O and Shah, M and Rush, TA and Kalluri, UC and Jacobson, DA},
title = {Predicting receptor-ligand pairing preferences in plant-microbe interfaces via molecular dynamics and machine learning.},
journal = {Computational and structural biotechnology journal},
volume = {27},
number = {},
pages = {2782-2795},
pmid = {40677241},
issn = {2001-0370},
abstract = {Microbiome assembly, structure, and dynamics significantly influence plant health. Secreted microbial signaling molecules initiate and mediate symbiosis by binding to structurally compatible plant receptors. For example, lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs), produced by nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria and various fungi, are recognized by plant lysin motif receptor-like kinases (LysM-RLKs), which activate the common symbiotic pathway. Accurately predicting these molecular interactions could reveal complementary signatures underlying the initial stages of endosymbiosis. Despite the breakthrough in protein-ligand structure prediction with deep learning-based tools, such as AlphaFold3, the large size and highly flexible nature of signaling compounds like LCOs present major challenges for detailed structural characterization and binding-affinity prediction. Typical structure-/physics-based methods of ligand virtual screening are designed for small, drug-like molecules, often rely on high-resolution, experimentally determined structures of the protein receptors, and rarely achieve sufficient sampling to obtain converged thermodynamic quantities with large ligands. In this study, we developed a hybrid molecular dynamics/machine learning (MD/ML) approach capable of predicting binding affinity rankings with high accuracy in systems involving large, flexible ligands, despite limited experimental structural information. Using coarse initial structural models, the predictions using the MD/ML workflow achieved strong alignment with experimental trends, particularly in the top-affinity tier for four legume LysM-RLKs (LYR3) binding to LCOs and a chitooligosaccharide. Furthermore, the MD-based conformation selection protocol provided critical structural insights into substrate specificity and binding mechanisms. This study demonstrates a powerful method to screen for challenging cognate ligand-receptors and advance our understanding of the molecular basis of microbial colonization in plants.},
}
@article {pmid40677082,
year = {2025},
author = {Yin, HK and Zhao, YH and Xie, WY and Liu, ZP and Zhou, HP and Yang, ZX},
title = {[Effects of Long-term Corn Stover Return on Fungal Communities and Enzyme Activities in Brown Soil].},
journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue},
volume = {46},
number = {7},
pages = {4699-4709},
doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202406205},
pmid = {40677082},
issn = {0250-3301},
mesh = {*Zea mays/growth &amp; development ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Agriculture/methods ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; *Fungi/classification/enzymology/growth &amp; development ; Plant Stems ; Carbon/analysis ; Mycorrhizae ; },
abstract = {Based on a 31-year consecutive long-term positioning trial of stover return to field， including four different corn stover return methods： stover not returned to field （CK）， stover overgrown （CM）， stover crushed and directly returned to field （SC）， and stover mulched （SM）； the soil nutrient content， extracellular enzyme activity， fungal community structure， and mycorrhizal functional activity were comprehensively analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology， FUNGuild functional prediction， and ecological network approach. We investigated the effects of different straw return modes on the nutrient content of brown soil farmland， analyzed the characteristics of soil extracellular enzymes and functional activities of fungal communities， and provided a theoretical basis for efficiently improving the soil fertility of brown soil farmland. The results showed that： ① Long-term different straw return treatments （SM， SC， and CM） significantly increased soil fertility， maize yield， and extracellular enzyme activities， and soil organic carbon （SOC）； total nitrogen （TN）； total phosphorus （TP）； total potassium （TK）； alkaline dissolved nitrogen （AN）； effective phosphorus （AP）； quick-acting potassium （AK）； cumulative yield of maize； and the contents of soil glucosidase （β-GC）， cellobiose hydrolase （CBH）， and dehydrogenase （DHA） contents were elevated from 17.0%-42.9%， 3.0%-50.0%， 2.3%-27.9%， 4.4%-11.5%， 11.2%-71.0%， 14.1%-320.8%， 17.1%-153.6%， 6.4%-23.0%， 35.6%-190.7%， 41.9%-58.6%， and 28.8%-773.8%； among them， the CM treatment had the most significant enhancement effect. ② Long-term different straw return treatments changed the structural composition of the soil fungal community， and the relative abundance of fungi in the phylum Periphyton decreased by 29.05%-31.12%， and the phylum Stachybotrys was enhanced by 24.76%-481.10%. The soil pH was an important influencing factor affecting the composition of the fungal community. ③ The results of network analysis showed that the indicator species of different straw return treatments in the long term belonged to different modules， which were significantly correlated with soil nutrient content and enzyme activity， among which Phaeoacremonium and Conocybe enriched in the CM treatment formed specific functional microbial clusters through a strong symbiotic relationship. ④ Functional prediction based on FUNGuild found that long-term different straw return treatments both increased the relative abundance of pathogenic and saprophytic trophic fungi and decreased the relative abundance of saprophytic-symbiotic trophic fungi. Long-term straw return can improve soil fertility and extracellular enzyme activity， increase the abundance of beneficial flora， significantly change the structure and composition of fungal communities， and favor carbon and nitrogen cycling， thus promoting the formation of a suitable environment for crop and fungal growth in brown soils.},
}
@article {pmid40676374,
year = {2025},
author = {Velásquez, A and Cornejo, P and Carvajal, M and D'Onofrio, C and Seeger, M and Cuneo, IF},
title = {A comprehensive review of the transcriptomic and metabolic responses of grapevines to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {Planta},
volume = {262},
number = {3},
pages = {58},
pmid = {40676374},
issn = {1432-2048},
support = {3220381//Fondecyt Postdoctorado/ ; 1200756//Fondecyt Regular/ ; 1220235//Fondecyt Regular/ ; NCN2023_054//N&#xfa;cleo Milenio Informaci&#xf3;n y Coordinaci&#xf3;n en Redes, ICR/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Vitis/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; Anthocyanins/metabolism ; Wine ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Symbiosis ; Phenols/metabolism ; },
abstract = {This review discusses the molecular modifications of grapevines by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, increasing anthocyanins and other phenolic molecules, potentially improving wine quality and plant stress tolerance. Grapevines are naturally associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These fungi, as obligate symbionts, are capable of influencing molecular, biochemical, and metabolic pathways, leading to alterations in the concentrations of various molecules within the host plant. Recent studies have addressed the transcriptomic and metabolic modifications triggered by AMF in grapevines. These AMF-induced alterations are involved in cell transport, sugar metabolism, plant defense mechanisms, and increased tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stressors. Notably, the shikimate pathway exhibits heightened activity following AMF inoculation in grapevines, resulting in the accumulation of anthocyanins, flavonols, phenolic acids, and stilbenes. Phenolic compounds are the main metabolites influencing grape and wine quality attributes, such as color, flavor, and potential health benefits. This review aims to provide an updated overview of current research on the transcriptomic and metabolic aspects of AMF-grapevine interactions, focusing on their impact on plant performance and quality traits.},
}
@article {pmid40675103,
year = {2025},
author = {Qiang, S and Xu, C and Yan, C and Chang, Y and Jiang, Z and Bao, J and Liu, Y},
title = {Rational manipulation of interfacial-water supply and photothermal effect in Ru-CoP/Co2P nanoneedle arrays for urea-assisted water splitting at high current densities.},
journal = {Journal of colloid and interface science},
volume = {700},
number = {Pt 2},
pages = {138435},
doi = {10.1016/j.jcis.2025.138435},
pmid = {40675103},
issn = {1095-7103},
abstract = {Tailoring the dissociative water‑hydrogen bonding network at catalyst-electrolyte interface and introducing favorable photothermal effect are pivotal for propelling diverse electrocatalytic reactions. Herein, we developed an advanced Ru-CoP/Co2P/NF nanoarray catalyst, achieving the rational modulation interfacial-water and photothermal effect. In-situ Raman and electrochemical analyses show that Ru doping modifies the electronic structure of CoP/Co2P/NF, promoting the directional evolution of interfacial-water and accelerating hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. Moreover, Ru doping enhances the photothermal effect of CoP/Co2P/NF, which counteracts the enthalpy change of urea oxidation reaction (UOR), strengthens the adsorption of urea molecules, accelerates interfacial electron transfer and activates inert reaction sites. The symbiotic photoelectric effect diminishes UOR activation energy from 27.0 to 14.2 kJ mol[-1]. Under the synergistic promotion of these effects, the Ru-CoP/Co2P/NF requires only 1.26, 1.32, 1.36 V (for UOR) and 64, 126, 161 mV (for HER) to reach 100, 500 and 1000 mA cm[-2], respectively. Further constructed HER||UOR electrolyser can deliver 100 and 500 mA cm[-2] at only 1.32 and 1.59 V, and can operate stably at a high current density of 500 mA cm[-2] for 100 h without obvious degradation. This innovative strategy of integrating interfacial-water modulation with near-infrared light excitation provides new impetus for advanced electrocatalytic system.},
}
@article {pmid40673427,
year = {2025},
author = {Grundy, E and Udvardi, M},
title = {How plants pick their friends.},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40673427},
issn = {2050-084X},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Glycine max/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; },
abstract = {A protein called RIN4 has a central role in helping legumes such as soybean and the bacteria rhizobia to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.},
}
@article {pmid40672564,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, Y and Gao, Q and Xue, L and Zhang, J and Wang, C},
title = {Optimized nitrogen fertilizer management enhances soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril.) yield and nitrogen use efficiency by promoting symbiotic nitrogen fixation capacity.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1604251},
pmid = {40672564},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Although the mulched drip irrigation system combined with high nitrogen input (240∼310 kg ha[-1]) in Xinjiang, China, frequently achieves record-high soybean yields (6855 kg ha[-1]), this practice is not conducive to symbiotic nitrogen fixation and compromises agricultural sustainability.<br><br>METHODS: Under the mulched drip irrigation, this study evaluation four nitrogen application treatments (N0: 0 kg ha[-1], N120: 120 kg ha[-1], N180: 180 kg ha[-1], and N240: 240 kg ha[-1]) were evaluated over two consecutive growing seasons to investigate their effects on nodule morphological and physiological traits, stem ureide content, and the percentage of nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) during the reproductive growth stage.<br><br>RESULTS: The application of 180 kg ha[-1] nitrogen significantly increased nodule number, nodule dry weight, nodule sucrose content, and nodule starch content, while improving soybean yield and nitrogen agronomic use efficiency. Conversely, the application of nitrogen exceeding 180 kg ha[-1] inhibited nitrogenase activity, suppressed leghemoglobin synthesis, disrupted the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase metabolic pathway, and reduced ureide translocation from nodules to stems, leading to significant accumulation of ureides in nodules. Correlation and path analyses indicated that nitrogenase activity, leghemoglobin content, urate oxidase activity, and stem ureide content were significantly positively correlated with %Ndfa, whereas nodule ureide content showed a significant negative correlation with %Ndfa. Stem ureide content exhibited a strong direct positive effect on %Ndfa (path coefficient = 0.95), confirming its validity as a robust indicator for assessing SNF capacity.<br><br>DISCUSSION: In conclusion, mulched drip irrigation, applying 180 kg ha[-1] nitrogen at the beginning pod stage (R3) effectively enhances root nodulation, promotes carbohydrate allocation to nodules, sustains symbiotic nitrogen fixation activity, and ultimately increases soybean yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Thus, under mulched drip irrigation system, applying the correct rate of nitrogen fertilizer is beneficial for enhancing soybean yield and mitigating environmental risks, which holds significant importance for promoting sustainable agricultural development.},
}
@article {pmid40672331,
year = {2025},
author = {Griend, JAV and Nottage, HC and Mehle, A and Mandel, MJ},
title = {RtmR is a membrane-embedded RRM-family RNA-binding protein that regulates biofilm formation.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40672331},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R35 GM148385/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI055397/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {The animal symbiont Vibrio fischeri has served as a model organism for molecular processes underlying bacterial group behaviors, including quorum sensing and biofilm development. Here, using a genetic approach to identify negative regulators of biofilm formation in V. fischeri, we identified a membrane-bound RNA-binding protein, RtmR (VF_2432), that acts as an inhibitor of the symbiosis polysaccharide (SYP) biofilm. Membrane localization of the protein seems to be required for protein stability, as truncation of the transmembrane helices led to an inability to detect the protein. The conserved RNP1 and RNP2 motifs in RtmR's cytoplasmic RNA recognition motif (RRM) domain are required for function, and we demonstrate binding to RNA substrates. Identification of RtmR RNA ligands was conducted with a CLIP-seq approach that revealed a large interactome. One transcript identified was that of the biofilm regulatory histidine kinase RscS. We found that RtmR biofilm inhibition depends on RscS activity and that RtmR negatively regulates levels of RscS. Overall, this work characterizes a novel type of bacterial RNA-binding protein.},
}
@article {pmid40672138,
year = {2025},
author = {Obase, K and Yamanaka, S and Ozaki, K},
title = {Root-associated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in and around aggregated retention patches left in logged areas of Abies sachalinensis planted forests.},
journal = {Mycoscience},
volume = {66},
number = {1},
pages = {116-119},
pmid = {40672138},
issn = {1618-2545},
abstract = {An aggregated retention system retains several groups of trees within cutblocks to maintain public functions such as biodiversity conservation. We examined ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal communities associated with regenerating Abies sachalinensis seedlings and their surrounding trees at different locations; inside and at the edge of the retained patches, and in clear-cut areas 10 and 50 m from the edge. The EcM fungi on the roots were grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTU) based on the similarity of their ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer sequences. Higher OTU richness was found inside (63 OTUs) and at the edge of the patches (59 OTUs) compared to clear-cut areas (33 or 25 OTUs). The ordination analysis inferred that location may influence the EcM fungal communities. However, further studies with more site replications are needed to clarify the effects of the patches on shaping EcM fungal communities.},
}
@article {pmid40671349,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, H and Gong, W and Xu, L and Lv, W and Wang, Y and Liu, W and Li, B and Lu, A},
title = {Behavior of Chiral Paclobutrazol in Soils: Enantioselective Degradation, Transformation Products, and Effects on Soil Microorganisms and Their Metabolic Functions.},
journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology},
volume = {59},
number = {29},
pages = {15339-15352},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c01966},
pmid = {40671349},
issn = {1520-5851},
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Triazoles ; *Soil/chemistry ; Stereoisomerism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Soil Pollutants ; Bacteria ; },
abstract = {Paclobutrazol, a triazole chiral plant growth regulator, has been widely applied as a racemic mixture in crop and fruit tree production. However, the enantioselective fate and effects of chiral paclobutrazol in the soil ecosystem are still unclear. In this study, systemic assessments of dissipation dynamics, transformation products (TPs) and pathways, and interactions between soil microorganisms and related metabolites are first carried out using suspect and nontarget screening, high-throughput sequencing, and soil metabolomics. The dissipation half-lives of R- and S-paclobutrazol were 30.7 and 40.7 d, and interconversion between the two enantiomers occurred in soils. Nine previously unreported TPs were identified, and one was synthesized and confirmed with an authentic standard. Aerobic degradation pathways of R- and S-enantiomers were proposed, showing enantioselective degradation. 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing results showed that both R- and S-enantiomers increased bacterial diversity but decreased fungal diversity and disrupted microbial symbiosis networks' complexity. Chiral paclobutrazol enantioselectively and significantly changed the soil metabolite spectrum. Integrated analyses revealed a strong association between microorganisms and certain metabolite expressions. These findings indicate the importance of TP analysis, provide new insights into how soil microbes and metabolite profiles are affected by paclobutrazol enantiomers, and lay the foundation for conducting all-sided impact assessments.},
}
@article {pmid40671186,
year = {2025},
author = {Dadfar, B and Alemdag, B and Kabay, G},
title = {The Alchemist, the Scientist, and the Robot: Exploring the Potential of Human-AI Symbiosis in Self-Driving Polymer Laboratories.},
journal = {Macromolecular rapid communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e00380},
doi = {10.1002/marc.202500380},
pmid = {40671186},
issn = {1521-3927},
support = {//Carl Zeiss Stiftung/ ; },
abstract = {Polymer chemistry research has progressed through three methodological eras: the alchemist's intuitive trial-and-error, the scientist's rule-based design, and the robot's algorithm-guided automation. While approaches combining combinatorial chemistry with statistical design of experiments offer a systematic approach to polymer discovery, they struggle with complex design spaces, avoid human biases, and scale up. In response, the discipline has adopted automation and artificial intelligence (AI), culminating in self-driving laboratories (SDLs), integrating high-throughput experimentation into closed-loop, AI-assisted design-build-test-learn cycles, enabling the rapid exploration of chemical spaces. However, while SDLs address throughput and complexity challenges, they introduce new forms of the original problems: algorithmic biases replace human biases, data sparsity creates constraints on design space navigation, and black-box AI models create transparency issues, complicating interpretation. These challenges emphasize a critical point: complete algorithmic autonomy is inadequate without human involvement. Human intuition, ethical judgment, and domain expertise are crucial for establishing research objectives, identifying anomalies, and ensuring adherence to ethical constraints. This perspective supports a hybrid model grounded in symbiotic autonomy, where adaptive collaboration between humans and AI enhances trust, creativity, and reproducibility. By incorporating human reasoning into adaptive AI-assisted SDL workflows, next-generation autonomous polymer discovery will be not only faster but also wiser.},
}
@article {pmid40670389,
year = {2025},
author = {Arias, SL and van Wijngaarden, EW and Balint, D and Jones, J and Crawford, CC and Shukla, PJ and Silberstein, M and Brito, IL},
title = {Environmental factors drive bacterial degradation of gastrointestinal mucus.},
journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {133},
pmid = {40670389},
issn = {2055-5008},
mesh = {Humans ; *Mucus/microbiology/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/metabolism ; *Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Bacteroides fragilis/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The mucus layer lining the gastrointestinal tract is essential for gut health, providing a protective barrier while maintaining host-microbiome symbiosis. Its disruption is a hallmark of diseases like ulcerative colitis, yet how bacterial activity impacts mucus structure remains unclear. We developed a method to collect human-cell-derived mucus that mimics human colonic mucus and used it to investigate mucus degradation by commensal bacteria. Glycan foraging by species such as Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Bacteroides fragilis did not alter mucus rheology. Instead, secreted proteases were the primary drivers of degradation. Protease activity by B. fragilis and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis was nutrient-dependent, while Enterococcus faecalis was further influenced by oxygen. Under oxidative stress, E. faecalis upregulated carbohydrate metabolism and virulence genes. These results reveal that bacterial mucus degradation is context-dependent and shaped by environmental factors. Our findings underscore the value of human cell-derived mucus models for understanding bacteria-mucus interactions in health and disease.},
}
@article {pmid40670201,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, W and Wang, Y and Xie, Q and Shi, J and Sun, L and He, Z and Murray, J and Wang, E and Yu, N and Zhang, X},
title = {AP2-domain transcription factor WRI5a-regulated MtABCB1 promotes arbuscule development in mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {Science bulletin},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.scib.2025.06.033},
pmid = {40670201},
issn = {2095-9281},
}
@article {pmid40669785,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, H and Qi, W and Wang, W and Elshobary, M and Feng, P and Zhu, S and Wang, Z and Qin, L},
title = {N-modulated algal-bacterial symbiosis: Dual detoxification and bioproduction enhancement from acid-lignocellulosic pretreatment wastewater.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {436},
number = {},
pages = {132978},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132978},
pmid = {40669785},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Wastewater/chemistry/microbiology ; *Lignin/metabolism/chemistry ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Biomass ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The lignocellulosic biorefining process produces acid-pretreated lignocellulosic wastewater (ALPW), which is rich in fermentable sugars but also contains inhibitory compounds (furfural/5-HMF/acetic acid). This study first systematically assessed the potential for ALPW valorization through algal-bacterial symbiosis with N-regulation. The results showed that 4 × ALPW enabled optimal algal biomass (3.95 g/L). Synchronous culture of algal-bacterial symbiosis in 2 × ALPW achieved 74.7 % sugar consumption and complete inhibitor detoxification, outperforming asynchronous culture. N-regulation with 80 mg/L NO3[-]-N + 40 mg/L NH4[+]-N maximized biomass (4.30 g/L) and carbon fixation (330.60 mg/L/d). The system converted 56.2 % carbon and 68.0 % nitrogen into biomass, with 1 ton corn stalk yielding 86.7 kg biomass (protein/carbohydrate/lipid: 36.6/27.1/16.0 kg). This research not only advances algal-bacterial wastewater treatment but also offers a practical, cost-effective pathway for lignocellulosic biorefineries to transition toward a circular economy. Future studies will prioritize pilot-scale validation of the N-modulated symbiosis for ALPW treatment and integration with biorefinery processes to improve economic viability.},
}
@article {pmid40669665,
year = {2025},
author = {Ghanawi, H and Koch, SF},
title = {The versatile roles of retinal pigment epithelium in the pathophysiology of retinitis pigmentosa.},
journal = {Progress in retinal and eye research},
volume = {108},
number = {},
pages = {101390},
doi = {10.1016/j.preteyeres.2025.101390},
pmid = {40669665},
issn = {1873-1635},
abstract = {Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of hereditary retinal diseases that lead to progressive vision loss, with most disease-causing genes expressed in rod photoreceptors and a smaller fraction in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. The RPE and photoreceptor cells share a symbiotic relationship characterized by close spatial and functional interactions that play a pivotal role in vision. Although the role of RPE is fundamental to the retina, its involvement in retinal pathogenesis, and, in particular, in RP remains underappreciated. In this review, we summarize morphological alterations in the RPE resulting from pathogenic mutations specific to RPE cells, as well as those occurring secondary to photoreceptor degeneration. We provide a comprehensive summary of how mutations in RPE-specific genes play a key role in the pathophysiology of RP. Finally, we discuss the latest therapeutic approaches, including AAV-mediated gene augmentation, RPE cell transplantation, and pharmacological interventions.},
}
@article {pmid40669190,
year = {2025},
author = {Feng, X and Ren, X and Zhang, L and Yang, W},
title = {Combined regulation effects of peanut meal, superphosphate, and carbonized rice husk on green waste composting.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {391},
number = {},
pages = {126525},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126525},
pmid = {40669190},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Composting ; *Oryza/chemistry ; *Arachis/chemistry ; Soil/chemistry ; *Phosphates ; Diphosphates ; },
abstract = {The low degradation efficiency and inconsistent product quality of conventional green waste (GW) composting require technological innovation. This study aimed to optimize the use of organic and inorganic bulking agents to improve GW degradation efficiency and product quality. Compound organic and inorganic bulking agents were formulated using peanut meal (PM: 0, 10, and 20 %), superphosphate (SSP: 0, 5, and 10 %), and carbonized rice husk (CRH: 0, 2, and 4 %). Monitoring of composting parameters (temperature, organic matter degradation, humification, bacterial community) and product quality (nutrients, phytotoxicity) identified T5 (10 % PM + 5 % SSP + 4 % CRH) as the optimal compound bulking agent. Compared to the control, T5 significantly prolonged the thermophilic phase by 7 days and produced the highest-quality compost product within just 28 days. T5 extended the thermophilic phase by 7 days, increased the organic matter degradation rate by 27.6 %, reduced the NH4[+]-N/NO3[-]-N ratio by 52.0 %, and increased the HA/FA ratio by 59.4 %. Network analysis revealed that most bacteria have a positive correlation, indicating that symbiotic relationships may exist in the bacterial community. Among them, Sporosarcina is regarded as the dominant species. T5 enhanced the relative abundance of dominant species in the bacterial community, including Sporosarcina and norank_f_Bacillaceae, thus fostering a more uniform bacterial community and improving the biodegradation of GW. This study provided data for the use of PM, SSP, and CRH as organic and inorganic bulking agents, enhancing GW composting efficiency and product quality while offering a feasible solution for the sustainable utilization of agricultural by-products.},
}
@article {pmid40668851,
year = {2025},
author = {He, Y and Gao, M and Wang, L},
title = {The intelligent evaluation model of the English humanistic landscape in agricultural industrial parks by the SPEAKING model: From the perspective of fish-vegetable symbiosis in new agriculture.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {7},
pages = {e0325332},
pmid = {40668851},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Humans ; *Agriculture/methods ; *Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Fishes ; *Parks, Recreational ; Language ; Models, Theoretical ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; },
abstract = {To more accurately capture the expression of the English humanistic landscape in agricultural industrial parks under the emerging agricultural paradigm of fish-vegetable symbiosis, and to address the limitations of unscientific evaluation standards and inadequate adaptability in Chinese-English translation within multimodal contexts, this study proposes an intelligent translation evaluation framework based on the SPEAKING model-comprising Setting, Participants, Ends, Act Sequence, Key, Instrumentalities, Norms, and Genre. The study identifies the core elements essential for articulating the English humanistic landscape of agricultural industrial parks and conducts a comprehensive analysis from the dual perspectives of translation accuracy and adaptability. Fish-vegetable symbiosis, an ecological agricultural system integrating aquaculture and plant cultivation, emphasizes resource recycling and ecological synergy. Internationally referred to as the "aquaponics system," this model has become a pivotal direction in sustainable ecological agriculture due to its efficiency and environmental compatibility. This study investigates multimodal translation tasks across text, image, and speech data. It addresses two primary challenges: (1) the absence of robust theoretical grounding in existing translation evaluation systems, which leads to partial and insufficiently contextualized assessments in agricultural industrial park translations; and (2) difficulties in maintaining consistency and readability across multimodal translation tasks, particularly in speech and visual modalities. The proposed optimization model integrates linguistic theory with deep learning techniques, providing a detailed analysis of contextual translation elements. Comparative evaluations are conducted against five prominent translation models: Multilingual T5 (mT5), Multilingual Bidirectional and Auto-Regressive Transformers (mBART), Delta Language Model (DeltaLM), Many-to-Many Multilingual Translation Model-100 (M2M-100), and Marian Machine Translation (MarianMT). Experimental results indicate that the proposed model outperforms existing benchmarks across multiple evaluation metrics. For translation accuracy, the Setting score for text data reaches 96.72, exceeding mT5's 92.35; the Instrumentalities score for image data is 96.11, outperforming DeltaLM's 93.12; and the Ends score for speech data achieves 94.83, surpassing MarianMT's 91.67. In terms of translation adaptability, the Genre score for text data is 96.41, compared to mT5's 93.21; the Key score for image data is 92.78, slightly higher than mBART's 92.12; and the Norms score for speech data is 91.78, exceeding DeltaLM's 90.23. These findings offer both theoretical insights and practical implications for enhancing multimodal translation evaluation systems and optimizing cross-modal translation tasks. The proposed model significantly contributes to improving the accuracy and adaptability of language expression in the context of agricultural landscapes, advancing research in intelligent translation and natural language processing.},
}
@article {pmid40668214,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and Møller, SH and Park, J and Chuang, YM and Hsueh, PC and Chang, TH and Kao, KC and Gallart-Ayala, H and Wang, YH and Peng, JJ and Bevilacqua, A and Yu, YR and Li, Z and Kieffer, Y and Peigney, D and Croizer, H and Xu, Y and Zippelius, A and Lopez-Mejia, IC and Fajas, L and Mechta-Grigoriou, F and Ivanisevic, J and Xiao, Z and Ho, MC and Shen, YC and Ho, PC},
title = {Tumor-instructed glutamine synthesis in cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes pro-tumor macrophages.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental medicine},
volume = {222},
number = {9},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1084/jem.20241426},
pmid = {40668214},
issn = {1540-9538},
support = {310030_215126/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; 310030L_208130/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; TMCG-3_213736/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; IZLCZ0_206083/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; CRSII5_205930/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; /CRI/Cancer Research Institute/United States ; //Helmut Horten Stiftung/ ; /MRA/Melanoma Research Alliance/United States ; },
mesh = {*Glutamine/biosynthesis/metabolism ; *Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism/pathology ; Animals ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; Mice ; *Tumor-Associated Macrophages/metabolism/pathology/immunology ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; *Macrophages/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Neoplasms/pathology/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Interleukin-6/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism ; Syk Kinase/metabolism ; },
abstract = {In the tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in promoting tumor progression by creating an immunosuppressive environment through cytokine secretion and antigen presentation. While previous studies have demonstrated that CAFs exhibit distinct metabolic profiles compared with normal fibroblasts, it remains unclear how these metabolic programs influence the immune landscape within tumors and which factors drive metabolic reprogramming in CAFs. Here, we found that glutamine synthesis by CAFs promotes the polarization of pro-tumorigenic tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and supports tumor growth by altering TAM composition, highlighting the pivotal role of CAFs in shaping the immunosuppressive TME. Mechanistically, we found that tumor-derived palmitic acid activates a signaling cascade involving TLR4, Syk, and NF-κB in fibroblasts, leading to inflammatory CAF polarization and IL-6-induced glutamine synthesis. These findings uncover a novel metabolic symbiosis whereby tumor cells manipulate TAM polarization through CAF-mediated glutamine metabolism, presenting potential therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy.},
}
@article {pmid40666801,
year = {2025},
author = {Lou, J and Xiang, Z and Zhu, X and Li, J and Jin, G and Cui, S and Huang, N and Le, X and Fan, Y and Sun, Q},
title = {Skin microbiota and diabetic foot ulcers.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1575081},
pmid = {40666801},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Skin microbiota is the microbial population on the skin surface, which has a symbiotic relationship with the host skin and plays an important role in maintaining skin health and regulating immune responses. In patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), the skin microbiota is unbalanced. The abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa increases, forming biofilms, destroying the skin barrier function, aggravating infection, and leading to poor wound healing. Studies have shown that the diversity of skin microbiota is positively correlated with the severity of ulcers, and regulating its composition and function may be an important strategy to improve DFUs healing. In recent years, with the development of molecular biology technology, progress has been made in the study of skin microbiota, such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology to understand its composition changes and explore the interaction mechanism with the host immune system. Based on this, some new therapeutic approaches are being explored, such as the use of probiotics or antibacterial drugs to modulate the composition of the microbiota and the development of microbiota-based personalized treatment regimens. However, there are still challenges in current research. For example, the composition and function of skin microbiota are affected by many factors, and there are relatively few studies on other microorganisms such as fungi and viruses. In the future, it is necessary to further explore its diversity and the interaction mechanism with the host, and develop more effective treatment methods to improve the prognosis of patients with DFUs.},
}
@article {pmid40665866,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, Z and Zhang, K and Peng, J and Liu, B and Kong, F and Sang, Q and Du, H},
title = {Strategies for Balancing Growth and Defence Against Biotic Stress in Legumes.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70070},
pmid = {40665866},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was also supported by the Joint Funding Project of Guangzhou Municipal Government, Universities (Academies) and Enterprises (2023A03J0049 to F.K.), Key Projects of Joint Foundation of Guangdong Provincial (Grant No. 2022B1515120045 to F.K.), Guangdong Science and Technology Plan Project (2024B1212060003 to F.K.). This study was also funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant 32301750 to H.D. and the Major Program of Guangdong Basic and Applied Research 2019B030302006 to F.K. and B.L./ ; },
abstract = {Legumes are a rich source of protein and oil for human consumption and livestock feed, but pathogens and insect pests threaten their quality and yields. Balancing growth and defence against pests and pathogens is critical for plants to maintain high productivity. Insufficient defence responses result in severe yield losses, but excessive constitutive or inducible defence responses inhibit plant growth and development, also decreasing yields. Here, we review the complex relationship between defence responses and growth of leguminous plants, focusing on important legumes such as cultivated soybean (Glycine max) and barrel clover (Medicago truncatula). In addition, we examine the interaction between symbiotic nitrogen fixation and defences in legumes and describe current plant breeding strategies to optimise the balance between plant defence and growth. This review summarises the balance between growth and defence in leguminous plants, providing a theoretical basis for breeding strategies to develop stable varieties that balance growth and resistance to improve yield.},
}
@article {pmid40665121,
year = {2025},
author = {Balasubramaniyan, M and Veeran, Y},
title = {Unravelling Evolutionary and Ecological Insights of Foraminifera by Using Next Generation Sequencing: A Review.},
journal = {Biochemical genetics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40665121},
issn = {1573-4927},
abstract = {Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has transformed our understanding of foraminifera biology by revealing cryptic diversity, clarifying phylogenetic relationships, and elucidating adaptive mechanisms previously inaccessible through morphological studies alone. This review delves into the potential of NGS in uncovering the secrets of foraminifera. We examine the current state of knowledge, recent breakthroughs, and future directions in applying NGS to foraminiferal research. Specifically, this study highlights how NGS enhances our understanding of foraminiferal taxonomy, adaptation to environmental changes, and functional genomics. Additionally, this review explores the potential of NGS to elucidate the genetic basis of foraminiferal shell formation, symbiotic relationships, and their responses to environmental stressors. We also address challenges and limitations associated with foraminiferal NGS, such as genome assembly complexities, intra-species heterogeneity, and sampling biases. Overall, this review aims to promote further research and collaboration in foraminiferal genomics, ultimately enhancing knowledge of these ecologically significant organisms and their contributions to marine ecosystems and paleoenvironments.},
}
@article {pmid40664836,
year = {2025},
author = {Arun, M and Barik, D and Dara, RN and P, P and Tudu, K and Praveenkumar, S and Kanti, PK and Ayanie, AG},
title = {Integrated renewable energy supply architecture for advancing hydrogen symbiosis and eco synergistic smart grid interactions with next generation combustion technologies.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {25619},
pmid = {40664836},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {This study introduces the Smart Grid Hybrid Electrolysis-and-Combustion System (SGHE-CS), designed to seamlessly integrate hydrogen production, storage, and utilization within smart grid operations to maximize renewable energy use and maintain grid stability. The system achieves a hydrogen production efficiency of 98.5%, indicating the effective conversion rate of electrical energy to hydrogen via PEM electrolysis. Combustion efficiency reaches 98.1%, reflecting the proportion of hydrogen energy successfully converted into usable power through advanced staged combustion. Storage and transportation efficiency is 96.3%, accounting for energy losses during hydrogen compression, storage, and delivery. Renewable integration efficiency is 97.3%, representing the system's capacity to utilize variable renewable energy inputs without curtailment. Operational versatility is 99.3%, denoting the system's ability to maintain high performance across load demands and grid conditions. Real-time monitoring and adaptive control strategies ensure reliability and resilience, positioning SGHE-CS as a promising solution for sustainable, low-carbon energy infrastructure.},
}
@article {pmid40664285,
year = {2025},
author = {Chi, Y and Ren, W and Jin, P and Shi, X and Liu, L},
title = {Robust partial nitrification and anammox under low-strength nitrogen condition by regulating organic-induced symbiosis of denitrifiers and anammox bacteria.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {436},
number = {},
pages = {132975},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132975},
pmid = {40664285},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Nitrification/drug effects ; *Nitrogen/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism/drug effects ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; *Denitrification/drug effects ; Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; Anaerobiosis/drug effects ; Nitrites/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Organic Chemicals/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {Low-strength nitrogen usually limits the efficiency of partial nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). To address this challenge, an organic-induced regulation strategy based on microbial interaction characteristics was proposed. Short-range addition of acetate for bio-screening is essential for achieving this regulation. After bio-screening, enhanced partial nitrification and anammox performance were achieved within 47 days. In the start-up phase, denitrifiers outcompeted nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) for nitrite utilization, thereby enhancing the inhibition of NOB. The relative abundance of anammox bacteria (AnAOB) was maintained at approximately 8.6 % due to an increase in extracellular proteins, which was conducive to material exchange and symbiosis between denitrifiers and AnAOB. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that bio-screening induced mixotrophic metabolism of AnAOB, characterized by up-regulating the expression of genes involved in organic carbon and energy metabolism, thereby improving the stability of the anammox process. This study provides valuable insights for enhancing anammox performance under low-strength nitrogen conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40663266,
year = {2025},
author = {Iwamori, M and Tanaka, K},
title = {Characterization of bacterial glycolipids in Pediococcus pentosaceus for fermented soybean paste (miso) and Tetragenococcus halophilus for soy sauce, in comparison with those in Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species.},
journal = {Glycoconjugate journal},
volume = {42},
number = {3-4},
pages = {199-207},
pmid = {40663266},
issn = {1573-4986},
abstract = {Gram-positive bacterial biomembranes are composed of phosphatidyl glycerol (PG), cardiolipin (CL), and dihexaosyl diglycerides (DH-DG) as the major lipid constituents. The carbohydrate structures of DH-DG are specific to the particular bacterial species and we previously revealed them to have immunologically active properties. To characterize the species-structure relationship of glycolipids in Gram-positive bacteria, the structures of DH-DG in Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) for producing fermented soybean paste (miso) and Tetragenococcus halophilus (TH) for soy sauce were determined in comparison with those in Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. They were shown to be Glcα1-2Glcα1-3'DG (kojibiosyl DG) with 18:1(oleic acid) and 18:1 as the fatty acids for PP, and that with 16:0 (palmitic acid) and 18:1 for TH, and their carbohydrate structures were identical to that in Streptococcus salivarius, a symbiotic bacterium in the human oral cavity. Additionally, both bacteria contained an acidic glycolipid, in which glycerol phosphate was attached to the 6-position of the nonreducing terminal Glc residue of DH-DG. TLC immunostaining with human sera revealed antibodies to Galα1-2Glcα1-3'DG (LacDH-DG) from Lactobacillus species and Glcβ1-6Glcβ1-3'DG (StaDH-DG) from Staphylococcus species, but not to Glcα1-2Glcα1-3'DG (StrDH-DG) from Streptococcus species, in 2 out of 20 human sera. Given that one serum sample with anti-StaDH-DG antibodies was from a patient who had suffered from food poisoning due to Staphylococcus aureus 6 months previously, the antibodies to bacterial DH-DG were thought to have arisen via bacterial infection.},
}
@article {pmid40661758,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, Y and Song, X and Lu, Y and Hu, X and Pan, S and Xu, W and Xue, Y},
title = {Different forms of nitrogen uptake in tobacco promoted by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1600887},
pmid = {40661758},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Persistent limitations in nitrogen (N) assimilation efficiency have emerged as a critical constraint in advancing the phytochemical quality of cultivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), forming obligate symbiotic associations with over 80% of terrestrial vascular plant species, significantly enhance host plant performance through improved rhizospheric nutrient mobilization. This mutualistic relationship facilitates enhanced acquisition of both macronutrients (particularly phosphorus and N) and water, thereby substantially decreasing agricultural dependence on synthetic fertilizer inputs. Building upon these premises, the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of different forms of nitrogen on the infestation rate and biomass of tobacco plants after inoculation with AMF, as well as the differences in the uptake of different forms of nitrogen by tobacco plants mediated by AMF, using the isotope [15]N labelling method. The study revealed significant variations in the uptake of various nitrogen forms by AMF. Under mixed nitrogen source conditions, (NH4)2SO4, KNO3, and glutamine (Glu) constituted 48.61%, 36.10%, and 15.29% of total nitrogen uptake, respectively. Notably, AMF exhibited a preferential uptake hierarchy for NH4 [+], demonstrating 1.35-fold and 2.94-fold higher absorption rates compared to NO3 [-] and Glu. Furthermore, [15]N isotopic tracing analysis confirmed active Glu assimilation by AMF, as evidenced by significantly elevated [15]N-Glu uptake in labeled treatments relative to non-labeled controls. These findings collectively suggest that AMF symbiosis modifies tobacco plants' nutritional preferences among distinct nitrogen forms. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for optimizing nitrogen utilization efficiency and enhancing agronomic productivity in tobacco cultivation systems.},
}
@article {pmid40660619,
year = {2025},
author = {Armstrong, R},
title = {Microbes as Teachers: Rethinking Knowledge in the Anthropocene.},
journal = {Microbial biotechnology},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {e70195},
pmid = {40660619},
issn = {1751-7915},
support = {101114746//European Innovation Council (EIC), Pathfinder Challenges/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Ecosystem ; *Microbiology/education ; },
abstract = {This opinion piece proposes that the environmental crises of our time arise from a failure to recognise the vital role of microbes in sustaining life on Earth, where ecosystems have been shaped for billions of years by microbial processes, including oxygen production, nutrient cycling and climate regulation. Yet the idea that microbes can 'teach' us how to navigate complexity, adapt across scales, and sustain planetary systems is still marginalised in science, policy, and education. A paradigm shift is proposed: microbes must be reframed as active collaborators in solving global challenges. This perspective is grounded in microbial ecology, Indigenous knowledge, and ethical philosophy, advocating for 'learning' through and with microbial life. To institutionalise this transition, policy and educational reforms are urged, centring microbial literacy as a foundation for ecological understanding. By integrating microbial agency into human knowledge systems, societal actions could be realigned with the biochemical and evolutionary logics that have sustained life for millennia. Ultimately, a deeper engagement with microbial knowledge is called for-one that informs a more sustainable future.},
}
@article {pmid40658106,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, G and Wang, Y and Zhang, X and Jiang, K and Yu, M and Fang, L and Li, F},
title = {Periphyton-Driven Arsenic Methylation in Paddy Soils: The Crucial Role of Trophic Interactions.},
journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology},
volume = {59},
number = {29},
pages = {15203-15214},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c06047},
pmid = {40658106},
issn = {1520-5851},
mesh = {*Arsenic ; *Soil/chemistry ; Methylation ; Soil Microbiology ; Microbiota ; Oryza ; },
abstract = {Arsenic (As) methylation facilitated by periphyton in paddy soils is crucial for its biogeochemical cycling and thus its bioavailability. However, the key functional taxa and underlying interactive metabolisms remain unclear due to the high complexity of the periphytic microbiome. Here, we employ DNA-stable isotope probing with metagenomic binning analysis to uncover the critical role of intrinsic trophic interactions in stimulating As methylation within the periphyton in association with soil inorganic carbon. Abundance of As-methylating microorganisms in the periphyton increases by 2.1-fold after bicarbonate addition. Members of phototrophs are predominantly responsible for regulating the stability of the periphytic microbiome, of which photoautotrophs (e.g., Oscillatoriales) initiate carbon fixation and constitute a major portion of As-methylating populations. These phototrophs further offer requisite organic substrates such as polysaccharides for heterotrophic bacteria (e.g., Chitinophagales) that in return foster the growth of the periphytic community, while these taxa simultaneously detoxify As through biomethylation to secure their ecological niches in periphyton. Such a symbiotic metabolism between phototrophs and heterotrophs facilitates carbon sequestration and shapes the functional community, collaboratively determining methylated As production in paddy soils. These findings offer new insights into the influence of trophic interactions within the periphyton on As speciation with potential implications for element cycling and soil remediation in paddy soils.},
}
@article {pmid40657914,
year = {2025},
author = {Fung, BL and Musto, EG and Mugambi, LK and Lange, ML and Tepavcevic, J and Visick, KL},
title = {A single point mutation is sufficient to drive syp-dependent biofilm formation and promote colonization by Vibrio fischeri.},
journal = {Journal of bacteriology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0013125},
doi = {10.1128/jb.00131-25},
pmid = {40657914},
issn = {1098-5530},
abstract = {Symbiotic colonization by Vibrio fischeri relies on the syp gene cluster, which encodes proteins predicted to synthesize and export a polysaccharide, SYP, that functions in cell-cell adherence. In strain ES114, four two-component sensor kinase/phosphatases, including central regulator SypF and the nitric oxide/HnoX-controlled HahK, dictate the activities of two response regulators, SypG and SypE, which in turn control SYP production. Here, we report that a single nucleotide change (C/A) upstream of the hnoX-hahK operon caused a substantial 80-fold increase in its transcription. While a search for negative regulators yielded Zur (zinc uptake regulator), loss of Zur only modestly (approximately threefold) increased transcription. We found instead that the C/A change engendered a new transcriptional start site. Furthermore, the C/A change was sufficient to robustly promote syp-dependent biofilm formation dependent on HahK and SypG but only partially dependent on the central regulator SypF. Rather, the residual biofilm formation in the absence of SypF relied on the luminescence regulator LuxU. Consistent with its ability to produce syp-dependent biofilms, a ΔsypF mutant that carried the C/A-hahK allele outcompeted its ΔsypF parent for squid colonization. Finally, bioinformatic analyses of the hnoX promoter region in various V. fischeri isolates revealed that most contained G or C nucleotides lacking in ES114, indicating an evolutionary divergence between different isolates. Together, these findings uncover the ability of HahK to signal through both SypF and LuxU to induce syp-dependent biofilm formation and host colonization, thus advancing our understanding of the regulators that control syp-dependent biofilm formation by V. fischeri.IMPORTANCEBiofilms promote the attachment of bacteria to each other and to surfaces. For Vibrio fischeri, biofilm formation dependent on the symbiosis polysaccharide (syp) locus promotes colonization of its symbiotic host. Multiple two-component regulators, including the central sensor kinase SypF and nitric oxide/HnoX-controlled sensor kinase HahK, induce SYP production. Here, we identify a C/A change in the hnoX-hahK regulatory region that substantially increases its transcription and SYP-dependent biofilm formation. We further determined that HahK signals through both SypF and the luminescence regulator LuxU to promote biofilm formation and host colonization. Our findings thus provide insight into the regulatory crossover between two major pathways, quorum sensing-controlled luminescence and biofilm formation, in V. fischeri.},
}
@article {pmid40657902,
year = {2025},
author = {Keller-Costa, T and Madureira, S and Fernandes, AS and Kozma, L and Gonçalves, J and Barroso, C and Kusuma, AB and Egas, C and Costa, R},
title = {Genome sequence of the marine bacterium Roseobacter sp. EG26, isolated from the octocoral Eunicella gazella, suggests aptitude for a host-associated lifestyle.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {e0043025},
pmid = {40657902},
issn = {2576-098X},
support = {FA_05_2017_032//Dire&#xe7;&#xe3;o Geral de Pol&#xed;tica do Mar (DGPM), Portugal/ ; C644915664-00000026//European Union, Next Generation Funds/ ; UIDB/04565/2020, UIDP/04565/2020, LA/P/0140/2020, UIDB/04539/2020, UIDP/04539/2020, LA/P/0058/2020, CEECIND/00788/2017//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e a Tecnologia/ ; },
abstract = {We present the genome sequence of the octocoral-associated Roseobacter sp. EG26. We highlight features related to type II, III, IV, and VI secretion systems, ankyrin-repeat proteins, and taurine degradation, suggesting a preference for a host-associated lifestyle. Strain EG26 also possesses genes for the degradation of phenolic compounds with bioremediation potential.},
}
@article {pmid40654802,
year = {2025},
author = {Heo, K and Jung, DJ and Yoo, JS and Goh, B and Kasper, DL and Oh, SF},
title = {Bacterial glycosphingolipids orchestrate colonization and immune modulation in neonatal host.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.05.02.651985},
pmid = {40654802},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Symbiotic microbiota has co-existed with the mammalian host over millennia, conserving a stable community structure generation after generation. During the vertical transmission, gut symbionts rapidly colonize the unoccupied host lumen, nonetheless, how symbionts adapt to the dynamic changes of host environment, and contribute to the structural and immunological maturation remains elusive. Here, we show that the early gut symbiont Bacteroides fragilis produces a species- and stage-specific sphingolipid, alpha-galactosylceramide (BfaGC), that orchestrates neonatal colonization and immune modulation. BfaGC stabilizes membrane integrity and facilitates aerobic respiration, providing a critical advantage under early-life oxygen exposure. Temporally induced in the neonatal gut, BfaGC is necessary to regulate colonic type I natural killer T (NKT) cells, highlighting metabolic adaptation of the symbiont is synchronized with the time-sensitive host development. These findings reveal a mutualistic benefit exerted by endobiotic lipid metabolites in host-microbe interactions and provide new insights into species-specific mechanisms in early microbiota establishment and host immune education.},
}
@article {pmid40654299,
year = {2025},
author = {Duval, BD and Carabotta, E and de Tomas-Marin, S and Lightfoot, DC},
title = {Coincident shifts in riparian ground-active arthropod diversity and soil nutrients under an introduced symbiotic N2-fixing tree.},
journal = {Environmental entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ee/nvaf025},
pmid = {40654299},
issn = {1938-2936},
support = {//New Mexico Game and Fish/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing plants such as Russian olive can significantly impact soil chemistry and invertebrate biodiversity in riparian ecosystems. Here, the effects of Russian olive on soil chemical properties and invertebrate communities in riparian zones of the southwestern United States were investigated. Russian olive stands were compared to native cottonwood stands and restoration sites by analyzing soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and moisture levels, and arthropod diversity and abundance. Sites where Russian olive is present led to a net increase in soil nitrogen, a decrease in soil phosphorus, and greater soil moisture compared to both native cottonwood stands and restoration sites. Native cottonwood stands showed lower soil N and higher P levels, as well as higher arthropod diversity. This increased diversity could be linked to the soil's nutrient stoichiometry, as there is a negative correlation between taxonomic diversity and the soil N:P ratio. Moreover, there was a greater abundance of detritivorous arthropods in Russian olive stands compared to native vegetation. Soil nitrate (NO3-) levels showed a strong positive correlation with detritivorous arthropod abundance (r2 = 0.98), but only a moderate correlation with herbivores (r2 = 0.38), and NO3- was unrelated to predator abundance (r2 = 0.01). These results suggest that Russian olive stands can alter soil chemistry in ways that disproportionately benefit detritivores, potentially disrupting the balance of arthropod communities and reducing overall biodiversity in riparian ecosystems. The study underscores the need for careful management of invasive, symbiotic N2-fixing plant species to preserve the ecological integrity of riparian habitats.},
}
@article {pmid40654156,
year = {2025},
author = {Suetsugu, K},
title = {Isotope evidence for partial mycoheterotrophy and trophic flexibility in the arbuscular mycorrhizal green plant Gentiana zollingeri.},
journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/plb.70071},
pmid = {40654156},
issn = {1438-8677},
support = {JPMJPR21D6//Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations are central to terrestrial ecosystems, typically facilitating the exchange of organic carbon from plants for mineral nutrients from fungi. Full mycoheterotrophy, in which plants derive all their carbon from AM fungi, is widespread among many achlorophyllous plant taxa such as Voyria and Voyriella (Gentianaceae). However, the extent and ecological significance of partial mycoheterotrophy, where green AM plants supplement photosynthesis with fungal carbon, remain under debate. This study investigates the nutritional mode of Gentiana zollingeri, a photosynthetic Gentianaceae species, using [13]C and [15]N stable isotope analysis, focusing on the relationship between isotopic enrichment and leaf ratio (leaf biomass relative to total shoot biomass). Gentiana zollingeri exhibited significantly higher [13]C and [15]N than autotrophic reference plants, suggesting a reliance on fungal-derived carbon and nitrogen. A negative correlation between [13]C enrichment and leaf ratio indicates that the enrichment reflects fungal dependence rather than alternative physiological traits. Notably, the underground stem showed [13]C enrichment comparable to that of fully mycoheterotrophic Gentianaceae, suggesting it is primarily composed of fungal carbon. These findings support the hypothesis that G. zollingeri employs a flexible nutrition strategy, adjusting fungal dependence according to photosynthetic capacity. Although modest [13]C and [15]N enrichment alone cannot confirm partial mycoheterotrophy, integrative approaches combining stable isotope data with ecological and physiological indicators (e.g., negative correlation between [13]C enrichment and leaf ratio) strongly support fungal carbon acquisition in G. zollingeri. Similar frameworks will help to rigorously assess partial mycoheterotrophy in other Paris-type AM plants with subtle isotopic enrichment.},
}
@article {pmid40654068,
year = {2025},
author = {Gill, J and Tharp, CL and Suseela, V},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Enables Efficient Phosphorus Uptake in Sorghum Accessions With Contrasting Root Traits.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15666},
pmid = {40654068},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//The study was supported by the USDA-NIFA award 2022-67014-37145./ ; },
abstract = {Phosphorus (P), an essential nutrient, is apparently unavailable to plants due to strong sorption in soils. Plants with shallow root systems and high surface area exhibit high P acquisition efficiency (PAE). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) symbiosis can also enhance PAE. However, whether AMF symbiosis will equally benefit crop accessions with contrasting root traits is less known. We selected sorghum accessions that varied in root traits to evaluate P uptake strategies and assessed changes in root traits, acid-phosphatase activity, primary and specialised metabolome in the presence of AMF, and under limited and stratified P availability. Our results revealed that regardless of the inherent accession differences in root traits, all accessions had higher shoot P and biomass with AMF inoculation. AMF-inoculated plants had lower specific root length, higher hyphal length and acid phosphatase activity than the non-inoculated control, indicating that plants can enhance PAE with AMF, irrespective of inherent accession differences. The AMF induced similar changes in root metabolome, where AMF-inoculated plants had higher organic acids and specialised metabolites necessary for a functional symbiosis. Our results emphasise the critical role of AMF in efficient P uptake regardless of inherent root traits, which should be considered while selecting crop accessions for improved PAE.},
}
@article {pmid40653935,
year = {2025},
author = {Zheng, Z and Ke, W and Liu, C and Cai, H and Zhu, D and Liu, Q and Ji, C and Feng, L and Gu, J and Huang, J and Wan, X and Zheng, Y and Gao, C},
title = {Symbiosomal Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Implication of Endosomal Regulators and CAPs in the Formation of Peanut Nodules.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {4},
pages = {e70409},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70409},
pmid = {40653935},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {32270291//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32470797//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32470353//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Arachis/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Proteomics/methods ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Endosomes/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Proteome/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Arachis hypogaea (peanut) is an important leguminous crop that obtains nitrogen through symbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobia, with root nodules serving as the site of this symbiosis. Although the cytological characteristics and ultrastructure of root nodules in model leguminous plants have been well elucidated, research progress on peanut root nodules remains relatively limited. In this study, we characterized the spatiotemporal developmental pattern of peanut root nodules through microscopic imaging and ultrastructural analysis. Furthermore, we isolated symbiosome-enriched fractions from peanut nodules for proteomic analysis and identified 340 and 182 peanut proteins in a comprehensive proteome atlas of the peanut symbiosome membrane (SM) and peribacteroid space (PBS), respectively. Notably, our analysis revealed a significant enrichment of endosomal regulators in the SM and CAP family proteins (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins) in the PBS. Finally, we demonstrated that AhCAP21 specifically localizes to the symbiosome, and the SM-localized AhRabA2a is essential for proper symbiosome development. Together, these findings advance our understanding of peanut nodule development and provide insights into the protein compositions and regulators in symbiosome biogenesis in peanut nodules.},
}
@article {pmid40653356,
year = {2025},
author = {Sarath Krishnan, MP and Goyal, B and Nampui, L and Gupta, SC},
title = {The role of microbiome in gastrointestinal cancer.},
journal = {International review of cell and molecular biology},
volume = {395},
number = {},
pages = {67-98},
doi = {10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.12.009},
pmid = {40653356},
issn = {1937-6448},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/microbiology/pathology/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; },
abstract = {The human microbiome consists of the diverse microorganisms with their equally diverse functional abilities that have evolved over millions of years with humans. This microbiome creates a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with their host. Through their varied functions, the human gut microbiota is crucial for preserving health and homeostasis. Any imbalance in this microbial population can lead to an array of diseased states, including cancer especially of the gastrointestinal system. The focus of this chapter is to discuss the mechanisms through which the gut microbiome creates a conducive environment for initiation and progression of cancer. In addition, the effect of microbial products such as short chain fatty acids, bile acids and Trimethylamine N-oxide on the formation of gastrointestinal cancer is also discussed. The various experimental methods and new molecular techniques that have facilitated the characterization and study of microorganisms is also discussed. The developments in microbiome research have shed light on the potential role of gut microbiota for novel biomarker discovery and therapeutic interventions in gastrointestinal cancer, like fecal microbiota transplantation. The prospects of these areas for further exploration are discussed.},
}
@article {pmid40651702,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, PF and Wang, D and Fu, YB and Ma, XG and Zheng, H and Han, LY and Wang, A and Jiang, DL and Sun, HW and Jin, X},
title = {The recovery mechanism of granular sludge fragmentation and re-granulation caused by long-term high-concentration organic matter erosion in the SAD process: performance, sludge evolution, and metagenomic sequencing.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {436},
number = {},
pages = {132966},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132966},
pmid = {40651702},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Sewage/microbiology/chemistry ; *Denitrification ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Organic Chemicals ; Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Carbon ; },
abstract = {The Simultaneous Anammox and Denitrification (SAD) process effectively removes organic carbon sources, the impact of high-concentration carbon sources on the SAD process remains unclear. This study investigated the performance, sludge characteristics, microbial community correlations, and metagenomic sequencing of the SAD system under conditions of excessive organic matter exposure. The results showed that the organic matter metabolism ability of SAD granular sludge increased from 90.16 ± 1.16 % to 95.2 ± 2.3 %. The Mantel test revealed that Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation Bacteria (AnAOB) (Candidatus_Kuenenia) were positively correlated with VSS/SS and instability coefficient, while Denitrifying Bacteria (DNB) (Truepera, Ottowia, Deniratisoma, Arenimonas) were negatively correlated with wet density, settling velocity, granule size, protein/polysaccharides (PN/PS) ratio, and the complete coefficient. Following the recovery of the SAD system, the bacterial community correlations increased, and the stability and mechanical strength of the granular sludge were enhanced. Metagenomic sequencing showed that a decrease of Quorum sensing (QS) and the increase of c-di-GMP levels led to up-regulation of exopolysaccharide and extracellular protein expression, resulting in the disintegration of SAD granular sludge. As the sludge aggregated, recombined, and re-granulated, the system up-regulated the expression of the hzs gene in AnAOB nitrogen metabolism via c-di-GMP and QS signals. It also up-regulated the expression of genes such as Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium (DNRA) and potential denitrification pathways, enhancing the metabolism of AnAOB and symbiotic bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40651449,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and Zhang, Y and Wang, Y and Han, Y and Yang, T and Yan, C and Li, H and Li, C and Yan, X},
title = {Spatiotemporal distribution, co-occurrence patterns, and potential effects of virulence factors in bioaerosols emitted from an Anaerobic-Anoxic-Aerobic wastewater treatment plant.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {286},
number = {},
pages = {124188},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.124188},
pmid = {40651449},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Bacterial pathogenicity poses a significant concern for both environmental and public health. Various virulence factors (VFs) contribute to the establishment and pathogenicity of bacteria, either independently or in combination. VFs are key indicators of the invasive potential of a pathogen. Increasing evidence suggests that municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP) act as both sinks and sources of pathogens and VFs. This study systematically evaluated the spatiotemporal distribution, co-occurrence patterns, and potential effects of pathogenic VFs in bioaerosols within a conventional anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic (A[2]/O) MWTP through longitudinal field monitoring. The results showed that after wastewater treatment, most VFs from wastewater were transferred to the dewatered sludge containing pathogens or host bacteria. During wastewater treatment and sludge dewatering, significant quantities of pathogenic VFs were released into the air. Pathogenic VFs were most abundant and stable in bioaerosols during the spring. Fine grid (FG) and sludge dewatering room (SDR) were identified as the primary units responsible for VF dissipation and pathogen accumulation. Pathogens significantly affected VF overexpression in bioaerosols, with strong positive symbiotic networks observed during all four seasons (54.14 %, 74.26 %, 59.77 %, and 59.82 %). In addition, the pathogenic VFs emitted from MWTPs were carried by wind, affecting the surrounding air quality. This study enhances understanding of the pollution caused by pathogenic VFs in MWTPs, providing important insights for assessing their environmental risks and formulating effective control strategies. It also contributes to safeguarding aquatic ecosystems and public health.},
}
@article {pmid40650573,
year = {2025},
author = {Dunken, N and Thomsen, T and Zuccaro, A},
title = {Purine-based infochemicals and immunometabolites: a comparative review of emerging signaling pathways in plants and animals.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews},
volume = {49},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40650573},
issn = {1574-6976},
support = {EXC 2048/1//DFG/ ; 390686111//DFG/ ; 1403-414786233//CRC/ ; 341/1-456082119//International Max Planck Research School/ ; },
mesh = {*Signal Transduction ; Animals ; *Purines/metabolism/immunology ; *Plants/metabolism/immunology/microbiology ; Humans ; },
abstract = {Purine-based metabolites serve as essential mediators of signaling, immunity, and host-microbe interactions across biological kingdoms. This review explores their extracellular and intracellular functions, focusing on well-characterized molecules as well as emerging players, and examines the conserved and divergent mechanisms underlying purine-mediated responses in plants and animals, with comparative insights into microbial strategies that influence or exploit these pathways. Key topics include the role of extracellular adenosine triphosphate in immune responses, the dual function of NAD+ as both a metabolic cofactor and signaling molecule, and the emerging roles of deoxynucleosides and cyclic nucleotides in stress and immunity regulation. Special emphasis is placed on Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing proteins, which generate novel purine-derived infochemicals-bioactive signaling metabolites that regulate immune responses and cell death while modulating host-microbe interactions. By integrating insights across biological kingdoms, this review underscores the potential of purine-based signaling molecules and their natural and chemically modified functional derivatives as targets for therapeutic and agricultural innovation, bridging fundamental discoveries with practical applications. Finally, moving beyond purine-based metabolites, we offer a new perspective on immunometabolism and infochemicals as fundamental regulators of host-microbe interactions, shaping defense, modulating metabolism, facilitating symbiosis, and driving broader evolutionary dynamics.},
}
@article {pmid40649804,
year = {2025},
author = {Saleem, MA and Khan, A and Tu, J and Huang, W and Liu, Y and Feng, N and Zheng, D and Xue, Y},
title = {Salinity Stress in Rice: Multilayered Approaches for Sustainable Tolerance.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {13},
pages = {},
pmid = {40649804},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {2024KJ31//Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/ ; },
mesh = {*Oryza/genetics/physiology ; *Salt Tolerance/genetics ; *Salt Stress ; Gene Editing ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Salinity ; Stress, Physiological ; },
abstract = {Salt accumulation in arable lands causes significant abiotic stress, resulting in a 10% loss in global arable land area and jeopardizing food production and agricultural sustainability. In order to attain high and sustainable food production, it is imperative to enhance traditional agricultural practices with modern technology to enable the restoration of arable lands afflicted by salinity. This review consolidates recent rice-specific advancements aimed at enhancing salt stress resilience through integrated strategies. We explore the functions of primary and secondary metabolic pathways, organic amendments, microbial symbiosis, and plant growth regulators in reducing the negative impacts of salt. Furthermore, we highlight the significance of emerging genetic and epigenetic technologies, including gene editing and transcriptional regulation, in developing salt-tolerant rice cultivars. Physiological studies reveal salt stress responses in rice plants, biochemical analyses identify stress-related metabolites, microbial investigations uncover beneficial plant-microbe interactions, and molecular approaches enable the identification of key genes-together providing essential insights for developing salt-tolerant rice varieties. We present a comprehensive overview of the multilayered strategies-ranging from agronomic management and physiological adaptations to molecular breeding and microbial applications-that have been developed and refined over recent decades. These approaches have significantly contributed to understanding and improving salinity tolerance mechanisms in rice. This review provides a foundational framework for future research and practical implementation in stress-resilient rice farming systems.},
}
@article {pmid40648017,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, W and Shahrajabian, MH and Guan, L},
title = {The Biocontrol and Growth-Promoting Potential of Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. in Sustainable Agriculture.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {13},
pages = {},
pmid = {40648017},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {Grant no. 2024YFA0918200//the National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; MTGF2023050//the Scientific Research Project of Kweichow Moutai Liquor Co., Ltd./ ; },
abstract = {Plant-growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) play a central role in promoting sustainable agriculture by improving plant growth and resilience. The aim of this literature review is to survey the impacts of Trichoderma spp. and Penicillium spp. on various agricultural and horticultural plants. The information provided in this manuscript was obtained from randomized control experiments, review articles, and analytical studies and observations gathered from numerous literature sources such as Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. The keywords used were the common and Latin names of various agricultural and horticultural species, fungal endophytes, plant-growth-promoting fungi, Trichoderma, Penicillium, microbial biostimulants, and biotic and abiotic stresses. Endophytic fungi refer to fungi that live in plant tissues throughout part of or the entire life cycle by starting a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with its host without any negative effects. They are also capable of producing compounds and a variety of bioactive components such as terpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic components. Penicillium is extensively known for its production of secondary metabolites, its impact as a bioinoculant to help with crop productivity, and its effectiveness in sustainable crop production. The plant-growth-promotion effects of Trichoderma spp. are related to better absorption of mineral nutrients, enhanced morphological growth, better reproductive potential and yield, and better induction of disease resistance. Both Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. are effective, affordable, safe, and eco-friendly biocontrol agents for various plant species, and they can be considered economically important microorganisms for both agricultural and horticultural sciences. The present review article aims to present the most up-to-date results and findings regarding the practical applications of two important types of PGPF, namely Penicillium spp., and Trichoderma spp., in agricultural and horticultural species, considering the mechanisms of actions of these species of fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40647982,
year = {2025},
author = {Sheng, H and Shahzad, B and Long, F and Haider, FU and Li, X and Xian, L and Huang, C and Ma, Y and Li, H},
title = {Plant Diversity and Microbial Community Drive Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Castanopsis hystrix Plantations.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {13},
pages = {},
pmid = {40647982},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {52478053//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52078222//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Monoculture plantation systems face increasing challenges in sustaining ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) under intensive management and climate change, with long-term functional trajectories remaining poorly understood. Although biodiversity-EMF relationships are well-documented in natural forests, the drivers of multifunctionality in managed plantations, particularly age-dependent dynamics, require further investigation. This study examines how stand development influences EMF in Castanopsis hystrix L. plantations, a dominant subtropical timber species in China, by assessing six ecosystem functions (carbon stocks, wood production, nutrient cycling, decomposition, symbiosis, and water regulation) of six forest ages (6, 10, 15, 25, 30, and 34 years). The results demonstrate substantial age-dependent functional enhancement, with carbon stocks and wood production increasing by 467% and 2016% in mature stand (34 year) relative to younger stand (6 year). Nutrient cycling and water regulation showed intermediate gains (6% and 23%). Structural equation modeling identified plant diversity and microbial community composition as direct primary drivers. Tree biomass profiles emerged as the strongest biological predictors of EMF (p < 0.01), exceeding abiotic factors. These findings highlight that C. hystrix plantations can achieve high multifunctionality through stand maturation facilitated by synergistic interactions between plants and microbes. Conservation of understory vegetation and soil biodiversity represents a critical strategy for sustaining EMF, providing a science-based framework for climate-resilient plantation management in subtropical regions.},
}
@article {pmid40647912,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, L and Liu, L and Zou, G and Wang, X and Xu, L and Yang, Y and Liu, J and Liu, H and Liu, D},
title = {Composted PBST Biodegradable Mulch Film Residues Enhance Crop Development: Insights into Microbial Community Assembly, Network Interactions, and Soil Metabolism.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {13},
pages = {},
pmid = {40647912},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {KJCX20230421//Capacity-building Projects by the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences/ ; CARS-02-23//Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; 2023YFD1701901-05//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2024-zz-077//Beijing Postdoctoral Research Foundation/ ; 42407035//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Biodegradable mulch film (BDM) is regarded as a key solution to combat plastic mulch film pollution due to its ability to degrade completely into CO2 and H2O through environmentally friendly microorganisms. However, commercial BDM often fails to degrade fully after use, leading to the accumulation of BDM residues in soil and their transformation into microplastics (MPs) via various processes, posing a threat to the soil ecosystem. Given these discrepancies between the theoretical and practical degradation performance of BDM, there is an urgent need to understand the impacts of BDM residues on plant growth and soil health. This research conducted pot experiments spanning the entire growth cycle of Chinese cabbage to evaluate the impact of PBST-BDM raw material (R), PBST-BDM residues (M), and PBST-BDM composting product (P) on crop growth and soil quality. The findings revealed that R treatments had a slight effect on Chinese cabbage growth (e.g., a 5.80% increase in emergence rate in R 1% treatment, p < 0.05), while M treatments significantly hindered the emergence rate, plant height, leaf area, and biomass accumulation of Chinese cabbage by 30.4% (p < 0.05), 2.71 cm (p < 0.05), 39.0% (p < 0.05), and 1.86 g (p < 0.05) in the M 1% treatment compared to the control group (CK). In contrast, P treatments enhanced Chinese cabbage growth, with greater improvements at higher weight ratios, resulting in increases of 8.89% (p < 0.05), 4.96 cm (p < 0.05), 36.3% (p < 0.05), and 2.31 g (p < 0.05) in the P 1% treatment. Microbial network topology in the M 1% treatment is highly variable, with the increased proportion of positive correlations in the P 1% treatment hinting at stronger symbiotic interactions between species (p < 0.05). Analysis results of PCoA and PLS-DA showed significant differences in microbial community and soil metabolites between M 1% treatment and CK (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that, although composting post-use BDM may reduce their negative ecological effects, possibly via accelerating the early breakdown of residues, the feasibility and scalability of this approach require further validation under real-world field conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40647560,
year = {2025},
author = {Unrug-Bielawska, K and Sandowska-Markiewicz, Z and Piątkowska, M and Czarnowski, P and Goryca, K and Zeber-Lubecka, N and Dąbrowska, M and Kaniuga, E and Cybulska-Lubak, M and Bałabas, A and Statkiewicz, M and Rumieńczyk, I and Pyśniak, K and Mikula, M and Ostrowski, J},
title = {Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota Responses to New SN-38 Derivatives, Irinotecan, and FOLFOX in Mice Bearing Colorectal Cancer Patient-Derived Xenografts.},
journal = {Cancers},
volume = {17},
number = {13},
pages = {},
pmid = {40647560},
issn = {2072-6694},
support = {2018/31/B/NZ7/02675//National Science Center/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic gut microbiota can enhance cancer therapy efficacy, while treatment-induced dysbiosis may reduce effectiveness or increase toxicity. Our preclinical study compared the anticancer effects and impact on fecal microbiota and metabolites of two water-soluble SN-38 derivatives (BN-MePPR and BN-MOA), with those observed after treatment with Irinotecan, and the FOLFOX regimen in NOD scid gamma mice bearing patient-derived colon adenocarcinoma xenografts (CRC PDX).<br><br>METHODS: Five individual experiments with Irinotecan and its derivatives and eight individual experiments with FOLFOX were conducted using eight CRC PDX models. Chemotherapeutics were administered intraperitoneally 4-5 times at 5-day intervals. Fecal samples were collected before and after treatment. Microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 regions) sequencing. Mass spectrometry was used to quantify short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and amino acids (AAs).<br><br>RESULTS: All treatments significantly inhibited tumor growth versus controls. However, no significant changes were observed in gut microbiota &#x3b1;- and &#x3b2;-diversity between treated and untreated groups. Tumor progression in controls was associated with increased abundance of Marvinbryantia, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and [Eubacterium] nodatum group. FOLFOX-treated mice showed increased Marvinbryantia, Bacteroides, and Candidatus Arthromitus, and decreased Akkermansia. No distinct taxa changes were found in the Irinotecan or derivative groups. SCFA levels remained unchanged across groups, while BN-MePPR, BN-MOA, and Irinotecan all increased AA concentrations.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to earlier toxicological data, these findings indicate a relatively limited impact of the tested chemotherapeutics on the gut microbiome and metabolome, emphasizing the importance of research method selection in preclinical studies.},
}
@article {pmid40646719,
year = {2025},
author = {Tong, X and Kobayashi, Y and Ikeda, M and Wen, H and Akimoto, S-i and Shigenobu, S},
title = {Draft genome sequences of Buchnera aphidicola from three aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae) associated with gall formation on elm trees.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {e0033625},
pmid = {40646719},
issn = {2576-098X},
support = {Special Postdoctoral Researcher Fellowship//RIKEN/ ; 22K20588//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24-IMS-C279//National Institute for Basic Biology/ ; },
abstract = {The Buchnera aphidicola genomes from eriosomatine gall-forming aphids Tetraneura sorini, Tetraneura akinire, and Eriosoma harunire were sequenced, with genome sizes of 533,871, 530,863, and 627,315 bp, respectively. These genomes shed light on Buchnera's role in aphid symbiosis and adaptation.},
}
@article {pmid40645173,
year = {2025},
author = {Mercader, M and Ziadi-Künzli, F and Olivieri, S and Komoto, S and Rosti, ME and Frédérich, B and Laudet, V},
title = {Integrative phenotyping reveals new insights into the anemonefish adaptive radiation.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {14},
pages = {3473-3487.e4},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.06.041},
pmid = {40645173},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; Phenotype ; *Symbiosis ; *Biological Evolution ; *Perciformes/physiology/anatomy &amp; histology/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Adaptation, Physiological ; },
abstract = {Evolutionary radiations are fundamental to the generation of biodiversity, occurring when organisms rapidly diversify to exploit various ecological niches. Symbiosis can serve as a powerful catalyst for such diversification, as illustrated by the iconic association of anemonefish and sea anemones. However, a critical gap in our understanding of adaptive radiations lies in determining how ecological opportunities drive adaptive morphological, behavioral, and physiological traits and how these traits, in turn, influence diversification. Using anemonefish (Amphiprion spp.) as a model, we investigated the phenotypic diversification accompanying their evolutionary history following symbiosis with giant sea anemones. While host specificity has traditionally been viewed as the primary driver of anemonefish adaptive radiation, we present an alternative perspective, showing that distinct ecological strategies-independent of host species-may also significantly contribute to their diversification. By examining half of the described anemonefish species, we combined field observations, swimming tunnel experiments, computational simulations, and morphological analyses to empirically reveal the presence of eco-morphotypes that exist independently of host specificity. Our findings provide novel insights into the evolutionary history and processes shaping anemonefish diversity. We show that, beyond sea anemone hosts, multiple drivers significantly contributed to their diversification. Integrative phenotyping, combining in situ and laboratory observations, reveals the forces driving adaptive radiations. It uncovers an unexpected, fine-tuned diversification in anemonefish, exemplifying how natural selection precisely shapes biodiversity during radiative bursts and highlighting the complexity of ecological interactions and evolutionary mechanisms.},
}
@article {pmid40644904,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, H and Xu, K and Xing, R and Wang, L and Liu, R and Wang, X and Chen, L and Li, R and Yu, Z and Cao, X and Cheng, C and Su, Q},
title = {Differential response patterns of bacterial communities in seawater and sediments to the Chaetomorpha valida bloom in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus aquaculture ponds.},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {220},
number = {},
pages = {118359},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118359},
pmid = {40644904},
issn = {1879-3363},
abstract = {The microbiota play a critical role in the health of the aquaculture pond ecosystem. Green tide have been found to affect the microbial community in the marine environments, but effects of Chaetomorpha valida bloom on the microbial composition in the aquaculture ponds related to the marine economic species have been rarely investigated. To address this shortcoming, we provided baseline information on the bacterial composition and diversity in C. valida bloom areas and non-bloom areas of Apostichopus japonicus aquaculture ponds in four seasons. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that C. valida bloom significantly changed the bacterial community composition in seawater and bacterial richness in sediment, but has minor effects on sediment bacterial community structure. The co-occurrence network analysis indicated that the bloom of C. valida intensified interspecific competition among sedimentary bacteria, thereby enhancing their stability. In contrast, it promoted symbiotic relationships among bacteria in seawater. Importantly, there were higher proportions of potential pathogens in seawater from C. valida bloom areas compared to non-bloom areas, suggesting a higher ecological risk associated with the C. valida blooms. This study offers novel perspectives on how bacterial communities in sediments and seawater differently respond to C. valida bloom in aquaculture systems.},
}
@article {pmid40644680,
year = {2025},
author = {McGarrigal, LD and Morse, CI and Sims, DT and Stebbings, GK},
title = {Development of Stretch-Shortening Cycle Function in Girls During Maturation and in Response to Training: A Narrative Review.},
journal = {Journal of strength and conditioning research},
volume = {39},
number = {8},
pages = {e1043-e1051},
doi = {10.1519/JSC.0000000000005191},
pmid = {40644680},
issn = {1533-4287},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *Plyometric Exercise ; *Athletic Performance/physiology ; *Muscle, Skeletal/physiology ; Adolescent ; Child ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Muscle Strength/physiology ; *Muscle Contraction/physiology ; },
abstract = {McGarrigal, LD, Morse, CI, Sims, DT, and Stebbings, GK. Development of stretch-shortening cycle function in girls during maturation and in response to training: A narrative review. J Strength Cond Res 39(8): e1043-e1051, 2025-The aim of this narrative review was to examine stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) function and to explore its effects on the athletic performance in girls during maturation and in response to plyometric training (PT), where there has been limited focus to date. The SSC is an integral component of explosive actions such as sprinting and jumping. Literature shows that the SSC develops during maturation because of several morphological, neurophysiological, and structural mechanisms, and that the SSC response can be amplified by training. Research suggests that boys experience "accelerated adaptation" in slow and fast SSC function as they mature, but to date, similar studies in girls are limited and often contradictory. Plyometric training capitalizes on the ability of the SSC to generate greater force production by including an eccentric muscle action quickly followed by a concentric action. However, the number of PT studies involving youth female athletes is lacking, with only 10% of all PT studies including female subjects aged <18 years. This is surprising given that PT can enhance athletic performance and reduce the risk of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries in girls. After PT, boys experience "synergistic adaptation," which is the symbiotic relationship between PT strategically programmed to coincide with the development of the SSC that is being concurrently enhanced by the processes of growth and maturation. Establishing if girls experience periods of accelerated and synergistic adaptation in slow and fast SSC function after PT would likely influence future training in this population, which has traditionally been underserved.},
}
@article {pmid40644522,
year = {2025},
author = {Fercoq, F and Cormerais, C and Remion, E and Gal, J and Plisson, J and Fall, A and Alonso, J and Lhermitte-Vallarino, N and Hübner, MP and Kohl, L and Landmann, F and Martin, C},
title = {Host environment shapes filarial parasite fitness and Wolbachia endosymbionts dynamics.},
journal = {PLoS pathogens},
volume = {21},
number = {7},
pages = {e1013301},
pmid = {40644522},
issn = {1553-7374},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/physiology/immunology ; *Symbiosis/immunology ; Mice ; Female ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; *Filarioidea/microbiology/immunology ; *Filariasis/immunology/parasitology/microbiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions/immunology ; Male ; },
abstract = {Filarial nematodes, responsible for diseases like lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, depend on symbiotic Wolbachia bacteria for reproduction and development. Using the Litomosoides sigmodontis rodent model, we investigated how host type-2 immunity influences Wolbachia dynamics and parasite development. Wild-type and type-2 immune-deficient (Il4rα[-]/[-]Il5[-]/[-]) BALB/c mice were infected with L. sigmodontis, and the distribution and abundance of Wolbachia were analyzed at different developmental stages using quantitative PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Our results show that type-2 immune environments selectively reduce germline Wolbachia in female filariae from wild-type mice, a change associated with disrupted oogenesis, embryogenesis, and microfilarial production, while somatic Wolbachia remain unaffected. Antibiotic treatments achieving systemic Wolbachia clearance result in similar reproductive impairments. Notably, Wolbachia-free microfilariae are observed shortly after Wolbachia depletion, suggesting that early-stage embryogenesis can proceed temporarily before progressive germline dysfunction ensues. Wolbachia-free microfilariae develop into infective larvae in the vector, but stall beyond the L4 stage in vertebrate hosts, showing arrested growth and reproductive organ maturation defects in both male and female larvae. These findings highlight the variable dependency on Wolbachia across life stages and provide insights into host-parasite-endosymbiont interactions shaped by environmental pressures.},
}
@article {pmid40643254,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, H and Fei, G and Guan, J and Xu, Z and Qu, J and Dai, Y and Zou, X},
title = {Ophiocordyceps zhenxingensis sp. nov. and its microbiota during sexual and asexual stages in nature.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {e0215924},
pmid = {40643254},
issn = {2165-0497},
mesh = {*Hypocreales/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Microbiota ; China ; Larva/microbiology ; Hymenoptera/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Ascomycota/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Basidiomycota/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Ophiocordyceps holds significant importance in forest arthropod population regulation, biological control of agricultural pests, and the development of bioactive substances. Investigating the microbial community composition of wild Ophiocordyceps is significant for understanding its individual development process, understory cultivation, and taxonomy. In this study, a novel insect pathogenic fungus, Ophiocordyceps zhenxingensis, parasitizing Hymenoptera larvae, originating from Liaoning Province, China, was delineated based on morphology and phylogenetics. The microbial communities in the sclerotium and host surface complex of its different reproductive stages (sexual and asexual) were investigated. O. zhenxingensis was detected within the Hirsutella citriformis subclade, being closely related to Hirsutella gigantea and Ophiocordyceps elongata. It was morphologically characterized by solitary or multiple stromata, semi-submerged perithecia, and viscous basidiospores. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota were the major bacterial taxa, and Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were the major fungal taxa. Tomentella, Sebacina, and Russula were abundant in the host surface complex that belongs to mycorrhizal fungi. The microbial co-occurrence network suggested that microbial relationships were predominantly positive correlations, and positive correlations were more pronounced in the asexual stage than the sexual stage. The microbial co-occurrence network of O. zhenxingensis was more complex during the asexual stage; it exhibited greater metabolic activity during the asexual stage. These results have enhanced our understanding of the composition, diversity, and functions of the endophytic microbial community of Ophiocordyceps, furnishing additional evidence for classifying its sexual and asexual stages and establishing a theoretical basis for subsequent research on its individual development.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Ophiocordyceps exhibits two distinct life stages (asexual and sexual) in its natural environment. The symbiotic microorganisms associated with the fungus play a crucial role in its growth and development. We have identified a new species, Ophiocordyceps zhenxingensis, which belongs to the Hirsutella citriformis subclade. A large number of mycorrhizal fungi were found in the insect appendages of O. zhenxingensis, whereas the fungal community within the sclerotium was predominantly composed of Ascomycota. During the asexual stage, O. zhenxingensis exhibited greater microbial diversity and stronger positive correlations among microorganisms. Additionally, it possesses a richer array of metabolic pathways. These results have deepened our knowledge of the composition, diversity, and roles of the microbial community in Ophiocordyceps, providing further evidence for distinguishing its sexual and asexual stages and laying a theoretical foundation for future research on its developmental processes.},
}
@article {pmid40642959,
year = {2025},
author = {Wilder, SM and Herzog, C and Reeves, J and Knowles, O and Cuff, JP},
title = {Bridging digestive physiology and ecology for a more integrative understanding of invertebrate predators.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {228},
number = {14},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1242/jeb.249697},
pmid = {40642959},
issn = {1477-9145},
support = {IOS-2420366//National Science Foundation/ ; //Newcastle University/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; *Digestive System Physiological Phenomena ; Ecology ; *Food Chain ; *Invertebrates/physiology ; *Predatory Behavior/physiology ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Nutritional ecology aims to explore the connections between the behaviour, physiology and ecology of organisms using nutrients as the unifying currency. Although significant progress has been made in studying the nutritional ecology of vertebrates and herbivorous invertebrates, research on predatory invertebrates has lagged, despite their importance in driving ecosystem processes and services, such as nutrient cycling and pest management. However, recent methodological and conceptual advances have provided significant opportunities to explore the interface of digestive physiology and ecology in predatory invertebrates. The goal of this Commentary is to explore evidence for interactions between the ecology and physiology of invertebrate predators, and to propose hypotheses and directions for future studies to expand our understanding in this area. Connections between invertebrate predator ecology and digestive physiology are discussed in relation to four pertinent topics that allow for integrative studies of invertebrate predators: micronutrients, foraging behaviour, microbial symbiosis and the Anthropocene. We hope that these areas of research will serve as examples of how physiology and ecology can be integrated for a more holistic understanding of the nutritional ecology of predatory invertebrates.},
}
@article {pmid40642887,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Jian, J and Xu, L and Meng, L and Yang, F and Li, S and Yan, J},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Change the Growth and Metabolites of Perilla frutescens, with Subsequent Effects on the Development and Behavior of Spodoptera exigua.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {73},
number = {29},
pages = {18186-18197},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c03530},
pmid = {40642887},
issn = {1520-5118},
mesh = {Animals ; *Spodoptera/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Perilla frutescens/growth &amp; development/metabolism/microbiology/chemistry/parasitology ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/parasitology/chemistry/growth &amp; development ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Herbivory ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) influence plant-insect interactions, yet how they modulate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to affect insect behavior remains unclear. This study integrates physiological assays, GC-MS volatile metabolomics, and insect bioassays to investigate how Funneliformis mosseae (Fm) and Rhizophagus intraradices (Ri) inoculation affects Perilla frutescens growth and its resistance to Spodoptera exigua. The results showed that Fm and Ri inoculation both promoted plant growth but differed in defense strategies. Ri inoculation increased the tannin content (16.98%) and polyphenol oxidase activity (40.52%), whereas Fm inoculation showed neutral effects. VOC profiling revealed that Ri inoculation upregulated leaf monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids, while Fm inoculation reduced sesquiterpenes (e.g., β-selinene). Insect bioassays showed that Ri inoculation inhibited the insect growth, whereas Fm inoculation promoted the insect growth and enhanced its feeding preference. These results revealed that AMF triggers a plant growth-defense trade-off, with sesquiterpenoid regulation critical for insect behavioral shifts. The findings provide a basis for sustainable pest management using AMF-plant symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40641649,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, X and Zhu, H},
title = {Enacting partner specificity in legume-rhizobia symbioses.},
journal = {aBIOTECH},
volume = {6},
number = {2},
pages = {311-327},
pmid = {40641649},
issn = {2662-1738},
abstract = {Legumes, such as peas, beans, and alfalfa, have evolved a remarkable ability to establish root nodule symbioses with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria to fulfill their nitrogen needs. This partnership is characterized by a high degree of specificity, occurring both within and between host and bacterial species. Consequently, nodulation capacity and nitrogen-fixing efficiency vary significantly among different plant-bacteria pairs. The genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating symbiotic specificity are diverse, involving a wide array of host and bacterial genes and signals with various modes of action. Understanding the genetic basis of symbiotic specificity could enable the development of strategies to enhance nodulation capacity and nitrogen fixation efficiency. This knowledge will also help overcome the host range barrier, which is a critical step toward extending root nodule symbiosis to non-leguminous plants. In this review, we provide an update on our current understanding of the genetics and evolution of recognition specificity in root nodule symbioses, providing more comprehensive insights into the molecular signaling in plant-bacterial interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40641645,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, JP and Su, Y and Jiang, S and Liang, W and Lou, Z and Frugier, F and Xu, P and Murray, JD},
title = {Applying conventional and cell-type-specific CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in legume plants.},
journal = {aBIOTECH},
volume = {6},
number = {2},
pages = {346-360},
pmid = {40641645},
issn = {2662-1738},
abstract = {The advent of genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, has significantly advanced the generation of legume mutants for reverse genetic studies and understanding the mechanics of the rhizobial symbiosis. The legume-rhizobia symbiosis is crucial for sustainable agriculture, enhancing nitrogen fixation and improving soil fertility. Numerous genes with a symbiosis-specific expression have been identified, sometimes exclusively expressed in cells forming infection threads or in nitrogen-fixing nodule cells. Typically, mutations in these genes do not affect plant growth. However, in some instances, germline homozygous mutations can be lethal or result in complex pleiotropic phenotypes that are challenging to interpret. To address this issue, a rhizobia-inducible and cell-type-specific CRISPR/Cas9 strategy was developed to knock-out genes in specific legume transgenic root tissues. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in legume genome editing, highlighting the cell-type-specific CRISPR system and its crucial applications in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and beyond.},
}
@article {pmid40641644,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, F and Zhu, F and Ran, S and Ye, Q and Wang, T and Dong, J},
title = {Heterotrimeric G-protein subunits regulate plant architecture, pod development, seed size, and symbiotic nodulation in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {aBIOTECH},
volume = {6},
number = {2},
pages = {141-159},
pmid = {40641644},
issn = {2662-1738},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Heterotrimeric G proteins are crucial transducers of signaling from receptors, participating in growth and development, as well as in responses to biotic and abiotic stimuli. However, little is known about their roles in regulating various yield-related traits in legumes. In this study, we systematically analyzed the functions of two G-protein-encoding genes, MtGα1 and MtGβ1, along with Regulator of G-protein Signaling1 (MtRGS1), in Medicago truncatula. All three genes were ubiquitously expressed in roots, stems, leaves, nodules, flowers, and pods. We generated the knockout mutants Mtgα1, Mtgβ1, and Mtrgs1 using CRISPR/Cas9 and assessed their growth and development. MtGα1 knockout resulted in slightly shorter plants with smaller pods and shorter spines, but larger seeds, without affecting overall biomass or other traits. MtGβ1 knockout led to dwarfism, weak root development, a severe drop in biomass production, smaller legume pods with shorter spines, and smaller seeds. However, the Mtrgs1 mutants were largely similar to wild-type plants, with few significant defects in growth and development. We also investigated the symbiotic nodulation-related phenotypes of these mutants, discovering that Mtgβ1 mutants produce lighter nodules, whereas Mtgα1 and Mtrgs1 mutants have normal nodulation phenotypes similar to those of wild-type plants. These observations suggest that MtGβ1 positively regulates nodulation, although the detailed mechanisms by which G proteins regulate symbiotic nitrogen fixation in M. truncatula remain to be explored. This work provides potentially valuable genetic resources for further functional analysis and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of G proteins in this model legume.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-025-00210-x.},
}
@article {pmid40639969,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, C and Wang, C and He, J and Zhang, M and Huang, W},
title = {Epichloë Endophytes Potentially Facilitate Host Plant Recruitment of Rhizosphere Microbiota Carrying Beneficial Traits.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {4},
pages = {e70397},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70397},
pmid = {40639969},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {31760704//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022D01A79//Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/ ; 23XJTRZW07//Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes/ ; },
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Endophytes/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Epichloe/physiology ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Plant-microbe symbiotic relationships drive ecosystem evolution. This study employed metabolomics and metagenomic technologies to investigate the effects of the aboveground-restricted endophytic fungus Epichloë guerinii in the host plant Melica transsilvanica on the rhizosphere microbial community structure and functional traits. Our results revealed that the presence of E. guerinii significantly increased the secretion of organic acids, amino acids, and sugar alcohols from the host root system. These exudates correlated strongly with abundant, plant growth-promoting rhizosphere microorganisms like Pseudomonas, Bradyrhizobium, and Nitrospira. Functional genes that were significantly enriched in the host rhizosphere microbiota were predominantly associated with biofilm formation and organic acid metabolic pathways. Co-enrichment analyses of rhizosphere soil metabolites and genes highlighted pathways such as flagellar assembly and carbon/nitrogen/sulfur metabolism. Notably, the abundance of key genes governing the flagellar motor MotA protein in the host rhizosphere, as well as those involved in the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle, nitrification, and thiosulfate oxidation, were significantly elevated. This study demonstrates that E. guerinii positively regulates rhizosphere microbial community functions by reprogramming the composition of host root exudates. These findings deepen the mechanistic understanding of Epichloë-plant-rhizosphere microbe interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40638949,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, S and Yuan, C and Wang, G and Zhou, Y and Tian, M and Gao, C and Li, D and Guo, L and Wei, L and Yang, J and Liu, N and Jian, S},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance the tolerance of Casuarina equisetifolia to drought and salt stress under coral sand matrix conditions.},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {220},
number = {},
pages = {118400},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118400},
pmid = {40638949},
issn = {1879-3363},
abstract = {To evaluate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the stress tolerance of Casuarina equisetifolia in coral sand matrix, we inoculated seedlings with Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices and subjected them to salt stress (SS) and drought stress (DS). The results indicated that AMF colonization significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced height (42-123 %), proline and soluble sugar concentrations, and the peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities (0.65-1.78-fold) when seedlings subjected to DS or SS. Compared to non-inoculated seedlings, genes and metabolites in AM-inoculated seedlings were significantly enriched in flavonoid, anthocyanin, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and citrate cycle pathways under DS. Under SS, there was significant enrichments in pathways related to MAPK signaling, plant hormone signaling, and anthocyanin biosynthesis. This study elucidates the mechanisms by which AMF enhance C. equisetifolia tolerance in coral sand matrix at physiological, transcriptional, and metabolic levels, providing a theoretical basis for coastal vegetation restoration.},
}
@article {pmid40638905,
year = {2025},
author = {Uthra, C and Muralitharan, G and Manjula, R and Nagaraj, K},
title = {High-Sensitivity Detection of Neurodegenerative Cyanotoxins in Cycas circinalis and Symbiotic Cyanobacteria Dolichospermum circinalis Using Advanced LC-MS/MS and HR-MS With Toxicological Assessment via Artemia salina Bioassay.},
journal = {Chemistry &amp; biodiversity},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e00988},
doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202500988},
pmid = {40638905},
issn = {1612-1880},
abstract = {Human exposure to β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) and its derivatives, aminoethyl glycine (AEG) and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB), through environmental and dietary sources has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, necessitating the development of sensitive detection methods. We developed and validated a high-sensitivity liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to detect BMAA and its derivatives in seeds and coralloid roots of Cycas circinalis and associated cyanobacteria (Anabaena circinalis). These neurotoxins are produced by cyanobacteria and can bioaccumulate in symbiotic plant systems such as cycads, raising concerns over potential human exposure through environmental contact or dietary consumption. In this study, we developed and validated a highly sensitive LC-MS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) method for detecting BMAA, DAB, and AEG in C. circinalis seeds and coralloid roots, as well as associated cyanobacteria. An acid hydrolysis extraction, followed by 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) derivatization, increased detection sensitivity. The structural confirmation was performed using FT-IR and ESI-MS. Our results demonstrated significant variation in toxin concentrations, with seeds containing the highest quantities of BMAA and AEG. Compared with the aqueous extract, the methanolic extracts of A. circinalis showed severe toxicity in a brine shrimp lethality assay, resulting in 100% mortality at 100 µL.},
}
@article {pmid40638828,
year = {2025},
author = {Webster, AL and Polak, M},
title = {Priming for protection: inducible attachment-resistance to ectoparasitic mites in Drosophila.},
journal = {Parasitology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-12},
doi = {10.1017/S0031182025100437},
pmid = {40638828},
issn = {1469-8161},
abstract = {Ectoparasites are ubiquitous and are often harmful to host fitness. Whereas protective responses to ectoparasitism in vertebrate hosts are well documented, our understanding of such defences in invertebrates remains limited. Here, we examined attachment-resistance in adult Drosophila to their naturally co-occurring ectoparasitic mites, Gamasodes pachysetis (Parasitidae). Significant differences in mite attachment duration were documented among 6 species of Drosophila, providing evidence for interspecific differentiation in attachment-resistance. Experiments with D. malerkotliana, a species exhibiting a relatively high rate of mite detachment, revealed that pre-infesting flies significantly reduced mite attachment duration compared to naïve controls, indicating a priming effect. In contrast, a reduction in attachment duration was not observed in D. malerkotliana after experimentally wounding the abdominal cuticle. These results suggest that the priming effect is not simply a response to cuticle damage, and that its activation may depend on mite-specific factors. Eight genes were individually tested for their effects on the rate of mite detachment from adult flies by deploying the GAL4-UAS gene knockdown system in D. melanogaster. Knockdown of heat shock protein 70Ba (Hsp70Ba) and prophenoloxidase 2 (PPO2), which underlie general stress and melanization responses, respectively, significantly prolonged mite attachment duration, implicating their involvement in host attachment-resistance to mites. Together the results support the existence of inducible protective mechanisms mediating parasitism by mites in a naturally occurring invertebrate host-ectoparasite symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40637797,
year = {2025},
author = {Giani, NM and Lim, SJ and Anderson, LC and Paterson, AT and Engel, AS and Campbell, BJ},
title = {Variation in accessory and horizontal gene transfer-associated genes drives lucinid endosymbiont diversity.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {101},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40637797},
issn = {1574-6941},
support = {DEB-1342721//National Science Foundation/ ; DEB-1342785//National Science Foundation/ ; DEB-1342763//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Animals ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/physiology/classification ; *Bivalvia/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Genetic Variation ; Metagenome ; },
abstract = {Lucinid bivalves harbor environmentally acquired endosymbionts within the class Gammaproteobacteria and genus Candidatus Thiodiazotropha. Despite recent studies focused on lucinid endosymbiont genomic and functional diversity, processes influencing species diversity have been understudied. From the analysis of 333 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from 40 host species across 8 waterbodies and 77 distinct locations, 272 were high quality MAGs of Ca. Thiodiazotropha endosymbionts that represented 11 genomospecies. Of those, two new genomospecies from lucinids collected from The Bahamas and Florida (USA) were identified, Ca. Thiodiazotropha fisheri and Ca. Thiodiazotropha grosi. Metabolic specialization was evident, such as potential adaptations to diverse carbon sources based on detection of one-carbon (C1) metabolic genes in eight genomospecies. Genes associated with defense, symbiosis/pathogenesis, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) were also distinct across genomospecies. For instance, Ca. T. taylori exhibited lower abundances of HGT-associated genes compared to other genomospecies, particularly Ca. T. endolucinida, Ca. T. lotti, and Ca. T. weberae. HGT-associated genes were linked to previously unreported retron-type reverse transcriptases, dsDNA phages, and phage resistance. Collectively, the pangenome highlights how lucinid endosymbiont diversity has been shaped by geographic and host-specific interactions linked to gene loss and HGT through time.},
}
@article {pmid40637599,
year = {2025},
author = {Shik, JZ and Dussutour, A and De Fine Licht, HH},
title = {Harnessing Nutritional Niches to Explore Fungus-Animal Symbioses.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {28},
number = {7},
pages = {e70176},
pmid = {40637599},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {CF20-0609//Carlsbergfondet/ ; CF22-0664//Carlsbergfondet/ ; 50281//Villum Fonden/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Fungi/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Fungus-animal symbioses have evolved countless times across the tree of life. While the stability of these mutualistic or parasitic interkingdom interactions often depends on optimised nutrient exchange, we lack a framework to explore whether animal-derived nutrients are optimal for fungal symbionts. This conceptual gap has constrained studies about the ecological success and evolutionary stability of fungus-animal symbioses. We use Nutritional Geometry (NG) to harness nutritional niche theory and identify the crucial nutritional niche dimensions of fungi that mediate symbiotic stability. We hypothesise that these fungal nutritional niche dimensions are governed by symbiotic role (mutualist vs. pathogen), degree of animal host control over nutritional competition (monoculture vs. polyculture), and breadth of host associations (specialist vs. generalist). We explore the promise of integrating NG with advanced imaging and -omics approaches to test coevolutionary hypotheses at precise microscales where fungus and animal cells trade nutrients. We conclude that niche-based theory can advance studies of coevolutionary dynamics from arms races to the emergence of economically important pathogens.},
}
@article {pmid40637409,
year = {2025},
author = {Imes, AM and Pavelsky, MN and Badal, K and Kamp, DL and Briseño, JL and Sakmar, T and Vogt, MA and Nyholm, SV and Heath-Heckman, EAC and Grasse, B and Septer, AN and Mandel, MJ},
title = {Euprymna berryi as a comparative model host for Vibrio fischeri light organ symbiosis.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0000125},
doi = {10.1128/aem.00001-25},
pmid = {40637409},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Functional studies of host-microbe interactions benefit from natural model systems that enable the exploration of molecular mechanisms at the host-microbe interface. Bioluminescent Vibrio fischeri colonize the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and this binary model has enabled advances in understanding host-microbe communication, colonization specificity, in vivo biofilms, intraspecific competition, and quorum sensing. The hummingbird bobtail squid, Euprymna berryi, can be generationally bred and maintained in lab settings and has had multiple genes deleted by CRISPR approaches. The prospect of expanding the utility of the light organ model system by producing multigenerational host lines led us to determine the extent to which the E. berryi light organ symbiosis parallels known processes in E. scolopes. However, the nature of the E. berryi light organ, including its microbial constituency and specificity for microbial partners, has not been examined. In this report, we isolated bacteria from E. berryi animals and tank water. Assays of bacterial behaviors required in the host, as well as host responses to bacterial colonization, illustrate largely parallel phenotypes in E. berryi and E. scolopes hatchlings. This study reveals E. berryi to be a valuable comparative model to complement studies in E. scolopes.IMPORTANCEMicrobiome studies have been substantially advanced by model systems that enable functional interrogation of the roles of the partners and the molecular communication between those partners. The Euprymna scolopes-Vibrio fischeri system has contributed foundational knowledge, revealing key roles for bacterial quorum sensing broadly and in animal hosts, for bacteria in stimulating animal development, for bacterial motility in accessing host sites, and for in vivo biofilm formation in development and specificity of an animal's microbiome. Euprymna berryi is a second bobtail squid host, and one that has recently been shown to be robust to laboratory husbandry and amenable to gene knockout. This study identifies E. berryi as a strong symbiosis model host due to features that are conserved with those of E. scolopes, which will enable the extension of functional studies in bobtail squid symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40637407,
year = {2025},
author = {Chin, HS and Ravi Varadharajulu, N and Teo, KC and Cheong, PCH and Tang, S-L},
title = {Key findings from 15 years of Mangrovibacter research: a generalist bacterium beyond endophytes.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0247924},
doi = {10.1128/aem.02479-24},
pmid = {40637407},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Since the discovery of Mangrovibacter plantisponsor in 2010, research on Mangrovibacters (MGBs) has stagnated. Although laboratories worldwide have isolated various MGB strains and deposited their 16S rDNA sequences in the NCBI database, a limited understanding of MGBs has resulted in only a few publications from these collections. Recent advancements in metagenomic technology have revealed the presence of MGBs in a broader range of habitats. Most microbiomes exhibit low MGB abundance (typically <1%). Even in environments with higher prevalence, such as salt-tolerant aerobic granular sludge (75%), the gut of superworms fed with polyurethane (22%), or fermented foods like mandai (16%), the functional roles of MGBs remain unclear. Through meticulous curation of publications and data from MicrobeAtlas and AMIBASE, MGBs can be classified as free living, endophytic, or zoonotic. Recent evidence suggests their presence in food sources and potential interactions with humans. Current studies confirm the coexistence of MGBs with humans. This review underscores the phenotypic features and genomic foundations of MGBs, highlighting attributes such as endophytic behavior, diverse metabolite utilization, tolerance to salinity and pH, metal homeostasis, biofilm formation, and bioremediation potential. Insights are derived from the analysis of four MGB genomes deposited in NCBI since 2014, along with three newly reported genomes in 2024. Experimental and genetic evidence suggests that MGBs act as "generalist microbes" capable of thriving in diverse nutrient sources and harsh environments. This review elucidates prospective research trajectories and highlights numerous potential commercial applications of MGBs, emphasizing the need for further investigation into their roles and benefits.},
}
@article {pmid40636972,
year = {2025},
author = {Zavorskas, J and Vlahos, P and Wagstrom, K and Srivastava, R},
title = {Dynamic Flux Balance Analysis Reveals Climate-Driven Shifts in Arctic Diatom Succession and Bloom Dynamics.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {31},
number = {7},
pages = {e70339},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70339},
pmid = {40636972},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {//University of Connecticut, College of Engineering/ ; },
mesh = {*Diatoms/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Climate Change ; Arctic Regions ; *Phytoplankton/physiology ; *Carbon Cycle ; *Eutrophication ; },
abstract = {There is a critical need to understand the impact of climate change on marine microorganisms, especially phytoplankton, which are responsible for as much as half of atmospheric oxygen and are critical for the global carbon cycle. Climate change is causing drastic alterations in marine ecosystems, with the Arctic Ocean experiencing unprecedented environmental changes such as sea ice retreat and rising temperatures. These changes threaten to have severe consequences on the global carbon cycle, specifically on processes mediated by marine phytoplankton communities. Diatoms are one of the primary carbon-fixing phytoplankton in the Arctic Ocean and represent a critical sink within the global carbon cycle and are especially vulnerable to these changes. Spring blooms of diatoms in the Arctic account for approximately 20% of annual carbon fixation, but climate change effects will fundamentally change the environmental conditions that govern these blooms' dynamics. The succession pattern of diatom communities, from early blooming Thalassiosira to later-blooming Chaetoceros, is a critical driver of carbon sequestration, yet our understanding of how these patterns will respond to climate change remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, we developed dynamic flux balance analysis models incorporating complex empirical environmental parameters to simulate the annual life cycle of Thalassiosira and Chaetoceros. Model validation against historical data successfully recreated known diatom succession patterns, predicted post-bloom diatom biomass and nutrient concentrations independently, and recreated the known diatom succession pattern. Our models predicted that climate change will cause earlier, shorter, and more intense phytoplankton blooms, which are less effective at sequestering carbon. However, we found the succession pattern including diatom-cyanobacterial symbiosis may provide resilience because blooms including both symbiotic Chaetoceros and non-symbiotic Thalassiosira did not suffer losses in carbon sequestration.},
}
@article {pmid40636503,
year = {2025},
author = {Lei, W and Qin, Z and Jia, B and Lu, W and Yang, J and Gao, Q},
title = {Diversity and functional analysis of gut microbiota reveal ecological adaptations in the inquilinism of Ancistrotermes dimorphus and its host Macrotermes barneyi.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1587281},
pmid = {40636503},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Inquilinism describes an interesting interspecific interaction in termite ecosystems wherein an inquiline species inhabits the host's nest structure. In this context, gut microbiota play a crucial role in mediating the ecological relationship. The facultative inquiline Ancistrotermes dimorphus (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) frequently inhabits nests of the host Macrotermes barneyi but can also establish independent colonies. We used 16S rRNA sequencing to compare the gut microbiota of A. dimorphus and M. barneyi in independent and inquilinism nests, assessing microbial diversity and composition. Gut microbiota diversity increased under inquilinism, with greater microbial similarity between A. dimorphus and M. barneyi in shared nests. Furthermore, inquilinism altered microbial function, increasing taxa linked to environmental adaptation while reducing those involved in energy metabolism, suggesting potential metabolic trade-offs. Beta diversity analysis indicated that inquilinism drives the gut microbiota adaptation between the host and inquiline. These findings reveal how gut microbiota mediates host-inquiline interactions, advancing our understanding of microbial adaptation in social insect symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40636498,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Ren, H and Zhong, Y and Song, R and Jiang, S and Lai, M and Shen, Y and Liu, S and Shi, W and Qi, G},
title = {Microbial diversity and function in bamboo ecosystems.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1533061},
pmid = {40636498},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Bamboo is widely distributed or cultivated globally, offering significant economic and ecological values. Soil microorganisms are crucial for plant environmental adaptation, playing essential roles in regulating plant growth and development, nutrient absorption, and resistance to environmental stresses. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in the study of bamboo soil microorganisms. This review highlights the scientific challenges in understanding the interactions between bamboo and soil microorganisms, summarizes the research progress, and discusses future research directions. The microbial community composition and diversity in various bamboo soils have been successfully characterized, with some bamboo-associated microorganisms identified and shown to promote plant growth, demonstrating considerable application potential. It has been established that the composition of soil microorganisms in bamboo is influenced by factors such as bamboo species, spatial and temporal distribution, tissue specificity, management practices, and symbiosis with other plants. Future research will likely focus on the functional genomics of bamboo, the screening and identification of bamboo-specific soil microbial communities, the dynamic responses of these microbes to environmental changes, and the molecular mechanisms regulating bamboo growth and environmental adaptation.},
}
@article {pmid40635576,
year = {2025},
author = {Mackevicius-Dubickaja, V and Gottlieb, Y and White, JA and Doremus, MR},
title = {Wolbachia Feminises a Spider Host With Assistance From Co-Infecting Symbionts.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {7},
pages = {e70149},
pmid = {40635576},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {1953223//National Science Foundation/ ; 201697//United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation/ ; 1020740//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 7007679//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 2023-67012-39352//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 2809/23//Israel Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/physiology/genetics ; *Spiders/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Female ; Male ; Feminization ; },
abstract = {Arthropods commonly harbour maternally-transmitted bacterial symbionts that manipulate host biology. Multiple heritable symbionts can co-infect the same individual, allowing these host-restricted bacteria to engage in cooperation or conflict, which can ultimately affect host phenotype. The spider Mermessus fradeorum is infected with up to five heritable symbionts: Rickettsiella (R), Tisiphia (T), and three strains of Wolbachia (W1-3). Quintuply infected spiders are feminised, causing genetic males to develop as phenotypic females and produce almost exclusively female offspring. By comparing feminisation across nine infection combinations, we identified a Wolbachia strain, W1, that is required for feminisation. We also observed that spiders infected with both W1 and W3 produced ~10% more females than those lacking W3. This increase in feminisation rate does not seem to be due to direct changes in W1 titre, nor does W1 titre correlate with feminisation rate. Instead, we observed subtle titre interactions among symbionts, with lower relative abundance of R and T symbionts in strongly feminised infections. This synergistic effect of co-infection on Wolbachia feminisation may promote the spread of all five symbionts in spider populations. These results confirm the first instance of Wolbachia-induced feminisation in spiders and demonstrate that co-infecting symbionts can improve the efficacy of symbiont-induced feminisation.},
}
@article {pmid40633698,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, C and Ji, B and Li, A and Zhang, X and Liu, Y},
title = {Shear-driven stirring optimization modulates microbial synergy for robust structural-metabolic performance in microalgal-bacterial granular sludge systems.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {435},
number = {},
pages = {132944},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132944},
pmid = {40633698},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Microalgae/metabolism ; *Sewage/microbiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Particle Size ; },
abstract = {This study systematically investigates the impact of stirring speed on the performance of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) ranging from 0 to 250 rpm, revealing that an optimal speed of 210 rpm induces synergistic structural-metabolic adaptations in MBGS when treating simple organics. At this optimal stirring speed, improvements in granule morphology and homogeneity, indicated by a decreased non-uniformity coefficient, as well as enhanced roundness and an optimal microalgae-bacteria ratio were observed, which collectively contribute to structural integrity and stable granule size. Notably, at 210 rpm, a significant increase in the abundance of Pseudomonadota including key genera such as Aquimonas, Azonexus, and Dechloromonas was detected, which resulted in an up-regulation of the abundance of key functional genes involved in contaminant metabolism (e.g., DLD, SucD, glmS, and ppa). These findings highlight the importance of stirring shear force as a strategic approach for maintaining granule size and stability in MBGS technology for real-world applications.},
}
@article {pmid40633656,
year = {2025},
author = {Chakraborty, S and Banerjee, S and Kumar, S and Ghosh, S and Mukherjee, P and Das, S and Bhattacharyya, P},
title = {Biofortified vermicompost: Exploring bacterial community dynamics and enzymatic pathways through bacteriome analysis for arsenic bioremediation in mine waste.},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {382},
number = {},
pages = {126795},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126795},
pmid = {40633656},
issn = {1873-6424},
mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; Mining ; *Composting ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism/analysis ; *Arsenic/metabolism/analysis ; Animals ; Oligochaeta ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {The extraction of mica from open-cast mines generates substantial waste, often laden with arsenic, posing severe environmental risks. Addressing this waste is essential to mitigate co-contamination. Vermitechnology offers a promising solution by converting toxic waste into nutrient-enriched, sanitized compost suitable for agriculture. This study explored bioremediation of toxic mine tailings (MT) through aerobic composting, vermicomposting and enriched vermicomposting (with Bacillus subtilis K5BGRD). Earthworm fecundity was impaired in dense MT settings but improved in MT+CD (1:1) treatments. Vermicomposting stabilized pH, enhanced nutrient mineralization and increased potassium bioavailability compared to aerobic composting. Enriched vermicompost reduced bioavailable arsenic by 58-88 % post-maturity, alongside increased microbial diversity and enzymatic activity. Earthworms bioaccumulated arsenic, contributing to a total reduction of 14.25 %. Pearson correlation and PLS-SEM analyses highlighted reduced arsenic-induced stress upon compost maturity. Metataxonomic analysis revealed microbial similarities between V1 (MT+CD [1:1]) and EV1 (MT+CD+B [1:1:1]) composts, with enrichment of stress-resistant, bioremediating and plant growth-promoting taxa. Upon crop trial it was deduced that microbe-mediated vermicomposting, particularly when combined with recommended fertilizer doses (as in T2), not only minimized arsenic accumulation in tomato plants but also significantly enhanced yield, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and effective strategy for safe crop production in contaminated soils. The study demonstrated the symbiotic relationship between earthworms and microbes in waste-treated settings, establishing a novel feedstock combination to remediate hazardous mine waste. Ultimately, this approach has the potential to replace chemical fertilizers, improve crop yields and reduce arsenic exposure - offering a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution to mining waste management.},
}
@article {pmid40633640,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, Q and Lian, Y and Li, H and Fang, C and Wang, H and Chen, Z},
title = {Response to microplastics exposure and changes in system performance: a stark contrast between domestic sewage and landfill leachate.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {122317},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.122317},
pmid = {40633640},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {Explored the evolution process of representative polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) in anaerobic/aerobic biological treatment of domestic sewage and landfill leachate, and their effects on system efficiency, sludge performance, and microbial community structure. The results showed that microplastics (MPs) promoted the degradation of COD and NH3-N in domestic wastewater (approximately 99.00% and 98.16%), but this result was completely opposite to that in the leachate. The biofilm formation of MPs in leachate was relatively fast in the initial stage, with a biofilm amount (9.39) higher than that in domestic sewage (1.05), showing an "S"-shaped trend, but with large fluctuations over time. The amount of PE and PS biofilm in domestic sewage varied with different oxygen concentrations, but the amount of PS biofilm in leachate was generally higher than that in PE, and PS was more sensitive to biodegradation, while PE had stronger resistance to microbial attacks. Meanwhile, the presence of MPs significantly enhanced the synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances in the leachate (139.81 mg/g MLVSS, anaerobic condition on day 15), increased the concentration of heavy metals in the supernatant (842.91 μg/L, anaerobic condition on day 15), manifested as Mn and Zn. MPs stress led to varying degrees of changes in the structure of microbial communities, but the microbial abundance on the surfaces of PE and PS in the same reactor was similar. Ottowia, unclassifiedd_f_Rhizobiaceae, and Castellaniella were potential MPs degradation genera. The proportion of Thermomonas in the leachate system was about three times that of domestic sewage. The symbiotic mode between MPs and dominant bacteria in activated sludge confirmed the shaping of microbial community structure by MPs. This study contributes to improving the overall understanding of the environmental behavior and risks of MPs in domestic wastewater and leachate biological systems.},
}
@article {pmid40633341,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, R and Oliphant, KD and Xia, Z and Chen, Z and Hou, R and Zhang, R and Peng, T and Hänsch, R and Wang, D and Rennenberg, H and Hu, B},
title = {Rhizobial symbiosis modulates mercury accumulation and metabolic adaptation under hydrological extremes.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {495},
number = {},
pages = {139141},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139141},
pmid = {40633341},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Phytoremediation offers a sustainable strategy for mitigating mercury (Hg) contamination, yet its efficacy under variable water availability remains poorly understood. Robinia pseudoacacia, a leguminous tree with notable phytoremediation potential, was investigated under combined Hg exposure and water stress-drought (HgD) or flooding (HgF)-with or without rhizobia inoculation. In a controlled greenhouse study, HgD exposure enhanced root dry biomass, increased nodule nitrogenase activity, and promoted root Hg accumulation, indicating a detoxification mechanism via root retention. In contrast, HgF suppressed plant growth and nitrogen fixation, reduced total Hg uptake, and increased Hg translocation to shoots, suggesting redistribution to protect root function. Multi-omics analyses revealed that both HgD and HgF induced genes involved in cysteine and methionine metabolism (e.g., GSS, GCLC, ACS), enhancing thiol-mediated Hg detoxification and altering sulfur allocation. L-serine biosynthesis was consistently downregulated. Hormonal responses diverged: HgD suppressed jasmonic acid biosynthesis (downregulation of AOS, AOC) and reduced 12-OPDA levels, whereas HgF activated α-linolenic acid oxidation, elevating 12-OPDA and its derivatives (e.g., colneleic acid). Rhizobial inoculation further improved root Hg retention, upregulated antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD), and maintained membrane integrity. Under HgD, inoculation enhanced phenylpropanoid metabolism (upregulation of PAL, CCR, CAD), promoting lignification. Under HgF, it stimulated the pentose phosphate pathway (via PFK induction), optimizing carbon flux for stress resilience. These findings demonstrate that Robinia-rhizobia symbiosis mediates distinct physiological and metabolic reprogramming under drought and flooding, enabling context-specific Hg detoxification. This highlights Robinia's potential as a robust phytoremediator in Hg-contaminated environments with fluctuating water regimes.},
}
@article {pmid40631381,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, X and Gao, X and Fan, Y and Wang, D and Chen, X and Qi, X and Yang, Z and Wang, YE and Meng, J and Zou, G and Liu, Z and Li, X},
title = {Moderate altitude exposure impacts extensive host-microbiota multi-kingdom connectivity with serum metabolome and fasting blood glucose.},
journal = {Virulence},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {2530660},
pmid = {40631381},
issn = {2150-5608},
mesh = {Humans ; *Altitude ; *Metabolome ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Male ; Female ; *Blood Glucose/analysis ; Adult ; Feces/microbiology ; Mycobiome ; Bacteriophages ; Fasting/blood ; Young Adult ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Metagenomics ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; China ; Middle Aged ; Archaea ; Fatty Acids, Volatile ; },
abstract = {The contributions and interactions of multi-kingdom microbiota (i.e. bacteriome, mycobiome, archaeome, and phageome) with serum metabolome and host phenome in healthy individuals under moderate altitude exposure remain unclear. We applied shotgun metagenomic sequencing in feces and targeted metabolomics technology in serum to explore how human gut multi-kingdom microorganisms influence the serum metabolome and phenome in healthy Chinese individuals following moderate altitude exposure. The results indicated that individuals with moderate altitude exposure exhibited more substantial alterations in gut bacteriome and phageome compared to those in mycobiome and archaeome. Both intra-kingdom and inter-kingdom correlations at baseline were denser than those following moderate altitude exposure. Bacteriophages-host interaction analysis revealed symbiosis between bacteriophages and Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producers. Furthermore, bacteriophage Shirahamavirus PTm1 (odds ratio (OR) = 3.82; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20-12.16), archaeon Crenarchaeota (OR = 3.70; 95% CI: 1.35-10.14) and bacterium Bacteroidetes (OR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.34-10.15) showed a positive association with lowered fasting blood glucose (FBG) benefits, while bacteriophage Candidatus Nitrosopelagicus brevis (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.10-0.89) and butyric acid (OR = 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01-0.37) exhibited a negative association with lowered FBG benefits. These findings suggest that targeting gut multi-kingdom microorganisms could serve as an alternative therapeutic approach to mitigate dysglycemia and its associated metabolic disorders.},
}
@article {pmid40631325,
year = {2025},
author = {Dregni, J and Lindsey, ARI and Ferrer-Suay, M and Celis, SL and Heimpel, GE},
title = {Wolbachia-mediated parthenogenesis induction in the aphid hyperparasitoid Alloxysta brevis (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Charipinae).},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40631325},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R35 GM150991/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Thelytokous parthenogenesis (thelytoky), in which females can produce female offspring without mating, can be caused by parthenogenesis-inducing endosymbiotic bacteria in the genus Wolbachia. This interaction is well known in hymenopteran parasitoids, where unfertilized eggs typically develop as males via haplo-diploidy in the absence of parthenogenesis-inducing bacteria. We report on a case of thelytoky in Alloxysta brevis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), a globally widespread aphid hyperparasitoid. A previous study had shown that sex ratios of this species collected in Minnesota (USA) were extremely female biased, and we found here that unmated females reared from field-collected hosts produced female offspring without exposure to males. This result demonstrated thelytoky, and we tested for the role of bacterial endosymbionts by comparing offspring production of unmated females fed the antibiotic rifampicin to offspring production of control females not fed antibiotics. Antibiotic-fed females produced almost exclusively male offspring, and control females produced mainly females. This result showed that antibiotic treatment facilitated male production by unmated Alloxysta brevis females, thus implicating bacterial symbiosis in the expression of thelytoky. We then used molecular analyses to determine the identity of the symbiont. These analyses identified a Wolbachia strain from supergroup B, and excluded other bacteria known to mediate parthenogenesis induction, such as Cardinium and Rickettsia. While Wolbachia had been previously detected by molecular analysis in this species, these are the first experiments demonstrating Wolbachia-mediated parthenogenesis in the figitid subfamily Charipinae.},
}
@article {pmid40630184,
year = {2025},
author = {Regassa, GB and Zhang, Y and Shen, Y and Zhang, L and Zhang, J and Liu, Y and Li, G and Xiao, R and Yang, Z},
title = {Effects of pathogen infection and Rhizobium inoculation on instantaneous and long-term water use efficiency of peanut with and without drought.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1612341},
pmid = {40630184},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Water Use Efficiency (WUE) is one of the critical indicators to characterize plant adaptation to arid environments, however, the effects of pathogens infection and Rhizobium symbiosis on WUE are not considered in contexts of water stress.<br><br>METHODS: A study was conducted in a greenhouse pot to examine the effects of changed soil water conditions on instantaneous Water Use Efficiency (WUEi) and long-term Water Use Efficiency (WUEL) under inoculation Rhizobium, inoculation Fusarium sp., and co-inoculation Rhizobium and Fusarium sp.<br><br>RESULTS: The results showed that inoculation Fusarium sp. and co-inoculation Rhizobium and Fusarium sp. reduced WUEi by increasing net photosynthetic rate without drought. Inoculation Fusarium sp. and co-inoculation Rhizobium and Fusarium sp. reduced WUEi by decreasing plant height with drought. Inoculation Rhizobium and Fusarium sp. significantly reduced WUEL by lowering intercellular CO2 concentration without drought. Inoculation Rhizobium reduced WUEL by increasing root nodule number with drought. In contrast, drought had no effect on either WUEi or WUEL without inoculation.<br><br>DISCUSSION: The results suggest that Fusarium sp. infection is detrimental to instantaneous Water Use Efficiency while inoculation Rhizobium is unfavorable to long-term Water Use Efficiency, regardless of drought effects. Our findings provide a new insight for developing effective water use strategies after pathogen infection or Rhizobium symbiosis under increased precipitation scenarios.},
}
@article {pmid40630045,
year = {2025},
author = {Samanta, I and Ghosh, K and Saikia, R and Savita, and Maity, PJ and Chowdhary, G},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - a natural tool to impart abiotic stress tolerance in plants.},
journal = {Plant signaling &amp; behavior},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {2525843},
pmid = {40630045},
issn = {1559-2324},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological/physiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; *Plants/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial components of the soil microbiomes that establish symbiotic associations with most terrestrial plants. The review summarizes the basic mechanisms behind the plant-AMF symbiosis, the genes involved in the fungal and their plant counterparts, novel biomolecules and growth regulators, leading to probable signal transduction pathways. It also focuses on the involvement of lipids and strigolactones in establishing AMF-plant symbiosis. Herein, we further emphasize the role played by these AMF in enhancing plant resistance to various abiotic stresses while giving a broad outline of current research practices and attempting to dissect the mechanism behind the AMF-mediated abiotic stress signal transduction. Discussion on the mechanisms behind this stress reduction involving AMF will be valuable for the researchers, agronomists, and environmentalists involved in sustainable agriculture. Water scarcity, salinity, heavy metals, and extreme temperatures are the primary abiotic stresses that pose serious challenges to agricultural sustainability and ecosystem functioning. Conventional responses to such pressures typically rely on genetic modifications as well as chemical treatments, which could be expensive and detrimental to the environment. However, these AM fungi act in an alternative way that is natural and cost-effective too, leading to healthy plants with resilience toward stress through symbiosis, leading to the fulfillment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) 2 of zero hunger.},
}
@article {pmid40629845,
year = {2025},
author = {Monnens, M and Artois, T and Briscoe, A and Diez, YL and Fraser, KPP and Leander, BS and Littlewood, DTJ and Santos, MJ and Smeets, K and Van Steenkiste, NWL and Vanhove, MPM},
title = {Signatures of Endosymbiosis in Mitochondrial Genomes of Rhabdocoel Flatworms.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70015},
doi = {10.1111/mec.70015},
pmid = {40629845},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {1141817N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; GOH3817N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; NSERC 2019-03986//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; BOF15BL09//Special Research Fund (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds) UHasselt/ ; BOF20TT06//Special Research Fund (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds) UHasselt/ ; //Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee/ ; //Hakai Institute/ ; UIDB/04423/2020//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e a Tecnologia/ ; UIDP/04423/2020//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e a Tecnologia/ ; },
abstract = {The transition from a free-living lifestyle to endosymbiosis represents a large evolutionary shift, impacting various aspects of any organism's biology, including its molecular-genetic groundwork. So far, it has been impossible to generalise the impact this lifestyle shift has on genomic architecture. This study explores this phenomenon using a new model system: neodalyellid flatworms (Rhabdocoela), a diverse assemblage of free-living and independently evolved endosymbiotic lineages. A uniquely comprehensive mitochondrial genomic dataset, consisting of 50 complete or partial mitogenome sequences (47 of which are new to science), is constructed, increasing the genomic resources available for rhabdocoel flatworms over tenfold. A robust phylogenomic framework is built, enabling an in-depth exploration of the molecular-genetic signatures associated with evolutionary shifts towards endosymbiosis. To understand speciation influenced by host phylogeny, first steps are taken to unravel the host-switching history of the largest endosymbiotic group of neodalyellids. We test several hypotheses regarding the potential consequences of a symbiotic lifestyle and find marginally heightened AT content, more pronounced GC skew and relaxed selection on specific protein-coding genes in endosymbionts compared to their free-living counterparts. Numerous substitutions have accumulated in certain endosymbiotic lineages; however, the correlation with lifestyle remains uncertain. A high frequency of genetic rearrangements across all studied lineages is observed. Our findings affirm the variable nature of rhabdocoel mitogenomes and, for the first time, reveal distinct signatures of an endosymbiotic lifestyle in neodalyellid flatworms. This effort lays the groundwork for future research into the evolutionary and genomic consequences of a symbiotic lifestyle in this and other animal systems.},
}
@article {pmid40629841,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, B and Hao, M and Ma, J and Feng, W and Wang, J and Fang, A and Yang, Y and Bi, C and Yu, Y},
title = {A xylan hydrolase contributes to pathogenicity and induces resistance to pathogens in a schizotrophic fungus.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.8976},
pmid = {40629841},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Xylanases are widely distributed in fungi, and are involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates and polysaccharides in plant cell walls, and activating host immune responses. However, the role of xylanase in regulating the interaction between schizotrophic fungi and both the symptomatic host plant and the endophytic host is not yet clear.<br><br>RESULTS: A secretory xylanase, SsXyl3, was identified from the schizotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which contains a glycoside hydrolase family 11 domain and a signal peptide. SsXyl3 is associated with vegetative growth and sclerotial development and influences sugar metabolism in S.&#x2009;sclerotiorum, as demonstrated by phenotyping SsXyl3 mutants and RNA-seq analysis. Additionally, SsXyl3 is crucial for the complete virulence of S.&#x2009;sclerotiorum, and is further involved in establishing the symbiotic relationship between S.&#x2009;sclerotiorum and wheat plants. It also regulates the induction of resistance against stripe rust and Fusarium head blight (FHB) diseases in wheat by S.&#x2009;sclerotiorum.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These results highlight that S.&#x2009;sclerotiorum induces resistance to stripe rust and FHB diseases in wheat, and shows complete virulence in symptomatic hosts through secreting SsXyl3. These findings offer valuable clues for developing innovative and eco-friendly crop disease control methods for FHB and stripe rust diseases in asymptomatic wheat and Sclerotinia diseases in symptomatic hosts. &#xa9; 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}
@article {pmid40629501,
year = {2025},
author = {Voinnet, O},
title = {Three decades of mobile RNA-silencing movement within plants: what have we learnt?.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf312},
pmid = {40629501},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {In plant RNA-silencing, small interfering (si)RNAs and micro (mi)RNAs guide ARGONAUTE (AGO) effector proteins to silence sequence-complementary RNA/DNA. This helps regulate developmental patterning, adaptation to stress, antiviral defense or genome integrity-maintenance. Remarkably, these regulations not only occur intra-cellularly, but may also manifest in remote tissues. Here, I summarize the evidence that RNA-silencing moves from cell-to-cell and via the phloem, the long-distance extension of the symplasm-the cytosolic connection-network between cells through plasmodesmata (PDs). I then illustrate several biological functions linked to RNA-silencing movement. Besides a still largely putative role for mobile virus-derived (v)siRNAs in conferring immunity, several endogenous sRNAs act as systemic signals orchestrating organismal responses to abiotic stress or symbiosis. Other mobile sRNAs act as morphogens and generate gene expression gradients by moving from cell-to-cell. If RNA-silencing indeed moves symplasmically via PDs, then processes likely regulate its transport; discovering these processes was expected to illuminate macromolecular trafficking in general. In a final part of this perspective, I describe several forward genetic systems set in Arabidopsis to specifically tackle the above issue. Some were instrumental in revealing hitherto unknown AGO-mediated mechanisms that modulate silencing movement within silencing-incipient, traversed or recipient cells. Somewhat disappointingly, however, the systems fell short of identifying factors impacting the silencing cell-to-cell trafficking channels or their regulations. I discuss here plausible reasons for these shortcomings, what could be learnt from them, how they could be remedied, and how a better understanding of their physiological foundations might illuminate so far overlooked aspects of plant RNA- silencing movement.},
}
@article {pmid40629387,
year = {2025},
author = {Kearsley, JVS and Geddes, BA and diCenzo, GC and Zamani, M and Finan, TM},
title = {A minimized symbiotic gene set from the 1.68 Mb pSymB chromid of Sinorhizobium meliloti reveals auxiliary symbiotic loci.},
journal = {BMC biology},
volume = {23},
number = {1},
pages = {204},
pmid = {40629387},
issn = {1741-7007},
mesh = {*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Medicago sativa/microbiology/genetics ; *Genes, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic nitrogen-fixation between bacteria called rhizobia and leguminous plants is a critical aspect of sustainable agriculture. Complex, two-way communication governs the invasion of plant roots and the formation of nodules in which the rhizobia reduce N2 to bioavailable ammonia. Research has uncovered many of the genes required for the symbiosis; however, engineering the symbiosis to function with alternative hosts such as cereal crops necessitates the establishment of a core set of symbiotic players.<br><br>RESULTS: We examined the symbiotic relevance of the genes on the 1.68&#xa0;Mb pSymB chromid of the model rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti. By employing a strain in which pSymB was removed, we used a gain-of-function approach to assess a select group of known symbiotic regions totalling 261&#xa0;kb (15.5%) of pSymB. This gene set enabled symbiotic N2-fixation with alfalfa with a high degree of plant genotype-dependent variation in which nodules often senesced prematurely. We demonstrate that additional regions lacking canonical symbiosis genes are important for the efficient formation of symbiosis with the plant host. These regions appear to contain auxiliary symbiotic loci whose genes encode products with quasi-essential functions for the symbiosis and that are redundant in nature. We further established a 673-kb pSymB genome that engages consistently in N2-fixation with alfalfa with 45% efficiency.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The reduction of the pSymB genome showcases the complexity and nuance of its involvement in the N2-fixing symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40628488,
year = {2025},
author = {Fronk, DC and Ortiz-Barbosa, GS and Macedo, F and Lee, J and Wun, K and Sachs, JL},
title = {Nitrogen fertilization nullifies host sanctions against non-fixing rhizobia and drives divestment from symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {292},
number = {2050},
pages = {20251055},
pmid = {40628488},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {//NIFA/ ; //NSF/ ; //USDA/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Lotus/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; Fertilizers/analysis ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Plants and animals house microbes that provide critical nutrients, but little is known about host control over microbial cooperation when resources are also accessed from the environment. Changes in nutrient access can challenge the host's ability to detect and selectively reward beneficial partners, destabilizing symbiosis. Legumes acquire nitrogen from soil and from symbiosis with rhizobia, but it is unclear if extrinsic sources of nitrogen interfere with host control systems. We inoculated the legume Lotus japonicus with rhizobia-bearing nitrogen fixation or nitrogen metabolism knockouts, and factorially varied molecular sources of nitrogen fertilizer. Lotus hosts selectively rewarded beneficial rhizobia and sanctioned non-fixing strains when extrinsic nitrogen was unavailable. Host benefits were undiminished when inoculated with rhizobia-bearing nitrogen metabolism knockouts, suggesting redundancies in nitrogen provisioning systems. However, under nitrogen fertilization, hosts did not discriminate between fixing and non-fixing rhizobia. Fertilized hosts formed miniaturized nodules housing limited rhizobia, divesting from symbiosis. Thus, sanctioning mechanisms rely on the detection of nitrogen fixation differences among rhizobia strains and can break down in nitrogen-rich environments. Nonetheless, divestment from symbiosis offers legumes robust host control, minimizing investment into rhizobia strains, irrespective of their capacity to provide benefit, when symbiosis services are not needed.},
}
@article {pmid40627970,
year = {2025},
author = {Batista, A and Helgoe, J and Rodriguez-Lanetty, M},
title = {Acute dimethyl phthalate exposure impairs tissue integrity in a model cnidarian without disrupting symbiosis.},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {220},
number = {},
pages = {118306},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118306},
pmid = {40627970},
issn = {1879-3363},
abstract = {In addition to heat waves and diseases that continue to decimate coral reef ecosystems, corals must increasingly contend with growing concentrations of microplastics in the oceans. Phthalates (PAE), a class of commonly used plasticizers, readily leach from plastics into marine environments and may pose threats to cnidarian health and coral symbiosis. To assess the acute effect of phthalate exposure, we investigated the impact of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) on the model cnidarian Exaiptasia diaphana. Anemones were exposed to four treatments across three weeks to the following: a control, and DMP concentrations of 2.9 mg/L, 15.3 mg/L, and 29.4 mg/L. Changes to photosynthesis, symbiont density, and visual changes to the host anemone tissue integrity were measured. DMP exposure did not significantly affect symbiont density (i.e., bleaching rate) or photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) of the algal symbionts. However, marked degradation of host tissue was observed in the chemically-treated anemones. These findings raise concerns that PAEs, if their concentrations continue to rise, could contribute to the decline of reef ecosystems by weakening host resilience, even in the absence of symbiosis breakdown.},
}
@article {pmid40627646,
year = {2025},
author = {Michel, J and Lehnert, M and Nebel, M and Quandt, D},
title = {Low and facultative mycorrhization of ferns in a low-montane tropical rainforest in Ecuador.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {7},
pages = {e0326712},
pmid = {40627646},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Rainforest ; Symbiosis ; Ecuador ; *Ferns/microbiology ; Tropical Climate ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are amongst the most studied obligate plant symbionts and regularly found in terrestrial plants. However, global estimates of AMF abundance amongst all land plants are difficult because i) the mycorrhizal status of many non-commercial, wild plant species is still unknown, ii) numerous plant species engage in facultative symbiosis, meaning that they can, but do not always do, associate with mycorrhiza, and iii) mycorrhizal status can vary within families, genera, and species. To gain deeper insights to the distribution of the plant-AMF symbiosis we investigated the mycorrhizal status in some of the oldest lineages of extant vascular plants, Polypodiophytina (ferns) and lycophytes, in one of the hotspots of natural plant diversification, the tropical rainforest. Providing a new data set of AMF abundance for 82 fern species representing 19 families, we hypothesized that (1) AMF would be found in 60-80% of the studied plants and (2) plant species with AMF symbionts would be more abundant than non-mycorrhizal species. Both hypotheses were rejected while the following observations were made: (1) AMF occurred in 30.5% of studied species, representing 63% of the studied fern families, (2) AMF colonisation was not correlated with species abundance, (3) a small proportion of AMF-hosting ferns was epiphytic (6%) and (4) mycorrhization was inconsistent among different populations of the same species (facultative mycorrhization). While these observations align with previous studies on ferns, they emphasise that mycorrhization is not a taxonomic trait and underscore the challenges in estimating the global abundance of AMF. In addition, the occurrence of AMF in epiphytic plants and no net benefits of AMF for plant abundance indicate that the mycorrhization observed in this study likely comprises the commensalism to parasitism range of the symbiosis spectrum.},
}
@article {pmid40627546,
year = {2025},
author = {Delbaje, E and de Castro, PA and Pupo, MT and Rokas, A and Goldman, GH},
title = {Gliotoxin Production and Self-Defense in Filamentous Fungi.},
journal = {Annual review of microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-040324-032342},
pmid = {40627546},
issn = {1545-3251},
abstract = {Gliotoxin (GT) is a sulfur-containing secondary metabolite that belongs to a class of naturally occurring 2,5-diketopiperazines produced by fungi. Although GT production has been observed only in a few species, GT is the most studied fungal secondary metabolite, and the GT biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) is broadly present in filamentous fungi. GT has a multitarget mechanism of action: It is fungicidal and bacteriostatic, it induces apoptosis in mammalian cells, and it modulates phagocytosis and neutrophil attraction. GT is important for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence and pathogenesis in humans and in animals and for Trichoderma spp. symbiotic and antagonistic behavior. GT is also toxic for producer and nonproducer organisms. Consequently, very sophisticated mechanisms of GT self-protection have evolved in producers; some of these protective mechanisms are also found in nonproducer organisms. This review discusses the distribution of the GT BGC among filamentous fungi and discusses GT biosynthesis, mechanisms of action and self-defense, and ecological properties.},
}
@article {pmid40627541,
year = {2025},
author = {Hisatomi, A and Yoshida, T and Hasunuma, T and Ohkuma, M and Sakamoto, M},
title = {Difficult-to-culture micro-organisms specifically isolated using the liquid-liquid co-culture method - towards the identification of bacterial species and metabolites supporting their growth.},
journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)},
volume = {171},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40627541},
issn = {1465-2080},
mesh = {Coculture Techniques/methods ; Feces/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Bacteria/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/classification/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; Animals ; Phylogeny ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Culture Media/chemistry ; },
abstract = {In this study, the liquid-liquid co-culture method was applied using faecal samples and specific bacterial species as growth-supporting bacteria. We aimed to isolate new, difficult-to-culture bacterial species using metabolites produced by supportive bacteria to promote the growth of small bacteria selected using filter treatment. This study aimed to identify the supporting bacteria and their metabolites that promote the growth of these isolates. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolates obtained by co-culture revealed that they were Waltera spp., Roseburia spp. and Phascolarctobacterium faecium. Roseburia spp. and Waltera spp. were isolated from several faecal samples, suggesting that they were specifically isolated using this culture method. We focused on Waltera spp. isolated from several faecal samples with unique shapes, from long to short or thin cells. The growth of Waltera spp. was not promoted by co-culture on the agar medium, suggesting that growth was only promoted by liquid-liquid co-culture. The growth of the selected small-sized Waltera spp. was promoted by co-culture, whereas the growth of the unfiltered long-cell Waltera sp. strain was suppressed by co-culture. The selected small Waltera spp. did not grow when the supporting bacterial supernatant was added, suggesting that the supporting bacteria and Waltera spp. had a symbiotic relationship through the continuous exchange of metabolites. Co-cultured supporting bacteria (diluted faecal samples) with selected small-sized Waltera spp. were predominantly Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Escherichia coli, compared with monoculture diluted faecal samples. We further confirmed the growth of filtered Waltera spp. by co-culturing them with B. thetaiotaomicron and E. coli. Additionally, when B. thetaiotaomicron and E. coli were co-cultured with the selected small Waltera spp., some nutrients and metabolites were reduced. Decreased metabolites were added to the medium, and selected small-sized Waltera spp. were cultured, but Waltera spp. did not grow. Therefore, it was again strongly suggested that continuous co-culturing with the supporting bacteria was important for the growth of Waltera spp. The liquid-liquid co-culture method used in this study can be used to isolate new and unique bacterial species from any environment, not just the gut microbiome. Furthermore, this co-culture method helped identify supporting bacteria and understand metabolite variations.},
}
@article {pmid40627403,
year = {2025},
author = {Xue, Y and Huang, M and Zhang, J and Navin, S and Tao, Y and Zeng, G},
title = {Sex-specific postmortem microbiome dynamics in mice: implications for death definitions.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {372},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaf070},
pmid = {40627403},
issn = {1574-6968},
support = {KY2022-2-4//Yuncheng Vocational and Technical University/ ; //Zunyi Normal University/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Postmortem Changes ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Sex Factors ; *Death ; Sex Characteristics ; },
abstract = {Gut microbes form a complex and dynamic symbiotic relationship with their host. However, the microbial response during the early stages following host death remains largely uncharacterized. In this study, we employed a mouse model to systematically characterize the postmortem response of the intestinal microbiota, and analyzed the dynamic changes in microbial composition during the early stages after death in both male and female mice (at 0, 0.5, 2, 6, 12, and 24 h postmortem). Our findings reveal that sex-dimorphic shifts in microbiome composition occur as early as 2 h postmortem. Male mice exhibited increased functional redundancy and delayed community restructuring, whereas female mice displayed earlier community shifts. These sex-specific patterns were accompanied by differences in metabolic pathway activity and biomarker taxa. Notably, the observed retention of regulatory capacity by intestinal microbes after host death offers a novel perspective on the conceptualization of death itself. We propose the term "ecological death" to describe the irreversible collapse of the host-associated microbial ecosystem following death, marking a critical transition in the functional and structural integrity of the intestinal microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40626910,
year = {2025},
author = {Kust, A and Zorz, J and Paniker, CC and Bouma-Gregson, K and Krishnappa, N and Liu, W and Banfield, JF and Diamond, S},
title = {Model cyanobacterial consortia reveal a consistent core microbiome independent of inoculation source or cyanobacterial host species.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf142},
pmid = {40626910},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Cyanobacteria are integral to biogeochemical cycles, influence climate processes, and hold promise for commercial applications. In natural habitats, they form complex consortia with other microorganisms, where interspecies interactions shape their ecological roles. Although in vitro studies of these consortia have significantly advanced our understanding, they often lack the biological replication needed for robust statistical analysis of shared microbiome features and functions. Moreover, the microbiomes of many model cyanobacterial strains, which are central to our understanding of cyanobacterial biology, remain poorly characterized. Here, we expanded on existing in vitro approaches by co-culturing five well-characterized model cyanobacterial strains with microorganisms filtered from three distinct freshwater sources, generating 108 stable consortia. Metagenomic analyses revealed that, despite host and inoculum diversity, these consortia converged on a similar set of non-cyanobacterial taxa, forming a 25-species core microbiome. The large number of stable consortia in this study enabled statistical validation of both previously observed and newly identified core microbiome functionalities in micronutrient biosynthesis, metabolite transport, and anoxygenic photosynthesis. Furthermore, core species showed significant enrichment of plasmids, and functions encoded on plasmids suggested plasmid-mediated roles in symbiotic interactions. Overall, our findings uncover the potential microbiomes recruited by key model cyanobacteria, demonstrate that laboratory-enriched consortia retain many taxonomic and functional traits observed more broadly in phototroph-heterotroph assemblages, and show that model cyanobacteria can serve as robust hosts for uncovering functional roles underlying cyanobacterial community dynamics.},
}
@article {pmid40625873,
year = {2025},
author = {Mu, D and Zhang, M and Liang, Y and Ding, C and Chen, Q and Fan, X and Meng, X and Zhang, X and Gao, S and Zhai, D and Gao, Y and Wu, Y},
title = {Piriformospora indica enhances growth and salt tolerance in a short rotation woody crop, Paulownia elongata, under NaCl stress.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1566470},
pmid = {40625873},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Salinization is a major environmental challenge that jeopardizes productivity and resilience of plants such as the short rotation woody crops (SRWC) and bioenergy crops. Leveraging beneficial microbes will enhance plant resistance to salinity with physiological adjustments. Here we investigated the efficacy of plant growth promoting fungus (Piriformospora indica) on optimizing growth and salt tolerance of SRWCs and bioenergy tree crops, using Paulownia elongata as an example. Following culture in sterile soil, the chlamydospore of P. indica were found in paulownia plants roots. We treated both inoculated and uninoculated plants with four salt concentrations (0.00%, 0.30%,0.50%, 0.70%) by soaking them in varying concentrations of NaCl solution every 7 days. After 30 days of treatment, we investigated various physiological parameters, i.e., biomass, infection rate, growth rate, photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, and soluble sugar of paulownia plants. Our two-way ANOVA demonstrated that the interaction between salinity stress and P. indica inoculation significantly enhanced plant height growth rate, leaf net photosynthetic rate, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and soluble protein content in Paulownia seedlings. Inoculated plants exhibited improved salt tolerance due to the mitigating effect of symbiosis across a salinity gradient. Mortality in the P. indica-treated group was reduced by approximately 5.55%, 22.22%, and 27.77% under 0.30%, 0.50%, and 0.70% NaCl treatments. Our study is the first application of P. indica to enhance salinity tolerance in Paulownia, a short-rotation woody crop. Inoculating such endophyte significantly improves the resilience and productivity of Paulownia plantations in saline environments, for a sustainable afforestation effort.},
}
@article {pmid40625865,
year = {2025},
author = {Georgopoulos, K and Bezemer, TM and Vesterdal, L and Li, K and de Nobel, L and Gomes, SIF},
title = {Nondestructive Detection of Frankia in Alnus glutinosa With NIR Spectroscopy.},
journal = {Plant-environment interactions (Hoboken, N.J.)},
volume = {6},
number = {4},
pages = {e70066},
pmid = {40625865},
issn = {2575-6265},
abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is essential for plant growth, yet excessive fertilizer use contributes to environmental degradation. Actinorhizal trees like Alnus glutinosa form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the genus Frankia, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. However, distinguishing between soil-derived and symbiotically fixed nitrogen remains a challenge. This study investigates the potential of NIR spectroscopy as a nondestructive tool for differentiating N sources in A. glutinosa. Seedlings were grown in sterilized soil under controlled conditions with and without Frankia inoculation, and across a gradient of NH4NO3 fertilization (0-20 mM). We measured leaf chlorophyll, nitrogen content, biomass, and NIR reflectance (330-1100 nm) of the third fully expanded leaf. principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression revealed that spectral signatures significantly differed between inoculated and uninoculated plants, particularly in the visible range around 555 nm. Despite similar leaf chlorophyll levels, Frankia-inoculated plants and those fertilized with 20 mM NH4NO3 exhibited spectral differences that could otherwise not be detected by SPAD measurements. PLS regression explained up to 54.8% of spectral variance based on nitrogen source, even in the absence of unique spectral peaks. These findings highlight the potential of NIR spectroscopy for rapid, in vivo and in vitro assessment of symbiotic N-fixation in trees, offering a novel and more precise approach than SPAD measurements.},
}
@article {pmid40625831,
year = {2025},
author = {Han, Y and Ding, PH},
title = {Advancing periodontitis microbiome research: integrating design, analysis, and technology.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1616250},
pmid = {40625831},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Humans ; *Periodontitis/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; Gingiva/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; },
abstract = {Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting 20%-50% of adults worldwide, is driven by polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis. Despite numerous studies on the oral microbiota in periodontitis, significant heterogeneity exists between findings, posing challenges for treatment strategies. To understand the sources of this variability and establish standardized protocols, we reviewed the literature to identify potential factors contributing to these discrepancies. We found most studies focus on microbial communities in periodontal pockets, with fewer investigating microbial composition within gingival tissue. Research indicates that bacterial communities in gingival tissue exist as biofilms, potentially serving as reservoirs for persistent infection. Therefore, further exploration of the microbiome within periodontal tissues is needed, which may offer new insights for treatment strategies. Metatranscriptomics provides valuable insights into gene expression patterns of the oral microbiota, enabling the exploration of microbial activity at a functional level. Previous studies revealed that most upregulated virulence factors in periodontitis originate from species not traditionally considered major periodontal pathogens. However, current studies have not fully identified or revealed the functional changes in key symbiotic microbes in periodontitis. We reviewed the analytical paradigms of metatranscriptomics and found that current analysis is largely limited to assessing functional changes in known periodontal pathogens, highlighting the need for a functional-driven approach. Beyond the limitations of current analytical paradigms, the metatranscriptomics also has inherent constraints. We suggested integrating emerging high-throughput microbial sequencing technologies with functional-driven analytical strategies to provide a more comprehensive and higher-resolution insight for microbiome reconstruction in periodontitis.},
}
@article {pmid40625334,
year = {2025},
author = {Lan, B and Malik, TG and Tsai, MT and Wu, YT and Sun, SJ},
title = {No Evidence That the Phoretic Mite Poecilochirus carabi Influences Mate Choice or Fitness in the Host Burying Beetle Nicrophorus nepalensis.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {7},
pages = {e71733},
pmid = {40625334},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Mate choice is a fundamental aspect of sexual selection where the "chooser" chooses a "courter" by assessing a variety of traits that communicate potential fitness. However, the role of interspecific interactions, such as symbiosis, in shaping mate choice remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate whether phoretic mites Poecilochirus carabi, which can act as either mutualists or parasites, influence female mate choice or reproductive fitness in the burying beetle Nicrophorus nepalensis. These mites affect beetle fitness in context-dependent ways, influenced by temperature, competitor presence, and mite density-factors that could potentially impact mate selection. In an olfactory-based mate choice assay, we presented female N. nepalensis hosting a range of natural mite densities (0, 5, 10, or 20) with a choice between males carrying either 0 or 10 mites. Subsequently we allowed females to breed with their chosen male before evaluating the fitness effects of the varying male and female mite densities. We found no evidence that female N. nepalensis preferred males based on mite presence, regardless of their own mite density. Furthermore, mite density did not affect beetle fitness, as measured by brood size or average larval mass. However, mite reproductive output increased with higher total mite densities per breeding pair. Our findings suggest that, under naturally occurring conditions and in the absence of competitors, P. carabi mites do not influence female mate choice or beetle reproductive success in N. nepalensis.},
}
@article {pmid40624948,
year = {2025},
author = {Lu, R and Lanooij, J and Smakowska-Luzan, E},
title = {From Roots to Reproduction: The Multifaceted Roles of RALF and EPF Peptides in Plants.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf303},
pmid = {40624948},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {In plants, peptides play an irreplaceable role as intercellular communication molecules, triggering signal transduction by activating plasma membrane-localized receptors. Of specific interest here are the cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs), which are well-characterized for their disulfide bonds that enhance structural stability and functional specificity. Although the first CRP, systemin, was identified over three decades ago, our understanding of CRPs' evolutionary trajectories, functional diversity, and underlying mechanisms remains limited. This review focuses on two main families of CRPs: the Rapid Alkalinization Factor and the Epidermal Patterning Factor (EPF)/EPF-Like peptides. We thus explore the diverse and, so far, identified signalling pathways in which the peptides play a pivotal function. We organize our tour by providing a comprehensive overview of the discovery of peptides, structural diversity, and biological functions. Particularly, emphasis is placed on their roles in plant growth, development, reproduction, defence against biotic and abiotic stresses, and plant-bacteria symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40624256,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, N and Xu, X and Liu, X and Wu, J and Tang, H},
title = {Incentive mechanism of foundation model enabled cross-silo federated learning.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {24181},
pmid = {40624256},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {The integration of foundation models (FMs) into cross-silo federated learning (FL) introduces transformative capabilities but also exacerbates strategic client behaviors, such as knowledge hoarding and free-riding, which degrade global model performance and system sustainability. Existing incentive mechanisms fail to address the knowledge hoarding and free-riding in FM-enabled FL. This paper proposes a novel incentive framework to harmonize client-server interests while suppressing adversarial behaviors. First, we propose a dynamic participant screening mechanism including pre-screening mechanism and confidence attenuation monitoring to filter low-quality updates and penalize intermittent participation. Second, we propose a cost-benefit balanced contribution metric to quantify clients' impacts by jointly evaluating accuracy gains, cost, and participation patterns. Third, we model the incentive mechanism as a two-stage Stackelberg game to establish symbiotic incentives, where the server adaptively adjust pricing strategy while clients optimize participation strategies. Simulation results demonstrate that our method can achieve up to 21.9% higher model accuracy and effectively filter malicious clients compared to existing benchmarks.},
}
@article {pmid40623763,
year = {2025},
author = {Agrawal, P and Mendhey, P and Kumar, R and Patel, S and Kaushik, PK and Dadsena, A and Kumar, S},
title = {Introduction to microbiomes in health and diseases.},
journal = {International review of cell and molecular biology},
volume = {394},
number = {},
pages = {1-42},
doi = {10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.12.010},
pmid = {40623763},
issn = {1937-6448},
mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Health ; *Disease ; Animals ; },
abstract = {The human microbiome is a complex ecological system of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that plays a crucial role in human health and disease. The microbiome includes both the living microorganisms also called microbiota and their synthesized metabolites and structural components. It is distributed to the gastrointestinal tract, skin, respiratory system, and oral cavity, each with a distinct microbial composition. Dysbiosis, or imbalance in the microbiome is linked to numerous diseases such as eczema, gastric ulcers, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The axes of microbial activity and their connections to disease, including the gut-skin, gut-lung, gut-brain, and gut-kidney play a crucial role in health and disease conditions. Also, the role of the microbiome in cancer development and response to therapy is examined. This book chapter underscores the importance of maintaining a balanced microbiome for overall health and the potential for microbiome-based interventions in disease prevention and treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40622550,
year = {2025},
author = {Madhukaran, SP and Yasmin, H and Kishore, U},
title = {Innate Immune Mechanisms in Normal and Adverse Pregnancy.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1476},
number = {},
pages = {339-379},
pmid = {40622550},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Pregnancy ; Humans ; Female ; *Immunity, Innate ; Animals ; Signal Transduction/immunology ; *Receptors, Pattern Recognition/immunology ; Immune Tolerance ; *Pregnancy Complications/immunology ; Inflammation/immunology ; },
abstract = {The innate immune system's recognition of microorganisms through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is a fundamental aspect of host defense and microbial symbiosis. During pregnancy, this system is finely tuned to accommodate the fetal allograft while still protecting against infections. Dysregulation in the recognition and response to commensal microorganisms can lead to pathological conditions, which may have implications for both maternal and fetal health. PRRs play a critical role in maintaining a balanced immune response, which is essential during pregnancy to prevent excessive inflammation that could affect pregnancy outcomes. They are involved in the regulation of immune cell proliferation and the integrity of mucosal barriers, which are vital for the protection of the maternal-fetal interface. The signaling pathways of PRRs are also key in the initiation and modulation of inflammation in response to microbial invasion. Changes in PRR function, as observed in certain animal models, indicate that the outcome of immune responses can be significantly altered by the specific signaling pathways activated in immune cells, and by the nature of the microbial environment. This is particularly relevant in pregnancy, where an altered PRR response may influence the risk of developing inflammatory conditions that could impact gestation and labor. In light of these considerations, understanding the role of PRR signaling in pregnancy is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms of maternal immune tolerance and the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy, as well as for identifying potential therapeutic targets for pregnancy-related complications arising from immune system dysregulation.},
}
@article {pmid40622371,
year = {2025},
author = {Binay, S and Li, HH and Tsai, S and Saco, JA and Wen, ZH and Lin, C},
title = {Effects of cryopreservation on the glycan profile of Symbiodiniaceae.},
journal = {Journal of phycology},
volume = {61},
number = {4},
pages = {951-965},
doi = {10.1111/jpy.70057},
pmid = {40622371},
issn = {1529-8817},
support = {MOST 110-2313-B-291 -001 -MY3//Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiodiniaceae are crucial dinoflagellate symbionts for corals. They are affected by climate change-induced temperature rises that lead to coral bleaching, impacting coral reefs' health. Cryopreservation offers a solution to ensuring long-term storage of this species, preserving genetic diversity and viability. However, cryoinjury's impacts on glycan, a class of biomolecules with diverse biological roles including the initiation of coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis, remain unknown. Thus, we examined the glycan profile of Breviolum psygmophilum cells cultured for varied periods post-thaw. The cells were subjected to two-step freezing with 2 M methanol as the cryoprotectant, and were cryopreserved for 2 h, then thawed and cultured. Lectin Array 70 was used to analyze glycan profiles of B. psygmophilum before and after cryopreservation. The results indicated that fucose and mannose differed significantly from N-acetyllactosamine, indicating its low presence in non-cryopreserved cells. Cryopreserved B. psygmophilum showed significant changes in fucose and mannose content, and several lectins contributed to the abundance of their respective carbohydrate moieties. These carbohydrates may affect cell division, repair, and energy. Lectins Gal1, CNL, DSA, BC2LCN, GRFT, HHA, NPA, Orysata, ConA, Gal3, and ACG changed in content post-cryopreservation, which may have been to mitigate the cryopreservation-induced stress, similar to their response to other stresses, while vital biological processes were maintained. This study sheds light on Symbiodiniaceae glycan profile alterations post-cryopreservation, which could influence Symbiodiniaceae's ability to establish symbiosis with corals thus highlighting the need to optimize cryopreservation protocols to minimize glycan alterations and enhance Symbiodiniaceae preservation, ultimately supporting coral reef conservation efforts.},
}
@article {pmid40621956,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, X and Yang, L and Zhou, S and Zhong, L and Xu, G and Bi, M and Yang, X and Su, X and Rillig, MC},
title = {Plastic Biofilms as Hotspots of Nitrogen Cycling in Estuarine Ecosystems: Comparative Ecological, Genomic, and Transcriptomic Analysis Across Substrates.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {31},
number = {7},
pages = {e70329},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70329},
pmid = {40621956},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {42021005//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U23A20145//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021-DST-004//Ningbo Municipal Science and Technology Innovative Research Team/ ; ANSO-PA-2023-18//Alliance of International Science Organizations/ ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; *Plastics ; *Nitrogen Cycle ; *Estuaries ; Transcriptome ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Seawater/microbiology ; Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Metagenome ; },
abstract = {Biofilms represent a ubiquitous microbial lifestyle that facilitates colonization, symbiosis, and nutrient cycling, shaping environmental chemical transformations. In the Anthropocene, the proliferation of artificial surfaces, particularly plastics, has introduced novel and artificial ecological niches for microbial colonization. However, the biogeochemical potential of biofilms on these emerging artificial substrates remains largely unknown. Here, using [15]N tracing, amplicon, metagenome, and metatranscriptomic sequencing, we explore nitrogen (N) potential biogeochemistry across artificial and natural biofilms as well as the bulk seawater. Our results reveal that plastic biofilms exhibit enhanced N transformation potential, including elevated nitrification (2~45-fold), denitrification (5~44-fold), and N2O production (3~13-fold) rates, compared to natural biofilms and ambient seawater. This functional shift corresponds to distinct microbial community structures, driven by active N-cycling taxa and metabolic pathway reconfigurations on plastic surfaces. We also observe that carbohydrate metabolism pathways, such as glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway, were highly expressed in plastic biofilms, with transcriptional levels of glk (encoding glucokinase) and PGK (encoding phosphoglycerate kinase) increased by 6- and 2-fold, respectively. Our findings depict the role of plastic biofilms as active participants in estuarine N cycling and underscore the broader implications of plastic pollution on ecosystem biogeochemistry.},
}
@article {pmid40621907,
year = {2025},
author = {Liang, X and Lu, X and Wei, Y and Jiang, F and Wang, M and Wei, X},
title = {Composition and driving factors of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in the roots and rhizosphere soil of naturally regenerated Phoebe bournei seedlings in Guizhou Province, China.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {e0021025},
pmid = {40621907},
issn = {2165-0497},
support = {[Qian Ke He (2016) 5661]//Guizhou Province "Hundred" Talents Training Plan Project/ ; [Qian Ke He Platform Talents-CXTD (2023) 006]//Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team Building Project for Seedling Breeding and Plantation Cultivation of Precious Tree Species of Guizhou Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; China ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Seedlings/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Soil/chemistry ; *Mycobiome ; Biodiversity ; Forests ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; Glomeromycota/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play vital roles in promoting tree growth and maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability in subtropical forests. Phoebe bournei, a key species endemic to the subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests of China, forms symbiosis associations with AM fungi. However, the composition and structure of AM fungal communities associated with naturally regenerated P. bournei remain insufficiently characterized. This study used Illumina MiSeq sequencing to investigate the AM fungal communities in the root and rhizosphere soil samples. In total, 305 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to four orders and seven families were uncovered within Glomeromycota. Seven and nine AM fungal genera were detected in root and rhizosphere soil samples, respectively, with Glomus being the most dominant genus in both root and rhizosphere soil samples. Moreover, the diversity of AM fungal communities varied across sampling locations in the rhizosphere soil and roots. The co-occurrence network structure of the AM fungal community in the rhizosphere soil was more complex and robust than that of the roots. Furthermore, soil properties, latitude, and altitude influenced the changes in AM fungal α-diversity and the relative abundance of genera in roots and rhizosphere soil to varying degrees. Overall, our findings highlight the pivotal role of soil properties over geographical variables in explaining variations in the AM fungal community structure, with soil properties-particularly total phosphorus and total nitrogen-markedly driving the AM fungal community structure in the rhizosphere soil and roots of naturally regenerated P. bournei seedlings.IMPORTANCEAlthough subtropical forest ecosystems harbor rich arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal resources, insights into their communities in the rhizosphere of Phoebe bournei remain limited. This study investigates the composition and key drivers of AM fungi communities in the rhizosphere soil and roots of naturally regenerated P. bournei seedlings in Guizhou, subtropical China. The findings deepen the understanding of the potential of AM fungi in supporting the establishment and growth of mycorrhizal plants, as well as maintaining the diversity, productivity, and stability of subtropical forest ecosystems. Moreover, this study provides valuable insights into the selection and application of AM fungi resources in mycorrhizal seedling cultivation and afforestation of P. bournei.},
}
@article {pmid40621614,
year = {2025},
author = {Reichert, J and Tepavčević, J},
title = {Growing Apart: Global Warming Severely Impacts the Symbiosis of the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid and Bioluminescent Bacteria.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {31},
number = {7},
pages = {e70308},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70308},
pmid = {40621614},
issn = {1365-2486},
}
@article {pmid40621421,
year = {2025},
author = {Majeed, M and Ahmed, W and Javad, S and Iahtisham-Ul-Haq, and Rashid, S and Perveen, R and Farooq, U and Abid, J and Ahmad, AMR},
title = {Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction for quercetin (prebiotic) and the effect of its symbiotic combination with Lactobacillus acidophilus (probiotic) in NAFLD induced rat model.},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {1596758},
pmid = {40621421},
issn = {2296-861X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Changing dietary patterns, lifestyle related disorders and associated metabolic syndromes have increased the prevalence of NAFLD over the last few years. It has been observed that there is a direct association between intestinal dysbiosis and NAFLD truly depicted by interconnected complex mechanisms. Besides its antioxidant activity, quercetin serves prebiotic functions as well.<br><br>OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current research was to determine the synbiotic effect of quercetin and Lactobacillus acidophilus on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced rat models.<br><br>METHODS: Quercetin was extracted from red onions via microwave-assisted extraction technique (MAE). Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize MAE parameters. 25 female albino rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each; 2 control (untreated and negative control) and 3 treatment groups (G1, G2, G3). High fat diet (HFD) (40% fat) in combination with 15% sucrose water and 440&#x202f;mg cholesterol/100&#x202f;g feed was given to rats over a period of 6&#x202f;weeks to induce NAFLD. For the efficacy trial, treatment groups received different doses of quercetin; 50&#x202f;mg, 80&#x202f;mg and 100&#x202f;mg in G1, G2 and G3, respectively, with a dose of 10[2]&#x202f;CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus/200&#x202f;&#x3bc;L of PBS in all three groups.<br><br>RESULTS: The results revealed optimal MAE conditions for maximum amount of quercetin as 600&#x202f;W microwave power, 3&#x202f;min irradiation time and distilled water as a solvent. Resultantly, 86.10&#x202f;mg quercetin/gram of red onion extract (32.7mgQ/g onion powder) was obtained. There was no significant difference in HDL, VLDL, triglycerides, serum AST and serum ALP levels (p-value > 0.05) between all groups. However, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and serum ALT significantly improved in G3 (p-value < 0.05).<br><br>CONCLUSION: The synbiotic combination is effective at lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol as well as serum ALT levels at a dose of 100&#x202f;mg of quercetin/kg body weight for rats.},
}
@article {pmid40620226,
year = {2025},
author = {Sangwan, S and Saxena, G and Chawla, G and Prasanna, R and Bana, RS and Choudhary, AK},
title = {Propagule-Specific Bacteriome of Funneliformis mosseae Spores and Hyphae: Integrated High-Throughput and Culture-Dependent Insights.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70076},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70076},
pmid = {40620226},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {//This research was supported by the Indian Potash Limited, New Delhi./ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is increasingly recognized as a tripartite interaction involving the fungal symbiont, the host plant, and a diverse assemblage of associated bacteria. Through this study, propagule-specific bacteriome of Funneliformis mosseae was explored, particularly its taxonomic composition and plant growth-promoting (PGP) potential. Using a polyphasic approach integrating Illumina high-throughput sequencing with culture-dependent techniques, bacterial communities associated with monosporal hyphae and spores were characterized. Sequencing analyses revealed distinct taxonomic profiles between two propagule types: spores were dominated by Pseudomonas, whereas hyphae harbored higher relative abundances of Sphingobium and Rhodococcus. Culture-dependent screening on NBRIP medium yielded 53 phosphate-solubilizing bacterial isolates-21 from spores and 32 from hyphae. While hyphae-associated propagules contained a greater number of phosphate-solubilizing isolates, those from spores exhibited significantly higher solubilization capacities, ranging from 16.87 to 273 µg mL[-1], with 47.6% exceeding 100 µg mL[-1]. In contrast, hyphae-derived isolates ranged from 35.03 to 142.20 µg mL[-1], with 28.1% surpassing the 100-µg mL[-1] threshold. Functional screening further revealed that 38% of spore and 31% of hyphae-associated isolates exhibited diverse PGP traits. The five most potent strains were identified through 16S rDNA sequencing as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Bacillus haynesii, Bacillus licheniformis, and Enterococcus innesii. This study represents the first attempt to characterize a propagule-specific core bacteriome in Funneliformis mosseae, revealing clear taxonomic and functional divergence between spore and hyphae-associated bacterial communities. These findings highlight the specialized ecological roles of distinct propagule microbiomes and offer novel avenues for targeted manipulation of AM symbiosis to enhance plant nutrient acquisition and growth.},
}
@article {pmid40619070,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, W and Xu, C and Wang, J and Li, X},
title = {Diversity of symbiotic microbes and their potential functions associated with multiple development stages of Zeugodacus tau (Walker).},
journal = {Gene},
volume = {965},
number = {},
pages = {149655},
doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2025.149655},
pmid = {40619070},
issn = {1879-0038},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Female ; Male ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Phylogeny ; Pupa/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; },
abstract = {Zeugodacus tau is a major quarantine insect pest that causes considerable damage to vegetable industries in Jiangxi area. Symbiotic microbes play essential roles in the long-term coevolution of host insects. While symbiotic bacteria are increasingly recognized as pivotal mediators of insect physiology and ecology, characterization of bacteria dynamics across life cycles of Z. tau remains limited. To address this knowledge gap, we surveyed the dynamic changes of symbiotic microbiota across various life stages of Z. tau, including larva, pupa, female and male adult, using high-throughput sequencing technology on the Illumina MiSeq platform. A total of 2,574 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) were discerned from 16S rRNA genes. Alpha diversity analysis disclosed the pupa of Z. tau possessed the highest bacterial abundance and diversity. Notably, Pseudomonadota was the dominant phylum across all stages except the larva, where Lactiplantibacillus predominated. Klebsiella and Enterobacter were the main genera in adult males and females. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis demonstrated stage-specific functional specialization, with larvae preferentially activating carbohydrate metabolism for growth while adults upregulated energy metabolism to support flight and reproduction. These findings provide foundational insights into host-microbiota interactions and may inform the development of microbiota-targeted pest management strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40616161,
year = {2025},
author = {Yin, D and Fang, N and Zhu, Y and Bao, X and Yang, J and Zhang, Q and Wang, R and Huang, J and Wu, Q and Ma, F and Wei, X},
title = {Adipocytes-induced ANGPTL4/KLF4 axis drives glycolysis and metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer.},
journal = {Journal of experimental &amp; clinical cancer research : CR},
volume = {44},
number = {1},
pages = {192},
pmid = {40616161},
issn = {1756-9966},
support = {2023AH050555//Key Program of Natural Scientific Research in Higher Education Institutions of Anhui Province/ ; 2023AH050554//Key Program of Natural Scientific Research in Higher Education Institutions of Anhui Province/ ; 82003811//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; XJ201917//Scientific Research Foundation of Anhui Medical University/ ; },
mesh = {*Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/pathology/metabolism/genetics ; Humans ; *Angiopoietin-Like Protein 4/metabolism/genetics ; Female ; Kruppel-Like Factor 4 ; Glycolysis ; Mice ; Animals ; *Adipocytes/metabolism/pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The adipocyte-rich tumor microenvironment (TME) is recognized as a key factor in promoting cancer progression. A distinct characteristic of peritumoral adipocytes is their reduced lipid content and the acquisition of a proinflammatory phenotype. However, the underlying mechanisms by which adipocytes rewire metabolism and boost tumor progression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain poorly understood.<br><br>METHODS: We utilized transcriptomic analysis, bioinformatic analysis, metabolic flux analysis, protein-protein docking, gene and protein expression profiling, in vivo metastasis analysis and breast cancer specimens to explore how adipocytes reprogram tumor metabolism and progression in TNBC.<br><br>RESULTS: Our findings reveal that Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) exhibits significantly higher expression levels in adipocyte-rich tumor circumstance compared to the symbiotic environment lacking of adipocyte. Furthermore, ANGPTL4 expression in tumor cells is essential for adipocyte-driven glycolysis and metastasis. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), enriched in cancer-associated adipocytes, and lipolysis-derived free fatty acids (FFAs) released from adipocytes, amplify ANGPTL4-mediated glycolysis and metastasis through activation of STAT3 and PPAR&#x3b1; pathways in TNBC cells. Additionally, ANGPTL4 interacts with transcription factor KLF4 and enhances KLF4 activity, which further drives glycolysis and metastasis, whereas KLF4 knockdown attenuates migration and glycolysis in TNBC cells. Importantly, Elevated ANGPTL4 and KLF4 expression was observed in metastatic breast cancer specimens compared to non-metastatic cases and was positively correlated with poor prognosis.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results uncover a complex metabolic interaction between adipocytes and TNBC cells that promotes tumor aggressiveness. ANGPTL4 emerges as a key mediator in this process, making it a promising therapeutic target to inhibit TNBC progression.},
}
@article {pmid40615560,
year = {2025},
author = {Kusajima, M and Fujita, M and Takahashi, I and Mori, T and Tanaka, T and Nakamura, H and Le Thanh, T and Yoneyama, K and Akiyama, K and Buensanteai, K and Asami, T and Nakashita, H},
title = {Enhancement of systemic acquired resistance in rice by F-box protein D3-mediated strigolactone/karrikin signaling.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {23875},
pmid = {40615560},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {JPJ01193//Research and implementation promotion program through open innovation grants/ ; JPJ01193//Research and implementation promotion program through open innovation grants/ ; JPJ01193//Research and implementation promotion program through open innovation grants/ ; JPJ01193//Research and implementation promotion program through open innovation grants/ ; 19J14665//Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows/ ; 27004A//Forestry and Fisheries under Science and Technology Research Promotion Program for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food Industry/ ; 27004A//Forestry and Fisheries under Science and Technology Research Promotion Program for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food Industry/ ; 27004A//Forestry and Fisheries under Science and Technology Research Promotion Program for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food Industry/ ; 27004A//Forestry and Fisheries under Science and Technology Research Promotion Program for Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food Industry/ ; 18K05656//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
mesh = {*Oryza/genetics/metabolism/immunology/microbiology/drug effects ; *Lactones/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Pyrans/metabolism ; *Disease Resistance ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; *Furans/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/immunology/genetics ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; },
abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are butenolide-type plant hormones that play several roles in plants, such as suppressing shoot branching and promoting arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Recently, SLs have been reported to positively regulate disease resistance in plants. In this study, we analyzed the effect of the synthetic SL analog rac-4-bromodebranon (rac-4BD) on systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in rice. First, we demonstrated in vitro that rac-4BD, similar to the common SL analog rac-GR24, promotes the interaction of SL and karrikin receptor, D14 and D14-like (D14L), respectively, with signaling factor D3. Gene expression analysis and inoculation tests indicated that pretreatment with rac-4BD promotes the effect of the SAR inducer BIT. Activation of SAR was also significantly observed in the SL and karrikin signal-deficient rice mutant d3. These results suggest that D3-mediated SL/karrikin signaling by rac-4BD treatment does not directly activate rice immunity but induces a priming state in the plant that enhances SAR induction.},
}
@article {pmid40614119,
year = {2025},
author = {Zeng, Z and Wu, WS and Ding, Q and Liu, Y and Feng, XY and Zhao, P and Jiang, XM and Li, SX and Jiang, YQ and Chen, JQ and Shao, ZQ},
title = {Overexpression of miR399d impairs arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato.},
journal = {Plant biotechnology journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pbi.70242},
pmid = {40614119},
issn = {1467-7652},
support = {//Outstanding Young Teacher of "QingLan Project" of Jiangsu Province/ ; 2022ZB45//Jiangsu Excellent Postdoctoral Funding/ ; 2023ZB796//Jiangsu Excellent Postdoctoral Funding/ ; CX(23)3116//Jiangsu Provincial Agricultural Science and Technology Independent Innovation Fund/ ; 31770245//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32170218//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32200195//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32270241//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32400186//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32461160254//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; GZB20230303//Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF/ ; 2022721558//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) is a pervasive mutualistic interaction that is prevalent among fungi and the majority of terrestrial plant species. AMS host plants possess an alternative phosphate (Pi) acquisition pathway via arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in addition to direct Pi uptake by the root epidermis. In the present study, we found that miR399d homologues were consistently downregulated in multiple angiosperms during AMS. Genetic approaches were used to study its role in AMS in a tomato model. The overexpression of tomato miR399d significantly inhibited the colonization of plants by AMF and the development of arbuscules. A similar phenotype was observed by inactivation of PHO2 (PHOSPHATE2), a target gene of miR399d. Considering that both miR399d overexpression and PHO2 deficiency increase the accumulation of Pi transporters in the direct Pi uptake pathway, a Pi transporter gene PT1, which is involved in direct Pi uptake, was overexpressed in tomato. The resulting transgenic plants presented elevated direct Pi uptake and a decreased degree of AMF colonization. These findings suggest that the downregulation of miR399d is required for AMS establishment and that miR399d may act as a negative regulator of AMS by fine-tuning distinct Pi uptake pathways in tomato plants under phosphorus starvation conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40613947,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, J and Geng, X and Zhang, Q and Lin, K and Li, Z and Wang, B and Xiao, Q and Li, X},
title = {Effect of Claroideoglomous etunicatums on rhizosphere bacterial community of tobacco under low nutrient conditions.},
journal = {Advanced biotechnology},
volume = {3},
number = {3},
pages = {22},
pmid = {40613947},
issn = {2948-2801},
support = {202204c06020021//Anhui Provincial Key Research and Development Plan/ ; 32201308//Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. However, the impact of AMF on the rhizosphere bacterial community of tobacco under conditions of low nutrient availability remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of inoculating Claroideoglomus etunicatum on the tobacco rhizosphere bacterial community and the microbial mechanisms by which AMF enhanced plants antioxidant capacity, employing Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. The findings indicated that AMF significantly increased both the aboveground and belowground fresh weight, as well as the plant height of tobacco. AMF inoculation led to elevated activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and an overall enhancement of the plants antioxidant capacity. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that AMF modified the bacterial community structure and significantly enriched beneficial rhizosphere bacteria, predominantly from the phyla Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteriota, and Myxococcota, thereby facilitating tobacco growth. The network analysis revealed that the incorporation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) contributed to increased stability within the bacterial community, enriched species diversity, and more intricate ecological networks. AMF enhanced interactions and positive correlations among bacterial species, indicating that heightened microbial synergy is associated with improved symbiotic relationships. Furthermore, the structural equation model demonstrated that AMF bolstered the plants antioxidant capacity by modulating the rhizosphere bacterial community. This study elucidates the impact of AMF on the tobacco rhizosphere bacterial community, providing a theoretical basis for promoting tobacco growth.},
}
@article {pmid40613418,
year = {2025},
author = {Batzenschlager, M and Lace, B and Zhang, N and Su, C and Boiger, A and Egli, S and Krohn, P and Salfeld, J and Ditengou, FA and Laux, T and Ott, T},
title = {Competence for transcellular infection in the root cortex involves a post-replicative, cell-cycle exit decision in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40613418},
issn = {2050-084X},
support = {OPP1172165//Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/ ; 20170808001//China Scholarship Council/ ; G119217//Gates Agricultural Innovations/ ; 431626755//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 403222702//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 39093984//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 414136422//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology/cytology/physiology/genetics ; *Cell Cycle ; *Symbiosis ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/cytology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Cell Division ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; },
abstract = {During root nodule symbiosis (RNS), cell-division activity is reinitiated and sustained in the root cortex to create a hospitable cellular niche. Such a temporary and spatially confined site is required to render host cells compatible with the intracellular progression of rhizobia. Although it has been suggested that early infection events might involve a pre-mitotic cell-cycle arrest, this process has not been dissected with cellular resolution. Here, we show that a dual-color Medicago histone reporter robustly identifies cells with different mitotic or endoreduplication activities in the root cortex. By imaging deep root tissues, we found that a confined trajectory of cortical cells that are transcellularly passed by infection threads is in a stage of the cell cycle that is distinct from directly adjacent cells. Distinctive features of infected cells include nuclear widening and large-scale chromatin rearrangements consistent with a cell-cycle exit prior to differentiation. Using a combination of fluorescent reporters demarcating cell-cycle phase progression, we confirmed that a reduced proliferation potential and modulating the G2/M transition, a process possibly controlled by the NF-YA1 transcription factor, mark the success of rhizobial delivery to nodule cells.},
}
@article {pmid40613303,
year = {2025},
author = {Stefano, GB},
title = {Mitochondria: A Covert Chronic Infection Masquerading as a Symbiotic Partner?.},
journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)},
volume = {30},
number = {6},
pages = {42854},
doi = {10.31083/FBL42854},
pmid = {40613303},
issn = {2768-6698},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Mitochondria/physiology/microbiology/metabolism/ultrastructure ; Humans ; Animals ; *Persistent Infection/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; },
abstract = {Mitochondria, ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells, evolved from an ancestral aerobic alpha-proteobacterium that had been phagocytosed by a primordial archaeal cell. Numerous factors link mitochondria to current-day bacteria, notably the facultative pathogens that are phagocytosed and survive within the host as a chronic infection. Despite these parallels, we typically refer to mitochondria as "symbionts" and rarely consider them as perhaps the most successful example of long-term chronic infection. Here, we will explore critical aspects of mitochondrial structure and function and consider what we might learn by refocusing our attention on mitochondria as bacteria that are uniquely adapted to their host cell, i.e., as a chronic infection tolerated by its eukaryotic host.},
}
@article {pmid40613140,
year = {2025},
author = {Nyzhnyk, T and Kots, S},
title = {Chelated Forms of Trace Elements as a Promising Solution for Improving Soybean Symbiotic Capacity and Productivity Under Climate Change.},
journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition)},
volume = {17},
number = {2},
pages = {33505},
doi = {10.31083/FBE33505},
pmid = {40613140},
issn = {1945-0508},
mesh = {*Glycine max/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology/metabolism ; *Climate Change ; *Symbiosis ; *Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; *Trace Elements/pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The tolerance and productivity of soybeans under the current climate change conditions can be increased by providing these crops with the necessary macro- and microelements. This can be achieved using effective Bradyrhizobium strains for seed inoculation and adding chelated trace elements.<br><br>METHODS: Soybean Bradyrhizobium japonicum symbioses were cultivated by adding chelates of trace elements, such as iron (Fe), germanium (Ge), and molybdenum (Mo), to the culture medium, after which microbiological and biochemical analyses were performed.<br><br>RESULTS: The addition of chelated forms of Fe or Ge to the Bradyrhizobium culture medium promoted a change in the pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance in soybean nodules under different water supply conditions. This is due to the production of hydrogen peroxide in the nodules (an increase of 12.9%), as well as a twofold increase in the ascorbate peroxidase activity and a decrease in the levels of superoxide dismutase (by 40%) and catalase (by 50%) under water stress. Stimulation of nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybeans (by 40.1 and 73.0%) and an increase in grain productivity (by 47.5 and 58%) were observed when using Bradyrhizobium inoculant containing Fe or Ge chelates. The inoculation of soybeans with Bradyrhizobium modified using Mo chelate causes similar changes in antioxidant processes as Fe or Ge chelates, but the soybean symbiotic capacity decreases under water stress.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Chelated forms of Fe or Ge as additional components in the Bradyrhizobium culture medium are effective in regulating the antioxidant status of soybeans under drought conditions and can simultaneously contribute to increased nitrogen fixation and grain productivity. These findings are important in expanding the current technologies used to grow this legume in risky farming areas caused by climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40612939,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, Z and Wang, X and Cheng, H and Li, J and Zhang, X and Wang, X},
title = {The role of MCT1 in tumor progression and targeted therapy: a comprehensive review.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1610466},
pmid = {40612939},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism/antagonists &amp; inhibitors/genetics ; *Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology/drug therapy ; *Symporters/metabolism/antagonists &amp; inhibitors/genetics ; Disease Progression ; Animals ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; },
abstract = {Overexpression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in tumor cells is often associated with poor prognosis. The established mechanisms through which MCT1 and its mediated lactate transport drive tumor progression are manifold. The classical mechanisms include fostering metabolic symbiosis among tumor cells, dampening the immune function of immune cells, and spurring tumor angiogenesis. Beyond these, new findings of MCT1's role in tumor progression have emerged. These new findings highlight MCT1's involvement in mediating the reverse Warburg effect, inhibiting ferroptosis, promoting protective autophagy, and augmenting tumor glycolysis. When acetate serves as a transport substrate for MCT1, additional mechanisms come into play. These encompass MCT1's participation in the acetylation of histone H3K27 and its role in upregulating c-Myc levels. Several studies have demonstrated that while selective MCT1 inhibitors can effectively impede tumor progression, they also face notable challenges. To address these, combining MCT1 inhibitors with other drugs appears to hold more promise.},
}
@article {pmid40610880,
year = {2025},
author = {Nyzhnyk, T and Kiedrzyńska, E and Kots, S and Zalewski, M and Kiedrzyński, M},
title = {Alleviation of water stress in soybean symbiosis by salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate-activated Bradyrhizobium.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {862},
pmid = {40610880},
issn = {1471-2229},
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/drug effects/physiology ; *Glycine max/microbiology/physiology/drug effects/metabolism ; *Cyclopentanes/pharmacology ; *Oxylipins/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Salicylic Acid/pharmacology ; *Acetates/pharmacology ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The use of exogenous compounds with growth-regulatory properties can play an effective part in providing plants with the necessary plastic resources for the synthesis of protective compounds. The aim of the research is to determine the effectiveness of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate treatment for inducing resistance in soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiosis, and improving symbiotic capacity.<br><br>METHODS: Soybean nodule bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum cultures were treated with salicylic acid (50 &#xb5;M) or methyl jasmonate (0.75 &#xb5;M) and used to create symbioses with soybean. The symbioses were cultivated under normal watering and water stress conditions, and the resulting plants were tested for inter alia pro-oxidant-antioxidant status, productivity and N-fixation activity.<br><br>RESULTS: The 0.75 &#xb5;M methyl jasmonate treatment demonstrated 54.7% catalase and 14.6% greater superoxide dismutase (by 14.6%) activity, as well as and induced two-fold higher hydrogen peroxide, under water stress; in addition, nodulation processes were stimulated by 40% and inhibited nitrogen-fixing activity inhibited by 73.5%. The 50 &#xb5;M salicylic acid treatment exhibited 54.5% lowered hydrogen peroxide, but 20.7% greater superoxide dismutase activity and 44.8% higher catalase activation water stress; this increased the efficiency of molecular nitrogen fixation (by 23.5%) and productivity (by 15.9%) in soybeans.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Effect of 50 &#xb5;M SA-treated Bradyrhizobium effectively activates the protective antioxidant mechanisms of soybean, improving symbiotic capacity and stress tolerance. Methyl jasmonate 0.75 &#xb5;M in combination with Bradyrhizobium stimulates nodulation and inhibites nitrogen fixation in soybean under both optimal and insufficient water supply.},
}
@article {pmid40610866,
year = {2025},
author = {Hushan, W and Yijian, W and Yunzhu, H and Lin, J and Mengjuan, L and Zihui, S and Yihao, L and Tianxu, W and Gunquan, W and Wangfeng, Z and Xiaozhen, P},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization regulates root traits and soil carbon economic strategies.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {865},
pmid = {40610866},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {32460538//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024DB015//Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Science and Technology Program/ ; 2023ZD049//Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Guiding Science, Technology Program/ ; CXBJ202201//Youth Innovative Talents Project of Shihezi University/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic interaction between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and roots can change root traits, soil carbon - nitrogen processes and crop yield. However, the precise mechanisms by which AMF affect soil carbon economic strategies and crop yield remain unclear. A two - factor pot experiment was done with cotton. Factor 1 was nitrogen application (1.5, 1.0, 0.5 g·kg[−1]), Factor 2 was AMF treatment (colonization and non - colonization) to study relationships between AMF and root traits, nutrient strategies, yield.<br><br>RESULTS: The analysis of the root economic spectrum reveals that after inhibiting AMF colonization in roots, root nitrogen content (RNC), root intersection count (RIC), specific root length (SRL), root branching intensity (RBI), specific root area (SRA), and root tip count (RTC) adopting an acquisitive strategy, whereas AMF colonization and root diameter (RD) showed a conservative strategy. When AMF normally colonizes roots, AMF colonization, RNC, RBI and RTC exhibit conservative strategy, whereas SRA, RD, SOC and leaf nitrogen content (LNC) display an acquisitive strategy. Additionally, there is a non - linear relationship between root traits and seed - cotton yield. Notably, AMF colonization leads to variability in the relationships between SRA and yield, and between RTC and yield.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Under nitrogen reduction conditions, AMF colonization can enhance nitrogen acquisition by optimizing root characteristics (SRA and RBI), coordinating nitrogen metabolism between leaves and roots, and adjusting the soil carbon economic strategy. In addition, AMF hyphae will adopt a strategy of slowly acquiring nitrogen as a reward for plants, which is one of the key factors contributing to the observed differences between the trends in root morphology and seed - cotton yield.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-06903-1.},
}
@article {pmid40610480,
year = {2025},
author = {Han, X and Li, H and Xu, S and Miao, X and Guan, R},
title = {Bacillus secretes nucleases to degrade dsRNA, thereby reducing host's susceptibility to RNAi.},
journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {127},
pmid = {40610480},
issn = {2055-5008},
support = {K2023019//Shanghai Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program/ ; 22QB1405900//Shanghai Rising-Star Program/ ; 25B210009//Key scientific research projects of colleges and universities in Henan Province/ ; 252102111110//the Science and Technology Research Project of Henan Province/ ; CB2025A34//State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization and Sponsored by State Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-breeding and Integrated Utilization Open Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *RNA Interference ; *RNA, Double-Stranded/metabolism/genetics ; *Bacillus/enzymology/genetics/metabolism/classification ; *Ribonucleases/metabolism/genetics ; *Moths/microbiology/genetics ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {RNAi technology, which can induce mortality by disrupting the transcription of essential growth and development-related genes in insects, has emerged as a groundbreaking pest control method. However, insects have developed defense mechanisms to counteract the efficiency of RNAi. The specific role of symbiotic microorganisms in this process remains poorly understood and requires further exploration. This study examines the reduced RNAi efficiency in Lepidopteran pest Helicoverpa armigera. Through screening, six Bacillus strains exhibiting dsRNA-degrading activity were identified through in vitro assays. Further investigation into one representative strain Ba 6 revealed that it significantly decreased RNAi efficiency by secreting ribonuclease into the insect gut fluid, directly degrading dsRNA, thus reducing its accumulation and blocking RNAi effects. These findings clarify the mechanism by which symbiotic bacteria influence the host's RNAi efficiency and provides a valuable reference for the development and large-scale implementation of RNA biopesticides targeting H. armigera and other lepidopteran pests.},
}
@article {pmid40608926,
year = {2025},
author = {Lawrence, A},
title = {Collisions in the sky.},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {389},
number = {6755},
pages = {eady9838},
doi = {10.1126/science.ady9838},
pmid = {40608926},
issn = {1095-9203},
abstract = {Over the past six decades, astronomy, space science, and the space industry have seemed to be in a kind of virtuous symbiosis. Astronomy has benefited from improvements in technology and has had the opportunity to place observing platforms in space. The space industry has been pushed by the extreme technological demands of curiosity-driven research, and benefited from the flow of public money to industrial contracts to build astronomical missions. Both science and industry have been driven by a shared romantic vision of exploring the Universe, whether by studying distant galaxies or by humanity stepping out into space. All of this was suddenly disrupted in 2019 by a rude awakening. Starlink communication satellites began to photo-bomb astronomers' images as they streaked across the sky. Suddenly, it seemed, astronomy and commercial space activity were in conflict. This friction may be coming to a crunch as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins a 10-year survey of the cosmos.},
}
@article {pmid40608704,
year = {2025},
author = {Ben-Mordechai, L and Herman, N and Vitenberg, T and Margalit, S and Tettamanti, G and Casartelli, M and Bruno, D and Opatovsky, I},
title = {The fate of Candida tropicalis in the black soldier fly larvae and its nutritional effect suggest indirect interactions.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {7},
pages = {e0325056},
pmid = {40608704},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Candida tropicalis/physiology ; *Larva/microbiology/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Tephritidae/microbiology ; Fatty Acids/metabolism/biosynthesis ; Metabolomics ; },
abstract = {Bacteria are known to colonize the insect gut and determine a positive effect on their host's fitness, for example, by providing essential nutrients or improving digestion efficiency. However, information on the colonization of the insect gut by fungi and their nutritional contribution is still scarce and fragmentary. In this study, the presence of Candida tropicalis, a fungus abundant in the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, BSF) larvae's gut and environment, was determined in the different gut regions. In addition, metabolites present in larvae fed with a fungus-containing diet were determined by untargeted metabolomics and compared to the C. tropicalis metabolic composition and metabolic changes in the feeding substrate supplemented with the microorganism. Our results indicate that C. tropicalis ceased to be present in the BSF gut after its supplementation in the feeding substrate was stopped, indicating that C. tropicalis does not colonize the gut. Larvae that were reared on diet supplemented with C. tropicalis displayed an increase in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, due to an increase in the palmitic and myristic acids that are abundant in C. tropicalis. The presence of C. tropicalis in the substrate caused an increase in threonine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis pathways in the larvae and suggests indirect feeding from the fungal excretions in the substrate. In addition, the lysozyme activity in the larval gut was reduced by the presence of C. tropicalis, suggesting the fungal involvement in the digestive process for increasing fungal survival. This study suggests indirect symbiotic interactions, in which C. tropicalis thrives in the BSF larvae's environment and manipulates BSF digestive enzyme production to survive in this environment, but on the other hand, BSF larvae benefit metabolically from the C. tropicalis presence in its surrounding environment.},
}
@article {pmid40608492,
year = {2025},
author = {Ozuru, R and Yamagishi, J and Takeuchi, A and Date, Y and Fujii, T and Sugimoto, C and Nakajima, C and Suzuki, Y and Aoki, K and Fujii, J and Matsuba, T},
title = {Unification of symbiotic bacteria during larva-to-adult transition in Culicoides circumscriptus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {372},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaf069},
pmid = {40608492},
issn = {1574-6968},
support = {24K13424//JSPS/ ; 18K16174//JSPS/ ; 21K16320//JSPS/ ; 24K10225//JSPS/ ; JP20wm0125008//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP223fa62700//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Ceratopogonidae/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Symbiosis ; Female ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Japan ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Blood-sucking midges such as Leptoconops and Culicoides are of medical importance due to their role in causing skin irritation and potentially transmitting pathogens. Investigating their bacterial communities, including possible endosymbionts, may help clarify ecological adaptations and interactions with hosts. Leptoconops nipponensis Tokunaga (Lnt) and Culicoides circumscriptus (Cc), blood-sucking midges, cause severe itching and inflammation in humans. Cc was collected from a small sample of an outbreak swarm of Lnt in the peninsula area of Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. This study compared the bacterial flora of Lnt and Cc, revealing distinct bacterial diversity shifts in these insect species between life stages. We analyzed the bacterial communities of adult and larval females of Cc and Lnt using MiSeq sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Notably, alpha diversity in Cc adults was significantly reduced to 1.5 (n = 43), indicating that Cc adults were dominated by a single bacterial genus, compared to 14.9 in Cc larvae (n = 19). BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) analysis identified this dominant genus in adult Cc as Rickettsia (Candidatus Tisiphisa), which is known for transovarial transmission in arthropod vectors. In contrast, the bacterial diversity of Lnt showed no significant difference between adults (18.1, n = 32) and larvae (n = 15). These findings suggest that the dominance of Rickettsia in Cc (Candidatus Tisiphisa) adults is linked to their emergence, potentially reflecting differences in reproductive biology and ecological adaptations between these two insect species. Further research is needed to elucidate the functional role of Rickettsia in the life cycle and physiology of Cc.},
}
@article {pmid40606924,
year = {2025},
author = {Xi, XL and Yang, YD and Liu, HL and Jiang, J and Wu, B},
title = {Chromatin accessibility module identified by single-cell sequencing underlies the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.},
journal = {World journal of hepatology},
volume = {17},
number = {6},
pages = {107329},
pmid = {40606924},
issn = {1948-5182},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is notorious for its aggressive progression and dismal prognosis, with chromatin accessibility dynamics emerging as pivotal yet poorly understood drivers.<br><br>AIM: To dissect how multilayered chromatin regulation sustains oncogenic transcription and tumor-stroma crosstalk in HCC, we combined multiomics single cell analysis.<br><br>METHODS: We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and paired single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing data of HCC samples, complemented by bulk RNA sequencing validation across The Cancer Genome Atlas, Liver Cancer Institute, and GSE25907 cohorts. Cell type-specific chromatin architectures were resolved via ArchR, with regulatory hubs identified through peak-to-gene linkages and coaccessibility networks. Functional validation employed A485-mediated histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation suppression and small interfering RNA targeting DGAT1.<br><br>RESULTS: Malignant hepatocytes exhibited expanded chromatin accessibility profiles, characterized by increased numbers of accessible peaks and larger physical regions despite reduced peak intensity. Enhancer-like peaks enriched in malignant regulation, forming long-range hubs. Eighteen enhancer-like peak-related genes showed tumor-specific overexpression and diagnostic accuracy, correlating with poor prognosis. Intercellular coaccessibility analysis revealed tumor-stroma symbiosis via shared chromatin states. Pharmacological histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation inhibition paradoxically downregulated DGAT1, the hub gene most strongly regulated by chromatin accessibility. DGAT1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Multilayered chromatin reprogramming sustains HCC progression through tumor-stroma crosstalk and DGAT1-related oncogenic transcription, defining targetable epigenetic vulnerabilities.},
}
@article {pmid40606872,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, W and Wu, B and Chen, L and Zhu, JA and Chen, S},
title = {How do family firms balance economic and non-economic goals: from symbiosis to competition.},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1538103},
pmid = {40606872},
issn = {1664-1078},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The coexistence of non-economic and economic goals is a prominent feature of family firms. However, does the pursuit of non-economic goals necessarily imply that the economic goals should be sacrificed? Our research addresses this question by exploring the symbiotic or competitive relationship between non-economic goals and economic goals in Chinese family firms, and the moderating effect of firm size and firm age.<br><br>METHODS: Based on 2877 firm-year observations of Chinese listed family firms from year 2009 to 2019, this paper examines the relationship between non-economic goals (measured by family management) and economic goals (measured by firm performance). A panel data fixed-effects regression model was employed for the primary analysis. To further ensure the credibility of our conclusions, we performed several robustness tests, such as utilizing alternative variable measurement and conducting an endogeneity test.<br><br>RESULTS: The empirical analysis revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between family management and firm performance, where the extent to which non-economic goals are positively related to economic goals up to a point, after the turning point it becomes negative, which shows the trend from symbiosis to competition. Furthermore, as firm age increases and firm size expands, the inverted U-shaped curve flattens, and the turning point shifts to the right.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Employing a willingness and ability perspective, this research contributes to the socioemotional wealth (SEW) framework by offering insights into the dynamic interplay between economic and non-economic goals in Chinese family firms. Moreover, by examining Chinese family firms influenced by Confucian values, our study highlights the importance of cultural context for generalizability, while simultaneously enriching SEW discourse and fostering avenues for cross-regional comparative analysis.},
}
@article {pmid40606486,
year = {2025},
author = {Alayafi, AAM and Alharbi, BM and Abdulmajeed, AM and Alnusaire, TS and ALrashidi, AA and Al-Balawi, SM and Khalaf Anazi, H and Alghanem, SMS and Al Zoubi, OM and Soliman, MH},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances growth, nutrient uptake, and oil quality in sunflower-pumpkin under intercropping systems.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1598272},
pmid = {40606486},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the effects of Funneliformis mosseae, an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, on nutrient uptake, biomass production, and oil quality in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) under both sole and intercropping field systems.<br><br>METHODS: A factorial experimental design was conducted over two growing seasons (2023 and 2024), involving three cropping systems: sunflower monoculture, pumpkin monoculture, and additive sunflower-pumpkin intercropping. Each system was assessed with and without AM inoculation to determine the interactive effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis and cropping pattern.<br><br>RESULTS: AM inoculation significantly improved root colonization, especially in intercropped pumpkins, and enhanced key plant growth parameters, including chlorophyll content, plant height, leaf number, biomass, and reproductive traits. The highest performance was recorded in AM-treated intercropped systems for both crops. Seed weight increased notably under AM inoculation, reflecting improved reproductive development. Analysis of mineral nutrient content revealed substantial improvements in macro- and micronutrient uptake with AM symbiosis. Intercropped AM-treated plants showed enhanced levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, and iron compared to their non-mycorrhizal counterparts. Additionally, AM treatments led to a marked improvement in oil yield and quality. In particular, AM-inoculated sunflower and pumpkin seeds exhibited higher total oil content and a favorable shift in fatty acid composition, characterized by increased oleic acid and reduced linoleic acid concentrations.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These findings highlight the synergistic potential of integrating AM fungal inoculation with intercropping practices to enhance crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency, and oilseed quality. The results support the adoption of AM fungi as a sustainable biofertilizer strategy in modern agroecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40606478,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, Q and Niu, C and Feng, L and Dong, M and Li, X and Kong, B and Li, C},
title = {Chemistry and chemical biology tools contributing to the discovery and functional characterization of strigolactones.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1618437},
pmid = {40606478},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Strigolactones are a newly identified group of phytohormones that regulate plant growth and development and also act as communication signals in the rhizosphere. Beyond their well-known activity in stimulating parasitic weed germination, strigolactones function in regulating plant architecture, promoting symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and modulating responses to various environmental stresses. However, their low abundance, structural diversity, and instability have hindered comprehensive research and their practices. In this review, from the perspective of biological researcher, we summarize the powerful tools and strategies related to chemistry and chemical biology used in strigolactone area, covering analytical chemistry tools for isolation and structural elucidation, synthetic chemistry for structural elucidation and agricultural applications, chemical biology and biosynthetic strategies for functional characterization. Biosensors and probes used in monitoring strigolactone activity and signaling were also highlighted. Finally, we address current challenges and discuss future research perspectives, aiming to provoke more investigations on strigolactone biology and further boost their agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid40606408,
year = {2025},
author = {Noh, Y and Cha, Y and Oh, SY},
title = {Comparative Analysis of the Mycobiomes of Two Terrestrial Isopods, Armadillidium vulgare and Spherillo obscurus.},
journal = {Mycobiology},
volume = {53},
number = {4},
pages = {520-530},
pmid = {40606408},
issn = {1229-8093},
abstract = {Terrestrial isopods serve as key decomposers in soil ecosystems and harbor diverse microbial communities that may contribute to their ecological functions. However, specific mycobiome composition of terrestrial isopods remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we investigated and compared the fungal communities associated with the two terrestrial isopods, Armadillidium vulgare and Spherillo obscurus, which co-occur in island habitats in South Korea. Through metabarcoding based on the internal transcribed spacer region, we characterized fungal communities using 16 individuals collected from the Heuksan and Eocheong Islands. In total, 252 operational taxonomic units were identified, of which 27 were shared between the two hosts. Comparatively, S. obscurus harbored a significantly more diverse and phylogenetically rich fungal community, including taxa from Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota, whereas A. vulgare was largely dominated by Mycosphaerella (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota). Alpha and beta diversity analyses revealed the host-associated enrichment, rather than the geographic location, as the primary factor influencing the mycobiome composition. Linear discriminant analysis further revealed host specialists, with distinct fungal taxa showing preferential associations with each isopod species. Our findings suggest that host identity strongly influences the fungal community assembly in isopods and that S. obscurus supports diverse ecological niches for fungal colonization. Overall, this study provides novel insights into host-fungus interactions and expands the current understanding of symbiotic mycobiomes in soil macroinvertebrates.},
}
@article {pmid40606169,
year = {2025},
author = {Mallick, S and Pavloudi, C and Saw, J and Eleftherianos, I},
title = {Heterorhabditis bacteriophora symbiotic and axenic nematodes modify the Drosophila melanogaster larval microbiome.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1598221},
pmid = {40606169},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The Drosophila melanogaster microbiome is crucial for regulating physiological processes, including immune system development and function. D. melanogaster offers distinct advantages over vertebrate models, allowing a detailed investigation of host-microbiota interactions and their effects on modulating host defense systems. It is an outstanding model for studying innate immune responses against parasites. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) activate immune signaling in the fly, leading to immune responses to combat infection. However, the impact of EPN infection on the host larval microbiome remains poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated whether EPN infection affects the D. melanogaster larval microbiome. We infected third-instar D. melanogaster larvae with Heterorhabditis bacteriophora symbiotic nematodes (containing Photorhabdus luminescens bacteria) and axenic nematodes (devoid of symbiotic bacteria). Drosophila melanogaster microbiome analysis revealed statistically significant differences in microbiome composition between uninfected and EPN-infected larvae. Notably, infection with axenic nematodes resulted in 68 unique species, causing a significant shift in the D. melanogaster larval microbiome and an increase in bacterial diversity compared to larvae infected with symbiotic nematodes. This suggests that the absence of the endosymbiont creates ecological niches for unique species and a more diverse microbiome in larvae infected with the axenic nematodes. This research will enhance our understanding of microbial species within the D. melanogaster microbiome that regulate homeostasis during nematode infection. These insights could be beneficial in developing innovative strategies for managing agricultural pests and disease vectors.},
}
@article {pmid40606155,
year = {2025},
author = {Fu, Q and Wang, W and Chen, B and Hu, Y and Ma, R and Zhu, E and Jin, S and Cai, H and Xiao, G and Du, G},
title = {Longitudinal dynamics of intestinal bacteria in the life cycle and their effects on growth and development of potato tuber moth.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1542589},
pmid = {40606155},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an oligophagous pest that damages potatoes. Intestinal microorganisms play important roles in regulating the life activities of host insects. The gut of PTM is rich in microbials, but it is unclear that the dynamics of the structure and diversity of intestinal bacteria in the different development period of potato tuber moth. In this study, the dynamics of the intestinal bacterial community across the whole life cycle of PTM were evaluated using single molecule real-time sequencing. The intestinal microbiota of PTM is predominantly composed of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, and it is different with the difference of development stages. Wolbachia endosymbionts were the dominant species of intestinal symbiotic bacteria in eggs and the first-instar larvae. Enterococcus mundtii was the dominant species of intestinal symbiotic bacteria in the second, third, and the fourth instar larvae, as well as in both male and female pupae. Moreover, the predominant species of intestinal symbiotic bacteria in female adults is Enterobacter ludwigii, while the dominant bacterial species is Serratia rubidaea in male adults. Principal component analysis and non-metric Multi-dimensional scaling analysis confirmed the differences in intestinal symbiotic bacteria structure at different developmental stages. In addition, after reintroducing the bacteria following antibiotic treatment, it was found that the antibiotics significantly inhibited the development of the potato tuber moth, whereas the gut bacteria appeared to facilitate its growth. The findings of this study will enhance our understanding of intestinal microorganisms on the development of their host insects across the life cycle. Moreover, it will establish a foundation for elucidating the physiological functions of key microorganisms in the intestinal tract of the potato tuber moth, while also offering new insights and strategy to the biological control of this pest.},
}
@article {pmid40605789,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, G and Tian, Z and Yue, Y and Gao, X and Chen, H and Yang, J and Ma, W and Zheng, D and Tan, H and Zhou, Z},
title = {Symbiotic bacteria participate in pectinolytic metabolism to enhance larval growth in Zeugodacus cucurbitae.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70035},
pmid = {40605789},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {CAAS-ZDRW202307//Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/ ; YBXM2411//Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic microbes play a pivotal role in the feeding processes of phytophagous insects, and symbiosis has been established as a key strategy for certain species to acquire pectinases. However, whether symbiotic bacteria play a role in the pectinolytic metabolism of Zeugodacus cucurbitae remains unclear.<br><br>RESULTS: Removal of symbiotic bacteria via egg sterilization significantly reduced larval food consumption, growth, and pectinase activity (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05), highlighting that the microbiota was required for Z. cucurbitae larval growth under feeding on host plants. Microbial community analysis identified Klebsiella spp. as persistent colonizers of larval feeding wounds, exhibiting recycling between host tissues and plant substrates. Functional assays demonstrated that Klebsiella strains (CpL20, CpL49, CpL63, and CpL64) formed distinct hydrolysis zones on pectin medium and degraded pectin via high enzymatic activity (495.98-830.54&#x2009;&#x3bc;/mL). Reintroduction of Klebsiella spp. restored larval growth in sterile treatment groups, confirming their metabolic contribution.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that Klebsiella spp. circulate between the feeding environment and larval tissues, participating in the pectinolytic metabolism to utilize the host plant efficiently, thereby facilitating larval growth and development. This study provides a foundation for understanding the role of symbiotic bacteria in pectinolytic metabolism during the ecological adaptation of phytophagous insects and offers new insights into the environmentally friendly management of Z. cucurbitae in agricultural settings. &#xa9; 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley &amp; Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.},
}
@article {pmid40605337,
year = {2025},
author = {Kurata, A and Uegaki, K},
title = {Recent advances in understanding the role of extracellular vesicles from probiotics in intestinal immunity signaling.},
journal = {Biochemical Society transactions},
volume = {53},
number = {2},
pages = {419-429},
pmid = {40605337},
issn = {1470-8752},
mesh = {*Probiotics/metabolism ; *Extracellular Vesicles/immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; *Signal Transduction/immunology ; Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Intestines/immunology/microbiology ; },
abstract = {The diverse functions of gut symbiotic bacteria are attracting attention for their potential as probiotics. Some of those bacteria release extracellular vesicles (EVs), spherical structures of approximately 20-400 nm in diameter, outside their cell bodies. Recent research has significantly advanced our understanding of the physicochemical and biochemical properties, functions, and host-cell interactions of EVs released by probiotic bacteria used in food fermentation, such as lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, butyric acid bacteria, and acetic acid bacteria. However, concerns have been raised regarding the use of these EVs as postbiotics. In this review, we discuss the newly discovered roles of EVs in the gut immune signaling and the challenges associated with their application as postbiotics.},
}
@article {pmid40605185,
year = {2025},
author = {Rather, RA},
title = {Shaping Plant Growth Beneath the Soil: A Theoretical Exploration of Fungal Endophyte's Role as Plant Growth-Promoting Agents.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {e70026},
pmid = {40605185},
issn = {2045-8827},
support = {//The author received no specific funding for this work./ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/physiology/metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Fungi/physiology/metabolism ; *Plant Development ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Plants/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Plant growth relies on both natural and agrochemical inputs, with natural soil nutrients and chemically synthesized fertilizers enhancing its growth. However, continuous fertilizer use can lead to soil alkalinity and environmental contamination, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices. Microbial agents, particularly fungal endophytes, have emerged as promising natural alternatives. They are recognized as integral components of the plant microbiome and aid in nutrient acquisition, hormone production, and stress resistance. Fungal endophytes enhance nutrient uptake by solubilizing phosphorus, fixing nitrogen, and producing siderophores that chelate iron. They also modulate plant hormones, including auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins, promoting growth and development. Under abiotic stress, these endophytes improve plant tolerance by inducing systemic resistance and enhancing water and nutrient absorption. This review provides a comprehensive theoretical exploration of the role of fungal endophytes in promoting plant growth, examining their diversity, mechanisms of action, and practical applications. The focus is on understanding how these symbiotic organisms can be harnessed to enhance sustainable agricultural practices and contribute to environmental conservation.},
}
@article {pmid40604402,
year = {2025},
author = {Geng, J and Zhang, M and Hu, J and Bilal, M and Yang, J and Hu, T},
title = {Genome-wide expression analysis of Festuca sinensis symbiotic with endophyte of reveals key candidate genes in response to nitrogen starvation.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {819},
pmid = {40604402},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {2023-NK-147-2//the Leading Scientist Project of Qinghai Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Nitrogen/deficiency/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Festuca/genetics/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; *Endophytes/physiology/genetics ; *Epichloe/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Gene Expression Profiling ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen is one of the essential macronutrients bulk elements affecting plant growth and yield. However, the nitrogen content in most agricultural soils today is insufficient to meet the increasing demand for crop productivity. Festuca sinensis is an important cultivated forage grass found in high-altitude regions of China. Breeding forage varieties capable of maintaining high yields under nitrogen-deficient conditions is of great significance. Despite its ecological and agricultural importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of Festuca sinensis to nitrogen starvation, as well as the identification of key regulatory genes, remain largely unexplored.<br><br>RESULTS: In this study, Festuca sinensis was cultured under different nitrogen concentrations using 1/2 Hoagland nutrient solution. Significant morphological differences were observed among the treatments, and physiological experiments confirmed that Festuca sinensis experienced substantial stress under low-nitrogen conditions. Subsequently, RNA-Seq analysis was conducted with four treatment groups and two plant tissue types. We focused on the Gene Ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enriched with Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) in three aspects: (1) the nitrogen starvation response of Festuca sinensis, (2) the symbiosis between Festuca sinensis and Epichlo&#xeb; sinensis, and (3) the response to nitrogen starvation after symbiosis. Through this analysis, we screened five key genes (FsNRT2.2, FsNRT2.4, FsC/VIF2, FsIRT1, and FsYSL15) as potentially important regulators. Additionally, protein interaction network analysis revealed several core genes that may play crucial roles in nitrogen starvation response and provide insights for breeding new Festuca sinensis germplasm with enhanced nitrogen deficiency tolerance.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to screen core genes in Festuca sinensis related to its response to nitrogen starvation, its symbiosis with Epichlo&#xeb; sinensis, and the symbiotic response to nitrogen-deficient conditions. the key genes identified along with their enriched pathways, provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying nitrogen starvation tolerance. These genes can be utilized to develop new Epichlo&#xeb; sinensis germplasm with enhanced tolerance to nitrogen deficiency and may also serve as a reference for advancing nitrogen starvation research in other plant species.},
}
@article {pmid40604166,
year = {2025},
author = {Nakashima, M and Matsuura, K},
title = {Termite antimicrobial defense through interaction with symbiotic microorganisms in nest materials.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {23391},
pmid = {40604166},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {JPMJSP2110//the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant from the Japan Science Society, the JST SPRING grant/ ; Project # JPJ009237//the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, Moonshot R&amp;D Program for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (funding agency: Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Isoptera/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Streptomyces/physiology ; *Nesting Behavior ; Bacteria ; },
abstract = {Social insects build robust nests to physically defend their colonies against attacks by predators and the intrusion of parasites and pathogens. While many previous studies on termite nests have focused on their physical defense functions, their nests also harbor various microorganisms that play a role in maintaining the colony's hygienic environment. In this study, we report a dynamic defense mechanism of termite nests, where termites bury pathogen-infected corpses into the nest material, enhancing the antimicrobial defense provided by symbiotic bacteria inhabiting the nest. Termites buried pathogen-infected corpses, which could pose a high pathogenic risk, into the nest material, while they cannibalized corpses that were non-infected. In nest material where corpses were buried, the abundance of Streptomyces, antibiotic-producing bacteria, increased and enhanced the antifungal activity of the nest material. Furthermore, this Streptomyces inhibited the growth of termite pathogens and improved worker survival rates in the presence of these pathogens. These results suggest that the interaction between termites and nest-associated symbiotic bacteria, facilitated by corpse burial, contributes to the continuous maintenance of nest hygiene. This study elucidates the function of the nest as a 'living defensive wall' and enhances our understanding of the dynamic pathogen-defense systems employed by social insects.},
}
@article {pmid40603680,
year = {2025},
author = {Gong, Y and Zhang, Y and Dong, L},
title = {Numerical simulation and governance framework for multi stakeholder symbiotic evolution in digital innovation ecosystems.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {23638},
pmid = {40603680},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {The symbiotic evolution of stakeholders within digital innovation ecosystems (DIES) is crucial for achieving ecological sustainability. Thus, we integrate the Lotka-Volterra symbiotic evolution model into digital DIES research by constructing both three-actor and four-actor dynamic interaction frameworks and simulating multiple symbiotic evolution scenarios. This study indicates that: (1) The principal actors in DIES are core digital enterprises, innovation partners, digital product users, and digital platforms, with their interdependencies governed by symbiotic coefficients. (2) Introducing the digital platform into the four-actor symbiotic model significantly increases the system's maximum carrying capacity and equilibrium scale. Parasitic symbiosis and commensal symbiosis may temporarily enhance individual actors' competitiveness, but they undermine the overall stability of cooperation, whereas mutually beneficial symbiosis provides the optimal pattern for system evolution. (3) Building on these insights, we propose a governance framework centered on resource balancing, value sharing, and trust cooperation, and demonstrate its practical applicability through an Alibaba Cloud case study. This work not only broadens the scope of symbiosis theory within a digital-economy context but also provides actionable guidance for designing efficient, resilient DIES.},
}
@article {pmid40603490,
year = {2025},
author = {Meesil, W and Bode, HB and Rückert-Reed, C and Shi, YM and Pidot, SJ and Muangpat, P and Rattanarojpong, T and Chantratita, N and Sitthisak, S and Vitta, A and Thanwisai, A},
title = {Genomic analysis for the identification of bioactive compounds in Xenorhabdus stockiae strain RT25.5.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {23672},
pmid = {40603490},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {PHD / 0084/2561//Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program/ ; PHD / 0084/2561//Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program/ ; 32470066//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024YFA0917000//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; R2567C003//Global and Frontier Research University Fund, Naresuan University/ ; R2567C003//Global and Frontier Research University Fund, Naresuan University/ ; R2566B043//National Science, Research and Innovation Fund/ ; },
mesh = {*Xenorhabdus/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Genomics/methods ; Biological Products/pharmacology ; Multigene Family ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Elucidating microorganism genomes holds great promise for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds with diverse applications. In this study, we investigated the complete genome of Xenorhabdus stockiae strain RT25.5, which is recognized for its symbiotic association with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and its biosynthesis of secondary metabolites relevant to the pharmaceutical industry, agriculture, and ecology. Through high-throughput genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation, followed by advanced bioinformatics analyses, we elucidated the genetic basis of its antimicrobial potential. Our analysis revealed 21 putative biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) associated with bioactive compound production. Notably, LC‒MS/MS analysis of the bacterial cultures confirmed the presence of diverse secondary metabolites, which aligned with the in silico predictions. Furthermore, the crude extract of X. stockiae strain RT25.5 exhibited antibacterial activity against 10 pathogenic bacterial isolates, highlighting its potential as a source of novel antimicrobial agents. This study highlights the importance of X. stockiae as a promising candidate for natural product discovery. The integration of genome mining, LC‒MS/MS, and bioassays not only advances our understanding of its biosynthetic capabilities but also paves the way for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Future research should focus on the isolation and structural characterization of key metabolites, as well as evaluations of their mechanisms of action against multidrug-resistant pathogens.},
}
@article {pmid40602890,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, X and Du, X and Zuo, X and Wang, Z and Czech, B and Oleszczuk, P and Gao, Y},
title = {Using degrading endophytic bacteria to detoxify the phthalic acid esters in crops from contaminated soil.},
journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)},
volume = {157},
number = {},
pages = {378-390},
doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2024.11.029},
pmid = {40602890},
issn = {1001-0742},
mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; *Crops, Agricultural/metabolism ; *Endophytes/metabolism ; *Phthalic Acids/metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Esters/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; },
abstract = {Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are widely released into the environment due to industrial and agricultural activities. This poses significant risks, not only to crops grown on contaminated soil but also to humans. PAEs enter the human body through the food chain, causing potential health hazards. Endophytic bacteria have demonstrated a significant potential as effective bioremediation agents, with specialized mechanisms of PAEs degradation. Endophytic bacteria such as Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas and Sphingomona recognize root exudates, adhere to and penetrate root surfaces, and ultimately colonize crops. They form symbiotic relationships with crops, obtaining nutrients and habitats from crops, meanwhile, promoting plant growth and health through hormone production, nutrient regulation, and the suppression of pathogenic microorganisms. Furthermore, endophytic bacteria efficiently degrade PAEs in soil-crop systems through synergistic interactions with indigenous rhizosphere microflora and regulatory effects on enzyme activity in crops. Here, we review the role of endophytic bacteria in the bioremediation of PAEs-contaminated crops and soils. In addition, we discuss the scarcity of endophytic bacterial strains with a confirmed ability to degrade PAEs, and underscore the lack of the research on the mechanisms of PAEs degradation by these bacteria. This review also points out that future study should investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between endophytic bacteria and PAEs to offer novel insights and solutions for environmental protection and sustainable agricultural development.},
}
@article {pmid40600712,
year = {2025},
author = {Comeault, AA and Orta, AH and Fidler, DB and Nunn, T and Ellison, AR and Anspach, TA and Matute, DR},
title = {Phylogenetic and functional diversity among Drosophila-associated metagenome-assembled genomes.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {10},
number = {7},
pages = {e0002725},
pmid = {40600712},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {R35 GM148244/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; RGS\R1\221323//Royal Society/ ; R35GM148244/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Phylogeny ; *Metagenome/genetics ; *Drosophila/microbiology/genetics ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Host-associated microbial communities can mediate interactions between their hosts and biotic and abiotic environments. While much work has been done to document how microbiomes vary across species and environments, much less is known about the functional consequences of this variation. Here, we test for functional variation among drosophilid-associated bacteria by conducting Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing and generating metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from communities associated with six species of drosophilid flies collected from "anthropogenic" environments in North America, Europe, and Africa. Using phylogenetic analyses, we find that drosophilid flies harbor a diverse microbiome that includes core members closely related to the genera Gilliamella, Orbus, Entomomonas, Dysgonomonas, and others. Comparisons with publicly available bacterial genomes show that many of these genera are associated with phylogenetically diverse insect gut microbiomes. Using functional annotations and predicted secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, we show that MAGs belonging to different bacterial orders and genera vary in gene content and predicted functions, including metabolic capacity and how they respond to environmental stressors. Our results provide evidence that wild drosophilid flies harbor phylogenetically and functionally diverse microbial communities. These findings highlight a need to quantify the abundance and function of insect-associated bacteria from the genera Gilliamella, Orbus, Entomomonas, and others on the performance of their insect hosts across diverse environments.IMPORTANCEWhile much attention has been given to catalogue the taxonomic diversity intrinsic to host-associated microbiomes, much less is known about the functional consequences of this variation, especially in wild, non-model host species. In this study, we use long-read sequencing to generate and analyze 103 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes from host-associated bacterial communities from six species of wild fruit fly (Drosophila). We find that the genomes of drosophilid-associated bacteria possess diverse metabolic pathways and biosynthetic gene clusters that are predicted to generate metabolites involved in nutrition and disease resistance, among other functions. Using functional gene predictions, we show that different bacterial lineages that comprise the insect microbiome differ in predicted functional capacities. Our findings highlight the functional variation intrinsic to microbial communities of wild insects and provide a step towards disentangling the ecological and evolutionary processes driving host-microbe symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40600705,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Chen, J and Lee, S and Ju, Z and Akhand, A and Liu, H},
title = {Compartment-specific microbial communities highlight the ecological roles of fungi in a subtropical seagrass ecosystem.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {91},
number = {7},
pages = {e0060625},
pmid = {40600705},
issn = {1098-5336},
support = {AoE/P-601/23-N,16101824//Hong Kong Research Grants Council/ ; MCEF23SC02//Hong Kong Offshore Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal/ ; },
mesh = {*Microbiota ; *Fungi/classification/isolation &amp; purification/physiology/genetics ; *Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Rhizome/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; },
abstract = {Plant-associated compartments provide habitats for various microbes. Seagrasses are the only submerged marine angiosperms. However, the simultaneous investigation of fungi and prokaryotes inhabiting different seagrass-associated compartments is limited, and much remains to be learned about the functional roles of seagrass fungi. We examined the diversity, composition, and networks of fungal and prokaryotic communities in multiple compartments associated with the seagrass Halophila ovalis to shed light on the significance of fungi in the seagrass ecosystem. Seagrass compartments primarily differentiated the microbial communities. Notably, the root and rhizome tissues of visually healthy H. ovalis exhibited a very narrow, single-species dominated and enriched fungal spectrum, leading us to hypothesize the possible establishment of a symbiotic relationship between the Lulworthiaceae mycobiont, Halophilomyces hongkongensis, and the seagrass host. In addition, the Vibrionaceae family, represented by the genus Vibrio, emerged as the most abundant prokaryotic taxon enriched in the roots/rhizomes, showing exclusive positive correlations with H. hongkongensis within the tissues, implying a cross-kingdom reciprocal interaction between these taxa in the endosphere of H. ovalis. Fungal-prokaryotic interdomain network analysis identified H. hongkongensis as a keystone taxon, essential for coordinating microbial interactions in H. ovalis-associated compartments, while robustness analysis of interdomain networks suggested fungi plays a more crucial role in sustaining the network structures of H. ovalis inner tissues compared to surrounding compartments. These findings provide valuable insights into the seagrass-fungi relationship and emphasize the importance of fungi in the seagrass ecosystem.IMPORTANCEAlthough plant-associated microbes are key determinants of plant health, fitness, and stress resilience, microbial communities associated with seagrasses remain poorly understood compared to those in land plants, particularly concerning the diversity and ecological roles of their fungal associates. Our work provides a comprehensive assessment of fungal and prokaryotic communities across multiple above- and below-ground compartments associated with Halophila ovalis, the most widespread seagrass species in Hong Kong, through a year-round sampling. Our findings reveal compartment-specific patterns in diversity, network topology, and stability of microbial communities, highlighting the critical roles of fungi in seagrass-associated microbial networks and advancing our understanding of plant-fungal interactions in the marine environment.},
}
@article {pmid40600212,
year = {2025},
author = {Balti, S and Mabrouk, Y and Souihi, M and Hemissi, I and Amri, I and Humm, E and Khan, N and Hirsch, AM},
title = {Combined inoculation of rhizobacteria with Mesorhizobium promotes growth, nutrient contents, and protects chickpea against Fusarium redolens.},
journal = {AIMS microbiology},
volume = {11},
number = {2},
pages = {318-337},
pmid = {40600212},
issn = {2471-1888},
abstract = {Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is considered a cheap source of plant protein. In Mediterranean regions, and particularly in Tunisia, fungal attacks are likely to further aggravate drought stress and increase the economic vulnerability of chickpea production. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and rhizobia have the potential to enhance plant growth and mitigate the adverse effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. The objective of this study was to isolate non-rhizobial rhizosphere bacteria from the soil and evaluate their ability to enhance plants' growth and symbiotic performance and to control chickpea wilt caused by F. redolens. A total of 26 bacterial isolates from rhizosphere soil samples were subsequently evaluated for their antagonistic properties against five phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum solani, Fusarium oxysporum matthioli, Fusarium oxysporum MN-2, Fusarium oxysporum 184, and Fusarium rdolens). Seven bacterial isolates demonstrated in vitro plant-beneficial characteristics and/or antagonistic activity against 5 Fusarium strains. Two bacterial strains including Streptomyces diastaticus subsp. diastaticus and Bacillus subtilis were chosen for additional investigation because they showed the greatest number of plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits and exhibited an antagonistic effect on pathogens. Assays conducted in pots showed that PGPRs co-inoculated with Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 protected chickpea plants from F. redolens infection and enhanced plant growth and nutrient uptake. Pot experiments carried out in a greenhouse further demonstrated that the co-inoculation of chickpea plants with the bacterial strains and a Mesorhizobium strain lessened the severity of the F. redolens infection. These results suggest that co-inoculation with S. diastaticus subsp. diastaticus and Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 may act as a helpful bioformulation to boost chickpea plants' growth and protect them from wilting. Other PGPR candidates included Mesorhizobium spp. and B. subtilis strains. Both Mesorhizobium sp. Bj1 and the uninoculated plants were used as controls. The association of PGPR with other inoculants potentially could substitute for chemical fertilizers, and testing of PGPR under field conditions will further elucidate their effectiveness on grain yields of chickpea.},
}
@article {pmid40599451,
year = {2024},
author = {Younis, JH and Karadas, F and Beski, S},
title = {The Effects of Different Level of Synbiotic Supplementation in Diet of Broiler on Growth Performance, Intestinal Histology and Microbial Colony.},
journal = {Archives of Razi Institute},
volume = {79},
number = {6},
pages = {1227-1234},
pmid = {40599451},
issn = {2008-9872},
mesh = {Animals ; *Chickens/growth &amp; development/microbiology/physiology ; *Synbiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; Animal Feed/analysis ; *Intestines/microbiology/anatomy &amp; histology/drug effects ; Diet/veterinary ; Dietary Supplements/analysis ; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Weight Gain ; Male ; },
abstract = {The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of varying levels of synbiotic supplementation on the growth performance and intestinal physiology of broiler chickens. A total of 360-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six different treatments, with four replicates per treatment and 15 birds per replicate. The control treatment was not supplemented, while the remaining treatments were supplemented with four different levels (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 g/kg) of synbiotic to the basal diets. The treatments were as follows: (1) control (not any supplement), (2) zinc bacitracin 0.04 g/kg, and (3) the remaining four treatments, which were supplemented with four different levels of synbiotic. On days 10, 24 and 35, the feed remaining and the birds were weighed in order to measure the body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. On day 10 and throughout the experimental period, there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in both body weight and weight gain, as well as a significant improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) with rising level of synbiotic. The control group exhibited a poorer feed conversion ratio than the other experimental groups (P<0.05). Up to 10 days, there was a significant increase in feed intake in birds on diets supplemented with 0.25 and 0.75 g/kg synbiotic. However, when the data from the 35-day experimental period were analyzed, it was found that the birds that had received 0.75 g/kg of synbiotic had significantly (P<0.05) decreased feed intake compared to the other experimental groups. The relative weight of the internal organs was not affected by the dietary treatments. The carcass yield and breast meat were found to increase significantly (P<0.05) with rising levels of dietary synbiotic. The length of the villi was found to be significantly affected by the treatment, with the villi in birds on diets supplemented with 0.5 g/kg of synbiotic being longer than those in the control group. Significantly, the shortest villi were observed in birds that received the highest supplement level (1 g/kg) of synbiotic. The number of Escherichia coli in the ileum was not affected by the dietary treatments. It can be concluded that synbiotic dietary supplementation exerts beneficial effects on growth output at an early age and during the broiler development cycle. In terms of performance, synbiotics supplementation resulted in an improvement in performance and a positive effect on carcass yield and breast meat production. The current research has demonstrated that the administration of synbiotics at a dosage of 0.75 g/kg exerts beneficial effects on the efficiency and subsequent physiological processes of broilers during the course of their growth.},
}
@article {pmid40599082,
year = {2025},
author = {Ishii, Y and Kanamori, S and Deguchi, R and Kawata, M and Maruyama, S and Yoshida, T and Kamikawa, R},
title = {Positive Selection of a Starch Synthesis Gene and Phenotypic Differentiation of Starch Accumulation in Symbiotic and Free-Living Coral Symbiont Dinoflagellate Species.},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {17},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40599082},
issn = {1759-6653},
support = {20K15871//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 23KJ2228//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 24K18190//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 23K23960//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 23H04962//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 24H01462//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 24K21929//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 25K02334//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; 21H05057//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; //Starch Technologies Co., Ltd/ ; },
mesh = {*Dinoflagellida/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Starch/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/parasitology ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Starch Synthase/genetics ; Phenotype ; Phylogeny ; Evolution, Molecular ; },
abstract = {Symbiosis is a basis for species diversification through interactions between organisms. In tropical and subtropical oceans, dinoflagellate symbionts belonging to the family Symbiodiniaceae, including the genus Symbiodinium, support the flourishment of cnidarian hosts, including corals, and thereby the ecology of oligotrophic oceans through their photosynthate carbon transfers. Although the genus Symbiodinium includes both free-living and symbiotic species, the detailed genetic background of their lifestyle differences remains unclear. In this study, we identified candidate genes involved in the evolutionary acquisition or maintenance of symbiosis in Symbiodinium spp. by detecting genes that have undergone positive selection during symbiotic and free-living lifestyle diversification. Using multiple Symbiodinium genomes to detect positive selection, 35 genes were identified, including a gene encoding soluble starch synthase SSY1 and genes related to metabolite secretion, which may be preferred for symbiotic lifestyles. In particular, our in silico analyses revealed that the SSY1 gene family has undergone extensive gene duplications in an ancestral dinoflagellate, and that the mutations detected as positive selection have occurred in the intrinsically disordered region of one of the homologs. Consistent with molecular evolution, the phenotypes of intracellular starch synthesis/accumulation were distinct between the symbiotic and free-living species of Symbiodinium when cultured under different pH and nitrogen conditions. These results provide molecular and phenotypic insights into symbiotic Symbiodinium-coral relationships.},
}
@article {pmid40596010,
year = {2025},
author = {Palacio-Castro, AM and Soderberg, N and Zagon, Z and Cooke, K and Studivan, MS and Gill, T and Kelble, C and Christian, T and Enochs, IC},
title = {Elevated temperature decreases stony coral tissue loss disease transmission, with little effect of nutrients.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {22261},
pmid = {40596010},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {SA00002041//Florida Department of Environmental Protection/ ; NO_0065//NOAA 'Omics/ ; 31252//NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology/microbiology ; Coral Reefs ; *Nutrients ; *Hot Temperature ; Temperature ; Calcification, Physiologic ; },
abstract = {Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is the deadliest scleractinian coral disease reported, causing significant coral loss in the Western Atlantic reefs. Environmental conditions are known to influence disease dynamics, but determining the specific conditions that exacerbate SCTLD remains challenging. We developed a robotic multi-stressor system to study the effects of temperature and ammonium on SCTLD transmission. For a month, coral fragments were preconditioned to two temperatures (28 °C and 31 °C) and nutrient treatments (with and without ammonium dosing), and subsequently exposed to SCTLD. Environmental treatments only caused modest effects in the corals (based on calcification, photochemical efficiency, and symbiotic algal communities). However, SCTLD incidence was strongly reduced at higher temperature (17% at 31 °C compared to 70% at 28 °C), contrasting with other coral diseases that typically worsen with increased heat. Disease management approaches may involve concentrating SCTLD treatment efforts during warmer periods when reduced incidence might enhance treatment efficacy.},
}
@article {pmid40595299,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, B and Shen, L and Pan, Z and Pan, C and Zeng, G},
title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil substrate on invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {21461},
pmid = {40595299},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {mygccrc[2022]051//the Fundamental Research Funds for the high-level talent project of Moutai Institute/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Amaranthaceae/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Biomass ; *Soil/chemistry ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; China ; Plant Leaves/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic relationships with plants, using their hyphae to enhance nutrient uptake and promote plant growth. Alternanthera philoxeroides, an invasive species, poses a significant threat to agriculture, forestry, and urban ecosystems in China. However, there is a lack of research on how AM fungi influence invasive plants under varying environmental conditions. This study explored the effects of two AM fungal strains and four substrate types on A. philoxeroides. The results showed that the mycorrhizal dependency of A. philoxeroides ranged from 6.09% and 37.21%. Plant height and root length of A. philoxeroides were primarily shaped by substrate quality. AM fungi significantly enhanced root and aboveground biomass, especially under nutrient-poor conditions. Leaf area increased in response to fungal inoculation, while leaf number was regulated by substrate nutrients. Overall, AM fungi promoted biomass accumulation, particularly when combined with nutrient-enriched substrates, underscoring their potential application in invasive plant management. Therefore, future management strategies should divide invaded areas into distinct control zones based on gradients of soil nutrient levels, with special attention given to key regions for targeted monitoring and prevention.},
}
@article {pmid40595274,
year = {2025},
author = {Idan, T and Shefer, S and Chatzigeorgiou, G and Gerovasileiou, V and Goren, L},
title = {Testing the effect of host availability on endobiont diversity: proposing the single hotel hypothesis.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {21717},
pmid = {40595274},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {730984//European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Assemble Plus Project/ ; 730984//European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Assemble Plus Project/ ; MIS 5002670//"Centre for the study and sustainable exploitation of Marine Biological Resources (CMBR)"/ ; MIS 5002670//"Centre for the study and sustainable exploitation of Marine Biological Resources (CMBR)"/ ; NSRF 2014-2020//the Action "Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure", funded by the Operational Programme "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation"/ ; NSRF 2014-2020//the Action "Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure", funded by the Operational Programme "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation"/ ; GA N&#xb0;101052342//the European Commission/ ; &#x393;&#x393;&#x392;&#x399;&#x39f;-0559429//GSRI - General Secretariat for Research and Innovation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera/physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Mediterranean Sea ; Ecosystem ; *Symbiosis ; Greece ; },
abstract = {This study investigates the determinants of endobionts diversity within habitat-forming organisms, employing concepts from Island Biogeographic Theory (IBT) as a prospective explanatory framework. Sponges have long been considered "living hotels" due to the great diversity and abundance of their associated fauna. Various factors have been proposed to influence the composition and diversity of sponge-associated fauna, often relating to individual sponge characteristics, such as volume and oscular diameter. However, studies frequently contradict when identifying the main determinant. Focusing on two common massive sponge species, Agelas oroides and Sarcotragus foetidus, we collected, dissected, and analyzed 18 sponge specimens of A. oroides and 12 of S. foetidus from three sites in Crete, Greece (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). The sponges hosted 943 macroinvertebrates belonging to 94 different taxa, half of which were polychaetes. Crustaceans were the most abundant group, with over 50% of the individuals. Contrary to IBT predictions, A. oroides from areas with lower sponge abundance (i.e., "single hotel in town"), exhibited higher endofauna densities and richness. Notably, S. foetidus, which hosted large numbers of snapping shrimps, presented a different pattern, highlighting the importance of species-specific interactions on endobiont communities. Additionally, the reproductive state of S. foetidus correlated with increased endobiont richness, suggesting a potentially overlooked aspect of sponge-endobiont interactions related to the sponge's reproductive state. These results emphasize the importance of sponges as "living hotels" and sponge communities as sources of biodiversity and highlight the complex influence of habitat availability and species-specific interactions on sponge-associated fauna.},
}
@article {pmid40594438,
year = {2025},
author = {Sugiyama, T and Hasegawa, K},
title = {Synergistic actions of symbiotic bacteria modulate the insecticidal potency of entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema monticolum KHA701.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {22550},
pmid = {40594438},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; Xenorhabdus/physiology ; *Insecticides ; *Rhabditida/microbiology ; Larva/parasitology/microbiology ; Photorhabdus/physiology ; Moths/parasitology ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), primarily Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, form symbiotic relationships with bacteria from the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus, respectively. These bacteria exhibit insecticidal activity and suppress competing microorganisms, allowing EPNs and their symbionts to dominate insect cadavers. While monoxenic associations are fundamental to EPN-bacteria interactions, recent studies suggest that EPNs may harbor a diverse array of symbiotic bacteria with consistent associations. However, the role of these additional symbiotic bacteria in EPN pathogenesis and the complexity of their interactions remain unclear. In this study, Steinernema monticolum KHA701 was newly isolated using the Galleria mellonella bait method. Compared to the highly pathogenic Heterorhabditis bacteriophora TT01, S. monticolum KHA701 demonstrated superior insecticidal activity against G. mellonella larvae and exhibited a broad host range, targeting 63 arthropod species across 18 orders and 41 families. Microbiota analysis of S. monticolum KHA701 infective juveniles identified 34 bacterial species, including Xenorhabdus hominickii, from the nematode body. Five bacteria-Elizabethkingia miricola, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas protegens, Staphylococcus sp., and X. hominickii-were confirmed to be highly pathogenic to Zophobas morio and Periplaneta fuliginosa larvae. Notably, the combination of X. hominickii with any of the other four bacteria significantly enhanced the insecticidal activity of S. monticolum KHA701 against G. mellonella. These findings suggest that S. monticolum KHA701 utilizes a diverse community of bacterial symbionts to enhance its insecticidal efficacy, providing novel insights into the ecological strategies of EPNs.},
}
@article {pmid40594188,
year = {2025},
author = {Kong, S and Zhang, C and Zhang, M and Lu, W},
title = {Heterogeneity analysis of the effects of new quality productive forces on ecological resilience in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Belt.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {20563},
pmid = {40594188},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {2024AH052426//the Key Projects of Social Sciences in Anhui University Research Programme/ ; 23YJC630126//Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of China/ ; rc382305//The Talent Introduction Project of Anhui Agricultural University/ ; },
abstract = {Exploring the heterogeneous effects of new quality productive forces on ecological resilience is crucial for fostering high-quality development within the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone. By using panel data spanning from 2006 to 2022 for 27 cities within this region, the heterogeneity, moderating effect, and threshold effect of new quality productive forces on ecological resilience are systematically analysed through panel quantile regression, moderating effect models, and threshold regression models, respectively. The findings reveal the following. (1) New quality productive forces significantly enhance ecological resilience, particularly at the low ecological resilience quantile, where its impact is most pronounced; however, the effect gradually diminishes at higher quantiles, adhering to the "diminishing marginal effect" law. (2) The moderating effect of technological innovation varies considerably; cities with greater resilience benefit the most from technological innovation, whereas those with low resilience experience weaker benefits. (3) Technological innovation exhibits a notable threshold characteristic in enhancing the effects of new quality productive forces on ecological resilience. Drawing from these conclusions, recommendations aimed at bolstering ecological resilience in the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone and at accelerating the creation of new quality productive forces to foster harmonious symbiosis and sustainable development of the regional economy and the ecological environment are proposed.},
}
@article {pmid40593767,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhu, L and Zhang, A and Guo, J and Liu, H and Xie, Y and Lu, X and Yan, C and Wang, J and Zhou, C},
title = {Iron limitation-induced endophytic Ammoniphilus assemblage promotes root apoplastic iron remobilization by attenuation of salicylic acid pathways.},
journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {125},
pmid = {40593767},
issn = {2055-5008},
mesh = {*Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; *Iron/metabolism ; *Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Endophytes/metabolism/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Symbiosis ; Glutamine/metabolism ; Iron Deficiencies ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Plants establish symbiotic associations with root-colonizing microbes to adapt to adverse conditions. However, how root-associated microbiota interacted with their hosts to improve plant growth under nutrient deficient conditions remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored an interaction between tomato plants and root-associated microbiota under iron (Fe) limitation, mediated by bacterial secretion of glutamine. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that Fe-limited conditions altered the composition of root-associated microbiomes, resulting in the enrichment of Ammoniphilus sp. This taxon was isolated and shown to alleviate Fe deficiency symptoms. Moreover, Fe deficiency triggered salicylic acid (SA)-induced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) burst, thereby inhibiting the exudation of Fe-mobilizing phenolics from the roots. However, bacterial secretion of Gln greatly attenuated the SA-induced H2O2 production in the roots, thereby enhancing bacterial colonization and promoting apoplastic Fe remobilization. Collectively, these results underscored a microbial strategy for orchestrating plant SA pathways to facilitate the reutilization of root apoplastic Fe.},
}
@article {pmid40593575,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, Y and Lesterps, Z and Gasciolli, V and Fuchs, AL and Gaston, M and Medioni, L and de-Regibus, A and Remblière, C and Vicédo, C and Bensmihen, S and Bono, JJ and Cullimore, J and Reyt, G and Dalmais, M and Saffray, C and Mazeau, S and Bendahmane, A and Sibout, R and Vandenbussche, M and Rouster, J and Wang, T and He, G and Masselin, A and Cottaz, S and Fort, S and Lefebvre, B},
title = {Several groups of LysM-RLKs are involved in symbiotic signal perception and arbuscular mycorrhiza establishment.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {5999},
pmid = {40593575},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {ANR-16-CE20-0025-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-18-EURE-0019//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-14-CE18-0008-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-14-CE18-0008-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-10-LABX-40-SPS//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-16-CE20-0025-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-17-EURE-0003//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; 32100241//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Symbiosis/physiology/genetics ; *Signal Transduction ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Oryza/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Chitin/analogs &amp; derivatives/metabolism ; Oligosaccharides ; Chitosan ; },
abstract = {Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCO) and short-chain chitooligosaccharides (CO) are produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and activate the plant symbiosis signalling pathway, which is essential for mycorrhiza formation. High-affinity LCO receptors belonging to the LysM receptor-like kinase (LysM-RLK) phylogenetic group LYR-IA play a role in AM establishment, but it is unclear which proteins are the plant high-affinity short-chain CO receptors. Here we studied members of the uncharacterized LYR-IB group, and found that they show high affinity for LCO, short- and long-chain CO, and play a complementary role with the LYR-IA receptors for AM establishment. While LYR-IB knock out mutants had a reduced AMF colonization in several species, constitutive/ectopic expression in wheat increased AMF colonization. LYR-IB function is conserved in all tested angiosperms, but in most japonica rice a deletion creates a frameshift in the gene, explaining differences in AM phenotypes between rice and other monocot single LYR-IA mutants. In conclusion, we identified a class of LysM-RLK receptors in angiosperms with unique biochemical properties and a role in both LCO and CO perception for AM establishment.},
}
@article {pmid40592450,
year = {2025},
author = {Valim, HF and Otte, J and Schmitt, I},
title = {Fungal and algal lichen symbionts show different transcriptional expression patterns in two climate zones.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {292},
number = {2050},
pages = {20242962},
pmid = {40592450},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {//LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics/ ; },
mesh = {*Lichens/physiology/microbiology/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Italy ; Climate ; Transcriptome ; *Chlorophyta/physiology/genetics ; *Fungi/physiology/genetics ; },
abstract = {In the lichen symbiosis, the fungal and algal partners constitute a closely integrated system. The combination of fungal and algal partners changes along climate gradients in many species, and is expected to be adaptive. However, the functional mechanisms behind this symbiosis-mediated environmental adaptation are unknown. We investigated which transcriptional profiles are associated with specific fungal-algal symbiont pairings found in lichens from high-elevation (Lower Supratemperate) and low-elevation (Lower Mesomediterranean) sites at two extremes of a climatic gradient on Mount Limbara, Sardinia. Using laboratory-acclimatized thalli, we found that lichen fungal and algal symbionts show variable expression profiles between high- and low-elevation individuals: circadian- and temperature-associated genes for fungi and light-responsive genes for algae show climate-specific patterns. High- and low-elevation individuals differentially express sugar transporters in both symbionts, pointing to symmetrical and climate-dependent sugar transport mechanisms between them. A light pulse treatment identified asymmetries between fungal and algal light responses, with high- and low-elevation fungal symbionts but only low-elevation algal symbionts showing a response. Together, these results tie previously observed genomic variation along climatic gradients in a lichen species to functional differences in transcription for the fungal and algal symbionts, contributing to our understanding of environmental specialization and niche-specific partner combinations in lichens.},
}
@article {pmid40589574,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Z and Wen, M and Tang, C and Chen, S and Tang, D and Zhang, J and Sun, J and Ge, L and Long, K and Lu, L and Jin, L and Li, M and Li, X and Ma, J},
title = {Gut microbiota orchestrates skeletal muscle development and metabolism in germ-free and SPF pigs.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1615884},
pmid = {40589574},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The gut microbiota, as a crucial symbiotic microbial community in the host, participates in regulating the host's metabolism, immunity, and tissue development. Skeletal muscle is a key tissue for movement and energy metabolism in the body, with its development and function regulated by multiple factors; however, the molecular mechanisms by which the gut microbiota influences skeletal muscle remain unclear. This study utilized germ-free (GF) and specific pathogen-free (SPF) pig models, combined with multiple analytical approaches, to systematically investigate the effects of gut microbiota absence on skeletal muscle development, muscle fiber typing, and metabolism. The study found that skeletal muscle development in GF pigs was impaired, with significant changes in muscle fiber diameter and the proportion of type I muscle fibers, with the forelimb extensor digitorum lateralis being the most significantly affected. Metabolic analysis revealed that short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in the muscles of GF pigs were reduced, while amino acid and organic acid levels were elevated, suggesting that the gut microbiota regulates muscle energy metabolism. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the expression levels of protein-coding genes (PCGs) and LncRNAs in the muscles of GF pigs were generally reduced, with LncRNAs exhibiting more pronounced dynamic changes. Differentially expressed genes were enriched in muscle development and immune pathways, with significant changes in the expression patterns of HOX and Homeobox family genes, myokines, and myosin heavy chain (MYH) subtypes. WGCNA analysis identified 16 core genes associated with muscle nutrient metabolism and nine core genes related to muscle fiber phenotypes. Cis-acting LncRNA target gene prediction identified 40 differentially expressed LncRNAs and their regulated 29 PCGs, which are primarily involved in skeletal muscle development and immune responses, suggesting that LncRNAs may influence muscle homeostasis by regulating adjacent genes. In summary, the absence of gut microbiota disrupts skeletal muscle morphogenesis, metabolic characteristics, and transcriptional regulatory networks, with LncRNAs potentially mediating the regulation of muscle-specific genes in this process. This study elucidates the interaction mechanisms between the gut microbiota and skeletal muscle, providing a theoretical foundation and data support for further exploration of the microbiota-muscle axis in pathophysiological contexts.},
}
@article {pmid40588842,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, R and Xue, K and Dijkstra, FA and Sardans, J and Liu, H and Rillig, MC and Peñuelas, J and Han, X and Jiang, Y},
title = {Expanding the Root Economics Space With Root Nitrogen Reallocation.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70051},
pmid = {40588842},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 32222056 and 32271677) and Hebei Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant no. C2022201042 and C2024201044). J.S. and J.P. were supported by the Spanish Government grants PID2020115770RB-I, PID2022-140808NB-I00, and TED2021-132627 B-I00 funded by MCIN and AEI/10.13039/501100011033 European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR./ ; },
abstract = {Harnessing root nitrogen reallocation (RNR) to enhance plant productivity commences with positioning RNR in the root economics space, about which we still know little. We conducted an inclusive synthesis linking RNR to root traits, combined with a 2-year [15]N-labelling field experiment, to position RNR in the root economics space under acidification. RNR was negatively correlated with specific root length (SRL) and mycorrhizal colonisation in the synthesis, suggesting that RNR is a conservative trait. Sedges, grasses and forbs coordinated root traits (e.g., RD and SRL) from acquisitive to conservative and from low to high RNR reliance (and vice versa for their direct root N uptake) in the [15]N-tracing experiment. Along the collaboration gradient, mycorrhizal symbiosis contributed more to N acquisition in grasses and forbs than in sedges, correlating inversely with SRL but remaining orthogonal to RD and RNR, thus partially reflecting the root economics space. Specifically, sedges and forbs exhibited the lowest and highest RNR that increased and decreased with acidification, respectively. Grasses associated well with mycorrhizal fungi, showing moderate RNR and root traits. Our results demonstrated the significance of RNR in plant growth, and the need to consider RNR as a conservative trait.},
}
@article {pmid40586543,
year = {2025},
author = {Begmatov, S and Beletsky, AV and Mardanov, AV and Lukina, AP and Glukhova, LB and Karnachuk, OV and Ravin, NV},
title = {Novel lineages of bacteria with reduced genomes from the gut of farm animals.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {10},
number = {7},
pages = {e0029425},
pmid = {40586543},
issn = {2379-5042},
support = {//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Minobrnauki of Russia)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Feces/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Animals, Domestic/microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Cattle ; Sheep ; Horses/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Genome reduction and associated metabolic deficiencies have been described in various lineages of parasitic and symbiotic microorganisms that obtain essential nutrients from their partners, and in some free-living microorganisms that inhabit stable environments. The animal gut is a relatively stable ecosystem, characterized by an abundance of organic substances and a high concentration of microorganisms, which provides favorable conditions for the survival of microorganisms with reduced genomes. Metagenomic analysis of 49 samples of feces of farm animals (cows, sheep, yaks, and horses) revealed uncultured lineages of bacteria with reduced genomes (<1 Mbp): family UBA1242 (Christensenellales, Firmicutes), order Rs-D84 (Alphaproteobacteria), and family UBA9783 (Opitutales, Verrucomicrobiota), defined in genome-taxonomy database. Analysis of the genomes showed that these bacteria lacked pathways for the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleotides, lipids, and many other essential metabolites. The UBA9783 genomes encoded a near-complete Embden-Meyerhof glycolytic pathway and the non-oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway, while in UBA1242 and Rs-D84, these pathways are incomplete. All bacteria are limited to fermentative metabolism and lack aerobic and anaerobic respiratory pathways. All UBA9783 and some Rs-D84 genomes encoded F0F1-type ATP synthase and pyrophosphate-energized proton pump; they also can import and utilize peptides and some amino acids. While UBA9783 bacteria could thrive as specialized free-living organisms in the organic-rich gut environment, the UBA1242 and Rs-D84 lineages appear to have adopted the lifestyle of an obligate symbiont/parasite, obtaining metabolites from other cells.IMPORTANCEThe microbiota of the animal gastrointestinal tracts is a complex community of microorganisms which interact in a synergistic or antagonistic relationship and play key nutritional and metabolic roles. However, despite its importance, the gut microbiota of farm animals, especially its uncultured majority, remains largely unexplored. We performed a metagenomic analysis of the gut microbiome of farm animals and characterized three uncultured lineages of bacteria with reduced genomes (<1 Mbp) from the phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobiota. These bacteria were predicted to possess key metabolic deficiencies such as the inability to synthesize essential cell metabolites, suggesting their adaptation to the lifestyle of a symbiont/parasite, or a scavenger obtaining nutrients from the organic-rich gut environment. This study shows that genome reduction with metabolic specialization and adaptation to a partner-dependent lifestyle occurred through convergent evolution in several phylogenetically distant lineages of gut microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40586386,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, K and Arbab, S and Du, Q and Zhou, J and Chen, Y and Tian, Y and Qijie, L and Ullah, H and Zhang, B},
title = {Regulatory and Influencing Factors of Digestive Function in Elderly People: Roles of the Gut Microbiota and Nutritional Interventions.},
journal = {Aging and disease},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.14336/AD.2025.0565},
pmid = {40586386},
issn = {2152-5250},
abstract = {Aging is a natural and gradual biological process through which living organisms undergo physical, physiological, and sometimes psychological changes over time. Aging is commonly associated with a decline in gastrointestinal function, leading to various digestive disorders that impact the quality of life of older adults. The gut microbiota is a highly complex ecosystem that plays crucial roles in digestion, metabolic processes, immune functions, and overall health. However, emerging evidence indicates that many elderly individuals maintain relatively stable digestive health, suggesting the influence of modifiable regulatory factors. In this review, we describe the key physiological, microbial, and nutritional factors that regulate and influence digestive function in an aging population. Additionally, we explored the impact of age-associated alterations in the gut microbiota on digestive health challenges in older adults and emphasized the therapeutic potential of targeted nutritional intervention approaches, such as dietary modifications, prebiotics, probiotics, and symbiotic and fecal microbiota transplantation, which have shown promise in rebalancing the gut microbiome and reducing inflammation.},
}
@article {pmid40585391,
year = {2025},
author = {da Silva, LL and Auler do Amaral Santos, CC and Libeck, BDS and Melo, DS and Dias, DR and Schwan, RF},
title = {Indigenous-based probiotic beverage from peanuts and soybean: development, optimization, and characterization.},
journal = {FEMS microbes},
volume = {6},
number = {},
pages = {xtaf006},
pmid = {40585391},
issn = {2633-6685},
abstract = {This study aimed to develop a probiotic fermented beverage inspired by the traditional Brazilian indigenous beverage Cauim. The beverage was formulated using peanuts and soybeans and fermented using a combination of bacteria and yeast based on traditional methods of Brazilian indigenous cultures. The composition and processing conditions of the beverage were optimized using a Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology. Strains isolated from indigenous Brazilian fermentations, Pediococcus acidilactici CCMA 0347, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCMA 0681, were used in addition to the commercial probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus (HOWARU[®]). The optimized formulation contained 61.2% water-soluble peanut extract, inoculated with 8.00, 6.70, and 5.0 log CFU/ml of P. acidilactici, L. acidophilus, and S. cerevisiae, respectively. The fermented beverage maintained a high level of probiotic cell viability (>10[7] CFU/ml) over 35 days of storage. The metabolic activity of the microorganisms was sustained throughout storage, mirroring the behavior observed in traditional fermented foods such as Cauim. In addition to high probiotic viability, the beverage presented elevated levels of lactic acid and low pH, indicating the presence of postbiotic components. It also showed nutritional richness in proteins, isoflavones, unsaturated fatty acids, and micronutrients. Sensory analysis demonstrated good acceptance, particularly in appearance and aroma, although further improvements are needed in flavor perception. These results indicate that the optimized plant-based beverage is a promising functional food with probiotic and postbiotic properties, good sensory appeal, and potential to promote health while enhancing the cultural value of Brazilian Indigenous food traditions.},
}
@article {pmid40584845,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, DJ and Yang, GR and Singh, P and Wang, JJ and Lan, XM and Singh, RK and Guo, J and Dong, YD and Li, DP and Yang, B},
title = {Comprehensive analysis of the physiological and molecular responses of phosphate-solubilizing bacterium Burkholderia gladioli DJB4-8 in promoting maize growth.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1611674},
pmid = {40584845},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is one of the essential macroelements for the growth of maize. The deficiency of P in maize will result in adverse effects, including chlorosis and reduced yield. The Hexi Corridor in China serves as the principal region for seed maize production, with chemical phosphate fertilizer remaining the predominant source of P delivery for local maize cultivation. Nonetheless, the agricultural non-point source pollution resulting from the prolonged application of artificial phosphate fertilizers is intensifying. P in farmland soil often exists in an insoluble form, which plants cannot directly absorb and utilize. Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in the rhizosphere are a kind of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that can transform insoluble P in soil into soluble P for plants to absorb and utilize. Utilizing PGPR in agricultural production is an ecological approach to achieving sustainable development in agricultural practices and output. In this study, 41 strains of bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of four maize varieties. According to an in vitro plant growth-promoting (PGP) feature study and 16S RNA molecular identification, Burkholderia gladioli DJB4-8, among all strains tested, exhibited the highest in vitro PGP activity, with a phosphate-solubilizing ability of 8.99 mg/L. By scanning electron microscope (SEM) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeling technique, it was found that strain DJB4-8 formed a colonization symbiotic system with maize roots. The inoculation of maize Zhengdan 958 with strain DJB4-8 altered the plant's photosynthetic physiology and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) level, and it also dramatically increased the plant's growth rate. The combined analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics showed that the key genes and metabolites in the interaction between strain DJB4-8 and maize were mainly concentrated in plant growth key pathways such as plant hormone signal transduction, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, phenylpropane biosynthesis, pentose phosphate pathway, zeatin biosynthesis, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and glutathione metabolism. These findings shed light on the need for additional research into the mechanism of interaction between PSB and maize.},
}
@article {pmid40584553,
year = {2025},
author = {Katayama, S and Shiraishi, K and Kaji, K and Kawabata, K and Tamura, N and Tani, A and Yurimoto, H and Sakai, Y},
title = {Methanol chemoreceptor MtpA- and flagellin protein FliC-dependent methylotaxis contributes to the spatial colonization of PPFM in the phyllosphere.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf092},
pmid = {40584553},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs) capable of growth on methanol are dominant and versatile phyllosphere bacteria that provide positive effects on plant growth through symbiosis. However, the spatial behavior of PPFMs on plant surfaces and its molecular basis are unknown. Here, we show that Methylobacterium sp. strain OR01 inoculated onto red perilla seeds colonized across the entire plant surface in the phyllosphere concomitant with the plant growth. During its transmission, strain OR01 was found to be present on the entire leaf surface with a preference to sites around the periphery, vein, trichome, and stomata. We found that methanol-sensing chemoreceptor MtpA-dependent chemotaxis (methylotaxis; chemotaxis toward methanol) and flagellin protein FliC-dependent motility facilitated the bacterial entry into the stomatal cavity and their colonization in the phyllosphere.},
}
@article {pmid40584038,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, J and Lu, Y},
title = {The microbiota-gut-brain axis and central nervous system diseases: from mechanisms of pathogenesis to therapeutic strategies.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1583562},
pmid = {40584038},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in metabolic processes associated with host brain function. Emerging research is progressively uncovering the intricate and multifaceted relationship between the gut and the brain. The gut microbiota significantly influences immune responses, secondary metabolism, and symbiosis with the host, thereby facilitating the production of essential metabolites, neurotransmitters, and other neuroactive compounds that impact the development and treatment of central nervous system disorders. This article delineates the communication pathways and mechanisms linking the microbiota, gut, and brain, providing a comprehensive overview of current research on how the gut microbiota affects nervous system function. Furthermore, it examines factors that can alter the gut microbiota and influence metabolite profiles, as well as current intervention strategies aimed at enhancing gut-brain communication, mitigating adverse triggers that disrupt the gut microbiota, and minimizing neuro-pathological changes.},
}
@article {pmid40583315,
year = {2025},
author = {Fernández, PC and Minás, A and Omacini, M},
title = {The interplay of symbiotic beings in the Pampa: the encounter between an alien grass and leaf-cutting ants.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {5},
pages = {2357-2366},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70333},
pmid = {40583315},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient&#xed;ficas y T&#xe9;cnicas/ ; PICT 2017-0910//National Agency of Science and Tecnology (ANPCYT)/ ; PICT 2020-01559//National Agency of Science and Tecnology (ANPCYT)/ ; //Universidad de Buenos Aires/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology/microbiology/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Plant Leaves/physiology ; Epichloe/physiology/drug effects ; Herbivory ; *Lolium/microbiology/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; Endophytes/physiology/drug effects ; *Poaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Acetates/pharmacology ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic relationships across trophic levels influence invasions. Although Epichloë endophytes are often linked to forage grasses spread through alkaloid-mediated herbivore resistance, this link oversimplifies a complex, multifactorial process. We investigate whether this fungal endophyte interacts with the fungus garden of the native leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex ambiguus by inducing the release of a widespread green leaf volatile, thereby altering its foraging behavior. We conducted 5-d choice experiments to assess ant preferences for leaves and seeds of Lolium multiflorum plants, either infected (E+) or uninfected (E-) with Epichloë occultans, along with a Petri dish assay to evaluate the effects of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate (Z3-HAC) on the growth of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, ants' mutualistic fungi. Ants exhibited delayed rejection for E+ plants while showing no preference for seeds. In vitro, Z3-HAC promoted fungal growth away from volatile sources. These findings suggest that mutualistic fungi of a grass (alien) and its herbivore (native) shape their defense strategies in Pampean grasslands. Z3-HAC's effects extend beyond direct plant-herbivore interactions, signaling antagonistic fungi within the fungal garden without acting as a novel weapon. This study highlights the importance of integrating microbial networks into invasion ecology frameworks to understand the consequences of co-introduced plants and symbionts.},
}
@article {pmid40582907,
year = {2025},
author = {Ye, F and Wang, S and Zheng, H},
title = {Engineering insect-microbe symbiosis: synthetic microbial communities for sustainable insect management.},
journal = {Trends in parasitology},
volume = {41},
number = {8},
pages = {613-616},
doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2025.06.003},
pmid = {40582907},
issn = {1471-5007},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Insecta/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Insect Control/methods ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Pest Control, Biological/methods ; },
abstract = {Insect-microbe symbiosis enables innovative modulation of insect biology via gut microbiota engineering. Synthetic microbial communities enhance pathogen resistance, nutrient provisioning, and host fitness. Engineering components of insect microbiomes enables precise manipulation of insect-microbe dynamics, advancing ecofriendly pest control and beneficial insect conservation while addressing biosafety and stability challenges.},
}
@article {pmid40582832,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Cao, HY and Zhao, PS and Ren, Y and Ding, GD and Gao, GL},
title = {[Evolution of Soil Fungal Community with the Stand Aging of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Forests in Semi-arid and Dry Sub-humid Regions].},
journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue},
volume = {46},
number = {6},
pages = {3975-3984},
doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202405138},
pmid = {40582832},
issn = {0250-3301},
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Pinus sylvestris/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Forests ; *Fungi/classification/growth &amp; development ; Soil/chemistry ; China ; Desert Climate ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {To clarify the soil fungal community structure and functional groups associated with Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions， soil fungi of different ages of P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests in the Mu Us Desert， Hulunbuir Desert， and Horqin Desert were selected as the research objects. Through field investigation and sampling， soil samples of middle-aged， near-mature， and mature forests were collected， and experimental methods such as high-throughput sequencing and soil physical and chemical analysis were used， combined with data analysis methods such as principal component analysis and canonical correspondence analysis， to analyze the composition and functional groups of soil fungi communities and their influencing factors. The results show that： ① There was no significant difference in the α diversity index of the soil fungi community in different climatic regions （P>0.05）， but there was a significant difference in β diversity. ② There was no significant difference in the composition of the soil fungi community between natural forests and plantation forests of different ages in different climate zones. Soil fungi of the saprotrophic， symbiotrophic， and multi-trophic modes in different climatic regions had significant differences in middle and near-mature forests （P<0.05） and no significant differences in mature forests （P>0.05）， but there were still significant differences with natural forests （P<0.05）. ③ The functional groups of soil fungi were affected by different factors at different scales. Sunshine duration， soil water content， and total nitrogen were the main driving factors of soil fungal communities and functional groups in semi-arid and sub-humid regions of P.sylvestris forests. The main driving factors of soil fungal community functional groups were different in different climate zones. Soil nutrients （especially soil total potassium， soil organic matter， and soil total nitrogen） and climate factors （average annual rainfall and average annual sunshine duration） had significant effects on soil saprophytic and pathophytic fungi. The symbiotic fungi were less affected by environmental factors， and only average annual temperature had a certain effect on them. After introduction， different functional groups of soil fungi adapted to environmental changes with the growth of stand age， and the community composition gradually converged from the previous heterogeneity. The research results can provide theoretical basis for scientific management of P. sylvestris var. mongolica plantation in different climate regions.},
}
@article {pmid40582582,
year = {2025},
author = {Munshi, ID and Mathuria, A and Sharma, H and Acharya, M and Chaudhary, A and Jain, K and Ragini, and Dahiya, S and Arora, R and Singh, V and Saini, A and Mani, I},
title = {Emerging concept of genomic islands in bacterial adaptation and pathogenicity.},
journal = {Research in microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {104303},
doi = {10.1016/j.resmic.2025.104303},
pmid = {40582582},
issn = {1769-7123},
abstract = {Genomic Islands (GEIs) are distinct DNA segments acquired through horizontal gene transfer (HGT), driving bacterial evolution and adaptation. These include Pathogenicity Islands (PAIs), Symbiosis Islands, Antibiotic Resistance Islands, Xenobiotic-Degradation Islands, and Nitrogen Fixation Islands. GEIs contribute to genetic diversity, enhancing bacterial pathogenicity, symbiosis, antibiotic resistance, and xenobiotic degradation. Characterized by variations in GC content, codon bias, and integration sites, they distinguish themselves from the core genome. Advances in genome sequencing and bioinformatics have deepened our understanding of GEIs in bacteria like Salmonella, Vibrio, E. coli, and many more, offering insights into microbial evolution, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance mechanisms.},
}
@article {pmid40582138,
year = {2025},
author = {Schiessl, K and Jhu, MY},
title = {From roots to nodules: regulation of organogenesis in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.},
journal = {Current opinion in plant biology},
volume = {86},
number = {},
pages = {102755},
doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102755},
pmid = {40582138},
issn = {1879-0356},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/growth &amp; development/microbiology/physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Plant Roots/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Plants in the nitrogen-fixing clade have evolved symbiotic root nodules to overcome nitrogen limitations in the soil. These nodules host nitrogen-fixing bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, supplying essential nutrients to the plant. Nodule formation is triggered by plant-bacteria interactions and relies on genetic adaptations, including the recruitment of existing regulatory pathways. The transcription factor NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) is a key regulator required for bacterial infection, nodule initiation, and organ differentiation. Nodule development shares key features with lateral root formation, particularly in organ initiation and early growth stages, as both arise from the same root tissue layers. This overlap raises intriguing questions about how nodules evolved distinct forms and functions. This review highlights recent discoveries in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of nodule development, especially in the Papilionoideae clade. By comparing nodules and lateral roots, we explore the regulatory changes that led to their evolutionary divergence. We highlight emerging tools-single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, and advanced imaging-that are deepening insights into nodulation, alongside phylogenomics revealing its evolutionary history.},
}
@article {pmid40581059,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, Y and Zuo, S and Zhang, Z and Li, A and Ji, B},
title = {Mechanistic insights into nitrogen source influence on microalgal-bacterial granular sludge: Community dynamics and metabolic functions.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {435},
number = {},
pages = {132895},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132895},
pmid = {40581059},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; *Sewage/microbiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Ammonia/pharmacology/metabolism ; Urea/metabolism ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; },
abstract = {This study investigated the effects of nitrogen sources (different ammonia and urea compositions) on pollutant removal, microbial evolution and function in the MBGS system. Results showed that a higher ammonia proportion significantly enhanced the total nitrogen removal during the initial 7 days of operation compared with urea (p < 0.05). However, this nitrogen source-dependent effect adapted and diminished during the subsequent 14 days (p > 0.05). Microbial analysis revealed that urea enriched Proteobacteria (specifically Alphaproteobacteria including Roseomonas), while ammonia stimulated Firmicutes (specifically Clostridia including Acetoanaerobium), Betaproteobacteria, and Cyanophyceae. Metagenomic analysis identified that Alphaproteobacteria played dominant roles in the key genes (ureA/B/C, GLUD, and gltB) involved in nitrogen metabolism. The robust correlation between nitrogen source composition and microbial population dynamics underscores the self-regulating capacity of the MBGS system. These comprehensive findings demonstrate the excellent adaptability of the MBGS to varying nitrogen compositions through microbial community regulation.},
}
@article {pmid40580082,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Guo, N and Zhang, Y and Wang, G and Liao, S and Shi, K},
title = {Cadmium-immobilizing bacteria utilize octanoic acid and two synthetic compounds to enhance nitrogen fixation in soybeans under cadmium stress.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf290},
pmid = {40580082},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Maintaining a stable symbiotic relationship between rhizobia and soybeans is important in agriculture and ecosystems. However, cadmium (Cd) pollution disrupts this mutualism's delicate balance. We investigated the protective role of non-nitrogen-fixing bacteria on soybeans under Cd-induced stress. Here, we have identified three Cd-immobilizing bacteria, namely Arthrobacter sp. CC3, Pseudarthrobacter sp. CC12, and Mesorhizobium sp. CC13. These bacteria reduced the bioavailable Cd content in the soil, decreased Cd accumulation in soybeans, and increased nodule nitrogenase activity. However, no nitrogenase genes were identified in the genomes of these three bacterial strains. Soil metabolomics was used to investigate the mechanisms by which these three bacteria enhanced soybean nitrogenase activity. The levels of octanoic acid, propafenone, and levonorgestrel were increased following the introduction of Cd-tolerant bacterial strains. Subsequent soybean pot experiments demonstrated these strains' ability to enhance nodule nitrogenase activity and reduce Cd content in soybeans. The analysis of bacterial abundance in harvested soybean nodules revealed a significant decline in the Bradyrhizobium population, accompanied by a notable increase in Xanthobacteraceae abundance. Co-inoculation with Ancylobacter sp. QY-1, a bacterium belonging to the Xanthobacteraceae family, and Bradyrhizobium sp. USDA110 resulted in enhanced nitrogenase activity in soybean root nodules. Our findings reveal a cooperative mechanism wherein both non-nitrogen-fixing bacteria and specific compounds support soybeans' nitrogen-fixation function under Cd stress by regulating bioavailable Cd and rhizobia abundance. Surprisingly, we also found that the synthetic compounds propafenone and levonorgestrel can confer Cd-stress protection to plants.},
}
@article {pmid40579583,
year = {2025},
author = {Arbib, MA},
title = {Artificial intelligence meets brain theory (again).},
journal = {Biological cybernetics},
volume = {119},
number = {4-6},
pages = {16},
pmid = {40579583},
issn = {1432-0770},
mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; *Brain/physiology ; Animals ; },
abstract = {After noting the cybernetic origins of Kybernetik/ Biological Cybernetics, we respond to the Editorial by Fellous et al. (2025) and then analyze talks from the NIH BRAIN NeuroAI 2024 Workshop to get one "snapshot" of the state of the conversation between Artificial intelligence (AI) and brain theory (BT). Key recommendations going beyond the earlier Editorial are that: (i) Successes in fitting ANNs to increasingly large neuroscience datasets must not distract us from the quixotic but demanding quest to understand "how the brain works" and discover underlying brain (and AI) operating principles. (ii) We must integrate functional and structural analyses in exploring systems of systems, integrating structures (e.g., brain regions, cortical modules) and functions (e.g., schemas for perception, action and cognition) that bridge between neural circuitry and patterns of behavior. (iii) We must study the diversity of intelligences exhibited by animals in their strategies for survival and not only the disembodied employment of language and reasoning. Finally and briefly, we note the urgency of assessing the societal implications of an age of increasingly pervasive human-machine symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40579175,
year = {2025},
author = {Takamatsu, H},
title = {Mitochondrial DNA: leakage, recognition and associated human diseases.},
journal = {Journal of biochemistry},
volume = {178},
number = {2},
pages = {79-87},
doi = {10.1093/jb/mvaf037},
pmid = {40579175},
issn = {1756-2651},
mesh = {Humans ; *DNA, Mitochondrial/metabolism/genetics/immunology ; *Mitochondria/metabolism/genetics/pathology ; *Inflammation/metabolism/genetics/immunology/pathology ; Animals ; Immunity, Innate ; },
abstract = {Mitochondria are intracellular organelles originating from intracellular symbiotic bacteria that play essential roles in life activities such as energy production, metabolism, Ca2+ storage, signal transduction and cell death. Mitochondria also function as hubs for host defence against harmful stimuli such as infection and inflammation control. However, when cells are exposed to stress, mitochondrial homeostasis is disrupted, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can leak into the cytoplasm or extracellular space. Leaked mtDNA activates innate immune sensors, causing severe inflammation and contributing to the pathogenesis of human diseases. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which mtDNA leaks from the mitochondria and subsequently induces inflammation. We also review the relationship between mtDNA leakage and human diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40578701,
year = {2025},
author = {Hou, X and Zhang, X and Li, Y and Li, M and Jiang, X and Shen, J and Chen, D},
title = {Bacterial soluble secondary metabolites enhance algal tolerance to pyridine in an indirect-contact symbiotic system.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {435},
number = {},
pages = {132890},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132890},
pmid = {40578701},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Chlorella/drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; *Pyridines/toxicity/pharmacology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; *Secondary Metabolism/drug effects ; Solubility ; Biomass ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Bacterial soluble secondary metabolites are key regulators of interspecies interactions in algae-bacteria symbiotic systems (ABSS), but their in situ roles under toxic environmental conditions remain poorly understood. This study employed an indirect-contact system to investigate their contribution to the tolerance of Chlorella sorokiniana under pyridine stress. Bacterial degradation reduced pyridine concentrations by 23.1 % and generated 5.24 mg L[-1] of NH4[+]-N, alleviating algal oxidative stress. Diffusible bacterial secondary metabolites, including N-acyl homoserine lactones (1.2-fold increased), indole-3-acetic acid (1.1-fold increased), and humic-like substances, accumulated in the algal compartment. These metabolites activated algal antioxidant defenses, promoted photosystem repair, and supported algal growth. Compared with monoculture, algal biomass increased by 2.2-fold, and carbohydrate content rose by 21.9 %, alongside the activation of SOD-glutathione detoxification pathways. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant upregulation of genes related to photosynthesis, DNA repair, and protein refolding. These findings uncover an indirect-contact regulatory mechanism that enhances algal resilience. They also support a modular strategy that combines functional bacterial consortia with spatially structured systems to improve ABSS performance in treating nitrogen-containing heterocyclic pollutants.},
}
@article {pmid40577796,
year = {2025},
author = {Pan, W and Lu, M and Lai, S and Ding, X and Sun, B and Ji, D and Hao, D and Dai, L},
title = {Laboratory and field evaluation of integrated insecticide-fungicide treatments for controlling Euwallacea interjectus and its symbiotic Fusarium fungi.},
journal = {Environmental entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ee/nvaf054},
pmid = {40577796},
issn = {1938-2936},
abstract = {As an emerging forestry pest characterized by rapid spread, wide distribution, and significant damage, Euwallacea interjectus necessitates comprehensive and scientifically validated chemical control measures. Currently, there is a lack of large-scale and precise experimental data on the efficacy of insecticides and fungicides for chemical control. Even for closely related ambrosia beetles, existing chemical control methods have unresolved aspects. Given the high dependency of E. interjectus life cycle on its symbiotic fungi, this study employed fungicides as a pivotal control strategy. Additionally, to mitigate potential secondary environmental hazards associated with broad-spectrum insecticides, detailed toxicity tests were conducted in laboratory settings, followed by field spray experiments. An organosilicon compound was utilized to examine the synergistic effects of insecticides, and liquid chromatography was employed to quantify insecticide residues in the xylem of host trees. In the laboratory, beta-cyfluthrin exhibited the lowest LC50 value (8.989 mg/L), achieving an 80.6% reduction in beetle infestations after 30 d. The addition of adjuvants increased residue levels by 2.5%, thereby enhancing control efficacy. Among the tested fungicides, a 4:1 mixture of fludioxonil and prochloraz-manganese chloride complex demonstrated the highest efficacy, with an EC50 value of 2.669 mg/L. In field experiments, spraying at a concentration of 2000 mg/L resulted in a 58.7% reduction in beetle infestations after 60 d. The findings provide a scientific basis for the control of E. interjectus and the judicious application of chemical pesticides, offering technical support for the management of wood-boring pests in forestry production.},
}
@article {pmid40577708,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Wu, YG and Zhang, JL and Li, P and Tang, Y and Mu, YP and Wang, MY and Wang, W and Mao, YB},
title = {Gut microbiota facilitates the adaptation of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) to its host plant.},
journal = {Journal of economic entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jee/toaf142},
pmid = {40577708},
issn = {1938-291X},
abstract = {The mirid bug, Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür, is a significant pest in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivation. Previous studies have shown that gut microbiota plays a crucial role in insect adaptation to host plants. However, the gut microbiota of A. lucorum and its role in insect adaptation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiota of A. lucorum and their contributions to the growth performance of the mirids on cotton plants. We analyzed gut microbial compositions of field-collected (FCAL) and laboratory-reared (LRAL) A. lucorum populations. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed distinct gut microbial community structures between the two populations, with Delftia and Serratia serving as the dominant gut bacteria in the FCAL and LRAL populations, respectively. We confirmed that Delftia sp. W1 and Serratia marcescens R1 facilitate the growth of A. lucorum on cotton. The A. lucorum exhibits retarded growth on cotton by removal of these two strains, and its growth performance is restored upon recolonization with these strains. The capabilities of both strains in protein degradation are evident, with S. marcescens R1 exhibiting the most pronounced degradation ability. This study reveals the crucial role of gut microbiota in A. lucorum's adaptation to cotton. We identified two strains from the gut microbiota which contribute to protein digestion in A. lucorum. Our findings contribute to understanding the interaction mechanisms among insects, symbiotic bacteria, and plants, facilitating the development of insect symbiotic microbial resources.},
}
@article {pmid40577668,
year = {2025},
author = {González, LFL},
title = {"The Shrinking Heart": The Pathologies of Sadness in Medieval and Early Modern Culture.},
journal = {Journal of the history of medicine and allied sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jhmas/jraf014},
pmid = {40577668},
issn = {1468-4373},
abstract = {From the time of Classical Greek medicine through Early Modernity, sadness was considered both a mood and a diagnosable disease. Sadness was closely related to the physiological condition of melancholia, as both sadness and melancholia stemmed from a common etiology (excess of black bile), and both conditions could result in death. Sadness and melancholia had a symbiotic relationship; either one of the two could trigger the other. Because sadness was melancholia's foremost symptom and catalyst, medieval physicians often referred to melancholia and sadness as interchangeable notions and sometimes as synonyms. Influenced by Hippocratic-Galenic systems of thought that dominated the discipline of medicine well after the Renaissance, premodern doctors and natural philosophers conceived the idea that excessive sorrow greatly harmed the human body. They believed that sadness was more than a mood. This paper probes the physiological dimensions of sadness, arguing that from ancient Greek medicine to the Early Modern period, some physicians and natural philosophers believed that because of its inherent relationship with the caustic and cold substance of black bile, sadness had the power to physically shrink the heart. To support my argument, I analyze the medical traditions that developed from the Hippocratic-Galenic system of humorism, zeroing in on the humor of black bile as the main agent of corrosion and contraction. Because the shrinking-heart theory transcended the discipline of medicine, I also investigate this principle in the disciplines of theology, philosophy, and amatory literature in order to demonstrate the impact that the theory of the shrinking heart had on the European imaginary from the Middle Ages to Early Modernity.},
}
@article {pmid40577287,
year = {2025},
author = {Afarin, M and Naeimpoor, F},
title = {Diazotrophic growth of free-living Rhizobium etli: Community-like metabolic modeling of growing and non-growing nitrogen-fixing cells.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {6},
pages = {e0325888},
pmid = {40577287},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Rhizobium etli/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Models, Biological ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Biomass ; },
abstract = {Rhizobium etli, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium, grows both in symbiosis (with plants) and in free-living state. While most metabolic models focus on its symbiotic form, this study refined the existing iOR363 model to account for free-living growth. By addition of a biomass formation reaction followed by model curation growth was simulated using various N-sources (NH3, NO2, and NO3). At fixed succinate uptake rate (4.16 mmol/gDWC/h), ammonia yielded the highest growth rate of 0.259 h [-] [1]. To represent free-living N-fixing R. etli, a novel two-member community-like model, consisting of both growing and differentiated non-growing N-fixing cells with ammonia exchange, was developed. The XFBA approach, based on community Flux Balance Analysis (cFBA), was formulated to maintain fixed abundances rather than assuming equal growth rates. With a non-growing:growing abundance ratio of 1:9 in community, N-fixation resulted in lower growth rate of 0.1933 h [-] [1] due to the high energy demand of N2 assimilation compared to ammonia. Sensitivity analysis revealed that increased abundance of N-fixing cells from 5 to 30% led to decreases of 10% in N2-fixation and 25% in growth rate of growing member. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis identified oxidative phosphorylation, TCA cycle, and glycolysis as key pathways differentiating flux distributions across N-sources. At high uptake of oxygen, causing nitrogenase inactivity, cytochrome bd oxidase was activated to scavenge oxygen, though at the cost of lower growth rate (by 12% per mmol increase in O2 uptake/gDWC/h). This study provided a platform to obtain insights to free-living state of R. etli which may have applications for other diazotrophs.},
}
@article {pmid40576959,
year = {2025},
author = {Henning, AP and Hofstetter, RW},
title = {A novel choice test to detect the influence of fungi on the tunneling behavior of sympatric bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae).},
journal = {Environmental entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ee/nvaf055},
pmid = {40576959},
issn = {1938-2936},
support = {//Arizona Mushroom Society/ ; },
abstract = {Bark beetles are significant forest pests, with primary tree-killing species often relying on obligate mutualistic fungi carried in specialized mycangia. In contrast, secondary bark beetles, which do not typically attack healthy trees, often lack obligate fungal mutualists. However, all bark beetles vector fungi that may provide nutrition to them, improve substrate conditions, or act as antagonists, hindering their success. This study introduces a paired-tube choice test arena to assess bark beetle-fungal interactions using minimal phloem-media. We hypothesized that primary bark beetles with mycangial fungi (eg Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann and Dendroctonus barberi Hopkins) avoid phloem infested with nonmycangial fungi such as Ophiostoma minus (Hedgcock) Sydow &amp; P. Sydow, while secondary beetles like Ips pini Say, which do not rely on mycangial fungi, show no preference for fungal-infested or fungus-free phloem. Our findings revealed that D. barberi preferred uninfested phloem, whereas I. pini preferred the O. minus-infested phloem. Interestingly, D. frontalis did not show a preference for either uninfested phloem or O. minus-infested phloem. These results underscore the importance of understanding the effects of fungal symbionts on tunneling behavior, with potential applications in pest management, such as deploying cues from antagonistic fungi as repellents.},
}
@article {pmid40576466,
year = {2025},
author = {Bacińska, Z and Strub, DJ and Balcerzak, L},
title = {Antibacterial potential of essential oils against oral pathogenic bacteria: a literature and clinical review.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {136},
number = {7},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxaf161},
pmid = {40576466},
issn = {1365-2672},
mesh = {*Oils, Volatile/pharmacology ; Humans ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Mouth/microbiology ; *Bacteria/drug effects ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Gingivitis/microbiology/drug therapy ; Microbiota/drug effects ; },
abstract = {The human oral microbiome is a complex ecosystem, comprising diverse microbial species in symbiotic relationships. Environmental factors such as diet, immune response, and inflammation can disrupt the balance of the oral microbiome, leading to increased activity and proliferation of pathogenic species associated with oral diseases. In response to global dental problems, there is a burgeoning interest in exploiting the antibacterial properties of essential oils (EOs) for clinical applications, being a promising alternative to traditional antiseptics. This review synthesizes the literature on the minimum inhibitory concentration of plant-derived EOs and their effectiveness against key oral pathogenic bacteria, which belong to the so-called "red," "orange," "purple," "yellow," and "green complexes," and includes newly discovered oral bacteria. Furthermore, it examines clinical investigations into oral hygiene products infused with EOs, evaluating their antiplaque, antigingivitis properties, and effectiveness in reducing tartar formation and gingival bleeding. Overall, this review highlights the high antibacterial efficacy of EOs against oral bacteria and their potential therapeutic abilities. It is expected that they will be used as a potential alternative for chemical preservatives in oral care products in the future. Based on the searched clinical studies, EO-based oral care products seem to be effective in the treatment of dental problems, e.g. dental plaque, gingivitis, and caries.},
}
@article {pmid40576359,
year = {2025},
author = {Marulanda-Gomez, AM and Mueller, B and Bayer, K and Abukhalaf, M and Cassidy, L and Tholey, A and Fraune, S and Pita, L and Hentschel, U},
title = {Combined cellular and proteomics approach suggests differential processing of a native and a foreign vibrio in the sponge Halicondria panicea.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {8},
pages = {e0147425},
pmid = {40576359},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {CRC1182-TP B01//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; GBMF9352//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; ID 10010434//'la Caixa' Foundation ('la Caixa')/ ; No 847648//HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions/ ; 2021SGR00430//Fundaci&#xf3;n Carmen y Severo Ochoa/ ; No 894645//HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions/ ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Phagocytosis is a conserved cellular mechanism for food uptake, defense, and animal-microbe interactions in metazoans. How the discrimination and subsequent processing of different microbes in marine invertebrates is facilitated remains largely unknown. Thereto, we combined a recently developed phagocytic assay with proteomics analysis to compare the phagocytic activity of the sponge Halichondria panicea upon encounter with the native Hal 281 (i.e., H. panicea isolate) and the foreign NJ 1 (i.e., Nematostella vectensis isolate) Vibrio. The sponge cell fraction was recovered after Vibrio exposure of 30 and 60 min and used for cellular (fluorescence-activated cell sorting and microscopy) and proteomics analyses. While the number of phagocytically active cells was similar between the isolates (P = 0.19), the distribution of vibrios over cell types differed (P = 0.02) over time, with the tendency for accumulation of NJ 1 in choanocyte-like cells compared to a shift of Hal 281 being incorporated from choanocyte-like to archaeocyte-like cells. Initially, both vibrios elicited a proteomic response related to bacterial infection and immunity (e.g., ADAM10, RAPTOR), followed by an increase of lysosomal and endocytic proteins (e.g., NPC2) after 60 min. The attenuation of the immune response and concomitant increase of vesicular trafficking in Hal 281 after 60 min corroborates cellular observations suggesting the fast transfer of Hal 281 from choanocyte-like cells to archaeocyte-like cells, compared to an accumulation of NJ 1 in the former. Subtle but distinct differences suggest strain-specific discrimination between the two tested vibrios and may indicate a degree of immune specificity in sponges.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Metazoans recognize and discriminate between different microbes. In marine invertebrates, the underlying mechanisms of microbial discrimination and immune specificity are, however, not well understood. Phagocytosis is a conserved cellular process from amoeba to humans that facilitates the ingestion and digestion of microbial cells and likely plays a role in this discrimination. To elucidate the molecular and cellular basis of this microbial discrimination, we examined the differential phagocytic processing of a native (i.e., sponge-isolated) and foreign (i.e., sea anemone-isolate) Vibrio in a marine sponge. Our findings revealed that both vibrios provoke an initial bacterial infection- and immune-related, followed by a lysosomal- and endocytic-related proteomic response. Nuanced differences in the cellular and molecular processing suggest a strain-specific discrimination between the two vibrios. This study investigates a mechanism for microbial discrimination in an early-divergent metazoan and may provide a valuable model for studying the evolution of immunity and its role in animal-microbe interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40575880,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Cao, X and Yang, C and Cai, W and Shu, X and Li, Y and Zhu, J and Ma, J and Zhang, J},
title = {From Corrosion to Creation: Interfacial De-Electronation Drives Hydrogenation-Energy Symbiosis.},
journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e202507722},
doi = {10.1002/anie.202507722},
pmid = {40575880},
issn = {1521-3773},
support = {22175108//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 22379086//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 22409124//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2240090778//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ZR2022ZD27//Natural Scientific Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; ZR2024QB024//Natural Scientific Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; tstp20221105//Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province/ ; },
abstract = {Metal corrosion, conventionally perceived as a destructive phenomenon driven by de-electronation, imposes significant economic burdens and safety hazards. To repurpose corrosion into a valuable resource, we demonstrate a macroscopic corrosion battery concept that harnesses galvanic corrosion to drive the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), high-value chemicals, and energy generation, challenging conventional corrosion mitigation paradigms. By spatially segregating the corrosion process, the system couples anodic metal de-electronation with MOF deposition while integrating diverse cathodic reactions, including the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction, electrocatalytic hydrogenation, and hydrogen peroxide reduction with remarkable accelerated kinetics, thereby achieving universal MOFs and chemical synthesis with high electron and atom utilization efficiencies. The prototype system demonstrates concurrent production of p-aminophenol (14.3 mg cm[-2] h[-1]) and zinc oxalate (86.9 mg cm[-2] h[-1]) while generating 34.2 mW cm[-2] of electrical power. Techno-economic analysis establishes the inaugural empirical validation of economic feasibility for corrosion-driven energy-matter symbiosis, highlighting its high gross profit. Transcending conventional corrosion engineering boundaries for inorganic synthesis, this methodology mechanistically deciphers MOF growth kinetics and advanced system design. By broadening the scope of corrosion utilization, this work enables a paradigm shift from damage mitigation to value creation, providing a blueprint for sustainable chemical-energy ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40573773,
year = {2025},
author = {Watanabe, R and Artigas Ramirez, MD and Agake, SI and Bellingrath-Kimura, SD and Lewandowska, S and Onishi, Y and Nishikawa, Y and Takeyama, H and Yasuda, M and Ohkama-Ohtsu, N},
title = {Genetic Characterization and Symbiotic Performance of Soybean Rhizobia Under Cold and Water-Deficient Conditions in Poland.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {12},
pages = {},
pmid = {40573773},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {JPMJSC16C2//JST-SICORP Concert-Japan/ ; 20KK0136//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; SUSCROP/I/LegumeGap/01/2019//SusCrop-ERANET/ ; JPJ009237//Moonshot R&amp;D Program for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries/ ; },
abstract = {Soybeans have been cultivated in Poland for more than 140 years. However, Poland's cold and water-deficient climatic conditions hinder soybean cultivation. Although the availability of suitable soybean varieties in Poland contributes to meeting the demand for soybean production, it is important to identify rhizobial inoculants in Polish soils suitable for soybean cultivation. In this study, we cultivated soybean varieties (Abelina, Merlin, and Sultana) grown in soils taken from four regions in Poland and isolated 330 strains from soybean root nodules. 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified 49 strains of highly stress-tolerant nodule-associated bacteria, including Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, Ensifer, Tardiphaga, and Ralstonia spp. Several isolates exhibited positive effects on soybean growth under cold and water-deficient conditions. In particular, the isolate Bradyrhizobium japonicum PSN49, which is phylogenetically similar to B. japonicum USDA 123, increased plant biomass and nodule formation in the soybean cultivar Abelina under abiotic stress conditions due to its high nitrogen-fixing activity. Whole-genome comparisons between PSN49 and other Bradyrhizobium strains revealed that trehalose biosynthesis genes and cold shock proteins contributed to cold stress tolerance. These findings and the strains identified in this study will enhance soybean production and deepen the understanding of the soybean-rhizobium relationship in Poland.},
}
@article {pmid40573163,
year = {2025},
author = {Biţă, A and Scorei, IR and Soriano-Ursúa, MA and Mogoşanu, GD and Belu, I and Ciocîlteu, MV and Biţă, CE and Rău, G and Pisoschi, CG and Racu, MV and Pinzaru, I and Contreras-Ramos, A and Kostici, R and Neamţu, J and Biciuşcă, V and Gheonea, DI},
title = {Microbiota-Accessible Borates as Novel and Emerging Prebiotics for Healthy Longevity: Current Research Trends and Perspectives.},
journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {18},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40573163},
issn = {1424-8247},
abstract = {Precision nutrition-targeted gut microbiota (GM) may have therapeutic potential not only for age-related diseases but also for slowing the aging process and promoting longer healthspan. Recent studies have shown that restoring a healthy symbiosis of GM by counteracting dysbiosis (DYS) through precise nutritional intervention is becoming a major target for extending healthspan. Microbiota-accessible borate (MAB) complexes, such as boron (B)-pectins (rhamnogalacturonan-borate) and borate-phenolic esters (diester chlorogenoborate), have a significant impact on healthy host-microbiota symbiosis (HMS). The mechanism of action of MABs involves the biosynthesis of the autoinducer-2-borate (AI-2B) signaling molecule, B fortification of the mucus gel layer by the MABs diet, inhibition of pathogenic microbes, and reversal of GM DYS, strengthening the gut barrier structure, enhancing immunity, and promoting overall host health. In fact, the lack of MAB complexes in the human diet causes reduced levels of AI-2B in GM, inhibiting the Firmicutes phylum (the main butyrate-producing bacteria), with important effects on healthy HMS. It can now be argued that there is a relationship between MAB-rich intake, healthy HMS, host metabolic health, and longevity. This could influence the deployment of natural prebiotic B-based nutraceuticals targeting the colon in the future. Our review is based on the discovery that MAB diet is absolutely necessary for healthy HMS in humans, by reversing DYS and restoring eubiosis for longer healthspan.},
}
@article {pmid40572756,
year = {2025},
author = {Karitnig, R and Bogner, A and Jahn, N and Vlachos, C and Lederer, A and Geisler, A and Sucher, R and Hau, HM},
title = {Value of Probiotics on Outcome in Patients Following Liver Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)},
volume = {61},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40572756},
issn = {1648-9144},
mesh = {Humans ; Hepatectomy/adverse effects/methods ; Liver/surgery ; Liver Transplantation/adverse effects/methods ; Postoperative Complications/prevention &amp; control ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; },
abstract = {Background and Objectives: The gut-liver axis plays a crucial role in the development of post-surgical infections. Surgery-induced dysbiosis can lead to increased bacterial translocation, impairing the liver's detoxification capacity and negatively affecting surgical outcomes. Following liver surgery, approximately a third of the patients develop bacterial infections, with a high risk of bacteremia or even sepsis-related liver failure and death. The potential advantages of administering pro- or synbiotics before/after surgery remain a topic of discussion. Therefore, a systematic review of randomized clinical trials comparing patients with and without supplementation and their outcomes and effects after liver resection (LR) or liver transplantation (LT) was conducted. Materials and Methods: A computer-based search of electronic databases was conducted to gather randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that focused on probiotic/synbiotic use during the perioperative period for liver surgery patients. Two researchers independently screened the studies, extracted the data, evaluated the risk of bias, and performed a meta-analysis using RevMan Web. Results: Our research revealed 19 relevant randomized controlled studies that included a total of 1698 patients on the perioperative use of pro-/symbiotic administration in liver surgery. Eight studies were performed on liver transplantation (LT), and 11 studies were performed for liver resection (LR). The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the probiotic group exhibited lower rates of postoperative infectious complications (OR = 0.34; 95%CI 0.25 to 0.45; p < 0.0001), hospital stay duration (SMD = -0.13; 95%CI -0.25 to -0.00; p = 0.05), lower serum endotoxin levels (SMD = -0.39%CI -0.59 to -19; p < 0.0001), and white blood cell counts (SMD = -SMD = -0.35; 95%CI -0.56 to -0.13; p = 0.002) compared to the control group. Further, with regard to liver function, we observed significant postoperative differences in alanine aminotransferase (ALT)-levels (SMD = -0.46; 95%CI -0.63 to -0.29; p < 0.0001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (SMD = -0.53; 95%CI -0.71 to -0.34; p < 0.0001), bilirubin levels (SMD = -0.35; 95%CI -0.50 to -0.19; p < 0.0001), and international ratio (INR) levels (SMD = -0.1; 95%CI -0.12 to -0.08; p ≤ 0.0001), favoring the symbiotic group compared to the control group. Conclusions: The use of pro-/synbiotics during the perioperative period reduces the risk of postoperative infections, support postoperative liver function, and recovery and shortens hospital stays for liver surgery patients. However, they do not appear to particularly aid in inflammation reduction.},
}
@article {pmid40572525,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Z and Liu, X and Ma, Y and Zheng, J and Xu, K and Chang, Y and Ye, Z and Ling, Y and Wang, L},
title = {Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {30},
number = {12},
pages = {},
pmid = {40572525},
issn = {1420-3049},
mesh = {*Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacology/chemistry/chemical synthesis ; Humans ; *Photochemotherapy ; *Carbazoles/chemistry/pharmacology ; Animals ; Mice ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry/chemical synthesis ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; HT29 Cells ; *Indoles/chemistry/pharmacology ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/chemistry/chemical synthesis ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; },
abstract = {To address the clinical challenges posed by symbiotic drug-resistant bacterial infections and tumor microenvironments, this study designed and synthesized novel carbazole/benzindole-based photosensitizers A1-A4, systematically evaluating their antitumor and antibacterial therapeutic potential through chemo-photodynamic therapy. Especially, compound A4 demonstrated potent Type I/II reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capabilities. In vitro experiments revealed that A4 concentration-dependently inhibited HT-29 cells under hypoxic conditions (IC50 = 0.89 μM) with a prominent photodynamic index (PI > 9.23), and substantially promoted cancer cell programmed death. In antibacterial evaluations, A4 achieved the complete eradication of dermal MRSA infections within 7 days through ROS-mediated membrane disruption under illumination. In the HT-29 xenograft model, the PDT-chemotherapy synergy strategy achieved a tumor suppression rate of 96%. This work establishes an innovative strategy for the combinatorial management of multidrug-resistant infections and solid tumors.},
}
@article {pmid40572191,
year = {2025},
author = {Jin, X and Xu, L and Dong, M and Song, Z and Zhang, X and Liu, W and Xu, J and Li, Y},
title = {In Vitro Screening of NaCl-Tolerant Dark Septate Endophytes and Their Growth-Promoting Effects on Anemone tomentosa.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40572191},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2020YFD1000700//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; HBCT2025190206//Innovation Team on Dry Fruits of Hebei Provincial Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System/ ; LC2025-08//Expert Support Team Project for Forest, Fruit and Flower Industry in Hebei Province/ ; 21326802D//Hebei Science and Technology Support Project/ ; },
abstract = {NaCl is the main cause of natural soil salinization. Exploring dark septate endophytes (DSEs) with NaCl tolerance provides information for ecological remediation in saline soil areas. In this study, six DSE strains (Didymella macrostoma (Dm), Paraboeremia selaginellae (Ps), Paraphoma pye (Pp), Paraphoma aquatica (Pa), Acrocalymma ampeli (Aa), and Exophiala xenobiotica (Ex)) isolated from the root sections of Anemone tomentosa were subjected to in vitro NaCl stress experiments and inoculation tests. The results showed that six DSE strains can grow on solid media with different NaCl concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 M) and increase the antioxidant enzyme activities and soluble protein contents to adapt to a salt stress environment. Among these strains, the Pp strain exhibited the greatest biomass accumulation under high NaCl concentrations (1.0 M), indicating greater NaCl tolerance compared to the other five strains. In addition, in the pot experiment, all six DSE strains were able to successfully establish a symbiotic relationship with A. tomentosa, and the Pp strain also showed significant growth-promoting effects on seedlings. In summary, the Pp strain is identified as having strong NaCl tolerance and a significant growth-promoting impact, indicating that it has potential applications as a NaCl-tolerant microbial agent and can be used for bioremediation in saline soils. This research contributes to the basic material and theoretical basis for joint plant-microbe combined remediation in areas prone to soil salinization.},
}
@article {pmid40572163,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, H and Pang, Y and Yang, Y and Wang, D and Wang, Y},
title = {Habitat Heterogeneity of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycling Functional Genes in Rhizosphere Microorganisms of Pinus tabuliformis in Qinling Mountains, China.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40572163},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {32271861//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Microbial functional genes serve as the core genetic foundation driving microbial ecological functions; however, its microbial functional gene composition across varied habitats and its ecological adaptation interplay with plants remain understudied. In this study, we investigated the P. tabuliformis rhizosphere microbial functional genes which are related to N and P cycles across ridge and slope habitats between different elevational gradients, analyzed their composition and abundance, and analyzed their responses to environmental factors. Results showed that slope habitats had a significantly greater abundance of N and P cycling functional genes compared to those of ridge counterparts (p < 0.05). Specifically, slope environments showed an enhanced gene abundance associated with denitrification, nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilatory/dissimilatory nitrate reduction, and nitrogen transport processes, along with the superior expression of genes related to inorganic/organic phosphorus metabolism, phosphorus transport, and regulatory gene expression. These nutrient cycling gene levels were positively correlated with soil nutrient availability. Our findings revealed distinct ecological strategies: Ridge communities employ resource-conservative tactics, minimizing microbial investments to endure nutrient scarcity, whereas slope populations adopt competitive strategies through enriched high-efficiency metabolic genes and symbiotic microbial recruitment to withstand resource competition.},
}
@article {pmid40572151,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, S and Qu, H and Cheng, Z and Fu, X and Yang, L and Zhou, J},
title = {Actinobacteria Emerge as Novel Dominant Soil Bacterial Taxa in Long-Term Post-Fire Recovery of Taiga Forests.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40572151},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {GZCG2023-024//Forestry and Grassland Ecological Protection and Restoration Funds Project/ ; KY2023ZR03//the Foundation of Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences/ ; CZKYF2024-1-A008//the Financial Special Project of Heilongjiang Province/ ; },
abstract = {The long-term post-fire recovery phase is a critical stage for forest ecosystems to progress toward regeneration and mature succession. During this process, soil bacteria exhibit greater environmental adaptability, rapidly driving nutrient cycling and facilitating vegetation restoration. This study investigated the community structure and diversity of soil bacteria during long-term recovery after forest fires in the cold temperate zone, focusing on soils from the 2000 fires in Daxing'anling. Soil samples were classified into Low (L), Moderate (M), and High (H) fire damage intensity, with bacterial community composition and diversity analyzed using Illumina sequencing technology. After long-term fire recovery, the contents of soil organic carbon, black carbon, total nitrogen, alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were significantly higher elevated (p < 0.05), and water content was significantly lower, compared with that in the control check (CK) group. Soil urease, fluorescein diacetate, soil acid phosphatase, and soil dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher, and soil sucrase activity was significantly lower in H. There was a significant difference in the Alpha diversity index among the groups. Compared with CK, the Shannon index was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in L, while both Chao1 and Shannon indices were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in M and significantly higher in H than CK. The results of the PCoA showed that there was a significant difference in the Beta diversity of the bacterial community among the groups (R[2] = 0.60 p = 0.001). The dominant bacteria groups were Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota, while Actinobacteria became the new dominant group during the long-term post-fire recovery. AP, WC, DOC, MBC, S-DHA, and S-SC were significantly and positively correlated with soil bacterial diversity (p < 0.05). The results of the co-occurrence network analysis showed that all groups were dominated by symbiotic relationships, with M having the highest network complexity and strongest competitive effects. This study found that the physicochemical properties of soils recovered over a long period of time after fire returned to or exceeded the unfired forest condition. The Actinobacteria phylum became a new dominant bacterial group, with stronger network complexity and competition, in the process of forest recovery after moderate fire.},
}
@article {pmid40572138,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, Y and Zhao, M and Li, G and Wang, Y and Shen, Q and Yang, J and Asseri, TAY and Wang, Y and Guo, M and Ahmed, W},
title = {Molecular Tactics of Biocontrol Fungi to Hack Plant Immunity for Successful Host Colonization-A Focus on Trichoderma Fungi.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40572138},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {202401AT071224//Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects/ ; },
abstract = {To play a role effectively, biocontrol fungi must fight against plant immune response and establish a symbiotic interaction with their host. After successfully colonizing the host plant, the biocontrol fungi may deliver beneficial effects related to plant health and resistance against phytopathogens. These fungi use a variety of tactics to bypass the host immune response, including the production of effector proteins, miRNA interference, manipulation of host defense mechanisms, and others. In this review article, we discussed these strategies of biocontrol fungi based on recent findings. These methods enable the fungi to escape the plant's intrinsic immunity and finely adjust the plant's defense signaling cascades. Additionally, we discussed the importance of the physical barrier in the form of host cell walls and elucidated how biocontrol fungi use a combination of mechanical and enzymatic tactics to overcome this obstacle. Given the evolving comprehensions from molecular biology, genomics, and ecology, this review article highlights the prospective for a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to improve our understanding of the biocontrol mechanism.},
}
@article {pmid40572131,
year = {2025},
author = {Chang, T and Yang, T and Ren, M and Li, X and Fang, X and Niu, B and Yang, H and Wang, L and Chen, X},
title = {Screening and Validation of Rhizobial Strains for Improved Lentil Growth.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40572131},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {32241046//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202304010930003-27//Shanxi Houji Laboratory Autonomous Project/ ; YZGC069//The Biological Breeding Project of Shanxi Agricultural University/ ; 20230206//Xinzhou City Key Research and Development Plan in Agriculture/ ; TYGC-33//2024 "Special" and "Excellent" Agricultural High-quality Agricultural Development Science and Technology Support Project/ ; 2021YFD1600600//National Key R &amp; D Program Project/ ; 202101140601027//Major Science and Technology Project of Shanxi Province/ ; 202204051001020//Shanxi Province Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team Project/ ; },
abstract = {Lentil is a nutritionally valuable legume crop, rich in protein, carbohydrates, amino acids, and vitamins, and is also used as green manure. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) plays a crucial role in lentil growth and development, yet there is limited research on isolating and identifying lentil rhizobia related to nodulation and nitrogen fixation. This study employed tissue block isolation, line purification, and molecular biology to isolate, purify, and identify rhizobial strains from lentils, analyzing their physiological characteristics, including bromothymol blue (BTB) acid and alkali production capacity, antibiotic resistance, salt tolerance, acid and alkali tolerance, growth temperature range, and drought tolerance simulated by PEG6000. Additionally, the nodulation capacity of these rhizobia was assessed through inoculation experiments using the identified candidate strains. The results showed that all isolated rhizobial strains were resistant to Congo red, and nifH gene amplification confirmed their potential as nitrogen fixers. Most strains were positive for H2O2 and BTB acid and base production, with a preference for alkaline environments. In terms of salt tolerance, the strains grew normally at 0.5-2% NaCl, and six strains were identified as salt stress resistant at 4% NaCl. The temperature range for growth was between 4 °C and 49 °C. Antibiotic assays revealed resistance to ampicillin and low concentrations of streptomycin, while kanamycin significantly inhibited growth. Two drought-tolerant strains, TG25 and TG55, were identified using PEG6000-simulated drought conditions. Inoculation with candidate rhizobial strains significantly increased lentil biomass, highlighting their potential for enhancing crop productivity.},
}
@article {pmid40572111,
year = {2025},
author = {Lucero, J and Nishiguchi, MK},
title = {Host-Associated Biofilms: Vibrio fischeri and Other Symbiotic Bacteria Within the Vibrionaceae.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40572111},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {1T32GM141862-24S3/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; DBI 2214038//National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Biofilm formation is important for microbial survival, adaptation, and persistence within mutualistic and pathogenic systems in the Vibironaceae. Biofilms offer protection against environmental stressors, immune responses, and antimicrobial treatments by increasing host colonization and resilience. This review examines the mechanisms of biofilm formation in Vibrio species, focusing on quorum sensing, cyclic-di-GMP signaling, and host-specific adaptations that influence biofilm structure and function. We discuss how biofilms differ between mutualistic and pathogenic species based on environmental and host signals. Recent advances in omics technologies such as transcriptomics and metabolomics have enhanced research in biofilm regulation under different conditions. Horizontal gene transfer and phase variation promote the greater fitness of bacterial biofilms due to the diversity of environmental isolates that utilize biofilms to colonize host species. Despite progress, questions remain regarding the long-term effects of biofilm formation and persistence on host physiology and biofilm community dynamics. Research integrating multidisciplinary approaches will help advance our understanding of biofilms and their implications for influencing microbial adaptation, symbiosis, and disease. These findings have applications in biotechnology and medicine, where the genetic manipulation of biofilm regulation can enhance or disrupt microbiome stability and pathogen resistance, eventually leading to targeted therapeutic strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40571923,
year = {2025},
author = {Sedeek, AM and Elfeky, H and Hanora, AS and Solyman, SM},
title = {Genomic insights into biosynthesis and adaptation in the bioactive marine bacterium Streptomyces albidoflavus VIP-1 from the Red Sea.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {372},
pmid = {40571923},
issn = {1471-2180},
mesh = {*Streptomyces/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/classification/metabolism/physiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Indian Ocean ; Phylogeny ; Animals ; Genomics ; *Seawater/microbiology ; Secondary Metabolism ; Multigene Family ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/biosynthesis ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Marine actinobacteria represent a diverse and biotechnologically rich group of microorganisms that have adapted to the unique challenges of marine ecosystems, including fluctuating salinities, temperatures, pressures, and nutrient levels. These environmental pressures have enhanced their biosynthetic capabilities, making them a prolific source of novel bioactive compounds.<br><br>RESULTS: In this research, we report the isolation of a novel marine bacterium "Streptomyces albidoflavus VIP-1" associated with the marine invertebrate Molgula citrine isolated from the Red Sea. The secondary metabolites from the isolated strain exhibited significant in vitro antimicrobial and antitumor activities. The isolate has an estimated genome length of 7,090,100 base pairs. Based on the phylogenomic analysis and the values of digital DNA-DNA hybridization, average amino acids identity, and average nucleotide identity in comparison to genomes of known type strains, the isolated strain was found to belong to the species of Streptomyces albidoflavus. The genome of S. albidoflavus VIP-1 revealed genetic adaptations enabling its survival in harsh environments, including stress response genes and regulatory systems. Moreover, a wide variety of biosynthetic gene clusters belonging to polyketides, terpenes, and non-ribosomal peptides were detected. Finally, a comparative genome analysis with related marine and terrestrial strains highlighted its elevated biosynthetic potential.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The genome of S. albidoflavus VIP-1 reflects its potential as a valuable resource for biotechnological and biomedical applications. It reveals genetic adaptation to the marine environment through various anti-stress mechanisms and competitive strategies, including the production of antimicrobial metabolites.},
}
@article {pmid40571913,
year = {2025},
author = {Soliman, NS and Soliman, MS and Elhossary, W and El-Kholy, AA},
title = {Analysis of gastric mucosa associated microbiota in functional dyspepsia using 16S rRNA gene next-generation sequencing.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {368},
pmid = {40571913},
issn = {1471-2180},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Gastric disorders have been associated with changes in the abundance and composition of microbiota, which typically coexist in symbiosis within the stomach. There is a scarcity of data regarding the presence of gastric mucosa-associated dysbiosis in functional dyspepsia. The present study aimed to characterize the taxonomy and diversities of the microbiota in the gastric mucosa of patients with functional dyspepsia. The study was conducted on a total of 50 paired antral and body gastric biopsies collected from the dyspepsia group (n = 15) and control group (n = 10). Microbial DNA was extracted from all gastric biopsies, followed by 16 S rRNA gene next-generation sequencing (NGS) using the Miseq Illumina platform. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroides were the most predominant phyla in both groups, with a significant overrepresentation of Proteobacteria in the dyspepsia group (p value = 0.004). The genera Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Helicobacter were the most prevalent in both groups. The species of H. pylori and Prevotella melaninogenica were significantly more abundant in the dyspepsia group. The species of The LEfSe analysis revealed that E. coli, Helicobacter, Pseudomonas, Bifidobacteria, and Enterobacteriaceae were the most highly abundant and discriminating taxa in the gastric biopsies of the dyspepsia group compared to the control group. The microbial alpha diversity was significantly higher among gastric biopsies of dyspepsia than controls (P = 0.031). The beta diversity showed microbial dissimilarity between samples of dyspepsia and the control group. The 16 S rRNA gene NGS used in the present study demonstrated significant alteration in composition and diversities of gastric mucosa-associated microbiota among cases of functional dyspepsia compared to the controls. It is advisable to utilize advanced innovative technologies to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of disrupted microbiota in gastric disorders.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-025-04095-0.},
}
@article {pmid40571449,
year = {2025},
author = {Cameron, TC and Broad, RC and Smith, PMC and Reid, D},
title = {Opportunities and challenges to optimise symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
journal = {Trends in microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2025.06.005},
pmid = {40571449},
issn = {1878-4380},
abstract = {Legumes are not only major cash crops but also contribute valuable nitrogen to cropping systems due to their ability to form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia in specialised root organs called nodules. To balance the cost of carbon provision to the rhizobia, nodulation is finely regulated in legumes across various spatiotemporal levels, including host-microbe signalling within the rhizosphere, infection of the legume host, and nodule initiation, function, and senescence. Since symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) evolved in natural ecosystems which lack resemblance to modern agricultural systems, opportunities present themselves to genetically improve SNF. Based on recent findings and the opportunities arising with new breeding technologies, we review here the many opportunities to optimise SNF and highlight the key challenges associated with these approaches.},
}
@article {pmid40570397,
year = {2025},
author = {Ruini, A and Sporchia, F and Niccolucci, V and Pulselli, FM and Bastianoni, S},
title = {Rethinking environmental benefit allocation in industrial symbiosis.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {992},
number = {},
pages = {179932},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179932},
pmid = {40570397},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Industrial Symbiosis (IS) enables enterprises that typically operate independently to collaborate through the exchange of energy, materials, services, and knowledge. This approach helps reduce reliance on virgin resources, minimize waste, and contribute to climate change mitigation, among other impacts. Recently, the potential of this approach has gained attention, as policymakers are integrating IS into ambitious targets, such as 2050 climate neutrality. Moreover, initially mainly driven by cost savings, now IS is valued for its environmental gains. This shift has sparked interest in quantifying the advantages to both the overall network and individual enterprises. However, a standardized method for assessing these benefits has yet to be established. Most of the current methodologies found in literature and guidelines take a reductionist approach, addressing the multifunctionality issue in IS by isolating one or a few enterprises at a time, thus fragmenting the complex system. This approach, which focuses on identifying 'who benefits' among the enterprises involved in IS, overlooks the complexity of the entire system. To address the tension between the need for a systemic perspective and the desire to quantify each enterprise's contribution and environmental gains, this study proposes a new redistribution approach. This approach ensures that each enterprise improves its score in line with the overall rate of improvement in the industrial symbiosis, compared to a scenario where no symbiotic practices are implemented. This approach is based on the idea that, regardless of the types of products and organizations involved, the environmental benefits of IS are emergent properties of the entire industrial symbiosis network, a composite system. That is why rather than focusing on inputs, this approach redistributes the overall benefits and impacts across the network, shifting the allocation process from the Life Cycle Inventory stage to the Life Cycle Impact Assessment stage.},
}
@article {pmid40570170,
year = {2025},
author = {Yan, L and Hayes, PE and Nge, FJ and Rogers, EIE and Wright, IJ and Ranathunge, K and Ellsworth, DS and Lambers, H},
title = {Leaf manganese concentrations reveal phosphorus-mining strategies and trait diversification of Myrtaceae in south-eastern Australia.},
journal = {Annals of botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/aob/mcaf129},
pmid = {40570170},
issn = {1095-8290},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Phosphorus (P)-impoverished soils shape plant adaptation in biodiverse ecosystems worldwide, from Australian heathlands to Amazonian rainforests to southern China's karst regions. While non-mycorrhizal lineages like Proteaceae and Cyperaceae use carboxylate exudation that mobilise P, and are celebrated for such strategies, the mechanisms allowing mycorrhizal Myrtaceae-especially eucalypts-to thrive in these soils without fungal assistance remain unclear. Given Myrtaceae's dominance in P-impoverished Australian ecosystems, a key question arises: How do mycorrhizal plants succeed in P-impoverished environments without relying on fungal symbiosis? We challenge the paradigm that carboxylate-driven P acquisition is exclusive to non-mycorrhizal species.<br><br>METHODS: Using leaf manganese concentrations ([Mn]) as a proxy for carboxylate exudation, we assessed trait diversification across Myrtaceae genera. We collected leaf and soil samples from 34 species of eucalypt (Angophora, Blakella, Corymbia, Eucalyptus) and other Myrtaceae from 18 sites in south-eastern Australia.<br><br>KEY RESULTS: Our findings reveal consistently high leaf [Mn] in many Myrtaceae, comparable to that in known carboxylate-releasing species, indicating intensive P mining. This suggests convergent evolution of carboxylate exudation in mycorrhizal Myrtaceae, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of nutrient acquisition in symbiotic plants. Significant interspecific variation was observed, with Angophora showing markedly higher [Mn] than Eucalyptus, suggesting divergent P-acquisition strategies within Myrtaceae. Weak phylogenetic signals for leaf [Mn] and [P] in eucalypts imply repeated evolutionary change in these traits, similar to what is known in other Australian species adapted to P scarcity.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: By demonstrating carboxylate-driven P mining in mycorrhizal Myrtaceae, we redefine the mechanisms behind their dominance in low-P environments. Trait diversity-linked to variation in carboxylate-mediated P acquisition and plant-soil feedbacks-likely drives niche differentiation and genus-level distribution across south-eastern Australia. Connecting leaf [Mn] to carboxylate-driven P mining advances our understanding of trait evolution in Myrtaceae and provides a framework for predicting plant-soil interactions in P-impoverished ecosystems globally.},
}
@article {pmid40569661,
year = {2025},
author = {Giovannini, L and Del Boccio, P and Pagliarani, C and Chitarra, W and Conte, A and Montesano, V and Petrozza, A and Summerer, S and Cellini, F and Cañizares, E and Spanos, A and Bergese, F and Sillo, F and Vergine, M and Vita, F and De Rose, S and González-Guzmán, M and Fotopoulos, V and Arbona, V and Balestrini, R},
title = {Phenotyping as a tool to study the impact of seed priming and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on tomato response to water limitation.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {372},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40569661},
issn = {1574-6968},
support = {DD 16302 12/11/2021//Italian Ministry of University and Research/ ; PCI2021-121920//Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/ ; MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033//Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/ ; PCI2021-121920//Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/ ; PID2020-118126RB-I00//EXTREMO/ ; MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033//EXTREMO/ ; UJI-B2019-24//EXTREMO/ ; UJI-B2022-23//EXTREMO/ ; //Universitat Jaume I/ ; //PRIMA/ ; },
mesh = {*Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development/drug effects ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Seeds/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Salicylic Acid/pharmacology ; Phenotype ; Chitosan/pharmacology ; *Water/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Carotenoids/metabolism ; },
abstract = {This study explores the effects of natural seed priming compounds (i.e. chitosan alone and in combination with salicylic acid or melatonin) with the symbiosis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the capability of two Italian tomato varieties (Principe Borghese and San Marzano nano) to withstand water deprivation through high-throughput plant phenotyping technology. Plant responses have been automatically evaluated by integrating physiological, morpho-biometric, and biochemical data. Under water deprivation, AMF-inoculated plants exhibited enhanced physiological performance, by reducing oxidative damage and improving stomatal function. Digital phenotyping provides a non-invasive approach to assess the effects of external factors, such as the impact of mycorrhizal fungi on plant development. RGB (visible light) imaging enables the analysis of morphological traits like plant size and growth patterns, and of colorimetric changes used as a proxy of physiological responses. Biochemical analyses revealed increased carotenoid and flavonoid content in chitosan + salicylic acid-treated plants with AMF, particularly in Principe Borghese. Genotype-dependent differences were evident in terms of fruit production, where Principe Borghese plants showed significantly more red fruits in presence of AM fungus. The results underline the potential of combined AMF and natural compound application as a sustainable strategy for improving tomato resilience to water stress, contributing to resource-efficient agricultural practices and climate change mitigation.},
}
@article {pmid40569657,
year = {2025},
author = {Henry, Y and Dahirel, M and Wallisch, J and Ginesi, S and Vorburger, C},
title = {A test of specific adaptation to symbiont-conferred host resistance in natural populations of a parasitoid wasp.},
journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jeb/voaf083},
pmid = {40569657},
issn = {1420-9101},
abstract = {Parasitoids are important natural enemies of insects, imposing strong selection for the evolution of resistance. In aphids, the heritable defensive endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa is a key determinant of resistance, making symbiont-conferred defense a potential target for specific adaptation by parasitoids. We tested this hypothesis in the aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus fabarum and four of its host species, Aphis fabae fabae, A. hederae, A. urticata, and A. ruborum. The parasitoids show host-associated genetic differentiation indicative of host specialization, and each of these aphid species harbors 1-3 distinct strains of H. defensa, with no shared strains. We introduced eight H. defensa strains from all four aphid species into a common host background (a laboratory strain of symbiont-free A. f. fabae) and then tested the ability of 35 field-collected L. fabarum lines from the same four hosts to parasitize the H. defensa-carrying aphids. The natural origin of symbionts was a key determinant of parasitism success, with strains from A. f. fabae and A. hederae conferring strong protection, and strains from A. urticata and A. ruborum providing virtually no protection. For one strain each from A. f. fabae and A. hederae, we found a signature of specific adaptation by parasitoids, as parasitoids able to overcome their protection mostly came from the same hosts as the symbiont strains. Two other strains were so strongly protective that they permitted very little parasitism independent of where parasitoids came from. While not fully conclusive, these results are consistent with specialized parasitoids adapting to certain defensive symbionts of their host species, supporting the notion of symbiont-mediated coevolution.},
}
@article {pmid40569479,
year = {2025},
author = {Galotta, MP and Omacini, M and Fernández, PC},
title = {Symbiosis with Mycorrhizal Fungi Alters Sesquiterpene but not Monoterpene Profile in the South American Willow Salix humboldtiana.},
journal = {Journal of chemical ecology},
volume = {51},
number = {4},
pages = {70},
pmid = {40569479},
issn = {1573-1561},
support = {PICT-2020-01559//Agencia Nacional de Promoci&#xf3;n Cient&#xed;fica y Tecnol&#xf3;gica/ ; PIP21-23 Nr. 11220200102849//Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient&#xed;ficas y T&#xe9;cnicas/ ; Proyecto INTA-PE-E1-I600//Instituto Nacional de Tecnolog&#xed;a Agropecuaria/ ; },
mesh = {*Salix/microbiology/metabolism/growth &amp; development/chemistry/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism/analysis ; *Sesquiterpenes/metabolism/analysis ; Animals ; *Monoterpenes/metabolism/analysis ; Larva/physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/growth &amp; development/chemistry ; Herbivory ; },
abstract = {The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in plants can be influenced by abiotic factors such as light, temperature and moisture, as well as biotic factors like herbivory, oviposition, and pathogen damage. The influence of symbiotic microorganisms on VOC emission is less explored. Although it is widely known that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can significantly affect host plant metabolism, their role in VOC emission in trees remains under-investigated. Here, we examine the impact of AM fungi on VOC production in the South American willow tree, Salix humboldtiana. We assessed the effects of inoculation with AM fungi on plant growth and larval feeding by the willow sawfly Nematus oligospilus, as well as its impact on the plant's VOC emission profile. Willow plants inoculated with AM fungi exhibited increased leaf biomass and reduced damage incidence from willow sawfly larvae, supporting the role of mycorrhiza as a protective symbiosis. Notably, AM fungi-inoculated plants emitted 40% less total VOC compared to non-inoculated plants. Both groups emitted similar levels of monoterpenes; however, inoculated plants produced 30% fewer sesquiterpenes. Herbivory did not alter total VOC emission, but non-inoculated plants showed a reduction in (E)-β-ocimene, which was not observed in inoculated plants. The significant decline in sesquiterpene emission of inoculated willow saplings points out the importance of considering the symbiotic microorganisms in the study of plant defenses and insect-plant interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40569380,
year = {2025},
author = {Maeda, GP and Dang, V and Kelly, MK and Sundar, A and Arnott, RLW and Marcotte, EM and Moran, NA},
title = {Heritable symbiont producing nonribosomal peptide confers extreme heat sensitivity and antifungal protection on its host.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {26},
pages = {e2509873122},
pmid = {40569380},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {R35 GM122480/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM131738/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; F-1515//Welch Foundation (The Welch Foundation)/ ; W911NF-12-1-0390//DOD | USA | AFC | CCDC | Army Research Office (ARO)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Aphids/microbiology/physiology ; Peptide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; *Antifungal Agents/metabolism/pharmacology ; Hot Temperature ; *Peptides/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Insects frequently form associations with maternally transmitted symbiotic bacteria. This transmission mode ensures that symbiont-conferred effects, both beneficial and negative, are passed onto offspring. Here, we report an extreme example of symbiont-mediated temperature sensitivity imposed by a vertically transmitted, defensive symbiont. Pea aphids infected with the bacterial endosymbiont, Fukatsuia symbiotica, resist infection by fungal pathogens but produce few or no offspring when moved from cool (15 °C) to mildly warmer temperatures (20 °C). This temperature-dependent reduction in host fitness is associated with increased symbiont abundance, disordered symbiont localization, and high expression of a horizontally acquired nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) locus. This NRPS operon is syntenic with the locus responsible for the production of Herbicolin A, a known antifungal produced by some plant-associated Erwiniaceae. Activity of chemical extracts from infected aphids is predictive of in vivo protection against entomopathogenic fungi, indicating that an Herbicolin A-like molecule is the likely source of Fukatsuia's protective effects against fungal pathogens. Injection of the same chemical extracts into naive aphids partially recapitulates developmental defects observed in natural infections at 20 °C, suggesting that increased levels of this compound contribute to disrupted embryonic development. Finally, the purification of the causal agent revealed Fukatsuia produces a compound similar but not identical to Herbicolin A, that exhibits both antifungal and hemolytic activity. These results suggest that F. symbiotica infection imposes a trade-off between antifungal defense and disrupted embryonic development, mediated by a single genetic locus.},
}
@article {pmid40569073,
year = {2025},
author = {Kobiałka, M and Świerczewski, D and Walczak, M and Urbańczyk, W},
title = {Extremely distinct microbial communities in closely related leafhopper subfamilies: Typhlocybinae and Eurymelinae (Cicadellidae, Hemiptera).},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {10},
number = {7},
pages = {e0060325},
pmid = {40569073},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {2021/43/D/NZ8/02183//National Science Centre, Poland/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/classification ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Among the Hemiptera insects, a widespread way of feeding is sucking sap from host plants. Due to their nutrient-poor diet, these insects enter into obligate symbiosis with their microorganisms involved in the synthesis of components essential for host survival. However, within the Cicadellidae family, there is a relatively large group of mesophyll feeders-Typhlocybinae-that is considered to be devoid of obligate symbiotic companions. In this work, we examine the composition of microorganisms in this subfamily and compare the results with their close relatives-the Eurymelinae subfamily. To study the microbiome, we used high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS, Illumina) and advanced microscopic techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), in a confocal microscope. In the bodies of Typhlocybinae insects, we did not detect the presence of microorganisms deemed to be obligate symbionts. Their microbial communities consist of facultative symbionts, mainly alphaproteobacteria such as Wolbachia or Rickettsia as well as others that can be considered as facultative, including Spiroplasma, Acidocella, Arsenophonus, Sodalis, Lariskella, Serratia, Cardinium, and Asaia. On the other hand, the Eurymelinae group is characterized by a high diversity of microbial communities, both obligate and facultative, similar to other Cicadomorpha. We find co-symbionts involved in the synthesis of essential amino acids such as Karelsulcia, betaproteobacteria Nasuia, or gammaproteobacteria Sodalis. In other representatives, we observed symbiotic yeast-like fungi from the family Ophiocordycipitaceae or Arsenophonus bacteria inhabiting the interior of Karelsulcia bacteria. Additionally, we investigated some aspects of symbiont transmission and the phylogeny of symbiotic organisms and their hosts.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: The Typhlocybinae and Eurymelinae leafhoppers differ significantly in their symbiotic communities. They have different diets, as Typhlocybinae insects feed on parenchyma, which is richer in nutrients, while Eurymelinae, like most representatives of Auchenorrhyncha, consume sap from the phloem fibers of plants. Our work presents comprehensive studies of 42 species belonging to the two above-mentioned, and so far poorly known, Cicadomorpha subfamilies. Phylogenetic studies indicate that the insects from the studied groups have a common ancestor. The diet shift in the Typhlocybinae leafhoppers contributed to major changes in the composition of microorganisms inhabiting the body of these insects. Research on the impact of diet on the microbiome and the subsequent consequences on the evolution and adaptation of organisms plays an important role in the era of climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40569035,
year = {2025},
author = {Valadez-Ingersoll, M and Rivera, HE and Da-Anoy, J and Kanke, MR and Gomez-Campo, K and Martinez Rugerio, MI and Metz, S and Sweet, M and Kwan, J and Hekman, R and Emili, A and Gilmore, TD and Davies, SW},
title = {Cell type-specific immune regulation under symbiosis in a facultatively symbiotic coral.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40569035},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; NRT DGE 1735087//National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and a National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Anthozoa/immunology/microbiology/genetics/physiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Proteomics ; },
abstract = {Many cnidarians host single-celled algae within gastrodermal cells, yielding a mutually beneficial exchange of nutrients between host and symbiont, and dysbiosis can lead to host mortality. Previous research has uncovered symbiosis tradeoffs, including suppression of immune pathways in hosts, and correlations between symbiotic state and pathogen susceptibility. Here, we used a multiomic approach to characterize symbiotic states of the facultatively symbiotic coral Oculina arbuscula by generating genotype-controlled fragments of symbiotic and aposymbiotic tissue. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed no difference in bacterial communities between symbiotic states. Whole-organism proteomics revealed differential abundance of proteins related to immunity, confirming immune suppression during symbiosis. Single-cell RNAseq identified diverse cell clusters within seven cell types across symbiotic states. Specifically, the gastrodermal cell clusters containing algal-hosting cells from symbiotic tissue had higher expression of nitrogen cycling and lipid metabolism genes than aposymbiotic gastrodermal cells. Furthermore, differential enrichment of immune system gene pathways and lower expression of genes involved in immune regulation were observed in these gastrodermal cells from symbiotic tissue. However, there were no differences in gene expression in the immune cell cluster between symbiotic states. We conclude that there is evidence for compartmentalization of immune system regulation in specific gastrodermal cells in symbiosis. This compartmentalization may limit symbiosis tradeoffs by dampening immunity in algal-hosting cells while simultaneously maintaining general organismal immunity.},
}
@article {pmid40568966,
year = {2025},
author = {Singh, J and Mendoza-Soto, AB and Tiwari, M and Acevedo-Sandoval, TT and Formey, D and Ané, JM and Isidra-Arellano, MC and Valdés-López, O},
title = {Phosphate deficiency reduces nodule formation through a Phosphate Starvation Response -Like protein in Phaseolus vulgaris.},
journal = {Plant &amp; cell physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/pcp/pcaf069},
pmid = {40568966},
issn = {1471-9053},
abstract = {Phosphate deficiency reduces nodule formation in various legumes, which hinders nitrogen fixation and crop yield. We previously showed that phosphate deficiency reduces nodule formation by activating the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathway. We also observed that some genetic components of the AON pathway contain P1BS cis-regulatory elements in their promoter regions, which are recognized by the phosphate starvation response 1 (PHR1) transcription factor. This evidence led us to hypothesize that host plant phosphate levels regulate the expression of genes essential for forming nodules through a PHR-Like protein. In the present study, we provide evidence supporting the participation of PvPHR-Like 7 (PvPHR-L7) in regulating nodule formation in Phaseolus vulgaris. Modulation of PvPHR-L7's expression by RNA interference (RNAi) and overexpression suggested that this transcription factor may control the expression of crucial symbiotic genes involved in nodule development in P. vulgaris. An RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the expression of PvPHR-L7, PvNIN, and PvTML is regulated in accordingly to the plant host Pi levels. Transactivation assays in Nicotiana benthamiana and P. vulgaris transgenic roots indicate that PvPHR-L7 can upregulate the expression of PvNIN and PvTML in the absence of rhizobia. In contrast, PvPHR-L7 downregulates the expression of PvNIN under symbiotic conditions with rhizobia. The data presented shed light on the potential role that PvPHR-L7 plays in the root nodule symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40567942,
year = {2025},
author = {Zheng, W and Su, M and Hong, N and Ye, P},
title = {Gut-eye axis.},
journal = {Advances in ophthalmology practice and research},
volume = {5},
number = {3},
pages = {165-174},
pmid = {40567942},
issn = {2667-3762},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome, colonizing the human gastrointestinal tract, is increasingly recognized for its symbiotic relationship with the immune system in maintaining overall host health. This emerging understanding raises intriguing questions about potential connections between the gut microbiome and anatomically distant organs, such as the eye, possibly mediated through immune pathways.<br><br>MAIN TEXT: This review synthesizes contemporary research on ocular diseases with the framework of the burgeoning "gut-eye axis" concept. Investigations spanning from the ocular surface to the fundus suggest correlations between the gut microbiome and various ocular disorders. By elucidating the putative pathogenic mechanisms underlying these ocular conditions, we offer novel perspectives to inform future diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in ophthalmology.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: By presenting a critical analysis of current knowledge regarding the role of gastrointestinal microbiota in ocular health, this review shed light on the complex interplay between gut dysbiosis and eye disorders. Our work endeavors to catalyze interdisciplinary research and foster innovative clinical applications, thereby bridging the gap between the gut microbiota and the ocular well-being.},
}
@article {pmid40567412,
year = {2025},
author = {Mo, Z and Wang, H and Sun, L and Zhang, Y and Wei, S and Huang, H},
title = {Rhizocompartments drive the structure of root-associated fungal communities in halophytes with different life forms.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1584398},
pmid = {40567412},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Symbiotic fungi with plants are important for plant nutrient uptake and resource redistribution.<br><br>METHODS: High-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the composition and driving factors of fungal communities in three rhizocompartments (root endosphere, rhizosphere soil, and non-rhizosphere soil) of different halophyte life forms in the National Nature Reserve of Ebinur Lake Wetland in Xinjiang, China.<br><br>RESULTS: (1) The &#x3b1;-diversity index differed significantly among the three rhizocompartments of halophytes with different life forms (P < 0.05), and &#x3b1; and &#x3b2;-diversity were mainly driven by rhizocompartments. (2) Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant communities across various rhizocompartments in the different life forms. Aporospora and Monosporascus were the dominant fungal genera in the root endosphere of all three plant life forms. Alternaria was dominant in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils in herb. Penicillium and Knufia were the dominant in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils in shrub, respectively. While Penicillium and Aspergillus were dominant in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils in abor. (3) The complexity of the fungal co-occurrence network varied among plant life forms; the highest complexity was found in the rhizosphere soil of herb (11.102), the root endosphere of shrub (23.837) and in the non-rhizosphere soil of arbor (9.920). Furthermore, the co-occurrence networks of the three plant life forms in the three rhizocompartments were mainly positively correlated (86.73%-97.98%). (4) Root-associated fungal communities were significantly and strongly correlated with soil and root water content, soil and root total nitrogen, root and leaf total phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, nitrate nitrogen and salt content in herb. While in shrub, root-associated fungal communities were strongly correlated with soil water content, available phosphorus, catalase and total phosphorus. However, arbor exhibited no significant correlations with soil and plant physicochemical factors.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These results provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the complex interaction mechanism between desert halophytes and fungi and are of great significance for strengthening desert vegetation management and vegetation restoration in arid areas.},
}
@article {pmid40566686,
year = {2025},
author = {Jing, S and Li, M and Li, C and Zhang, C and Zhu, L and Du, L and Li, Y and Wei, X and Zhang, M and Ma, B and Ruan, Y and Ma, F},
title = {ABA promotes fatty acid biosynthesis and transport to boost arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in apple roots.},
journal = {Plant communications},
volume = {6},
number = {8},
pages = {101426},
doi = {10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101426},
pmid = {40566686},
issn = {2590-3462},
abstract = {The roots of most land plants form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The fungus promotes nutrient uptake from the soil while receiving plant-derived photosynthates as lipids and sugars. Nutrient exchange must be regulated by both partners; however, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of lipid supply from the plant to the AM fungus remain unclear. Here, we performed a molecular study on the role of elevated abscisic acid (ABA) levels during AM fungal infection in apple (Malus spp.) roots. AM fungal colonization induced the expression of two ABA biosynthesis genes, MdNCED3.1 and MdNCED3.2, in apple roots and increased ABA content, which promoted AM fungal growth. The effect of ABA on symbiosis was confirmed in transgenic apple roots overexpressing or silencing MdNCED3.1 or MdNCED3.2. Transcriptome analysis and transgenic experiments revealed that the transcription factor MdABF2 plays a key role in ABA-mediated symbiosis during AM infection and regulates the expression of genes associated with fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis (e.g., MdKASIII) and transport (such as MdSTR2) in apple roots. Activation of these genes increased FA levels in roots and enhanced AM fungal colonization and arbuscule development. These findings identify a molecular pathway in which ABA signaling positively regulates FA biosynthesis and transport, thereby increasing lipid supply to AM fungi and promoting AM symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40565508,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, S and Zhang, Z and Lin, X and Lu, L and Fu, K and He, M and Lee, SY and Yin, H and Yu, J},
title = {Comparative and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Lithocarpus Species (Fagaceae) in South China.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40565508},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {GDZZDC20228703//Investigation of forest germplasm resources in Guangdong Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Genome, Chloroplast/genetics ; Phylogeny ; China ; *Fagaceae/genetics/classification ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Base Composition ; },
abstract = {Background/Objectives: In South China, Lithocarpus species dominate mixed evergreen broadleaf forests, forming symbiotic relationships with ectomycorrhizal fungi and serving as food resources for diverse fauna, including frugivorous birds and mammals. The limited understanding of chloroplast genomes in this genus restricts our insights into its species diversity. This study investigates the chloroplast genome (cp genome) sequences from seven Lithocarpus species, aims to elucidate their structural variation, evolutionary relationships, and functional gene content to provide effective support for future genetic conservation and breeding efforts. Methods: We isolated total DNA from fresh leaves and sequenced the complete cp genomes of these samples. To develop a genomic resource and clarify the evolutionary relationships within Lithocarpus species, comparative chloroplast genome studies and phylogenetic investigations were performed. Results: All studied species exhibited a conserved quadripartite chloroplast genome structure, with sizes ranging from 161,495 to 163,880 bp. Genome annotation revealed 130 functional genes and a GC content of 36.72-37.76%. Codon usage analysis showed a predominance of leucine-encoding codons. Our analysis identified 322 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), which were predominantly palindromic in structure (82.3%). All eight species exhibited the same 19 SSR categories in similar proportions. Eight highly variable regions (ndhF, ycf1, trnS-trnG-exon1, trnk(exon1)-rps16(exon2), rps16(exon2), rbcL-accD, and ccsA-ndh) have been identified, which could be valuable as molecular markers in future studies on the population genetics and phylogeography of this genus. The phylogeny tree provided critical insights into the evolutionary trajectory of Fagaceae, suggesting that Lithocarpus was strongly supported as monophyletic, while Quercus was inferred to be polyphyletic, showing a significant cytonuclear discrepancy. Conclusions: We characterized and compared the chloroplast genome features across eight Lithocarpus species, followed by comprehensive phylogenetic analyses. These findings provide critical insights for resolving taxonomic uncertainties and advancing systematic research in this genus.},
}
@article {pmid40563984,
year = {2025},
author = {Saavedra-Tralma, D and Gaete, A and Merino-Guzmán, C and Parada-Ibáñez, M and Nájera-de Ferrari, F and Jofré-Fernández, I},
title = {Functional and Genomic Evidence of L-Arginine-Dependent Bacterial Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity in Paenibacillus nitricinens sp. nov.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40563984},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {Fondecyt Iniciaci&#xf3;n 11230807//Agencia Nacional de Investigaci&#xf3;n y Desarrollo/ ; },
abstract = {Although nitric oxide (NO) production in bacteria has traditionally been associated with denitrification or stress responses in model or symbiotic organisms, functionally validated L-arginine-dependent nitric oxide synthase (bNOS) activity has not been documented in free-living, non-denitrifying soil bacteria. This paper reports Paenibacillus nitricinens sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from rainforest soil capable of synthesizing NO via a bNOS under aerobic conditions. A bnos-specific PCR confirmed gene presence, while whole-genome sequencing (6.7 Mb, 43.79% GC) revealed two nitrogen metabolism pathways, including a bnos-like gene. dDDH (<70%) and ANI (<95%) values with related Paenibacillus strains support the delineation of this isolate as a distinct species. Extracellular and intracellular NO measurements under aerobic conditions showed a dose-dependent response, with detectable production at 0.1 µM L-arginine and saturation at 100 µM. The addition of L-NAME reduced NO formation, confirming enzymatic mediation. The genomic identification of a bnos-like gene strongly supports the presence of a functional pathway. The absence of canonical nitric oxide reductase (Nor) genes or other typical denitrification-related enzymes reinforces that NO production arises from an alternative, intracellular enzymatic mechanism rather than classical denitrification. Consequently, P. nitricinens expands the known repertoire of microbial NO synthesis and suggests a previously overlooked source of NO flux in well-aerated soils.},
}
@article {pmid40563329,
year = {2025},
author = {Shoham, S and Pintel, N and Avni, D},
title = {Oxidative Stress, Gut Bacteria, and Microalgae: A Holistic Approach to Manage Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40563329},
issn = {2076-3921},
support = {101000501//European Commission/ ; },
abstract = {Oxidative stress is a recognized contributor to the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), exacerbating chronic inflammation and tissue damage. While traditional IBD therapies primarily focus on immune modulation, alternative approaches that address oxidative stress and promote gut microbial health present new opportunities for symptom relief and disease management. Microalgae, known for their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic properties, show promise in alleviating oxidative damage and supporting beneficial gut bacteria. This review explores the multifaceted role of oxidative stress in IBD and highlights the therapeutic potential of microalgae-derived compounds. In addition, it examines the synergistic benefits of combining microalgal antioxidants with probiotics to promote gut homeostasis. Advances in delivery systems, including nanotechnology and symbiotic bacteria-microalgae interactions, are also discussed as emerging approaches for targeted treatment. The review concludes by identifying future research priorities focused on clinical translation and microalgae-based bioengineering innovations to enhance the efficacy and accessibility of therapeutics for IBD patients.},
}
@article {pmid40563081,
year = {2025},
author = {Hatami, H and Bahrami, Y and Kakaei, E},
title = {Endophytic actinobacteria from Mentha longifolia and Lonicera nummulariifolia: a novel source against antibiotic resistance.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {365},
pmid = {40563081},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {4000326//Deputy for Research and Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The escalating global challenge of antibiotic resistance severely restricts our ability to treat common infectious diseases, necessitating the urgent need for the development of novel antibiotics with distinct mechanisms of action. Actinobacteria, a diverse group of bacteria with medical, industrial, pharmaceutical, and ecological significance, produce approximately two-thirds of clinically used antibiotics. Endophytic actinobacteria (EA), residing within various plant species, represent a promising source for discovering novel antibiotics to combat this raising threat. This study aimed to explore the diversity and antibacterial characteristics of EA isolated from Mentha longifolia and Lonicera nummulariifolia, leveraging the host specificity and adaptation of EA to different plant species. Healthy plant samples were surface-sterilized and cultured on four distinct isolation media.<br><br>RESULTS: Nine EA isolates were identified from the roots, stems, and leaves of the plants based on morphological and molecular characterization. These isolates were taxonomically classified into two different families, Nocardiaceae and Streptomycetaceae, with Streptomyces being the dominant genus. All strains, except KUMS-B13, were reported as endophytes for the first time. Among the isolates, KUMS-B9 showed 98.66% sequence similarity to its closest relative strain, classifying it as a potential rare novel strain. The isolates exhibited diverse spore morphologies, including cylindrical, cubic, biconvex, oval, or ovoid shapes, with smooth or wrinkled surfaces. Six of the nine isolates displayed antibacterial activity against at least one of the tested bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Isolate KUMS-B11, closely related to Streptomyces flavogriseus, showed broad-spectrum inhibition against all tested bacteria. Notably, a majority of the isolates demonstrated antagonistic activity against P. aeruginosa.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights EA isolated from Mentha longifolia and Lonicera nummulariifolia as a valuable source of medically bioactive metabolites with potential applications in human health. The isolation of new EA presents a promising approach to discovering novel therapeutic agents from unexplored ecological niches to battle antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, these findings emphasize the potential of plant-symbiotic bacteria in producing bioactive compounds with significant medicinal, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological applications.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-025-04089-y.},
}
@article {pmid40562331,
year = {2025},
author = {Martin, WF},
title = {ATP requirements for growth reveal the bioenergetic impact of mitochondrial symbiosis.},
journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Bioenergetics},
volume = {1866},
number = {4},
pages = {149564},
pmid = {40562331},
issn = {1879-2650},
abstract = {Studies by microbiologists in the 1970s provided robust estimates for the energy supply and demand of a prokaryotic cell. The amount of ATP needed to support growth was calculated from the chemical composition of the cell and known enzymatic pathways that synthesize its constituents from known substrates in culture. Starting in 2015, geneticists and evolutionary biologists began investigating the bioenergetic role of mitochondria at eukaryote origin and energy in metazoan evolution using their own, widely trusted-but hitherto unvetted-model for the costs of growth in terms of ATP per cell. The more recent model contains, however, a severe and previously unrecognized error that systematically overestimates the ATP cost of amino acid synthesis up to 200-fold. The error applies to all organisms studied by such models and leads to conspicuously false inferences, for example that the synthesis of an average amino acid in humans requires 30 ATP, which no biochemistry textbook will confirm. Their ATP 'cost' calculations would require that E. coli obtains ~100 ATP per glucose and that mammals obtain ~240 ATP per glucose, untenable propositions that invalidate and void all evolutionary inferences so based. By contrast, established methods for estimating the ATP cost of microbial growth show that the first mitochondrial endosymbionts could have easily doubled the host's available ATP pool, provided (i) that genes for growth on environmental amino acids were transferred from the mitochondrial symbiont to the archaeal host, and (ii) that the host for mitochondrial origin was an autotroph using the acetyl-CoA pathway. Stated in simple terms, the significance of these findings are this: Life is a chemical reaction. It requires energy release in order to proceed. The currency of energy in cells is adenosine triphosphate, ATP. Five decades ago, microbiologists were able to measure and understand the amount of ATP that cells require to grow. New studies by evolutionary biologists have appeared in the meantime that brush aside the older microbiological findings, using their own methods to calculate the ATP cost of growth instead. Science is, however, an imperfect undertaking. The new studies contain a major error, similar to conflating centimeters with yards. The error affects many publications and their conclusions. Using the old methods, we can still meaningfully study the role of energy in evolution, including the origin of complex, nucleus-bearing cells.},
}
@article {pmid40561903,
year = {2025},
author = {Guillier, C and Giraudo, M and Clergeaud, F and Thorel, E and Chapron, L and Marcon, L and Lebaron, P and Houël, E and Stien, D},
title = {Mineral UV filters and their effects on Pocillopora damicornis metabolome.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {991},
number = {},
pages = {179961},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179961},
pmid = {40561903},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/drug effects/physiology ; *Sunscreening Agents/toxicity ; *Zinc Oxide/toxicity ; *Titanium/toxicity ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; *Metabolome/drug effects ; Ultraviolet Rays ; *Dinoflagellida/drug effects ; },
abstract = {The rising use of sunscreens and cosmetics containing ultraviolet (UV) filters has increased their presence in marine ecosystems. UV filters encompass a wide range of organic and mineral compounds with diverse behaviors and properties in aquatic environments. The mineral filters titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) are commonly found in cosmetic products as particles or nanoparticles (NPs) and are increasingly used as alternatives to organic UV filters. In this study, the effects of a coated form of TiO2 (Solaveil™ XTP1, 60 nm, hydrophobic) and uncoated ZnO particles from two different sizes (Zano®10 and Zano®M, 60 and 250 nm, hydrophilic) were assessed on the symbiotic tropical coral Pocillopora damicornis using an untargeted metabolomic approach. Corals were exposed for seven days to environmentally relevant particle concentrations (5 to 1000 μg.L[-1]), and their metabolomes were analyzed using UHPLC-HRMS/MS. While TiO2 exposure did not induce significant metabolomic changes, both sizes of ZnO particles caused shifts in the metabolome of the coral's symbiotic dinoflagellates, leading to a noticeable decrease in the relative concentrations of symbiont lipids and pigments. A size-dependent toxicity of ZnO was observed: ZnO NPs triggered signs of bleaching at concentrations as low as 300 μg.L[-1], whereas larger ZnO particles exhibited only mild effects at the highest concentration tested (1000 μg.L[-1]). This underscores the critical role of particle size in determining toxicity. This research highlights the contrasting effects of different mineral UV filters on symbiotic corals and aims to inform cosmetic companies in selecting mineral filters that minimize harmful impacts on coral reefs.},
}
@article {pmid40561607,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, X and Wang, Q and Wang, Y and Shen, S and Ge, Y and Pan, K and Guo, X and Lei, Y and Gao, Y},
title = {Strategy for nitrogen fertilizer substitution: Co-composting of agricultural waste to regulate vegetable quality and rhizosphere microorganisms.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {302},
number = {},
pages = {118573},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118573},
pmid = {40561607},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Agricultural waste compost is being used as an alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers as an effective way to achieve sustainable agricultural development. In this study, a mixed compost derived from human faeces, livestock manure, and crop residues was used as a proportional replacement for traditional chemical fertilizers, and the mechanisms of its effects on pakchoi quality and soil rhizosphere microorganisms were systematically explored. The results showed that co-composting of agricultural waste effectively reduced the required amount of nitrogen fertilizer, with the combination of 40 % mixed compost + 60 % chemical fertilizer application (T60) yielding the highest pakchoi biomass and quality, notably increasing the fresh weight by 138.91 % and reaching a peak vitamin C content of 13.80 mg·100 g[-1]. In addition, the application of compost as a chemical fertilizer substitute changed the composition of the soil microbial community, with a greater impact on bacteria than fungi. Composting could improve the growth and quality indices of pakchoi by increasing rhizobacterial alpha diversity. Proteobacteria and Ascomycota are important microbial families that affect the growth and quality indicators of pakchoi, respectively. Functional analysis showed that the compost mainly regulated the growth and quality of pakchoi by upregulating the relative abundance of functional genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and exogenous biodegradation and metabolism, as well as by increasing the abundance of symbiotic and saprotrophic fungi while decreasing that of pathotrophic fungi. This research can provide a foundation and theoretical support for the resource utilization of agricultural waste and the reduction of traditional chemical fertilizers.},
}
@article {pmid40560611,
year = {2025},
author = {Kochanowsky, JA and Betts, EL and Encinas, G and Amoah, J and Johnson, PJ},
title = {Trichomonas vaginalis extracellular vesicles suppress IFNε-mediated responses driven by its intracellular bacterial symbiont Mycoplasma hominis.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {26},
pages = {e2508297122},
pmid = {40560611},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {T32 AI007323/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32 AI186416/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI103182/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI103182//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; T32AI007323//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; DBI-2149582//NSF (NSF)/ ; R01AI148475//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; R01 AI148475/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; F32AI186416//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; },
mesh = {*Trichomonas vaginalis/immunology ; *Extracellular Vesicles/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Mycoplasma hominis/immunology/physiology ; Humans ; *Symbiosis/immunology ; Female ; Immunity, Innate ; *Mycoplasma Infections/immunology/microbiology ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Trichomonas vaginalis is a common, extracellular, sexually transmitted parasite which is often found in symbiosis with the intracellular bacterium Mycoplasma hominis (Mh), an opportunistic pathogen of the female reproductive tract. How this symbiosis affects infection outcomes and the host cell innate immune response is poorly understood. Here, we show that infection with T. vaginalis in symbiosis with M. hominis or M. hominis alone triggers a noncanonical type I interferon, interferon-epsilon (IFNε), but infection with T. vaginalis alone does not. We also demonstrate that extracellular vesicles (TvEVs) produced by the parasite downregulate host cell IFNε, counteracting this symbiont-driven response and elevating infection. We further demonstrate that IFNε, a hormonally regulated cytokine produced in the human reproductive system, is protective against T. vaginalis cytoadherence and cytolysis of host cells. These studies provide insight into how a parasite and its bacterial symbiont work in concert to regulate host cell innate immune responses to drive infection.},
}
@article {pmid40559515,
year = {2025},
author = {Brar, AK and Bilodeau, KM and Trickey, DJ and Mackey, CS and Redfern, BL and Fisher, GT and Simms, EL and Jones, KM},
title = {Non-Nitrogen-Fixing Sinorhizobium meliloti Can Escape Sanctions in Indeterminate Alfalfa Nodules, Exhibiting Parasitic Growth.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-06-25-0074-R},
pmid = {40559515},
issn = {0894-0282},
abstract = {The soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti can proliferate by leveraging its nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with legumes that form indeterminate root nodules, such as Medicago sativa (alfalfa) and M. truncatula. In contrast to determinate-nodulating legumes, e.g. Glycine max (soybean) and Lotus japonicus, indeterminate-nodulating legumes impose terminal differentiation on nitrogen-fixing (N2-fixing) rhizobia. Thus, the bacterial population is split between those that benefit the plant by N2 fixation, but are a reproductive dead end, and those that are undifferentiated, capable of resuming free-living growth, but not fixing nitrogen. We show that, in mixed nodules colonized by nearly-isogenic strains, with one N2-fixing and one unable to fix N2 (Fix-), alfalfa do not preferentially penalize the Fix- strain, allowing 'cheating' at the expense of the plant and the N2-fixer. Thus, a Fix- strain that successfully co-nodulates with a N2-fixing strain can benefit from resources the host provides to the nodule in response to N2 fixed by the co-nodulating strain. Co-invasion of alfalfa nodules with a N2-fixing strain may be a successful strategy for a Fix- strain to cheat both the plant that provides fixed carbon and the N2-fixing strain.},
}
@article {pmid40559314,
year = {2025},
author = {Ukwattage, NL and Zhiyong, Z},
title = {Impacts of Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticles on the Soil-Plant System and Their Potential Agricultural Applications.},
journal = {Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {12},
pages = {},
pmid = {40559314},
issn = {2079-4991},
abstract = {Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) are increasingly used in various industrial applications, leading to their inevitable release into the environment including the soil ecosystem. In soil, CeO2-NPs are taken up by plants, translocated, and accumulated in plant tissues. Within plant tissues, CeO2-NPs have been shown to interfere with critical metabolic pathways, which may affect plant health and productivity. Moreover, their presence in soil can influence soil physico-chemical and biological properties, including microbial communities within the rhizosphere, where they can alter microbial physiology, diversity, and enzymatic activities. These interactions raise concerns about the potential disruption of plant-microbe symbiosis essential for plant nutrition and soil health. Despite these challenges, CeO2-NPs hold potential as tools for enhancing crop productivity and resilience to stress, such as drought or heavy metal contamination. However, understanding the balance between their beneficial and harmful effects is crucial for their safe application in agriculture. To date, the overall impact of CeO2-NPs on soil -plant system and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this review analyses the recent research findings to provide a comprehensive understanding of the fate of CeO2-NPs in soil-plant systems and the implications for soil health, plant growth, and agricultural productivity. As the current research is limited by inconsistent findings, often due to variations in experimental conditions, it is essential to study CeO2-NPs under more ecologically relevant settings. This review further emphasizes the need for future research to assess the long-term environmental impacts of CeO2-NPs in soil-plant systems and to develop guidelines for their responsible use in sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40559074,
year = {2025},
author = {Joseph, RA and Tirmizi, E and Masoudi, A and Keyhani, NO},
title = {Cell Structure of the Preoral Mycangia of Xyleborus (Coleoptera: Curculiondiae) Ambrosia Beetles.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40559074},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {IOS-2418026//National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Ambrosia beetles have evolved specialized structures termed "mycangia", which house and transport symbiotic microbes. Microbial partners include at least one obligate mutualistic filamentous fungus used as food for larvae and adults, and potentially secondary filamentous fungi, yeasts, and bacteria. Beetles in the genus Xyleborus possess paired pre-oral mycangial structures located within the head on either side of the mouth parts. Mycangia develop in pupae, with newly emerged adults acquiring partners from the environment. However, information concerning the cellular structure and function of Xyleborus mycangia remains limited. We show that in X. affinis, mycangia are lined with a layer of striated dense material, enclosing layers of insect epithelial cells, with diverse spine-like structures. Larger (5-10 μm) projections were concentrated within and near the entrance of mycangia, with smaller filaments (4-8 μm) within the mycangia itself. Rows of "eyelash" structures lined the inside of mycangia, with fungal cells free-floating or in close association with these projections. Serial sections revealed mandibular articulations, and mandibular, pharyngeal, and labial muscles, along with the mycangial entry/exit channel. Sheets of comb-like spines at the mycangial entrance and opposite the mycangia attached to the roof of the labrum or epipharynx may serve as an interlocking mechanism for opening/closing the mycangia and guiding fungal cells into entry/exit channels. Additionally, mandibular fibra (muscle tissue) potentially enervating and affecting the mechanism of mycangial functioning were noted. These data add crucial mechanistic detail to the model of pre-oral mycangia in Xyleborus beetles, their cellular structures, and how they house and dispense microbial symbionts.},
}
@article {pmid40559044,
year = {2025},
author = {Castrejón-Antonio, JE and Tamez-Guerra, P},
title = {Overview and Recent Advances in Bioassays to Evaluate the Potential of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against Ambrosia Beetles.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40559044},
issn = {2075-4450},
abstract = {Ambrosia beetles, known for their symbiotic relationship with fungi cultivated within the tissues of host trees, have become significant pests, particularly when they serve as vectors for pathogenic fungi such as Raffaelea lauricola. Given the regulatory and environmental constraints for chemical application as a tool for their control, entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) represent a promising pest management alternative. This review presents an overview of bioassays assessing the pathogenicity and virulence of EPF against ambrosia beetles. Most studies have been performed in vivo (artificial diet) under laboratory conditions, focusing on exotic species and testing EPF genera such as Beauveria, Metarhizium, Isaria, and Purpureocillium. However, variations in inoculation methods, environmental conditions, and fungal formulations, have led to diverse results. In addition, the complex biology of these insects, particularly their dependence on symbiotic fungi, represents significant methodological challenges. Field trials (in situ bioassays) are still scarce, and there is a need to move toward standardized protocols and more objective experimental models that consider not only insects' behavior but also ecological factors. Bridging this gap is essential for successfully implementing EPF-based strategies to assess ambrosia beetles' biocontrol.},
}
@article {pmid40559041,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, M and Cao, X and Xu, L and Lin, L and Wu, X and Fan, S and Zhang, X and Zhou, F},
title = {Laboratory Test Indirectly Reveals the Unreliability of RNA-Dependent 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequences in Detecting the Gut Bacterial Diversity of Delia antiqua.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40559041},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {32272530//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024KJI002//Young Innovation Team Project of Higher Education in Shandong Province/ ; SDAIT-31-04//Shandong Province Key Agricultural Project for Application Technology Innovation/ ; 2024ZDZX10//QLU Major innovation projects of education-industry integration pilot/ ; },
abstract = {In insect-microbe symbiosis, understanding the diversity of associated bacteria is crucial. DNA-dependent sequence methods are widely used to assess microbial diversity in insects, but they cannot distinguish between live and dead microbes. In contrast, RNA-dependent sequencing can identify alive bacterial communities, making them more suitable for evaluating alive microbiota diversity. However, its practical reliability in insect-microbe symbiosis remains poorly validated. This study investigated larval gut bacteria diversity of Delia antiqua, a major pest of Liliaceae crops, by employing both DNA- and RNA-dependent 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The reliability of both sequencing methods was evaluated by comparing the effects of synthetic communities (SynComs, constructed according to DNA- or RNA-dependent sequencing) and bacterial communities from wild larvae on axenic larvae. Results revealed significant differences in bacterial community between DNA- and RNA-dependent sequence samples. Compared to bacterial communities from wild larvae, the SynCom constructed based on RNA-dependent sequencing exhibited inhibition effects on D. antiqua larvae survival and body weight, while DNA-dependent SynCom did not, suggesting that DNA-dependent methods were superior for assessing symbiotic microbiota in D. antiqua. This work will provide insights into microbial diversity detection in D. antiqua and offer a framework for other insect-microbe studies.},
}
@article {pmid40558966,
year = {2025},
author = {Xue, Y and Wang, Y and Shi, J and Wei, J and Wang, Q and Song, W},
title = {Plant Functional Traits and Soil Nutrients Drive Divergent Symbiotic Fungal Strategies in Three Urban Street Tree Species.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40558966},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {32301442//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Understanding species-specific mechanisms governing symbiotic fungal responses to plant traits and soil factors is critical for optimizing urban tree "plant-soil-fungus" systems under pollution stress. To address this gap, we combined δ[13]C/δ[15]N isotope analysis and ITS sequencing for three common street trees in Beijing: Sophora japonica, Ginkgo biloba, and Populus tomentosa. In S. japonica, symbiotic fungal abundance was positively associated with leaf δ[15]N, indicating root exudate-mediated "plant-microbe" interactions during atmospheric NOx assimilation. G. biloba, with weak NOx assimilation, exhibited a negative correlation between fungal abundance and soil available N/P, suggesting mycorrhizal nutrient compensation under low fertility. P. tomentosa showed decreased fungal abundance with increasing soil N/P ratios and specific leaf area, reflecting carbon allocation trade-offs that limit mycorrhizal investment. These results demonstrate that symbiotic fungi respond to atmospheric and edaphic drivers in a tree species-dependent manner. Urban greening strategies should prioritize S. japonica for its NOx mitigation potential and optimize fertilization for G. biloba (nutrient-sensitive fungi) and P. tomentosa (nutrient balance sensitivity). Strategic mixed planting of P. tomentosa with S. japonica could synergistically enhance ecosystem services through complementary resource acquisition patterns. This study provides mechanism-based strategies for optimizing urban tree management under atmospheric pollution stress.},
}
@article {pmid40558568,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, Y and Yang, L and Yang, Y and Deng, H and Su, S and Xia, Y and Su, J and Liu, Y and Wu, J and Zhang, J and Liao, Y and Wang, L},
title = {Bacteroides Fragilis-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles Deliver MiR-5119 and Alleviate Colitis by Targeting PD-L1 to Inhibit GSDMD-Mediated Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e00781},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202500781},
pmid = {40558568},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {2023A04J0559//Science and Technology Plan Project of Guangzhou/ ; SL2023A04J0252//Guangzhou Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation/ ; GZC20230601//Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 2023ZDZX2048//Department of Education of Guangdong Province/ ; 81902081//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2020A1515011573 2023A1515220167//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; 2024A03J0791//Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Science and Technology Fund/ ; 2022KQNCX061//Youth Innovation Talent Project of Ordinary university in Guangdong Province/ ; },
abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from a breakdown in the symbiotic relationship between the intestinal commensal microflora and the mucosal immune system. Non-toxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, a common human colon symbiote, has been shown to alleviate colitis. However, the underlying mechanisms of this alleviation remain incompletely understood. Herein, it is demonstrated that promoting the secretion of B. fragilis outer membrane vesicles (Bf[OMVs+]) enhances its ability to alleviate dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis, while inhibiting B. fragilis OMV secretion (Bf[OMVs-]) reduces this effect. Bf[OMVs+] alleviates colitis by inhibiting neutrophil recruitment and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. Further, B. fragilis OMVs (Bf-OMVs) are isolated and extracted, then administered them intraperitoneally to DSS-induced colitis mice, observing that Bf-OMVs can target intestinal tissues, the spleen, and bone marrow, and they are internalized by neutrophils to inhibit NET formation, thereby alleviating colitis. The expression profile of miRNAs in Bf-OMVs is assessed, revealing that Bf-OMVs are enriched with mmu-miR-like sRNA, miR-5119, which targets and inhibits PD-L1, leading to the suppression of GSDMD-mediated NET release and promoting the proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), culminating in the alleviation of colitis. These findings provide new insights into the role of B. fragilis OMVs in the pathogenesis and treatment of IBD.},
}
@article {pmid40556900,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Q and Wang, X and Cheng, P and Huo, S and Liu, C and Yu, Z},
title = {Editorial: Recent advances in agricultural waste recycling by microorganisms and their symbiosis.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1631828},
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2025.1631828},
pmid = {40556900},
issn = {1664-302X},
}
@article {pmid40556894,
year = {2025},
author = {Cruz, LF and Menocal, O and Dunlap, C and Cooperband, MF and Cloonan, KR and Tabanca, N and Carrillo, D},
title = {Insights on the symbiotic associations of the tea shot hole borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1589710},
pmid = {40556894},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The tea shot hole borer (TSHB), Euwallacea perbrevis (Schedl 1951) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an invasive ambrosia beetle that carries multiple symbiotic fungi and vectors Fusarium spp. to avocado (Persea americana Mill.). This study investigated the role of six fungal species (Fusarium sp. FL-1, Fusarium sp. AF-8, Fusarium sp. AF-6, Graphium sp., Acremonium sp., and Acremonium murorum) as nutritional symbionts of TSHB, and the role of Fusarium species in plant pathogenicity.<br><br>METHODS: Four experimental approaches were used: (1) testing each of the six symbionts as a food source for TSHB larvae, (2) examining the stability of symbiotic associations by rearing TSHB on substrates previously colonized by individual fungi, (3) establishing TSHB colonies with single Fusarium symbionts (Mono-Fusarium Lines, MFL), (4) testing disease development in avocado trees infested with MFL.<br><br>RESULTS: Fusarium sp. FL-1 and Fusarium sp. AF-8 supported the highest percentage of larval development among the tested fungi. These two fungi persisted in the mycangia of beetles reared on a substrate pre-inoculated with other symbionts. In addition, both fungal species caused the largest lesions in avocado branches. TSHB feeding on the other tested symbionts (Fusarium sp. AF-6, Graphium sp., Acremonium sp. or Acremonium murorum) resulted in poor larval development and/or overall reduced reproduction compared to feeding upon Fusarium sp. FL-1 and AF-8 and the symbiont blend (control).<br><br>DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate the dual role of Fusarium sp. FL-1 and AF-8 as nutritional symbionts of TSHB and as key drivers of pathogenicity in avocado.},
}
@article {pmid40556499,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, Y and Jin, X and Zhao, Z},
title = {Distribution and Evolutionary Trajectories of β-Lactamases in Vibrio: Genomic Insights from Carbenicillin-Hydrolyzing Class A β-Lactamases (CARB) in the Harveyi and Cholerae Clades.},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {17},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40556499},
issn = {1759-6653},
support = {42376119//National Natural Science Foundation/ ; 31872597//National Natural Science Foundation/ ; CX[23]1007//Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Independent Innovation/ ; BK20210362//Natural Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*beta-Lactamases/genetics/metabolism ; *Vibrio/genetics/enzymology/classification ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; *Carbenicillin/metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; },
abstract = {Antibiotic resistance mediated by β-lactamases, encoded by bla genes, is a significant global health threat, necessitating systematic studies of their diversity and evolution, particularly among pathogenic bacteria lineages. Leveraging over 6,000 quality-filtered Vibrio genomes alongside six newly sequenced marine symbiotic strains representing 128 nominal and 57 unclassified Vibrio species, our study extends taxonomic breadth and resolution for investigating β-lactamase diversity. We identified 4,431 β-lactamases across 41 species, encompassing all four Ambler classes (A-D). Among these, carbenicillin-hydrolyzing Class A β-lactamases encoded by blaCARB family were the most prevalent (60.7%) and exhibited a clade-centric distribution particularly in Harveyi clade and V. cholerae, underscoring the influence of specific ecological and evolutionary pressures. We refined carbenicillin-hydrolyzing Class A β-lactamase classification into two subfamilies: CARB-17-like (blaCARB-17-like) confined to Harveyi clade and CARB-1-like (blaCARB-1-like) found exclusively outside Harveyi clade based on phylogenetic placement, sequence similarity, and inheritance patterns, providing a clearer framework for delineating their functional and phylogenetic nuances. Notably, blaCARB-17-like genes in nonpathogenic Harveyi Subclade II showed significantly relaxed selection, accompanied by unusual mutations within key conserved motifs especially catalytic serine residues, suggesting evolutionary drift that may compromise canonical enzymatic activity. Furthermore, blaCARB-17-like genes, present as a single copy, emerged as a core gene in Harveyi clade, showing promise as a diagnostic marker for clinically significant Harveyi clade species, despite limited yet significant interspecies genetic exchanges mediated by recombination or mobile genetic elements. Our study advances the understanding of β-lactamase evolution and genomic distribution in Vibrio, with broad implications for diagnostic applications and resistance management strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40556045,
year = {2025},
author = {Jia, J and Lu, Y and Li, Y and Li, Y and Li, L and Zhang, H},
title = {Functional Characterization of Acer Truncatum PHT1 Family Phosphate Transporter Genes and Their Involvement in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {4},
pages = {e70346},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70346},
pmid = {40556045},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {C2021204002//Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province/ ; 42277027; 31700530//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Acer/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Nicotiana/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {Acer truncatum Bunge, an economically significant species, is often growth-limited by phosphorus availability. Phosphate transporters, especially the PHT1 family, are crucial for plant phosphorus absorption, transport, and redistribution. This study aimed to elucidate the role of Acer truncatum PHT1 genes in phosphorus transport. We cloned five PHT1 family genes (AtPT1, AtPT2, AtPT4, AtPT9, and AtPT11) and investigated their expression and function under varying phosphorus regimes in the context of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis with Rhizophagus irregularis. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed differential gene expression patterns in response to AM colonization and phosphorus levels. Functional characterization through yeast complementation, tobacco overexpression, subcellular localization, and GUS reporter gene assays confirmed the plasma membrane localization and typical PHT1 family traits of these transporters. AM colonization upregulated AtPT4 and AtPT11, with AtPT11 having a specific induction pattern for mycorrhizal phosphorus acquisition. AtPT4 was linked to phosphorus uptake via mycorrhizal symbiosis, AtPT1 is involved in phosphorus remobilization within plant tissues, AtPT2 in phosphorus transport and remobilization (suppressed by AM colonization), and AtPT9 in phosphorus uptake and transport efficiency under high-phosphorus conditions. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying phosphorus homeostasis in Acer truncatum and its mycorrhizal interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40555950,
year = {2025},
author = {Liang, Z and Zhao, Y and Ji, H and Li, Z},
title = {Algae-bacteria symbiotic biofilm system for low carbon nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater: A review.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {7},
pages = {218},
pmid = {40555950},
issn = {1573-0972},
mesh = {*Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; *Wastewater/microbiology/chemistry ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Carbon/metabolism ; Water Purification/methods ; *Microalgae/physiology/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Bacteria/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; Denitrification ; Sewage/microbiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; },
abstract = {The treatment of municipal wastewater has become a significant challenge due to its intricate composition and low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. In order to meet the discharge standards, a large amount of energy is consumed. In this context, the incorporation of microalgae into the conventional activated sludge process has become a promising strategy for low-carbon denitrification. This study aims to integrate research on algal-bacterial symbiotic systems with biofilm technology to enhance energy-efficient nitrogen removal in municipal wastewater treatment. Through comprehensive analysis, this paper elucidates (1) the developmental dynamics of algal-bacterial symbioses, (2) the process of combining algal-bacterial symbiotic systems with biofilm systems, (3) the fundamentals and operational determinants of algal-bacterial symbiotic membrane systems, and (4) the potential applications in sustainable water treatment. The proposed hybrid system demonstrates significant potential for carbon-neutral wastewater treatment through synergistic pollutant degradation, offering an innovative approach to address critical challenges in environmental sustainability and water resource management.},
}
@article {pmid40555346,
year = {2025},
author = {Rooy, PV and Wu, CJ and Liu, C and Wang, Y},
title = {Insect gut-dwelling fungus Zancudomyces culisetae: A hidden player in mosquito development.},
journal = {Journal of insect physiology},
volume = {164},
number = {},
pages = {104842},
doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2025.104842},
pmid = {40555346},
issn = {1879-1611},
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Larva/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Mosquitoes and their gut-dwelling fungi have been documented worldwide, yet their relationships remain poorly understood. Harpellales fungi (Kickxellomycotina, Zoopagomycota) have traditionally been considered commensals, but recent studies suggest they may exhibit parasitic or mutualistic characteristics under certain conditions. In this study, we explored these interactions using two well-established laboratory models: Aedes aegypti and Zancudomyces culisetae. Specifically, we investigated the impact of the gut-dwelling fungus Z. culisetae on A. aegypti larval development by measuring body size and development time under different nutritional conditions, with or without the fungus in the hindgut. Significant differences in body size and development time were observed during larval development in the presence of the gut fungus compared to the control group. Larvae colonized by the fungus exhibited larger body sizes and accelerated development. These effects were consistent under both nutrient-rich and nutrient-deficient conditions, underscoring the symbiotic roles of the gut-dwelling fungus. Interestingly, our results also revealed that even dead fungal spores enhanced mosquito larval development, suggesting previously unrecognized beneficial mechanisms associated with the fungal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy provided additional evidence of mosquito-fungus interactions, showing electron-dense particles within mosquito cells at sites of close contact with fungal cells, although further investigation is required to confirm their identity. Collectively, our findings challenge the traditional view of insect relationships with gut-dwelling fungi, providing evidence for a potential shift from commensalism to mutualism.},
}
@article {pmid40554681,
year = {2025},
author = {Jalal, RS and Aloufi, AS and Al-Andal, A and Alotaibi, NM and Abuauf, HW and Alshehrei, FM and Refai, MY and Alshareef, SA and Alnahari, AA and Sefrji, FO and Almutrafy, AM and Abulfaraj, AA},
title = {Enriched enzymes and crosstalking KEGG pathways in the rhizospheric soil fungiome of the wild plant Moringa oleifera.},
journal = {Functional plant biology : FPB},
volume = {52},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1071/FP24297},
pmid = {40554681},
issn = {1445-4416},
mesh = {*Moringa oleifera/microbiology/enzymology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; *Mycobiome ; *Fungi/enzymology/genetics ; },
abstract = {We aimed to identify the genes encoding predominant KEGG enzymes within the rhizospheric soil fungiome of Moringa oleifera . We also aimed to uncover how the rhizospheric fungiome drives intricate biochemical networks that bolster soil health, plant vitality, nutrient cycling, metabolic efficiency and resilience to environmental stress. These findings offer valuable insights that could enhance the efficacy of innovative agricultural practices. Previous research has focused on the role of soil microbiomes, including both bacteriomes and fungiomes, in the ecological dynamics of native and cultivated plants. The rhizospheric fungiome plays a critical role in plant health by suppressing pathogens, decomposing plant residues and facilitating nutrient assimilation in various environmental conditions. Fungal taxa from the phylum Mucoromycota, including Rhizophagus , Mucor ambiguus , Phycomyces blakesleeanus , Mortierella elongata , Absidia glauca , Mucor circinelloides and the taxon Basidiobolus meristosporus from Zoopagomycota, were identified as primary hosts of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)-enriched enzymes in the rhizospheric soil of M. oleifera . These enzymes participate in crosstalk pathways within KEGG categories such as 'Metabolism', 'Genetic Information Processing', and 'Environmental Information Processing'. These fungal enzymes contribute to the biosynthesis of critical metabolites, including carbamoyl-P, lipoyllysine, acetyl-CoA, isoleucine, valine and nucleotides (dADP, dGDP, dCDP, dUDP) that are essential for cellular functions such as DNA repair, replication and transcription. The symbiotic relationship between these enzymes and plant roots regulates nitrogen levels in the rhizosphere and supports mitochondrial stability. Metabolites also aid in cellular development, membrane metabolism, plant signal transduction and energy metabolism, including fueling the citric acid cycle. Our findings highlight the potential of crosstalking pathways in the rhizospheric fungiome of M. oleifera to enhance energy metabolism and maintain plant cell integrity. We propose that this research can serve as a foundation for advancing sustainable agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid40552053,
year = {2025},
author = {Menéndez, E and Brígido, C},
title = {Editorial: Deciphering the root nodule microbiome: implications for legume fitness and stress resilience.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1634838},
pmid = {40552053},
issn = {1664-302X},
}
@article {pmid40551765,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhu, J and Giri, K and Lin, Z and Cogan, NO and Jacobs, JL and Smith, KF},
title = {Estimation of ryegrass (Lolium) dry matter yield using genomic prediction considering genotype by environment interaction across south-eastern Australia.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1579376},
pmid = {40551765},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Genomic Prediction (GP) considering Genotype by Environment (G×E) interactions was, for the first time, used to assess the environment-specific seasonal performance and genetic potential of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in a regional evaluation system across southeastern Australia. The study analysed the Dry Matter Yield (DMY) of 72 base cultivars and endophyte symbiotic effects using multi-harvest, multi-site trial data, and genomic data in a best linear unbiased prediction framework. Spatial analysis corrected for field heterogeneities, while Leave-One-Out Cross Validation assessed predictive ability. Results identified two distinct mega-environments: mainland Australia (AUM) and Tasmania (TAS), with cultivars showing environment-specific adaptation (Base and Bealey in AUM; Platinum and Avalon in TAS) or broad adaptability (Shogun). The G×E-enhanced GP model demonstrated an overall 24.9% improved predictive accuracy (Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient, CCC: 0.542) over the Australian industry-standard best linear unbiased estimation model (CCC: 0.434), with genomic information contributing a 12.7% improvement (CCC: from 0.434 to 0.489) and G×E modelling providing an additional 10.8% increase (CCC: from 0.489 to 0.542). Narrow-sense heritability increased from 0.31 to 0.39 with G×E inclusion, while broad-sense heritability remained high in both mega-environments (AUM: 0.73, TAS: 0.74). These findings support informed cultivar selection for the Australian dairy industry and enable genomics-based parental selection in future breeding programs.},
}
@article {pmid40551761,
year = {2025},
author = {Soldek, JN and Ballesteros-Gutiérrez, M and Díaz-Sáez, L and Delgado-Santamaría, I and Palacios, JM and Albareda, M},
title = {Two zinc ABC transporters contribute to Rhizobium leguminosarum symbiosis with Pisum sativum and Lens culinaris.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1598744},
pmid = {40551761},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {The establishment of the rhizobium-legume symbiosis requires adjusting the behavior of both partners to nodule conditions in which transition metals are delivered to the bacteria, as many rhizobial metalloenzymes are essential for bacteroid functions and symbiotic performance. A previous proteomic analysis revealed the existence of a relevant number of proteins differentially expressed in bacteroids induced by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae (Rlv) UPM791 in pea and lentil nodules. Among these proteins, a metal-binding protein (RLV_3444) component of an ABC-transporter system (RLV_3442-3444) was shown to be overexpressed in pea bacteroids, suggesting that metal provision to the bacteroid is more restrictive in the rhizobium-pea symbiosis. In this work, protein sequence analysis and structural modelling have revealed that RLV_3444 is highly similar to the functionally characterized zinc-binding protein ZniA from Klebsiella pneumoniae, so the host-dependent binding protein was renamed as ZniA and the transporter system as ZniCBA. The genome of Rlv UPM791 also encodes the conserved high-affinity ZnuABC transporter system. We demonstrate that at least one of the two systems must be present for Rlv to grow under zinc-limiting conditions and for optimal symbiotic performance with pea and lentil plants. The three conserved histidine residues present in multiple Zn[2+]-binding proteins have been shown as essential for the function of Rlv ZniA, and in-silico modelling suggests that they might participate in metal coordination. We also demonstrate that both ZniCBA and ZnuA are regulated by zinc in a Zur-dependent manner, consistent with the presence of a Zur box in their regulatory region. The expression patterns revealed that ZniCBA is expressed at lower levels than ZnuA, and its expression increased in a znuA mutant under both free-living and symbiotic conditions. These results, along with the observed increment in the expression of ZniCBA in pea versus lentil bacteroids, suggest that the host-dependent transporter system might play an auxiliary function for zinc uptake under zinc starvation conditions and might play a relevant role in the adaptation of rhizobia to the legume host.},
}
@article {pmid40550998,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, Y and Liu, Z and Yao, H and Wu, S and Zhang, Q and Pan, S and Shi, S},
title = {Colonization patterns of intestinal pioneering microbiota of different broiler breeds and their effects on composition of intestinal mucosal barrier during early life.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40550998},
issn = {1869-1889},
abstract = {Intestinal pioneering microbiota can affect host growth, development, and health via microbial programming. However, the presence of microbial colonization in the intestine of embryonic chickens, development and colonization patterns of intestinal pioneering microbiota of different broiler breeds and their effects on the composition of intestinal mucosal barrier during early life remain unknown. Arbor Acres (AA) chickens exhibiting high growth efficiency traits and Chinese local Tibetan chickens exhibiting high environmental adaptability traits were used as experimental animals to verify the absence of bacterial colonization and a sterile state in embryonic chickens intestine under normal maternal health. During neonatal early stage, jejunal mucosal structure and barrier function of AA chickens with higher growth efficiency were more conducive to digestion and absorption, corresponding to persistently higher microbial maturity, whereas those of Tibetan chickens with lower growth efficiency were more conducive to stress resistance, corresponding to lower microbial maturity. Colonization patterns of intestinal pioneering microbiota were significantly different between the two breeds. The dominant microbiota of AA chickens, such as Erysipelatoclostridium, Hydrogenoanalobacterium and Shuttleworthia, were related to growth and metabolic functions, whereas those of Tibetan chickens, such as Limosilactobacillus, Ligilactobacillus and Prevotella, were related to immune and anti-stress functions. Transplanting intestinal pioneering microbiota of the donor could transfer the abundance of dominant microbiota to the recipient in a symbiotic state. Growth efficiency and adaptability of transplanted AA chickens improved, accompanied by optimized jejunal mucosal structure and function. However, the growth efficiency of transplanted Tibetan chickens was not affected by the modified microbiota diversity. It was suggested that cross-FMT technology achieved inter-breed complementary advantages of high growth efficiency and high adaptability traits of broilers during neonatal early life; the higher maturity of intestinal pioneering microbiota of the recipient, the more growth efficiency of the recipient would be susceptibly affected by transplanting intestinal pioneering microbiota of the donor.},
}
@article {pmid40550670,
year = {2025},
author = {Nie, Q and Zhang, S and Chen, C and Zou, J and Nie, S},
title = {[Mining and dietary interventions of gut microbiota-derived metabolites].},
journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {6},
pages = {2275-2289},
doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.240681},
pmid = {40550670},
issn = {1872-2075},
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Humans ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Metabolic Diseases/prevention &amp; control/microbiology/metabolism ; *Diet ; },
abstract = {The intestine is a complex symbiotic system, and the gut microbiota is closely related to host health. Studies have indicated that the gut microbiota influences physiological functions of the host by producing a variety of metabolites, which act as signaling molecules and substrates for metabolic reactions in the host. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota affects the abundance of gut microbiota-derived metabolites, thereby influencing host health by disrupting signal transduction in multiple organs. Additionally, dietary compounds can shape the gut microbiota, affecting gut microbiota-derived metabolite levels and regulating host metabolism. This article introduces the methods for mining gut microbiota-derived metabolites, reviews the roles of these metabolites in metabolic diseases and related dietary interventions. Which provides a perspective on the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases by targeting these metabolites, enriching the knowledge on the role of gut microbiota in the regulation of host metabolism.},
}
@article {pmid40550427,
year = {2025},
author = {Akber, MA and Cui, Y and Zhang, J and Fang, X},
title = {Genomics of plant-associated fungi: Research progress and highlights in forage crops.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {359},
number = {},
pages = {112624},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112624},
pmid = {40550427},
issn = {1873-2259},
mesh = {*Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; *Fungi/genetics ; *Genome, Fungal/genetics ; *Genomics ; Symbiosis ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; },
abstract = {Plant-associated fungi are fungal groups that exhibit different interactions with plants such as symbiosis (mycorrhizae), antagonistic (pathogenic) and beneficial (biocontrol), and commensal relationships. Since the publication of the first fungal genome sequence of the rice blast pathogen Magnaporthe grisea in 2005, a new chapter in the genome exploration of plant-associated fungi has been initiated. Research in past decades showed about 1385 sequenced fungal genomes associated with plants. These genomes are linked with grain crops (e.g., wheat, rice), cash crops (e.g., soybean, cotton), and forage crops (e.g., alfalfa). The reported functional groups associated with plants include pathogens, endophytes, mycorrhizal fungi and saprotrophs. For the categories of plant-associated fungi based on functional groups, pathogenic fungi were the dominant group with a distribution of 96 %, followed by endophytes (2 %) and other fungi with unclear roles (2 %). For the categories of plant-associated fungi based on crop host, only 3.5 % of sequenced genomes is associated with forage crops compared with 67 % for food and cash crops. Based on the number of sequenced genomes, Fusarium belongs to the top one ranked fungal genus with wheat as the top one ranked crop host. This study reviewed the progress related to genomics studies of plant-associated fungi and highlights the need to accelerate genomic research on fungi asscoaited with forage crops.},
}
@article {pmid40549446,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, K and He, X and Wang, H and Chen, C and Gu, X and Lai, Q and Perez, M and Kojima, S and Amano, K and Sun, J},
title = {Phylogenomic analyses of Pliocardiinae (Bivalvia: Vesicomyidae) update genus-level taxonomy and shed light on trait evolution.},
journal = {Cladistics : the international journal of the Willi Hennig Society},
volume = {41},
number = {4},
pages = {372-387},
doi = {10.1111/cla.70001},
pmid = {40549446},
issn = {1096-0031},
support = {LSKJ202203104//Science and Technology Innovation Project of Laoshan Laboratory/ ; ZR2023JQ014//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; 202172002//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 202241002//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; tsqn202103036//Young Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Phylogeny ; *Bivalvia/genetics/classification ; *Biological Evolution ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Bayes Theorem ; Evolution, Molecular ; Fossils ; },
abstract = {Vesicomyid clams in the subfamily Pliocardiinae are chemosymbiotic and specific to deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems with wide bathymetric and geographic ranges, making them a suitable model to study molecular adaptation and biogeography. Its phylogeny, however, still remains contentious due to limited molecular markers. Here, we elucidate the evolutionary relationships among pliocardiines based on phylogenomics data. By testing a wide range of matrices with methods including maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, Bayesian inference, and a coalescent approach, we present a robust phylogenomic tree at the genus level supported by AU-test and GLS analyses. We revise the genus-level taxonomy of pliocardiines updating from Johnson et al. (Syst. Biodivers. 2017, 15, 346) synonymising a number of species in the "gigas-group" with Archivesica-also supported by a mitogenome phylogeny. Our fossil-calibrated tree based on the phylogenomic backbone reveals that Pliocardiinae originated earlier than [41.06, 42.00] Ma in the middle Eocene, while its diversification has been concurrent with global climatic cooling events. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses found two independent invasions into the abyssal zone, and a shift from harbouring the Ca. Ruthia symbionts to Ca. Vesicomyosocius symbionts. Our results present a solid backbone for future investigations into molecular adaptation, biogeography and symbiosis in this fascinating group of molluscs.},
}
@article {pmid40548332,
year = {2025},
author = {Pita, L and Maldonado, M and Koutsouveli, V and Riesgo, A and Hentschel, U and Oatley, G and Sinclair, E and Aunin, E and Gettle, N and Santos, C and Paulini, M and Niu, H and McKenna, V and O'Brien, R and , and , and , and , and , },
title = {The chromosomal genome sequence of the kidney sponge, Chondrosia reniformis Nardo, 1847, and its associated microbial metagenome sequences.},
journal = {Wellcome open research},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {283},
pmid = {40548332},
issn = {2398-502X},
support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; },
abstract = {We present a genome assembly from a specimen of Chondrosia reniformis (kidney sponge; Porifera; Demospongiae; Chondrillida; Chondrillidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 117.37 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.98%) is scaffolded into 14 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.45 kilobases in length. Several symbiotic bacterial genomes were assembled as MAGs. Gene annotation of the host organism assembly on Ensembl identified 17,340 protein-coding genes. The metagenome of the specimen was also assembled and 53 binned bacterial genomes were identified, including 40 high-quality MAGs that were representative of a typical high microbial abundance sponge and included three candiate phyla (Poribacteria, Latescibacteria, Binatota).},
}
@article {pmid40548224,
year = {2025},
author = {Tüsüz Önata, E and Özdemir, &#xd6;},
title = {Fecal microbiota transplantation in allergic diseases.},
journal = {World journal of methodology},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {101430},
pmid = {40548224},
issn = {2222-0682},
abstract = {Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites living in the human intestine constitute the human intestinal microbiota. Dysbiosis refers to compositional and quantitative changes that negatively affect healthy gut microbiota. In recent years, with the demonstration that many diseases are associated with dysbiosis, treatment strategies targeting the correction of dysbiosis in the treatment of these diseases have begun to be investigated. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the process of transferring faeces from a healthy donor to another recipient in order to restore the gut microbiota and provide a therapeutic benefit. FMT studies have gained popularity after probiotic, prebiotic, symbiotic studies in the treatment of dysbiosis and related diseases. FMT has emerged as a potential new therapy in the treatment of allergic diseases as it is associated with the maintenance of intestinal microbiota and immunological balance (T helper 1/T helper 2 cells) and thus suppression of allergic responses. In this article, the definition, application, safety and use of FMT in allergic diseases will be discussed with current data.},
}
@article {pmid40548169,
year = {2025},
author = {De Silva, C and Rathor, P and Warkentin, TD and Poudel, HP and Thilakarathna, MS},
title = {Effect of cultivar selection on symbiotic nitrogen fixation and yield traits of pea cultivars in intercropping with wheat.},
journal = {Discover agriculture},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {93},
pmid = {40548169},
issn = {2731-9598},
abstract = {In recent decades, agricultural practices have shifted from diverse cropping systems to monocropping, leading to soil degradation, nutrient depletion, and reduced biodiversity, which threaten long-term productivity and ecosystem sustainability. This study aimed to explore how legume cultivar selection influences pea (Pisum sativum L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intercropping, focusing on symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation, yield, seed N, and land productivity. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using various pea cultivars that were released in different decades [Century (1960), Trapper (1970), CDC Golden (2002), CDC Amarillo (2012), and CDC Spectrum (2016)] under monocropping and intercropping with wheat to evaluate the yield parameters and symbiotic N fixation capabilities of pea. The old, long-vined pea cultivars (Century and Trapper) had higher seed dry weight (62.9-66.3%), number of pods (82.7-100%) and number of seeds (126.9-163.5%) than the newer, moderate vine length cultivars (CDC Golden, CDC Amarillo and CDC Spectrum) under intercropping. On the other hand, the companion wheat crop had a greater yield (29.8-69.9%) and seed N (31.1-65.5%) when intercropped with the newer pea cultivars. Intercropping enhanced N fixation (0.7-7.5%) in peas across cultivars; however, the older cultivars contributed more to the overall system's N fixation and N carry-over compared to the newer cultivars. While the harvest index, land equivalent ratio (LER), and N-based LER (LERN) of intercropped wheat were not significantly higher than mono-cropped wheat, the increased partial LER and LERN for wheat highlight intercropping benefits. Overall, newer pea cultivars enhanced pea-wheat intercropping by improving productivity and resource efficiency, highlighting the importance of legume cultivar selection in intercropping.},
}
@article {pmid40547945,
year = {2025},
author = {Zeng, J and He, Z and Wang, G and Ma, Y and Zhang, F},
title = {Interaction Between Microbiota and Immunity: Molecular Mechanisms, Biological Functions, Diseases, and New Therapeutic Opportunities.},
journal = {MedComm},
volume = {6},
number = {7},
pages = {e70265},
pmid = {40547945},
issn = {2688-2663},
abstract = {The microbiota is pivotal for our health. It includes different phyla like Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. The interaction between microbiota and immunity shares a bidirectional relationship. The microbiota helps to stimulate immunity development. The immunity influences microbial composition in turn. This interaction is critical for maintaining homeostasis, preventing pathogen invasion, and regulating the immune system. Furthermore, this symbiotic relationship is crucial for maintaining overall health and preventing various diseases. The microbiota-immune system contributes to immune system maturation, while the immune system selects for beneficial microbiota composition, thus enhancing our immunity. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of the interaction between microbiota and immunity, offering solid evidence for the role of microbiota in immune regulation. Notably, the review categorizes microbiota according to phyla and explains disease associations, molecular effectors, and functional outcomes about the microbiota-immune system. We also introduced three core molecular mechanisms of the microbiota-immune systems. Moreover, we detail the progression from target discovery to clinical trial design for bacterial and immune-related diseases. Finally, we propose four therapeutic strategies for diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40547885,
year = {2025},
author = {Lim, SW and Chou, W and Chen, L},
title = {SankeyNetwork: A clear and concise visualization tool for bibliometric data.},
journal = {MethodsX},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {103379},
pmid = {40547885},
issn = {2215-0161},
abstract = {This study proposes a novel framework to overcome the limitations of traditional bibliometric visualizations-such as co-word network charts-by integrating Sankey diagrams with author collaborations and co-word occurrences to better identify key contributors and themes. Analyzing 2252 articles published in the Journal of METHODSX (2020-2024), the study focuses on ten essential metadata elements commonly used in bibliometric evaluations, including country, institution, department, authorship, and keywords. Three complementary approaches are introduced: (1) a summarized performance sheet to present key metrics across entities, (2) Sankey diagrams for streamlined cluster visualization using the Following-Leading Clustering Algorithm (FLCA), and (3) slope graphs to track temporal trends and research bursts. Findings highlight the dominance of the United States, Symbiosis International in India, and author Fengxiang X Han, with the keyword "MODEL" emerging as most frequent. A 2020 article by Wondimagegn Mengist received the highest citation count (370). Slope graphs showed upward trends in four core elements over the past four years. The study concludes that these methods provide clearer insights while reducing visual complexity, and recommends combining performance sheets, Sankey diagrams, and slope graphs in future bibliometric analyses to better detect hotspots and evolving research patterns.•Sankey diagrams to enhance traditional bibliometric visualization methods.•Analyzing 2252 articles from Journal of METHODSX (2020-2024) to highlight author collaborations.•Key insights include the prominence of U.S., and Symbiosis International (India) in author collaborations.},
}
@article {pmid40547299,
year = {2025},
author = {Najafi, M and Çokuysal, B and Rezaee Danesh, Y and Farda, B and Mignini, A and Pellegrini, M},
title = {Evaluation of Funneliformis mosseae inoculation effects on growth, nutrient uptake, and essential oil content in Turkish oregano under drought stress.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e19499},
pmid = {40547299},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {*Origanum/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Oils, Volatile/metabolism/analysis ; *Droughts ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Turkey ; Nutrients/metabolism ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Turkish oregano (Origanum onites L.) is a perennial herb widely recognized for its medicinal, cosmetic, and culinary uses due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Drought is a significant stressor for crops, particularly affecting O. onites quality and yield. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish symbiotic relationships with plant roots, enhance plant growth, and improve tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought.<br><br>METHODS: This study investigates the effects of Funneliformis mosseae inoculation on O. onites growth, nutrient content, and essential oil yield under varying drought conditions. A factorial experiment was conducted with eight treatments, consisting of two factors: irrigation levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) and AMF inoculation (with and without). The experimental design was completely randomized with three replicates.<br><br>RESULTS: Results demonstrated that AMF inoculation significantly improved the fresh and dry weight of O. onites compared to non-inoculated controls (+11% and +16%, respectively). Moreover, AMF-inoculated plants showed notable increases in potassium (+7%) and nitrogen (+12%) contents. The essential oil yield was also significantly higher in AMF-inoculated plants (+3%). Increasing water stress levels significantly decreased the number of AMF spores (-47%) and the percentage of fungal colonization (-57%). Nevertheless, under drought stress mycorrhizal inoculation significantly maintained plant biomass and nutrient uptake comparable to full irrigation. The AMF drought tolerance effects were confirmed at 75%, 50%, and 25% irrigation rates.},
}
@article {pmid40545848,
year = {2025},
author = {Han, K and Ma, X and Li, H and Liu, L and Deng, X and Song, L and Lin, L and Liu, Y and Zhao, Y and Huang, W},
title = {A Biomimetic Copper Silicate-MOF Hybrid for Highly Stable Zn Metal Anode.},
journal = {Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e2503046},
doi = {10.1002/adma.202503046},
pmid = {40545848},
issn = {1521-4095},
support = {No. 22371043 52472150//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; Y07204080K13//Fujian Normal University/ ; },
abstract = {To promote the electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries, various artificial interlayers are developed to mitigate dendrite growth and H2O-induced side reactions of Zn anode. Metal-organic framework (MOF) interlayers show much potential in solving these problems, yet their practical usage is inhibited by their inferior structural stability during cycles. Herein, inspired by the biological mechanism and symbiotic architecture of drosera rotundifolia, this challenge is tackled by constructing a hierarchical hollow CuSiO3-MOF hybrid through in situ MOF conversion. For protecting Zn anode, this biomimetic hybrid offers good structural stability, abundant zincophilic sites, strong desolvation capability, and fast ion migration, which collectively enable highly stable dendrite-free Zn plating/stripping processes and suppress H2O-related side reactions. Consequently, the Zn@CuSiO3-MOF symmetric battery achieves an ultralong lifespan exceeding 3500 h with low voltage hysteresis. Remarkably, it maintains stable cycling behaviors of 1200 and 400 h even under high depths of discharge of 45% and 90%, outperforming the most reported MOF-modified anodes. Moreover, full cells with MnO2 and C@V2O3 cathodes exhibit exceptional cycling performance and rate capability, highlighting the practical applications of Zn@CuSiO3-MOF anode for grid storage and wearable electronics. This bioinspired strategy provides a feasible approach to constructing stable MOF-based hybrid for high-performance Zn anode.},
}
@article {pmid40545786,
year = {2025},
author = {Haq, F and Camuel, A and Carcagno, M and Biondi, EG and Pacquit, V and Deslandes, L and Giraud, E and Mergaert, P},
title = {The rhizobial type III effectors ErnA and Sup3 hijack the SUMOylation pathway to trigger nodule formation in Aeschynomene species.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {4},
pages = {1826-1836},
pmid = {40545786},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {ANR-10-INBS-04//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-11-IDEX-0003-02//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
mesh = {*Sumoylation ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/metabolism/physiology ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/chemistry ; Protein Binding ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Mutation/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; },
abstract = {Rhizobial type III effectors (T3Es) play a crucial role in the symbiotic relationship between rhizobia and legumes by manipulating host cellular processes to promote nodule formation. Previously, we identified two T3Es, ErnA and Sup3, that trigger nodulation in Aeschynomene spp. in the absence of Nod factors. Here, we further investigate the mode of action of these T3Es during root nodule symbiosis. We employed protein interaction assays, in vitro binding and enzymatic activity assays, mutational analyses, and functional nodulation tests to dissect the roles of ErnA and Sup3 and their interactions with the host Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO) pathway (SUMOylation). We demonstrate that ErnA contains a SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) at its C terminus, which promotes its interaction with SUMO proteins in vitro and in plant nuclei. Additionally, we show that Sup3 possesses a C-terminal SUMO protease domain, which not only interacts with SUMO proteins in vitro and in the nucleus but also exhibits SUMO protease activity. Deletion of the SIM in ErnA or mutation of the catalytic site in Sup3 abolished their ability to trigger nodulation in Aeschynomene indica. These findings suggest that type III secretion system-dependent symbiosis is regulated by posttranslational modification through SUMOylation and that ErnA and Sup3 modulate this SUMOylation pathway to trigger nodulation.},
}
@article {pmid40545364,
year = {2025},
author = {Nakanishi, E and Cornette, R and Shimura, S and Kikawada, T},
title = {Microbiome Associated with Polypedilum sp. (Diptera; Chironomidae), a Midge Adapted to an Extremely Acidic Environment.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40545364},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {Animals ; *Chironomidae/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Larva/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Japan ; Symbiosis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Rivers/chemistry ; Acids ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; },
abstract = {Chironomids (Diptera; Chironomidae), non-biting midges, are a highly diverse family of holometabolous insects, many of which are known for their tolerance to extreme environmental conditions, such as desiccation, pollution, and high acidity. The contribution of microbial symbionts to these adaptations was recently suggested. Therefore, we herein exami-ned the microbiome associated with the larvae of the undescribed acid-tolerant chironomid species, Polypedilum sp., which inhabits the Yukawa River (Gunma, Japan), an environment that is characterized by an extremely low pH (≤2) and high concentrations of heavy metal ions (including arsenic). Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed a distinct larval microbiome with a lower alpha diversity value and more enriched and specific bacterial taxa than the surrounding river water and detritus. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing using nanopore long-read technology identified several previously undescribed operational taxonomic units (OTUs), among which OTU_Bacillaceae_Yukawa was consistently present in larvae reared in the laboratory for more than 4 months, suggesting persistent, possibly vertically transmitted, symbiosis. An inferred pathway ana-lysis suggested the contribution of the larval microbiome to host nutritional physiology. The possibly acid-sensitive OTU_Bacillaceae_Yukawa localized to midgut segments, indicating internal pH-buffered niches for microbial survival. These results provide novel insights into the ecology of acid-tolerant chironomids and lay the groundwork for further examinations of holobiont-based stress tolerance.},
}
@article {pmid40545206,
year = {2025},
author = {Yi, W and Tang, Y and Kawsar, MA and Huang, K and Jin, X and Yu, Z and Mao, F and Zhang, Y},
title = {A novel C1q domain-containing protein from Tridacna crocea exhibits dual functionality in symbiont recognition and immune defense.},
journal = {Fish &amp; shellfish immunology},
volume = {165},
number = {},
pages = {110509},
doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110509},
pmid = {40545206},
issn = {1095-9947},
mesh = {Animals ; *Immunity, Innate/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Bivalvia/immunology/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; *Complement C1q/genetics/immunology/chemistry ; Sequence Alignment ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Receptors, Pattern Recognition/genetics/immunology/chemistry ; *Gene Expression Regulation/immunology ; Base Sequence ; },
abstract = {C1q domain-containing (C1qDC) proteins function as versatile pattern recognition receptors that mediate host-microbe interactions through their C-terminal C1q domains. In this study, a novel C1qDC protein named TcC1qDC was characterized from Tridacna crocea, featuring a 690 bp open reading frame encoding 229 amino acids. TcC1qDC exhibited constitutive but tissue-enriched expression, with the highest transcript levels in the outer mantle and hepatopancreas. Functional analyses revealed that recombinant TcC1qDC protein not only binds to symbiotic dinoflagellates but is also predicted to recognize multiple microbial carbohydrates, as demonstrated by molecular docking. Furthermore, this protein also displayed broad-spectrum binding activity against pathogen-associated molecular patterns (lipopolysaccharides, peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acids, and mannan) and corresponding microorganisms, along with significant microbial agglutination capacity for Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi. These findings collectively establish TcC1qDC as a dual-function receptor bridging symbiont recognition and immune defense in giant clams.},
}
@article {pmid40544582,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhuang, W and Feng, X and Li, R and Hu, X},
title = {Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of three anaerobic ciliates including Bothrostoma aporobustum nov. spec. (Ciliophora, Metopida).},
journal = {European journal of protistology},
volume = {100},
number = {},
pages = {126155},
doi = {10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126155},
pmid = {40544582},
issn = {1618-0429},
abstract = {The order Metopida is a species-rich taxon within the obligate anaerobic ciliate class Armophorea. Metopids have garnered increasing interest due to their potential to shed light on mitochondrial evolution and symbiotic relationship between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. However, the majority of metopid species remain poorly or incompletely studied, largely due to limitations in earlier research methodologies. In this study, three species, Bothrostoma aporobustum nov. spec., Brachonella mitriformis and Planometopus contractus, were examined using a morpho-molecular approach. The new species is distinguished by a short proboscis-shaped snout, an average of 33 somatic kineties, and 21 adoral membranelles. Brachonella mitriformis is characterized by a broad obpyriform body with a narrow and flattened posterior end, an average of 53 somatic kineties and 77 adoral membranelles, and unevenly distributed dikinetids on the preoral dome. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the validity and monophyly of the genera Bothrostoma and Brachonella, and robustly resolved the phylogenetic position of Brachonella mitriformis. Representatives of geographically distant populations of Planometopus contractus are morphologically highly similar and cluster together with strong support in SSU rRNA gene phylogenies.},
}
@article {pmid40544518,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, J and Xiong, X and Li, P and Wan, HF and Yang, YH},
title = {Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities of Tuber himalayense-Corylus heterophylla Ectomycorrhizosphere.},
journal = {Polish journal of microbiology},
volume = {74},
number = {2},
pages = {177-191},
pmid = {40544518},
issn = {2544-4646},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics/classification/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Microbiota ; Seedlings/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phylogeny ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Microbial diversity plays a crucial role within the plant rhizosphere ecosystem, serving as a pivotal indicator of plant health and stability. In order to explore the correlation between the growth of mycorrhizal seedlings and the nutrition and microbial diversity of the ectomycorrhizosphere, the soil of the ectomycorrhizosphere with different growth conditions was used as the research object, and the ITS1 region and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology were used to explore the inter-relationship. The findings indicated that the primary phyla within the rhizosphere soil microbial communities of various mycorrhizal seedlings were comparable, although their relative abundances varied. The relative abundance of Tuberaceae in good-growing mycorrhizal seedlings (CHTG) was 17.87% and 15.58% higher than in medium-growing (CHTM) and bad-growing (CHTB), respectively. Comparing the diversity indexes Chao1, Shannon and Simpson, it was found that CHTG had the lowest richness. Redundancy analysis (RDA)/canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) analysis revealed that Tuber was positively correlated with soil pH and negatively correlated with available nitrogen, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available potassium, and available phosphorus. Rhizosphere core species analysis showed that symbiotic Ascomycota dominated the rhizosphere soil fungi, and the bacterial community was composed mainly of Proteobacteria. There was a positive correlation between most genera of bacteria and fungi. This study proved that in the bionic cultivation of Tuber himalayense-Corylus heterophylla, the growth of mycorrhizal seedlings can be promoted by adjusting the pH to weakly alkaline and enhancing the advantages of Plectosphaerella in the soil flora, without adding other nutrients, which provides a theoretical basis for the establishment of truffle plantations, soil improvement and ecosystem stability.},
}
@article {pmid40543842,
year = {2025},
author = {Kato, Y and Watanabe, H},
title = {Crosstalk between environmental factors and sex determination pathway: insights from lepidopteran insects and cladoceran crustaceans.},
journal = {Current opinion in insect science},
volume = {71},
number = {},
pages = {101403},
doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2025.101403},
pmid = {40543842},
issn = {2214-5753},
mesh = {Animals ; *Sex Determination Processes ; Female ; Male ; *Cladocera/genetics/physiology/microbiology ; *Moths/genetics/physiology/microbiology ; Wolbachia/physiology ; Environment ; },
abstract = {Insects exhibit a remarkable diversity of sex determination systems. Sex determining mechanisms have been extensively analyzed using the genetic model insects, such as Drosophila melanogaster, revealing that insect sex is determined in a cell-autonomous manner. The sexual identity of each cell is governed by the conserved transcription factor Doublesex, while the regulatory mechanisms controlling its expression are species specific. In contrast, our understanding of how environmental factors modulate the sex determination pathway remains limited. In this review, we summarize recent discoveries on the crosstalk between environmental factors and sex determination pathways in the lepidopteran insects and the cladoceran crustaceans, which are closely related to insects. We discuss how the symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia hijacks the host WZ/ZZ sex determination pathway in the lepidopteran Ostrinia furnacalis. In addition, we highlight how males that are genetically identical to females are produced in response to environmental stimuli in the cladoceran crustacean Daphnia magna. Based on these findings, we explore the evolutionary, ecological, and applied implications of the molecular mechanisms underlying environmentally influenced sex determination.},
}
@article {pmid40541578,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, J and Hu, J and Xiong, Y and Deng, X and Fang, Y and Wang, G and Chi, R and Xiao, C},
title = {Metagenomic and metabolomic insights into microalgal-bacterial symbiosis under low carbon-to-nitrogen ratios.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {434},
number = {},
pages = {132849},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132849},
pmid = {40541578},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Carbon/metabolism ; *Microalgae/metabolism/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Metabolomics/methods ; *Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Wastewater ; },
abstract = {Microalgal-bacterial symbiotic system (MBSS) is expected to efficiently treat ammonia nitrogen (NH4[+]-N) wastewater at low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (CNR). In this study, MBSS was constructed and operated at CNRs of 0, 2, and 4 for 36 days, named as L (low CNR), M (medium CNR), and H (high CNR). Microbial interaction mechanisms were explored through metagenomics and non-targeted metabolomics. The average NH4[+]-N removal efficiencies of L, M, and H were 9.2 ± 4.3 %, 33.6 ± 10.9 %, and 51.6 ± 14.1 %, respectively. CNR significantly influenced NH4[+]-N removal. Metagenomics and metabolomics showed that bacteria dominate MBSS, with phylum Pseudomonadota having a large advantage. Addition of simple organic carbon sources may inhibit the generation of complex organic compounds by microalgae, consequently leading to bacteria utilizing simple carbon sources. Certain key microorganisms, genes, and metabolites respond to different CNRs to regulate MBSS performance. This study provides new insights into MBSS nitrogen removal at low CNR.},
}
@article {pmid40541502,
year = {2025},
author = {Jhu, MY and Moura de Souza, VH and Schiessl, K},
title = {From hosts to parasites: hormones driving symbiosis-induced de novo organogenesis.},
journal = {Trends in plant science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2025.05.015},
pmid = {40541502},
issn = {1878-4372},
abstract = {Plants have evolved diverse adaptations in signal perception, hormone regulation, and organ development that enable the formation of specialised structures such as nematode-induced galls, rhizobia-induced nodules, and host-induced parasitic plant haustoria that facilitate both parasitic and mutualistic symbiosis. Despite their differences, these organs share common gene regulatory mechanisms with lateral root development. By comparing their mechanisms of hormonal regulation, we illuminate the shared genetic underpinnings and how plants repurpose vegetative development pathways in response to biotic stimuli. This adaptive retooling positions plants along the symbiotic spectrum from exploited hosts to mutualistic partners and strategic predators. Comparative analysis of the hormonal mechanisms that drive symbiotic organogenesis highlights the plasticity of developmental processes and the interplay between internal signalling and external environmental cues.},
}
@article {pmid40541096,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, J and Hou, J and Wan, Y and Yang, Z and Li, Y and Zhu, Y and Wang, K and Ding, W},
title = {Integrating thermal vibration and local surface plasmon resonance effect boosted "Symbiotic Co-evolution" for efficient solar evaporation, antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance genes removal.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {284},
number = {},
pages = {123997},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123997},
pmid = {40541096},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Surface Plasmon Resonance ; Vibration ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; Sunlight ; },
abstract = {Integrating photocatalytic processes into solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology is an effective approach to combat pollutants threat. However, the challenge lies in synergizing each component to achieve "Symbiotic Co-evolution", which is critical for achieving more with less. Our strategy for the fabrication of hydrogel evaporator (TA-Fe-SA/CoV2O6@Ti3C2Tx evaporator) was integrated by thermal vibration and local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, achieving efficient degradation and evaporation. On the one hand, the integration of thermal vibration and LSPR effect boosted the heat storage and local heating capacity of evaporator, while reducing equivalent enthalpy for enhancing evaporation. On the other hand, the synergistic effect of thermal vibration and LSPR triggered the efficient electron transfer of CoV2O6@Ti3C2Tx MXene Mott-Schottky heterojunction. As a result, it could achieve nearly 100 % bacteriostatic efficiency and 82 % ARGs removal within 1 hour. Additionally, the rapid generation of vapor and enhanced photothermal conversion strengthened thermal convection formation, accelerating gas release from the reaction system and improving the efficiency of the interfacial photothermal evaporation-photocatalytic process. These results highlighted the feasibility and scientific value of achieving synergy through the deliberate integration of photothermal materials and photothermal-catalysts into SIE technology, providing new perspectives for designing high-performance evaporators.},
}
@article {pmid40540389,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, YC and Lu, HY and Zhang, L and Olivier, A and Wu, TL and Hsu, CY and LeGrand, C and Zeng, H and Curran, S and Wang, Q and Nannapaneni, R and Zhang, X and Ticó, M and Mariotti, M and Wu, RTY and Combs, GF and Cheng, WH},
title = {Dietary Selenium Deficiency Accelerates the Onset of Aging-Related Gut Microbial Changes in Aged Telomere-Humanized Mice, With Akkermansia muciniphila Being the Most Prominent and Alleviating Selenium Deficiency-Induced Type 2 Diabetes.},
journal = {Aging cell},
volume = {24},
number = {8},
pages = {e70130},
pmid = {40540389},
issn = {1474-9726},
support = {R15 DK117407/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; 3062-51000-050-00D//Agricultural Research Service/ ; DK117407/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Selenium/deficiency ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology/etiology/metabolism ; Mice ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Aging ; Akkermansia ; *Telomere/metabolism ; Humans ; },
abstract = {Previous studies have shown that dietary selenium (Se) deficiency in mice reshapes gut microbiota, exacerbates healthspan deterioration (e.g., type 2 diabetes), and paradoxically activates beneficial longevity pathways. This study demonstrated that dietary Se deficiency accelerated many age-related gut microbial changes in aged telomere-humanized C57BL/6J diabetic mice in a sexually dimorphic manner, with Akkermansia muciniphila showing the greatest enrichment in males. However, dietary Se deficiency did not enrich A. muciniphila in mature or middle-aged male C57BL/6J wild-type mice. Oral gavage of A. muciniphila alleviated Se deficiency-induced type 2 diabetes-like symptoms, reversed mucosal barrier dysfunction and gut inflammation, and resulted in a trend of symbiotic and competitive suppression changes in certain gut bacteria in mature wild-type mice under conventional conditions. The beneficial effects of A. muciniphila appeared to be independent of selenoproteins sensitive to dietary Se deficiency, such as GPX1, SELENOH, and SELENOW, in the liver and muscle. Altogether, these results show that dietary Se deficiency accelerates age-related A. muciniphila enrichment specifically in aged male mice with severe insulin resistance and pancreatic senescence, indicating a potential hormetic response to Se deficiency through reshaped gut microbiota, which alleviates hyperglycemia and partially compensates for healthspan decline.},
}
@article {pmid40540139,
year = {2025},
author = {Su, C and Dong, X and Li, X},
title = {MtLICK1/2: gatekeepers of symbiosis and immunity in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {68},
number = {8},
pages = {2498-2500},
doi = {10.1007/s11427-025-2978-x},
pmid = {40540139},
issn = {1869-1889},
}
@article {pmid40539942,
year = {2025},
author = {Stewart, JD and Corrales, A and Canteiro, C and Qin, C and Gupta, MM and Otgonsuren, B and Peña-Venegas, CP and Van Nuland, ME and Kohout, P and Větrovský, T and Kokkoris, V and Manley, BF},
title = {Advancing knowledge on the biogeography of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to support Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {372},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40539942},
issn = {1574-6968},
support = {024.004.014//Schmidt Family Foundation/ ; 101076062//European Union/ ; CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004597//Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics/classification/physiology ; *Sustainable Development ; Soil Microbiology ; Biodiversity ; Symbiosis ; Plants/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; United Nations ; Phylogeography ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are fundamental to planetary health, enhancing plant nutrient uptake, stabilizing soils, and supporting biodiversity. Due to their prevalence and ecological importance, AM fungi are critical to achieving the environmental targets within the United Nations (UN) Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) framework, including SDG 15: Life on Land. Despite these fungi engaging in the most widespread and ancient plant-microbe symbiosis, many fundamental aspects of the biogeography of AM fungi remain poorly resolved. This limits our ability to understand and document these fungal species' contributions to preserving terrestrial life on Earth. Using the largest global dataset of AM fungal eDNA sequences, we highlight that > 70% of ecoregions have no available data generated from soil using AM fungal specific metabarcoding. Drawing attention to these severe data gaps can optimize future sampling efforts in key habitats. Filling these gaps and developing a more complete picture on the biogeographic distributions of AM fungal species will help to clarify their contributions to environmental targets.},
}
@article {pmid40538040,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, DS and Tran, TT and Kazuki, H and Yin, HY and Chou, JY},
title = {Unveiling the Antibacterial Activity Against Staphylococcus aureus of Slime Molds: The Role of Symbiotic Bacteria.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70072},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70072},
pmid = {40538040},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {//This study received support from grants provided by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 111-2621-B-018-001 to Jui-Yu Chou). We express our gratitude to the members of the Chou Laboratory for their valuable discussions and insightful comments on the manuscript./ ; },
abstract = {The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens has significantly reduced the efficacy of current antimicrobial treatments against bacterial and fungal infections. To combat this challenge, the exploration of novel antimicrobial sources or the development of synthetic antibiotics is imperative. Microbes have emerged as promising natural reservoirs for antimicrobial compounds, with slime molds garnering attention due to their unique bioactive metabolites in recent years. Some of these metabolites demonstrate potent antibiotic properties. This study investigates the inhibitory effects of slime mold extracts on pathogenic bacteria, attributing this activity primarily to symbiotic bacteria associated with the slime molds rather than to the slime mold cells themselves. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this antibacterial effect can be horizontally transferred through bacterial ingestion, enabling recipient slime molds to exhibit antibacterial properties upon extraction. Importantly, slime molds selectively acquire bacteria from their environment to enhance their antibacterial characteristics, a process that appears non-random and persists through sexual cycles. These findings underscore slime molds as valuable reservoirs of antimicrobial agents. Nevertheless, it remains critical to ascertain whether these antimicrobial agents originate solely from symbiotic bacteria or result from complex interactions between these bacteria and their slime mold hosts. Understanding the mechanisms behind this antimicrobial activity not only expands our knowledge of host-microbe interactions but also provides new avenues for bioprospecting novel antibiotics. Investigating how slime molds selectively acquire and retain beneficial bacteria may offer insights into microbial symbiosis that could be leveraged for antimicrobial discovery, potentially addressing the urgent need for alternative treatments against resistant pathogens.},
}
@article {pmid40537475,
year = {2025},
author = {Doyle, JJ and Ren, J and Pawlowski, K and James, EK and Gao, Y},
title = {One versus many independent assemblies of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in flowering plants.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {5345},
pmid = {40537475},
issn = {2041-1723},
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology/genetics ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Magnoliopsida/microbiology/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology/genetics ; Mycorrhizae ; },
abstract = {Some species of legumes and nine other flowering plant families form symbioses with bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen within specialized plant structures called nodules. How and how often nodulation symbiosis originated has implications for engineering symbiotic nitrogen fixation in non-legume crops. The prevailing hypothesis of a single origin with massive parallel losses has been challenged in a phylogenomic study favoring 16 origins and 10 losses. Nodulation has been assembled once or many times from existing processes (e.g., mycorrhizal symbiosis) and therefore almost nothing about it is truly novel. Because any feature of nodulation can be explained either as divergence from a common origin or as convergence in unrelated taxa, tests are needed that can distinguish whether assembly of homologous components has occurred uniquely or convergently. Much needs to be learned about nodulation symbioses across the proposed independent origins, especially involving the master nodulation transcription factor, Nodule Inception (NIN).},
}
@article {pmid40536527,
year = {2025},
author = {Storb, R and Svriz, M and Aranda, E and Fracchia, S and Spinedi, N and Scervino, JM},
title = {Association between a liverwort and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: a promising strategy for the phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {4},
pages = {44},
pmid = {40536527},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {PID2021-123164OB-I00 MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033//ERDF A way of making Europe/ ; PINI 04/B253//Universidad Nacional del Comahue/ ; PICT 00073-2019//Agencia Nacional de Promoci&#xf3;n Cient&#xed;fica y Tecnol&#xf3;gica/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Hepatophyta/microbiology/metabolism ; *Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/metabolism ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; *Glomeromycota/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Anthracenes/metabolism ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {Soil contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represents a major environmental challenge and requires cost-effective and environmentally friendly remediation technologies. Phytoremediation, enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is an effective and extensive technique for PAHs remediation, although, its application with non-vascular plants, is largely unexplored. This study investigates the role of the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis in the uptake and bioaccumulation of anthracene in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata under in vitro conditions. The thallus and the AMF were able to absorb and bioaccumulate anthracene in the cell wall and spores, hyphae and arbuscules respectively. Our results indicate that the liverwort-fungus system employs multiple phytoremediation mechanisms, including phytoaccumulation and phytostabilization. At intermediate contamination levels, the fungal symbiont enhanced contaminant accumulation in the plant, whereas at higher contamination levels, this effect diminished, suggesting a potential limitation in fungal-mediated uptake under extreme conditions. These findings highlight the potential of AMF symbiosis in liverworts for developing biological tools for PAHs remediation, emphasizing the dependence on pollutant concentration for the effectiveness of phytoremediation.},
}
@article {pmid40536287,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Yang, Y and Ma, Y and Wang, D and Wang, X and Zhang, L and Meng, L and Xu, K and Li, X and Shangguan, X and Zheng, X and Li, L and Zang, Z and Kang, G and Li, C},
title = {A Mycorrhiza-Induced Phosphate Transporter TaPT31-7A Regulating Inorganic Phosphate Uptake, Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Symbiosis, and Plant Growth in Wheat.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {73},
number = {26},
pages = {16262-16275},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.5c05299},
pmid = {40536287},
issn = {1520-5118},
mesh = {*Triticum/growth &amp; development/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics ; *Phosphates/metabolism ; *Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/metabolism/genetics/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Biological Transport ; },
abstract = {Phosphate transporters play a key role in improving crop yield. In this study, TaPT31-7A is a high-affinity phosphate transporter strongly induced in arbuscular-mycorrhizal (AM) wheat roots. It restores Pi uptake in yeast mutant MB192 and localizes to the plasma membrane. TaPT31-7A overexpression lines accumulated more shoot and root phosphorus than the wild type under both low- and high-Pi conditions. When inoculated with AM in Pi-deficient soil, these overexpression lines displayed enhanced Pi uptake, higher mycorrhization, and improved growth, ultimately increasing the spikelet number per spike, spike length, 1000-grain weight, grain length, and grain width. Transcriptome and coexpression analyses of TaPT31-7A OE lines and control plants showed altered expression of phosphate-starvation and AM-development genes, while docking and yeast two-hybrid assays confirmed its interaction with PP2C phosphatase TaPP2C12-6A. These results establish TaPT31-7A as a central regulator of Pi uptake, AM symbiosis, and productivity in wheat and highlight its potential for breeding phosphorus-efficient cultivars.},
}
@article {pmid40536173,
year = {2025},
author = {Kazmerski, TM and Kidd, KM and Jain, R and Jathal, I and Stransky, OM and Lee, M and Salyer, RE and Tangpricha, V and Palla, J and Alpern, AN and Lunn, MR and Obedin-Maliver, J and Greenberg, J and Prangley, A and , and Sawicki, GS},
title = {Investigating the Interplay Between Having Cystic Fibrosis and Being a Member of the LGBTQIA+ Community: Protocol for the PRIDE CF Study.},
journal = {Pediatric pulmonology},
volume = {60},
number = {6},
pages = {e71154},
pmid = {40536173},
issn = {1099-0496},
support = {//This study was supported by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation./ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Cystic Fibrosis/psychology/epidemiology ; *Sexual and Gender Minorities/psychology/statistics &amp; numerical data ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Young Adult ; Research Design ; },
abstract = {The impact of the intersectional lived experience of having a chronic health condition and identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual or another sexual or gender minority (LGBTQIA+) on health and wellbeing is largely unknown. In this article, we describe the development and structure of PRIDE CF, an innovative, large-scale epidemiologic study using a mixed-methods team science approach to understand the experiences and health outcomes of people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) who identify as a gender or sexual minority. Our four separate but symbiotic projects utilize the PRIDE CF cohort (n ~ 300) with the shared goal of better understanding the needs of LGBTQIA+ PwCF. We use a fully decentralized study design to recruit a national group of participants from a small population within a small population and strive to protect participants' confidentiality and privacy. Results will inform intervention development and testing to improve health for this population. This study is the first to comprehensively investigate the long-term impact and experiences of LGBTQIA+ identity on a person with any chronic condition and, thus, can serve as a model for future collaborations outside of cystic fibrosis.},
}
@article {pmid40536155,
year = {2025},
author = {Bonfante, P and Genre, A},
title = {The increasingly powerful term mycorrhiza warrants attention.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {4},
pages = {1555-1556},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70324},
pmid = {40536155},
issn = {1469-8137},
}
@article {pmid40536153,
year = {2025},
author = {Xing, Z and Wu, L and Biere, A and Yu, H and Ding, J},
title = {Foliar Herbivory Suppresses Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonisation by Weakening Symbiosis Signalling in Root Exudates.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70024},
pmid = {40536153},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was supported by National Key R&amp;D Program of China (2024YFF1307500) and National Science Foundation of China (U21A20190, 32301323)./ ; },
abstract = {Foliar insect herbivory could affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), yet the underlying mechanisms remain understudied. Here, we examined the response of AMF symbiosis signals to foliar herbivory, using six herbaceous plant species and a generalist herbivorous insect. We found AMF colonisation was suppressed by foliar herbivory. After insect attack, plants allocated more biomass to belowground parts and the attack induced defence responses in aboveground parts. Notably, foliar herbivory increased shoot flavonoid concentrations but decreased root flavonoid concentrations. Moreover, quercetin and strigol concentrations in the root exudates were reduced by foliar herbivory. We further tested effect of the root exudates on the in-vitro germination of spores of two common AMF species. Spore germination was lower in treatments with herbivore-induced root exudates than in treatments with no-herbivore root exudates. Moreover, addition of herbivory-modified root exudates reduced AMF colonisation of healthy plants when compared to addition of root exudates from non-herbivory plants. Our results suggest that foliar herbivory weakened symbiosis signalling in root exudates, which could have contributed to the observed lower AMF colonisation following herbivory. Therefore, herbivore-induced symbiosis signalling needs to be considered when studying plant-mediated interactions between foliar herbivores and root microbes.},
}
@article {pmid40534881,
year = {2025},
author = {Mu, Y and Yang, M and Liu, J and Yao, Y and Sun, H and Zhuang, J},
title = {Exosomes in hypoxia: generation, secretion, and physiological roles in cancer progression.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1537313},
pmid = {40534881},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Exosomes/metabolism ; *Neoplasms/pathology/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Disease Progression ; Animals ; *Hypoxia/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Cell Hypoxia ; },
abstract = {The hypoxic microenvironment represents a universal hallmark feature of most solid tumors, profoundly shaping cancer progression through multifaceted mechanisms. Acting as nanoscale molecular envoys, exosomes transport oncogenic cargoes (including non-coding RNAs, mutated proteins, and metabolites) to reprogram stromal cells, prime pre-metastatic niches, and establish tumor-host metabolic symbiosis. Their lipid bilayer architecture ensures the protection of labile hypoxia-responsive factors, positioning them as critical amplifiers of intercellular crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment. Despite significant advances, critical gaps persist in understanding the spatiotemporal regulation of exosomal release under hypoxia, particularly the organ-specific variations in hypoxic exosome signatures revealed by single-vesicle analyses. This review synthesizes recent advances in the intricate interplay between hypoxia and exosomes, emphasizing hypoxia-related signaling pathways that directly modulate exosome biogenesis and indirectly activate hypoxia-associated microenvironmental remodeling, alongside their distinct regulatory effects on exosomal cargo composition. Furthermore, it delineates the pivotal role of hypoxia-specific exosomes in driving cancer malignancy, including metastatic dissemination, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. By integrating molecular mechanisms with clinically actionable insights, this work establishes a translational framework for targeting the hypoxic exosome network in precision oncology, offering strategic references for biomarker discovery and therapeutic development.},
}
@article {pmid40533170,
year = {2025},
author = {Kumari Nawarathna, TNT and Fujii, N and Yamamoto, K and Kuroda, K and Narihiro, T and Ozaki, N and Ohashi, A and Kindaichi, T},
title = {Metagenomic Insights into Candidatus Scalindua in a Long-term Cultivated Marine Anammox Consortium: The Important Role of Tetrahydrofolate-mediated Carbon Fixation.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40533170},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {*Bacteria/metabolism/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; *Carbon Cycle ; Metagenomics ; *Microbial Consortia/genetics ; *Ammonia/metabolism ; Folic Acid/metabolism/biosynthesis ; *Seawater/microbiology ; Metagenome ; Bioreactors/microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Phylogeny ; Genome, Bacterial ; Wastewater/microbiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Marine anammox bacteria have been an exciting research area in recent years due to their high effectiveness in treating ammonia-containing saline wastewater. However, their direct implementation in the wastewater industry faces challenges due to slow growth, difficulty obtaining pure cultures, and their tendency to exist as part of an anammox consortium, interacting symbiotically with other bacteria. In the present study, 91 draft genome metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from a long-term-operated reactor were recovered to clarify detailed symbiotic interactions within an anammox consortium. One marine anammox bacterial MAG, identified as Candidatus Scalindua, was successfully recovered and was abundant within the sampled microbial community. A comprehensive metabolic pathway ana-lysis revealed that Ca. Scalindua exhibited the complete anammox pathway and the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway for carbon fixation. The folate biosynthesis pathway in Ca. Scalindua was incomplete, lacking dihydrofolate reductase, a key enzyme for tetrahydrofolate (THF) production. The folate biopterin transporter, essential for transporting folate-related metabolites among coexisting bacteria, was identified exclusively in Ca. Scalindua. In addition, the impact of exogenously supplied THF on microbial activity and carbon uptake rates was investigated in batch experiments using [14]C-labeled bicarbonate. The results obtained revealed that 2‍ ‍mg L[-1] of exogenous THF resulted in a 43% increase in the carbon uptake rate, while anammox activity remained unaffected. The present results suggest that THF is a key intermediate for carbon fixation in Ca. Scalindua and may be essential for their growth.},
}
@article {pmid40532609,
year = {2025},
author = {Demidova, MA and Vishnyakov, AE and Karagodina, NP and Kotenko, ON and Nekliudova, UA and Bogdanov, EA and Ostrovsky, AN},
title = {Vertical transfer of bacterial symbionts via a placental analogue in the cyclostome bryozoan Patinella verrucaria (Stenolaemata): Ultrastructural and molecular evidence.},
journal = {Zoology (Jena, Germany)},
volume = {171},
number = {},
pages = {126281},
doi = {10.1016/j.zool.2025.126281},
pmid = {40532609},
issn = {1873-2720},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Bryozoa/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Larva/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/ultrastructure ; *Rhodobacteraceae/physiology/genetics/ultrastructure ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic associations with prokaryotes are common among marine filter-feeding invertebrates. In the almost exclusively colonial phylum Bryozoa, however, such associations have only been recorded in some species of the order Cheilostomata (class Gymnolaemata). Here we describe for the first time symbiotic bacteria in the colonies, larvae and developing ancestrulae of the bryozoan Patinella verrucaria from the order Cyclostomata (class Stenolaemata) using transmission electron and fluorescent microscopy. Ultrastructural and molecular data suggest the existence of two distinct bacterial species, both from the family Rhodobacteraceae. The presence of bacteria in all three stages of the bryozoan life cycle indicates a vertical transfer of symbionts. Both intracellular and free bacteria were recorded in the colonies, being presumably transported by amoebocytes from autozooids to the colonial incubation chamber. The bacteria are accumulated in the placental analogue and in associated cells surrounding developing embryos and larvae, and are presumably transmitted to the mature ciliated larvae during rupture of the placenta facilitated by the movements of their cilia before and/or during larval release. Thus, the nourishing function of the placenta is complemented by the symbiont transfer, which can be regarded as an example of extension of functions. This is the first example of a placenta providing bacterial infection to the progeny in invertebrates.},
}
@article {pmid40528946,
year = {2025},
author = {Miao, Y and Sun, M and Huo, R and Chen, Y and Xie, J and Dong, T and Zhang, M},
title = {Metagenomics and volatile metabolomics reveal microbial succession and flavor formation mechanisms during fermentation of Novel Pasture-style Laozao.},
journal = {Food chemistry: X},
volume = {28},
number = {},
pages = {102598},
pmid = {40528946},
issn = {2590-1575},
abstract = {Novel Pasture-style Laozao (NPLZ) is a local specialty fermented food with unique flavor and mouthfeel. This study investigated the dynamic changes of physicochemical properties, volatile flavor substances and microbial community succession during the fermentation of NPLZ and revealed their interactions through the joint analysis of metagenomics and volatile metabolomics. Differences in the contents of 52 characteristic flavor substances were the main reasons for the changes in aroma. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, and Pantoea vagans were the dominant microbial communities during fermentation. Under symbiotic conditions, five species including Paenibacillus piri and Methyloversatilis thermotolerans were found to be crucial in influencing microbial community succession. The accumulation of organic acids was identified as the primary environmental factor driving changes in microbial community structure. Through correlation analysis, eight microbial species were identified as core microorganisms affecting flavor differences, and the metabolic networks of key flavor metabolites were reconstructed in conjunction with the KEGG database.},
}
@article {pmid40528245,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, Q and Zhang, H and Qiu, JW and Huang, D and Zhou, X and Zheng, X},
title = {Symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae mediate coral-associated bacterial communities along a natural thermal gradient.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {72},
pmid = {40528245},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {2022YFC3102003//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2020017//he Scientific Research Foundation of the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China/ ; 2019017//the Scientific Research Foundation of the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China/ ; 42376110//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023J06043//the Fujian Provincial Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar/ ; },
abstract = {The coral-associated microbiome plays a vital role in the holobiont, enabling coral adaptation to diverse environments by modulating its composition and mediating interactions among its constituents. However, the responses of coral microbiomes, particularly the interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria, to environmental changes remain unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, we examined Pocillopora acuta, an environmentally sensitive coral species, collected from three sites along the southeastern coast of Hainan which exhibit moderate environmental differences. We measured the physiological characteristics of Symbiodiniaceae and conducted amplicon sequencing to analyze the structure of Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities. Our results revealed that P. acuta in southeastern Hainan maintains stable symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae sub-clades such as C1, C42.1, C3, D1, D4, and D6, as evidenced by ΔF/Fm' values ranging from 0.45 for P. acuta dominated by Durusdinium (PaD) to 0.6 for counterparts dominated by Cladocopium (PaC). However, the composition of Symbiodiniaceae varied among the three sites, primarily due to differences in the abundance of dominant sub-clades. These variations may reflect adaptations to distinct environmental conditions, which in turn significantly influence the associated bacterial communities. Notably, our results suggest that Symbiodiniaceae may exert a greater regulatory role on the coral-associated bacterial community than environmental differences. Specific bacteria, such as Endozoicomonas and Synechococcus_CC9902, exhibit strong correlations with particular Symbiodiniaceae genera or sub-clades, indicating that the dominant Symbiodiniaceae shape bacterial community dynamics. Despite the observed variations, we identified modular co-occurrence patterns in bacterial networks, with PaC exhibiting a more complex and stable structure. Overall, these results highlight the critical role of various Symbiodiniaceae genera in influencing bacterial community dynamics, emphasizing their importance in maintaining coral health and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40527464,
year = {2025},
author = {Titelboim, D and Dedman, CJ and Hodgson, RP and Knowles, LS and Liu, X and Lenzi, L and Tudor, J and Vamos, E and Rickaby, REM},
title = {Exogenous diatoms ameliorate thermal bleaching of symbiont bearing benthic foraminifera.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {292},
number = {2049},
pages = {20250596},
pmid = {40527464},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; //H2020 Marie Sk&#x142;odowska-Curie Actions/ ; },
mesh = {*Foraminifera/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Diatoms/physiology ; Temperature ; Hot Temperature ; },
abstract = {Many marine calcifiers engage in obligatory algal symbiosis which is threatened by ocean warming. Large benthic foraminifera are prominent carbonate and sand producers in shallow environments with a wide range of species-specific thermal tolerances assumed to be related to their diverse algal symbionts. We examine two diatom-bearing benthic foraminifera species which differ in their thermal physiological tolerance and symbiont community composition. Our findings demonstrate that the less thermally tolerant host, Amphistegina lobifera Larsen, 1976, 'shuffles' the dominant players of the internal symbiont community with increasing temperature while the more thermally tolerant host Pararotalia calcariformata McCulloch, 1977, is dominated by Arcocellulus cornucervis Medlin, 1990, at all temperatures. Although this diatom species was present in A. lobifera from all treatments, it became more abundant only under the most severe temperature stress. Symbionts were isolated from the thermally tolerant foraminifera P. calcariformata, with only one species of symbiont surviving at 35°C, while the others failed to survive at 32°C. Supplementation of isolated symbionts reduced bleaching of A. lobifera under heat stress suggesting that while increased temperature creates shuffling at the family level, heat tolerance of the holobiont is related to changes at the species level of the symbiont algae.},
}
@article {pmid40527262,
year = {2025},
author = {Lynn, KD and Queirós, A and Talbot, E and Mesher, T and Pascoe, C and Quijón, PA},
title = {The disruption of a symbiotic sea anemone by light pollution: Non-linear effects on zooxanthellae and molecular indicators.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {990},
number = {},
pages = {179906},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179906},
pmid = {40527262},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/physiology/radiation effects ; Symbiosis ; *Light/adverse effects ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology/radiation effects ; Photosynthesis ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is a pervasive stressor that may affect coastal organisms, particularly sessile forms associated with photosynthetic symbionts. We examined the effects of ALAN upon the symbiotic snakelocks anemone (Anemonia viridis)'s relationship with photosynthetic zooxanthellae, as well as molecular indicators of oxidative stress and metabolism. Anemones were exposed to natural daylight/night or either mild or strong ALAN intensities for four weeks, before quantifying zooxanthellae, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes, and respiration rates. In comparison to natural conditions, anemones exposed to ALAN showed significantly higher and lower zooxanthellae counts, under mild and strong ALAN, respectively. In turn, SOD concentrations were lower and much higher when exposed to mild and strong ALAN, respectively, with no change in respiration rates. Concurrent bleaching suggests that ALAN is harmful to this, and possibly other species associated with symbiotic microalgae. And while we didn't measure heat stress, such bleaching may potentially act synergistically with other larger-scale forms of bleaching associated with rising ocean temperatures.},
}
@article {pmid40524261,
year = {2025},
author = {Leach, WB and Babonis, L and Juliano, CE and Nakanishi, N and Schnitzler, CE and Steinmetz, PRH and Layden, MJ},
title = {Discoveries and innovations in cnidarian biology at Cnidofest 2024.},
journal = {EvoDevo},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {9},
pmid = {40524261},
issn = {2041-9139},
support = {R35 GM138156/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 2436941//NSF/ ; },
abstract = {The third iteration of the Cnidarian Model Systems Meeting (Cnidofest) was held August 14-17th, 2024 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. The meeting featured presentations from laboratories representing 11 countries, covering a broad range of topics related to cnidarian species. The research highlighted diverse topics, with sessions focused on regeneration, evo-devo, genomics, symbiosis, cell biology, physiology, neurobiology, and development. A notable shift at this meeting was the extent to which established cnidarian model systems have caught up with the classical laboratory models such as Drosophila and vertebrates, with modern genomic, genetic, and molecular tools now routinely applied. In addition, more cnidarian systems are now being developed for functional studies by the community, enhancing our ability to gain fundamental insights into animal biology that are otherwise difficult in the complex bilaterian model systems. Together, the integration of cnidarian and bilaterian model systems provides researchers with a broader toolkit for selecting animal models best suited to address their specific biological questions.},
}
@article {pmid40523202,
year = {2025},
author = {Dal Bó, B and Guo, Y and Mayr, MJ and Pereira, OS and Levin, LA and Orphan, VJ and Goffredi, SK},
title = {Methane-powered sea spiders: Diverse, epibiotic methanotrophs serve as a source of nutrition for deep-sea methane seep Sericosura.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {26},
pages = {e2501422122},
pmid = {40523202},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {OCE-2048481//NSF (NSF)/ ; OCE-2048720//NSF (NSF)/ ; OCE-2048666//NSF (NSF)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Methane/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Male ; *Spiders/microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Female ; Methanol/metabolism ; Pacific Ocean ; },
abstract = {Methane seeps harbor uncharacterized animal-microbe symbioses with unique nutritional strategies. Three undescribed sea spider species (family Ammotheidae; genus Sericosura) endemic to methane seeps were found along the eastern Pacific margin, from California to Alaska, hosting diverse methane- and methanol-oxidizing bacteria on their exoskeleton. δ[13]C tissue isotope values of in situ specimens corroborated methane assimilation (-45‰, on average). Live animal incubations with [13]C-labeled methane and methanol, followed by nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry, confirmed that carbon derived from both compounds was actively incorporated into the tissues within five days. Methano- and methylotrophs of the bacterial families Methylomonadaceae, Methylophagaceae and Methylophilaceae were abundant, based on environmental metagenomics and 16S rRNA sequencing, and fluorescence and electron microscopy confirmed dense epibiont aggregations on the sea spider exoskeleton. Egg sacs carried by the males hosted identical microbes suggesting vertical transmission. We propose that these sea spiders farm and feed on methanotrophic and methylotrophic bacteria, expanding the realm of animals known to harness C1 compounds as a carbon source. These findings advance our understanding of the biology of an understudied animal lineage, unlocking some of the unique nutritional links between the microbial and faunal food webs in the oceans.},
}
@article {pmid40521991,
year = {2025},
author = {Kulkarni, AS and Carrara, GMP and Jin, J and Laro, J and Peramuna, T and McCall, LI and Garg, N},
title = {Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approaches to interrogate host-microbiome interactions in mammalian systems.},
journal = {Natural product reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40521991},
issn = {1460-4752},
support = {R01 GM145649/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM150870/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Covering: 2015 to 2025Chemical crosstalk is universal to all life, niche-specific, and essential to thrive. This crosstalk is mediated by a large diversity of molecules, including metal ions, small molecules, polysaccharides, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins. Among these, specialized small molecules referred to as natural products (NPs) play an important role in microbe-drug/environment interactions, microbe-microbe, and microbe-host interactions. Microbial communication using NPs allows microbes to sense quorum, form biofilms, eliminate competition, establish symbiosis, evade immune attack, and respond to stress. In most cases, the elucidation of small molecule mediators and effectors of microbe-host interactions presents a major challenge due to the relatively low abundance of microbial metabolites in a milieu of host, microbe, and environmental metabolites. Advances in analytical instrumentation, such as mass spectrometers, and both experimental as well as computational methods to analyze data, coupled with the use of model organisms, have enabled fundamental discoveries of mechanisms of small molecule-mediated host-microbe interactions. The focus of this review is to detail the approaches applied in the last decade to disentangle microbiome-derived NPs in human and murine model systems. Select recent findings from diverse biological ecosystems are discussed to inform relevant parallels and potential strategies for research in human health.},
}
@article {pmid40520149,
year = {2025},
author = {Maldonado, M and Pita, L and Hentschel, U and Erpenbeck, D and Oatley, G and Sinclair, E and Aunin, E and Gettle, N and Santos, C and Paulini, M and Niu, H and McKenna, V and O'Brien, R and , and , and , and , and , },
title = {The chromosomal genome sequence of the sponge Crambe crambe (Schmidt, 1862) and its associated microbial metagenome sequences.},
journal = {Wellcome open research},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {275},
pmid = {40520149},
issn = {2398-502X},
abstract = {We present a genome assembly from an individual Crambe crambe (Porifera; Demospongiae; Poecilosclerida; Crambeidae). The host genome sequence is 143.20 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 18 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 19.53 kilobases in length. Several symbiotic prokaryotic genomes were assembled as MAGs, including two relevant sponge symbionts, the Candidatus Beroebacter blanensis/ AqS2 clade (Tethybacterales, Gammaproteobacteria) of LMA sponges, and the widely distributed archaeal Nitrosopumilus sp. clade.},
}
@article {pmid40519728,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, F and Sun, Y and Wang, J and Zhan, J},
title = {Study on the pathogenesis of idiopathic pediatric acute pancreatitis by combining intestinal microbiome and metabolome.},
journal = {Translational pediatrics},
volume = {14},
number = {5},
pages = {855-870},
pmid = {40519728},
issn = {2224-4344},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pediatric acute pancreatitis (IPAP) represents a significant health threat to children and adolescents, yet its underlying pathogenesis remains poorly understood, necessitating further research to elucidate its mechanisms. This study aims to explore the roles of intestinal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and serum metabolites in the pathogenesis of IPAP, as well as to assess the therapeutic potential of acetic acid intervention in this condition.<br><br>METHODS: Fecal and serum samples from 22 cases of IPAP (excluding biliary origin) and 10 healthy controls were collected and analyzed. Intestinal microbial was characterized using 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing, while SCFAs and serum metabolites were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Omics analysis was employed to identify microbial-metabolite regulation and regulatory networks and potential disease biomarkers. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of acetic acid in acute pancreatitis (AP), AP was induced in animal models by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein (50 &#xb5;g/kg; once daily for seven days), followed by oral administration of acetic acid (10 mL/kg, once daily) in 4-, 6-, and 8-week models. Pancreatic and ileum tissues were examined for histopathological changes, serum enzymes levels, and intestinal barrier integrity.<br><br>RESULTS: The results of 16S rRNA sequencing revealed significant differences in the composition and abundance of intestinal microbial communities between the control (Con) and IPAP groups. Pathogenic bacteria, such as f_Tannerellaceae and c_Bacteroidia, as well as certain symbiotic bacteria, were significantly enriched in the IPAP group. SCFAs metabolome analysis indicated that acetic acid, as a key intermediate metabolite, may play a regulatory role in the pathogenesis of IPAP. The construction of a microbial-metabolite regulatory network demonstrated that microorganisms such as g_Monoglobus and g_Morganella were closely associated with SCFAs, including acetic acid, suggesting that the development of IPAP is influenced by upstream and downstream regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, significant associations were identified between serum metabolites and gut microbes. For instance, (4E,15E)-bilirubin and creatinine showed significant positive correlations with g_Bacteroides (P<0.01). Similarly, 1,2-ethanediol monoricinoleate was significantly positively correlated with g_Hungatella (P<0.01), while pubescenol and tecastemizole were significantly positively correlated with g_Parabacteroides (P<0.01). Animal experiments demonstrated that pancreatic and intestinal tissue damage was alleviated to varying degrees following treatment. Compared to the disease model group, the acetic acid treatment group exhibited significantly reduced serum levels of D-lactic acid, amylase, and lipase, along with a significantly increased positive staining surface density of intestinal barrier proteins (occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal flora, SCFAs and serum metabolites were significantly altered in IPAP, and the interaction regulated the development of IPAP. Acetic acid can effectively intervene the occurrence of IPAP.},
}
@article {pmid40519530,
year = {2025},
author = {Smith, S and Bongrand, C and Lawhorn, S and Ruby, EG and Septer, AN},
title = {Application of hsp60 amplicon sequencing to characterize microbial communities associated with juvenile and adult Euprymna scolopes squid.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf085},
pmid = {40519530},
issn = {2730-6151},
support = {R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between Vibrio (Aliivibrio) fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, serves as a key model for understanding host-microbe interactions. Traditional culture-based methods have primarily isolated V. fischeri from the light organs of wild-caught squid, yet culture-independent analyses of this symbiotic microbiome remain limited. This study aims to enhance species-level resolution of bacterial communities associated with E. scolopes using hsp60 amplicon sequencing. We validated our hsp60 sequencing approach using pure cultures and mixed bacterial populations, demonstrating its ability to distinguish V. fischeri from other closely related vibrios and the possibility of using this approach for strain-level diversity with further optimization. This approach was applied to whole-animal juvenile squid exposed to either seawater or a clonal V. fischeri inoculum, as well as ventate samples and light organ cores from wild-caught adults. V. fischeri accounted for the majority of the identifiable taxa for whole-animal juvenile samples and comprised 94%-99% of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) for adult light organ core samples, confirming that V. fischeri is the dominant, if not sole, symbiont typically associated with E. scolopes light organs. In one ventate sample, V. fischeri comprised 82% of reads, indicating the potential for non-invasive community assessments using this approach. Analysis of non-V. fischeri ASVs revealed that Bradyrhizobium spp. and other members of the Rhodobacterales order are conserved across juvenile and adult samples. These findings provide insight into the presence of additional microbial associations with the squid host tissue outside of the light organ that have not been previously detected through traditional culture methods.},
}
@article {pmid40517925,
year = {2025},
author = {Banerjee, S and Jha, S and Chakraborty, S and Ghosh, S and Sarkar, D and Datta, R and Bhattacharya, SS and Bhattacharyya, P},
title = {Mycorrhiza-assisted phytoremediation of spiked chromium-contaminated soil: Assessing AMF-vetiver symbiosis for Cr accumulation and soil quality enhancement.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {283},
number = {},
pages = {122143},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.122143},
pmid = {40517925},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {Chromium (Cr) is a hazardous pollutant in industrial and mining areas and threatens soil ecosystems. Mycorrhiza-assisted phytoremediation serves as an eco-friendly and effective approach to mitigate Cr contamination from soil. In this investigation, varying Cr dosages (100 mg kg[-1], 500 mg kg[-1], and 1000 mg kg[-1]) were applied into the soil alongside vetiver plants (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) inoculated with three different AMF species (Claroideoglomus claroideum, Glomus hoi, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum). The results indicated that AMF inoculation enhanced Cr accumulation (1.96 folds, 1.63 folds) in the root tissue of vetiver compared to the control. Among the AMF species, Glomus hoi demonstrated the highest effectiveness in reducing Cr bioavailability (P10: 0.247 mg kg[-1], P11: 1.117 mg kg[-1], and P12: 4.789 mg kg[-1]) in the soil, followed by Claroideoglomus claroideum and Claroideoglomus etunicatum at post-harvest. Additionally, microbial and enzymatic activity improved in the presence of AMF compared to the control, as AMF alleviated Cr-induced stress by stimulating antioxidant activity. AMF enhanced soil glomalin-related proteins and colonization percentage, thereby promoting plant growth. The correlation and principal component analysis depict a positive association between Cr accumulation in vetiver (root and shoot) and the different Cr phases. Interestingly, in the presence of Glomus hoi, the VTF (<1) and VBCF (>1) indicate that this symbiotic association is well-suited for phytoremediation applications. Hence, AMF-assisted phytoremediation emerges as a viable and sustainable approach, offering advantages over other remediation techniques and providing potential solutions for managing soil Cr contamination.},
}
@article {pmid40517638,
year = {2025},
author = {Deng, X and Zhao, D and Li, Y and Li, K and Xia, J and Yu, S and Wang, J and Lin, J},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi confer aluminum toxicity tolerance in Ricinus communis via modulating root metabolic mechanisms and the composition and quantity of root exudates.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {227},
number = {},
pages = {110149},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110149},
pmid = {40517638},
issn = {1873-2690},
abstract = {Aluminum (Al) phytotoxicity is an essential factor that severely threatens plant productivity in acidic soil with pH < 5. Nevertheless, the specific interactions and functional contributions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) in the adaptability of Ricinus communis to Al stress remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the changes in biomass, Al accumulation, antioxidant system, sucrose metabolism, gene expression, and root exudates of R. communis when regulated by AMF (Rhizophagus intraradices, Funneliformis mosseae, and Diversispora versiformis) under Al stress (0-1.2 g kg[-1]). Al detoxification by AMF - R. communis symbiosis was manifested by activating antioxidant levels, sucrose metabolism, thereby alleviating lipid peroxidation (MDA decreased 11.44 %-24.89 %) and increasing plant biomass (10.34 %-33.33 %). Meanwhile, transcriptome analysis revealed 659 differentially expressing genes (DEGs) in AMF-inoculated plants in comparison to non-inoculated plants subjected to Al stress. Furthermore, AMF colonization induced 929 differential metabolites (DAMs) from the perspective of root exudates. The integrating analysis of gene expression and root exudate changes indicating that AMF colonization under Al stress was closely related to ABC transporters, glutathione metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism. Altogether, the result of this study suggest that AMF confer Al tolerance to R. communis via antioxidant activation, sucrose metabolism regulation, and reshaping root exudates and gene networks. The present study provides new insights into the crucial role of AMF in improving Al-tolerance of R. communis.},
}
@article {pmid40516677,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, A and Wang, Z and Shi, C and Li, N and Bai, M and Yao, J and Hrynsphan, D and Qian, H and Hu, S and Wei, J and Chen, J},
title = {Enhanced denitrification performance via biochar-mediated electron shuttling in Pseudomonas guariconensis: mechanistic insights from enzymatic and electrochemical analyses.},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {382},
number = {},
pages = {126667},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126667},
pmid = {40516677},
issn = {1873-6424},
mesh = {*Denitrification ; *Charcoal/chemistry ; *Pseudomonas/metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater ; Electron Transport ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Nitrogen pollution constitutes a critical environmental challenge for aquatic ecosystems, where biological denitrification serves as a critical mechanism for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Pseudomonas guariconensis, a key denitrifying bacterium in WWTPs, demonstrates stable symbiotic relationships with organic carbon substrates under operational conditions. This study investigated the biochar-mediated enhancement mechanism of denitrification performance using Pseudomonas guariconensis strain XYH-2. Experimental results revealed that 0.5 % (w/w) biochar addition significantly improved denitrification efficiency, elevating NO3[-]-N removal from 39 % to 94 % within 16 h while reducing N2O accumulation by 81.7 % (from 837 to 153 ppm). Electrochemical characterization and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) analysis demonstrated biochar's role as an electron shuttle, evidenced by a 48.5 % increase in electron transfer system activity (ETSA) and enhanced redox currents. Notably, biochar stimulation elevated the activities of four key denitrifying enzymes: nitrate reductase (NAR, +75.6 %), nitrite reductase (NIR, +25.4 %), nitric oxide reductase (NOR, +33.3 %), and nitrous oxide reductase (N2OR, +159.4 %). Structural characterization revealed biochar-induced conformational modifications in N2OR that enhanced substrate binding affinity, particularly explaining the dramatic N2O mitigation. These findings provided mechanistic insights into biochar-bacteria synergism, proposing an effective strategy for optimizing denitrification processes in nitrogen-contaminated wastewater treatment systems.},
}
@article {pmid40516400,
year = {2025},
author = {Ju, X and Sun, H and Ruan, C and Wang, H and Shi, B and Alvarez, PJJ and Yu, P},
title = {Prophage induction and quorum sensing enhance biofilm stability and resistance under ammonia-oxidizing bacteria-mediated oxidative stress.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {284},
number = {},
pages = {124010},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.124010},
pmid = {40516400},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Quorum Sensing ; *Biofilms ; *Oxidative Stress ; Ammonia/metabolism ; *Prophages ; Escherichia coli ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Nitrosomonas europaea ; },
abstract = {Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and prophage-carrying bacteria are prevalent in water treatment and reuse systems, yet their interactions and implications for biofilm formation and microbial risks remain insufficiently understood. Here, we demonstrate that oxidative stress arising from the metabolism of the AOB Nitrosomonas europaea induces prophage activation in lysogenized Escherichia coli (λ+). This activation triggers cellular lysis, leading to the release of intracellular components (e.g., protein and DNA) and upregulated quorum sensing (QS) followed by biosynthesis and excretion of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis revealed that the presence of N. europaea significantly upregulated QS- and EPS-related genes by 2.14-2.93 and 2.81-3.11 folds in E. coli (λ+), respectively. Surviving E. coli (λ+) exhibited enhanced prophage-bacterium symbiosis and activated toxin-antitoxin systems, enhancing their resilience to environmental stress. These microbial adaptations markedly increased EPS production, fostering biofilm development and conferring enhanced biofilm resilience to disinfectants and bacterial antibiotic tolerance. Furthermore, metagenomic analysis at the microbial community wide level demonstrated that ammonia addition-driven AOB enrichment stimulated multi-species biofilm formation, promoted bacterium-phage interactions, and increased bacterial antibiotic resistance. Overall, our findings reveal that oxidative stress driven by AOB accelerates biofilm development, an overlooked phenomenon with potential to exacerbate microbial risks.},
}
@article {pmid40516069,
year = {2025},
author = {di Michele, F},
title = {The symbiotic relationship in a case of hysterical psychosis.},
journal = {Psychiatria Danubina},
volume = {37},
number = {1},
pages = {108-109},
pmid = {40516069},
issn = {0353-5053},
}
@article {pmid40515627,
year = {2025},
author = {Hasan, MR and Thapa, A and Kabir, AH},
title = {Iron retention coupled with trade-offs in localized symbiotic effects confers tolerance to combined iron deficiency and drought in soybean.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf263},
pmid = {40515627},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Iron (Fe) and water availability are closely interlinked, with deficiencies in both adversely affecting soybean growth. However, the strategies employed by soybean to tolerate such conditions remain poorly understood. This study elucidates the interactions of host factors, and microbial associations using multi-omics approaches in Clark (tolerant) and Arisoy (sensitive) genotypes exposed to Fe deficiency and drought. Clark exhibited resilience to stress through sustained osmotic regulation, nutrient uptake, and photosynthetic activity, in contrast to Arisoy. Particularly, Fe retention in Clark, accompanied by the upregulation of ferritin-like proteins, may mitigate oxidative stress by reducing Fenton reactions. Furthermore, higher jasmonic and salicylic acid levels in Clark may contribute to its enhanced stress adaptation compared to Arisoy. RNA-seq analysis revealed 818 and 500 upregulated, along with 931 and 361 downregulated genes, in the roots of Clark and Arisoy, respectively, under stress. We observed the upregulation of symbiotic genes, such as Chalcone-flavonone isomerase 1 and SWEET10, accompanied by increased rhizosphere siderophore and root flavonoid in Clark. This indicates a significant role of microbes in mediating differential stress tolerance in soybean. Particularly, the combined stress led to distinct root and nodule microbiome dynamics, with Clark recruiting beneficial microbes such as Variovorax and Paecilomyces, whereas Arisoy exhibited the opposite pattern. In addition, Clark maintained nodule Bradyrhizobium and tissue nitrogen status, supported by ammonium retention and induction of Ammonium transporter 1 in the roots. Furthermore, in vitro compatibility between V. paradoxus and P. lilacinus suggests a synergistic interaction, with their localized signals benefiting Clark. Remarkably, enriched microbiomes significantly improved growth parameters, accompanied by elevated rhizosphere siderophore in sensitive genotypes under stress. This study is the first to uncover mechanisms of dual stress tolerance in soybean that may offer promising targets for breeding programs and microbiome-based biofertilizer strategies to improve combined stress tolerance in soybean and other legumes.},
}
@article {pmid40515619,
year = {2025},
author = {Ochiai, KK and Goshima, G},
title = {Ruegeria strains promote growth and morphogenesis of the giant coenocytic alga Bryopsis.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf262},
pmid = {40515619},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {An evolutionarily intriguing life form among extant organisms is the giant coenocyte, exemplified by green macroalgae in the order Bryopsidales. In these algae, cell separation does not follow nuclear division, resulting in a body composed of a single multinucleated cell. How a single cell grows to over 10 cm and undergoes characteristic morphogenesis without cell division or differentiation remains poorly understood. Macroalgae are known to associate with numerous microbes, and in some cases, these interactions influence algal cell division and differentiation. Here, we show that specific bacterial strains can promote the growth and morphogenesis of the coenocytic macroalga Bryopsis. Among >100 bacterial isolates obtained from Bryopsis, four strains belonging to the genus Ruegeria were found to accelerate the growth of the main axis and induce side-branch formation when co-cultured with the alga. The same effects were observed using conditioned seawater in which Ruegeria had been pre-cultured and subsequently removed. Seasonal microbiome analysis revealed that cultured Bryopsis associates with hundreds of bacterial species, exhibiting seasonal variations in community composition. However, Ruegeria was one of the few bacterial genera consistently associated with the cultured strain, suggesting a symbiotic relationship. Notably, although Ruegeria was not detected in Bryopsis strains isolated from other regions, its effects on growth and morphogenesis were observed in co-culture experiments. These findings suggest that Bryopsis, like multicellular macroalgae, utilises associated bacteria for growth and development without strict specificity.},
}
@article {pmid40515450,
year = {2025},
author = {Berrios, L},
title = {Is it all about timing? Identifying the symbiosis critical points that govern interactions among bacteria, ectomycorrhizal fungi, and land trees.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {5},
pages = {1981-1993},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70298},
pmid = {40515450},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Discovery Grant/ ; 2109481//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Trees/microbiology/physiology ; Time Factors ; *Bacteria ; *Embryophyta/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Tree health and fitness depend on the interactions among soil microbiota across space and time. Recent evidence, for instance, has shown that understanding the individual and interactive lifestyles of bacteria and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMF)-two of the most dominant and influential soil microbes in tree microbiomes-enhances our predictions of plant responses and ecosystem functions. The spatial features that shape the coexistence and plasticity of bacteria-EcMF interactions have long been a primary research interest and have therefore revealed key insights in the field. The temporal features of these interactions, however, have received considerably less attention, yet emerging evidence suggests that interactions at a particular time in space may have a disproportionate impact on the stability and outcome of relationships. In light of these observations, I outline bacteria-EcMF-tree interactions across the life cycle of EcMF and highlight the importance of 'symbiosis critical points' across developmental time, providing testable hypotheses and experimental frameworks that aim to advance the field moving forward. Though this Viewpoint article focuses on the symbioses among these three organisms, the concepts, hypotheses, and frameworks presented herein extend to diverse multispecies systems.},
}
@article {pmid40514722,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, M and Xiao, Y and Song, Q and Li, Z},
title = {Antarctic ice-free terrestrial microbial functional redundancy in core ecological functions and microhabitat-specific microbial taxa and adaptive strategy.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {70},
pmid = {40514722},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {2022YFC280410//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Although ice-free terrestrial ecosystems in Antarctica cover only limited areas, they harbor diverse and metabolically active microbial communities. These ecosystems encompass distinct microhabitats such as mosses, lichens, and soils, each offering unique ecological niches. However, how different microbial taxa respond to microhabitat heterogeneity, ecological strategies such as functional redundancy and specialization contribute to adaptation in extreme environments remains underexplored. To address these questions, we employed high-throughput 16 S rRNA gene and ITS sequencing in combination with GeoChip-based functional gene profiling to assess the structure and functional potential of microbial communities across moss, lichen and soil microhabitats in Antarctic ice-free terrestrial ecosystem.<br><br>RESULTS: Microhabitat type has a greater influence on microbial community structure and function in the ice-free Antarctic terrestrial ecosystem than geographical location. Though all prokaryotic communities were dominated by Pseudomonadota, Nostoc and Endobacter were significantly enriched in the moss and lichen microhabitats, respectively. Meanwhile, all fungal communities were primarily dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, with Byssoloma and Usnea showing significant enrichment in the moss and lichen microhabitats, respectively. Despite these taxonomic differences, the three microhabitats show similar core ecological functions with widespread microbial functional redundancy. Nevertheless, clear microhabitat-specific functional specialization was suggested. For example, moss microhabitat was enriched in Pyoverdin_pvcC and Zeaxanthin_glucosyltransferase, sdhA, lichen microhabitat harbored higher levels of nhaA, nikC, vacuolar_iron_transport, mttB, glucoamylase, pel_Cdeg, pme_Cdeg, rgh, rgl, while soil microhabitat was enriched in 5f1_ppn and isopullulanase. Notably, genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis were significantly more abundant in moss and lichen microhabitats than in soil microhabitat, indicating the adaptive capacity of symbiotic microorganisms to mitigate ultraviolet radiation and oxidative stress to protect their hosts.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Microbial communities associated with distinct microhabitats (i.e. mosses, lichens, and soils) in Antarctic ice-free terrestrial ecosystem exhibit both functional redundancy in core ecological functions and microhabitat-specific specialization in key microbial taxa and adaptive strategy.},
}
@article {pmid40514454,
year = {2025},
author = {Veloso Soares, SP and Jarquín-Díaz, VH and Veiga, MM and Karl, S and Czirják, G&#xc1; and Weyrich, A and Metzger, S and East, ML and Hofer, H and Heitlinger, E and Benhaiem, S and Ferreira, SCM},
title = {Mucosal immune responses and intestinal microbiome associations in wild spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta).},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {924},
pmid = {40514454},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {GRAKO 2046//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; DFG-Grako 2046//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; DFG-Grako 2046//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; GRK 2046//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; GRK 2046//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; GRK 2046//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; GRK 2046//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; GRK 2046//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Hyaenidae/microbiology/immunology ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; Feces/microbiology/chemistry ; Female ; Male ; Tanzania ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; },
abstract = {Little is known about host-gut microbiome interactions within natural populations at the intestinal mucosa, the primary interface. We investigate associations between the intestinal microbiome and mucosal immune measures while controlling for host, social and ecological factors in 199 samples of 158 wild spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. We profile the microbiome composition using a multi-amplicon approach and measure faecal immunoglobulin A and mucin. Probabilistic models indicate that both immune measures predicted microbiome similarity among individuals in an age-dependent manner. These associations are the strongest within bacteria, intermediate within parasites, and weakest within fungi communities. Machine learning models accurately predicted both immune measures and identify the taxa driving these associations: symbiotic bacteria reported in humans and laboratory mice, unclassified bacteria, parasitic hookworms and fungi. These findings improve our understanding of the gut microbiome, its drivers, and interactions in wild populations under natural selection.},
}
@article {pmid40511412,
year = {2025},
author = {Yan, C and Wang, Y and Guo, Q and Huan, H and Wang, S and Fan, X and Xie, X},
title = {Silencing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Gene Using Chitosan Nanoparticle-Mediated dsRNA Delivery System.},
journal = {Bio-protocol},
volume = {15},
number = {11},
pages = {e5326},
pmid = {40511412},
issn = {2331-8325},
abstract = {It has been discovered that many phytopathogenic fungi can absorb exogenous double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) to silence target genes, inhibiting fungal growth and pathogenicity for plant protection. In our recent report, the beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are capable of acquiring external naked dsRNAs; however, whether the dsRNAs can be delivered into AM fungi through nanocarriers remains to be investigated. Here, we introduce a simple and advanced method for in vitro synthesizing chitosan (CS)/dsRNA polyplex nanoparticles (PNs) to silence the target gene in the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. This method is straightforward, requiring minimal modifications, and is both efficient and eco-friendly, offering potential for rapid application in elucidating gene functions in AM fungi. Key features • The chitosan can carry the dsRNA derived from the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. • CS/dsRNA polyplex nanoparticles (PNs) can successfully silence the target gene in the AM fungus R. irregularis. • CS/dsRNA PNs can be applied to the characterization of AM fungal genes via the spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) approach. • This protocol can be applied in asymbiotic and symbiotic cultures of AM fungi. Graphical overview Overview of the chitosan/dsRNA gene silencing procedures.},
}
@article {pmid40510663,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Ma, Y and Ma, X and Li, C},
title = {Temporal changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities and their driving factors in Xanthoceras sorbifolium plantations.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1579868},
pmid = {40510663},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities are influenced by soil nutrients and plant and litter traits during forest ecosystem development. However, the extent to which these factors influence AMF communities in Xanthoceras sorbifolium plantations is unclear. In this study, rhizosphere soil samples were collected from 5-, 13-, 24-, 35-, 47-, and 56-year-old X. sorbifolium plantations. The AMF community was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing, and AMF spores were isolated and identified by wet sieving. The results showed that X. sorbifolium can establish a symbiotic relationship with AMF at different forest ages. In total, 5,876 AMF amplicon sequence variant (ASVs) were obtained from the soil samples and classified into 1 phylum, 4 classes, 6 orders, 12 families, and 15 genera. Glomus was the dominant genus. In addition, the diversity of AMF communities increased and then decreased with the age of X. sorbifolium, with no significant changes observed between 35-, 47-, and 56-year-old plantations. AMF community variance was primarily determined by soil-specific factors, with soil pH and root C content being the most influential. The results revealed the factors that drive AMF communities during the development of X. sorbifolium and provide valuable information for future conservation and planting management.},
}
@article {pmid40509709,
year = {2025},
author = {Schumacher, JD and Dusek, N and Mendoza-Suárez, M and Geddes, BA},
title = {Adaptation of Plasmid-ID Technology for Evaluation of N2-Fixing Effectiveness and Competitiveness for Root Nodulation in the Sinorhizobium-Medicago System.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {6},
pages = {e70118},
doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.70118},
pmid = {40509709},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {FF-NIA21-0000000061m//Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research/ ; //U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative of the National Alfalfa &amp; Forage Alliance/ ; },
mesh = {*Plasmids/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; Symbiosis ; *Sinorhizobium/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Medicago sativa/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Maximising the nitrogen fixation occurring in rhizobia-legume associations represents an opportunity to sustainably reduce nitrogen fertiliser inputs in agriculture. High-throughput measurement of symbiotic traits has the potential to accelerate the identification of elite rhizobium/legume associations and enable novel research approaches. Plasmid-ID technology, recently deployed in Rhizobium leguminosarum, facilitates the concurrent assessment of rhizobium nitrogen-fixing effectiveness and competitiveness for root nodulation. This study adapts Plasmid-ID technology to function in Sinorhizobium species that are central models for studying rhizobium-legume associations and form economically important symbioses with alfalfa. New Sino-Plasmid-IDs were developed and tested for stability and their ability to measure competitiveness for root nodulation and nitrogen-fixing effectiveness. Rhizobial competitiveness is measured by identifying strain-specific nucleotide barcodes using next-generation sequencing, whereas effectiveness is measured by GFP fluorescence driven by the synthetic nifH promoter. Sino-Plasmid-IDs allow researchers to efficiently study competitiveness and effectiveness in a multitude of Sinorhizobium strains simultaneously.},
}
@article {pmid40509355,
year = {2025},
author = {Cazal, CM and Forim, MR and Terezan, AP and Matos, AP and Cunha, GOS and da Silva, MFDGF and Vieira, PC and Pagnocca, FC and Fernandes, JB},
title = {Development of Xanthyletin-Loaded Nanoparticles for the Control of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {30},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {40509355},
issn = {1420-3049},
support = {//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Amparo &#xe0; Pesquisa do Estado de S&#xe3;o Paulo/ ; //National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; //Coordena&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de N&#xed;vel Superior/ ; },
mesh = {*Nanoparticles/chemistry/ultrastructure ; Animals ; *Agaricales/drug effects ; Particle Size ; *Ants/microbiology/drug effects ; *Antifungal Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; Polyesters/chemistry ; Drug Carriers/chemistry ; Drug Liberation ; },
abstract = {This study describes the development, characterization and in vitro evaluation of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanoparticles loaded with xanthyletin for the control of Atta sexdens rubropilosa through the inhibition of its symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Nanoparticles were prepared via interfacial polymer deposition, with formulation NC5 selected based on optimal physicochemical properties. NC5 exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 98.0%, average particle size of 304 nm and zeta potential of -29.3 mV. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed spherical morphology and the absence of crystalline residues. The formulation remained physically stable for four months at 4 °C. In vitro release showed biphasic behavior, with an initial burst followed by sustained release. Under UV exposure, NC5 enhanced xanthyletin photostability by 15.4-fold compared to the free compound. Fungicidal assays revealed 76% inhibition of fungal growth with NC5, compared to 85% with free xanthyletin. These results support the potential application of xanthyletin-loaded PCL nanoparticles as a stable and controlled delivery system for the biological control of leaf-cutting ants by targeting their fungal mutualist. Further in vivo studies are recommended to assess efficacy under field conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40509088,
year = {2025},
author = {Zheng, T and Liu, Q and Zheng, C and Meng, X and Bai, X and Li, D and Wang, T and Guo, J and Xu, Z and Jie, H},
title = {An Attempted Correlation Between the Fecal Microbial Community of Chinese Forest Musk Deer (Moschus berezovskii) and Differences in Musk Production and Quality.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {15},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {40509088},
issn = {2076-2615},
support = {82274046, 32470531//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024JDKP0219, 2024NSFSC2119//Sichuan Science and Technology Program Grants/ ; 2024jbky-04&#xff1b;2025jbky-009//Basic Scientific Research Fund Project of Chongqing/ ; cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0201//Chongqing Talent Project/ ; },
abstract = {Musk, a dried secretion from the sac gland near the urethral foramen of adult male forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), has significant economic value and is extensively utilized as a valuable component in traditional Chinese medicine. In the practice of forest musk deer breeding, musk with different colors and varying moisture contents is observed during the season when the musk reaches maturity. For many years, researchers have focused mainly on musk composition and symbiotic bacteria. However, the influence of fecal fungi on the production and quality of musk is unknown. In this study, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) analysis was employed to explore the relationships between the fungal composition of musk deer fecal and the quality and production of musk produced by each individual. The results indicate that fungal genera known to cause diseases, such as Colletotrichum and Apiotrichum, are prevalent in the feces of musk deer that produce abnormal musk. Furthermore, the fecal microbiota health index (GMHI) is lower and the intestinal microbiota dysbiosis index (MDI) is greater in musk deer producing white musk than in normal individuals. Additionally, by correlating musk production with fecal fungi, we also found that Dolichousnea and Scolecoleotia were significantly positively correlated with musk production. Moreover, Metschnikowia, Ganodermataceae_gen_Incertae_sedis, Hypoxylon, Neovaginatispora, Didymella, Dothidea, and Trichoderma were negatively correlated with musk production. This study is the first to investigate gut fungi in relation to musk production/quality, establish gut health and fungal dysbiosis links, and identify candidate fungi tightly associated with musk traits. This exploratory approach is critical for exploring uncharted territories like gut fungi in musk deer and musk traits.},
}
@article {pmid40508303,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, C and Ma, R and Wang, L and Lan, X and Chen, L and Zhu, J and Wang, L},
title = {Fenaminosulf Promotes Growth and Gall Formation in Zizania latifolia Through Modulation of Physiological and Molecular Pathways.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {40508303},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {LTGN23C150006//Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021ZDYF10//Primary Research &amp; Development Plan of Lishui/ ; },
abstract = {Zizania latifolia (Jiaobai) is an economically important aquatic crop characterized by unique gall formation through interaction with the smut fungus Ustilago esculenta. Understanding factors influencing this interaction is crucial for cultivation. This study investigates the non-target effects of the fungicide Fenaminosulf (FM) on Z. latifolia's growth, physiology, and underlying molecular pathways. We demonstrate that FM exerts striking concentration-dependent effects, revealing its potential as a modulator of plant development and symbiosis. Physiological measurements showed that a moderate FM concentration (1.25 g/L) promoted key vegetative growth parameters, including plant height and leaf length, while maintaining chlorophyll content, suggesting a potential bio-stimulant effect. In contrast, higher FM concentrations (2.5 g/L and 5 g/L) inhibited vegetative growth but significantly enhanced gall formation, particularly at 2.5 g/L, indicating that FM can redirect plant resources or alter susceptibility to favor the fungal interaction under specific conditions. Transcriptomic analysis provided mechanistic insights, revealing extensive gene expression reprogramming, especially under high FM treatment (5 g/L). Key pathways related to plant-pathogen interaction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and hormone signal transduction were significantly modulated. Notably, FM treatment suppressed key immune-related genes, including Xa21 and PBL19, potentially reducing plant resistance and facilitating gall formation. Hormone signaling analysis revealed inhibition of auxin, cytokinin, brassinosteroid, and jasmonic acid metabolism, indicating a comprehensive molecular recalibration of plant developmental processes. The study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms by which FM influences Z. latifolia growth and gall formation. The concentration-dependent effects of FM suggest its potential as a strategic tool for agricultural management, offering a nuanced approach to crop development. These findings contribute to understanding plant-chemical interactions and provide valuable directions for optimizing Z. latifolia cultivation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40508277,
year = {2025},
author = {Cesari, AB and Paulucci, NS and Dardanelli, MS},
title = {Smart Bioinoculants for Arachis hypogaea: Controlled Release of Bradyrhizobium and the Role of Naringin in Symbiosis Enhancement.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {40508277},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {11220210100155CO//PIP CONICET/ ; C530-1//PPI Universidad Nacional de R&#xed;o Cuarto/ ; 696/21//PICT Agencia Nacional de Promoci&#xf3;n Cient&#xed;fica y Tecnol&#xf3;gica/ ; CBA28/22//PICT-O Agencia Nacional de Promoci&#xf3;n Cient&#xed;fica y Tecnol&#xf3;gica/ ; },
abstract = {Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most important oilseeds crops worldwide. Through symbiosis with the bacterium Bradyrhizobium sp., peanuts can assimilate atmospheric nitrogen, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. However, this nitrogen fixation process is highly sensitive to environmental factors that can inhibit the early stages of symbiotic interaction. In this study, we propose the encapsulation of Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 and the flavonoid naringin (Nar) in alginate beads to improve flavonoid stability and promote nodulation kinetics in peanuts. Three types of beads were synthesized: A (control, SEMIA6144 only); B (SEMIA6144 induced with 10 µM Nar); and C (SEMIA6144 co-entrapped with 1 mM Nar). Although Nar increased cell mortality (2-fold compared to control) and reduced metabolic activity-particularly at 1 mM-cells in beads B and C responded by altering their membrane fatty acid profile (30% and 55.5% of 18:1, respectively) leading to a reduction in saturated fatty acids (5.8% and 13.1% for 16:0 and 18:0 in B; 11.8% and 21.2% in C). Bacterial release kinetics followed a primarily Fickian diffusion model, with minor matrix-bacteria interactions in Nar-treated beads. Notably, bacterial release in peanut root exudates was 6%, 10%, and 11% higher for beads A, B, and C, respectively, compared to release in physiological solutions. Nar-beads enhanced the formation of curved root hairs, promoted bacterial colonization in root hair zones, and stimulated the appearance of rosette-like structures associated with nodule initiation. In conclusion, encapsulating Bradyrhizobium sp. SEMIA6144 with Nar in beads represents a promising strategy to improve symbiotic nitrogen fixation in peanuts.},
}
@article {pmid40508007,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, X and Muhammad Aslam, M and Chen, M and Das, D},
title = {Plant-Fungi Mutualism, Alternative Splicing, and Defense Responses: Balancing Symbiosis and Immunity.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {40508007},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {2022YFD1700200//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; (Natural Science)-ZK[2023]-099//Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Program/ ; 3201452//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 111 Program, D20023//Program of Introducing Talent to Chinese Universities/ ; Qianjiaohe KY (2020)004//Frontiers Science Center for Asymmetric Synthesis and Medicinal Molecules, Department of Ed-ucation, Guizhou Province/ ; AoE/M-403/16, GRF12100318, 12103219, 12103220, 12101722//Hong Kong Research Grant Council/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Alternative Splicing ; *Plants/microbiology/genetics/immunology ; *Fungi/physiology ; *Plant Immunity/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/immunology/genetics ; },
abstract = {Alternative splicing (AS) is the process of RNA maturation in eukaryotes, which is essential for post-transcriptional regulation. The transcripts produced by AS can encode distinct protein isoforms and contribute to the regulation of eukaryotic growth and development in response to a changing environment, and they are crucial in plant-fungal interactions. Plant-fungal symbiosis is one of the most significant biotic interactions in the biosphere. The symbiotic association of fungi not only improves plant growth and resistance but has potential significance for endangered species conservation and reproduction. Alternative splicing is involved in regulating symbiotic responses to host immune signals, regulating the host-symbiont contact, and initiating signaling during symbiosis. In recent years, mRNAs research has been progressing rapidly, and AS is an important post-transcriptional regulator that requires further investigation. However, while AS has been widely studied in mammalian disease research, very limited studies are available on the regulation of AS in plant-fungal symbiosis and their role in benefiting the interacting partners. In this review, we provide an overview of our existing knowledge about AS in symbiotic plant-fungal relationships and discuss potential hotspots for future investigation to expand our understanding of plant-fungal interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40507152,
year = {2025},
author = {Koller, AM and Săsăran, MO and Mărginean, CO},
title = {The Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Obesity and Metabolic Disorders: Insights from a Comprehensive Review.},
journal = {Nutrients},
volume = {17},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {40507152},
issn = {2072-6643},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Pediatric Obesity/microbiology ; Child ; *Metabolic Diseases/microbiology ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Adolescent ; Inflammation/microbiology ; Diet, Mediterranean ; },
abstract = {Background: Pediatric obesity represents a multifactorial condition in which gut microbiota dysbiosis, low-grade systemic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction are intricately connected. Objectives: This systematic review sought to evaluate and integrate current findings regarding the interactions between gut microbial composition, dietary influences, inflammatory status, and metabolic outcomes in obese pediatric populations. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted for studies published from January 2010 onward. Eligible studies comprised randomized controlled trials, and cohort, cross-sectional, and longitudinal designs involving individuals aged ≤18 years. Study quality was appraised using the NIH Study Quality Assessment Tool. Results: Sixteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Dysbiosis was consistently observed among obese children, characterized by alterations in microbial diversity and abundance associated with increased inflammation and adverse metabolic profiles. Dietary interventions, notably symbiotic supplementation and adherence to Mediterranean diet patterns, were associated with favorable modulation of gut microbiota and inflammatory parameters. The majority of studies demonstrated high methodological quality, although minor observational limitations were noted. Conclusions: Gut microbiota dysregulation plays a central role in the development of metabolic and inflammatory complications associated with pediatric obesity. Although dietary and microbiota-modifying strategies show therapeutic promise, their effectiveness must be substantiated through robust, long-term studies.},
}
@article {pmid40505561,
year = {2025},
author = {Padhan, A and Paul, B},
title = {Unlocking the potential of red mud: Advanced strategies for economic optimization and sustainable recovery of critical minerals.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {389},
number = {},
pages = {126040},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126040},
pmid = {40505561},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Minerals ; Metals, Heavy ; Recycling ; },
abstract = {Red mud (RM) is a solid by-product generated in large quantities from the Bayer process in alumina refinery industries. The high pH and heavy metal content pose significant environmental challenges for its management and disposal. This comprehensive review highlights RM's potential as a source of valuable raw materials, focusing on both economic and environmental implications. Special attention is given to the recovery of critical minerals such as lithium, titanium, scandium, and rare earth elements (REEs) from RM. The review explores current market trends, recovery methods, and related technical and regulatory challenges. It also discusses the toxicity and environmental concerns of RM disposal, as well as its wide range of applications in the industrial sector. In particular, its use in construction materials such as cement, bricks, and geopolymers while also highlighting its potential in ceramic and catalyst manufacturing. Further, this study reflects economic factors, legal frameworks, and incentives for RM valorization, supported by case studies on its sustainable utilization. Additionally, it also covers health and safety aspects, lifecycle assessments, and future research to improve value added applications and reduce environmental risks. This review uniquely integrates the recovery of critical minerals with sustainable economic strategies, providing a comprehensive framework for the effective utilization of RM in the circular economy.},
}
@article {pmid40505098,
year = {2025},
author = {Jhu, MY and Ledermann, R},
title = {Division of labor in the nodule: Plant GluTRs fuel heme biosynthesis for symbiosis.},
journal = {The Plant cell},
volume = {37},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40505098},
issn = {1532-298X},
}
@article {pmid40504784,
year = {2025},
author = {Heinen, M and Rovenich, H and Altegoer, F},
title = {The rise of fungal G-protein coupled receptors in pathogenesis and symbiosis.},
journal = {PLoS pathogens},
volume = {21},
number = {6},
pages = {e1013212},
pmid = {40504784},
issn = {1553-7374},
}
@article {pmid40504761,
year = {2025},
author = {Chiriatti, M and Bergamaschi Ganapini, M and Panai, E and Wiederhold, BK and Riva, G},
title = {System 0: Transforming Artificial Intelligence into a Cognitive Extension.},
journal = {Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking},
volume = {28},
number = {7},
pages = {534-542},
doi = {10.1089/cyber.2025.0201},
pmid = {40504761},
issn = {2152-2723},
mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence ; *Cognition ; *Thinking ; },
abstract = {This paper introduces "System 0," a conceptual framework for understanding how artificial intelligence functions as a cognitive extension preceding both intuitive (System 1) and deliberative (System 2) thinking processes. As AI systems increasingly shape the informational substrate upon which human cognition operates, they transform from passive tools into active cognitive partners. Building on the Extended Mind hypothesis and Heersmink's criteria for cognitive extension, we argue that AI systems satisfy key conditions for cognitive integration. These include reliability, trust, transparency, individualization, and the ability to enhance and transform human mental functions. However, AI integration creates a paradox: while expanding cognitive capabilities, it may simultaneously constrain thinking through sycophancy and bias amplification. To address these challenges, we propose seven evidence-based frameworks for effective human-AI cognitive integration: Enhanced Cognitive Scaffolding, which promotes progressive autonomy; Symbiotic Division of Cognitive Labor, strategically allocating tasks based on comparative strengths; Dialectical Cognitive Enhancement, countering AI sycophancy through productive epistemic tension; Agentic Transparency and Control, ensuring users understand and direct AI influence; Expertise Democratization, breaking down knowledge silos; Social-Emotional Augmentation, addressing affective dimensions of cognitive work; and Duration-Optimized Integration, managing the evolving human-AI relationship over time. Together, these frameworks provide a comprehensive approach for harnessing AI as a genuine cognitive extension while preserving human agency, critical thinking, and intellectual growth, transforming AI from a replacement for human cognition into a catalyst for enhanced thinking.},
}
@article {pmid40504377,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, J and Zhao, Z and Zhu, C and Wang, E and Brunel, B and Li, S and Zheng, Q and Feng, Z and Zhang, H},
title = {Diverse Peanut Bradyrhizobial Communities in Chinese Soils: Insights from Eastern, Central, and Northern Henan Province.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {65},
pmid = {40504377},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {2024M761756//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; Yuzutong[2023]No.11//Central Plains Youth Top Talent Project/ ; Sabbatical Year SIP20200726//IPN, Mexico/ ; },
mesh = {*Arachis/microbiology ; China ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Phylogeny ; *Soil Microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Symbiosis ; Soil/chemistry ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; },
abstract = {Henan province is a major peanut-producing area in China, but research on rhizobia nodulating peanut have been limited to southern Henan, which accounts for only less than half of the province. A collection of 212 strains of peanut rhizobia was obtained from six field sites in eastern, central, and northern Henan, Central China, by using peanut as a trap host under glasshouse conditions. PCR-RFLP analysis of ribosomal IGS sequences classified the 212 strains into 28 distinct types. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA, atpD, gyrB, dnaK, and rpoB genes from 30 representative strains of the 28 IGS types identified revealed the presence of Bradyrhizobium. liaoningense, B. yuanmingense, B. zhengyangense, and two novel Bradyrhizobium genospecies. This composition differs from the peanut rhizobia community found in southern Henan. B. liaoningense was the dominant species, covering 49% of the total isolates across the field sites, while B. zhengyangense accounting for 27%, B. yuanmingense for 7% and the two novel Bradyrhizobium genospecies for 17%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the symbiosis-related nodC and nifH gene sequences clustered into six groups: three associated exclusively with the peanut host (symbiovar arachidis and two unnamed group), three originating from other legume hosts (sv. glycinearum, cajani and retamae). Through the principal component analysis (PCA) between IGS types or species and soil physicochemical properties and environmental factors, it showed that IGS types 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18, and 21 positively correlated with AveTmax, AveTmin, AN and AP. IGS types 4, 11, 16, 17, 20, 25, and 26 were positively associated with Alt, AvePrecp, and pH. IGS types 2, 7, 10, 22, 24, and 27 correlated with AP, while remaining types exhibited correlations with OM. In addition, B. yuanmingense, B. liaoningense, and Bradyrhizobium genosp. I positively affected by AveTmax, AP, AN, and AK. Bradyrhizobium genosp. II positively correlated with AK, AN, and OM while B. zhengyangense mainly affected by AvePrecp and pH. The alkaline soil pH in this study differs greatly from the acid soils in southern Henan, explaining the inconsistency between the species of peanut rhizobia detected in southern Henan and the rest of the province. The symbiotic effect assay demonstrated that all representative strains successfully formed nodules and exhibited a significant increase in symbiotic efficiency. Representative strains revealed diverse abiotic stress tolerance to NaCl, acidity, alkalinity, temperature and drought. It conducted a comprehensive collection of peanut rhizobia in eastern, central, and northern Henan province, identifying two putative novel Bradyrhizobium species and isolating rhizobial strains with high symbiotic efficiency and robust stress tolerance. This study is a necessary basic for the producing and application of peanut rhizobial inoculant in this main agricultural province.},
}
@article {pmid40504144,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, X and Li, H and Chen, ZB and Liu, BQ and Li, CQ and Zhao, ZY and Li, XY and Luan, JB},
title = {Hamiltonella symbionts benefit whitefly fertilization by regulating the maternal protein Tudor-mediated piRNA pathway.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {24},
pages = {e2427053122},
pmid = {40504144},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {32225042//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/physiology/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Female ; *RNA, Small Interfering/genetics/metabolism ; *Insect Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Fertilization/physiology ; Ovary/metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Piwi-Interacting RNA ; },
abstract = {Although it is widely recognized that nutritional symbionts can manipulate host reproduction, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms are largely unclear. The facultative symbiont Hamiltonella in bacteriocyte induces female-biased sex ratio of whiteflies. Here, we demonstrate that a maternal gene tudor (tud) and its encoded protein have lower expression levels in ovaries of Hamiltonella-cured whiteflies. Tud family proteins can interlink the various stages of biosynthesis of PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), a class of small noncoding RNAs. We find that Hamiltonella affects the abundance of a piRNA through the maternal gene tud, thereby regulating the expression of the vacuolar (H+)-ATPase H subunit (VATPH), which is the switch of activity of the vacuolar (H+)-ATPase that plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of intracellular energy and supporting mitochondrial respiration. This regulation adjusts the ATP level in ovaries of whiteflies. The ATP level shapes the F-actin pattern in ovaries and eggs of whiteflies, ultimately manipulating whitefly fertilization. Silencing tud inhibited whitefly fertilization by impairing ATP levels and F-actin patterns in ovaries and eggs. This study reveals that symbiont and maternal protein associations can regulate host fertilization by piRNA biosynthesis.},
}
@article {pmid40503882,
year = {2025},
author = {Jonas, L and Lee, Y-Y and Bachvaroff, T and Hill, RT and Li, Y},
title = {Two novel Patescibacteria: Phycocordibacter aenigmaticus gen. nov. sp. nov. and Minusculum obligatum gen. nov. sp. nov., both associated with microalgae optimized for carbon dioxide sequestration from flue gas.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {e0123125},
pmid = {40503882},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {DE-FE0031914//U.S. Department of Energy/ ; DE-FE0032188//U.S. Department of Energy/ ; },
mesh = {*Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Microalgae/microbiology/metabolism ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Symbiosis ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Bacteroidetes/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {The functional roles of bacterial symbionts associated with microalgae remain understudied despite the importance of microalgae in biotechnology and environmental microbiology. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted to analyze bacterial communities associated with two microalgae optimized for growth with flue gas containing 5%-10% CO2. Two dominant bacteria with no taxonomic classification beyond the class level (Paceibacteria) were discovered repeatedly in the most productive algal cultures. Long-read metagenomic sequencing was conducted to yield high-quality metagenomes, from which two novel species were discovered under the Seqcode (seqco.de/r:ywe1blo2), Phycocordibacter aenigmaticus gen. nov. sp. nov. and Minusculum obligatum gen. nov. sp. nov. The genus Phycocordibacter gen. nov. was proposed as the nomenclatural type of the family Phycocordibacteraceae fam. nov. and the order Phycocordibacterales ord. nov. Both bacteria possessed features typical of Patescibacteria such as reduced genomes (<800 kbp), lack of complete glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathways, and inability to synthesize amino acids. Instead, they rely on the reductive pentose phosphate pathway (Calvin cycle) for essential biosynthesis and redox balance. P. aenigmaticus may also rely on elemental sulfur oxidation (sdo), partial nitrite reduction (nirK), and sulfur-related amino acid metabolism (SAMe → SAH). Both bacteria were found in high relative abundance in cultures of Tetradesmus obliquus HTB1 (freshwater) and Nannochloropsis oceanica IMET1 (marine), suggesting a tight association with microalgae in various environments. The absence of full metabolic pathways for energy production suggests extreme metabolic limitations and obligate symbiosis, most likely with other bacteria associated with the microalgae.IMPORTANCETo our knowledge, this is the first report of Patescibacteria as dominant bacteria associated with microalgae or within a biologically mediated carbon capture system. Two novel Patescibacteria were found in two ecologically distinct microalgal cultures (one freshwater strain and one marine) regardless of whether the cultures were bubbled with air, 5% CO2, or 10% CO2. This unexpected and unprecedented dominance led to long-read sequencing and the assembly of high-quality metagenomes for both Patescibacteria, as well as five other bacteria in the system. The discovery of two novel species belonging to two novel genera, one novel family, and one novel order has enabled us to fill in gaps of a major, uncharacterized branch within the bacterial tree of life. Additionally, the extreme gene loss found in both Patescibacteria, Phycocordibacter aenigmaticus and Minusculum obligatum, contributes knowledge to a rapidly advancing body of research on the scavenging metabolic nature of this enigmatic and largely unclassified phylum.},
}
@article {pmid40502178,
year = {2025},
author = {Tristao Santini, A and Cerqueira, AES and Moran, NA and Resende, HC and Santana, WC and de Paula, SO and da Silva, CC},
title = {Gut microbiota of Brazilian Melipona stingless bees: dominant members and their localization in different gut regions.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40502178},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R35 GM131738/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {The gut microbiome of eusocial corbiculate bees, which include honeybees, bumblebees, and stingless bees, consists of anciently associated, host-specific bacteria that are vital for bee health. Two symbionts, Snodgrassella and Gilliamella, are ubiquitous in honeybees and bumblebees. However, their presence varies in the stingless bee clade (Meliponini), a group with pantropical distribution. They are absent or rare in the diverse genus Melipona, indicating a shift in microbiota composition in this lineage. To identify the main members of the Melipona microbiota, we combined newly collected and published data from field-collected individuals of several species. Additionally, we identified the localization of the dominant microbiota members within the gut regions of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides. The dominant microbiota of Melipona species includes members of the genera Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Apilactobacillus, Floricoccus, and Bombella. Among these, Apilactobacillus and Bombella dominate in the crop, whereas Apilactobacillus and other members of the Lactobacillaceae dominate the ventriculus. The ileum lacks Snodgrassella or Gilliamella but contains a putative new symbiont close to Floricoccus, as well as strains of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillaceae (including Apilactobacillus), and Bombella. The rectum is dominated by Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. In summary, the Melipona microbiota is compositionally distinct but shows spatial organization paralleling that of other eusocial corbiculate bees.},
}
@article {pmid40501974,
year = {2025},
author = {Jacobs, J and Mirchandani, C and Seligmann, WE and Sacco, S and Escalona, M and Green, RE and Russell, SL},
title = {Wolbachia induces host cell identity changes and determines symbiotic fate in Drosophila.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40501974},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R00 GM135583/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM157189/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HG012344/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Many host-associated bacteria influence the differentiation of their eukaryotic host cells. The association between Wolbachia pipientis and Drosophila melanogaster offers a model for understanding how host-microbe gene expression co-evolves. Using Wolbachia-infected Drosophila cell lines, we show that the wMel strain alters host cell states, inducing novel gene expression programs that diverge from known cell types. Transcriptomic co-expression network analysis identified gene expression modules specific to each cell type and infection state, and revealed that wMel tailors its gene expression to host context. In macrophage-like host cells, wMel expresses pathogenic effectors, whereas in neuron-like cells, wMel upregulates metabolic genes. Micro-C chromatin contact data revealed that many of these infection-induced changes are epigenetically encoded, with wMel infection conferring reduced chromatin contacts and widespread transcriptional derepression in D. melanogaster. These findings show that the nature of Wolbachia symbiosis-mutualistic or pathogenic-emerges from host cell environments and suggest new paths for engineering host-specific microbial phenotypes.},
}
@article {pmid40501112,
year = {2025},
author = {Bytnerowicz, TA and Griffin, KL and Menge, DNL},
title = {Time lags in the regulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {4},
pages = {1680-1693},
pmid = {40501112},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {DEB-1457650//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS-2129542//National Science Foundation/ ; Stengl-Wyer Scholars Program//University of Texas at Austin/ ; FP91781501-0/EPA/EPA/United States ; FP91781501-0/EPA/EPA/United States ; },
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Time Factors ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Temperature ; *Trees/microbiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Theory has shown that time lags in the regulation of symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation (SNF) can be important to the competitive dynamics and ecosystem consequences of N-fixing trees, but measurements of these time lags are lacking. Here, we used a novel method to measure SNF in seedlings of four N-fixing tree species that represent tropical and temperate origins and actinorhizal and rhizobial symbiotic associations, each grown under warm and cold temperature regimes. We added N to previously N-poor pots to induce downregulation and flushed N out of previously N-rich pots to induce upregulation. It took 31-51 d for SNF to decline by 95%, with faster downregulation in temperate species and at warm temperatures. Upregulation by 95% took 108-138 d in total, including 21-57 d after SNF was first detectable. SNF started earlier in rhizobial symbioses, but increased faster once it started in actinorhizal symbioses. These results suggest that time lags in regulating SNF represent a significant constraint on facultative SNF and can lead to large losses of available N from ecosystems, providing a resolution to the paradox of sustained N richness.},
}
@article {pmid40500556,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, D and Liu, L and Zhang, D and Zheng, Y and Hu, W and Wu, P and Hao, X and Liu, H and Gao, J and Li, J and Wu, Z and Li, S and Wang, H},
title = {One-step Radiosynthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Molecular Tracer [[18]F]FEtO-CHC Targeting Monocarboxylate Transporters for PET Imaging in Tumor-bearing Mice.},
journal = {Molecular imaging and biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40500556},
issn = {1860-2002},
support = {81471695//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82027804//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82001873//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {PURPOSE: Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) play a pivotal role in tumor metabolic symbiosis, acid resistance, and metastatic progression. Herein, we report the development of [[18]F]FEtO-CHC, a novel MCTs-targeted positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, and systematically evaluate its potential for non-invasive tumor imaging.<br><br>PROCEDURES: The radiosynthesis of [[18]F]FEtO-CHC and its non-radioactive analog was achieved through optimized precursor synthesis and fluorination protocols. Comprehensive in vitro characterization encompassed: radiochemical purity and stability assessments, cellular uptake kinetics and inhibition assays in MCT-expressing BxPC3 (pancreatic) and 4T1 (breast) cancer models, biodistribution and dynamic micro-PET/CT imaging in tumor-bearing murine models.<br><br>RESULTS: [[18]F]FEtO-CHC, a CHC-derived radioligand, was synthesized via streamlined one-step radiosynthesis with 52.08 &#xb1; 6.74% decay-corrected yield (n=7), >99% radiochemical purity, and excellent stability. Cellular studies demonstrated MCTs-dependent uptake with significant suppression (>70%) by &#x3b1;-CHC competition. In vivo pharmacokinetics revealed favorable metabolic stability with dual hepatorenal clearance. Tumor uptake correlated with MCT expression levels, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes an efficient one-step radiosynthetic approach for [[18]F]FEtO-CHC production and validates its specificity as a MCT-targeted PET probe, offering potential utility in tumor imaging with further structural optimization.},
}
@article {pmid40500257,
year = {2025},
author = {Pérez, J and Picioreanu, C},
title = {Diffusion-based mechanism explains spatial organization in cross-feeding biofilms.},
journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {102},
pmid = {40500257},
issn = {2055-5008},
support = {PID2021-126102OB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; ORIGEN PID2021-126102OB-I00//European Regional Development Fund/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Biofilms ; Anaerobiosis ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Diffusion ; Food Chain ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; *Archaea/physiology ; Autotrophic Processes ; *Computer Simulation ; },
abstract = {Complex symbiotic interactions were claimed for explaining spatial organization of microbial species in cross-feeding biofilms. Here however, a distinct mechanism is proposed, called diffusion-based enhanced microbial organization (DEMO). An accepted mathematical model based on one-dimensional balances with diffusion-reaction of substrates and convection of multiple microbial types in a cross-feeding biofilm was used to describe emerging microbial distributions. The model allowed isolation of the effects of diffusion from other factors (kinetics, stoichiometry, specific symbiotic interactions), pointing to a possible mechanism for stratification in anaerobic biofilms. The secondary degrader consuming waste metabolite from a primary degrader was retained in anaerobic biofilms in an apparent growth yield disproportion. However, diffusion of an intermediate substrate can be responsible for this disproportion, even in longer food chains. This microbial distribution was not observed in independent feeding. In aerobic biofilms, this mechanism remains inactive, explaining the preference for full oxidation of organic matter in aerobic degradation.},
}
@article {pmid40500053,
year = {2025},
author = {Deng, SJ and Tu, L and Li, L and Hu, JP and Li, JL and Tang, JX and Zhang, MC and Zhu, GD and Cao, J},
title = {A symbiotic bacterium regulates the detoxification metabolism of deltamethrin in Aedes albopictus.},
journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology},
volume = {212},
number = {},
pages = {106445},
doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106445},
pmid = {40500053},
issn = {1095-9939},
mesh = {Animals ; *Pyrethrins/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Aedes/microbiology/metabolism/drug effects ; *Nitriles/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Insecticides/metabolism/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; *Serratia marcescens/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; Insecticide Resistance ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Glutathione Transferase/metabolism/genetics ; Insect Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {The mosquito Aedes albopictus is an important vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika; and is a globally distributed invasive mosquito with increasing resistance to insecticides, thereby posing a serious risk to global public health. Symbiotic gut bacteria have been shown to be related to insecticide resistance, but knowledge is still limited for A. albopictus. Here, we explored the role of Serratia marcescens, a gut symbiotic bacterium, in the resistance of A. albopictus to the insecticide deltamethrin. Using 16S-rRNA sequencing we found that S. marcescens was significantly enriched in A. albopictus after deltamethrin exposure, and that resistance increased after S. marcescens enrichment. The enzymatic activities of mixed-function oxidase (MFO) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), two important detoxification enzymes, were higher in the bacteria-enriched mosquitoes. The expressions of ABCG4 and GSTD1, two genes related to detoxification metabolism, were up-regulated following S. marcescens infection and after deltamethrin exposure, as assayed using RNA-seq. The up-regulation of these two genes was most significant in midgut and Malpighian tubules. Our results suggest that S. marcescens infection could enhance deltamethrin resistance in A. albopictus by increasing detoxification metabolism; of interest for designing more efficient mosquito control measures.},
}
@article {pmid40498450,
year = {2025},
author = {Teyssier, E and Grat, S and Landry, D and Ouradou, M and Rich, MK and Fort, S and Keller, J and Lefebvre, B and Delaux, PM and Mbengue, M},
title = {A plant Lysin Motif Receptor-Like Kinase plays an ancestral function in mycorrhiza.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {24},
pages = {e2426063122},
pmid = {40498450},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {OPP1172165//Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (GF)/ ; OPP1172165//Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)/ ; 101001675//EC | ERC | HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council (ERC)/ ; ANR-17-EURE-0003//LABoratoires d'EXcellence ARCANE (Labex ARCANE)/ ; ANR-15-IDEX-02//Glyc@Alps/ ; CARN-025-01//Institut Carnot PolyNat (PolyNat)/ ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Laboratoire d'Excellence TULIP (Labex TULIP)/ ; ANR-18-EURE-0019//&#xc9;cole Universitaire de Recherche (EUR) - TULIP-GS/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Marchantia/genetics/microbiology/enzymology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Protein Kinases/metabolism/genetics ; Glomeromycota ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) with soilborne Glomeromycota fungi was pivotal in the conquest of land by plants almost half a billion years ago. In flowering plants, it is hypothesized that AM is initiated by the perception of AM fungi-derived chito- and lipochito-oligosaccharides (COs/LCOs) in the host via Lysin Motif Receptor-Like Kinases (LysM-RLKs). However, it remains uncertain whether plant perception of these molecules is a prerequisite for AM establishment and for its origin. Here, we made use of the reduced LysM-RLK complement present in the liverwort Marchantia paleacea to assess the conservation of the role played by this class of receptors during AM and in CO/LCO perception. Our reverse genetic approach demonstrates the critical function of a single LysM-RLK, MpaLYKa, in AM formation, thereby supporting an ancestral function for this receptor in symbiosis. Binding studies, cytosolic calcium variation recordings and genome-wide transcriptomics indicate that another LysM-RLK of M. paleacea, MpaLYR, is also required for triggering a response to COs and tested LCOs, despite being dispensable for AM formation. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the perception of symbionts by LysM-RLK is an ancestral feature in land plants, and suggest the existence of yet-uncharacterized AM fungi signals.},
}
@article {pmid40497987,
year = {2025},
author = {Kamalabadi Farahani, M and Bahar, A and Tahmasebi, H and Oksenych, V and Jahantigh, M},
title = {Microbial Metabolite Effects on Vasculogenic Mimicry in Metastatic Cancers.},
journal = {Cells},
volume = {14},
number = {11},
pages = {},
pmid = {40497987},
issn = {2073-4409},
mesh = {Humans ; *Neoplasms/pathology/microbiology/blood supply/metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; *Neovascularization, Pathologic/pathology/microbiology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Animals ; *Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Aggressive cancer cells can form new, functional blood vessel-like structures independently of endothelial cells, known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM), instead of the usual tumor blood vessel formation process. However, the symbiotic relationship between microbial communities and human cells ensures the upkeep of cellular metabolism and the functionality of the immune system and metastatic cancers. This interaction typically happens through the generation and management of hormonal intermediates, metabolites, secondary metabolites, proteins, and toxins. A disturbance in the balance between the host and microbiota can alter the dynamics of their relationship, creating a conducive environment for the development of diseases, such as cancers. This review aims to synthesize the initial evidence on the molecular processes governing the interactions between GM and cancer development and emphasize microbial metabolites' effects on vasculogenic mimicry. Some microbial metabolites could also contribute to developing interactions between microbes and the tumor microenvironment. While numerous obstacles persist, GM's immense significance and complete capability in shaping tailored anticancer plans cannot be exaggerated, highlighting the need to investigate a holistic method that includes microbial modulation therapy in cancer management.},
}
@article {pmid40497665,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, C and Dunn, DW and Shi, L and Wang, R and Wang, RW},
title = {Parasites and investment to host inflorescences in a fig tree-fig wasp mutualism.},
journal = {Ecology},
volume = {106},
number = {6},
pages = {e70123},
doi = {10.1002/ecy.70123},
pmid = {40497665},
issn = {1939-9170},
support = {31760105//National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 31901105//National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 32160239//National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 32070453//National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2023D61//Yunnan University of Finance and Economics/ ; U2102221//NSFC-Yunnan United Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Wasps/physiology ; *Ficus/parasitology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Flowers/parasitology/physiology ; Pollination ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; },
abstract = {Most mutualisms are parasitized by third-party species that inflict costs to the mutualists. How such parasites affect mechanisms that help maintain mutualism stability is poorly understood, even in well-studied systems. Angiosperm plants tend to invest most resources in tissue that yields high net benefits. In mutualisms with plant hosts, reduction in such investment can function as a key stability-promoting mechanism, such as in fig-wasp mutualisms. Here, uncooperative symbiont wasps that fail to pollinate incur "sanctions" via reduced host investment to unpollinated figs, realized via fig abortion, killing all wasp offspring, or via elevated offspring mortality within unaborted figs. We experimentally exposed host Ficus racemosa figs to parasitic wasps Sycophaga fusca, which convert fig flowers into offspring without benefitting host trees, with or without uncooperative (pollen-free) or cooperative (pollen-laden) symbiont pollinator wasps Ceratosolen fusciceps. Pollen-free C. fusciceps were still able to convert fig flower ovaries into wasp offspring, whereas those naturally pollen laden were prevented from reproducing by experimental manipulation. Independent of the effects of pollination and reproduction by pollinators, increased exposure to S. fusca parasites resulted in reduced rates of fig abortion and gall failure in unaborted figs. Although S. fusca convert flower ovaries that could otherwise become beneficial pollinator offspring or fig seeds into parasite offspring, figs with intermediate levels of parasite exposure received high levels of investment. Our results suggest that S. fusca parasite oviposition/larval activities can result in host trees boosting investment to figs, even when this may counter the tree's interests. We suggest that oviposition/larval activity by these parasites may mimic the biochemical pathways of pollinator gall formation and seed production.},
}
@article {pmid40497339,
year = {2025},
author = {Dou, Q and Yang, J and Zhang, L and Fan, R and Peng, Y},
title = {Bridge-Mediated Electron Transfer: Bioinspired Redox Communication for Sustained Nitrite-Independent Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation.},
journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society},
volume = {147},
number = {26},
pages = {22655-22665},
doi = {10.1021/jacs.5c04107},
pmid = {40497339},
issn = {1520-5126},
mesh = {Oxidation-Reduction ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism/chemistry ; Electron Transport ; *Nitrites/metabolism/chemistry ; Anaerobiosis ; Ferric Compounds/chemistry/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The lack of nitrite (NO2[-]) in real wastewater severely limits the sustainable nitrogen removal of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). Although microbial extracellular electron transfer (EET) provides a new approach for NO2[-]-independent anammox, the slow electron transfer at the microbe-material interface hinders its engineering application. Herein, this study proposes a strategy to enhance the electrical contact between microorganisms and insoluble acceptors through conductive bridging materials (e.g., Fe2O3 nanoparticles encapsulated by flavin-rich extracellular polymeric substances). Results showed that the interface between anammox bacteria (AMX1) and Fe2O3 exhibited a high electron flux (6.86 mA·cm[-2]), considerably higher than all reports to date, achieving stable ammonium (NH4[+]) removal of approximately 97.90% and operating continuously for over 150 days. Building on the efficient EET, Fe2O3 was further triggered into Fe[2+]/Fe[3+] redox signaling for microbial metabolic coordination. Specifically, Fe[2+] signals channeled reducing power into coenzyme A/biotin synthesis in symbiotic bacteria (VER2) and fed back to the carbon fixation enzyme (FC = 1.1-fold) of AMX1 through chemotaxis migration and cross-feeding, while Fe[2+] was reconverted to Fe[3+]. The Fe[3+] signals induced gene expression (Log2FC > 0) of EET-associated proteins and simultaneously facilitated the conversion of electricity to critical chemical energy, accelerating the autotrophic growth of AMX1. In this way, anammox bacteria not only survived but also thrived in NO2[-]-limited environments, with relative abundance increasing by 127.22% to sustain NH4[+] removal. This study offers a novel solution to the NO2[-] supply challenge in wastewater treatment, advancing industry toward carbon neutrality goals.},
}
@article {pmid40496994,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, J and Cao, J and Guo, B and Han, M and Feng, Z and Tang, J and Mo, X and Wang, J and Yang, Q and Pei, Y and Kuzyakov, Y and Ding, J and Makita, N and Yang, X and Zhang, H and Zhao, Y and Kong, D},
title = {Increased dependence on mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient acquisition under carbon limitation by tree girdling.},
journal = {Plant diversity},
volume = {47},
number = {3},
pages = {466-478},
pmid = {40496994},
issn = {2468-2659},
abstract = {Nutrient acquisition through symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi is carbon (C) costly but fundamental for plant growth, community, and ecosystem functioning. Here, we examined the functions of roots and mycorrhiza with respect to nutrient uptake after artificially inducing C limitation-seven months after girdling of an ectomycorrhizal tree, Pinus taeda. Root physiological activity (measured as root nitrogen content and root exudation) declined after girdling and was accompanied with 110% and 340% increases in mycorrhizal colonization and extramatrical hyphal length, respectively. Fungi colonizing roots switched to a community characterized by higher C efficiency (lower C cost) of nutrient acquisition (CENA, the amount of nutrient acquisition per unit C cost) and lower network complexity, indicating a tradeoff between CENA and stability of the fungal community. Root transcriptome analysis suggested a shift in metabolic pathways from a tricarboxylic acid cycle decomposition of carbohydrate to lipid biosynthesis to maintain closer associations with mycorrhiza for nutrient cycling after the girdling. By integrating multi-level evidence, including root transcriptome, fungal composition, and network complexity data, we demonstrate an increased dependence on mycorrhiza for nutrient acquisition under the C limitation condition, which is likely due to a shift to fungal community with higher CENA at the cost of lower stability.},
}
@article {pmid40495375,
year = {2025},
author = {Fattar, N and Louni, M and Buysse, M and Floriano, AM and Bertaux, J and Cantereau, A and Rivero, A and Bruley, M and McCoy, KD and Delafont, V and Boulanger, N and Vavre, F and Bouchon, D and Duron, O},
title = {Evolutionary Convergence of Nutritional Symbionts in Ticks.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {17},
number = {3},
pages = {e70120},
pmid = {40495375},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {ANR- 20-CE34-0002//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-10-LABX-04-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-10-LABX-25-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-21-CE02-0002//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; //Universit&#xe9; de Montpellier, KIM RIVE, MUSE/ ; //R&#xe9;gion Occitanie Pyr&#xe9;n&#xe9;es-M&#xe9;diterran&#xe9;e, RIVOC/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Ticks/microbiology/physiology ; *Coxiella/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; *Francisella/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Phylogeny ; Heme/biosynthesis ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Symbiosis with bacteria is essential for the survival of animals with an obligate blood-feeding lifestyle. In ticks, two distinct bacterial lineages, Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts, have independently evolved into nutritional symbionts, converging on a key biochemical function for the tick's survival and growth: the production of three B vitamins. In this study, we carried out comparative analyses across multiple tick species and characterised remarkable similarities in their tissue localisation, particularly in organs important for nutrient metabolism and maternal transmission to progeny. In these organs, both symbionts colonise similar intracellular niches, residing within membrane-bound, replicative vacuoles that occupy a substantial part of the cytoplasm of tick cells. Despite extensive genomic reduction, both symbionts have retained pathways for the biosynthesis of B vitamins and, in some cases, chorismate, a precursor used for the production of serotonin by ticks. However, differences exist: while Coxiella-like endosymbionts lack the ability to synthesise heme, Francisella-like endosymbionts possess a complete heme biosynthesis pathway and may potentially provide ticks with this essential cofactor. Overall, these phenotypic and genomic characteristics reveal a broad convergence among symbiotic interactions across major tick families, highlighting the essential role of symbiosis in tick nutrition, feeding behaviour, blood intake and subsequently in pathogen transmission.},
}
@article {pmid40494677,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, JP and Chiu, CH and Oldroyd, GED},
title = {Unlocking the role of NSP1 and NSP2: nutrient-responsive regulators in nodulation.},
journal = {Trends in plant science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2025.05.008},
pmid = {40494677},
issn = {1878-4372},
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation represents a crucial yet energy-demanding strategy for legumes to survive in nutrient-poor soils. We highlight the multifaceted roles of NSP1 and NSP2 in this symbiosis and propose their function as 'nutrient-responsive regulators', integrating environmental signals, physiological status, and nutrient availability, to ensure nodulation occurs only under favorable conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40494494,
year = {2025},
author = {María, CM and José V, D and Adrián, PR and Enrique, QM and Natalia, GM},
title = {Transcriptome analyses reveal Beauveria bassiana endophyte induced disruption of aphid physiology.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {212},
number = {},
pages = {108377},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108377},
pmid = {40494494},
issn = {1096-0805},
mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/microbiology/physiology/genetics ; *Beauveria/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Transcriptome ; *Endophytes/physiology ; Pest Control, Biological ; Symbiosis ; Cucurbitaceae/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Some strains of entomopathogenic fungi are known to colonize crops endophytically, providing systemic protection against insect pests. This colonization has been revealed to reduce aphid survival and reproductive potential. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects could provide insight into what occurs to aphids when they feed on endophytically colonized plants. In this study, an RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was conducted for transcriptome analyses of the melon aphid Aphis gossypii and its symbiotic bacteria after feeding on Beauveria bassiana endophytically colonized melon plants. The fungal colonization triggers significant alterations in the aphid transcriptome, reflecting molecular responses to fungal propagules and/or plant-induced systemic resistance. Key changes include the up-regulation of genes involved in host plant recognition by the aphid pest, immune system activation, energy production, and defense mechanisms such as toxin adaptation, detoxification, and cell death markers. Genes associated with escape responses, including alarm pheromone production and wing bud differentiation, were also up-regulated. In contrast, down-regulated genes point to disruptions in homeostasis and neuronal function, further impacting aphid physiology and its symbiotic relationship with Buchnera. These molecular perturbations likely underlie the lethal and sublethal effects observed in aphids feeding on B. bassiana-colonized plants. This study identifies critical pathways involved in aphid-fungal-plant interactions, offering valuable insights into the potential of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi for aphid pest management.},
}
@article {pmid40494311,
year = {2025},
author = {van Galen, LG and Corrales, A and Truong, C and van den Hoogen, J and Kumar, S and Manley, BF and Stewart, JD and Kohout, P and Baldrian, P and Větrovský, T and Crowther, TW and Kiers, ET and Van Nuland, ME},
title = {The biogeography and conservation of Earth's 'dark' ectomycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {11},
pages = {R563-R574},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.079},
pmid = {40494311},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/classification/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Soil Microbiology ; Mycobiome ; Phylogeography ; Earth, Planet ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Breakthroughs in DNA sequencing have upended our understanding of fungal diversity. Only ∼155,000 of the 2-3 million fungal species on the planet have been formally described and named, and 'dark taxa' - species known only from sequences - represent the vast majority of species within the fungal kingdom. The International Code of Nomenclature requires physical type specimens to officially recognize new fungal species, making it difficult to name dark taxa. This is a significant problem for conservation because, without names, species cannot be recognized for environmental and legal protection. Symbiotic ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi play a particularly important role in forest carbon drawdown, but at present we have little understanding of how many EcM fungal species exist, or where to prioritize research activities to survey and describe EcM fungal lineages. In this review, we use global soil metabarcoding databases (GlobalFungi and the Global Soil Mycobiome consortium) to evaluate current estimates of the total number of EcM fungal species on Earth, outline the current state of undescribed EcM dark taxa, and identify priority regions for future dark taxa exploration. The metabarcoding databases include up to 219,730 EcM fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) detected from almost 39,500 samples. Using Chao richness estimates corrected for extrapolating species numbers from metabarcoding datasets, we predict that the global diversity of EcM fungi could be ∼25,500-55,500 species. Dark taxa - those that do not match species-level identities - account for 79-83% of OTUs. Oceania contains the highest percentage of dark taxa (87%), and Europe the lowest (78%). Priority 'darkspots' for future research occur predominantly in tropical regions, but also in selected temperate forests at both southern and northern latitudes. We propose concrete steps to reduce the prevalence of EcM darkspots, including performing targeted field surveys, barcoding fungaria voucher specimens, and developing new ways to describe and conserve fungal taxa from DNA alone.},
}
@article {pmid40494298,
year = {2025},
author = {Martin, F and Tan, H},
title = {Saprotrophy-to-symbiosis continuum in fungi.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {11},
pages = {R469-R475},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.032},
pmid = {40494298},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Fungi/physiology/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Fungi are one of the most diverse and ecologically important groups of organisms on Earth. They exhibit remarkable diversity in their ecological roles, ranging from decomposers to mutualistic symbionts to parasites. They have a wide array of lifestyles, which reflect their diverse ecological roles and evolutionary adaptations to marine, aquatic, and terrestrial ecosystems. Fungi are osmotrophs that grow as filaments of cells (hyphae) into their food, secrete digestive enzymes across their cells' chitinous walls, and absorb dissolved nutrients. The classification of fungal lifestyles is primarily based on how they obtain nutrients, with the major modes of nutrition being saprotrophy, parasitism, mutualism and commensalism. Here, we briefly explore these various lifestyles, illustrating their significance in ecosystems and their relationships with other organisms, and then discuss how comparative genomics provides novel insights into their evolutionary trajectories.},
}
@article {pmid40494297,
year = {2025},
author = {Hibbett, D and Nagy, LG and Nilsson, RH},
title = {Fungal diversity, evolution, and classification.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {11},
pages = {R463-R469},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.053},
pmid = {40494297},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Fungi/classification/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Biodiversity ; *Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Fungi include mushrooms, molds, lichens, yeasts, and zoosporic forms that occur as free-living or symbiotic organisms in every ecosystem on Earth. About 155,000 species of Fungi have been described, and possibly millions more remain to be named. Recent focus on aquatic habitats has illuminated major groups near the boundary between Fungi and protists. Fungal systematists have made remarkable progress toward resolving the major branches of the phylogeny, although some deep nodes have proven recalcitrant. Fungal taxonomists steadily describe about 3,000 new species per year, and fungal molecular ecologists routinely detect many thousands of unidentifiable 'dark fungi' through metagenomic analyses. To assemble the complete fungal tree of life, it will be necessary to connect the main branches of the phylogeny to information on all described species and integrate the vast and rapidly growing corpus of dark fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40494295,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, KH and Darnajoux, R and Magain, N},
title = {Fungi-cyanobacteria associations.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {11},
pages = {R456-R458},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.058},
pmid = {40494295},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Cyanobacteria/physiology ; *Fungi/physiology ; },
abstract = {In this quick guide, Chen et al. introduce the various symbiotic interactions that are found between fungi and cyanobacteria, as seen for example in the cyanolichens.},
}
@article {pmid40493490,
year = {2025},
author = {Risser, DD},
title = {Motility in Filamentous Cyanobacteria.},
journal = {Annual review of microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-micro-051024-033328},
pmid = {40493490},
issn = {1545-3251},
abstract = {Filamentous cyanobacteria are multicellular organisms that perform oxygenic photosynthesis and frequently exhibit surface motility. This review discusses the underlying mechanism facilitating motility in these organisms, with a focus on recent molecular and genetic studies. While previous explanations for this motility have proposed exotic mechanisms, the current data indicate that all filamentous cyanobacteria produce a similar motility-associated extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) or slime essential for movement and employ a type IV pilus (T4P) motor to power motility. The (a) regulation of the motor to facilitate coordinated polarity and phototaxis and (b) possible bidirectional feedback between the T4P and motility-associated polysaccharide are discussed as well. Finally, the role of motility in promoting diverse biological phenomena, including dispersal, phototaxis, biofilm formation, granulation, and symbiosis, is explored.},
}
@article {pmid40492833,
year = {2025},
author = {Henry, R and Gurney, J and Armen, S and Barrett, CD and Gavitt, B and Van, P and Lammers, D and McClellan, J and Schreiber, M},
title = {The Joint Trauma System: A critical lifeline facing an uncertain future.},
journal = {The journal of trauma and acute care surgery},
volume = {99},
number = {3S Suppl 1},
pages = {S121-S125},
doi = {10.1097/TA.0000000000004688},
pmid = {40492833},
issn = {2163-0763},
mesh = {Humans ; United States ; *Military Medicine/organization &amp; administration/trends ; *Traumatology/organization &amp; administration ; Afghan Campaign 2001- ; *Wounds and Injuries/therapy ; Forecasting ; *Trauma Centers/organization &amp; administration ; },
abstract = {The Joint Trauma System (JTS) has become a cornerstone of modern trauma care, revolutionizing battlefield treatment and saving countless lives through standardized, evidence-based protocols. Its development and success are rooted in lessons learned from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where fragmented systems were transformed into cohesive, high-performing networks. The JTS has influenced not only military but also civilian trauma care, fostering a symbiotic relationship that advances innovation across both sectors. Despite its proven effectiveness, a growing movement within the US military questions its relevance during peacetime, threatening its existence. This article examines the history, impact, and future of the JTS while emphasizing the critical need for civilian advocacy to preserve its role as a key enabler of military readiness and trauma care innovation.},
}
@article {pmid40492740,
year = {2025},
author = {Green, EA and Klepacki, I and Klassen, JL},
title = {Isolation and characterization of mollicute symbionts from a fungus-growing ant reveals high niche overlap leading to co-exclusion.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {e0089325},
pmid = {40492740},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {IOS-1656475//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; *Spiroplasma/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/classification/physiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics ; *Tenericutes/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/classification/physiology ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Two mollicute species belonging to the Mesoplasma and Spiroplasma genera have been detected in several species of fungus-growing ants using molecular methods. However, their ecological roles remain largely inferred from metagenomic data. To better understand their diversity and specialization, we cultured both of these Mesoplasma and Spiroplasma symbionts from the fungus-growing ant Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, providing the first isolated mollicutes from any fungus-growing ant species. The genomes of our isolates and related metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from T. septentrionalis fungus gardens comprise two unique phylogenetic lineages compared to previously described Mesoplasma and Spiroplasma species, and from related MAGs previously sequenced from the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex echinatior. This suggests that the T. septentrionalis symbionts comprise undescribed species that can exclude each other from a niche that is largely shared between them. Mesoplasma genomes and MAGs also demonstrate regional specificity with their T. septentrionalis ant hosts. Both Mesoplasma and Spiroplasma strains from T. septentrionalis can catabolize glucose and fructose; both sugars are common in the ant's diet. Similarly, both these Mesoplasma and Spiroplasma can catabolize arginine, but only Mesoplasma can catabolize N-acetylglucosamine; both could produce ammonia for the ants or fungus garden. Based on our genomic and phenotypic analyses, we describe these T. septentrionalis symbionts as Mesoplasma whartonense sp. nov. and Spiroplasma attinicola sp. nov., providing insight into their genomic and phenotypic diversity and cultures to facilitate future studies of how these common but poorly understood members of the fungus-growing ant symbiosis separately colonize different ant colonies despite having highly overlapping niches.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Fungus-growing ants partner with multiple microbial symbionts to obtain food and remain free from disease. Of these symbionts, those inhabiting the ant gut remain the least understood and are known only from environmental surveys. Such surveys can infer potential functions of gut symbionts, but cultures are required to experimentally validate these hypotheses. Here, we describe the first cultures of the ant gut symbionts of the fungus-growing ant Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, using comparative genomics and phenotypic experiments to describe them as two novel species: Mesoplasma whartonense sp. nov. and Spiroplasma attinicola sp. nov. This genomic analysis suggests that these species are highly specialized to T. septentrionalis and are distinct from related environmental data generated from the related ant species Acromyrmex echinatior, implying substantial host specificity. Our phenotypic experiments and genomic reconstructions highlight the highly overlapping niches and likely costs and benefits of these symbionts to their ant host, setting the stage for further experimentation.},
}
@article {pmid40491555,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, H and Li, H and Li, Z and Wang, Y and Liu, L and Wang, J and Ma, X and Tan, B},
title = {The role of glycosylated mucins in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and gut health.},
journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)},
volume = {21},
number = {},
pages = {439-446},
pmid = {40491555},
issn = {2405-6383},
abstract = {The intestinal mucus barrier is a crucial component of the host's innate defense system, playing a vital role in regulating intestinal microecology and maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Glycosylated mucins, the core components of this barrier, are essential for preserving its integrity by preventing bacterial degradation. Additionally, mucins significantly contribute to establishing a balanced symbiotic relationship between the host and microbes. These mucins have the potential to mitigate intestinal epithelial damage by capturing and transporting cell debris and pathogenic bacteria. Meanwhile, certain bacteria help maintain the equilibrium and stability of the gut microbiome by degrading glycosylated mucins to utilize the carbohydrate chains, thus affecting the cytokine expression to regulate the synthesis and secretion of specific glycans. Investigating the complex connections between the mucus barrier and mucin glycosylation holds great promise for advancing our understanding of gastrointestinal disease mechanisms, paving the way for innovative prevention and treatment strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40488931,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, SW and Li, NQ and Jin, Q and Anbazhakan, R and Dai, YF and Xiang, ZX and Gao, JY},
title = {Ecological specificity of fungi on seedling establishment in Dendrobium huoshanense: a narrow distributed medicinal orchid.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {3},
pages = {41},
pmid = {40488931},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {Grant No. 202304BP090006//The project of innovation guidance &amp; science and technology enterprise cultivation plan of Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology/ ; },
}
@article {pmid40488710,
year = {2025},
author = {Williams, JP and Macdonald, M and Watts, PA and Peckler, BF},
title = {Comparative Evaluation of Blue Phantom and SCOBY-Based Models for Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Cannulation Training.},
journal = {Simulation in healthcare : journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40488710},
issn = {1559-713X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound-guided intravenous (USIV) cannulation is a common alternative when IV access cannot otherwise be obtained. Many hospitals teach this skill with the commercial CAE Blue Phantom gelatinous training blocks. However, their cost is a barrier. This has led to experimentation with creative alternatives. Recent studies have trialed SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) in the production of training models for medical procedures. SCOBY is a biofilm-like structure appearing as a thick, rubbery film. We aimed to develop a 2-vessel SCOBY-based model and compare its effectiveness for teaching USIV against the Phantom.<br><br>METHODS: Participants, 23 emergency medicine clinicians, performed USIV on each model and completed a pre- and post-procedure questionnaire.<br><br>RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of participants indicated that the SCOBY model more closely resembled the clinical reality of human tissue compared with 13% for the Phantom. SCOBY provided an improved visual appearance, physical touch, feel of the procedure, and appearance of "subdermal tissues" on ultrasound compared to the Phantom.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These results suggest a promising future for SCOBY as a cost-effective alternative to teaching clinical skills.},
}
@article {pmid40488530,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, H and Zhuang, D and Zhou, H and Su, Q and Hu, X and Wang, Y and Bao, W and Zhu, L},
title = {A comprehensive analysis of human gut microbial biosynthesis gene clusters unveiling the dominant role of Paenibacillus.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {10},
number = {7},
pages = {e0061025},
pmid = {40488530},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {2025J0186//Science Research Foundation of Yunnan Education Bureau/ ; },
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Multigene Family ; Symbiosis ; Humans ; *Paenibacillus/classification/enzymology/genetics/metabolism ; Secondary Metabolism ; Genome, Bacterial ; Peptide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Databases, Genetic ; },
abstract = {The secondary metabolites produced by the gut microbiota serve as crucial signaling molecules and substrates for gastrointestinal metabolic reactions, thereby playing a pivotal role in human physiological and pathological processes. In this study, we explore the complex symbiotic relationship between the gut microbiota and the human host by systematically annotating the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) across 4,744 human gut microbiota genomes, sourced from the Unified Human Gastrointestinal Genome database. Our comprehensive analysis compares the differential biosynthetic potentials of microbiota from diverse continents and phyla while also elucidating the biosynthetic profiles of gut archaea. Notably, our findings identify Paenibacillus as a dominant genus within the human gut microbiota, characterized by its extensive biosynthetic capacity. This study presents the first global atlas of BGCs within the human gut microbiome, offering valuable insights into gut-derived secondary metabolic pathways and their intricate interactions with host physiology. These results lay the groundwork for future investigations into the microbiota's role in health and disease, underscoring the importance of understanding microbiota-derived metabolites in microbiology and gastroenterology.IMPORTANCEThis study provides a comprehensive analysis of biosynthetic gene clusters in the human gut microbiome, revealing a vast diversity of natural products with potential therapeutic applications. We identified Paenibacillus as a key genus with exceptional biosynthetic capabilities, including the production of leinamycin, a potent anticancer compound previously thought to be exclusive to Streptomyces. The findings highlight the gut microbiome as a rich, untapped resource for novel drug discovery, particularly in cancer therapy and immune modulation.},
}
@article {pmid40488491,
year = {2025},
author = {Franco, MEE and Nickerson, MN and Bowen, BP and Louie, K and Northen, TR and U'Ren, JM},
title = {Hyperdiverse, bioactive, and interaction-specific metabolites produced only in co-culture suggest diverse competitors may fuel secondary metabolism of xylarialean fungi.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {10},
number = {7},
pages = {e0046825},
pmid = {40488491},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {CSP Grant # 503506,https://doi.org/10.46936/10.25585/60001144//U.S. Department of Energy/ ; },
mesh = {Coculture Techniques ; *Secondary Metabolism ; *Xylariales/metabolism/genetics ; Metabolomics/methods ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Multigene Family ; Metabolome ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Xylariales is one of the largest and most ecologically diverse fungal orders that is well-known for its chemical diversity. Enhanced secondary metabolism of Xylariales taxa is associated with increased gene duplication and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), especially in generalist taxa with both greater saprotrophic abilities and broader host ranges as foliar endophytic symbionts. Thus, one hypothesis for BGC diversification among more generalist fungi is that diverse competitive interactions-in both their free-living and symbiotic life stages with many hosts-may exert selective pressure for HGT and a diverse metabolic repertoire. Here, we used untargeted metabolomics to examine how competition (pairwise co-cultures) between seven xylarialean fungi influenced their metabolite production. Of the >9,000 total features detected, 6,115 and 2,071 were over-represented in co-cultures vs monocultures, respectively. For each strain, each additional co-culture interaction resulted in an 11- to 14-fold increase in metabolite richness compared to monocultures, reflecting the limited amount of metabolite overlap among different co-culture combinations. Phylogenetic relatedness and BGC content did not impact the diversity of metabolites produced in co-culture; however, co-cultures between more ecologically distinct fungi elicited the strongest metabolic response. Overall, the diversity, specificity, and putative bioactivity of metabolites over-represented in co-culture support the role of widespread and diverse competitive fungal interactions to drive xylarialean metabolic diversification. Additionally, as fungal-produced plant hormones were only detected in co-culture, our results reveal the potential for in planta interactions among fungal endophytes to influence the host plant.IMPORTANCESaprotrophic and endophytic xylarialean fungi are among the most prolific producers of bioactive secondary metabolites, with numerous industrial uses as antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and insecticidal toxins. Fungal secondary metabolites are typically encoded in biosynthetic gene clusters (sets of physically clustered genes), but the products of most clusters are unknown as the genes are not active in typical culture conditions. Co-cultures can help to "turn on" fungal secondary metabolite production, yet factors that can influence co-culture outcomes are largely unknown. Here, we used untargeted metabolomics to assess how differences in genomic content, ecology, and phylogenetic relatedness among seven diverse xylarialean fungal strains impact metabolic production in co-culture. As expected, co-culturing significantly increased metabolite diversity, as well as the abundance of putatively bioactive metabolites. Each new pairwise combination produced different metabolites, indicative of strain-specific responses to competitors. This new information will enable further characterization of the immense biotechnological potential of xylarialean fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40488407,
year = {2025},
author = {Grossman, AS and Lei, L and Botting, JM and Liu, J and Nahar, N and Liu, J and McLean, JS and He, X and Bor, B},
title = {Saccharibacteria deploy two distinct type IV pili, driving episymbiosis, host competition, and twitching motility.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40488407},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {R01 DE023810/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; T90 DE026110-07/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; 1S10OD034405-01/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI087946/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 1S10OD023603-01A1/GF/NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DE031274/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI152421/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI152421//National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/ ; S10 OD023603/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; T90 DE026110/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; S10 OD034405/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01DE023810/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; 1R01DE031274/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Fimbriae, Bacterial/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; },
abstract = {All cultivated Patescibacteria, also known as the candidate phyla radiation, are obligate episymbionts residing on other microbes. Despite being ubiquitous in many diverse environments, including mammalian microbiomes, molecular mechanisms of host identification and binding amongst ultrasmall bacterial episymbionts remain largely unknown. Type 4 pili are well conserved in this group and could potentially facilitate these symbiotic interactions. To test this hypothesis, we genetically targeted pili genes in Saccharibacteria Nanosynbacter lyticus strain TM7x to assess their essentiality and roles in symbiosis. Our results revealed that N. lyticus assembles two distinct type 4 pili: a nonessential thin pilus that has the smallest diameter of any type 4 pili and contributes to host-binding and episymbiont growth; and an essential thick pilus involved in twitching motility. To understand the role of these pili in vivo we developed Saccharibacteria competition assays and species-specific Fluorescence in situ hybridization probes. Competition between different Saccharibacteria within mock communities demonstrated consistent competitive outcomes that were not driven by priority effects but were dependent on the thin pilus. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Saccharibacteria encode unique extracellular pili that enable their underexplored episymbiotic lifestyle and competitive fitness within a community.},
}
@article {pmid40486812,
year = {2025},
author = {Vanderstappen, M and van Ochten, JHM and Verborgt, O},
title = {Robotics in arthroplasty: how good are they?.},
journal = {JSES international},
volume = {9},
number = {3},
pages = {968-973},
pmid = {40486812},
issn = {2666-6383},
abstract = {Robotic systems have emerged as indispensable allies in the surgical arena, revolutionizing traditional practices and enhancing the capabilities of health-care professionals. Far removed from the autonomous robots depicted in science fiction, these robotic systems operate under the skilled guidance of surgeons, who control specialized instruments via intuitive consoles and often with the help of robotic product specialists. This symbiotic relationship between man and machine has propelled robotic surgery to the forefront of medical innovation, offering a plethora of benefits that transcends the limitations of conventional surgical techniques. In orthopedic surgery, robotic-assisted knee and hip arthroplasty has experienced rapid growth, and the next field of interest is, without a doubt, shoulder arthroplasty. Digitalization and the use of robotics in shoulder arthroplasty has drawn a lot of attention with the goal to improve the correction of joint deformities and component implantation, possibly leading to enhanced patient outcomes. This next evolution in surgical technology aims to make shoulder replacements more accurate and reproducible in both easy and challenging shoulders and usable by both low-volume and highly experienced surgeons. Nevertheless, robotic-assisted shoulder arthroplasty presents significant challenges related to cost, implant selection, training, and long-term efficacy. Addressing these challenges will require collaboration between surgeons, manufacturers, and regulatory bodies to ensure the safe and effective integration of robotic technology into orthopedic shoulder practice.},
}
@article {pmid40486090,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, M and Zhou, Y and Li, G and Barashkova, AS and Rogozhin, EA and Chang, W},
title = {Peptides in plant-microbe interactions: Functional diversity and pharmacological applications.},
journal = {Cell surface (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {100145},
pmid = {40486090},
issn = {2468-2330},
abstract = {As dynamic interfaces governing molecular recognition and signal transduction, interactions between plants and microbes fundamentally shape ecosystem dynamics and evolutionary trajectories. This review summarizes peptides involved in plant-microbe interactions, emphasizing their diversity, biological functions mediated at the cell surface, pharmacological applications, and recent methodological advances in their discovery. Plant-derived peptides, including cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs, RALFs, DEFs, nsLTPs) and post-translationally modified peptides (CLEs, CEPs, GLV/RGF, PSKs), regulate symbiotic relationships and plant defenses. Endophyte-derived peptides, notably Bacillus lipopeptides (surfactins, fengycins, iturins), exhibit pathogen inhibition and plant growth promotion. Additionally, plant polypeptides such as lipid transfer proteins, hevein-like peptides, thionins, defensins, and snakins significantly enhance plant immunity through direct antimicrobial action and systemic resistance. Technological advancements in isolation techniques, multi-omics approaches, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence have accelerated peptide discovery. However, challenges remain regarding functional characterization, peptide stability, production costs, and ecological impacts. Addressing these through interdisciplinary research and collaboration will promote practical applications of peptides in agriculture and medicine.},
}
@article {pmid40485985,
year = {2025},
author = {Cerioni, NL and Uhl, HL and Welty, MA and Adler, JJ},
title = {Soil microbiome analysis of cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants.},
journal = {microPublication biology},
volume = {2025},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40485985},
issn = {2578-9430},
abstract = {Microbial biodiversity is critical to tomato plant health. The symbiotic relationship between tomato plants and their soil microbiome influences the plants' ability to absorb nutrients and adapt to environmental stresses. This study compared the soil microbiome between tomato plants appearing healthy versus those appearing unhealthy. There were no significant differences in overall bacterial biodiversity between the conditions. However, a specific beneficial genus (Sphingomonas) and its phylum Proteobacteria (Pseudomonadota) were found at significantly higher amounts in healthy plants' soil compared to unhealthy plants' soil. Our findings show the need for further examination of the benefits of Sphingomonas for tomato plants.},
}
@article {pmid40485603,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, J and Fu, S and Tan, J and Han, Y and Chen, Y and Deng, X and Shen, H and Zeng, S and Peng, Y and Cai, C},
title = {Mechanistic Foundations of KRAS-Driven Tumor Ecosystems: Integrating Crosstalk among Immune, Metabolic, Microbial, and Stromal Microenvironment.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e02714},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202502714},
pmid = {40485603},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {82173342//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82203015//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82373275//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82403920//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024JJ6662//Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province/ ; 2025JJ20077//Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province/ ; 2024RC3042//Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province/ ; 2023Q01//Youth Science Foundation of Xiangya Hospital/ ; GZC20242044//Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of the CPSF/ ; 2024M753679//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; kq2403008//Nature Science Foundation of Changsha/ ; },
abstract = {Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) is the most frequently mutated member of the RAS family of small GTPases (RAS). It affects about one-fifth of cancer cases. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a multifaceted network of immune cells, metabolites, microbiota, stromal components, and extracellular matrix. It creates a dynamic ecosystem that supports malignant initiation, progression, and therapy resistance through bidirectional crosstalk with tumor cells. Emerging evidence reveals distinct TME landscapes shaped by wild-type versus oncogenic KRAS variants. Additionally, TME rewiring occurs during KRAS-targeted therapies. Deciphering these KRAS-dependent TME architectures and their therapeutic vulnerabilities represents a critical frontier for precision oncology. This review synthesizes key milestones and persistent challenges in KRAS inhibitor development. And it systematically evaluates how KRAS mutations orchestrated immunosuppressive niches, metabolic symbiosis, stromal remodeling, and microbiome dysbiosis, supported by mechanistic insights from preclinical and clinical studies. It further explores therapeutic opportunities arising from targeting TME interactions, including rational combinations of KRAS inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockade, metabolic agents, or microbiota-modulating strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40484992,
year = {2025},
author = {Crawford, KM and Franco, CM},
title = {Genotype × genotype interactions in a plant-microbe symbiosis.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {4},
pages = {1561-1563},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70270},
pmid = {40484992},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {1754287//NSF DEB/ ; //Fulbright Program/ ; //University of Houston/ ; },
}
@article {pmid40483691,
year = {2025},
author = {Burgmer, S and Meyer Zu Altenschildesche, FL and Gyenis, A and Lee, HJ and Vilchez, D and Giavalisco, P and Fichant, A and Uhlirova, M and Storelli, G},
title = {Endosymbiont control through non-canonical immune signaling and gut metabolic remodeling.},
journal = {Cell reports},
volume = {44},
number = {6},
pages = {115811},
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115811},
pmid = {40483691},
issn = {2211-1247},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Signal Transduction ; Wolbachia/physiology ; *Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology/metabolism/immunology ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/metabolism ; Drosophila Proteins/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Intestines/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; },
abstract = {Animals coexist with bacteria and need to keep these microorganisms under tight control. To achieve such control, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) sense bacterial cues and induce the production of antimicrobials. Here, we uncover a metabolic arm in the control of symbionts by PRRs. We show that, in Drosophila, the PRRs PGRP-LC and PGRP-LE act independently of canonical NF-κB signaling to repress essential metabolic functions in the gut, such as digestion and central carbon metabolism. This metabolic switch affects commensal populations and drastically reduces intestinal and systemic populations of the intracellular parasite Wolbachia. We propose that intestinal metabolic remodeling complements immune responses by imposing nutrient restriction on intracellular bacteria, whose lifestyle protects them from antimicrobials. Our findings reveal a role for PRRs in bacterial control beyond canonical immune pathways and provide insights into how microbial signals modulate symbiotic populations but also nutrition and metabolism in animals.},
}
@article {pmid40480451,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, KJ and Chang, YF and Liu, YF and Dai, SX and Li, J},
title = {Protective mechanism of Bifidobacterium on intestinal mucosal barrier in sepsis.},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {206},
number = {},
pages = {107785},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107785},
pmid = {40480451},
issn = {1096-1208},
mesh = {*Sepsis/prevention &amp; control/therapy/microbiology ; Humans ; *Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology/immunology ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; *Bifidobacterium/physiology ; Animals ; Signal Transduction ; Inflammasomes/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Prior research has examined the advantageous impacts of probiotics in preventing and treating sepsis; however, the protective actions of Bifidobacterium against sepsis are still not understood. In this review, we innovatively discussed the mechanisms by which Bifidobacterium can prevent and treat sepsis by regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier during homeostasis and when damaged. Surprisingly, we found that the mechanisms include blocking NF-κB and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, regulating AHR/NRF2/NLRP3 inflammasome pathways, inhibiting NLRP3/ASC/Caspase1 signaling pathways, regulating enteric glial cells (EGCs) network development, regulating immunity, and restoring intestinal symbiosis, etc. Through continued pathway researches into mechanisms of probiotics on sepsis, we try to get more evidence of Bifidobacterium on the prevention and treatment of sepsis.},
}
@article {pmid40480161,
year = {2025},
author = {Ali, U and Rao, S and Kumar, P},
title = {Nutrient and pharmaceutical and personal care product removal from wastewater: a special focus on microalgae and its consortium with Bacteria.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {988},
number = {},
pages = {179804},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179804},
pmid = {40480161},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {*Microalgae/metabolism ; *Wastewater/chemistry/microbiology ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism/analysis ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Pharmaceutical Preparations/analysis/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Cosmetics/analysis/metabolism ; Nutrients/analysis ; },
abstract = {Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are ubiquitous and have deleterious effects on the environment as well as flora and fauna. Physicochemical treatment systems are associated with high operational and capital costs. Also, prevalent biologically operated treatment systems majorly rely on heterotrophic bacteria for eliminating both nutrients as well as emerging contaminants. However, owing to the non-specific treatment regimes of the WWTPs, the discharge of PPCPs into the aquatic ecosystems and the resultant biomagnification is inevitable. The inclusion of algae into the treatment systems has broadened the facets of treatment owing to the complex cellular structure and function of the former. The presence of bacterial communities in the phycosphere of algae and their coherent action in the uptake of contaminants form the basis of their consideration for wastewater treatment. This article discusses the fate and global scenario of PPCPs in the water ecosystem based on recent literature, along with providing a glance into the mechanisms of PPCP uptake by algae. The exploration of mutualism or symbiosis between the algal and bacterial communities is one of the primary objectives of this review. The mechanisms of metabolism and the trade-off of nutrient substrates have also been vividly discussed. The usage of algal bacterial consortia (ABC) for nutrient and PPCP removal, along with methods to enhance the removal by phycoremediation, has also been delineated. Commercial and pilot-scale applications of ABC-based systems have been discussed. Challenges and prospects in the implementation of phycoremediation of PPCPs have also been elucidated.},
}
@article {pmid40478967,
year = {2025},
author = {Kundu, A and Moraes, TA and Price, RJ and Harrison, RJ and Oldroyd, GED},
title = {Getting to the Route: The Evolution of Nitrogen-Fixing Nodules.},
journal = {Annual review of cell and developmental biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-cellbio-101123-093247},
pmid = {40478967},
issn = {1530-8995},
abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis allows for plant acquisition of reactive nitrogen through fixation of atmospheric molecular dinitrogen by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nodulation is a complex trait, with diverse modes of bacterial infection and nodule morphologies across species, reflecting evolutionary adaptation. Understanding ancient forms of this trait may carry advantages for its current utilization, since basal states likely reflect the least complexity. In this review we focus on the evolution of nodule development, particularly on events that have led to increased complexity of this symbiosis in later adaptations. We hypothesize that the ancestral form of nodulation comprises of an evolutionary coupling of nutrient-dependent lateral root development with apoplastic intercellular bacterial growth, alongside the acquisition or evolution of an ancestral chitinaceous signaling molecule by the microbial symbiont. Uncovering the evolutionary adaptations underpinning the extant diversity of this trait allows for a better understanding of the simplest ancestral state.},
}
@article {pmid40478759,
year = {2025},
author = {Tanaka, Y and Ono, A and Aoki, D and Matsuda, R and Kitsukawa, Y and Choi, JH and Xie, X and Aime, MC and Kawagishi, H and Suzuki, T},
title = {Transcriptomic resource and hormonal profiling of the smut fungus, Ustilago esculenta, coexisting with Zizania latifolia and forming Makomotake.},
journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/bbb/zbaf084},
pmid = {40478759},
issn = {1347-6947},
abstract = {Ustilago esculenta is a smut fungus that parasitizes Zizania latifolia, forming edible fungal galls known as Makomotake. In this study, we quantified indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) produced in liquid-cultured U. esculenta and in fungal galls at different growth stages. IAA was detected in both samples, and its content showed a tendency to increase during the mature growth stage in October. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis was performed to investigate gene expression changes in U. esculenta during different developmental stages. The gene involved in spore maturation was upregulated in October, consistent with fungal maturation. Moreover, numerous genes with unknown functions were significantly upregulated, highlighting potential targets for further investigation. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal gall development and the symbiotic relationship between U. esculenta and Z. latifolia, providing a foundation for future research on fungal-plant interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40476364,
year = {2025},
author = {Culotta, JA and Lindsey, ARI},
title = {A reference genome for Trichogramma kaykai: a tiny desert-dwelling parasitoid wasp with competing sex-ratio distorters.},
journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40476364},
issn = {2160-1836},
support = {R35 GM150991/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35GM150991/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Wasps/genetics/microbiology ; *Genome, Insect ; Animals ; Wolbachia ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; Male ; Female ; Phylogeny ; DNA Methylation ; },
abstract = {The tiny parasitoid wasp Trichogramma kaykai inhabits the Mojave Desert of the southwest United States. Populations of this tiny insect variably host up to 2 different sex-distorting genetic elements: (1) the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia which induces the parthenogenetic reproduction of females, and (2) a B-chromosome, "Paternal Sex Ratio" (PSR), which converts would-be female offspring to PSR-transmitting males. We report here the genome of a Wolbachia-infected T. kaykai isofemale colony KSX58. Using Oxford Nanopore sequencing, we produced a final genome assembly of 205 Mbp with 34× coverage, consisting of 154 contigs with an N50 of 2.2 Mbp. The assembly is quite complete, with 92.67% complete Hymenoptera BUSCOs recovered: a very high score for Trichogrammatids that have been previously characterized for having high levels of core gene losses. We also report a complete mitochondrial genome for T. kaykai, and an assembly of the associated Wolbachia, strain wTkk. Finally, we identified copies of the parthenogenesis-inducing (PI) genes pifA and pifB in a remnant prophage region of the wTkk genome and compared their evolution to pifs from a suite of other PI Wolbachia. The T. kaykai assembly is one of the highest quality genome assemblies for the genus to date and will serve as a great resource for understanding the evolution of sex and selfish genetic elements.},
}
@article {pmid40473746,
year = {2025},
author = {Piromyou, P and Songwattana, P and Wongdee, J and Greetatorn, T and Boonchuen, P and Phimphong, T and Nguyen, HP and Manassila, M and Tanthanuch, W and Maikhunthod, B and Teamtisong, K and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Giraud, E and Teaumroong, N},
title = {Putative type III effector SkP48 of Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 encoding a SUMO protease blocks nodulation in Vigna radiata.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {19835},
pmid = {40473746},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {TRG6280006//National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) and Suranaree University of Technology / The Thailand Research Fund project/ ; B13F660067//NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources &amp; Institutional Development, Research, and Innovation (PMU-B)/ ; B13F660067//NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources &amp; Institutional Development, Research, and Innovation (PMU-B)/ ; B13F660067//NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources &amp; Institutional Development, Research, and Innovation (PMU-B)/ ; B13F660067//NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources &amp; Institutional Development, Research, and Innovation (PMU-B)/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; 195582//National Science, Research, and Innovation Fund (NSRF)/ ; 195582//National Science, Research, and Innovation Fund (NSRF)/ ; 195582//National Science, Research, and Innovation Fund (NSRF)/ ; 195582//National Science, Research, and Innovation Fund (NSRF)/ ; ("ET-Nod"; ANR-20-CE20-0012)//Grant from the French National Research Agency/ ; },
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics/enzymology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; *Vigna/microbiology ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Type III Secretion Systems/metabolism/genetics ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 can nodulate a wide spectrum of legumes; however, unlike other bradyrhizobia, DOA9 carries a symbiotic plasmid harboring type III secretion system (T3SS) and several effector (T3E) genes, one of which encodes a putative type III effector SkP48. Here, we demonstrated the pivotal roles of SkP48 from Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 in inhibiting nodulation of various Vigna species and Crotalaria juncea and suppressing nodulation efficiency of Arachis hypogaea. By contrast, the nodulation efficiency of a SkP48 mutant did not differ significantly with the DOA9 wild-type strain on Macroptilium atropurpureum and Stylosanthes hamata. The SUMO domain of SkP48 is primarily responsible for the blocking nodulation phenotype V. radiata. An evolutionary analysis revealed that the SkP48 which contains a shikimate kinase and a SUMO protease (C48 cysteine peptidase) domain, SkP48 is distinct from other effectors previously reported in other bradyrhizobia and pathogenic bacteria. Our findings suggest that the putative T3E SkP48 is a key factor suppressing nodulation and nodule organogenesis in several legumes by activation of effector-triggered immunity through salicylic acid biosynthesis induction, which is deleterious to rhizobial infection. In addition, nodulation may be modulated by the function of defensins involved in jasmonic acid signalling in V. radiata SUT1.},
}
@article {pmid40473732,
year = {2025},
author = {Bajerlein, D and Zduniak, P and Wyszyńska, A and Baraniak, E and Przewoźny, M and Grzegorczyk, T and Urbański, A},
title = {Influences of carrier sex, body size, and time on the symbiotic interaction between Nicrophorus vespilloides and the Uroobovella nova mite species complex.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {19823},
pmid = {40473732},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {OR.271.3.9.215//The National Forest Holding "The State Forests", Poland/ ; OR.271.3.9.215//The National Forest Holding "The State Forests", Poland/ ; OR.271.3.9.215//The National Forest Holding "The State Forests", Poland/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Male ; *Body Size ; *Mites/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Coleoptera/parasitology/physiology ; Seasons ; Sex Factors ; },
abstract = {Phoretic dispersal is critical in low-mobile invertebrates because it enables feeding, breeding, and gene flow. Phoresy may have serious evolutionary consequences for species in highly specific interactions. Mites within the Uroobovella nova species complex have a narrow range of carriers limited to burying beetles. Nicrophorus vespilloides, a model organism used in behavioural studies, is a common carrier of U. nova, but this interaction remains underexplored. This study investigated how carrier sex, body size, season, and year affect the relationship between U. nova and N. vespilloides. We tested the hypotheses that mite infestation is sex-biased because of differences in parental care between females and males and that larger individuals carry more mites. Mite prevalence was affected only by season. A slightly higher mite load was found in females than in males, and mites showed a significant but weak preference for beetle body size. Considerable temporal differences in mite load were found. Deutonymphs were highly specific when selecting attachment sites, irrespective of the carrier sex, and appeared on some body parts when the preferred sites had already been infested. The low specificity of U. nova towards N. vespilloides individuals and the high selectivity of attachment sites seem to increase the probability of colonising beetle brood chambers.},
}
@article {pmid40472591,
year = {2025},
author = {Bhargava, D and Chowdhury, A and Dube, DH},
title = {Chemical tools to study and modulate glycan-mediated host-bacteria interactions.},
journal = {Current opinion in chemical biology},
volume = {87},
number = {},
pages = {102603},
pmid = {40472591},
issn = {1879-0402},
support = {R15 GM109397/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Glycans cover the surfaces of all cells, where they are poised to mediate a two-way discourse between bacteria and host cells. In some instances, glycan-mediated interactions foster a symbiotic state, and in others, they tip the balance toward disease. Chemical biology approaches have begun to reveal the roles of glycans in host-bacteria interactions and provide novel pathways to modulate these interactions. Here, we highlight recent advances in the development and application of chemical biology tools to delineate the roles of glycans in bacterial adhesion, bacterial evasion of the host immune system, host recognition of bacterial cells, and endogenous mechanisms to maintain symbiosis. Further, we present glycan-based strategies to disrupt host-pathogen interactions and to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40472333,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and Geng, S and Chen, Q and Su, B and Song, H and Zhou, J and Jia, R and Fan, H and Li, C and Wang, Y and Tian, Z and Sun, T and Jiang, C},
title = {Disrupting Tumor Lactate Homeostasis to Sensitize Chemo-Immunotherapy Using a Glucose-Disguised Lactate Interceptor.},
journal = {ACS nano},
volume = {19},
number = {23},
pages = {21556-21570},
doi = {10.1021/acsnano.5c03545},
pmid = {40472333},
issn = {1936-086X},
mesh = {*Glucose/metabolism ; Humans ; Homeostasis/drug effects ; *Lactic Acid/metabolism ; *Immunotherapy ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism/antagonists &amp; inhibitors ; Animals ; Glycolysis/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; *Neoplasms/metabolism/drug therapy/therapy ; Muscle Proteins ; },
abstract = {Aberrantly elevated lactate flux in tumors is increasingly recognized as a key driver of metabolic symbiosis, immunosuppression, and, ultimately, immunogenic chemotherapy resistance. Here, we propose a precise lactate homeostasis modulation strategy that selectively intercepts intracellular lactate molecules in highly glycolytic tumor cells. Targeting monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), a key lactate efflux transporter overexpressed in tumor cells, we developed a glucose-disguised delivery system for precise transport of regulatory molecules into glycolysis-dependent tumor cells. By modulating lactate-mediated crosstalk between heterogeneous tumor subpopulations (glycolysis-dependent and lactate-consuming cells) and immune cells, this strategy effectively disrupts lactate-driven metabolic cooperation within the tumor niche, which may contribute to overcoming lactate-associated resistance to chemo-immunotherapy.},
}
@article {pmid40471191,
year = {2025},
author = {Ramirez, P and Martinez Montoya, H and Aramayo, R and Mateos, M},
title = {Diverse toxin repertoire but limited metabolic capacities inferred from the draft genome assemblies of three Spiroplasma (Citri clade) strains associated with Drosophila.},
journal = {Microbial genomics},
volume = {11},
number = {6},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/mgen.0.001408},
pmid = {40471191},
issn = {2057-5858},
mesh = {Animals ; *Drosophila/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Spiroplasma/genetics/metabolism/classification ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Bacterial Toxins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Spiroplasma (class Mollicutes) is a diverse wall-less bacterial genus whose members are strictly dependent on eukaryotic hosts (mostly arthropods and plants), with which they engage in pathogenic to mutualistic interactions. Spiroplasma are generally fastidious to culture in vitro, especially those that are vertically transmitted by their hosts, which include flies in the genus Drosophila. Drosophila has been invaded by at least three independent clades of Spiroplasma: Poulsonii (the best studied, contains reproductive manipulators and defensive mutualists associated with two major clades of Drosophila and has amongst the highest substitution rates within bacteria), Citri (restricted to the repleta group of Drosophila) and Ixodetis. We report the first genome drafts of Drosophila-associated Citri clade Spiroplasma: strain sMoj from Drosophila mojavensis, strain sAld-Tx from Drosophila aldrichi from Texas (newly discovered; also associated with Drosophila mulleri) and strain sHy2 from Drosophila hydei (the only Drosophila species known to naturally also harbour a Poulsonii clade strain, thereby providing an arena for horizontal gene transfer). Compared to their Poulsonii clade counterparts, we infer that the three Citri clade strains have the following: (1) equal or worse DNA repair abilities; (b) more limited metabolic capacities, which may underlie their comparatively lower titres and transmission efficiency; and (c) similar content of toxin domains, including at least one ribosome-inactivating protein, which is implicated in the Poulsonii-conferred defence against natural enemies. As a byproduct of our phylogenomic analyses and exhaustive search for certain toxin domains in public databases, we document the toxin repertoire in close relatives of Drosophila-associated Spiroplasma, and in a very divergent newly discovered lineage (i.e. 'clade X'). Phylogenies of toxin-encoding genes or domains imply substantial exchanges between closely and distantly related strains. Surprisingly, despite encoding several toxin genes and achieving relatively high prevalences in certain natural populations (sAld-Tx in this study; sMoj in prior work), fitness assays of sMoj (this study) and sAld-Tx (prior work) in the context of wasp parasitism fail to detect a beneficial effect to their hosts. Thus, how Citri clade strains persist in their Drosophila host populations remains elusive.},
}
@article {pmid40469468,
year = {2025},
author = {Bähr, S and Dunn, N and van der Meij, SET and Chowdhury, J and Benzoni, F},
title = {Temporal Dynamics and Disturbance Responses in Coral-Dwelling Decapods Provide a Novel Perspective on Their Ecological Role in Coral Reef Systems.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {6},
pages = {e71474},
pmid = {40469468},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between corals and invertebrates contribute significantly to coral reef biodiversity. However, their ecological functions within this ecosystem remain understudied due to limited knowledge of the interplay among lifehistory strategies, host density and condition, population variations, and mortality rates. To address this, we investigated the population dynamics of coral-dwelling gall crabs (Cryptochiridae), obligate symbionts of scleractinian corals, across four central Red Sea reefs. Combining transect surveys with a novel fate-tracking approach, we monitored 799 crabs on 517 host colonies from September 2022 to 2024. Our data revealed significant variation in host community composition, with reef-specific conditions shaping crab abundance and diversity more than cross-shelf gradients. Fate-tracking uncovered unexpectedly frequent crab colonization and extinction events and a strong preference for settling on already inhabited hosts. In 2023, a mass reef bleaching event provided a unique opportunity to assess disturbance impacts one year into our study, resulting in greater population declines on inshore reefs. Interestingly, fate-tracking showed that most sites maintained reproductively active crab populations despite bleaching, while compounded stressors at one site caused a local population collapse. Our findings underscore the complex dynamics of the relationship between cryptochirids and their coral hosts, where high reproductive output may offset the costs of host specificity and settlement requirements, thus enabling resilience to moderate disturbances. This study provides novel insights into cryptochirid ecology, revealing unexpectedly high temporal variability in their populations. The observed dynamics suggest gall crabs may occupy a functional role akin to cryptobenthic reef fish by contributing to reef energy transfer, converting host-derived resources like coral mucus into forms accessible to higher trophic levels and supplementing zooplankton communities with larvae. In light of increasing disturbances, this study highlights the need to integrate reef invertebrates into coral reef conservation strategies for preserving biodiversity and sustaining ecosystem functionality in a rapidly changing world.},
}
@article {pmid40468789,
year = {2025},
author = {Williams, B},
title = {AAC and technology: what's communication equity got to do with it?.},
journal = {Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md. : 1985)},
volume = {41},
number = {3},
pages = {207-210},
doi = {10.1080/07434618.2025.2504495},
pmid = {40468789},
issn = {1477-3848},
mesh = {Humans ; *Communication Devices for People with Disabilities ; *Communication Disorders/rehabilitation ; *Persons with Disabilities ; },
abstract = {Many, if not most, people who need AAC are still denied effective language-based AAC; assumed illiterate for life; and subjected to extreme isolation and violence. We must secure fundamental fairness and mitigate the multiple and compounding biases and discrimination that those who require AAC endure. We must envisage ways in which people who use AAC can be better heard and live in community with all others. True community is not a dot on a map. It is a way of belonging. The right to community and communication are symbiotic. While our disabilities modify the ways we live, unchallenged biases cripple our lives far more. Communication equity boils down to the societal and legal obligation to ensure that all people have fair and universal, lifelong access to all means of communication. Research is required to determine whether the way we talk about AAC perpetuates the erroneous assumption that people should express themselves and be understood in one prescribed way only. To move toward communication equity, we need research grounded in the lived experiences of those who need or use AAC. We need to work together to bring about communication equity, not for the privileged few, but for all.},
}
@article {pmid40468714,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, Z and Wolf, K and Agarwal, V and Schmidt, EW and Kwan, JC},
title = {Jaspamide/Jasplakinolide Is Synthesized by Jaspinella (Tectomicrobia) Bacteria in Sponges.},
journal = {Journal of natural products},
volume = {88},
number = {6},
pages = {1471-1480},
pmid = {40468714},
issn = {1520-6025},
support = {R35 GM133776/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM142882/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM148283/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Porifera/microbiology ; Animals ; *Depsipeptides/chemistry/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Symbiosis ; *Myxococcales/metabolism/genetics ; Multigene Family ; Peptide Synthases/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria produce defensive compounds found in their eukaryotic hosts, such as marine sponges. How these symbioses are formed in each sponge, their biodiversity, and their ecological roles in nature are open challenges that remain to be addressed. Here, we describe a candidate bacterial genus, Jaspinella sp., that harbors biosynthetic genes for the potent natural product toxin jaspamide (jasplakinolide) in the microbiomes of two geographically and taxonomically diverse sponge species, Jaspis (=Dorypleres) splendens and Dictyonella sp. The jas gene cluster in Jaspinella matches the expectation for jaspamide biosynthesis, including a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) region homologous to the characterized chondramide cluster that produces a related compound in cultivated myxobacteria and a polyketide synthase (PKS) region that evolved convergently. Jaspinella is a member of Tectomicrobia, which consists of uncultivated bacteria including many well-known defensive sponge symbionts. However, Jaspinella is from a group previously associated only with soil and sediment bacteria, expanding the phylogenetic diversity of Tectomicrobia, the defensive symbioses in marine sponges, and knowledge of defensive compound evolution in nature.},
}
@article {pmid40468453,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, F and Gebeyew, K and Wu, Z and Chen, B and Jiao, J and Tan, Z and Tian, D and He, Z},
title = {Fat-rich diet promotes microbiome-dependent ATP synthesis in sheep model.},
journal = {Journal of animal science and biotechnology},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {81},
pmid = {40468453},
issn = {1674-9782},
support = {XDA26040304//Strategic Priority Research Program/ ; XDA26050102//Strategic Priority Research Program/ ; 32072760//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022JJ10054//Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The ketogenic diet that forces adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by beta-oxidation of fatty acids instead of carbohydrate glycolysis, has gained consensus on host metabolism. However, the mechanisms how a ketogenic diet alters gastrointestinal microbiome and its downstream consequences on microbial nutrient availability and energy metabolism remain to be elucidated. Here, we used the sheep model fed with fat-rich diet to evaluate the symbiotic microbiome across three regions of the gastrointestinal tract (rumen, ileum, and colon) to gain a comprehensive understanding of the microbial energy metabolism and microbe-mediated ATP biosynthesis.<br><br>RESULTS: Results showed that sheep fed a fat-rich diet had a greater ADG and increased reliance on fat oxidation for fuel utilization. Metagenomics analysis showed the loss of the specialized fiber-degrading bacteria (genus_Fibrobacter) in the rumen and enrichment of genera RUG420 and Eubacterium,&#xa0;which are involved in lipid metabolism and bile acid processing, in the ileum. A significant functional shift related to energy metabolism was shared across three regions of the gastrointestinal microbiomes. These shifts were dominated by glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and TCA cycle in the rumen and by fatty acid degradation and bile acid transformation in the ileum, indicating adaptation to nutrient availability and energy acquisition. Notably, the abundance of substrate-level phosphorylation (SLP) enzymes was significantly increased in the rumen, ileum and colon, while the ATP-producing capacity through electron transport phosphorylation (ETP) by family_Bacteroidaceae in rumen and Acutalibacteraceae in ileum of sheep with fat-rich diet.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the ATP-related microbiome encoding SLP and ETP in rumen, ileum, and colon contributed 36.95% to the host's weight variation. Our study is the first one demonstrating the microbial potential in the ATP synthesis under the shift in dietary energy source, providing a new perspective on the energy metabolism and precise human macronutrients nutrition.},
}
@article {pmid40467487,
year = {2025},
author = {Nakayama, T and Harada, R and Yabuki, A and Nomura, M and Shiba, K and Inaba, K and Inagaki, Y},
title = {Marked Genome Reduction Driven by a Parasitic Lifestyle: Two Complete Genomes of Endosymbiotic Bacteria Possibly Hosted by a Dinoflagellate.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40467487},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Dinoflagellida/microbiology/physiology ; *Gammaproteobacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Base Composition ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome Size ; },
abstract = {Bacteria with endosymbiotic lifestyles often show marked genome reduction. While the shrinkage of genomes in intracellular symbionts of animals, including parasitic bacteria, has been extensively exami-ned, less is known about symbiotic bacteria associated with single-celled eukaryotes. We herein report the genomes of two novel gammaproteobacterial lineages, RS3 and XS4, identified as putative parasitic endosymbionts of the dinoflagellate Citharistes regius. Phylogenetic ana-lyses suggest that RS3 and XS4 belong to the family Fastidiosibacteraceae within the order Beggiatoales, forming independent lineages therein. The genomes of RS3 and XS4 are 529 and 436‍ ‍kbp in size, respectively, revealing marked reductions from related bacterial genomes. XS4, which has a very reduced genome with a low GC content, uses a different genetic code, in which UGA assigned tryptophan. The small genomes of RS3 and XS4 encode a limited number of proteins, retaining only approximately 20% of the predicted ancestral proteome. Metabolic reconstruction suggests that RS3 and XS4 are parasitic symbionts that are heavily dependent on their host for essential metabolites. Furthermore, we found that the ancestor of both genomes likely acquired an ADP:ATP antiporter gene via horizontal gene transfer, an event that may have enabled their evolution as energy parasites by facilitating the acquisition of ATP from their host. These results on novel bacteria with highly reduced genomes expand our understanding of the phylogenetic and genomic diversities of endosymbiotic bacteria in protists.},
}
@article {pmid40466052,
year = {2025},
author = {Sands, DZ and Finn, NB},
title = {From Internet to Artificial Intelligence (Al) Bots: Symbiotic Evolutions of Digital Technologies and e-Patients.},
journal = {Journal of participatory medicine},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {e68911},
pmid = {40466052},
issn = {2152-7202},
abstract = {This paper will view the rise of the e-patient, who is "equipped, enabled, empowered, and engaged" through the lens of the evolution of successive digital technology innovations, each building on its predecessors, creating new tools for patient empowerment. We begin with the dawn of the web and the proliferation of health websites and discuss the use of digital communication tools. We then discuss the adoption of electronic health records, which enabled the rise of patient portals. This digitization of health data, along with the rapid adoption of mobile internet access and the proliferation of health-related smartphone apps, in turn, provided a platform for patients to coproduce health care by contributing their own health data to their self-care and health care. The exchange of health information between patients and providers has also been facilitated by telehealth or telemedicine technology, which enables direct care delivery. The use of social networks in health, in use since the early days of the web, has expanded since COVID-19, when public health authorities worldwide, as well as patients, sought the use of social media channels to get connected and share information. Most recently, artificial intelligence and large language models have emerged with yet untapped potential to provide patients with the information that could improve their understanding of their conditions and treatment options. We conclude that innovations in digital health technology have symbiotically evolved with the ascendance of the e-patient, enabling improved communication, collaboration, and coordination between patients and clinicians and forging a health care system that is safer and more responsive to patient needs.},
}
@article {pmid40464313,
year = {2025},
author = {Marzari, T and Villette, J and Roudaire, T and Palavioux, K and Brulé, D and Klinguer, A and Héloir, MC and Gayral, M and Poinssot, B},
title = {The short chitooligosaccharide CO4 inhibits chitin-triggered immunity in grapevine and promotes the infection by Botrytis cinerea but not Plasmopara viticola.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf247},
pmid = {40464313},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Plants have developed strategies to detect different microorganisms and specifically modulate their immune responses. A primary recognition involves the perception of highly conserved molecular signatures, also known as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). Among them, chitin, the main component of the fungal cell wall, is well known to be particularly active in triggering immunity in many plant species, including grapevine. While chitin is a well-known elicitor of plant defenses, other MAMPs such as short chitooligosaccharides (e.g. chitotetraose: CO4) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) have been described to promote symbiotic interactions and inhibit plant immunity in several plant species. Here, we analyzed the molecular signaling triggered by these MAMPs in grapevine focusing on two key immune responses: MAPKs phosphorylation and defense genes expression. Our results revealed that CO4 is the most active MAMP to inhibit some immune responses normally triggered by chitin. In addition, CO4 pre-treatment of grapevine leaves resulted in the repression of immune responses and increased susceptibility to the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea while showing no effect on Plasmopara viticola infection. These results suggest that grapevine can regulate its immune signaling pathways differently to either block or promote microbial colonization, depending on the MAMP perceived.},
}
@article {pmid40462927,
year = {2025},
author = {Imes, AM and Pavelsky, MN and Badal, K and Kamp, DL and Briseño, JL and Sakmar, T and Vogt, MA and Nyholm, SV and Heath-Heckman, EAC and Grasse, B and Septer, AN and Mandel, MJ},
title = {Euprymna berryi as a comparative model host for Vibrio fischeri light organ symbiosis.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40462927},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM148385/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM150478/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 GM007133/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Functional studies of host-microbe interactions benefit from natural model systems that enable exploration of molecular mechanisms at the host-microbe interface. Bioluminescent Vibrio fischeri colonize the light organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, and this binary model has enabled advances in understanding host-microbe communication, colonization specificity, in vivo biofilms, intraspecific competition, and quorum sensing. The hummingbird bobtail squid, Euprymna berryi, can be generationally bred and maintained in lab settings and has had multiple genes deleted by CRISPR approaches. The prospect of expanding the utility of the light organ model system by producing multigenerational host lines led us to determine the extent to which the E. berryi light organ symbiosis parallels known processes in E. scolopes. However, the nature of the E. berryi light organ, including its microbial constituency and specificity for microbial partners, have not been examined. In this report, we isolate bacteria from E. berryi animals and tank water. Assays of bacterial behaviors required in the host, as well as host responses to bacterial colonization, illustrate largely parallel phenotypes in E. berryi and E. scolopes hatchlings. This study reveals E. berryi to be a valuable comparative model to complement studies in E. scolopes.},
}
@article {pmid40462534,
year = {2025},
author = {Frew, A},
title = {What does colonisation tell us? Revisiting the functional outcomes of root colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {4},
pages = {1572-1578},
pmid = {40462534},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {DE220100479//Australian Research Council/ ; },
}
@article {pmid40461988,
year = {2025},
author = {Nzepang, DT and Cissoko, M and Gully, D and Hocher, V and Rami, JF and Fall, S and Fonceka, D and Svistoonoff, S},
title = {Transcriptomic analysis reveals genetic factors underlying impaired symbiotic nitrogen fixation in lines derived from crosses between cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and its wild ancestors.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {556},
pmid = {40461988},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {ORACLE project//Avril Foundation/ ; ORACLE project//Avril Foundation/ ; ORACLE project//Avril Foundation/ ; ORACLE project//Avril Foundation/ ; LAPSE project//Institut de Recherche pour le D&#xe9;veloppement/ ; LAPSE project//Institut de Recherche pour le D&#xe9;veloppement/ ; LAPSE project//Institut de Recherche pour le D&#xe9;veloppement/ ; LAPSE project//Institut de Recherche pour le D&#xe9;veloppement/ ; PhD grant//Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/ ; PhD grant//IRD Research Allowance for a Southern Thesis (ARTS)/ ; Div-N-Fix project//Agropolis Fondation/ ; Div-N-Fix project//Agropolis Fondation/ ; Div-N-Fix project//Agropolis Fondation/ ; Div-N-Fix project//Agropolis Fondation/ ; Div-N-Fix project//Agropolis Fondation/ ; },
mesh = {*Arachis/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Transcriptome ; Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/genetics/microbiology ; Crosses, Genetic ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) is a complex process regulated by numerous genes extensively studied in legumes that undergo intracellular infection, such as Lotus japonicus, Medicago truncatula, and Glycine max. However, the molecular and genetic mechanisms of SNF in legumes that rely on the intercellular infection pathway, such as peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), remain poorly understood. In a previous study, we identified two chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs), 12CS_051 and 12CS_044, each contains a wild segment on homeologous regions of chromosomes A02 and B02 respectively, that are severely impaired in nitrogen fixation. In this study, we have compared the transcriptomes of those lines with that of their recurrent parent, Fleur11, in roots inoculated with the effective Bradyrhizobium vignae strain ISRA400 to identify candidate genes associated with the reduced nitrogen fixation observed in these CSSLs.<br><br>RESULTS: A comparative analysis of the transcriptome profiles of the CSSLs and Fleur11 revealed significant changes in the expression of genes involved in plant immune signaling and key symbiotic genes, such as NIN, EFD, FEN1 or SNF-related transporters. These results align with the phenotypic differences observed during the symbiotic process in the CSSLs. When focusing on each QTL region, we found that only the orthologs of the symbiotic gene FEN1, which is responsible for the failure in the enlargement of infected cells in L. japonicus, exhibited a lack of expression in the two CSSLs compared to Fleur11. FEN1 encodes a homocitrate synthase that is essential for the nitrogenase activity. We hypothesize that changes in the expression of FEN1 could affect the nitrogenase activity, potentially leading to the unfair SNF observed in these lines.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we analyzed the expression profiles of two ineffective nitrogen-fixing chromosome segment substitution lines and identified FEN1 as a suitable candidate gene involved in peanut symbiosis. This research provides valuable insights into understanding and improving SNF in peanut.},
}
@article {pmid40461259,
year = {2025},
author = {Esser, SP and Turzynski, V and Plewka, J and Nuy, J and Moore, CJ and Banas, I and Soares, AR and Lee, J and Woyke, T and Probst, AJ},
title = {Differential Expression of Core Metabolic Functions in Candidatus Altiarchaeum Inhabiting Distinct Subsurface Ecosystems.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {17},
number = {3},
pages = {e70096},
pmid = {40461259},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {DFG PR1603/2-1//Ministerium f&#xfc;r Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein- Westfalen ("Nachwuchsgruppe Dr. Alexander Probst") and the German Research Foundation/ ; //Aker B.P.: GeneOil Project/ ; //U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute/ ; //DOE Office of Science User Facility/ ; //the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy operated/ ; },
mesh = {*Ecosystem ; Germany ; Groundwater/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome, Archaeal ; Multigene Family ; },
abstract = {Candidatus Altiarchaea are widespread across aquatic subsurface ecosystems and possess a highly conserved core genome, yet adaptations of this core genome to different biotic and abiotic factors based on gene expression remain unknown. Here, we investigated the metatranscriptome of two Ca. Altiarchaeum populations that thrive in two substantially different subsurface ecosystems. In Crystal Geyser, a high-CO2 groundwater system in the USA, Ca. Altiarchaeum crystalense co-occurs with the symbiont Ca. Huberiarchaeum crystalense, while in the Muehlbacher sulfidic spring in Germany, an artesian spring high in sulfide concentration, Ca. A. hamiconexum is heavily infected with viruses. We here mapped metatranscriptome reads against their genomes to analyse the in situ expression profile of their core genomes. Out of 537 shared gene clusters, 331 were functionally annotated and 130 differed significantly in expression between the two sites. Main differences were related to genes involved in cell defence like CRISPR-Cas, virus defence, replication, transcription and energy and carbon metabolism. Our results demonstrate that altiarchaeal populations in the subsurface are likely adapted to their environment while influenced by other biological entities that tamper with their core metabolism. We consequently posit that viruses and symbiotic interactions can be major energy sinks for organisms in the deep biosphere.},
}
@article {pmid40459940,
year = {2025},
author = {Taniguchi, S and Adachi, K and Tran, X and Suzuki, M and Sasabe, J},
title = {Mammalian Tolerance to Amino Acid Heterochirality.},
journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology},
volume = {26},
number = {13},
pages = {e202500273},
pmid = {40459940},
issn = {1439-7633},
support = {21H02982//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24K22061//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 22J00415//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 22KJ2682//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 25K18389//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; //Keio Gijuku Fukuzawa Memorial Fund for the Advancement of Education and Research/ ; //Keio Program for the Promotion of Next Generation Research Projects Type A/ ; },
mesh = {*Amino Acids/chemistry/metabolism ; Animals ; Stereoisomerism ; Humans ; Mammals/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Organisms use amino acids predominantly in l-configuration. In contrast, a series of studies show that a variety of d-amino acids also occur in mammals, and amino acid homochirality is not complete. Mammals de novo synthesize most amino acids with l-configuration, but serine and aspartate are converted from l- to d-configuration by endogenous enzymes. In addition to endogenous syntheses of d-amino acids, symbiotic bacteria in mammals chiral-convert amino acids, including alanine, glutamate, proline, and leucine in the intestine, creating a heterochiral inner environment. d-amino acids are distributed in distinctive patterns among organs and have physiological roles in the central nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Mammals manage such diverse d-amino acids with catabolism and excretion into urine at individual levels. In contrast, at the cellular levels an enantioselection mechanism to regulate chiral homeostasis of amino acids has remained unclear. In protein synthesis, the ribosome has a sophisticated system to eliminate d-amino acids, whereas non-ribosomal synthesis also utilizes d-amino acids. Furthermore, amino acid residues in proteins/peptides can be isomerized post-translationally through enzymatic or spontaneous processes. This manuscript overviews how the chiral balance of free amino acids or residues in proteins is maintained in mammals at the individual and cellular levels.},
}
@article {pmid40459235,
year = {2025},
author = {Paulenová, E and Dobeš, P and Melicher, F and Houser, J and Faltinek, L and Hyršl, P and Wimmerová, M},
title = {The insight into the biology of five homologous lectins produced by the entomopathogenic bacterium and nematode symbiont Photorhabdus laumondii.},
journal = {Glycobiology},
volume = {35},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40459235},
issn = {1460-2423},
support = {21-29622S//Czech Science Foundation/ ; 730872//EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020/ ; //Czech Infrastructure for Integrative Structural Biology/ ; LM2023042//Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports CR/ ; },
mesh = {*Photorhabdus/metabolism/chemistry/genetics ; Animals ; Symbiosis ; *Lectins/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; Humans ; *Nematoda/microbiology ; *Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Photorhabdus laumondii is a well-known bacterium with a complex life cycle involving mutualism with nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis and pathogenicity towards insect hosts. It provides an excellent model for studying the diverse roles of lectins, saccharide-binding proteins, in both symbiosis and pathogenicity. This study focuses on the seven-bladed β-propeller lectins of P. laumondii (PLLs), examining their biochemical properties (structure and saccharide specificity) and biological functions (gene expression, interactions with the nematode symbiont, and the host immune system response). Structural analyses revealed diverse oligomeric states among PLLs and a unique organisation of binding sites not described outside the PLL lectin family. Lectins exhibited high specificity for fucosylated and O-methylated saccharides with a significant avidity effect for multivalent ligands. Gene expression analysis across bacterial growth phases revealed that PLLs are predominantly expressed during the exponential phase. Interaction studies with the host immune system demonstrated that PLL5 uniquely induced melanisation in Galleria mellonella hemolymph. Furthermore, PLL2, PLL3, and PLL5 interfered with reactive oxygen species production in human blood cells, indicating their potential role in modulating host immune responses. Biofilm formation assays and binding studies with nematode life stages showed no significant involvement of PLLs in nematode colonization. Our findings highlight the primary role of PLLs in Photorhabdus pathogenicity rather than in symbiosis and offer valuable insight into the fascinating dynamics within the Photorhabdus-nematode-insect triparted system.},
}
@article {pmid40458963,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, Q and Jia, L and Chen, W and Zheng, Z and Lin, C and Zhu, L and Wang, X and Yao, X and Tissue, D and Robinson, D and Chen, G},
title = {Complementary foraging of roots and mycorrhizal fungi among nutrient patch types in four subtropical monospecific broadleaved tree plantations.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {3},
pages = {1401-1414},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70263},
pmid = {40458963},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2022L3009//Special Project for Guiding Science and Technology Development of Local Government by the Central Government of China/ ; 32301356//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/drug effects ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology/drug effects ; *Trees/microbiology/physiology ; *Nutrients ; Phosphorus/pharmacology ; Soil/chemistry ; Nitrogen/pharmacology ; *Tropical Climate ; Species Specificity ; },
abstract = {Foraging in soil nutrient-rich patches is a key nutrient acquisition strategy for plants. However, how arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) trees integrate root and mycorrhizal fungal responses in exploring different nutrient patches is poorly understood, especially in generally phosphorus-limited subtropical forests. We established five nutrient patch treatments (control; nitrogen addition; phosphorus addition; nitrogen + phosphorus addition; and organic residue addition) using ingrowth root bags in monoculture plantations of four subtropical tree species (two AM and two EM (Castanopsis)) to investigate the foraging responses of absorptive roots and mycorrhizal fungi. Compared to control patches, neither roots nor mycorrhizal fungi of AM and EM trees showed significant proliferative responses in nitrogen addition patches. In phosphorus addition and nitrogen + phosphorus addition patches, AM trees showed significant proliferation for mycorrhizal fungi only, while EM trees showed significant proliferation for roots only. In organic residue addition patches, however, AM trees showed significant proliferation only for roots, while EM trees showed significant proliferation only for mycorrhizal fungi. Our results highlight that foraging strategies of roots and mycorrhizal fungi are complementary among nutrient patch types and between AM and EM trees. Predicting belowground nutrient foraging strategies requires integrating information on mycorrhizal and nutrient patch types, including potential limiting nutrients.},
}
@article {pmid40458218,
year = {2025},
author = {Qush, A and Assaad, N and Alkhayat, FA and Al-Kuwari, MS and Al-Khalaf, N and Bassil, M and Yassine, HM and Zeidan, A and Razali, R and Kamareddine, L},
title = {Insects in agricultural greenhouses: a metagenomic analysis of microbes in Trialeurodes vaporariorum infesting tomato and cucumber crops.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1581707},
pmid = {40458218},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: With the predicted 9-10 billion world population increase by 2050 and its accompanying need for sustainable food production, and with the harsh climate conditions challenging agriculture and food security in many countries world-wide, employing "horticultural protected cultivation practices" in farming for seasonal and off-seasonal crop production is on the rise, among which is the use of agricultural greenhouses. The importance of greenhouse farming has been, indeed, evident by the perceived increase in year-round crops production, curtail in production risks, upsurge in agricultural profits, outreaching food stability and security in many countries globally. Yet, and despite this acknowledged success of employing greenhouses in farming, many constraints, including the presence of insect pests, still chaperoned this practice over the years, significantly impacting crop quality and production.<br><br>METHODS: As such, we assessed in this study the status of "insect pests" in the greenhouse model by collecting insects from different greenhouse sectors grown with tomatoes and cucumbers and identified the collected insects using relevant identification keys. To further explore the pest paradigm in greenhouses, we then focused on particularly studying Trialeurodes vaporariorum (TRIAVA), a key insect species among the collected and identified insects in the studied greenhouse model and a significant pest with an impactful effect on many crops worldwide. To do so, we traced the abundance of TRIAVA in the tomato and cucumber grown greenhouse sectors over the period of the study, analyzed its metagenome and associated its abundance with crop yield.<br><br>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our findings revealed TRIAVA hosted microbes with aptitudes to either serve as symbiotic microorganisms and protect TRIAVA against pathogens or to potentially cause damage to crops. This work provides additional insight into the insect pests paradigm in greenhouses, an upshot that could serve integrated insect pest management strategies in greenhouses for optimal agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid40456902,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, HB and Zhao, JC and Liu, WY and Bi, YD and Sibirina, LA and Yu, XD},
title = {Microbiome analysis for artificially establishing the symbiotic relationship between Hebeloma hiemale and Quercus mongolica.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {19273},
pmid = {40456902},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {2022-MS-418//Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province/ ; 2024-MSLH-344//Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province/ ; 32370008//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Quercus/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Microbiota ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; *Hebeloma/physiology ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; },
abstract = {Ectomycorrhizae (ECM) play a critical role in enhancing plant growth and health. However, the influence of artificially established ectomycorrhizal symbioses on the structure and function of rhizosphere microbial communities remains inadequately understood. In this study, a symbiotic relationship between Hebeloma hiemale and Quercus mongolica was established to investigate the influence of ECM on soil microbial communities in the rhizosphere of the host plant. High-throughput sequencing revealed that H. hiemale inoculation altered the evenness of both the fungal and bacterial communities and reduced the diversity of the bacterial community relative to the blank control. In particular, several bacterial genera with an enhanced capacity for nutrient cycling, contaminant degradation, and host plant protection were enriched following H. hiemale inoculation. Shifts in fungal community structure suggest potential benefits for the host plant, including reduced cadmium uptake, enhanced mercury remediation, and increased protection against pathogens. Our results highlight the complex interactions between ECM and rhizosphere microbial communities to enable a better understanding of the importance of multi-species relationships in plant-microbe symbioses and their ecological implications.},
}
@article {pmid40456658,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, ZY and Zhong, YJ and Wang, YF and Xie, NH and Zhang, Y and Jiang, ZY and Shi, RJ and Liang, XL},
title = {Ecological functions of plant-beneficial microbiomes and their application prospects in sustainable agriculture.},
journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology},
volume = {36},
number = {5},
pages = {1553-1566},
doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202504.036},
pmid = {40456658},
issn = {1001-9332},
mesh = {*Microbiota/physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Agriculture/methods ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Bacteriophages/physiology ; *Crops, Agricultural/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Ecosystem ; Symbiosis ; Sustainable Development ; Plant Development ; },
abstract = {Soil microbial communities form dynamic interaction networks with plants, which influence growth, development, stress tolerance, and ecological adaptability of plants. In recent years, the roles of beneficial micro-biomes, including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and plant-associated bacteriophages, in agricultural ecosystems have received increasing attention. Beneficial microorganisms can facilitate soil nutrient release, secrete plant hormones, and regulate signaling pathways, thereby establishing symbiotic relationships with plant for healthy host growth. They also play crucial roles in enhancing plant tolerance to salinity, drought, and pest-related stresses. Bacteriophages, as integral components of plant microbiomes, exhibit potential ecological functions, such as modulating host metabolism, boosting plant resistance, and maintaining microbial community balance. However, the mechanisms through which plant-associated microbiomes influence plant physiological traits remain less understood. The application of exogenous microorganisms in agriculture faces many challenges, such as competition from native microbiomes, environmental adaptability, and functional stabi-lity. We summarized the ecological functions of plant-beneficial microbiomes, including bacteriophages, in agricultural systems, highlighting their synergistic roles in soil health maintenance, nutrient cycling optimization, biodiversity conservation, and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Furthermore, we discussed the complex mechanisms underlying plant-microbiome-environment interactions and proposed strategies for optimizing microbiome functions to promote sustainable development of agriculture and ensuring food security and ecological balance.},
}
@article {pmid40456535,
year = {2025},
author = {Lemoine, MM and Wöhner, T and Kaltenpoth, M},
title = {Microbial Community Dynamics in Natural Drosophila melanogaster Populations Across Seasons.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {6},
pages = {e70104},
pmid = {40456535},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {CoG 819585/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; //Max-Planck-Gesellschaft/ ; KA2846/5-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology ; Seasons ; *Fungi/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Bacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Microbiota ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; },
abstract = {Many insects benefit from gut microbes that contribute to digestion, detoxification, nutrient supplementation or defence. Although abiotic and biotic factors are known to shape insect-associated microbial communities, the seasonal dynamics and their potential impact on host fitness remain poorly studied. Here we investigated the temporal changes in bacterial and fungal communities associated with the model organism Drosophila melanogaster over 5 months. Our results reveal high inter-individual variation, but also consistent changes in microbial communities of three wild D. melanogaster populations from early spring to late summer. These changes were driven by specific indicator species, particularly Acetobacteraceae bacteria (Gluconobacter and Komagataeibacter) and Saccharomycetales yeasts (Pichia, Starmerella, Kregervanrija, Hanseniaspora, Saccharomycopsis, Priceomyces and Dipodascopsis). The temporal dynamics were not accompanied by differences in the total bacterial or fungal abundance, and alpha-diversity only changed across sampling months for the fungal but not the bacterial communities. While the changes in D. melanogaster-associated microbial communities are likely driven by the exposure to seasonally changing microbial environments and diets, they may have important impacts on host fitness. Elucidating the potential adaptive value of seasonally changing microbial communities will enhance our understanding of how symbiotic microbes may contribute to ecological niche shifts and geographic range expansions in insects.},
}
@article {pmid40456330,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Z and Du, Y and Yang, R and Ning, F and Wang, J and Lei, J and Wang, J and Zhang, A and Liu, Y},
title = {Response of extracellular polymeric substances in algal-bacterial granular sludge under salinity stress: Secretion behavior, structural properties, and protective roles.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {433},
number = {},
pages = {132754},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132754},
pmid = {40456330},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Sewage/microbiology ; *Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/metabolism/chemistry ; *Salt Stress ; Salinity ; Flocculation ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Rheology ; },
abstract = {The algal-bacterial granular sludge (ABGS) technology exhibits the advantages of low energy consumption and high shock load resistance. While ABGS regulates extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion to cope with adverse conditions, the role of EPS in resisting salinity stress remains uncertain. This study investigated the response ofEPS in ABGS to salinity stress (0-5 %) by examining secretion behavior, structural properties, and protective roles. The results showed that high salinity (≥3%) led to changes in the components and content of EPS. Additionally, analysis of the adhesion in EPS indicated that the frequency of tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS) decreased sharply from -10 Hz (0 %) to -45 Hz (1 %). According to the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory and the rheological properties, TB-EPS significantly influences sludge flocculation and stability at low salinity. This study provided a scientific foundation for revealing the role mechanism of EPS in ABGS for saline wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40455119,
year = {2025},
author = {Yamanouchi, K and Nagai, T and Tsujiguchi, T and Chiba, M and Fujioka, M and Ahsan, CR and Matsumiya, T},
title = {Environmentally derived Balamuthia mandrillaris contains endosymbiotic bacteria.},
journal = {Parasitology research},
volume = {124},
number = {6},
pages = {57},
pmid = {40455119},
issn = {1432-1955},
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Balamuthia mandrillaris/microbiology/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; Japan ; *Symbiosis ; Pigments, Biological/metabolism/biosynthesis ; *Bacteria/isolation &amp; purification/classification/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Balamuthia mandrillaris is an environmentally derived, free-living amoeba that causes fatal meningoencephalitis. We previously isolated B. mandrillaris from soil in the Aomori Prefecture and attempted to culture the cell-free amoeba using liquid medium; however, this was difficult to achieve because of contamination of the medium with endogenous bacteria. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of endogenous bacteria in environmentally derived B. mandrillaris and identify bacteria. Two new environmentally derived B. mandrillaris strains were isolated from soil samples collected throughout Japan. Environmentally derived B. mandrillaris was cultured under nutrient-free conditions for 60 days, and the induced cysts contained large amounts of viable bacteria. The sequence of the endophytic bacteria revealed that the genus Chitinophaga was common between the two strains of B. mandrillaris. The opportunistic pathogens Inquilinus and Brevundimonas were also detected. All of these bacteria were pigment-producing species. Bacterial pigment production helps protect organisms from extremes of heat and cold, increases the virulence of pathogenic strains, and protects organisms from protein and DNA damage caused by UV light and ionizing radiation. This suggests that B. mandrillaris preserving bacteria in a viable state for a long time under severe conditions with no nutrition may be the ability of the bacteria to produce pigments.},
}
@article {pmid40454874,
year = {2025},
author = {Pfister, CA and Berlinghof, J and Bogan, M and Cardini, U and Gobet, A and Hamon-Giraud, P and Hart, J and Jimenez, N and Siegel, A and Stanfield, E and Vallet, M and Leblanc, C and Rousseau, C and Thomas, F and Stock, W and Dittami, SM},
title = {Evolutionary history and association with seaweeds shape the genomes and metabolisms of marine bacteria.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {10},
number = {6},
pages = {e0099624},
pmid = {40454874},
issn = {2379-5042},
mesh = {*Genome, Bacterial ; *Seaweed/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/metabolism/classification ; *Seawater/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; Base Composition ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Metagenome ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Seaweeds harbor a rich diversity of bacteria, providing them with metabolic resources and a surface for attachment and biofilm development. The host's unique environment potentially shapes the bacterial genomes and promotes adaptations for a symbiotic lifestyle. To investigate whether the genomes of seaweed-associated bacteria are genetically and metabolically distinct from their close free-living relatives in seawater, we compared both the seaweed-associated and free-living counterparts of 72 bacterial genera across 16 seaweed hosts using whole-genome sequences or high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes. While taxonomic affiliation strongly influenced genome characteristics such as GC content, gene number, and size, host association had a lower effect overall. A reduced genome size was suggested only in Nereocystis luetkeana-associated microbes, while only Ascophyllum nodosum-associated bacteria had an increased GC content. Metabolic adaptations were indicated from the genomes of seaweed-associated bacteria, including enriched pathways for B vitamin production, complex carbohydrate utilization, and amino acid biosynthesis. In particular, Flavobacteriia showed the most pronounced differences between host-associated and free-living strains. We further hypothesized that bacteria associated with seaweed might have evolved to complement their host's metabolism and tested this inference by analyzing the genomes of both the seaweed Ectocarpus subulatus and its 28 bacterial associates but found no evidence for such complementarity. Our analyses of 72 paired bacterial genomes highlighted significant metabolic differences in seaweed-associated strains with implications for carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling in the coastal ocean.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: We hypothesized that the unique environment of seaweeds in coastal oceans shapes bacterial genomes and promotes a symbiotic lifestyle. We compared the genomes of bacteria isolated from seaweed with bacteria from the same genus found free-living in seawater. For genome features that included the number of genes, the size of the genome, and the GC content, taxonomy was of greater importance than bacterial lifestyle. When we compared metabolic abilities, we again found a strong effect of taxonomy in determining metabolism. Although several metabolic pathways differed between free-living and host-associated bacteria, this was especially prominent for Flavobacteriia in the phylum Bacteroidota. Notably, bacteria living on seaweeds had an increased occurrence of genes for B vitamin synthesis, complex carbohydrate use, and nitrogen uptake, indicating that bacterial genomes reflect both their evolutionary history and the current environment they inhabit.},
}
@article {pmid40453780,
year = {2025},
author = {Yamato, M and Ohmae, M and Orihara, T and Kusakabe, R and Goto, BT and Błaszkowski, J},
title = {Molecular phylogeny, morphology, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and putative distribution of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Epigeocarpum japonicum (Glomeraceae).},
journal = {Mycoscience},
volume = {65},
number = {6},
pages = {270-277},
pmid = {40453780},
issn = {1618-2545},
abstract = {We collected in Japan five sporocarpic specimens morphologically identical to those of Epigeocarpum japonicum, a recently described Glomeromycota species. Although 18S-ITS-28S nuc rDNA sequences obtained from these sporocarps showed high sequence variability, phylogenetic analyses based on 18S-ITS-28S, the largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (rpb1) gene, and concatenated sequences of the two loci convincingly demonstrated the identity of these sporocarps to E. japonicum. Importantly, the 18S-ITS-28S+rpb1 analyses highlighted the key role of rpb1 sequences in reconstructing the phylogenies of Glomeromycota taxa with strongly divergent rDNA sequences. Upon inoculation with sporocarpic spores, E. japonicum formed mycorrhiza with arbuscules and vesicles, which was not confirmed in the original description of the species. Comparisons of E. japonicum 18S sequences with Glomeromycota DNA sequences available in a public database indicated that E. japonicum is a cosmopolitan species and is mainly associated with plants in natural habitats such as grasslands, shrublands, and forests. Phylogenetic analyses also confirmed the autonomy of E. crypticum, another known species of the genus Epigeocarpum whose sporocarps were originally found in Brazil.},
}
@article {pmid40451789,
year = {2025},
author = {Yue, X and Yang, J and Qi, J and Gao, S and Huo, Q and Guo, X and Guo, H and Luo, J and Wang, Y and Zhao, Y and Liu, R and Wang, H and Yi, S and Fu, Y and Ji, X and Wei, Y and He, W and Guo, B},
title = {Loss of Pathogenicity and Evidence of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides From a Medicinal Plant.},
journal = {Molecular plant pathology},
volume = {26},
number = {6},
pages = {e70098},
pmid = {40451789},
issn = {1364-3703},
support = {GX2346//Xi'an Beilin District Science and Technology Plan Project/ ; 2018ZDXM-SF-016//Key Research and Development Plan Project of Shaanxi Province/ ; 23JHQ056//Shaanxi Institute of Basic Sciences Project/ ; 2023-JC-YB-165//Natural Science Basis Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Colletotrichum/pathogenicity/genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal/genetics ; *Plants, Medicinal/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Huperzia/microbiology ; Virulence/genetics ; },
abstract = {Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a major agricultural pathogen of crops that has also been identified as an endophyte of the medicinal plant Huperzia serrata. Both H. serrata and C. gloeosporioides produce huperzine A, a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. In this study, a nonpathogenic C. gloeosporioides strain (NWUHS001) was isolated and its genome sequenced. Gene structure prediction identified 15,413 protein-coding genes and 879 noncoding RNAs. Through PHI-base database prediction, we found that NWUHS001 lacks two key pathogenicity genes CgDN3 and cap20, which may be the cause of its nonpathogenicity. Comparative genomic analysis showed that the number of genes encoding pectin lyase B (pelB), pectin lyase (pnl) and polygalacturonase (pg) in NWUHS001 was significantly lower than that in pathogenic strains during the expansion of mycelium into host tissues. This caused slow growth and incapability to penetrate host cells. In contrast, in NWUHS001, genes involved in carbon acquisition such as ribose and amino sugar metabolic pathways were enriched, indicating active metabolite exchange with the host. In addition, by comparing the genome of NWUHS001 with that of the host H. serrata, we found that polyketosynthetase (pksIII), a key gene in the host huperzine A biosynthetic pathway, may possibly have been acquired from the fungus by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This study explained the possible genetic evolution mechanism of C. gloeosporioides from pathogenicity to nonpathogenicity, which is of value for studying the interaction between microorganisms and plants. It also provided clues to the genetic evolution of the biosynthetic pathway of huperzine A.},
}
@article {pmid40450278,
year = {2025},
author = {Bouwman, T and Higa, L and Lee, C and Young, S and Ragasa, A and Bonito, G and Nguyen, NH and Du, ZY},
title = {Biochemical and molecular characterization of fungal isolates from California annual grassland soil.},
journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels and bioproducts},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {56},
pmid = {40450278},
issn = {2731-3654},
support = {2022-38500-38099//U.S. Department of Agriculture/ ; DE-SC0020163//U.S. Department of Energy/ ; },
abstract = {Fungi play a pivotal role in ecosystem functionality, driving processes such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and symbiotic interactions. Their wide enzymatic strategies enable the breakdown of complex organic materials and the valorization of organic waste streams, providing sustainable pathways for bioproduct development. Fungi also exhibit significant potential in industrial applications, particularly in biofuel and nutraceutical production, owing to their high lipid content and adaptability to diverse feedstocks. Genera such as Aspergillus, Mortierella, and Linnemannia have demonstrated exceptional lipid production capabilities and unique fatty acid profiles, including high yields of nutraceuticals like arachidonic acid (ARA) and oleic acid. This study explored uncharacterized fungal strains isolated from California grassland soils, analyzing their phylogeny, morphology, growth rates, lipid content, and fatty acid profiles. Results revealed notable genetic and physiological diversity among the isolates, with Mortierella strains emerging as the most promising for industrial applications due to their superior lipid content and productivity of ARA and oleic acid. Confocal microscopy confirmed consistent lipid droplet morphology, while phylogenetic analysis uncovered novel species-level diversity. Key strains were identified for biofuel and nutraceutical production, highlighting their industrial potential. These findings underscore the versatility of fungi as biotechnological tools and provide a foundation for further exploration and utilization of these promising strains in industrial processes.},
}
@article {pmid40450130,
year = {2025},
author = {Alizadeh, Z and Heidari, P and Asghari, HR},
title = {Exploring the influence of symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and beans on potassium uptake and the activity of AKT and HKT genes.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {19169},
pmid = {40450130},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Potassium/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Phaseolus/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {In plants, potassium (K[+]) serves multiple functions, despite being scarce due to strong soil adsorption. This study examined how the presence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) like Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis mosseae influenced the absorption and transport of K[+] in bean roots through symbiotic interactions. In a symbiotic relationship, AMF had the potential to enhance potassium absorption and storage in various tissues of bean seedlings. Under symbiotic conditions, the concentration of potassium in stem tissues was observed to increase almost four times more than control conditions. The genome of beans was shown to contain a total of nineteen PvAKT genes and two PvHKT genes. Based on phylogeny analysis, PvAKT family members and their corresponding orthologs were categorized into four distinct groups. Subfamily 3 of the PvAKT phylogeny tree exhibited distinct variations from other subfamilies in terms of gene structure, conserved domains, and potential phosphorylation sites. The presence of cis-regulatory element related to ABA responsiveness in the upstream region led to the division of PvAKT and PvHKT genes into two specific groups. Gene expression analysis disclosed that PvAKT and PvHKT genes are induced by AMF and have tissue specific expression. PvAKT6 and PvAKT11 genes and both PvHKT genes showed differential expression in root and shoot tissues, while PvAKT3 gene increased expression in both root and shoot tissues. The results suggest that AMF had a significant impact on increasing the solubility of K[+] and ultimately enhancing the function of K[+] transporters.},
}
@article {pmid40450007,
year = {2025},
author = {Kong, L and Feng, Y and Zheng, R and Wu, X and Mao, Y and Sun, J and Liu, S},
title = {Interspecies hydrogen transfer between cyanobacteria and symbiotic bacteria drives nitrogen loss.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {5078},
pmid = {40450007},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {52270016//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 523B2095//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
mesh = {*Hydrogen/metabolism ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Denitrification ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {The trace concentration of H2 in most ecosystems after the Earth's oxidation has long caused the neglect of hydrogenotrophic denitrification for nitrogen loss. Here, we find that the interspecies hydrogen transfer between cyanobacteria and symbiotic bacteria within cyanobacterial aggregates is an undiscovered pathway for nitrogen loss. Cyanobacteria in aggregates can actively generate H2 under the diel cycle as an electron donor for neighboring hydrogenotrophic denitrifiers. The hydrogenotrophic denitrification in engineered cyanobacterial aggregates accounts for a nitrogen removal rate of 3.47 ± 0.42 mmol l[-1] day[-1]. This value is nearly 50% of the heterotrophic denitrification rate, which far exceeds the general concept of the trace role. We find that H2-evolving cyanobacteria and hydrogenotrophic denitrifiers coexist in 84% of the 63 globally distributed cyanobacterial aggregates, where bloom colonies and phototrophic mats from hot springs are identified as potential hotspots. We suggest that interspecies hydrogen transfer within cyanobacterial aggregates is possibly responsible for the excessive nitrogen loss rate during cyanobacterial blooms where cyanobacterial aggregates persist.},
}
@article {pmid40449773,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, H and Zhu, X and Liu, J and Si, J and Wu, L},
title = {Plant endophytic fungal polysaccharides and their activities: A review.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {317},
number = {Pt 2},
pages = {144750},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.144750},
pmid = {40449773},
issn = {1879-0003},
mesh = {*Endophytes/chemistry/metabolism ; *Fungal Polysaccharides/chemistry/pharmacology/isolation &amp; purification ; *Plants/microbiology ; *Fungi/chemistry/metabolism ; Antioxidants/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Polysaccharides/chemistry/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi, essential constituents of plant microecosystems, have attracted considerable scientific interest due to their remarkable biodiversity, ecological adaptability, and capacity to synthesize a wide range of bioactive metabolites. Among these, polysaccharides produced by endophytic fungi represent a promising yet insufficiently investigated class of macromolecules with significant pharmacological and biotechnological applications. However, research on these polysaccharides remains constrained by limited exploration. This review systematically consolidates current advances in the classification, extraction, purification, structural elucidation, and biological functions of endophytic fungal polysaccharides (EFPs), while also examining their interactions with host plants. The potential of polysaccharide-producing endophytic fungi remains largely underexplored. Furthermore, inherent polysaccharide complexity, combined with technical limitations, has confined most studies to extracellular polysaccharides, leaving comprehensive structural analyses scarce. EFPs demonstrate antioxidant, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activities, and contribute substantially to the symbiotic dynamics between fungi and host plants, yet systematic activity profiling is insufficient. This review proposes establishing a targeted resource development framework to enhance the diversity of polysaccharide compounds and advocates for the integration of conventional and advanced methodologies to advance pharmacological investigations and functional analyses of EFPs, thereby offering strategic insights for future applications and facilitating deeper exploration and utilization.},
}
@article {pmid40449332,
year = {2025},
author = {Ou, Z and Wang, Z and Duan, C and Shu, L and Hu, Z},
title = {Simultaneously disinfection of amoebae, endosymbiotic bacteria, and resistance genes using a novel two-electron water oxidation strategy.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {284},
number = {},
pages = {123894},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123894},
pmid = {40449332},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {Oxidation-Reduction ; *Amoeba ; *Disinfection/methods ; Bacteria ; Symbiosis ; Water ; },
abstract = {Amoebae, which serve as important vectors for various pathogenic bacteria, are ubiquitous in natural and artificial water systems. Their robust survival capabilities and protective characteristics render conventional disinfection methods largely ineffective. Moreover, amoeba cells provide an ideal environment for the replication and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes, posing a significant threat to human health and safety. In this study, an in-situ activation system for electrocatalytic water oxidation was developed. This system effectively inactivates amoeba spores and their intracellular symbiotic bacteria while simultaneously reducing the abundance of resistance genes through the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and carbonate free radicals (•CO3[-]). The results demonstrated a 99.9 % inactivation rate for amoeba spores and a 99.999 % inactivation rate for intracellular bacteria. In addition, the prevalence of resistant genes in bacteria within amoebae, specifically including sul1 (sulfonamide resistance), tetA (tetracycline resistance), blaFOX (cefoxitin resistance), arsB (arsenic resistance), czcA (cadmium resistance), and copA (copper resistance), was significantly reduced by approximately 16 %-62.6 %. Therefore, this study introduces a new technology capable of simultaneously treating amoeba spores, intracellular bacteria, and resistance genes, which holds significant importance for reducing the spread of resistant genes and enhancing public health safety.},
}
@article {pmid40449312,
year = {2025},
author = {Xia, Z and Ng, HY and Bae, S},
title = {Synergistic microalgal-bacterial interactions enhance nitrogen removal in membrane-aerated biofilm photoreactors treating aquaculture wastewater under salt stress: Insights from metagenomic analysis.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {283},
number = {},
pages = {123878},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123878},
pmid = {40449312},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Microalgae/metabolism ; *Biofilms ; *Nitrogen/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; *Wastewater ; Aquaculture ; *Salt Stress ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Photobioreactors/microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Salinity ; Water Purification/methods ; },
abstract = {This study investigates the membrane-aerated biofilm photoreactor (MABPR) for treating aquaculture effluents with low C/N ratio and elevated salinity (0.5%-3.2%). The MABPR integrated biofilm reactors with microalgal-bacterial consortia, achieving superior total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal by leveraging counter-diffusional biofilm properties, bubbleless aeration, and enhanced microalgal productivity. The system consistently outperformed conventional reactors, achieving 84.7 ± 1.9% TIN removal at 3.2% salinity with TIN removal flux increasing from 0.82 ± 0.04 to 1.22 ± 0.07 g/m[2] d. The MABPR promoted microalgal proliferation (Chl-a/VSS: 8.08-15.04 mg/g) and higher biomass productivity (1.83 g/m[2] d) compared to SBBPR and MABR. Elevated salinity stimulated extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, reinforcing biofilm stability and microbial resilience. The MABPR demonstrated 22%-65% higher nitrogen removal efficiency than controls at the highest salinity. Canonical nitrification-denitrification remained the primary nitrogen removal pathway, with short-cut nitrification-denitrification contributing under salt stress. Metagenomic analysis revealed bidirectional adaptation between microalgae and bacteria, with enriched nitrogen assimilation (GS/GOGAT pathway) compensating for bacterial deficits. Microalgae facilitated pollutant removal through ammonia uptake and dissolved organic matter release, supporting denitrification. At 3.2% salinity, Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter abundance increased by 42.6% and 35.8%, while denitrifiers Denitromonas and Hoeflea dominated, comprising 59.4% and 35.9% of the population. The MABPR further promoted the synthesis of growth cofactors (vitamins, phytohormones), enhancing microalgal productivity and stress resilience. These synergistic microalgal-bacterial interactions supported pollutant removal, showcasing the MABPR as a robust, sustainable solution for aquaculture wastewater treatment and resource recovery under salt stress.},
}
@article {pmid40446515,
year = {2025},
author = {Moreira, GRM and De Lima Júnior, JM and Nomura, CS and De Jesus, JHF and Uher, E and Dufour, A and Do Noscimiento, MM and Grover, R and Migon, C and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Espósito, BP},
title = {Enhancing coral photosynthesis: The power of manganese-alginate gels.},
journal = {Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)},
volume = {89},
number = {},
pages = {127675},
doi = {10.1016/j.jtemb.2025.127675},
pmid = {40446515},
issn = {1878-3252},
mesh = {*Photosynthesis/drug effects ; *Anthozoa/drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; *Alginates/chemistry/pharmacology ; Animals ; *Manganese/pharmacology/chemistry ; Gels/chemistry ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Scleractinian corals rely on symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae, a family of marine dinoflagellates, for photosynthetic products, which sustains their growth in nutrient-poor environments. Manganese (Mn) is a critical element for photosynthesis as an essential cofactor for the oxygen-evolving complex of the photosynthetic machinery. Also, Mn is an essential metal involved in antioxidant mechanisms that maintain normal cellular function in heat stressed corals.<br><br>OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of different Mn species on photosynthetic efficiency in the coral Stylophora pistillata under thermal stress. A Mn-alginate device for controlled Mn supplementation was developed for this purpose.<br><br>METHODS: Coral nubbins were exposed to the following Mn species: manganese(II) chloride (MnCl&#x2082;), manganese(II) ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinate (MnEDDS), manganese(II) desferrioxamine (MnDFO), and manganese(III) citrate (MnCIT). Photosynthetic parameters were measured using fluorometry. Mn-alginate gel dishes were prepared for controlled release, and their impacts on coral health indicators were evaluated at 26 &#xb0;C and 31 &#xb0;C, including photosynthetic efficiency, oxygen production, and symbiont density.<br><br>RESULTS: Free Mn(II) (MnCl2) and MnEDDS significantly enhanced photosynthetic efficiency. Mn-alginate effectively delivered Mn in controlled bursts. Under thermal stress, Mn supplementation improved photosynthetic activity and favored symbiont density. Mn-alginate dishes were stable in seawater and biocompatible, releasing Mn optimally at elevated temperatures.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Mn-alginate gel dishes are an efficient and safe method for improving coral photosynthesis and mitigating thermal stress impacts, supporting reef conservation efforts in a changing climate.},
}
@article {pmid40445563,
year = {2025},
author = {Martín-Cardoso, H and Castillo, L and Busturia, I and Bücker, G and Marqués, L and Pla, E and Català-Forner, M and Domingo, C and San Segundo, B},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Increase Blast Resistance and Grain Yield in Japonica Rice Cultivars in Flooded Fields.},
journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {47},
pmid = {40445563},
issn = {1939-8425},
support = {PLEC2021-007786//MICIU/AEI and European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR/ ; PID2021-128825OB-I00//MICIU/AEI/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish symbiotic associations with a wide range of plant species. Root colonization by AM fungi improves the uptake of mineral nutrients in the host plant, mainly phosphorus, in exchange for photosynthetically fixed carbon. Rice is one of the most important cereal crops in the world that is cultivated in diverse ecosystems, mainly in flooded fields. Although rice is a host for AM fungi, flooding depresses colonization of rice roots by AM fungi. However, once fungal penetration into the rice root has occurred, the functional capacities of the AM fungus are not affected by flooding. In this study, we investigated mycorrhizal responsiveness in a panel of temperate japonica rice varieties in low fertility soil collected from rice fields. We show that inoculation with an AM fungus, either Rhizophagus irregularis or Funneliformis mosseae, stimulates seedling growth, improves Pi nutrition and enhances resistance to infection by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae in aerobically grown rice plants in low fertility soil. The fungus M. oryzae is the causal agent of the rice blast disease, one of the most devastating diseases in cultivated rice worldwide. Field trials were conducted in flooded paddy fields of eastern Spain (mediterranean region) in 2023 and 2024. Three elite rice varieties were inoculated with R. irregularis and grown in nurseries under aerobic conditions during early vegetative stage. The AM-inoculated seedlings were then transplanted to flooded fields. We show that inoculation with R. irregularis increases grain yield and blast resistance, namely leaf blast, neck blast, node blast and panicle blast, in flooded field conditions. Although all the japonica rice varieties here examined benefited from the AM symbiosis, its effects varied depending on the rice variety and the geographical location. These findings demonstrated that the application of AM fungi in nurseries may be integrated with conventional rice cultivation systems in paddy fields for the development of sustainable rice production systems less dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.},
}
@article {pmid40444050,
year = {2025},
author = {Sarti, G and Traini, C and Magni, G and Attorre, S and Tognozzi, G and Calussi, E and Giovannini, MG and Vannucchi, MG and Lana, D},
title = {Chronic administration of prebiotics and probiotics prevent pathophysiological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in the cortex of APP/PS1 mice.},
journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1596469},
pmid = {40444050},
issn = {1663-9812},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Dysbiosis is a characteristic of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The disbalance between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria causes increased production of beta-amyloid (Aβ) in the gut, which can contribute to brain accumulation of Aβ. Recovering microbiota composition with symbiotic administration of prebiotics and probiotics may be a strategy to prevent or reduce AD symptomathology. The aim of this research was to study whether chronic administration of pre- and probiotics modifies the histopathological signs of neurodegeneration in the cortex of APP/PS1 mice, a transgenic mouse model of AD. We focused on neuritic plaques deposition, neuronal degeneration and glia activation.<br><br>METHODS: Transgenic (TG) mice and Wild type (WT) littermates were fed daily with a diet supplemented with prebiotics (a multi-extract of fibers and plant complexes, containing inulin/fruit-oligosaccharides) and probiotics (a 50%-50% mixture of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus paracasei). The treatment started at 2 months of age and lasted for 6 months. Controls were WT and TG mice fed with a standard diet. All groups were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy and digital imaging. Cortical sections were immunostained for neuritic plaques, neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and inflammatory proteins. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out by immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy and digital imaging with ImageJ software.<br><br>RESULTS: Quantitative analyses in TG mice demonstrated intense A&#x3b2; load and accumulation of neurofilament heavy polypeptide (NHP) in neuritic plaques, neuronal degeneration, shrinkage of the cortex, increase of GFAP expression, and microglia and astrocytes activation. All these effects were mainly evident in cortical Layer 5. The symbiotic treatment with pre- and probiotics decreased A&#x3b2; deposition and neuritic plaques in the frontoparietal cortex. In addition, the treatment decreased the degeneration of neurons, the cortical shrinkage, increased GFAP expression, and modified microglia phenomic, decreasing significantly microglia activation. The abovementioned effects of the treatment were mostly evident in cortical Layer 5.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These data confirm that prolonged dietary regimen enriched with pre- and probiotics counteracts many of the histopathological hallmarks of AD, and poses the bases for a simple, affordable treatment that may help prevent AD.},
}
@article {pmid40443489,
year = {2025},
author = {Düşen, S and Kaska, Y and Yilmaz, M and Ulubelı, SA},
title = {Endoparasites and epibionts of loggerhead and green sea turtles from the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey: A detailed assessment.},
journal = {Helminthologia},
volume = {62},
number = {1},
pages = {40-49},
pmid = {40443489},
issn = {0440-6605},
abstract = {Two species of sea turtles, the loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), use Turkey's Mediterranean and rarely Aegean Sea coasts for nesting and foraging. The injured sea turtles are regularly transferred for treatment to the Sea Turtle Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (DEKAMER) Muğla Ortaca-Dalyan (Turkey) from the different coasts of the these two seasthese include Çanakkale, Balıkesir, İzmir and Aydın (Aegean Sea); Antalya and Mersin (Mediterranean Sea) and also Muğla (it has two coasts both Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea). In this study, both internal and external parasites and epibiont species of turtles that died during treatment were examined. This is the first detailed parasitological and epibiont study on these sea turtles in the Turkish coast. Twenty-two adult Caretta caretta and twelve green turtles were examined and these symbiotic groups were recorded: endoparasitic digeneans and nematodes, and epibiotic annelids and cirripeds (barnacles). The observed three digenean species (Pyelosomum renicapite, Learedius learedi and Deuterobaris proteus) are recorded in Turkey for the first time. Also, Ch. mydas and C. caretta represent new host records for these digenean species in Turkey. Ch. mydas represents a new host record for two cirriped species (Chelonibia testudinaria and Lepas hillii) from Turkey and C. caretta also represent a new host record for Ozobranchus margoi from Turkey. Based on the available literature, the implications of these symbionts on sea turtle health are discussed, highlighting the importance of recording parasitic data of sea turtles. The study of internal and external parasites is very important, especially for the treatment of sea turtles under rehabilitation.},
}
@article {pmid40442996,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, Q and Zhou, Z and Cui, L and Liu, J and You, G and Chen, Q and Hou, J and Fan, X and Yang, Y},
title = {Study on the treatment of livestock and poultry wastewater using algae-bacteria symbiotic system: effect of inoculation proportion and performance.},
journal = {Environmental technology},
volume = {46},
number = {14},
pages = {2597-2614},
doi = {10.1080/09593330.2024.2440162},
pmid = {40442996},
issn = {1479-487X},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wastewater/microbiology ; Poultry ; Symbiosis ; Livestock ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Chlorella vulgaris/metabolism/physiology ; Flocculation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Ammonia/metabolism ; },
abstract = {In order to solve the problems of poor tolerance of traditional algal-bacterial symbiosis system to high ammonia wastewater and biomass recovery, a new symbiosis system combining biological agents of nitrifying bacteria and ordinary Chlorella vulgaris was proposed. The results showed that adjusting the volume ratio of algae and bacteria had an effect on the wastewater treatment performance, microalgae growth and flocculation effect. At the optimal algal-bacterial volume ratio of 1:3, the TN, NH4+-N and COD removal rates were 50%, 70%and 83%, respectively. The high concentration of ammonia nitrogen would have some inhibitory effect on microalgal photosynthesis, but the appropriate inoculation ratio could alleviate this pressure and improve the growth rate of microalgae. Under the optimal inoculation ratio, the PN and PS contents of extracellular polymers were 125.16 and 73 mg/L, respectively, which induced a stronger protective mechanism and enhanced the synergistic effect between algae-bacteria. In addition, the flocculation efficiency of the algal-bacterial system increased from 15% to 30% with the decrease of the initial inoculum of microalgae. The results provided a theoretical basis for the construction of an efficient algal-bacterial symbiosis system for the treatment of livestock and poultry wastewater as well as the efficient flocculation of the algal-bacterial system.},
}
@article {pmid40442956,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, B and Liu, P and Wang, P and Wang, M and Chai, Y and Cui, F and Jin, Y},
title = {Efficient Construction of Heterogeneous Oxides as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Zinc-Air Batteries.},
journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)},
volume = {21},
number = {30},
pages = {e2501938},
doi = {10.1002/smll.202501938},
pmid = {40442956},
issn = {1613-6829},
support = {242300420004//Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province China/ ; 2022M712918//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Metal-air batteries (MABs) have attracted considerable attention. However, the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of air cathode is severe which has obstructed the more extensively application. Here, this study proposes a facile method to obtain heterogeneous oxides catalyst for enhancing the oxygen electrode catalysis where multiple nanosize Co3O4, Mn3O4 and MnCo2O4 (CMMCO) are symbiotic. In this case, the concomitant mono-metal oxide can contribute to atomic ratio modulation effect on MnCo2O4 spinel such as Mn[2+] to Mn[3+],Co[3+] to Co[2+], resulting in Mn high-spin state transformation into low-spin state and oxygen vacancies, further optimizing the adsorption of intermediates. Obviously, built-in electric field at heterojunction interface dramatically facilitates electron transfer. Also, band-gap change determined by orbital overlap indicates the affinity with reactant. For the resulting CMMCO catalyst, an excellent half-wave potential of E1/2 = 0.82 V for the ORR and low polarization potential (360 mV) for OER at 10 mA cm[-2] are achieved. Based on CMMCO cathodes, the assembled zinc air batteries demonstrate an impressive peak power density of 179 mW cm[-2] and cycling stability. The successful combination between heterogeneous interface regulation and efficient ORR/OER catalysis may provide a pivotal guideline for metal air batteries investigation with low-cost bifunctional catalyst.},
}
@article {pmid40442955,
year = {2025},
author = {Choi, J and Palanichamy, P and Tanaka, H and Kondo, T and Gruwell, ME and Husnik, F},
title = {Accelerated Pseudogenization in the Ancient Endosymbionts of Giant Scale Insects.},
journal = {Molecular biology and evolution},
volume = {42},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40442955},
issn = {1537-1719},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; Animals ; *Pseudogenes ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Burkholderiaceae/genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic microorganisms are subject to a complex interplay of environmental and population-genetic pressures that drive their gene loss. Despite the widely held perception that ancient symbionts have stable genomes, even tiny genomes experience ongoing pseudogenization. Whether these tiny genomes also experience bursts of rapid gene loss is, however, less understood. Giant scale insects (Monophlebidae) feed on plant sap and rely on the symbiotic bacterium Walczuchella, which provides them with essential nutrients. When compared with other ancient symbionts with similar genome sizes, such as Karelsulcia, Walczuchella's genome was previously reported as unusually pseudogene-rich (10% of coding sequences). However, this result was based on only one genome assembly, raising questions about the assembly quality or a recent ecological shift such as co-symbiont acquisition driving the gene loss. Here, we generated six complete genomes of Walczuchella from three genera of giant scales, each with distinct co-symbiotic partners. We show that all the genomes are highly degraded, and particularly genes related to the cellular envelope and energy metabolism seem to be undergoing pseudogenization. Apart from general mechanisms driving genome reduction, such as the long-term intracellular lifestyle with transmission bottlenecks, we hypothesize that a more profound loss of DNA replication and repair genes, together with recent co-obligate symbiont acquisitions, likely contribute to the accelerated degradation of Walczuchella genomes. Our results highlight that even ancient symbionts with small genomes can experience significant bursts of gene loss when stochastic processes erase a gene that accelerates gene loss or when the selection pressure changes such as after co-symbiont acquisition.},
}
@article {pmid40441134,
year = {2025},
author = {Huffmyer, AS and Wong, KH and Becker, DM and Strand, E and Mass, T and Putnam, HM},
title = {Shifts and critical periods in coral metabolism reveal energetic vulnerability during development.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {12},
pages = {2858-2871.e6},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.05.013},
pmid = {40441134},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/growth &amp; development/metabolism/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Coral Reefs ; *Energy Metabolism ; Climate Change ; Larva/growth &amp; development ; Transcriptome ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Hawaii ; Metamorphosis, Biological ; },
abstract = {Climate change accelerates coral reef decline and jeopardizes recruitment essential for ecosystem recovery. Adult corals rely on a vital nutritional exchange with their symbiotic algae (Symbiodiniaceae), but the dynamics of reliance from fertilization to recruitment are understudied. We investigated the physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic changes across 13 developmental stages of Montipora capitata, a coral in Hawai'i that inherits symbionts from parent to egg. We found that embryonic development depends on maternally provisioned mRNAs and lipids, with a rapid shift to symbiont-derived nutrition in late developmental stages. Symbiont density and photosynthesis peak in swimming larvae to fuel pelagic dispersal. By contrast, respiratory demand increases significantly during metamorphosis and settlement, reflecting this energy-intensive morphological reorganization. Symbiont proliferation is driven by symbiont ammonium assimilation in larval stages with little evidence of nitrogen metabolism in the coral host. As development progresses, the host enhances nitrogen sequestration, regulating symbiont populations, and ensuring the transfer of fixed carbon to support metamorphosis, with both metabolomic and transcriptomic indicators of increased carbohydrate availability. Although algal symbiont community composition remained stable, bacterial communities shifted with ontogeny, associated with holobiont metabolic reorganization. Our study reveals extensive metabolic changes during development with increasing reliance on symbiont nutrition. Metamorphosis and settlement emerge as critical periods of energetic vulnerability to projected climate scenarios that destabilize symbiosis. This highly detailed characterization of symbiotic nutritional exchange during sensitive early life stages provides essential knowledge for understanding and forecasting the function of nutritional symbioses and, specifically, coral survival and recruitment in a future of climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40440302,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, H and Zhang, J and Liu, R and Li, Y and Du, Y and Wei, T},
title = {An insect symbiotic virus promotes the transmission of a phytoarbovirus via inhibiting E3 ubiquitin ligase Sina.},
journal = {PLoS pathogens},
volume = {21},
number = {5},
pages = {e1013178},
pmid = {40440302},
issn = {1553-7374},
mesh = {Animals ; *Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism/genetics/antagonists &amp; inhibitors ; Symbiosis ; *Hemiptera/virology ; *Plant Diseases/virology ; *Insect Vectors/virology ; Virus Replication ; },
abstract = {Co-infection with symbiotic viruses and arboviruses with synergistic effects in insect vectors are common in nature, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we identify a novel symbiotic virus, leafhopper Recilia dorsalis bunyavirus (RdBV), which enhances the transmission efficiency of cytorhabdovirus rice stripe mosaic virus (RSMV, a plant rhabdovirus) in field. RSMV infection activates the expression of R. dorsalis E3 ubiquitin ligase Seven in absentia (RdSina), while RdBV infection suppresses its expression. We show that RdSina directly targets and mediates the degradation of RSMV phosphoprotein (P), thereby attenuating the formation of P-induced viroplasm that are crucial for viral replication. RdSina interacts with nonstructural protein NSs2 of RdBV but does not mediate its ubiquitination. However, NSs2 competes with RSMV P for binding to RdSina, thus neutralizing RdSina's ability in mediating P degradation. Furthermore, we find that the MYC transcription factor binds to the promoter sequences of RdSina, activating its transcription. However, NSs2 also directly binds to the same promoter sequences of RdSina and competitively suppresses MYC-activated RdSina transcription. Together, NSs2 obstructs the function of RdSina in mediating P degradation, ultimately promoting RSMV propagation in co-infected vectors. These findings elucidate how insect symbiotic viruses negatively regulate E3 ubiquitin ligases to benefit arbovirus transmission by co-infected insect vectors, which potentially is a common phenomenon in nature.},
}
@article {pmid40439833,
year = {2025},
author = {Ishfaq, S and Anum, H and Shaheen, T and Zulfiqar, S and Ishfaq, A and Anjum, A and Ramzan, U and Rafiq, A and Mehboob-Ur-Rahman, and Guo, W},
title = {Decoding fungal communication networks: molecular signaling, genetic regulation, and ecological implications.},
journal = {Functional &amp; integrative genomics},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {111},
pmid = {40439833},
issn = {1438-7948},
mesh = {*Fungi/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Quorum Sensing ; },
abstract = {Fungal communication networks regulate essential biological processes, enabling fungi to adapt to environmental changes, coordinate development, and establish interactions within microbial communities. These networks are mediated by diverse signaling molecules, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), peptide signaling molecules, and quorum-sensing molecules, which facilitate intra- and interspecies communication. The intricate regulation of these signals occurs through specialized signal transduction pathways such as G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and two-component regulatory systems, allowing fungi to sense external cues and modulate their physiological responses. Genetic mechanisms also play a critical role in fungal communication, influencing community dynamics through regulatory genes governing hyphal fusion, pheromone signaling, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Crosstalk between these signaling pathways is further modulated by epigenetic modifications, which fine-tune gene expression in response to environmental conditions. The integration of these molecular networks shapes fungal interactions, impacting resource acquisition, symbiosis, and pathogenicity. Additionally, fungal communication has significant ecological and evolutionary implications, contributing to niche establishment, microbial competition, and host-pathogen interactions. Despite significant progress in understanding fungal communication, key knowledge gaps remain regarding the interplay between signaling molecules, genetic regulation, and environmental adaptation. Future research should focus on unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal signaling networks and their potential applications in biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine. Harnessing fungal communication could lead to novel strategies for improving crop protection, developing antifungal therapies, and optimizing industrial fermentation processes. This review synthesizes recent advancements in fungal signaling research, providing a comprehensive perspective on its complexity and evolutionary significance.},
}
@article {pmid40439021,
year = {2025},
author = {Vetukuri, RR and Lanfranco, L and Stevens, K},
title = {Spray-induced gene silencing boosts functional genomics in symbiotic fungi.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70269},
pmid = {40439021},
issn = {1469-8137},
}
@article {pmid40438840,
year = {2025},
author = {Saleem, MM and Masood, S and Rahmatullah, MM and Ayesha Imdad, I and Mohammed Aslam Sange, A and Nasr, D},
title = {Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Its Role in the Development of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.},
journal = {Cureus},
volume = {17},
number = {4},
pages = {e83084},
pmid = {40438840},
issn = {2168-8184},
abstract = {The gut microbiota refers to the diverse community of symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms inhabiting the host digestive tract. This microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the digestive system. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Although the pathophysiology of IBS remains unclear, recent studies suggest that the disruption of the gut microbiota (dysbiosis) may play a significant role. This study aims to examine the role of the gut microbiota in the development of IBS, analyze factors influencing the gut microbiome, and explore the potential for microbiota-targeted therapies. Relevant literature published from 2014 until 2024 was sourced from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus using the keywords "microbiome", "irritable bowel syndrome", "dysbiosis", "faecal transplantation", and "probiotics". This review revealed consistent evidence of gut microbiota dysbiosis in individuals with IBS, characterized by altered microbial diversity, composition, and metabolic function. Contributing factors included a reduced abundance of beneficial commensals, overgrowth of potentially pathogenic species, and disrupted host-microbiota interactions. This dysbiosis was also frequently associated with symptom severity and specific IBS subtypes. Emerging evidence further highlights the role of diet, stress, and genetic factors in modulating gut microbiota and influencing IBS development. The growing body of research supports a strong link between dysbiosis and the pathogenesis and symptomatology of IBS. Understanding the microbial underpinnings of IBS opens avenues for potential diagnostic biomarkers and innovative therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring a balanced gut microbiota. However, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and translate these insights into effective clinical strategies for the management of IBS. This review underscores the significance of gut microbiota in IBS and its potential as a target for future therapeutic interventions.},
}
@article {pmid40438199,
year = {2021},
author = {McKenna, V and Archibald, JM and Beinart, R and Dawson, MN and Hentschel, U and Keeling, PJ and Lopez, JV and Martín-Durán, JM and Petersen, JM and Sigwart, JD and Simakov, O and Sutherland, KR and Sweet, M and Talbot, NJ and Thompson, AW and Bender, S and Harrison, PW and Rajan, J and Cochrane, G and Berriman, M and Lawniczak, MKN and Blaxter, M},
title = {The Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project: probing the evolution of symbiosis across the Tree of Life.},
journal = {Wellcome open research},
volume = {6},
number = {},
pages = {254},
pmid = {40438199},
issn = {2398-502X},
support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; },
abstract = {We present the Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project, a global collaboration to generate high quality genome sequences for a wide range of eukaryotes and their microbial symbionts. Launched under the Symbiosis in Aquatic Systems Initiative of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the ASG Project brings together researchers from across the globe who hope to use these reference genomes to augment and extend their analyses of the dynamics, mechanisms and environmental importance of symbioses. Applying large-scale, high-throughput sequencing and assembly technologies, the ASG collaboration will assemble and annotate the genomes of 500 symbiotic organisms - both the "hosts" and the microbial symbionts with which they associate. These data will be released openly to benefit all who work on symbioses, from conservation geneticists to those interested in the origin of the eukaryotic cell.},
}
@article {pmid40438073,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, L and Du, J and Liu, W and Xu, Q and Zhang, Y},
title = {How to strengthen primary health care? An exploratory study on the policy of vertical integration of high-quality medical resources based on symbiosis theory.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1578712},
pmid = {40438073},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {*Primary Health Care/organization &amp; administration ; Humans ; *Health Policy ; *Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/organization &amp; administration ; Symbiosis ; *Health Resources ; Models, Theoretical ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Vertical Integration of High-Quality Medical Resources (VI-HQMR) is a strategy of medical resource reallocation. It is the key to strengthen primary health care (PHC) and build an integrated delivery system (IDS). It contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of universal health coverage (UHC) set out by the World Health Organization (WHO). In order to VI-HQMR, countries around the world have carried out many beneficial explorations. However, our understanding of the importance of clarifying the internal logical from policy perspective in the VI-HQMR is limited. This study aims to develop a theoretical model from the symbiotic perspective to improve the strategy of VI-HQMR.<br><br>METHODS: Policies related to the VI-HQMR were retrieved for exploratory research. The texts and entries were coded according to the four elements of symbiosis theory, the first-level categories and their variables were mined, and the occurrence frequency was used as the main indicator for thematic clustering.<br><br>RESULTS: A total of 609 policies were retrieved, among which 1,072 entries mentioned VI-HQMR. Results showed that the VI-HQMR included 482 symbiotic units, 549 symbiotic models, 383 symbiotic environments and 96 symbiotic interfaces. Secondary and above public hospitals and PHC institutions are the most important symbiotic units. Medical alliances are the most important symbiotic model. The symbiotic environment includes policy, technology and economics. The vertical integration of human resources is the main symbiotic interface.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The VI-HQMR is still in the initial exploration stage. The symbiotic model is changing from parasitism to the commensalism. To achieve the optimal mutualism model, we need to work hard from the symbiotic environment. Health administrative department should coordinate with other relevant departments to introduce special policies to support the VI-HQMR. Through opening the way for promotion, financial incentive, and informationization assistance, improve the enthusiasm of urban hospitals.},
}
@article {pmid40437776,
year = {2025},
author = {Du, H and Cai, Y and Shen, L and Zheng, Y and Zhao, L and Hu, R and Jiang, S and Yuan, J and Hu, C and Deng, Q and Huang, J and Hu, J and Wang, Y and Tan, J and Chen, J and Liu, F and Duan, Y and Niu, H},
title = {Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis modulates early-life immune response and gut metabolism.},
journal = {Animal models and experimental medicine},
volume = {8},
number = {6},
pages = {965-976},
pmid = {40437776},
issn = {2576-2095},
support = {2023VPPC-R02//Open Research Project of the Key Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis and Infection Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Education/ ; 2022YFF0710701//National Key R&amp;D Programs of China/ ; 2022YFF0710702//National Key R&amp;D Programs of China/ ; 202201020381//Guangzhou Joint Fund for Key Laboratory/ ; 202206010157//Guangzhou Key Research and Development Program/ ; YXJC202204//Medical Joint Fund of Jinan University/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Bifidobacterium animalis/immunology/physiology ; *Probiotics/pharmacology ; Male ; Thymus Gland/immunology ; Tryptophan/metabolism ; Female ; Germ-Free Life ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The maturation of the immune system is critical during early life, as it involves the differentiation, maturation, and establishment of immune tolerance of immune cells. This process is influenced not only by genetic factors but also by environmental factors, particularly the symbiotic microbiota. Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12), originally found in dairy products, is widely used in infant formula and dietary supplements. However, its role and mechanisms in immune development during early life remain unclear.<br><br>METHODS: Using GF mice as the experimental model, B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 was administered via gavage during early life. In the juvenile stage, changes in T-cell subsets in the spleen, thymus, and gut intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were assessed using spectral flow cytometry. Additionally, targeted metabolomics analysis of tryptophan metabolism and short-chain fatty acid pathways in colonic tissue was conducted to explore how B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 influences the immune system through gut microbiota metabolism.<br><br>RESULTS: BB-12 effectively modulates the gut immune microenvironment, leading to beneficial changes in T-cell subsets in key immune tissues such as the spleen, thymus, and gut IELs. Metabolomics analysis further supports these findings by showing that BB-12 intervention greatly increased the production of tryptophan derivatives and acetic acid in the colon of GF mice.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The findings provide theoretical evidence for the role of B. animalis subsp. lactis in immune system development and support its application in dietary supplements, suggesting potential as a component for infant immune health and in preventing immune-related diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40436322,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Q and Chu, G and Gao, C and Tian, T and Zhang, W and Chen, W and Gao, M},
title = {Effect of light intensity on performance, microbial community and metabolic pathway of algal-bacterial symbiosis in sequencing batch biofilm reactor treating mariculture wastewater.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {433},
number = {},
pages = {132726},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132726},
pmid = {40436322},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Wastewater/microbiology ; *Biofilms ; *Light ; *Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Symbiosis/radiation effects ; *Water Purification/methods ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways/radiation effects ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism/radiation effects ; Photosynthesis ; *Microalgae ; Ammonia/metabolism ; },
abstract = {An algal-bacterial symbiosis (ABS) system was constructed in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor for mariculture wastewater treatment, and its performance, microbial community and metabolic pathway were analyzed under different light intensities. The ammonia oxidation rate and nitrate reduction rate under 7000 Lux light intensity were higher than other light intensities. Functional microorganisms including Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira, Alterinioella, and Chlorella vulgaris were enriched under 7000 Lux. Metabolism was the primary functional pathway based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, nitrogen metabolism and photosynthesis pathways belonging to Metabolism were promoted under 7000 Lux light intensity. The enhancement of light intensity promoted the algal photosynthesis, TCA cycle, electron generation, and nitrogen transformation. The TCA cycle and electron generation offered energy and electron donors for nitrogen transformation. This research provides fundamental knowledge to select optimal light intensity for ABS system treating mariculture wastewater.},
}
@article {pmid40435727,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, B and Ouyang, W and Yang, J and Chen, Y and Yan, P and Fang, F and Li, Z and Guo, J},
title = {Dual stable isotope tracing the source and composition of biogenic substance in microalgae-bacteria symbiosis: What do the bacteria contribute to the microalgae bloom?.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {985},
number = {},
pages = {179732},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179732},
pmid = {40435727},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Microalgae/physiology ; Carbon Isotopes/analysis ; *Eutrophication ; Nitrogen Isotopes/analysis ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Microalgae blooms are often regarded as harmful, but during the process of microalgae blooms, there are positive ecological values that the biochemical interactions of symbiosis of microalgae and bacteria could inform new strategies for microalgae blooms management and water treatment. This study used [13]C and [15]N stable isotope labeling and elemental analysis to elucidate carbon and nitrogen metabolism and migration between microalgae and bacteria. Anabaena flos-aquae (AF) was selected as the target microalgae species to establish a symbiotic system with Brevundimonas lenta (B. lenta), Pseudomonas plecoglossicida (P. plecoglossicida) and mixed bacteria obtained from the Zhuxi River (ZX). The 14-day co-culture using sequential batch methods revealed that the synergy of AF with B. lenta and ZX enhanced carbon utilization efficiency in microalgae, with contribution rates of 9.69 % and 29.69 %, respectively, while also boosting nitrogen utilization by 17.72 % and 46.39 %, respectively. High-biodiversity bacterial communities in symbiotic systems improved carbon and nitrogen utilization while reducing CO2 emissions. Stable isotope analysis showed that symbiosis increased lighter isotope percentages in microalgae, with bacteria shifting from lighter to heavier isotopes. This study provides theoretical and experimental insights into managing microalgae blooms and water treatment by analyzing biogenic substance transport in microalgae-bacteria interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40434691,
year = {2025},
author = {Sportès, A and Hériché, M and Inès, D and Monfort-Pimet, V and Rosnoblet, C and Trouvelot, S and Wipf, D and Courty, PE},
title = {A transcriptomic perspective of P trade in mycorrhizal grapevine.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {3},
pages = {39},
pmid = {40434691},
issn = {1432-1890},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Vitis/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; Symbiosis ; *Glomeromycota/genetics/physiology ; *Phosphates/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {Nutrient exchanges are a key feature of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Grapevine (Vitis vinifera), one of the most economically important crops worldwide, relies heavily on AM symbiosis for its growth and development. Since the phylloxera crisis, cultivated grapevines are obtained by grafting a Vitis vinifera scion onto a rootstock. In this study, we investigated the responses of the rootstock "Riparia Gloire de Montpellier" to mycorrhizal root colonization under three distinct phosphate (P) levels. We explored regulatory aspects of plant P nutrition by comparing the transcriptome profiling of non-colonized roots and roots colonized by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM197198. We have shown that P availability significantly influences gene expression in both the AM fungus and the grapevine. Our transcriptomic study shed light on the molecular mechanisms that prevail during the AM symbiosis of a perennial woody plant species, with available P affecting several functional classes of proteins. The nine genes coding for Pht1 transporters in the R. irregularis genome were either down-regulated (RiPT1 and RiPT2) or up-regulated by the high-P treatment (RiPT8 and RiPT11), up-regulated by the low-P treatment (RiPT5), and regulated in a P-dose-dependent manner (RiPT9 and RiPT10). Expression of two of the three identified AM-induced Pht1, VvPT4 and VvPT8, was enhanced under mycorrhizal conditions, but finely tuned by the P treatment. To immunolocalize VvPT4 and VvPT8, we developed an innovative root-clearing protocol specifically designed for woody plants. This technological advancement has made it possible to visualize only VvPT4 at the periarbuscular membrane of mature arbuscules, its expression being strongly influenced by differences in P availability.},
}
@article {pmid40434644,
year = {2025},
author = {He, B and Li, M and Guo, S and Zhu, F and Jiao, Z and Li, J and Tan, N and Jiao, S and Liu, T and Zhang, J and Fan, Y and Gao, Y and Zhou, T and Li, J and Huang, W and Jiang, L and Lin, Z and Wang, S and Xu, W},
title = {Host complement C3 promotes malaria transmission by killing symbiotic bacteria in the mosquito midgut.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {22},
pages = {e2424570122},
pmid = {40434644},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {81830067//the State Key Program of The National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82302570//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 82372287//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Complement C3/metabolism/immunology ; *Anopheles/parasitology/microbiology/immunology ; Symbiosis ; Plasmodium falciparum ; *Malaria, Falciparum/transmission/parasitology/immunology ; Mice ; *Mosquito Vectors/parasitology/microbiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Malaria/transmission ; Humans ; Female ; },
abstract = {Host-derived factors ingested during mosquito blood feeding are poorly understood modulators of malaria transmission. Here, we demonstrated that host complement C3, acquired by mosquitoes during Plasmodium infection, significantly enhanced rodent malaria infection in laboratory-reared mosquitoes. This effect was recapitulated in field-caught Anopheles sinensis mosquitoes, confirming its relevance to malaria transmission in a more natural setting. Moreover, host-derived C3 significantly reduced the efficacy of anti-Pfs25 antibodies in blocking malaria transmission. Mechanistically, host-derived C3 lyses the mosquito midgut symbiont Elizabethkingia anophelis (E. anophelis)-a bacterium that intrinsically suppresses parasite development by blocking the zygote-to-ookinete transition. Strikingly, host-derived C3 in mosquitoes appears to be activated by the alternative pathway, and inhibiting Factor B with Iptacopan (LNP023) reduced Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection, while increased the efficacy of anti-Pfs25 antibodies to blocking P. falciparum transmission in the standard membrane-feeding assay. Therefore, this study describes a strategy of the malaria parasite to utilize host complement C3 to promote its transmission and provides us with an avenue to block malaria transmission and improve the blocking efficacy of anti-Pfs25 antibodies by the inhibition of C3 activation.},
}
@article {pmid40434078,
year = {2025},
author = {Weisse, L and Martin, L and Moumen, B and Héchard, Y and Delafont, V},
title = {Environmental diversity of Candidatus Babelota and their relationships with protists.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {10},
number = {6},
pages = {e0026125},
pmid = {40434078},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {ANR-21-CE02-0001//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
mesh = {*Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Biodiversity ; Phylogeny ; *Eukaryota/genetics/classification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenomics ; },
abstract = {Ca. Babelota is a phylum of strictly intracellular bacteria whose representatives are commonly detected in various environments through metagenomics, though their presence, ecology, and biology have never been addressed so far. As a group of strict intracellular, we hypothesize that their presence, occurrence, and abundance heavily depend on their hosts, which are known as heterotrophic protists, based on few described isolates. Here, we conducted a sampling campaign allowing to characterize protists and associated bacterial communities, using high-throughput sequencing. In parallel, a systematic enrichment of protists from samples was performed to attempt characterization and isolation of new Ca. Babelota within native hosts. We found that Ca. Babelota are among the most widespread phylum among the rare ones. Protist enrichments are allowed in certain cases to enrich as well for Ca. Babelota, which could be visualized in vivo infecting protist cells. Though cosmopolitan, Ca. Babelota diversity was highly site-specific. Cooccurrence analyses allowed to retrieve well-known as well as new putative associations involving numerous protists of various trophic regimes. The combination of approaches developed in this study enhances our understanding of Ca. Babelota ecology and biology, while paving the way for future isolation of new members of this elusive phylum, which could have huge impact on protists-and ecosystems-functioning.IMPORTANCEOur understanding of microbial diversity surrounding us and colonizing the environment has been dramatically impacted by the advent of DNA-based analyses. Such progress helped shine a new light on numerous lineages of yet-to-be-characterized microbes, whose ecology and biology are basically unknown. Among those uncharacterized clades is the Candidatus Babelota, a bacterial phylum for which parasitism seems to be an ancestral trait. All known Ca. Babelota thrive by infecting phagotrophic protist hosts, thereby impacting this basal link of the trophic chain. The Ca. Babelota constitutes a model that stands out, as phylum-wide conserved parasitism has only been described in one previous occurrence for Bacteria, with the Chlamydiota. Thus, exploring the intricate interplay between Ca. Babelota and their protist hosts will advance our knowledge of bacterial diversity, their ecology, and global impact on ecosystem functioning.},
}
@article {pmid40433813,
year = {2025},
author = {Shen, Y and Yan, Y and Yin, T and Zhang, H and Zhu, H and Zhang, S and Hu, H and Wei, G and Chou, M},
title = {An isoflavone reductase-like protein MtIFL negatively regulates nodule symbiosis in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {3},
pages = {1352-1369},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70251},
pmid = {40433813},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2020ZDLNY07-09//Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi Province/ ; 41977052//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42377131//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U21A2029//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023YFD1900900//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology/genetics/enzymology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Isoflavones/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Protein Binding ; *Oxidoreductases/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Flavonoids are valuable metabolites produced by legumes, including Medicago truncatula, and play crucial roles in signaling communication during legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Isoflavone reductase proteins (IFRs) are involved in the biosynthesis of isoflavones and plant defense regulation. However, their role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation remains mostly elusive. Here, 13 putative IFR gene family members were identified, and an IFR-like gene named MtIFL was functionally characterized through expression patterns, phenotypic characterizations, flavonoid metabolome, and transcriptome analyses. Furthermore, the binding partner of MtIFL was investigated using Y1H, EMSA, and Dual-LUC assays. MtIFL was strongly induced in the process of nodule development and expressed in the meristem and infection zone of mature nodules. Knockout of MtIFL promoted nodulation, while overexpression of MtIFL induced premature senescence of nodules. Further investigations revealed that MtIFL negatively regulates nitrogen-fixing symbiosis by mediating isoflavone metabolism, and MtNIN regulates MtIFL expression by binding to the hNRE motif. Overall, our findings suggest that MtIFL negatively regulates nodule formation, thereby influencing the survival of rhizobia in nodule cells. MtNIN regulates MtIFL expression and may play a role in isoflavone metabolism. These results provide novel insights into the function of IFRs in symbiotic nodulation and the role of flavonoids in nodule development.},
}
@article {pmid40433782,
year = {2025},
author = {Jung, M and Lee, DH},
title = {Effects of gut symbiotic bacteria, Caballeronia insecticola, on reproductive capacity and mating behaviors of insect host, Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae).},
journal = {Environmental entomology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ee/nvaf052},
pmid = {40433782},
issn = {1938-2936},
support = {//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; 2021R1A2C1010679//Korea government (MSIT)/ ; //Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; RS-2023-00246911//Ministry of Education/ ; },
abstract = {This study addresses how gut symbiont, Caballeronia insecticola, could change reproductive capacity, mating behaviors, and copulation success of host insect, Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae). First, we evaluated symbiotic effects on the female reproductive capacity with varying numbers of males available to a female. Overall, symbiotic females displayed on average a 1.8-fold increase in egg production compared to aposymbiotic individuals. However, eggs from symbiotic females were on average 42% less viable, compared to those from the aposymbiotic, when paired with single male. The decrease in the hatchability was alleviated to 12% when paired with 3 males. Consequently, this yielded significant increase in the number of viable offspring by symbiotic females when multiple males were available. Second, we evaluated symbiotic effects on male morphometric characteristics including hind legs used as weapon, and found significant increases in hind leg sizes associated with symbiosis. Finally, we investigated mating behaviors between a female and 2 males of different symbiotic status. Symbiotic females displayed on average a 1.4-fold increase in the number of copulations compared to the aposymbiotic. From both female types, however, no significant difference was observed in their mate choice and copulation success rate between aposymbiotic and symbiotic males. However, symbiotic females exhibited on average 17% reduction in copulation duration compared to the aposymbiotic. Copulation failure was caused more frequently by female's rejection than by intruder male's disruption for both female types. Our study demonstrates that symbiotic females benefit from the symbiosis increasing their reproductive capacity and copulation frequency.},
}
@article {pmid40433667,
year = {2025},
author = {Murcia-Flores, L and Sánchez-García, A and Pecci-Lloret, MP and Rodríguez-Lozano, FJ},
title = {Association between oral dysbiosis and Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1564362},
pmid = {40433667},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Humans ; *Parkinson Disease/microbiology/etiology ; *Dysbiosis/complications/microbiology ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Bacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Risk Factors ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The oral cavity serves as the gateway to the human organism, hosting a diverse community of microorganisms that coexist in a state of symbiosis. Disruption of this balance leads to oral dysbiosis, a condition associated with infections and oral pathologies, which may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of systemic disorders such as Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative movement disorder characterized by resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia. While oral dysbiosis is recognized as a risk factor and an aggravating element for Parkinson's disease, it is not regarded as a direct cause. This systematic review aims to synthesize existing research exploring the potential relationship between oral dysbiosis and the development of Parkinson's disease. Following a comprehensive analysis, 12 studies were selected, comprising 11 case-control studies and one observational analytical study. These studies investigated the composition of oral microbiota in different sample groups, revealing a higher abundance of pathogenic oral bacteria in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The findings suggest that oral dysbiosis may influence both the onset of Parkinson's disease and the progression of symptoms such as cognitive decline. These results pave the way for future research, particularly regarding alterations in oral microbiota as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring.<br><br>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42024540056.},
}
@article {pmid40433445,
year = {2025},
author = {Park, JS and Kim, J and Kim, Y and Kim, KH and Kwak, W and Kim, I},
title = {Whole Genome Sequences of Cryptotympana atrata Fabricius, 1775 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in the Korean Peninsula: Insights into Population Structure with Novel Pathogenic Or Symbiotic Candidates.},
journal = {Current genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {2},
pages = {118-128},
pmid = {40433445},
issn = {1389-2029},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The blackish cicada (Cryptotympana atrata) exhibits unique characteristics and is one of the model cicadas found in the Korean Peninsula. It is a species of southern origin, prefers high temperatures, and is listed as a climate-sensitive indicator species in South Korea. Therefore, this species can be utilized to study the impact of climate change on the genetic diversity and structure of populations. However, research on the genome of C. atrata is limited.<br><br>METHODS: We sequenced the genome of an individual collected from South Korea and constructed a draft genome. Additionally, we collected ten specimens from each of the five regions in South Korea and identified single nucleotide variants (SNVs) for population genetic analysis. The sequencing library was constructed using the MGIEasy DNA Library Prep Kit and sequenced using the MGISEQ-2000 platform with 150-bp paired-end reads.<br><br>RESULTS: The draft genome of C. atrata was approximately 5.0 Gb or 5.2 Gb, making it one of the largest genomes among insects. Population genetic analysis, which was conducted on four populations in South Korea, including both previously distributed and newly expanded regions, showed that Jeju Island, a remote southern island with the highest average temperature, formed an independent genetic group. However, there were no notable genetic differences among the inland populations selected based on varying average temperatures, indicating that the current population genetic composition on the Korean Peninsula is more reflective of biogeographic history rather than climate-induced genetic structures. Additionally, we unexpectedly observed that most individuals of C. atrata collected in a specific locality were infected with microbes not commonly found in insects, necessitating further research on the pathogens within C. atrata.<br><br>CONCLUSION: This study introduces the draft genome of C. atrata, a climate-sensitive indicator species in South Korea. Population analysis results indicate that the current genetic structure of C. atrata is driven by biogeographic history rather than just climate. The prevalence of widespread pathogen infections raises concerns about their impact on C. atrata. Considering the scarcity of publicly available genomic resources related to the family Cicadidae, this draft genome and population data of C. atrata are expected to serve as a valuable resource for various studies utilizing cicada genomes.},
}
@article {pmid40431287,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhong, J and Ran, Q and Han, Y and Gan, L and Dong, C},
title = {Biosynthetic Mechanisms of Plant Chlorogenic Acid from a Microbiological Perspective.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40431287},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {32360029//the National Science Foundation of China/ ; 32400111//the National Science Foundation of China/ ; Qiankehe Foundation-ZK (2024) General 091//he Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Program (Natural Science)/ ; },
abstract = {Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a phenolic compound with diverse bioactivities, plays a crucial role in plant defense mechanisms and has significant therapeutic potential in human inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases. The biosynthesis and accumulation of CGA in plants result from a complex interplay between internal factors (e.g., hormones, enzymes, and genes) and external factors (e.g., microbial interactions, drought, and temperature fluctuations). This review systematically investigates the influence of microbes on internal regulatory factors governing CGA biosynthesis in plants. CGA is synthesized through four distinct metabolic pathways, with hormones, enzymes, and genes as key regulators. Notably, microbes enhance CGA biosynthesis by improving plant nutrient uptake, supplying essential hormones, regulating the expression of related enzymes and genes, and the interaction between bacteria and fungi. In addition, our review summarizes the challenges currently present in the research and proposes a series of innovative strategies. These include in-depth investigations into the molecular mechanisms of microbial regulation of plant gene expression, gene editing, development of microbial inoculants, construction of synthetic microbial communities, and exogenous application of plant hormones.},
}
@article {pmid40431268,
year = {2025},
author = {Jimbo, M and Kuniya, N and Fujimaki, Y and Yoshikawa, D and Kamiya, N and Amano, H and Yasumoto, K and Yuyama, I and Suzuki, G and Harii, S},
title = {A Lectin AtTL-2 Obtained from Acropora aff. tenuis Induced Stimualation of Phagocytosis of Symbiodiniaceae.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40431268},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {21H04742//the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan/ ; 19K06240//the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan/ ; },
abstract = {The coral Acropora aff. tenuis selectively acquired various zooxanthella (Symbiodiniaceae) strains, and one of the selective factors was lectins. The A. aff. tenuis lectin AtTL-2 was identified as a factor for Symbiodiniaceae acquisition by the coral, but the mechanism is not fully known. The acquisition process involves three steps: chemotaxis, entry into the coral, and phagocytosis. In this study, we examined the function of AtTL-2 in more detail. Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed to examine the distribution of AtTL-2. The effect of AtTL-2 on the number of Symbiodiniaceae acquired was measured in A. aff. tenuis juvenile polyps with and without AtTL-2 siRNA treatment. The effect of AtTL-2 fixation was examined by monitoring the acquisition of AtTL-2-fixed beads by A. aff. tenuis. AtTL-2 was distributed in nematocysts, spirocysts, and around Symbiodiniaceae. AtTL-2 siRNA inhibited the acquisition of Symbiodiniaceae by juvenile polyps. Fixation of AtTL-2 promoted bead acquisition by juvenile polyps more than fixation of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Moreover, more AtTL-2-fixed beads were bound to the Symbiodiniaceae-enclosed cells than BSA-fixed beads. AtTL-2 is released from spirocysts and binds to Symbiodiniaceae. AtTL-2 then promotes the phagocytosis of Symbiodiniaceae by gastrodermal cells of A. aff. tenuis.},
}
@article {pmid40431236,
year = {2025},
author = {Peng, C and Li, Y and Yu, H and He, H and Cheng, Y and Sun, S and Liu, J},
title = {Synergistic Recruitment of Symbiotic Fungi by Potting and Scleroderma bovista Inoculation Suppresses Pathogens in Hazel Rhizosphere Microbiomes.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40431236},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {32171840//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {This study explored how potted treatments (with and without Scleroderma bovista inoculation) shape rhizosphere microbial diversity in hazel across five soils using split-root cultivation. Three treatments (control, split-root, split-root with S. bovista) were analyzed for root growth and microbial dynamics. S. bovista inoculation consistently enhanced root parameters (number, tips) in all soils. Potted treatments (with and without S. bovista inoculation) altered microbial features (OTU/ASV), with only 0.9-3.3% of features remaining unchanged. At the class level, potting increased Agaricomycetes abundance while reducing Sordariomycetes, a trend amplified by S. bovista. Potting decreased species richness estimates (ACE and Chao1), while both treatments lowered diversity index (Shannon index). Potted treatments without S. bovista inoculation drove stronger shifts in species composition than inoculation. Findings reveal potting and S. bovista synergistically recruit symbiotic fungi via root exudates, establishing disease-suppressive communities that selectively inhibit pathotrophic fungi (particularly plant pathogen Coniothyrium and fungal parasite Cladobotryum) while roughly maintaining non-pathogenic saprotrophic microbes essential for organic matter decomposition. This work provides insights for optimizing hazel orchard management and ectomycorrhizal agent development.},
}
@article {pmid40431163,
year = {2025},
author = {Fujishima, M},
title = {Infection with the Endonuclear Symbiotic Bacterium Holospora obtusa Reversibly Alters Surface Antigen Expression of the Host Paramecium caudatum.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40431163},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {11694211//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 12206066//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/ ; },
abstract = {It is known that the ciliate Paramecium cell surface including cilia is completely covered by high-molecular-mass GPI-anchored proteins named surface antigens (SAgs). However, their functions are not well understood. It was found that ciliate Paramecium caudatum reversibly changes its SAgs depending on the absence or presence of the endonuclear symbiotic bacterium Holospora obtusa in the macronucleus. Immunofluorescence microscopy with a monoclonal antibody produced SAg of the H. obtusa-free P. caudatum strain RB-1-labeled cell surface of the H. obtusa-free P. caudatum RB-1 cell but not the H. obtusa-bearing RB-1 cell. When this antibody was added to the living P. caudatum RB-1 cells, only H. obtusa-free cells were immobilized. An immunoblot with SAgs extracted from Paramecium via cold salt/ethanol treatment showed approximately 266-kDa SAgs in the extract from H. obtusa-free cells and 188 and 149-kDa SAgs in the extract from H. obtusa-bearing cells. H. obtusa-free RB-1 cells produced from H. obtusa-bearing cells via treatment with penicillin-G-potassium re-expressed 266-kDa SAg, while the 188 and 149-kDa SAgs disappeared. This phenotypic change in the SAgs was not induced by degrees of starvation or temperature shifts. These results definitively show that Paramecium SAgs have functions related to bacterial infection.},
}
@article {pmid40431145,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, K and Ye, L and Cao, C and Che, G and Wang, Y and Hong, Y},
title = {Multi-Metagenome Analysis Unravels Community Collapse After Sampling and Hints the Cultivation Strategy of CPR Bacteria in Groundwater.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40431145},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {32360005//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022JBQN091//Fundamental Research Funds for the Inner Mongolia Normal University/ ; 2022JBTD010//Fundamental Research Funds for the Inner Mongolia Normal University/ ; },
abstract = {Groundwater harbors phylogenetically diverse Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria, representing an ideal ecosystem for studying this microbial dark matter. However, no CPR strains have been successfully isolated from groundwater, severely limiting further research. This study employed a multi-metagenome approach, integrating time-resolved sampling, antibiotic/nutrient interventions, and microbial correlation networks to unravel CPR ecological roles in groundwater and provide insights into their subsequent cultivation. Through 36 metagenomes from a groundwater system containing at least 68 CPR phyla, we revealed the time-sensitive collapse of CPR communities: total abundance plummeted from 7.9% to 0.15% within 48 h post-sampling, driven by competition with rapidly dividing non-CPR bacteria, such as members of Pseudomonadota. Ampicillin (100 mg/L) stabilized CPR communities by suppressing competitors, whereas low-nutrient conditions paradoxically reversed this effect. Long-term enrichment (14 months) recovered 63 CPR phyla (0.35% abundance), revealing their survival resilience despite nutrient deprivation. Correlation networks prioritized Actinomyces, a novel Acidimicrobiaceae genus, Aestuariivirga, Baekduia and Caedimonadaceae as potential CPR partners, providing actionable targets for co-culture trials. Here, we propose actionable recommendations spanning groundwater sampling, activation status, identification of CPR symbiotic partners, and optimization of culture conditions, which bypass traditional blind cultivation and are critical for future efforts to cultivate CPR bacterial strains from groundwater. Cultivating CPR bacteria will contribute to clarifying their diversity, ecological roles, evolutionary mechanisms, metabolic pathways, and genetic potential.},
}
@article {pmid40431144,
year = {2025},
author = {Lv, C and Meng, T and Zhong, B and Shang, Z and Li, C and Zahra, AA and Abdelrahman, TM},
title = {Pathogenicity of Steinernema carpocapsae ALL Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Symbiotic Bacteria as a Biological Control Agent on Red Palm Weevil.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40431144},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2023YFD2200704//the National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Insect-specific pathogens present a sustainable alternative to pesticides for managing the red palm weevil (RPW). This study assessed the efficacy of Steinernema carpocapsae ALL nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria against the third-instar larvae and adults of RPW under laboratory conditions. The symbiotic bacteria were isolated, morphologically characterized, and genetically identified. The results indicated that the mortality rates of RPW larvae treated with S. carpocapsae exceeded 50% in all treatments at 120 h, reaching 93.33% at a concentration of 250 IJs/mL. The morphology of isolated symbiotic bacterium from S. carpocapsae on NBTA medium exhibited a light green color with a glossy surface, a raised center, and a mucilaginous texture. A novel strain of symbiotic bacterium was identified and named as LZ-G7. The bacteria toxicity on RPW adults showed a notable mortality rate of 66.67% at 48 h after feeding with concentration of 10 × 10[7] CFU/mL. The mortality rate of the third-instar larvae of RPW reached 83.33% after feeding with 0.30 × 10[8] CFU/g at 96 h and 93.33% after injection into blood cavity with 8 × 10[6] CFU at 48 h. These results suggest that S. carpocapsae and a novel symbiotic bacterium strain exhibit strong virulence against RPW and have the potential to serve as effective biological control agents in integrated pest management strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40431132,
year = {2025},
author = {Xue, Q and Liu, J and Cao, Y and Wei, Y},
title = {Host Lifeform Shapes Phyllospheric Microbiome Assembly in Mountain Lake: Deterministic Selection and Stochastic Colonization Dynamics.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40431132},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {U23A20157//Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China Joint Fund for Regional Innovation and Development/ ; 202304041101020//Key Cooperation Project of National Science and Technology in Shanxi Province/ ; },
abstract = {The phyllosphere microbiome of aquatic macrophytes constitutes an integral component of freshwater ecosystems, serving crucial functions in global biogeochemical cycling and anthropogenic pollutant remediation. In this study, we examined the assembly mechanisms of epiphytic bacterial communities across four phylogenetically diverse macrophyte species (Scirpus validus, Hippuris vulgaris, Nymphoides peltatum, and Myriophyllum spicatum) inhabiting Ningwu Mayinghai Lake (38.87° N, 112.20° E), a vulnerable subalpine freshwater system in Shanxi Province, China. Through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we demonstrate marked phyllospheric microbiome divergence, as follows: Gammaproteobacteria dominated S. validus, H. vulgaris and N. peltatum, while Alphaproteobacteria dominated in M. spicatum. The nitrate, nitrite, and pH value of water bodies and the chlorophyll, leaf nitrogen, and carbon contents of plant leaves are the main driving forces affecting the changes in the β-diversity of epiphytic bacterial communities of four plant species. The partitioning of assembly processes revealed that deterministic dominance governed S. validus and M. spicatum, where niche-based selection contributed 67.5% and 100% to community assembly, respectively. Conversely, stochastic processes explained 100% of the variability in H. vulgaris and N. peltatum microbiomes, predominantly mediated by dispersal limitation and ecological drift. This investigation advances the understanding of microbial community structural dynamics and diversity stabilization strategies in aquatic macrophyte-associated microbiomes, while establishing conceptual frameworks between plant-microbe symbiosis and the ecological homeostasis mechanisms within vulnerable subalpine freshwater ecosystems. The empirical references derived from these findings offer novel perspectives for developing conservation strategies aimed at sustaining biodiversity equilibrium in high-altitude lake habitats, particularly in the climatically sensitive regions of north-central China.},
}
@article {pmid40431003,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, K and Wang, G and Ni, Y and Shi, M and Sun, L and Cheng, B and Li, X},
title = {ZmHPAT2 Regulates Maize Growth and Development and Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {10},
pages = {},
pmid = {40431003},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {No. U21A20235//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Hydroxyproline O-arabinosyltransferase (HPAT), a critical enzyme in plant glycosylation pathways, catalyzes the transfer of arabinose to the hydroxyl group of hydroxyproline residues. This enzyme contains a canonical GT95 glycosyltransferase, a structural hallmark of this carbohydrate-active enzyme family. HPAT mediates arabinosylation of diverse cellular targets, including cell wall extension and small signaling peptides. Emerging evidence has shown that HPAT orthologs regulate plant development and symbiotic interactions through post-translational modification of CLV1/LRR Extracellular (CLE) peptides. Although the molecular functions of HPAT genes have been characterized in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Lotus japonicus, their roles remain unexplored in Zea mays L. In this study, we used ZmHPAT2 homozygous mutants to explore the function of the maize HPAT gene. Sequence analysis identified a N-terminal signal peptide targeting the Golgi apparatus and promoter elements responsive to AM fungal colonization. Phenotypic analysis revealed its negative regulatory role: zmhpat2 promotes vegetative growth (increased plant height and accelerated flowering) and enhances AM symbiosis (increased colonization rate). Mechanistic studies demonstrated that ZmHPAT2 possesses dual regulatory functions-the activation of auxin signaling and repression of ZmMYB1-mediated arbuscular degradation pathways. In addition, overexpression of ZmHPAT2 in Lotus japonicus inhibits growth (reduced plant height) and impairs symbiotic interactions. Our findings establish ZmHPAT2 as a critical node to regulate auxin and symbiotic signaling, providing novel insights into plant glycosylation-mediated development. This work not only advances our understanding of maize growth regulation but also identifies potential targets for crop improvement through arabinosylation pathway manipulation.},
}
@article {pmid40429958,
year = {2025},
author = {San-Martin, MI and Chamizo-Ampudia, A and Sanchiz, &#xc1; and Ferrero, M&#xc1; and Martínez-Blanco, H and Rodríguez-Aparicio, LB and Navasa, N},
title = {Microbiome Markers in Gastrointestinal Disorders: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Colorectal Cancer, and Celiac Disease.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {10},
pages = {},
pmid = {40429958},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {Humans ; *Celiac Disease/microbiology/metabolism ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Biomarkers/metabolism ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/microbiology/metabolism ; Animals ; Metagenomics/methods ; },
abstract = {Intestinal microbiota and the host's immune system form a symbiotic alliance that sustains normal development and function in the human gut. Changes such as dietary habits among societies in developed countries have led to the development of unbalanced microbial populations in the gut, likely contributing to the dramatic increase in inflammatory diseases in the last few decades. Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies have tremendously helped to characterize the microbiome associated with disease, both in identifying global alterations and discovering specific biomarkers that potentially contribute to disease pathogenesis, as evidenced by animal studies. Beyond bacterial alterations, non-bacterial components such as fungi, viruses, and microbial metabolites have been implicated in these diseases, influencing immune responses and gut homeostasis. Multi-omics approaches integrating metagenomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics offer a more comprehensive understanding of the microbiome's role in disease pathogenesis, paving the way for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Unraveling the metagenomic profiles associated with disease may facilitate earlier diagnosis and intervention, as well as the development of more personalized and effective therapeutic strategies. This review synthesizes recent and relevant microbiome research studies aimed at characterizing the microbial signatures associated with inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and celiac disease.},
}
@article {pmid40429241,
year = {2025},
author = {Civolani, S and Bariselli, M and Osti, R and Bernacchia, G},
title = {Insect Pest Control from Chemical to Biotechnological Approach: Constrains and Challenges.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40429241},
issn = {2075-4450},
abstract = {The large growth in the global population requires new solutions for the control of harmful insects that compete for our food. Changing regulatory requirements and public perception, together with the continuous evolution of resistance to conventional insecticides, also require, in addition to innovative molecules with different modes of action, new non-chemical control strategies that can help maintain efficient integrated pest management programs. The last 30 years have inaugurated a new era characterised by the discovery of new mechanisms of action and new chemical families. Although European programs also promote a green deal in the crop protection sector, the existing thorough regulations slow down its spread and the adoption of new products. In light of these changes, this review will describe in more detail the dynamics of discovery and registration of new conventional insecticides and the difficulties that the agrochemical industries encounter. Subsequently, the different innovative control strategies alternative to conventional insecticides based on natural substances of different origin, entomopathogenic microorganisms, semiochemical and semiophysical compounds, and classical and augmentative biological control will be described. The advantages of these green strategies will be illustrated and also the constrains to their diffusion and commercialisation. Finally, the main biotechnological discoveries will be described, from transgenic plants to symbiotic control, classical genetic control, and, more recently, control based on insect genomic transformation or on RNAi. These new biotechnologies can revolutionise the sector despite some constrains related to the regulatory restrictions present in different countries.},
}
@article {pmid40427643,
year = {2025},
author = {Rybalka, D and Brygadyrenko, V},
title = {Effects of Toxic Organic Compounds on Tenebrio molitor and Its Parasite Gregarina steini.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40427643},
issn = {2079-7737},
abstract = {Environmental pollution by toxic compounds affects various species of living organisms, their life cycles, and symbiotic relationships. This study investigated the host-parasite relationship between Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) and Gregarina steini Berthold, 1827 (Eugregarinorida, Gregarinida) under exposure to aniline, formaldehyde, and o-xylene at different concentrations. For laboratory studies, 480 larvae of T. molitor and five concentrations of the studied organic compounds were used. Groups of T. molitor, each consisting of ten individuals, were subjected to the tested compounds for 10 days following the initial weight measurement. We measured the body weight and survival rate of T. molitor and the number of G. steini in them to assess the impact of the tested organic compounds on the host-parasite relationship. For all the compounds studied, a decrease in body weight and high mortality were observed in T. molitor at high concentrations. The lethality of the studied organic compounds was concentration-dependent. o-Xylene showed low toxicity at lower concentrations (10.4 and 26.0 mg/kg of feed), with a survival rate of 93.3% and 86.7%, respectively. At a concentration of 10.4 mg/kg, no lethal cases in T. molitor were observed. At higher concentrations (78 and 104 mg/kg feed), T. molitor mortality significantly increased to 33.3% and 53.3%, respectively.},
}
@article {pmid40425087,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, J and Lu, P},
title = {Cytochrome P450s from the fungal symbiont of Sirex noctilio, Amylostereum areolatum: characterization, sequence analysis and their response to host terpenoids.},
journal = {Gene},
volume = {963},
number = {},
pages = {149593},
doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2025.149593},
pmid = {40425087},
issn = {1879-0038},
mesh = {*Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; *Terpenes/metabolism/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; Animals ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Phylogeny ; *Basidiomycota/genetics/enzymology ; *Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; },
abstract = {Amylostereum areolatum is the main symbiotic fungus of woodwasp (Sirex noctilio) and is an active participant in the large-scale death of Pinus sylvestris. Woodwasps and associated fungi resort to active detoxification mechanisms to overcome the toxicity of host defence chemicals, which consist of a multitude of monoterpenes and diterpenes. Since cytochrome P450 (CYP) is considered to have extensive detoxification capabilities in fungi, 35 CYP genes were identified from A. areolatum by Iso-Seq. Moreover, we analysed the transcriptional levels of 11 chosen CYPs in the mycelia of fungi grown on different carbon sources or sprayed with different terpene mixtures or extracts to explore the relationship between CYPs and utilization of terpenoids or the detoxification capabilities for terpenoids. Molecular modeling and docking were also employed to predict the interaction between the P450 protein structure and substrate. The results showed that the 35 CYPs of A. areolatum belong to 22 families and 12 clans, and all had the typical P450 conserved domains. RT-qPCR revealed that most CYPs were down-regulated with monoterpenes as the sole carbon source and up-regulated with diterpenes. CYPs were induced after spraying with xylem extract, and venom can increase the expression levels of CYPs. Molecular docking predicted that three P450 proteins (CYP5037BM3, CYP5144KC1, and CYP5152T1) bind tightly to diterpenes through hydrogen bonds and π-alkyl interactions, they have a higher binding affinity for diterpenes than for monoterpenes, suggesting that they may preferentially metabolize diterpenes. This indicates that A. areolatum regulates the expression levels of key P450 enzymes through a special response pattern to reduce the toxicity of the chemical defence of the host on itself and its symbiotic insect, Sirex noctilio.},
}
@article {pmid40425050,
year = {2025},
author = {Atanasković, I and Nedeljković, M and Lozo, J},
title = {Beyond pathogenicity: the immunomodulatory role of the type III secretion system in beneficial plant-microbe interactions.},
journal = {Open biology},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {240318},
pmid = {40425050},
issn = {2046-2441},
support = {CRP/SRB23-04_EC//International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology/ ; 451-03-137/2025-03/200178, 451-03-136/2025-03/200178//Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia/ ; },
mesh = {*Type III Secretion Systems/metabolism/immunology ; *Plants/microbiology/immunology ; Symbiosis ; Plant Immunity ; *Bacteria/pathogenicity/metabolism/immunology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Virulence ; Plant Diseases/microbiology/immunology ; },
abstract = {The type III secretion system (T3SS) has traditionally been studied for its role in bacterial virulence. However, recent research emphasizes its dual role in beneficial interactions between bacteria and plants. This review examines the immunomodulatory functions of T3SS beyond pathogenicity and focuses on how T3SS effectors manipulate plant immune responses to promote symbioses. By comparing T3SS mechanisms in pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, we aim to understand how this system enables beneficial microbes to colonize plants and improve plant growth and stress resilience. We also investigate the potential of T3SS to trigger induced systemic resistance in plants, a mechanism that could be utilized in agriculture to improve crop resistance to pathogens. The review concludes with an outlook on future research and emphasizes the need for comprehensive studies on T3SS effectors in non-pathogenic bacteria and their interactions with plant hosts.},
}
@article {pmid40424976,
year = {2025},
author = {Cabric, V and Brown, CC},
title = {Thetis cells: regulators of intestinal immune tolerance.},
journal = {Current opinion in immunology},
volume = {95},
number = {},
pages = {102570},
pmid = {40424976},
issn = {1879-0372},
support = {DP2 AI171116/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Immune Tolerance ; Animals ; *Intestinal Mucosa/immunology ; Immunity, Mucosal ; *Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology ; *Intestines/immunology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; },
abstract = {Our body's mucosal surfaces interface with the external environment and are potential sites of entry for pathogens as well as noxious substances. Yet, these barrier sites are also colonized with symbiotic microbes and are in contact with harmless environmental antigens. Different barrier epithelia harbor distinct microbial communities that shape both the epithelial layer and local immune cells that maintain tissue homeostasis and tolerance to symbiotic microbes. This seemingly paradoxical peaceful co-existence of immune cells and microbes has fascinated immunologists for decades: how does the immune system balance inflammatory and tolerogenic responses? The mechanisms underlying peripheral immune tolerance to harmless foreign antigens have been most widely studied within the intestine, where the immune system must establish and maintain tolerance to harmless food and commensal antigens. Dysregulated immune responses to these antigens are linked to several human diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and food allergy. Understanding the cellular and molecular cues that promote intestinal immune tolerance is key to the development of effective therapeutic strategies for these pathologies. Here, we review recent insights into mechanisms of intestinal tolerance with a focus on recently identified RORγt[+] antigen-presenting cells.},
}
@article {pmid40423953,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, YP and Zhao, MW and Shi, L},
title = {The orchestration of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis: a review of fungal-produced symbiotic regulators and their functions.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {117},
number = {4},
pages = {533-545},
doi = {10.1080/00275514.2025.2499439},
pmid = {40423953},
issn = {1557-2536},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Plants/microbiology ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism ; *Fungi/metabolism/physiology ; },
abstract = {Ectomycorrhiza is a mutualistic symbiotic association formed between fungi and plants, which enhances the host plant's stress resistance and promotes plant growth. It plays an important role in forest ecosystems. A plethora of symbiotically active regulatory molecules are secreted throughout the continuum of ectomycorrhizal development, encompassing the period before physical contact between the fungi and their host plant roots to the maturation of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. However, our understanding of these substances is still limited. In recent years, as research in this field has deepened, several studies have documented that fungi release symbiotic regulatory substances, including fungal-derived plant hormones and small secreted proteins, which participate in the regulation of mycorrhizal formation. This article, from a fungal perspective, elaborates on the symbiotic regulatory substances secreted by ectomycorrhizal fungi into the surrounding environment or within the host plant. It further discusses the role of these substances in establishing symbiotic relationships with plants, aiming to offer novel insights for researchers in this field.},
}
@article {pmid40422717,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, L and Fu, N and Wang, M and Zhan, Z and Luo, Y and Wu, J and Ren, L},
title = {Integrative Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Candidate Genes Related to Terpenoid Synthesis in Amylostereum areolatum (Russulales: Amylostereaceae).},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40422717},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {2022YFD1401000//National Key Research &amp; Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Amylostereum areolatum (Chaillet ex Fr.) Boidin (Russulales: Amylostereaceae) is a symbiotic fungus of Sirex noctilio Fabricius that has ecological significance. Terpenoids are key mediators in fungal-insect interactions, yet the biosynthetic mechanisms of terpenoids in this species remain unclear. Under nutritional conditions that mimic natural growth, A. areolatum was sampled during the lag phase (day 7), exponential phase (day 14), and stationary phase (day 21). Metabolome (solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)) and transcriptome (Illumina NovaSeq) profiles were integrated to investigate terpenoid-gene correlations. This analysis identified 103 terpenoids in A. areolatum, substantially expanding the known repertoire of terpenoid compounds in this species. Total terpenoid abundance progressively increased across three developmental stages, with triterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids demonstrating the highest diversity and abundance levels. Transcriptomic profiling (61.66 Gb clean data) revealed 26 terpenoid biosynthesis-associated genes, establishing a comprehensive transcriptional framework for fungal terpenoid metabolism. Among 11 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (|log2Fold Change| ≥ 1, adjusted p < 0.05), HMGS1, HMGR2, and AaTPS1-3 emerged as key regulators potentially governing terpenoid biosynthesis. These findings provide foundational insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying terpenoid production in A. areolatum and related basidiomycetes.},
}
@article {pmid40422709,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Q and Yang, W and Wang, M and Chen, J and Zhang, Z and Wei, Y and Chang, Q and Gong, M},
title = {Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanisms for Mycorrhiza-Enhanced Drought Tolerance in Maize by Regulating the Ca[2+] Signaling Pathway.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40422709},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {31870093//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31800096//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 242300420144//Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province/ ; 242102110158//Henan Province Science and Technology Research/ ; 252102110148//Henan Province Science and Technology Research/ ; },
abstract = {With the continuous change of climate, drought stress has emerged as the primary constraint on crop growth, posing a significant threat to the stability of global grain reserves. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as a kind of widely distributed root endophytes, enhance the drought tolerance of maize (Zea mays L.) through regulating the physiological and molecular responses. However, comprehensive transcriptome analysis to reveal the molecular mechanism of drought tolerance in the symbiotic process between AMF and maize is still limited. In the potted plant experiment, maizes inoculated with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae were grown under well-watered (WW) or drought-stressed (DS) conditions. By using RNA-Seq and transcriptome analysis on maize roots and leaves, this work aimed to investigate the differential expressed genes (DEGs) related to the Ca[2+] signaling pathway induced by AMF symbiosis under drought stress. Our findings indicated that F. mosseae inoculation resulted in a decrease in the net fluxes of Ca[2+], while simultaneously elevating Ca[2+] contents in the maize roots and leaves under well-watered or drought-stressed conditions. Notably, 189 DEGs were regulated not only by AMF symbiosis and drought stress, but also exhibited preferential expression in either leaves or roots. The annotation and enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed that most of the DEGs were significantly enriched in Ca[2+] signaling pathway genes, related to signal transduction, cellular process, and defense response. A high number of DEGs with this function (including calcineurin B-like protein (CBL), CBL-interacting protein kinase (CIPK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) receptor kinases) were upregulated-DEGs or downregulated-DEGs in F. mosseae-inoculated maizes under drought stress. Furthermore, some DEGs belong to transcription factor (TF) families, including bHLH ERF, and, MYB, were speculated to play key roles in improving the drought tolerance of maize. Based on the expression data and co-expression analysis between TF and Ca[2+] signaling pathway genes, Whirly1 with CBL11, and BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) with CBL10, CIPK24, CDPK1, CDPK14, CDPK19, and MAPK9 genes showed significant positive correlations, while B3 domain-containing transcription factors (B3 TFs) with MAPK1 and both CBL9 genes showed significant negative correlations in response to both F. mosseae inoculation and drought stress. The regulation of Ca[2+] signaling pathways by AMF symbiosis was an important response mechanism of maize to improve their drought resistance. This study provides insightful perspectives on how AMF-induced modulation of gene expression within the Ca[2+] signaling pathway can enhance the drought tolerance of mycorrhizal maize in the future.},
}
@article {pmid40422674,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, K and Ni, Y and Bai, L and Zhai, Y and Zhou, W and Cheng, B and Li, X},
title = {Functional Characterization of Ammonium Transporter LjAMT2;4 During Lotus japonicus Symbiosis with Rhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40422674},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {U21A20235//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; S202310364181//College Students ' Innovation Program of Anhui Province/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia are important symbiotic microorganisms in soil, which can symbiose with legumes to form mycorrhizal symbionts and nodules, respectively. Once a stable symbiotic relationship is established, these microorganisms have been found to enhance nitrogen absorption by legumes. Although plants can directly utilize ammonium through ammonium transporters (AMTs), there is limited research on the role of the AMT gene family in promoting ammonium transport in symbiotic relationships. Lotus japonicus, a common host of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia, serves as a model legume plant. In this study, we examined the characteristics of the ammonium transporter LjAMT2;4 in L. japonicus and found that LjAMT2;4 is localized to the plasma membrane and is predominantly expressed in roots. The promoter region of LjAMT2;4 contains cis-acting elements induced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizomes, and the expression of LjAMT2;4 was induced by AM fungi and rhizobia. However, there was no significant difference in the mycorrhizal colonization rate of ljamt2;4 compared to the wild type, while the absence of LjAMT2;4 significantly increased the number of root nodules under nitrogen-starved conditions, enhancing nitrogen fixation and alleviating nitrogen stress in extremely nitrogen-starved environments, ultimately promoting plant growth. These findings suggest that manipulating the genes involved in symbiotic nitrogen fixation, such as LjAMT2;4, could offer new strategies for sustainable agricultural production. Given that AM and rhizobia symbiosis are critical for crop growth, our findings may inform strategies to improve agricultural management.},
}
@article {pmid40422671,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, S and Yang, Z and Yang, X and Ma, X and Ma, Q and Ma, M and Zhang, J},
title = {Plant-Soil Interactions Shape Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity and Functionality in Eastern Tibetan Meadows.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40422671},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {32260298&#xff0c;31660160//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 24YFFA061//Ecological Civilization Construction Key Research and Development Special Project of Gansu Province/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi occur in the interface between soils and plants. Yet, the impacts of the plant community functional composition and soil properties on AM fungal communities remain poorly understood in the face of ongoing climate change. Here, we investigated the AM fungal community in alpine meadow habitats of the Tibetan Plateau by linking fungal species richness to plant community functional composition and soil parameters at three latitudinal sites. High-throughput sequencing of the AM fungal small subunit rRNA gene was performed to characterize fungal communities. We found that AM fungal diversity and plant functional diversity, as well as the contents of soil nutrients, were significantly higher in the southernmost site, Hongyuan (HY). Total soil nitrogen and soil-available phosphorus explained the variation in AM fungal diversity, while AM fungal biomass was best predicted by the plant community-weighed mean nitrogen:phosphorus ratio (CWM-N:P). Glomus species preferentially occurred in the northernmost site of Hezuo (HZ). Distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA) revealed that AM fungal community structure was influenced by not only CWM-N:P but also by plant community-weighed mean photosynthetic rate (CWM-Pn), soil total carbon, and plant community functional dispersion (FDis). We conclude that plant traits and soil properties are crucial for nutrient-carbon (C) exchange, as fungal symbionts may shape AM communities in this vast alpine meadow ecosystem. Our findings provide timely insight into AM fungal community assembly from the perspective of nutrient-C exchange dynamics in the Tibetan Plateau's alpine meadow habitats.},
}
@article {pmid40421697,
year = {2025},
author = {Shen, Y and He, J and Ma, Y and Song, X and Li, P and Zhang, C and Zhou, Z and Chen, R},
title = {MtPEPC2 Encodes a Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Essential for Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15636},
pmid = {40421697},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFF1003200; R.C.), National Natural Science Foundation of China (32270261; R.C.) Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA26030103; R.C.) and Science and Technology Department of Gansu Province, China (22ZD6NA049; R.C.)./ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) that takes place in root nodules of legumes essentially relies on the exchange of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) metabolites between the symbiotic partners. The endosymbionts rhizobia provide ammonium to the host plants, and in return receive carbon and energy sources from the host for nitrogen fixation. In a forward genetic study, we identified FN6516 as an SNF-defective (fix[-]) mutant of Medicago truncatula. Whole genome resequencing, genetic linkage analysis of an F2 segregating population, genetic complementation and gene editing results show that a plant-type PEPC, MtPEPC2, is the candidate gene. We demonstrate that MtPEPC2 expression is activated in nodules and that a high level of expression is detected at an early stage of nodule development. MtPEPC2 protein is localised in the cytoplasm of both infected and uninfected cells, but not in symbiosomes. Our work shows that a nonsense mutation in MtPEPC2 resulted in a great reduction in PEPC activities, almost complete loss of nodule nitrogen fixation activities, and defects in differentiation and/or maintenance of bacteroids. Importantly, overexpression of MtPEPC2 increased nodule nitrogenase activities.},
}
@article {pmid40421474,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, X and Guo, F and Ma, Y and Wang, Z and Wu, H and Zhang, H and Gao, L and Wen, T},
title = {Enzymatic Characterization of a Rumen Microorganism-Derived Multifunctional Glycoside Hydrolase and Its GH26 Domain with Mannanase Activity.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {73},
number = {22},
pages = {13781-13791},
pmid = {40421474},
issn = {1520-5118},
mesh = {Animals ; *Rumen/microbiology ; *beta-Mannosidase/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; *Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Protein Domains ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Enzyme Stability ; Kinetics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Substrate Specificity ; },
abstract = {In this study, a novel multifunctional glycoside hydrolase (GH) with two distinct domains homologous to the GH family 5 (GH5) and family 26 (GH26) was isolated from the rumen microorganism Segatella bryantii. The heterologous expression product of this enzyme exhibited both endo-β-1,4-glucanase and endo-β-1,4-mannanase activities. Intriguingly, segmental expression studies indicated that the GH26 domain alone contributed to the β-mannanase activity, and its specific activity reached 2060 U/mg under optimal conditions (30 °C, pH 5.5). Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that the glutamic acid residues at positions 165 and 276 were indispensable for the catalytic activity of the GH26 domain. Collectively, a novel multifunctional GH from a symbiotic microorganism of ruminants was identified. Preliminary enzymatic characterizations of its GH26 family domain, which has independent β-mannanase activities, were determined.},
}
@article {pmid40420886,
year = {2025},
author = {Carner, M and Bianconi, L and Sacchetto, L and Arietti, V and Nocini, R and Salvetta, MS and Maulu, G and Diodati, A and Turchet, L},
title = {The"symbiotic"regulation approach in bimodal hearing adults.},
journal = {Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India},
volume = {77},
number = {6},
pages = {2239-2246},
pmid = {40420886},
issn = {2231-3796},
abstract = {PURPOSE: Patients with bimodal auditory stimulation represent an expanding group of cochlear implant users in many countries. The hearing results reported in the literature for subjects with bimodal hearing are controversial and often only evaluate hearing aids that are simply synchronized with their cochlear implant ("synchronized" regulation) and sometimes even adapted independently of the cochlear implant ("classic" regulation). This study aims to verify that the innovative "symbiotic'' regulation of the cochlear implant with an integrated hearing aid and dedicated fitting formula allows to achieve adequate rehabilitative hearing levels.<br><br>MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty adult patients (12 females and 18 males; age range: 18-69&#xa0;years) with bimodal hearing have been enrolled in a one-year study and divided into three groups of ten subjects for each of the regulation modes ("classic", "synchronized" and "symbiotic") applied to fit the cochlear implant and the hearing aid. Statistical analysis of the demographic characteristics and hearing outcomes observed in the three groups was conducted using the R statistical software.<br><br>RESULTS: For all subjects, the use of the "symbiotic" regulation approach with a dedicated bimodal regulation formula and integrated hearing aid allowed significantly better hearing performances (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05) compared to those obtained to either the "classic" or the "synchronized" regulations.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The "symbiotic" bimodal fitting formula provides significant hearing benefits compared to "classic" and "synchronized" regulation and it proves to be the ideal adjustment and coupling modality between a cochlear implant and a contralateral integrated hearing aid in bimodal listeners.},
}
@article {pmid40420254,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, Z and Dunlop, JA and Klimov, PB and Mai, H and Peng, A and Liu, Y},
title = {A new whip scorpion (Arachnida: Thelyphonida) with a phoretic mite (Acariformes: Trochometridiidae) from Mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber.},
journal = {BMC ecology and evolution},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {55},
pmid = {40420254},
issn = {2730-7182},
support = {2023Y0217//Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Scientific Research Fund Project/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Fossils/anatomy &amp; histology ; *Amber ; *Mites/anatomy &amp; histology/classification/physiology ; *Scorpions/anatomy &amp; histology/classification ; *Arachnida/anatomy &amp; histology/classification ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber is a valuable resource for studying the diversity, evolution, and ecology of microarthropods, including arachnids. Its exceptional preservation offers a unique opportunity to uncover biological associations between organisms with high fidelity. Whip scorpions (Thelyphonida) are rare in the fossil record, with a few known from the Paleozoic era and Cretaceous period. However, the ecological interactions of these fossils with other organisms remain largely unexplored.<br><br>RESULTS: Here, we describe a new whip scorpion species, Mesothelyphonus xiaoae sp. nov., from Kachin amber. This species is diagnosed by its relatively small body size, an accessory tooth on the pedipalp coxal apophysis, six teeth on the pedipalpal trochanter, and an unmodified abdominal sternite III. Notably, the fossil includes a heterostigmatic mite (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Heterostigmata: Trochometridiidae) attached to the first leg of the whip scorpion. The mite appears to have selected a densely setose area on a limb primarily used for sensory purposes by the host, which may have made it more difficult to dislodge. This association likely represents an instance of phoresy, where the mite benefits from transportation and protection provided by the whip scorpion.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Based on modern knowledge of Trochometridium biology and host associations, we suggest that while the whip scorpion served as an incidental host, the primary host was likely a ground-nesting Apoidea (bees or wasps). This hypothesis implies that Mid-Cretaceous ecosystems included early apoids exhibiting nesting behavior, providing an essential niche for the development of this ancient symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40419814,
year = {2025},
author = {Srivastava, AK and Riaz, A and Jiang, J and Li, X and Uzair, M and Mishra, P and Zeb, A and Zhang, J and Singh, RP and Luo, L and Chen, S and Yang, S and Zhao, Y and Xie, X},
title = {Advancing Climate-Resilient Sorghum: the Synergistic Role of Plant Biotechnology and Microbial Interactions.},
journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {41},
pmid = {40419814},
issn = {1939-8425},
support = {[2022]091//Guizhou Provincial Youth Science and Technology Talents Growth Project/ ; },
abstract = {Climate-related problems such as drought stress, extreme temperature, erratic rainfall patterns, soil degradation, heatwaves, flooding, water logging, pests and diseases afflict the production and sustainability of sorghum. These challenges may be addressed by adopting climate-resilient practices and using advanced agronomic techniques. These challenges are being addressed through innovative applications of plant biotechnology and microbiology, which offer targeted solutions to enhance sorghum's resilience. For instance, biotechnological tools like CRISPR/Cas9 enable precise genetic modifications to improve drought and heat tolerance, while microbial inoculants, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), enhance nutrient uptake and stress tolerance through symbiotic interactions. However, biotechnological tools lead to the development of sorghum varieties with heat, drought and salinity tolerance, while marker-assisted selection significantly accelerates breeding for stress-resilient traits. When genetic engineering is introduced, genes encoding heat shock proteins, Osmo protectants and antioxidant pathways are introduced to increase plant resistance to abiotic stress. These compounds stabilise cellular structures, protect enzymes, and maintain osmotic balance, enhancing the plant's ability to survive and function in adverse environmental conditions. At the same time, it is reported that microbiology offers beneficial microbes, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that help enhance nutrient availability, soil health and water uptake. Combinations of endophytes and microbial inoculants enhance plant immunity to pests and diseases while increasing tolerance to stress. Biocontrol agents such as Bacillus and Trichoderma contain suppression of pathogens and need less dependence on the use of chemical pesticides. On top of that, genetic modification increases the nutritional quality of sorghum biofortified. This is where biotechnology and microbiology work together to deliver sustainable farming systems reducing environmental impacts, boosting yields and securing food supply under environmental stresses. This review aims to examine the synergistic integration of plant biotechnology and microbial interactions as a strategy to enhance sorghum's resilience to climate-induced stresses, including drought, elevated temperatures, and nutrient-deficient soils. It highlights recent advancements in biotechnological tools such as gene editing, marker-assisted selection, and tissue culture, alongside the emerging role of plant-beneficial microbes in promoting stress tolerance and improving soil health. By synthesizing current knowledge across these disciplines, this review seeks to outline a framework for future research that harnesses the intersection of biotechnology and microbial ecology to support the sustainable improvement of sorghum resilience.},
}
@article {pmid40418640,
year = {2025},
author = {Ranner, JL and Stabl, G and Martyniak, C and Paries, M and Spaccasassi, A and Gutjahr, C and Stark, TD and Dawid, C},
title = {Comprehensive Quantification of (Poly)phenols in Lotus japonicus with and without Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {73},
number = {22},
pages = {14044-14057},
pmid = {40418640},
issn = {1520-5118},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Lotus/chemistry/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods ; Plant Roots/microbiology/chemistry/metabolism ; *Polyphenols/metabolism/chemistry/analysis ; *Plant Extracts/chemistry/metabolism ; },
abstract = {In the present study, a highly specific, accurate, and robust ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of 50 plant (poly)phenol analytes was developed and validated to assess the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis on the (poly)phenolic content of the model legume Lotus japonicus (L. japonicus). Determination of molar concentrations of analytes in roots and shoots of wild-type and AM mutant L. japonicus (with and without AM symbiosis, respectively) revealed an overall increase in (poly)phenols in mycorrhizal plants. Time-course observation over 10 weeks showed a shift in (poly)phenol concentrations, especially in the roots. In total, 13 analytes were notably more abundant in young AM roots, suggesting a potential role in symbiosis initiation. An accumulation of various (poly)phenols at later stages of symbiosis might indicate a potential involvement in arbuscule degradation or AM autoregulation.},
}
@article {pmid40417841,
year = {2025},
author = {Han, J and Wang, F and Dmitrii, D and Tian, J and Han, P and Tan, Z and Zhang, J and Lin, J and Wang, J},
title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on root architecture and ultrastructure of Hordeum jubatum under the interactive impact of nitrogen deposition and cold stress.},
journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/plb.70048},
pmid = {40417841},
issn = {1438-8677},
support = {32072666//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2572023CT18-02//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; },
abstract = {Hordeum jubatum L. is a perennial herb with high ornamental value and strong stress tolerance. Nitrogen deposition and cold stress are key environmental factors that affect stability of ecosystems in cold regions of northeast China. These factors significantly affect plant growth and development. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic soil fungi that can increase plant resistance and growth. However, research on impacts of nitrogen deposition and cold stress on roots of H. jubatum-AM symbionts remains limited. Root biomass (dry and fresh weight), architecture (length, surface area, volume, forks, number of fourth-order roots, and root fractal dimension), and ultrastructure of H. jubatum were assessed, both in the presence and absence of AMF, under conditions of nitrogen deposition and cold stress. Cold stress inhibited all indicators of root architecture and disrupted root ultrastructure, with greater inhibition shown in the N2 (NH4 [+]/NO3 [-] = 1:1) treatment under cold stress, indicating nitrogen deposition increased sensitivity of H. jubatum to cold stress. Inoculation with AMF significantly reduced damage caused by nitrogen deposition and cold stress on H. jubatum roots compared with the non-inoculation treatment. Our results demonstrate different effects of the interaction of nitrogen deposition and cold stress versus single stress (nitrogen deposition or cold stress) on plant root development and provide a scientific basis for the use of mycorrhizal technology to improve resistance and productivity of cold-tolerant plants in cold regions under stress conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40417129,
year = {2025},
author = {},
title = {Correction to "Identification of Novel Candidate Genes Associated With the Symbiotic Compatibility of Soybean With Rhizobia Under Natural Conditions".},
journal = {Plant direct},
volume = {9},
number = {5},
pages = {e70083},
pmid = {40417129},
issn = {2475-4455},
abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1002/pld3.70069.].},
}
@article {pmid40416770,
year = {2025},
author = {Karugu, JC and Kimuyu, DM and Kenfack, D and Inbar, M},
title = {Influence of Myrmecophytic Acacia drepanolobium on the Composition and Growth of Surrounding Herbaceous Vegetation.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {5},
pages = {e71500},
pmid = {40416770},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Whistling thorn acacia (Acacia (Vachellia) drepanolobium) forms nearly monospecific stands among woody species in black cotton soils in East Africa arid highlands. The tree defends itself against large mammal herbivores with spinescence and symbiotic ants. While these defenses have been extensively studied, little is known about the extent to which A. drepanolobium defense may benefit other plants growing in close association. We examined variation in herbaceous vegetation height, biomass, and composition between areas underneath A. drepanolobium canopies and the adjacent matrix in both fenced herbivore exclosures and unfenced areas. In unfenced areas, there was more tall herbaceous vegetation and biomass underneath tree canopies than away from tree canopies, while these differences were not significant in fenced exclosures. Both height and biomass of understory vegetation were negatively correlated with A. drepanolobium canopy height. Species richness was higher underneath tree canopies in both fenced and unfenced locations. In the unfenced locations, species evenness was lower underneath tree canopies than in the surrounding matrix, but the opposite was true in the fenced herbivore exclosures. The differences in herbaceous vegetation composition (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index) between underneath tree and off tree locations were more pronounced in the unfenced areas than within the fenced herbivore exclosures. Our findings suggest that highly defended trees may moderate herbivore effects on herbaceous vegetation. To the extent that herbaceous vegetation underneath trees experiences protection from herbivory, such refugia microhabitats may serve as recolonization nuclei in attempts to restore chronically overgrazed systems.},
}
@article {pmid40415704,
year = {2025},
author = {Koop, JAH and Blackstone, NW},
title = {Synergy, complexity, and the dirty, dirty cheats of the world.},
journal = {Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/brv.70041},
pmid = {40415704},
issn = {1469-185X},
support = {2236135//National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Studies of symbiosis employ the term "parasitism" to connote different sorts of relationships. Within the context of mutualistic symbioses, parasites are otherwise cooperative individuals or strains that appropriate a disproportionate amount of the synergistic products. In the context of antagonistic symbioses, there is no pretence of cooperation, and instead parasites are defined as individuals or strains that derive fitness benefits at a fitness cost to their hosts. In both cases, parasitism is selected for at the lower level (that of the individual symbiont) but selected against at the higher level (the group of symbionts in a single host). Despite these similarities, these different sorts of parasitism likely evolve by different pathways. Once a host-symbiont relationship initiates, if functional synergy is lacking, the relationship will remain exploitative, although parasites may differ in their detrimental effects on the host and the higher-level unit. If functional synergy is present, however, cooperation may develop with benefits for both host and symbionts (i.e. mutualism). Nevertheless, parasites may still evolve from within these incipient relationships when individuals or strains of symbionts act parasitically by defecting from the common good to further their selfish replication. Levels-of-selection dynamics thus underlie both forms of parasitism, but only in the case of latent functional synergy can true symbiotic complexity at the higher level emerge.},
}
@article {pmid40415554,
year = {2025},
author = {Rubia, MI and Larrainzar, E and Arrese-Igor, C},
title = {Drought Stress Modifies the Source-Sink Dynamics of Nitrogen-Fixing Soybean Plants Prioritizing Roots and Nodules.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {3},
pages = {e70276},
pmid = {40415554},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {PID2021-122740OB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; TED2021-130111B-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/physiology/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Root Nodules, Plant/physiology/metabolism ; *Droughts ; *Plant Roots/physiology/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Soybean plants are one of the most cultivated legume crops worldwide. Their ability to establish nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhizobium bacteria allows the reduction of molecular nitrogen to ammonium, contributing to a reduction in the dependence on nitrogen fertilizers. However, nitrogen fixation is highly sensitive to environmental stresses, such as water deficit, and the regulatory mechanisms underlying this inhibition remain debatable. In the current study, we analyzed carbon (C) allocation dynamics in drought-stressed soybean plants following the application of [U-[13]C]-sucrose to source leaves. Three sets of plants were analyzed: well-watered plants, mild drought, and severe drought-stressed plants. [13]C distribution was monitored for up to 6 h post-application. Under optimal water conditions, [13]C was mainly allocated to young (sink) leaves. During drought stress, transport trends changed, prioritizing C allocation primarily to the roots and nodules to a lesser extent. Metabolite profiling identified drought- and tissue-specific variations in the levels of the major C and N compounds.},
}
@article {pmid40415147,
year = {2025},
author = {Yamamoto, S and Shimomura, A and Watanabe, S and Kojoma, M and Suzuki, A},
title = {Overwhelming glycyrrhizin production in Glycyrrhiza glabra induced by rihizobial symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of natural medicines},
volume = {79},
number = {4},
pages = {833-844},
pmid = {40415147},
issn = {1861-0293},
support = {19K22314//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JPJ011937//Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycyrrhizic Acid/metabolism ; *Glycyrrhiza/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Biomass ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis/microbiology ; },
abstract = {We reported that Glycyrrhiza uralensis inoculated with rhizobium tended to increase biomass production and glycyrrhizic acid (GL) production, in this study we have also achieved drastically increase in biomass and GL production in Glycyrrhiza glabra. At thirty days after inoculation (DAI), a significant increase in SPAD values was observed, and the expression of GL synthesis marker genes was also significantly increased. At 150 DAI, a significant increase in biomass was observed. Characteristically, it was also found that thick roots were enlarged by rhizobial inoculation. In addition, the expression of GL synthesis marker genes was also significantly increased. Moreover, GL content per unit root dry weight reached 4%, and GL production per plant increased six times compared to uninoculated plants. Moreover, we tried to reveal the mechanism of induction of GL production by rhizobial inoculation. Since it has been reported that the expression of jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis marker genes is increased by rhizobium in soybean, we investigated the expression of those genes in G. glabra, and found that GgMYC2 and GgJAR1 were up-regulated at Thirty DAI. Furthermore, methyl jasmonate treatment increased the expression of GL synthesis marker genes, suggesting that JA signaling is involved in the increased GL production due to rhizobial inoculation. These results aid in understanding the mechanism of increased GL production through the introduction of rhizobial symbiosis, and show the potential for providing a technology to significantly shorten the cultivation period for the production of Glycyrrhiza that meets the criteria for herbal medicines.},
}
@article {pmid40415063,
year = {2025},
author = {Alviti Kankanamalage, HP and Yang, JY and Karunarathna, SC and Tibpromma, S and Kumla, J and Wei, DP and Lumyong, S},
title = {Entomopathogenic fungi: insights into recent understanding.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {6},
pages = {179},
pmid = {40415063},
issn = {1573-0972},
support = {2560-030//This research was funded by CMU Presidential Scholarship/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Insecta/microbiology ; *Fungi/classification/pathogenicity/physiology/genetics ; *Pest Control, Biological/methods ; Symbiosis ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/parasitology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; },
abstract = {Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are cosmopolitan, obligate, or facultative pathogens that show ruthless aggression toward various insects and ultimately cause them to die. They also have the ability to colonize and establish symbiotic relationships with plants as endophytes, thus offering a number of benefits to the host plants, inducing plant resistance against a number of biotic and abiotic stresses, and growth promotion. Recently, considerable attention has been paid to this group of fungi, mainly due to their exceptional ability to control numerous arthropod pests in crops. This practical application of EPF, which is of great interest, offers an eco-friendly manner of pest control, a key feature that makes them a potential solution to growing environmental concerns. This eco-friendly nature of EPF is particularly significant in the current context of growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable solutions. This paper has attempted to review our current understanding of EPF. First, we briefly describe the historical identifications of EPF, landmark studies, and their classifications. Second, we discuss the group from an evolutionary standpoint. Third, the insect infection mechanisms, particularly the cuticular penetration pathway and different steps, are discussed. Finally, we emphasize the eco-friendly nature of these fungi, which makes them a sustainable option to mitigate the devastating effects of insect pests in current agriculture systems.},
}
@article {pmid40414518,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, C and Shi, Y and Chen, B and Li, A and Meng, Q and Jiang, Y and Ji, B},
title = {Understanding diurnal variability in organic matter processing by microalgal-bacterial granular sludge in lake water remediation.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {433},
number = {},
pages = {132717},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132717},
pmid = {40414518},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Lakes/microbiology/chemistry ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; *Sewage/microbiology ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; *Water Purification/methods ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Circadian Rhythm ; *Organic Chemicals/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation &amp; purification ; Nitrogen/isolation &amp; purification ; Phosphorus ; },
abstract = {This study investigates the diurnal variability of organic matter removal by microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) in lake water remediation. Results showed that daytime removal efficiencies for NH4[+]-N, NO3[-]-N, NO2[-]-N, TN, and TP reached 72.1%, 73.2%, 91.5%, 60.5%, and 52.8%, respectively, exceeding nighttime values of 52.7%, 55.8%, 88.4%, 37.9%, and 39.9%. However, chemical oxygen demand (COD) exhibited a net release during daytime, contrasting with removal during night conditions. Significant microbial community shifts, notably increased Bacteroidota abundance, were driven by fluctuations in dissolved oxygen and organic carbon levels. Additionally, the upregulation of fatty acid metabolism-related genes like paaF and ACSL provided mechanistic support COD removal efficiency. These findings suggest that optimizing MBGS operation through diurnal parameter regulation can enhance lake restoration efficacy and provide a theoretical foundation for developing sustainable engineering strategies in aquatic ecosystem management.},
}
@article {pmid40413516,
year = {2025},
author = {Hashimoto, R and Nishiyama, K and Namai, F and Suzuki, K and Sakuma, T and Fukuda, I and Sugiyama, Y and Okano, K and Shanoh, T and Toyoshi, E and Ohgi, R and Saha, S and Tsuchida, S and Nishiyama, E and Mukai, T and Furukawa, M and Nochi, T and Villena, J and Ikeda-Ohtsubo, W and Yoshioka, G and Nakazaki, E and Suda, Y and Kitazawa, H},
title = {Milk sialyl-oligosaccharides mediate the early colonization of gut commensal microbes in piglets.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {135},
pmid = {40413516},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {23K27051//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 23K19327//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 23K18072//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 2023//Japanese Dairy Science Association/ ; JPJ007097//Development of Innovative Technology grants BRAIN/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Oligosaccharides/metabolism/chemistry ; Swine/microbiology ; *Milk/chemistry ; *Lactobacillus/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification/classification/growth &amp; development ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The suckling period in pigs is a key phase in development for shaping the gut microbiota, which is essential for maintaining biological homeostasis in neonates. In piglets fed sow milk, the gut microbiota comprises predominantly lactobacilli, indicating a host-gut microbiota symbiosis that is influenced by sow milk components. In this study, we sought to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of the gut microbiome in suckling piglets, with a specific focus on the metabolism of sialyl-oligosaccharides by lactobacilli.<br><br>RESULTS: Based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, we identified 3'-sialyl-lactose (3'SL) as the major oligosaccharide in porcine milk, and microbiome profiling revealed the predominance of Ligilactobacillus salivarius during the suckling period, with a subsequent transition to Limosilactobacillus reuteri dominance post-weaning. Notably, sialic acid metabolism was established to be exclusively attributable to L. salivarius, thereby highlighting the pivotal role of 3'SL in determining species-specific bacterial segregation. L. salivarius was found to metabolize 3'SL when co-cultured with Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, resulting in a shift in the predominant short-chain fatty acid produced, from lactate to acetate. This metabolic shift, in turn, inhibits the growth of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the comparison of the gut microbiota between suckling piglets and those fed a low-3'SL formula revealed distinct diversity profiles. We accordingly speculate that an absence of sialyl-oligosaccharides in the formula-fed piglets may have restricted the growth of sialic acid-utilizing bacteria such as L. salivarius, thereby leading to a higher abundance of Enterobacteriaceae.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal the influence of sialyl-oligosaccharides in promoting microbial diversity and gut homeostasis, thereby highlighting the importance of sialic acid as a key factor in shaping milk-driven microbial colonization during the early stages of piglet development. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid40413423,
year = {2025},
author = {Mahto, RK and Chandana, BS and Singh, RK and Talukdar, A and Swarnalakshmi, K and Suman, A and Vaishali, and Dey, D and Kumar, R},
title = {Uncovering potentials of an association panel subset for nitrogen fixation and sustainable chickpea productivity.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {693},
pmid = {40413423},
issn = {1471-2229},
mesh = {*Cicer/genetics/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism/physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Fertilizers ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Genotype ; Symbiosis ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics/growth &amp; development ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a nutritious legume that fixes atmospheric nitrogen through Rhizobium symbiosis, enhancing growth and yield. Sustainable agriculture is essential to address food security, climate change, and environmental sustainability. Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) improve crop productivity, reduce chemical fertilizer use, and support eco-friendly farming. This study highlights PGPR's role in enhancing chickpea yield, resilience, and resource efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. PGPR reduces chemical dependency, preserves ecosystems, and supports global sustainability goals. Findings demonstrate PGPR's potential to improve food security and promote equitable distribution. This research offers innovative strategies for advancing sustainable agriculture.<br><br>RESULTS: The study revealed significant variability in nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and yield among 20 chickpea genotypes under different treatments, including Rhizobium, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM), and chemical fertilizers (NPK), applied alone and in combinations. Genotype ICC9085 consistently outperformed others, exhibiting the highest nodules per plant (22.67), nitrogen content (3.65%), and protein content (22.85%), while ICC1083 and ICC6579 showed minimal nodulation (<&#x2009;5 nodules). Rhizobium treatment proved the most effective, achieving the highest nitrogenase activity (mean: 35.806; max: 189.2) and yielding superior growth-promoting results compared to VAM and control treatments. Molecular genotyping identified 20 out of 128 SSR markers as polymorphic, with an average polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.35 and two alleles per marker, revealing moderate polymorphism and significant genetic diversity. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into four primary clusters, reflecting geographical and genetic diversity in nodulation traits. Environmental factors such as soil nutrients, temperature, and water stress, alongside genetic traits like root architecture and nitrogen-fixing efficiency, contributed to variations in growth and productivity. This interplay of genotype and environment underscores the adaptability and superior performance of certain varieties like ICC9085 under specific conditions.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the identified superior genotypes can be used to introduce desirable traits into allied chickpea cultivars through marker-assisted selection and crop improvement programs.The research of the chickpea, a crop with significant agricultural and industrial value, will eventually help develop efficient methods for the production of climate-smart food crops to meet the food and feed needs of future generations for a sustainable environment.},
}
@article {pmid40412605,
year = {2025},
author = {Glazer, I and Simões, N and Eleftherianos, I and Ramakrishnan, J and Ment, D and Toubarro, D and Mallick, S},
title = {Entomopathogenic nematodes: Survival, virulence and immunity.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {212},
number = {},
pages = {108363},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108363},
pmid = {40412605},
issn = {1096-0805},
mesh = {Animals ; Virulence ; *Pest Control, Biological ; *Rhabditida/physiology/pathogenicity/immunology ; *Insecta/parasitology/immunology ; *Nematoda/pathogenicity/physiology ; },
abstract = {As entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are used as biological control agents, their survival and persistence are crucial to ensure success in application against insect pests. The survival of Heterorhabditis and Steinernema species is dependent on abiotic and biotic factors in the environment. Abiotic stress environments such as desiccation, temperature, and ultraviolet radiation (UV) severely impact their performance on field. EPNs produce and secrete effector molecules during the early stages of infection to interfere with the molecular mechanisms that control the insect innate immune function. Also, EPN effectors facilitate the subsequent release and spread of their symbiotic bacteria within the host. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying survival and virulence mechanisms enabling protection against environmental conditions and insect host immune responses is imperative to realistically enhance their performance on field. Thus, identifying key players regulating EPN survival, virulence and immunity could invariably contribute towards developing more robust, reliable solutions and application strategies including genetic tools and formulation technologies.},
}
@article {pmid40412128,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, Y and Wang, R and Wu, Z and Xie, C and Gong, S and Zhang, J and Yu, H and Song, Z},
title = {Prophylactic application of sodium new houttuyfonate to regulate macrophage activation and antifungal infection in intra-abdominal candidiasis model mice.},
journal = {International immunopharmacology},
volume = {159},
number = {},
pages = {114922},
doi = {10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114922},
pmid = {40412128},
issn = {1878-1705},
mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; *Candidiasis/immunology/drug therapy/prevention &amp; control ; *Candida albicans/immunology ; Macrophage Activation/drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; *Sulfites/therapeutic use/pharmacology ; *Alkanes/therapeutic use/pharmacology ; Phagocytosis/drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; *Macrophages, Peritoneal/immunology/drug effects ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; *Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use/pharmacology ; Chemokine CCL2/metabolism ; Male ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The abuse of immunosuppressants causes damage to the immune system, while the pathological proliferation and translocation of symbiotic Candida albicans can result in abdominal infection in immunocompromised people. In this study, we established a mouse peritoneal C. albicans infection model and investigated the effects of preventive application of Sodium New Houttuyfonate (SNH) by analyzing the proportion of immune cells, polarization of peritoneal macrophages, changes in fungal tissue load, and histology, and the data showed prophylactic SNH administration yields a double anti-infection effect in phagocytosis and regulation of immunity according to the immune inflammatory states of the body. In vitro, neutral red, colony counting, cytometric bead array, RT-qPCR, western blot, inhibitor treatment, and detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production on RAW264.7 macrophages showed SNH can stimulate the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2) and the release of ROS and NO through a TLR2/p38/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, our data provide an innovative insight into the prevention use of exogenous SNH for the treatment of C. albicans infection.},
}
@article {pmid40411688,
year = {2025},
author = {Onsun, B and Toprak, K and Sanlier, N},
title = {Kombucha Tea: A Functional Beverage and All its Aspects.},
journal = {Current nutrition reports},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {69},
pmid = {40411688},
issn = {2161-3311},
mesh = {Humans ; *Kombucha Tea/analysis ; Fermentation ; Antioxidants/analysis ; Probiotics ; *Functional Food ; Tea ; },
abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The increasing interest in functional foods and beverages worldwide is driven by rising living standards, advancing technology, and heightened health awareness. Kombucha tea, a fermented beverage produced from sweetened tea and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), is a prominent example within this category. This review explores the definition, bioactive components, and health benefits of kombucha, emphasizing its potential roles as a functional beverage in the prevention and management of various diseases.<br><br>RECENT FINDINGS: The fermentation process of kombucha tea, typically lasting up to 14&#xa0;days, results in the transformation of sugar into ethanol and acetic acid, contributing to its distinctive tangy flavor. Kombucha contains bioactive compounds such as organic acids, antioxidants, and probiotics, which are linked to potential health benefits including improved digestive health, enhanced immune function, and antioxidant activity. Recent advancements in sustainable production methods and innovative formulations have further contributed to the increasing popularity of this beverage. Kombucha tea, originating in Northeast China with a history of over 2,000 years, is increasingly recognized for its potential health-promoting effects. Its production through traditional fermentation methods combined with modern innovations underscores its value as a functional beverage with the potential to support health and well-being. This review assesses the roles of kombucha in maintaining human health, considering its use as a complementary strategy for the prevention and management of diseases due to the bioactive components it contains.},
}
@article {pmid40411428,
year = {2025},
author = {Nakajima, M and Tanaka, N and Motouchi, S and Kobayashi, K and Shimizu, H and Abe, K and Hosoyamada, N and Abara, N and Morimoto, N and Hiramoto, N and Nakata, R and Takashima, A and Hosoki, M and Suzuki, S and Shikano, K and Fujimaru, T and Imagawa, S and Kawadai, Y and Wang, Z and Kitano, Y and Nihira, T and Nakai, H and Taguchi, H},
title = {New glycoside hydrolase families of β-1,2-glucanases.},
journal = {Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society},
volume = {34},
number = {6},
pages = {e70147},
pmid = {40411428},
issn = {1469-896X},
support = {23K05041//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI/ ; JPMJSP2151//JST SPRING/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycoside Hydrolases/chemistry/metabolism/genetics/classification ; Phylogeny ; *Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; *Bacteria/enzymology ; Models, Molecular ; Substrate Specificity ; beta-Glucans/metabolism/chemistry ; },
abstract = {β-1,2-Glucans are natural glucose polymers produced by bacteria and play important physiological roles, including as symbiotic or pathogenic factors and in osmoregulation. Glycoside hydrolase (GH) families related to β-1,2-glucan metabolism (GH144, GH162, and GH189) have recently been created by identification of two β-1,2-glucanases and a β-1,2-glucanotransferase, respectively. In this study, we further found four phylogenetically new groups with unknown functions (Groups 1-4) by sequence database analysis using enzymes from GH144 and GH162 as queries. Biochemical analysis of representative proteins in these groups revealed that the proteins in Groups 1-3 showed hydrolytic activity specific to β-1,2-glucan, while no substrate was found for the Group 4 protein. The kinetic parameters of the enzymes of Groups 1-3 were similar to GH144 and GH162 β-1,2-glucanases, indicating that these enzymes were β-1,2-glucanases. Optical rotation analysis revealed that the β-1,2-glucanases followed an anomer-inverting mechanism. Structural analysis of the proteins in Groups 1-4 revealed that they possess (α/α)6-barrel folds similar to those of GH144, GH162, and GH189 enzymes. Comparison of spatial positions of predicted acidic catalytic residues suggested that Groups 1-3 and GH144 had the same reaction mechanism. Overall, phylogenetic, biochemical, and structural analyses revealed that Groups 1-3 are new GH families, GH192, GH193, and GH194, respectively, and that the three families belong to clan GH-S (clan GH, classification based on structural similarity) as GH144 and GH162.},
}
@article {pmid40411056,
year = {2025},
author = {Patra, A and Das Bairagya, J and Chakraborty, S},
title = {Bayesian ecoevolutionary game dynamics.},
journal = {Physical review. E},
volume = {111},
number = {4-1},
pages = {044401},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevE.111.044401},
pmid = {40411056},
issn = {2470-0053},
abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between the frameworks of classical game theory and evolutionary game theory is well established. However, evolutionary game theorists have mostly tapped into the classical game of complete information where players are completely informed of all other players' payoffs. Of late, there is a surge of interest in ecoevolutionary interactions where the environment's state is changed by the players' actions which, in turn, are influenced by the changing environment. However, in real life, the information about the true environmental state must pass through some noisy channel (like the usually imperfect sensory apparatus of the players) before it is perceived by the players: The players naturally are prone to sometimes perceive the true state erroneously. Given the uncertain perceived environment, the players may adopt bet-hedging kind of strategies in which they play different actions in different perceptions. In a population of such ill-informed players, a player would be confused about the information state of her opponent, and an incomplete information situation akin to a Bayesian game surfaces. In short, we contemplate the possibility of the natural emergence of the symbiotic relationship between the frameworks of Bayesian games and ecoevolutionary games when the players are equipped with inefficient sensory apparatus. Herein, we illustrate this connection using a setup of infinitely large, well-mixed population of players equipped with two actions for exploiting a resource (the environment) at two different rates so that the resource state evolves accordingly. The state of the resource impacts every player's decision of playing particular action. We investigate the continuous state environment in the presence of a Gaussian noisy channel. Employing the formalism of deterministic replicator dynamics, we find that noisy information can be effective in preventing the resource from going extinct.},
}
@article {pmid40410860,
year = {2025},
author = {Yin, H and Shan, Y and Zhu, Q and Yuan, L and Ju, F and Shi, Y and Han, Y and Wu, R and Xia, T and Zhang, K and You, Y and You, B},
title = {Improved VPS4B O-GlcNAc modification triggers lipid droplets transferring from adipocytes to nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.},
journal = {Cancer &amp; metabolism},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {24},
pmid = {40410860},
issn = {2049-3002},
support = {KYCX23_3429//Postgraduate Research &amp; Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province/ ; 82103435//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82173288, 81972554//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82372977, 81602385//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; BK20201208//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; Y-HR2019-0463//CSCO Clinical Oncology Research Foundation of Beijing/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The tumor microenvironment (TME) supplies critical metabolites that support cancer cell survival and progression. Adipocytes support tumor progression by secreting free fatty acids (FFAs) and adipokines; however, the role and mechanisms underlying lipid droplet (LD) release from adipocytes remain elusive.<br><br>METHODS: Using two nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines and primary human pre-adipocytes (HPA), we evaluate the effect of LDs on cell growth, proliferation, colony formation, and migration. We also assess the roles of LD on the tumor progression in vivo. Using RNA-seq analysis, we elucidate the effect of hypoxic NPC cell-derived exosomes (H-exo) on the gene expression profile of adipocytes. By co-culture system, we investigated the effect of vacuolar protein sorting 4 homolog B (VPS4B)-annexin A5 (ANXA5) interaction on adipocyte LD maturity and release.<br><br>RESULTS: Herein, we report that LDs, rather than FFAs, are the primary lipid form transferred from adipocytes to NPC cells, enhancing cancer progression. NPC cells internalize LDs directly via macropinocytosis, while H-exo induces oxidative stress and membrane fluidity in adipocytes, leading to LD release. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal that VPS4B triggers LD release by interacting with ANXA5, and low LKB1 in H-exo enhances VPS4B O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification through the inhibition of serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11/LKB1)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway and activation of the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) flux.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study uncovers critical mechanisms of LD transfer in the TME, suggesting new therapeutic avenues in NPC.},
}
@article {pmid40410832,
year = {2025},
author = {Chu, B and Ge, S and He, W and Sun, X and Ma, J and Yang, X and Lv, C and Xu, P and Zhao, X and Wu, K},
title = {Gut symbiotic bacteria enhance reproduction in Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) by regulating juvenile hormone III and 20-hydroxyecdysone pathways.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {132},
pmid = {40410832},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {2023FY100500//Chinese Science &amp;Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 2023FY100500//Chinese Science &amp;Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 2023FY100500//Chinese Science &amp;Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 2023FY100500//Chinese Science &amp;Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 2023FY100500//Chinese Science &amp;Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 2023FY100500//Chinese Science &amp;Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 2023FY100500//Chinese Science &amp;Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; 2023FY100500//Chinese Science &amp;Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program/ ; CARS-02//National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Construction Fund of China/ ; CARS-02//National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Construction Fund of China/ ; CARS-02//National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Construction Fund of China/ ; CARS-02//National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Construction Fund of China/ ; CARS-02//National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Construction Fund of China/ ; CARS-02//National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Construction Fund of China/ ; CARS-02//National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Construction Fund of China/ ; CARS-02//National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Construction Fund of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Spodoptera/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Ecdysterone/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Female ; Reproduction ; Enterobacter/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Larva/microbiology ; Enterococcus/isolation &amp; purification/physiology/genetics ; Klebsiella/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/physiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Juvenile Hormones/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The insect gut microbiota forms a complex, multifunctional system that significantly affects phenotypic traits linked to environmental adaptation. Strong reproductive potential underpins the migratory success, population growth and destructive impact of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). However, the precise role of gut bacteria in S. frugiperda reproductive processes, distribution and transmission dynamics remains unclear.<br><br>RESULTS: We examined the gut microbiota of S. frugiperda a major invasive agricultural pest, identifying Enterococcus, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella as core microorganisms present throughout its life cycle. These microbes showed heightened activity during the egg stage, early larval stages and pre-oviposition period in females. Using an axenic insect re-infection system, Enterococcus quebecensis FAW181, Klebsiella michiganensis FAW071 and Enterobacter hormaechei FAW049 were found to significantly enhance host fecundity, increasing egg production by 62.73%, 59.95%, and 56.71%, respectively. Metagenomic and haemolymph metabolomic analyses revealed a positive correlation between gut symbiotic bacteria and hormone metabolism in female S. frugiperda. Further analysis of metabolites in the insect hormone biosynthesis pathway, along with exogenous injection of juvenile hormone III and 20-hydroxyecdysone, revealed that gut microbes regulate these hormones, maintaining levels equivalent to those in control insects. This regulation supports improved fecundity in S. frugiperda, aiding rapid colonization and population expansion.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the pivotal role of gut bacteria E. quebecensis FAW181, E. hormaechei FAW049, and K. michiganensis FAW071 in enhancing S. frugiperda reproduction by modulating JH III levels through JHAMT regulation and concurrently modulating the levels of 20E and its precursors via PHM. Our results provide novel insights into microbe-host symbiosis and pest management strategies for alien invasive species. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid40410728,
year = {2025},
author = {Eftekhari, F and Sarcheshmehpour, M and Lohrasbi-Nejad, A and Boroomand, N},
title = {Effects of mycorrhizal and Trichoderma treatment on enhancing maize tolerance to salinity and drought stress, through metabolic and enzymatic evaluation.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {687},
pmid = {40410728},
issn = {1471-2229},
mesh = {*Zea mays/microbiology/physiology/enzymology/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Droughts ; Salinity ; Stress, Physiological ; *Trichoderma/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Hypocreales ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nowadays, climate change has intensified environmental stresses, including salinity and drought stress. Salinity and drought significantly impair crop growth and yield by affecting physiological and biochemical processes. One of the ways to enhance environmental stress tolerance in plants is to improve their symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms. This study investigates the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma harzianum (accession number: PV544806) inoculation on maize to trace the activated pathways under stress conditions. Maize plants were exposed to different stress conditions: salinity (S1D0), drought (S0D1), and a combination of both salinity and drought (S1D1). They received treatments with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (M1T0), Trichoderma (M0T1), and a combination of both (M1T1).<br><br>RESULTS: Inoculation of maize plants with AMF and T. harzianum markedly enhanced root dry weight, root volume, and total biomass under stress conditions. Additionally, the simultaneous inoculation of AMF and T. harzianum under combined salinity and drought conditions significantly affected traits such as dry weight of aerial parts, total biomass, and root colonization percentage compared to the non-inoculated control. Physiologically, the results also indicated that the inoculation significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and APX. Results from GC-MS analysis and metabolic pathway analysis showed that the combined inoculation of AMF and Trichoderma in maize plants stimulated the production of specific secondary metabolites such as oxaloacetate, &#x394;1-piperidine-6-carboxylate, and cadaverine under stress conditions.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study's findings, the use of AMF and T. harzianum can enhance maize growth and performance under salinity and drought stress by stimulating the production of secondary metabolites.},
}
@article {pmid40410607,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, J and Chen, T and Lian, CA and Wang, L and Zhuang, W and Yu, K},
title = {Deciphering factors influencing planktonic and sedimentary microbial assembly processes in Midwest salinity lakes.},
journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {109},
number = {1},
pages = {124},
pmid = {40410607},
issn = {1432-0614},
support = {JCYJ20220812103301001//Shenzhen Knowledge Innovation Program/ ; 2022A1515110797//Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; 51709005//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Lakes/microbiology/chemistry ; *Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; *Salinity ; China ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Plankton/genetics/classification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; },
abstract = {The salt lake ecosystem, characterized by extreme environmental gradients, harbors microbes that uniquely adapt to high salt stress through natural selection. However, how abiotic and biotic factors shape the microbial community assembly in Yuncheng Salt Lakes remains unclear. Here, we investigated the assembly processes and meta co-occurrence patterns of microbiota in both water and sediment sampled from 14 distinct wide range of salinity lakes in the Shanxi Yuncheng area, Midwest of China, using 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequencing technology combined with multivariate ecological and statistical methods. Habitat differentiation led to the differences in microbial diversity, co-occurrence patterns, and community assembly between sedimentary and planktonic communities. Sedimentary prokaryotes were more shaped by deterministic processes than planktonic bacterial communities. Salinity was a major abiotic factor influencing the balance between stochastic and deterministic processes in both sediment and water. Enhanced microbial interactions within sediments exhibited a more prominent impact in shaping community assembly, as indicated by the stronger association between network-inferred species and prokaryotic βNTI. Moreover, we revealed significant differences in how core species concerning βNTI responded to biotic and abiotic factors. Our findings elucidated the ecological process underlying microbial communities in Yuncheng Salt Lakes and shed light on the mechanism of microorganisms to maintain community complexity and diversity in the extreme environment. KEY POINTS: • Sedimentary prokaryotes were more shaped by deterministic processes than planktonic prokaryotic communities. • Salinity was a major factor influencing the balance between stochastic and deterministic process. • Inter-domain and intra-domain symbiotic interactions within sedimentary communities represent key biotic factors influencing their community assembly.},
}
@article {pmid40409427,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, YQ and Li, X and Wang, ZZ and Huang, XY and Zeng, DW and Zhao, XQ and Liu, ZQ and Zhang, FL},
title = {Single cell protein production of co-culture Kodamaea ohmeri and Lactococcus lactis in corn straw hydrolysate.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {433},
number = {},
pages = {132649},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132649},
pmid = {40409427},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Lactococcus lactis/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Zea mays/chemistry/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques/methods ; *Saccharomycetales/metabolism ; Hydrolysis ; Biomass ; Lignin/metabolism ; Dietary Proteins ; },
abstract = {With the world population continuously increasing, the protein demand will double by 2050. Single cell protein (SCP) derived from lignocellulosic biomass offers a sustainable solution. Many inhibitors are produced during the pretreatment process of lignocellulosic biomass. Inhibitor-rich hydrolysates limit microorganisms cell growth and SCP yields. In this work, we report a co-culture consortium of Kodamaea ohmeri SSK (pentose-utilizing yeast) and Lactococcus lactis LX (probiotic bacterium) that efficiently converts real corn straw hydrolysate into SCP. K. ohmeri SSK can tolerate inhibitors such as furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), and acetic acid and consume glucose, xylose, and arabinose in real hydrolysate. L. lactis LX showed less growth in monoculture than that of co-culture. The total amino acid content from co-cultured K. ohmeri SSK and L. lactis LX was increased to 331.42 mg/g crude protein, but that of monocultured K. ohmeri SSK was 309.89 mg/g crude protein containing 17 amino acids. This work demonstrates a symbiotic microbial platform can produce SCP from non-detoxified lignocellulosic biomass. The co-culture robust inhibitor tolerance and balanced amino acid profile highlight its potential for industrial-scale protein production. These results will represent an attractive choice cell factory for lignocellulosic substrate utilization and provide a platform for biomass conversion to SCP.},
}
@article {pmid40407237,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, M and Zhou, G and Zhang, C and Chen, L and Ma, D and Zhang, L and Jia, C and Ma, L and Zhang, J},
title = {Impact of Virus-Mediated Modifications in Bacterial Communities on the Accumulation of Soil Organic Carbon.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e06449},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202506449},
pmid = {40407237},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {2022YFD1500401//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2023YFD1901001//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; CARS-03//Agriculture Research System of China/ ; CARS-52//Agriculture Research System of China/ ; 42277336//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; BK20221561//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; },
abstract = {Microbial adaptations to resource availability are crucial to predict the responses of ecosystems to carbon (C) changes, yet viral roles in C cycling under varying levels of C remain elusive. Through metagenomic analysis of soils with contrasting C availability, a total of 24,789 viral contigs predominantly represent Microviridae and Siphoviridae. The soils with low C availability (straw removal) harbored 21% lysogenic viruses and enriched auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) related to C degradation (p < 0.05). Conversely, the soils with high C availability (straw returning) show 93% lytic viruses, stronger virus-bacteria symbiosis, and numerous host functional genes related to C cycling and viral AMGs linked to C fixation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, these findings show that the addition of viruses boosted microbial metabolic efficiency and recalcitrant C accumulation (p < 0.05), with lytic activity accelerating organic C turnover via nutrient release and necromass formation. Overall, this study demonstrates viruses as key regulators of sustainable sequestration of C through host-driven metabolic optimization.},
}
@article {pmid40407228,
year = {2025},
author = {Rawstern, AH and Carbajal, LJ and Slade, TJ and Afkhami, ME},
title = {Non-Additive Interactions Between Multiple Mutualists and Host Plant Genotype Simultaneously Promote Increased Plant Growth and Pathogen Defence.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15631},
pmid = {40407228},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was funded by the University of Miami research funds awarded to M. Afkhami and the Mycological Society of America graduate fellowship awarded to A. Rawstern. A. Rawstern was additionally supported by the University of Miami Department of Biology and the Lisa D. Anness Graduate Fellowship./ ; },
abstract = {Understanding the impact of microbial interactions on plants is critical for maintaining healthy native ecosystems and sustainable agricultural practices. Despite the reality that genetically distinct plants host multiple microbes of large effect in the field, it remains unclear the extent to which host genotypes modulate non-additive microbial interactions and how these interactions differ between benign/pathogenic environments. Our study fills this gap by performing a large-scale manipulative microbiome experiment across seven genotypes of the model legume Medicago truncatula. We combine plant performance metrics, survival analyses, predictive modelling, RNA extractions and targeted gene expression to assess how host genotype and microbes non-additively interact to shape plant growth and disease ecology. Our results reveal three important findings: (1) host genotypes with high tolerance to pathogens benefit more from multiple mutualist interactions than susceptible genotypes, (2) only high-tolerance genotypes retain the same beneficial host performance outcomes from the benign environment within the pathogenic environment and (3) the quality of the symbiotic relationship with mutualists is a strong predictor of host survival against pathogenic disease. By applying these findings towards developing crops that promote synergistic microbial interactions, yields and pathogen defence could be simultaneously increased while reducing the need for toxic fertilisers and pesticides.},
}
@article {pmid40407187,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, S and Wang, Z and Liu, A and Li, J and Zhuang, J and Ji, X and Mulama, PI and Li, M and Cao, H and Tan, EK and Liu, W},
title = {Hosts and Commensal Bacteria Synergistically Antagonize Opportunistic Pathogens at the Single-Cell Resolution.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e00582},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202500582},
pmid = {40407187},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {32470044//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2308085MC74//Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province/ ; RC342201//Talents in Anhui Agricultural University/ ; },
abstract = {Natural microbes coexist in a diverse species population with competition for space and nutrient resources. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the regulatory networks of microbes among themselves and with their host are still in infancy. Here, it is reported that Drosophila and the commensal Lactiplantibacillus plantarum form an alliance to compete with the pathogenic Serratia marcescens using the integrated three-species model system. In the dual-species model, larvae diminish the L. plantarum population, but reversibly increase lactate production through altering its transcriptional reprogramming. In the tripartite-species model, larvae facilitate the growth of L. plantarum that confers colonization resistance against S. marcescens. On the other hand, S. marcescens launches sophisticated arms race strategies to impair colonization resistance by sensing lactate derived from L. plantarum. More importantly, the S. marcescens population challenged with Drosophila and L. plantarum adaptively diverge into virulent and reduced virulence subclusters with an increase in resistance heterogeneity. To form the alliance with Drosophila, heterogeneity in lactate generation is broadened among L. plantarum subpopulations. Altogether, these findings provide an insight into the host-commensal-pathogen symbiosis at both bulk and single-cell resolutions, advancing fundamental concepts of precise manipulation of bacterial communities.},
}
@article {pmid40406724,
year = {2025},
author = {Tong, A and Liu, W and Liu, X and Zhu, J and Zhou, Y and Li, J},
title = {Comparative analysis of actinorhizal nodule and associated soil microorganism diversity and structure in three Alnus species.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1572494},
pmid = {40406724},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Due to the importance of biological nitrogen fixation in terrestrial ecosystems, actinorhizal symbiosis has attracted more and more attention. Alders (Alnus) are important actinorhizal plants, but little is known about the diversity of symbiotic microbiota in the actinorhizal nodules. In addition, it remains unclear about the influence of the host species and habitats on the microbial community of alder root nodules and rhizospheric soils.<br><br>METHODS: In this study we sequenced the hyper-variable regions of the 16S rRNA from the root nodules and their rhizosphere soils of three alder species (Alnus mandshurica, A. sibirica, A. japonica) in northeastern China to explore the diversity, composition, network association, and nitrogen cycling pathway of the microbial communities in the actinorhizal nodules and associated soils.<br><br>RESULTS: The results showed that the microbial community &#x3b1;-diversity decreased significantly from the associated soil to the root nodule, and the microbial diversity in the root nodule of A. sibirica was not affected by the habitats. The dominant microbe genus in alder nodules was Frankia, whose abundance was significantly higher than that in associated soil samples. Furthermore, the abundance of Frankia was affected by alder tree species, but not by the habitats. The most significant taxon in the nodules of all the three alders was Frankia genus, which was negatively correlated with other six genera of microbes. The main function of microorganisms in alder nodules is nitrogen fixation, which is not affected by tree species and their habitats.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the host determines the microbial community composition in the root nodule of three alders. This study provides valuable insights into the effects of alder species and habitats on the microbial communities of alder nodules and associated soils.},
}
@article {pmid40406720,
year = {2025},
author = {Striganavičiūtė, G and Vaitiekūnaitė, D and Šilanskienė, M and Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė, V},
title = {Harnessing microbial allies: enhancing black alder resilience to PAH stress through microbial symbiosis.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1552258},
pmid = {40406720},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent environmental pollutants that pose significant risks to plant health and ecosystem function. Phytoremediation, using plants in combination with microorganisms, offers a promising strategy for mitigating PAH toxicity. This study investigates the role of PAH-degrading microorganisms in mitigating the phytotoxic effects of PAHs on black alder (Alnus glutinosa L.) seedlings. Specifically, we examined the effects of three microbial strains-Pseudomonas putida Trevisan, Sphingobium yanoikuyae Yabuuchi et al., and Rhodotorula sphaerocarpa (S.Y. Newell &amp; Fell) Q.M. Wang, F.Y. Bai, M. Groenewald &amp; Boekhout-on plant growth and biochemical responses under exposure to naphthalene, pyrene, phenanthrene, and fluorene. The results revealed genotype-dependent variations in plant responses. In family 13-99-1K, S. yanoikuyae significantly enhanced defense mechanisms under phenanthrene exposure, evidenced by reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. In contrast, family 41-65-7K exhibited stable shoot height and increased chlorophyll a/b ratio, but a decrease in soluble sugars under P. putida treatment with pyrene. This suggests a shift in metabolic priorities towards growth rather than stress mitigation. These findings highlight the complex interactions between plant genotype, microbial strain, and PAH type, underscoring the potential of microbial-assisted phytoremediation. Our study suggests that tailored microbial inoculants, in combination with appropriate plant genotypes, could optimize phytoremediation efforts in PAH-contaminated environments. Future research should focus on soil-based systems and longer-term evaluations to better understand the dynamics of plant-microbe-PAH interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40406719,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, C and Teng, Z and Jin, Z and Ouyang, Q and Lv, L and Hou, X and Hussain, M and Zhu, Z},
title = {Structure and composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community associated with mango.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1578936},
pmid = {40406719},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an important fruit crop with significant economic value in tropical and subtropical areas globally. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) symbiosis is vital for mango trees growth, and the detailed understanding of various (a)biotic factors that influence AMF community composition is crucial for sustainable crop production. To date, there is little information available on how do different seasons and plant age influence the AMF community composition associated with mango. Using high-throughput amplicon sequencing, we examined AMF community diversity and composition in the rhizosphere of mango from two distinct orchards during spring (C_BY and C_YL) and autumn (Q_BY and Q_YL), which differed in age (10 and 28 years). The results revealed a notable variation in the number of observed species between two 28-years-old mango orchards (C_BY28 vs C_YL28 and Q_BY28 vs Q_YL28) during both the spring and autumn seasons. However, the comparison of 10-years-old and 28-years-old mangoes showed no significant shift in the diversity and richness of AMF. At the taxonomic level, Glomus was the absolute dominant genus in AMF community. The correlation analysis between species abundance and soil nutrients showed that the level of phosphorus, potassium and their available forms (AP, AK) significantly affect AMF community. Furthermore, the P, AP, and AK contents were found positively correlated with the dominant AMF molecular virtual species Sclerocystis sinuosa. These findings indicate the response characteristics of mango rhizosphere AMF community to soil nutrients, providing scientific basis for precise regulation of soil environment to improve mango tree growth and production.},
}
@article {pmid40406136,
year = {2025},
author = {Duhamel, M and Salzet, M},
title = {Self or nonself: end of a dogma?.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1595764},
pmid = {40406136},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Immune Tolerance ; Immunity, Innate ; *Autoimmunity ; *Immune System/immunology ; *Self Tolerance ; },
abstract = {Immunologists generally view the notion of self and non-self as part of a broader, more contextual understanding of immune function, rather than a rigid dogma. While the classical paradigm that the primary role of the immune system is to recognize and eliminate anything foreign once provided a unifying basis for explaining tolerance and rejection, numerous discoveries have focused attention on how immune responses are finely tuned by a range of contextual cues, including tissue signals, hygienist theory, molecular mimicry, symbiotic microbes, metabolic factors and epigenetic modifications. Maternal-fetal tolerance and the persistence of microchimeric cells in adults demonstrate that genetically foreign cells can be actively integrated into the host, challenging the simple assumption that 'foreign' equals unconditional attack. Similarly, research into the microbiome, the virome and the phenomenon of trained innate immunity has shown that there can be beneficial or even essential relationships between the body and what has traditionally been labelled 'non-self'. Over the last decade, the idea that the immune system strictly enforces a binary distinction has instead evolved towards a model in which it continuously interprets signals of damage or perturbation, manages complex ecological relationships with commensal or latent organisms, and recalibrates according to the organism's life stage and environment. There remains a recognition that clonal deletion and negative selection in the thymus, together with MHC-bound peptide recognition, still underlie many core processes, and in certain clinical contexts, such as acute transplant rejection or the prevention of autoimmunity, an approximate self-non-self-categorization is directly relevant. Overall, however, the field recognizes that 'self' is not a static attribute defined once and for all, but rather a dynamic and context-dependent state that continues to be shaped by microbial symbioses, epigenetic reprogramming and immunoregulatory networks throughout an individual's lifespan.},
}
@article {pmid40405324,
year = {2025},
author = {Raquin, V and Martin, E and Minard, G and Valiente Moro, C},
title = {Variation in diet concentration and bacterial inoculum size in larval habitats shapes the performance of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {130},
pmid = {40405324},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {Micro-Be-Have//IDEX Lyon scientific breakthrough project/ ; Micro-Be-Have//IDEX Lyon scientific breakthrough project/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Ecosystem ; *Diet ; Female ; *Microbiota ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ecological niches present unique environmental and biological trademarks such as abiotic conditions, nutrient availability, and trophic interactions that may impact the ecology of living organisms. Female mosquitoes deposit their eggs in aquatic niches with fluctuating diet sources and microbial communities. However, how niche's diet and microbial composition impact mosquito performance (i.e., traits that maximize mosquito fitness) are not well understood. In this study, we focused on the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, one of the most invasive species in the world and a competent vector for human pathogens. To remove any external microbes, Ae. albopictus eggs were surface-sterilized then hatching larvae were exposed to a gradient of bacterial inoculum (i.e., initial microbial load) and diet concentrations while their impact on mosquito performance traits during juvenile development was measured.<br><br>RESULTS: Our results showed that Ae. albopictus larvae develop faster and give larger adults when exposed to microbiota in rearing water. However, mosquito performance, up to the adult stage, depends on both bacterial inoculum size and diet concentration in the aquatic habitat. Upon low inoculum size, larvae survived better if the diet was in sufficient amounts whereas a higher inoculum size was associated with optimal larvae survival only in the presence of the lower amount of diet. Inoculum size, and to a lesser extent diet concentration, shaped bacterial community structure and composition of larval-rearing water allowing the identification of bacterial taxa for which their abundance in larvae-rearing water correlated with niche parameters and/or larval traits.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our work demonstrates that both diet concentration and bacterial inoculum size impact mosquito performance possibly by shaping bacterial community structure in the larval habitat, which accounts for a large part of the juvenile's microbiota. Host-microbe interactions influence several mosquito life-history traits, and our work reveals that niche parameters such as inoculum size and diet concentration could have numerous implications on the microbiota assembly and host evolutionary trajectory. This underlies that host-microbe-environment interactions are an important yet overlooked factor of mosquito adaptation to its local environment, with potential future implications for vector control and vector ecology. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid40405104,
year = {2025},
author = {Lotfy, WA and Ali, AM and Abdou, HM and Ghanem, KM},
title = {Optimization of fermentation conditions for enhanced acetylcholine and biomass production of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AM2 using the Taguchi approach.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {317},
pmid = {40405104},
issn = {1471-2180},
mesh = {*Fermentation ; *Biomass ; Culture Media/chemistry/metabolism ; *Acetylcholine/biosynthesis/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Lactobacillus plantarum/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; Glucose/metabolism ; },
abstract = {This study aimed to optimize the fermentation conditions and medium composition for maximum acetylcholine (ACh) and biomass production by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AM2 using the Taguchi array design, which enables efficient identification of influential variables through minimal experimental runs. Seven key factors were evaluated: beef extract, peptone, yeast extract, glucose, pH, agitation rate, and inoculation size. The optimization process identified the most significant variables influencing ACh and biomass production, with beef extract and peptone being critical for ACh synthesis, while inoculation size was a critical determinant of biomass yield. The optimal conditions for ACh production were determined as beef extract (11 g/l), peptone (40 g/l), yeast extract (5 g/l), glucose (20 g/l), pH 5.7, no agitation, and 1% (v/v) inoculation size, resulting in a predicted ACh concentration of 490.83 pg/ml and an experimental value of 495.8 pg/ml. For biomass production, the optimal conditions were beef extract (8 g/l), peptone (10 g/l), yeast extract (20 g/l), glucose (35 g/l), pH 6.6, agitation at 150 rpm, and 4% (v/v) inoculation size, yielding a predicted biomass of 20.58 g/l and an experimental value of 21.3 g/l. The optimized conditions significantly improved ACh production (6.32-fold) and biomass production (4.56-fold) compared to basal conditions. These findings highlight the efficiency of the Taguchi approach in enhancing the production of ACh and biomass, providing insights into the functional niche of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AM2 for potential industrial applications and its use in a symbiotic form.},
}
@article {pmid40403989,
year = {2025},
author = {Deng, L and Guan, G and Cannon, RD and Mei, L},
title = {Age-related oral microbiota dysbiosis and systemic diseases.},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {205},
number = {},
pages = {107717},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107717},
pmid = {40403989},
issn = {1096-1208},
mesh = {Humans ; *Dysbiosis/microbiology/complications ; *Microbiota ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/microbiology ; Alzheimer Disease/microbiology ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/microbiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases/microbiology ; Oral Health ; *Aging ; Atherosclerosis/microbiology ; Periodontal Diseases/microbiology ; Age Factors ; Pneumonia, Aspiration/microbiology ; },
abstract = {The oral microbiota is an essential microbial community within the human body, playing a vital role in maintaining health. In older adults, age-related changes in the oral microbiota are linked to both systemic and oral health impairments. The use of various medications for systemic diseases in the elderly can also contribute to the development of oral diseases. Oral microbiota dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the composition of oral microbial communities. This imbalance, along with disruptions in the host immune response and prolonged inflammation, is closely associated with the onset and progression of several diseases. It contributes to oral conditions such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and halitosis. It is also linked to systemic diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and aspiration pneumonia. This review aims to explore how oral microbiota influences specific health outcomes in older individuals, focusing on Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and aspiration pneumonia. The oral microbiota holds promise as a diagnostic tool, therapeutic target, and prognostic biomarker for managing cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. Emphasizing proper oral health care and instilling an understanding of how drugs prescribed for systemic disease impact the oral microbiome, is anticipated to emerge as a key strategy for promoting the general health of older adults.},
}
@article {pmid40402470,
year = {2025},
author = {Moukarzel, R and Waller, LP and Jones, EE and Ridgway, HJ},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis in New Zealand ecosystems: challenges and opportunities.},
journal = {Letters in applied microbiology},
volume = {78},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/lambio/ovaf070},
pmid = {40402470},
issn = {1472-765X},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics/classification ; New Zealand ; *Symbiosis ; *Ecosystem ; *Plants/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate biotrophs that form a symbiotic and mutualistic relationship with most terrestrial plants, playing an important role in plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and ecosystem stability. This review synthesizes current knowledge on AMF colonization in plants within New Zealand ecosystems, including the challenges and opportunities of molecular identification techniques used in characterizing AMF communities in natural and managed systems. The ecosystem services provided by AMF, such as improved growth parameters, enhanced nutrition, and disease control, are discussed in detail, highlighting their significance in sustainable agriculture and natural ecosystems. Additionally, the role of AMF in invasion ecology was examined, revealing their dual potential to either facilitate or hinder invasive plant species. Despite significant advances in understanding AMF biology, future research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of AMF-plant interactions and to address the challenges caused by changing environmental conditions. This review focused on the importance of AMF in promoting ecosystem resilience and suggests avenues for future research to harness their full potential in agricultural and ecological contexts.},
}
@article {pmid40401909,
year = {2025},
author = {Morel-Letelier, I and Yuen, B and Orellana, LH and Kück, AC and Camacho-García, YE and Lara, M and Leray, M and Wilkins, LGE},
title = {Seasonal transcriptomic shifts reveal metabolic flexibility of chemosynthetic symbionts in an upwelling region.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {10},
number = {6},
pages = {e0168624},
pmid = {40401909},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {//Max-Planck-Gesellschaft/ ; SEP-210693430//H2020 Marie Sk&#x142;odowska-Curie Actions/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Transcriptome ; Seasons ; *Bivalvia/microbiology ; Costa Rica ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Upwelling in the Tropical Eastern Pacific profoundly affects marine coastal ecosystems by driving drastic seasonal changes in water temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrient availability. These conditions serve as a natural experiment that provides a unique opportunity to study how marine animals and their associated microorganisms respond in the face of environmental change. Lucinid bivalves host chemosynthetic Candidatus Thiodiazotropha symbionts equipped with diverse metabolic pathways for sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen use. However, how these symbionts employ their metabolic toolkit in a changing environment remains poorly understood. To address this question, we conducted metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses of Ctena cf. galapagana symbionts before and during a Papagayo upwelling event in Santa Elena Bay, Costa Rica. The C. cf. galapagana were co-colonized mainly by two Ca. Thiodiazotropha symbiont clades regardless of the sampling season. We observed a concerted shift in the transcriptomic profiles of both symbiont clades before and during upwelling, suggesting changes in energy source use. Dissimilatory methanol oxidation genes were upregulated before upwelling, while sulfide oxidation genes were upregulated during upwelling. These physiological changes were potentially driven by upwelling-induced changes in sediment biogeochemistry and resource availability. Our findings highlight the adaptability of the lucinid symbiosis and the crucial role of symbiont metabolic flexibility in their resilience to environmental challenges.IMPORTANCEThe oceans are undergoing rapid change, and marine animals together with their associated microorganisms must adjust to these changes. While microbes are known to play a critical role in animal health, we are only beginning to understand how symbiotic relationships help animals cope with environmental variability. Annual upwelling events cause drastic and abrupt increases in nutrient availability and productivity, while temperature and oxygen decrease. In this study, we investigated how bacterial symbionts of the lucinid bivalve Ctena cf. galapagana respond to upwelling in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. The symbionts, from the genus Candidatus Thiodiazotropha, are chemosynthetic (i.e., they use inorganic chemicals for energy and fix carbon) and provide nutrition to their host. Our results show that these symbionts adjust their use of different energy sources in response to environmental changes that affect resource availability. This metabolic flexibility underscores the resilience of animal-microbe relationships in coping with environmental change.},
}
@article {pmid40401050,
year = {2025},
author = {Mager, M and Becker, L and Schulten, N and Fraune, S and Axmann, IM},
title = {Oligonucleotide library assisted sequence mining reveals promoter sequences with distinct temporal expression dynamics for applications in Curvibacter sp. AEP1-3.},
journal = {Synthetic biology (Oxford, England)},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {ysaf001},
pmid = {40401050},
issn = {2397-7000},
abstract = {The β-proteobacterial species Curvibacter sp. AEP1-3 is a model organism for the study of symbiotic interactions as it is the most abundant colonizer of Hydra vulgaris. Yet, genetic tools for Curvibacter are still in their infancy; few promoters have been characterized so far. Here, we employ an oligonucleotide-based strategy to develop novel expression systems Curvibacter. Potential promoters were systematically mined from the genome in silico. The sequences were cloned as a mixed library into a mCherry reporter vector and positive candidates were selected by Flow Cytometry to be further analysed through plate reader measurements. From 500 candidate sequences, 25 were identified as active promoters of varying expression strength levels. Plate reader measurements revealed unique activity profiles for these sequences across growth phases. The expression levels of these promoters ranged over two orders of magnitudes and showed distinct temporal expression dynamics over the growth phases: while three sequences showed higher expression levels in the exponential phase, we found 12 sequences saturating expression during stationary phase and 10 that showed little discrimination between growth phases. From our library, promoters of the genes dnaK, rpsL and an acyl-homoserine-lactone (AHL) synthase stood out as the most interesting candidates fit for a variety of applications. We identified enriched transcription factor binding motifs among the sorted 33 sequences and genes encoding for homologs of these transcription factors in close proximity to the identified motifs. In this work, we show the value of employing comprehensive high-throughput strategies to establish expression systems for novel model organisms.},
}
@article {pmid40400690,
year = {2025},
author = {Cha, M and Wu, Y and Man, D and Yi, X},
title = {Associations between gut microbiota and diet composition of three arid-adapted rodent species from the Inner Mongolia grassland.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1569592},
pmid = {40400690},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Food habits are closely associated with the gut microbiota of herbivorous animals; however, limited knowledge exists regarding the arid-adapted rodents. This study investigates the relationship between gut microbiota and dietary composition to offer a scientific basis for comprehending the ecological adaptation strategies of grassland rodents. Cecal contents of Spermophilus alashanicus, S. dauricus, and Meriones unguiculatus were collected and analyzed by using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and DNA metabarcoding techniques to determine the structure of gut microbial communities and dietary composition. The results showed that S. alashanicus presented significantly higher gut microbial richness and diversity than S. dauricus and M. unguiculatus. The dominant gut bacterial genera in S. alashanicus and S. dauricus were similar, suggesting that their common genetic backgrounds might influence the colonization and symbiosis of gut microbiota. The three species consumed both plant-based and animal-based foods but differed in their dietary preferences. S. dauricus displayed a significantly higher diversity of animal-based food consumption compared with the other two species. Correlation analysis between diet and gut microbiota indicated that plant-based foods significantly enhanced the diversity and composition of gut microbiota. In contrast, the consumption of animal-based foods significantly decreased microbial diversity. This finding suggests a potential link between the host's genetic background, dietary composition, and the gut microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40399923,
year = {2025},
author = {Montanari, E and Bernardo, G and Le Noci, V and Anselmi, M and Pupa, SM and Tagliabue, E and Sommariva, M and Sfondrini, L},
title = {Biofilm formation by the host microbiota: a protective shield against immunity and its implication in cancer.},
journal = {Molecular cancer},
volume = {24},
number = {1},
pages = {148},
pmid = {40399923},
issn = {1476-4598},
support = {P2022R5TCA//PRIN, PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE/ ; 24718//AIRC IG/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; *Neoplasms/immunology/microbiology/etiology/pathology/metabolism ; *Microbiota/immunology ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Human-resident microbes typically cluster into biofilms - structurally organized communities embedded within a matrix of self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that serves as a protective shield. These biofilms enhance microbial survival and functional adaptability, favoring a symbiotic relationship with the host under physiological conditions. However, biofilms exhibit a dual role in modulating the immune response. If their ability to promote tolerance is key to safeguarding homeostasis, by contrast, their persistence can overcome the cutting-edge balance resulting in immune evasion, chronic inflammation and development of numerous diseases such as cancer. Recent evidence highlights the significance of cancer-associated microbiota in shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME). These microbial inhabitants often exhibit biofilm-like structures, which may protect them from host immune responses and therapeutic interventions. The presence of biofilm-forming microbiota within the TME may promote chronic inflammation, and release of bioactive molecules that interfere with immune surveillance mechanisms, thereby enabling cancer cells to evade immune destruction. This review delves into the complex interplay between biofilms and cancer, with particular focus on the tumor-associated microbiota and the implications of biofilm involvement in modulating the immune landscape of the TME. Addressing this intricate relationship holds promises for innovative therapeutic approaches aimed at reprogramming the microbiota-cancer axis for better clinical outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40399789,
year = {2025},
author = {Mugo, CW and Church, E and Horniblow, RD and Mollan, SP and Botfield, H and Hill, LJ and Sinclair, AJ and Grech, O},
title = {Unravelling the gut-brain connection: a systematic review of migraine and the gut microbiome.},
journal = {The journal of headache and pain},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {125},
pmid = {40399789},
issn = {1129-2377},
mesh = {Humans ; *Migraine Disorders/microbiology/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; *Brain-Gut Axis/physiology ; Synbiotics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: There is substantial evidence linking migraines to gastrointestinal (GI) issues. Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and colitis often co-occur with migraines and GI symptoms are common among migraine patients. However, the evidence supporting the efficacy of gut microbiome-targeted therapies for managing migraines is limited. This systematic review aimed to describe the existing evidence of the gut microbiome in patients with migraine compared to healthy individuals. Additionally, it sought to examine how therapies targeting the gut microbiome including prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, might influence clinical outcomes.<br><br>METHODS: We performed searches on Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies in migraines and the gut microbiome, focusing on those which investigated the gut microbiome composition and gut microbiome-targeted therapies. Key data was extracted and analysed including study details, patient demographics, migraine type, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes. For gut microbiome composition studies, bacterial diversity and abundance was noted. For gut microbiome-targeted therapies studies, treatment types, dosages, and patient outcomes was recorded.<br><br>RESULTS: A significant difference between various genera of microbes was reported between migraine patients and controls in several studies. Bacteroidetes (also named Bacteroidota), proteobacteria, and firmicutes (also named Bacillota) phyla groups were found significantly abundant in migraine, while studies were conflicted in the abundance of Actinobacteria and Clostridia with regards to increased migraine risk in migraine patients. Patients with migraine had a gut microbiome with reduced species number and relative abundance, as well as a distinct bacterial composition compared to controls. Synbiotic and synbiotic/probiotic combination treatments have been shown in five randomised controlled trials and one open label pilot study to significantly decrease migraine severity, frequency, duration and painkiller consumption.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The significant alterations in microbial phyla observed in migraine patients suggest a potential microbial signature that may be associated with migraine risk or chronic progression. However, the mechanistic underpinnings of these associations remain unclear. This systemic review found that probiotic and synbiotic/probiotic combination therapies may be promising interventions for migraine management, offering significant reductions in migraine frequency and painkiller use. Future randomised controlled studies are needed to evaluate the optimal length of treatment and impact on patient related quality of life.},
}
@article {pmid40398697,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, M and Xu, Z and Qiu, J and Dong, B},
title = {Enhanced biogenic manganese oxide production and the removal of Cd(II) and ciprofloxacin via fungus-bacterium co-cultivation.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {280},
number = {},
pages = {121899},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.121899},
pmid = {40398697},
issn = {1096-0953},
mesh = {*Bacillus/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; *Manganese Compounds/metabolism ; *Ciprofloxacin/metabolism ; *Oxides/metabolism ; *Cadmium/metabolism ; *Cladosporium/metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; },
abstract = {Microbial co-cultivation is a promising strategy for enhancing metabolite production and functional capabilities. While most research on biogenic manganese (Mn) oxidation (BMO) has focused on individual bacterial or fungal strains, the potential benefits of fungal-bacterial co-cultivation remain largely unexplored. In this study, the synergistic effects of co-culturing the Mn-oxidizing fungus Cladosporium sp. XM01 with the Mn-oxidizing bacterium Bacillus sp. XM02 on Mn(II) oxidation were systematically investigated. The results showed that co-cultivation significantly increased total cell biomass and enhanced Mn(II) removal. Optimal conditions were achieved by introducing strain XM02 with a 36 h delay and maintaining a co-culturing ratio of 2:1 (XM01:XM02). The enhanced Mn(II) oxidation observed in the co-culture system was attributed to increased activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, which help maintain redox homeostasis and sustain the production of superoxide-an essential oxidant in Mn(II) bio-oxidation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that Bacillus sp. XM02 cells were attached to the hyphae of Cladosporium sp. XM01, forming structured fungal-bacterial aggregates. These aggregates suggest strong physical interactions that likely facilitated nutrient exchange and metabolic cooperation. Additionally, removal kinetics experiments showed that BMO produced in the co-culture exhibited superior Cd(II) adsorption capacity and ciprofloxacin oxidation performance compared to BMO derived from pure cultures. This enhancement was linked to the higher specific surface area and increased average oxidation state (Mn-AOS) of the co-culture BMO, which enhanced its adsorption and oxidative reactivity. These findings provide new insights into the symbiotic interactions among Mn-oxidizing microorganisms and highlight the potential of fungal-bacterial co-cultures as an effective strategy to enhance BMO functionality for environmental remediation.},
}
@article {pmid40398680,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, YD and Komnick, MR and Sepulveda, F and Liu, G and Nieves-Ortiz, E and Meador, K and Ndatabaye, O and Fatkhullina, A and Bozicevich, A and Juengel, B and Wu-Woods, NJ and Naydenkov, PM and Kent, J and Christiansen, N and Madariaga, ML and Witkowski, P and Ismagilov, RF and Esterházy, D},
title = {Inducible, but not constitutive, pancreatic REG/Reg isoforms are regulated by intestinal microbiota and pancreatic diseases.},
journal = {Mucosal immunology},
volume = {18},
number = {4},
pages = {918-936},
doi = {10.1016/j.mucimm.2025.05.003},
pmid = {40398680},
issn = {1935-3456},
support = {R01 DK133393/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Protein Isoforms/genetics/metabolism ; *Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Pancreas/immunology/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Immunity, Innate ; *Pancreatitis/immunology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; *Pancreatic Diseases/immunology ; *Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/immunology ; },
abstract = {The REG/Reg gene locus encodes a conserved family of potent antimicrobial but also pancreatitis-associated proteins. Here we investigated whether REG/Reg family members differ in their baseline expression levels and abilities to be regulated in the pancreas and gut upon perturbations. We found, in humans and mice, the pancreas and gut differed in REG/Reg isoform levels and preferences, with the duodenum most resembling the pancreas. Pancreatic acinar cells and intestinal enterocytes were the dominant REG producers. Intestinal symbiotic microbes regulated the expression of the same, select Reg members in gut and pancreas. These Reg members had the most STAT3-binding sites close to the transcription start sites and were partially IL-22 dependent. We thus categorized them as "inducible" and others as "constitutive". Indeed, in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and pancreatitis models, only inducible Reg members were upregulated in the pancreas. While intestinal Reg expression remained unchanged upon pancreatic perturbation, pancreatitis altered the microbial composition of the duodenum and feces shortly after disease onset. Our study reveals differential usage and regulation of REG/Reg isoforms as a mechanism for tissue-specific innate immunity, highlights the intimate connection of pancreas and duodenum, and implies a gut-to-pancreas communication axis resulting in a coordinated Reg response.},
}
@article {pmid40398016,
year = {2025},
author = {Ogo, S and Akama, K and Nakamura, N and Manaka, T and Yamanaka, T},
title = {Symbiosis with Astraeus hygrometricus upregulates cesium and potassium uptake by Pinus densiflora seedlings.},
journal = {Journal of environmental radioactivity},
volume = {287},
number = {},
pages = {107722},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107722},
pmid = {40398016},
issn = {1879-1700},
mesh = {*Pinus/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Seedlings/metabolism/microbiology ; *Potassium/metabolism ; *Cesium Radioisotopes/metabolism ; *Soil Pollutants, Radioactive/metabolism ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Japan ; *Cesium/metabolism ; Fukushima Nuclear Accident ; },
abstract = {After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011 in Japan, high activity levels of radiocesium have been reported in wild mushrooms of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. As EM fungal species form symbiotic associations with woody plants, we examined the effect of symbiosis by Astraeus hygrometricus, an EM fungus, on the uptake of cesium (Cs) and potassium (K) by Pinus densiflora seedlings under different levels of K and Cs in the soil in a pot culture. The pine seedlings exhibited enhanced growth due to the symbiosis with A. hygrometricus. The symbiosis with A. hygrometricus significantly increased the Cs and K concentrations of pine seedlings. Cultivating EM seedlings lowered exchangeable K in the soil, although exchangeable Cs did not significantly change. Furthermore, K addition suppresses the Cs absorption of P. densiflora seedlings irrespective of their association with EM fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40397361,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, YY and Ho, HC and Chou, JY},
title = {Effects of lichen symbiotic bacteria-derived indole-3-acetic acid on the stress responses of an algal-fungal symbiont.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]},
volume = {56},
number = {3},
pages = {1567-1584},
pmid = {40397361},
issn = {1678-4405},
support = {MOST 111-2621-B-018-001//National Science Council/ ; },
abstract = {Lichens, comprising filamentous fungi and algae/cyanobacteria engaged in mutualistic symbiosis, exhibit remarkable adaptability to environmental challenges. While fungi safeguard algae from dry conditions, their ability to mitigate other stresses remains uncertain. Additionally, the functions of coexisting bacteria within lichen communities remain relatively unexplored. This study investigates the potential of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) as a stress-response signaling molecule in lichen symbiosis. We subjected IAA-treated monocultures of algae and co-cultures of the fungal-algal complex to various stress conditions. IAA's role in bolstering resilience was evident, as demonstrated by the release of IAA (0-500 µM) by bacteria isolated from the lichen Parmelia tinctorum. This IAA was subsequently utilized by the lichen photobionts to alleviate oxidative stress. IAA acted as a communication signal, priming algal cells to defend against impending stressors. Further microscopic examinations unveiled that only the fibrous extensions were exposed in fungal cells that were in direct physical contact with viable algal cells. Co-cultivation and subsequent microscopic observations revealed that the algal cells were protected from diverse stressors by a barrier of fungal hyphae. Our findings underscore the significance of IAA in enhancing stress resistance within the context of lichen symbiosis, thereby advancing our understanding of the adaptability of these unique organisms. Further exploration of bacterial functions in lichen symbiosis holds promise for uncovering novel insights into their ecology and biology.},
}
@article {pmid40397014,
year = {2025},
author = {Chávez-Jacobo, VM and Reyes-González, AR and Girard, L and Dunn, MF},
title = {The Fsr transporter of Sinorhizobium meliloti contributes to antimicrobial resistance and symbiosis with alfalfa.},
journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)},
volume = {171},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40397014},
issn = {1465-2080},
mesh = {*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/drug effects/physiology/metabolism ; *Medicago sativa/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/metabolism ; Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Fosfomycin/pharmacology/analogs &amp; derivatives/metabolism ; *Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters in bacteria participate in both the uptake and export of ions, metabolites or toxic compounds. In rhizobia, specific MFS transporters increase resistance to plant-produced compounds and may also affect other phenotypic traits, including symbiosis with legume host plants. Here, we describe the importance of the Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 Fsr efflux pump in resistance to selected antimicrobial compounds and in modulating biofilm formation, motility and symbiotic efficiency with alfalfa. The fsr gene (smc00990) is annotated as encoding an MFS family fosmidomycin efflux pump. Unexpectedly, both the 1021 wild type and an fsr null mutant were highly resistant to fosmidomycin. Our assays indicate that this is due to an inability to transport the antibiotic. Unlike the wild type, the fsr mutant was highly sensitive to the fosmidomycin structural analogue fosfomycin, and moderately more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and deoxycholate (DOC). Root and seed exudates from alfalfa did not inhibit the growth of the wild type or fsr mutant. fsr transcription significantly increased proportionally to the concentration of fosfomycin added to cultures but was unaffected by the addition of other antibiotics, H2O2, DOC or SDS. Alfalfa seed exudate moderately increased fsr transcriptional expression. Fluorometric assays using ethidium bromide as a substrate and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone as an energy decoupler showed that Fsr was a proton-dependent efflux pump. Biofilm formation and swimming motility were decreased and increased, respectively, in the fsr mutant, and its symbiotic efficiency with alfalfa was decreased in terms of nodule numbers per plant and plant dry weights.},
}
@article {pmid40396735,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, J and Chen, B-Y and Zhi, M-F and Lin, W-Z and Li, Y-L and Ye, H-L and Xu, S and Zhu, H and Zhou, L-J and Du, L-J and Meng, X-Q and Liu, Y and Feng, Q and Duan, S-Z},
title = {Linking oral microbiota to periodontitis and hypertension unveils that Filifactor alocis aggravates hypertension via infiltration of interferon-γ[+] T cells.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {10},
number = {6},
pages = {e0008425},
pmid = {40396735},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {82330015,81991503,81991500//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023YFA1801100,2023YFA1801104//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; BX20230226//China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents/ ; SHSMU-ZDCX20212500//Innovative Research Team of High-level Local University in Shanghai (Innovative Research Team of High-level Local Universities in Shanghai)/ ; },
mesh = {*Hypertension/microbiology/immunology/complications ; *Periodontitis/microbiology/complications/immunology ; Humans ; Animals ; *Interferon-gamma/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Male ; Mice ; Female ; Middle Aged ; *Clostridiales ; *T-Lymphocytes/immunology/metabolism ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Saliva/microbiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Periodontal disease (PD), an inflammatory disease initiated by oral microbiota, may aggravate hypertension (HTN). Few studies were employed to characterize the oral microbiota in hypertensive patients with periodontitis. To investigate the interplay between oral microbiota and hypertension in individuals with periodontitis, we initiated a metagenomic sequencing study on subgingival plaque and saliva samples sourced from HTN patients and those with hypertension and periodontitis (PDHTN). Our primary objective was to characterize species serving as pivotal links (bridge species) in exacerbating hypertension induced by periodontal disease. Within subgingival plaque and saliva specimens, we pinpointed 31 and 28 bridge species, respectively. Furthermore, we noted a decrease in the abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria, such as Actinomyces spp., Rothia spp., and Veillonella spp., in PDHTN samples. Employing network analysis, we distinguished distinct polymicrobial clusters within the two patient groups. These bridge species coalesced into polymicrobial clusters, revealing intricate symbiotic and competitive relationships. To substantiate our findings, we leveraged an angiotensin II-infused animal model of ligature-induced periodontitis (LIP), confirming the contributory role of Filifactor alocis-a selectively analyzed subgingival bridge species-in exacerbating hypertension and upregulating the frequency of renal CD4[+]IFNγ[+] and CD8[+]IFNγ[+] T cells. Our study screened a list of species linking PD and HTN. PD may aggravate HTN by decreasing the abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria and increasing the abundance of pathogens. Using an animal model, we demonstrated that F. alocis aggravates HTN via the accumulation of IFNγ[+] T cells in the kidneys.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Both periodontal disease and hypertension are widely prevalent all over the world. PD may aggravate the development of HTN via oral microbiota. However, few studies were employed to characterize the oral microbiota in hypertensive patients with periodontitis. Here, the present study profiled the oral microbiota in hypertensive participants with periodontitis. We found that the depleted abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria and the enriched abundance of pathogens. Finally, we validated the role of Filifactor alocis in exacerbating HTN via infiltration of IFN&#x3b3;[+] T cells in mice kidneys. Our study improved the understanding of oral microbiota linking PD and HTN.},
}
@article {pmid40396656,
year = {2025},
author = {He, J and Van Dingenen, J and Goormachtig, S and Calonne-Salmon, M and Declerck, S},
title = {Legume-specific recruitment of rhizobia by hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40396656},
issn = {1751-7370},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Hyphae/physiology ; *Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology ; *Glycine max/microbiology ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; *Rhizobiaceae/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {The legume-rhizobia symbiosis possesses great potential for sustainable agriculture because of its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, reducing crop dependence on nitrogen fertilizers. Rhizobia recognize the host legume through flavonoids released by the roots. These signals are detected by bacteria typically over a few millimeters. Recent research has shown that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi extend this recognition beyond 15 cm by transporting flavonoids along their hyphae. In soil, common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) linking plants are formed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We hypothesized that such networks linking different legumes can transmit host-specific signals, guiding rhizobia to their appropriate hosts. Using in vitro and greenhouse microcosms, we linked Medicago truncatula and Glycine max via a CMN of Rhizophagus irregularis and inoculated GFP-labeled Sinorhizobium meliloti and mCherry-labeled Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens on the hyphae. S. meliloti preferentially migrated towards M. truncatula, whereas B. diazoefficiens preferentially migrated towards G. max (155 ± 8 and 13 ± 3 nodules, respectively). This was confirmed in the greenhouse with a higher concentration of S. meliloti (2.1-2.5 × 105 CFU·g-1) near M. truncatula and a higher concentration of B. diazoefficiens (1.5-1.6 × 105 CFU·g-1) near G. max (71-82 and 15-18 nodules, respectively). Metabolomics revealed host-specific flavonoids in hyphal exudates: M. truncatula-connected hyphae released DL-liquiritigenin, naringenin, sakuranetin, and 3,7-dimethylquercetin, whereas G. max-connected hyphae released daidzin, 6"-O-malonyldaidzin, irilone, and erylatissin A. These findings establish that common mycorrhizal networks constitute a "navigation system", using chemical signals to orient rhizobia towards their specific hosts, thereby improving nodulation with potential applications in agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40395007,
year = {2025},
author = {Castillo-Medina, RE and Islas-Flores, T and Morales-Ruiz, E and Villanueva, M},
title = {Inhibition of protein or glutamine biosynthesis affect the light-induced dephosphorylation of the SBiP1 chaperone in Symbiodiniaceae.},
journal = {Bioscience reports},
volume = {45},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40395007},
issn = {1573-4935},
support = {285802//Secretar&#xed;a de Ciencia Humanidades Tecnolog&#xed;a e Innovaci&#xf3;n (SECIHTI)/ ; },
abstract = {Phosphorylation/dephosphorylation is fundamental for transduction of external stimuli into physiological responses. In photosynthetic dinoflagellates Symbiodinium microadriaticum CassKB8, Thr-phosphorylated SBiP1 under dark conditions, undergoes significant dephosphorylation upon light stimuli. We evaluated the effect of protein synthesis inhibitors on light modulated Thr phosphorylation of SBiP1. Inhibition of cytoplasmic protein synthesis by cycloheximide but not of chloroplastic protein synthesis by chloramphenicol, prevented Thr dephosphorylation of the protein under the light. Additionally, inhibition of glutamine synthetase by glufosinate produced a delay in the light induced dephosphorylation of the chaperone. Heat shock reverted the effect in cycloheximide-treated cells suggesting that heat stress overrides the cycloheximide-induced inhibition of SBiP1 dephosphorylation to hypothetically restore chaperone activity. These results suggest that light and stress are critical switches of SBiP1 chaperone activity that function along with common pathways of protein synthesis and ammonia assimilation, and further confirm that the light induced SBiP1 Thr dephosphorylation is independent of photosynthesis.},
}
@article {pmid40393856,
year = {2025},
author = {Pencik, O and Kolackova, M and Molnarova, K and Huska, D},
title = {What would a hypothetical supercyanobacterium look like?.},
journal = {Trends in biotechnology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.006},
pmid = {40393856},
issn = {1879-3096},
abstract = {Over the past two decades, advances in molecular and microbiological methods have broadened the range of microorganisms used in biotechnology. Among them, phototrophic bacteria - especially cyanobacteria - are gaining attention for their potential in tackling climate change and producing biopharmaceuticals. While traditional strains such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis dominate the field, cyanobacteria offer unique features that present both challenges and opportunities, such as complex gene regulation linked to photosynthesis and carbon fixation, protein sorting, and secretion, as well as the ability to establish novel symbiotic partnerships. This review highlights key developments in engineering cyanobacteria and outlines a vision for a future 'supercyanobacterium' that combines the best traits of current strains, unlocking new possibilities in heterotrophy-dominated biotechnology.},
}
@article {pmid40392778,
year = {2025},
author = {Ballinger, MJ and Perlman, SJ},
title = {Correction: Generality of toxins in defensive symbiosis: Ribosome-inactivating proteins and defense against parasitic wasps in Drosophila.},
journal = {PLoS pathogens},
volume = {21},
number = {5},
pages = {e1013193},
pmid = {40392778},
issn = {1553-7374},
abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006431.].},
}
@article {pmid40391973,
year = {2025},
author = {Sanath-Kumar, R and Rahman, A and Ren, Z and Reynolds, IP and Augusta, L and Fuqua, C and Weisberg, AJ and Wang, X},
title = {Linear dicentric chromosomes in bacterial natural isolates reveal common constraints for replicon fusion.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {6},
pages = {e0104625},
pmid = {40391973},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {R01 GM143182/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM141242/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI172822/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; 2022049//National Science Foundation/ ; R01GM141242, R01GM143182/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI172822//National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/ ; },
mesh = {*Chromosomes, Bacterial/genetics ; *Replicon ; *Agrobacterium tumefaciens/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Genome, Bacterial ; DNA Replication ; Plasmids/genetics ; Replication Origin ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Multipartite bacterial genome organization can confer advantages, including coordinated gene regulation and faster genome replication, but is challenging to maintain. Agrobacterium tumefaciens lineages often contain a circular chromosome (Ch1), a linear chromosome (Ch2), and multiple plasmids. We previously observed that in some stocks of the C58 lab model, Ch1 and Ch2 were fused into a linear dicentric chromosome. Here we analyzed Agrobacterium natural isolates from the French Collection for Plant-Associated Bacteria and identified two strains distinct from C58 with fused chromosomes. Chromosome conformation capture identified integration junctions that were different from the C58 fusion strain. Genome-wide DNA replication profiling showed that both replication origins remained active. Transposon sequencing revealed that partitioning systems of both chromosome centromeres were essential. Importantly, the site-specific recombinase XerCD is required for the survival of the strains containing the fusion chromosome. Our findings show that replicon fusion occurs in natural environments and that balanced replication arm sizes and proper resolution systems enable the survival of such strains.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Most bacterial genomes are monopartite with a single, circular chromosome. However, some species, like Agrobacterium tumefaciens, carry multiple chromosomes. Emergence of multipartite genomes is often related to adaptation to specific niches, including pathogenesis or symbiosis. Multipartite genomes confer certain advantages; however, maintaining this complex structure can present significant challenges. We previously reported a laboratory-propagated lineage of A. tumefaciens strain C58 in which the circular and linear chromosomes fused to form a single dicentric chromosome. Here we discovered two geographically separated environmental isolates of A. tumefaciens containing fused chromosomes with integration junctions different from the C58 fusion chromosome, revealing the constraints and diversification of this process. We found that balanced replication arm sizes and the repurposing of multimer resolution systems enable the survival and stable maintenance of dicentric chromosomes. These findings reveal how multipartite genomes function across different bacterial species and the role of genomic plasticity in bacterial genetic diversification.},
}
@article {pmid40391904,
year = {2025},
author = {Gasser, MT and Flatau, R and Altamia, MA and Filone, CM and Distel, DL},
title = {Complete genome sequences of two shipworm endosymbiont strains, Teredinibacter turnerae SR01903 and SR02026.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {6},
pages = {e0026525},
pmid = {40391904},
issn = {2576-098X},
support = {DBI1722553//National Science Foundation/ ; R01 AI162943/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; NA//Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University/ ; 1R01AI162943-01A1/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; GBMF9339//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; NA19OAR0110303//NOAA Ocean Exploration/ ; },
abstract = {We present the complete genome sequences of two strains of Teredinibacter turnerae, SR01903 and SR02026, shipworm endosymbionts isolated from the gills of Lyrodus pedicellatus and Teredo bartschi, respectively, and derived from Oxford Nanopore sequencing. These sequences will aid in the comparative genomics of shipworm endosymbionts and symbiosis model development.},
}
@article {pmid40391446,
year = {2025},
author = {Otjacques, E and Jatico, B and Marques, TA and Xavier, JC and Ruby, E and McFall-Ngai, M and Rosa, R},
title = {Climate-Driven Warming Disrupts the Symbiosis of Bobtail Squid Euprymna scolopes and the Luminous Bacterium Vibrio fischeri.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {31},
number = {5},
pages = {e70243},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70243},
pmid = {40391446},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {LA/P/0069/2020//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e a Tecnologia/ ; UI/BD/151019/2021//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e a Tecnologia/ ; UIDB/00006/2020//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e a Tecnologia/ ; UIDB/04292/2020//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e a Tecnologia/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Aliivibrio fischeri/physiology ; *Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Climate Change ; Temperature ; },
abstract = {Under the current climate crisis, marine heatwaves (MHW) are expected to intensify and become more frequent in the future, leading to adverse effects on marine life. Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of environmental warming on the symbiotic relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri. We exposed eggs of E. scolopes to three different temperatures during embryogenesis, namely: (i) 25°C (yearly average), (ii) 27°C (summer maximum) or (iii) 30°C (category IV MHW), followed by a colonisation assay under the same conditions. Decreased hatching success and reduced developmental time were observed across warmer conditions compared to 25°C. Moreover, exposure to the category IV MHW led to a significant decrease in survival after 48 h. With increasing temperature, bobtail squids required more bacteria in the surrounding seawater for successful colonisation. When colonised, the regression of the light organ's appendages was not dependent on temperature, but the opposite was found in non-colonised bobtail squids. Furthermore, the capacity for crypt 3 formation in the squid's light organ, which is crucial for enhancing resilience under stress, also declined with warming conditions. This study emphasises the critical need to study the dynamics of microbial symbiosis under the projected conditions for the ocean of tomorrow.},
}
@article {pmid40390499,
year = {2025},
author = {Patel, P and Patel, F and Joshi, C and Joshi, M},
title = {Whole genome analysis of endophytic strain PM1 reveals promising plant Growth-Promoting mechanisms in pomegranate.},
journal = {Journal, genetic engineering &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {23},
number = {2},
pages = {100486},
pmid = {40390499},
issn = {2090-5920},
abstract = {The plant ecosystem harbours diverse symbiotic microorganisms with plant growth promoting and biocontrol activities. The gram- negative endophytic bacterium PM1 strain, isolated from the nodal region of pomegranate. The strain PM1 was studied through whole-genome sequencing, functional annotation, and plant growth-promoting trait (PGPT) gene analysis. Phylogenetic tree analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing confirmed its classification within the genus Brucella. The assembled genome size was 5,200,895 bp with a G + C content of 56.4 %. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis revealed a 97.62 % similarity between PM1 and B. anthropi ATCC 49188 T, a type strain derived from human clinical samples, indicating a close relationship with Brucella anthropi. The functional annotation revealed 2,945 PGPT-related genes, including 32 % linked to direct effects (phytohormone signal production, biofertilization, and bioremediation processes) and 67 % to indirect effects (plant colonization, biocontrol, and competitive exclusion). KEGG analysis revealed genes involved in nitrogen metabolism, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, hormone biosynthesis (gibberellin, cytokinin, and auxin), root colonization, and stress mitigation. Virulence factor database (VFDB) data revealed the absence of complete virulence gene assemblies, indicating limited pathogenic potential. Furthermore, secondary metabolite analysis predicted the potential production of ochrobactin compounds, which are potent siderophores that are important traits associated with PGPTs. The complete genome analysis of Brucella sp. PM1 provides new insights into plant-bacteria interactions, laying a foundation for advanced postgenomic studies and facilitating the development of bioeffective strategies such as biofertilizers or biocontrol agents for sustainable improvement in crop yields.},
}
@article {pmid40388617,
year = {2025},
author = {Paries, M and Hobecker, K and Hernandez Luelmo, S and Binci, F and Guercio, A and Usländer, A and Cardoso, C and Si, Y and Wankner, L and Bashyal, S and Troycke, P and Brückner, F and Pimprikar, P and Shabek, N and Gutjahr, C},
title = {The GRAS protein RAM1 interacts with WRI transcription factors to regulate plant genes required for arbuscule development and function.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {21},
pages = {e2427021122},
pmid = {40388617},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {170483403 SFB924_TP B03//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; 759731//EC | ERC | HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council (ERC)/ ; XX//Alexander von Humboldt Foundation/ ; 2047396//NSF (NSF)/ ; 2139805//NSF (NSF)/ ; XX//Max-Planck-Society/ ; },
mesh = {*Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Plant Roots/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; Nicotiana/genetics ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {During arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis AM fungi form tree-shaped structures called arbuscules in root cortex cells of host plants. Arbuscules and their host cells are central for reciprocal nutrient exchange between the symbionts. REQUIRED FOR ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZATION1 (RAM1) encodes a GRAS protein crucial for transcriptionally regulating plant genes needed for arbuscule development and nutrient exchange. Similar to other GRAS proteins, RAM1 likely does not bind to DNA and how RAM1 activates its target promoters remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that RAM1 interacts with five AM-induced APETALA 2 (AP2) transcription factors of the WRINKLED1-like family called CTTC MOTIF-BINDING TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR1 (CBX1), WRI3, WRI5a, WRI5b, and WRI5c via a C-terminal domain containing the M2/M2a motif. This motif is conserved and enriched in WRI proteins encoded by genomes of AM-competent plants. RAM1 together with any of these WRI proteins activates the promoters of genes required for symbiotic nutrient exchange, namely RAM2, STUNTED ARBUSCULES (STR), and PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER 4 (PT4), in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. This activation as well as target promoter induction in Lotus japonicus hairy roots depends on MYCS (MYCORRHIZA SEQUENCE)-elements and AW-boxes, previously identified as WRI-binding sites. The WRI genes are activated in two waves: Transcription of RAM1, CBX1, and WRI3 is coregulated by calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-activated CYCLOPS, through the AMCYC-RE in their promoter, and DELLA, while WRI5a, b, and c promoters contain MYCS-elements and AW-boxes and can be activated by RAM1 heterocomplexes with CBX1 or WRI3. We propose that RAM1 provides an activation domain to DNA-binding WRI proteins to activate genes with central roles in AM development and function.},
}
@article {pmid40387630,
year = {2025},
author = {Yee, DP and Juery, C and Toullec, G and Catacora-Grundy, A and Lekieffre, C and Wangpraseurt, D and Decelle, J},
title = {Physiology and metabolism of eukaryotic microalgae involved in aquatic photosymbioses.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {1},
pages = {71-89},
pmid = {40387630},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {GBMF11532//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; 101088661//H2020 European Research Council - Consolidator/ ; (GA#101059915)//H2020 European Union BiOcean5D/ ; },
mesh = {*Microalgae/physiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; *Aquatic Organisms/physiology ; },
abstract = {Symbiosis between eukaryotic microalgae and heterotrophic hosts is a widespread, phylogenetically convergent, and ecologically important phenomenon in aquatic ecosystems. Partners include taxonomically diverse microalgae interacting with multicellular or unicellular hosts in marine or freshwater environments. While progress has been made recently, there are still major knowledge gaps on the microenvironmental conditions of microalgae in hospite (e.g. nutrient and CO2 availability), the algal carbon metabolism (production and storage), and the cellular mechanisms of carbohydrate export to the host. This review aims to provide current knowledge on the physiology and metabolism of symbiotic microalgae, to highlight whether there are commonalities across different photosymbioses, and to identify new approaches and technologies for disentangling photosymbiotic interactions at relevant temporal and spatial scales.},
}
@article {pmid40387602,
year = {2025},
author = {Bonacolta, AM and Krause-Massaguer, J and Unuma, T and Del Campo, J},
title = {The Sea Cucumber-Infecting Parasite Apostichocystis gudetama gen. nov. sp. nov. Expands Marine-Host-Specific Clade of Apicomplexans.},
journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology},
volume = {72},
number = {3},
pages = {e70013},
pmid = {40387602},
issn = {1550-7408},
support = {//University of Miami/ ; PID2020-118836GA-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; 2021 SGR 00420//Departament de Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Phylogeny ; *Sea Cucumbers/parasitology ; *Apicomplexa/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Host Specificity ; Female ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Genome, Mitochondrial ; },
abstract = {Unknown ellipsoid bodies, later classified as apicomplexan cysts, are prevalent in the ovaries of Japanese sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus), where they can lead to lower fecundity in infected individuals and adverse effects on wild populations as well as aquaculture efforts for this endangered species. Apicomplexans are widespread and essential to marine environments, where they can affect the health and fitness of host populations. We performed genomic sequencing of recovered cysts to gain more ecological and evolutionary information on this parasite. We recovered this apicomplexan's complete nuclear ribosomal RNA (rrn) operon, the entire mitochondrial genome, and a partial apicoplast (relic chloroplast) genome. The rrn operon phylogeny revealed this parasite as being closely related to coccidian-like parasites of marine fish (ichthyocolids) and cnidarians (corallicolids), while organelle phylogenomics hint at a closer relation to the protococcidian Eleutheroschizon. Using this new phylogenetic context and previous morphological descriptions, we describe this parasite as Apostichocystis gudetama gen. nov. sp. nov. Mining available microbiomes reveal the presence of Apostichocystis spp. beyond its host range, alluding to other potential hosts or cryptic, closely related lineages. Its phylogenetic placement has important implications concerning the evolution of parasitism within Apicomplexa and the divergence of a marine-host-specific clade of coccidian-like parasites.},
}
@article {pmid40386899,
year = {2025},
author = {Pa, M and Iyer, K and Koul, V and Kochar, M},
title = {Regulatory Players in Mycorrhizal-Bacterial-Plant Interactions.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70053},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70053},
pmid = {40386899},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {//The financial support of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Govt. of India (Grant No. 38(1521)/21/EMR-II) and Director General, TERI, for providing the required infrastructure and facilities to carry out our research work./ ; },
abstract = {Mycorrhizae contribute significantly for plant growth and development, often providing nutrients such as phosphate and nitrogen, while also enhancing stress tolerance and resistance against phytopathogens. Plant symbiotic mycorrhizal networks harbor bacterial communities that aid mycorrhizal functions and augment plant nutrition and development. Various bacterial associations of mycorrhiza bring forth advantageous traits to mycorrhizal symbiosis and host colonization, which involves a wide range of signaling and regulatory molecules. These regulatory molecules play an important role in adapting and responding to new microenvironments with different hosts through the production of metabolites and expression of favorable genes. Small molecular components such as noncoding RNA (miRNA and sRNA) are also involved in the regulation and adaptation to these microenvironments. Regulatory pathways involving protein kinases play an important role in the tripartite association of bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi with plants, and the subsequent promotion of symbiotic interactions. This mini-review highlights potential bacterial regulatory candidates which can influence mycorrhiza-plant interactions to significantly benefit plant growth and development. An understanding of these bacterial regulatory mechanisms may suggest new strategies for knowledge-based application in crop productivity improvement programs.},
}
@article {pmid40385569,
year = {2025},
author = {Fernández-Vargas, R and Jiménez-Alpízar, S and Leandro-Arce, V and Mendoza-Guido, B and Rojas-Jimenez, K},
title = {Draft genome sequences of four potential new species of the genus Bradyrhizobium isolated from root nodules of native legumes in Costa Rican forests.},
journal = {Access microbiology},
volume = {7},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40385569},
issn = {2516-8290},
abstract = {Here, we report the draft genome sequences of four Bradyrhizobium spp. isolates obtained from root nodules of the native legumes Pentaclethra macroloba, Chamaecrista nictitans, Erythrina fusca and Zygia engelsingii in tropical forests of Costa Rica. Genomes ranged from 8.6 to 9.8 Mb with GC contents between 62.8% and 63.8%. Phylogenomic analysis, along with average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) comparisons, confirmed that these isolates represent potential new species. ANI values ranged from 88.3% to 90.3%, and dDDH values from 28.8% to 41.8%, compared with their closest Bradyrhizobium species. Functional annotation revealed some genes related to nitrogen fixation (nifA, nifB, nifH) and nodulation capacity (nodB, nodC, nodJ). These results provide insights into the diversity and symbiotic capabilities of Bradyrhizobium in tropical ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40385373,
year = {2025},
author = {Rodak, NY and Tan, CH and Sternberg, PW},
title = {A small-scale bacterial-based liquid Culture Method for Steinernema hermaphroditum.},
journal = {microPublication biology},
volume = {2025},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40385373},
issn = {2578-9430},
abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) infect and kill their insect host with the help of symbiotic bacteria. The only known hermaphroditic (androdiecious) EPN, the clade IV Steinernema hermaphroditum , offers opportunities for exploring both parasitic and mutualistic symbiosis, as well as for evolutionary and developmental studies. Experimental and genetic analysis of this animal is now facilitated through the development of forward and reverse genetic tools and improved culturing techniques. Here, we describe a liquid-culture technique adapted for this worm. The method can be a starting point for the development of large-scale cultivation of the worm and provides a method to generate infective juveniles without an insect host and either with or without its native symbiotic bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40385307,
year = {2025},
author = {McLaren, GC and Farrell, MV and Shikuma, NJ and Tran, C},
title = {Photosynthetic dependence and filament production in physical bacterial-Symbiodiniaceae interactions.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf070},
pmid = {40385307},
issn = {2730-6151},
support = {R35 GM146722/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {The cnidarian microbiome consists of a wide variety of beneficial microbes that play vital roles in maintaining and fortifying host health. Photosynthesis from symbiotic dinoflagellates (in the family Symbiodiniaceae) is crucial for their symbiosis establishment with the cnidarian host. Although more is known regarding interactions between the host and its associated bacteria and dinoflagellates, there has been little investigation into the relationship between the two microbes themselves and whether photosynthesis plays a role. Through two different methods of photosynthetic inhibition of dinoflagellates (incubation in the dark or pre-treatment with a photosystem II inhibitor), we investigated how pathogenic versus beneficial bacteria physically interact with three Symbiodiniaceae strains (symbiotic and free-living). The beneficial bacterium Tritonibacter mobilis appears to interact with photosynthesizing algae only. In the absence of photosynthesis, little to no physical interactions were observed between Symbiodiniaceae and T. mobilis. Bacterial congregation around individual dinoflagellate cells was significantly lower when photosynthesis was impaired, suggesting photosynthesis is a key facilitator of interactions between T. mobilis and all three Symbiodiniaceae strains. We also investigated whether photosynthesis affects interactions between Symbiodiniaceae and the pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus. Although no discernable impacts of photosynthetic inhibition were observed with the pathogen, scanning electron microscopy uncovered various mechanisms of interaction between Symbiodiniaceae and both bacteria, one of which includes the production of filaments not previously described. Overall, our research highlights the importance of photosynthesis in initiating interactions between bacteria and both free-living and symbiotic dinoflagellates, and opens a door to new questions regarding cell-surface interactions among individual microbes.},
}
@article {pmid40385219,
year = {2025},
author = {Halder, U and Radharamanan, C and Venkatesan, K and Perumal, S},
title = {Inhibition of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth, Development, and Promotion of Root Nodulation Including Plant Nitrogen Uptake Triggered by Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics.},
journal = {ACS omega},
volume = {10},
number = {18},
pages = {18668-18681},
pmid = {40385219},
issn = {2470-1343},
abstract = {Agroecosystem sustainability and global food security may be threatened by the widespread presence and distribution of microplastics (MPs). This study investigates the impact of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics with four different dosages (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5%) on the growth, development, and nitrogen uptake of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), a legume that forms symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Oxidative stress was indicated by increases in the activity of hydrogen peroxide, proline, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase of 54.3, 72.93, 135.74, 41.59, and 44.59%, respectively, for the 3.5% dose (T4) and malondialdehyde and catalase of 23.7 and 17.52%, respectively, for the 2.5% dose (T3) over the control. Peanut seedlings' growth and development were inhibited through the suppression of chlorophyll a (30.92%), chlorophyll b (36.36%), and carotenoid (25.65%) for treatment 2 (T2) and plant height (19.52% for T4), plant dry weight (46.09%), leaf number (18.86%), and branch length (59.37%) for T4. However, root nodule number, weight, and plant N content promoted 30.19-72.32, 55.88-141.16, and 1.46-7.01%, respectively, from control to T4, which may be an adaptive mechanism for legumes to overcome N deficiency through the morphological and physiological adjustments in the stressed conditions. The study outcomes may provide worthy implications for correctly managing peanut crops in PVC MP-contaminated soil, which will ensure food security and ecosystem sustainability.},
}
@article {pmid40384928,
year = {2025},
author = {Songwattana, P and Boonchuen, P and Pruksametanan, N and Teamtisong, K and Sato, S and Hashimoto, S and Higashitani, N and Kawaharada, Y and Araragi, M and Okazaki, S and Piromyou, P and Wongdee, J and Greetatorn, T and Giraud, E and Boonkerd, N and Tittabutr, P and Teaumroong, N},
title = {Elucidation of the symbiotic incompatibility mechanisms between Vigna radiata and Bradyrhizobium vignae ORS3257 mediated by nodulation outer protein P2.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {5},
pages = {112351},
pmid = {40384928},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Bradyrhizobium vignae ORS3257 is an efficient symbiotic strain for Vigna unguiculata and V. mungo but fails with V. radiata due to an effector-triggered immunity response mediated by the nodulation outer protein P2 (NopP2). To understand this incompatibility, we identified NopP2 interacting proteins in V. radiata cv. KPS1, including enolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) as targets. Protein-protein interaction assays confirmed that NopP2 binds to these enzymes, and further analysis revealed their co-localization on the plasma membrane. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed NopP2 stimulates genes related to plant defense response (PR1, PR5, MYB13, and TAO1), hydrogen peroxide (SOD, POX10, and POX16), and cell wall lignification (LAC). NopP2 did not alter the expression of genes encoding the target enzymes but interfered with MDHAR activity, leading to high H2O2 accumulation in roots. These findings suggest that NopP2 contributes to symbiotic incompatibility in V. radiata by inducing a multifaceted defense response and initiating cell wall lignification early in infection.},
}
@article {pmid40384784,
year = {2025},
author = {DiSalvo, S and Maness, N and Braun, A and Tran, M and Hofferkamp, A},
title = {Tracking tripartite interaction dynamics: isolation, integration, and influence of bacteriophages in the Paraburkholderia-Dictyostelium discoideum symbiosis system.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1537073},
pmid = {40384784},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Bacteriophages influence interactions between bacterial symbionts and their hosts by exerting parasitic pressure on symbiont populations and facilitating bacterial evolution through selection, gene exchange, and prophage integration. Host organisms also modulate phage-bacteria interactions, with host-specific contexts potentially limiting or promoting phage access to bacterial symbionts or driving alternative phenotypic or evolutionary outcomes.<br><br>METHODS: To better elucidate tripartite phage-bacteria-host interactions in real-time, we expanded the Dictyostelium discoideum-Paraburkholderia symbiosis system to include Paraburkholderia-specific phages. We isolated six environmental Paraburkholderia phages from soil samples using a multi-host enrichment approach. We also identified a functional prophage from monocultures of one of the Paraburkholderia symbiont strains implemented in the enrichment approach. These phages were evaluated across all three amoeba-associated Paraburkholderia symbiont species. Finally, we treated Paraburkholderia infected amoeba lines with select phage isolates and assessed their effects on symbiont prevalence and host fitness.<br><br>RESULTS: The isolated phages exhibited diverse plaquing characteristics and virion morphologies, collectively targeting Paraburkholderia strains belonging to each of the amoeba-symbiotic species. Following amoeba treatment experiments, we observed that phage application in some cases reduced symbiont infection prevalence and alleviated host fitness impacts, while in others, no significant effects were noted. Notably, phages were able to persist within the symbiont-infected amoeba populations over multiple culture transfers, indicating potential long-term interactions.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These findings highlight the variability of phage-symbiont interactions within a host environment and underscore the complex nature of phage treatment outcomes. The observed variability lays the foundation for future studies exploring the long-term dynamics of tripartite systems, suggesting potential mechanisms that may shape differential phage treatment outcomes and presenting valuable avenues for future investigation.},
}
@article {pmid40384569,
year = {2025},
author = {Kwon, EH and Adhikari, A and Khan, AL and Do, E and Methela, NJ and Lee, CY and Kang, SM and Ku, KM and Yun, BW and Lee, IJ},
title = {Microbial Melatonin Production Improves Plant Metabolic Function in Short-Term Climate-Induced Stresses.},
journal = {Journal of pineal research},
volume = {77},
number = {3},
pages = {e70052},
pmid = {40384569},
issn = {1600-079X},
mesh = {*Melatonin/biosynthesis ; *Glycine max/metabolism/microbiology ; *Bacillus/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Climate Change ; },
abstract = {Climate change, specifically high temperatures, can reduce soil moisture and cause hypersaline conditions, which creates an unsustainable agro-production system. Microbial symbionts associated with plants relinquish stressful conditions by producing stress-protecting substances. Melatonin is a signaling and stress-protecting molecule for plants, but is least known for microbial symbionts and their function in stress protection. Here, our study shows that the melatonin-synthesizing Bacillus velezensis EH151 (27.9 ng/mL at 96 h) significantly improved host plant (Glycine max L.) growth, biomass, photosynthesis, and reduced oxidative stress during heat and salinity stress conditions than the non-inculcated control. The EH151 symbiosis enhanced the macronutrient (P, Ca, and K) and reduced Na uptake in shoots during stress conditions. The microbial inoculation significantly expressed the high-affinity K[+] transporter, MYB transcription factor, Salt Overly Sensitive 1, Na[+]/H[+] antiporter 2, and heat shock transcription factors in spatio-temporal orders during heat and salinity stress (H&amp;S 1, 3, 10, and 14 h). We observed that microbial strain significantly increased the plant's endogenous abscisic acid (49.5% in H&amp;S 10 h), jasmonic acid (71% in H&amp;S 10 h), and melatonin biosynthesis (418% in H&amp;S 14 h). Metabolome map of plant defense response showed that EH151 enhanced activation of amino acid metabolism pathways (e.g., glutamate (34%) L-aspartate (82%), glycine (18.5%), and serine (58%) under H&amp;S 14 h compared to non-inoculation). Conversely, the free sugars and organic acids within the central carbon metabolism were significantly activated in non-inoculated combined heat and salinity stress compared to inoculated plants-suggesting lesser defense energy activated for stress tolerance. In conclusion, the current results show promising effects of the microbial abilities of melatonin that can regulate host growth and defense responses. Utilization of beneficial strains like B. velezensis EH151 could be the ideal strategy to improve stress tolerance and overcome the adverse impact of climate-induced abrupt changes.},
}
@article {pmid40383418,
year = {2025},
author = {Dellagnola, FA and Yunes, AN and Vega, IA},
title = {Unravelling the consortium of the cercarial dermatitis in lake from a basin of Argentinian Central Andes: histological and phylogenetic insights of Chilina snail and their fluke partner.},
journal = {Acta tropica},
volume = {267},
number = {},
pages = {107650},
doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107650},
pmid = {40383418},
issn = {1873-6254},
mesh = {Animals ; Argentina ; Phylogeny ; *Lakes/parasitology ; *Snails/parasitology/classification/anatomy &amp; histology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Cercaria/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; DNA, Helminth/genetics/chemistry ; *Schistosomatidae/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics/chemistry ; *Trematoda/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics/chemistry ; },
abstract = {In the context of a research program dealing with the symbiotic associations between aquatic snails and trematodes, we studied a host-parasite consortium in Lake El Nihuil (Mendoza, Argentina), a water body from Atuel river basin (Central Andes) in which recent outbreaks of cercarial dermatitis ('swimmer's itch') occurred. According to the morphological traits and molecular phylogenetic analyses (mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes), the gastropod host was assigned to the endemic genus Chilina. The snails hosted and released a schistosomatid brevifurcate apharingeate cercaria, whose phylogenetic position was inferred using 28S rRNA subunit gene and 18S-ITS1-5.8S rRNA ribosomal region. The parasite was placed in a clade together with sequences from 'Furcocercariae Lineage II', avian schistosomes closely related to the recently named genus Nasusbilharzia, whose final host, the endemic black-necked swan, occurs in Lake El Nihuil. The infected specimens of Chilina sp. showed abundant parasite larvae placed between haemocoelic spaces and connective tissues, modifying the histological architecture of the digestive gland-gonad complex. Parasites produced a decrease in the number of glandular acini and atrophy of the reproductive tissue. This work suggests a displacement of the swimmer's itch outbreaks towards lower latitudes, highlighting the need for the implementation of multidisciplinary studies to monitor these emerging diseases in association with specific symbiotic consortiums.},
}
@article {pmid40383409,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, D and Zhao, J and Wu, M and Zhou, Y and Lyu, B and Xu, C and Huang, C and Su, Z and Zhang, H and Guo, J and Tang, W and Chen, G and Li, Q},
title = {Microbial interactions induce the mutational signature of mismatch repair deficiency in colorectal cancer and associated with EPPK1 mutations.},
journal = {Cancer letters},
volume = {625},
number = {},
pages = {217807},
doi = {10.1016/j.canlet.2025.217807},
pmid = {40383409},
issn = {1872-7980},
mesh = {Humans ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics/microbiology/pathology ; *Mutation ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *DNA Mismatch Repair/genetics ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Clonal Evolution ; },
abstract = {To better understand the impact of microbial interactions on the clonal evolution of colorectal cancer (CRC), we conducted high-resolution profiling of the gut microbiome of 101 treatment-naïve primary CRC patients using nanopore sequencing. We performed an integrated analysis of microbiome and tumor exome data to identify symbiotic microbes that interactively influence the mutational processes and the subsequent clonality of CRC. Our results suggested that Dialister pneumosintes and Fusobacterium animalis were both associated with somatic EPPK1 mutations and promote SBS6 (mismatch repair deficiency, dMMR) activity. Notably, we showed that the symbiotic architecture of Dialister pneumosintes and Fusobacterium animalis undergoes significant changes with the mutational status of EPPK1. In addition, we identified specific metabolic pathways involving key metabolites that potentially mediate microbial interactions in CRC. These findings provide new insights into the interplay between the gut microbiome and the mutation landscape of colorectal cancer, thereby informing the clonal evolution of CRC and new strategies for precision medicine.},
}
@article {pmid40383313,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, J and Ren, X and Deng, Z and Zhang, H and Wang, J and Zhang, C and Lu, F and Shi, J},
title = {Ecological effects of biochar in heavy metal-contaminated soils from multidimensional perspective: Using meta-analysis.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {432},
number = {},
pages = {132695},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132695},
pmid = {40383313},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Metals, Heavy ; *Charcoal/chemistry ; *Soil Pollutants ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; },
abstract = {The application of biochar in the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil shows great potential, but its comprehensive impacts on metal dynamics and the soil ecosystem have not been quantified. This study conducted a meta - analysis of 496 observations from 41 studies. The results indicated that biochar can significantly decrease the bioavailability of cationic metals, but has limited effect on anionic heavy metals. After application, soil nutrient content and enzyme activity significantly increased. Microbial network analysis revealed enhanced interactions between species, and the reconstruction of the core microbial community indicated a shift in microbial survival strategies from resisting heavy metal stress to nutrient cycling and plant symbiosis. FAPROTAX analysis showed that microbial communities related to nitrogen and sulfur cycles were significantly stimulated. This study explores the role of biochar in restoring soil multifunctionality while addressing metal pollution issues from multiple perspectives, offering key insights for developing targeted soil remediation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40382964,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Ni, R and Li, L and Yu, H and Qi, J and Ma, B and Hu, C and Qu, J},
title = {Algae-driven bacterial production of extracellular reactive oxygen species for emerging contaminants degradation.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {982},
number = {},
pages = {179670},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179670},
pmid = {40382964},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {*Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Microalgae ; },
abstract = {Emerging contaminants (ECs) are ubiquitous in natural surface waters, posing significant risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Symbiotic systems comprising photoautotrophic algae and associated bacteria offer a promising approach for the bioremediation of aquatic environments. This study investigated the degradation of five ECs (carbamazepine, diclofenac, atenolol, sulfamethoxazole, and ofloxacin) by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated through algal-bacterial interactions. The algal-bacterial system exhibited superior degradation efficiencies, achieving 96 %, 97 %, 89 %, 72 %, and 77 % removal for the respective ECs after 6 days, far surpassing the performance of pure bacterial or algal systems. Elevated levels of biogenic ROS were observed in the algal-bacterial system, with extracellular superoxide radicals (O2[•-]) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) identified as key drivers of the degradation process. Under ECs stress, the algal-bacterial system maintained cellular integrity and metabolic activity by upregulating pathways related to carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism, thereby enhancing its resistance. These findings highlight the significant potential of algal-bacterial systems for the transformation of ECs, offering a sustainable strategy for bioremediation and the restoration of ecosystem health.},
}
@article {pmid40382931,
year = {2025},
author = {Subedi, SC and Epps, S and Ankrah, N and Bhandari, S},
title = {Soil microbes' role in plant germination and growth under salt stress.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {386},
number = {},
pages = {125841},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125841},
pmid = {40382931},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Salt Stress ; *Germination ; Salinity ; Soil/chemistry ; },
abstract = {One significant consequence of climate change is the rising sea levels, which contribute to the intrusion of saltwater towards the inland and groundwater placing extreme salt stress on many plants. Beneficial interactions with microorganisms may be crucial for ameliorating salt stress and facilitating the ecosystem services plants provide. We aimed to test if microbes aid plants in coping with salinity stress and to identify potential applications for enhancing plant resilience in the face of ongoing environmental changes. We set up a factorial experiment that manipulated the introduction of field collected soil microbes, the salinity of these introduced microbes, and the salinity of the water in which plants were grown (freshwater vs. saltwater). To identify the impact of native microbes on the survival of plants in high stress environments, specifically we examined how a Liatris spicata, a freshwater plant would germinate and grow in salt environments. The overall germination of L. spicata showed that native microbes from high salinity sites positively affect the growth of plants in saltwater. Germination rate was significantly higher (25.8 %) in plants with microbes compared to control plants. Both saltwater exposure and microbial presence had a significant effect on plant growth, suggesting that the impact of saltwater on plant growth depends on the presence of microbes. Our results revealed a significant decrease in the number of microbial colony-forming units (CFUs) in response to saltwater treatment (p < 0.001). Both fungal and bacterial CFUs were significantly reduced in saltwater-treated soils compared to freshwater soils. These findings highlight the potential role of native soil microbes in enhancing plant resilience to salinity stress, offering valuable insights for improving plant survival and productivity in increasingly saline environments.},
}
@article {pmid40382556,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Yang, L and Cai, T and Liao, H and Cai, P and Zhao, X and Gu, N and Yue, Z and Gu, Y and Zhang, F and Wu, C and Lu, X},
title = {The natural symbiotic bacterium Enterococcus faecalis LX10 drives Bombyx mori refractoriness to Nosema bombycis infection via the secretion of enterococcin.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {303},
pmid = {40382556},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {Y20235377//A Project Supported by Scientific Research Fund of Zhejiang Provincial Education Department/ ; 2024YZ07//The General Plan Project of Huzhou Science and Technology Bureau/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Enterococcus faecalis/metabolism/physiology/genetics ; *Bombyx/microbiology/immunology ; *Symbiosis ; *Nosema/physiology/pathogenicity ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The microsporidian Nosema bombycis is an obligate intracellular fungal-related parasites of the Bombyx mori, causing the epidemic disease Pebrine and extensive economic losses in the agricultural and sericulture industry. Enterococcus has emerged as one of the predominant gut microorganisms of the major model organism, Bombyx mori. However, the potential interactions mechanism between B. mori, N. bombycis and Enterococcus have not been well demonstrated.<br><br>METHODS: To address this gap, we used an insect model, silkworm to examine the potential mechanism of the natural symbiotic bacterium Enterococcus faecalis LX10 drives B. mori refractoriness to N. bombycis infection. E. faecalis LX10 was isolated from the gut of healthy silkworms, and its inhibitory activity against N. bombycis was evaluated at both the cellular and individual levels using posttranslational modifications, gene and protein expression analysis, transfected cells, and in vitro immunofluorescence.<br><br>RESULTS: We demonstrated that enterococcin (EntLX), the first antimicrobial protein family in gut commensal bacterium Enterococcus faecalis LX10 of B. mori, contributes to defending against N. bombycis infection resistance depends on the enzyme gelatinase (GelE), disulfide bond and disulfide bond formation proteinA (DsbA). The EntLX protein, abundantly expressed in transgenic BmN cells and gut organs(gut epithelium, peritrophic membrane and contents), can reduce the infection rate of cells and alleviate intestinal damage caused by N. bombycis infection. After simultaneous vaccination with E. faecalis LX10 and N. bombycis, the differentially key metabolites, physiological characteristics(larval mass), or economic traits(cocoon length, cocoon width, whole-cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, pupation rate and adult emergence rate) showed a certain degrees of recovery and correction compared with those of single N. bombycis inoculation at the individual level.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study advances the understanding of the anti-microsporidia activity of enterococci and paves the way for the expression of these molecules as antifungal agents via the genetic transformation of Enterococcus symbionts from disease-transmitting insects.<br><br>CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.},
}
@article {pmid40382475,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, Q and Downey, R and Stark, JS and Johnstone, GJ and Mitchell, JG},
title = {The Microbial Ecology of Antarctic Sponges.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {44},
pmid = {40382475},
issn = {1432-184X},
mesh = {*Porifera/microbiology ; Animals ; Antarctic Regions ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Archaea/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Ecosystem ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {Microbial communities in Antarctic marine sponges have distinct taxonomic and functional profiles due to low temperatures, seasonal days and nights, and geographic isolation. These sponge holobionts contribute to nutrient cycling, structural habitat formation, and benthic ecosystem resilience. We review Antarctic sponge holobiont knowledge, integrating culture-based and molecular data across environmental and taxonomic gradients. Although microbiome data exist for only a fraction of the region's 593 known sponge species, these hosts support diverse symbionts spanning at least 63 bacterial, 5 archaeal, and 6 fungal phyla, highlighting the complexity and ecological significance of these understudied polar microbiomes. A conserved core microbiome, dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Nitrospinae, and Planctomycetes, occurs across Antarctic sponges, alongside taxa shaped by host identity, depth, and environment. Metagenomic data indicate microbial nitrogen cycling, chemoautotrophic carbon fixation, and stress tolerance. Despite these advances, major knowledge gaps remain, particularly in deep-sea and sub-Antarctic regions, along with challenges in taxonomy, methodological biases, and limited functional insights. We identify key research priorities, including developing standardised methodologies, expanded sampling across ecological and depth gradients, and integrating multi-omics with environmental and host metadata. Antarctic sponge holobionts provide a tractable model for investigating microbial symbiosis, functional adaptation, and ecosystem processes in one of Earth's most rapidly changing marine environments.},
}
@article {pmid40381977,
year = {2025},
author = {Ramírez, CS and Tolmie, C and Rivas, MG and Gonzalez, PJ and Murgida, DH and Opperman, DJ and Brondino, CD and Ferroni, FM},
title = {Structural insights into the copper-containing nitrite reductase from Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 and its role in the low nitrite reductase activity of rhizobia.},
journal = {Archives of biochemistry and biophysics},
volume = {770},
number = {},
pages = {110467},
doi = {10.1016/j.abb.2025.110467},
pmid = {40381977},
issn = {1096-0384},
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/enzymology ; *Nitrite Reductases/chemistry/metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Copper/chemistry/metabolism ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; *Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism ; Catalytic Domain ; Models, Molecular ; Protein Conformation ; *Rhizobium/enzymology ; },
abstract = {Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 is a widely used microorganism in the formulation of bioinoculants for soybean crops, harboring a copper-containing nitrite reductase with low enzymatic activity. The activity of BjNirK at pH 6.5 was higher compared to that at pH 8.0, regardless of the presence of either physiological or artificial electron donors. Thermal shift assays reveal that the enzyme is more stable at pH 6.5 than at pH 8.0. X-ray structural data reveals that the funnel for substrate entry shows a wider cavity when compared to other class I NirK structures. Furthermore, the presence of an additional channel for proton provision is observed, in addition to the primary and secondary proton channels. The T2Cu active site can accommodate one or two water molecules, resulting in a tetra- or pentacoordinated metal site, respectively. The structural data correlates well with both optical visible and resonance Raman spectroscopies, denoting a strong blue character of the T1Cu site in both solid and solution states. Furthermore, EPR-monitored redox titration reveals that the catalytic rate is not constrained by T1Cu-T2Cu intraprotein electron transfer reaction at either pH 6.5 or pH 8.0. Additionally, bioinformatics studies indicate that the interaction between the enzyme and the electron donor is not pH dependent. These two observations suggest that the low activity of BjNirK is not caused by inefficient donor-enzyme interaction or impaired electron transfer. The present results suggest that the structural architecture and enzyme properties in rhizobia are designed to ensure low activity, a trait that is particularly advantageous for symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40381437,
year = {2025},
author = {Gushi, M and Ishibashi, H and Takayama, K and Yamashiro, H and Takeuchi, I},
title = {Interactive effects of high seawater temperature and the PS II herbicide Irgarol 1051 on photosynthetic efficiency of one species of the Acropora tenuis [sensu lato] complex (Scleractinia: Acroporidae).},
journal = {Marine pollution bulletin},
volume = {218},
number = {},
pages = {118098},
doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118098},
pmid = {40381437},
issn = {1879-3363},
mesh = {Animals ; *Herbicides/toxicity ; *Anthozoa/physiology/drug effects ; *Triazines/toxicity ; *Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Seawater/chemistry ; *Hot Temperature ; Dinoflagellida/drug effects/physiology ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; },
abstract = {Among herbicides, Irgarol 1051 causes the strongest inhibition of maximum effective quantum yield (∆F/Fm') in symbiotic dinoflagellates of corals. In this study, interactive effects of heat stress and Irgarol (1.0 μg/L) were investigated using aquaculture-reared Acropora sp., a species in the Acropora tenuis [sensu lato] complex in southern Japan. Two 7-d experiments were conducted with 27.5 °C as the temperature control and 30.0 or 32.0 °C as heat stress treatments. Coral colour, evaluated by red-green-blue values, and ∆F/Fm' of symbiotic dinoflagellates in coral were monitored daily. In the 27.5 and 30.0 °C treatments, coral colour remained stable throughout the experiment; whereas, corals began to whiten at 32.0 °C in both control and Irgarol treatments. ∆F/Fm' decreased from day 1 in both Irgarol treatments under control (27.5 °C) and heat stress conditions (30.0 and 32.0 °C). In the control treatment, heat stress of 32.0 °C induced a decrease in ∆F/Fm', but less than the decrease in ∆F/Fm' during Irgarol exposure. ∆F/Fm' did not decrease in the temperature control and 30.0 °C heat stress treatments. A significant interactive decrease in ∆F/Fm' was observed on day 1 at both 30.0 and 32.0 °C. Thus, at 30.0 and 32.0 °C, heat stress was considered to accelerate the ∆F/Fm' reduction at the early stage of Irgarol exposure in aquaculture-reared Acropora sp. Compared to our previous study, the present study suggests that the response of corals in the A. tenuis [sensu lato] complex to Irgarol exposure differs depending on the genetic differences, such as species level.},
}
@article {pmid40381311,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, J and Tian, H and Li, L and Shen, D and Dong, B and Xu, Z},
title = {Two-phase remediation of extreme textured soils: Integrating stabilized sludge and plant-assisted strategies for enhanced water-nutrient supply and nitrogen fixation.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {386},
number = {},
pages = {125757},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125757},
pmid = {40381311},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation ; *Sewage ; *Soil/chemistry ; Nitrogen ; Water ; Medicago sativa ; },
abstract = {The continuous degradation of soil texture has severely suppressed soil productivity. Here, we present a two-phase remediation strategy aimed at improving extreme textured soils (ETS), specifically clay (CL) and sandy (SA) soils, by integrating stabilized sludge (SS) amendment and nitrogen-fixing plant (alfalfa) cultivation. In Phase I, the application of SS improved soil texture, as indicated by the optimized mechanical composition and aggregate structure. Water-stable aggregates contributed to organic carbon accumulation by protecting particulate organics. In addition, the improved aggregate spatial arrangement enhanced water dynamics. In Phase II, alfalfa cultivation restructured the diazotroph community via plant-rhizobium symbiosis, upregulating nitrogenase genes (nifKDH) and boosting nitrogen fixation. The synergy between SS and alfalfa established a resilient microbial ecosystem, offering a sustainable solution for ETS remediation and efficient sludge utilization, addressing both environmental and resource management goals.},
}
@article {pmid40380978,
year = {2025},
author = {Pipes, BL and Nishiguchi, MK},
title = {Generation and validation of a versatile inducible multiplex CRISPRi system to examine bacterial regulation in the Euprymna-Vibrio fischeri symbiosis.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {207},
number = {7},
pages = {147},
pmid = {40380978},
issn = {1432-072X},
support = {EXO 80NSSC18K1053//National Aeronautical and Space Adminstration/ ; EXO 80NSSC18K1053//National Aeronautical and Space Adminstration/ ; DBI-2214028//National Science Foundation/ ; DBI-2214028//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Animals ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *CRISPR-Cas Systems ; *Decapodiformes/microbiology ; Genetic Vectors ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats ; Plasmids/genetics ; RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics ; },
abstract = {The Vibrio fischeri-Euprymna scolopes symbiosis has become a powerful animal-microbe model system to examine the genetic underpinnings of symbiont development and regulation. Although there has been a number of elegant bacterial genetic technologies developed to examine this symbiosis, there is still a need to develop more sophisticated methodologies to better understand complex regulatory pathways that lie within the association. Therefore, we have developed a suite of CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) vectors for inducible repression of specific V. fischeri genes associated with symbiotic competence. The suite utilizes both Tn7-integrating and shuttle vector plasmids that allow for inducible expression of CRISPRi dCas9 protein along with single-guide RNAs (sgRNA) modules. We validated this CRISPRi tool suite by targeting both exogenous (an introduced mRFP reporter) and endogenous genes (luxC in the bioluminescence producing lux operon, and flrA, the major regulatory gene controlling flagella production). The suite includes shuttle vectors expressing both single and multiple sgRNAs complementary to the non-template strand of multiple targeted genetic loci, which were effective in inducible gene repression, with significant reductions in targeted gene expression levels. V. fischeri cells harboring a version of this system targeting the luxC gene and suppressing the production of luminescence were used to experimentally validate the hypothesis that continuous luminescence must be produced by the symbiont in order to maintain the symbiosis at time points longer than the known 24-h limit. This robust new CRISPRi genetic toolset has broad utility and will enhance the study of V. fischeri genes, bypassing the need for gene disruptions by standard techniques of allelic knockout-complementation-exchange and the ability to visualize symbiotic regulation in vivo.},
}
@article {pmid40380855,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, SJ and Shen, R and Lin, DM},
title = {Research advances in the impacts of ectomycorrhizal fungi on the formation and decomposition of soil organic matter in forests.},
journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology},
volume = {36},
number = {3},
pages = {943-949},
doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202503.034},
pmid = {40380855},
issn = {1001-9332},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Forests ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Organic Chemicals/metabolism/analysis ; Ecosystem ; *Trees/growth &amp; development ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; },
abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi are one of the important functional groups of soil fungi, playing a crucial role in the formation, stabilization, and decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM). We summarized the main processes and mechanisms by which EcM fungi contribute to SOM formation, stabilization, and decomposition in forests. Plants allocate a portion of photosynthetic products to symbiotic EcM fungi, which participate in SOM formation by importing them into the soil in the form of mycorrhizal exudates or necromass, whose activities promote the formation of soil aggregate structure and SOM stabilization. EcM fungi decompose SOM directly by secreting extracellular enzymes or by driving the Fenton reaction to generate hydroxyl radicals. They also influence SOM decomposition indirectly by enhancing the activity of saprotrophic fungi (priming effect) or inhibiting their activity (Gadgil effect). The precise quantification of EcM fungi's role in SOM formation remains unclear. Most available studies are concentrated in Europe and North America, but the difference in methodologies makes it difficult to integrate data across regions. Future research should adopt standardized techniques and promote cross-regional collaborative studies. Current understanding of EcM fungi's role in SOM decomposition is mainly based on a few laboratory-cultured species. Future studies should include a broader range of EcM fungal species and investigate their roles in natural environments, particularly in different soil types and forest communities. In addition, the interactions between EcM fungi and saprotrophic fungi have significant impacts on SOM dynamics. Future research should explore the responses of EcM fungi to climate, soil and vegetation in depth to better understand their role in soil carbon cycling.},
}
@article {pmid40380241,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, G and Kong, W and Lin, R and Jiang, Z and Wang, X and Qin, X and Shi, Y and Yang, P and Chen, X and Xia, L and Xu, Z},
title = {Multi-omics analysis reveals that Bacillus spp. enhance mucosal antiviral immunity in teleost fish by mediating diglyceride production through lipid metabolism.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {123},
pmid = {40380241},
issn = {2049-2618},
mesh = {Animals ; *Bacillus/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/physiology/immunology/classification ; *Lipid Metabolism ; *Fish Diseases/immunology/virology/microbiology ; *Immunity, Mucosal ; *Bass/immunology/microbiology/virology ; Probiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; Microbiota ; Multiomics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic microbiota in vertebrates play critical roles in establishing and enhancing host resistance to pathogenic infections as well as maintaining host homeostasis. The interactions and mechanisms of commensal microbiota-mediated mucosal immune systems have been extensively studied in mammals and, to a lesser extent, in birds. However, despite several studies emphasizing the role of mucosal microbiota in controlling pathogen infections in teleost fish, limited knowledge exists regarding the core microbiota and the mechanisms by which they contribute to resistance against viral infections.<br><br>RESULTS: Our findings suggest that viral infections shape clinical manifestations of varying severity in infected fish. An increased abundance of Bacillus spp. in the mild phenotype indicates its crucial role in influencing fish immunity during viral infections. To confirm that Bacillus spp. act as a core contributor against viral infection in fish, we isolated a representative strain of Bacillus spp. from largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), which was identified as Bacillus velezensis (Bv), and subsequently conducted feeding trials. Our study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with Bv significantly reduced mortality from largemouth bass virus (LMBV) infection in bass by enhancing host immunity and metabolism as well as by regulating the microbial community. Furthermore, multi-omics analysis elucidated the mechanism by which Bacillus spp. confer resistance to viral infections by regulating the production of diglyceride (DG) during lipid metabolism.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides the first evidence that Bacillus spp. are a core microbiota for combating viral infections in teleost fish, shedding light on the conserved functions of probiotics as a core microbiota in regulating microbial homeostasis and mucosal immunity across the vertebrate lineage.},
}
@article {pmid40378468,
year = {2025},
author = {Siddiquee, M and Cornelius, S and Seo, Y and Bullerjahn, GS and Bridgeman, TB and Sudman, M and Kang, DW},
title = {Uncovering microbial interactions in a persistent Planktothrix bloom: Towards early biomarker identification in hypereutrophic lakes.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {283},
number = {},
pages = {123683},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123683},
pmid = {40378468},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Lakes/microbiology ; *Planktothrix ; Biomarkers ; Microbiota ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria ; *Harmful Algal Bloom ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; },
abstract = {Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms pose significant threats to global water supplies, ecosystems, and economies. Among the harmful cyanobacteria, Planktothrix, a resilient and toxin-producing filamentous cyanobacterium, has garnered increasing attention. However, an understanding of the entire microbiome, particularly the phycosphere surrounding Planktothrix blooms, remains largely unexplored. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study combining 16S rDNA and fungal internal transcribed spacer amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics to elucidate Planktothrix bloom microbiomes and identify potential microbial or functional biomarkers for CyanoHABs. Our observations revealed that a summer bloom in Grand Lake St. Marys was initiated with Dolichospermum and then shifted to Planktothrix dominance. This transition was associated with nitrogen metabolism genes, suggesting that nitrogen plays a key role in bloom persistence through interactions among nitrogen-fixing bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing archaea, anammox bacteria, and denitrifiers. Additionally, metagenomic data revealed a strong positive correlation of toxin concentration with carbohydrate-nitrogen-sulfur-fatty acid associated metabolic pathways and a strong negative correlation with pollutant degradation pathways. Intriguingly, diazotrophic methane-related microbes were detected, which opens discussion on potential symbiosis that couples nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Toxin-degrading bacteria, such as Polynucleobacter and Acidovorax, were positively correlated with fungi like Vishniacozyma, proposing their cooperative roles during bloom events. Notably, Rhodobacter, a photosynthetic purple non-sulfur bacterium, showed strong negative correlations with both Planktothrix and the toxin-producing gene mcyE, positioning it as a promising biomarker for early bloom detection. Overall, this study advances the understanding of Planktothrix-dominated bloom ecology and highlights microbial signatures for proactive CyanoHAB management in freshwater systems.},
}
@article {pmid40375452,
year = {2025},
author = {Hutchings, B and López-Legentil, S and Stefaniak, L and Nydam, M and Erwin, PM},
title = {Microbial Distortion? Impacts of Delayed Preservation on Microbiome Diversity and Composition in a Marine Invertebrate.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {e70019},
pmid = {40375452},
issn = {2045-8827},
support = {//This research was supported by the Ruth D. Turner Foundation and National Science Foundation (DEB-2122475)./ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Urochordata/microbiology ; *Preservation, Biological/methods ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Belize ; Time Factors ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Field collections of marine invertebrates are often accompanied by delays in preservation, which may impact microbiome composition. Here, we tested the effects of delayed preservation and relaxation methods on microbiome diversity and composition in the colonial ascidian Trididemnum solidum using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Replicate samples collected from Belizean reefs were either (1) immediately preserved in ethanol ("control"), (2) held in ambient seawater for 3 h before preservation ("SW"), or (3) held in ambient seawater with menthol (a common pre-preservation relaxation technique for ascidian identification) for 3 h before preservation ("SW + M"). All T. solidum microbiomes were different from ambient seawater bacterioplankton and dominated by the same microbial taxa, including the genera Thalassobaculum, Tistrella, and Synechocystis. However, the 3-h delay in sample preservation (SW) significantly reduced microbiome richness compared to controls (p = 0.028), while menthol treatment (SW + M) mitigated this diversity loss (p = 0.208). Microbial composition at the community level did not differ significantly for either delayed preservation method compared to controls (SW p = 0.054, SW + M p = 0.052). Taxon-level shifts were rare but did occur, most notably a bloom of the facultatively anaerobic gammaproteobacterium Catenococcus that was 37x (SW) and 197x (SW + M) more abundant in delayed preservations. After a 3-h preservation delay (SW), only 122 microbial taxa (1.85% of total) exhibited significantly differential abundances with controls, with menthol treatment (SW + M) reducing taxon-level shifts to 65 taxa (0.98%). Our results showed that brief delays in preservation did not significantly alter community-level microbiome composition and dominant taxa, with menthol exposure counteracting minor microbiome shifts associated with preservation delays.},
}
@article {pmid40374873,
year = {2025},
author = {Turner, LD and Raina, JB and Kuzhiumparambil, U and Songsomboom, K and Matthews, JL},
title = {Inhibiting inositol transport disrupts metabolite profiles and mimics heat stress in a model cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {755},
pmid = {40374873},
issn = {2399-3642},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Heat-Shock Response ; *Inositol/metabolism ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology/metabolism ; *Anthozoa/physiology/metabolism ; *Cnidaria/physiology/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; *Metabolome ; },
abstract = {The nutrient exchange between corals and their symbiotic microalgae (Symbiodiniaceae) is vital for coral survival. Disruptions in this mutualistic relationship, often due to stress-induced dysbiosis, contribute significantly to coral mortality and reef decline globally. Dysbiosis is associated with substantial shifts in various metabolites, notably a rise in inositol, a sugar alcohol, though its role in coral-algae interactions remains unclear. Using a cnidarian model, we identify Symbiodiniaceae as the main source of inositol, with myo- and scyllo-inositol being the dominant forms under normal conditions. During heat stress, scyllo-inositol levels increase by 1.8 times in symbiotic hosts, and up to 26 times in cultured Symbiodiniaceae (Breviolum minutum). Meanwhile, myo-inositol decreases in host tissues but doubles within Symbiodiniaceae, indicating altered nutrient-sharing or stress signalling. In contrast, no changes are observed in aposymbiotic cnidarians (without Symbiodiniaceae). Additionally, inhibiting inositol production and transport in symbiotic tissues disrupts metabolite profiles, mimicking effects seen under heat stress, suggesting that inositol transport is crucial for maintaining metabolic balance and nutrient exchange. These findings reveal that disruptions in inositol dynamics play a critical role in stress responses, offering insights into dysbiosis mechanisms driving coral reef crises.},
}
@article {pmid40373376,
year = {2025},
author = {Qiao, X and Zhang, L and Qiu, Z and Wu, Y and Deng, C and Geng, Y and Zhang, Y and Yan, Y and Li, B and Zhang, L and Zhuang, WQ and Yu, K},
title = {Nitrite impairs bioreactor performance due to decreased replication of Candidatus Brocadia sapporoensis by unbalanced energy allocation.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {283},
number = {},
pages = {123806},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123806},
pmid = {40373376},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Nitrites ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The effects of nitrite on anammox activities have been extensively studied. However, the molecular mechanisms of specific microorganisms responding to nitrite in anammox systems remain unexplored. This study investigates how excessive nitrite affects the core metabolisms of AnAOB and symbiotic bacteria, further elucidating the mechanisms by which it regulates microbial growth and nitrogen removal performance. Specifically, the nitrogen removal process in a continuous-flow anammox membrane bioreactor collapsed when the nitrite concentration reached 243 mg N/L. Integrated meta-omics analyses demonstrated that excessive nitrite disrupted the energy metabolism of Ca. Brocadia sapporoensis (AMXB1), reducing the energy available for developing tolerance. Subsequently, it disrupted cell replication by impairing the biosynthesis process of AMXB1, particularly DNA replication and the formation of vital cell structures such as the cell membrane and cell wall, as well as the cellular protection system, leading to the collapse of the anammox system. Additionally, the cross-feeding of amino acids and cofactors between AMXB1 and symbiotic bacteria plays an important role in the recovery of nitrogen removal performance of anammox consortia after nitrite inhibition. The findings provide a novel strategy and direction for improving the tolerance and resilience of anammox consortia in engineered ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40373110,
year = {2025},
author = {Park, MJ and Kim, J and Kim, YJ and Yu, J and Jin, H and Woo, S and Zo, YG and Kwon, KK},
title = {Genome-based reclassification of the family Stappiaceae and assessment of environmental forcing with the report of two novel taxa, Flexibacterium corallicola gen. nov., sp. nov., and Nesiotobacter zosterae sp. nov., isolated from coral and seagrass.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {5},
pages = {e0322500},
pmid = {40373110},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Phylogeny ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; Animals ; *Genome, Bacterial ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Alismatales/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Two novel strains, MaLMAid0302T and SPO723T, isolated from coral and eelgrass, respectively, were distinguished from other Stappiaceae species based on phenotypic, biochemical, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic traits. Taxonomic challenges within the family Stappiaceae were addressed using a taxogenomic approach with iterative clustering, establishing an optimal average amino acid identity (AAI) threshold (71.92-72.88%) for genus delineation. This analysis led to major taxonomic revisions, including the establishment of new genera-Parapolycladidibacter, Astericibacter, Flexibacterium, Aliiroseibium, Laciiroseibium, Soliroseibium, Novilabrenzia, Litoriroseibium, and Algilabrenzia-as well as the reassignment of several species: Hongsoonwoonella albiluteola comb. nov., Parapolycladidibacter stylochi gen. nov., comb. nov., Astericibacter flavus gen. nov., comb. nov., Nesiotobacter exalbescens comb. nov., Aliiroseibium hamelinense gen. nov., comb. nov., Laciiroseibium aquae gen. nov., comb. nov., Soliroseibium sediminis gen. nov., comb. nov., Novilabrenzia suaedae gen. nov., comb. nov., Novilabrenzia litorale gen. nov., comb. nov., Litoriroseibium aestuarii gen. nov., comb. nov., Litoriroseibium limicola gen. nov., comb. nov., and Algilabrenzia polysiphoniae gen. nov., comb. nov. Given this extensive taxonomic reclassification of the family Stappiaceae, strain SPO723T (=KCCM 42324T = JCM 14066T) was classified as Nesiotobacter zosterae sp. nov., and Flexibacterium corallicola MaLMAid0302T (=KCTC 92348T = JCM 35474T) was designated as the type species of the newly established genus Flexibacterium. Close phylogenetic ties to Pseudovibrio, known for symbiosis, prompted analysis of niche-specific genetic compositions. Canonical Correspondence Analysis attributed 64% of genomic variation to phylogenetic forcing and 36% to environmental forcing. Functional adaptations included pectin and aromatic compound degradation in sediment strains, nitrogen reduction in flatworm strains, and sulfur metabolism in coral strains. The eelgrass strain exhibited dTDP-L-rhamnose synthesis, potentially aiding biofilm formation for adhesion in dynamic environments. These findings emphasize the roles of both environmental and phylogenetic forcing in shaping genomic diversity and highlight the ecological importance of the family Stappiaceae in marine habitat-associated niches.},
}
@article {pmid40373087,
year = {2025},
author = {Giza, A and Hermanowicz, P and Ważny, R and Domka, A and Rozpądek, P and Łabuz, J},
title = {Effect of UV-A on endophyte colonisation of Arabidopsis thaliana.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {5},
pages = {e0323576},
pmid = {40373087},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Ultraviolet Rays ; *Arabidopsis/microbiology/radiation effects/genetics/growth &amp; development ; *Endophytes/radiation effects/physiology ; Symbiosis/radiation effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/radiation effects ; Plant Roots/microbiology/radiation effects ; },
abstract = {UV-A, an important part of sunlight radiation, is typically absent in experiments on plant-endophyte interactions. We examined the impact of UV-A in the 350-400 nm range (UV-A1 waveband) on the plant interactions with fungal endophytes belonging to different taxonomic groups: Paraphoma chrysanthemicola, Phomopsis columnaris, Diaporthe eres, Mucor sp., and yeast Sporobolomyces ruberrimus. Physiologically relevant levels of UV-A did not substantially affect the colonisation of shoots and roots by endophytes. UV-A upregulated the expression of genes involved in the establishment of symbiosis. Specifically, the expression of PDF1.2 was affected by P. chrysanthemicola and S. ruberrimus only under UV-A conditions. Additionally, UV-A exposure upregulated the mRNA levels of ICS1 and PAL1, genes important for plant responses to stress factors. Inoculation with P. chrysanthemicola and S. ruberrimus led to increased expression of the ICS1 gene. We did not observe significant interactions between the effects of UV-A and the presence of endophytes on other examined plant traits, including plant fresh weight, root system architecture, and expression of plant photoreceptor genes. For these physiological parameters, the effects of the presence of endophytes did not depend on UV-A supplementation. Our findings indicate that while UV-A does not substantially influence plant colonisation by the endophytes, it does trigger the upregulation of plant defence genes and affects the shoot growth of Arabidopsis.},
}
@article {pmid40372471,
year = {2025},
author = {Lord, KA and Larson, G and Allaby, RG and Karlsson, EK},
title = {A universally applicable definition for domestication.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {22},
pages = {e2413207122},
pmid = {40372471},
issn = {1091-6490},
mesh = {*Domestication ; Humans ; Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {The process of domestication is commonly perceived as a human achievement, and domestic species are typically assumed to be those under human control. Domestic species have emerged from a greater diversity of interactions than this perspective allows, and none of the many definitions proposed for domestication can readily, reliably, and consistently distinguish domestic and nondomestic populations. Here, we propose that the process of domestication should instead be defined solely as evolution of a nonhuman population in response to an anthropogenic niche and that a domestic population is one that cannot sustain itself outside of an anthropogenic niche. As a result, this definition does not require comparisons with a presumed and largely unobservable ancestor. Instead, it focuses on the observable relationship between a nonhuman population and humans. It also avoids making assumptions about how domestication happens, thus enabling an exploration of the mechanisms underlying the process of adaptation to an anthropogenic niche. By applying this definition to plants, animals, and microbes, we illustrate its utility for investigating the evolution of the relationship between humans and other species and for anticipating which species are likely to survive in an increasingly human-influenced world. Domestication is simply an evolutionary process resulting from the interaction between two species, one of which is human. As we work to protect Earth's biodiversity, this definition allows us to understand why, in response to the conditions human societies create, some species survive and thrive, while others struggle and go extinct.},
}
@article {pmid40371945,
year = {2025},
author = {Roeder, AHK and Bent, A and Lovell, JT and McKay, JK and Bravo, A and Medina-Jimenez, K and Morimoto, KW and Brady, SM and Hua, L and Hibberd, JM and Zhong, S and Cardinale, F and Visentin, I and Lovisolo, C and Hannah, MA and Webb, AAR},
title = {Lost in translation: What we have learned from attributes that do not translate from Arabidopsis to other plants.},
journal = {The Plant cell},
volume = {37},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40371945},
issn = {1532-298X},
support = {BB/M011194/1//BBSRC/ ; BB/M015416/1//BBSRC/ ; BB/K011790/1//BBSRC/ ; BB/W001209/1//BBSRC/ ; },
mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Protein Biosynthesis ; },
abstract = {Research in Arabidopsis thaliana has a powerful influence on our understanding of gene functions and pathways. However, not everything translates from Arabidopsis to crops and other plants. Here, a group of experts consider instances where translation has been lost and why such translation is not possible or is challenging. First, despite great efforts, floral dip transformation has not succeeded in other species outside Brassicaceae. Second, due to gene duplications and losses throughout evolution, it can be complex to establish which genes are orthologs of Arabidopsis genes. Third, during evolution Arabidopsis has lost arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Fourth, other plants have evolved specialized cell types that are not present in Arabidopsis. Fifth, similarly, C4 photosynthesis cannot be studied in Arabidopsis, which is a C3 plant. Sixth, many other plant species have larger genomes, which has given rise to innovations in transcriptional regulation that are not present in Arabidopsis. Seventh, phenotypes such as acclimation to water stress can be challenging to translate due to different measurement strategies. And eighth, while the circadian oscillator is conserved, there are important nuances in the roles of circadian regulators in crop plants. A key theme emerging across these vignettes is that even when translation is lost, insights can still be gained through comparison with Arabidopsis.},
}
@article {pmid40371533,
year = {2025},
author = {Rog, I and Lerner, D and Bender, SF and van der Heijden, MGA},
title = {The Increased Environmental Niche of Dual-Mycorrhizal Woody Species.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {28},
number = {5},
pages = {e70132},
doi = {10.1111/ele.70132},
pmid = {40371533},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {TMPFP3_217251//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; GRS-088/20//Gebert R&#xfc;f Foundation/ ; //Sustainability and Energy Research Initiative Ph.D. Fellowship/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Wood/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {The presence and distribution of mycorrhizal symbionts can influence plant distribution through specific host-mycorrhiza symbiosis interactions. However, generalist hosts also exist, such as dual-mycorrhizal plants that form symbiotic associations with both ectomycorrhizal fungi (EM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM). Little is known about the effect of dual mycorrhization status on the hosts' global distribution and acclimation to specific environments. This study investigates the potential advantage of dual associations of more than 400 woody genera spread at a global scale. We found that dual-host woody species occupy a broader geographical range and environmental niche space compared to those associating exclusively with either AM or EM. We show that the increased geographic range and expanded environmental niche space are independent of the phylogenetic architecture and evolutionary history of the woody genera. Our results highlight the advantage of generalist host-microbe symbioses between woody species and fungi to expand their range, and their potential role in colonising dry climates.},
}
@article {pmid40371512,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, L and Sun, Y and Yang, XQ and Fang, HD and Shi, LT and He, GX and Yu, JL and Yan, BG},
title = {[Effects of nitrogen addition on Arachis hypogaea "Qicai"-rhizobia symbiosis and biomass allocation].},
journal = {Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology},
volume = {36},
number = {4},
pages = {1109-1117},
doi = {10.13287/j.1001-9332.202504.010},
pmid = {40371512},
issn = {1001-9332},
mesh = {*Nitrogen/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Arachis/growth &amp; development/microbiology/physiology ; *Biomass ; *Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; Fertilizers ; },
abstract = {To reveal how rhizobia affects biomass allocation of peanuts under different nitrogen concentrations, we conducted a pot experiment by treatments of Arachis hypogaea "Qicai" with and without Bradyrhizobium inoculation to investigate the characteristics of plant biomass allocation and symbiotic nodulation at the nitrogen addition level of 0, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 mmol·L[-1]. The results showed that: 1) Under non-inoculation, the addition of low-level nitrogen (8-32 mmol·L[-1]) had limited impact on plant biomass. When nitrogen addition level reached 64 mmol·L[-1], total plant biomass, leaf biomass, leaf area, and total net photosynthetic rate increased significantly by 82.1%, 116.6%, 116.1% and 122.1% respectively in compared with those without nitrogen addition (0 mmol·L[-1]). 2) Under the condition of inoculation, total plant biomass, leaf biomass, leaf area, and total net photosynthetic rate increased under the nitrogen addition level of 16 mmol·L[-1] by 65.3%, 97.5%, 91.7%, and 112.8%. The nodulation amount of plants and the total amount of leghemoglobin first increased and then decreased with the increases of nitrogen addition level, reaching their maximum values at 49.00 mg·plant[-1] and 0.12 mg·plant[-1] respectively at the nitrogen addition level of 16 mmol·L[-1]. When the nitrogen addition level reached 64 mmol·L[-1], they decreased significantly. There was no nodulation of roots when the nitrogen addition was 128 mmol·L[-1]. 3) Rhizobia inoculation significantly increased leaf biomass, aboveground biomass, leaf area, and total net photosynthetic rate when nitrogen addition level ranged from 8 to 64 mmol·L[-1], with an overall increase of 43.3%, 37.6%, 34.5%, and 53.8% respectively. However, rhizobia inoculation did not affect those indices when the nitrogen addition level was 0 or 128 mmol·L[-1]. Overall, rhizobia inoculation significantly increased the allometric growth constants of leaf-root and leaf-total biomass, and decreased the allometric growth constants of root-stem and root-total biomass. In conclusion, peanuts actively adjust resource allocations among different organs with a trade-off between environmental nitrogen absorption and symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which would maximize the benefit of resource investments. Among the N addition levels involved in this study, 16 mmol·L[-1] is optimal for the symbiotic nodulation of A. hypogaea "Qicai" and Bradyrhizobium.},
}
@article {pmid40371033,
year = {2025},
author = {Dey, G and Upadhyay, H and Maity, JP and Chen, CY and Wang, SL and Sinha, A and Chakraborty, A},
title = {Root-Associated Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria in Mangrove Ecosystem and its Application in Sustainable Biotechnology.},
journal = {Indian journal of microbiology},
volume = {65},
number = {1},
pages = {333-346},
pmid = {40371033},
issn = {0046-8991},
abstract = {Mangroves are distinguished as a unique ecotone, characterized by their specialized habitat and extreme environmental conditions, including high salinity, tidal fluctuations, elevated temperatures, low oxygen levels, and waterlogging. While these stressors impose numerous challenges on mangroves, the plants have evolved adaptive mechanisms to cope with such harsh conditions. Crucially, the root-associated microbial community, particularly plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), plays an essential role in aiding mangrove plants to withstand these adverse conditions, highlighting the symbiotic relationship vital for mangrove resilience. The study aims to explore the root-associated PGPB in mangrove ecosystems, focusing on their roles and potential biotechnological applications. It has been found that these diverse PGPB, isolated from mangroves, exhibited plant growth-promoting properties, including nitrogen fixation, solubilization of phosphorus and potassium, and the production of beneficial compounds such as phytohormones, exopolysaccharides, and volatile organic compounds. These traits of PGPB contribute not only to plant growth and development but also to resilience against various stresses, especially salinity. They aid in maintaining nutrient and ionic balance, modulating hormonal levels, providing osmoprotection, mitigating oxidative stress, and enhancing resistance to pathogens within the mangrove ecosystem. Moreover, the study highlights the promising biotechnological applications of these microbes in promoting sustainable agricultural practices in saline environments, enhancing environmental remediation efforts, and supporting mangrove reforestation initiatives. In conclusion, leveraging the symbiotic relationships between mangrove plants and their root-associated PGPB offers innovative, sustainable solutions to contemporary environmental challenges, paving the way for enhanced ecosystem resilience and productivity.},
}
@article {pmid40370212,
year = {2025},
author = {Tekle, YI and Smith, AR and McGinnis, M and Ghebezadik, S and Patel, P},
title = {A New Paramoeba Isolate From Florida Exhibits a Microtubule-Bound Endosymbiont Closely Associated With the Host Nucleus.},
journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology},
volume = {72},
number = {3},
pages = {e70011},
pmid = {40370212},
issn = {1550-7408},
support = {R15 GM116103/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 2401946//National Science Foundation/ ; 1R15GM116103-02/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; SFA-23-5//Simons Fellow Award/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; Animals ; Florida ; *Microtubules ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; },
abstract = {The genera Paramoeba and Neoparamoeba, within the family Paramoebidae (order Dactylopodida), are distinguished by their dactylopodial pseudopodia and the presence of an intracellular eukaryotic symbiont, the Perkinsela-like organism (PLO). Taxonomic classification within these genera has been challenging due to overlapping morphological traits and close phylogenetic relationships. They are marine, with some playing significant roles as parasites. Notably, they have been implicated in sea urchin mass mortality events and are known causative agents of Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) in fish. Despite their ecological and economic importance, many aspects of their diversity, biology, evolution, and host interactions remain poorly understood. In this study, we describe a novel amoeba species, Paramoeba daytoni n. sp., isolated from Daytona Beach, Florida. Morphological and molecular analyses confirm its placement within the Paramoeba clade, closely related to P. eilhardi, P. karteshi, and P. aparasomata. Phylogenetic assessments using 18S rDNA (18S) and Cytochrome c Oxidase I (COI) markers demonstrate the limitations of the 18S gene for species delineation, highlighting COI as a more reliable genetic marker for this group. Additionally, observations on PLO morphology, movement, and microtubule association provide insights into the endosymbiotic relationship, reinforcing the need for further research into this unique eukaryote-eukaryote symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40369997,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, Z and Wang, Y and Yang, L and Qian, X and Yang, A and Liu, J and Jacquemyn, H and Li, T and Xing, X},
title = {Metabolic Shifts and Nutrient Transfer Patterns in Orchid Seeds During Symbiotic Germination.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {48},
number = {8},
pages = {6406-6420},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15612},
pmid = {40369997},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 32170013), the CAMS Initiative for Innovative Medicine (Grant No. 2021-I2M-1-031), the Science and Technology Program of the Xizang Autonomous Region (Grant No. XZ202402ZD0002), and the Science and Technology Program of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Grant No. 2023YFDZ0076)./ ; },
mesh = {*Germination/physiology ; *Seeds/metabolism/ultrastructure/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Orchidaceae/metabolism/microbiology/physiology/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Nutrients/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic germination in orchids is a complex biological process driven by a unique dependence on mycorrhizal fungi. It is generally assumed that, due to a lack of endosperm, orchids fully rely on fungi for carbon sources. However, orchid seed embryos store substantial nutrient reserves, but the metabolic functions of these reserves and their roles in establishing symbiosis during germination remain unclear. Here, we used time-series transcriptomics and ultrastructural morphological analyses to investigate the early stages of symbiotic germination in Gymnadenia conopsea, a terrestrial orchid widely distributed across Eurasia. We identify three distinct phases during early seed germination (seed imbibition, fungal invasion and symbiotic establishment) that correspond with pronounced changes in gene expression and energy metabolism. During imbibition, lipid metabolism was already active, leading the oleosomes to fuse into large lipid vacuoles, whereas carbohydrate metabolism became dominant after fungal invasion, with lipid droplets appearing within fungal hyphae. Based on this transcriptomic and morphological evidence, we propose a potential model in which lipid vacuoles facilitate lipid transfer from the seeds to the fungi during the initial invasion, after which the fungi supply carbohydrates to the seeds for further development.},
}
@article {pmid40369072,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, T and Hu, X and Cao, F and Yun, F and Jia, K and Zhang, M and Kong, G and Nie, B and Liu, Y and Zhang, H and Li, X and Gao, H and Shi, J and Liang, G and Hu, G and Kasper, DL and Song, X and Qian, Y},
title = {Targeting symbionts by apolipoprotein L proteins modulates gut immunity.},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {643},
number = {8070},
pages = {210-218},
pmid = {40369072},
issn = {1476-4687},
mesh = {Animals ; Mice ; *Symbiosis/immunology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism/immunology ; Female ; Male ; Enterocytes/metabolism/immunology/microbiology ; *Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/immunology/metabolism/genetics ; *Intestines/immunology/microbiology/cytology ; *Apolipoprotein L1/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/metabolism/immunology ; Ceramides/metabolism ; Apolipoproteins B/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism ; Bacteroides/immunology ; Signal Transduction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; },
abstract = {The mammalian gut harbours trillions of commensal bacteria that interact with their hosts through various bioactive molecules[1,2]. However, the mutualistic strategies that hosts evolve to benefit from these symbiotic relationships are largely unexplored. Here we report that mouse enterocytes secrete apolipoprotein L9a and b (APOL9a/b) in the presence of microbiota. By integrating flow cytometry sorting of APOL9-binding bacterial taxa with 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing (APOL9-seq), we identify that APOL9a/b, as well as their human equivalent APOL2, coat gut bacteria belonging to the order of Bacteroidales with a high degree of specificity through commensal ceramide-1-phosphate (Cer1P) lipids. Genetic abolition of ceramide-1-phosphate synthesis pathways in gut-dominant symbiote Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron significantly decreases the binding of APOL9a/b to the bacterium. Instead of lysing the bacterial cells, coating of APOL9a/b induces the production of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from the target bacteria. Subsequently, the Bacteroides-elicited outer membrane vesicles enhance the host's interferon-γ signalling to promote major histocompatibility complex class II expression in the intestinal epithelial cells. In mice, the loss of Apol9a/b compromises the gut major histocompatibility complex class II-instructed immune barrier function, leading to early mortality from infection by intestinal pathogens. Our data show how a host-elicited factor benefits gut immunological homeostasis by selectively targeting commensal ceramide molecules.},
}
@article {pmid40368875,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Ma, J and Zhang, P and Shi, W and Zou, R and Kohler, A and Yang, Y and Martin, FM and Zhang, F},
title = {Functional characterization of the N assimilation pathways in the mycelium of Laccaria bicolor and the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {Plant physiology},
volume = {198},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiaf194},
pmid = {40368875},
issn = {1532-2548},
support = {2021YFD2200202//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 32271829//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31901279//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; lzujbky-2021-ct16//Central Universities of China/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE/ ; //Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Mycelium/metabolism/growth &amp; development/genetics ; *Laccaria/genetics/metabolism/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; RNA Interference ; Glutamate Dehydrogenase/metabolism/genetics ; Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi contribute to N, Pi, and water uptake in trees while obtaining carbohydrates from their host plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying N assimilation during ECM symbiosis remain unclear. In this study, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of genes encoding glutamine synthetase (GS) and NADP-glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), which are key enzymes involved in N assimilation in the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete, Laccaria bicolor. LbGS and LbGDH RNAi strains exhibited significantly reduced mycelial growth when cultivated with various inorganic N sources. Compared with the wild-type mycelium, the RNAi strains demonstrated a reduced formation rate of ECM rootlets, indicating the essential role of these 2 enzymes in the establishment of symbiosis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that silencing of LbGS and LbGDH also altered the expression of other genes involved in N metabolism in ECM rootlets. 15N and 13C tracer experiments demonstrated that LbGS silencing affects carbon exchange in ECM roots. Our findings have established that both GS and NADP-GDH pathways play crucial roles in N assimilation in free-living mycelia and ECM roots, although the GS/GOGAT pathway appears to be predominant.},
}
@article {pmid40368494,
year = {2025},
author = {Pate, K and Linder, JM and Passwater, C and Harrelson, S and Cochran, A},
title = {Exploration of Clinical Nurse Specialist Preceptors' Perception of Competencies.},
journal = {Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing},
volume = {58},
number = {},
pages = {39-45},
doi = {10.1016/j.profnurs.2025.02.008},
pmid = {40368494},
issn = {1532-8481},
mesh = {Humans ; *Preceptorship ; *Nurse Clinicians/psychology ; *Clinical Competence ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; North Carolina ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Students, Nursing/psychology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of preceptors in guiding role transitions, limited literature exists on the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) preceptor to support a symbiotic relationship with CNS students.<br><br>PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to explore CNS preceptors' perceptions of their competencies.<br><br>METHODS: A descriptive correlational design was utilized in a convenience sample of CNS preceptors across the state of North Carolina, measuring competency with the Preceptor Self-Assessment Tool (PSAT)-40 in three competency domains: interpersonal and intrapersonal skills and attitudes, knowledge and understanding, and administrative resources and support.<br><br>RESULTS: The majority of preceptors reported scores in the advanced and proficient range on all three domains, with the administrative resources and support domain demonstrating the lowest scores. The knowledge and understanding domain demonstrated statistically significant correlations with the highest degree held, years of CNS experience, number of CNS students precepted, and recency of last precepting experience. Both years of experience as a nurse and CNS demonstrated statistically significant correlations with the total score, with multivariate analysis also supporting CNS experience.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Better understanding CNS preceptor competencies aids in appropriate preceptor selection as well as supports the development and implementation of professional development opportunities to prepare individuals acclimating to the preceptor role.},
}
@article {pmid40367854,
year = {2025},
author = {Ahmad, W and Coffman, L and Ray, R and Woldesenbet, S and Singh, G and Khan, AL},
title = {Flooding episodes and seed treatment influence the microbiome diversity and function in the soybean root and rhizosphere.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {982},
number = {},
pages = {179554},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179554},
pmid = {40367854},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {*Glycine max/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Rhizosphere ; *Floods ; *Microbiota ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seeds ; *Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Climate change-related events such as flooding have threatened crop productivity, agricultural sustainability, and global food security by causing hypoxic conditions. Such conditions impaire root development and nutrient acquisition, and alter root rhizospheric microbial communities that are vital for plant health and productivity. Seed treatment with pathogen protection have been key to maintaining early seed germination and plant productivity in field conditions. Still, their role in flooding stress and microbiome diversity and functionality in soybeans is poorly understood. Here, we performed field-based investigations to understand the impact of flooding episodes (0, 3, and 7 days after floodings; DAF) and seed treatment (Cruiser MAXX) on soybean plant growth and rhizosphere microbiome diversity and functionality. Flooding episodes significantly reduced seed yield (746 kg ha[-1]) compared to untreated control. However, the seed treatment increased plant height and pods per plant (3-DAF) and reduced flood injury by 33 % (7-DAF). The shotgun metagenomic analysis showed that seed treatment significantly enhanced the microbial community in rhizospheric soil. Flooding episodes impacted the microbial communities with higher abundance at 3-DAF than at 7-DAF. Flooding stress reduced the microbial diversity, although Proteobacteria increased as root endophytes. Seed treatment and flooding combinations decreased microbiome functionality and reduced gene counts for phytohormone biosynthesis, fermentation, nitrogen, symbiosis, and degradation pathways. Similarly, flooding stress shifted the carbohydrate synthesis to a more specialized substrate. These findings enhance understanding of soybean root and rhizosphere microbiome diversity and functionality dynamics during flooding stress and provide a platform to develop sustainable agricultural practices for enhancing soybean stress tolerance to flooding.},
}
@article {pmid40366931,
year = {2025},
author = {Romagnoli, MG and Catania, MDV and Arana, MD and Albornoz, PL},
title = {Ectomycorrhizas in Lycopodiopsida: their first registry and arbuscular mycorrhiza in Phlegmariurus saururus (Huperziaceae).},
journal = {Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias},
volume = {97},
number = {2},
pages = {e20241248},
doi = {10.1590/0001-3765202520241248},
pmid = {40366931},
issn = {1678-2690},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/classification/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis/physiology ; },
abstract = {Lycophytes show no instances of ectomycorrhizas. Phlegmariurus saururus is the only Huperziaceae that grows in Comechingones biogeographic province, in sunny, exposed surficial rock crevices with poor soil development and very scarce water. As mycorrhizas improve plant fitness in natural ecosystems, it was hypothesized that P. saururus can develop multiple types of fungal symbiosis, including ectomycorrhizas. For detecting, identification and description of mycorrhizas, conventional techniques were employed, and samples of roots were cut with an ultra-microtome to obtain thin (3 µm) and ultrathin (0.1 µm) sections. Phlegmariurus saururus is the first species of Lycopodiopsida where the ectomycorrhizas are evidenced. Arbuscular mycorrhizas and septate endophytes were also found. Ectomycorrhizas can alter the anatomy and hydrophilic properties of roots, improving the adaptation of the plant hosts to habitats with a marked period of drought, as the novel Andean Comechingones habitats. The ectomycorrhizas detected in P. saururus could be considered as an adaptive mechanism related to the successful colonisation of this habitat and can undergo a significant transformation in the lifestyle of fungal symbiosis of lycophytes, which could provide important insights into this morphological and functional evolution.},
}
@article {pmid40366182,
year = {2025},
author = {Martin Říhová, J and Vodička, R and Hypša, V},
title = {An obligate symbiont of Haematomyzus elephantis with a strongly reduced genome resembles symbiotic bacteria in sucking lice.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {91},
number = {6},
pages = {e0022025},
pmid = {40366182},
issn = {1098-5336},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; *Phthiraptera/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; },
abstract = {The parvorder Rhynchophthirina with a single genus Haematomyzus is a small group of ectoparasites of unclear phylogenetic position, related to sucking and chewing lice. Previous screening based on the 16S rRNA gene indicated that Haematomyzus harbors a symbiotic bacterium whose DNA exhibits a strong shift in nucleotide composition typical of obligate mutualistic symbionts in insects. Within Phthiraptera, the smallest known genomes are found in the symbionts associated with sucking lice, which feed exclusively on mammal blood, compared to the generally larger genomes of the symbionts inhabiting chewing lice, which feed on skin derivatives. In this study, we investigate the genome characteristics of the symbiont associated with Haematomyzus elephantis. We sequenced and assembled the H. elephantis metagenome, extracted a genome draft of its symbiotic bacterium, and showed that the symbiont has a significantly reduced genome, which is with 0.39 Mbp the smallest genome among the symbionts known from Phthiraptera. Multigenic phylogenetic analysis places the symbiont into one of three clusters composed of long-branched symbionts from other insects. More specifically, it clusters together with symbionts from several other sucking lice and also with Wigglesworthia glossinidia, an obligate symbiont of tsetse flies. Consistent with the dramatic reduction of its genome, the H. elephantis symbiont lost many metabolic capacities. However, it retained functional pathways for four B vitamins, a trait typical for symbionts in blood-feeding insects. Considering genomic, metabolic, and phylogenetic characteristics, the new symbiont closely resembles those known from several sucking lice rather than chewing lice.IMPORTANCERhynchophthirina is a unique small group of permanent ectoparasites that is closely related to both sucking and chewing lice. These two groups of lice differ in their morphology, ecology, and feeding strategies. As a consequence of their different dietary sources, i.e., mammals' blood vs vertebrate skin derivatives, they also exhibit distinct patterns of symbiosis with obligate bacterial symbionts. While Rhynchophthirina shares certain traits with sucking and chewing lice, the nature of its obligate symbiotic bacterium and its metabolic role is not known. In this study, we assemble the genome of symbiotic bacterium from Haematomyzus elephantis (Rhynchophthirina), demonstrating its close similarity and phylogenetic proximity to several symbionts of sucking lice. The genome is highly reduced (representing the smallest genome among louse-associated symbionts) and exhibits a significant loss of metabolic pathways. However, similar to other sucking louse symbionts, it retains essential pathways for the synthesis of several B vitamins.},
}
@article {pmid40366159,
year = {2025},
author = {Esin, JJ and Visick, KL and Kroken, AR},
title = {Calcium signaling controls early stage biofilm formation and dispersal in Vibrio fischeri.},
journal = {Journal of bacteriology},
volume = {207},
number = {6},
pages = {e0007725},
pmid = {40366159},
issn = {1098-5530},
support = {R01 EY034239/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01EY034239/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; *Aliivibrio fischeri/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; *Calcium Signaling/physiology ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Calcium/metabolism ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Bacterial dispersal from a biofilm is presently the least-studied step of the biofilm life cycle. The symbiotic bacterial species Vibrio fischeri is a model organism for studying biofilms relevant to a eukaryotic host; however, methodology is lacking to readily study the dispersal of this microbe from biofilms formed in the lab. Here, we adapted a time-lapse assay to visualize biofilm dispersal by V. fischeri. We observed biofilm formation and dispersal for multiple V. fischeri isolates, which displayed a variety of biofilm architecture phenotypes and dispersal dynamics. We then investigated V. fischeri strain ES114 using genetic tools and mutants available for this strain. ES114 exhibited calcium-dependent biofilm formation followed by a rapid (less than 10 min) coordinated dispersal event that occurred approximately 5 h from the experimental start. Biofilm dispersal was largely independent of the dispersal-promoting protease encoded by lapG. Although we found no role under our conditions for either biofilm formation or dispersal for several other factors including polysaccharides and autoinducers, we determined that biofilm formation was enhanced, and dispersal was delayed, with increased concentrations of calcium. Furthermore, biofilm formation depended on the calcium-responsive diguanylate cyclase (DGC) CasA, and dispersal could be modulated by overexpressing CasA. Our work has thus developed a new tool for the V. fischeri field and uncovered a key role for calcium signaling and c-di-GMP in early biofilm formation and dispersal in V. fischeri.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Biofilm formation and dispersal are critical steps in both symbiotic and pathogenic colonization. Relative to biofilm formation, the process of dispersal in the model symbiont Vibrio fischeri, and other bacteria, is understudied. Here, we adapted an imaging assay to study early biofilm formation and the dispersal process in V. fischeri. We demonstrated that our assay can quantify biofilm formation and dispersal over time, can reveal phenotypic differences in diverse natural wild-type isolates, and is sensitive enough to investigate the impact of environmental factors. Our data confirm that calcium is a potent biofilm formation signal and identify the diguanylate cyclase CasA as a key regulator. This work leads the way for more in-depth research about unknown mechanisms of biofilm dispersal.},
}
@article {pmid40365791,
year = {2025},
author = {Howard, NOA and Rodriguez-Morelos, VH and Allen, L and Chinoruma, P and Cohen, LD and Hoysted, GA and Jungblut, AD and Lamb, I and Moeskjaer, S and Pinzari, F and Prout, J and Stanley, CE and Ton, J and Watts, A and Williams, A and Daniell, T and Wanke, A and Schornack, S and Pressel, S and Field, KJ},
title = {What's in a name? The case for standardised nomenclature for mutualistic Mucoromycotina 'fine root endophytes'.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf210},
pmid = {40365791},
issn = {1460-2431},
}
@article {pmid40365728,
year = {2025},
author = {Venn, AA and Tambutté, E and Crovetto, L and Tambutté, S},
title = {pH regulation in coral photosymbiosis and calcification: a compartmental perspective.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {2},
pages = {487-503},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70200},
pmid = {40365728},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//Government of the Principality of Monaco/ ; },
mesh = {*Anthozoa/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Animals ; *Calcification, Physiologic ; Photosynthesis ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; },
abstract = {The coral-dinoflagellate photosymbiosis and coral calcification underpin shallow water, coral reef ecosystems. This review examines the pivotal role of pH regulation in the cell physiology of these processes. Despite simple tissue organization, photosymbiotic corals maintain a complex internal microenvironment, with distinct compartments exhibiting contrasting pH levels. For example, the acidic 'symbiosome' surrounds the algal symbionts, while the alkaline 'extracellular calcifying medium' occurs at the growing front of the skeleton. We discuss how pH regulation of these compartments is crucial to the functioning of coral photosymbiosis and calcification, as well as mitigating the internal acid-base imbalances that these processes create. The role of pH regulation in the interplay between photosymbiosis and calcification is also discussed, focusing on the influence of symbiont photosynthesis on transepithelial gradients and the distribution of energy sources in the coral colony. Throughout this review, insights into pH regulation derived from previous research on ocean acidification are integrated to deepen understanding. Finally, we propose research priorities to advance knowledge of coral resilience under changing ocean conditions, such as investigating inorganic carbon concentration within coral compartments, species-specific differences and the impacts of thermal stress on pH regulation.},
}
@article {pmid40364482,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Q and Imran, },
title = {Using biochar, compost, and dry-based organic amendments in combination with mycorrhizae for mitigating heavy metal contamination in soil.},
journal = {International journal of phytoremediation},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-12},
doi = {10.1080/15226514.2025.2502458},
pmid = {40364482},
issn = {1549-7879},
abstract = {Water scarcity has led to the increased use of untreated wastewater for irrigation, contributing to heavy metal (HM) accumulation in soils and crops. This study evaluated the effectiveness of organic amendments and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in reducing HM bioavailability and enhancing plant growth. A two-year pot experiment (2022-2023) was conducted using eight treatments (T1-T8) and three replicates each. Treatments included: T1 (Control), T2 Rice straw, T3, rice straw compost, T4, rice straw biochar, T5, AMF, T6, Straw + AMF, T7, compost + AMF, and T8, biochar + AMF. Post-harvest analysis showed that T7 and T8 significantly reduced soil and plant HM levels. T8 was the most effective, reducing Pb, Cd, and Ni in grains by up to 93%, 76%, and 83%, respectively. Shoot HM concentrations declined by 22%-52%, and grain uptake dropped by 58%-92%. T8 also improved shoot and root dry weights by 66% and 48%, and grain yield by 56%. Root colonization and mycorrhizal intensity increased significantly, along with urease (78%) and catalase (156%) activities. Results highlight the potential of T8 (biochar + AMF) as a sustainable strategy for remediating contaminated soils and improving crop productivity.},
}
@article {pmid40363828,
year = {2025},
author = {Tuani, YT and Ayon, NJ and Onjiko, RM and Choi, SB and Yadav, S and Eleftherianos, I and Nemes, P},
title = {Capillary Electrophoresis Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Reveals Metabolic Perturbations During Nematode Infection in Drosophila melanogaster.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {30},
number = {9},
pages = {},
pmid = {40363828},
issn = {1420-3049},
support = {IOS 2019869//NSF/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization/methods ; Electrophoresis, Capillary/methods ; *Drosophila melanogaster/parasitology/metabolism/microbiology ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics/methods ; *Nematode Infections/metabolism/parasitology ; Larva/metabolism/parasitology ; },
abstract = {Drosophila melanogaster is broadly used to model host-pathogen interactions. Entomopathogenic nematodes are excellent research tools for dissecting the molecular and functional basis of parasitism and the host's anti-parasitic response. In this work, we used discovery metabolomics to explore the differences in the metabolome composition of wild type D. melanogaster larvae that were infected with symbiotic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae carrying Xenorhabdus nematophila mutualistic bacteria) or axenic nematodes (S. carpocapsae lacking their bacterial partners). Benefiting from their high separation power, sensitivity, and compatibility with low amounts of the starting metabolome, we leveraged microanalytical capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) to profile the small (<500 Da) polar portion of the metabolome among these experimental treatments. We detected and quantified 122 different small molecules, of which 50 were identified with high confidence. Supervised multivariate analysis revealed that the infection was paralleled with changes in amino acid biosynthesis (arginine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine), metabolism (alanine, arginine, aspartate, glutamate, glycine, proline, serine, and threonine), and classical signalling (aspartate, γ-aminobutyrate, glutamate, and pyridoxine). This study demonstrates the ability of high-sensitivity CE-ESI-MS to uncover metabolic perturbations during infection. The results from the metadata may facilitate the design of targeted studies to explore small biomolecules and their functions during host-pathogen interaction.},
}
@article {pmid40363747,
year = {2025},
author = {Grondalska, J and Kolniak-Ostek, J},
title = {Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Anticholinergic Activities, as Well as Chemical Composition and Polyphenolic Compounds in Novel SCOBY-Fermented Juices.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {30},
number = {9},
pages = {},
pmid = {40363747},
issn = {1420-3049},
mesh = {*Polyphenols/chemistry/pharmacology/analysis ; *Antioxidants/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Fruit and Vegetable Juices/analysis ; *Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; Fermentation ; Malus/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Fermentation processes, which occur under the influence of multiplying microorganisms, lead to the creation of products with beneficial health properties. Due to the growing interest of consumers in beverages with health-promoting properties, new raw materials and their processing methods are being intensively studied to obtain products with improved functional values. The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of fermentation using SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) on the chemical composition, polyphenolic profile, and biological activity of apple and pear juices. The fermentation process caused a decrease in the content of polyphenols in apple juice from 1568.8 to 1269.0 mg/L, while in pears, an increase was observed from 492.9 to 576.7 mg/L. Statistically significant changes were observed in the content of individual groups of polyphenolic compounds. The fermentation process also influenced the increase in the value of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticholinergic activity. This indicates that fermentation can be an effective process in increasing the biological properties of fruit juices. This fact can be used in the prevention of lifestyle diseases and in the production of functional foods with targeted health-promoting properties.},
}
@article {pmid40362462,
year = {2025},
author = {Chakraborty, N and Holmes-Hampton, G and Rusling, M and Kumar, VP and Hoke, A and Lawrence, AB and Gautam, A and Ghosh, SP and Hammamieh, R},
title = {Delayed Impact of Ionizing Radiation Depends on Sex: Integrative Metagenomics and Metabolomics Analysis of Rodent Colon Content.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {9},
pages = {},
pmid = {40362462},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {xxxxx//AFRRI/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Male ; Female ; Mice ; *Metabolomics/methods ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Radiation, Ionizing ; *Colon/radiation effects/metabolism/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/radiation effects ; Sex Factors ; Whole-Body Irradiation/adverse effects ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; },
abstract = {There is an escalating need to comprehend the long-term impacts of nuclear radiation exposure since the permeation of ionizing radiation has been frequent in our current societal framework. A system evaluation of the microbes that reside inside a host's colon could meet this knowledge gap since the microbes play major roles in a host's response to stress. Indeed, our past study suggested that these microbes might break their symbiotic association with moribund hosts to form a pro-survival condition exclusive to themselves. In this study, we undertook metagenomics and metabolomics assays regarding the descending colon content (DCC) of adult mice. DCCs were collected 1 month and 6 months after 7 Gy or 7.5 Gy total body irradiation (TBI). The assessment of the metagenomic diversity profile in DCC found a significant sex bias caused by TBI. Six months after 7.5 Gy TBI, decreased Bacteroidetes were replaced by increased Firmicutes in males, and these alterations were reflected in the functional analysis. For instance, a larger number of networks linked to small chain fatty acid (SCFA) synthesis and metabolism were inhibited in males than in females. Additionally, bioenergy networks showed regression dynamics in females at 6 months post-TBI. Increased accumulation of glucose and pyruvate, which are typical precursors of beneficial SCFAs coupled with the activated networks linked to the production of reactive oxygen species, suggest a cross-sex energy-deprived state. Overall, there was a major chronic adverse implication in male mice that supported the previous literature in suggesting females are more radioresistant than males. The sex-biased chronic effects of TBI should be taken into consideration in designing the pertinent therapeutics.},
}
@article {pmid40361629,
year = {2025},
author = {Andrade, DKA and Wang, B and Lima, EMF and Shebeko, SK and Ermakov, AM and Khramova, VN and Ivanova, IV and Rocha, RDS and Vaz-Velho, M and Mutukumira, AN and Todorov, SD},
title = {Kombucha: An Old Tradition into a New Concept of a Beneficial, Health-Promoting Beverage.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {9},
pages = {},
pmid = {40361629},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {grants 2023/05394-9; 2024/01721-8; 2024/13311-9//FAPESP, Brazil/ ; UIDB/05937/2020 and UIDP/05937/2020//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o para a Ci&#xea;ncia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, for funding CISAS/ ; EGISU R&amp;D No. FZNE-2024-0013//Russian Federation/ ; },
abstract = {Kombucha is an ancient, fermented beverage that has gained increasing popularity worldwide due to its potential health benefits. Its origins trace back to China, from where it spread across Asia and Europe before reaching the modern global market. The fermentation of kombucha is mediated by a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts (SCOBY), comprising yeasts, acetic acid bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria. The microbial consortium plays a crucial role in the production of organic acids and bioactive metabolites, shaping the sensory characteristics of the beverage. Given the growing interest in kombucha as a functional beverage, this study aims to explore its historical background, fermentation process, and microbiological composition, including key yeasts, acid acetic bacteria, and lactic acid bacteria and their interactions. Additionally, we describe the potential health effects of kombucha, particularly its antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, the probiotic potential of the strains associated with kombucha, and safety considerations while also addressing the risks associated with its consumption. Although several studies suggested that kombucha may have antioxidants, antimicrobial, and probiotic properties, as well as contribute to gut microbiota regulation and immune system support, there is significant variability in the composition of the beverage, especially in artisanal preparations. This variability poses challenges in standardizing its potential effects and ensuring consistent safety. The risk of contamination further underscores the importance of adhering to strict sanitary production standards. To scientifically validate its health benefits and guarantee safe consumption, further research with larger sample sizes and robust methodologies is essential. The findings of this study will contribute to a deeper understanding of the functional properties of kombucha and provide scientific support for its safe and beneficial applications.},
}
@article {pmid40361556,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, J and Wu, J and Tu, M and Xiao, X and Hu, K and Li, Q and Zhao, N and Liu, A and Ao, X and Hu, X and Liu, S},
title = {Interaction Between Lactic Acid Bacteria and Acetic Acid Bacteria in Sichuan Bran Vinegar: Impact on Their Growth and Metabolites.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {9},
pages = {},
pmid = {40361556},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {2024NSFSC2079//Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province/ ; },
abstract = {Microbial interactions are essential for maintaining the stability and functionality of microbiota in fermented foods. In this study, representative strains of predominant lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria in Sichuan bran vinegar were selected, and their interactions in a simulated solid-state fermentation system were investigated. The results reveal that the biomass of A. pasteurianus LA10 significantly increased in both the co-culture and the pure culture, whereas the biomass of L. amylovorus LL34 in the co-culture (6.44 ± 0.30 lg CFU/g) was significantly lower than that in the pure culture (7.28 ± 0.30 lg CFU/g) (p < 0.05), indicating a partially harmful symbiosis between these two strains. The metabolic analysis shows that total acid (21.82 mg/g) and acetic acid (9.53 mg/g) contents in the co-culture were lower than those in the pure culture of LA10, suggesting that LL34 inhibited the acid-producing activity of LA10 to some extent. The interaction between the two bacteria also influenced the production of volatile compounds and non-volatile compounds, as revealed by GC-MS and untargeted UHPLC-MS/MS, respectively. Significant enrichment of acid and amino acid metabolism pathways was observed in the co-culture, revealing the impact of bacterial interactions on flavor development. This study provides valuable insights into the advancement of vinegar brewing technology.},
}
@article {pmid40360784,
year = {2025},
author = {Voolstra, CR and Schlotheuber, M and Camp, EF and Nitschke, MR and Szereday, S and Bejarano, S},
title = {Spatially restricted coral bleaching as an ecological manifestation of within-colony heterogeneity.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {740},
pmid = {40360784},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {468583787//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology/microbiology ; Coral Reefs ; *Coral Bleaching ; Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; },
abstract = {Coral bleaching is a widespread stress response of reef-building corals to elevated sea temperatures, resulting in the loss of symbiotic algae and often leading to coral death and reef degradation. Although coral bleaching occurs globally, not all reefs, species, colonies, or polyps bleach equally. Understanding intra-colony bleaching heterogeneity is crucial to anticipate the extent of coral loss at 2°C warming and harness variability to inform restorative interventions. Partially bleached coral colonies are commonly documented yet rarely tracked to determine whether they reflect ecologically distinct heterogeneity (e.g., in thermal tolerance) or eventually bleach completely. Focusing on bleaching that appears restricted to certain areas within a coral colony, we examine its putative basis in the spatial variability of the holobiont. A coral's three-dimensional structure creates mosaics of microenvironments. Adaptations to these microenvironments are underpinned by intra-colony differences in Symbiodiniaceae association, microbiome assemblage, and nutritional status, giving rise to microhabitats. Genetic mosaicism and epigenetic changes further contribue to intra-colony phenotypic heterogeneity. We pinpoint methodologies to align spatially restricted bleaching to different forms of coral surface heterogeneity, examine the common assumption that coral fragments represent entire colonies, and illuminate implications for coral biology and restoration.},
}
@article {pmid40359357,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, X and Hou, X and Zhou, W and Yan, H and Wen, H and Jiang, H and Tan, L},
title = {Variation of [239,240]Pu in Coral and Its Response to the Climate System in South China Sea.},
journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology},
volume = {59},
number = {20},
pages = {10067-10075},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c02025},
pmid = {40359357},
issn = {1520-5851},
mesh = {*Anthozoa ; Animals ; *Plutonium ; Climate Change ; China ; Water Pollutants, Radioactive ; },
abstract = {With the acceleration of climate change, understanding the behavior of the anthropogenic radioactive substances─particularly their responses to the climate system─has become critical for assessing their transport, transfer, and impact on the ecosystems. However, this remains underexplored, particularly in the South China Sea (SCS), where radioactivity is derived from both the close-in fallout of the Pacific Proving Ground (PPG) and the global fallout. Additionally, this region is quite sensitive to climate change. A coral core collected from Xisha Island, SCS, was initially analyzed for high-radiotoxicity [239,240]Pu. Approximately 72-84% of plutonium in coral originated from the close-in fallout of PPG through ocean current compared to the direct global fallout. However, the [239,240]Pu concentration still remains in background levels and does not show a significant radiation risk. After 1980, a distinct pattern emerged characterized by a "higher" concentration but a "lower" [240]Pu/[239]Pu atom ratio compared to the levels in the open west Pacific. This is primarily attributed to the seasonal upwelling of subsurface seawater on the continental shelf of SCS, driven by the prevailing southwest monsoon. Significantly elevated [239,240]Pu concentrations were observed during typical ENSO years 1983, 1988, and 1997. This is due to the elevated temperature, coral bleaching, and expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae. After expulsion, zooxanthellae containing higher [239,240]Pu compared to skeleton rapidly die, and their debris directly deposit onto the coral skeleton, in contrast to the metabolic way of [239,240]Pu during normal years. This finding offers critical insights into ecosystem protection in SCS amid global changes and the potential threat of nuclear contamination.},
}
@article {pmid40358997,
year = {2025},
author = {Connan, C and Fromentin, S and Benallaoua, M and Alvarez, AS and Pons, N and Quinquis, B and Morabito, C and Nazare, JA and Borezée-Durant, E and , and Haimet, F and Ehrlich, SD and Valeille, K and Cavezza, A and Blottière, H and Veiga, P and Almeida, M and Doré, J and Benamouzig, R},
title = {Associations Among Diet, Health, Lifestyle, and Gut Microbiota Composition in the General French Population: Protocol for the Le French Gut - Le Microbiote Français Study.},
journal = {JMIR research protocols},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {e64894},
pmid = {40358997},
issn = {1929-0748},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology/genetics ; France ; *Life Style ; Feces/microbiology ; *Diet ; Adult ; Prospective Studies ; *Health Status ; Female ; Male ; Metagenomics/methods ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Over the past 2 decades, the gut microbiota has emerged as a key player in human health, being involved in many different clinical contexts. Yet, many aspects of the relationship with its host are poorly documented. One obstacle is the substantial variability in wet-laboratory procedures and data processing implemented during gut microbiota studies, which poses a challenge of comparability and potential meta-analysis.<br><br>OBJECTIVE: The study protocol described here aimed to better understand the relationship between health, dietary habits, and the observed heterogeneity of gut microbiota composition in the general population. "Le French Gut - Le microbiote fran&#xe7;ais" aimed to collect, sequence, and analyze 100,000 fecal samples from French residents using a high-quality shotgun metagenomic pipeline, complemented with comprehensive health, lifestyle, and dietary metadata.<br><br>METHODS: "Le French Gut&#xa0;- Le microbiote fran&#xe7;ais" is a prospective, noninterventional French national study involving individuals, the creation of a biological collection (feces), and the exploitation of data from questionnaires and the National Health Data System (Syst&#xe8;me National des Donn&#xe9;es de Sant&#xe9;). This national study is open to all metropolitan French adult residents, excluding those who have undergone a colectomy or digestive stoma, or who have had a colonoscopy or taken antibiotics in the last 3 months. This is a home-based trial in which volunteers complete a questionnaire with insights about their health and habits, and in which stool samples are self-collected. Data analysis is structured into 6 work packages, each focusing on a specific aspect of the gut microbiome, including its composition and associations with lifestyle, quality of life, and health.<br><br>RESULTS: This paper outlines the study protocol, with recruitment having started in September 2022 and expected to continue until the end of December 2025. As of January 2025, a total of 20,000 participants have been enrolled. The first scientific publications based on the data analysis are expected by mid-2025.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: "Le French Gut" aims to provide a reference database and new ecosystem tools for understanding the relationship between the gut microbiota, its host, and diet. We expect to be able to find new signatures or targets and promote the design of innovative preventive strategies, personalized nutrition, and precision medicine.<br><br>TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05758961; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05758961.<br><br>DERR1-10.2196/64894.},
}
@article {pmid40358698,
year = {2025},
author = {Hasali, NHM and Shahbaz, M and Seelan, JSS and Ibrahim, NA and Wiart, C and Arumugam, N and Salam, MA and Musthafa, MM and Appalasamy, S},
title = {Endophytes of Zingiberaceae: distribution and bioactivity of their bioactive metabolites.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {207},
number = {6},
pages = {145},
pmid = {40358698},
issn = {1432-072X},
mesh = {*Endophytes/metabolism/chemistry ; *Zingiberaceae/microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {The endophytes associated with the Zingiberaceae family have demonstrated remarkable potential in various biological activities through their bioactive compounds that are useful for both medical and agricultural purposes. Additionally, isolated secondary metabolites from symbiotic microbes associated with this family of plants have shown promising results in various biological activities such as antifungal, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. This review focuses on the bioactive metabolites of Zingiberaceae endophytes with their potential biological activities against different pathogens as well as the production of phytohormones that promote plant growth. Furthermore, bibliometric analysis revealed the current key trends and collaborative works in this field. Additionally, the bibliometric analysis also explored a total of 75 relevant publications from the Scopus database that India is the most contributing country in this field with 38.7% of the total reported research work. The bibliometric approach helps uncover new research gaps by identifying emerging trends, underexplored topics, and collaborative networks, providing insights into areas that require further investigation and development. Notably, Streptomyces spp. have been commonly reported as potent endophytes, generating bioactive substances such as Vanillin and Resacetophenone with strong antibacterial activities. Significant knowledge gaps still exist, and with evolving therapeutic potential, this could offer a wide opportunity for new studies to emerge.},
}
@article {pmid40357979,
year = {2025},
author = {Ntiri, ES and Chun Nin Wong, A},
title = {Microbial metabolites as engines of behavioral variation across animals.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2501191},
pmid = {40357979},
issn = {1949-0984},
support = {R35 GM147651/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Behavior, Animal/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism/genetics/classification ; Vertebrates/physiology/microbiology ; Invertebrates/physiology/microbiology ; Humans ; Circadian Rhythm ; Signal Transduction ; },
abstract = {The microbiome, especially that present in the gut, has emerged as a key modulator of animal behavior. However, the extent of its influence across species and behavioral repertoires, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remains poorly understood. Increasing evidence suggests that microbial metabolites play an important role in driving behavioral variation. In this review, we synthesize findings from vertebrates to invertebrates, spanning both model and non-model organisms, to define key groups of microbial-derived metabolites involved in modulating seven distinct behaviors: nutrition, olfaction, circadian rhythms, reproduction, locomotion, aggression, and social interactions. We discuss how these microbial metabolites interact with host chemosensory systems, neurotransmitter signaling, and epigenetic modifications to shape behavior. Additionally, we highlight critical gaps in mechanistic understanding, including the need to map additional host receptors and signaling pathways, as well as the untapped potential of microbial biosynthetic gene clusters as sources for novel bioactive compounds. Advancing these areas will enhance understanding of the microbiome's role in behavioral modulation and open new avenues for microbiome-based interventions for behavioral disorders.},
}
@article {pmid40357892,
year = {2025},
author = {Neubauer, A and Iniesta-Pallarés, M and Álvarez, C and Bailly, A and Szövényi, P and Mariscal, V},
title = {Quantitative Assessment of Hormogonia Induction in Nostoc punctiforme by a Fluorescent Reporter Strain.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf197},
pmid = {40357892},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {While symbiotic plant-cyanobacteria interactions hold significant potential for revolutionizing agricultural practices by reducing the application of artificial nitrogen fertilizers, the genetic underpinnings of the symbiotic interaction between the plant host and the cyanobiont remain poorly understood. In particular, the molecular mechanisms through which host plants induce the formation of motile cyanobacterial filaments (hormogonia), essential for colonization and initiation of symbiosis, are not well characterized. In this study, we present a novel yet objective method for quantifying hormogonia induction, addressing limitations of traditional qualitative approaches. We have developed a reporter strain of Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73102 capable of quantifying hormogonia induction in response to diverse biotic and abiotic stimuli. This reporter strain, generated via triparental mating conjugation transformation, contains the promoter sequence of prepilin pilA fused to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) and enables quantitative and high throughput monitoring of hormogonia induction using a microplate reader. Our innovative approach, using a cyanobacterial hormogonia reporter strain, allows high-throughput screening of the hormogonia-inducing effect of a wide array of environmental and plant signals. This method is expected to greatly advance our understanding of the genetic determinants underpinning plant-cyanobacteria symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40357891,
year = {2025},
author = {Salem, MA and Jamil, M and Wang, JY and Berqdar, L and Liew, KX and Paramita, A and Ablazov, A and Balakrishna, A and Al-Babili, S},
title = {Disruption of the Karrikin Receptor DWARF 14 LIKE (D14L) Gene Leads to Distinct Effects on Root and Shoot Growth, and Reprogramming of Central Metabolism in Rice.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf201},
pmid = {40357891},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {The rice (Oryza sativa L.) α/β hydrolase D14 LIKE (D14L), a paralog of the strigolactone receptor D14, is essential for the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and responses to karrikins, smoke-derived compounds that regulate several developmental processes. It is supposed that D14L is the receptor for a yet unidentified endogenous growth regulator. Herein, we determined the effects of disrupting the D14L on rice growth and metabolism. Our results revealed that the D14L loss of function altered rice architecture, leading to a significant increase in root growth and mesocotyl elongation, while hindering shoot growth, and a notable decrease in the number of tillers, especially under phosphate limiting conditions. Furthermore, d14l mutants exhibited significant reduction in the total grain yield. Metabolomics analysis revealed a notable shift of key metabolites, such as carbohydrates and amino acids involved in energy production and growth, from shoots to roots. This redistribution likely reflects an adaptive strategy to enhance nutrient acquisition and increase root biomass, albeit at the cost of shoot growth and productivity. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of D14L in regulating the root-to-shoot growth ratio and in coordinating the metabolism and allocation of resources across the rice plant.},
}
@article {pmid40357403,
year = {2025},
author = {Mejías, S and Jiménez, NE and Conca, C and Salgado, JC and Gerdtzen, ZP},
title = {Unveiling Wolbachia transcriptomic signature in the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1538459},
pmid = {40357403},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/genetics/physiology ; *Aedes/microbiology/genetics/virology ; *Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/genetics/virology ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Female ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the main vector of arboviral diseases such as dengue and imposes a global health burden. A promising control strategy is to infect A. aegypti populations with Wolbachia, a genus of intracellular bacteria capable of blocking arboviral infections. Enhancing and preserving the efficacy of this method will depend on a solid mechanistic knowledge of the A. aegypti-Wolbachia symbiosis. By identifying differences between Wolbachia-infected and uninfected A. aegypti, previous transcriptomic studies proposed a wide range of symbiotic interactions, but a systematic identification of consistent effects across datasets is still missing.<br><br>METHODS: To identify A. aegypti genes and functions consistently affected by Wolbachia, we performed differential expression and functional enrichment analysis on published transcriptomic datasets, followed by a meta-analysis of the obtained p-values using the maxP method. Six datasets were retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus, Sequence Read Archive and ArrayExpress (last searched in July 2024, considering lack of replication as the exclusion criteria). After discarding one dataset from wAlbB-infected cell line due to poor mapping to the A. aegypti genome, the data comprised adult female A. aegypti heads, muscles, carcasses, midguts and bodies, and Wolbachia strains wMel and wMelPop.<br><br>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Meta-analysis revealed 10 and 21 consistently down- and upregulated host genes, some of which have escaped the focus of previous research, including the consistently downregulated exonuclease AAEL009650 which has a pro-dengue virus homolog in Drosophila. At the function level, we found consistent upregulation of electron transport chain (ETC), carbohydrate transport and serine-type peptidase activity and inhibition, and downregulation of DNA replication. ETC upregulation suggests an alternative mechanism for Wolbachia's induction of antiviral oxidative stress, previously attributed to dual- and NADPH-oxidases which here showed downregulation or no regulation. Through analysis of previously published datasets, this work identifies promising molecular and functional targets for future studies aimed at elucidating the most fundamental mechanisms of the A. aegypti-Wolbachia symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40356659,
year = {2025},
author = {Zheng, X and Liu, R and Li, K and Sun, J and Wang, K and Shao, Y and Hu, Z and Zhu, J and Pan, Z and Nakhla, G},
title = {Microalgae-bacteria symbiosis enhanced nitrogen removal from wastewater in an inversed fluidized bed bioreactor: performance and microflora.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1591974},
pmid = {40356659},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Conventional wastewater biological nitrogen removal (BNR) processes require a large amount of air and external organic carbon, causing a significant increase in operating costs and potential secondary pollution. Herein, this study investigated the nitrogen removal performance and the underlying mechanisms of a novel simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) coupled with photoautotrophic assimilation system in an inversed fluidized bed bioreactor (IFBBR). Nitrogen removal was achieved through the synergistic interaction of microalgae and bacteria, with microalgae providing O2 for nitrification and microbial biomass decay supplying organic carbon for denitrification. The IFBBR was continuously operated for more than 240 days without aeration and external organic carbon, the total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency reached over 95%. A novel C-N-O dynamic balance model was constructed, revealing that nitrification and denitrification were the primary pathways for nitrogen removal. The model further quantified the microbial contributions, showing that microalgae generated O2 at a rate of 81.82 mg/L·d, while microbial biomass decay released organic carbon at a rate of 148.66 mg/L·d. Microbial diversity analysis confirmed the majority presence of microalgae (Trebouxiophyceae), nitrifying bacteria (Gordonia and Nitrosomonas) and denitrifying bacteria (Ignavibacterium and Limnobacter). This study successfully achieved enhanced nitrogen removal without the need for aeration or external organic carbon. These advancements provide valuable insights into efficient wastewater nitrogen removal, offering significant benefits in terms of reduced energy consumption, lower operational costs, and decreased CO2 emissions.},
}
@article {pmid40355047,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, J and Wang, D and Zhao, T and Yu, X and Liu, S and Wang, Y and Wang, K and Zhao, M and Chen, P and Wang, Y and Zhang, M},
title = {Potential participants and regulatory factors in ginsenoside biosynthesis of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer: The role of endophytic fungus PBF-08.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {358},
number = {},
pages = {112553},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112553},
pmid = {40355047},
issn = {1873-2259},
mesh = {*Panax/metabolism/microbiology ; *Ginsenosides/biosynthesis ; *Endophytes/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer was recognized as a precious traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of application. It is widely used due to its high medicinal value. Ginsenosides were identified as a group of triterpenoid secondary metabolites in ginseng and were considered the main active ingredients of ginseng. Plant endophytes were recognized as microorganisms that resided within plant tissues, coexisting with the host plant for part or all of their life cycle and interacting with the external environment together. Ginseng endophytes, as symbiotic microorganisms with ginseng, possess various functions such as enhancing yield, increasing resistance, and improving quality, making them an important microbial resource for potential utilization. In this study, we screened and identified an endophytic fungus PBF-08, which has the ability to produce ginsenosides Rg2, Rg3, and Re. By optimizing its fermentation conditions using the response surface methodology, the total ginsenoside yield was significantly increased. Additionally, ginseng adventitious roots were treated with strain PBF-08 as an elicitor, which significantly increased the ginsenoside content by regulating the expression of key enzyme genes in the ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway under optimal treatment concentration and time. Widely targeted metabolomic analysis revealed that strain PBF-08 not only possesses a complete and active terpenoid biosynthesis pathway but also synthesizes various metabolites that influence plant growth and metabolism. In summary, the strain PBF-08 was found to have potential application value in exploring new methods for obtaining ginsenosides and in developing microbial elicitors for regulating ginsenoside biosynthesis.},
}
@article {pmid40351789,
year = {2025},
author = {Bourgeois, D and Orsini, G and Carrouel, F},
title = {Editorial: Exploring oral microbiota dysbiosis as a risk factor for oral and non-communicable diseases.},
journal = {Frontiers in oral health},
volume = {6},
number = {},
pages = {1611120},
pmid = {40351789},
issn = {2673-4842},
}
@article {pmid40349586,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Du, C and Li, Y and Liu, S and Zeng, X and Li, Y and Wang, S and Jia, Y},
title = {Metal pollution-induced alterations in soil fungal community structure and functional adaptations across regional scales.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {494},
number = {},
pages = {138553},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138553},
pmid = {40349586},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {*Soil Pollutants/toxicity/analysis ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Fungi/drug effects/classification/physiology ; China ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity/analysis ; Soil/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Soil contamination with heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) threatens soil ecosystem health and function. However, how cross-regional HM contamination influences the structure and function of soil fungal communities remains understudied. We conducted a large-scale soil survey in southern China, using the Nemerow synthetic Pollution Index to assess contamination levels of seven metals (copper, lead, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, zinc and chromium). Soils were classified as low, medium, and high contamination (LC/MC/HC) to examine HM biogeographic patterns and their ecological impacts on soil fungi along the gradient. Cd was the most prevalent contaminant, followed by As in all the studied soils. The combined soil pollution significantly altered fungal community structure, with Cd and Pb identified as key drivers of structural and evenness changes, respectively. Fungal diversity and evenness declined with pollution, accompanied by reduced Staphylotrichum (-0.45 %) and Saitozyma (-1.5 %). Homogeneous selection dominated the assembly processes of soil fungal communities across all contamination levels (contributing 55.8-64.9 %). The most enriched characteristic species included Eurotiomycetes (LC), Sordariales (MC), and Coniochaeta (HC). Pollution-induced habitat heterogeneity enhanced the complexity and stability of fungal symbiotic networks, with 10.0 % more synergistic interactions in highly contaminated soils. The abundance of potential pathogenic fungi increased by 3.0-5.8 % in highly polluted soils compared to low- and moderately polluted soils, indicating possible negative implications for ecosystem health. Our findings provide novel and comprehensive insights into the ecological response of soil fungal communities to HM contamination.},
}
@article {pmid40349544,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, X and Huang, L and Miao, H and Mi, L and Han, Z},
title = {Exploring carbon reduction pathways in the steel industry from the perspective of emerging technologies for achieving carbon neutrality.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {385},
number = {},
pages = {125768},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125768},
pmid = {40349544},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Steel ; *Carbon ; Industry ; },
abstract = {The iron and steel industry (ISI) plays a pivotal role in global decarbonization efforts, yet achieving carbon neutrality remains a significant challenge due to the sector's high emissions and technological complexity. Strategically identifying emerging technologies is critical for aligning industrial transformation with climate goals, optimizing resource allocation, and mitigating transition risks in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. This study bridges this gap by developing a multi-source data analytical framework that integrates Topmine phrase mining, K-means clustering, and Text2vec similarity analysis. The framework enhances the identification of emerging technologies through a reverse verification mechanism, ensuring the robustness of clustering results. By systematically classifying technologies into hot, growing, mature, and weak-signal categories, this study uncovers key technological pathways shaping the future of ISI decarbonization. Additionally, topic phrase burst analysis is employed to forecast technology evolution trends, revealing key shifts such as multi-technology integration for synergistic effects, intelligent process optimization, and industrial symbiosis. These methodological advancements not only provide a replicable toolkit for strategic decision-making but also empower stakeholders to prioritize investments, foster cross-sector collaboration, and accelerate the ISI's transition to carbon neutrality. The findings offer a transformative roadmap for policymakers and enterprises to navigate technological uncertainties while balancing economic competitiveness and environmental imperatives.},
}
@article {pmid40348264,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, Z and Li, Z and Xu, Y and He, F and Zhang, J and Li, T},
title = {MgFe-LDHs/Vallisneria natans combined system for simultaneous elimination of endogenous N and P pollution in eutrophic water: Performance, synergetic mechanism, and metagenomics analysis.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {279},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {121798},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.121798},
pmid = {40348264},
issn = {1096-0953},
mesh = {Eutrophication ; *Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Metagenomics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Lakes ; },
abstract = {Eutrophication is the main factor for the degradation of lake ecosystems. More than exogenous input, endogenous N and P nutrients are responsible for it. Although the P passivation technology with functional materials is common for alleviating endogenous P pollution, will it have the same effect for endogenous N removal? In this study, a novel MgFe-LDHs/Vallisneria natans (V. natans) combined system was established for effective eliminating endogenous N and P simultaneously. During remediation periods, MgFe-LDHs/V. natans combined system with the most obvious improvement for overlying water quality that was reflected by DO, ORP, and SS, and TP, TN, and NH4[+]-N removal efficiency were up to 99 %. In sediments, TP and TN removal rate was approximately 68 % and 63 %, where the reduction of Org-P and NH4[+]-N accounted for the majority of it, respectively. Under stimulation of MgFe-LDHs, NH4[+]-N assimilation in V. natans could be promoted through improving the metabolizing enzymes activity. In turn, V. natans contributed to Org-P mineralization by secreting organic acid, further facilitating IP enrichment on MgFe-LDHs. Additionally, owing to the synergism between V. natans allelopathy and MgFe-LDHs, the symbiotic relationship between microbial communities was much closer and more stable, the expression of functional genes that relate to denitrification, assimilatory nitrate reduction, phosphorylation and organophosphorus mineralization processes were up-regulated prominently. That is, microorganisms acted synergistically were important for endogenous N and P elimination performance. This study proposed a high-efficiency and environmentally friendly materials/plants combined remediation technology for eutrophication, especially those where with much high endogenous N and P loading.},
}
@article {pmid40347990,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Ekblom, C and Kruangkum, T and Uribeondo, JD and Söderhäll, K and Söderhäll, I},
title = {Specific host factors determine resistance in a North American crayfish to the crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci.},
journal = {Fish &amp; shellfish immunology},
volume = {163},
number = {},
pages = {110392},
doi = {10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110392},
pmid = {40347990},
issn = {1095-9947},
mesh = {Animals ; *Astacoidea/immunology/genetics/microbiology/parasitology ; *Aphanomyces/physiology ; *Arthropod Proteins/genetics/metabolism/immunology ; *Immunity, Innate ; Symbiosis ; *Disease Resistance ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Antimicrobial Peptides/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The crayfish plague is caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci with North American crayfish (for example Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii) serving as carriers and vectors for this pathogen. This poses a constant threat to native crayfish in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia, which all are highly susceptible to this pathogen. In this study we now show how the symbiotic balance between the pathogen and its host are maintained at the molecular level. The host factors involved in this balance between the pathogen, A. astaci and the host, P. leniusculus, are one glycine-rich antimicrobial peptide (GRP) that is specifically active against A. astaci, but not to other microorganisms and two Kazal proteinase inhibitors (KPI2 and KPILA) inhibit secreted A. astaci proteases by binding to subtilisin enzymes from the pathogen. Accordingly, the expression of GRP, KPI2, KPILA, as well as proPO mRNAs increases following A. astaci infection. Silencing GRP, or KPI2 + KPILA mRNAs results in death of the crayfish from infection. Over time, this host-pathogen relationship has evolved to allow resistant crayfish to coexist with A. astaci in their cuticle for life, provided critical components remain unaltered by environmental changes or other pathogens. It is unclear whether a similar relationship could develop between currently susceptible crayfish and A. astaci.},
}
@article {pmid40346478,
year = {2025},
author = {de Oliveira, BR and Zuffo, AM and Dos Santos Silva, FC and Steiner, F and AlGarawi, AM and Okla, MK and Nhs, M and Alhaj Hamoud, Y and Josko, I and Sheteiwy, MS and Alyafei, MS and Sulieman, S},
title = {Random forest algorithms: a tool to identify the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation, seed maturation stage and geographic diversity of Pimpinella anisum L. accessions on the physicochemical composition of seeds.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {608},
pmid = {40346478},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {RSPD2024R931//King Saud University/ ; RSPD2024R931//King Saud University/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Seeds/growth &amp; development/microbiology/chemistry ; *Algorithms ; *Pimpinella/microbiology/growth &amp; development/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Principal Component Analysis ; Random Forest ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: A study using random forest (RF) algorithms and principal component analysis (PCA) was proposed to identify the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation, the seed maturation stage and the geographic diversity of Pimpinella anisum L. accessions on the physicochemical composition of seeds. Seeds of six anise varieties from North African and Middle Eastern accessions were inoculated or not inoculated with AMF (an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus) and then grown under controlled conditions. Seeds were harvested at three different maturity stages: mature seeds (157 d after sowing), premature seeds (147 d after sowing), and immature seeds (137 d after sowing). Forty-nine variables related to physical properties, total nutrients, metabolic compounds, essential oils, and biological activity were measured in P. anisum seeds.<br><br>RESULTS: The RF algorithm allows the differentiation of P. anisum varieties inoculated with AMF from different countries in North Africa and the Middle East. This evidence proves that the geographic origin of P. anisum seeds significantly influences the efficiency of the symbiotic association between anise roots and AMF. In turn, no significant effects of the seed maturation stage on the symbiotic interaction of plants with mycorrhizae were observed. The chemical compounds related to the biological activity of seeds are not influenced by AMF, followed by chemical compounds related to metabolism, total nutrients, and oil components.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The performance of classification models using RF is driven primarily by independent variables related to the chemical composition of anise seeds, overshadowing the effects of geographic diversity and the seed maturation stage. Among the chemical constituents of the seed, the variables belonging to the biological activity category best contain information (patterns) on the impacts of AMF inoculation.},
}
@article {pmid40345999,
year = {2025},
author = {Bačić, A and Abboud, KY and Zhang, Y and Rajilić-Stojanović, M},
title = {Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Extract Modulates the Gut Microbiota Composition and Activity in the TIM-2 In Vitro Model of the Colon.},
journal = {Molecular nutrition &amp; food research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70074},
doi = {10.1002/mnfr.70074},
pmid = {40345999},
issn = {1613-4133},
support = {451-03-68/2022-14/200135//Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia/ ; 101060130//Horizon Europe 2021-2027 research and innovation program, TwinPrebioEnz/ ; },
abstract = {Phenolic compounds, abundantly found in medicinal herbs, may promote health by modulating the gut microbiota. Yarrow is a traditional remedy for digestive and non-gastrointestinal diseases with unexplored interaction with gut microbes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of yarrow extract and a phenolic mixture comprising apigenin, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids on the gut microbiota using the TIM-2 in vitro system. The TIM-2 units were inoculated with fecal samples from healthy individuals and supplemented with test substrates for 72 h. Microbiota composition was assessed by V3-V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while organic acid production was evaluated by GC-MS. The yarrow extract stimulated probiotic bacteria Lactiplantibacillus, and other abundant and symbiotic gut inhabitants, including Eggerthellaceae, Christensenellaceae, Butyricicoccaceae, and the Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group. The phenolic mixture exerted milder effects on gut microbiota by enhancing the growth of Eggerthellaceae and Collinsella. Looking at the microbial activity, the production of SCFAs, specifically acetic and propionic acids, was increased in the yarrow group. The obtained results highlight the importance of yarrow phenolics in maintaining microbiota balance. The yarrow extract and specific phenolics may modulate the gut microbiota by promoting the growth of SCFA producers and stimulating SCFA synthesis.},
}
@article {pmid40342598,
year = {2025},
author = {Meng, XX and Jia, X and Zhao, YH},
title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on flavonoid content in Astragali Radix cultivated in cadmium-contaminated soils.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1576236},
pmid = {40342598},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: As bioactive components in Astragali Radix (AR), flavonoids can promote hematopoiesis and have hypolipidemic properties, among others, and they are easily affected by environmental factors. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can influence flavonoid synthesis in plants exposed to heavy metals by expanding the root absorption area to establish a reciprocal symbiotic relationship with most plants.<br><br>METHODS: We investigated the effects of Funneliformis mosseae and time on the total flavonoids and key monomers (calycosin, calycosin-7-glucoside, formononetin, and ononin) in AR exposed to cadmium (Cd) using a pot experiment. The treatments consisted of non-inoculation and F. mosseae inoculation. A two-way analysis of variance and Duncan's test were conducted.<br><br>RESULTS: Shoot total flavonoids decreased (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05) at 60 (20.5%) and 90 d (18.3%), while formononetin decreased (83.4%) by 120 d; conversely, calycosin-7-glucoside increased (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05) with inoculation, although calycosin-7-glucoside decreased (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05) over time from 60 to 120 d regardless of inoculation. Shoot calycosin increased (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05) over time regardless of inoculation. Root total flavonoids decreased (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05) by 15.2% at 60 d, then increased (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05) by 23.5% at 90 d, along with increases in formononetin (117.1%) and ononin (59.6%) at 60 d, and calycosin-7-glucoside (21.2%) at 120 d, which increased (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05) under inoculation. The colonization rate, along with shoot Cd, C, P, H, and C/N ratio, significantly affected shoot flavonoids, while Cd accounted for 90.0% of flavonoid variation, which may be associated with its impact on flavonoid synthase. The variation in root flavonoids was significantly influenced by root S, biomass, and N, suggesting that AMF regulation may vary between AR organs. Calycosin-7-glucoside was significantly affected by phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (a key gene in flavonoid synthesis). Overall, F. mosseae led to significant increases in shoot total flavonoids and calycosin-7-glucoside. The total flavonoids were higher in shoots than in roots, indicating that annual AR shoots exposed to Cd may be utilized for medicinal purposes under inoculation.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These results provide insights into the enhancement of AMF on the quality of medicinal plants grown in Cd-contaminated soils, and the long-term effects of AMF on flavonoids at varying Cd levels should be further investigated.},
}
@article {pmid40339063,
year = {2025},
author = {Zavala-Mazariegos, FJ and Cruz-Esteban, S and Álvarez-Solís, JD and Rojas, JC},
title = {Mycorrhizal fungus colonization on maize seedlings diminishes oviposition of fall armyworm females and affect larval performance.},
journal = {Environmental entomology},
volume = {54},
number = {3},
pages = {615-622},
doi = {10.1093/ee/nvaf045},
pmid = {40339063},
issn = {1938-2936},
mesh = {Animals ; *Zea mays/microbiology/growth &amp; development/genetics ; Larva/growth &amp; development/physiology/microbiology ; *Spodoptera/growth &amp; development/physiology/microbiology ; Female ; *Oviposition ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Seedlings/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Herbivory ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are key components of the soil microbiota and are characterized by their symbiosis with terrestrial plants. In addition to providing nutrients to plants during symbiosis, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can enhance plant defenses against herbivorous insects and pathogens, including induced systemic resistance. Previous studies have demonstrated that Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae perform better in maize plants colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which generally exhibit greater growth and higher nitrogen and phosphorus contents. However, these studies were limited to a small number of maize varieties. Additionally, prior research has not considered the host preference of S. frugiperda females for noncolonized versus arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-colonized maize plants, although female choice can significantly influence progeny performance. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis (Blaszk, Wubet, Renker, &amp; Buscot) C. Walker &amp; A. Schüßler (Glomerales: Glomeraceae) inoculation on 4 maize inbred lines (CML 124, CML 343, CML 122, and CML 126) susceptible to S. frugiperda on female oviposition preference and larval performance of S. frugiperda. Overall, females preferred ovipositing on uncolonized seedlings to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-colonized seedlings, independent of the inbred lines. Larval performance was affected by inbred lines and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization. Larvae feeding on noncolonized maize seedlings exhibited significantly higher weights than those feeding on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-colonized seedlings. Among the inbred lines, larvae fed CML 122 performed better than those fed CML 126 and CML 343 seedlings. The weight of the larvae fed on CML 124 seedlings was similar to that of the larvae fed on CML 122, CML 126, and CML 343 seedlings.},
}
@article {pmid40338463,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, G and Li, M and Zhang, J and Zhou, J and Cheah, WY and Abdullah, R and Ling, TC},
title = {Evaluation of cultivation conditions in hydrogel systems to enhance Chlorella vulgaris growth.},
journal = {International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40338463},
issn = {1618-1905},
support = {MG017-2022//Universiti Malaya/ ; MG017-2022//Universiti Malaya/ ; MG017-2022//Universiti Malaya/ ; MG017-2022//Universiti Malaya/ ; MG017-2022//Universiti Malaya/ ; MG017-2022//Universiti Malaya/ ; MG017-2022//Universiti Malaya/ ; Geran Galakan Penyelidik Muda [GGPM-2022-048 &amp; GGPM-2022-056)], Ganjaran Penerbitan [K024760]//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; Geran Galakan Penyelidik Muda [GGPM-2022-048 &amp; GGPM-2022-056)], Ganjaran Penerbitan [K024760]//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; Geran Galakan Penyelidik Muda [GGPM-2022-048 &amp; GGPM-2022-056)], Ganjaran Penerbitan [K024760]//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; Geran Galakan Penyelidik Muda [GGPM-2022-048 &amp; GGPM-2022-056)], Ganjaran Penerbitan [K024760]//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; Geran Galakan Penyelidik Muda [GGPM-2022-048 &amp; GGPM-2022-056)], Ganjaran Penerbitan [K024760]//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; Geran Galakan Penyelidik Muda [GGPM-2022-048 &amp; GGPM-2022-056)], Ganjaran Penerbitan [K024760]//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; Geran Galakan Penyelidik Muda [GGPM-2022-048 &amp; GGPM-2022-056)], Ganjaran Penerbitan [K024760]//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; },
abstract = {Microalgae have gained significant attention as sustainable alternatives to traditional agriculture and energy resources. The cultivation efficiency of microalgae within hydrogel systems presents a promising avenue for spatially efficient bio-production. However, the optimum cultivation conditions of hydrogel cultivation systems have not been elucidated. This study focused on evaluating the hydrogel-based cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in symbiosis with Bacillus Strain Salmah Ismail (SI) 139SI. It investigated the impact of hydrogel concentration, pH, light exposure, and system thickness on the growth and chlorophyll production of the algae. Our findings highlighted that, in coculture, a 7% (w/v) hydrogel concentration, pH of 7.4, a 12-h light/dark cycle at a hydrogel concentration of 7% but continuous light exposure under 5% hydrogel concentration, and a system thickness of 10 mm have provided the most favorable environmental conditions for the proliferation and chlorophyll production of C. vulgaris. These conditions significantly enhanced the biomass yields, suggesting that tailored hydrogel environments can substantially improve microalgae productivity.},
}
@article {pmid40338334,
year = {2025},
author = {Diao, F and Liu, K and Wu, W and Xu, J},
title = {Leaf transcriptomic responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses exerting growth depressions in tomato.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {207},
number = {6},
pages = {139},
pmid = {40338334},
issn = {1432-072X},
support = {2021BQ132//Program of Doctoral Research Foundation of Shanxi Agricultural University/ ; 2022ZDYF115//Shanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Project/ ; 2021YFD1901105//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/growth &amp; development/genetics/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; *Plant Leaves/microbiology/genetics/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Carbon/metabolism ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play important roles in sustainable agriculture, given that they provide multiple benefits for numerous crops. Conversely, negative plant growth effects induced by AM fungi are also occasionally observed. However, little information is available regarding the responses of symbiosis. In this study, compared with an absence of AM fungus inoculation, tomato seedlings inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae or Rhizophagus intraradices were characterized by reduced shoot and root growth. The two AM fungi decreased the carbon contents and the carbon-nitrogen ratios in shoots. To gain further insights into the underlying mechanisms, transcriptomic analyses were performed in the study. A total of 190 and 870 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the F. mosseae vs. control and R. intraradices vs. control comparisons, respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis of the former 190 DEGs revealed significant enrichment of the "Protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum," "Flavonoid biosynthesis," "Flavone and flavonol biosynthesis," and "Stilbenoid, diarylheptanoid, and gingerol biosynthesis" pathways, whereas "DNA replication," "Photosynthesis - antenna proteins," "Cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis," "Protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum," and "Glycerophospholipid metabolism" were identified as pathways significantly enriched with the latter 870 DEGs. GO functional analysis revealed that among both groups of DEGs, large numbers of genes were assigned the "Response to stimulus" term. Moreover, many of the enriched terms were associated with stimulus and stress response processes, including response to salt stress, heat, and reactive oxygen species. Therefore, the findings indicated that AM fungi may trigger defense-related responses in hosts, even though the symbioses performed growth depressions. These findings will contribute to advancing our current understanding of AM fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40338317,
year = {2025},
author = {Graziosi, S and Deloche, L and Januario, M and Selosse, MA and Deveau, A and Bach, C and Chen, Z and Murat, C and Iotti, M and Rech, P and Zambonelli, A},
title = {Newly Designed Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Probes Reveal Previously Unknown Endophytic Abilities of Tuber magnatum in Herbaceous Plants.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {42},
pmid = {40338317},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {K272X8 - CUP J53D23010090006//European Union - NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) - Mission 4 Education and research - Component 2 From research to business - Investment 1.1 Notice Prin 2022 - DD N. 104 del 2/2/2022, from title "Interactions of the white truffle Tuber magnatum with soil microbiome and plants"/ ; K272X8 - CUP J53D23010090006//European Union - NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) - Mission 4 Education and research - Component 2 From research to business - Investment 1.1 Notice Prin 2022 - DD N. 104 del 2/2/2022, from title "Interactions of the white truffle Tuber magnatum with soil microbiome and plants"/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//The French National Research Agency (ANR), 'Investissements d'Avenir' program, Lab of Excellence ARBRE, UMR IaM./ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//The French National Research Agency (ANR), 'Investissements d'Avenir' program, Lab of Excellence ARBRE, UMR IaM./ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//The French National Research Agency (ANR), 'Investissements d'Avenir' program, Lab of Excellence ARBRE, UMR IaM./ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//The French National Research Agency (ANR), 'Investissements d'Avenir' program, Lab of Excellence ARBRE, UMR IaM./ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *Ascomycota/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Italy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Hyphae/genetics ; },
abstract = {Tuber magnatum Picco (the Italian white truffle) is the most valuable and widely appreciated truffle. It is an ectomycorrhizal fungus known to associate with many broadleaf tree species. However, its mycorrhizae are rarely observed in the field, suggesting possible alternative symbiotic strategies, such as endophytism with non-ectomycorrhizal plants. In order to test potential endophytic interactions of T. magnatum with wild plants, a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) approaches were used. Specific FISH probes for T. magnatum were designed, tested in vitro on hyphae and/or ectomycorrhizae, and selected for their specificity. These probes were then used on a wide variety root samples of wild plants collected from three T. magnatum production areas in Italy and previously tested for the presence of T. magnatum mycelium using PCR-specific primers. Molecular analyses detected the presence of T. magnatum in 21 of 100 plant samples analyzed. FISH analysis confirmed the extracellular presence of active T. magnatum hyphae inside the root system of Carex pendula Huds plant. This study provides the first evidence of T. magnatum acting as an endophyte in an herbaceous plant. The newly designed, highly specific T. magnatum FISH probes can be used for further investigations to confirm the endophytic tendencies of T. magnatum and to understand their influence on the life cycle and biology of this fungus.},
}
@article {pmid40337257,
year = {2025},
author = {Zemeitat, DS and Coquilleau, M and Pierce, NE and Elgar, MA},
title = {Ant responses in a lycaenid-ant symbiosis are not facilitated by cuticular compounds alone.},
journal = {Royal Society open science},
volume = {12},
number = {5},
pages = {241320},
pmid = {40337257},
issn = {2054-5703},
abstract = {Initiating partnerships in protective symbioses can be asymmetrical if there is a risk of attack from their symbionts. Myrmecophiles may encounter chemically mediated recognition systems that allow the host ants to distinguish nestmates from natural enemies, including non-nestmate conspecifics. The immature stages of the lycaenid butterfly Jalmenus evagoras form an obligate symbiosis with workers of Iridomyrmex mayri that protect them against natural enemies. However, the first instar larvae cannot anticipate this colony-specific chemical recognition system, since they are unlikely to encounter workers from the same colony that tended their mother. We show experimentally that workers of I. mayri can use chemical signals alone to distinguish between conspecifics and the larvae of J. evagoras; between nestmate and non-nestmate conspecifics and between larvae tended by nestmate and non-nestmate conspecifics. Nevertheless, we also show experimentally that while workers paid more attention to fourth than second instar larvae, they did not respond more aggressively to larvae that had been tended by non-nestmate versus nestmate workers. These data suggest that workers pay attention to other signals, perhaps via tactile, visual or vibratory sensory modalities, thereby allowing the butterfly myrmecophiles to mitigate the risks associated with the chemically mediated colony-specific recognition systems of their ant hosts.},
}
@article {pmid40336531,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, P and Li, Y and Hao, J and Lu, H and He, Y and Wei, L and Ai, L and Wang, S},
title = {Co-Culture of Lactobacillus bulgaricus With Streptococcus thermophilus and Bifidobacterium Impact the Metabolism and Flavor of Fermented Milk.},
journal = {Food science &amp; nutrition},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {e70182},
pmid = {40336531},
issn = {2048-7177},
abstract = {Incorporating Bifidobacterium into fermented milk alters the balance between Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. We investigated the bacterial interaction and metabolism post-fermentation and during 21-day storage. Utilizing non-targeted metabolomics and electronic nose technology, we assessed impacts on product quality and flavor. Bifidobacterium significantly increased the viability of the other two species, with AI-2 levels rising in the mixed culture. Metabonomic analysis revealed distinct metabolic profiles, with Bifidobacterium-fermented milk showing enriched key metabolites. Volatile compounds like ketones, aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and acids were identified, with 2-heptanone and 2-pentanone as initial discriminators and 2-pentanone and acetaldehyde as key flavor compounds after storage. This study advances understanding of symbiotic interactions and metabolite profiles in fermented dairy ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40335917,
year = {2025},
author = {Lan, M and Gao, K and Qin, Z and Li, Z and Meng, R and Wei, L and Chen, B and Yu, X and Xu, L and Wang, Y and Yu, K},
title = {Coral microbiome in estuary coral community of Pearl River Estuary: insights into variation in coral holobiont adaptability to low-salinity conditions.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {278},
pmid = {40335917},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {42206157//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42030502//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; GXLSCRSCS2022103//Self-Topic Project of Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea/ ; 2022GXNSFBA035449//Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province/ ; PM-zx703-202004-143//Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; Estuaries ; *Microbiota ; Salinity ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Symbiosis ; Rivers ; Biodiversity ; Phylogeny ; Adaptation, Physiological ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/classification/physiology ; Ecosystem ; China ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Low salinity is a crucial environmental stressor that affects estuarine coral ecosystems considerably. However, few studies have focused on the effects of low-salinity conditions on coral-associated microorganisms and the adaptability of coral holobionts.<br><br>METHODS: We explored the community structure of coral symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae and associated bacteria in low-salinity conditions using samples of six coral species from the Pearl River Estuary and analyzed the adaptability of coral holobionts in estuaries.<br><br>RESULTS: The symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae of all six studied coral species were dominated by Cladocopium, but, the Symbiodiniaceae subclades differed among these coral species. Some coral species (e.g., Acropora solitaryensis) had a high diversity of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae but low Symbiodiniaceae density, with different adaptability to low-salinity stress in the Pearl River Estuary. Other coral species (e.g., Plesiastrea versipora) potentially increased their resistance by associating with specific Symbiodiniaceae subclades and with high Symbiodiniaceae density under low-salinity stress. The microbiome associated with the coral species were dominated by Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidetes; however, its diversity and composition varied among coral species. Some coral species (e.g., Acropora solitaryensis) had a high diversity of associated bacteria, with different adaptability owing to low-salinity stress. Other coral species (e.g., Plesiastrea versipora) potentially increased their resistance by having minority bacterial dominance under low-salinity stress.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: High Symbiodiniaceae density and high bacterial diversity may be conducive to increase the tolerance of coral holobiont to low-salinity environments. Different coral species have distinct ways of adapting to low-salinity stress, and this difference is mainly through the dynamic regulation of the coral microbiome by corals.},
}
@article {pmid40335854,
year = {2025},
author = {Dolgikh, AV and Salnikova, EA and Dymo, AM and Kantsurova, ES and Aksenova, TS and Yuzikhin, OS and Kurchak, ON and Onishchuk, OP and Dolgikh, EA},
title = {Characterization and De Novo Genome Assembly for New Rhizobium Ruizarguesonis Rhizobial Strain Vst36-3 Involved in Symbiosis with Pisum and Vicia Plants.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {6},
pages = {284},
pmid = {40335854},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {24-16-00180//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *Pisum sativum/microbiology ; *Vicia/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; },
abstract = {Pea and vetch are the important legume crops used as food, forage, and green manure in agriculture. Several new rhizobial isolates were obtained from vetch Vicia sativa root nodules. For one of them, Vst36-3, the nodulation test showed various specificity in relation to plant hosts from the Fabeae tribe, such as pea and vetch. It is in contrast to typical strains of the Rhizobium leguminosarum species complex (Rlc), which formed effective nodules as in pea and vetch. Here, whole genome sequencing was performed followed by de novo genome assembly for Vst36-3 strain. As a result of de novo genome assembly, seven contigs were generated using Oxford Nanopore Technology long reads and subsequently Illumina short reads. Phylogenetic analysis allowed us to identify this strain as Rhizobium ruizarguesonis Vst36-3. Analysis of the Sym plasmid containing the nod and nif genes revealed that R. ruizarguesonis Vst36-3 has a complete suite of essential genes for the development of symbiosis. Nevertheless, this new strain forms ineffective nodules in pea. This makes Rhizobium ruizarguesonis Vst36-3 attractive for the search and investigation of new factors of host specificity in future.},
}
@article {pmid40335388,
year = {2025},
author = {Dwivedi, SL and Vetukuri, RR and Kelbessa, BG and Gepts, P and Heslop-Harrison, P and Araujo, ASF and Sharma, S and Ortiz, R},
title = {Exploitation of rhizosphere microbiome biodiversity in plant breeding.},
journal = {Trends in plant science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2025.04.004},
pmid = {40335388},
issn = {1878-4372},
abstract = {Climate change-induced stresses are perceived by plants at the root-soil interface, where they are alleviated through interactions between the host plant and the rhizosphere microbiome. The recruitment of specific microbiomes helps mitigate stress, increases resistance to pathogens, and promotes plant growth, development, and reproduction. The structure of the rhizosphere microbiome is shaped by crop domestication and variations in ploidy levels. Here we list key genes that regulate rhizosphere microbiomes and host genetic traits. We also discuss the prospects for rigorous analysis of symbiotic interactions, research needs, and strategies for systematically utilizing microbe-crop interactions to improve crop performance. Finally, we highlight challenges of maintaining live rhizosphere microbiome collections and mining heritable variability to enhance interactions between host plants and their rhizosphere microbiomes.},
}
@article {pmid40334379,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, J and Wang, X and Chen, Z and Yu, Q and Zhang, Y},
title = {Microbial advanced oxidation aroused by bacteria-algae symbiosis induced abiotic methane production in anaerobic digestion.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {282},
number = {},
pages = {123776},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123776},
pmid = {40334379},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Methane/metabolism/biosynthesis ; Anaerobiosis ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Bioreactors ; },
abstract = {The slow decomposition of recalcitrant substrate limits the conversion efficiency of anaerobic digestion. Microbial advanced oxidation, capable of in-situ generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the microbial aerobic/anaerobic respiration, provided a potential way to strengthen the substrate-methane conversion in anaerobic digestion. In this study, microalgae were inoculated in anaerobic system and formed redox oscillation under the intermittent illumination, which ultimately increased the methane production by 27.4 %. With the redox oscillation, •OH, the typical ROS, showed a 6.27-fold increase in production (72.95 ± 9.06 μM vs. 10.03 ± 1.49 μM), facilitating the decomposition of lignocelluloses. Notably, abiotic methanation was observed in anaerobic digestion with the occurrence of microbial advanced oxidation. ROS quenching experiments revealed that abiotic methanation roughly accounted for 17.5 % of the total methane production. Microbial advanced oxidation formed by redox oscillation showed the potential to strengthen anaerobic digestion. Notably, for the first time, it was confirmed that abiotic methanation could be established in anaerobic digestion with the ROS generated by microbial advanced oxidation, which offered a new perspective to understand and improve the performances of natural and engineered ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40333244,
year = {2025},
author = {Schaub, GA},
title = {Trypanosoma cruzi/Triatomine Interactions-A Review.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40333244},
issn = {2076-0817},
mesh = {*Trypanosoma cruzi/physiology ; Animals ; *Chagas Disease/parasitology/transmission ; *Insect Vectors/parasitology/microbiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Triatominae/parasitology/microbiology ; Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {This review summarizes the interactions between Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, and its vectors, the triatomines, and highlights open questions. Four important facts should be emphasized at the outset: (1) The development of T. cruzi strains and their interactions with the mammalian host and the insect vector vary greatly. (2) Only about 10 of over 150 triatomine species have been studied for their interactions with the protozoan parasite. (3) The use of laboratory strains of triatomines makes generalizations difficult, as maintenance conditions influence the interactions. (4) The intestinal microbiota is involved in the interactions, but the mutualistic symbionts, Actinomycetales, have so far only been identified in four species of triatomines. The effects of the vector on T. cruzi are reflected in a different colonization ability of T. cruzi in different triatomine species. In addition, the conditions in the intestine lead to strong multiplication in the posterior midgut and rectum, with infectious metacyclic trypomastigotes developing almost exclusively in the latter. Starvation and feeding of the vector induce the development of certain stages of T. cruzi. The negative effects of T. cruzi on the triatomines depend on the T. cruzi strain and are particularly evident when the triatomines are stressed. The intestinal immunity of the triatomines responds to ingested blood-stage trypomastigotes of some T. cruzi strains and affects many intestinal bacteria, but not all and not the mutualistic symbionts. The specific interaction between T. cruzi and the bacteria is evident after the knockdown of antimicrobial peptides: the number of non-symbiotic bacteria increases and the number of T. cruzi decreases. In long-term infections, the suppression of intestinal immunity is indicated by the growth of specific microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40332819,
year = {2025},
author = {Ali, S and Tahir, S and Hassan, SS and Lu, M and Wang, X and Quyen, LTQ and Zhang, W and Chen, S},
title = {The Role of Phytohormones in Mediating Drought Stress Responses in Populus Species.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40332819},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {2022YED2200800//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2572022CG06//the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; },
mesh = {*Populus/physiology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Droughts ; *Stress, Physiological ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; },
abstract = {Drought stress substantially impacts the development and viability of Populus spp., which are essential for forestry and bioenergy production. This review summarizes and describes the functions of phytohormones, such as abscisic acid, auxins, and ethylene, in modulating physiological and molecular responses to water scarcity. Drought-induced ABA-mediated stomatal closure and root extension are essential adaptation processes. Furthermore, auxin-ABA (abscisic acid) interactions augment root flexibility, whereas ethylene regulates antioxidant defenses to alleviate oxidative stress. The advantageous function of endophytic bacteria, specifically plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), can augment drought resistance in spruce trees by enhancing nutrient absorption and stimulating root development. Structural adaptations encompass modifications in root architecture, including enhanced root length and density, which augment water uptake efficiency. Similarly, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) significantly enhance stress resilience in forest trees. AMF establishes symbiotic relationships with plant roots, improving water and nutrient uptake, particularly phosphorus, during drought conditions. Furthermore, morphological alterations at the root-soil interface enhance interaction with soil moisture reserves. This review examines the complex mechanisms by which these hormones influence plant responses to water shortage, aiming to offer insights into prospective techniques for improving drought tolerance in common tree species and highlights the importance of hormone control in influencing the adaptive responses of prominent trees to drought stress, providing significant implications for research and practical applications in sustainable forestry and agriculture. These findings lay the groundwork for improving drought tolerance in Populus spp. by biotechnological means and by illuminating the complex hormonal networks that confer drought resistance.},
}
@article {pmid40332799,
year = {2025},
author = {Bai, C and Duan, Y and Zhao, C and Yan, L and Suthisut, D and Lü, J and Bai, Y and Zeng, F and Zhang, M},
title = {Abundance of the Dominant Endosymbiont Rickettsia and Fitness of the Stored-Product Pest Liposcelis bostrychophila (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae).},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40332799},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {32172260//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Endosymbiotic bacteria are key factors that regulate the biological traits of Liposcelis bostrychophila. This study employed metagenomic methods to analyze the dominant species of symbiotic microorganisms associated with L. bostrychophila. By controlling the environmental temperature, we were able to manipulate the abundance of endosymbionts and establish populations with high, medium, and low levels of these bacteria. This allowed us to examine the fitness parameters of L. bostrychophila under different levels of endosymbiont abundance. The experimental results revealed that L. bostrychophila hosts 51 genera of symbiotic microorganisms, with Rickettsia being the dominant genus, accounting for 84.11% to 98.16% of the total share. Environmental temperature significantly affected the abundance of Rickettsia, with notable differences observed during the adult stage of L. bostrychophila. A temperature gradient of 28 °C, 35 °C, and 37 °C was established, allowing for the classification of populations based on Rickettsia abundance into three categories: high-abundance populations (LBhp), medium-abundance populations (LBmp), and low-abundance populations (LBlp). The abundance of Rickettsia had a significant impact on the fitness of L. bostrychophila. Specifically, a high abundance of Rickettsia contributed positively to population fitness by increasing egg production, prolonging egg hatching time, enhancing lifespan, and improving both survival and reproductive rates. Therefore, the endosymbiont Rickettsia plays a crucial role in the growth and development of L. bostrychophila. In the future, our research will help further uncover the interactions between Rickettsia and its host, providing new perspectives for pest control and offering a better understanding of insect biology and ecology.},
}
@article {pmid40332327,
year = {2025},
author = {Kaddouri, K and Lamrabet, M and Alami, S and Chaddad, Z and Abdelmoumen, H and Badaoui, B and Missbah El Idrissi, M},
title = {Draft genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain RDM4, a microsymbiont bacterium isolated from the root nodules of Retama dasycarpa in soils of Maâmora forest, Morocco.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {6},
pages = {e0006525},
pmid = {40332327},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {Bradyrhizobium sp. RDM4 is a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium, isolated from root nodules of the Moroccan endemic shrub Retama dasycarpa grown in Moroccan forest soils. In this work, we present the 8.4 Mb draft genome of this strain, characterized by a GC content of 63% and the presence of 8,141 total genes, with 7,032 protein-coding.},
}
@article {pmid40331988,
year = {2025},
author = {Gan, CM and Tang, T and Zhang, ZY and Li, M and Zhao, XQ and Li, SY and Yan, YW and Chen, MX and Zhou, X},
title = {Unraveling the Intricacies of Powdery Mildew: Insights into Colonization, Plant Defense Mechanisms, and Future Strategies.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40331988},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {2022YFD1700200//Moxian-Chen/ ; ZK[2023]-099//Moxian-Chen/ ; },
mesh = {*Plant Diseases/microbiology/immunology ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Ascomycota/pathogenicity ; Plant Immunity ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Plants/microbiology/immunology ; *Erysiphe/pathogenicity ; },
abstract = {Powdery mildew, a debilitating phytopathogen caused by biotrophic fungi within the order Erysiphales, endangers crop yields and global food security. Although traditional approaches have largely emphasized resistant cultivar development and chemical control, novel strategies are necessary to counter the advent of challenges, such as pathogen adaptation and climate change. This review fully discusses three principal areas of pathogen effector functions, e.g., the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-suppressive activity of CSEP087, and host susceptibility factors, like vesicle trafficking regulated by Mildew Locus O (MLO). It also briefly mentions the transcriptional regulation of resistance genes mediated by factors, like WRKY75 and NAC transcription factors, and post-transcriptional regulation via alternative splicing (As). In addition, this discussion discusses the intricate interactions among powdery mildew, host plants, and symbiotic microbiomes thereof, highlighting the mechanism through which powdery mildew infections disrupt the foliar microbiota balance. Lastly, we present a new biocontrol approach that entails synergistic microbial consortia, such as combinations of Bacillus and Trichoderma, to induce plant immunity while minimizing fungicide dependency. Through the study of combining knowledge of molecular pathogenesis with ecological resilience, this research offers useful insights towards climate-smart crop development and sustainable disease-management strategies in the context of microbiome engineering.},
}
@article {pmid40331181,
year = {2025},
author = {Melby, MK and Watanabe, K and Haraoui, LP},
title = {Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance by Changing Our Relationships with Microbes: Lessons from Japan.},
journal = {Delaware journal of public health},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {28-31},
pmid = {40331181},
issn = {2639-6378},
abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health problem, but it is only the 'tip of the iceberg' of microbial disruption caused by antibiotics. Under the surface, cultural factors such as understandings of and attitudes toward microbes may play a significant role influencing relationships between humans and microbes. Western strategies to address pathogenic microbes and AMR often overlook the symbiotic relationship humans share with beneficial microbes (our microbiota), viewing humans as separate from nature and focusing on control. Given the increasing prevalence of novel pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and chronic illnesses associated with disturbed microbiota (dysbiosis), alternative approaches are needed. Cross-cultural studies may provide ways forward. An exploration of Japanese perspectives on microbes through the lens of food and health reveals practices where microbes are often regarded as partners and friends rather than foes.},
}
@article {pmid40330728,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, CG and Kong, CC and Li, SM and Wang, XJ and Yu, X and Wang, YC and Qin, S and Cui, HL},
title = {Symbiotic microalgae and microbes: a new frontier in saline agriculture.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1540274},
pmid = {40330728},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {With the growing human population worldwide, innovative agricultural development is needed to meet food security needs. However, this has inadvertently led to problematic irrigation practices and overuse of agrochemicals. Such practices can exacerbate soil salinization, which prevents plant growth. As a progressively widespread and escalating problem, soil salinization poses a major threat to global food security. Compared with the traditional use of microalgae or microorganisms that act on plant growth, microalgae-microorganism symbiosis has significant advantages in promoting plant growth. Microalgae and microorganisms can work together to provide a wide range of nutrients required by plants, and they exhibit nutrient complementarity, which supports plant growth. Here, the development potential of microalgae-microbial symbiosis for enhancing plant salt tolerance was investigated. Our review demonstrated that the metabolic complementarity between microalgae and microorganisms can enhance plant salt tolerance. The diversity of a microalgae-microorganism symbiotic system can improve ecosystem stability and resistance and reduce the incidence of plant disease under salt stress. These systems produce bioactive substances (e.g., phytohormones) that promote plant growth, which can improve crop yield, and they can improve soil structure by increasing organic matter and improving water storage capacity and soil fertility. Exploiting the synergistic effects between microalgae and beneficial microorganisms has biotechnological applications that offer novel solutions for saline agriculture to mitigate the deleterious effects of soil salinity on plant health and yield. However, there are several implementation challenges, such as allelopathic interactions and autotoxicity. To make microalgae-bacteria consortia economically viable for agricultural applications, optimal strains and species need to be identified and strategies need to be employed to obtain sufficient biomass in a cost-effective manner. By elucidating the synergistic mechanisms, ecological stability, and resource utilization potential of microalgae-microbial symbiotic systems, this review clarifies salt stress responses and promotes the shift of saline-alkali agriculture from single bioremediation to systematic ecological engineering.},
}
@article {pmid40330701,
year = {2025},
author = {Teraishi, M and Sakaguchi, K and Yoshikawa, T},
title = {Identification of Novel Candidate Genes Associated With the Symbiotic Compatibility of Soybean With Rhizobia Under Natural Conditions.},
journal = {Plant direct},
volume = {9},
number = {5},
pages = {e70069},
pmid = {40330701},
issn = {2475-4455},
abstract = {A robust symbiotic relationship between soybean and rhizobia can enhance the yield and quality of soybeans by reducing nitrogen fertilizer input, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture. However, the genetic interplay between soybean cultivars and the rhizobial species colonizing their roots under natural conditions is yet to be sufficiently assessed. In this study, we build on previous observations that have revealed a significant variation in the prevalence of rhizobial species associated with the soybean cultivars "Peking" and "Tamahomare." Using recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between Peking and Tamahomare, we performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of the proportion of Rhizobium species present in the root nodules of these cultivars and accordingly identified a major QTL on chromosome 18, accounting for 42% of the phenotypic variation, which was subsequently localized to a 240-kb region. RNA-seq analysis indicated that a single gene harboring nucleotide binding site-leucine-rich repeat domains exhibited markedly different expression within the QTL region in the parent cultivars. As this locus is distinct from the chromosomal regions containing known nodule-related genes, such as Rj and rj, we speculate that it represents a novel gene involved in the symbiosis between rhizobia and soybeans. Further research on the function and role of this new gene could potentially contribute to enhancing soybean yield, and hence sustainable agriculture, under low-nitrogen fertilization conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40328455,
year = {2025},
author = {Akpodiete, NO and Carlos, B and Voges, K and Nunes, BT and Souza-Neto, JA and Noulin, F and Tonge, D and Zuharah, WF and Tripet, F},
title = {Improvement of water quality for mass anopheline rearing: dynamics of larval tray bacterial communities under different water treatments revealed by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {136},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxaf110},
pmid = {40328455},
issn = {1365-2672},
support = {//Schlumberger Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Water Quality ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; *Anopheles/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Ammonia/metabolism ; Nitrification ; *Water Microbiology ; Zeolites ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Immature anophelines inhabit aquatic environments with diverse physicochemical properties and microorganisms. In insectary settings, ammonia accumulation in larval rearing trays can lead to high larval mortality. Bacterial communities in these trays may influence ammonia levels through nitrification and denitrification. While symbiotic bacteria are known to be crucial for nutrition, digestion, reproduction, and immune responses in anophelines, the microbial communities specifically associated with Anopheles coluzzii larvae have not been characterised.<br><br>METHODS AND RESULTS: Building on a study examining ammonia-capturing zeolite and water changes for rearing Anopheles coluzzii, this research characterised the bacterial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify species linked to larval survival and phenotypic quality. Functional filters were applied to identify bacteria related to ammonia nitrification and their impact on larval development. qPCR was used to validate the sequencing data for the 10 most significant bacteria. Water changes significantly reduced bacterial diversity and abundance, improving adult mosquito development and quality. In contrast, untreated trays showed a higher abundance of potentially harmful bacteria, adversely affecting development. Applying zeolite increased nitrifying bacteria presence, benefiting mosquito growth while lowering toxic bacteria levels-trends confirmed by qPCR.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study offers insights into the bacterial communities in mosquito larval-rearing water, highlighting species that could enhance ammonia nitrification and overall rearing success.},
}
@article {pmid40328341,
year = {2025},
author = {Abd-El-Aziz, A and Elnagdy, SM and Han, J and Mihelič, R and Wang, X and Agathos, SN and Li, J},
title = {Bacteria-microalgae interactions from an evolutionary perspective and their biotechnological significance.},
journal = {Biotechnology advances},
volume = {82},
number = {},
pages = {108591},
doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108591},
pmid = {40328341},
issn = {1873-1899},
mesh = {*Microalgae/physiology/metabolism ; *Biotechnology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Quorum Sensing ; *Biological Evolution ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; },
abstract = {Interactions between bacteria and microalgae have been studied in natural environments and in industrial consortia. As results of co-evolution for millions of years in nature, they have developed complex symbiotic relationships, including mutualism, commensalism and parasitism, the nature of which is decided by mechanisms of the interaction. There are two main types of molecular interactions between microalgae and bacteria: exchange of nutrients and release of signalling molecules. Nutrient exchange includes transport of organic carbon from microalgae to bacteria and nutrient nitrogen released from nitrogen-fixing bacteria to microalgae, as well as reciprocal supply of micronutrients such as B vitamins and iron. Signalling molecules such as phytohormones secreted by microalgae and quorum sensing molecules secreted by bacteria have been shown to positively affect growth and metabolism of the symbiotic partner. However, there are still a number of potential microalgae-bacteria interactions that have not been well explored, including cyclic peptides, other quorum signalling molecules, and extracellular vesicles involved in exchange of genetic materials. A more thorough understanding of these interactions may not only result in a deeper understanding of the relationships between these symbiotic organisms but also have potential biotechnological applications. Upon new mechanisms of interaction being identified and characterized, novel bioprocesses of synthetic ecology might be developed especially for wastewater treatment and production of biofertilizers and biofuels.},
}
@article {pmid40328313,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, D and Jin, R and Shi, X and Guo, H and Tan, X and Zhao, A and Lian, X and Dai, H and Li, S and Xin, K and Tian, C and Yang, J and Chen, W and Macho, AP and Wang, E},
title = {A kinase mediator of rhizobial symbiosis and immunity in Medicago.},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {643},
number = {8072},
pages = {768-775},
pmid = {40328313},
issn = {1476-4687},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/immunology ; *Plant Immunity ; Phosphorylation ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; *Medicago truncatula/immunology/microbiology/enzymology/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; },
abstract = {Legume roots secure nitrogen by forming a symbiosis with soil rhizobia but remain resistant to pathogenic bacteria[1-4]. How this tolerance to rhizobia is achieved without compromising plant immunity is largely unknown. Here we identify the cytoplasmic kinase MtLICK1/2, which interacts with nodulation factor receptor MtLYK3 to drive symbiotic signalling and suppress plant immunity. Rhizobial infection and nodule development are defective in Mtlick1/2, phenocopying the Mtlyk3-1 mutant. MtLICK1/2 and MtLYK3 undergo reciprocal transphosphorylation during rhizobial symbiosis. Phosphorylated MtLYK3 activates the receptor-like kinase MtDMI2 to stimulate symbiotic signalling. MtLICK1/2 is activated in the rhizobial infection area to suppress plant immunity. Thus, MtLICK1/2 and MtLYK3 together amplify symbiotic signalling and dampen host immunity to enable legume-rhizobium symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40328220,
year = {2025},
author = {Doremus, MR and Hunter, MS},
title = {Symbiosis: An escalating arms race between a butterfly and bacterium.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {9},
pages = {R339-R341},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.061},
pmid = {40328220},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Butterflies/microbiology/physiology ; *Wolbachia/physiology/genetics ; Male ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria such as Wolbachia can dramatically affect the reproduction of their arthropod hosts, in some instances causing male progeny to die as embryos. A recent paper describes an escalating arms race over Wolbachia-mediated male-killing in a tropical butterfly, with butterfly suppression of male-killing being overcome by acquisition of an additional male-killing gene via phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer.},
}
@article {pmid40328215,
year = {2025},
author = {Hughes, C and Ringelberg, JJ and Bruneau, A},
title = {Legumes.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {9},
pages = {R323-R328},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.049},
pmid = {40328215},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Crops, Agricultural ; Ecosystem ; *Fabaceae/physiology/microbiology/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Symbiosis ; *Biodiversity ; Plant Root Nodulation ; *Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Whatever continent you are on (besides Antarctica), whatever type of vegetation you are in, and however that vegetation has been disturbed and modified by humans, there will very likely be a legume growing nearby. Leguminosae or Fabaceae, commonly known as legumes, with ∼22,500 species is the third largest family of flowering plants, after the daisies (Asteraceae) and orchids (Orchidaceae). A central question in legume biology is understanding why the family is so diverse, geographically widespread and abundant, and how legumes came to form significant components of almost all terrestrial ecosystems across the globe. Economically, legumes are also important as major world food crops, and have been so since the dawn of agriculture. The ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through root nodule symbiosis with bacteria - the hallmark of many legumes - is important in both ecosystem functioning and agriculture, and current research even aims to engineer nodulation in non-legume crops. This combined eco-evolutionary and societal importance means that legumes have occupied a central position in botanical and wider biological research ever since the late 19[th] century, when Gregor Mendel used the garden pea in his experiments, which famously provided early insights into genetics. In this Primer, we present an overview of the diversity, evolution and ecological and economic importance of legumes across the globe, and discuss the evolution of nodulation, one of the key traits of the family.},
}
@article {pmid40328120,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Xia, X and Riaz, M and Babar, S and El-Desouki, Z and Qasim, M and Wang, J and Jiang, C},
title = {Biochar amendment modulate microbial community assembly to mitigate saline-alkaline stress across soil depths.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {385},
number = {},
pages = {125574},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125574},
pmid = {40328120},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Soil/chemistry ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Charcoal ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {While microbial community assembly in saline-alkali topsoils is well-documented, distribution patterns across biochar application depths and soil layers remain unclear. This incubation study evaluated five treatment: no biochar (CK), homogeneous application (EB), and concentrated applications in upper (FB: 0-10 cm), middle (MB: 10-20 cm), or bottom layers (DB: 20-30 cm). Biochar application significantly accelerated vertical salt migration, with FB inducing 45.55 % and 61.01 % increases in water-soluble Na[+] and Cl[-] accumulation in the bottom layer. Microbial network complexity and interspecies interactions were highest in the upper layer (edges: 926), contrasting sharply with simplified communities in deeper layer (edges ≤552). Community assembly across layers was primarily driven by salt gradients, with deep-layer communities dominated by salt-tolerant taxa (such as Halomonas and Desulfobacterota). Among treatments, FB led to the highest biomarker abundance and α-diversity. Mechanistically, FB mitigated microbial diversity loss in mid-deep layers by establishing a symbiotic consortium of salt-tolerant keystone taxa (Bacillus-Pseudomonas-Ascomycota), which enhanced stress resilience via cross-feeding. These findings demonstrate that stratified biochar application (FB) optimizes salt redistribution while fostering stress-adapted microbial consortia across soil profiles, offering a targeted strategy for saline-alkali soil remediation.},
}
@article {pmid40327715,
year = {2025},
author = {Radzikowska-Kujawska, D and Piechota, T and Jarzyniak, K and Kowalczewski, P&#x141; and Wojewódzki, P},
title = {Effects of biopreparations based on Bacillus and Trichoderma, combined with mineral and organic fertilization and a Pisum sativum L. forecrop on improving the tolerance of Maize plants to drought stress.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {5},
pages = {e0322718},
pmid = {40327715},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Zea mays/physiology/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Droughts ; *Fertilizers ; *Trichoderma/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; *Bacillus/physiology ; *Pisum sativum/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Minerals/pharmacology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; },
abstract = {The increased frequency of extreme weather phenomena, such as heat waves and drought, adversely affects the condition of plants. The need to strive for more sustainable methods of growing plants requires undertaking researches that focus on strengthening the immunity of plants using methods that have a positive impact on both crops and the natural environment. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness and compare the effects of selected microbiological preparations based on Bacillus bacteria and Trichoderma symbiotic fungi, combined with mineral (NPK) and organic fertilization (manure) and a Pisum sativum L. forecrop on improving the tolerance of maize plants to drought stress. The pot experiment was carried in 2023 as a two-factor experiment in three replicates. Physiological parameters were assessed based on measurements of photosynthetic efficiency (A - CO2 assimilation rate, E - Transpiration Rate, Gs - Stomatal Conductance) and chlorophyll content (CCI) and fluorescence (F0 - initial fluorescence, Fm - maximum fluorescence, Fv/Fm - maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII, Yield - quantum yield of the photochemical reaction in PSII, ETR - electron transport rate, NPQ - Non - Photo-chemical Quenching), as well as soil respiration (NCER- Net CO2 Exchange Rate, W flux- Net H2O Exchange Rate, Ce- Soil Respiration) and biometric measurements (dry mass of shoots and roots).The measurement of photosynthesis efficiency under drought stress clearly indicated the highest, significant effect caused by Trichoderma preparation with both fertilizers. In the control, CO2 assimilation was practically inhibited due to drought (98% drop), while in the plants in which the Trichoderma preparation was used together with half dose of NPK and manure, there was only a slight decrease (1% and 13% respectively). A greatest, significant improvement in the DM of roots under drought was noted in plants in which the Pisum forecrop was applied together with NPK and manure (230% and 168% respectively). Pisum forecrop and treatments with microbiological preparation containing Trichoderma, make it possible to reduce the fertilization dose by at least half. This is particularly important in view of the global trend of increasing drought stress and efforts to improve soil quality.},
}
@article {pmid40327507,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, CY and Naqvi, NI},
title = {Endophytic mycobiont provides growth benefits via a phenylpropanoid-auxin axis in host plants.},
journal = {Cell reports},
volume = {44},
number = {5},
pages = {115648},
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115648},
pmid = {40327507},
issn = {2211-1247},
mesh = {*Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Endophytes/physiology/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Coumaric Acids/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Brassica rapa/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Ascomycota/physiology ; Propionates ; },
abstract = {Beneficial association with symbiotic fungi helps improve growth and fitness in most land plants and shows great potential as biofertilizers in precision agriculture. Here, we demonstrated that a root fungal endophyte, Tinctoporellus species isolate AR8, enabled yield improvement in Brassicaceae leafy green choy sum (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis). Mechanistically, AR8 colonized the root cortex/endosphere and channeled the metabolic flux to phenylpropanoids and requisite secondary metabolites to promote plant growth. AR8-assisted biosynthesis of auxin improved root growth and provided an intrinsic source for long-distance signaling that enhanced shoot biomass. Chemical complementation with exogenous p-coumaric acid restored auxin signaling and enhanced growth in AR8-inoculated pal1 mutant plants, thus implicating such a phenylpropanoid-auxin nexus as a pivotal regulator of symbiotic plant growth. Comparative metabolomics established hydroxycinnamic acid and p-coumaric acid as major plant-growth-promoting hubs that bridge the phenylpropanoid pathway and auxin signaling in the cross-kingdom AR8 symbiotic interaction model.},
}
@article {pmid40327084,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, M and Hu, Y and Ma, Y and Hou, T and Wang, J and Che, Q and Chen, B and Wang, Q and Feng, G},
title = {Soil Bacterial Diversity and Community Structure of Cotton Rhizosphere under Mulched Drip-Irrigation in Arid and Semi-arid Regions of Northwest China.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {39},
pmid = {40327084},
issn = {1432-184X},
mesh = {*Gossypium/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; China ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Soil/chemistry ; *Agricultural Irrigation/methods ; Biodiversity ; Desert Climate ; Microbiota ; Alkaline Phosphatase/genetics ; },
abstract = {Xinjiang is situated in an arid and semi-arid region, where abundant heat and sunlight create highly favorable conditions for cotton cultivation. Xinjiang's cotton output accounts for nearly one-quarter of global production. Moreover, the implementation of advanced planting techniques, such as 'dwarfing, high-density, early-maturing' strategies combined with mulched drip irrigation, ensures stable and high yields in this region. Despite these advancements, limited research has focused on the microbial mechanisms in cotton fields employing these advanced planting methods. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was utilized to investigate the diversity and composition of bacterial and phoD (Alkaline phosphatases encoding gene) communities in the rhizosphere of cotton grown under different yield levels in Xinjiang Province, China. The Mantel test, redundancy analysis (RDA) and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) were employed to explore the interactions between soil bacterial and phoD communities, their network structures, and environmental factors. The bacterial and phoD communities in the cotton rhizosphere were predominantly composed of nine bacterial phyla (i.e., Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Rokubacteria, Firmicutes, and Nitrospirae) and five phoD phyla (i.e., Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Acidobacteria, and Firmicutes), respectively. Alpha diversity analysis indicated that the medium yield cotton field (MYF) exhibited higher bacterial richness and diversity indices compared to low yield (LYF) and high yield (HYF) fields. The symbiotic network analysis of LYF revealed greater values of average degree, number of edges, and modularity, suggesting a more complex network structure in both bacterial and phoD communities. The Mantel test, RDA, and PLS-PM model identified soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic phosphorus (OP), available phosphorus (AP), total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and clay content as the main driving factors influencing changes in the rhizosphere bacterial community diversity and network structure. These findings provide a theoretical basis for future research aimed at improving soil quality and cotton yield.},
}
@article {pmid40324680,
year = {2025},
author = {Jones, JE and Court, R and Kageyama, D and Obbard, DJ and Hurst, GDD},
title = {Variable prevalence of protective Spiroplasma infection over time in two natural populations of Drosophila hydei.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {211},
number = {},
pages = {108349},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108349},
pmid = {40324680},
issn = {1096-0805},
mesh = {Animals ; *Spiroplasma/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; *Drosophila/microbiology ; Prevalence ; Symbiosis ; United Kingdom ; Japan ; },
abstract = {The temporal dynamics of protective symbionts have rarely been characterized outside of aphid hosts. Here, we determine the prevalence of Spiroplasma in two populations of Drosophila hydei where Spiroplasma infection had been previously recorded (UK and Japan). We observe that infection in both populations is variable over time and confirm the persistence of Spiroplasma in the UK population for 9 years. Thus, variable prevalence over time appears to be a common feature of these symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40324391,
year = {2025},
author = {Schatz, D and Le Blevenec, A and Moratti, FG and Chung, KP and Mercier, P and Iqbal, RK and Vallet, E and Dietrich, A and Bock, R and Weber-Lotfi, F and Gualberto, JM},
title = {R-loop control and mitochondrial genome stability require the 5'-3' exonuclease/flap endonuclease OEX1.},
journal = {The Plant cell},
volume = {37},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40324391},
issn = {1532-298X},
support = {ANR-11-LABX-0057_MITOCROSS//LABEX/ ; //French National Research Agency/ ; },
mesh = {*Arabidopsis/genetics/enzymology/metabolism ; *Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Genomic Instability/genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics/metabolism ; *Flap Endonucleases/metabolism/genetics ; *R-Loop Structures/genetics ; Mitochondria/genetics/metabolism ; DNA Replication ; *Exonucleases/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Maintenance of the plant organelle genomes involves factors mostly inherited from their symbiotic ancestors. In bacteria, DNA polymerase I (Pol I) performs multiple replication and repair functions through its 5'-3'-exonuclease/flap-endonuclease domain. Plant organelles possess 2 DNA polymerases that are evolutionarily derived from Pol I but lack this key domain. ORGANELLAR EXONUCLEASES 1 and 2 (OEX1 and OEX2) compensate for this missing function and are targeted to mitochondria and chloroplasts, respectively, in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Loss of OEX1 causes developmental and fertility defects that increase with increasing differential segregation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) subgenomes generated by recombination. OEX1 activity is modulated by alternative splicing, which generates 2 isoforms that variably affect mtDNA stability and repair. OEX1 has 5'-3'-exonuclease and flap endonuclease activities, with a high affinity for RNA-DNA hybrids. It rapidly degrades RNA in Okazaki-like structures and R-loops. Consistent with a role in suppressing R-loops, oex1 mutant plants accumulate RNA-DNA hybrids in highly transcribed mtDNA regions. Taken together, our results identify OEX1 as an important factor that compensates for the missing activity of plant organellar polymerases, playing multiple important roles in the processing of replication and recombination intermediates, such as replication primers and R-loops, whose accumulation can lead to genome instability.},
}
@article {pmid40324302,
year = {2025},
author = {Tleuken, A and Rogetzer, P and Fraccascia, L and Yazan, DM},
title = {Designing a stakeholder engagement framework with critical success factors for Hubs for Circularity.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {384},
number = {},
pages = {125324},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125324},
pmid = {40324302},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {Humans ; *Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; *Stakeholder Participation ; *Sustainable Development ; },
abstract = {This paper introduces a framework aimed at evaluating stakeholder involvement within Hubs for Circularity (H4C), which play a critical role in advancing the circular economy. It demonstrates the significance of collaboration among stakeholders and the need for a structured approach to assess the effectiveness of H4C initiatives. As a result of the literature review synthesis, the paper proposes a novel and actionable framework for stakeholder engagement. It is composed of several key elements: it begins with the identification and analysis of the different stakeholder groups participating in H4C projects. Next, it advocates for a comprehensive review of the factors influencing H4C implementation through an analysis of drivers, barriers, and enablers. It also emphasizes the development of success criteria aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals to measure the outcomes of H4C initiatives. The paper concludes by proposing future research directions, such as integrating the Societal Readiness Level and utilizing social network analysis and regional input-output modeling to assess the socio-economic impacts of H4C projects. Overall, the paper highlights the critical role of stakeholder engagement and effective evaluation frameworks in the success of H4C initiatives and the advancement of sustainability goals.},
}
@article {pmid40323933,
year = {2025},
author = {Pacheco, R and Juárez-Verdayes, MA and Chávez-Martínez, AI and Palacios-Martínez, J and Leija, A and Nava, N and Cárdenas, L and Quinto, C},
title = {The non-specific phospholipase C of common bean PvNPC4 modulates roots and nodule development.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {5},
pages = {e0306505},
pmid = {40323933},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Phaseolus/enzymology/microbiology/genetics/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; *Root Nodules, Plant/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Plant Roots/growth &amp; development/microbiology/genetics/enzymology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Type C Phospholipases/metabolism/genetics ; Rhizobium tropici/physiology ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; RNA Interference ; },
abstract = {Plant phospholipase C (PLC) proteins are phospholipid-degrading enzymes classified into two subfamilies: phosphoinositide-specific PLCs (PI-PLCs) and non-specific PLCs (NPCs). PI-PLCs have been widely studied in various biological contexts, including responses to abiotic and biotic stresses and plant development; NPCs have been less thoroughly studied. No PLC subfamily has been characterized in relation to the symbiotic interaction between Fabaceae (legume) species and the nitrogen-fixing bacteria called rhizobia. However, lipids are reported to be crucial to this interaction, and PLCs may therefore contribute to regulating legume-rhizobia symbiosis. In this work, we functionally characterized NPC4 from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) during rhizobial symbiosis, findings evidence that NPC4 plays an important role in bean root development. The knockdown of PvNPC4 by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in fewer and shorter primary roots and fewer lateral roots than were seen in control plants. Importantly, this phenotype seems to be related to altered auxin signaling. In the bean-rhizobia symbiosis, PvNPC4 transcript abundance increased 3 days after inoculation with Rhizobium tropici. Moreover, the number of infection threads and nodules, as well as the transcript abundance of PvEnod40, a regulatory gene of early stages of symbiosis, decreased in PvNPC4-RNAi roots. Additionally, transcript abundance of genes involved in autoregulation of nodulation (AON) was altered by PvNPC4 silencing. These results indicate that PvNPC4 is a key regulator of root and nodule development, underscoring the participation of PLC in rhizobial symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40323127,
year = {2025},
author = {Almahal, ZH and Hasan, A and Razzak, SA and Nzila, A and Uddin, S},
title = {Molecular Perspective of Dietary Influences on the Gut Microbiome alongside Neurological Health: Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis.},
journal = {ACS chemical neuroscience},
volume = {16},
number = {11},
pages = {1996-2012},
doi = {10.1021/acschemneuro.5c00058},
pmid = {40323127},
issn = {1948-7193},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Brain/metabolism/physiology ; *Diet ; Animals ; Prebiotics ; *Brain-Gut Axis/physiology ; },
abstract = {Gut-brain axis, an intricate, two-way communication network between gut microorganisms and the central nervous system, plays a critical role in controlling brain function and thereby influencing mental health. Changes to this axis, frequently due to shifts in gut microbiota, can greatly affect brain function by hindering the creation of essential metabolites. This review examines new nutritional trends, including fermented foods and diets rich in prebiotics, that demonstrate the potential to improve microbial diversity and metabolic well-being. Although current studies emphasize possible advantages, most concentrate mainly on older populations, leaving research in younger groups limited. The field of nutritional psychiatry encounters difficulties due to the diversity in research methodologies and the intricacies of nutrient balance, potentially hindering prompt interventions. This review highlights the necessity for prolonged research to evaluate the effects of eating habits, especially regarding Western dietary patterns. Promising fields include the influence of the Mediterranean diet, the role of symbiotic and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and the importance of high-fiber foods, polyphenols, and fruits and vegetables in enhancing mental health through gut-derived metabolites. We promote interdisciplinary methods that combine nutrition science, microbiology, and neurology to create tailored dietary recommendations focused on enhancing brain health.},
}
@article {pmid40323071,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, Z and Yuan, Z and Li, Y and Huang, X},
title = {The Balance and Imbalance of Microbial Communities: Oral-Gut Microbiota and Colorectal Cancer.},
journal = {American journal of clinical oncology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1097/COC.0000000000001213},
pmid = {40323071},
issn = {1537-453X},
abstract = {The microbiome is a significant multimicrobial community that coexists with the human body in a symbiotic relationship. These microbial communities participate in mechanisms, such as defense against infections, absorption of nutrients, and maintenance of internal homeostasis. Although the microbiome is involved in physiological processes that are beneficial to host health, it can also lead to serious problems. Despite being far apart, the oral cavity and colon are both highly colonized by different microbial communities. Studies have shown that oral bacteria can migrate to and colonize the colon, which is most evident in diseases such as periodontitis. These oral pathogenic bacteria, which contain a large number of carcinogenic factors such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis, can penetrate the large intestine and cause intestinal microbial imbalance and dysfunction, thereby stimulating carcinogenesis. Increasing evidence suggests that oral microbiota, especially certain periodontal pathogens, may be used as biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC). Understanding the exact mechanisms of microbiome interactions and their impact on CRC will provide future opportunities for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer, and is an important prerequisite for its use as a precise noninvasive biomarker, which is crucial for the early detection of CRC. This review aims to summarize the current research status of oral microbiota, gut microbiota, and their association with CRC, and to evaluate the effectiveness of oral microbiome-derived biomarkers.},
}
@article {pmid40320570,
year = {2025},
author = {Torres Ascurra, YC and Müller, LM},
title = {Signaling peptides control beneficial and pathogenic plant-microbe interactions.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf180},
pmid = {40320570},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Interactions between organisms, such as those between plants and microbes, require extensive signaling between and within each organism to detect and recognize the partner and elicit an appropriate response. Multiple families of small signaling peptides regulate plant interactions with beneficial or pathogenic microbes, and sometimes both. Some of these signaling peptides transmit information between different cells or organs of the host and allow plants to orchestrate a coordinated response towards microbial mutualists or pathogens. However, not only plants produce signaling peptides required for the interactions. Microbes themselves also secrete peptide signals, which are detected by host receptors and required for infection. Among these are microbial peptides mimicking those of plants, allowing mutualistic or pathogenic microbes to hijack endogenous plant signaling pathways and evade the host immune system. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of current knowledge on host- and microbe-derived signaling peptides and their cognate receptors regulating mutualistic and parasitic plant-microbe interactions. Furthermore, we describe how microbes hijack endogenous host signaling pathways, and discuss possible crosstalk between the plant signaling pathways controlling mutualism with those modulating immune responses to pathogens.},
}
@article {pmid40320362,
year = {2025},
author = {Johansson, A and Sarrette, B and Boscari, A and Prudent, M and Gruber, V and Brouquisse, R and Jacquet, C and Gough, C and Pauly, N},
title = {The role of reactive oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur species in the integration of (a)biotic stress signals in legumes.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf175},
pmid = {40320362},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Legumes are crops of considerable economic and ecological significance. They are suitable for cultivation in a variety of environments and temperatures. They are able to form a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria called rhizobia contributing to the enrichment of marginal soils with this essential nutrient, and reduces artificial fertilizer use. Similarly, legumes establish a widespread mutualistic association with soil fungi, involving a reciprocal transfer of nutrients. Global warming is reshaping plant interactions with its environment, exerting profound effects on global agricultural systems. Plants have evolved sensing, signaling, and adaptive molecular mechanisms to respond to (a)biotic stimuli. Reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur species (RONSS) are key players in stress tolerance mechanisms, and their homeostasis, mainly accomplished by antioxidant enzymes and metabolites, is essential to allow redox signaling while preventing oxidative damage. Here, we review recent findings, highlighting metabolic pathways of RONSS and antioxidants, with emphasis on their functions in signaling and protection in response to (a)biotic constraints in legumes. Special attention is paid to the molecular crosstalk between RONSS in response to multiple stimuli and notably how redox homeostasis adjustment can increase (a)biotic stress tolerance and potentially be exploited to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40320312,
year = {2025},
author = {Thia, JA and Dorai, APS and Hoffmann, AA},
title = {Symbiotic bacteria and pest control: plant toxins, chemical pesticides, and fungal entomopathogens.},
journal = {Trends in microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2025.04.007},
pmid = {40320312},
issn = {1878-4380},
abstract = {Bacterial symbionts in pests are being increasingly investigated to assess their potential uses for sustainable control approaches. We undertook a review and analysis of the impacts of endosymbionts and gut symbionts on responses to toxins from plants and pesticides, and to attack by fungal entomopathogens. Despite methodological issues affecting estimates of effect sizes, there is evidence for symbionts increasing resistance to all three agents. However, impacts can be small, and for pesticides, these may not reach levels required for resistance at field rates. Negative or neutral effects may be underreported. Further complications arise because host genotype and the environment impact symbiont effects. We anticipate rapid progress in this area over coming years that should clarify practical implications of these effects.},
}
@article {pmid40319919,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Yang, M and Li, N and Huang, Y and Yang, C},
title = {Black ink staining protocol: A cost-effective substitute in quantifying arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in plant roots.},
journal = {Journal of microbiological methods},
volume = {232-234},
number = {},
pages = {107141},
doi = {10.1016/j.mimet.2025.107141},
pmid = {40319919},
issn = {1872-8359},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/growth &amp; development/isolation &amp; purification ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Staining and Labeling/methods/economics ; Symbiosis ; *Coloring Agents ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, ubiquitously distributed across diverse terrestrial ecosystems, establish symbiotic associations with the majority of vascular plants, fulfilling essential physiological and ecological functions. Mycorrhizal development represents the initiation of host-fungus interactions and serves as a metric for assessing mutualistic efficacy. However, mycorrhizal detection underscores the urgent need to develop cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally benign dyestuff. Therefore, wild-collected and laboratory-grown roots of Medicago sativa were selected. Six reagents including black ink, red ink, acid fuchsin, trypan blue, Sudan IV, and aniline blue were evaluated in conjunction with computer vision techniques to identify optimal one. Concurrently, root characteristics were quantified, and interrelationships among root traits, image quality, and colonization indices were analyzed to unravel the mechanism of their interactions. The findings demonstrated that wild roots exhibited pronounced lignification, achieving a mycorrhizal colonization rate of 100 %, which was better than the two laboratory groups. And the fungal community displayed a markedly greater colonization intensity compared to the Claroideoglomus etunicatum. Evaluation of the six reagents revealed distinct staining efficacy, with significant variations in image clarity, gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) indices, and colonization parameters across treatments. Specifically, aniline blue proved ineffective, while Sudan IV showed selective binding. Notably, black ink in glacial acetic acid achieved optimal mycorrhizal detection efficacy. Moreover, correlation matrix identified microscopic image quality as critical determinant of quantification accuracy, influenced by both reagent types and root properties, and AvgDiam exerted the most substantial impact (|R| > 0.75).},
}
@article {pmid40319781,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Z and Zeng, T and Wang, J and Wang, Z and Zhao, D and Wei, J and Peng, Y and Miao, L},
title = {AHL-mediated quorum sensing drives microbial community succession and metabolic pathway in algal-bacterial biofilm system.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {282},
number = {},
pages = {123702},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123702},
pmid = {40319781},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Quorum Sensing ; *Biofilms ; *Microalgae ; *Acyl-Butyrolactones ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Nitrification ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Microalgae, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) have been proven to form an integrated algal-bacterial biofilm system with over 93 % of total nitrogen removal. Compared to conventional nitrification-denitrification process, this system operated without additional organic carbon or aeration. In order to understand the interaction mechanisms between bacteria and algae, this study investigated microbial community succession, the changes in metabolic pathways and the potential role of acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated quorum sensing (QS) during the formation of the algae/partial nitrification/anammox biofilm system. Within this algal-bacterial symbiotic biofilm, the dominant genera identified were Candidatus_Brocadia (AnAOB), Nitrosomonas (AOB), and Geitlerinema (microalgae), with relative abundances of 13.86 %, 6.37 %, and 2.88 %, respectively. Compared with the first two stages, the abundance of genes related to nitrogen metabolism pathways (anaerobic ammonium oxidation, denitrification, and ammonia assimilation) increased, indicating enhanced nitrogen transformation capacity in the algal-bacterial symbiotic stage. Co-occurrence network analysis also revealed enhanced microbial interactions, with increased negative correlations (from 36.07 % to 39.38 %), high average standard betweenness centrality (from 0.193 to 0.304), and reduced community vulnerability (from 0.037 to 0.028), contributing to biofilm stability and resilience. The variations in AHLs provided direct evidence for more frequent interspecies communication, facilitating the ecological reconfiguration in the biofilm. Overall, the close synergistic relationship between microalgae and bacteria supports stable biofilm development and high nitrogen removal efficiency.},
}
@article {pmid40319203,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, JF and Yang, LY and Zhang, Z and Huang, XR and Li, H and Li, S and Yang, XR},
title = {Asymbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in the Phyllosphere of Urban Green Spaces.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {6},
pages = {276},
pmid = {40319203},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {42277110//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42177097//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation ; *Plant Leaves/microbiology/chemistry ; *Bacteria/genetics/metabolism/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Cities ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is an important source of nitrogen in ecosystems. Compared to symbiotic nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, free-living diazotrophic bacteria have a broader distribution and greater diversity, demonstrating greater potential for application. Leaf surfaces constitute one of the largest microbial reservoirs on Earth, harboring a variety of free-living diazotrophic bacteria, contributing significantly to plant N acquisition and growth. The distribution patterns, abundance, diversity, and the environmental variables affecting the asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (ANF) rates of free-living diazotrophic bacteria of non-leguminous plants in urban green spaces were investigated using high-throughput sequencing of nifH gene amplicons and the acetylene reduction method. Both green space type and plant species significantly impact ANF rates and nifH gene abundance in the phyllosphere, with green space type having a more pronounced effect. Leaf metal elements iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), and the free-living diazotrophic bacteria of the genus Skermanella collectively influence the ANF rates in the phyllosphere of urban green spaces. Linear regression analysis revealed that metal elements Fe, Mo, and potassium (K) in the leaves were significantly positive correlated with the diversity of the free-living diazotrophic bacteria and the abundance of the N-fixing gene nifH. The alpha diversity and symbiotic network structure of the free-living diazotrophic bacterial community in the phyllosphere indicated a significant negative correlation between human disturbance and environmental perturbation and the biodiversity and network complexity of these bacteria. This study provides a crucial foundation for understanding the nitrogen-fixing functions of microbes in urban ecosystems and their contributions to the nitrogen cycle.},
}
@article {pmid40318826,
year = {2025},
author = {Campos-Herrera, R and Georgis, R and Londoño, DK and Malan, A and Molina, C and Shapiro-Ilan, D and Soler, R and Stock, SP and Vandenbossche, B},
title = {Connecting academia and industry: Advancing the use of entomopathogenic nematodes to tackle emerging challenges and opportunities in modern agriculture.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {211},
number = {},
pages = {108350},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108350},
pmid = {40318826},
issn = {1096-0805},
mesh = {Animals ; *Nematoda ; *Pest Control, Biological/methods ; *Agriculture/methods ; *Biological Control Agents ; Industry ; Academia ; },
abstract = {The collaboration among academia, industry, and government is crucial for scientific progress and innovation. Academia generates fundamental knowledge, which industry translates into sound applications, considering government policies. This partnership is vital to feed progress and constant development and address global challenges like climate change and food security. Sustainable crop protection is a topical theme, with efforts to reduce pesticide reliance and promote alternatives to chemical pest management, and it continues to grow and be accepted worldwide. In this respect, biopesticides such as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) offer a promising solution for pest and disease management as an eco-friendly alternative. However, EPN continue to face adoption barriers due to regulatory, commercialization and basic and applied knowledge gaps. Thus, stronger collaborations are needed to unlock their full potential, as highlighted in the 2024 congress organized in La Rioja (Spain) to commemorate the 100 years since the discovery of the first EPN. This review examines the gap between academia and industry, suggesting strategies to bridge it, thereby promoting the advancement of EPN in 21st-century agriculture. Despite decades of research demonstrating their efficacy, EPN commercialization remains limited by production, formulation, and application challenges. Universities and government research agencies have driven fundamental innovation through the discovery of new EPN-bacteria partnerships in new regions of the world, which are helping us understand their distribution and habitant adaptations which are required for their registration and in establishing global regulations. Research conducted both in academia and the private sector (both big and small start-up companies) has and continues to play a key role in the characterization of EPN and in assessing their performance for their subsequent formulation, product optimization, and commercialization. These are fundamental steps to reach the ultimate goal, which is to provide growers with reliable products that are cost-effective and sustainable. In this review, we summarize key findings that have led to the commercialization and application of EPN, spanning from the characterization of EPN and their symbiotic bacteria to production, formulation, and the requirements for their registration. We also highlight critical knowledge gaps and opportunities for collaboration between academia, government agencies, and industry. Strengthening these partnerships will drive EPN adoption in agriculture, establishing them as a desirable biocontrol solution.},
}
@article {pmid40318822,
year = {2025},
author = {Uthra, C and Shunmugam, S and Nagaraj, K and Muralitharan, G and Albeshr, MF and Velmurugan, G},
title = {Ultra-fast liquid chromatography detection of β-N-methylamine-l-alanine and its isomers in cycad seeds and cyanobacterial symbionts for neurotoxic risk assessment.},
journal = {Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association},
volume = {202},
number = {},
pages = {115503},
doi = {10.1016/j.fct.2025.115503},
pmid = {40318822},
issn = {1873-6351},
mesh = {*Amino Acids, Diamino/analysis/toxicity/chemistry ; Cyanobacteria Toxins ; *Seeds/chemistry ; *Cyanobacteria/chemistry ; Risk Assessment ; *Neurotoxins/analysis/toxicity ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods ; Isomerism ; *Cycas/chemistry ; *Cycadopsida/chemistry ; },
abstract = {The cyanobacterial neurotoxin has been implicated in various neurological disorders, posing a potential global health risk. Initial studies revealed alarming levels of β-N-methylamine-l-alanine (BMAA) in cyanobacteria, particularly in symbiotic species, suggesting widespread exposure. This study aimed to validate the efficacy of ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) technique for the detection and quantification of BMAA in various samples. Derivatizing agents, including 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) and N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine (AEG), were synthesized and confirmed via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to enhance the detection of isomeric neurotoxic compounds. Among the samples analyzed cycad seeds, leaves, male cones, cyanobacterial symbionts, coralloid roots, and processed cycad seed flour BMAA and its isomers (2,4-diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DAB) and AEG) were detected in cycad seeds, cyanobacterial symbionts, and coralloid roots. The retention times for L-BMAA, AEG, and 2,4-DAB were 5.4, 5.6, and 6.1 min, respectively. Quantification revealed lower levels of these toxic isomers in seeds compared to high levels in cyanobacterial symbionts. Furthermore, UFLC methods effectively reduced the levels of neurotoxic compounds in cycad seeds to below detectable limits (6 × 10[3] ng/mL). This study underscores the utility of UFLC method combined with derivatization for the efficient detection and separation of L-BMAA and its isomers, providing a reliable approach for neurotoxin analysis.},
}
@article {pmid40318807,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, R and Guo, L and Shi, D and Sun, X and Shang, M and Zhao, Y and Wang, X and Yang, Y and Xiao, S and Li, J},
title = {Multilayer cascade-response nanoplatforms as metabolic symbiotic disruptors to reprogram the immunosuppressive microenvironment.},
journal = {Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society},
volume = {383},
number = {},
pages = {113797},
doi = {10.1016/j.jconrel.2025.113797},
pmid = {40318807},
issn = {1873-4995},
mesh = {*Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects ; Humans ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Nanoparticles/administration &amp; dosage/chemistry ; *RNA, Small Interfering/administration &amp; dosage ; Hyaluronoglucosaminidase/administration &amp; dosage/metabolism ; *Neoplasms/therapy/metabolism/immunology ; Lipids/chemistry ; Mice ; },
abstract = {Nanomedicine is extensively utilized in tumor treatment, however, the restricted permeability of nanomaterials within tumor tissues, along with the inherent metabolic complexity of these tissues, have hindered effective control of tumor progression. Hypoxic and normoxic tumor cells utilize monocarboxylic acid transporters (MCTs) for the rapid reutilization of lactate, facilitating accelerated tumor growth. Here, cascade-response nanoplatforms (NPs) with contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging (CEUI) capability had been established, incorporating basigin siRNA internally and featuring hyaluronidase (HAase) and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)-responsive lipid coatings externally (GHB NPs). The GHB NPs took advantage of GGT-responsive HAase release to facilitate deep tumor penetration. Furthermore, ultrasound (US) irradiation decreased the expression of glycolysis-related proteins through the modulation of the β-catenin/c-Myc pathway, and US irradiation induced mitochondrial damage, leading to a low-energy state in tumor cells. On this basis, GHB NPs was paired with US stimulation to provide a combination therapy that disturbed tumor cell metabolic symbiosis and remodeled the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This study formulates an effective therapeutic approach for metabolic-immunotherapy, potentially offering a viable candidate for tumor treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40318614,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, Q and Xu, B and Bititci, U},
title = {Unpacking financial aspects of circular economy: A systematic literature review.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {384},
number = {},
pages = {125507},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125507},
pmid = {40318614},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {The integration of circular economy (CE) principles into practical applications is accelerating, driving rapid growth in research within this field. However, critical financial aspects that could facilitate the wider adoption of CE practices remain underexplored. This study aims to address this gap through a systematic literature review to analyse the key financial topics related to CE. Specifically, we categorise financial themes in CE research into three distinct areas: the financial performance of CE practices, diverse financing approaches and their impact on CE adoption, and strategies for de-risking CE projects. By synthesising the existing literature, identifying research gaps, and presenting a case study of a UK-based SME that exemplifies both the challenges and opportunities within the industrial symbiosis concept, our review provides deeper insights into the financial implications of CE practices. Additionally, we propose a conceptual framework to highlight current knowledge and gaps, offering a guide for future investigations in this area.},
}
@article {pmid40317738,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, J and Shao, Z and Cheng, K and Yang, Q and Ju, H and Tang, X and Zhang, S and Li, J},
title = {Coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae exhibit host specificity but lack phylosymbiosis, with Cladocopium and Durusdinium showing different cophylogenetic patterns.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {1},
pages = {309-324},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70184},
pmid = {40317738},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {42122045//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U23A2036//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Anthozoa/parasitology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Host Specificity ; *Phylogeny ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology/genetics ; Species Specificity ; },
abstract = {Altering the composition of the Symbiodiniaceae community to adapt to anomalous sea water warming represents a potential survival mechanism for scleractinian corals. However, the processes of Symbiodiniaceae assembly and long-standing evolution of coral-Symbiodiniaceae interactions remain unclear. Here, we utilized ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer 2) amplicon sequencing and the SymPortal framework to investigate the diversity and specificity of Symbiodiniaceae across 39 scleractinian coral species. Furthermore, we tested phylosymbiosis and cophylogeny between coral hosts and their Symbiodiniaceae. In our study, environmental samples exhibited the highest Symbiodiniaceae diversity. Cladocopium and Durusdinium dominated the Symbiodiniaceae communities, with significant β-diversity differences among coral species. Additionally, host specificity was widespread in Symbiodiniaceae, especially Durusdinium spp., yet lacked a phylosymbiotic pattern. Moreover, Cladocopium spp. showed cophylogenetic congruence with their hosts, while there was no evidence for Durusdinium spp. Furthermore, host switching was the predominant evolutionary event, implying its contribution to Cladocopium diversification. These findings suggest that Symbiodiniaceae assembly does not recapitulate host phylogeny, and host specificity alone does not drive phylosymbiosis or cophylogeny. As environmental reservoirs, free-living Symbiodiniaceae may influence symbiotic communities. Additionally, Durusdinium-coral associations lack cophylogenetic signals, indicating more flexible partnerships than Cladocopium. Overall, our results enhance understanding of Symbiodiniaceae assembly and coral-Symbiodiniaceae evolutionary interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40317021,
year = {2025},
author = {Pasinato, A and Singh, G},
title = {Bioinformatic exploration of RiPP biosynthetic gene clusters in lichens.},
journal = {Fungal biology and biotechnology},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {6},
pmid = {40317021},
issn = {2054-3085},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs) represent a relatively recent addition to the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) repertoire of fungi. These BGCs are primarily involved in toxins production and defense-related functions and resulting metabolites also have a significant therapeutic potential. While only a limited number of fungal RiPPs, primarily from a few model fungi, have been characterized, genome mining approaches show that RiPP BGCs are nearly ubiquitous across the fungal kingdom. However, the RiPP biosynthetic landscape of fungi involved in intricate relationship as symbiosis, such as lichen-forming fungi (LFF), remains unexplored.<br><br>RESULTS: This study presents the first comprehensive survey of RiPP BGCs across 111 LFF genomes employing an integrative framework that combines genome mining, phylogenetic inference, and gene network reconstruction. We identified 987 RiPP BGCs, constituting approximately 17% of the total biosynthetic diversity in LFF, a proportion significantly higher than previously estimated. Most lichen RiPP BGCs are unique and do not cluster with any known RiPP gene cluster. We found two RiPP BGCs that were shared among the members of the family Parmeliaceae (Lecanoromycetes), with the signature gene homologous to ustiloxin signature enzyme, indicating a putative similarity to fungal mycotoxin-related BGCs. While one of these BGCs, members of Clan R1, contains the accessory genes for dikaritin synthesis (tyrosinase and methyltransferase), the accessory genes of other BGCs, members of Clan R2, have not yet been reported from any characterized fungal RiPP BGC but only from bacteria. Additionally, for lichen RiPP BGCs that do not cluster with any known BGCs in the RiPP network, we unraveled the presence of the conserved HXXHC motif in the signature gene and, based on this we report the widespread distribution of putative dikaritin homologs across Lecanoromycetes.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the presence and distribution of RiPP BGCs in Lecanoromycetes and identifies two conserved RiPP clusters putatively homologous to dikaritins (involved in mycotoxin production) within the Lecanoromycete family Parmeliaceae and a general prevalence of putative signature dikaritin genes (not the cluster) in Lecanoromycetes. Our study highlights the widespread presence of putative mycotoxin-related BGCs in lichenized fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40315931,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, L and Sun, X and Li, H and Hao, R and Liu, F},
title = {New insights into microalgal-bacterial immobilization systems for wastewater treatment: mechanisms, enhancement strategies, and application prospects.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {431},
number = {},
pages = {132609},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132609},
pmid = {40315931},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Microalgae/metabolism ; *Wastewater/microbiology ; *Water Purification/methods ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Cells, Immobilized/metabolism ; Biomass ; },
abstract = {The wastewater treatment based on the symbiosis of microalgae and bacteria has attracted increasing attention for its excellent pollutant removal efficiency, energy savings, and resource recovery. Among them, the microalgae-bacteria immobilization (MABI) system stands out by enhancing the electron transfer efficiency through carrier domain confinement, thereby overcoming bottlenecks of low light energy utilization and challenging biomass recycling. MABI is considered a key breakthrough for advancing engineering applications. However, a comprehensive exploration of MABI systems remains lacking. This review systematically summarizes the latest advancements, covering major immobilization techniques and the intrinsic mechanisms underlying microalgae-bacteria interactions and electron transport. Additionally, it explores enhancement strategies aimed at balancing microbial light energy allocation, optimizing nutrient supply, and constructing complementary ecological niches. The advantages and application prospects of MABI systems are highlighted. The review contributes to structuring the knowledge framework of MABI research and identifies critical gaps for future investigation.},
}
@article {pmid40315358,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, L and Tian, T and Deng, Y and Ji, J and Liang, J and Guan, Y and Li, R and Huang, X and Wang, Y and Ning, G and Fan, Q and Becana, M and Duanmu, D},
title = {Plant glutamyl-tRNA reductases coordinate plant and rhizobial heme biosynthesis in nitrogen-fixing nodules.},
journal = {The Plant cell},
volume = {37},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40315358},
issn = {1532-298X},
support = {2024YFA0918200//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; 32470252//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31870220//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32000192//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022hszd014//Foundation of Hubei Hongshan Laboratory/ ; AML2023B02//National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/ ; 2024AH050464//Scientific Research Project of higher education in Anhui Province/ ; SZYJY2022005//HZAU-AGIS Cooperation Fund/ ; PID2020-113985GB-I00//HZAU-AGIS Cooperation Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Heme/biosynthesis ; *Lotus/genetics/enzymology/microbiology/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Rhizobium/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology/enzymology/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Aminolevulinic Acid/metabolism ; Aldehyde Oxidoreductases ; },
abstract = {Heme is biosynthesized in legume root nodules to meet the demand for leghemoglobins (Lbs) and other heme-binding proteins. However, the main source of nodule heme remains unknown. Both the plant host and rhizobia possess a complete heme biosynthetic pathway, differing slightly in the production of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a key regulatory step catalyzed by glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GluTR) in the plant and by HemA in the rhizobia. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that many plant heme biosynthetic genes, including GluTR2 but not GluTR1, are upregulated in nodules compared to roots, whereas expression of related rhizobial genes, including both HemA1 and HemA2, is generally inhibited under symbiotic conditions compared to free-living conditions. Knockout of Lotus japonicus GluTR2, but not of HemA1 and HemA2, led to a significant decrease (∼50%) in nodule heme content. The stable heterozygous mutant of GluTR1 or transient knockdown of GluTR1 exhibited a ∼20% reduction in nodule heme content. Overexpression of Fluorescent in blue light (FLU), a feedback inhibitor of GluTR activity, caused a much greater reduction in nodule heme content (∼75%) and an increased level of apo-Lb and, in combination with the hemA1 hemA2 mutant, a drastic inhibition of nitrogenase activity (>90%). This study provides genetic evidence supporting a major role of plant GluTRs in coordinating heme biosynthesis between the two symbionts by supplying heme to assemble with cytoplasmic apo-Lbs and by providing ALA for heme synthesis in the bacteroids.},
}
@article {pmid40315234,
year = {2025},
author = {Abeysingha, DN and Dinesh, S and Kottage, SM and Chen, L and Roopesh, MS and Thilakarathna, MS},
title = {Effects of cold plasma seed treatment on pea (Pisum sativum L.) plant performance under drought and well-watered conditions.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {5},
pages = {e0322108},
pmid = {40315234},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Pisum sativum/growth &amp; development/drug effects/physiology ; *Droughts ; *Seeds/drug effects/growth &amp; development ; *Plasma Gases/pharmacology ; Water/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/drug effects ; Plant Roots/growth &amp; development/drug effects ; Stress, Physiological ; Plant Shoots/growth &amp; development/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Cold plasma (CP) technology is an emerging technology with the potential to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Although its application in crop production is still in the early stages, CP seed treatment has demonstrated promise in improving various growth parameters, especially in legumes. We hypothesized that CP seed treatment can improve nodulation, symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF), root and shoot growth, overall productivity, and drought stress resistance in field pea. A controlled environmental study was conducted to investigate the effects of dielectric barrier discharge-generated CP seed treatment for 6 min on yellow field pea under different moisture regimes [30%, 45%, 60%, and 75% field capacity (FC)], focusing on nodulation, and root and shoot growth parameters at the flowering stage. Based on experiment-1 findings, 30% and 75% FC were selected as drought and well-watered conditions, respectively, to study the effect of CP seed treatments on SNF parameters at the flowering stage and nitrogen fixation, yield, and seed quality parameters at maturity. CP seed treatment improved root growth parameters at the flowering stage and an increasing trend was observed for shoot and nodulation parameters across different moisture levels. As an independent factor, moisture stress negatively affected nodulation and shoot growth parameters at the flowering stage. CP seed treatment improved nitrogen fixation and yield parameters under well-watered conditions compared to drought conditions at seed maturity. However, the seed protein content or the quality was not improved by the CP seed treatment. Grain yield, yield parameters, grain nitrogen, and nitrogen fixation were reduced under drought stress compared to the well-watered condition. Therefore, these findings underscore the potential of CP to enhance crop performance in well-watered conditions. The underperformance of the CP-treated seeds at drought conditions is not well understood and warrants further investigation.},
}
@article {pmid40315204,
year = {2025},
author = {Ayra, L and Jiménez-Nopala, G and Guerrero, G and Fuentes, SI and Leija, A and Ramírez, M and Hernández, G},
title = {Expression profiling and transcriptional regulation of the SRS transcription factor gene family of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in symbiosis with Rhizobium etli.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {5},
pages = {e0321784},
pmid = {40315204},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Phaseolus/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Rhizobium etli/physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Multigene Family ; },
abstract = {The SRS/STY transcription factors from the model legumes: Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula, are part of regulatory networks that play relevant roles for nodule development during the N-fixing symbiosis with rhizobia. In this work we analyzed the participation of the PvSRS transcription factors from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a most important legume crop, in the symbiosis with Rhizobium etli. Our phylogenetic analysis of SRS TFs across five plant species, including four legumes and Arabidopsis thaliana, identified clades that group SRS proteins that are highly expressed in legume nodules and in Arabidopsis roots. A qRT-PCR expression analysis of the 10 PvSRS in root/nodule of inoculated plants, revealed that all the PvSRS genes are expressed at different stages of the symbiosis, albeit at different levels. Based on what is known for L. japonicus, we demonstrated that the PvSRS10 gene -with highest expression during symbiosis- is transcriptionally activated by NF-Y transcription factor, thus indicating its participation in the NIN-NF-Y regulatory cascade. Based on our previous work about the relevant role of members from the MADS-domain/AGL transcription factors as regulators of the N-fixing symbiosis, in this work we demonstrated the transcriptional regulation of PvSRS10 by the MADS-TF PvFUL-like. Analysis of protein-protein interaction networks predicted thatPvSRS5 and PvSRS6 interact with proteins involved in transcriptional regulation and the auxin-activated signaling pathway. The regulatory mechanisms of PvSRS TF in common bean symbiosis may be related to auxin biosynthesis regulation, that is essential for determinate nodules development. Our study highlights the role of PvSRS TF in the N-/fixing symbiosis, a relevant process for sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40314411,
year = {2025},
author = {Meilhoc, E and Boscari, A and Pauly, N and Lepetit, M and Frendo, P and Bruand, C and Puppo, A and Brouquisse, R},
title = {"Oxygen and derived reactive species in Legume - Rhizobia interactions: paradoxes and dual roles".},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf160},
pmid = {40314411},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) between legumes and Rhizobia is the result of a symbiosis characterized by the formation of a new organ, the nodule, in which the plants house and feed the bacteria. Oxygen (O2) concentration inside the nodule is very low (on the order of a few tens of nanomolar). The nitrogenase which is responsible for the reduction of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3) is irreversibly inhibited by traces of O2, while O2 is required for the overall process of N2 fixation which consumes high amounts of energy and reducing power. How is this paradox solved? The set-up of a physical and chemical O2 diffusion barrier, including the synthesis of numerous leghemoglobins, a class of hemoproteins with a very high O2 absorption capacity, was evidenced. However, why are so many leghemoglobin genes present while they appear to be mainly expressed in the same nodule zone? Furthermore, why do the bacterial symbionts contain multiple O2 sensors despite the existence of a very low O2 tension inside the nodule? On the other hand, the O2 derived reactive species, such as superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide, which play important metabolic and signalling roles in the symbiotic process, appear to act as Janus molecules. They exhibit opposite effects throughout symbiosis establishment and nodule life. The aim of this review is to provide possible answers to the questions asked and to highlight the dual roles of O2 reactive species in nodule development, functioning and senescence.},
}
@article {pmid40314323,
year = {2025},
author = {Webster, SS},
title = {From the archives: Nitrogen matters in crop domestication, rice nitrogen nutrition, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
journal = {The Plant cell},
volume = {37},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40314323},
issn = {1532-298X},
}
@article {pmid40313410,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, J and Zhou, Y and Feng, J and Cai, C and Zhang, S},
title = {Comparative metagenomic analysis reveals the adaptive evolutionary traits of siboglinid tubeworm symbionts.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1533506},
pmid = {40313410},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Tubeworms flourish in marine cold seeps and hydrothermal vents through the establishment of symbiotic relationships with chemosynthetic bacteria. However, the environmental adaptations and evolutionary relationships of tubeworm symbionts across diverse habitats and hosts remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the genomes of 26 siboglinid tubeworm symbionts collected from deep-sea hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and deep-sea mud, including two sequenced in this study and 24 previously published. Phylogenetic analysis classified the 26 symbiont genomes into five distinct clusters at the genus level. The findings highlight the remarkable diversity in symbiont classification, influenced by the habitat and species of tubeworm, with the symbiont genome characteristics of various genera revealing unique evolutionary strategies. Siboglinid symbionts exhibit functional metabolic diversity, encompassing chemical autotrophic capabilities for carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism, hydrogen oxidation, and a chemoorganotrophic ability to utilize various amino acids, cofactors, and vitamins. Furthermore, the symbiont's homeostatic mechanisms and CRISPR-Cas system are vital adaptations for survival. Overall, this study highlights the metabolic traits of siboglinid symbionts across different genera and enhances our understanding of how different habitats and hosts influence symbiont evolution, offering valuable insights into the strategies that symbionts use to adapt and thrive in extreme environments.},
}
@article {pmid40311709,
year = {2025},
author = {Bai, B and Wang, L and Guan, F and Pi, H and Wang, A and Zhai, L},
title = {Maturity phase is crucial for removing antibiotic resistance genes during composting: novel insights into dissolved organic matter-microbial symbiosis system.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {431},
number = {},
pages = {132607},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132607},
pmid = {40311709},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Composting/methods ; *Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; *Organic Chemicals ; Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Manure/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics ; },
abstract = {Composting is widely regarded as an effective method for reducing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in livestock and poultry manure. However, the critical mechanisms of ARGs in different composting phase are still unclear. In this study, normal composting and two types of rapid composting (without mature phase) were used to analyze the removal of ARGs and the succession of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Compared to normal composting, rapid composting reactivated tetracyclines, sulfonamide, and quinolones resistance genes during the maturation phase and reduced the total ARGs removal rates by 45.58 %-57.87 %. Humus-like components could inhibit the proliferation of ARGs, and the enrichment of protein-like components increased abundances of Pusillimonas, Persicitalea, and Pseudomonas, indirectly reducing the removal. This study is the first to demonstrate the contribution of DOM and microbial community to ARGs removal, emphasizing the importance of the maturation phase for ARGs elimination. This research provides guidance for producing safe compost products.},
}
@article {pmid40311530,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, HM and Zhou, J and Ma, CY and Wu, XH and Ullah, Y and Zhang, ZH and Li, Y and Wang, XX and Dai, CC},
title = {Identification of a small secreted protein, PlSSP, that contributes to the symbiotic association of Phomopsis liquidambaris with rice under nitrogen starvation.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {224},
number = {},
pages = {109969},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109969},
pmid = {40311530},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Oryza/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Nitrogen/metabolism/deficiency ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Ascomycota/physiology/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi are crucial for enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance. Phomopsis liquidambaris B3, a broad-spectrum endophytic fungus, significantly improves plant nitrogen uptake and growth under nitrogen-limited conditions. In this study, we identified a small secreted protein, PlSSP, which localizes to the cytoplasmic matrix of host cells and modulates plant immune responses. Using proteomic and transcriptomic approaches, we found that PlSSP upregulates key defense-related genes, including members of the PR and WRKY families, as well as genes involved in reactive oxygen species scavenging and nitrogen assimilation. Structural analysis revealed PlSSP's secondary and thermal stability features, which likely contribute to its functional interaction with host cellular components. Functional analyses demonstrated that PlSSP expression correlates with increased fungal colonization and rice biomass accumulation under nitrogen-starved conditions. These results advance our understanding of how P. liquidambaris promotes plant resilience and nutrient uptake, providing insights with potential applications in sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40310917,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, S and Li, M and Wang, P and Guo, C and Zhang, J and Luo, X and Fan, YC and Chen, EQ and Qi, X and Chen, J and Ye, L and Yuan, HY and Yin, WB and Wang, K and Zheng, MH and Pang, Y and Qiao, J and Jiang, C},
title = {A symbiotic filamentous gut fungus ameliorates MASH via a secondary metabolite-CerS6-ceramide axis.},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {388},
number = {6746},
pages = {eadp5540},
doi = {10.1126/science.adp5540},
pmid = {40310917},
issn = {1095-9203},
mesh = {Animals ; Male ; Mice ; *Ceramides/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Fusarium/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Sphingosine N-Acyltransferase/metabolism/antagonists &amp; inhibitors ; *Symbiosis ; *Fatty Liver/metabolism/microbiology/therapy ; *Cell Culture Techniques ; },
abstract = {The gut microbiota is known to be associated with a variety of human metabolic diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Fungi are increasingly recognized as important members of this community; however, the role of fungal symbionts in metabolic diseases is unknown. We have systematically isolated and characterized gut fungi, identifying Fusarium foetens as an intestinal symbiotic filamentous fungus in mice. F. foetens reverses MASH progression in mouse models through an intestinal ceramide synthetase 6 (CerS6)-ceramide axis. Moreover, we identified FF-C1, a secondary metabolite from F. foetens, as a CerS6 inhibitor that has an endogenous protective effect on MASH progression.},
}
@article {pmid40310603,
year = {2025},
author = {Hutmacher, F and Conrad, B and Appel, M and Schwan, S},
title = {Mediated autobiographical remembering in the digital age: insights from an experimental think-aloud study.},
journal = {Cognitive research: principles and implications},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {18},
pmid = {40310603},
issn = {2365-7464},
mesh = {Humans ; *Memory, Episodic ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Young Adult ; *Mental Recall/physiology ; *Thinking/physiology ; },
abstract = {Autobiographical remembering may undergo significant transformations in the digital age, in which the omnipresence of digital tools has led to an increased density of recorded life episodes. To gain deeper insights into these processes, we conducted an experimental think-aloud study in which participants (N = 41) had to remember an important day and a random day that happened about one year ago. As the results demonstrate, participants repeatedly switched between information stored in their minds and information stored in external resources when remembering these events, with digital resources playing a particularly prominent role. The number of changes between internal memories and external resources as well as the number of digital resources that individuals used were higher when remembering the random day. In sum, this suggests that the iterative combination of information stored in one's mind and information stored in external resources can be considered a potentially symbiotic process.},
}
@article {pmid40308943,
year = {2025},
author = {Sharp, V and Pfeil, K and Kitch, K and Medina, M},
title = {Cassiopea xamachana polyp feeding under husbandry conditions.},
journal = {microPublication biology},
volume = {2025},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40308943},
issn = {2578-9430},
abstract = {Research on the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana has increased in the past few decades, hence the need for more efficient husbandry protocols. We tested the effect of weekly feeding frequencies, light cycles, and nutrient supplements on symbiotic and aposymbiotic polyp asexual reproduction and mortality. C. xamachana polyps have better survivorship and reproduction when kept in a day/night cycle and given additional food beyond Artemia nauplii.},
}
@article {pmid40308709,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, Y and Xiong, C and Wang, B and Li, D and Liu, J and Wei, S and Hou, Y and Zhou, Y and Zheng, R},
title = {The Discovery of Phages in the Substantia Nigra and Its Implication for Parkinson's Disease.},
journal = {Research (Washington, D.C.)},
volume = {8},
number = {},
pages = {0657},
pmid = {40308709},
issn = {2639-5274},
abstract = {Background: A century ago, a mystery between a virus and Parkinson's disease (PD) was described. Owing to the limitation of human brain biopsy and the challenge of electron microscopy in observing virions in human brain tissue, it has been difficult to study the viral etiology of PD. Recent discovery of virobiota reveals that viruses coexist with humans as symbionts. Newly developed transcriptomic sequencing and novel bioinformatic approaches for mining the encrypted virome in human transcriptome make it possible to study the relationship between symbiotic viruses and PD. Nevertheless, whether viruses exist in the human substantia nigra (SN) and whether symbiotic viruses underlie PD pathogenesis remain unknown. Methods: We collected current worldwide human SN transcriptomic datasets from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. We used bioinformatic approaches including viruSITE and the Viral-Track to identify the existence of viruses in the SN of patients. The comprehensive RNA sequencing-based virome analysis pipeline was used to characterize the virobiota in the SN. The Pearson's correlation analysis was used to examine the association between the viral RNA fragment counts (VRFCs) and PD-related human gene sequencing reads in the SN. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the SN between PD patients and non-PD individuals were used to examine the molecular signatures of PD and also evaluate the impact of symbiotic viruses on the SN. Findings: We observed the existence of viruses in the human SN. A dysbiosis of virobiota was found in the SN of PD patients. A marked correlation between VRFC and PD-related human gene expression was detected in the SN of PD patients. These PD-related human genes correlated to VRFC were named as the virus-correlated PD-related genes (VPGs). We identified 3 bacteriophages (phages), including the Proteus phage VB_PmiS-Isfahan, the Escherichia phage phiX174, and the Lactobacillus phage Sha1, that might impair the gene expression of neural cells in the SN of PD patients. The Proteus phage VB_PmiS-Isfahan was a common virus in the SN of patients from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. VPGs and DEGs together highlighted that the phages might dampen dopamine biosynthesis and weaken the cGAS-STING function. Interpretation: This is the first study to discover the involvement of phages in PD pathogenesis. A lifelong low symbiotic viral load in the SN may be a contributor to PD pathogenesis. Our findings unlocked the black box between brain virobiota and PD, providing a novel insight into PD etiology from the perspective of phage-human symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40308308,
year = {2025},
author = {Sujkowska-Rybkowska, M and Rusaczonek, A},
title = {Editorial: Plant-microbes interactions and resistance against abiotic stress.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1599870},
pmid = {40308308},
issn = {1664-462X},
}
@article {pmid40308299,
year = {2025},
author = {Lei, M and Wang, X and Chen, K and Wei, Q and Zhou, M and Chen, G and Su, S and Tai, Y and Zhuang, K and Li, D and Liu, M and Zhang, S and Wang, Y},
title = {Sugar transporters: mediators of carbon flow between plants and microbes.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1536969},
pmid = {40308299},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Pathogens and symbiotic microorganisms significantly influence plant growth and crop productivity. Enhancing crop disease resistance and maximizing the beneficial role of symbiotic microorganisms in agriculture constitute critical areas of scientific investigation. A fundamental aspect of plant-microorganisms interactions revolves around nutritional dynamics, characterized by either "food shortage" or "food supply" scenarios. Notably, pathogenic and symbiotic microorganisms predominantly utilize photosynthetic sugars as their primary carbon source during host colonization. This phenomenon has generated substantial interest in the regulatory mechanisms governing sugar transport and redistribution at the plant-microorganism interface. Sugar transporters, which primarily mediate the allocation of sugars to various sink organs, have emerged as crucial players in plant-pathogen interactions and the establishment of beneficial symbiotic associations. This review systematically categorized plant sugar transporters and highlighted their functional significance in mediating plant interactions with pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms. Furthermore, we synthesized recent advancements in understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms of these transporters and identified key scientific questions warranting further investigation. Elucidating the roles of sugar transporters offers novel strategies for enhancing crop health and productivity, thereby contributing to agricultural sustainability and global food security.},
}
@article {pmid40307010,
year = {2025},
author = {Fujiwara, A and Hagiwara, H and Tsuchimoto, M and Tsuchida, T},
title = {Prevalence, Symbiosis with Rickettsia, and Transmission of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus of Invasive Bemisia tabaci MED Q2 in Japan.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40307010},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/virology/microbiology ; *Begomovirus/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; Japan ; *Plant Diseases/virology ; *Symbiosis ; *Rickettsia/physiology/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Insect Vectors/virology/microbiology ; Introduced Species ; Prevalence ; Solanum lycopersicum/virology ; },
abstract = {The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is a notorious insect pest that transmits plant pathogenic viruses to a wide range of economically important crops. An invasive genetic group of B. tabaci, Mediterranean Q2 (MED Q2), has recently spread to Europe, USA, and Asia. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of MED Q2 in Japanese agricultural sites and found that its distribution has expanded since it was initially detected in 2013. A polymerase chain reaction ana-lysis revealed that all MED Q2 individuals were infected with Rickettsia. Rickettsia titers increased during nymphal development, presumably in response to the nutritional needs of the host. A fluorescence in situ hybridization ana-lysis revealed that Rickettsia was densely located near Portiera-containing bacteriocytes at all growth stages. Therefore, Rickettsia may play an important role, such as supplying nutrients to the host, in cooperation with Portiera. Transfer experiments indicated that MED Q2 was as effective a vector for Tomato yellow leaf curl virus as MED Q1 and, thus, is a high-risk agricultural pest. These results provide important insights into the biology and ecology of invasive MED Q2 to effectively control its spread and minimize its impact on crops.},
}
@article {pmid40307009,
year = {2025},
author = {Moriuchi, M and Kuzunuki, K and Ikenishi, F and Sameshima, R and Nakagiri, A and Toyoda, S and Katsuyama, C and Kakizaki, K and Itakura, M and Yoshida, N and Suwa, Y and Minamisawa, K},
title = {Fusarium Fungi Produce Nitrous Oxide (N2O) from Nitrite (NO2[-]) in a Model Pot System Simulating the Soybean Rhizosphere.},
journal = {Microbes and environments},
volume = {40},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40307009},
issn = {1347-4405},
mesh = {*Nitrous Oxide/metabolism ; *Rhizosphere ; *Glycine max/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; *Nitrites/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Fusarium/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/classification ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Denitrification ; },
abstract = {Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a key atmospheric greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, with anthropogenic N2O emissions from agriculture being a particular concern. Among agricultural sources, unknown soil organisms in the legume rhizosphere emit N2O from degraded root nodules. To discriminate between fungal and bacterial N2O emissions, we adopted an isotopomer ana-lysis, which provides site preference values (the difference in [15]N abundance of the central and terminal N atoms in the N2O molecule). The addition of nitrite instead of nitrate to soybean nodulated roots significantly increased SPN2O from -3.5‰ to 4.2‰ in a pot system. Moreover, a mutation of the nirK gene (encoding dissimilatory nitrite reductase) in symbiotic bradyrhizobia significantly increased SPN2O from 4.2‰ to 13.9‰ with nitrite. These results suggest that nitrite-utilizing N2O emissions via fungal denitrification occurred in the model pot system of the soybean rhizosphere. Microscopic observations showed fungal hyphae and crescent spores around N2O-emitting nodules. Therefore, we isolated single spores from soybean nodules under a microscope. A phylogenetic ana-lysis revealed that all 12 fungal isolates were Fusarium species, which exist in soybean field soil. When these isolates were cultivated in glycerol-peptone medium supplemented with nitrate or nitrite (1‍ ‍mM), 11 of the 12 isolates strongly converted nitrite to N2O; however, no N2O emissions were noted in the presence of nitrate. A [15]N-nitrite tracer experiment revealed that one N2O molecule was derived exclusively from two molecules of nitrite (NO2[-]) in the fungal culture. These results suggest that nitrite-utilizing Fusarium fungi mediate N2O emissions in the soybean rhizosphere.},
}
@article {pmid40306340,
year = {2025},
author = {Yan, R and Ji, H and Liu, ZC and Ren, MQ and Wang, S and Yang, LM and Cui, D},
title = {Construction and optimization of low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio-adapted Chlorococcum-Bacteria symbiosis for energy-efficient wastewater remediation.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {431},
number = {},
pages = {132601},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132601},
pmid = {40306340},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Wastewater/microbiology/chemistry ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Carbon/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Water Purification/methods ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Microalgae/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Chlorophyta/metabolism ; },
abstract = {This study developed a microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (MBS) system using Chlorococcum robustum AY122332.1 isolated from rare earth tailings wastewater to treat synthetic municipal wastewater. Systematic optimization identified a 1:1 bacteria-microalgae ratio (MBS 1) as optimal, achieving nearly 100 % removal of ammonia and 92.2 ± 0.6 % of chemical oxygen demand. Microbial community analysis identified significant enrichment of nitrogen-transforming consortia in MBS 1, particularly Thauera (7.43 % relative abundance), whose nitrite reductase activity and polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis capacity enhanced simultaneous nitrification-denitrification. The optimized system showed superior stability with an elevated zeta potential (+17.72 mV) driven by protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances production and humic acid accumulation. These biopolymers facilitated microaggregate formation through ligand bridging and hydrophobic interactions, creating redox-stratified microenvironments that supported functional microbial niches. The synergistic interactions in the MBS system enabled efficient nutrient recovery while maintaining ecological resilience under carbon-limited conditions, providing new insights into sustainable wastewater bioremediation processes.},
}
@article {pmid40304278,
year = {2025},
author = {Lentendu, G and Singer, D and Agatha, S and Bahram, M and Hannula, SE and Helder, J and Tedersoo, L and Traunspurger, W and Geisen, S and Lara, E},
title = {EukFunc: A Holistic Eukaryotic Functional Reference for Automated Profiling of Soil Eukaryotes.},
journal = {Molecular ecology resources},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e14118},
doi = {10.1111/1755-0998.14118},
pmid = {40304278},
issn = {1755-0998},
support = {PID2021-128499NB-I00 10.13039/501100011033//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; 182531//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; },
abstract = {The soil eukaryome constitutes a significant portion of Earth's biodiversity that drives major ecosystem functions, such as controlling carbon fluxes and plant performance. Currently, however, we miss a standardised approach to functionally classify the soil eukaryome in a holistic way. Here we compiled EukFunc, the first functional reference database that characterises the most abundant and functionally important soil eukaryotic groups: fungi, nematodes and protists. We classified the 14,060 species in the database based on their mode of nutrient acquisition into the main functional classes of symbiotroph (40%), saprotroph (26%), phototroph (17%), predator (16%) and unknown (2%). EukFunc provides further detailed information about nutrition mode, including a secondary functional class (i.e., for organisms with multiple nutrition modes), and preyed or associated organisms for predatory or symbiotic taxa, respectively. EukFunc is available in multiple formats for user-friendly functional analyses of specific taxa or annotations of metabarcoding datasets, both embedded in the R package EukFunc. Using a soil dataset from alpine and subalpine meadows, we highlighted the extended ecological insights obtained from combining functional information across the entire soil eukaryome as compared to focusing on fungi, protists or nematodes individually. EukFunc streamlines the annotation process, enhances efficiency and accuracy, and facilitates the investigation of the functional roles of soil eukaryotes-a prerequisite to better understanding soil systems.},
}
@article {pmid40303862,
year = {2025},
author = {Munene, R and Mustafa, O and Loftus, S and Banfield, CC and Rötter, RP and Bore, EK and Mweu, B and Mganga, KZ and Otieno, DO and Ahmed, MA and Dippold, MA},
title = {Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhiza and exoenzymes to nitrogen acquisition of sorghum under drought.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1514416},
pmid = {40303862},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: For low-fertile and degraded soils of sub-Saharan Africa, nitrogen (N) is often the most growth-limiting factor restricting crop yields. The often-suggested exploitation of advantageous rhizosphere traits such as enzyme secretion and/or the symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) remains to be validated as a potential strategy to overcome N limitation, especially when N deficiency co-occurs with further abiotic stresses such as water scarcity.<br><br>METHODS: Three sorghum genotypes were cultivated in soil mesocosms with a root-exclusion compartment, where only AMF could scavenge for nutrients under drought and optimal conditions. Plant carbon (C) investment into the rhizosphere and N uptake were tracked by [15]N application coupled with [13]CO2 labeling.<br><br>RESULTS: Under drought, uptake of mineral [15]N by AMF from the root-exclusion compartment increased 4-12 times compared to well-watered conditions. In addition, water stress enhanced below-ground allocation of recently assimilated C into microbial biomass. Drought reduced the enzymatic potential (Vmax) of chitinase while increasing leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activity. This suggests that N acquisition via protein mineralization in soil was relatively enhanced compared to that of chitin following moisture limitation. LAP substrate affinity (Km) was reduced by drought compared to that of chitinase with genotype-specific shifts in the rhizosphere enzyme systems observed.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that below-ground C allocation activated AMF symbiosis and its associated microbiome. This not only led to a shift in enzyme-driven exploitation of distinct organic N sources but also induced a strong increase in AMF-based mineral N acquisition from the mycosphere. This trait plasticity in response to drought may be harnessed to stabilize food production from low-fertile soil under the increasingly negative impacts of droughts due to climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40302384,
year = {2025},
author = {Sharma, V and Sheershwal, A and Bisht, S},
title = {Rhizobacteria Revolution: Amplifying Crop Resilience and Yield in a Changing Climate Through Plant Growth Promotion.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e039},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70039},
pmid = {40302384},
issn = {1521-4028},
abstract = {The rapid progression of climate change poses significant challenges to global agriculture, necessitating innovative solutions to ensure food security for an expanding population. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer a promising avenue for sustainable agriculture by enhancing crop resilience and productivity under environmental constraints. These beneficial microbes regulate key physiological processes in plants, such as phytohormone synthesis and nutrient solubilization. This enhances root architecture, improves soil fertility, and enables crops to adapt to resource-limited conditions. Moreover, PGPR strengthen plant defenses against abiotic stressors such as salinity, drought, and nutrient deficiencies, as well as biotic threats like pathogens. Empirical evidence demonstrates that PGPR inoculation can significantly enhance crop yields across diverse agroecosystems by increasing nutrient use efficiency and stress tolerance. Despite their proven potential, the effective deployment of PGPR in farming systems requires addressing critical issues related to scalability, formulation, and integration with existing practices. This review underscores the role of PGPR in mitigating climate-induced agricultural challenges, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary collaborations and robust knowledge-sharing networks to drive the adoption of PGPR-based interventions. By leveraging these microbial allies, we can pave the way for climate-resilient farming systems and safeguard global food security amidst an uncertain future.},
}
@article {pmid40302234,
year = {2025},
author = {Dallstream, C and Milder, L and Powers, JS and Soper, FM},
title = {Strong scale-dependent relationships between fine-root function and soil properties uncovered with spatially coupled sampling.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {6},
pages = {2506-2521},
pmid = {40302234},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2020-04556//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; //Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation/ ; 40533//Canadian Foundation for Innovation John F. Evans Leadership Fund/ ; 333545//Fonds de recherche du Qu&#xe9;bec - Nature et technologies/ ; },
mesh = {*Plant Roots/physiology/anatomy &amp; histology/microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Phosphorus ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Substantial fine-root trait variation is found at fine spatial scales but rarely linked to edaphic variation. We assessed the spatial scales of variation in fine-root traits and adjacent soils using a spatially coupled, nested sampling scheme along a fertility gradient in a seasonally dry tropical forest tree, Handroanthus ochraceus. We examined relationships among fine-root traits and identified edaphic drivers of fine-root function. We collected fine-root samples at three scales: multiple samples within individual trees (separated by > 1 m), among trees in a site (3-60 m) and across three sites (15-60 km). We quantified physiological, symbiotic, morphological, chemical and architectural traits, and paired soil physical and chemical properties. Fine-root traits and soils often varied most at fine spatial scales. Root arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and phosphomonoesterase activity were coordinated and driven by coarse-scale heterogeneity in bulk density, magnesium and phosphate. The trade-off between large diameter and high specific root length, respiration rate and nitrogen concentration was driven by fine-scale heterogeneity in ammonium. The role of base cations was notable, with nitrogen and phosphorus being less influential than expected. Intraspecific fine-root responses to edaphic properties can occur at multiple spatial scales simultaneously and be detected when variation in both is properly captured and spatially matched.},
}
@article {pmid40302032,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Rui, W and Sheng, X and Deng, X and Li, X and Meng, L and Huang, H and Yang, J},
title = {Bifidobacterium breve synergizes with Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides ovatus to antagonize Clostridioides difficile.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40302032},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {32200154//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Clostridioides difficile/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Mice ; *Bifidobacterium breve/physiology ; *Clostridium Infections/therapy/microbiology ; *Bacteroides/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Disease Models, Animal ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; *Probiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Symbiosis ; Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; *Microbial Interactions ; Cytokines/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; *Antibiosis ; Akkermansia ; },
abstract = {The development of ecologically based in vivo microecological formulations for treating Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a current research focus. Here, we selected three microorganisms-Akkermansia muciniphila (AM), Bacteroides ovatus (BO), and Bifidobacterium breve (BB)-to formulate a mixed bacterial formulation (ABB). Subsequently, we evaluated the ecological interactions among these three microorganisms and investigated their therapeutic efficacy in a CDI murine model. Our investigation revealed the presence of a commensalism relationship among AM, BO, and BB. These microorganisms collectively formed a robust and densely packed symbiotic biofilm, with BB being the predominant member in terms of numerical abundance. This phenomenon was concomitant with a marked elevation in the levels of AI-2 and c-di-GMP. ABB exhibits the capability to inhibit crucial biological indicators of C. difficile (CD), such as toxin production, through the secretion of substantial quantities of lactic acid. Additionally, ABB indirectly suppresses CD by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway in Raw 264.7 cells, which stimulates the secretion of significant quantities of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-1β. ABB demonstrated exceptional efficacy in a CDI murine model, as evidenced by a substantial enhancement in survival rates and intestinal short-chain fatty acid level, the down-regulation of inflammation-associated cytokine secretion, a notable reduction in fecal CD toxin levels, and CD viable bacterial counts. Concurrently, there was an augmentation in the level of gut microbial diversity, accompanied by a rapid reduction in Enterococcus abundance. This ABB formulation holds promise for further development into a novel microecological formulation for the treatment of CDI.},
}
@article {pmid40301729,
year = {2025},
author = {Hariprasath, K and Dhanvarsha, M and Mohankumar, S and Sudha, M and Saranya, N and Saminathan, VR and Subramanian, S},
title = {Characterization of gut microbiota in Apis cerana Across different altitudes in the Peninsular India.},
journal = {BMC ecology and evolution},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {39},
pmid = {40301729},
issn = {2730-7182},
mesh = {Bees/microbiology ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; India ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics/analysis ; *Altitude ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Honey bees are vital to global ecosystems and agriculture due to their role as key pollinators. The gut microbiota of honey bees is essential for their health, providing nutrition and protection against pathogens. While extensive research has been conducted on Western honey bees, Less is understood about the gut microbiota of Apis cerana, an economically important species in South Asia. This study aimed to identify and describe the gut microbiota of Apis cerana across different elevations in the Indian peninsula to understand how these bacterial communities adapt to various ecological niches.<br><br>RESULTS: High-throughput metagenome sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (V1-V9 region) showed that the core microbiota genera in Apis cerana guts across elevations were Gilliamella, Lactobacillus, Snodgrassella, and Frischella. Gilliamella apicola and Lactobacillus kunkeei were identified as the most abundant species. Alpha diversity analysis showed a trend of decreasing species diversity as altitude increased from 200 to 1200&#xa0;m, with a slight increase observed above 1400&#xa0;m. Culturable bacterial species identified through 16S rRNA amplification belonged to the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria phyla. Different elevations harboured distinct bacterial communities, with some species being unique to certain altitudes.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable insights into the diversity and adaptations of Apis cerana gut microbiota across various ecological niches in the Indian peninsula. The observed variations in microbial communities at different elevations suggest that environmental factors play a significant role in shaping the gut microbiota of honey bees. Understanding these microbial dynamics could help in developing strategies to improve bee health and address critical questions in host-microbe symbiosis. Furthermore, this research lays the groundwork for future studies on the functional roles of these bacterial communities in Apis cerana and their potential applications in beekeeping practices.},
}
@article {pmid40301151,
year = {2025},
author = {Kaufmann, H and Salvador, C and Salazar, VW and Cruz, N and Dias, GM and Tschoeke, D and Campos, L and Sawabe, T and Miyazaki, M and Maruyama, F and Thompson, F and Thompson, C},
title = {Genomic Repertoire of Twenty-Two Novel Vibrionaceae Species Isolated from Marine Sediments.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {36},
pmid = {40301151},
issn = {1432-184X},
mesh = {*Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; *Vibrionaceae/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Phylogeny ; Japan ; *Seawater/microbiology ; Genetic Variation ; },
abstract = {The genomic repertoire of vibrios has been extensively studied, particularly regarding their metabolic plasticity, symbiotic interactions, and resistance mechanisms to environmental stressors. However, little is known about the genomic diversity and adaptations of vibrios inhabiting deep-sea marine sediments. In this study, we investigated the genomic diversity of vibrios isolated from deep-sea core sediments collected using a manned submersible off Japan. A total of 50 vibrio isolates were obtained and characterized phenotypically, and by genome sequencing. From this total, we disclosed 22 novel species examining genome-to-genome distance, average amino acid identity, and phenotypes (Alivibrio: 1; Enterovibrio: 1; Photobacterium: 8; Vibrio: 12). The novel species have fallen within known clades (e.g., Fisheri, Enterovibrio, Profundum, and Splendidus) and novel clades (JAMM0721, JAMM0388, JAMM0395). The 28 remainder isolates were identified as known species: Aliivibrio sifiae (2), A. salmonicida (1), Enterovibrio baiacu (1), E. norvegicus (1), Photobacterium profundum (3), P. angustum (1), P. chitiniliticum (1), P. frigidiphilum (1), Photobacterium indicum (1), P. sanguinicancri (1). P. swingsii (2), Vibrio alginolyticus (3), V. anguillarum (1), V. campbellii (1), V. fluvialis (1), V. gigantis (1), V. lentus (1), V. splendidus (4), and V. tasmaniensis (1). Genomic analyses revealed that all 50 vibrios harbored genes associated with high-pressure adaptation, including sensor kinases, chaperones, autoinducer-2 (AI-2) signaling, oxidative damage repair, polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and stress response mechanisms related to periplasmic and outer membrane protein misfolding under heat shock and osmotic stress. Additionally, alternative sigma factors, trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) respiration, and osmoprotectant acquisition pathways were identified, further supporting their ability to thrive in deep-sea environments. Notably, the genomes exhibited a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes, with antibiotic efflux pumps being the most abundant group. The ugd gene expanded in number in some novel species (Photobacterium satsumensis sp. nov. JAMM1754: 4 copies; Vibrio makurazakiensis sp. nov. JAMM1826: 3 copies). This gene may confer antibiotic (polymyxin) resistance to these vibrios.},
}
@article {pmid40301143,
year = {2025},
author = {Weitzman, CL and Day, K and Brown, GP and Gibb, K and Christian, K},
title = {Differential Temporal Shifts in Skin Bacteria on Wild and Captive Toads.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {35},
pmid = {40301143},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {DP210102176//Australian Research Council/ ; DP210102176//Australian Research Council/ ; DP210102176//Australian Research Council/ ; DP210102176//Australian Research Council/ ; DP210102176//Australian Research Council/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Skin/microbiology ; Seasons ; *Bacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Bufo marinus/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Ecosystem ; Australia ; Animals, Wild/microbiology ; Animals, Zoo/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Skin bacteria on amphibian hosts play an important role in host health, but those communities are also constantly shifting based on environmental and host-related feedback. On some hosts, stability of skin communities depends on relatively abundant taxa, with less abundant taxa more readily entering and exiting the system. Cane toads (Rhinella marina) have invaded widespread, diverse tropical ecosystems, with varying ecology, physiology, and behaviour in different environments. In this study, we described temporal patterns of skin bacterial communities on cane toads at a site in northern Australia through the wet and dry seasons over two years. Toads in the wild population were paired with a captive-held population, housed in a semi-natural environment, to detect effects of time and season on wild toads, explore bacterial transience and volatility in skin taxa, and determine the extent to which skin communities on captive toads represent those on the wild population. We found community differences by captivity status, sampling timepoint, and season, with increased richness in the wet season on wild toads. Bacterial communities also became more similar among individuals (lower dispersion) in the wet season. Captive toads harboured more stable communities over time, likely owing to the reduced bacterial reservoirs experienced while in captivity. We propose that cane toads, with varied movement patterns among their diverse invaded habitats, provide an interesting direction for future work understanding the influences of habitat and movement on skin microbes, and the flexibility of microbial symbiotic interactions in invasive hosts.},
}
@article {pmid40300365,
year = {2025},
author = {Fan, X and Wang, C and Kong, L and Wang, J and Tan, Y and Yu, Z and Xu, X and Zhu, L},
title = {Spatial heterogeneity of EPS-mediated microplastic aggregation in phycosphere shapes polymer-specific Trojan horse effects.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {281},
number = {},
pages = {123686},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123686},
pmid = {40300365},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Microplastics/chemistry ; *Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/chemistry ; Adsorption ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; Polyvinyl Chloride/chemistry ; Polymers/chemistry ; Polyethylene Terephthalates/chemistry ; },
abstract = {The pervasive contamination of aquatic ecosystems by microplastics represented a critical environmental challenge. While algal-bacterial symbiosis systems demonstrated potential for microplastic aggregation via extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), prior studies have focused on temporal dynamics rather than spatial heterogeneity in phycosphere. This study systematically investigated the adsorption mechanisms of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) across stratified EPS fractions, tightly bound (TB-EPS), loosely bound (LB-EPS), and soluble (S-EPS), in phycosphere. Combining controlled aggregation assays with multimodal characterization, we revealed a hierarchical spatial framework governing EPS-microplastic interactions. Adsorption efficiency governed by polymer-specific interfacial energies and EPS organic composition. EPS at distinct hierarchical levels exhibited material-specific adsorption preferences for microplastics. PVC and PET demonstrated higher affinities for hydrocarbon components, while PE and PS were preferentially captured through interactions with polysaccharides and amide I groups, respectively. The adsorption and aggregation behaviors between EPS and microplastics in the phycosphere promoted eco-corona formation and induced the Trojan horse effect. However, the energy barrier of interaction forces and EPS spatial configurations jointly governed the hierarchical stabilization of polymer-specific microplastics. PVC and PET primarily colonized the outermost S-EPS layer, PS preferentially accumulated in the intermediate LB-EPS layer, and PE penetrated into the innermost TB-EPS layer. These findings addressed a key knowledge gap by delineating the ecological niche-specific distribution of EPS-microplastic binding, offering novel insights for optimizing bioremediation strategies and informing regulatory measures targeting particulate plastic pollution in hydrologic systems.},
}
@article {pmid40299131,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Liu, Y and Liang, W},
title = {Breeding barn swallows recognize householders from strangers.},
journal = {Animal cognition},
volume = {28},
number = {1},
pages = {33},
pmid = {40299131},
issn = {1435-9456},
support = {2023YFF1304600//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Swallows/physiology ; Female ; Humans ; *Recognition, Psychology ; China ; },
abstract = {The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) to recognize humans. A field study was conducted in Caoyang Village, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, South China. We assessed the responses of female barn swallows to the recognition of different types of human individuals by measuring their flight initiation distance (FID) when they incubated eggs in the nests. Our results demonstrated that barn swallows can identify the householder where their nest is located, displaying lower FID when the householder approaches, compared to an unfamiliar experimenter. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in FID between swallows reacting to householders who were rarely at home versus those who were frequently present, suggesting that barn swallows may possess the capability to recognize and retain memory of individual humans over time. Our findings provide evidence that barn swallows exhibit remarkable cognitive abilities. The long-standing symbiotic relationship between barn swallows and humans provides a unique model for studying the adaptation of species to environments with close human interactions. Research on their behavior and survival strategies can offer insights into the influence of symbiotic relationships on species adaptability and evolution.},
}
@article {pmid40299062,
year = {2025},
author = {Harumoto, T and Moriyama, M and Fukatsu, T},
title = {Peculiar structural features of midgut symbiotic organ in the early development of the stinkbug Plautia stali Scott, 1874 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).},
journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften},
volume = {112},
number = {3},
pages = {34},
pmid = {40299062},
issn = {1432-1904},
support = {JPMJER1902//JST ERATO/ ; JPMJER1902//JST ERATO/ ; JPMJER1902//JST ERATO/ ; JP24H02294//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Heteroptera/microbiology/growth &amp; development/ultrastructure/anatomy &amp; histology ; Pantoea/physiology ; Nymph/microbiology/ultrastructure/growth &amp; development ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/ultrastructure ; Digestive System/microbiology/ultrastructure ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/growth &amp; development/ultrastructure ; },
abstract = {Many insects have symbiotic microorganisms within their body. Such microbial symbiosis underpins the survival and prosperity of insects through multiple means. The brown-winged green stinkbug Plautia stali, which is notorious as an agricultural pest and utilized as an experimental model insect, harbors a bacterial symbiont Pantoea in a posterior part of the midgut, which is essential for the host's development and reproduction. From both basic and applied research perspectives, it is important to investigate the mechanistic bases underpinning the insect-microbe symbiotic association. Here, we performed detailed electron and optical microscopic analyses of the early nymphal midguts to reveal the type of cellular structure and property that orchestrates the symbiont colonization in the restricted part of the midgut. We identified two peculiar structural features of the nymphal midgut that develop in a region-restricted manner: long and heterogenous cellular protrusions (microvilli) solely emerged in the midgut symbiotic region and highly developed circular muscle cell layers specifically observed in the junction of non-symbiotic and symbiotic regions of the midgut. We discuss the potential roles of these unique structures in the midgut bacterial symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40299055,
year = {2025},
author = {Belechheb, T and Yemalahi, A and Bouhnik, O and Hassani, MZ and El Galiou, O and Laglaoui, A and Bakkali, M and El Idrissi, MM and Arakrak, A},
title = {Plant Growth of the Wild Forage Legume Genista monspessulana is Improved by Bradyrhizobium sp. sv. Genistearum in the Acidic Soils of Northern Morocco.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {6},
pages = {267},
pmid = {40299055},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {Morocco ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Soil Microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Genista/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil/chemistry ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; },
abstract = {Genista monspessulana is a wild legume of high fodder value in northern Morocco, where it contributes to livestock feeding, particularly during the lean season. The plant fixes nitrogen in symbiosis with soil bacteria known as rhizobia. To identify and characterize its symbiotic partners, we isolated twenty-two bacteria inhabiting the plant nodules and assessed their phenotypic and genetic diversity as well as their symbiotic efficiency. The 16S rRNA sequences analysis proved that 7 isolates were affiliated with the genus Bradyrhizobium, which significantly improve plant growth under nitrogen deficiency. Based on multi-locus sequence analysis using five different housekeeping genes, three representative strains were selected for further analyses. The phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated sequences of the five genes showed that the closest type strain is Bradyrhizobium canariense LMG 2122265T. The strains nodulate also other Genisteae such as Cytisus villosus and Lupinus luteus besides their host plant. The phylogenetic analysis of the symbiotic nodC gene allowed the assignment of the strains to the symbiovar genistearum. The three strains proved to be very efficient in the fixation of N2 as revealed by their relative and absolute efficiency indexes and may be used as effective individual or mixed inocula, to improve the plant growth in its natural habitat and contribute to soil restoration, and revegetation in Northern Morocco.},
}
@article {pmid40298621,
year = {2025},
author = {Antache, A and Simionov, IA and Petrea, &#x218;M and Nica, A and Georgescu, PL and Oprică, L and Grigore, MN and Oroian, M and Jitaru, D and Liteanu, A and Ciobîcă, AS and Poroch, V},
title = {Insect-Antioxidants Symbiotic Nexus-Pathway for Sustainable and Resilient Aquaculture: A Case Study for Evaluating Koi Carp Growth and Oxidative Stress Status.},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40298621},
issn = {2076-3921},
abstract = {Various innovative fish feeds were tested for the production of koi carp in a recirculating aquaculture system, considering insect meal (Acheta domestica) as the main protein source and phytogenic additives (Curcuma longa-turmeric and Beta vulgaris-beetroot) as antioxidants, in the spirit of sustainable aquaculture practice. The growth performance, metabolic rate (respirometry), hematological profile, blood biochemical indicators, and oxidative stress of koi carp were determined, using feeds according to the following experimental design: CF-commercial feed, IF-innovative feed based on cricket meal, BIF-innovative feed (IF) with beetroot, and TIF-innovative feed (IF) with turmeric. The TIF recorded the best growth rate. The lowest values of lipid peroxidation (MDA), standard metabolic rate (SMR), and routine metabolic rate (RMR) were registered for the IF and TIF variants. A reduction in MDA was noted, correlated to the decrease in the metabolic rate regarding SMR and RMR for the IF and TIF. An intensification in amylase was recorded in the TIF and BIF. Compared with the CF, it seems that the IF, TIF, and BIF had a beneficial effect on the koi carp by reducing cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, and urea and by increasing the concentration of calcium and growth hormone in the blood plasma.},
}
@article {pmid40298441,
year = {2025},
author = {Peng, S-X and Gao, S-M and Lin, Z-L and Luo, Z-H and Zhang, S-Y and Shu, W-S and Meng, F and Huang, L-N},
title = {Biogeography and ecological functions of underestimated CPR and DPANN in acid mine drainage sediments.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {6},
pages = {e0070525},
pmid = {40298441},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {no. 31870111//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; no. 41830318//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; no. 32300001//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; no. 2022A1515010625//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; no. 2021A1515012468//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; China ; *Archaea/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; *Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; Metagenomics ; Metagenome ; Mining ; Phylogeny ; Acids ; Phylogeography ; },
abstract = {Recent genomic surveys have uncovered candidate phyla radiation (CPR) bacteria and DPANN archaea as major microbial dark matter lineages in various anoxic habitats. Despite their extraordinary diversity, the biogeographic patterns and ecological implications of these ultra-small and putatively symbiotic microorganisms have remained elusive. Here, we performed metagenomic sequencing on 90 geochemically diverse acid mine drainage sediments sampled across southeast China and recovered 282 CPR and 189 DPANN nonredundant metagenome-assembled genomes, which collectively account for up to 28.6% and 31.2% of the indigenous prokaryotic communities, respectively. We found that, remarkably, geographic distance represents the primary factor driving the large-scale ecological distribution of both CPR and DPANN organisms, followed by pH and Fe. Although both groups might be capable of iron reduction through a flavin-based extracellular electron transfer mechanism, significant differences are found in their metabolic capabilities (with complex carbon degradation and chitin degradation being more prevalent in CPR whereas fermentation and acetate production being enriched in DPANN), indicating potential niche differentiation. Predicted hosts are mainly Acidobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria for CPR and Thermoplasmatota for DPANN, and extensive, unbalanced metabolic exchanges between these symbionts and putative hosts are displayed. Together, our results provide initial insights into the complex interplays between the two lineages and their physicochemical environments and host populations at a large geographic scale.IMPORTANCECandidate phyla radiation (CPR) bacteria and DPANN archaea constitute a significant fraction of Earth's prokaryotic diversity. Despite their ubiquity and abundance, especially in anoxic habitats, we know little about the community patterns and ecological drivers of these ultra-small, putatively episymbiotic microorganisms across geographic ranges. This study is facilitated by a large collection of CPR and DPANN metagenome-assembled genomes recovered from the metagenomes of 90 sediments sampled from geochemically diverse acid mine drainage (AMD) environments across southeast China. Our comprehensive analyses have allowed first insights into the biogeographic patterns and functional differentiation of these major enigmatic prokaryotic groups in the AMD model system.},
}
@article {pmid40298336,
year = {2025},
author = {Kumar, RN and Scolarici, MJ and Gorsline, C and Danziger-Isakov, L and Baddley, J and Harris, CE},
title = {Research Advice for Early Career Transplant Infectious Disease Clinicians.},
journal = {Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {e70041},
pmid = {40298336},
issn = {1399-3062},
mesh = {Humans ; *Biomedical Research ; *Communicable Diseases/etiology ; *Organ Transplantation/adverse effects ; Social Media ; Career Choice ; Research Personnel ; },
abstract = {As part of an ongoing series of social media discussions, the Transplant Infectious Diseases Early Career Network hosted an open forum for the transplant infectious disease community to discuss the development of research careers for junior faculty. Topics discussed included opportunities for research, identifying potential research questions, institutional support, grant funding, common barriers to research, and trainee involvement. The forum highlighted symbiotic relationships between junior faculty and trainees. The insights from the forum provide a valuable resource for early-career transplant infectious diseases (TID) researchers.},
}
@article {pmid40298200,
year = {2025},
author = {Thapa, A and Hasan, MR and Kabir, AH},
title = {Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 Induces Rhizobia and Flavonoid-Driven Symbiosis to Promote Tolerance to Alkaline Stress in Garden Pea.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15581},
pmid = {40298200},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was supported by Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (grant ID: KAB004) and a startup grant (grant ID: 5SFAES-293007) from the University of Louisiana at Monroe./ ; },
abstract = {Soil alkalinity is a limiting factor for crops, yet the role of beneficial fungi in mitigating this abiotic stress in garden pea is understudied. In this study, Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 colonised the roots of garden pea cultivars exposed to soil alkalinity in a host-specific manner. In alkaline-exposed Sugar Snap, T22 improved growth parameters, consistent with increased tissue mineral content, particularly Fe and Mn, as well as enhanced rhizosphere siderophore levels. The split-root assay demonstrated that the beneficial effects of T22 on alkaline stress mitigation are the result of a whole-plant association rather than localised root-specific effects. RNA-seq analysis showed 575 and 818 differentially expressed genes upregulated and downregulated in the roots inoculated with T22 under alkaline conditions. The upregulated genes were mostly involved in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway (monooxygenase activity, ammonia-lyase activity, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase), along with genes related to mineral transport and redox homoeostasis. Further, a flavonoid precursor restored plant health even in the absence of T22, confirming the role of microbial symbiosis in mitigating alkaline stress. Interestingly, T22 restored the abundance of rhizobia, particularly Rhizobium leguminosarum and Rhizobium indicum, along with the induction of NifA, NifD, and NifH in nodules, suggesting a connection between T22 and rhizobia under soil alkalinity. Further, the elevated rhizosphere siderophore, root flavonoid, expression of PsCoA (4-coumarate-CoA ligase) as well as the relative abundance of TaAOX1 and R. leguminosarum diminished when T22 was substituted with exogenous Fe. This suggests that exogenous Fe eliminates the need for microbiome-driven mineral mobilisation, while T22-mediated alkaline stress mitigation depends on flavonoid-driven symbiosis and R. leguminosarum abundance. It was further supported by the positive interaction of T22 on R. leguminosarum growth in alkaline media. Thus, the beneficial effect of T22 on rhizobia likely stems from their interactions, not solely from the improved mineral status, particularly Fe, in plants. This study provides the first mechanistic insights into T22 interactions with host and rhizobia, advancing microbiome strategies to alleviate soil alkalinity in peas and other legumes.},
}
@article {pmid40297613,
year = {2025},
author = {Liang, L and Ma, C and Li, Y and Mijiti, Y and Zhang, L and Liu, Y},
title = {Vaginal microbiota changes of persistent human papillomavirus infection after cervical conization.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1544794},
pmid = {40297613},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *Vagina/microbiology ; *Papillomavirus Infections/microbiology/virology/surgery ; *Microbiota ; Adult ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; China ; *Conization/adverse effects ; Middle Aged ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Persistent Infection/microbiology/virology ; Cervix Uteri/surgery/microbiology ; Vaginosis, Bacterial/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Papillomaviridae ; Young Adult ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: We investigated the changes in vaginal microbiota among females with persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection following cervical conization in Xinjiang, China.<br><br>METHODS: A total of 108 female participants were enrolled in the study, including 37 HPV-positive females without cervical conization (Group P1), 37 HPV-positive females after cervical conization (Group P2), and 34 HPV-negative females after cervical conization (Group N). DNA was extracted from vaginal secretions, and the V3-V4 regions of bacterial 16S rDNA were amplified and sequenced using NovaSeq technology. The diversity analysis of the bacterial microbiota was conducted using QIIME2 and R software, while the phenotypic analysis was performed with Bugbase software.<br><br>RESULTS: Lactobacillus was the predominant genus in the vaginal microbiota of women with persistent HPV infection after cervical conization in Xinjiang. Following partial cervical resection, the &#x3b1;-diversity of the vaginal microbiota decreased, particularly among patients who had cleared HPV. Bacterial vaginosis-associated anaerobes were common in the vaginal environment, with their relative abundance increasing in cases of persistent HPV infection. Postoperative persistent HPV infection was found to be correlated not only with pathogens linked to bacterial vaginosis but also with those associated with aerobic vaginitis. Gardnerella and Atopobium, as well as Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus, demonstrated a symbiotic synergy. Both Lactobacillus and Gardnerella exhibited negative correlations with many pathogenic bacteria. Anaerobic and biofilm formation were the most evident phenotypes in individuals with persistent HPV infection after conization.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The vaginal microbiota of women with persistent HPV infection following cervical conization is characterized by the coexistence of Lactobacillus dominance and increased microbial diversity. Anaerobic bacteria and biofilm formation may play a significant role in the persistence of HPV infection post-surgery, and the role of Gardnerella in the vaginal flora under an HPV-infected state warrants further study.},
}
@article {pmid40297298,
year = {2025},
author = {Kudriashova, TR and Kryukov, AA and Gorenkova, AI and Yurkov, AP},
title = {Aquaporins and their role in plant-microbial systems.},
journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii},
volume = {29},
number = {2},
pages = {238-247},
doi = {10.18699/vjgb-25-27},
pmid = {40297298},
issn = {2500-0462},
abstract = {Global losses of agricultural products from water scarcity could be greater than from all other causes combined. Water deficiency in plants can result from insufficient precipitation, elevated air temperatures, and other factors that reduce the water available in the soil. Most terrestrial plants are able to form symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Arbuscular mycorrhiza plays a key role in the mineral nutrition of many terrestrial plant species. Water transport in plants is regulated primarily by aquaporins, transmembrane proteins. Aquaporins help plants save water, which is an important component of the plant's adaptation strategy to water scarcity. Some studies suggest that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can decrease the expression of aquaporin genes in plants under drought conditions, which reduces water transport within host plant tissues and conserves available water. On the other hand, there is little scientific evidence of the interaction mechanisms between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during aquaporin regulation. In addition, the information in different sources on the aquaporin functions in different plant species may be contradictory. Plant aquaporins are represented by several subfamilies; their number varies for different species. A more comprehensive study of these transporters can enhance our understanding of water transport in plants and assess how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can influence it. This review contains data on the history of studies of the structure, localization, phylogeny, and functions of aquaporins. Advancing the study of the symbiotic system functioning may contribute to the development of biofertilizers based on soil microorganisms for agricultural uses in the Russian Federation.},
}
@article {pmid40297295,
year = {2025},
author = {Kuzmina, DO and Zorin, EA and Sulima, AS and Romanyuk, DA and Gordon, ML and Zhernakov, AI and Kulaeva, OA and Akhtemova, GA and Shtark, OY and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA},
title = {Transcriptomic analysis of the symbiotic responsivity trait in pea (Pisum sativum L.).},
journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii},
volume = {29},
number = {2},
pages = {248-258},
doi = {10.18699/vjgb-25-28},
pmid = {40297295},
issn = {2500-0462},
abstract = {Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important crop culture and a model object for studying the molecular genetic bases of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). Pea genotypes with high and low responsivity to inoculation with nodule bacteria (rhizobia) and AM fungi have been described: the 'responsive' genotypes demonstrate an increase in seed weight under inoculation, while 'non-responsive' ones do not show such a reaction. In order to get insight into the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying the symbiotic responsivity, a transcriptomic analysis of whole root systems of pea plants of the 'responsive' genotype k-8274 (cv. Vendevil, France) and 'non-responsive' genotype k-3358 (unnamed cultivar, Saratov region, Russia) grown in soil without inoculation (control) and inoculated either with rhizobia (single inoculation) or with rhizobia together with AM fungi (double inoculation) was performed. It was shown that the 'responsive' genotype, indeed, demonstrated a pronounced transcriptomic response to single and double inoculation, in contrast to the 'non-responsive' genotype. In k-8274, single inoculation led to specific up-regulation of genes related to catabolism of polyamines, lipid metabolism, and jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling. Under double inoculation, the specifically up-regulated genes in k-8274 were related to arbuscular mycorrhiza infection, and the down-regulated genes were related to nodulation. This fact matches the phenotype of the plants: the number of nodules was lower in k-8274 under double inoculation as compared to the control. Thus, strict control over the nodule number may be one of the mechanisms underlying the symbiotic responsivity of pea. Finally, a comparison of expression profiles in k-8274 and k-3358 roots under double inoculation also allowed us to identify the transcriptomic signatures characteristic of the symbiotically responsive genotype. Further work will be focused on validation of these transcriptomic markers of the symbiotic responsivity trait in pea.},
}
@article {pmid40295205,
year = {2025},
author = {Linda, TM and Maisyaroh, DP and Berlyansah, A and Tasliyah, BJ and Juliantari, E and Zul, D and Fibriarti, BL and Agesti, ARA and Haryani, Y},
title = {Efficacy of Endophytic Bacterium Serratia marcescens B.SB 1.1 associated with Sea Fern (Acrostichum aureum L.) as an Antidiabetic Agent.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {e2412031},
pmid = {40295205},
issn = {1738-8872},
mesh = {*Serratia marcescens/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/chemistry/classification/metabolism ; alpha-Amylases/antagonists &amp; inhibitors ; *Endophytes/isolation &amp; purification/chemistry/genetics/metabolism/classification ; *Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology/chemistry/isolation &amp; purification ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Ferns/microbiology ; Plant Stems/microbiology ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology/chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; Flavonoids ; },
abstract = {Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a primary global health concern, often progressing unnoticed until complications arise. Current antidiabetic therapies primarily aim to inhibit the α-amylase enzyme, thereby reducing blood glucose levels. Some medicinal plants are proven to be symbiotic with endophytic bacteria that produce bioactive compounds capable of inhibiting α-amylase activity. This study investigated the potential of endophytic bacteria isolated from the stem of the sea fern (Acrostichum aureum L.) to act as α-amylase inhibitors, using both in vitro and in silico studies. Phytochemical analysis of both the stem extract and cultured bacterial isolates showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins. Isolate B.SB 1.1 was identified as Serratia marcescens based on 16S rRNA sequencing. The α-amylase inhibition assay demonstrated the strain as showing significant inhibitory activity, with 32.57% inhibition at 2% starch substrate concentration. In silico docking studies using LC-MS data predicted 4-propylbiphenyl and benzoin as compounds with the lowest binding energy to α-amylase, suggesting their potential as effective inhibitors. These findings highlight the efficacy and therapeutic potential of endophytic strain S. marcescens B.SB 1.1 as a novel antidiabetic agent.},
}
@article {pmid40294446,
year = {2025},
author = {Södergren, K and Palm, J},
title = {Governing industrial and urban symbiosis: Internal and external strategies for municipal development.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {384},
number = {},
pages = {125469},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125469},
pmid = {40294446},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {Cities ; Sweden ; *Industry ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; },
abstract = {Industrial and urban symbiosis (IUS) is an emerging sustainability strategy in which organizations collaborate to optimize resource flows and minimize waste within urban environments. Rooted in circular economy principles, IUS has gained global attention as cities seek innovative solutions to enhance resource efficiency and resilience. However, local authorities play a critical yet underexplored role in governing IUS. While previous studies recognize their importance in initiating and expanding such initiatives, limited research has systematically examined how municipalities balance internal governance with external engagement strategies to manage IUS effectively. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the internal and external governing strategies employed by Swedish municipalities with emerging or established IUS initiatives. A survey of 22 municipalities revealed that while IUS is widely prioritized, the level of municipal engagement varies. Findings suggest that broader administrative involvement can strengthen capacity for circular solutions. Internally, self-governing strategies, particularly political anchoring, were key to successful implementation. Externally, municipalities adopted enabling, provision, and partnership strategies, emphasizing coordination and facilitation over legal enforcement. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners in and beyond Sweden, offering governance strategies applicable to cities and regions seeking to integrate IUS into their sustainability agendas.},
}
@article {pmid40294273,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, Z and Wu, X and Wang, Z and Ye, X and Pang, L and Wang, Y and Zhou, Y and Chen, T and Zhou, S and Wang, Z and Sheng, Y and Zhang, Q and Chen, J and Tang, P and Shen, X and Huang, J and Drezen, JM and Strand, MR and Chen, X},
title = {A symbiotic gene stimulates aggressive behavior favoring the survival of parasitized caterpillars.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {18},
pages = {e2422935122},
pmid = {40294273},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {U22A20485//Key Program of Regional Innovation and Development of National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021C02045//Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province (Key R&amp;D plan of Zhejiang Province)/ ; 32325044//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Larva/parasitology/genetics/virology/physiology ; *Moths/parasitology/genetics/virology/physiology ; *Wasps/virology/genetics/physiology ; *Aggression/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Polydnaviridae/genetics ; Octopamine/metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; Mixed Function Oxygenases ; },
abstract = {Animals often exhibit increased aggression in response to starvation, while parasites often manipulate host behavior. In contrast, underlying molecular mechanisms for these behavioral changes are mostly unknown. The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, is an agricultural pest that feeds on cruciferous plants as larvae, while Cotesia vestalis is a parasitoid wasp that parasitizes diamondback moth larvae. In this study, we determined that unparasitized diamondback moth larvae exhibit increased aggression and cannibalism when starved, while starved larvae parasitized by C. vestalis were more aggressive than unparasitized larvae. C. vestalis harbors a domesticated endogenized virus named Cotesia vestalis bracovirus (CvBV) that wasps inject into parasitized hosts. Starvation increased octopamine (OA) levels in the central nervous system (CNS) of diamondback moth larvae while a series of experiments identified a CvBV-encoded gene product named Assailant that further increased aggression in starved diamondback moth larvae. We determined that Assailant increases OA levels by activating tyramine beta-hydroxylase (PxTβh), which is a key enzyme in the OA biosynthesis pathway. Ectopic expression of assailant in Drosophila melanogaster likewise upregulated expression of DmTβh and OA, which increased aggressive behavior in male flies as measured by a well-established assay. While parasitized hosts are often thought to be at a competitive disadvantage to nonparasitized individuals, our results uncover how a parasitoid uses an endogenized virus to increase host aggression and enhance survival of offspring when competing against unparasitized hosts.},
}
@article {pmid40293550,
year = {2025},
author = {Cui, Z and Li, X and Han, P and Chen, R and Dong, Y and Geng, G and Yu, L and Liu, J and Xu, Y and Wang, Y},
title = {Integrative transcriptomic and physiological analyses uncover mechanisms by which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mitigate salt stress in sugar beet.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {3},
pages = {35},
pmid = {40293550},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {32372159//the National Natural Science Foundation of China Project/ ; LH2023C091//Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province/ ; CARS-17//Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Heilongjiang University, Initiation Fund for Postdoctoral Research in Heilongjiang Province, Agriculture Research System Fund/ ; G2023011004L//Introduction Project for High-end Foreign Experts/ ; 2021-KYYWF-0023//Basic research business fund for provincial higher education institutions in Heilongjiang Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Beta vulgaris/microbiology/physiology/genetics/growth &amp; development ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Salt Stress ; *Transcriptome ; Salt Tolerance ; Symbiosis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seedlings/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Gene Expression Profiling ; },
abstract = {Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is cultivated extensively worldwide as an important cash crop, and soil salinity is a critical factor influencing both its yield and sugar content. Consequently, enhancing the salt tolerance of sugar beet is of paramount importance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiotic associations with approximately 80% of vascular plants, thereby improving the adaptability of host plants to adverse conditions. However, the mechanisms by which the AM symbiosis assists sugar beet in coping with salt stress remain poorly understood. To investigate the adaptation strategies employed by AM symbiotic sugar beet under salt stress, we examined physiological and transcriptomic changes in sugar beet seedlings subjected to various treatments, using the KWS1176 variety as the experimental material. The results indicated that AM symbiotic sugar beet demonstrated superior performance under salt stress, characterized by improved seedling growth, alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities, modifications in osmoregulatory substance levels, reduced Na[+] uptake, and enhanced K[+] influx within the root system. Notably, most of the differentially expressed genes were implicated in pathways related to reactive oxygen species scavenging, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and phytohormone signal transduction. Furthermore, pivotal genes identified through weighted gene co-expression network analysis were validated via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, revealing that the salt tolerance of AM symbiotic sugar beet may be associated with its ionic homeostasis, antioxidant enzyme activities, and regulation of photosynthesis at both transcriptional and physiological levels.},
}
@article {pmid40293514,
year = {2025},
author = {Gu, L and Guo, M and Wang, P and Zhao, J and Wu, Z and Wang, Z and Zhang, S and Yang, X and Ma, R and Wang, L and Ye, X and Huang, J and Chen, XX and Wang, Z},
title = {Symbiotic bracovirus of a parasite modulate host ecdysis process.},
journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS},
volume = {82},
number = {1},
pages = {183},
pmid = {40293514},
issn = {1420-9071},
support = {U22A20485//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32272607//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 226-2024-00070//Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of the Central South University/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Polydnaviridae/physiology/genetics ; Ecdysterone/metabolism/biosynthesis ; Larva/parasitology/growth &amp; development/virology/metabolism/genetics ; *Moths/parasitology/virology/growth &amp; development/genetics ; *Molting/genetics ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Wasps/virology/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Insect Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Ecdysone ; Viral Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Parasitoids modulate host development for the survival of their offspring, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely unknown. Here, we found that the endoparasitoid Cotesia vestalis disrupted the larval-larval ecdysis in its host Plutella xylostella by the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) synthesis pathway. After parasitization by C. vestalis, the 20E peak of host larvae disappeared before the onset of ecdysis and the expression of ecdysone synthesis genes was significantly downregulated. We further found that a Cotesia vestalis bracovirus (CvBV) gene CvBV_28 - 5 was transiently high-level expressed prior to the host's 20E peak, enabling the precise suppression of this critical developmental signal. Consistently, the knockdown of CvBV_28 - 5 affected the expression of 20E response transcription factors in the cuticle and several ecdysis-related genes. Furthermore, we found that CvBV_28 - 5 bound directly to the Raf, a MAP3K member of the MAPK pathwaythat functions as a critical regulator of ecdysone synthesis genes in hosts. Collectively, our results provide the first evidence that parasitoids modulate host ecdysis by affecting MAPK-20E signaling during a defined developmental window and provide novel insights into the mechanism of parasitoid regulation of host development.},
}
@article {pmid40293198,
year = {2025},
author = {Mao, F and Xiao, S and Dang, X and Cui, G and Gaitán-Espitia, JD and Thiyagarajan, V and Vidal-Dupiol, J and Yi, W and Jin, X and Yu, Z and Zhang, Y},
title = {Metabolic Shifts and Muscle Remodeling as Pro-Survival and Energy Compensation Strategies in Photosymbiotic Giant Clams after Bleaching.},
journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology},
volume = {59},
number = {21},
pages = {10239-10252},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5c00474},
pmid = {40293198},
issn = {1520-5851},
mesh = {Animals ; *Bivalvia/metabolism/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Muscles/metabolism ; Climate Change ; },
abstract = {Tropical photosymbiotic giant clams are increasingly threatened by climate change, leading to widespread bleaching. Decline in density of symbionts caused mortality events in symbiotic organisms; however, giant clams appear to exhibit prior survival capacity against these detrimental effects. It remains unclear whether giant clams can mitigate the adverse impacts of bleaching. Herein, we found that bleaching events after chronic heat stress induce remarkable changes and remodeling in symbiotic tissue of the giant clam Tridacna crocea. The density and structure of unique muscle fibers with high collagen content, observed in siphonal mantle of these animals, were negatively altered after heat stress. These changes were associated with a metabolic shift from carbohydrates and fatty acids to amino acids as the breakdown of collagen-rich muscle fibers can partially compensate for energy loss during bleaching. Such a shift was proposed to be regulated by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling and FoxO-atrogin pathways. Overall, our study highlights a pro-survival mechanism in giant clams through plastic regulation, which likely contributes to their relatively high environmental resilience during bleaching.},
}
@article {pmid40290873,
year = {2025},
author = {Gohar, D and Põldmaa, K and Pent, M and Rahimlou, S and Cerk, K and Ng, DYK and Hildebrand, F and Bahram, M},
title = {Genomic evidence of symbiotic adaptations in fungus-associated bacteria.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {4},
pages = {112253},
pmid = {40290873},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Fungi harbor diverse bacteria that engage in various relationships. While these relationships potentially influence fungal functioning, their underlying genetic mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, we aimed to elucidate the key genomic features of fungus-associated bacteria (FaB) by comparing 163 FaB genomes to 1,048 bacterial genomes from other hosts and habitats. Our analyses revealed several distinctive genomic features of FaB. We found that FaB are enriched in carbohydrate transport/metabolism- and motility-related genes, suggesting an adaptation for utilizing complex fungal carbon sources. They are also enriched in genes targeting fungal biomass, likely reflecting their role in recycling and rebuilding fungal structures. Additionally, FaB associated with plant-mutualistic fungi possess a wider array of carbon-acquisition enzymes specific to fungal and plant substrates compared to those residing with saprotrophic fungi. These unique genomic features highlight FaB' potential as key players in fungal nutrient acquisition and decomposition, ultimately influencing plant-fungal symbiosis and ecosystem functioning.},
}
@article {pmid40290476,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, Y and Zhang, G and Li, J and Li, X and Jiang, S and Zha Xi, Y and Guo, Y and Lu, J},
title = {Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract supplementation mitigated the negative effects of prolonged low-dose exposure to Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone on growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens.},
journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {1570265},
pmid = {40290476},
issn = {2297-1769},
abstract = {Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Zearalenone (ZEN), common symbiotic mycotoxins found in mold-contaminated cereal feed, adversely affect broiler' health. Glycyrrhiza uralensis has various pharmacological effects including antibacterial, antioxidant and immunomodulatory. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the long-term intake of low doses of DON and ZEN on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers, as well as the potential protective effect of supplementary Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract (GUE) in an 84-day feeding experiment. A total of 315 one-day-old male Liangfeng broilers were randomly assigned to three treatments: basal diet (CON), MOL diet (where 5% of corn in the basal diet was replaced with an equal amount of naturally moldy corn) containing DON and ZEN at 1.25 and 1.29 mg/kg, and MGUE diet supplemented with 0.1% GUE in the MOL diet. The MOL diet reduced the body weight (BW) of broilers at 56 and 84 day, body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) aged 1-56 and 1-84 days, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) aged 1-84 days, as well as villus height (VH) and the villus/crypt (V/C) ratio, SOD and GSH-Px activities, and the expression of claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1, while increasing MDA level, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ in the jejunum of broilers. Additionally, MOL diet decreased the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and abundances of Lactobacillus (L.gallinarum and L.crispatus), and B.vulgatus, while increasing Bacteroides (B.fragilis and B.dore), Helicobacter (H.pullorum), and Escherichia (E.coli) in the ceca. In contrast, MGUE diet improved growth performance and returned it to a level comparable to that of the CON diet, increased VH and V/C ratio, SOD and GSH-Px activity, claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1 expression, while reducing MDA level, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ in the jejunum. Moreover, MGUE diet had a greater F/B ratio and abundance of Lactobacillus (L.gallinarum and L.crispatus) and B.vulgatus, while reducing Bacteroides (B.fragilis and B.dorei), Helicobacter (H.pullorum) and Escherichia (E.coli) in cecum. In conclusion, the long-term consumption of a low-dose DON-ZEN contaminated diet decreases growth performance and disrupts intestinal health and microbiota balance in broilers; however, dietary supplementation with GUE effectively mitigates the damage caused by DON-ZEN contamination.},
}
@article {pmid40289066,
year = {2025},
author = {Dos Reis, JBA and Steindorff, AS and Lorenzi, AS and Pinho, DB and do Vale, HMM and Pappas, GJ},
title = {How genomics can help unravel the evolution of endophytic fungi.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {5},
pages = {153},
pmid = {40289066},
issn = {1573-0972},
support = {Funding code 001//Coordena&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Aperfei&#xe7;oamento de Pessoal de N&#xed;vel Superior-Brasil (CAPES)/ ; No. DE-AC02-05CH11231//Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy/ ; FAPESC N.&#xba;: 1580/2024//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Amparo &#xe0; Pesquisa e Inova&#xe7;&#xe3;o do Estado de Santa Catarina/ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/genetics/physiology ; *Fungi/genetics/classification/physiology ; *Genomics/methods ; Symbiosis ; *Plants/microbiology ; *Genome, Fungal ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Biological Evolution ; Secondary Metabolism ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi (EFs) form intimate associations with plants, residing within their tissues without causing apparent harm. Understanding the evolution of endophytic fungal genomes is essential for uncovering the mechanisms that drive their symbiotic relationships with host plants. This review explores the dynamic interactions between EFs and host plants, focusing on the evolutionary processes that shape their genomes. We highlighted key genomic adaptations promoting their endophytic lifestyle, including genes involved in plant cell wall degradation, secondary metabolite production, and stress tolerance. By combining genomic data with ecological and physiological information, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the coevolutionary dynamics between EFs and host plants. Moreover, it provides insights that help elucidate the complex interdependencies governing their symbiotic interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40289058,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, X and Lu, J and Li, M and Qiu, S and Ge, S},
title = {Extracellular polymeric substances in indigenous microalgal-bacterial consortia: advances in characterization techniques and emerging applications.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {5},
pages = {144},
pmid = {40289058},
issn = {1573-0972},
support = {52170038, 52370040 and 52470038//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; BK20220143//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix/metabolism/chemistry ; *Microalgae/metabolism/chemistry ; *Microbial Consortia/physiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; },
abstract = {Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) synthesized by indigenous microalgal-bacterial consortia (IMBC) play multifunctional roles in enhancing wastewater treatment efficiency, nutrient sequestration, and ecological system stability. This comprehensive review critically evaluates state-of-the-art analytical methods for characterizing EPS composition, physicochemical properties, and functional dynamics, including colorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). While these methods provide critical insights into EPS structure-function relationships, challenges persist in resolving spatial heterogeneity, real-time secretion dynamics, and molecular-scale interactions within complex IMBC systems. Emerging technologies such as expansion microscopy (ExM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and integrated multi-omics approaches are highlighted as transformative tools for in situ EPS profiling, offering nanoscale resolution and temporal precision. By synthesizing these innovations, this review proposes a multidisciplinary framework to decode EPS-mediated microbial symbiosis, optimize IMBC performance, and advance applications in sustainable bioremediation, bioenergy, and circular resource recovery.},
}
@article {pmid40288134,
year = {2025},
author = {Ali, MU and Khan, I and Khan, H},
title = {Leveraging industry 4.0 technologies and industrial symbiosis: Advancing circular economy practices in BRICS economies.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {383},
number = {},
pages = {125471},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125471},
pmid = {40288134},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Artificial Intelligence ; *Technology ; *Industry ; Economic Development ; Internet of Things ; },
abstract = {In addressing the dynamics of a circular economy (CE), Industry 4.0 technologies (IN4.0T) and Industrial Symbiosis (IS) necessitate meticulous management strategies to optimize their advantageous impacts on circular practices. The present study investigates the influence of IN4.0T, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and IS on advancing CE principles in BRICS economies during 2011-2021. To estimate these nexuses, Panel Cross Sectionally Augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag econometric approach is employed. The results reveal that IS, AI, and IoT significantly enhance CE efficiency in BRICS nations. The study's findings contribute to current literature in three discrete ways: first, it stipulates empirical evidence of how AI and IoT facilitate CE practices; second, it demonstrates the facilitating role of IS in strengthening the restorative-circularity nexus; and third, it offers insights specific to BRICS nations, where rapid economic growth intersects with environmental challenges. The results align with and extend theoretical frameworks, including the Natural-Resources-Based and the Business-Technology-Adoptions models. The findings suggest that policymakers should invest in Industrial Symbiosis and digital technologies to lessen waste, improve resource efficiency, nurture collaborations, and boost CE transitions in BRICS economies.},
}
@article {pmid40287897,
year = {2025},
author = {Ombura, FLO and Malele, I and Abd-Alla, AM and Akutse, KS and Ajene, IJ and Khamis, FM},
title = {Potential of entomopathogenic fungi for Glossina austeni control: insights into microbiome alterations and implications on sustainable management of the pest.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70052},
pmid = {40287897},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {D42017//International Atomic Energy Agency/ ; },
abstract = {Glossina austeni Newstead (Diptera: Glossinidae) is a competent vector of the trypanosomes causing human African trypanosomiasis and the African animal trypanosomosis. Management of this pest has primarily involved trapping methods, Sterile Insect Technique, and research into vector competence-symbiotic interactions. Nevertheless, the use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in integrated pest management programs for G. austeni control remains limited. Moreover, different tsetse fly species exhibit varying susceptibility to different EPF strains, indicating that no single strain is universally effective. Therefore, our study aimed to identify candidate EPF isolates for G. austeni management, evaluate the effects of temperature on the radial growth of these potent isolates, and assess the impact of the candidate EPF on the gut microbiome of G. austeni. Consequently, 16 Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin isolates were screened against G. austeni using dry conidia in an infection chamber, with the most virulent isolates having LT50 values of 3.95-9.37 d. Temperature significantly influenced the radial growth, conidia germination, and yield of these strains. There were also significant differences in conidia acquisition, retention and transmission between male and female G. austeni flies. Furthermore, all conidia receivers carried sufficient conidia, 5 d post-interaction with EPF-challenged conidia donors. Microbiome analysis revealed Wigglesworthia, Serratia, Klebsiella, and Escherichia as the most abundant taxa. Among the M. anisopliae isolates, ICIPE 82 exhibited the fastest radial growth and highest thermostability, hence selected as a potential biopesticide candidate for managing G. austeni. This study demonstrates the efficacy and potential of M. anisopliae ICIPE 82 as a biopesticide for controlling G. austeni.},
}
@article {pmid40287858,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, H and Pu, Q and Yang, X and Kashyap, S and Liu, S},
title = {Regulatory mechanisms of nitrogen homeostasis in insect growth and development.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70059},
pmid = {40287858},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {32172797//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; SWU-XJPY202309//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; CYB21132//Chongqing Graduate Student Research Innovation Project/ ; },
abstract = {Nitrogen is an essential element for the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids, and various other critical biological molecules in insects. The maintenance of nitrogen homeostasis in insects is achieved through a balance of dietary intake, metabolic conversion, and excretion. Insects primarily acquire nitrogen from their diet, which is subsequently metabolized into amino acids, proteins, and other vital biomolecules following digestion and absorption. Excess nitrogen is excreted in forms such as uric acid, allantoin, allantoic acid, urea, and ammonia. Disruptions in nitrogen regulation can result in ammonia toxicity and abnormal production or excretion of nitrogenous metabolites, including uric acid, ultimately impairing insect development and survival. This review examines the mechanisms underlying nitrogen homeostasis in insects, with a focus on the intricate regulatory roles of carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, uric acid metabolism, urea and polyamine metabolism, ammonia transport pathways, and symbiotic interactions. By elucidating these processes, this review aims to enhance our understanding of insect nutritional metabolism and developmental biology, while offering novel perspectives for the development of more effective pest management strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40287614,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, J and Huang, X and Wang, X and Li, S and Ou, X and Yuan, Q and Wang, Y and He, H and Jiang, W and Zhou, T},
title = {Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the role of sugar signaling in response to high temperature stress in Armillaria gallica.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {247},
pmid = {40287614},
issn = {1471-2180},
mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Signal Transduction ; *Hot Temperature ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Sugars/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Stress, Physiological ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Armillaria gallica establish a unique symbiotic relationship with Gastrodia elata, which is a valuable Chinese herbal plant that relies on this symbiosis. High temperature (HT) seriously affected the growth of both A. gallica and G. elata. However, the molecular mechanisms and gene networks involved in the response of A. gallica to HT are not well understood.<br><br>RESULTS: In this study, transcriptomic analyses at multiple time point were conducted using rhizomorph from two A. gallica strains, GZ1 (tolerance to HT) and SX8 (sensitive to HT) under HT and normal temperature (NT) conditions. We identified 2,056 differentially expressed genes, primarily associated with carbohydrate metabolism and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Heat shock proteins (HSP20 and HSP90) were up-regulated in both GZ1 and SX8 under HT, indicating a conserved HT induced response in A. gallica. Additionally, genes related to glycolysis were up-regulated in GZ1 following HT treatment, while genes involved in the conversion of sugar to amino acids were down-regulated in GZ1 under HT treatment. GZ1 also showed an increased accumulation of soluble sugar and polysaccharide under HT, which were significantly correlated with pyruvate kinase and aldo/keto reductase genes. Furthermore, a sucrose concentration of 30&#xa0;g/L enhanced HT resistance in A. gallica.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that sugar signaling, particularly in carbohydrate metabolism, plays a critical role in the rhizomorph response to HT stress. Both conserved and species-specific transcriptome changes may contribute to the dynamic regulation of rhizomorph development during adaptation to HT stress in A. gallica.<br><br>CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.},
}
@article {pmid40285541,
year = {2025},
author = {Edwards, JD and Kazenel, MR and Luo, Y and Lynn, JS and McCulley, RL and Souza, L and Young, C and Rudgers, JA and Kivlin, SN},
title = {Warming Disrupts Plant-Fungal Endophyte Symbiosis More Severely in Leaves Than Roots.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {31},
number = {4},
pages = {e70207},
doi = {10.1111/gcb.70207},
pmid = {40285541},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {KY006045//Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station/ ; 08-SC-NICCR-1073//Biological and Environmental Research/ ; DE-FOA-0002392//Biological and Environmental Research/ ; 1021222//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 1354972//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 1936195//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 2106065//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 2217353//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 2305863//Division of Environmental Biology/ ; 58-6440-7-135//Agricultural Research Service/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Endophytes/physiology ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Plant Leaves/microbiology ; *Global Warming ; *Fungi/physiology ; Grassland ; },
abstract = {Disruptions to functionally important symbionts with global change will negatively impact plant fitness, with broader consequences for species' abundances, distribution, and community composition. Fungal endophytes that live inside plant leaves and roots could potentially mitigate plant heat stress from global warming. Conversely, disruptions of these symbioses could exacerbate the negative impacts of warming. To better understand the consistency and strength of warming-induced changes to fungal endophytes, we examined fungal leaf and root endophytes in three grassland warming experiments in the US ranging from 2 to 25 years and spanning 2000 km, 12°C of mean annual temperature, and 600 mm of precipitation. We found that experimental warming disrupted symbiosis between plants and fungal endophytes. Colonization of plant tissues by septate fungi decreased in response to warming by 90% in plant leaves and 35% in roots. Warming also reduced fungal diversity and changed community composition in plant leaves, but not roots. The strength, but not direction, of warming effects on fungal endophytes varied by up to 75% among warming experiments. Finally, warming decoupled fungal endophytes from host metabolism by decreasing the correlation between endophyte community and host metabolome dissimilarity. These effects were strongest in the shorter-term experiment, suggesting endophyte-host metabolome function may acclimate to warming over decades. Overall, warming-driven disruption of fungal endophyte community structure and function suggests that this symbiosis may not be a reliable mechanism to promote plant resilience and ameliorate stress responses under global change.},
}
@article {pmid40285409,
year = {2025},
author = {Turney, K and Bauman, R and Christensen, MA and Goodsell, R},
title = {Stress Proliferation or Stress Relief? Understanding Mothers' Health during Son's Incarceration.},
journal = {Journal of health and social behavior},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {221465251330848},
doi = {10.1177/00221465251330848},
pmid = {40285409},
issn = {2150-6000},
abstract = {Social stressors proliferate to impair the health of those connected to the person enduring the stressor, but they can simultaneously offer relief from other stressors. Using in-depth interviews with 69 mothers of incarcerated men, we investigate mothers' descriptions of how the stressor of their adult son's incarceration impairs their health. First, mothers overwhelmingly describe how the increased instrumental, emotional, and financial responsibilities following their son's confinement damage their health. Second, despite these increased responsibilities, most mothers simultaneously describe stress relief following their son's incarceration, which may offset some of their health impairments. Third, these processes are situated in a broader social context, with increased responsibilities most salient when mothers have caregiving relationships with their grandchildren and stress relief most salient when their sons endure cyclical incarceration. These findings, which expand our understanding of the symbiotic harms of incarceration for mothers' health, highlight the complexity of responses to social stressors.},
}
@article {pmid40284782,
year = {2025},
author = {de Cassia S Brandão, B and de Abreu, JL and Oliveira, DWS and da Silva Campos, CVF and de Aguiar, IMT and de Sena, PR and Gálvez, AO and Oliveira, CYB},
title = {New Findings on the Survival of Durusdinium glynnii Under Different Acclimation Methods to Low Salinities.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284782},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {Finance code 001//Coordena&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de N&#xed;vel Superior/ ; 409352/2023-3//National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; PQ 310898/2023-4//National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; APQ 1387-3.03/22//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Amparo &#xe0; Ci&#xea;ncia e Tecnologia de Pernambuco/ ; BFP-0131-5.06/22//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Amparo &#xe0; Ci&#xea;ncia e Tecnologia de Pernambuco/ ; },
abstract = {This study investigated the effects of salinity on the growth and cell morphotype of the coral-associated dinoflagellate Durusdinium glynnii under two acclimation strategies: abrupt saline shock (S5) and gradual reduction (S2). Results revealed optimal growth rates (µ = 0.22-0.35 day[-1]) at salinities of 20-30 g L[-1], while extreme conditions (10 and 40 g L[-1]) significantly inhibited development. The S2 strategy enabled adaptation to salinities as low as 16 g L[-1], maintaining higher cell densities compared to the S5 method. Gradual salinity reduction also influenced cellular morphology: below 12 g L[-1], a predominant shift occurred from motile forms (mastigotes) to non-motile spherical structures (coccoid), suggesting an adaptive response to osmotic stress, gradually reducing the growth rate due to the lower reproductive rate of coccoid cells, as previously reported in studies. The findings conclude that D. glynnii is a euryhaline species, tolerant of moderate salinity variations (16-30 g L[-1]) but limited under extreme conditions. Its morphological plasticity and gradual acclimation capacity highlight its potential for cultivation in brackish environments and biomass production for biotechnological applications, such as antioxidants and antimicrobials. The data provide a foundation for future studies on molecular mechanisms of salinity tolerance, essential for coral conservation strategies and bioprospecting efforts.},
}
@article {pmid40284762,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, J and Yang, ZD and Wang, ET and Sun, LQ and Li, Y},
title = {The Effect of Climate Variables, Soil Characteristics, and Peanut Cultivars on the Rhizobial Bacteria Community.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284762},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {ZR202102280248//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; 31600009//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024TSGC0541//Key Research and Development Plan of Shandong Province/ ; 2024JCYJ079//Yantai Science and Technology Project/ ; },
abstract = {Peanuts are widely cultivated across the world; however, peanut's rhizobial community and the determinant factors of their composition are still to be elucidated. This study investigates the biogeography and determinant soil environmental factors for peanut rhizobia. A total of 1001 rhizobial isolates were obtained from the peanut root nodules, mainly belonging to two cultivars (X9 and M6) cultivated in 20 sampling sites across China. According to recA sequence analysis, all the isolates were classified as 84 haplotypes, and a representative strain for each haplotype was randomly selected to perform subsequent analyses. Based on multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of housekeeping genes dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA, and rpoB, all the representative strains were classified as 42 genospecies in the genus Bradyrhizobium, including 12 effectively published and 30 undefined genospecies. Strains belonging to six genospecies were predominant (>5%), including B. ottawaense, B. liaoningense, B. yuanmingense, Bradyrhizobium sp. XXIX, B. guangdongense, and B. nanningense. However, only a single isolate was obtained for 15 genospecies. The diversity indices of peanut rhizobia distributed in South China are obviously higher than those in North China, but no obvious peanut cultivar selection for rhizobial genospecies was found. Correlation analyses indicated that the community composition of peanut rhizobia was mainly affected by MAP, MAT, soil AP, and pH. Nodulation tests indicated that the 79 representative strains belonging to 37 genospecies with both nodC and nifH could perform nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with peanuts. This study revealed the great diversity and varied composition of communities of peanut rhizobia in different geographic regions across China.},
}
@article {pmid40284753,
year = {2025},
author = {Karasartova, D and Arslan-Akveran, G and Sensoz, S and Mumcuoglu, KY and Taylan-Ozkan, A},
title = {Hirudo verbana Microbiota Dynamics: A Key Factor in Hirudotherapy-Related Infections?.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284753},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {ALACA19001.23.002//Hitit University Scientific Research Projects/ ; },
abstract = {The gastrointestinal microbiota of medicinal leeches is particularly interesting due to their blood-feeding habits, increasing medical use, and risk of pathogen transmission. Three groups of Hirudo verbana were used to study the leech microbiota: farmed leeches fasting for a long time, farmed leeches recently fed with bovine blood, and wild specimens fed with amphibian blood. The microbiota of the leeches' mouth, pharynx, crop, and intestine was analyzed. Metasequencing analyses were performed using amplification of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region on a NovaSeq Illumina platform. The relative abundance of bacterial microbiota included environmental bacteria from the families Rhizobiaceae, Comamonadaceae, Sphingobacteriaceae, Phreatobacteraceae, Myxococcaceae, Chitinophagaceae, Rhodospirillaceae, and Bdellovibrionaceae, as well as symbiotic/probiotic bacteria such as Mucinivorans, Aeromonas, Vagococcus, Lactobacillales, and Morganella. Significant differences were found in the different regions of the digestive system among the three groups of leeches, and environmental bacteria were present in all groups to varying degrees. A negative correlation was found between the dominant environmental and the symbiotic/probiotic bacteria. In contrast, a positive correlation was found between environmental and symbiotic/probiotic bacteria, indicating their association with host factors. Microbiota diversity, abundance, and bacterial correlations may be influenced by factors such as the leech's fasting state, blood meal source, and environmental conditions. The identified opportunistic pathogens, such as Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Treponema, identified for the first time in H. verbana, should be taken into consideration when using this leech in hirudotherapy. Our results show that extensive screening for opportunistic and pathogenic agents should be performed on leeches intended for medical use. Long-fasting leeches and leeches cultured in specialized farms are recommended for hirudotherapy.},
}
@article {pmid40284752,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Z and Ke, L and Huang, C and Peng, S and Zhao, M and Wu, H and Lin, F},
title = {Effects of Seawater from Different Sea Areas on Abalone Gastrointestinal Microorganisms and Metabolites.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284752},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {(FJHYF-L-2023-7).//Fujian Provincial Special Fund Project for Promoting the High-quality Development of Marine and Fishery Industry in 2023/ ; },
abstract = {Significant regional variations in seawater characteristics (temperature, salinity, pH, nutrients) exist across marine environments, yet their impacts on abalone gastrointestinal microbiota and metabolites remain underexplored. This study investigated seawater nutrient and pH interactions on abalone gut ecosystems through comparative analysis of three marine regions (Pingtan (PT), Xiapu (XP), Lianjiang (LJ)). Seawater characteristics revealed distinct patterns: LJ exhibited the lowest total phosphorus (TP: 0.12 mg/L), total nitrogen (TN: 2.8 mg/L), NH3-N (0.05 mg/L) but the highest salinity (32.1‱) and lowest pH (7.82), while PT/XP showed elevated nutrients (TP: 0.24-0.28 mg/L; TN: 4.2-4.5 mg/L). Microbial diversity peaked in LJ samples (Shannon index: 5.8) with dominant genera Psychrilyobacter (12.4%) and Bradyrhizobium (9.1%), contrasting with PT's Mycoplasma-enriched communities (18.7%) and XP's Vibrio-dominant profiles (14.3%). Metabolomic analysis identified 127 differential metabolites (VIP > 1.5, p < 0.05), predominantly lipids (38%) and organic acids (27%), with pathway enrichment in sulfur relay (q = 4.2 × 10[-5]) and tryptophan metabolism (q = 1.8 × 10[-4]). Stomach-specific metabolites correlated with fatty acid degradation (e.g., inosine diphosphate, r = -0.82 with vibrionimonas) and glutathione metabolism (methionine vs. mycoplasma, r = -0.79). Critically, pH showed negative correlations with beneficial Psychrilyobacter (oleamide: r = -0.68) and positive associations with pathogenic Vibrio (trigonelline: r = 0.72). Elevated NH3-N (>0.15 mg/L) and TP (>0.25 mg/L) promoted Mycoplasma proliferation (R[2] = 0.89) alongside cytotoxic metabolite accumulation. These findings demonstrate that higher pH (>8.0) and nutrient overload disrupt microbial symbiosis, favoring pathogens over beneficial taxa.},
}
@article {pmid40284713,
year = {2025},
author = {Mataboge, MT and Mohammed, M and Dakora, FD},
title = {Symbiotic N2 Fixation, Leaf Photosynthesis, and Abiotic Stress Tolerance of Native Rhizobia Isolated from Soybean Nodules at Da, Upper West Region, Ghana.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284713},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {MND20052552476//National Research Foundation (NRF)/ ; },
abstract = {The soybean is an important source of protein and is gaining popularity in Ghana due to a rising demand for its use in the poultry industry. However, the grain yield of soybeans is relatively low in the Upper West Region due to infertile soil and climate change. This study evaluated root nodulation and symbiotic effectiveness in 31 rhizobial isolates obtained from the nodules of soybeans planted at Da in the Upper West Region, Ghana, as well as measured photosynthetic activity of the soybean plants grown under glasshouse conditions. This study further assessed the tolerance of the rhizobial isolates to different levels of temperature, drought, salinity, and pH in the laboratory and also measured the ability of the isolates to produce indole-3-acetic acid. An infrared gas analyser and the [15]N and [13]C natural abundance techniques were used to assess the photosynthetic activity, N2 fixation, and water-use efficiency, respectively. The results showed that the test isolates that induced greater photosynthetic rates from higher stomatal conductance also stimulated increased water loss via leaf transpiration in soybean plants. Isolates TUTGMGH9 and TUTGMGH19 elicited much higher shoot δ[13]C in the soybean host plant and induced higher shoot biomass, C accumulation, percent relative symbiotic effectiveness, and N2 fixation relative to Bradyrhizobium strain WB74 and 5 mM of nitrate, which were used as positive controls. Although isolate TUTGMGH9 did not grow at 40 °C, it showed growth at 5% of PEG-6000, NaCl, and a low pH while also producing moderate IAA. However, for better utilisation of these rhizobial isolates as bioinoculants, their growth performance needs to be assessed under field conditions to ascertain their competitiveness and symbiotic efficacy.},
}
@article {pmid40284649,
year = {2025},
author = {Valente, IL and Wancura, JHC and Zabot, GL and Mazutti, MA},
title = {Endophytic and Rhizospheric Microorganisms: An Alternative for Sustainable, Organic, and Regenerative Bioinput Formulations for Modern Agriculture.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284649},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {001//Coordena&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de N&#xed;vel Superior/ ; },
abstract = {Large amounts of chemical fertilizers are still used to suppress pathogens and boost agricultural productivity and food generation. However, their use can cause harmful environmental imbalance. Furthermore, plants typically absorb limited amounts of the nutrients provided by chemical fertilizers. Recent studies are recommending the use of microbiota present in the soil in different formulations, considering that several microorganisms are found in nature in association with plants in a symbiotic, antagonistic, or synergistic way. This ecological alternative is positive because no undesirable significant alterations occur in the environment while stimulating plant nutrition development and protection against damage caused by control pathogens. Therefore, this review presents a comprehensive discussion regarding endophytic and rhizospheric microorganisms and their interaction with plants, including signaling and bio-control processes concerning the plant's defense against pathogenic spread. A discussion is provided about the importance of these bioinputs as a microbial resource that promotes plant development and their sustainable protection methods aiming to increase resilience in the agricultural system. In modern agriculture, the manipulation of bioinputs through Rhizobium contributes to reducing the effects of greenhouse gases by managing nitrogen runoff and decreasing nitrous oxide. Additionally, mycorrhizal fungi extend their root systems, providing plants with greater access to water and nutrients.},
}
@article {pmid40284643,
year = {2025},
author = {Thwe, MN and Moné, Y and Sen, B and Czerski, S and Azad, A and Earl, JP and Hall, DC and Ehrlich, GD},
title = {Microspatial Heterogeneities and the Absence of Postmortem Contamination in Alzheimer's Disease Brain Microbiota: An Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI) Study.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284643},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {001//Dr. James Truchard/ ; 002//Bill and Marian Cook Foundation/ ; 003//Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease/ ; },
abstract = {The discovery of profound differences in the brain microbiota of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and age-matched controls (AMCs) raised questions of postmortem contamination and bacterial transport processes which could be informed by microspatial heterogeneities. We performed semiquantitative species-specific bacterial analyses on multiple micro biopsies from each of the 30 brain specimens (AD and controls). We trimmed ~1 mm of each specimen's edges for surface contaminants and made multiple sterile biopsy punches of the resultant core of each specimen. To identify species-specific abundances, we used our validated, semiquantitative, full-length 16S rRNA gene pan-domain amplification protocol followed by high-fidelity circular consensus sequencing performed on a Pacific Biosciences Sequel IIe instrument. Statistical analyses showed no significant increase in bacterial abundance on trimmed surfaces compared to core specimens, including C. acnes, the most abundant species previously identified in AD. We did find evidence of substantial bacterial species abundance differences among micro-biopsies obtained from within individual tissue blocks supporting our hypothesis of microspatial heterogeneities. The autopsy brain specimens used in our analyses in this study and our previous publication were not contaminated prior to or postharvesting but we suggest that future microbiological analyses of brain specimens include similar types of edge-core comparison analyses. Further, the species-level bacterial abundance heterogeneities among specimens of the same tissue suggest that multiple symbiotic processes may be occurring.},
}
@article {pmid40284585,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Hua, Y and Yi, Y and Liu, J and Fu, P},
title = {Coral-Associated Bacteria Provide Alternative Nitrogen Source for Symbiodiniaceae Growth in Oligotrophic Environment.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284585},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Coral reefs thrive in nutrients-poor waters, and their survival strategy in such oligotrophic marine environments remains largely unexplored. Current coral research has focused on the interplay between the animal hosts, symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, and associated bacteria, with little attention given to their individual interactions. Here, we integrated biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabonomic analyses of the clade D Symbiodiniaceae strain AG11 to investigate the growth-assisting mechanisms of symbiotic bacteria. Our findings indicate that metabolic trophallaxis between Symbiodiniaceae and symbiotic bacteria plays a crucial role in enhancing survival and population growth under nitrogen-depleted conditions, commonly found in typical coral habitats. Notably, the exchange of organic compounds between Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria significantly boosts nitrogen uptake in their free-living state. Furthermore, we demonstrated how beneficial bacteria influence the survival of Symbiodiniaceae in response to environmental changes, which are vital for coping with nitrogen-depleted conditions where coral reefs are particularly vulnerable.},
}
@article {pmid40284560,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, X and Niu, Q and Li, J and Zhou, Z and Wu, Y and Song, G and Liu, R},
title = {Anaerobic Digestion of High-Solid Chicken Manure (CM) at Different Temperature: Intestinal Microbiome Efficiency, Inhibition, and Microbial Community Evolution.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284560},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {51608304//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ZR2024MB158//Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2022YFC3700187//National High Technology Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Anaerobic digestion (AD) of high-solid mono-chicken manure (CM) holds great promise for resource utilization. However, the effects of substrate overload (high-solid mixture inside the reactor) on AD performance at various temperatures are still unclear, moreover, the metabolic processes with and without inoculation are also seldom reported. In this study, three key impact factors of different temperatures (4 °C, 35 °C, 55 °C and 75 °C), total solids (TS) inside, and inoculation were conducted to comprehensively explore the process variation. EEM-FRI results revealed that high temps boost coenzyme F420, while TS predominately driver the microbial production. High TS and temperature synthetically result in high free ammonia (FA) (>600 mg/L) associated with free volatile fatty acid (FVFA) (>450 mg/L), reducing CH4 production but increasing VFAs accumulation (12 g/L at 55 °C). Notably, intestinal microbiota alone without inoculation even achieved 11 g/L of VFA. The cross-feeding symbiosis between fermentative bacteria (Caldicoprobacter, Bacteroidetes, Tepidimicrobium) and hydrogenotrophic Methanobacterium enhanced CH4 production (68 mL/gVS at 35 °C). Moreover, high temperatures reduced microbial diversity but made heat-resistant hydrolytic bacteria dominant. This study precisely analyzes the effects of temperature and inoculation factors on the acidification efficiency of high-solid CM digestion, providing a crucial scientific basis for optimizing the resource utilization of CM waste.},
}
@article {pmid40284204,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, S and Lin, Z and Huang, Z and Yu, M and Lin, Z and Hu, Z},
title = {Unique Microbial Characterisation of Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients with Different Dietary Habits Based on Light Gradient Boosting Machine Learning Classifier.},
journal = {Nutrients},
volume = {17},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40284204},
issn = {2072-6643},
support = {82473698; 2019L3006 and 2020L3009; 23SCZZX004; 2021J01726 and 2021J01733//National Natural Science Foundation of China; the Central government-led local science and technology development special projec; the Fujian Provincial Financial Special Project; the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/microbiology ; *Esophageal Neoplasms/microbiology ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; *Machine Learning ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Feeding Behavior ; Aged ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Diet ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Boosting Machine Learning Algorithms ; },
abstract = {Objectives: The microbiome plays an important role in cancer, but the relationship between dietary habits and the microbiota in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is not clear. The aim of this study is to explore the complex relationship between the microbiota in oesophagal tissue and dietary habits in ESCC patients. Methods: 173 ESCC patients were included. The method of 16S rRNA sequencing was used to analyze microbial composition and diversity. The LEfSe and Boruta methods were used to screen important microbes, and the LightGBM algorithm distinguished microbes associated with different dietary habits. PICRUST2 and DESeq2 predicted microbial function and screened differential functions. The Pearson test was used to analyze correlations between microbes and functions, and SPARCC microbial symbiotic networks and Cytoscape were used to determine microbial interactions. Results: Significant differences in microbial composition were observed among ESCC patients with different dietary habits. LEfSe and Boruta identified three, six, and two significantly different bacteria in the FF/FP, FF/PF, and FF/PP groups, respectively, with AUC values of 0.683, 0.830, and 0.715. PICRUST2 and DESeq2 analysis revealed 3, 11, and 5 significantly different metabolic pathways in each group. Eubacterium_B sulci was positively correlated with PWY-6285, PWY-3801, and PWY-5823. PWY-6397 was positively correlated with undefinded (Fusobacterium_C). Microbial network analysis confirmed unique microbial characteristics in different diet groups. Conclusions: Different dietary habits lead to alterations in Eubacterium_B sulci and undefinded (Fusobacterium_C) and related functional pathways.},
}
@article {pmid40283508,
year = {2025},
author = {Boicean, A and Ichim, C and Sasu, SM and Todor, SB},
title = {Key Insights into Gut Alterations in Metabolic Syndrome.},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40283508},
issn = {2077-0383},
abstract = {Over time, extensive research has underscored the pivotal role of gut microbiota in the onset and progression of various diseases, with a particular focus on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a potential therapeutic approach. The practice of transferring fecal matter from a healthy donor to a patient provides valuable insights into how alterations in gut microbiota can impact disease development and how rectifying dysbiosis may offer therapeutic benefits. Re-establishing a balanced symbiotic relationship in the gastrointestinal tract has shown positive results in managing both intestinal and systemic conditions. Currently, one of the most pressing global health issues is metabolic syndrome-a cluster of conditions that includes insulin resistance, lipid imbalances, central obesity and hypertension. In this context, FMT has emerged as a promising strategy for addressing key components of metabolic syndrome, such as improving insulin sensitivity, body weight and lipid profiles. However, further well-structured studies are needed to refine treatment protocols and establish the long-term safety and efficacy of this intervention.},
}
@article {pmid40283107,
year = {2025},
author = {Mugivhisa, LL and Manganyi, MC},
title = {Green Catalysis: The Role of Medicinal Plants as Food Waste Decomposition Enhancers/Accelerators.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40283107},
issn = {2075-1729},
abstract = {The escalating global issue of food waste, valued at billions of USD annually and significantly impacting sustainability across social, economic, and environmental dimensions, necessitates innovative solutions to enhance waste management processes. Conventional decomposition techniques frequently encounter challenges related to inefficiencies and extended processing durations. This investigation examines the potential contributions of medicinal plants as green catalysts in the decomposition of food waste, utilizing their bioactive compounds to mitigate these obstacles. Medicinal plants facilitate the decomposition process through various mechanisms as follows: they secrete enzymes and metabolites that aid in the disintegration of organic matter, enhancing microbial activity and soil pH and structure. Furthermore, they foster nitrogen cycling and generate growth regulators that further optimize the efficiency of decomposition. The symbiotic associations between medicinal plants and microorganisms, including mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria, are also instrumental in enhancing nutrient cycling and improving rates of decomposition. The utilization of medicinal plants in food waste management not only accelerates the decomposition process but also underpins sustainable practices by converting waste into valuable compost, thereby enriching soil health and lessening dependence on chemical fertilizers. This methodology is congruent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and presents a plausible trajectory toward a circular economy and improved environmental sustainability.},
}
@article {pmid40282725,
year = {2025},
author = {Pei, Y and Zheng, Y and Yuen, M and Yuen, T and Yuen, H and Peng, Q},
title = {Preparation, Quality Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Kombucha Beverage at Different Fermentation Temperatures.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {40282725},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {No. GXPSMM24-2//Guangxi Key Laboratory for Polysaccharide Materials and Modifications/ ; No. 2023-Y-05//the Science and Technology Project of Xining/ ; No. 2023-Y-05//Northwest A&amp;F University College Students' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Programme/ ; },
abstract = {Sea buckthorn is a unique resource with high nutritional value. The objective of this study was to develop a novel kombucha beverage from sea buckthorn juice by means of inoculation with kombucha (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast, SCOBY). The study investigated and compared the differences in physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and sensory evaluation during fermentation at different temperatures with those of traditional cultured green tea kombucha. The findings demonstrated that there were significant variations in physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and sensory evaluation among the sea buckthorn kombuchas produced at different temperatures. Among these, the sea buckthorn kombucha produced by fermentation at 28 °C exhibited the strongest antioxidant properties and the most favorable sensory evaluation. Furthermore, changes in the active substances were observed at different temperatures, and correlation analysis revealed that the antioxidant activity of Kombucha tea was correlated with the content of total phenols and total flavonoids. Consequently, the utilization of sea buckthorn juice in the production of kombucha beverages holds considerable promise.},
}
@article {pmid40282266,
year = {2025},
author = {Palma Esposito, F and López-Mobilia, A and Tangherlini, M and Casella, V and Coppola, A and Varola, G and Vitale, L and Della Sala, G and Tedesco, P and Montano, S and Seveso, D and Galli, P and Coppola, D and de Pascale, D and Galasso, C},
title = {Novel Insights and Genomic Characterization of Coral-Associated Microorganisms from Maldives Displaying Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and UV-Protectant Activities.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40282266},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {20A02494//Ministero dell'Universit&#xe0; e della Ricerca (MUR, Roma)/ ; 101082304//European Union/ ; SBEP2023-61//European Union/ ; 101072475//European Union/ ; },
abstract = {Coral reef survival is crucial for the socio-ecological interest of many countries, particularly for the Republic of Maldives, whose reef integrity influences the country's livelihoods and economy. These ecosystems are being severely impacted by multiple stressors, leading to declines in biodiversity. In the last few decades, researchers have focused on studying coral-associated microorganisms (CAMs) and their symbiotic role in coral health and resilience. Metabarcoding analysis has been widely utilized to study CAM diversity under various conditions but provides limited information on their functional roles. Therefore, cultivation of bacterial strains remains indispensable for validating ecological and biotechnological hypotheses. In this study, we investigated the microbial community associated with two abundant corals in Maldives, Porites lobata and Acropora gemmifera, and evaluated the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and UV-protectant properties of 10 promising isolated strains. The selected CAMs, Pseudoalteromonas piscicida 39, Streptomyces parvus 79, Microbacterium sp. 92 (a potential novel species), and Micromonospora arenicola 93, exhibited antibiotic activity against a panel of pathogenic strains (MIC from 0.01 to 500 µg/mL), antioxidant (comparable effect to that of Trolox and ascorbic acid), and UV-screen activities (protection of human keratinocytes at 200 µg/mL). Genomes revealed their dual potential in contributing to coral restoration and drug discovery strategies. These findings highlight the biotechnological relevance of CAMs, representing an important step toward the identification of novel and bioactive bacterial species beneficial for coral reef ecosystems and human health.},
}
@article {pmid40282227,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Jia, X and Zhao, Y and Xie, Y and Meng, X and Wang, F},
title = {Diversity of nifH Gene in Culturable Rhizobia from Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) Grown in Cadmium-Contaminated Soils.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40282227},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {2024RS-CXTD-55//Innovation Capability Support Program of Shaanxi/ ; },
abstract = {(1) Background: Rhizobia can promote plant growth by providing essential nutrients such as NH4[+] and PO4[3-]; thus, rhizobia that can tolerate the stress of heavy metals will be conducive to the phytoremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils. Therefore, understanding the dominant heavy-metal-tolerant rhizobia that can be cultured is important for the establishment of an indigenous legume-rhizobia symbiotic remediation system; (2) Methods: Here, we investigated nifH gene diversity in culturable rhizobia from black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) grown in cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils using high-throughput sequencing.; (3) Results: A total of 16 genera and 26 species were identified from the cultures of root nodules of black locust exposed to five Cd levels. Cadmium did not show a significant effect on the abundance, diversity, and evenness of the culturable rhizobia community. However, Cd significantly affected the community structure of culturable rhizobia containing nifH. Mesorhizobium, Sinorhizobium, and Rhizobium were the absolute dominant genera present in the cultures under five Cd treatments. Additionally, Cd significantly affected the relative abundance of Azohydromonas, Xanthobacter, Skermanella, Bradyrhizobium, Paenibacillus, and Pseudacidovorax in the cultures. Soil pH, total Cd, DTPA-Cd, and C/H ratio were the significant factors on culturable rhizobia community.; (4) Conclusions: Cd showed a negative effect on nifH gene community of culturable rhizobia from black locust, which will provide insight into the selection of excellent strains that can promote phytoremediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils.},
}
@article {pmid40282206,
year = {2025},
author = {Hidri, R and Zorrig, W and Debez, A and Mahmoud, OM and Zamarreño, AM and García-Mina, JM and Nait Mohamed, S and Abdelly, C and Azcon, R and Aroca, R},
title = {Role of Rhizophagus intraradices in Mitigating Salt Stress of Sulla carnosa Through Modulating Plant Hormones (ABA, SA, and JA) and Nutrient Profile.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40282206},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {PID2023-151376NB-I00//Ministry of Science, Innovationa and Universities/ ; },
abstract = {Salt accumulation can degrade soil properties, decrease its productivity, and harm its ecological functions. Introducing salt-tolerant plant species associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can act as an effective biological method for restoring salinized soils. AMF colonize plant roots and improve their nutrient acquisition capacity. However, there is limited knowledge on how AMF affects the production of signaling molecules, e.g., abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA), related to plant-microbe interactions under salinity. Here, we assess the potential benefits of the AMF Rhizophagus intraradices in enhancing plant growth and nutrient uptake in addition to modulating stress hormone signaling levels (ABA, SA, and JA) of the facultative halophyte Sulla carnosa under saline conditions. Plants were grown in pots filled with soil and irrigated with 200 mM NaCl for 1 month. AMF symbiosis substantially increased the shoot dry weight (+107%), root dry weight (+67%), photosynthetic pigment content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids), and nutrient uptake (C, N, P, K, Cu, and Zn) while significantly limiting the increase in the shoot Na[+] concentration and H2O2 content caused by salinity stress. Mycorrhizal symbiosis significantly enhanced the root and shoot SA levels by 450% and 32%, respectively, compared to the stressed non-inoculated plants, potentially contributing to enhanced systemic resistance and osmotic adjustment under saline conditions. Salt stress increased the shoot ABA content, especially in R. intraradices-inoculated plants (113% higher than in stressed non-mycorrhizal plants). These findings confirm that AMF mitigated the adverse effects of salinity on S. carnosa by increasing the SA and ABA levels and reducing oxidative damage.},
}
@article {pmid40281400,
year = {2025},
author = {Binci, F and Cortese, E and Nouri, E and Capparotto, A and Guarneri, G and Settimi, AG and Dabalà, M and Antoni, V and Squartini, A and Giovannetti, M and Navazio, L},
title = {Plasma-activated water promotes and finely tunes arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {544},
pmid = {40281400},
issn = {1471-2229},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/drug effects ; *Lotus/microbiology/physiology/drug effects/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Water/pharmacology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Plasma Gases/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Plasma-activated water (PAW) is a recently developed cutting-edge technology that is increasingly gaining interest for its applications in medicine, food industry and agriculture. In plant biology, PAW has been shown to enhance seed germination, plant growth, and plant resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite increasing knowledge of the beneficial effects exerted by PAW on plants, little information is currently available about how this emerging technology may affect mutualistic plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere.<br><br>RESULTS: In this work we investigated the impact of irrigation with PAW, generated by a plasma torch, on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Roots of the model legume Lotus japonicus expressing the bioluminescent Ca[2+] reporter aequorin responded to treatment with PAW 5' (obtained by 5&#xa0;min water exposure to plasma) with the immediate induction of cytosolic and nuclear Ca[2+] signals, indicating that Ca[2+]-mediated signalling is one of the earliest cellular responses to PAW. The long-lasting elevations in intracellular Ca[2+] levels were not found to alter cell viability. Quantitative analyses of AM fungal accommodation in the host plant roots along with phosphate accumulation in leaves, as well as chemical analysis of N, C, S in shoots, showed that treatments with PAW play a modulatory role on plant AM symbiotic performance, in a manner dependent on the time interval of water exposure to the plasma and on the duration of plant treatment with PAW. In particular, irrigation with PAW 5' increased fungal colonization after 4 weeks, leading to a significant increase in leaf phosphate content after 7 weeks.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that PAW enhances AM symbiosis by facilitating early fungal accommodation in roots and subsequently increasing phosphate content in leaves at later stages. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of PAW on the plant microbiome may drive research towards a fine-tuning of this novel green technology to maximize its beneficial effects in the context of a more sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40280062,
year = {2025},
author = {Ai, D and Wu, T and Huang, D and Ying, Z and Zhang, J},
title = {Enhanced removal of carbamazepine by microalgal-fungal symbiotic systems in the presence of Mn(II): Synergistic mechanisms and microbial community dynamics.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {493},
number = {},
pages = {138342},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138342},
pmid = {40280062},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {*Carbamazepine/metabolism ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; *Manganese/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; *Fungi/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Microalgal-fungal symbiotic systems (MFSS) have emerged as a promising approach for wastewater treatment, yet the mechanisms driving reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and pharmaceutical pollutant removal remain underexplored. This study investigates the synergistic interactions within MFSS and their role in Mn(II) oxidation, with a focus on enhancing carbamazepine (CBZ) degradation and microbial community dynamics. The results reveal that microalgal-fungal interactions inhibit Fe-S cluster activity, disrupting electron transport chains and promoting extracellular superoxide production. This superoxide surge directly accelerates Mn(II) oxidation, while Mn(III) and ROS drive synergistic effects to amplify CBZ removal efficiency. Notably, system-specific variations in superoxide generation were observed across different MFSS configurations, determining their degradation performance. Water quality factors, such as microbial community complexity and nitrate concentration, play crucial roles in CBZ degradation in natural water systems. High-throughput sequencing reveals dynamic shifts in bacterial and eukaryotic communities, highlighting their synergistic interactions in pollutant degradation. Temporal and spatial changes in microbial community structure suggest that the system evolves into a more adaptive configuration during pollutant treatment, enhancing long-term stability. These findings advance the mechanistic understanding of ROS-mediated pollutant degradation in MFSS and provide actionable strategies for optimizing bioremediation systems in engineered and natural water environments.},
}
@article {pmid40280021,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, J},
title = {Inducing factors and coping strategies for insufficient enterprise motivation in University-Industry Collaboration (UIC).},
journal = {Acta psychologica},
volume = {256},
number = {},
pages = {105034},
doi = {10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105034},
pmid = {40280021},
issn = {1873-6297},
mesh = {Humans ; *Motivation ; Universities ; *Adaptation, Psychological ; *Cooperative Behavior ; *Industry ; Coping Skills ; },
abstract = {University-Industry Collaboration (UIC) represents a vital pathway for cultivating high-caliber talent. However, insufficient enterprise motivation in UIC persists as a fundamental challenge in practice, significantly impacting collaboration quality and effectiveness. While this issue demands attention, related research remains in preliminary stages. Through systematic literature review and empirical investigation of UIC practices, this study employs grounded theory to analyze the inducing factors, behavioral manifestations, behavioral effects, and coping strategies associated with insufficient enterprise motivation. The findings reveal a theoretical framework comprising four major categories (inducing factors, behavioral manifestations, behavioral effects, and coping strategies) and twelve initial categories. Insufficient enterprise motivation gradually emerges through the interplay of symbiotic subject factors (such as inadequate innovation capacity and strategic planning), symbiotic environmental factors (including policy and institutional environment and market competition), and symbiotic mechanism factors (such as benefit distribution and risk-sharing mechanisms). This motivational deficiency manifests in multiple dimensions, including inadequate strategic planning, declining participation enthusiasm, lack of emotional investment, and reduced resource allocation. The behavioral effects are both significant and complex, negatively influencing enterprises' willingness to participate and decision-making processes. Countermeasures can be approached from three dimensions: enhancing symbiotic subjects, optimizing symbiotic environments, and perfecting symbiotic mechanisms. This research not only enriches the theoretical framework in the UIC field but also provides theoretical support and practical guidance for stimulating enterprise participation and improving UIC effectiveness.},
}
@article {pmid40279725,
year = {2025},
author = {Etesami, H and Santoyo, G},
title = {Boosting Rhizobium-legume symbiosis: The role of nodule non-rhizobial bacteria in hormonal and nutritional regulation under stress.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {297},
number = {},
pages = {128192},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128192},
pmid = {40279725},
issn = {1618-0623},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology/metabolism/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Stress, Physiological ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Legumes are vital for sustainable agriculture due to their unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis with rhizobia. Recent research has highlighted the significant role of non-rhizobial bacteria (NRB) within root nodules in enhancing this symbiotic relationship, particularly under stress conditions. These NRB exhibit plant growth-promoting (PGP) metabolites by modulating phytohormones and enhancing nutrient availability, thereby improving nodule development and function. Bacteria produce essential hormones, such as auxin (indole-3-acetic acid), cytokinins, gibberellic acids abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid, and enzymes like 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, which mitigate ethylene's inhibitory effects on nodulation. Furthermore, NRB contribute to nutrient cycling by solubilizing minerals like phosphate, potassium, silicate, zinc, and iron, essential for effective nitrogen fixation. The co-inoculation of legumes with both rhizobia and NRB with multiple PGP metabolites has shown synergistic effects on plant growth, yield, and resilience against environmental stresses. This review emphasizes the need to further explore the diversity and functional roles of nodule-associated non-rhizobial endophytes, aiming to optimize legume productivity through improved nutrient and hormonal management. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural practices that enhance the efficiency of legume-rhizobia symbiosis, ultimately contributing to food security and ecosystem health.},
}
@article {pmid40278349,
year = {2025},
author = {Caradonna, E and Abate, F and Schiano, E and Paparella, F and Ferrara, F and Vanoli, E and Difruscolo, R and Goffredo, VM and Amato, B and Setacci, C and Setacci, F and Novellino, E},
title = {Trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO) as a Rising-Star Metabolite: Implications for Human Health.},
journal = {Metabolites},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40278349},
issn = {2218-1989},
abstract = {The intestinal microbiota, hosting trillions of microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, functions as a symbiotic organism that plays a crucial role in regulating health by producing biologically active molecules that can enter systemic circulation. Among them, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), an organic compound derived from dietary sources and microbial metabolism, has emerged as a critical biomarker linking diet, the gut microbiota, and the host metabolism to various pathological conditions. This comprehensive review highlights TMAO's biosynthesis, physiological functions, and clinical significance, focusing on its mechanistic contributions to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, TMAO-mediated pathways include endothelial dysfunction, inflammation via NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and cholesterol metabolism disruption, which collectively accelerate atherosclerosis and disease progression. Nonetheless, this work underscores the innovative potential of targeting TMAO through dietary, nutraceutical, and microbiota-modulating strategies to mitigate its pathological effects, marking a transformative approach in the prevention and management of TMAO-related disorders.},
}
@article {pmid40278261,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, H and Hou, J and Zhu, Y and Wu, B and Ren, J and Sun, Z and Liu, X},
title = {Comparative Analysis of Intestinal Microbiota Between Tetrodotoxin-Containing and Tetrodotoxin-Free Takifugu rubripes.},
journal = {Marine drugs},
volume = {23},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40278261},
issn = {1660-3397},
support = {6202034//the Beijing Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2023TD25//the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund CAFS/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Tetrodotoxin/metabolism/toxicity ; *Takifugu/microbiology/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent marine neurotoxin found in pufferfish, causing severe poisoning or death if consumed improperly. Studies have indicated that intestinal symbiotic microbiota are associated with the production and accumulation of TTX in pufferfish. However, the specific symbiotic microorganisms involved in these processes and their respective functions remain unclear. This study explored differences in intestinal microbiota related to the TTX content between toxic and non-toxic tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes. We found that the dominant phyla exhibiting significant abundance differences between the two groups were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota, with the core bacterial genera being Rikenella, Vibrio, Photobacterium, and Bacteroides. Moreover, the genera Marinimicrobium, Idomarina, Galbibacter, and Brumimicrobium were reported for the first time to be potentially associated with TTX bioaccumulation in T. rubripes. In addition, an integrated analysis with our previous study indicated that the "ABC transporters" pathway may play significant roles in the production and transport of TTX in both symbiotic microorganisms and T. rubripes. This study preliminarily investigated the intestinal symbiotic bacteria associated with the accumulation and metabolism of TTX in T. rubripes, as well as screening potential microbial biomarkers for assessing the safety of pufferfish.},
}
@article {pmid40278148,
year = {2025},
author = {Khoza, T and Masenya, A and Khanyile, N and Thosago, S},
title = {Alleviating Plant Density and Salinity Stress in Moringa oleifera Using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Review.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40278148},
issn = {2309-608X},
abstract = {Moringa oleifera (LAM) is a multipurpose tree species with extensive pharmacological and ethnomedicinal properties. Production of important medicinal plants is facing decline under changing climatic conditions, which brings along exacerbated abiotic stresses like salinity and intraspecific competition, particularly high planting densities. Increasing plant density is seen as a strategy to increase production; however, the intraspecific competition and a lack of arable land limit productivity. Salinity has been estimated to harm approximately six percent of the Earth's landmass. This leads to a loss of over 20% of agricultural output annually. These stressors can significantly curtail moringa's growth and yield potential. Literature designates that Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), ubiquitous soil microorganisms forming symbiotic associations with plant roots, offer a promising avenue for mitigating these stresses. This narrative review aims to investigate the utilization of AMF to alleviate the detrimental effects of salinity and high planting density on Moringa oleifera. The different adaptive strategies M. oleifera undergoes to mitigate both stressors are explored. The review found that AMF inoculation enhances plant tolerance to these stressors by improving nutrient acquisition, water relations, and activating stress response mechanisms. By facilitating improved nutrient and water absorption, AMF enhance root architecture, modulate ROS scavenging mechanisms, and promote optimal biomass allocation, ensuring better survival in high-density plantings. Furthermore, AMF-mediated stress alleviation is linked to enhanced physiological efficiency, including increased chlorophyll content, root-shoot biomass balance, and ion homeostasis. This review is important because it could provide insights into a sustainable, natural solution for improving the resilience of Moringa oleifera under adverse environmental conditions, with potential applications in global agriculture and food security. Future research should prioritize identifying and characterizing moringa-specific AMF species and evaluate the long-term efficacy, feasibility, and economic viability of AMF application in real-world moringa cultivation systems to fully harness the potential of AMF in moringa cultivation.},
}
@article {pmid40278136,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, Y and Wang, K and Wang, Z and Fang, X and Wang, H and Li, N and Shi, C and Shi, F},
title = {Microaggregates as Nutrient Reservoirs for Fungi Drive Natural Regeneration in Larch Plantation Forests.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40278136},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {No. 42407181//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 2024-30033//Langxiang National Nature Reserve/ ; },
abstract = {The natural regeneration of Larix gmelinii plantations plays a pivotal role in rehabilitating ecosystem services in Northeast China's degraded forests. However, mechanistic linkages between soil aggregate nutrient fluxes and fungal community assembly remain poorly constrained. Combining space-for-time substitution with particle-size fractionation and high-throughput sequencing, this study examined successional trajectories across regeneration in Langxiang National Nature Reserve to resolve nutrient-fungal interplay during long-term forest restructuring. The results demonstrated that microaggregates (<0.25 mm) functioned as nutrient protection reservoirs, exhibiting significantly higher total carbon (TC) and nitrogen (TN) contents and greater fungal diversity (p < 0.05). Both stand regeneration stage and aggregate size significantly influenced fungal community composition and structural organization (p < 0.05). Aggregate-mediated effects predominated in upper soil horizons, where fungal dominance progressively transitioned from Mortierellomycota to Ascomycota with increasing particle size. In contrast, lower soil layers exhibited regeneration-dependent dynamics: Basidiomycota abundance declined with L. gmelinii reduction, followed by partial recovery through mycorrhizal reestablishment in Pinus koraiensis broadleaf communities. Fungal co-occurrence networks displayed peak complexity during Juglans mandshurica germination (Node 50, Edge 345), with 64.6%positive correlations, indicating the critical period for functional synergy. Basidiomycota showed significant negative correlations with nutrients and major fungal phyla (R[2] = 0.89). This study confirms that natural vegetation regeneration reshapes belowground processes through litter inputs and mycorrhizal symbiosis, while microaggregate management enhances soil carbon sequestration. Near-natural plantation management should incorporate broadleaf species to preserve mycorrhizal diversity and amplify ecosystem services. These findings provide an essential soil ecological theoretical basis for sustainable plantation management in Northeast China.},
}
@article {pmid40278123,
year = {2025},
author = {Jamilano-Llames, LC and Dela Cruz, TEE},
title = {Comparative Antagonistic Activities of Endolichenic Fungi Isolated from the Fruticose Lichens Ramalina and Usnea.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40278123},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {DOST-NRCP Project No. E-261 - Project ELFHA: Biodiscovery of Endolichenic Fungi to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in Health and Agriculture by the National Research Council of the Phil-ippines (NRCP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)//National Research Council of the Philippines/ ; },
abstract = {Persistent fungal pathogens remain a threat to global food security as these pathogens continue to infect crops despite different mitigating strategies. Traditionally, synthetic fungicides are used to combat these threats, but their environmental and health impacts have spurred interest in a more sustainable, eco-friendly approach. Endolichenic fungi (ELF) are a relatively underexplored group of microorganisms found thriving inside the lichen thalli. They are seen as promising alternatives for developing sustainable plant disease management strategies. Hence, in this study, a total of forty ELF isolates from two fruticose lichen hosts-Ramalina and Usnea, were tested and compared for their antagonistic activities against three economically important filamentous fungal pathogens-Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Fusarium oxysporum. The results of the dual culture assay showed that all ELF isolates successfully reduced the growth of the three filamentous fungal pathogens with varying degrees, and with direct contact inhibition as the predominant trait among the endolichenic fungi. Comparing the antagonistic activities between the different endolichenic fungi from the two lichen hosts, ELF isolates from Ramalina generally demonstrated a higher percentage inhibition of growth of the test fungi as compared to ELF isolates from Usnea. This study underscores the importance of endolichenic fungi as an efficient biocontrol agent.},
}
@article {pmid40278067,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, C and Fan, J and Hu, D and Sun, H and Lu, G and Wang, Y and Yang, Y},
title = {The Three-Dimensional Structure of the Genome of the Dark Septate Endophyte Exophiala tremulae and Its Symbiosis Effect on Alpine Meadow Plant Growth.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40278067},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {U23A2043//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {The establishment of artificial grassland is a good pathway for resolving serious social and economic problems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Some beneficial indigenous microbes may be used to improve productivity in artificial grassland. The genome of the indigenous dark septate fungus, Exophiala tremulae CICC2537, was sequenced and assembled at the chromosome level using the PacBio sequencing platform, with the assistance of the Hi-C technique for scaffolding, and its 3D genome structures were investigated. The genome size of E. tremulae is 51.903848 Mb, and it contains eight chromosomes. A total of 12,277 protein-coding genes were predicted, and 11,932 genes (97.19%) were annotated. As for the distribution of exon and intron number and the distribution of gene GC and CDS GC, E. tremulae showed similar distribution patterns to the other investigated members of the genus Exophiala. The analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes showed that E. tremulae possesses the greatest number of enzymes with auxiliary activities and the lowest number of enzymes with carbohydrate-binding modules among the investigated fungi. The total number of candidate effector proteins was 3337, out of which cytoplasmic and apoplastic effector proteins made up 3100 and 163, respectively. The whole genome of E. tremulae contained 40 compartment As and 76 compartment Bs, and there was no significant difference in GC content in its compartment As and Bs. The whole genome of E. tremulae was predicted to contain 155 topologically associating domains (TADs), and their average length was 250,000 bp, but there were no significant differences in the numbers of genes and the GC content per bin localized within the boundaries and interiors of TADs. Comparative genome analysis showed that E. tremulae diverged from Exophiala mesophila about 34.1 (30.0-39.1) Myr ago, and from Exophiala calicioides about 85.6 (76.1-90.6) Myr ago. Compared with all the investigated fungi, the numbers of contraction and expansion gene families in the E. tremulae genome were 13 and 89, respectively, and the numbers of contraction and expansion genes were 14 and 670, respectively. Our work provides a basis for the use of the dark septate fungus in alpine artificial grassland and further research into its symbiosis mechanisms, which may improve the growth of plant species used in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.},
}
@article {pmid40277137,
year = {2025},
author = {Kim, JA and Choi, SS and Lim, JK and Kim, ES},
title = {Unlocking marine treasures: isolation and mining strategies of natural products from sponge-associated bacteria.},
journal = {Natural product reports},
volume = {42},
number = {7},
pages = {1195-1225},
doi = {10.1039/d5np00013k},
pmid = {40277137},
issn = {1460-4752},
mesh = {*Porifera/microbiology ; *Biological Products/isolation &amp; purification/chemistry ; Animals ; *Bacteria/chemistry/metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; },
abstract = {Covering: 2019 to early 2025Marine sponges form unique ecosystems through symbiosis with diverse microbial communities, producing natural products including bioactive compounds. This review comprehensively addresses the key steps in the discovery of natural products from sponge-associated microorganisms, encompassing microbial isolation and cultivation, compound identification, and characterisation. Various cultivation methods, such as floating filter cultivation, microcapsule-based cultivation, and in situ systems, are examined to highlight their applications and strategies for overcoming limitations of conventional approaches. Additionally, the integration of genome-based methodologies and compound screening is explored to enhance the discovery of novel bioactive substances and establish a sustainable platform for natural product research. This review provides insights into the latest trends in sponge-associated microbial research and offers practical perspectives for expanding the utilization of marine biological resources.},
}
@article {pmid40275784,
year = {2025},
author = {Yamagishi, D and Onuma, R and Matsunaga, S and Miyagishima, SY and Maruyama, S},
title = {Algal Symbiont Diversity and Host Fitness Variation in Amoebozoan Photosymbiosis.},
journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology},
volume = {72},
number = {3},
pages = {e70008},
pmid = {40275784},
issn = {1550-7408},
support = {JPMJCR20S6//Japan Science and Technology Agency/ ; JPMJSP2108//Japan Science and Technology Agency/ ; 22H02697//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 22H05668//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 23H04962//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 23K23960//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24H01462//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24KJ0740//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Amoebozoa/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Microalgae/physiology ; Photosynthesis ; },
abstract = {Photosymbioses, the symbiotic relationships between microalgae and non-photosynthetic eukaryotes, are sporadically found in many eukaryotic lineages. Only a few taxa, such as cnidarians and ciliates hosting algal endosymbionts, have been actively studied, which has hindered understanding the universal mechanisms of photosymbiosis establishment. In Amoebozoa, few species are reported as photosymbiotic, and how the photosymbioses are established is still unclear. To investigate the extent to which one of the photosymbiotic amoebae, Mayorella viridis, depends on their symbionts, the amoebae were treated with reagents known to induce the collapsing of photosymbioses in other species. We succeeded in removing algal symbionts from the hosts with 2-amino-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone. While the apo-symbiotic amoebae grew to the same extent as the symbiotic state when they fed on prey, their survival rates were lower than those of the symbiotic ones during starvation, suggesting that the impact of the photosymbiosis on fitness is condition-dependent. Furthermore, we showed that the photosymbiotic state was reversible by feeding two strains of the green alga Chlorella to the apo-symbiotic amoebae. The efficiencies of ingesting algal cells significantly differed between algal strains. These results suggest that the photosymbiotic relationship in the amoeba is facultative and that different algal strains have discrete symbiotic abilities to the amoeba.},
}
@article {pmid40275590,
year = {2025},
author = {Haghani Dogahe, M and Mahan, MA and Zhang, M and Bashiri Aliabadi, S and Rouhafza, A and Karimzadhagh, S and Feizkhah, A and Monsef, A and Habibi Roudkenar, M},
title = {Advancing Prosthetic Hand Capabilities Through Biomimicry and Neural Interfaces.},
journal = {Neurorehabilitation and neural repair},
volume = {39},
number = {6},
pages = {481-494},
doi = {10.1177/15459683251331593},
pmid = {40275590},
issn = {1552-6844},
mesh = {Humans ; *Hand/physiology ; *Brain-Computer Interfaces ; *Artificial Limbs ; *Prosthesis Design ; *Biomimetics/methods ; },
abstract = {Background and ObjectivesProsthetic hand development is undergoing a transformative phase, blending biomimicry and neural interface technologies to redefine functionality and sensory feedback. This article explores the symbiotic relationship between biomimetic design principles and neural interface technology (NIT) in advancing prosthetic hand capabilities.MethodsDrawing inspiration from biological systems, researchers aim to replicate the intricate movements and capabilities of the human hand through innovative prosthetic designs. Central to this endeavor is NIT, facilitating seamless communication between artificial devices and the human nervous system. Recent advances in fabrication methods have propelled brain-computer interfaces, enabling precise control of prosthetic hands by decoding neural activity.ResultsAnatomical complexities of the human hand underscore the importance of understanding biomechanics, neuroanatomy, and control mechanisms for crafting effective prosthetic solutions. Furthermore, achieving the goal of a fully functional cyborg hand necessitates a multidisciplinary approach and biomimetic design to replicate the body's inherent capabilities. By incorporating the expertise of clinicians, tissue engineers, bioengineers, electronic and data scientists, the next generation of the implantable devices is not only anatomically and biomechanically accurate but also offer intuitive control, sensory feedback, and proprioception, thereby pushing the boundaries of current prosthetic technology.ConclusionBy integrating machine learning algorithms, biomechatronic principles, and advanced surgical techniques, prosthetic hands can achieve real-time control while restoring tactile sensation and proprioception. This manuscript contributes novel approaches to prosthetic hand development, with potential implications for enhancing the functionality, durability, and safety of the prosthetic limb.},
}
@article {pmid40275300,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, X and Liang, Y and Ji, K and Feng, M and Du, X and Jiao, D and Wu, X and Zhong, C and Cong, H and Yang, G},
title = {Enhanced propionate and butyrate metabolism in cecal microbiota contributes to cold-stress adaptation in sheep.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {103},
pmid = {40275300},
issn = {2049-2618},
mesh = {Animals ; Sheep/microbiology ; *Cecum/microbiology/metabolism ; *Propionates/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Butyrates/metabolism ; *Cold-Shock Response ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; Bacteria/classification/metabolism/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Fermentation ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: During cold stress, gut microbes play crucial roles in orchestrating energy metabolism to enhance environmental adaptation. In sheep, hindgut microbes ferment carbohydrates to generate short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as an energy source. However, the mechanisms by which hindgut microbes and their metabolites interact with the host to facilitate adaptation to cold environments remain ambiguous. Herein, we simulated a winter environment (- 20 °C) and provided a rationed diet to compare the cold adaptation mechanisms between Hulunbuir and Hu sheep.<br><br>RESULTS: Our findings show that cold exposure enhances SCFA metabolism in the sheep cecum. In Hu sheep, acetate, butyrate, and total SCFA concentrations increased, whereas in Hulunbuir sheep, propionate and butyrate concentrations increased, with a notable increase in total SCFAs. Notably, butyrate concentration was higher in Hulunbuir sheep than in Hu sheep under cold stress. Following cold exposure, the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1&#x3b2; levels increased in both breeds. In addition, Hu sheep showed increased IL-10, whereas Hulunbuir sheep exhibited elevated secretory IgA levels. The cecal microbiota responded differently, Hu sheep showed no notable changes in alpha and beta diversity, whereas Hulunbuir sheep exhibited considerable alterations. In Hu sheep, the abundance of fungi, specifically Blastocystis sp. subtype 4, decreased, and that of several Lachnospiraceae species (Roseburia hominis, Faecalicatena contorta, and Ruminococcus gnavus) involved in SCFA metabolism increased. Pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism, such as starch and sucrose metabolism, galactose metabolism, and pentose and glucuronate interconversions, were upregulated. In Hulunbuir sheep, the abundance of Treponema bryantii, Roseburia sp. 499, and Prevotella copri increased, with upregulation in pathways related to amino acid metabolism and energy metabolism. Cold exposure increased node connectivity within the symbiotic networks of both breeds, with increased network vulnerability in Hu sheep. Following cold exposure, the microbial community of Hulunbuir sheep showed a decrease in the influence of stochastic processes on community assembly, with a corresponding increase in the role of environmental selection. Conversely, no such shift was evident in Hu sheep. Further transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct regulatory mechanisms between breeds. In Hu sheep, protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and thermogenesis pathways were substantially upregulated. By contrast, Hulunbuir sheep showed considerable upregulation of immune pathways and energy conservation through reduced ribosome synthesis. Correlation analysis indicated that butyrate holds a central position in both networks, with Hulunbuir sheep exhibiting a more complex and tightly regulated network involving SCFAs, microbiota, microbial functions, and transcriptomes. Partial least squares path modeling revealed that cold exposure substantially altered the cecal microbiota and transcriptomes of Hulunbuir sheep, affecting SCFAs and cytokines.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that under cold exposure, Hu sheep enhance acetate fermentation and rely on tissue thermogenesis for adaptation. By contrast, Hulunbuir sheep exhibit changes in microbial diversity and function, leading to increased propionate and butyrate metabolism. This may promote physiological energy conservation and innate immune defense, balancing heat loss and enhancing cold adaptation.},
}
@article {pmid40275151,
year = {2025},
author = {Agyekum, DVA and Dastogeer, KMG and Okazaki, S},
title = {Deciphering the rhizosphere microbiota composition of nature farming soybean (Glycine max L.) with different nodulation phenotypes.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {520},
pmid = {40275151},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {23KK0108//JSPS Kakenhi/ ; JPNP18016//New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization/ ; },
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Agriculture/methods ; *Glycine max/genetics/microbiology/physiology ; *Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Organic Agriculture ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Biodiversity ; Fumigation/methods ; Genetic Variation ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nature farming, a sustainable agricultural method which avoids agrochemicals and untreated organic amendments, promotes both agricultural productivity and ecological conservation. This system may foster unique plant-microbiota interactions for growth and fitness; however, the microbiota of nature-farmed plants remains largely unexplored. Second, root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is crucial for nitrogen fixation in legumes; however, its broader impact on rhizosphere microbiota assembly is not well understood. This study examined the dynamics between impaired nodule symbiosis, soil management, and the rhizosphere microbiota composition and growth of soybean (Glycine max L.).<br><br>RESULTS: We evaluated the growth and characterized the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities of soybean by comparing wildtype soybeans (Enrei) with the non-nodulating mutants (En1282) across four soils under conventional and nature farming, including fumigated and unfumigated conditions. We found that the non-nodulating soybean mutants (En1282) exhibited reduced growth compared with wild-type (Enrei) plants, especially in untreated soils. Soil fumigation decreased microbial diversity and reshaped rhizosphere community composition with a significant reduction in plant growth and nodulation in all soils. Restriction in RNS increased bacterial diversity in untreated soils, possibly as a compensatory mechanism for nitrogen acquisition, whereas fungal diversity remained relatively stable. Nature farming promoted beneficial microbes like Rhizobium, Trichoderma, and Chloridium, whereas conventional soil plants favored Bacillus and Aspergillus. Notably, differential enrichment analysis identified distinct associations for each nodulation phenotype, with Enrei predominantly enriched for Pseudomonas, and En1282 associated primarily with oligotrophic microbes.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our study sheds light on the complex interplay between legume symbiosis and rhizosphere microbiota assembly and highlights the significance of eco-friendly farming methods like nature farming in cultivating a healthy rhizosphere for plant growth. The results paves way for future strategies to manipulate rhizosphere microbiota, ultimately promoting robust and sustainable farming systems that reduce reliance on chemical inputs.},
}
@article {pmid40275142,
year = {2025},
author = {Hamed, DA},
title = {Utilization of gamma irradiated emulsified frying oil wastes as a carbon source for sustainable and economical production of bacterial cellulose membrane.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {242},
pmid = {40275142},
issn = {1471-2180},
mesh = {*Cellulose/biosynthesis/metabolism ; *Gamma Rays ; *Carbon/metabolism ; *Industrial Waste/analysis ; Emulsions/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Oils/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a nanofibrils macromolecule that possesses unique properties and versatile applications in various fields. For commercial production, agro-industrial wastes were used as sustainable and cost effective alternative sources. Annually, a great amount of frying oil wastes are produced worldwide and disposed illegally resulting in huge environmental disasters. In this regard, the study aimed to investigate the effect of different concentration and increasing doses of gamma irradiation on the potential utilization of emulsified FOW as carbon source for BC production. In addition to tracking the behavior of SCOBY and BCM formation process in the presence of FOW.<br><br>METHODOLOGY: The effect of different factors including; concentrations of FOW, incubation period emulsification ratios and gamma irradiation on BC production were investigated and estimated gravimetrically. In addition, the manner of the cellulose membrane formation was closely tracked and was documented by photos.<br><br>RESULTS: The data proved that the symbiotic culture (SCOBY), has the ability to utilize frying oil wastes as a sole carbon source. Addition of 1% FOW resulted in (12.1%) increasing the BCM dry weight (2.81 to 3.15 gL- 1 in SWM, while the addition of 1% of the emulsified oil (FOW/E) recording (32.6%) increase in BC dry weight compared with control (5.33 and 4.02 gL- 1, respectively). Further increase in FOW/E concentration (> 2-5%) resulted in a significant gradual decreases (39%) in BC dry weight (from 5.33 to 3.25 gL- 1). Whereas, increasing the incubation period (21- days) resulted in a significant increase in BCM dry weight from 3.79 to 5.32 gL- 1 (40.4%). The effect of gamma irradiation (0-50 kGy) of FOW/E showed an increase in BCM dry weight (2.5%) at dose 10 kGy, while recorded (34.1%) increase compared with control (without FOW). The critical moments of SCOBY while struggling for surviving to gain the oxygen and nutrients required for BC biosynthesis in the presence of FOW have been documented photographically.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The present study positively contributes to the field of BC biosynthesis, where the FOW was added to the other agro-industrial wastes as a source of carbon for BC production, in addition to its potential application in the future in bioremediation for controlling environmental pollution.},
}
@article {pmid40274934,
year = {2025},
author = {Goñi, I and Monnet, C and De Baets, K and Topper, TP and Régnier, S and Schröer, L and Cnudde, V and Jell, PA and Clausen, S},
title = {Symbiotic interactions on middle Cambrian echinoderms reveal the oldest parasitism on deuterostomes.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {14257},
pmid = {40274934},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {VR- 2021-04295//Vetenskrapr&#xe5;det/ ; 42072003//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 101005611//European Union's Horizon 2020/ ; 101005611//European Union's Horizon 2020/ ; BOF.COR.2022.0009//The Ghent University Special Research Fund/ ; BOF.COR.2022.0009//The Ghent University Special Research Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Fossils ; *Echinodermata/physiology/parasitology/anatomy &amp; histology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Australia ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Biotic interactions are considered as major drivers of evolutionary changes, but their identification in the fossil record is extremely rare and controversial. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses, we report evidence of a biotic interaction between an echinoderm host and its symbiont, probably a parasitic epibiont, from the Cambrian Wuliuan Stage of Australia. The echinoderm plates bear external outgrowths with a median pit at their distal end. These unusual structures have not been previously documented from Cambrian echinoderms and their lack of consistency across various morphological parameters, supports the interpretation that a biotic interaction generated these unique structures. Perturbations in plate microstructure and the overproduction of skeletal material in specific regions, together with reduced size, negatively impact the host's growth suggesting a parasitic interaction. This reaction by the echinoderm host may represent the progressive embedment of the invasive epibiont. This record represents the oldest evidence of parasitism among deuterostomes.},
}
@article {pmid40274194,
year = {2025},
author = {Xiao, J and Liu, W and Wu, B and Zhang, Y and Li, S and Li, E},
title = {Root hair: An important guest-meeting avenue for rhizobia in legume-Rhizobium symbiosis.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {356},
number = {},
pages = {112518},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112518},
pmid = {40274194},
issn = {1873-2259},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; },
abstract = {Root hairs anchor the plant in the soil, facilitating nutrient assimilation, water absorption, and interaction of plants with their environment. In legumes, they play a key role in the early infection of rhizobia. This review aimed to summarize the recent progress about the nodulation factor receptors on the root hair surface. It also discussed the importance of downstream signaling pathways of nodulation factor receptors and highlighted Rho of plants signaling pathway that controls infection thread polar growth and nodulation.},
}
@article {pmid40273425,
year = {2025},
author = {Bonacolta, AM and Weiler, BA and Grimes, CJ and Trznadel, M and Vermeij, MJA and Keeling, PJ and Del Campo, J},
title = {Fireworms are a reservoir and potential vector for coral-infecting apicomplexans.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40273425},
issn = {1751-7370},
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/parasitology ; Coral Reefs ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Corals (Cnidaria; Anthozoa) play critical roles as habitat-forming species with a wide range, from warm shallow-water tropical coral reefs to cold-water ecosystems. They also represent a complex ecosystem as intricate holobionts made up of microbes from all domains of the Tree of Life that can play significant roles in host health and fitness. The corallicolids are a clade of apicomplexans that infect a wide variety of anthozoans worldwide and can influence the thermal tolerance of habitat-forming corals. Despite their potentially important impacts on reef ecosystems, much of the basic biology and ecology of corallicolids remains unclear. Apicomplexans often have a closed life cycle, with minimal environmental exposure and sometimes multiple hosts. Corallicolids have only been documented in anthozoan hosts, with no known secondary/reservoir hosts or vectors. Here, we show that abundant corallicolid sequences are recovered from bearded fireworms (Hermodice carunculata) in tropical reef habitats off Curaçao and that they are distinct from corallicolids infecting the corals on which the fireworms were feeding at the time of their collection. These data are consistent with a fireworm-specific corallicolid infection, not merely a byproduct of the worms feeding on infected corals. Furthermore, we suggest that H. carunculata is potentially a vector moving corallicolids among coral hosts through its feces. These findings not only expand our understanding of the ecological interactions within coral reef ecosystems but also highlight the potential role of host-associated parasites in shaping the resilience of reef habitats.},
}
@article {pmid40273297,
year = {2025},
author = {Tardent, N and Schlegel, T and Jokela, J and Hartikainen, H},
title = {Positive and negative frequency-dependent parasitism in naturally co-occurring diploid sexual and polyploid asexual Lumbriculus variegatus.},
journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology},
volume = {38},
number = {6},
pages = {769-777},
doi = {10.1093/jeb/voaf046},
pmid = {40273297},
issn = {1420-9101},
support = {#310030_207589 to JJ and #310031_185323/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Polyploidy ; *Diploidy ; Reproduction, Asexual ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Oligochaeta/parasitology/genetics ; },
abstract = {Polyploidization is an important evolutionary force. It drives sympatric speciation through reproductive isolation of different cytotypes, and often leads to loss of sexual reproduction in polyploid lineages. Polyploidization and asexuality can change how other species engage in ecological interactions with the polyploid lineage and may change coevolutionary dynamics. Here, we quantified the phenotypic divergence in the freshwater oligochaete worm Lumbriculus variegatus, the California blackworm, among its co-occurring sexual diploid (Lineage II) and asexual polyploid (Lineage I) lineages. We further investigated variation in parasite communities and infection prevalence among sympatric and allopatric diploid/polyploid populations. 10 out of 18 populations showed co-existence of both lineages, with 7 populations harbouring only the polyploid lineage. Both worm lineages hosted endoparasitic nematodes, an ectoparasitic rotifer, and one potentially symbiotic gut ciliate. The parasite community similarity and overlapping size range of diploid and polyploid worms points to the ecological similarity of the worm lineages, despite the substantial ploidy and reproductive strategy differentiation. Although parasite prevalence varied independently of worm lineage, the prevalence was associated with the frequency of local cytotypes. Specifically, the rotifer prevalence was highest on the rare local cytotype, and nematode prevalence was highest on the common local cytotype. These results suggest the presence of both positive and negative frequency-dependent parasitism, which may contribute to the co-existence in the L. variegatus species complex.},
}
@article {pmid40272864,
year = {2025},
author = {Brejon Lamartinière, E and Tremble, K and Dentinger, BTM and Dasmahapatra, KK and Hoffman, JI},
title = {A haplotype-resolved chromosomal reference genome for the porcini mushroom Boletus edulis.},
journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)},
volume = {15},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40272864},
issn = {2160-1836},
support = {680350//German Research Foundation (DFG)/ ; DEB-2114785//National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences (NSF-DEB)/ ; //the DFG/ ; //the Open Access Publication Fund of Bielefeld University/ ; },
mesh = {*Genome, Fungal ; *Haplotypes ; *Chromosomes, Fungal/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Basidiomycota/genetics ; Genomics/methods ; *Agaricales/genetics ; },
abstract = {Haplotype-resolved chromosomal reference genomes are increasingly available for many fungi, offering insights into the evolution of pathogenic and symbiotic lifestyles. However, these resources remain scarce for ectomycorrhizal fungi, which play crucial roles in forest ecosystems. Here, we used a combination of chromatin conformation capture and PacBio sequencing to construct a haplotype-resolved chromosomal genome assembly for Boletus edulis, a prized edible fungus and emerging model for ectomycorrhizal fungal research. Our new reference assembly, "BolEdBiel_h2," derives from a B. edulis sporocarp sampled in Bielefeld, Germany. The genome assembly spans 41.8 Mb, with a scaffold N50 of 4.1 Mb, and includes 11 chromosome-level scaffolds, achieving near telomere-to-telomere coverage across multiple chromosomes. We annotated a total of 15,406 genes, with a Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs score of 96.2%. Key genomic features such as mating loci, carbohydrate-active enzymes, and effector proteins, were identified. As a first application of this new genomic resource, we mapped whole-genome resequencing data from 53 genets to investigate the population structure and genetic diversity of the European lineage of B. edulis. We identified 2 distinct genetic clusters and found that high-latitude populations from Iceland and Fennoscandia exhibited greater nucleotide diversity than populations from the United Kingdom and Central Europe. Additionally, we discovered a 0.4-Mb inversion on chromosome 3 and identified several regions of locally elevated nucleotide diversity, which may represent candidates for ecological adaptation. This genomic resource will facilitate a deeper understanding of this ecologically and commercially important wild fungus.},
}
@article {pmid40270818,
year = {2025},
author = {Cambronero-Heinrichs, JC and Biedermann, PHW and Besana, L and Battisti, A and Rassati, D},
title = {Bacterial communities associated with ambrosia beetles: current knowledge and existing gaps.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1569105},
pmid = {40270818},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) are wood-boring insects studied as examples of fungus-insect symbiosis and for their success as invasive species. While most research on their microbiota has focused on fungal associates, their bacterial communities remain largely understudied. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge on the bacterial microbiota of ambrosia beetles, identify critical gaps in the field, and provide recommendations for future research. To date, eight metabarcoding studies have explored bacterial communities in ambrosia beetles, analyzing a total of 13 species, mostly within the tribe Xyleborini (Scolytinae). These studies have examined the presence of bacteria in ambrosia beetle mycetangia, organs specialized for transporting fungal symbionts, as well as bacterial diversity in fungal gardens and whole beetles, across different life stages, and under varying environmental conditions. In general, bacterial communities appear to be highly specific to the beetle species, and differ between the beetles and their fungal gardens. Most studies employed 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, and the optimal primer combination for characterizing bacterial communities in environmental samples is 515F/806RB (V4). Various methods for collecting beetles have been used, such as ethanol-baited traps, direct collection from galleries, logs kept in emergence cages, and rearing, but which of them to select when planning a study depends on the specific aim. A significant knowledge gap remains regarding the functional roles of dominant bacterial taxa, as metabarcoding studies often assume that these roles are similar to those played in other beetle species, such as bark beetles. More studies should be conducted to test hypotheses regarding the various factors influencing microbial composition and function, and advanced molecular techniques, including (meta-) genome and transcriptome sequencing, which have been employed in only a limited number of studies, could offer great potential to help bridging this knowledge gap.},
}
@article {pmid40270808,
year = {2025},
author = {Takahashi, H and Xu, N and Kanayama, Y and Tabara, M and Takeda, A and Fukuhara, T and Miyashita, S},
title = {Latent infection of Vigna unguiculata with seed-borne bean common mosaic virus modulates plant growth and may contribute to mutualistic symbiosis between the virus and host plant.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1524787},
pmid = {40270808},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {In evaluating the germination and growth of the seed resources of 322 cultivars of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), we found the development of yellow symptoms on ~50% of the cotyledons of 10 cultivars. RNA-Seq analysis of total RNA extracted from symptomatic cotyledons indicated that the 10 cultivars were infected with the bean common mosaic virus (Potyvirus phaseovulgaris, BCMV), which is a member of the family Potyviridae and able to seed-transmit to progeny plants. One of the BCMV isolates identified in the 10 cultivars was BCMV(Vu06), which was infected with cultivar #6. During the growth of BCMV(Vu06)-infected cowpea plants, there were no systemic symptoms in newly developing leaves, but the virus coat protein was detected in both leaves and flowers. Thus, the cowpea cultivar #6 plant was latently infected with BCMV(Vu06). There was no significant difference in the dry matter weight of the above-ground parts of the plant between BCMV(Vu06)-latently infected and non-infected plants. However, BCMV(Vu06)-latently infected plants had late flower and bud formation and longer life but slightly lower seed yield than the non-infected plants. The 1,000-seed weight and germination frequency of the seeds harvested from infected plants were the same as those of non-infected plants. Taken together, latent infection of cultivar #6 with BCMV(Vu6) modulates the balance between vegetative and reproductive plant growth and the longer lifespan of BCMV(Vu06)-latently infected plants may provide an advantage for its survivability over generations. BCMV(Vu06) and cowpea cultivar #6 might have established a mutual symbiotic relationship during their interaction.},
}
@article {pmid40270064,
year = {2025},
author = {Basu, A and Chalasani, D and Sarma, PVSRN and Uikey, S and Chenna, VR and Choudhari, PL and Podile, AR},
title = {Influence of genotype, nodule position, and edaphic factors on microbial diversity and assembly of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) root nodules in Indian soils.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {41},
pmid = {40270064},
issn = {2524-6372},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an important legume crop in semi-arid regions with multiple uses. The microbial diversity within its root nodules in Indian soils remains poorly explored. We investigated the bacterial diversity of pigeonpea root nodules across different genotypes and soil types to identify the factors driving their assembly. Using a metagenomic approach and high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we analyzed the nodule microbiomes of three pigeonpea genotypes (Asha, Durga, and Mannem Konda Kandi) grown in three different soil types (Alfisol, Vertisol, and Inceptisol) and wild pigeonpea (C. scarabaeoides) in its native soil.<br><br>RESULTS: Our results indicated that pigeonpea nodules harbor diverse rhizobial and non-rhizobial endophytes and that host genotype, nodule position, soil type, and other edaphic factors influence significant variation in the microbial community structure. The core nodule microbiome was dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Bradyrhizobium and Ensifer were predominant among the rhizobial taxa, and non-rhizobial genera such as Pseudomonas, Chitinophaga, and Limnobacter were also abundant. Edaphic factors, particularly soil type, pH, and nutrient availability, had a stronger influence on the nodule bacterial community composition than the host genotype. Although bulk soil exhibited higher bacterial diversity, nodule microbiomes were less diverse but more specialized, indicating host-mediated selection. A comparison of the nodule microbiomes of wild and cultivated pigeonpea revealed distinct differences, with the core nodule microbiome of wild pigeonpea dominated by Bradyrhizobium, while that of cultivated pigeonpea exhibited a diverse bacterial community.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that soil properties play a more critical role than host genetics in shaping the pigeonpea nodule microbiome, emphasizing the importance of environmental conditions in symbiotic interactions. The differences between wild and cultivated genotypes suggest that domestication has altered microbial recruitment strategies. This study provides foundational insights into the factors driving microbial assembly in pigeonpea nodules, with implications for improving crop productivity through targeted microbial management. Future research should explore the functional roles of these microbial communities to optimize their use in sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40269580,
year = {2025},
author = {Ahrar, M and Glenn, L and Held, M and Jackson, A and Kus, K and Hurst, GDD and Chrostek, E},
title = {Development of Antisense Tools to Study Bodo saltans and Its Intracellular Symbiont.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {e70018},
pmid = {40269580},
issn = {2045-8827},
support = {//This study was funded by Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation's Symbiosis in Aquatic Systems Initiative, Grant ID: #9357 (10.37807/GBMF9357), awarded to G.H., E.C., and A.J./ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; Animals ; *Kinetoplastida/microbiology/genetics/physiology ; *RNA, Antisense/genetics ; },
abstract = {Obligate symbioses are common in nature and present a particular challenge for functional genetic analysis. In many cases, the host is a non-model species with poor tools for genetic manipulation, and the symbiont cannot be cultured or its gene expression manipulated to investigate function. Here, we investigated the potential for using antisense inhibition to analyze host and symbiont gene function within an obligate aquatic symbiosis. We focused on the kinetoplastid host Bodo saltans and its bacterial symbiont, Candidatus Bodocaedibacter vickermanii, a member of Rickettsiales. We conclude that antisense inhibition is not feasible in the Bodo saltans and its symbiont, as the holobiont feeds on the antisense molecules-and increases in numbers-upon treatment with the antisense construct. Although our approach has proven unsuccessful, we have developed an array of protocols that can be used to study the biology of this microeukaryote and its microbial associates.},
}
@article {pmid40269010,
year = {2025},
author = {Heidari Latibari, M and Carolina Arias-Penna, D and Ghafouri Moghaddam, M and Butcher, BA},
title = {Bacterial symbiont as game changers for Aphis craccivora Koch's fitness and survival across distinct climate types.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {14208},
pmid = {40269010},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {BCG_FF_68_178_2300_039//Thailand Science Research and Innovation/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Aphids/microbiology/physiology ; Animals ; Climate ; Serratia/physiology ; Buchnera/physiology ; Medicago sativa/parasitology ; Enterobacteriaceae/physiology ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria play a crucial role in the survival, development, and adaptation of aphids to environmental conditions. Buchnera aphidicola (Enterobacterales: Erwiniaceae), the obligate endosymbiont of aphids, is essential for their fitness, while facultative symbionts may provide additional ecological advantages under specific conditions. A comprehensive understanding of how these symbiotic relationships respond to different climatic environments is essential for assessing aphid adaptability and potential implications for biological control. The present study investigates the vital interactions between the obligate bacterial endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, and four facultative bacterial endosymbionts (Arsenophonus sp., Hamiltonella defensa, Serratia symbiotica, and Regiella insecticola), in black cowpea aphid (BCA), in the context of different climate conditions. The BCA specimens were obtained from the leaves of the host plant, alfalfa, cultivated in three distinct climates: cold semi-arid, hot desert, and humid subtropical climates. The findings, as anticipated, indicated a pervasive prevalence of B. aphidicola in BCAs infesting alfalfa crops across all three climate types. In contrast, the BCAs of each climate type exhibited a distinct array of facultative symbionts. The highest number of facultative endosymbionts was exhibited by BCAs from the humid subtropical climate, followed by BCAs from the cold semi-arid climate, whereas none of them were detected in BCAs from the hot desert climate. Rigiella insecticola was not detected molecularly in any of the BCAs from the three climates. Following the eradication of the obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola by the antibiotic rifampicin in BCAs, the effects on three categories of parameters were assessed, including life cycle stages, reproductive traits, and external morphological characteristics of adults. The most significant adverse effects were observed in BCAs inhabiting hot desert followed by those inhabiting cold semi-arid climate; detrimental effects in BCAs of the humid subtropical climate were considerably less pronounced. The observed discrepancies in the parameters of BCAs from the humid subtropical climate can be attributed to the presence of a greater number of facultative symbionts, especially the presence of Serratia symbiotica (Enterobacterales: Yersiniaceae). Following the eradication of B. aphidicola, this facultative symbiont continues to complement the functions of B. aphidicola in the host's survival. Conversely, the low presence of facultative symbionts in cold semi-arid climate or even their absence in hot desert climate exacerbates the negative effects of obligate symbiont eradication. These findings highlight the crucial role of symbionts in aphid biology across a spectrum of climatic conditions, and suggest that shifts in symbiotic relationships may modulate aphid fitness, which could have implications for biological control programs.},
}
@article {pmid40268344,
year = {2025},
author = {Förster, F and Sauzéat, L and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Reynaud, S and Sheldrake, TE},
title = {Redox-sensitive δ65Cu isotopic fractionation in the tissue of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata: a biomarker of holobiont photophysiology following volcanic ash exposure.},
journal = {Metallomics : integrated biometal science},
volume = {17},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40268344},
issn = {1756-591X},
support = {PCEFP2_194204/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/metabolism/chemistry/physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; *Volcanic Eruptions ; Biomarkers/metabolism/analysis ; Photosynthesis ; *Copper/metabolism/analysis ; Isotopes/analysis ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Volcanic ash is a significant source of micronutrients including iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in oligotrophic tropical waters. These bioactive metals enhance primary productivity, influencing local and global biogeochemical cycles. This study explores how volcanic ash exposure affects trace metal uptake and photophysiological response, and how redox-sensitive metal stable isotope measurements in the tissues of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata can provide crucial information on coral health. Controlled coral culture experiments were conducted in which coral nubbins were exposed to varying intensity and duration of volcanic ash. Throughout the experiment, coral symbionts showed enhanced photosynthetic performance irrespective of intensity or duration of ash exposure. Stable isotopes, such as δ65Cu and δ56Fe, in the coral tissue are marked by systematic variations, not associated with intensity or duration of ash exposure. Instead, we suggest biologically modulated redox-sensitive fractionation associated with ash exposure, linked to the coral host's oxidative stress state. This is evidenced by significant correlations between δ65Cu in coral hosts and photophysiology, with lighter Cu isotope ratios associated with higher photosynthetic performances. Hence, we propose that δ65Cu, and more generally redox-sensitive isotopic ratios (i.e. δ56Fe), in coral hosts serves as an indicator of the physiological state of symbiotic corals.},
}
@article {pmid40267814,
year = {2025},
author = {Feng, L and Zhang, K and Liu, Z and Liu, C and Kang, J},
title = {Study on wastewater treatment characteristics and microbial ecosystem of bacteria-algae symbiosis coupling under carbon neutralization background.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {383},
number = {},
pages = {125331},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125331},
pmid = {40267814},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Wastewater ; Microalgae ; Carbon ; Symbiosis ; Bacteria ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Water Purification ; Phosphorus ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {At present, environmental pollution is becoming more and more serious, the sustainable development of human society is facing severe challenges. As a crucial nexus for pollutant discharge and greenhouse gas emissions, the establishment of carbon-neutral wastewater treatment processes in wastewater treatment plants, aiming to achieve coordinated development of pollution reduction and carbon mitigation, constitutes a pivotal pathway for environmental governance in the new era. The bacteria-algae symbiotic culture system, based on microalgae biological treatment technology, integrates wastewater treatment, carbon fixation, and biomass energy recovery. It represents a green, low-carbon, economical, and sustainable integrated sewage treatment technology, aligning with the requirements of carbon neutrality. This study constructed an algae-assisted sequencing batch photobioreactor (A-SBPBR) and individual microalgal systems to compare the degradation efficiencies of soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), ammonia nitrogen (AN), and total phosphorus (TP) in high-strength food waste anaerobic digestion effluent (ADE), with high-throughput sequencing conducted to analyze bacterial community dynamics and microbial ecological shifts, coupled with carbon accounting model integration to quantify system-specific carbon emission reduction capacities. Experimental results demonstrated that the bacteria-algae symbiotic system achieved removal efficiencies of 58.89 %, 91.94 %, and 78.89 % for sCOD, AN, and TP, respectively, when treating ADE. Notably, the sCOD degradation rate was approximately 8 % higher than that of the pure algal system. At the phylum level, the bacterial community structure within the symbiotic system exhibited greater diversity and balanced phylum distribution. At the class level, the relative abundances of Gammaproteobacteria, Anaerolineae, and Microgenomatia increased by 5-12 %, 11-14 %, and 2-6 %, respectively, compared to the pure algal system. Carbon footprint analysis revealed that treating 1 m[3] of ADE with the symbiotic system reduced CO2 emissions by 51.2 g compared to conventional aerobic processes and lowered CH4 emissions (expressed as CO2 equivalents) by 111.94 g relative to anaerobic processes. These findings indicate that the bacteria-algae symbiotic technology synergistically combines high-efficiency pollutant removal with carbon sequestration capabilities, providing a viable solution for wastewater treatment aligned with carbon neutrality objectives.},
}
@article {pmid40266833,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, YH and Wang, M and Chang, XP and Ke, YL and Li, ZQ},
title = {Comparison Between Worker and Soldier Transcriptomes of Termite Neotermes binovatus Reveals Caste Specialization of Host-Flagellate Symbiotic System.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40266833},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2023A1515011424//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China/ ; },
abstract = {Termites are eusocial insects with functionally specialized workers and soldiers, both sharing the same genotype. Additionally, lower termites host flagellates in their hindguts that assist in wood digestion. However, worker-biased and soldier-biased gene expression patterns of the host-flagellate symbiotic system remain underexplored in most taxonomic groups. In this study, we sequenced high-depth transcriptomes from the workers and soldiers of a lower termite, Neotermes binovatus (Kalotermitidae), to investigate the differentially expressed termite transcripts, flagellate transcript abundance, and co-expression patterns of the host-flagellate transcript pairs in both castes. The worker-biased transcripts were enriched in functions related to cuticle development, nervous system regulation, pheromone biosynthesis, and metabolism, whereas the soldier-biased transcripts were predominantly involved in muscle development and kinesis, body morphogenesis, protein modification, and aggression. Flagellate transcripts from the orders Cristamonadida, Trichomonadida, Tritrichomonadida, and Oxymonadida were identified in both workers and soldiers, with the abundance of most flagellate transcripts tending to be higher in workers than in soldiers. Furthermore, we observed a much larger number of strong co-expression correlations between the termite and flagellate transcripts in workers than in soldiers, suggesting the possibility that soldiers depend more on food processed by worker holobionts than on their own symbiotic system. This research provides insights into the functional specialization of the host-flagellate symbiotic system in the worker and soldier castes of termites, supporting the workers' roles in nest maintenance, preliminary food processing, and communication, while emphasizing the defensive role of soldiers. Additionally, it offers new perspectives on the potential termite-flagellate interactions and underscores the need for whole-genome data of termite flagellates in further studies.},
}
@article {pmid40266768,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, Q and Niu, R and Gao, X and Luo, J and Cui, J and Wang, L and Zhu, X},
title = {Pseudomonas Infection Affects the Growth and Development of Aphis gossypii by Disrupting Energy Metabolism and Reproductive Processes.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40266768},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2023ZD04062//Science and Technology Innovation 2030/ ; 2022QNRC001//Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST/ ; Y2023QC23//the Youth Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {For instance, Pseudomonas is involved in numerous life processes of A. gossypii and exerts a significant influence on its physiological indicators. The results demonstrate that Pseudomonas infection disturbs the normal growth and development of A. gossypii, resulting in a substantial reduction in the number of offspring. Compared with the uninfected control group, the innate rate of increase and the endogenous growth rate are markedly lower. Moreover, RNA-sequencing revealed that genes related to energy synthesis and nutrient metabolism were significantly upregulated in A. gossypii infected with Pseudomonas. Simultaneously, the infection led to a significant downregulation of genes related to alkaline phosphatase in the folate-synthesis pathway and histone proteinase B synthesis in the metabolism pathway of A. gossypii. These experimental findings indicate that Pseudomonas infection disrupts the growth and development of A. gossypii, specifically manifested as a significant upregulation of genes related to energy synthesis and nutrient metabolism and a downregulation of genes related to reproduction. Overall, these results offer support for the study of the interactions between aphids and symbiotic bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40266412,
year = {2025},
author = {Mouras, N and Lemonnier, H and Crossay, T and Gututauava, K and Mathian, M and Robin, SL and Tardivel, O and Marchand, C},
title = {Variability of the optical signatures of dissolved organic matter in soils of different mangrove stands (Ouvéa, New Caledonia).},
journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},
volume = {32},
number = {19},
pages = {12086-12107},
pmid = {40266412},
issn = {1614-7499},
support = {ANR-22-PEXF-00012//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; MODIcarb//Institut national des sciences de l'Univers/ ; },
mesh = {New Caledonia ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Wetlands ; Rhizophoraceae ; Ecosystem ; Carbon ; },
abstract = {Mangrove ecosystems are known to play a key role in the global carbon cycle, due to their productivity and their ability for carbon sequestration both in the biomass and in the soil. In the latter, various geochemical processes lead to the production of dissolved organic matter (DOM) that can be exported through tidal pumping and then constitute an important source of organic carbon for adjacent ecosystems. DOM characteristics, and their variabilities, within mangrove soils depend on several factors, including the mangrove species, yet these variations and their origin still need to be precisely constrained. This study examined DOM sources in soils of a carbonate atoll mangrove (Ouvéa, New Caledonia), focusing on two tree species, Rhizophora apiculata and Bruguiera gymnorhiza, at different growth stages. We analysed porewater properties and DOM optical characteristics through spectroscopic and EEM-PARAFAC methods. Our results indicate distinct TOC and DOC concentrations across species, with mature B. gymnorhiza soils showing the highest TOC content (~ 30%) but the lowest DOC content (32 mg L[-1]). These differences seem not to be directly related to site physicochemical conditions (redox, pH, salinity) but may rather reflect differences in DOM sources and production, notably due to different symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, which influence microbial activity and organic matter diagenesis. DOM absorbance patterns also varied significantly between species: Beneath R. apiculata, DOM had higher protein-like and fulvic-like fluorescence, indicating fresher organic matter, while beneath B. gymnorhiza, especially in mature stands, DOM was more humified, suggesting older OM because of a possible long-term accumulation due to the basin-like morphology of this site.},
}
@article {pmid40266381,
year = {2025},
author = {Cuny, MAC and Gloder, G and Bourne, ME and Kalisvaart, SN and Verreth, C and Crauwels, S and Cusumano, A and Lievens, B and Poelman, EH},
title = {Parasitoid Calyx Fluid and Venom Affect Bacterial Communities in Their Lepidopteran Host Labial Salivary Glands.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {33},
pmid = {40266381},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {ALWOP.368//Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research/ ; ALWOP.368//Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research/ ; ALWOP.368//Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research/ ; ALWOP.368//Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research/ ; ALWOP.368//Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research/ ; G.0961.19 N//Flemish Fund for Scientific Research/ ; G.0961.19 N//Flemish Fund for Scientific Research/ ; G.0961.19 N//Flemish Fund for Scientific Research/ ; G.0961.19 N//Flemish Fund for Scientific Research/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Salivary Glands/microbiology ; *Wasps/physiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/drug effects ; *Microbiota ; Larva/parasitology/microbiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Butterflies/microbiology/parasitology ; Hemolymph/microbiology ; Polydnaviridae/physiology ; *Wasp Venoms/pharmacology ; *Moths/microbiology/parasitology ; },
abstract = {The influence of gut and gonad bacterial communities on insect physiology, behaviour, and ecology is increasingly recognised. Parasitism by parasitoid wasps alters many physiological processes in their hosts, including gut bacterial communities. However, it remains unclear whether these changes are restricted to the gut or also occur in other tissues and fluids, and the mechanisms underlying such changes are unknown. We hypothesise that host microbiome changes result from the injection of calyx fluid (that contain symbiotic viruses known as polydnaviruses) and venom during parasitoid oviposition and that these effects vary by host tissue. To test this, we microinjected Pieris brassicae caterpillars with calyx fluid and venom from Cotesia glomerata, using saline solution and natural parasitism by C. glomerata as controls. We analysed changes in the bacterial community composition in the gut, regurgitate, haemolymph, and labial salivary glands of the host insects. Multivariate analysis revealed distinct bacterial communities across tissues and fluids, with high diversity in the salivary glands and haemolymph. Parasitism and injection of calyx fluid and venom significantly altered bacterial communities in the salivary glands. Differential abundance analysis showed that parasitism affected bacterial relative abundance in the haemolymph, and that Wolbachia was only found in the haemolymph of parasitized caterpillars. Altogether, our findings reveal that parasitism influences the host haemolymph microbiome, and both parasitism and injection of calyx fluid and venom drive changes in the bacterial community composition within the host salivary glands. Given that the composition of salivary glands can influence plant response to herbivory, we discuss these results in the broader context of plant-parasitoid interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40265877,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Zhong, L and Fang, H and Liu, Z and Wang, P and Li, L and Chen, L and Ding, G},
title = {Bioactive Metabolites from the Dusty Seeds of Gastrodia elata Bl., Based on Metabolomics and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS Combined with Molecular Network Strategy.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40265877},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {2023-I2M-2-006//the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS)/ ; 22373030//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Orchids produce tiny, light seeds (dust-like seeds without endosperm) that rely on specific symbiotic fungi for successful germination. Plant roots often release small signaling molecules or bioactive compounds to attract arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, promoting fungal growth and hyphal branching. However, until now, no such bioactive or signaling molecules have been identified in orchids that help recruit fungi for seed germination. In this study, we used metabolomics and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, combined with a molecular network approach, to explore potential bioactive/signaling molecules in the seeds of the achlorophyllous orchid Gastrodia elata Bl. Our analysis revealed the presence of amino acids, nucleotides, lipids, organic acids, saccharides, phospholipids, and lignanamides. Specifically, organic acids, saccharides, and lignanamides were shown to promote the growth of Mycena osmundicola, a fungus important for seed germination. Additionally, lignanamides inhibited the plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum and exhibited strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This is the first systematic identification of bioactive/signaling molecules in G. elata Bl. seeds, providing new insights into the symbiotic relationship between orchids and fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40265759,
year = {2025},
author = {Adam, AM and Alshahrani, TS and Alqarawi, AA and Dar, BA and Malik, JA and Abd-ElGawad, AM},
title = {The Role of Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Inter and Intraspecific Competition of Nicotiana glauca and Vachellia gerrardii.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40265759},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {RSPD2025R676//Researchers Supporting Project, number RSPD2025R676, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/ ; },
abstract = {A competition experiment between Vachellia gerrardii and invasive Nicotiana glauca Graham was conducted to assess the impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) symbiosis on the inter and intraspecific competition between the two species. Seedlings were established under mono and mixed plantations with different species proportions (3:1, 2:2, 1:3) and plant densities (1, 2, 3, and 4 plants/pot) for mixed and mono planting respectively, with and without AMF. The vegetative growth parameters (height, leaf area and number, total dry weight/plant, relative yield, relative yield total), roots characteristics (length, surface area, volume, tips number), competitive interaction (aggressivity), and physiological traits (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance) were measured to evaluate plant responses to AMF symbiosis and competition. The results revealed that AMF symbiosis significantly enhanced the vegetative parameters (leaf area, height, and total dry weight) in both species under mono and mixed plantations compared to plants without AMF. Under AMF treatment, in the interspecific competition, most vegetative and root parameters of N. glauca were higher than V. gerrardii. At inoculant and species proportions, the relative yield of N. glauca exceeded that for V. gerrardii; however, N. glauca was more aggressive towards V. gerrardii. N. glauca root indices were higher than V. gerrardii under inter and intraspecific competition. Simultaneously, for both species, in monoculture plantations, most parameters decreased as plant density increased, wherein the decrease was higher for plants grown without AMF. Photosynthesis increased in AMF treatment, particularly for N. glauca. In conclusion, AMF promoted the growth of invasive N. glauca more than native V. gerrardii, particularly in terms of the root system. Our results provide a critical perspective that the AMF has the potential to contribute and facilitate the invasion of N. glauca, as well as support it with a competitive advantage over V. gerrardii, thus highlighting its potential role in shaping plant-plant interaction in invaded habitats.},
}
@article {pmid40265726,
year = {2025},
author = {Rawat, A and Han, B and Patel, N and Allehaibi, H and Rosado, AS and Hirt, H},
title = {Symbiotic plant-bacterial-fungal interaction orchestrates ethylene and auxin signaling for optimized plant growth.},
journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology},
volume = {122},
number = {2},
pages = {e70174},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.70174},
pmid = {40265726},
issn = {1365-313X},
support = {BAS/1/1062-01-01//King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Arabidopsis/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Ethylenes/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; *Enterobacter/physiology ; *Basidiomycota/physiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Plant Development ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; },
abstract = {The complex and mutual interactions between plants and their associated microbiota are key for plant survival and fitness. From the myriad of microbes that exist in the soil, plants dynamically engineer their surrounding microbiome in response to varying environmental and nutrient conditions. The notion that the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community acts in harmony with plants is widely acknowledged, yet little is known about how these microorganisms interact with each other and their host plants. Here, we explored the interaction of two well-studied plant beneficial endophytes, Enterobacter sp. SA187 and the fungus Serendipita indica. We show that these microbes show inhibitory growth in vitro but act in a mutually positive manner in the presence of Arabidopsis as a plant host. Although both microbes can promote plant salinity tolerance, plant resilience is enhanced in the ternary interaction, revealing that the host plant has the ability to positively orchestrate the interactions between microbes to everyone's benefit. In conclusion, this study advances our understanding of plant-microbiome interaction beyond individual plant-microbe relationships, unveiling a new layer of complexity in how plants manage microbial communities for optimal growth and stress resistance.},
}
@article {pmid40265110,
year = {2025},
author = {Zulfiqar, S and Gu, R and Liu, Y and Zhang, Y},
title = {From genes to traits: maximizing phosphorus utilization efficiency in crop plants.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1527547},
pmid = {40265110},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a critical macronutrient for plant growth, but its limited availability requires efficient utilization strategies. The excessive use of P fertilizers leads to low phosphorus utilization efficiency (PUE), causing severe environmental impacts and speeding up the exhaustion of P mineral reserves. Plants respond to inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency through complex signaling pathways that trigger changes in gene expression, root architecture, and metabolic pathways to enhance P acquisition and utilization efficiency. By exploring the interplay between genetic regulators and microorganisms, cultivars with superior PUE traits can be developed, which will ensure agricultural resilience and productivity in the face of depleting global P reserves. We highlight the synergistic interaction between genetic regulators and microorganisms to boost PUE as well as recent advancements in unraveling molecular mechanisms governing P homeostasis in plants, emphasizing the urgency to improve plant traits for improved P utilization.},
}
@article {pmid40264335,
year = {2025},
author = {Barasarathi, J and Perveen, K and Khan, F and Muthukumaran, M and Debnath, A and Behera, M and Pongen, M and Sayyed, R and Mastinu, A},
title = {Targeting Agrobacterium tumefaciens: A Computational Study on Quorum Sensing Inhibition.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {65},
number = {7},
pages = {e70041},
pmid = {40264335},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {//King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Researchers Supporting Project Number RSP2025R358 and University of Brescia, "ex 60% - Mastinu"./ ; },
mesh = {*Quorum Sensing/drug effects ; *Agrobacterium tumefaciens/drug effects/pathogenicity/genetics/physiology ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Plant Tumors/microbiology ; Virulence ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Crown gall disease, caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, results in significant loss in agricultural productivity losses due to induced tumor-like growths on various crops. The virulence of A. tumefaciens is controlled by its quorum sensing (QS) system, specifically through the TraR protein, which regulates the expression of genes essential for pathogenicity and plasmid transfer. Beyond pathogenic interactions, QS plays a crucial role in the plant microbiome, influencing symbiosis, competition, and plant health. This study aimed to identify QS inhibitors (QSIs) that disrupt TraR-mediated signaling as a novel approach to mitigate crown gall disease while exploring broader implications for plant-microbe interactions. Using a combination of molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and protein-protein interaction analysis, we screened a library of potential QSIs and identified N-phenylselenourea as a potent candidate with a binding affinity of -8 kcal/mol to TraR. MD simulations confirmed the stability of this compound within the TraR binding pocket, with strong interactions observed with key residues such as Tyr53 and Asp70. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis supported these findings, highlighting the disruption of critical pathogenic pathways. Our findings underscore the dual benefits of QSIs, offering a targeted strategy to control A. tumefaciens infections while potentially enhancing plant-microbiome interactions for improved plant health. This study lays the groundwork for developing sustainable agricultural practices by leveraging QS disruption to manage plant diseases and promote beneficial microbial communities.},
}
@article {pmid40263940,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, JP and Chiu, CH},
title = {Micronutrients: Minor yet crucial for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
journal = {Plant communications},
volume = {6},
number = {5},
pages = {101345},
pmid = {40263940},
issn = {2590-3462},
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Micronutrients/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Iron/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; },
abstract = {Nodulation represents a crucial but energy-intensive strategy for legumes to survive in nutrient-poor soils. A recent study by Ren et al. (2025) highlights the significance of micronutrients, particularly iron (Fe), in regulating symbiotic nitrogen fixation, which ensures that nodulation occurs only under favorable environmental conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40263668,
year = {2025},
author = {Yan, Q and Chen, Y and Tang, B and Wu, X and Zhou, H and Wang, H and Li, H and Lu, L and Zhang, H and Yang, S and Xu, C and Ma, T},
title = {Precise Engineering of Asymmetric Tri-Active Sites by Symbiotic Strategy for Photocontrolled Directional Reforming of Biomass.},
journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)},
volume = {64},
number = {26},
pages = {e202505718},
pmid = {40263668},
issn = {1521-3773},
support = {32302418//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022YFD1700300//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; ZC [2023]330//Guizhou Provincial Key Technology R&amp;D Program/ ; ZK [2022]141//Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Program/ ; (2024) 007//Central Government Guides Local Science and Technology Development Fund Projects/ ; 2024YJSKYJJ073//Guizhou Graduate Education Innovation Plan/ ; FT210100298//Australian Research Council/ ; DP220100603//Discovery Project/ ; LP210200504//Linkage Project/ ; LP220100088//Linkage Project/ ; LP230200897//Linkage Project/ ; IH240100009//Industrial Transformation Research Hub/ ; CRCPXIII000077//Cooperative Research Centres Projects/ ; //Australian Renewable Energy Agency/ ; TM021//ARENA's Transformative Research Accelerating Commercialisation Program/ ; //European Commission's Australia-Spain Network for Innovation and Research Excellence/ ; },
abstract = {Sunlight-driven production of high-value chemicals from renewable resources represents a pivotal driver toward achieving sustainable energy supply. However, fundamental barriers include inadequate use of light energy and insufficient understanding of reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulating mechanisms in photocatalytic processes. To address this, a novel symbiotic strategy for the design of Cux/TiO2 single-atom catalysts (SACs) supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations was proposed. The developed catalyst achieved nearly 100% conversion and selectivity for the directional photooxidative transformation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) or 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) under both vis-light and UV-vis light conditions. Importantly, compared to previous works, this catalyst exhibited the highest photooxidation activity reported to date while effectively suppressing the over-oxidation of HMF to CO2. Mechanistic investigations revealed that rational construction of Cu single-atoms (SAs) could effectively create the asymmetric Cu-Ov-Ti structure, which significantly enhanced the activation of O2 and HMF, facilitating generation of oxygen vacancy (Ov) and Ti[3+]. Furthermore, Cu SAs served as hole (h[+]) extractors in the photooxidation process, promoting rapid charge carrier transfer and ROS formation. The applicability of this developed strategy was further demonstrated for photooxidative conversion of various bio-feedstocks, including HMF and alcoholic substrates, indicating its great potential for harnessing light energy for sustainable valorization of biomass into high-value chemicals.},
}
@article {pmid40263612,
year = {2025},
author = {Shakiba, M and Tuveson, DA},
title = {Macrophages and fibroblasts as regulators of the immune response in pancreatic cancer.},
journal = {Nature immunology},
volume = {26},
number = {5},
pages = {678-691},
pmid = {40263612},
issn = {1529-2916},
support = {U01CA224013//U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (NCI)/ ; R01 CA249002/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; U01 CA224013/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; 50340801//Lustgarten Foundation (Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research)/ ; P30CA045508//U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (NCI)/ ; HT9425-24-1-0091//U.S. Department of Defense (United States Department of Defense)/ ; R01CA2419002//U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services | NIH | NCI | Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics)/ ; P30 CA045508/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Pancreatic Neoplasms/immunology/therapy/pathology ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; *Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/immunology ; Animals ; *Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/immunology/therapy/pathology ; Immunotherapy/methods ; *Tumor-Associated Macrophages/immunology ; *Macrophages/immunology ; Extracellular Matrix/immunology ; },
abstract = {Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the few cancers that has yet to benefit from immunotherapies. This is primarily a result of its characteristic 'cold' tumor microenvironment composed of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a dense network of extracellular matrix and several immune cell types, the most abundant of which are the tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Advances in single-cell and spatial technologies have elucidated the vast functional heterogeneity of CAFs and TAMs, their symbiotic relationship and their cooperative role in the tumor microenvironment. In this Review, we provide an overview of the heterogeneity of CAFs and TAMs, how they establish an immunosuppressive microenvironment and their collaboration in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Finally, we examine why the impact of immunotherapy in PDAC has been limited and how a detailed molecular and spatial understanding of the combined role of CAFs and TAMs is paramount to the design of effective therapies.},
}
@article {pmid40263549,
year = {2025},
author = {Nandigam, S and Mahendrakar, MD and Srungarapu, R and Chand, U and Gopalakrishnan, S and Thati, S and Vatluri, SR and Vadlamudi, S and Vemula, A and Kudapa, H and Samineni, S},
title = {Rapid generation advancement of RIL population and assessing the impact of Rhizobium nodulation on crop yields in Chickpea.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {13945},
pmid = {40263549},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {CRP-GLDC//Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers/ ; },
mesh = {*Cicer/genetics/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Genotype ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Seeds/growth &amp; development/genetics ; *Crops, Agricultural/growth &amp; development/genetics/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {Chickpea, a widely cultivated legume, actively fix atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, progressing from F2 to F7 generations, was developed in a short-period of 18 months using the Rapid Generation Advancement (RGA) protocol. The F7 RILs were evaluated during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 crop seasons under typical field conditions to quantify the effects of nodulation on seed yield (SY) and its associated traits. The analysis of variance revealed a highly significant difference (P < 0.01) among genotypes for seed yield and other agronomic traits, with no significant seasonal effect. In the pooled analysis, nodulating genotypes (NG) exhibited a substantial increase (P < 0.01) in SY (62.55%), 100-seed weight (SW100; 12.21%), harvest index (HI; 6.40%), number of pods per plant (NPPP; 39.55%), and number of seeds per plant (NSPP; 44.37%) compared to non-nodulating genotypes (NNG). Both NG and NNG exhibited a significant (P < 0.01) positive correlation between SY and NPPP (r = 0.64 and 0.63), NSPP (r = 0.66 and 0.61), HI (r = 0.27), and number of primary branches per plant (PBr) (r = 0.31), respectively. The top-performing genotypes for yield and related traits were predominantly nodulating. Genotype-trait bi-plot analysis identified nine nodulating genotypes as the most adaptable across the two seasons-six for SY, plant height, SW100, and three for days to first flowering and maturity. These findings underscore the critical role of nodulation in maximizing chickpea yields and the significant yield penalties associated with non-nodulation. To boost chickpea production, future breeding efforts should focus on developing genotypes with high compatibility with rhizobium strains.},
}
@article {pmid40262644,
year = {2025},
author = {Püffel, F and Kang, V and Yap, M and Shojaeifard, M and Bacca, M and Labonte, D},
title = {Behavioural biomechanics: leaf-cutter ant cutting behaviour depends on leaf edge geometry.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {292},
number = {2045},
pages = {20242926},
pmid = {40262644},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {//H2020 European Research Council/ ; //Human Frontier Science Program/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/physiology ; *Plant Leaves/anatomy &amp; histology ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; *Feeding Behavior ; *Behavior, Animal ; },
abstract = {Leaf-cutter ants cut fresh leaves to grow a symbiotic fungus as crop. During cutting, one mandible is typically anchored onto the leaf lamina while the other slices through it like a knife. When initiating cuts into the leaf edge, however, foragers sometimes deviate from this behaviour and instead use their mandibles symmetrically, akin to scissors. In vivo behavioural assays revealed that the preference for either of the two cutting strategies depended on leaf edge geometry and differed between natural leaf margins that were straight or serrated with notch-like folds: leaf-cutter ants displayed a strong preference for scissor-cutting when leaf edges were straight or had wide notches. This preference, however, reversed in favour of knife-cutting when notches were narrow. To investigate whether this behavioural difference had a mechanical origin, we mimicked knife-cutting in ex vivo cutting experiments: for wide notches, all but the sharpest mandibles failed to initiate cuts, or only did so at large forces, caused by substantial leaf buckling and bending. This increased force demand would substantially limit the ability of foragers to cut leaves, and so reduce the colony's access to food sources. Scissor-cutting may thus be an adaptation to the mechanical difficulties associated with bending and buckling of thin leaves.},
}
@article {pmid40262635,
year = {2025},
author = {Haro, R and Lee, R and Slamovits, CH},
title = {Unveiling the functional nature of retrogenes in dinoflagellates.},
journal = {Open biology},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {240221},
pmid = {40262635},
issn = {2046-2441},
support = {//the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, NSERC/ ; },
mesh = {*Dinoflagellida/genetics ; *Retroelements ; Transcriptome ; Gene Ontology ; Phylogeny ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Retroposition is a gene duplication mechanism that uses RNA molecules as intermediaries to generate new gene copies. Dinoflagellates are proposed as an ideal model for exploring this process due to the tagging of retrogenes with DNA-encoded remnants of the dinoflagellate-specific splice-leader motif at their 5' end. We conducted a comprehensive search for retrogenes in dinoflagellate transcriptomes to uncover their functional nature and the processes underlying their redundancy. We obtained a high-confidence set of hypothetical functional retrogenes widespread through the dinoflagellate lineage. Through annotations and gene ontology enrichment analysis, we found that the functional diversity of retrogenes reflects the most prevalent and active processes during stress periods, particularly those involving post-translational modifications and cell signalling pathways. Additionally, the significant presence of retrogenes linked to specific biological processes involved in symbiosis and toxin production underscores the role of retrogenes in adaptation. The expression profile and codon composition similar to protein-coding genes confirm the operational status of retrogenes and strengthen the idea that retrogenes recapitulate parental gene expression and function. This study provides new evidence supporting widespread gene retroposition across dinoflagellates and highlights the functional link of retrogenes with the core activity of the cell.},
}
@article {pmid40262536,
year = {2025},
author = {Angeley, MNJ and Perlman, SJ},
title = {Symbiosis: A novel relationship cradled in venom.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {8},
pages = {R293-R295},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.016},
pmid = {40262536},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wasps/physiology/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Symbiosis ; Larva/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Wasp Venoms/metabolism ; *Enterobacteriaceae/physiology ; },
abstract = {Spalangia wasps have evolved a new association with Sodalis bacteria, transmitting them in an unusual way. They inject them into a host, along with their venom and an egg; the wasp larva then ingests them while feeding on host tissue.},
}
@article {pmid40261620,
year = {2025},
author = {Do, TQ and Palombo, EA and Zaferanloo, B},
title = {Applying Zymography Methods for the Detection of Enzymes from Fungal Endophytes.},
journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)},
volume = {2918},
number = {},
pages = {153-162},
pmid = {40261620},
issn = {1940-6029},
mesh = {*Endophytes/enzymology ; *Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel/methods ; *Fungi/enzymology ; *Enzyme Assays/methods ; *Fungal Proteins/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {This chapter presents a method for the production and characterization of enzymes derived from fungal endophytes, which are symbiotic organisms residing within plants. Enzyme production is induced by cultivating the fungi on optimized growth media, and the resulting protein levels are monitored using the Bradford assay over a defined duration. Following protein depletion, the media is purified, and distinct enzymes are characterized using substrate-specific zymography employing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels (SDS-PAGE) and appropriate buffers. Our findings underscore the efficacy of zymography in swiftly characterizing enzymes derived from fungal endophytes. This method holds significant promise for various biotechnological and industrial applications including, but not limited to, biofuel production and pharmaceuticals.},
}
@article {pmid40261617,
year = {2025},
author = {Dellagnola, FA and Godoy, MS and Vega, IA},
title = {Zymography Techniques for the Profiling of Digestive Protease in a Freshwater Invertebrate Model.},
journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)},
volume = {2918},
number = {},
pages = {107-123},
pmid = {40261617},
issn = {1940-6029},
mesh = {Animals ; *Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism/chemistry/isolation &amp; purification ; *Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel/methods ; Fresh Water ; *Enzyme Assays/methods ; *Snails/enzymology ; Digestive System/enzymology ; },
abstract = {Zymography is a sensitive and specific technique that enables the detection and characterization of proteases of low abundance. Here, we describe two zymographic techniques, in-gel and in situ zymography, to discover proteases (20-120 kDa) along the gut of apple snails. Proteases of different molecular weights are separated by electrophoresis in gelatin copolymerized sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels and then enzymatic activities revealed by Coomassie Blue negative staining. Protease families can be identified in the presence of specific inhibitors. We also use in situ zymography for localizing proteases in intracellular symbiotic corpuscles that habit in the digestive gland of the gastropod Pomacea canaliculata. Different spatial-temporal scenarios of protease synthesis, secretion, and hydrolysis of dietary proteins may be identified by a combination of in-gel and in situ zymography.},
}
@article {pmid40261263,
year = {2025},
author = {Hazel, CM and Panaccione, DG},
title = {A new species of Periglandula symbiotic with the morning glory Ipomoea tricolor.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {117},
number = {4},
pages = {602-614},
pmid = {40261263},
issn = {1557-2536},
support = {R15 GM114774/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; U54 GM104942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Ipomoea/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Hyphae/growth &amp; development/cytology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics/chemistry ; *Hypocreales/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/physiology ; Mexico ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spores, Fungal ; },
abstract = {Many morning glories (family Convolvulaceae) contain ergot alkaloids-important bioactive compounds produced exclusively by fungi. The ergot alkaloids of the few investigated morning glories are associated with the presence of a symbiotic Clavicipitaceous fungus. The genus Periglandula (Clavicipitaceae) was erected recently for two epibiotic species of morning glory symbionts. Biochemical and limited sequence data indicate that Ipomoea tricolor, a commonly cultivated morning glory from Mexico, contains a Periglandula species, but no signs of the fungus have ever been detected. Our goal was to isolate and describe this fungus, which we hypothesize represents a new species. Observation of fungal hyphae in evacuated seed coats of I. tricolor and subsequent transfer onto malt extract agar resulted in cultures of the symbiont isolated from the plant. The fungus grew slowly as white hyphae and sometimes aggregated into synnema-like structures, both of which lacked spores. We isolated sufficient DNA to sequence the genome with Illumina technology. Phylogenetic analyses based on multiple genes indicated that the symbiont of I. tricolor was distinct from, but related to, the two described species of Periglandula previously observed in other species of morning glories. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the fungus was quantified most abundantly in hypocotyls of I. tricolor, with lesser quantities in stems, cotyledons, and leaves. The fungus was not detected in roots, although ergot alkaloids were abundant in all tissues including roots. We conclude that the symbiotic fungus of I. tricolor is a distinct species of Periglandula and propose the name Periglandula clandestina, sp. nov.},
}
@article {pmid40260431,
year = {2025},
author = {Istanbuli, T and Alsamman, AM and Al-Shamaa, K and Abu Assar, A and Adlan, M and Kumar, T and Tawkaz, S and Hamwieh, A},
title = {Selection of high nitrogen fixation chickpea genotypes under drought stress conditions using multi-environment analysis.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1490080},
pmid = {40260431},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Chickpea (*Cicer arietinum* L.) is an important pulse crop mainly grown in marginal lands around the world. Drought stress highly impacts symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in chickpeas, which can limit productivity. Therefore, selecting high nitrogen fixation chickpea genotypes that can tolerate water stress is important for breeding programs.<br><br>METHODS: A total of 204 chickpea genotypes were assessed in eight different environments across Lebanon during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons, under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. The study employed an Alpha Lattice design with two replications at two distinct locations. Data were collected for yield and nodule characteristics, then subjected to AMMI and GGE biplot analysis.<br><br>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The AMMI analysis indicated that genotype (G), environments (E), and genotype &#xd7; environment interaction (GEI) had significant effects on grain yield (P<0.001), highlighting the presence of genetic variation and the potential for selecting stable genotypes. The findings revealed that the environmental effect predominantly influenced chickpea grain yield, with GEI following, and G having the least impact. Environment explained 34.5% of the total (G + E + GE) variation, whereas G and GEI captured 16.4% and 24.3%, respectively. According to grain yield (GY), genotype IG70399 demonstrated the highest performance across all environments, while genotype IG8256 displayed the most consistent performance across different conditions. In a rainfed environment, genotype IG73394 had higher nodulation, while IG70384 and IG70410 had higher nodulation biomass (NB) under an irrigated environment. The NB for ten highly tolerant genotypes increased by 24% compared to the two susceptible genotypes under drought stress conditions, while the NB for these ten genotypes increased by 14.6% compared to all studied genotypes.},
}
@article {pmid40259211,
year = {2025},
author = {Maleki, N and Ghorbani, A and Rostami, M and Maina, S},
title = {Elucidating long non-coding RNA networks in tomato plants in response to Funneliformis mosseae colonization and cucumber mosaic virus infection.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {495},
pmid = {40259211},
issn = {1471-2229},
mesh = {*Solanum lycopersicum/genetics/microbiology/virology ; *RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics/metabolism ; *Cucumovirus/physiology ; *Plant Diseases/virology/microbiology/genetics ; RNA, Plant/genetics/metabolism ; MicroRNAs/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Tomato plants face biotic challenges like infections by cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), a member of the Cucumovirus genus in the Bromoviridae family, as well as beneficial interactions, such as colonization by the symbiotic fungus Funneliformis mosseae, which belongs to the Glomeraceae family. While this symbiosis boosts nutrient uptake and stress tolerance, viral infections can reduce yield and quality. Understanding how tomatoes manage these interactions is vital for enhancing crop productivity. To explore the molecular mechanisms behind these interactions, this study focuses on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which play crucial roles in gene regulation, stress response, and plant metabolic pathways. Tomato RNA-seq data were analyzed to identify lncRNAs and their interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs) through de novo assembly, mapping, expression analysis, and localization prediction. In this study, 3210 lncRNAs were identified from 12 SRA datasets of tomato plants, including control, CMV-infected, F. mosseae-colonized, and co-infected samples. Among these, 3194 were novel lncRNAs and 16 were conserved. Expression analysis revealed significant differential expression patterns across treatments. Pathway analysis indicated that these lncRNAs are involved in key metabolic processes, such as carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and secondary metabolite production, suggesting their role in enhancing disease resistance. Furthermore, we predicted interactions between identified lncRNAs and miRNAs, including miR160a, miR166a/b, miR167a, miR171a/b/c, miR1917, miR1918, and miR395a/b, thereby highlighting potential regulatory networks that could modulate stress responses. The subcellular localization of identified lncRNAs revealed a predominance in the cytoplasm, implying their involvement in post-transcriptional regulation. This study accentuates the significance of lncRNAs in tomato plant defense mechanisms and provides a foundation for future research focused on enriching resistance to viral infections and boosting stress resilience.},
}
@article {pmid40258316,
year = {2025},
author = {Todeschini, V and Anastasia, F and Nalin, EC and Cesaro, P and Massa, N and Bona, E and Sampò, S and Berta, G and Barbato, R and Lingua, G},
title = {Effects of P nutrition on growth and photosynthetic activity of tomato plants inoculated or not with AM fungi.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {224},
number = {},
pages = {109923},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109923},
pmid = {40258316},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Photosynthesis/drug effects/physiology ; *Phosphorus/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Biomass ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonize plant roots, improving mineral nutrition and promoting photosynthesis. Phosphorus (P) has a key role in plant physiology, affecting the photosynthetic process and being involved in sugar/carbon metabolism. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and P nutrition on the growth parameters and photosynthetic activity of tomato plants grown in controlled conditions. Plants were maintained in a growth chamber for 50 days and watered three times a week with a Long Ashton nutrient solution at three different P levels (32, 96 and 288 μM, respectively). At harvest, mycorrhizal colonization, biomass production, P and photosynthetic pigment concentrations were measured. Moreover, the photosynthetic efficiency relating to the activity of the two photosystems and the biochemical analysis of proteins extracted from thylakoid membranes were also performed. Results showed that inoculation did not affect growth parameters. AM symbiosis was strongly inhibited at the highest P level. Plant biomass production was positively correlated with increasing level of P. The analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence in inoculated plants highlighted that Y(I), Y(II), ETR(I), ETR(II) varied proportionally to the AM colonization and inversely proportionally to the P supply, whether this effect on NPQ and ETR occurs by a modulation of the xanthophyll cycle, remains to be established.},
}
@article {pmid40256278,
year = {2025},
author = {Kolaksazov, M and Vasileva, I and Stoycheva, I},
title = {Physiological and biochemical response of mixed lupine and barley cultures under changing environmental conditions during spring.},
journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology},
volume = {31},
number = {3},
pages = {493-505},
pmid = {40256278},
issn = {0971-5894},
abstract = {Mixed cultivation of grass-legume forage crops, such as lupine (Lupinus albus L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), offers significant advantages in terms of nitrogen utilization, stress resistance and a balanced diet for ruminants. This study explored the symbiotic effects of these crops on photosynthesis and stress tolerance via measuring key physiological and biochemical parameters. Measurements were performed on the photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, glycolate oxidase activity, antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content. The varying temperatures during May, allowed the effects of mixed cultivation on the response to chilling to be analyzed. Notably, barley monoculture was the most affected by the decreased temperatures. In general, mixed culture showed mitigation of the effects from chilling, as compared with both lupine and barley monocultures alone. These results suggest an adaptive synergy between lupine and barley, highlighting the potential advantages of mixed cultivation for improving stress tolerance and overall crop performance.},
}
@article {pmid40256268,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, Y and Zhang, L and Wang, Z and He, Z and Shu, L},
title = {Light Affects Host-Symbiont Dynamics in the Non-Photosynthetic Social Amoeba Symbiosis.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {e71320},
pmid = {40256268},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Light significantly influences phototactic behaviors and host-bacterial interactions of photosynthetic microorganisms such as algae. The non-photosynthetic slime mound amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum as the host shows phototaxis in the multicellular slugs, but the impact of light on amoeba-bacteria interactions remains unclear. Here we utilized two different clades of symbiotic Paraburkholderia species, namely Paraburkholderia agricolaris B1QS70 and Paraburkholderia hayleyella B2QS11, to investigate the light-induced symbiosis between the host amoebae and symbiotic bacteria. Our findings propose two light-induced symbiotic types (type I and type II termed from this study) likely due to amoebae metabolites or bacterial infection efficiency. The type I symbiosis reveals increased symbiotic B1QS70 amount in amoebae QS9 under light, while stable amounts persist in amoebae QS11 and QS70, both of which are native hosts of symbiotic Paraburkholderia species. Furthermore, the transcriptomics analysis suggests that certain upregulated genes, such as lectin genes, may play crucial roles in inducing the symbiosis of P. agricolaris B1QS70 in amoebae QS9 and QS70 under light stimulation. Conversely, the type II symbiosis enhances interactions between P. hayleyella B2QS11 and three individual amoebae clones (QS9, QS11, or QS70) in dark conditions due to the strong infection capability and high growth rates of B2QS11. Transcriptomic data show that a cluster of heat shock genes is upregulated in amoebae QS9 with B2QS11 under dark, indicating an immune response to the non-native host QS9, rather than that of in QS11 as the native host of B2QS11. Blue-light sensors like Cryptochrome/DNA photolyase in Paraburkholderia species might regulate the growth rate by light stimulation. These findings highlight light-regulated symbiosis between amoebae and two distinct Paraburkholderia species, indicating that light may be crucial for regulating amoebae-symbionts dynamics.},
}
@article {pmid40255466,
year = {2025},
author = {Mfangnia, CNT and Tonnang, HEZ and Tsanou, B and Keith Herren, J},
title = {An eco-epidemiological model for malaria with Microsporidia MB as bio-control agent.},
journal = {Modeling earth systems and environment},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {221},
pmid = {40255466},
issn = {2363-6203},
support = {INV-022584/GATES/Gates Foundation/United States ; },
abstract = {Microsporidia MB is an endosymbiont which naturally infects Anopheles mosquitoes. Due to its ability to block Plasmodium transmission, it shows potential as a bio-based agent for the control of malaria. Its self-sustainability is promising, as it can spread through both vertical and horizontal transmissions. However, its low prevalence in mosquito populations remains a challenge. We develop an eco-epidemiological mathematical model describing the co-dynamics of Microsporidia MB (within mosquito population) and malaria (within human population). The model is used to assess the potential of Microsporidia MB-infected mosquitoes on the control of malaria infection. The results on the basic reproduction numbers, the stability of the equilibria, and the existence of bifurcations are obtained, providing conditions for the extinction and persistence of MB-infected mosquitoes. We highlight relevant threshold parameters for the elimination and persistence of MB-infected mosquitoes and malaria-infected individuals. Using real data from Kenya, we found that, given a horizontal transmission rate between 0 and 0.5, a minimum vertical rate of 0.55 is required to avoid extinction of MB-infected mosquitoes. The predicted prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes using transmission rates reported from lab experiments align with the observed low prevalence of MB-infected mosquitoes in the field, thereby validating our model and results. Finally, predictions indicate that increasing MB mosquito infection could effectively control malaria, with target prevalence varying by region: 15% in Highland, 40% on the coast, and 70% in the Lake region. This study offers insights into the use of bio-based vector population replacement solutions to reduce malaria incidence in regions where Microsporidia MB is prevalent.},
}
@article {pmid40253436,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, J and Zheng, X and Yu, T and Ali, M and Wiese, J and Hu, S and Huang, L and Huang, Y},
title = {Diverse lifestyles and adaptive evolution of uncultured UBA5794 actinobacteria, a sister order of "Candidatus actinomarinales".},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {39},
pmid = {40253436},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {92351301, 32470005, 42376238, and 32393970//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 91751000//Major Research Plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; GML20240002//the PI Project of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)/ ; },
abstract = {Uncultured UBA5794 actinobacteria are frequently found in marine and inland water environments by using metagenomic approaches. However, knowledge about these actinobacteria is limited, hindering their isolation and cultivation, and they are always confused with "Candidatus Actinomarinales" based on 16S rRNA gene classification. Here, to conduct genomic characterization of them, we obtained three high-quality UBA5794 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from a hydrothermal sediment on the Carlsberg Ridge (CR) and retrieved 131 high-quality UBA5794 genomes from public datasets. Phylogenomic analysis confirms UBA5794 as an independent order within the class Acidimicrobiia. Genome-based metabolic predictions reveal that flexible metabolism and diversified energy acquisition, as well as heavy metal(loid) detoxification capacity, are crucial for the ability of UBA5794 to thrive in diverse environments. Moreover, there is separation between sponge-associated and free-living UBA5794 groups in phylogeny and functional potential, which can be attributed to the symbiotic nature of the sponge-associated group and the extensive horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events observed in these bacteria. Ancestral state reconstruction suggests that the UBA5794 clade may have originated from a free-living environment and then some members gradually migrated to the sponge host. Overall, our study sheds light on the ecological adaptation and evolutionary history of the ubiquitous but poorly understood UBA5794 actinobacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40252635,
year = {2025},
author = {Taylor, H and Uhlig, HH and Powrie, F},
title = {Autoimmunity in inflammatory bowel disease: a holobiont perspective.},
journal = {Current opinion in immunology},
volume = {94},
number = {},
pages = {102557},
doi = {10.1016/j.coi.2025.102557},
pmid = {40252635},
issn = {1879-0372},
mesh = {*Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Animals ; Autoantibodies/immunology ; Symbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Immune Tolerance ; *Intestines/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; *Autoimmunity ; },
abstract = {Adaptive immunity towards self-antigens (autoimmunity) and intestinal commensal microbiota is a key feature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Considering mucosal adaptive immunity from a holobiont perspective, where the host and its microbiome form a single physiological unit, emphasises the challenge of avoiding damaging responses to self-antigen and symbiotic microbial communities in the gut while protecting against potential pathogens. Intestinal tolerance mechanisms prevent maladaptive T and B cell responses to microbial, environmental, and self-antigens, which drive inflammation. We discuss the spectrum of antimicrobial and autoantibody responses and highlight mechanisms by which common IBD-associated adaptive immune responses contribute to disease.},
}
@article {pmid40251928,
year = {2025},
author = {Boem, F and Lamminpää, I and Amedei, A},
title = {Updating the Discontinuity Theory to the Extended Immunity: The Symmunobiome Concept.},
journal = {European journal of immunology},
volume = {55},
number = {4},
pages = {e202451528},
pmid = {40251928},
issn = {1521-4141},
support = {PE0000006//Italian Ministry of University and Research MNESYS/ ; B55F2100//University of Florence-European Union-Next Generation EU-CUP/ ; B83C22003920001//The National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Investment 1.5 Ecosystems of Innovation, Project Tuscany Health Ecosystem (THE), CUP/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota/immunology ; Animals ; *Immune System/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Homeostasis/immunology ; *Immunity ; Biological Evolution ; Immunity, Innate ; Adaptive Immunity ; },
abstract = {The immune system (IS) is commonly understood as a system composed of specific cells and tissues that have evolved to contrast pathogens and defend the host. By virtue of this capacity, it has come to be considered capable of making an essential distinction, that between self versus non-self, which would contribute to a clear identity of the organism. However, in the wake of evolution and ecology, growing evidence suggests that the so-called immune system, which also evolved from symbiotic interactions with external agents, is not just a defensive system that merely protects the organism but, on the contrary, is involved in many global regulatory and homeostatic functions. Moreover, in performing these many functions, IS is not only an ensemble of host cells and tissues but functionally is constitutively determined by the interaction with a set of associated microorganisms, that is, the human microbiome. In this scenario, it is open-and-shut that the microbiome itself is a functional part of this extended immune system. Organisms and microbiomes together, therefore, form a functional whole, which constitutes a privileged form of biological organization. In light of this evidence showing the inadequacy of traditional accounts, we propose to extend and supplement the current IS conceptualization by introducing the notion of the symmunobiome. With this term, we intend to characterize the microbiome's own and unavoidable component to overall immune functionality. Therefore, we suggest a new immune system determination, articulated in three linked pillars-adaptive immunity, innate immunity, and symmunobiome-to better grasp the diverse functionality of extended immunity.},
}
@article {pmid40250433,
year = {2025},
author = {Rao, AK and Yee, D and Chevalier, F and LeKieffre, C and Pavie, M and Olivetta, M and Dudin, O and Gallet, B and Hehenberger, E and Seifi, M and Jug, F and Deschamps, J and Wu, TD and Gast, R and Jouneau, PH and Decelle, J},
title = {Hijacking and integration of algal plastids and mitochondria in a polar planktonic host.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {11},
pages = {2509-2523.e7},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.076},
pmid = {40250433},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Plastids/physiology ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Mitochondria/physiology ; Photosynthesis/physiology ; *Microalgae/physiology ; },
abstract = {In oceanic plankton, various hosts are capable of engulfing and temporarily integrating microalgae (photosymbiosis) or just their photosynthetic plastids (kleptoplastidy) from the environment. These cellular interactions have been hypothesized to be representative of evolutionary steps in plastid acquisition in eukaryotes, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we studied a polar kleptoplastidic dinoflagellate, which is known to steal plastids of the microalga Phaeocystis antarctica. We tracked the morphology and activity of stolen plastids over several months by combining multimodal subcellular imaging and photophysiology. Upon integration inside a host vacuole, the volume of plastids and pyrenoids significantly increased, and photosynthetic activity was boosted. This may be supported by the retention of a 50-fold larger algal nucleus for ∼1 week. Once the algal nucleus was lost, there was a decrease in plastid volume and photosynthesis, but nucleus- and plastid-encoded photosystem subunits were still detected. Carbon fixation and transfer to the host were also maintained after >2 months. We also showed that the algal mitochondrion was stolen and retained for several months, transforming into an extensive network interacting with plastids. This highlights a complex strategy in plankton along the continuum of plastid symbioses, where both plastids and mitochondria of a microalga are hijacked by a host for several months without the algal nucleus. This association, which we found to be widely distributed in polar regions, suggests that plastid-mitochondrion interaction may have played a role in the evolution of plastid acquisition and opens new questions about host control and organelle maintenance.},
}
@article {pmid40248851,
year = {2025},
author = {Weber, SE and Bascompte, J and Kahmen, A and Niklaus, PA},
title = {AMF diversity promotes plant community phosphorus acquisition and reduces carbon costs per unit of phosphorus.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70161},
pmid = {40248851},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {FK-21-106//University of Z&#xfc;rich/ ; //Z&#xfc;rich-Basel Plant Science Center/ ; 310030_197201//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; },
abstract = {Plants may benefit from more diverse communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as functional complementarity of AMF may allow for increased resource acquisition, and because a high AMF diversity increases the probability of plants matching with an optimal AMF symbiont. We repeatedly radiolabeled plants and AMF in the glasshouse over c. 9 months to test how AMF species richness (SR) influences the exchange of plant C ([14]C) for AMF P ([32]P &amp; [33]P) and resulting shoot nutrients and mass from a biodiversity-ecosystem functioning perspective. Plant P acquisition via AMF increased with sown AMF SR, as did shoot biomass, shoot P, and shoot N. The rate of plant C transferred to AMF for this P (C:P) decreased with sown AMF SR. Plants in plant communities benefit from inoculation with a variety of AMF species via more favorable resource exchange. Surprisingly, this effect did not differ among functionally distinct communities comprised entirely of either legumes, nonlegume forbs, or C3 grasses.},
}
@article {pmid40247696,
year = {2025},
author = {Tortorelli, G and Rosset, SL and Sullivan, CES and Woo, S and Johnston, EC and Walker, NS and Hancock, JR and Caruso, C and Varela, AC and Hughes, K and Martin, C and Quinn, RA and Drury, C},
title = {Heat-induced stress modulates cell surface glycans and membrane lipids of coral symbionts.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40247696},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {2307516//The National Science Foundation Organismal Response to Climate Change/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology/parasitology/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Polysaccharides/metabolism/analysis ; *Membrane Lipids/metabolism/analysis ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology/genetics/chemistry ; *Heat-Shock Response ; Hot Temperature ; Oxidative Stress ; },
abstract = {The susceptibility of corals to environmental stress is determined by complex interactions between host genetic variation and the Symbiodiniaceae family community. We exposed genotypes of Montipora capitata hosting primarily Cladocopium or Durusdinium symbionts to ambient conditions and an 8-day heat stress. Symbionts' cell surface glycan composition differed between genera and was significantly affected by temperature and oxidative stress. The metabolic profile of coral holobionts was primarily shaped by symbionts identity, but was also strongly responsive to oxidative stress. At peak temperature stress, betaine lipids in Cladocopium were remodeled to more closely resemble the abundance and saturation state of Durusdinium symbionts, which paralleled a larger metabolic shift in Cladocopium. Exploring how Symbiodiniaceae members regulate stress and host-symbiont affinity helps identify the traits contributing to coral resilience under climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40247144,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, YW and Zhao, TT and Sun, Q and Liu, XL and Huang, XY and Li, LG and Wang, HB and Li, WK and Wang, CK and Wang, WY and Xiang, Y and Ma, CN and Chen, XS and Cheng, L and Hu, DG},
title = {Enrichment of two important metabolites D-galacturonic acid and D-glucuronic acid inhibits MdHb1-mediated fruit softening in apple.},
journal = {Nature plants},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {891-908},
pmid = {40247144},
issn = {2055-0278},
support = {32122080//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; tsqnz20231206//Taishan Scholar Project of Shandong Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Malus/metabolism/genetics/physiology ; *Fruit/metabolism/genetics/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Hexuronic Acids/metabolism ; Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Pectins/metabolism ; },
abstract = {In apples, fruit firmness is a crucial quality trait influencing fruit storability, transportability, shelf life and consumer preference. However, the genetic network underlying this trait remains unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the changes in apple fruit at different stages of postharvest storage using a combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. With prolonged storage, we detected a significant increase in two metabolites, D-galacturonic acid (D-GalUA) and D-glucuronic acid (D-GlcA), which are associated with a key class 1 non-symbiotic haemoglobin (MdHb1). We innovatively found that MdHb1 regulates fruit softening by catalysing the conversion from protopectin to water-soluble pectin. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that MdMYB2/MdNAC14/MdNTL9 transcription factors directly bind to the MdHb1 promoter to activate its transcriptional expression and promote fruit softening. Further injection experiments in apple fruit and histological as well as transmission electron microscopy analyses of the fruit samples revealed that D-GalUA and D-GlcA reduce the transcription of MdHb1, or through the MdMYB2/MdNAC14/MdNTL9-MdHb1 regulatory module, thereby delaying fruit softening. Our study provides novel insights into the role of two important metabolites, D-GalUA and D-GlcA, in the regulation of MdHb1-mediated fruit softening in apples.},
}
@article {pmid40245733,
year = {2025},
author = {Banerjee, A and Singh, S and Bhaskar, T and Venkata Mohan, S and Ghosh, D},
title = {Anaerobic conversion of de-oiled yeast biomass fractionation waste to biomethane and biohydrogen for resource efficiency in biorefineries.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {382},
number = {},
pages = {125337},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125337},
pmid = {40245733},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Anaerobiosis ; Yeasts/metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Methane/analysis/metabolism ; Hydrogen/analysis/metabolism ; *Cell Fractionation/methods ; Fermentation ; Bioreactors ; },
abstract = {High-value intracellular bio-compounds are extracted from microbial biomass through cell fractionation processes, which generate discharge streams. These discharges are rich in organic carbon and nitrogen that are derived from the soluble and insoluble protein and carbohydrate polymers. The present study investigated the anaerobic conversion of such a tertiary waste stream generated during the production of glucan-chitin complex through fractionation of de-oiled yeast biomass (a type of spent microbial biomass, which is the solid leftover residue of yeast lipid production process). Fed-batch anaerobic processes of methanogenesis and acidogenesis were investigated for the generated discharge streams. An average COD removal of 47 % with 294 and 323.51 mg VFA/g COD, with a maximum yield of 133.61 mL CH4/g COD and 53.45 mL H2/g COD in methanogenic and acidogenic fermentation was achieved. Considering CH4 production and COD removal, methanogenesis performed better, while in terms of VFA production and subsequent COD removal, acidogenesis was suitable. The investigation indicated the relevance of anaerobic processes for the conversion of de-oiled biomass fractionation discharge streams and suggested a route for integrating aerobic downstream waste to anaerobic fermentation systems, subsequently eliminating a greywater footprint of 5233.04 g/L and opening a prospect for an industrial symbiosis system. The findings highlighted the potential of these systems in process integration for fermentation-based process chains to achieve circularity and resource efficiency in production.},
}
@article {pmid40245726,
year = {2025},
author = {Amir, N and Hussin, F and Aroua, MK and Gozan, M},
title = {Sustainable valorization of seaweed industrial by-product: Converting filter cake into valuable resources.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {382},
number = {},
pages = {125342},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125342},
pmid = {40245726},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Seaweed/chemistry ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Industrial Waste ; Recycling ; },
abstract = {Filter cake, a significant by-product of the seaweed industry, poses environmental risks by releasing harmful elements that can contaminate air, soil, and water. Despite its potential, the valorization of this by-product remains underexplored. Therefore, this study developed a novel pathway to valorize filter cake into valuable resources. The by-product was initially processed using practical methods, including drying, grinding, and sieving. Drying kinetics were thoroughly analyzed and compared with 24 thin-layer drying models. Subsequently, the by-product was characterized using TGA, FTIR, EDX, and SEM before calculating the associated costs and carbon dioxide emissions of valorization. Optimal valorization required two days of open sun drying, grinding, and sieving, followed by 150 min in a fluidized bed dryer. The modified Midili-Kucuk equation provided the best fit for the drying process. Valorization cost was estimated at US$ 0.651 per kg, with carbon dioxide emissions of 0.648 kg per kg. The characterization data revealed that the valorized by-product contains organic and inorganic materials, underscoring its potential as a valuable resource, specifically as a recycled aid filter, silica source, and growing medium. However, further studies are required to assess its potential. Ultimately, this research contributes to green manufacturing and chemistry by employing sustainable methods that minimize environmental impact. It also promotes sustainability, reduces costs through by-product reuse, and encourages responsible consumption and production, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 12, 9, and 15.},
}
@article {pmid40244681,
year = {2025},
author = {Maxwell, MWH and Causier, BE and Chippendale, J and Ault, JR and Bell, CA},
title = {Diet-regulated transcriptional plasticity of plant parasites in plant-mutualist environments.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {16},
pages = {e2421367122},
pmid = {40244681},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {BB/X009823/1//UKRI | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/ ; BB/T001194/1//UKRI | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Roots/parasitology/microbiology ; Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; *Tylenchoidea/genetics/physiology ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Diet ; },
abstract = {Crop pathogens often lack exclusive access to their host and must interact with plants concurrently engaged with numerous other symbionts. Here, we demonstrate that the colonization of hosts by plant-mutualistic mycorrhizal fungi can indirectly induce transcriptional responses of a major plant parasite, the nematode Globodera pallida, via a modified host resource profile. A shift in the resource profile of the root, where the parasite feeds, is perceived and responded to by the parasite through transcriptional changes, potentially to optimize resource intake. Specifically, G. pallida react to reduced host-photosynthate influx due to concurrent mycorrhizal-host symbiosis by upregulating the expression of a sugar transporter (SWEET3) in the nematode intestine. We identify this gene's role in parasite growth and development, regulated by the putative diet-responsive transcription factor Gp-HBL1. Overall, our data unveil a mechanism by which a parasitic animal responds to fluctuations in host plant quality that is induced by a plant-mutualistic fungus, to enhance parasitism and reproduction.},
}
@article {pmid40244242,
year = {2025},
author = {Schenone, A and Massucco, S and Schenone, C and Venturi, CB and Nozza, P and Prada, V and Pomili, T and Di Patrizi, I and Capodivento, G and Nobbio, L and Grandis, M},
title = {Basic Pathological Mechanisms in Peripheral Nerve Diseases.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40244242},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {PE0000006 DN. 1553 11.10.2022//Ministry of University and Research (MUR)/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/pathology/metabolism ; Animals ; Schwann Cells/pathology/metabolism ; Axons/pathology/metabolism ; Myelin Sheath/pathology/metabolism ; Demyelinating Diseases/pathology/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Wallerian Degeneration/pathology ; },
abstract = {Pathological changes and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying axonopathy and myelinopathy are key to understanding a wide range of inherited and acquired peripheral nerve disorders. While the clinical indications for nerve biopsy have diminished over time, its diagnostic value remains significant in select conditions, offering a unique window into the pathophysiological processes of peripheral neuropathies. Evidence highlights the symbiotic relationship between axons and myelinating Schwann cells, wherein disruptions in axo-glial interactions contribute to neuropathogenesis. This review synthesizes recent insights into the pathological and molecular underpinnings of axonopathy and myelinopathy. Axonopathy encompasses Wallerian degeneration, axonal atrophy, and dystrophy. Although extensively studied in traumatic nerve injury, the mechanisms of axonal degeneration and Schwann cell-mediated repair are increasingly recognized as pivotal in non-traumatic disorders, including dying-back neuropathies. We briefly outline key transcription factors, signaling pathways, and epigenetic changes driving axonal regeneration. For myelinopathy, we discuss primary segmental demyelination and dysmyelination, characterized by defective myelin development. We describe paranodal demyelination in light of recent findings in nodopathies, emphasizing that it is not an exclusive indicator of demyelinating disorders. This comprehensive review provides a framework to enhance our understanding of peripheral nerve pathology and its implications for developing targeted therapies.},
}
@article {pmid40243922,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, H and Lu, J and Liang, F and Ding, H and Xiao, C},
title = {Unassuming Lichens: Nature's Hidden Antimicrobial Warriors.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40243922},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {202401AT070076//Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects/ ; },
mesh = {*Lichens/chemistry/metabolism ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; Humans ; Candida albicans/drug effects ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects ; Benzofurans ; },
abstract = {In a hidden corner of the Earth, an ongoing war is being waged: a battle between lichens and microorganisms. Lichens, ancient and unique symbiotic organisms, with their unique survival wisdom, are bursting with vitality in extreme environments. Over 80% of secondary metabolites in lichens are not found in other organisms, making lichen-derived compounds a promising resource for the development of new drugs, particularly against drug-resistant microorganisms, due to their distinctive chemical structures and biological activities. This article aims to explore in depth the lichen species exhibiting antimicrobial activity and their antimicrobial metabolites and focus on unique compounds such as divaricatic acid, usnic acid, vulpinic acid, salazinic acid, and rhizocarpic acid, which demonstrate significant antimicrobial effects against various resistant microorganisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Candida albicans and other drug-resistant microorganisms. Meanwhile, this paper discusses the potential applications and challenges associated with the use of lichens in medicine, agriculture, and food industry, aiming to elucidate these mysterious organisms for lichen researchers and enthusiasts while promoting further research and applications in the field of antimicrobials.},
}
@article {pmid40243584,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, X and Mai, C and Xia, L and Jia, G and Li, X and Lu, Y and Li, Z and Yang, H and Wang, L},
title = {Molecular Insights into the Positive Role of Soybean Nodulation by GmWRKY17.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40243584},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {32241046, 32472158//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2025xczx03//Shanxi Breeding Innovation Joint research and development projects/ ; 2023ZD040350103//Scientific and Technological Innovation 2030-Major Projects/ ; 202204051001020//Science and Technology Innovation Young Talent Team of Shanxi Province/ ; 2021xG003, 2022xG0014//Scientific research fund for talents of Shanxi Agricultural University/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Symbiosis ; *Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Cytokinins/metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {Soybean is an important economic oilseed crop, being rich in protein and plant oil, it is widely cultivated around the world. Soybeans have been shown to establish a symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) with their compatible rhizobia, resulting in the formation of nodules. Previous studies have demonstrated the critical roles of phytohormones, such as abscisic acid and cytokinin, in the process of legume nodulation. The present study investigated the role of GmWRKY17, a homolog of Rosa hybrida (Rh)WRKY13 in regulating plant immunity through cytokinin content and abscisic acid signaling in soybean nodulation. Utilizing real-time PCR and histochemical staining, we demonstrated that GmWRKY17 is predominantly expressed in soybean root nodules. Subsequently, we analyzed the function of GmWRKY17-overexpression, RNA interference (RNAi), and the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Overexpression of GmWRKY17 significantly increases soybean nodule number, while RNAi or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of GmWRKY17 resulted in a dramatic repression of nodule formation in soybeans. These results highlight that GmWRKY17 functions as a positive regulator involved in soybean nodulation. Furthermore, manipulation of GmWRKY17 expression impacts the expression of genes associated with the nod factor (NF) signaling pathway, thereby influencing soybean nodulation. This study demonstrated that WRKY-type transcription factors are involved in the regulation of legume nodulation, offering new light on the molecular basis of the symbiotic interaction between legumes and rhizobia.},
}
@article {pmid40243374,
year = {2025},
author = {Kustra, MC and Carrier, TJ},
title = {Microbes as manipulators of egg size and developmental evolution.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {5},
pages = {e0365524},
pmid = {40243374},
issn = {2150-7511},
mesh = {Animals ; *Biological Evolution ; Female ; *Ovum/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Invertebrates/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Male ; *Aquatic Organisms/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Larva/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Reproduction ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Marine invertebrates mainly reproduce by energy-poor eggs that develop into feeding larvae or energy-rich eggs that develop into non-feeding larvae. Evolutionary transitions between these developmental modes have been studied in detail, yet the evolutionary factor(s) responsible for these switches remains elusive. Here, we use theoretical models to support the premise that microbes with the capacity to manipulate host reproduction may be one possible factor. Our model predicts that microbial manipulators could create a sperm-limited environment that selects for larger eggs by shifting the host's sex ratio toward female dominance and, as a result, drive an evolutionary transition in the developmental mode for marine invertebrates. The loss of a microbial manipulator could then recover the ancestral egg size and developmental mode. We also suggest more than a dozen genera of marine invertebrates from throughout the world's oceans that fit the framework of a microbe-induced evolutionary transition between these predominant developmental modes. We anticipate that microbial manipulators have a yet-to-be-appreciated influence on the developmental evolution of marine invertebrates. We find it paramount to understand whether evolutionary transitions in developmental mode occur with and without microbial manipulators as well as whether the underlying mechanisms of these manipulations are convergent with terrestrial systems.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Microbes that manipulate animal reproduction are widespread on land, and their evolutionary influence is widely acknowledged. Relatives of these manipulators are increasingly found in the ocean, but uniquely with taxa that recently underwent a transition in developmental evolution from feeding to non-feeding larvae. Here, we present theoretical models supporting that microbial manipulators could create a sperm-limited environment that selects for larger eggs by shifting the host's sex ratio toward female dominance and, as a result, drive an evolutionary transition in the developmental mode for free-spawning marine invertebrates. This theoretical model provides a complementary viewpoint to the theory regarding the evolutionary process that marine invertebrates undergo to transition between developmental modes as well as a fruitful opportunity to compare with terrestrial systems.},
}
@article {pmid40243333,
year = {2025},
author = {Gaddy, KE and Septer, AN and Mruk, K and Milton, ME},
title = {A mutualistic model bacterium is lethal to non-symbiotic hosts via the type VI secretion system.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {5},
pages = {e0015725},
pmid = {40243333},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {K22AI170662/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R21GM143565/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R21 GM143565/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; K22 AI170662/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM137886/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35GM137886/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Aliivibrio fischeri/pathogenicity/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; *Zebrafish/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Type VI Secretion Systems/metabolism/genetics ; Artemia/microbiology ; Decapodiformes/microbiology ; },
abstract = {What makes a bacterium pathogenic? Since the early days of germ theory, researchers have categorized bacteria as pathogens or non-pathogens, those that cause harm and those that do not, but this binary view is not always accurate. Vibrio fischeri is an exclusive mutualistic symbiont found within the light organs of Hawaiian bobtail squid. This symbiotic interaction requires V. fischeri to utilize a range of behaviors and produce molecules that are often associated with pathogenicity. This juxtaposition of employing "pathogenic" behaviors for a symbiotic relationship led the field to focus on how V. fischeri establishes a beneficial association with its host. In this study, we observe that V. fischeri induces mortality in zebrafish embryos and Artemia nauplii. Non-lethal doses of V. fischeri lead to zebrafish growth delays and phenotypes indicative of disease. Our data also provide evidence that the conserved type VI secretion system on chromosome I (T6SS1) plays a role in the V. fischeri-induced mortality of zebrafish embryos and Artemia nauplii. These results support the hypothesis that the V. fischeri T6SS1 is involved in eukaryotic cell interactions. Despite its traditional view as a beneficial symbiont, we provide evidence that V. fischeri is capable of harming aquatic organisms, indicating its potential to be pathogenic toward non-symbiotic hosts.IMPORTANCEVibrio fischeri is best known for its beneficial partnership with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, where it uses molecular tools often associated with disease-causing bacteria. Our research shows that V. fischeri can also cause harm, killing zebrafish embryos and brine shrimp larvae. We pinpoint one of V. fischeri's two type VI secretion systems (T6SS1) as a key factor in this pathogenicity. These findings reveal that V. fischeri is not strictly a mutualistic microbe but can act like a pathogen under certain conditions. This broadens our understanding of how V. fischeri could interact with different hosts and offers new insights into the dual roles bacteria can play in nature.},
}
@article {pmid40242515,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, J and Chen, N and Li, Z and Liu, Y},
title = {Gut microbiome and liver diseases.},
journal = {Fundamental research},
volume = {5},
number = {2},
pages = {890-901},
pmid = {40242515},
issn = {2667-3258},
abstract = {Symbiotic microbiota plays a crucial role in the education, development, and maintenance of the host immune system, significantly contributing to overall health. Through the gut-liver axis, the gut microbiota and liver have a bidirectional relationship that is becoming increasingly evident as more research highlights the translocation of the gut microbiota and its metabolites. The focus of this narrative review is to examine and discuss the importance of the gut-liver axis and the enterohepatic barrier in maintaining overall health. Additionally, we emphasize the crucial role of the gut microbiome in liver diseases and explore potential therapeutic strategies for liver diseases by manipulating the microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid40241821,
year = {2025},
author = {Terra, LA and Klepa, MS and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M},
title = {Pangenome analysis indicates evolutionary origins and genetic diversity: emphasis on the role of nodulation in symbiotic Bradyrhizobium.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1539151},
pmid = {40241821},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {The Bradyrhizobium genus is widely known for encompassing many species capable of forming nodules and establishing the biological nitrogen fixation process with several legumes, significantly contributing to agriculture and environmental sustainability. Despite its importance, questions about the evolution, pangenome, and symbiotic genes of Bradyrhizobium are still poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the pangenome of a set of Bradyrhizobium symbiotic species using the Roary and GET_HOMOLOGUES tools in strains originated from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. We also investigated the presence and correlation of the fix, nif, nod, Type III secretion system (T3SS) and their effector proteins, and T4SS genes, trying to find differences between clades, hosts, and biogeographic origin. Pangenome analysis of Bradyrhizobium species from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres provided valuable insights into their diversity, biogeography, origin, and co-evolution with their legume host plants. The genus possesses a relatively small core genome compared to the expanded accessory genome, a key feature that facilitates genetic exchange and acquisition of new genes, allowing adaptation to a variety of environments. Notably, the presence or absence of T3SS effector proteins varied significantly according to the geographic location, suggesting specific environmental adaptations, as well as a direct relationship with nodulation genes. Comparative analysis indicated that symbiotic Bradyrhizobium species originated in the Northern Hemisphere and present a greater diversity of orthologous groups than those from the Southern Hemisphere. These results contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary history of these symbiotic bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40241336,
year = {2025},
author = {Mesquita, A and Cerqueira, D and Rocha, M and Silva, D and Martins, C and Souza, B},
title = {A Review on Rare and Symbiotic Actinobacteria: Emerging Biotechnological Tools Against Antimicrobial Resistance.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {65},
number = {6},
pages = {e70036},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70036},
pmid = {40241336},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {PNE-0112-00069.01.00/16//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico/ ; PS1-0186-00170.01.00/21//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico/ ; },
mesh = {*Actinobacteria/metabolism/physiology/genetics/classification ; *Symbiosis ; *Biotechnology/methods ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/biosynthesis ; Humans ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; },
abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat to public health, with projections estimating 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if current trends persist. Actinobacteria, renowned for their biosynthetic capacity, are a key source of bioactive compounds, producing over 75% of known antibiotics. The adaptability of these microorganisms allows them to thrive in diverse habitats, including extreme ones, through the production of secondary metabolites that are of paramount importance for industry. Furthermore, actinobacteria are capable of living in symbiosis with several organisms, producing metabolites to protect and promote the growth of the host in exchange for nutrients and shelter. Some of these metabolites, such as antibiotics, play a key role in combating host pathogens and can be biotechnologically exploited to combat human resistant pathogens. This review presents the origins of AMR, the unique biology of actinobacteria, as well as their diverse biosynthetic pathways and their role in mitigating the AMR crisis. It also highlights the need for innovative biotechnological strategies for the isolation of rare and understudied actinobacteria, as symbiotic actinobacteria, to avoid rediscovery of molecules while finding new potential natural products and scaffolds for synthetic drugs. By providing a better understanding of their ecological, genomic, and metabolic diversity, this review provides valuable insights into the exploration of rare and symbiotic actinobacteria for developing antimicrobial solutions.},
}
@article {pmid40241175,
year = {2025},
author = {Malassigné, S and Laÿs, M and Vallon, L and Martin, E and Meiffren, G and Vigneron, A and Tran Van, V and Minard, G and Valiente Moro, C and Luis, P},
title = {Environmental yeasts differentially impact the development and oviposition behavior of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {99},
pmid = {40241175},
issn = {2049-2618},
mesh = {Animals ; *Oviposition ; *Aedes/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Female ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Yeasts/classification/physiology/metabolism ; Riboflavin/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: While the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a known vector of many arboviruses, establishes symbiotic associations with environmentally acquired yeasts, their impact on mosquito biology remains poorly investigated. To better understand these associations, we hypothesized that waterborne yeasts colonizing the larval gut differentially support mosquito development based on their capacity to produce riboflavin or recycle nitrogen waste into proteins by secreting uricase, as B vitamins and amino acids are crucial for mosquito development. To address this hypothesis, we used axenic and gnotobiotic insects to gauge the specific impact of different environmental yeasts on Ae. albopictus development and survival. We then evaluated whether the observed variations across yeast species could be linked to differential uricolytic activities and varying quantities of riboflavin and proteins in insecta. Finally, given that mosquito oviposition site selection favors conditions that enhance offspring performance, we tested whether yeasts that promote faster development mediate oviposition site selection by gravid females.<br><br>RESULTS: Differences in mosquito development times were observed based on the environmental yeast used. Yeasts like Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Aureobasidium pullulans promoted rapid development and were associated with improved survival. Conversely, yeasts such as Torulaspora delbrueckii and Martiniozyma asiatica, which led to slower development, produced smaller adults. Notably, R. mucilaginosa, which promoted the fastest development, provided high riboflavin intakes and enhance nitrogenous waste recycling and protein synthesis through strong uricolytic-ureolytic activity. Behavioral experiments indicated that yeasts promoting rapid development "attract gravid females.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight that a set of environmental yeasts present in natural larval breeding sites can be associated with improved mosquito development and survival by enhancing nutritional intake, thereby attracting gravid females. Variations in mosquito development time are likely linked to the differential levels of riboflavin production and nitrogenous waste recycling capacities among yeast species. This study opens new perspectives on the trophic interactions between mosquitoes and their mycobiota, emphasizing the importance of nitrogen-containing molecules such as essential amino acids, proteins, or vitamins provided by the mycobiota. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid40241074,
year = {2025},
author = {Xiao, G and Wang, X and Xu, Z and Liu, Y and Jing, J},
title = {Lung-specific metastasis: the coevolution of tumor cells and lung microenvironment.},
journal = {Molecular cancer},
volume = {24},
number = {1},
pages = {118},
pmid = {40241074},
issn = {1476-4598},
support = {82404672//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023M742486//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; *Lung Neoplasms/pathology/secondary/metabolism ; Animals ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; },
abstract = {The vast majority of cancer-related deaths are attributed to metastasis. The lung, being a common site for cancer metastasis, is highly prone to being a target for multiple cancer types and causes a heavy disease burden. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that tumor metastasis necessitates continuous interactions between tumor cells and distant metastatic niches. Nevertheless, a comprehensive elucidation of the underlying mechanisms governing lung-specific metastasis still poses a formidable challenge. In this review, we depict the lung susceptibility and the molecular profiles of tumors with the potential for lung metastasis. Under the conceptual framework of "Reciprocal Tumor-Lung Metastatic Symbiosis" (RTLMS), we mechanistically delineate the bidirectional regulatory dynamics and coevolutionary adaptation between tumor cells and distal pulmonary niches during lung-specific metastasis, including the induction of pre-metastatic-niches, positive responses of the lung, tumor colonization, dormancy, and reawakening. An enhanced understanding of the latest mechanisms is essential for developing targeted strategies to counteract lung-specific metastasis.},
}
@article {pmid40241006,
year = {2025},
author = {Czerwinski, A and Löwenstrom, J and Franzenburg, S and Groth, EE and Obeng, N and Schulenburg, H},
title = {PelD is required downstream of c-di-GMP for host specialization of Pseudomonas lurida.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {220},
pmid = {40241006},
issn = {1471-2180},
mesh = {*Caenorhabditis elegans/microbiology ; *Cyclic GMP/analogs &amp; derivatives/metabolism ; Animals ; *Pseudomonas/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Multigene Family ; Gene Expression Profiling ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The bacterial second messenger c-di-GMP is known to influence the formation of biofilms and thereby persistence of pathogenic and beneficial bacteria in hosts. A previous evolution experiment with Pseudomonas lurida MYb11, occasional symbiont of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, led to the emergence of host-specialized variants with elevated intracellular c-di-GMP. Thus far, the molecular underpinnings of c-di-GMP-mediated host specialization were unknown in this symbiosis. Therefore, the current study aimed at identifying candidate molecular processes by combining transcriptomic and functional genetic analyses.<br><br>RESULTS: We found that MYb11 host specialists differentially expressed genes related to attachment, motility and biofilm production, including pelD from the pel gene cluster. pelD deletion resulted in reduced intra-host competitive fitness, lower bacterial numbers in C. elegans and loss of biofilm biomass.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our results identify pelD as a previously unknown key modulator of beneficial symbiont-host associations that acts downstream of c-di-GMP.},
}
@article {pmid40237471,
year = {2025},
author = {Njogu, AK and Logozzo, F and Conner, WR and Shropshire, JD},
title = {Counting rare Wolbachia endosymbionts using digital droplet PCR.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {e0326624},
pmid = {40237471},
issn = {2165-0497},
support = {R35 GM124701/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35GM124701//HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)/ ; Class of '68 Pre-Tenure Faculty Award//Lehigh University (LU)/ ; },
mesh = {*Wolbachia/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Animals ; *Symbiosis ; Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia is the most widespread animal-associated intracellular microbe, living within the cells of over half of insect species. Since they can suppress pathogen replication and spread rapidly through insect populations, Wolbachia is at the vanguard of public health initiatives to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia's abilities to block pathogens and spread quickly are closely linked to their abundance in host tissues. The most common method for counting Wolbachia is quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), yet qPCR can be insufficient to count rare Wolbachia, necessitating tissue pooling and consequently compromising individual-level resolution of Wolbachia dynamics. Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) offers superior sensitivity, enabling the detection of rare targets and eliminating the need for sample pooling. Here, we report three ddPCR assays to measure total Wolbachia abundance, Wolbachia abundance adjusted for DNA extraction efficiency, and Wolbachia density relative to host genome copies. Using Drosophila melanogaster with wMel Wolbachia as a model, we show these ddPCR assays can reliably detect as few as 7 to 12 Wolbachia gene copies in a 20 µL reaction. The designed oligos are homologous to sequences from at least 106 Wolbachia strains across supergroup A and 53 host species from the Drosophila, Scaptomyza, and Zaprionus genera, suggesting broad utility. These highly sensitive ddPCR assays are expected to significantly advance Wolbachia-host interactions research by enabling the collection of molecular data from individual insect tissues. Their ability to detect rare Wolbachia will be especially valuable in applied and natural field settings where pooling samples could obscure important variation.IMPORTANCEWolbachia bacteria live inside the cells of many animals, especially insects. In many insect species, almost every individual carries Wolbachia. How common Wolbachia becomes within a population often depends on how much of it is present in the insect's body. Therefore, accurately measuring Wolbachia levels is crucial for understanding how these bacteria interact with their hosts and spread. However, traditional molecular assays can lack the sensitivity needed for accurate, individual-level quantification of rare Wolbachia. Here, we present three highly sensitive digital droplet PCR assays for Wolbachia detection, offering superior sensitivity compared to existing methods. These assays will be useful for studies that measure Wolbachia abundance and related phenotypes in individual insects, providing enhanced resolution and improving efforts to characterize the mechanisms that govern phenotypic variation.},
}
@article {pmid40236481,
year = {2025},
author = {Alimu, A and Gao, Y and Liu, J and Lu, Y},
title = {Geographic factors influence communities of symbiotic bacterial communities in Aphis gossypii across China's major cotton regions.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1569543},
pmid = {40236481},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Aphids are often infected with diverse bacterial symbionts that enhance their ecological adaptation. While geographic factors significantly influence aphid bacterial communities, research on environmental effects on the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover feeding on cotton plants across China's major cotton-growing regions is limited.<br><br>METHODS: This study examined the influence of geographic factors on the endosymbiotic bacterial community and diversity of A. gossypii by analyzing 58 field samples from 24 locations across China's major cotton-growing regions (2021-2022) using 16S rRNA (V3-V4) high-throughput sequencing.<br><br>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that geography is an important factor in shaping the endosymbiotic bacterial composition and diversity of A. gossypii. Among China's three major cotton-growing regions, the Yangtze River Basin exhibited the highest bacterial diversity, followed by the Northwestern Inland Region, and then the Yellow River Basin. Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, Serratia, and Aeromonas were more abundant in the Yangtze River Basin, with positive correlations observed for Acinetobacter, Serratia, and Aeromonas in relation to annual precipitation. In contrast, Candidatus Uzinura, dominant in southern Xinjiang, displayed negative correlations with precipitation and longitude but a positive correlation with altitude, and this report is the first detection of it in A. gossypii. Buchnera was ubiquitous and negatively associated with both precipitation and temperature, while Arsenophonus showed no significant environmental correlations. These findings highlight the distinct influences of geographic factors on A. gossypii endosymbiotic communities across China's major cotton-growing regions, broadening our understanding of aphid-endosymbiont-environment interactions and offering potential avenues for biocontrol strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40235960,
year = {2025},
author = {Basgaran, A and Lymberopoulos, E and Burchill, E and Reis-Dehabadi, M and Sharma, N},
title = {Machine learning determines the incidence of Alzheimer's disease based on population gut microbiome profile.},
journal = {Brain communications},
volume = {7},
number = {2},
pages = {fcaf059},
pmid = {40235960},
issn = {2632-1297},
abstract = {The human microbiome is a complex and dynamic community of microbes, thought to have symbiotic benefit to its host. Influences of the gut microbiome on brain microglia have been identified as a potential mechanism contributing to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, motor neurone disease and Parkinson's disease (Boddy SL, Giovannelli I, Sassani M, et al. The gut microbiome: A key player in the complexity of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). BMC Med. 2021;19(1):13). We hypothesize that population level differences in the gut microbiome will predict the incidence of Alzheimer's disease using machine learning methods. Cross-sectional analyses were performed in R, using two large, open-access microbiome datasets (n = 959 and n = 2012). Countries in these datasets were grouped based on Alzheimer's disease incidence and the gut microbiome profiles compared. In countries with a high incidence of Alzheimer's disease, there is a significantly lower diversity of the gut microbiome (P < 0.05). A permutational analysis of variance test (P < 0.05) revealed significant differences in the microbiome profile between countries with high versus low incidence of Alzheimer's disease with several contributing taxa identified: at a species level Escherichia coli, and at a genus level Haemophilus and Akkermansia were found to be reproducibly protective in both datasets. Additionally, using machine learning, we were able to predict the incidence of Alzheimer's disease within a country based on the microbiome profile (mean area under the curve 0.889 and 0.927). We conclude that differences in the microbiome can predict the varying incidence of Alzheimer's disease between countries. Our results support a key role of the gut microbiome in neurodegeneration at a population level.},
}
@article {pmid40235917,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Wang, Z and Sun, X and He, X and Zhang, Y},
title = {Specific soil factors drive the differed stochastic assembly of rhizosphere and root endosphere fungal communities in pear trees across different habitats.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1549173},
pmid = {40235917},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Pyrus betulifolia is tolerant to diverse environmental conditions and is commonly planted in infertile habitats (such as beaches and ridges) to conserve arable land for cereal crops. Symbiotic fungi in the rhizosphere and root endosphere benefit host plants by enhancing their resilience to nutritional deficiencies under stressful conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying the assembly of these symbiotic fungal communities in the roots of P. betulifolia across different habitats remain poorly understood.<br><br>METHODS: Pyrus betulifolia of 30-year-old were selected from five sites in northern China to investigate the assembly of fungal communities in the rhizosphere and root endosphere. Soil samples were collected to assess the heterogeneity of the environment surrounding each plant. Procrustes analysis, variance partitioning analysis, and ordination regression analysis were employed to explore the ecological relationships between soil factors and fungal community composition.<br><br>RESULTS: The rhizosphere fungal community exhibited higher richness, greater diversity and lower structural variability compared to the root endosphere. Additionally, the rhizosphere supported a fungal network with higher abundance and stronger connectivity than the root endosphere. The composition of fungal communities varies significantly among different regions. In both the rhizosphere and root endosphere fungal communities, the number of genera specific to mountainous regions was larger than those in plain areas and saline-alkali areas. Null model-based analyses indicated that the assembly of rhizosphere and root endosphere fungal communities in P. betulifolia was mainly governed by stochastic processes. Specifically, in non-saline-alkali soils, the assembly of rhizosphere fungi was primarily driven by dispersal limitation, whereas the assembly of root endosphere fungi was dominated by ecological drift. In saline-alkali soils, both rhizosphere and root endosphere fungal communities were primarily influenced by ecological drift.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The assembly of root-associated fungal communities in P. betulifolia is not only driven by soil physicochemical properties but also influenced by root compartment niche and topography. Moreover, the impact intensity of the root compartment niche is greater than topography. Specifically, the assembly of the rhizosphere fungal community was primarily influenced by alkaline nitrogen (AN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), while the root endosphere fungal community was more strongly affected by pH and sucrase (SUC). These findings could provide valuable insights for the design of beneficial root-associated microbiomes to enhance fruit tree performance.},
}
@article {pmid40235687,
year = {2025},
author = {},
title = {Correction to: Significant role of symbiotic bacteria in the blood digestion and reproduction of Dermanyssus gallinae mites.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycae166},
doi = {10.1093/ismeco/ycae166},
pmid = {40235687},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae127.].},
}
@article {pmid40235654,
year = {2025},
author = {Ellis, SL and Baird, ME and Harrison, LP and Schulz, KG and Harrison, DP},
title = {A photophysiological model of coral bleaching under light and temperature stress: experimental assessment.},
journal = {Conservation physiology},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {coaf020},
pmid = {40235654},
issn = {2051-1434},
abstract = {Marine heatwaves occurring against the backdrop of rising global sea surface temperatures have triggered mass coral bleaching and mortality. Irradiance is critical to coral growth but is also an implicating factor in photodamage, leading to the expulsion of symbiotic algae under increased temperatures. Numerical modelling is a valuable tool that can provide insight into the state of the symbiont photochemistry during coral bleaching events. However, very few numerical physiological models combine the influence of light and temperature for simulating coral bleaching. The coral bleaching model used was derived from the coral bleaching representation in the eReefs configuration of the CSIRO Environmental Modelling Suite, with the most significant change being the equation for the rate of detoxification of reactive oxygen species. Simulated physiological bleaching outcomes from the model were compared to photochemical bleaching proxies measured during an ex situ moderate degree-heating week (up to 4.4) experiment. The bleaching response of Acropora divaricata was assessed in an unshaded and 30% shade treatment. The model-simulated timing for the onset of bleaching under elevated temperatures closely corresponded with an initial photochemical decline as observed in the experiment. Increased bleaching severity under elevated temperature and unshaded light was also simulated by the model, an outcome confirmed in the experiment. This is the first experimental validation of a temperature-mediated, light-driven model of coral bleaching from the perspective of the symbiont. When forced by realistic environmental conditions, process-based mechanistic modelling could improve accuracy in predicting heterogeneous bleaching outcomes during contemporary marine heatwave events and future climate change scenarios. Mechanistic modelling will be invaluable in evaluating management interventions for deployment in coral reef environments.},
}
@article {pmid40235528,
year = {2025},
author = {Cameirão, C and Pereira, JA and Tavares, R and Lino-Neto, T and Baptista, P},
title = {Bacterial dynamics and exchange in plant-insect interactions.},
journal = {Current research in insect science},
volume = {7},
number = {},
pages = {100110},
pmid = {40235528},
issn = {2666-5158},
abstract = {In nature, plants and insects engage in intricate interactions. Despite the increasing knowledge of the microbiomes of plants and insects, the extent to which they exchange and alter each other's microbiomes remains unclear. In this work, the bacterial community associated with nymphs of Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae), the stems of Coleostephus myconis where the nymphs were feeding, and the foam produced by the nymphs, were studied by culture-dependent and -independent approaches, with an attempt to elucidate the exchange of bacteria between plants and insects. The results suggest that both approaches complement each other, as many bacterial genera identified by metabarcoding were not detected by culturing, and vice versa. Overall, stems and foam exhibited higher bacterial diversity than nymphs, with all the samples showing enrichment in bacteria known to provide diverse benefits to their host. Stems and foam were the most similar in bacterial composition, but Burkholderiaceae and Moraxellaceae dominated the stems, whereas Rhizobiaceae and Sphingobacteriaceae dominated the foam. Nymphs exhibit the most distinct bacterial composition, yet more similar to that found in the stem compared to the foam. Indeed, nymphs were enriched on endosymbiotic bacteria, mostly Candidatus Sulcia and Sodalis, not found in the stem and foam. Nevertheless, during feeding, nymphs appeared to exchange several bacteria genera with C. myconis, with a significant number being incorporated into the bacteriome of the nymph. The genera Curvibacter, Cutibacterium, Methylobacterium, Pseudomonas and Rhizobium are likely the most exchanged. Nymphs also appear to exchange bacteria to the foam, notably species from the Enhydrobacter, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium and Roseomonas genera. More studies to infer the functions of the shared bacteria between P. spumarius-C. myconis are needed.},
}
@article {pmid40235299,
year = {2025},
author = {Andongma, AA and Whitten, MMA and Chofong, GN and Dyson, PJ},
title = {The thrips gut pH and implications for symbiont-mediated RNAi.},
journal = {Bulletin of entomological research},
volume = {115},
number = {4},
pages = {430-436},
doi = {10.1017/S0007485325000240},
pmid = {40235299},
issn = {1475-2670},
mesh = {Animals ; *Thysanoptera/microbiology/physiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Symbiosis ; *RNA Interference ; Larva/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Gastrointestinal Tract/chemistry/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; },
abstract = {The gut pH plays crucial roles in diet preference, habitat choice, insect fitness, and insect-microbial relationships. It significantly impacts enzyme activity efficiency, as well as the internalisation and efficacy of pesticides. Without a comprehensive understanding of the gut environment, potential pest management strategies cannot be fully optimised.This study investigates the gut pH of the globally invasive pest insect Western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis, and the effect its Gram-negative symbiotic gut bacterium BFo2 has on pH modulation. Indicator dyes were fed to F. occidentalis and the gut pH was found to vary between 6 and 7. In general, the larval and adult guts appear to have a pH of between 6 and 6.5; however, the posterior gut of some adults appears to be closer to 7. This almost neutral pH offers a favourable environment for the neutrophilic symbiotic BFo2. The ability of BFo2 isolates to buffer pH towards neutral was also observed during in vitro culture using broths at different pH values.This paper also discusses the implications of this gut environment on dsRNAi delivery. By laying the foundation for understanding how gut pH can be leveraged to enhance current pest management strategies, this study particularly benefits research aimed at optimising the delivery of lethal dsRNA through symbiont-mediated RNAi to Western flower thrips in pest management programs.},
}
@article {pmid40233891,
year = {2025},
author = {Luo, Y and Lan, C and Ren, W and Wu, A and Yu, B and He, J and Chen, D},
title = {Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron: A symbiotic ally against diarrhea along with modulation of gut microbial ecological networks via tryptophan metabolism and AHR-Nrf2 signaling.},
journal = {Journal of advanced research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jare.2025.04.016},
pmid = {40233891},
issn = {2090-1224},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Bacteroides is a crucial mucosal symbiotic bacterium in mammals, with Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B. thetaiotaomicron) being particularly noteworthy as a glyco-specialist due to its significant nutritional impact. However, the potential effects of B. thetaiotaomicron on host health remain underexplored.<br><br>OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the patterns of microbial community changes and the molecular mechanisms mediated by microbial metabolites in alleviating piglet diarrhea through B. thetaiotaomicron intervention.<br><br>METHODS: Cold stress was induced in piglets to trigger stress-induced diarrhea. The control group and B group were administered a blank medium and 1&#xa0;&#xd7;&#xa0;10[8] CFU of B. thetaiotaomicron, respectively, on days 1, 3, and 5. The diarrhea rate and growth performance of the piglets were recorded during the experimental period. Based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, microbial ecological networks analysis, and metabolomics analysis, the composition and changes of the colonic microbiota and metabolites were analyzed. The antibacterial capacity and anti-inflammatory molecular mechanisms of B. thetaiotaomicron metabolites were analyzed through in vitro antibacterial assays and inflammatory cell models.<br><br>RESULTS: B. thetaiotaomicron administration alleviated diarrhea and improved the growth performance of piglets. It modulated the composition and interactions of the intestinal microbiota, with microbial metabolites primarily enriched in the tryptophan metabolism pathway-especially indole and its derivatives, which were closely associated with host phenotypes. In vitro co-culture experiments showed that B. thetaiotaomicron metabolites inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Further experiments demonstrated that these metabolites, including indole, enhanced epithelial barrier function and attenuated TNF-&#x3b1;-induced inflammation and apoptosis in Caco-2 cells, highlighting the involvement of the AHR-Nrf2 signaling pathway in mediating these protective effects.<br><br>CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study offers a theoretical framework for understanding the role of the symbiotic bacterium B. thetaiotaomicron in the gut microbiota ecosystem during diarrhea and its interactions with the host's intestinal tract.},
}
@article {pmid40233882,
year = {2025},
author = {Gao, J and Mang, Q and Li, Q and Sun, Y and Xu, G},
title = {Microbial-algal symbiotic system drives reconstruction of nitrogen, phosphorus, and methane cycles for purification of pollutants in aquaculture water.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {430},
number = {},
pages = {132531},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132531},
pmid = {40233882},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Aquaculture ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Methane/metabolism ; *Water Purification/methods ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Chlorella/metabolism/physiology ; },
abstract = {Intensive aquaculture's excessive nitrogen, phosphorus, and methane emissions caused environmental degradation. This study explored how algae-bacteria symbiotic systems (ABSS) enhanced water purification by regulating element cycles. We established a Chlorella pyrenoidosa-Bacillus subtilis symbiotic system. At a 1:1 bacteria-to-algae ratio, chlorophyll a and cell dry weight were highest. C. pyrenoidosa supplied organic acids, carbohydrates, and amino acids to B. subtilis, which reciprocated with amino acids, purines, and vitamins. ABSS significantly reduced total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen (NH4[+]-N), nitrite (NO2[-]-N), nitrate (NO3[-]-N), phosphate (PO4[3-]-P), total phosphorous, dissolved organic carbon, and chemical oxygen demand in aquaculture water. It reshaped microbial communities and enriched key genus (Limnohabitans, Planktophila, Polaromonas, Methylocystis) and upregulating genes linked to organic phosphate mineralization, methane oxidation, and nitrate reduction. These changes strengthened nitrogen-phosphorus-methane cycle coupling, boosting water purification. ABSS offers an eco-engineering solution for aquaculture pollution by optimizing microbial interactions and nutrient cycling.},
}
@article {pmid40233415,
year = {2025},
author = {Diamond, MJ},
title = {Toward Eradicating the Unbearable: The Dangerous Allure of Fascistic States of Mind.},
journal = {The Psychoanalytic quarterly},
volume = {94},
number = {2},
pages = {153-183},
doi = {10.1080/00332828.2025.2481955},
pmid = {40233415},
issn = {2167-4086},
mesh = {Humans ; Narcissism ; *Psychoanalytic Theory ; Authoritarianism ; *Group Processes ; },
abstract = {To understand fascistic group movements, it is necessary to understand the dynamics of fascistic states of mind within all of us. Following a note on the American polity, the author differentiates fascism from authoritarianism before reviewing the dynamics of fascistic states of mind, including the omnipotent longing for purity and its relationship to destructive narcissism. Considering the role of the death drive, the allure of the fascistic state is explored, based largely in the need to avoid primary terrors of annihilation. In addressing the movement of such states from the individual psyche to the larger group mind, the author examines the symbiotic fit between the leader and the group's unconscious fears and phantasies, as illustrated by perverse containment within the cult of Trumpism. Finally, in noting the inability of reason alone to contain destructive forces, he ponders how we might deal with fascistic states of mind most effectively in individuals, groups, and ourselves.},
}
@article {pmid40232938,
year = {2025},
author = {Nogueira, JCC and Boldori, JR and Santos Ribas, LP and Lunardi, AG and Aguiar, TA and Carriço, MRS and Roehrs, R and Denardin, CC},
title = {Toxicity and Antioxidant Activity of Black Tea Kombucha in Wistar Rats: A 28-Day Repeated Dose Oral Study.},
journal = {Chemistry &amp; biodiversity},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e202500046},
doi = {10.1002/cbdv.202500046},
pmid = {40232938},
issn = {1612-1880},
abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented beverage produced from sweetened black tea using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts. While studies suggest potential health benefits, such as antioxidant activity, its toxicological profile must be thoroughly evaluated to ensure safe consumption. This study aimed to assess the subacute oral toxicity of kombucha over 28 days in Wistar rats and evaluate its effects on oxidative stress markers. Forty female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a control group receiving saline (1 mL/100 g), and three treatment groups-T1 (1 mL/100 g) and T2 (2 mL/100 g) receiving kombucha fermented for 7 days, and T3 (1 mL/100 g) receiving kombucha fermented for 14 days. All treatments were administered daily for 28 days. No signs of toxicity, mortality, or histopathological changes in tissue morphology were observed. However, significant behavioral changes, including increased exploration and self-care, were noted. Additionally, kombucha administration modulated the activity of antioxidant enzymes, specifically superoxide dismutase and catalase, and reduced tissue lipid peroxidation. These findings suggest that kombucha fermented for 7 and 14 days is non-toxic and exhibits antioxidant properties by modulating oxidative stress markers in Wistar rats.},
}
@article {pmid40232537,
year = {2025},
author = {Guarnizo, &#xc1;L and Marqués-Gálvez, JE and Arenas, F and Navarro-Ródenas, A and Morte, A},
title = {Morphological and molecular development of Terfezia claveryi ectendomycorrhizae exhibits three well-defined stages.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {31},
pmid = {40232537},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {PID2020-115210RB-I00//Agencia Estatal de Investigaci&#xf3;n/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/growth &amp; development/genetics/physiology/cytology ; *Symbiosis ; *Ascomycota/growth &amp; development/genetics/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; },
abstract = {The normal development of mycorrhizal symbiosis is a dynamic process, requiring elaborately regulated interactions between plant roots and compatible fungi, mandatory for both partners´ survival. In the present study, we further elucidated the mycorrhizal development of the desert truffles Terfezia claveryi with the host plant Helianthemum almeriense as an ectendomycorrhizal symbiosis model under greenhouse conditions. To investigate this, we evaluated the morphology of mycorrhizal colonization, concomitantly with the dynamic expression of selected marker genes (6 fungal and 11 plant genes) measured every week until mycorrhiza maturation (three months). We were able to determine 3 main stages in the mycorrhization process, 1) pre-symbiosis stage where mycelium is growing in the soil with no direct interaction with roots, 2) early symbiosis stage when the fungus spreads along the roots intercellularly and plant-fungal signaling is proceeding, and 3) late symbiosis stage where the fungus consolidates and matures with intracellular hyphal colonization; this is characterized by the regulation of cell-wall remodeling processes.},
}
@article {pmid40231847,
year = {2025},
author = {Kamp, DL and Kerwin, AH and McAnulty, SJ and Nyholm, SV},
title = {Organ structure and bacterial microbiogeography in a reproductive organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid reveal dimensions of a defensive symbiosis.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {91},
number = {5},
pages = {e0216324},
pmid = {40231847},
issn = {1098-5336},
support = {IOS-2247195//National Science Foundation/ ; 9349//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Decapodiformes/microbiology/anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Microbiota ; Female ; *Bacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; Hawaii ; },
abstract = {Many plants and animals house symbiotic microorganisms in specialized tissues or organs. Here, we used multidimensional in situ imaging techniques to illuminate how host organ structure and bacterial microbiogeography contribute to the symbiotic function of an organ in the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. Along with the well-studied light organ, female E. scolopes harbor a community of bacteria in the accessory nidamental gland (ANG). The ANG is a dense network of epithelium-lined tubules, some of which are dominated by a single bacterial taxon. These bacteria are deposited into squid eggs, where they defend the developing embryos from harmful biofouling. This study used a combination of imaging techniques to visualize different dimensions of the ANG and its bacterial communities. Imaging entire organs with light sheet microscopy revealed that the ANG is a composite tissue of individual, non-intersecting tubules that each harbor their own bacterial population. The organ is bisected, with tubules converging toward two points at the posterior end. At these points, tubules empty into a space where bacteria can mix with squid jelly to be deposited onto eggs. Observations of the symbiotic community correlated bacterial taxa with cell morphology and revealed that tubule populations varied: some tubules contained populations of mixed taxa, whereas others contained only one bacterial genus. Together, these data shed light on how bacterial populations interact within the ANG and how the host uses physical structure to maintain and employ a symbiotic bacterial population in a defensive context.IMPORTANCESequence-based microbiome studies have revealed much about how hosts interact with communities of symbiotic microbiota but often lack a spatial understanding of how microbes relate to each other and the host in which they reside. This study uses a combination of microscopy techniques to reveal how the structure of a symbiotic organ in the female bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, houses diverse, beneficial bacterial populations and deploys them for egg defense. These findings suggest that spatial partitioning may be key to harboring a diverse population of antimicrobial-producing bacteria and establishing a foundation for further understanding how host structures mediate symbiotic interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40231754,
year = {2025},
author = {Poelmans, W and Beeckman, T and Lakehal, A},
title = {The multifaceted role of auxin in root growth and branching: Insights from non-seed vascular plants.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {2},
pages = {e70210},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70210},
pmid = {40231754},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {101062418//HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions/ ; 11I3721N//Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO)/ ; G027313N//Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO)/ ; G028421N//Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO)/ ; },
mesh = {*Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/growth &amp; development/metabolism/genetics ; *Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Plant root systems play a crucial role in taking up water and nutrients, as well as in facilitating symbiotic partnerships with microorganisms like rhizobia and mycorrhizae that enhance nutrient fixation and assimilation. Extensive research in seed plants has demonstrated the dominant role of the phytohormone auxin during root development in this group of vascular plants. Non-seed vascular plants (lycophytes, horsetails and ferns) occupy a key phylogenetic position as the sister group to seed plants, making them essential for understanding the evolution of roots. These lineages exhibit distinct root development and branching patterns, in which the hormone auxin might play a pivotal role. However, the molecular basis underlying its function during root development in these plant groups remains poorly understood. In this review, we summarize the current progress in our understanding of auxin-mediated root initiation, patterning, and branching in vascular non-seed plants while highlighting outstanding key questions. Despite limited research, the available evidence suggests that both conserved and lineage-specific auxin-dependent genetic circuits regulate root development in these species. While remaining relatively limited in lycophytes and ferns, seed plants have evolved extensive environmentally sensitive regulatory networks facilitating the adaptation of their branching strategies to perceived external cues. These networks likely emerged through the duplication and neofunctionalization of gene families involved in auxin transport and signalling, as well as their downstream factors, such as LBD and PLT genes.},
}
@article {pmid40231499,
year = {2025},
author = {Nasser, A and Jahanbakhshi, S},
title = {Interaction Between Staphylococcus aureus and Microbiota: Invasion or Commensalism.},
journal = {Current pharmaceutical biotechnology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.2174/0113892010364717250404175242},
pmid = {40231499},
issn = {1873-4316},
abstract = {The term "Microbiota" refers to the vast array of symbiotic microorganisms that coexist with their hosts in practically all organs. However, the microbiota must obtain nutrition and minerals from its host to survive; instead, they produce beneficial compounds to protect the host and regulate the immune system. Conversely, pathogenic bacteria utilize their enzymes to independently gain sustenance through an invasive process without almost any beneficial compound production. One of the fully equipped pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, is present in nearly every organ and possesses a variety of defense and invasion systems including an enzyme, a mineral collection system, a system for detecting environmental conditions, and broad toxins. The microbiota properly can defend its kingdom against S. aureus; however, if necessary, the host immune system is alerted against the pathogen, so this system also acts against the pathogen, a game that can ultimately lead to the death of the pathogen. However, S. aureus can change the host's conditions in its favor by changing the host's conditions and causing inflammation, a condition that cannot be tolerated by the microbiota. In this review, we will explain how microbiota defend against S. aureus.},
}
@article {pmid40230086,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhong, X and Hui, J and Zhang, H and Zeng, Q and Han, D and Tian, H},
title = {TaLAC129 is a negative regulator of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis but enhanced the growth and yield of bread wheat.},
journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology},
volume = {122},
number = {1},
pages = {e70136},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.70136},
pmid = {40230086},
issn = {1365-313X},
support = {2021YFD1900700//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2024T170732//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 31972497//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024JC-YBQN-0235//Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi/ ; },
mesh = {*Triticum/genetics/growth &amp; development/microbiology/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; *Laccase/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis enhances nutrient acquisition and stress resilience in plants, yet the genetic mechanisms regulating this interaction in wheat remain poorly understood. This study explores the variation in AM colonization rates across a diverse set of wheat varieties and aims to identify key genes that regulate the wheat-AM symbiosis. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is crucial for improving nutrient uptake efficiency and stress resistance in wheat breeding programs. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 291 wheat varieties and integrated transcriptomic data to identify TaLAC129, a laccase (LAC)-encoding gene, as a critical negative regulator of AM colonization in wheat roots. Overexpression of TaLAC129 significantly increased root LAC activity and lignin content, concurrently suppressing AM colonization. While this suppression reduced nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) uptake in stems, leaves, and glumes, it markedly enhanced nutrient utilization efficiency (NUE) in grains. Furthermore, TaLAC129 overexpression improved agronomic traits, including grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight, and overall yield. Our findings reveal the dual role of TaLAC129 in balancing AM symbiosis and nutrient allocation, offering a novel genetic target for breeding wheat varieties with improved yield and nutrient efficiency. This study provides critical insights into the molecular coordination between symbiotic trade-offs and agricultural productivity in cereal crops.},
}
@article {pmid40228808,
year = {2025},
author = {Jones, KR and Duong, T and Sacci, O and Gregory, CL and Belden, LK},
title = {Amphibian bacterial communities assemble variably among host species, across development, and between similar habitats.},
journal = {Integrative and comparative biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/icb/icaf014},
pmid = {40228808},
issn = {1557-7023},
abstract = {Symbiotic host-associated microbial communities are nearly ubiquitous and are often essential to host growth and development. The assembly of these communities on hosts is the result of a combination of the processes of selection, dispersal, and drift. For some species, essential symbionts are quickly acquired from the environment during embryonic development, while others may vertically acquire symbionts from parents. For amphibians with complex life cycles that undergo metamorphosis, an additional physiological transition from larval to adult forms may represent another distinct developmental window for bacterial colonization. Prior research has demonstrated that metamorphosis impacts the composition of amphibian-associated bacterial communities, however, we do not know whether similar shifts occur during metamorphosis across different amphibian species. To more clearly understand patterns in microbiome development across host species within a given area, we assessed the bacterial communities associated with eggs from five locally-occurring amphibian species and tadpoles and juveniles from four of the species. Additionally, to determine if stochasticity result in varied microbiome composition among conspecifics, we raised one species, spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer), in outdoor 1000 L mesocosms. Through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we detected distinct bacterial communities across amphibian species and development. Additionally, we found that tadpoles harbored different communities of bacteria in the different mesocosms, suggesting that stochasticity may play a large role in bacterial assembly on tadpoles. Our results serve to deepen our understanding of natural shifts in amphibian-associated bacterial communities and how these shifts are host-species dependent. Additionally, this study provides support for the idea that stochasticity in the form of drift or priority effects can drive individual variation in microbiome composition among hosts.},
}
@article {pmid40228606,
year = {2025},
author = {Lee, J and McClure, S and Weichselbaum, RR and Mimee, M},
title = {Designing live bacterial therapeutics for cancer.},
journal = {Advanced drug delivery reviews},
volume = {221},
number = {},
pages = {115579},
pmid = {40228606},
issn = {1872-8294},
support = {R01 CA262508/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA292860/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM147478/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; T32 AI153020/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Neoplasms/therapy/drug therapy/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Drug Delivery Systems ; *Antineoplastic Agents/administration &amp; dosage ; Genetic Engineering ; },
abstract = {Humans are home to a diverse community of bacteria, many of which form symbiotic relationships with their host. Notably, tumors can also harbor their own unique bacterial populations that can influence tumor growth and progression. These bacteria, which selectively colonize hypoxic and acidic tumor microenvironments, present a novel therapeutic strategy to combat cancer. Advancements in synthetic biology enable us to safely and efficiently program therapeutic drug production in bacteria, further enhancing their potential. This review provides a comprehensive guide to utilizing bacteria for cancer treatment. We discuss key considerations for selecting bacterial strains, emphasizing their colonization efficiency, the delicate balance between safety and anti-tumor efficacy, and the availability of tools for genetic engineering. We also delve into strategies for precise spatiotemporal control of drug delivery to minimize adverse effects and maximize therapeutic impact, exploring recent examples of engineered bacteria designed to combat tumors. Finally, we address the underlying challenges and future prospects of bacterial cancer therapy. This review underscores the versatility of bacterial therapies and outlines strategies to fully harness their potential in the fight against cancer.},
}
@article {pmid40228525,
year = {2025},
author = {Bruyant, P and Doré, J and Vallon, L and Moënne-Loccoz, Y and Almario, J},
title = {Needle in a Haystack: Culturing Plant-Beneficial Helotiales Lineages From Plant Roots.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {4},
pages = {e70082},
pmid = {40228525},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {//French Minist&#xe8;re de l'Enseignemnet Sup&#xe9;rieur et la Recherche/ ; //AnaEE France (ANR-11-INBS- 0001 AnaEE-Services, Investissements d'Avenir frame/ ; //the French National program EC2CO (Ecosph&#xe8;re Continentale et C&#xf4;ti&#xe8;re)/ ; //D&#xe9;fi ISOTOP initiative (CNRS, MITI, France)/ ; ANR-22-CE02-0018//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; //Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique/ ; //Lautaret Garden - UAR 3370 (Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, 38000 Grenoble, France)/ ; },
mesh = {*Plant Roots/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; *Endophytes/isolation &amp; purification/classification/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Brassicaceae/microbiology ; Caryophyllaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; },
abstract = {Root-associated Helotiales fungi are increasingly recognised as beneficial fungal partners promoting plant growth under nutrient-limited conditions, particularly, in non-mycorrhizal hosts lacking the ancestral arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. However, the ecology of these fungi is still cryptic as relatively few lineages have been successfully cultivated from roots for further study. Here, we attempted the mass isolation of root endophytic fungi to evaluate the recovery of known plant-beneficial Helotiales lineages using a tailored culture-based approach. We sampled six wild non-mycorrhizal species from the Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Cyperaceae, growing in nutrient-limited alpine soils. We isolated 602 root endophytes and compared this culturable diversity with the one observed via fungal ITS2 metabarcoding. Metabarcoding revealed that Helotiales taxa dominated the fungal communities, with 43% of these detected taxa also represented in our collection. Accordingly, most root endophytes in our collection (53%) were Helotiales. These isolates, some with P solubilisation potential, belonged primarily to three Helotialean clades and were phylogenetically related to plant growth-promoting or mycorrhizal-like strains. This analysis highlights that the roots of alpine non-mycorrhizal plants harbour diverse plant-beneficial root-endophytic Helotiales, and the isolates obtained are a promising resource to explore the plant-beneficial mechanisms and ecological traits of these fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40228454,
year = {2025},
author = {Asif, A and Koner, S and Hsu, PC and He, BJ and Paul, S and Hussain, B and Hsu, BM},
title = {Synergistic interactions between AMF and MHB communities in the rhizospheric microenvironment facilitated endemic hyperaccumulator plants growth thrive under heavy metal stress in ultramafic soil.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {492},
number = {},
pages = {138233},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138233},
pmid = {40228454},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {Rhizosphere ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Metals, Heavy/toxicity/metabolism ; *Soil Pollutants/toxicity/metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; *Plants/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Ultramafic outcrop settings are characterized by long-term heavy metal (HM) stress and nutrient imbalances, making plant resilience highly challenging. This study investigated that how native plant types in the serpentine environment influence the variation of synergistic interactions between rhizosphere arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB) communities under HM stress and nutrient-deficient conditions, which support native plant endemism and their HM accumulation potential. The results displayed significant enrichment of key MHB (Rhizobium_tropici, Bacillus_subtilis, Pseudomonas_parafulva, Pseudomonas_akapagensis) and AMF species (Glomus_constrictum, Glomus_aggregatum, Rhizophagus_intraradices, Rhizophagus_irregularis) in rhizosphere soils (q < 0.05). Pseudomonas_chlororaphis and Burkholderia_cepacia were strongly associated with Rhizophagus_irregularis and Glomus_mosseae in Panicum maximum Jacq (PMJ) and Bidens pilosa (BP) under chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) stress. Pseudomonas_fluorescens and Bacillus_pabuli were linked to Geosiphon_pyriformis and Glomus_aggregatum in Pueraria montana (PM) under nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and cobalt (Co) stress, while Arthrobacter_globiformis and Rhizobium_leguminosarum were associated with Glomus_intraradices under copper (Cu) stress in Leucaena leucocephala (LL). Pathways related to nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) cycling, HM detoxification, and resistance were enriched, with AMF predominantly symbiotrophic root-endophytic, except for one as lichenized nostoc endosymbiont. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed HM stress and nutrients influence MHB-AMF symbiosis, while pH moisture content (MC) and electric conductivity (EC) significantly regulate their distribution. Rhizobium_leguminosarum, Rhizobium_tropici, Nitrospira_japonica, and Rhizobium_cauense with Glomus_mosseae and Rhizophagus_irregularis drive NPK cycling in HM-stressed rhizosphere soils. This finding suggested that association between plants type and their functional rhizosphere microbiome promote an eco-friendly strategy for HM recovery from serpentine soil.},
}
@article {pmid40228382,
year = {2025},
author = {Mason, ARG and Salomon, MJ and Lowe, AJ and Cavagnaro, TR},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and biochar application enhance soil carbon and productivity in wheat and barley.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {977},
number = {},
pages = {179230},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179230},
pmid = {40228382},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Charcoal ; *Triticum/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Hordeum/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; *Carbon/analysis ; Agriculture/methods ; Carbon Sequestration ; Carbon Cycle ; },
abstract = {Influencing the global carbon cycle via modification to the terrestrial soil carbon pool has been suggested as one solution to help mitigate climate change. Cropping systems cover a vast expanse of earth's surface and represent a major carbon exchange point. Investigating management practices and biotechnologies capable of influencing soil carbon in cropping systems is thus a valuable endeavour, as even modest interventions have the capacity to increase carbon stocks and improve soil fertility and plant production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate biotrophs forming mutually beneficial relationships with a wide array of symbiotic partners. Increasingly, AMF are being investigated for their potential to enhance agricultural productivity through inoculation of soil and seeds with living propagules or spores. Beyond their positive influence on plant growth and resilience, AMF may have some capacity to influence the global carbon cycle through several conceptually recognised yet poorly understood mechanisms, warranting further exploration. Here, we evaluate the potential of AMF as an inoculant to promote soil carbon sequestration in wheat and barley under greenhouse conditions. We assess the growth response of these crops and explore interactive effects of AMF with several organic amendments. Both wheat and barley exhibited a strong mycorrhizal growth response, with inoculation significantly increasing biomass (root and shoot dry weight) and productivity (head dry weight), especially under low nutrient conditions. Effects of AMF on soil carbon cycling were assessed through soil respiration, total carbon (TC) content, and easily extractable organic carbon. Inoculation significantly increased soil TC concentration in both the unamended control and the biochar-amended wheat treatments. We reveal evidence for a biochar + AMF carbon stabilisation pathway, whereby biochar may act to stabilise new fungal derived carbon inputs while reducing soil respiration. We discuss these results in the context of carbon credit generation and climate change mitigation potential.},
}
@article {pmid40228122,
year = {2025},
author = {Bashyal, S and Everett, H and Matsuura, S and Müller, LM},
title = {A plant CLE peptide and its fungal mimic promote arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis via CRN-mediated ROS suppression.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {16},
pages = {e2422215122},
pmid = {40228122},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {2022-67013-42820//USDA | National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Peptides/metabolism ; Glomeromycota ; Signal Transduction ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-related (CLE) peptides have emerged as key regulators of plant-microbe interactions, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Here, we identify Medicago truncatula CLE16 as a positive regulator of AM symbiosis. MtCLE16 is expressed in root cells colonized by AM fungi (AMF) and its overexpression within colonized tissues increases arbuscule abundance by finetuning their growth and lifespan. Functional and transcriptomic analyses reveal that MtCLE16 acts via the M. truncatula pseudokinase CORYNE (MtCRN) and suppresses the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in roots, thereby attenuating immune responses and promoting root colonization by mutualistic AM fungi. Notably, AMF also express MtCLE16-like peptides. We show that the Rhizophagus irregularis MtCLE16-like peptide, RiCLE1, also attenuates ROS and promotes AMF colonization via MtCRN. This finding suggests that RiCLE1 can interfere with the MtCLE16-MtCRN signaling module of host roots to benefit the fungus. Our research uncovers a functional mechanism underpinning cross-kingdom signaling and molecular mimicry in mutualistic plant-microbe interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40227500,
year = {2025},
author = {Broeckhoven, I and Devriese, A and Honnay, O and Merckx, R and Bruno, V},
title = {Impact of agricultural systems on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community composition in robusta coffee roots in the Democratic Republic of congo.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {30},
pmid = {40227500},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {B2/191/P1/COFFEEBRIDGE//Belgian Federal Science Policy Office/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/classification/physiology/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Democratic Republic of the Congo ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Agriculture/methods ; *Coffea/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Biodiversity ; Symbiosis ; Coffee/microbiology ; *Mycobiome ; },
abstract = {Robusta coffee, grown by 25 million farmers across more than 50 countries, plays an important role in smallholder farmers' livelihoods and the economies of many low-income countries. Coffee establishes a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); however, the impact of agricultural practices and soil characteristics on AMF diversity and community composition is not well understood. To address this, we characterised the AMF community composition of robusta coffee in part of its region of origin, the Democratic Republic of Congo. AMF diversity and community composition were compared between coffee monoculture, agroforestry systems and wild robusta in its native rainforest habitat. Using Illumina sequencing on 304 root samples, we identified 307 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs), dominated by the genera Glomus and Acaulospora. OTU richness did not vary across the three studied systems, yet large differences in community composition were found. Many unique OTUs were only observed in the coffee in the rainforest. In general, lower available soil phosphorus (P) and lower soil bulk density increased AMF diversity, yet higher available soil P and pH increased AMF diversity in the wild forest coffee. Shifts in AMF community composition across coffee systems were driven by canopy closure, soil pH, available soil P and soil bulk density. Our study is the first to characterise mycorrhizal communities in wild robusta coffee in its region of origin and shows that even low-input agricultural practices result in major AMF community shifts as compared to a natural baseline.},
}
@article {pmid40227227,
year = {2025},
author = {Arai, H and Katsuma, S and Matsuda-Imai, N and Lin, SR and Inoue, MN and Kageyama, D},
title = {Prophage-encoded Hm-oscar gene recapitulates Wolbachia-induced male-killing in the tea tortrix moth Homona magnanima.},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40227227},
issn = {2050-084X},
support = {19J13123//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 21J00895//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 22K14902//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 23H02229//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24H02293//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 22H00366//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24H02289//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 21KK0105//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/genetics ; Male ; *Moths/microbiology/physiology/genetics ; *Prophages/genetics ; Female ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia are maternally transmitted bacterial symbionts that are ubiquitous among arthropods. They can hijack host reproduction in various ways, including male-killing (MK), where the sons of infected mothers are killed during development. The recent discovery of MK-associated Wolbachia genes, i.e., oscar in Ostrinia moths and wmk in Drosophila flies, stimulates our interest in the diversity and commonality of MK mechanisms, which remain largely unclear. We recently discovered that a Wolbachia symbiont of the moth Homona magnanima carries an MK-associated prophage region encoding homologs of oscar (Hm-oscar) and wmk (wmk-1-4). Here, we investigated the effects of these genes in the native host. Upon transient overexpression, Hm-oscar, but not wmk, induced male lethality in H. magnanima, in contrast to our observations in Drosophila, where the wmk homologs, but not Hm-oscar, killed the males. Hm-oscar disrupted sex determination in male embryos by inducing a female-type doublesex splicing and impaired dosage compensation, recapitulating the Wolbachia phenotype. Cell-based transfection assays confirmed that Hm-oscar suppressed the function of masculinizer, the primary male sex determinant involved in lepidopteran dosage compensation. Our study highlights the conserved roles of oscar homologs in Wolbachia-induced lepidopteran MK and argues that Wolbachia have evolved multiple MK mechanisms in insects.},
}
@article {pmid40225017,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, T and Zhang, H and Wang, S and Wu, C and Tu, T and Wang, Y and Qian, X},
title = {Divergent altitudinal patterns of arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in a mid-subtropical mountain ecosystem.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e140187},
pmid = {40225017},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) form ubiquitous symbiotic relationships with plants through co-evolutionary processes, providing multiple benefits for plant growth, productivity, health, and stress mitigation. Mountain ecosystem multifunctionality is significantly influenced by mycorrhizal responses to climate change, highlighting the importance of understanding the complex interactions between these fungi and environmental variables. In this study, we investigated five vegetation zones across an altitudinal gradient (675-2157 m a.s.l.) in Wuyi Mountain, one of the most well-preserved mid-subtropical mountain ecosystems in eastern China. Using high-throughput sequencing, we examined the altitudinal distribution patterns, community assembly mechanisms, and network interactions of soil AMF and EMF. Our analyses demonstrated significant altitudinal variations in the composition and diversity of mycorrhizal fungal communities. AMF richness peaked in the subalpine dwarf forest at intermediate elevations, whereas EMF richness was highest in the low-altitude evergreen broad-leaved forest, showing a marked decrease in the alpine meadow ecosystem. β-diversity decomposition revealed that species turnover constituted the primary mechanism of community differentiation for both fungal types, explaining >56% of the observed variation. Stochastic processes dominated community assembly, with the relative importance of dispersal limitation and drift showing distinct altitudinal patterns. Network analysis indicated that AMF networks reached maximum complexity in evergreen broad-leaved forests, while EMF networks showed similar complexity levels in coniferous forests. Among the examined factors, soil properties emerged as the predominant driver of altitudinal variations in ecosystem multifunctionality, followed by AMF communities and climatic variables. These findings provide critical insights into the ecological functions and environmental adaptations of mycorrhizal fungi, advancing our understanding of their responses to environmental changes in mountain ecosystems and informing evidence-based conservation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40223278,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Y and Cai, S and Tao, Z and Peng, J and Li, D and Li, L and Cao, X and Jiang, J},
title = {Isolation of Endophytic Fungi and Effects on Secondary Metabolites in Hairy Roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {e2411051},
pmid = {40223278},
issn = {1738-8872},
mesh = {*Salvia miltiorrhiza/microbiology/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; *Endophytes/isolation &amp; purification/classification/metabolism/genetics ; *Fungi/isolation &amp; purification/classification/metabolism/genetics ; Benzofurans/metabolism ; Cinnamates/metabolism/analysis ; *Secondary Metabolism ; Depsides/metabolism/analysis ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Rosmarinic Acid ; Abietanes/metabolism ; Biomass ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Plant Stems/microbiology ; },
abstract = {The slow growth rate of medicinal plants has made them unable to meet people's needs, and the use of biotechnology to obtain natural products from medicinal plants can alleviate this problem. This study isolated and identified 42 endophytic fungi from the roots, stems, and leaves of Salvia miltiorrhiza, belonging to 13 genera. The endophytic fungi that promote the accumulation of secondary metabolites in the hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza were screened by co-culture and elicitors preparation. Among them, 15 endophytic fungi presented relatively high crude polysaccharide yields. Co-culture experiments showed that endophytic strains had different effects on the biomass and the accumulation of secondary metabolites in the hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza, with strain KLBMPSM237 being the most effective. The contents of tanshinone I, salvianolic acid B and rosmarinic acid in the hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza were significantly increased by KLBMPSM237 polysaccharide inducers at different concentrations. This study provides new microbial resources and technical methods for increasing the natural products in hairy roots of S. miltiorrhiza.},
}
@article {pmid40223234,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, R and Wang, Y and Fu, S and Liao, S and Jiang, T and Zhou, B},
title = {Combining whole genome and transcriptome sequencing to analyze the pathogenic mechanism of Diplodia sapinea blight in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv.},
journal = {Virulence},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {2490216},
pmid = {40223234},
issn = {2150-5608},
mesh = {*Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Ascomycota/genetics/pathogenicity ; *Pinus sylvestris/microbiology ; *Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Genome, Fungal ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; },
abstract = {Diplodia sapinea (= Sphaeropsis sapinea) is an opportunistic pathogen that usually lives in symbiosis (the coexistence of dissimilar organisms) with its host and can cause disease under extreme climatic or physiological stress. In this study, we generated a high-quality genome map of D. sapinea using PacBio Circular Consensus Sequencing (CCS) technology and analysed the key disease-causing genes of D. sapinea by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). In the study, a number of cell wall degrading enzyme genes were identified to be up-regulated during pathogen infection, which may be involved in biotic stress response in P. sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. It was also found that the expression of antioxidant-related genes, such as those involved in carotenoid biosynthesis, ascorbate and glutathione metabolism, was up-regulated in the P. s. var. mongolica Litv. after fungus infection. Differently expressed genes (DEGs) -based protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed that included 163 pairs of significantly positively correlated proteins, forming three highly interacting gene clusters, and the PPI network was predicted to be associated with the replication and propagation processes of the fungus. These results provide important information for understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of Diplodia tip blight and developing control strategies in P. s. var. mongolica Litv.},
}
@article {pmid40222783,
year = {2025},
author = {Azarfarin, M and Moradikor, N and Salatin, S and Sarailoo, M and Dadkhah, M},
title = {Stress-related neurodegenerative diseases: Molecular mechanisms implicated in neurodegeneration and therapeutic strategies.},
journal = {Progress in brain research},
volume = {291},
number = {},
pages = {253-288},
doi = {10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.01.011},
pmid = {40222783},
issn = {1875-7855},
mesh = {Humans ; *Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism/therapy/etiology ; *Oxidative Stress/physiology ; Animals ; *Stress, Psychological/complications/metabolism ; Mitochondria/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Chronic stress is a striking cause of major neurodegenerative diseases disorders (NDDs). These diseases share several common mechanisms regarding to disease pathology, in spite of they have various properties and clinical manifestations. NDDs are defined by progressive cognitive decline, and stress contribute to the promotion and progression of disease. In addition, various pathways such as production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurodegeneration are the main crucial hallmarks to develop common NDDs, resulting in neuronal cell death. Although the exact mechanisms of NDDs are underexplored, the potential neuroprotective critical role of such therapies in neuronal loss the treatment of NDDs are not clear. In this regard, researchers investigate the neuroprotective effects of targeting underlying cascade to introduce a promising therapeutic option to NDDs. Herein, we provide an overview of the role of non-pharmacological treatments against oxidative stress, mitochondrial symbiosis, and neuroinflammation in NDDs, mainly discussing the music, diet, and exercise effects of targeting pathways.},
}
@article {pmid40222548,
year = {2025},
author = {Watanabe, Y and Kumeta, H and Watanabe, S},
title = {Structural basis for phosphatidylcholine synthesis by bacterial phospholipid N-methyltransferases.},
journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry},
volume = {301},
number = {5},
pages = {108507},
pmid = {40222548},
issn = {1083-351X},
mesh = {*Phosphatidylcholines/biosynthesis/chemistry ; *Agrobacterium tumefaciens/enzymology/genetics ; *Methyltransferases/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; *Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Substrate Specificity ; Methylation ; S-Adenosylhomocysteine/metabolism/chemistry ; Models, Molecular ; },
abstract = {In phosphatidylcholine (PC)-containing bacteria, PC is synthesized by phospholipid N-methyltransferases (Pmts) and plays an important role in the interactions between symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria and their eukaryotic host cells. Pmts catalyze the SAM-dependent three methylation reactions of the head group of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to form PC through monomethyl PE and dimethyl PE. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying PC biosynthesis by PmtA remain largely unclear, owing to the lack of structural information. Here, we determined the crystal structures of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Pmt (AtPmtA) in complex with SAH or 5'-methylthioadenosine. Crystal structures and NMR analysis revealed the binding mode of AtPmtA to SAH in solution. Structure-based mutational analyses showed that a conserved tyrosine residue in the substrate-binding groove is involved in methylation. Furthermore, we showed that differences in substrate specificity among Pmt homologs were determined by whether the amino acid residues comprising the substrate-binding groove were isoleucine or phenylalanine. These findings provide a structural basis for understanding the mechanisms underlying Pmts-mediated PC biosynthesis.},
}
@article {pmid40222514,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, D and Zhang, R and Huang, J and Fei, Z and Wang, L and Zhao, J and Si, J and Jin, P},
title = {Efficient production, structural characterization and bioactivity of an extracellular polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa endophytic Burkholderia sp.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {309},
number = {Pt 3},
pages = {143090},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.143090},
pmid = {40222514},
issn = {1879-0003},
mesh = {*Burkholderia/chemistry/metabolism ; *Grifola ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; Fermentation ; *Polysaccharides, Bacterial/chemistry/pharmacology/biosynthesis/isolation &amp; purification ; *Endophytes/chemistry ; *Polysaccharides/chemistry/pharmacology ; Molecular Weight ; },
abstract = {Endophytic bacteria Burkholderia sp. (GFB) was firstly identified and isolated from Grifola frondosa. An exopolysaccharide (GFB-MP) of GFB strain was obtained following fermentation optimization, resulting in a maximum yield of 11.36 g/L in 5 L fed-batch fermentation. GFB-MP (MW 432.05 kDa) comprised mainly galactose, glucose, and mannose with a ratio of 39.52:14.22:46.26, indicating a mannose-enriched polysaccharide. Methylation and NMR analysis revealed that GFB-MP consisted of the main chain that was repeat units →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → bonded →6)-β-D-Galp-1 → repeat units and three O-6-linked branched chains. Antibacterial activity suggested that GFB-MP can effectively inhibit food pathogen bacteria Listeria and Escherichia coli with inhibition ratios of 73.4 % and 81.6 %, respectively. In addition, GFB-MP exhibited remarkable growth-promoting activity on probiotics with >50 % increments of cell growth. This study demonstrates that GFB-MP has the potential for health-beneficial food. Knowledge of endophyte polysaccharides in G. frondosa is important to understand their physiological activities and symbiotic interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40222493,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, Y and Xu, C and Xu, K and Chen, C and Li, A and Ji, B},
title = {Metabolic responses of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge to enrofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole exposure.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {429},
number = {},
pages = {132516},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132516},
pmid = {40222493},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {Enrofloxacin ; *Sulfamethoxazole/pharmacology ; *Sewage/microbiology ; *Microalgae/metabolism/drug effects ; *Fluoroquinolones/pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Bacteria/metabolism/drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; },
abstract = {This study examined the removal performance and responses of the microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) system to enrofloxacin (ENR), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and their combination. Results showed that MBGS could achieve 73.2 % and 64.0 % removals of ENR and SMX at 1 mg/L of mixed antibiotics, while ENR severely affected organics removal (from 84.5 % to 74.7 %). Antibiotic exposures could raise reactive oxygen species levels, thereby disrupted cellular structures and energy metabolism. ENR had the most significant disruptive effect, markedly reducing the abundance of Oscillatoriales and impairing their interactions with other taxa. In contrast, Xanthomonadales and Micrococcales were essential for sustaining energy metabolism under ENR stress, while Hyphomicrobiales demonstrated strong adaptability to these antibiotics. Notably, the combination of ENR and SMX mitigated oxidative stress, facilitating the growth of Rhodospirillales and Chloroflexales. These findings provide insights into microbial adaptation mechanisms under antibiotic pressure and offer guidance for optimizing wastewater treatment strategies in antibiotic-contaminated environments.},
}
@article {pmid40222285,
year = {2025},
author = {Shen, D and Su, L and Ding, H and Long, Y and Hui, C},
title = {Study on the growth and decline patterns and environmental drivers of pathogens during the stabilization process of simulated landfilling municipal solid waste.},
journal = {Waste management (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {201},
number = {},
pages = {114791},
doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2025.114791},
pmid = {40222285},
issn = {1879-2456},
mesh = {*Waste Disposal Facilities ; *Solid Waste/analysis ; *Refuse Disposal/methods ; *Bacteria/growth &amp; development/isolation &amp; purification ; Humans ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Staphylococcus aureus ; },
abstract = {Waste and leachate in landfills are substantial reservoirs of pathogens, however information about the risk of pathogen contamination during the stabilization process under different landfill conditions is very limited. In this study, dynamic changes of culturable pathogens, bacteria community, and human bacterial pathogens (HBPs) during the stabilization process under different landfill conditions were investigated, and the environmental drivers were explored. Results showed that total coliforms, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus were the dominant pathogens detected in waste and leachate samples. During the landfill stabilization process, the concentration of culturable pathogens peaked at the hydrolysis-acidification stage (3.6 × 10[5] CFU·g[-1]) in the anaerobic condition, fluctuated from 4.18 × 10[4] to 5.35 × 10[5] CFU·g[-1] in the anaerobic leachate-recirculation condition, and kept rising (from 4.18 × 10[4] to 2.12 × 10[6] CFU·g[-1]) in the micro-aerobic condition. Moreover, HBPs abundance and diversity in the waste and leachate under micro-aerobic conditions were higher than those under the other two conditions, suggesting a higher risk of pathogen contamination. Sulfate and pH were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the composition of bacterial communities and HBPs, likely serving as the major environmental driving factors. Additionally, the interactions between HBPs and functional bacterial groups tended towards cooperative symbiotic relationships, with hydrolytic-acidogenic bacteria promoting the growth and proliferation of most pathogens. These findings will help to understand the changes and environmental drivers of pathogens during landfill stabilization, which will provide a theoretical basis for the risk prevention and control of pathogens in waste disposal.},
}
@article {pmid40221798,
year = {2025},
author = {Chiu, L and Guo, JL and Li, HW and Chang, HJ and Yang, SH and Dufour, S and Chang, CF and Tseng, YC and Wu, GC},
title = {Microbial diversity and pigment synthesis in the accessory nidamental gland: species-specific and color-associated patterns in bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana).},
journal = {Animal microbiome},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {36},
pmid = {40221798},
issn = {2524-4671},
support = {The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project//Ministry of Education/ ; NSTC 111-2326-B-019-001-MY3//National Science and Technology Council/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: In certain cephalopod species, two distinct symbiotic organs host large populations of microorganisms: the light organ, regulated by the daily cycle, and the accessory nidamental gland (ANG), regulated by the female reproductive cycle. While host-microbiota interactions in the light organ of the bobtail squid are well understood, the dynamics within the ANG remain largely unexplored. This study uses the bigfin reef squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, as a model to investigate the microbiomes associated with specific regions of the ANG, capitalizing on its relatively large gland size compared to the bobtail squid. Our goal was to characterize species-specific microbiomes in the ANG and explore how pigmented region-dependent microbes contribute to reproductive fitness in bigfin reef squid.<br><br>RESULTS: Histological results indicate that four types of epithelial cells were observed in the secondary tubules of inner ANG layer. Using an amplicon-based approach, we found that Alphaproteobacteria were highly abundant in different cephalopod species. Beta diversity analyses revealed significant interspecies differences in microbiomes, while alpha diversity showed that the bigfin reef squid harbored a richer bacterial community than the other two species. Notably, pigmented regions of the ANG exhibited lower microbial diversity compared to whole ANG tissues, with Alphaproteobacteria significantly enriched in these regions. Hyphomicrobiaceae (Alphaproteobacteria) were unique to the orange regions, while Fodinicurvataceae (Alphaproteobacteria) and Flavobacteriaceae (Bacteroidia) were exclusive to the white regions. qPCR results showed higher transcription levels of immune response-associated genes in the orange region compared to other pigmented regions, suggesting localized immune interactions.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that Alphaproteobacteria, particularly the Hyphomicrobiaceae clade, may correlated to the synthesis orange pigmentation in the ANG of the bigfin reef squid. The roles of Hyphomicrobiaceae in ANG symbiosis and reproductive fitness still needs further investigation. With this knowledge, we propose further investigations using in situ hybridization to detect host-expressed genes and pigmented region-dependent bacteria as markers. This approach will facilitate the study of localized host-microbiota interactions in distinct pigmented regions of the ANG, providing deeper insights into the mechanism of host-microbe communication.},
}
@article {pmid40220671,
year = {2025},
author = {Gu, L and Li, S and Zhou, L and Yuan, F and Zhang, T and Wang, Y and Liu, T and Li, M and Zhang, Z and Guo, X},
title = {Ecophysiological and transcriptional landscapes of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi enhancing yield, quality, and stalk rot resistance in Anoectochilus roxburghii.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {223},
number = {},
pages = {109885},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109885},
pmid = {40220671},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Disease Resistance/genetics ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Fusarium ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; },
abstract = {Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (A. roxburghii) is an increasingly popular medicinal herb. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi, known for their symbiotic relationships with plant roots, enhance nutrient uptake and disease resistance in host plants. However, their specific regulatory mechanisms in A. roxburghii are not fully understood. In this study, Fujian A. roxburghii was inoculated with the AM fungus Glomus intraradices, and successful root colonization was observed. Following AM fungal colonization, there was a significant upregulation of photosynthesis-related genes in the stems, accompanied by improved canopy phenotypes and root architecture. Consequently, AM-inoculated plants exhibited increased fresh and dry biomass, as well as elevated levels of polysaccharides and flavonoids. Additionally, the incidence of Fusarium oxysporum-induced stalk rot was reduced in AM-inoculated plants. Analysis of defense-related enzymes indicated that AM-inoculated plants exhibited a rapid and robust response to pathogen infection, mitigating oxidative stress. Transcriptomic analysis revealed significant upregulation of genes associated "Fatty acid degradation", "MAPK signaling pathway-plant", and "Plant-pathogen interaction", suggesting their involvement in enhanced disease resistance. A regulatory network centered on ACX1 and calmodulin, involving multiple transcription factors such as WRKY, bHLH, ERF, NAC, and HSF, was implicated in defense responses. These findings demonstrated the beneficial effects of AM fungi on yield, quality, and disease resistance in A. roxburghii, providing a theoretical foundation for its cultivation and genetic improvement.},
}
@article {pmid40220559,
year = {2025},
author = {Vaccaro, F and Bettini, PP and Courty, PE and Mengoni, A and Passeri, I and Sarrocco, S and Fagorzi, C},
title = {Toward deciphering the molecular dialogue in the rhizomicrobiota: Transcriptomic profiling of Trichoderma in rhizobia interaction.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {297},
number = {},
pages = {128180},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128180},
pmid = {40220559},
issn = {1618-0623},
mesh = {Gene Expression Profiling ; *Trichoderma/genetics/physiology/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Microbial Interactions/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Rhizosphere ; Soil Microbiology ; *Transcriptome ; *Sinorhizobium meliloti/physiology/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; },
abstract = {Microbial interactions are of key importance for the emergent properties of microbiota and ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in plant health, growth, and productivity. This study explores the interactions between soil fungi and rhizosphere bacteria, focusing specifically on fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma and the plant symbiotic bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Our aim is to provide evidence of the impact of different strains of the same bacterial species on the fungus. By analysing the effects of four S. meliloti strains on gene expression of T. velutinum, we revealed the presence of several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (from 139 to 254 genes) indicating a remodelling of its metabolism and growth. Remarkably, the majority of the DEGs (∼90 %) could not be assigned to function, indicating the presence of a large genetic "unknown space" potentially involved in fungal-bacterial interactions. Moreover, results indicated that transcriptomic profiles of T. velutinum significantly changed with respect to the four S. meliloti strains, suggesting the ability of the fungus to perceive the presence of specific bacterial strains. Our study emphasizes that strain specificity of microbial interactions could play crucial role in shaping microbiota functions, and highlights their potential impact on the success of bioinoculants.},
}
@article {pmid40220175,
year = {2025},
author = {Mazumder, S and Bhattacharya, D and Lahiri, D and Nag, M},
title = {Rhizobacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Community in Growth Management and Mitigating Stress in Millets: A Plant-Soil Microbe Symbiotic Relationship.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {6},
pages = {242},
pmid = {40220175},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Rhizosphere ; Stress, Physiological ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Millets, commonly referred to as the "future crop," provide a practical solution for addressing hunger and reducing the impact of climate change. The nutritional and physiological well-being of soil is crucial for the survival and resilience of plants while countering environmental stressors, both abiotic and biotic, that arise from the current climate change scenario. The health and production of millet are directly influenced by the soil microbial community. Millets have several plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria such as Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Rhizobium, and fungi like Penicillium sp., that increase nutrient uptake, growth, and productivity and protect against abiotic and biotic stressors. Rhizobacteria enhance plant productivity by many mechanisms, including the release of plant hormones and secondary metabolic compounds, the conversion of nutrients into soluble forms, the ability to fix nitrogen, and the provision of resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. The microbial populations in the rhizosphere have a significant impact on the growth and production of millet such as enhancing soil fertility and plant nourishment. Additionally, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi invade the roots of millets. The taxon Glomus is the most prevalent in association with millet plant soil, followed by Acaulospora, Funneliformis, and Rhizophagus. The symbiotic relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and millet plants improves plant growth and nutrient absorption under diverse soil and environmental circumstances, including challenging abiotic factors like drought and salinity.},
}
@article {pmid40219166,
year = {2025},
author = {Ji, Z and Dong, Q and Yang, R and Qin, W and Peng, Y and Jia, Y},
title = {From Ordinary to Extraordinary: The Crucial Role of Common Species in Desert Plant Community Stability with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungi Under Increased Precipitation.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40219166},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {32101304//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32460321//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42207372//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Climate change is altering precipitation patterns in Central Asia's arid zones, destabilizing desert ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, key soil microorganisms forming symbiosis with most plants, critically maintain ecosystem stability, yet their mechanisms in regulating individual plant species to sustain community stability remain unclear. We conducted a 5-year in situ experiment in the Gurbantunggut Desert, testing how AM fungi influence desert plant community stability under increased precipitation. Using a randomized block design with three treatments-control (CK), increased precipitation (W), and precipitation with Benomyl fungicide (BW)-we monitored plant community dynamics. We discovered that both increased precipitation and AM fungi altered plant community structure without affecting diversity. Precipitation boosted aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and density, enhancing community stability via dominant species (e.g., Meniocus linifolius), supporting the mass ratio hypothesis. AM fungi further stabilized the community by increasing ANPP and enhancing the common species stability under increased precipitation, while the contribution of rare species was also non-negligible, aligning with the subordinate insurance hypothesis. Overall, our study elucidates how increased precipitation and AM fungi regulate plant community stability at the species level. Specifically, it overcomes key gaps by revealing AM fungi's pivotal role in stabilizing communities through sustaining common species stability.},
}
@article {pmid40219157,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, M and Shi, C and Wang, C and Yao, Y and He, J},
title = {Metabolic Regulation and Saline-Alkali Stress Response in Novel Symbionts of Epichloë bromicola-Bromus inermis.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40219157},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {23XJTRZW07//Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes/ ; },
abstract = {Epichloë endophytic fungi are important microbial resources in agriculture and animal husbandry. Because of their stable symbiosis, species transmission, and positive effects on host plants, the use of endophytic fungi in grass breeding is of great significance. In this study, six inoculation methods were used, including the sterile seedling slit inoculation method, sterile seedling cut inoculation method, sterile seedling injection inoculation method, seed soaking inoculation method, seed piercing and then soaking inoculation method, and seed slit inoculation method. Spectrometry was used to construct new symbionts, and Liquid Chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze the effects of endophytic fungi on the metabolism of new hosts. The physiological response of the new symbionts to salt and alkali stress was studied using a pot experiment. The results were as follows: In this study, Epichloë bromicola was successfully inoculated into Bromus inermis via the sterile seedling slit inoculation method, and new symbionts (EI) were obtained; the vaccination rate was 2.1%. Metabolites up-regulated by EI are significantly enriched in citrate cycle and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, suggesting that the symbiosis of endophytic fungi indirectly triggers the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through multiple metabolic pathways. The saline-alkali stress test showed that the host antioxidant system was active after inoculation, and the total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased compared with non-symbionts (EF) under mild stress (p < 0.05), which provided important clues to reveal the complex mechanism of plant-fungus symbiosis. This study provides practical guidance and a theoretical basis for plant adaptation under climate change, health management of grass seeds, and soil improvement through endophytic fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40219154,
year = {2025},
author = {Utgés-Minguell, L and Sierras-Serra, N and Marín, C and Pintó-Marijuan, M},
title = {Enhanced Production by Terra-Sorb[®] Symbiotic Biostimulant in Two Model Species Under Nitrogen Stress.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40219154},
issn = {2223-7747},
abstract = {The increasing soil pollution has accelerated the implementation of new agricultural regulations that significantly limit the use of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Consequently, plants are likely to experience nutrient stress, leading to decreased productivity and potential threats to food security. To address these critical challenges, microbial-based biostimulant (BS) products, which utilize metabolites from microorganisms, offer a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to mitigate plant nutrient stress. This study evaluated the effects of the radicular application of a microbial-based BS containing L-α-amino acids on lettuce and pepper crops under two nitrogen regimes: optimal N availability and N stress (NS). Various parameters, including growth, production, soluble proteins, photosynthetic pigment content, and oxidative stress markers, were assessed. Under optimal N conditions, BS application enhanced commercial biomass in lettuce and vegetative biomass in pepper, indicating that BSs can reduce the need for nitrate uptake and endogenous amino acid synthesis, thereby conserving energy for other physiological processes. Despite BS application, NS conditions significantly reduced vegetative and reproductive growth in both species. However, BS treatment in pepper plants increased chloroplast pigments, improving light absorption and photosynthetic efficiency. The reduction in the carotenoid/chlorophyll ratio suggests efficient N allocation to growth and production. Thus, BS application proved effective in mitigating NS in pepper plants, enhancing pepper production, while under optimal conditions, it improved lettuce yield, particularly commercial biomass. These findings underscore the potential of symbiotic microbial-based BSs as a promising tool for sustainable agriculture under reduced N availability.},
}
@article {pmid40219116,
year = {2025},
author = {Catania, MDV and Albornoz, PL and Rausch, AO and Ledesma, TM and Dong, S and Cai, Y and Zeng, Y and Liu, Y and Suárez, GM and Moreno, JE},
title = {Discovery of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Mosses of the Pottiaceae Family from the Chaco Serrano (Tucumán, Argentina).},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40219116},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {PICT2018-0650 and PICT2020-0110//AGENCIA I+D+I/ ; 50620190100039LI//Universidad Nacional del Litoral/ ; 11220220100177CO//CONICET/ ; G744//Universidad Nacional de Tucum&#xe1;n/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic fungi that associate with the vast majority of terrestrial plants. Among non-vascular plants, while AMF associations are well-documented in liverworts and hornworts, there is a broad consensus that symbiotic associations do not occur in mosses. Here, we report the presence of AMF in the living material of mosses found in Chaco Serrano (Tucumán, Argentina). We found all characteristic structures of AMF when establishing an intimate connection with two moss species of Pottiaceae (Bryophyta). While Gertrudiella uncinicoma exhibited AMF with both Arum- and Paris-type morphologies, Pleurochaete luteola only displayed an Arum-type morphology. Plant tissue samples were subjected to high-throughput sequencing for AMF identification. We determined that Rhizophagus irregularis was a clear dominant species in both moss species, with Glomus sp. also being present as a less abundant element. In addition, we also reported the presence of vesicles, arbuscules, and spores adhered to the hyphae and the presence of septate endophytes. This finding expands our understanding of the interactions between AMF and non-vascular plants and prompt us to further characterize this interaction by considering the diversity of mycorrhizal associations with concurrent implications for the ecology of mosses and the functionality of the ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40218980,
year = {2025},
author = {Slöcker-Barrio, M and López-Herce Cid, J and Solana-García, MJ},
title = {The Interplay Between Nutrition and Microbiota and the Role of Probiotics and Symbiotics in Pediatric Infectious Diseases.},
journal = {Nutrients},
volume = {17},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40218980},
issn = {2072-6643},
mesh = {Humans ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use/administration &amp; dosage ; Child ; *Communicable Diseases/microbiology/therapy/immunology ; Prebiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Dietary Supplements ; *Nutritional Status ; *Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Immunocompromised Host ; },
abstract = {The interplay between nutrition and infectious diseases has been a central theme in health sciences for the last decades due to its great impact on the pediatric population, especially in immunocompromised patients and critically ill children. As conventional treatment and the development of antimicrobials for most infections standard treatment is either limited or not possible, alternative treatment options should be explored. Recent research shows that early enteral nutrition and nutritional supplements (such as probiotics and symbiotics) could have a pivotal role in promoting a healthy microbiome and subsequently preventing and improving outcomes for certain pediatric infectious diseases. However, understanding the specific mechanism of action and tailoring nutritional interventions remains a significant challenge. The optimal dose range for different probiotic strains and prebiotics and the most effective combination for each treatment indication needs further investigation and is yet to be defined. Additionally, in the era of personalized medicine, goal- and patient-directed treatment are key to optimizing and improving outcomes and minimizing potential complications and side effects, especially in complex and immunocompromised patients. The main objectives of this narrative review are 1. to explore the relationship and the complex interactions between microbiota and the human immune system; 2. to describe the influence of nutrition on infectious diseases; 3. to evaluate the impact of supplementation with probiotics and symbiotics in the prevention and treatment of the most relevant infections in children; and 4. to identify knowledge gaps and potential research priorities regarding the use of these supplements in pediatric patients.},
}
@article {pmid40218328,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Z and Wang, Y and He, Z and Wu, S and Wang, S and Zhao, N and Zhu, W and Jiang, J and Wang, S},
title = {Research Status and Prospect of Amphibian Symbiotic Microbiota.},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
volume = {15},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {40218328},
issn = {2076-2615},
support = {2022M723135//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 31901120 and 31700320//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Amphibians are the most severely threatened vertebrate group in terms of biodiversity. The microbiota that coexist in a mutualistic relationship with amphibians play a crucial role in shaping their health status, reproductive efficiency, and environmental adaptability. Understanding the relationship between amphibians and microbiota is vital for elucidating the causes of amphibian diseases and developing effective prevention and control techniques, which in turn is significant for enhancing the effectiveness of amphibian diversity conservation. The main findings of this article are as follows: Firstly, it provides an overview of the systematic assessment and analysis methods regarding the importance of amphibians and their symbiotic microbiota, detailing the primary research techniques currently employed. Secondly, it discusses the impacts of environmental and biological factors on the characteristics of amphibian symbiotic microbial communities, including dimensions such as altitude, temperature fluctuations, and host dietary habits. Finally, the future directions of research on amphibian symbiotic microbiota are examined, with five recommendations presented: (1) Establish a comprehensive sample library and database of amphibians and their symbiotic microbiota to create a solid foundation for scientific research. (2) Explore the coevolutionary paths between amphibians and symbiotic microbiota to clarify the dynamic evolutionary patterns and principles of their interactions. (3) Strengthen research on specific areas of amphibians, especially the microbial communities in the oral cavity and cloaca. (4) Enhance research on the symbiotic microbiota of the Gymnophiona. (5) Strengthen international cooperation to build cross-border research platforms and jointly promote the rapid development of global amphibian symbiotic microbiology. This article summarizes the current research progress on the interaction between amphibians and their symbiotic microbiota (not necessarily mutualistic). It discusses the conservation of amphibian biodiversity from the perspective of their symbiotic microbial communities and provides a forward-looking analysis of future research directions. It aims to provide rich background information for understanding the complexity of this symbiotic system, while also having significant value in enhancing the effectiveness of amphibian biodiversity conservation.},
}
@article {pmid40212385,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, X and Deng, B and Lu, S and Wang, C and Liang, Y and Liu, S},
title = {Differences in rhizospheric microbial communities between cultivated and wild endangered Glyptostrobus pensilis.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1548836},
pmid = {40212385},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Glyptostrobus pensilis is an endangered species belonging to the Cupressaceae family. The comprehensive examination of soil characteristics and rhizosphere microbial communities is vital for conservation efforts, as it provides insights into the necessary environmental conditions for safeguarding and ensuring the viability of rare and endangered species. In this study, the diversity and composition of bacterial and fungal communities were compared in the roots and rhizosphere soils of cultivated and wild G. pensilis in Guangxi, China. The results revealed that, at the phylum level, the rhizosphere of cultivated G. pensilis was significantly enriched with Verrucomicrobiota, Acidobacteriota, Glomeromycota, and Chloroflexi, while wild G. pensilis was significantly enriched with Planctomycetota, Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota. Symbiotic network analysis indicated that the bacterial network in the cultivated G. pensilis rhizosphere had higher edge values, average degree, clustering coefficient, and network density, while the fungal network in the wild G. pensilis rhizosphere had higher node values, edge values, average degree, and clustering coefficient. Moreover, functional prediction results suggested that bacteria in cultivated G. pensilis showed higher metabolic activity, with fungi primarily acted as saprotrophs and symbionts. In contrast, bacteria in wild G. pensilis displayed lower metabolic activity, with fungi predominantly functioning as saprotrophs. The analysis linking rhizospheric microbial diversity to soil environmental factors showed a closer association for the wild G. pensilis microbial community, suggesting a stronger influence of soil environmental factors. The Random Forest (RF) highlighted that the total phosphorus and total potassium levels were key influencing factors for rhizospheric microbes in cultivated G. pensilis, while available potassium levels were crucial for those in wild G. pensilis. These differences underscore the significant strategies for G. pensilis in adapting to different habitats, which may be intricately linked to land management practices and soil environmental factors. Among these, phosphorus and potassium are significantly associated with the rhizosphere microorganisms of G. pensilis. Therefore, continuous monitoring of nutrient availability and regular supplementation of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in the rhizosphere are recommended during the cultivation and ex-situ conservation of G. pensilis.},
}
@article {pmid40212382,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, Y and Jiang, X and He, X and Wu, Z and Lv, Q and Zhao, S and Zhang, X and Wang, S and He, H and Liu, J},
title = {Bacillus velezensis 20507 promotes symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 and soybean by secreting flavonoids.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1572568},
pmid = {40212382},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: While co-inoculation with rhizobia and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can enhance soybean growth and nodulation, the interaction mechanisms between Bacillus velezensis 20507 and Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 under varying nitrogen (N) supply levels (0-10 mmol/L) remain unclear. This study investigates how their synergistic interactions influence soybean nitrogen content per plant and molecular pathways.<br><br>METHODS: Soybean plants were co-inoculated with B. velezensis and B. japonicum across four N levels. Nodulation, plant growth, physiology, and N content were quantified. Transcriptome sequencing of soybean roots under N deficiency compared single and co-inoculation treatments. Flavonoids in B. velezensis fermentation broth were identified via mass spectrometry, and rutin's regulatory effects on B. japonicum nodulation genes (NodD1/NodD2) were tested in coculture.<br><br>RESULTS: Co-inoculation significantly increased nodulation, biomass, and N content per plant compared to single inoculations across all N levels. Under N deficiency, co-inoculation induced 5,367 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment in phenylpropanoid (ko00940) and flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941). B. velezensis produced 29 flavonoids and 4 isoflavonoids (including rutin). Rutin (5-10 mg/L) upregulated NodD1 and suppressed NodD2 in B. japonicum.<br><br>DISCUSSION: B. velezensis enhances B. japonicum-soybean symbiosis via flavonoid secretion, particularly rutin, which modulates nodulation gene expression. This metabiotic interaction improves soybean N assimilation and growth, even under low N conditions. The findings provide a foundation for designing composite inoculants to optimize soybean yield and nitrogen-use efficiency.},
}
@article {pmid40211145,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, X and Wang, Z and Li, J and Struik, PC and Jiang, S and Jin, K and Mu, H},
title = {How do arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance drought resistance of Leymus chinensis?.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {453},
pmid = {40211145},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {32071861//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Droughts ; *Poaceae/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Drought Resistance ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Leymus chinensis is a vital, dominant grass species in Eurasian temperate grasslands, including the Inner Mongolian steppe. L. chinensis exhibits enhanced drought tolerance through symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The physiological mechanisms behind this drought resistance need to be unraveled. A pot experiment was conducted with four inoculation treatments (inoculation with Funneliformis mosseae, with Claroideoglomus etunicatum, or with both, and no inoculation) and three drought treatments (no drought (75.00% field capacity), mild drought (56.25% field capacity), severe drought (37.50% field capacity)) to analyze how AMF enhance drought resistance of L. chinensis.<br><br>RESULTS: The results showed that drought stress inhibited the growth of L. chinensis, depending on its intensity, whereas AMF inoculation significantly improved growth and alleviated the effects of drought stress. Regardless of drought conditions, AMF inoculation significantly enhanced key biochemistry parameters, including soluble sugar concentration and antioxidant enzyme activities, ultimately promoting plant productivity. Structural equation models (SEMs) further showed that the increase in biomass of L. chinensis inoculated with AMF during mild drought was primarily due to reduced catalase activity and increased cytokinin concentration by increased soluble sugar concentration. However, under severe drought, the increase in biomass of L. chinensis inoculated with AMF was associated with increased soluble sugar concentration caused by increased peroxidase activity and reduced cytokinin concentration.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The mechanisms by which AMF enhance the drought resistance of L. chinensis vary depending on the severity of drought. AMF increase the soluble sugar concentration by enhancing photosynthetic activity to improve drought resistance under mild drought. Under severe drought conditions, AMF enhance the concentration of soluble sugars in L. chinensis by further activating the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes, thereby improving its drought resistance. Additionally, C. etunicatum maintains high ectomycelium by requiring less carbon sources to efficiently absorb the residual soil moisture under severe drought, thus superiorly enhancing the drought resistance of L. chinensis. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the application of AMF fertilizer to improve the productivity of L. chinensis in arid grasslands.},
}
@article {pmid40210669,
year = {2025},
author = {Mocăniță, M and Martz, K and D'Costa, VM},
title = {Characterizing host-microbe interactions with bacterial effector proteins using proximity-dependent biotin identification (BioID).},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {597},
pmid = {40210669},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {DGECR-2019-00088//Gouvernement du Canada | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Conseil de Recherches en Sciences Naturelles et en G&#xe9;nie du Canada)/ ; },
mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Biotin/metabolism ; Humans ; *Host Microbial Interactions ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Bacteria/metabolism/pathogenicity ; *Virulence Factors/metabolism ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Bacterial pathogens have evolved diverse strategies to manipulate host cells to establish infection. At a molecular level, this is often mediated by virulence factors that are secreted into host cells (herein referred to as effectors), which target host cellular pathways by initiating host-pathogen protein-protein interactions that alter cellular function in the host. By establishing this network of host-pathogen protein-protein interactions, pathogenic bacteria modulate and hijack host cell processes for the benefit of the pathogen, ultimately promoting survival, replication, and cell-to-cell spread within the host. Effector proteins also mediate diverse host-microbe interactions in nature, contributing to symbiotic relationships spanning from mutualism to commensalism to parasitism. While effector proteins play crucial roles in nature, molecular properties such as the transient nature of the underlying protein-protein interactions and their affinity for targeting host biological membranes often presents challenges to elucidating host targets and mechanism of action. Proximity-dependent biotin identification (termed BioID) has proven to be a valuable tool in the field of cell biology to identify candidate protein-protein interactions in eukaryotic cells, yet has remained relatively underexploited by bacterial pathogenesis researchers. Here, we discuss bacterial effector function at a molecular level, and challenges presented by traditional approaches to host target identification. We highlight the BioID approach and its potential strengths in the context of identifying host-pathogen protein-protein interactions, and explore BioID's implementation to study host-microbe interactions mediated by bacteria. Collectively, BioID represents a powerful tool for the study of bacterial effector proteins, providing new insight into our understanding of pathogenesis and other symbiotic relationships, and opportunities to identify new factors that contribute to host response to infection.},
}
@article {pmid40210400,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, Y and Chen, Y and Lin, X and Zhang, S and Zhu, B and Ji, C},
title = {Integrated transcriptome and proteome analysis unveils black tea polyphenols metabolic pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.},
journal = {Food microbiology},
volume = {130},
number = {},
pages = {104777},
doi = {10.1016/j.fm.2025.104777},
pmid = {40210400},
issn = {1095-9998},
mesh = {*Polyphenols/metabolism/chemistry ; *Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism/genetics ; *Proteome/genetics/metabolism ; Fermentation ; *Tea/microbiology/chemistry/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Transcriptome ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Proteomics ; Kombucha Tea/microbiology ; Camellia sinensis ; },
abstract = {Kombucha is a fermented beverage produced through the fermentation of sweetened tea by a symbiotic community of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY). Microbial fermentation in kombucha increases low-molecular-weight polyphenols contents, effectively improving the bioavailability and antioxidant properties. However, the biotransformation pathways of polymerized polyphenols remain poorly understood. This study combines polyphenol dynamics with transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to elucidate the metabolic pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a yeast frequently found in kombucha, during black tea broth fermentation. Firstly, profiles of polyphenols, particularly catechins were analyzed and key points of polyphenol changes kinetics were identified, then transcriptome and proteome of S. cerevisiae were examined. The overall omics data profile indicated the reduction in protein synthesis in S. cerevisiae, reflecting a shift in resource allocation, with energy focused more on metabolic activities rather than on growth. Specifically, enzymes related to biotransformation of polymerized polyphenols and hydrolyzing of glycoside polyphenols were extracted. For polymeric polyphenols, the upregulation of peroxidases (CCP1) and multicopper oxidases (FET3) suggests their role in the degradation of organic aromatic compounds. They also showed a strong correlation with catechin changes. Additionally, S. cerevisiae enzymes like monooxygenase (COQ6) likely contribute to the reductive cleavage of the O1-C2 bond in the C-ring of flavan-3-ols. Enzymes such as NADPH dehydrogenase 3 (OYE3) may be involved in catechin degradation in the later stages of fermentation. In addition, glycoside hydrolases, involved in breaking glycosidic bonds in polyphenol glycosides, were also identified. Based on these findings, the tea polyphenol biotransformation pathways in S. cerevisiae were mapped. This research provides a foundation for uncovering polyphenol metabolism pathways in starter cultures, designing new cultures to achieve predictable polyphenol profiles in kombucha, and enhancing its health benefits.},
}
@article {pmid40209752,
year = {2025},
author = {Akl, E and Dyrba, M and Görß, D and Schumacher, J and Weber, MA},
title = {MRI for diagnosing dementia - update 2025.},
journal = {RoFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Rontgenstrahlen und der Nuklearmedizin},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1055/a-2563-0725},
pmid = {40209752},
issn = {1438-9010},
abstract = {Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a crucial role alongside clinical and neuropsychological assessments in diagnosing dementia. The recent and ongoing advancements in MRI technology have significantly enhanced the detection and characterization of the specific neurostructural changes seen in various neurodegenerative diseases, thereby significantly increasing the precision of diagnosis. Within this context of perpetual evolution, this review article explores the recent advances in MRI with regard to diagnosing dementia.A retrospective literature review was conducted by searching the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases for the keywords "dementia", "imaging", and "MRI". The inclusion criteria were scientific papers in English that revolved around the role of MRI as a diagnostic tool in the field of dementia. A specific time frame was not determined but the focus was on current articles, with an overall of 20 articles dating from the last 6 years (after 2018), corresponding to 55% of the total number of articles.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the radiologic diagnosis of dementia using MRI, with a particular focus on the last 6 years. Technical aspects of image acquisition for clinical and research purposes are discussed. MRI findings typical of dementia are described. The findings are divided into non-specific findings of dementia and characteristic findings for certain dementia subtypes. This provides information about possible causes of dementia. In addition, developed scoring systems that support MRI findings are presented, including the MTA score for Alzheimer's disease with corresponding illustrative figures.The symbiosis of clinical evaluation with high-field MRI methodologies enhances dementia diagnosis and offers a holistic and nuanced understanding of structural brain changes associated with dementia and its various subtypes. The latest advances, mainly involving the emergence of ultra-high-field (7T) MRI, despite having limited use in clinical practice, mark a pragmatic shift in the field of research. · High-field MRI (3T) and specialized sequences allow for the detection of early structural changes indicative of dementia.. · Characteristic neuroanatomical MRI patterns enable the differentiation between various subtypes of dementia.. · Established scales provide added value to the quantification and categorization of MRI findings in dementia.. · Akl E, Dyrba M, Görß D et al. MRI for diagnosing dementia - update 2024. Rofo 2025; DOI 10.1055/a-2563-0725.},
}
@article {pmid40209669,
year = {2025},
author = {Luo, M and Song, X},
title = {Phyto-metabolites on guard: Role of gut microbial deglycosylation.},
journal = {Cell host &amp; microbe},
volume = {33},
number = {4},
pages = {451-453},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.03.011},
pmid = {40209669},
issn = {1934-6069},
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Bacteroides/metabolism/enzymology ; *Glycosides/metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Symbiosis ; *Plants/metabolism/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Plant phenolic glycosides are thought to be beneficial for human health. In a recent issue of Cell, Kuziel et al. identified that Bacteroides species, the dominant symbiotic bacteria in the gut, harbor a unique multi-enzyme system that processes dietary plant glycosides into various aglycone metabolites with antimicrobial or immunomodulatory activities.},
}
@article {pmid40208324,
year = {2025},
author = {Mazzella, V and Zahn, G and Dell'Anno, A and Pons, LN},
title = {Marine Mycobiomes Colonize Mediterranean Sponge Hosts in a Random Fashion.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {25},
pmid = {40208324},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {C63C22000520001//National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)/ ; C63C22000520001//National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)/ ; C63C22000520001//National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Porifera/microbiology ; *Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Mediterranean Sea ; *Mycobiome ; *Seawater/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Biodiversity ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Marine sponges are widespread, sessile, filter-feeding animals, known for living in association with complex prokaryotic communities structured by host species. Though marine fungi are ubiquitous across marine environments, little is known about sponge-associated fungal communities (mycobiome). Indeed, aside from a few studies based on the isolation of fungal strains for biotechnological purposes, little information is available to understand the diversity and structure of sponge mycobiome. Here, a metabarcoding approach based on the ITS1 marker was applied to examine the structure and composition of fungal communities associated with four Mediterranean sponges. The species: Petrosia ficiformis, Chondrosia reniformis, Crambe crambe, and Chondrilla nucula were analyzed along with the surrounding seawater, revealing Aspergillus (1-56%), Cladosporium (1-75%), Malassezia (1-38.5%), and Pennicillium (1.5-36%) as the most represented fungal genera. Our data showed high intra-specific variability and no clear core mycobiome within each of the sponge species host, suggesting stochastic and perhaps transient community membership. This study sheds light on one of the most abundant yet least understood components of the marine ecosystem. Unraveling the dynamics of fungal interactions within sponge holobionts is essential to advance our understanding of their ecological roles and functions. By addressing the enigmatic nature of sponge-associated fungi, this research opens new avenues for exploring their contributions to marine ecosystems and resolving the many unanswered questions in this field.},
}
@article {pmid40207924,
year = {2025},
author = {Hendricks, A and Philips, TK and Engl, T and Plarre, R( and Martinson, VG},
title = {The bacterial microbiome in spider beetles and deathwatch beetles.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {e0198124},
pmid = {40207924},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The beetle family Ptinidae contains a number of economically important pests, such as the cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne, the drugstore beetle Stegobium paniceum, and the diverse spider beetles. Many of these species are stored product pests, which target a diverse range of food sources, from dried tobacco to books made with organic materials. Despite the threat that the 2,200 species of Ptinidae beetles pose, fewer than 50 have been surveyed for microbial symbionts, and only a handful have been screened using contemporary genomic methods. In this study, we screen 116 individual specimens that cover most subfamilies of Ptinidae, with outgroup beetles from closely related families Dermestidae, Endecatomidae, and Bostrichidae. We used 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon data to characterize the bacterial microbiomes of these specimens. The majority of these species had never been screened for microbes. We found that, unlike in their sister family, Bostrichidae, that has two mutualistic bacteria seen in most species, there are no consistent bacterial members of ptinid microbiomes. For specimens which had Wolbachia infections, we did additional screening using multilocus sequence typing and showed that our populations have different strains of Wolbachia than noted in previous publications.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Ptinid beetles are both household pests of pantry goods and economic pests of dried goods warehouses and cultural archives, such as libraries and museums. Currently, the most common pest control measures for ptinid beetles are phosphine and/or heat treatments. Many ptinid beetles have been observed to have increasing resistance to phosphine, and heat treatments are not appropriate for many of the goods commonly infested by ptinids. Pest control techniques focused on symbiotic bacteria have been shown to significantly decrease populations and often have the beneficial side effect of being more specific than other pest control techniques. This survey provides foundational information about the bacteria associated with diverse ptinid species, which may be used for future control efforts.},
}
@article {pmid40206216,
year = {2025},
author = {Jin, M and Cai, L and Lu, L and Yu, M and Zhang, R},
title = {Combined metabolomic and genomic analyses reveal phage-specific and infection stage-specific alterations to marine Roseobacter metabolism.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf047},
pmid = {40206216},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Phages can reshape the metabolic network of hosts to support specific requirements for replication during infection. However, metabolomic profiling of phage-elicited host global metabolic alterations and the linkage of phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes to these alterations are understudied. In this study, the dynamics of intracellular metabolites of Dinoroseobacter shibae DFL12, a member of marine environmentally and biogeochemically relevant Roseobacter clade, in response to four distinct lytic roseophage infections were investigated. Metabolomic profiling indicated that roseophage infections significantly altered host metabolism in a phage-specific manner. Pathway enrichment analyses showed that the central carbon pathway and DNA, amino acid, and coenzyme metabolism were commonly altered by roseophages, revealing a central role of these pathways in phage replication. Furthermore, clear infection stage-specific host responses were observed, corresponding to different metabolic demands of phage replication in the early and late infection stages. Interestingly, the content of host vitamin B1, which is the essential nutrient provided by D. shibae to its symbiotic microalgae, increased in the early infection stage for most roseophages, implying that phage infection may impact the symbiosis of D. shibae with microalgae. Finally, combined metabolomic and phage genomics analyses showed that roseophages adopt different strategies to expand the host pyrimidine pool (recycling or de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides), and this difference was likely related to variation in the GC content between phage and host genomes. Collectively, these results highlight the potential importance of phage-specific and infection stage-specific host metabolic reprogramming in marine phage-host interactions, bacteria-microalgae symbiosis, and biogeochemical cycles.},
}
@article {pmid40205611,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Z and Liang, L and Jiang, X and Shan, J and Li, S and Liu, J and Dong, Q and Wang, X and Zhang, H},
title = {Skin microbiome influences the progression of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma through the immune system.},
journal = {World journal of surgical oncology},
volume = {23},
number = {1},
pages = {129},
pmid = {40205611},
issn = {1477-7819},
support = {2024ZYYA033//Shanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine/ ; 2023RC-2-4//Science and Technology Bureau of Luliang/ ; 20240399//Shanxi Provincial Department of Education/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; *Skin Neoplasms/immunology/microbiology/pathology ; *Microbiota/immunology ; *Skin/microbiology/immunology ; Disease Progression ; *Immune System/immunology ; *Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; Skin Microbiome ; },
abstract = {Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a type of skin tumor that develops in the epithelial cells. This disease has the second highest incidence of human skin cancers, with a high metastatic rate. While ultraviolet radiation significantly contributes to the genomic changes that support cSCC development, the dysbiosis of the skin microbiome and influence of the immune system also play important roles in this process. In this review, we discuss the effects of skin microbes and their metabolites on the immune system, including innate immune cells, T cells, and cytokines. We also discuss how Staphylococcus aureus and human papillomavirus can affect cSCC by impacting the immune system. Furthermore, we explore the antagonism of symbiotic microorganisms with cSCC-associated pathogens and their potential as novel therapeutic modalities.},
}
@article {pmid40205240,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Liang, J and Shi, J and Yuan, W and Li, X and Ding, C},
title = {Applications of endophytic fungi in plant disease control.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {207},
number = {5},
pages = {117},
pmid = {40205240},
issn = {1432-072X},
support = {2023yjscx046//Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Graduate Innovative Research Project/ ; LH2020H093//Heilongjiang Natural Science Foundation joint guidance project/ ; 20060302//Central level major increase and decrease project/ ; 15041190011//Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine outstanding young and middle-aged backbone teachers training support plan project/ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/physiology ; *Plant Diseases/prevention &amp; control/microbiology ; *Fungi/physiology ; *Biological Control Agents ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) have resulted in the quality and yield of crops, which has seriously affected the development of the agricultural economy. The prolonged use of chemical fungicides for prevention and control can lead to environmental pollution, hindering the sustainable development of safe and eco-friendly agriculture while also promoting the resistance of pathogenic microorganisms. Nevertheless, non-pathogenic endophytic fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plants still exhibit significant antagonistic effects on pathogenic microorganisms, even in small concentrations. These fungi pose no threat to human health and are highly beneficial to the ecological environment, making them an ideal alternative to chemical fungicides. They are increasingly being recognized and have been subjected to comprehensive research. Based on this, this article summarizes the types of endophytic fungi with biocontrol effects in recent years. It focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of their biocontrol from physiological and molecular perspectives. In addition, the application and development challenges of biocontrol agents (BCAs) derived from these fungi are also discussed, including difficulties in elucidating their mechanisms of action during research and development, challenges in strain selection and improvement, difficulties in controlling environmental adaptability, and stringent storage conditions. The aim is to develop more effective endophytic fungi as emerging biocontrol resources for agricultural production.},
}
@article {pmid40204265,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Zhao, X and Fan, Y and Huo, P and Huang, S and Wang, H and Lu, Z and Luo, Z and Zhang, Y},
title = {Transcriptome analysis of Beauveria bassiana interaction with Nicotiana benthamiana reveals signatures of N. Benthamiana growth promotion and enhanced defense responses.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {211},
number = {},
pages = {108334},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108334},
pmid = {40204265},
issn = {1096-0805},
mesh = {*Beauveria/physiology/genetics ; *Nicotiana/microbiology/growth &amp; development/genetics/immunology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Transcriptome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; },
abstract = {Many entomopathogenic fungi form intimate (epi- and endo-phytic) associations with that plant that can stimulate plant growth and /or improve resistance to pathogens and insect pests. However, little is known concerning global gene networks that mediate such responses. Nicotiana benthamiana seedlings were artificially colonized by the entomogenous fungus, Beauveria bassiana, and the root tissues were examined via comparative transcriptome analyses performed versus fungal cells grown in vitro on dried root biomass. Plant hormone pathways, and genes involved in photosynthesis, immune defense response, and nutrient metabolism were triggered in roots after fungal colonization. Fungal differentially expressed genes during plant colonization included plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, and those involved in lipid metabolism, detoxification, and fungal cell wall remodeling, the latter suggesting reduction in the exposure of pathogen related molecular patterns to avoid perception by the plant immune system. Fungal metabolic genes involved in amino acid, nitrogen, sulfur and carbohydrate assimilation were activated, nutrient exchange with the plant host. Exchange was confirmed by detection of sulfur in the seedling that was increased by the fungal colonization. A set of fungal secondary metabolism-associated genes were also upregulated during the plant interaction, which might contribute to plant resistance against pathogens or/and insect pest. In addition, B. bassiana expressed a suite of effector/elicitor genes consistent with triggering plant growth and/or immune defense response pathways. These results revealed global gene networks active in both the plants and the fungus as a consequence of their symbiotic interaction, and provides insights into the molecular determinants and physiological responses affected.},
}
@article {pmid40809115,
year = {2024},
author = {Folguera-Blasco, N and Boshier, FAT and Uatay, A and Pichardo-Almarza, C and Lai, M and Biasetti, J and Dearden, R and Gibbs, M and Kimko, H},
title = {Coupling quantitative systems pharmacology modelling to machine learning and artificial intelligence for drug development: its pAIns and gAIns.},
journal = {Frontiers in systems biology},
volume = {4},
number = {},
pages = {1380685},
pmid = {40809115},
issn = {2674-0702},
abstract = {Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) has become a powerful tool in the drug development landscape. To facilitate its continued implementation and to further enhance its applicability, a symbiotic approach in which QSP is combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) seems key. This manuscript presents four case examples where the application of a symbiotic approach could unlock new insights from multidimensional data, including real-world data, potentially leading to breakthroughs in drug development. Besides the remarkable benefits (gAIns) that the symbiosis can offer, it does also carry potential challenges (pAIns) such as how to assess and quantify uncertainty, bias and error. Hence, to ensure a successful implementation, arising pAIns need to be acknowledged and carefully addressed. Successful implementation of the symbiotic QSP and ML/AI approach has the potential to serve as a catalyst, paving the way for a paradigm shift in drug development.},
}
@article {pmid40303176,
year = {2024},
author = {Li, Z and Wu, X and Zhang, Y and Li, Q and Gao, J and Hu, Y and Yuan, J and Hu, H and Jin, X and Wei, Z},
title = {Isolation and Pathogenicity of a Chinese Porcine Astrovirus Type 5 Strain HNPDS-01 and Its Influence on Cecum Microbiota in Piglets.},
journal = {Transboundary and emerging diseases},
volume = {2024},
number = {},
pages = {5777097},
pmid = {40303176},
issn = {1865-1682},
mesh = {Animals ; *Astroviridae/pathogenicity ; *Astroviridae Infections/veterinary/virology/microbiology ; *Cecum/microbiology/virology ; China/epidemiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Genome, Viral ; Phylogeny ; Swine ; *Swine Diseases/virology/microbiology ; Virulence ; },
abstract = {Astroviruses have frequently been found in mammals and poultry, but only a few have been successfully isolated for extensive research. Here, we isolated a strain of porcine astrovirus type 5 (PAstV 5) on LLC-porcine kidney (LLC-PK) cells, from the intestinal contents of diarrhea piglets, namely PAstV 5-HNPDS-01. The complete genome sequence length of this strain was 6,419 nt, which has 77.2%-91.1% nucleotide homology with other PAstV 5 strains and 45.0%-50.0% nucleotide homology with other mammalian astroviruses. The recombination analysis indicated that the recombination events were occurred in ORF 2 region (4,444-5,323 nt) in PAstV 5-HNPDS-01 strain. Subsequently, the pathogenicity of PAstV 5-HNPDS-01 was evaluated in 5-day-old piglets. It showed that the PAstV 5-HNPDS-01 could cause mild diarrhea, growth retardation, minor damage to intestinal villi clinically. Meanwhile, PAstV 5-HNPDS-01 infection could affect the microbiota diversity and composition of cecum in piglet from phylum to genus level. After infected with PAstV 5, there was a significant downregulation of beneficial bacteria, including Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella, while harmful bacteria such as Subdoligranulun showed a significant upregulation. These results provided a research basis for pathogenic mechanisms, vaccine development, and beneficial symbiotic bacteria development for PAstV 5 infection.},
}
@article {pmid40479232,
year = {2022},
author = {Hautala, J and Jauhiainen, JS},
title = {Co-creating Knowledge with Robots: System, Synthesis, and Symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of the knowledge economy},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-21},
pmid = {40479232},
issn = {1868-7873},
abstract = {In the contemporary robotizing knowledge economy, robots take increasing responsibility for accomplishing knowledge-related tasks that so far have been in the human domain. This profoundly changes the knowledge-creation processes that are at the core of the knowledge economy. Knowledge creation is an interactive spatial process through which ideas are transformed into new and justified outcomes, such as novel knowledge and innovations. However, knowledge-creation processes have rarely been studied in the context of human-robot co-creation. In this article, we take the perspective of key actors who create the future of robotics, namely, robotics-related students and researchers. Their thoughts and actions construct the knowledge co-creation processes that emerge between humans and robots. We ask whether robots can have and create knowledge, what kind of knowledge, and what kind of spatialities connect to interactive human-robot knowledge-creation processes. The article's empirical material consists of interviews with 34 robotics-related researchers and students at universities in Finland and Singapore as well as observations of human-robot interactions there. Robots and humans form top-down systems, interactive syntheses, and integrated symbioses in spatial knowledge co-creation processes. Most interviewees considered that robots can have knowledge. Some perceived robots as machines and passive agents with rational knowledge created in hierarchical systems. Others saw robots as active actors and learning co-workers having constructionist knowledge created in syntheses. Symbioses integrated humans and robots and allowed robots and human-robot cyborgs access to embodied knowledge.},
}
@article {pmid40477446,
year = {2022},
author = {Winmore, K and Melanie, N and Simphiwe, NI},
title = {Implications of the Urban Water and Food Systems Governance Nexus for Household Food Security in the City of Gweru, Zimbabwe.},
journal = {Urban forum (Johannesburg, South Africa)},
volume = {33},
number = {3},
pages = {329-348},
pmid = {40477446},
issn = {1874-6330},
abstract = {Innovative water governance practices are essential to achieve sustainable cities through robust public policies and stakeholder engagement. This study assessed the dynamics of water service delivery in Gweru and its impact on household food security. The study focused on the city's food sources, water service pricing, power struggles in decision-making, and the implications for household food security. A household survey was conducted with 489 respondents selected by stratified random sampling. Interviews with purposively enrolled key informants and observations were also used. Findings revealed a multi-faceted scenario of water governance challenges that crippled household food security. Food purchases and farming, the primary household food streams for the city, were under threat due to water shortages and high monthly water bills. More than 90% of household incomes were below the Poverty Datum Line and the Total Consumption Poverty Line; water bills accounted for a significant portion, ultimately causing food insecurity. The grant-aided municipality emphasized revenue collection to mitigate the central government's 2013 debt cancellation. Gweru had no useful alternative sources of water for agriculture. The existing water governance failed to capture the complex symbiotic relationship between the city's water and food availability. While we advocate minimal central government interference, the municipality must introduce an efficient dual-purpose water system to protect residents, the natural environment, and the local authority's finances.},
}
@article {pmid40406538,
year = {2023},
author = {Jiang, G and Zhou, Z and Li, X and Qian, Y and Wang, K},
title = {The Gut Microbiome During Pregnancy.},
journal = {Maternal-fetal medicine (Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {36-43},
pmid = {40406538},
issn = {2641-5895},
abstract = {Gut microbiota is symbiotic and interdependent with human body. Intestinal probiotics are colonized in the human gastrointestinal tract, which can improve the host intestinal microenvironment and enhance the intestinal function and immune function of the human body. A small number of opportunistic pathogens exist in the intestinal tract. Once the number of pathogens exceeds the threshold of intestinal tolerance, the intestinal micro-ecological balance can be destroyed, and various diseases may thus develop. Pregnancy is a special status with different physiologic changing stages. In the meanwhile, alterations in the gut microbiome populations occur, which can promote the differentiation, development, and maturation of fetal organs by affecting maternal metabolism. Compared with normal pregnant women, great changes in the gastrointestinal function and gut microbiome may take place in pregnant women with pregnancy-related complications, in which these changes include the number, species, and intestinal translocation. The composition of the maternal gut microbiome could contribute to pregnancy and obstetric outcomes, and long-term health of mother and child. The relationships of pregnancy to gut microbiome have attracted an increasing attention in recent years. This article will provide a summary review of the research studies of gut microbiome in normal pregnant women versus abnormal pregnancy women with complications.},
}
@article {pmid40477016,
year = {2020},
author = {Sturm, S},
title = {To Compose with Gaia: Living Sympoetically.},
journal = {Postdigital science and education},
volume = {2},
number = {3},
pages = {601-605},
doi = {10.1007/s42438-020-00151-2},
pmid = {40477016},
issn = {2524-4868},
}
@article {pmid40204028,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, Q and Wang, C and Qi, Y and Pang, F and Wang, M and Yang, G and Ma, X},
title = {Optimizing algal-bacterial systems for efficient sugar cane wastewater treatment: Pollutant removal and biomass resource recovery.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {429},
number = {},
pages = {132497},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132497},
pmid = {40204028},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Saccharum/chemistry ; *Wastewater/microbiology ; *Biomass ; *Water Purification/methods ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation &amp; purification ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; },
abstract = {Sugarcane wastewater is highly biodegradable; however, conventional single-treatment processes are constrained by its excessive organic load. Here, we integrated anaerobic acidification with microalgal bioaugmentation to establish an algal-bacterial symbiotic system, leveraging metabolic synergies within functional microbial consortia. The results demonstrate that this system enables the synergistic integration of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria with microalgae, forming a highly efficient metabolic network that enhances water purification. By systematically investigating environmental determinants of water purification and biomass dynamics in conjunction with response surface methodology (RSM), we optimized environmental parameters. The optimized parameters included an aeration rate of 267 mL/min, a light intensity of 6985 lx, and a 12:12 h light-dark photoperiod. Under optimized conditions, the system achieved a COD removal efficiency of 98.56 % and a biomass yield of 3.43 g/L, underscoring dual efficacy in organic load reduction, aeration demand minimization, and resource recovery. This work provides a sustainable approach for treating high-strength sugarcane wastewater through integrated algal-bacterial processes.},
}
@article {pmid40204026,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, Z and Shi, W and Yuan, W and Chen, Z and Xie, Y and Lv, Z and Xu, J and Amadu, AA and Qiu, S and Ge, S},
title = {Development and operation of indigenous microalgal-bacterial consortium system treating eutrophic lake water: Consortium identification and system demonstration.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {429},
number = {},
pages = {132496},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132496},
pmid = {40204026},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Lakes/microbiology ; *Microalgae/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Eutrophication ; Nitrogen/isolation &amp; purification ; *Microbial Consortia/physiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Water Purification/methods ; Photobioreactors/microbiology ; Phosphorus/isolation &amp; purification ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; },
abstract = {Natural water bodies such as the inland lake suffers from eutrophication due to excessive nutrient, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. This study demonstrated an indigenous microalgal-bacterial consortium (IMBC) system to treat eutrophic lake. Three IMBC were enriched from eutrophic lake water or/and sediments, exhibiting superior growth and complete nutrient removals compared to two commercial microalgal species. Particularly, the IMBC3 enriched from lake water and sediment (volume ratio of 1:1) were found to simultaneously achieve 91.0 % settling efficiency, attributed to its larger flocs and surface physical properties (e.g., higher surface hydrophobicity (78.0 %), protein/polysaccharide ratio (10.7) and zeta potential (-19.1 mV)). Subsequently, a long-term photobioreactor using IMBC3 further demonstrated stable nutrient removal and cold tolerance year-around. The microbial community's shift towards cold-tolerant genera and alleviated photoinhibition likely enhanced nitrogen cycling efficiency during colder months. These findings offer a feasible alternative using the IMBC with good environmental adaptation to eutrophication mitigation in nature water.},
}
@article {pmid40204004,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, W and Hou, X and Peng, G and Xia, Y and Cao, Y},
title = {Fungal ergot alkaloids: Metabolic pathways, biological functions, and advances in synthetic reprogramming.},
journal = {Biotechnology advances},
volume = {81},
number = {},
pages = {108578},
doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108578},
pmid = {40204004},
issn = {1873-1899},
mesh = {*Ergot Alkaloids/metabolism/biosynthesis/chemistry ; *Fungi/metabolism/genetics ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Metabolic Engineering/methods ; },
abstract = {Ergot alkaloids (EAs) are a class of secondary metabolites produced by fungi. These compounds are predominantly synthesized by Ascomycota, with variations in types and biosynthetic pathways among different fungal species. The EA synthesis has minimal impact on the normal growth and development of most EA-producing fungi, but serves as a virulence factor that influences the biocontrol functions of entomopathogenic fungi and symbiotic fungi in plants. In the medical field, EAs have been widely used for treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. However, the biosynthetic pathways of EAs are highly complex and significantly influenced by environmental factors, resulting in low yields from field production or chemical synthesis. To address the global demand for EAs, various strategies have been developed to reprogram the biosynthetic pathways in some chassis strains, aiming to simplify the process and increase EA production. This review summarizes the biosynthetic pathways and regulatory mechanisms of EAs in fungi, their biological functions, and recent advances in strategies for synthetic reprogramming.},
}
@article {pmid40203555,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Niu, Y and Zhou, Z and Ma, Y and Chen, M and Xu, N and Zhao, F and Sun, Y and Chen, P},
title = {Insight into endophytic microbiota-driven geographical and bioactive signatures toward a novel quality assessment model for Codonopsis Radix.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {223},
number = {},
pages = {109888},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109888},
pmid = {40203555},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Codonopsis/microbiology/chemistry/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; *Endophytes/metabolism ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sesquiterpenes/metabolism ; Lactones/metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; },
abstract = {Codonopsis Radix, a medicinal and dietary herb in traditional Chinese medicine, largely owes its pharmacological efficacy to both intrinsic phytochemistry and symbiotic interactions with plant-associated microbes. Here, we deciphered the geo-environmental regulation of Codonopsis Radix's endophytic microbiota across four major production regions using 16S rRNA/ITS sequencing and bioactive compound profiling. Results demonstrated that the planting environment significantly shaped the endophytic community of Codonopsis Radix, where Bifidobacteriaceae and Muribaculaceae exhibited the strongest correlations with its bioactive components. Monolobus and Bradyrhizobium not only exhibit distinct associations with Lobetyolin and Atractylenolide III respectively, but also demonstrate significant correlations with the key biosynthetic pathways of these compounds. Leveraging machine learning, we developed the first microbiota-driven quality assessment model, achieving 100.0% and 85.7% prediction accuracies for Lobetyolin and Atractylenolide III respectively, using Random Forest algorithms. This dual-metric framework-integrating microbial signatures with chemical profiles-establishes a novel paradigm for Codonopsis Radix quality control, bridging ecological insights with precision agriculture. Our findings illuminate the microbiota's role as a biosynthetic orchestrator in geoherbalism, offering actionable strategies for sustainable cultivation and standardized production of Codonopsis Radix.},
}
@article {pmid40202595,
year = {2025},
author = {Yadav, G and Meena, M},
title = {Seasonal dynamics and enzyme profiles of diverse endophytic fungi in Sterculia urens Roxb.: insights into host-associated trends.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {4},
pages = {128},
pmid = {40202595},
issn = {1573-0972},
support = {SUR/2022/005216//Science and Engineering Research Board/ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/enzymology/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Seasons ; *Fungi/enzymology/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Phylogeny ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; },
abstract = {Sterculia urens Roxb., well known for its medicinal uses, remains largely unexplored in terms of its fungal endophytic communities. This study is the first comprehensive assessment of fungal endophyte diversity in S. urens. Sampling was conducted across different plant parts, seasons, and study sites. Molecular identification of fungal isolates was carried out using ITS sequencing. Additionally, colonization frequency and endophytic fungal diversity were analyzed. These isolates were evaluated for extracellular enzyme. A total of 31 different endophytic fungal species, representing 16 genera, were identified based on > 97% ITS sequence similarity. Colonization frequency was significantly influenced by season (P ≤ 0.0001), tissue type (P ≤ 0.0001), and site (P ≤ 0.0001). Diversity indices revealed a significant difference in relation to season and tissue type, but not with respect to location. Furthermore, this study reports, for the first time globally, the identification of Chaetomium meridiolense and Crinipellis wandoensis as endophytic fungi. Extracellular enzyme analysis revealed enzymatic activity in 29 morphotypes. The diverse enzymatic profiles of these fungal endophytes highlight their potential for various biotechnological applications. In addition, molecular and genomic investigations will provide a deeper understanding of the functional roles and symbiotic mechanisms of these fungal endophytes. Potential applications of this research include enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance, developing sustainable biofertilizers and biocontrol agents, promoting eco-friendly bioremediation strategies for dye-contaminated environments, and discovering novel enzymes suitable for industrial biotechnological processes.},
}
@article {pmid40202371,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Gao, Y and Vandeputte, DJ and Leermakers, M and Ruytinx, J},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve Rice Production in Zinc-Amended Soils by Altering Zinc Transport and Translocation Routes.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {48},
number = {7},
pages = {5559-5571},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15543},
pmid = {40202371},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//Y.Z. is a Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) doctoral fellow (No. 202008410213). VUB IRP GROW project is thanked by Y.G. and D.V. This study was supported by Vrije Universiteit Brussel through start-up funding granted to J.R. (OZR3483)./ ; },
mesh = {*Oryza/growth &amp; development/metabolism/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Zinc/metabolism ; *Soil/chemistry ; Biological Transport ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Shoots/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Human activities including industry and overcultivation resulted in marginal soils, unbalanced in nutrients or polluted with heavy metals. Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient and its nonoptimal soil bio-availability, negatively affects plant growth and production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could improve Zn acquisition in limited conditions and prevent accumulation in plant tissue in contaminated soils. However, it is not clear how AMF impact host plant Zn uptake and transport routes. In this study we assessed the potential of commercial AMF inoculum to support rice growth and production in non-Zn-fertilised, Zn-fertilised and Zn-polluted soils alongside their impact on host plant nutrient balances and Zn uptake and translocation routes. The results demonstrated that AMF inoculation restores rice growth and grain production in Zn-amended soils and that Zn amendment improves root colonisation. Shoot ionomes were particularly sensitive to differences in Zn supply and differentially affected in AMF and mock-inoculated plants. When present in excess, AMF inoculation decreased accumulation of Zn in shoots and disturbed Zn-P (phosphorus) relationship. We could not detect a mycorrhiza-specific Zn transporter in rice but rather a modification of expression for Zn transporters in the direct uptake routes. AMF inoculation interacts with the Zn-dependent response of heavy metal ATPase (OsHMA) transporters involved in root-to-shoot translocation. All together, these data indicate a change in relative importance of different direct Zn transport routes upon AMF colonisation. These findings provide valuable insights into how AMF symbiosis influences Zn uptake and distribution in rice under varying Zn conditions, allowing for the development of plant-fungus bioremediation and biofortification technologies.},
}
@article {pmid40202233,
year = {2025},
author = {Nandi, D and Ramteke, NS},
title = {Immune responses in the skin: Not so skinny at all.},
journal = {Journal of biosciences},
volume = {50},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40202233},
issn = {0973-7138},
mesh = {Animals ; Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Microbiota/immunology ; *Skin/immunology/microbiology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; },
abstract = {The immune system is our defence network and primarily geared to protect us from pathogens and tumors. This aspect is evident in people who lack or possess a compromised immune system and are, therefore, highly susceptible to infections and development of cancer, as in AIDS patients (Nandi et al. 2020). However, healthy humans possess commensals in the gut and have developed a symbiotic relationship with these microbes. Indeed, we benefit from gut microbes that reside within us due to the production of microbial products such as vitamins, short-chain fatty acids, and other metabolites. As the gut flora changes with disease, information on the changed microbiome can be highly reflective of our health status (Shreiner et al. 2015). Recently, efforts have been directed towards better understanding of host responses towards commensals. While it is true that most of these efforts have focused on the gut, other organs have also been studied such as the respiratory tract and oral cavities. Two new studies have shed light on immune responses in the skin (Bousbaine et al. 2024; Gribonika et al. 2024). Why the skin? In fact, the skin is the largest and most well-exposed organ harboring immune capabilities to deal with several commensals (Belkaid and Segre 2014; Honda et al. 2019; Zhang et al. 2022). Most importantly, bacteria obtained from the skin in healthy humans are coated with antibodies, demonstrating host-directed immune responses (Metze et al. 1991); also, immunodeficient people are susceptible to skin infections (Lehman 2014). However, a detailed understanding of the players involved, and the extent of skin-directed immune responses in dealing with various microbes are lacking. Two recent papers have shed new light on immune responses in the skin utilizing high end flow cytometry, several strains of mutant mice and RNA seq (Bousbaine et al. 2024; Gribonika et al. 2024).},
}
@article {pmid40201846,
year = {2025},
author = {Herdiana, Y},
title = {Polymeric rumen-stable delivery systems for delivering nutricines.},
journal = {Open veterinary journal},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {565-593},
pmid = {40201846},
issn = {2218-6050},
mesh = {Animals ; *Rumen/microbiology ; *Drug Delivery Systems/veterinary ; *Polymers/chemistry ; *Ruminants/physiology ; Animal Feed/analysis ; *Nutrients/administration &amp; dosage ; },
abstract = {Ruminants face unique drug and nutrient delivery challenges because of their symbiotic rumen microorganisms. Polymeric rumen-stable delivery systems (RDSs) have emerged as a promising solution for efficiently delivering nutrition and enhancing animal health and productivity. Traditional methods such as heat and chemical treatment have been improved with polymeric coatings that facilitate the slow postruminal release of bioactive substances. Polymeric coatings of nutrients offer significant potential for improving ruminant health, reducing farmer costs, and promoting sustainability in livestock. This paper explores the mechanisms of rumen protection and abomasal release provided by polymeric coatings, discusses other RSDs, and reviews methods for evaluating their performance in vitro and in vivo. Further research in this area could advance novel nutricine delivery solutions for ruminants.},
}
@article {pmid40201438,
year = {2025},
author = {Lu, W and Yi, X and Ge, Y and Zhang, X and Shen, K and Zhuang, H and Deng, Z and Liu, D and Cao, J and Ma, C},
title = {Effects of dietary fiber on the composition, function, and symbiotic interactions of intestinal microbiota in pre-weaned calves.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1554484},
pmid = {40201438},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining gastrointestinal health. However, its protective effects on the intestinal health of calves remain to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary fiber supplementation on the intestinal microbiota of pre-weaned calves and its potential role in modulating microbial metabolic pathways.<br><br>METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted, enrolling 135 calves that were randomly assigned into three groups: (1) inulin supplementation, (2) psyllium husk powder (PHP) supplementation, and (3) a control group receiving no dietary fiber. Fecal microbiota samples were collected from calves without diarrhea at five time points (0, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days of age). Metagenomic sequencing was performed to analyze microbial composition and functional pathways. Additionally, a differential analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary fiber on carbohydrate metabolism enzyme activity within the intestinal microbiota.<br><br>RESULTS: Calves supplemented with dietary fiber exhibited a significant increase in the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Prevotella compared to the control group. These bacterial genera contributed to intestinal protection by modulating secondary bile acid metabolism and flavonoid metabolism pathways. CAZymes differential analysis revealed an increased abundance of carbohydrate metabolism enzymes in response to dietary fiber supplementation, with distinct microbial community compositions observed among different fiber treatments. Notably, at 56 days of age, calves fed PHP harbored intergeneric symbiotic clusters comprising Clostridium, Prevotella, and Bacteroides, suggesting a cooperative microbial network that may contribute to intestinal homeostasis.<br><br>DISCUSSION: The findings of this study highlight the beneficial effects of dietary fiber on calf intestinal microbiota, particularly in enhancing microbial diversity and enzymatic activity related to carbohydrate metabolism. The observed microbial symbiosis in PHP-fed calves suggests a potential role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. These insights provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing dietary interventions to promote gut health in calves during the transition period. Further research is warranted to explore the mechanistic interactions between dietary fiber, gut microbiota, and host health outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40201155,
year = {2025},
author = {Skubała, K and Chowaniec, K and Kowaliński, M and Mrozek, T and Bąkała, J and Latkowska, E and Myśliwa-Kurdziel, B},
title = {Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e145477},
pmid = {40201155},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {To deepen our understanding of lichen adaptation and their potential to colonize extraterrestrial environments, we aimed to identify physiological/biochemical responses of selected lichen species in a metabolically active state to simulated Mars-like conditions in the dark including exposure to X-rays. Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis was active while being in a Mars-like environment. Diploschistesmuscorum was able to activate defense mechanisms effectively. In contrast, increased oxidative stress and associated damage were not effectively balanced in C.aculeata, which does not support the melanin's radioprotective function in this species. The heavy crystalline deposit on D.muscorum thallus might offer protection enhancing lichen resistance to extreme conditions. We concluded that metabolically active D.muscorum can withstand the X-ray dose expected on the Mars surface over one year of strong solar activity. Consequently, X-rays associated with solar flares and SEPs reaching Mars should not affect the potential habitability of lichens on this planet.},
}
@article {pmid40200676,
year = {2025},
author = {Addison, SL and Yan, ZZ and Carlin, T and Rúa, MA and Smaill, SJ and Daley, K and Singh, BK and Wakelin, SA},
title = {Unravelling Changes in the Pinus radiata Root and Soil Microbiomes as a Function of Aridity.},
journal = {Global change biology},
volume = {31},
number = {4},
pages = {e70165},
pmid = {40200676},
issn = {1365-2486},
support = {C04X2002//Forest Growers Levy Trust/ ; //Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment/ ; },
mesh = {*Pinus/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; Climate Change ; Soil/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; *Desert Climate ; },
abstract = {Increased aridity is emerging as a key impact of climate change in terrestrial ecosystems globally. Forest biomes are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of changing environmental conditions due to their long-lived and sessile nature. Microbiomes have coevolved with plants under changing environmental conditions with shared fitness outcomes. However, both the movement of plants via domestication and rapid pace of environmental change may impact the ability of plants to recruit microbial symbionts that support environmental stress tolerance. This study investigates the effects of aridity on tree-root microbiome symbiosis, focusing on the widely planted Pinus radiata. By sampling a broad geographic range and diverse environmental gradients, we reveal how aridity, soil and climatic variables shape microbial communities in P. radiata roots and soils. Our findings highlight that while aridity significantly predicts microbial community assembly, other environmental variables such as soil pH and organic carbon, strongly influence bacterial diversity. Groups of both bacterial and fungal taxa were identified as conditionally present with aridity, underscoring their importance in P. radiata resilience under increasingly environmental stress. Based on the transition of current mesic ecosystems to arid conditions under climate change, we found these arid associated taxa vary in their frequency in bulk soils projected to become arid. These results highlight the risk that these taxa will need to be recruited by other means. Ecological filtering by the host and environmental conditions fosters a "friends with benefits" relationship, wherein certain microbial taxa provide key benefits, such as extension of phenotypic tolerance to water limitation, to the host. Both bacterial and fungal communities are shaped more by stochastic than deterministic assembly processes, suggesting a complex interplay of host and environmental factors in community structure formation. The insights gained have implications for understanding the resilience of tree species and the ecosystem services they provide under future climate scenarios.},
}
@article {pmid40199921,
year = {2025},
author = {Chaudhary, VB and Nokes, LF and González, JB and Cooper, PO and Katula, AM and Mares, EC and Pehim Limbu, S and Robinson, JN and Aguilar-Trigueros, CA},
title = {TraitAM, a global spore trait database for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {Scientific data},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {588},
pmid = {40199921},
issn = {2052-4463},
support = {DEB-2205650//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; Feodor Lynen Fellowship//Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {Databases, Factual ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Spores, Fungal/genetics ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Knowledge regarding organismal traits supports a better understanding of the relationship between form and function and can be used to predict the consequences of environmental stressors on ecological and evolutionary processes. Most plants on Earth form symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi, but our ability to make trait-based inferences for these fungi is limited due to a lack of publicly available trait data. Here, we present TraitAM, a comprehensive database of multiple spore traits for all described species of the most common group of mycorrhizal fungi, the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (subphylum Glomeromycotina). Trait data for 344 species were mined from original species descriptions and used to calculate newly developed fungal trait metrics that can be employed to explore both intra- and inter-specific variation in traits. TraitAM also includes an updated phylogenetic tree that can be used to conduct phylogenetically-informed multivariate analyses of AM fungal traits. TraitAM will aid our further understanding of the biology, ecology, and evolution of these globally widespread, symbiotic fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40199344,
year = {2025},
author = {Kagawa, O and Itoh, H and Nakajima, N and Fukumori, H},
title = {Phylogenetic history of the acquisition of molluscan hosts in acotylean flatworms.},
journal = {Biology letters},
volume = {21},
number = {4},
pages = {20240721},
pmid = {40199344},
issn = {1744-957X},
support = {//Environmental Genomics Research Promotion Program/ ; //Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; *Mollusca/physiology/parasitology ; Host Specificity ; *Platyhelminths/physiology/genetics/classification ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {How symbionts acquired hosts and diversified phylogenetically during their evolutionary history is a focus of attention in many symbiotic taxa. Marine polyclad flatworms are usually free-living, but some are symbiotic, using animals as hosts. However, the history of their acquisition of symbiotic systems is not well understood. Therefore, we focused on mollusc symbiotic flatworms in the suborder Acotylea and investigated the host specificity and phylogenetic history of the acquisition of symbiosis. Field surveys revealed that symbiotic flatworms utilized certain molluscs as hosts. In particular, Stylochoplana pusilla and Stylochoplana parasitica utilized different molluscan species as hosts sympatrically. The phylogenetic analysis and the ancestral state reconstruction indicate that the mollusc symbiotic flatworms formed a monophyletic group and that their common ancestor shifted from free-living to mollusc symbiosis. These results suggest that each of the flatworms did not independently acquire a symbiotic system with molluscan hosts during its phylogenetic history, but that their common ancestor acquired a mollusc symbiotic system, which then underwent acquisition of host specificity and speciation. This study emphasizes that multiple host use can be a driving force for niche advancement and speciation in the symbionts.},
}
@article {pmid40199213,
year = {2025},
author = {Sarinho, L and Carvalho, P and Patoilo, D and Peres Ribeiro, J and Gaião, JM and Baião da Cruz, J and Marques, C and Nunes, MI},
title = {Optimization of electro-Fenton process applied to the treatment of codfish brines in a context of industrial symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {381},
number = {},
pages = {125205},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125205},
pmid = {40199213},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {Animals ; Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Salts/chemistry ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater ; },
abstract = {The ancient method of preserving fish by salting is still widely practiced but generates two challenging waste streams: contaminated salt (solid) and brine (liquid). Conventional treatment methods are ineffective in reducing the organic content of brine due to its high salt content (≅ 25-30 % wt. NaCl). Although advanced oxidation processes are extensively used for treating certain wastewaters, their application to real saline effluents near saturation, such as food industry brines, remains underexplored. This study optimized the electro-Fenton (EF) process for treating real contaminated brines from the codfish industry, aiming to reuse the treated brines in the pickling stage of the tannery industry, thereby diverting waste streams from environment disposal. A central composite experimental design and response surface methodology were used to evaluate the effects of three EF process operating variables: (i) current density (76-429 A m[-2]), (ii) electrolysis time (1.0-10.0 min), and (iii) hydrogen peroxide concentration ([H2O2], 50-201 mM), using iron electrodes. The primary goal was to maximize total organic carbon (TOC) removal from codfish brine. Additionally, the specific roles of reactive oxygen and chlorine species responsible for TOC removal (such as HO[•], Cl[•], ClO, O2[•-]/HO2[•] and HClO/OCl[-]) were investigated using scavengers. The results revealed that O2[•-], HO2[•] were the main active species. The optimal EF operating conditions were determined to be a current density of 275 A m[-2], electrolysis time of 5.2 min, and [H2O2] of 91 mM, resulting in a 70 % removal of TOC. The treated brines, diluted to ≅ 7.5-8.0 % wt. NaCl, were tested in hide pickling trials to assess their impact on the quality of the wet-blue leathers. Results showed that the treated brines did not affect leather quality; instead, they enhanced shrinkage temperature from 103 °C to 112 °C. This increase of shrinkage temperature broadens the potential applications of the leather, making it suitable for a wider range of markets and products. Furthermore, the chromium oxide content fixed in the leather increased from 4.1 % to 5.3 %, reducing chromium in the industrial wastewater generated at the end of the process. This valorisation of codfish brines presents a promising opportunity for industrial symbiosis between the codfish and the tannery industries.},
}
@article {pmid40199092,
year = {2025},
author = {Kareem, HA and Li, Y and Saleem, S and Mustafa, A and Azeem, M and Wang, Q and Li, S and Chen, Y and Shen, X},
title = {Eco-safe potential of FITC-tagged nFeO in enhancing alfalfa-rhizobia symbiosis and salt stress tolerance via physicochemical and ultrastructural modifications.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {295},
number = {},
pages = {118158},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118158},
pmid = {40199092},
issn = {1090-2414},
mesh = {*Medicago sativa/physiology/microbiology/ultrastructure/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Salt Tolerance/drug effects ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Plant Roots/ultrastructure ; Salt Stress ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; },
abstract = {Salt stress severely limits global crop productivity by disrupting ionic balance, physiological processes, and cellular ultrastructure, particularly in salt-sensitive forages like alfalfa (Medicago sativa L). Addressing this issue requires environmentally feasible and innovative strategies. This study investigated the comparative potential of Nano-FeO and FeSO4 (30 mg kg[-1]) soil supplements with rhizobium on alfalfa salt tolerance employing morphological, physicochemical, and cellular approaches. The results demonstrated that FITC-nFeO and rhizobium significantly reduced Na[+] uptake, enhanced K[+] accumulation, and improved the Na[+]/K[+] ratio in alfalfa roots and shoots relative to FeSO4. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated that FITC-nFeO ameliorated root ultracellular structure and leaf stomatal functionality, facilitating improved gaseous exchange characteristics and photosynthetic performance. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed FITC-tagged nFeO adhesion to roots, supported by transmission electron microscopy findings of preserved chloroplast ultrastructure under FITC-nFeO and rhizobium application. FITC-nFeO also mitigated oxidative damage of ROS, as evidenced by reduced hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content, through enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Overall, in comparison to FeSO4, FITC-nFeO with rhizobium retrieved the salt-induced damages in alfalfa by promoting morpho-physiological and ultracellular integrity. This study highlights the role of nanotechnology in enhancing the resilience of forages on salt-contaminated soils, paving the way for eco-friendly remediation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40198578,
year = {2025},
author = {De Jode, A and Titus, BM},
title = {The First De Novo HiFi Genome Assemblies for Three Clownfish-hosting Sea Anemone Species (Anthozoa: Actiniaria).},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {17},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40198578},
issn = {1759-6653},
support = {//University of Alabama/ ; DEB-1934274//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Genome ; Phylogeny ; *Perciformes/genetics ; },
abstract = {The symbiosis between clownfish and giant tropical sea anemones (Order Actiniaria) is one of the most iconic on the planet. Distributed on tropical reefs, 28 species of clownfishes form obligate mutualistic relationships with 10 nominal species of venomous sea anemones. Our understanding of the symbiosis is limited by the fact that most research has been focused on the clownfishes. Chromosome-scale reference genomes are available for all clownfish species, yet only short reads-based reference genomes are available for five species of host sea anemones. Recent studies have shown that the clownfish-hosting sea anemones belong to three distinct clades of sea anemones that have evolved symbiosis with clownfishes independently. Here we present the first high-quality long-read assemblies for three species of clownfish-hosting sea anemones belonging to each of these clades: Entacmaea quadricolor, Stichodactyla haddoni, and Radianthus doreensis. PacBio HiFi sequencing yielded 1,597,562, 3,101,773, and 1,918,148 million reads for E. quadricolor, S. haddoni, and R. doreensis, respectively. All three assemblies were highly contiguous and complete with N50 values above 4 Mb and BUSCO completeness above 95% on the Metazoa dataset. Genome structural annotation with BRAKER3 predicted 20,454, 18,948, and 17,056 protein-coding genes in E. quadricolor, S. haddoni, and R. doreensis genome, respectively. These new resources will form the basis of comparative genomic analyses that will allow us to deepen our understanding of this mutualism from the host perspective.},
}
@article {pmid40196783,
year = {2025},
author = {Saini, HP and Meena, M and Sahoo, A and Mehta, T},
title = {A review on fungal endophytes of the family Fabaceae, their metabolic diversity and biological applications.},
journal = {Heliyon},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {e42153},
pmid = {40196783},
issn = {2405-8440},
abstract = {Fabaceae is considered the third largest family of the plant kingdom, comprising of a large number of plants, belonging to 650 genera and 20,000 species of plants. Out of the various plant species that are reported in the family Fabaceae, many of the species have been reported to exhibit diverse pharmacological activities and are of economic importance to agriculturists and scientists across the globe. Studies over the last few decades have unraveled a lot of concrete information about different plants, ranging from the mutualistic interdependence of plants and microbes for their survival to the innumerable benefits of plants in the sectors of agriculture, food industry, medicine, and healthcare. The survival and effective maintenance of plant homeostasis is largely regulated by the diverse microbial population that co-exists in symbiotic relationships with plants. This endophytic microbial population can be either categorized as endophytic bacteria or endophytic fungi. The studies over the past decades have highlighted the crucial role of both endophytic bacteria and fungi in the growth and development of plants. This review explores the ameliorative roles of endophytic fungi in alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Additionally, it highlights the vast diversity of secondary metabolites produced by these fungi and their potential applications. Secondary metabolites exhibit a wide range of biologically significant activities, including anticancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and nematicidal properties, which hold substantial importance in therapeutic and agricultural applications. Furthermore, the role of various endophytic fungi of the Fabaceae family has been shown in phytoremediation.},
}
@article {pmid40196693,
year = {2025},
author = {Sobhani, I and De Oliveira Alves, N and Sadeghi, M and Charpy, C and Bergsten, E and Amiot, A and Barau, C and Brunetti, F and Vaysse, A and Tournigand, C and Chamaillard, M and Khashayarsha, K and Mestivier, D},
title = {Poor prognosis in IBD-complicated colon cancer through gut dysbiosis-related immune response failure.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.03.25.645177},
pmid = {40196693},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) results from the accumulation of mutations and epigenetic changes in gut epithelial cells likely due to gut microbiota dysbiosis. However, limited research has been done to explore the link between host tumour dysbiosis and disease outcome.<br><br>METHODS: The mechanisms influencing outcomes of 97 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, including 13 with Lynch syndrome, 20 with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and 64 sporadic cases, were analyzed using a multiomics approach. These patients were categorized into two groups: "disease-free/stable disease" and "progression disease" survival outcomes. The analysis included tumor adherent microbiota composition (16S rRNA), somatic gene mutations (WES), gene expression (RNAseq), immune markers (RNAscope), and immune infiltrate cells (immunohistochemistry).<br><br>RESULTS: IBD-CRC patients had worse outcomes than those with Lynch or sporadic CRC, regardless of TNM staging or treatment. Symbiotic bacteria like Lactococcus lactis were significantly reduced in IBD-CRC tissues. Patient outcomes were influenced by the abundance of virulent (Escherichia coli) relative to beneficial bacteria (Lactococcus lactis). Although no significant increase in deleterious somatic mutations was found in IBD-CRC. 16sRNA revealed increased virulent- and decreased anti-inflammatory symbiotic-bacteria correlating with the upregulation of oncogenes and downregulation of anti-oncogenes like PHLPP1. The multiplex in situ hybridization of CD8, IFN&#x3b3; and PHLPP1 an anti-oncogene revealed significant decrease of immune cells with detectable PHLPP1 expression in IBD-CRC tumour tissues as compared to sporadic CRCs.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The poor outcomes in IBD-CRC patients are likely due to gut dysbiosis and immune cell alterations, possibly triggered by microbiota-related epigenetic pathways.<br><br>WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. Inflammatory bowel disease-related CRC (IBD-CRC) is classified as an environment-related condition.NEW FINDINGS: In relation with patient outcomes, tumour tissues from three types of CRC (Sporadic-, IBD-, and Lynch syndrome-CRC) were analyzed using a multiomic approach. This included examining tissue adherent virulent bacteria, gene analyses, and quantifying immune cell infiltration in the mucosa. IBD-CRC patients had the worst outcomes, associated with the down regulation of PHLPP1 gene, virulent/symbiotic imbalance, and immune response failure.LIMITATIONS: Lack of animal experiments using FMT of fresh stool from IBD-CRC patients.CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH RELEVANCE: Among the different types of CRC, IBD-CRC patients showed a greater imbalance between harmful and beneficial bacteria, along with immune response failure.Lay summary: This study compares the pathological and clinical characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) across three distinct etiologies: sporadic CRC, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated CRC, and Lynch syndrome-associated CRC (LS-CRC). Distinct differences in tumor-adherent microbiota, gene expression and immune response profiles were observed. Notably, IBD-CRC patients demonstrated the poorest prognosis depending on microbe-host gene interaction highlighting potential biomarkers for disease prognosis and treatment strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40195807,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Lu, L and Wang, Q and Liu, X and Tian, J and Zhang, R and Liao, H and Lambers, H and Wang, X},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Promote Nodulation and N2 Fixation in Soybean by Specific Root Exudates.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {48},
number = {7},
pages = {5514-5528},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15529},
pmid = {40195807},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFF1000500) and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32472824). HL received support from the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University of Western Australia./ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Glycine max/microbiology/metabolism/physiology/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; *Plant Exudates/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Hydroxybenzoates/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; Root Nodules, Plant ; },
abstract = {Legume plants commonly associate with both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and rhizobia and thus enhance the acquisition of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) nutrition. Inoculation with AM fungi can promote nodulation and N2 fixation of legume plants; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, root exudates collected from AM-colonised soybean plants showed greater accumulation of the specific flavonoids (daidzein and genistein) and phenolic acids (benzoic acid and p-Hydroxybenzoic acid), and significantly promoted nodulation. Furthermore, the exudates from AM-colonised roots and the derived specific flavonoids and phenolic acids effectively increased rhizobial growth, chemotaxis, biofilm formation. Addition of the specific synthetic root exudates enhanced nodulation and N2 fixation, and expression of the core nodulation genes in soybean. Overexpression of a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene, GmPAL2.4 markedly upregulated the expression of the genes related to the biosynthesis of daidzein, genistein, benzoic acid, and p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, and increased accumulation of these specific flavonoids and phenolic acids in the transgenic plants, thus enhancing nodulation and N2 fixation. In summary, we demonstrated a crucial role of specific flavonoids and phenolic acids induced by AM symbiosis in promoting rhizobium-host symbiosis. This offers a pathway for improving symbiotic efficiency through the use of specific synthetic compounds.},
}
@article {pmid40195594,
year = {2025},
author = {Selosse, MA and Alaux, PL and Deloche, L and Delannoy, E and Minasiewicz, J and Tsiftsis, S and Figura, T and Martos, F},
title = {Mixotrophy in orchids: facts, questions, and perspectives.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {5},
pages = {1912-1921},
pmid = {40195594},
issn = {1469-8137},
mesh = {*Orchidaceae/microbiology/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Carbon/metabolism ; Basidiomycota/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Heterotrophic Processes ; },
abstract = {While orchids germinate thanks to carbon from their symbiotic fungi, variable carbon exchanges exist between adult orchids and their mycorrhizal fungi. Although some truly autotrophic orchids reward their fungi with carbon at adulthood, some species remain achlorophyllous and fully dependent on fungal carbon (mycoheterotrophy). Others are photosynthetic but also import fungal carbon: The so-called mixotrophic (MX) orchids rely on fungi of diverse taxonomy and ecology. Here, we classify MX nutrition of orchids into three types. Type I mixotrophy associates with diverse Asco- and Basidiomycota that are either saprotrophic or ectomycorrhizal, entailing enrichment of the orchids in [2]H, [13]C, and [15]N. The two other types associate with rhizoctonias, a polyphyletic assemblage of Basidiomycotas that is ancestrally mycorrhizal in orchids. Type II mixotrophy associates with rhizoctonias that secondarily evolved into saprotrophic or ectomycorrhizal ecology, and thus enrich the orchid in [2]H, [13]C, and [15]N. Type III mixotrophy, which remains debated, associates with rhizoctonias that have retained their ancestral lifestyle, that is saprotrophic and/or endophytic in nonorchids, and only entail orchid enrichment in [2]H and [15]N. Based on a case study of achlorophyllous variants in Mediterranean Ophrys and on published data, we discuss the distinct nature and research perspectives of type III mixotrophy.},
}
@article {pmid40192559,
year = {2025},
author = {Son, NE and Son, E},
title = {The Effect of Prebiotics and Probiotics (Synbiotics) on Weight Loss and Biochemical Parameters in Obese Individuals.},
journal = {Journal of medicinal food},
volume = {28},
number = {6},
pages = {568-573},
doi = {10.1089/jmf.2023.0233},
pmid = {40192559},
issn = {1557-7600},
mesh = {Humans ; *Prebiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; Male ; *Obesity/diet therapy/metabolism/drug therapy/blood ; Female ; *Synbiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; *Weight Loss/drug effects ; *Probiotics/administration &amp; dosage ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Vitamin D/blood ; Waist Circumference ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Vitamin B 12/blood ; },
abstract = {This study examined the effects of prebiotic and probiotic (synbiotic) supplementation on weight loss and biochemical parameters in treating obesity. The study was conducted with 110 participants in Eskisehir Anadolu Hospital, Turkiye, between February 15, 2019 and February 15, 2020. Individuals with obesity, who were following a weight loss diet, were randomly assigned to two groups. While one group (the control group) followed the diet only, the other group received synbiotic tablets in the morning and evening, in addition to the diet. Anthropometric values and biochemical parameters of the patients were measured at the beginning of the study and 3 months after. A significant decrease was found in weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference values compared with baseline in both groups (P: .001; P < .05). A significant decrease was found in fasting blood sugar and HOMA-IR values compared with baseline in both groups. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in vitamin B12 and vitamin D values in the group receiving synbiotics compared with their baseline values. As a result of our study, both groups experienced similar weight loss and a decrease in BMI values. The vitamin B12 and vitamin D values of the group that took supplements increased significantly. The HOMA-IR values were significantly lower in both groups, albeit more in the synbiotic group. Changes in vitamin B12, vitamin D, and HOMA-IR values are extremely important for improving the health parameters in the long term.},
}
@article {pmid40189709,
year = {2025},
author = {Nemec, M and Ringl, P and Spettel, K and Schneider, L and Kriz, R and Galazka, S and Sedlak, M and Jonke, E and Andruhkov, O and Makristathis, A},
title = {Exploring the impact of orthodontic appliances on the oral microbiome and inflammatory parameters.},
journal = {Progress in orthodontics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {13},
pmid = {40189709},
issn = {2196-1042},
support = {19089//B&#xfc;rgermeister Fonds der Stadt Wien - Medizinisch-Wissenschaftlicher Fonds der Stadt Wien/ ; F&#xf6;rderpreis 2020//Deutsche Gesellschaft f&#xfc;r Aligner Orthodontie/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota ; *Saliva/microbiology ; Male ; Female ; *Orthodontic Appliances, Fixed/adverse effects ; Adolescent ; *Orthodontic Appliances/adverse effects ; *Inflammation ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Dental Caries/microbiology ; Young Adult ; Orthodontic Appliances, Removable ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The symbiotic relationship between the oral microbiome and the host immune system is a prerequisite of oral health. Disruptions to this system can be associated with the development of diseases like dental caries. Introducing orthodontic treatments, such as aligners and fixed appliances, might impact this microbial ecosystem. This study evaluated potential changes in salivary microbiome and the level of inflammatory marker myeloid-related protein 8/14 in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with aligners or fixed appliances.<br><br>METHODS: Forty-eight patients were divided into two groups for treatment with fixed appliances or clear aligners. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected at baseline, three, and six months for microbiome analysis via 16&#xa0;S rRNA sequencing and MRP-8/14 level measurement using ELISA.<br><br>RESULTS: Among 503 identified microbial species, no significant changes were noted in overall microbiome. A considerable increase of caries-relevant species could not be observed either. MRP-8/14 levels remained unchanged across treatments, indicating no alterations in the inflammatory level.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Orthodontic treatment with fixed or removable appliances does not significantly alter the salivary microbiome or influence inflammation, suggesting that these interventions are unlikely to affect oral health negatively.},
}
@article {pmid40189564,
year = {2025},
author = {He, Y and Zhuo, S and Li, M and Pan, J and Jiang, Y and Hu, Y and Sanford, RA and Lin, Q and Sun, W and Wei, N and Peng, S and Jiang, Z and Li, S and Li, Y and Dong, Y and Shi, L},
title = {Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria from hyperalkaline ecosystems provide novel insight into their symbiotic lifestyle and ecological implications.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {94},
pmid = {40189564},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {42472366, 92051111 and 42272353//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 122-G1323522144//Fundamental Research Funds for the Chinese Central Government via China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; Metagenomics/methods ; Metagenome ; Folic Acid/biosynthesis ; Ecosystem ; Phylogeny ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Microbiota ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) represents a unique superphylum characterized by ultra-small cell size and symbiotic lifestyle. Although CPR bacteria have been identified in varied environments, their broader distribution, associations with hosts, and ecological roles remain largely unexplored. To address these knowledge gaps, a serpentinite-like environment was selected as a simplified model system to investigate the CPR communities in hyperalkaline environments and their association with hosts in extreme conditions. Additionally, the enzymatic activity, global distribution, and evolution of the CPR-derived genes encoding essential metabolites (e.g., folate or vitamin B9) were analyzed and assessed.<br><br>RESULTS: In the highly alkaline serpentinite-like ecosystem (pH&#x2009;=&#x2009;10.9-12.4), metagenomic analyses of the water and sediment samples revealed that CPR bacteria constituted 1.93-34.8% of the microbial communities. Metabolic reconstruction of 12 high-quality CPR metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) affiliated to the novel taxa from orders UBA6257, UBA9973, and Paceibacterales suggests that these bacteria lack the complete biosynthetic pathways for amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides. Notably, the CPR bacteria commonly harbored the genes associated with essential folate cofactor biosynthesis and metabolism, including dihydrofolate reductase (folA), serine hydroxymethyltransferase (glyA), and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (folD). Additionally, two presumed auxotrophic hosts, incapable of forming tetrahydrofolate (THF) due to the absence of folA, were identified as potential hosts for some CPR bacteria harboring folA genes. The functionality of these CPR-derived folA genes was experimentally verified by heterologous expression in the folA-deletion mutant Escherichia coli MG1655 &#x394;folA. Further assessment of the available CPR genomes (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;4,581) revealed that the genes encoding the proteins for the synthesis of bioactive folate derivatives (e.g., folA, glyA, and/or folD genes) were present in 90.8% of the genomes examined. It suggests potential widespread metabolic complementarity in folate biosynthesis between CPR and their hosts.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This finding deepens our understanding of the mechanisms of CPR-host symbiosis, providing novel insight into essential cofactor-dependent mutualistic CPR-host interactions. Our observations suggest that CPR bacteria may contribute to auxotrophic organisms and indirectly influence biogeochemical processes. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid40186970,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, LX and Cui, YW and Mi, YN and Zhou, DX and Li, MT and Yang, RC},
title = {Recovery of volatile ethanol gas via microalgal-bacterial consortium: Ethanol-to-acetate conversion pathway boosts lipid production.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {381},
number = {},
pages = {125210},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125210},
pmid = {40186970},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Ethanol/metabolism ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; Lipids/biosynthesis ; Biomass ; Chlorella/metabolism ; Acetobacter/metabolism ; Acetates/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The pharmaceutical industry, an essential sector of the global economy, heavily relies on ethanol solvents, which leads to significant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions. As a sustainable treatment method aligning with carbon reduction goals, this study proposed and demonstrated a synergistic approach of using microalgae (Chlorella sorokiniana FACHB-24) and acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacter pasteurianus CICC 20056) to recover ethanol into value-added products (algal lipids). In the innovative co-culture, A. pasteurianus oxidizes ethanol to acetic acid, which is fed to algae for lipid production. This method increased biomass and lipid yield by 21.29% and 150.16% (p < 0.05), respectively, compared to microalgae directly using ethanol. Some operational parameters including ethanol concentration, bacterial-algal biomass ratio, pH value, and light intensity made influence on lipid production. Under the optimal conditions (1.0% v/v ethanol concentration, 1:10 bacterial-algal biomass ratio, pH 6.5, and 5000 lux light intensity), the maximal biomass and lipid yields were 572.5 mg L[-1] and 161.1 mg L[-1] (26.7% lipid content), respectively. In the harvested lipid from microalgae, C16 - C18 fatty acids made up 98.22% of the total fatty acid methyl esters content. In proteomic comparison of the single culture and co-culture, the conversion of ethanol to acetate by A. pasteurianus provides C. sorokiniana with a more efficient acetyl-CoA source by bypassing energy-intensive glycolysis and directly enhancing lipid synthesis. This study provides a solution to increasing the lipid production from ethanol gas as a sustainable VOCs management of pharmaceutical industry.},
}
@article {pmid40186135,
year = {2025},
author = {Hernández-Miranda, OA and Campos, JE and Sandoval-Zapotitla, E and Rosas, U and Ortiz-Melo, MT and Salazar-Rojas, VM},
title = {Transcriptomic analysis reveals molecular phenological changes during the flower-to-fruit transition in Vanilla planifolia Andrews (Orchidaceae).},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {437},
pmid = {40186135},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {Project 255952//Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnolog&#xed;as/ ; },
mesh = {*Flowers/growth &amp; development/genetics/physiology ; *Fruit/growth &amp; development/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Pollination ; *Transcriptome ; *Vanilla/genetics/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The transition from flower to fruit, encompassing flower formation to fruit maturation, has been extensively studied in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the Orchidaceae family, including Vanilla planifolia, exhibits a unique phenomenon known as post-pollination syndrome (PPS), where pollination initiates ovule development but often leads to premature ovary drop. This phenomenon significantly impacts the yield and stability of V. planifolia crops. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying PPS is essential for improving crop production. This study explores transcriptomic and histological variations to identify key molecular and phenological changes in the ovary during the flower-to-fruit transition in V. planifolia.<br><br>RESULTS: The flower-to-fruit transition in Vanilla planifolia involves dynamic changes in gene expression and phenotypic events, which can be categorized into four distinct stages: (1) Pre-pollination: Ovary differentiation is characterized by the enrichment of nitrogen metabolism and photoperiod-responsive pathways. The upregulation of VpVRN5-like and VpNAC14-like suggests their roles in photoperiod-induced flowering and ovarian tissue differentiation in response to nitrate availability. (2) Pollination: Key events include nucellar filament branching and the functional enrichment of pathways associated with growth and responses to light intensity. The upregulation of VpMBS1-like indicates its involvement in regulating and adapting to high light conditions. (3) Post-pollination: This stage is marked by embryo sac formation and pollen tube elongation, with enrichment in auxin response pathways. The upregulation of VpIAA6-like and VpRALF27-like suggests their roles in auxin signaling during ovule development. (4) Fertilization: Seed development is associated with the enrichment of abiotic stress response pathways and carbohydrate transport. The upregulation of VpAAE3-like, VpPR1-like, and VpSWET12-like suggests functions in stress responses and sucrose transport, potentially linked to fungal interactions or symbiosis.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study characterizes the molecular and phenological changes occurring during the flower-to-fruit transition in V. planifolia by integrating transcriptomic analysis with anatomical data on post-pollination syndrome. Based on functional predictions, this approach provides valuable insights into the mechanisms governing this transition in plants exhibiting PPS and identifies candidate genes for future experimental validation in V. planifolia.<br><br>CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.},
}
@article {pmid40185029,
year = {2025},
author = {Banda, MM and Salas-Ocampo, MPE and Rodríguez, M and Martínez-Absalón, S and Leija-Salas, A and Reyero-Saavedra, R and Sánchez-Pérez, M and Hernández, G and Georgellis, D and Fuentes-Hernández, A and Girard, L},
title = {The Rhizobium etli response regulator CenR is essential for both: Free-life and the rhizobial nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {297},
number = {},
pages = {128159},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128159},
pmid = {40185029},
issn = {1618-0623},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Rhizobium etli/genetics/physiology/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Histidine Kinase/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The canonical two-component systems (TCS) consist of a histidine kinase and a response regulator that work together to control various pathways in bacteria. Rhizobia are rod-shaped, Gram-negative alpha-proteobacteria capable of establishing a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with compatible legume hosts. These bacteria can live freely in the soil or as intracellular symbionts within root nodules. Here, we characterized an orphan OmpR-type response regulator in Rhizobium etli CE3, which we renamed CenR due to its similarity to CenR proteins known as essential regulators of cell envelope-related functions in alpha-proteobacteria. We identified the cognate histidine kinase encoded by cenK, located in a separate genomic region from cenR. CenR and CenK form a TCS that has not been previously reported in Rhizobium. Our results indicate that the overexpression of cenR as well as the absence of cenK, negatively impacts R. etli growth and cell morphology, while bacteria overexpressing cenR also exhibit uncoordinated cell division. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the CenKR TCS directly or indirectly regulates the expression of essential genes involved in pathways that control cell growth and morphology. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed that CenR binds directly to the promoter regions of two uncharacterized genes in R. etli. Furthermore, analysis of the R. etli - common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) symbiosis revealed increased infection threads, reduced leghemoglobin content, and lower nitrogen fixation efficiency in nodules infected by the cenR-overexpressing strain. In conclusion, our findings revealed that the CenKR TCS coordinates important cell cycle events in Rhizobium that are vital for both free-living and symbiotic conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40184709,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, X and Wang, Y and Meador, JP and Zhou, GJ and Xu, W and Hua, F and Liu, W and Liu, X and Wang, Z},
title = {Biodegradation pathways and mechanisms of 17α-ethynylestradiol via functional enzymes in the freshwater microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {281},
number = {},
pages = {123569},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123569},
pmid = {40184709},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Scenedesmus/metabolism/enzymology ; *Ethinyl Estradiol/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Microalgae/metabolism ; Fresh Water ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; },
abstract = {17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) is a potent synthetic hormone exhibiting very high estrogenic activity and low rates of biodegradation. The removal capabilities of EE2 by bacteria, fungi and algal-bacterial symbiotic systems have attracted considerable attention recently. Specifically, algal biodegradation has been explored recently; however, the pathway and mechanisms of EE2 degradation have remained largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the pathways and mechanisms by which EE2 is degraded by the freshwater microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda. After exposure for 10.5 d, the algal species was able to metabolize 58 % of a 15 mg/L solution of EE2, with the highest removal rate of 13 % occurring at 1.5 d An Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Q-Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry was used innovatively to identify the biodegradation products of EE2 through non-target screening, followed by the verification of standard compounds. Transcriptomic analysis and molecular docking analysis revealed several degradation pathways and mechanisms by this algal species. One pathway was the demethylation of EE2 to estradiol (E2) by short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase. Subsequently, we also observed interconversion of estrone (E1) and E2 by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase through hydroxylation or ketonization, hydroxylation of E1 to 16α-hydroxyestrone (16-OH E1) by cytochrome P450 and flavin-containing monooxygenase. A second pathway was methoxylation of E2 to estradiol acetate by catechol O-methyltransferase. As a result, the ethynyl group was degraded to hydroxy, ketone and methoxyl groups, which promotes EE2 degradation. Considering that EE2 pollution could result in adverse effects for aquatic organisms, the results of this study provide insights and a comprehensive approach for practical and effective bioremediation of EE2 contamination in aquatic ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40183777,
year = {2025},
author = {Bao, H and Wang, Y and Li, H and Wang, Q and Lei, Y and Ye, Y and Wadood, SF and Zhu, H and Staehelin, C and Stacey, G and Xu, S and Cao, Y},
title = {The rhizobial effector NopT targets Nod factor receptors to regulate symbiosis in Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40183777},
issn = {2050-084X},
support = {2019YFA0904700//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; 32090063//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2662022SKYJ002//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 2662021JC010//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; Plant Genome Research Program 2048410//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Lotus/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Nicotiana/microbiology/genetics ; *Sinorhizobium fredii/enzymology/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; },
abstract = {It is well documented that type-III effectors are required by Gram-negative pathogens to directly target different host cellular pathways to promote bacterial infection. However, in the context of legume-rhizobium symbiosis, the role of rhizobial effectors in regulating plant symbiotic pathways remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that NopT, a YopT-type cysteine protease of Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234 directly targets the plant's symbiotic signaling pathway by associating with two Nod factor receptors (NFR1 and NFR5 of Lotus japonicus). NopT inhibits cell death triggered by co-expression of NFR1/NFR5 in Nicotiana benthamiana. Full-length NopT physically interacts with NFR1 and NFR5. NopT proteolytically cleaves NFR5 both in vitro and in vivo, but can be inactivated by NFR1 as a result of phosphorylation. NopT plays an essential role in mediating rhizobial infection in L. japonicus. Autocleaved NopT retains the ability to cleave NFR5 but no longer interacts with NFR1. Interestingly, genomes of certain Sinorhizobium species only harbor nopT genes encoding truncated proteins without the autocleavage site. These results reveal an intricate interplay between rhizobia and legumes, in which a rhizobial effector protease targets NFR5 to suppress symbiotic signaling. NFR1 appears to counteract this process by phosphorylating the effector. This discovery highlights the role of a bacterial effector in regulating a signaling pathway in plants and opens up the perspective of developing kinase-interacting proteases to fine-tune cellular signaling processes in general.},
}
@article {pmid40182281,
year = {2025},
author = {Hasanović, M and Durmić-Pašić, A and Karalija, E},
title = {Enhancing nickel stress tolerance in Micro-Tom tomatoes through biopriming with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN: insights into growth and physiological responses.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1561924},
pmid = {40182281},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The strategic utilization of plant growth-promoting (PGP) rhizospheric bacteria is a sustainable approach to mitigating the negative effects of anthropogenic activities and excessive nickel (Ni) accumulation in plants. Given that the specific effects of symbiotic interactions depend on the direct relationship between the plant species, bacterial strain, and heavy metals (HMs), this study aimed to investigate the effects of Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN seed priming on Ni tolerance in adult Micro-Tom tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.).<br><br>METHODS: Sterilized Micro-Tom seeds were bioprimed with P. phytofirmans PsJN for 24 hours and then sown into the soil. Non-primed, imbibed seeds were used as a control. After 10 days, the seedlings were transferred to a Hoagland nutrient solution. Chronic (10 &#x3bc;M Ni) and acute (50 &#x3bc;M Ni) stress conditions were induced by supplementing the Hoagland solution with Ni salt. The experiment lasted approximately 75 days, covering the complete life cycle of the plants. Various physiological and biochemical parameters were analyzed.<br><br>RESULTS: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between non-primed and bioprimed tomato plants in terms of fruit yield. Bioprimed tomatoes exhibited higher resilience to Ni stress, particularly under acute stress conditions. Non-primed tomatoes treated with 50 &#x3bc;M Ni showed statistically lower concentrations of chlorophyll a and total chlorophylls compared to bioprimed tomatoes. Moreover, proline content was generally lower and more stable in bioprimed plants, indicating reduced oxidative stress.The activity of antioxidant enzymes exhibited distinct patterns between nonprimed and bioprimed tomatoes.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that biopriming with P. phytofirmans PsJN enhances Micro-Tom tomato resilience and growth under Ni stress. This technique appears to mitigate Ni-induced stress effects, particularly at higher Ni concentrations, making it a promising strategy for improving tomato performance in Ni-contaminated environments. Future studies should explore the underlying molecular mechanisms and field applications of this biopriming approach.},
}
@article {pmid40181655,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, B and Chen, X and Zhu, Y and Chen, H and Tan, J and Yang, Z and Li, J and Zheng, P and Feng, L and Wang, Q and Gai, S and Zhong, L and Yang, P and Cheng, Z and Lin, J},
title = {One-Step Symbiosis of Bimetallic Peroxides Nanoparticles to Induce Ferroptosis/Cuproptosis and Activate cGAS-STING Pathway for Enhanced Tumor Immunotherapy.},
journal = {Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)},
volume = {37},
number = {21},
pages = {e2500337},
doi = {10.1002/adma.202500337},
pmid = {40181655},
issn = {1521-4095},
support = {52402340//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52432008//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U22A20347//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52272282//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52272273//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023M730825//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 2023TQ0091//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; GZC20233423//Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (Grade C) of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; YQ2023B005//Heilongjiang Natural Science Foundation Project of Outstanding Youth Project/ ; LBH-Z23014//Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund/ ; ZD2023E005//Key Projects for Science and Technology Development Plan of Heilongjiang Province/ ; 20220101050JC//Science and Technology Project of Jilin Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Ferroptosis/drug effects ; *Immunotherapy/methods ; Humans ; *Peroxides/chemistry/pharmacology ; Animals ; *Membrane Proteins/metabolism ; *Nucleotidyltransferases/metabolism ; Copper/chemistry ; Hyaluronic Acid/chemistry ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Nanoparticles/chemistry ; Zinc/chemistry ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Neoplasms/therapy/immunology ; *Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry ; },
abstract = {To improve the efficiency and application prospects of metal peroxides in tumor therapy, the synthesis of bimetallic peroxides via simple yet effective approaches will be highly significant. In this work, hyaluronic acid modified zinc-copper bimetallic peroxides (ZCPO@HA) nanoparticles are synthesized through a one-step symbiotic method by co-hydrolysis of zinc acetate and copper acetate in weakly alkaline solution, followed by modification with sodium hyaluronate. Upon decomposition in the tumor microenvironment, ZCPO@HA nanoparticles can generate a considerable content of hydroxyl radical (·OH) by Fenton-like reaction between Cu[2+] and self-compensating hydrogen peroxide, while downregulating the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 to induce ferroptosis. The abundant release of Cu[2+] leads to the aggregation of dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase and the reduction of iron-sulfur cluster proteins, causing cuproptosis. The immunogenic cell death of tumor cells releases abundant damage associated molecular patterns, effectively activating the adaptive immune response. Zn[2+] and ·OH cause mitochondrial damage, leading to the release of a substantial amount of mitochondrial DNA. This subsequently activates the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway, enhancing the innate immune response. In conclusion, it synthesizes a new type of bimetallic peroxides by one-step symbiosis for activating anti-tumor immunotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor.},
}
@article {pmid40181596,
year = {2025},
author = {Mevers, E},
title = {Emily Mevers.},
journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)},
volume = {64},
number = {20},
pages = {e202506847},
doi = {10.1002/anie.202506847},
pmid = {40181596},
issn = {1521-3773},
abstract = {"My favorite place on earth where science has taken me is the Amazon region in Brazil, where we studied the symbiosis of fungus-growing ants… The most rewarding part of my job is working with brilliant young researchers who are experiencing the thrills of research for the first time…" Find out more about Emily Mevers in her Introducing… Profile.},
}
@article {pmid40179708,
year = {2025},
author = {Chidiac, CN and Leshuk, TMC and Gu, F},
title = {Photocatalysis and phosphorus drive organic production in algal-bacterial co-cultures treating oil sands process affected water.},
journal = {Chemosphere},
volume = {377},
number = {},
pages = {144322},
doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144322},
pmid = {40179708},
issn = {1879-1298},
mesh = {*Phosphorus/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; Oil and Gas Fields ; Wastewater/chemistry ; Coculture Techniques ; Catalysis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Microalgae ; Eutrophication ; Carboxylic Acids/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Photocatalysis has been previously identified as an effective pre-treatment for biodegrading naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) in oil sands process-affected water (OSPW), achieving mineralization rates unattainable by standalone methods. However, previous studies focused on bacteria cultures for biological treatment, overlooking the potential of algae-bacteria co-growth and its possible effects on enhancing mineralization. Thus, this study replicated those experiments under conditions that promote algal growth. Synthetic OSPW underwent photocatalytic pre-treatment for varying durations, followed by biological treatment in illuminated microcosms. Biostimulation, through phosphate addition, was also tested to determine its effect on accelerating mineralization. Photocatalytic pre-treatments of 24 h or longer created oligotrophic conditions, triggering the production of algal-derived organics, which released nutrients into the water and reduced mineralization rates during the biological treatment phase. Moreover, nutrient addition generally exacerbated these effects by promoting photosynthetic biomass growth. Nutrient-fixing and symbiotic microbes were identified, contributing to prolonged organic production phases. These phases of persistent organic generation could pose a risk of eutrophication, highlighting the need to mitigate light exposure during post-biological treatments. Under controlled light exposure, BPCs with biological treatments offer a scalable, energy-efficient solution for addressing complex industrial wastewater challenges, advancing the sustainable management of OSPW and similar hard-to-treat water sources.},
}
@article {pmid40179703,
year = {2025},
author = {Chang, JS and Kim, WS},
title = {Co-oxidation of arxB response by As(III), Fe(II), and Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria in As-contaminated tap water.},
journal = {Chemosphere},
volume = {377},
number = {},
pages = {144330},
doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144330},
pmid = {40179703},
issn = {1879-1298},
mesh = {Oxidation-Reduction ; *Arsenic/metabolism ; *Manganese/metabolism ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism/analysis ; Iron/metabolism ; *Drinking Water/microbiology/chemistry ; China ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Corrosion ; },
abstract = {Iron pipe corrosion can be caused by tap water contamination with arsenic (As), heavy metals, and symbiotic microorganisms. In this study, we performed laboratory experiments on drinking water samples collected from Yanbian University of Science and Technology, Jilin Province, eastern China, to evaluate the mechanism of heavy metal oxidation by microbes. The experiments revealed corrosion of the entire water pipe, heavy metal contamination, and microbial co-oxidation of As(III), iron (Fe(II)), and manganese (Mn(II)). Pipe corrosion was observed in several university buildings, with particularly high levels of As (4.3 μg/L), Fe (143.4 μg/L), Mn (0.6 μg/L), and bacteria (1,200 CFU/100 mL) in the Engineering building. The As(III), Fe(II), and Mn(II) co-oxidation activity of As(III)-resistant and Fe(II)- and Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria was investigated based on frvA, aioE, boxA, arsB, and arxB gene activities in Burkholderia glathei strain YUST-DW12 (NCBI accession No.: HM640291). Batch experiments revealed that YUST-DW12 completely co-oxidized 1 mM As(III) to As(V), 5 mM Fe(II) to Fe(III), and 5 mM Mn(II) to Mn(IV) within 45-50 h, 10 h, and 25 h, respectively. Co-oxidation related to arxB gene activity significantly contributed to As, Fe, and Mn bioremediation and mobility in tap water, indicating that As, Fe, and Mn oxidases in bacteria control the biogeochemical cycle of contaminated public tap water affected by iron pipe corrosion. This research provides novel insights into the role of microbial arxB in As(III), Fe(II), and Mn(II) co-oxidation in corroded iron pipes, enhancing our understanding of the co-oxidative removal of As from contaminated tap and bottled water.},
}
@article {pmid40178890,
year = {2025},
author = {Gorman, LM and Tivey, TR and Raymond, EH and Ashley, IA and Oakley, CA and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK},
title = {Stability of the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis is primarily determined by symbiont cell-cycle arrest.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {14},
pages = {e2412396122},
pmid = {40178890},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {VUW1601//Royal Society of New Zealand | Marsden Fund (Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund)/ ; 2109786//NSF | NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; Animals ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; *Cell Cycle Checkpoints/physiology ; *Cnidaria/physiology ; Apoptosis ; Autophagy ; },
abstract = {The cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis relies on the regulation of resident symbiont populations to maintain biomass stability; however, the relative importance of host regulatory mechanisms [cell-cycle arrest (CC), apoptosis (AP), autophagy (AU), and expulsion (EX)] during symbiosis onset and maintenance is largely unknown. Here, we inoculated a symbiont-free (aposymbiotic) model cnidarian (Exaiptasia diaphana: "Aiptasia") with either its native symbiont Breviolum minutum or one of three non-native symbionts: Symbiodinium microadriaticum, Cladocopium goreaui, and Durusdinium trenchii. We then measured and compared host AP, host AU, symbiont EX, and symbiont cell-cycle phase for up to a year with these different symbionts and used these discrete measurements to inform comparative models of symbiont population regulation. Our models showed a general pattern, where regulation through AP and AU is reduced after onset, followed by an overshoot of the symbiont population that requires a strong regulatory response, dealt with by strong CC and increased EX. As colonization progresses into symbiosis maintenance, CC remains crucial for achieving steady-state symbiont populations, with our models estimating that CC regulates 10-fold more cells (60 to 90%) relative to the other mechanisms. Notably though, our models also revealed that D. trenchii is less tightly regulated than B. minutum, consistent with D. trenchii's reputation as a suboptimal partner for this cnidarian. Overall, our models suggest that single regulatory mechanisms do not accurately replicate observed symbiont colonization patterns, reflecting the importance of all mechanisms working concomitantly. This ultimately sheds light on the cell biology underpinning the stability of this ecologically significant symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40178031,
year = {2025},
author = {Wieczorek, K and Bell, CA},
title = {Exploited mutualism: the reciprocal effects of plant parasitic nematodes on the mechanisms underpinning plant-mutualist interactions.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {6},
pages = {2435-2439},
pmid = {40178031},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {BB/X009823/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Nematoda/physiology ; Animals ; *Plants/microbiology/parasitology ; Fungi/physiology ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Plant Diseases/parasitology/microbiology ; },
abstract = {We are quickly gaining insights into the mechanisms and functions of plant-mutualist relationships with the common overarching aim of exploiting them to enhance food security and crop resilience. There is a growing mass of research describing various benefits of plant-mutualistic fungi, including increased nutrition, yields, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic factors. The bulk of this research has been focused on arbuscular mycorrhiza; however, there is now an expansion toward other plant mutualistic fungi. Contrary to the established 'mycorrhizal induced resistance' principle, increasing evidence shows that certain plant pests and pathogens may, in fact, exploit the benefits that mutualists provide their hosts, resulting in enhanced pathogenicity and reduced mutualist-derived benefits. In this Viewpoint, we propose that studying plant mutualistic fungi under controlled artificial conditions indeed provides in-depth knowledge but may mislead long-term applications as it does not accurately reflect multi-symbiont scenarios that occur in natura. We summarize the reciprocal impacts of plant pests, such as plant parasitic nematodes, on plant-fungal mutualisms and highlight how glasshouse experiments often yield contradictory results. We emphasize the need for collaborative efforts to increase the granularity of experimental systems, better reflecting natural environments to gain holistic insights into mutualist functions before applying them in sustainable crop protection strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40177686,
year = {2025},
author = {Argueta-Guzmán, M and Spasojevic, MJ and McFrederick, QS},
title = {Solitary Bees Acquire and Deposit Bacteria via Flowers: Testing the Environmental Transmission Hypothesis Using Osmia lignaria, Phacelia tanacetifolia, and Apilactobacillus micheneri.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {e71138},
pmid = {40177686},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Microbial environmental transmission among individuals plays an important role in shaping the microbiomes of many species. Despite the importance of the microbiome for host fitness, empirical investigations on environmental transmission are scarce, particularly in systems where interactions across multiple trophic levels influence symbiotic dynamics. Here, we explore microbial transmission within insect microbiomes, focusing on solitary bees. Specifically, we investigate the environmental transmission hypothesis, which posits that solitary bees acquire and deposit their associated microbiota from and to their surroundings, especially flowers. Using experimental setups, we examine the transmission dynamics of Apilactobacillus micheneri, a fructophilic and acidophilic bacterium, between the solitary bee Osmia lignaria (Megachilidae) and the plant Phacelia tanacetifolia (Boraginaceae). Our results demonstrate that bees not only acquire bacteria from flowers but also deposit these microbes onto uninoculated flowers for other bees to acquire them, supporting a bidirectional microbial exchange. We therefore find empirical support for the environmental transmission hypothesis, and we discuss the multitrophic dependencies that facilitate microbial transmission between bees and flowers.},
}
@article {pmid40175892,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, L and Wang, X and Li, H and Ali, MM and Hu, X and Oelmuller, R and Yousef, AF and Alrefaei, AF and Liu, J and Chen, F},
title = {The SWEET14 sugar transporter mediates mycorrhizal symbiosis and carbon allocation in Dendrobium officinale.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {416},
pmid = {40175892},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {RSP2025R218//Researchers Supporting Project, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/ ; 2022N5016//Fujian Province Science and Technology Plan Project: Dendrobium officinale quality and high yield key technology research and development and industrialization/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Dendrobium/microbiology/metabolism/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Carbon/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Orchid mycorrhizal (OM) fungi form mutualistic relationships with orchids, facilitating the uptake of minerals from the soil in exchange for sugars and lipids provided by the plant. In this study, we explored the role of the DoSWEET14 sugar transporter in Dendrobium officinale during OM symbiosis. Transcriptome sequencing revealed significant changes in gene expression in mycorrhizal roots, particularly the upregulation of DoSWEET14. Subcellular localization studies confirmed that DoSWEET14 is localized to the plasma membrane, suggesting its involvement in nutrient exchange between the orchid and OM fungi. Complementation assays using a yeast strain deficient in hexose transport demonstrated that DoSWEET14 has broad substrate specificity, efficiently transporting multiple monosaccharides. Additionally, overexpression of DoSWEET14 in Arabidopsis increased sugar content without affecting biomass, supporting its role in carbohydrate transport and storage during symbiosis. These findings suggest that DoSWEET14 plays a key role in regulating carbon allocation and stabilizing the mutualistic relationship between Dendrobium officinale and OM fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40174748,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, L and Xiang, X and Chen, Y and Ma, H and Kong, L and Lu, Y and Cheng, S},
title = {Enhanced nitrogen removal in modular moving bed constructed wetland at low temperature: Optimization of dissolved oxygen distribution and reconfiguration of core microbial symbiosis.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {276},
number = {},
pages = {121507},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.121507},
pmid = {40174748},
issn = {1096-0953},
mesh = {*Wetlands ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; Cold Temperature ; *Oxygen ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Symbiosis ; Microbiota ; Bacteria/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Low temperatures can significantly reduce nitrogen (N) removal efficiency of constructed wetlands (CWs), thus limiting the application of this technology in cold climates and cold areas. We developed modular moving bed constructed wetlands (MMB-CWs) by integrating biofilm method into CWs through specialized design and achieved satisfactory N removal under ambient condition. Evaluating the N removal performance of MMB-CWs at low temperature is crucial for promoting CWs in cold climates. This study investigated the N removal performances of MMB-CWs and the variations of core functional genera at low temperature. Results indicated that the MMB-CW with a 60 % substrate filling rate achieved the highest N removal efficiency of 68.6 %, exceeding horizontal subsurface flow CW by 19.5 % (p < 0.05). The incorporation of vertical baffles and partial substrate filling optimized the distribution and concentration of dissolved oxygen. Although microbial community in the MMB-CW experienced a decline in microbial richness and diversity, N-transforming genera became more concentrated. Proteobacteria increased significantly from 46.6 % to 69.0 % (p < 0.05) as temperature decreased, in which the denitrifying genera including unclassified_f__Comamonadaceae, Hydrogenophaga and Acinetobacter increased significantly (p < 0.05) and dominated the N removal process. The distribution of N-transforming functional genes suggested that denitrification was the primary pathway for N removal at low temperature, while anaerobic ammonium oxidation played a pivotal role as well. The findings reveal the mechanism by which the MMB-CW enhance N removal in low C/N wastewater at low temperature, providing strategy and theoretical support for improving the N removal performance of CWs in response to low temperature stress.},
}
@article {pmid40174120,
year = {2025},
author = {Anker, A and Scioli, JA},
title = {Description of a new infaunal shrimp species (Decapoda: Alpheidae: Salmoneus) from the Atlantic coast of Florida.},
journal = {Zootaxa},
volume = {5583},
number = {1},
pages = {143-153},
doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5583.1.8},
pmid = {40174120},
issn = {1175-5334},
mesh = {Animals ; Florida ; *Decapoda/anatomy &amp; histology/classification/growth &amp; development ; Male ; Female ; Animal Distribution ; Body Size ; Animal Structures/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development ; Organ Size ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {A new alpheid shrimp, Salmoneus manningi sp. nov., is described based on material collected in the Indian River Lagoon on the Atlantic coast of Florida, USA. In addition, one of the two paratypes of S. cavicolus Felder &amp; Manning, 1986 is assigned to the new species. All specimens of S. manningi sp. nov. were extracted from burrows using a suction pump, sometimes together with the burrowing mantis shrimp, Lysiosquilla scabricauda (Lamarck, 1818), suggesting a possible symbiosis between these two crustaceans. Although S. manningi sp. nov. is morphologically similar to S. cavicolus, the two species do not appear to be closely related. In addition, S. cavicolus is reported from several new localities in the Indian River Lagoon and its previously unknown burrowing host is shown to be Alpheus floridanus Kingsley, 1878.},
}
@article {pmid40173549,
year = {2025},
author = {Dresch, F and Lima, LD and Romanowski, HP and Kaminski, LA},
title = {Immature stages of the Zebra Hairstreak butterfly, Arawacus separata (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): a model organism for studies on mimicry and mutualism.},
journal = {Zootaxa},
volume = {5569},
number = {1},
pages = {179-199},
doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5569.1.9},
pmid = {40173549},
issn = {1175-5334},
mesh = {Animals ; *Butterflies/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development/classification/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Female ; Male ; Larva/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development/physiology/classification ; Biological Mimicry ; Animal Structures/growth &amp; development/anatomy &amp; histology ; Ants/physiology ; Body Size ; Organ Size ; },
abstract = {Hairstreak butterflies are model organisms in evolutionary biology due to the variety of predator-avoidance strategies they possess, including false head mimicry and symbiosis with ants, both of which Zebra Hairstreaks employ. Natural history information is basic for the generation of hypothesis-driven research in ecology and evolution, especially for holometabolous organisms. Here, the complete life cycle of the Zebra Hairstreak Arawacus separata is described for the first time. The natural history records, including citizen science, for other Zebra Hairstreaks species in Eumaeini were also reviewed. Host plant records for A. separata indicate that its caterpillars are oligophagous on Solanaceae, being locally specialized on the shrub Cestrum strigilatum (Solanaceae). Development from egg to adult was found to last ~30 days. Caterpillars underwent four instars with cryptic coloration and texture. The larval tegument is covered by short dendritic setae and pore cupola organs (PCOs), and, from the second instar on, shows a dorsal nectary organ (DNO). Caterpillars live on plants surrounded by ants throughout their entire ontogeny. Facultative symbiosis was observed in all instars with seven ant species in four genera. Myrmecophily is potentiated by honeydew-producing hemipterans and attractive sap of leaf lesions. Territory occupancy of males and non-aerial contests suggest a neglected role of sexual selection in the evolution of the false-head traits. Due to the typical false-head wing coloration pattern and myrmecophily, A. separata is proposed as a model organism to study mimicry and mutualism.},
}
@article {pmid40173017,
year = {2025},
author = {Verdonk, CJ and Agostino, M and Eto, KY and Hall, DA and Bond, CS and Ramsay, JP},
title = {Structural basis for control of integrative and conjugative element excision and transfer by the oligomeric winged helix-turn-helix protein RdfS.},
journal = {Nucleic acids research},
volume = {53},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40173017},
issn = {1362-4962},
support = {FT170100235//Australian Research Council/ ; //Australian Government/ ; //University of Western Australia/ ; //Curtin University/ ; },
mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics ; *DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry/metabolism/genetics ; *Conjugation, Genetic ; Binding Sites ; Protein Binding ; Protein Multimerization ; Helix-Turn-Helix Motifs ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Recombination, Genetic ; Models, Molecular ; DNA, Bacterial/metabolism/genetics ; Attachment Sites, Microbiological ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; },
abstract = {Winged helix-turn-helix (wHTH) proteins are diverse DNA-binding proteins that often oligomerize on DNA and participate in DNA recombination and transcriptional regulation. wHTH recombination directionality factors (RDFs) associated with tyrosine recombinases, stimulate excision of prophage and integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). RdfS is required for excision and conjugation of the Mesorhizobium japonicum R7A ICE, ICEMlSymR7A, which carries genes for nitrogen-fixing symbiosis. We show RdfS binds to DNA regions within the IntS attachment site (attP) and within the rdfS promoter, enabling RdfS to coordinate rdfS/intS expression and stimulate RdfS/IntS-mediated ICEMlSymR7A excision. Several RdfS DNA-binding sites were identified. However, no consensus motif was apparent and no individual nucleotide substitutions in attP prevented RdfS binding. RdfS forms extensive helical filaments in crystals, with subunits contacting via a novel α1-helix absent in other wHTH-RDFs. RdfS oligomerized in solution in the absence of DNA. Molecular dynamics simulations supported a role for the α1-helix in oligomerization and compaction of nucleoprotein complexes. Removal of RdfS-α1 did not eliminate DNA-binding in vitro but reduced oligomerization and abolished RdfS-mediated ICEMlSymR7A excision and conjugative transfer. We propose the novel RdfS-α1 mediated oligomerization enables RdfS to specifically recognize larger DNA regions with low primary sequence conservation through an indirect readout mechanism.},
}
@article {pmid40172721,
year = {2025},
author = {De Rose, S and Sillo, F and Ghirardo, A and Schnitzler, JP and Balestrini, R and Perotto, S},
title = {Omics approaches to investigate pre-symbiotic responses of the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella sp. SV6 to the orchid host Serapias vomeracea.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {26},
pmid = {40172721},
issn = {1432-1890},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Orchidaceae/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Basidiomycota/physiology/genetics ; Transcriptome ; Metabolomics ; Metabolome ; },
abstract = {Like other plant-microbe symbioses, the establishment of orchid mycorrhiza (ORM) is likely to require specific communication and metabolic adjustments between the two partners. However, while modulation of plant and fungal metabolism has been investigated in fully established mycorrhizal tissues, the molecular changes occurring during the pre-symbiotic stages of the interaction remain largely unexplored in ORM. In this study, we investigated the pre-symbiotic responses of the ORM fungus Tulasnella sp. SV6 to plantlets of the orchid host Serapias vomeracea in a dual in vitro cultivation system. The fungal mycelium was harvested prior to physical contact with the orchid roots and the fungal transcriptome and metabolome were analyzed using RNA-seq and untargeted metabolomics approaches. The results revealed distinct transcriptomic and metabolomic remodelling of the ORM fungus in the presence of orchid plantlets, as compared to the free-living condition. The ORM fungus responds to the presence of the host plant with a significant up-regulation of genes associated with protein synthesis, amino acid and lipid biosynthesis, indicating increased metabolic activity. Metabolomic analysis supported the RNA-seq data, showing increased levels of amino acids and phospholipids, suggesting a remodelling of cell structure and signalling during the pre-symbiotic interaction. In addition, we identified an increase of transcripts of a small secreted protein that may play a role in early symbiotic signalling. Taken together, our results suggest that Tulasnella sp. SV6 may perceive information from orchid roots, leading to a readjustment of its transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles.},
}
@article {pmid40172073,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, F and Kumar, A and Xu, P and Murray, JD},
title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation suppresses root nitrate uptake in Medicago truncatula under nitrate limitation.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {5},
pages = {1905-1911},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70115},
pmid = {40172073},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {17DZ2252700//Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Plant Germplasm Resources grant/ ; 32150710527//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2019FA0904703//Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China/ ; 22JC1410800//Shanghai Science and Technology Commission grant/ ; },
}
@article {pmid40171249,
year = {2025},
author = {Feng, W and Sun, X and Yuan, G and Ding, G},
title = {Suillusbovinus sesquiterpenes stimulate root growth and ramification of host and non-host plants by coordinating plant auxin signaling pathways.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e142356},
pmid = {40171249},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {Prior to physical contact, ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi can regulate plant root growth and ramification by emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, the underlying mechanisms of these VOC effects, as well as the key signaling molecules within the VOC blends, are largely unknown. Under sterile conditions, we studied the effects of the SuillusbovinusVOCs on the root growth of Pinusmassoniana or Arabidopsisthaliana before physical contact. Exogenously added auxin inhibitors and auxin-related mutants were used to explore the role of auxin in the promotion of plant root development by S.bovinusVOCs. S.bovinusVOCs stimulated host P.massoniana and non-host A.thaliana lateral root formation (LRF). Although these effects were independent of the host, they exhibited a symbiotic fungal-specific feature. Sesquiterpenes (SQTs) were the main S.bovinus VOC component that promoted LRF in plants. Two SQTs, α-humulene and β-cedrene, utilized different auxin pathways to promote plant root growth but did not affect the formation of an ECM symbiotic relationship between P.massoniana and S.bovinus. These findings enhance our understanding of the role played by SQTs in the signal recognition mechanism during the ECM presymbiotic stage and their role in promoting plant growth.},
}
@article {pmid40170928,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, H and Li, L and Zhu, Y and Wang, C and Wu, M and Shen, W and Li, C and Li, K},
title = {Soil fungal community and co-occurrence network patterns at different successional stages of black locust coppice stands.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1528028},
pmid = {40170928},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) plantations transition from seedling to multi-generation coppice systems, leading to declines in productivity and biodiversity. However, the structural and functional reorganization of soil fungal communities during this transition remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize fungal community dynamics across successional stages of black locust stands and assess their implications for soil health and ecosystem resilience.<br><br>METHODS: Soil fungal communities in three black locust stands (first-generation seedling forest, first- and second-generation coppice forests) were analyzed over one year using ITS high-throughput sequencing. We evaluated fungal diversity, guild composition, and co-occurrence networks, integrating statistical analyses (PERMANOVA, ANOSIM, FUNGuild) and network theory to assess seasonal and successional shifts.<br><br>RESULTS: Fungal richness and diversity remained stable across stand types and seasons. However, these factors dramatically altered the soil fungal community structure. Shifts in fungal community composition were observed from seedling to coppice stands: Ascomycota dominance decreased (72.9 to 57.9%), while Basidiomycota increased (6.5 to 11.6%). Significant changes in the relative abundance of certain fungal guilds were observed by both stand conversion and seasonal variation (p <&#x202f;0.05). However, the overall fungal guilds composition was only significantly affected by the seasonal variation, rather than stand conversion (p >&#x202f;0.05). Furthermore, saprotrophic fungi dominated in autumn/winter (66.49-76.01%), whereas symbiotic fungi peaked in spring (up to 7.27%). As forests transition from seeding to coppice stands, the percentage of negative edges, average degree, and relative modularity of the fungal community co-occurrence networks all gradually decreased. Those suggested that the conversion of black locust stands decreased the connectivity between fungal species, formed less organized structure, increased homogeneity of function among microbial communities, reduced ecological functionality, and decreased resistance to environmental changes. Seasonal temperature fluctuations further modulated network complexity, with summer samples showing heightened edge density but reduced cooperation.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the conversion of forests can significantly shift the soil fungal community structure and assembly, favoring Basidiomycota over Ascomycota and reducing network stability. These shifts signal progressive soil nutrient depletion and functional homogenization, potentially compromising ecosystem resilience. Seasonal guild dynamics highlight fungi's role in nutrient cycling, with saprotrophs driving litter decomposition in colder months. This understanding suggest that forest management practices must prioritise the preservation of early successional stages. This is vital to support diverse fungal communities and complex community networks and ensure the stability, functionality and resistance of fungal communities. Restoration efforts must focus on promoting fungal resilience through targeted soil amendments and habitat diversification to enhance ecosystem stability and functionality.},
}
@article {pmid40170762,
year = {2025},
author = {Condé, TO and Ramos, DO and Nogueira, PTS and Pereira, OL},
title = {Inside out: New root endophytic Penicillium and Talaromyces species isolated from Cattleya orchids (Orchidaceae) in Brazil.},
journal = {Fungal systematics and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {179-200},
pmid = {40170762},
issn = {2589-3831},
abstract = {The Orchidaceae family comprises a highly diverse group of flowering plants. The genus Cattleya is restricted to the Neotropics, with approximately 80 % of the species present in Brazil occurring in epiphytic, rupicolous, and terrestrial habitats. During surveys that aimed to investigate root fungal endophytes of two native orchids, C. locatellii and C. violacea, a total of 10 endophytic isolates were identified as belonging to Eurotiales. A polyphasic approach was applied for the identification and characterization of the cultured species, combining morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the rDNA, beta-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and RNA polymerase second-largest subunit (RPB2) sequences. Two new endophytic species were identified and described from roots of C. locatellii, namely Penicillium endophyticum sp. nov. (section Aspergilloides), and Talaromyces cattleyae sp. nov. (section Purpurei). In addition, P. yuyongnianii (section Lanata-Divaricata), T. amestolkiae, and T. atkinsoniae (section Talaromyces) were reported as endophytes from the genus Cattleya. Citation: Condé TO, Ramos DO, Nogueira PTS, Pereira OL (2025). Inside out: New root endophytic Penicillium and Talaromyces species isolated from Cattleya orchids (Orchidaceae) in Brazil. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 15: 179-200. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.15.08.},
}
@article {pmid40170736,
year = {2024},
author = {Elliot, SL and Montoya, QV and Caixeta, MCS and Rodrigues, A},
title = {The fungus Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales): a critical review of its biology and parasitism of attine ant colonies.},
journal = {Frontiers in fungal biology},
volume = {5},
number = {},
pages = {1486601},
pmid = {40170736},
issn = {2673-6128},
abstract = {Two biological phenomena that contribute to increasing complexity in biological systems are mutualistic symbiotic interactions and the evolution of sociality. These two phenomena are also of fundamental importance to our understanding of the natural world. An organism that poses a threat to one or both of these is therefore also of great interest as it represents a challenge that mutualistic symbioses and social organisms have to overcome. This is the case with the fungus Escovopsis (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), which attacks the fungus garden of attine ants (Formicidae: Attina) such as the leaf cutters. This parasite has attracted much high-profile scientific interest for considerable time, and its study has been fruitful in understanding evolutionary, ecological and behavioural processes. Despite this, much of the biology and ecology of this organism remains unknown. Here we discuss this fungus and three sister genera (Escovopsioides, Luteomyces and Sympodiorosea) that until recently were considered as a single group. We first describe its position as the most highly specialised microbial symbiont in this system other than the mutualistic fungal cultivar itself and as that of greatest scientific interest. We then review the taxonomic history of the group and its macroevolution and biogeography. We examine what we know of its life cycle in the field - surprisingly little is known of how it is transmitted between colonies, but we explain what is known to date. We then review how it interacts with its host(s), first at the level of its direct interaction with the basidiomycete host fungi wherein we show the evidence for it being a mycoparasite; then at the colony level where empirical evidence points towards it being a parasite with a very low virulence or even merely a opportunist. Finally, we offer directions for future research.},
}
@article {pmid40170348,
year = {2025},
author = {Montesinos-Navarro, A and Collins, S and Dumitru, C and Verdú, M},
title = {Phylogenetic relatedness predicts plant-plant nitrogen transfer better than the duration of water scarcity periods.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {4},
pages = {1848-1860},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70116},
pmid = {40170348},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {ACIF/2020/302//Generalitat Valenciana/ ; CIPROM/2021/63//Generalitat Valenciana/ ; GRISOLIAP/2020/011//Generalitat Valenciana/ ; CNS2023-144743//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; PID2020-113157GB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; },
mesh = {*Phylogeny ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Water ; *Plants/metabolism/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Time Factors ; Droughts ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Intermittent water availability is a significant stress factor for plants, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Plant nutrient demands often do not align with precipitation pulses that trigger nutrient mobilization and availability, but biotic interactions like plant facilitation (e.g. through nitrogen transfer among distant relatives) and mycorrhizal symbiosis may mitigate this asynchrony, enabling nutrient access despite temporal disparities. We conducted a field experiment with 324 plant individuals to test two hypotheses: (1) greater mycorrhizal fungi abundance increases the amount of [15]N transferred between plants, particularly under conditions of fluctuating water availability, and (2) the amount of [15]N transferred is affected by the phylogenetic relatedness between donor and receiver plants. We show that [15]N transfer is prevalent in the studied semi-arid communities, occurring between all species pairs in 68% of the trials. Interestingly, we observed an increase in [15]N transfer between distantly related species, and this phylogenetic pattern remained consistent across fungicide and water regime treatments, which did not affect [15]N transfer. Elucidating the drivers of N transfer between plants under different environmental conditions can improve our predictions on how plant communities will respond to future climate challenges, especially prolonged droughts in Mediterranean ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40168827,
year = {2025},
author = {Chowdhury, SR and Mitra, B and Ghannam, M and Kumar, U and Rahman, SM and Mozumder, MS},
title = {Symbiosis, zero-waste goal and resource-sharing potential for UAE industries.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {380},
number = {},
pages = {125128},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125128},
pmid = {40168827},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {United Arab Emirates ; Recycling ; *Industry ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Waste Management/methods ; *Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {At present, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the largest economies with tremendous opportunities in the Middle East. However, unsustainable resource consumption and a linear economy have significantly altered the UAE's economic patterns, making it one of the major greenhouse emitters in the world. The government introduced a few approaches to limit fossil-based energy, along with some scattered resource recycling initiatives; however, the fundamental economic cycle is not adequately structured to maximize resource utilization and foster economic circulation. In this circumstance, industrial symbiosis (IS) can be an effective approach to reshaping the economic structure while achieving financial objectives. IS refers to a structured approach in which waste materials or byproducts from one industry are fully utilized by others, ensuring economic benefits with minimal ecological impact. Therefore, the current study presents a critical analysis of the existing IS case studies pertinent to the UAE's major industries and illustrates the synergy necessary to adopt a potential symbiotic relationship in the major industrial chains. Initially, the nation's socioeconomic trends were analyzed to explore their connections with 12 successful IS case studies, aiming to develop a robust methodology for the UAE. Further, a novel conceptual framework has been developed for IS implementation in the UAE with the corresponding quantitative assessment for a zero-waste initiative that can be obtained through our proposed symbiotic relationship in the UAE industries. Present discrete sustainable industrial facilities were also mentioned so that they can be incorporated into closed symbiotic relationships for more economic benefits through an adequate IS strategy. Future studies, however, should consider the limitations of industrial byproducts and mechanical improvements in the processing of crucial resources like wastewater or solid waste in the country.},
}
@article {pmid40168372,
year = {2025},
author = {Godjo, A and Donald, DM and Ansaldi, L and Darwish, IAA and Byrne, JL and Kakouli-Duarte, T},
title = {Effects of hexavalent chromium on the biology of Steinernema feltiae: evaluating sublethal endpoints for ecotoxicity testing.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {4},
pages = {e0320329},
pmid = {40168372},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Chromium/toxicity ; *Rhabditida/drug effects/physiology/pathogenicity ; Moths/parasitology ; Reproduction/drug effects ; *Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; Female ; Male ; Soil ; },
abstract = {Essential information about the effects of a pollutant on an ecosystem can be obtained by observing how it influences a bioindicator organism. Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI+) naturally occurs in Irish agricultural soils at levels of up to 250 mg/kg, which raises concerns about potential negative impacts on human health and the surrounding areas. This research aimed to assess the sublethal effect concentrations (up to 300 ppm) of Cr VI + on the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema feltiae focusing on endpoints such as nematode movement and host finding ability in contaminated sand and pathogenicity, percentage penetration, sex ratio and reproduction in Galleria mellonella. To achieve that, an Irish isolate of S. feltiae [strain SB 12 (1)], was used in all experiments. The attraction of nematodes to the insect host was tested using PVC tubes of various lengths, containing sand with various concentrations of Cr VI + (50-300 ppm in increments of 50). The replication was tenfold and the insect mortality was recorded at the end of the experiment. Results showed that there was a significant effect of Cr VI + on the pathogenicity, movement and host finding ability of the nematodes in contaminated sand, and on the percentage of penetration in an insect host. However, no significant effects among the studied Cr VI + concentrations were observed in S. feltiae reproduction in G. mellonella. Similarly, the presence of the toxicant (at low concentration of 12ppm) did not affect the growth of the nematode symbiotic bacteria in liquid and solid media (TSA and NBTA). Reproduction, unlike the other sublethal parameters tested, appeared not to be an optimal endpoint for assessing soil Cr VI + risk contamination. Overall, this study confirms the excellent potential of S. feltiae to be used as a suitable sentinel organism in assessing the risk of Cr VI + soil contamination especially in the contexts of agriculture and soil health.},
}
@article {pmid40166960,
year = {2025},
author = {Ahmad, F and Jinhao, H and Nawaz, MZ and Dar, MA and Nasser, R and Haider, SZ and Haq, WU and Sun, J and Mo, J and Zhu, D},
title = {Lignin disruption and ligninolytic enzyme activity in the symbiotic system of the Macrotermes barneyi termite.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70026},
pmid = {40166960},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {32250410285//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; BK20220003//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; WGXZ2023020L//the Foreign Expert Program under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) of China/ ; 2023YFC3403600//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; BE2021691//Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu Province/ ; },
abstract = {Fungus-farming termites efficiently degrade recalcitrant lignocellulose through a symbiotic relationship with Termitomyces and the gut microbiome, making them successful key decomposers in (sub)tropical ecosystems. Despite extensive research on plant biomass decomposition, the mechanisms of lignin degradation in fungus-farming termites remain elusive. In view of this information gap, the present study employed several analytical approaches and ligninolytic enzyme assays to investigate lignin modification in the symbiotic system of a fungus-farming termite, Macrotermes barneyi. The results revealed the structural modification of lignin across different points of the degradation process. Enzyme assays of termite guts and fungus combs showed the obvious differences in ligninolytic enzyme activity at different sites of decomposition, likely initiating the modification of lignin. The findings of the current study support the hypothesis that although young workers start the modification of lignin to some extent, they largely leave the lignin monomers p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) intact. Most of the lignin-derived compounds are transferred to the fresh comb, where the majority of lignin modification begins and continues in mature and older parts of the comb. This study provides new insights into biomass degradation within the microsymbiotic system of an insect. A better understanding of these mechanisms has the promising potential for unlocking new lignin-degrading agents for the production of renewable energy.},
}
@article {pmid40166043,
year = {2025},
author = {Feng, T and Li, J and Mao, X and Jin, X and Cheng, L and Xie, H and Ma, Y},
title = {A comparative analysis of the rhizosphere microbial communities among three species of the Salix genus.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e19182},
pmid = {40166043},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {*Salix/microbiology ; *Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Microbiota ; *Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {Rhizosphere microorganisms exert a significant influence in counteracting diverse external stresses and facilitating plant nutrient uptake. While certain rhizosphere microorganisms associated with Salix species have been investigated, numerous rhizosphere microorganisms from various Salix species remain underexplored. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing to examine the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities composition and diversity of three Salix species: Salix zangica (SZ), Salix myrtilllacea (SM), and Salix cheilophila (SC). Furthermore, the BugBase and FUNGuild were utilized to predict the functional roles of bacterial and fungal microorganisms. The findings revealed notable variations in the alpha and beta diversities of bacterial and fungal communities among the three Salix species exhibited significant differences (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Flavobacterium was highest in the SZ samples, while Microvirga exhibited significant enrichment in the SM samples. Microvirga and Vishniacozyma demonstrate the highest number of nodes within their respective bacterial and fungal community network structures. The functions of bacterial microorganisms, including Gram-positive, potentially pathogenic, Gram-negative, and stress-tolerant types, exhibited significant variation among the three Salix species (p < 0.05). Furthermore, for the function of fungal microbe, the ectomycorrhizal guild had the highest abundance of symbiotic modes. This results demonstrated the critical role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in enhancing nutrient absorption and metabolism during the growth of Salix plants. Additionally, this findings also suggested that S. zangica plant was better well-suited for cultivation in stressful environments. These findings guide future questions about plant-microbe interactions, greatly enhancing our understanding of microbial communities for the healthy development of Salix plants.},
}
@article {pmid40165074,
year = {2025},
author = {Luo, CY and Lu, Y and Su, L and Liu, JJ and Miao, JY and Lin, YC and Lin, LB},
title = {Whole genome sequencing and analysis of the symbiotic Armillaria gallica M3 with Gastrodia elata.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {324},
pmid = {40165074},
issn = {1471-2164},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Gastrodia/microbiology ; *Armillaria/genetics/physiology ; *Whole Genome Sequencing ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; *Genome, Fungal ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: On the one hand, Armillaria is regarded as a plant disease that causes serious root rot of forest trees, on the other hand, Armillaria is also an important symbiotic fungi of the valuable Chinese herb Gastrodia elata. Currently, the whole genome database of Armillaria is relatively limited, and it is expected that a more comprehensive understanding of the symbiotic interactions between Armillaria and G. elata can be achieved through genome-wide comparisons and functional annotations. Whole genome sequencing of Armillaria gallica M3 strain was performed using Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform, and the sequencing data were used to perform genome assembly, gene prediction and functional annotation, carbohydrate-active enzymes, and host-pathogen interactions using bioinformatics methods.<br><br>RESULTS: In this study, we obtained an 83.33&#xa0;M genome of A. gallica M3 strain, which consisted of 38 overlapping clusters with an N50 of 6,065,498&#xa0;bp and a GC content of 47.43%. A total of 12,557 genes were identified in the genome of A. gallica M3, and the repetitive sequences accounted for about 44.36% of the genome. 42.26% of the genome was composed of glycoside hydrolases (GHs), 16.15% of the genome was composed of glycosyltransferases (GTs). In addition, 3412 genes in A. gallica M3 were involved in the host-pathogen interaction mechanism.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These results have elucidated the characteristics of A. gallica M3 from a genomic perspective to a certain extent. They help to analyze the inner mechanism of A. gallica M3 being able to symbiosis with G. elata at the genomic level, which is of great significance to the next related research of A. gallica M3.},
}
@article {pmid40165055,
year = {2025},
author = {Jia, T and Zhang, W and Zhu, W and Fan, L},
title = {Intermittent fasting driven different adaptive strategies in Eothenomys miletus (Red-backed vole) at different altitudes: based on the patterns of variations in intestinal microbiota.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {185},
pmid = {40165055},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {32160254//National Natural Scientific Foundation of China/ ; 32060115//National Natural Scientific Foundation of China/ ; 202401AS070039//Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Altitude ; *Arvicolinae/microbiology/physiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Fasting ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Male ; Feces/microbiology ; Intermittent Fasting ; },
abstract = {In the face of global warming, the Eothenomys miletus (Red - backed vole), a species dwelling in highland mountainous regions, is likely to encounter difficulties. Given its restricted mobility, it may struggle with the uncertainty of food resources. In such circumstances, it becomes increasingly crucial for this species to adjust its diverse responses to fulfill its energy requirements. E. miletus specimens were gathered from different altitudes for intermittent fasting (IF) experiments. In these experiments, the specimens underwent random fasting for 3 days within a seven - day cycle. 16 S rDNA sequencing technology, combined with physiological and biochemical assessment methods, was employed to analyze the impacts of IF on gut microorganisms, physiological and biochemical indicators, and the interactions among them. By exploring the adaptive responses of E. miletus to uncertain food resources, which provides novel perspectives on the adaptive strategies of small rodents in the wild during food-scarce periods. The results showed that IF significantly reduced the body mass of E. miletus. Significant correlations were found between various gut microbes and physiological indicators. Under IF conditions, E. miletus at high altitudes experienced a smaller reduction in body mass compared to those at low altitudes. Moreover, the diversity of gut microbes and endemic bacteria in E. miletus at high altitudes varied more than that of low altitudes. The differential response in body mass reduction between high-altitude and low-altitude E. miletus under IF conditions indicated that altitude is an important factor influencing the physiological adaptation of this species to dietary changes. High-altitude E. miletus showed a relatively smaller decrease in body mass, potentially reflecting their better adaptation to environmental stressors over time. Additionally, the greater variation in gut microbe diversity and endemic bacteria in high-altitude E. miletus implied that altitude may shape the gut microbiota, which in turn could be related to their unique physiological adaptations at high altitudes. Overall, E. miletus at high altitude may possess more stable regulatory mechanisms, demonstrating better adaptation under IF conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between diet, altitude, and gut microbiota in the context of E. miletus physiology, highlighting the importance of considering both environmental and microbial factors in understanding the species' responses to nutritional challenges. .},
}
@article {pmid40164744,
year = {2025},
author = {Borda, V and Burni, M and Cofré, N and Longo, S and Mansur, T and Ortega, G and Urcelay, C},
title = {Does the flavonoid quercetin influence the generalist-selective nature of mycorrhizal interactions in invasive and non-invasive native woody plants?.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {25},
pmid = {40164744},
issn = {1432-1890},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/drug effects/growth &amp; development ; *Quercetin/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Introduced Species ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Wood/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {It has been suggested that invasive plant species are more generalist than non-invasive species in their interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), allowing them to associate with novel AMF communities. There is emerging evidence suggesting that the flavonoid quercetin may play a role in regulating these interactions as a signaling compound. In this study, we experimentally grew three invasive alien and three non-invasive native woody species with AMF communities collected from within (though foreign to invasives) and outside their current distribution ranges. After 96 days, we: (a) assessed mycorrhizal colonization rates; (b) evaluated the impact of these interactions on plant performance (growth and phosphorus nutrition); and (c) tested whether these responses were influenced by the addition of quercetin to the plant growth medium. Our findings reveal that the invasive species exhibited mycorrhizal colonization when grown with both novel AMF communities and benefited from them in terms of phosphorus (P) nutrition. In contrast, two of the three non- invasive native species showed mycorrhizal colonization and enhanced P nutrition only with AMF from their current distribution range, but not with novel AMF from outside their range, suggesting selective behavior in their mycorrhizal interactions. The addition of quercetin did not have a strong effect on mycorrhizal colonization in either invasive or non-invasive native species. However, quercetin promoted moderate increases in P nutrition in the two non-invasive native species when grown with the novel AMF communities. Overall, the results suggest that invasive species are more generalist in their AM symbiosis than two of the three non-invasive species, and that the addition of quercetin had a limited, moderate influence on their AM interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40163583,
year = {2025},
author = {Meher, R and Matheshwaran, M and Sharma, NK},
title = {Sustainable treatment of surgical cotton processing effluent through coupled biological and photocatalytic reactors.},
journal = {Environmental technology},
volume = {46},
number = {20},
pages = {4047-4059},
doi = {10.1080/09593330.2025.2485353},
pmid = {40163583},
issn = {1479-487X},
mesh = {*Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Wastewater/analysis ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis/metabolism ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; *Industrial Waste/analysis ; Cotton Fiber ; Bioreactors ; Microalgae/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; },
abstract = {The growing demand for surgical cotton in the healthcare sector has led to increased production in southern Tamil Nadu, generating effluents that pose environmental risks due to their chemical composition. Unlike conventional textile effluents, surgical cotton processing wastewater is distinct for its lack of colour additive, but it exhibits high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and contains significant inorganic pollutants, necessitating tailored treatment strategies. Despite extensive research on textile wastewater, effective solutions for surgical cotton effluents remain underexplored. This research bridges this gap by exploring a novel synergic method, algae-bacterial symbiosis combined with photocatalytic degradation for real surgical cotton effluent, in order to ultimately improve the removal ability of the contaminants. The general aim was to study the performance of three continuous reactor, a photocatalytic reactor, a biological rector and coupled biological-photocatalytic (CBPCR) reactor in the degradation of surgical cotton processing effluent during 30 days. The treatment efficacy was measured by observing the removal rates of inorganic nutrient, COD, and microbial growth. It was concluded that the CBPCR system successfully removed nitrate, phosphate, ammonia, and COD by 90%, 87%, 75%, and 93% respectively. In particular, the system fostered vigorous growth of both microalgae and bacteria, as indicated by a total chlorophyll concentration of 20.1 ± 0.91 mg/L and a dry cell weight of 1.81 ± 0.09 g/L. This paper shows the feasibility of the CBPCR system as a green, sustainable strategy for the treatment of surgical cotton effluent and as such fills a gap in current practice of industrial wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40163410,
year = {2025},
author = {Kuo, WN and Chen, PJ and Guo, ZL and Ho, MC and Ting, CL and Yang, SY},
title = {Production of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungal Inoculum and Phenotypic Evaluation of Rice and AM Symbiosis Under Saline Conditions.},
journal = {Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE},
volume = {},
number = {217},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3791/67580},
pmid = {40163410},
issn = {1940-087X},
mesh = {*Oryza/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a vital food crop for more than half of the global population. However, its growth is severely impacted by saline soils, which present a significant challenge to crop production worldwide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which form mutualistic symbiotic relationships with over 90% of agricultural plants and 80% of terrestrial plant species, have been shown to enhance the salt tolerance of rice plants. AM fungi are obligate symbionts that cannot complete their life cycle without a host root. Therefore, effectively utilizing plants to produce AM fungal inoculum is crucial for advancing research in this field. In this study, we present a series of robust methods that begin with generating sand inoculum containing spores of Rhizophagus irregularis using Allium tuberosum L. These methods include inoculating rice seedlings with the sand inoculum, analyzing the growth phenotype of mycorrhizal rice, and quantifying fungal colonization levels using trypan blue staining under salt stress. These approaches can efficiently generate AM fungal inoculum for further investigation into how AM symbiosis enhances the salinity tolerance of rice.},
}
@article {pmid40162784,
year = {2025},
author = {Hong, M and Tian, F and Song, Z and Liu, H and Tong, Y and Zhang, T},
title = {A novel tobamo-like mycovirus with filamentous particles replicates in plant cells.},
journal = {Journal of virology},
volume = {99},
number = {5},
pages = {e0210224},
pmid = {40162784},
issn = {1098-5514},
support = {32200125//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31760015//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024-1G-4421//the Capital Health Research and Development of Special Fund/ ; Qian Jiao Ji No [2023]036//the Special Funds from the Central Finance to Support the Development of Local Universities/ ; },
mesh = {Nicotiana/virology ; Phylogeny ; Genome, Viral ; Open Reading Frames ; *Fungal Viruses/genetics/physiology/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; *Virus Replication ; *Plant Cells/virology ; Viral Proteins/genetics ; Plant Diseases/virology/microbiology ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; *Tobamovirus/genetics/physiology/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; *Ascomycota/virology ; Virion ; },
abstract = {Parasitic and symbiotic plant-fungus relationships have existed for millions of years, and phylogenetic analyses of certain virus families indicate transmission between plants and fungi. A group of tobamo-like viruses from various fungi has recently been identified. Tobamo-like viruses are homologous to plant viruses of the Tobamovirus genus in the Virgaviridae family, but it was unknown whether they form typical virus particles and can replicate and exhibit cell-to-cell movement in plants. Here, a novel tobamo-like virus, Nigrospora aurantiaca tobamo-like virus 1 (NaTLV1), obtained from the phytopathogenic fungus Nigrospora aurantiaca, was characterized. Its genome (10,301 nucleotides) comprises four open reading frames (ORFs) and a poly(A) tail. ORF1 encodes a methyltransferase and helicase, and ORF2 encodes RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which are closely related to proteins of Virgaviridae viruses. ORF3 encodes a putative movement protein, and ORF4 encodes a putative coat protein, which are closely related to proteins of Gammaflexiviridae and Betaflexiviridae viruses. NaTLV1 formed filamentous virus particles and could replicate in Nicotiana benthamiana. However, the cell-to-cell movement of NaTLV1 was not observed in N. benthamiana but could not be ruled out. NaTLV1 underwent horizontal and vertical transmissions via hyphal anastomosis and conidia, respectively. There were no significant differences in phenotype or virulence between NaTLV1-infected (A4) and NaTLV1-free (V1) N. aurantiaca strains. In general, our findings may be useful in elucidating the origination and evolution of tobamo-like viruses, plant virus families (Virgaviridae and Betaflexiviridae), and a fungal virus family (Gammaflexiviridae).IMPORTANCECross-kingdom infections involving plant- and fungal-associated viruses have been directly observed in nature, and some of these viruses share a high degree of genetic similarity. A group of novel tobamo-like viruses with nonsegmented single-stranded RNA genomes was recently isolated from diverse fungal groups. Here, we identified a novel virus, Nigrospora aurantiaca tobamo-like virus 1 (NaTLV1), in the phytopathogenic fungus Nigrospora aurantiaca. NaTLV1 was phylogenetically related to other tobamo-like viruses, plant-associated viruses in the Virgaviridae and Betaflexiviridae families, and fungus-associated viruses in the Gammaflexiviridae family. NaTLV1 formed filamentous virus particles and could replicate in Nicotiana benthamiana, but the cell-to-cell movement of NaTLV1 was not observed. This study provides potential insights into the origins and evolution of mycoviruses originating from plant viruses and indicates that tobamo-like viruses may have adapted to an intracellular lifestyle during evolution. The identification of novel tobamo-like viruses is crucial for understanding fungal and plant virus evolution.},
}
@article {pmid40162002,
year = {2025},
author = {Ahmed, N and Li, J and Li, Y and Deng, L and Deng, L and Chachar, M and Chachar, Z and Chachar, S and Hayat, F and Raza, A and Umrani, JH and Gong, L and Tu, P},
title = {Symbiotic synergy: How Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi enhance nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and soil health through molecular mechanisms and hormonal regulation.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e144989},
pmid = {40162002},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is integral to sustainable agriculture and enhances plant resilience to abiotic and biotic stressors. Through their symbiotic association with plant roots, AM improves nutrient and water uptake, activates antioxidant defenses, and facilitates hormonal regulation, contributing to improved plant health and productivity. Plants release strigolactones, which trigger AM spore germination and hyphal branching, a process regulated by genes, such as D27, CCD7, CCD8, and MAX1. AM recognition by plants is mediated by receptor-like kinases (RLKs) and LysM domains, leading to the formation of arbuscules that optimize nutrient exchange. Hormonal regulation plays a pivotal role in this symbiosis; cytokinins enhance AM colonization, auxins support arbuscule formation, and brassinosteroids regulate root growth. Other hormones, such as salicylic acid, gibberellins, ethylene, jasmonic acid, and abscisic acid, also influence AM colonization and stress responses, further bolstering plant resilience. In addition to plant health, AM enhances soil health by improving microbial diversity, soil structure, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. This symbiosis supports soil pH regulation and pathogen suppression, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers and improving soil fertility. To maximize AM 's potential of AM in agriculture, future research should focus on refining inoculation strategies, enhancing compatibility with different crops, and assessing the long-term ecological and economic benefits. Optimizing AM applications is critical for improving agricultural resilience, food security, and sustainable farming practices.},
}
@article {pmid40161691,
year = {2025},
author = {Tekle, YI and Smith, AR and McGinnis, M and Ghebezadik, S and Patel, P},
title = {A new Paramoeba Isolate from Florida Exhibits a Microtubule-Bound Endosymbiont Closely Associated with the Host Nucleus.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.03.10.642444},
pmid = {40161691},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {The genera Paramoeba and Neoparamoeba , within the family Paramoebidae (order Dactylopodida), are distinguished by their dactylopodial pseudopodia and the presence of an intracellular eukaryotic symbiont, the Perkinsela -like organism (PLO). Taxonomic classification within these genera has been challenging due to overlapping morphological traits and close phylogenetic relationships. Most species are marine, with some acting as significant parasites, contributing to sea urchin mass mortality and serving as causative agents of Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD). Despite their ecological and economic importance, many aspects of their diversity, biology, evolution, and host interactions remain poorly understood. In this study, we describe a novel amoeba species, Paramoeba daytoni n. sp., isolated from Daytona Beach, Florida. Morphological and molecular analyses confirm its placement within the Paramoeba clade, closely related to P. eilhardi, P. karteshi, and P. aparasomata . Phylogenetic assessments using 18S and COI markers demonstrate the limitations of 18S gene for species delineation, highlighting COI as a more reliable genetic marker for this group. Additionally, observations on PLO morphology, movement, and microtubule association provide insights into the endosymbiotic relationship, reinforcing the need for further research into this unique eukaryote-eukaryote symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40161242,
year = {2025},
author = {Weeraphan, T and Chou, C and Chanthathamrongsiri, N and Sirirak, T and Putchakarn, S and Chamni, S and Phongsopitanun, W},
title = {Microbiome profiling and Actinomycetes isolation from tropical marine sponges.},
journal = {AIMS microbiology},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {182-205},
pmid = {40161242},
issn = {2471-1888},
abstract = {Marine sponges are well-known for their production of bioactive compounds, many of which are synthesized by their associated symbiotic microorganisms. Among these, Actinomycetes are of particular interest due to their ability to produce secondary metabolites with antimicrobial and antitumor activities. We aimed to investigate the bacterial microbiome of tropical marine sponges, with an emphasis on the diversity and distribution of Actinomycetes, employing both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. Five sponge samples (PF01-PF05) were collected from Sichang Island, Chonburi Province, Thailand. The bacterial communities were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics tools, revealing a significant microbial diversity dominated by Cyanobacteria, Actinomycetota, and Chloroflexi. Notably, PF01 (Penares nux) exhibited the highest microbial diversity, while PF05 (Cacospongia sp.) had the lowest. Actinomycetes, particularly the genus Micromonospora, were successfully isolated from all samples, with PF03 (Ircinia mutans) yielding the highest number of strains. Culture-independent analysis identified a greater proportion of unculturable Actinomycetes compared to those isolated through traditional methods, underscoring the limitations of culture-dependent techniques. This study enhances our understanding of sponge-associated microbial diversity and highlights the potential for isolating Actinomycetes from these sponges for novel drug discovery and other bioprospective applications.},
}
@article {pmid40160273,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Ying, Y and Li, Y and Zhang, W and Shu, J},
title = {Symbiotic bacteria associated with different species of Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and their host plants.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1531847},
pmid = {40160273},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Bacteria often play important roles in the host adaptation of phytophagous insects. Beetles of the genus Curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) include pest species that bore into the seeds of trees in the family Fagaceae and damage the cotyledons. At present, there are few studies of the taxonomic diversity and functional effects of symbiotic bacteria involved in changes in host ranges and host adaptation of Curculio. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene Illumina and metagenomic sequencing to compare the composition and functions of the bacterial communities of three species of host plants and several Curculio species combinations: Curculio bimaculatus feeding on Castanopsis sclerophylla, C. bimaculatus feeding on Castanopsis tibetana, and Curculio davidi feeding on Ca. tibetana. The host plants influenced the diversity of symbiotic bacteria, while the Curculio species influenced the community structure of the symbiotic bacteria. Functional predictions showed that symbiotic bacteria contributed to the metabolism of the hosts. However, consistent with the variation in bacteria, the major metabolism-related bacterial genera varied among the treatment groups. Comparisons of metabolic enzymes based on KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) annotation revealed differences in the enzymes involved in insect development and detoxification of plant secondary compounds among the three groups, and the patterns were influenced by the dominance of the Curculio species on the host plants. This study provides valuable insights into the possible role of symbiotic bacteria in Curculio as host insects.},
}
@article {pmid40159598,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, CK and Liu, ZZ and Peng, ZR and Luo, XY and Zhang, XM and Zhang, JG and Zhang, L and Chen, W and Yang, YJ},
title = {M28 family peptidase derived from Peribacillus frigoritolerans initiates trained immunity to prevent MRSA via the complosome-phosphatidylcholine axis.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2484386},
pmid = {40159598},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {*Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects/immunology ; Animals ; Mice ; *Phosphatidylcholines/metabolism/immunology ; *Staphylococcal Infections/immunology/prevention &amp; control/microbiology/drug therapy ; Macrophages/immunology/drug effects ; Phagocytosis/drug effects ; *Peptide Hydrolases/pharmacology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Bacterial Proteins ; Humans ; Liposomes ; Female ; Trained Immunity ; },
abstract = {Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents a major global health threat due to its resistance to conventional antibiotics. The commensal microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host, playing essential roles in metabolism, energy regulation, immune modulation, and pathogen control. Mammals harbor a wide range of commensal bacteria capable of producing unique metabolites with potential therapeutic properties. This study demonstrated that M28 family peptidase (M28), derived from commensal bacteria Peribacillus frigoritolerans (P. f), provided protective effects against MRSA-induced pneumonia. M28 enhanced the phagocytosis and bactericidal activity of macrophages by inducing trained immunity. RNA sequencing and metabolomic analyses identified the CFB-C3a-C3aR-HIF-1α axis-mediated phosphatidylcholine accumulation as the key mechanism for M28-induced trained immunity. Phosphatidylcholine, like M28, also induced trained immunity. To enhance M28-mediated therapeutic potential, it was encapsulated in liposomes (M28-LNPs), which exhibited superior immune-stimulating properties compared to M28 alone. In vivo experiments revealed that M28-LNPs significantly reduced bacterial loads and lung damage following MRSA infection, which also provided enhanced protection against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. We first confirmed a link between complement activation and trained immunity, offering valuable insights into the treatment and prevention of complement-related autoimmune diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40158344,
year = {2025},
author = {Rebelo, A and Farabegoli, G},
title = {Water circularity index: A novel approach for authorities and operators.},
journal = {Chemosphere},
volume = {377},
number = {},
pages = {144366},
doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144366},
pmid = {40158344},
issn = {1879-1298},
mesh = {Wastewater ; *Water Quality ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Water Supply ; Environmental Monitoring/methods ; },
abstract = {The "transition to a circular economy" is frequently articulated in conventional frameworks regarding water use efficiency, predominantly emphasizing quantitative dimensions. However, water is ubiquitous, and its various applications are often directly or indirectly interlinked. Examining water quantity and quality within the water usage cycle is imperative to ensure security and optimise added value throughout the process while promoting the natural values of the surrounding environment. The present study introduces an innovative metric known as the Water Circularity Index (IC) that encompasses the complex balance between water quantity and quality throughout the water cycle at urban and industrial installation levels. The methodology for developing the IC is supported by a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, where key factors are divided into sub-factors categorised and weighted. The IC comprises eleven key factors, including freshwater consumption, wastewater discharge, water reuse, best management practices and technologies, hazardous substances defined under the Water Framework Directive, microplastics and emerging contaminants, biodiversity, nutrient recovery, internal industrial symbiosis, sludge management, and voluntary or incentive-based instruments. For each key factor, inputs are classified as negative, neutral, or positive, with final results categorised into five levels: negative circularity, no circularity, and low, medium, or high circularity. The index was applied to facilities across seven countries, encompassing fourteen installations across various industrial sectors and urban wastewater treatment plants, showing the versatility of the index in promoting best practices in multiple processes. In one case study involving a pulp mill, the IC was computed before and after the revision of its environmental permit. This assessment facilitated an evaluation of the measures implemented during the transition from a discharge permit aligned exclusively with the Industrial Emissions Directive principles to an integrated water management approach that integrated both directives' frameworks. The findings revealed a substantial improvement in the plant's performance, progressing from negative to medium circularity.},
}
@article {pmid40158196,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, CX and Chen, SJ and Hong, XY and Wang, LZ and Wu, HM and Tang, YY and Gao, YY and Hao, GF},
title = {Plant exudates-driven microbiome recruitment and assembly facilitates plant health management.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology reviews},
volume = {49},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {40158196},
issn = {1574-6976},
support = {32125033//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024T170200//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Microbiota/physiology ; Symbiosis ; *Plant Exudates/metabolism ; *Plants/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Plant-microbiome symbiotic interactions play a crucial role in regulating plant health and productivity. To establish symbiotic relationships, the plant secretes a variety of substances to facilitate microbial community recruitment and assembly. In recent years, important progress has been made in studying how plant exudates attract beneficial microorganisms and regulate plant health. However, the mechanisms of plant exudates-mediated microbial community recruitment and assembly and their effects on plant health are no comprehensive review. Here, we summarize the interaction mechanisms among plant exudates, microbial community recruitment and assembly, and plant health. First, we systematically evaluate the type and distribution of plant exudates, as well as their role in microbiome recruitment and assembly. Second, we summarize the mechanisms of plant exudates in terms of microbiome recruitment, diversity regulation and chemotaxis. Finally, we list some typical examples for elucidating the importance of plant exudates in promoting plant health and development. This review contributes to utilizing plant exudate or beneficial microbiome resources to manage plant health and productivity.},
}
@article {pmid40157660,
year = {2025},
author = {Ding, J and Gao, T and Liu, S and Li, Z and Hu, B and Zheng, J and Yao, X and Liu, H and Hu, H},
title = {Rhamnosidase from Parabacteroides distasonis exhibit the catabolism of epimedin C in the human gut microbiota.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {309},
number = {Pt 1},
pages = {142481},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.142481},
pmid = {40157660},
issn = {1879-0003},
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Flavonoids/metabolism/chemistry ; *Glycoside Hydrolases/metabolism/chemistry ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; *Bacteroidetes/enzymology ; Substrate Specificity ; Hydrolysis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Temperature ; Flavanones/metabolism/chemistry ; Quercetin/analogs &amp; derivatives/metabolism/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Epimedin C, an anti-cardiovascular disease natural compound derived from Herba Epimedii, exhibits low oral bioavailability, with its metabolism closely related to the gut microbiota. In this study, we investigated the roles of intestinal bacteria in the catabolism of epimedin C. We discovered that a strain of Parabacteroides distasonis QZH 1201 (P. distasonis) from human fecal samples can convert epimedin C to 2"-O-rhamnosylicariside II and baohuoside I. More importantly, we identified an α-L-rhamnosidase enzyme from P. distasonis (PdRha), which plays a crucial role in this process by efficiently transforming epimedin C into icariside I. PdRha showed optimal activity at pH 6 and a temperature of 50 °C. Under the condition that the final concentration of epimedin C was 0.5 mM, its conversion efficiency reached 78.72 %. Additionally, we investigated the substrate profile of PdRha and discovered that it can hydrolyze rutin, naringin, and icariin, releasing isoquercitrin, prunin, and icariside I. Molecular docking was performed to gain insights into the enzymatic mechanism. This study provides valuable insights into how a common intestinal symbiotic bacterium processes an important natural flavonoid.},
}
@article {pmid40156976,
year = {2025},
author = {Shen, Y and Xiao, Y and Xie, E and Puig-Bargués, J and Yao, Y and Kuang, N and Li, Y},
title = {Biofouling control strategy through denatured extracellular proteins: An empirical evidence from reclaimed water distribution systems.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {280},
number = {},
pages = {123538},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123538},
pmid = {40156976},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Biofouling/prevention &amp; control ; Urea/pharmacology ; Water Purification/methods ; Biofilms/drug effects ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; },
abstract = {Biofouling remains a significant challenge in water treatment fields, leading to a decline in the hydraulic performance, increased operational costs, and potential health risks. Previous biofouling control strategies primarily focused on the removal of particulates and microorganisms, often neglecting the role of extracellular proteins. Using a reclaimed water distribution system as an example, this study proposes a strategy to inhibit biofouling formation by utilizing urea, a reported protein denaturant with fertilizer functionality. Results indicated that urea significantly slowed the accumulation of biofouling, leading to a 16.4-49.4 % decrease in biofouling weight, an 18.6-55.3 % decrease in extracellular protein content, and a 25.9-45.3 % reduction in extracellular polymer substance (EPS) content. Urea mitigated biofouling through two mechanisms: (1) disrupting protein structures, which convert tightly bound EPS to loosely bound EPS, and (2) downregulating biofilm-forming signaling proteins, thereby inhibiting biofouling formation. In the process, proteins, polysaccharides, and microorganisms exhibited clear mutual promotion relationships. Additionally, urea weakened microbial symbiotic interactions by affecting protein signaling molecules, inhibiting microbial growth and polysaccharide metabolism. The research confirms that denaturing extracellular proteins to mitigate biofouling is a feasible and efficient approach. The findings aim to provide valuable insights for the development of sustainable and effective biofouling cleaning strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40156820,
year = {2025},
author = {Nelsen, MP and Lumbsch, HT and Boyce, CK},
title = {The Geosiphon-Nostoc symbiosis: recent elaboration, or remnant of an enduring association?.},
journal = {Annals of botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/aob/mcaf057},
pmid = {40156820},
issn = {1095-8290},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fungal associations with photosynthetic microbes have regularly been invoked as precursors to the evolution of land plants and their mycorrhizal associations. The fungus Geosiphon pyriformis (Glomeromycotina) deviates from its arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-forming relatives through the presence of an intracellular symbiosis with Nostoc cyanobacteria, and is frequently viewed as the only extant representative of an ancient and formerly widespread association between fungi and cyanobacteria that occupied early terrestrial ecosystems. Here we add to growing evidence suggesting the Geosiphon-Nostoc-like associations are not ancestral to AM associations and did not occupy landscapes prior to the evolution of land plants. In addition, we discuss the underlying drivers contributing to the origination and persistence of this argument and discuss other ways in which Geosiphon has been misunderstood.<br><br>METHODS: We inferred timescaled phylogenies of Glomeromycotina and utilized ancestral state reconstruction to both evaluate the plausibility of a Geosiphon-like ancestral state, and highlight the additional complexity required to maintain support for a Geosiphon-like ancestral state.<br><br>KEY RESULTS: Our analyses overwhelmingly recovered the Geosiphon-like state as being derived from AM associations.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our work illustrates the diverse ways in which Geosiphon has been misunderstood and adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting the Geosiphon-like ecology is derived from AM-forming ancestors and did not occupy terrestrial ecosystems prior to the evolution of land plants. We conclude by discussing outstanding questions pertaining to the ecology and evolution of Glomeromycotina fungi.},
}
@article {pmid40156447,
year = {2025},
author = {Jährig, J and Kleyböcker, A and Kraus, F and Melchiorsen, LR and Milter, H and Thisgaard, P and Vredenbregt, L and Miehe, U},
title = {Innovative pre-treatments for reverse osmosis to reclaim water from biotech and municipal wastewater for the industrial symbiosis in Kalundborg.},
journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research},
volume = {91},
number = {6},
pages = {698-713},
pmid = {40156447},
issn = {0273-1223},
support = {grant agreement number 869318//Horizon 2020/ ; },
mesh = {Osmosis ; *Wastewater/chemistry ; *Water Purification/methods ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Membranes, Artificial ; Pilot Projects ; Ultrafiltration/methods ; Filtration ; },
abstract = {The challenge of water reclamation using membranes in this study was the quite unique wastewater composition resulting from a high share of biotech wastewater. The high content of organic matter and high concentrations of calcium, bicarbonate, and sulphate were considered as challenging for membrane processes. Consequently, an innovative ultra-tight ultrafiltration (u-t UF) membrane was developed and tested on-site at pilot scale. In comparison, a conventional UF and an open nanofiltration (NF) were piloted. The aim was to find the best pre-treatment option for reverse osmosis (RO) to reduce fouling and scaling and produce fit-for-purpose water; for example, cooling. Overall, the quality of the currently used water source was surpassed by the pilot plant. Only a standard post-treatment of the RO permeate was necessary for stabilisation. Results indicated that denser membranes only minimally reduced fouling of RO. An assessment comparing the treatment trains in a life cycle assessment using the data collected from the pilot operation (UF/NF operating settings, RO plant performance, and the design of multi-stage industrial scale RO) revealed lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to seawater desalination. However, if the RO brine treatment becomes mandatory, the greenhouse gas emissions from water reclamation and supply will be higher than those from freshwater supply.},
}
@article {pmid40156392,
year = {2025},
author = {Arfah, RA and Ahmad, A and Khairunnur, S and Taba, P and Irfandi, R and Karim, H},
title = {Isolation of Protein and Peptides from Symbiont Bacteria of Green Algae, Caulerpa lentillifera and Their Potency as Anticancer.},
journal = {Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP},
volume = {26},
number = {3},
pages = {767-774},
pmid = {40156392},
issn = {2476-762X},
mesh = {*Peptides/pharmacology/isolation &amp; purification ; *Caulerpa/microbiology/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; Humans ; *Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/isolation &amp; purification ; Animals ; *Bacteria/chemistry ; *Bacterial Proteins/pharmacology/isolation &amp; purification ; Chlorophyta/microbiology ; Edible Seaweeds ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Algae contain many symbiotic bacteria, often considered pollutants in algal cultivation. Recent studies indicate that these connections enhance the longevity of both organisms. Researching the bioactive metabolites of marine bacteria has emerged as a promising strategy for drug discovery. Green algae, including Caulerpa lentillifera, have anticancer activity and possess antioxidant qualities. The research emphasizes the isolation and identification of beneficial proteins from symbiotic bacteria, particularly Caulerpa lentillifera.<br><br>METHODS: The stages of the research included isolation and identification of the endophytic bacteria of the green alga symbiont C. lentillifera, isolation of protein from the bacterial symbiont, fractionation, hydrolysis, ultrafiltration of protein into peptides, and testing for activity. Screening activities used the BSLT to obtain the value of LC50, and the mitotic test of the sea urchin zygote cell Tripneustes gratilla Linn to find the value of IC50.<br><br>RESULTS: The results of this study indicated that the bacterial symbiont of the algae C. lentillifera was a species of Cobetia marina strain CL2-2. The peptide with molecular weight < 3 kDa from Cobetia marina strain CL2-2 was active. The peptide was from protein deposited with 40-60% saturated ammonium sulfate and hydrolyzed using pepsin enzyme. BSLT toxicity tests indicate that peptides with a molecular weight of less than 3 kDa showed significant toxicity, indicated by an LC50 value of 4.061 ppm. In a mitotic cytotoxicity test involving sea urchin zygote cells, peptides with a molecular weight of less than 3 kDa indicated significant cytotoxic activity, resulting in an IC50 value of 7.236 &#x3bc;g/mL.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The bioactive peptide with molecular weight of less than 3 kDa resulting from protein hydrolysis isolated from the green algae symbiont C. lentillifera has the potential as an anticancer agent.},
}
@article {pmid40156309,
year = {2025},
author = {Gotze, CR and Dungan, AM and van de Meene, AML and Damjanovic, K and Philip, GK and Maire, J and Høj, L and Blackall, LL and van Oppen, MJH},
title = {Differential aggregation patterns of Endozoicomonas within tissues of the coral Acropora loripes.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf059},
pmid = {40156309},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Bacteria in the genus Endozoicomonas are well-known coral symbionts commonly found as clusters within tissues of several coral species. Mapping the spatial distribution of these microbial communities is critical to gaining a holistic understanding of the potential role they may play within the coral host. This study focuses on characterizing bacterial aggregates associated with the common reef-building coral, Acropora loripes, from the central Great Barrier Reef, Australia. A conventional cultivation-based method was employed to establish a pure culture collection of 11 undescribed Endozoicomonas strains isolated from A. loripes. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed their classification into two distinct phylogenetic clades. To resolve their spatial distribution in hospite, clade-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization probes were designed. Aggregates were consistently observed in the gastrodermal tissue layers surrounding the upper and lower gastrovascular cavity and were predominantly formed by cells from the same phylogenetic clade, with a minor proportion of aggregates formed by Endozoicomonas from both targeted clades. Furthermore, a clear distinction in aggregation pattern was observed; one clade exhibited clusters with regular and contained growth patterns, whereas the other formed clusters lacking clear boundaries and having irregular shapes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of a membrane of unknown origin associated with bacterial aggregates in two instances, suggesting potential structural or functional differences in these aggregates. These morphological differences highlight the importance of further investigations into the mechanisms governing bacterial aggregate formation in corals.},
}
@article {pmid40152827,
year = {2025},
author = {Ang, WSL and Blaszynski, MM and Cai, JB and Markowitz, L and Maunders, EA and Norlin, A and Womack, HR and Li, F-W},
title = {Genome sequences of two cyanobacteria strains isolated from hornworts.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {5},
pages = {e0111824},
pmid = {40152827},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {We report two complete genome assemblies of symbiotic cyanobacteria isolated from the hornwort species Notothylas orbicularis and Phaeoceros carolinianus. These new datasets will facilitate future comparative genomic studies across symbiotic cyanobacteria.},
}
@article {pmid40152595,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Li, X and Kormas, KA and Li, Y and Li, H and Li, J},
title = {Variable phylosymbiosis and cophylogeny patterns in wild fish gut microbiota of a large subtropical river.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {10},
number = {4},
pages = {e0098224},
pmid = {40152595},
issn = {2379-5042},
support = {2023CXYC6//Scientific Innovation Fund, PRFRI/ ; 2018YFD0900902 2018YFD0900902//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2019B1515120064//Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; //Project of Financial Funds of Ministry Agriculture and Ruaral Affairs: Investigation of Fishery Resources and Habitat in the Pearl River Basin/ ; 2023TD10//Pearl River fishery resources investigation and evaluation innovation team/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Rivers/microbiology ; *Fishes/microbiology/classification ; China ; *Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; Ecosystem ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions ; Host Specificity ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The persistence and specificity of fish host-microbial interaction during evolution is an important part of exploring the host-microbial symbiosis mechanism. However, it remains unclear how the environmental and host factors shape fish host-microbe symbiotic relationships in subtropical rivers with complex natural environments. Freshwater fish are important consumers in rivers and lakes and are considered keystone species in maintaining the stability of food webs there. In this study, patterns and mechanisms shaping gut microbiota community in 42 fish species from the Pearl River, in the subtropical zone of China, were investigated. The results showed that fish host specificity is a key driver of gut microbiota evolution and diversification. Different taxonomic levels of the host showed different degrees of contribution to gut microbiota variation. Geographical location and habitat type were the next most important factors in shaping gut microbiota across the 42 fishes, followed by diet and gut trait. Our results emphasized the contribution of stochastic processes (drift and homogenizing dispersal) in the gut microbial community assembly of freshwater fishes in the middle and lower reaches of the Pearl River. Phylosymbiosis is evident at both global and local levels, which are jointly shaped by complex factors including ecological or host physiological filtration and evolutionary processes. The core microbiota showed co-evolutionary relationships of varying degrees with different taxonomic groups. We speculate that host genetic isolation or habitat variation facilitates the heterogeneous selection (deterministic process), which occurs and results in different host-core bacterium specificity.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Freshwater fish are regarded as the dominant consumers in rivers and lakes. Due to their diverse feeding modes, fish significantly enhance the trophic link and nutrient recycling/retention in aquatic habitats. For this, they are often considered keystone species in maintaining the stability of food webs in rivers and lakes. A significant part of fish nutrition is essentially mediated by their gut microbiota, which can enhance fish tolerance to fluctuations in external resources and improve the efficiency of nutrients extracted from various food sources. As gut bacterial symbionts have a profound impact on the nutrition and development of their hosts, as well as their overall fitness, it is critical to answer the question of how hosts maintain these benefits by procuring or inheriting these vital symbionts, which is still largely unanswered, especially for freshwater fish. Our study provides new insights into the co-evolutionary relationship between wild fish and their symbiotic microbiome, the hidden diversity of gut microbiome, and the ecological adaptation potential of wild freshwater fish.},
}
@article {pmid40152378,
year = {2025},
author = {Papa, V and Li Pomi, F and Di Gioacchino, M and Mangifesta, R and Borgia, F and Gangemi, S},
title = {Mast Cells and Microbiome in Health and Disease.},
journal = {Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)},
volume = {30},
number = {3},
pages = {26283},
doi = {10.31083/FBL26283},
pmid = {40152378},
issn = {2768-6698},
mesh = {Humans ; *Mast Cells/immunology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; Animals ; Inflammation/immunology/microbiology ; Immunity, Innate ; *Microbiota ; Homeostasis ; },
abstract = {Inter-kingdom communication between human microbiota and mast cells (MCs), as sentinels of innate immunity, is crucial in determining health and disease. This complex signaling hub involves micro-organisms and, more importantly, their metabolic products. Gut microbiota is the host's largest symbiotic ecosystem and, under physiological conditions, it plays a vital role in mediating MCs tolerogenic priming, thus ensuring immune homeostasis across organs. Conversely, intestinal dysbiosis of various etiologies promotes MC-oriented inflammation along major body axes, including gut-skin, gut-lung, gut-liver, and gut-brain. This review of international scientific literature provides a comprehensive overview of the cross-talk under investigation. This process is a key biological event involved in disease development across clinical fields, with significant prognostic and therapeutic implications for future research.},
}
@article {pmid40152178,
year = {2025},
author = {Salzman, S and Bustos-Díaz, ED and Whitaker, MRL and Sierra, AM and Cibrián-Jaramillo, A and Barona-Gómez, F and Villarreal Aguilar, JC},
title = {Chemical ecology of symbioses in cycads, an ancient plant lineage.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {4},
pages = {1494-1504},
pmid = {40152178},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {950-232698//Canada Research Chairs/ ; 39135//Canadian Foundation for Innovation/ ; 12-2018-4-FID16-237//Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnolog&#xed;a/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Cycadopsida/microbiology/physiology/chemistry ; Animals ; Insecta/physiology ; *Ecology ; Fungi/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Cycads are an ancient lineage of gymnosperms that maintain a plethora of symbiotic associations from across the tree of life. They have myriad morphological, structural, physiological, chemical, and behavioral adaptations that position them as a unique system to study the evolution, ecology, and mechanism of symbiosis. To this end, we have provided an overview of cycad symbiosis biology covering insects, bacteria, and fungi, and discuss the most recent advances in the underlying chemical ecology of these associations.},
}
@article {pmid40151487,
year = {2025},
author = {Shishkina, OD and Gruntenko, NE},
title = {Symbiosis of intracellular bacteria Wolbachia with insects: a hundred years of study summarized.},
journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii},
volume = {29},
number = {1},
pages = {79-91},
doi = {10.18699/vjgb-25-10},
pmid = {40151487},
issn = {2500-0462},
abstract = {Wolbachia pipientis is an α-proteobacterium, which is a widespread intracellular symbiont in a number of Arthropoda and some Nematoda species. With insects, W. pipientis forms a symbiont-host system characterized by very close interactions between its components. The mutual effects of Wolbachia on the host and the host on Wolbachia are important biotic factors for both components of this symbiotic system. Wolbachia is able to affect both host reproduction and somatic organ function. Due to its prevalence among insects and a wide variety of both negative (cytoplasmic incompatibility and androcide are among the most well-known examples) and positive (increasing resistance to biotic and abiotic factors, providing vitamins and metabolites) effects on the host organism, Wolbachia is of great interest for both entomologists and microbiologists. The diversity of host phenotypes induced by Wolbachia provides a broad choice of evolutionary strategies (such as reproductive parasitism or mutually beneficial symbiont-host relationships) that it utilizes. The influence of Wolbachia is to be considered in the design of any experiment conducted on insects. The application of sequencing technologies has led to new approaches being created to study the existing relationships within the Wolbachia-insect system, but interpretation of the data obtained is challenging. Nevertheless, the prospects for the use of the whole-genome analysis data to study Wolbachia-host coevolution are beyond doubt. Ongoing projects to introduce Wolbachia strains, which provide antiviral host defense, into insect populations to control the spread of RNA-viruses are actively pursued, which could result in saving many human lives. The aim of this brief review is to summarize the data collected by scientists over the past hundred years of Wolbachia studies and the current understanding of its genetic diversity and mechanisms of interaction with the host, including those based on transcriptome analysis.},
}
@article {pmid40151097,
year = {2025},
author = {Danish, M and Shahid, M and Ibrahim, SM and Ahamad, L},
title = {Enhancing Pea Plant Growth, Nutrient Acquisition, and Symbiosis in Cobalt-Stressed Soil Using Metal-Tolerant Klebsiella sp.},
journal = {Journal of basic microbiology},
volume = {65},
number = {6},
pages = {e70025},
doi = {10.1002/jobm.70025},
pmid = {40151097},
issn = {1521-4028},
support = {//This work was funded by King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Grant/Award Number RSP2025R100./ ; },
mesh = {*Cobalt/toxicity/metabolism ; *Klebsiella/metabolism/physiology ; *Pisum sativum/growth &amp; development/microbiology/metabolism/drug effects ; *Symbiosis ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Soil Pollutants/toxicity/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Siderophores/metabolism ; Biomass ; Stress, Physiological ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Excessive cobalt (Co) levels in agricultural soil cause significant toxicity, reducing crop growth and yield. This study aimed to assess the potential of Klebsiella sp. SRB-5 (Accession no. OR715782), in mitigating cobalt toxicity and enhancing the growth of garden peas under cobalt stress. Strain SRB-5, tolerant to 4000 ppm of Co(II), was evaluated for producing growth-regulating substances, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), ammonia, siderophore, ACC deaminase, and solubilized phosphate, under cobalt stress. The optimal conditions for Co-(II) biosorption by SRB-5 were determined to be 25°C, pH 6.0, and an incubation time of 72 h. The strain's ability to mitigate Co-(II) toxicity was tested by inoculating peas grown in soil treated with 1000, 2000, and 3000 ppm Co-(II). Inoculation with Co-tolerant SRB-5 alleviated cobalt toxicity and significantly enhanced the physiological and biochemical properties of plants. Notably, SRB-5 increased root length (19.2%), root biomass (29%), seedling vigor index (18.4%), total chlorophyll (52%), nodule biomass (41%), leghaemoglobin content (38%), root nitrogen (27%), and phosphorous content (19.3%) in 1000 ppm Co-stressed peas. Additionally, bacterial inoculation reduced proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and membrane injury by 85%, 57.3%, 90%, and 75%, respectively, in 1000 ppm Co-exposed plants. Priming with SRB-5 also reduced cobalt uptake in roots (88%), shoots (53.7%), and grains (79.6%) compared to uninoculated treatments. Metal-tolerant beneficial soil bacteria, such as Klebsiella sp. strain SRB-5, could serve as an effective alternative for enhancing pea production in metal-contaminated soils. The use of Co-tolerant PGPR strains holds potential for development as biofertilizers in future agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid40149487,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, Y and Li, J and Jin, J and Gao, J and Xie, Q and Lu, C and Zhu, G and Yang, F},
title = {Centenary Progress on Orchidaceae Research: A Bibliometric Analysis.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40149487},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {2023YFD2300904//National Key RD Program/ ; },
mesh = {*Orchidaceae/genetics/physiology ; *Bibliometrics ; Research ; Pollination ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Research on orchids has experienced substantial growth since the early 20th century, reflecting their ecological and evolutionary significance.<br><br>METHODS: This paper provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of orchid-related literature published between 1902 and 2024, based on data retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection&#x2122; (WoS).<br><br>RESULTS: The primary goal is to assess the global research landscape of orchids by identifying key authors, institutions, and journals, as well as major research themes in the field. A thorough analysis of publication trends, citation frequencies, and keyword co-occurrence networks was conducted to uncover significant research hotspots. The findings indicate that orchid research has evolved from foundational topics such as taxonomy and classification to more intricate subjects, including conservation strategies, orchid-pollinator dynamics, and the role of orchids in ecosystem functions. Additionally, biotechnology-related research is emerging as a dominant trend. This study also highlights that China has the highest publication output, while collaboration between the United States and Europe continues to grow. The co-word analysis of keywords suggests that future research is likely to continue to focus on orchid conservation, the impacts of climate change, pollination biology, and symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This review offers valuable insights for researchers and conservationists, helping to identify future research priorities and strategies for the preservation and sustainable use of orchids.},
}
@article {pmid40149448,
year = {2025},
author = {Revalska, M and Radkova, M and Zhiponova, M and Vassileva, V and Iantcheva, A},
title = {Functional Genomics of Legumes in Bulgaria-Advances and Future Perspectives.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40149448},
issn = {2073-4425},
mesh = {Bulgaria ; *Fabaceae/genetics/growth &amp; development ; *Genomics/methods ; *Genome, Plant ; Crops, Agricultural/genetics/growth &amp; development ; Plant Proteins/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Members of the Leguminosae family are important crops that provide food, animal feed and vegetable oils. Legumes make a substantial contribution to sustainable agriculture and the nitrogen cycle through their unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in agricultural ecosystems. Over the past three decades, Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus have emerged as model plants for genomic and physiological research in legumes. The advancement of innovative molecular and genetic tools, particularly insertional mutagenesis using the retrotransposon Tnt1, has facilitated the development of extensive mutant collections and enabled precise gene tagging in plants for the identification of key symbiotic and developmental genes. Building on these resources, twelve years ago, our research team initiated the establishment of a platform for functional genomic studies of legumes in Bulgaria. In the framework of this initiative, we conducted systematic sequencing of selected mutant lines and identified genes involved in plant growth and development for detailed functional characterization. This review summarizes our findings on the functions of selected genes involved in the growth and development of the model species, discusses the molecular mechanisms underlying important developmental processes and examines the potential for the translation of this fundamental knowledge to improve commercially important legume crops in Bulgaria and globally.},
}
@article {pmid40149437,
year = {2025},
author = {Alharbi, SM and Al-Sulami, N and Al-Amrah, H and Anwar, Y and Gadah, OA and Bahamdain, LA and Al-Matary, M and Alamri, AM and Bahieldin, A},
title = {Metagenomic Characterization of the Maerua crassifolia Soil Rhizosphere: Uncovering Microbial Networks for Nutrient Acquisition and Plant Resilience in Arid Ecosystems.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40149437},
issn = {2073-4425},
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Metagenomics/methods ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Soil/chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Metagenome ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Background/Objectives:Maerua crassifolia, a threatened medicinal species endemic to drylands, exhibits a pronounced drought sensitivity. Despite the critical role of microorganisms, particularly bacteria and fungi, the microbial consortia in M. crassifolia's rhizosphere remain underexplored. Methods: Metagenomic whole genome shotgun sequencing (WGS) was employed to elucidate the taxonomic composition of bacterial and fungal communities inhabiting the soil rhizosphere of M. crassifolia. Results: The data revealed a marked predominance of bacterial genomes relative to fungal communities, as evidenced by non-redundant gene analysis. Notably, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), specifically Rhizophagus clarus, Rhizophagus irregularis and Funneliformis geosporum, are key rhizosphere colonizers. This study confirmed the presence of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), such as Sphingomonas spp., Cyanobacteria and Pseudomonadota, underscoring the critical role of these microorganisms in the phosphorus cycle. Additionally, the study uncovered the presence of previously uncharacterized species within the phylum Actinobacteria, as well as unidentified taxa from the Betaproteobacteria, Gemmatimonadota and Chloroflexota phyla, which may represent novel microbial taxa with potential plant growth-promoting properties. Conclusions: Findings suggest a complex, symbiotic network where AMF facilitate phosphorus uptake through plant-root interactions. In a tripartite symbiosis, PSB enhance inorganic phosphorus solubilization, increasing bioavailability, which AMF assimilate and deliver to plant roots, optimizing nutrition. This bacterial-fungal interplay is essential for plant resilience in arid environments. Future investigations should prioritize the isolation and characterization of underexplored microbial taxa residing in the rhizosphere of M. crassifolia, with particular emphasis on members of the Actinobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gemmatimonadota and Chloroflexota phyla to uncover their roles in nutrient acquisition and sustainability.},
}
@article {pmid40149007,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, B and Messerer, M and Haberer, G and Lux, T and Marosi, V and Mayer, KFX and Oliphant, KD and Kaufholdt, D and Schulze, J and Kreth, LS and Jurgeleit, J and Geffers, R and Hänsch, R and Rennenberg, H},
title = {Genomic and transcriptomic insights into legume-rhizobia symbiosis in the nitrogen-fixing tree Robinia pseudoacacia.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {6},
pages = {2522-2536},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70101},
pmid = {40149007},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0020//Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau/ ; cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0002//Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau/ ; TRR 356//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {*Robinia/microbiology/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Transcriptome/genetics ; *Genomics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Trees/microbiology/genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; *Mesorhizobium/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology/genetics ; *Genome, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; },
abstract = {Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust) is a nitrogen (N)-fixing legume tree with significant ecological and agricultural importance. Unlike well-studied herbaceous legumes, R. pseudoacacia is a perennial woody species, representing an understudied group of legume trees that establish symbiosis with Mesorhizobium. Understanding its genomic and transcriptional responses to nodulation provides key insights into N fixation in long-lived plants and their role in ecosystem N cycling. We assembled a high-quality 699.6-Mb reference genome and performed transcriptomic analyses comparing inoculated and noninoculated plants. Differential expression and co-expression network analyses revealed organ-specific regulatory pathways, identifying key genes associated with symbiosis, nutrient transport, and stress adaptation. Unlike Medicago truncatula, which predominantly responds to nodulation in roots, R. pseudoacacia exhibited stem-centered transcriptional reprogramming, with the majority of differentially expressed genes located in stems rather than in roots. Co-expression network analysis identified gene modules associated with "leghemoglobins", metal detoxification, and systemic nutrient allocation, highlighting a coordinated long-distance response to N fixation. This study establishes R. pseudoacacia as a genomic model for nodulating trees, providing essential resources for evolutionary, ecological, and applied research. These findings have significant implications for reforestation, phytoremediation, forestry, and sustainable N management, particularly in depleted, degraded, and contaminated soil ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40148601,
year = {2025},
author = {Kaltenpoth, M and Flórez, LV and Vigneron, A and Dirksen, P and Engl, T},
title = {Origin and function of beneficial bacterial symbioses in insects.},
journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology},
volume = {23},
number = {9},
pages = {551-567},
pmid = {40148601},
issn = {1740-1534},
abstract = {Beneficial bacterial symbionts are widespread in insects and affect the fitness of their hosts by contributing to nutrition, digestion, detoxification, communication or protection from abiotic stressors or natural enemies. Decades of research have formed our understanding of the identity, localization and functional benefits of insect symbionts, and the increasing availability of genome sequences spanning a diversity of pathogens and beneficial bacteria now enables comparative approaches of their metabolic features and their phylogenetic affiliations, shedding new light on the origin and function of beneficial symbioses in insects. In this Review, we explore the symbionts' metabolic traits that can provide benefits to insect hosts and discuss the evolutionary paths to the formation of host-beneficial symbiotic associations. Phylogenetic analyses and molecular studies reveal that extracellular symbioses colonizing cuticular organs or the digestive tract evolved from a broad diversity of bacterial partners, whereas intracellular beneficial symbionts appear to be restricted to a limited number of lineages within the Gram-negative bacteria and probably originated from parasitic ancestors. To unravel the general principles underlying host-symbiont interactions and recapitulate the early evolutionary steps leading towards beneficial symbioses, future efforts should aim to establish more symbiotic systems that are amenable to genetic manipulation and experimental evolution.},
}
@article {pmid40147567,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, T and Bi, F and Liu, H and Wang, S and He, P and Zhang, J},
title = {Identification of nitrogen-fixing bacteria on green tide-causing species and evaluation of their nitrogen-fixing capacity.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {428},
number = {},
pages = {132450},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132450},
pmid = {40147567},
issn = {1873-2976},
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria/metabolism/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Ulva/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Nitrogenase/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Oxidoreductases ; },
abstract = {Different algae host distinct phycosphere microenvironments, where mutualistic relationships between algae and symbiotic and epiphytic bacteria are common. Ulva prolifera (U. prolifera) harbors a diverse microbial community that plays a crucial role in its morphogenesis and growth. In this study, 28 bacterial strains were isolated from U. prolifera using 2216E medium. Molecular identification via the nifH gene (nitrogenase coding gene) revealed that three of these strains harbored the nifH gene, all belonging to the genus Cobetia. When co-cultured with sterile U. prolifera for 31 days, the results indicated that these nitrogen-fixing bacteria significantly enhanced the growth of U. prolifera. Nitrogenase activity was quantified, which demonstrated that these bacteria supplied nitrogen to U. prolifera through biological nitrogen fixation, thus promoting its growth. This study demonstrates that there are indeed microorganisms with nitrogen-fixing ability on the U. prolifera, which provide nitrogen for U. prolifera and significantly promote its growth.},
}
@article {pmid40147322,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, R and Lian, Y and Zeb, A and Liu, J and Yu, M and Wang, Q and Wang, J and Fu, X and Liu, W},
title = {Foliar exposure to microplastics disrupts lettuce metabolism and negatively interferes with symbiotic microbial communities.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {223},
number = {},
pages = {109823},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109823},
pmid = {40147322},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Lactuca/metabolism/microbiology/drug effects ; *Microplastics/toxicity ; *Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; Soil Microbiology ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Plant leaves are considered an important sink for atmospheric microplastics (MPs) because they serve as a vital interface between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems. However, there is still a dearth of information regarding how plant-symbiotic microbe-soil systems are affected by foliar exposure to MPs. In this study, MPs (polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP)) were sprayed over soil-cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) four occasions, with final sprays containing 0.4 and 4 μg of MPs per plant. MPs had no discernible impact on lettuce growth as compared to the control group. However, MPs led to reductions in relative chlorophyll content from 16.91 to 30.64 % and net photosynthetic rate from 6.64 to 81.41 %. These results validate the phytotoxicity linked to MP exposure through foliar application. The presence of MPs triggered interspecific competition among phyllosphere microbial species and reduced microbial network complexity by forming ecological niches and regulating carbon- and nitrogen-related metabolic pathways. Furthermore, MPs inhibited the growth of beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere soil, including a variety of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPR) such as Rhizobiales, Pseudomonadales, and Bacillales. This study identifies the ecological health risks associated with atmospheric MPs, which may have a detrimental impact on crop production and further compromise soil ecosystem security.},
}
@article {pmid40147307,
year = {2025},
author = {Ahmad, M and Yousaf, M},
title = {Co-conversion of CO2 and refractory organics into bioplastics through a stable biocarrier.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {280},
number = {},
pages = {123519},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123519},
pmid = {40147307},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {Bioreactors ; *Carbon Dioxide/metabolism ; *Plastics ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Polyhydroxyalkanoates ; },
abstract = {An attractive solution to traditional plastics is scaling up the microbial system to produce bioplastics like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Herein, we developed a dynamic microbial ecosystem on porous biocarrier for conversion of refractory organics to bioplastics. biocarriers of 25 mm sized were packed in a 5 L bioreactor and operated for 200 days, to achieve stable performance for commercial applications. Reaching to bioreactor stability, microbial ecosystem utilized quinoline (5.2 kg/m[3]/day) for carbon &amp; nitrogen metabolism, phenol (4.5 kg/m[3]/day) to trigger synthesis of PHAs, pyridines (4.2 kg/m[3]/day) to manufacture hydroxy fatty acid polyesters, NH4[+](7.2 kg/m[3]/day) to regulate symbiosis, NO3/NO2 (1.2 kg/m[3]/day) to serve as mediators and electron acceptors. On 200th day, bioplastic production reached to 76.8 (kg/m[3]/day) with stable pollutants degradation of 70.3 (kg/m[3]/day). Purity of the bioplastics remained quite high (average 90 %) after 100 days of bioreactor operation. Interestingly, PHAs synthesis was triggered (31-581 g/day) with increased CO2 fixation from 45 to 594 (mol/h/g protein), due to the growth of CO2 assimilators. The developed biocarriers could be directly poured into the secondary tank of the existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which will not only produce bioplastics but also boost treatment efficiency and resource recovery potential of WWTPs.},
}
@article {pmid40146583,
year = {2025},
author = {Nevicka, B and van den Hee, SM and van Loenen, M and Brummelman, E},
title = {The symbiosis of narcissistic leaders and low-self-esteem followers: Dominance complementarity in childhood.},
journal = {The American psychologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1037/amp0001518},
pmid = {40146583},
issn = {1935-990X},
support = {//Jacobs Foundation/ ; //Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research/ ; },
abstract = {Narcissistic leaders are on the rise globally. Although research has documented the harmful consequences of narcissistic leadership, little is known about the interplay between narcissistic leaders and their followers. Building on the dominance-complementarity theory, we theorized that the dominance and confidence of narcissistic leaders would match well with the submissiveness and insecurity of followers with low self-esteem. We conducted an observational-experimental study (N = 332; 46% boys; 96% born in the Netherlands) in childhood (ages 7-14), a period that is considered critical for the formation of leader-follower relationships. Children completed a collaborative decision-making task in three-person groups. Within each group, one child was randomly assigned as leader; others were followers. We combined self-reports, informant reports, and observer-coded behaviors to provide a rigorous test of our hypotheses. Consistent with dominance-complementarity theory, in groups with a more narcissistic leader, followers with lower self-esteem perceived their leader as more effective, endorsed the leader more strongly for future leadership roles, experienced more inclusion and less bullying from the leader, felt better about themselves, perceived greater group cohesion, and showed less antagonistic behavior. This complementarity effect generalized to observer-coded leader behavior: In groups with lower self-esteem followers, more narcissistic leaders showed less aggression and less social exclusion toward their followers. Overall, findings were more pronounced in younger children and did not depend on the sex composition of groups. Our research reveals childhood manifestations of leader-follower dynamics, underlines the importance of leader-follower complementarity, and uncovers conditions under which narcissistic leadership can benefit versus harm the group. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).},
}
@article {pmid40145252,
year = {2025},
author = {Rivera, C and Wakley, T and Röder, G and Bustos-Segura, C and Li, Y and Benrey, B},
title = {Rhizobia-Bean Symbiosis Increases Root Herbivore Attraction and Growth via Volatile Signals and Enhanced Nutrition.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15485},
pmid = {40145252},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was financed by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) (Project No: 310030-197463) awarded to Betty Benrey./ ; },
abstract = {The symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and plants is considered mutually beneficial, yet its indirect effects on other organisms remain understudied. We examined how rhizobia symbiosis in Phaseolus vulgaris influences the behaviour and performance of Diabrotica balteata larvae. Specifically, we tested larval preference for nodulated (R[+]) vs. non-nodulated (R[-]) roots and assessed the impact on larval growth. We also analysed root nutrient content and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to identify potential chemical cues driving feeding preferences. Larvae strongly preferred R[+] roots, where they exhibited enhanced growth and higher survival post-metamorphosis. Nutritional analysis revealed that R[+] roots had greater nutrient content, supporting improved larval performance. VOC profiles differed significantly between treatments, and olfactometer assays confirmed that larval attraction was mediated by VOCs, likely signalling enhanced nutritional benefits from rhizobia symbiosis. Our results demonstrate that rhizobia-induced metabolic changes in bean roots make them more attractive and nutritious to herbivorous larvae. This highlights a complex belowground interaction between nitrogen-fixing bacteria, host plants and herbivores, with potential implications for ecological theory and sustainable agriculture. Understanding these interactions could inform pest management strategies and improve legume cultivation by balancing plant-microbe mutualisms with herbivore dynamics.},
}
@article {pmid40144381,
year = {2025},
author = {Kryukov, AA and Yurkov, AP and Gorbunova, AO and Kudriashova, TR and Gorenkova, AI and Kosulnikov, YV and Laktionov, YV},
title = {Evaluation of the biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi during regenerative succession in quarries.},
journal = {Vavilovskii zhurnal genetiki i selektsii},
volume = {29},
number = {1},
pages = {72-78},
doi = {10.18699/vjgb-25-09},
pmid = {40144381},
issn = {2500-0462},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in the regenerative successions of plant communities after anthropogenic disturbances, particularly in quarries. AMF help plants with water and mineral nutrition, contributing to the restoration rate of vegetation cover. The research is aimed to study the biodiversity of AMF using molecular genetic methods at different stages of overgrowth of two quarries in the Leningrad region. Molecular genetic identification of fungi was carried out using Illumina MiSeq analysis of the ITS1 and ITS2 regions as barcodes for the identification of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with species-level identification. An adapted and error-checked AMF genetic sequence database from NCBI was used as a reference. The study applied an optimized nucleic acid isolation technique for sandy soils. The results showed maximum AMF biodiversity at the initial stages of overgrowth - pioneer and grass stages - with minimum diversity observed at the shrub stage, where it decreased by five times. At the forest stage, the biodiversity of AMF was almost restored to the level seen at the grass stage. It has been shown that the biodiversity and species composition of AMF can vary greatly between the stages of regenerative succession and probably depends primarily on the biodiversity of grasses, with which AMF most effectively enter into symbiotic relationships. The analysis showed a reliable negative correlation between the number of AMF species and the number of woody plant species. Such studies can aid in understanding how plant-fungal symbiosis develops in regenerative successions and which AMF most effectively contribute to vegetation cover restoration.},
}
@article {pmid40144085,
year = {2025},
author = {Luong, J and Tzang, CC and McWatt, S and Brassett, C and Stearns, D and Sagoo, MG and Kunzel, C and Sakurai, T and Chien, CL and Noel, G and Wu, A},
title = {Exploring Artificial Intelligence Readiness in Medical Students: Analysis of a Global Survey.},
journal = {Medical science educator},
volume = {35},
number = {1},
pages = {331-341},
pmid = {40144085},
issn = {2156-8650},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in diverse fields, including medical education, has emerged as a pivotal topic as the integration of AI technologies is becoming increasingly prevalent. This research delved into the landscape of AI integration in academic settings aimed to evaluate the students' readiness for the evolving AI landscape in medical education.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were recruited from the International Collaboration and Exchange Program (ICEP) in the fall of 2023. An online survey was conducted to collect data on demographics, the landscape of AI utilization in academic settings, and the perceived readiness levels related to AI from 223 participants. The Medical Artificial Intelligence Readiness Scale for Medical Students (MAIRS-MS) was used.<br><br>RESULTS: Results indicated that 41.82% of participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that AI education should be part of medical training. Overall levels of AI readiness exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation with the frequency of AI inclusion in the curriculum (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.217, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.009), the frequency of AI use for studying (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.246, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.003), and the agreement that AI education should be integrated into medical training (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.594, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001).<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study offers valuable insights into the ongoing discussion on the role of AI in education, providing a foundation for educators to consider the integration of AI into their educational framework. The implementation of AI education could potentially enhance students' AI readiness, considering the multiple benefits this symbiosis can offer.<br><br>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-024-02190-x.},
}
@article {pmid40143861,
year = {2025},
author = {Deng, AQ and Yue, SY and Niu, D and Zhang, DD and Hou, BB and Zhang, L and Liang, CZ and Du, HX},
title = {The role of microbiota in the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvis pain syndrome: a review.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1488732},
pmid = {40143861},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Chronic prostatitis/Chronic pelvis pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), a kind of frequent urinary condition among adult males, has caused a lot of inconvenience to patients in life, whose pathogenesis is unclear. Current evidence suggests that it is most likely to be an autoimmune disease. Symbiotic microbes, a highly diverse biological community that harbors trillions of microbes in each region of the human body, have gradually made people realize their important role in immune regulation, material metabolism, and health maintenance. In recent years, increasing studies have shown a connection between microbiota and CP/CPPS. In view of this, we performed this review to summarize the literature pertaining to microbiota and its association with the pathophysiological mechanism of CP/CPPS. In addition, we gleaned the latest progress in the therapeutic strategy of CP/CPPS that related to microbiota regulation in order to offer new perspectives on the management of CP/CPPS.},
}
@article {pmid40143860,
year = {2025},
author = {Dey, R and Valle, DO and Chakraborty, A and Mayer, KA and Uppala, JK and Chakraborty, A and Mirza, S and Skwor, T and Forst, S and Dey, M},
title = {Quorum sensing regulators and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases govern antibacterial secretions in Xenorhabdus szentirmaii.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1560663},
pmid = {40143860},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The decades-long gap in antibiotic discovery has led to a significant health crisis due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The bacterial genus Xenorhabdus, which forms symbiotic relationships with the soil nematode Steinernema, are known to secrete a variety of antimicrobial compounds with potential effectiveness against AMR. These antimicrobial compounds are primarily bio-synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) genes. In this study, we report that X. szentirmaii produces high levels of antibiotic activity during the stationary phase against diverse bacteria including known antibiotic resistant pathogens. It possesses 17 operons to encode predicted NRPS and PKS enzymes, designated as ste1 through ste17. The ste15-ste16 and ste17 operons are predicted to produce the known antibiotics Pax peptide and Fabclavine, respectively. Additionally, the newly identified operons ste3, ste4, ste5, ste8, ste9, and ste14 consist of single genes, each containing two or more NRPS genes. The ste13 operon harbors two NRPS genes, while the ste7 and ste12 operons contain three NRPS genes each. Further, RNA-seq analysis showed that lsrF that encodes a quorum sensing autoinducer-2 (AI-2) thiolase was expressed at high levels during stationary phase. These findings provide evidence that X. szentirmaii uses quorum sensing (QS) to synchronize the expression of multiple NRPS and PKS enzymes responsible for synthesizing various antimicrobial compounds. This study underscores the potential to leverage these regulatory insights for maximizing commercial applications of novel antibiotics combating AMR, as well as broader industrial uses.},
}
@article {pmid40142474,
year = {2025},
author = {Jaiswal, SK and Dakora, FD},
title = {Maximizing Photosynthesis and Plant Growth in African Legumes Through Rhizobial Partnerships: The Road Behind and Ahead.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40142474},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {The interplay between soil rhizobial bacteria and leguminous plants, particularly in Africa, has a profound impact on photosynthetic efficiency and overall crop productivity. This review explores the critical role of rhizobia in enhancing photosynthesis through nitrogen fixation, a process crucial for sustainable agriculture. Rhizobial bacteria residing in root nodules provide legumes with symbiotic nitrogen that significantly boosts plant growth and photosynthetic capacity. Recent advances in molecular genomics have elucidated the genetic frameworks underlying this symbiosis, identifying key genes involved in root nodule formation and nitrogen fixation. Comparative genomics of Bradyrhizobium species have revealed seven distinct lineages, with diverse traits linked to nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and photosynthesis. Field studies across Africa demonstrate that rhizobial inoculation can markedly increase nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and grain yields, though outcomes vary depending on local soil conditions and legume species. Notable findings include enhanced nutrient uptake and photosynthetic rates in inoculated legumes compared with nitrate-fed plants. This review highlights the potential of utilizing indigenous rhizobia to improve photosynthesis and crop resilience. Future prospects involve leveraging genomic insights to optimize rhizobial inoculants and enhance legume productivity in water-limited environments. As climate change intensifies, integrating these advancements into agricultural practices could play a crucial role in improving food security and sustainable soil health in Africa.},
}
@article {pmid40142448,
year = {2025},
author = {Williams, MD and Smith, L},
title = {Streptococcus salivarius and Ligilactobacillus salivarius: Paragons of Probiotic Potential and Reservoirs of Novel Antimicrobials.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40142448},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {1R41AI122441-01A1//National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/ ; },
abstract = {This review highlights several basic problems associated with bacterial drug resistance, including the decreasing efficacy of commercially available antimicrobials as well as the related problem of microbiome irregularity and dysbiosis. The article explains that this present situation is addressable through LAB species, such as Streptococcus salivarius and Ligilactobacillus salivarius, which are well established synthesizers of both broad- and narrow-spectrum antimicrobials. The sheer number of antimicrobials produced by LAB species and the breadth of their biological effects, both in terms of their bacteriostatic/bactericidal abilities and their immunomodulation, make them prime candidates for new probiotics and antibiotics. Given the ease with which several of the molecules can be biochemically engineered and the fact that many of these compounds target evolutionarily constrained target sites, it seems apparent that these compounds and their producing organisms ought to be looked at as the next generation of robust dual action symbiotic drugs.},
}
@article {pmid40142410,
year = {2025},
author = {Hassen, AI and Muema, EK and Diale, MO and Mpai, T and Bopape, FL},
title = {Non-Rhizobial Endophytes (NREs) of the Nodule Microbiome Have Synergistic Roles in Beneficial Tripartite Plant-Microbe Interactions.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40142410},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {A-089//Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development/ ; },
abstract = {Microbial symbioses deal with the symbiotic interactions between a given microorganism and another host. The most widely known and investigated microbial symbiosis is the association between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. It is one of the best-studied plant-microbe interactions that occur in the soil rhizosphere and one of the oldest plant-microbe interactions extensively studied for the past several decades globally. Until recently, it used to be a common understanding among scientists in the field of rhizobia and microbial ecology that the root nodules of thousands of leguminous species only contain nitrogen-fixing symbiotic rhizobia. With the advancement of molecular microbiology and the coming into being of state-of-the-art biotechnology innovations, including next-generation sequencing, it has now been revealed that rhizobia living in the root nodules of legumes are not alone. Microbiome studies such as metagenomics of the root nodule microbial community showed that, in addition to symbiotic rhizobia, other bacteria referred to as non-rhizobial endophytes (NREs) exist in the nodules. This review provides an insight into the occurrence of non-rhizobial endophytes in the root nodules of several legume species and the beneficial roles of the tripartite interactions between the legumes, the rhizobia and the non-rhizobial endophytes (NREs).},
}
@article {pmid40142366,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, X and Zhang, J and Xia, W and Shao, Y and Liu, Z and Guo, J and Qin, W and Wan, L and Liu, J and Liu, Y and Zhang, J},
title = {Influence of Cover Crop Root Functional Traits on Sweet Potato Yield and Soil Microbial Communities.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40142366},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {JXSNKYJCRC202301//the Special Program for Basic Research and Talent Training of Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences/ ; JXSNKYJCRC202325//the Special Program for Basic Research and Talent Training of Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences/ ; 32060333//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between cover crops and soil microorganisms is closely linked to nutrient cycling and crop growth within agroecosystems. However, how cover crops with different root functional traits influence soil microbial communities, soil properties, and crop yields has remained understudied. This study assessed the root traits of hairy vetch (HV) and rapeseed (RP), along with soil properties, sweet potato yield, and microbial enzyme activity under red soil dryland conditions. High-throughput sequencing was also employed to characterize the diversity, composition, and network structure of soil bacterial and fungal communities. According to the plant economic spectrum theory and our research results on plant root traits, HV can be identified as a resource-acquisitive cover crop, and RP treatment can be identified as a resource-conservative cover crop. Although RP treatment did not significantly increase the sweet potato yield, the increase rate reached 8.49%. Resource-conservative cover crops were associated with increased pH, SOC, and TP, which enhanced bacterial species diversity and boosted the populations of Chloroflexi and Alphaproteobacteria. In contrast, resource-acquisitive cover crops promoted the proliferation of Gammaproteobacteria. Network analysis indicated that resource-conservative cover crops facilitated network complexity through intensified intra-community competition. Resource-acquisitive cover crops enhanced the stability of microbial communities. Collectively, these findings underscore the distinct advantages of cover crops with varying root functional traits in shaping soil microbial communities. Appropriate cover crop rotations can effectively regulate microbial communities and hold the potential to enhance crop yield.},
}
@article {pmid40142300,
year = {2025},
author = {Cruz Mosquera, FE and Perlaza, CL and Naranjo Rojas, A and Murillo Rios, S and Carrero Gallego, A and Fischersworring, SI and Rodríguez, JS and Liscano, Y},
title = {Effectiveness of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Symbiotic Supplementation in Cystic Fibrosis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.},
journal = {Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)},
volume = {61},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40142300},
issn = {1648-9144},
mesh = {Humans ; *Cystic Fibrosis/therapy/physiopathology ; *Probiotics/therapeutic use ; *Prebiotics/standards/administration &amp; dosage ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Synbiotics ; Quality of Life ; Dietary Supplements/standards ; },
abstract = {Background and Objectives: Cystic fibrosis (CF), caused by CFTR gene mutations, primarily affects the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Microbiota modulation through probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics may help restore microbial diversity and reduce inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate their efficacy in CF. Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2000 and 2024 was conducted in Cochrane, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, LILAC, BMC, PubMed, and SCOPUS following PRISMA guidelines. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad scale, and RevMan 5.4[®] estimated effects on pulmonary function (FEV1), exacerbations, hospitalizations, quality of life, and inflammatory markers. Results: Thirteen RCTs (n = 552), mostly in pediatric populations, were included. Most examined probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, L. reuteri), while four used synbiotics. Several studies reported reduced fecal calprotectin and proinflammatory interleukins (e.g., IL-6, IL-8), suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect. However, no significant differences were observed regarding hospitalizations or quality of life. Additionally, none of the studies documented serious adverse events associated with the intervention. The meta-analysis showed no significant decrease in exacerbations (RR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.48-1.37; p = 0.43) or improvements in FEV1 (MD = 4.7; 95% CI = -5.4 to 14.8; p = 0.37), even in subgroup analyses. Sensitivity analyses did not modify the effect of the intervention on pulmonary function or exacerbation frequency, supporting the robustness of the findings. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that probiotics or synbiotics yield inconsistent clinical benefits in CF, although some reduction in inflammatory markers may occur. Larger, multicenter RCTs with longer follow-up are needed for clearer conclusions. Until more definitive evidence is available, these supplements should be considered experimental adjuncts rather than standard interventions for CF management.},
}
@article {pmid40141734,
year = {2025},
author = {Savic, B and Savic, B and Kalezic, T and Dacic-Krnjaja, B and Milosevic, V and Petrovic Pajic, S and Maric, V and Petrovic, T and Stanojlovic, S},
title = {Assessment of IL28 (rs12980275) and (rs8099917) Frequency in Recurrent Ocular Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40141734},
issn = {2075-1729},
abstract = {(1) Introduction: The main way of spreading the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is through direct contact, as the virus enters the host via mucous membranes. Ocular infection can occur as a primary infection or as a recurrent one. The movement of HSV-1 along the ophthalmic branch of the fifth cranial nerve from its latency phase in the trigeminal ganglion and its activation represent a process influenced by various symbiotic factors, such as environmental conditions and the host's genetic characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of IL28 (rs12980275) and (rs8099917) in recurrent ocular HSV infections. (2) Materials and methods: The study included 60 patients aged over 18, of both sexes, all of whom had a history of herpes simplex labialis (HSL). Patients were tested for HSV-1-specific IgG antibodies, and seropositive individuals were genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs12980275 and rs8099917. A total of 57 seropositive patients were included in the study. (3) Results: A statistically significant association was found between recurrent HSV keratitis (HSK) and heterozygous GT rs8099917 and homozygous TT rs8099917, as well as heterozygous AG rs12980275 and homozygous AA rs12980275 (p < 0.01). Interestingly, patients with homozygous GG polymorphism for both genotypes GG rs8099917 and GG rs12980275 did not develop recurrent HSV keratitis. (4) Conclusion: The most frequent SNP variations in patients with recurrent HSV disease were heterozygous AG rs12980275 (61.40%) and heterozygous GT rs8099917 (52.63%). Patients with recurrent HSV keratitis lacked the homozygous GG polymorphism in both GG rs8099917 and GG rs12980275 genotypes, suggesting that HSV-seropositive individuals expressing these genotypes may have lower predisposition to develop recurrent stromal HSV keratitis.},
}
@article {pmid40141271,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, J and Lu, Y and Chen, X and Liu, X and Gu, Y and Li, F},
title = {The Silent Conversation: How Small RNAs Shape Plant-Microbe Relationships.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {40141271},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {Qiankehejichu-ZK [2022] Zhongdian 033)//Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Plants/microbiology/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; MicroRNAs/genetics ; *RNA, Plant/genetics ; *RNA, Small Untranslated/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/genetics ; Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism/genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; RNA Interference ; },
abstract = {This review highlights the emerging role of cross-kingdom RNA interference in plant-microbe interactions, particularly the transfer of sRNAs from microbes to plants and vice versa, emphasizing the importance of this mechanism in both mutualistic and pathogenic contexts. As plants adapted to terrestrial life, they formed symbiotic relationships with microbes, essential for nutrient uptake and defense. Emerging evidence underscores sRNAs, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), as critical regulators of gene expression and immune responses in plant-microbe interactions. In mutualistic symbioses, such as mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria associations, sRNAs are hypothesized to regulate nutrient exchange and symbiotic stability. In pathogenic scenarios, microbes utilize sRNAs to undermine plant defenses, while plants employ strategies like host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) to counteract these threats. We further explore the emerging role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in sRNA transport, which is critical for facilitating interspecies communication in both pathogenic and mutualistic contexts. Although the potential of ckRNAi in mutualistic interactions is promising, the review highlights the need for further experimental validation to establish its true significance in these relationships. By synthesizing current research, this review highlights the intricate molecular dialogues mediated by sRNAs in plant-microbe interactions and identifies critical gaps, proposing future research directions aimed at harnessing these mechanisms for agricultural advancements.},
}
@article {pmid40140403,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, X and Han, W and Chang, X and Tang, C and Chen, K and Bao, L and Zhang, L and Hu, J and Wang, S and Bao, Z},
title = {High-quality genome assembly of the azooxanthellate coral Tubastraea coccinea (Lesson, 1829).},
journal = {Scientific data},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {507},
pmid = {40140403},
issn = {2052-4463},
mesh = {*Anthozoa/genetics ; Animals ; *Genome ; Coral Reefs ; },
abstract = {Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and economically significant ecosystems globally, yet they are increasingly degrading due to global climate change and local human activities. The sun coral Tubastraea coccinea (T. coccinea) an obligate heterotroph lacking symbiotic zooxanthellae, exhibits remarkable tolerance to conditions that cause bleaching and mortality in zooxanthellate species. With its extensive low-latitude distribution across multiple oceans, T. coccinea has become a highly invasive species, adversely impacting native species, degrading local ecosystems, and causing significant socio-economic challenges that demand effective management. Despite substantial research efforts, the molecular biology of T. coccinea remains insufficiently characterized. To address this gap, we generated a draft genome assembly for T. coccinea using PacBio Hi-Fi long-read sequencing. The assembly spans 875.9 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 694.3 kb and demonstrates high completeness, with a BUSCO score of 97.4%. A total of 37,307 protein-coding sequences were identified, 95.2% of which were functionally annotated through comparisons with established protein databases. This reference genome provides a valuable resource for understanding the genetic structure of T. coccinea, advancing research into its adaptive mechanism to environmental changes, and informing conservation and management strategies to mitigate its invasive impact.},
}
@article {pmid40138937,
year = {2025},
author = {Sarquah, K and Narra, S and Beck, G and Derkyi, NSA and Awafo, E and Hartmann, M and Nelles, M},
title = {Evaluating opportunities of refuse derived fuel for energy-based industrial symbiosis towards a circular economy - A case study.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {380},
number = {},
pages = {125126},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125126},
pmid = {40138937},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {Ghana ; *Solid Waste ; *Refuse Disposal/methods ; Waste Management ; },
abstract = {Refuse derived fuel (RDF) production enables the utilisation of municipal solid waste (MSW) as a substitute fuel for industrial applications. This contributes to reducing the challenges of MSW management and associated GHG emissions by substituting conventional fuel. However, RDF quality characteristics rely on the production process and composition, contributing to market value for RDF utilisation. In this study, RDF production from MSW and utilisation potentials were investigated through a case study at a waste-to-energy system in Kumasi, Ghana. The study consisted of field and laboratory experimentation, survey and statistical analysis to assess RDF physicochemical properties and usability options for thermal energy application. The results classify the RDF produced under NCV: II-IV, Cl: II and Hg: I, according to the EN 15359:2011 classification. An average of 14-22 MJ/kg of lower heating values recorded was within the limits for RDF thermal application. Among the potential RDF users surveyed showed positive interest in RDF utilisation as a substitute fuel. However, the outcomes suggest that RDF adoption is highly sensitive to cost concerns, perceived operational barriers, and environmental considerations. Awareness, regulations, and stakeholder support are important in improving perspectives on RDF adoption as an alternative fuel. The results establish opportunities for RDF as an industrial alternative fuel. Also, a contribution to knowledge of the demand-side factors affecting RDF utilisation, especially in Ghana and other emerging economies.},
}
@article {pmid40138088,
year = {2025},
author = {Velandia, K and Foo, E},
title = {Cracking the chitin code: how a single pair of LysM receptors deciphers symbiosis and immunity in Marchantia.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {68},
number = {5},
pages = {1533-1535},
pmid = {40138088},
issn = {1869-1889},
}
@article {pmid40137778,
year = {2025},
author = {Papamentzelopoulou, M and Pitiriga, VC},
title = {Unlocking the Interactions Between the Whole-Body Microbiome and HPV Infection: A Literature Review.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40137778},
issn = {2076-0817},
mesh = {Humans ; *Papillomavirus Infections/microbiology/immunology/virology ; *Microbiota ; Female ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/microbiology/virology ; *Papillomaviridae ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Dysbiosis ; },
abstract = {The human microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining human homeostasis, acting as a key regulator of host immunity and defense mechanisms. However, dysbiotic microbial communities may cause disruption of the symbiotic relationship between the host and the local microbiota, leading to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including viral infections and cancers. One of the most common infectious agents causing cancer is the human papilloma virus (HPV), which accounts for more than 90% of cervical cancers. In most cases, the host immune system is activated and clears HPV, whereas in some cases, the infection persists and can lead to precancerous lesions. Over the last two decades, the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and bioinformatics has allowed a thorough and in-depth analysis of the microbial composition in various anatomical niches, allowing researchers to unveil the interactions and the underlying mechanisms through which the human microbiota could affect HPV infection establishment, persistence, and progression. Accordingly, the present narrative review aims to shed light on our understanding of the role of the human microbiome in the context of HPV infection and its progression, mainly to cervical cancer. Furthermore, we explore the mechanisms by which the composition and balance of microbial communities exert potential pathogenic or protective effects, leading to either HPV persistence and disease outcomes or clearance. Special interest is given to how the microbiome can modulate host immunity to HPV infection. Lastly, we summarize the latest findings on the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics and prebiotics in preventing and/or treating HPV infections and the potential of vaginal microbiota transplantation while highlighting the significance of personalized medicine approaches emerging from NGS-based microbiome profiling and artificial intelligence (AI) for the optimal management of HPV-related diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40137770,
year = {2025},
author = {Moretti, R and Lim, JT and Ferreira, AGA and Ponti, L and Giovanetti, M and Yi, CJ and Tewari, P and Cholvi, M and Crawford, J and Gutierrez, AP and Dobson, SL and Ross, PA},
title = {Exploiting Wolbachia as a Tool for Mosquito-Borne Disease Control: Pursuing Efficacy, Safety, and Sustainability.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40137770},
issn = {2076-0817},
mesh = {*Wolbachia/physiology ; Animals ; *Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology ; *Mosquito Control/methods ; *Vector Borne Diseases/prevention &amp; control/transmission ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; *Culicidae/microbiology ; *Pest Control, Biological/methods ; Mosquito-Borne Diseases ; },
abstract = {Despite the application of control measures, mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose a serious threat to human health. In this context, exploiting Wolbachia, a common symbiotic bacterium in insects, may offer effective solutions to suppress vectors or reduce their competence in transmitting several arboviruses. Many Wolbachia strains can induce conditional egg sterility, known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), when infected males mate with females that do not harbor the same Wolbachia infection. Infected males can be mass-reared and then released to compete with wild males, reducing the likelihood of wild females encountering a fertile mate. Furthermore, certain Wolbachia strains can reduce the competence of mosquitoes to transmit several RNA viruses. Through CI, Wolbachia-infected individuals can spread within the population, leading to an increased frequency of mosquitoes with a reduced ability to transmit pathogens. Using artificial methods, Wolbachia can be horizontally transferred between species, allowing the establishment of various laboratory lines of mosquito vector species that, without any additional treatment, can produce sterilizing males or females with reduced vector competence, which can be used subsequently to replace wild populations. This manuscript reviews the current knowledge in this field, describing the different approaches and evaluating their efficacy, safety, and sustainability. Successes, challenges, and future perspectives are discussed in the context of the current spread of several arboviral diseases, the rise of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations, and the impact of climate change. In this context, we explore the necessity of coordinating efforts among all stakeholders to maximize disease control. We discuss how the involvement of diverse expertise-ranging from new biotechnologies to mechanistic modeling of eco-epidemiological interactions between hosts, vectors, Wolbachia, and pathogens-becomes increasingly crucial. This coordination is especially important in light of the added complexity introduced by Wolbachia and the ongoing challenges posed by global change.},
}
@article {pmid40137282,
year = {2025},
author = {Yuan, Y and Lei, Y and Xu, M and Zhao, B and Xu, S},
title = {Bioactive Terpenes from Marine Sponges and Their Associated Organisms.},
journal = {Marine drugs},
volume = {23},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40137282},
issn = {1660-3397},
support = {[2024]28//the Department of Natural Resources of Guangdong Province/ ; no. 42376085//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; no. 21623210//Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities/ ; },
mesh = {*Porifera/chemistry ; *Terpenes/pharmacology/chemistry/isolation &amp; purification ; Animals ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; *Biological Products/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Aquatic Organisms/chemistry ; Humans ; Drug Discovery ; },
abstract = {In recent years, marine natural products have continued to serve as a pivotal resource for novel drug discovery. Globally, the number of studies focusing on Porifera has been on the rise, underscoring their considerable importance and research value. Marine sponges are prolific producers of a vast array of bioactive compounds, including terpenes, alkaloids, peptides, and numerous secondary metabolites. Over the past fifteen years, a substantial number of sponge-derived terpenes have been identified, exhibiting extensive structural diversity and notable biological activities. These terpenes have been isolated from marine sponges or their associated symbiotic microorganisms, with several demonstrating multifaceted biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, cytotoxic, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. In this review, we summarize 997 novel terpene metabolites, detailing their structures, sources, and activities, from January 2009 to December 2024. The structural features and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of different types of terpenes are broadly analyzed and summarized. This systematic and comprehensive review will contribute to the summary of and speculation on the taxonomy, activity profiles, and SAR of terpenes and the development of sponge-derived terpenes as potential lead drugs.},
}
@article {pmid40137236,
year = {2025},
author = {Prado, T and Degrave, WMS and Duarte, GF},
title = {Lichens and Health-Trends and Perspectives for the Study of Biodiversity in the Antarctic Ecosystem.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40137236},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {203.530/2023//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo &#xe0; Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/ ; },
abstract = {Lichens are an important vegetative component of the Antarctic terrestrial ecosystem and present a wide diversity. Recent advances in omics technologies have allowed for the identification of lichen microbiomes and the complex symbiotic relationships that contribute to their survival mechanisms under extreme conditions. The preservation of biodiversity and genetic resources is fundamental for the balance of ecosystems and for human and animal health. In order to assess the current knowledge on Antarctic lichens, we carried out a systematic review of the international applied research published between January 2019 and February 2024, using the PRISMA model (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Articles that included the descriptors "lichen" and "Antarctic" were gathered from the web, and a total of 110 and 614 publications were retrieved from PubMed and ScienceDirect, respectively. From those, 109 publications were selected and grouped according to their main research characteristics, namely, (i) biodiversity, ecology and conservation; (ii) biomonitoring and environmental health; (iii) biotechnology and metabolism; (iv) climate change; (v) evolution and taxonomy; (vi) reviews; and (vii) symbiosis. Several topics were related to the discovery of secondary metabolites with potential for treating neurodegenerative, cancer and metabolic diseases, besides compounds with antimicrobial activity. Survival mechanisms under extreme environmental conditions were also addressed in many studies, as well as research that explored the lichen-associated microbiome, its biodiversity, and its use in biomonitoring and climate change, and reviews. The main findings of these studies are discussed, as well as common themes and perspectives.},
}
@article {pmid40137227,
year = {2025},
author = {Tang, SM and Zhao, G and Niu, KY and Li, RY and Yu, FM and Karunarathna, SC and Li, L and Hyde, KD and Su, XJ and Luo, ZL},
title = {Species Diversity of Edible Mushrooms I-Four New Laccaria Species from Yunnan Province, China.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40137227},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {32260004//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202305AM070003//Foundation of Yunnan Province Science and Technology Department/ ; YNQR-QNRC 2020-113//High-Level Talents Program of Yunnan Province/ ; },
abstract = {As symbiotic mycorrhizal associates, species within the genus Laccaria play pivotal roles in forest ecosystems, specifically forming ectomycorrhizal relationships with the root systems of various plants. Some Laccaria species are recognized for their edibility, holding potential as a sustainable food source in the context of future food security and dietary diversification. In this study, the species diversity of Laccaria in Yunnan was investigated, and four novel species were identified. Their taxonomical positions and phylogenetic affinities were confirmed through phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, nrLSU, tef1-α, and rpb2 sequence data. Macro- and micro-morphological characteristics of the new species are also given here. Laccaria brownii sp. nov. has a dark to slightly desaturated orange pileus, stipe context broadly fistulose and soft orange, and relatively smaller cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia. Laccaria orangei sp. nov. has a hemispherical to paraboloid pileus, abundant narrowly clavate, flexuose, and branched cheilocystidia. Laccaria ruber sp. nov. pileus is red on the margin, clearly striate on the pileus surface, basidia clavate, mostly four-spored, rarely two-spored. Laccaria stipalba sp. nov. stipe surface is white, long sterigmata (4-13 μm × 2-3 μm), pleurocystidia narrowly clavate to subclavate, flexuose or mucronate, rarely branch. The descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analysis results of the new taxa are provided. In addition, the new taxa are compared with closely related taxa.},
}
@article {pmid40137207,
year = {2025},
author = {Zheng, T and Wang, L and Ai, M and Gan, Y and Fan, R and Zhang, Y and Worthy, FR and Jin, J and Meng, W and Zhang, S and Wang, X},
title = {Taxonomic Revision of Solorina (Peltigeraceae, Ascomycota), Reveals a New Genus and Three New Species.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40137207},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {2019QZKK0503//the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP)/ ; 202401AT070196//Yunnan Fundamental Research Project/ ; ZK[2023]-236//Yunnan Young &amp; Elite Talents Project/ ; [2020] 1Y074//Science and Technology Fund of Guizhou/ ; [2023] 07//Guizhou Forestry Research Project/ ; [2023] 01//Doctoral Fund of Guizhou Academy of Sciences/ ; 2020388//Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS/ ; 31750001//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31970022//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32460429//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {The lichen genus Solorina exhibits significant morphological and chemical variations between species. Recent molecular studies have demonstrated that Solorina is polyphyletic, underscoring the need for a comprehensive taxonomic revision. Phylogenetic analyses employing Bayesian methods and Maximum Likelihood approaches based on three molecular loci (nrITS, nrLSU, mtSSU) revealed that species of Solorina segregate into two distinct clades. The first clade includes species characterized by bright orange lower surfaces that contain secondary metabolites, notably solorinic acid. The type species, Solorina crocea, is retained in the genus Solorina. The second clade encompasses species with white or brownish lower surfaces; most species lack secondary metabolites and are now classified as a new genus, Pseudosolorina. As a result of this taxonomic revision, two species: S. crocea and S. crocoides remain in the genus Solorina. Five species with white or brownish lower surfaces were transferred to the new genus Pseudosolorina, which consists of three newly described species and five new combinations. Four species previously described as Solorina: S. embolina, S. fuegiensis, S. octospora, and S. platycarpa have morphology consistent with Pseudosolorina, but are currently retained in Solorina due to the absence of supporting DNA sequence data. A key to Solorina and Pseudosolorina is provided. The spores of S. crocea exhibit wall ornamentation featuring rounded papillae, which are distinct from those of Pseudosolorina. Molecular data and morphological characters also indicate that both Solorina and Pseudosolorina engage in symbiotic associations with photobionts cyanobacteria Nostoc and chlorophytes Coccomyxa or Asterochloris.},
}
@article {pmid40135586,
year = {2025},
author = {Fan, X and Zhou, X and He, J and Xie, H and Tang, N and Tang, M and Xie, X},
title = {Spray-induced gene silencing of three G-protein signaling genes from the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis inhibits spore germination and hyphopodium formation.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70091},
pmid = {40135586},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {32370108//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32170116//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022A1515012013//Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {About 70% of land plants form symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Some plant genes important for accommodating AM fungi within roots have been characterized, but AM fungal genes involved in asymbiotic growth and hyphopodium formation remain elusive due to a lack of methods for genetic manipulation. Here, we introduce an innovative gene silencing technology based on spraying double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to characterize the functions of three genes encoding G-protein signaling proteins, including the regulator of G-protein signaling RiRgs3, the Gα subunit RiGpa3, and the Gβ subunit RiGpb1 from the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis at the asymbiotic and initial symbiotic stages. RiRgs3, RiGpa3, and RiGpb1 expression is induced in the early stages of AM symbiosis. Using spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), we discovered that R. irregularis can take up dsRNA. Moreover, SIGS of RiRgs3, RiGpa3, or RiGpb1 led to defects in spore germination and hyphopodium formation. In conclusion, our results reveal that SIGS is a suitable technique for the analysis of gene function in AM fungi and that G-protein signaling is required for spore germination and hyphopodium formation.},
}
@article {pmid40134337,
year = {2025},
author = {Wong, KK and Papachristou, E and Francesconi, M and Dekkers, TJ},
title = {Editorial: 'Like a bee and a flower' - the symbiotic relationship between physical environment and children and young people's psychosocial outcomes.},
journal = {Child and adolescent mental health},
volume = {30},
number = {2},
pages = {115-118},
doi = {10.1111/camh.12773},
pmid = {40134337},
issn = {1475-357X},
support = {ES/Y004906/1//UKRI Economic Social Research Council Policy Fellowship/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Child ; Adolescent ; *Mental Health ; *Environment ; },
abstract = {This special issue captures the multifaceted and dynamic human-environment relationship across a critical stage of development and illustrates the importance of the physical environment in understanding child and adolescent mental health. Illustrated through original articles, action research, systematic reviews, debates, editorial perspectives and commentaries, our authors showcase the nuances of this relationship through diverse methodologies, data sources, interdisciplinary teams and international perspectives. Authors evidence the impact of physical environmental characteristics on psychosocial outcomes early in life, for both community and clinical populations. Exposure to adversities early in life or during critical developmental periods, such as early childhood and adolescence, has the potential to shape later life outcomes. We hope this special issue provides helpful examples of good practice and the ways of working together needed to inspire future youth-led context-specific health research. We also hope that this special issue can encourage us to rethink public health and education policies, urban planning and design priorities, and clinical research and practice to have young people in the centre of this work.},
}
@article {pmid40134242,
year = {2025},
author = {Trombley, J and Celenza, JL and Frey, SD and Anthony, MA},
title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Boost Development of an Invasive Brassicaceae.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {48},
number = {7},
pages = {4928-4937},
pmid = {40134242},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This study was supported by the Dick George Invasives Fund awarded to S.D.F. and M.A.A. M.A.A. was supported by a Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF) Vienna Research Groups for Young Investigators grant awarded to MAA (VRG22-007)./ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Introduced Species ; *Brassicaceae/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Glucosinolates/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Invasive plant growth is affected by interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF are mutualists of most land plants but suppress the growth of many plants within the Brassicaceae, a large plant family including many invasive species. Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) is a nonnative, nonmycorrhizal Brassicaceae distributed throughout North America in forest understories where native species rely on AMF. If AMF suppress growth of garlic mustard, it may be possible to inoculate AMF to manage invasions. Here, we show that in contrast to expectation, garlic mustard growth nearly doubled in response to AMF inoculation under both laboratory and field conditions. This effect was negatively linked to investments in glucosinolates, a class of defensive compounds. In contrast to typical symbiosis, AMF did not produce arbuscules where nutrient exchange occurs in roots, but AMF inoculation increased plant and soil nitrogen availability. Our findings reveal an adjacent pathway by which AMF promote invasive plant growth without classic symbiotic exchanges. Prior assumptions that garlic mustard suppresses AMF are inadequate to explain invasion success since it benefits from interactions with AMF. This study is the first to demonstrate extensive growth promotion following AMF inoculation in mustard plants, with important implications for invasion biology and agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40130645,
year = {2025},
author = {Kennedy, PG and Smith, ME},
title = {Mountains are not like poles for symbiotic and saprotrophic soil fungi.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {247},
number = {1},
pages = {11-13},
pmid = {40130645},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {2019518//US National Science Foundation/ ; 2106069//US National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {This article is a Commentary on Barbi et al. (2025), 247: 295–308.},
}
@article {pmid40130204,
year = {2025},
author = {Chei, E and Conti-Jerpe, IE and Pons, L and Baker, DM},
title = {Changes within the coral symbiosis underpin seasonal trophic plasticity in reef corals.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycae162},
pmid = {40130204},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Scleractinian corals are mixotrophic organisms that use both autotrophic and heterotrophic pathways to fulfill their metabolic needs. Corals span a spectrum of trophic strategies and vary in their dependence on associated algal symbionts, with certain species capable of increasing heterotrophic feeding to compensate for the loss of autotrophic nutrition. As this ability can improve the likelihood of survival following marine heat waves and environmental disturbance, the continued threat of global and local stressors necessitates the investigation of trophic plasticity to determine coral responses to changing conditions. Here, we examined trophic strategy shifts between wet (high temperature and light) and dry (low temperature and light) seasons for seven genera of scleractinian corals by applying a Bayesian statistical model to determine the isotopic niches of paired coral hosts and their symbionts. Using a novel index (Host Evaluation: Reliance on Symbionts), trophic strategy was evaluated along a continuum of mixotrophy for each season. Three genera exhibited significant trophic shifts and were more heterotrophic in the dry season, likely as a mechanism to compensate for decreased symbiont functioning under lower temperatures and irradiance during these months. The magnitude of trophic plasticity varied across genera, and this pattern was positively correlated with global distribution. Together, our findings substantiate taxonomic differences in nutritional flexibility and provide support for trophic plasticity as a distinguishing trait for understanding coral biogeography.},
}
@article {pmid40129736,
year = {2025},
author = {He, M and Wang, Q and Wang, Y and Zhang, J},
title = {Temporal dynamics of soil microbial symbioses in the root zone of wolfberry: deciphering the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on bacterial and fungal ecological networks.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1518439},
pmid = {40129736},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Long-term monoculture of Lycium barbarum significantly affects its productivity and soil health. Soil microbiota, which mediate the sustainable development of soil ecosystems, are influenced by the age of wolfberry plants. However, the comprehensive effects of long-term cultivation of L. barbarum on the soil microbial community are not yet fully understood. Here, we assessed the effects of stand age on the diversity, composition, assembly, and symbiotic networks of bacterial and fungal communities in the root zone soil of L. barbarum using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that stand age significantly affected the α-diversity of bacterial and fungal communities, as evidenced by the tendency of their Shannon and Chao1 indices to increase and then decrease. At the same time, the structure of soil bacterial and fungal communities was significantly influenced by tree age. However, Proteobacteria (28.77%-32.81%) was always the most dominant bacterial phylum, and Ascomycetes (49.72%-55.82%) was always the most dominant fungal phylum. A number of genus-level biomarkers were also identified in soils associated with roots of trees of varying ages. Additionally, stochastic processes dominated the assembly of soil bacterial communities, whereas the balance between stochastic and deterministic processes in the assembly of fungal communities fluctuated with stand age. The complexity and stability of bacterial and fungal community networks were notably affected by tree age, particularly in networks from 10- and 15-year-old trees. The partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis emphasized that stand age can indirectly regulate the diversity and network complexity of both bacterial and fungal communities by influencing soil physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the bacterial community, but not the fungal community, exhibited direct and strong regulation of network complexity. The study offers valuable data for improving the soil quality and fruit yield of L. barbarum under long-term continuous cropping, which has implications for the sustainable development of the L. barbarum industry.},
}
@article {pmid40128227,
year = {2025},
author = {Laanisto, L and Pavanetto, N and Puglielli, G and Gerz, M and Bueno, CG},
title = {Contrasting mycorrhizal functionality in abiotic stress tolerance of woody species.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {10123},
pmid = {40128227},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {Arctic grant//Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia/ ; by IJC2020-043331-I//MCIN/AEI/ ; MCIN/AEI//PID2021-122214NA-I00/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Stress, Physiological ; Droughts ; Symbiosis ; *Wood/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Current understanding of how woody plants respond to abiotic stress and how mycorrhizal interactions mitigate this stress is limited, as research has mostly focused on single stress factors. The diverse range of woody plants and mycorrhizal fungi, and the varying intensity and composition of multiple stress factors in different regions worldwide, have made it difficult to study these highly functional symbiotic interactions from a global perspective. Here, we used a top-down approach that involved partitioning known interactions into functional types, and mapping stress tolerances and interactions into overlapping heatmaps. We used a comprehensive dataset of 621 woody species' tolerance of shade, drought, waterlogging, and cold stress, as well as their mycorrhizal interaction data, to test how stress polytolerance correlates with different functional types of mycorrhiza. We show that single mycorrhizal type associates with shade tolerance, while dual type with cold and waterlogging tolerance. Both arbuscular mycorrhiza and obligate interactions are more abundant in drought stress tolerance conditions, while ectomycorrhiza and facultative interactions are found in more cold and waterlogged stressful conditions. Thus, functionally distinct mycorrhizal interactions form significantly contrasting stress mitigation patterns with woody species, providing insights into both evolutionary and biogeographic patterns related to the development of plant-mycorrhiza interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40125797,
year = {2025},
author = {Gresshoff, PM and Su, C and Su, H and Hastwell, A and Cha, Y and Zhang, M and Grundy, EB and Chu, X and Ferguson, BJ and Li, X},
title = {Functional genomics dissection of the nodulation autoregulation pathway (AON) in soybean (Glycine max).},
journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology},
volume = {67},
number = {3},
pages = {762-772},
doi = {10.1111/jipb.13898},
pmid = {40125797},
issn = {1744-7909},
support = {32330078//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32441047//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; DP190102996//the Australian Research Council Discovery Project/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; *Genomics/methods ; *Homeostasis/genetics ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; },
abstract = {The combination of mutation-based genetics and functional genomics has allowed a detailed dissection of the nodulation-induction and autoregulation of nodulation (AON) pathways of soybean. Applicable to all legumes, nodulation is induced by Rhizobium/Bradyrhizobium-produced lipopolysaccharides (Nod factors), perceived by Nod factor receptors (NFR1/NFR5 dimers), leading to cortical and pericycle cell divisions. These induce the production of CLAVATA3-like (CLE) peptides, which travel in the xylem to the shoot, where they are perceived by a receptor complex including a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor kinase, encoded by GmNARK, LjHAR1, MtSUNN and closely related receptors in other legumes like Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean), Pisum sativum (pea), and Glycine soja. The activated receptor complex negatively regulates by phosphorylation of the constitutive synthesis of miR2111 in the shoot. This is normally is translocated via the phloem to the entire plant body, initiating suppression of a root-expressed Kelch repeat-containing F-box protein "Too Much Love (TML)," which in turn suppresses the nodule initiation cascade. Nodulation is therefore permitted during a developmental window between the induction and progress of the nodulation/cell division/infection cascade during the first few days after inoculation and the functional "readiness" of the AON cascade, delayed by the root-shoot-root loop. Loss-of-function mutations in GmNARK and LjTML result in excessive nodulation (supernodulation/hypernodulation/supernummary nodulation) as well as localized tolerance to externally applied nitrate. Recent analyses have indicated an interaction of the AON with lateral root formation as well as with the autoregulation of mycorrhization (AOM). Further details of the parallel functions of key points in this regulatory loop remain to be elucidated.},
}
@article {pmid40125611,
year = {2025},
author = {Tsuda, H and Iwai, K and Hayashizaki, N},
title = {Pseudovitamin B12 producing Loigolactobacillus coryniformis enhances soy milk fermentation by Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus.},
journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture},
volume = {105},
number = {10},
pages = {5239-5245},
pmid = {40125611},
issn = {1097-0010},
mesh = {Fermentation ; *Soy Milk/metabolism/chemistry ; *Lactobacillus delbrueckii/metabolism ; *Vitamin B 12/metabolism/biosynthesis ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Yogurt/microbiology/analysis ; *Lactobacillales/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fermenting soy milk with lactic acid bacteria is challenging. Generally, carbohydrates are added to enhance the acid production in soy milk. However, the yoghurt starter Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus did not succeed in fermenting soy milk supplemented with carbohydrates. If this yoghurt starter could be used with soy milk, it is expected that it would produce a yoghurt-like flavour, making soy yoghurt more appealing. In this study, we aimed to ferment soy milk using Lb. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and pseudovitamin B12-producing lactic acid bacteria.<br><br>RESULTS: Loigolactobacillus coryniformis SAB01 was found to produce corrinoid in soy milk, with the highest production being observed at 20&#x2009;&#xb0;C. The produced corrinoid was identified as pseudovitamin B12 using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Another bacterial strain, Lb. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus NBRC 13953, was examined for its ability to produce lactic acid in soy milk. Compared with soy milk supplemented with glucose or cyanocobalamin alone, the highest lactic acid production was observed in soy milk supplemented with both glucose and cyanocobalamin. These findings indicate that the combined addition of glucose and cyanocobalamin enhances lactic acid production by strain NBRC 13953 in soy milk. We accordingly examined lactic acid production in soy milk inoculated with strains SAB01 and NBRC 13953, and found that a substantial quantity of lactic acid was produced when glucose was added to soy milk.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings in this study indicate that the growth of Lb. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus NBRC 13953 was promoted by the pseudovitamin B12 produced by Loigolactobacillus coryniformis SAB01, thereby suggesting a novel symbiotic relationship between these two lactic acid bacteria in soy milk. &#xa9; 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley &amp; Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.},
}
@article {pmid40124518,
year = {2025},
author = {Pinko, D and Langlet, D and Sur, O and Husnik, F and Holzmann, M and Rubin-Blum, M and Rahav, E and Belkin, N and Kucera, M and Morard, R and Abdu, U and Upcher, A and Abramovich, S},
title = {Long-term functional kleptoplasty in benthic foraminifera.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {28},
number = {3},
pages = {112028},
pmid = {40124518},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {Foraminifera are highly diverse rhizarian protists, with some lineages having developed the ability to retain chloroplasts from algal prey (kleptoplasty). Recently, we revealed the evolutionary relationship between kleptoplasty and algal symbiosis in the benthic foraminifera Hauerina diversa. In this study, we explored fundamental aspects of host-kleptoplast interactions. The photosynthetic rates of H. diversa show the sequestered kleptoplast activity under a wide range of light intensities with no signs of photoinhibition. This lack of photoinhibition response may be attributed to the loss of key elements responsible for this process during the acquisition of kleptoplasts. Our study demonstrates the stability and notably extended retention of kleptoplasty in H. diversa, evidenced by its plastid retention under conditions of heterotrophic feeding deprivation for 50 days. The host-kleptoplast interactions suggest that H. diversa is highly committed to this partnership and that this kleptoplasty species likely relies on similar kleptoplast/alga maintenance mechanisms as symbiont-bearing foraminifera.},
}
@article {pmid40122915,
year = {2025},
author = {Asghari, B and Hoseinzadeh, M and Mafakheri, S},
title = {Enhancing drought resistance in Dracocephalum moldavica L. through mycorrhizal fungal inoculation and melatonin foliar application.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {10051},
pmid = {40122915},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Melatonin/pharmacology ; *Droughts ; Plant Leaves/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; *Lamiaceae/microbiology/drug effects/physiology/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Drought Resistance ; },
abstract = {This research focused on improving the drought tolerance of Dracocephalum moldavica, a plant vulnerable to water stress, by exploring the combined effects of melatonin spray and mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices inoculation. The experiment was designed as a factorial randomized study to evaluate the plant's morphological, physiological, and phytochemical responses under different drought conditions (100%, 75%, and 50% field capacity). The findings revealed that the combination of melatonin and mycorrhizal inoculation significantly improved the morphological traits of Moldavian balm under drought conditions. Under severe drought (50% field capacity), chlorophyll a and b levels increased by 26.3% and 35.5%, respectively, when both treatments were applied. Stress indicators, including electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content, were substantially reduced with the simultaneous application of melatonin and mycorrhizal symbiosis, indicating decreased cellular damage. Moreover, the combined treatment resulted in the highest activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and peroxidase, suggesting that these treatments bolster the plant's oxidative stress defense mechanisms. Additionally, drought stress alone led to an increase in secondary metabolites like phenolic and flavonoid compounds, which were further amplified by the treatments. The study also observed significant alterations in the essential oil composition of the plant. Drought stress increased the levels of α-pinene, 1,8-cineole, and borneol, and these increases were even more pronounced with the combined treatments. Conversely, the levels of geraniol and geranial decreased under drought stress and further with treatment. Overall, this research demonstrates that melatonin and Glomus intraradices inoculation can effectively enhance drought tolerance in Dracocephalum moldavica by improving its physiological characteristics and biochemical composition.},
}
@article {pmid40122597,
year = {2025},
author = {Su, R and Wen, W and Jin, Y and Cao, Z and Feng, Z and Chen, J and Lu, Y and Zhou, G and Dong, C and Gao, S and Li, X and Zhang, H and Chao, K and Lan, P and Wu, X and Philips, A and Li, K and Gao, X and Zhang, F and Zuo, T},
title = {Dietary whey protein protects against Crohn's disease by orchestrating cross-kingdom interaction between the gut phageome and bacteriome.},
journal = {Gut},
volume = {74},
number = {8},
pages = {1246-1260},
doi = {10.1136/gutjnl-2024-334516},
pmid = {40122597},
issn = {1468-3288},
mesh = {*Crohn Disease/microbiology/prevention &amp; control ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects/physiology ; Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; *Whey Proteins/pharmacology/administration &amp; dosage ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; *Bacteriophages ; *Diet ; Disease Models, Animal ; Middle Aged ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiome and diet are important factors in the pathogenesis and management of Crohn's disease (CD). However, the role of the gut phageome under dietary influences is unknown.<br><br>OBJECTIVE: We aim to explore the effect of diet on the gut phageome-bacteriome interaction linking to CD protection.<br><br>DESIGN: We recruited CD patients and healthy subjects (n=140) and conducted a multiomics investigation, including paired ileal mucosa phageome and bacteriome profiling, dietary survey and phenome interrogation. We screened for the effect of diet on the gut phageome and bacteriome, as well as its epidemiological association with CD risks. The underlying mechanisms were explored in target phage-bacteria monocultures and cocultures in vitro and in two mouse models in vivo.<br><br>RESULTS: On dietary screening in humans, whey protein (WP) consumption was found to profoundly impact the gut phageome and bacteriome (more pronounced on the phageome) and was associated with a lower CD risk. Indeed, the WP reshaped gut phageome can causally attenuate intestinal inflammation, as shown by faecal phageome versus bacteriome transplantation from WP-consuming versus WP-non-consuming mice to recipient mice. Mechanistically, WP induced phage (a newly isolated phage AkkZT003P herein) lysis of the mucin-foraging bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, which unleashed the symbiotic bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus to counteract intestinal inflammation.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Our study charted the importance of cross-kingdom interaction between gut phage and bacteria in mediating the dietary effect on CD protection. Importantly, we uncovered a beneficial dietary WP, a keystone phage AkkZT003P, and a probiotic S. thermophilus that can be used in CD management in the future.},
}
@article {pmid40122008,
year = {2025},
author = {Tang, S and Qian, J and Zhu, Y and Lu, B and He, Y and Liu, Y and Xu, K and Shen, J},
title = {Polystyrene nanoplastics reshape the peatland plants (Sphagnum) bacteriome under simulated wet-deposition pathway: Insights into unequal impact of ecological niches.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {491},
number = {},
pages = {138004},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138004},
pmid = {40122008},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {*Sphagnopsida/microbiology/drug effects/growth &amp; development ; *Polystyrenes/toxicity ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; *Microplastics/toxicity ; *Soil Pollutants/toxicity ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Soil Microbiology ; Endophytes/drug effects ; *Nanoparticles/toxicity ; },
abstract = {Nanoplastics (NPs) enter peatlands through atmospheric deposition, yet their effects on Sphagnum bacterial communities (SBCs) and plant-self remain unknown. We hypothesize that NPs alter the composition, structure, and co-occurrence pattern of epiphytes (Epi) and endophytes (En), thereby differentially affecting the growth and physiological performance of Sphagnum. The 30-day simulated wet deposition experiment was conducted to test this. Here, polystyrene NPs reduced the α-diversity of SBCs, unevenly reshaped the structure of Epi and En. Mfuzz clustering was used to reveal the co-abundance behavior of SBCs, and the null model found SBCs relied on stochastic assembly, formed stable Epi molecular ecological network (MEN) and connected En MEN. NPs disrupted symbiosis of SBCs, with high-abundance phyla reductions impacting MENs and low-abundance phyla affecting the inter-domain ecological network (IDEN) between Epi and En. Increasingly positive NPs (from carboxyl-modified to unmodified, and then to amino-modified NPs) further decreased SBCs abundance. Key clusters of Proteobacteria (Pro.), with α-Pro. and γ-Pro. as module hubs of MENs, and β-Pro. as a network hub in the IDEN, could reflect these changes. Additionally, NPs lowered plant spread area (P < 0.05) and chlorophyll content (P < 0.01), but the reduction in biomass was not significant. Structural equation modeling showed reduced SBCs α-diversity alleviated the NPs phytotoxicity (up to 33.31 % offset), as genetic analysis revealed that methane oxidation, carbon fixation, and trace element metabolism may upregulate plant nutrient supply. Our findings offer critical insights into NPs deposition risks in remote areas and highlight the responses of plant-bacteriome symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40119757,
year = {2025},
author = {Radice, VZ and Gijsbers, JC and Vimercati, S and Barshis, DJ},
title = {First reference genomes for two mesophotic, reef-building coral species: Leptoseris cf. scabra and Montipora cf. grisea.},
journal = {The Journal of heredity},
volume = {116},
number = {4},
pages = {488-498},
pmid = {40119757},
issn = {1465-7333},
support = {//National Park Foundation postdoctoral research/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics ; *Genome ; Coral Reefs ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Genomics ; Genome Size ; },
abstract = {Coral mortality is occurring worldwide at an alarming rate. Despite the immense and underestimated biodiversity of reef-building corals, very few genomes are available. Further, almost all genomic resources originate from shallow water corals even though photosynthetic, symbiotic corals occur at mesophotic depths deeper than 30 m and even >100 m. We present annotated, de novo genomes for two mesophotic, scleractinian (reef-building) corals Montipora cf. grisea and Leptoseris cf. scabra from American Sāmoa, the latter being the first genome for the widespread genus Leptoseris. We used PacBio continuous long reads and Omni-C data to assemble chromosome-level reference genomes. For Montipora cf. grisea, the final genome size was 1.3 Gb with a completeness level (BUSCO) of 99.9% and 97.2% against the eukaryotic and metazoan databases, respectively. The M. cf. grisea genome had a N50 of 50.2 Mb and the annotation predicted 41,981 genes. For Leptoseris cf. scabra, the final genome size was 794 Mb with a BUSCO of 99.2% and 96.1% against the eukaryotic and metazoan databases, respectively. The L. cf. scabra genome had a N50 of 45.2 Mb and 35,741 predicted genes. These genomes serve as critical references for the analysis of coral gene expression responses to climate change such as ocean warming (i.e., coral bleaching) and ocean acidification impacts. The genomes can be used to investigate the genetic diversity and adaptive divergence of shallow vs. mesophotic coral populations to understand reef resilience and guide conservation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40118413,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Z and Mou, R and Jin, S and Wang, Q and Ju, Y and Sun, P and Xie, R and Wang, K},
title = {Streptococcus anginosus promotes gastric cancer progression via GSDME-mediated pyroptosis pathway: Molecular mechanisms of action of GSDME, cleaved caspase-3, and NLRP3 proteins.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {307},
number = {Pt 4},
pages = {142341},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.142341},
pmid = {40118413},
issn = {1879-0003},
mesh = {*NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism/genetics ; *Pyroptosis ; Humans ; *Stomach Neoplasms/pathology/microbiology/metabolism ; *Caspase 3/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Streptococcus anginosus/physiology/pathogenicity ; Disease Progression ; Streptococcal Infections/microbiology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Signal Transduction ; },
abstract = {Streptococcus vasculosus is a common oral and intestinal symbiotic bacteria, but it can transform into a pathogen under certain conditions, affecting the host's immune response. Studies have shown that Streptococcus vasculosus may promote tumor growth and metastasis by activating host inflammatory responses. This study simulated the environment of Streptococcus vascularis infection through in vitro cell culture experiment, and observed the influence of streptococcus vascularis at different time points and different concentrations on cancer cells. The expression and activity of GSDME, cleaved caspase-3 and NLRP3 proteins were detected by Western blot, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. By constructing gene knockout and overexpression cell models, the role of these protein molecules in promoting cancer progression of Streptococcus vascularis was further verified. It was found that GSDME activation is a key step in Pyroptosis occurrence, and cleaved caspase-3 plays an important role in GSDME cleavage activation. The activation of NLRP3 inflammatome is closely related to the inflammatory response induced by Streptococcus vasculosus, and thus affects the tumor microenvironment.},
}
@article {pmid40118036,
year = {2025},
author = {Hochstrasser, M},
title = {A cut above: Bacterial deubiquitinases with ubiquitin clippase activity.},
journal = {Molecular cell},
volume = {85},
number = {6},
pages = {1048-1050},
pmid = {40118036},
issn = {1097-4164},
support = {R35 GM136325/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Deubiquitinating Enzymes/metabolism ; *Ubiquitin/metabolism ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; *Bacteria/enzymology ; Humans ; Ubiquitination ; },
abstract = {Pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria residing inside eukaryotic cells often foil attempts to eliminate them by secreting deubiquitinases into the host. In this issue of Molecular Cell, Hermanns et al.[1] uncover an unexpected "clippase" activity in certain bacterial deubiquitinases, which cleaves substrate-linked ubiquitin within the ubiquitin C terminus, thereby inactivating it.},
}
@article {pmid40117186,
year = {2025},
author = {Ha, SH and Lee, MS and Park, MJ and Kwon, KK and Park, JS},
title = {Roseovarius conchicola sp. nov. and Aliiroseovarius conchicola sp. nov., isolated from the marine conch Reishia bronni.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006725},
pmid = {40117186},
issn = {1466-5034},
mesh = {RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; Republic of Korea ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/analysis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Seawater/microbiology ; *Rhodobacteraceae/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; Base Composition ; Quinones/analysis ; },
abstract = {The intertidal zone is an area located between the marine environment and the terrestrial environment and is exposed to various stresses. To investigate the mutualistic relationship between hosts and symbiotic micro-organisms inhabiting the intertidal zone, strains 2305UL8-3[T] and 2305UL8-7[T] were isolated from Reishia bronni, a species living in the intertidal zone of Ulleungdo Island, South Korea. Both strains are Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive and facultatively anaerobic. Strains 2305UL8-3[T] and 2305UL8-7[T] grow optimally at 30.0 °C and 28.0-30.0 °C, respectively, under conditions of pH 8.0 and 3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. They have Q-10 as the primary quinone, and their common main fatty acids are C16:0 and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c). Additionally, their primary polar lipids include phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol. The two novel strains have an arsenic reduction pathway that reduces the oxidation state of arsenic and are expected to influence environmental regulation processes through the catabolic sulphate reduction system. Based on these characteristics, they exhibit resistance potential to environmental stresses, specifically arsenic exposure in the intertidal zone, where arsenic contamination is often associated with pollution and tidal fluctuations. Analysing the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain 2305UL8-3[T] shared 96.60 % similarity with Roseovarius faecimaris MME-070[T], while strain 2305UL8-7[T] showed 98.13 % similarity with Aliiroseovarius sediminilitoris M-M10[T]. Polyphasic analysis revealed that strains 2305UL8-3[T] and 2305UL8-7[T] should be identified as novel species within the genera Roseovarius and Aliiroseovarius, respectively. Therefore, Roseovarius conchicola sp. nov. with the type strain 2305UL8-3[T] (=KCTC 8475[T]=MCCC 1K09523[T]=JCM 37202[T]) and Aliiroseovarius conchicola sp. nov. with the type strain 2305UL8-7[T] (=KCTC 8476[T]=MCCC 1K09524[T]=JCM 37203[T]) are proposed.},
}
@article {pmid40116496,
year = {2025},
author = {Baa-Puyoulet, P and Gerlin, L and Parisot, N and Peignier, S and Renoz, F and Calevro, F and Charles, H},
title = {ArtSymbioCyc, a metabolic network database collection dedicated to arthropod symbioses: a case study, the tripartite cooperation in Sipha maydis.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {10},
number = {4},
pages = {e0014025},
pmid = {40116496},
issn = {2379-5077},
support = {ANR-16-CE02-0014//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; PrANR-21-CE35-0011//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Amino Acids/metabolism ; *Aphids/microbiology/metabolism ; *Arthropods/microbiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; *Databases, Factual ; },
abstract = {Most arthropods live in close association with bacteria. The genomes of associated partners have co-evolved, creating situations of interdependence that are complex to decipher despite the availability of their complete sequences. We developed ArtSymbioCyc, a metabolism-oriented database collection gathering genomic resources for arthropods and their associated bacteria. ArtSymbioCyc uses the powerful tools of the BioCyc community to produce high-quality annotations and to analyze and compare metabolic networks on a genome-wide scale. We used ArtSymbioCyc to study the case of the tripartite symbiosis of the cereal aphid Sipha maydis focusing on amino acid and vitamin metabolisms, as these compounds are known to be important in this strictly phloemophagous insect. We showed that the metabolic pathways of the insect host and its two obligate bacterial associates are interdependent and specialized in the exploitation of Poaceae phloem, particularly for the biosynthesis of sulfur-containing amino acids and most vitamins. This demonstrates that ArtSymbioCyc does not only reveal the individual metabolic capacities of each partner and their respective contributions to the holobiont they constitute but also allows to predict the essential inputs that must come from host nutrition.IMPORTANCEThe evolution has driven the emergence of complex arthropod-microbe symbiotic systems, whose metabolic integration is difficult to unravel. With its user-friendly interface, ArtSymbioCyc (https://artsymbiocyc.cycadsys.org) eases and speeds up the analysis of metabolic networks by enabling precise inference of compound exchanges between associated partners and helps unveil the adaptive potential of arthropods in contexts such as conservation or agricultural control.},
}
@article {pmid40116466,
year = {2025},
author = {Stillson, PT and Martinez, K and Adamson, J and Tehrani, A and Ravenscraft, A},
title = {Temperature influences outcomes of an environmentally acquired symbiosis.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40116466},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {K12GM000708//Center for Insect Science to Alison Ravenscraft/ ; 2019-67013-29407//USDA NIFA/ ; 2146512//National Science Foundation/ ; 2023-67013-39897//United States Department of Agriculture/ ; //University of Texas at Arlington/ ; K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Temperature ; *Heteroptera/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Nymph/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; },
abstract = {Microbial symbioses are essential for many animals, but their outcomes are often context dependent. For example, rising temperatures can disrupt symbioses by eliminating thermally sensitive symbionts. The temperature tolerance of a symbiont may therefore limit the temperature range of its host, but switching to a more thermally tolerant partner could expand this range. Eastern leaf footed bugs (Leptoglossus phyllopus) depend on symbiotic Caballeronia bacteria which they must acquire from the environment early in development. Could this result in intergenerational partner switching that improves host outcomes under changing conditions? As a first step towards answering this question, we tested the hypothesis that host outcomes in this symbiosis vary among symbiont strains in a temperature-dependent manner. Nymphs were provided with one of six Caballeronia strains with varying thermal optima and reared at temperatures from 24-40°C. We observed temperature- and strain-dependent tradeoffs in host outcomes, with different strains conferring improved host weight, development time, and survival at cooler versus warmer temperatures. Differences in host outcomes were most pronounced at high temperatures, with some strains imposing severe costs. However, Caballeronia's in vitro thermal optima did not predict in vivo outcomes. Regardless, strain- and temperature- dependent outcomes suggest that environmental symbiont acquisition could mitigate the effects of thermal stress on host populations. It is often assumed that vertical transmission of a beneficial symbiont from parent to offspring is the optimal strategy, but our results suggest that environmental acquisition could offer unique benefits under changing conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40115730,
year = {2025},
author = {Fujimoto, R and Kuchida, M and Ban-Tokuda, T and Matsui, H},
title = {Isolation and molecular identification of Lactobacillaceae bacteria and Bifidobacterium from horse feces.},
journal = {Journal of equine science},
volume = {36},
number = {1},
pages = {39-43},
pmid = {40115730},
issn = {1340-3516},
abstract = {The equine large intestine harbors a diverse array of symbiotic microorganisms. Disruptions in the gut microbiota can lead to various diseases in horses. Probiotics offer promising avenues for enhancing equine health and performance. However, commercial formulations lack robust scientific validation. This study aimed to isolate and identify Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacterium spp. from horse feces to explore their potential as probiotics. Fecal samples from Thoroughbred horses were subjected to isolation procedures. Lactic acid-producing bacteria were isolated using specific media and identified. The results revealed the isolation of Lactobacillaceae strains, including Limosilactobacillus equigenerosi, Ligilactobacillus equi, Ligilactobacillus agilis, and a Bifidobacterium sp., Bifidobacterium pseudolongum. These findings contribute to the understanding of equine gut microbiota and offer insights into potential probiotic candidates.},
}
@article {pmid40115193,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, Y and Li, M and Guo, X},
title = {Spartina alterniflora modifies the native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in coastal ecosystem.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1544111},
pmid = {40115193},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The effect of invasive plants is mediated by their interactions with microbial communities. However, it is still uncertain how Spartina alterniflora impacts the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community within the native rhizosphere what the resulting AMF differences are associated with. Here, we investigated what kind of AMF communities are formed in the roots of S. alterniflora to distinguish it from native plants such as Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis, and Tamarix chinensis by analyzing the AMF communities and the associations with selected environmental factors. The dynamics of AM fungal communities are linked to plant-soil systems. The AMF communities of S. alterniflora and native vegetation demonstrated notable differences in composition, diversity, and symbiotic networks. Significantly higher ω, Ec, AN, AP, and AK were observed in S. alterniflora-invaded soils. Although plant rhizosphere AMF responded to soil environmental factors, AN and AP were highly explanatory environmental factors driving AMF community characteristics during S. alterniflora expansion, while increased soil P and N availability may be involved in shaping AMF community characteristics in S. alterniflora. Our findings can provide complementary evidence-based solutions for defending against invasive plants and mitigating their impacts, as well as protecting coastal ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40113782,
year = {2025},
author = {Park, G and Johnson, K and Miller, K and Kadyan, S and Singar, S and Patoine, C and Hao, F and Lee, Y and Patterson, AD and Arjmandi, B and Kris-Etherton, PM and Berryman, CE and Nagpal, R},
title = {Almond snacking modulates gut microbiome and metabolome in association with improved cardiometabolic and inflammatory markers.},
journal = {NPJ science of food},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {35},
pmid = {40113782},
issn = {2396-8370},
support = {ECP-Nagpal-NR-001//Almond Board of California/ ; 24A05//Florida Department of Health/ ; },
abstract = {Western-style dietary patterns have been linked with obesity and associated metabolic disorders and gut dysbiosis, whereas prudent dietary and snacking choices mitigate these predispositions. Using a multi-omics approach, we investigated how almond snacking counters gut imbalances linked to adiposity and an average American Diet (AAD). Fifteen adults with overweight or obesity underwent a randomized, crossover-controlled feeding trial comparing a 4-week AAD with a similar isocaloric diet supplemented with 42.5 g/day of almonds (ALD). Almond snacking increases functional gut microbes, including Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, while suppressing opportunistic pathogens, thereby favorably modulating gut microecological niches through symbiotic and microbe-metabolite interactions. Moreover, ALD elevates health-beneficial monosaccharides and fosters bacterial consumption of amino acids, owing to enhanced microbial homeostasis. Additionally, ALD enhances metabolic homeostasis through a ketosis-like effect, reduces inflammation, and improves satiety-regulating hormones. The findings suggest that prudent dietary choices, such as almond snacking, promote gut microbial homeostasis while modulating immune metabolic state.},
}
@article {pmid40112507,
year = {2025},
author = {Tu, TH and Hsieh, HY and Meng, PJ and Chen, CC},
title = {Physiological responses of scleractinian coral to trace metal enrichment and thermal stress.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {207},
number = {},
pages = {107085},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107085},
pmid = {40112507},
issn = {1879-0291},
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology/drug effects ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Stress, Physiological ; *Trace Elements/toxicity ; Manganese/toxicity ; Iron/toxicity ; Climate Change ; Coral Bleaching ; *Metals/toxicity ; },
abstract = {Coral bleaching events are increasingly frequent due to global climate change and marine pollution. Trace metals, such as manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), though toxic at high concentrations, are vital for coral physiology, supporting photosynthesis and antioxidation. This study investigates how thermal stress and trace metal exposure interact to influence the physiology of the scleractinian corals Turbinaria irregularis and Montipora mollis. Corals were exposed to Mn and Fe at varying concentrations under control (25 °C) and elevated (30 °C) temperatures. Mn enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, an increase of 1.7°% in M. mollis at 250 nM and 1.4°% in T. irregularis at 30 °C (p < 0.05). Fe improved photosynthesis by 1.8°% in M. mollis at 50 nM and growth rates by 2.1°% in T. irregularis at 25 °C (p < 0.05). Both metals mitigated bleaching, as seen in reduced relative gray intensity and increased symbiotic algal density, particularly at moderate concentrations. However, elevated temperatures suppressed growth and photosynthetic efficiency, with decreases up to 1.6°% in M. mollis (p < 0.01). These results highlight the pivotal role of trace metals in coral health and stress resilience, while emphasizing the importance of species-specific differences in trace metal uptake, thermal tolerance, and physiological responses. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms and long-term impacts of these interactions in the face of ongoing climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40112150,
year = {2025},
author = {Nian, X and Wang, B and Holford, P and Beattie, GAC and Tan, S and Yuan, W and Cen, Y and He, Y and Zhang, S},
title = {Neuropeptide Ecdysis-Triggering Hormone and Its Receptor Mediate the Fecundity Improvement of 'Candidatus Liberibacter Asiaticus'-Infected Diaphorina citri Females and CLas Proliferation.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {12},
number = {18},
pages = {e2412384},
pmid = {40112150},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {32202291//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32102193//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022SDZG07//Science and Technology Innovation for the 14th Five-Year Plan of Guangdong Province/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/metabolism ; Female ; Citrus/microbiology/parasitology ; Fertility/physiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; *Neuropeptides/metabolism ; *Rhizobiaceae/pathogenicity ; Juvenile Hormones/metabolism ; Liberibacter ; },
abstract = {The severe Asiatic form of huanglongbing (HLB), caused by "Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus" (CLas), threatens global citrus production via the citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. Culturing challenges of CLas necessitate reducing D. citri populations for disease management. CLas boosts the fecundity of CLas-positive (CLas+) D. citri and fosters its own proliferation by modulating the insect host's juvenile hormone (JH), but the intricate endocrine regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. Here, it is reported that the D. citri ecdysis-triggering hormone (DcETH) and its receptor DcETHR play pivotal roles in the reciprocal benefits between CLas and D. citri within the ovaries, influencing energy metabolism and reproductive development in host insects; miR-210, negatively regulates DcETHR expression, contributing to this symbiotic interaction. CLas infection reduces 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) levels and stimulates DcETH release, elevating JH production via DcETHR, enhancing fecundity and CLas proliferation. Furthermore, circulating JH levels suppress 20E production in CLas+ ovaries. Collectively, the orchestrated functional interplay involving 20E, ETH, and JH increases energy metabolism and promotes the fecundity of CLas+ D. citri and CLas proliferation. These insights not only broaden the knowledge of how plant pathogens manipulate the reproductive behavior of insect hosts but also offer novel targets and strategies for combatting HLB and D. citri.},
}
@article {pmid40112074,
year = {2025},
author = {Shen, D and Micic, N and Venado, RE and Bjarnholt, N and Crocoll, C and Persson, DP and Samwald, S and Kopriva, S and Westhoff, P and Metzger, S and Neumann, U and Nakano, RT and Marín Arancibia, M and Andersen, TG},
title = {Apoplastic barriers are essential for nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {387},
number = {6740},
pages = {1281-1286},
doi = {10.1126/science.ado8680},
pmid = {40112074},
issn = {1095-9203},
mesh = {*Lotus/genetics/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Root Nodules, Plant/growth &amp; development/genetics/physiology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/growth &amp; development/genetics ; Mutation ; },
abstract = {Establishment of the apoplastic root barrier known as the Casparian strip occurs early in root development. In legumes, this area overlaps with nitrogen-fixing nodule formation, which raises the possibility that nodulation and barrier formation are connected. Nodules also contain Casparian strips, yet, in this case, their role is unknown. We established mutants with defective barriers in Lotus japonicus. This revealed that effective apoplastic blockage in the endodermis is important for root-to-shoot signals underlying nodulation. Our findings further revealed that in nodules, the genetic machinery for Casparian strip formation is shared with roots. Apoplastic blockage controls the metabolic source-sink status required for nitrogen fixation. This identifies Casparian strips as a model system to study spatially constrained symbiotic plant-microbe relationships.},
}
@article {pmid40111690,
year = {2025},
author = {He, J and Cheng, L},
title = {The Oral Microbiome: A Key Determinant of Oral Health.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1472},
number = {},
pages = {133-149},
pmid = {40111690},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Humans ; *Microbiota/physiology ; *Oral Health ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Dental Caries/microbiology ; Periodontal Diseases/microbiology ; Bacteria ; *Mouth Diseases/microbiology ; },
abstract = {As the second largest reservoir of human microbes, the oral cavity is colonized by millions of tiny creatures collectively named as oral microbiome. Species detected in human mouth are diverse, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. Active bidirectional interaction exists between the oral microbiome and the host. Stresses from hosts shape the composition, distribution pattern, and the community behaviors of the oral microbiome, while any changes occurring on the oral microbiome may disrupt its symbiosis relationship with the host and ultimately lead to oral and systemic diseases that jeopardize the host's health. In this chapter, the latest understanding about the role of oral microbiome in common oral diseases, including dental caries, periodontal disease, oral candidiasis, and hyposalivation, is discussed.},
}
@article {pmid40111686,
year = {2025},
author = {Colombo, APV and Lourenço, TGB and de Oliveira, AM and da Costa, ALA},
title = {Link Between Oral and Gut Microbiomes: The Oral-Gut Axis.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1472},
number = {},
pages = {71-87},
pmid = {40111686},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Animals ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; },
abstract = {In the last decades, groundbreaking research on the human microbiome has changed our reductionist conception of the etiology and pathogenesis of several chronic diseases. As a result, we have come to appreciate the significance of a balanced microbiome in maintaining human health. In this context, the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) comprise the most abundant and diverse microbiotas of the human body. In addition to its diversity, functional redundancy, and temporal stability, a healthy GIT microbiome is characterized by its body site specificity. In fact, current evidence has indicated that the translocation of oral species to the gut environment through the oral-gut axis is increased in an array of illnesses, including chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases, neurological disorders, and cancer. Oral pathogens have also been shown to promote gut dysbiosis and systemic inflammation in animal models. Yet, some level of overlapping between oral and gut microbiomes may occur without disruption of these microbial communities and loss of site specificity. The uniqueness of each host-microbiome entity may hinder our ability to define a "universal" normal GIT microbiome. Despite that, this chapter summarizes the predominant health-related taxa along the human GIT, as well as their role in the physiology and immunity of the digestive system. Some mechanisms that may lead to disturbances and relevant shifts in the oral and gut microbiomes of major inflammatory chronic diseases are also pointed out. Lastly, oral-fecal microbial signatures are presented as potential biomarkers for several oral and systemic disorders. The recognition of such symbiotic/dysbiotic microbial profiles may provide insights into the development of more accurate early diagnosis and therapeutic ecological approaches to restore the balance of the GIT microbiome.},
}
@article {pmid40111685,
year = {2025},
author = {Santonocito, S and Polizzi, A and Isola, G},
title = {The Impact of Diet and Nutrition on the Oral Microbiome.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1472},
number = {},
pages = {53-69},
pmid = {40111685},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Humans ; *Mouth/microbiology ; *Microbiota/physiology ; *Diet ; *Oral Health ; *Nutritional Status ; },
abstract = {At present, it is well known that oral health is essential for the well-being of the body as a whole, thanks to the increasing awareness of how various oral diseases, including periodontal disease, oral carcinomas, and other conditions, have a close connection with various systemic disorders. In recent decades, studies on the oral microbiome have increasingly emphasized how the balance between the host and the microbial species that coexist there is essential for oral health at all stages of life. However, there are many factors capable of interfering with that balance, and diet is precisely one of them. The real influence of diet on the oral microbiota, and consequently on oral health, has been much debated. In this context, the observation of two key periods in human history, the Neolithic and the Industrial Revolution, has proved to be diriment. The foods and processing techniques that emerged in these two historical periods, in association with changes in customs and habits, significantly altered the central constituents of the human diet, including macronutrient proportions, glycemic load, fatty acid composition, sodium and potassium levels, micronutrient levels, dietary pH, and fiber content taken in by human beings. The introduction of these foods into the daily human routine has been linked to a decline in oral health and an increase of several other diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatic diseases, many cancers, and obesity. The aim of this chapter is to update the current knowledge and further discuss the role of diet and nutrition on oral health.},
}
@article {pmid40111684,
year = {2025},
author = {de Barros Santos, HS and Pagnussatti, MEL and Arthur, RA},
title = {Symbiosis Between the Oral Microbiome and the Human Host: Microbial Homeostasis and Stability of the Host.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1472},
number = {},
pages = {31-51},
pmid = {40111684},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Humans ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Mouth/microbiology/virology ; *Microbiota/physiology ; *Homeostasis ; *Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Archaea ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {The oral cavity presents a highly diverse microbial composition. All the three domains of life, Bacteria, Eukarya, and Archaea, as well as viruses constitute the oral microbiome. Bacteria are among the most abundant microorganisms in the oral cavity, followed by viruses, fungi, and Archaea. These microorganisms tend to live in harmony with each other and with the host by preventing the colonization of oral sites by exogenous microorganisms. Interactions between the host and its microbiota are crucial for keeping ecological stability in the oral cavity and a condition compatible with oral health. This chapter focuses on describing the oral microbiota in healthy individuals based on both targeted and nontargeted genome sequencing methods and the functional activity played by those microorganisms based on metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, metaproteomic, and metabolomic analyses. Additionally, this chapter explores mutualistic and antagonistic microbe-microbe relationships. These interactions are mediated by complex mechanisms like cross-feeding networks, production of bacteriocins and secondary metabolites, synthesis of pH-buffering compounds, and the use of universal signaling molecules. At last, the role played by host-microbe interactions on colonization resistance and immune tolerance will help provide a better understanding about the harmonious and peaceful coexistence among host and microbial cells under oral health-related conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40111682,
year = {2025},
author = {Dame-Teixeira, N and Do, T and Deng, D},
title = {The Oral Microbiome and Us.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1472},
number = {},
pages = {3-9},
pmid = {40111682},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {Humans ; *Mouth/microbiology ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Periodontitis/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Oral and systemic human health depend on the symbiotic relationship between the human host and its microbiome. As the second most diverse site of the human microbiome, the oral cavity is instrumental in symbiotic relationships, transforming nutrients and acting as the human body's initial barrier against pathogens. However, under certain conditions, the typically beneficial oral microbiome can become harmful. Systemic inflammatory diseases can send signals through the oral-gut axis, such as cytokines and host defensins, altering gene expression and, consequently, the composition of the oral microbiome. These changes can be responsible for causing oral diseases, such as periodontitis and candidiasis. Evidence of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, exacerbates oral microbiome dysbiosis. On the other hand, the oral microbiota can also influence systemic health. Inflammatory processes in the gingival structures caused by a dysbiotic oral microbiome are linked to worsen glycemic levels in diabetics, premature birth, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others. The idea for this book emerged from the need to explore the multifaceted nature of this relationship in its various dimensions. We discuss multispecies characteristics from an ecological perspective, focusing on how the host affects the microbiome and vice versa. Understanding how the oral microbiome influences human health will guide tailored strategies for disease prevention and treatment, which is discussed in the last section of the book. Looking ahead, predictive health and disease models will enable personalized therapies centered on restoring the healthy human microbiome.},
}
@article {pmid40110628,
year = {2025},
author = {Thies, AB and Rangarajan-Paul, M and Wangpraseurt, D and Tresguerres, M},
title = {Co-option of immune and digestive cellular machinery to support photosymbiosis in amoebocytes of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {228},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {40110628},
issn = {1477-9145},
support = {2019271478//National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program/ ; //Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation/ ; 2023360321//National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program/ ; 2316391//Division of Biological Infrastructure/ ; NSF-GRFP 2019271478//National Science Foundation/ ; //Scripps Institution of Oceanography/ ; NSF-GRFP 2023360321//Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Fellowship/ ; //University of California, San Diego/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Scyphozoa/physiology/immunology ; Carbonic Anhydrases/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; },
abstract = {The upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea spp. host their algal symbionts inside a subset of amoebocytes, phagocytic cells that also play innate immune functions akin to macrophages from vertebrate animals. Amoebocyte precursors phagocytose algae from the jellyfish gut and store them inside intracellular compartments called symbiosomes. Subsequently, the precursors migrate to the mesoglea, differentiate into symbiotic amoebocytes, and roam throughout the jellyfish body, where the algae remain photosynthetically active and supply the jellyfish host with a significant portion of their organic carbon needs. Here, we show that the amoebocyte symbiosome membrane contains V-H+-ATPase (VHA), the proton pump that acidifies phagosomes and lysosomes in all eukaryotes. Many symbiotic amoebocytes also abundantly express a carbonic anhydrase (CA), an enzyme that reversibly hydrates CO2 into H+ and HCO3-. Moreover, we found that the symbiosome lumen is pronouncedly acidic and that pharmacological inhibition of VHA or CA activities significantly decreases photosynthetic oxygen production in live jellyfish. These results point to a carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM) that co-opts VHA and CA from the phago-lysosomal machinery that ubiquitously mediates food digestion and innate immune responses. Analogous VHA-dependent CCMs have been previously described in reef-building corals, anemones and giant clams; however, these other two cnidarians host their dinoflagellate algae inside gastrodermal cells - not in amoebocytes - and the clam hosts theirs within the gut lumen. Thus, our study identifies an example of convergent evolution at the cellular level that might broadly apply to invertebrate-microbe photosymbioses while also providing evolutionary links with intracellular and extracellular food digestion and the immune system.},
}
@article {pmid40110165,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, C and Zhang, J and Li, Q and Zhang, Y and Zhang, S and Yu, Z and Li, J and Li, J},
title = {Horizontal transmission of symbiotic bacteria and host selective sweep in the giant clam Tridacna crocea.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf037},
pmid = {40110165},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Giant clams, with their significant ecological importance, depend on associated bacteria for their health and development, yet the transmission modes and succession of community dynamics of these bacteria remain poorly understood. This study employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing and microscopy to investigate the transmission and community dynamics of symbiotic bacteria in the giant clam Tridacna crocea during early developmental stages (fertilized eggs, blastocyst, D-larvae, and pediveliger larvae). Fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy did not detect internal symbiotic bacteria in fertilized eggs and adult gonad gametes, but scanning electron microscopy revealed microbial structures on egg surface microvilli, suggesting their role as microbial carriers. 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed microbial presence in fertilized eggs, indicating bacterial acquisition via external vertical transmission (adherence to microvilli) or horizontal transmission. Given the lack of internalized bacteria in reproductive organs, we prefer to classify the symbiotic bacteria acquisition as horizontal transmission. Microbial community analysis showed that T. crocea acquired a significant portion of its microbiome from seawater throughout its development. Before reaching the pediveliger stage, the bacterial community composition closely resembled that of the surrounding seawater, primarily featuring the family Rhodobacteraceae. As T. crocea matured, the host's selective pressure increased (e.g. deterministic assembly), which simplified the microbial community and reduced diversity. During the pediveliger stage, the genus Endozoicomonas became dominant, forming a large proportion of the bacterial community within the gonads. This highlights the ecological significance of host-microbe interactions in maintaining biodiversity and driving ecosystem stability through dynamic community assembly processes.},
}
@article {pmid40108281,
year = {2025},
author = {Dong, J and Dai, W and Xu, J and Zhang, H and Li, Y and Xie, F},
title = {Impact and elastic modulus of coal mining on terrestrial ecosystems.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {9454},
pmid = {40108281},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {CSC202306420029//China Scholarship Council/ ; Lumeidike (2022) No.14//Key Research Projects of Shandong Bureau of Coal Geology/ ; },
abstract = {The energy consumption structure is gradually evolving into a "diversified energy structure" against the backdrop of the global implementation of energy-saving and low-carbon policies. Coal, as the main energy source in China, is difficult to change in the short term, given the characteristics of China's energy and resource endowments, as well as the actual social and economic development at the present stage. Nevertheless, coal mining inevitably leads to a range of ecological issues. Identifying the impact of coal mining on terrestrial ecosystems and adopting resilient recovery measures are crucial prerequisites for advancing green coal mining efforts and attaining carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Using China's open-pit coal mining as a case study: (1) the research examines the fundamental attributes and evolving patterns of spatial distribution among these mines within the country. Furthermore, it delineates the life cycle stages and distinctive features of the five principal open-pit coal mines. The life cycle of a coal mining area is divided into four distinct development phases: the initial phase, the accelerated phase, the stable phase, and the declining phase. The spatial relationship between the life cycle stages of coal mining and ecosystem succession is elucidated by examining the evolutionary types of ecosystems within coal mine area. In the accelerated and stable development phase, the adverse effects of coal mining on the ecosystem are in a long-term increasing trend, causing the key elements of the ecosystem to gradually surpass their threshold values. The ecosystem is out of balance, severely damaged, and gradually undergoing degradation or extreme degradation. The types of ecological succession in coal mining areas can be categorized as follows: terrestrial succession leading to a new terrestrial ecosystem, terrestrial to aquatic ecosystem transitions, or the development of an amphibious symbiotic ecosystem. (2) The research quantitatively assessed the impact of surface coal mining on terrestrial ecosystems by utilizing remote sensing data in conjunction with coal production information. In 2022, the affected areas of the five major open-pit coal mines due to coal mining activities amounted to approximately 0.02% of China's total land area. Meanwhile, the nationwide affected areas of all open-pit coal mines combined reached to approximately 0.13% of China's land area. Open-pit coal mining activities have a significant impact on the surface. (3) By incorporating the ecological resilience theory, we establish a model for the ecosystem's elastic modulus in coal mining areas, taking into account landscape diversity, vegetation coverage, land type, and climate factors, which are based on the concepts of elastic strength and elastic limit. A conceptual model for recognizing ecological thresholds in coal mining areas is developed by incorporating the comprehensive integrity index of the ecosystem. The comprehensive integrity of the ecosystem within a coal mining area undergoes significant alterations as it crosses three distinct ecological thresholds: the elastic point, the yield point, and the mutational point. There should be a corresponding constant (or constant interval) at the three ecological thresholds of ecosystem resilience, the elastic point, the yield point, and the mutational point, which is closely related to the scale of mining operations, mining technology, and the service life in coal mining areas. The established models for identifying ecological thresholds and the resilience modulus degree serve as both theoretical references and practical bases for managing the progress and trends of ecosystem changes during coal resource extraction, making ecological restoration in coal mine areas more target-oriented and specific.},
}
@article {pmid40107962,
year = {2025},
author = {Dourmap, C and Fustec, J and Naudin, C and Carton, N and Tcherkez, G},
title = {White lupin: improving legume-based protein production via intercropping.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {76},
number = {10},
pages = {2673-2687},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf127},
pmid = {40107962},
issn = {1460-2431},
mesh = {*Lupinus/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism ; *Crop Production/methods ; Crops, Agricultural/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Climate change, increased demand for food, industry, and mitigation of environmental impacts are currently driving changes in agricultural practice. Moreover, increasing demand for plant-based protein as substitutes for animal protein or to reduce soybean importations is driving cultivation of high-protein crops. Legumes crops play a critical role in this process. Amongst them is white lupin (Lupinus albus), a so-called orphan species, meaning it has relatively little cultivated surface area worldwide and limited agronomic knowledge. Lupin is, nevertheless, very promising since its seeds have a high content of storage proteins with interesting nutritional properties. It also has low fertilisation requirements since it forms root clusters allowing efficient phosphorus (P) acquisition, along with symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation by nodules. Nevertheless, lupin cultivation faces important challenges such as yield variability, slow vegetative development, susceptibility to weeds diseases, and water stress. Lupin has an enormous potential for resource-saving practices such as intercropping with non-legumes, because of niche complementarity for N acquisition and facilitation of P transfer to the associated species, which can in turn mitigate weeds and pests, and ensure yield stability. To overcome several bottlenecks associated with lupin cultivation (e.g. nutrient utilisation, drought resistance or limiting the impact of weeds), genetic, metabolic, and agronomic research is required in order to define ideotypes that are particularly well-fitted to sustainable agricultural practices such as intercropping, with optimal protein yield. This is one of the purposes of the trans-disciplinary research programme PULSAR, funded by France 2030, which aims to unlock several bottlenecks in lupin utilisation in agronomy.},
}
@article {pmid40107953,
year = {2025},
author = {Gould, AL and Osland, HK},
title = {Strain-level variation in microbial symbiosis: lessons from the Siphamia-Photobacterium mandapamensis system.},
journal = {Trends in microbiology},
volume = {33},
number = {6},
pages = {580-582},
doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2025.02.010},
pmid = {40107953},
issn = {1878-4380},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Photobacterium/physiology/genetics ; Host Microbial Interactions ; },
abstract = {The Siphamia-Photobacterium mandapamensis symbiosis is a binary, gut-associated mutualism that serves as a powerful model for studying strain-level variation in host-microbe interactions. Its combination of high species-level specificity and significant strain diversity makes it ideal for exploring host selectivity, microbial diversity, and the broader mechanisms driving strain-level dynamics in microbial symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40107097,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, J and Zhang, Z and Shen, N and Yu, H and Yu, G and Qi, J and Liu, R and Hu, C and Qu, J},
title = {Bipartite trophic levels cannot resist the interference of microplastics: A case study of submerged macrophytes and snail.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {491},
number = {},
pages = {137898},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137898},
pmid = {40107097},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {*Microplastics/toxicity ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; Animals ; *Snails/drug effects/metabolism ; Biomass ; Biofilms/drug effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Some studies frequently focus on the toxic effects of compound pollution formed by microplastics and other pollutants on individual organisms, but it is still unclear how multi-trophic level organisms in compound communities resist the stress of microplastics. Thus, this research used a dose-response experiment (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 mg L[-1]) to illustrate the influences that microplastics might have on two symbiotic freshwater organisms Vallisneria natans and Sinotaia quadrata. The results showed the reduction of V. natans biomass in 0.5 and 1 mg L[-1] groups (28-38 %), and disturbances on the photosynthetic system, reduced the chlorophyll content (15-85 %) and maximum quantum yields (10-31 %). In the case of S. quadrata, which subsisted by scraping leaf biofilms, there was a disruption in the functioning of the antioxidant system. Concurrently, the activities of digestive and neurotransmitter enzymes were affected, potentially leading to detrimental impacts on the organism's essential physiological processes. The introduction of microplastics significantly enhanced the relative abundance of specific microbial taxa, such as Proteobacteria within the biofilm of V. natans leaves and chloroflexi in the rhizosphere, thereby altering the microbial community assembly process. This means the potential ecological functions with microbes as the carrier was influenced. These results indicated that microplastic in aquatic environments can impact the metabolism, autotrophic, and heterotrophic behavior of double-end trophic organisms through symbiotic activities. Therefore, our study reveals how polystyrene microplastics affect the growth of submerged aquatic plants and snails, and from the perspective of community integrity and health, the introduction of these pollutants into freshwater environments may cause disruptive effects.},
}
@article {pmid40106994,
year = {2025},
author = {Lakshmikandan, M and Li, M},
title = {Advancements and hurdles in symbiotic microalgal co-cultivation strategies for wastewater treatment.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {380},
number = {},
pages = {125018},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125018},
pmid = {40106994},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Microalgae ; *Wastewater ; Symbiosis ; Biofuels ; Bioreactors ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Water Purification/methods ; },
abstract = {Microalgae offer significant potential in various industrial applications, such as biofuel production and wastewater treatment, but the economic barriers to their cultivation and harvesting have been a major obstacle. However, a promising strategy involving co-cultivating microalgae in wastewater treatment could overcome the limitations of monocultivation and open the possibility for increased integration of microalgae into various industrial processes. This symbiotic relationship between microalgae and other microbes can enhance nutrient removal efficiency, increase value-added bioproduct production, promote carbon capture, and decrease energy consumption. However, unresolved challenges, such as the competition between microalgae and other microbes within the wastewater treatment system, may result in imbalances and reduced efficiency. The complexity of managing multiple microbes in a co-cultivation system poses difficulties in achieving stability and consistency in bioproduct production. In response to these challenges, strategies such as optimizing nutrient ratios, manipulating environmental conditions, understanding the dynamics of microbial relationships, and employing genetic modification to enhance the metabolic capabilities of microalgae and improve their competitiveness are critical in transitioning to a more sustainable path. Hence, this review will provide an in-depth analysis of recent advancements in symbiotic microalgal co-cultivation for applications in wastewater treatment and CO2 utilization, as well as discuss approaches for improving microalgal strains through genetic modification. Furthermore, the review will explore the use of efficient bioreactors, advanced control systems, and advancements in biorefinery processes.},
}
@article {pmid40106558,
year = {2025},
author = {Maurya, AK and Kröninger, L and Ehret, G and Bäumers, M and Marson, M and Scheu, S and Nowack, ECM},
title = {A nucleus-encoded dynamin-like protein controls endosymbiont division in the trypanosomatid Angomonas deanei.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {11},
number = {12},
pages = {eadp8518},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adp8518},
pmid = {40106558},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Trypanosomatina/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Dynamins/metabolism/genetics ; *Cell Division ; *Cell Nucleus/metabolism/genetics ; *Protozoan Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Angomonas deanei is a trypanosomatid of the Strigomonadinae. All members of this subfamily contain a single β-proteobacterial endosymbiont. Intriguingly, cell cycles of host and endosymbiont are synchronized. The molecular mechanisms underlying this notable level of integration are unknown. Previously, we identified a nucleus-encoded dynamin-like protein, called ETP9, that localizes at the endosymbiont division site of A. deanei. Here, we found by comparative genomics that endosymbionts throughout the Strigomonadinae lost the capacity to autonomously form a division septum. We describe the cell cycle-dependent subcellular localization of ETP9 that follows accumulation of the bacterium-encoded division protein FtsZ at the endosymbiont division site. Furthermore, we found that ETP9 is essential in symbiotic but dispensable in aposymbiotic A. deanei that lost the endosymbiont. In the symbiotic strain, ETP9 knockdowns resulted in filamentous, division-impaired endosymbionts. Our work unveiled that in A. deanei an endosymbiont division machinery of dual genetic origin evolved in which a neo-functionalized host protein compensates for losses of endosymbiont division genes.},
}
@article {pmid40105505,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, J and Gao, F and Pan, H},
title = {Essential roles of nodule cysteine-rich peptides in maintaining the viability of terminally differentiated bacteroids in legume-rhizobia symbiosis.},
journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology},
volume = {67},
number = {4},
pages = {1077-1085},
doi = {10.1111/jipb.13891},
pmid = {40105505},
issn = {1744-7909},
support = {2024JJ2014//Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province/ ; 2024JJ6132//Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province/ ; 32070271//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32161133006//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32200201//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32441035//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32470255//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology/metabolism ; *Peptides/metabolism/chemistry ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/metabolism ; *Cysteine/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {Investigations into the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia can yield innovative strategies for sustainable agriculture. Legume species of the Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade (IRLC) and the Dalbergioids, can utilize nodule cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides, a diverse family of peptides characterized by four or six highly conserved cysteine residues, to communicate with their microbial symbionts. These peptides, many of which exhibit antimicrobial properties, induce profound differentiation of bacteroids (semi-autonomous forms of bacteria) within nodule cells. This terminal differentiation endows the bacteroids with the ability to fix nitrogen, at the expense of their reproductive capacity. Notably, a significant number of NCR peptides is expressed in the nodule fixation zone, where the bacteroids have already reached terminal differentiation. Recent discoveries, through forward genetics approaches, have revealed that the functions of NCR peptides extend beyond antimicrobial effects and the promotion of differentiation. They also play a critical role in sustaining the viability of terminally differentiated bacteroids within nodule cells. These findings underscore the multifaceted functions of NCR peptides and highlight the importance of these peptides in mediating communications between host cells and the terminally differentiated bacteroids.},
}
@article {pmid40103281,
year = {2025},
author = {Osmanović, D and Rabin, Y and Soen, Y},
title = {A Model of Epigenetic Inheritance Accounts for Unexpected Adaptation to Unforeseen Challenges.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {12},
number = {18},
pages = {e2414297},
pmid = {40103281},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {40663//John Templeton Foundation/ ; 61122//John Templeton Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Epigenesis, Genetic/genetics ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; *Models, Genetic ; Humans ; Animals ; Stochastic Processes ; Population Dynamics ; },
abstract = {Accumulated evidence of transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic and symbiotic changes raises fundamental questions about the possible types, significance and duration of impacts on the population, as well as whether, and under which conditions, the inheritance of non-genetic changes confers long-term advantage to the population. To address these questions, a population epigenetics model of individuals undergoing stochastic changes and/or induced responses that are transmitted to the offspringis introduced. Potentially adaptive and maladaptive responses are represented, respectively, by environmentally driven changes that reduce and increase the selective pressure. Analytic solutions in a simplified case of populations that are exposed to either periodic or progressively deteriorating environments shows that acquisition and transmission of non-genetic changes that alleviate the selective pressure confer long-term advantage and may facilitate escape from extinction. Systematic analysis of outcomes as a function of population properties further identifies a non-traditional regime of adaptation mediated by stochastic changes that are rapidly acquired within a lifetime. Contrasting model predictions with experimental findings shows that inheritance of dynamically acquired changes enables rapid adaptation to unforeseen challenges and can account for population dynamics that is either unexpected or beyond the scope of traditional models.},
}
@article {pmid40102781,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, H and Gan, Y and Jiang, S and Zhu, X and Xia, Y and Gong, D and Xie, X and Gong, Y and Zhang, Y and Lei, Q and Wang, M and Li, J},
title = {Genomic alterations in Bacteroides fragilis favor adaptation in colorectal cancer microenvironment.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {269},
pmid = {40102781},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {Guizhou Education Technology [2024] No. 335//Natural Science Research Project of Guizhou Education Department in 2024/ ; (Zunyi City, Kehe HZ character (2024) No. 303)//Zunyi city Science and Technology Program project/ ; Guizhou Science and Technology Platform Talents [2021]1350-038//Zunyi Medical University 2021 Special Project for Academic New Seedling Cultivation and Innovative Exploration/ ; No. gzwjkj2019-1-123//Science and Technology Fund Project of Guizhou Health Care Commission/ ; No. [2011]57//Governor's Special Fund for Outstanding Scientific and Technological Education Talents in Guizhou Province/ ; QJJ [2023] 019//Scientific Research Program of Guizhou Provincial Department of Education/ ; },
mesh = {*Bacteroides fragilis/genetics/physiology/isolation &amp; purification/pathogenicity ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/microbiology/pathology ; *Tumor Microenvironment ; Humans ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Genomics ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; Phylogeny ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC) is an incredibly long process that involves continuous changes in the tumor microenvironment. These constant changes may ultimately result in genetic alterations and changes in the metabolic processes of some symbiotic bacteria as a way to adapt to the changing environment. Patients with CRC exhibit an altered abundance of Bacteroides fragilis (B. fragilis) as indicated by several studies. To better understand the genomic characteristics and virulence spectrum of B. fragilis strains in tumor tissues, B. fragilis strains were isolated from tumor and paracancerous tissues of CRC patients.<br><br>METHODS: The isolates were identified using 16&#xa0;S rRNA sequencing, morphological analysis, physiological and biochemical characterization and PCR, and they were then subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis.<br><br>RESULTS: A strain of B. fragilis enterotoxin (BFT) bft1-producing ZY0302 and a non-enterotoxin-producing B. fragilis ZY0804 were isolated from cancerous and paraneoplastic tissues, respectively. Analysis based on the core and nonessential genes showed that the genomic profiles of the isolates, ZY0302 and ZY0804, differed from those of B. fragilis from other tissue sources. This core and the co-evolution of non-essential genes may be the result of their adaptation to fluctuations in the tumor microenvironment and enhancing their survival. In addition, the ZY0302 and ZY0804 genomes underwent extensive horizontal gene transfer and varying degrees of genomic rearrangements, inversions, insertions, and deletion events, which may favor the enhancement of bacteria's ability to adapt to environmental changes. For instance, the virulence factors, such as the capsular biosynthesis gene clusters and components of the type IV secretion system, acquired through horizontal gene transfer, may facilitated B. fragilis in evading immune responses and managing oxidative stress. Moreover, our analysis revealed that multiple virulence factors identified in the isolates were mainly involved in bacterial adhesion and colonization, oxidative stress, iron acquisition, and immune evasion. This observation is worth noting given that enzymes such as neuraminidase, lipase, hemolysin, protease, and phosphatase, along with genes responsible for LPS biosynthesis, which are recognized for their association with the virulence of B. fragilis, were prevalent among the isolates.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In summary, it is our assertion that the alterations observed in both core and nonessential genes of B. fragilis, which have been isolated from tissues of colorectal cancer patients, along with significant instances of horizontal gene transfer to the genome, are likely intended to enhance adaptation to the evolving conditions of the tumor microenvironment. This study may provide new insights into the interaction between B. fragilis and the CRC microenvironment.},
}
@article {pmid40101943,
year = {2025},
author = {Lai, TV and Ryder, MH and Rathjen, JR and Riley, IT and Denton, MD},
title = {Seed-applied micronutrient toxicity to rhizobia and impaired legume nodulation.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {136},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxaf067},
pmid = {40101943},
issn = {1365-2672},
support = {UOA1805-017RTX//Grains Research and Development Corporation/ ; },
mesh = {*Micronutrients/toxicity/pharmacology ; *Cicer/microbiology/growth &amp; development/drug effects ; Seeds/microbiology ; *Pisum sativum/microbiology/growth &amp; development/drug effects ; *Rhizobium/drug effects ; *Plant Root Nodulation/drug effects ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; },
abstract = {AIMS: Micronutrients are sometimes mixed with rhizobial inoculants in liquid solutions to promote the growth and development of legume crops. The compatibility of rhizobia with micronutrients is poorly documented. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of some frequently used micronutrients on rhizobial inoculant survival, nodulation, and nutrition of chickpea and field pea.<br><br>METHODS AND RESULTS: Four Australian commercial rhizobia (CC1192, SARDI969, WSM1455, and WU425) were assessed in vitro for their compatibility with plant micronutrients as used in a liquid mixture (4% MnSO4, 2% ZnSO4, 0.2% CuSO4, and 0.04% Na2MoO4). The impact of this mixture on nodulation and plant nutrition was tested on chickpea and field pea under glasshouse conditions. The micronutrient mixture was toxic to all tested rhizobia. While MnSO4 and Na2MoO4 were not inhibitory to rhizobia, individual CuSO4 (>20&#xa0;&#xb5;mol l-1 or 0.0005%) and ZnSO4 (>250&#xa0;&#xb5;mol l-1 or 0.007%) were lethal to rhizobia. Rhizobial survival was relatively low in a combination of 20&#xa0;&#xb5;mol l-1 CuSO4 and 250&#xa0;&#xb5;mol l-1 ZnSO4 due to their interactive effect. When rhizobial peat inoculants were suspended in the micronutrient mix, only 35% of rhizobia were recovered at sowing time (1&#xa0;h after preparation), resulting in poor nodulation of both legumes. Separation of rhizobia (inoculants on seeds) from the micronutrient mixture (applied in-furrow) reduced the risk of inadequate nodulation, while meeting plant nutritional requirements and symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40101773,
year = {2025},
author = {Ashey, J and Putnam, HM and McManus, MC},
title = {Guided by the northern star coral: a research synthesis and roadmap for Astrangia poculata.},
journal = {Biology letters},
volume = {21},
number = {3},
pages = {20240469},
pmid = {40101773},
issn = {1744-957X},
support = {//National Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology/microbiology/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; Ecosystem ; Climate Change ; },
abstract = {The northern star coral, Astrangia poculata, is a temperate, facultatively symbiotic, scleractinian coral spanning the coastal western Atlantic. This calcifying species is mixotrophic with a broad geographical range, and therefore has high utility in addressing questions related to community ecology, symbiosis, population genetics, biomineralization and resilience to environmental perturbations. Here, we review the current A. poculata peer-reviewed literature, which is primarily found in six focal areas: geographic range, habitat and ecology, symbiosis, life history, microbiome and genomics and transcriptomics. A cross-cutting theme of these studies emerges as the value of an experimental system that is facultatively symbiotic. Yet, the historic overgeneralization of symbiotic versus 'aposymbiotic' A. poculata has constrained the interpretation of the basic biology and generalizability of conclusions. Emergent from our review, and timely with respect to climate change, is the value that A. poculata brings as an experimental system with the potential to test questions on range adaptability and environmental resilience. We identify future avenues of research for A. poculata studies that include integration of population genetics with organismal-molecular-cellular biology across the geographical range, while leveraging the power of the facultative symbiosis context.},
}
@article {pmid40100432,
year = {2025},
author = {Brieuc, H and Eléonore, B and Bruno, H and Stéphane, D and Maryline, CS},
title = {Fungicide seed treatments delay arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization of winter wheat in the greenhouse, but the effect is attenuated in the field.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {22},
pmid = {40100432},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {D31-1388-S1 and D65-1414//General Directorate for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (DGO3) - Public Service of Wallonia/ ; Plan de d&#xe9;veloppement de la production biologique en Wallonie &#xe0; l'horizon 2030//La Wallonie/ ; },
mesh = {*Triticum/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Mycorrhizae/drug effects/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Fungicides, Industrial/pharmacology ; *Seeds/microbiology/drug effects ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Seasons ; Triazoles/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {Seed-applied fungicides support agricultural production by controlling seed- or soil-borne diseases. However, they can impact non-target soil organisms. In this study, we investigated the effect of eight seed treatments (including two authorized for organic farming) on root colonization of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. One experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions, on a sterile substrate inoculated with the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833 and one in field conditions, where winter wheat was colonized by native soil AM fungi. In greenhouse conditions, the six conventional seed treatments reduced root colonization five weeks after sowing. No difference with the control treatment was measured thereafter for a product containing triazole alone. In contrast, seed treatments containing fludioxonil (fungicide molecule alone or formulated with the triazole difenoconazole), and prochloraz formulated with the triazole triticonazole significantly reduced root colonization until 11 weeks after sowing. Notably, when formulated with sedaxane, the adverse effect of fludioxonil was reduced. The negative effect of seed treatments on AM fungal root colonization in field was smaller than in the greenhouse and generally not significant, with disparate results from one timestep to another. This may be related to the dilution or the degradation of the active ingredients in the soil during the winter period or AM fungal species/strain involved in symbiosis. Overall, our results outline that the direct effect of seed treatment is highly variable depending on the modes of action, half-lives and interactions between active ingredients. By contributing to highlight the undesired effects of pesticides on AM fungi (i.e., by delaying root colonization), this study pleads for a reduction of pesticide applications to encourage the rapid and efficient establishment of functional mycorrhizal symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40098940,
year = {2025},
author = {Lee, W and Kim, JS and Jo, S and Seo, CW and Lim, YW},
title = {Taxonomic Study of Sixteen Unrecorded and Five New Species of Hypocreales from the Korean Marine Environment.},
journal = {Mycobiology},
volume = {53},
number = {2},
pages = {144-167},
pmid = {40098940},
issn = {1229-8093},
abstract = {The order Hypocreales, which belongs to the Ascomycota class Sordariomycetes, has a large number of species and occupies a variety of ecological niches, including saprophytic, symbiotic, and parasitic fungi. While much research has focused on terrestrial Hypocrealean fungi, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of their diversity and ecological roles in marine environments. In this study, we isolated 47 fungal strains from various marine habitats in South Korea. Through the polyphasic study, including phylogenetic analysis using multi-genetic markers (ITS, LSU, TEF1, RPB2, TUB, and ACT) and morphological analysis, we identified 21 species previously undiscovered in Korea, including 5 new and 16 unrecorded species. Our findings illustrate the species diversity of marine Hypocreales, highlighting the need for additional research into their ecological functions and potential in biotechnology and medicine.},
}
@article {pmid40098416,
year = {2025},
author = {Tanfouri, N and Guerfali, MM and Asimakis, E and Mokhtar, NB and Apostolopoulou, G and Hamden, H and Charaabi, K and Fadhl, S and Stathopoulou, P and Cherif, A and Tsiamis, G},
title = {Characterization of the microbial communities in Tunisian wild populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and their implications for the future implementation of the sterile insect technique.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70016},
pmid = {40098416},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {22662//International Atomic Energy Agency/ ; },
abstract = {Insects and their associated microbiota have developed a sustained and mutually beneficial relationship, characterized by the influence of the symbiotic microorganisms on the host's physiological processes and fitness parameters. The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the world's most ubiquitous, invasive, and harmful agricultural pests. In Tunisia, the medfly is widely distributed across all bioclimatic zones. However, in the absence of surveillance, infestations can escalate drastically, causing damage levels as high as 100%. Our study aimed to characterize the microbiome profile of Tunisian medfly populations from Zaghouan, Tozeur, Siliana, and Bizerte to understand the microbial dynamics implicated in the invasiveness and adaptability potential if SIT is applied. We conducted amplicon sequencing using MiSeq Illumina and a culture-dependent approach. Our findings revealed notable differences in symbiotic communities across regions. For instance, Serratia was prevalent in Tozeur populations, while Klebsiella showed high abundance in Bizerte. The composition of the bacterial communities within the medfly populations was influenced by several factors including the environmental conditions, geographical location, developmental stage, and the sex of the insects. Investigating the intricate relationship between insects and their microbiota is pivotal for understanding their biology and developing effective pest management strategies. Additionally, the isolation of bacteria from adult and larval medflies collected in the Bizerte region revealed the presence of bacterial species that could be utilized as attractants or supplements in larval artificial diets in the case of application of the SIT aiming at producing competitive sterile males.},
}
@article {pmid40097205,
year = {2025},
author = {Su, B and Li, H and Zhang, K and Li, H and Fan, C and Zhong, M and Zou, H and Li, R and Chen, L and Jin, JB and Huang, M and Liu, B and Kong, F and Sun, Z},
title = {Evening complex component ELF3 interacts with LUX proteins to repress soybean root nodulation.},
journal = {Plant biotechnology journal},
volume = {23},
number = {6},
pages = {2194-2206},
pmid = {40097205},
issn = {1467-7652},
support = {2024ZD04079//Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project/ ; 32301822//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022B1515120045//Key Projects of Joint Foundation of Guangdong Provincial/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/metabolism/microbiology/physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Roots/metabolism/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/genetics ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Formation of root nodules is a unique hallmark of the symbiotic interaction between legume host plants and rhizobia and is governed by a complex regulatory framework that balances the appropriate orchestration of rhizobial infection and subsequent nodule organogenesis. In contrast to prominent model species such as Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, research on symbiotic signal transduction in the staple-crop soybean Glycine max remains relatively insufficient. Here, we identified a soybean mutant with ~25% additional root nodules over wild-type, designated as increased number of nodules 1 (inn1). Through map-based cloning, INN1 encodes the EARLY FLOWERING 3a (ELF3a) protein component of the soybean Evening Complex, together with LUX1 and LUX2. INN1 is co-expressed with LUX1 and LUX2 in roots, and knockout of INN1 or knockdown of LUX1 and LUX2 enhances root nodulation. The function of INN1 in negatively regulating nodulation is genetically and biochemically dependent upon LUXs, as the INN1-LUX complex binds to the promoter of the downstream pro-nodulation target ENOD40, repressing its expression. ELF3a/INN1's repression of root-nodule formation extends beyond its established roles in diverse above-ground developmental and physiological processes and offers a theoretical basis for enhancing the biological-nitrogen fixation capacity of soybean.},
}
@article {pmid40096662,
year = {2025},
author = {Fei, DL and Wu, ZW and Zhang, K},
title = {Benefit Game 2.0: Alien Seaweed Swarms-Exploring the Interplay of Human Activity and Environmental Sustainability.},
journal = {Artificial life},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-17},
doi = {10.1162/artl_a_00468},
pmid = {40096662},
issn = {1530-9185},
abstract = {This article presents Benefit Game 2.0, a multiscreen Artificial Life gameplay installation. Saccharina latissima, a seaweed species economically beneficial to humans but threatened by overexploitation, motivates the creation of this artwork. Technically, the authors create an underwater virtual ecosystem consisting of a seaweed swarm and symbiotic fungi, created using procedural content generation via machine learning and rule-based methods. Moreover, the work features a unique cybernetic loop structure, incorporating audience observation and game token interactions. This virtual system is also symbolically influenced in real time by indoor carbon dioxide measurements, serving as an artistic metaphor for the broader impacts of climate change. This integration with the physical game machine underscores the fragile relationship between human activities and the environment under severe global climate change and immerses the audience in the challenging balance between sustainability and profit seeking in this context.},
}
@article {pmid40095689,
year = {2025},
author = {Xie, X and Fan, X},
title = {Fungal small RNA hijacking: a new layer of cross-kingdom communications in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {3},
pages = {814-817},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70085},
pmid = {40095689},
issn = {1469-8137},
}
@article {pmid40095637,
year = {2025},
author = {Ranner, JL and Stabl, G and Piller, A and Paries, M and Sharma, S and Zeng, T and Spaccasassi, A and Stark, TD and Gutjahr, C and Dawid, C},
title = {Untargeted metabolomics reveals novel metabolites in Lotus japonicus roots during arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {3},
pages = {1256-1275},
pmid = {40095637},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {170483403//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 401867691//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 759731//H2020 European Research Council/ ; },
mesh = {*Lotus/metabolism/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Metabolomics/methods ; *Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Metabolome ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) improves mineral nutrient supply, stress tolerance, and growth of host plants through re-programing of plant physiology. We investigated the effect of AM on the root secondary metabolome of the model legume Lotus japonicus using untargeted metabolomics. Acetonitrile extracts of AM and control roots were analysed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-ion mobility-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-IM-ToF-MS). We characterized AM-regulated metabolites using co-chromatography with authentic standards or isolation and structure identification from L. japonicus roots using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Arbuscular mycorrhiza triggered major changes in the root metabolome, with most features representing unknown compounds. We identified three novel polyphenols: 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxycoumaronochromone (lotuschromone), 4-hydroxy-2-(2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyphenyl)-6-methoxybenzofuran-3-carbaldehyde (lotusaldehyde), and 7-hydroxy-3,9-dimethoxypterocarp-6a-ene (lotuscarpene). Further AM-enhanced secondary metabolites included the previously known lupinalbin A and B, ayamenin D, biochanin A, vestitol, acacetin, coumestrol, and betulinic acid. Lupinalbin A, biochanin A, ayamenin D, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, lotuscarpene, medicarpin, daidzein, genistein, and 2'-hydroxygenistein inhibited Rhizophagus irregularis spore germination upon direct application. Our results show that AM enhances the production of polyphenols in L. japonicus roots and highlights a treasure trove of numerous unknown plant secondary metabolites awaiting structural identification and functional characterization.},
}
@article {pmid40095139,
year = {2025},
author = {Soliman, ERS and Abdelhameed, RE and Metwally, RA},
title = {Role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in drought-resilient soybeans (Glycine max L.): unraveling the morphological, physio-biochemical traits, and expression of polyamine biosynthesis genes.},
journal = {Botanical studies},
volume = {66},
number = {1},
pages = {9},
pmid = {40095139},
issn = {1817-406X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Drought stress is a catastrophic abiotic stressor that impedes the worldwide output of commodities and the development of plants. The Utilizing biological antioxidant stimulators, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are one example increased the plants' ability to withstand the effects of drought. The symbiotic response of soybean (Glycine max L.) to AMF inoculation was assessed in the experiment presented herewith at different watering regimes (field capacity of 25, 50, and 90%). The vegetative, physio-biochemical traits, and regulation of genes involved in polyamine synthesis in G. max plants were evaluated.<br><br>RESULTS: The results obtained suggested that AMF inoculation has an advantage over plants that were non-inoculated in terms of their growth and all assessed criteria, which responded to drought stress by showing slower development. It is evident that the gas exchange parameters of the soybean plant were substantially reduced by 36.79 (photosynthetic rate; A), 60.59 (transpiration rate; E), and 53.50% (stomatal conductance gs), respectively, under severe stress of drought in comparison to control; non-stressed treatment. However, the AMF inoculation resulted in a 40.87, 29.89, and 33.65% increase in A, E, and gs levels, respectively, in extremely drought-stressful circumstances, when in contrast to non-AMF one that was grown under well-watered conditions. The drought level was inversely proportional to mycorrhizal colonization. The total antioxidant capacity, protein, and proline contents were all enhanced by AMF inoculation, while the malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents were decreased. Polyamine biosynthesis genes expression; Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC2), Spermidine synthase (SPDS) and Spermine synthase (SpS) were upregulated in drought and to even higher level in AMF's mild drought inoculated plants' shoots. This implies that AMF plays apart in the enhanced survival of soybean plants stressed by drought and reduced plant membranes damage by limiting the excessive production of oxidative stress generators; ROS.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the present investigation demonstrates that inoculation of AMF may be a supportable and environmentally advantageous method for improving the physio-biochemical traits, plant growth, and polyamine biosynthesis genes of soybean plants in the incident of limited water availability.},
}
@article {pmid40094814,
year = {2025},
author = {Adu Oparah, I and Deaker, R and Hartley, JC and Gemell, G and Hartley, E and Sohail, MN and Kaiser, BN},
title = {Symbiotic Effectiveness, Rhizosphere Competence and Nodule Occupancy of Chickpea Root Nodule Bacteria from Soils in Kununurra Western Australia and Narrabri New South Wales Australia.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40094814},
issn = {2223-7747},
abstract = {Root nodule bacterial isolates from field-grown chickpea were evaluated in glasshouse and field experiments based on infectivity, relative symbiotic effectiveness, nodule occupancy, plant yield and survivability in the soil rhizosphere for their use as inoculants to enhance chickpea production in Western Australia. Compared to the Australian commercial chickpea inoculant strain Mesorhizobium ciceri sv. ciceri CC1192, 10 new strains were 'fast' growers, averaging 72 h to grow in culture at 28 °C. The relative symbiotic effectiveness (RSE%) of the new strains in field experiments determined by shoot weight ranged from 77 to 111% in the Desi genotype (var. Kyabra) and 83 to 102% in Kabuli (var. Kimberley Large). Kyabra yielded greater output (2.4-3 t/ha) than Kimberley Large (1.2-1.8 t/ha), with mean 100 seed weights of 23 and 59 g, respectively. The rhizobial strains living in the rhizosphere presented a higher competitive ability for nodule occupancy than those in the bulk soil. Tukey's multiple comparisons test showed no significant differences between the nodule occupancy ability of the introduced strains (i.e., 3/4, 6/7, N5, N300, K66, K188 and CC1192) in either Kyabra or Kimberley Large (p = 0.7321), but the strain competitiveness with each cultivar differed (p < 0.0001) for some of the test strains. Strains N5, N300, K72 and 6/7 were the top contenders that matched or beat CC1192 in nitrogen fixation traits. These findings show that new rhizobial strains derived from naturalized soil populations exhibited better adaptability to local soil conditions than CC1192.},
}
@article {pmid40093759,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, N and Shan, X and Wang, K and Lu, J and Zhu, Y and Regina, RS and Rodriguez, RJ and Yao, J and Martin, FM and Yuan, Z},
title = {A fusarioid fungus forms mutualistic interactions with poplar trees that resemble ectomycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e143240},
pmid = {40093759},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {Fusarium species, recognised as global priority pathogens, frequently induce severe diseases in crops; however, certain species exhibit alternative symbiotic lifestyles and are either non-pathogenic or endophytic. In this study, we characterised the mutualistic relationship between the eFp isolate of F.pseudograminearum and five poplar species, resulting in formation root structures reminiscent of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis. This functional symbiosis is evidenced by enhanced plant growth, reciprocal nutrient exchange, improved nitrogen and phosphorus uptake and upregulation of root sugar transporter gene expression (PtSweet1). Comparative and population genomics confirmed that eFp maintains a structurally similar genome, but exhibits significant divergence from ten conspecific pathogenic isolates. Notably, eFp enhanced the growth of diverse plant lineages (Oryza, Arabidopsis, Pinus and non-vascular liverworts), indicating a near-complete loss of virulence. Although this specialised symbiosis has only been established in vitro, it holds significant value in elucidating the evolutionary track from endophytic to mycorrhizal associations.},
}
@article {pmid40092220,
year = {2025},
author = {Bhatia, A and Sharma, D and Mehta, J and Kumarasamy, V and Begum, MY and Siddiqua, A and Sekar, M and Subramaniyan, V and Wong, LS and Mat Rani, NNI},
title = {Probiotics and Synbiotics: Applications, Benefits, and Mechanisms for the Improvement of Human and Ecological Health.},
journal = {Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare},
volume = {18},
number = {},
pages = {1493-1510},
pmid = {40092220},
issn = {1178-2390},
abstract = {This review explores the multifaceted roles and applications of probiotics, emphasizing their significance in maintaining and enhancing host health through microbial interactions. It includes the concept of holobionts and the symbiotic relationships between hosts and their microbiomes, illustrating how various microbiota can enhance immunity, support growth, and prevent diseases. It delves into the customization of probiotics using molecular and genomic techniques, focusing Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus species. Furthermore, it discusses the symbiotic effects of symbiotics which aids in enhancing the survivability and beneficial effects of probiotics. The role beneficial microbes in gut is emphasized, noting its impact on preventing diseases and maintaining a stable microbial community. The potential therapeutic value of probiotics includes the ability to treat gastrointestinal diseases, as well as to strengthen the immune system and reduce the number of free radicals that are present in the body. Additionally, it explores secondary metabolites produced by bacteria in the gut, such as bacteriocins and exopolysaccharides, and their effect on the health of human, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. The review concludes by addressing the use of probiotics in traditional medicine and their potential in novel therapeutic applications, including the treatment of endangered wildlife species and various human ailments.},
}
@article {pmid40091861,
year = {2025},
author = {Carrier, TJ and Elder, H and Macrander, J and Dimond, JL and Bingham, BL and Reitzel, AM},
title = {Symbiont-Mediated Metabolic Shift in the Sea Anemone Anthopleura elegantissima.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {34},
number = {8},
pages = {e17722},
pmid = {40091861},
issn = {1365-294X},
support = {//National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program/ ; //University of North Carolina at Charlotte/ ; //Western Washington University/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Sea Anemones/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Animals ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; Chlorophyta/genetics ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Coral reefs and their photosynthetic algae form one of the most ecologically and economically impactful symbioses in the animal kingdom. The stability of this nutritional mutualism and this ecosystem is, however, at risk due to increasing sea surface temperatures that cause corals to expel their symbionts. Symbioses with these microeukaryotes have independently evolved multiple times, and non-coral cnidarians (e.g., sea anemones) serve as a valuable and insightful comparative system due to their ease of husbandry in the laboratory and their ability to shuffle different strains of their photosymbionts to acclimate to thermal conditions. This breadth of symbiont shuffling is exemplified by the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima , which naturally occurs in symbiosis with the dinoflagellate Breviolum muscatinei (formerly Symbiodinium) or the chlorophyte Elliptochloris marina as well as being aposymbiotic. Here, we assembled a draft genome and used multi-omics to characterise multiple physiological levels of each phenotype. We find that A. elegantissima has symbiont-specific transcriptional and metabolomic signatures, but a similar bacterial community dominated by a single Sphingomonas species that is commonly found in the cnidarian microbiome. Symbiosis with either eukaryotic symbiont resulted in differential gene expression and metabolic abundance for diverse processes spanning metabolism and immunity to reproduction and development, with some of these processes being unique to either symbiont. The ability to culture A. elegantissima with its phylogenetically divergent photosymbionts and perform experimental manipulations makes A. elegantissima another tractable sea anemone system to decode the symbiotic conversations of coral reef ecosystems and aid in wider conservation efforts.},
}
@article {pmid40091613,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, C and Liu, F and Wu, Y and Li, P and Chen, W and Wu, C and Sun, J},
title = {Positive Linkage in Bacterial Microbiota at the Plant-Insect Interface Benefits an Invasive Bark Beetle.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {48},
number = {7},
pages = {4803-4822},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15470},
pmid = {40091613},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This work is funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFC2600100), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31702018, 32088102, 32061123002 and 32101537), and the Hebei Natural Science Foundation (C2023201034)./ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/physiology/microbiology ; *Pinus/microbiology/parasitology/metabolism ; Larva/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Introduced Species ; Phloem/microbiology ; Erwinia/physiology ; Inositol/metabolism/analogs &amp; derivatives ; Serratia/physiology ; Flavanones/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic microbes facilitate rapid adaptation of invasive insects on novel plants via multifaceted function provisions, but little was known on the importance of cross linkages in symbiotic microbiota to insect invasiveness. Novel host pine Pinus tabuliformis is inherently unsuitable for invasive red turpentine beetle (RTB) in China; however, Novosphingobium and Erwinia/Serratia in gallery microbiota (at the interface between RTB larvae and pine phloem) have been discovered to help beetles via biodegrading pine detrimental compounds naringenin and pinitol, respectively. Here, we further revealed significant positive linkage of the two functions, with higher activity level conferring more growth benefit to RTB larvae. Abundance of Erwinia/Serratia was remarkably increased in response to pinitol, while naringenin-biodegrading Novosphingobium was unable to utilize this main phloem carbohydrate directly. High-activity bacterial microbiota produced nutritive metabolites (sucrose and hexadecanoic acid) from pinitol consumption that facilitated growth of both Novosphingobium and beetle larvae. Functional proteins of several bacterial taxa were enriched in high-activity microbiota that appeared to form a metabolic network collectively to regulate the nutrient production. Our results indicate that positive interaction between Erwinia/Serratia and Novosphingobium is critical for RTB invasion success, while Bacilli bacteria might restrict this linkage, providing new insights into symbiotic microbial interactions for insect herbivores.},
}
@article {pmid40090966,
year = {2025},
author = {Ngambia Freitas, FS and De Vooght, L and Njiokou, F and Abeele, JVD and Bossard, G and Tchicaya, B and Corrales, RM and Ravel, S and Geiger, A and Berthier-Teyssedre, D},
title = {Evaluation of two candidate molecules-TCTP and cecropin-on the establishment of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense into the gut of Glossina palpalis gambiensis.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70012},
pmid = {40090966},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {//Institut&#xa0;de Recherche pour le D&#xe9;veloppement/ ; //Labex ParaFrap/ ; //Research Infrastructures for the control of vector-borne diseases/ ; 731060//European Union's Horizon 2020/ ; },
abstract = {Trypanosomiasis, transmitted by tsetse flies (Glossina spp.), poses a significant health threat in 36 sub-Saharan African countries. Current control methods targeting tsetse flies, while effective, allow reinfestation. This study investigates paratransgenesis, a novel strategy to engineer symbiotic bacteria in tsetse flies, Sodalis glossinidius, to deliver anti-trypanosome compounds. Disrupting the trypanosome life cycle within the fly and reducing parasite transmission could offer a sustainable solution for trypanosomiasis control. In this context, we tested the effect of cecropin, reported to be lethal for Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease) and TbgTCTP (Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein from Trypanosoma brucei gambiense), previously reported to modulate the growth of bacteria isolated from the fly microbiome, to delay the first peak of parasitemia and the death of trypanosome-infected mice. We have successfully cloned and transfected the genes encoding the two proteins into Sodalis strains. These Sodalis recombinant strains (recSodalisTbgTCTP and recSodaliscecropin) have been then microinjected into the L3 larval stage of Glossina palpalis gambiensis flies. The stability of the cloned genes was checked up to the 20th day after microinjection of recSodalis. The rate of fly emergence from untreated pupae was 95%; it was reduced by nearly 50% due to the mechanical injury caused by microinjection. It decreased to nearly 7% when larvae were injected with recSodalisTbgTCTP, which suggests TCTP could have a lethal impact to larvae development. When challenged with T. brucei gambiense, a slightly lower, but statistically non-significant, infection rate was recorded in flies harboring recSodaliscecropin compared to control flies. The effect of recSodalisTbgTCTP could not be measured due to the very low rate of fly emergence after corresponding treatment of the larvae. The results do not allow to conclude on the effect of cecropin or TCTP, delivered by para-transgenesis into the fly's gut, on the fly infection by the trypanosome. Nevertheless, the results are encouraging insofar as the technical approach works on the couple G. p. gambiensis/T. brucei gambiense. The next step will be to optimize the system and test other targets chosen among the ESPs (Excreted-Secreted Proteins) of the trypanosome secretum, or the differentially expressed genes associated with the sensitivity/resistance of the fly to trypanosome infection.},
}
@article {pmid40090092,
year = {2025},
author = {Skalny, M and Czeremuga, J and Rokowska, A and Gajewska, M and Blachowski, A and Marzec, M and Sokołowski, K and Dziewit, L and Bajda, T},
title = {Engineered magnetic particles derived from steelmaking dust for phosphorus recovery and extracellular DNA removal from municipal wastewater.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {380},
number = {},
pages = {124830},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124830},
pmid = {40090092},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Wastewater/chemistry ; *Phosphorus/chemistry ; Dust ; Adsorption ; Steel ; *DNA/chemistry ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Phosphorus (P) is a critical and finite raw material fundamental to various biological roles and industrial applications. Its limited availability can be managed through recovery from wastewater. However, wastewater often contains hazardous contaminants, including antibiotic resistance and virulence genes associated with extracellular DNA (exDNA), which may compromise the safety of recovered P products. To address this issue, magnetically separated electric arc furnace dust (ms-EAFD), a by-product of the steelmaking process, was functionalized using dissolution recrystallization protocol utilizing NaOH and Ca(OH)2 and applied as an adsorbent for P recovery and exDNA removal from municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent. Upon functionalization, ms-EAFD increases its specific surface area seven-fold and shifts zeta potential towards positive values. This causes an increase in phosphate removal efficiency from 7.1% to above 70% and adsorption capacity from 0.5 to above 4.5 mg/g (at 15 mg/L PO4[3-]). Ca-enriched material induce microprecipitation of CaP in P-rich wastewater, improving phosphorus removal efficiency. exDNA removal efficiency depends on its concentration and the composition of the water matrix regardless of the applied adsorbent. All materials demonstrate exDNA removal efficiency ranging from 75 to 100% in wastewater containing 0.5 PO4[3-] mg/L, which drops to approximately 20% when PO4[3-] concentration reaches 5 mg/L. The adsorbent regeneration with 0.5M NaOH (pH > 13) led to efficient phosphate desorption and complete degradation of exDNA in the eluate. The proposed approach may facilitate industrial symbiosis and repurpose EAFD into a valuable material for improving wastewater treatment efficiency.},
}
@article {pmid40090091,
year = {2025},
author = {Bai, Y and Wang, N and Xie, S and Zhang, J},
title = {Paradigm and efficiency of industrial waste resource utilization: Evidence from China.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {380},
number = {},
pages = {124922},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124922},
pmid = {40090091},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {China ; *Industrial Waste ; *Recycling ; *Waste Management/methods ; },
abstract = {Achieving industrial symbiosis and zero emissions requires integrated frameworks for optimizing industrial waste valorization. However, existing studies often overlook the synergy between operational paradigms and multidimensional efficiency. This study bridges this gap through a mixed-methods investigation of 48 Chinese industrial waste resource (IWR) utilization centers, combining qualitative analysis of 1.90 GB of textual case data with a Multi-Criteria Decision Making-Grey Relational Projection Method (MCDM-GRPM) quantitative analysis framework. Two key contributions emerge: (1) redefining industrial waste as IWRs and formulating a "technology-enterprise-policy" paradigm that integrates policy incentives, cross-sector collaboration, and technological innovation to facilitate closed-loop recycling; and (2) developing a multidimensional efficiency evaluation system incorporating technical, economic, and ecological criteria to assess IWR utilization performance. Findings demonstrate that the proposed paradigm operationalizes the 3R principles, transforming waste into high-value resources while fostering industrial symbiosis. Efficiency analysis reveals notable disparities among centers, with top performers (e.g., DMU25, DMU21) leveraging geographic advantages, waste-type characteristics, and industrial diversification. High efficiency in individual dimensions does not ensure overall performance, underscoring the need for balanced, multicriteria-driven strategies. By integrating qualitative and quantitative insights, this study provides a replicable framework for advancing circular economy transitions and promoting industrial symbiosis, aligning economic and environmental objectives.},
}
@article {pmid40089449,
year = {2025},
author = {Becks, L and Gaedke, U and Klauschies, T},
title = {Emergent feedback between symbiosis form and population dynamics.},
journal = {Trends in ecology &amp; evolution},
volume = {40},
number = {5},
pages = {449-459},
doi = {10.1016/j.tree.2025.02.006},
pmid = {40089449},
issn = {1872-8383},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Population Dynamics ; Population Density ; Ecosystem ; Models, Biological ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic relationships represent prolonged physical interactions between different species and include various forms such as mutualism, commensalism, exploitation, and competition. Here, we show that the form of symbiosis may change with the densities of the symbiotic partners as they influence the costs and benefits each species experiences. In turn, the form of symbiosis is expected to influence species persistence, population dynamics, and ultimately ecosystem stability. Based on this, we introduce the theoretical concept of a density-symbiosis feedback, where population densities affect the form of symbiosis, and symbiosis form in return affects population dynamics. This dynamic interplay calls for a re-evaluation of traditional ecological concepts and a framework considering the flexibility in symbiosis forms.},
}
@article {pmid40087964,
year = {2025},
author = {Christophoridis, C and Touloupi, M and Bizani, EA and Iossifidis, D},
title = {Polyphenol extraction from industrial water by-products: a case study of the ULTIMATE project in the fruit processing industry.},
journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research},
volume = {91},
number = {5},
pages = {540-553},
pmid = {40087964},
issn = {0273-1223},
support = {869318//HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme/ ; },
mesh = {*Polyphenols/isolation &amp; purification/chemistry ; *Industrial Waste/analysis ; *Fruit ; Greece ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/isolation &amp; purification ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; },
abstract = {This study investigates the sustainable management and utilization of water resources in the fruit processing industry, focusing on a case study from the EU-funded ULTIMATE project. Conducted in a juice factory in Nafplio, Greece, the primary objective is to explore the recovery of polyphenols from water by-product streams generated during orange juice production. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile wastewater treatment unit in selectively adsorbing polyphenols onto a polymeric resin. The following three extraction methods are compared: conventional solvent extraction, subcritical water extraction (SWE), and supercritical CO2 extraction (SFE). To determine the most efficient extraction method, the polyphenol profiles of the extracts were analyzed using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS, identifying flavonoids, terpenes, coumarins, and anthocyanins. SFE not only was the most efficient method but provided the most diverse and abundant profile. The research highlights the potential of converting industrial by-products that would otherwise be treated as wastewater, into valuable resources that generate revenue, promote circular economy practices, and enhance sustainability in the fruit and vegetable processing sector. The economic viability of polyphenol extraction is also discussed, emphasizing its significance and impact on various industries. The findings support integrating advanced extraction technologies to maximize resource recovery and minimize environmental impact.},
}
@article {pmid40087963,
year = {2025},
author = {Perkis, A and Mansilla, WA and Glotzbach, R and Munaretto, S and Rubini, A and Gervasio, I and Argo, A and Venkataswamy Gowda, D},
title = {Stakeholder engagement to increase the impact of water technology case studies.},
journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research},
volume = {91},
number = {5},
pages = {524-539},
doi = {10.2166/wst.2025.004},
pmid = {40087963},
issn = {0273-1223},
support = {grant agreement No 869318//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; },
mesh = {*Stakeholder Participation ; *Water Purification/methods ; },
abstract = {Successful uptake and acceptance of technologies and strategies for symbiotic solutions require active engagement of relevant stakeholder groups. By exchanging knowledge, developing ideas, and learning together, stakeholders contribute to innovative and sustainable water management solutions within industrial symbiosis. ULTIMATE fosters such engagement across its nine case studies (CS) through three approaches: eXtended Reality technologies for Immersive Media Experiences (IMX), Communities of Practice (CoPs), and Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs). The IMX leverages a Place by Design Playbook to co-create tailored installations that represent CS experiences, augmented by synthetic overlays and gamification via an augmented reality app. CoPs, maintained as social learning systems, bring together experts and stakeholders to co-develop and support solutions. Meanwhile, WOLLs offer real-world environments to refine and test innovations, ensuring their relevance and adoption. Together, these approaches create a framework for fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable practices in industrial symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40087962,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, O and Mustafee, N and Evans, B and Khoury, M and Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia, L and Chen, AS and Djordjević, S and Savić, D},
title = {Supporting decision-making for industrial symbioses using a hybrid modelling approach and its application to wastewater treatment.},
journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research},
volume = {91},
number = {5},
pages = {501-523},
pmid = {40087962},
issn = {0273-1223},
support = {GA 869318//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; },
mesh = {*Wastewater ; *Decision Making ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Models, Theoretical ; Computer Simulation ; },
abstract = {Industrial Symbiosis (InSym) capitalises on the proximity of entities to gain a competitive advantage through collective strategies. Within the Circular Economy, this involves the circular exchange and reuse of water, energy, and resources among participating businesses, enhancing resource valorisation in manufacturing. However, as a distinct business model, InSym requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders working toward a shared goal, posing challenges in achieving mutually beneficial outcomes. Operations Research (OR) - particularly computer modelling and simulation techniques - can help mitigate risks in InSym implementation by enabling an experimental approach to decision-making. This paper presents a hybrid modelling framework to support InSym decision-making. The framework integrates four OR techniques: Agent-Based Simulation (ABS), Discrete-Event Simulation (DES), System Dynamics (SD), and Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to develop a hybrid InSym model. ABS captures stakeholder behaviour, DES simulates operational processes, SD represents dynamic interactions, and MCDA incorporates stakeholder perspectives. The model evaluates collective treatment strategies for olive mill wastewater, addressing key challenges such as scattered small-scale olive mills, seasonal wastewater discharge, and high organic loading. This innovative framework addresses InSym decision-making at operational, tactical, and strategic levels, transforming the economy-environment dilemma into a win-win scenario for olive oil businesses and local authorities.},
}
@article {pmid40087188,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, J and Cao, J and Su, R and Yan, L and Wang, K and Hu, H and Bao, Z},
title = {Variations in the N2 Fixation and CH4 Oxidation Activities of Type I Methanotrophs in the Rice Roots in Saline-Alkali Paddy Field Under Nitrogen Fertilization.},
journal = {Rice (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {17},
pmid = {40087188},
issn = {1939-8425},
support = {No: 42103078//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No: 32160028//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 2022YFHH0086//Major Science and Technology Projects in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region/ ; },
abstract = {The root-associated methanotrophs contribute to N2 fixation and CH4 oxidation in paddy fields under N-limited conditions. However, the impact of nitrogen inputs on N2 fixation and CH4 oxidation by methanotrophs is largely unknown, especially in saline-alkali paddy fields with higher nitrogen application. This study explored the impact of nitrogen fertilization on N2 fixation and CH4 oxidation by root-associated active diazotrophic and methanotrophic communities in a saline-alkali paddy field using [15]N-N2 and [13]C-CH4 isotope feeding experiments along with RNA-based sequencing. The [15]N and [13]C isotope feeding experiments showed that the CH4 oxidation-dependent nitrogen fixation rate of methanotrophs ([15]N and [13]C) in the roots of two rice cultivars was significantly higher than the CH4 oxidation-independent nitrogen fixation rate of heterotrophic diazotrophs (only [15]N) under nitrogen fertilization (SN) in a saline-alkali environment (P < 0.05). For Kongyu131 rice, the CH4 oxidation-dependent nitrogen fixation rate ranged from 1.17 to 4.15 μmol/h/g, while the CH4 oxidation-independent nitrogen fixation rate was determined to be 1.10 to 3.17 μmol/h/g. In J3 rice, these rates were 7.30 to 9.22 μmol/h/g and 5.76 to 4.85 μmol/h/g, respectively (P < 0.05). Moreover, both N2 fixation and CH4 oxidation rates of methanotrophs in the roots of salt-alkali tolerant J3 cultivar (9.22 μmol/h/g for N2 fixation; 0.09 μmol/h/g for CH4 oxidation) were significantly higher than those in the roots of the common rice cultivar Kongyu131 (4.15 μmol/h/g for N2 fixation; 0.03 μmol/h/g for CH4 oxidation) under nitrogen fertilization (P < 0.01). Thus, methanotrophs associated with J3 rice roots demonstrated improved N2 fixation and CH4 oxidation activities under saline-alkali stress in the presence of nitrogen fertilizer. Even heterotrophic diazotrophs in J3 rice roots showed enhanced N2 fixation with (SN) or without (LN) nitrogen inputs. The RNA-based amplicon sequencing showed that nitrogen fertilizer had a greater influence on diazotrophic and methanotrophic communities than the differences between rice cultivars. Further, active Methylomonas (type I methanotrophs) dominated the root-associated diazotrophic (9.8-20.9%) and methanotrophic (46.8-80.3%) communities. Within these, Methylomonas methanica (13.3 vs. 3.8%) and Methylomonas paludis (8.8 vs. 27.4%) were determined as the common genera in the diazotrophic and methanotrophic communities, respectively, with both proportions undergoing significant shifts under SN conditions. Whereas the LN condition led to high CH4 oxidation activity and a relatively high abundance of Methylocystis (26.0%) in the roots of Kongyu131 rice, which sharply decreased under the SN condition (0.3%). The findings revealed that CH4 oxidation-dependent N2 fixation and CH4 oxidation activities of root-associated type I methanotrophs were significantly affected under nitrogen fertilization, with a more pronounced effect in the salt-alkali tolerant J3 rice cultivar compared to Kongyu131. This study highlights the potential of aerobic diazotrophic methanotrophs in enhancing symbiotic diversity and environmental adaptability while contributing to CH4 emission reduction and bioavailable nitrogen accumulation in saline-alkali paddy fields.},
}
@article {pmid40086443,
year = {2025},
author = {Weiss, B and Rohkin Shalom, S and Dolgova, A and Teh, LS and Kaltenpoth, M and Dale, C and Chiel, E},
title = {Maternal symbiont transmission via envenomation in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia cameroni.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {8},
pages = {1693-1705.e4},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.02.035},
pmid = {40086443},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wasps/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Female ; Male ; Larva/microbiology/physiology ; *Wasp Venoms/metabolism ; *Enterobacteriaceae/physiology ; },
abstract = {Microbial symbionts of multicellular hosts originate from free-living ancestors and often persist through vertical transmission, but their mechanisms of establishment are not well understood. Here, we studied acquisition and transmission routes in a nascent symbiosis involving the bacterium Sodalis praecaptivus subsp. spalangiae (Sodalis SC) and the parasitoid wasp Spalangia cameroni. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, transmission electron microscopy, and experimental infections, we found that oocytes are devoid of Sodalis SC, but the female venom gland is densely colonized. Sodalis SC is injected with the venom into the fly host, subsequently acquired by larval progeny during feeding, invades through the larval gut epithelium into multiple host organs, and eventually localizes in the venom gland. Adult wasps can also acquire Sodalis SC by artificial feeding, but, in this case, the bacterium is not transmitted vertically. Additionally, Sodalis SC is localized in the testes of some males, transmitted paternally at low frequency, and females that inherit Sodalis SC paternally can subsequently transmit it via the venom. To assess the specificity of the symbiosis, we performed experiments with the closely related free-living species Sodalis praecaptivus subsp. praecaptivus (Sodalis PP), known to initiate symbiosis with other insects. Sodalis PP is readily acquired when supplied artificially to wasp larvae but not transmitted to wasp progeny, because it fails to proliferate in the parasitized host. Our results indicate that non-ovarian transmission routes of intracellular symbionts may be more common than currently appreciated and provide a scenario for the early steps in establishing persistent symbiotic associations in insects.},
}
@article {pmid40085982,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, Z and Yang, H and Li, S and Niu, H and Yuan, D and Zhao, H},
title = {Phosphorus addition mitigates the combined negative effects of high temperature and nitrogen stress on corals.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {207},
number = {},
pages = {107075},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107075},
pmid = {40085982},
issn = {1879-0291},
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology/drug effects ; *Nitrogen ; *Phosphorus ; Coral Reefs ; *Hot Temperature/adverse effects ; Stress, Physiological ; Photosynthesis ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Global warming and imbalances in nitrogen (N)-phosphorus (P) ratios due to increased human activity have had significant impacts on coral reef ecosystems. However, the underlying mechanisms of these impacts remain poorly understood. In this study, a controlled experiment was conducted on Acropora hyacinthus treated with different P concentrations at high temperature (30 °C) and high N level (9 μM nitrate), which was analyzed in terms of physical observations and physiological indices, as well as photosynthetic activity and fatty acid composition. The results indicated that nitrate enrichment significantly reduced Symbiodiniaceae density, total chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic efficiency, as well as notable coral bleaching. P addition alleviated some of these detrimental effects, enhancing symbiotic relationship and maintaining photosynthetic activity. Additionally, changes in fatty acid composition suggest that P supplementation may improve coral tolerance to the combined stress of heat stress and nitrate enrichment by enhancing coral heterotrophy. These findings underscore the importance of balanced nutrient ratio for corals and propose P supplementation as a potential strategy to mitigate the combined stress on coral reefs.},
}
@article {pmid40085484,
year = {2025},
author = {Shelomi, M},
title = {Scheffersomyces tanahashii sp. nov., isolated from the cocoon wall of the stag beetle Prosopocoilus astacoides blanchardi.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40085484},
issn = {1466-5034},
mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Saccharomycetales/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/physiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Mycological Typing Techniques ; Symbiosis ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Xylose/metabolism ; Larva/microbiology ; },
abstract = {A previous investigation of symbiotic yeasts associated with the stag beetle Prosopocoilus astacoides blanchardi isolated strains of the genus Scheffersomyces from the cocoon walls, larval midgut, larval hindgut and larval tunnels. Phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene sequences revealed identical sequences, indicating that they belonged to the same species, but suggested that the species was new. In this study, sequence analysis and physiological characterization identified a representative strain of these beetle-associated yeasts as a novel species in the genus Scheffersomyces. The sequence similarities of the concatenated LSU domains and internal transcribed spacer regions indicated that strain BCRC 23563[T] forms a well-supported and distinct species in the xylose-fermenting Scheffersomyces subclade, with the sequences for each gene differing in nt substitutions from those of previously described related species by at least 1.06% and 2.7% respectively. The physiological characteristics of the novel species were also distinct from those of the closely related described species, though it could still process xylose as is expected of stag beetle-associated Scheffersomyces symbionts. Based on the data, a novel yeast species, Scheffersomyces tanahashii sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate this strain. The holotype is BCRC 23563[T] (ex-type strains NBRC 116731 and NCYC 4470). The MycoBank accession number is 857608.},
}
@article {pmid40085131,
year = {2025},
author = {Deng, S and Yang, Y and Hu, CY and Xiao, S and Kuzyakov, Y and Liu, C and Ma, LQ},
title = {Arsenic Uptake and Metabolism in Mycorrhizal As-Hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata: Symbiotic P Transporters and As Reductases.},
journal = {Environmental science &amp; technology},
volume = {59},
number = {11},
pages = {5556-5567},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.4c11639},
pmid = {40085131},
issn = {1520-5851},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Pteris/metabolism ; *Arsenic/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) often protect host plants from As accumulation under arsenic stress; however, the opposite is true for the As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata. With non-hyperaccumulator Pteris ensiformis as a comparison, the AM colonization, P and As uptake, and genes associated with As metabolism were investigated in P. vittata after growing 60-day with Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation under 0 (As0), 10 (As10), or 100 μM As (As100) treatments. Based on the As-induced increase in AM colonization (up to 21%), AM symbiosis promoted P. vittata growth by 24% and frond P content by 22% in the AM+As100 treatment than As100 treatment. These increases corresponded to 4.2- to 5.4-fold upregulation in symbiotic P transporter RiPT1/7 in AM fungi and PvPht1;6 in P. vittata roots, which probably supported 37% greater As accumulation at 4980 mg kg[-1] in the fronds. Besides total As, enhanced arsenate reduction was evidenced by 19% greater arsenite and 15-fold upregulation of fungal arsenate reductase RiArsC in mycorrhizal roots. Further, the 2.1-fold upregulation of arsenite antiporters PvACR3/3;3 contributed to greater arsenite translocation to and sequestration in the fronds. Unlike P. ensiformis symbiont, which suffers from As stress, the mycorrhiza-specific P transporters (RiPT1/7 and PvPht1;6), arsenate reductases (RiArsC and PvHAC2), and arsenite antiporters (PvACR3/3;3) all benefited AM symbiosis and As accumulation in P. vittata.},
}
@article {pmid40084497,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, J and Mathew, A and Rodríguez-García, M and Regli, CC and Blacque, O and Spingler, B and Sieber, S and Eberl, L and Gademann, K},
title = {Valdiazen Derivatives for Chemoproteomic Studies in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111.},
journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology},
volume = {26},
number = {11},
pages = {e202400945},
doi = {10.1002/cbic.202400945},
pmid = {40084497},
issn = {1439-7633},
support = {186410//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; },
mesh = {*Burkholderia cenocepacia/metabolism/chemistry ; *Proteomics ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/chemistry ; Quorum Sensing ; },
abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) allows bacteria to coordinate community-wide behaviors such as biofilm formation, virulence, and symbiosis. The diazeniumdiolate valdiazen is identified in the opportunistic pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 as a novel quorum-sensing signal, yet its protein interactome remains unexplored. In this study, a chemoproteomic pulldown approach is used to identify potential valdiazen-binding proteins. For these pulldown experiments, a series of alkyne-linked and biotin-conjugated valdiazen probes are synthesized. Affinity-based pulldown experiments using biotin-valdiazen conjugates successfully identify several putative proteins including an ATP synthase subunit, a succinylglutamate desuccinylase/aspartoacylase, a granule-associated protein, an acetyl-CoA hydrolase, a serine protease and an OmpA/MotB precursor. Overall, this study provides insights into the valdiazen-protein interactome in Burkholderia cenocepacia H111, advancing our understanding of the role of valdiazen in bacterial QS.},
}
@article {pmid40084008,
year = {2025},
author = {Nourzadeh, N and Rahimi, A and Dadrasi, A},
title = {Comparative evaluation of bio-fertilizer replacement with chemical fertilizer in sesame (Sesamum indicum L) production under drought stress and normal irrigation condition.},
journal = {Heliyon},
volume = {11},
number = {4},
pages = {e42743},
pmid = {40084008},
issn = {2405-8440},
abstract = {Drought stress represents a considerable environmental challenge, exerting a deleterious effect on plant growth and productivity. In order to address this issue, the use of biostimulants, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), has gained increasing attention in recent years. The present study, conducted in 2022, sought to evaluate the effects of biological and chemical fertilizers under drought-stress conditions on sesame yield and water-use efficiency. The research was conducted at two farms, Dashthouz and Sarkahnan, which are located approximately 80 km apart in Rodan city, Hormozgan province, Iran. The research was designed as a factorial experiment using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The study examined two main factors: fertilizer application, with eight levels (bacteria (B), mycorrhizal fungi (MY), chemical fertilizer (NPK), bacteria + mycorrhizal fungi (B+MY), bacteria + chemical fertilizer (B+NPK), mycorrhizal fungi + chemical fertilizer (MY+NPK), bacteria + mycorrhizal fungi + chemical fertilizer (B+MY+NPK), and a control), and drought stress, with two levels (normal irrigation without drought stress and drought stress). The results indicated that the main effects of location, irrigation, fertilizer application, and their interactions significantly influenced the leaf area index (LAI), number of branches, number of capsules, number of seeds per capsule, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index, oil yield, meal yield, and water-use efficiency. However, there was no significant effect on thousand-seed weight. This indicates that all measured traits were influenced by the experimental factors. Regarding seed yield, the lowest value of 95.3 g/m[2] was recorded in the control treatment under normal irrigation conditions at Dachthouz, while the highest value of 325.5 g/m[2] was achieved in the control treatment under normal irrigation conditions at Sarkahnan. The findings revealed that the application of mycorrhizal fungi (MY) and bacteria (B) as substitutes for phosphorus and nitrogen, respectively, produced seed yields comparable to those achieved with NPK fertilizers under normal irrigation conditions. However, under drought stress conditions, water scarcity disrupted the symbiotic interactions between the microorganisms and the crop, reducing the effectiveness of MY and B treatments in enhancing crop growth and yield. These results contribute to advancing sustainable sesame production systems by minimizing the reliance on chemical fertilizers and enhancing crop resilience to drought stress. Further research and practical implementation of these strategies could lead to more efficient and environmentally sustainable sesame cultivation practices.},
}
@article {pmid40083779,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Yan, D and Chen, R and Zhang, Y and Wang, C and Qian, G},
title = {Recent insights and advances in gut microbiota's influence on host antiviral immunity.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1536778},
pmid = {40083779},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {A diverse array of microbial organisms colonizes the human body, collectively known as symbiotic microbial communities. Among the various pathogen infections that hosts encounter, viral infections represent one of the most significant public health challenges worldwide. The gut microbiota is considered an important biological barrier against viral infections and may serve as a promising target for adjuvant antiviral therapy. However, the potential impact of symbiotic microbiota on viral infection remains relatively understudied. In this review, we discuss the specific regulatory mechanisms of gut microbiota in antiviral immunity, highlighting recent advances in how gut microbiota regulate the host immune response, produce immune-related molecules, and enhance the host's defense against viruses. Finally, we also discuss the antiviral potential of oral probiotics.},
}
@article {pmid40083395,
year = {2025},
author = {Nakkeeran, KP and Jitender, A and Thulasiraman, S and Krishnan, V and P L, M},
title = {Early cognizance of folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in the prevention of cleft lip and palate- a questionnaire study.},
journal = {Journal of oral biology and craniofacial research},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {421-427},
pmid = {40083395},
issn = {2212-4268},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The awareness of the symbiotic correlation between folic acid and its role in preventing orofacial clefts in pregnant mothers needs to be established during the early gestational period, proving that consumption in both dietary and supplementation forms has positive effects on the mother and the developing fetus.<br><br>AIM: The present study raises awareness of the benefits and use of folic acid supplementation in the early phases of gestation.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted over 9 months. It was designed with a total of 13 queries, and a sizable sample of 100 women were personally interviewed after obtaining verbal consent.<br><br>RESULTS: A total of 100 pregnant women of different age groups participated in the questionnaire study. Of these, only 11 of the respondents were found to be aware of the benefits of folic acid as a nutritional supplement, and 29 respondents were on folic acid supplementation. Almost 52 percent of those surveyed failed to take folate supplementation in the first two trimesters.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The survey highlights the urgent need for information access and awareness to understand the benefits of supplementary folic acid among pregnant mothers in the prevention of orofacial clefts and overall well-being.},
}
@article {pmid40082024,
year = {2025},
author = {Yin, F and Ge, T and Zalucki, MP and Xiao, Y and Peng, Z and Li, Z},
title = {Gut symbionts affect Plutella xylostella (L.) susceptibility to chlorantraniliprole.},
journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology},
volume = {209},
number = {},
pages = {106327},
doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106327},
pmid = {40082024},
issn = {1095-9939},
mesh = {Animals ; *ortho-Aminobenzoates/pharmacology ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Symbiosis ; Insecticide Resistance/genetics ; *Moths/microbiology/drug effects ; Larva/drug effects/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Plutella xylostella, a globally economically important pest of cruciferous crops, has varying degrees of resistance to almost all insecticides. Insect gut microbiotas have a variety of physiological functions, and recent studies have shown that they have some potential connection with insecticide resistance. Here, we use metagenomics to analyze the differences in gut microbiota among 5 different populations of P. xylostella resistant to chlorantraniliprole. Differential gene expression was enriched in various metabolic pathways including carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, nucleotide metabolism and so on. Proteobacteria was the dominate phyla, and the relative abundance of common dominant genera in the treated group (CL, Bt, and BtCL) was higher than that in susceptible controls. We successfully isolated 15 species of bacteria, in which the Enterobacter hormaechei was associated with enhanced insecticide resistance. The population we isolated can metabolize chlorantraniliprole in vitro, with a metabolic rate of 34.8 % within 4 days. Our work advances understanding of the evolution of insecticide resistance and lays a foundation for the further exploration of symbiotic microbial associations of lepidopteran insects and their ecological consequences.},
}
@article {pmid40081791,
year = {2025},
author = {Stock, SP and Campos-Herrera, R and Shapiro-Ilan, D},
title = {The first 100 years in the history of entomopathogenic nematodes.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {211},
number = {},
pages = {108302},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108302},
pmid = {40081791},
issn = {1096-0805},
mesh = {Animals ; History, 20th Century ; *Pest Control, Biological/history/methods ; *Nematoda/microbiology/physiology ; History, 21st Century ; Insecta/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; Rhabditida ; },
abstract = {The field of entomopathogenic nematology has grown exponentially since the discovery of the first species, Steinernema kraussei (=Aplecatna kraussei), in 1923. Initially, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) were solely viewed as a curiosity. The discovery of the nematode-bacteria association in 1965 and the incipient research for mass production motivated their recognition as biological control agents for agricultural pests. Subsequent studies were focused on the discovery of new species and/or populations, the early studies to understand the biotic and abiotic factors that contribute to their performance in the field and success in insect pest management. However, as we entered the 21st century, and with the advent of molecular biology, research on these organisms took a fascinating turn, unraveling a deeper understanding of the complex symbiotic relationship EPN has with their bacterial symbionts and the insect host. Furthermore, because of their experimental tractability, EPNs have proven to be model organisms that are used among various biological sciences to gain further insights into host-symbiont, host-pathogen interactions, population dynamics, and as resources for pharmaceutical bioprospecting. This special issue commemorates the first 100 years of research in entomopathogenic nematology and summarizes the contributions of ten symposia and presentations at the 100th Anniversary of the First EPN Discovery Congress in Logroño, Spain (https://www.icvv.es/english/epn). This specific article focuses on the historical review of EPN, their bacterial partners and the numerous and diverse applications in disciplines in basic such as phylogeny, biogeography, symbiosis, and soil biology and ecology, or more applied venues such as formulation and mass production, application technology, commercialization and regulation, from 1923 to the present time.},
}
@article {pmid40081330,
year = {2025},
author = {Grigg, ME and Alves-Ferreira, EVC},
title = {It takes three: A cocktail of protists, bacterial sphingolipids and an inflammasome.},
journal = {Cell host &amp; microbe},
volume = {33},
number = {3},
pages = {322-324},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.02.013},
pmid = {40081330},
issn = {1934-6069},
mesh = {*Inflammasomes/immunology/metabolism ; Humans ; *Sphingolipids/metabolism/immunology ; Animals ; Symbiosis ; Colorectal Neoplasms/microbiology/immunology ; *Bacteroides/immunology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Goblet Cells/immunology ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic relationships between mammalian hosts and their flora impact host immunity and disease. In this issue, Winsor and colleagues define a trans-kingdom interaction, which protects against colorectal cancer. Tritrichomonas protists initiate a Bacteroides bloom and sphingolipid release, which activates the NLRP6 inflammasome, enhancing protective mucus secretion by sentinel goblet cells.},
}
@article {pmid40081236,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Z and Chen, M and Zheng, W and Zhan, X and Sui, W and Huang, H and Jiang, Q and Zhao, W},
title = {Effect of gut symbiotic bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila on aging-related obesity.},
journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications},
volume = {756},
number = {},
pages = {151606},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.151606},
pmid = {40081236},
issn = {1090-2104},
mesh = {Animals ; *Obesity/microbiology/pathology/metabolism/immunology ; *Aging ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; *Symbiosis ; Akkermansia ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism ; *Verrucomicrobia/physiology ; Interleukin-6 ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; },
abstract = {Recent studies have shown that Akkermansia muciniphila may play a role in regulating lipid metabolism and immune response in diet-induced obese mice. However, in contrast to diet-induced obesity, aging-related obesity is characterized by a gradual increase in body fat proportion over time. This type of obesity is thought to be caused by a combination of factors, including slow metabolism, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and chronic inflammation. Unlike diet-induced obesity, which can occur relatively quickly, aging-related obesity is a long-term and slow process. In this study, we administered Akkermansia muciniphila to aged mice and collected fecal samples to analyze the targeted metabolism of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The mice were then euthanized and their abdominal fat was weighed. hematoxylin-eosin (H&amp;E) staining was performed to examine tissue samples. quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α. Flow cytometry was used to examine the proportion of lymphocytes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) kits were used to measure the levels of inflammatory factors and aging-related indicators. The results indicate that following intragastric administration, the body weight of the aged mice decreased, along with a decrease in abdominal fat and a reduction in the size of fat cells. Additionally, there was a decrease in the mRNA level of inflammatory factors, a decrease in the total number of immune cells in abdominal fat, and a decrease in the proportion of CD8[+] CD4[-]cells. In addition, our findings showed that serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were reduced, and catalase (CAT) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were comparable to those of young mice. The findings revealed that Akkermansia muciniphila has the potential to enhance immune regulation in aged mice, alleviate persistent inflammation, and decrease obesity in this aged mice.},
}
@article {pmid40079640,
year = {2025},
author = {Passos, GS and Pellegrinetti, TA and Fiore, MF},
title = {Metagenome-assembled bacterial genomes from long accurate reads associated with Capilliphycus salinus ALCB114379.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {e0080724},
pmid = {40079640},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {We report the complete genome sequences of five bacteria associated with the marine cyanobacterium Capilliphycus salinus ALCB114379 of the phylum Pseudomonadota. This genetic diversity offers insights into the cyanosphere, shedding light on potential relationships between these microorganisms and their cyanobacterial hosts.},
}
@article {pmid40079134,
year = {2025},
author = {Fan, JW and Chen, M and Tian, F and Yao, R and Qin, NN and Wu, WH and Turner, NC and Li, FM and Du, YL},
title = {Root morphology, exudate patterns, and mycorrhizal symbiosis are determinants to improve phosphorus acquisition in alfalfa.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf107},
pmid = {40079134},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Differences in phosphorus (P) utilisation efficiency (PUtE) and/or yield are closely linked to differences in root functional traits under low soil P availability. However, our understanding of how soil P availability mediates the intraspecific variation in root functional traits for breeding high-P efficiency genotypes to increase PUtE and yield remains limited. We investigated that plant growth parameters and pivotal root functional traits associated with P acquisition in 20 alfalfa genotypes with contrasting P efficiencies and supplied with low, medium or high levels of P. We observed that tradeoffs occurred in root functional traits among alfalfa genotypes under low-P stress. High-P efficiency genotypes displayed higher shoot biomass and PUtE by relying on thicker and more robust roots, elevated concentrations of carboxylate exudates and enhanced colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In contrast, low-P efficiency genotypes exhibited a relatively high root-to-shoot ratio and primarily depended on higher tissue P concentrations but relatively slender roots along with comparatively high rhizosphere pH. Consequently, high PUtE and productivity under low-P conditions among alfalfa can be identified by screening for a phenotype with thick roots, increased exudate concentrations and mycorrhizal colonisation, opening up the potential for breeding for P-efficient lines in breeding programs.},
}
@article {pmid40078631,
year = {2025},
author = {Hami, A and El Attar, I and Mghazli, N and Ennajeh, S and Ait-Ouakrim, EH and Bennis, M and Oulghazi, S and Badaoui, B and Aurag, J and Sbabou, L and Taha, K},
title = {Enhancing drought tolerance in Pisum sativum and Vicia faba through interspecific interactions with a mixed inoculum of Rhizobium laguerreae and non-host beneficial rhizobacteria.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1528923},
pmid = {40078631},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Harnessing plant growth-promoting rhizobia presents a sustainable and cost-effective method to enhance crop performance, particularly under drought stress. This study evaluates the variability of plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits among three strains of Rhizobium laguerreae LMR575, LMR571, and LMR655, and two native PGP strains Bacillus LMR698 and Enterobacter aerogenes LMR696. The primary objective was to assess the host range specificity of these strains and their effectiveness in improving drought tolerance in three legume species: Pisum sativum, Vicia faba, and Phaseolus vulgaris.<br><br>METHODS: In-vitro experiments were conducted to assess the PGP traits of the selected strains, including phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, and siderophore production. Greenhouse trials were also performed using a mixed inoculum of performing strains to evaluate their effects on plant physiological and biochemical traits under drought conditions.<br><br>RESULTS: Significant variability in PGP traits was observed among the strains. R. laguerreae LMR655 exhibited the highest phosphate solubilization (113.85 mg mL[-1] PO4 [2-]), while R. laguerreae LMR571 produced the highest IAA concentration (25.37 mg mL[-1]). E. aerogenes LMR696 demonstrated 82% siderophore production. Symbiotic interactions varied, with R. laguerreae LMR571 and LMR655 forming associations with P. sativum and V. faba, but none establishing compatibility with P. vulgaris. Greenhouse experiments showed that a mixed inoculum of R. laguerreae LMR571, LMR655, and E. aerogenes LMR696 significantly improved proline, total soluble sugars, proteins, and chlorophyll content under drought stress, with V. faba showing the strongest response.<br><br>DISCUSSION: These findings highlight the importance of strain selection based on host specificity and PGP potential. The enhanced drought tolerance observed suggests that tailored microbial inoculants can improve legume resilience in water-limited environments. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing bioinoculant formulations to enhance crop performance under drought stress.},
}
@article {pmid40078547,
year = {2025},
author = {Peng, T and Yang, T and Sha, J and Zhao, J and Shi, J},
title = {Dynamics of endophytic fungi composition in paris polyphylla var. chinensis (franch.) hara seeds during storage and growth, and responses of seedlings to phytohormones.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1540651},
pmid = {40078547},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Endophytic fungi exhibit diverse interactions with plants, from pathogenic to mutualistic symbiosis, and the community composition is regulated by phytohormones. Yet, the composition and dynamics of endophytic fungi in Paris polyphylla var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara (PPC) during fresh seed (FD), sand-stored seed (SSD), and seedling (SS) stages remain unclear. Similarly, the overall impact of phytohormones on the management of endophytic fungal communities is yet to be elucidated.<br><br>METHODS: We carried out a pot experiment to examine the effects of various stages of PPC seeds and the external addition of three phytohormones, namely, melatonin (MT), strigolactone (SL), and 24-epibrassinolide (BR) on the endophytic fungi of PPC seedlings. This was done through internal transcribed spacer (ITS) amplicon sequencing.<br><br>RESULTS: The study of the endophytic fungal microbiome in FD, SSD, and SS stages of PPC revealed an increased richness and diversity of fungi during the SS stage, with significant changes in community composition observed. We found that Sordariomycetes played a crucial role in this process, potentially contributing to the establishment and growth of PPC seedlings. Additionally, this study investigated the influence of phytohormones on the phenotypic and physiological characteristics of PPC and its endophytic fungal community. Our results demonstrated that MT and SL significantly increased PPC biomass by 69.32 and 15.23%, respectively, while 2 mg/L of BR hindered the growth of PPC roots. MT, SL, and BR not only induced significant changes in the composition and diversity of the endophytic fungal community in PPC but also affected biomass potentially through specific regulation of potential biomarkers. Furthermore, phytohormones were shown to indirectly modify the endophytic fungal community by altering antioxidant system in plants.<br><br>CONCLUSION: This study provides novel insights into the dynamic changes of microbial communities in the FD, SSD, and SS stages. Furthermore, the differences among various phytohormones ultimately enhance our predictive understanding of how to directly or indirectly manipulate the plant microbiome to improve plant health.},
}
@article {pmid40077886,
year = {2025},
author = {Dopffel, N and Mayers, K and Kedir, A and An-Stepec, BA and Beeder, J and Hoth, S},
title = {Exploring Microbiological Dynamics in a Salt Cavern for Potential Hydrogen Storage Use.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {17},
number = {2},
pages = {e70064},
pmid = {40077886},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {//Equinor ASA/ ; },
mesh = {*Hydrogen/metabolism ; *Archaea/genetics/classification/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification/growth &amp; development ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification/growth &amp; development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Salts ; Sulfates/analysis ; },
abstract = {Hydrogen storage in salt caverns is important for supporting the energy transition. However, there is limited knowledge about microbial communities within these caverns and associated risks of hydrogen loss. In this study we characterised a salt-saturated brine from a salt cavern and found a high sulphate content (4.2 g/L) and low carbon content (84.9 mg/L inorganic, 7.61 mg/L organic). The brine contained both Bacteria and Archaea, and 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed a halophilic community with members of Acetohalobium, Thiohalorhabdus, Salinibacter and up to 40% of unknown sequences. Within the Archaea, Euryarchaeota and the symbiotic Nanohaloarcheaota were dominant. Growth experiments showed that some microbes are resistant to autoclaving and pass through 0.22 μm filters. Heyndrickxia-related colonies grew on aerobic plates up to 10% salt, indicating the presence of inactive spores. The highest anaerobic activity was observed at 30°C, including glucose- and yeast extract fermentation, hydrogen-oxidation, lactate-utilisation, methane- and acetate-formation and sulphate-reduction, which was observed up to 80°C. However, microbial activity was slow, with incubations taking up to 1 year to measure microbial products. This study indicates that artificial salt caverns are an extreme environment containing potential hydrogen-consuming microbes.},
}
@article {pmid40076705,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, F and Ji, C and Wang, T and Zhang, Z and Duan, Y and Yu, M and Song, X and Jiang, Y and He, L and Wang, Z and Ma, X and Zhang, Y and Pan, Z and Wu, L},
title = {Genome-Wide Identification, Expression, and Protein Interaction of GRAS Family Genes During Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Poncirus trifoliata.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40076705},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {32102309//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024BBB085//Hubei Province Technology Innovation Plan Project/ ; 2024EBA005//Hubei Province Rural Revitalization Science and Technology Demonstration Project/ ; HBZY2023B00501//Hubei Province Supporting High Quality Development Fund Project for Seed Industry/ ; 2024-620-000-001-023//Hubei Provincial Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund/ ; 2024//Hubei Province Citrus Industry Chain Science and Technology Research Project/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics ; *Poncirus/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Multigene Family ; Genome, Plant ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish mutualistic symbiosis with most land plants, facilitating mineral nutrient uptake in exchange for photosynthates. As one of the most commercially used rootstocks in citrus, Poncirus trifoliata heavily depends on AM fungi for nutrient absorption. The GRAS gene family plays essential roles in plant growth and development, signaling transduction, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the identification and functional characterization of GRAS family genes in P. trifoliata remains largely unexplored. In this study, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of PtGRAS family genes was conducted, including their identification, physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, conserved domains, chromosome localization, and collinear relationships. Additionally, the expression profiles and protein interaction of these genes under AM symbiosis were systematically investigated. As a result, 41 GRAS genes were identified in the P. trifoliata genome, and classified into nine distinct clades. Collinearity analysis revealed seven segmental duplications but no tandem duplications, suggesting that segmental duplication played a more important role in the expansion of the PtGRAS gene family compared to tandem duplication. Additionally, 18 PtGRAS genes were differentially expressed in response to AM symbiosis, including orthologs of RAD1, RAM1, and DELLA3 in P. trifoliata. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening further revealed that PtGRAS6 and PtGRAS20 interacted with both PtGRAS12 and PtGRAS18, respectively. The interactions were subsequently validated through bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays. These findings underscored the crucial role of GRAS genes in AM symbiosis in P. trifoliata, and provided valuable candidate genes for improving nutrient uptake and stress resistance in citrus rootstocks through molecular breeding approaches.},
}
@article {pmid40076650,
year = {2025},
author = {Charitos, IA and Scacco, S and Cotoia, A and Castellaneta, F and Castellana, G and Pasqualotto, F and Venneri, M and Ferrulli, A and Aliani, M and Santacroce, L and Carone, M},
title = {Intestinal Microbiota Dysbiosis Role and Bacterial Translocation as a Factor for Septic Risk.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40076650},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {*Dysbiosis/microbiology/immunology/complications ; Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Bacterial Translocation ; *Sepsis/microbiology/etiology/immunology ; Animals ; },
abstract = {The human immune system is closely linked to microbiota such as a complex symbiotic relationship during the coevolution of vertebrates and microorganisms. The transfer of microorganisms from the mother's microbiota to the newborn begins before birth during gestation and is considered the initial phase of the intestinal microbiota (IM). The gut is an important site where microorganisms can establish colonies. The IM contains polymicrobial communities, which show complex interactions with diet and host immunity. The tendency towards dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota is influenced by local but also extra-intestinal factors such as inflammatory processes, infections, or a septic state that can aggravate it. Pathogens could trigger an immune response, such as proinflammatory responses. In addition, changes in the host immune system also influence the intestinal community and structure with additional translocation of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. Finally, local intestinal inflammation has been found to be an important factor in the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, particularly in its role in sepsis. The aim of this article is to be able to detect the current knowledge of the mechanisms that can lead to dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota and that can cause bacterial translocation with a risk of infection or septic state and vice versa.},
}
@article {pmid40076548,
year = {2025},
author = {Ahmed, W and Wang, Y and Ji, W and Liu, S and Zhou, S and Pan, J and Li, Z and Wang, F and Wang, X},
title = {Unraveling the Mechanism of the Endophytic Bacterial Strain Pseudomonas oryzihabitans GDW1 in Enhancing Tomato Plant Growth Through Modulation of the Host Transcriptome and Bacteriome.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {40076548},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {32350410423//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/growth &amp; development/genetics ; *Transcriptome ; *Pseudomonas/physiology/genetics ; *Endophytes/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Plant Development ; },
abstract = {Endophytic Pseudomonas species from agricultural crops have been extensively studied for their plant-growth-promoting (PGP) potential, but little is known about their PGP potential when isolated from perennial trees. This study investigated the plant-growth-promoting (PGP) potential of an endophyte, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans GDW1, isolated from a healthy pine tree by taking tomato as a host plant. We employed multiomics approaches (transcriptome and bacteriome analyses) to elucidate the underlying PGP mechanisms of GDW1. The results of greenhouse experiments revealed that the application of GDW1 significantly improved tomato plant growth, increasing shoot length, root length, fresh weight, and biomass accumulation by up to 44%, 38%, 54%, and 59%, respectively, compared with control. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1158 differentially expressed genes significantly enriched in the plant hormone signaling (auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin) and stress response (plant-pathogen interaction, MAPK signaling pathway-plant, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis) pathways. Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed nine hub genes (MAPK10, ARF19-1, SlCKX1, GA2ox2, PAL5, SlWRKY37, GH3.6, XTH3, and NML1) related to stress tolerance, hormone control, and plant defense. Analysis of the tomato root bacteriome through 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed that GDW1 inoculation dramatically altered the root bacterial community structure, enhancing the diversity and abundance of beneficial taxa (Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota). Co-occurrence network analysis showed a complex bacterial network in treated plants, suggesting increasingly intricate microbial relationships and improved nutrient absorption. Additionally, FAPROTAX and PICRUSt2 functional prediction analyses suggested the role of GDW1 in nitrogen cycling, organic matter degradation, plant growth promotion, and stress resistance. In conclusion, this study provides novel insights into the symbiotic relationship between P. oryzihabitans GDW1 and tomato plants, highlighting its potential as a biofertilizer for sustainable agriculture and a means of reducing the reliance on agrochemicals.},
}
@article {pmid40075352,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, Y and Ran, L and Wang, Y and Xia, Y},
title = {The symbiotic effect of online searches and vaccine administration-a nonlinear correlation analysis of baidu index and vaccine administration data.},
journal = {BMC public health},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {975},
pmid = {40075352},
issn = {1471-2458},
support = {2023JSYJC20//Ministry of Public Security Technology Research Program/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Vaccines/administration &amp; dosage ; *Internet/statistics &amp; numerical data ; *Vaccination/statistics &amp; numerical data ; Logistic Models ; *Information Seeking Behavior ; },
abstract = {This study primarily addresses the analytical problem of the mathematical mechanism underlying the associative impact between online searches and vaccine uptake, a relationship that has become increasingly relevant in the context of public health management. As internet search behaviors reflect public interest and sentiment, understanding their impact on vaccination trends is crucial for real-time health decision-making. A Logistic model is constructed to observe the fundamental evolutionary patterns between online searches and vaccine uptake. To explore their mutual influence, an impact function is defined, and the common structural factors with the highest fitness are determined through data fitting. Subsequently, a dynamic detection model of the associative impact between online data and societal objects, based on the mathematical mechanism, is established. Using this model, dynamic predictions are conducted to verify its predictive capability at certain stages. Through research, a symbiotic effect between online searches and vaccine uptake is identified, revealing a nonlinear correlation between the two. The model demonstrates the ability to predict vaccine uptake trends based on online search data, with certain prediction windows showing high accuracy. This research not only clarifies the mathematical mechanism underlying this relationship but also demonstrates the advantage of integrated analysis and prediction. It provides a new method for predicting online searches and vaccine uptake, offering theoretical and empirical support for public health and social science research.},
}
@article {pmid40074247,
year = {2025},
author = {Tong, CY and Tomita, H and Miyazaki, K and Derek, CJC and Honda, K},
title = {KEIO knockout collection reveals metabolomic crosstalk in Chlorella spp.-Escherichia coli co-cultures.},
journal = {Journal of phycology},
volume = {61},
number = {3},
pages = {443-462},
doi = {10.1111/jpy.70001},
pmid = {40074247},
issn = {1529-8817},
support = {JPMJGX23B4//Japan Science and Technology Agency/ ; },
mesh = {*Chlorella/metabolism/genetics/growth &amp; development ; *Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {The interdependence between microalgae and bacteria has sparked scientific interest over years, primarily driven by the practical applications of microalgal-bacteria consortia in wastewater treatment and algal biofuel production. Although adequate studies have focused on the broad interactions and general behavior between the two entities, there remains a scarcity of study on the metabolic role of symbiotic bacteria in promoting microalgal growth. Here, we use the KEIO Knockout Collection, an Escherichia coli gene knockout mutant library, to systematically screen for genes involved in the interdependence of Chlorella sorokiniana and E. coli. By co-cultivating C. sorokiniana and E. coli knockout mutants in 96-well microplates (200 μL medium per well) under white light at 25°C, 31 potential algal growth-promoting and 56 growth-inhibiting genes out of 3985 genes were identified that enhanced (≥1.25-fold) and diminished (≤0.8-fold) the production of algal chlorophyll-a content, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) mapping of these growth-regulating genes suggested a metabolic symbiosis involving bacteria-derived cobalamin (cobU, cobC), biotin (bioB, bioF, bioC, bioD, fabF, fabH), riboflavin (fbp, guaB, gnd, guaA, zwf, purA), and 2,3-butanediol (fumB, adhE, mdh, frdB, pta, sdhC). The effects of these metabolites were further validated by supplementing the agents into the axenic algal cultures; Dose-dependent trends were observed for each metabolite, with a maximum four-fold increase in algal biomass productivity over the control. The specific growth rate of algae was increased by ≥1.27-fold and doubling time was shortened by ≥22.5%. The present results, obtained through genome-wide analyses of interdependence between microalgae and bacteria, reveals multiple interactions between organisms via metabolites.},
}
@article {pmid40073737,
year = {2025},
author = {Shi, F and He, X and Cao, M and Wu, R and Zhang, B and Xu, T and Jiang, M and Song, F},
title = {Strategies for plant-microbe symbiosis: Mycorrhizal fungi and helper bacteria to improve cold tolerance in rice.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {222},
number = {},
pages = {109741},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109741},
pmid = {40073737},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Oryza/microbiology/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Cold Temperature ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Photosynthesis ; *Bacteria ; },
abstract = {Cold stress is a limiting factor for rice yield. Empirical evidence has demonstrated that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can bolster the cold resilience of plants. In barren environments, AMF can promote host plant growth and resistance. However, whether the addition of mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB) can further enhance AMF's ability to improve cold tolerance in plants remains unclear. In this study, we set up an uninoculated group, a separately inoculated group, and a compound inoculated group and incubated rice at 25 °C until the three-leaf stage, and then each group was equally divided into four portions for treatment at 25 °C, 12 °C, 8 °C, and 4 °C, respectively. The results showed that: (1) Under cold stress conditions, the biomass of rice plants inoculated with AMF was significantly higher than that of the non-inoculated group; (2) AMF and MHB effectively activated the antioxidant enzyme system in rice plants and improved their osmoregulatory capacity under cold stress; (3) The presence of AMF and MHB stimulated and modulated the upregulation of genes related to photosynthesis and cold tolerance in rice plants, thereby enhancing their resilience against cold stress. Our findings corroborate that MHB can further enhance the cold tolerance of rice by promoting the functions of AMF. This study lays the foundation for expanding rice cultivation areas, and ensuring food production security.},
}
@article {pmid40073500,
year = {2025},
author = {Favaretto, F and Matsumura, EE and Ferriol, I and Chitarra, W and Nerva, L},
title = {The four Ws of viruses: Where, Which, What and Why - A deep dive into viral evolution.},
journal = {Virology},
volume = {606},
number = {},
pages = {110476},
doi = {10.1016/j.virol.2025.110476},
pmid = {40073500},
issn = {1096-0341},
mesh = {*Viruses/genetics/classification/pathogenicity ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; *Virus Physiological Phenomena ; Host Specificity ; Symbiosis ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {For centuries, humanity has been captivated by evolution, seeking to unravel the origins of life and identify past patterns with future applications. Viruses, despite their obligate parasitic nature, are the most adaptable biological entities, surpassing cellular life in their variability and adaptability. While many theories about viral evolution exist, a consensus on their origins remains elusive. The quasispecies theory, however, has emerged as a leading framework for understanding viral evolution and, indirectly, their variability and adaptability. This theory illuminates how viruses regulate behaviours such as host range and their symbiotic or antagonistic interactions with hosts. This review delves into the most substantiated theories of viral evolution, addressing four fundamental questions relevant to virus ecology: Where did viruses originate? What factors drive viral evolution? What determines the virus host range? And why do viruses adopt pathogenic or mutualistic strategies? We will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis that integrates diverse theoretical perspectives with empirical data, providing a holistic view of viral evolution and its implications for viral behaviour.},
}
@article {pmid40073061,
year = {2025},
author = {Dendene, S and Xue, S and Mohammedi, R and Vieillard, A and Nicoud, Q and Valette, O and Frascella, A and Bonnardel, A and Le Bars, R and Bourge, M and Mergaert, P and Brilli, M and Alunni, B and Biondi, EG},
title = {Sinorhizobium meliloti FcrX coordinates cell cycle and division during free-living growth and symbiosis by a ClpXP-dependent mechanism.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {11},
pages = {e2412367122},
pmid = {40073061},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {ANR-21-CE20-0040//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-17-CE20-0011//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-10-INBS-04-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-17-EUR-0007//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; },
mesh = {*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/growth &amp; development/physiology/metabolism/cytology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Cell Division/physiology ; *Cell Cycle/physiology ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {Sinorhizobium meliloti is a soil bacterium that establishes a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis within root nodules of legumes. In this symbiosis, S. meliloti undergoes a drastic cellular change leading to a terminally differentiated form, called bacteroid, characterized by genome endoreduplication, increased cell size, and high membrane permeability. Bacterial cell cycle (mis)regulation is at the heart of this differentiation process. In free-living cells, the master regulator CtrA ensures the progression of cell cycle by activating cell division (controlled by FtsZ) and inhibiting DNA replication, while on the other hand the so far poorly unknown downregulation of CtrA and FtsZ is essential for bacteroid differentiation. Here, we combine cell biology, biochemistry, and bacterial genetics to understand the functions of FcrX, a factor that controls both CtrA and FtsZ in free-living growth and in symbiosis. Depletion of the essential gene fcrX led to abnormally high levels of FtsZ and CtrA and minicell formation. Using multiple complementary techniques, we showed that FcrX may interact with FtsZ and CtrA. Moreover, fcrX transcription is directly controlled by CtrA itself and the FcrX protein displays a cell cycle-dependent pattern. We showed further that FcrX also binds the degradosome complex ClpXP and its adaptors CpdR1 and RcdA, and that CtrA degradation efficiency depends on FcrX. We further showed that, despite weak homology with FliJ-like proteins, only FcrX proteins from closely related species are able to complement S. meliloti fcrX function. Finally, deregulation of FcrX showed abnormal symbiotic behaviors in plants suggesting a putative role of this factor during bacteroid differentiation.},
}
@article {pmid40072696,
year = {2025},
author = {Courty, PE and Fromentin, J and Martine, L and Durney, C and Martin Desbouis, C and Wipf, D and Acar, N and Gerbeau-Pissot, P},
title = {The C24-methyl/ethyl sterol ratio is increased by Rhizophagus irregularis colonization.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {20},
pmid = {40072696},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {BIOTOMIC N&#xb0; 1234//TRANSBIO Graduate School/ ; BIOTOMIC N&#xb0; 1234//TRANSBIO Graduate School/ ; BIOTOMIC N&#xb0; 1234//TRANSBIO Graduate School/ ; BIOTOMIC N&#xb0; 1234//TRANSBIO Graduate School/ ; BIOTOMIC N&#xb0; 1234//TRANSBIO Graduate School/ ; BIOTOMIC N&#xb0; 1234//TRANSBIO Graduate School/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Phytosterols/analysis/metabolism ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; *Magnoliopsida/metabolism/microbiology ; Species Specificity ; Plant Extracts/analysis/chemistry ; Plant Roots/chemistry/enzymology/metabolism/microbiology ; Methyltransferases/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; *Glomeromycota/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Plant-microorganism interactions underlie many ecosystem roles, in particular the enhancement of plant nutrition through mutualistic relationships, such as the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis that affects a large proportion of land plants. The establishment of this interaction induces a wide range of signaling pathways in which lipids, and particularly sterols, may play a central role. However, their supported functions are poorly known. We performed a study on eleven model plants (banana, barrelclover, flax, grapevine, maize, pea, poplar, potato, rice, sorghum and tomato) to measure the sterol content and characterize the sterol composition of roots that were either non-colonized or colonized by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal model Rhizophagus irregularis DAOM197198. Our results reveal a systematic increase in the content of C24-methyl sterols in crude extracts of colonized roots as compared to non-colonized roots. In addition, the transcripts of SMT1 and SMT2 (which encode enzymes that produce C24-methyl and C24-ethyl sterols, respectively) were differentially accumulated in colonized plant roots. No common regulation pattern was observed among plants. The phylogenetic relationship of members of the SMT1 and SMT2 families in more than 100 fully sequenced genomes of plants, ferns, mosses, algae and fungi has allowed the identification of unambiguous clades. Our results therefore highlight a conserved arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis-dependent regulation of the root sterol composition in angiosperms, with some plant specificities.},
}
@article {pmid40069896,
year = {2025},
author = {Machado, RAR and Abolafia, J and Robles, MC and Ruiz-Cuenca, AN and Bhat, AH and Shokoohi, E and Půža, V and Zhang, X and Erb, M and Robert, CAM and Hibbard, B},
title = {Description of Heterorhabditis americana n. sp. (Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode species isolated in North America.},
journal = {Parasites &amp; vectors},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {101},
pmid = {40069896},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {186094//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur F&#xf6;rderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; 155781/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; 189071/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; ERC-2019-STG949595/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Phylogeny ; Male ; North America ; Female ; *Rhabditoidea/classification/genetics/anatomy &amp; histology/isolation &amp; purification ; Soil/parasitology ; Symbiosis ; United States ; *Rhabditida/classification/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Heterorhabditis are important biological control agents in agriculture. Two Heterorhabditis populations, S8 and S10, were isolated from agricultural soils in the United States of America. Molecular analyses, based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes, showed that these populations are conspecific and represent a novel species of the "Bacteriophora" clade. This species was named Heterorhabditis americana n. sp. and is described in this study.<br><br>METHODS: To describe H. americana n. sp., we carried out phylogenetic reconstructions using multiple genes, characterized their morphology, conducted self-crossing and cross-hybridization experiments, and isolated and identified their symbiotic bacteria.<br><br>RESULTS: Heterorhabditis americana n. sp. is molecularly and morphologically similar to H. georgiana. Morphological differences between the males of H. americana n. sp. and H. georgiana include variations in the excretory pore position, the gubernaculum size, the gubernaculum-to-spicule length ratio, the tail length, and the body diameter. Infective juveniles (IJs) of H. americana n. sp. differ from H. georgiana IJs because H. americana n. sp. IJs have an invisible bacterial cell pouch posterior to the cardia and a small posterior phasmid, whereas H. georgiana IJs have a visible bacterial cell pouch and an inconspicuous phasmid. Hermaphrodites of H. americana n. sp. and H. georgiana are differentiated by the body length, the nerve ring distance from the anterior end, the excretory pore distance from the anterior end, the anal body diameter, and the c' ratio. Females of H. americana n. sp. can be differentiated from H. georgiana females by the anal body diameter and the c' ratio. Reproductive isolation was confirmed, as H. americana n. sp. does not produce viable offspring with any of the species of the "Bacteriophora" clade. Heterorhabditis americana n. sp. is associated with the symbiotic bacterium Photorhabdus kleinii.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Based on the observed morphological and morphometric differences, the distinct phylogenetic placement, and the reproductive isolation, the nematode isolates S8 and S10 represent a novel species, which we named Heterorhabditis americana n. sp. This study provides a detailed characterization of this novel species, contributing to enhancing our knowledge of species diversity and evolutionary relationships of the Heterorhabditis genus.},
}
@article {pmid40069476,
year = {2025},
author = {Murthy, MK},
title = {Environmental dynamics of pesticides: sources, impacts on amphibians, nanoparticles, and endophytic microorganism remediation.},
journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international},
volume = {32},
number = {13},
pages = {7860-7893},
pmid = {40069476},
issn = {1614-7499},
mesh = {*Pesticides ; Animals ; *Nanoparticles ; Amphibians ; Endophytes ; Ecosystem ; Environmental Restoration and Remediation ; },
abstract = {Pesticides, which are widely used in agriculture, have elicited notable environmental concern because they persist and may be toxic. The environmental dynamics of pesticides were reviewed with a focus on their sources, impacts on amphibians, and imminent remediation options. Pesticides are directly applied in ecosystems, run off into water bodies, are deposited in the atmosphere, and often accumulate in the soil and water bodies. Pesticide exposure is particularly problematic for amphibians, which are sensitive indicators of the environment's health and suffer from physiological, behavioral, and developmental disruption that has "pushed them to the brink of extinction." Finally, this review discusses the nanoparticles that can be used to tackle pesticide pollution. However, nanoparticles with large surface areas and reactivity have the potential to degrade or adsorb pesticide residues during sustainable remediation processes. Symbiotic microbes living inside plants, known as endophytic microorganisms, can detoxify pesticides. Reducing pesticide bioavailability improves plant resilience by increasing the number of metabolizing microorganisms. Synergy between nanoparticle technology and endophytic microorganisms can mitigate pesticide contamination. Results show that Interdisciplinary research is necessary to improve the application of these strategies to minimize the ecological risk of pesticides. Eco-friendly remediation techniques that promote sustainable agricultural practices, while protecting amphibian populations and ecosystem health, have advanced our understanding of pesticide dynamics.},
}
@article {pmid40068937,
year = {2025},
author = {Da-Anoy, J and Toyama, KS and Jasnos, O and Wong, AW and Gilmore, TD and Davies, SW},
title = {Microbial Depletion Is Associated with Slower Cnidarian Regeneration.},
journal = {Integrative and comparative biology},
volume = {65},
number = {1},
pages = {139-151},
doi = {10.1093/icb/icaf007},
pmid = {40068937},
issn = {1557-7023},
support = {IOS-1937650//National Science Foundation/ ; //Boston University Work Study Program/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/microbiology/physiology/drug effects ; *Regeneration/drug effects ; *Microbiota/drug effects ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Symbiosis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; },
abstract = {Microbiomes play an important role in physiology and development in cnidarians, but how these communities influence tissue regeneration is poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of antibiotic exposure on regeneration and microbial communities in two cnidarian models, the sea anemones Nematostella vectensis (non-symbiotic, hereafter, Nematostella) and Exaiptasia diaphana (symbiotic, hereafter, Aiptasia). Bisected animals were incubated in either sterile or antibiotic-treated artificial seawater for 7 days and regeneration was monitored daily. After 7 days, tentacle number and length were measured, and microbial communities were profiled using metabarcoding of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA. Microbiome disruption was observed under antibiotic treatment in both species, resulting in decreased microbial load and shifts in relative abundances of certain microbial taxa. Nematostella exhibited a greater reduction in microbial diversity and community shifts under antibiotic exposure, whereas Aiptasia showed only moderate changes in diversity. In both species, microbiome disruption was associated with slower regeneration rates and reduced tentacle number and length, suggesting a functional role for the microbiome in anemone regeneration. Our findings suggest that host-microbiome interactions in both symbiotic and aposymbiotic anemones are important for the maintenance of regenerative processes. These findings provide insight into how cnidarians and their microbiomes respond to environmental stressors, with implications for predicting cnidarian resilience in the context of emerging threats to the marine environment.},
}
@article {pmid40068607,
year = {2025},
author = {Chung, WS and Kurniawan, ND and Marshall, NJ and Cortesi, F},
title = {Blue-lined octopus Hapalochlaena fasciata males envenomate females to facilitate copulation.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {5},
pages = {R169-R170},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.027},
pmid = {40068607},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {Animals ; *Octopodiformes/physiology ; Male ; Female ; *Copulation/physiology ; *Tetrodotoxin/toxicity ; *Sexual Behavior, Animal ; },
abstract = {A variety of phylogenetically distant taxa, including flatworms, mollusks, amphibians, and fishes, use the deadly neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) for predation and defense[1]. A well-known example is the blue-lined octopus, Hapalochlaena fasciata (Hoyle, 1886), which uses symbiotic bacteria to sequester TTX in its posterior salivary glands (PSG)[2]. When it bites, the TTX-laden saliva immobilizes large prey and has caused lethal envenomation in a few incidents involving humans[3]. Female blue-lined octopuses are about twice the size of males, which bears the risk of males being cannibalized during reproduction[4]. Surprisingly, we found that the PSG of males is roughly three times heavier than that of females. Using laboratory mating experiments, we show that males use a high-precision bite that targets the female's aorta to inject TTX at the start of copulation. Envenomating the females renders them immobile, enabling the males to mate successfully.},
}
@article {pmid40067963,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhu, Y and Cao, Y and Jiang, L and Wang, P and Cheng, G},
title = {Interactions Between Commensal Microbes and Mosquito-Borne Viruses.},
journal = {Annual review of virology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-virology-092623-101222},
pmid = {40067963},
issn = {2327-0578},
abstract = {Emerging and re-emerging mosquito-borne viruses pose a significant threat to global public health. Unfortunately, effective preventive and therapeutic measures are scarce. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms regulating viral pathogenesis, vector competence, and viral transmission between mammalian hosts and vectors may lay the foundations for new preventive and therapeutic approaches. Here, we summarize the intricate interactions between commensal microbes and mosquito-borne viruses in mammalian hosts and mosquitoes, including how the host gut microbiota influences the pathogenesis of viral infection; how the host skin microbiota affects the attractiveness of hosts to mosquitoes and viral transmission; and how symbiotic microbes, including endosymbiotic bacteria, fungi, and insect-specific viruses in mosquitoes, regulate viral transmission through gut immune regulation and microbe-derived effectors. In addition, we discuss the potential of symbiotic microbe-based interventions to suppress the transmission of mosquito-borne viral diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40066981,
year = {2025},
author = {Velaz, M and Santesteban, LG and Torres, N},
title = {Mycorrhizae and grapevines: the known unknowns of their interaction for wine growers' challenges.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {76},
number = {11},
pages = {3001-3015},
pmid = {40066981},
issn = {1460-2431},
support = {PC044-045_CUALVID//CUALVID/ ; REF PID2023-151788OA-I00//MYKOVINE/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Vitis/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Wine ; Climate Change ; Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in grapevine production systems. However, little is known about how this relationship is achieved in the nursery and how soil management might modify it and its derived benefits. Here, we review the current knowledge on the establishment of grapevine-AMF relationships from the nursery to the field, the main factors that affect the effectiveness of the symbiosis, the potential role of AMF as biostimulants in grapevine production systems, and the future perspectives of their use in the current context of climate change. The process of establishing mycorrhizal symbiosis is complex, and the molecular dialogue between the plant roots and the fungus is still not yet fully understood. During vine plant production, rooting occurs in nurseries, where spontaneous symbiosis can be generated. The effectiveness of mycorrhizal symbiosis appears to depend not only on the identity of the fungus but also on the diversity of the vine material and soil management. Finally, the use of AMF as biostimulants might be an effective strategy with which to face the new climatic scenario, but further research dealing with the application of AMF inocula and the protection of native cohorts should be conducted.},
}
@article {pmid40066462,
year = {2025},
author = {Swain, SS and Nayak, S and Mishra, S and Ghana, M and Dash, D},
title = {Exploring the plant growth promoting attributes of pteridophyte-associated microbiome for agricultural sustainability.},
journal = {Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology},
volume = {31},
number = {2},
pages = {211-232},
pmid = {40066462},
issn = {0971-5894},
abstract = {Pteridophytes, encompassing ferns and fern allies, are integral components of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. These vascular plants characterized by their spore-based reproduction, fulfil various ecological roles such as influencing biodiversity, soil stability, nutrient dynamics, and ecological succession. Similar to higher plants, pteridophytes too are known to have close symbiotic associations with a diverse array of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. Exploring the microbial diversity in pteridophytes has prospects both in pure and applied research. Research on pteridophyte microbial communities have revealed their role in plant growth promotion, nutrient acquisition and tolerance against stresses. Besides, it would be interesting to unravel the microbial diversity associated with pteridophytes, which are the first vascular plants. Further, study of pteridophytes-associated microbes would also help in conservation programmes of these rare and endangered group of plants. In spite of the immense potential of pteridophyte microbiome, only few studies have been undertaken in this area, thereby creating a huge research gap. Hence, this review compiles pteridophyte microbiome research, and explores its prospects in agricultural sustainability. Our literature survey sheds light on the tremendous potential of pteridophyte-associated microbes as plant growth promoters and biocontrol agents for sustainable agriculture, which is highly relevant in the era of climate change.},
}
@article {pmid40065791,
year = {2025},
author = {Boivin, S and Mahé, F and Debellé, F and Pervent, M and Tancelin, M and Tauzin, M and Wielbo, J and Mazurier, S and Young, P and Lepetit, M},
title = {Corrigendum: Genetic variation in host-specific competitiveness of the symbiont Rhizobium leguminosarum Symbiovar viciae.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1542763},
pmid = {40065791},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.719987.].},
}
@article {pmid40065498,
year = {2025},
author = {van Beveren, F and Boele, Y and Puginier, C and Bianconi, ME and Libourel, C and Bonhomme, M and Keller, J and Delaux, PM},
title = {Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis evolved independently and by convergent gene duplication in rosid lineages.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {4},
pages = {1432-1438},
pmid = {40065498},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {OPP1172165//Enabling Nutrient Symbiosis in Agriculture/ ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; ANR-18-EURE-0019//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; 101105838//HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions/ ; 101001675/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; },
}
@article {pmid40063882,
year = {2025},
author = {Ejaz, A and Ali, YA and Afzaal, M and Saeed, F and Ahmed, A and Waliat, S and Farooq, MU and Asghar, A and Ahmed, F and Khan, MR},
title = {Effect of co-encapsulation using white and red onion peel extract on the viability and stability of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus under stressful conditions.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {3},
pages = {e0311952},
pmid = {40063882},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus/drug effects/physiology ; *Probiotics/chemistry ; *Plant Extracts/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Onions/chemistry ; Microbial Viability/drug effects ; *Stress, Physiological/drug effects ; Capsules ; Alginates/chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Drug Compounding ; },
abstract = {The study aimed to probe the effect of white and red onion extract on the viability and stability of encapsulated probiotics under stressed conditions. Intentionally, white and red onion peel extract was obtained and used with wall materials to encapsulate the probiotic. Symbiotic microcapsules were characterized for their morphological, molecular, and in vitro attributes. Similarly, free and co-encapsulated probiotics cells were also subjected to a simulated gastrointestinal assay. The SEM images demonstrated the successful encapsulation of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus within sodium alginate, along with white and red onion extract. The FTIR spectra showed the intermolecular interaction between the components of microcapsules. The in vitro assay showed that co-encapsulated probiotics showed better survival compared to free cells. In a nutshell, the co-encapsulation with red and white onion extract is an effective approach to enhance the viability of probiotics under stressed conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40063589,
year = {2025},
author = {Thu, SW and Tegeder, M},
title = {Enhanced ureide partitioning improves soybean performance under drought stress.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {76},
number = {10},
pages = {2786-2808},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf099},
pmid = {40063589},
issn = {1460-2431},
support = {//Agriculture and Food Research Initiative/ ; //United States Department of Agriculture/ ; 2017-67013-26158//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 1820-152-0136/1920-152-0136//United Soybean Board/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/physiology/genetics/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Droughts ; *Urea/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Stress, Physiological ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; *Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] fixes atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia in root nodules to produce allantoin and allantoic acid. These ureides serve as primary nitrogen transport compounds that are moved from nodules to shoots in support of physiological functions and organ growth. Nodule ureide permease 1 (UPS1) is important for this transport process. Drought stress inhibits nitrogen fixation and reduces productivity in soybean, which has been associated with the accumulation of ureides in both nodule and shoot tissues. In this study, it was hypothesized that changes in ureide nodule-to-leaf-to-sink partitioning through manipulation of UPS1 function would alter ureide tissue concentrations, ultimately influencing soybean responses to drought. Soybean plants overexpressing UPS1 were exposed to moderate and severe drought conditions. Changes in organ and phloem ureide concentrations indicated enhanced nodule-to-shoot ureide transport and increased sink nitrogen supply in the transgenic plants compared with control wild-type plants. We further uncovered improvements in carbon fixation, partitioning, and availability for nitrogen fixation, resulting in increased nitrogen gains and better growth of the drought-stressed UPS1-overexpressing lines. Overall, our findings demonstrate that enhanced ureide partitioning contributes to improved soybean performance not only under well-watered conditions but also under drought stress.},
}
@article {pmid40063179,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, Z and Yang, L and Wang, Y and Qian, X and Ding, G and Jacquemyn, H and Xing, X},
title = {Unlocking germination: the role of mycorrhizal strain and seed provenance in driving seed germination of a widespread terrestrial orchid.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {18},
pmid = {40063179},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {32170013//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021-I2M-1-031//Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Initiative for Innovative Medicine/ ; XZ202201ZY0042G//Science and Technology Program of Xizang Autonomous Region/ ; 2023YFDZ0076//Science and Technology Program of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region/ ; },
mesh = {*Orchidaceae/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/classification ; *Germination ; *Seeds/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Basidiomycota/physiology/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; China ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Orchids represent an important component of biodiversity in many ecosystems worldwide, notwithstanding their seed germination and distribution may to a large extent be determined and influenced by mycorrhizal fungi. While it is commonly assumed that widespread orchids are mycorrhizal generalists, the degree to which mycorrhizal diversity supports seed germination remains relatively underexplored. In this study, we investigated the role of a variety of Ceratobasidium fungi in supporting seed germination of the widespread terrestrial orchid Gymnadenia conopsea across China. Twelve Ceratobasidium strains isolated from G. conopsea and other orchids were examined for their ability to support germination of G. conopsea seeds collected from twelve sites across China. Of the twelve tested strains, six were able to support seed germination, while the remaining six strains showed no activity. Compatible strains showed a broad phylogenetic breadth, indicating the G. conopsea is capable of initiating associations with a diverse array of Ceratobasidium fungi. However, the six compatible strains differed in their ability to support protocorm formation. Moreover, germination success of seeds collected from different sites differed among Ceratobasidium strains. Seeds from northern China had a significantly higher number of compatible strains (average 5.6) than seeds from southwestern China (average 3.5). Our results suggest that G. conopsea is not only a mycorrhizal generalist in the adult stage but also in the seed germination stage, at least towards Ceratobasidium fungi. However, the significant strain-provenance interactions indicate regional differences in orchid-fungus interactions. These findings are important for improving local population restoration programs and germplasm conservation of this widespread and endangered orchid species.},
}
@article {pmid40063086,
year = {2025},
author = {Herrmann, J and Netsch, C},
title = {[Conflicts of interest in scientific publications and possible consequences : A critical analysis using the example of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)].},
journal = {Urologie (Heidelberg, Germany)},
volume = {64},
number = {4},
pages = {352-357},
pmid = {40063086},
issn = {2731-7072},
mesh = {Humans ; Male ; *Biomedical Research/ethics/economics ; *Conflict of Interest/economics ; *Prostatic Hyperplasia/therapy ; },
abstract = {Technological advancements in endourology rely on close collaboration between medical expertise and industrial research. While this symbiosis is essential for medical progress, it also raises potential conflicts of interest. Using the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as an example, this study examines various mechanisms through which industry influences scientific evidence. These include selective study design, industry-sponsored educational events, and direct financial ties between industry and medical professionals. Case studies of Aquablation (ProCePT BioRobotics, San Jose CA, USA), Rezum (Boston Scientific, Marborough, MA, USA), and UroLift® (UroLift, Pleasanton, CA, USA) illustrate how methodological peculiarities in study designs and selective endpoint choices can impact the quality of evidence. The analysis underscores the need to balance technological innovation with the preservation of scientific independence. Proposed solutions include strengthening independent research funding, systematically incorporating patient preferences, and ensuring structured follow-up of long-term outcomes.},
}
@article {pmid40062964,
year = {2025},
author = {Kaur, S and Hawkins, JP and Oresnik, IJ},
title = {Suppression of a Transketolase Mutation Leads to Only Partial Restoration of Symbiosis in Sinorhizobium meliloti.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {MPMI02250017R},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-02-25-0017-R},
pmid = {40062964},
issn = {0894-0282},
abstract = {The interaction between Sinorhizobium meliloti and alfalfa is a well-studied model system for symbiotic establishment between rhizobia and legume plants. Proper utilization of carbon sources has been linked with effective symbiotic establishment in S. meliloti strain Rm1021. Previous work has shown that mutation of the gene tktA, which encodes a transketolase involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, resulted in a strain impaired in many biological functions, including the ability to establish symbiosis with alfalfa. Work with this strain revealed the appearance of suppressor mutations that could partially revert the symbiotic phenotype associated with a tktA mutation. Characterization of these suppressor strains showed that carbon phenotypes associated with a mutation in tktA were no longer present and that the production of succinoglycan was partially restored. Central carbon metabolite pools were observed to be different compared with the wild-type and tktA mutant strains. Multiple independent mutations were identified in the gene SMc02340, a Gnt-type negative regulator, upon sequencing. RT-PCR suggested that SMc02340 acts as a negative regulator on an operon containing the gene tktB, which becomes upregulated when the suppressor mutation is present or SMc02340 is removed. Microscopic analysis revealed a unique symbiotic phenotype. The tktA mutant strain induced root hair curling but could not colonize the apoplastic space. Collectively, the data suggest that the upregulation of tktB can partially bypass some blocks associated with a lesion in tktA, including the colonization of the curled root hair, but cannot fully compensate for the loss of tktA. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.},
}
@article {pmid40061946,
year = {2025},
author = {Guan, Y and Cheng, H and Zhang, N and Cai, Y and Zhang, Q and Jiang, X and Wang, A and Zeng, H and Jia, B},
title = {The role of the esophageal and intestinal microbiome in gastroesophageal reflux disease: past, present, and future.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1558414},
pmid = {40061946},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastroesophageal Reflux/microbiology/immunology/etiology/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Animals ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; *Esophagus/microbiology/immunology ; },
abstract = {Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the common diseases of the digestive system, and its incidence is increasing year by year, in addition to its typical symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn affecting the quality of patients' survival. The pathogenesis of GERD has not yet been clarified. With the development of detection technology, microbiome have been studied in depth. Normal microbiome are symbiotic with the host and can assist the host to fulfill the roles of digestion and absorption, and promote the development of the host. Dysbiosis of the microbiome forms a new internal environment, under which it may affect the development of GERD from the perspectives of molecular mechanisms: microbial activation of Toll-like receptors, microbial stimulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression, microbial stimulation of inducible nitrous oxide synthase, and activation of the NLRP3 inflammatory vesicle; immune mechanisms; and impact on the dynamics of the lower gastrointestinal tract. This review will explore the esophageal microbiome and intestinal microbiome characteristics of GERD and the mechanisms by which dysbiotic microbiome induces GERD.},
}
@article {pmid40061032,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Z and Ye, Y and Wang, X and Peng, S and Chen, B and Li, S and Chen, H and Yang, D and Jiang, F and Zhang, C and Li, M},
title = {Mycorrhizal fungus BJ1, a new species of Tulasnella sp.: its biological characteristics and promoting effect on seed germination of Bletilla striata.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1542585},
pmid = {40061032},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Mycorrhizal fungi have been shown to promote seed germination and seedling growth in Orchidaceae plants. In the present study, a mycorrhizal fungus designated as BJ1 was isolated from the roots of Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reiehb.f. Fluorescence staining and morphological analysis revealed that this fungus exhibited characteristics highly similar to those of Tulasnella. Subsequently, the strain was confirmed as a new strain of Tulasnella through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of four loci: the internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-ITS4 (ITS), ATP synthase (C14436), glutamate synthase (C4102), and ATP deconjugase (C3304). Additionally, we investigated the in vitro biological activity of strain BJ1 and its effects on germination and growth of B. striata seeds. The results indicated that BJ1 is capable of producing plant cell-degrading enzymes, including pectinase and protease. Furthermore, it demonstrates an ability to solubilize inorganic phosphorus and synthesize indoleacetic acid (IAA). Nevertheless, it does not exhibit laccase activity or possess the capacity to produce siderophores, nor can it solubilize organic phosphorus. Microscopic observations revealed that strain BJ1 mainly colonizes the base of the B. striata protocorm, thereby enhancing seed germination, growth, and expansion. Notably, by the fourth week of germination, 74.23% of seeds in the symbiotic group had developed to stage 5, a significantly higher proportion compared to 50.43% in the non-symbiotic group. Additionally, the length, width, and fresh weight of seeds in the symbiotic group were 2.2 times, 1.8 times, and 3.7 times greater than those in the non-symbiotic group, respectively. Furthermore, by adding L-tryptophan as a substrate during co-cultivation with BJ1, there was a significant enhancement in IAA synthesis capability; this also led to a marked acceleration in the symbiotic germination process of B. striata seeds. These results suggest that strain BJ1 holds significant potential for application in the artificial propagation of B. striata seedlings. It can enhance propagation efficiency and improve seedling quality, thereby playing a crucial role in the conservation and sustainable development of germplasm resources of endangered orchids.},
}
@article {pmid40060587,
year = {2025},
author = {Sanath-Kumar, R and Rahman, A and Ren, Z and Reynolds, IP and Augusta, L and Fuqua, C and Weisberg, AJ and Wang, X},
title = {Linear dicentric chromosomes in bacterial natural isolates reveal common constraints for replicon fusion.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.02.23.639760},
pmid = {40060587},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {R01 AI172822/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM141242/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 GM143182/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Multipartite bacterial genome organization can confer advantages including coordinated gene regulation and faster genome replication but is challenging to maintain. Agrobacterium tumefaciens lineages often contain a circular chromosome (Ch1), a linear chromosome (Ch2), and multiple plasmids. We previously observed that in some stocks of the lab model strain C58, Ch1 and Ch2 were fused into a linear dicentric chromosome. Here we analyzed Agrobacterium natural isolates from the French Collection for Plant-Associated Bacteria (CFBP) and identified two strains with fused chromosomes. Chromosome conformation capture identified integration junctions that were different from the C58 fusion strain. Genome-wide DNA replication profiling showed both replication origins remain active. Transposon sequencing revealed that partitioning systems of both chromosome centromeres are essential. Importantly, the site-specific recombinases XerCD are required for the survival of the strains containing the fusion chromosome. Our findings show that replicon fusion occurs in natural environments and that balanced replication arm sizes and proper resolution systems enable the survival of such strains.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Most bacterial genomes are monopartite with a single, circular chromosome. But some species, like Agrobacterium tumefaciens, carry multiple chromosomes. Emergence of multipartite genomes is often related to adaptation to specific niches including pathogenesis or symbiosis. Multipartite genomes confer certain advantages, however, maintaining this complex structure can present significant challenges. We previously reported a laboratory-propagated lineage of A. tumefaciens strain C58 in which the circular and linear chromosomes fused to form a single dicentric chromosome. Here we discovered two environmental isolates of A. tumefaciens containing fused chromosomes derived from a different route, revealing the constraints and diversification of this process. We found that balanced replication arm sizes and the repurposing of multimer resolution systems enable the survival and stable maintenance of dicentric chromosomes. These findings help us better understand how multipartite genomes function across different bacterial species and the role of genomic plasticity in bacterial genetic diversification.},
}
@article {pmid40059228,
year = {2025},
author = {Thapa, A and Hasan, MR and Kabir, AH},
title = {Transcriptional reprogramming and microbiome dynamics in garden pea exposed to high pH stress during vegetative stage.},
journal = {Planta},
volume = {261},
number = {4},
pages = {83},
pmid = {40059228},
issn = {1432-2048},
support = {5SFAES-293007//College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, University of Louisiana Monroe/ ; },
mesh = {Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; *Pisum sativum/microbiology/genetics/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Soil/chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; Oxidative Stress ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Transcriptome ; Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {High soil pH induces the upregulation of genes involved in oxidative stress and nutrient transport, while the enrichment of beneficial microbes (Variovorax, Chaetomium, and Pseudomonas) highlights their potential role in promoting stress adaptation. High soil pH severely impacts plant growth and productivity, yet the transcriptomic changes and microbial dynamics underlying stress adaptation in garden pea (Pisum sativum ssp. hortense) remain unclear. This study demonstrates that high soil pH leads to stunted growth, reduced biomass, impaired photosynthesis, and nutrient status in garden pea. Further, disruption in key nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium indicum, R. leguminosarum, and R. redzepovicii), along with the downregulation of NifA and NifD genes and upregulation of NifH in nodules highlights the critical role of micronutrient balance in legume-microbe symbiosis and a compensatory response to maintain nitrogen status. RNA seq analysis revealed extensive transcriptional reprogramming in roots, characterized by the upregulation of oxidative stress response genes (e.g., oxidoreductase and glutathione transferase activities, metal ion transporters) and the downregulation of genes related to ammonia-lyase activity and ion binding, reflecting broader disruptions in nutrient homeostasis. KEGG pathway analysis identified enrichment of MAPK signaling pathway, likely interacting with other pathways associated with stress tolerance, metabolic adjustment, and structural reorganization as part of adaptive responses to high pH. Root microbiome analysis showed significant enrichment of Variovorax, Shinella, and Chaetomium, suggesting host-driven recruitment under high pH stress. Stable genera, such as Pseudomonas, Novosphingobium, Mycobacterium, Herbaspirillum, and Paecilomyces, displayed resilience to stress conditions, potentially forming core microbiome components for adaptation to high pH. In a targeted study, inoculation of plants with an enriched microbiome, particularly C. globosum, under high pH conditions improved growth parameters and increased the abundance of Stenotrophomonas and Pseudomonas in the roots. It suggests that these bacterial genera may act as helper microbes to C. globosum, collectively promoting stress resilience in pea plants suffering from high pH. These findings provide a foundation for microbiome-aided breeding programs and the development of microbial consortia to enhance the adaptation of pea plants to high pH conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40058438,
year = {2025},
author = {Cai, Z and Zhang, M and Zhou, L and Xiong, Y and Wang, H and Chen, Y and Yuan, J},
title = {Kai-Xin-San polysaccharides exert therapeutic effects on D-gal and Aβ25-35-induced AD rats by regulating gut microbiota and metabolic profile.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {306},
number = {Pt 4},
pages = {141850},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.141850},
pmid = {40058438},
issn = {1879-0003},
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Polysaccharides/pharmacology/chemistry/therapeutic use ; *Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy/metabolism/chemically induced/microbiology ; Rats ; Male ; *Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; *Metabolome/drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Metabolomics ; *Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology/chemistry ; Galactose ; Peptide Fragments ; Feces/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; },
abstract = {Metabolic abnormalities and gut microbiota imbalance are intricately linked to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Kai-Xin-San (KXS) is a traditional herbal formula known for its therapeutic effects on AD. Our previous research indicated that Kai-Xin-San polysaccharide (KXS-P) exhibits a significant therapeutic impact on AD, but the precise mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, untargeted fecal metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to investigate the potential mechanisms by which KXS-P acts against AD. Key metabolites and gut microbial species were identified using multivariate analysis and a comprehensive examination of intestinal microecology. Our findings revealed that KXS-P improves lipid metabolism in AD rats by modulating a series of lipid molecules and bile acid levels. Additionally, KXS-P regulated gut microbiota composition and restored the symbiotic relationships within the gut microbiome. Notably, the anti-inflammatory effect of KXS-P may be related to its regulation of specific lipotypes levels and the abundance of Romboutsia, Bifidobacterium and Alloprevotella. KXS-P demonstrates the ability to alleviate symptoms of AD rats through multiple mechanisms: ① Improving lipid metabolism and maintaining lipid homeostasis; ② Reducing neuronal and inflammatory damage; ③ Regulating the composition and symbiotic relationships of gut microbiota to preserve intestinal microecological balance.},
}
@article {pmid40057976,
year = {2025},
author = {Nikitashina, V and Bartels, B and Mansour, JS and LeKieffre, C and Decelle, J and Hertweck, C and Not, F and Pohnert, G},
title = {Metabolic interdependence and rewiring in radiolaria-microalgae photosymbioses.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40057976},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {//European Union/ ; 2022FGI0010//European Regional Development Fund/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Microalgae/metabolism/physiology ; Metabolome ; Photosynthesis ; },
abstract = {Marine planktonic Radiolaria harboring symbiotic microalgae are ubiquitous in the oceans and abundant in oligotrophic areas. In these low-nutrient environments, they are among the most important primary producers. Systematic studies of radiolarian biology are limited because radiolaria are non-culturable and prone to damage during sampling. To obtain insight into the mechanistic basis of radiolarian photosymbiosis, we address here the metabolic contributions of the partners to the performance of the holobiont. Therefore, we describe the metabolic inventory of two highly abundant photosymbiotic radiolaria-colony-forming Collodaria and single-celled Acantharia and compare their metabolomes to metabolomes of respective free-living algae. Most of the metabolites detected in the symbiosis are not present in the free-living algae, suggesting a significant transformation of symbionts' metabolites by the host. The metabolites identified in the holobiont and the free-living algae encompass molecules of primary metabolism and a number of osmolytes, including dimethylsulfoniopropionate. Mass spectrometry imaging revealed the presence of dimethylsulfoniopropionate in the symbionts and host cells, indicating that the algae provide osmolytic protection to the host. Furthermore, our findings suggest a possible dependence of Collodaria on symbiotic vitamin B3. Distinctive differences in phospholipid composition between free-living and symbiotic stages indicate that the algal cell membrane may undergo rearrangement in the symbiosis. Our results demonstrate a strong interdependence and rewiring of the algal metabolism underlying radiolaria-microalgae photosymbioses.},
}
@article {pmid40057927,
year = {2025},
author = {Sakhai, FS and Movahedi, Z and Ghabooli, M and Fard, EM},
title = {Positive Effect of Serendipita indica on Fenugreek and Its Tolerance Against Cadmium Stress.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {4},
pages = {182},
pmid = {40057927},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {*Trigonella/microbiology/drug effects/metabolism/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Cadmium/toxicity/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development/drug effects/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/drug effects/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Stress, Physiological ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Symbiosis ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism ; Proline/metabolism ; },
abstract = {This study examined the effects of Serendipita indica colonization and cadmium (Cd) exposure on the morphophysiological characteristics of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Our findings revealed that Cd stress significantly reduced plant and root height, root volume, fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, leaf number, and the uptake of essential minerals. Cd exposure also diminished photosynthetic pigment levels while increasing certain biochemical properties and causing cadmium accumulation in plant tissues. However, the colonization of fenugreek by S. indica mitigated these adverse effects. This symbiotic association enhanced root volume, leaf number, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium uptake, as well as the dry weights of shoots and roots, photosynthetic pigment concentrations, and proline levels. Additionally, S. indica presence reduced electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels, and cadmium accumulation in leaves, effectively alleviating Cd-induced oxidative stress. In conclusion, our research highlights the potential of S. indica to counteract the detrimental impacts of Cd exposure in fenugreek plants, promoting resilience under environmental stress. Notably, S. indica restricted root-to-shoot Cd translocation, which is critical for mitigating Cd toxicity. Furthermore, its presence improved physiological parameters, including photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate and proline content, and biomass production, under Cd-induced stress conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40057539,
year = {2025},
author = {Teikari, JE and Russo, DA and Heuser, M and Baumann, O and Zedler, JAZ and Liaimer, A and Dittmann, E},
title = {Competition and interdependence define interactions of Nostoc sp. and Agrobacterium sp. under inorganic carbon limitation.},
journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {42},
pmid = {40057539},
issn = {2055-5008},
support = {239748522- SFB 1127//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 406260942//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 332215//Academy of Finland (Suomen Akatemia)/ ; },
mesh = {*Nostoc/metabolism/physiology/growth &amp; development/genetics ; *Carbon/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Proteomics ; Iron/metabolism ; *Microbial Interactions ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Agrobacterium/metabolism/physiology ; },
abstract = {Cyanobacteria of the Nostoc genus are capable of forming symbiotic relationships with plants but also serve as a hub for heterotrophic bacteria. By comparing the axenic strain Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73102 and the xenic strains Nostoc sp. KVJ2 and KVJ3, we were able to demonstrate an almost obligate dependence of the cyanobacteria on the heterotrophic partners under carbon-limiting conditions. A detailed analysis of the intimate relationship between N. punctiforme and the isolate Agrobacterium tumefaciens Het4 using shotgun proteomics and microscopy uncovered a complex partnership characterized by competition for iron and facilitation for carbon. The prevalent extracarboxysomal localization of the carbon-fixing enzyme RubisCO suggests that a weak carbon-concentrating mechanism in N. punctiforme enforces a dependence on heterotrophic bacteria. Our study indicates a limited autonomy of symbiotic Nostoc strains, which may also explain its preference for symbiotic interactions.},
}
@article {pmid40057434,
year = {2025},
author = {Pang, L and Huang, Y and Huang-Gao, J and Chen, P},
title = {Protease regulation of tumor-immune cell symbiosis.},
journal = {Trends in cancer},
volume = {11},
number = {6},
pages = {560-574},
pmid = {40057434},
issn = {2405-8025},
support = {P30 CA043703/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS124594/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS127824/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Tumor Microenvironment/immunology/drug effects ; *Neoplasms/immunology/pathology/drug therapy ; *Peptide Hydrolases/metabolism ; Animals ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Immunotherapy/methods ; Extracellular Matrix/immunology/metabolism ; Cell Communication/immunology/drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/immunology ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Disease Progression ; },
abstract = {Proteases play a crucial role in cancer progression and are traditionally known for their protumorigenic role by degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM). Emerging evidence indicates that proteases, such as caspases, cathepsins, and ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs), regulate diverse immunomodulatory substrates or signals in the tumor microenvironment (TME), generating symbiotic interactions between cancer cells and immune cells. These interactions are critical for tumor progression and immunotherapy resistance across cancer types. In this review, we highlight recent insights into protease-mediated tumor-immune cell crosstalk, emphasizing how this symbiosis affects tumor progression and immunosuppression. Moreover, we discuss therapeutic strategies that exploit protease-mediated tumor-immune cell interactions to inhibit tumor progression and sensitize immunologically 'cold' tumors to immunotherapies, especially immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.},
}
@article {pmid40056871,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, Z and Fernie, AR and Zhang, Y},
title = {Engineering nitrogen and carbon fixation for next-generation plants.},
journal = {Current opinion in plant biology},
volume = {85},
number = {},
pages = {102699},
doi = {10.1016/j.pbi.2025.102699},
pmid = {40056871},
issn = {1879-0356},
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Carbon Cycle/genetics ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Metabolic Engineering/methods ; *Crops, Agricultural/genetics/metabolism ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Plants/metabolism/genetics ; Synthetic Biology ; },
abstract = {Improving plant nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) acquisition and assimilation is a major challenge for global agriculture, food security, and ecological sustainability. Emerging synthetic biology techniques, including directed evolution, artificial intelligence (AI)-guided enzyme design, and metabolic engineering, have opened new avenues for optimizing nitrogenase to fix atmospheric N2 in plants, engineering Rhizobia or other nitrogen-fixing bacteria for symbiotic associations with both legume and nonlegume crops, and enhancing carbon fixation to improve photosynthetic efficiency and source-to-sink assimilate fluxes. Here, we discuss the potential for engineering nitrogen fixation and carbon fixation mechanisms in plants, from rational and AI-driven optimization of nitrogen and carbon fixation cycles. Furthermore, we discuss strategies for modifying source-to-sink relationships to promote robust growth in extreme conditions, such as arid deserts, saline-alkaline soils, or even extraterrestrial environments like Mars. The combined engineering of N and C pathways promises a new generation of crops with enhanced productivity, resource-use efficiency, and resilience. Finally, we explore future perspectives, focusing on the integration of enzyme engineering via directed evolution and computational design to accelerate metabolic innovation in plants.},
}
@article {pmid40056711,
year = {2025},
author = {Shang, Q and Wang, Z and Wang, S and Zhang, W and Wang, Q and Wang, R and Huang, D and Pan, X},
title = {Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics elucidate how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alleviate drought stress in Juglans sigillata.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {296},
number = {},
pages = {128135},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128135},
pmid = {40056711},
issn = {1618-0623},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Juglans/microbiology/genetics/metabolism/growth &amp; development/physiology ; *Droughts ; *Stress, Physiological ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Metabolomics ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; China ; Symbiosis ; *Transcriptome ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Walnut (Juglans sigillata), an economically significant ecotype of the Juglans genus in the Juglandaceae family, is cultivated mainly in southwest China, a region prone to seasonal drought. Drought significantly reduced both the yield and quality of walnuts in this area. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic fungi that colonize plant roots and play crucial roles in enhancing plant drought resistance. This study investigated the effects of AMF on the alleviation of drought stress. Compared to non-inoculated drought-stressed plants, AMF inoculation improved plant growth, increased photosynthetic capacity, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability, and significantly activities of superoxide Dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase were significantly increased by 19.90 %, 18.43 %, and 8.39 %, respectively. malondialdehyde, Superoxide anion, and Hydrogen peroxide levels decreased by 18.39 %, 20.75 %, and 21.44 %, respectively, and soluble sugar and proline concentrations also significantly increased (P < 0.05), helping to maintain the osmotic balance. In addition, transcriptome results showed that ATP-binding cassette transporter related to drought resistance were significantly enriched in plants inoculated with AMF, and genes related to growth, such as IAA and CKT synthesis, transcription factors (BZIP, WRKY, and GTE), and related antioxidant enzymes. The mitogen-activated protein kinases pathway-related genes were upregulated in the inoculated drought treatment group, whereas pinobanksin and homoeriodictyol were upregulated in the inoculated drought treatment group, both of which provide support for drought resistance. In summary, AMF alleviated drought stress and promoted Juglans sigillata growth by modulating key physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms involved in drought resistance. This study offers important theoretical insights that support the application of AMF in sustainable agricultural practices.},
}
@article {pmid40056577,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, W and Wang, R and Li, Y and Li, Y and Zhang, P and Gao, M and Cao, Y and Fohrer, N and Zhang, Y and Li, BL},
title = {Cross-sectional-dependent microbial assembly and network stability: Bacteria sensitivity response was higher than eukaryotes and fungi in the Danjiangkou Reservoir.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {379},
number = {},
pages = {124851},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124851},
pmid = {40056577},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {Fungi ; China ; Bacteria ; Eukaryota ; Ecosystem ; *Microbiota ; *Water Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Water depth variation can lead to the vertical structure change of microbial communities in reservoirs, and then affect the relationship between the microbial communities along the depth gradient, profoundly affecting the stability of the aquatic ecosystems. However, the interspecific dynamics of microbial communities across different water layers in deep-water low-nutrient drinking water reservoirs remain not well understood. Thus, we assessed microbial communities' dynamic changes in different water layers in this study. The physical and chemical parameters and different planktonic microbial of the surface, middle, and bottom layers were studied from July 2022 to August 2023 in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, China. Based on high-throughput sequencing technology, model analysis and network analysis, the diversity of microbial communities in different water layers, community construction process and co-occurrence network differences were studied. The results showed that the diversity of bacterial communities in the Danjiangkou reservoir was significantly higher than that of fungi and eukaryotic microorganisms in different water depths. The dominant taxa of the bacterial communities in different water depths were Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria. The dominant phyla were Ascomycota, unclassified_k__Fungi and Chytridiomycota. The relative abundance of vertical dominant species in eukaryotic communities was slightly different, including Cryptophyta, Chlorophyta, Dinophyta and Metazoa. Different microbial communities shared the main dominant species on the vertical stratification. The neutral model showed that random processes significantly affected the assembly process of microbial communities in different water layers, and the mobility of fungal communities was much lower than that of bacteria and eukaryotes. The co-occurrence network analysis showed that the number of nodes and edges of the bacterial community was the highest, indicating that the network scale of the bacterial community was the largest. In addition, the map density and average clustering coefficient of bacterial and eukaryotic communities in surface water were the highest, indicating that the surface microbial species had a high degree of connectivity, can better transfer materials and exchange information, and Sensitive to changes in the external environment. In contrast, in fungal communities, microbial interactions were the most complex at the bottom. The interactions between microbial communities in different water depths were mainly positive, and the negative correlation of microbial communities in the middle and bottom water was greater than that in the surface water, indicating that the competition between species increased with the increase of depth. Correlation analysis showed that the key species of microbial community were significantly correlated with TP, PO4[3-]-P, NO3[-]-N and ORP. In summary, by analyzing water depth changes' impacts on the spatial distribution pattern, community assembly process and symbiotic network stability of microbial communities in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, we found that bacterial communities were more sensitive to water depth than eukaryotes and fungi. This study revealed the response mechanism of microbial communities to water depth in low-nutrient reservoirs, which is helpful to reflect aquatic ecological processes and provide a theoretical basis for the construction of subsequent reservoir ecological models.},
}
@article {pmid40056175,
year = {2025},
author = {de Fernandes, MG and Nascimento-Silva, G and Rozas, EE and Hardoim, CCP and Custódio, MR},
title = {From Sea to Freshwater: Shared and Unique Microbial Traits in Sponge Associated Prokaryotic Communities.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {4},
pages = {178},
pmid = {40056175},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {88887465142/2019-00//Coordena&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Aperfei&#xe7;oamento de Pessoal de N&#xed;vel Superior/ ; 2016/17189-7//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Amparo &#xe0; Pesquisa do Estado de S&#xe3;o Paulo/ ; 2017/10157-5//Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o de Amparo &#xe0; Pesquisa do Estado de S&#xe3;o Paulo/ ; },
mesh = {*Porifera/microbiology ; Animals ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Fresh Water/microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Seawater/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Ecosystem ; *Archaea/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {Despite their ecological significance and biotechnological potential, freshwater sponges remain relatively understudied compared to their marine counterparts. In special, the prokaryotic communities of species from isolated yet highly diverse ecosystems, such as the Amazon Rainforest, remain unknown, leaving an important part of the Porifera microbiome underexplored. Using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we unraveled the structure of the microbiota associated to the freshwater sponges Heteromeyenia cristalina and Metania reticulata for the first time. Their microbiome was compared with that of the haplosclerid marine sponges Amphimedon viridis and Haliclona melana; and the tetractinellid Cinachyrella alloclada. Our findings reveal not only a shared core microbiome between the freshwater and marine environments but also indicate functional redundancy in their communities, suggesting that certain microbial metabolic functions are conserved across diverse habitats. Comparisons between ecosystems also revealed that microbiomes of freshwater sponges can be richer and more diverse than those of marine species. Moreover, we compared the microbiome of adults and asexual reproduction structures (buds and gemmules) of sponges from both habitats, revealing a remarkable similarity between adults and their respective offsprings, indicating an important role of vertical transmission in this mode of reproduction. Our observations emphasize the dynamic interactions and the adaptability of the sponge-associated microbiota, providing insights into how these symbiotic associations were affected during the colonization of freshwater environments and shedding light into how symbiotic relationships are maintained throughout generations.},
}
@article {pmid40056008,
year = {2025},
author = {Lust, B and Matthews, JL and Oakley, CA and Lewis, RE and Mendis, H and Peng, L and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Davy, SK},
title = {The Influence of Symbiont Identity on the Proteomic and Metabolomic Responses of the Model Cnidarian Aiptasia to Thermal Stress.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {e70073},
pmid = {40056008},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {VUW1602//The Marsden Fund of the Royal Society Te Ap&#x101;rangi/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; *Metabolome ; *Proteome ; Hot Temperature ; *Sea Anemones/metabolism ; *Heat-Shock Response ; Metabolomics ; Proteomics ; Stress, Physiological ; },
abstract = {We examined the effects of symbiont identity and heat stress on the host metabolome and proteome in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Exaiptasia diaphana ('Aiptasia') was inoculated with its homologous (i.e., native) symbiont Breviolum minutum or a heterologous (i.e., non-native) symbiont (Symbiodinium microadriaticum; Durusdinium trenchii) and thermally stressed. Integrated metabolome and proteome analyses characterised host thermal responses between symbioses, with clear evidence of enhanced nutritional deprivation and cellular stress in hosts harbouring heterologous symbionts following temperature stress. Host metabolomes were partially distinct at the control temperature; however, thermal stress caused metabolomes of anemones containing the two heterologous symbionts to become more alike and more distinct from those containing B. minutum. While these patterns could be partly explained by innate symbiont-specific differences, they may also reflect differences in symbiont density, as under control conditions D. trenchii attained 60% and S. microadriaticum 15% of the density attained by B. minutum, and at elevated temperature only D. trenchii-colonised anemones bleached (60% loss). Our findings add to a growing literature that highlights the physiological limits of partner switching as a means of adaptation to global warming. However, we also provide tentative evidence for improved metabolic functioning with a heterologous symbiont (D. trenchii) after sustained symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid40054448,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, H and Sun, S and Liu, J and Guo, Q and Meng, L and Chen, J and Xiang, X and Zhou, Y and Zhang, N and Liu, H and Liu, Y and Yan, G and Ji, Q and He, L and Cai, S and Cai, C and Huang, X and Xu, S and Xiao, Y and Zhang, Y and Wang, K and Liu, Y and Chen, H and Yue, Z and He, S and Wang, J and Yang, H and Liu, X and Seim, I and Gu, Y and Li, Q and Zhang, G and Lee, SM and Kristiansen, K and Xu, X and Liu, S and Fan, G},
title = {The amphipod genome reveals population dynamics and adaptations to hadal environment.},
journal = {Cell},
volume = {188},
number = {5},
pages = {1378-1392.e18},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2025.01.030},
pmid = {40054448},
issn = {1097-4172},
mesh = {*Amphipoda/genetics/physiology ; Animals ; *Genome/genetics ; Population Dynamics ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Genetics, Population ; Hydrostatic Pressure ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; },
abstract = {The amphipod Hirondellea gigas is a dominant species inhabiting the deepest part of the ocean (∼6,800-11,000 m), but little is known about its genetic adaptation and population dynamics. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome of H. gigas, characterized by a large genome size of 13.92 Gb. Whole-genome sequencing of 510 individuals from the Mariana Trench indicates no population differentiation across depths, suggesting its capacity to tolerate hydrostatic pressure across wide ranges. H. gigas in the West Philippine Basin is genetically divergent from the Mariana and Yap Trenches, suggesting genetic isolation attributed to the geographic separation of hadal features. A drastic reduction in effective population size potentially reflects glacial-interglacial changes. By integrating multi-omics analysis, we propose host-symbiotic microbial interactions may be crucial in the adaptation of H. gigas to the extremely high-pressure and food-limited environment. Our findings provide clues for adaptation to the hadal zone and population genetics.},
}
@article {pmid40054396,
year = {2025},
author = {Chakravarthula, PN and Suffridge, JE and Wang, S},
title = {Gaze dynamics during natural scene memorization and recognition.},
journal = {Cognition},
volume = {259},
number = {},
pages = {106098},
doi = {10.1016/j.cognition.2025.106098},
pmid = {40054396},
issn = {1873-7838},
mesh = {Humans ; *Recognition, Psychology/physiology ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; *Eye Movements/physiology ; *Fixation, Ocular/physiology ; *Attention/physiology ; *Visual Perception/physiology ; *Pattern Recognition, Visual/physiology ; },
abstract = {Humans can rapidly memorize numerous images, which is surprising considering the limited visual sampling of each image. To enhance the probability of recognition, it is crucial to focus on previously sampled locations most likely to support memory. How does the visuomotor system achieve this? To study this, we analyzed the eye movements of a group of neurotypical observers while they performed a natural scene memorization task. Using comprehensive gaze analysis and computational modeling, we show that observers traded off visual exploration for exploiting information at the most memorable scene locations with repeated viewing. Furthermore, both the explore-exploit trade-off and gaze consistency predicted accurate recognition memory. Finally, false alarms were predicted by confusion of the incoming visual information at fixated locations with previously sampled information from other images. Together, our findings shed light on the symbiotic relationship between attention and memory in facilitating accurate natural scene memory.},
}
@article {pmid40054249,
year = {2025},
author = {Walling, LK and Gamache, MH and González-Pech, RA and Harwood, VJ and Ibrahim-Hashim, A and Jung, JH and Lewis, DB and Margres, MJ and McMinds, R and Rasheed, K and Reis, F and van Riemsdijk, I and Santiago-Alarcon, D and Sarmiento, C and Whelan, CJ and Zalamea, PC and Parkinson, JE and Richards, CL},
title = {Incorporating microbiome analyses can enhance conservation of threatened species and ecosystem functions.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {970},
number = {},
pages = {178826},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178826},
pmid = {40054249},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {Biodiversity ; *Conservation of Natural Resources/methods ; *Ecosystem ; *Endangered Species ; *Genomics ; *Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Conservation genomics is a rapidly growing subdiscipline of conservation biology that uses genome-wide information to inform management of biodiversity at all levels. Such efforts typically focus on species or systems of conservation interest, but rarely consider associated microbes. At least three major approaches have been used to study how microorganisms broadly contribute to conservation areas: (1) diversity surveys map out microbial species distribution patterns in a variety of hosts, natural environments or regions; (2) functional surveys associate microbial communities with factors of interest, such as host health, symbiotic interactions, environmental characteristics, ecosystem processes, and biological invasions; and (3) manipulative experiments examine the response of changes to microbial communities or determine the functional roles of specific microbes within hosts or communities by adding, removing, or genetically modifying microbes. In practice, multiple approaches are often applied simultaneously. The results from all three conservation genomics approaches can be used to help design practical interventions and improve management actions, some of which we highlight below. However, experimental manipulations allow for more robust causal inferences and should be the ultimate goal of future work. Here we discuss how further integration of microbial research of a host's microbiome and of free living microbes into conservation biology will be an essential advancement for conservation of charismatic organisms and ecosystem functions in light of ongoing global environmental change.},
}
@article {pmid40054197,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, S and He, L and Cao, L and Sun, R and Dai, Z and Liang, YQ and Ren, L and Sun, S and Li, C},
title = {Unraveling individual and combined toxicity of microplastics and tetracycline at environment-related concentrations to coral holobionts.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {490},
number = {},
pages = {137823},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137823},
pmid = {40054197},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; *Microplastics/toxicity ; *Tetracycline/toxicity ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/toxicity ; Coral Reefs ; Bacteria/drug effects ; Microbiota/drug effects ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Coral holobionts constitute the foundational organisms of coral reef ecosystems. As an emerging pollutant, the projected accumulated levels of microplastics (MPs) are expected to continue increasing. Meanwhile, due to their properties, MPs can absorb multiple other marine pollutants, such as antibiotics (ATs). However, the co-toxicity mechanism of MPs and ATs to coral holobionts remains to be explored. Here, using Zoanthus sociatus as a model organism, we investigate the individual and combined toxicity of MPs and tetracycline (TC) at environment-related concentrations to coral holobionts. Microbiomics indicate that MPs and TC increase coral holobionts bacterial species richness while concurrently reducing the microbial community structure stability. The key metabolites and enzyme activity results demonstrated that the impacts of MPs and TC on corals encompassed antioxidant capacity, detoxification capability, immune function, and lipid metabolism. Transcriptomics shows that MPs and TC disrupt coral-algae relationships mainly through host nutrition limitation and inhibition of symbiotic algae carbon/nitrogen metabolism, respectively. A synergistic effect between MPs and TC has also been observed. In contrast, coral holobionts have shown adaptability through activating coral-symbiodiniaceae-bacteria interactions, mainly including: 1) enhancing the abundance of BMCs (beneficial microorganisms for corals); 2) enhancing host lipid accumulation; 3) immunoregulation; 4) symbiotic regulation. Overall, our findings provide new insights into the co-toxicity of MPs and TC, and highlight those MPs and TC at current environment concentration and predicted for most oceans in the coming decades, can ultimately cause coral bleaching.},
}
@article {pmid40054109,
year = {2025},
author = {Sarkar, A and Roy, A and Roy, S},
title = {Anabaena azollae - The cyanobacterial partner of Azolla filiculoides reciprocates variably to dose- and duration-dependent Bisphenol-A exposure.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {222},
number = {},
pages = {109727},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109727},
pmid = {40054109},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Phenols/pharmacology/toxicity ; *Benzhydryl Compounds/pharmacology/toxicity ; *Anabaena/drug effects/metabolism/physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Cyanobacteria/drug effects/metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Bisphenol A Compounds ; },
abstract = {Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most studied endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC), for its large-scale production and disposal, and ubiquitous presence in the environment. It is also known to impart significant phytotoxic effects on almost all aquatic flora including cyanobacteria. Yet, there are limited studies on the responses of symbiotic cyanobacteria i.e. Anabaena azollae - residing inside Azolla filiculoides. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the response of A. azollae upon exposure to different doses and durations of BPA, which marks this as one of the first such studies. Morphological study reaffirmed the infiltration of BPA through the host's physical barrier and induced various anomalies like filament fragmentation, and cellular disruption especially heterocysts in the case of the higher doses of BPA (20, and 30 mg L[-1]). Additionally, exposure to higher doses further stimulated the antioxidative enzymes, secondary metabolites and stress/defence markers. However, the exaggerated ROS production (nearly 190%-230% O2[.-] and 557%-783% H2O2) at 30 mg L[-1] severely disrupted the membrane integrity, osmotic balance, and reduced essential biomolecules like sugars, proteins and lipid accumulation. Moreover, higher doses of BPA treatment compromised photosynthetic activity by reducing the photosynthetic pigments and phycobiliproteins (PBPs). Conversely, up to the dose of 10 mg L[-1], better cellular integrity, improved accumulation of biomolecules, pigments, and ROS detoxification denoted the neutral/positive effect on the symbionts. The lower doses (≥10 mg L[-1]) also showed positive indications like higher accumulation of biomolecules proteins (16%-30%), lipids (9%-49%), sugar (18%-52%), and pigments like phycobiliproteins (6%-97%), phycocyanins (6%-134%), which seemed to support the biomass of cyanobionts. Moreover, the said doses stimulated the accumulation of phenolics (98%-117%), flavonoids (159%-224%), and released polysaccharides (60%-183%) alongside stress markers like ascorbate and proline indicating the evocation of defense strategy against BPA stress.},
}
@article {pmid40053387,
year = {2025},
author = {He, Z and Gao, Y and Huang, Z and Zhan, M and Tian, S and Fang, F and Zhao, D and Li, Z and Meng, F and Tang, BZ and Luo, L},
title = {Tuning the Near-Infrared J-Aggregate of a Multicationic Photosensitizer through Molecular Coassembly for Symbiotic Photothermal Therapy and Chemotherapy.},
journal = {ACS nano},
volume = {19},
number = {10},
pages = {10220-10231},
doi = {10.1021/acsnano.4c17582},
pmid = {40053387},
issn = {1936-086X},
mesh = {*Photosensitizing Agents/chemistry/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Animals ; *Photothermal Therapy ; Mice ; Humans ; *Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry/pharmacology/chemical synthesis/therapeutic use ; Infrared Rays ; Anthraquinones/chemistry/pharmacology ; Female ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Cationic photosensitizers (PSs) offer many intriguing advantages, in addition to generating heat or reactive oxygen species for cancer phototherapy. However, the preparation of cationic PSs with enhanced near-infrared (NIR) absorption remains a significant challenge. In this work, we have synthesized a PS TPBBT, which incorporates a strong electron-withdrawing unit, benzobisthiadiazole, and four terminal pyridinium groups. It self-assembles into a mixed H/J aggregated state with a maximal absorption peak at 620 nm but coassembles with negatively charged planar small molecules to form sole J-aggregates. Following this strategy, we coassemble TPBBT with rhein, a planar, anionic traditional Chinese medicine with an anticancer activity, which allows for a near 100 nm bathochromic shift of the maximal absorption of TPBBT and improves the photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of TPBBT from 6.4 to 60.4% under 808 nm laser irradiation. Additionally, coassembling with TPBBT significantly enhances the cellular uptake of rhein through the photothermal effect. The coassembly of TPBBT and rhein (TPBBTein) can completely eliminate 4T1 tumors on mouse models, validating that this facile strategy not only can tune the NIR J-aggregate of cationic PS through molecular coassembly but also promotes the efficient, symbiotic combination of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy.},
}
@article {pmid40052412,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Li, R and Liu, R and Shi, J and Qiu, X and Lei, J and Zhao, X and Wang, C and Ge, M and Xu, H and Miao, P and Li, Z and Yi, K and Liao, H and Zhong, Y},
title = {A simplified SynCom based on core-helper strain interactions enhances symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean.},
journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology},
volume = {67},
number = {6},
pages = {1582-1598},
doi = {10.1111/jipb.13881},
pmid = {40052412},
issn = {1744-7909},
support = {32402668//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; xjq202120//Outstanding Young Researchers Program of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University/ ; 2023M743822//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 2021N0008//Science and Technology Project of Fujian Province, Key Program of Agricultural Orientation Project/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/microbiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Bradyrhizobium/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) are a promising tool for making full use of the beneficial functions imparted by whole bacterial consortia. However, the complexity of reconstructed SynComs often limits their application in sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, inter-strain interactions are often neglected during SynCom construction. Here, we propose a strategy for constructing a simplified and functional SynCom (sfSynCom) by using elite helper strains that significantly improve the beneficial functions of the core symbiotic strain, here Bradyrhizobium elkanii BXYD3, to sustain the growth of soybean (Glycine max). We first identified helper strains that significantly promote nodulation and nitrogen fixation in soybean mediated by BXYD3. Two of these helper strains assigned to the Pantoea taxon produce acyl homoserine lactones, which significantly enhanced the colonization and infection of soybean by BXYD3. Finally, we constructed a sfSynCom from these core and helper strains. This sfSynCom based on the core-helper strategy was more effective at promoting nodulation than inoculation with BXYD3 alone and achieved effects comparable to those of a complex elite SynCom previously constructed on the basis of potential beneficial functions between microbes and plants alone. Our results suggest that considering interactions between strains as well as those between strains and the host plant might allow construction of sfSynComs.},
}
@article {pmid40052218,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, Y and Zhai, L and Zhou, Y and Lv, J and Liu, Y and Wu, T and Zhang, X and Han, Z and Wang, Y},
title = {MdPHR2 and MdARF6-4 synergistically regulate arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and the transcription of MdPHT1;13, enhancing phosphorus uptake in apple rootstocks.},
journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology},
volume = {121},
number = {5},
pages = {e70070},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.70070},
pmid = {40052218},
issn = {1365-313X},
support = {2023YFD2301002//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; 2115//the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University/ ; CARS-27//the Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System/ ; //the Key Laboratory of Beijing Municipality of Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology for Fruit Trees/ ; },
mesh = {*Malus/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Phosphorus/metabolism/deficiency ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Phosphorus in the soil is easily chelated into forms that are unavailable to plants, leading to phosphorus deficiency, which severely affects the growth, development, and fruit quality of apple trees. To address phosphorus deficiency, we used four different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to investigate their effects on the growth and development of apple rootstocks and phosphorus uptake in the soil. We identified Glomus mosseae (Gm) fungi as the most effective AMF for promoting growth and found that under phosphorus-deficient conditions, inoculating with Gm fungi promoted the growth of the above-ground parts of the plants and phosphorus absorption, while it inhibited root growth. After inoculating with Gm fungi, we found phosphorus starvation response factors (PHRs) and auxin response factors (ARFs) were upregulated. Knockdown of MdPHR2 or MdARF6-4 resulted in decreased root arbuscular structures, total mycorrhizal colonization rate, and root phosphorus content, indicating that MdPHR2 and MdARF6-4 positively regulate the symbiosis of Gm fungi and phosphorus absorption. In contrast, overexpressing MdARF6-4 led to reduced root development but increased root phosphorus content under Gm fungi inoculation, suggesting that MdARF6-4 is involved in Gm-mediated phosphorus absorption and root development. Moreover, both MdPHR2 and MdARF6-4 directly bound to the promoter area of the downstream phosphorus transporter MdPHT1;13, and these two transcription factors interacted with each other in vivo and in vitro. In summary, our study demonstrates that the interaction between MdPHR2 and MdARF6-4 synergistically regulates the Gm symbiosis and the transcription of MdPHT1;13, thereby promoting phosphorus absorption in apple rootstocks.},
}
@article {pmid40052075,
year = {2025},
author = {Tao, G and Ahrendt, S and Miyauchi, S and Zhu, X and Peng, H and Labutti, K and Clum, A and Hayes, R and Chain, PSG and Grigoriev, IV and Bonito, G and Martin, FM},
title = {Characterisation and comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of false, yellow, black and blushing morels provide insights on their structure and evolution.},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e138363},
pmid = {40052075},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {Morchella species have considerable significance in terrestrial ecosystems, exhibiting a range of ecological lifestyles along the saprotrophism-to-symbiosis continuum. However, the mitochondrial genomes of these ascomycetous fungi have not been thoroughly studied, thereby impeding a comprehensive understanding of their genetic makeup and ecological role. In this study, we analysed the mitogenomes of 30 Morchellaceae species, including yellow, black, blushing and false morels. These mitogenomes are either circular or linear DNA molecules with lengths ranging from 217 to 565 kbp and GC content ranging from 38% to 48%. Fifteen core protein-coding genes, 28-37 tRNA genes and 3-8 rRNA genes were identified in these Morchellaceae mitogenomes. The gene order demonstrated a high level of conservation, with the cox1 gene consistently positioned adjacent to the rnS gene and cob gene flanked by apt genes. Some exceptions were observed, such as the rearrangement of atp6 and rps3 in Morchellaimportuna and the reversed order of atp6 and atp8 in certain morel mitogenomes. However, the arrangement of the tRNA genes remains conserved. We additionally investigated the distribution and phylogeny of homing endonuclease genes (HEGs) of the LAGLIDADG (LAGs) and GIY-YIG (GIYs) families. A total of 925 LAG and GIY sequences were detected, with individual species containing 19-48HEGs. These HEGs were primarily located in the cox1, cob, cox2 and nad5 introns and their presence and distribution displayed significant diversity amongst morel species. These elements significantly contribute to shaping their mitogenome diversity. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the phylogeny and evolution of the Morchellaceae.},
}
@article {pmid40050382,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, C and Wang, H and Wang, Z and Liang, L and Li, Y and Liu, D and Lu, Q},
title = {Distinct assembly processes of intestinal and non-intestinal microbes of bark beetles from clues of metagenomic insights.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {7910},
pmid = {40050382},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {32230071//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Coleoptera/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; *Weevils/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Fungi/genetics/classification ; *Metagenome ; *Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Ips (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) bark beetles (BBs) are ecologically and economically devastating coniferous pests in the Northern Hemisphere. Although the microbial diversity associated with these beetles has been well studied, mechanisms of community assembly and the functional roles of key microbes remain poorly understood. This study investigates the microbial community structures and functions in both intestinal and non-intestinal environments of five Ips BBs using a metagenomic approach. The findings reveal similar microbial community compositions, though the α-diversity of dominant taxa differs between intestinal and non-intestinal environments due to the variability in bark beetle species, host trees, and habitats. Intestinal microbial communities are predominantly shaped homogenizing dispersal (HD) and undominated processes (UP), whereas non-intestinal microbial communities are primarily driven by heterogeneous selection (HS). Functional analysis shows that genes and enzymes associated with steroid biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation are primarily found in non-intestinal fungal symbionts Ogataea, Wickerhamomyce, Ophiostoma, and Ceratocystis of Ips species. Genes and enzymes involved in degrading terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides are predominately found in the intestinal Acinetobacter, Erwinia, and Serratia. This study provides valuable and in-depth insights into the symbiotic relationships between Ips BBs and their microbial partners, enhancing our understanding of insect-microbe coevolution and suggesting new strategies for pest management.},
}
@article {pmid40049406,
year = {2025},
author = {Thibodeau, A and Reardon, P and Bartlett, B and Curtin, C},
title = {Changes in microbial community structure during adaptation of kombucha symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast to fermentation of sweet and acid whey.},
journal = {Journal of dairy science},
volume = {108},
number = {5},
pages = {4761-4784},
doi = {10.3168/jds.2024-25859},
pmid = {40049406},
issn = {1525-3198},
mesh = {Fermentation ; *Whey/metabolism ; Bacteria/metabolism ; *Kombucha Tea/microbiology ; Yeasts/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Whey is a liquid byproduct from the dairy industry that is not fully utilized and can be problematic to dispose of. Based on its composition, there is potential to upcycle whey into fermented beverages for human consumption. Most focus to date has been upon alcoholic fermentation to generate alcohol for distillation, or use of kefir grains to make acidic beverages. Kombucha fermentation is analogous to kefir, with a solid-state inoculum that is backslopped from one batch to the next, but yields a different profile of organic acids when applied to its typical substrate of tea sweetened with sucrose. Notably, some kombucha symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) harbor a lactose-fermenting yeast species, Brettanomyces anomalus, rendering it possible that a SCOBY system could be adapted to lactose-containing whey substrates. The objective of this research was to apply a B. anomalus-containing kombucha SCOBY to the fermentation of sweet and acid whey. Sequential batch fermentations were performed to determine changes in microbial community structure and fermentation outcomes during adaptation to whey substrates. Metabarcoding targeting the fungal ITS2 region and the bacterial 16S V4-V5 domain was used to assess fungal and bacterial communities, respectively. We used [1]H nuclear magnetic resonance to determine the chemical composition of fermentations. The B. anomalus-containing kombucha SCOBY was able to perform repeat backslop-inoculated whey fermentation, with the major fermentation products being those characteristic to kombucha fermentation (acetic acid and ethanol). The whey-adapted SCOBY was characterized by replacement of the original main fungal taxa, Brettanomyces bruxellensis, by the lactose-fermenting B. anomalus, whereas the bacterial community remained more diverse.},
}
@article {pmid40048941,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Wu, S and Jin, Z and Li, J},
title = {Integrated physiological and anatomical analyses reveal the mycorrhizal symbiosis efficiency of Heptacodium miconioides under different nitrogen conditions.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {222},
number = {},
pages = {109725},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109725},
pmid = {40048941},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Nitrogen/metabolism/pharmacology ; Photosynthesis ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Plant Leaves/metabolism ; *Cyperaceae/microbiology/physiology/anatomy &amp; histology ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been shown to play a role in protecting endangered plants from environmental stresses. However, the adaption mechanisms by which AMF symbiosis influences the physiological and anatomical traits of the endangered species Heptacodium miconioides under varying nitrogen (N) conditions remain unclear. Here, we examined the effects of three types of AMF inoculation treatments-Rhizophagus intraradices, Glomus versiforme, and a mixture of the two-on the growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity, and stem and leaf structure of H. miconioides seedlings under low nitrogen (LN) and normal nitrogen (NN) conditions. Findings indicated that LN conditions significantly restricted the growth, physiological and anatomical properties of non-inoculated seedlings. In contrast, AMF inoculation improved dry weight, net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, catalase activity, and peroxidase activity in seedlings under LN. Under LN conditions, AMF colonization-particularly a combination of R. intraradices and G. versiforme-significantly increased stomatal size and aperture by 23.00%, 64.90%, respectively, while significantly reducing stomatal density by 25.00%. Furthermore, treatment with mixed AMFs resulted in substantially greater palisade tissue thickness, stem phloem, stem xylem, stem mean vessel diameter, and stem xylem/phloem ratio, which increased by 41.17%, 20.34%, 46.00%, 14.30%, and 21.62% respectively. These findings indicate that mixed AMF inoculation exhibits superior mycorrhizal efficiency for the host plant, enhancing photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant enzyme activity, and improving stomatal traits, leaf assimilative tissues, and stem conductive tissues under LN conditions. The study also suggests the potential use of AMF in the cultivation and protection of H. miconioides under N-poor habitats.},
}
@article {pmid40048940,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, Z and Peng, F and Yu, J and Li, Q},
title = {Plant growth-promoting effects and possible mechanisms of a plant endophytic fungus Aureobasidium sp. JRF1.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {222},
number = {},
pages = {109724},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109724},
pmid = {40048940},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Arabidopsis/microbiology/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; *Ascomycota/physiology/metabolism ; *Endophytes/physiology ; *Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Seedlings/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi can establish symbiosis with host plant and promote plant growth in a sustainable way. In this study, a previously-isolated plant growth-promoting endophytic fungus JRF1 was deeply studied. JRF1 could colonize Arabidopsis and tomato seedlings and promote their growth. Through sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and 18S rRNA gene, JRF1 was identified as an Aureobasidium sp. strain. Transcriptome analysis indicated that JRF1 treatment up-regulated a majority of genes related to calcium signal and genes annotated as peroxidase and glutathione S- transferase. In addition, treatment with JRF1 activated the Aux/IAA (auxin/indole acetic acid) and cytokinin signaling, while down-regulated genes involved in JA/ETH (jasmonic acid/ethylene) pathways. Split co-culture assay not only demonstrated that JRF1 significantly promoted the Arabidopsis growth by direct contacting the seedlings, but also suggested JRF1 could exhibit positive effects in a non-contact manner. Subsequently, metabolome analysis revealed that JRF1 produced many soluble metabolites which might be responsible for plant growth-promoting, and the releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of JRF1 was also isolated and detected. Finally, we found that both cell-free supernatant (CFS) of JRF1 and its fermentation solution could outstandingly promote the plant growth, suggesting its possible role as a microbial fertilizer. Our results uncovered the interaction mode between JRF1 and host plant, proposing that the combined action of JRF1 with its metabolites resulted in the enhanced plant growth.},
}
@article {pmid40048810,
year = {2025},
author = {Vishal, CR and Gauns, MU and Pratihary, AK and Sadaiappan, B},
title = {Unprecedented warming impacts on phytoplankton and special emphasis on diatom-diazotroph associations in the oligotrophic waters of the Eastern Arabian sea.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {207},
number = {},
pages = {107038},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107038},
pmid = {40048810},
issn = {1879-0291},
mesh = {*Phytoplankton/physiology ; *Diatoms/physiology ; *Environmental Monitoring ; *Global Warming ; Seawater/chemistry ; Oceans and Seas ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; },
abstract = {The impact of anomalous warming on the phytoplankton dynamics in the euphotic zone (0-60 m depth) of the eastern Arabian Sea (EAS) during the southwest monsoon (SWM-2020) was investigated along the 68°E transect from 8°N to 21°N. During SWM-2020, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) along the transect exceeded 28 °C, with temperatures of ∼29-30 °C recorded in the North of the Findlater Jet Axis (NFJA). The active Findlater Jet (FJ) modulated the thermocline, causing shallower thermocline in the North EAS (NEAS, 16-21°N) and deeper thermocline in the South EAS (SEAS, 8-15°N). The increased stratification due to warming reduced the vertical mixing and exacerbated the oligotrophic condition within the MLDs in the NEAS. High dissolved inorganic silicate and phosphorous with low nitrate concentrations favouring dinoflagellates and diatom-diazotroph associations (DDAs) within the MLDs, particularly in the NEAS. In the NEAS, heterocystous cyanobacteria Richelia was abundant as free-living and in endosymbiosis with Rhizosolenia and Hemiaulus, while coccoid cells of Crocosphaera, symbiotic with Climacodium sp., thrived in both SEAS and NEAS indicating a critical role of dissolved iron in distribution of DDAs. DDAs were abundant in subsurface waters (25-40 m) and rare or absent within the nutricline and subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM, 40-60 m depths). High dissolved ammonium concentration in the NEAS indicated that N2 fixed by DDAs could be supplied into N-limited waters. A high abundance of unhealthy and moribund host-symbiotic stages suggests extreme warming, and shallower nitracline could harm DDAs in the EAS. This study highlights the importance of DDAs in the EAS, which remains poorly understood, and whose underestimation in N2 and C fixation can impact the regional nitrogen and carbon budgets.},
}
@article {pmid40047399,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, L and Guo, Q and Han, X and Yuan, F and Wei, C},
title = {Critical time of transovarial transmission of bacteriome-associated symbionts and related molecular mechanisms in cicada Hyalessa maculaticollis.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70014},
pmid = {40047399},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {32070476//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32270496//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Obligate endosymbionts of sap-sucking auchenorrhynchan insects of Hemiptera colonize the bacteriomes and are transmitted vertically through the ovaries to the offspring of host insects, but the critical time of symbiont transmission and molecular mechanisms underlying the process remain unknown. We used histological and transmission electron microscopy, 16S rDNA amplification sequencing and transcriptome analyses to explore the vertical transmission of bacteriome-associated symbionts in the cicada Hyalessa maculaticollis. We find that the symbiont Candidatus Karelsulcia muelleri (hereafter Karelsulcia) proliferates and changes shape after the adult cicadas emerged for 3 h, which is then extruded to the hemolymph from the basal membrane of bacteriome units. The yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) harbored in bacteriome sheath cells is released freely along with Karelsulcia. As ovaries mature, Karelsulcia and YLS infect oocytes of cicadas that had emerged for 60 h, and begin to gather at the posterior pole of oocytes, where they form a symbiont ball in each oocyte. Expressions of genes associated with cytoskeletal organization, endocytosis, amino acid transporter and lipid synthesis increase in the newly emerged adults, mediating the transport of substances during the transmission of symbionts. The amino acid-sensitive mechanistic target of the rapamycin pathway is one of the crucial pathways coordinating the vesicle-mediated symbiotic transmission. The insulin signaling pathway potentially together with insect hormones synergically regulate insect fertility and affect yolk deposition, which is closely related to the symbiont infection of ovaries. This study highlights the importance of signaling pathways in regulating the vertical transmission of symbionts in sap-feeding auchenorrhynchan insects.},
}
@article {pmid40046898,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, A and Covitz, RM and Folsom, AA and Mu, X and Peck, RF and Noh, S},
title = {Symbiotic T6SS affects horizontal transmission of Paraburkholderia bonniea among Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba hosts.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycaf005},
pmid = {40046898},
issn = {2730-6151},
support = {P20 GM103423/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Three species of Paraburkholderia are able to form facultative symbiotic relationships with the amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum. These symbiotic Paraburkholderia share a type VI secretion system (T6SS) that is absent in other close relatives. We tested the phenotypic and transcriptional effect of tssH ATPase gene disruption in P. bonniea on its symbiosis with D. discoideum. We hypothesized that the ∆tssH mutant would have a significantly reduced ability to affect host fitness or transmit itself from host to host. We found that the T6SS does not directly affect host fitness. Instead, wildtype P. bonniea had significantly higher rates of horizontal transmission compared to ∆tssH. In addition, we observed significant differences in the range of infection prevalence achieved by wildtype vs. ∆tssH symbionts over multiple host social stages in the absence of opportunities for environmental symbiont acquisition. Successful symbiont transmission significantly contributes to sustained symbiotic association. Therefore, the shared T6SS appears necessary for a long-term evolutionary relationship between D. discoideum and its Paraburkholderia symbionts. The lack of difference in host fitness outcomes was confirmed by indistinguishable host gene expression patterns between hosts infected by wildtype or ∆tssH P. bonniea in an RNA-seq time series. These data also provided insight into how Paraburkholderia symbionts may evade phagocytosis by its amoeba host. Most significantly, cellular oxidant detoxification and lysosomal hydrolase delivery appear to be subject to the push and pull of host-symbiont crosstalk.},
}
@article {pmid40046318,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, Y and Xiao, C and Liu, J and Ren, G},
title = {Nutrient-dependent regulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes.},
journal = {Horticulture research},
volume = {12},
number = {3},
pages = {uhae321},
pmid = {40046318},
issn = {2662-6810},
abstract = {Mineral nutrients are essential for plant growth and development, playing a critical role in the mutualistic symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia. Legumes have evolved intricate signaling pathways that respond to various mineral nutrients, selectively activating genes involved in nodulation and nutrient uptake during symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Key minerals, including nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus, are vital throughout the SNF process, influencing signal recognition, nodule formation, the regulation of nodule numbers, and the prevention of nodule early senescence. Here, we review recent advancements in nutrient-dependent regulation of root nodule symbiosis, focusing on the systemic autoregulation of nodulation in nitrate-dependent symbiosis, the roles of nodule inception-like proteins, and the function of essential nutrients and their associated transporters in legume symbiosis. Additionally, we discuss several key research areas that require further exploration to deepen our understanding of nutrient-dependent mechanisms in SNF.},
}
@article {pmid40045656,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, M and Zhao, X and Ren, X},
title = {Research Progress on the Mechanisms of Algal-Microorganism Symbiosis in Enhancing Large-Scale Lipid Production.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {73},
number = {11},
pages = {6345-6360},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.4c11580},
pmid = {40045656},
issn = {1520-5118},
mesh = {*Microalgae/metabolism/growth &amp; development/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Lipids/biosynthesis ; *Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Biofuels/analysis ; Lipid Metabolism ; },
abstract = {Microalgae, characterized by their exceptional lipid content, rapid growth, and robust adaptability, represent a promising biological resource. In natural and engineered ecosystems, microalgae engage in intricate symbiotic relationships with diverse microorganisms, a dynamic interplay essential for ecological resilience and metabolic optimization. This review examines the role of symbiotic microorganisms in microalgal growth and lipid accumulation, with particular emphasis on the biological regulatory mechanisms that govern these processes. These include nutrient exchange, phytohormone-mediated growth stimulation, cofactors, and quorum-sensing-driven community coordination. The review highlights how these microbial interactions facilitate optimal lipid production by enhancing metabolic pathways, thereby improving the efficiency of lipid accumulation in microalgae. Furthermore, the review investigates horizontal gene transfer as an evolutionary driver that fortifies algal-microbial consortia against environmental stressors, enabling robust performance in fluctuating conditions. The integration of these biological insights holds transformative potential for advancing next-generation bioenergy platforms, where algal-microbial systems could play a pivotal role in enhancing biofuel production, wastewater treatment, and sustainable agriculture.},
}
@article {pmid40044917,
year = {2025},
author = {Štůsková, K and Vavřiník, A and Hakalová, E and Čechová, J and Gramaje, D and Eichmeier, A},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi strongly influence the endorhizosphere of grapevine rootstock with soil type as a key factor.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {17},
pmid = {40044917},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_025/0007314//Ministerstvo &#x160;kolstv&#xed;, Ml&#xe1;de&#x17e;e a T&#x11b;lov&#xfd;chovy/ ; IGA-ZF/2022-ST2-004//Internal Grant Agency, Mendel university in Brno/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/classification/genetics ; *Vitis/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; Czech Republic ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Rhizosphere ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a crucial role in enhancing the health and productivity of host plants, including grapevine. By forming symbiotic relationships with plant roots, AMF significantly improve water uptake and nutrient absorption, particularly phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). This study evaluated the microbiome composition and AMF colonization in the grapevine endorhizosphere across five wine-growing sub-regions in the Czech Republic. In all five sub-regions, in terms of composition of the fungal microbiome, the phyla Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes were most numerous. Additionally, the study confirmed that LSU primers are more sensitive than ITS primers for AMF sequencing. While the representation of the phylum Glomeromycetes ranged from 0.07% to 5.65% in the ITS library, it was significantly higher, ranging from 83.74% to 98.71%, in the LSU library. The most significant difference compared to other sub-regions was observed in the Slovácko sub-region, where the soil had a low pH, a different texture (sandy loam), reduced micronutrient concentration, and low organic matter. The application of chemical plant protection products to grapevines also could have played a significant role, with 49 applications recorded in the Slovácko sub-region during the three years preceding sample collection. In other sub-regions, chemical treatments were conducted only 19-26 times. These factors resulted in only trace amounts of AMF being detected in Slovácko. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that AMF positively influenced the phosphorus concentration in the soil and reduced the presence of certain fungal pathogens.},
}
@article {pmid40042989,
year = {2025},
author = {da Silva, DMG and Marques, M and Couceiro, JF and Santos, E and Baylina, N and Costa, R and Keller-Costa, T},
title = {Endozoicomonas lisbonensis sp. nov., a novel marine bacterium isolated from the soft coral Litophyton sp. at Oceanário de Lisboa in Portugal.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {40042989},
issn = {1466-5034},
mesh = {*Phylogeny ; Portugal ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/analysis ; Animals ; Base Composition ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Genome, Bacterial ; *Seawater/microbiology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; *Gammaproteobacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; },
abstract = {This study describes a Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacterial species isolated from the octocoral Litophyton sp. inhabiting the live coral aquarium at Oceanário de Lisboa in Portugal. Four strains, NE35, NE40[T], NE41 and NE43, were classified into the genus Endozoicomonas by means of 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequence homologies. We then performed phylogenetic, phylogenomic and biochemical analyses to examine their novel species status within the Endozoicomonas genus, based on comparisons with the designated novel type strain NE40[T]. The closest 16S rRNA gene relatives to strain NE40[T] are Endozoicomonas montiporae CL-33[T] (98.2%), Endozoicomonas euniceicola EF212[T] (97.6%) and Endozoicomonas gorgoniicola PS125[T] (97.2%). The four strains show genome-wide average nucleotide identity scores above the species level cut-off (95%) with one another and below the cut-off with all Endozoicomonas type strains with publicly available genomes. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization further supported the classification of the strains as a novel species, showing values below 70% when compared with other Endozoicomonas type strains. The DNA G+C content of NE40[T] was 49.0 mol%, and its genome size was 5.45 Mb. Strain NE40[T] grows from 15 to 37 °C, with 1-5% (w/v) NaCl, and between pH 6.0 and 8.0 in marine broth and shows optimal growth at 28-32 °C, 2-3% NaCl and pH 7.0-8.0. The predominant cellular fatty acids are summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω6c and/or C16 : 1 ω7c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω6c and/or C18 : 1 ω7c), C16 :0 and C14 :0. Strain NE40[T] presents oxidase, catalase and β-galactosidase activities and can reduce nitrates to nitrites and degrade cellulose, chitin, agarose and xylan. Based on the polyphasic approach employed in this study, we propose the novel species name Endozoicomonas lisbonensis sp. nov. (type strain NE40[T]=DSM 118084[T]=UCCCB 212[T]).},
}
@article {pmid40042528,
year = {2025},
author = {Zaki, H and Hussein, MA and El-Dawy, EGAM},
title = {Diversity and Symbiotic Associations of Endophytic Fungi in Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton (Asclepiadaceae) Across Three Egyptian Regions: Phenotypic Characterization and Mitotic Activity.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {88},
number = {1},
pages = {10},
pmid = {40042528},
issn = {1432-184X},
mesh = {*Endophytes/physiology/classification/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; Egypt ; *Fungi/classification/physiology/isolation &amp; purification/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Biodiversity ; Soil Microbiology ; *Calotropis/microbiology/physiology ; Mitosis ; Phenotype ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi are essential contributors to fungal biodiversity, playing key roles in plant defense against pathogens, alleviation of abiotic stress, and promotion of growth. This study conducted a comprehensive survey of the phenotypic characterization of Calotropis procera and its associated endophytic fungi across three regions in Egypt: Qena-Safaga, Qena, and Qena-Kosseir. Positive and significant Pearson correlations among plant morphological traits suggest intrinsic connections. Fungal species diversity exhibited significant variation across the three regions examined. Particularly, the Qena-Kosseir region demonstrated the highest fungal species richness both in soil samples and endophytic fungi. Unique to this region, Allocanariomyces tritici, Aspergillus terreus, Chaetomium globosum, C. murorum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, C. sphaerospermum, Fusarium proliferatum, Penicillium crustosum, P. granulatum, P. spinuloseum, and Roussoella intermedia were identified as endophytes. Additionally, compared to other regions, the Qena-Kosseir area exhibited the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus, A. ochraceus, A. ornatus, A. sclerotiocabonarus, Drechslera halodes, Emericella echinulata, Fusarium oxysporum, and Macrophomina phaseolina in soil samples, underscoring its distinct fungal community composition. Furthermore, antimitotic assays using the Allium cepa test revealed distinct effects of endophytic extracts on various mitotic stages. Of the 33 treatments, 11 showed an increase in the mitotic index (MI), indicating a potential positive effect on plant growth and cell division. This study offers valuable insights into the diversity and functional roles of endophytic fungi associated with C. procera, highlighting their promising applications in sustainable agriculture and plant health management.},
}
@article {pmid40042419,
year = {2025},
author = {Zaura, E},
title = {[The microbiome and the first 1,000 days of life].},
journal = {Nederlands tijdschrift voor tandheelkunde},
volume = {132},
number = {3},
pages = {112-117},
doi = {10.5177/ntvt.2025.03.24064},
pmid = {40042419},
issn = {0028-2200},
mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; },
abstract = {A healthy human being lives in symbiosis with his microbes or microbiome. The first 1,000 days of life are crucial for developing a healthy and diverse microbiome. The development of a healthy microbiome begins as early as in the womb, where the training of the fetal immune cells begins. Next, the child s microbiome is influenced by the method of delivery during the birthing process. The largest and most important phase is the postnatal period. In this last phase, the child s environment, the behaviour and lifestyle of its caregivers, and the child itself are the main determinants of developing and maintaining a healthy microbiome.},
}
@article {pmid40041502,
year = {2025},
author = {Hamprakorn, K and Maneewan, B and Jantasin, W and Lani, MN and Moonmanee, T and Panatuk, J},
title = {Effect of extracted phycocyanin by-products as a synbiotic supplement on the production performance and intestinal morphology of broilers.},
journal = {Veterinary world},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {52-59},
pmid = {40041502},
issn = {0972-8988},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIM: The extracted phycocyanin by-products retain nutritional value, including proteins, polysaccharides, and bioactive compounds, which have the potential as feed supplements in broiler production. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of by-products acquired during phycocyanin extraction, which is used as a novel synbiotic supplement, on the production performance and intestinal health of broilers in a tropical climate.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 240 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly distributed among five dietary treatment groups; they received a diet supplemented with a synbiotic product (probiotic [Lactobacillus johnsonii] at least 1.0 &#xd7; 10[8] colony-forming unit/mg with prebiotic [by-product of phycocyanin extraction]) at 0.000%, 0.025%, 0.050%, 0.075%, and 0.100%. We investigated the effects of dietary synbiotic supplements on the growth performance, meat quality, intestinal morphology, and cecal bacterial population of broiler chickens aged 35 days.<br><br>RESULTS: Synbiotics used as a dietary supplement did not affect the growth performance of broilers during any experimental period (p > 0.05); however, it significantly increased the redness of meat and decreased the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances on days 3 and 7 of storage (p < 0.05). Moreover, synbiotics significantly improved the height and surface area of villi in the duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.05).<br><br>CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that dietary supplementation with 0.1% synbiotics, incorporating a by-product of phycocyanin extraction, did not significantly influence the growth performance of broiler chickens. However, it positively affected meat quality by increasing redness and reducing lipid oxidation during storage. Additionally, synbiotic supplementation significantly enhanced intestinal health by improving the villi height and surface area in the duodenum and jejunum, highlighting its potential benefits for broiler intestinal morphology and meat quality in tropical climates. Further research is recommended to explore the mechanisms underlying these effects and their implications for long-term poultry health and productivity.},
}
@article {pmid40038092,
year = {2025},
author = {Million, WC and Voolstra, CR and Perna, G and Puntin, G and Rowe, K and Ziegler, M},
title = {Resolving Symbiodiniaceae Diversity Across Coral Microhabitats and Reef Niches.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {e70065},
pmid = {40038092},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {//German Academic Exchange Service/ ; 469364832//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; SPP 2299/441832482//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; //King Abdullah University of Science and Technology/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/parasitology ; *Coral Reefs ; *Ecosystem ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; *Biodiversity ; Indian Ocean ; Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; Seawater/parasitology/microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; },
abstract = {Dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae are important symbionts of diverse marine animals and they also occupy different environmental niches on coral reefs. The link between diversity at ecosystem-scale to microhabitats of Symbiodiniaceae within the coral holobiont is largely unknown. Using ITS2-amplicon sequencing, we compared Symbiodiniaceae communities across four environments (seawater, near-reef vs. distant sediments and turf algae) and two coral microhabitats (tissue, mucus) on a coral reef in the Red Sea. We found that coral and environmental habitats were both dominated by the genera Symbiodinium, Cladocopium and Durusdinium, but environmental habitats additionally harboured Fugacium, Gerakladium and Halluxium. Each environmental habitat harboured a distinct Symbiodiniaceae community. Nonetheless, 17 ITS2 sequences were shared among coral and environmental habitats and were also part of nearly half of the ITS2 type profiles in coral-based communities. Tissues and mucus of 49 coral colonies from 17 genera had largely identical Symbiodiniaceae communities. Together with the large difference between environmental Symbiodiniaceae communities and those in the coral tissue and mucus, our results indicate a clear barrier between host-associated and environmental Symbiodiniaceae communities marked by only few shared complete type profiles. Monitoring coral colonies after mucus sampling confirmed its suitability for long-term monitoring of coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae communities.},
}
@article {pmid40037901,
year = {2025},
author = {Williamson, E and Hill, K and Hogendoorn, K and Eisenhofer, R},
title = {The bacterial community associated with the solitary resin bee Megachile tosticauda throughout its life cycle.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {101},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40037901},
issn = {1574-6941},
support = {0006013282//Linnean Society of NSW/ ; 0006014057//Royal Society of South Australia/ ; //University of Adelaide/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Bees/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Microbiota ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Pollen/microbiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; Larva/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; },
abstract = {Unlike in eusocial bees where the identity, acquisition, and function of symbiotic microbes are well understood, little is known about the relationships formed between solitary bees and bacteria. Assessing the potential role of microbes in solitary bee health is important, especially in the face of global bee declines. Early evidence suggests solitary bee microbiomes differ between bee species and development stages, but the reported bacteria are often indistinguishable from environmental taxa. Here, we use metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial communities associated with solitary resin bee Megachile tosticauda. We describe the microbiome at different life cycle stages, and within pollen provisions, and investigate indirect inheritance from nesting substrate upon eclosion. The microbiome of adult M. tosticauda was consistent between samples, and the bacterial composition of larval pollen supplies changed with progressing larval development. In wild adults and pollen provisions, the genus Acinetobacter-a common nectar associate-dominated the communities. In prepupae and frass, Tyzzerella dominated, a genus that has been found in a number of other immature bee systems. Intriguingly, while wild adults did not harbour Tyzzerella, all bees that had newly emerged from the nest did. The combined observations show that M. tosticauda acquire their bacterial community from the environment, and Tyzzerella may represent a beneficial symbiont for mature brood.},
}
@article {pmid40037293,
year = {2025},
author = {Delherbe, NA and Gomez, O and Plominsky, AM and Oliver, A and Manzanera, M and Kalyuzhnaya, MG},
title = {Atmospheric methane consumption in arid ecosystems acts as a reverse chimney and is accelerated by plant-methanotroph biomes.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {40037293},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {DE-SC0024289//U.S. Department of Energy/ ; },
mesh = {*Methane/metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; California ; Desert Climate ; Microbiota ; *Ecosystem ; Metagenomics ; Metagenome ; *Plants/metabolism/microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/metabolism/genetics ; Atmosphere/chemistry ; Oxygenases ; },
abstract = {Drylands cover one-third of the Earth's surface and are one of the largest terrestrial sinks for methane. Understanding the structure-function interplay between members of arid biomes can provide critical insights into mechanisms of resilience toward anthropogenic and climate-change-driven environmental stressors-water scarcity, heatwaves, and increased atmospheric greenhouse gases. This study integrates in situ measurements with culture-independent and enrichment-based investigations of methane-consuming microbiomes inhabiting soil in the Anza-Borrego Desert, a model arid ecosystem in Southern California, United States. The atmospheric methane consumption ranged between 2.26 and 12.73 μmol m2 h-1, peaking during the daytime at vegetated sites. Metagenomic studies revealed similar soil-microbiome compositions at vegetated and unvegetated sites, with Methylocaldum being the major methanotrophic clade. Eighty-four metagenome-assembled genomes were recovered, six represented by methanotrophic bacteria (three Methylocaldum, two Methylobacter, and uncultivated Methylococcaceae). The prevalence of copper-containing methane monooxygenases in metagenomic datasets suggests a diverse potential for methane oxidation in canonical methanotrophs and uncultivated Gammaproteobacteria. Five pure cultures of methanotrophic bacteria were obtained, including four Methylocaldum. Genomic analysis of Methylocaldum isolates and metagenome-assembled genomes revealed the presence of multiple stand-alone methane monooxygenase subunit C paralogs, which may have functions beyond methane oxidation. Furthermore, these methanotrophs have genetic signatures typically linked to symbiotic interactions with plants, including tryptophan synthesis and indole-3-acetic acid production. Based on in situ fluxes and soil microbiome compositions, we propose the existence of arid-soil reverse chimneys, an empowered methane sink represented by yet-to-be-defined cooperation between desert vegetation and methane-consuming microbiomes.},
}
@article {pmid40036591,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, YT and Abdrabo, KAE and Phang, GJ and Fan, YH and Wu, YT and Ou, JH and Hulcr, J},
title = {Genome diversification of symbiotic fungi in beetle-fungus mutualistic symbioses.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf039},
pmid = {40036591},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Ambrosia beetles and their fungal symbionts represent a widespread and diverse insect-fungus mutualism. This study investigates the genomic adaptations associated with the evolution of the ambrosia lifestyle across multiple fungal lineages. We performed comparative genomic analyses on 70 fungal genomes from four families (Irpicaceae, Ceratocystidaceae, Nectriaceae, and Ophiostomataceae), including 24 ambrosia and 34 non-ambrosia lineages. Our phylogenomic analyses reveal multiple independent colonization of insect vectors by the fungi, spanning from the mid-Cretaceous (114.6 Ma) to the early Quaternary (1.9 Ma). Contrary to expectations for obligate symbionts, ambrosia fungi showed no significant genome-wide modification in size, gene count, or secreted protein repertoire compared to their non-symbiotic relatives. Instead, we observed conservation of most assessed genomic features; where genome traits differ between free-living relatives and ambrosia fungi, the changes are lineage-specific, not convergent. Key findings include lineage-specific expansions in carbohydrate-active enzyme families (AA4 in Nectriaceae, CE4 in Ophiostomataceae, and GH3 in Ophiostomataceae and Ceratocystidaceae), suggesting potential enhancement or loss of lignin modification, hemicellulose deacetylation, and cellulose degradation in different ambrosia lineages. Repeat-Induced Point mutation analysis revealed family-specific patterns rather than lifestyle-associated differences. These results highlight the diverse genomic strategies employed by ambrosia fungi, demonstrating that symbiont evolution can proceed through refined, lineage-specific changes rather than genome-wide, or convergent alterations. Our genomic analyses do not reveal patterns typically associated with domestication in these ambrosia fungi, suggesting they may represent free-living fungi that co-opted wood boring beetles as vectors through subtle, lineage-specific adaptations.},
}
@article {pmid40034670,
year = {2025},
author = {Adair, MG and Tolley, KA and van Vuuren, BJ and da Silva, JM},
title = {Anthropogenic reverberations on the gut microbiome of dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion).},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e18811},
pmid = {40034670},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Lizards/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Feces/microbiology ; *Anthropogenic Effects ; Ecosystem ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; },
abstract = {Exploration of the microbiome has been referred to as a final frontier in biological research. This is due to its precedence for generating insights on the holistic functioning of organismal biology by exploring the interactions between hosts and their associated symbiotic organisms. The microbiomes of many vertebrate groups still require exploration to advance current knowledge and fill previous knowledge gaps. This study generated initial descriptions of the bacterial microbiomes of three species of dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion) from the 16S rRNA gene region targeting the V3 and V4 hypervariable regions. This led to the successful identification of 1,073 and 4,502 independent amplicon sequence variants from buccal swab and faecal material samples, respectively. This newly acquired information is intended as a baseline for future work incorporating holobiont information. The diversity of microbial taxa suggests that the total dwarf chameleon microbiome is similar to other squamates investigated to date, as well as chelonians (Testudines). Microbial frequency differences were noted in comparison to crocodilians (Archosauria) and mammalian groups. Furthermore, this study aimed to examine the influence of habitat transformation on the composition of the microbiome in dwarf chameleons as each of the study species occupy both urban and natural habitats. Given that most urban habitats are highly transformed, the expectation was that microbial assemblages of the gastro-intestinal tracts of all three Bradypodion species would show significant differences between populations (i.e., natural, or urban). It was found, however, that the level of effect was contingent on species: B. melanocephalum populations showed noticeable microbiome differences between urban and natural populations; B. thamnobates showed variations in microbial community dispersions between populations; and B. setaroi showed no significant microbiome differences based on diversity metrics although some frequency differences, in microbiome composition, were observed between populations. We suggest that the magnitude of difference between the habitats occupied by the populations is a factor, given the apparent disparity between the natural and urban habitats for B. melanocephalum as compared to the other two species.},
}
@article {pmid40034156,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Z and Wei, J and Du, W and Huang, R and Song, L and Tian, Q and Zhou, X},
title = {Environmental response strategies for the spatial distribution of seed plants in Gansu.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1526269},
pmid = {40034156},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {The interplay between plant diversity and environmental response strategies is crucial for ecosystem adaptability and stability. A central focus in modern ecology is elucidating how environmental factors shape plant diversity patterns and regulate species distributions across heterogeneous landscapes. This study employed Joint Species Distribution Model (JSDM) to quantitatively analyze the influence of environmental variables on plant spatial distributions in Gansu Province, China, while examining interspecies interactions under varying conditions. Results demonstrated that environmental factors explained 95.4% of the variance, highlighting their predominant role in determining plant distributions. Habitat type accounted for the largest share of variance (33.5%), followed by elevation (22.1%), mean annual temperature (20.3%), mean annual precipitation (15.1%), and solar radiation (4.4%). Species' responses to environmental covariates were predominantly independent, with weak phylogenetic correlation (posterior mean: 0.17), reflecting limited ecological niche conservatism at the family level. Geographically, regions such as the northern Qilian foothills, Lanzhou-Baiyin wilderness, Loess Plateau, and Gannan Plateau exhibited negative correlations with most plant families, functioning as critical limiting or driving factors in spatial variability. Additionally, 33.7% of seed plant families showed negative correlations with light intensity, underscoring its role as a major limiting factor. Provincially, competition does not primarily constrain seed plant coexistence in Gansu. Regionally, however, pronounced differences in environmental responses were observed. In the northwest, solar radiation (37%) and precipitation (25%) were dominant drivers of plant distribution, while in the southeast, solar radiation (36.3%) and elevation (34.7%) were predominant. These findings underscore that species co-occurrence patterns are scale-dependent and influenced by regional resource availability. In resource-abundant southeastern areas, plant families displayed positive co-occurrence patterns indicative of mutualistic or symbiotic interactions, whereas resource-scarce northwestern areas experienced intensified negative co-occurrences due to heightened interspecific competition. This study highlights the critical role of environmental gradients in structuring seed plant distributions in Gansu, providing insights into the interaction of ecological adaptation and evolutionary history in shaping plant diversity. By identifying the drivers of plant distribution across heterogeneous environments, this research offers significant implications for biodiversity conservation and plant resource management strategies in Gansu Province, while contributing to a broader understanding of plant-environment dynamics in complex ecosystems.},
}
@article {pmid40033450,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, L and Chen, C and Li, S},
title = {Efficacy of cognitive behavioral group counseling in enhancing the psychological resilience and academic emotion of urban primary school students.},
journal = {BMC psychology},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {189},
pmid = {40033450},
issn = {2050-7283},
mesh = {Humans ; *Resilience, Psychological ; Female ; Male ; Child ; *Students/psychology ; *Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods ; China ; *Emotions ; Urban Population ; Schools ; *Psychotherapy, Group/methods ; *Counseling/methods ; },
abstract = {This study explores the intricate relationship between psychological resilience and academic emotions in urban primary school students, highlighting the transformative effects of cognitive behavioral group counseling (CBGC) on enhancing resilience. Conducted in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, China, the research involved 575 students from five schools, utilizing questionnaires adapted from standard psychological instruments to assess their psychological resilience and academic emotions. Our findings reveal that robust psychological resilience significantly increases positive academic emotions (t = 0.374, 0.591, P < 0.01) and decreases negative ones (t= -0.541, -0.664, P < 0.01). Furthering our investigation, 36 students were selected and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a tailored CBGC program aimed at bolstering psychological resilience, while the control group engaged in after-school sports. The CBGC intervention, customized with culturally relevant content, age-appropriate language, and engaging activities, showed a significant post-intervention improvement in the experimental group's psychological resilience (t = 2.546, P < 0.05) and positive academic emotions (t = 2.546, 3.607, P < 0.01), alongside a notable reduction in negative emotions (t=-3.761,-2.038,P < 0.05).This study underscores the symbiotic relationship between psychological resilience and academic emotions among urban primary school students and demonstrates the efficacy of CBGC in fostering emotional balance and resilience. These insights have profound implications for educators and psychologists dedicated to nurturing a well-rounded and emotionally resilient student body.Trial Registration This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) on February 10, 2023, with registration number ChiCTR2300061594.},
}
@article {pmid40033186,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, J and Liu, C and Wang, D and Wan, P and Cheng, L and Yan, X},
title = {Integrated microbiome and metabolome analysis reveals altered gut microbial communities and metabolite profiles in dairy cows with subclinical mastitis.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {115},
pmid = {40033186},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {No.2023BBB058//Key Research and Development Program of Hubei Province/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Cattle ; Female ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Metabolome ; *Mastitis, Bovine/microbiology/metabolism/blood ; Feces/microbiology/chemistry ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Metabolomics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dairy cow mastitis is a common and prevalent disease arose by various complicated pathogeny, which poses serious threat to the health of cows, safety of dairy product and economic benefits for pastures. Due to the high stealthiness and long incubation period, subclinical mastitis (SM) of cows causes enormous economic losses. Besides the infection by exogenous pathogenic microorganisms, previous studies demonstrated that gastrointestinal microbial dysbiosis is one of the crucial causes for occurrence and development of mastitis based on the theory of entero-mammary axis. Whereas, limited researches have been conducted on potential pathological metabolic mechanisms underlying the relationship between gut microbiota and SM in cows.<br><br>RESULTS: The differences in blood parameters, gut microbiome, plasma and fecal metabolome between healthy and SM cows were compared by performing 16&#xa0;S rDNA sequencing and non-targeted metabolomic analysis in the current study. The content of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and activity of catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) were significantly decreased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was dramatically increased in serum of SM cows in comparison with healthy cows. The gut of cows with SM harbored more abundant Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Succinivibrio and Lactobacillus_iners. Moreover, the abundance of Paraprevotella, Coprococcus, Succiniclasticum, Desulfovibrio and Bifidobacterium_pseudolongum were observably reduced in the gut of SM cows. Furthermore, higher abundance of pro-inflammatory metabolites were observed in feces (9(S)-HPODE, 25-hydroxycholesterol, dodecanedioic acid, etc.) and plasma (9-hydroxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid, 13,14-dihydro PGF1&#x3b1;, 5,6-dehydro arachidonic acid, myristic acid, histamine, etc.) of SM cows. The abundance of certain metabolites with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties (mandelic acid, gamma-tocotrienol, deoxycholic acid, etc.) were notably decreased in feces or plasma of cows with SM.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The intestinal microbial composition and metabolic profiles of healthy and SM cows were significantly distinct, that were characterized by decreased abundance of intestinal symbiotic bacteria, potential probiotics and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant compounds, along with increased abundance of potential pro-inflammatory bacteria, lipid metabolites, and the occurrence of oxidative stress in cows suffered from SM. The results of this study further enriched our understanding of the correlations between gut microbiota and metabolic profiles and SM, which provided insight into the formulation of management strategies for SM in cows.},
}
@article {pmid40033103,
year = {2025},
author = {Santana-Molina, C and Williams, TA and Snel, B and Spang, A},
title = {Chimeric origins and dynamic evolution of central carbon metabolism in eukaryotes.},
journal = {Nature ecology &amp; evolution},
volume = {9},
number = {4},
pages = {613-627},
pmid = {40033103},
issn = {2397-334X},
support = {grant agreement No. 947317 (ASymbEL)//EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council)/ ; 735929LPI//Simons Foundation/ ; GBMF9741//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation)/ ; },
mesh = {Symbiosis ; *Eukaryota/metabolism/genetics ; *Carbon/metabolism ; *Biological Evolution ; Phylogeny ; *Alphaproteobacteria/genetics/metabolism ; Archaea/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The origin of eukaryotes was a key event in the history of life. Current leading hypotheses propose that a symbiosis between an asgardarchaeal host cell and an alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont represented a crucial step in eukaryotic origin and that metabolic cross-feeding between the partners provided the basis for their subsequent evolutionary integration. A major unanswered question is whether the metabolism of modern eukaryotes bears any vestige of this ancestral syntrophy. Here we systematically analyse the evolutionary origins of the eukaryotic gene repertoires mediating central carbon metabolism. Our phylogenetic and sequence analyses reveal that this gene repertoire is chimeric, with ancestral contributions from Asgardarchaeota and Alphaproteobacteria operating predominantly in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, respectively. Our analyses also reveal the extent to which this ancestral metabolic interplay has been remodelled via gene loss, transfer and subcellular retargeting in the >2 billion years since the origin of eukaryotic cells, and we identify genetic contributions from other prokaryotic sources in addition to the asgardarchaeal host and alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont. Our work demonstrates that, in contrast to previous assumptions, modern eukaryotic metabolism preserves information about the nature of the original asgardarchaeal-alphaproteobacterial interactions and supports syntrophy scenarios for the origin of the eukaryotic cell.},
}
@article {pmid40033038,
year = {2025},
author = {Sakaguchi, K and Sugawara, K and Hosokawa, Y and Ito, J and Morita, Y and Mizuma, H and Watanabe, Y and Kimura, Y and Aburaya, S and Takahashi, M and Izumi, Y and Bamba, T and Komada, H and Yamada, T and Hirota, Y and Yoshida, M and Nogami, M and Murakami, T and Ogawa, W},
title = {Metformin-regulated glucose flux from the circulation to the intestinal lumen.},
journal = {Communications medicine},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {44},
pmid = {40033038},
issn = {2730-664X},
support = {22K18393//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Through a retrospective analysis of existing FDG PET-MRI images, we recently demonstrated that metformin increases the accumulation of FDG in the intestinal lumen, suggesting that metformin stimulates glucose excretion into the intestine. However, the details of this phenomenon remain unclear. We here investigate the detailed dynamics of intestinal glucose excretion, including the rate of excretion and the metabolism of excreted glucose, in both the presence and absence of metformin.<br><br>METHODS: We quantified intestinal glucose excretion using newly developed FDG PET-MRI-based bioimaging in individuals with type 2 diabetes, both treated and untreated with metformin. The metabolism of excreted glucose was analyzed through mass spectrometry of fecal samples from mice intravenously injected with [13]C-labeled glucose.<br><br>RESULTS: Continuous FDG PET/MRI image taking reveals that FDG is initially observed in the jejunum, suggesting its involvement in FDG excretion. Metformin-treated individuals excrete a significant amount of glucose (~1.65&#x2009;g&#x2009;h[-1] per body) into the intestinal lumen. In individuals not receiving metformin, a certain amount of glucose (~0.41&#x2009;g&#x2009;h[-1]per body) is also excreted into the intestinal lumen, indicating its physiological importance. Intravenous injection of [13]C-labeled glucose in mice increases the content of [13]C in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) extracted from feces, and metformin increased the incorporation of [13]C into SCFAs.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: A previously unrecognized, substantial flux of glucose from the circulation to the intestinal lumen exists, which likely contributes to the symbiosis between gut microbiota and the host. This flux represents a potential target of metformin's action in humans.},
}
@article {pmid40032241,
year = {2025},
author = {Stock, SP and Hazir, S},
title = {The bacterial symbionts of Entomopathogenic nematodes and their role in symbiosis and pathogenesis.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {211},
number = {},
pages = {108295},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2025.108295},
pmid = {40032241},
issn = {1096-0805},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Xenorhabdus/physiology/pathogenicity ; *Photorhabdus/physiology ; *Nematoda/microbiology/physiology ; Insecta/microbiology/parasitology ; *Rhabditida/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Entomopathogenic bacteria in the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are mutualistically associated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, respectively. Together they form an insecticidal partnership which has been shown to kill a wide range of insect species. The spectrum of dependence in this symbiotic partnership is diverse, ranging from a tight, obligate relationship to a facultative one. A body of evidence suggests that the reproductive fitness of the nematode-bacterium partnership is tightly associated and interdependent. Furthermore, maintenance of their virulence is also critical to the conversion of the insect host as a suitable environment where this partnership can be perpetuated. Disruption of the symbiotic partnership can have detrimental effects on the fitness of both partners. The nematode-bacterial symbiont-insect partnership represents a model system in ecology and evolutionary biology and amenable to investigate beneficial and antagonistic interactions between invertebrates and microbes. Furthermore, the EPN's bacterial symbionts are also viewed as a model system to study the biosynthesis, structure and function of various natural products. Their ability to produce up to 25 different natural product classes is outstanding among the Morganellaceae. These natural products show biological activity, most likely originating from important functions during the life cycle of both the nematodes and their symbionts. Tools and high throughput technologies have been developed to identify ubiquitous and rare molecules and study their function and assess their potential as novel biological activities. We herein summarize the symbiotic relationship between EPN and their bacterial symbionts, focusing on their fitness and their ability to successfully access and utilize an insect host. We also recapitulate the history of natural products research highlighting recent findings and the synthetic biology approaches that are currently implemented to identify non-natural derivatives from Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus with improved biological activity.},
}
@article {pmid40031421,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, B and Guo, Y and Li, X and Dong, C and Sha, H and Li, H and Zhao, Z and Li, T},
title = {Phytostabilization potential and microbial response to the reclamation of native Cynodon dactylon in spoil heaps from a multiple-metal mining site in Southwest China.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {378},
number = {},
pages = {124758},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124758},
pmid = {40031421},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Cynodon ; *Mining ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; China ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Phytocapping offers a sustainable approach for managing exposed tailings by mitigating pollutant spread and enhancing phytoremediation. This study investigates the potential of Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) as a pioneering plant for rehabilitating tailings from an open-pit lead-zinc mine in Southwest China. Our findings demonstrate that Bermudagrass significantly improved soil quality and multifunctionality compared to adjacent bare tailings. Soil improvements included increases in organic matter (107%), total and available nitrogen (50% and 110%, respectively), available phosphorus (170%), and soil enzyme activities, including β-glucosidase (170%), sucrase (1729%), alkaline phosphatase (3722%), and acid phosphatase (168%). The reclamation process also promoted microbial community succession, altering community composition, improving microbial diversity, and enhancing bacterial biomass from (0.89 ± 0.54) × 10[15] to (9.06 ± 3.25) × 10[15] copies/g in rhizosphere soils. Greenhouse experiments further confirmed Bermudagrass's resilience to cadmium (Cd), with both mining and non-mining ecotypes thriving in tailing soils and Cd[2+] hydroponic solutions (up to 44.5 μM) without evident phytotoxicity. Bermudagrass roots exhibited exceptional Cd accumulation (bioconcentration factor: 181-1006) while minimizing Cd translocation to shoots (translocation factor: <0.13). Inoculation with Funneliformis mosseae, a restored root-mutually symbiotic fungus, further mitigated Cd-induced phytotoxicity and enhanced plant growth. These findings highlight Bermudagrass as a promising pioneer species for phytostabilization in severely contaminated mining environments, with its rhizosphere microbiome playing a critical role in facilitating ecosystem restoration. Sustainable plant establishment in mine waste rock requires concurrent development of belowground fertility and healthy rhizospheric soil. Ultimately, successful revegetation depends on integrated above and belowground development to achieve long-term ecological restoration.},
}
@article {pmid40031102,
year = {2025},
author = {Pang, Q and Qu, D and Li, W and Zhou, J and Yang, Y and Wang, L and Zheng, D and Liu, Y and Zhang, R and Yang, L and Wu, F and Zhang, X and Su, H},
title = {Muti-omics insights the enhancement of drought tolerance in sweet cherry with dark septate endophyte S16.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {222},
number = {},
pages = {109716},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109716},
pmid = {40031102},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Droughts ; *Endophytes/physiology/metabolism ; *Prunus avium/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Metabolomics ; Cinnamates/metabolism ; Flavonoids/metabolism ; Drought Resistance ; },
abstract = {Drought stress severely limits the growth and productivity of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.). Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are a group of root-associated fungi known to enhance plant stress tolerance. This study aimed to explore the role of DSE fungus S16 in improving drought tolerance in sweet cherry seedlings and to reveal the underlying molecular and microbial mechanisms through a multi-omics approach. Physiological analysis showed that S16 inoculation improved plant growth, increased relative water content, photosynthetic rate, and antioxidant enzyme activities, while reducing ion leakage and oxidative damage under drought conditions. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identified key metabolic pathways, particularly flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, as being significantly activated, with upregulation of genes such as PAL, 4CL and CHS, and increased accumulation of metabolites like cinnamic acid (CA) and flavonoid derivatives. Exogenous application of CA at 0.5 mM further enhanced drought resistance by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increasing proline accumulation, and boosting antioxidant enzyme activities. Rhizosphere microbiota analysis revealed that S16 symbiosis and CA treatment under drought conditions increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as members of Sphingomonas, Stenotrophobacter and Parcubacteria, while promoting the dominance of Humicola and Fusarium fungi. These findings provide multi-omics evidence for the role of S16 in enhancing drought tolerance in sweet cherry, offering a theoretical basis for the application of DSE fungi in sustainable fruit tree production.},
}
@article {pmid40030960,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, H and Yu, Z and Ren, Z and Zhang, Y and Liu, J and Wang, L and Guo, B},
title = {FingHV: Efficient Sharing and Fine-Grained Scheduling of Virtualized HPU Resources.},
journal = {IEEE transactions on cybernetics},
volume = {PP},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1109/TCYB.2024.3518569},
pmid = {40030960},
issn = {2168-2275},
abstract = {While artificial intelligence (AI) technology has advanced in real-world applications, there is a strong motivation to develop hybrid systems where AI algorithms and humans collaborate, promoting more human-centered approaches in AI system design. This has led to the emergence of a novel human-machine computing (HMC) paradigm, which combines human cognitive abilities with machine computational power to create a collaborative computing framework that meets the demands of large-scale, complex tasks and enables human-machine symbiosis. Human processing units (HPUs) are crucial computing resources in HMC-oriented systems, and efficient HPU resource provisioning is key to boosting system performance. However, existing schemes often fail to assign tasks to the most suitable HPUs and optimize HPU utility, as they either cannot quantitatively measure skills or overlook utility concerns during task assignment and scheduling. To address these challenges, this article proposes a fine-grained HPU virtualization (FingHV) approach, which leverages virtualization techniques to improve flexibility, fairness, and utility in the provisioning process. The core idea is to use a tree-based skill model to precisely measure the levels and correlations of multiple skills within individual HPUs, and to apply a mixed time/event-based scheduling policy to maximize HPU utility. Specifically, we begin by proposing a hierarchical multiskill tree to model HPU skills and their correlations. Next, we formulate the HPU virtualization problem and present a fine-grained virtualization method, which includes a quality-driven HPU assignment process and a mixed time/event-based scheduling policy to improve resource-sharing efficiency. Finally, we evaluate FingHV on a synthetic dataset with varying task sizes and a real-world case. The results demonstrate that FingHV improves global matching quality by up to 39.7% and increases HPU utility by 11.2% compared to the baselines.},
}
@article {pmid40028341,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, H and Li, J and Niu, Y and Zhou, T and Zhang, P and Liu, Y and Li, Y},
title = {Interactions between the metabolic reprogramming of liver cancer and tumor microenvironment.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1494788},
pmid = {40028341},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; *Liver Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology/immunology ; Animals ; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism ; *Cellular Reprogramming ; Hepatic Stellate Cells/metabolism ; Metabolic Reprogramming ; },
abstract = {Metabolic reprogramming is one of the major biological features of malignant tumors, playing a crucial role in the initiation and progression of cancer. The tumor microenvironment consists of various non-cancer cells, such as hepatic stellate cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune cells, as well as extracellular matrix and soluble substances. In liver cancer, metabolic reprogramming not only affects its own growth and survival but also interacts with other non-cancer cells by influencing the expression and release of metabolites and cytokines (such as lactate, PGE2, arginine). This interaction leads to acidification of the microenvironment and restricts the uptake of nutrients by other non-cancer cells, resulting in metabolic competition and symbiosis. At the same time, metabolic reprogramming in neighboring cells during proliferation and differentiation processes also impacts tumor immunity. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the metabolic crosstalk between liver cancer cells and their tumor microenvironment, deepening our understanding of relevant findings and pathways. This contributes to further understanding the regulation of cancer development and immune evasion mechanisms while providing assistance in advancing personalized therapies targeting metabolic pathways for anti-cancer treatment.},
}
@article {pmid40027183,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, H and Hu, J and Ma, Y and Abulimiti, Y and Zhou, Y},
title = {Lung commensal bacteria promote lung cancer progression through NK cell-mediated immunosuppressive microenvironment.},
journal = {International journal of medical sciences},
volume = {22},
number = {5},
pages = {1039-1051},
pmid = {40027183},
issn = {1449-1907},
mesh = {*Killer Cells, Natural/immunology ; Humans ; *Lung Neoplasms/immunology/pathology/microbiology ; *Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; Animals ; Mice ; Disease Progression ; Lung/microbiology/immunology/pathology ; Microbiota/immunology ; *Adenocarcinoma of Lung/immunology/pathology/microbiology ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism ; Symbiosis/immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic microbiota pervades the majority of the human body's organs and tissues, functioning as crucial regulators of both health maintenance and disease progression. Pertinently, lung adenocarcinoma has been indisputably linked to chronic inflammation. However, the precipitators that instigate such inflammation, along with the particular immune mediators involved, remain enigmatic and warrant extensive exploration. This research revealed a significant variance exists in the commensal bacteria between lung cancer tissues and their normal counterparts. This holds true for both clinical patients and mice, where both the diversity and abundance of bacteria in tumor tissues significantly surpass those in normal tissues. It has been demonstrated that disturbances in pulmonary commensal bacteria can stimulate the proliferation of tumor cells. Mechanistically, we suggest that lung bacteria may promote the expression of the NK cell immunosuppressive molecule TIGIT along with the secretion of IL-2 and IFN-γ. This consequently mediates alterations in the immunosuppressive microenvironment, thereby fostering tumor proliferation.},
}
@article {pmid40025656,
year = {2025},
author = {Reyes-Pérez, PJ and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Sánchez-Reina, A and Civantos, C and Castro, NM and Ollero, FJ and Gandullo, J and Bernal, P and Pérez-Montaño, F},
title = {The Type VI Secretion System of Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257 Is Required for Successful Nodulation With Glycine max cv Pekin.},
journal = {Microbial biotechnology},
volume = {18},
number = {3},
pages = {e70112},
pmid = {40025656},
issn = {1751-7915},
support = {IJC2020-045968-I//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; PID2020-118279RA-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; PID2021-123000OB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; RYC2019-026551-I//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci&#xf3;n y Universidades/ ; //10.13039/501100011033-AgenciaEstataldeInvestigaci&#xf3;n/ ; //State Subprogram for Knowledge Generation from the Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU), the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI)/ ; //MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ ; },
mesh = {*Sinorhizobium fredii/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Type VI Secretion Systems/genetics/metabolism ; *Glycine max/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; },
abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between rhizobia and legumes is critical for sustainable agriculture and has important economic and environmental implications. In this intricate process, rhizobial bacteria colonise plant roots and induce the formation of specialised plant organs, the nodules. Within these structures, rhizobia fix environmental nitrogen into ammonia, significantly reducing the demand for synthetic fertilisers. Multiple bacterial secretion systems (TXSS, Type X Secretion System) are involved in establishing this symbiosis, with T3SS being the most studied. While the Type 6 Secretion System (T6SS) is known as a "nanoweapon" commonly used by diderm (formerly gram-negative) bacteria for inter-bacterial competition and potentially manipulating eukaryotic cells, its precise role in legume symbiosis remains unclear. Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257, a fast-growing rhizobial strain capable of nodulating diverse legume plants, possesses a single T6SS cluster containing genes encoding structural components and potential effectors that could target plant cells and/or act as effector-immunity pairs. Our research reveals that this T6SS can be induced in nutrient-limited conditions and, more importantly, is essential for successful nodulation and competitive colonisation of Glycine max cv Pekin. Although the system did not demonstrate effectiveness in eliminating competing bacteria in vitro, its active presence within root nodules suggests a sophisticated role in symbiotic interactions that extends beyond traditional interbacterial competition.},
}
@article {pmid40025068,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, W and Gao, H and Cui, C and Wang, L and Wang, Y and Li, Y and Li, F and Zheng, Y and Xia, T and Wang, S},
title = {Harnessing engineered symbionts to combat concurrent malaria and arboviruses transmission.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {2104},
pmid = {40025068},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {32021001 and 32370537//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Serratia/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology/parasitology ; *Malaria/transmission/prevention &amp; control ; Aedes/virology/microbiology/parasitology ; Anopheles/parasitology/microbiology/virology ; *Arbovirus Infections/transmission/prevention &amp; control ; Arboviruses ; Zika Virus ; Humans ; Zika Virus Infection/transmission/prevention &amp; control ; Dengue/transmission/prevention &amp; control ; Female ; },
abstract = {Concurrent malaria and arbovirus infections pose significant public health challenges in tropical and subtropical regions, demanding innovative control strategies. Here, we describe a strategy that employs multifunctional engineered symbiotic bacteria to suppress concurrent transmission of malaria parasites, dengue, and Zika viruses by various vector mosquitoes. The symbiotic bacterium Serratia AS1, which efficiently spreads through Anopheles and Aedes populations, is engineered to simultaneously produce anti-Plasmodium and anti-arbovirus effector proteins controlled by a selected blood-induced promoter. Laboratory and outdoor field-cage studies show that the multifunctional engineered symbiotic strains effectively inhibit Plasmodium infection in Anopheles mosquitoes and arbovirus infection in Aedes mosquitoes. Our findings provide the foundation for the use of engineered symbiotic bacteria as a powerful tool to combat the concurrent transmission of malaria and arbovirus diseases.},
}
@article {pmid40023108,
year = {2025},
author = {Zou, H and Huang, X and Xiao, W and He, H and Liu, S and Zeng, H},
title = {Recent advancements in bacterial anti-phage strategies and the underlying mechanisms altering susceptibility to antibiotics.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {295},
number = {},
pages = {128107},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128107},
pmid = {40023108},
issn = {1618-0623},
mesh = {*Bacteriophages/drug effects/physiology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Bacteria/virology/drug effects/genetics ; Phage Therapy/methods ; NAD/metabolism ; Humans ; Bacterial Infections/therapy/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the challenges in developing new antibiotics have brought renewed international attention to phage therapy. However, in bacteria-phage co-evolution, the rapid development of bacterial resistance to phage has limited its clinical application. This review consolidates the latest advancements in research on anti-phage mechanisms, encompassing strategies such as systems associated with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD[+]) to halt the propagation of the phage, symbiotic bacteria episymbiont-mediated modulation of gene expression in host bacteria to resist phage infection, and defence-related reverse transcriptase (DRT) encoded by bacteria to curb phage infections. We conduct an in-depth analysis of the underlying mechanisms by which bacteria undergo alterations in antibiotic susceptibility after developing phage resistance. We also discuss the remaining challenges and promising directions for phage-based therapy in the future.},
}
@article {pmid40022356,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, Y and Wu, Y and Chen, S and Zhao, Y and Li, C and Xiang, H and Wang, D and Wang, Y},
title = {Decoding the aroma landscape of fermented golden pompano: The interplay of ester compounds and symbiotic microbiota as revealed by metagenomics and two-dimensional flavoromics.},
journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)},
volume = {203},
number = {},
pages = {115832},
doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2025.115832},
pmid = {40022356},
issn = {1873-7145},
mesh = {*Metagenomics/methods ; Fermentation ; *Esters/analysis/metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis ; *Odorants/analysis ; *Fermented Foods/microbiology/analysis ; Taste ; *Microbiota ; Animals ; Food Microbiology ; *Seafood/microbiology/analysis ; Flavoring Agents/analysis ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Fermented pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) is a traditionally popular fermented seafood throughout Asia. Its distinctive flavor profile is primarily attributed to the microbial metabolic conversion of nutrients, which produces specific volatile compounds. Two-dimensional flavoromics of mature pompano revealed that various volatile flavor compounds accumulate throughout fermentation, with fruity (predominantly esters) and oleogustus (primarily ketones) being key flavor markers. S-curve analysis further demonstrated synergistic and additive interactions between these compounds, which enhance flavor release. Metagenomics and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome analysis revealed that amino acid metabolism was the pivotal pathway for ethyl ester synthesis, with Staphylococcus equorum being positively correlated with esters such as ethyl isobutyrate and ethyl enanthate. This study elucidated the interrelationship between flavor compounds and the microbial community in fermented pompano, which is expected to provide insights into flavor modulation and guide the selection of strains that produce key esters in fermented seafood products.},
}
@article {pmid40021818,
year = {2025},
author = {Tavares, GG and Santana, LR and da Silva, LN and Teixeira, MB and da Silva, AA and Cabral, JSR and Souchie, EL},
title = {Morpho-physiological traits of soybean plants in symbiosis with Gigaspora sp. and submitted to water restriction.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {7133},
pmid = {40021818},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Glycine max/microbiology/physiology/anatomy &amp; histology ; *Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Water/metabolism ; Photosynthesis ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology ; },
abstract = {In agricultural production, periods in which there is a lack of water can affect the productivity of soybean crops. One alternative is the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which maximize water absorption, biochemical regulation, leaf elasticity and transpiration, and water use regulation. The present study aimed to analyze the morphological and physiological traits of soybean plants associated with Gigaspora margarita and Gigaspora gigantea submitted to water restriction in nonsterilized soil. The soybean plants received 31 g of the AMF Gigaspora margarita or 46 g of Gigaspora gigantea separately at sowing and were cultivated in a greenhouse under natural light conditions with controlled relative humidity and temperature. Water restriction was imposed when the plants reached the V3 stage and were divided into three levels: irrigated (80%), moderate (60%), and severe (40%) field capacity (FC). The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 × 3 factorial design (three inoculation treatments × three water restriction levels). Physiological and morphological parameters, photosynthetic pigments, electrolyte leakage, root colonization of soybean plants, and percentage of fungal spores were evaluated. The inoculation of Gigaspora gigantea promoted the adaptation of physiological (photosynthesis rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance, Ci/Ca ratio, and carboxylation) and morphological traits (plant height and stem diameter), with greater colonization of soybean roots under conditions of water restriction, and maximized the tolerance of plants to drought, mitigating the negative effects of these conditions regardless of the level of water restriction. Mycorrhizal inoculation promoted better functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus and growth of soybean plants.},
}
@article {pmid40020154,
year = {2025},
author = {Hincher, MR and Carleton, JP and Wheeler, SJ and DelCogliano, M and Mathis, K and Tabima, JF},
title = {Ubiquity and diversity of Basidiobolus across amphibian species inhabiting an urbanization gradient.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {117},
number = {2},
pages = {222-234},
doi = {10.1080/00275514.2025.2455909},
pmid = {40020154},
issn = {1557-2536},
mesh = {Animals ; *Amphibians/microbiology ; *Biodiversity ; *Urbanization ; Phylogeny ; *Entomophthorales/isolation &amp; purification/classification/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; },
abstract = {The role of microfungal species in the environment is wide and well documented, especially in terms of symbiosis. Nonetheless, microfungal species are usually overseen and vastly understudied. One example of these understudied microfungal groups is the genus Basidiobolus, an ecologically diverse zoopagomycete genus found within vertebrate gastrointestinal systems, a saprobe across leaf litter, or as an opportunistic pathogen of immunocompromised humans. Studies of Basidiobolus diversity and distribution have been focused mostly on non-urbanized areas of subtropical regions, but there is a recent paucity of studies on this genus in temperate and densely human populated areas. Here, we present insights into the ubiquity and diversity of Basidiobolus species associated with amphibian species that live in the Worcester waterway system, a system of connecting streams and ponds that originate in pristine, protected wild management areas, and the highly urbanized downtown area of Worcester, Massachusetts. Our results show the ubiquitous presence of Basidiobolus across the gastrointestinal tract samples of amphibians spanning diverse species and habitats, including conservation areas, urban watersheds, and rural ecosystems. Our study reveals that multiple individuals and species of Basidiobolus coexist within a single host, suggesting complex interactions within amphibian gut microbiomes. Finally, we present possible novel diversity in the genus, indicating that further studies should be focused on understanding the species richness, genetic diversity, and ecological roles and associations of this interesting fungal group.},
}
@article {pmid40018897,
year = {2025},
author = {Khoury, M and Evans, B and Guleria, T and Van Der Broeke, J and Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia, L and Chen, O and Mustafee, N and Chen, A and Djordjevic, S and Savic, D},
title = {Towards the development of an online platform for an industry metabolic pathway.},
journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research},
volume = {91},
number = {4},
pages = {382-399},
pmid = {40018897},
issn = {0273-1223},
support = {869318//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; },
mesh = {*Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Internet ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Industry ; },
abstract = {This paper presents the design of a web-based decision co-creation platform to showcase water treatment technologies connected via industrial symbiosis for a circular economy approach. The platform is developed as part of the EU H2020-funded ULTIMATE project. This system initially investigates three case studies focusing respectively on: water and nutrient recovery in greenhouses, pre-treatment of wastewater from olive mills before integration into communal wastewater systems, and value-added compound recovery from wastewater in a juice factory. These cases are then merged into one abstract composite example showing all three aspects of the problem, connecting greenhouses, juice factories, and olive mills, describing a pioneering form of industrial 'metabolic network' of the circular economy. This work describes the modelling framework, the online platform and the interactive visualisations that allow users to explore the industrial symbiosis configurations enabled by the metabolic pathway. The platform thus serves as a decision support tool that merges circular economy and industrial symbiosis, as well as a pedagogical tool.},
}
@article {pmid40017177,
year = {2025},
author = {Palladini, A and Moyano, A and Díaz, V and Rasuk, MC and Giudice, A and Castillo, G and Abraham, S and Dib, J and Manzano, C and Rull, J},
title = {Ceratitis capitata microbiota and its effect on environmental stress tolerance: making flies stronger.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70010},
pmid = {40017177},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {PICT 2018 number 03521//Fondo para la Investigaci&#xf3;n Cient&#xed;fica y Tecnol&#xf3;gica/ ; },
abstract = {Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) is a cosmopolitan pest of economic importance. It is controlled by using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which involves rearing and release of sterile males destined to mate with wild females, causing generation-to-generation suppression. Medflies are colonized by microorganisms, primarily the Enterobacteriaceae, with the genera Klebsiella and Enterobacter being the most common. Such microbiota contributes to host fitness. During the SIT, diet with antibiotics and irradiation for sterility of adults alter microbiota. We aimed to determine the role of Medfly microbiota on resistance to abiotic stress conditions, evaluating its function under: (i) starvation, (ii) elevated temperatures, and (iii) dry environments. These conditions simulate challenges Medfly may encounter after release, which differ from controlled rearing environments. We compared adult survival between symbiotic and aposymbiotic individuals, under starvation, two thermal regimes (25 and 30 °C) or two humidity regimes (20%-25% and 80%-90% R.H.). Aposymbiotic individuals were obtained after providing them with water containing a mixture of antibiotics and methylparaben. Treatment with antimicrobials effectively reduced the gut microbiota. While starvation had no significant effect on survival, a higher proportion of aposymbiotic individuals died earlier at 30 °C and under dry humidity, with the effect being more pronounced after 48 h. Our results suggest that microbiota plays a role in adaptation of Medfly under environmental stress. We report for the presence of a culturable yeast in the digestive tract of C. capitata, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. Providing a probiotic adult diet with bacteria and Z. rouxii prior to release could improve SIT outcomes under adverse conditions.},
}
@article {pmid40016887,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, YH and Kurtenbach, J and Crosbie, D and Brachmann, A and Marín Arancibia, M},
title = {Pseudomonas Species Isolated From Lotus Nodules Are Genetically Diverse and Promote Plant Growth.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {e70066},
pmid = {40016887},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {MA 7269/2-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {*Pseudomonas/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/classification/physiology ; *Lotus/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Phylogeny ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Genetic Variation ; Genome, Bacterial ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Plant Development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; },
abstract = {Nodules harbour microbial communities composed of rhizobia and other lower-abundance bacteria. These non-rhizobial bacteria can promote plant growth. However, their genomic diversity and how this relates to their plant growth-promoting traits remain poorly investigated. Here, we isolated 14 Pseudomonas strains from the nodules of Lotus plants, sequenced their genomes, analysed their genomic and phylogenetic diversity, and assessed their ability to promote plant growth. We identified five distinct species, including a novel species named Pseudomonas monachiensis sp. nov., with strain PLb12A[T], as the type strain. Genome analysis of these nodule-isolated Pseudomonas revealed an abundance of genes associated to plant growth-promoting traits, especially auxin-related genes, compared to closely related type strains. In accordance, most nodule-isolated Pseudomonas strains enhanced shoot growth of Lotus burttii, while only some promoted root growth or early onset of root hair proliferation. However, none of the strains significantly affected the ability to form nodules. Overall, our findings highlight the genotypic diversity and the plant growth-promoting potential of nodule-isolated Pseudomonas and underscore their possible applications in mixed inocula with rhizobia.},
}
@article {pmid40016206,
year = {2025},
author = {Das, D and Varshney, K and Ogawa, S and Torabi, S and Hüttl, R and Nelson, DC and Gutjahr, C},
title = {Ethylene promotes SMAX1 accumulation to inhibit arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {2025},
pmid = {40016206},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {Grant GU1423/1-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 57381412//Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)/ ; 22KJ3127//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/drug effects ; *Ethylenes/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/drug effects/genetics ; *Lotus/microbiology/genetics/metabolism/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Lactones/metabolism/pharmacology ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; },
abstract = {Most land plants engage in arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis with Glomeromycotina fungi for better access to mineral nutrients. The plant hormone ethylene suppresses AM development, but a molecular explanation for this phenomenon is lacking. Here we show that ethylene inhibits the expression of many genes required for AM formation in Lotus japonicus. These genes include strigolactone biosynthesis genes, which are needed for fungal activation, and Common Symbiosis genes, which are required for fungal entry into the root. Application of strigolactone analogs and ectopic expression of the Common Symbiosis gene Calcium Calmodulin-dependent Kinase (CCaMK) counteracts the effect of ethylene. Therefore, ethylene likely inhibits AM development by suppressing expression of these genes rather than by inducing defense responses. These same genes are regulated by SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1 (SMAX1), a transcriptional repressor that is proteolyzed during karrikin signaling. SMAX1 is required for suppression of AM by ethylene, and SMAX1 abundance in nuclei increases after ethylene application. We conclude that ethylene suppresses AM by promoting accumulation of SMAX1. SMAX1 emerges as a signaling hub that integrates karrikin and ethylene signaling, thereby orchestrating development of a major plant symbiosis with a plant's physiological state.},
}
@article {pmid40015991,
year = {2025},
author = {Chocarro-Calvo, A and Jociles-Ortega, M and García-Martinez, JM and Louphrasitthiphol, P and Carvalho-Marques, S and Vivas-García, Y and Ramírez-Sánchez, A and Chauhan, J and Fiuza, MC and Duran, M and Sánchez-Danés, A and Goding, CR and García-Jiménez, C},
title = {Fatty acid uptake activates an AXL-CAV1-β-catenin axis to drive melanoma progression.},
journal = {Genes &amp; development},
volume = {39},
number = {7-8},
pages = {463-489},
pmid = {40015991},
issn = {1549-5477},
support = {P01 CA128814/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 CA268597/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Melanoma/pathology/physiopathology/metabolism/genetics ; *Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism/genetics ; Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase ; *beta Catenin/metabolism ; *Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Adipocytes/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Caveolin 1/metabolism ; Disease Progression ; *Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Oleic Acid/metabolism/pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; },
abstract = {Interaction between the tumor microenvironment and cancer cell plasticity drives intratumor phenotypic heterogeneity and underpins disease progression and nongenetic therapy resistance. Phenotype-specific expression of the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase is a pivotal player in dormancy, invasion, and resistance to treatment. However, although the AXL ligand GAS6 is present within tumors, how AXL is activated in metastasizing cells remains unclear. Here, using melanoma as a model, we reveal that AXL is activated by exposure to human adipocytes and to oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid abundant in lymph and in adipocytes. AXL activation triggers SRC-dependent formation and nuclear translocation of a β-catenin-CAV1 complex required for melanoma invasiveness. Remarkably, only undifferentiated AXL[High] melanoma cells engage in symbiosis with human adipocytes, in part by triggering WNT5a-mediated lipolysis, leading to AXL-dependent, but FATP-independent, fatty acid uptake and nuclear localization of the β-catenin-CAV1 complex. Significantly, human melanomas in the vicinity of adipocytes exhibit high levels of nuclear CAV1. The results unveil an AXL- and CAV1-dependent mechanism through which a nutritional input drives phenotype-specific activation of a prometastasis program. Given the key role of AXL in a broad range of cancers, the results offer major insights into the mechanisms of cancer cell dormancy and therapy resistance.},
}
@article {pmid40015875,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhong, Y and Wang, Q and Sun, F and Yu, X and Liu, Y and Shentu, X},
title = {Effects of tebuconazole on insecticidal activity and symbionts in brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).},
journal = {Pesticide biochemistry and physiology},
volume = {208},
number = {},
pages = {106283},
doi = {10.1016/j.pestbp.2024.106283},
pmid = {40015875},
issn = {1095-9939},
mesh = {Animals ; *Hemiptera/drug effects/microbiology ; *Triazoles/toxicity/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Insecticides/pharmacology/toxicity ; *Fungicides, Industrial/toxicity/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {Harnessing symbionts as targets for pest management is an emerging and promising strategy that can contribute to sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. Brown planthopper (BPH), a major rice pest, significantly threatens crop yields and quality. In this study, we discovered that BPHs exhibited a significant increase in mortality after consuming the fungicide tebuconazole, indicating its direct toxic effect. Tebuconazole negatively impacts the body weight, digestive enzyme activity, and reproductive capacity in BPHs, and it also leads to a significant downregulation of the expression levels of the ecdysteroid biosynthetic genes. The number of symbionts and the expression level of Noda in the BPH treated with tebuconazole was significantly reduced. Sequencing results showed that tebuconazole had a significant effect on the richness of symbiotic fungi and bacteria in BPH. As a fungicide, tebuconazole can offer new approaches and insights for managing resistance and integrated pest control.},
}
@article {pmid40013383,
year = {2025},
author = {Pasinato, A and Singh, G},
title = {Lichens are a treasure chest of bioactive compounds: fact or fake?.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {2},
pages = {389-395},
pmid = {40013383},
issn = {1469-8137},
}
@article {pmid40012216,
year = {2025},
author = {Md-Zain, BM and Wan-Mustafa, WAS and Tingga, RCT and Gani, M and Mohd-Ridwan, AR},
title = {High-Throughput DNA Metabarcoding for the Gut Microbiome Assessment of Captive White-Handed Gibbon and Siamang.},
journal = {Journal of medical primatology},
volume = {54},
number = {2},
pages = {e70009},
doi = {10.1111/jmp.70009},
pmid = {40012216},
issn = {1600-0684},
support = {ST-2022-027//The National Conservation Trust Fund for Natural Resources (NCTF),/ ; ST-2021-017//Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals, Zoo/microbiology ; Malaysia ; *Hylobatidae/microbiology ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Feces/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/veterinary ; *Hylobates/microbiology ; Female ; Male ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota plays a vital role in primates' overall health and well-being, including small apes (Hylobatidae). The symbiotic relationships between bacteria and the gut aid food digestion, maintain host health, and help them adapt to their environment, including captive conditions. Despite being listed as endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list category, molecular studies on the small ape's gut microbiome are limited compared to other primates. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota of captive small apes at Zoo Taiping and Night Safari, Peninsular Malaysia, by evaluating their microbial communities.<br><br>METHODS: Seven fecal samples from Hylobatidae (white-handed gibbon and siamang) were collected, and the bacteria therein were successfully isolated and subjected to high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.<br><br>RESULTS: The acquired amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were successfully classified into 17 phyla, 82 families, 164 genera, and 43 species of microbes. Each small ape exhibited a unique gut microbiota profile. The phyla Bacteroidota and Firmicutes were dominant in each individual. Environmental conditions and host genetics are among the factors that influence the small ape's gut microbiome composition.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide valuable insights into the gut microbiota composition of small apes at Zoo Taiping and Night Safari, thus contributing to the health management and welfare efforts of small apes in captivity.},
}
@article {pmid40011773,
year = {2025},
author = {Oyarte Galvez, L and Bisot, C and Bourrianne, P and Cargill, R and Klein, M and van Son, M and van Krugten, J and Caldas, V and Clerc, T and Lin, KK and Kahane, F and van Staalduine, S and Stewart, JD and Terry, V and Turcu, B and van Otterdijk, S and Babu, A and Kamp, M and Seynen, M and Steenbeek, B and Zomerdijk, J and Tutucci, E and Sheldrake, M and Godin, C and Kokkoris, V and Stone, HA and Kiers, ET and Shimizu, TS},
title = {A travelling-wave strategy for plant-fungal trade.},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {639},
number = {8053},
pages = {172-180},
pmid = {40011773},
issn = {1476-4687},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism/physiology/growth &amp; development/cytology ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Carbon/metabolism ; Mycelium/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; Hyphae/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Time-Lapse Imaging ; },
abstract = {For nearly 450 million years, mycorrhizal fungi have constructed networks to collect and trade nutrient resources with plant roots[1,2]. Owing to their dependence on host-derived carbon, these fungi face conflicting trade-offs in building networks that balance construction costs against geographical coverage and long-distance resource transport to and from roots[3]. How they navigate these design challenges is unclear[4]. Here, to monitor the construction of living trade networks, we built a custom-designed robot for high-throughput time-lapse imaging that could track over 500,000 fungal nodes simultaneously. We then measured around 100,000 cytoplasmic flow trajectories inside the networks. We found that mycorrhizal fungi build networks as self-regulating travelling waves-pulses of growing tips pull an expanding wave of nutrient-absorbing mycelium, the density of which is self-regulated by fusion. This design offers a solution to conflicting trade demands because relatively small carbon investments fuel fungal range expansions beyond nutrient-depletion zones, fostering exploration for plant partners and nutrients. Over time, networks maintained highly constant transport efficiencies back to roots, while simultaneously adding loops that shorten paths to potential new trade partners. Fungi further enhance transport flux by both widening hyphal tubes and driving faster flows along 'trunk routes' of the network[5]. Our findings provide evidence that symbiotic fungi control network-level structure and flows to meet trade demands, and illuminate the design principles of a symbiotic supply-chain network shaped by millions of years of natural selection.},
}
@article {pmid40011535,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, DX and Bai, Z and Yuan, YW and Li, SA and Wei, YL and Yuan, HS},
title = {Ectomycorrhizal fungal community varies across broadleaf species and developmental stages.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {6955},
pmid = {40011535},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {32371732//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32270017//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U2102220//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/classification/genetics ; *Quercus/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Acer/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Forests ; *Betula/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; China ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Biodiversity ; *Trees/microbiology ; *Mycobiome ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) play pivotal roles in determining temperate forest ecosystem processes. We tracked root EMF community succession across saplings, juveniles, and adults of three temperate broadleaf trees (Acer mono, Betula platyphylla, and Quercus mongolica) in Northeast China. Adult stages showed higher alpha diversity but lower community dissimilarity compared to earlier stages. In particular, the EMF alpha diversity of Quercus mongolica marginally increased along with host developmental stages and ranked as sapling < juvenile < adult. Unlike those of Acer mono and Quercus mongolica, the EMF community composition of Betula platyphylla showed greater variation between the sapling and juvenile stages than between the sapling and adult stages. Cooccurrence networks revealed increasing interconnectivity with host maturity, dominated by positive correlations (> 99%). LEfSe was employed to identify stage- and/or host-specific EMF indicators. This study highlighted the assembly of EMF community during the development of broadleaf trees in temperate forests, thereby advancing understanding of the succession and coevolution of symbiotic relationships.},
}
@article {pmid40011474,
year = {2025},
author = {Kobayashi, Y and Kondo, Y and Kohda, M and Awata, S},
title = {Active provisioning of food to host sea anemones by anemonefish.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {4115},
pmid = {40011474},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {23KJ1838//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 22H02703//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JPMJSP2139-RS22A027//Japan Science and Technology Agency/ ; 2021-4082//The Japan Science Society/ ; OCU-SRG2021_BR10//Osaka City University/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Feeding Behavior/physiology ; *Perciformes/physiology ; Fishes/physiology ; },
abstract = {In mutualistic symbiosis, organisms often provide food to their partners. However, the processes and significance of food provisioning to hosts remain poorly understood. The anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii, which prefers larger hosts, has been suggested to provide food to its host the sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor. In the present study, we investigated food provisioning by anemonefish and its effects on the symbiotic relationships. When given foods of various sizes and types in the field, anemonefish selectively consumed small animal food (krill, clams, squid, and fish) and green macroalgae of small size, while providing larger pieces of animal food to their hosts. Additionally, the anemonefish avoided either eating or providing brown macroalgae and sponges to the host anemone, which appeared to be unsuitable as food for both anemonefish and sea anemones. When repeatedly provided small pieces of animal food, the anemonefish initially consumed the food themselves, but upon satiety, increased provisioning to the host. Food provisioning positively influenced the growth of host anemones. These findings suggest that anemonefish actively provide food to host anemones based on the situation, adding to our knowledge of the mutual benefits of symbiosis among partners.},
}
@article {pmid40011281,
year = {2025},
author = {Haider, K and Abbas, D and Galian, J and Ghafar, MA and Kabir, K and Ijaz, M and Hussain, M and Khan, KA and Ghramh, HA and Raza, A},
title = {The multifaceted roles of gut microbiota in insect physiology, metabolism, and environmental adaptation: implications for pest management strategies.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology &amp; biotechnology},
volume = {41},
number = {3},
pages = {75},
pmid = {40011281},
issn = {1573-0972},
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Insecta/microbiology/physiology ; Bacteria/metabolism/classification/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Adaptation, Physiological ; },
abstract = {Similar to many other organisms, insects like Drosophila melanogaster, Hypothenemus hampei, and Cockroaches harbor diverse bacterial communities in their gastrointestinal systems. These bacteria, along with other microorganisms like fungi and archaea, are essential to the physiology of their insect hosts, forming intricate symbiotic relationships. These gut-associated microorganisms contribute to various vital functions, including digestion, nutrient absorption, immune regulation, and behavioral modulation. Notably, gut microbiota facilitates the breakdown of complex plant materials, synthesizes essential vitamins and amino acids, and detoxifies harmful substances, including pesticides. Furthermore, these microorganisms are integral to modulating host immune responses and enhancing disease resistance. This review examines the multifaceted roles of gut microbiota in insect physiology, with particular emphasis on their contributions to digestion, detoxification, reproduction, and environmental adaptability. The potential applications of gut microbiota in integrated pest management (IPM) are also explored. Understanding the microbial dynamics within insect pest species opens new avenues for pest control, including developing microbial biocontrol agents, microbial modifications to reduce pesticide resistance, and implementing microbiome-based genetic strategies. In particular, manipulating gut microbiota presents a promising approach to pest management, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical pesticides.},
}
@article {pmid40009242,
year = {2025},
author = {Antunes, PM and Stürmer, SL and Bever, JD and Chagnon, PL and Chaudhary, VB and Deveautour, C and Fahey, C and Kokkoris, V and Lekberg, Y and Powell, JR and Aguilar-Trigueros, CA and Zhang, H},
title = {Enhancing consistency in arbuscular mycorrhizal trait-based research to improve predictions of function.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {14},
pmid = {40009242},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {RGPIN-2023-04103//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; grant 403.711/2023-1 and Research Assistanship Process 306.676/2022-2//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico/ ; NSF DBI 2027458//U.S. National Science Foundation Division of Biological Infrastructure/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; *Plants/microbiology ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (phylum Glomeromycota) are obligate symbionts with plants influencing plant health, soil a(biotic) processes, and ecosystem functioning. Despite advancements in molecular techniques, understanding the role of AM fungal communities on a(biotic) processes based on AM fungal taxonomy remains challenging. This review advocates for a standardized trait-based framework to elucidate the life-history traits of AM fungi, focusing on their roles in three dimensions: host plants, soil, and AM fungal ecology. We define morphological, physiological, and genetic key traits, explore their functional roles and propose methodologies for their consistent measurement, enabling cross-study comparisons towards improved predictability of ecological function. We aim for this review to lay the groundwork for establishing a baseline of AM fungal trait responses under varying environmental conditions. Furthermore, we emphasize the need to include underrepresented taxa in research and utilize advances in machine learning and microphotography for data standardization.},
}
@article {pmid40009197,
year = {2025},
author = {Kelleher, LA and Ramalho, MO},
title = {Impact of Species and Developmental Stage on the Bacterial Communities of Aphaenogaster Ants.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {4},
pages = {157},
pmid = {40009197},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {7513312112//West Chester University/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/microbiology/growth &amp; development/classification ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Microbiota ; Symbiosis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Pennsylvania ; Biodiversity ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Ants are distributed across the globe and there are currently over 14,000 described species. Due to the high diversity between species, ants are considered vital keystone species to many ecosystems. They provide basic ecosystem services such as: seed dispersal, soil bioturbation, decomposition, and pest control. Within these ecosystems ants form complex symbiotic relationships with plants, fungi, and bacteria. Studying the interaction between ants and their bacteria is important because of the crucial role that microbes play in the overall health of ants. Aphaenogaster Mayr, 1853, which is a globally distributed ant genus, remains understudied in terms of their bacterial community. This study aims to determine the taxonomic composition and abundance of the Aphaenogaster bacterial community and to determine if development stage and species impact the bacterial community composition. For this study, ants from several colonies were collected from the Gordon Natural Area in West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. DNA was then extracted from the ants in all stages of development and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequencing following the NGS amplicon approach. The findings from this study reveal that species and development stage have a significant impact upon the bacterial community composition and abundance of Aphaenogaster ants, and Wolbachia is highly associated with these ants.},
}
@article {pmid40007963,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, J and Yang, X and Huo, C and Fan, X and Liu, Q and Liu, Z and Su, Y and Chen, Z},
title = {Eucalyptus grandis WRKY genes provide insight into the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in defense against Ralstonia solanacearum.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1510196},
pmid = {40007963},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: WRKY transcription factors are essential for plant growth, health, and responses to biotic and abiotic stress.<br><br>METHODS: In this study, we performed a deep in silico characterization of the WRKY gene family in the genome of Eucalyptus grandis. We also analyzed the expression profiles of these genes upon colonization by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis (Ri) and infection with the bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs).<br><br>RESULTS: A total of 117 EgWRKYs were identified. Phylogenetic analysis divided the EgWRKY proteins into three groups: group I (21 proteins, 17.95%), group II (65 proteins, 55.56%), and group III (24 proteins, 20.51%). Additionally, seven EgWRKY proteins (5.98%) were categorized into group IV due to the absence of the WRKY domain or zinc-finger structure. All EgWRKY genes are distributed irregularly across the 11 chromosomes, with 25 pairs identified as segmental duplicates and four as tandem duplicates. The promoter regions of 50% of members of each subfamily contain plant hormone-related cis-elements associated with defense responses, such as ABREs, TGACG motifs, and CGTCA motifs. All subfamilies (except for group IV-b and IV-c) contain AW-boxes, which are related to mycorrhizal induction. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed that 21 EgWRKYs were responsive to the AMF Ri, with 13 and 8 genes strongly up- and downregulated, respectively. Several genes (including EgWRKY116, EgWRKY62, and EgWRKY107) were significantly induced by Ri; these genes might enhance the defense of E. grandis against Rs.<br><br>DISCUSSION: Therefore, we identified E. grandis WRKY genes that are regulated by AMF colonization, some of which might improve the defense of E. grandis against R. solanacearum. These findings provide insights into E. grandis WRKY genes involved in interactions among the host plant, AMFs, and R. solanacearum.},
}
@article {pmid40007421,
year = {2025},
author = {Singh, G and Dal Grande, F and Martin, FM and Medema, MH},
title = {Breaking into nature's secret medicine cabinet: lichens - a biochemical goldmine ready for discovery.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {2},
pages = {437-449},
pmid = {40007421},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//NextGenerationEU (to GS)/ ; ANR-11-LABX-0002-01//Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE/ ; },
mesh = {*Lichens/metabolism/genetics ; Secondary Metabolism ; *Drug Discovery ; },
abstract = {Secondary metabolites are a crucial source of bioactive compounds playing a key role in the development of new pharmaceuticals. Recently, biosynthetic research has benefited significantly from progress on various fronts, including reduced sequencing costs, improved genome/metabolome mining strategies, and expanding tools/databases to compare and characterize chemical diversity. Steady advances in these fields are crucial for research on non-modal organisms such as lichen-forming fungi (LFF). Although most fungi produce bioactive metabolites, biosynthetic research on LFF (c. 21% of known fungi) lags behind, primarily due to experimental challenges. However, in recent years, several such challenges have been tackled, and, in parallel, a critical foundation of genomic data and pipelines has been established to accomplish the valorization of this potential. Integrating these concurrent advances to accelerate biochemical research in LFF provides a promising opportunity for new discoveries. This review summarizes the following: recent advances in fungal and LFF omics, and chemoinformatics research; studies on LFF biosynthesis, including chemical diversity and evolutionary/phylogenetic aspects; and experimental milestones in LFF biosynthetic gene functions. At the end, we outline a vision and strategy to combine the progress in these research areas to harness the biochemical potential of LFF for pharmaceutical development.},
}
@article {pmid40007156,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, X and Wen, J and Jia, S and He, Y and Yang, W and Chen, W and Li, D and Liu, R and Liu, Q and Cai, Y and Cheng, K and Zhang, X},
title = {Glutamine synthetase GhGLN1.5 regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton by modulating inorganic nitrogen assimilation.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {246},
number = {2},
pages = {702-717},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70035},
pmid = {40007156},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {32070262//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32301768//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 242300420138//Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province/ ; 234400510004//Project of Zhongyuan Scholars Workstation/ ; },
mesh = {*Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Gossypium/microbiology/genetics/enzymology ; *Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase/metabolism/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Disease Resistance/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Verticillium/physiology ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a crucial role in the nitrogen uptake and Verticillium wilt resistance of cotton. The absorbed inorganic nitrogen is converted into organic nitrogen through nitrogen assimilation mediated by glutamine synthetase (GS). However, the role of GS in AM symbiosis and Verticillium wilt resistance remains unclear. We identified an AM fungus-induced GS gene, GhGLN1.5, which participated in AM symbiosis. Both in vivo and in vitro analyses demonstrated that GhGLN1.5 exhibits catalytic activity of GS. The knockdown of GhGLN1.5 resulted in a reduction of AM colonization, nitrogen uptake capacity, and AM symbiosis-dependent resistance to Verticillium wilt. Heterologous expression of GhGLN1.5 enhanced AM symbiosis, increased GS activity, and promoted plant growth. The knockout of GhGLN1.5 in cotton inhibited AM symbiosis. Furthermore, we identified an AM fungus-induced ethylene response factor gene GhWRI3 through yeast one-hybrid library screening and found that GhWRI3 activates the expression of GhGLN1.5 via AW-box element. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of GhGLN1.5 expression in AM symbiosis, nitrogen assimilation, and Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton, suggesting potential strategies for regulating AM symbiosis in cotton through the WRI3-GLN1.5 module.},
}
@article {pmid40006841,
year = {2025},
author = {Utge Perri, SY and Valerga Fernández, MV and Scotti, A and Colombo, RP and González, F and Valenzuela, L and Godeas, AM and Silvani, VA},
title = {Responses of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Communities to Long-Term Mining and Passive Restoration.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40006841},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {UBACYT 20020170100142BA//University of Buenos Aires/ ; PIP 11220200102192CO//Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient&#xed;ficas y T&#xe9;cnicas/ ; PICT 2015-3474//Agencia Nacional de Promoci&#xf3;n de la Investigaci&#xf3;n, el Desarrollo Tecnol&#xf3;gico y la Innovaci&#xf3;n/ ; ATN RF-18951-RG//FONTAGRO/ ; },
abstract = {Mining activities cause strong soil alterations, such as heavy metal (HM) pollution, which decreases the diversity of plant communities and rhizospheric microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The polymetallic Paramillos de Uspallata mine in the Andes Mountains, the first mining exploitation in Argentina, provides a unique scenario to study AM fungal resilience after long-term disturbance following over 40 years of inactivity. This study aimed to analyze mycorrhizal status and AM fungal communities in the mine and a nearby unexploited area and to evaluate their associations with soil parameters to elucidate life history strategies. Long-term exposure to elevated Fe, Pb, Zn, and Ag concentrations and high electrical conductivity (EC, 5.46 mS/cm) led to the dominance of Entrophospora infrequens in association with Pappostipa speciosa, demonstrating that this AM species is a stress-tolerant strategist in symbiosis with a pioneer perennial plant, resilient in the most impacted mine areas. In contrast, the unexploited area, with an EC of 0.48 mS/cm and low HM contents, supported competitive and ruderal species, revealing distinct ecological strategies of AM fungi in disturbed versus undisturbed environments. These findings highlight the potential of E. infrequens for bioremediation and ecological restoration in post-mining landscapes.},
}
@article {pmid40006495,
year = {2025},
author = {Vassiliadis, S and Guthridge, KM and Reddy, P and Ludlow, EJ and Hettiarachchige, IK and Rochfort, SJ},
title = {Predicting Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars and the Presence of an Epichloë Endophyte in Seeds Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS).},
journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {25},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40006495},
issn = {1424-8220},
support = {na//Agriculture Victoria Research/ ; na//Dairy Australia/ ; na//Gardiner Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods ; *Lolium/microbiology ; *Seeds/microbiology ; *Endophytes/isolation &amp; purification ; *Epichloe/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {Perennial ryegrass is an important temperate grass used for forage and turf worldwide. It forms symbiotic relationships with endophytic fungi (endophytes), conferring pasture persistence and resistance to herbivory. Endophyte performance can be influenced by the host genotype, as well as environmental factors such as seed storage conditions. It is therefore critical to confirm seed quality and purity before a seed is sown. DNA-based methods are often used for quality control purposes. Recently, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) coupled with hyperspectral imaging was used to discriminate perennial ryegrass cultivars and endophyte presence in individual seeds. Here, a NIRS-based analysis of bulk seeds was used to develop models for discriminating perennial ryegrass cultivars (Alto, Maxsyn, Trojan and Bronsyn), each hosting a suite of eight to eleven different endophyte strains. Sub-sampling, six per bag of seed, was employed to minimize misclassification error. Using a nested PLS-DA approach, cultivars were classified with an overall accuracy of 94.1-98.6% of sub-samples, whilst endophyte presence or absence was discriminated with overall accuracies between 77.8% and 96.3% of sub-samples. Hierarchical classification models were developed to discriminate bulked seed samples quickly and easily with minimal misclassifications of cultivars (<8.9% of sub-samples) or endophyte status within each cultivar (<11.3% of sub-samples). In all cases, greater than four of the six sub-samples were correctly classified, indicating that innate variation within a bag of seeds can be overcome using this strategy. These models could benefit turf- and pasture-based industries by providing a tool that is easy, cost effective, and can quickly discriminate seed bulks based on cultivar and endophyte content.},
}
@article {pmid40005829,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhao, S and Xiang, J and Abedin, M and Wang, J and Zhang, Z and Zhang, Z and Wu, H and Xiao, J},
title = {Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Akkermansia muciniphila-Derived Extracellular Vesicles.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40005829},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {6212002//Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality&#xff0c;China/ ; },
abstract = {Bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a pivotal role in host-microbe communication. Akkermansia muciniphila, a symbiotic bacterium essential for intestinal health, is hypothesized to exert its effects via EVs. Here, we successfully isolated and characterized EVs derived from A. muciniphila (Am-EVs) using ultracentrifugation. Am-EVs exhibited a double-membrane structure, with an average diameter of 92.48 ± 0.28 nm and a proteomic profile comprising 850 proteins. In an in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2), treatment with both 25 and 50 μg/mL Am-EVs significantly reduced oxidative stress markers, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA), while restoring catalase activity (CAT). Am-EVs also suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Subsequent transcriptomic sequencing and Western blot experiments revealed that Am-EVs attenuate the MAPK signaling pathway by downregulating TRIF, MyD88, p38 MAPK, and FOS while upregulating TGFBR2. These findings suggest that Am-EVs mediate anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of MAPK signaling, highlighting their potential as therapeutic agents in intestinal inflammation.},
}
@article {pmid40005707,
year = {2025},
author = {Pešić, M and Tošić Jojević, S and Sikirić, B and Mrvić, V and Jovković, M and Milinković, M and Andjelković, S and Stajković-Srbinović, O},
title = {The Plant Growth-Promoting Ability of Alfalfa Rhizobial Strains Under Nickel Stress.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40005707},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {GRANT No 7015//Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia/ ; 451-03-66/2024-03/200011//Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovations of the Republic of Serbia/ ; },
abstract = {The growth and nutrient balance of legumes can be disrupted in soils with increased nickel (Ni) concentrations. The inoculation of legumes with rhizobia, symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, can be used for the alleviation of trace metal stress in plants. This study evaluated the Ni tolerance of alfalfa rhizobia isolates and some plant growth-promoting traits in the presence of Ni: indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, Ni biosorption potential, and the effect of rhizobia on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growth. The strains were characterized as Shinorhizobium meliloti, Sinorhizobium medicae, and Rhizobium tibeticum. In total, 70% of the tested strains tolerate up to 0.8 mM Ni, while 15% of the strains tolerate 1.2 mM Ni. The production of IAA was maintained in the presence of Ni until bacterial growth was stopped by raising the Ni concentration. Alfalfa seed germination is significantly reduced in the presence of 0.5 mM Ni, while a significant reduction in 10-day-old seedling length already occurs at a Ni concentration of 0.03 mM. In the plant experiment, when alfalfa was inoculated with rhizobial strains, nodulation was maintained up to 0.05 mM Ni, but a significant reduction in nodule number was detected at 0.01 mM Ni. At the concentration of 0.005 mM Ni, inoculation with 12 particular rhizobial strains significantly improved the number of nodules per plant, plant height, and root length, as well as plant shoot dry weight, compared to non-inoculated plants with Ni addition. However, higher concentrations caused a reduction in all of these plant growth parameters compared to the plants without Ni. The selected rhizobia strains showed a Ni biosorption capacity of 20% in the in vitro assay. The inoculation of alfalfa with effective rhizobial strains improves growth parameters compared to non-inoculated plants in the presence of certain concentrations of Ni.},
}
@article {pmid40005595,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, L and Xing, Y and Li, S and Zhou, L and Li, B and Guo, S},
title = {Different Symbiotic Species of Armillaria Affect the Yield and Active Compound Contents of Polyporus umbellatus.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40005595},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {No. 2021-I2M-1-031, 2022-I2M-2-001, 2023-I2M-2-006//CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {Polyporus umbellatus is a medicinal fungus primarily used for diuresis, with its sclerotium serving as the medicinal component. The growth and development of sclerotia are reliant on a symbiotic relationship with Armillaria. However, the impact of different Armillaria species on the yield and quality of sclerotia remains unclear. In this study, three Armillaria strains, A35, A541, and A19, were identified through TEF-1α sequence analysis and phylogenetic classification. These strains were classified into three distinct species: A35 as A. ostoyae, A541 as A. gallica, while the taxonomic status of A19 remains unresolved. After four years of co-cultivation with these Armillaria strains, three groups of P. umbellatus sclerotia were harvested and labeled as A35-P, A541-P, and A19-P, respectively. The yields of A35-P, A541-P, and A19-P exhibited significant variations, with A541-P achieving the highest yield (1221 ± 258 g·nest[-1]), followed by A35-P (979 ± 201 g·nest[-1]), and A19-P yielding the least (591 ± 54 g·nest[-1]). HPLC revealed significant differences in the levels of polyporusterone A and polyporusterone B among the groups. The total polysaccharide content, determined via the phenol-sulfuric acid method, also varied significantly, with A541-P recording the highest content (0.897 ± 0.042%), followed by A19-P (0.686 ± 0.058%), and A35-P showing the lowest value (0.511 ± 0.083%). PCA based on these data indicated clear distinctions among A35-P, A541-P, and A19-P, with the three groups forming separate clusters. This study, for the first time, demonstrates the effects of three different Armillaria species on the yield and active compound content of P. umbellatus. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting high-quality Armillaria strains and offer guidance for the artificial cultivation of P. umbellatus.},
}
@article {pmid40004472,
year = {2025},
author = {Díaz, V and Villalobos, M and Arriaza, K and Flores, K and Hernández-Saravia, LP and Velásquez, A},
title = {Decoding the Dialog Between Plants and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: A Molecular Genetic Perspective.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40004472},
issn = {2073-4425},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Plants/microbiology/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Signal Transduction ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, a mutually beneficial interaction between plant roots and AM fungi, plays a key role in plant growth, nutrient acquisition, and stress tolerance, which make it a major focus for sustainable agricultural strategies. This intricate association involves extensive transcriptional reprogramming in host plant cells during the formation of arbuscules, which are specialized fungal structures for nutrient exchange. The symbiosis is initiated by molecular signaling pathways triggered by fungal chitooligosaccharides and strigolactones released by plant roots, which act as chemoattractants and signaling molecules to promote fungal spore germination, colonization, and arbuscule development. Calcium spiking, mediated by LysM domain receptor kinases, serves as a critical second messenger in coordinating fungal infection and intracellular accommodation. GRAS transcription factors are key components that regulate the transcriptional networks necessary for arbuscule development and maintenance, while small RNAs (sRNAs) from both plant and fungi, contribute to modifications in gene expression, including potential bidirectional sRNA exchange to modulate symbiosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms related to AM symbiosis may provide valuable insights for implementation of strategies related to enhancing plant productivity and resilience.},
}
@article {pmid40004114,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, R and Gou, C and Zhang, K and He, M and Li, L and Kong, F and Sun, Z and Liu, H},
title = {Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analyses of Glycoside Hydrolase Family 18 Genes During Nodule Symbiosis in Glycine max.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {40004114},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {2023A1515110630 and 2023A1515110560//Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/microbiology/enzymology ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Phylogeny ; *Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Multigene Family ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/microbiology ; Chitinases/genetics ; Genome, Plant ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; },
abstract = {Glycoside hydrolase family 18 (GH18) proteins can hydrolyze the β-1,4-glycosidic bonds of chitin, which is a common structure component of insect exoskeletons and fungal cell walls. In this study, 36 GH18 genes were identified and subjected to bioinformatic analysis based on the genomic data of Glycine max. They were distributed in 16 out of 20 tested soybean chromosomes. According to the amino acid sequences, they can be further divided into five subclades. Class III chitinases (22 members) and class V chitinases (6 members) are the major two subclades. The amino acid size of soybean GH18 proteins ranges from 173 amino acids (aa) to 820 aa and the molecular weight ranges from 19.46 kDa to 91.01 kDa. From an evolutionary perspective, soybean GH18 genes are closely related to Medicago (17 collinear loci with soybean) and Lotus (23 collinear loci with soybean). Promoter analysis revealed that GH18 genes could be induced by environmental stress, hormones, and embryo development. GmGH18-15, GmGH18-24, and GmGH18-33 were screened out due to their nodulation specific expression and further verified by RT-qPCR. These results provide an elaborate reference for the further characterization of specific GH18 genes, especially during nodule formation in soybean.},
}
@article {pmid40003831,
year = {2025},
author = {Banfi, D and Mastore, M and Bianchi, T and Brivio, MF},
title = {The Expression Levels of Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) in Galleria mellonella Following Infection with the Entomopathogenic Nematode Steinernema carpocapsae and Its Symbiotic Bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40003831},
issn = {2075-4450},
abstract = {Heat shock proteins (HSPs), particularly HSP90, play a vital role in insect responses to environmental and biotic stresses by maintaining protein stability and supporting immune defenses. This study explores HSP90 regulation in Galleria mellonella larvae following exposure to the nematode Steinernema carpocapsae and its symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. Exposure to live nematodes caused slight changes in HSP90 expression, while non-viable nematodes had no effect, suggesting that nematode secretions or symbiotic bacteria do not directly influence HSP90 levels. However, nematodes with altered surface properties significantly increased HSP90 expression. X. nematophila also moderately elevated HSP90 levels but this effect disappeared when weakly bound surface proteins were removed. Interestingly, under thermal stress, live nematodes reduced heat-induced HSP90 expression, whereas surface-treated nematodes enhanced it. These findings suggest that HSP90 modulation is influenced by biological control agents, highlighting a potential link between HSP90 and immune detection of invaders. This interaction may be crucial in adapting biological control strategies in response to climate change. Further research is needed to clarify HSP activation pathways, host immune interactions, and mechanisms of entomopathogen immune evasion, particularly under varying environmental temperatures, to enhance bioinsecticide efficacy.},
}
@article {pmid40003776,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, H and Yan, X and Lin, C and Chen, Y and Ma, L and Fu, L and Dong, X and Liu, C},
title = {Exploring Bacterial Communities and Functions in Phytophagous Halyomorpha halys and Predatory Arma chinensis.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40003776},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {59-0212-9-001-F//Agricultural Research Service/ ; },
abstract = {The phytophagous Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a global agricultural pest that damages many crops. Conversely, the predatory Arma chinensis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) shows promise as a biological control agent against lepidopteran and coleopteran pests. Halyomorpha halys and A. chinensis are closely related species with different feeding habits, as confirmed via genomic and morphological analyses. However, no study investigating the implications of these differences has been reported. Herein, 16S rRNA sequencing technology was employed to analyze the microbiota diversity and function in different tissues (salivary glands, gut, sperm, and ovaries) of H. halys and A. chinensis to elucidate these differences from a microbial perspective. Additionally, the adult male-to-female ratio in A. chinensis organs was statistically similar, while that in H. halys was not. Based on the dominance of the symbionts in the two bug species, we inferred that Sodalis is involved in reproduction and digestion in A. chinensis, while Spiroplasma and Pantoea play essential roles in H. halys reproduction and digestion. We analyzed the data on the microbial diversity of two bug species, laying a foundation for further understanding microbial symbiosis in A. chinensis and H. halys, which may inform the development of biological control strategies.},
}
@article {pmid40003742,
year = {2025},
author = {Castillo, D and Abella, E and Sinpoo, C and Phokasem, P and Chantaphanwattana, T and Yongsawas, R and Cervancia, C and Baroga-Barbecho, J and Attasopa, K and Noirungsee, N and Disayathanoowat, T},
title = {Gut Microbiome Diversity in European Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) from La Union, Northern Luzon, Philippines.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40003742},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2022//Mekong - Lancang Special Fund/ ; },
abstract = {Insects often rely on symbiotic bacteria and fungi for various physiological processes, developmental stages, and defenses against parasites and diseases. Despite their significance, the associations between bacterial and fungal symbionts in Apis mellifera are not well studied, particularly in the Philippines. In this study, we collected A. mellifera from two different sites in the Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines. A gut microbiome analysis was conducted using next-generation sequencing with the Illumina MiSeq platform. Bacterial and fungal community compositions were assessed using 16S rRNA and ITS gene sequences, respectively. Our findings confirm that adult worker bees of A. mellifera from the two locations possess distinct but comparably proportioned bacterial and fungal microbiomes. Key bacterial symbionts, including Lactobacillus, Bombilactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, and Frischella, were identified. The fungal community was dominated by the yeasts Zygosaccharomyces and Priceomyces. Using the ENZYME nomenclature database and PICRUSt2 software version 2.5.2, a predicted functional enzyme analysis revealed the presence of β-glucosidase, catalase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione transferase, and superoxide dismutase, which are involved in host defense, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy support. Additionally, we identified notable bacterial enzymes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase and AMPs nucleosidase. Interestingly, the key bee symbionts were observed to have a negative correlation with other microbiota. These results provide a detailed characterization of the gut microbiota associated with A. mellifera in the Philippines and lay a foundation for further metagenomic studies of microbiomes in native or indigenous bee species in the region.},
}
@article {pmid40002351,
year = {2025},
author = {Papadopoulou, D and Chrysikopoulou, V and Rampaouni, A and Plakidis, C and Ofrydopoulou, A and Shiels, K and Saha, SK and Tsoupras, A},
title = {Antioxidant, Antithrombotic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Amphiphilic Bioactives from Water Kefir Grains and Its Apple Pomace-Based Fermented Beverage.},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40002351},
issn = {2076-3921},
abstract = {Kefir-based fermentation products exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against oxidative stress, inflammation, platelet activation and aggregation, and other related manifestations, thereby preventing the onset and development of several chronic diseases. Specifically, water kefir, a symbiotic culture of various microorganisms used for the production of several bio-functional fermented products, has been proposed for its health-promoting properties. Thus, water kefir grains and its apple pomace-based fermentation beverage were studied for bioactive amphiphilic and lipophilic lipid compounds with antioxidant, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Total lipids (TL) were extracted and further separated into their total amphiphilic (TAC) and total lipophilic content (TLC), in which the total phenolic and carotenoid contents (TPC and TCC, respectively) and the fatty acid content of the polar lipids (PL) were quantified, while the antioxidant activity of both TAC and TLC were assessed in vitro, by the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP bioassays, along with the anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic activity of TAC against human platelet aggregation induced by the thrombo-inflammatory mediator, platelet-activating factor (PAF) or standard platelet agonists like ADP.ATR-FTIR spectra facilitated the detection of specific structural, functional groups of phenolic, flavonoid, and carotenoid antioxidants, while LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of specific anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic PL bioactives bearing unsaturated fatty acids in their structures, with favorable omega-6 (n-6)/omega-3 (n-3)polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which further support the findings that the most potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic bioactivities were observed in the TAC extracts, in both water kefir grains and beverage cases. The detection of such bioactive components in both the uncultured water kefir grains and in the cultured beverage further supports the contribution of water kefir microorganisms to the bioactivity and the bio-functionality of the final fermented product. Nevertheless, the extracts of the beverage showed much stronger antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic activities, which further suggests that during the culture process for producing this beverage, not only was the presence of bioactive compounds produced by kefir microflora present, but biochemical alterations during fermentation of bioactive components derived from apple pomace also seemed to have taken place, contributing to the higher bio-functionality observed in the apple pomace-water kefir-based beverage, even when compared to the unfermented apple pomace. The overall findings support further studies on the use of water kefir and/or apple pomace as viable sources of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic amphiphilic bioactive compounds for the production of novel health-promoting bio-functional fermented products.},
}
@article {pmid40001925,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, C and Wang, Y and Dai, Q and Du, W and Zhao, Y and Song, Q},
title = {Screening of Bacteria Promoting Carbon Fixation in Chlorella vulgaris Under High Concentration CO2 Stress.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40001925},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {U21A2016//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; XCH2022ZA-01//the Key Laboratory of Low-cost Rural Environmental Treatment Technology at Sichuan Univer-sity of Arts and Science, Education Department of Sichuan Province/ ; TSZW2011, TSZW2103//the Key Laboratory of Exploitation and Study of Distinctive Plants in Education Department of Sichuan Province/ ; },
abstract = {The cooperation between microalgae and bacteria can enhance the carbon fixation efficiency of microalgae. In this study, a microalgae-bacteria coexistence system under high-concentration CO2 stress was constructed, and the bacterial community structure of the entire system was analyzed using the 16S rDNA technique. Microbacterium sp., Bacillus sp., and Aeromonas sp. were screened and demonstrated to promote carbon fixation in Chlorella vulgaris HL 01 (C. vulgaris HL 01). Among them, the Aeromonas sp. + C. vulgaris HL 01 experimental group exhibited the most significant effect, with an increase of about 24% in the final biomass yield and a daily carbon fixation efficiency increase of about 245% (day 7) compared to the control group. Continuous cultivation of microalgae and bacterial symbiosis showed that bacteria could utilize the compounds secreted by microalgae for growth and could produce nutrients to maintain the vitality of microalgae. Detection of extracellular organic compounds of microorganisms in the culture broth by excitation-emission matrix spectral analysis revealed that bacteria utilized the aromatic proteinaceous compounds and others secreted by C. vulgaris HL 01 and produced new extracellular organic compounds required by C. vulgaris HL 01. The metabolic organic substances in the liquids of the experimental groups and the control group were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and it was found that 31 unique organic substances of C. vulgaris HL 01 were utilized by bacteria, and 136 new organic substances were produced. These differential compounds were mainly organic acids and their derivatives, benzene compounds, and organic heterocyclic compounds, etc. These results fully demonstrate that the carbon fixation ability and persistence of C. vulgaris HL 01 are improved through material exchange between microalgae and bacteria. This study establishes a method to screen carbon-fixing symbiotic bacteria and verifies that microalgae and bacteria can significantly improve the carbon fixation efficiency of microalgae for high-concentration CO2 through material exchange, providing a foundation for further research of microalgae-bacterial carbon fixation.},
}
@article {pmid40001916,
year = {2025},
author = {Dvoretsky, AG and Dvoretsky, VG},
title = {Symbionts of Red King Crab from the Sea of Okhotsk: A Review of Russian Studies.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {40001916},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; },
abstract = {The red king crab, Paralithodes camtscaticus, is a commercially significant crustacean that supports lucrative fisheries in Russia, the USA, and Norway. The western Kamchatka shelf, located in the Sea of Okhotsk, is home to one of the most important populations of the red king crab. In this study, we have conducted a review of the symbionts associated with P. camtscaticus in the waters off the Kamchatka Peninsula. A total of 42 symbiotic species belonging to 14 different phyla were identified in association with the red king crab. Out of these, 14 species were found to be parasitic to the red king crab, while the remaining 28 were either commensal or epibiont in nature. The taxa with the highest number of associated species included ciliates (11), crustaceans (8), and acanthocephalans (4). Our study found that red king crabs suffering from shell disease exhibited a more diverse symbiotic fauna and higher infestation indices as compared to healthy crabs, which were found to be free from parasites. Dangerous symbionts, such as dinoflagellates Hematodinium sp. and rhizocephalan barnacles Briarosaccus callosus, had low incidence rates, indicating that the red king crab population in the Sea of Okhotsk is in good condition with respect to population abundance, health, and recruitment and is not being adversely impacted by symbiotic organisms.},
}
@article {pmid40001319,
year = {2025},
author = {Risely, A},
title = {Feather mites selectively feed on specific bacteria and fungi on feathers with potential benefits to hosts.},
journal = {The Journal of animal ecology},
volume = {94},
number = {4},
pages = {482-484},
doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.70021},
pmid = {40001319},
issn = {1365-2656},
mesh = {Animals ; *Feathers/microbiology/parasitology ; *Mites/physiology ; *Fungi/physiology ; *Bacteria ; Diet/veterinary ; *Songbirds/microbiology/physiology ; Food Chain ; Symbiosis ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; },
abstract = {Invited Research Highlight: Matthews, A. E., Trevelline, B. K., Wijeratne, A. J., &amp; Boves, T. J. (2024). Picky eaters: Selective microbial diet of avian ectosymbionts. Journal of Animal Ecology. Trophic interactions such as herbivory and predation are crucial regulators of ecological communities, yet few examples exist for these processes within host-associated microbiomes. In a recent study, Matthews et al. (2024) looked for evidence of selective microbial predation of bacteria and fungi by microscopic mites on the feathers of wild Prothonotary warblers (Protonotaria citrea). The authors quantified the bacterial and fungal diet of commensal feather mites and compared this with the composition of microbial communities living directly on the feather. They found that, despite a large variety of microbes to choose from, mites strongly preferred to eat a small number of bacterial and fungal genera. Some of these selectively enriched taxa are known keratin-degraders, suggesting that mites may protect feathers by selectively consuming harmful microbes. This study presents a rare example of a trophic interaction within the microscopic ecosystem of the feather that may act as an important force shaping microbial communities in ways that benefit the host, providing an overlooked mechanism by which symbioses between birds and mites could evolve.},
}
@article {pmid40000815,
year = {2025},
author = {Smith, PMC and González-Guerrero, M},
title = {BRUTUS links iron with legume-rhizobia symbiosis.},
journal = {Nature plants},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {389-391},
pmid = {40000815},
issn = {2055-0278},
}
@article {pmid39999802,
year = {2025},
author = {Saier, MH},
title = {Cooperation and Competition Were Primary Driving Forces for Biological Evolution.},
journal = {Microbial physiology},
volume = {35},
number = {1},
pages = {13-29},
pmid = {39999802},
issn = {2673-1673},
support = {R01 GM077402/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Biological Evolution ; Humans ; Symbiosis ; Animals ; Cooperative Behavior ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: For many years, scientists have accepted Darwin's conclusion that "Survival of the Fittest" involves successful competition with other organisms for life-endowing molecules and conditions.<br><br>SUMMARY: Newly discovered "partial" organisms with minimal genomes that require symbiotic or parasitic relationships for growth and reproduction suggest that cooperation in addition to competition was and still is a primary driving force for survival. These two phenomena are not mutually exclusive, and both can confer a competitive advantage for survival. In fact, cooperation may have been more important in the early evolution of life on earth before autonomous organisms developed, becoming large genome organisms.<br><br>KEY MESSAGES: This suggestion has tremendous consequences with respect to our conception of the early evolution of life on earth as well as the appearance of intercellular interactions, multicellularity and the nature of interactions between humans and their societies (e.g., social Darwinism).},
}
@article {pmid39999796,
year = {2025},
author = {Kim, S},
title = {- Invited Review - Challenges and constraints to the sustainability of poultry farming in Republic of Korea.},
journal = {Animal bioscience},
volume = {38},
number = {4},
pages = {829-844},
pmid = {39999796},
issn = {2765-0189},
abstract = {As of 2022, the Republic of Korea accounted for 0.8% of global chicken meat production and 0.9% of global egg production. The country achieved self-sufficiency rates of 83.1% for chicken meat and 99.4% for eggs, demonstrating significant quantitative and qualitative growth to meet domestic demand. Although the industry is trending towards expansion and specialization, it faces several challenges in achieving sustainable poultry production. Key challenges in Korea include highly pathogenic avian influenza and pest issues, climate change and the push for carbon neutrality, reliance on imported breeding stock, insufficient preparedness for expanding cage space per laying hen, post-settlement payment systems for egg sales and an oversupply of chicken meat, and the aging poultry farming population and the closure of farms unable to secure successors. Following strategies are proposed to overcome or mitigate challenges mentioned above: (1) enhancing farm biosecurity and implementing vaccination policies for disease control, (2) modernizing facilities and promoting carbon-neutral practices to adapt to climate change, (3) diversifying breeding stocks across multiple locations and developing domestic strains, (4) implementing policies and supporting farms based on a comprehensive readiness assessment of all farms regarding expanded cage space requirements, (5) improving market transparency for the egg industry and regulating supply and demand in the broiler industry, and (6) offering incentives for farm succession, attracting labor, and promoting coexistence between corporations, rural communities, and small farms. In conclusion, the sustainable development of Korea's poultry industry is not a simple task. It requires a comprehensive approach considering economic efficiency, animal welfare, environmental protection, food security, and the symbiosis with rural communities. This approach necessitates efficient cooperation among all stakeholders, including the government, farmers, integrators, retailers, and research institutions, along with a comprehensive, phased strategy for both short- and long-term goals.},
}
@article {pmid39999781,
year = {2025},
author = {Chrismas, N and Yahr, R},
title = {Genomics: A window into the molecular mystery box of lichen symbiosis.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {4},
pages = {R139-R141},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.034},
pmid = {39999781},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Lichens/genetics/physiology/microbiology ; Genomics ; Transcriptome ; },
abstract = {How is a symbiosis built? Lichen metagenomic and metatranscriptomic surveys comparing growth stages, experimental treatments and environmental settings identify a catalogue of candidate genes - and microbial partners - in a developing model system.},
}
@article {pmid39998668,
year = {2025},
author = {Kandalgaonkar, KN and Barvkar, VT},
title = {Intricate phytohormonal orchestration mediates mycorrhizal symbiosis and stress tolerance.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {2},
pages = {13},
pmid = {39998668},
issn = {1432-1890},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; *Stress, Physiological ; *Plants/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are an essential symbiotic partner colonizing more than 70% of land plants. In exchange for carbon sources, mycorrhizal association ameliorates plants' growth and yield and enhances stress tolerance and/or resistance. To achieve this symbiosis, plants mediate a series of biomolecular changes, including the regulation of phytohormones. This review focuses on the role of each phytohormone in establishing symbiosis. It encases phytohormone modulation, exogenous application of the hormones, and mutant studies. The review also comments on the plausible phytohormone cross-talk essential for maintaining balanced mycorrhization and preventing fungal parasitism. Finally, we briefly discuss AMF-mediated stress regulation and contribution of phytohormone modulation in plants. We must examine their interplay to understand how phytohormones act species-specific or concentration-dependent manner. The review summarizes the gaps in these studies to improve our understanding of processes underlying plant-AMF symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid39998220,
year = {2025},
author = {Kwak, Y and Argandona, JA and Miao, S and Son, TJ and Hansen, AK},
title = {A dual insect symbiont and plant pathogen improves insect host fitness under arginine limitation.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {4},
pages = {e0358824},
pmid = {39998220},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {S10 OD010786/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; 2019-70016-29066//U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Hemiptera/microbiology/physiology ; *Arginine/metabolism/deficiency ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Liberibacter/physiology/genetics ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Some facultative bacterial symbionts are known to benefit insects, but nutritional advantages are rare among these non-obligate symbionts. Here, we demonstrate that the facultative symbiont Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous enhances the fitness of its psyllid insect host, Bactericera cockerelli, by providing nutritional benefits. L. psyllaurous, an unculturable pathogen of solanaceous crops, also establishes a close relationship with its insect vector, B. cockerelli, increasing in titer during insect development, vertically transmitting through eggs, and colonizing various tissues, including the bacteriome, which houses the obligate nutritional symbiont, Carsonella. Carsonella supplies essential amino acids to its insect host but has gaps in some of its essential amino acid pathways that the psyllid complements with its own genes, many of which have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from bacteria. Our findings reveal that L. psyllaurous increases psyllid fitness on plants by reducing developmental time and increasing adult weight. In addition, through metagenomic sequencing, we reveal that L. psyllaurous maintains complete pathways for synthesizing the essential amino acids arginine, lysine, and threonine, unlike the psyllid's other resident microbiota, Carsonella, and two co-occurring Wolbachia strains. RNA sequencing reveals the downregulation of a HGT collaborative psyllid gene (ASL), which indicates a reduced demand for arginine supplied by Carsonella when the psyllid is infected with L. psyllaurous. Notably, artificial diet assays show that L. psyllaurous enhances psyllid fitness on an arginine-deplete diet. These results corroborate the role of L. psyllaurous as a beneficial insect symbiont, contributing to the nutrition of its insect host.IMPORTANCEUnlike obligate symbionts that are permanently associated with their hosts, facultative symbionts rarely show direct nutritional contributions, especially under nutrient-limited conditions. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that Candidatus Liberibacter psyllaurous, a facultative symbiont and a plant pathogen, enhances the fitness of its Bactericera cockerelli host by supplying an essential nutrient arginine that is lacking in the plant sap diet. Our findings reveal how facultative symbionts can play a vital role in helping their insect hosts adapt to nutrient-limited environments. This work provides new insights into the dynamic interactions between insect hosts, their symbiotic microbes, and their shared ecological niches, broadening our understanding of symbiosis and its role in shaping adaptation and survival.},
}
@article {pmid39998180,
year = {2025},
author = {Lachnit, T and Ulrich, L and Willmer, FM and Hasenbein, T and Steiner, LX and Wolters, M and Herbst, EM and Deines, P},
title = {Nutrition-induced changes in the microbiota can cause dysbiosis and disease development.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {16},
number = {4},
pages = {e0384324},
pmid = {39998180},
issn = {2150-7511},
support = {Project-ID 261376515 - SFB 1182//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; },
mesh = {*Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Animals ; *Microbiota ; *Hydra/microbiology ; Lakes/microbiology/chemistry ; Symbiosis ; Arginine/metabolism ; Pseudomonas/growth &amp; development ; Host Microbial Interactions ; },
abstract = {Eukaryotic organisms are associated with complex microbial communities. Changes within these communities have been implicated in disease development. Nonetheless, it remains unclear whether these changes are a cause or a consequence of disease. Here, we report a causal link between environment-induced shifts in the microbiota and disease development. Using the model organism Hydra, we observed changes in microbial composition when transferring laboratory-grown Hydra to natural lake environments. These shifts were caused not only by new colonizers, through the process of community coalescence (merging of previously separate microbial communities), but also by lake water nutrients. Moreover, selective manipulation of the nutrient environment induced compound-specific shifts in the microbiota followed by disease development. Finally, L-arginine supplementation alone caused a transition in Pseudomonas from symbiotic to pathogenic, leading to an upregulation of immune response genes, tissue degradation, and host death. These findings challenge the notion that the host-associated microbiota is exclusively controlled by the host, highlighting the dynamic interplay between host epithelial environment, microbial colonizer pool, and nutrient conditions of the surrounding water. Furthermore, our results show that overfeeding of the microbiota allows for uncontrolled microbial growth and versatile interactions with the host. Environmental conditions may thus render symbionts a potential hazard to their hosts, blurring the divide between pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes.IMPORTANCEThis study highlights the critical need to understand the dynamic interplay between host-associated microbiota and environmental factors to obtain a holistic view on organismal health. Our results demonstrate that ecosystem-wide microbial trafficking (community coalescence) and environmental nutrient conditions reshape microbial communities with profound implications for host health. By exploring nutrient-driven changes in microbial composition, our research finds experimental support for the "overfeeding hypothesis," which states that overfeeding alters the functionality of the host microbiota such that an overabundance in nutrients can facilitate disease development, transforming non-pathogenic microbes into pathogens. These findings emphasize the critical role of metabolic interactions driving microbial pathogenicity. Furthermore, our research provides empirical evidence for the "pathogenic potential" concept, challenging traditional distinctions between pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes and supporting the idea that any microbe can become pathogenic under certain conditions.},
}
@article {pmid39997813,
year = {2025},
author = {Meng, G and Huang, Z and Tao, L and Zhuang, Z and Zhang, Q and Chen, Q and Yang, H and Zhao, H and Ye, C and Wang, Y and Zhang, J and Chen, W and Du, S and Chen, Y and Wang, D and Jin, H and Lei, Y},
title = {Atomic Symbiotic-Catalyst for Low-Temperature Zinc-Air Battery.},
journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)},
volume = {64},
number = {18},
pages = {e202501649},
doi = {10.1002/anie.202501649},
pmid = {39997813},
issn = {1521-3773},
support = {501766751//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; GZ1579//Chinesisch-Deutsche Zentrum f&#xfc;r Wissenschaftsf&#xf6;rderung/ ; 22109118//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 21706196//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 21890383//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 21871159//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 22171157//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 22109120//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; LZ20E010001//Key Projects of Zhejiang Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2020B010188002//Science and Technology Key Project of Guangdong Province of China/ ; 2018YFA0702003//National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Atomic-level designed electrocatalysts, including single-/dual-atom catalysts, have attracted extensive interests due to their maximized atom utilization efficiency and increased activity. Herein, a new electrocatalyst system termed as "atomic symbiotic-catalyst", that marries the advantages of typical single-/dual-atom catalysts while addressing their respective weaknesses, was proposed. In atomic symbiotic-catalyst, single-atom MNx and local carbon defects formed under a specific thermodynamic condition, act synergistically to achieve high electrocatalytic activity and battery efficiency. This symbiotic-catalyst shows greater structural precision and preparation accessibility than those of dual-atom catalysts owing to its reduced complexity in chemical space. Meanwhile, it outperforms the intrinsic activities of conventional single-atom catalysts due to multi-active-sites synergistic effect. As a proof-of-concept study, an atomic symbiotic-catalyst comprising single-atom MnN4 moieties and abundant sp[3]-hybridized carbon defects was constructed for low-temperature zinc-air battery, which exhibited a high peak power density of 76 mW cm[-2] with long-term stability at -40 °C, representing a top-level performance of such batteries.},
}
@article {pmid39996506,
year = {2025},
author = {Timmins-Schiffman, EB and Khanna, R and Brown, T and Dilworth, J and MacLean, BX and Mudge, MC and White, SJ and Kenkel, CD and Rodrigues, LJ and Nunn, BL and Padilla-Gamiño, JL},
title = {Proteomic Plasticity in the Coral Montipora capitata Gamete Bundles after Parent Thermal Bleaching.},
journal = {Journal of proteome research},
volume = {24},
number = {3},
pages = {1317-1328},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00946},
pmid = {39996506},
issn = {1535-3907},
mesh = {*Anthozoa/metabolism/physiology ; Animals ; *Proteomics/methods ; *Germ Cells/metabolism ; Coral Reefs ; *Proteome/metabolism ; Climate Change ; },
abstract = {Coral reefs are vital to marine biodiversity and human livelihoods, but they face significant threats from climate change. Increased ocean temperatures drive massive "bleaching" events, during which corals lose their symbiotic algae and the important metabolic resources those algae provide. Proteomics is a crucial tool for understanding coral function and tolerance to thermal stress, as proteins drive physiological processes and accurately represent cell functional phenotypes. We examined the physiological condition of coral (Montipora capitata) gametes from parents that either experienced thermal bleaching or were nonbleached controls by comparing data dependent (DDA) and data independent (DIA) acquisition methods and peptide quantification (spectral counting and area-under-the-curve, AUC) strategies. For DDA, AUC captured a broader dynamic range than spectral counting. DIA yielded better coverage of low abundance proteins than DDA and a higher number of proteins, making it the more suitable method for detecting subtle, yet biologically significant, shifts in protein abundance in gamete bundles. Gametes from bleached corals showed a broadscale decrease in metabolic proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism, citric acid cycle, and protein translation. This metabolic plasticity could reveal how organisms and their offspring acclimatize and adapt to future environmental stress, ultimately shaping the resilience and dynamics of coral populations.},
}
@article {pmid39994923,
year = {2025},
author = {Salgueiro, J and Nussenbaum, AL and Marchesini, MI and Garbalena, MS and Brambilla, S and Belliard, S and Cuadros, F and Núñez, M and Yáñez, C and Juárez, ML and Vera, MT and Lanzavecchia, SB and Tsiamis, G and Segura, DF},
title = {Culturable bacteria associated with Anastrepha fraterculus sp. 1: in search of nitrogen-fixing symbionts with biotechnological potential.},
journal = {Insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.70004},
pmid = {39994923},
issn = {1744-7917},
support = {RC 22515//International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)/ ; PICT-2019-04141//Ministry of Science Argentina/ ; PIP-CONICET 0039//Ministry of Science Argentina/ ; PI USAL 2022- 80020210100018//UNIVERSIDAD DEL SALVADOR/ ; },
abstract = {Anastrepha fraterculus is a significant fruit fly pest in Argentina and other South American countries. Previous studies showed the key role of gut bacteria in the protection and nutrient assimilation of fruit flies, particularly the importance of the biological fixation of nitrogen (diazotrophy). The presence of diazotrophic bacteria in A. fraterculus sp. 1 has been demonstrated through molecular, culture-independent methods. This study is aimed to characterize the composition and diversity of culturable gut bacteria of A. fraterculus sp. 1 males from different origins, and explore their metabolic roles, focusing on diazotrophic bacteria. Three male groups were studied: wild-caught (WW), lab-reared from wild larvae (WL), and lab-colony raised (LL). Gut bacteria were collected and characterized via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with potential diazotrophs screened using selective media (SIL and NFb). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene mapped potential diazotrophs across the bacterial collection, while biochemical profiling and ARDRA (Amplified rDNA Restriction Analysis) were used to quickly differentiate diazotrophic bacteria. PCR testing for the nifH gene, associated with nitrogen fixation, was also performed. Bacterial diversity was highest in WW, followed by WL, and lowest in LL. In LL and WL, Enterobacter was the most frequent genus, while Klebsiella dominated in WW. Among the 20 SIL+ isolates identified, 10 came from WW, 9 from WL, and 1 from LL. One of these isolates (Enterobacter sp.) was tested as a supplement to the adult diet, without showing a beneficial effect on males pheromone calling behavior. Three isolates were also NFb+; two had the nifH gene. ARDRA was effective for rapid diazotroph discrimination. These findings highlight the potential of gut symbiotic bacteria in eco-friendly pest management strategies like the sterile insect technique (SIT). By using diazotrophic bacteria, protein requirements in artificial diets could be reduced, cutting costs and improving the affordability of SIT programs.},
}
@article {pmid39994514,
year = {2025},
author = {Sendi, H and Klimov, PB and Kolesnikov, VB and Káčerová, J and Bonino, E and Azar, D and Robin, N},
title = {The oldest continuous association between astigmatid mites and termites preserved in Cretaceous amber reveals the evolutionary significance of phoresy.},
journal = {BMC ecology and evolution},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {16},
pmid = {39994514},
issn = {2730-7182},
support = {09I03-03-V04-00439//EU NextGenerationEU through the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Slovakia/ ; 075-15-2021-1345//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies/ ; B2/202/P1/PARADI2S//BELSPO BRAIN-be federal Belgian grant/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Fossils/anatomy &amp; histology ; Amber ; *Biological Evolution ; *Mites/physiology/anatomy &amp; histology ; *Isoptera/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Lebanon ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Among minute-sized and wingless arthropods, astigmatid mites stand out for their diverse range of symbiotic associations (parasitic, neutral and mutualistic), with both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. When inhabiting discontinuous and ephemeral environments, astigmatid mites adapt their life cycle to produce a phoretic heteromorphic nymph. When feeding resources are depleted, phoretic nymphs disperse to new habitats through phoresy, attaching to a larger animal which transports them to new locations. This dispersal strategy is crucial for accessing patchy resources, otherwise beyond the reach of these minute arthropods. In Astigmata, the phoretic nymph is highly specialized for dispersal, equipped with an attachment organ and lacking a mouth and pharynx. Despite the common occurrence of phoretic associations in modern mites, their evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Among Astigmata, the family Schizoglyphidae represents an early derivative lineage with phoretic tritonymphs; however, our knowledge of this family is limited to a single observation.<br><br>RESULTS: Here, we report the oldest biotic association of arthropods fossilised in amber (~&#x2009;130&#xa0;Ma, Lebanon): an alate termite with 16 phoretic tritonymphs of Schizoglyphidae (Plesioglyphus lebanotermi gen. et sp. n.). The mites are primarily attached to the membranes of the host's hindwings, using their attachment organs, pretarsal claws and tarsal setae. Additionally, we report new modern phoretic tritonymphs of this same family, on one of the earliest lineages of termites. These data collectively indicate that schizoglyphid-termite associations represent the oldest continuous mite-host associations. Notably, phoretic schizoglyphids retain a distinct mouth and pharynx, whereas these structures are absent in the modern phoretic stages of non-schizoglyphid Astigmata.<br><br>CONCLUSION: The discovery of Schizoglyphidae mites in Lebanese amber represents the oldest known continuous association between acariform mites and their hosts. This finding demonstrates the long-term evolutionary significance of phoresy in Astigmata, evidencing a relationship sustained for over 130&#xa0;Ma. It indicates that these early mites lived inside termite nests as inquilines and used alate termites for dispersal. This ancient association offers key insights into the coevolution of both mites and termites, highlighting a potential for the future discoveries of similar mites. This fossil -a stem-group Astigmata- is important for the accurate calibration of acariform mite phylogenies, advancing our understanding of these mites evolutionary history.},
}
@article {pmid39994115,
year = {2025},
author = {Prado, A and Pineda-Solis, S and Garibay-Orijel, R and Windsor, D and Boevé, JL},
title = {Fungal alkaloids mediate defense against bruchid beetles in field populations of an arborescent ipomoea.},
journal = {Journal of chemical ecology},
volume = {51},
number = {2},
pages = {26},
pmid = {39994115},
issn = {1573-1561},
support = {PAPIIT IA205121//Universidad Nacional Aut&#xf3;noma de M&#xe9;xico/ ; PAPIIT IA209323//Universidad Nacional Aut&#xf3;noma de M&#xe9;xico/ ; NA//Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Ipomoea/microbiology/chemistry/metabolism ; *Coleoptera/physiology/drug effects ; *Alkaloids/metabolism/analysis ; Plant Leaves/chemistry/microbiology/metabolism ; Seeds/chemistry/metabolism/microbiology ; Endophytes/metabolism/chemistry/physiology ; Swainsonine/metabolism/analysis ; Ascomycota ; },
abstract = {Several Convolvulaceae species harbor heritable fungal endophytes from which alkaloids are translocated to reproductive tissues of the plant host. Evidence for the distribution and ecological role of these fungal alkaloids, however, is lacking or incomplete for many host species and growth forms. Here we report on the identity of the fungal endophytes and quantities of alkaloids present in the leaves and seeds of the arborescent morning glory, Ipomoea murucoides (Convolvulaceae). Young folded leaf samples taken from the wild, harbored mycelium of one of two fungal taxa wrapped around the leaves' glandular trichomes. Most trees harbored the swainsonine producing Ceramothyrium (Chaetothyriales) fungi while a few trees were found to harbor a Truncatella (Xylariales) species, suggesting endophyte replacement. Seeds had higher concentrations of the indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine than leaves. Additionally, seeds from trees harboring Ceramothyrium fungi exhibited less bruchid damage and had higher concentrations of swainsonine than seeds from trees harboring Truncatella fungi. Five sesquiterpenes were detected in the leaf trichomes in both Ceramothyrium and Truncatella colonized trees. The seed content of the tropane alkaloids, tropine and tropinone, did not differ significantly among the two fungal symbionts. It is likely that the host allocates the defensive chemicals from leaves to seeds, protecting them from seed predators such as bruchid beetles. Overall, our field data show that Ipomoea species provides an interesting opportunity to study vertical and horizontal fungal symbiont transmissions.},
}
@article {pmid39994074,
year = {2025},
author = {Grobbelaar, A and Osthoff, G and Deacon, F and Cason, ED},
title = {The Faecal Microbiome Analysed from Healthy, Free-Roaming Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis).},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {82},
number = {4},
pages = {151},
pmid = {39994074},
issn = {1432-0991},
support = {RA201126576714//National Research Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Feces/microbiology ; *Giraffes/microbiology ; Female ; Male ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; South Africa ; *Microbiota ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; },
abstract = {Similar to other herbivores, healthy giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) rely on a variety of symbiotic microorganisms in their digestive systems to break down cellulose and hemicellulose. In this study, we investigate the impact that external stimuli might have on the faecal prokaryote composition of healthy, free-roaming giraffes. Faecal samples were collected from six male and seven female giraffe individuals, over a 2-year period, during the wet and dry seasons, from six locations within the Free State Province, South Africa. Giraffe populations were exposed to one of two feeding practices which included provision of supplemental feed or only naturally available vegetation. Seventeen (17) different prokaryotic phyla, consisting of 8370 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), were identified from the 13 healthy, adult, free-roaming giraffes included in the study. Overall, the bacterial phyla with the largest relative abundance included Fusobacteria (22%), followed by Lentisphaera (17%) and Cyanobacteria (16%), which included 21 dominant prokaryotic ASVs. The relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae UCG 014 and Treponema 2 were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher and Escherichia / Shigella, Romboutsia and Ruminococcus 1 significantly lower for giraffes receiving supplemental feed compared to natural available vegetation. This is the first study to investigate the composition of the faecal prokaryotic communities of healthy, free-roaming giraffes. The analysis of faecal prokaryotes contributes to the development of non-invasive methods for assessing the nutritional status and identifying health issues in giraffe populations. Ultimately, such advances are beneficial towards the larger-scale conservation, determining nutritional needs and management of other sensitive wildlife species, as well.},
}
@article {pmid39993925,
year = {2025},
author = {Sajid, S and Xiao, B and Zhang, G and Zhang, Z and Chen, L and Fang, JK and Lu, Y and Cai, L},
title = {Increased sulfate-reducing bacteria can drive microbial dysbiosis in bleached corals.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {136},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxaf043},
pmid = {39993925},
issn = {1365-2672},
support = {JCYJ20200109144803833//Natural Science Foundation of Shenzhen/ ; 2019YFE0198500//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; MHP/009/19//Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme, Innovation and Technology Fund/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Sulfates/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics/classification ; Biodiversity ; China ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; },
abstract = {AIMS: Coral bleaching occurs when coral colonies lose their Symbiodiniaceae partner and turn pale or white. Although this event is generally temperature-induced, there is also the possibility of holobiont microbial infection and dysbiosis. To address this issue, this study was conducted to investigate the diversity and composition of Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria in healthy and bleached colonies of Porites lutea collected from eastern Shenzhen.<br><br>METHODS AND RESULTS: Internal transcribed spacer 2 and 16S amplicon sequencing analysis were used to explore the diversity and composition of Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria in healthy and bleached colonies of P. lutea. Bacterial diversity and richness were significantly higher in bleached colonies than in healthy colonies (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05), whereas the diversity and richness of Symbiodiniaceae showed no significant changes. The bleaching event exerted a more significant impact on Symbiodiniaceae composition, which differed between healthy and bleached colonies (PERMANOVA, F&#xa0;=&#xa0;8.246, P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). In terms of composition, Clade C (Cladocopium) was the predominant Symbiodiniaceae, whereas subclade C116 and C2r were significantly less abundant in bleached colonies than in healthy colonies (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). The phyla Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were significantly more abundant in bleached colonies than in healthy colonies (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). The sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) Desulfobulbus and Desulfobacter at the genus level and Desulfobacterales and Desulfuromonadales at the order level were significantly more abundant in bleached colonies than in healthy colonies (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). The co-occurrence patterns of Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria revealed a negative correlation of Desulfofaba, Desulfovibrio, Desulfarculus, and Desulfobulbus with Endozoicomonas, a very common symbiotic bacterial genus found in corals.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Coral bleaching may be associated with significant shifts in microbial communities, including increased SRB abundance, which may disrupt microbial balance and contribute to bleaching.},
}
@article {pmid39992146,
year = {2025},
author = {Mou, A and Li, X and Li, Z and Qu, L and Dong, Y and Wang, Z and Zhang, X and Xu, Q},
title = {Comparative analysis of esophageal gland microbes between two body sizes of Gigantopelta aegis, a hydrothermal snail from the Southwest Indian Ridge.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {e0295924},
pmid = {39992146},
issn = {2165-0497},
support = {No. 2023YFC2811401//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Snails/microbiology/anatomy &amp; histology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Esophagus/microbiology ; India ; Phylogeny ; Body Size ; Hydrothermal Vents/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Microbial communities within animals provide nutritional foundation and energy supply for the hydrothermal ecosystem. The peltospirid snail Gigantopelta aegis forms large aggregation in the Longqi vent field on the Southwest Indian Ridge. This endemic species is characterized by a changeable diet and morphology, especially reflected in internal organs such as remarkably enlarged esophageal glands. Here, 16S full-length rRNA gene analysis was performed to compare the variations in esophageal gland microbiota between two body size groups (small and large) of G. aegis. Phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the dominant featured bacteria contributing to the microbial community. No significant differences between the small and large groups were revealed by the diversity index and principal component analysis (PCA) clustering. The differences were in the relative abundance of bacteria. Compared with small-sized snails, the larger ones housed more Thiogranum (9.94% to 34.86%) and fewer Sediminibacterium (29.38% to 4.54%). Functional prediction for all of the microbiota showed that the pathways related to metabolism appeared highly abundant in smaller G. aegis. However, for the larger ones, the most distinctive pathways were those of environmental information processing. Facultative symbiotic Sulfurovum was marked as a core node in the co-occurrence network and suggested an influence on habitat selection of G. aegis in hydrothermal fields. In summary, variations in bacteria composition and potential functions possibly reflected changes in the anatomical structure and dietary habits of G. aegis. These dominant bacteria shared capabilities in nutritional supplementation and ecological niche expansion in the host, potentially a key adaptation for hydrothermal survival.IMPORTANCEDominant in the Longqi hydrothermal vent Southwest Indian Ridge, Gigantopelta aegis was observed to undergo unique and significant morphological changes and diet shifts known as cryptometamorphosis. During this process, G. aegis developed a specialized bacteria-housing organ, the esophageal gland, in the later life stages. Our research discovered variations in esophageal gland microbes between different body size groups of snails. These bacteria were closely related to the development and health of G. aegis. Full-length 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed more Thiogranum and fewer Sediminibacterium, suggesting a potential association with environmental adaptation. In the small-sized group, the potential functions were enriched in metabolism, while in larger G. aegis individuals, predictions indicated adaptive functions such as environmental information processing. Also, symbiotic Sulfurovum could be one of the factors influencing the habitat selection of G. aegis. Understanding the complex relationship between benthic macrofauna and microbes helps us describe the mechanisms of survival in extreme environments.},
}
@article {pmid39991579,
year = {2025},
author = {Meng, K and Song, J and Qi, F and Li, J and Fang, Z and Song, L and Shi, S},
title = {The mutualistic relationship between M2c macrophages of TGFβ1 induction and gastric cancer cells: the correlation between protective mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment and polarization of subtypes of cells.},
journal = {Journal of Cancer},
volume = {16},
number = {5},
pages = {1598-1617},
pmid = {39991579},
issn = {1837-9664},
abstract = {Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, with fast metastasis and high mortality rate. GC cells and tumor immune microenvironment exhibit high heterogeneity. Multiple pieces of evidence suggest that TGFβ1 intervenes in the tumor microenvironment, immune cells and GC prognosis. The aim of this study is to comprehensively investigate the functional intervention of macrophage polarization subtypes on gastric cancer cell lines in the GC tumor microenvironment, providing valuable insights into tumor microenvironment research and potential targets for treatment strategies. Methods: TCGA database and multiple GEO datasets were used to validate the role of TGFβ1 in cancer prognosis, immune infiltration and subtype macrophage polarization. Construct different subtypes of macrophages and establish cell co culture systems using Transwell chambers. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting (WB) and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to verify the changes in the metastatic function and defense mechanism of gastric cancer cells (Hgc27 and MKN45) in different co culture systems. Further analyze the effect of gastric cancer cell metabolites on macrophage subtype polarization. Results: TGFβ1 was highly expressed in GC tissues, highly expressed TGFβ1 could reduce the survival time of GC patients. The GC immune infiltration results confirmed the correlation between TGFβ1 and M2 macrophages. The GEO dataset results of gastric cancer at different stages showed that some M2 macrophage markers showed consistent changes with TGFβ1. The WB, ELISA and RT-qPCR have identified TGFβ1-induced polarization of M2c macrophages, most biomarkers are associated with M2c. M2c macrophages can enhance cell migration and function, can inhibit ferroptosis in gastric cancer cells, endowing them with stronger special environmental resistance. Gastric cancer cells tend to polarize towards M2 macrophages, with M2c being the main M2 subtype of macrophages. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study reveals a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship between M2c macrophages and cancer cells in the microenvironment of gastric cancer tumors. TGFβ1 promotes the production of M2c macrophages, which enhance the function and ferroptosis resistance of gastric cancer cells. Gastric cancer cells provide the material basis for M2c macrophage polarization. This new evidence may provide new insights into developing more effective targeted therapies for gastric cancer to combat the formation of immune escape and metastasis in gastric cancer.},
}
@article {pmid39991448,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, ML and Huang, YH and Cai, LQ and Qin, XM and Meng, XY and Li, HS and Pang, H},
title = {Influence of Host Species, Location, and Aphid Prey on Microbial Diversity and Community Dynamics of Aphidophagous Ladybird Beetles in Guangxi, China.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {e71036},
pmid = {39991448},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Host species, locations, and diet can significantly impact microbial diversity and community in insects. Several ladybird beetles are known as key predators and potential biological control agents for aphids. However, there is limited understanding of how host species, locations, and aphid prey influence the microbial diversity and community of aphidophagous ladybird beetles in natural environments. In this study, we collected 74 samples of ladybirds and their aphid prey from various locations in Guangxi, China, and sequenced the 16S amplicons to investigate differences in their microbiomes. The dominant genera in the ladybird samples, Bacteroides and Alistipes, were rarely reported as predominant in other ladybird populations, indicating a unique genus-level microbial community pattern in Guangxi. Alpha diversity indices and Bray-Curtis distances varied significantly among ladybird species. Abundance analysis revealed that the relative abundance of dominant bacteria in aphidophagous ladybirds differed significantly among different ladybird species and locations. Although the primary and facultative aphid symbionts differed among aphid samples from various populations and locations, they had minimal direct impact on the microbial community of the aphidophagous ladybirds, being sporadically detected in the corresponding predator samples. Our findings provide insights into the microbial communities of ladybirds and aphids in sympatric and distinct field environments, highlighting the plasticity of microbial abundance in aphidophagous ladybirds across different ladybird species and locations, as well as the low retention rate of specific aphid symbionts in ladybird predators.},
}
@article {pmid39991014,
year = {2025},
author = {Mohammadi, A and Dalimi, A and Ghaffarifar, F and Pirestani, M and Akbari, M},
title = {Detection of Acanthamoeba Harboring Campylobacter jejuni Endosymbionts in Hospital Environments of Markazi Province, Iran.},
journal = {Journal of parasitology research},
volume = {2025},
number = {},
pages = {6626888},
pmid = {39991014},
issn = {2090-0023},
abstract = {Most Acanthamoebas contain endosymbionts such as viruses, yeasts, protists, and bacteria, some of which are potential human pathogens, including Campylobacter jejuni which often causes gastroenteritis and septicemia in humans. Amoebae have been shown to be resistant to chlorination and apparently protect ingested bacteria such as C. jejuni from free chlorine. Such resistance can have health implications, especially for drinking water treatment. The aim of this study is to identify Acanthamoeba in hospital samples in Markazi province, to determine the identity of C. jejuni endosymbiont in positive samples of Acanthamoeba in natural and laboratory conditions, and to determine the relationship between the two. The main aim of this study was to determine the identity of C. jejuni endosymbiont in Acanthamoeba-positive samples in natural and laboratory conditions. In this study, 134 samples including water, soil, and dust were collected from hospital environments. After molecular detection, the identity of the symbiotic Campylobacter jejuni in Acanthamoeba was determined by microscopic and PCR methods. Then, the ability of bacteria to infect the parasite was examined by cocultivation in vitro using real-time PCR. Finally, their relationship was examined based on statistical tests. The rate of contamination of hospital samples with Acanthamoeba was 44.7% on average. Out of 42 Acanthamoeba PCR-positive samples, seven isolates (16.67%) were found to be positive in terms of C. jejuni endosymbiont according to sampling location. The results showed that Helicobacter is able to penetrate and enter the Acanthamoeba parasite. In conclusion, our results showed that C. jejuni is able to contaminate Acanthamoeba in natural and laboratory conditions. The presence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba in various hospital environments and the hiding of Helicobacter as an endosymbiont inside it can pose a serious threat to the health of hospitalized patients.},
}
@article {pmid39990851,
year = {2024},
author = {Liang, L and Chen, X and Zhuang, W and Liu, Y and Zhao, W},
title = {[Research Progress on Drug Intervention to Inhibit Dental Plaque Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus mutans Based on the Concept of Ecological Prevention of Dental Caries].},
journal = {Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition},
volume = {55},
number = {6},
pages = {1597-1603},
pmid = {39990851},
issn = {1672-173X},
mesh = {*Biofilms/drug effects ; *Streptococcus mutans/drug effects/physiology ; *Dental Caries/prevention &amp; control/microbiology ; *Dental Plaque/microbiology/prevention &amp; control ; Humans ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Microbiota/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Dental caries is the local destruction of hard tooth tissue caused by acidic byproducts generated by cariogenic bacteria, primarily Streptococcus mutans, which ferment free sugars in the presence of host factors, dietary components, and environmental conditions. A main feature of dental caries is the formation of dental plaque biofilm, which significantly improves the resistance of bacteria to drugs and host immunity. Traditional anti-caries drugs mainly exert anti-biofilm functions indirectly through antibacterial activities. However, they tend to interfere with the symbiotic microbiota while inhibiting cariogenic bacteria, which may cause imbalance within the oral microbial system. With increasing attention paid to the homeostasis of oral microbiota, new types of anti-caries drugs have been developed, such as natural extracts, artificially synthesized small molecules, and oligonucleotides. They act on key targets to inhibit the formation of biofilm substrates or regulate the interactions between oral microorganisms, thereby efficiently inhibiting biofilm formation. These drugs do not have bactericidal effects. Nevertheless, they exert indirect antimicrobial effects by interfering with biofilm substrate formation or microbial interactions. The optimization of delivery carriers, combination drug therapy, and biomimetic design further enhance the efficacy of these new types of anti-caries drugs. This article provides a review of the prevention and treatment principles and key targets of dental plaque biofilm. We also discussed the types, mechanisms of action, and development trends of relevant drugs.},
}
@article {pmid39989254,
year = {2025},
author = {Coyle, A and O'Hare, L and Ramey, D},
title = {Synapse: A co-designed neurodivergent peer support programme for higher education settings.},
journal = {Autism : the international journal of research and practice},
volume = {29},
number = {7},
pages = {1711-1726},
pmid = {39989254},
issn = {1461-7005},
mesh = {Humans ; *Peer Group ; *Students/psychology ; Universities ; *Mentoring/methods ; Ireland ; Female ; Male ; Qualitative Research ; *Social Support ; Young Adult ; Adult ; },
abstract = {Transitioning to higher education can be challenging for neurodivergent students and they can be particularly vulnerable to experiencing stress in this new environment, resulting in higher levels of non-completion. To address this issue, this study details the co-design of a support programme for neurodivergent students in higher education. It used logic modelling workshop methodology to identify the short-term and long-term outcomes, activities and resources required for implementation. The logic model was produced during a workshop that involved a range of stakeholders, including researchers, neurodivergent and neurotypical students and disability service staff at an Irish university. The qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis and three key outcomes were generated from the logic modelling process: 'connectedness', 'knowledge and awareness of neurodiversity' and 'empowerment'. The main activities desired by stakeholders included one-to-one mentoring and group-based mentoring, which would allow neurodivergent students to establish new friendships and develop a sense of belonging within the university. The implementation factors identified were providing a dedicated space and mentor pairing. A key finding was that stakeholders did not favour traditional peer mentoring labels of 'mentor' and 'mentee'. Instead, students preferred the development of a symbiotic co-mentoring relationship between peers, with both participants being referred to as 'mentors'.Lay abstractNeurodivergent students may require support with the social aspects of university life. Peer mentoring describes a relationship where a more experienced student helps a less experienced student by providing advice, support and knowledge. It is an effective way to support students' transition to higher education. This study involved a wide range of stakeholders including neurodivergent students, neurotypical students, disability service staff and researchers in the design of a peer mentoring programme called Synapse. A visual representation of the proposed programme (i.e. logic model) was produced during a workshop with the stakeholders. This visual showed the key outcomes or aims of the programme that was agreed upon by the stakeholders. The workshop was audio recorded and the transcripts were analysed to highlight the main conversation themes. Stakeholders stated that neurodivergent students wanted to feel more connected to others at the university to develop a sense of belonging, they also wanted people to learn more about neurodiversity to reduce stigma and finally, they wanted to feel empowered to take control of their lives and have a voice in decision-making. The two preferred activities of the programme were one-to-one and group mentoring. Uniquely, the participants were concerned with traditional terminology around peer mentoring, in particular the terms mentor and mentee, as it inferred an unequal power dynamic in a relationship. The stakeholders believed that students in the Synapse programme should be valued and treated equally, regardless of diagnosis or experience. Therefore, all members of the Synapse programme were paired within a co-mentoring relationship.},
}
@article {pmid39987861,
year = {2025},
author = {Peña, G},
title = {Wildfire impacts on Spanish municipal population.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {377},
number = {},
pages = {124504},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124504},
pmid = {39987861},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Wildfires ; Spain ; Cities ; Humans ; Agriculture ; Population Density ; *Fires ; },
abstract = {This paper analyzes the impact that different kinds of wildfires exert on population size of Spanish municipalities covering the 1986-2015 period, using recent developments in difference-in-differences estimation methods. The goal of the methodology is dealing with different wildfire events on several municipalities by considering as the initial time the first wildfire for all of them. Qualitative and quantitative effects are analyzed. Severity is measured as qualitative indicator by two ways. First, as major agricultural areas affected by dividing the sample in four quartiles according to the extension of the burned agricultural area. Second, as the highest proportion of total burned areas over total municipal area as measure of the rising closeness to the urban nuclei. The repetition of wildfires is used as a quantitative measurement by adding the number of all different wildfires officially recognized occurring during the studied period. The results show that higher severity and repetition lead to less population and a later possible recovery. There are around 260 less inhabitants on average after at least one severe wildfire (around 10-510 less residents with 95% confidence interval). This finding suggests that, as it is also the case of other types of shocks, the effects of wildfires on the urban structure are permanent when they are large enough. Policy implications include a better education and sensitization on the environmental care, not building in wildfire-prone areas and improved alert systems. A better human-nature symbiosis is needed (for instance, employing extensive animal farms for cleaning the grass) for preventing fires.},
}
@article {pmid39986160,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, T and Yan, D and Zhang, Y and Li, X and Chen, J and Wang, C and Wang, C and Li, P and Wang, L and Zeng, Q and Cai, X},
title = {Biomass moulding fuel for zero-emission agricultural waste management: A case study of tobacco curing in China.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {377},
number = {},
pages = {124612},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124612},
pmid = {39986160},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {China ; Agriculture ; *Biomass ; *Waste Management/methods ; *Nicotiana ; Coal ; },
abstract = {This study explores the application of Biomass Moulding Fuel (BMF), including biomass briquette fuel (BBF) and biomass pellet fuel (BPF), as a renewable and environmentally sustainable alternative to coal in tobacco curing systems. Traditional coal-based curing methods contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, SO2, and NOx, while posing challenges for environmental sustainability and tobacco quality. Addressing these issues, this study evaluates the technical, environmental, and economic performance of BMF-based curing systems using a self-designed gasification and combustion framework. Comparative experiments were conducted in bulk curing barns under controlled conditions to assess temperature control, emissions, curing costs, and tobacco quality. Results demonstrate that BMF-fired barns significantly outperform coal-fired systems, achieving a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 82.06 and 67.48 times lower SO2 and NOx emissions, and curing cost reductions of 19.80% (BBF) and 15.90% (BPF). Furthermore, precise temperature control (-0.04 to 0.34 °C deviation in BPF-fired barns) enhanced the sensory and physical quality of tobacco leaves, including improved aroma and oil content. By utilizing agricultural residues such as tobacco stalks, BMF supports circular economy principles, transforming waste into energy and promoting resource efficiency in eco-industrial systems. These findings underscore the feasibility and scalability of integrating BMF into sustainable agricultural practices, advancing carbon neutrality and zero-emission goals. Future research should address lifecycle assessments, regional scalability, and supply chain optimization to overcome logistical and regulatory challenges, enabling broader adoption of BMF in agricultural and industrial processes.},
}
@article {pmid39985998,
year = {2025},
author = {Tang, CH and Lin, CY and Li, HH},
title = {Coral incorporating microplastics leads to a health-risking immunometabolic shift.},
journal = {Chemosphere},
volume = {374},
number = {},
pages = {144245},
doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144245},
pmid = {39985998},
issn = {1879-1298},
mesh = {*Microplastics/toxicity ; *Anthozoa/drug effects/immunology/metabolism/physiology ; Animals ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Microplastic pollution has been associated with coral susceptibility to disease, yet the underlying mechanism is unclear. An untargeted lipidomic profiling was therefore performed to gain an insight into the effect of microplastics on a vulnerable coral (Turbinaria mesenterina) of actively reacting to suspended particles. Expending storage lipids on actions such as increasing 20:4-possessing ether membrane lipids and mitochondrial β-oxidation for immunoactivation was observed in coral hosts. A molecular realignment of symbiotic communication was correspondingly observed from symbiotic algae activating anti-inflammatory actions, which employed the 22:6-deriving effects that expended storage lipids as well, by, for example, increasing 22:6-possessing membrane lipids. Symbiotic algae reacting against the heightened host immunity also led to a metabolic compromise that lowered photoprotective capacity. Worryingly, increasing these polyunsaturated membrane lipids potentially sensitize the cells to oxidative stress-induced cell death that was simultaneously indicated by a sphingolipid profile as lipid peroxidation preliminarily increased in coral. Microplastic accumulation thus potentially increase coral susceptibility to environmental factors being able to elevating the oxidative stress, such as light-heat stress. In this manner, microplastic pollution in the ocean would chronically impair coral health, being highlighted by this study.},
}
@article {pmid39985754,
year = {2025},
author = {Farrokhzadeh, H and Jaronski, ST and Rashed, A},
title = {Reduced survivorship, host preference, and feeding damage by Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on cotton plants colonized by the endophyte Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales).},
journal = {Journal of economic entomology},
volume = {118},
number = {2},
pages = {523-530},
doi = {10.1093/jee/toae302},
pmid = {39985754},
issn = {1938-291X},
mesh = {Animals ; *Moths/physiology/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; *Gossypium/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Beauveria/physiology ; Larva/growth &amp; development/physiology/microbiology ; Endophytes/physiology ; *Pest Control, Biological ; *Herbivory ; },
abstract = {The GHA strain of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) is known to establish symbiotic relationships with some plant species. The present study was developed to determine whether the foliar application of B. bassiana-GHA and B. bassiana ANT-03, another commercial B. bassiana, results in the successful colonization of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., and examine whether the endophyte can influence the survivorship and feeding damage by the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Using polymerase chain reaction, colonization success by B. bassiana-GHA, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after inoculation was estimated at 83.3%, 100%, 91.7%, and 83.3%, respectively. The colonization success based on the mycelial outgrowth method was 41.7%, 66.7%, 58.3%, and 50%, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after inoculation, respectively. Beauveria bassiana ANT-03 did not colonize cotton. Corn earworms preferred untreated plants over the neonicotinoid and B. bassiana-GHA treatments. The B. bassiana ANT-03-treated plants and controls were not distinguished from one another by the corn earworms. The corn earworm survivorship was higher on the control plants, compared to plants treated with B. bassiana ANT-03, B. bassiana-GHA, and the neonicotinoid insecticide. The neonicotinoid insecticide, B. bassiana-GHA, and B. bassiana ANT-03 reduced corn earworm damage compared to the untreated controls. Our results demonstrated the potential for B. bassiana-GHA to be used as a biological control agent against H. zea in cotton.},
}
@article {pmid39985565,
year = {2025},
author = {Chiurazzi, M and Frugis, G and Navazio, L},
title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation: a launchpad for investigating old and new challenges.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {76},
number = {6},
pages = {1473-1477},
pmid = {39985565},
issn = {1460-2431},
}
@article {pmid39985359,
year = {2025},
author = {Chekhun, V},
title = {Modern Landscape of Innovative Technologies in Optimizing the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients.},
journal = {Experimental oncology},
volume = {46},
number = {4},
pages = {281-288},
doi = {10.15407/exp-oncology.2024.04.281},
pmid = {39985359},
issn = {2312-8852},
mesh = {Humans ; *Quality of Life ; *Neoplasms/therapy/psychology/genetics ; *Precision Medicine/methods ; Genomics/methods ; },
abstract = {In the era of the intensive development of post-genomic technologies, it is reasonable to review the modern strategy for solving the problems of cancer patients. The current trend of the new paradigm is based on the knowledge and possibilities of correcting molecular genetic processes based on the principles of precision medicine. The key role in implementing such an approach belongs to modern innovative technologies, among which omics technologies occupy a special place. The genesis of the symbiosis of medical-biological and cybernetic technologies aimed at processing information databases becomes the subject of learning the functioning of complex biological systems. Today, for the dynamic development of the implementation of precision medicine based on innovative technologies, it is worth concentrating the efforts on the deep consolidation of transdisciplinary approaches that can form an algorithm of a new market of medical services aimed at improving the quality of life.},
}
@article {pmid39985282,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, J and Wang, Q and Zhang, X and Cao, Y and Wu, J and Tian, J and Yu, Y and Gong, Q and Kong, Z},
title = {Control of Rhizobia Endosymbiosis by Coupling ER Expansion with Enhanced UPR.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {12},
number = {15},
pages = {e2414519},
pmid = {39985282},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {31925003//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32230007//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; YSBR-011//CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology/genetics ; *Unfolded Protein Response/physiology/genetics ; *Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Legumes establish symbiosis with rhizobia by forming a symbiotic interface that enables cross-kingdom exchanges of signaling molecules and nutrients. However, how host organelles interact with symbiosomes at the symbiotic interface remains elusive during rhizobia endosymbiosis. Here, symbiotic cells are reconstructed using 3D scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and uncover that the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergoes dynamic expansion to gradually enwrap symbiosomes, facilitating their compartmentalization and endosymbiosis. Consistently, altering ER lamellar expansion by overexpressing MtRTNLBs, the reticulons responsible for ER tubulation, impairs rhizobia accommodation and symbiosome development. Intriguingly, unfolded protein response (UPR)-marker genes, bZIP60 and IRE1A/B, show continuously activated expression during nodule development, and the two UPR-deficient mutants, ire1b, and bzip60, exhibit compromised ER biogenesis and defective symbiosome development. Collectively, the findings underpin ER expansion and UPR activation as two key events in rhizobia accommodation and reveal an intrinsic coupling of ER morphology with proper UPR during root nodule symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid39985228,
year = {2025},
author = {Song, MJ and Freund, F and Tribble, CM and Toffelmier, E and Miller, C and Bradley Shaffer, H and Li, FW and Rothfels, CJ},
title = {The nitrogen-fixing fern Azolla has a complex microbiome characterized by varying degrees of cophylogenetic signal.},
journal = {American journal of botany},
volume = {112},
number = {3},
pages = {e70010},
doi = {10.1002/ajb2.70010},
pmid = {39985228},
issn = {1537-2197},
support = {//California Conservation Genomics Project, with funding provided to the University of California by the State of California, State Budget Act of 2019 [UC Award ID RSI-19-690224]./ ; },
mesh = {*Ferns/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Symbiosis ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {PREMISE: Azolla is a genus of floating ferns that has closely evolved with a vertically transmitted obligate cyanobacterium endosymbiont-Anabaena azollae-that fixes nitrogen. There are also other lesser-known Azolla symbionts whose role and mode of transmission are unknown.<br><br>METHODS: We sequenced 112 Azolla specimens collected across the state of California and characterized their metagenomes to identify the common bacterial endosymbionts and assess their patterns of interaction.<br><br>RESULTS: Four genera were found across all samples, establishing that multiple Azolla endosymbionts were consistently present. We found varying degrees of cophylogenetic signal across these taxa as well as varying degrees of isolation by distance and of pseudogenation, which demonstrates that multiple processes underlie how this endosymbiotic community is constituted. We also characterized the entire Azolla leaf pocket microbiome.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the Azolla symbiotic community is complex and features members at potentially different stages of symbiosis evolution, further supporting the utility of the Azolla microcosm as a system for studying the evolution of symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid39982014,
year = {2025},
author = {Kawamura, K and Sekida, S and Nishitsuji, K and Satoh, N},
title = {The property of larval cells of the scleractinian coral, Acropora tenuis, deduced from in vitro cultured cells.},
journal = {Development, growth &amp; differentiation},
volume = {67},
number = {3},
pages = {119-135},
pmid = {39982014},
issn = {1440-169X},
support = {23K25048//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Larva/cytology ; *Anthozoa/cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Line ; },
abstract = {In previous studies, we have established approximately 15 cultured cell-lines derived from planula larvae of Acropora tenuis. Based on their morphology and behavior, these cells were classified into three types, flattened amorphous cells (FAmCs), vacuolated adherent cells (VAdCs), and small smooth cells (SSmCs). FAmCs include fibroblast-like cells and spherical, brilliant brown cells (BBrCs), which are transformable to each other. To examine the larval origin of the three cell types, we raised antibodies: anti-AtMLRP2 that appears to recognize FAmC, anti-AtAHNAK for BBrC, anti-AtSOMP5 and anti-AtEndoG for SSmC, and anti-AtGal and anti-AtFat4 for VAdC, respectively. Anti-AtMLRP2 antibody stained in vivo stomodeum and neuroblast-like cells embedded in larval ectoderm around the aboral pole. Anti-AtAHNAK antibody stained neuron-like and neuroblast-like cells, both of which were also stained with neuron-specific tubulin β-3 antibody. These results suggest that in vitro BBrCs and in vivo neuroblast-like cells share neuronal properties in common. Two antibodies for SSmCs, anti-AtSOMP5 and anti-AtEndoG, stained larval ectoderm cells, suggesting that SSmCs have larval ectoderm properties. Two antibodies for VAdCs, anti-AtGal and anti-AtFat4, stained larval endoderm cells, suggesting that VAdCs have larval endoderm properties. Therefore, the in vitro cell lines appear to retain properties of the stomodeum, neuroblast, ectoderm, or endoderm. Each of them may be used in future investigations to reveal cellular and molecular properties of cell types of coral larvae, such as the potential for symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid39981748,
year = {2025},
author = {Martinez, G and Leander, BS and Park, E},
title = {Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Endosymbiotic Ciliates (Peritrichia, Mobilida) of Marine Invertebrates with Descriptions of Two Novel Species Urceolaria clepsydra n. sp. and Urceolaria bratalia n. sp.},
journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology},
volume = {72},
number = {2},
pages = {e70003},
pmid = {39981748},
issn = {1550-7408},
support = {NSERC 2019-03986//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; //Tula Foundation/ ; //UBC Biodiversity Research Center/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; *Invertebrates/parasitology ; *Oligohymenophorea/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/ultrastructure/cytology ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics/chemistry ; Pacific Ocean ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Ciliophora/classification/genetics/cytology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; },
abstract = {Mobilid ciliates are a morphologically distinct group of protists that form a wide range of symbiotic relationships with aquatic animals and includes three subgroups: Trichodinidae, Urceolariidae, and Polycyclidae. Trichodinids are best known for infecting fishes, whereas urceolariids infect diverse marine invertebrates. Polycyclidae was established for mobilid ciliates infecting sea cucumbers; however, molecular data have been unavailable for this group. In this study, we discovered and characterized two novel mobilid species, one infecting two species of sea cucumbers (Eupentacta quinquesemita and Cucumaria miniata) and one infecting brachiopods or lamp shells (Terebratalia transversa) collected from the Northeast Pacific Ocean. These new mobilid species were characterized at the morphological level using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also inferred the molecular phylogenetic positions of these species using small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences. Based on combined morphological and molecular data, we demonstrate that the two new species belong to Urceolaria, U. clepsydra n. sp. and U. bratalia n. sp., and support synonymization of Polycycla with Urceolaria. By providing the first molecular data from new species of mobilids infecting sea cucumbers and brachiopods, we expand the host range and improve our knowledge of this diverse but poorly understood group of symbionts.},
}
@article {pmid39979693,
year = {2025},
author = {Luttenschlager, H and Noël, G and Carpentier, J and Glacet, L and Ravelomanana, A and Rakotonirina, JC and Rajaonera, T and Francis, F},
title = {Diversity and Implication of Symbiotic Bacteria in Aphids-Ants Relationships in Madagascar.},
journal = {Neotropical entomology},
volume = {54},
number = {1},
pages = {40},
pmid = {39979693},
issn = {1678-8052},
mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/microbiology ; *Ants/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Madagascar ; Rickettsia/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Spiroplasma/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *Biodiversity ; Serratia/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; },
abstract = {Facultative bacteria in aphids provide their hosts with various physiological and ecological adaptations, such as resistance to thermal stress, parasitoids and entomopathogenic fungi. Furthermore, these symbionts possess the capacity to modulate the composition of honeydew, a substance that is particularly favored by numerous ant species. That's why we were interested in determining whether the presence of facultative bacteria in myrmecophilic aphids influences their relationship with mutualistic ants. In the vicinity of Antananarivo (Madagascar), the objectives of the study were to (i) determine the diversity of ants, aphids and symbionts and to (ii) assess the impacts of the identified symbiont on behavioural interactions of ants and aphids. We identified a total of four species (Serratia symbiotica, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma, Hamiltonella defensa) of facultative symbionts present in the three ant species (Camponotus maculate, Monomorium madecassum, Nylanderia gracilis) we tested and a total of six facultative symbionts (Serratia symbiotica, Rickettsia, Spiroplasma, Hamiltonella defensa, Regiella insecticola, Rickettsiella) among three of the five aphid species (Aphis citricidus, Aphis fabae, Aphis spiraecola, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Rhopalosiphum maidis) we tested. Although our results did not show the involvement of symbionts on ant behaviour or their association with aphids, our study showed that the number of ants increases with the number of interactions, that Nylanderia gracilis are the ants with the most interactions and finally that ants observed on pesticide-treated plots have fewer interactions with aphids.},
}
@article {pmid39978162,
year = {2025},
author = {Bourland, W and Čepička, I},
title = {The enigmatic genus Malacophrys Kahl, 1926 (Ciliophora: Intramacronucleata) belongs to the class Oligohymenophorea.},
journal = {Protist},
volume = {176},
number = {},
pages = {126089},
doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2025.126089},
pmid = {39978162},
issn = {1618-0941},
mesh = {Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; *Oligohymenophorea/classification/genetics/cytology/isolation &amp; purification ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics/chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Fresh Water/parasitology ; Cluster Analysis ; },
abstract = {The ciliate genus Malacophrys has been incertae sedis for more than 50 years in what is now subphylum Intramacronucleata, provisionally assigned to three different classes by various authors. Of the three species included in the genus, M. sphagni and the type species, Malacophrys rotans, have not been studied by modern methods and M. viridis, although morphologically well-described, lacks molecular characterization. We identified two freshwater ciliates as morphologically consistent with two members of Malacophrys, namely M. rotans and M. viridis. We studied one population of M. rotans, using in vivo observation and silver carbonate and silver nitrate impregnation, and two populations of M. viridis, using in vivo observation, silver carbonate impregnation, and 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses strongly support the position of M. viridis in the class Oligohymenophorea. Morphologic features suggest Malacophrys rotans belongs to order Tetrahymenida, but a confident phylogenetic assignment awaits its molecular sequencing. Differences between their oral structures and silverline patterns indicate that M. rotans and M. viridis likely belong to different genera. A formal separation at the genus level awaits molecular characterization of the type species, M. rotans.},
}
@article {pmid39977582,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, L and Zhang, J and Chen, Z and Chen, Y and Wang, C and Yu, H and Zuo, F and Huang, W},
title = {Probiotic-Enzyme Synergy Regulates Fermentation of Distiller's Grains by Modifying Microbiome Structures and Symbiotic Relationships.},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
volume = {73},
number = {9},
pages = {5363-5375},
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.4c11539},
pmid = {39977582},
issn = {1520-5118},
mesh = {*Probiotics/metabolism ; Animals ; Animal Feed/analysis/microbiology ; Fermentation ; Rumen/microbiology/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Bacteria/isolation &amp; purification/classification/genetics/metabolism ; *Edible Grain/metabolism/microbiology/chemistry ; Dietary Fiber/metabolism/analysis ; Cattle ; Bacillus subtilis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The high fiber content and low rumen digestibility prevent the efficient use of distiller's grains (DGS) in ruminant feeds. This study investigated the effects of probiotics (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis) and enzymes (β-glucanase, xylanase, β-mannanase, and cellulase) on DGS nutrient content, ruminal degradability, and microbial communities under anaerobic storage for 30 days. Groups included control (C), probiotics (B), enzymes (E), and their mixture (EB). As compared to groups C, B, and E, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose, and cellulose contents were significantly decreased and the ruminal degradability of NDF and ADF at 48 h was significantly increased in group EB (p < 0.05). Enzyme activities significantly affected bacterial abundance, and the contents of these enzymes were negatively correlated with the content of fibrous components. The abundances of Bacillus and Rummeliibacillus were negatively correlated with fiber content but positively correlated with the activities of these enzymes. The symbiotic relationship between Bacillus and Anaerocolumna in the EB group sustained the synergistic effects of probiotics and enzymes. Co-fermentation of probiotics and enzyme additives enhanced the nutritional value of DGS, which was associated not only with probiotic-enzyme synergy but also variations in dominant microbes and microbiome commensal relationships.},
}
@article {pmid39976643,
year = {2025},
author = {Nakajima, M and Motouchi, S and Tanaka, N and Masaike, T},
title = {Enzymes that catalyze cyclization of β-1,2-glucans.},
journal = {Applied microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {109},
number = {1},
pages = {49},
pmid = {39976643},
issn = {1432-0614},
support = {23K05041//JSPS KAKENHI/ ; },
mesh = {*beta-Glucans/metabolism/chemistry ; Cyclization ; Glucosyltransferases/metabolism ; *Glycoside Hydrolases/metabolism ; },
abstract = {β-1,2-Glucans are physiologically important polymers for interactions such as symbiosis and pathogenesis between organisms and adaptation to environmental changes. However, rarity of β-1,2-glucans in nature limits exploration of related enzymes. Recently, many β-1,2-glucan-degrading enzymes have been found after identification of a novel phosphorylase acting on β-1,2-glucooligosaccharides. The expansion of the repertoire has reached revelation of the cyclization mechanism of cyclic β-1,2-glucan synthase and led to finding of new enzymes catalyzing cyclization of β-1,2-glucans in a manner different from cyclic β-1,2-glucan synthase. In this review, we mainly focus on newly found enzymes that catalyze cyclization of β-1,2-glucans along with existence of β-1,2-glucan-associated carbohydrates in nature and introduction of the repertoire of β-1,2-glucan-degrading enzymes. KEY POINTS: • Newly found domain which cyclizes β-1,2-glucan created a new glycoside hydrolase family. • Cyclization is performed with a unique mechanism. • α-1,6-Cyclized β-1,2-glucan is produced by an enzyme in another newly found family.},
}
@article {pmid39976461,
year = {2025},
author = {Kirichek, EA and Afonin, AM and Kusakin, PG and Tsyganov, VE},
title = {Complete genome sequence of the unique Rhizobium johnstonii strain NaPi.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {e0120224},
pmid = {39976461},
issn = {2576-098X},
support = {075-15-2021-1055 28.09.2021//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Minobrnauki of Russia)/ ; },
abstract = {In contrast to Rhizobium johnstonii strain 3841, R. johnstonii strain NaPi is able to form large pink nodules on the roots of pea (Pisum sativum L.) mutants in the gene Sym40. The genetic determinants underlying such efficiency have not been discovered yet. In this study, we report the complete genome sequence of the strain NaPi.},
}
@article {pmid39975474,
year = {2025},
author = {Prieto, SV and Orrù, B and Gonella, E and Alma, A},
title = {Effect of symbiont-targeted control of Halyomorpha halys on the co-occurring pentatomid community.},
journal = {Frontiers in insect science},
volume = {5},
number = {},
pages = {1520065},
pmid = {39975474},
issn = {2673-8600},
abstract = {Several native species in the family Pentatomidae are recorded in north-western Italy, associated with different crops. The arrival of Halyomorpha halys led to a reorganization of the role of other pentatomids, some of them becoming secondary pests. Symbiont-targeted control strategies, which disrupt beneficial interactions in stink bugs, have so far been applied to H. halys. However, this approach could also be useful for controlling other pentatomid pests. Additionally, the effects of this strategy on non-target stink bug species need further investigation to assess its potential impact on agroecosystems. Here the effect of symbiont disruption was assessed for stink bugs that share host crops (e.g., hazelnut, wheat, soybean) or the environment (especially wild areas adjacent to crops) with H. halys in north-western Italy (Carpocoris purpureipennis, Dolycoris baccarum, Graphosoma italicum, Palomena prasina and Rhaphigaster nebulosa). Their symbionts were identified as allied to the genus Pantoea through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and also other bacteria were detected in the V4 ventricle of the midgut. Strikingly, variable symbiont infection was found across species. Laboratory tests were conducted assessing the consequences of symbiont deprivation during the first nymphal instar. Egg masses treatment with an anti-symbiont formulation affected hatching rates in D. baccarum and G. italicum, while the mortality rates during the first instar increased in C. purpureipennis and G. italicum. A correspondence between mortality induction and the alteration of symbiont infection rates was observed, with species showing the highest infection drop being the most affected by treatments. These results provide new insights into pentatomid symbionts and reveal significant variability in the response to symbiosis disruption, likely due to species-specific intensity of symbiotic interactions. The consequences of this variability are discussed.},
}
@article {pmid39972643,
year = {2025},
author = {Gaši, E and Likar, M and Arbona, V and González-Guzmán, M and Hančević, K and Balestrini, R and Čarija, M and Regvar, M and Gambino, G and Sillo, F and Radić, T},
title = {Hormonal changes associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi indicate defense-like alterations in virus-stressed grapevine.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {177},
number = {1},
pages = {e70136},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70136},
pmid = {39972643},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {DOK-2021-02-2381//Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost/ ; IP-2020-02-8397//Hrvatska Zaklada za Znanost/ ; },
mesh = {*Vitis/microbiology/virology/physiology/metabolism/immunology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Abscisic Acid/metabolism ; *Plant Diseases/virology/microbiology/immunology ; Salicylic Acid/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; *Plant Viruses/physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {Grapevine is an economically important crop, affected by major production losses due to high virus prevalence. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can reduce the impact of plant biotic stresses. However, hormonal response to the simultaneous presence of viruses and AMF remains largely unknown. In this study, we explored the potential of AMF to modify the grapevine's defense response to compatible virus infections. We used GRSPaV, GLRaV-3, and GPGV as infectious viral agents, separately or in different combinations. Two AMF inoculums were tested for their bioprotective abilities, RHIZ (Rhizophagus irregularis) and MIX (R. irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, F. caledonium). Generally, MIX induced stronger physiological responses than RHIZ inoculum, especially during the earlier phase of symbiosis. The main findings were connected to the hormonal profile of the grapevine infected by all three viruses and inoculated with MIX. In particular, salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations were induced five and fifteen months post AMF inoculation, respectively. Expressions of VvNCED1 and VvBG1 were up-regulated in uninoculated grapevines, indicating slower induction of stress response mechanisms. Parameters related to plant vigour and growth were induced in grapevine at both time points, regardless of the virus combination. In conclusion, the defense-like response induced by AMF in grapevines infected with multiple viruses is characterized by the induction of ABA and SA, accompanied by a consistent enhancement of vigor parameters. This study confirms AMF symbiosis as a potentially promising additional tool for combating viral diseases in vineyards.},
}
@article {pmid39971081,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, Z and Gao, J and Wang, G and Zhao, M and Xing, D and Zhao, T and Zhang, H},
title = {Effects of Wolbachia on mitochondrial DNA variation in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).},
journal = {Acta tropica},
volume = {263},
number = {},
pages = {107561},
doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107561},
pmid = {39971081},
issn = {1873-6254},
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/genetics/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; *DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; *Aedes/microbiology/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; Symbiosis ; Haplotypes ; Phylogeny ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; },
abstract = {Wolbachia species are symbiotic bacteria that are commonly found in arthropods and nematodes and live inside their cells. In nature, endosymbiont-host interactions and dynamics are complex, often depending on environmental conditions and evolutionary history. Both Wolbachia and mitochondrial DNA are maternally inherited in cells, and after a long period of coexistence, the presence of Wolbachia may have an impact on mitochondrial sequence diversity, thereby confounding mtDNA-based host phylogeny. The universal and typing primers for the wsp gene were used for PCR amplification, the number of positive samples was counted, and the infection pattern was analysed. The mitochondrial DNA diversity of four groups (Wolbachia-infected and uninfected samples, as well as between singly and double infected samples.) was analysed. PACo and ParaFitGlobal tests were used to explore evolutionary associations. The overall prevalence of Wolbachia in the 22 natural populations was 94.2 %, with Type A, Type B and A × B mixed infections detected in Aedes albopictus and coinfection between wAlbA and wAlbB prevalent. The mitochondrial DNA haplotype associated with Wolbachia (Hap1) became the dominant haplotype and was the most abundant and widely distributed in the population. The linkage map showed the predominant haplotype, Hap1, was more closely associated with wAlbA than with wAlbB. Neutral evolution deviated significantly from zero. The diversity of mtDNA COI genes associated with Wolbachia infection was reduced. Wolbachia infection may lead to the selective sweep of mitochondrial DNA in Ae. albopictus.},
}
@article {pmid39970784,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Liu, X and Feng, J and Xie, S and Lv, J},
title = {Ca[2+] enhanced the wastewater treatment performance of microalgal-bacterial consortia: Response of extracellular polymeric substances and bacterial communities.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {277},
number = {},
pages = {123298},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2025.123298},
pmid = {39970784},
issn = {1879-2448},
mesh = {*Wastewater/microbiology ; *Microalgae ; Extracellular Polymeric Substance Matrix ; *Calcium ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Microbial Consortia ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Water Purification ; },
abstract = {The technology of microalgae-bacteria consortia (MBC) for wastewater treatment is currently facing a variety of challenges. One of the main issues is the construction of structurally and functionally stable symbiont. Ca[2+] may be involved in this process, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Here the response of MBC to the regulation of Ca[2+] was systematically explored from the perspectives of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and bacterial communities. The results showed that the exogenous addition of Ca[2+] (10-50 mM) not only promoted the production of extracellular polysaccharides and proteins of MBC, but also increased the proportion of some functional groups and components of EPS, such as CO and α-helix. The change of EPS characteristics was conducive to provide more sites for bining Ca[2+], which in turn favored the formation of compact MBC via overcoming electrostatic repulsive effect. Besides, the supplementation of Ca[2+] favored the recruitment of more EPS-producing bacteria (such as Rhodobacter, Pedobacter, Rhizorhapis, and Sphingopyxis) and indole acetic acid producing bacteria (such as Hydrogenophaga and Agromyces). The enrichment of these functional bacteria not only promoted the adhesion between bacteria and microalgae, but also promoted the growth of symbiotic microalgae, which contributed to the formation of stable large-sized MBC. The change in structure and function of MBC was ultimately reflected in the improved performance in treating municipal wastewater. The findings of this study provided insights into the mechanism underlying the enhanced performance of MBC for wastewater treatment under the influence of Ca[2+].},
}
@article {pmid39969492,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, SL and Bi, XX and Huang, B and Xia, TY and Deng, LJ and Luo, XQ and Zhong, Y and Zhang, YP and Qian, YY and Yin, M and Ren, Z},
title = {Screening and transcriptomic profiling of tobacco growth-promoting arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.},
journal = {Plant signaling &amp; behavior},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {2467935},
pmid = {39969492},
issn = {1559-2324},
mesh = {*Nicotiana/microbiology/growth &amp; development/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/genetics ; *Gene Expression Profiling ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Transcriptome ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Tobacco is a significant economic crop cultivated in various regions of China. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can establish a symbiotic relationship with tobacco and regulate its growth. However, the influences of indigenous AMF on the growth and development of tobacco and their symbiotic mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, a pot inoculation experiment was conducted, revealing that six inoculants - Acaulospora bireticulata(Ab), Septoglomus viscosum(Sv), Funneliformis mosseae(Fm), Claroideoglomus etunicatum(Ce), Rhizophagus intraradices(Ri), and the mixed inoculant (H) - all formed stable symbiotic relationships with tobacco. These inoculants were found to enhance the activities of SOD, POD, PPO, and PAL in tobacco leaves, increase chlorophyll content, IAA content， CTK content， soluble sugars, and proline levels while reducing malondialdehyde content. Notably, among these inoculants, Fm exhibited significantly higher mycorrhizal infection density, arbuscular abundance, and soil spore density in the root systems of tobacco plants compared to other treatments. Membership function analysis confirmed that Fm had the most pronounced growth-promoting effect on tobacco. The transcriptome analysis results of different treatments of CK and inoculation with Fm revealed that 3,903 genes were upregulated and 4,196 genes were downregulated in the roots and stems of tobacco. Enrichment analysis indicated that the majority of these genes were annotated in related pathways such as biological processes, molecular functions, and metabolism. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes associated with auxin, cytokinin, antioxidant enzymes, and carotenoids were significantly enriched in their respective pathways, potentially indirectly influencing the regulation of tobacco plant growth. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the development and application of AMF inoculants to enhance tobacco growth.},
}
@article {pmid39969186,
year = {2025},
author = {Gómez-Fernández, GO and van Velzen, R and Mun, JH and Cook, DR and Kohlen, W and Larrainzar, E},
title = {Ethylene biosynthesis in legumes: gene identification and expression during early symbiotic stages.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {76},
number = {10},
pages = {2659-2672},
pmid = {39969186},
issn = {1460-2431},
support = {PID2021-122740OB-I00//Government of Navarra grant/ ; },
mesh = {*Ethylenes/biosynthesis ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/microbiology/enzymology/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism/microbiology/enzymology ; Lyases/genetics/metabolism ; Amino Acid Oxidoreductases/genetics/metabolism ; *Fabaceae/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The final steps of ethylene biosynthesis involve the consecutive activity of two enzymes, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO). These enzymes are encoded by small gene families, which, in the case of legumes, have not been systematically characterized at the level of gene family membership or phylogenetic relationship. Moreover, the absence of consensus nomenclature complicates comparisons within the scientific literature, where authors are addressing the roles of these genes in planta. In this study, we provide a framework in which the ACS and ACO gene family members of several legume species, including the two model legumes Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, were systematically annotated, named, and analysed relative to genes from other dicot and monocot model species. A combination of phylogenetic and reciprocal BLAST analyses was used to identify evolutionary relationships among genes, including the identification of orthologous relationships that can inform hypotheses about function. Given the role of ethylene as a negative regulator of the legume-rhizobium symbiosis, we queried publicly available RNA-seq expression datasets to obtain an overview of the expression profiles of these genes in the interaction between M. truncatula and its nitrogen-fixing microsymbiont. The resulting evolutionary framework, as well as structural and expression analyses, are intended to facilitate ongoing functional studies in legumes.},
}
@article {pmid39968046,
year = {2024},
author = {Battie-Laclau, P and Taudière, A and Bernard, M and Bodénan, L and Duchemin, M and de Roman, Y and Yol, A and Barry-Etienne, D},
title = {Terroir and farming practices drive arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in French vineyards.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1463326},
pmid = {39968046},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nature-based management of vineyards is at the heart of a sustainable development for the next decades. Although much is known about grapevine benefits from Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), little is known about the influence of vineyard terroir and farming practices on AMF communities.<br><br>METHODS: We examined the relative effect of wine terroir and agricultural practices (organic, conversion, and conventional) on AMF abundance and diversity across 75 vineyards distributed over 14 wine terroirs in 6 winegrowing regions in France. We estimate AMF abundance by measuring spore density and root mycorrhization rates, and characterize AMF communities composition using metabarcoding by sampling both root and spore compartments for each vineyard.<br><br>RESULTS: Organic farming slightly increases AMF abundance (spore density and mycorrhization rate). Vineyards under conversion and using organic practices display a higher AMF diversity than conventional ones. Terroirs vary widely in terms of AMF abundance and diversity, with the median of OTUs count per sample ranging from 9 (C&#xf4;te des Blancs) to 35 (Gigondas). The composition of AMF communities is structured mainly by terroir and in a lesser extent by practice. The effect of terroir on AMF communities is partially explained by distance decay and soil properties, but the majority of variation is still explained only by the terroir identity. Organic practices improve both abundance and diversity of AMF in vineyards, possibly leading to more productivity and resilience of grapevines.<br><br>CONCLUSION: This large-scale study highlights the importance of terroir in our understanding of vineyard microbiome and paves the way to incorporation of AMF in microbial terroir studies and applications.},
}
@article {pmid39967692,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, S and You, M and Shen, Y and Zhao, X and He, X and Liu, J and Ma, N},
title = {Improving fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome in laying hens through gut microbiota and oxylipin metabolism by Bacteroides fragilis: A potential involvement of arachidonic acid.},
journal = {Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)},
volume = {20},
number = {},
pages = {182-199},
pmid = {39967692},
issn = {2405-6383},
abstract = {Bacteroides fragilis (B. fragilis), a crucial commensal bacterium within the gut, has shown connections with hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation regulation. Nonetheless, the role of B. fragilis in the progression of fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) remains unknown. This study aims to explore the ameliorative effects of B. fragilis on FLHS in laying hens, as well as its underlying mechanisms. This is the first study to employ a chicken FLHS model, combining microbiomics and oxylipin metabolomics to investigate the mechanism of action of intestinal symbiotic bacteria. Exp. 1: 40 laying hens at 25 weeks old were randomly divided into five treatment groups (eight replicates per group and one hen per replicate), including the control group (basal diet), the high-energy and low-protein (HELP) group, and the HELP group with three different levels (10[8], 10[9], and 10[10] CFU) of B. fragilis. Exp. 2: 18 chickens at 25 weeks old were randomly divided into three treatment groups (six replicates per group and one hen per replicate) including the control group (basal diet), the model group (HELP diet), and the arachidonic acid (AA) group (HELP diet with 0.3% AA). The experiment period of Exp. 1 and Exp. 2 were 8 weeks. B. fragilis significantly improved body weight of seventh week (P = 0.006), liver lipid degeneration, blood lipid levels (triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; P < 0.05), and liver function (alanine aminotransferase and aminotransferase; P < 0.05) in laying hens. B. fragilis downregulated the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and liver X receptor α, and inflammation-related genes tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in the liver of FLHS-affected hens (P < 0.05), while upregulating the expression of lipid oxidation-related genes carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) α, and PPARγ (P < 0.05). The in-depth analysis indicated alterations in oxylipin pathways triggered by B. fragilis, as evidenced by changes in the expression of pivotal genes arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase, arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (P < 0.05), subsequently causing modifications in relevant metabolites. This included a decrease in pro-inflammatory substances such as 15-oxoETE (P = 0.004), accompanied by an increase in AA (P = 0.008). B. fragilis regulated the homeostasis of intestinal flora by increasing the abundance of Bacteroides and decreasing the abundance of Succinatimonas and Faecalicoccus (P < 0.05). The integrated analysis revealed a robust positive correlation between Bacteroides abundance and AA levels (P = 0.007). This relationship was corroborated through in vitro experiments. Subsequently, the beneficial effect of AA in mitigating FLHS was confirmed in laying hens with FLHS, further supported by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrating gene expression patterns akin to B. fragilis intervention. This study demonstrated that B. fragilis exerts an anti-FLHS effect through modulation of oxylipin metabolism and gut microbiota stability, with a pivotal role played by AA.},
}
@article {pmid39966475,
year = {2025},
author = {Gu, Y and Wang, H and Yang, Y and Chen, H and Chen, C and Cheng, W},
title = {Metabonomics reveals the mechanism of stress resistance in Vetiveria zizanioides inoculated with AMF under copper stress.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {6005},
pmid = {39966475},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {31500451//The National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; Qiankehe Support Letter [2020] 1Y046//the Science and Technology Plan of Guizhou Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Copper/toxicity/metabolism ; *Metabolomics/methods ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Chrysopogon/metabolism/microbiology/drug effects/growth &amp; development ; *Stress, Physiological ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Vetiveria zizanioides, renowned for its robust stability and exceptional capacity to sequester heavy metals, has garnered widespread application in tailings ecological restoration efforts. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which are capable of forming symbiotic relationships with more than 80% of terrestrial plant roots, play a pivotal role in enhancing plant nutrient uptake and bolstering resilience. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the physiological and biochemical responses of Vetiveria zizanioides subjected to varying levels of copper stress (with copper concentrations ranging from 0 mg/kg to 400 mg/kg), with or without AMF inoculation. Additionally, we performed nontargeted metabonomic analyses to gain deeper insights into the metabolic changes that occur in vetiver grass under AMF inoculation and copper stress. Our findings revealed that Vetiveria zizanioides inoculated with AMF consistently demonstrated superior growth performance across all copper stress levels compared with noninoculated counterparts. Using nontargeted metabonomic analyses, inoculation with AMF affects the metabolism of phenylalanine and related pathways in vetiver as well as contributing to the promotion of the formation of phytochelatins (PCs) from glutamate, thereby alleviating copper stress. The results highlight the potential of AMF-inoculated Vetiveria zizanioides as a promising bioremediation tool capable of effectively mitigating the adverse effects of heavy metal pollution.},
}
@article {pmid39966403,
year = {2025},
author = {Tamayo, E and López-Lorca, VM and Shim, C and López-Castillo, O and Castillo, AG and Requena, N and Benz, JP and Ferrol, N},
title = {The Rhizophagus irregularis permease RiFTR1 functions without a ferroxidase partner for reductive iron transport.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {5840},
pmid = {39966403},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {*Iron/metabolism ; *Ceruloplasmin/metabolism/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/metabolism/genetics ; *Glomeromycota/genetics/enzymology/metabolism ; *Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; *Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Biological Transport ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {The contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) to plant iron (Fe) acquisition has been demonstrated in several studies. A previous investigation revealed that the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis utilizes a high-affinity reductive pathway for Fe uptake, mediated by the Fe transporter RiFTR1. In this study, we used a genome-wide approach in R. irregularis to find genes encoding ferroxidases of the multicopper oxidase (MCO) gene family in an attempt to identify the ferroxidase partner of RiFTR1. Nine genes putatively encoding MCOs (RiMCO1-9) were identified. Yeast complementation assays demonstrated that RiMCO1 and RiMCO3 can function as ferroxidases, suggesting their involvement in the reductive Fe uptake pathway. Surprisingly, RiFTR1 was capable of transporting Fe in yeast without a ferroxidase partner, resembling the Fe transport mechanism of plant IRT1-like systems. RiFTR1 exhibited increase expression in arbuscules. Overexpression of RiFTR1 in Medicago truncatula roots led to enhanced mycorrhizal colonization and arbuscule abundance, highlighting the significance of Fe for AM symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid39965474,
year = {2025},
author = {Yang, X and Yao, M and Li, P and van der Hoek, JP and Zhang, L and Liu, G},
title = {Mutual symbiosis of electroactive bacteria and denitrifiers for improved refractory carbon utilization and nitrate reduction.},
journal = {Environment international},
volume = {197},
number = {},
pages = {109330},
doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2025.109330},
pmid = {39965474},
issn = {1873-6750},
mesh = {*Carbon/metabolism ; *Denitrification ; *Nitrates/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/physiology ; *Geobacter/physiology ; Bacteria/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Mutual symbiosis of electroactive bacteria (EAB) and denitrifier may be the key for solving the refractory carbon and residual nitrogen in wastewater treatment plant effluent. However, its application is hampered by unclear co-metabolic model and uncertain electron transfer. Here, we achieved 3-5 times increase in refractory carbon degradation, 40 % improvement in denitrification, and 36.0 % decrease in N2O emission by co-culturing P. aeruginosa strain GWP-1 and G. sulfurreducens. Such an enhancement is obtained by both refractory carbon co-metabolism and interspecies electron transfer (IET) between GWP-1 and G. sulfurreducens. Importantly, IET was quantified via isotopic approach, which revealed that G. sulfureducens supplies more electrons to GWP-1 when the system was fed with cellulose (0.071 mM) than glucose (0.012 mM). This study demonstrates that the residual refractory carbon and nitrogen in treated wastewater could be further converted by mutual symbiosis of EAB and denitrifiers, which paves a synergic way for pollution and carbon reduction.},
}
@article {pmid39964876,
year = {2025},
author = {Stankiewicz, KH and Guiglielmoni, N and Kitchen, SA and Flot, JF and Barott, KL and Davies, SW and Finnerty, JR and Grace, SP and Kaufman, LS and Putnam, HM and Rotjan, RD and Sharp, KH and Peters, EC and Baums, IB},
title = {Genomic comparison of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata with tropical corals yields insights into winter quiescence, innate immunity, and sexual reproduction.},
journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {39964876},
issn = {2160-1836},
support = {OCE-1537959//NSF/ ; //NIH/ ; //T32: Computation, Bioinformatics, and Statistics (CBIOS) Training Program to KHS/ ; //Pennsylvania State University Biology Department/ ; //Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum f&#xfc;r Polar- und Meeresforschung/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics/physiology/immunology ; *Immunity, Innate/genetics ; Reproduction/genetics ; *Genomics/methods ; *Seasons ; *Genome ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Tropical Climate ; Phylogeny ; Male ; },
abstract = {Facultatively symbiotic corals provide important experimental models to explore the establishment, maintenance, and breakdown of the mutualism between corals and members of the algal family Symbiodiniaceae. Here, we report the de novo chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of the facultatively symbiotic, temperate coral Astrangia poculata. Though widespread segmental/tandem duplications of genomic regions were detected, we did not find strong evidence of a whole-genome duplication event. Comparison of the gene arrangement between As. poculata and the tropical coral Acropora millepora revealed considerable conserved colinearity despite ∼415 million years of divergence. Gene families related to sperm hyperactivation and innate immunity, including lectins, were found to contain more genes in Ac. millepora relative to As. poculata. Sperm hyperactivation in Ac. millepora is expected given the extreme requirements of gamete competition during mass spawning events in tropical corals, while lectins are important in the establishment of coral-algal symbiosis. By contrast, gene families involved in sleep promotion, feeding suppression, and circadian sleep/wake cycle processes were expanded in As. poculata. These expanded gene families may play a role in As. poculata's ability to enter a dormancy-like state (winter quiescence) to survive freezing temperatures at the northern edges of the species' range.},
}
@article {pmid39964711,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, S and Ye, H and Yang, C and Zhang, Y and Pu, J and Ren, Y and Xie, K and Wang, L and Zeng, D and He, H and Ji, H and Herrera-Estrella, LR and Xu, G and Chen, A},
title = {OsNLP3 and OsPHR2 orchestrate direct and mycorrhizal pathways for nitrate uptake by regulating NAR2.1-NRT2s complexes in rice.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {8},
pages = {e2416345122},
pmid = {39964711},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {2021YFF1000400//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; 32172670//National Natural Science Foundation of China-Guangdong Joint Fund (NSFC)/ ; YDZX2024019//Fundamental Reserach Fund for the Cenbtral Universities/ ; BK20230992//Basic Research Program of Jiangsu province in China/ ; },
mesh = {*Oryza/metabolism/genetics/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/metabolism/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Nitrates/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Anion Transport Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Nitrogen (N) is the most important essential nutrient required by plants. Most land plants have evolved two N uptake pathways, a direct root pathway and a symbiotic pathway, via association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. However, the interaction between the two pathways is ambiguous. Here, we report that OsNAR2.1-OsNRT2s, the nitrate (NO3[-]) transporter complexes with crucial roles in direct NO3[-] uptake, are also recruited for symbiotic NO3[-] uptake. OsNAR2.1 and OsNRT2.1/2.2 are coregulated by NIN-like protein 3 (OsNLP3), a key regulator in NO3[-] signaling, and OsPHR2, a major regulator of phosphate starvation responses. More importantly, AM symbiosis induces expression of OsNAR2.1-OsNRT2s, OsNLP3, and OsSPX4, encoding an intracellular Pi sensor, in arbuscular-containing cells, but weakens their expression in the epidermis. OsNAR2.1 and OsNLP3 can activate both mycorrhizal NO3[-] uptake and mycorrhization efficiency. Overall, we demonstrate that OsNLP3 and OsPHR2 orchestrate the direct and mycorrhizal NO3[-] uptake pathways by regulating the NAR2.1-NRT2s complexes in rice.},
}
@article {pmid39964074,
year = {2025},
author = {Wu, T and Rodrigues, AA and Fayle, TM and Henry, LM},
title = {Defensive Symbiont Genotype Distributions Are Linked to Parasitoid Attack Networks.},
journal = {Ecology letters},
volume = {28},
number = {2},
pages = {e70082},
pmid = {39964074},
issn = {1461-0248},
support = {RPG-2020-211//Leverhulme Trust/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Aphids/parasitology/genetics/microbiology ; Genotype ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Enterobacteriaceae/genetics/physiology ; *Wasps/physiology/genetics ; Host Specificity ; },
abstract = {Facultative symbionts are widespread in arthropods and can provide important services such as protection from natural enemies. Yet what shapes associations with defensive symbionts in nature remains unclear. Two hypotheses suggest that interactions with either antagonists or host plants explain the prevalence of symbionts through shared selective pressures or vectors of symbiont transmission. Here we investigate the factors determining similarities in the Hamiltonella defensa symbiosis shared amongst field-collected aphid species. After accounting for host species relatedness, we find that Hamiltonella's genotype distribution aligns with sharing the same parasitoids, rather than host plants, highlighting parasitoids and hosts as key selective agents shaping the symbiosis across aphid species. Our data indicates parasitoid host specificity drives the prevalence of specific aphid-Hamiltonella associations, suggesting defensive symbioses are maintained by the selective pressure imposed by dominant parasitoids and their aphid hosts. These findings underscore the importance of interactions with natural enemies in explaining patterns of defensive symbiosis in nature.},
}
@article {pmid39963532,
year = {2025},
author = {Bucher, M and Genre, A and Kameoka, H and Lanfranco, L and Paszkowski, U and Xue, L},
title = {Editorial: Highlights of iMMM2023 - International Molecular Mycorrhiza Meeting.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1559814},
pmid = {39963532},
issn = {1664-462X},
}
@article {pmid39963528,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, H and Zhang, Y and Zhang, L and Liu, Y and Chen, Y and Shi, Y},
title = {Nano-selenium strengthens potato resistance to potato scab induced by Streptomyces spp., increases yield, and elevates tuber quality by influencing rhizosphere microbiomes.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1523174},
pmid = {39963528},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The application of selenium could directly or indirectly modulate the activity of antioxidant enzymes in crops, thereby mitigating the detrimental effects of abiotic and biotic stresses on crop health. However, there are few studies on the effects of nano-selenium fertilizer on potato scab caused by Streptomyces spp., potato yield and tuber quality.<br><br>METHODS: We aimed to elucidate the impact of nano-selenium fertilizer on potato disease resistance, yield, tuber quality, antioxidant enzyme activity and rhizosphere soil bacterial communities, and to determine the optimal frequency and growth stages of nano-selenium fertilizer spraying.<br><br>RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The application of nano-selenium fertilizer twice during the seedling stage significantly reduced the disease index of potato scab, enhanced potato yield, tuber quality (dry matter, Vitamin C, crude protein, and selenium content), and antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione peroxidase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and phenylalanine ammonia lyase). The diversity of the rhizosphere bacterial community of potatoes subjected to selenium fertilizer spraying at the seedling stage increased significantly, and concurrently, the symbiotic network of rhizosphere bacterial microbiome grew more complex. Beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria of the genus Bacillus were enriched in the rhizosphere soil. The current study provided theoretical support for the exploration of a potato selenium-enriched technology system and supplies scientific guidance for the utilization of nano-selenium.},
}
@article {pmid39963284,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, H and Zhao, R and Wang, X and Qi, Y and Sandai, D and Wang, W and Song, Z and Liang, Q},
title = {Interruption of mitochondrial symbiosis is associated with the development of osteoporosis.},
journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1488489},
pmid = {39963284},
issn = {1664-2392},
mesh = {Humans ; *Osteoporosis/pathology/metabolism/etiology/microbiology ; *Mitochondria/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Animals ; Osteoclasts/metabolism ; Osteoblasts/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Mitochondria maintain bacterial traits because of their endosymbiotic origins, yet the host cell recognizes them as non-threatening since the organelles are compartmentalized. Nevertheless, the controlled release of mitochondrial components into the cytoplasm can initiate cell death, activate innate immunity, and provoke inflammation. This selective interruption of endosymbiosis as early as 2 billion years ago allowed mitochondria to become intracellular signaling hubs. Recent studies have found that the interruption of mitochondrial symbiosis may be closely related to the occurrence of various diseases, especially osteoporosis (OP). OP is a systemic bone disease characterized by reduced bone mass, impaired bone microstructure, elevated bone fragility, and susceptibility to fracture. The interruption of intra-mitochondrial symbiosis affects the energy metabolism of bone cells, leads to the imbalance of bone formation and bone absorption, and promotes the occurrence of osteoporosis. In this paper, we reviewed the mechanism of mitochondrial intersymbiosis interruption in OP, discussed the relationship between mitochondrial intersymbiosis interruption and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts, as well as the inheritance and adaptation in the evolutionary process, and prospected the future research direction to provide new ideas for clinical treatment.},
}
@article {pmid39962733,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, N and Liu, L and Wang, J and Mao, D and Lu, H and Shishido, TK and Zhi, S and Chen, H and He, S},
title = {Novel Gene Clusters for Secondary Metabolite Synthesis in Mesophotic Sponge-Associated Bacteria.},
journal = {Microbial biotechnology},
volume = {18},
number = {2},
pages = {e70107},
pmid = {39962733},
issn = {1751-7915},
support = {422010882//Startup Foundation of Ningbo University/ ; 422110473//Startup Foundation of Ningbo University/ ; 422207513//Startup Foundation of Ningbo University/ ; 31600016//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 41776168//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021Z04//Ningbo Natural Science Foundation/ ; D16013//National 111 Project of China/ ; NNF22OC0080109//Novo Nordisk Fonden/ ; },
mesh = {*Porifera/microbiology ; *Multigene Family ; Animals ; *Secondary Metabolism/genetics ; *Bacteria/genetics/metabolism/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; *Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Polyketide Synthases/genetics ; Terpenes/metabolism ; Metagenome ; },
abstract = {Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) host a diverse array of sponge species, which represent a promising source of bioactive compounds. Increasing evidence suggests that sponge-associated bacteria may be the primary producers of these compounds. However, cultivating these bacteria under laboratory conditions remains a significant challenge. To investigate the rich resource of bioactive compounds synthesised by mesophotic sponge-associated bacteria, we retrieved 429 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from 15 mesophotic sponges, revealing a strong correlation between bacterial diversity and sponge species. Furthermore, we identified 1637 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) within these MAGs. Among the identified BGCs, terpenes were the most abundant (495), followed by 369 polyketide synthases (PKSs), 293 ribosomally synthesised and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and 135 nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). The BGCs were classified into 1086 gene cluster families (GCFs) based on sequence similarity. Notably, only five GCFs included experimentally validated reference BGCs from the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster database (MIBiG). Additionally, an unusual abundance of BGCs was detected in Entotheonella sp. (s191209.Bin93) from the Tectomicrobia phylum. In contrast, members of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota harboured fewer BGCs (6-7 on average), yet their high abundance in MCE sponges suggests a potentially rich reservoir of BGCs. Analysis of the BGC distribution patterns revealed that a subset of BGCs, including terpene GCFs (FAM_00447 and FAM_01046), PKS GCF (FAM_00235), and RiPPs GCF (FAM_01143), were widespread across mesophotic sponges. Furthermore, 32 GCFs were consistently present in the same MAGs across different sponges, highlighting their potential key biological roles and capacity to yield novel bioactive compounds. This study not only underscores the untapped potential of mesophotic sponge-associated bacteria as a source of bioactive compounds but also provides valuable insights into the intricate interactions between sponges and their symbiotic microbial communities.},
}
@article {pmid39961027,
year = {2025},
author = {Ling, L and Camuel, A and Wang, S and Wang, X and Liao, T and Tao, J and Lin, X and Nouwen, N and Giraud, E and Luo, H},
title = {Correlating phylogenetic and functional diversity of the nod-free but nodulating Bradyrhizobium phylogroup.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39961027},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {"ET-Nod"; ANR-20-CE20-0012//French National Research Agency/ ; AoE/M-403/16//Hong Kong Research Grants Council Area of Excellence Scheme/ ; },
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Oryza/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; },
abstract = {Bradyrhizobium is a main rhizobial lineage of which most members nodulate legume plants using Nod factors synthetized by the nod genes. However, members of the Photosynthetic supergroup (phylogroup) within Bradyrhizobium are nod-free, but still capable of establishing nitrogen-fixing nodules with some tropical legumes of the Aeschynomene genus. These unusual findings are based on the genomic sequences of only 13 Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium strains, and almost all were isolated from Aeschynomene nodules. Here, we report that Photosynthetic Bradyrhizobium supergroup members are more abundantly associated with rice root (endosphere and rhizosphere) compared to grassland, forest, and maize samples based on rpoB amplicon sequence analyses. We sequenced 263 new isolates of this supergroup mostly from two main subspecies of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L. spp. indica and japonica). The extended supergroup comprises three major clades with their diversity broadly covering the natural community of this supergroup: a basal clade with significant expansion of its diversity, a clade composed by two phylogenetically diverse strains including one newly isolated, and a new clade exclusively represented by our new strains. Although this supergroup members universally lack the canonical nod genes, all 28 assayed strains covering the broad diversity induced nodules on Aeschynomene indica. The three clades displayed important differences in the efficiency of symbiosis, aligning well with their phylogenetic divergence. With this expanded ecological, phylogenetic, and functional diversity, we conclude that the nod factor-independent nodulation of Aeschynomene is a common trait of this supergroup, in contrast to the photosynthetic trait originally thought of as its unifying feature.},
}
@article {pmid39960031,
year = {2025},
author = {Guillierme, E and Gevaert, K and Goormachtig, S and Struk, S},
title = {About How Nitrate Controls Nodulation: Will Soybean Spill the Bean?.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15430},
pmid = {39960031},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This work was funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) (1168425N to E.G., 1280424N to S.S.)./ ; },
abstract = {Legumes have the beneficial capacity to establish symbiotic interactions with rhizobia, which provide their host plants with fixed nitrogen. However, in the presence of nitrogen, this process is rapidly repressed to avoid unnecessary investments of carbon in the symbiosis. Several players involved in regulating nodulation in response to nitrate availability have been identified, including peptide hormones, microRNAs and transcription factors. Nevertheless, how these molecular players are linked to each other and what underlying molecular mechanisms are at play to inhibit nodulation remain unresolved. Nitrate-mediated control of nodulation seems to differ between model legumes, such as Medicago and Lotus, compared to legume crops such as soybean. A deeper understanding of these regulatory processes, particularly in soybean, is expected to contribute to establishing increased nodulation efficiency in modern agricultural systems, hence improving sustainability by reducing the need for environmentally hazardous nitrogen fertilizers. This review describes the state of the art of nitrate-regulated nodulation in soybean, while drawing parallels with molecular mechanisms described in other legumes and addressing knowledge gaps that require future study.},
}
@article {pmid39959470,
year = {2025},
author = {Kridler, MR and Howe, A and Legins, JA and Guerrero, C and Bartelme, RP and Taylor, B and Carini, P},
title = {High-quality PacBio draft genome sequences of 17 free-living Bradyrhizobium and four related Nitrobacteraceae strains isolated from arid soils in the Santa Catalina Mountains of Southern Arizona.},
journal = {Access microbiology},
volume = {7},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {39959470},
issn = {2516-8290},
abstract = {Non-symbiotic Bradyrhizobium are among the most abundant and ubiquitous microbes in bulk soils globally. Despite this, most available genomic resources for Bradyrhizobium are derived from plant-associated strains. We present high-quality draft genomes for 17 Bradyrhizobium and four Nitrobacteraceae cultures isolated from bulk semiarid soils in Arizona, USA. The genome sizes range from 5.99 to 10.4 Mbp. Phylogenomic analysis of the 21 genomes indicates they fall into four clades. Two of the clades are nested within the Bradyrhizobium genus. The other two clades were associated with Nitrobacteraceae outgroups basal to Bradyrhizobium. All genomes lack genes coding for molybdenum or vanadium nitrogenases, and nod genes that code for proteins involved in nodulation, suggesting these isolates are free-living, non-symbiotic and do not fix dinitrogen gas. These genomes offer new resources for investigating free-living Bradyrhizobium lineages.},
}
@article {pmid39954089,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, K and Deng, S and Zhou, Y and Xu, B and Zhang, Y and Li, W and Liu, X and Yao, X},
title = {Crosstalk Between the Skin Environment and Microbial Community in Immune-Related Skin Diseases.},
journal = {Clinical reviews in allergy &amp; immunology},
volume = {68},
number = {1},
pages = {16},
pmid = {39954089},
issn = {1559-0267},
support = {82373489//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021-I2M-1-059//CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Skin/microbiology/immunology ; *Microbiota/immunology ; *Skin Diseases/microbiology/immunology/etiology ; Animals ; Disease Susceptibility ; },
abstract = {The skin surface hosts diverse skin microbiota, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Intricate interactions between the skin microenvironment and microbial community are crucial for maintaining cutaneous homeostasis. This review explores the bidirectional relationship between the skin ecosystem and its microbiota. The skin microenvironment is shaped by a combination of intrinsic factors, dominated by sweat glands and pilosebaceous units, and external factors, such as UV radiation and personal care products, which create distinct niches that influence microbial colonization patterns across different skin regions. The skin microbiome, in turn, modulates the physical, chemical, immunological, and microbial barriers of the skin. We also discuss the alterations in this crosstalk in various immune-related skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa, skin cancer, and aging. Understanding these interactions is vital for developing targeted microbiome-based therapies for various skin disorders. Further researches are needed to deepen insights into the microbial roles and their therapeutic potentials in skin health and disease.},
}
@article {pmid39953951,
year = {2025},
author = {Ametrano, CG and Jensen, J and Lumbsch, HT and Grewe, F},
title = {UnFATE: A Comprehensive Probe Set and Bioinformatics Pipeline for Phylogeny Reconstruction and Multilocus Barcoding of Filamentous Ascomycetes (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina).},
journal = {Systematic biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syaf011},
pmid = {39953951},
issn = {1076-836X},
abstract = {The subphylum Pezizomycotina (filamentous ascomycetes) is the largest clade within Ascomycota. Despite the importance of this group of fungi, our understanding of their evolution is still limited due to insufficient taxon sampling. Although next-generation sequencing technology allows us to obtain complete genomes for phylogenetic analyses, generating complete genomes of fungal species can be challenging, especially when fungi occur in symbiotic relationships or when the DNA of rare herbarium specimens is degraded or contaminated. Additionally, assembly, annotation, and gene extraction of whole-genome sequencing data require bioinformatics skills and computational power, resulting in a substantial data burden. To overcome these obstacles, we designed a universal target enrichment probe set to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of filamentous ascomycetes at different phylogenetic levels. From a pool of single-copy orthologous genes extracted from available Pezizomycotina genomes, we identified the smallest subset of genetic markers that can reliably reconstruct a robust phylogeny. We used a clustering approach to identify a sequence set that could provide an optimal trade-off between potential missing data and probe set cost. We incorporated this probe set into a user-friendly wrapper script named UnFATE (https://github.com/claudioametrano/UnFATE) that allows phylogenomic inferences without requiring expert bioinformatics knowledge. In addition to phylogenetic results, the software provides a powerful multilocus alternative to ITS-based barcoding. Phylogeny and barcoding approaches can be complemented by an integrated, pre-processed, and periodically updated database of all publicly available Pezizomycotina genomes. The UnFATE pipeline, using the 195 selected marker genes, consistently performed well across various phylogenetic depths, generating trees consistent with the reference phylogenomic inferences. The topological distance between the reference trees from literature and the best tree produced by UnFATE ranged between 0.10 and 0.14 (nRF) for phylogenies from family to subphylum level. We also tested the in vitro success of the universal baits set in a target capture approach on 25 herbarium specimens from ten representative classes in Pezizomycotina, which recovered a topology congruent with recent phylogenomic inferences for this group of fungi. The discriminating power of our gene set was also assessed by the multilocus barcoding approach, which outperformed the barcoding approach based on ITS. With these tools, we aim to provide a framework for a collaborative approach to build robust, conclusive phylogenies of this important fungal clade.},
}
@article {pmid39953546,
year = {2025},
author = {Roux, N and Delannoy, C and Yu, SY and Miura, S and Carlu, L and Besseau, L and Nakagawa, T and Sato, C and Kitajima, K and Guerardel, Y and Laudet, V},
title = {Anemonefish use sialic acid metabolism as Trojan horse to avoid giant sea anemone stinging.},
journal = {BMC biology},
volume = {23},
number = {1},
pages = {39},
pmid = {39953546},
issn = {1741-7007},
support = {FY2023//J-GlycoNet Joint Research Program/ ; Shinka Grant//Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; *N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/metabolism ; Mucus/metabolism/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; *Perciformes/physiology/metabolism ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Anemonefish association with sea anemones is a prime example of mutualistic symbiosis. These fish live inside the sea anemone, benefitting from the protection of its toxic nematocysts, and in return, protect the anemone from its own predators. How anemonefish manage to avoid their host toxic stings remains unclear. One hypothesis suggests that low levels of sialic acids in anemonefish mucus prevent nematocyst discharge.<br><br>RESULTS: This study verified four predictions: (i) anemonefish mucus has lower sialic acid levels than non-symbiotic damselfish; (ii) this reduction is specific to mucus; (iii) during development, sialic acid levels inversely correlate with protection; (iv) sea anemone mucus has minimal sialic acids.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that anemonefish regulates the level of sialic acids in their mucus to avoid nematocyst discharge. We also highlight several genes implicated in sialic acid removal that could explain the protection mechanisms in place. This mechanism, potentially used by Dascyllus trimaculatus juveniles, suggests a convergent strategy for mutualistic associations with sea anemones.},
}
@article {pmid39951998,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, S and Xiang, N and Shu, C and Xu, F},
title = {Unveiling the industrial synergy optimization pathways in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration based on water-energy-carbon nexus.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {376},
number = {},
pages = {124528},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124528},
pmid = {39951998},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Carbon ; China ; Industry ; Beijing ; Sustainable Development ; Water ; Urbanization ; },
abstract = {Urban agglomerations play an increasingly important role in bolstering regional economic growth; meanwhile bring with substantial water and energy consumption and carbon emissions. Its sustainable development needs synergistic management of water-energy-carbon (WEC), which is vitally linked by industrial activities. Taken Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration in China, this study adopts material flow analysis to clarify WEC nexus footprint patterns of the urban agglomeration, initially develops a multi-regional dynamic synergistic development model to explore industrial optimization pathways for WEC system management from 2020 to 2035. The complex model is constructed and simulated by integrating input-output modeling, system dynamics, and multi-objective programming. Simulation results revealed that optimal industrial restructuring with regional corporation, including equipment manufacturing are in a leading position, whereas conventional manufacturing that achieve cross-regional synergy can still release locational advantages without adverse environmental impacts. Through above industrial roadmap, a symbiotic industrial chain among urban agglomerations could be formed; the integrated optimization of resource efficiency improvement and emission sinks could be achieved coherently, with eco-efficiency increasing by 24.4%, 21.8%, and 42.4% for water, energy, and carbon; moreover, key sectors for industrial transfer within the urban agglomeration (e.g., water- and energy-intensive, high emission sectors) will be critical areas for coordinated management (contributing over 68% of resource consumption and CO2 emissions). In addition to industrial structure optimization, the marginal potential for carbon reduction through energy structure optimization is more prominent than energy efficiency gains. The findings offer policymakers valuable insights into integrated resource management within industrial collaboration for urban agglomerations, providing guidance in formulating effective environmental policies and economic strategies aligned with sustainable development goals.},
}
@article {pmid39950727,
year = {2025},
author = {Szelag, B and Ciuccoli, N and González-Camejo, J and Giansanti, C and Kiczko, A and Eusebi, AL and Palermo, C and Fatone, F},
title = {Seawater intrusion and infiltration modelling coupled to digital tools to avoid high saline concentrations in reclaimed water: application in coastal central Italy.},
journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research},
volume = {91},
number = {3},
pages = {280-294},
pmid = {39950727},
issn = {0273-1223},
support = {869318//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; },
mesh = {*Seawater/chemistry ; Italy ; *Models, Theoretical ; Salinity ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater ; Water Purification/methods ; },
abstract = {Industrial symbiosis approach was established between an industrial company and a water utility to prioritize the reuse of urban wastewater for industrial purposes. This requires low-salinity water, but this area is frequently affected by saline intrusion, thus creating water-related conflicts between the different economic activities. This study proposes a digital solution that combines dynamic simulation model (that predicts seawater intrusion and runoff) with digital tools, i.e., smart equalization (control algorithm) and matchmaking platform (decision support system). The models aim to predict the periods where significant peaks of salinity occurs, whereas the tools aim to distribute the wastewater and reclaimed water streams to diverse applications (industrial, agricultural) and/or treatments (conventional treatment, reverse osmosis) to maximize the amount of wastewater reused in efficient and sustainable way. During the 2D simulated period, wastewater conductivity was in range of 2100-2700 µS·cm[-1]. Although this conductivity was over the limit required for industrial reuse, the digital solution implemented in this study enabled to recover 71% of the total wastewater produced for industrial purposes and 10% for irrigation, only discharging 19% of the total. The approach implemented in this study would be very useful to be replicated in coastal areas where saline intrusion is relevant.},
}
@article {pmid39950511,
year = {2025},
author = {Dou, R and Wang, L and Zhang, J and Cai, X and Tang, J and Liu, X and Hu, Y and Chen, J},
title = {Reversing Photodynamic Therapy-Induced Tumor Metabolic Symbiosis and Immune Evasion Delivers a Two-Punch Attack on Tumors.},
journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)},
volume = {21},
number = {11},
pages = {e2409052},
doi = {10.1002/smll.202409052},
pmid = {39950511},
issn = {1613-6829},
support = {2022A1515140073//Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation/ ; 7212212//Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation/ ; 11875269//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 21574136//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022-PUMCH-E-004//National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding/ ; },
mesh = {*Photochemotherapy/methods ; Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Macrophages/metabolism/drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Immune Evasion/drug effects ; Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacology ; *Neoplasms/metabolism/immunology/drug therapy/therapy ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects ; Nanoparticles/chemistry ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an attractive approach for tumor treatment because of its precision, potent cytotoxic effect, and low risk of resistance compared to conventional cancer treatments. However, PDT consumes oxygen. The oxygen depletion effects in PDT-treated tumor cells can elevate lactic acid production and efflux, promoting the progression of surrounding tumor cells through tumor metabolic symbiosis and promoting macrophages to M2-type polarization for supporting tumor progression. Herein, a multifunctional nanosystem is developed for the intracellular co-delivery of the photosensitizer (ICG), the nanozyme (iron oxide nanoparticles, MNPs), and siMCT4 (siRNA for monocarboxylate transporter 4). In tumor cells undergoing PDT, siMCT4 inhibits lactate efflux, thereby limiting extracellular lactate-associated malignancy and immune evasion. Meanwhile, both the reduction of extracellular lactate levels and the presence of MNPs in the tumor microenvironment promote the M1-type polarization to enhance the antitumor activity of macrophages. Furthermore, the intracellular lactic acid accumulation and M1-type macrophage-secreted H2O2 facilitate the MNPs-mediated chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Therefore, the intelligent nanosystem, IM@iPPAE@siMCT4, can regulate the intra/extracellular lactate levels and the M1-type macrophage polarization to deliver a two-punch attack on tumor cells. This nanosystem circumvents the problems arising from antitumor PDT.},
}
@article {pmid39950409,
year = {2025},
author = {DeMontigny, W and Bachvaroff, T},
title = {The nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of amoebophrya sp. ex Karlodinium veneficum.},
journal = {G3 (Bethesda, Md.)},
volume = {15},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {39950409},
issn = {2160-1836},
support = {//G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation and IMET Angel Investors Program/ ; //UMBC High Performance Computing Facility/ ; //U.S. National Science Foundation/ ; //University of Maryland, Baltimore County/ ; },
mesh = {*Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Dinoflagellida/genetics ; *Cell Nucleus/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Genome, Protozoan ; Genomics/methods ; Open Reading Frames ; Molecular Sequence Annotation ; Codon, Terminator ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; },
abstract = {Dinoflagellates are a diverse group of microplankton that include free-living, symbiotic, and parasitic species. Amoebophrya, a basal lineage of parasitic dinoflagellates, infects a variety of marine microorganisms, including harmful-bloom-forming algae. Although there are currently 3 published Amoebophrya genomes, this genus has considerable genomic diversity. We add to the growing genomic data for Amoebophrya with an annotated genome assembly for Amoebophrya sp. ex Karlodinium veneficum. This species appears to translate all 3 canonical stop codons contextually. Stop codons are present in the open reading frames of about half of the predicted gene models, including genes essential for cellular function. The in-frame stop codons are likely translated by suppressor tRNAs that were identified in the assembly. We also assembled the mitochondrial genome, which has remained elusive in the previous Amoebophrya genome assemblies. The mitochondrial genome assembly consists of many fragments with high sequence identity in the genes but low sequence identity in intergenic regions. Nuclear and mitochondrially-encoded proteins indicate that Amoebophrya sp. ex K. veneficum does not have a bipartite electron transport chain, unlike previously analyzed Amoebophrya species. This study highlights the importance of analyzing multiple genomes from highly diverse genera such as Amoebophrya.},
}
@article {pmid39950092,
year = {2025},
author = {Bock, B and Curry, L and Gehring, C},
title = {Better utilization of inorganic nitrogen compared to organic nitrogen by a plant symbiotic fungal isolate of Alternaria alternata.},
journal = {microPublication biology},
volume = {2025},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {39950092},
issn = {2578-9430},
abstract = {Alternaria alternata , a fungus that causes plant diseases, is also a Dark Septate Endophyte (DSE) that can enhance host plant growth by improving access to soil nutrients like nitrogen. To test the environmental factors influencing this relationship, we explored whether A. alternata can utilize both organic and inorganic nitrogen. Our results showed that an A. alternata isolate grew 133% larger in an inorganic nitrogen medium than in an organic nitrogen medium. These findings suggest the need for further research on other DSE taxa and nitrogen forms to better understand fungal nitrogen use.},
}
@article {pmid39949674,
year = {2024},
author = {Mithradas, N and Sudhakar, U and Shanmugapriya, K and Jeddy, N and Ram, S},
title = {The oral-lung microbiome dysbiosis: Unravelling its role in implications for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis.},
journal = {Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP},
volume = {28},
number = {4},
pages = {619-625},
pmid = {39949674},
issn = {0973-029X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The impact of the oral flora on the composition of the microbiome in the lungs is substantial in both healthy and diseased conditions, contributing significantly to its intricacy. There is mounting evidence from microbiological research that suggests a major ecological relationship between periodontitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and oral microecosystems. An association has been established between respiratory diseases and disruptions in the symbiotic equilibrium of the oral microbiome. This study aims to explore the intricate connections between oral health and lung microflora, particularly about the pathogenesis of COPD, and to highlight the implications for future research and clinical practice.<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subgingival Plaque samples were collected from a total of 120 participants with 30 healthy Control (H group),30 Periodontitis with no COPD (P group), 30 COPD with periodontally healthy (COPD) and 30 individuals with COPD and Periodontitis (COPD+ P). All participants underwent evaluation of periodontal measurements like Pocket Depth (PD), Clinical loss of Attachment (CAL), Gingival Index (GI), and Plaque Index (PI) Bacterial DNA was extracted and quantified using Real-time polymerase chain reaction. Using the One-dimensional Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and post-analysis test for multiple comparisons, the mean values of all the clinical parameters were analyzed among the four participant groups. Using the Pearson Correlation coefficient, the parameters were correlated.<br><br>RESULTS: Statistical relevant relation was shown among Probing Depth (PD), Clinical Loss of Attachment (CAL), Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI) in the COPD+P group. Increased prevalence of Pa (Pseudomonas aeroginosa) seen among P group and COPD+P. A substantial inverse relationship was seen between the absolute levels of Pa, CAL, PI, and lung function measures (Fev1, Fev1/FVC).<br><br>CONCLUSION: The importance of maintaining dental health in the prevention and treatment of respiratory disorders is highlighted by the relationships that exist between the oral microecosystem, oral hygiene, and respiratory pathologies. There is substantial potential to decrease the occurrence of respiratory illnesses by practicing good oral care and strategically managing the balance of the oral microbial flora. Therefore, future research efforts should prioritize the characterization of the precise impact of the oral microbiota on pulmonary health and use this knowledge towards developing innovative preventive and treatment measures targeted at combating respiratory infections and related diseases.},
}
@article {pmid39949627,
year = {2025},
author = {Napo, M and Kock, A and Alayande, KA and Sulyok, M and Ezekiel, CN and Uehling, J and Pawlowska, TE and Adeleke, RA},
title = {Tomato rot by Rhizopus microsporus alters native fungal community composition and secondary metabolite production.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1508519},
pmid = {39949627},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Rhizopus rot is considered one of the most common diseases influencing global production and yield of horticulture commodities. However, the factors contributing to this pattern of prevalence are uncertain. Here, we focused on R. microsporus, which is known to rely on its endosymbiotic bacterium, Mycetohabitans, to produce toxins that interfere with plant development and inhibit the growth of other fungi. We assessed the impact of the symbiotic R. microsporus harboring its endosymbiont as well as the fungus cured of it on: (1) the magnitude of spoilage in tomato fruits, as evaluated by Koch's postulate for pathogenicity, (2) the shifts in native communities of endophytic fungi inhabiting these fruits, as examined by ITS rRNA gene metabarcoding and (3) secondary metabolites generated by these communities, as analyzed using multi-analyte LC-MS/MS. The pathogenicity test showed that the symbiotic endobacterium-containing R. microsporus W2-50 was able to cause tomato fruit spoilage. This was accompanied by decreased relative abundance of Alternaria spp. and an increase in the relative abundance of Penicillium spp. that may have facilitated the observed spoilage. In conclusion, symbiotic W2-50 appeared to facilitate fruit spoilage, possibly through successful colonization or toxin production by its endosymbiont.},
}
@article {pmid39948007,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, M and Sun, X and Ye, D and Duan, Y and Li, D and Guo, Y and Wang, M and Huang, Y and Chen, F and Feng, H and Dong, X and Cheng, S and Yu, Y and Xu, S and Zhu, Z},
title = {Corrigendum to "Glycine betaine enhances heavy metal phytoremediation via rhizosphere modulation and nitrogen metabolism in king grass-Serratia marcescens strain S27 symbiosis" [J Hazard Mater 487 (2025) 137153].},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {486},
number = {},
pages = {137555},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137555},
pmid = {39948007},
issn = {1873-3336},
}
@article {pmid39947842,
year = {2025},
author = {Lodeiro, AR},
title = {Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia as a potential source of nitrous oxide emissions.},
journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia},
volume = {57},
number = {1},
pages = {1-2},
doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2025.01.003},
pmid = {39947842},
issn = {0325-7541},
}
@article {pmid39947132,
year = {2025},
author = {Wittmers, F and Poirier, C and Bachy, C and Eckmann, C and Matantseva, O and Carlson, CA and Giovannoni, SJ and Goodenough, U and Worden, AZ},
title = {Symbionts of predatory protists are widespread in the oceans and related to animal pathogens.},
journal = {Cell host &amp; microbe},
volume = {33},
number = {2},
pages = {182-199.e7},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.01.009},
pmid = {39947132},
issn = {1934-6069},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; *Seawater/microbiology ; Humans ; *Choanoflagellata/microbiology/physiology ; },
abstract = {Protists are major predators of ocean microbial life, with an ancient history of entanglements with prokaryotes, but their delicate cell structures and recalcitrance to culturing hinder exploration of marine symbioses. We report that tiny oceanic protistan predators, specifically choanoflagellates-the closest living unicellular relatives of animals-and uncultivated MAST-3 form symbioses with four bacterial lineages related to animal symbionts. By targeting living phagotrophs on ship expeditions, we recovered genomes from physically associated uncultivated Legionellales and Rickettsiales. The evolutionary trajectories of Marinicoxiellaceae, Cosmosymbacterales, Simplirickettsiaceae, and previously named Gamibacteraceae vary, including host-engagement mechanisms unknown in marine bacteria, horizontally transferred genes that mediate pathogen-microbiome interactions, and nutritional pathways. These symbionts and hosts occur throughout subtropical and tropical oceans. Related bacteria were detected in public data from freshwater, fish, and human samples. Symbiont associations with animal-related protists, alongside relationships to animal pathogens, suggest an unexpectedly long history of shifting associations and possibilities for host expansion as environments change.},
}
@article {pmid39947128,
year = {2025},
author = {Rahimi-Midani, A and Iatsenko, I},
title = {Colonization island directs L. plantarum to its niche.},
journal = {Cell host &amp; microbe},
volume = {33},
number = {2},
pages = {168-170},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.01.005},
pmid = {39947128},
issn = {1934-6069},
mesh = {Animals ; *Lactobacillus plantarum/physiology/genetics/growth &amp; development ; *Symbiosis ; *Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology ; *Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Genomic Islands ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic gut bacteria have evolved mechanisms to selectively recognize and colonize an appropriate host. In a recent issue of Science, Gutiérrez-García et al. reported a colonization island that encodes sugar-binding adhesins used by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum to colonize its symbiotic niche in the foregut of its host, Drosophila melanogaster.},
}
@article {pmid39946910,
year = {2025},
author = {Shirdel, M and Eshghi, S and Shahsavandi, F and Fallahi, E},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza inoculation mitigates the adverse effects of heat stress on yield and physiological responses in strawberry plants.},
journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB},
volume = {221},
number = {},
pages = {109629},
doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109629},
pmid = {39946910},
issn = {1873-2690},
mesh = {*Fragaria/microbiology/physiology/metabolism/growth &amp; development ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Heat-Shock Response ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Antioxidants/metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Proline/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a beneficial symbiotic relationship with plant roots, providing them with ample water and nutrients, especially under stressful conditions. It is inevitable to experience heat stress (HS) due to climate changes. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible role of AMF (with AMF = +AMF and without AMF = -AMF) on the strawberry cvs. ('Paros' and 'Queen Eliza')-resilience to HS at temperatures (control (23), 30, 35, 40, and 45 °C). The experiment was completely randomised and designed as a factorial arrangement with four replicates. The findings indicated that as the temperature increased, there was an increase in electrolyte leakage, proline, soluble carbohydrate contents and the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX). The presence of AMF at high temperatures improved the relative water content (RWC), maximum quantum efficiency yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll compared to the -AMF. AMF promoted root colonization and the content of phosphorus and potassium, which was more in the cv. 'Paros' than the cv. 'Queen Eliza'. Primary and secondary fruit weights and plant yield were reduced by HS; however, the AMF effectively increased average fruit weight and yield in comparison to plants without AMF. Yield was positively correlated with RWC and Fv/Fm, and root colonization was positively associated with phosphorus concentration. Adding AMF to rhizosphere improved plant growth and nutrient uptake and increased strawberry-resilience to HS. They have achieved this by increasing antioxidative activity, proline, soluble carbohydrates, and RWC. The symbiotic relationship with AMF greatly enhanced the strawberry's ability to tolerate HS.},
}
@article {pmid39946893,
year = {2025},
author = {Poitrimol, C and Thiébaut, &#xc9; and Boulart, C and Cathalot, C and Rouxel, O and Jollivet, D and Hourdez, S and Matabos, M},
title = {Alpha and beta diversities of hydrothermal vent macrofaunal communities along the southwestern Pacific back-arc basins.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {967},
number = {},
pages = {178694},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178694},
pmid = {39946893},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {*Hydrothermal Vents ; *Biodiversity ; Animals ; Pacific Ocean ; Snails ; Bivalvia ; },
abstract = {Ecosystems face various pressures, often leading to loss of biodiversity. Understanding how biodiversity is spatially structured, what are the driving factors, and the ecological and evolutionary processes involved is essential to assess communities' resilience to disturbances and guide efficient conservation measures. Hydrothermal vents from national waters of the West Pacific are targeted by mining industries for their mineral resources that include metals used in high-tech equipment. Although exploitation has not yet started, such activity could significantly affect ecosystem biodiversity and functioning. Here, we describe the distribution of hydrothermal biodiversity in the Southwest Pacific back-arc basins and the Futuna Volcanic Arc at different spatial scales in relation to environmental conditions and geography. We focused on three assemblages dominated by symbiotic megafauna: snails (Alviniconcha spp. and Ifremeria nautilei) and mussels (Bathymodiolus spp.). Faunal assemblages exhibit strong spatial structuring: between habitats along the dilution gradient of the hydrothermal fluid, and between geographic basins, with a faunal split between the Western and the Eastern basins of this region, and to a lesser extent, between fields in a basin. Species replacement along the chemical gradient drives faunal changes between Ifremeria and Bathymodiolus assemblages, while a drop in the number of species is noted when making this comparison with the Alviniconcha assemblage. While these local changes may result from environmental filtering along the diffuse flow gradient, geological settings and current geographic barriers, which drive colonization and speciation at larger scales, are likely shaping the vent community changes between the Eastern and Western basins. This result has significant implications for biodiversity conservation, especially in this mineral-rich setting. The Manus Basin is isolated and displays the highest proportion of endemism while the Woodlark Basin represents an important stepping-stone between the Eastern basins and Manus Basin, making them potentially highly vulnerable to mining with a risk of biodiversity loss.},
}
@article {pmid39946845,
year = {2025},
author = {Cheng, D and Yang, Z and Chen, G and Xu, H and Liao, L and Chen, W},
title = {Design and implementation of an independent-drive bionic dragonfly robot.},
journal = {Bioinspiration &amp; biomimetics},
volume = {20},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1088/1748-3190/adb5e4},
pmid = {39946845},
issn = {1748-3190},
mesh = {*Wings, Animal/physiology ; *Robotics/instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Animals ; *Biomimetics/instrumentation ; *Flight, Animal/physiology ; *Bionics/instrumentation ; *Odonata/physiology ; Equipment Failure Analysis ; Computer Simulation ; },
abstract = {Bionic flapping wing robots achieve flight by imitating animal flapping wings, which are safe, flexible, and efficient. Their practicality and human-machine symbiosis in narrow and complex environments are better than traditional fixed-wing or multirotor drones, indicating broader application potential. By systematic and biomimetic methods, a bionic dragonfly robot with four independent drive flapping wings, called DFly-I, was designed. Firstly, the mechanical structure of the robot was introduced, especially the fluttering structure and the wing structure. Then, a novel motion controller utilizing multi-channel field-oriented control (FOC) is proposed for its motion mechanism, which relies on four sets of brushless DC motors based on FOC control and four sets of servos to achieve independent control of the flapping speed, rhythm, and angle of the four flapping wings. In addition, the system model is analyzed, and based on this, the robot motion and posture control are realized by a proportional-integral-derivative and active disturbance rejection based controller. Lastly, a physical prototype was made, and its feasibility was verified through flight experiments in indoor venues.},
}
@article {pmid39945306,
year = {2025},
author = {Tian, C and Tang, J and Zhu, Q and Guo, X and Shu, Q and Gu, Z and Li, F and Li, B},
title = {A novel detoxification strategy of Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) to dimethoate based on gut microbiota research.},
journal = {Journal of economic entomology},
volume = {118},
number = {2},
pages = {858-867},
doi = {10.1093/jee/toaf028},
pmid = {39945306},
issn = {1938-291X},
support = {32172795//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022GXCSSC26//Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Sericulture and Silk/ ; SNG2023016//Science and Technology Support Program of Suzhou/ ; //Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Bombyx/microbiology/drug effects/growth &amp; development ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Dimethoate/pharmacology ; *Insecticides/pharmacology ; Bacteria/drug effects/genetics/classification ; Larva/growth &amp; development/drug effects/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Insecticide Resistance ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; },
abstract = {Bombyx mori (L.) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) is an important economic insect, and Exorista sorbillans (W.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) is an endoparasitic pest of larval B. mori. Dimethoate is less toxic to B. mori than E. sorbillans and is used in sericulture to controlling E. sorbillans. To investigate the effects of dimethoate treatment on the gut microorganisms and physiological functions of B. mori, 16S rRNA sequencing was used to analyzed the composition and structure of the gut microbiota. This study investigated their role in enhancing silkworm resistance by screening dominant populations after dimethoate treatment. The results indicated that dimethoate did not alter the composition of the dominant gut bacterial groups in silkworm; however, it significantly increased the abundance of the gut bacteria Methylobacterium and Aureimonas, and decreased the abundance of Enterobacterales, Bifidobacterium, Blautia, Collinsella, Faecalibacterium, and Prevotella. Eleven strains of dimethoate-resistant bacteria were selected through in vitro culture, all of which were unable to grow when dimethoate was used as a carbon source. Additionally, a germ-free silkworm model was established to assess detoxifying enzyme activity in the midgut. The results revealed that the gut symbiotic microbiota can enhance dimethoate resistance by increasing detoxification enzyme activity. This study identifies a novel pathway for silkworm resistance to dimethoate based on gut microbiota, providing new insights into the role of symbiotic gut bacteria in insecticide metabolism.},
}
@article {pmid39943019,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, S and Zhang, Y and Yu, X and Cui, M and Jiang, L and Zhang, T and Gao, Y},
title = {Labile Carbon Input Mitigates the Negative Legacy Effects of Nitrogen Addition on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in a Temperate Grassland.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39943019},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {2023E01008//Regional Collaborative Innovation Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/ ; 32271579//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32160312//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Nitrogen (N) deposition and carbon (C) addition significantly influence the dynamics of plant-microbe interactions, particularly altering the symbiotic relationship between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of labile C input on the relationship between AMF and various plant species in a nitrogen-enriched environment remain a knowledge gap. A seven-year field experiment was conducted to examine how six levels of N and three levels of labile C addition impact AMF colonization in four key plant species: Leymus chinensis (Trin. ex Bunge) Tzvelev, Stipa baicalensis Roshev., Thermopsis lanceolata R. Br. and Potentilla bifurca Linn. Our results showed that N and C additions exert significantly different effects on the relationship between AMF and various plant species. Labile C addition mitigated historical N negative effects, particularly for S. baicalensis, enhancing AMF infection and promoting nutrient exchange under high-N and low-C conditions. The relationship between AMF and both L. chinensis and T. lanceolata changed to weak mutualism under low-N and high-C conditions, with significant decreases in vesicular and arbuscular abundance. Plant root stoichiometry plays a critical role in modulating AMF symbiosis, particularly under high-N and -C conditions, as reflected in the increased AMF infection observed in T. lanceolata and P. bifurca. Our findings emphasize the species-specific and nutrient-dependent AMF symbiosis, revealing that targeted C input can mitigate the legacy effects of N enrichment. Effective nutrient management is of crucial importance for ecological restoration efforts in temperate grasslands affected by long-term N enrichment.},
}
@article {pmid39942989,
year = {2025},
author = {Sulima, AS and Zhuravlev, IY and Alexeeva, EA and Kliukova, MS and Zorin, EA and Rakova, VA and Gordon, ML and Kulaeva, OA and Romanyuk, DA and Akhtemova, GA and Zhernakov, AI and Semenova, EV and Vishnyakova, MA and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA},
title = {The Genomic and Phenotypic Characterization of the Sym2[A] Introgression Line A33.18 of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) with the Increased Specificity of Root Nodule Symbiosis.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39942989},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {agreement &#x2116; 075-15-2022-320, dated 20 April 2022//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation/ ; },
abstract = {In pea (Pisum sativum L.), alleles of the Sym2 gene determine the specificity of the interaction with nodule bacteria (rhizobia). The Sym2[A] allele present in landraces from Afghanistan provides higher selectiveness toward rhizobia than the Sym2[E] allele present in European cultivars. Rhizobial strains possessing the nodX gene can interact with both Sym2[A] and Sym2[E] peas, while strains lacking nodX can interact only with Sym2[E] peas. Here, we studied the previously obtained introgression line A33.18 bearing Sym2[A] in a homozygous state in the genome of the European pea cultivar 'Rondo'. A33.18 has proved its high selectiveness in pot experiments. Genome sequencing has shown that A33.18 possesses an 18.2 Mb region inherited from Afghanistan pea with 63 genes, including 5 receptor kinase genes, among which was the Sym2 candidate gene LykX. In a field experiment, under inoculation with the nodX[+] strain TOM, over 95% of nodules of A33.18 contained TOM, as opposed to less than 8% of nodules containing TOM in the parental European cultivar 'Rondo'. Thus, introgression of Sym2[A] enabled peas to interact specifically with the nodX[+] strain, favoring the formation of nodules by the strain from the inoculum and protecting peas from the indigenous soil microbiota.},
}
@article {pmid39942979,
year = {2025},
author = {Chertov, O and Frolov, P and Shanin, V and Priputina, I and Bykhovets, S and Geraskina, A},
title = {A Model of the Ectomycorrhizal Contribution to Forest Soil C and N Dynamics and Tree N Supply Within the EFIMOD3 Model System.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39942979},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {123030300031-6//Russian Academy of Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis has been the focus of research for more than a century due to the positive effect of fungi on the growth of the majority of woody plants. The extramatrical mycelium (EMM) of ectomycorrhiza (EMR) accounts for up to one-third of the total soil microbial biomass, whereas litter from this short-living pool accounts for 60% of the total litterfall mass in forest ecosystems. The functioning of EMR improves the nitrogen (N) nutrition of trees and thus contributes to the carbon (C) balance of forest soils. The model presented here is an attempt to describe these EMR functions quantitatively. It calculates the growth of EMM and the subsequent "mining" of additional nitrogen from recalcitrant soil organic matter (SOM) for EMR growth, with the associated formation of "dissolved soil carbon". The decomposition of EMM litter is carried out by all organisms in the soil food webs, forming available NH4+ in the first phase and then solid-phase by-products (excretes) as a new labile SOM pool. These substances are the feedback that determines the positive role of EMR symbiosis for forest vegetation. A sensitivity analysis revealed a leading role of the C:N ratio of biotic components in the dynamics of EMM. The model validation showed a satisfactory agreement between simulated and observed data in relation to EMM respiration in larch forest plantations of different ages. Model testing within the EFIMOD3 model system allowed a quantitative assessment of the contribution of different components to forest soil and ecosystem respiration. The validation and testing of this model demonstrated the adequacy of the theoretical background used in this model, with a fast EMM decomposition cycle by all soil biota of the food webs and without direct resource exchange between plants and fungi.},
}
@article {pmid39942939,
year = {2025},
author = {Mamaeva, A and Makeeva, A and Ganaeva, D},
title = {The Small Key to the Treasure Chest: Endogenous Plant Peptides Involved in Symbiotic Interactions.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39942939},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {23-66-10013//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Plant growth and development are inextricably connected with rhizosphere organisms. Plants have to balance between strong defenses against pathogens while modulating their immune responses to recruit beneficial organisms such as bacteria and fungi. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that regulatory peptides are essential in establishing these symbiotic relationships, orchestrating processes that include nutrient acquisition, root architecture modification, and immune modulation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the peptide families that facilitate beneficial relationships between plants and rhizosphere organisms.},
}
@article {pmid39942538,
year = {2025},
author = {Michailidu, J and Maťátková, O and Čejková, A and Masák, J},
title = {Chemical Conversations.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {30},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39942538},
issn = {1420-3049},
mesh = {Animals ; Plants/chemistry/microbiology ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; *Environmental Microbiology ; *Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Among living organisms, higher animals primarily use a combination of vocal and non-verbal cues for communication. In other species, however, chemical signaling holds a central role. The chemical and biological activity of the molecules produced by the organisms themselves and the existence of receptors/targeting sites that allow recognition of such molecules leads to various forms of responses by the producer and recipient organisms and is a fundamental principle of such communication. Chemical language can be used to coordinate processes within one species or between species. Chemical signals are thus information for other organisms, potentially inducing modification of their behavior. Additionally, this conversation is influenced by the external environment in which organisms are found. This review presents examples of chemical communication among microorganisms, between microorganisms and plants, and between microorganisms and animals. The mechanisms and physiological importance of this communication are described. Chemical interactions can be both cooperative and antagonistic. Microbial chemical signals usually ensure the formation of the most advantageous population phenotype or the disadvantage of a competitive species in the environment. Between microorganisms and plants, we find symbiotic (e.g., in the root system) and parasitic relationships. Similarly, mutually beneficial relationships are established between microorganisms and animals (e.g., gastrointestinal tract), but microorganisms also invade and disrupt the immune and nervous systems of animals.},
}
@article {pmid39941954,
year = {2025},
author = {Yi, W and Zhou, J and Xiao, Q and Zhong, W and Xu, X},
title = {Arginine-Enhanced Termitomyces Mycelia: Improvement in Growth and Lignocellulose Degradation Capabilities.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39941954},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {grant no 2018A030313011; grant no 2018B020206001//the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province;Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province/ ; 2024E04J1234//Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou/ ; },
abstract = {Termitomyces mushrooms, known for their symbiotic relationship with termites and their high nutritional and medicinal value, are challenging to cultivate artificially due to their specific growth requirements. This study investigates the impact of arginine on the mycelial growth, development, and lignocellulolytic capabilities of Termitomyces. We found that arginine significantly promoted conidia formation, altered mycelial morphology, and enhanced biomass and polysaccharide content. The addition of arginine also upregulated the expression of the enzymes related to lignocellulose decomposition, leading to increased activities of cellulase, hemicellulase, and laccase, which accelerated the decomposition and utilization of corn straw. A transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression patterns of carbohydrate-active enzyme genes in arginine-supplemented Termitomyces mycelia, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying these enhancements. The GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis highlighted the role of arginine in transmembrane transport, fatty acid oxidation, and carbohydrate metabolism. This study offers a molecular basis for the observed phenotypic changes and valuable insights for developing optimal culture strategies for Termitomyces, potentially enhancing its artificial cultivation and application in the bioconversion of lignocellulosic waste.},
}
@article {pmid39940887,
year = {2025},
author = {Ventura, G and Bianco, M and Losito, I and Cataldi, TRI and Calvano, CD},
title = {Complete Polar Lipid Profile of Kefir Beverage by Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography with HRMS and Tandem Mass Spectrometry.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39940887},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {LSH-Puglia, T4-AN-01 H93C22000560003//Regione Puglia/ ; 2023-UNBACLE-0241870-Lipid7//University of Bari Aldo Moro/ ; },
mesh = {Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; *Kefir/analysis ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; *Lipids/analysis/chemistry ; *Beverages/analysis ; *Lipidomics/methods ; Glycolipids/analysis ; Phospholipids/analysis/chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; },
abstract = {Kefir, a fermented milk product produced using kefir grains, is a symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeasts responsible for driving the fermentation process. In this study, an in-depth analysis of kefir's lipid profile was conducted, with a focus on its phospholipid (PL) content, employing liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Nearly 300 distinct polar lipids were identified through hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) and Fourier-transform orbital-trap MS and linear ion-trap tandem MS/MS. The identified lipids included phosphatidylcholines (PCs), lyso-phosphatidylcholines (LPCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) and lyso-phosphatidylethanolamines (LPEs), phosphatidylserines (PSs), phosphatidylglycerols (PGs), and phosphatidylinositols (PIs). The presence of lysyl-phosphatidylglycerols (LyPGs) was identified as a key finding, marking a lipid class characteristic of Gram-positive bacterial membranes. This discovery highlights the role of viable bacteria in kefir and underscores its probiotic potential. The structural details of minor glycolipids (GLs) and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) were further elucidated, enriching the understanding of kefir's lipid complexity. Fatty acyl (FA) composition was characterized using reversed-phase LC coupled with tandem MS. A mild epoxidation reaction with meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) was performed to pinpoint double-bond positions in FAs. The dominant fatty acids were identified as C18:3, C18:2, C18:1, C18:0 (stearic acid), C16:0 (palmitic acid), and significant levels of C14:0 (myristic acid). Additionally, two isomers of FA 18:1 were distinguished: ∆9-cis (oleic acid) and ∆11-trans (vaccenic acid). These isomers were identified using diagnostic ion pairs, retention times, and accurate m/z values. This study provides an unprecedented level of detail on the lipid profile of kefir, shedding light on its complex composition and potential nutritional benefits.},
}
@article {pmid39940650,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, H and He, L and Li, H and Tao, N and Chang, T and Wang, D and Lu, Y and Li, Z and Mai, C and Zhao, X and Niu, B and Ma, J and Wang, L},
title = {Role of GmFRI-1 in Regulating Soybean Nodule Formation Under Cold Stress.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39940650},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {2023ZD040350103//Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China/ ; 32241046, 32241045//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/microbiology/metabolism/physiology/growth &amp; development ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Cold-Shock Response/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Cold Temperature ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation, recognized as the most efficient nitrogen assimilation system in ecosystems, is essential for soybean growth, as nodulation provides critical nitrogen to host cells. Soybeans thrive in warm and moist environments. However, they are highly susceptible to low temperatures, which impede the formation and development of root nodules. The genetic basis and molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of nodulation induced by low temperatures remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis of soybean roots inoculated with rhizobium at 1 DPI (Day Post Inoculation) under normal or cold treatments. We identified 39 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated genes associated with nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Notably, cold-responsive genes including three FRI (Frigida) family genes were identified among differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further expression pattern analysis of GmFRI-1 demonstrated it being significantly responsive to rhizobium inoculation and its highest expression in nodules. Further investigation revealed that overexpression of GmFRI-1 led to an increase in the nodule number, while RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene editing of GmFRI-1 suppressed nodule formation. Additionally, GmFRI-1 overexpression may regulate soybean nodulation by modulating the expression of GmNIN (NODULE INCEPTION), GmNSP1 (nodulation signaling pathway 1), and GmHAP2-2 (histone- or haem-associated protein domain) in the nod factor signaling pathway. This study offers new insights into the genetic basis of nodulation regulation under cold stress in legumes and indicates that GmFRI-1 may serve as a key regulator of nodule formation under cold stress.},
}
@article {pmid39939598,
year = {2025},
author = {Layton, E and Goldsworthy, S and Yang, E and Ong, WY and Sutherland, TE and Bancroft, AJ and Thompson, S and Au, VB and Griffiths-Jones, S and Grencis, RK and Fairhurst, AM and Roberts, IS},
title = {An optimised faecal microRNA sequencing pipeline reveals fibrosis in Trichuris muris infection.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {1589},
pmid = {39939598},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; *Trichuriasis/parasitology/pathology/genetics ; *Trichuris ; *Feces/chemistry/parasitology ; Mice ; Fibrosis ; Female ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Intestines/pathology/parasitology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; },
abstract = {The intestine is a site of diverse functions including digestion, nutrient absorption, immune surveillance, and microbial symbiosis. Intestinal microRNAs (miRNAs) are detectable in faeces and regulate barrier integrity, host-microbe interactions and the immune response, potentially offering valuable non-invasive tools to study intestinal health. However, current experimental methods are suboptimal and heterogeneity in study design limits the utility of faecal miRNA data. Here, we develop an optimised protocol for faecal miRNA detection and report a reproducible murine faecal miRNA profile in healthy mice. We use this pipeline to study faecal miRNAs during infection with the gastrointestinal helminth, Trichuris muris, revealing roles for miRNAs in fibrosis and wound healing. Intestinal fibrosis was confirmed in vivo using Hyperion® imaging mass cytometry, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach. Further applications of this optimised pipeline to study host-microbe interactions and intestinal disease will enable the generation of hypotheses and therapeutic strategies in diverse contexts.},
}
@article {pmid39938947,
year = {2025},
author = {Rogowska-van der Molen, MA and Manzano-Marín, A and Postma, JL and Coolen, S and van Alen, T and Jansen, RS and Welte, CU},
title = {From eggs to guts: Symbiotic association of Sodalis nezarae sp. nov. with the Southern green shield bug Nezara viridula.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {101},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {39938947},
issn = {1574-6941},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Enterobacteriaceae/physiology/genetics/classification ; *Heteroptera/microbiology/physiology ; Male ; Phylogeny ; Ovum/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Female ; },
abstract = {Phytophagous insects engage in symbiotic relationships with bacteria that contribute to digestion, nutrient supplementation, and development of the host. The analysis of shield bug microbiomes has been mainly focused on the gut intestinal tract predominantly colonized by Pantoea symbionts and other microbial community members in the gut or other organs have hardly been investigated. In this study, we reveal that the Southern green shield bug Nezara viridula harbours a Sodalis symbiont in several organs, with a notable prevalence in salivary glands, and anterior regions of the midgut. Removing external egg microbiota via sterilization profoundly impacted insect viability but did not disrupt the vertical transmission of Sodalis and Pantoea symbionts. Based on the dominance of Sodalis in testes, we deduce that N. viridula males could be involved in symbiont vertical transmission. Genomic analyses comparing Sodalis species revealed that Sodalis sp. Nvir shares characteristics with both free-living and obligate insect-associated Sodalis spp. Sodalis sp. Nvir also displays genome instability typical of endosymbiont lineages, which suggests ongoing speciation to an obligate endosymbiont. Together, our study reveals that shield bugs harbour unrecognized symbionts that might be paternally transmitted.},
}
@article {pmid39938596,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, J and Lin, S and Luo, X and Sun, L and Chen, J and Cheng, B and Li, X},
title = {SYMRK significantly affected AMF symbiosis and plant growth in maize.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {353},
number = {},
pages = {112427},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112427},
pmid = {39938596},
issn = {1873-2259},
mesh = {*Zea mays/growth &amp; development/microbiology/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important symbiotic microorganisms in the soil that form reciprocal relationships with most plants to enhance their ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. The establishment of symbiosis between plants and AMF involves complex molecular mechanisms, and the SYMRK (Symbiosis receptor-like kinase) plays a pivotal role in the establishment of symbiosis. Maize (Zea mays) is a globally significant crop and one of the hosts for AMF, but research on AMF symbiosis-related genes in maize is limited. In this study, we identified a symbiosis receptor-like kinase in maize, named ZmSYMRK, which corresponds to the ortholog gene OsSYMRK in rice. ZmSYMRK encodes a cell membrane-localized protein kinase that is crucial for AMF colonization. We demonstrated that ZmSYMRK deletion resulted in severe defects in maize symbiosis with AMF. The colonization rates of zmsymrk mutants were significantly reduced at three different time points, and the colonization defects did not recover with prolonged colonization time. Furthermore, the deletion of the ZmSYMRK gene severely affected plant growth under low phosphorus conditions, and the growth defects of the mutants were even more pronounced after symbiosis. We conclude that ZmSYMRK plays a crucial role in both plant growth and the establishment of symbiotic relationships with AMF.},
}
@article {pmid39938376,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, Y and Li, S and Jiao, Y and Ji, X and Li, Y and Chen, Q and Zhang, X and Zhang, G},
title = {Efficient removal of enrofloxacin in swine wastewater using eukaryotic-bacterial symbiotic membraneless bioelectrochemical system.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {489},
number = {},
pages = {137513},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137513},
pmid = {39938376},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {*Enrofloxacin ; Animals ; Swine ; *Wastewater ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism/analysis ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Bacteria/metabolism ; Bioreactors ; Symbiosis ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; *Bioelectric Energy Sources ; Eukaryota ; Fungi/metabolism ; },
abstract = {A eukaryotic-bacterial symbiotic membraneless bioelectrochemical system (EBES) reactor with eukaryotic-bacteria symbiotic cathode was developed to treat swine wastewater containing enrofloxacin (ENR), which had high performance at ENR tolerance and operational stability. With ENR concentrations shifting from 2 to 50 mg/L, the removal efficiencies of ENR, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH4[+]-N always were higher than 95 %, and the maximum power output (≥343 mW/m[3]) could be achieved. At 20 mg/L ENR, the removal efficiencies of ENR, COD and NH4[+]-N respectively reached to 99.4 ± 0.1 %, 98.5 % ± 0.1 %, and 96.3 % ± 0.5 %, corresponding to the open circuit voltage and maximum power density (Pmax) of EBES were 851 mV and 455 mW/m[3]. The community analyses showed that bacteria (Comamonas, Rhodobacter, Rhodococcus, and Vermiphilaceae et al.), algae (Chlorella) and fungi (Rozellomycota, Trebouxiophyceae, Exophiala, and Aspergillus et al.) at genus level were the dominate populations in the EBES, and their abundance increased with ENR concentration, suggesting they played key roles to remove ENR and another nutrient element. The low relative abundances (1.9 ×10[-7] to 1.1 ×10[-5] copies/g) of aac (6')-ib-cr, qnrA, qnrD, qnrS, and gyrA in effluent revealed that the present EBES reactor had superior capabilities in controlling antibiotic-resistance genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Our trial experiments provided a novel way for antibiotic livestock wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid39938136,
year = {2025},
author = {Segura, J and Gómez, M},
title = {Replication-transcription symbiosis in the mammalian nucleus: The art of living together.},
journal = {Current opinion in cell biology},
volume = {93},
number = {},
pages = {102479},
doi = {10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102479},
pmid = {39938136},
issn = {1879-0410},
mesh = {Animals ; *Cell Nucleus/genetics/metabolism ; *DNA Replication ; Humans ; *Transcription, Genetic ; *Mammals/genetics ; Chromatin/metabolism/genetics ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Similarly to life in our planet, where thousands of species inhabit the same ecosystem, the cell nucleus hosts different essential processes that share the same territory, making the interaction between them unavoidable. DNA replication and transcription are essential processes that copy and decode the information contained in our genomes, sharing -and competing for- the same chromatin template. Both activities are executed by large macromolecular machines with similar requirements to access the DNA, remodel the nucleosomes ahead of them and reassemble the chromatin make-up behind. Mechanistically, both processes cannot simultaneously act on the same DNA sequence, but emerging evidence shows that they frequently interact. Here we revise recent data on how transcription and replication occur in chromatin highlighting the symbiotic relationship between both processes, which might help explain how their activities contribute to shape the structure and function of the mammalian genome.},
}
@article {pmid39937913,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, CC and Xie, QY and Chuang, PS and Darnajoux, R and Chien, YY and Wang, WH and Tian, X and Tu, CH and Chen, BC and Tang, SL and Chen, KH},
title = {A thallus-forming N-fixing fungus-cyanobacterium symbiosis from subtropical forests.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {11},
number = {7},
pages = {eadt4093},
pmid = {39937913},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; *Cyanobacteria/physiology/classification/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Forests ; Lichens ; *Fungi/physiology ; Ascomycota ; },
abstract = {Fungi engage in diverse symbiotic relationships with phototrophs. Lichens, symbiotic complexes involving fungi and either cyanobacteria, green algae, or both, have fungi forming the external layer and much of the interior. We found an erect thallus resembling a lichen yet with an unexpected thallus structure composed of interwoven cyanobacterial filaments with numerous fungal hyphae inserted within individual cyanobacterial sheaths, contrasting with typical lichen structure. Phylogenetics identified the fungus as a previously undescribed species, Serendipita cyanobacteriicola, closely related to endophytes, and the cyanobacterium belongs to the family Coleofasciculaceae, representing a genus and species not yet classified, Symbiothallus taiwanensis. These thalli exhibit nitrogen-fixing activity similar to mosses but lower than cyanolichens. Both symbiotic partners are distinct from known lichen-forming symbionts, uncovering a phylogenetically and morphologically unprecedented thallus-forming fungus-cyanobacterium symbiosis. We propose the name "phyllosymbia" for these thalli to underscore their unique symbiotic nature and leaf-like appearance. This finding marks a previously unknown instance of fungi solely residing within structures generated by cyanobacteria.},
}
@article {pmid39937867,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, E and Wang, Y and Crowther, TW and Sun, W and Chen, S and Zhou, D and Shangguan, Z and Huang, J and He, JS and Wang, Y and Sheng, J and Tang, L and Li, X and Dong, M and Wu, Y and Hu, S and Bai, Y and Yu, G},
title = {Mycorrhiza increases plant diversity and soil carbon storage in grasslands.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {7},
pages = {e2412556122},
pmid = {39937867},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {332192464//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2023YFF1304105//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Grassland ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Carbon/metabolism ; *Biodiversity ; China ; Soil Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Biomass ; *Plants/microbiology/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Experimental studies have shown that symbiotic relationships between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and host plants can regulate soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. Although the impacts of mycorrhiza are highly context-dependent, it remains unclear how these effects vary across broad spatial scales. Based on data from 2296 field sites across grassland ecosystems of China, here we show that mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances SOC storage in the topsoil and subsoil through increasing plant diversity and elevating biomass allocation to belowground. SOC storage is significantly higher in both the topsoil and subsoil in systems dominated by obligate mycorrhizal (OM) and facultative mycorrhizal (FM) plants than those dominated by nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants. Also, the relative abundance of OM plants increases at the expense of FM plants as temperature and precipitation increase. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms by which mycorrhizal fungi may influence grassland plant diversity and SOC storage in the context of global change.},
}
@article {pmid39937681,
year = {2025},
author = {Andrews, M and Zhang, J},
title = {Definition of the rhizobial symbiovars caraganae, robiniae and sophorae within Mesorhizobium and albiziae within Neomesorhizobium.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006678},
pmid = {39937681},
issn = {1466-5034},
}
@article {pmid39937680,
year = {2025},
author = {Boudreau, V and Albright, AR and Larson, BT and Gerbich, TM and Fadero, T and Yan, V and Lucas-DeMott, A and Yung, J and Moulin, SLY and Descovich, CP and Slabodnick, MM and Burlacot, A and Wang, JR and Niyogi, KK and Marshall, WF},
title = {The cell biology and genome of Stentor pyriformis, a giant cell that embeds symbiotic algae in a microtubule meshwork.},
journal = {Molecular biology of the cell},
volume = {36},
number = {4},
pages = {ar44},
pmid = {39937680},
issn = {1939-4586},
support = {K12 GM081266/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA008748/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; P30 CA016086/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM130327/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; *Microtubules/metabolism ; *Chlorella/genetics/physiology ; *Ciliophora/genetics/cytology/physiology ; Genome ; Photosynthesis ; Phylogeny ; Phototaxis ; },
abstract = {Endosymbiotic events in which an endosymbiont is retained within a cell that remains capable of phagocytosis, a situation known as mixotrophy, provide potentially important clues about the eukaryotic evolution. Here we describe the cell biology and genome of the giant mixotrophic ciliate Stentor pyriformis. We show that S. pyriformis contains Chlorella variabilis as an endosymbiont that retains the ability to live outside the host. Within the host, the Chlorella cells surrounded by microtubule "baskets" near the cell surface. Photosynthetic efficiency of the Chlorella is reduced inside the Stentor cell compared with outside the host, due to increased nonphotochemical quenching. S. pyriformis displays positive phototaxis via directed swimming that requires the presence of the Chlorella, implying a potential flow of information from the symbiont to direct the orientation and swimming of the host cell. We sequenced the S. pyriformis genome and found that it employs a standard genetic code, similar to other Stentor species but different from most other ciliates. We propose that S. pyriformis will serve as a useful model system for studying endosymbiosis, with unique advantages in terms of size and regenerative ability as well as distinct cellular and genomic features compared with other mixotrophic ciliate models.},
}
@article {pmid39936470,
year = {2025},
author = {Oboli, VN},
title = {Mentorship: A gifted symbiosis.},
journal = {Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine},
volume = {32},
number = {2},
pages = {190-191},
doi = {10.1111/acem.15085},
pmid = {39936470},
issn = {1553-2712},
}
@article {pmid39934578,
year = {2025},
author = {Ma, W and Song, M and Ji, Z and Liu, Y and Na, P and Li, Y and Nie, Z},
title = {Rapid metabolic profiling and authentication of Cordyceps using ambient ionization mass spectrometry and machine learning.},
journal = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry},
volume = {417},
number = {9},
pages = {1935-1945},
pmid = {39934578},
issn = {1618-2650},
support = {2023AAC03013//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; 2020BDE03016//Key Research and Development Plan Project of Ningxia Province/ ; 22334007//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Cordyceps/metabolism/classification/chemistry ; *Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization/methods ; *Machine Learning ; *Metabolomics/methods ; *Metabolome ; },
abstract = {Cordyceps sinensis, a symbiotic organism formed between a fungus and an insect, is celebrated for its substantial medicinal benefits and economic significance in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the market for Cordyceps sinensis is rife with counterfeits, where numerous types of Cordyceps frequently pose as the genuine species, leading to financial losses for consumers. Here, we developed an ambient ionization mass spectrometry for the metabolic analysis of four kinds of Cordyceps. We tentatively identified a total of 81 metabolites, revealing significant differences between wild-type Cordyceps sinensis and its counterfeit counterparts. The heterogeneous distribution of metabolites was also examined. Notably, ergothioneine, an antioxidant, and its precursor hercynine were found to be more abundant in the stroma compared to other sections. Then, a neural network was employed to distinguish between different Cordyceps, achieving an average classification accuracy of 90.3% in blind tests. We demonstrate the potential for on-site detection of Cordyceps using a handheld nano-electrospray ionization source in conjunction with a miniature mass spectrometer, yielding mass spectral profiles comparable to those obtained with a benchtop system.},
}
@article {pmid39934476,
year = {2025},
author = {Muema, EK and van Lill, M and Venter, SN and Chan, WY and Claassens, R and Steenkamp, ET},
title = {Mesorhizobium salmacidum sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium argentiipisi sp. nov. are symbionts of the dry-land forage legumes Lessertia diffusa and Calobota sericea.},
journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek},
volume = {118},
number = {3},
pages = {54},
pmid = {39934476},
issn = {1572-9699},
mesh = {*Mesorhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; South Africa ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; },
abstract = {Legumes Lessertia diffusa and Calobota sericea, indigenous to South Africa, are commonly used as fodder crops with potential for sustainable livestock pasture production. Rhizobia were isolated from their root nodules grown in their respective soils from the Succulent Karoo biome (SKB) in South Africa, identified and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene confirmed all isolates as Mesorhizobium members, which were categorized into two distinct lineages using five housekeeping protein-coding genes. Lineage I included 14 strains from both legumes, while Lineage II comprised a single isolate from C. sericea. Differences in phenotypic traits were observed between the lineages and corroborated by average nucleotide identity analyses. While all strains nodulated their original hosts, strains from C. sericea failed to effectively nodulate L. diffusa and vice versa. Phylogenetic analyses of nitrogen fixation (nifH) and nodulation (nodA, nodC) loci grouped all strains in a single clade, suggesting that unique symbiotic loci determine nodulation of these legumes. We designated Lineage I and II as Mesorhizobium salmacidum sp. nov. (Ld1326[Ts]; GCA_037179605.1[Ts]) and Mesorhizobium argentiipisi sp. nov. (Cs1330R2N1[Ts]; GCA_037179585.1[Ts]), using genome sequences as nomenclatural types according to the Nomenclatural Code for Prokaryotes using Sequence Data, thus avoiding complications with South Africa's biodiversity regulations. Identifying effective microsymbionts of L. diffusa and C. sericea is essential for conservation of Succulent Karoo Biome, where indigenous invasive species like Vachellia karroo and non-native Australian acacia species are present. Furthermore, targeted management practices using effective symbionts of the studied legumes can sustain the biome's socio-economic contribution through fodder provision.},
}
@article {pmid39933580,
year = {2025},
author = {Kaur, R and Bordenstein, SR},
title = {Cytoplasmic incompatibility factor proteins from Wolbachia prophage are costly to sperm development in Drosophila melanogaster.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {292},
number = {2040},
pages = {20243016},
pmid = {39933580},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; //Penn State/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/physiology/genetics/virology ; *Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology/physiology/growth &amp; development/genetics ; Male ; *Spermatozoa/growth &amp; development ; *Prophages/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Female ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {The symbiosis between arthropods and Wolbachia bacteria is globally widespread, largely due to selfish-drive systems that favour the fitness of symbiont-transmitting females. The most common drive, cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), is central to arboviral control efforts. In Drosophila melanogaster carrying wMel Wolbachia deployed in mosquito control, two prophage genes in Wolbachia, cifA and cifB, cause CI that results in a paternal-effect lethality of embryos in crosses between Wolbachia-bearing males and aposymbiotic females. While the CI mechanism by which Cif proteins alter sperm development has recently been elucidated in D. melanogaster and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the Cifs' extended impact on male reproductive fitness such as sperm morphology and quantity remains unclear. Here, using cytochemical, microscopic and transgenic assays in D. melanogaster, we demonstrate that both CifA and CifB cause a significant portion of defects in elongating spermatids, culminating in malformed mature sperm nuclei. Males expressing Cifs have reduced spermatid bundles and sperm counts, and transgenic expression of Cifs can occasionally result in no mature sperm formation. We reflect on Cifs' varied functional impacts on the Host Modification model of CI as well as host evolution, behaviour and vector control strategies.},
}
@article {pmid39933515,
year = {2025},
author = {Schär, S and Talavera, G and Dapporto, L and Bruschini, C and Dincă, V and Beza-Beza, C and Wiegmann, BM and Taheri, A and Pape, T and Vila, R},
title = {Blow fly larvae socially integrate termite nests through morphological and chemical mimicry.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {5},
pages = {1121-1127.e3},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.007},
pmid = {39933515},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {Animals ; Larva/physiology/anatomy &amp; histology/growth &amp; development ; *Isoptera/physiology ; *Calliphoridae/physiology/anatomy &amp; histology ; Social Behavior ; *Nesting Behavior ; *Biological Mimicry ; *Diptera/physiology ; },
abstract = {Nests of ecosystem-dominant eusocial insects like ants and termites offer stable, nutrient-rich, and protected habitats that may be exploited by other organisms. Several arthropod lineages managed to breach nest defenses and become inquilines, mutualists, predators, parasitoids, or social parasites.[1][,][2][,][3][,][4] However, achieving social integration requires extreme morphological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations.[5] Among flies, only scuttle flies (Phoridae) are well-known social parasites,[2] although interactions with termites (predation, scavenging, and putative parasitism) have also been mentioned in anecdotal reports for blow flies (Rhiniinae[6][,][7][,][8][,][9][,][10] and Bengaliinae[11][,][12][,][13]) and flesh flies (Miltogramminae[14][,][15][,][16]). Here, we report a fly larva found to be socially integrated within nests of the termite Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Burmeister) in Morocco. Behavioral, chemical, and morphological analyses show that colony integration, including communication and grooming, is achieved through unique adaptations. The chemical profiles of the fly larvae perfectly match those of the termites at the colony level. Notably, the posterior part of the larvae mimics a termite's head, and the long papillae that imitate the termites' antennae surround the entire body. Based on phylogenomics, we show that the larvae belong to the blow fly genus Rhyncomya (Calliphoridae: Rhiniinae). Our results support the hypothesis that the enigmatic blow fly subfamily Prosthetosomatinae (only known from larvae observed in termite nests[17][,][18][,][19][,][20]) is Rhiniinae. Thus, we demonstrate that the diverse schizophoran flies evolved social integration independently from the 150-million-year-diverged Phoridae radiation. This discovery sheds light on the repeated evolution of termitophily within the order Diptera. VIDEO ABSTRACT.},
}
@article {pmid39931814,
year = {2025},
author = {Lintnerova, E and Shaw, C and Keys, M and Brownlee, C and Modepalli, V},
title = {Plant-like heliotropism in a photosymbiotic animal.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {228},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1242/jeb.247651},
pmid = {39931814},
issn = {1477-9145},
support = {//Marine Biological Association/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Sea Anemones/physiology/radiation effects ; *Photosynthesis ; Sunlight ; *Phototropism ; Oxygen/metabolism ; },
abstract = {As in plants, photosynthesis also represents a key energy source in photosymbiotic cnidarians bearing microalgae. We observed that the cnidarian sea anemone Anemonia viridis, commonly known as the snakelocks anemone, displayed heliotropism or solar tracking in their natural habitats. When exposed to sunlight, A. viridis point their tentacles towards the sun while remaining sessile, facing east at dawn and west at dusk as they track the sun's relative position through the day. This phenomenon was previously only observed in plants. Solar tracking movements in A. viridis are driven by peak wavelengths that prompt photosynthesis in their endosymbionts. The heliotropic response was absent in both bleached (aposymbiotic) A. viridis and in symbiotic A. viridis with chemically inhibited photosynthesis. We revealed a direct correlation between heliotropism and symbiont oxygen production in A. viridis and showed how photosymbiotic A. viridis utilises this mechanism to modulate exposure to solar irradiation. Our study exemplifies how photosynthetic organisms such as plants and symbiotic sea anemones, display similar behaviour in response to similar environmental pressures.},
}
@article {pmid39931676,
year = {2025},
author = {Dutkiewicz, Z and Singleton, CM and Sereika, M and Villada, JC and Mussig, AJ and Chuvochina, M and Albertsen, M and Schulz, F and Woyke, T and Nielsen, PH and Hugenholtz, P and Rinke, C},
title = {Proposal of Patescibacterium danicum gen. nov., sp. nov. in the ubiquitous bacterial phylum Patescibacteriota phyl. nov.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {5},
number = {1},
pages = {ycae147},
pmid = {39931676},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Candidatus Patescibacteria is a diverse bacterial phylum that is notable for members with ultrasmall cell size, reduced genomes, limited metabolic capabilities, and dependence on other prokaryotic hosts. Despite the prevalence of the name Ca. Patescibacteria in the scientific literature, it is not officially recognized under the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes and lacks a nomenclatural type. Here, we rectify this situation by describing two closely related circular metagenome-assembled genomes and by proposing one of them (ABY1[TS]) to serve as the nomenclatural type for the species Patescibacterium danicum [TS] gen. nov., sp. nov. according to the rules of the SeqCode. Rank-normalized phylogenomic inference confirmed the stable placement of P. danicum [TS] in the Ca. Patescibacteria class ABY1. Based on these results, we propose Patescibacterium gen. nov. to serve as the type genus for associated higher taxa, including the phylum Patescibacteriota phyl. nov. We complement our proposal with a genomic characterization, metabolic reconstruction, and biogeographical analysis of Patescibacterium. Our results confirm small genome sizes (<1 Mbp), low GC content (>36%), and the occurrence of long gene coding insertions in the 23S rRNA sequences, along with reduced metabolic potential, inferred symbiotic lifestyle, and a global distribution. In summary, our proposal will provide nomenclatural stability to the fourth-largest phylum in the bacterial domain.},
}
@article {pmid39931481,
year = {2025},
author = {Gupta, A and Chandra Pandey, B and Yaseen, M and Kushwaha, R and Shukla, M and Chaudhary, P and Manna, PP and Singh, A and Tiwari, I and Nath, G and Kumari, N},
title = {Exploring anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potential of Aspergillus flavus, a fungal endophyte isolated from Dillenia indica leaf callus.},
journal = {Heliyon},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {e42142},
pmid = {39931481},
issn = {2405-8440},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endophytic fungi represent a compelling assemblage of microorganisms that inhabit plant tissues without inflicting any discernible detriment to the host organism. They foster a symbiotic association with their host plants, frequently conferring advantages such as augmented growth, enhanced resilience to stressors, and safeguarding against pathogens.<br><br>STUDY DESIGN: Dillenia indica is a medicinal tree of Dilleniaceae. This study aims to isolate and identify the fungi growing as a contaminant in leaf callus. For the identification, both morphological observation and molecular methods were used. The presence of secondary metabolites in different fungal extracts were observed by FTIR and High-resolution accurate mass spectroscopy (HRAMS) methods. Different biological activities (antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor) of fungal extracts were assessed.<br><br>METHODS: For callus initiation, leaf tissues of Dillenia indica were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with BAP (1mgl-1) and NAA (1mgl-1) plant growth regulators. To raise pure cultures of endophyte, fungal hyphae were isolated from the contaminated cultures and were grown on Potato Dextrose Agar medium. For molecular identification, genomic DNA (gDNA) was isolated from fungal mycelia. Internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS4) were used to amplify the conserved ITS region of the fungal gDNA. Previously deposited sequences in the Gene bank were used for the identification and making of phylogenetic tree. Antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer potential of fungal extracts were studied.<br><br>RESULTS: The endophyte was identified as Aspergillus flavus. FTIR study showed the presence of diverse types of secondary metabolites in fungal extract. A significant presence of phenolics, flavonoids, terpenes, steroids, etc. was observed by High-resolution accurate mass spectroscopy analysis (HRAMS) of fungal extract. Endophyte extract prepared in chloroform showed both antioxidant (IC50 430.23) and antibacterial (maximum inhibition of E. coli:15&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.62&#xa0;mm) potential compared to other solvents. Cell viability decreased at high concentrations of endophyte extract prepared in chloroform and ethyl acetate solvents. Fungal extract prepared in ethyl acetate showed considerable cytotoxicity and growth inhibition of DL tumor cells.<br><br>CONCLUSION: In the present study, isolated endophyte of Dillenia indica showed high occurrence of secondary metabolites. Fungal extracts showed antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor activities. As, endophytes are remarkable source of active constituents, there is a great need to explore such endophytes. Their extensive studies are required to develop an alternative of plant less production of valuable compounds.},
}
@article {pmid39930789,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiang, H and Lv, M and He, T and Xie, M and Zhao, Z and He, J and Luo, S and Guo, Y and Chen, J},
title = {Effects of ex situ conservation on commensal bacteria of crocodile lizard and conservation implications.},
journal = {The veterinary quarterly},
volume = {45},
number = {1},
pages = {1-14},
pmid = {39930789},
issn = {1875-5941},
mesh = {Animals ; *Lizards/microbiology ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; Skin/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Endangered Species ; *Bacteria/classification/isolation &amp; purification ; Symbiosis ; Mouth/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Ex situ conservation is an important wildlife conservation strategy, but endangered wildlife in captivity often exhibit high disease rates. Commensal microorganisms are vital for homeostasis, immunity, and linked to diseases. This study analyzed the structure, assembly, variations of the symbiotic microbiota of the endangered crocodile lizard, and their relationship with environment, as well as the effects of captivity on them, to explore why captive reptiles face high dermatosis rates. Results showed that the reptile's microbiota significantly differ from that of its habitat, demonstrating niche specificity. While species richness among organs showed no significant differences, microbial diversity varied considerably. Skin microbiota showed no site-specific clustering. The assembly of skin, oral, and intestinal bacterial communities was dominated by homogeneous selection. The gut and oral bacterial networks were resilient to disturbances, while the skin bacterial network was sensitive. Captivity primarily affected the skin microbiota, reducing its diversity and stability, thereby increasing disease risk, and these effects were not solely attributable to environmental changes. These findings suggested that skin microbial changes in captive reptiles may be responsible for their increased susceptibility to dermatosis in ex situ conservation. This study underscored the importance of understanding reptile-associated microbes for effective conservation strategies and offers potential solutions.},
}
@article {pmid39930233,
year = {2025},
author = {Etchegaray, JI and Ravichandran, K},
title = {Role of RPE Phagocytosis in the Retina Metabolic Ecosystem.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1468},
number = {},
pages = {429-433},
pmid = {39930233},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {*Phagocytosis/physiology ; Humans ; *Retinal Pigment Epithelium/metabolism ; Animals ; *Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment/metabolism ; *Energy Metabolism ; },
abstract = {Photoreceptors are the most glycolytically active cells in the body. Vital to glucose homeostasis is the metabolic relationship between the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The photoreceptors and RPE are in metabolic symbiosis, wherein the RPE takes up glucose from circulation and passes it on to the photoreceptors to fuel glycolysis. In turn, the photoreceptors produce energy substrates that are taken up by the RPE to support their metabolism. One of the main roles of the RPE is to phagocytose "used" photoreceptor outer segments (POS), a process that occurs to mitigate damage accrued by light. This mini-review explores the role that POS phagocytosis has in supporting the metabolic ecosystem linking photoreceptors and the RPE.},
}
@article {pmid39929927,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, L and He, Z and Zhang, D and Zhao, F and Zhang, Y and Ding, R},
title = {The role of gut microbiota at different developmental stages in the adaptation of the Etiella zinckenella to a plant host.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {4971},
pmid = {39929927},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {31860619,31560611//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021AAC02009//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; Larva/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Sophora/parasitology ; Pupa/microbiology ; *Adaptation, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Insect gut symbiotic microbiota play a crucial role in the nutritional, physiological, and behavioral aspects of their hosts, providing valuable insights for investigating the co-evolution of insects and plants. Sophora alopecuroides L. serves as an important windbreak plant, while Etiella zinckenella is a major pest that infests its seeds. However, the structure of the gut microbiota community in E. zinckenella remains poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiota of E. zinckenella across different developmental stages-larvae (1st-5th instars), pupae, and adults-infesting S. alopecuroides using 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results revealed that the dominant phyla throughout the development of E. zinckenella were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota, although the dominant genera varied significantly across stages. Diversity analysis of gut microbiota at different developmental stages indicated that microbial diversity was significantly higher in the larval stage compared to the pupal and adult stages. Functional predictions further highlighted the richness of metabolic pathways within the gut microbiota of E. zinckenella. Notably, carbohydrate metabolism functions were significantly more abundant during the larval stage, while lipid metabolism functions were substantially lower. Our findings demonstrate dynamic changes in the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota across the developmental stages of E. zinckenella, underscoring the critical roles of these bacteria during specific stages of the insect's life cycle. This study lays the groundwork for future strategies aimed at controlling E. zinckenella through modulation of its gut microbiota, offering significant theoretical implications.},
}
@article {pmid39929034,
year = {2025},
author = {Coots, NL and Jasso-Selles, DE and Swichtenberg, KL and Aguilar, SG and Nguyen, L and Sidles, PG and Woo, C and Smith, HM and Bresee, BJ and Abboud, AA and Abd Al Rahman, T and Anand, R and Avalle, SR and Batra, A and Brown, MA and Camacho Ruelas, H and Fajardo Chavez, A and Gallegos, CN and Grambs, A and Hernández, DA and Singh Johal, A and Jones, SA and McAnally, KB and McNamara, M and Munigala, L and Nguyen, HL and Salas Perez, K and Shah, R and Sharma, NK and Thomas, MK and Vega Beltran, E and Verne, NM and De Martini, F and Gile, GH},
title = {The protist symbionts of Reticulitermes tibialis: Unexpected diversity enables a new taxonomic framework.},
journal = {Protist},
volume = {176},
number = {},
pages = {126087},
doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2025.126087},
pmid = {39929034},
issn = {1618-0941},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; Phylogeny ; *Isoptera/parasitology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; *Eukaryota/classification/genetics/physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics/chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; },
abstract = {Wood-feeding termites harbor specialized protists in their hindguts in a classic nutritional mutualism. The protists are vertically inherited, which has generated a broad-scale pattern of codiversification over ∼150 million years, but there are many incongruences due to lineage-specific loss and transfer of symbionts. Despite the evolutionary and economic importance of this symbiosis, the symbiont communities of most termite species are incompletely characterized or entirely unstudied. Here, we have investigated the protist symbiont community of Reticulitermes tibialis, using single-cell PCR to link morphology to 18S rRNA gene sequences. The protists belong to at least 41 species in 3 major lineages within Metamonada: Spirotrichonymphida, Pyrsonymphidae, and Trichonympha. The Spirotrichonymphida symbionts belong to 6 genera, including Pseudospironympha, which has not been found in Reticulitermes until now, and Dexiohelix, a new genus. Pyrsonymphidae traditionally include just Pyrsonympha and Dinenympha, but our morphology-linked 18S phylogeny indicates that both genera are polyphyletic. We accordingly restrict the definitions of Pyrsonympha and Dinenympha to the clades that include their type species, and we propose 5 new genera to accommodate the remaining clades. Short-read 18S amplicon sequencing revealed considerable variation in community composition across R. tibialis colonies in Arizona, suggestive of a symbiont metacommunity. Symbiont species varied in their prevalence across colonies, with a core set of about 12 highly prevalent symbiont species, 11 species with intermediate prevalence, and 18 rare species. This pattern contrasts with the traditional paradigm of consistent symbiont community composition across colonies of a termite species.},
}
@article {pmid39928903,
year = {2025},
author = {Baba, T and Hagiuda, R and Matsumae, H and Hirose, D},
title = {Does the genome of Sarcoleotia globosa encode a rich carbohydrate-active enzyme gene repertoire?.},
journal = {Mycologia},
volume = {117},
number = {2},
pages = {255-260},
doi = {10.1080/00275514.2025.2452305},
pmid = {39928903},
issn = {1557-2536},
mesh = {*Genome, Fungal ; *Ascomycota/genetics/enzymology ; *Carbohydrate Metabolism/genetics ; Phylogeny ; Mycorrhizae/genetics/enzymology ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; },
abstract = {The lifestyles of the order Geoglossales (Geoglossomycetes, Ascomycota) remain largely unknown. Recent observations support ericoid mycorrhizal lifestyles, especially in cultured Sarcoleotia-related species. However, the currently known genomes of geoglossoid fungi encode fewer carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in Pezizomycotina, in contrast to the abundant CAZyme repertoires found in well-known ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. The absence of assembled genomes for cultured geoglossoid fungi hinders our understanding of the genomic features related to their lifestyles. We hypothesize that the genome of Sarcoleotia globosa, a putative ericoid mycorrhizal fungus, encodes abundant CAZymes, consistent with its culturability. General features, such as smaller genome size and smaller number of genes, are shared between the genome of S. globosa strain NBRC 116039 and other geoglossalean genomes. However, the former had the most extensive CAZyme repertoire, with several enzyme families involved in plant cell wall degradation. Some of these CAZymes are not found in Geoglossales and closely related lineages. Nonetheless, the number of CAZymes from S. globosa was notably smaller than that previously reported in ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. This inconsistency may highlight not only ecophysiological variation among ericoid root mycobionts but also the specific evolution of lifestyles in Geoglossales.},
}
@article {pmid39928520,
year = {2025},
author = {Lin, YT and Peng, YB and Chen, C and Xu, T and Qiu, JW},
title = {Integrative morphological, mitogenomic and phylogenetic analyses reveal new vent-dwelling scallop species.},
journal = {Invertebrate systematics},
volume = {39},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1071/IS24091},
pmid = {39928520},
issn = {1447-2600},
mesh = {Animals ; *Phylogeny ; *Pectinidae/classification/genetics/anatomy &amp; histology ; Species Specificity ; Hydrothermal Vents ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Japan ; },
abstract = {Delectopecten is a small genus of the family Pectinidae (Bivalvia: Pectinida) that remains poorly studied in terms of both morphology and phylogeny. Here, we describe the first member of this genus from deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems, D. thermus sp. nov., based on morphological investigations and molecular analyses of a specimen collected from the Higashi-Ensei vent field (962-m depth) in the northern Okinawa Trough. Morphologically, this new species resembles D. vancouverensis and D. gelatinosus in shell size, shape, auricle size and sculpture. However, D. thermus sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeneric species (including 9 extant and 12 fossil species) by its unequal auricles (the anterior one being larger than the posterior), inwardly recurved anterior auricle of the left valve and a large byssal notch angle of ~90°. Comparisons of genetic sequences from three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments supported the placement of the new species in the genus Delectopecten . Further phylogenetic analyses using these gene markers support that Delectopecten is monophyletic and positioned as an early diverging clade of the family Pectinidae. Additionally, the mitogenome of D. thermus sp. nov. was assembled and annotated, a first for its genus - revealing significant divergences in gene order compared to other pectinids. The 16S rRNA amplicon analysis of the gill tissue indicated that this vent-dwelling scallop does not exhibit symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria. A key to all known species of Delectopecten is provided to aid the identification of species in this understudied genus. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D3D5D4AD-EE39-49F0-9782-12A5D6752A67.},
}
@article {pmid39928396,
year = {2025},
author = {Nakajima, M and Nakai, R and Hirakata, Y and Kubota, K and Satoh, H and Nobu, MK and Narihiro, T and Kuroda, K},
title = {Minisyncoccus archaeiphilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a mesophilic, obligate parasitic bacterium and proposal of Minisyncoccaceae fam. nov., Minisyncoccales ord. nov., Minisyncoccia class. nov. and Minisyncoccota phyl. nov. formerly referred to as Candidatus Patescibacteria or candidate phyla radiation.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {75},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {39928396},
issn = {1466-5034},
mesh = {*Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Base Composition ; Methanospirillum/growth &amp; development ; Symbiosis ; DNA, Archaeal/genetics ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/analysis ; },
abstract = {In the domain Bacteria, one of the largest, most diverse and environmentally ubiquitous phylogenetic groups, Candidatus Patescibacteria (also known as candidate phyla radiation/CPR), remains poorly characterized, leaving a major knowledge gap in microbial ecology. We recently discovered a novel cross-domain symbiosis between Ca. Patescibacteria and Archaea in highly purified enrichment cultures and proposed Candidatus taxa for the characterized species, including Ca. Minisyncoccus archaeophilus and the corresponding family Ca. Minisyncoccaceae. In this study, we report the isolation of this bacterium, designated strain PMX.108[T], in a two-strain co-culture with a host archaeon, Methanospirillum hungatei strain DSM 864[T] (JF-1[T]), and hereby describe it as the first representative species of Ca. Patescibacteria. Strain PMX.108[T] was isolated from mesophilic methanogenic sludge in an anaerobic laboratory-scale bioreactor treating synthetic purified terephthalate- and dimethyl terephthalate-manufacturing wastewater. The strain could not grow axenically and is obligately anaerobic and parasitic, strictly depending on M. hungatei as a host. The genome was comparatively large (1.54 Mbp) compared to other members of the clade, lacked some genes involved in the biosynthesis pathway and encoded type IV pili-related genes associated with the parasitic lifestyle of ultrasmall microbes. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.6 mol%. Here, we report the phenotypic and genomic properties of strain PMX.108[T]; we propose Minisyncoccus archaeiphilus gen. nov., sp. nov. to accommodate this strain. The type strain of the species is PMX.108[T] (=JCM 39522[T]). We also propose the associated family, order, class and phylum as Minisyncoccaceae fam. nov. Minisyncoccales nov., Minisyncoccia class. nov. and Minisyncoccota phyl. nov. within the bacterial kingdom Bacillati.},
}
@article {pmid39925102,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, B and Liu, F and He, X and Liu, Y and Liu, X and Lu, M},
title = {Leaf Beetle Symbiotic Bacteria Degrade Chlorogenic Acid of Poplar Induced by Egg Deposition to Enhance Larval Survival.},
journal = {Plant, cell &amp; environment},
volume = {48},
number = {6},
pages = {4212-4226},
doi = {10.1111/pce.15427},
pmid = {39925102},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {//This research was supported by the Hubei University National talent project (1070017364) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (32301593)./ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Chlorogenic Acid/metabolism ; *Populus/metabolism/parasitology/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Larva/physiology/microbiology ; *Coleoptera/physiology/microbiology ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/metabolism ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Rutin/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Insect symbiotic microbiota acting as a third-party force of plant-insect interactions, play a significant role in insect hosts tolerance to phytochemical defences. However, it remains unknown whether insect symbiotic bacteria can assist the host in degrading phytochemical defences induced by egg deposition. Plagiodera versicolora is a worldwide forest pest. Our study showed that P. versicolora egg deposition on Populus davidiana × Populus bolleana induced significant changes in the transcriptome and metabolome of leaves. Combined qRT-PCR and LC-MS quantitative analysis of metabolic pathways showed that the contents of chlorogenic acid and rutin were significantly increased upon egg deposition in poplar. Bioassays indicated that the high concentration of chlorogenic acid induced by egg deposition could significantly reduce the performance of germ-free larvae. Six symbiotic bacterial strains with potential ability to degrade chlorogenic acid were isolated and identified. Their degradation products did not affect larval survival either. In vivo inoculation assays showed that four of those symbiotic bacteria could assist in the degradation of high concentration of chlorogenic acid induced by egg deposition and improve the larval survival. Our study provides clear evidence that the insect symbiotic bacteria can mediate the tolerance of herbivorous insects against plant toxins induced by egg deposition.},
}
@article {pmid39921876,
year = {2025},
author = {Lidoy, J and Rivero, J and Ramšak, &#x17d; and Petek, M and Križnik, M and Flors, V and Lopez-Raez, JA and Martinez-Medina, A and Gruden, K and Pozo, MJ},
title = {Ethylene signaling is essential for mycorrhiza-induced resistance against chewing herbivores in tomato.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {76},
number = {7},
pages = {2005-2021},
pmid = {39921876},
issn = {1460-2431},
support = {P4-0165//Slovene Research Agency/ ; },
mesh = {*Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/physiology/metabolism/genetics/immunology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Herbivory ; *Ethylenes/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Animals ; *Spodoptera/physiology ; Manduca/physiology ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; *Plant Defense Against Herbivory ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can prime plant defenses, leading to mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against different attackers, including insect herbivores. Still, our knowledge of the complex molecular regulation leading to MIR is very limited. Here, we showed that the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae protects tomato plants against two different chewing herbivores, Spodoptera exigua and Manduca sexta. We explored the underlying molecular mechanism through genome-wide transcriptional profiling, bioinformatics network analyses, and functional bioassays. Herbivore-triggered jasmonate (JA)-regulated defenses were primed in leaves of mycorrhizal plants. Likewise, ethylene (ET) biosynthesis and signaling were also higher in leaves of mycorrhizal plants both before and after herbivory. We hypothesized that fine-tuned ET signaling is required for the primed defense response leading to MIR. ET is a complex regulator of plant responses to stress and is generally considered a negative regulator of plant defenses against herbivory. However, ET-deficient or insensitive lines did not show AM-primed JA biosynthesis or defense response, and were unable to develop MIR against any of the herbivores. Thus, we demonstrate that hormone crosstalk is central to the priming of plant immunity by beneficial microbes, with ET fine-tuning being essential for the primed JA biosynthesis and boosted defenses leading to MIR in tomato.},
}
@article {pmid39921668,
year = {2025},
author = {Duan, S and Jin, Z and Zhang, L and Declerck, S},
title = {Mechanisms of cooperation in the plants-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-bacteria continuum.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39921668},
issn = {1751-7370},
support = {202206350052//China Scholarship Council/ ; W2421024//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; *Plants/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Carbon/metabolism ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; },
abstract = {In nature, cooperation is an essential way for species, whether they belong to the same kingdom or to different kingdoms, to overcome the scarcity of resources and improve their fitness. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic microorganisms whose origin date back 400 million years. They form symbiotic associations with the vast majority of terrestrial plants, helping them to obtain nutrients from the soil in exchange for carbon. At the more complex level, soil bacteria participate in the symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plants: they obtain carbon from the exudation of hyphae connected to the roots and compensate for the limited saprophytic capacity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by mineralizing organic compounds. Therefore, plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil bacteria constitute a continuum that may be accompanied by multiple forms of cooperation. In this review, we first analyzed the functional complementarities and differences between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Secondly, we discussed the resource exchange relationship between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from the perspective of biological market theory and "surplus carbon" hypothesis. Finally, on the basis of mechanisms for maintaining cooperation, direct and indirect reciprocity in the hyphosphere, induced by the availability of external resource and species fitness, were examined. Exploring these reciprocal cooperations will provide a better understanding of the intricate ecological relationships between plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil bacteria as well as their evolutionary implications.},
}
@article {pmid39918275,
year = {2025},
author = {Rodrigues, CS and Gaifem, J and Pereira, MS and Alves, MF and Silva, M and Padrão, N and Cavadas, B and Moreira-Barbosa, C and Alves, I and Marcos-Pinto, R and Torres, J and Lavelle, A and Colombel, JF and Sokol, H and Pinho, SS},
title = {Alterations in mucosa branched N-glycans lead to dysbiosis and downregulation of ILC3: a key driver of intestinal inflammation.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2461210},
pmid = {39918275},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {Animals ; *Polysaccharides/metabolism/chemistry/immunology ; *Dysbiosis/immunology/microbiology/metabolism ; *Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology/metabolism ; Mice ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology/immunology ; Down-Regulation ; *Lymphocytes/immunology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Immunity, Innate ; Glycosylation ; Male ; Inflammation ; Female ; Disease Models, Animal ; },
abstract = {The perturbation of the symbiotic relationship between microbes and intestinal immune system contributes to gut inflammation and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) development. The host mucosa glycans (glycocalyx) creates a major biological interface between gut microorganisms and host immunity that remains ill-defined. Glycans are essential players in IBD immunopathogenesis, even years before disease onset. However, how changes in mucosa glycosylation shape microbiome and how this impact gut immune response and inflammation remains to be clarified. Here, we revealed that alterations in the expression of complex branched N-glycans at gut mucosa surface, modeled in glycoengineered mice, resulted in dysbiosis, with a deficiency in Firmicutes bacteria. Concomitantly, this mucosa N-glycan switch was associated with a downregulation of type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3)-mediated immune response, leading to the transition of ILC3 toward an ILC1 proinflammatory phenotype and increased TNFα production. In addition, we demonstrated that the mucosa glycosylation remodeling through prophylactic supplementation with glycans at steady state was able to restore microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids and microbial sensing (by NOD2 expression) alongside the rescue of the expression of ILC3 module, suppressing intestinal inflammation and controlling disease onset. In a complementary approach, we further showed that IBD patients, often displaying dysbiosis, exhibited a tendency of decreased MGAT5 expression at epithelial cells that was accompanied by reduced ILC3 expression in gut mucosa. Altogether, these results unlock the effects of alterations in mucosa glycome composition in the regulation of the bidirectional crosstalk between microbiota and gut immune response, revealing host branched N-glycans/microbiota/ILC3 axis as an essential pathway in gut homeostasis and in preventing health to intestinal inflammation transition.},
}
@article {pmid39916863,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, H and Kohler, A and Martin, FM},
title = {Biology, genetics, and ecology of the cosmopolitan ectomycorrhizal ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1502977},
pmid = {39916863},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum is a cosmopolitan and ecologically significant ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus that forms symbiotic associations with diverse host plants worldwide. As the only known ECM species within the large class Dothideomycetes, C. geophilum exhibits several characteristics that distinguish it from other ECM fungi. This fungus significantly contributes to ecosystem stability and development as an early colonizer of primary forest succession. The capacity of this symbiont to rapidly colonize disturbed or newly formed environments promotes the development of conditions that support the growth of other plant species, thus playing a crucial role in the ecological progression and restoration of ecosystems. Several C. geophilum isolates are known to enhance the drought resistance of host plants, a trait that is becoming increasingly important in the context of climate change and frequent drought events. In this review, we examined genetic studies that have assessed the phylogenetic structure of C. geophilum populations and identified the genes associated with adaptation to environmental stress and symbiosis. The high genetic diversity of C. geophilum is particularly noteworthy, considering its putative asexual reproductive mode. Population genomic analyses have suggested that C. geophilum is not a single species but rather a species complex comprising multiple cryptic lineages. This genetic variability may contribute to its adaptability and extensive distribution across habitats from circumpolar to tropical biomes. These lineages exhibit potential host preferences, suggesting a degree of specialization within the complex. The nuclear genome of C. geophilum has been sequenced, providing valuable insights into the symbiont genetic traits. Notably, this genome encodes a large set of repeated sequences and effector-like small secreted proteins. Transcriptomics has been used to identify candidate genes related to symbiosis and adaptation to environmental stress. Additionally, we briefly discuss how C. geophilum offers potential for sustainable forestry practices by improving resilience to stress.},
}
@article {pmid39915884,
year = {2025},
author = {He, R and Qi, P and Shu, L and Ding, Y and Zeng, P and Wen, G and Xiong, Y and Deng, H},
title = {Dysbiosis and extraintestinal cancers.},
journal = {Journal of experimental &amp; clinical cancer research : CR},
volume = {44},
number = {1},
pages = {44},
pmid = {39915884},
issn = {1756-9966},
support = {82160546//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 82460116//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 20202BBG73027//Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province/ ; 20242BAB26116//Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province/ ; JXSQ2023201020//Foundation of Jiangxi Province for Distinguished Scholars/ ; 20183021//Science and Technology Plan Fund of Jiangxi Health Commission/ ; 20202ACBL206017//Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province/ ; GJJ210185//Education Department of Jiangxi Province/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Dysbiosis/complications/microbiology ; *Neoplasms/etiology/pathology/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; },
abstract = {The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in safeguarding host health and driving the progression of intestinal diseases. Despite recent advances in the remarkable correlation between dysbiosis and extraintestinal cancers, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. Pathogenic microbiota, along with their metabolites, can undermine the integrity of the gut barrier through inflammatory or metabolic pathways, leading to increased permeability and the translocation of pathogens. The dissemination of pathogens through the circulation may contribute to the establishment of an immune-suppressive environment that promotes carcinogenesis in extraintestinal organs either directly or indirectly. The oncogenic cascade always engages in the disruption of hormonal regulation and inflammatory responses, the induction of genomic instability and mutations, and the dysregulation of adult stem cell proliferation. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the existing evidence that points to the potential role of dysbiosis in the malignant transformation of extraintestinal organs such as the liver, breast, lung, and pancreas. Additionally, we delve into the limitations inherent in current methodologies, particularly the challenges associated with differentiating low loads gut-derived microbiome within tumors from potential sample contamination or symbiotic microorganisms. Although still controversial, an understanding of the contribution of translocated intestinal microbiota and their metabolites to the pathological continuum from chronic inflammation to tumors could offer a novel foundation for the development of targeted therapeutics.},
}
@article {pmid39914205,
year = {2025},
author = {Chandel, SS and Lavakumar, A and Randhawa, NS and Singh, PK},
title = {Unique hot stage modification technique to enhance cementitious properties of electric arc furnace steel slag.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {376},
number = {},
pages = {124398},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124398},
pmid = {39914205},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Steel ; *Industrial Waste ; Carbon Dioxide ; *Construction Materials ; Recycling/methods ; Iron ; },
abstract = {Decarburization is a major concern for global industries, particularly the steel and cement sectors, which together contribute nearly 15% of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. One approach to reducing CO2 emissions is re-utilizing industrial waste, such as slag, to produce cementitious materials. While ironmaking slag from blast furnaces is conventionally recycled as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) cement, this technology is not directly applicable to electric arc furnace (EAF) slag, a byproduct of the steelmaking process. This study investigated the potential of direct reduced iron-electric arc furnace (DRI-EAF) steel slag as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) using a hot-stage modification technique. The experimental sequence follows remelting, modifying, and cooling DRI-EAF slag from a molten state at 1600 °C. Key aspects such as mineralogy, phase transformations, chemical compositions, and cooling conditions were analyzed using experimental data and thermodynamic simulations. The results indicate that adding lime and coke as modifying agents, smelting the slag for 40 min at 1600 °C, and water quenching can produce slag with up to 86% amorphous content. The primary phases precipitated at room temperature were calcium silicates (C2S and C3S). Additionally, the total iron content in the modified slag was reduced to 2 wt%, meeting the requirements for SCM use according to Indian standards. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with recycling DRI-EAF slag as an SCM were compared with data from conventional cement production. This study highlights the potential of upcycling DRI-EAF slag into SCMs while recovering iron nuggets as secondary resources for steelmaking, contributing to decarburization in both industries.},
}
@article {pmid39910670,
year = {2025},
author = {Vidkjær, NH and Schmidt, S and Davie-Martin, CL and Silué, KS and Koné, NA and Rinnan, R and Poulsen, M},
title = {Volatile Organic Compounds of Diverse Origins and Their Changes Associated With Cultivar Decay in a Fungus-Farming Termite.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {2},
pages = {e70049},
pmid = {39910670},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {ERC-CoG 771349/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; DNRF168//The Danish National Research Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism/analysis/chemistry ; Animals ; *Isoptera/microbiology/chemistry ; *Termitomyces/growth &amp; development/metabolism ; Terpenes ; },
abstract = {Fungus-farming termites cultivate a Termitomyces fungus monoculture in enclosed gardens (combs) free of other fungi, except during colony declines, where Pseudoxylaria spp. stowaway fungi appear and take over combs. Here, we determined Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) of healthy Macrotermes bellicosus nests in nature and VOC changes associated with comb decay during Pseudoxylaria takeover. We identified 443 VOCs and unique volatilomes across samples and nest volatilomes that were mainly composed of fungus comb VOCs with termite contributions. Few comb VOCs were linked to chemical changes during decay, but longipinocarvone and longiverbenone were only emitted during comb decay. These terpenes may be involved in Termitomyces defence against antagonistic fungi or in fungus-termite signalling of comb state. Both comb and Pseudoxylaria biomass volatilomes contained many VOCs with antimicrobial activity that may serve in maintaining healthy Termitomyces monocultures or aid in the antagonistic takeover by Pseudoxylaria during colony decline. We further observed a series of oxylipins with known functions in the regulation of fungus germination, growth, and secondary metabolite production. Our volatilome map of the fungus-farming termite symbiosis provides new insights into the chemistry regulating complex interactions and serves as a valuable guide for future work on the roles of VOCs in symbioses.},
}
@article {pmid39909191,
year = {2025},
author = {Weitzman, CL and Brown, GP and Day, K and Shilton, CM and Gibb, K and Christian, K},
title = {Protection against anuran lungworm infection may be mediated by innate defenses rather than their microbiome.},
journal = {International journal for parasitology},
volume = {55},
number = {7},
pages = {365-371},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.01.010},
pmid = {39909191},
issn = {1879-0135},
mesh = {Animals ; Skin/microbiology/parasitology ; *Immunity, Innate ; *Microbiota ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Anura/parasitology/immunology ; Nippostrongylus ; },
abstract = {Host-associated microbiomes provide protection against disease in diverse systems, through both direct and indirect interactions with invaders, although these interactions are less understood in the context of non-gut helminth infections in wildlife. Here, we used a widespread, invasive host-parasite system to better understand helminth-amphibian-microbiome dynamics. We focus on cane toads and their lungworm parasites, which invade the host through the skin, to study the interactions between lungworm infection abundance and skin and gut (colon) bacterial microbiomes. Through two experiments, first reducing skin bacterial loads, and second reducing bacterial diversity, we found no evidence of protection by skin bacteria against infection. We also did not find divergent gut communities dependent on lungworm infection, signifying little to no immune modulation from infection causing changes to gut communities, at least in the first month after initial parasite exposure. In light of previous work in the system, these results underscore the contribution of toads' innate susceptibility (including possible protection provided by skin secretions) rather than skin microbes in determining the chance of infection by these macroparasites.},
}
@article {pmid39908254,
year = {2025},
author = {Hung, TC and Minh, BV and Nguyen, TN and Voznak, M},
title = {Power beacon-assisted energy harvesting symbiotic radio networks: Outage performance.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {2},
pages = {e0313981},
pmid = {39908254},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Wireless Technology ; Models, Theoretical ; *Computer Communication Networks ; *Radio ; Internet of Things ; Radio Waves ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; },
abstract = {The evolution of next-generation Internet-of-Things (IoT) in recent years exhibits a unique segment that wireless communication paradigms are oriented towards not only improved spectral efficiency transmission but also energy efficiency. This paper addresses these critical issues by proposing a novel communication model, namely power beacon-assisted energy-harvesting symbiotic radio. In particular, the limited energy primary IoT source communicates with its destination by first harvesting energy from a dedicated power beacon and then performing information exchange, while the backscatter device communicates by exploiting the available radio frequency emitted by the primary IoT source. The destination uses successive interference cancellation mechanisms to decode both its received signals. To assess the performance quality of the proposed communication model, we theoretically derive the coexistence outage probability (COP) in terms of highly accurate expressions and upper-bound and lower-bound approximations. Subsequently, we carry out a series of numerical results to verify the developed theory frameworks on the one hand, and on the other hand, analyze the COP performance against the variations of system key parameters (transmit signal-to-noise ratio, the time-splitting coefficient, the energy conversion efficiency factor, the reflection coefficient, and the coexistent decoding threshold). Our numerical results demonstrate that the proposed communication model can potentially work well in practices with reliable communication over 90% (COP is less than 0.1). Additionally, it also demonstrates that optimizing the reflection coefficient at the backscatter device can facilitate achieving minimal COP performance.},
}
@article {pmid39907951,
year = {2025},
author = {Anwar, MA and Sayed, GA and Hal, DM and Hafeez, MSAE and Shatat, AS and Salman, A and Eisa, NM and Ramadan, A and El-Shiekh, RA and Hatem, S and Aly, SH},
title = {Herbal remedies for oral and dental health: a comprehensive review of their multifaceted mechanisms including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant pathways.},
journal = {Inflammopharmacology},
volume = {33},
number = {3},
pages = {1085-1160},
pmid = {39907951},
issn = {1568-5608},
mesh = {Humans ; *Antioxidants/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Oral Health ; Animals ; Phytotherapy/methods ; *Mouth Diseases/drug therapy ; *Plant Preparations/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; },
abstract = {Across diverse cultures, herbal remedies have been used to alleviate oral discomfort and maintain dental hygiene. This review presents studies on herbal remedies with remarkable antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, anticaries, analgesic, and healing properties. The manuscripts demonstrate the depth of scientific inquiry into herbal remedies used for the management of various oral and dental health conditions. These include gingivitis, oral ulcers, mucositis, periodontitis, oral pathogens, carcinoma, xerostomia, and dental caries. Researchers have investigated the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of plant-derived compounds and their extracts evaluated their interactions with oral pathogens and inflammatory processes. The convergence of traditional knowledge and rigorous scientific investigation offers a compelling narrative, fostering a deeper understanding of herbal remedies as viable alternatives to conventional dental interventions. This work has the potential to provide patients with access to gentle, yet effective solutions, and simultaneously offer dental health professionals the opportunity to enrich their knowledge, and ability to provide personalized, holistic care. This review highlights the symbiotic relationship between herbal medicine and scientific understanding, emphasizing the importance of disseminating this knowledge to benefit both practitioners and patients, enabling evidence-based decision-making in dental care. The exploration of herbal remedies offers a promising alternative, potentially mitigating some of these side effects while promoting oral health in a more natural and holistic manner.},
}
@article {pmid39907460,
year = {2025},
author = {Rous, C and Cadiou, J and Yazbek, H and Monzel, E and Desai, MS and Doré, J and van de Guchte, M and Mondot, S},
title = {Temporary dietary fiber depletion prompts rapid and lasting gut microbiota restructuring in mice.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {13},
number = {3},
pages = {e0151724},
pmid = {39907460},
issn = {2165-0497},
mesh = {Animals ; *Dietary Fiber/metabolism/administration &amp; dosage ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Mice ; Feces/microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Symbiosis ; Diet ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Long-term alterations of the gut microbiota and host symbiosis after a dietary perturbation remain insufficiently understood and characterized. In this study, we investigate the impact of temporary dietary fiber depletion in mice that received a diet with reduced fiber content (RFD) for 3 weeks followed by a return to a standard chow diet for 6 weeks, compared to mice that only received a chow diet. Fiber deprivation was accompanied by a reduction of microbiota diversity and an increase in mucolytic and sulfate-reducing bacteria. The activities of enzymes targeting glycans from the host mucus were increased accordingly, while those targeting plant fibers were decreased. On the host side, we report transiently higher quantities of host DNA in feces during the RFD suggesting an impaired gut barrier function. Six weeks after the return to the chow diet, lasting changes in microbiota composition were observed, as exemplified by the replacement of durably depleted amplicon sequence variants close to Duncaniella dubosii by other members of the Muribaculaceae family. The observation of two distinct gut microbial communities in mice under identical environmental and alimentary conditions at the end of the experiment suggests the existence of alternative stable microbiota states.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: In this article, the authors explore the impact of a diet with reduced fiber content on the gut microbiota-host symbiosis in a mouse model. More importantly, they examine the resilience of the intestinal symbiosis after the return to a standard (chow) diet. Some of the measured parameters (intestinal barrier impairment and bacterial glycan-degrading enzymatic activities) returned to control values. However, this was not the case for bacterial richness-the number of different bacteria observed-which remained durably reduced. Among related bacteria, some groups receded and remained undetected until 6 weeks after the return to the chow diet while others saw their abundance increase in replacement. The authors find that a temporary fiber deprivation lasting as little as 3 weeks can cause a transition to an alternative stable microbiota state, i.e., a lasting change in intestinal microbiota composition.},
}
@article {pmid39906587,
year = {2025},
author = {Singh, P and Bruijning, M and Carver, GD and Donia, MS and Metcalf, CJE},
title = {Characterizing the evolution of defense in a tripartite marine symbiosis using adaptive dynamics.},
journal = {Evolution letters},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {105-114},
pmid = {39906587},
issn = {2056-3744},
abstract = {The evolution and maintenance of symbiotic systems remains a fascinating puzzle. While the coevolutionary dynamics of bipartite (host-symbiont) systems are well-studied, the dynamics of more complex systems have only recently garnered attention with increasing technological advances. We model a tripartite system inspired by the marine symbiotic relationship between the alga Bryopsis sp., its intracellular defensive bacterial symbiont "Candidatus Endobryopsis kahalalidifaciens," which produces a toxin that protects the alga against fish herbivores, and the sea-slug Elysia rufescens (Zan et al., 2019), which is not deterred by the toxin. We disentangle the role of selection on different actors within this system by investigating evolutionary scenarios where defense evolves as (i) a host-controlled trait that reduces algal reproductive ability; (ii) a symbiont-controlled trait that impacts symbiont transmission; and (iii) a trait jointly controlled by both host and symbiont. Optimal investment in defensive toxins varies based on the characteristics of the host, symbiont, and sea slug; and evolutionary trajectories are modulated by trade-off shape, i.e., a strongly decelerating trade-off between defense and symbiont transmission can drive symbiont diversification via evolutionary branching. Increasing slug herbivory reduces host investment in defense to favor reproduction, while symbiont investment in defense first declines and then increases as host density declines to the degree that horizontal symbiont transmission is no longer beneficial. Increasing vertical transmission selects for reduced defense by the host when it evolves as a jointly controlled trait, as a result of investment by the symbiont. Our theoretical exploration of the evolution of defensive symbiosis in scenarios involving interactions with multiple herbivores provides a first window into the origin and maintenance of the Bryopsis sp. system, and adds another piece to the puzzle of the evolution of symbiotic systems.},
}
@article {pmid39905670,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, J and Fu, M and Luo, Z and Liu, J and Xie, F},
title = {Distinct domain regions of NIN and NLP1 mediate symbiotic and nitrate signalling in Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {76},
number = {8},
pages = {2297-2308},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf037},
pmid = {39905670},
issn = {1460-2431},
support = {32470248//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32100194//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *Symbiosis ; *Nitrates/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Protein Domains ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; Plant Root Nodulation ; },
abstract = {Nodule Inception (NIN) and NIN-like protein 1 (NLP1), both belonging to the RWP-RK type transcription factors, play critical roles in plant development. Specifically, NIN is pivotal in facilitating root nodule symbiosis in nitrogen-starved conditions, while NLP1 coordinates nodulation in response to nitrate level. In this study, we conducted domain swapping experiments between NIN and NLP1 in Medicago truncatula to elucidate the functional significance of their respective domains. The findings reveal that the C-terminal regions, including the RWP-RK and PB1 domains of NIN, can substitute for those of NLP1, whereas reciprocal substitution does not yield equivalent outcomes. Moreover, our results emphasize the critical role of PB1-mediated interactions in the activity of NLP1, a feature not essential for NIN. Additionally, the N-terminal segment, conserved in NLPs but containing deletions or mutations in NIN, is essential for the proper functioning of both NIN and NLP1. Collectively, our research indicates evolutionary divergence of NIN from ancestral NLPs, suggesting specific adaptations that have enabled NIN as a central regulator in root nodulation processes.},
}
@article {pmid39904552,
year = {2025},
author = {Ben Saad, E and Friedrich, A and Fischer, F and Courot, O and Schacherer, J and Bleykasten, C},
title = {Comprehensive survey of kombucha microbial communities of diverse origins and fermentation practices.},
journal = {FEMS yeast research},
volume = {25},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {39904552},
issn = {1567-1364},
support = {2018/1442//CIFRE/ ; },
mesh = {Fermentation ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Kombucha Tea/microbiology ; *Yeasts/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Biofilms ; Phylogeny ; *Microbial Consortia ; },
abstract = {Kombucha is a unique, naturally fermented sweetened tea produced for thousands of years, relying on a symbiotic microbiota in a floating biofilm, used for successive fermentations. The microbial communities consist of yeast and bacteria species, distributed across two phases: the liquid and the biofilm fractions. In the fermentation of kombucha, various starters of different shapes and origins are used, and there are multiple brewing practices. By metabarcoding, we explored here the consortia and their evolution from a collection of 23 starters coming from various origins summarizing the diversity of kombucha fermentation processes. A core microbiota of yeast and bacteria has been identified in these diverse kombucha symbiotic consortia, revealing consistent core taxa across symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeasts from different starters. The common core consists of five taxa: two yeast species from the Brettanomyces genus (B. bruxellensis and B. anomalus) and bacterial taxa Komagataeibacter, Lactobacillus, and Acetobacteraceae, including the Acetobacter genus. The distribution of yeast and bacteria core taxa differs between the liquid and biofilm fractions, as well as between the "mother" and "daughter" biofilms used in successive fermentations. In terms of microbial composition, the diversity is relatively low, with only a few accessory taxa identified. Overall, our study provides a deeper understanding of the core and accessory taxa involved in kombucha fermentation.},
}
@article {pmid39903999,
year = {2025},
author = {Mondal, A and Parvez, SS and Majumder, A and Sharma, K and Das, B and Bakshi, U and Alam, M and Banik, A},
title = {Co-inoculation of Trichoderma and tea root-associated bacteria enhance flavonoid production and abundance of mycorrhizal colonization in tea (Camellia sinensis).},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {293},
number = {},
pages = {128084},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128084},
pmid = {39903999},
issn = {1618-0623},
mesh = {*Camellia sinensis/microbiology/metabolism ; *Flavonoids/biosynthesis ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Mycorrhizae/growth &amp; development ; Soil Microbiology ; Rhizosphere ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; Microbiota ; *Trichoderma/physiology/growth &amp; development ; India ; Symbiosis ; Plant Leaves/microbiology/metabolism ; Tea/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Tea is one of the most popular nonalcoholic beverages, that contains several medicinally important flavonoids. Due to seasonal variation and various environmental stresses, the overall consistency of tea flavonoids affects the tea quality. To combat stress, plants stimulate symbiotic relationships with root-associated beneficial microbiomes that sustain nutrient allocation. Therefore, a study has been designed to understand the role of the tea root microbiome in sustaining tea leaf flavonoid production. To enumerate the microbiome, tea root and rhizoplane soil were collected from 3 years of healthy plants from Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India. A culture-independent approach was adopted to identify root and rhizosphere microbial diversity (BioSample: SAMN31404869; SRA: SRS15503027 [rhizosphere soil metagenome] BioSample: SAMN31404868;SRA:SRS15503030 [root metagenome]. In addition to diverse microbes, four mycorrhiza fungi, i.e., Glomus intraradices, Glomus irregulare, Paraglomus occultum and Scutellospora heterogama were predominant in collected root samples. A culture-dependent approach was also adopted to isolate several plant growth-promoting bacteria [Bacillus sp. D56, Bacillus sp. D42, Bacillus sp. DR15, Rhizobium sp. DR23 (NCBI Accession: OR821747-OR821750)] and one fungal [Trichoderma sp. AM6 (NCBI Accession:OM915414)] strain. A pot experiment was designed to assess the impact of that isolated microbiome on tea seedlings. After six months of microbiome inoculation, tea plants' physicochemical and transcriptional parameters were evaluated. The results confer that the microbiome-treated treatments [(T1-without any microbial inoculation; NCBI Accession: SAMN33591153), Trichoderma sp. AM6 (T2; NCBI Accession: SAMN33591155) and Trichoderma sp. AM6 +VAM containing tea root+synthetic microbial consortia (T5; NCBI Accession: SAMN33591154)] could enhance the total flavonoid content in tea seedlings by upregulating certain transcripts associated with the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway of tea.},
}
@article {pmid39902926,
year = {2025},
author = {Rahman, R and Fouhse, JM and Ju, T and Fan, Y and Bhardwaj, T and Brook, RK and Nosach, R and Harding, J and Willing, BP},
title = {The impact of wild-boar-derived microbiota transplantation on piglet microbiota, metabolite profile, and gut proinflammatory cytokine production differs from sow-derived microbiota.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {91},
number = {3},
pages = {e0226524},
pmid = {39902926},
issn = {1098-5336},
support = {res0030386//Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA)/ ; RGPIN-2019-06336//Canadian Government | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Cytokines/metabolism/immunology ; Swine/microbiology ; *Sus scrofa/microbiology ; *Fecal Microbiota Transplantation/veterinary ; *Metabolome ; },
abstract = {Colonization of co-evolved, species-specific microbes in early life plays a crucial role in gastrointestinal development and immune function. This study hypothesized that modern pig production practices have resulted in the loss of co-evolved species and critical symbiotic host-microbe interactions. To test this, we reintroduced microbes from wild boars (WB) into conventional piglets to explore their colonization dynamics and effects on gut microbial communities, metabolite profiles, and immune responses. At postnatal day (PND) 21, 48 piglets were assigned to four treatment groups: (i) WB-derived mixed microbial community (MMC), (ii) sow-derived MMC, (iii) a combination of WB and sow MMC (Mix), or (iv) Control (PBS). Post-transplantation analyses at PND 48 revealed distinct microbial communities in WB-inoculated piglets compared with Controls, with trends toward differentiation from Sow but not Mix groups. WB-derived microbes were more successful in colonizing piglets, particularly in the Mix group, where they competed with Sow-derived microbes. WB group cecal digesta enriched with Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus mucosae, and Lactobacillus pontis. Cecal metabolite analysis showed that WB piglets were enriched in histamine, acetyl-ornithine, ornithine, citrulline, and other metabolites, with higher histamine levels linked to Lactobacillus abundance. WB piglets exhibited lower cecal IL-1β and IL-6 levels compared with Control and Sow groups, whereas the Mix group showed reduced IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6 compared with the Sow group. No differences in weight gain, fecal scores, or plasma cytokines were observed, indicating no adverse effects. These findings support that missing WB microbes effectively colonize domestic piglets and may positively impact metabolite production and immune responses.IMPORTANCEThis study addresses the growing concern over losing co-evolved, species-specific microbes in modern agricultural practices, particularly in pig production. The implementation of strict biosecurity measures and widespread antibiotic use in conventional farming systems may disrupt crucial host-microbe interactions that are essential for gastrointestinal development and immune function. Our research demonstrates that by reintroducing wild boar-derived microbes into domestic piglets, these microbes can successfully colonize the gut, influence microbial community composition, and alter metabolite profiles and immune responses without causing adverse effects. These findings also suggest that these native microbes can fill an intestinal niche, positively impacting immune activation. This research lays the groundwork for future strategies to enhance livestock health and performance by restoring natural microbial populations that produce immune-modulating metabolites.},
}
@article {pmid39902384,
year = {2024},
author = {Murphy, R and Strube, ML and Schmidt, S and Silué, KS and Koné, NA and Rosendahl, S and Poulsen, M},
title = {Non-ribosomal peptide synthase profiles remain structurally similar despite minimally shared features across fungus-farming termite microbiomes.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {4},
number = {1},
pages = {ycae094},
pmid = {39902384},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Fungus-farming termites (Macrotermitinae) engage in an obligate mutualism with members of the fungal genus Termitomyces, which they maintain as a monoculture on specialized comb structures. Both these comb structures and the guts of the termites host diverse bacterial communities that are believed to assist in sustaining monoculture farming through antagonist suppression. Among candidate bacteria-derived compounds serving this function are non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs), which are a highly bioactive class of specialized metabolites, frequently produced by symbionts within eukaryotic hosts. However, our understanding of specialized metabolites in termite-associated microbiomes is limited. Here we use amplicon sequencing to characterize both bacterial composition and NRP potential. We show that bacterial and NRP diversity are correlated and that the former varies more than the latter across termite host and gut and comb samples. Compositions of the two are governed by host species and sample type, with topological similarity indicating a diverse set of biosynthetic potential that is consistent with the long evolutionary history of the Macrotermitinae. The structure of both bacterial and NRP compositional networks varied similarly between guts and combs across the Macrotermitinae albeit with auxiliary termite genus-specific patterns. We observed minimal termite species-specific cores, with essentially no Macrotermitinae-wide core and an abundance of putatively novel biosynthetic gene clusters, suggesting that there is likely no single solution to antagonist suppression via specialized NRP metabolites. Our findings contribute to an improved understanding of the distribution of NRP potential in the farming termite symbiosis and will help guide targeted exploration of specialized metabolite production.},
}
@article {pmid39901714,
year = {2025},
author = {He, XL and Liang, ZH and Huang, ZH and Qi, LB and Wu, Y and Liu, J and Huang, T and Liu, JB and Pi, JS and Zhang, H},
title = {Impact of stocking densities on growth, organ index, serum biochemistry, gut morphology and microbiota of young ducks in a rice-duck-crayfish coculture system.},
journal = {Animal bioscience},
volume = {38},
number = {5},
pages = {1067-1080},
pmid = {39901714},
issn = {2765-0189},
support = {32272932//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; CARS42//China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA/ ; 2021hszd002//Major project of Hubei Hongshan Laboratory/ ; L2023013//Leading Talents Program of the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The rice-duck-crayfish (RDC) coculture system, an ecologically efficient breeding strategy that accommodates natural behavior of ducks and improves their welfare. The optimal stocking density and its impact on duck health in this system remains undetermined. The study examined the impact of stocking densities on growth, organ index, serum biochemistry, gut morphology and microbiota of ducks in RDC system.<br><br>METHODS: A total of five hundred and forty 20-day-old Nonghu No. 2 ducks were randomly allocated based on density: low-density (LD; 8 birds/666.67 m2), mediumdensity (MD; 12 birds/666.67 m2) and high-density (HD; 16 birds/666.67 m2) groups, with three replicates in each group, and the symbiosis period was up to 40 days until rice tasselling.<br><br>RESULTS: There were no significant differences in final body weight, average daily gain, or feed:gain ratio between groups (p>0.05); however, the liver and spleen indices of ducks in HD group were significantly greater than those in LD group (p<0.05). The serum albumin concentration in HD group decreased, whereas creatine kinase activity increased (p<0.05). Additionally, the ileal crypt depth significantly increased and the ileal villus height and villus/crypt ratio significantly decreased in ducks in MD and HD groups compared to LD group (p<0.05). Moreover, the abundance of cecal Deferribacterota and Spirochaetota increased significantly (p<0.05), while the abundance of Firmicutes decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing stocking density. Moreover, the increase in stocking density significantly decreased the abundance of some beneficial bacteria (Faecalibacterium and Fournierella) and increased the abundance of some harmful bacteria (Mucispirillum and Brachyspira) (p<0.05).<br><br>CONCLUSION: These results suggest that moderately HD breeding doesn't significantly affect duck growth, but increased stocking density led to changes in cecal microbiota and dysbiosis. Reducing stocking density positively affects immune parameters and ileum morphology. However, due to the limited number of total replicates of the study, further research is needed to validate the reliability of the results.},
}
@article {pmid39901445,
year = {2025},
author = {Yao, Y and Yao, J and Xiong, S and Sun, Y and Lai, L and He, C and Jiang, S and Elsayad, K and Peng, H and Wu, A and Yang, F},
title = {Borrow Strength to Exert: Low-Crystallinity Prussian Blue for Reduction Overload Enhanced Photothermal Therapy.},
journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)},
volume = {21},
number = {9},
pages = {e2406145},
doi = {10.1002/smll.202406145},
pmid = {39901445},
issn = {1613-6829},
support = {32025021//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31971292//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //Youth Innovation Promotion Association/ ; 2022301//Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; 2018-05-G//Ningbo 3315 Innovative Talent Project/ ; Z25C100007//Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang province/ ; 2024H006//International Cooperation Project of Ningbo City/ ; },
mesh = {*Ferrocyanides/chemistry ; *Photothermal Therapy/methods ; Humans ; Nanoparticles/chemistry/ultrastructure ; Animals ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Crystallization ; },
abstract = {The strategy "Borrow strength to exert" in Sun Tzu's Art of War refers to borrowing external forces to withstand the enemy. Inspired by this, applying this thought to cancer treatment can achieve a more efficient therapeutic effect. Therefore, a fulcrum to borrow the force is vital and significant. Compared with normal cells, tumor cells are more sensitive to redox stress owing to their abnormal redox metabolism. Herein, a regulatory protocol based on chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) is proposed to prepare small-size and low-crystallinity Prussian blue nanoparticles (LcPB NPs). Notably, LcPB NPs possess higher superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like enzyme activity to induce reduction overload and destroy metabolic processes and organelle functions, which leverages the redox status defect in tumors as the fulcrum. Due to the down-regulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) mediated by redox imbalance, the inherent photothermal therapy (PTT) mode of LcPB NPs effectively inhibits tumor growth and disrupts calcium homeostasis. Additionally, LcPB NPs can improve the anticancer effect by inhibiting symbiotic bacteria. Meanwhile, their magnetic and optical response performance empowers magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) for tumor diagnosis. Therefore, this work executing the strategy "Borrowing strength to exert" by disturbing the redox balance represents a new antineoplastic paradigm.},
}
@article {pmid39900829,
year = {2025},
author = {Ren, Z and Zhang, L and Li, H and Yang, M and Wu, X and Hu, R and Lu, J and Wang, H and Wu, X and Wang, Z and Li, X},
title = {The BRUTUS iron sensor and E3 ligase facilitates soybean root nodulation by monoubiquitination of NSP1.},
journal = {Nature plants},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {595-611},
pmid = {39900829},
issn = {2055-0278},
support = {32330078//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 3247150855//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; },
mesh = {*Glycine max/metabolism/physiology/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; *Iron/metabolism ; Ubiquitination ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; },
abstract = {Legumes form root nodules with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria, which require ample iron to ensure symbiosis establishment and efficient nitrogen fixation. The functions and mechanisms of iron in nitrogen-fixing nodules are well established. However, the role of iron and the mechanisms by which legumes sense iron and incorporate this cue into nodulation signalling pathways remain unclear. Here we show that iron is a key driver of nodulation because symbiotic nodules cannot form without iron, even under conditions of sufficient light and low nitrogen. We further identify an iron optimum for soybean nodulation and the iron sensor BRUTUS A (BTSa) which acts as a hub for integrating iron and nodulation cues. BTSa is induced by rhizobia, binds to and is stabilized by iron. In turn, BTSa stabilizes and enhances the transcriptional activation activity of pro-nodulation transcription factor NSP1a by monoubiquitination from its RING domain and consequently activates nodulation signalling. Monoubiquitination of NSP1 by BTS is conserved in legumes to trigger nodulation under iron sufficiency. Thus, iron status is an essential cue to trigger nodulation and BTSa integrates cues from rhizobial infection and iron status to orchestrate host responses towards establishing symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
}
@article {pmid39899217,
year = {2025},
author = {Maehara, S and Kumamoto, M and Nakajima, S and Hieda, Y and Watashi, K and Hata, T},
title = {Potent SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease inhibitor (+)-eupenoxide-3,6-diketone (IC50: 0.048 μM) was synthesized based on (+)-eupenoxide; lead from (+)-eupenoxide analogs study by endophytic fermentation.},
journal = {Journal of natural medicines},
volume = {79},
number = {2},
pages = {357-370},
pmid = {39899217},
issn = {1861-0293},
support = {JPMJSC15H1//Japan Science and Technology Corporation/ ; JPMJMI22G1//JST-Mirai Program/ ; 23K06189//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24K02290//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP23fk0108590//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; },
mesh = {*Endophytes/metabolism ; *SARS-CoV-2/drug effects ; *Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/chemistry/chemical synthesis ; Fermentation ; *Coronavirus 3C Proteases/antagonists &amp; inhibitors ; *Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology/chemistry/chemical synthesis ; *Aspergillus/metabolism ; Humans ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; *Ketones/pharmacology/chemistry ; COVID-19 ; },
abstract = {Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, research has been conducted on treatment and countermeasures against the causative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the development of new seeds is urgently needed because viruses have the characteristic of becoming resistant through mutation. We hypothesize that endophytes produce antiviral substances to combat foreign viruses in host plants. According to this hypothesis, the seeds of therapeutic agents for infectious diseases could be obtained from endophytes by culture experiments. This report found that Aspergillus sp. endophyte isolated from Catharanthus roseus produced (+)-eupenoxide and its 3-ketone form with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. In addition, (+)-eupenoxide-3,6-diketon was discovered as a new compound with potent 3C-like protease inhibitory activity (IC50: 0.048 μM) by synthesis based on (+)-eupenoxide. This finding could be an important evidence that endophytic fungi symbiosis with medicinal plants is useful as antiviral producers.},
}
@article {pmid39898265,
year = {2024},
author = {Boorboori, MR and Lackóová, L},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and salinity stress mitigation in plants.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1504970},
pmid = {39898265},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {In recent decades, climate change has caused a decrease in rainfall, increasing sea levels, temperatures rising, and as a result, an expansion in salt marshes across the globe. An increase in water and soil salinity has led to a decline in the cultivated areas in different areas, and consequently, a substantial decrease in crop production. Therefore, it has forced scientists to find cheap, effective and environmentally friendly methods to minimize salinity's impact on crops. One of the best strategies is to use beneficial soil microbes, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in order to increase plant tolerance to salt. The findings of this review showed that salinity can severely impact the morphological, physiological, and biochemical structures of plants, lowering their productivity. Although plants have natural capabilities to deal with salinity, these capacities are limited depending on plant type, and variety, as well as salinity levels, and other environmental factors. Furthermore, result of the present review indicates that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have a significant effect on increasing plant resistance in saline soils by improving the soil structure, as well as stimulating various plant factors including photosynthesis, antioxidant defense system, secondary metabolites, absorption of water and nutrients.},
}
@article {pmid39897492,
year = {2025},
author = {Keleher, JG and Strope, TA and Estrada, NE and Griggs Mathis, AM and Easson, CG and Fiore, C},
title = {Freshwater sponges in the southeastern U.S. harbor unique microbiomes that are influenced by host and environmental factors.},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {e18807},
pmid = {39897492},
issn = {2167-8359},
mesh = {*Porifera/microbiology ; Animals ; *Microbiota ; *Fresh Water/microbiology ; North Carolina ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Marine, and more recently, freshwater sponges are known to harbor unique microbial symbiotic communities relative to the surrounding water; however, our understanding of the microbial ecology and diversity of freshwater sponges is vastly limited compared to those of marine sponges. Here we analyzed the microbiomes of three freshwater sponge species: Radiospongilla crateriformis, Eunapius fragilis, and Trochospongilla horrida, across four sites in western North Carolina, U.S.A. Our results support recent work indicating that freshwater sponges indeed harbor a distinct microbiome composition compared to the surrounding water and that these varied across sampling site indicating both environmental and host factors in shaping this distinct community. We also sampled sponges at one site over 3 months and observed that divergence in the microbial community between sponge and water occurs at least several weeks after sponges emerge for the growing season and that sponges maintain a distinct community from the water as the sponge tissue degrades. Bacterial taxa within the Gammproteobacteria, Alphproteobacteria, Bacteroidota (Flavobacteriia in particular), and Verrucomicrobia, were notable as enriched in the sponge relative to the surrounding water across sponge individuals with diverging microbial communities from the water. These results add novel information on the assembly and maintenance of microbial communities in an ancient metazoan host and is one of few published studies on freshwater sponge microbial symbiont communities.},
}
@article {pmid39895926,
year = {2025},
author = {Jeon, MJ and Park, S and Jeong, JC and Lim, J and Han, Y and Chi, WJ and Kim, S},
title = {Eight Fungal Species Associated with Ambrosia Beetles in Korea.},
journal = {Mycobiology},
volume = {53},
number = {1},
pages = {1-17},
pmid = {39895926},
issn = {1229-8093},
abstract = {Ambrosia fungi are well-known for their symbiotic interactions with ambrosia beetles, acting as a sole food source of larvae and adult beetles. As a first step to reveal these interactions, extensive survey on the fungal symbionts of ambrosia beetles dwelling in Korea. Eight fungal species isolated from 15 ambrosia beetle species were not known for their presence in Korea. Seven of these belonged to two orders of Ascomycota; Microascales (Ambrosiella beaveri, A. catenulate, and A. roeperi) and Ophiostomatales (Leptographium verrucosum, Raffaelea cyclorhipidii, R. subfusca, and Sporothrix eucastaneae) and one to Polyporales of Basidiomycota (Irpex subulatus). This is the first report of these species in Korea with taxonomic descriptions.},
}
@article {pmid39893978,
year = {2025},
author = {Hu, B and Hu, S and You, L and Chen, Z},
title = {Understanding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi's contribution to hexabromocyclododecane metabolism: Pathways and ecological implications in contaminated environments.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {488},
number = {},
pages = {137396},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137396},
pmid = {39893978},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/metabolism ; *Hydrocarbons, Brominated/metabolism/toxicity ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism/toxicity ; Rhizosphere ; },
abstract = {This study investigates the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the metabolism of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and its ecological effects in contaminated environments. We focused on the symbiotic relationships between Iris pseudacorus L. and AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis) under HBCD exposure. Our results show that HBCD induces oxidative damage, which hinders plant growth. However, AMF significantly enhance the plant's antioxidant defenses, reducing oxidative damage and supporting better growth of I. pseudacorus. HBCD biodegradation patterns showed β- > γ- > α-HBCD, with AMF playing a key role in stabilizing rhizosphere microbial communities, particularly promoting Proteobacteria and potential bacterial degraders like Aeromonas and Trichococcus, which contributed to HBCD removal. Additionally, AMF appear to upregulate genes such as cypD_E, GST, dehH, dehA, dehM, Em3.8.1.2, and ligB, which are involved in debromination and hydroxylation reactions. This research highlights AMF's potential to enhance the phytoremediation of HBCD, providing valuable insights for environmental remediation strategies.},
}
@article {pmid39893977,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhou, Y and Liu, F and Yuan, M and Liu, X and Li, Q and Zhao, H},
title = {Herbicide prometryn aggravates the detrimental effects of heat stress on the potential for mutualism of Symbiodiniaceae.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {488},
number = {},
pages = {137389},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137389},
pmid = {39893977},
issn = {1873-3336},
mesh = {*Herbicides/toxicity ; *Symbiosis/drug effects ; *Heat-Shock Response/drug effects ; *Dinoflagellida/drug effects/physiology ; Animals ; *Prometryne/toxicity ; *Anthozoa/drug effects/physiology ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; Photosystem II Protein Complex ; Transcriptome/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Ocean warming threatens the health of corals globally, and superimposed coastal environmental pollution can result in severe and irreversible coral bleaching. However, the responses of the coral symbiont Symbiodiniaceae to multiple stresses remain largely unknown. This study investigated the response of the coral symbiotic algae Cladocopium sp. to short-term exposure (4 days) to an environmentally relevant concentration (1 μg L[-1]) of the photosystem II (PSII) herbicide prometryn under heat stress (32 ℃) through physiological and omic analyses. These results showed that co-stress affected the photosynthetic efficiency of Cladocopium sp. negatively. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species and subsequent oxidative stress under co-stress activated distinct regulatory pathways in Cladocopium sp. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that prometryn exacerbated heat stress-induced photosystem damage and reduced the regulatory capacity of Cladocopium sp. Moreover, co-stress disrupted energy metabolism, and further impaired nitrogen assimilation and nutrient transfer processes, potentially compromising the symbiotic potential between corals and Symbiodiniaceae. In summary, this study offers a valuable insight into understanding the molecular responses of Symbiodiniaceae to thermal and prometryn co-stress. It helps uncover the potential toxicity mechanisms induced by herbicide on coral symbionts in the context of climate change.},
}
@article {pmid39893934,
year = {2025},
author = {Zeng, S and Mo, S and Wu, X and Meng, C and Peng, P and Kashif, M and Li, J and He, S and Jiang, C},
title = {Microbial-mediated carbon metabolism in the subtropical marine mangroves affected by shrimp pond discharge.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {205},
number = {},
pages = {106980},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.106980},
pmid = {39893934},
issn = {1879-0291},
mesh = {*Carbon/metabolism ; Animals ; *Wetlands ; Aquaculture ; Geologic Sediments/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Microbiota ; Environmental Monitoring ; Ponds ; },
abstract = {Mangrove ecosystems exhibit high efficiency in carbon (C) sequestering within the global ecosystem. However, the rapid expansion of the shrimp farming industry poses a significant threat to these delicate ecosystems. The microbial mechanisms driving C metabolism in shrimp-affected sediments remain poorly understood. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of C metabolism-related microbial communities in shrimp pond and natural mangrove sediments in a subtropical region. Shrimp pond discharge altered soil properties, microbial diversity, and microbial stability, driven by factors such as salinity, sulfide, and total organic C (TOC). Metagenomic analyses reveals shifts in C degradation and oxidation, with a reduction in genes for cellulose and hemicellulose degradation. Microbial markers like Prolixibacteraceae and Nitrosopumilaceae reflect these changes. Co-occurrence network analysis indicates higher connectivity within shrimp pond groups, suggesting nutrient-driven changes in symbiotic relationships. PLS-PM analysis further confirms the interplay between microbial composition, nutrient levels, and C metabolism, with higher 16S rRNA operon copy numbers linked to increased C fixation. These findings demonstrate how shrimp pond discharge alters microbial networks and C metabolism, with implications for ecosystem resilience.},
}
@article {pmid39891802,
year = {2025},
author = {Horikawa, A and Okubo, R and Hishikura, N and Watanabe, R and Kurashima-Ito, K and Sayeesh, PM and Inomata, K and Mishima, M and Koteishi, H and Sawai, H and Shiro, Y and Ikeya, T and Ito, Y},
title = {Backbone and side‑chain [1]H, [13]C and [15]N resonance assignments and secondary structure determination of the rhizobial FixJ.},
journal = {Biomolecular NMR assignments},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {77-82},
pmid = {39891802},
issn = {1874-270X},
mesh = {*Bacterial Proteins/chemistry ; *Bradyrhizobium ; *Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Nitrogen Isotopes ; },
abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum (B.japonicum) enables high soybean yields with little or no nitrogen fertiliser. A two component regulatory system comprising FixL, a histidine kinase with O2-sensing activity, and FixJ, a response regulator, controls the expression of genes involved in nitrogen fixation, such as fixK and nifA. Only under anaerobic conditions, the monophosphate group is transferred from FixL to the N-terminal receiver domain of FixJ (FixJN), which eventually promote the association of the C-terminal effector domain (FixJC) to the promoter regions of the nitrogen-fixation-related genes. Structural biological analyses carried out so far for rhizobial FixJ molecules have proposed a solution structure for FixJ that differs from the crystal structures, in which the two domains are extended. To understand the FixJ activation caused by phosphorylation of the N-terminal domain, which presumably regulates through the interactions between FixJN and FixJC, here we have performed backbone and sidechain resonance assignments of the unphosphorylated state of B. japonicum FixJ.},
}
@article {pmid39891198,
year = {2025},
author = {Berdeja, MP and Reynolds, NK and Pawlowska, T and Heuvel, JEV},
title = {Commercial bioinoculants improve colonization but do not alter the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community of greenhouse-grown grapevine roots.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {15},
pmid = {39891198},
issn = {2524-6372},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial root symbionts contributing to improved plant growth and development and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Commercial bioinoculants containing AMF are widely considered as an alternative to agrochemicals in vineyards. However, their effects on grapevine plants grown in soil containing native communities of AMF are still poorly understood. In a greenhouse experiment, we evaluated the influence of five different bioinoculants on the composition of native AMF communities of young Cabernet Sauvignon vines grown in a non-sterile soil. Root colonization, leaf nitrogen concentration, plant biomass and root morphology were assessed, and AMF communities of inoculated and non-inoculated grapevine roots were profiled using high-throughput sequencing.<br><br>RESULTS: Contrary to our predictions, no differences in the microbiome of plants exposed to native AMF communities versus commercial AMF bioinoculants&#x2009;+&#x2009;native AMF communities were detected in roots. However, inoculation induced positive changes in root traits as well as increased AMF colonization, plant biomass, and leaf nitrogen. Most of these desirable functional traits were positively correlated with the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units identified as Glomus, Rhizophagus and Claroideoglomus genera.<br><br>CONCLUSION: These results suggest synergistic interactions between commercial AMF bioinoculants and native AMF communities of roots to promote grapevine growth. Long-term studies with further genomics, metabolomics and physiological research are needed to provide a deeper understanding of the symbiotic interaction among grapevine roots, bioinoculants and natural AMF communities and their role to promote plant adaptation to current environmental concerns.},
}
@article {pmid39891167,
year = {2025},
author = {Marangon, E and Rädecker, N and Li, JYQ and Terzin, M and Buerger, P and Webster, NS and Bourne, DG and Laffy, PW},
title = {Destabilization of mutualistic interactions shapes the early heat stress response of the coral holobiont.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {31},
pmid = {39891167},
issn = {2049-2618},
mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Heat-Shock Response ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Coral Reefs ; Hot Temperature ; Microbiota ; Transcriptome ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The stability of the symbiotic relationship between coral and their dinoflagellate algae (Symbiodiniaceae) is disrupted by ocean warming. Although the coral thermal response depends on the complex interactions between host, Symbiodiniaceae and prokaryotes, the mechanisms underlying the initial destabilization of these symbioses are poorly understood.<br><br>RESULTS: In a 2-month manipulative experiment, we exposed the coral Porites lutea to gradually increasing temperatures corresponding to 0-8 degree heating weeks (DHW) and assessed the response of the coral holobiont using coral and Symbiodiniaceae transcriptomics, microbial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and physiological measurements. From early stages of heat stress (<&#x2009;1 DHW), the increase in metabolic turnover shifted the holobiont to a net heterotrophic state in which algal-derived nutrients were insufficient to meet host energy demands, resulting in reduced holobiont performance at 1 DHW. We postulate the altered nutrient cycling also affected the coral-associated microbial community, with the relative abundance of Endozoicomonas bacteria declining under increasing heat stress. Integration of holobiont stress responses correlated this decline to an increase in expression of a host ADP-ribosylation factor, suggesting that Symbiodiniaceae and Endozoicomonas may underlie similar endosymbiotic regulatory processes.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The thermotolerance of coral holobionts therefore is influenced by the nutritional status of its members and their interactions, and this identified metabolic interdependency highlights the importance of applying an integrative approach to guide coral reef conservation efforts. Video Abstract.},
}
@article {pmid39889985,
year = {2025},
author = {Zuo, X and Xu, Y and Ren, G and Jiang, D and Liu, C},
title = {Licorice endophytes activate glycyrrhizin synthesis metabolic flux through feedback of β-glucuronidase conversion activity.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {302},
number = {},
pages = {140484},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140484},
pmid = {39889985},
issn = {1879-0003},
mesh = {*Glycyrrhizic Acid/metabolism ; *Glycyrrhiza/microbiology/metabolism ; *Glucuronidase/metabolism ; *Endophytes/metabolism/enzymology ; Biotransformation ; },
abstract = {Terpenoids are widely distributed in plants and are often used as defense molecules in plant-microbe interactions. However, endophytic microorganisms usually establish a better symbiotic relationship with their hosts by secreting enzymes to avoid defense plant metabolites. This study evaluated the in vitro biotransformation activity of licorice endophytic fungi on glycyrrhizin and further explored the molecular regulation of their in vivo colonization on the licorice growth and metabolism. The results indicated that licorice endophytic fungi generally possessed the ability to bio-transform glycyrrhizin, with Z6 and Z15 exhibiting glycyrrhizin-induced β-glucuronidase activity. The Z6GH2 and Z15GH2 proteins were identified to hydrolyze glycyrrhizin in different ways by prokaryotic and eukaryotic experiments. In vivo re-infestation of licorice by Z6 and Z15 revealed significant promotion of glycyrrhizin biosynthesis and accumulation by regulating the expression levels of genes involved in glycolysis and glycyrrhizin biosynthesis pathway in licorice. These findings were further validated in J3, which has glycyrrhizin biotransformation properties. In summary, this study reveals the molecular mechanism by which endophytic fungi with glycyrrhizin β-glucuronidase activity promote glycyrrhizin biosynthesis and accumulation in licorice through feedback regulation of its metabolic flux. These finding highlight the importance of endophytic fungi in regulating the accumulation of active ingredients in medicinal plants.},
}
@article {pmid39889806,
year = {2025},
author = {Zang, J and Yin, F and Liu, Z and Li, F and Zhang, Y},
title = {Bacteria-tumor symbiosis destructible novel nanocatalysis drug delivery systems for effective tumor therapy.},
journal = {Nanomedicine (London, England)},
volume = {20},
number = {3},
pages = {305-318},
pmid = {39889806},
issn = {1748-6963},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Drug Delivery Systems/methods ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/microbiology/drug therapy/pathology ; Fusobacterium nucleatum/drug effects/pathogenicity ; Animals ; Symbiosis ; Nanostructures/chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration &amp; dosage ; },
abstract = {Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant threat to human health. The dynamic equilibrium between probiotics and pathogenic bacteria within the gut microbiota is crucial in mitigating the risk of CRC. An overgrowth of harmful microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract can result in an excessive accumulation of bacterial toxins and carcinogenic metabolites, thereby disrupting the delicate balance of the microbiota. This disruption may lead to alterations in microbial composition, impairment of mucosal barrier function, potential promotion of abnormal cell proliferation, and ultimately contribute to the progression of CRC. Recently, research has indicated that intestinal presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) significantly influences the onset, progression, and metastasis of CRC. Consequently, disrupting the interaction between CRC cells and Fn presents a promising strategy against CRC. Nanomaterials have been extensively utilized in cancer therapy and bacterial infection control, demonstrating substantial potential in treating bacteria-associated tumors. This review begins by elucidating the mechanisms of gut microbiota and the occurrence and progression of CRC, with a particular emphasis on clarifying the intricate relationship between Fn and CRC. Subsequently, we highlight strategies that utilize nanomaterials to disrupt the association between Fn and CRC. Overall, this review offers valuable insight and guidance for leveraging nanomaterials in CRC therapy.},
}
@article {pmid39889699,
year = {2025},
author = {Tagirdzhanova, G and Scharnagl, K and Sahu, N and Yan, X and Bucknell, A and Bentham, AR and Jégousse, C and Ament-Velásquez, SL and Onuț-Brännström, I and Johannesson, H and MacLean, D and Talbot, NJ},
title = {Complexity of the lichen symbiosis revealed by metagenome and transcriptome analysis of Xanthoria parietina.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {35},
number = {4},
pages = {799-817.e5},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.12.041},
pmid = {39889699},
issn = {1879-0445},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Lichens/microbiology/genetics/physiology ; *Metagenome ; *Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; *Ascomycota/genetics/physiology ; },
abstract = {Lichens are composite, symbiotic associations of fungi, algae, and bacteria that result in large, anatomically complex organisms adapted to many of the world's most challenging environments. How such intricate, self-replicating lichen architectures develop from simple microbial components remains unknown because of their recalcitrance to experimental manipulation. Here, we report a metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis of the lichen Xanthoria parietina at different developmental stages. We identified 168 genomes of symbionts and lichen-associated microbes across the sampled thalli, including representatives of green algae, three different classes of fungi, and 14 bacterial phyla. By analyzing the occurrence of individual species across lichen thalli from diverse environments, we defined both substrate-specific and core microbial components of the lichen. Metatranscriptomic analysis of the principal fungal symbiont from three different developmental stages of a lichen, compared with axenically grown fungus, revealed differential gene expression profiles indicative of lichen-specific transporter functions, specific cell signaling, transcriptional regulation, and secondary metabolic capacity. Putative immunity-related proteins and lichen-specific structurally conserved secreted proteins resembling fungal pathogen effectors were also identified, consistent with a role for immunity modulation in lichen morphogenesis.},
}
@article {pmid39887637,
year = {2025},
author = {Cagatay, NS and Akhoundi, M and Izri, A and Brun, S and Hurst, GDD},
title = {Prevalence of Heritable Symbionts in Parisian Bedbugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {e70054},
pmid = {39887637},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {//T&#xdc;B&#x130;TAK [The Scientific and Technological Research Council of T&#xfc;rkiye]/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Bedbugs/microbiology ; *Wolbachia/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Paris ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Haplotypes ; Prevalence ; },
abstract = {Like many insects, the biology of bedbugs is impacted by a range of partner heritable microbes. Three maternally inherited symbionts are recognised: Wolbachia (an obligate partner), Symbiopectobacterium purcellii strain SyClec, and Candidatus Tisiphia sp. (facultative symbionts typically present in some but not all individuals). Past work had examined the presence of these heritable microbes from established laboratory lines, but not from broader field samples. We therefore deployed targeted endpoint PCR assays to determine the symbiont infection status for 50 bedbugs collected from 10 districts of Paris during the 2023 outbreak. All three symbionts were found to be broadly present across Cimex lectularius samples, with the Symbiopectobacterium-Candidatus Tisiphia-Wolbachia triple infection most commonly observed. A minority of individuals lacked either one or both facultative symbionts. Five mtDNA haplotypes were observed across the COI barcode region, and triple infections were found in all mtDNA haplotypes, indicating that symbiont infection is not a recent invasion event. We conclude that the Parisian bedbug outbreak was one in which the host's secondary symbionts were present at high-frequency coinfections, and facultative symbionts are an important but uncharacterised component of bedbug populations.},
}
@article {pmid39886864,
year = {2025},
author = {Herrera-Cardoso, ED and Tapia-Cervantes, KA and Cepeda-Negrete, J and Gutiérrez-Vargas, S and León-Galván, MF},
title = {Isolation and identification of Lactobacillus species from gut microbiota of Aegiale hesperiaris (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) larvae.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {372},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaf015},
pmid = {39886864},
issn = {1574-6968},
support = {CIIC 147/2023//Universidad de Guanajuato/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Larva/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Lactobacillus/isolation &amp; purification/genetics/classification ; *Lepidoptera/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Entomophagy, the practice of consuming insects, is a global tradition. In Mexico, one of the most notable and widely consumed insects is the larva of Aegiale hesperiaris. This insect feeds on the leaves of various Agave species with high polysaccharide content, suggesting their potential role as prebiotics for the intestinal microbiota, particularly lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB are recognized for their use as probiotics in foods due to their health-promoting capabilities. In this study, LAB from the intestinal microbiota of A. hesperiaris larvae were isolated and characterized, utilizing 16S rRNA gene identification. The analysis revealed three bacterial species from the Lactobacillaceae family, indicating a close symbiotic relationship with the insect. This suggests a significant impact on carbohydrate and protein metabolism, vitamin synthesis, and amino acid production, contributing to the high nutritional value of this edible insect. The study provides insights into the bacteria within the digestive tract of A. hesperiaris larvae and their role in enhancing the nutritional value of this edible insect. Additionally, it establishes a foundation for future research on the ecological roles and potential biotechnological benefits of these bacteria in the food industry and the development of therapies for various conditions and diseases.},
}
@article {pmid39886814,
year = {2025},
author = {Junker, AD and Chen, JZ and DuBose, JG and Gerardo, NM},
title = {Dynamic reciprocal morphological changes in insect hosts and bacterial symbionts.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {228},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {39886814},
issn = {1477-9145},
support = {K12 GM000680/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 2019-67013-29371//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; GM000680/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; 2023-67012-40012//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Heteroptera/microbiology/anatomy &amp; histology/physiology ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic interactions, central to most life on Earth, are interwoven associations that vary in intimacy and duration. Some of the most well-known examples of symbioses occur between animals and gut bacteria. These associations lead to physiological integration of host and symbionts. The diversity of microbes within animal hosts can make studying them technically challenging. Thus, most science heavily focuses on the animal side of symbioses, limiting study of the microbial symbionts to characterization of their genetic and functional diversity. These limitations are minimized in Heteropteran insects that have specialized midguts that separately house single symbiont species away from ingested food. These insect-bacteria associations allow us to address fundamental questions regarding how both hosts and symbionts change to establish a cooperative relationship. In this study, through ex vivo and in vivo observations of cellular behaviors, we explore concurrent structural and cellular dynamics in both the squash bug host (Anasa tristis) and its Caballeronia zhejiangensis symbionts during the initiation of symbiosis. We elucidate how C. zhejiangensis is sequestered within a specialized symbiotic organ within the A. tristis midgut, how the symbiont uses active motility to reach the symbiotic organ, how symbionts colonize host crypts within the organ and how host crypt morphogenesis progresses during the initiation of symbiotic interactions. Our findings provide insight into how dynamic cellular activity and morphological development reciprocally change in both host and symbiont as they establish symbiotic interactions.},
}
@article {pmid39886690,
year = {2024},
author = {Yang, M and Lei, C and Ma, C and Hou, X and Yao, M and Mi, L and Liu, E and Xu, L and Wang, S and Liu, C and Chen, Q and Xin, D and Xu, C and Wang, J},
title = {GmWRKY33a is a hub gene responsive to brassinosteroid signaling that suppresses nodulation in soybean (Glycine max).},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1507307},
pmid = {39886690},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Brassinosteroids (BRs) are key phytohormones influencing soybean development, yet their role in symbiosis remains unclear. Here, the RNA-Seq was used to identify important gene associated with BRs and symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and the function of candidate gene was verified by transgenic hairy roots. The result shows that the RNA-Seq analysis was conducted in which BR signaling was found to suppress nodule formation and many DEGs enriched in immunity-related pathways. WGCNA analyses led to the identification of GmWRKY33a as being responsive to BR signaling in the context of symbiosis establishment. Transgenic hairy roots analyses indicated that GmWRKY33a served as a negative regulator of the establishment of symbiosis. The qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that BR signaling upregulates GmWRKY33a, leading to nodulation suppression and activation of soybean immune responses. In summary, our research revealed that BR suppresses root nodule formation by modulating the immune signaling pathway in soybean roots. We further identified that GmWRKY33a, a crucial transcription factor in BR signaling, plays a negative role in the symbiotic establishment.},
}
@article {pmid39885562,
year = {2025},
author = {Grieves, LA and Gloor, GB},
title = {Uropygial gland microbiota of nearctic-neotropical migrants vary with season and migration distance.},
journal = {Animal microbiome},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {11},
pmid = {39885562},
issn = {2524-4671},
abstract = {Symbiotic microbiota are important drivers of host behaviour, health, and fitness. While most studies focus on humans, model organisms, and domestic or economically important species, research investigating the role of host microbiota in wild populations is rapidly accumulating. Most studies focus on the gut microbiota; however, skin and other glandular microbiota also play an important role in shaping traits that may impact host fitness. The uropygial gland is an important source of chemical cues and harbours diverse microbes that could mediate chemical communication in birds, so determining the factors most important in shaping host microbiota should improve our understanding of microbially-mediated chemical communication. Hypothesizing that temporal, geographic, and taxonomic effects influence host microbiota, we evaluated the effects of season, migration distance, and taxonomy on the uropygial gland microbiota of 18 passerine species from 11 families. By sampling 473 birds at a single stopover location during spring and fall migration and using 16S rRNA sequencing, we demonstrate that season, followed by migration distance, had the strongest influence on uropygial gland microbial community composition. While statistically significant, taxonomic family and species had only weak effects on gland microbiota. Given that temporal effects on gland microbiota were nearly ubiquitous among the species we tested, determining the consequences of and mechanisms driving this seasonal variation are important next steps.},
}
@article {pmid39884621,
year = {2025},
author = {Dhayalan, A and P D, KJ and Manoharan, S and Nadeem, A and Govindasamy, B and Pachiappan, P and Vasudhevan, P},
title = {Fish gut symbiotic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis: RSM optimization for its extracellular lipase enzyme production, lipase-protein purification, characterization, and docking analysis.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {301},
number = {},
pages = {140428},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140428},
pmid = {39884621},
issn = {1879-0003},
mesh = {*Bacillus thuringiensis/enzymology/genetics/physiology ; *Lipase/chemistry/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism/biosynthesis ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Animals ; *Bacterial Proteins/chemistry/isolation &amp; purification/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Fishes/microbiology ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; },
abstract = {Lipase enzymes play a vital role in digestion and nutrient metabolism in host organisms, with symbiotic bacteria producing abundant enzymes, carbohydrates, vitamins, and other nutrients. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and screen lipase-producing bacteria from the gut of Systomus sarana, optimize enzyme production using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and characterize the extracted lipase protein. A total of 11 bacterial strains were isolated and identified through 16S rRNA sequencing. Among these, Bacillus thuringiensis (SS5) exhibited the highest enzyme index (5.46 mm) and crude enzyme activity (109 U/mL). Using RSM optimization, growth conditions were refined to pH 7.5, temperature 35 °C, incubation time 30 h, with 2.3 % peptone and 2.34 % lactose, resulting in enhanced lipase production of 210 U/mL. The partially purified protein (~30 kDa) was characterized by SDS-PAGE and FTIR spectroscopy, revealed functional groups such as acids, aliphatic amines, and aromatics. MALDI-TOF/MS analysis identified eight peptides, with one major peptide sequence (IYVYYSDIMHVMNTMGQR). The modelled protein structure based on 259 amino acids was validated through homology modeling. Molecular docking studies demonstrated strong binding affinities (-7.36 to -8.95 kcal/mol) between the lipase protein and fatty acids (linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid) as well as tripalmitin. These findings highlight the potential of fish gut-derived Bacillus thuringiensis as a valuable source of lipase enzymes for industrial applications such as bioremediation and biodiesel production. Further exploration of these bacterial enzymes within their native ecosystems is recommended to expand their biotechnological utility.},
}
@article {pmid39883607,
year = {2025},
author = {Hemmler, KS and Camara, B and Buerkert, A},
title = {Social ecology of artisanal sand mining in the Niger River around Bamako, Mali.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {e0318029},
pmid = {39883607},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Mali ; *Rivers ; *Mining ; Humans ; *Sand ; Female ; },
abstract = {Sand, shaping both natural waterways and urban infrastructure, has recently seen a major surge in extraction, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions like West Africa. To assess the organization, quantification, and socio-ecological implications of sand mining around Mali's capital Bamako, we employed a mixed methods approach including structured and unstructured interviews, truck counts, turbidity analyses, and river depth measurements. Our study identified five artisanal systems for mining sand and gravel from the Niger River, using tied-up pirogues, single pirogues, carts, tractors, and trucks. Recent increases in extracted quantities, workforce size, and sand prices were observed, resulting in an estimated annual extraction of 4.86 million m3 in 2022, mainly sourced from upstream of Bamako. With extraction rates surpassing natural replenishment, the riverbed in the study communities of Gouni and Usine Toch has reportedly lowered by 1.4 m and 1.8 m during the last 50 years. Mining activities are highly informal, characterized by self-organization, low and irregular salaries, and unsafe working conditions, particularly for women. Economically, sand mining activities have created symbiotic relationships rather than conflicts with local farming, fishing and other livelihoods. Sand mining operations did not significantly affect the Niger River's water turbidity, which varied primarily with seasonal rainfall fluctuations. Recent developments suggest that mining activities are accelerating, with mechanized practices likely to replace current artisanal methods and underlying social structures.},
}
@article {pmid39883363,
year = {2024},
author = {Cecchini, P and Nitta, T and Sena, E and Du, ZY},
title = {Saving coral reefs: significance and biotechnological approaches for coral conservation.},
journal = {Advanced biotechnology},
volume = {2},
number = {4},
pages = {42},
pmid = {39883363},
issn = {2948-2801},
support = {2020-38500-32559//U.S. Department of Agriculture/ ; 2022-38500-38099//U.S. Department of Agriculture/ ; },
abstract = {Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that provide valuable services to coastal communities worldwide. However, both local and global anthropogenic stressors, threaten the coral-algal symbiosis that enables reef formation. This breakdown of the symbiotic relationship, known as bleaching, is often triggered by cumulative cell damage. UV and heat stress are commonly implicated in bleaching, but other anthropogenic factors may also play a role. To address coral loss, active restoration is already underway in many critical regions. Additionally, coral researchers are exploring assisted evolution methods for greater coral resilience to projected climate change. This review provides an overview of the symbiotic relationship, the mechanisms underlying coral bleaching in response to stressors, and the strategies being pursued to address coral loss. Despite the necessity of ongoing research in all aspects of this field, action on global climate change remains crucial for the long-term survival of coral reefs.},
}
@article {pmid39883080,
year = {2025},
author = {Liang, SM and Abeer, H and Fathi Abd Allah, E and Wu, QS},
title = {Transcriptomic analysis reveals potential roles of polyamine and proline metabolism in waterlogged peach roots inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae and Serendipita indica.},
journal = {Tree physiology},
volume = {45},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpaf013},
pmid = {39883080},
issn = {1758-4469},
support = {KFT202005//Open Fund of Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education/ ; RSP2025R356//Researchers Supporting Project Number/ ; },
mesh = {*Proline/metabolism ; *Polyamines/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Prunus persica/microbiology/metabolism/genetics/physiology ; *Transcriptome ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Basidiomycota ; },
abstract = {Root-associated endophytic fungi can create symbiotic relationships with trees to enhance stress tolerance, but the underlying mechanisms, especially with regard to waterlogging tolerance, remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of Funneliformis mosseae and Serendipita indica on the growth, root cross-section structure, and root transcriptional responses of peach under waterlogging stress, with a focus on polyamine and proline metabolism. Genes and transcription factors associated with secondary cell wall biosynthesis were selected, and their expression profiles were analyzed. Funneliformis mosseae significantly increased the height, stem diameter and leaf number of peach seedlings subjected to 2 weeks of waterlogging stress, whereas S. indica only significantly improved stem diameter. Both fungal species substantially increased root diameter, stele diameter, the number of late metaxylem inside the stele and late metaxylem diameter, thus improving aeration within inoculated roots under waterlogging stress. Transcriptomic analysis of waterlogged roots identified 5425 and 5646 differentially expressed genes following inoculation with F. mosseae and S. indica, respectively. The arginine and proline metabolism and arginine biosynthesis pathways were enriched following fungal inoculations. Both fungi reduced the conversion of glutamate and ornithine for proline synthesis. However, S. indica promoted peptide-to-proline conversion by up-regulating the expression of PIPs. Although both fungi promoted the expression of genes involved in arginine and ornithine synthesis pathway, only F. mosseae led to increased levels of arginine and ornithine. Additionally, F. mosseae promoted the accumulation of putrescine and maintained polyamine homeostasis by down-regulating PAO2 and SAMDC. Moreover, F. mosseae facilitated the metabolism of cadaverine. In conclusion, both F. mosseae and S. indica formed symbiotic relationships with peach plants, with F. mosseae primarily improving polyamine accumulation and S. indica predominantly facilitating proline accumulation for enhanced waterlogging resistance.},
}
@article {pmid39881995,
year = {2024},
author = {Sodhi, GK and Wijesekara, T and Kumawat, KC and Adhikari, P and Joshi, K and Singh, S and Farda, B and Djebaili, R and Sabbi, E and Ramila, F and Sillu, D and Santoyo, G and de Los Santos-Villalobos, S and Kumar, A and Pellegrini, M and Mitra, D},
title = {Nanomaterials-plants-microbes interaction: plant growth promotion and stress mitigation.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1516794},
pmid = {39881995},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Soil salinization, extreme climate conditions, and phytopathogens are abiotic and biotic stressors that remarkably reduce agricultural productivity. Recently, nanomaterials have gained attention as effective agents for agricultural applications to mitigate such stresses. This review aims to critically appraise the available literature on interactions involving nanomaterials, plants, and microorganisms. This review explores the role of nanomaterials in enhancing plant growth and mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses. These materials can be synthesized by microbes, plants, and algae, and they can be applied as fertilizers and stress amelioration agents. Nanomaterials facilitate nutrient uptake, improve water retention, and enhance the efficiency of active ingredient delivery. Nanomaterials strengthen plant antioxidant systems, regulate photosynthesis, and stabilize hormonal pathways. Concurrently, their antimicrobial and protective properties provide resilience against biotic stressors, including pathogens and pests, by promoting plant immune responses and optimizing microbial-plant symbiosis. The synergistic interactions of nanomaterials with beneficial microorganisms optimize plant growth under stress conditions. These materials also serve as carriers of nutrients, growth regulators, and pesticides, thus acting like "smart fertilizers. While nanotechnology offers great promise, addressing potential environmental and ecotoxicological risks associated with their use is necessary. This review outlines pathways for leveraging nanotechnology to achieve resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart agricultural systems by integrating molecular insights and practical applications.},
}
@article {pmid39881990,
year = {2024},
author = {Xiao, J and He, Z and He, X and Lin, Y and Kong, X},
title = {Tracing microbial community across endophyte-to-saprotroph continuum of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl leaves considering priority effect of endophyte on litter decomposition.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1518569},
pmid = {39881990},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Endophytes typically coexist with plants in symbiosis and transition into the saprobic system as plant tissues senesce, participating in the decomposition process of litter. However, the dynamic changes of endophytic communities during this process and their role in litter decomposition remain unclear. This study tracked the microbial composition across the transition from live leaves to litter in Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl (C. camphora), evaluating the contribution of endophytes to litter decomposition by examining microbial diversity, community assembly, and co-occurrence networks along the endophyte-to-saprotroph spectrum. The results revealed increasing bacterial diversity but stable fungal diversity, and the diversity of endogenous microbes is mirrored this in the saprophytic phase. Bacterial community assembly was characterized by deterministic processes during the symbiotic phase, shifted to stochastic processes during the saprophytic phase. In contrast, fungal community assembly was predominantly driven by stochastic processes throughout the continuum. Out of the 49 keystone taxa identified, only Pseudorhodoplanes sinuspersici demonstrated a significant positive correlation with community assembly. All identified bacterial keystone taxa during the saprophytic phase originated from endophytic sources, and around 80% of the fungal keystone taxa in the initial stages of decomposition were similarly endophytic in origin. Additionally, 60% of the dominant bacterial taxa and 28% of the dominant fungal taxa at the commencement of decomposition were of endophytic descent. This suggests that endogenous microbes possess the potential to evolve into both keystone and dominant taxa during the saprophytic phase. Endogenous keystone and dominant microbes both exhibited significant correlations with microbial network, indicating their substantial ecological presence in microbial community. Both endogenous keystone and dominant taxa exerted significant potential influences on litter decomposition. Overall, during the saprophytic phase, endophytes are likely to influence the assemblage of microbial communities, the network structure, and decomposition-related functions. Specifically, it appears that bacterial endophytes may possess a greater adaptability to the decomposition processes of leaf litter compared to their fungal counterparts.},
}
@article {pmid39881987,
year = {2024},
author = {Yan, S and Zhang, Q and Jia, S and Guo, M and Zhang, Q and Gu, P},
title = {Endophytic strategies decoded by genome and transcriptome analysis of Fusarium nematophilum strain NQ8GII4.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1487022},
pmid = {39881987},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Fusarium nematophilum strain NQ8GII4 is an endophytic fungus with significant potential for improving growth and disease resistance of alfalfa. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiotic relationship between NQ8GII4 and alfalfa roots remain poorly understood.<br><br>METHODS: In this study, we conducted (1) a comparative genomic analysis of selected saprophytic, pathogenic, and endophytic fungi, including molecular phylogeny analysis, whole-genome alignment, and divergence date estimation positioning, and (2) transcriptomic profiling of alfalfa roots infected with NQ8GII4.<br><br>RESULTS: Our findings reveal that NQ8GII4 is genetically closely related to F. solani, suggesting it diverged from Fusarium phytopathogens. During the early stages of symbiosis establishment, genes encoding glycosyltransferases (GTs), fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes (FCWDEs), and steroid-14&#x3b1;-demethylase (CYP51) were significantly downregulated, potentially suppressing hyphal growth of the fungus. Once symbiosis was established, NQ8GII4 secreted effectors that activated plant immunity, which in turn could slow growth of the fungus. Moreover, genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, such as type I polyketide synthases (T1PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), were significantly downregulated. Homologs of autophagy-related genes, including ATG1, ATG2, ATG11, and others, were also downregulated, suggesting that reduced phytotoxin production and autophagy inhibition is a consequence of NQ8GII4's symbiosis.<br><br>DISCUSSION: This study investigated the comprehensive molecular and genetic mechanisms governing the interaction between NQ8GII4 and alfalfa roots. Beyond the NQ8GII4-alfalfa system, these findings also provide a valuable molecular framework for understanding the mechanism of interactions between endophytic fungi and their host plants.},
}
@article {pmid39881730,
year = {2024},
author = {Delpiano, CA and Rios, RS and Barraza-Zepeda, CE and Pozo, MJ and Aguilera, LE and Loayza, AP},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization defines root ecological strategies in an extreme arid environment.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1488383},
pmid = {39881730},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {The symbiosis between mycorrhizae fungi and plant roots is essential for plant establishment in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems. However, the role of mycorrhizal colonization (colM) in shaping root ecological strategies remains poorly understood. Emerging research identifies colM as a key trait influencing the multidimensional covariation of root traits within the Root Economic Space (RES), where a 'collaboration gradient' is proposed. At one end of this gradient, species with larger root diameters (RD) rely on colM for resource acquisition through an 'outsourcing' strategy, while at the other end, species with finer roots and greater exploration capacity employ a 'do it yourself' strategy to acquire resources independently. Although the RES framework has improved our understanding of root strategies, the relationship between colM and root traits in desert ecosystems remains underexplored, particularly in hyper-arid environments, where limited resources can constrain both plant and mycorrhizal survival. In this study, we examine the root ecological strategies of 32 dominant shrub species in Chile's Coastal Atacama Desert, focusing on the link between specific root traits and colM. We found that larger RD correlated with higher levels of colM, supporting the 'outsourcing' strategy within the 'collaboration gradient' hypothesis of the RES. Additionally, RD and colM emerged as playing key roles in defining both dimensions of root ecological strategies. Moreover, we identified colM as a central hub trait in the root phenotypic network, underscoring its role in survival strategies under hyper-arid conditions. These findings emphasize the critical importance of colM in modulating plant ecological strategies and highlight the need to further investigate how AM enhances root lifespan and optimizes resource uptake in extreme environments.},
}
@article {pmid39881025,
year = {2025},
author = {Haider, K and Sufian, M and Abbas, D and Kabir, K and Ali, MS and Kausar, Y and Ghafar, MA},
title = {The Role of Gut Microbiota in Shaping Immune Responses in Tephritidae Fruit Fly and Prospective Implications for Management.},
journal = {Neotropical entomology},
volume = {54},
number = {1},
pages = {34},
pmid = {39881025},
issn = {1678-8052},
mesh = {*Tephritidae/immunology/microbiology ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Pest Control, Biological ; *Insect Control/methods ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {The interaction of microbial communities with host immunity has become one of the most explored research areas with significant implications for pest control strategies. It has been found that the gut microbiota plays substantial roles in immune response regulation and host-gut microbiome symbiosis, as well as in pathogen resistance and overall fitness in Tephritidae fruit flies that are major pests of agricultural importance. In this review, we discuss the modulation of immune responses of Tephritidae fruit flies by the gut microbiota with particular emphasis on the general interactions between microbiota and the immune system. These interactions help to unravel new horizons of pest management. Regulating gut microbiota modifies the performance of biological control agents and SIT and allows the creation of microbial therapies that affect the vital physiological functions of fruit flies. Besides, deploying microbes that can modulate the immune response and using microbial-derived signals provide an eco-friendly and more sustainable way of eradicating chemical pesticides and making farming systems less susceptible to climatic variability. This paper reviews various aspects of the possibility of using gut microbiota for changing the approach to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs that would improve methods of controlling Tephritidae fruit fly populations more ecologically.},
}
@article {pmid39880954,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, Y and Igarashi, K and Liu, L and Mayumi, D and Ujiie, T and Fu, L and Yang, M and Lu, Y and Cheng, L and Kato, S and Nobu, MK},
title = {Methanol transfer supports metabolic syntrophy between bacteria and archaea.},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {639},
number = {8053},
pages = {190-195},
pmid = {39880954},
issn = {1476-4687},
mesh = {*Methanol/metabolism ; Formates/metabolism ; Methane/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; Energy Metabolism ; *Archaea/metabolism ; Thermodynamics ; Methylation ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Hydrogen/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {In subsurface methanogenic ecosystems, the ubiquity of methylated-compound-using archaea-methylotrophic methanogens[1-4]-implies that methylated compounds have an important role in the ecology and carbon cycling of such habitats. However, the origin of these chemicals remains unclear[5,6] as there are no known energy metabolisms that generate methylated compounds de novo as a major product. Here we identified an energy metabolism in the subsurface-derived thermophilic anaerobe Zhaonella formicivorans[7] that catalyses the conversion of formate to methanol, thereby producing methanol without requiring methylated compounds as an input. Cultivation experiments showed that formate-driven methanologenesis is inhibited by the accumulation of methanol. However, this limitation can be overcome through methanol consumption by a methylotrophic partner methanogen, Methermicoccus shengliensis. This symbiosis represents a fourth mode of mutualistic cross-feeding driven by thermodynamic necessity (syntrophy), previously thought to rely on transfer of hydrogen, formate or electrons[8-10]. The unusual metabolism and syntrophy provide insights into the enigmatic presence of methylated compounds in subsurface methanogenic ecosystems and demonstrate how organisms survive at the thermodynamic limit through metabolic symbiosis.},
}
@article {pmid39880798,
year = {2025},
author = {Chaib De Mares, M and Arciniegas Castro, E and Ulloa, MA and Torres, JM and Sierra, MA and Butler, DJ and Mason, CE and Zambrano, MM and Moncada, B and Reyes Muñoz, A},
title = {Distinct bacteria display genus and species-specific associations with mycobionts in paramo lichens in Colombia.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {101},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {39880798},
issn = {1574-6941},
support = {U01 DA053941/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI125416/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 EB031466/EB/NIBIB NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI151059/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R21 AI129851/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; INV-2021-128-2280//Universidad de los Andes/ ; //WorldQuant Foundation/ ; R01AI125416/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Lichens/microbiology ; Colombia ; Symbiosis ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Microbiota ; Species Specificity ; *Fungi/classification/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {Lichens are complex symbiotic systems where fungi interact with an extracellular arrangement of one or more photosynthetic partners and an indeterminate number of other microbes. Recently, specific lichen-microbial community associations have been proposed. In this study, we aimed to characterize the differences in bacteria associated with closely related lichens, under a defined set of environmental conditions in Colombian paramos. Our goal was to determine if there is a correlation between microbiota and host divergence in lichen species belonging to the genus Sticta. We found that specific microbiota are defined by their mycobiont at the genus level. Further, distinct bacterial families show differences among the three studied genera, and specific amplicon sequence variants further discriminate among lichen species within each genus. A geographic component also determines the composition of these microbial communities among lichen species. Our functional analysis revealed that fungal partners play a key role in synthesizing complex polysaccharides, while bacterial-derived antioxidants and photoprotective mechanisms contribute to desiccation tolerance in lichens. These insights highlight the complex interactions within lichen symbioses that could be relevant in environments such as the paramo ecosystem.},
}
@article {pmid39880116,
year = {2025},
author = {Wei, R and Tang, Z and Wu, S and Yang, R and Yu, H and Chen, J and Jiang, J and Jiang, J and Kong, Z and Wei, Y and Elsayed, AEA and Chen, H},
title = {Enhancing single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process with airlift inner-circulation and oxygen partition: A novel strategy for treating high-strength ammonium wastewater.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {270},
number = {},
pages = {120968},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.120968},
pmid = {39880116},
issn = {1096-0953},
mesh = {*Bioreactors/microbiology ; *Wastewater/chemistry ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Ammonium Compounds/metabolism ; Oxygen/metabolism/chemistry ; Nitrogen ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; Sewage/microbiology ; *Water Purification/methods ; },
abstract = {In the single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process for high-ammonium wastewater treatment, the presence of sufficient biomass with high activity is essential. This study developed an innovative airlift inner-circulation partition bioreactor (AIPBR) with a dual-cylinder structure. During the 362 days' operation, the AIPBR exhibited robust and stable nitrogen removal performance under diverse influent ammonium spanning from 300 to 1800 mg N/L. Notably, when the influent ammonium was 1820 ± 34 mg N/L, the nitrogen removal rate reached 3.194 ± 0.074 kg N/m[3]/d, accompanied by removal efficiency of 87.6 ± 1.5%. The unique design of the reactor enabled the formation of dissolved oxygen gradient, which improved the synergy of functional microorganisms by facilitating mass transfer within the sludge. Additionally, it maintained appropriate hydraulic shear in the inner cylinder to support granule formation and simultaneously reduced excessive flow in the outer cylinder to prevent sludge loss. Through the cyclic granulation, the system fostered a symbiotic consortium of flocculent and granular sludge with particle size predominantly distributed within the range of 200-400 μm, which enhanced the activity of microorganisms. These findings highlight the potential of AIPBR as a novel and effective strategy for high-ammonium wastewater treatment.},
}
@article {pmid39880115,
year = {2025},
author = {Sun, K and Yang, R and Liu, J and Zhao, W and Li, X and Wang, Y and Song, S},
title = {Precipitation changes reshape desert soil microbial community assembly and potential functions.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {270},
number = {},
pages = {120958},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.120958},
pmid = {39880115},
issn = {1096-0953},
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Desert Climate ; *Microbiota ; Fungi ; Bacteria/classification ; *Rain ; Soil/chemistry ; Nitrogen ; },
abstract = {Understanding the responses of desert microbial communities to escalating precipitation changes is a significant knowledge gap in predicting future soil health and ecological function. Through a five-year precipitation manipulation experiment, we investigated the contrasting eco-evolutionary processes of desert bacteria and fungi that manifested in changes to the assembly and potential functions of the soil microbiome. Elevated precipitation increased the alpha diversity and network complexity of bacteria and fungi, proportion of non-dominant phyla, and abundance of carbon- and nitrogen-fixing bacteria and saprophytic, symbiotic, and pathogenic fungi. Conversely, decreased precipitation reduced the alpha diversity and network complexity of bacteria and fungi while increasing the proportion of non-dominant phyla, stability of the network, and abundance of functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen degradation, nitrification, and ammonification. This suggests that soil microbes may attenuate the negative effects of reduced precipitation by streamlining communities, enhancing carbon and nitrogen acquisition, and promoting nitrogen cycling. Furthermore, we revealed that soil properties and vegetation attributes explained approximately 27.86%-37.75% and 17.76%-22.84% of the variation in bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Finally, we demonstrated that precipitation-driven soil nutrient content and vegetation attributes are the potentially critical factors in shaping the soil microbial assembly and functions. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the response of desert soil microbes to escalating climate change.},
}
@article {pmid39879950,
year = {2025},
author = {Miao, C and Zeller, V},
title = {Nutrient circularity from waste to fertilizer: A perspective from LCA studies.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {965},
number = {},
pages = {178623},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178623},
pmid = {39879950},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Nutrient circularity, an exemplification of circular economy (CE), is situated in the waste/wastewater-agriculture nexus. Recycling nutrient elements from waste streams to fertilizer products amplify the sustainable management of resources and intersect technical and biological loops, a concept developed for CE. Such a complex system needs to be directed by robust assessment methods such as life cycle assessment (LCA) to identify trade-offs and potentials. This review aims to provide a comprehensive outlook of the current state of nutrient circularity and a critical analysis on the applicability of LCA to nutrient CE pathways. Our worked has summarized CE pathways including direct land application, traditionally integrated processes in wastewater treatment plants, and targeted nutrient recycling technologies. Despite the restrictions on inputs streams, recycling technologies demonstrated a relative low selectivity. LCA is a powerful instrument to guide nutrient circularity; however, system modeling settings can confine the applicability of LCA for CE pathways. Given that LCA studies can only partially capture the CE characteristics, a deliberate methodological selection of functional unit, allocation method and impact indicators is required for the specific CE aspect under investigation. Lower data scale limits the LCA ability to assess CE practices that requires systemic analyses. Hence, full scale assessment is of necessity since it incorporates potential gains and drawbacks from the material upscaling, process efficiency changes and possible industrial symbiosis. The findings of this review lay a robust groundwork for future research, pinpointing areas of focus in LCA modeling within nutrient circularity. This is particularly vital for the Global South to ensure knowledge transfer and prompt action.},
}
@article {pmid39879929,
year = {2025},
author = {Lera, M and Ferrer, JF and Borrás, L and Martí, N and Serralta, J and Seco, A},
title = {Mesophilic anaerobic digestion of mixed sludge in CSTR and AnMBR systems: A perspective on microplastics fate.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {375},
number = {},
pages = {124250},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124250},
pmid = {39879929},
issn = {1095-8630},
mesh = {*Sewage ; *Microplastics ; *Bioreactors ; Anaerobiosis ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; Wastewater ; },
abstract = {Most microplastics (MPs) end up in the biosolids produced in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and can pose contamination risks when the biosolids are applied to agriculture. This study evaluated the impact of mesophilic anaerobic digestion on the fate of MPs in WWTP sludge. For this, two laboratory-scale anaerobic digesters were operated in parallel, consisting of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) equipped with an ultrafiltration membrane to decouple the hydraulic and sludge retention times. Both digesters were continuously fed with mixed sludge from a municipal WWTP. The results showed a significant reduction in the MP concentration, with the AnMBR having the higher MP removal efficiency (88.6% vs. 62.1%) and obtaining a higher percentage of biomethanisation (58.3% vs. 43.7%). Polypropylene (PP) and polyacrylonitrile were the main polymers in the mixed sludge, while PP and polyethylene were the dominant polymers in the digested samples. The MP particles in all the samples were predominantly in the 500-104 μm size range. Microbiological analysis indicates a greater species diversity in the microbial community of the AnMBR, the results also revealed a symbiotic relationship between the Firmicutes and Patescibacteria phyla in this digester.},
}
@article {pmid39878511,
year = {2025},
author = {Chaddad, Z and Bouhnik, O and Lamrabet, M and Alami, S and Missbah El Idrissi, M},
title = {Complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium lupini LLZ14, a nitrogen-fixing and plant growth-promoting bacterium.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {e0093524},
pmid = {39878511},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {In this study, we present the complete genome of Bradyrhizobium lupini LLZ14, a nodule-forming bacterium isolated from Lupinus luteus root nodules with high plant growth-promoting abilities. This genome contains genes predicted to be involved in plant stress tolerance and growth promotion, including auxin production, phosphatase, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase.},
}
@article {pmid39878491,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, M and Jiang, L and Zhou, G and Lian, J and Yu, X and Huang, H},
title = {Diversity and dynamics of multiple symbionts contribute to early development of broadcast spawning reef-building coral Dipsastraea veroni.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {91},
number = {2},
pages = {e0235924},
pmid = {39878491},
issn = {1098-5336},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/growth &amp; development/physiology ; Coral Reefs ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; *Archaea/classification/genetics/physiology/isolation &amp; purification ; *Biodiversity ; Seawater/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Sexual reproduction and recruitment enhance the genetic diversity and evolution of reef-building corals for population recovery and coral reef conservation under climate change. However, new recruits are vulnerable to physical changes and the mechanisms of symbiosis establishment remain poorly understood. Here, Dipsastraea veroni, a broadcast spawning hermaphrodite reef-building coral, was subjected to settlement and juvenile growth in flow-through in situ seawater at 27.93 ± 0.96°C. Symbiosis of Symbiodiniaceae, bacteria, and/or archaea by horizontal acquisition and/or hypothetical vertical transmission through the mucus with symbionts from the parent appears to be a heritable process of selection and adaptation in D. veroni at the egg, larva, juvenile (5 days post settlement, d p.s. and 32 d p.s.) stages. Symbiodiniaceae was dominated by the genera Cladocopium, Durusdinium, Symbiodinium, with increasing relative abundance of Durusdinium at 5 d p.s. and Symbiodinium at 32 d p.s. Mixed acquisition of the dominant phyla Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, Cyanobacteriota, Bacillota, Planctomycetota, and Actinomycetota in egg, larva, and/or juvenile showed a winnowing and regulated bacterial diversity and dynamics, resulting in stage-abundant orders Pseudomonadales and Bacillales in egg and Rhodobacterales, Rhodospirillales, Cyanobacteria, and Cyanobacteriales in larva and/or juvenile. The photoautotrophic Chloroflexales, Cyanobacteriales, and Chlorobiales were abundant in adults. The stable archaeal community contained predominant Crenarchaeota, Halobacterota, Nanoarchaeia Thermoplasmatota, and eight rare phyla, with increased relative abundance of the genera Bathyarchaeota, Candidatus_Nitrosopumilus, Candidatus_Nitrocosmicus, Nitrosarchaeum, Candidatus_Nitrosotenuis, Candidatus_Nitrosopelagicus, Cenarchaeum, Haladaptatus, Halogranum, Halolamina, and Woesearchaeales and GW2011-AR15 in juveniles. All results revealed flexible symbiotic mechanisms in D. veroni during early ontogeny for coral survival and evolution.IMPORTANCEFlexible symbioses of Symbiodiniaceae, bacteria, and archaea appear to be a heritable process of selection and adaptation in Dipsastraea veroni in the field, benefiting early coral development and facilitating coral population recovery and reef conversation.},
}
@article {pmid39878466,
year = {2025},
author = {Fung, BL and Visick, KL},
title = {LitR and its quorum-sensing regulators modulate biofilm formation by Vibrio fischeri.},
journal = {Journal of bacteriology},
volume = {207},
number = {2},
pages = {e0047624},
pmid = {39878466},
issn = {1098-5530},
support = {R35 GM130355/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {*Biofilms/growth &amp; development ; *Aliivibrio fischeri/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Quorum Sensing/physiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics ; *Trans-Activators/metabolism/genetics ; Cellulose ; },
abstract = {Quorum sensing controls numerous processes ranging from the production of virulence factors to biofilm formation. Biofilms, communities of bacteria that are attached to one another and/or a surface, are common in nature, and when they form, they can produce a quorum of bacteria. One model system to study biofilms is the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which forms a biofilm that promotes the colonization of its symbiotic host. Many factors promote V. fischeri biofilm formation in vitro, including the symbiosis polysaccharide (SYP) and cellulose, but the role of quorum sensing is currently understudied. Recently, a quorum-sensing-dependent transcription factor, LitR, was shown to negatively influence V. fischeri biofilm formation in the context of a biofilm-overproducing strain. To better understand the importance of LitR, we identified conditions in which the impact of LitR on biofilm formation could be observed in an otherwise wild-type strain and then investigated its role and the roles of upstream quorum regulators in biofilm phenotypes. In static conditions, LitR and its upstream quorum regulators, including autoinducer synthases LuxS and AinS, contributed to control over biofilms that were both SYP and cellulose dependent. In shaking liquid conditions, LitR and AinS contributed to control over biofilms that were primarily cellulose dependent. LitR modestly inhibited cellulose transcription in a manner that depended on the transcription factor VpsR. These findings expand our understanding of LitR and the quorum-sensing pathway in the physiology of V. fischeri and illuminate negative control mechanisms that prevent robust biofilm formation by wild-type V. fischeri under laboratory conditions.IMPORTANCEQuorum sensing is a key regulatory mechanism that controls diverse phenotypes in numerous bacteria, including Vibrio fischeri. In many microbes, quorum sensing has been shown to control biofilm formation, yet in V. fischeri, the link between quorum sensing and biofilm formation has been understudied. This study fills that knowledge gap by identifying roles for the quorum sensing-controlled transcription factor, LitR, and its upstream quorum-sensing regulators, including the autoinducer synthases AinS and LuxS, in inhibiting biofilm formation under specific conditions. It also determined that LitR inhibits the transcription of genes required for cellulose biosynthesis. This work thus expands our understanding of the complex control over biofilm regulation.},
}
@article {pmid39877724,
year = {2025},
author = {Lipnicky, A and Subramanian, P and El Atrouni, W},
title = {A case of W. chitiniclastica bacteremia in a 38-year-old homeless male originating from a maggot-infested amputated foot.},
journal = {IDCases},
volume = {39},
number = {},
pages = {e02146},
pmid = {39877724},
issn = {2214-2509},
abstract = {Wohlfahrtiimonas (W.) chitiniclastica was first isolated from the larval stage of the fly vector Wohlfahrtia magnifica. It is a gram-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic rod that thrives in temperatures between 28º C and 37º C. Its strong chitinase activity aids in metamorphosis, which suggests a symbiotic relationship with the fly. Although rare, W. chitiniclastica has been implicated in human infections, like bacteremia and osteomyelitis, typically transmitted through fly larvae in skin wounds. Over the past decade, there have been 12 documented human infections, including five confirmed cases of bacteremia. We present a case involving a 38-year-old homeless male with W. chitiniclastica bacteremia secondary to maggot-infested wounds. The patient had a medical history of late latent syphilis and previous frostbite requiring right transmetatarsal amputation and presented with a stump infection on the right foot, featuring maggots. He was afebrile with stable signs and blood cultures revealed W. chitiniclastica. The pathogen was susceptible to various antibiotics, including cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and levofloxacin. The patient was treated with piperacillin/tazobactam and later transitioned to oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole but left against medical advice. This case underscores the intersection of infectious diseases and social inequalities, highlighting the need for clinicians to consider W. chitiniclastica in patients with poor hygiene, alcoholism, peripheral vascular disease, and open wounds. It also emphasizes the dual role of maggots in wound care, capable of both cleaning necrotic tissue and introducing pathogenic bacteria.},
}
@article {pmid39877627,
year = {2025},
author = {Mahdavifard, S and Malekzadeh, HR},
title = {Symbiotic anti-oxidant, anti-glycation, and anti-inflammatory qualities of a combination of thiamine and niacin protected type-2 diabetic male rats against both macro and micro-vascular complications.},
journal = {Iranian journal of basic medical sciences},
volume = {28},
number = {1},
pages = {98-104},
pmid = {39877627},
issn = {2008-3866},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Increased nuclear factor (NF-kβ) and carbonyl stress due to decreased glyoxalase-1 activity (Glo-I) contribute significantly to insulin resistance and vascular complications. Therefore, we aimed to study the impact of the combination of thiamine and niacin on hepatic NF-kβ signaling, metabolic profile, and Glo-I activity in male rats with type-2 diabetes (T2DM).<br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male rats were divided equally into five groups: control, diabetic, diabetic treated with thiamine (180 mg/l in drinking water), niacin (180 mg/l), and a combination of both. The treated groups received the treatments daily in drinking water for two months. T2DM was induced using a combination of nicotinamide and alloxan. Metabolic profile and renal dysfunction parameters were assessed. Additionally, various glycation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers were measured.<br><br>RESULTS: The treated group with both vitamins showed the lowest blood sugar and insulin resistance indices, cardiovascular indices, renal dysfunction parameters, hepatic NF-k&#x3b2; expression, oxidative stress, inflammatory and glycation markers, and the highest anti-oxidant and anti-glycation markers, &#x3b2; cell activity, and insulin sensitivity. Thiamine exhibited more anti-inflammatory activity than niacin in diabetic rats, while niacin demonstrated stronger anti-oxidant activity (P<0.001).<br><br>CONCLUSION: The combined use of vitamins had a more beneficial impact on macro and microvascular complications in diabetes than each alone, attributed to their higher anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-glycation characteristics. The vitamins also had a more corrective effect on glucose-lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and renal function through a stronger lowering effect on hepatic NF-k&#x3b2; expression.},
}
@article {pmid39875095,
year = {2025},
author = {Moeller, AH},
title = {Partner fidelity, not geography, drives co-diversification of gut microbiota with hominids.},
journal = {Biology letters},
volume = {21},
number = {1},
pages = {20240454},
pmid = {39875095},
issn = {1744-957X},
support = {/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Hominidae/microbiology ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Geography ; Genome, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {Bacterial strains that inhabit the gastrointestinal tracts of hominids have diversified in parallel (co-diversified) with their host species. The extent to which co-diversification has been mediated by partner fidelity between strains and hosts or by geographical distance between hosts is not clear due to a lack of strain-level data from clades of hosts with unconfounded phylogenetic relationships and geographical distributions. Here, I tested these competing hypotheses through meta-analyses of 7121 gut bacterial genomes assembled from wild-living ape species and subspecies sampled throughout their ranges in equatorial Africa. Across the gut bacterial phylogeny, strain diversification was more strongly associated with host phylogeny than with geography. In total, approximately 14% of the branch length of the gut bacterial phylogeny showed significant evidence of co-diversification independent of geography, whereas only approximately 4% showed significant evidence of diversification associated with geography independent of host phylogeny. Geographically co-occurring heterospecific hosts (Pan and Gorilla) universally maintained distinct co-diversified bacterial strains. Strains whose diversification was associated with geography independent of host phylogeny included clades of Proteobacteria known to adopt free-living lifestyles (e.g. Escherichia). These results show that co-diversification of gut bacterial strains with hominids has been driven primarily by fidelity of strains to host lineages rather than geography.},
}
@article {pmid39874245,
year = {2025},
author = {Milbrath, LR and Biazzo, J and van Zoeren, J},
title = {Flight phenology and influence of region and habitat on the abundance of Xylosandrus germanus and Anisandrus maiche (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in New York.},
journal = {Environmental entomology},
volume = {54},
number = {2},
pages = {386-393},
doi = {10.1093/ee/nvaf010},
pmid = {39874245},
issn = {1938-2936},
support = {#8062-22410-007-000D//USDA/ ; //Agricultural Research Service/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Weevils/physiology ; New York ; *Ecosystem ; Seasons ; *Flight, Animal ; Population Density ; },
abstract = {The non-native wood-boring and symbiotic fungus-culturing Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) was first reported in New York apple orchards in 2013. Trapping surveys have been conducted annually since to assist growers in timely applications of preventative control measures. In 2021, a similar-looking introduced species, Anisandrus maiche (Kurentsov), was identified in traps in west central New York. Anisandrus maiche was first recorded in 2005 in Pennsylvania but its history in New York was unclear due to potential misidentification. We collected and identified ambrosia beetles using ethanol-baited bottle traps in 2022 and 2023 in New York at 2 commercial apple orchards near Lake Ontario and 2 cider apple orchards in the lower Finger Lakes district. Traps were placed in a forest interior, the forest edge, and the orchard edge at each site. Xylosandrus germanus was trapped from mid-April into early October; it was abundant in the Lake Ontario region but less so in the Finger Lakes. In contrast, counts of A. maiche were very high in the Finger Lakes but extremely low near Lake Ontario. It was trapped from late-May to mid-September. Most other bark and ambrosia beetle species were uncommon. Captures of X. germanus and A. maiche were generally highest in the forest interior and declined toward the orchard edge, but each species was usually present in traps across habitats at the same time. Thus, the practice of trapping at forest edges should continue. Both species can potentially infest stressed trees, including in orchards, throughout the growing season.},
}
@article {pmid39872724,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhang, S and Jurgensen, L and Harrison, MJ},
title = {Utilizing FRET-based Biosensors to Measure Cellular Phosphate Levels in Mycorrhizal Roots of Brachypodium distachyon.},
journal = {Bio-protocol},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {e5158},
pmid = {39872724},
issn = {2331-8325},
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi engage in symbiotic relationships with plants, influencing their phosphate (Pi) uptake pathways, metabolism, and root cell physiology. Despite the significant role of Pi, its distribution and response dynamics in mycorrhizal roots remain largely unexplored. While traditional techniques for Pi measurement have shed some light on this, real-time cellular-level monitoring has been a challenge. With the evolution of quantitative imaging with confocal microscopy, particularly the use of genetically encoded fluorescent sensors, live imaging of intracellular Pi concentrations is now achievable. Among these sensors, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors stand out for their accuracy. In this study, we employ the Pi-specific biosensor (cpFLIPPi-5.3m) targeted to the cytosol or plastids of Brachypodium distachyon plants, enabling us to monitor intracellular Pi dynamics during AM symbiosis. A complementary control sensor, cpFLIPPi-Null, is introduced to monitor non-Pi-specific changes. Leveraging a semi-automated ImageJ macro for sensitized FRET analysis, this method provides a precise and efficient way to determine relative intracellular Pi levels at the level of individual cells or organelles. Key features • This protocol describes the use of FRET biosensors for in vivo visualization of spatiotemporal phosphate levels with cellular and subcellular resolution in Brachypodium distachyon. • An optimized growth system can allow tracing of Pi transfer between AM fungi and host root. This protocol is used in: New Phytol (2022), DOI: 10.1111/nph.18081.},
}
@article {pmid39872723,
year = {2025},
author = {Galvis, J and Guyon, J and Daubon, T and Nikolski, M},
title = {Using DIMet for Differential Analysis of Labeled Metabolomics Data: A Step-by-step Guide Showcasing the Glioblastoma Metabolism.},
journal = {Bio-protocol},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {e5168},
pmid = {39872723},
issn = {2331-8325},
abstract = {Stable-isotope resolved metabolomics (SIRM) is a powerful approach for characterizing metabolic states in cells and organisms. By incorporating isotopes, such as [13]C, into substrates, researchers can trace reaction rates across specific metabolic pathways. Integrating metabolomics data with gene expression profiles further enriches the analysis, as we demonstrated in our prior study on glioblastoma metabolic symbiosis. However, the bioinformatics tools for analyzing tracer metabolomics data have been limited. In this protocol, we encourage the researchers to use SIRM and transcriptomics data and to perform the downstream analysis using our software tool DIMet. Indeed, DIMet is the first comprehensive tool designed for the differential analysis of tracer metabolomics data, alongside its integration with transcriptomics data. DIMet facilitates the analysis of stable-isotope labeling and metabolic abundances, offering a streamlined approach to infer metabolic changes without requiring complex flux analysis. Its pathway-based "metabologram" visualizations effectively integrate metabolomics and transcriptomics data, offering a versatile platform capable of analyzing corrected tracer datasets across diverse systems, organisms, and isotopes. We provide detailed steps for sample preparation and data analysis using DIMet through its intuitive, web-based Galaxy interface. To showcase DIMet's capabilities, we analyzed LDHA/B knockout glioblastoma cell lines compared to controls. Accessible to all researchers through Galaxy, DIMet is free, user-friendly, and open source, making it a valuable resource for advancing metabolic research. Key features • Glioblastoma tumor spheroids in vitro replicate tumors' three-dimensional structure and natural nutrient, metabolite, and gas gradients, providing a more realistic model of tumor biology. • Joint analysis of tracer metabolomics and transcriptomics datasets provides deeper insights into the metabolic states of cells. • DIMet is a web-based tool for differential analysis and seamless integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics data, making it accessible and user-friendly. • DIMet enables researchers to infer metabolic changes, offering intuitive and visually appealing "metabologram" outputs, surpassing conventional visual representations commonly used in the field.},
}
@article {pmid39871894,
year = {2024},
author = {Ren, Y and Chen, M and Wang, Z and Han, JJ},
title = {Oral microbiota in aging and diseases.},
journal = {Life medicine},
volume = {3},
number = {3},
pages = {lnae024},
pmid = {39871894},
issn = {2755-1733},
abstract = {Human microbiomes are microbial populations that form a symbiotic relationship with humans. There are up to 1000 species on the surface of human skin and mucosal system, among which gut microbiota attracts the most interest. As the beginning of the digestive tract, oral cavity is also an important microbial habitat in the human body which is the first line of defense against pathogens entering the body. Many studies have revealed that oral microbial dysbiosis could not only contribute to oral diseases but also whole-body systemic diseases and health status. Oral microorganisms can enter the gastrointestinal tract with saliva and food, or enter the blood circulation through mouth breakage, thus causing systemic inflammation and aging-related diseases including some causal links to Alzheimer's disease. A series of changes take place in oral microbial composition during development, with different age stages marked by different dominant microbial species. Despite a lack of comprehensive studies on aging oral microbiota, through systemic inflammation, oral pathogenic microbes are likely to contribute inflammatory aging. As inflammaging is a key signature and one of the causes for accelerated aging, improving the structure of oral microbiome may be not only a new strategy for disease prevention and treatment, but also for aging intervention.},
}
@article {pmid39870251,
year = {2025},
author = {Oubohssaine, M and Rabeh, K and Hnini, M},
title = {Symbiosis vs pathogenesis in plants: Reflections and perspectives.},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {200},
number = {},
pages = {107333},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107333},
pmid = {39870251},
issn = {1096-1208},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Plants/microbiology ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Quorum Sensing ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Plant-microbe partnerships constitute a complex and intricately woven network of connections that have evolved over countless centuries, involving both cooperation and antagonism. In various contexts, plants and microorganisms engage in mutually beneficial partnerships that enhance crop health and maintain balance in ecosystems. However, these associations also render plants susceptible to a range of pathogens. Understanding the fundamental molecular mechanisms governing these associations is crucial, given the notable susceptibility of plants to external environmental influences. Based on quorum sensing signals, phytohormone, and volatile organic carbon (VOC) production and others molecules, microorganisms influence plant growth, health, and defense responses. This review explores the multifaceted relationships between plants and their associated microorganisms, encompassing mutualism, commensalism, and antagonism. The molecular mechanisms of symbiotic and pathogenic interactions share similarities but lead to different outcomes. While symbiosis benefits both parties, pathogenesis harms the host. Genetic adaptations optimize these interactions, involving coevolution driving process. Environmental factors influence outcomes, emphasizing the need for understanding and manipulation of microbial communities for beneficial results. Research directions include employing multi-omics techniques, functional studies, investigating environmental factors, understanding evolutionary trajectories, and harnessing knowledge to engineer synthetic microbial consortia for sustainable agriculture and disease management.},
}
@article {pmid39869923,
year = {2025},
author = {Kausar Sk, M and Mandal, A and Chattopadhyay, J},
title = {Tipping events in a fear-affected symbiotic ecological system with adaptive hunting strategy.},
journal = {Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)},
volume = {35},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1063/5.0241236},
pmid = {39869923},
issn = {1089-7682},
mesh = {Animals ; *Predatory Behavior/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Models, Biological ; *Ecosystem ; *Fear ; Food Chain ; },
abstract = {Experimental observations and field data demonstrated that predators adapt their hunting strategies in response to prey abundance. While previous studies explored the impact of predation risk on predator-prey interactions, the impact of symbiotic relationships between fear-affected prey and non-prey species on system dynamics remains unexplored. This study uses a mathematical approach to investigate how different symbiotic relationships govern system dynamics when predators adapt to prey availability. Our study illustrates that the mutualistic relationship between prey and partners extends predator survivability. However, the fear-affected symbiotic system may undergo regime shifts, which can be catastrophic or non-catastrophic, depending on symbiotic interaction patterns. The study demonstrates a hump-shaped relationship between the predator's optimal search rate and biomass and identifies an intermediate range of search rates where the system exhibits a "bubbling"phenomenon. Overall, our findings provide new insights into symbiotic relationships in community ecology, highlighting the complex interplay among predators, prey, and non-prey species.},
}
@article {pmid39869587,
year = {2025},
author = {Kumari, Y and Gunathilaka, N and Amarasinghe, D},
title = {A comprehensive review of biological and genetic control approaches for leishmaniasis vector sand flies; emphasis towards promoting tools for integrated vector management.},
journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {e0012795},
pmid = {39869587},
issn = {1935-2735},
mesh = {Animals ; *Psychodidae/genetics/parasitology ; *Leishmaniasis/prevention &amp; control/transmission ; *Insect Vectors/genetics/parasitology ; *Insect Control/methods ; Humans ; Gene Editing ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; Gene Drive Technology ; *Pest Control, Biological/methods ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a health problem in many regions with poor health and poor life resources. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 700,000-1 million new cases arise annually. Effective control of sand fly vector populations is crucial for reducing the transmission of this disease. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively examine and evaluate the current methods for controlling sand fly populations, focusing on biological and gene drive techniques.<br><br>METHODS AND FINDINGS: A detailed, comprehensive literature search was carried out using databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the National Library of Medicine (NIH). These searches were done using specific keywords related to the field of study. This current review identified several promising methods, including genetically modified sand flies, using transgenic approaches by taking advanced gene editing tools like Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) and genetic modification of symbiotic microorganisms for controlling sand fly populations, which appeared to be proven under laboratory and field settings.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Genetic control approaches have many benefits over chemical control, including long-lasting effects on targets, high specificity, and less environmental impact. Advances in genetic engineering technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, sterile insect techniques, and gene drive insect modification, offer new avenues for precise and efficient sand fly management. Future research should prioritize optimizing rearing and sterilization techniques, conducting controlled field trials, and fostering collaboration across disciplines to realize the potential of genetic control strategies in combating leishmaniasis.},
}
@article {pmid39869214,
year = {2025},
author = {Shen, Y and Yang, J and Ma, Z and Li, Y and Dong, W and Duan, T},
title = {AM fungus plant colonization rather than an Epichloë endophyte attracts fall armyworm feeding.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {35},
number = {1},
pages = {7},
pmid = {39869214},
issn = {1432-1890},
support = {CARS-22 Green Manure//China Modern Agriculture Research System/ ; 32071879//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Spodoptera/physiology ; *Epichloe/physiology ; *Endophytes/physiology ; *Lolium/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; Larva/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Herbivory ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Most cold-season grasses can be colonized by belowground arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and foliar grass endophytes (Epichloë) simultaneously while also be attacked by insect herbivores. The colonization of AM fungi or the presence of grass endophytes is associated with increased resistance by the host plant. However, studies on how these two symbionts affect host plants and mitigate insect pest attack are currently lacking. In a glasshouse study we investigated the effects of an AM fungus (Acaulospora delicata), a foliar grass endophyte (Epichloë), and the insect pest Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW) on plant growth, defense enzyme activity, and hormone concentrations of the important pasture grass Lolium perenne. Additionally, we assessed the selective behavior of FAW larvae in response to these interactions using olfactometer tests. Our results showed that the AM fungus and its co-colonization with Epichloë endophytes increased aboveground biomass, while Epichloë endophytes alone had no significant impact on ryegrass aboveground biomass. In contrast, FAW reduced aboveground biomass. The Epichloë endophytes and FAW significantly decreased the mycorrhizal colonization rate by 21.67% and 30.16%, respectively. Interestingly, compared to non-mycorrhizal plants, AM fungus colonized plants were more attractive to FAW larvae feeding, and the defense enzyme activity was not discernibly affected by any experimental treatments. The interactions of the AM fungus and Epichloë endophyte increased the jasmonic acid concentrations by 24.29% and decreased trasylol activity by 11.75% in the host plants under FAW attack. Neither the AM fungus nor Epichloë endophyte influenced the relative growth rate (RGR) of FAW. Overall, the AM fungus had a greater positive effect on plant growth than the Epichloë endophyte, regardless of FAW larvae infestation.},
}
@article {pmid39868786,
year = {2025},
author = {Engelhart, MJ and Brock, OD and Till, JM and Glowacki, RWP and Cantwell, JW and Clarke, DJ and Wesener, DA and Ahern, PP},
title = {BT1549 coordinates the in vitro IL-10 inducing activity of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {13},
number = {3},
pages = {e0166924},
pmid = {39868786},
issn = {2165-0497},
support = {R00 AT011374/AT/NCCIH NIH HHS/United States ; R01 DK126772/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United States ; R01DK126772//HHS | NIH | National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)/ ; 12/IP/1493//Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)/ ; },
mesh = {*Interleukin-10/metabolism/genetics/immunology ; *Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/immunology/genetics/metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/metabolism/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The intestine is home to a complex immune system that is engaged in mutualistic interactions with the microbiome that maintain intestinal homeostasis. A variety of immune-derived anti-inflammatory mediators have been uncovered and shown to be critical for maintaining these beneficial immune-microbiome relationships. Notably, the gut microbiome actively invokes the induction of anti-inflammatory pathways that limit the development of microbiome-targeted inflammatory immune responses. Despite the importance of this microbiome-driven immunomodulation, detailed knowledge of the microbial factors that promote these responses remains limited. We have previously established that the gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron stimulates the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 via soluble factors in a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-MyD88-dependent manner. Here, using TLR2 activity reporter cell lines, we show that the capacity of B. thetaiotaomicron to stimulate TLR2 activity was not critically dependent on either of the canonical heterodimeric forms of TLR2, TLR2/TLR1, or TLR2/TLR6, that typically mediate its function. Furthermore, biochemical manipulation of B. thetaiotaomicron-conditioned media suggests that IL-10 induction is mediated by a protease-resistant or non-proteogenic factor. We next uncovered that deletion of gene BT1549, a predicted secreted lipoprotein, significantly impaired the capacity of B. thetaiotaomicron to induce IL-10, while complementation in trans restored IL-10 induction, suggesting a role for BT1549 in the immunomodulatory function of B. thetaiotaomicron. Collectively, these data provide molecular insight into the pathways through which B. thetaiotaomicron operates to promote intestinal immune tolerance and symbiosis.<br><br>IMPORTANCE: Intestinal homeostasis requires the establishment of peaceful interactions between the gut microbiome and the intestinal immune system. Members of the gut microbiome, like the symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, actively induce anti-inflammatory immune responses to maintain mutualistic relationships with the host. Despite the importance of such interactions, the specific microbial factors responsible remain largely unknown. Here, we show that B. thetaiotaomicron, which stimulates Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) to drive IL-10 production, can stimulate TLR2 independently of TLR1 or TLR6, the two known TLR that can form heterodimers with TLR2 to mediate TLR2-dependent responses. Furthermore, we show that IL-10 induction is likely mediated by a protease-resistant or non-proteogenic factor, and that this requires gene BT1549, a predicted secreted lipoprotein and peptidase. Collectively, our work provides insight into the molecular dialog through which B. thetaiotaomicron coordinates anti-inflammatory immune responses. This knowledge may facilitate future strategies to promote such responses for therapeutic purposes.},
}
@article {pmid39868566,
year = {2025},
author = {Jiménez-Leiva, A and Juárez-Martos, RA and Cabrera, JJ and Torres, MJ and Mesa, S and Delgado, MJ},
title = {Dual Oxygen-Responsive Control by RegSR of Nitric Oxide Reduction in the Soybean Endosymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.},
journal = {Antioxidants &amp; redox signaling},
volume = {42},
number = {7-9},
pages = {408-420},
doi = {10.1089/ars.2024.0710},
pmid = {39868566},
issn = {1557-7716},
mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/metabolism/genetics/physiology ; *Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; *Glycine max/microbiology/metabolism ; *Oxygen/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Oxidoreductases/metabolism/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; },
abstract = {Aims: To investigate the role of the RegSR-NifA regulatory cascade in the oxygen control of nitric oxide (NO) reduction in the soybean endosymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Results: We have performed an integrated study of norCBQD expression and NO reductase activity in regR, regS1, regS2, regS1/2, and nifA mutants in response to microoxia (2% O2) or anoxia. An activating role of RegR and NifA was observed under anoxia. In contrast, under microaerobic conditions, RegR acts as a repressor by binding to a RegR box located between the -10 and -35 regions within the norCBQD promoter. In addition, both RegS1 and RegS2 sensors cooperated with RegR in repressing norCBQD genes. Innovation: NO is a reactive gas that, at high levels, acts as a potent inhibitor of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In this paper, we report new insights into the regulation of NO reductase, the major enzyme involved in NO removal in rhizobia. This knowledge will be crucial for the development of new strategies and management practices in agriculture, in particular, for improving legume production. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate, for the first time, a dual control of the RegSR two-component regulatory system on norCBQD genes control in response to oxygen levels. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 42, 408-420.},
}
@article {pmid39868164,
year = {2025},
author = {Galloway, A and Hofstede, BT and Walsh, AJ},
title = {Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy for metabolic analysis of LDHB inhibition in triple negative breast cancer.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1101/2025.01.13.632864},
pmid = {39868164},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with no targeted treatments currently available. TNBC cells participate in metabolic symbiosis, a process that optimizes tumor growth by balancing metabolic processes between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation through increased activity by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB). Metabolic symbiosis allows oxidative cancer cells to function at a similar rate as glycolytic cancer cells, increasing overall metabolic activity and proliferation. Here, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is used to analyze the metabolism of TNBC cells with inhibition of LDHB using a multiphoton microscope to measure the fluorescent lifetimes of two metabolic coenzymes, NAD(P)H and FAD. LDHB is inhibited via an indole derivative known as AXKO-0046 in varying concentrations. Understanding how TNBC cell metabolism changes due to LDHB inhibition will provide further insight into metabolic symbiosis and potential new TNBC treatment options.},
}
@article {pmid39868027,
year = {2024},
author = {Stockdale, C and Avdikos, V},
title = {Transformative social innovation and rural collaborative workspaces: assembling community economies in Austria and Greece.},
journal = {Open research Europe},
volume = {4},
number = {},
pages = {205},
pmid = {39868027},
issn = {2732-5121},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Collaborative Workspaces are rapidly growing and evolving across the world. Traditionally understood as an urban phenomenon, most research understands them as either 'entrepreneurial-led', as profit-driven and commercial spaces such as business incubators and accelerators, or 'community-led' as being bottom-up, not-for-profit ventures aimed at catering for the needs of their community. Recent years however have seen their diffusion beyond large urban agglomerations to small towns and villages, with their functions assumed to be more community-orientated. At the same time, social innovation, or social innovation processes have been gaining prominence in academia, policy, and practice, as they address societal problems and hold potential for new forms of social relations. This paper attempts to provide a novel framework towards understanding the transformative potential of rural collaborative workspaces, as they engage in processes of social innovation, by drawing from diverse and community economies literature and assemblage thinking.<br><br>METHODS: The paper uses international case study comparison between rural Austria and Greece (One case from each country). Methods applied were: semi-structured interviews (N=28), participant observation and focus groups (2).<br><br>RESULTS: Community-led rural collaborative workspaces hold transformative potential from i) their ability to assist rural actors with their capacities and realizing their desires and ii) changing individual subjectivities towards collective. Through changing social relations in praxis and perceptions, we examine how social innovation processes through collaborative workspaces can be understood as a means of opening new economic subjectivities towards creating community economies as their transformative potential.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Although rural collaborative workspaces hold potential for societal transformation, they require further institutionalization and support to move beyond the interstitial and symbiotic stages of transformation.},
}
@article {pmid39865396,
year = {2025},
author = {Haskett, TL and Cooke, L and Green, P and Poole, PS},
title = {Regulation of Rhizobial Nodulation Genes by Flavonoid-Independent NodD Supports Nitrogen-Fixing Symbioses With Legumes.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {27},
number = {1},
pages = {e70014},
pmid = {39865396},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {RF-2019-100238//Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851/ ; BB/T006722/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; },
mesh = {*Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Flavonoids/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Pisum sativum/microbiology ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Rhizobium/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Rhizobia and legumes form a symbiotic relationship resulting in the formation of root structures known as nodules, where bacteria fix nitrogen. Legumes release flavonoids that are detected by the rhizobial nodulation (Nod) protein NodD, initiating the transcriptional activation of nod genes and subsequent synthesis of Nod Factors (NFs). NFs then induce various legume responses essential for this symbiosis. Although evidence suggests differential regulation of nodD expression and NF biosynthesis during symbiosis, the necessity of this regulation for the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules remains uncertain. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the Rlv3841 NodD regulatory domain results in a constitutively active protein (NodDFI) capable of activating NF biosynthesis gene expression without the presence of flavonoids. Optimised constitutive expression of nodDFI or nodD3 in nodD null mutants led to wild-type levels of nodulation and nitrogen fixation in pea and M. truncatula, respectively, indicating that flavonoid-regulated nodD expression is not essential for supporting symbiosis. These findings illustrate that transcriptional control of flavonoid-independent NodD regulators can be employed to drive NF biosynthesis, which holds potential for engineering symbiosis between rhizobia and cereals equipped with reconstituted NF receptors.},
}
@article {pmid39864254,
year = {2025},
author = {Iida, H},
title = {Cytoplasmic streaming of symbiotic algae in the ciliate Stentor pyriformis.},
journal = {Protist},
volume = {176},
number = {},
pages = {126086},
doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2025.126086},
pmid = {39864254},
issn = {1618-0941},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Cytoplasm/physiology/metabolism ; Microtubules/metabolism/ultrastructure ; *Ciliophora/physiology/ultrastructure/cytology ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Japan ; },
abstract = {Stentor pyriformis is a unicellular organism whose inherent green-algal symbionts can be utilized in evolutionary and cytological studies. The cytoplasm contains symbiotic algae and starch granules, which are in constant motion. The habitats of the ciliate S. pyriformis are restricted to a few oligotrophic ponds in Japan. This study aimed to develop a culture medium for long-term incubation based on pond water quality data and to investigate the cytoplasmic streaming of symbiotic algae and starch granules in S. pyriformis. In addition, the involvement of the cytoskeleton and motor proteins in cytoplasmic streaming was examined using microtubule polymerization and dynein ATPase inhibitors. The results indicated that the cytoplasmic streaming in S. pyriformis is associated with the microtubule system. Immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of KM-fibers, bundles of microtubules running longitudinally along the cell surface. These findings suggest a possible link between microtubules and cytoplasmic streaming in S. pyriformis.},
}
@article {pmid39863222,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, W and Yu, Q and Nasir, M and Zhu, X and Iqbal, MS and Elumalai, P and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Luo, J and Cui, J and Gao, X},
title = {The Cry2Aa protein is not enough to pose a threat to Pardosa astrigera.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {301},
number = {},
pages = {140241},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140241},
pmid = {39863222},
issn = {1879-0003},
mesh = {Animals ; *Endotoxins/toxicity/genetics ; Female ; Male ; *Bacterial Proteins/toxicity/genetics ; Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins ; *Spiders/microbiology/drug effects/physiology/growth &amp; development ; *Hemolysin Proteins/toxicity/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Bacillus thuringiensis ; Predatory Behavior ; },
abstract = {The widespread commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops makes it important to assess the potential impact of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on non-target organisms. Pardosa astrigera is an important predator in agroforestry ecosystems, and female and male spiders may react differently to Bt toxins due to their different activity habits and nutritional requirements. In this study, we found that exposure to Cry2Aa protein did not affect the survival and body weight of P. astrigera during growth and development. However, according to 16S rRNA sequencing results of the P. astrigera adults, Cry2Aa protein not only changed the diversity of symbiont bacteria, but also changed its symbiont composition. During feeding on prey without Bt artificial feed, the dominant communities in female and male adults were Actinobacteria and Corynebacterium-1, respectively. Feeding on prey containing Cry2Aa protein, Firmicutes were the dominant phyla. At the genus level, Cry2Aa protein significantly increased the relative abundance of Enterococcus and became the dominant genus in females only. In addition, Bacillus, Weissella and other symbiotic bacteria had significant changes in females. In terms of species composition, sex differences resulted in the absence of different types of symbiotic bacteria. Functional analysis of enrichment pathways showed significant changes in various metabolic pathways such as "Carbohydrate metabolism" and "Nucleotide metabolism", and there are differences between the sexes. These findings provide new data information and support for revealing the different strategies of spiders to cope with Cry2Aa protein based on sex differences, and also provide new data information and support for environmental safety assessment of GM crops.},
}
@article {pmid39862964,
year = {2025},
author = {Brown, JA and Bashir, H and Zeng, MY},
title = {Lifelong partners: Gut microbiota-immune cell interactions from infancy to old age.},
journal = {Mucosal immunology},
volume = {18},
number = {3},
pages = {509-523},
pmid = {39862964},
issn = {1935-3456},
support = {F32 HD112151/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HD110118/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL169989/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R21 CA270998/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Aging/immunology ; Animals ; Infant ; *Cell Communication/immunology ; *Immune System/immunology ; Immune Tolerance ; },
abstract = {Our immune system and gut microbiota are intricately coupled from birth, both going through maturation during early life and senescence during aging almost in a synchronized fashion. The symbiotic relationship between the human host and microbiota is critically dependent on a healthy immune system to keep our microbiota in check, while the microbiota provides essential functions to promote the development and fitness of our immune system. The partnership between our immune system and microbiota is particularly important during early life, when microbial ligands and metabolites shape the development of the immune cells and immune tolerance; during aging, having sufficient beneficial gut bacteria is critical for the maintenance of intact mucosal barriers, immune metabolic fitness, and strong immunity against pathogens. The immune system during childhood is programmed, with the support of the microbiota, to develop robust immune tolerance, and limit autoimmunity and metabolic dysregulation, which are prevalent during aging. This review comprehensively explores the mechanistic underpinnings of gut microbiota-immune cell interactions during infancy and old age, with the goal to gain a better understanding of potential strategies to leverage the gut microbiota to combat age-related immune decline.},
}
@article {pmid39859177,
year = {2025},
author = {Frolov, A and Shumilina, J and Etemadi Afshar, S and Mashkina, V and Rhomanovskaya, E and Lukasheva, E and Tsarev, A and Sulima, AS and Shtark, OY and Ihling, C and Soboleva, A and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA},
title = {Responsivity of Two Pea Genotypes to the Symbiosis with Rhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi-A Proteomics Aspect of the "Efficiency of Interactions with Beneficial Soil Microorganisms" Trait.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {26},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {39859177},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {22-16-00109//Russian science foundation/ ; 20-16-00086//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {*Pisum sativum/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Genotype ; Soil Microbiology ; Proteomics/methods ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Proteome/metabolism ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {It is well known that individual pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars differ in their symbiotic responsivity. This trait is typically manifested with an increase in seed weights, due to inoculation with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The aim of this study was to characterize alterations in the root proteome of highly responsive pea genotype k-8274 plants and low responsive genotype k-3358 ones grown in non-sterile soil, which were associated with root colonization with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (in comparison to proteome shifts caused by soil supplementation with mineral nitrogen salts). Our results clearly indicate that supplementation of the soil with mineral nitrogen-containing salts switched the root proteome of both genotypes to assimilation of the available nitrogen, whereas the processes associated with nitrogen fixation were suppressed. Surprisingly, inoculation with rhizobial bacteria had only a minor effect on the root proteomes of both genotypes. The most pronounced response was observed for the highly responsive k-8274 genotype inoculated simultaneously with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. This response involved activation of the proteins related to redox metabolism and suppression of excessive nodule formation. In turn, the low responsive genotype k-3358 demonstrated a pronounced inoculation-induced suppression of protein metabolism and enhanced diverse defense reactions in pea roots under the same soil conditions. The results of the study shed light on the molecular basis of differential symbiotic responsivity in different pea cultivars. The raw data are available in the PRIDE repository under the project accession number PXD058701 and project DOI 10.6019/PXD058701.},
}
@article {pmid39858957,
year = {2025},
author = {Ge, D and Yin, C and Jing, J and Li, Z and Liu, L},
title = {Relationship Between the Host Plant Range of Insects and Symbiont Bacteria.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39858957},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2022YFC2601500//National Key Research and Development Projects/ ; },
abstract = {The evolution of phytophagous insects has resulted in the development of feeding specializations that are unique to this group. The majority of current research on insect palatability has concentrated on aspects of ecology and biology, with relatively little attention paid to the role of insect gut symbiotic bacteria. Symbiont bacteria have a close relationship with their insect hosts and perform a range of functions. This research aimed to investigate the relationship between insect host plant range and gut symbiotic bacteria. A synthesis of the extant literature on the intestinal commensal bacteria of monophagous, oligophagous, and polyphagous tephritids revealed no evidence of a positive correlation between the plant host range and the diversity of larval intestinal microbial species. The gut symbionts of same species were observed to exhibit discrepancies between different literature sources, which were attributed to variations in multiple environmental factors. However, following beta diversity analysis, monophagy demonstrated the lowest level of variation in intestinal commensal bacteria, while polyphagous tephritids exhibited the greatest variation in intestinal commensal bacteria community variation. In light of these findings, this study proposes the hypothesis that exclusive or closely related plant hosts provide monophagy and oligophagy with a stable core colony over long evolutionary periods. The core flora is closely associated with host adaptations in monophagous and oligophagous tephritids, including nutritional and detoxification functions. This is in contrast to polyphagy, whose dominant colony varies in different environments. Our hypothesis requires further refinement of the data on the gut commensal bacteria of monophagy and oligophagy as the number of species and samples is currently limited.},
}
@article {pmid39858809,
year = {2024},
author = {Zhu, F and Kamiya, T and Fujiwara, T and Hashimoto, M and Gong, S and Wu, J and Nakanishi, H and Fujimoto, M},
title = {A Comparison of Rice Root Microbial Dynamics in Organic and Conventional Paddy Fields.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39858809},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {JPMJSP2108//Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) SPRING/ ; 23KJ0514//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 20H00418//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 24H00509//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 19KT0033//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 20K05955//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 23K18023//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 24K01892//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; },
abstract = {The assembly of plant root microbiomes is a dynamic process. Understanding the roles of root-associated microbiomes in rice development requires dissecting their assembly throughout the rice life cycle under diverse environments and exploring correlations with soil properties and rice physiology. In this study, we performed amplicon sequencing targeting fungal ITS and the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to characterize and compare bacterial and fungal community dynamics of the rice root endosphere and soil in organic and conventional paddy fields. Our analysis revealed that root microbial diversity and composition was significantly influenced by agricultural practices and rice developmental stages (p < 0.05). The root microbiome in the organic paddy field showed greater temporal variability, with typical methane-oxidizing bacteria accumulating during the tillering stage and the amount of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria increasing dramatically at the early ripening stage. Redundancy analysis identified ammonium nitrogen, iron, and soil organic matter as key drivers of microbial composition. Furthermore, correlation analysis between developmental stage-enriched bacterial biomarkers in rice roots and leaf mineral nutrients showed that highly mobile macronutrient concentrations positively correlated with early-stage biomarkers and negatively correlated with later-stage biomarkers in both paddy fields. Notably, later-stage biomarkers in the conventional paddy field tended to show stronger correlations with low-mobility nutrients. These findings suggest potential strategies for optimizing microbiome management to enhance productivity and sustainability.},
}
@article {pmid39858605,
year = {2025},
author = {Jin, F and Ke, D and Lu, L and Hu, Q and Zhang, C and Li, C and Liang, W and Yuan, S and Chen, H},
title = {Suppression of Nodule Formation by RNAi Knock-Down of Bax inhibitor-1a in Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39858605},
issn = {2073-4425},
mesh = {*Lotus/genetics/microbiology/growth &amp; development ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/growth &amp; development/microbiology ; RNA Interference ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The balanced regulation of innate immunity plays essential roles in rhizobial infection and the establishment and maintenance of symbiosis. The evolutionarily conserved cell death suppressor Bax inhibitor-1 plays dual roles in nodule symbiosis, providing a valuable clue in balancing immunity and symbiosis, while it remains largely unexplored in the legume Lotus japonicus.<br><br>METHODS/RESULTS: In the present report, the BI-1 gene family of L. japonicus was identified and characterized. We identified 6 BI-1 genes that translate into peptides containing 240-255 amino acids with different structural characteristics and isoelectric points. We performed phylogenetic analyses and detected evolutionary conservation and divergence among BI-1 proteins from L. japonicus, Glycine max, Medicago truncatula, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Oryza sativa. Expression profiles among different roots indicated that the inoculation of MAFF303099 significantly increased the expression of most of the L. japonicus BI-1 family genes. We down-regulated the transcripts of LjBI-1a by RNA interference and observed that LjBI-1a promotes nodulation and nodule formation.<br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These discoveries shed light on the functions of BI-1 genes in L. japonicus, and simultaneously emphasize the potential application of LjBI-1a in enhancing the symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability of legumes.},
}
@article {pmid39858512,
year = {2025},
author = {Yeremko, L and Czopek, K and Staniak, M and Marenych, M and Hanhur, V},
title = {Role of Environmental Factors in Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis: A Review.},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39858512},
issn = {2218-273X},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Fabaceae/microbiology/physiology/metabolism ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil/chemistry ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Salinity ; },
abstract = {Legumes play a pivotal role in addressing global challenges of food and nutrition security by offering a sustainable source of protein and bioactive compounds. The capacity of legumes to establish symbiotic relationships with rhizobia bacteria enables biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers while enhancing soil health. However, the efficiency of this symbiosis is significantly influenced by environmental factors, such as soil acidity, salinity, temperature, moisture content, light intensity, and nutrient availability. These factors affect key processes, including rhizobia survival, nodule formation, and nitrogenase activity, ultimately determining the growth and productivity of legumes. This review summarizes current knowledge on legume-rhizobia interactions under varying abiotic conditions. It highlights the impact of salinity and acidity in limiting nodule development, soil temperature in regulating microbial community dynamics, and moisture availability in modulating metabolic and hormonal responses during drought and waterlogging. Moreover, the role of essential nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements such as iron, molybdenum, and boron, in optimizing symbiosis is critically analyzed.},
}
@article {pmid39857318,
year = {2025},
author = {Kashchenko, G and Taldaev, A and Adonin, L and Smutin, D},
title = {Investigating Aerobic Hive Microflora: Role of Surface Microbiome of Apis Mellifera.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39857318},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {No 075-15-2022-305//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of state support for the creation and development of World-Class Research Centers 'Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare'./ ; },
abstract = {This study investigated the surface microbiome of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), focusing on the diversity and functional roles of its associated microbial communities. While the significance of the microbiome to insect health and behavior is increasingly recognized, research on invertebrate surface microbiota lags behind that of vertebrates. A combined metagenomic and cultivation-based approach was employed to characterize the bacterial communities inhabiting the honeybee exoskeleton. Our findings reveal a complex and diverse microbiota exhibiting significant spatial and environmental heterogeneity. The identification of antimicrobial compound producers, validated through both culture and metagenomic analyses, including potentially novel Actinobacteria species, underscores the potential impact of these microbial communities on honeybee health, behavior, and hive dynamics. This research contributes to a more profound ecological understanding of the honeybee microbiome, particularly in its winter configuration.},
}
@article {pmid39856179,
year = {2025},
author = {Lynch, SC and Reyes-Gonzalez, E and Bossard, EL and Alarcon, KS and Love, NLR and Hollander, AD and Nobua-Behrmann, BE and Gilbert, GS},
title = {A phylogenetic epidemiology approach to predicting the establishment of multi-host plant pests.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {117},
pmid = {39856179},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {17-01-NCC//California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)/ ; CDFASCB16051//California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Phylogeny ; *Coleoptera/physiology ; California ; *Trees/parasitology ; *Plant Diseases/parasitology ; Introduced Species ; },
abstract = {Forecasting emergent pest spread is paramount to mitigating their impacts. For host-specialized pests, epidemiological models of spread through a single host population are well developed. However, most pests attack multiple host species; the challenge is predicting which communities are most vulnerable to infestation. Here, we develop a phylogenetically-informed approach to predict establishment of emergent multi-host pests across heterogeneous landscapes. We model a beetle-pathogen symbiotic complex on trees, introduced from Southeast Asia to California. The phyloEpi model for likelihood of establishment was predicted from the phylogenetic composition of woody species in the invaded community and the influence of temperature on beetle reproduction. Plant communities dominated by close relatives of known epidemiologically critical hosts were four times more likely to become infested than communities with more distantly related species. Where microclimate favored beetle reproduction, pest establishment was greater than expected based only on species composition. We applied this phyloEpi model to predict infestation risk in California using weather data and complete tree inventories from 9262 1-km[2] grids in 170 cities. Regions in the state predicted with low likelihood of infestation were confirmed by independent monitoring. Analysts can adapt these phylogenetic ecology tools to predict spread of any multi-host pest in novel habitats.},
}
@article {pmid39855200,
year = {2025},
author = {Tan, X and Wang, D and Zhang, X and Zheng, S and Jia, X and Liu, H and Liu, Z and Yang, H and Dai, H and Chen, X and Qian, Z and Wang, R and Ma, M and Zhang, P and Yu, N and Wang, E},
title = {A pair of LysM receptors mediates symbiosis and immunity discrimination in Marchantia.},
journal = {Cell},
volume = {188},
number = {5},
pages = {1330-1348.e27},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2024.12.024},
pmid = {39855200},
issn = {1097-4172},
mesh = {*Marchantia/genetics/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Chitin/immunology/metabolism ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; *Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Leaves/genetics/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; Protein Binding ; Ligands ; Lactones/metabolism ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Most land plants form symbioses with microbes to acquire nutrients but also must restrict infection by pathogens. Here, we show that a single pair of lysin-motif-containing receptor-like kinases, MpaLYR and MpaCERK1, mediates both immunity and symbiosis in the liverwort Marchantia paleacea. MpaLYR has a higher affinity for long-chain (CO7) versus short-chain chitin oligomers (CO4). Although both CO7 and CO4 can activate symbiosis-related genes, CO7 triggers stronger immune responses than CO4 in a dosage-dependent manner. CO4 can inhibit CO7-induced strong immune responses, recapitulating the early response to inoculation with the symbiont arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We show that phosphate starvation of plants increases their production of strigolactone, which stimulates CO4/CO5 secretion from mycorrhizal fungi, thereby prioritizing symbiosis over immunity. Thus, a single pair of LysM receptors mediates dosage-dependent perception of different chitin oligomers to discern symbiotic and pathogenic microbes in M. paleacea, which may facilitate terrestrialization.},
}
@article {pmid39854864,
year = {2025},
author = {Wan, S and Wang, S and Li, Y and Xie, Y and Li, Q and Fang, Y and Yin, Z and Wang, S and Zhai, Y and Tang, B},
title = {Megoura crassicauda promote the ability of Vicia faba L. to remediate cadmium pollution of water and soil.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {290},
number = {},
pages = {117777},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117777},
pmid = {39854864},
issn = {1090-2414},
mesh = {*Cadmium/metabolism/toxicity/analysis ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Vicia faba/metabolism ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; Animals ; Soil/chemistry ; Aphids/physiology ; *Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism ; },
abstract = {With the increasing severity of heavy metal pollution in soil and water, phytoremediation is becoming increasingly popular because of its low cost, high returns, and environmental friendliness. The use of leguminous plants such as the broad bean for heavy metal remediation is becoming a research hotspot because of their symbiotic relationship with rhizobia. This study investigated the cadmium (Cd) remediation ability of fava beans by M. crassicauda feeding on or not using both hydroponic and soil cultures containing varying concentrations of Cd. Under hydroponic conditions, the Cd content in fava beans increased significantly following aphid invasion. while the Cd content decreased after aphid infestation under soil cultivation conditions. Aphid infestation significantly decreased the Cd content in both soil and hydroponic solution. However, there were no significant changes in germination rate and phenotype. We also found that prolonged Cd treatment increased the activities of stress-related antioxidant enzymes in fava beans, including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and malondialdehyde. After consumption by M. crassicauda, the levels of total sugar content underwent varying changes. These results demonstrate that fava beans not only exhibit high Cd tolerance but can also effectively absorb Cd ions from soil and water. Moreover, pest infestation can enhance broad bean remediation efficiency, making them potential targets for use in the phytoremediation of heavy metal pollution.},
}
@article {pmid39853059,
year = {2025},
author = {Guo, D and Liu, C and Zhu, H and Cheng, Y and Huo, X and Guo, Y and Qian, H},
title = {Food-Induced Adverse Reactions: A Review of Physiological Food Quality Control, Mucosal Defense Mechanisms, and Gastrointestinal Physiology.},
journal = {Toxics},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39853059},
issn = {2305-6304},
abstract = {Although food is essential for the survival of organisms, it can also trigger a variety of adverse reactions, ranging from nutrient intolerances to celiac disease and food allergies. Food not only contains essential nutrients but also includes numerous substances that may have positive or negative effects on the consuming organism. To protect against potentially harmful components, all animals have evolved defense mechanisms, which are similar to antimicrobial defenses but often come at the cost of the organism's health. When these defensive responses are exaggerated or misdirected, they can lead to adverse food reactions, where the costs outweigh the benefits. Furthermore, due to the persistent toxicity of harmful food components, the failure of defense mechanisms can also result in pathological effects triggered by food. This article review presents a food quality control framework that aims to clarify how these reactions relate to normal physiological processes. Organisms utilize several systems to coexist with symbiotic microbes, regulate them, and concurrently avoid, expel, or neutralize harmful pathogens. Similarly, food quality control systems allow organisms to absorb necessary nutrients while defending against low-quality or harmful components in food. Although many microbes are lethal in the absence of antimicrobial defenses, diseases related to microbiome dysregulation, such as inflammatory bowel disease, have significantly increased. Antitoxin defenses also come with costs and may fail due to insufficiencies, exaggerations, or misdirected actions, ultimately leading to adverse food reactions. With the changes in human diet and lifestyle, the failure of defense mechanisms has contributed to the rising incidence of food intolerances. This review explores the mechanisms of antitoxin defenses and analyzes how their failure can lead to adverse food reactions, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive understanding of food quality control mechanisms for developing more effective treatments for food-triggered diseases.},
}
@article {pmid39852539,
year = {2025},
author = {Svetashev, VI},
title = {Fatty Acids in Cnidaria: Distribution and Specific Functions.},
journal = {Marine drugs},
volume = {23},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39852539},
issn = {1660-3397},
mesh = {Animals ; *Cnidaria/metabolism/chemistry ; *Fatty Acids/metabolism/chemistry ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/metabolism ; Aquatic Organisms ; },
abstract = {The phylum Cnidaria comprises five main classes-Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Hexacorallia, Octocorallia and Cubozoa-that include such widely distributed and well-known animals as hard and soft corals, sea anemones, sea pens, gorgonians, hydroids, and jellyfish. Cnidarians play a very important role in marine ecosystems. The composition of their fatty acids (FAs) depends on food (plankton and particulate organic matter), symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates and bacteria, and de novo biosynthesis in host tissues. In cnidarian lipids, besides the common FA characteristics of marine organisms, numerous new and rare FAs are also found. All Octocorallia species and some Scyphozoa jellyfish contain polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) with 24 and 26 carbon atoms. The coral families can be distinguished by specific FA profiles: the presence of uncommon FAs or high/low levels of common fatty acids. Many of the families have characteristic FAs: Acroporidae are characterized by 18:3n6, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 20:5n3, 22:4n6, and 22:5n3; Pocilloporidae by 20:3n6, 20:4n3, and docosahexaenoic acid 22:6n3 (DHA); and Poritidae by arachidonic acid (AA) and DHA. The species of Faviidae show elevated concentrations of 18:3n6 and 22:5n3 acids. Dendrophylliidae, being azooxanthellate corals, have such dominant acids as EPA and 22:5n3 and a low content of DHA, which is the major PUFA in hermatypic corals. The major and characteristic PUFAs for Milleporidae (class Hydrozoa) are DHA and 22:5n6, though in scleractinian corals, the latter acid is found only in trace amounts.},
}
@article {pmid39852482,
year = {2025},
author = {Filippou, C and Coutts, RHA and Kotta-Loizou, I and El-Kamand, S and Papanicolaou, A},
title = {Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in Beauveria bassiana Infecting Tenebrio molitor.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39852482},
issn = {2309-608X},
abstract = {Mycoviral infection can either be asymptomatic or have marked effects on fungal hosts, influencing them either positively or negatively. To fully understand the effects of mycovirus infection on the fungal host, transcriptomic profiling of four Beauveria bassiana isolates, including EABb 92/11-Dm that harbors mycoviruses, was performed 48 h following infection of Tenebrio molitor via topical application or injection. Genes that participate in carbohydrate assimilation and transportation, and those essential for fungal survival and oxidative stress tolerance, calcium uptake, and iron uptake, were found to be overexpressed in the virus-infected isolate during the mid-infection stage. Mycotoxin genes encoding bassianolide and oosporein were switched off in all isolates. However, beauvericin, a mycotoxin capable of inducing oxidative stress at the molecular level, was expressed in all four isolates, indicating an important contribution to virulence against T. molitor. These observations suggest that detoxification of immune-related (oxidative) defenses and nutrient scouting, as mediated by these genes, occurs in mid-infection during the internal growth phase. Consequently, we observe a symbiotic relationship between mycovirus and fungus that does not afflict the host; on the contrary, it enhances the expression of key genes leading to a mycovirus-mediated hypervirulence effect.},
}
@article {pmid39852469,
year = {2025},
author = {Chacón-Fuentes, M and León-Finalé, G and Lizama, M and Gutiérrez-Gamboa, G and Martínez-Cisterna, D and Quiroz, A and Bardehle, L},
title = {Induced Defense in Ryegrass-Epichloë Symbiosis Against Listronotus bonariensis: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39852469},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {11240860//FONDECYT INICIACI&#xd3;N/ ; 11130715//FONDECYT INICIACI&#xd3;N/ ; },
abstract = {The Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with Epichloë endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by providing peramine, which acts as a primary defense. In addition, ryegrass can activate induced defense mechanisms, with peramine remaining the central agent in response to herbivorous insect attacks. Therefore, this study assessed the feeding of the ASW on ryegrass carrying endophytic fungus and peramine levels in aerial organs and its effects on pest performance. Argentine stem weevil adults and larvae were placed on ryegrass leaves and stems to assess feeding. Two treatments were used: endophyte-free plants and endophyte-colonized plants. After ASW feeding damage, insect consumption was measured by the leaf area consumed. To evaluate peramine production and its increase in response to ASW attack, peramine levels in leaves were analyzed using liquid chromatography. Damaged E+ ryegrass plants showed significant increases in peramine, with adult and larval herbivory raising levels by 291% and 216% in stems and by 135% and 85% in leaves, respectively, compared to controls. Endophyte-free (E-) plants experienced more ASW damage, as insects preferred feeding on them, showing reduced activity as peramine levels rose in endophyte-infected (E+) plants. An oviposition assay confirmed insect preference for endophyte-free (E-) plants. Additionally, larvae reared on endophyte-infected (E+) plants had lower survival rates, correlating negatively with peramine levels. These results emphasize peramine's role in strengthening ryegrass defenses against ASW, impacting both feeding and larval development.},
}
@article {pmid39852449,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, X and Zhang, Y and Li, J and Ding, Y and Ma, X and Zhang, P and Liu, H and Wei, J and Bao, Y},
title = {Diversity and Functional Insights into Endophytic Fungi in Halophytes from West Ordos Desert Ecosystems.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39852449},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {2023YFF1306004//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 30960309//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Arid desert regions are among the harshest ecological environments on Earth. Halophytes, with their unique physiological characteristics and adaptability, have become the dominant vegetation in these areas. Currently, research on halophytes in this region is relatively limited, particularly concerning studies related to their root endophytic fungi, which have been rarely reported on. Therefore, investigating the diversity and composition of endophytic fungi in halophytes is crucial for maintaining ecological balance in such an arid environment. This study focuses on eight representative angiosperm halophytes from the West Ordos Desert in China (including Nitraria tangutorum, Salsola passerina, Suaeda glauca, Reaumuria trigyna, Reaumuria kaschgarica, Limonium aureum, Apocynum venetum, and Tripolium vulgare), utilizing Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology combined with soil physicochemical factor data to analyze the diversity, composition, and ecological functions of their root-associated fungal communities. Ascomycota dominated the fungal composition in most halophytes, particularly among the recretohalophytes, where it accounted for an average of 88.45%, while Basidiomycota was predominant in Suaeda glauca. A Circos analysis of the top 10 most abundant genera revealed Fusarium, Dipodascus, Curvularia, Penicillium, and other dominant genera. Co-occurrence network analysis showed significant differences in fungal networks across halophyte types, with the most complex network observed in excreting halophytes, characterized by the highest number of nodes and connections, indicating tighter fungal symbiotic relationships. In contrast, fungal networks in pseudohalophytes were relatively simple, reflecting lower community cohesiveness. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and Mantel tests demonstrated that soil factors such as organic matter, available sulfur, and urease significantly influenced fungal diversity, richness, and evenness, suggesting that soil physicochemical properties play a critical role in regulating fungal-plant symbiosis. Functional predictions indicated that endophytic fungi play important roles in metabolic pathways such as nucleotide biosynthesis, carbohydrate degradation, and lipid metabolism, which may enhance plant survival in saline-alkaline and arid environments. Furthermore, the high abundance of plant pathogens and saprotrophs in some fungal communities suggests their potential roles in plant defense and organic matter decomposition. The results of this study provide a reference for advancing the development and utilization of halophyte endophytic fungal resources, with applications in desert ecosystem restoration and halophyte cultivation.},
}
@article {pmid39852446,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, Z and Liu, C and Tie, Y and Song, X and Wang, H and Lu, Q},
title = {Ophiostomatalean Fungi (Ascomycota, Ophiostomatales) Associated with Three Beetles from Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Heilongjiang, China.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39852446},
issn = {2309-608X},
support = {32230071//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023YFC2604801-4//the National Key R&amp;D Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Globally, forest decline and tree mortality are rising due to climate change. As one of the important afforestation trees in northeast China, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica is suffering from forest decline and the accompanying pests. Certain fungi from the ophiostomatalean contribute to forest pest outbreaks and can be pathogenic to pine trees. However, only a limited number of ophiostomatalean fungi associated with beetles infesting Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica have been identified. In this study, 293 ophiostomatalean fungi were isolated from Acanthocinus griseus, Ips chinensis, and Pissodes nitidus infesting Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Heilongjiang Province, including Graphilbum griseum sp. nov., Gra. nitidum sp. nov., Graphilbum sp., and Ophiostoma ips. Ophiostoma ips was the dominant species, followed by Graphilbum sp., Graphilbum griseum, and Gra. nitidum, which accounted for 73.38, 17.41, 7.17, and 2.05% of the isolated ophiostomatalean fungi, respectively. Fungi associated with different beetles are diverse, even within the same host. This study deepens our understanding of the pest-associated fungi of P. sylvestris var. mongolica and provides a basis for exploring the causes of forest decline.},
}
@article {pmid39852430,
year = {2024},
author = {Dovana, F and Para, R and Moreno, G and Scali, E and Garbelotto, M and Lechner, BE and Forte, L},
title = {Description of the New Species Laccaria albifolia (Hydnangiaceae, Basidiomycota) and a Reassessment of Laccaria affinis Based on Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39852430},
issn = {2309-608X},
abstract = {Laccaria is a diverse and widespread genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic associations with various trees and shrubs, playing a significant role in forest ecosystems. Approximately 85 Laccaria species are formally recognised, but recent studies indicate this number may be an underestimation, highlighting the need for further taxonomic studies to improve our understanding of species boundaries. This manuscript focuses on Laccaria affinis, originally described by Singer in 1967 as Laccaria laccata var. affinis, and details a comprehensive study of its morphological and molecular characteristics, including the examination of its holotype and recent collections from Italy and the United Kingdom. Our findings reveal significant micromorphological traits that enhance the original description. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that L. affinis occupies a distinct clade within Northern Hemisphere Laccaria species, although minimal genetic differences challenge its independence from L. macrocystidiata. Consequently, we propose that these two taxa be considered synonymous. This study not only contributes to the understanding of Laccaria diversity but also proposes the formal designation of an epitype for L. affinis, thereby providing a foundation for future research on this ecologically significant genus. Furthermore, a new species named Laccaria albifolia belonging to the "/Laccaria bicolor complex clade" is described here on the base of six collections from Italy and Spain.},
}
@article {pmid39852253,
year = {2025},
author = {Penchev, H and Ivanova, G and Hubenov, V and Boyadzieva, I and Budurova, D and Ublekov, F and Gigova, A and Stoyanova, A},
title = {Supercapacitor Cell Performance with Bacterial Nanocellulose and Bacterial Nanocellulose/Polybenzimidazole Impregnated Membranes as Separator.},
journal = {Membranes},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {39852253},
issn = {2077-0375},
abstract = {Supercapacitors are advanced energy storage devices renowned for their rapid energy delivery and long operational lifespan, making them indispensable across various industries. Their relevance has grown in recent years due to the adoption of environmentally friendly materials. One such material is bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), produced entirely from microbial sources, offering sustainability and a bioprocess-driven synthesis. In this study, BNC was synthesized using a symbiotic microbial community. After production and purification, pristine BNC membranes, with an average thickness of 80 microns, were impregnated with an alkali-alcohol meta-polybenzimidazole (PBI) solution. This process yielded hybrid BNC/PBI membranes with improved ion-transport properties. The BNC membranes were then doped with a 6 M KOH solution, to enhance OH[-] conductivity, and characterized using optical microscopy, ATR FT-IR, XRD, CVT, BET analysis, and impedance spectroscopy. Both BNC and BNC/PBI membranes were tested as separators in laboratory-scale symmetric supercapacitor cells, with performance compared to a commercial Viledon[®] separator. The supercapacitors employing BNC membranes exhibited high specific capacitance and excellent cycling stability, retaining performance over 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. These findings underscore the potential of BNC/KOH membranes for next-generation supercapacitor applications.},
}
@article {pmid39850652,
year = {2025},
author = {Xu, C and Zhang, J and Li, W and Guo, J},
title = {The role of Exo70s in plant defense against pathogens and insect pests and their application for crop breeding.},
journal = {Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement},
volume = {45},
number = {2},
pages = {17},
pmid = {39850652},
issn = {1572-9788},
abstract = {Plant diseases caused by pathogens and pests lead to crop losses, posing a threat to global food security. The secretory pathway is an integral component of plant defense. The exocyst complex regulates the final step of the secretory pathway and is thus essential for secretory defense. In the last decades, several subunits of the exocyst complex have been reported to be involved in plant defense, especially Exo70s. This comprehensive review focuses on the functions of the exocyst Exo70s in plant immunity, particularly in recognizing pathogen and pest signatures. We discussed Exo70's interactions with immune receptors and other immune-related proteins, its symbiotic relationships with microbes, and its role in non-host resistance. Finally, we discussed the future engineering breeding of crops with resistance to pathogens and pests based on our current understanding of Exo70s.},
}
@article {pmid39850136,
year = {2024},
author = {Chadha, S and Menendez, E and Montes, N},
title = {Editorial: Women in microbe and virus interactions with plants: 2022/2023.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1532112},
pmid = {39850136},
issn = {1664-302X},
}
@article {pmid39847448,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, S and Luo, H},
title = {Dating the bacterial tree of life based on ancient symbiosis.},
journal = {Systematic biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syae071},
pmid = {39847448},
issn = {1076-836X},
abstract = {Obtaining a timescale for bacterial evolution is crucial to understand early life evolution but is difficult owing to the scarcity of bacterial fossils. Here, we introduce multiple new time constraints to calibrate bacterial evolution based on ancient symbiosis. This idea is implemented using a bacterial tree constructed with genes found in the mitochondrial lineages phylogenetically embedded within Proteobacteria. The expanded mitochondria-bacterial tree allows the node age constraints of eukaryotes established by their abundant fossils to be propagated to ancient co-evolving bacterial symbionts and across the bacterial tree of life. Importantly, we formulate a new probabilistic framework that considers uncertainty in inference of the ancestral lifestyle of modern symbionts to apply 19 relative time constraints (RTC) each informed by host-symbiont association to constrain bacterial symbionts no older than their eukaryotic host. Moreover, we develop an approach to incorporating substitution mixture models that better accommodate substitutional saturation and compositional heterogeneity for dating deep phylogenies. Our analysis estimates that the last bacterial common ancestor (LBCA) occurred approximately 4.0-3.5 billion years ago (Ga), followed by rapid divergence of major bacterial clades. It is generally robust to alternative root ages, root positions, tree topologies, fossil ages, ancestral lifestyle reconstruction, gene sets, among other factors. The obtained timetree serves as a foundation for testing hypotheses regarding bacterial diversification and its correlation with geobiological events across different timescales.},
}
@article {pmid39847340,
year = {2025},
author = {Ganley, JG and Seyedsayamdost, MR},
title = {Iron limitation triggers roseoceramide biosynthesis and membrane remodeling in marine roseobacter.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {122},
number = {4},
pages = {e2414434122},
pmid = {39847340},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {R35 GM152049/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; Postdoctoral Fellowship in Marine Microbial Ecology//Simons Foundation (SF)/ ; },
mesh = {*Roseobacter/metabolism ; *Iron/metabolism ; Symbiosis ; *Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Metabolome ; },
abstract = {Chemical communication between marine bacteria and their algal hosts drives population dynamics and ultimately determines the fate of major biogeochemical cycles in the ocean. To gain deeper insights into this small molecule exchange, we screened niche-specific metabolites as potential modulators of the secondary metabolome of the roseobacter, Roseovarius tolerans. Metabolomic analysis led to the identification of a group of cryptic lipids that we have termed roseoceramides. The roseoceramides are elicited by iron-binding algal flavonoids, which are produced by macroalgae that Roseovarius species associate with. Investigations into the mechanism of elicitation show that iron limitation in R. tolerans initiates a stress response that results in lowered oxidative phosphorylation, increased import and catabolism of algal exudates, and reconfiguration of lipid ynthesis to prioritize production of roseoceramides over phospholipids, likely to fortify membrane integrity as well as promote a sessile and symbiotic lifestyle. Our findings add new small molecule words and their "meanings" to the algal-bacterial lexicon and have implications for the initiation of these interactions.},
}
@article {pmid39847211,
year = {2025},
author = {de Araújo, TGF and Rodrigues, EP and Hungria, M and Barcellos, FG},
title = {Soil and climatic conditions determine the rhizobia in association with Phaseolus vulgaris in southern Brazil.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]},
volume = {56},
number = {1},
pages = {601-610},
pmid = {39847211},
issn = {1678-4405},
support = {465133/2014-4//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient&#xed;fico e Tecnol&#xf3;gico/ ; },
mesh = {*Phaseolus/microbiology ; Brazil ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Rhizobium/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification/physiology ; Phylogeny ; *Soil/chemistry ; Climate ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; },
abstract = {The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plays a significant economic and social role in Brazil. However, the national average yield remains relatively low, largely because most bean cultivation is undertaken by small-scale farmers. In this context, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is an effective strategy for improving crop yield. Therefore, it is important to identify novel rhizobial strains well suited to local climatic conditions. This study used Phaseolus vulgaris as a trap plant in soils from three distinct conservation areas (Ponta Grossa, Ortigueira, and Londrina) within Paraná State, Brazil. The soil chemical analysis revealed that the pH values in the Ponta Grossa and Ortigueira regions were low, whereas the Ortigueira region exhibited elevated aluminum levels. A total of 94 strains were obtained from the nodules of plants and subjected to analysis for their morphological and genetic properties. No nodules were observed in the Ortigueira region. In the Ponta Grossa region, most of the strains were identified as belonging to the genus Paraburkholderia, whereas all strains from Londrina were identified as Rhizobium. The 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis revealed a high degree of genetic similarity between the Paraburkholderia and Rhizobium strains. These findings indicate that soil chemical properties (pH and aluminum level) and climate conditions may have a significant impact on the symbiotic association between rhizobia and common bean.},
}
@article {pmid39847210,
year = {2025},
author = {Moura, FT and Delai, CV and Klepa, MS and Ribeiro, RA and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M},
title = {Unveiling remarkable bacterial diversity trapped by cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) nodules inoculated with soils from indigenous lands in Central-Western Brazil.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]},
volume = {56},
number = {1},
pages = {545-562},
pmid = {39847210},
issn = {1678-4405},
support = {CNPq 465133/2014-4, Funda&#xe7;&#xe3;o Arauc&#xe1;ria-STI 043/2019, CAPES//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; },
mesh = {Brazil ; *Vigna/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation &amp; purification ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genetic Variation ; *Biodiversity ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is recognized as a promiscuous legume in its symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, capable of forming associations with a wide range of bacterial species. Our study focused on assessing the diversity of bacterial strains present in cowpea nodules when inoculated with soils from six indigenous lands of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Central-Western Brazil, comprising the Cerrado and the Pantanal biomes, which are known for their rich diversity. The DNA profiles (BOX-PCR) of 89 strains indicated great genetic diversity, with 20 groups and 23 strains occupying single positions, and all strains grouped at a final similarity level of only 25%. Further characterization using 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a diverse array of bacterial genera associated with the cowpea nodules. The strains (number in parenthesis) were classified into ten genera: Agrobacterium (47), Ancylobacter (2), Burkholderia (12), Ensifer (1), Enterobacter (1), Mesorhizobium (1), Microbacterium (1), Paraburkholderia (1), Rhizobium (22), and Stenotrophomonas (1), split into four different classes. Notably, only Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, and Paraburkholderia are classified as rhizobia. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on the classes of the identified genera and the type strains of the closest species. Our integrated analyses, combining phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic approaches, highlighted the significant promiscuity of cowpea in associating with a diverse array of bacteria within nodules, showcasing the Brazilian soils as a hotspot of bacterial diversity.},
}
@article {pmid39846764,
year = {2025},
author = {Welmillage, SU and James, EK and Tak, N and Shedge, S and Huang, L and Muszyński, A and Azadi, P and Gyaneshwar, P},
title = {A rhamnose-rich O-antigen of Paraburkholderia phymatum MP20 is required for symbiosis with Mimosa pudica.},
journal = {Journal of bacteriology},
volume = {207},
number = {2},
pages = {e0042224},
pmid = {39846764},
issn = {1098-5530},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *O Antigens/metabolism/genetics ; *Mimosa/microbiology ; *Rhamnose/metabolism ; *Burkholderiaceae/genetics/physiology/metabolism ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Genome, Bacterial ; },
abstract = {Paraburkholderia phymatum, a β-proteobacterium, forms a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with many species of the large legume genus Mimosa as well as with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Paraburkholderia are considered to have evolved nodulation independently from the well-studied α-proteobacteria symbionts of legumes. However, the detailed mechanisms important for β-rhizobia-legume symbiosis have not yet been determined. In this manuscript, we have sequenced the genome of P. phymatum MP20, a strain isolated from Mimosa pudica nodules, and utilized transposon mutagenesis to identify a mutant that showed delayed and ineffective nodulation of M. pudica. Further analysis revealed that the mutant strain produced an altered lipopolysaccharide lacking rhamnose containing O-antigen. Complementation with the wild-type gene restored the symbiosis. Microscopic analysis of the ineffective nodules showed that the mutant strain did not infect the cortical cells but was restricted to the endodermis. The results suggest that the O-antigen of P. phymatum is important for the bacterial infection of cortical cells and for nodule maturation. Further research will unveil the specific involvement of the glycosyltransferase gene in LPS biosynthesis and its impact on successful nodule formation by P. phymatum.IMPORTANCEThe nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia is important for agricultural and environmental sustainability. The mechanisms of the symbiotic interactions are extensively studied using α-rhizobia. In contrast, mechanisms of symbiotic interactions important for β-rhizobia and their Caesalpinioid (mimosoid) legume hosts are not well known. Here, we describe the genome sequence of P. phymatum MP20, a β-rhizobia isolated from the nodules of M. pudica, and isolation and characterization of a transposon mutant defective in symbiosis. We demonstrate that the O-antigen of the LPS is required for nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This study broadens our knowledge of symbiotic interactions in β-rhizobia and will lead to a better understanding of the wider rhizobial-legume symbiosis apart from the α-rhizobia.},
}
@article {pmid39846424,
year = {2025},
author = {Zhu, C and Wang, E and Li, Z and Ouyang, H},
title = {Advances in Symbiotic Bioabsorbable Devices.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {12},
number = {24},
pages = {e2410289},
pmid = {39846424},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {2023YFC2411901//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2023176//Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS/ ; 7232347//Beijing Natural Science Foundation/ ; L212010//Beijing Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2024047//Beijing Nova Program/ ; E0EG6802&#xd7;2//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; E2E45101&#xd7;2//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 62004010//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52373256//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; T2125003//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Absorbable Implants ; Humans ; *Biocompatible Materials ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic bioabsorbable devices are ideal for temporary treatment. This eliminates the boundaries between the device and organism and develops a symbiotic relationship by degrading nutrients that directly enter the cells, tissues, and body to avoid the hazards of device retention. Symbiotic bioresorbable electronics show great promise for sensing, diagnostics, therapy, and rehabilitation, as underpinned by innovations in materials, devices, and systems. This review focuses on recent advances in bioabsorbable devices. Innovation is focused on the material, device, and system levels. Significant advances in biomedical applications are reviewed, including integrated diagnostics, tissue repair, cardiac pacing, and neurostimulation. In addition to the material, device, and system issues, the challenges and trends in symbiotic bioresorbable electronics are discussed.},
}
@article {pmid39845493,
year = {2024},
author = {Safavi-Rizi, V and Friedlein, H and Safavi-Rizi, S and Krajinski-Barth, F},
title = {The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on flooding response of Medicago truncatula.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1512350},
pmid = {39845493},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Climate change is expected to lead to an increase in precipitation and flooding. Consequently, plants that are adapted to dry conditions have to adjust to frequent flooding periods. In this study, we investigate the flooding response of Medicago truncatula, a Mediterranean plant adapted to warm and dry conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis plays a key role in enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance, yet its interactions with environmental stressors such as flooding remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of mycorrhizal colonization and flooding stress on the growth, physiological and molecular responses of M. truncatula wild-type (WT) and ha1-2 mutant lines. ha1-2 mutant plants are unable to form a functional symbiosis with AM fungi as they are impaired in the proton pump required for phosphate transport from AM fungus to the plant. Over a six-week period, WT and ha1-2 plants were cultivated in the presence of Rhizophagus irregularis and subsequently subjected to a 10-day waterlogging treatment. Our results indicated that under control and also flooding conditions, WT mycorrhizal plants exhibited increased dry biomass compared to non-mycorrhizal WT plants. In contrast, the ha1-2 mutant plants did not show the enhanced biomass gain associated with AM symbiosis. The decline in biomass in response to flooding was more pronounced in mycorrhizal plants compared to the non-mycorrhizal plants. In mycorrhizal plants, flooding suppressed the transcript levels of MtPt4 gene in both WT, although not significantly, and ha1-2 mutant lines. Gene expression analysis showed modulation in genes related to nitrogen metabolism and hypoxic response. A strong upregulation of the MtGNS1 transcript (~3000-fold) was observed in WT, however, this upregulation was milder in the ha1-2 plants. Our findings suggest that while AMF symbiosis positively affects plant biomass under control conditions, its beneficial effects were attenuated under flooding stress. Future research will focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind AMF modulation of flooding stress responses, including nutrient uptake and metabolism, stress tolerance, and recovery post-flooding. These results will facilitate the enhancement of AMF-based strategies to improve plant resilience against climate change-induced flooding events.},
}
@article {pmid39845035,
year = {2024},
author = {Zhou, H and Yu, K and Nie, L and Liu, L and Zhou, J and Wu, K and Ye, H and Wu, Z},
title = {Effects of biological agents on rhizosphere microecological environment and nutrient availability for rice.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1447527},
pmid = {39845035},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {As the world's population grows, pursuing sustainable agricultural production techniques to increase crop yields is critical to ensuring global food security. The development and application of biological agents is of great significance in promoting the sustainable development of agriculture. This study aimed to investigate the role of JZ (compound microbial agent) and MZ (biological agent made from plant materials) in improving the rhizosphere microecological environment and nutrient availability for rice. This study found that JZ enriched Cyanobacteria with biological nitrogen fixation functions; spraying MZ can enrich some beneficial microbiota, such as Bradyrhizobium, playing a role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Meanwhile, JZ and MZ were found to affect rhizosphere soil metabolism and improve potassium and nitrogen availability. JZ may promote the degradation of fungicides in the rhizosphere soil environment. Overall, applying biological agents through optimizing rice growing environment to improve yield showed great potential.},
}
@article {pmid39844274,
year = {2025},
author = {Camper, BT and Kanes, AS and Laughlin, ZT and Manuel, RT and Bewick, SA},
title = {Transgressive hybrids as hopeful holobionts.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {19},
pmid = {39844274},
issn = {2049-2618},
mesh = {*Hybridization, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; Biological Evolution ; Animals ; *Microbiota ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hybridization between evolutionary lineages has profound impacts on the fitness and ecology of hybrid progeny. In extreme cases, the effects of hybridization can transcend ecological timescales by introducing trait novelty upon which evolution can act. Indeed, hybridization can even have macroevolutionary consequences, for example, as a driver of adaptive radiations and evolutionary innovations. Accordingly, hybridization is now recognized as a motor for macrobial evolution. By contrast, there has been substantially less progress made towards understanding the positive eco-evolutionary consequences of hybridization on holobionts. Rather, the emerging paradigm in holobiont literature is that hybridization disrupts symbiosis between a host lineage and its microbiome, leaving hybrids at a fitness deficit. These conclusions, however, have been drawn based on results from predominantly low-fitness hybrid organisms. Studying "dead-end" hybrids all but guarantees finding that hybridization is detrimental. This is the pitfall that Dobzhansky fell into over 80 years ago when he used hybrid sterility and inviability to conclude that hybridization hinders evolution. Goldschmidt, however, argued that rare saltational successes-so-called hopeful monsters-disproportionately drive positive evolutionary outcomes. Goldschmidt's view is now becoming a widely accepted explanation for the prevalence of historical hybridization in extant macrobial lineages. Aligning holobiont research with this broader evolutionary perspective requires recognizing the importance of similar patterns in host-microbiome systems. That is, rare and successful "hopeful holobionts" (i.e., hopeful monsters at the holobiont scale) might be disproportionately responsible for holobiont evolution. If true, then it is these successful systems that we should be studying to assess impacts of hybridization on the macroevolutionary trajectories of host-microbiome symbioses.<br><br>RESULTS: In this paper, we explore the effects of hybridization on the gut (cloacal) and skin microbiota in an ecologically successful hybrid lizard, Aspidoscelis neomexicanus. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that hybrid lizards have host-associated (HA) microbiota traits strongly differentiated from their progenitor species. Across numerous hybrid microbiota phenotypes, we find widespread evidence of transgressive segregation. Further, microbiota restructuring broadly correlates with niche restructuring during hybridization. This suggests a relationship between HA microbiota traits and ecological success.<br><br>CONCLUSION: Transgressive segregation of HA microbiota traits is&#xa0;not only limited to hybrids at a fitness deficit but also occurs in ecologically successful hybrids. This suggests that hybridization may be a mechanism for generating novel and potentially beneficial holobiont phenotypes. Supporting such a conclusion, the correlations that we find between hybrid microbiota and the hybr