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Journal of Hazardous Materials Jun 2024Nanoplastics (NPs) interact with cooccurring chemicals and natural organic matter (NOM) in the environment, forming complexes that can change their bioavailability and...
Exacerbated interfacial impacts of nanoplastics and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate by natural organic matter in adult zebrafish: Evidence through histopathology, gut microbiota, and transcriptomic analysis.
Nanoplastics (NPs) interact with cooccurring chemicals and natural organic matter (NOM) in the environment, forming complexes that can change their bioavailability and interfacial toxicity in aquatic organisms. This study aims to elucidate the single and combined impacts of 21-day chronic exposure to low levels of polystyrene NPs (size 80 nm) at 1 mg/L and 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (Cl-PFAES or F53B) at 200 μg/L in the presence and absence of NOM (humic acid-HA and bovine serum albumin-BSA at 10 mg/L) in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our findings through multiple bioassays, revealed that the mixture group (M), comprising of NPs, F53B, HA, and BSA, caused a higher level of toxicity compared to the single NPs (AN), single F53B (AF), and combined NPs+F53B (ANF) groups. The mixture exposure caused the highest level of vacuolization and nuclear condensation in hepatocytes, and most of the intestinal villi were fused and highly reduced in villi length and crypt depth. Further, the T-AOC levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05), while the MDA levels in the liver and intestine were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the M group with downregulation of nfkbiaa, while upregulation of prkcda, csf1ra, and il1b apoptosis genes in the liver. Pairwise comparison of gut microbiota showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) abundances of various genera in the M group, including Gordonia, Methylobacterium, Tundrisphaera, GKS98, Pedomicrobium, Clostridium, Candidatus and Anaerobacillus, as well as higher abundance of genera including pathogenic strains, while control group showed higher abundance of probiotic genus ZOR0006 than exposed group (p < 0.01). The transcriptomic analysis revealed highest number of DEGs in the M group (2815), followed by the AN group (506) and ANF group (206) with the activation of relaxin signaling pathway-RSP (slc9a1, slc9a2) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway (plin1), and suppression of the toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway (tlr4a, tlr2, tlr1), cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction (CCRI) pathway (tnfb, il21r1, il21, ifng1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) pathway (pfkfb3). Overall, toxicity in the M group was higher, indicating that the HA and BSA elevated the interfacial impacts of NPs and F53B in adult zebrafish after chronic environmentally relevant exposure, implying the revisitation of the critical interaction of NOM with co-occurring chemicals and associated impacts.
PubMed: 38941840
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135038 -
Insects May 2024Artificial insemination in queen honey bees is the only tool that provides complete control over mating for research and breeding purposes, making it essential in...
Artificial insemination in queen honey bees is the only tool that provides complete control over mating for research and breeding purposes, making it essential in genetic improvement and conservation programs in this species. The aims of this study were to characterize drone semen bacterial loads by culture-dependent and independent methods and to describe their variation depending on the method of semen collection, the colony and the apiary. In the first experiment, the bacterial loads of semen collected from the seminal vesicles or from ejaculates was studied using culture-dependent methods. The collection method had a significant influence on the overall bacterial count in semen. Out of the 42 semen samples analyzed, 26 (61.9%) tested positive for bacterial isolation. This encompassed the entirety of samples obtained from the seminal vesicles (21 of 21), whereas only 23.8% of those derived from ejaculates (5 out of 21) showed bacterial isolation. In the second experiment, next-generation sequencing techniques were used to describe the microbiome of ejaculated drone semen for the first time. The most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota, while the most abundant genera were , , and . The results showed that the apiary had a significant effect on the community structure composition and abundance of the seminal microbiota, and significative differences in abundance were observed for the genera , , and . Significant differences were also observed in the richness of the microbiota between apiaries and colonies.
PubMed: 38921092
DOI: 10.3390/insects15060377 -
Food Chemistry: X Jun 2024In this study, the metabolic profiles of traditional craftsmanship (TC) Liupao tea presented great changes at different processing stages. The contents of flavonoids and...
In this study, the metabolic profiles of traditional craftsmanship (TC) Liupao tea presented great changes at different processing stages. The contents of flavonoids and their glycosides generally exhibited a continuing downward trend, resulting in the sensory quality of TC-Liupao tea gradually improved. However, the taste of TC-Liupao tea faded when piling exceeded 12 h, as a result of the excessive degradation of some key flavor substances. Therefore, it could be deduced that piling for 10 h might be optimum for the quality formation of TC-Liupao tea. , , , and were the dominant bacteria during piling. The correlation analysis between differential metabolites and bacteria showed that only and were significantly correlated to metabolites, demonstrating that the bacteria had less effect on the transformation of metabolites. Thus, the metabolic structure change during the process of TC-Liupao tea might be mainly attributed to the high temperature and humidity environment.
PubMed: 38911914
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101516 -
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology Sep 2024The pathogen , responsible for a variety of diseases, poses a considerable threat to global crop yields. Emerging biocontrol strategies employ antagonistic...
The pathogen , responsible for a variety of diseases, poses a considerable threat to global crop yields. Emerging biocontrol strategies employ antagonistic microorganisms, utilizing phyllosphere microecology and systemic resistance to combat this disease. However, the interactions between phyllosphere microbial dynamics and the activation of the plant defense system remain poorly understood. Here we show significant alterations in phyllosphere microbiota structure and plant gene expression following the application of biocontrol agents. We reveal enhanced collaboration and integration of and within the microbial co-occurrence network. Notably, inhibits by disrupting pathogen chemotaxis and virulence. Additionally, both and activate plant defenses by upregulating pathogenesis-related gene expression through abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonate acid, and salicylic acid signaling pathways. Our results highlighted that biocontrol agents promote plant health, from reconstructing beneficial microbial consortia to enhancing plant immunity. The findings enrich our comprehension of the synergistic interplays between phyllosphere microbiota and plant immunity, offering potential enhancements in biocontrol efficacy for crop protection.
PubMed: 38883559
DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100431 -
IMeta Apr 2024Asthenozoospermia (AZS) is a prevalent contributor to male infertility, characterized by a substantial decline in sperm motility. In recent years, large-scale studies...
Asthenozoospermia (AZS) is a prevalent contributor to male infertility, characterized by a substantial decline in sperm motility. In recent years, large-scale studies have explored the interplay between the male reproductive system's microecology and its implications for reproductive health. Nevertheless, the direct association between seminal microecology and male infertility pathogenesis remains inconclusive. This study used 16S rDNA sequencing and multi-omics analysis to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the seminal microbial community and metabolites in AZS patients. Patients were categorized into four distinct groups: Normal, mild AZS (AZS-I), moderate AZS (AZS-II), and severe AZS (AZS-III). Microbiome differential abundance analysis revealed significant differences in microbial composition and metabolite profiles within the seminal plasma of these groups. Subsequently, patients were classified into a control group (Normal and AZS-I) and an AZS group (AZS-II and AZS-III). Correlation and cross-reference analyses identified distinct microbial genera and metabolites. Notably, the AZS group exhibited a reduced abundance of bacterial genera such as , and in seminal plasma, positively correlating with core differential metabolite (hexadecanamide). Conversely, the AZS group displayed an increased abundance of bacterial genera such as , and , with a negative correlation with core differential metabolite (hexadecanamide). In vitro and in vivo experiments validated that hexadecanamide significantly enhanced sperm motility. Using predictive metabolite-targeting gene analysis and single-cell transcriptome sequencing, we profiled the gene expression of candidate target genes and . Protein immunoblotting techniques validated the upregulation protein levels of PAOX and CA2 in sperm samples after hexadecanamide treatment, enhancing sperm motility. In conclusion, this study uncovered a significant correlation between six microbial genera in seminal plasma and the content of the metabolite hexadecanamide, which is related to AZS. Hexadecanamide notably enhances sperm motility, suggesting its potential integration into clinical strategies for managing AZS, providing a foundational framework for diagnostic and therapeutic advancements.
PubMed: 38882497
DOI: 10.1002/imt2.166 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Jun 2024Ergothioneine (EGT) is a naturally occurring derivative of histidine with diverse applications in the medicine, cosmetic, and food industries. Nevertheless, its...
Ergothioneine (EGT) is a naturally occurring derivative of histidine with diverse applications in the medicine, cosmetic, and food industries. Nevertheless, its sustainable biosynthesis faces hurdles due to the limited biosynthetic pathways, complex metabolic network of precursors, and high cost associated with fermentation. Herein, efforts were made to address these limitations first by reconstructing a novel EGT biosynthetic pathway from in and optimizing it through plasmid copy number. Subsequently, the supply of precursor amino acids was promoted by engineering the global regulator, recruiting mutant resistant to feedback inhibition, and blocking competitive pathways. These metabolic modifications resulted in a significant improvement in EGT production, increasing from 35 to 130 mg/L, representing a remarkable increase of 271.4%. Furthermore, an economical medium was developed by replacing yeast extract with corn steep liquor, a byproduct of wet milling of corn. Finally, the production of EGT reached 595 mg/L with a productivity of 8.2 mg/L/h by exploiting fed-batch fermentation in a 10 L bioreactor. This study paves the way for exploring and modulating a de novo biosynthetic pathway for efficient and low-cost fermentative production of EGT.
Topics: Ergothioneine; Fermentation; Biosynthetic Pathways; Metabolic Engineering; Escherichia coli; Bacterial Proteins; Bioreactors
PubMed: 38860833
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03348 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024, a wild plant in southern Africa, is utilized in traditional medicine for various ailments, leading to its endangerment and listing on the Red List of South African...
, a wild plant in southern Africa, is utilized in traditional medicine for various ailments, leading to its endangerment and listing on the Red List of South African Plants. To date, there have been no reports on bacterial endophytes from this plant, their classes of secondary metabolites, and potential medicinal properties. This study presents (i) taxonomic characterization of bacterial endophytes in leaf and root tissues using 16S rRNA, (ii) bacterial isolation, morphological, and phylogenetic characterization, (iii) bacterial growth, metabolite extraction, and LC-MS-based metabolite fingerprinting, and (iv) antimicrobial testing of bacterial crude extracts. Next-generation sequencing yielded 693 and 2,459 DNA read counts for the rhizomes and leaves, respectively, detecting phyla including Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Gemmatimonadota, Actinobacteriota, Verrucomicrobiota, Dependentiae, Firmicutes, and Armatimonodata. At the genus level, , , , and Ralstonia were the most dominant in both leaves and rhizomes. From root tissues, four bacterial isolates were selected, and 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic characterization identified two closely related sp. (strain BNWU4 and 5), BNWU2, and BNWU1. The ethyl acetate:chloroform (1:1 v/v) organic extract from each isolate exhibited antimicrobial activity against all selected bacterial pathogens. Strain BNWU5 displayed the highest activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 62.5 μg/mL to 250 μg/mL against diarrhoeagenic , , , antibiotic-resistant , , , and . LC-MS analysis of the crude extract revealed common antimicrobial metabolites produced by all isolates, including Phenoxomethylpenicilloyl (penicilloyl V), cis-11-Eicosenamide, 3-Hydroxy-3-phenacyloxindole, and 9-Octadecenamide.
PubMed: 38855763
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1383854 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024Lower respiratory tract infections represent prevalent ailments. Nonetheless, current comprehension of the microbial ecosystems within the lower respiratory tract...
BACKGROUND
Lower respiratory tract infections represent prevalent ailments. Nonetheless, current comprehension of the microbial ecosystems within the lower respiratory tract remains incomplete and necessitates further comprehensive assessment. Leveraging the advancements in metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology alongside the emergence of machine learning, it is now viable to compare the attributes of lower respiratory tract microbial communities among patients across diverse age groups, diseases, and infection types.
METHOD
We collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples from 138 patients diagnosed with lower respiratory tract infections and conducted mNGS to characterize the lung microbiota. Employing various machine learning algorithms, we investigated the correlation of key bacteria in patients with concurrent bronchiectasis and developed a predictive model for hospitalization duration based on these identified key bacteria.
RESULT
We observed variations in microbial communities across different age groups, diseases, and infection types. In the elderly group, exhibited the highest relative abundance, followed by and . and emerged as the dominant genera at the genus level in the younger group, while and were prevalent species. Within the bronchiectasis group, dominant bacteria included , , and . Significant differences in the presence of were noted between the bronchiectasis group and the control group. In the group with concomitant fungal infections, the most abundant genera were and , with and as the predominant species. Notable differences were observed in the presence of , , , , and between the group with concomitant fungal infections and the bacterial group. Machine learning algorithms were utilized to select bacteria and clinical indicators associated with hospitalization duration, confirming the excellent performance of bacteria in predicting hospitalization time.
CONCLUSION
Our study provided a comprehensive description of the microbial characteristics among patients with lower respiratory tract infections, offering insights from various perspectives. Additionally, we investigated the advanced predictive capability of microbial community features in determining the hospitalization duration of these patients.
Topics: Humans; Machine Learning; Metagenomics; Middle Aged; Respiratory Tract Infections; Aged; Male; Female; Adult; Bacteria; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Microbiota; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Young Adult; Bronchiectasis; Aged, 80 and over; Metagenome; Adolescent; Lung; Hospitalization
PubMed: 38846353
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1385562 -
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek May 2024An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, motile rod bacterium, designated as SYSU BS000021, was isolated from a black soil sample in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China....
An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, motile rod bacterium, designated as SYSU BS000021, was isolated from a black soil sample in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Methylobacterium, and showed the highest sequence similarity to Methylobacterium segetis KCTC 62267 (98.51%) and Methylobacterium oxalidis DSM 24028 (97.79%). Growth occurred at 20-37℃ (optimum, 28 °C), pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0% (w/v) NaCl. Polar lipids comprised of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified polar lipid. The major cellular fatty acids (> 5%) were C and C ω7c and/or C ω6c. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-10. The genomic G + C content was 68.36% based on the whole genome analysis. The average nucleotide identity (≤ 83.5%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (≤ 27.3%) values between strain SYSU BS000021 and other members of the genus Methylobacterium were all lower than the threshold values recommended for distinguishing novel prokaryotic species. Based on the results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain SYSU BS000021 represents a novel species of the genus Methylobacterium, for which the name Methylobacterium nigriterrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the proposed novel species is SYSU BS000021 (= GDMCC 1.3814 = KCTC 8051).
Topics: Soil Microbiology; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; DNA, Bacterial; Base Composition; Fatty Acids; Methylobacterium; Bacterial Typing Techniques; China; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Phospholipids
PubMed: 38806744
DOI: 10.1007/s10482-024-01981-x -
Microbiology Resource Announcements Jun 2024In this study, we report the draft genome sequence data of sp. 37f, isolated from soil beneath Roxb. in Thailand. The genome consists of 5,305,449 base pairs, with a...
In this study, we report the draft genome sequence data of sp. 37f, isolated from soil beneath Roxb. in Thailand. The genome consists of 5,305,449 base pairs, with a GC content of 67.5%.
PubMed: 38767399
DOI: 10.1128/mra.00324-24