Latest Articles
Microbial Ecology | SpotlightFarm Stage, Bird Age, and Body Site Dominantly Affect the Quantity, Taxonomic Composition, and Dynamics of Respiratory and Gut Microbiota of Commercial Layer ChickensThe poultry industry is faced with numerous challenges associated with infectious diseases and suboptimal performance of flocks. As microbiome research continues to grow, it is becoming clear that poultry health and production performance are partly influenced by nonpathogenic symbionts that occupy different habitats within the bird. This study has defined the baseline composition and overlaps between respiratory and gut bacteria in...
MethodsDegradation of Fungal MicroRNAs Triggered by Short Tandem Target Mimics Is via the Small-RNA-Degrading NucleaseThe development and application of STTM technology to block miR-like RNAs in M. robertsii and A. flavus may allow for efficient generation of miR-like RNA mutants in various fungi, providing a powerful tool for functional genomics of small RNA molecules in fungi.
BiotechnologyEmbedding Bacillus velezensis NH-1 in Microcapsules for Biocontrol of Cucumber Fusarium WiltBacillus species are often used for the biocontrol of various plant pathogens, but the control efficiency of Bacillus is usually unstable in field experiments. To improve the control efficiency of Bacillus, in this study, microcapsules of Bacillus velezensis strain NH-1 were prepared using different wall materials (sodium alginate, chitosan...
Environmental MicrobiologyThe Indoor-Air Microbiota of Pig Farms Drives the Composition of the Pig Farmers’ Nasal Microbiota in a Season-Dependent and Farm-Specific MannerThe airborne microbiota of pig farms poses a potential health hazard and impacts both livestock and humans working in this environment. Therefore, a more thorough understanding of the microbiota composition and dynamics in this setting is needed. This study was of a prospective design (12 months) and used samples from different sites. This means that the microbiota of air, animals (pigs), and humans was simultaneously investigated. Our...
Public and Environmental Health MicrobiologyRegulation of Iron Uptake by Fine-Tuning the Iron Responsiveness of the Iron Sensor FurIron is a fundamental metal ion for living organisms as it facilitates various biological processes. The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) protein controls iron homeostasis in various bacterial species. It is believed that Fur’s iron-dependent regulatory action is sufficient for it to function as an iron sensor. However, we now establish that the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enables Fur to properly reflect changes in surrounding...
Microbial Ecology | SpotlightMycobiome Profiles in Breast Milk from Healthy Women Depend on Mode of Delivery, Geographic Location, and Interaction with BacteriaDuring recent years, human breast milk has been documented as a potential source of bacteria for the newborn. Recently, we have reported the presence of fungi in breast milk from healthy mothers. It is well known that environmental and perinatal factors can affect milk bacteria; however, the impact on milk fungi is still unknown. The current report describes fungal communities (mycobiota) in breast milk samples across different...
Environmental MicrobiologyPopulation Structure and Morphotype Analysis of “Candidatus Accumulibacter” Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization-Staining-Flow CytometryAs one group of the most important functional phosphorus removal organisms, “Candidatus Accumulibacter,” affiliated with the Rhodocyclus group of the Betaproteobacteria, is a widely recognized and studied PAO in the field of biological wastewater treatment. The morphotypes and population structure of clade-level “Candidatus Accumulibacter” were studied through novel FISH-staining-flow cytometry, which...
Microbial EcologyRecovery of Fungal Cells from Air Samples: a Tale of Loss and GainThis work shed light on a significant issue regarding the loss of fungal spores when recovered from air samples using liquid medium and centrifugation to concentrate air particles before DNA extraction. We provide proof that the loss affects the overall fungal diversity of aerosols and that some taxa are differentially more affected than others. Furthermore, a laboratory experiment confirmed the environmental results obtained during...
Plant MicrobiologyInsight into the Bacterial Endophytic Communities of Peach Cultivars Related to Crown Gall Disease ResistanceAgrobacterium tumefaciens as the causal agent of peach crown gall disease can be controlled by planting resistant cultivars. This study profiles the endophytic bacteria in susceptible and resistant peach cultivars, advancing our understanding of the relationships between endophytic bacterial communities and peach crown gall disease, with potential implications for...
Environmental MicrobiologyTwo Novel Bacteriophages Improve Survival in Galleria mellonella Infection and Mouse Acute Pneumonia Models Infected with Extensively Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosaIn this study, two novel P. aeruginosa phages, Bϕ-R656 and Bϕ-R1836, were evaluated in vitro, in silico, and in vivo for therapeutic efficacy and safety as an alternative antibacterial agent to control XDR-PA strains collected from pneumonia patients. Both phages exhibited potent bacteriolytic activity and greatly improved survival in...