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Genetics and Molecular Biology | SpotlightAntimicrobial Activity of, and Cellular Pathways Targeted by, p-Anisaldehyde and Epigallocatechin Gallate in the Opportunistic Human Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosaEssential oils (EOs) are plant-derived products that have long been exploited for their antimicrobial activities in medicine, agriculture, and food preservation. EOs represent a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics due to their broad-range antimicrobial activity, low toxicity to human commensal bacteria, and capacity to kill microorganisms without promoting resistance. Despite the progress in the understanding of the...
Microbial Ecology | SpotlightRelationship between the Gut Microbiome and Energy/Nutrient Intake in a Confined Bioregenerative Life Support SystemThe gut microbiome shows individual specificity and is affected by sex, environment, and diet; gut microbiome imbalance is related to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases. Astronauts are faced with a challenging environment and limited diet in outer space. Recent studies indicate that the gut microbiome is altered in space simulators and space, but what happens to intestinal microorganisms when astronauts cohabitate...
Evolutionary and Genomic Microbiology | SpotlightYeast Viral Killer Toxin K1 Induces Specific Host Cell Adaptions via Intrinsic Selection PressureThe killer phenotype in Saccharomyces cerevisiae relies on the cytoplasmic persistence of two RNA viruses. In contrast to bacterial toxin producers, killer yeasts necessitate a specific immunity mechanism against their own toxin because they bear the same receptor populations as sensitive cells. Although the killer phenomenon is highly abundant and has a crucial...
Plant Microbiology | SpotlightMetabolic and Genomic Traits of Phytobeneficial Phenazine-Producing Pseudomonas spp. Are Linked to Rhizosphere Colonization in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum tuberosumRhizosphere colonization is crucial for plant growth promotion and biocontrol by antibiotic-producing Pseudomonas spp. This colonization process relies on different bacterial determinants which partly remain to be uncovered. In this study, we combined a metabolic and a genomic approach to decipher new rhizosphere colonization determinants which could improve our understanding of this process in Pseudomonas spp. Using...
Public and Environmental Health MicrobiologyUV Inactivation of Rotavirus and Tulane Virus Targets Different Components of the VirionsUV irradiation is becoming common for disinfection in water treatment plants, but little is known about the effectiveness of this treatment for enteric RNA viruses. Here, we observed that 220-nm UV irradiation was efficacious against rotavirus (RV) and Tulane virus (TV). UV irradiation at 254 nm inactivated TV to a greater extent than RV. Additional assays showed that UV irradiation compromised different portions of the RV and TV life...
Evolutionary and Genomic MicrobiologyPhylogenomic Analyses of Members of the Widespread Marine Heterotrophic Genus Pseudovibrio Suggest Distinct Evolutionary Trajectories and a Novel Genus, Polycladidibacter gen. nov.The genus Pseudovibrio is commonly associated with marine invertebrates, which are essential for ocean health and marine nutrient cycling. Traditionally, the phylogeny of the genus has been based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. The use of the 16S rRNA gene or any other single marker gene for robust phylogenetic placement has recently been questioned. We used a large set of marker genes from all available Pseudovibrio...
BiodegradationMhpA Is a Hydroxylase Catalyzing the Initial Reaction of 3-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)Propionate Catabolism in Escherichia coli K-12Phenylpropionate and its hydroxylated derivatives resulted from lignin degradation ubiquitously exist on the Earth. A number of bacterial strains have the ability to grow on 3HPP, one of the above derivatives. The hydroxylation was thought to be the initial and vital step for its aerobic catabolism via the meta pathway. The significance of our research is the functional identification and characterization of the purified 3HPP 2...
Genetics and Molecular BiologyLysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator MetR Controls Prodigiosin Production, Methionine Biosynthesis, Cell Motility, H2O2 Tolerance, Heat Tolerance, and Exopolysaccharide Synthesis in Serratia marcescensSerratia marcescens, a Gram-negative bacterium, is found in a wide range of ecological niches and can produce several secondary metabolites, including prodigiosin, althiomycin, and serratamolide. Among them, prodigiosin shows diverse functions as an immunosuppressant, antimicrobial, and anticancer agent. However, the regulatory mechanisms behind prodigiosin synthesis...
Environmental Microbiology | SpotlightCasimicrobium huifangae gen. nov., sp. nov., a Ubiquitous “Most-Wanted” Core Bacterial Taxon from Municipal Wastewater Treatment PlantsThe activated sludge process is the most widely applied biotechnology and is one of the best ecosystems to address microbial ecological principles. Yet, the cultivation of core bacteria and the exploration of their physiology and ecology are limited. In this study, the core and novel bacterial taxon C. huifangae was cultivated and characterized. This study revealed that C. huifangae functioned as an important module...
Environmental MicrobiologyLipopolysaccharide Stimulates the Growth of Bacteria That Contribute to Ruminal AcidosisGram-negative bacteria contain lipopolysaccharide (LPS) coating their thin peptidoglycan cell wall. The presence of LPS has been suggested to be associated with a metabolic disorder of cattle—ruminal acidosis—through affecting ruminal bacteria. Ruminal acidosis could reduce feed intake and milk production and increase the incidence of diarrhea, milk fat depression, liver abscesses, and laminitis. However, how LPS affects bacteria...