Journal of Microbiology

Volume 62(3); March 2024

Editorial

Host‑Associated Microbiome: Woo Jun Sul; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):135-136. Published online May 6, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00135-y

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Reviews

The Microbiome Matters: Its Impact on Cancer Development and Therapeutic Responses: In‑Young Chung, Jihyun Kim, Ara Koh; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):137-152. Published online April 8, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00110-7

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Abstract: In the evolving landscape of cancer research, the human microbiome emerges as a pivotal determinant reshaping our understanding of tumorigenesis and therapeutic responses. Advanced sequencing technologies have uncovered a vibrant microbial community not confned to the gut but thriving within tumor tissues. Comprising bacteria, viruses, and fungi, this diverse microbiota displays distinct signatures across various cancers, with most research primarily focusing on bacteria. The correlations between specifc microbial taxa within diferent cancer types underscore their pivotal roles in driving tumorigenesis and infuencing therapeutic responses, particularly in chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This review amalgamates recent discoveries, emphasizing the translocation of the oral microbiome to the gut as a potential marker for microbiome dysbiosis across diverse cancer types and delves into potential mechanisms contributing to cancer promotion. Furthermore, it highlights the adverse efects of the microbiome on cancer development while exploring its potential in fortifying strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.

Metabolic Interaction Between Host and the Gut Microbiota During High‑Fat Diet‑Induced Colorectal Cancer: Chaeeun Lee, Seungrin Lee, Woongjae Yoo; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):153-165. Published online April 16, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00123-2

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Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-highest cause of cancer-associated mortality among both men and women worldwide. One of the risk factors for CRC is obesity, which is correlated with a high-fat diet prevalent in Western dietary habits. The association between an obesogenic high-fat diet and CRC has been established for several decades; however, the mechanisms by which a high-fat diet increases the risk of CRC remain unclear. Recent studies indicate that gut microbiota strongly infuence the pathogenesis of both high-fat diet-induced obesity and CRC. The gut microbiota is composed of hundreds of bacterial species, some of which are implicated in CRC. In particular, the expansion of facultative anaerobic Enterobacteriaceae, which is considered a microbial signature of intestinal microbiota functional imbalance (dysbiosis), is associated with both high-fat diet-induced obesity and CRC. Here, we review the interaction between the gut microbiome and its metabolic byproducts in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC) during high-fat diet-induced obesity. In addition, we will cover how a high-fat diet can drive the expansion of genotoxin-producing Escherichia coli by altering intestinal epithelial cell metabolism during gut infammation conditions.

Balancing Act of the Intestinal Antimicrobial Proteins on Gut Microbiota and Health: Ye Eun Ra, Ye‑Ji Bang; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):167-179. Published online April 17, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00122-3

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Abstract: The human gut houses a diverse and dynamic microbiome critical for digestion, metabolism, and immune development, exerting profound efects on human health. However, these microorganisms pose a potential threat by breaching the gut barrier, entering host tissues, and triggering infections, uncontrolled infammation, and even sepsis. The intestinal epithelial cells form the primary defense, acting as a frontline barrier against microbial invasion. Antimicrobial proteins (AMPs), produced by these cells, serve as innate immune efectors that regulate the gut microbiome by directly killing or inhibiting microbes. Abnormal AMP production, whether insufcient or excessive, can disturb the microbiome equilibrium, contributing to various intestinal diseases. This review delves into the complex interactions between AMPs and the gut microbiota and sheds light on the role of AMPs in governing host-microbiota interactions. We discuss the function and mechanisms of action of AMPs, their regulation by the gut microbiota, microbial evasion strategies, and the consequences of AMP dysregulation in disease. Understanding these complex interactions between AMPs and the gut microbiota is crucial for developing strategies to enhance immune responses and combat infections within the gut microbiota. Ongoing research continues to uncover novel aspects of this intricate relationship, deepening our understanding of the factors shaping gut health. This knowledge has the potential to revolutionize therapeutic interventions, ofering enhanced treatments for a wide range of gut-related diseases.

Skin Deep: The Potential of Microbiome Cosmetics: Ju Hee Han, Hei Sung Kim; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):181-199. Published online April 16, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00128-x

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Abstract: The interplay between the skin microbiome and its host is a complex facet of dermatological health and has become a critical focus in the development of microbiome cosmetics. The skin microbiome, comprising various microorganisms, is essential from birth, develops over the lifespan, and performs vital roles in protecting our body against pathogens, training the immune system, and facilitating the breakdown of organic matter. Dysbiosis, an imbalance of these microorganisms, has been implicated in a number of skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, and skin cancer. Recent scientific findings have spurred cosmetic companies to develop products that preserve and enhance the skin's microbial diversity balance. These products may incorporate elements like prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, which are beneficial for the skin microbiome. Beyond topical products, there's increasing interest in ingestible beauty supplements (i.e. oral probiotics), highlighting the connection between the gut and skin. This review examines the influence of the microbiome on skin health and the emerging trends of microbiome skincare products.

Application of Microbiome‑Based Therapies in Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Se Hee Lee, Jang Ho Lee, Sei Won Lee; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):201-216. Published online April 18, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00124-1

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Abstract: The application of microbiome-based therapies in various areas of human disease has recently increased. In chronic respiratory disease, microbiome-based clinical applications are considered compelling options due to the limitations of current treatments. The lung microbiome is ecologically dynamic and afected by various conditions, and dysbiosis is associated with disease severity, exacerbation, and phenotype as well as with chronic respiratory disease endotype. However, it is not easy to directly modulate the lung microbiome. Additionally, studies have shown that chronic respiratory diseases can be improved by modulating gut microbiome and administrating metabolites. Although the composition, diversity, and abundance of the microbiome between the gut and lung are considerably diferent, modulation of the gut microbiome could improve lung dysbiosis. The gut microbiome infuences that of the lung via bacterial-derived components and metabolic degradation products, including short-chain fatty acids. This phenomenon might be associated with the cross-talk between the gut microbiome and lung, called gut-lung axis. There are multiple alternatives to modulate the gut microbiome, such as prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics ingestion and fecal material transplantation. Several studies have shown that high-fber diets, for example, present benefcial efects through the production of short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, genetically modifed probiotics to secrete some benefcial molecules might also be utilized to treat chronic respiratory diseases. Further studies on microbial modulation to regulate immunity and potentiate conventional pharmacotherapy will improve microbiome modulation techniques, which will develop as a new therapeutic area in chronic respiratory diseases.

Understanding the Diversity and Roles of the Ruminal Microbiome: Gi Beom Keum, Sriniwas Pandey, Eun Sol Kim, Hyunok Doo, Jinok Kwak, Sumin Ryu, Yejin Choi, Juyoun Kang, Sheena Kim, Hyeun Bum Kim; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):217-230. Published online April 25, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00121-4

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Abstract: The importance of ruminal microbiota in ruminants is emphasized, not only as a special symbiotic relationship with ruminants but also as an interactive and dynamic ecosystem established by the metabolites of various rumen microorganisms. Rumen microbial community is essential for life maintenance and production as they help decompose and utilize fber that is difcult to digest, supplying about 70% of the energy needed by the host and 60–85% of the amino acids that reach the small intestine. Bacteria are the most abundant in the rumen, but protozoa, which are relatively large, account for 40–50% of the total microorganisms. However, the composition of these ruminal microbiota is not conserved or constant throughout life and is greatly infuenced by the host. It is known that the initial colonization of calves immediately after birth is mainly infuenced by the mother, and later changes depending on various factors such as diet, age, gender and breed. The initial rumen microbial community contains aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria due to the presence of oxygen, but as age increases, a hypoxic environment is created inside the rumen, and anaerobic bacteria become dominant in the rumen microbial community. As calves grow, taxonomic diversity increases, especially as they begin to consume solid food. Understanding the factors afecting the rumen microbial community and their efects and changes can lead to the early development and stabilization of the microbial community through the control of rumen microorganisms, and is expected to ultimately help improve host productivity and efciency.

MAPK Cascades in Plant Microbiota Structure and Functioning: Thijs Van Gerrewey, Hoo Sun Chung; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):231-248. Published online April 8, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00114-3

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Abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are highly conserved signaling modules that coordinate diverse biological processes such as plant innate immunity and development. Recently, MAPK cascades have emerged as pivotal regulators of the plant holobiont, infuencing the assembly of normal plant microbiota, essential for maintaining optimal plant growth and health. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge on MAPK cascades, from upstream perception of microbial stimuli to downstream host responses. Synthesizing recent fndings, we explore the intricate connections between MAPK signaling and the assembly and functioning of plant microbiota. Additionally, the role of MAPK activation in orchestrating dynamic changes in root exudation to shape microbiota composition is discussed. Finally, our review concludes by emphasizing the necessity for more sophisticated techniques to accurately decipher the role of MAPK signaling in establishing the plant holobiont relationship.

Biological and Chemical Approaches for Controlling Harmful Microcystis Blooms: Wonjae Kim, Yerim Park, Jaejoon Jung, Che Ok Jeon, Masanori Toyofuku, Jiyoung Lee, Woojun Park; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):249-260. Published online April 8, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00115-2

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Abstract: The proliferation of harmful cyanobacterial blooms dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa has become an increasingly serious problem in freshwater ecosystems due to climate change and eutrophication. Microcystis-blooms in freshwater generate compounds with unpleasant odors, reduce the levels of dissolved O₂, and excrete microcystins into aquatic ecosystems, potentially harming various organisms, including humans. Various chemical and biological approaches have thus been developed to mitigate the impact of the blooms, though issues such as secondary pollution and high economic costs have not been adequately addressed. Red clays and H₂O₂ are conventional treatment methods that have been employed worldwide for the mitigation of the blooms, while novel approaches, such as the use of plant or microbial metabolites and antagonistic bacteria, have also recently been proposed. Many of these methods rely on the generation of reactive oxygen species, the inhibition of photosynthesis, and/or the disruption of cellular membranes as their mechanisms of action, which may also negatively impact other freshwater microbiota. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms of anticyanobacterial chemicals and antagonistic bacteria remain unclear. This review thus discusses both conventional and innovative approaches for the management of M. aeruginosa in freshwater bodies.

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