Pure cultivation of microbes is still limited by the challenges of microbial uncultivability, with most microbial strains
unable to be cultivated under standard laboratory conditions. The experience accumulated from advanced techniques such
as in situ cultivation has identified that microbial interactions exist in natural habitats but are absent in laboratory cultures.
These microbial interactions are likely one of the key factors in isolating previously uncultured microbes. The need for better
knowledge of the mechanisms operating in microbial interactions has led to various experiments that have utilized microbial
interactions in different approaches to microbial cultivation. These new attempts to understand microbial interactions not
only present a new perspective on microbial uncultivability but also provide an opportunity to access uncultured phylogenetically
novel microbes with their potential biotechnology applications. In this review, we focus on studies of the mechanisms
of microbial interaction where the growth of other microbes is affected. Additionally, we review some successful applications
of microbial interactions in cultivation methods, an approach that can play an important role in the bioprospecting of
untapped microbial resources.
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More than the sum of its parts: uncovering emerging effects of microbial interactions in complex communities Patricia Geesink, Jolanda ter Horst, Thijs J G Ettema FEMS Microbiology Ecology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
MAGs-centric crack: how long will, spore-positive Frankia and most Protofrankia, microsymbionts remain recalcitrant to axenic growth? Maher Gtari, Radhi Maaoui, Faten Ghodhbane-Gtari, Karim Ben Slama, Imed Sbissi Frontiers in Microbiology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
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Subtercola boreus K300T
is a novel psychrophilic strain that was isolated from permanently cold groundwater in Finland
and has also been found in several places in Antarctica including lake, soil, and rocks. We performed genomic and transcriptomic
analyses of 5 strains from Antarctica and a type strain to understand their adaptation to different environments.
Interestingly, the isolates from rocks showed a low growth rate and smaller genome size than strains from the other isolation
sources (lake, soil, and groundwater). Based on these habitat-dependent characteristics, the strains could be classified
into two ecotypes, which showed differences in energy production, signal transduction, and transcription in the clusters of
orthologous groups of proteins (COGs) functional category. In addition, expression pattern changes revealed differences
in metabolic processes, including uric acid metabolism, DNA repair, major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters, and
xylose degradation, depending on the nutritional status of their habitats. These findings provide crucial insights into the
environmental adaptation of bacteria, highlighting genetic diversity and regulatory mechanisms that enable them to thrive
in the cryosphere.
Ulcerative colitis, a major form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associated with chronic colonic inflammation, may
be induced via overreactive innate and adaptive immune responses. Restoration of gut microbiota abundance and diversity
is important to control the pathogenesis. Lactobacillus spp., well-known probiotics, ameliorate IBD symptoms via various
mechanisms, including modulation of cytokine production, restoration of gut tight junction activity and normal mucosal
thickness, and alterations in the gut microbiota. Here, we studied the effects of oral administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus
(L. rhamnosus) KBL2290 from the feces of a healthy Korean individual to mice with DSS-induced colitis. Compared to the
dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) + phosphate-buffered saline control group, the DSS + L. rhamnosus KBL2290 group evidenced
significant improvements in colitis symptoms, including restoration of body weight and colon length, and decreases in the
disease activity and histological scores, particularly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an elevated level of
anti-inflammatory interleukin-10. Lactobacillus rhamnosus KBL2290 modulated the levels of mRNAs encoding chemokines
and markers of inflammation; increased regulatory T cell numbers; and restored tight junction activity in the mouse colon.
The relative abundances of genera Akkermansia, Lactococcus, Bilophila, and Prevotella increased significantly, as did the
levels of butyrate and propionate (the major short-chain fatty acids). Therefore, oral L. rhamnosus KBL2290 may be a useful
novel probiotic.
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In the post-genomic era, phylogenomics is a powerful and routinely-used tool to discover evolutionary relationships between
microorganisms. Inferring phylogenomic trees by concatenating core gene sequences into a supermatrix is the standard
method . The previously released up-to-date bacterial core gene (UBCG) tool provides a pipeline to infer phylogenomic trees
using single-copy core genes for the Bacteria domain. In this study, we established up-to-date archaeal core gene (UACG),
comprising 128 genes suitable for inferring archaeal phylogenomic trees. To test the gene set, we selected the Haloarcula
genus and scrutinized its phylogeny. The phylogeny inferred using the UACG tool was consistent with the orthoANIu
dendrogram, whereas the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny showed high intragenomic heterogeneity resulting in phylogenetic
discrepancies. The software tool using the UACG set is available at https:// www. ezbio cloud. net/ tools/ uacg.
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International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emergence in 2019 led to global health crises and the persistent
risk of viral mutations. To combat SARS-CoV-2 variants, researchers have explored new approaches to identifying
potential targets for coronaviruses. This study aimed to identify SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors using drug repurposing. In silico
studies and network pharmacology were conducted to validate targets and coronavirus-associated diseases to select potential
candidates, and in vitro assays were performed to evaluate the antiviral effects of the candidate drugs to elucidate the
mechanisms of the viruses at the molecular level and determine the effective antiviral drugs for them. Plaque and cytopathic
effect reduction were evaluated, and real-time quantitative reverse transcription was used to evaluate the antiviral activity
of the candidate drugs against SARS-CoV-2 variants in vitro. Finally, a comparison was made between the molecular docking
binding affinities of fenofibrate and remdesivir (positive control) to conventional and identified targets validated from
protein–protein interaction (PPI). Seven candidate drugs were obtained based on the biological targets of the coronavirus,
and potential targets were identified by constructing complex disease targets and PPI networks. Among the candidates,
fenofibrate exhibited the strongest inhibition effect 1 h after Vero E6 cell infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study
identified potential targets for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and SARS-CoV-2 and suggested fenofibrate as a potential
therapy for COVID-19.
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Fibroblast growth factor 11 (FGF11) is a member of the intracellular FGF family, which shows different signal transmission
compared with other FGF superfamily members. The molecular function of FGF11 is not clearly understood. In this study,
we identified the inhibitory effect of FGF11 on hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene expression through transcriptional suppression.
FGF11 decreased the mRNA and protein expression of HBV genes in liver cells. While the nuclear receptor FXRα1
increased HBV promoter transactivation, FGF11 decreased the FXRα-mediated gene induction of the HBV promoter by
the FXRα agonist. Reduced endogenous levels of FXRα by siRNA and the dominant negative mutant protein (aa 1–187
without ligand binding domain) of FXRα expression indicated that HBV gene suppression by FGF11 is dependent on FXRα
inhibition. In addition, FGF11 interacts with FXRα protein and reduces FXRα protein stability. These results indicate that
FGF11 inhibits HBV replicative expression through the liver cell-specific transcription factor, FXRα, and suppresses HBV
promoter activity. Our findings may contribute to the establishment of better regimens for the treatment of chronic HBV
infections by including FGF11 to alter the bile acid mediated FXR pathway.