The most viewed articles in the last three months among those published since 2022.
Journal Article
- Devosia rhizoryzae sp. nov., and Devosia oryziradicis sp. nov., novel plant growth promoting members of the genus Devosia, isolated from the rhizosphere of rice plants
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Geeta Chhetri , Inhyup Kim , Minchung Kang , Jiyoun Kim , Yoonseop So , Taegun Seo
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J. Microbiol. 2022;60(1):1-10. Published online November 26, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1474-8
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Abstract
- Two novel Gram-negative, aerobic, asporogenous, motile, rodshaped,
orange and white pigmented, designated as LEGU1T
and G19T, were isolated from the roots of rice plants, collected
from Goyang, South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on
their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that they belonged to
the genus Devosia and formed a different lineage and clusters
with different members of the genus Devosia. These strains
shared common chemotaxonomic features. In particular, they
had Q-10 as the sole quinone, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol
as the principal polar lipids and C16:0, C18:1
ω7c 11-methyl and summed feature 8 (comprising C18:1 ω7c/
C18:1 ω6c) as the main fatty acids. The draft genome sequences
of strains LEGU1T and G19T were 3,524,978 and 3,495,520 bp
in size, respectively. Their average nucleotide identity (ANI)
and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were
72.8–81.9% and 18.7–25.1%, respectively, with each other and
type strains of related species belonging to the genus Devosia,
suggesting that these two strains represent novel species. The
G + C content of strains LEGU1T and G19T were 62.1 and
63.8%, respectively. Of the two strains, only LEGU1T produced
carotenoid and flexirubin-type pigment. Both strains
produced siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) in the
presence of L-tryptophan. Siderophore biosynthesis genes,
auxin responsive genes and tryptophan biosynthesis genes
were present in their genomes. The present study aimed to
determine the detailed taxonomic positions of the strains
using the modern polyphasic approach. Based on the results
of polyphasic analysis, these strains are suggested to be two
novel bacterial species within the genus Devosia. The proposed
names are D. rhizoryzae sp. nov., and Devosia oryziradicis
sp. nov., respectively. The plant growth promoting effects
of these strains suggest that they can be exploited to improve
rice crop productivity. The type strain of D. rhizoryzae
is LEGU1T (KCTC 82712T = NBRC 114485T) and D. oryziradicis
is G19T (KCTC 82688T = NBRC 114842T).
Reviews
- Adenoviral Vector System: A Comprehensive Overview of Constructions, Therapeutic Applications and Host Responses.
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Anyeseu Park, Jeong Yoon Lee
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(7):491-509. Published online July 22, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00159-4
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Abstract
- Adenoviral vectors are crucial for gene therapy and vaccine development, offering a platform for gene delivery into host cells. Since the discovery of adenoviruses, first-generation vectors with limited capacity have evolved to third-generation vectors flacking viral coding sequences, balancing safety and gene-carrying capacity. The applications of adenoviral vectors for gene therapy and anti-viral treatments have expanded through the use of in vitro ligation and homologous recombination, along with gene editing advancements such as CRISPR-Cas9. Current research aims to maintain the efficacy and safety of adenoviral vectors by addressing challenges such as pre-existing immunity against adenoviral vectors and developing new adenoviral vectors from rare adenovirus types and non-human species. In summary, adenoviral vectors have great potential in gene therapy and vaccine development. Through continuous research and technological advancements, these vectors are expected to lead to the development of safer and more effective treatments.
- Current status and perspectives on vaccine development against dengue virus infection
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Jisang Park , Ju Kim , Yong-Suk Jang
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J. Microbiol. 2022;60(3):247-254. Published online February 14, 2022
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1625-y
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30
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Abstract
- Dengue virus (DENV) consists of four serotypes in the family
Flaviviridae and is a causative agent of dengue fever, dengue
hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. DENV is
transmitted by mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus,
and is mainly observed in areas where vector mosquitoes live.
The number of dengue cases reported by the World Health
Organization increased more than 8-fold over the last two
decades from 505,430 in 2000 to over 2.4 million in 2010 to
5.2 million in 2019. Although vaccine is the most effective
method
against DENV, only one commercialized vaccine exists,
and it cannot be administered to children under 9 years of
age. Currently, many researchers are working to resolve the
various problems hindering the development of effective dengue
vaccines; understanding of the viral antigen configuration
would provide insight into the development of effective
vaccines against DENV infection. In this review, the current
status and perspectives on effective vaccine development for
DENV are examined. In addition, a plausible direction for
effective vaccine development against DENV is suggested.
Journal Articles
- Delineating the Acquired Genetic Diversity and Multidrug Resistance in Alcaligenes from Poultry Farms and Nearby Soil.
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Abhilash Bhattacharjee, Anil Kumar Singh
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(7):511-523. Published online June 21, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00129-w
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Abstract
- Alcaligenes faecalis is one of the most important and clinically significant environmental pathogens, increasing in importance due to its isolation from soil and nosocomial environments. The Gram-negative soil bacterium is associated with skin endocarditis, bacteremia, dysentery, meningitis, endophthalmitis, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia in patients. With emerging antibiotic resistance in A. faecalis, it has become crucial to understand the origin of such resistance genes within this clinically significant environmental and gut bacterium. In this research, we studied the impact of antibiotic overuse in poultry and its effect on developing resistance in A. faecalis. We sampled soil and faecal materials from five poultry farms, performed whole genome sequencing & analysis and identified four strains of A. faecalis. Furthermore, we characterized the genes in the genomic islands of A. faecalis isolates. We found four multidrug-resistant A. faecalis strains that showed resistance against vancomycin (MIC >1000 μg/ml), ceftazidime (50 μg/ml), colistin (50 μg/ml) and ciprofloxacin (50 μg/ml). From whole genome comparative analysis, we found more than 180 resistance genes compared to the reference sequence. Parts of our assembled contigs were found to be similar to different bacteria which included pbp1A and pbp2 imparting resistance to amoxicillin originally a part of Helicobacter and Bordetella pertussis. We also found the Mycobacterial insertion element IS6110 in the genomic islands of all four genomes. This prominent insertion element can be transferred and induce resistance to other bacterial genomes. The results thus are crucial in understanding the transfer of resistance genes in the environment and can help in developing regimes for antibiotic use in the food and poultry industry.
- Gold nanoparticle-DNA aptamer-assisted delivery of antimicrobial peptide effectively inhibits Acinetobacter baumannii infection in mice
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Jaeyeong Park , Eunkyoung Shin , Ji-Hyun Yeom , Younkyung Choi , Minju Joo , Minho Lee , Je Hyeong Kim , Jeehyeon Bae , Kangseok Lee
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J. Microbiol. 2022;60(1):128-136. Published online December 29, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1620-3
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13
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Abstract
- Acinetobacter baumannii causes multidrug resistance, leading
to fatal infections in humans. In this study, we showed that
Lys AB2 P3-His–a hexahistidine-tagged form of an antimicrobial
peptide (AMP) loaded onto DNA aptamer-functionalized
gold nanoparticles (AuNP-Apt)–can effectively inhibit
A. baumannii infection in mice. When A. baumannii-infected
mice were intraperitoneally injected with AuNP-Apt loaded
with Lys AB2 P3-His, a marked reduction in A. baumannii
colonization was observed in the mouse organs, leading to
prominently increased survival time and rate of the mice compared
to those of the control mice treated with AuNP-Apt or
Lys AB2 P3-His only. This study shows that AMPs loaded
onto AuNP-Apt could be an effective therapeutic tool against
infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria
in humans.
- Licochalcone A Protects Vaginal Epithelial Cells Against Candida albicans Infection Via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.
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Wei Li, Yujun Yin, Taoqiong Li, Yiqun Wang, Wenyin Shi
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(7):525-533. Published online May 31, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00134-z
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Abstract
- Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of women worldwide. Licochalcone A (LA), a natural compound with diverse biological activities, holds promise as a protective agent against Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection. This study aims to investigate the potential of LA to safeguard vaginal epithelial cells (VECs) from C. albicans infection and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. To simulate VVC in vitro, VK2-E6E7 cells were infected with C. albicans. Candida albicans biofilm formation, C.
albicans adhesion to VK2-E6E7 cells, and C. albicans-induced cell damage and inflammatory responses were assessed by XTT reduction assay, fluorescence assay, LDH assay, and ELISA. CCK-8 assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of LA on VK2-E6E7 cells. Western blotting assay was performed to detect protein expression. LA dose-dependently hindered C. albicans biofilm formation and adhesion to VK2-E6E7 cells. Furthermore, LA mitigated cell damage, inhibited the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and attenuated the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in C.
albicans-induced VK2-E6E7 cells. The investigation into LA's impact on the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway revealed that LA downregulated TLR4 expression and inhibited NF-κB activation in C.
albicans-infected VK2-E6E7 cells. Furthermore, TLR4 overexpression partially abated LA-mediated protection, further highlighting the role of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. LA holds the potential to safeguard VECs against C. albicans infection, potentially offering therapeutic avenues for VVC management.
- The human symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron promotes diet-induced obesity by regulating host lipid metabolism
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Sang-Hyun Cho , Yong-Joon Cho , Joo-Hong Park
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J. Microbiol. 2022;60(1):118-127. Published online December 29, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1614-1
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Abstract
- The gut microbiome plays an important role in lipid metabolism.
Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) alters the bacterial
communities in the gut, leading to metabolic disorders.
Several bacterial species have been associated with diet-induced
obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic
syndrome. However, the mechanisms underlying the control
of lipid metabolism by symbiotic bacteria remain elusive.
Here, we show that the human symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
aggravates metabolic disorders by promoting lipid
digestion and absorption. Administration of B. thetaiotaomicron
to HFD-fed mice promoted weight gain, elevated fasting
glucose levels, and impaired glucose tolerance. Furthermore,
B. thetaiotaomicron treatment upregulated the gene
expression of the fatty acid transporter and increased fatty
acid accumulation in the liver. B. thetaiotaomicron inhibits
expression of the gene encoding a lipoprotein lipase inhibitor,
angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), thereby increasing
lipase activity in the small intestine. In particular, we found
that B. thetaiotaomicron induced the expression of hepcidin,
the master regulator of iron metabolism and an antimicrobial
peptide, in the liver. Hepcidin treatment resulted in a decrease
in ANGPTL4 expression in Caco-2 cells, whereas treatment
with an iron chelator restored ANGPTL4 expression in hepcidin-
treated cells. These results indicate that B. thetaiotaomicron-
mediated regulation of iron storage in intestinal epithelial
cells may contribute to increased fat deposition and
impaired glucose tolerance in HFD-fed mice.
- Repeated Exposure of Vancomycin to Vancomycin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA) Parent Emerged VISA and VRSA Strains with Enhanced Virulence Potentials.
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An Nguyen, J Jean Sophy Roy, Ji-Hoon Kim, Kyung-Hee Yun, Wonsik Lee, Kyeong Kyu Kim, Truc Kim, Akhilesh Kumar Chaurasia
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(7):535-553. Published online May 30, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00139-8
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Abstract
- The emergence of resistance against the last-resort antibiotic vancomycin in staphylococcal infections is a serious concern for human health. Although various drug-resistant pathogens of diverse genetic backgrounds show higher virulence potential, the underlying mechanism behind this is not yet clear due to variability in their genetic dispositions. In this study, we investigated the correlation between resistance and virulence in adaptively evolved isogenic strains. The vancomycin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus USA300 was exposed to various concentrations of vancomycin repeatedly as a mimic of the clinical regimen to obtain mutation(s)-accrued-clonally-selected (MACS) strains. The phenotypic analyses followed by expression of the representative genes responsible for virulence and resistance of MACS strains were investigated. MACS strains obtained under 2 and 8 µg/ml vancomycin, named Van2 and Van8, respectively; showed enhanced vancomycin minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) to 4 and 16 µg/ml, respectively. The cell adhesion and invasion of MACS strains increased in proportion to their MICs. The correlation between resistance and virulence potential was partially explained by the differential expression of genes known to be involved in both virulence and resistance in MACS strains compared to parent S. aureus USA300. Repeated treatment of vancomycin against vancomycin-susceptible S. aureus (VSSA) leads to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant strains with variable levels of enhanced virulence potentials.
- Genetically Engineered CLDN18.2 CAR-T Cells Expressing Synthetic PD1/CD28 Fusion Receptors Produced Using a Lentiviral Vector.
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Heon Ju Lee, Seo Jin Hwang, Eun Hee Jeong, Mi Hee Chang
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(7):555-568. Published online May 3, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00133-0
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Abstract
- This study aimed to develop synthetic Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T (CAR-T) cells as a treatment for advanced gastric cancer using lentiviral vector genetic engineering technology that targets the CLDN18.2 antigen and simultaneously overcomes the immunosuppressive environment caused by programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Synthetic CAR T cells are a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy but face many challenges in solid tumors. One of the major problems is immunosuppression caused by PD-1. CLDN18.2, a gastric-specific membrane protein, is considered a potential therapeutic target for gastric and other cancers. In our study, CLDN18.2 CAR was a second-generation CAR with inducible T-cell costimulatory (CD278), and CLDN18.2-PD1/CD28 CAR was a third-generation CAR, wherein the synthetic PD1/CD28 chimeric-switch receptor (CSR) was added to the second-generation CAR. In vitro, we detected the secretion levels of different cytokines and the killing ability of CAR-T cells. We found that the secretion of cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) secreted by three types of CAR-T cells was increased, and the killing ability against CLDN18.2-positive GC cells was enhanced. In vivo, we established a xenograft GC model and observed the antitumor effects and off-target toxicity of CAR-T cells. These results support that synthetic anti-CLDN18.2 CAR-T cells have antitumor effect and anti-CLDN18.2-PD1/CD28 CAR could provide a promising design strategy to improve the efficacy of CAR-T cells in advanced gastric cancer.
- Medium Chain Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by Engineered Pseudomonas gessardii Using Acetate-formate as Carbon Sources.
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Woo Young Kim, Seung-Jin Kim, Hye-Rin Seo, Yoonyong Yang, Jong Seok Lee, Moonsuk Hur, Byoung-Hee Lee, Jong-Geol Kim, Min-Kyu Oh
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(7):569-579. Published online May 3, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00136-x
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Abstract
- Production of medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) was attempted using Pseudomonas gessardii NIBRBAC000509957, which was isolated from Sunchang, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea (35°24'27.7"N, 127°09'13.0"E) and effectively utilized acetate and formate as carbon sources. We first evaluated the utilization of acetate as a carbon source, revealing optimal growth at 5 g/L acetate. Then, formate was supplied to the acetate minimal medium as a carbon source to enhance cell growth. After overexpressing the acetate and formate assimilation pathway enzymes, this strain grew at a significantly higher rate in the medium. As this strain naturally produces PHA, it was further engineered metabolically to enhance mcl-PHA production. The engineered strain produced 0.40 g/L of mcl-PHA with a biomass content of 30.43% in fed-batch fermentation.
Overall, this strain can be further developed to convert acetate and formate into valuable products.
Review
- Microbiome-Mucosal Immunity Nexus: Driving Forces in Respiratory Disease Progression.
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Young Chae Park, Soo Yeon Choi, Yunah Cha, Hyeong Won Yoon, Young Min Son
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(9):709-725. Published online September 6, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00167-4
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Abstract
- The importance of the complex interplay between the microbiome and mucosal immunity, particularly within the respiratory tract, has gained significant attention due to its potential implications for the severity and progression of lung diseases. Therefore, this review summarizes the specific interactions through which the respiratory tract-specific microbiome influences mucosal immunity and ultimately impacts respiratory health. Furthermore, we discuss how the microbiome affects mucosal immunity, considering tissue-specific variations, and its capacity in respiratory diseases containing asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Additionally, we investigate the external factors which affect the relationship between respiratory microbiome and mucosal immune responses. By exploring these intricate interactions, this review provides valuable insights into the potential for microbiome-based interventions to modulate mucosal immunity and alleviate the severity of respiratory diseases.
Journal Article
- Pannonibacter tanglangensis sp. nov., a New Species Isolated from Pond Sediment.
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Lei Wang, Yanpeng Cheng, Panpan Yang, Jinjin Zhang, Gui Zhang, Sihui Zhang, Jing Yang, Zhen Zhang, Lulu Hu, Ji Pu, Yanying Yang, Xin-He Lai, Jianguo Xu, Yinghui Li, Qinghua Hu
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(9):727-737. Published online July 5, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00151-y
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Abstract
- Two bacterial strains (XCT-34T and XCT-53) isolated from sediment samples of an artificial freshwater reservoir were analyzed using a polyphasic approach. The two isolates are aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, motile with polar flagella, rod-shaped, and approximately 1.4-3.4 × 0.4-0.9 μm in size. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences showed that the two strains formed a distinct branch within the evolutionary radiation of the genus Pannonibacter, closest to Pannonibacter carbonis Q4.6T (KCTC 52466). Furthermore, lower than threshold average nucleotide identity values (ANI, 85.7-86.4%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values (dDDH, 22.3-30.5%) of the two strains compared to the nearest type strains also confirmed that they represented a novel species.
Genomic analyses, including annotation of the KEGG pathways, prediction of the secondary metabolism biosynthetic gene clusters and PHI phenotypes, supported functional inference and differentiation of the strains from the closely related taxa. Results of chemotaxonomic and physiological studies revealed that their distinct phenotypic characteristics distinguished them from existing Pannonibacter species. Thus, the two strains are considered to represent a novel species of Pannonibacter, for which the name of Pannonibacter tanglangensis sp.
nov. is proposed, with XCT-34T (= KCTC 82332T = GDMCC 1.1947T) as the respective type strain.
Review
- Understanding the Diversity and Roles of the Ruminal Microbiome
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Gi Beom Keum, Sriniwas Pandey, Eun Sol Kim, Hyunok Doo, Jinok Kwak, Sumin Ryu, Yejin Choi, Juyoun Kang, Sheena Kim, Hyeun Bum Kim
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(3):217-230. Published online April 25, 2024
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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.
Journal Article
- Congregibacter variabilis sp. nov. and Congregibacter brevis sp. nov. Within the OM60/NOR5 Clade, Isolated from Seawater, and Emended Description of the Genus Congregibacter.
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Hyeonsu Tak, Miri S Park, Hyerim Cho, Yeonjung Lim, Jang-Cheon Cho
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(9):739-748. Published online July 18, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00158-5
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Abstract
- Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile by means of flagella, short rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated IMCC43200(T) and IMCC45268(T), were isolated from coastal seawater samples collected from the South Sea of Korea. Strains IMCC43200(T) and IMCC45268(T) shared 98.6% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and were closely related to Congregibacter litoralis KT71(T) (98.8% and 98.7%, respectively). Complete whole-genome sequences of IMCC43200(T) and IMCC45268(T) were 3.93 and 3.86 Mb in size with DNA G + C contents of 54.8% and 54.2%, respectively. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the two strains were 74.5% and 23.4%, respectively, revealing that they are independent species. The two strains showed ANI values of ≤ 75.8% and dDDH values of ≤ 23.0% to the type and only species of the genus Congregibacter (C. litoralis), indicating that each strain represents a novel species. Both strains contained summed feature 3 (comprising C(16:1) ω6c and/or C(16:1) ω7c) and summed feature 8 (comprising C(18:1) ω6c and/or C(18:1) ω7c) as major fatty acid constituents. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in both strains was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major polar lipids of the two strains were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipids, and aminolipids. Based on the phylogenetic, genomic, and phenotypic characterization, strains IMCC43200(T) and IMCC45268(T) were considered to represent two novel species within the genus Congregibacter, for which the names Congregibacter variabilis sp. nov. and Congregibacter brevis sp. nov. are proposed with IMCC43200(T) (= KCTC 8133(T) = NBRC 116295(T) = CCTCC AB 2023139(T)) and IMCC45268(T) (= KCTC 92921(T) = NBRC 116135(T)) as the type strains, respectively.
Meta-Analysis
- Exploring COVID-19 Pandemic Disparities with Transcriptomic Meta-analysis from the Perspective of Personalized Medicine.
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Medi Kori, Ceyda Kasavi, Kazim Yalcin Arga
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J. Microbiol. 2024;62(9):785-798. Published online July 9, 2024
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00154-9
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Abstract
- Infection with SARS-CoV2, which is responsible for COVID-19, can lead to differences in disease development, severity and mortality rates depending on gender, age or the presence of certain diseases. Considering that existing studies ignore these differences, this study aims to uncover potential differences attributable to gender, age and source of sampling as well as viral load using bioinformatics and multi-omics approaches. Differential gene expression analyses were used to analyse the phenotypic differences between SARS-CoV-2 patients and controls at the mRNA level. Pathway enrichment analyses were performed at the gene set level to identify the activated pathways corresponding to the differences in the samples. Drug repurposing analysis was performed at the protein level, focusing on host-mediated drug candidates to uncover potential therapeutic differences. Significant differences (i.e. the number of differentially expressed genes and their characteristics) were observed for COVID-19 at the mRNA level depending on the sample source, gender and age of the samples. The results of the pathway enrichment show that SARS-CoV-2 can be combated more effectively in the respiratory tract than in the blood samples.
Taking into account the different sample sources and their characteristics, different drug candidates were identified. Evaluating disease prediction, prevention and/or treatment strategies from a personalised perspective is crucial. In this study, we not only evaluated the differences in COVID-19 from a personalised perspective, but also provided valuable data for further experimental and clinical efforts. Our findings could shed light on potential pandemics.