Journal of Microbiology

Review

Host–microbial interactions in metabolic diseases: from diet to immunity: Ju-Hyung Lee , Joo-Hong Park; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(6):561-575. Published online May 5, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-2087-y

Abstract: Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is an important contributor to metabolic diseases. Alterations in microbial communities are associated with changes in lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, intestinal barrier functions, and chronic inflammation, all of which can lead to metabolic disorders. Therefore, the gut microbiome may represent a novel therapeutic target for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This review discusses how gut microbes and their products affect metabolic diseases and outlines potential treatment approaches via manipulation of the gut microbiome. Increasing our understanding of the interactions between the gut microbiome and host metabolism may help restore the healthy symbiotic relationship between them.

Journal Article

Characterization of the velvet regulators in Aspergillus flavus: Tae-Jin Eom , Heungyun Moon , Jae-Hyuk Yu , Hee-Soo Park; J. Microbiol. 2018;56(12):893-901. Published online October 25, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-018-8417-4

Abstract: Fungal development and secondary metabolism are closely associated via the activities of the fungal NK-kB-type velvet regulators that are highly conserved in filamentous fungi. Here, we investigated the roles of the velvet genes in the aflatoxigenic fungus Aspergillus flavus. Distinct from other Aspergillus species, the A. flavus genome contains five velvet genes, veA, velB, velC, velD, and vosA. The deletion of velD blocks the production of aflatoxin B1, but does not affect the formation of sclerotia. Expression analyses revealed that vosA and velB mRNAs accumulated at high levels during the late phase of asexual development and in conidia. The absence of vosA or velB decreased the content of conidial trehalose and the tolerance of conidia to the thermal and UV stresses. In addition, double mutant analyses demonstrated that VosA and VelB play an inter-dependent role in trehalose biosynthesis and conidial stress tolerance. Together with the findings of previous studies, the results of the present study suggest that the velvet regulators play the conserved and vital role in sporogenesis, conidial trehalose biogenesis, stress tolerance, and aflatoxin biosynthesis in A. flavus.

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