Functional predictions of bacterial communities associated with sorghum cultivars across different rhizocompartments

Recent studies implicate that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is associated with gut microbiome. However, the different associations of different microbial features with HDP are little known. This study investigates the different associations of gut bacterial taxonomic composition, functional and network profiles with HDP. A case-control study was conducted in Hefei Maternal and Child Health Hospital from February to August 2024. Twenty-four women with HDP and twenty-one normotensive pregnant controls were included. Fecal samples were collected and the bacterial community in fecal samples were measured using high-throughput sequencing targeting the V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA. The taxonomic composition, functional and network profiles of gut bacterial community in both Control and Case groups were determined, and the associations between HDP and gut bacterial profiles were analyzed. There were no significant differences in gut bacterial community composition between the Control and Case groups. However, the Case group had significantly higher relative abundance of functional taxa associated with intestinal inflammation, primary pathogens involved in gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Furthermore, while the Case group exhibited higher network complexity in gut bacterial interactions, it showed lower ecological variability compared to the Control group. Intriguingly, correlation analyses indicated significantly positive associations between HDP and both microbial functional profiles and species interaction intensity, while no significant correlation was observed with taxonomic composition. Although the gut microbial composition remained unchanged in hypertensive pregnancies, functional dysbiosis characterized by proinflammatory features and altered ecological network properties were significantly associated with pregnant women's blood pressure. The dissociation between taxonomic profiles and functional profiles, as well as taxon interactions, highlights the importance of microbial function and interactions in the gut microbiome-targeted diagnosis and therapy of HDPs.

Land‐use practices impact soil microbial functionality and biodiversity, with reports suggesting that anthropogenic activities potentially result in reduced microbial functions and loss of species. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of long‐term (>50 yr) land use (natural forest and grassland, and agricultural land) on soil bacterial community structure. A high‐throughput sequencing‐by‐synthesis approach of the 16S rRNA gene was used to study bacterial community and predicted functional profiles of Alfisols, as affected by variables including land‐use (forest, grass, agricultural) and soil/crop management (rotation and tillage) in long‐term experimental plots in Hoytville, OH. The distribution of the abundant phyla was different across samples. No‐till soils showed higher diversity indices than the plow‐till (PT) soils. Ordinations across locations suggested that no‐till soils had distinctly different community structure compared with plow‐till soils, while crop rotation within the no‐till plot had highest number of taxa. Overall land use (forest, grass, agronomic treatment) and tillage (within agricultural soils) were found to be significant when evaluating bacterial community dissimilarity. Predictive functional profiles showed that the forest soil had greatest proportion of PICRUSt‐assignable gene functions followed by the no‐till and grassland soils whereas plow‐till soils had the lowest predicted gene abundances across all samples. The results provide a view of soil bacterial diversity and predictive functional capacity in long‐term land‐use and soil/crop management practices, with a potential to inform future experiments to increase our understanding of long‐term impacts of land use on microbial community structure and function.

Arrow bamboo (Fargesia nitida) is a pioneer plant in secondary forest succession in the Sichuan Province mountains. To comprehensively investigate the microbial communities and their functional variations in different rhizocompartments (root endosphere, rhizosphere, and root zone) of arrow bamboo (Fargesia nitida), a high-throughput metagenomic study was conducted in the present study. The results showed that the abundances of the dominant bacterial phyla Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in the bamboo root endosphere were significantly lower than those in the rhizosphere and root zones. In contrast, the dominant fungal phyla, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, showed the opposite tendency. Lower microbial diversity, different taxonomic composition and functional profiles, and a greater abundance of genes involved in nitrogen fixation (nifB), cellulose degradation (beta-glucosidase), and cellobiose transport (cellulose 1, 4-beta-cellobiosidase) were found in the bamboo root endosphere than in the other rhizocompartments. Greater soil total carbon, total nitrogen, NH4+-N, microbial biomass carbon, and greater activities of invertase and urease were found in the bamboo root zone than in the adjacent soil (spruce root zone). In contrast, the soil microbial community and functional profiles were similar. At the phylum level, invertase was significantly related to 31 microbial taxa, and the effect of NH4+-N on the microbial community composition was greater than that of NO3--N. The soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were significantly correlated with microbial function. These results indicate that the root endosphere microbiomes of arrow bamboo were strongly selected by the host plant, which caused changes in the soil nutrient properties in the subalpine coniferous forest.

A tight association between microbial function and taxonomy is the basis of functional prediction based on taxonomy, but such associations have been controversial in water biomes largely due to the probable prevalence of functional redundancy. However, previous studies on this topic used a relatively coarse resolution of ecosystem functioning, potentially inflating the estimated functional redundancy. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of the association between high-resolution functional traits and taxonomic diversity obtained from fresh and saline water metagenomic data is urgently needed. Here, we examined 938 functionally and taxonomically annotated water metagenomes obtained worldwide to scrutinize the connection between function and taxonomy, and to identify the key driver of water metagenomes function or taxonomic composition at a global scale. We found that pairwise similarity of function was significantly associated with taxonomy, though taxonomy had higher global dissimilarity than function. Classification into six water biomes resulted in greater variation in taxonomic compositions than functional profiles, as the key regulating factor was salinity. Fresh water microbes harbored distinct functional and taxonomic structures from microbes in saline water biomes, despite that taxonomy was more susceptible to gradient of geography and climate than function. In summary, our results find a significant relationship between taxonomic diversity and microbial functioning in global water metagenomes, although microbial taxonomic compositions vary to a larger extent than functional profiles in aquatic ecosystems, suggesting the possibility and necessity for functional prediction of microorganisms based on taxonomy in global aquatic ecosystems.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic encephalopathy(HE) can recur despite standard of care therapies. Our trial of capsular fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) demonstrated improvement in dysbiosis and cognition in pts randomized to FMT versus placebo. Despite compositional improvement, interaction of inflammation, bacterial translocation, microbial function (bile acid, BA) with cognition needs to be evaluation. Gut microbiota can transform BAs by deconjugating, converting primary to secondary BAs & tertiary(oxo, sulfated, urso and iso-BA) formation. Aim: Determine changes in fecal BA moieties as modulators of microbial function, inflammation and their linkage with cognition in FMT in cirrhosis and recurrent HE. METHODS: 20 cirrhotics with recurrent HE on lactulose/rifaximin were randomized 1:1 into 15 FMT capsules once vs identical placebo. FMT was from a single donor enriched in Lachnospiraceae/Ruminococcaceae, which are associated with secondary BA generation. We collected stool/blood & analyzed cognition (EncephalApp; high = worse) at baseline and 30 days post-intervention (Figure 1a red arrows). Stool microbiota was analyzed using 16srRNA & BAs using LC/MS. Fecal BA moieties analyzed were (a) total (b) primary (c) secondary (d) deconjugated (e) tertiary BAs. Secondary/primary BA ratios were calculated. Serum was also analyzed for lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) & IL-6. Correlation networks between BAs, microbiota, LBP, IL-6 and cognition were created. Correlation network complexity was compared between post-FMT vs post-placebo states. RESULTS: All subjects completed the follow-up without any serious AEs related to FMT/placebo. EncephalApp total score (P < 0.05) improved in FMT pts only Microbiota: there was a significant engraftment of donor microbiota with higher Ruminoccaceae & Lachnospiraceae in stool/duodenum in FMT pts. Inflammation/translocation: A reduction in LBP & IL-6 was seen only in FMT pts (Figure 1b,d). BAs: There was a significant increase in secondary/primary BA ratio (Figure 1c) in FMT pts. Deconjugation and tertiary BAs remained similar between groups. Correlation network showed higher complexity after FMT compared to post-placebo (Figure 1e). Beneficial bacteria (Ruminococcaeae and Verrucomicrobiaceae) became significantly positively correlated with each other (blue lines) and negatively with inflammation (IL6 redlines) and associated with better EncephalApp score post-FMT (Figure 1f) compared to placebo at study end. CONCLUSIONS: Capsular FMT is safe and improves cognition in pts with cirrhosis and HE compared to placebo. These improvements are associated with beneficial changes in microbial composition and function and differential correlations with bacterial translocation and inflammation.

Our understanding of the mechanisms that control the magnitude of the temperate forest carbon (C) sink and its response to global change remain uncertain. Much of this uncertainty lies in the extent to which differences between tree species in their mycorrhizal symbionts and corresponding nutrient acquisition strategies control the activity of soil microbes that mobilize nutrients and decompose soil organic matter. ECM trees allocate substantial amounts of C to ECM fungi and rhizosphere microbes to mine soil organic matter for nutrients. By contrast, AM trees invest less C belowground and rely on AM fungi to scavenge for nutrients. While these strategies have been shown to lead to differences in microbial function at the plot scale, there has been limited research that has investigated how these strategies shape microbial diversity or how the resulting differences in diversity impact function at the microbial scale. Moreover, the ability of these nutrient acquisition strategies to shape microbial communities likely controls ecosystem responses to global change. Thus, my research questions are: (1) Does microbial diversity drive function and the resulting products of decomposition in temperate forest soils? (2) To what extent do temperate forest trees shift their investment of C above vs. belowground under water stress? (3) How do plant-microbial interactions impact decomposition in temperate forests under water stress? For question 1, I examined the extent to which differences between AM and ECM trees in their nutrient acquisition strategies alter microbial diversity and function in a ~120-year-old forest in Tom’s Run Natural Area, West Virginia. I sampled soils in plots dominated by either AM or ECM trees and assayed microbial diversity and function through quantitative stable isotope probing and metabolomic analysis. I found that AM soils had greater microbial diversity than ECM soils. This difference in diversity led to more flexible decomposition pathways and more products that could form more stable soil C in AM than ECM soils. For question 2, I built a throughfall exclusion experiment at Tom’s Run in AM and ECM dominated plots and measured the effect of water stress on C allocation to above- vs. belowground processes. In response to the treatment, I found that ECM trees maintained root biomass and mycorrhizal colonization, while AM trees increased investment in roots and mycorrhizae. This reflects the ability of ECM trees to leverage their already extensive nutrient acquisition infrastructure to enhance water uptake. By contrast, it was necessary for AM trees to upregulate

The gut microbiota is shaped by host metabolism. In house mice (Mus musculus), major urinary protein (MUP) pheromone production represents a considerable energy investment, particularly in sexually mature males. Deletion of the Mup gene family shifts mouse metabolism toward an anabolic state, marked by lipogenesis, lipid accumulation, and body mass increases. Given the metabolic implications of MUPs, they may also influence the gut microbiota. Here, we investigated the effect of a deletion of the Mup gene family on the gut microbiota of sexually mature mice. Shotgun metagenomics revealed distinct taxonomic and functional profiles between wild-type and knockout males but not females. Deletion of the Mup gene cluster significantly reduced diversity in microbial families and functions in male mice. Additionally, a species of Ruminococcaceae and several microbial functions, such as transporters involved in vitamin B5 acquisition, were significantly depleted in the microbiota of Mup knockout males. Altogether, these results show that MUPs significantly affect the gut microbiota of house mouse in a sex-specific manner.IMPORTANCEThe community of microorganisms that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract can have profound effects on host phenotypes. The gut microbiota is in turn shaped by host genes, including those involved with host metabolism. In adult male house mice, expression of the major urinary protein (Mup) gene cluster represents a substantial energy investment, and deletion of the Mup gene family leads to fat accumulation and weight gain in males. We show that deleting Mup genes also alters the gut microbiota of male, but not female, mice in terms of both taxonomic and functional compositions. Male mice without Mup genes harbored fewer gut bacterial families and reduced abundance of a species of Ruminococcaceae, a family that has been previously shown to reduce obesity risk. Studying the impact of the Mup gene family on the gut microbiota has the potential to reveal the ways in which these genes affect host phenotypes.

Salinization damages soil system health and influences microbial communities structure and function. The response of microbial functions involved in the nutrient cycle to soil salinization is a valuable scientific question. However, our knowledge of the microbial metabolism functions in salinized soil and their response to salinity in arid desert environments is inadequate. Here, we applied metagenomics technology to investigate the response of microbial carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) cycling and the key genes to salinity, and discuss the effects of edaphic variables on microbial functions. We found that carbon fixation dominated the carbon cycle. Nitrogen fixation, denitrification, assimilatory nitrate reduction (ANRA), and nitrogen degradation were commonly identified as the most abundant processes in the nitrogen cycle. Organic phosphorus dissolution and phosphorus absorption/transport were the most enriched P metabolic functions, while sulfur metabolism was dominated by assimilatory sulfate reduction (ASR), organic sulfur transformation, and linkages between inorganic and organic sulfur transformation. Increasing salinity inhibited carbon degradation, nitrogen fixation, nitrogen degradation, anammox, ANRA, phosphorus absorption and transport, and the majority of processes in sulfur metabolism. However, some of the metabolic pathway and key genes showed a positive response to salinization, such as carbon fixation (facA, pccA, korAB), denitrification (narG, nirK, norBC, nosZ), ANRA (nasA, nirA), and organic phosphorus dissolution processes (pstABCS, phnCD, ugpAB). High salinity reduced the network complexity in the soil communities. Even so, the saline microbial community presented highly cooperative interactions. The soil water content had significantly correlations with C metabolic genes. The SOC, N, and P contents were significantly correlated with C, N, P, and S network complexity and functional genes. AP, NH4+, and NO3- directly promote carbon fixation, denitrification, nitrogen degradation, organic P solubilization and mineralization, P uptake and transport, ASR, and organic sulfur transformation processes. Soil salinity in arid region inhibited multiple metabolic functions, but prompted the function of carbon fixation, denitrification, ANRA, and organic phosphorus dissolution. Soil salinity was the most important factor driving microbial functions, and nutrient availability also played important roles in regulating nutrient cycling.

Microbial metabolic functions, rather than taxonomic composition, predominantly shape the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in an effluent-impacted hyporheic zone.

Microbial respiration is critical for soil carbon balance and ecosystem functioning. Previous studies suggest that plant diversity influences soil microbial communities and their respiration. Yet, the linkages between tree diversity, microbial biomass, microbial diversity, and microbial functioning have rarely been explored. In this study, we measured two microbial functions (microbial physiological potential, and microbial respiration), together with microbial biomass, microbial taxonomic and functional profiles, and soil chemical properties in a tree diversity experiment in South China, to disentangle how tree diversity affects microbial respiration through the modifications of the microbial community. Our analyses show a significant positive effect of tree diversity on microbial biomass (+25% from monocultures to 24-species plots), bacterial diversity (+12%), and physiological potential (+12%). In addition, microbial biomass and physiological potential, but not microbial diversity, were identified as the key drivers of microbial respiration. Although soil chemical properties strongly modulated soil microbial community, tree diversity increased soil microbial respiration by increasing microbial biomass rather than changing microbial taxonomic or functional diversity. Overall, our findings suggest a prevalence of microbial biomass over diversity in controlling soil carbon dynamics.

1979: Within 10 years from the first human stepping onto the Moon, the international plant science community had a new journal. The topic was not “astrobotany” but how plants respond to environmental challenges on Earth. And yet, 40 years on, a connection between space exploration and plant science is not so far-fetched. Deforestation, salinization, and desertification have transformed many regions on Earth into barren landscapes resembling the surface of other planets, and rapid population growth, dwindling energy resources, and water scarcity have transformed utopias such as terraforming Mars into serious scientific aspirations. Understanding how our planet sustains life and whether it can continue to do so has become more urgent than ever. The contribution that PC&E and other plant science journals have made during these years is to ensure that our understanding of adaptive mechanisms in plants is based on excellent science. This achievement cannot be underestimated, given that the published information is now relied upon to furnish models that predict our future. There is little room for error when we need to evaluate the impact of climate change on food production or the effects of deforestation on global warming. Preventing the spread of fake news in science is more important than ever, and peer review through experts has to remain an important part of the publishing landscape alongside other models of dissemination. Frustration of authors over bias, favouritism, and discrimination in scientific publishing must not be taken lightly, and these issues need to be addressed. However, until we have found better ways to critically scrutinize scientific news, the import role that peer reviewers and editors play in safeguarding quality should not be neglected. We simply cannot afford that political decisions are being made on the basis of weak science, especially when it comes to preserving the “Green planet”. Given the enormous amount of available data, decision-making bodies increasingly depend on secondary literature, and therefore, scientific integrity concerns not only primary data but also data interpretation. Divulging wrong conclusions from good data can do as much damage as bad data, if not more, and yet the number of review papers that repeat unsubstantiated conclusions rather than re-assessing primary evidence is rocketing. Maintaining high standards for review articles is therefore an important responsibility of science journals. Of course plant science is not just a means to ensure the survival of mankind but also an expression of human curiosity and admiration for nature. One of the most highly cited papers in PC&E in recent years has the title “How do trees die?” (Sevanto, McDowell, Dickman, Pangle, & Pockman, 2014). While this is an important question for the survival of our planet and also a topic of fundamental scientific interest, the title probably primarily appeals to our emotions, our admiration for the age and wisdom of trees, our love for their colour and texture, and our sadness at seeing them die. It is the combination of high scientific standard and simple love for plants that has characterized PC&E over the last 40 years, and I hope we can continue to maintain this balance in the future. Review articles are a good way to introduce general-interest readers to scientific topics while maintaining scientific accuracy. As a token of respect to the tradition of PC&E, we have organized three birthday presents this year. Our Anniversary Virtual Special Issue available online is a collection of influential papers published over the last 40 years. Our Anniversary Symposium, held in Glasgow this September, celebrates the breadth of modern plant physiology. Finally, this Anniversary Special Issue is a collection of new, peer-reviewed reviews from our editors. It showcases not only the extent and depth of their research interests and expertise but also their excitement about new research themes and technological advance. Global temperatures are rising, and heat waves are predicted to occur more frequently. The impacts on natural vegetation and global crop production are worrying and call for a better understanding of heat- sensitive processes. Two reviews in this issue critically assess the effects of high temperatures on plant performance during the vegetative and reproductive stages. Slattery and Ort (2019) explain how elevated temperature affects photosynthesis in key crops with particular emphasis on results obtained from controlled environment manipulations in the field. They also discuss how this knowledge underpins different strategies for improving crop yield under global warming. Santiago and Sharkey (2019) review possible causes and cures of heat sensitivity of reproductive tissues. They unravel the central role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in anther and pollen development and discuss how different metabolites such as flavonoids, sorbitol, proline, or polyamines directly and indirectly alter ROS signalling and toxicity. This research is essential for protecting grain production in heat prone environments. The sensitivity of seed germination and seedling establishment to environmental stress factors is important for species survival in natural habitats but can limit agricultural production. Seed quality and vigour are therefore important targets for crop improvement. Domergue, Abadie, Limami, Way, and Tcherkez (2019) summarize the current state of knowledge on primary carbon and energy metabolism in seeds and explore the quantitative relationships between metabolic fluxes and seed vigour. One of the dilemmas in plant physiology is the inescapable link between CO2 assimilation and evaporative water loss from leaves, which can limit plant growth particularly during drought. To prevent embolism, lost water must be rapidly replaced through the plant vasculature. McCulloh, Domec, Johnson, Smith, and Meinzer (2019) summarize new insights into the hydraulic properties of plants obtained from inter-species comparisons, and they propose a more detailed analysis of individual organs to understand hydraulic coordination in the whole-plant context. Plants emit a large range of volatile molecules such as terpenes, nitrogen-containing and aromatic compounds, or methyl jasmonate. Understanding the exact roles of these volatiles for the plant and for the environment is a hot topic in plant science. To cater for the increasing interest in volatiles, we have started to collate publications in this area in a Virtual Special Issue online (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-3040.volatiles). Here, we present two new review articles on different aspects of volatile biology. Isoprene is emitted in large quantities in response to abiotic stress such as drought and heat. Lantz, Allman, Weraduwage, and Sharkey (2019) evaluate the biochemistry, regulation, and function of isoprene in the context of climate change. They also discuss the emerging role of isoprene as a signal linking environmental signals to downstream responses. Hammerbacher, Coutinho, and Gershenzon (2019) review the biochemistry and functions of volatiles emitted after plant infection with microbial pathogens, including direct antimicrobial action, systemic defence, and plant–plant communication, and describe how microbes can use them as attractants and nutrients. Volatile emission is also one of the many components of plant defence against herbivores. Using the weevil–conifer interaction as a reference system, Whitehill and Bohlmann (2019) describe the different stages of insect development and analyse where and how the host defence mechanisms disrupt this life cycle. Understanding the physical, chemical, and molecular processes of the defence system makes an important contribution to breeding programmes and forest health. The plant root microbiome contains a plethora of harmful, neutral, and beneficial microbes. The review by Yu, Pieterse, Bakker, and Berendsen (2019) tackles important questions relating to the root– microbiome interaction. How do plant-invading and free-living microbes suppress root immune responses; how does the plant distinguish between friend and foe; and how does the plant sustain or alter its root microbiome? Answering these questions is important because a healthy root microbiome maintains natural vegetation and supports sustainable agriculture. Understanding environmental signal integration at the cellular level is an important part of the remit of PC&E. Photoreceptors for red, far-red, blue, and UV-B light facilitate the input of light into the circadian clock, which synchronizes physiological processes in plants with the external environment. Ronald and Davis (2019) highlight the recent advances made in understanding the mechanisms controlling the nuclear and sub-nuclear localization of photoreceptors and the role of sub-nuclear bodies in photoreceptor signalling. Intracellular Ca2+ mediates between many environmental cues and plant responses both at cellular and at systemic level. Considerable efforts have been made to develop genetically encoded fluorescent Ca2+ sensors and to detect them in vivo using microscopy techniques. Vigani and Costa (2019) discuss the particular advantages of different technologies and summarize the large body of evidence on Ca2+ signalling pathways that underpin nutrient sensing in plants. Micronutrients such as iron and zinc are essential for plant and human health but poorly soluble and highly reactive. Plants employ a range of ligands to bind the metals to enhance availability, long-distance transport, and storage. Clemens (2019) introduces the reader to the different ligands, their biochemistry and transport, and to the technical issues that researchers face when studying them. Solving these issues and obtaining a detailed understanding of metal ligands in plants will be instrumental in the fight against hidden hunger. Dynamic phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation of proteins is an essential molecular mechanism for post-translational regulation of proteins. The kinases and phosphatases are themselves targets of regulation through endogenous and environmental factors. Bhaskara, Wong, and Verslues (2019) unravel the molecular processes that regulate activity, stability, and localization of PP2C phosphatases, which are key components of stress signalling pathways. The emerging picture of a multi-layered web of regulation could explain why a relatively small number of phosphatases can collaborate with a large number of kinases to dynamically regulate tens of thousands of protein phosphorylation sites in plants. Last but not least, protein degradation plays an important part in plant stress responses. Xu and Xue (2019) describe the different components of the ubiquitin proteasome system and their functions in stress-responsive signalling pathways. They also highlight emerging evidence for transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications of these components, which can alter the assembly and activity of proteasomes and thus mediate degradation of distinct proteins during stress responses. I thank the editors and their colleagues for contributing these insightful reviews to mark the 40th anniversary of PC&E. I am looking forward to many more years of high-quality plant science publishing in this journal. Happy Anniversary!

Marginal lands are an untapped source of agricultural potential, particularly regarding high‐yielding, low‐input bioenergy crops likeMiscanthus × giganteus(Miscanthus).Miscanthusis of specific interest because it can be productive and sequester carbon in soil even under the stressful conditions present on some degraded lands. A key component of these abilities is the interaction ofMiscanthuswith its soil and root microbiome. Microbial functions depend on the nutrient status of soil, and hence are sensitive to fertilization regimes. Nevertheless, little is known about how fertilization strategies affect the partnership ofMiscanthuswith its microbial associates. Here, we tested the individual and interactive effects of nutrient addition and bioaugmentation (i.e., the addition of microbial communities) onMiscanthusperformance and microbiome function in marginal soil. We found that the effect of nutrient addition onMiscanthusbiomass yield depended on nutrient addition type (i.e., organic or inorganic nutrients) and whether bioaugmentation was also applied. Some microbial functions, like free‐living nitrogen fixation and carbon use efficiency, were sensitive to nutrient addition depending on whether bioaugmentation was also applied. On the other hand, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus colonization of roots decreased with fertilization regardless of bioaugmentation. These results imply that managing microbial communities may regulate the effect of nutrient addition on plant–microbe interactions that in part determine system productivity and environmental impact.

BackgroundFollowing exposure to traumatic stress, women are twice as likely as men to develop mood disorders. Yet, individual responses to such stress vary, with some people developing stress-induced psychopathologies while others exhibit resilience. The factors influencing sex-related disparities in affective disorders as well as variations in resilience remain unclear; however, emerging evidence suggests differences in the gut microbiota play a role. In this study, using the single prolonged stress (SPS) model of post-traumatic stress disorder, we investigated pre- and post-existing differences in microbial composition, functionality, and metabolites that affect stress susceptibility or resilience in each sex.MethodsMale and female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control or SPS groups. Two weeks following SPS, the animals were exposed to a battery of behavioral tests and decapitated a day later. Based on their anxiety index, they were further categorized as SPS-resilient (SPS-R) or SPS-susceptible (SPS-S). On the day of dissection, cecum, and selected brain tissues were isolated. Stool samples were collected before and after SPS, whereas urine samples were taken before and 30 min into the SPS.ResultsBefore SPS exposure, the sympathoadrenal axis exhibited alterations within male subgroups only. Expression of tight junction protein claudin-5 was lower in brain of SPS-S males, but higher in SPS-R females following SPS. Across the study, alpha diversity remained consistently lower in males compared to females. Beta diversity revealed distinct separations between male and female susceptible groups before SPS, with this separation becoming evident in the resilient groups following SPS. At the genus level, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_Incertae_Sedis, and Barnesiella exhibited sex-specific alterations, displaying opposing abundances in each sex. Additionally, sex-specific changes were observed in microbial predictive functionality and targeted functional modules both before and after SPS. Alterations in the microbial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), were also observed, with major and minor SCFAs being lower in SPS-susceptible males whereas branched-chain SCFAs being higher in SPS-susceptible females.ConclusionThis study highlights distinct pre- and post-trauma differences in microbial composition, functionality, and metabolites, associated with stress resilience in male and female rats. The findings underscore the importance of developing sex-specific therapeutic strategies to effectively address stress-related disorders.HighlightsSPS model induces divergent anxiety and social behavioral responses to traumatic stress in both male and female rodents.SPS-resilient females displayed less anxiety-like behavior and initiated more interactions towards a juvenile rat than SPS-resilient males.Sex-specific pre-existing and SPS-induced differences in the gut microbial composition and predictive functionality were observed in susceptible and resilient rats.SPS-resilient males displayed elevated cecal acetate levels, whereas SPS-susceptible females exhibited heightened branched-chain SCFAs.

Periphytic biofilms have been widely used in wastewater purification and water ecological restoration, and artificial substrates have been progressively used for periphyton immobilisation to substitute natural substrates. However, there is insufficient knowledge regarding the interaction network structure and microbial functions in biofilm communities on artificial substrates, which are essential attribute affecting their applications in biofilm immobilisation. This study compared the community structure, co-occurrence network, and metabolic functions of bacterial and microeukaryotic periphytic biofilms during a 35-day indoor cultivation on artificial substrates, such as artificial carbon fibre (ACF) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and natural substrates, such as pebble and wood. Results demonstrated that different types of artificial substrates could affect the community composition and functional diversity of bacterial and microeukaryotic biofilms. The bacterial and microeukaryotic community on ACF and PVC showed significantly higher Simpson index compared to those on wood. Bacterial networks on artificial substrates were more complex than those on natural substrates, while the keystone species on natural substrates were more abundant, indicating that the bacterial communities on artificial substrates had stronger stability and resistance to external interference. Furthermore, the functional metabolic profiles predicted showed the abilities of bacterial communities to metabolise nitrogen and carbon sources colonised on artificial substrates were stronger than those on natural substrates. These findings demonstrated that artificial substrates could be special niches for microbial colonisation, possibly altering microbial compositions, interactions, and functions. Therefore, this study provides a powerful theoretical basis for choosing suitable artificial substrates for microbial aggregation and immobilisation technology.

Soil and rhizosphere microbiome response to treated waste water irrigation