Primary Sjögren disease (SjD) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of exocrine glands, most commonly leading to dry mouth and dry eyes. Although the etiology of SjD remains unclear, emerging evidence suggests that the microbiome modulates immune homeostasis. This study aimed to compare the skin microbiomes of SjD patients with those of healthy controls (HCs) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Taxonomic composition, alpha and beta diversity, and predicted functional profiles were evaluated. We observed a significant depletion of Cutibacterium and a marked reduction in microbial diversity in SjD patients. Beta diversity analyses revealed distinct clustering among groups. Functional prediction suggested the downregulation of metabolic pathways associated with microbial homeostasis. Our findings propose that alterations in the skin microbiota may contribute to SjD pathogenesis and serve as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a 60% ethanolic extract of Aster yomena (EAY) on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depressive cognitive dysfunction. The results showed that EAY mitigated CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviors, as confirmed by the sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST). In addition, EAY showed protective effects on cognitive function in the Y-maze and the Morris water maze (MWM) tests. In this regard, EAY alleviated hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis through regulation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily B member 1 (CYP11B1), thereby improving the levels of serum cortisol. It suppressed neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of the activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. As a result, cognitive dysfunction was ameliorated through modulation of the cholinergic system, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acetylcholine (ACh), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and synaptic plasticity-related factors such as postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43). Based on these results, EAY could potentially be used as a natural therapeutic for prevention of major depressive cognitive impairment.

Dysregulated gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to allergic diseases and their progression. A key clinical manifestation of this progression is the atopic march, in which atopic dermatitis (AD) precedes the development of allergic airway disease. Although prebiotics and probiotics individually improve AD symptoms, their combined use as synbiotics, especially with regard to preventing the progression from cutaneous inflammation to airway hypersensitivity, has not been clearly established. In this study, we assessed the biological activity of a synbiotic composed of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and Lactococcus lactis LB1022 in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of AD and asthma-like inflammation. Female BALB/c mice were treated for eight weeks with FOS, L. lactis LB1022, or their combination following OVA sensitization. The synbiotic formulation produced the strongest protective effects, markedly reducing AD-like skin pathology, suppressing airway inflammatory cell influx, and lowering Th2-skewed cytokine responses. These protective effects were further supported by significant reductions in serum IgE and Th2-associated IgG1 levels. Synbiotic treatment also enriched multiple short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing taxa, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, resulting in increased fecal SCFA concentrations that were closely associated with improvements in systemic and mucosal immunity. These results demonstrate that the FOS-L. lactis LB1022 synbiotic mitigates both epidermal and respiratory allergic inflammation through coordinated regulation of the microbiota-gut-skin-lung axis. The findings highlight a promising dietary approach for reducing the risk of progression along the atopic march and address an important gap in current allergy-related microbiome research.

Bacteriophage-derived endolysins have emerged as promising antibacterial agents; however, their combinatorial interactions with conventional antibiotics remain insufficiently characterized across Gram-negative bacterial species. Here, we systematically evaluated synergistic, additive, or indifferent interactions between the Gram-negative-targeting endolysin LNT103 and ten clinically relevant antibiotics across 15 Escherichia coli, 10 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 5 Acinetobacter baumannii strains. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) were determined using checkerboard assays. Among 300 combinations tested, synergistic interactions were observed with chloramphenicol (three cases), sulfamethoxazole (three cases), colistin (two cases), and trimethoprim (one case), indicating pronounced strain dependence. When synergistic and additive interactions were considered together, positive effects were most frequent in P. aeruginosa (76.0%), followed by E. coli (54.6%) and A. baumannii (40.0%). Notably, these trends were inversely correlated with median endolysin MIC values (72, 16, and 4 μg/mL, respectively). In contrast, no correlation was observed between intrinsic antibiotic MICs and combination outcomes, and no antagonism was detected across all combinations. Time-kill assays performed on representative strains further demonstrated that endolysin concentration exerted a greater influence on bactericidal activity than antibiotic concentration. Collectively, these results indicate that intrinsic endolysin susceptibility is a primary determinant of combination efficacy and provide a rational framework for optimizing endolysin-antibiotic adjunctive therapies against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.

Halophilic archaea are extremophilic microorganisms uniquely adapted to thrive in hypersaline environments such as solar salterns, saline lakes, and brines. Their ability to survive under high-salt conditions is closely associated with the production of unique compounds specifically synthesized by haloarchaea, including bacterioruberin and halorhodopsin. Bacterioruberin is a carotenoid pigment that protects cells from oxidative stress and contributes to osmotic stress resistance. Halorhodopsin is a light-driven Cl- pump that helps maintain ionic homeostasis. These functional molecules play crucial roles in osmotic stress resistance and energy conversion under extreme conditions. Therefore, understanding their genomic information is essential to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying their remarkable adaptation and survival in high-salt conditions. In this study, we performed genomic analysis of 12 strains of haloarchaea isolated from Korean solar salterns. Phylogenetic and whole-genome analysis revealed that the isolates are taxonomically distinct from closely related species. The core genes (crtE, crtB, crtI, lyeJ, crtD, and cruF) for bacterioruberin biosynthesis were generally conserved across all analyzed strains, but some strains were found not to possess the crtI gene, and halorhodopsin gene (hop) was identified only in 7 strains. These results show the diversity and conservation of gene distribution related to adaptation to a high-salt environment. As a result, the compensatory role of crtD in the strain lacking the crtI and the lack of the hop in the genus Haloferax were confirmed. These results expand the understanding of the genetic and evolutionary basis associated with adaptation to high-salt environments.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an intractable hematologic malignancy characterized by clonal growth of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Recent studies have highlighted the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modifications in MM progression; however, the function of the m6A demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the mechanisms by which FTO-mediated m6A demethylation of Serpin Family F Member 1 (SERPINF1) impacts MM progression. SERPINF1 and FTO expressions were assessed via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The impact of such expressions on MM was evaluated using CCK-8, EdU, transwell, and tumor xenograft model assays. Key molecules involved in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway were assessed via Western blotting. The relationship between SERPINF1 and FTO was determined through correlation analysis, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation, luciferase, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, RNA immunoprecipitation, and actinomycin D treatment assays. Finally, the effect of their interaction on MM was assessed through rescue experiments. SERPINF1 expression was reduced in MM samples. SERPINF1 overexpression suppressed the malignant traits of MM cells and reduced the levels of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. In vivo experiments revealed that SERPINF1 overexpression suppressed tumor growth in xenograft models. Mechanistically, FTO expression was upregulated in MM and SERPINF1 expression was negatively regulated by demethylating its m6A sites via IGF2BP1. Rescue experiments demonstrated that SERPINF1 overexpression reversed FTO-induced oncogenic phenotypes. These findings suggest that FTO-mediated m6A demethylation suppressed SERPINF1 expression in MM, whereas SERPINF1 overexpression inhibited tumor progression via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Menopausal women face an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and exploring effective therapeutic strategies from traditional Chinese medicine is of great clinical significance. Erxian decoction (EXD), a classic formula for alleviating menopausal symptoms, has potential cardiovascular protective effects, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the effects of EXD on gut microbiota, TMAO levels, and inflammatory levels were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, a well-established model of menopausal CVDs. EXD elevated serum E2 levels and improved both the cardiac systolic and diastolic functions in OVX rats. EXD decreased Firmicutes and Ruminococcaceae, increased Bacteroidota, Muribaculaceae and Escherichia-Shigella. EXD significantly decreased serum levels of TMAO and its precursor metabolites. Additionally, it attenuated myocardial expression of ROS, TXNIP, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase 1, IL-18, and IL-1β. EXD could reduce the levels of SBP and DBP, and reduce the serum levels of TC, TG and LDL-C. Spearman correlation analysis revealed positive associations between TMAO and blood pressure, as well as inflammatory factors and dyslipidemia. Collectively, EXD may ameliorate myocardial damage in OVX rats through modulation of the gut microbiota and suppression of the TMAO-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, demonstrating its potential therapeutic implications for cardiovascular disorders.

Increased ultraviolet (UV) exposure due to ozone depletion significantly affects human skin health. Recent skin research has been exploring various interventions to counteract the effects of UV-induced photoaging. UV directly affects skin components such as collagen and natural moisturizing factors (NMF), which are essential for the skin's structural integrity and hydration. Recent studies on the gut-skin axis have shown that certain probiotic strains could significantly improve skin aging. So, we examined the effect of ABF21013 on pro-collagen production and hyaluronic acid secretion using skin tissue from UVB-induced mice treated with ABF21013. Our findings reveal that ABF21013 reduced the total number of wrinkles and skin thickness by up-regulating MMP degradation and pro-collagen biosynthesis. These results indicate that ABF21013 can regulate wrinkle formation through the enhancement of collagen. Additionally, we observed downregulated transepidermal water loss (TEWL) regarding skin moisturizing. We also detected increased expression of EGFR ligands, AMPKα, hyaluronan synthase (HAS) -1/-2, and filaggrin. We have proved that ABF21013 can protect the skin barrier by activating the EGFR signaling pathway. Taken together, these results demonstrated that Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei ABF21013 can enhance skin function by maintaining hydration and elasticity in a UVB-irradiated mouse model.

Neuroinflammation, an immune process in the central nervous system (CNS), is a key contributor to a range of neurological diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease), stroke, and depression, underscoring its significant pathological relevance. While maackiain (MAA) exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activity, its potential to mitigate neuroinflammation remains poorly understood. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of MAA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation and its underlying mechanisms. In vitro, MAA significantly improved BV2 cell viability and reduced nitric oxide (NO) expression in LPS-treated cells, decreased the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and it also inhibited the accumulation of Ferrous ion (Fe2+) and lipid peroxides as well as the damage to mitochondria. Higher concentrations of MAA were more effective, consistent with subsequent animal experiments. In vivo, mice treated with MAA showed improved memory in the Morris water maze compared to the LPS group. Nissl staining revealed fewer IBA-1 positive cells and a decrease in COX-2 and IL-6 levels in the hippocampus and cortex. This compound also increased the number of normal neurons in the cortex and CA3 region. The results of this study highlight the inhibitory effects of MAA on neuroinflammation, suggesting its potential as an effective therapeutic agent for treating neuroinflammation.

Recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) are a major cause of morbidity in children, and strain-defined probiotics have been proposed as a supportive preventive strategy, although clinical evidence remains limited. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 120 children diagnosed with RRTIs received either Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis XLTG11 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCFM8661 or a matched placebo daily for 180 days. The probiotic group demonstrated significantly reduced duration and frequency of fever, cough, upper respiratory tract infections, trachea/bronchitis, pneumonia, and overall RRTI recurrence compared with the placebo group (all p < 0.05). Gut microbiota profiling showed clear community differences between groups at day 180, with the probiotic group exhibiting greater abundance of beneficial commensal taxa and the placebo group showing higher representation of opportunistic genera. Functional pathway analysis indicated shifts consistent with enhanced metabolic stability in probiotic recipients. Immune biomarker patterns further supported a more regulated humoral response in the probiotic group, reflected by comparatively stable IgG, IgM, and complement C3 levels over the intervention period. Growth trajectories remained normal in both groups, and no treatment-related adverse events were reported, confirming a favorable safety profile. These findings indicate that long-term supplementation with XLTG11 and CCFM8661 is safe, well tolerated, and effective in reducing RRTI burden in children, while also supporting healthier microbiota and immune patterns. This trial provides evidence for the use of strain-defined probiotics as a complementary approach within pediatric respiratory infection prevention strategies.