Host Pathogen Research Articles

Demographic and zoological drivers of infectome diversity in companion cats with ascites.

Frequent studies reported the risks of cats as an intermediate host of zoonotic pathogens (e.g., SARS-CoV-2). Cats have a physically close interaction with their owners through activities like petting, kissing, and being licked on the cheek and hands. However, there are still limited studies that systematically investigate the infectome structure of cats. In this study, we employed a meta-transcriptomics approach to characterize 15 species of pathogens in cats, with Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae first characterizing infection in diseased cats. Most feline diseases were better explained by the presence of virus-bacteria or virus-virus coinfection. The increase in infectome diversity could be influenced by a variety of predictors including age growth, temperature increase, and a higher proportion of females. A higher diversity of pathogens was harbored in young cats rather than adults. Importantly, we showed the value of linking the modern influx of meta-transcriptomics with comparative ecology and demography and of utilizing it to affirm that ecological and demographic variations impact the total infectome.

Threshold dynamics of a degenerated diffusive incubation period host–pathogen model with saturation incidence rate

In this paper, we consider an incubation period host–pathogen system with degenerated diffusion. The global compact attractor of the solution of the model is investigated using the κ-contraction method. Furthermore, the basic reproduction number is defined, and we discuss the dynamic analysis of a degenerated diffusion model. The obtained theoretical results are nontrivial and can be considered a continuation of the work by Wang et al. in 2022.

Pipe material and natural organic matter impact drinking water biofilm microbial community, pathogen profiles and antibiotic resistome deciphered by metagenomics assembly

Biofilms in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) are a determinant to drinking water biosafety. Yet, how and why pipe material and natural organic matter (NOM) affect biofilm microbial community, pathogen composition and antibiotic resistome remain unclear. We characterized the biofilms’ activity, microbial community, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and pathogenic ARG hosts in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reactors with different NOM dosages and pipe materials based on metagenomics assembly. Biofilms in cast iron (CI) pipes exhibited higher activity than those in polyethylene (PE) pipes. NOM addition significantly decreased biofilm activity in CI pipes but increased it in PE pipes. Pipe material exerted more profound effects on microbial community structure than NOM. Azospira was significantly enriched in CI pipes and Sphingopyxis was selected in PE pipes, while pathogen (Ralstonia pickettii) increased considerably in NOM-added reactors. Microbial community network in CI pipes showed more edges (CI 13520, PE 7841) and positive correlation proportions (CI 72.35%, PE 61.69%) than those in PE pipes. Stochastic processes drove assembly of both microbial community and antibiotic resistome in DWDS biofilms based on neutral community model. Bacitracin, fosmidomycin and multidrug ARGs were predominant in both PE and CI pipes. Both pipe materials and NOM regulated the biofilm antibiotic resistome. Plasmid was the major MGE co-existing with ARGs, facilitating ARG horizontal transfer. Pathogens (Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Ralstonia pickettii) carried multiple ARGs (qacEdelta1, OXA-22 and aadA) and MGEs (integrase, plasmid and transposase), which deserved more attention. Microbial community contributed more to ARG change than MGEs. Structure equation model (SEM) demonstrated that turbidity and ammonia affected ARGs by directly mediating Shannon diversity and MGEs. These findings might provide a technical guidance for controlling pathogens and ARGs from the point of pipe material and NOM in drinking water.

High-throughput single-cell sequencing of activated sludge microbiome

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represent one of biotechnology's largest and most critical applications, playing a pivotal role in environmental protection and public health. In WWTPs, activated sludge (AS) plays a major role in removing contaminants and pathogens from wastewater. While metagenomics has advanced our understanding of microbial communities, it still faces challenges in revealing the genomic heterogeneity of cells, uncovering the microbial dark matter, and establishing precise links between genetic elements and their host cells as a bulk method. These issues could be largely resolved by single-cell sequencing, which can offer unprecedented resolution to show the unique genetic information. Here we show the high-throughput single-cell sequencing to the AS microbiome. The single-amplified genomes (SAGs) of 15,110 individual cells were clustered into 2,454 SAG bins. We find that 27.5% of the genomes in the AS microbial community represent potential novel species, highlighting the presence of microbial dark matter. Furthermore, we identified 1,137 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), 10,450 plasmid fragments, and 1,343 phage contigs, with shared plasmid and phage groups broadly distributed among hosts, indicating a high frequency of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) within the AS microbiome. Complementary analysis using 1,529 metagenome-assembled genomes from the AS samples allowed for the taxonomic classification of 98 SAG bins, which were previously unclassified. Our study establishes the feasibility of single-cell sequencing in characterizing the AS microbiome, providing novel insights into its ecological dynamics, and deepening our understanding of HGT processes, particularly those involving ARGs. Additionally, this valuable tool could monitor the distribution, spread, and pathogenic hosts of ARGs both within AS environments and between AS and other environments, which will ultimately contribute to developing a health risk evaluation system for diverse environments within a One Health framework.

Ustilaginoidea virens, an emerging pathogen of rice: the dynamic interplay between the pathogen virulence strategies and host defense.

The Ustilaginoidea virens -rice pathosystem has been used as a model for flower-infecting fungal pathogens. The molecular biology of the interactions between U. virens and rice, with an emphasis on the attempt to get a deeper comprehension of the false smut fungus's genomes, proteome, host range, and pathogen biology, has been investigated. Meta-QTL analysis was performed to identify potential QTL hotspots for use in marker-assisted breeding. The Rice False Smut (RFS) caused by the fungus Ustilaginoidea virens currently threatens rice cultivators across the globe. RFS infects rice panicles, causing a significant reduction in grain yield. U. virens can also parasitize other hosts though they play only a minor role in its life cycle. Furthermore, because it produces mycotoxins in edible rice grains, it puts both humans and animals at risk of health problems. Although fungicides are used to control the disease, some fungicides have enabled the pathogen to develop resistance, making its management challenging. Several QTLs have been reported but stable gene(s) that confer RFS resistance have not been discovered yet. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the pathogen, its virulence mechanisms, the genome and proteome of U. virens, and its molecular interactions with rice. In addition, information has been compiledon reported resistance QTLs, facilitatingthe development of a consensus genetic map using meta-QTL analysis for identifying potential QTL hotspots. Finally, this review highlights current developments and trends in U. virens-rice pathosystem research while identifying opportunities for future investigations.

Morphological and immunological characterization of primary cultured chicken caecal epithelial cells.

Cell cultures are models in biological and medical research to understand physiological and pathological processes. Cell lines are not always available depending on cell type and required species. In addition, the immortalization process often affects cell biology. Primary cells generally maintain a greater degree of similarity in short-term culture to the cells in tissue. Goal of this study was to verify the suitability of chicken primary epithelial caecal cells (PECCs) for in vitro investigations of host‒pathogen interactions. Epithelial nature of PECCs was confirmed by detection of tight and adherens junctions and cobblestone-like cell morphology. Sialic acids distribution was similar to that in caecal cyrosections. To understand the capacity of PECCs to respond to microbial challenges, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) repertoire was determined. Exposure of PECCs to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) led to upregulation of type I and III interferon (IFN) as well as interleukin (IL-) 1β, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression. Overall, the PECCs showed properties of polarized epithelial cells. The presence of TLRs, their differential expression, as well as pattern recognition receptor dependent immune responses enable PECCs to act as suitable in vitro model for host‒pathogen interaction studies, which are difficult to conduct under in vivo conditions.

High-nitrogen-induced γ-aminobutyric acid triggers host immunity and pathogen oxidative stress tolerance in tomato and Ralstonia solanacearum interaction.

Soil nitrogen (N) significantly influences the interaction between plants and pathogens, yet its impact on host defenses and pathogen strategies via alterations in plant metabolism remains unclear. Through metabolic and genetic studies, this research demonstrates that high-N-input exacerbates tomato bacterial wilt by altering γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism of host plants. Under high-N conditions, the nitrate sensor NIN-like protein 7 (SlNLP7) promotes the glutamate decarboxylase 2/4 (SlGAD2/4) transcription and GABA synthesis by directly binding to the promoters of SlGAD2/4. The tomato plants with enhanced GABA levels showed stronger immune responses but remained susceptible to Ralstonia solanacearum. This led to the discovery that GABA produced by the host actually heightens the pathogen's virulence. We identified the R. solanacearum LysR-type transcriptional regulator OxyR protein, which senses host-derived GABA and, upon interaction, triggers a response involving protein dimerization that enhances the pathogen's oxidative stress tolerance by activating the expression of catalase (katE/katGa). These findings reveal GABA's dual role in activating host immunity and enhancing pathogen tolerance to oxidative stress, highlighting the complex relationship between tomato plants and R. solanacearum, influenced by soil N status.

Role of Divalent Cations in Infections in Host-Pathogen Interaction.

With increasing numbers of patients worldwide diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, renal disease, and iatrogenic immune deficiencies, an increased understanding of the role of electrolyte interactions in mitigating pathogen virulence is necessary. The levels of divalent cations affect host susceptibility and pathogen survival in persons with relative immune insufficiency. For instance, when host cellular levels of calcium are high compared to magnesium, this relationship contributes to insulin resistance and triples the risk of clinical tuberculosis. The movement of divalent cations within intracellular spaces contributes to the host defense, causing apoptosis or autophagy of the pathogen. The control of divalent cation flow is dependent in part upon the mammalian natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) in the host. Survival of pathogens such as M tuberculosis within the bronchoalveolar macrophage is also dependent upon NRAMP. Pathogens evolve mutations to control the movement of calcium through external and internal channels. The host NRAMP as a metal transporter competes for divalent cations with the pathogen NRAMP in M tuberculosis (whether in latent, dormant, or active phase). This review paper summarizes mechanisms of pathogen offense and patient defense using inflow and efflux through divalent cation channels under the influence of parathyroid hormone vitamin D and calcitonin.

Macroalgal Diseases: Exploring Biology, Pathogenesis, and Management Strategies

The global seaweed market is expected to reach USD 17.8 billion by 2032, fuelled by growing demand for sustainable and healthy food solutions and expanding applications in agriculture and aquaculture. However, this rapid growth poses significant challenges, particularly in managing diseases that often establish themselves in intensive macroalgal culture facilities. Red rot disease, Olpidiopsis, and green spot disease often affect marine macroalgae species of high commercial interest, as seen in Pyropia/Porphyra as has already happened for “ice-ice” malaise on Kappaphycus, causing huge economic losses. These diseases are caused by infectious agents that find their place in extreme environmental conditions, such as those characterized by sudden changes in temperature and pollution. Despite technological advances aimed at monitoring the well-being of cultivated seaweed, discrepancies between regions’ technological capabilities and species vulnerability exacerbate management difficulties. This review provides an overview of diseases prevalent among marine algae, their impact on aquaculture, and the effectiveness of currently adopted treatments. This study highlights the need to improve disease management strategies and highlights the importance of understanding host–pathogen interactions in order to mitigate future epidemics.

Occurrence and human exposure risk of antibiotic resistance genes in tillage soils of dryland regions: A case study of northern Ningxia Plain, China

Agricultural soils are important source and sink of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, little is known about the fate of ARGs in dryland soils, while its human exposure risks were seriously overlooked. Taking the northern Ningxia Plain as a case, this study explored the occurrence of ARGs and its relationship with mobile genetic elements (MGEs), pathogens, and environmental factors. Furthermore, the concentrations of airborne ARGs by soil wind erosion and the human exposure doses of soil ARGs were evaluated. The results showed the abundances of different regions ranged from 4.0 × 105 to 1.6 × 106 copies/g. Soil ARGs are driven by MGEs, but multiply impacted by soil properties, nutrition, and bacterial community. Vibrio metschnikovii, Acinetobacter schindleri, and Serratia marcescens are potential pathogenic hosts for ARGs. Further exploration revealed the concentration of ARGs loaded in dust by soil wind erosion reached more than 105 copies/m3, which were even higher than those found in sewage treatment plants and hospitals. Skin contact is the primary route of ARGs exposure, with a maximum dose of 24071.33 copies/kg/d, which is largely attributed to ARGs loaded in dust. This study bridged the gap on ARGs in dryland soils, and provided reference for human exposure risk assessment of soil ARGs.

Survival and virulence of Acinetobacter baumannii in microbial mixtures

Acinetobacter species such as A. venetianus and A. guillouiae have been studied for various biotechnology applications, including bioremediation of recalcitrant and harmful environmental contaminants, as well as bioengineering of enzymes and diagnostic materials. Bacteria used in biotechnology are often combined with other microorganisms in mixtures to formulate efficacious commercial products. However, if the mixture contained a closely related Acinetobacter pathogen such as A. baumannii (Ab), it remains unclear whether the survival and virulence of Ab would be masked or augmented. This uncertainty poses a challenge in ensuring the safety of such biotechnology products, since Ab is one of the most significant pathogens for both hospital and community -acquired infections. This research aimed to investigate the growth and virulence of Ab within a mixture of 11 bacterial species formulated as a mock microbial mixture (MM). Growth challenges with environmental stressors (i.e., temperature, pH, sodium, iron, and antibiotics) revealed that Ab could thrive under diverse conditions except in the presence of ciprofloxacin. When cultured alone, Ab exhibited significantly more growth in the presence of almost all the environmental stressors than when it was co-incubated with the MM. During the exposure of A549 lung epithelial cells to the MM, Ab growth was stimulated compared to that in standard mammalian culture media. Cytotoxicity caused by Ab was suppressed in the presence of the MM. Lymphocytes were significantly reduced in mice exposed to Ab with or without MM via intravenous injection. The levels of the splenic cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, MCP-1, and MIP-1α were significantly reduced 24 h after exposure to Ab + MM. This study demonstrated that the presence of the MM marginally but significantly reduced the growth and virulence of Ab, which has implications for the safety of mixtures of microorganisms for biotechnological applications. Furthermore, these findings expand our understanding of the virulence of Ab during host–pathogen interactions.

Isolation and Characterization of a Frog Virus 3 Strain from a Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) in Wood Buffalo National Park.

Members of the Iridoviridae family, genus Ranavirus, represent a group of globally emerging pathogens of ecological and economic importance. In 2017, an amphibian die-off of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata) was reported in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada. Isolation and complete genomic sequencing of the tissues of a wood frog revealed the presence of a frog virus 3 (FV3)-like isolate, Rana sylvatica ranavirus (RSR), with a genome size of 105,895 base pairs, 97 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) bearing sequence similarity to FV3 (99.98%) and a FV3-like isolate from a spotted salamander in Maine (SSME; 99.64%). Despite high sequence similarity, RSR had a unique genomic composition containing ORFs specific to either FV3 or SSME. In addition, RSR had a unique 13 amino acid insertion in ORF 49/50L. No differences were found in the in vitro growth kinetics of FV3, SSME, and RSR; however, genomic differences between these isolates were in non-core genes, implicated in nucleic acid metabolism and immune evasion. This study highlights the importance of viral isolation and complete genomic analysis as these not only provide information on ranavirus spatial distribution but may elucidate genomic factors contributing to host tropism and pathogenicity.

Risk level and removal performance of antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial pathogens in static composting with different temperatures

The effect of different levels of temperature on resistance genes is not clear in mesophilic static composting (<50 °C). This study conducted livestock manure composting with different temperature gradients from 20 to 50 °C, it was found that the reduction rates of risk rank-I antibiotic resistance genes (from 3 % to 66 %), metal resistance genes (from −50 % to 76 %) and bacterial pathogens (from 72 % to 91 %) all increased significantly with increasing temperature from 20 to 50°C. The vulnerability of bacterial communities increased significantly, and the assembly process of bacterial communities changed from deterministic to stochastic with the increase of composting temperature. Higher temperature could accelerate the removal of thermolabile resistance genes hosts or pathogenic hosts carrying mobile genetic elements by directly or indirectly affecting organic acids content. Therefore, for soil safety, the temperature of the manure recycling process should be increased as much as possible.

Dual-species proteomics and targeted intervention of animal-pathogen interactions

IntroductionHost-microbe interactions are important to human health and ecosystems globally, so elucidating the complex host-microbe interactions and associated protein expressions drives the need to develop sensitive and accurate biochemical techniques. Current proteomics techniques reveal information from the point of view of either the host or microbe, but do not provide data on the corresponding partner. Moreover, it remains challenging to simultaneously study host-microbe proteomes that reflect the direct competition between host and microbe. This raises the need to develop a dual-species proteomics method for host-microbe interactions. ObjectivesWe aim to establish a forward + reverse Stable Isotope Labeling with Amino acids in Cell culture (SILAC) proteomics approach to simultaneously label and quantify newly-expressed proteins of host and microbe without physical isolation, for investigating mechanisms in direct host-microbe interactions. MethodsUsing Caenorhabditis elegans-Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection model as proof-of-concept, we employed SILAC proteomics and molecular pathway analysis to characterize the differentially-expressed microbial and host proteins. We then used molecular docking and chemical characterization to identify chemical inhibitors that intercept host-microbe interactions and eliminate microbial infection. ResultsBased on our proteomics results, we studied the iron competition between pathogen iron scavenger and host iron uptake protein, where P. aeruginosa upregulated pyoverdine synthesis protein (PvdA) (fold-change of 5.2313) and secreted pyoverdine, and C. elegans expressed ferritin (FTN-2) (fold-change of 3.4057). Targeted intervention of iron competition was achieved using Galangin, a ginger-derived phytochemical that inhibited pyoverdine production and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. The Galangin-ciprofloxacin combinatorial therapy could eliminate P. aeruginosa biofilms in a fish wound infection model, and enabled animal survival. ConclusionOur work provides a novel SILAC-based proteomics method that can simultaneously evaluate host and microbe proteomes, with future applications in higher host organisms and other microbial species. It also provides insights into the mechanisms dictating host-microbe interactions, offering novel strategies for anti-infective therapy.

Identification of Rust Resistance Genes in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Using Molecular Markers and Host–Pathogen Interaction Tests

ABSTRACTThe leaf rust (Puccinia triticina f. sp. tritici), stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), and stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) are major fungal constraints affecting wheat production worldwide. Identifying and deploying wheat varieties with diverse resistance are the best ways to manage all the rusts. Therefore, a continuous search goes on to identify diverse germplasm with effective rust resistance that expresses at different stages of plant growth (seedling and adult plant). A set of 22 rust resistant wheat genotypes and 4 checks (controls), viz., Avocet‐Yr10, Avocet ‐Yr15, Agra Local, and respective positive checks were studied for characterising rust resistance genes using host–pathogen interactions complemented by molecular markers. Among 22 elite genotypes, 05 genotypes amplified 191 bp fragment with marker PSY1E1, confirmed the presence of gene Lr19/Sr25. These genotypes also expressed resistance to most virulent leaf rust pathotypes, 77‐5 and 77‐9 in host–pathogen interaction test (HPI). Seven genotypes showed the presence of Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38/Ltn1 in homozygous state, whereas G4 showed its presence in heterozygous condition. Among 22 genotypes, 16 genotypes possessed Yr10. Five genotypes (22.7%) exhibited two gene combinations, Lr19/Sr25, and Yr10 as revealed through the detection of 191 bp fragment with marker PSY1E1 and 260 bp fragment with co‐dominantly inherited microsatellite marker Xpsp3000, respectively. All five genotypes (G2, G3, G8, G9, and G18) also expressed brown glumes controlled by the gene Rg1 tightly linked to Yr10 on the 1BS chromosome. Broad spectrum rust resistance present in these lines in good agronomic backgrounds could be used as potent genetic donors for diverse and durable rust resistance breeding programmes in wheat.

Virulence and host specificity of staphylococci from Staphylococcus intermedius group of pigeon origin with an emphasis on Staphylococcus intermedius

The Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG) includes coagulase-positive staphylococci commonly found in animals. The taxonomic classification within the SIG has evolved with molecular techniques distinguishing five species. Despite their similarities, these species exhibit varied host affinities, with unclear implications for virulence and host interaction.This study aimed to investigate the presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci in pigeons and to detect genes encoding for selected virulence factors in isolated strains. Another goal was to determine the adhesion capabilities of randomly selected pigeon S. intermedius, S. delphini, and canine S. pseudintermedius strains to canine and pigeon corneocytes and their adhesion and invasion abilities to canine keratinocytes in vitro.In total, 121 coagulase-positive strains were isolated from domestic and feral pigeons. The most prevalent species were S. delphini B and S. intermedius in domestic and feral pigeons, respectively. We proved that pigeon strains carried genes encoding for exfoliative toxin SIET and leukotoxin Luk-I. Moreover, we found that S. intermedius showed higher adherence to pigeon than to canine corneocytes, aligning with its presumed natural host. No difference in adherence abilities of S. pseudintermedius to canine and pigeon corneocytes was observed. In this study, we also observed that S. pseudintermedius could successfully invade the canine keratinocytes, in contrary to S. delphini and S. intermedius. Moreover, only S. intermedius was not able to invade canine keratinocytes at all.These findings highlight the complex interplay between SIG bacteria, and their hosts, underscoring the need for further research to understand the mechanisms of host adaptation and pathogenicity within this group.

Sylvatic vector-borne pathogens including Cytauxzoon europaeus in the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) from southwestern Germany

BackgroundEuropean wildcats (Felis silvestris) are widely distributed in Europe and a strictly protected species in Germany. Lately, anthropogenic protective efforts lead to increasing numbers of wildcats in southwestern Germany. Moreover, in recent years the numbers of domestic cats are increasing. Thus, the contact between domestic and wildcats may lead to the spread of zoonotic pathogens in both animal species. As data on vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in wildcats from Germany are limited to date, the objective of this study was to investigate the presence and current distribution of VBPs in wildcats from southwestern Germany.MethodsSkin and spleen samples from 117 European wildcats, originating from a regional carcass-monitoring program in southwestern Germany, were examined by real-time and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Piroplasmida.ResultsIn total, 6.8% (n = 8) of the wildcats were Rickettsia-positive, specified as R. helvetica. Three wildcats were positive for A. phagocytophilum (2.6%), one for Bartonella spp., namely B. taylorii (0.8%), and 84 for Cytauxzoon spp. (71.8%). Out of these 84 samples, 23 were further sequenced revealing very high identity levels (99.84–100%) to C. europaeus, which is considered to be pathogenic for domestic cats. All wildcats were negative for the presence of N. mikurensis DNA.ConclusionsEuropean wildcats in southwestern Germany are hosting several VBPs. With the exception of Cytauxzoon spp., low prevalence rates of most examined pathogens suggest that wildcats are primarily incidental hosts for sylvatic pathogens associated with rodents, in contrast to domestic cats. However, the high prevalence of the cat-associated pathogen C. europaeus suggests that wildcats in southwestern Germany may serve as reservoirs for this pathogen.Graphical

Genomic Sequencing and Functional Analysis of the Ex-Type Strain of Malbranchea zuffiana.

Malbranchea is a genus within the order Onygenales (phylum Ascomycota) that includes predominantly saprobic cosmopolitan species. Despite its ability to produce diverse secondary metabolites, no genomic data for Malbranchea spp. are currently available in databases. Therefore, in this study, we obtained, assembled, and annotated the genomic sequence of the ex-type strain of Malbranchea zuffiana (CBS 219.58). For the genomic sequencing, we employed both the Illumina and PacBio platforms, followed by hybrid assembly using MaSuRCA. Quality assessment of the assembly was performed using QUAST and BUSCO tools. Annotation was conducted using BRAKER2, and functional annotation was completed with InterProScan. The resulting genome was of high quality, with a size of 26.46 Mbp distributed across 38 contigs and a BUSCO completion rate of 95.7%, indicating excellent contiguity and assembly completeness. A total of 8248 protein-encoding genes were predicted, with functional annotations assigned to 73.9% of them. Moreover, 82 genes displayed homology with entries in the Pathogen Host Interactions (PHI) database, while 494 genes exhibited similarity to entries in the Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) database. Furthermore, 30 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were identified, suggesting significant potential for the biosynthesis of diverse secondary metabolites. Comparative functional analysis with closely related species unveiled a considerable abundance of domains linked to enzymes involved in keratin degradation, alongside a restricted number of domains associated with enzymes engaged in plant cell wall degradation in all studied species of the Onygenales. This genome-based elucidation not only enhances our comprehension of the biological characteristics of M. zuffiana but also furnishes valuable insights for subsequent investigations concerning Malbranchea species and the order Onygenales.

Comprehensive physiological and genomic characterization of a potential probiotic strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ILSF15, isolated from the gut of tribes of Odisha, India

Characterizing probiotic features of organisms isolated from diverse environments can lead to the discovery of novel strains with promising functional features and health attributes. The present study attempts to characterize a novel probiotic strain isolated from the gut of the tribal population of Odisha, India. Based on 16S rRNA-based phylogeny, the strain was identified as a species of the Lactiplantibacillus genus and was named Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain ILSF15. The current investigation focuses on elucidating this strain’s genetic and physiological properties associated with probiotic attributes such as biosafety risk, host adaptation/survival traits, and beneficial functional features. The novel strain was observed, in vitro, exhibiting features such as acid/bile tolerance, adhesion to the host enteric epithelial cells, cholesterol assimilation, and pathogen exclusion, indicating its ability to survive the harsh environment of the human GIT and resist the growth of harmful microorganisms. Additionally, the L. plantarum ILSF15 strain was found to harbor genes associated with the metabolism and synthesis of various bioactive molecules, including amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and vitamins, highlighting the organism’s ability to efficiently utilize diverse resources and contribute to the host’s nutrition and health. Several genes involved in host adaptation/survival strategies and host-microbe interactions were also identified from the ILSF15 genome. Moreover, L. plantarum strains, in general, were found to have an open pangenome characterized by high genetic diversity and the absence of specific lineages associated with particular habitats, signifying its versatile nature and potential applications in probiotic and functional food industries.

MiRNA expression signatures induced by pasteurella multocida infection in goats lung

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and are involved in bacterial pathogenesis and host–pathogen interactions. In this study, we investigated the function of miRNAs in the regulation of host responses to Pasteurella multocida infection. Using next-generation sequencing, we analyzed miRNA expression pattern and identified differentially expressed miRNAs in Pasteurella multocida-infected goat lungs. In addition, we investigated the function of differentially expressed miRNAs andtheir targeted signaling pathways in bacterial infection processes. The results showed that Pasteurella multocida infection led to 69 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs, including 28 known annotated miRNAs with miR-497-3p showing the most significant difference. Gene target prediction and functional enrichment analyses showed that the target genes were mainly involved in cell proliferation, regulation of the cellular metabolic process, positive regulation of cellular process, cellular senescence, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway and infection-related pathways. In conclusion, these data provide a new perspective on the roles of miRNAs in Pasteurella multocida infection.