Search Results (6,304)

Idesia polycarpa ‘Yitong 2’ is a high-oil cultivar widely promoted in central China, yet field evidence on how soil bacterial communities respond during early plantation establishment remains limited. Here, we conducted fixed-site monitoring in a newly established ‘Yitong 2’ plantation in the Luohe River Basin (Henan, China). Bulk soil (0–30 cm) was collected before planting (March 2024) and at 3, 6 and 12 months after planting (June 2024, September 2024 and March 2025). Soil physicochemical properties were measured and bacterial communities were profiled by 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4) amplicon sequencing; functional potential was inferred using PICRUSt2. Available potassium increased significantly, whereas soil organic matter showed a decrease–recovery trajectory. Bacterial richness (Chao1) decreased after planting, while evenness increased; Shannon diversity remained stable. Community composition shifted directionally, with higher relative abundance of Pseudomonadota (formerly Proteobacteria) and reduced Acidobacteriota at later stages. PERMANOVA based on Bray–Curtis distances indicated significant temporal differences in community structure. RDA indicated that soil organic matter and bulk density were the primary drivers of community structural variation. Functionally, the overall metabolic framework remained stable, whereas pathways related to genetic information processing and metabolism exhibited significant differences (p < 0.05). By examining both intra-annual dynamics and inter-annual changes in soil bacteria and physicochemical properties following the planting of ‘Yitong 2’, this study clarifies patterns of soil property variation and trajectories of microbial community structure and functional potential, thereby providing a scientific basis for the establishment of high-quality I. polycarpa plantations and the sustainable development of soil ecosystems. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of biostimulant treatments on the ionic composition and yield of ‘Formosa’ papaya (Carica papaya L.) subjected to varying water replacement levels. The research utilized a randomized complete block design in a split-plot scheme comprising three irrigation depths (100%, 75%, and 50% ETc) and four biological treatments: control, Trichoderma harzianum, Ascophyllum nodosum, and Bacillus aryabhattai. Contrary to initial expectations, water restriction was associated with increased yield and leaf concentrations of zinc (Zn) and nitrogen (N), challenging the hypothesis that water restriction limits production. Quantitative results showed that T. harzianum under 75% ETc attained 93.29 kg plant⁻¹, whereas the control at 50% ETc recorded 19.14 g kg⁻¹ of N. Under 50% ETc, B. aryabhattai increased the bacterial population to 10.46 log10 CFU g⁻¹ soil compared to the control. The T. harzianum-based biostimulant reduced leaf sodium (Na) under 75% ETc and maintained the nutrient accumulation order K > N > Ca > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Na. Conversely, B. aryabhattai and A. nodosum improved yield under 100% ETc through N accumulation. This study confirms that microbial and seaweed-based biostimulants mitigate water stress through rhizosphere modification and nutritional homeostasis, offering a practical strategy for sustainable fruit production in semi-arid regions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a widespread nutritional disorder characterized by impaired iron absorption, inflammation-associated iron restriction, and disrupted iron homeostasis. Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota play an important role in iron metabolism; however, the mechanisms underlying probiotic-assisted iron supplementation remain unclear. Our research group previously conducted in vitro fermentation screening experiments and obtained a bacterial strain, B. lactis Ca360, which possesses iron absorption-enhancing activity. Methods: In this study, an IDA mouse model induced by a low-iron diet was used to investigate whether B. lactis Ca360 could synergistically improve iron metabolism when combined with iron supplementation. Mice were treated with FeSO₄ alone or FeSO₄ combined with B. lactis Ca360, and hematological parameters, organ indices, serum iron-related markers, histopathological changes, duodenal iron metabolism-related gene expression, hepatic inflammatory responses, gut microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels, and correlation networks were analyzed. Results: Iron deficiency induced typical anemia phenotypes, multi-organ dysfunction, intestinal iron absorption dysregulation, hepatic inflammation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Compared with FeSO₄ alone, the combined intervention more effectively improved hematological parameters, reduced organ indices, restored liver and spleen histological integrity, normalized intestinal iron metabolism-related gene expression, and alleviated hepatic inflammation. In addition, B. lactis Ca360 markedly reshaped gut microbiota composition, enriching SCFA-producing anaerobic genera, including Ruminococcus, Roseburia, Acetatifactor, Intestinimonas, Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group_unclassified, and Oscillibacter, accompanied by increased acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels. Spearman correlation analysis further revealed close associations between gut microbiota remodeling, improved iron metabolism, reduced inflammatory status, and recovery of anemia-related phenotypes. Conclusions: Overall, these findings demonstrate that B. lactis Ca360 enhances the efficacy of iron supplementation by modulating SCFA-producing and anti-inflammatory gut microbiota, thereby coordinately regulating intestinal iron absorption, inflammation, and systemic iron homeostasis, supporting probiotic-assisted iron supplementation as a promising nutritional strategy for IDA management. Full article

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum is a valuable medicinal plant whose dryland cultivation typically yields 30–35% lower flavonoid concentration than forest understory systems due to soil and microbial deficiencies. We investigated whether biochar amendment could bridge this quality gap through rhizosphere microecological regulation. Using a split-plot pot experiment with in situ soils from a bamboo forest and a vegetable field, we applied biochar at 2%. Biochar in bamboo forest (MBBC) achieved the highest flavonoid concentrations, exceeding unamended forest and vegetable controls by 22% and 35%, respectively. Biochar effects were habitat-specific. In acidic forest soils (pH 4.95), it raised the pH to 5.61, while in vegetable fields, it boosted leucine aminopeptidase by 159%. Partial least squares path modeling revealed biochar exerted its effects indirectly (indirect effect = 0.88), with soil extracellular enzymes mediating between soil conditions and plant biosynthetic enzymes (PAL, CHS, CHI). Fungal composition was positively associated with biosynthesis (β = 1.68, p < 0.01), particularly Mortierellomycetes, whereas bacterial diversity unexpectedly exhibited a significant negative correlation with it (β = −0.79, p < 0.05). Biochar disrupted Eurotiomycetes dominance in forest soils (from 85% to 39%), creating functionally diverse niches that were associated with enhanced flavonoid accumulation. These findings demonstrate biochar functions as an ecological niche regulator, providing a sustainable strategy for high-quality medicinal plant production in non-native habitats. Full article

Post-weaning piglets are vulnerable to intestinal barrier disruption and microbiota imbalance, which can be exacerbated by bacterial endotoxin; this study assessed whether a synbiotic diet based on grape seed and camelina meals plus Lactobacillus probiotics can attenuate an Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Twenty weaned piglets were randomized (n = 5/group) to control, LPS, synbiotic (SYN), or SYN+LPS diets for 21 days. The control diet consisted of a complete standard corn–soybean-based feed. The SYN diet contained a basal diet with 5% prebiotic mix (grape seed meal–camelina meal) and 0.1% probiotic mix including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus; on day 21, the LPS and SYN+LPS animals received an LPS challenge and were sampled 3 h later. The expression of colonic genes coding for proteins like tight junctions, mucus/epithelial function, Toll-like receptors and signaling molecules involved in innate response was quantified by quantitative PCR arrays, and the microbiota composition was profiled by 16S rRNA sequencing. The LPS challenge reduced the expression of barrier- and mucus-associated genes and increased that of Toll-like receptors and signaling pathway markers, accompanied by microbial shifts, with reduced beneficial taxa and increased Megasphaera elsdenii. The synbiotic diet counteracted these transcriptional and microbial changes. Overall, the synbiotic supported epithelial integrity and moderated innate immune activation during acute endotoxin stress after weaning. Full article

Arid salt marsh ecosystems endure chronic water scarcity and high salinity stress, with the stability of their functions inextricably linked to the pivotal role of the rhizosphere microenvironment of halophytes. This study focused on three typical halophytes (Kalidium cuspidatum, Nitraria tangutorum, Reaumuria soongarica) in the Jiantan wetland, and deeply explore how these halophytes differently regulate the soil microenvironment through the rhizosphere effect. The results showed that the rhizosphere soil of Kalidium cuspidatum had higher pH, Na⁺, and K⁺ contents, while the rhizosphere soil of R. soongarica had higher total carbon, soil organic carbon, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, and microbial biomass. Microbial community analysis revealed that rhizosphere soil of fungal diversity was significantly higher in K. cuspidatum than in R. soongarica, with distinct differences in bacterial and fungal community structures. These differences were closely associated with factors such as Na⁺, Olsen phosphorus, microbial biomass carbon and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen. Among the dominant phyla, Proteobacteria and Ascomycota predominate, with Desulfobacterota and Mortierellomycota exhibiting the highest explanatory power (>48%) for physicochemical property variations. The microbial network of rhizosphere soil of R. soongarica has the highest complexity (with 633 nodes and 3300 edges), but the proportion of positive correlation edges was the lowest (21.58%). Structural equation modeling indicates that soil physical properties indirectly influence network complexity by negatively regulating chemical properties and microbial biomass, while microbial diversity had a direct positive effect on dominant phylum composition and network complexity. This study elucidated the differentiated adaptive strategies of rhizosphere microenvironment-microbe interactions in halophytes, providing a theoretical basis for wetland ecological restoration. Full article

Background/Objectives: Xu Chunfu’s Modified Xianglian Pill (XXLP) has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat “diarrhea” and “dysentery,” conditions analogous to modern ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the scientific basis for its efficacy and mechanisms remains unclear. Methods: The chemical composition of XXLP was analyzed via UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A colitis mouse model was established using DSS, and the therapeutic effects were assessed based on body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and histopathology. Inflammatory cytokines were measured using ELISA. Proteomic analysis and molecular docking identified key targets, which were validated using LPS-induced HT-29 cells via Western blot (WB), qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence (IF), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Analysis of XXLP led to the detection of 373 compounds. XXLP significantly improved colitis symptoms, including weight loss and colon shortening, and reduced the concentrations of inflammatory markers IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α, and IL-6. Proteomics and molecular docking identified NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) as a key target of XXLP intervention in mice with colitis. qRT-PCR, WB, IF, and TEM results further confirmed that XXLP effectively suppressed the expression of NOX2 and its associated protein levels. Sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA showed that XXLP significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial genera (Muribaculaceae and Ruminococcaceae) while markedly reducing the levels of harmful bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae). Correlation analysis revealed that specific microorganisms were correlated with NOX2-related protein expression and severity of colonic inflammation. Conclusions: XXLP effectively alleviates colitis by suppressing inflammatory responses. Its mechanism involves regulating the NOX2/ROS/mitochondria/NLRP3 axis and altering gut microbiota composition, providing novel insights for colitis treatment. Full article

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a secondary metabolite produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species, contaminates food and feed globally, posing serious threats to both livestock and human health. Among current detoxification strategies, probiotic-based degradation of OTA has emerged as a key research focus. This study aimed to isolate safe probiotic strains with high OTA-detoxifying efficacy to support their potential application in feed and food industries. A total of 57 bacterial strains were isolated from environmental samples, including soil, moldy feed, and animal feces. Among these, a novel strain identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MM28 demonstrated strong OTA-degrading activity, removing 86.31% of OTA (0.4 µg/mL) within 48 h. Whole-genome analysis indicated that B. amyloliquefaciens MM28 harbors functional genes related to glucose metabolism, membrane transport, and properties associated with antibacterial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities, suggesting multiple beneficial traits. In a 28-day chronic exposure study, mice were administered B. amyloliquefaciens MM28 via gavage (1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL). Results showed that both female and male mice in the MM28 group exhibited higher body weight and improved growth performance compared to the PBS control group. Furthermore, intestinal morphology was enhanced in the MM28 group, as indicated by greater villus length and villus-length-to-crypt-depth ratio. The expression of proinflammatory cytokines was also reduced in the treated animals. Moreover, analysis of gut microbiota composition revealed that MM28 supplementation led to an increased abundance of Bacteroides and Desulfovibrio, alongside a reduction in Lachnospira and Oscillospira. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MM28 is a safe and efficient strain capable of degrading OTA. These findings highlight its promising potential as a biological detoxifying agent in food and feed industries. Full article

Chrysomya megacephala is a synanthropic fly with a high potential to act as a mechanical vector of pathogenic bacteria, surpassing Musca domestica in both bacterial load and diversity. Native to Asia and Africa, it has become a cosmopolitan species, successfully adapting to a wide range of environments, including natural ecosystems. In Colombia, studies on its role as a vector are limited and have largely relied on traditional culturing methods. This study aimed to characterize the pathogenic bacterial microbiota associated with C. megacephala using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in urban, rural, and forest settings of a coastal tourist city. Flies were collected using Van Someren Rydon traps with attractants and sterile materials. Bacterial identification was performed through Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing (Manufactured by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Oxford, UK). A total of 49 bacterial species were identified, with urban environments showing the highest taxonomic richness. The forest environment was characterized by a highly dominant community structure, led by Vagococcus carniphilus. Notably, 20 bacterial species of public health relevance were detected, including Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Ignatzschineria ureiclastica, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae. These findings indicate that bacterial community composition varies by environment and underscore the potential role of C. megacephala as a mechanical vector, highlighting the importance of surveillance for its public health implications. Full article

Mass selection is increasingly promoted in viticulture to enhance resilience by restoring intra-varietal diversity, yet its effects on the structure and inheritance of plant-associated microbiomes remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated bacterial and fungal communities associated with old grapevine mother plants and their progeny across four Bordeaux estates practicing mass selection, using a fully in situ experimental design. Root and leaf microbiomes were characterized by metabarcoding and analyzed using multivariate ordination, hierarchical clustering, and assembly-process metrics (βNTI and NST). Microbial community composition and structure were primarily shaped by plant compartment and vineyard origin, whereas generation effects were significant but weak. Microbial resemblance between mother vines and their offspring was limited and highly context-dependent, occurring mainly under comparable environmental conditions. Assembly-process analyses revealed heterogeneous deterministic signals, particularly in root-associated bacterial communities, but did not consistently result in phylogenetic similarity between generations. Although inheritance signals were generally weak, their recurrence across multiple vineyards and contrasted field conditions highlights their ecological relevance. By integrating environmental variability, this in situ approach mitigates the adaptive bias in plant–microbiome interactions and shows that mass selection does not rely on systematic microbial transmission but rather operates within a nuanced framework of environmentally mediated interactions. Full article

As a sustainable biological approach for polluted water management, algal-bacterial systems are increasingly being explored because of their synergistic physiological and metabolic interactions. This study established an algal-bacterial consortium composed of Escherichia coli and Chlorella vulgaris to evaluate treatment performance of simulated livestock wastewater and elucidate the associated synergistic mechanisms. Compared with the pure algal system, the algal-bacterial consortium significantly enhanced algal growth, increasing chlorophyll concentration by 52.8% and achieving a maximum algal density of 16.46 × 10⁶ cells mL⁻¹. The biochemical composition of the biomass was improved, with total lipids, neutral lipids, and proteins increasing by 18.9%, 26.8%, and 16.4%, respectively. Pollutant removal efficiencies were markedly enhanced, as total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N), and nitrite nitrogen (NO₂⁻-N) increased by 19.1%, 9.5%, 26.0%, 13.5%, 17.2%, and 13.8%, respectively, compared with the monoculture. Mechanistic analysis was supported by monitoring chlorophyll content, algal density, dissolved oxygen, bacterial density, total inorganic carbon, and pH, which collectively suggested the involvement of a synergistic carbon–oxygen exchange process: oxygen produced by microalgae supported bacterial respiration, while carbon dioxide generated by bacteria enhanced algal photosynthesis and growth. Furthermore, the presence of E. coli markedly stimulated nitrogen metabolism-associated enzymatic functions in C. vulgaris, which may have facilitated their mutual growth. Overall, this study provides a conceptual and experimental basis for algal-bacterial consortium design for treating livestock wastewater, thereby enhancing pollutant removal efficiency and algal biomass accumulation, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and resource-efficient wastewater treatment strategy. Full article

Background: Once considered a sterile organ, the human stomach is now known to harbor a diverse microbial community that may influence both gastric homeostasis and disease. While extensive research has been conducted worldwide, regional variation in the gastric microbiome remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to describe the gastric antrum microbiome of Helicobacter pylori-negative Greek adults using 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing (NGS). Methods: Samples of gastric biopsies were obtained from patients undergoing gastroscopy at a tertiary hospital in Greece. H. pylori infection was excluded through a combination of bacterial culture and patient medical history. The final study group consisted of 9 subjects. Following DNA extraction, the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced on the Ion Torrent™ platform. Bioinformatic processing and statistical analyses were performed using the phyloseq, vegan, and ggplot2 R packages. Microbial composition, relative abundance, and alpha diversity (Shannon and Inverse Simpson indices) were evaluated at the genus level. Results: The gastric microbiome comprised 19 phyla, 150 families, 213 genera, and 391 species. The predominant phyla were Proteobacteria (36.92%), Firmicutes (34.21%), and Bacteroidetes (12.97%). The most prevalent families were Streptococcaceae, Helicobacteraceae, Prevotellaceae, and Pasteurellaceae. At the genus level, Streptococcus (21.71%), Helicobacter (18.39%), and Prevotella (9.99%) accounted for nearly half of the total relative abundance. Alpha diversity indices indicated moderate richness and evenness across samples. Conclusions: The gastric antrum microbiome of H. pylori-negative Greek individuals exhibits substantial taxonomic diversity dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The microbial community structure aligns closely with profiles reported in other global populations. These findings provide a reference baseline for future comparative analyses involving H. pylori-positive individuals to better understand microbiome shifts associated with colonization and gastric disease. Full article

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) represent a sustainable alternative to synthetic inputs in horticultural systems; however, their bioprospecting is hindered by the absence of integrative, performance-oriented selection strategies. In this study, a comprehensive collection of 259 bacterial isolates associated with tomato plants was systematically screened to identify strains with biocontrol and plant growth-promoting potential. Isolates were characterized in vitro for potential plant colonization ability, antifungal activity, and multiple plant growth-promoting mechanisms. These traits were integrated into composite indices and analyzed using multivariate approaches to guide the selection of promising isolates. Selected candidates were subsequently evaluated in vivo for biocontrol and plant growth at both seedling and productive stages, and most isolates exhibited consistent effects. Isolates from the genera Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus reduced fungal disease incidence to 2–9% (control disease: 80%). A Bacillus isolate increased seedling biomass by 54% in lettuce and 38% in tomato. Under productive conditions, lettuce marketable weight increased by 21–37%, whereas tomato yield showed positive but non-significant increases (~21–25%) after inoculation with Pseudomonas or Bacillus isolates. Overall, this work provides a structured framework for PGPB bioprospecting and validation, combining laboratory screening, composite indices, multivariate analyses, and multi-stage in vivo assays under realistic horticultural conditions. Full article

In this study, red cabbage-based intelligent/active composite films loaded with different concentrations of clove essential oil were prepared using red cabbage slurry as the matrix, polyvinyl alcohol as the binder, glycerol as the plasticizer, and Tween 80 as the emulsifier via the casting method. The physicochemical properties, color response behavior, and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the films were systematically evaluated and their application in fish freshness monitoring was further investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of clove essential oil significantly enhanced the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the films and optimized their mechanical properties within a certain concentration range. Although high concentrations slightly reduced the pH response sensitivity of the films, all composite films exhibited significant color-changing ability, achieving a visible transition from red to yellow-green within the pH range of 2–12. In fish preservation experiments, the composite films not only reflected the freshness status of fish in real time through color changes but also effectively inhibited the increase in total volatile basic nitrogen, total bacterial count, and pH value, thereby delaying spoilage. In this study, a green packaging material with an intelligent indicating function was successfully developed, providing a novel solution for the quality monitoring of high-value aquatic products. Full article

Recording and tracking the long-term dynamic changes in microbial populations is as essential as monitoring other soil properties for evaluating soil quality and health; however, this area has significantly lagged due to technical constraints and challenges in storing fresh soil samples. Historically archived soil samples offer a unique opportunity to characterize the temporal dynamics of microorganisms over several decades. To determine whether archived air-dried soils can be utilized for this purpose, we compared the structure and composition of bacterial communities across fresh soils, air-dried soil archives stored for varying durations, and their corresponding rewetted counterparts, all sourced from a long-term fertilization experiment on calcareous loess soil. Soil microbial features were characterized using the MiSeq sequencing platform. The results indicated that the similarity of DNA-based bacterial community composition between fresh soil and both archived and rewetted soils followed a downward quadratic curve as archiving time increased. Specifically, the DNA-based community structure of soils air-dried and preserved for one year, as well as those rewetted after eight years of archiving, remained highly similar to that of fresh soil. Regarding taxonomic shifts, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria in both air-dried and rewetted soils increased with storage time. Conversely, the relative abundances of Acidobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes significantly increased in air-dried soils but decreased upon rewetting over time. The relative abundances of Chloroflexi and Firmicutes remained stable in air-dried soils; however, after rewetting, the former decreased while the latter increased dramatically. Furthermore, Proteobacteria, Rokubacteria, Planctomycetes, Bacteroidetes, and Latescibacteria exhibited a decreasing trend in both air-dried and rewetted soils. These findings suggest that air-dried soils preserve DNA-based community profiles more effectively than rewetted soils, particularly for samples stored for less than eight years. This study provides a valuable reference for utilizing archived historical soil samples from long-term experiments to investigate microbial community evolution. Full article