Search Results (2,608)

Driven by increasing demand in the health and wellness industry, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) agriculture currently faces significant challenges related to supply–demand imbalances and continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs). Intercropping and crop rotation can mitigate yield decline and environmental stress by improving microclimates and rhizosphere ecology. However, there is still a lack of bibliometric synthesis within this research area. To analyze research hotspots and evolutionary trends, 192 articles on the intercropping and crop rotation of medicinal plants were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (1998–2025), including databases such as the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) and the Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI). The results revealed a steady increase in publication volume over time. China emerged as the most prolific contributor (93 articles), while the United States occupied a pivotal position in the global collaborative network, achieving a high centrality of 0.90. Research hotspots in this field have evolved from an early emphasis on plant yield and quality toward the mechanisms for alleviating CCOs, interspecific interactions within the rhizosphere microbiome, and the ecological management of soil health. Keyword bursts indicate that “microbial community” and “carbon” have emerged as the current research frontiers. To clarify the micro-mechanisms by which intercropping and crop rotation patterns mitigate or prevent CCOs, future research should prioritize the integration of multi-omics approaches to resolve molecular interactions within the “microbe–plant–soil” nexus. Key priorities include the development of functional Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) and the establishment of comprehensive evaluation systems for ecological cultivation. Furthermore, aligning these models with global climate neutrality strategies would facilitate the balance between high-quality medicinal production and ecosystem stability. Full article

This review examined the technological evolution and raw material diversification in non-grape fruit sparkling wines to address climate-induced challenges in the traditional wine industry. A total of 16 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 were selected through a comprehensive literature search based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results indicated that apple-based cider research remained dominant, accounting for approximately 62.5% of the selected studies; however, a significant trend toward diversification utilizing regional specialty fruits, such as persimmon, guava, and melon-derived by-products, was observed. Technologically, the industry was observed to shift from basic feasibility assessments to “precision enology.” The application of non-conventional yeasts (e.g., Torulaspora delbrueckii) and native microbiomes substantially enhanced aromatic complexity and terroir expression. Furthermore, metabolomic and chemometric analyses demonstrated that fermentation methods (Traditional vs. Charmat) substantially modulated flavor profiles, particularly ester formation. These findings suggest that non-grape substrates provide a sustainable pathway for high-value sparkling wine production and show potential to emerge as an independent industrial category driven by advanced fermentation strategies. Full article

The rectal mucosa houses a large number of viruses with important roles in shaping the local microbial communities and modulating immune responses, which could influence host susceptibility to infection and other diseases. Unique composition of the gut microbiome, including the predominance of clinically significant eukaryotic viruses like herpesviruses, cytomegalovirus, and human papillomavirus, has been described in both people with HIV (PWH) and men who have sex with men (MSM) vulnerable to HIV. Despite these insights, the rectal virome and the clinical implications of virome–bacteriome–immune interactions in the rectal mucosa remain poorly understood. In this review, we synthesize existing data on the composition of the rectal virome, its interactions with the bacteriome and the immune system, and implications on clinical outcomes in people living with or vulnerable to HIV. We also highlight the gaps and research needed to further explore and unravel these relationships. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a major global health threat, largely driven by antibiotic overuse and the protective role of bacterial biofilms. Quorum sensing (QS), a bacterial communication system regulating virulence and biofilm formation, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. Quorum quenching (QQ), which disrupts QS without directly inhibiting bacterial growth, is considered a potential anti-virulence strategy that may reduce selective pressure for resistance. This review critically evaluates recent advances in QQ research, focusing on its clinical applicability, limitations, and risks. We analyzed studies from the last five years involving natural compounds, synthetic molecules, nanoparticles (NPs), and combination therapies targeting key pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in models of lung diseases, mainly cystic fibrosis, chronic wounds, burns, and implant-associated infections. While numerous compounds demonstrate significant in vitro anti-biofilm and anti-virulence activity, major challenges remain, including limited in vivo validation, pharmacokinetic constraints, toxicity concerns, microbiome disruption, and the potential development of tolerance or functional resistance. Although QQ offers a promising adjunctive approach to conventional antibiotics, its long-term clinical feasibility requires comprehensive evaluation of evolutionary dynamics, host–microbe interactions, and safety profiles. Full article

Inflammation is a physiological and tightly regulated component of normal pregnancy, contributing to implantation, placental development, and the initiation of parturition. The placenta functions as an active immunological hub, coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses to maintain tolerance while protecting against infection. Preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR) are major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity worldwide and represent central manifestations of placental disease. Increasing evidence indicates that these conditions share key pathophysiological mechanisms, including placental dysfunction and maladaptive maternal immune responses. When immune regulation at the maternal–fetal interface becomes disrupted, inflammatory pathways contribute to impaired placental development and vascular maladaptation. In this context, excessive immune activation—driven by inflammasome signaling, Th1/Th17 polarization, and altered natural killer and macrophage function—can compromise placental perfusion, promote antiangiogenic imbalance, and lead to systemic endothelial dysfunction. This review, therefore, focuses on how immune dysregulation contributes to placental dysfunction in preeclampsia and FGR, synthesizing current knowledge of the maternal–fetal immune interface and exploring therapeutic strategies that link pathogenic mechanisms to targeted interventions. A deeper understanding of placental immunology and inflammatory signaling is essential to develop precision therapies. Established therapies, including low-dose aspirin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and antenatal corticosteroids, aim to mitigate inflammation and optimize fetal outcomes, while adjunctive strategies target oxidative stress, nutritional deficits, and the maternal microbiome. Emerging approaches such as cytokine-targeted biologics, inflammasome inhibitors, and mesenchymal stem cell therapies show promise but require rigorous safety and efficacy evaluation. Future research should prioritize biomarker validation, pathway-specific interventions, and equitable implementation to reduce inflammation-driven pregnancy complications. Full article

Purpose: A high-salt extracellular environment promotes fibrosis in multiple organs by inducing oxidative stress, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling. In the lung, sodium accumulation may result from impaired epithelial ion transport. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a key profibrotic cytokine, downregulates epithelial sodium and chloride channels, promoting sodium retention and fibrotic remodeling. This study investigated whether antifibrotic drugs can prevent TGF-β1-induced suppression of sodium channel expression in the lung epithelium. Methods: Human A549 alveolar epithelial cells and primary alveolar epithelial cells were cultured with or without TGF-β1 in the presence or absence of nintedanib or pirfenidone. Expression of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits (SCNN1A, SCNN1B, SCNN1G, SCNN1D) and CFTR was analyzed. In vivo, lung tissues from TGF-β1 transgenic mice and wild-type controls were examined following intranasal administration of pirfenidone. Results: TGF-β1 markedly reduced the expression of all ENaC subunits and CFTR in vitro. Nintedanib prevented suppression of SCNN1A, SCNN1D, and SCNN1G, whereas pirfenidone prevented suppression of SCNN1A, SCNN1B, and SCNN1G. In TGF-β1 transgenic mice, Scnn1a, Scnn1b, and Scnn1g expression was significantly decreased compared with wild-type controls. Pirfenidone administration dose-dependently restored expression of these ENaC subunits in vivo. Conclusions: Antifibrotic drugs partially prevent TGF-β1-induced suppression of epithelial sodium channels, preserving epithelial ion homeostasis. Restoration of ENaC expression may represent a novel mechanism by which antifibrotic therapy mitigates sodium-associated lung fibrosis. Full article

Cancer is a major public health challenge worldwide, with increasing incidence and a growing economic and societal burden. Despite therapeutic advances, prevention remains the most effective strategy to reduce its impact. The One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, provides a valuable framework to address cancer risk factors in a more integrated and sustainable way. This narrative review addresses cancer through a One Health lens. Human health aspects include the global burden, major lifestyle and infectious risk factors, and key prevention strategies. Environmental determinants of cancer are summarized with emphasis on climate change, air pollution, occupational exposures, microplastics, ultraviolet radiation, and nutrition/food safety. Animal health contributions include insights from comparative oncology, which offer translational opportunities for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, and from microbiome research revealing promising biomarkers for early detection and treatment response. Integrating cancer prevention into the One Health framework is essential for addressing the complex interplay between environmental, animal, and human health. A multidisciplinary approach can enhance public health policies, promote sustainable prevention measures, and improve early detection and treatment strategies, ultimately reducing healthcare costs and advancing global health outcomes. Full article

Tamarindus indica L. is a species of tree with high economic value. However, research on its associated bacterial communities is limited, and no microbial fertilizer has yet been developed specifically for tamarind. In this study, we selected 20 geographical provenances of tamarind as experimental materials, evaluated their germplasm resources, and investigated the correlation between plant traits and associated bacterial communities under grafting conditions. Provenances YM2 and BS21 produced the largest fruits, while all physiological indices showed significant variability among the tested accessions. Microbial samples from the phyllosphere and rhizosphere were collected from these 20 provenances, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted to compare microbial communities. The differences in rhizosphere microbiota among different samples were more significant than those in phyllosphere microbiota; subsequently, an in-depth investigation was conducted on the relationships between rhizosphere bacterial communities and various traits under these grafting conditions. Through correlation analysis, significant correlations were identified between some microbial phyla and the traits of tamarind under these grafting conditions. Under the current grafting conditions, variations in the rhizosphere microbiome were associated with tamarind provenances. However, due to the constraints of the experimental design, the potential influences of rootstock genotypes and scion–rootstock signal transduction could not be excluded. Nevertheless, through the unification of rootstock sources and the design of correlation analysis, this study has initially verified the dominant association between scion provenances and microbial communities. Full article

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) represents a prevalent adverse effect of opioid analgesics, affecting 60–90% of patients and ssignificantly compromising quality of life. This review delineates the multifactorial pathogenesis of OIC. Peripheral μ-opioid receptor (MOR) activation suppresses enteric neuronal excitability, inhibits intestinal motility and secretion, and impairs rectoanal function. Notably, the colon appears to exhibit a distinctive lack of tolerance to opioids. Enteric glial cell activation has been implicated in neuroinflammation, while interstitial cells of Cajal show impaired pacemaker function. Central mechanisms are increasingly recognized to involve the brain–gut axis. Furthermore, opioid-induced barrier disruption, microbiota dysbiosis, and LPS/TLR4-mediated inflammation are proposed to interact and may contribute to a self-reinforcing cycle. Animal models have been instrumental in dissecting these mechanisms. However, they present limitations in reproducibility, clinical phenotype fidelity, and translational validity, particularly regarding microbiome composition and neuroimmune responses. Future research should prioritize the development of standardized, physiologically relevant animal models incorporating multi-omics approaches, and validate mechanism-based therapeutic strategies, including peripherally acting MOR antagonists and microbiota-targeted interventions, for precision management of OIC. Full article

Over the past several decades, the gut microbiome (GM) has been the focus of extensive investigation. In recent years, major discoveries such as the role of maternal breastfeeding in infant GM development and mode of delivery on infant GM health have expanded scientific knowledge on this topic. As this is a rapidly expanding field of research, substantial work remains to further elucidate and integrate the existing evidence on its role in allergic response and immunological development. This comprehensive review will examine the latest discoveries in GM research and its role in the development of food allergies across the lifespan. Examining the existing literature may identify knowledge gaps regarding precise mechanisms through which the development of GM influences the maturation of the immune system. Given the abundance of the literature, we conducted a database search for articles published within the past 10 years. A total of 56 original research articles were retrieved, analyzed, and included in our review. This review article aims to integrate the current evidence on understanding how the development of GM impacts the immune system and food allergy response throughout the lifespan. We aim to uncover microbial mechanisms of allergy response, host and microbe interactions, and opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Additionally, we aim to reveal gaps in the current knowledge of the GM’s influence on allergy development, offering directions for future research. Full article

Subterranean termites, particularly Odontotermes obesus, cause severe damage to forest nurseries and plantations in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This study demonstrates the dual functional role of endophytic entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana, in termite suppression and induction of plant defense responses. Laboratory bioassays revealed significantly higher virulence of M. anisopliae, with a lower LT₅₀ (lethal time required to cause 50% mortality) of 33.1 h compared to B. bassiana (46.7 h), a steeper probit slope (5.4 ± 0.3), and strong model fit (R² = 0.95), indicating rapid and synchronized mortality. Endophytic colonization varied across host species and application methods, with soil incorporation consistently outperforming foliar inoculation. Maximum colonization (82.5%) was recorded in Tecomella undulata and exceeded 80% in Azadirachta indica under M. anisopliae. Biochemical analyses revealed significant increases in protein (up to 3.5 mg g⁻¹), phenols (3.7 mg g⁻¹), and tannins (2.7 mg g⁻¹). Activity of defense enzymes was significantly enhanced, with catalase reaching 263.5 U mL⁻¹, while Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and Tyrosine ammonia-lyase exceeded 170 and 198 U mL⁻¹, respectively, indicating activation of antioxidant and phenylpropanoid pathways. Molecular docking analysis further revealed strong interactions between fungal metabolites and termite cellulase, with Bassianin (−8.4 kcal mol⁻¹) and Tenellin (−8.1 kcal mol⁻¹) showing the highest binding affinities. These findings highlight the combined biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying fungal-mediated termite suppression and plant defense induction, and future research should prioritize transcriptomic validation, rhizosphere microbiome interactions, formulation optimization, and long-term multi-location field evaluation to support sustainable termite management strategies. Full article

Allergic asthma is a prevalent chronic inflammatory disease of the airways whose pathogenesis has traditionally been attributed to localized immune dysfunction within the lung. However, accumulating evidence from microbiome research supports a broader system-level perspective in which cross-organ interactions contribute to disease susceptibility and progression. In particular, the gut–lung axis has emerged as a key regulatory pathway linking intestinal microbial ecology, immune development, and respiratory health. This review synthesizes current epidemiological, mechanistic, and experimental evidence supporting the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in allergic asthma. We examine how early-life environmental and nutritional exposures and gut microbiota establishment during critical developmental windows shape long-term immune tolerance and asthma susceptibility. We then summarize characteristic features of asthma-associated gut dysbiosis and discuss how microbial-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan metabolites, pro-allergic lipid mediators such as 12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid, and bacterial-derived histamine, modulate distal airway immune responses through epigenetic, receptor-mediated, and immune trafficking mechanisms. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of diet as a key upstream regulator of gut microbiota composition and metabolic function. Finally, we evaluate experimental and translational studies targeting the gut–lung axis, including dietary modulation, microbiome-targeted interventions such as fecal microbiota transplantation, and emerging postbiotic approaches. Collectively, current evidence indicates that gut microbial composition and metabolic function are critical determinants of respiratory immune homeostasis. Targeting the gut–lung axis through nutrition- and microbiome-based strategies offers a promising avenue for the prevention and precision treatment of allergic asthma. Full article

Probiotics, live microorganisms that confer health benefits when administered in adequate amounts, are increasingly recognized as modulators of interconnected microbiome–host networks that extend beyond gastrointestinal function. This review synthesizes evidence on classical probiotic roles in maintaining gut homeostasis, immune regulation, and infection prevention, while integrating emerging systemic effects across the gut–brain, gut–skin, gut–oral, and metabolic axes. Rather than presenting isolated outcomes, we adopt a systems-level framework that links probiotic actions to shared mechanisms, including microbial metabolite signaling (e.g., SCFAs), competitive exclusion of pathobionts, barrier reinforcement, and immune–neuroendocrine pathway modulation. We further discuss translational advances that enable rational probiotic design, including targeted delivery platforms (encapsulation and protective matrices), engineered/next-generation strains, and postbiotic-inspired strategies, alongside sustainability considerations and regulatory/labeling challenges. Finally, we outline future directions emphasizing precision microbiome-centered interventions, synthetic biology, and AI-assisted multi-omics analysis to support strain- and context-specific probiotic strategies. Collectively, this review provides an integrated, systems-oriented synthesis to guide future research and accelerate safe clinical and industrial applications of probiotics. Full article

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune background and unknown etiology. The importance of genetic factors in RA development is well-established. Environmental factors have also been extensively researched in relation to risk of RA and managing its symptoms. Smoking, physical activity, diet, and gut microbiota are considered to be the most essential modifiable factors in RA. Among dietary interventions, the most researched is Mediterranean diet, monounsaturated fatty acids, fish consumption, and fish oil (EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA, that is, docosahexaenoic acid). Others concerned gluten-free and vegan or vegetarian diet, salt intake, supplementation with vitamin D, antioxidants, prebiotics, and probiotics. Diet modifications can alter the gut environment, and the association between RA development or severity and the composition of gut bacteria has already been shown. This review focuses on effectiveness and usefulness of various dietary approaches and supplements in RA prevention and management, including the influence on disease activity and inflammatory status. The composition of gut microbiota and its changes in response to dietary factors are also considered. There is a great need for further research into mutual dependencies of diet, microbiome, and RA activity. The current state of knowledge provides promising evidence for future nutrition and microbial therapies. Full article

Research on the human microbiome, particularly the gut microbiome, has expanded rapidly as its influence on health and behavior becomes increasingly evident. Once understood primarily in terms of digestion and immune function, the microbiome is now recognized as a key contributor to brain function, mood regulation, and social behavior. Emerging evidence links microbial dysbiosis to the onset and persistence of mood disorders, opening new pathways for mental health research and intervention. This paper challenges reductionist biomedical models by advancing a biopsychosocial framework for interpreting health outcomes related to microbiome dynamics. The gut–brain axis illustrates the biological complexity of these interactions, with microbial communities shaping neurodevelopment and neurotransmitter production. Psychologically, alterations in microbial composition have been associated with depression, anxiety, and stress responsivity, while social determinants—including early-life environments, socioeconomic conditions, and relationships—structure microbial variation in ways that may reinforce existing health inequities. Focusing on women’s health, this narrative review examines how microbial states both influence and are shaped by interconnected biological, psychological, and social factors. Interdisciplinary implications of microbiome research for understanding and achieving eubiosis and holistic models care in both research and clinical practice are discussed. Full article