Redox in Microorganisms, 2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

This is the second edition of “Redox in Microorganisms”( https://www.mdpi.com/topics/Redox_Microorganisms). The mechanisms by which microorganisms fight oxidative stress are essential for their survival in different environments. These include a large arsenal of molecular strategies to prevent or repair the oxidation of proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids, including antioxidants or enzymes that may rescue different vital components from irreversible oxidation. The molecular factors involved in these processes are relevant for pathogenesis, bioremediation, or industrial microbiology. Therefore, the study of redox biology in microorganisms is providing new insights into very diverse fields, and their translational potential is rapidly increasing. We invite you to submit your latest research findings or a review article on this special topic, which focuses on any aspect of the redox biology of microorganisms. We look forward to your contribution.

Dr. Michal Letek
Dr. Volker Behrends
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Antibiotics antibiotics	4.6	8.7	2012	15 Days	CHF 2900
Antioxidants antioxidants	6.6	12.4	2012	17.4 Days	CHF 2900
Journal of Fungi jof	4.0	8.4	2015	18.2 Days	CHF 2600
Microbiology Research microbiolres	2.2	2.8	2010	20.7 Days	CHF 1600
Microorganisms microorganisms	4.2	7.7	2013	15.2 Days	CHF 2700

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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All Antibiotics Antioxidants JoF Microbiology Research Microorganisms

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Open AccessArticle

Dual Redox Targeting by Pyrroloformamide A and Silver Ions Enhances Antibacterial and Anti-Biofilm Activity Against Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

by Enhe Bai, Qingwen Tan, Xiong Yi, Jianghui Yao, Yanwen Duan and Yong Huang

Antibiotics 2025, 14(7), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14070640 - 23 Jun 2025

Viewed by 954

Abstract

Background: Dithiolopyrrolones (DTPs), such as holomycin and thiolutin, exhibit potent antibacterial activities. DTPs contain a disulfide within a unique bicyclic scaffold, which may chelate metal ions and disrupt metal-dependent cellular processes once the disulfide is reductively transformed to thiols. However, the contribution of [...] Read more.

Background: Dithiolopyrrolones (DTPs), such as holomycin and thiolutin, exhibit potent antibacterial activities. DTPs contain a disulfide within a unique bicyclic scaffold, which may chelate metal ions and disrupt metal-dependent cellular processes once the disulfide is reductively transformed to thiols. However, the contribution of the intrinsic redox mechanism of DTPs to their antibacterial activity remains unclear. Herein we used pyrroloformamide (Pyf) A, a DTP with a unique formyl substituent, as a prototype to study the antibacterial potential and mechanism against ESKAPE pathogens, in particular carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). Methods: The antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of Pyf A were mainly assessed against clinical CRKP isolates. Propidium iodide staining, scanning electron microscopy, glutathione (GSH) quantification, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis were utilized to infer its anti-CRKP mechanism. The synergistic antibacterial effects of Pyf A and AgNO₃ were evaluated through checkerboard and time-kill assays, as well as in vivo murine wound and catheter biofilm infection models. Results: Pyf A exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against ESKAPE pathogens with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 4 μg/mL. It also showed potent anti-biofilm effects against CRKP. Pyf A disrupted the cell membranes of CRKP and markedly depleted intracellular GSH without triggering ROS accumulation. Pyf A and AgNO₃ showed synergistic anti-CRKP activities in vitro and in vivo, by disrupting both GSH- and thioredoxin-mediated redox homeostasis. Conclusions: Pyf A acts as a GSH-depleting agent and, when combined with AgNO₃, achieves dual-targeted disruption of bacterial thiol redox systems. This dual-targeting strategy enhances antibacterial efficacy of Pyf A and represents a promising therapeutic approach to combat CRKP infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Redox in Microorganisms, 2nd Edition)

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10 pages, 1298 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Energy Metabolism and Aerobic Respiratory Chain of Vitreoscilla sp. C1: Comparison with β-Proteobacteria

by Paul T. Nguyen, Yuyao Hu, Anne Caroline Mascarenhas dos Santos, Pingdong Liang, Benjamin C. Stark, Karina Tuz and Oscar Juárez

Microbiol. Res. 2025, 16(5), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/microbiolres16050094 - 4 May 2025

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Abstract

As the source of the first reported class of non-mammalian hemoglobin, Vitreoscilla sp. C1 is a historically important microorganism that has offered important clues to understanding how bacteria can thrive at low oxygen tension, with potential applications to wastewater and sludge bioengineering. However, [...] Read more.

As the source of the first reported class of non-mammalian hemoglobin, Vitreoscilla sp. C1 is a historically important microorganism that has offered important clues to understanding how bacteria can thrive at low oxygen tension, with potential applications to wastewater and sludge bioengineering. However, the processes that enable this bacterium to thrive in such environments remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the published Vitreoscilla sp. C1 genome to predict the core metabolic pathways used by this microorganism to support cell growth under hypoxic conditions, compared them with the predicted metabolism of other important β-proteobacteria, and tested Vitreoscilla’s respiratory activity in vitro in the presence of various substrates and inhibitors. Vitreoscilla sp. C1 carries a functional Krebs cycle and the genes for a branched aerobic respiratory chain, minus the genes for complexes III and IV, and our results show that Vitreoscilla sp. C1 sugar metabolism is carried out through a unique pathway that shunts intermediaries from glycolysis, bypassing phosphofructokinase-I, into the non-oxidative section of the pentose phosphate pathway, reducing its oxygen dependency, which appears as an adaptation to the microaerophilic environment that this organism inhabits. Although Vitreoscilla sp. C1 features a simplified respiratory chain, experimental data demonstrate that all predicted branches are functional, with two main dehydrogenases and two terminal oxidases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Redox in Microorganisms, 2nd Edition)

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10 pages, 1248 KB  

Open AccessReview

A Narrative Review of the Role of S-Glutathionylation in Bacteria

by Luca Federici, Michele Masulli, Vincenzo De Laurenzi and Nerino Allocati

Microorganisms 2025, 13(3), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13030527 - 27 Feb 2025

Viewed by 765

Abstract

Protein glutathionylation is defined as a reversible, ubiquitous post-translational modification, resulting in the formation of mixed disulfides between glutathione and proteins’ cysteine residues. Glutathionylation has been implicated in several cellular mechanisms ranging from protection from oxidative stress to the control of cellular homeostasis [...] Read more.

Protein glutathionylation is defined as a reversible, ubiquitous post-translational modification, resulting in the formation of mixed disulfides between glutathione and proteins’ cysteine residues. Glutathionylation has been implicated in several cellular mechanisms ranging from protection from oxidative stress to the control of cellular homeostasis and the cell cycle. A significant body of research has examined the multifaceted effects of this post-translational modification under physiological conditions in eukaryotes, with a particular focus on its impact on the development of various diseases in humans. In contrast, the role of glutathionylation in prokaryotic organisms remains to be extensively investigated. However, there has been a recent increase in the number of studies investigating this issue, providing details about the role of glutathione and other related thiols as post-translational modifiers of selected bacterial proteins. It can be concluded that in addition to the classical role of such thiols in protecting against cysteine oxidation and consequent protein inactivation, many more specialized roles of glutathionylation in bacterial pathogenicity, virulence, interspecies competition and survival, and control of gene expression are emerging, and new ones may emerge in the future. In this short review, we aim to summarize the current state-of-the-art in this field of research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Redox in Microorganisms, 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 26019 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Network Analysis of Gut Microbial Communities Reveals Key Reason for Quercetin Protects against Colitis

by Yanan Lv, Jing Peng, Xiaoyu Ma, Zeyi Liang, Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh, Qunhua Ke, Wenxiang Shen, Zuoting Yan, Hongsheng Li, Shengyi Wang and Xuezhi Ding

Microorganisms 2024, 12(10), 1973; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12101973 - 29 Sep 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2032

Abstract

As one of the most representative natural products among flavonoids, quercetin (QUE) has been reported to exhibit beneficial effects on gut health in recent years. In this study, we utilized a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model to explore the protective effects [...] Read more.

As one of the most representative natural products among flavonoids, quercetin (QUE) has been reported to exhibit beneficial effects on gut health in recent years. In this study, we utilized a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice model to explore the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of QUE on colitis. Our data demonstrated that QUE oral gavage administration significantly ameliorates the symptoms and histopathological changes associated with colitis. Additionally, the concentration of mucin-2, the number of goblet cells, and the expression of tight junction proteins (such as ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1) were all found to be increased. Furthermore, QUE treatment regulated the levels of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage polarization, as well as the oxidative stress-related pathway (Nrf2/HO-1) and associated enzymes. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that QUE treatment rebalances the alterations in colon microbiota composition (inlcuding Bacteroidaceae, Bacteroides, and Odoribacter) in DSS-induced colitis mice. The analysis of network dynamics reveals a significant correlation between gut microbial communities and microenvironmental factors associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, in conjunction with the previously mentioned findings. Collectively, our results suggest that QUE has the potential to treat colitis by maintaining the mucosal barrier, modulating inflammation, and reducing oxidation stress, which may depend on the reversal of gut microbiota dysbiosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Redox in Microorganisms, 2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 2821 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Unravelling the Role of Candida albicans Prn1 in the Oxidative Stress Response through a Proteomics Approach

by Victor Arribas, Lucia Monteoliva, María Luisa Hernáez, Concha Gil and Gloria Molero

Antioxidants 2024, 13(5), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13050527 - 26 Apr 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3753

Abstract

Candida albicans Prn1 is a protein with an unknown function similar to mammalian Pirin. It also has orthologues in other pathogenic fungi, but not in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Prn1 highly increases its abundance in response to H₂O₂ treatment; thus, to [...] Read more.

Candida albicans Prn1 is a protein with an unknown function similar to mammalian Pirin. It also has orthologues in other pathogenic fungi, but not in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Prn1 highly increases its abundance in response to H₂O₂ treatment; thus, to study its involvement in the oxidative stress response, a C. albicans prn1∆ mutant and the corresponding wild-type strain SN250 have been studied. Under H₂O₂ treatment, Prn1 absence led to a higher level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a lower survival rate, with a higher percentage of death by apoptosis, confirming its relevant role in oxidative detoxication. The quantitative differential proteomics studies of both strains in the presence and absence of H₂O₂ indicated a lower increase in proteins with oxidoreductase activity after the treatment in the prn1∆ strain, as well as an increase in proteasome-activating proteins, corroborated by in vivo measurements of proteasome activity, with respect to the wild type. In addition, remarkable differences in the abundance of some transcription factors were observed between mutant and wild-type strains, e.g., Mnl1 or Nrg1, an Mnl1 antagonist. orf19.4850, a protein orthologue to S. cerevisiae Cub1, has shown its involvement in the response to H₂O₂ and in proteasome function when Prn1 is highly expressed in the wild type. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Redox in Microorganisms, 2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 9810 KB  

Open AccessArticle

The Fecal Redox Potential in Healthy and Diarrheal Pigs and Their Correlation with Microbiota

by Ni Feng, Rongying Xu, Dongfang Wang, Lian Li, Yong Su and Xiaobo Feng

Antioxidants 2024, 13(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13010096 - 12 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2276

Abstract

The redox potential plays a critical role in sustaining the stability of gut microbiota. This study measured the fecal redox potential in healthy and diarrheal pigs using direct and dilution methods and investigated their correlation with microbiota. The results showed that the fluctuations [...] Read more.

The redox potential plays a critical role in sustaining the stability of gut microbiota. This study measured the fecal redox potential in healthy and diarrheal pigs using direct and dilution methods and investigated their correlation with microbiota. The results showed that the fluctuations in the redox potential of healthy pig feces were consistent using two different methods and the two methods are equivalent based on an equivalence test. The redox potential was positively correlated with the number of fungi and negatively related to the total bacteria. The relative or absolute abundances of many bacteria at the phyla and genus levels were associated with redox potential. In diarrheal pigs, the potentiometric trends of the two methods demonstrated an opposing pattern and the correlation with total bacteria was reversed. Precipitously elevated redox potential was detected post-diarrhea using dilution methods. The absolute abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Fuurnierella was positively correlated with redox potential, while both relative and absolute abundances of Limosilactobacillus were positively correlated. These results suggest that both methods are suitable for detecting gut redox potential in healthy pigs, while the dilution method is more suitable for diarrheal pigs. The findings on the correlation of Limosilactobacillus, Prevotella, and Escherichia-Shigella with redox potential offer novel insights for targeted modulation of intestinal health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Redox in Microorganisms, 2nd Edition)

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