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Topic Review
Communication Mode between Microorganisms
Various processes such as rhizospheric competence, antibiosis, release of enzymes, and induction of systemic resistance in host plants are all used by microbes to influence plant-microbe interactions. These processes are largely founded on chemical signalling. Producing, releasing, detecting, and responding to chemicals are all part of chemical signalling. Different microbes released distinct sorts of chemical signal molecules which interacts with the environment and hosts. 
  • 1.3K
  • 02 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Nitrogen-Fixing Legume Symbionts
It is now widely recognized that genetic regulation of bacterial physiology cannot be fully understood without considering the possible participation of small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs). However, current genome annotations for most bacterial species unaccountably overlook sRNA genes. Here, we describe strategies undertaken to characterize the noncoding transcriptome of rhizobia, a group of soil bacteria that are well-known for their ability to establish agriculturally and environmentally relevant mutualistic nitrogen-fixing symbioses with legumes.
  • 1.3K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Fungi Affecting Wall Paintings of Historical Value
Wall paintings have been a cultural expression of human creativity throughout history. Their degradation or destruction represents a loss to the world’s cultural heritage, and fungi have been identified as a major contributor to their decay. For this reason, is of utmost importance to know the species involved, their distribution, the method used for their identification, and the possible relation with the environment.
  • 1.3K
  • 06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
E. coli is a versatile microorganism, and even if the invasive infections are those that are more likely to evolve with life threatening complications, the diarrheagenic strains of E. coli are still important pathogens, especially in the pediatric departments.
  • 1.3K
  • 03 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Anti- and Pro-Oxidant Properties of Essential Oils
Natural products such as plant extracts and essential oils (EOs) have been viewed as potential candidates to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to their complex chemistry that carries inherent pro-oxidant and antioxidant properties. EOs and their constituents that hold pro-oxidant properties can induce oxidative stress by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to biological damage in target cells. In contrast, the antioxidant properties scavenge free radicals through offsetting ROS. Both pro-oxidant and antioxidant activities in EOs represent a promising strategy to tackle AMR.
  • 1.3K
  • 09 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Marine Arthropods
Peptide therapeutics play a key role in the development of new medical treatments. The traditional focus on endogenous peptides has shifted from first discovering other natural sources of these molecules, to later synthesizing those with unique bioactivities. Marine arthropods do not have an adaptive immune system, and therefore, they depend on the innate immune system to eliminate pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with unique characteristics are a pivotal part of the defense systems of these organisms.
  • 1.3K
  • 17 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Siboglinidae Tubes
Siboglinids were sampled from four mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cádiz (El Cid MV, Bonjardim MV, Al Gacel MV, and Anastasya MV). These invertebrates are characteristic of cold seeps and are known to host chemosynthetic endosymbionts in a dedicated trophosome organ. However, little is known about their tube as a potential niche for other microorganisms. Analyses by scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed dense biofilms on the tube in Al Gacel MV and Anastasya MV specimens by prokaryotic cells. Methanotrophic bacteria were the most abundant forming these biofilms as further supported by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Furthermore, elemental analyses with electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy point to the mineralization and silicification of the tube, most likely induced by the microbial metabolisms. Bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA sequence libraries revealed abundant microorganisms related to these siboglinid specimens and certain variations in microbial communities among samples. Thus, the tube remarkably increases the microbial biomass related to the worms and provides an additional microbial niche in deep-sea ecosystems.
  • 1.3K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
The Benefits of Using Phosphate-Solubilizing Biofertilizers
Chemical phosphatic fertilizers are mainly produced from phosphate rocks, a natural reserve that is depleting rapidly. These chemical phosphatic fertilizers are polluting the environment at an alarming rate as a result of injudicious application to farmlands. On the other hand, phosphate-solubilizing biofertilizers (PSBs) are often considered better alternatives to industrial phosphatic fertilizers in many ways. PSBs are microorganisms capable of solubilizing insoluble forms of phosphate into soluble plant-usable forms. The impacts of phosphatic fertilizers are discussed and making the case for why we should shift to PSBs instead. Phosphatic fertilizers have numerous impacts on the environment (water bodies, land resources, and air), and micro- and macro-organisms, including humans. Chemical fertilizers also tend to be more expensive, especially for farmers in developing countries. On the contrary, PSBs tend to be safer and way more beneficial than their chemical counterparts in that they are environmentally friendly and cheaper options of availing plant-usable phosphorus. PSBs are also involved in other beneficial roles such as the production of phytohormones and secretion of anti-phytopathogenic metabolites. The phytohormones enhance plant growth and the metabolites render crops immunity against phytopathogens. Hence, it is vital to replace chemical phosphatic fertilizers with PSB inoculants both to prevent the irreversible impacts of chemical fertilizers and to take advantage of the numerous benefits of PSBs. 
  • 1.3K
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Drinking Water Microbiome
Microbial communities interact with us and affect our health in ways that are only beginning to be understood. Microorganisms have been detected in every ecosystem on Earth, as well as in any built environment that has been investigated. Drinking water sources, drinking water treatment plants and distribution systems provide peculiar microbial ecological niches, dismantling the belief of the “biological simplicity” of drinking water. The assemblage of microbes within drinking water is referred to as the drinking water microbiota (“microbiome” when referring to the associated genetic information), and it accounts for about 106–108 cells/L. Recent DNA sequencing and meta-omics advancements allow a deeper understanding of drinking water microbiota.
  • 1.3K
  • 16 Nov 2022
Topic Review
T5SS and Other Secretion Systems in Bacteria
Bacteria have existed on Earth for billions of years, exhibiting ubiquity and involvement in various biological activities. To ensure survival, bacteria usually release and secrete effector proteins to acquire nutrients and compete with other microorganisms for living space during long-term evolution. Consequently, bacteria have developed a range of secretion systems, which are complex macromolecular transport machines responsible for transporting proteins across the bacterial cell membranes. Among them, one particular secretion system that stands out from the rest is the type V secretion system (T5SS), known as the “autotransporter”.
  • 1.3K
  • 27 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Green Tea Catechins
Green tea and green tea catechins have been shown to be strongly inhibitory to cancer formation in rodents. They are believed to do this by altering cells after they have been initiated on the path toward cancer. Green tea and green tea catechin prevention of cancer in humans has been hard to detect. We discuss that the reason for this difference is likely to be the digestive tract microbiome. If green tea catechins are to be continue to be tested for cancer prevention properties in humans it will be necessary to take into account variable digestive tract microbiome metabolism in people so the dose can be optimized for each person thus avoiding toxicity. 
  • 1.3K
  • 03 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Phytoplasma Taxonomy
Phytoplasmas are pleomorphic, wall-less intracellular bacteria that can cause devastating diseases in a wide variety of plant species. Rapid diagnosis and precise identification of phytoplasmas responsible for emerging plant diseases are crucial to preventing further spread of the diseases and reducing economic losses. Phytoplasma taxonomy (identification, nomenclature, and classification) has lagged in comparison to culturable bacteria, largely due to lack of axenic phytoplasma culture and consequent inaccessibility of phenotypic characteristics. However, the rapid expansion of molecular techniques and the advent of high throughput genome sequencing have tremendously enhanced the nucleotide sequence-based phytoplasma taxonomy. 
  • 1.3K
  • 01 Sep 2022
Topic Review
The Parasitic or Symbiotic Lifestyle of CPR Bacteria
Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR) bacteria is a bacterial division composed mainly of candidate phyla bacteria with ultra-small cell sizes, streamlined genomes, and limited metabolic capacity, which are generally considered to survive in a parasitic or symbiotic manner.
  • 1.3K
  • 30 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Extremophilic Actinobacteria: Microbes to Medicine
Actinobacteria constitute prolific sources of novel and vital bioactive metabolites for pharmaceutical utilization. In recent years, research has focused on exploring actinobacteria that thrive in extreme conditions to unearth their beneficial bioactive compounds for natural product drug discovery. Natural products have a significant role in resolving public health issues such as antibiotic resistance and cancer. The breakthrough of new technologies has overcome the difficulties in sampling and culturing extremophiles, leading to the outpouring of more studies on actinobacteria from extreme environments. This review focuses on the diversity and bioactive potentials/medically relevant biomolecules of extremophilic actinobacteria found from various unique and extreme niches. Actinobacteria possess an excellent capability to produce various enzymes and secondary metabolites to combat harsh conditions. In particular, a few strains have displayed substantial antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), shedding light on the development of MRSA-sensitive antibiotics. Several strains exhibited other prominent bioactivities such as antifungal, anti-HIV, anticancer, and anti-inflammation. By providing an overview of the recently found extremophilic actinobacteria and their important metabolites, we hope to enhance the understanding of their potential for the medical world.
  • 1.3K
  • 17 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Competitive Exclusion of Aspergillus flavus
The pre-harvest biocontrol approach currently used includes laboratory inoculations using non-aflatoxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus. This strategy effectively suppresses the indigenous aflatoxigenic strains and reduces aflatoxin accumulation in sweetcorn.  The reduction in AFB1 with population expressions of AF+ strains by the AF− strains and supports the notion of competitive exclusion through vigorous development and propagation of the non-aflatoxigenic fungi. 
  • 1.3K
  • 18 Jun 2021
Topic Review
A. baumannii in Low-Income-Countries (2000–2020)
Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging pathogen, and over the last three decades it has proven to be particularly difficult to treat by healthcare services. It is now regarded as a formidable infectious agent with a genetic setup for prompt development of resistance to most of the available antimicrobial agents. we provide a comprehensive updated overview of the available data about A. baumannii, the multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotype spread, carbapenem-resistance, and the associated genetic resistance determinants in low-income countries (LIICs) since the beginning of the 21st century.
  • 1.3K
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Virulence Factor of Legionella
Pathogenic species of Legionella can infect human alveolar macrophages through Legionella-containing aerosols to cause a disease called Legionellosis, which has two forms: a flu-like Pontiac fever and severe pneumonia named Legionnaires’ disease (LD). Legionella is an opportunistic pathogen that frequently presents in aquatic environments as a biofilm or protozoa parasite. Long-term interaction and extensive co-evolution with various genera of amoebae render Legionellae pathogenic to infect humans and also generate virulence differentiation and heterogeneity.
  • 1.3K
  • 13 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Gut-Microbial Metabolites and Probiotics in Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a worldwide prevalent metabolic disorder defined by high blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance (IR) and impaired insulin secretion. Disturbances of gut microbiota have been widely found in T2D patients and contribute to the development of IR.
  • 1.3K
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Microfluidics as a Novel Technique for Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global healthcare crisis, with an estimated 5.8 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths in 2020. TB is caused by infection with the major human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is difficult to rapidly diagnose and treat. 
  • 1.3K
  • 15 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Oral and Periodontal Bacteria Microbiota Photobiomodulation
The visible and near-infrared wavelengths can affect bacterial growth. Like in eukaryotic cells also in bacteria, photobiomodulation can affect cellular metabolism, homeostasis, defence to stress, and life-and-death mechanisms. Light-bacteria interaction for microbiota management can represent a supportive medical approach in health and illness patients.
  • 1.3K
  • 11 Feb 2022
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