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Topic Review
Engineered Bacteria in the Detoxification of Heavy Metals
Heavy metal (HM) exposure remains a global occupational and environmental problem that creates a hazard to general health. Even low-level exposure to toxic metals contributes to the pathogenesis of various metabolic and immunological diseases, whereas, in this process, the gut microbiota serves as a major target and mediator of HM bioavailability and toxicity. Specifically, a picture is emerging from recent investigations identifying specific probiotic species to counteract the noxious effect of HM within the intestinal tract via a series of HM-resistant mechanisms. More encouragingly, aided by genetic engineering techniques, novel HM-bioremediation strategies using recombinant microorganisms have been fruitful and may provide access to promising biological medicines for HM poisoning. 
  • 970
  • 12 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Characteristics of Ascochyta Blight in Chickpea
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), one of the most cultivated legumes worldwide, is crucial for the economy of several countries and a valuable source of nutrients. Yields may be severely affected by Ascochyta blight, a disease caused by the fungus Ascochyta rabiei. 
  • 970
  • 27 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Control of Clubroot Disease Caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae
Clubroot caused by the soil-living, obligate biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin belongs to the most devastating diseases of cruciferous crops worldwide. As with many plant pathogens, the spread is closely related to the cultivation of suitable host plants. In addition, temperature and water availability are crucial determinants for the occurrence and reproduction of clubroot disease. Current global changes are contributing to the widespread incidence of clubroot disease. On the one hand, global trade and high prices are leading to an increase in the cultivation of the host plant rapeseed worldwide. On the other hand, climate change is improving the living conditions of the pathogen P. brassicae in temperate climates and leading to its increased occurrence. Since chemical control of the clubroot disease is not possible or not ecologically compatible, more and more alternative control options are being investigated.
  • 969
  • 25 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Microbial in Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Polluted Soils
Nowadays, soil contamination by total petroleum hydrocarbons is still one of the most widespread forms of contamination. Intervention technologies are consolidated; however, full-scale interventions turn out to be not sustainable. Sustainability is essential not only in terms of costs, but also in terms of restoration of the soil resilience. Bioremediation has the possibility to fill the gap of sustainability with proper knowledge. Bioremediation should be optimized by the exploitation of the recent “omic” approaches to the study of hydrocarburoclastic microbiomes. To reach the goal, an extensive and deep knowledge in the study of bacterial and fungal degradative pathways, their interactions within microbiomes and of microbiomes with the soil matrix has to be gained. 
  • 969
  • 27 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Staphyloxanthin Inhibitors
Staphylococcus aureus is a fatal Gram-positive pathogen threatening numerous cases of hospital-admitted patients worldwide. The emerging resistance of the pathogen to several antimicrobial agents has pressurized research to propose new strategies for combating antimicrobial resistance. Novel strategies include targeting the virulence factors of S. aureus. One of the most prominent virulence factors of S. aureus is its eponymous antioxidant pigment staphyloxanthin (STX), which is an auspicious target for anti-virulence therapy. 
  • 968
  • 07 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 1
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1 or SARS-CoV) is a strain of coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the respiratory illness responsible for the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak. It is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus which infects the epithelial cells within the lungs. The virus enters the host cell by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. It infects humans, bats, and palm civets. On 16 April 2003, following the outbreak of SARS in Asia and secondary cases elsewhere in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a press release stating that the coronavirus identified by a number of laboratories was the official cause of SARS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Canada identified the SARS-CoV-1 genome in April 2003. Scientists at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, demonstrated that the SARS coronavirus fulfilled Koch's postulates, thereby confirming it as the causative agent. In the experiments, macaques infected with the virus developed the same symptoms as human SARS victims. A virus very similar to SARS was discovered in late 2019. This virus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the causative pathogen of COVID-19, the propagation of which started the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 965
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Clostridioides Difficile (Bacteria)
Clostridioides difficile (syn. Clostridium difficile), also known as C. difficile, or C. diff (/siː dɪf/), is Gram-positive species of spore-forming bacteria. Clostridioides spp. are anaerobic, motile bacteria, ubiquitous in nature and especially prevalent in soil. Its vegetative cells are rod-shaped, pleomorphic, and occur in pairs or short chains. Under the microscope, they appear as long, irregular (often drumstick- or spindle-shaped) cells with a bulge at their terminal ends (forms subterminal spores). Under Gram staining, C. difficile cells are Gram-positive and show optimum growth on blood agar at human body temperatures in the absence of oxygen. C. difficile is catalase- and superoxide dismutase-negative, and produces up to three types of toxins: enterotoxin A, cytotoxin B and Cytolethal distending toxin. Under stress conditions, the bacteria produce spores that are able to tolerate extreme conditions that the active bacteria cannot tolerate. Clostridioides difficile is an important emerging human pathogen; according to the CDC, in 2017 there were 223,900 cases in hospitalized patients and 12,800 deaths in the United States. Although C. difficile is commonly known as a hospital and antibiotic associated pathogen, at most one third of infections can be traced to transmission from an infected person in hospitals, and only a small number of antibiotics are directly associated with an elevated risk of developing a C. difficile infection (CDI), namely clindamycin, fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins. The majority of infections are acquired outside of hospitals, and most antibiotics have similar elevated risk of infection on par with many non-antibiotic risk factors, such as using stool softeners and receiving an enema. Clostridioides difficile can also become established in the human colon without causing disease. Although early estimates indicated that C. difficile was present in 2–5% of the adult population, more recent research indicates colonization is closely associated with a history of unrelated diarrheal illnesses, such as food poisoning or laxative abuse. Individuals with no history of gastrointestinal disturbances appear unlikely to become asymptomatic carriers. These carriers are thought to be a major reservoir of infection.
  • 964
  • 24 Oct 2022
Topic Review
The Two-Component Systems of Helicobacter pylori
Numerous studies of Helicobacter pylori, a human pathogen responsible for various stomach diseases, have focused on elucidating the mechanisms that regulate gene transcription to attempt to understand the physiological changes of the bacterium during infection and adaptation to the environmental conditions it encounters. The number of regulatory proteins inferred from genome sequence analyses responsible for properly orchestrating gene expression appears limited to three sigma factors and 14 regulators, including four Two-Component Systems and two orphan Response Regulators.
  • 964
  • 02 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Metal Nanomaterials and Hydrolytic Enzyme-Based Formulations
Combination of metals and enzymes as effective antifungal agents is currently being conducted due to the growing antifungal resistance problem. Metals are attracting special attention due to the wide variety of ligands that can be used for them, including chemically synthesized and naturally obtained variants as a result of the so-called “green synthesis”. The main mechanism of the antifungal action of metals is the triggering of the generation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Further action of ROS on various biomolecules is nonspecific. Various hydrolytic enzymes exhibit antifungal properties by affecting the structural elements of fungal cells (cell walls, membranes), fungal quorum sensing molecules, fungal own protective agents (mycotoxins and antibiotics), and proteins responsible for the adhesion and formation of stable, highly concentrated populations in the form of biofilms. 
  • 964
  • 24 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Antigenicity of the Brucella Cell Wall
The members of Brucella spp. as Gram-negative bacteria are characterized by their sandwich-structured cell envelopes composed of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-covered bacterial outer membrane and the inner cytoplasmic cell membrane with a thin peptidoglycan layer between them in the periplasmic space.
  • 962
  • 23 May 2023
Topic Review
Antibacterial Molecules from Marine Microorganisms against Aquatic Pathogens
Antibiotic resistance and residues in aquaculture are a growing concern worldwide and consequently identifying favorable antibacterial compounds against aquatic pathogenic bacteria are gained more attention. Active compounds derived from marine microorganisms have shown great promise in this area. The antibacterial compounds used in aquaculture are the same used in medicine and veterinary fields. Even though antibiotics are convenient and effective as drugs for the prophylaxis and treatment of bacterial diseases in aquaculture animals, the long-term application or abuse of antibiotics has made antibiotics less and less effective, and mutant pathogens often cause more severe disease. In addition, antibiotic residues in aquatic products directly threaten human health. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new antibacterial agents for aquatic products.
  • 958
  • 07 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Peptides-Silver Nanoparticles for Methicillin-Resistance Staphylococcus aureus
Antibiotics are regarded as a miracle in the medical field as it prevents disease caused by pathogenic bacteria. Since the discovery of penicillin, antibiotics have become the foundation for modern medical discoveries. However, bacteria soon became resistant to antibiotics, which puts a burden on the healthcare system. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become one of the most prominent antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the world since 1961. MRSA primarily developed resistance to beta-lactamases antibiotics and can be easily spread in the healthcare system. Thus, alternatives to combat MRSA are urgently required. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), an innate host immune agent and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are gaining interest as alternative treatments against MRSA. Both agents have broad-spectrum properties which are suitable candidates for controlling MRSA. Although both agents can exhibit antimicrobial effects independently, the combination of both can be synergistic and complementary to each other to exhibit stronger antimicrobial activity. The combination of AMPs and AgNPs also reduces their own weaknesses as their own, which can be developed as a potential agent to combat antibiotic resistance especially towards MRSA. 
  • 958
  • 25 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Microbiome Populations in the Nose
Acute and chronic upper respiratory illnesses such as asthma, and allergic rhinitis (AR) have been linked to the presence of microorganisms in the nose. Microorganisms can exist in symbiotic or commensal relationships with the human body. However, in certain cases, opportunistic pathogens can take over, leading to altered states (dysbiosis) and causing disease. Thus, the microflora present in a host can be useful to reflect health status. The human body contains 10 trillion to 100 trillion microorganisms. Of these populations, certain pathogens have been identified to promote or undermine wellbeing. Therefore, knowledge of the microbiome is potentially helpful as a diagnostic tool for many diseases. Variations have been recognized in the types of microbes that inhabit various populations based on geography, diet, and lifestyle choices and various microbiota have been shown to modulate immune responses in allergic disease. Interestingly, the diseases affected by these changes are prevalent in certain racial or ethnic populations. These prevalent microbiome variations in these groups suggest that the presence of these microorganisms may be significantly associated with health disparities. 
  • 957
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Role of GI Microbiota in Spiny Lobsters
Indigenous intestinal microbiota influences the physiological function of the host GI tract. These influences are evident in scientific articles reporting intestinal microflora abnormalities in a variety of organisms, including germ-free animals, animals, and humans. As observed in higher organisms, humans, terrestrial animals, or aquatic animals, the presence of GI microbiota in spiny lobsters influences the host and brings various benefits to its host. The symbiosis between the GI microbiota and the host is important to ensure the nutrition and health of the host. The human GI tract comprises 1000 culturable microflora species, where 92 species are from eukarya, 8 from archaea, and 957 from bacteria. The complex and diverse microflora community in the GI tract of humans co-exists and contributes to the prevention of metabolic diseases. The GI microbiota in the human body possesses both beneficial and harmful traits. It has been proven that GI microbes are associated with obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, cancers, diabetes, autism, and asthma. The role of fish GI microbiota is based on the host’s dietary needs. Herbivorous fishes, such as grass carp, are associated with cellulolytic bacteria, which help in plant fibre intake. Meanwhile, nitrogen-fixing bacteria are the dominant species in the GI tract of wood-eating fish. The GI bacteria of carnivorous fish species consist of mostly lipase- and protease-synthesising bacteria. In aquatic invertebrates, an earlier experiment by Harris proved that the presence of GI bacteria has specific roles and functions.
  • 955
  • 27 May 2022
Topic Review
Extensively Drug-resistant Tuberculosis
Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is a form of tuberculosis caused by bacteria that are resistant to some of the most effective anti-TB drugs. XDR-TB strains have arisen after the mismanagement of individuals with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Almost one in four people in the world is infected with TB bacteria. Only when the bacteria become active do people become ill with TB. Bacteria become active as a result of anything that can reduce the person's immunity, such as HIV, advancing age, or some medical conditions. TB can usually be treated with a course of four standard, or first-line, anti-TB drugs (i.e., isoniazid, rifampin and any fluoroquinolone). If these drugs are misused or mismanaged, multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) can develop. MDR-TB takes longer to treat with second-line drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin), which are more expensive and have more side-effects. XDR-TB can develop when these second-line drugs are also misused or mismanaged and become ineffective. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines XDR-TB as MDR-TB that is resistant to at least one fluoroquinolone and a second-line injectable drug (amikacin, capreomycin, or kanamycin). XDR-TB raises concerns of a future TB epidemic with restricted treatment options, and jeopardizes the major gains made in TB control and progress on reducing TB deaths among people living with HIV/AIDS. It is therefore vital that TB control be managed properly and new tools developed to prevent, treat and diagnose the disease. The true scale of XDR-TB is unknown as many countries lack the necessary equipment and capacity to accurately diagnose it. By June 2008, 49 countries had confirmed cases of XDR-TB. By the end of 2017, 127 WHO Member States reported a total of 10,800 cases of XDR-TB, and 8.5% of cases of MDR-TB in 2017 were estimated to have been XDR-TB. In August 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Pretomanid in combination with bedaquiline and linezolid for treating a limited and specific population of adult patients with extensively drug resistant, treatment-intolerant or nonresponsive multidrug resistant pulmonary TB.
  • 955
  • 24 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Microbiome-Derived Solutions in Skin Health and Care
The microbiome, as a community of microorganisms and their structural elements, genomes, metabolites/signal molecules, has been shown to play an important role in human health, with significant beneficial applications for gut health. Skin microbiome has emerged as a new field with high potential to develop disruptive solutions to manage skin health and disease. Despite an incomplete toolbox for skin microbiome analyses, much progress has been made towards functional dissection of microbiomes and host-microbiome interactions. A standardized and robust investigation of the skin microbiome is necessary to provide accurate microbial information and set the base for a successful translation of innovations in the dermo-cosmetic field. 
  • 953
  • 07 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Immune Response to Crimean–Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Infection
Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a member of the Nairoviridae family and Bunyavirales order, is transmitted to humans via tick bites or contact with the blood of infected animals. It can cause severe symptoms, including hemorrhagic fever, with a mortality rate between 5 to 30%. CCHFV is classified as a high-priority pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its high fatality rate and the absence of effective medical countermeasures. 
  • 953
  • 08 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Gut Microbiota in Anabolic Resistance
The gut microbiota refers to the collective of bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotic microbes that reside in the gastrointestinal tract.
  • 952
  • 10 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Two-Component Regulatory Systems in Urinary Tract Infections
Two-component signaling systems (TCSs) are finely regulated mechanisms by which bacteria adapt to environmental conditions by modifying the expression of target genes. In bacterial pathogenesis, TCSs play important roles in modulating adhesion to mucosal surfaces, resistance to antibiotics, and metabolic adaptation. In the context of urinary tract infections (UTI), one of the most common types infections causing significant health problems worldwide, uropathogens use TCSs for adaptation, survival, and establishment of pathogenicity. 
  • 952
  • 10 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Collection of VKM Paleofungi
A unique collection of paleofungi from permafrost sediments, cryopegs, paleoseeds, and frozen volcanic ash from the Arctic and Antarctic, collected at different depths, was created in All-Russian Collection of Microorganisms (VKM). Some samples are as old as 3 million years. The collection includes psychrotolerant fungi, which have wide adaptive potential and are able to thrive in low-temperature habitats, and fungi that remain viable due to the presence of natural cryoprotectors that ensure the survival of fungal cells during low-temperature preservation in permafrost sediments. The collection contains 780 strains from 79 genera and more than 160 species and is maintained in accordance with international standards of microbial viability preservation and information support.
  • 950
  • 06 Sep 2021
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