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Topic Review
Microorganisms in Fermented Mare Milk Products
Mare milk is consumed by approximatively 30 million people in the world. In countries in Asia and East Europe, mare milk is mainly consumed as source of fermented products, called koumiss, airag or chigee, alcoholic beverages obtained by means of a culture of bacteria and lactose-fermenting yeasts. Recent research concerning mare milk and its derivatives deals mainly with their potential employment for human health. 
  • 922
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Dietary Fibers and Intestinal Microbiota Affects T2D
Foods contain dietary fibers which can be classified into soluble and insoluble forms. The nutritional composition of fast foods is considered unhealthy because it negatively affects the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Dietary fiber is resistant to digestive enzymes in the gut, which modulates the anaerobic intestinal microbiota (AIM) and fabricates SCFAs. Acetate, butyrate, and propionate are dominant in the gut and are generated via Wood–Ljungdahl and acrylate pathways. In pancreatic dysfunction, the release of insulin/glucagon is impaired, leading to hyperglycemia. SCFAs enhance insulin sensitivity or secretion, beta-cell function, leptin release, mitochondrial function, and intestinal gluconeogenesis in human organs, which positively affects type 2 diabetes (T2D). Research models have shown that SCFAs either enhance the release of peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) from L-cells (entero-endocrine), or promotes the release of leptin hormone in adipose tissues through G-protein receptors GPR-41 and GPR-43. Dietary fiber is a component that influences the production of SCFAs by AIM, which may have beneficial effects on T2D.
  • 920
  • 22 May 2023
Topic Review
Host Immune Response to Scedosporium/Lomentospora
Scedosporium/Lomentospora cell wall components, including peptidorhamnomannans (PRMs), α-glucans and glucosylceramides, are important immune response activators following their recognition by TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1 and through receptors that are yet unknown. After recognition, cytokine synthesis and antifungal activity of different phagocytes and epithelial cells is species-specific, highlighting the poor response by microglial cells against L. prolificans. Moreover, a great number of Scedosporium/Lomentospora antigens have been identified, most notably catalase, PRM and Hsp70 for their potential medical applicability. Against host immune response, these fungi contain evasion mechanisms, inducing host non-protective response, masking fungal molecular patterns, destructing host defense proteins and decreasing oxidative killing.
  • 920
  • 06 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Lung Microbiome
The lung microbiome has recently emerged as a major mediator of host inflammation and pathogenesis. Understanding how the lung microbiota exerts its effects on lung cancer and the tumor microenvironment will allow for novel development of therapies.
  • 920
  • 04 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Metallo-β-Lactamase Fold Enzymes in Bacteria
β-lactamase enzymes have generated significant interest due to their ability to confer resistance to the most commonly used family of antibiotics in human medicine. Among these enzymes, the class B β-lactamases are members of a superfamily of metallo-β-lactamase (MβL) fold proteins which are characterised by conserved motifs (i.e., HxHxDH) and are not only limited to bacteria.
  • 919
  • 13 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Legionella pneumophila in Dental Practice
Legionella pneumophila is defined as a bacterium that can cause severe pneumonia. It is found in the natural environment and in water, and is often found in water tanks. It can be an integral part of biofilms in nature, and the protozoa in which it can live provide it with food and protect it from harmful influences; therefore, it has the ability to move into a sustainable but uncultured state (VBNC). L. pneumophila has been shown to cause infections in dental practices. The most common transmission route is aerosol generated in dental office water systems, which can negatively affect patients and healthcare professionals. The most common way of becoming infected with L. pneumophila in a dental office is through water from dental instruments, and the dental unit. In addition to these bacteria, patients and the dental team may be exposed to other harmful bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it is vital that the dental team regularly maintains and decontaminates the dental unit, and sterilizes all accessories that come with it. In addition, regular water control in dental offices is necessary. 
  • 916
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Rejuvenating the Usual Antibiotics on Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria
Antibiotic resistance continues to evolve and spread beyond all boundaries, resulting in an increase in morbidity and mortality for non-curable infectious diseases. Due to the failure of conventional antimicrobial therapy and the lack of introduction of a novel class of antibiotics, novel strategies have emerged to combat these multidrug-resistant infectious microorganisms.
  • 916
  • 27 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Antimicrobial Properties of Metal-Based Nanoparticles
Nanotechnologies have provided opportunities for the use of nanomaterials as components in the development of antibacterial agents. Indeed, metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) show an effective role in targeting and killing bacteria via different mechanisms, such as attraction to the bacterial surface, destabilization of the bacterial cell wall and membrane, and the induction of a toxic mechanism mediated by a burst of oxidative stress. Considering the lack of new antimicrobial drugs with novel mechanisms of action, the induction of oxidative stress represents a valuable and powerful antimicrobial strategy to fight MDR bacteria. Consequently, it is of particular interest to determine and precisely characterize whether NPs are able to induce oxidative stress in such bacteria. 
  • 915
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Epstein–Barr Virus-Associated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an uncommon type of malignancy/cancer worldwide. However, NPC is an endemic disease in southeast Asia and southern China and the reasons behind the underlying for such changes are unclear. Even though the Epstein–Barr infection (EBV) has been suggested as an important reason for undistinguishable NPC, the EBV itself is not adequate to source this type of cancer. The risk factors, for example, genetic susceptibility, and environmental factors might be associated with EBV to undertake a part in the NPC carcinogenesis. Normal healthy people have a memory B cell pool where the EBV persists, and any disturbance of this connection leads to virus-associated B cell malignancies. Less is known about the relationship between EBV and epithelial cell tumors, especially the EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (EBVaNPC) and EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC). It is believed that premalignant genetic changes in epithelial cells contribute to the aberrant establishment of viral latency in these tumors. The early and late phases of NPC patients’ survival rates vary significantly. 
  • 915
  • 29 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Phage-Based Biosensors
Bacteriophage-based biosensors offer several benefits, including specificity to their host organism, the detection of only live pathogens, and resistance to extreme environmental factors such as organic solvents, high temperatures, and a wide pH range. Phage-based biosensors are receiving increasing attention owing to their high degree of accuracy, specificity, and reduced assay times. These characteristics, coupled with their abundant supply, make phages a novel bio-recognition molecule in assay development, including biosensors for the detection of foodborne bacterial pathogens to ensure food safety.
  • 913
  • 26 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Inoviridae
Inoviridae is a family of viruses that infect bacteria. Members of the family are commonly called filamentous bacteriophages due to their filamentous shape that resembles a worm-like chain (long, thin and flexible, reminiscent of a length of cooked spaghetti) about 6 nm in diameter and about 1000-2000 nm long. Filamentous bacteriophages are among the simplest living organisms known, with far fewer genes than the classical bacteriophages studied by the phage group. Its simplicity makes it an attractive model system to study fundamental aspects of molecular biology, and it has also proven useful as a tool in immunology and nanotechnology. The family contains 29 defined species, divided between 23 genera. However, mining of genomic and metagenomic datasets using machine learning approach led to the discovery of 10,295 inovirus-like sequences in nearly all bacterial phyla across virtually every ecosystem, indicating that this group of viruses is much more diverse and widespread than originally appreciated.
  • 913
  • 20 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Compounds
Using natural compounds as antimicrobial agents in food is not a new idea. For ages, humans have used a variety of compounds, ranging from organic acids, essential oils (EOs), and wines to salts and seasonings, all with the intent of improving the sensorial experience and the product’s lifespan. Essential oils, present in numerous seasonings (e.g., garlic, oregano, thyme, and rosemary), and the organic acids present in various fruits (e.g., grapes, tomatoes, and citrus fruits), have been studied for their natural preservative properties. Heavily complex fermented substances, such as vinegar, wines, and sauces such as soy sauce, that possess various known antimicrobial compounds are also frequently used. Although some of the substances mentioned above mainly have high concentrations of organic acids, others, such as wines, hold highly complex matrices containing several compounds known for their antimicrobial activity.
  • 913
  • 28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Peptides from Scorpion Venom
Scorpion venoms have long captivated scientific researchers, primarily due to the potency and specificity of the mechanism of action of their derived components. Among other molecules, these venoms contain highly active compounds, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and ion channel-specific components that selectively target biological receptors with remarkable affinity. Some of these receptors have emerged as prime therapeutic targets for addressing various human pathologies, including cancer and infectious diseases, and have served as models for designing novel drugs. Consequently, extensive biochemical and proteomic investigations have focused on characterizing scorpion venoms. 
  • 912
  • 19 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Safety Properties of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Specific Bacteriophages
Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is typically detected on food products, mainly due to cross-contamination with faecal matter. The serotype O157:H7 has been of major public health concern due to the severity of illness caused, prevalence, and management. In the food chain, the main methods of controlling contamination by foodborne pathogens often involve the application of antimicrobial agents, which are now becoming less efficient. There is a growing need for the development of new approaches to combat these pathogens, especially those that harbour antimicrobial resistant and virulent determinants. Strategies to also limit their presence on food contact surfaces and food matrices are needed to prevent their transmission. Studies have revealed that bacteriophages are useful non-antibiotic options for biocontrol of E. coli O157:H7 in both animals and humans. Phage biocontrol can significantly reduce E. coli O157:H7, thereby improving food safety. However, before being certified as potential biocontrol agents, the safety of the phage candidates must be resolved to satisfy regulatory standards, particularly regarding phage resistance, antigenic properties, and toxigenic properties.
  • 909
  • 14 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Microbiome and Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects approximately 6 to 10% of reproductive-age women globally. Despite much effort invested, the pathogenesis that promotes the development, as well as the progression of this chronic inflammatory disease, is poorly understood. The imbalance in the microbiome or dysbiosis has been implicated in a variety of human diseases, especially the gut microbiome. In the case of endometriosis, emerging evidence suggests that there may be urogenital-gastrointestinal crosstalk that leads to the development of endometriosis. Along with these findings, several studies have reported the potential of probiotics in managing endometriosis, however subsequent investigations on microbial dynamics post administration of probiotics as well as route of administration and formulation of probiotics would be needed to strengthen the rationale of using such microbiome-based intervention in the management of endometriosis.  
  • 908
  • 23 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Bacterial Toxins Active against Mosquitoes
Insects can act as vectors of etiological agents of different diseases and can be a nuisance to humans, being responsible for health burdens worldwide. Re-emergent and emergent diseases, in particular arboviruses, remain a global challenge as recently shown for the epidemic problems caused by the Zika virus. Microbial larvicides based on entomopathogen bacteria have been successfully used for controlling mosquito and black-fly populations, as an alternative to the conventional classes of chemical insecticides, due to their high effectiveness and environmental safety. Bacillus thuringiensis serovariety (svar.) israelensis (Bti) de Barjac was the first B. thuringiensis (Bt) bacterial serotype identified as active against some Diptera larvae.
  • 906
  • 10 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Climacostol Analogue as a Prodrug
Drug delivery systems based on pH have emerged as useful carriers for many drugs, including anti-tumor compounds, and are related to the acidic extracellular microenvironment in damaged tissues and some acidic organelles like lysosome and endosome. Here we report on the cytotoxic properties of MOMO, a synthetic precursor of the protozoan antimicrobial and anticancer agent climacostol, which is efficiently activated in mild extracellular acidosis to obtain a great quantity of climacostol in biologically active (Z)-configuration. Biological effects observed on free-living ciliates, tumour cell lines, and Drosophila melanogaster demonstrated that MOMO is well-tolerated in a physiological environment, while its cytotoxicity is rapidly and efficiently triggered at pH 6.3. In addition, the cytostatic versus cytotoxic effects of acidified-MOMO can be modulated in a dose-dependent manner. While these results demonstrate the pH-dependence of MOMO effects, methoxymethyl ether (MOM) protection emerges as a potential prodrug strategy for the design of new efficient pH-sensitive molecules as pharmacologically cytotoxic compounds.
  • 906
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Gut Microbiota and Bile Acids in NAFLD
The roles of gut microbiota are highly regarded in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The intestinal bacteria regulate the metabolism of bile acids depending on bile salt hydrolase (BSH), 7-dehydroxylation, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSDH), or amide conjugation reaction, thus exerting effects on NAFLD development through bile acid receptors such as farnesoid X receptor (FXR), Takeda G-protein-coupled bile acid protein 5 (TGR5), and vitamin D receptor (VDR), which modulate nutrient metabolism and insulin sensitivity via interacting with downstream molecules. Reversely, the composition of gut microbiota is also affected by the level of bile acids in turn. 
  • 905
  • 25 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Pathogens Associated with Pre-Eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia, the second most frequent direct source of maternal mortality, is a multisystem gestational disorder characterized by proteinuria and maternal hypertension after the 20th gestational week. Metabolic conditions, immunological changes, and fluctuating hormone levels of the pregnant woman induce a dysbiosis of the oral microbiota and contribute to increase inflammation of periodontal tissues. Periodontal pathogens, as well as inflammatory molecules produced in response to periodontopathogens, could diffuse through the bloodstream inducing a placenta inflammatory response. In addition, periodontopathogens can colonize the vaginal microbiota through the gastrointestinal tract or during oro-genital contact. A cumulative bi-directional relationship between periodontal conditions, pathogens and pre-eclampsia exists.
  • 903
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Proteolytic Dysregulation and Digestive Inflammation
Dysregulation of the proteolytic balance is often associated with diseases. Serine proteases and matrix metalloproteases are involved in a multitude of biological processes and notably in the inflammatory response. Within the framework of digestive inflammation, several studies have stressed the role of serine proteases and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) as key actors in its pathogenesis and pointed to the unbalance between these proteases and their respective inhibitors. 
  • 902
  • 23 Jun 2021
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