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Topic Review
Rhamnolipids and Trichosporon cutaneum Biofilm
Rhamnolipids are a class of glycolipids, and their molecule is formed by one or two (l)-rhamnose molecules, with a glycosidic linkage to the hydrophobic group made up of one or two β-hydroxy fatty acids. These amphiphilic compounds belong to biosurfactants, produced mainly by microorganisms. The best-studied producer of rhamnolipids is the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa .
  • 585
  • 08 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Photosynthetic Function of Phycobilisomes
The phycobilisome (PBS) is the major light-harvesting apparatus in cyanobacteria and red algae. It is a large multi-subunit protein complex of several megadaltons that is found on the stromal side of thylakoid membranes in orderly arrays. Chromophore lyases catalyse the thioether bond between apoproteins and phycobilins of PBSs.
  • 582
  • 14 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Intestinal Microbes and Hematological Malignancies
Human gut microbes make up the most complex and essential micro-ecosystem in the body. Leukemia arises from clonal proliferation of abnormal hematopoietic stem cells, leading to disruption of normal marrow function and marrow failure, with an incidence of 0.97%, which is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of the malignant clone and marrow failure. An anaplastic disease originating in lymph nodes or lymphoid tissue, lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of neoplastic diseases. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a terminally differentiated malignant clonal disease of plasma cells with an incidence of 0.41% of all human tumors, manifested by bone marrow clonal plasma cell infiltration and the presence of monoclonal M protein in peripheral blood and (or) urine. Gut microbes are closely related to the initiation and progression of hematological malignancies. Direct and indirect mechanisms influence the initiation and progression of hematological malignancies by intestinal microbes.
  • 581
  • 04 May 2023
Topic Review
Bacterial Subcellular Architecture
The concept of “structural epistasis” expresses the emergence of new phenotypes which are not based on changes in the products and functions of genes, but on the changes in the physical–mechanical interactions between biological structural pieces and components of the bacterial cell architecture.
  • 579
  • 26 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Herbal Medicines for Gut Microbiota in Obesity
Herbal medicine is a low-cost treatment and has been increasingly applied in obesity treatment. Gut microbiota (GM) is strongly associated with obesity pathogenesis. Schisandra chinensis and Scutellaria baicalensis had significant effects on weight loss herbal intervention therapy composed by five Chinese herbal medicines Ganoderma lucidum, Coptis chinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Nelumbo nucifera gaertn, and Fructus aurantii (W-LHIT) and white common bean extract (WCBE) on GM, but no significant changes in anthropometry and laboratory biomarkers.
  • 574
  • 19 May 2023
Topic Review
Bacterial Persistence Mechanisms
The recurrence of bacterial infectious diseases is closely associated with bacterial persisters. This subpopulation of bacteria can escape antibiotic treatment by entering a metabolic status of low activity through various mechanisms, for example, biofilm, toxin–antitoxin modules, the stringent response, and the SOS response.
  • 567
  • 07 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Green Microbes and the Production of Biodegradable Polymers
Research efforts have shifted to creating biodegradable polymers to offset the harmful environmental impacts associated with the accumulation of non-degradable synthetic polymers in the environment. A comprehensive examination of the role of green microbes in fostering sustainable bioproduction of these environment-friendly polymers is presented. Green microbes, primarily algae and cyanobacteria, have emerged as promising bio-factories due to their ability to capture carbon dioxide and utilize solar energy efficiently. The metabolic pathways harnessed for the synthesis of biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and the potential for genetic engineering to augment their production yields are further discussed. Additionally, the techno-economic feasibility of using green microbes, challenges associated with the up-scaling of biopolymer production, and potential solutions are elaborated upon. With the twin goals of environmental protection and economic viability, green microbes pave the way for a sustainable polymer industry.
  • 566
  • 23 Jan 2025
Topic Review
Collected Thoughts on Mycobacterial Lipoarabinomannan
The presence of lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) cell envelope was first reported close to 100 years ago. Since then, numerous studies have been dedicated to the isolation, purification, structural definition, and elucidation of the biological properties of Mtb LAM. The significance of LAM remains high to this date, mainly due to its distinct immunological properties in conjunction with its role as a biomarker for diagnostic tests due to its identification in urine, and thus can serve as a point-of-care diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB). LAM has been thoroughly studied and massive amounts of information on this intriguing molecule are now available. 
  • 565
  • 18 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Hallmarks and Antimicrobic Therapy Management of Sepsis Pathogenesis
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. Despite significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world, its pathogenesis and mechanisms are not clearly understood. 
  • 564
  • 07 Feb 2022
Topic Review
The Human Microbiome in Brief
The human microbiome is an intricate and diverse ecosystem of microorganisms that inhabit our bodies, comprising bacteria, viruses, fungi, and more. This hidden universe thrives within us, with approximately 100 trillion microorganisms coexisting in harmony with our human cells. While the gut microbiome is the most extensively studied, other regions of the body, including the skin, mouth, vagina, and even the respiratory tract, host unique microbial communities. These microscopic inhabitants are not mere passengers but active participants in our bodily functions. They aid in digestion, regulate metabolism, educate our immune systems, and even influence our mental health through the gut-brain axis. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in these microbial communities, has been linked to various health conditions, from gastrointestinal disorders to autoimmune diseases and mental health disorders. As research in this field advances, the potential for personalized medicine and innovative treatments becomes increasingly promising, opening doors to a new era of healthcare and well-being.
  • 560
  • 28 Sep 2023
Topic Review
HPV-Related Skin Phenotypes in Inborn Errors of Immunity
Patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are prone to develop infections, either due to a broad spectrum of pathogens or to only one microbe. Since skin is a major barrier tissue, cutaneous infections are among the most prevalent in patients with IEI due to high exposures to many microbes. In the general population, human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause asymptomatic or self-healing infections, but, in patients with IEI, unusual clinical expression of HPV infection is observed ranging from epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) (a rare disease due to β-HPVs) to profuse, persistent, and recalcitrant warts (due to α-, γ-, and μ-HPVs) or even tree man syndrome (due to HPV2). Mutations in EVER1, EVER2, and CIB1 are associated with EV phenotype; GATA2, CXCR4, and DOCK8 mutations are typically associated with extensive HPV infections, but there are several other IEI that are less frequently associated with severe HPV lesions.
  • 554
  • 02 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Oral Microbes in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Microorganisms in the oral cavity are abundant in the human body. At present, more than 700 species of oral microorganisms have been identified. Recently, a lot of literature has indicated that the oral microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) through various mechanisms. And researchers are now trying to utilize oral microbiota in cancer diagnosis and treatment. 
  • 552
  • 09 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Functional Categories of Streptococcus pyogenes Immunomodulating Enzymes
Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A Streptococcus, is an exclusively human pathogen that causes a wide variety of diseases ranging from mild throat and skin infections to severe invasive disease. The pathogenesis of S. pyogenes infection has been extensively studied, but the pathophysiology, especially of the more severe infections, is still somewhat elusive. One key feature of S. pyogenes is the expression of secreted, surface-associated, and intracellular enzymes that directly or indirectly affect both the innate and adaptive host immune systems. Undoubtedly, S. pyogenes is one of the major bacterial sources for immunomodulating enzymes. Major targets for these enzymes are immunoglobulins that are destroyed or modified through proteolysis or glycan hydrolysis.
  • 551
  • 01 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Fungal Biodegradation of Polyurethanes
Polyurethanes (PURs) are versatile polymers used in a wide variety of fields, such as the medical, automotive, textile, thermal insulation, and coating industries as well as many everyday objects. Many PURs have applications that require a long service life, sometimes with exposure to aggressive conditions. They can undergo different types of physicochemical and biological degradation, but they are not compostable, and many of them constitute persistent waste in the environment. Although both bacteria and fungi can be involved in the degradation of PURs, fungi are often the main biodegradation agents.
  • 546
  • 07 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Nano-Biotechnology for Bacteria Identification
Sepsis is a critical disease caused by the abrupt increase of bacteria in human blood, which subsequently causes a cytokine storm. Early identification of bacteria is critical to treating a patient with proper antibiotics to avoid sepsis. Advances in nanotechnology have shown great potential for fast and accurate bacterial identification. 
  • 538
  • 22 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Prevention and Eradication of Biofilm by Dendrimers
Multidrug resistance (MDR) among pathogens and the associated infections represent an escalating global public health problem that translates into raised mortality and healthcare costs. MDR bacteria, with both intrinsic abilities to resist antibiotics treatments and capabilities to transmit genetic material coding for further resistance to other bacteria, dramatically decrease the number of available effective antibiotics, especially in nosocomial environments. Moreover, the capability of several bacterial species to form biofilms (BFs) is an added alarming mechanism through which resistance develops. BF, made of bacterial communities organized and incorporated into an extracellular polymeric matrix, self-produced by bacteria, provides protection from the antibiotics’ action, resulting in the antibiotic being ineffective.
  • 536
  • 14 Oct 2022
Topic Review
The Oral Bacteriome and COVID-19
Metagenomic analysis of the oral bacteriome of patients suffering from COVID-19 have revealed the abundance of cariogenic (tooth decay) and periodontopathic (periodontitis) bacteria. This indicates that changes in the diversity of the oral bacteriome can lead to COVID-19 complications. 
  • 536
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Enterococcal Genetic Lineages
Enterococcus spp. are commensals of the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals and colonize a variety of niches such as water, soil, and food. Over the last three decades, enterococci have evolved as opportunistic pathogens, being considered ESKAPE pathogens responsible for hospital-associated infections. E. faecalis and E. faecium exhibit conserved genomes, although they possess a significant accessory genome (up to 38% in E. faecium), which contributes to remarkable genomic plasticity. The evolution of enterococci was predominantly influenced by recombination and proficiency in acquiring novel genes through HGT facilitated by MGEs, such as plasmids, transposons, genomic islands (GI), and prophages.
  • 536
  • 11 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Relapsing Atopic Dermatitis and Microbial Restoration
Atopic Dermatitis (AD) skin is susceptible to Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection, potentially exposing it to a plethora of toxins and virulent determinants, including Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) (α-hemolysin (Hla) and phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs)), and superantigens. Depending on the degree of infection (superficial or invasive), clinical treatments may encompass permanganate (aq) and bleach solutions coupled with intravenous/oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin, vancomycin, doxycycline, clindamycin, daptomycin, telavancin, linezolid, or tigecycline. However, when the skin is significantly traumatized (sheathing of epidermal sections), an SA infection can rapidly ensue, impairing the immune system, and inducing local and systemic AD presentations in susceptible areas. Furthermore, when AD presents systemically, desensitization can be long (years) and intertwined with periods of relapse. In such circumstances, the identification of triggers (stress or infection) and severity of the flare need careful monitoring (preferably in real-time) so that tailored treatments targeting the underlying pathological mechanisms (SA toxins, elevated immunoglobulins, impaired healing) can be modified, permitting rapid resolution of symptoms.
  • 535
  • 10 Feb 2023
Topic Review
The Role of Iron in Phytopathogenic Microbe–Plant Interactions
Iron is an essential element required for the growth and survival of nearly all forms of life. It serves as a catalytic component in multiple enzymatic reactions, such as photosynthesis, respiration, and DNA replication.
  • 535
  • 14 Sep 2023
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