BMC Microbiology

Streptococcus pneumoniae , a common pathogen to cause pneumonia and otitis media, is also the most important causative agent of bacterial meningitis in humans. Previous studies have shown that S. pneumoniae strains can be pilus-negative, type I pilus- and/or type II pilus-positive, and pneumococcal pili promote adhesiveness and induce inflammation in hosts. However, the role of S. pneumoniae pili…

Male forest musk deer undergo a seasonal musk secretion period accompanied by pronounced physiological and behavioral changes. However, whether endocrine and metabolic remodeling, feeding-related changes, and gut microbiome variation occur together within individuals during this period remains unclear. We conducted a paired within-individual study of captive adult males sampled before and during …

Abstract Background Pertussis, an acute respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis ( B. pertussis ), has resurged in China. Biofilm formation has recently been associated with the pathogenesis of B. pertussis . This study aims to analyze the biofilm formation capacity of circulating isolates and investigate the phenotype–genotype associations between biofilm formation and genomic charac…

Abstract Background Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease is a major public health threat in developing countries, yet molecular epidemiological data from Ghana remain limited. This study characterizes the phylogenomic profiles and antimicrobial resistance determinants of iNTS isolates recovered from human blood cultures in Ghana. Methods Over an eight-year surveillance period (2016–20…

Abstract Background In bacteria, DNA replication and chromosome segregation are tightly coordinated with cell division. The replication run-out method, which combines inhibition of transcription initiation by rifampicin with inhibition of cell division by cephalexin, is widely used to analyse replication dynamics by allowing ongoing replication forks to complete in the absence of new initiations.…

Abstract Background/Objectives Hearing impairment is an underrecognized yet prevalent complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated whether gut microbiota dysbiosis contributes to diabetic hearing loss through systemic inflammatory pathways, and evaluated the potential of microbiota-inflammation biomarkers for earl…

Early-life gut microbial composition and fecal metabolic profiles may be altered in infants born small for gestational age (SGA), but evidence specifically concerning term SGA infants remains limited. To characterize gut microbial composition, predicted microbial functions, and fecal metabolite profiles in term SGA infants and explore their associations with early growth. This prospective nested …

The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that plays a crucial role in maintaining short- and long-term health. However, a perturbed microbial ecosystem is associated with a range of diseases, including increased risk of infections. Probiotic-based strategies may help restore microbiome function, but candidate strains require robust functional and safety evaluation. Here, we per…

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves dysregulated host immunity, gut microbial dysbiosis, and metabolic disturbances. As key innate immune cells, macrophages play critical roles in inflammatory responses, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and host-microbiota interactions. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is a key adaptor protein in pro-inflammatory signaling, but the …

The cAMP receptor protein (CRP) coordinates carbon-responsive gene expression in Escherichia coli , but its direct role in trehalose biosynthesis has remained unclear. This study investigated whether CRP directly regulates the otsBA locus through the otsB promoter. RT–qPCR showed that otsB and otsA expression was strongly increased in a Δ crp mutant and under cAMP-deficient conditions. EMSA demon…

This study aimed to integrate questionnaire-based oral health behavior data with dental plaque microbiome profiles to identify behavioral and microbiological factors associated with dental caries among 5-year-old children from urban and rural areas of Yunnan Province. It also evaluated the performance of these features in machine learning classification models. This study included children from F…

The global effort to eradicate poliovirus relies heavily on the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), yet the environmental shedding of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) into surface waters remains a critical, often overlooked, secondary hazard. In regions with poor sanitation and limited infrastructure, downstream communities may be unknowingly exposed to infectious viruses shed by upstream vaccinated …

Abstract Background This study evaluated the efficacy of high- and low-temperature laundering, chemical disinfection, and antimicrobial textile finishes in reducing Bacillus cereus , Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on domestic kitchen towels. Results Polyester microfibre, cotton, and cotton/linen blend fabrics were experimentally inoculated and laundered with a…

Low-frequency magnetic fields are increasingly encountered in environmental and industrial settings, yet their biological effects on probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) remain incompletely characterized. This study evaluated the impact of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) magnetic fields on growth, redox homeostasis, and genomic integrity in representative LAB strains. Lactobacill…

Abstract Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide and are associated with high recurrence rates and substantial morbidity. New therapeutic approaches are urgently needed, especially for recurrent UTIs (rUTIs), among which phage therapy represents a promising option. Here, we systematically evaluated the performance of six E. coli phages under urinar…

Despite the widespread distribution of horses and their close interface with human environments, the equine antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) reservoir remains insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to comprehensively elucidate the equine resistome by analyzing 104 equine fecal metagenomes sampled across China, thereby establishing a critical baseline for antimicrobial stewardship in equin…

Abstract Background Candidozyma auris , also known as Candida auris , is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that represents a major global health concern; however, its risk factors and antifungal resistance patterns in bloodstream infections (BSIs) in Southern China remain insufficiently characterized. Therefore, this study aimed to identify risk factors and antifungal resistance pat…

Despite the intestinal microbiota’s critical role in enhancing host defense against diseases, the ecological mechanisms driving shifts in intestinal microbiota during infection and their interplay with host immunity remain poorly characterized. Here, we examined the dynamics and interactions between the intestinal microbiota and host immunity in Litopenaeus vannamei following Vibrio parahaemolyti…

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella enterica ( S . enterica ) poses an increasing public health threat. To better understand and assess the prevalence and AMR patterns of Salmonella carried by asymptomatic individuals, whole-genome sequencing and phenotypic analysis were used to investigate the epidemiology and AMR patterns within Salmonella isolates from 99,780 wet market workers in Sha…

The early postnatal period represents a critical window for metabolic programming. Based on our previously established antibiotic-exposure model, this study investigated whether post-antibiotic supplementation with two infant-derived probiotic strains, Bifidobacterium breve 207-1 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 207-27, could differentially modulate short- and long-term glycolipid metabolism. Neo…