Frontiers in Microbiology | New and Recent Articles

IntroductionThe vaginal microbiome plays a central role in women’s health by supporting immune function, maintaining mucosal homeostasis, and preventing infections. Spaceflight and its analogs can induce acute physiological stress, which can alter host microbiome interactions. While other studies have analyzed the microbiome changes at certain body sites, the female-specific microbiome changes ha…

This study evaluated broth microdilution (BMD) and fluorescence PCR melting curve analysis (MeltPro MTB/PZA, targeting pncA mutations) for detecting pyrazinamide (PZA) resistance-associated mutations in rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB). PZA susceptibility was assessed in RR-TB isolates from patients at TB prevention and control institutions and at designated hospitals in Beijing. Whole-g…

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that cause adverse health effects. This study investigated the toxic effect of different molecular weight PAHs on eukaryote model organism (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) exploiting oxidative stress biomarkers as endpoint indicators. Yeast cells were treated with environmentally relevant concentrations of phenanthrene (PHE), fluora…

BackgroundReflux esophagitis (RE), a common gastroesophageal reflux disease characterized by esophageal mucosal inflammation, is closely associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic abnormalities. The glutamine-glutamate metabolic pathway regulates inflammation and mucosal barrier function, but its role in RE and association with gut microbiota remain unclear. This study aimed to charac…

PurposeThe incidence of exertional heat stroke (EHS) has increased markedly in recent decades. Although intestinal barrier dysfunction and gut microbiota alterations are increasingly implicated in EHS pathophysiology, the respective contributions of heat exposure and physical exercise to these processes remain incompletely defined.MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were assigned to Control (C), Exercise (E…

Sulfoxaflor (SXF), a novel sulfoximine insecticide, has been widely used as a substitute for traditional neonicotinoids (NEOs) to control piercing-sucking pests in agriculture. However, its environmental persistence, high mobility in water and soil, and potential toxicity to non-target organisms (e.g., honeybees, aquatic invertebrates) as well as the toxic risks of its long-lasting metabolites (e…

Influenza A virus (IAV) continues to pose a substantial challenge to global health, not merely through primary viral pneumonia but largely due to lethal secondary bacterial complications. Pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae capitalize on the physiological “storm” induced by IAV, leading to significantly exacerbated morbidity. This review p…

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus 33 (HPV33) is among the five most prevalent HPV genotypes in China and is commonly involved in co-infections. However, the synergistic effects of specific genotype combinations on cervical carcinogenesis remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to characterize HPV33 co-infection patterns and their associated genetic variations in relation to cervical lesion …

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a major cause of child morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, with increasing macrolide resistance mediated by erm(B) and mef(A/E/I). Integrating phenotypic and sequencing-based approaches may improve antimicrobial resistance surveillance accuracy. This study assessed nasopharyngeal carriage and macrolide resistance of S. pneumoniae among young infants in …

The prospective use of sludge compost for restoring depleted soils requires balancing its agronomic benefits against potential ecological risks. This study employed an integrated metagenomic and metabolomic approach to evaluate the dose-dependent effects of sludge compost on soil properties, maize growth, and rhizosphere microbial communities. Results showed that moderate compost application (≤15…

BackgroundGeographic variations in climate and lifestyle may be associated with hypertension (HTN) through alterations in the gut microbiota and its metabolites. This study aimed to comparatively analyze the gut microbiome and fecal metabolome of hypertensive patients from two Chinese cities characterized by distinct climatic conditions: Daqing (middle-temperate climate) and Haikou (tropical clim…

Amid the global threat of emerging antimicrobial resistance, the transmission of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella from livestock remains a critical concern for public health. This study investigated the longitudinal trends of Salmonella serovars and the molecular epidemiology of colistin resistance in 4,198 isolates from cattle, pigs, chickens, and ducks in South Korea (2019–2024). Among the …

Secondary bacterial pneumonia is a severe complication of influenza;howeve the biological determinants that distinguish progression from uncomplicated infection remain poorly understood. We investigated the oropharyngeal microbiome and plasma metabolome as potential discriminators of pneumonia development. In this study, we report a cross-sectional case–control study conducted during the 2022–202…

IntroductionMultidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii infection is a major global public health concern due to its rapid emergence and increasing resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents. Therefore, the development of novel and environmentally friendly antimicrobial alternatives is urgently needed.MethodsIn this study, zinc oxide–manganese oxide bimetallic nanocomposite (ZnO–MnO BN…

IntroductionDark septate endophytes (DSE) are root-associated fungi that can enhance host stress tolerance, yet their diversity and function in sorghum remain unclear. Here, we investigated the culturable DSE community across 29 sorghum varieties and evaluated the symbiotic potential of key isolates.MethodsCulturable DSE were isolated from sorghum rhizosphere soil and roots via plate isolation, m…

IntroductionAcute pharyngitis is a common upper respiratory tract infectious disease worldwide. The increasing prevalence of multidrug‑resistant pathogens, particularly methicillin‑resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), greatly hinders clinical treatment and predisposes patients to recurrent and persistent inflammation. Consequently, there is an urgent need for safe and effective alternative the…

IntroductionPseudomonas is one of the largest genera among Gram-negative bacteria, currently comprising nearly 400 valid species. Among them, non-aeruginosa Pseudomonas species, together with Stutzerimonas—a genus recently separated from Pseudomonas—are becoming important reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes. However, accurate species-level identification of these organisms remains challe…

BackgroundEpstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a widespread oncogenic virus associated with multiple human malignancies. Accurate detection of EBV DNA is essential for disease screening and monitoring; however, commonly used methods such as quantitative PCR require specialized instruments and laboratory infrastructure, limiting their applicability in resource-limited settings.MethodsAn isothermal nucleic …

IntroductionChronic stress is known to exacerbate the malignant progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. While outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) exhibit anti-tumor potential, their underlying mechanisms in the context of stress remain unclear. This study investigated whether A. muciniphila OMV…

This trial selected Turpan Black ewes at 100 days of gestation as test subjects to investigate the effects of supplemental feeding with Astragalus and fermented Astragalus on the ewes' rumen microbial community structure, plasma metabolites, antioxidant capacity, milk composition, as well as the immune parameters and growth performance of newborn lambs, in order to provide a theoretical basis for…