A Keystone Gut Bacterium -A Potential Biotherapeutic Agent for Obesity and Associated Metabolic Diseases.

A new next-generation probiotic, was first discovered in 2012 from healthy human stool and described under the phylum . is a subdominant commensal bacterium with highly heritable properties that exhibits mutual interactions with other heritable microbiomes, and its relative abundance is positively correlated with the lean host phenotype associated with a low BMI index. It has been the subject of numerous studies, owing to its potential health benefits.

The Emerging Role of MMP12 in the Oral Environment.

Matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP12), or macrophage metalloelastase, plays important roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) component degradation. Recent reports show MMP12 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. To date, this review represents the latest comprehensive overview of MMP12 in various oral diseases, such as periodontitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD), orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Insights into Carbapenem Resistance in Species: Current Status and Future Perspectives.

The increasing prevalence of resistance in carbapenems is an escalating concern as carbapenems are reserved as last-line antibiotics. Although indiscriminate antibiotic usage is considered the primary cause for resistance development, increasing evidence revealed that inconsequential strains without any direct clinical relevance to carbapenem usage are harboring carbapenemase genes. This phenomenon indirectly implies that environmental microbial populations could be the 'hidden vectors' propelling carbapenem resistance.

Ketogenic Diet: A Dietary Intervention via Gut Microbiome Modulation for the Treatment of Neurological and Nutritional Disorders (a Narrative Review).

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been important in treating epilepsy since the 1920s. The benefits of KD further expanded to other neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's diseases, autism spectrum disorder, and nutritional disorder (obesity). Although the therapeutic efficacy of KD has been generally accepted, there is limited knowledge about its underlying mechanism of action, particularly its effect on our gut microbiome.

Exploring the Potential of Human Milk and Formula Milk on Infants' Gut and Health.

Early-life gut microbiota plays a role in determining the health and risk of developing diseases in later life. Various perinatal factors have been shown to contribute to the development and establishment of infant gut microbiota. One of the important factors influencing the infant gut microbial colonization and composition is the mode of infant feeding.

Gut-Skin Axis: Unravelling the Connection between the Gut Microbiome and Psoriasis.

Evidence has shown that gut microbiome plays a role in modulating the development of diseases beyond the gastrointestinal tract, including skin disorders such as psoriasis. The gut-skin axis refers to the bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and skin health. This is regulated through several mechanisms such as inflammatory mediators and the immune system.

Exploring the Gut Microbiome in Myasthenia Gravis.

The human gut microbiota is vital for maintaining human health in terms of immune system homeostasis. Perturbations in the composition and function of microbiota have been associated with several autoimmune disorders, including myasthenia gravis (MG), a neuromuscular condition associated with varying weakness and rapid fatigue of the skeletal muscles triggered by the host's antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in the postsynaptic muscle membrane at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). It is hypothesized that perturbation of the gut microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of MG.

Psychological Symptoms in COVID-19 Patients: Insights into Pathophysiology and Risk Factors of Long COVID-19.

There is growing evidence of studies associating COVID-19 survivors with increased mental health consequences. Mental health implications related to a COVID-19 infection include both acute and long-term consequences. Here we discuss COVID-19-associated psychiatric sequelae, particularly anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drawing parallels to past coronavirus outbreaks.

sp.-A Treasure Trove of Weapons to Combat Methicillin-Resistant Biofilm Associated with Biomedical Devices.

Biofilms formed by methicillin-resistant (MRSA) are among the most frequent causes of biomedical device-related infection, which are difficult to treat and are often persistent and recurrent. Thus, new and effective antibiofilm agents are urgently needed. In this article, we review the most relevant literature of the recent years reporting on promising anti-MRSA biofilm agents derived from the genus bacteria, and discuss the potential contribution of these newly reported antibiofilm compounds to the current strategies in preventing biofilm formation and eradicating pre-existing biofilms of the clinically important pathogen MRSA.

Finding a Balance in the Vaginal Microbiome: How Do We Treat and Prevent the Occurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been reported in one-third of women worldwide at different life stages, due to the complex balance in the ecology of the vaginal microbiota. It is a common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge and is associated with other health issues. Since the first description of anaerobic microbes associated with BV like in the 1950s, researchers have stepped up the game by incorporating advanced molecular tools to monitor and evaluate the extent of dysbiosis within the vaginal microbiome, particularly on how specific microbial population changes compared to a healthy state.

The Extremophilic Actinobacteria: From Microbes to Medicine.

Actinobacteria constitute prolific sources of novel and vital bioactive metabolites for pharmaceutical utilization. In recent years, research has focused on exploring actinobacteria that thrive in extreme conditions to unearth their beneficial bioactive compounds for natural product drug discovery. Natural products have a significant role in resolving public health issues such as antibiotic resistance and cancer.

Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Palm CNF-ZnO Nanocomposites with Antibacterial and Reinforcing Properties.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) isolated from plant biomass have attracted considerable interests in polymer engineering. The limitations associated with CNF-based nanocomposites are often linked to the time-consuming preparation methods and lack of desired surface functionalities. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of preparing a multifunctional CNF-zinc oxide (CNF-ZnO) nanocomposite with dual antibacterial and reinforcing properties via a facile and efficient ultrasound route.

Unveiling the Impact of Antibiotics and Alternative Methods for Animal Husbandry: A Review.

Since the 1950s, antibiotics have been used in the field of animal husbandry for growth promotion, therapy and disease prophylaxis. It is estimated that up to 80% of the antibiotics produced by the pharmaceutical industries are used in food production. Most of the antibiotics are used as feed additives at sub-therapeutic levels to promote growth.

COVID-19: Insights into Potential Vaccines.

People around the world ushered in the new year 2021 with a fear of COVID-19, as family members have lost their loved ones to the disease. Millions of people have been infected, and the livelihood of many has been jeopardized due to the pandemic. Pharmaceutical companies are racing against time to develop an effective vaccine to protect against COVID-19.

Anticancer Drug Discovery from Microbial Sources: The Unique Mangrove Streptomycetes.

Worldwide cancer incidence and mortality have always been a concern to the community. The cancer mortality rate has generally declined over the years; however, there is still an increased mortality rate in poorer countries that receives considerable attention from healthcare professionals. This suggested the importance of the prompt detection, effective treatment, and prevention strategies.

Exploring the Role of Gut Bacteria in Health and Disease in Preterm Neonates.

The mortality rate of very preterm infants with birth weight <1500 g is as high as 15%. The survivors till discharge have a high incidence of significant morbidity, which includes necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) and late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS). More than 25% of preterm births are associated with microbial invasion of amniotic cavity.

Detrimental Effects of UVB on Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells and Its Role in Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are an essential part of the human eye because they not only mediate and control the transfer of fluids and solutes but also protect the retina against photooxidative damage and renew photoreceptor cells through phagocytosis. However, their function necessitates cumulative exposure to the sun resulting in UV damage, which may lead to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Several studies have shown that UVB induces direct DNA damage and oxidative stress in RPE cells by increasing ROS and dysregulating endogenous antioxidants.

Targeting Gut Microbial Biofilms-A Key to Hinder Colon Carcinogenesis?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a global public health issue which poses a substantial humanistic and economic burden on patients, healthcare systems and society. In recent years, intestinal dysbiosis has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of CRC, with specific pathogens exhibiting oncogenic potentials such as , and enterotoxigenic having been found to contribute to CRC development. More recently, it has been shown that initiation of CRC development by these microorganisms requires the formation of biofilms.

sp. Strain MUSC 125 from Mangrove Soil in Malaysia with Anti-MRSA, Anti-Biofilm and Antioxidant Activities.

There is an urgent need to search for new antibiotics to counter the growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, one of which is methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Herein, we report a sp. strain MUSC 125 from mangrove soil in Malaysia which was identified using 16S rRNA phylogenetic and phenotypic analysis.

Angelicin-A Furocoumarin Compound With Vast Biological Potential.

Angelicin, a member of the furocoumarin group, is related to psoralen which is well known for its effectiveness in phototherapy. The furocoumarins as a group have been studied since the 1950s but only recently has angelicin begun to come into its own as the subject of several biological studies. Angelicin has demonstrated anti-cancer properties against multiple cell lines, exerting effects both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, and also demonstrated an ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization to a higher degree than psoralen.

Antioxidant Activities of sp. strain MUSC 14 from Mangrove Forest Soil in Malaysia.

The mangrove ecosystem of Malaysia remains yet to be fully explored for potential microbes that produce biologically active metabolites. In the present study, a mangrove-derived sp. strain MUSC 14 previously isolated from the state of Pahang, Malaysia Peninsula, was studied for its potential in producing antioxidant metabolites.

Epinecidin-1, an Antimicrobial Peptide Derived From Grouper (): Pharmacological Activities and Applications.

Epinecidin-1 is an antimicrobial peptide derived from the orange-spotted grouper (). The mature epinecidin-1 peptide is predicted to have an amphipathic α-helical structure and a non-helical hydrophilic domain at the C-terminal RRRH. The majority of work studying the potential pharmacological activities of epinecidin-1, utilize synthesized epinecidin-1 (Epi-1), which is made up of 21 amino acids, from the amino acid sequence of 22-42 residues of Epi-1-GFIFHIIKGLFHAGKMIHGLV.

Overexpression of Increases Phenazine-1-Carboxylic Acid Biosynthesis via Small RNA in the Rhizobacterium Strain PA1201.

Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) is the primary active component in the newly registered, commercial biopesticide Shenqinmycin and is produced during fermentation by the engineered rhizobacterium strain PA1201. Both and gene clusters contribute to PCA biosynthesis. In this study, we evaluated the role of OxyR in the regulation of PCA biosynthesis in PA1201.

sp. MUM256: A Source for Apoptosis Inducing and Cell Cycle-Arresting Bioactive Compounds against Colon Cancer Cells.

New and effective anticancer compounds are much needed as the incidence of cancer continues to rise. Microorganisms from a variety of environments are promising sources of new drugs; sp. MUM256, which was isolated from mangrove soil in Malaysia as part of our ongoing efforts to study mangrove resources, was shown to produce bioactive metabolites with chemopreventive potential.

Effect of (R)-salbutamol on the switch of phenotype and metabolic pattern in LPS-induced macrophage cells.

Evidence demonstrates that M1 macrophage polarization promotes inflammatory disease. Here, we discovered that (R)-salbutamol, a β receptor agonist, inhibits and reprograms the cellular metabolism of RAW264.7 macrophages.