Microbiomes of multicellular organisms are one of the hottest topics in microbiology and physiology, while only few studies addressed bacterial communities associated with protists. Protists are widespread in all environments and can be colonized by plethora of different bacteria, including also human pathogens. The aim of this study was to characterize the prokaryotic community associated with the sessile ciliate Stentor coeruleus. 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding was performed on single cells of S. coeruleus and on their environment, water from the sewage stream. Our results showed that the prokaryotic community composition differed significantly between Stentor cells and their environment. The core microbiome common for all ciliate specimens analyzed could be defined, and it was composed mainly by representatives of bacterial genera which include also potential human pathogens and commensals, such as Neisseria, Streptococcus, Capnocytophaga, Porphyromonas. Numerous 16S rRNA gene contigs belonged to endosymbiont "Candidatus Megaira polyxenophila". Our data suggest that each ciliate cell can be considered as an ecological microniche harboring diverse prokaryotic organisms. Possible benefits for persistence and transmission in nature for bacteria associated with protists are discussed. Our results support the hypothesis that ciliates attract potentially pathogenic bacteria and play the role of natural reservoirs for them.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47701-8 | DOI Listing |
FEMS Microbiol Ecol
January 2025
Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, PO Box 3000, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland.
The physical and chemical properties of wild berry fruits change dramatically during development, and the ripe berries host species-specific endophytic communities. However, the development of fungal endophytic communities during berry ripening is unknown. We studied bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCrit Care
January 2025
Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168th Street, P&S 3-401, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Background: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) often have gut colonization with pathogenic bacteria and such colonization is associated with increased risk for death and infection. We conducted a trial to determine whether a prebiotic would improve the gut microbiome to decrease gut pathogen colonization and decrease downstream risk for infection among newly admitted medical ICU patients with sepsis.
Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of adults who were admitted to the medical ICU for sepsis and were receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Nat Microbiol
January 2025
Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, National Laboratory of Biotechnology, Szeged, Hungary.
Despite ongoing antibiotic development, evolution of resistance may render candidate antibiotics ineffective. Here we studied in vitro emergence of resistance to 13 antibiotics introduced after 2017 or currently in development, compared with in-use antibiotics. Laboratory evolution showed that clinically relevant resistance arises within 60 days of antibiotic exposure in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, priority Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAppl Microbiol Biotechnol
January 2025
Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr.18, 22609, Hamburg, Germany.
The focus on microalgae for applications in several fields, e.g. resources for biofuel, the food industry, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, biotechnology, and healthcare, has gained increasing attention over the last decades.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCardiovasc Res
January 2025
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.
Aims: The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is composed of distinct sub-regions, which exhibit segment-specific differences in microbial colonization and (patho)physiological characteristics. Gut microbes can be collectively considered as an active endocrine organ. Microbes produce metabolites, which can be taken up by the host and can actively communicate with the immune cells in the gut lamina propria with consequences for cardiovascular health.
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