Strain dynamics of contaminating bacteria modulate the yield of ethanol biorefineries.

Bioethanol is a sustainable energy alternative and can contribute to global greenhouse-gas emission reductions by over 60%. Its industrial production faces various bottlenecks, including sub-optimal efficiency resulting from bacteria. Broad-spectrum removal of these contaminants results in negligible gains, suggesting that the process is shaped by ecological interactions within the microbial community.

CD56-mediated activation of human natural killer cells is triggered by Aspergillus fumigatus galactosaminogalactan.

Invasive aspergillosis causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Natural killer (NK) cells are pivotal for antifungal defense. Thus far, CD56 is the only known pathogen recognition receptor on NK cells triggering potent antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus.

Molecular networking and computational NMR analyses uncover six polyketide-terpene hybrids from termite-associated Xylaria isolates.

Fungi constitute the Earth's second most diverse kingdom, however only a small percentage of these have been thoroughly examined and categorized for their secondary metabolites, which still limits our understanding of the ecological chemical and pharmacological potential of fungi. In this study, we explored members of the co-evolved termite-associated fungal genus Xylaria and identified a family of highly oxygenated polyketide-terpene hybrid natural products using an MS/MS molecular networking-based dereplication approach. Overall, we isolated six no yet reported xylasporin derivatives, of which xylasporin A (1) features a rare cyclic-carbonate moiety.

Long versus short course anti-microbial therapy of uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: a systematic review.

Background: Current guidelines recommend at least 2 weeks duration of antibiotic therapy (DOT) for patients with uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) but the evidence for this recommendation is unclear.

Objectives: To perform a systematic literature review assessing current evidence for recommended DOT for patients with SAB.

Methods: The following are the methods used for this study.

Impact of functional electrical stimulation on nerve-damaged muscles by quantifying fat infiltration using deep learning.

Quantitative imaging in life sciences has evolved into a powerful approach combining advanced microscopy acquisition and automated analysis of image data. The focus of the present study is on the imaging-based evaluation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) influenced by long-term functional electrical stimulation (FES), which may assist the inspiration of patients with bilateral vocal fold paresis. To this end, muscle cross-sections of the PCA of sheep were examined by quantitative image analysis.

An Enzymatic Prodrug-like Route to Thio and Selenoamides.

6-Thioguanine (6TG) is a clinically used antitumor agent that was rationally designed as a DNA-targeting antimetabolite, but it also occurs naturally. 6TG is a critical virulence factor produced by Erwinia amylovorans, a notorious plant pathogen that causes fire blight of pome fruit trees. The biosynthesis of the rare thioamide metabolite involves an adenylating enzyme (YcfA) and a sulfur-mobilizing enzyme (YcfC), but the mechanism of sulfur transfer and putative intermediates have remained elusive.

The isoprenyl chain length of coenzyme Q mediates the nutritional resistance of fungi to amoeba predation.

Unlabelled: Amoebae are environmental predators feeding on bacteria, fungi, and other eukaryotic microbes. Predatory interactions alter microbial communities and impose selective pressure toward phagocytic resistance or escape which may, in turn, foster virulence attributes. The ubiquitous fungivorous amoeba has a wide prey spectrum in the fungal kingdom but discriminates against members of the clade, such as and .

The gut microbiome, resistome, and mycobiome in preterm newborn infants and mouse pups: lack of lasting effects by antimicrobial therapy or probiotic prophylaxis.

Background: Enhancing our understanding of the underlying influences of medical interventions on the microbiome, resistome and mycobiome of preterm born infants holds significant potential for advancing infection prevention and treatment strategies. We conducted a prospective quasi-intervention study to better understand how antibiotics, and probiotics, and other medical factors influence the gut development of preterm infants. A controlled neonatal mice model was conducted in parallel, designed to closely reflect and predict exposures.

Isotope labeled 3D-Raman confocal imaging and atomic force microscopy study on epithelial cells interacting with the fungus Candida albicans.

The human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans damages epithelial cells during superficial infections. Here we use three-dimensional-sequential-confocal Raman spectroscopic imaging and atomic force microscopy to investigate the interaction of C. albicans wild type cells, the secreted C.

The unusual mode of action of the polyketide glycoside antibiotic cervimycin C.

Cervimycins A-D are bis-glycosylated polyketide antibiotics produced by HKI 0179 with bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, cervimycin C (CmC) treatment caused a spaghetti-like phenotype in 168, with elongated curved cells, which stayed joined after cell division, and exhibited a chromosome segregation defect, resulting in ghost cells without DNA. Electron microscopy of CmC-treated (3 × MIC) revealed swollen cells, misshapen septa, cell wall thickening, and a rough cell wall surface.

Long-term stimulation by implanted pacemaker enables non-atrophic treatment of bilateral vocal fold paresis in a human-like animal model.

A wide variety of treatments have been developed to improve respiratory function and quality of life in patients with bilateral vocal fold paresis (BVFP). One experimental method is the electrical activation of the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle with a laryngeal pacemaker (LP) to open the vocal folds. We used an ovine (sheep) model of unilateral VFP to study the long-term effects of functional electrical stimulation on the PCA muscles.

Deazaflavin metabolite produced by endosymbiotic bacteria controls fungal host reproduction.

The endosymbiosis between the pathogenic fungus Rhizopus microsporus and the toxin-producing bacterium Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica represents a unique example of host control by an endosymbiont. Fungal sporulation strictly depends on the presence of endosymbionts as well as bacterially produced secondary metabolites. However, an influence of primary metabolites on host control remained unexplored.

Genetic regulation of L-tryptophan metabolism in Psilocybe mexicana supports psilocybin biosynthesis.

Background: Although Basidiomycota produce pharmaceutically and ecologically relevant natural products, knowledge of how they coordinate their primary and secondary metabolism is virtually non-existent. Upon transition from vegetative mycelium to carpophore formation, mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe use L-tryptophan to supply the biosynthesis of the psychedelic tryptamine alkaloid psilocybin with the scaffold, leading to a strongly increased demand for this particular amino acid as this alkaloid may account for up to 2% of the dry mass. Using Psilocybe mexicana as our model and relying on genetic, transcriptomic, and biochemical methods, this study investigated if L-tryptophan biosynthesis and degradation in P.

A global survey of host, aquatic, and soil microbiomes reveals shared abundance and genomic features between bacterial and fungal generalists.

Environmental change, coupled with alteration in human lifestyles, is profoundly impacting the microbial communities critical to the health of the Earth and its inhabitants. To identify bacteria and fungi that are resistant and susceptible to habitat change, we analyze thousands of genera detected in 1,580 host, soil, and aquatic samples. This large-scale analysis identifies 48 bacterial and 4 fungal genera that are abundant across the three biomes, demonstrating fitness in diverse environmental conditions.

Probiotic Mixture Ameliorates a Diet-Induced MASLD/MASH Murine Model through the Regulation of Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and the Gut Microbiome.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a prevalent metabolic disease that has no effective treatment. Our proprietary probiotic mixture, Prohep, has been proven in a previous study to be helpful in reducing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vivo. However, its prospective benefits on the treatment of other liver diseases such as MASLD, which is one of the major risk factors in the development of HCC, are unclear.

A mutualistic bacterium rescues a green alga from an antagonist.

Photosynthetic protists, known as microalgae, are key contributors to primary production on Earth. Since early in evolution, they coexist with bacteria in nature, and their mode of interaction shapes ecosystems. We have recently shown that the bacterium acts algicidal on the microalga It secretes a cyclic lipopeptide and a polyyne that deflagellate, blind, and lyse the algae [P.

The sphingolipid inhibitor myriocin increases Candida auris susceptibility to amphotericin B.

Background: The emergence of the pathogenic yeast Candida auris is of global concern due to its ability to cause hospital outbreaks and develop resistance against all antifungal drug classes. Based on published data for baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sphingolipid biosynthesis, which is essential for maintaining membrane fluidity and formation of lipid rafts, could offer a target for additive treatment.

Methods: We analysed the susceptibility of C.

Deep learning-based characterization of neutrophil activation phenotypes in human blood infections.

Early identification of human pathogens is crucial for the effective treatment of bloodstream infections to prevent sepsis. Since pathogens that are present in small numbers are usually difficult to detect directly, we hypothesize that the behavior of the immune cells that are present in large numbers may provide indirect evidence about the causative pathogen of the infection. We previously applied time-lapse microscopy to observe that neutrophils isolated from human whole-blood samples, which had been infected with the human-pathogenic fungus or , indeed exhibited a characteristic morphodynamic behavior.