Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Life Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Trends in Microbiology 2024

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 16682

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Pabulo H. Rampelotto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core Facility, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
Interests: microbiome; molecular microbiology; metagenomics; omics; next-generation sequencing; microbial ecology; bioinformatics; biotechnology; system biology; grand challenges
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Milan Kolar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University Hospital Olomouc, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Interests: bacterial infections; antibiotic therapy; antibiotic resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue on "Trends in Microbiology" is a comprehensive compilation of cutting-edge research articles, reviews, and perspectives that capture the rapidly evolving landscape of microbiology each year. The scope of the Special Issue encompasses a wide range of topics, such as the microbiome, antimicrobial resistance, microbial interactions, infectious diseases, biotechnology applications, and the impact of microbiology on public health and environmental sustainability. The collection of articles aims to provide insights into emerging trends, novel methodologies, and breakthrough discoveries as well as their implications for scientific research, clinical practice, and industrial applications. For this first issue, we will showcase articles from 2023 and 2024. You are welcome to read and contribute. Following this, we intend to annually update the Special Issue to provide scholars with the most recent and innovative perspective on basic and applied microbiology.

Prof. Dr. Pabulo H. Rampelotto
Prof. Dr. Milan Kolar
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

agricultural microbiology
clinical microbiology
environmental microbiology
food microbiology
industrial microbiology
marine microbiology
microbial biochemistry
microbial biofuel and bioenergy
microbial ecology
microbial evolution
microbial genetics
microbial metabolism
microbial pathogenesis
microbial physiology

Published Papers (13 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

13 pages, 1125 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detection of Three Sarcocystis Species (Apicomplexa) in Blood Samples of the Bank Vole and Yellow-Necked Mouse from Lithuania

by Petras Prakas, Naglis Gudiškis, Neringa Kitrytė, Dovilė Laisvūnė Bagdonaitė and Laima Baltrūnaitė

Life 2024, 14(3), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14030365 - 10 Mar 2024

Viewed by 879

Abstract

The genus Sarcocystis is an abundant group of Apicomplexa parasites found in mammals, birds, and reptiles. These parasites are characterised by the formation of sarcocysts in the muscles of intermediate hosts and the development of sporocysts in the intestines of definitive hosts. The identification of Sarcocystis spp. is usually carried out in carcasses of animals, while there is a lack of studies on the detection of Sarcocystis species in blood samples. In the current study, blood samples of 214 yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and 143 bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from Lithuania were examined for Sarcocystis. The molecular identification of Sarcocystis was carried out using nested PCR of cox1 and 28S rRNA and subsequent sequencing. Sarcocystis spp. were statistically (p < 0.01) more frequently detected in the bank vole (6.3%) than in yellow-necked mice (0.9%). The analysed parasites were observed in four different habitats, such as mature deciduous forest, bog, natural meadow, and arable land. Three species, Sarcocystis funereus, Sarcocystis myodes, and Sarcocystis cf. glareoli were confirmed in the bank vole, whereas only Sarcocystis myodes were found in yellow-necked mice. The obtained results are important in the development of molecular identification of Sarcocystis parasites in live animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Antiparasitic, Antihepatotoxicity, and Antioxidant Efficacy of Quercetin and Chitosan, Either Alone or in Combination, against Infection Induced by Giardia lamblia in Male Rats

by Bander Albogami

Life 2023, 13(12), 2316; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13122316 - 10 Dec 2023

Viewed by 982

Abstract

Giardia lamblia (G. lamblia) is one of the most common protozoal infections and a key cause of malabsorption, some cases of mental developmental issues in children, and reduced body weight. The known antiparasitic medications, which are the standard drugs used for parasitic treatment, have several side effects and sometimes exhibit low efficacy. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the treatment with quercetin (QC) or chitosan (CH), either alone or in combination, as possible alternative therapeutic agents that may alleviate the side effects of G. lamblia infections and restore the normal architecture of the intestinal muscles. They are investigated as alternatives to other routinely administered drugs that may gradually lose their efficacy due to human resistance to therapeutic agents. This study was carried out on 50 male albino rats that were divided into five groups with 10 rats in each group: the control group (Group I), the infected non-treated group (Group II), the infected group treated with QC (Group III), the infected treated group with CH (Group IV), and the infected group treated with a combination of QC and CH (Group V). The effect was first evaluated by counting the G. lamblia fecal cysts in the stool, examining histopathological sections of the intestine with the appearance of trophozoites in the infected group, and conducting a transmission electron microscopic examination of the tissues of the small intestine. Alterations in the biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function and the antioxidant enzymes in the liver tissues of SOD, CAT, and GSH, and non-enzymatic markers of lipid peroxidation (MDA) were evaluated. The results showed a significant decline in the number of parasites in the stool samples, with a marked elevation in the number of trophozoites in the intestinal sections of the infected non-treated group as compared to the infected treated groups. The last group, which was treated with a combination of QC and CH, showed the best results in terms of a decline in the infection rate of G. lamblia in stool samples, with a marked and clear improvement in the intestinal mucosa, regular muscles with normal enteric ganglions, and reduced rates of intestinal injuries caused by G. lamblia trophozoites. Both QC and CH had non-toxic effects on the biochemical parameters of the liver and kidneys, as well as pronounced antioxidant activities due to the elevation of SOD, CAT, and GSH in conjunction with a decline in the levels of MDA. A combination of QC and CH can be considered a potent antiparasitic, anti-hepatotoxic, and antioxidant therapeutic agent; it could constitute a promising alternative treatment agent against G. lamblia infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1206 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in the Bacterial Communities of Biocomposites with Different Flame Retardants

by Dovilė Vasiliauskienė, Juliana Lukša, Elena Servienė and Jaunius Urbonavičius

Life 2023, 13(12), 2306; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13122306 - 07 Dec 2023

Viewed by 645

Abstract

In today’s world, the use of environmentally friendly materials is strongly encouraged. These materials derive from primary raw materials of plant origin, like fibrous hemp, flax, and bamboo, or recycled materials, such as textiles or residual paper, making them suitable for the growth of microorganisms. Here, we investigate changes in bacterial communities in biocomposites made of hemp shives, corn starch, and either expandable graphite or a Flovan compound as flame retardants. Using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), we found that after 12 months of incubation at 22 °C with a relative humidity of 65%, Proteobacteria accounted for >99.7% of the microbiome in composites with either flame retardant. By contrast, in the absence of flame retardants, the abundance of Proteobacteria decreased to 32.1%, while Bacteroidetes (36.6%), Actinobacteria (8.4%), and Saccharobacteria (TM7, 14.51%) appeared. Using the increasing concentrations of either expandable graphite or a Flovan compound in an LB medium, we were able to achieve up to a 5-log reduction in the viability of Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, representatives of the Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera, the abundance of which varied in the biocomposites tested. Our results demonstrate that flame retardants act on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and suggest that their antimicrobial activities also have to be tested when producing new compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4461 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biocontrol Potential of Serratia Marcescens (B8) and Bacillus sp. (B13) Isolated from Urban Mangroves in Raposa, Brazil

by Érima Jôyssielly Mendonça Castro Pereira, Érika Alves da Fonsêca Amorim, Felicia Maria Melo Aragão, Wallison de Souza Câmara, Maria Carvalho Araújo, Carlos Drielson da Silva Pereira, Leo Ruben Lopes Dias, Wolia Costa Gomes, Amanda Silva dos Santos Aliança, Joicy Cortez de Sá Souza, Luís Cláudio Nascimento da Silva and Rita de Cássia Mendonça de Miranda

Life 2023, 13(10), 2036; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13102036 - 11 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1072

Abstract

This study analyzed the antifungal potential of 16 bacterial strains isolated from mangrove sediment. Bacterial selection was conducted in a solid medium. This was followed by the production and extraction of metabolites using ethyl acetate to evaluate chitinase production, antifungal activity, and toxicity toward Allium cepa and Tenebrio molitor. Bacterial strains B8, B11, and B13 produced the largest inhibition halos (>30 mm) toward Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Rhizoctonia solani fungi. Strains B1, B3, B6, B8, B11, B13, B14, and B16 produced chitinases. In assays using liquid media, B8 and B13 produced the largest inhibition halos. Exposing the fungal inocula to metabolic extracts of strains B6, B8, B11, B13, B14, B15, and B16 caused micromorphological alterations in the inocula, culminating in the inhibition of R. solani sporulation and spore germination. Toxicity tests using Allium cepa and Tenebrio molitor revealed that the metabolites showed low toxicity. Six of the bacterial strains were molecularly identified to species levels, and a further two to genus level. These included Serratia marcescens (B8), which exhibited activity in all tests. Mangroves provide a useful resource for the isolation of microorganisms for biocontrol. Among the isolates, Serratia marcescens and Bacillus spp. showed the greatest potential to produce metabolites for use as biocontrol agents in agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Demodex Species and Culturable Microorganism Co-Infestations in Patients with Blepharitis

by Joanna Pyzia, Katarzyna Mańkowska, Maciej Czepita, Karolina Kot, Natalia Łanocha-Arendarczyk, Damian Czepita and Danuta I. Kosik-Bogacka

Life 2023, 13(9), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13091827 - 29 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1773

Abstract

We aimed to determine the prevalence of Demodex spp. and bacterial infection in patients with blepharitis and also to investigate the relationship between culturable microorganisms and Demodex spp. in this study. The study included patients diagnosed with blepharitis (n = 128) and volunteers without ocular problems (n = 113). Eyelash sampling was performed by epilating eight lashes, which were then tested for Demodex spp. using a light microscope. The examination consisted of assessing the patient’s vision with and without ocular correction and tonus in both eyes and a careful examination of the anterior segment of both eyes. Bacterial identification was performed based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical methods. The prevalence of Demodex spp. was 8.0% in patients from the control group and all patients with blepharitis. Isolated forms of Demodex spp. were detected in all infested patients in the control group and in 58% of patients with blepharitis. A total of 35% of patients with blepharitis had from three to nine forms of Demodex spp., and 7% of patients with blepharitis had more than 10 mites in every field of vision. We found a statistically significant relationship between Demodex spp. infestation and the occurrence of eye dryness and sensations of burning and tearing, redness of the conjunctiva, feeling of a foreign body, loss of eyelashes, Meibomian gland dysfunction, and cylindrical dandruff. There were statistically significant relationships between Demodex sp. infestation and the presence of hyperopia, Meibomian cysts, chronic eyelid inflammation, and the use of eyeglasses. There was also a statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of Demodex spp. and seborrheic dermatitis and diabetes mellitus. Culturable microorganisms of the ocular surface were found in 8.7% of participants who were uninfested and in all patients infested with D. folliculorum. We isolated Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Bacillus spp. from the conjunctival sac only in patients infested with D. folliculorum. This indicates an increased probability of colonization by pathogenic bacteria in patients with demodicosis. Therefore, patients infested with D. folliculorum should undergo a microbiological examination of conjunctival swabs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1180 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Susceptibility of Pathogenic Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius to Empirical Co-Trimoxazole for Canine Pyoderma

by Usasom Khongsri, Peerawit Chongrattanameteekul, Sineenart Chantarachart, Kornravee Photichai, Nittaya Chanayat, Thanya Varinrak, Raktham Mektrirat and Nuttawan Srifawattana

Life 2023, 13(5), 1210; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051210 - 18 May 2023

Viewed by 1654

Abstract

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) that causes pyoderma has been gradually shifting, according to many surveillance studies, with annual changes. The empirical co-trimoxazole regimen remains interesting, but research on co-trimoxazole susceptibility to MRSP is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of co-trimoxazole to canine pyoderma MRSP isolates. Sixty isolates of S. pseudintermedius were identified as 16 MRSP and 44 methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) using an oxacillin disk diffusion test and VITEK 2 system with VITEK GP card. Using the VITEK 2 system with a VITEK AST-GP81 card, the susceptibility rates of MRSP (15.00%) and MSSP (35.00%) to co-trimoxazole was observed. The median MIC of co-trimoxazole on MSSP (median, ≤10; IQR, 10–320) was lower than that of MRSP (median, ≥320; IQR, 10–320) (p = 0.5889, Mann-Whitney test). Percent attainment of PK/PD targets in MRSP (q 12 h, 43.75; q 8 h, 43.75) were lower than that of MSSP (q 12 h, 52.27; q 8 h, 52.27) (p = 0.7710). These findings show the moderately phenotypic co-trimoxazole susceptibilities of both MRSP and MSSP. Further study is required to develop clinical trials examining the use of co-trimoxazole in dogs with pyoderma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2845 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Characterization of Influenza A/H3N2 Virus Isolated from Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims 2013 to 2014

by Agustiningsih Agustiningsih, Irene Lorinda Indalao, Krisnanur A. Pangesti, Caecilia H. C. Sukowati and Ririn Ramadhany

Life 2023, 13(5), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051100 - 27 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1331

Abstract

The Hajj and Umrah are the annual mass gatherings of Muslims in Saudi Arabia and increase the transmission risk of acute respiratory infection. This study describes influenza infection among pilgrims upon arrival in Indonesia and the genetic characterization of imported influenza A/H3N2 virus. In total, 251 swab samples with influenza-like illness were tested using real-time RT-PCR for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and influenza viruses. Complete sequences of influenza A/H3N2 HA and NA genes were obtained using DNA sequencing and plotted to amino acid and antigenicity changes. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using a neighbour-joining method including the WHO vaccine strains and influenza A/H3N2 as references. The real-time RT-PCR test detected 100 (39.5%) samples positive with influenza with no positivity of MERS-CoV. Mutations in the HA gene were mainly located within the antigenic sites A, B, and D, while for the NA gene, no mutations related to oseltamivir resistance were observed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these viruses grouped together with clades 3C.2 and 3C.3; however, they were not closely grouped with the WHO-recommended vaccine (clades 3C.1). Sequences obtained from Hajj and Umrah pilgrims were also not grouped together with viruses from Middle East countries but clustered according to years of collection. This implies that the influenza A/H3N2 virus mutates continually across time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1853 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Understanding the Diurnal Oscillation of the Gut Microbiota Using Microbial Culture

by Guilherme Amando, André Tonon, Débora Constantino, Maria Paz Hidalgo, Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto and Francisco Montagner

Life 2023, 13(3), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030831 - 19 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1523

Abstract

The composition of the gut microbiota oscillates according to the light–dark cycle. However, the existing literature demonstrates these oscillations only by molecular methods. Microbial cultures are an interesting method for studying metabolically active microorganisms. In this work, we aimed to understand the diurnal oscillation of the intestinal microbiota in Wistar male rats through microbial culture analysis. Over a 24 h period, three animals were euthanized every 6 h. Intestinal segments were dissected immediately after euthanasia and diluted in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for plating in different culture media. The CFU/mL counts in feces samples cultured in the Brucella medium were significantly higher at ZT0, followed by ZT6, ZT18, and ZT12 (p = 0.0156), which demonstrated the diurnal oscillation of metabolically active anaerobic bacteria every 6 h using microbial culture. In addition, quantitative differences were demonstrated in anaerobic bacteria and fungi in different gastrointestinal tract tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1869 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antifouling Potential of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Marine Bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain RLimb

by Nurul Najihah Rawi, Mujahidah Mohd Ramzi, Nor Izzati Abd Rahman, Fazilah Ariffin, Jasnizat Saidin, Kesaven Bhubalan, Noor Wini Mazlan, Nor Atikah Mohd Zin, Julius Yong Fu Siong, Kamariah Bakar, Ahmad Khusairi Azemi and Noraznawati Ismail

Life 2023, 13(3), 802; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030802 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1696

Abstract

Biofouling is defined as the excessive colonization process of epibiotic organisms, ranging from microfoulers to macrofoulers, on any submerged surface in water. Previous research has attempted to explore the antifouling activity of bacterial isolates due to the biofouling problems occurring worldwide. One solution is to inhibit the early stage of fouling using secondary metabolites produced by marine bacteria. This study aims to determine the antifouling activities of the marine microorganism P. aeruginosa and to characterize the bacteria isolated as a potential anti-biofouling agent. The bacterial isolate was cultured and isolated on a media culture. The bacteria culture extract was extracted using ethyl acetate and concentrated prior to the bioassay method. It was screened for antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus uberis, Pseudomonas sp., and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, using the disk diffusion technique. The extract was investigated to verify its bioactivity in the prevention of biofilm formation following the crystal violet assay and aquarium test. The results indicated the inhibition of activity through biofilm formation, with the highest percentage at 83% of biofilm inhibition at a concentration of 0.1563 mg/mL. The bacterial isolate at a concentration of 5% showed the highest reduction in bacteria colonies in the aquarium test (161.8 × 10³ CFU/mL compared to 722.5 × 10³ CFU/mL for the blank sample). The bacterial isolate was characterized through phenotypic and genotypic tests for species identification. It was identified as a Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, and long-rod-shaped bacteria, designated as RLimb. Based on the 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis, RLimb was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (accession number: OP522351), exhibiting a similarity of 100% to the described neighbor P. aeruginosa strain DSM 50071. These results indicated that these isolated bacteria can potentially be used as a substitute for toxic antifoulants to prevent the formation of microfoulers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of In Situ Product Recovery (ISPR) System Using Amberlite IRA67 for Enhanced Biosynthesis of Hyaluronic Acid by Streptococcus zooepidemicus

by Nur Imanina Abdullah Thaidi, Rosfarizan Mohamad, Helmi Wasoh, Mohammad Rizal Kapri, Ahmad Badruddin Ghazali, Joo Shun Tan, Leonardo Rios-Solis and Murni Halim

Life 2023, 13(2), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13020558 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1518

Abstract

High broth viscosity due to the accumulation of hyaluronic acid (HA) causes a limited yield of HA. It is a major problem of HA production using Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Extractive fermentation via in situ product recovery (ISPR) was utilized to enhance the HA production. Resins from Amberlite: IRA400 Cl; IRA900 Cl; IRA410 Cl; IRA402 Cl; and IRA67 were tested for the HA adsorption. IRA67 showed high adsorption capacity on HA. The study of the adsorption via a 2 L stirred tank bioreactor of S. zooepidemicus fermentation was investigated to elucidate the adsorption of HA onto IRA67 in dispersed and integrated internal column systems. The application of a dispersed IRA67 improved the HA production compared to the fermentation without resin addition by 1.37-fold. The HA production was further improved by 1.36-fold with an internal column (3.928 g/L) over that obtained with dispersed IRA67. The cultivation with an internal column shows the highest reduction of viscosity value after the addition of IRA67 resin: from 58.8 to 23.7 (mPa·s), suggesting the most effective ISPR of HA. The improved biosynthesis of HA indicated that an extractive fermentation by ISPR adsorption is effective and may streamline the HA purification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 6771 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sugarcane Wax Metabolites and Their Toxicity to Silkworms

by Li Ma, Mingzheng Duan, Ziwei He, Yu Zhang, Yiting Chen, Bo Li, Muhammad Junaid Rao, Lihua Hu and Lingqiang Wang

Life 2023, 13(2), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13020286 - 19 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1241

Abstract

Sugarcane wax has the potential to be utilized as a novel natural insecticide, which could help to reduce the large yield losses caused by agricultural pests. By employing the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) approach, we conducted a study to analyze the composition of epicuticular wax from the rind of the sugarcane variety YT71210. A total of 157 metabolites, categorized into 15 classes, were identified, with naphthalene, a metabolite with insect-resistant properties, being the most prevalent. The feeding trial experiment suggested that sugarcane wax is toxic to silkworms by impacting the internal organs. Intestinal microbial diversity analysis suggested that the abundance of Enterococcus genus was significantly increased in both ordure and gut of silkworm after wax treatment. The results indicated that the feeding of wax has an adverse effect on the gut microbial composition of silkworms. Our findings lay a foundation for the efficacy of sugarcane waxes as a valuable natural insecticide and for the prediction of promising sugarcane varieties with insect resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

25 pages, 2164 KiB

Open AccessReview

The End Justifies the Means: Chagas Disease from a Perspective of the Host–Trypanosoma cruzi Interaction

by Izadora Volpato Rossi, Denise Andréa Silva de Souza and Marcel Ivan Ramirez

Life 2024, 14(4), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14040488 - 09 Apr 2024

Viewed by 444

Abstract

The neglected Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite CD dispersion throughout the world, it prevails in tropical areas affecting mainly poor communities, causing devastating health, social and economic consequences. Clinically, CD is marked by a mildly symptomatic acute phase, and a chronic phase characterized by cardiac and/or digestive complications. Current treatment for CD relies on medications with strong side effects and reduced effectiveness. The complex interaction between the parasite and the host outlines the etiology and progression of CD. The unique characteristics and high adaptability of T. cruzi, its mechanisms of persistence, and evasion of the immune system seem to influence the course of the disease. Despite the efforts to uncover the pathology of CD, there are many gaps in understanding how it is established and reaches chronicity. Also, the lack of effective treatments and protective vaccines constitute challenges for public health. Here, we explain the background in which CD is established, from the peculiarities of T. cruzi molecular biology to the development of the host’s immune response leading to the pathophysiology of CD. We also discuss the state of the art of treatments for CD and current challenges in basic and applied science. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

8 pages, 922 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Real-Life Assessment of the Ability of an Ultraviolet C Lamp (SanificaAria 200, Beghelli) to Inactivate Airborne Microorganisms in a Healthcare Environment

by Claudio Foschi, Beatrice Giorgi, Simone Ambretti, Tiziana Lazzarotto and Francesco Saverio Violante

Life 2023, 13(5), 1221; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13051221 - 20 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1223

Abstract

Airborne-mediated microbial diseases represent one of the major challenges to public health. Ultraviolet C radiation (UVC) is among the different sanitation techniques useful to reduce the risk of infection in healthcare facilities. Previous studies about the germicidal activity of UVC were mainly performed in artificial settings or in vitro models. This study aimed to assess the sanitizing effectiveness of a UVC device (SanificaAria 200, Beghelli, Valsamoggia, Bologna, Italy) in ‘real-life’ conditions by evaluating its ability to reduce microbial loads in several hospital settings during routine daily activities. The efficacy of the UVC lamp in reducing the bacterial component was evaluated by microbial culture through the collection of air samples in different healthcare settings at different times (30 min–24 h) after turning on the device. To assess the anti-viral activity, air samplings were carried out in a room where a SARS-CoV-2-positive subject was present. The UVC device showed good antibacterial properties against a wide range of microbial species after 6 h of activity. It was effective against possible multi-drug resistant microorganisms (e.g., Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp.) and spore-forming bacteria (e.g., Bacillus spp.). In addition, the UVC lamp was able to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in just one hour. Thanks to its effectiveness and safety, SanificaAria 200 could be useful to inactivate airborne pathogens and reduce health risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Microbiology 2024)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Trends in Microbiology 2024

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (13 papers)

Research

Review

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI