Mycoviruses are widespread in fungi, their diversity across different taxonomic ranks remains insufficiently documented. In this study, a novel mycovirus from the strain 8-Q-36 of binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-Bb, were identified using High- throughput sequencing technology and it was tentatively named as Orthocurvulavirus rhizoctonia 1. The viral genome consists of two dsRNA components, 2252 and 1720 nt in length. DsRNA1 contains a open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 80.3-kDa RdRp and dsRNA2 contains a ORF encoding a 54.3-kDa hypothetical protein. The encoded RdRp exhibited the highest sequence similarity to Rhizoctonia fumigata bipartite virus 1 (YP_009134757.1, 80.31%), with a sequence coverage of 100%. Phylogenetic analysis based on RdRp amino acid sequences indicated that OCR1 clusters within an unclassified group of dsRNA viruses phylogenetically affiliated with the genus Orthocurvulavirus. These results suggest that OCR1 may represent a novel species within this genus, pending formal taxonomic proposal and official ratification.

Huangshui, a by-product of Chinese Liquor brewing, is rich in diverse organic compounds. In this study, the growth and biomass production of Scenedesmus quadricauda were investigated using Huangshui as culture substrate. The optimal cultivation conditions were identified as follows: pH 7.0, Huangshui concentration of 5%, cultivation duration of 6 days, and light intensity of 8000 lx. Under semi-continuous cultivation with a renewal rate of 30%, an initial cell density of 2.5 × 10[5] cells/mL and a renewal period of 2 days, S. quadricauda achieved a biomass concentration of 3.70 g/L and a productivity 550 mg/L[-1]d[- 1]. These values represented increases of 55.5% and 109.9%, respectively, compared to those obtained in batch culture. Notably, the protein content and protein productivity of S. quadricauda reached 49.152% and 272.78 mg/L[-1]d[- 1], respectively, with a 38.9% increase in essential amino acid content relative to batch culture. This study appears to be the first report to cultivate microalgae in Huangshui. The Huangshui, derived from fermentation, showed considerable potential for use as a high-performance microalgae culture medium.

With the popularization of upland rice cultivation and the intensification of global warming, drought tolerance in rice has become a critical agronomic challenge. Plant endophytes can establish symbiotic relationships with host plants and enhance plant stress tolerance. Previous studies have demonstrated that Phomopsis liquidambaris B3 (P. liquidambaris B3) can form a stable symbiosis with rice and improve plant disease resistance. However, whether this strain can enhance rice drought tolerance remains unclear. In this study, a 7-day water-withholding treatment was imposed on rice at the seedling, tillering, and booting stages. Physiological and biochemical indices related to drought tolerance were determined in plants inoculated with P. liquidambaris B3 and uninoculated control plants.The results showed that drought stress induced obvious leaf rolling in uninoculated rice, whereas no significant leaf rolling was observed in B3-inoculated plants. Under drought conditions, the relative water content, photosynthetic performance (chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate), osmotic adjustment substances (proline, soluble protein and soluble sugar), and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) in B3-inoculated rice were significantly higher than those in the uninoculated control. Meanwhile, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were markedly lower in the B3 inoculation group. In addition, plant growth performance and grain yield were significantly improved by B3 inoculation. P. liquidambaris B3 effectively promoted rice photosynthetic capacity under drought stress.Collectively, these findings indicate that P. liquidambaris B3 enhances rice drought tolerance by optimizing physiological performance, promoting plant growth, and ultimately increasing grain yield. This study provides a promising theoretical and application basis for improving drought tolerance in rice.

Covid-19 pandemic was caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 and caused a tremendous burden to humans including thousands of deaths. SARS-CoV-2 still causes the respiratory diseases to humans annually. It is known that the pathological outcomes may be different from sexes of humans infected with viral diseases. Here, we studied the pathological difference between females and males infected with the recent SARS-CoV-2 in 6-week-old hACE2-trangenic mouse models. When female and male mice were intranasally infected with the recent SARS-CoV-2/2025, no mortality was observed in both infected female and male mice. However, the infected female mice suffered from more body-weight loss than the infected male mice with higher viral titers in the lungs. The infected male mice produced higher amount of the immune-stimulatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IFN-γ, and anti-apoptotic genes such as BCL2 and Bcl-XL in the lungs than those of the infected female mice. Taken together, it seems that the infected male mice with the recent SARS-CoV-2/2025 could suffer from milder clinical signs than the infected female mice because of the increased expression of immune-enhancing cytokines and anti-apoptotic genes.

Plant viral vectors have evolved from tools for transient gene expression into a versatile platform for precise genetic intervention, offering a rapid, transgene-free alternative to conventional crop transformation. This review critically assesses their engineering for scalable field application, moving beyond foundational techniques like virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). We highlight how advanced vector design, including deconstructed genomes and synthetic regulatory circuits enhances cargo capacity, specificity, and biosafety. The integration of viral delivery with CRISPR-Cas systems has unlocked virus-induced genome editing (VIGE), base editing, and prime editing, enabling heritable trait modification without tissue culture. However, the transition from proof-of-concept in model plants to robust field technology hinges on overcoming critical bottlenecks: expanding host range through chimeric vectors, ensuring environmental containment, and developing scalable delivery methods such as nano-formulations or adjusted agroinfiltration protocols. We evaluate these delivery routes and emerging synergies with nanobiotechnology for targeted and efficient applications. While challenges in regulation, public perception, and large-scale production persist, the strategic engineering of viral vectors for stability, specificity, and safety positions them as a transformative, next-generation biotechnological input for achieving sustainable crop improvement and protection under changing climatic conditions.

To overcome the bottleneck of high pollution associated with using xylose as a raw material for xylitol biosynthesis, this study focused on a yeast strain, Zygoascus hellenicus B11, which can directly utilize glucose as a carbon source. We investigated the regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms of different oxygen conditions on xylitol biosynthesis. Through systematic scale-up studies from shake flasks to bioreactors, we characterized the dynamic profiles of cell growth, substrate consumption, and xylitol synthesis under various agitation speeds and aeration conditions. Furthermore, by constructing an unsteady-state metabolic kinetic model for this strain and measuring key enzyme activities and intracellular cofactor levels, we quantitatively analyzed the distribution of carbon metabolic flux in the network for xylitol synthesis from glucose. Xylitol synthesis was significantly regulated by oxygen levels. A moderate increase in oxygen promoted xylitol production, with the highest concentration of 51.49 g/L achieved under the optimal aeration condition (3 NL/min). However, excessively high oxygen levels promoted the reverse oxidation of xylitol to xylulose, catalyzed by xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH), diverting more metabolic flux towards cell growth and thereby weakening xylitol synthesis. Based on enzyme activity assays, cofactor measurements, and metabolic kinetic model simulations, we propose the following mechanistic interpretation: optimal oxygen levels not only redirect more carbon flux into the pentose phosphate pathway, enhancing precursor supply, but also maintain a high NADPH/NADP[+] ratio. Based on these combined experimental and modeling data, we infer that this cofactor balance shifts the reversible XDH-catalyzed reaction equilibrium toward net xylitol synthesis. The study provides key strategies and theoretical support for improving xylitol concentration through dynamic oxygen supply.

Textile effluent is a chemically complex wastewater containing azo dyes, high alkalinity and recalcitrant organic pollutants. Its untreated discharge poses serious ecological risks and requires sustainable management before release. The comparative efficiency of monoculture treatment and native microbiome assisted bioaugmentation in real highly alkaline textile effluent remains insufficiently documented. This study evaluated the biodegradation and detoxification potential of Acinetobacter indicus KUHKSN-02, isolated from effluent-contaminated soil, under sterile monoculture and non-sterile native microbiome aided conditions. Results shown reduced pollution load evidenced by drastic decrease in physicochemical parameters by both monoculture (COD to 391 ± 6 mg/L and BOD to 18.73 ± 0.25 mg/L) and native bacterial community (COD to 194.3 ± 2.51 mg/L, BOD to 13.5 ± 0.36 mg/L, and TDS to 998.3 ± 6.5 mg/L), with a highest decolorization of 97.72%. FTIR analysis confirmed alterations in functional groups, while HR-LCMS Orbitrap detected Acid Red 18, Acid Orange 7, and Acid Yellow 36 in the raw effluent and in degradation intermediates such as aniline, 2-oxindole, anthranilic acid and betaine after treatment. The Oryza sativa phytotoxicity assay confirmed detoxification, with germination increasing from 0% in raw effluent to 73.33-93.33% after treatment. These findings demonstrate that native microbiome-aided bioaugmentation enhanced biodegradation and detoxification efficiency compared with monoculture treatment. Future studies should validate this approach under field conditions using metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis.

Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria species, is a major parasitic disease of animals that results in substantial economic losses worldwide. The increasing limitations of conventional anticoccidial drugs, including drug resistance and adverse effects, have intensified search for effective plant-derived alternatives. This study investigated anticoccidial and hepatoprotective activities of methanolic Juglans regia endocarp extract (JREE) against Eimeria papillata infection in C57BL/6 mice through parasitological, biochemical, histopathological, and oxidative stress assessments. Phytochemical profiling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 26 bioactive constituents in JREE. Thirty-five male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to seven groups: negative control, non-infected JREE-treated (300 mg/kg), infected untreated, infected mice treated with JREE (100, 300, or 600 mg/kg), and infected mice treated with amprolium (120 mg/kg). Mice were orally infected with approximately 1 × 10[3] sporulated E. papillata oocysts and treated daily for five days. 300 mg/kg dose exhibited the greatest anticoccidial efficacy, reducing fecal oocyst shedding by 89.58% compared with infected untreated mice. JREE treatment also significantly improved liver function biomarkers and restored infection-induced reductions in glucose and protein concentrations toward normal values. Histopathological examination demonstrated that JREE markedly attenuated hepatic inflammation, cellular degeneration, and structural damage induced by E. papillata. Also, JREE alleviated hepatic oxidative stress by reducing hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde levels while restoring glutathione content. These findings demonstrate that JREE possesses potent anticoccidial and hepatoprotective activities, likely mediated by its rich phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties. Therefore, J. regia endocarp extract represents a promising natural therapeutic candidate for management of coccidiosis and further field-based investigations.

The global proliferation of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) constitutes one of the most urgent public health threats, yet high-resolution genomic data from sub-Saharan Africa remain critically scarce. We applied whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and comparative phylogenomics to characterise antimicrobial resistance determinants, virulence genes, and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in three carbapenem-resistant clinical isolates originating from three tertiary hospitals (selected from a broader surveillance collection spanning four facilities) in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria. We purposively selected three isolates, two Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae (K22, ST411; K31, ST17) and one Enterobacter hormaechei subsp. steigerwaltii (K32, ST45) from a broader surveillance collection of 27 carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacterales, to represent phenotypically and genotypically divergent lineages. Resistome analysis revealed extensive plasmid-associated β-lactam and aminoglycoside resistance in K31 (including blaCTX-M-15, blaOXA-1, and blaTEM-1). K32 harboured an intrinsic chromosomal blaACT-17 AmpC gene, while IS26 and ISEcp1 insertion sequences, consistent with transposon-mediated mobilisation, flanked its acquired aminoglycoside and sulfonamide resistance cassettes. K22 lacked detected acquired carbapenemase, ESBL, or plasmid-mediated AmpC genes, indicating that its carbapenem-resistant phenotype may involve non-carbapenemase mechanisms such as porin alteration or efflux-mediated reduced susceptibility; however, this mechanism requires confirmation by direct ompK35/ompK36 sequence analysis and/or phenotypic outer membrane protein profiling. Virulome profiling identified a broader repertoire of siderophore, adhesion, and biofilm genes in both K. pneumoniae isolates than in E. hormaechei. Phylogenomic analysis demonstrated that K22 and K31 cluster within the broader K. pneumoniae population framework but represent distinct high-risk lineages (ST411 and ST17) rather than a single clonal outbreak. Analysis also identified a shared plasmid backbone between K31 and K32, supporting interspecies horizontal gene transfer. These descriptive genomic findings identify clinically relevant resistance and virulence determinants in three purposively selected carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales from Nigerian tertiary-care hospitals. The detection of shared resistance elements between K. pneumoniae and E. hormaechei suggests possible plasmid-mediated gene sharing. Still, larger WGS studies with long-read sequencing and patient-level epidemiological data are required to define transmission and dissemination patterns.

Porphyromonas gingivalis-driven periodontal disease is closely associated with pathogenic biofilm formation and oxidative stress-mediated tissue damage. This study evaluated the probiotic characteristics, antioxidant activity, and anti-biofilm effects of Ligilactobacillus salivarius and its cell-free supernatant (CFS). L. salivarius maintained growth under 0.8 mM H2O2, pH 5.0, and lysozyme exposure at 100 and 200 µg/mL, indicating tolerance to oxidative, acidic, and oral innate immune-related stresses. The strain showed an auto-aggregation rate of 56.6 ± 3.0% and co-aggregation rate with P. gingivalis of 46.7 ± 5.5%. Surface hydrophobicity was highest in chloroform (76.0 ± 3.0%), followed by ethyl acetate (39.1 ± 2.9%) and xylene (1.3 ± 0.9%). L. salivarius CFS exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging rates of 87.1 ± 4.0% and 97.8 ± 1.0%, respectively, and a FRAP value of 1.30 ± 0.06 µM FeE/mL. The MIC of CFS against P. gingivalis was 20% (v/v), and the inhibition zone was 12.5 mm. CFS treatment also reduced P. gingivalis biofilm biomass and increased non-viable cells within biofilms. No significant cytotoxicity toward gingival epithelial cells were observed at 2.5-20% CFS. These findings suggest that L. salivarius CFS has probiotic-associated, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm potential in vitro, although further studies are required to identify active components and validate its periodontal protective effects in vivo.

Host-microbe crosstalk refers to the reciprocal influences between a host and its resident or invading microorganisms. This crosstalk plays important roles in maintaining host health, regulating physiological functions, and coordinating responses to infection. The rapid rise of spatial omics is transforming how this crosstalk is studied in both animals and plants. Unlike traditional bulk omics, which homogenize tissues and erase spatial context, spatial methods preserve in situ organization and can simultaneously capture molecular information from hosts and microbes. As a result, researchers can characterize the spatial organization of colonization and infection, identify spatial associations between microbial niches and host cell states, and visualize local host response gradients across intact tissues. Current spatial omics technologies encompass sequencing-based, imaging-based, and hybrid platforms. Spatial multi-omics approaches enable the joint measurement or integration of gene expression, protein abundance, and metabolite distributions. Although spatial association alone does not establish causality, spatial omics provides a high-resolution framework for characterizing host-microbe relationships within intact tissues and generating spatially constrained, testable hypotheses. When combined with perturbation experiments and complementary experimental evidence, these hypotheses can contribute to mechanistic interpretation of host-microbe crosstalk. Here, we review spatial omics technologies, compare their suitability and major trade-offs for host-microbe studies, and discuss computational strategies, analytical challenges, and future prospects.

Pueraria lobata is a widely distributed traditional Chinese medicinal herb, and its active constituents have potential value in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and industrial fermentation applications. In this study, P. lobata was used as the substrate and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the fermenting organism. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize fermentation conditions using peptide concentration in the broth as the target response. The effects of P. lobata on S. cerevisiae were evaluated by measuring yeast colony counts, protease activity, and sodium alginate-based reducing-sugar-releasing activity. Transcriptomic profiling combined with GO/KEGG enrichment analyses and qRT-PCR validation was further used to analyze gene expression differences in S. cerevisiae at 5, 24, and 48 h. The optimal fermentation conditions were 71 h, 22.41 °C, and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:20, under which the peptide concentration reached 32.37 mg/mL. Relative to conventional yeast medium, protease activity and reducing-sugar-releasing activity in the P. lobata fermentation broth increased by 2.37-fold and 10.1-fold, respectively. Supplementation with 10% P. lobata most effectively promoted S. cerevisiae proliferation, resulting in the highest colony count of 6.8 × 10[4] CFU/mL. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the number of differentially expressed genes increased over time and was enriched in pathways including carbohydrate and ethanol metabolism. Time-series analysis indicated a dynamic metabolic shift in S. cerevisiae, including early activation of glycolysis and energy production (5 h), transition toward ethanol metabolism in the mid phase (24 h), and later emphasis on cell growth and maintenance (48 h). Upregulation of ADH2, PCK1, CDA1, and CDA2, together with downregulation of HXK1, aligned with the observed metabolic reprogramming and enhanced enzyme-activity phenotypes. These findings support the use of P. lobata as a promising plant substrate for value-added yeast fermentation.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped aerotolerant anaerobe was isolated from pig feces and designated as strain YH-dor228[T]. Phylogenetic analysis using 16 S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain was most closely related to Dorea hominis NSJ-36[T], with 96.6% similarity. The phylogenomic tree revealed that the strain formed a distinct cluster within the genus Dorea. The average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity, and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between the strain and the most closely related strains within genus Dorea ranged from 73.4 to 74.9, 66.4-70.5, and 20.0-22.2%, respectively. The major fatty acids were C14:0, C16:0, and C16:1 ω9c DMA. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The genomic DNA G + C content of the strain was 40.7%. The chemotaxonomic, phenotypic, and phylogenetic properties of YH-dor228[T] (= KCTC 25915[T]=NBRC 117235[T]) suggested that it represented a novel species of the genus Dorea, for which the name Dorea chungnamensis sp. nov. is proposed.

Bacterial strains 20TX0008[T] and 20TX0035[T] were isolated from the symptomatic onion foliage in 2020, and a bacterial strain 21TX0197[T] was isolated from the symptomatic onion bulb in 2021. Pathogenicity assays confirmed the two strains isolated from foliage to be non-pathogenic, while the strain 21TX0197[T] was found to be pathogenic. Phylogenetic analysis using the 16 S rRNA gene revealed the closest resemblance of 20TX0008[T], 20TX0035[T], and 21TX0197[T] to the genera Curtobacterium, Falsirhodobacter, and Pseudomonas, respectively. For the respective genus, strains 20TX0008[T] showed the greatest 16 S rRNA sequence similarity with Curtobacterium caesinilyticum GDMCC 1.2667[T] (99.7%), 20TX0035[T] with Falsirhodobacter deserti W402[T] (99.1%), and 21TX0197[T] with Pseudomonas uvaldensis 20TX0172[T] (99.4%). In the phylogenetic trees based on whole genome sequences, all three strains formed a distinct, well-supported branch that separated them from their closely related species within the same genus. The genomic similarity, based on average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), revealed that the novel strains had values below the species delineation thresholds (ANI < 95% and dDDH < 70%), confirming the novelty of all these strains. Based on genomic and phenotypic characteristics, we propose three novel species, Curtobacterium uvaldense sp. nov. (type strain 20TX0008[T] =LMG 33207[T] =NCIMB 15480[T]), Falsirhodobacter allii sp. nov. (type strain 20TX0035[T] =LMG 33208[T] =NCIMB 15477[T]), and Pseudomonas texasensis sp. nov. (type strain 21TX0197[T] =LMG 33210[T] =NCIMB 15479[T]).

Two Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, non-flagellated rod-shaped bacteria, designated OR-4[T] and RP6-9[T], were isolated from the freshwater green alga Prasiola japonica and soil in Republic of Korea, respectively. Strain OR-4[T] exhibited gliding motility, whereas strain RP6-9[T] lacked gliding motility. Strain OR-4[T] grew at 10-30 °C, pH 6.0-9.0, and 0-1.5% (w/v) NaCl, while strain RP6-9[T] grew at 20-35 °C, pH 6.0-9.0, and 0-1.0% (w/v) NaCl. Both strains contained ubiquinone-8 as the sole respiratory quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and diphosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids; strain OR-4[T] additionally possessed an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified polar lipid. The predominant fatty acids of OR-4[T] were C12:0, C16:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1ω6c and/or C16:1ω7c), and summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), whereas RP6-9[T] contained C12:0, C16:0, and summed feature 3 as major components. The genomic DNA G + C content of both strains was 71.0 mol%. Whole-genome-based phylogenomic analyses placed OR-4[T] and RP6-9[T] within the genera Pseudaquabacterium and Rubrivivax, respectively, forming distinct lineages. Comparative analyses of average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, and average amino acid identity further supported their assignment to these genera while confirming their separation from previously described species. Based on combined phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genomic evidence, strains OR-4[T] and RP6-9[T] represent novel species, for which the names Pseudaquabacterium prasiolae sp. nov. (type strain OR-4[T] =KACC 22752[T] =NBRC 116024[T]) and Rubrivivax soli sp. nov. (type strain RP6-9[T] =KACC 24055[T] =DSM 119932[T]) are proposed. Phylogenomic analyses also support the reclassification of Aquabacterium humicola as Pseudaquabacterium humicola comb. nov. (type strain RJY3[T] =KCTC 92105[T] =NBRC 115831[T]).