Journal of Microbiology

Journal Articles

The Gut Microbiota Mediates the Protective Effects of Spironolactone on Myocardial Infarction: Lu Li, Jian-Yong Sun, Yu-Lin Li, Shi-Wei Zhu, Sheng-Zhong Duan; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(10):883-895. Published online September 3, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00164-7

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Myocardial infarction (MI) is a type of cardiovascular disease that influences millions of human beings worldwide and has a great rate of mortality and morbidity. Spironolactone has been used as a critical drug for the treatment of cardiac failure and it ameliorates cardiac dysfunction post-MI. Despite these findings, whether there is a relationship between the therapeutic effects of spironolactone and the gut microorganism after MI has not been determined. In our research, we used male C57BL/6 J mice to explore whether the gut microbiota mediates the beneficial function of spironolactone after myocardial infarction. We demonstrated that deletion of the gut microbiota eliminated the beneficial function of spironolactone in MI mice, displaying exacerbated cardiac dysfunction, cardiac infarct size. In addition, the gut microbiota was altered by spironolactone after sham or MI operation in mice. We also used male C57BL/6 J mice to investigate the function of a probiotic in the myocardial infarction. In summary, our findings reveal a precious role of the gut flora in the therapeutic function of spironolactone on MI.

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The role of the gut microbiota in the onset and progression of heart failure: insights into epigenetic mechanisms and aging
Giulia Matacchione, Francesco Piacenza, Lorenzo Pimpini, Yuri Rosati, Serena Marcozzi
Clinical Epigenetics.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

Licochalcone A Protects Vaginal Epithelial Cells Against Candida albicans Infection Via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway: Wei Li, Yujun Yin, Taoqiong Li, Yiqun Wang, Wenyin Shi; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(7):525-533. Published online May 31, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00134-z

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Abstract: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of women worldwide. Licochalcone A (LA), a natural compound with diverse biological activities, holds promise as a protective agent against Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection. This study aims to investigate the potential of LA to safeguard vaginal epithelial cells (VECs) from C. albicans infection and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. To simulate VVC in vitro, VK2-E6E7 cells were infected with C. albicans. Candida albicans biofilm formation, C. albicans adhesion to VK2-E6E7 cells, and C. albicans-induced cell damage and inflammatory responses were assessed by XTT reduction assay, fluorescence assay, LDH assay, and ELISA. CCK-8 assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of LA on VK2-E6E7 cells. Western blotting assay was performed to detect protein expression. LA dose-dependently hindered C. albicans biofilm formation and adhesion to VK2-E6E7 cells. Furthermore, LA mitigated cell damage, inhibited the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and attenuated the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in C. albicans-induced VK2-E6E7 cells. The investigation into LA's impact on the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway revealed that LA downregulated TLR4 expression and inhibited NF-κB activation in C. albicans-infected VK2-E6E7 cells. Furthermore, TLR4 overexpression partially abated LA-mediated protection, further highlighting the role of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. LA holds the potential to safeguard VECs against C. albicans infection, potentially offering therapeutic avenues for VVC management.

Evolutionary analysis and protein family classification of chitin deacetylases in Cryptococcus neoformans: Seungsue Lee , Hyun Ah Kang , Seong-il Eyun; J. Microbiol. 2020;58(9):805-811. Published online September 1, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-020-0288-9

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Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Interestingly, the cell wall of C. neoformans contains chitosan, which is critical for its virulence and persistence in the mammalian host. C. neoformans (H99) has three chitin deacetylases (CDAs), which convert chitin to chitosan. Herein, the classification of the chitin-related protein (CRP) family focused on cryptococcal CDAs was analyzed by phylogenetics, evolutionary pressure (dN/dS), and 3D modeling. A phylogenetic tree of 110 CRPs revealed that they can be divided into two clades, CRP I and II with bootstrap values (> 99%). CRP I clade comprises five groups (Groups 1–5) with a total of 20 genes, while CRP II clade comprises sixteen groups (Groups 6–21) with a total of 90 genes. CRP I comprises only fungal CDAs, including all three C. neoformans CDAs, whereas CRP II comprises diverse CDAs from fungi, bacteria, and amoeba, along with other carbohydrate esterase 4 family proteins. All CDAs have the signal peptide, except those from group 11. Notably, CDAs with the putative O-glycosylation site possess either the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor motif for CRP I or the chitin-binding domain (CBD) for CRP II, respectively. This evolutionary conservation strongly indicates that the O-glycosylation modification and the presence of either the GPI-anchor motif or the chitin-binding domain is important for fungal CDAs to function efficiently at the cell surface. This study reveals that C. neoformans CDAs carrying GPI anchors have evolved divergently from fungal and bacterial CDAs, providing new insights into evolution and classification of CRP family.

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Chitin Deacetylase Homologous Gene cda Contributes to Development and Aflatoxin Synthesis in Aspergillus flavus
Xin Zhang, Meifang Wen, Guoqi Li, Shihua Wang
Toxins.2024; 16(5): 217. CrossRef
Effects of altered N-glycan structures of Cryptococcus neoformans mannoproteins, MP98 (Cda2) and MP84 (Cda3), on interaction with host cells
Su-Bin Lee, Catia Mota, Eun Jung Thak, Jungho Kim, Ye Ji Son, Doo-Byoung Oh, Hyun Ah Kang
Scientific Reports.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Novel Chitin Deacetylase from Thalassiosira weissflogii Highlights the Potential for Chitin Derivative Production
Mengzhen Cheng, Zhanru Shao, Xin Wang, Chang Lu, Shuang Li, Delin Duan
Metabolites.2023; 13(3): 429. CrossRef
Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Chitin Synthase Genes from the Deep-Sea Polychaete Branchipolynoe onnuriensis Genome
Hyeongwoo Choi, Sang Lyeol Kim, Man-Ki Jeong, Ok Hwan Yu, Seongil Eyun
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.2022; 10(5): 598. CrossRef

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Analysis of Vaginal Lactic Acid Producing Bacteria in Healthy Women: Hyeran Nam , Kyunghee Whang , Yeonhee Lee; J. Microbiol. 2007;45(6):515-520.; DOI: https://doi.org/2642 [pii]

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Abstract: Vaginal lactic acid-producing bacteria of 80 pre-menopausal women were studied by isolation on Blood and DeMan-Rogosa-Sharpe agar, PCR with group-specific primers for Lactobacillus-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and PCR with specific primers for V3 region in 16S rRNA-temporal temperature gel electrophoresis (TTGE). Conventional isolation method on media detected only one lactobacillus (Lactobacillus brevis) while TTGE detected only Lactobacillus sp. DGGE detected seven Lactobacillus species; L. coleohominis, L. crispatus, L. iners, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, L. vaginalis, and Leuconostoc lactis. L. acidophilus and L. gasseri, which are prevalent in Western women, were not detected in Korean women. Furthermore, L. rhamnosus, Leuc. lactis, L. coleohominis, and Weissella cibaria, which were not previously reported in the vaginal microbiota of Korean women, were detected. The five most prevalent LABs in vaginal microbiota in Korean women were L. iners, Enterococcus faecalis, L. crispatus, Leuc. lactis, and W. cibaria.

Isolation of Quinupristin/Dalfopristin-Resistant Streptococcus agalactiae from Asymptomatic Korean Women: Hye Ran Nam , Hak Mee Lee , Yeonhee Lee; J. Microbiol. 2008;46(1):108-111.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-007-0217-1

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Abstract: Seven Streptococcus agalactiae isolates were obtained from the vagina of 80 asymptomatic women. Three of these isolates showed multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotypes: two isolates were resistant to clarithromycin, clindamycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline; and one isolate was resistant to clarithromycin, clindamycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and quinupristin/dalfopristin. There was no clonal relationship among the MDR isolates. This is the first report of quinupristin/dalfopristin-resistant S. agalactiae.

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