Volume 370, 2023

The content of the FEMS Microbiology Letters virtual Thematic Issue ‘Empowering learning’ is reviewed to provide context for further discussions towards supporting learners in becoming self-regulated and realising their potential.

Engineering baker’s yeast for malic-to-fumaric acid conversion through overexpression of fungal fumarase and malate transporter genes.

To the best of my knowledge, three bacterial isolates, namely, Dechloromonassp. Th1, Thauerasp. Th2, and Azoarcussp. Th3, were the first pure cultures exhibiting degradability toward thiobencarb and its metabolites under anaerobic conditions.

Cell wall phenolics and polyamine metabolism were compared in Azospirillum-inoculated and control roots to determine their involvement in growth promotion.

CRISPR-mediated gene editing in Zymomonas mobilis revealed the different destinies including gene escape from various events.

Safe CRISPR/Cas9 technique for mutagenesis without an ectopic marker gene.

This work illustrated the structure and function of a microbial community in a novel full-scale M/A/O system and provided a new choice for high-strength coking wastewater treatment.

We show that the ability to create the health-beneficial microbial metabolite indlole lactic acid (ILA) can be transferred intoEscherichia coli and expressedin vitro andin vivo.

We developed a rapid, simple protocol for gene deletion in the gas-fermenting microbe Eubacterium limosum, and used this to abolish biofilm formation to improve handling and genetic engineering.

Elaboration of probiotic formulas requires the inclusion of live-homologous-bacteria as main component, then the optimal growth conditions in low-cost culture media, and maintenance of beneficial characteristics must be assayed.

We constructed a set of Bacillus subtilis small replicative plasmids that are optimized for Golden Gate Assembly.

Beta-ala-lys (AMCA) has been investigated widely as a reporter substrate for bacterial POTs. Here in we we have made efforts to investigate peptides similar to Beta-ala-Lys to identify substrate space of POTs. We also included substrates from POTs of both plants and mammals to map a substrate space sketch based on Tanimoto Index.

This study is the first to develop an mCherry labeling system in aerobic granular sludge to investigate the mechanism by which high-attachment bacteria promote the aerobic granular sludge formation.

Formation of Lactobacillus plantarum ghosts can be achieved by expression of prophage-encoded holin.

Cutibacterium acnes strains inhabiting terrestrial subsurface habitats produce metabolites with photoprotective and antigenotoxic properties.

This is the first detailed report on the successful cultivation of black morel using domestic strains in Japan.

With the discovery of Kluyvera intermedia and Serratia odorifera in cankers of stone fruit trees, the study focused on examining the effectiveness of phages as natural agents in managing these bacterial diseases in stone fruit trees. This research showed that the isolated phages are specific to isolated species and effectively control the disease and prevent fruit spoilage.

Our study clarified the effective therapeutic effects of fenticonazole on Gardnerella vaginalis-induced bacterial vaginitis in mouse models.

Here, we have elucidated how antibiotic producing bacteria are able to synthesize complex natural products using highly sophisticated chemical transformations.

qPCR methods were developed and used to specifically detect and quantify chlamydiae, especially Chlamydia pneumoniae, in DNA extracted from brain swabs of the endangered Houston toad (Anaxyrus houstonensis).

By using fluorescence monitoring, hydroxynaphthol blue chromogenic dyes and electrophoresis, PSR achieved rapid and visual detection of Clostridioides difficile.

We evaluated the effects of menthol on cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), biofilm formation, growth, and ergosterol content of Candida glabrata and we showed the menthol impact versus sessile and planktonic C. glabrata cells, and the interference with ergosterol content, CSH, and biofilm formation, which made it a potent natural antifungal.

In this study focused on probiotic properties of bacterium isolated from Herniaria glabra L. is a medicinal plant.

In vitro interactions between parabens and skin mycobiota yeasts : ethylparaben inhibits growth of some of Cryptococcus uniguttulatus and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Furthermore, Candida parapsilosis and R. mucilaginosa degrade propylparaben.

New “mirror image” bacterial signaling molecules have been discovered and their possible biological roles discussed.

Changes in stratification and mixing events impact on the nitrogen cycle of seasonally stratified lakes.

This review explores the connection between aggression and the gut microbiome.

Insights into physiology, genomic features, and distribution of a moderately thermophilic nitrite oxidizer of the genus Nitrospira from waste water treatment systems.

The study provides new information on factors that modulate the variation of cultivable bacterial composition in neotropics freshwater environments.

This is the first comprehensive comparative survey of pleuromutilin resistance genes among laying hen production chain in China.

Nitrate-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation might be an efficient bioremediation strategy to decrease nitrate concentration and methane emission from brackish drainage ditches.

The diversity of a group of bacteria appears to be related to the energy it can gain from the chemicals it uses to drive its metabolism.

In some denitrifying bacteria carrying quorum sensing circuits, cell density increase during anaerobic growth leads to restriction of N₂O reduction, resulting in N₂O accumulation.

We identified genes involved in anaerobic ammonium oxidation, nitrite oxidation, and iron and manganese cycling in bacterial genomes reconstructed from concrete-degrading biofilms in the Oslofjord subsea road tunnel.

Soil Microorganisms regulate the nitrogen cycle and influence climate change.

Cadmium impacts nitrous oxide production in a deep-sea bacterium.

Characterization of the gut microbiota in Tunisian population, and comparison based on BMI and gender.

This study revealed that local anthropogenic impact altered the microbiome of the marine sponge Aplysina caissara. However, the microbiome was assembly by deterministic processes, independently of the local pollution, largely showing the pivotal rule of the sponge host.

The cytoplamic redox environment of Shewanella oneidensis was interrogated with the fluorescent HyPer-3 hydrogen peroxide sensor.

The recovery of chromium (VI) by different Spirulina strains were evaluated using biochemical assay, FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, demonstrating that some Spirulina strains could be potentially used as promising biosorbents.

Kiwifruit rhizosphere contains a variety of antagonistic bacteria that effectively inhibit the growth of Psa.

Please provide a one-sentence summary as per the journal style.The pentahaem nitrite reductase nrfA-1 from G.metallireducens has been produced recombinantly in E.coli, by co-producing both the system I cytochrome c maturase Ccm and the system II maturase homologue NrfI that specifically attaches the active-site haem group.

Identification of a new role of the Cu-responsive regulator CsoR in the control of denitrification in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.

High levels of nitrate in salt marsh sediments select for phylogenetically diverse groups of carbon fixing microbes that have the potential for complete denitrification.

Genotype and phenotype of globally distributed bacteria vary by marine basins.

Although the host mitochondria of ciliate Paramecium bursaria are colocalized with the symbiotic algae during reattachment, this does not mean that the algae can exist if mitochondria are present, indicating some algal localization bias within the host cell.

An approach to M. japonicum MAFF303099 regulation networks by studying the relevance of T3SS in biofilm and the involvement of cdiG in EPS, biofilm, root adherence, symbiosis efficiency and T3SS expression.

A soil bacterium exhibits bioremediation potential by degrading pollutants. ZimA, an enzyme preparation from this strain, effectively breaks down fungicides and herbicides, reducing their toxicity.

The recombinant strain constructed using cadD (accession number: MK900473.1) of Staphylococcus epidermidis (accession number KT184893.1) could remove over 82% of heavy metals (Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cr³⁺) in an industrial effluent.

Short-chain alcohols specifically inhibit the archaeal and bacterial ammonia monooxygenase, a key enzyme in nitrification, whereas higher chain-length alcohols are non-specific inhibitors of the model ammonia oxidizers ‘Candidatus Nitrosocosmicus franklandus’ and Nitrosomonas europaea.

Comprehensive information on BlaEC family class C beta-lactamase and their detection by PCR.

The article describes the detection of antimicrobial resistance genes in the healthy human gut microbiome in Kolkata, raising an alarm for implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in the community in emergent economies.

Environmental pollution effects on bacterial key-indicators in tropical rivers.

Lactobacillus casei condition medium downregulates miR-21 relative expression in HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line, which can potentially be related to induction of apoptosis in cancerous cells rather than in healthy cells.

Delivery in microcontainers does not help a probiotic E. coli to establish in the mouse gut.

Results revealed the differential structure of rhizosphere microorganisms with medicinal ingredients at different times, which highlights the complex interplay between rhizosphere factors and plant metabolism.

Radiotherapy influences the oral microbiome diversity in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Reduced species richness and altered microbial composition are observed in OSCC patients compared to controls, with notable shifts occurring after six months of radiation therapy, including increased beneficial taxa and reduced pathogenic bacteria.

A novel ArsR from Ensifer adhaerens strain ST2 regulates methylarsenite resistance genes expression.

Methylobacterium are abundant members of the New Zealand phyllosphere, with species diversity and composition dependent on plant species.

Prior metabolite extraction does not alter the 16S rRNA-based characterization of the prokaryotic community.

Inter-specific differences in the transcriptional response of fungi to global change/warming under field conditions.

Kuratsuki Kocuria does not adversely affect the fermentation activity of the sake yeast, and had different effects on the taste of sake among different koji.

We constructed the mutant deletion of mrcB gene and its complemented strain, and demonstrated that PBP1b mediated the enhancement effect of subinhibitory concentration of cefotaxime on Salmonella biofilm formation.

We report the identification of two ochratoxin A degrading enzymes in Stenotrophomonassp. 043-1a.

First report on the comparison of indigenous bacterial consortia of arabica and robusta coffee cherries from Indonesia.

Most of the nine species of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Malaysian fermented foods and beverages exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and high survivability in various temperatures, pH, and salt concentrations.

The study identifiedListeria monocytogenes isolates with reduced sensitivity to the most commonly used sanitizers in the food industry.

Investigation of fermented pine needle microbial communities will contribute to control quality and organoleptic properties of fermented pine needle products.

Using the pyrG strain obtained via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination as a host, we evaluated the potential of pyrG gene as a novel selectable marker gene.

The rapid visual detection method for Salmonella based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification using pyrophosphatase.

Triplex recombinant polymerase amplification assay provides rapid and sensitive differentiation of three Brucella species in sera and foods.

Oysters can be risky to consumers; being eaten raw, they may be vehicles of potential foodborne pathogens, like Vibrio alginolyticus, and of antibiotic resistant bacteria/ antibiotic resistance genes.

Human milk pasteurization methods impact bacteriophage titres, with potential consequences for donor milk fed infants.

Lactobacillus casei condition medium downregulates miR-21 relative expression in HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line, which can potentially be related to induction of apoptosis in cancerous cells rather than in healthy cells.

Two-component system and ABC transporter system can contribute to increase the salt tolerance of Bacillus subtilis; the gene homologs for CAAX protease family proteins and Clp complex may determine its proteolytic activity.

Comparison between conventional and molecular diagnosis of gastrointestinal pathogens (viruses, bacteria and parasites) in terms of sensitivity, specificity and turnaround time in reporting results.

Bacillus subtilis R-179 and Enterococcus faecium R-026 alleviate hypercholesterolemia in mice.

The study investigates the interaction between human skin microbiome and Nukadoko, a Japanese fermented food. Findings suggest short-term effects on skin when stirring rice bran beds by hand.

The compound content and antioxidant capacity of sclerotia epidermis and internal tissues of medicinal and edible fungi Inonotus obliquus have certain regularity, and the number of associated fungi in different tissues is quite different.

An investigation into the potential activity of metal chelators as novel therapeutics for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant infections.

Functional characterization of SsrA and SmpB in phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris pathovar campestris.

The previously uncharacterized STM1266 gene is a newly discovered regulator of biofilm formation in Salmonella Typhimurium.

Sex hormones could alter the Actinobacillus seminis growth and virulence factors expression, and in consequence, could permit to A. seminis to colonize target tissues easier.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are deprived of oxygen during infection in patients with cystic fibrosis, making them more resistant to antibiotics.

Low concentration ethanol inhibited the synthesis of pyocyanin and antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Periplasmic Msr mutant (ΔmsrP) of Salmonella Typhimurium strain does not show growth defect in various in vitro media like LB and M9 broth media as compared to the wild-type strain (Msr–Methionine sulfoxide reductase).

The antibiotic preadaptation led to heterogeneous populations including persisters that can develop to resistance.

This study describes the use of diynes to label phenol hydroxylase components in bacteria.

Myxococcus xanthus synthesizes polyphosphate from phosphate/pyrophosphate during starvation-induced sporulation.

Two key components of a pathway used for N-glycosylation in the halophilic archaea Halobacterium salinarum are described.

Romboutsia lituseburensis JCM1404 can affect lipid metabolism and inhibit fat deposition, leading to amelioration of endothelial function.

Lectin affinity and proteomics identified glycosylated and extracellular proteins, including transporters, proteases and signalling components, in the evolutionarily and industrially important protozoan alga Euglena gracilis.

Effects of iron stress on Ght5, hexose transporter of Schizosaccaromyces pombe, under glucose repression and de-repression conditions were investigated.

The first report of functional differences between hydrophobins Vmh2 and Vmh3 in Pleurotus ostreatus.

Multiple calcium signaling genes regulate the circadian period length by modulating expression of the frequency and white collar-1 genes in Neurospora crassa.

Aerobic bacteria are limited for thaimine (vitamin B1) in biofilms.

A hydrophobin contributes to growth and development in the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidium.

DevR phosphorylation is important for nitric oxide homeostasis and signaling in Actinobacteria.

The malaria parasite first enzyme in the ubiquinol biosynthesis pathway, Coq2, could use pABA or 4-HB as a substrate, like yeasts do, but, in vivo, the parasite only uses 4-HB.

A new connection between the amino acid arginine and the modulation of the biofilm lifestyle of P. putida.

The CRISPR/Cas9 RNP delivery system was developed and facilitated the functional characterization of CmHk1in Cordyceps militaris.

In this study, the global proteome of the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii has been investigated during the infection process by Legionella pneumophila.

One In this work, PPU268 a novel inhibitor of the gamma-glutamylpolyamine synthetase GlnA2 is presented.

The undecaprenol monophosphate recycling pathway in Streptococcus pneumoniae is accomplished by the phosphatase activities of a functionally redundant UppP and PAP2-family enzyme pair, and translocation by a DUF368-containing protein.

The Clostridium-infecting phage CAK1 genome analysis provides supplemental clues about the diversity of filamentous phages putatively associated to Clostridum and maybe other Gram-positive bacterial genera.

Functional characterization of Rv1273c as a transporter involved in drug efflux.

The effect of glutathione (GSH) on the gut microbiome of individuals with T2D.

YnbB is important for cell growth in the cold.

MicroMundo contributes to improving knowledge about antimicrobial resistance, its health and environmental consequences, and possible measures to reverse the problem at all educational levels.

This review summarizes the history, use, and future of bacterial art and its role in science communication and education.

This paper evaluates the impact of playing the educational ‘BacteriaGame’ on student engagement and learning in comparison with a traditional lecture approach, as well as utilizing student feedback.

This article discusses educational barriers for students with blindness and visual impairments and reviews approaches to successfully supporting them in microbiology and other science disciplines.

The “Real-Lab-Day” is a multimodal learning experience to develop competencies, abilities, critical analysis, and teamwork skills for undergraduate students.

An online proctored examination system with integrated higher-order thinking skills questions for STEM students is proposed in this perspective.

Citizen science project to select the most effective experimental conditions to grow kombucha bacterial cellulose biofilm.

The content of the FEMS Microbiology Letters virtual Thematic Issue ‘Empowering learning’ is reviewed to provide context for further discussions towards supporting learners in becoming self-regulated and realising their potential.

Oguntola Odunbaku Sapara Williams was a colonial medical officer famous for demystifying a deity. He should also be remembered as a champion for equity, diversity, dignity, and inclusivity.

The article underscores the pivotal role of judicious decision-making in academia, advocating for the discernment to embrace valuable opportunities and the courage to decline distractions, thereby preserving integrity, ensuring work–life balance, and promoting an equitable distribution of opportunities to foster a diverse and inclusive professional landscape.

This paper presents details behind the organization of International Microorganism Day (IMD) as a microbiology outreach initiative, gives data on the international impact of the IMD 2022 and 2023 events, and encourages readers to get involved in future editions.

Review of scientific and cultural aspects of microbiology in film and television and the use in education.

Limosilactobacillus walterisp. nov. is a novel species of the genus Limosilactobacillus with probiotic potential.

Janthinobacterium kumbetense sp. nov., was isolated from spring water, and its violacein and deoxyviolacein were extracted and characterized and antimicrobial activities were determined.

A novel species of Defluviimonas was isolated from a coastal saltern near the Yellow Sea.

We provide a taxonogenomic description of a new psychrotolerant bacterial species isolated from soil collected in Antarctica.

We have isolated a new Algoriphagus species, described here as A. limi sp. nov.

Reclassification of Bacillus dafuensis and Bacillus massiliigabonensis.

We present a polyphasic taxonomic description of Tractidigestivibacter montrealensis sp. nov., a new member of human gut microbiota.

Provisional names earlier given to 329 GTDB-defined prokaryotic taxa are proposed according to the validation criteria of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes and the SeqCode.

Importance of denitrification in saline and hypersaline environments in terms of denitrification rates and expression and abundance of denitrification genes in salinity gradients.

This study revealed that local anthropogenic impact altered the microbiome of the marine sponge Aplysina caissara. However, the microbiome was assembly by deterministic processes, independently of the local pollution, largely showing the pivotal rule of the sponge host.

In this study focused on probiotic properties of bacterium isolated from Herniaria glabra L. is a medicinal plant.