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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common nosocomial pathogens and part of the top emergent species associated with antimicrobial resistance that has become one of the greatest threat to public health in the twenty-first century. This bacterium is provided with a wide set of virulence factors that contribute to pathogenesis in acute and chronic infections. This review aims to summarize the impact of multidrug resistance on the virulence and fitness of P. aeruginosa. Although it is generally assumed that acquisition of resistant determinants is associated with a fitness cost, several studies support that resistance mutations may not be associated with a decrease in virulence and/or that certain compensatory mutations may allow multidrug resistance strains to recover their initial fitness. We discuss the interplay between resistance profiles and virulence from a microbiological perspective but also the clinical consequences in outcomes and the economic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diverse range of commensal bacteria inhabit the rhizosphere, influencing host plant growth and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. While root-released nutrients can define soil microbial habitats, the bacterial factors involved in plant-microbe interactions are not well characterized. In this study, we investigated the colonization patterns of two plant disease biocontrol agents, Allorhizobium vitis VAR03-1 and Pseudomonas protegens Cab57, in the rhizosphere of Arabidopsis thaliana using Murashige and Skoog (MS) agar medium. VAR03-1 formed colonies even at a distance from the roots, preferentially in the upper part, while Cab57 colonized only the root surface. The addition of sucrose to the agar medium resulted in excessive proliferation of VAR03-1, similar to its pattern without sucrose, whereas Cab57 formed colonies only near the root surface. Overgrowth of both bacterial strains upon nutrient supplementation inhibited host growth, independent of plant immune responses. This inhibition was reduced in the VAR03-1 ΔrecA mutant, which exhibited increased biofilm formation, suggesting that some activities associated with the free-living lifestyle rather than the sessile lifestyle may be detrimental to host growth. VAR03-1 grew in liquid MS medium with sucrose alone, while Cab57 required both sucrose and organic acids. Supplementation of sugars and organic acids allowed both bacterial strains to grow near and away from Arabidopsis roots in MS agar. These results suggest that nutrient requirements for bacterial growth may determine their growth habitats in the rhizosphere, with nutrients released in root exudates potentially acting as a limiting factor in harnessing microbiota., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists.)

Pseudomonas protegens is an important biocontrol agent with the ability to suppress plant pathogens and promote plant growth. P. protegens' ability to endure hyperosmotic stress is crucial to its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent. This study elucidated potassium's role and mechanism of action in enabling the hyperosmotic tolerance of P. protegens. Potassium was observed to significantly improve the growth of P. protegens under hyperosmotic conditions. Four functionally redundant potassium transporters, KdpA1, KdpA2, TrkH, and Kup, were identified in P. protegens, of which KdpA2 and TrkH were particularly important for its growth under hyperosmotic conditions. Potassium enhanced the biofilm formation and cell membrane stability of P. protegens under hyperosmotic conditions. In addition, we revealed that K + stimulates the expression of several genes related to DNA damage repair in P. protegens under hyperosmotic conditions. Further experiments revealed that the DNA repair-related recG induced by potassium contributes to P. protegens' hyperosmotic tolerance. We also found that the sigma factor RpoN participates in the hyperosmotic adaptation of P. protegens. Furthermore, we revealed that the opuCABCD operon, whose expression is induced by potassium through RpoN, serves as the key pathway through which betaine, choline, and carnitine improve the hyperosmotic tolerance of P. protegens., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that may be construed as potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: Engineering the seed microenvironment with embedded bacteriophages and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) shows promise for enhancing germination, mitigating biotic and abiotic stressors, and improving resilience under challenging environmental conditions. This study aimed to enhance potato seed germination and control bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and salinity by using novel technology to encapsulate, preserve, and deliver phage therapy and rhizobacteria., Results: Silk fibroin and trehalose biomaterial combined with the phage P-PSG11 and Pseudomonas lalkuanensis were applied to potato seeds. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate pathogen suppression, salt tolerance, and plant growth enhancement. The combination of silk and trehalose effectively preserved both phage and bacteria for ≥ 8 weeks, maintaining both phage titers and bacterial colony counts. Seeds coated with the P-PSG11 and P. lalkuanensis mixture exhibited the highest germination rate at 93.5%, followed by P. lalkuanensis at 86.3%. In vivo evaluations showed significant increases in root length (72.7%, 61.0%, and 22.5%), plant height (71.5%, 65.1%, and 8.2%), and dry matter (129.1%, 125.7%, and 13.1%) for the P-PSG11 and P. lalkuanensis mixture, P. lalkuanensis, and P-PSG11, respectively. The incidence of wilt was significantly reduced by 88.2% and 81.2%, and salinity was mitigated by 83.3% and 79.2% for the P-PSG11 and P. lalkuanensis mixture and P. lalkuanensis treatment, respectively, compared to the control (p < 0.001). The viability of preserved P-PSG11 and P. lalkuanensis was confirmed after one year using phage titers and bacterial colonies., Conclusion: This innovative approach enhanced plant growth, promoted seed germination, controlled wilt disease, and mitigated soil salinity., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aims: This study investigates the traits of three plant growth-promoting (PGP) and antagonistic bacteria, Pseudomonas protegens MP12, Bacillus sp. 3R4, and Bacillus sp. T22, to assess their potential application as biocontrol agents by using the ecofriendly and low-cost substrate Corn Steep Liquor (CSL) medium. Analyses of antagonism through volatile organic compounds (VOCs) production, biofilm formation, and growth performance were carried out., Methods and Results: Dual antagonism assay showed that all strains displayed significant antagonistic activity against Botrytis cinerea through VOCs. Gas chromatography demonstrated that strains in the CSL exhibited higher VOCs production than nutrient medium. Moreover, enhanced biofilm formation analysed by Calgary Biofilm Device, growth, and biomass were noted in CSL cultures. Pseudomonas protegens MP12, which showed higher cell concentration and biomass yield, was selected for freeze-drying treatments. Storage cell viability assays evidenced that it can be effectively preserved for nearly 7 months at 4°C., Conclusion: The results here obtained showed that CLS medium enhanced VOCs production, biofilm formation, growth, and biomass of the antagonistic bacteria of the three strains. Eventually, the more effective strain P. protegens MP12 can be stored for nearly 7 months at 4°C., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)

Rhizospheric interactions among plant roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can enhance plant health by promoting nutrient acquisition and stimulating the plant immune system. This pot experiment, conducted in autoclaved soil, explored the synergistic impacts of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae with four individual bacterial strains, viz.: Cronobacter sp. Rz-7, Serratia sp. 5-D, Pseudomonas sp. ER-20 and Stenotrophomonas sp. RI-4 A on maize growth, root functional traits, root exudates, root colonization, and nutrient uptake. The comprehensive biochemical characterization of these bacterial strains includes assessments of mineral nutrient solubilization, plant hormone production, and drought tolerance. The results showed that all single and interactive treatments of the mycorrhizal fungus and bacterial strains improved maize growth, as compared with the control (no fungus or PGPB). Among single treatments, the application of the mycorrhizal fungus was more effective than the bacterial strains in stimulating maize growth. Within the bacterial treatments, Serratia sp. 5-D and Pseudomonas sp. ER-20 were more effective in enhancing maize growth than Cronobacter sp. Rz-7 and Stenotrophomonas sp. RI-4 A. All bacterial strains were compatible with Funneliformis mosseae to improve root colonization and maize growth. However, the interaction of mycorrhiza and Serratia sp. 5-D (M + 5-D) was the most prominent for maize growth improvement comparatively to all other treatments. We observed that bacterial strains directly enhanced maize growth while indirectly promoting biomass accumulation by facilitating increased mycorrhizal colonization, indicating that these bacteria acted as mycorrhizal helper bacteria., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Pseudomonas spp. have drawn considerable attention due to their rhizospheric abundance and exceptional plant growth-promoting attributes. However, more research is needed on the optimal application methods of Pseudomonas mosselii for rice growth, nutrient accumulation, and yield improvement. This research explored the application of the endophytic bacterium P. mosselii PR5 on rice cultivar BRRI dhan29 with four treatments: control, seedling priming, root drenching, and bacterial cell-free culture (CFC) foliar application., Results: PR5 led to better rice growth, improved nutrient acquisition, and higher yields compared to the control, regardless of the application method used. The highest results in fresh weight of root (146.93 g/pot), shoot (758.98 g/pot), and flag leaf (7.88 g/pot), dry weight of root (42.16 g/pot), shoot (97.32 g/pot), and flag leaf (2.69 g/pot), and grains/panicle (224.67), were obtained from seedling priming treatment, whereas root drenching resulted in maximum plant height (105.67 cm), root length (49.0 cm), tillers/pot (23.7), and panicles/pot (17.67). In all three application methods, rice grain yield per pot was higher in PR5 inoculated treatments, compared to the control. The amount of P, Mg and Zn in the shoot and N, P, Ca, Mg and Si content in the flag leaf was significantly increased along with effective suppression of naturally occurring blast disease in bacterial CFC foliar application, validated by multivariate analysis., Conclusion: Our results indicated that rice seedlings priming with PR5 improved rice growth, yield and nutrient uptake, whereas CFC foliar application significantly increased the concentration of most nutrients in the rice plant and suppressed the naturally occurring rice blast disease. This research highlights the significant potential of P. mosselii PR5 in enhancing rice growth, yield, and nutrient uptake, particularly through seedling priming and CFC foliar application methods., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Drought stress imposes a serious challenge to cultivate wheat, restricting its growth. Drought reduces the capability of plant to uptake essential nutrients. This causes stunted growth, development and yield. Traditional ways to increase wheat growth under drought stress have shortcomings. Using plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has proved feasible and eco-friendly way to enhance wheat growth even under the drought stress. Combining PGPR in consortiums further boosts up their effects. In this study, we have checked the efficacy of drought-tolerant Bacillus halotolerans, Pseudomonas sihuiensis and Bacillus atrophaeus in combination. These strains were allowed to grow on PEG 6000 with concentrations (-0.15, -0.49, -0.73 and - 1.2) Mega Pascal (MPa) alone and in combination. Furthermore, Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used. Their biochemical traits such as solubilization of K, P and Zn and the synthesis of siderophore, indole acetic acid (IAA), protease, amylase, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase were done. In addition to this, we investigated the optimum folic acid concentration i.e 150 ppm for wheat against drought stress. We conducted a pot experiment to check the growth-enhancing and drought-mitigating effects of consortium and folic acid alone and in combination. As a result, we found a significantly increased wheat biomass, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content, antioxidants including glutathione reductase and total soluble sugars and protein content under all treatments. However, the combined treatment of bacterial consortium and folic acid showed maximum potential to boost wheat growth and survival even under drought. We also investigated the minerals uptake by wheat after the treatments and found maximum nutrient uptake under the co-effect of folic acid and bacterial consortium We believe this is the first study that has investigated the optimal dose of folic acid for wheat. Our research is also novel in that we seek to investigate the effects of folic acid along with a bacterial consortium comprising Bacillus halotolerans, Pseudomonas sihuiensis and Bacillus atrophaeus on wheat grown under the drought stress., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Bacilli and pseudomonads are among the most well-studied microorganisms commonly found in soil and frequently co-isolated. Isolates from these two genera are frequently used as plant beneficial microorganisms; therefore, their interaction in the plant rhizosphere is relevant for agricultural applications. Despite this, no systematic approach has been employed to assess the coexistence of members from these genera. Here, we screened 720 fluorescent soil isolates for their effects on Bacillus subtilis pellicle formation in two types of media and found a predictor for interaction outcome in Pseudomonas taxonomy. Interactions were context-dependent, and both medium composition and culture conditions strongly influenced interactions. Negative interactions were associated with Pseudomonas capeferrum , Pseudomonas entomophila , and Pseudomonas protegens , and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol was confirmed as a strong (but not exclusive) inhibitor of B. subtilis . Non-inhibiting strains were closely related to Pseudomonas trivialis and Pseudomonas lini . Using such a non-inhibiting isolate, Pseudomonas P9&#95;31, which increased B. subtilis pellicle formation demonstrated that the two species were spatially segregated in cocultures. Our study is the first one to propose an overall negative outcome from pairwise interactions between B. subtilis and fluorescent pseudomonads; hence, cocultures comprising members from these groups are likely to require additional microorganisms for coexistence., Importance: There is a strong interest in the microbial ecology field to predict interaction among microorganisms, whether two microbial isolates will promote each other's growth or compete for resources. Numerous studies have been performed based on surveying the available literature or testing phylogenetically diverse sets of species in synthetic communities. Here, a high throughput screening has been performed using 720 Pseudomonas isolates, and their impact on the biofilm formation of Bacillus subtilis was tested. The aim was to determine whether a majority of Pseudomonas will promote or inhibit the biofilms of B. subtilis in the co-cultures. This study reports that Pseudomonas taxonomy is a good predictor of interaction outcome, and only a minority of Pseudomonas isolates promote Bacillus biofilm establishment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Fusarium wilt is an important disease on chili plants caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of secondary metabolites from 2 Pseudomonad isolates in controlling Fusarium wilt in chili plants and their effect on chili plant growth. This research was conducted in two stages, namely in vitro, which was carried out in the plant health laboratory and greenhouse, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jawa Timur, and in vivo which was carried out in chili plantations known to be endemic to Fusarium wilt in Menganti, Gresik. The research design used in this study was Completely Randomized Design for in vitro testing and Randomized Group Design for in vivo testing by testing 9 treatments repeated 3 times. The treatment tested was control, secondary metabolite application of Pseudomonas isolates PY-122 and PY-142 with concentrations of 20% 30%, 40% and 50%. The variables observed were inhibition of secondary metabolites on the growth of Fusarium fungus, disease incubation period, disease severity index, and plant growth. Sequencing results with 16rRNA gene markers for both Pseudomonas isolates showed similarities to Pseudomonas sp. The results showed that the treatment of secondary metabolite PY-142 with a concentration of 50% showed the highest consistent inhibition. In the greenhouse and field tests, the two isolates slowed down the disease incubation period and development compared to controls. In agronomical observations, the average plant height, number of leaves, root length, and appearance of the first flower on the treated plants were higher and more numerous than the control plants.

Peanut production could be increased through plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this regard, the present field research aimed at elucidating the impact of PGPR on peanut yield, soil enzyme activity, microbial diversity, and structure. Three PGPR strains ( Bacillus velezensis , RI3; Bacillus velezensis , SC6; Pseudomonas psychrophila , P10) were evaluated, along with Bradyrhizobium japonicum (BJ), taken as a control. PGPR increased seed yield by 8%, improving the radiation use efficiency (4-14%). PGPR modified soil enzymes (fluorescein diacetate activity by 17% and dehydrogenase activity by 28%) and microbial abundance (12%). However, PGPR did not significantly alter microbial diversity; nonetheless, it modified the relative abundance of key phyla (Actinobacteria > Proteobacteria > Firmicutes) and genera ( Bacillus > Arthrobacter > Pseudomonas ). PGPRs modified the relative abundance of genes associated with N-fixation and nitrification while increasing genes related to N-assimilation and N-availability. PGPR improved agronomic traits without altering rhizosphere diversity.

Fusarium pseudograminearum , a soil-borne fungus, is the cause of the devastating wheat disease known as wheat crown rot (WCR). The persistence of this pathogen in the soil and crop residues contributes to the increased occurrence and severity of WCR. Therefore, developing effective strategies to prevent and manage WCR is of great importance. In this study, we isolated a bacterial strain, designated as SR9, from the stem of wheat, that exhibited potent antagonistic effects against F. pseudograminearum , as well as the biocontrol efficacy of SR9 on WCR was quantified at 83.99% ± 0.11%. We identified SR9 as Pseudomonas khavaziana and demonstrated its potential as a plant probiotic. SR9 displayed broad-spectrum antagonism against other fungal pathogens, including Neurospora dictyophora , Botrytis californica , and Botryosphaeria dothidea . Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed that SR9 harbored genes encoding various cell wall-degrading enzymes, cellulases, and lipases, along with antifungal metabolites, which are responsible for its antagonistic activity. Gene knockout and quantitative PCR analyses reveal that phenazine is the essential factor for antagonism. SR9 possessed genes related to auxin synthesis, flagellar biosynthesis, biofilm adhesion, and the chemotaxis system, which play pivotal roles in plant colonization and growth promotion; we also evaluated the effects of SR9 on plant growth in wheat and Arabidopsis . Our findings strongly suggest that SR9 holds great promise as a biocontrol agent for WCR in sustainable agriculture.IMPORTANCEThe escalating prevalence of wheat crown rot, primarily attributed to Fusarium pseudograminearum , necessitates the development of cost-effective and eco-friendly biocontrol strategies. While plant endophytes are recognized for their biocontrol potential, reports on effective strains targeting wheat crown rot are sparse. This study introduces the Pseudomonas khavaziana SR9 strain as an efficacious antagonist to the wheat crown rot pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum . Demonstrating a significant reduction in wheat crown rot incidence and notable plant growth promotion, SR9 emerges as a key contributor to plant health and agricultural sustainability. Our study outlines a biological approach to tackle wheat crown rot, establishing a groundwork for innovative sustainable agricultural practices., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The primary approach to managing biofouling in industrial water systems involves the large-scale use of biocides. It is well-established that biofilms are 'cell factories' that release planktonic cells even when challenged with antimicrobials. The effect of isothiazolinone on the metabolic activity and biomass of mixed Pseudomonas biofilms was monitored in real-time using the CEMS-BioSpec system. The exposure of biofilms to the minimum inhibitory concentration (1.25 mg L -1 ) of biocide did not impact planktonic cell production (log 7.5 CFU mL -1 ), while whole-biofilm metabolic activity and biomass accumulation increased. Only the maximum biocide concentration (80 mg L -1 ) resulted in a change in planktonic cell yields and temporal inhibition of biofilm activity and biomass, a factor that needs due consideration in view of dilution in industrial settings. Interfacing the real-time measurement of metabolic activity and biomass with dosing systems is especially relevant to optimizing the use of biocides in industrial water systems., (© 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Microbiology Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In this study, we investigated the biocontrol activity of the P. mediterranea strain PVCT 3C against Mal secco, a severe disease of citrus caused by the vascular fungus Plenodomus tracheiphilus. In vitro, bacterial diffusible compounds, volatile organic compounds and culture filtrates produced by PVCT 3C reduced the mycelial growth and conidial germination of P. tracheiphilus, also affecting the mycelial pigmentation. The application of bacterial suspensions by leaf-spraying before the inoculation with the pathogen on plants of the highly susceptible species sour orange and lemon led to an overall reduction in incidence and disease index, above all during the early disease stage. PVCT 3C genome was subjected to whole-genome shotgun sequencing to study the molecular mechanisms of action of this strain. In silico annotation of biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites revealed the presence of numerous clusters encoding antimicrobial compounds (e.g. cyclic lipopeptides, hydrogen cyanide, siderophores) and candidate novel products. During the asymptomatic disease phase (seven days post-inoculation), bacterial treatments interfered with the expression of different fungal genes, as assessed with an NGS and de novo assembly RNA-seq approach. These results suggest that P. mediterranea PVCT 3C or its secondary metabolites may offer a potential effective and sustainable alternative to contain P. tracheiphilus infections via integrated management., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Vittoria Catara reports financial support was provided by Sicilian Region General Assembly. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Pseudomonas and Bacillus are dominant microorganisms to widely distributes in asphalt pavement structure. Microbial degradation leads to asphalt aging, and causes its performance deterioration, reducing the durability of asphalt pavement. To better understand the degradation behaviors of dominant microorganisms on asphalt, and reveals their microbial aging mechanisms on asphalt, the effects of microbial degradation on micromorphology, chemical functional group, component and microstructure of asphalt were discussed. Results indicate that main damages of microbial degradation start from asphalt surface and then permeates into its interior. Microorganisms degrade light components of asphalt as nutrients and decompose them into CO 2 and H 2 O through oxidation reactions, but exhibit limited degradation ability to macromolecular components. Microbial degradation causes the content changes of asphalt components, altering the colloidal structure of asphalt. Microorganisms destroy the continuity of asphalt surface and increase surface roughness of asphalt. This study provides a new insight into microbial aging mechanism of asphalt., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Root knot nematodes (RKNs) pose a great threat to agricultural production worldwide. The bacterial nematocides have received increasing attention due to their safe and efficient control against RKNs. Here, we investigated the biocontrol efficacy of Paenibacillus polymyxa J2-4 against Meloidogyne incognita in the field and analyzed the rhizosphere microbiome of cucumber under nematode infection after application of the J2-4 strain. Furthermore, a biomarker strain of Pseudomonas spp. was isolated from the J2-4-inoculated rhizosphere soil, and its nematocidal activity and growth-promoting effect on host plants were determined. In addition, chemotaxis assay of P. fluroescens ZJ5 toward root exudates was carried out., Results: The field experiment demonstrated that P. polymyxa J2-4 could effectively suppressed gall formation in cucumber plants, with the galling index reduced by 67.63% in 2022 and 65.50% in 2023, respectively, compared with controls. Meanwhile, plant height and yield were significantly increased in J2-4 treated plants compared with controls. Metagenomic analysis indicated that J2-4 altered the rhizosphere microbial communities. The relative abundance of Pseudomonas spp. was notably enhanced in the J2-4 group, which was consistent with Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size results that Pseudomonas was determined as one of the biomarkers in the J2-4 group. Furthermore, the ZJ5 strain, one of the biomarker Pseudomonas strains, was isolated from the J2-4-inoculated rhizosphere soil and was identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens. In addition, P. fluorescens ZJ5 exhibited high nematicidal activity in vitro and in vivo, with 99.20% of the mortality rate of M. incognita at 24 h and 69.75% of gall index reduction. The biocontrol efficiency of the synthetic community of ZJ5 plus J2-4 was superior to that of any other single bacteria against M. incognita. Additionally, ZJ5 exhibited great chemotaxis ability toward root exudates inoculated with J2-4., Conclusion: Paenibacillus polymyxa J2-4 has good potential in the biological control against M. incognita under field conditions. Enrichment of the beneficial bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens ZJ5 in the J2-4-inoculated rhizosphere soil contributes to M. incognita management. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Bio-transformations refer to the chemical modifications made by an organism on a chemical compound that often involves the interaction of plants with microbes to alter the chemical composition of soil or plant. Integrating bio-transformations and entomopathogenic fungi into litchi cultivation can enhance symbiotic relationships, microbial enzymatic activity in rhizosphere, disease suppression and promote overall plant health. The integration of biological formulations and entomopathogenic fungi can significantly influence growth, nutrient dynamics, physiology, and rhizosphere microbiome of air-layered litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) saplings. Biological modifications included, K-mobilizers, AM fungi, Pseudomonas florescence and Azotobacter chroococcum along with Metarhizium, entomopathogenic fungi have been used. The treatments included, T 1 -Litchi orchard soil + sand (1:1); T 2 -Sand + AM fungi + Azotobacter chroococcum (1:2:1); T 3 -Sand + Pseudomonas florecence + K-mobilizer (1:1:1); T 4 - AM fungi + K-mobilizers (1:1); T 5 , P. Florecence + A. chroococcum + K-mobilizer (1:1:1); T 6 -Sand + P. florecence (1:2) and T 7 -Uninoculated control for field performance. Treatments T 4 -T 6 were further uniformly amended with drenching of Metarrhizium in rhizosphere. T 2 application significantly increased resident microbe survival, total chlorophyll content and root soil ratio in seedlings. A. chroococcum, Pseudomonas, K-mobilizers and AM fungi increased in microbial biomass of 2.59, 3.39, 2.42 and 2.77 times, respectively. Acidic phosphatases, dehydrogenases and alkaline phosphatases were increased in rhizosphere. Leaf nutrients reflected through DOP were considerably altered by T 2 treatment. Based on Eigen value, PCA-induced changes at biological modifications showed maximum total variance. The study inferred that the bio-transformations through microbial inoculants and entomopathogenic fungi could be an encouraging strategy to enhance the growth of plants, health and productivity. Such practices align well with the goals of sustainable agriculture through biological means by reducing dependency on chemical inputs. By delving into these aspects, the research gaps including microbial processes, competitive and symbiotic relationships, resistance in microbes and how complex interactions among bio-transformations, entomopathogenic fungi and microbes can significantly impact the health and productivity of litchi. Understanding and harnessing these interactions can lead to more effective and sustainable farming practices., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The local ecosystems, fishery and human health are all threatened by water blooms, so effectively controlling water blooms has become an urgent and challenging issue. Biological control of water blooms is given priority due to its low cost, high efficiency and environmental friendliness. In this study, Pseudomonas ZY-1 and Bacillus FY-1, two highly-effective algicidal bacteria strains which are able to indirectly lyse algae by separating and screening from the vigorous water body in the paddy alga of Northeast China were obtained. The two bacterial strains have stronger ability to lyse alga in the bacterial liquid concentration of 10 6 CFU/ml, and the alga-lysing rate on 7 d reached 84.03% and 83.11% respectively. The active substance secreted by ZY-1 is not sensitive to the changes of temperature and pH value, while as FY-1 cell-free filtrate is not stable in high temperature above 50 ℃ and pH of 5, it requires the sun light to have the algaecidal effect. The cell-free filtrates of strains ZY-1 and FY-1 had the best lysis effect on Microcystis aeruginosa cells, and the chlorophyll a content of algae decreased to 0.13 ± 0.02 mg/L and 0.14 ± 0.03 mg/L respectively and the Fv/Fm of Microcystis aeruginosa decreased by 97.22% after 7 days. The algaecidal process of ZY-1 and FY-1 may be that the cell-free filtrate inhibits the photosynthesis of Microcystis aeruginosa, and meanwhile it avoids the regeneration and repair of photosynthesis of algal cells by affecting the gene expression and damaging the repair system of algal cells, so the membrane lipid peroxidation is exacerbated and then the membrane of algal cells is broken, the algal cells can't do normal life activities, and finally the algal cell would be killed. The rice seedlings in the algal liquid treatment group are short and show root dysplasia, few roots and brown roots. After treated with cell-free filtrate of ZY-1 and FY-1, the oxidative damage of the rice is obviously reduced, and the harm from Microcystis aeruginosa is reduced, which has the repair effect to the roots of rice seedlings and its aboveground growth. The cell-free filtrate of FY-1 works better than ZY-1. The bacteria strains of ZY-1 and FY-1 have the indirect algaecide trait, which makes them the potential environmentally-friendly algaecidal bacteria and they show broad application in the agricultural production and the control of water blooms., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been reported to suppress various diseases as potential bioagents. It can inhibit disease occurrence through various means such as directly killing pathogens and inducing systemic plant resistance. In this study, a bacterium isolated from soil showed significant inhibition of Valsa mali. Morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis identified the strain as Pseudomonas thivervalensis, named K321. Plate confrontation assays demonstrated that K321 treatment severely damaged V. mali growth, with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations showing severe distortion of hyphae due to K321 treatment. In vitro twigs inoculation experiments indicated that K321 had good preventive and therapeutic effects against apple Valsa canker (AVC). Applying K321 on apples significantly enhanced the apple inducing systemic resistance (ISR), including induced expression of apple ISR-related genes and increased ISR-related enzyme activity. Additionally, applying K321 on apples can activate apple MAPK by enhancing the phosphorylation of MPK3 and MPK6. In addition, K321 can promote plant growth by solubilizing phosphate, producing siderophores, and producing 3-indole-acetic acid (IAA). Application of 0.2% K321 increased tomato plant height by 53.71%, while 0.1% K321 increased tomato fresh weight by 59.55%. Transcriptome analysis revealed that K321 can inhibit the growth of V. mali by disrupting the integrity of its cell membrane through inhibiting the metabolism of essential membrane components (fatty acids) and disrupting carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, transcriptome analysis also showed that K321 can enhance plant resistance to AVC by inducing ISR-related hormones and MAPK signaling, and application of K321 significantly induced the transcription of plant growth-related genes. In summary, an excellent biocontrol strain has been discovered that can prevent AVC by inducing apple ISR and directly killing V. mali. This study indicated the great potential of P. thivervalensis K321 for use as a biological agent for the control of AVC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests (financial and nonfinancial interests)., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The COMMD (Copper Metabolism gene MURR1 Domain) gene family consists of 10 members, which are involved in various biological processes such as copper and sodium transport, NF-κB activity and cell cycle progression. However, the study of COMMD gene family in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is largely unknown. In this study, 10 COMMD gene family members (named LcCOMMDs) were successfully identified from large yellow croaker. The results showed that there were differences in the number of LcCOMMDs exons at the level of gene structure, which reflected that they had adjusted and changed accordingly in the process of evolution to adapt to the environment and achieved functional diversification. Through phylogenetic analysis, we found that the LcCOMMDs was highly conserved, indicating their important functions in organisms. It was worth noting that the expression levels of LcCOMMD1, LcCOMMD2, LcCOMMD3, LcCOMMD5 and LcCOMMD10 in the spleen changed significantly after bacterial stress, which suggested that these genes might be involved in the regulation of innate immune response. In addition, the expression levels of LcCOMMD1, LcCOMMD2, LcCOMMD3, LcCOMMD5, LcCOMMD7, LcCOMMD8, LcCOMMD9 and LcCOMMD10 changed significantly after hypoxia exposure, which further proved the role of LcCOMMDs in immune function. In summary, this study not only revealed the important role of COMMD genes in the innate immune response of large yellow croaker, but also provided valuable information for further understanding the regulatory mechanism of COMMD gene family under different conditions., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Taxonomically diverse Pseudomonas species induce bacterial blotch of edible mushrooms around the world. Pseudomonas tolaasii , [ P . gingeri ], and P. agarici are dominant mycopathogenic pseudomonads in mushroom production farms. In this study, among 216 mycopathogenic bacterial strains isolated from edible mushrooms in Iran, 96 strains were identified as Pseudomonas spp., while only three strains were preliminarily identified as P. agarici . Multilocus sequence analysis showed that only one strain (FH2) authentically belonged to P. agarici , while the other two strains either belonged to [ P. gingeri ] or represented a unique phylogenetic clade. The three strains also differed from each other in phenotypic characteristics, for example, production of fluorescent pigment and the reaction to tolaasin produced by P. tolaasii . Pathogenicity assays under a controlled environment showed that the symptoms induced by authentic P. agarici were far less severe than those caused by the predominant species P. tolaasii . Furthermore, coinoculation of P. agarici with three bacterial pathogens that are prevalent in Iran on mushroom caps, that is, P. tolaasii , Ewingella americana , and Mycetocola sp., resulted in the development of combined symptoms representing characteristics of both pathogens. The antibiosis assay showed that tolaasin-producing strains of P. tolaasii could inhibit the growth of P. agarici , while tolaasin-negative strains of the same species were unable to do so. This led us to the hypothesis that the inhibitory effect of P. tolaasii on P. agarici is driven by tolaasin production in the former species. This inhibitory effect is also associated with the rarity of P. agarici in natural conditions., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Pseudomonas protegens can serve as an agricultural biocontrol agent. P. protegens often encounters hyperosmotic stress during industrial production and field application. The ability of P. protegens to withstand hyperosmotic stress is important for its application as a biocontrol agent. AlgU is a global regulator responsible for stress response and biocontrol ability. However, the specific regulatory role of AlgU in the hyperosmotic adaptation of P. protegens is poorly understood. In this study, we found that the AlgU mutation disrupted the hyperosmotic tolerance of P. protegens . Many genes and metabolites related to cell envelope formation were significantly downregulated in Δ algU compared with that in the wild-type (WT) strain under hyperosmotic conditions, and we found that the algU mutation caused membrane integrity to be compromised and increased membrane permeability. Further experiments revealed that the cell envelope integrity protein TolA, which is regulated by AlgU, contributes to cell membrane stability and osmotic tolerance in P. protegens . In addition, several genes related to oxidative stress response were significantly downregulated in Δ algU , and higher levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species were found in Δ algU . Furthermore, we found that the synthesis of N-acetyl glutaminyl glutamine amide is directly regulated by AlgU and contributes to the hyperosmotic adaptation of P. protegens . This study revealed the mechanisms of AlgU's participation in osmotic tolerance in P. protegens , and it provides potential molecular targets for research on the hyperosmotic adaptation of P. protegens .IMPORTANCEIn this study, we found that the extracytoplasmic function sigma factor AlgU is essential for the survival of P. protegens under hyperosmotic conditions. We provided evidence supporting the roles of AlgU in influencing cell membrane stability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and dipeptide N-acetylglutaminylglutamine amide (NAGGN) synthesis in P. protegens under hyperosmotic conditions. Our findings revealed the mechanisms of AlgU's participation in hyperosmotic stress tolerance in P. protegens, and they provide potential molecular targets for research on the hyperosmotic adaptation of P. protegens , which is of value in improving the biocontrol ability of P. protegens ., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

In the last few years, there has been an increasing interest in solutions for sustainable agriculture to reduce negative impacts on the environment resulting from modern agricultural practices. The use of environmentally beneficial bacteria, like Pseudomonas, which can increase plant productivity by reducing growth time, is a promising opportunity for sustainable agriculture. Pseudomonas is a gram-negative bacterium genus, commonly present in soils, plants, and irrigation water. Pseudomonas has a wide range of metabolic routes that could benefit agriculture, such as nutrient uptake, pathogen suppression, heavy metal solubilization, drought tolerance, and high salt concentration tolerance. Pseudomonas may even be proposed as a potential tool for future agriculture on other planets, where the use of microorganisms would be essential for crop development in hostile and inhospitable environments. Hence, the present review discusses the potential use of Pseudomonas in sustainable agriculture on planet Earth and potentially on Mars, highlighting its role in plant growth enhancement and plant protection from pathogenic microorganisms.

The root microbiota plays a crucial role in plant performance. The use of microbial consortia is considered a very useful tool for studying microbial interactions in the rhizosphere of different agricultural crop plants. Thus, a consortium of 3 compatible beneficial rhizospheric Pseudomonas strains previously isolated from the avocado rhizosphere, was constructed. The consortium is composed of two compatible biocontrol P. chlororaphis strains (PCL1601 and PCL1606), and the biocontrol rhizobacterium Pseudomonas alcaligenes AVO110, which are all efficient root colonizers of avocado and tomato plants. These three strains were compatible with each other and reached stable levels both in liquid media and on plant roots. Bacterial strains were fluorescent tagged, and colonization-related traits were analyzed in vitro, revealing formation of mixed biofilm networks without exclusion of any of the strains. Additionally, bacterial colonization patterns compatible with the different strains were observed, with high survival traits on avocado and tomato roots. The bacteria composing the consortium shared the same root habitat and exhibited biocontrol activity against soil-borne fungal pathogens at similar levels to those displayed by the individual strains. As expected, because these strains were isolated from avocado roots, this Pseudomonas-based consortium had more stable bacterial counts on avocado roots than on tomato roots; however, inoculation of tomato roots with this consortium was shown to protect tomato plants under high-temperature stress. The results revealed that this consortium has side beneficial effect for tomato plants under high-temperature stress, thus improving the potential performance of the individual strains. We concluded that this rhizobacterial consortium do not improve the plant protection against soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi displayed by the single strains; however, its inoculation can show an specific improvement of plant performance on a horticultural non-host plant (such as tomato) when the plant was challenged by high temperature stress, thus extending the beneficial role of this bacterial consortium., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida is a vital pathogen that poses a substantial risk to aquaculture. Small RNAs (sRNAs) are non-coding regulatory molecules capable of sensing environmental changes and modulating virulence-associated signaling pathways, such as the assembly of flagella. However, the relevant researches on P. plecoglossicida are an urgent need. Here, we report a novel sRNA, sRNA562, which has potential to regulate the post-transcriptional of fliP, a key component of the lateral flagellar type III secretion system. In this study, the effects of sRNA562 on the virulence of P. plecoglossicida and its role in regulating the pathogenic process were investigated through the use of a constructed sRNA562 deletion strain. The deletion of sRNA562 resulted in an up-regulation of fliP in P. plecoglossicida, and leading to increased swarming motility and enhanced the ability of biofilm formation, adhesion and chemotaxis. Subsequent artificial infection experiment demonstrated that the deletion of sRNA562 increased the virulence of P. plecoglossicida towards hybrid grouper, as evidenced by a reduction in survival rate, elevation of tissue bacterial load, and the exacerbation of histopathological damage. Further studies have found that the deletion of sRNA562 lead to an up-regulation of fliP expression during hybrid grouper infection, thereby enhancing bacterial swarming ability and ultimately heightening pathogenicity, leading to a dysregulated host response to infection, tissue damage and eventually death. Our work revealed a sRNA that exerts negative regulation on the expression of lateral flagella in P. plecoglossicida, thereby impacting its virulence. These findings provide a new perspective on the virulence regulation mechanism of P. plecoglossicida, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding in the field of pathogenicity research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) gene family is a group of genes involved in the negative regulation of cytokine signal transduction. The members of this family play a crucial role in regulating immune and inflammatory processes. However, comprehensive investigations of these genes have not yet been conducted in the economically significant fish large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). In this study, a total of 13 SOCS genes (LcSOCS1a, LcSOCS1b, LcSOCS2, LcSOCS3a, LcSOCS3b, LcSOCS4, LcSOCS5a, LcSOCS5b, LcSOCS6, LcSOCS7a, LcSOCS7b, LcCISHa and LcCISHb) were identified and analyzed in L. crocea. The phylogenetic tree revealed a high conservation of SOCS genes in evolution, and the gene structure and motif analysis indicated a high similarity in the structure of LcSOCSs in the same subfamily. In addition, the expression patterns of LcSOCSs showed that LcSOCS1b was significantly down-regulated in all time under acute hypoxia stress, but it was markedly up-regulated throughout the entire process after P. plecoglossicida infection, revealing its different immune effects to two stresses. Besides, LcSOCS2a, LcSOCS6 and LcSOCS7a only participated in acute hypoxic stress, while LcSOCS5a was more sensitive to P. plecoglossicida infection. In summary, these results indicated that SOCS genes were involved in stress responses to both biological and non-biological stimuli, setting the foundation for deeper study on the functions of SOCS genes., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The ability of bacteria to colonize diverse environmental niches is often linked to their competence in biofilm formation. It depends on the individual characteristics of a strain, the nature of the colonized surface (abiotic or biotic), or the availability of certain nutrients. Pseudomonas donghuensis P482 efficiently colonizes the rhizosphere of various plant hosts, but a connection between plant tissue colonization and the biofilm formation ability of this strain has not yet been established. We demonstrate here that the potential of P482 to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces and the structural characteristics of the biofilm are influenced by the carbon source available to the bacterium, with glycerol promoting the process. Also, the type of substratum, polystyrene or glass, impacts the ability of P482 to attach to the surface. Moreover, P482 mutants in genes associated with motility or chemotaxis, the synthesis of polysaccharides, and encoding proteases or regulatory factors, which affect biofilm formation on glass, were fully capable of colonizing the root tissue of both tomato and maize hosts. Investigating the role of cellular factors in biofilm formation using these plant-associated bacteria shows that the ability of bacteria to form biofilm on abiotic surfaces does not necessarily mirror its ability to colonize plant tissues. Our research provides a broader perspective on the adaptation of these bacteria to various environments.

Microbiomes often benefit plants, conferring resistance to pathogens, improving stress tolerance, or promoting plant growth. As potential plant mutualists, however, microbiomes are not a single organism but a community of species with complex interactions among microbial taxa and between microbes and their shared host. The nature of ecological interactions among microbes in the microbiome can have important consequences for the net effects of microbiomes on hosts. Here, we compared the effects of individual microbial strains and 10-strain synthetic communities on microbial productivity and host growth using the common duckweed Lemna minor and a synthetic, simplified version of its native microbiome. Except for Pseudomonas protegens , which was a mutualist when tested alone, all of the single strains we tested were commensals on hosts, benefiting from plant presence but not increasing host growth relative to uninoculated controls. However, 10-strain synthetic microbial communities increased both microbial productivity and duckweed growth more than the average single-strain inoculation and uninoculated controls, meaning that host-microbiome mutualisms can emerge from community interactions among microbes on hosts. The effects of community inoculation were sub-additive, suggesting at least some competition among microbes in the duckweed microbiome. We also investigated the relationship between L. minor fitness and that of its microbes, providing some of the first empirical estimates of broad fitness alignment between plants and members of their microbiomes; hosts grew faster with more productive microbes or microbiomes., Importance: There is currently substantial interest in engineering synthetic microbiomes for health or agricultural applications. One key question is how multi-strain microbial communities differ from single microbial strains in their productivity and effects on hosts. We tested 20 single bacterial strains and 2 distinct 10-strain synthetic communities on plant hosts and found that 10-strain communities led to faster host growth and greater microbial productivity than the average, but not the best, single strain. Furthermore, the microbial strains or communities that achieved the greatest cell densities were also the most beneficial to their hosts, showing that both specific single strains and multi-strain synthetic communities can engage in high-quality mutualisms with their hosts. Our results suggest that ~5% of single strains, as well as multi-strain synthetic communities comprised largely of commensal microbes, can benefit hosts and result in effective host-microbe mutualisms., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Both above- and below-ground parts of plants are constantly challenged with microbes and interact closely with them. Many plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, mostly interacting with the plant's root system, enhance the immunity of plants in a process described as induced systemic resistance (ISR). Here, we characterized local induced resistance (IR) triggered by the model PGPR Pseudomonas simiae WCS417r (WCS417) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Hydroponic application of WCS417 to Arabidopsis roots resulted in propagation of WCS417 in/on leaves and the establishment of local IR. WCS417-triggered local IR was dependent on salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis and signalling and on functional biosynthesis of pipecolic acid and monoterpenes, which are classically associated with systemic acquired resistance (SAR). WCS417-triggered local IR was further associated with a priming of gene expression changes related to SA signalling and SAR. A metabarcoding approach applied to the leaf microbiome revealed a significant local IR-associated enrichment of Flavobacterium sp.. Co-inoculation experiments using WCS417 and At-LSPHERE Flavobacterium sp. Leaf82 suggest that the proliferation of these bacteria is influenced by both microbial and immunity-related, plant-derived factors. Furthermore, application of Flavobacterium Leaf82 to Arabidopsis leaves induced SAR in an NPR1-dependent manner, suggesting that recruitment of this bacterium to the phyllosphere resulted in propagation of IR. Together, the data highlight the importance of plant-microbe-microbe interactions in the phyllosphere and reveal Flavobacterium sp. Leaf82 as a new beneficial promoter of plant health., (© 2024 The Author(s). Physiologia Plantarum published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

The ecologically and economically vital symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing rhizobia and leguminous plants is often thought of as a bi-partite interaction, yet studies increasingly show the prevalence of non-rhizobial endophytes (NREs) that occupy nodules alongside rhizobia. Yet, what impact these NREs have on plant or rhizobium fitness remains unclear. Here, we investigated four NRE strains found to naturally co-occupy nodules of the legume Medicago truncatula alongside Sinorhizobium meliloti in native soils. Our objectives were to (1) examine the direct and indirect effects of NREs on M. truncatula and S. meliloti fitness, and (2) determine whether NREs can re-colonize root and nodule tissues upon reinoculation. We identified one NRE strain (522) as a novel Paenibacillus species, another strain (717A) as a novel Bacillus species, and the other two (702A and 733B) as novel Pseudomonas species. Additionally, we found that two NREs (Bacillus 717A and Pseudomonas 733B) reduced the fitness benefits obtained from symbiosis for both partners, while the other two (522, 702A) had little effect. Lastly, we found that NREs were able to co-infect host tissues alongside S. meliloti . This study demonstrates that variation of NREs present in natural populations must be considered to better understand legume-rhizobium dynamics in soil communities., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests.

Microbial-assisted rhizoengineering is a promising biotechnology for improving crop productivity. In this study, lettuce roots were bacterized with two lead (Pb) tolerant rhizobacteria including Pseudomonas azotoformans ESR4 and P. poae ESR6, and a consortium consisted of ESR4 and ESR6 to increase productivity, physiology and antioxidants, and reduce Pb accumulation grown in Pb-contaminated soil i.e., 80 (Pb in native soil), 400 and 800 mg kg -1 Pb. In vitro studies showed that these strains and the consortium produced biofilms, synthesized indole-3-acetic acid and NH 3 , and solubilized phosphate challenging to 0, 100, 200 and 400 mg L -1 of Pb. In static conditions and 400 mg L -1 Pb, ESR4, ESR6 and the consortium adsorbed 317.0, 339.5 and 357.4 mg L -1 Pb, respectively, while 384.7, 380.7 and 373.2 mg L -1 Pb, respectively, in shaking conditions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results revealed that several functional groups [Pb-S, M - O, O-M-O (M = metal ions), S-S, PO, CO, -NH, -NH 2, C-C-O, and C-H] were involved in Pb adsorption. ESR4, ESR6 and the consortium-assisted rhizoengineering (i) increased leaf numbers and biomass production, (ii) reduced H 2 O 2 production, malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakages, and transpiration rate, (iii) augmented photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, total antioxidant capacity, total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, and minerals like Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ in comparison to non-rhizoengineering plants grown in Pb-contaminated soil. Principal component analysis revealed that higher pigment production and photosynthetic rate, improved water use efficiency and increased uptake of Ca 2+ were interlinked to increased productivity by bacterial rhizoengineering of lettuce grown in different levels of Pb exposures. Surprisingly, Pb accumulation in lettuce roots and shoots was remarkably decreased by rhizoengineering than in non-rhizoengineering. Thus, these bacterial strains and this consortium could be utilized to improve productivity and reduce Pb accumulation in lettuce., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Swarming motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multicellular adaptation induced by semisolid medium with amino acids as a nitrogen source. By phenotypic screening, we differentiated swarming from other complex adaptive phenotypes, such as biofilm formation, swimming and twitching, by identifying a swarming-specific mutant in ptsP, a metabolic regulator. This swarming-deficient mutant was tested in an acute murine skin abscess infection model. Bacteria were recovered at significantly lower numbers from organs of mice infected with the ∆ptsP mutant. We also tested the synthetic peptide 1018 for activity against different motilities and efficacy in vivo. Treatment with peptide 1018 mimicked the phenotype of the ∆ptsP mutant in vitro, as swarming was inhibited at low concentrations (<2 μg/mL) but not swimming or twitching, and in vivo, as mice had a reduced bacterial load recovered from organs. Therefore, PtsP functions as a regulator of swarming, which in turn contributes to dissemination and colonization in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Quorum sensing (QS) is a chemical language of bacteria, and use of N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signals is one of the most known mechanisms by which bacteria can communicate with each other to regulate the gene expression based on bacterial density. Previous studies suggested that QS has an important role in pathogenicity of P.aeruginosa, so that the present study investigation the correlation of QS genes in local isolate of P.aeruginosa with production of virulence factors. Materials and Method: The study included collection of 126 samples from various clinical sources and, these samples included wounds, burns, ear, cystic fibrosis and urinary tract infections (UTI). Pyocyanin and biofilm production were determined spectrophotometrically, QS genes were detected by PCR based on specific sequences for lasI and rhlI genes. Results: Final diagnosis showed that 51 isolates belong to target bacteria and, the phenotypic detection of some virulence factors showed that 46 isolates (90%) showed variance in the strength of Pyocyanin production, and 44 (86%) of the isolates showed a differences in their ability to biofilm formation and, screed QS genes showed that 48 (94%) of isolates were positive for lasI gene, while 44 (86%) of isolates have rhlI gene, and this study pointed that 9 isolates have one of QS genes lasI or rhlI, and also have one or more of virulence factors, as well as the results showed that 1 isolate out of 51 negative for both QS genes and weakly in production of virulence factors. Conclusion: Most of local isolates were positive for QS genes and, QS plays an important role in the pathogenesis, not all of the virulence factors controlled by QS. The study indicated that the isolates which have both QS genes were more virulence than isolates that have single gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytopathogenic Fusarium graminearum poses significant threats to crop health and soil quality. Although our laboratory-cultivated Pseudomonas sp. P13 exhibited potential biocontrol capacities, its effectiveness against F. graminearum and underlying antifungal mechanisms are still unclear. In light of this, our study investigated a significant inhibitory effect of P13 on F. graminearum T1, both in vitro and in a soil environment. Conducting genomic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses of P13, we sought to identify evidence supporting its antagonistic effects on T1. The results revealed the potential of P13, a novel Pseudomonas species, to produce active antifungal components, including phenazine-1-carboxylate (PCA), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and siderophores [pyoverdine (Pvd) and histicorrugatin (Hcs)], as well as the dynamic adaptive changes in the metabolic pathways of P13 related to these active ingredients. During the logarithmic growth stage, T1 - exposed P13 strategically upregulated PCA and HCN biosynthesis, along with transient inhibition of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. However, with growth stabilization, upregulation of PCA and HCN synthesis ceased, whereas the TCA cycle was enhanced, increasing siderophores secretion (Pvd and Hcs), suggesting that this mechanism might have caused continuous inhibition of T1. These findings improved our comprehension of the biocontrol mechanisms of P13 and provided the foundation for potential application of Pseudomonas strains in the biocontrol of phytopathogenic F. graminearum ., Importance: Pseudomonas spp. produces various antifungal substances, making it an effective natural biocontrol agent against pathogenic fungi. However, the inhibitory effects and the associated antagonistic mechanisms of Pseudomonas spp. against Fusarium spp. are unclear. Multi-omics integration analyses of the in vitro antifungal effects of novel Pseudomonas species, P13, against F. graminearum T1 revealed the ability of P13 to produce antifungal components (PCA, HCN, Pvd, and Hcs), strategically upregulate PCA and HCN biosynthesis during logarithmic growth phase, and enhance the TCA cycle during stationary growth phase. These findings improved our understanding of the biocontrol mechanisms of P13 and its potential application against pathogenic fungi., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Host-associated microbial communities, like other ecological communities, may be impacted by the colonization order of taxa through priority effects. Developing embryos and their associated microbiomes are subject to stochasticity during colonization by bacteria. For amphibian embryos, often developing externally in bacteria-rich environments, this stochasticity may be particularly impactful. For example, the amphibian microbiome can mitigate lethal outcomes from disease for their hosts; however, this may depend on microbiome composition. Here, we examined the assembly of the bacterial community in spring peeper ( Pseudacris crucifer ) embryos and tadpoles. First, we reared embryos from identified mating pairs in either lab or field environments to examine the relative impact of environment and parentage on embryo and tadpole bacterial communities. Second, we experimentally inoculated embryos to determine if priority effects (i) could be used to increase the relative abundance of Janthinobacterium lividum , an amphibian-associated bacteria capable of preventing fungal infection, and (ii) would lead to observed differences in the relative abundances of two closely related bacteria from the genus Pseudomonas . Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we observed differences in community composition based on rearing location and parentage in embryos and tadpoles. In the inoculation experiment, we found that priority inoculation could increase the relative abundance of J. lividum , but did not find that either Pseudomonas isolate was able to prevent colonization by the other when given priority. These results highlight the importance of environmental source pools and parentage in determining microbiome composition, while also providing novel methods for the administration of a known amphibian probiotic., Importance: Harnessing the functions of host-associated bacteria is a promising mechanism for managing disease outcomes across different host species. In the case of amphibians, certain frog-associated bacteria can mitigate lethal outcomes of infection by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis . Successful probiotic applications require knowledge of community assembly and an understanding of the ecological mechanisms that structure these symbiotic bacterial communities. In our study, we show the importance of environment and parentage in determining bacterial community composition and that community composition can be influenced by priority effects. Further, we provide support for the use of bacterial priority effects as a mechanism to increase the relative abundance of target probiotic taxa in a developing host. While our results show that priority effects are not universally effective across all host-associated bacteria, our ability to increase the relative abundance of specific probiotic taxa may enhance conservation strategies that rely on captive rearing of endangered vertebrates., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The soil-water interface is replete with photic biofilm and iron minerals; however, the potential of how iron minerals promote biotic nitrate removal is still unknown. This study investigates the physiological and ecological responses of photic biofilm to hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ), in order to explore a practically feasible approach for in-situ nitrate removal. The nitrate removal by photic biofilm was significantly higher in the presence of Fe 2 O 3 (92.5%) compared to the control (82.8%). Results show that the presence of Fe 2 O 3 changed the microbial community composition of the photic biofilm, facilitates the thriving of Magnetospirillum and Pseudomonas, and promotes the growth of photic biofilm represented by the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and the content of chlorophyll. The presence of Fe 2 O 3 also induces oxidative stress (•O 2 - ) in the photic biofilm, which was demonstrated by electron spin resonance spectrometry. However, the photic biofilm could improve the EPS productivity to prevent the entrance of Fe 2 O 3 to cells in the biofilm matrix and mitigate oxidative stress. The Fe 2 O 3 then promoted the relative abundance of Magnetospirillum and Pseudomonas and the activity of nitrate reductase, which accelerates nitrate reduction by the photic biofilm. This study provides an insight into the interaction between iron minerals and photic biofilm and demonstrates the possibility of combining biotic and abiotic methods to improve the in-situ nitrate removal rate., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, the causative agent of Visceral White Spot Disease, poses substantial risks to large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) aquaculture. Previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS), directed towards elucidating the resistance mechanisms of large yellow croaker against this affliction, suggested that the transmembrane protein 208 (named Lctmem208) may confer a potential advantage. TMEM proteins, particularly TMEM208 located in the endoplasmic reticulum, plays significant roles in autophagy, ER stress, and dynamics of cancer cell. However, research on TMEM's function in teleost fish immunity remains sparse, highlighting a need for further study. This study embarks on a comprehensive examination of LcTmem208, encompassing cloning, molecular characterization, and its dynamics in immune function in response to Pseudomonas plecoglossicida infection. Our findings reveal that LcTmem208 is highly conserved across teleost species, exhibiting pronounced expression in immune-relevant tissues, which escalates significantly upon pathogenic challenge. Transcriptome analysis subsequent to LcTmem208 overexpression in kidney cells unveiled its pivotal role in modulating immune-responsive processes, notably the p53 signaling pathway and cytokine-mediated interactions. Enhanced phagocytic activity in macrophages overexpressing LcTmem208 underscores its importance in innate immunity. Taken together, this is the first time reported the critical involvement of LcTmem208 in regulating innate immune responses of defensing P. plecoglossicida, thereby offering valuable insights into teleost fish immunity and potential strategies for the selective breeding of disease-resistant strains of large yellow croaker in aquaculture practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no know competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

All bacterial strains studied retained the viability and ability to form both mono- and polycultural biofilms under conditions of long-term culturing in artificial seawater at 6°C and without addition of nutrients. Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas japonica presumably stimulated the growth and reproduction of the pathogenic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Preserved cell viability in a monoculture biofilm for a long period without adding a food source can indicate allolysis. At the same time, in a polycultural biofilm, the metabolites secreted by saprotrophic strains can stimulate the growth of L. monocytogenes and Y. pseudotuberculosis., (© 2024. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Zinc finger Asp-His-His-Cys motif-containing (zDHHC) proteins, known for their palmitoyltransferase (PAT) activity, play crucial roles in diverse cellular processes, including immune regulation. However, their non-palmitoyltransferase immunomodulatory functions and involvement in teleost immune responses remain underexplored. In this study, we systematically characterized the zDHHC family in the large yellow croaker ( Larimichthys crocea ), identifying 22 members. Phylogenetic analysis unveiled that each of the 22 Lc zDHHCs formed distinct clusters with their orthologues from other teleost species. Furthermore, all Lc zDHHCs exhibited a highly conserved DHHC domain, as confirmed by tertiary structure prediction. Notably, Lc zDHHC23 exhibited the most pronounced upregulation following Pseudomonas plecoglossicida ( P. plecoglossicida ) infection of macrophage/monocyte cells (MO/MΦ). Silencing Lc zDHHC23 led to heightened pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and diminished anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in MO/MΦ during infection, indicating its anti-inflammatory role. Functionally, Lc zDHHC23 facilitated M2-type macrophage polarization, as evidenced by a significant skewing of MO/MΦ towards the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype upon Lc zDHHC23 knockdown, along with the inhibition of MO/MΦ necroptosis induced by P. plecoglossicida infection. These findings highlight the non-PAT immunomodulatory function of Lc zDHHC23 in teleost immune regulation, broadening our understanding of zDHHC proteins in host-pathogen interactions, suggesting Lc zDHHC23 as a potential therapeutic target for immune modulation in aquatic species., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Dai, Zhao, Zhu, Fei, Nie and Chen.)

In the present study, ten (10) selected bacteria isolated from chasmophytic wild Chenopodium were evaluated for alleviation of drought stress in chickpea. All the bacterial cultures were potential P, K and Zn solubilizer. About 50% of the bacteria could produce Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase. The bacteria showed wide range of tolerance towards pH, salinity, temperature and osmotic stress. Bacillus paralicheniformis L38, Pseudomonas sp. LN75, Enterobacter hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89, B. paramycoides L17 and Micrococcus luteus LA9 significantly improved growth and nutrient (N, P, K, Fe and Zn) content in chickpea under water stress during a green house experiment conducted following a completely randomized design (CRD). Application of Microbacterium imperiale LJ10, B. stercoris LN74, Pseudomonas sp. LN75, B. paralicheniformis L38 and E. hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89 reduced the antioxidant enzymes under water stress. During field experiments conducted following randomized block design (RBD), all the bacterial inoculations improved chickpea yield under water stress. Highest yield (1363 kg ha -1 ) was obtained in plants inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. LN75. Pseudomonas sp. LN75, B. paralicheniformis L38 and E. hormachei subsp. xiangfengensis LJ89 have potential as microbial stimulants to alleviate the water stress in chickpea. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of using chasmophyte associated bacteria for alleviation of water stress in a crop plant., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Modulating the soil microbiome by applying microbial inoculants has gained increasing attention as eco-friendly option to improve soil disease suppressiveness. Currently, studies unraveling the interplay of inoculants, root-associated microbiome, and plant response are lacking for apple trees. Here, we provide insights into the ability of Bacillus velezensis FZB42 or Pseudomonas sp. RU47 to colonize apple root-associated microhabitats and to modulate their microbiome. We applied the two strains to apple plants grown in soils from the same site either affected by apple replant disease (ARD) or not (grass), screened their establishment by selective plating, and measured phytoalexins in roots 3, 16, and 28 days post inoculation (dpi). Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and ITS fragments amplified from DNA extracted 28 dpi from different microhabitat samples revealed significant inoculation effects on fungal β-diversity in root-affected soil and rhizoplane. Interestingly, only in ARD soil, most abundant bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) changed significantly in relative abundance. Relative abundances of ASVs affiliated with Enterobacteriaceae were higher in rhizoplane of apple grown in ARD soil and reduced by both inoculants. Bacterial communities in the root endosphere were not affected by the inoculants but their presence was indicated. Interestingly and previously unobserved, apple plants responded to the inoculants with increased phytoalexin content in roots, more pronounced in grass than ARD soil. Altogether, our results indicate that FZB42 and RU47 were rhizosphere competent, modulated the root-associated microbiome, and were perceived by the apple plants, which could make them interesting candidates for an eco-friendly mitigation strategy of ARD. KEY POINTS: • Rhizosphere competent inoculants modulated the microbiome (mainly fungi) • Inoculants reduced relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in the ARD rhizoplane • Inoculants increased phytoalexin content in roots, stronger in grass than ARD soil., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Agriculture and livestock management practices known as organic farming rely more on internal processes than external inputs. Natural environments depend heavily on diversity, and organic farming incorporates both the stated purpose of fostering diversity as well as the use of diversity as a management tool. A more complete understanding of agriculture in terms of agro-ecology has begun to be questioned by the traditional reductionist approach to the study of agriculture. Therefore it is necessary to be aware more about the significance of microbes in processes including soil growth, plant nourishment, and the eradication of plant disease, pest, and weeds. In this study, fluorescent Pseudomonas strain (EFP56) and Trichoderma harzianum were studied for antifungal and antibacterial activity against four common root rot fungi and four common laboratory bacteria in vitro experiments. Furthermore, soil-borne disease surveillance and nutritional quality of Lagenaria siceraria, fluorescent Pseudomonas strain (EFP56) and Trichoderma harzianum were combined with neem cake and cotton cake to check their efficacy. Through the application of organic soil amendments in combination with biocontrol agents improved the quality of vegetables and their nutritional value by raising their polyphenol, carbohydrate, and protein content as well as enhancing antioxidant scavenging status. The experiments were conducted in pots and in fields to confirm their efficacy rate. The final outcomes also revealed greater induction of defense system, disease lessening and enriched fruit quality. Consortium of neem cake and cotton cake with bio-stimulants can regulate biotic as well as abiotic stress., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

A common feature of N -acyl-l-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum-sensing (QS) systems is that the AHL signal is autoinducing. Once induced, a cell will further amplify the signal via a positive feedback loop. Pseudomonas fuscovaginae UPB0736 has two fully functional AHL QS systems, called PfsI/R and PfvI/R, which are inactive in a standard laboratory setting. In this work, we induce the QS systems with exogenous AHL signals and characterize the AHL signal amplification effect and QS activation dynamics at community and single-cell level. While the cognate signal is in both cases significantly further amplified to physiologically relevant levels, we observe only a limited response in terms of AHL synthase gene promoter activity. Additionally, the PfsI/R QS system exhibits a unique dramatic phenotypic heterogeneity, where only up to 5% of all cells amplify the signal further and are, thus, considered to be QS active., Importance: Bacteria use N -acyl-l-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum-sensing (QS) systems for population-wide phenotypic coordination. The QS configuration in Pseudomonas fuscovaginae is dramatically different from other model examples of AHL QS signaling and, thus, represents an important exception to the norm, which usually states that QS triggers population-wide phenotypic transitions in relation to cell density. We argue that the differences in QS dynamics of P. fuscovaginae highlight its different evolutionary purpose, which is ultimately dictated by the selective pressures of its natural habitat. We hope that this example will further expand our understanding of the complex and yet unknown QS-enabled sociomicrobiology. Furthermore, we argue that exemptions to the QS norm will be found in other plant-pathogenic bacterial strains that grow in similar environments and that molecularly similar QS systems do not necessarily share a similar evolutionary purpose; therefore, generalizations about bacterial cell-to-cell signaling systems function should be avoided., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Aims: We aimed to develop an effective bacterial combination that can combat Fusarium oxysporum infection in watermelon using in vitro and pot experiments., Methods and Results: In total, 53 strains of Bacillus and 4 strains of Pseudomonas were screened. Pseudomonas strains P3 and P4 and Bacillus strains XY-2-3, XY-13, and GJ-1-15 exhibited good antagonistic effects against F. oxysporum. P3 and P4 were identified as Pseudomonas chlororaphis and Pseudomonas fluorescens, respectively. XY-2-3 and GJ-1-15 were identified as B. velezensis, and XY-13 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The three Bacillus strains were antifungal, promoted the growth of watermelon seedlings and had genes to synthesize antagonistic metabolites such as bacilysin, surfactin, yndj, fengycin, iturin, and bacillomycin D. Combinations of Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains, namely, XY-2-3 + P4, GJ-1-15 + P4, XY-13 + P3, and XY-13 + P4, exhibited a good compatibility. These four combinations exhibited antagonistic effects against 11 pathogenic fungi, including various strains of F. oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Rhizoctonia. Inoculation of these bacterial combinations significantly reduced the incidence of Fusarium wilt in watermelon, promoted plant growth, and improved soil nutrient availability. XY-13 + P4 was the most effective combination against Fusarium wilt in watermelon with the inhibition rate of 78.17%. The number of leaves; aboveground fresh and dry weights; chlorophyll, soil total nitrogen, and soil available phosphorus content increased by 26.8%, 72.12%, 60.47%, 16.97%, 20.16%, and 16.50%, respectively, after XY-13 + P4 inoculation compared with the uninoculated control. Moreover, total root length, root surface area, and root volume of watermelon seedlings were the highest after XY-13 + P3 inoculation, exhibiting increases by 265.83%, 316.79%, and 390.99%, respectively, compared with the uninoculated control., Conclusions: XY-13 + P4 was the best bacterial combination for controlling Fusarium wilt in watermelon, promoting the growth of watermelon seedlings, and improving soil nutrient availability., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)

Here, we demonstrate the beneficial effect of surfactant-producing pseudomonads on Pantoea eucalypti 299R. We conducted a series of experiments in environments of increasing complexity. P. eucalypti 299R (Pe299R), and Pseudomonas sp. FF1 (Pff1) or Pe299R and surfactant-production deficient Pseudomonas sp. FF1::ΔviscB (Pff1ΔviscB) were co-inoculated in broth, on swarming agar plates, and on plants. In broth, there were no differences in the growth dynamics of Pe299R when growing in the presence of Pff1 or Pff1ΔviscB. By contrast, on swarming agar plates, Pe299R was able to co-swarm with Pff1 which led to a significant increase in Pe299R biomass compared to Pe299R growing with Pff1ΔviscB or in monoculture. Finally in planta, and using the single-cell bioreporter for reproductive success (CUSPER), we found a temporally distinct beneficial effect of Pff1 on co-inoculated Pe299R subpopulations that did not occur in the presence of Pff1ΔviscB. We tested three additional surfactant-producing pseudomonads and their respective surfactant knockout mutants on PE299R on swarming agar showing similar results. This led us to propose a model for the positive effect of surfactant production during leaf colonization. Our results indicate that co-motility might be common during leaf colonization and adds yet another facet to the already manyfold roles of surfactants., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Plant-associated microbes play vital roles in promoting plant growth and health, with plants secreting root exudates into the rhizosphere to attract beneficial microbes. Exudate composition defines the nature of microbial recruitment, with different plant species attracting distinct microbiota to enable optimal adaptation to the soil environment. To more closely examine the relationship between plant genotype and microbial recruitment, we analysed the rhizosphere microbiomes of landrace (Chevallier) and modern (NFC Tipple) barley (Hordeum vulgare) cultivars. Distinct differences were observed between the plant-associated microbiomes of the 2 cultivars, with the plant-growth promoting rhizobacterial genus Pseudomonas substantially more abundant in the Tipple rhizosphere. Striking differences were also observed between the phenotypes of recruited Pseudomonas populations, alongside distinct genotypic clustering by cultivar. Cultivar-driven Pseudomonas selection was driven by root exudate composition, with the greater abundance of hexose sugars secreted from Tipple roots attracting microbes better adapted to growth on these metabolites and vice versa. Cultivar-driven selection also operates at the molecular level, with both gene expression and the abundance of ecologically relevant loci differing between Tipple and Chevallier Pseudomonas isolates. Finally, cultivar-driven selection is important for plant health, with both cultivars showing a distinct preference for microbes selected by their genetic siblings in rhizosphere transplantation assays., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Pacheco-Moreno et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum ( RS ) is one of the most devastating diseases in patchouli ( Pogostemon cablin [Blanco] Benth.), which results in low yield and quality of patchouli. However, no stable and effective control methods have been developed yet. To evaluate the potential of dominant bacterial endophytes in biocontrol, the endophytic bacterial diversity of patchouli was investigated based on Illumina sequencing analysis, and the ability of isolates belonging to the dominant bacterial genera to control RS wilt of patchouli was explored in pot experiments. A total of 245 bacterial genera were detected in patchouli plants, with the highest relative abundance of operational taxonomic units belonging to the genus Pseudomonas detected in roots, leaves, and stems. The Pseudomonas isolates S02, S09, and S26 showed antagonistic activity against RS in vitro and displayed many plant growth-promoting characteristics, including production of indole-3-acetic acid, siderophores, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase and phosphate- and potassium-solubilizing capability. Inoculation of patchouli plants with the isolates S02, S09, and S26 significantly improved shoot growth and decreased the incidence of bacterial wilt caused by RS . The results suggest that screening of dominant bacterial endophytes for effective biocontrol agents based on Illumina sequencing analysis is more efficient than random isolation and screening procedures., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Purpose: To determine the role of IQ-domain GTPase-activating protein1 (IQGAP-1) in tight junctions of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and its effect against P. aeruginosa (PAK) invasion.Material and Methods: Primary human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), immortalized HCECs, and IQGAP-1 RNA knockdown HCECs (siHCECs) were used. Confocal microscopy, transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), trypan blue exclusion assay and gentamicin invasion assay were done.Results: In primary and immortalized HCECs, IQGAP-1 co-localized with zonular occludin-1 (ZO-1) and actin. Enhanced actin and ZO-1 aggregation were seen in siHCECs. IQGAP-1 knockdown significantly increased TER of immortalized HCECs (P < .0001). Cell viability after PAK infection increased for siHCECs for up to 4 h after infection. PAK intracellular invasion was significantly lowered by 50% in siHCECs at 1 h post-infection.Conclusion: IQGAP-1 knockdown increased the strength and integrity of tight junctions and may provide an early protective effect against P. aeruginosa invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the CD146+ stem cells obtained from the human umbilical cord and their extracellular matrix proteins on in vitro Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms to understand their possible antimicrobial activity. CD146+ stem cells were determined according to cell surface markers and differentiation capacity. Characterization of the decellularized matrix was done with DAPI, Masson's Trichrome staining and proteome analysis. Cell viability/proliferation of cells in co-cultures was evaluated by WST-1 and crystal-violet staining. The effects of cells and decellularized matrix proteins on biofilms were investigated on a drip flow biofilm reactor and their effects on gene expression were determined by RT-qPCR. We observed that CD146/105+ stem cells could differentiate adipogenically and decellularized matrix showed negative DAPI and positive collagen staining with Masson' s Trichrome. Proteome analysis of the decellularized matrix revealed some matrix components and growth factors. Although the decellularized matrix significantly reduced the cell counts of P. aeruginosa, no significant difference was observed for S. aureus cells in both groups. Supporting data was obtained from the gene expression results of P. aeruginosa with the significant down-regulation of rhlR and lasR. For S. aureus, icaADBC genes were significantly up-regulated when grown on the decellularized matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection is the leading cause of mortality in severe burn patients, benefitting from periodic monitoring of changes in bacterial prevalence and antibiotic resistance trends. This single facility retrospective study evaluated blood culture results for patients hospitalized in the burn intensive care unit (BICU) from January 2012 to December 2017. A total of 969 samples from 420 patients were reviewed. Isolated pathogens were recorded by year and the number of days of hospitalization. Results showed that Acinetobacter baumanni was the most predominant isolated pathogen, followed closely by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., and Enterococcus spp. Throughout this 6-year study, several significant trends were noted; Klebsiella species increased, while P. aeruginosa decreased. Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella species gradually increased, and P. aeruginosa doubled as the length of hospital stay increased to 22 days. Interestingly, as the length of the hospital stay increased, the proportion of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) significantly increased up to 45.0% at 22 days (P=0.003). Conversely, the proportion of Acinetobacter baumannii gradually decreased as the days hospitalized increased. Overall, the rate of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteremia found in burn patients was substantially higher than that in other patients and appeared from the earliest phase of hospitalization. Therefore, early use of antibiotics targeting MDR Gram-negative bacteria in burn patients admitted to the BICU might be warranted. Further, since CRE infections increase in abundance over time, significant effort should be made to manage the initial CRE infections of burn patients before they can multiply into a life-threatening situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]