@article {pmid42657515,
year = {2026},
author = {Craig, AM and Clemens, KJ and Leigh, SJ},
title = {Maternal gut microbiota-psychotropic drug interactions and their impact on offspring neurodevelopment.},
journal = {Clinical science (London, England : 1979)},
volume = {140},
number = {9},
pages = {1959-1983},
doi = {10.1042/CS20250049},
pmid = {42657515},
issn = {1470-8736},
support = {APP2027709//DHAC | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects ; *Neurodevelopment/drug effects ; *Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Animals ; *Brain/drug effects/growth & development ; },
abstract = {Pregnancy is associated with a unique and dynamic gut microbiota profile that supports fetal growth and neurodevelopment. Psychotropic drug-gut microbiota interactions are documented in the general population, yet less well described in pregnant women. Research has independently linked both perinatal psychotropic exposure and alterations to the maternal gut microbiome with potential changes to offspring neurodevelopment; therefore, it is plausible that similar interactions occur during pregnancy where they may influence maternal-fetal signaling pathways relevant to brain development. The aim of the present review is to explore the potential for interactions between perinatal psychotropic exposure and the maternal gut microbiota to shape long-term offspring neurodevelopment and psychiatric outcomes. By focusing on antidepressants, opioids/analgesics, and psychostimulants, potential mechanistic insights and gaps in the literature are highlighted to inform future research directions and therapeutic interventions. Collectively, the present review proposes the maternal gut microbiota as a previously underexplored yet significant modulator of neurodevelopment in the context of psychotropic drug exposure.},
}

Humans
Female
Pregnancy
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects
*Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects
*Neurodevelopment/drug effects
*Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Animals
*Brain/drug effects/growth & development

@article {pmid42657533,
year = {2026},
author = {Cristian, RE and Vrancianu, CO and Constantin, M and Paun, M and Milea, EC and Malaescu, D and Chifiriuc, MC},
title = {Microbiome-based therapeutics for Clostridioides difficile infection: additive, subtractive, and modulatory strategies in modern clinical practice.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2722482},
doi = {10.1080/19490976.2026.2722482},
pmid = {42657533},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {Humans ; *Clostridium Infections/therapy/microbiology ; *Clostridioides difficile/physiology/drug effects ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Biological Therapy/methods ; },
abstract = {Microbiome-based therapeutics have rapidly evolved into a transformative field at the intersection of infectious diseases, microbial ecology, and precision medicine. Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) represents the most extensively studied model, providing a framework for understanding microbiome-driven disease and ecological restoration. This review synthesizes three major therapeutic strategies, additive, subtractive, and modulatory, and integrates recent advances from basic, translational, and clinical research. Additive approaches, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), and defined microbial consortia, aim to restore microbial diversity and colonization resistance. Subtractive strategies selectively target C. difficile or its ecological advantages through targeted antibiotics, bacteriocins, bacteriophages, and CRISPR-based antimicrobials. Modulatory therapies reshape host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions, targeting toxin activity, bile acid metabolism, and spore germination. Together, these approaches reflect a paradigm shift from pathogen-centered treatment toward ecological therapeutics targeting the dysbiotic niche underlying CDI persistence and recurrence. Understanding the similarities and differences between these strategies can help guide the design of future microbiome-targeted interventions and explore their potential beyond CDI across microbiome-mediated diseases.},
}

Humans
*Clostridium Infections/therapy/microbiology
*Clostridioides difficile/physiology/drug effects
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Biological Therapy/methods

@article {pmid42657534,
year = {2026},
author = {Devadiga, P and Batgire, J and Karandikar, K and Bhowmick, S and Birje, S and Kerkar, S and Nagar, V and Patil, P and Agrawal, S and Shastri, J and Gaikwad, S and Munne, K and Mukherjee, N and Madan, T and Patel, V and Bhor, VM},
title = {Latent tuberculosis infection shapes gut microbiome and immune-metabolic interactions in people living with HIV.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2721739},
doi = {10.1080/19490976.2026.2721739},
pmid = {42657534},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {Humans ; *Latent Tuberculosis/immunology/microbiology/metabolism ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *HIV Infections/immunology/microbiology/complications ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Dysbiosis/microbiology/immunology ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/genetics/metabolism ; Longitudinal Studies ; Middle Aged ; Feces/microbiology ; },
abstract = {The silent presence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in people living with HIV (PLHIV) increases the annual risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation by 3%-16%. Although gut dysbiosis is well documented in HIV, microbiome alterations associated with LTBI in PLHIV remain poorly characterized. Using integrated cross-sectional and exploratory longitudinal analyses, we investigated the gut microbiome composition, predicted function, and immune-metabolic interactions in ART-naive individuals categorized as HIV-LTBI-, HIV-LTBI+, HIV+LTBI-, HIV+LTBI+, and HIV+TB+. Against the dysbiotic background associated with HIV, LTBI was associated with a distinct gut microbial and immune-metabolic profile. Compared with HIV+LTBI-, HIV+LTBI+ individuals exhibited alpha diversity comparable to the HIV-negative groups while forming a distinct microbial community, characterized by a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio, depletion of butyrate-producing Firmicutes, enrichment of ASVs assigned to Megasphaera, Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus, reduced predicted aromatic amino acid metabolic pathways, maintained fecal propionate concentrations, and a densely connected co-occurrence network with greater vulnerability to hub-node loss. Staged correlation analyses revealed progressive remodeling of host‒microbiome associations across HIV and TB disease states, including associations between Prevotella ASVs, PD-1+CD8+ T cells, plasma IP-10, and, in HIV+TB+, increased calprotectin and sCD14 together with reduced associations among butyrate-associated taxa. In exploratory longitudinal analyses, ART did not restore a microbiome resembling that of HIV-negative individuals; instead, the microbiome composition remained closer to the baseline HIV+LTBI+ profile, while microbiome divergence and SCFA profiles were associated with the CD4/CD8 ratio rather than CD4 count alone. These findings identify LTBI as an important modifier of the gut microbiome composition and immune-metabolic interactions in PLHIV and provide a framework for future studies investigating microbiome changes associated with progression to active TB.},
}

Humans
*Latent Tuberculosis/immunology/microbiology/metabolism
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
*HIV Infections/immunology/microbiology/complications
Cross-Sectional Studies
Male
Female
Adult
Dysbiosis/microbiology/immunology
Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/genetics/metabolism
Longitudinal Studies
Middle Aged
Feces/microbiology

@article {pmid42657869,
year = {2026},
author = {Runcharoon, K},
title = {From online engagement to hands-on discovery: an integrated hybrid microbiology outreach model for students and educators.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology & biology education},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0018126},
doi = {10.1128/jmbe.00181-26},
pmid = {42657869},
issn = {1935-7877},
abstract = {Hybrid outreach can bridge geographic distance while creating flexible and practical science learning experiences for students and educators. As an ASM Young Ambassador to Thailand while studying in the United States, I developed a hybrid microbiology outreach model that integrated online student seminars, international scientist engagement, educator professional development, and in-person hands-on activities. Online activities included a student seminar introducing microbiology careers and applications, a moderated microbiome research session highlighting community-based science and sequencing technologies, and an educator-focused session on strategies for keeping learners of all ages engaged and curious in science classrooms. In-person activities for high school students included yogurt making to introduce fermentation and beneficial microbes, followed by a case-based group activity in which students acted as poultry veterinarians, identifying pathogen transmission routes and proposing farm biosecurity solutions. This Tips and Tools article presents a practical framework for combining online seminars for students, face-to-face hands-on microbiology activities, case-based learning, and educator support into a synergistic outreach model. This approach demonstrates how low-cost, adaptable, and interactive activities can help students view microbiology as relevant to everyday life while supporting educators in developing inclusive, student-centered, and curiosity-driven learning environments.},
}

@article {pmid42657875,
year = {2026},
author = {Deng, X and Okamoto, A},
title = {Cellulose-fueled extracellular electron transfer in termite gut microbes.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0127226},
doi = {10.1128/aem.01272-26},
pmid = {42657875},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Termites decompose billions of tons of lignocellulosic material annually through the cellulolytic metabolism of their gut microbiota. However, the mechanisms by which cellulose degradation drives anaerobic metabolism of the gut microbiome remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate cellulose-driven extracellular electron transfer (EET) in both a termite gut-derived gram-positive cellulolytic bacterium, Ruminiclostridium cellobioparum subsp. termitidis CT1112, and the termite gut microbiome. CT1112 cells produced current in the presence of cellulose or cellobiose as the electron donor under potentiostatic conditions. This activity was strongly dependent on self-secreted redox mediators. EET was markedly impaired when stationary-phase CT1112 developed a thickened, multilayered cell wall, reducing accessibility to exogenously added redox mediators, such as riboflavin, and small redox-active molecules, such as diaminobenzidine. As a proof of concept, current production from cellulose was also observed in the termite gut microbiome, together with increases in the relative abundances of Bacillota, Bacteroidota, and Pseudomonadota. These results support the presence of EET-capable bacteria in the termite gut and suggest that EET contributes to redox balance within the steep redox gradients of the gut. Our study expands the environmental relevance of EET in carbon cycling and highlights termite-derived microbiomes as promising platforms for bioelectrochemical applications, including cellulolytic microbial fuel cells.IMPORTANCETermites play major roles in carbon cycling in tropical ecosystems by decomposing lignocellulosic biomass with the help of their gut microbiota. However, the microbial physiology underlying this highly efficient cellulose conversion remains poorly understood. Here, we show that both a cellulolytic termite gut isolate and the termite gut microbiome are capable of extracellular electron transfer (EET) using cellulose and its derivatives as electron donors. These findings suggest that cellulose degradation in the termite gut is coupled to extracellular redox processes, expanding our understanding of how this globally important process proceeds in anaerobic environments. They also raise the possibility that EET contributes to redox homeostasis within the gut microenvironment and open new avenues for investigating the electrochemical physiology of termite gut microbes, including their ability to reduce dietary iron(III) minerals and their potential to participate in syntrophic interspecies electron transfer. Moreover, this work highlights termite-derived microbes as promising platforms for developing efficient cellulose-to-electricity conversion technologies.},
}

@article {pmid42657876,
year = {2026},
author = {Binion, B and Ahmad, S and Wang, T and Tang, E and Barnick, B and Olukoya, D and Mbuvi, P and Dutta, D and Erdman, JW and Gaskins, HR and Yang, G and Irudayaraj, J and Ridlon, JM},
title = {The urinary tract commensal Peptoniphilus spp. encodes a novel 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0062326},
doi = {10.1128/aem.00623-26},
pmid = {42657876},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Microbial steroid metabolism represents an underappreciated extension of the vertebrate endocrine system, with growing evidence that host-associated microbes contribute to the diversity and bioavailability of sex steroids to human tissues. Emerging studies have linked microbial androgen metabolism to urinary microbiome composition and to resistance to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer. While microbial pathways capable of converting steroid precursors such as cortisol to androgens, via the steroid-17,20-desmolase pathway, such as DesG-mediated interconversion of androstenedione to testosterone, have been reported, the diversity of enzymes mediating downstream androgen interconversion remains incompletely defined. Here, we investigate the androgen-forming capabilities of anaerobic bacteria from the male genitourinary microbiome, focusing on NADPH-dependent 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSDHs) that catalyze the interconversion of androstenedione and testosterone. We isolated androgen-forming bacterial strains from human male urine and identified a previously uncharacterized 17β-HSDH in Peptoniphilus obesi, demonstrating that this enzyme catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of androstenedione to testosterone and the reverse oxidation reaction. Sequence similarity searches further identified a similar 17β-HSDH in Anaerococcus, which was synthesized and functionally validated, revealing conserved activity despite low sequence identity to the previously characterized urinary tract enzyme DesG from Propionimicrobium lymphophilum. The enzymes were found to have broad substrate specificity for C19 and C18 17-keto- and 17β-hydroxysteroids. Together, these findings expand the known diversity of microbial 17β-HSDHs and identify previously unrecognized androgen-forming activities within the genitourinary microbiome.IMPORTANCEMicrobial steroid-transforming pathways may provide a mechanism by which commensal anaerobes contribute to androgen availability in the genitourinary tract. By identifying novel 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases from Peptoniphilus and Anaerococcus, genera repeatedly associated with prostate cancer, this study provides mechanistic insight into how microbial steroid metabolism may influence hormone-driven disease.},
}

@article {pmid42657911,
year = {2026},
author = {Gao, H and Li, F and Chen, H and Wu, S and Zhang, J and Wang, C and Shen, Q and Zhu, L and Chen, D and Jin, L and Liu, J and Shen, J and Sun, L and Yu, L},
title = {Integrated microbiome and metabolome profiling in prepubertal girls with vulvar lichen sclerosus.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0405825},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.04058-25},
pmid = {42657911},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a chronic anogenital disease with long-term risks of genital disfigurement and squamous cell cancer. The involvement of the gut-skin axis in prepubertal VLS remains unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 43 prepubertal VLS patients and 46 healthy controls, performing fecal 16S rRNA sequencing and serum LC-MS to characterize gut microbiome-metabolome associations and identify altered microbial and metabolic signatures. We further assessed their exploratory classification performance using random forest models. No significant differences in alpha or beta diversity were observed between groups. At the nominal significance level, an increase in Firmicutes_A (phylum; P = 0.021) and Streptococcus (genus; P = 0.046) and a decrease in Phocaeicola_A_858004 (genus; P = 0.004), Bacteroides_H (genus; P = 0.033), and Streptococcus (genus; P = 0.046) were observed in the VLS group. After multiple testing correction, only Phocaeicola_A_858004 remained significant (BH-adjusted q = 0.041). Linear discriminant analysis effect size identified 23 discriminant taxa, with 12 enriched in VLS patients and 11 enriched in controls. Functional prediction suggested perturbations in amino acid and lipid metabolism, aligning with host metabolic pathways. Metabolomic analysis identified 123 dysregulated metabolites, with integrative analysis showing correlations between key bacteria (e.g., s_Porphyromonas_A_859426_somerae) and metabolites (e.g., 12,13-DHOME). Furthermore, serum metabolites showed strong discriminative performance (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.93), compared with microbial features alone (AUC = 0.83) or combined models (AUC = 0.87). These findings indicate modest but distinctive associations between gut microbiome and host serum metabolic profiles in girls with VLS and suggest that integrated microbial and metabolic signatures may serve as exploratory non-invasive biomarkers for this condition.

IMPORTANCE: Integrating gut microbiome and serum metabolome analyses, this study characterized gut-skin axis associations in prepubertal vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). Overall gut microbial diversity and community structure were preserved without statistically significant differences after multiple testing correction. However, linear discriminant analysis effect size identified discriminative taxa between groups, suggesting potential compositional differences at the feature level. In contrast, serum metabolomic profiles showed more robust alterations in VLS patients. The microbial and metabolic signatures demonstrated strong discriminative ability between VLS and control groups, supporting their potential as exploratory non-invasive biomarkers. These results indicate that modest gut microbiome-metabolome perturbations are early pathogenic events in VLS, preceding overt microbial structural remodeling, providing a reference for further exploration of early detection strategies in this condition. These findings suggest that VLS-related perturbations may be more evident at the metabolic than at the gut microbiome taxonomic level, providing a framework for future studies of gut-skin interactions and early disease characterization.},
}

@article {pmid42657951,
year = {2026},
author = {Alam, S and Shaughnessy, CA and Lucas, EA and Olawale, F and Fathepure, BZ and McCullagh, EA},
title = {Fmr1 mutation is associated with gut microbiome structure and diversity as well as intestinal barrier integrity and function in a sex- and genotype-dependent manner.},
journal = {mSphere},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0044226},
doi = {10.1128/msphere.00442-26},
pmid = {42657951},
issn = {2379-5042},
abstract = {Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), caused by mutation in the Fmr1 gene. In addition to cognitive and behavioral challenges, FXS patients often experience altered gut microbiome-induced gastrointestinal (GI) problems. Evidence suggests that an altered gut microbiome can disrupt mucosal barrier and promote inflammation, leading to impaired intestinal barrier integrity and function. However, the mechanisms by which the gut microbiome alters the barrier integrity and contributes to GI pathology in FXS remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we tested the hypothesis that Fmr1 mutation is associated with gut microbiome composition, altering transcriptional markers of intestinal barrier regulation, and gut barrier physiology in mice. To test our hypothesis, we used an Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse model with wild-type (WT) littermates as controls. First, we performed 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing to characterize gut microbial community structure and diversity across genotypes and sexes. Among the alpha-diversity metrics, only Chao1 showed significant differences across female genotypes in both fecal and cecal contents. Additionally, qRT-PCR analysis of ileal samples revealed reduced barrier and mucosal defense gene expression in female KO and Het mice compared with WT females. Next, we used an Ussing chamber assay to test gut epithelial permeability and function. Our physiological data showed that female Het mice had increased transepithelial resistance compared to WT females, indicating a tighter epithelial barrier. Overall, FXS is associated with modest genotype- and sex-specific microbiome variation, impaired gut barrier integrity, and altered epithelial barrier function in female mice.IMPORTANCEFragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited cause of autism, affects not only brain function but also physical health, including chronic gastrointestinal (GI) problems that are often overlooked. This study reveals that a single genetic mutation linked to FXS is associated with the gut microbiome and the intestinal barrier-the body's frontline defense against inflammation and disease-in a sex-specific manner. Using a mouse model, we show that females carrying the Fmr1 mutation exhibit changes in gut microbes, reduced expression of genes that protect the intestinal lining, and altered gut barrier function. These findings highlight a critical gut-genetic connection in FXS and point to the intestine as an important, yet underappreciated, site of disease impact. By linking genetic risk for neurodevelopmental disorders to gut health, this work opens new avenues for understanding-and potentially treating-the gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by individuals with FXS.},
}

@article {pmid42658363,
year = {2026},
author = {Raninga, B},
title = {Protist-mediated microbiome governance: Integrating trophic ecology, rhizosphere biology, and biotechnological potential.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology},
volume = {42},
number = {9},
pages = {},
pmid = {42658363},
issn = {1573-0972},
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Microbiota/physiology ; Bacteria ; Biotechnology ; Soil/parasitology/chemistry ; Plants/microbiology ; Fungi ; Ecosystem ; Eukaryota/physiology ; },
abstract = {Soil protists - a phylogenetically diverse group of unicellular eukaryotes, encompassing bacterivorous flagellates, predatory amoebae, fungivorous vampyrellids, and parasitic plasmodiophorids - exist at densities ranging from 10[4] to 10[8] cells per gram of soil, yet are systematically underrepresented in microbiome research compared to bacteria and fungi. This review presents soil protists as active regulators of microbial community structure, nutrient biogeochemistry, and functional ecosystem resilience, rather than just passive dwellers of the soil. Three interconnected mechanistic aspects are integrated. Initially, by selectively preying on bacteria, fungi, and microbial eukaryotes, protists impose top-down trophic regulation that alters community composition, enhances nutrient mineralisation through density- and trait-mediated cascades, and governs organic carbon turnover within soil aggregates. Second, in the rhizosphere, protists engineer plant-microbiome interactions through selective enrichment of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, modulation of auxin biosynthesis via tryptophan-dependent pathways, regulation of endophytic colonization, and suppression of soil-borne pathogens - including through mechanistically documented positive feedback loops between predatory Cercomonas and Bacillus biocontrol strains. Third, protist diversity - particularly among rare taxa within Cercozoa, Ochrophyta, and Chlorophyta - functions as a principal determinant of soil multifunctionality, with its erosion under land-use intensification and climate-driven drought producing measurable losses in phosphorus mineralization, nitrification capacity, and pathogen suppression. Emerging tools including metabarcoding, single-cell multi-omics, and predictive network modeling are beginning to resolve longstanding gaps in protist functional ecology. We evaluate the biotechnological potential of protist-informed strategies across biofertilizer innovation, biocontrol enhancement, and soil health assessment - priorities with direct relevance to sustainable agriculture in the developing world.},
}

*Rhizosphere
*Soil Microbiology
*Microbiota/physiology
Bacteria
Biotechnology
Soil/parasitology/chemistry
Plants/microbiology
Fungi
Ecosystem
Eukaryota/physiology

@article {pmid42658613,
year = {2026},
author = {Zoccali, C and Glorieux, G and Mallamaci, F and Vanholder, R},
title = {Microbiome Science and the Kidney-Vascular Axis: Plenty of Mechanisms, Little Medicine.},
journal = {Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.2215/CJN.0000001234},
pmid = {42658613},
issn = {1555-905X},
}

@article {pmid42658680,
year = {2026},
author = {Gu, Y and Wang, H and Yang, J and Zeng, T and Liang, H and He, W and Wang, M and Wu, Z and Yang, L and Xu, Y and Zhao, J and Zhang, Y and Dong, Y and Zhong, Y and Zhang, H and Wang, J and Rao, X and Wen, Y and Sun, X and Kristiansen, K and Tian, Y and Tong, X and Wang, Y and Yang, J and Liu, F and Yang, Z and Li, W and Wang, B and Gao, P and Xu, J and Miao, Y and Jin, X and Liu, C and Xu, X and Sun, Y and Zhao, F and Xiao, L and Zou, Y},
title = {Complete genome-derived metabolic interactions reveal the impact of gut ecology on human health.},
journal = {Cell reports},
volume = {45},
number = {9},
pages = {117913},
doi = {10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117913},
pmid = {42658680},
issn = {2211-1247},
abstract = {Metabolic interactions govern gut microbiome assembly, yet their functional rules remain obscured by genomic incompleteness and fragmentation. Here, we leverage 1,150 complete genomes to construct genome-scale metabolic models, demonstrating that draft assemblies introduce systematic artifacts and omit critical transport functions. We observe that genomic traits and niche specialization, rather than random association, shape microbial metabolic competition and complementarity. Interaction asymmetry stratifies strains into four ecological groups, including active players, resource predators, resource utilizers, and resource contributors, with distinct signatures of metabolite exchange, competition, and secondary metabolism. In inflammatory bowel disease, these groups show subtype-specific temporal instability, and group-specific dysbiosis predicts clinical phenotypes better than the whole-community profiles. Keystone features derived from integrated metabolic interaction and co-occurrence networks also improve cross-validated disease classification. Together, these findings connect genome completeness with microbial ecological organization and provide a framework for linking metabolic interactions to microbiome-associated disease.},
}

@article {pmid42658871,
year = {2026},
author = {Gonzales-Rodriguez, AO and Gonzales-Huerta, LE and Wong Chero, PA and Vera-Silva, LE and Uceda-Campos, G and Reale, FA},
title = {Breastmilk microbiota and its association with infant iron deficiency anaemia: A 16S rRNA metagenomic study in Peruvian mothers cohort.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {8},
pages = {e0352428},
pmid = {42658871},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Humans ; Peru/epidemiology ; Female ; *RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/microbiology/epidemiology ; Infant ; *Milk, Human/microbiology ; *Microbiota/genetics ; Mothers ; Adult ; Metagenomics ; Metagenome ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Male ; Cohort Studies ; },
abstract = {Anaemia is one of the most important public health challenges in developing countries. The global burden is estimated at 1.8 billion people, affecting approximately 30% of all children. Despite the implementation of multiple strategies over several decades, up to 42.5% of children under 3 years of age suffer anaemia in rural areas of Peru. We studied the microbiota of breastmilk (hBM) from mothers with children under the age of 1 and analysed its association with their iron deficiency anaemia. 46 mother-child pairs were recruited from Talara, a town on the northern coast of Peru and classified according to the clinical status of the children. Children with anaemia were also tested for ferritin level to classify them as iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) or non-iron deficiency anaemia (non-IDA). hBM samples were taken from the mothers after careful instruction to reduce the risk of sample contamination and the microbiome was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus were the predominant genera, with 90% of bacterial abundance being explained by 14 genera. Alpha diversity analysis showed that hBM from mothers of children with non-IDA had higher levels of bacterial richness than hBM from healthy (p < 0.01) and IDA (p < 0.05) participants. Principal coordinates analysis did not yield differential clusters but showed a disparity in the spread of samples for non-IDA group when compared with the other groups. IDA group showed higher burden of Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, Paludibacter and Nitrospira, while exhibiting a trend towards a lower burden of Streptococcus. No statistically significant differences were identified on demographic characteristics. This study suggests that hBM microbiota may differ in mothers of children with IDA and non-IDA, highlighting the necessity of further in-depth research to elucidate potential factors associated with its pathogenesis.},
}

Humans
Peru/epidemiology
Female
*RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/microbiology/epidemiology
Infant
*Milk, Human/microbiology
*Microbiota/genetics
Mothers
Adult
Metagenomics
Metagenome
Bacteria/genetics/classification
Male
Cohort Studies

@article {pmid42658951,
year = {2026},
author = {Jalili, S and Oh, J},
title = {Beyond wrinkles.},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {393},
number = {6814},
pages = {863-865},
doi = {10.1126/science.aeh4348},
pmid = {42658951},
issn = {1095-9203},
mesh = {Humans ; *Skin Microbiome ; *Skin Aging/physiology ; *Skin/microbiology ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Can the skin microbiome shape healthy aging?},
}

Humans
*Skin Microbiome
*Skin Aging/physiology
*Skin/microbiology
Animals

@article {pmid42659436,
year = {2026},
author = {Amorim, LC and Souza, JN and Teixeira, MA and Souza Junior, AR and Abdo, VL and Soares, PBM and Santos, NCD and Vechiato-Filho, AJ and Shibli, JA and Souza, JGS},
title = {Mapping the evidence landscape of the oral microbiome-cancer relationship: insights from the 100 most-cited papers.},
journal = {Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil)},
volume = {24},
number = {spe3},
pages = {eAO2412},
doi = {10.31744/einstein_journal/2026AO2412},
pmid = {42659436},
issn = {2317-6385},
mesh = {Humans ; *Bibliometrics ; *Microbiota/physiology ; *Mouth/microbiology ; *Mouth Neoplasms/microbiology ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the 100 most-cited papers investigating the relationship between the oral microbiome and cancer.

METHODS: A qualitative and quantitative bibliometric study was conducted to evaluate the 100 most-cited papers on the relationship between cancer and the oral microbiome. The search strategy was applied in the Scopus database. Data related to the articles, authors, and study characteristics were extracted. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS: From the 1,033 records retrieved, the 100 most-cited papers in the field were ranked and selected. The most-cited article had accumulated 759 citations. The papers were published between 1998 and 2022; authors from North America and Asia were the most frequent contributors, and reviews were the most common study design. Oral, colorectal, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers were the most frequently investigated cancer sites. Funding was less frequently reported in review articles (OR=0.28; p=0.041) and in papers from Europe (OR=0.14; p<0.001), whereas funding support increased over time (OR=1.05; p=0.037).

CONCLUSION: The most-cited literature indicates substantial research interest in the relationship between cancer and the oral microbiome. The most-cited papers show that this association has been investigated mainly in oral cancer, although associations with cancers at other sites have also been reported. Financial support and international collaboration may help broaden research on this topic.},
}

Humans
*Bibliometrics
*Microbiota/physiology
*Mouth/microbiology
*Mouth Neoplasms/microbiology

@article {pmid42659887,
year = {2026},
author = {Rodrigues, RS and Rocha, JC and Fontenele, PA and Setti, AS},
title = {The gut-endometrium axis in chronic endometritis: the role of bacterial translocation, the estrobolome, and estrogen metabolism - A narrative review.},
journal = {European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology},
volume = {326},
number = {},
pages = {115393},
doi = {10.1016/j.ejogrb.2026.115393},
pmid = {42659887},
issn = {1872-7654},
abstract = {Chronic endometritis (CE) is an inflammatory endometrial finding associated in some studies with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), although diagnostic thresholds and clinical significance remain unsettled. This narrative review examines whether gut dysbiosis, microbial-product translocation, and microbial estrogen metabolism could plausibly influence CE. PubMed/MEDLINE was searched to identify illustrative human, translational, and experimental literature; selection was purposive and no systematic-review protocol, formal screening, risk-of-bias assessment, or meta-analysis was undertaken. Human studies published in 2024 report associations between CE and altered endometrial or vaginal microbial profiles, but they do not establish a causal gut-endometrium pathway. Evidence for intestinal permeability, circulating lipopolysaccharide, estrobolome-mediated estrogen changes, progesterone resistance, or microbiome-directed treatment specifically in CE is indirect or preclinical. We therefore present the gut-endometrium axis as a hypothesis-generating conceptual framework rather than an established mechanism. Current evidence does not support routine gut microbiome testing, permeability biomarkers, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, or hormone modification for CE. Prospective studies using standardized CE criteria, contamination-aware microbiome methods, direct gut and endometrial sampling, and reproductive outcomes are required before clinical implementation.},
}

@article {pmid42660056,
year = {2026},
author = {Nair, PM and Alex, R and Mondal, G},
title = {Hydrogen flux and microbial interactions governing methane formation in the rumen: Implications for mitigation.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1050},
number = {},
pages = {182213},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.182213},
pmid = {42660056},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Enteric methane production in ruminants is the dominant metabolic consequence of microbial hydrogen (H2) disposal during anaerobic fermentation under typical rumen conditions, yet controlling it without disrupting rumen function remains a critical challenge in sustainable livestock production. Methanogenesis is not an isolated metabolic pathway but an emergent property of syntrophic microbial interactions that govern H2 flux within the rumen ecosystem. During ruminal fermentation, fibrolytic bacteria, anaerobic fungi, and ciliate protozoa generate H2 through coordinated carbohydrate degradation, which is continuously transferred to hydrogenotrophic microorganisms, primarily methanogenic archaea, through interspecies H2 transfer mechanisms that are essential for maintaining redox balance and fermentation efficiency. Molecular hydrogen (H2), serves as the primary vehicle for reductant transfer between microbial partners, and its dissolved concentration in rumen fluid governs the thermodynamic feasibility of all major fermentation pathways. This review uniquely frames enteric methane mitigation as a network-level H2 flux control problem, integrating microbial ecology, thermodynamics, hydrogenase biology, and multi-omics evidence within a unified mechanistic framework. Methanogenesis is more comprehensively understood as a system-level outcome of H2 partitioning within a complex microbial network rather than the activity of methanogens alone. H2 is distributed among competing metabolic sinks, including propionate formation, reductive acetogenesis, nitrate reduction, and sulfate reduction, with methanogenesis dominating due to thermodynamic and ecological advantages under standard rumen conditions. Mitigation strategies are evaluated through their effect on H2 flux: approaches that suppress H2 production, redirect H2 toward alternative sinks, or disrupt interspecies transfer are each constrained by microbial functional redundancy and adaptive compensation. Composite strategies simultaneously targeting multiple nodes within the H2 network achieve more consistent and sustained methane reductions. Reconceptualizing methane mitigation as coordinated control of microbial H2 flow provides a mechanistic, systems-level framework for designing interventions that reduce emissions without compromising rumen microbial stability or host productivity.},
}

@article {pmid42660199,
year = {2026},
author = {Chenail, H and Hacker, ND and Woodie, B and Scott, MA and Morley, PS and Adam, E and Page, AE and Valeris-Chacin, R and Arnold, C},
title = {Full-length 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing of foal synovial fluid shows substantial agreement with microbial culture.},
journal = {American journal of veterinary research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-10},
doi = {10.2460/ajvr.26.03.0145},
pmid = {42660199},
issn = {1943-5681},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To utilize full-length 16S rRNA long-read sequencing to (1) describe the microbiome profile of synovial fluid, previously classified by cytology and microbial culture, from foals with and without septic arthritis and (2) determine the agreement between the microbiome profiles and microbial culture.

METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted using synovial samples collected from foals treated at a single equine referral center (from 2018 through 2024). The synovial fluid was classified as septic or not septic using standard cytological and microbial culture methods. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from stored samples and sequenced using a MinION sequencer. Linear mixed modeling was used to determine the relationships between α diversity and age, affected joint, and cytological and culture status. β diversity was assessed using permutational multivariate ANOVA. Differential taxa were identified with ALDEx2. The agreement between sequencing and culture was evaluated using the Gwet coefficient.

RESULTS: Fifty samples met inclusion criteria. α diversity (Shannon index) was higher in culture-positive samples (mean difference, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.12, 0.72). Microbiome composition differed by culture (R2 for Aitchison dissimilarity distance, 0.091) and cytology status (R2 for Jaccard dissimilarity distance, 0.029). No taxa differed by age, joint, or cytology. Klebsiella were significantly more abundant in culture-positive samples (ALDEx2 standardized effect size, 0.65; 95% CI, -1.63, 7.01). Agreement between positive culture and the predominant sequenced genus was 0.774 (Gwet AC1 coefficient) with a probabilistic benchmark interval of 0.6 to 0.8 (substantial agreement).

CONCLUSIONS: Next-generation sequencing and culture results were substantially aligned.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Next-generation sequencing may aid diagnosis in suspected septic arthritis cases with negative culture results.},
}

@article {pmid42660273,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, K and Madariaga, VI and Maulina, T and Cao, L and Bulte, GJ and van Herwaarden, YJ and Walboomers, XF and Loomans, BAC and Pereira-Cenci, T},
title = {Association between Oral Manifestations and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-related Esophageal Diseases: A Scoping Review.},
journal = {Journal of dentistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {107003},
doi = {10.1016/j.jdent.2026.107003},
pmid = {42660273},
issn = {1879-176X},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This scoping review was conducted to map evidence on associations between oral manifestations and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its related esophageal diseases, including non-erosive reflux disease, erosive esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

DATA: The protocol was published on OSF (https://osf.io/8w9rv/). Eligible studies included clinical studies reporting associations between oral manifestations and GERD-related esophageal diseases. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data were charted on study characteristics, diagnostic criteria, oral manifestations measures and key findings.

SOURCES: A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and OPENGREY in February 2024 and updated in July 2025.

STUDY SELECTION: In total, 162 studies were included (97% cross-sectional and 3% longitudinal). Fifty studies reported erosive tooth wear. Salivary characteristics alterations were identified across the GERD spectrum in 42 studies. Investigations into oral microbiome (n = 15) revealed associations with esophageal disease severity. Salivary pepsin was the most studied biomarker (n = 17), showing moderate but variable accuracy. Fifty-seven studies reported other oral manifestations, with burning mouth, halitosis, xerostomia, and tooth sensitivity commonly linked to GERD.

CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests possible association between GERD and specific oral manifestations such as erosive tooth wear, burning mouth and halitosis. Salivary characteristics and oral microbiome are potentially associated with the spectrum of GERD-related esophageal diseases. No salivary biomarker has achieved optimal combined sensitivity and specificity.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This review highlights substantial opportunities for the fields of gastroenterology and dentistry to collaborate on joint clinical strategies aimed at prevention and early diagnosis.},
}

@article {pmid42660482,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, X and Yang, H and Xu, Z and Peng, L and Jiang, Z and Zhou, X and Xiang, J and Cui, B},
title = {Artificial light pollution alters epilithic microbial communities and functional biodeterioration-related functional potentials in subterranean sandstone environments.},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {129056},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2026.129056},
pmid = {42660482},
issn = {1873-6424},
abstract = {Artificial light pollution represents an important anthropogenic disturbance in subterranean heritage environments, yet its associations with epilithic microbial communities and biodeterioration processes remain poorly understood. In tourist-accessible subterranean caves, artificial illumination creates persistent illuminated areas on stone surfaces that may alter microbial community assembly and biogeochemical functions associated with biofilm development. Here, the Longyou Grottoes, a large underground sandstone cave complex in Zhejiang, China, were investigated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomics. Bacterial communities dominated all samples (>98% relative abundance). Cyanobacteriota were enriched under artificial light and sunlight (>40%), whereas Pseudomonadota and Actinomycetota prevailed in darkness. Dark sites exhibited higher bacterial alpha diversity and more complex co-occurrence networks. Compared with sunlight and dark environments, the artificial-light environment was associated with greater stochasticity in bacterial community assembly, broader niche breadth, and lower niche overlap. Metabolic potential analysis further revealed light-dependent metabolic shifts: artificial light enhanced assimilatory nitrogen and sulfur metabolism, sunlight promoted nitrogen fixation, and darkness favored nitrification, denitrification, and sulfur oxidation. However, bacterial community patterns were also associated with temperature, humidity, pH, and soluble salts, indicating that the observed differentiation reflected the combined influence of light and environmental heterogeneity. These findings identify artificial lighting as an important and manageable environmental factor associated with epilithic bacterial communities and provide a basis for integrating lighting management with environmental control in the preventive conservation of subterranean sandstone heritage.},
}

@article {pmid42660843,
year = {2026},
author = {Cao, Y and Liu, Q and Cao, DY},
title = {Progress in Molecular Biological Mechanism of Endometrial Cancer Induced by Obesity.},
journal = {Zhongguo yi xue ke xue yuan xue bao. Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae},
volume = {48},
number = {4},
pages = {742-750},
doi = {10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16722},
pmid = {42660843},
issn = {1000-503X},
mesh = {*Endometrial Neoplasms/etiology ; Humans ; Female ; *Obesity/complications ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Insulin Resistance ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Adipokines/metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; },
abstract = {Obesity is recognized as a major risk factor for endometrial cancer，and its tumor-promoting mechanisms have drawn increasing attention in recent years.Current evidence highlights that obesity drives the initiation and progression of endometrial cancer through three core pathways-elevated estrogen levels，insulin resistance，and chronic inflammation-which form a malignant positive feedback loop.Furthermore，visceral and subcutaneous obesity differentially regulate adipokine secretion and metabolic microenvironments to impact the molecular subtypes，pathological features，and treatment responses of endometrial cancer.This review summarizes recent advances in the molecular mechanisms linking obesity and endometrial cancer，with a focus on adipokines，inflammatory signaling，estrogen metabolism，insulin resistance，and epigenetic regulation.The roles of the adipose-immune-metabolic axis in the initiation and progression of endometrial cancer are expounded.Future research should integrate multi-omics and tumor microenvironment analyses to develop precision therapeutic strategies based on obesity subtypes and epigenetic biomarkers，offering novel insights for clinical management of obesity-related endometrial cancer.},
}

*Endometrial Neoplasms/etiology
Humans
Female
*Obesity/complications
Tumor Microenvironment
Insulin Resistance
Epigenesis, Genetic
Adipokines/metabolism
Signal Transduction

@article {pmid42660928,
year = {2026},
author = {Ding, Y and Vogel, HK and Zhai, Y and Carlson, HK and Andeer, PF and Novak, V and Kim, N and Bowen, BP and Golini, AN and Kosina, SM and Coleman-Derr, D and Vogel, JP and Northen, TR},
title = {Insights into the role of dopamine in rhizosphere microbiome assembly.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42660928},
issn = {2041-1723},
support = {DE-AC02-05CH11231//U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/ ; DE-SC0021234//U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/ ; },
mesh = {*Dopamine/metabolism/pharmacology ; *Rhizosphere ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Microbiota/genetics/drug effects ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; *Brachypodium/microbiology/metabolism ; Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism/growth & development ; },
abstract = {Dopamine plays a critical role in animal physiology and interactions with gut microbes. In plants, dopamine is known to function in plant defense and abiotic stress tolerance; however, its role in mediating plant-microbiome interactions remains unexplored. In this study, we show that dopamine is one of the most abundant exometabolites with natural variation in root exudates across diverse Brachypodium distachyon lines, suggesting a potential role in rhizosphere microbial assembly. To further investigate this, we colonized ten natural B. distachyon lines with a 16-member bacterial synthetic community (SynCom), collected metabolomic and 16S rRNA sequencing data, and performed an association analysis. Our results reveal that dopamine levels in root exudates were significantly associated with the abundance of six SynCom members in a hydroponic system. In vitro growth studies demonstrated that dopamine had a significant effect on the growth of the same six bacterial isolates. Additionally, treating soil directly with dopamine enriched Actinobacteria, consistent with both the SynCom-dopamine correlations and the isolate growth results. Collectively, our study underscores the selective influence of dopamine on rhizosphere microbial communities, with implications for precision microbiome management.},
}

*Dopamine/metabolism/pharmacology
*Rhizosphere
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Microbiota/genetics/drug effects
Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism
Soil Microbiology
*Brachypodium/microbiology/metabolism
Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism/growth & development

@article {pmid42661087,
year = {2026},
author = {Littlejohn, PT and Holani, R and Vallance, BA and Finlay, BB},
title = {The gut microbiota in malnutrition.},
journal = {Nature reviews. Microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42661087},
issn = {1740-1534},
abstract = {Malnutrition poses a substantial global health burden with long-lasting physical, social and economic effects. Now recognized as an spectrum of interrelated conditions, malnutrition manifests differently based on an individual's geography, health-care access and lifestyle. There is growing evidence that malnutrition is also driven by defects in the composition and function of the gut microbiota, a metabolically active 'virtual organ' known to play a central role in intestinal barrier function, energy harvest, immune regulation and metabolic signalling. Across the malnutrition spectrum, perturbed microbial composition and function have been consistently observed in both children and adults. This 'malnourished microbiota' is associated with impaired nutrient utilization, chronic inflammation and altered energy balance and is known to persist despite nutritional interventions. This Review synthesizes evidence from human cohorts and animal models showing that the gut microbiota functions as a central player in malnutrition. We discuss implications for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, arguing that microbiome restoration could provide a partial solution for malnutrition. This reframing is particularly relevant given current challenges such as armed conflict, climate change and declining international support, all of which are associated with an increased global burden of malnutrition. Thus, integrating microbiota-based strategies could protect vulnerable populations and accelerate progress towards overcoming malnutrition.},
}

@article {pmid42661217,
year = {2026},
author = {Xue, F and Tan, X and Zhang, C and Zhao, H and Wang, T},
title = {Deciphering microbial community dynamics using cross-sectional data-informed NeuralODE.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42661217},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {12222111//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Microbiota ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Ecosystem ; Bacteria/classification ; Models, Biological ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Understanding the ecological mechanisms of host-associated microbial ecosystems typically relies on either cross-sectional or time-series data. Cross-sectional analyses are limited in their ability to assess intervention effects, whereas time-series models require dense and informative sampling that is often impractical.

RESULTS: Here, we present an enhanced Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (NeuralODE) framework that, for the first time, integrates cross-sectional data into the dynamic modeling of sparse and weakly informative temporal data. We develop two instantiations of this framework, tailored to relative and absolute abundances, and introduce a dynamic keystoneness metric to quantify species importance over time. Across simulated and real-data benchmarks, incorporating cross-sectional data improved performance over competing methods, particularly in data-scarce settings. Moreover, biological validation demonstrated that the framework recovers experimentally supported interactions and prioritizes identified influential species.

CONCLUSIONS: Together, these results establish our method as a reliable framework for mechanistic modeling of microbial ecosystems, offering new insights into their dynamic behavior. Video Abstract.},
}

*Microbiota
Cross-Sectional Studies
Ecosystem
Bacteria/classification
Models, Biological

@article {pmid42661364,
year = {2026},
author = {Seo, SH and Kang, SM and Kang, S and You, Y and Lee, Y and Lee, MH and Na, CS},
title = {Banhasasim-tang Attenuates Corticosterone-Induced Behavioral Despair-like Responses and Is Associated with Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolomic Changes in Mice.},
journal = {Journal of microbiology and biotechnology},
volume = {36},
number = {},
pages = {e2606018},
doi = {10.4014/jmb.2606.06018},
pmid = {42661364},
issn = {1738-8872},
mesh = {Animals ; Male ; *Corticosterone/adverse effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Feces/microbiology ; *Metabolome/drug effects ; *Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology ; *Behavior, Animal/drug effects ; *Depression/drug therapy/chemically induced ; *Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Metabolomics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Banhasasim-tang (BHSST) is a classical East Asian herbal formula traditionally used for gastrointestinal disorders, but its effects on stress-related depressive-like behavior and the associated microbiome-metabolome signatures remain unclear. This study evaluated the antidepressant-like effects of BHSST in a corticosterone (CORT)-induced mouse model and investigated fecal microbiota and serum metabolomic alterations. Male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to Normal, CORT, fluoxetine, low-dose BHSST, or high-dose BHSST groups. CORT was administered for 21 days, and immobility-based behavioral responses were assessed using the forced swimming test and tail suspension test. Fecal microbiota were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and serum metabolites were profiled using untargeted UPLC-QTOF-MS. BHSST reduced CORT-induced immobility time in both behavioral tests. Although alpha diversity was not significantly altered, BHSST treatment was associated with changes in fecal microbial community structure and discriminative bacterial taxa. Serum metabolomics revealed BHSST-H-associated changes in metabolites related to amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, redox-related metabolism, lipid metabolism, and microbial co-metabolism. Integrated microbiome-metabolome analysis identified association-based multi-omics signatures involving selected bacterial taxa, serum metabolites, and immobility-based behavioral outcomes. These findings suggest that BHSST-induced behavioral improvement is accompanied by changes in the microbiome-metabolome profile in CORT-induced mice.},
}

Animals
Male
*Corticosterone/adverse effects
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects
Feces/microbiology
*Metabolome/drug effects
*Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology
*Behavior, Animal/drug effects
*Depression/drug therapy/chemically induced
*Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
Metabolomics
Disease Models, Animal
Bacteria/classification/genetics/drug effects

@article {pmid42661376,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhu, ZH and Liao, YC and Lin, Y and Sun, H and Ye, JR and Zhu, LH},
title = {Axenic Bursaphelenchus xylophilus retains pathogenicity across a multi-tiered host system: evidence from callus, axenic seedlings, and potted pine trees.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.71243},
pmid = {42661376},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //STI 2030-Major Projects/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Pine wilt disease (PWD), caused by the pine wood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a devastating threat to coniferous forests worldwide. Whether B. xylophilus requires associated bacteria for pathogenicity remains debated, with significant implications for defining primary targets of disease management.

RESULTS: Although autonomous pathogenicity of axenic B. xylophilus has been reported previously, the principal advance of this study lies in its systematic validation across a multi-tiered host system, encompassing Pinus massoniana calli, 2-year-old axenic seedlings, and potted Pinus thunbergii seedlings up to 8 years old. Axenic B. xylophilus consistently induced typical wilt symptoms and completed its life cycle within host tissues. On pine calli, axenic nematodes caused extensive necrosis and loss of cell viability. In 2-year-old sterile seedlings, inoculation led to 90-100% wilting and mortality, with nematode reproduction confirmed in the absence of bacterial associates. Similar results were observed in 2- to 8-year-old potted seedlings under greenhouse conditions, with no significant difference in disease severity between axenic and non-axenic inoculations. Axenic nematodes also exhibited enhanced fitness in vitro, with significantly extended longevity, suggesting that the native bacterial community may impose a metabolic burden under sterile conditions.

CONCLUSION: These findings bring clarity to a long-standing debate by demonstrating that B. xylophilus is inherently capable of autonomous pathogenicity, and that associated bacteria are not a prerequisite for disease initiation. This establishes an evidence-based management framework: prioritizing phytosanitary measures, vector disruption, and nematode-targeted interventions as frontline defenses, while positioning microbiome-based strategies as secondary modulators of disease progression in natural settings. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid42661488,
year = {2026},
author = {Choi, SY and Kong, SG and Yeon, GM and Hong, YR and Jung, M and Lee, JH},
title = {Gut microbiota profiles in Korean children with growth hormone deficiency: a case-control study.},
journal = {Clinical and experimental pediatrics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3345/cep.2026.00493},
pmid = {42661488},
issn = {2713-4148},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota plays an important role in childhood growth and metabolic regulation and may interact with the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor-1 axis. However, the gut microbiota characteristics in children with GH deficiency (GHD) are poorly understood.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the gut microbiota composition and predict the functional profiles of Korean children with GHD and those growing normally.

METHODS: In this pilot case-control study, fecal samples were collected from children with biochemically confirmed GHD and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Microbial alpha and beta diversities, taxonomic compositions, and differentially abundant taxa were evaluated. Functional profiles of the gut microbiome were predicted using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database.

RESULTS: A total of 34 children (11 with GHD, 23 healthy controls) were included in the study. Alpha diversity indices did not differ significantly between groups, whereas beta diversity indices demonstrated a significant intergroup difference (permutational multivariate analysis of variance, P=0.003). At the phylum level, the GHD group showed a higher relative abundance of Proteobacteria and lower abundance of Bacteroidetes. At lower taxonomic levels, taxa including Enterobacteriaceae, Enterobacter, and Citrobacter, which are often associated with dysbiosis, were enriched in the GHD group, whereas beneficial taxa such as Bacteroides and Ruminococcaceae family members were reduced. A functional prediction analysis revealed enrichment of pathways related to adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporters, phosphotransferase systems, quorum sensing, and bacterial motility in children with GHD.

CONCLUSION: Children with GHD showed altered gut microbiota composition and predicted microbial functional pathways despite similar overall microbial diversity. These findings suggest a potential association between gut microbiota alterations and GHD and warrant further investigation in larger well-designed studies.},
}

@article {pmid42661636,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, D and Yang, W and Qin, X},
title = {Probiotic supplementation as a nutritional strategy for the prevention and management of sarcopenia in older adults.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1801885},
pmid = {42661636},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {*Probiotics/administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Sarcopenia/prevention & control ; Aged ; *Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Male ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Animals ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Inflammation ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and functional capacity over time, poses a significant health burden among older adults. A growing body of evidence indicates that the gut microbiota contributes to inflammation and metabolic regulation, mitochondrial function, and anabolic signaling, thereby shaping the gut-muscle axis. Probiotic supplementation has gained traction as a nutritional approach for the regulation of microbiome-derived metabolites. The present study aims to assess the rationale for probiotic supplementation to prevent and manage sarcopenia in older individuals.

METHODS: Using data from NHANES (2011-2018; n = 3,500), UK Biobank (n = 5,000), and GMrepo (n = 800), we examined associations between probiotic exposure and muscle outcomes, inflammation, and microbiome diversity. C2C12 myotubes were used in vitro under probiotic-conditioned media (PCM). The interactions of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with the regulatory proteins (mTOR, AMPK, NF-κB) were evaluated using molecular docking simulations. Random Forest and XGBoost models were used to predict sarcopenia risk using integrated multimodal features, with a 70% training and 30% validation split.

RESULTS: Probiotic users exhibited greater handgrip strength (UK Biobank: 27.2 ± 4.8 kg vs. 25.1 ± 5.2 kg), higher fat-free mass (57.4 ± 10.6 kg vs. 56.2 ± 11.0 kg), and lower inflammatory burden compared to non-users. PCM increased fusion index (85.6 ± 2.3% vs. 78.9 ± 3.2%, p < 0.01), myotube diameter (45.2 ± 6.3 μm vs. 40.1 ± 5.7 μm, p < 0.05), and MyoD (2.1-fold), Myogenin (1.8-fold), and MyHC (2.2-fold). NF-κB and TNF-α were decreased (~0.60-fold and 0.65-fold, respectively), and PGC-1α was increased (1.9-fold). Butyrate docking revealed high binding affinity for AMPK (-6.9 kcal/mol), mTOR (-6.4 kcal/mol), and NF-κB (-6.0 kcal/mol). The performance metrics achieved highly in XGBoost with 88% accuracy.

DISCUSSION: This comprehensive framework positions probiotics as a precision nutrition intervention for sarcopenia prevention, targeting muscle-sparing effects through microbiome modulation that stimulates coordinated immunometabolic and anabolic actions, with AI-enhanced, individualized risk prediction for healthy aging.},
}

*Probiotics/administration & dosage/therapeutic use
Humans
*Sarcopenia/prevention & control
Aged
*Dietary Supplements
Female
Male
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
Molecular Docking Simulation
Animals
NF-kappa B/metabolism
Inflammation

@article {pmid42661660,
year = {2026},
author = {Yuan, R and Lan, Y and Wu, M and Lu, X},
title = {The role of hormonal and nutritional biomarkers in predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy: current limitations and future prospects.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1857147},
pmid = {42661660},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use/adverse effects ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy/immunology/metabolism ; *Nutritional Status ; Biomarkers ; Animals ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology/drug effects ; *Biomarkers, Tumor ; *Hormones/metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; },
abstract = {Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer treatment, yet durable benefit remains limited to selected patients. Established biomarkers, including PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden, and microsatellite instability, remain predominantly tumor-centered and incompletely capture inter-individual variability. In this Perspective, we highlight systemic host physiology as an underappreciated determinant of the tumor microenvironment, ICI efficacy, and immune-related toxicity. We discuss how the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thyroid function, insulin signaling, nutritional status, micronutrients such as vitamin D and iron, emerging metabolic modulators, body composition, and the gut microbiome may influence T-cell activation, exhaustion, and myeloid-cell function. We also examine unresolved controversies, including the obesity paradox, the potential risk of GLP-1 receptor agonist-associated sarcopenia, and the lack of standardized biomarker thresholds and sampling protocols. To facilitate clinical translation, we outline a conceptual, hypothesis-generating spatiotemporal management framework integrating pre-treatment host profiling, peri-treatment metabolic and nutritional modulation, and post-treatment dynamic monitoring. Composite indices such as the Prognostic Immune and Nutritional Index, together with precise body-composition assessment, may improve risk stratification. However, host-directed interventions should be interpreted cautiously because current evidence remains heterogeneous and largely observational or preclinical. Prospective, multidisciplinary studies are required to validate these concepts and determine whether host-directed strategies can improve ICI efficacy while limiting immune-related toxicity.},
}

Humans
*Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use/adverse effects
*Neoplasms/drug therapy/immunology/metabolism
*Nutritional Status
Biomarkers
Animals
Tumor Microenvironment/immunology/drug effects
*Biomarkers, Tumor
*Hormones/metabolism
Treatment Outcome

@article {pmid42661754,
year = {2026},
author = {Fu, J and Liu, X and Liu, D and Shen, K and Yao, M and Ni, H},
title = {The microgenderome in migraine: integrating sex hormones, microbial composition, and metabolic profiles into a sex-related framework.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1891150},
pmid = {42661754},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder with marked sex differences, as women experience a prevalence two to three times higher than men. Although the gut-brain axis has been implicated in migraine biology, the intersection of sex hormones, microbial signaling, and microbial metabolites remains underexplored. This review evaluates migraine-specific and mechanistically relevant evidence on sex-related microbial and metabolic profiles to examine their potential relevance to sex-related characteristics of migraine.

METHODS: This narrative review was informed by a structured literature search of PubMed through May 2026, identifying 22 relevant studies, including clinical studies, interventional studies, animal models, and mechanistic investigations. Given heterogeneity in study design, sequencing methods, sampling strategies, clinical populations, and outcome measures, evidence was synthesized narratively to develop a hypothesis-generating framework for interactions among sex hormones, microbiota, microbial metabolites, and migraine.

RESULTS: Current evidence suggests that gut microbial diversity and composition may be altered in migraine, but sex-stratified migraine-specific data remain limited. Female migraine cohorts have shown reduced abundances of taxa such as Clostridia and Ruminococcus, alongside enrichment of pro-inflammatory genera including Desulfovibrio and Gemmiger, with reported associations with inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 and lipopolysaccharide. Metabolic studies suggest alterations in the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, including kynurenic acid/quinolinic acid-related changes, whereas direct evidence for sex-specific short-chain fatty acid or neuroactive metabolite profiles in migraine remains limited. Mechanistically, the estrobolome provides a biologically plausible but incompletely validated link through which sex hormones and microbial enzymes may interact with hormone metabolism, gut barrier function, inflammatory tone, and neuroimmune signaling.

CONCLUSION: The sex hormone-microbiota-metabolite-brain axis should be considered a hypothesis-generating framework rather than an established causal mechanism for migraine sex differences. Future research should use sex-balanced longitudinal cohorts, menstrual-cycle-aware sampling, migraine-specific models, and integrated multi-omics to validate candidate pathways and determine whether microbiome-related signatures can inform sex-stratified biomarkers or adjunctive microbiome-targeted interventions.},
}

@article {pmid42661772,
year = {2026},
author = {Shvarthburg, M and Taussig, D and Even-Tov, N and Wine, Y and Sal-Man, N},
title = {Gut microbiome-derived indoles differentially suppress type III secretion system-associated virulence in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1902638},
pmid = {42661772},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Enteric pathogens such as enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and Salmonella enterica utilize a conserved type III secretion system (T3SS) to manipulate host cell processes and promote infection. Metabolites present in the intestinal lumen can directly influence the activity of these systems. Indole, which is produced from dietary tryptophan, has been shown to suppress the T3SS function of enteric pathogens. Here, we investigated the anti-virulence potential of seven gut microbiome-derived indole derivatives and found that their ability to suppress T3SS-dependent virulence is highly structure-dependent. Whereas indole exhibited moderate inhibition, indole-3-carboxaldehyde (I3A) and 3-methylindole (3-MI) emerged as more potent suppressors. In practice, these metabolites downregulated transcription of key T3SS genes, leading to reduced secretion of T3SS translocators, impaired effector delivery into host cells, and a marked reduction in actin pedestal formation, a hallmark of EPEC infection. Notably, this inhibitory effect extended to EHEC and Salmonella, suggesting that these metabolites target conserved virulence regulatory pathways. Overall, our findings demonstrate that microbiome-derived indole metabolites can effectively attenuate pathogen virulence. By targeting virulence rather than bacterial viability, 3-MI and I3A emerge as promising postbiotic-like therapeutic leads that can mitigate infection while limiting selective pressure for resistance.},
}

@article {pmid42661879,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, S and Wang, S and Wang, Y and Rong, R and Li, B and Koh, AY and Xiao, G and Li, Q and Liu, D and Zhan, X},
title = {A generalized supervised contrastive learning framework for integrative multi-omics prediction models.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiomes},
volume = {5},
number = {},
pages = {1825540},
pmid = {42661879},
issn = {2813-4338},
abstract = {Advancements in multi-omics research have demonstrated the potential of integrating human microbiome and metabolomics data to better understand physiological processes and improve prediction accuracy in studies of human health. While conventional models utilizing single-omics data provide valuable perspectives, they often fail to capture the complexity of biological systems. Recent developments in supervised contrastive learning frameworks have enhanced predictive performance for categorical responses, yet limitations persist in extending these methods to continuous outcomes. A robust model capable of addressing these gaps could significantly enhance multi-omics predictions and provide new insights into complex biological interactions. Here, we present MB-SupCon-cont, a novel supervised contrastive learning framework designed for both categorical and continuous responses in multi-omics data. MB-SupCon-cont improves prediction accuracy by incorporating a generalized contrastive loss function that defines similarity and dissimilarity for continuous responses using three distance-based weighting methods. Through simulation studies and two real-world datasets for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and High-Fat Diet (HFD), we demonstrate that MB-SupCon-cont consistently achieves lower prediction errors than tuned conventional models, canonical correlation analysis, and autoencoder baselines, with most reaching statistical significance. We further provide a validation-based rule for selecting the weighting method and show that the learned embeddings align more closely with the response and recover known microbe and metabolite associations. The framework also provides superior representation learning and improves data visualization in lower-dimensional spaces. These findings suggest that MB-SupCon-cont is a powerful tool for general multi-omics prediction and may have broad applicability in biomedical research.},
}

@article {pmid42661881,
year = {2026},
author = {Musiałowski, M and Bernatowicz, A and Kowalewska, Ł and Goszcz, A and Chen, X and Celletti, S and Schiavon, M and Dębiec-Andrzejewska, K},
title = {Molasses-amended siderophore biofertilizer reshapes the rhizosphere microbiome, promotes growth and reduces lipid peroxidation in Ocimum basilicum L.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1879696},
pmid = {42661881},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Siderophore-producing bacteria and their metabolites represent promising components of next-generation biofertilizers, yet their effects on plant physiology and soil microbiome structure remain insufficiently understood.

METHODS: We developed a liquid biofertilizer based on siderophores and siderophore-accompanying metabolites (SSAM) produced by Pseudomonas sp. ANT_H12B and formulated with molasses as an organic carrier. Its effects on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were evaluated by assessing plant growth, photosynthetic performance, lipid peroxidation, elemental composition, soil enzyme activities, and bacterial community structure using full-length 16S rRNA nanopore sequencing.

RESULTS: The combined SSAM+molasses formulation significantly enhanced plant growth, increasing leaf dry biomass by nearly 180%, leaf number by more than 300%, and stem length by approximately 40-50% compared with untreated plants. Improved plant performance was accompanied by enhanced photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/FM) and a marked reduction in oxidative stress, as reflected by nearly 50% lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared with the molasses-only treatment. Although elemental analysis revealed no major disturbances in plant nutrient balance among treatments, soil supplementation with the combined formulation strongly affected rhizosphere functioning and microbiome composition. In particular, the SSAM+molasses treatment coincided with approximately 35-50% higher β-glucosidase and dehydrogenase activities and clear shifts in microbial community structure.

DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that molasses-enriched siderophore metabolites may act as effective biostimulants by promoting plant growth and mitigating oxidative stress, partly through modulation of rhizosphere microbiome structure and function.},
}

@article {pmid42661899,
year = {2026},
author = {Ma, L and Wang, J and Xu, Z and Huang, Z and Chen, K and Teng, X and Chen, M and Lin, S and Zhou, R},
title = {The molecular mechanisms of Guizhi Fuling Pills in ameliorating Alzheimer's disease-like cognitive impairment: insights from transcriptomics, metabolomics, and gut microbiome.},
journal = {Frontiers in aging neuroscience},
volume = {18},
number = {},
pages = {1839445},
pmid = {42661899},
issn = {1663-4365},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like cognitive impairment, as a major type of cognitive disorder, has witnessed a sharp rise in prevalence. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutic intervention measures. Guizhi Fuling Pills (GFP), a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, has been shown to exert protective effects on cognitive function. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of GFP on AD-like cognitive impairment and elucidate its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS: D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aged mice were used as the model. Mice were administered via gavage for 4 weeks with 0.9% normal saline (0.1 mL/10 g/d), low-dose GFP (12.56 g/kg/d), medium-dose GFP (25.11 g/kg/d), high-dose GFP (50.22 g/kg/d), and donepezil (5 mg/kg/d). A behavioral test was conducted using the Morris water maze. Histopathological changes were observed via H&E staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, various methods such as transcriptomics, metabolomics, network pharmacology, and analysis of gut microbiota were utilized to elucidate the possible mechanisms.

RESULTS: Guizhi Fuling Pills improved learning and memory function in aged mice, ameliorated hippocampal neuronal morphology, and reduced p-Tau protein deposition. Network pharmacology and hippocampal transcriptomic analyses suggested that the active components in GFP may ameliorate cognitive impairment through multiple mechanisms. It included regulation of the VEGF and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, attenuation of inflammatory responses, inhibition of apoptosis, and repair of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Gut microbiota analysis revealed that GFP modulated the compositional structure of the gut microbiota, including increasing the abundance of Lactobacillales and decreasing Desulfovibrionia and Tannerellaceae. Metabolomics suggested that GFP may ameliorate metabolic disorders in aged mice by modulating the synthesis of lipids and lipid-like molecules.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that GFP may ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in AD-like cognitive impairment mice through multiple mechanisms, including repair of the BBB, attenuation of inflammatory responses, and modulation of the gut microbiota and metabolic disorders.},
}

@article {pmid42661946,
year = {2026},
author = {Qiu, Y and Cai, W and Xie, Z and Li, C and Yang, F and Qian, Y and Song, J and Zheng, T},
title = {Correction: Integrated analysis of the aqueous humor microbiome and lens capsule transcriptome in high myopia cataract: a pilot study.},
journal = {Frontiers in medicine},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1939507},
doi = {10.3389/fmed.2026.1939507},
pmid = {42661946},
issn = {2296-858X},
abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1845205.].},
}

@article {pmid42661978,
year = {2026},
author = {Gourabi, MJR and Ghafari, M and Nikoo, A and Saki, YY and Khanbabaei, B and Khanizadeh, M and Kargar, M and Hashemi, A and Sharahi, JY},
title = {Detection of Pancreatic Cancer via Specific Metabolite Markers: A Metabolomics Approach.},
journal = {Health science reports},
volume = {9},
number = {9},
pages = {e73133},
pmid = {42661978},
issn = {2398-8835},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide because most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when curative treatment is no longer feasible. Metabolomics has emerged as a promising strategy for identifying biochemical alterations associated with early tumor development and may improve the early detection of PDAC. This review critically evaluates the role of metabolomics in PDAC diagnosis, focusing on metabolite biomarkers, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry-based platforms, and machine learning assisted approaches.

METHODS: A narrative review of the current literature was conducted to assess the diagnostic potential, analytical methodologies, and translational challenges of metabolomics in PDAC. Evidence related to metabolite biomarkers, analytical platforms, artificial intelligence applications, and clinical implementation was critically examined.

RESULTS: PDAC is characterized by significant alterations in glycolysis, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and microbiome derived metabolites. Several metabolite panels have demonstrated promising diagnostic performance, particularly when combined with CA19-9. Advanced analytical platforms, including NMR spectroscopy, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry, have enabled detailed characterization of metabolic signatures and improved discrimination between PDAC and benign pancreatic diseases such as chronic pancreatitis. However, clinical translation remains limited by methodological heterogeneity, biological variability, lack of standardized analytical workflows, interlaboratory reproducibility concerns, and insufficient prospective multicenter validation. Although machine learning has enhanced biomarker discovery and pattern recognition, challenges related to overfitting, interpretability, and external validation remain unresolved.

CONCLUSION: Metabolomics is unlikely to replace existing diagnostic modalities in the near future but may substantially improve diagnostic accuracy when integrated with established biomarkers, imaging techniques, and molecular diagnostics. Future progress will depend on standardized protocols, large prospective validation studies, and clearly defined regulatory pathways. With these advances, metabolomics may become an important component of precision diagnostic strategies for PDAC.},
}

@article {pmid42662001,
year = {2026},
author = {Kong, CC and Zhang, M and Xu, MM and Zhang, HX and Qin, S and Ren, CG},
title = {Rhizobia mitigates autotoxicity in Malus hupehensis via phenolic degradation and enhanced melatonin-antioxidant responses.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1912880},
pmid = {42662001},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Phloridzin is a major autotoxin contributing to apple replant disease (ARD) by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting the rhizosphere ecology.

METHODS: This study evaluated the potential of Ensifer meliloti y5077 to mitigate these detrimental effects in Malus hupehensis.

RESULTS: Strain y5077 demonstrated high degradation efficiency, removing 100% of phloridzin in vitro within 48 h and reducing soil phloridzin levels by 68.4% in 60-day pot experiments. Inoculation significantly improved seedling growth under autotoxic stress, with root dry weight increased compared to non-inoculated stressed plants. These growth benefits were linked to a significant increase in endogenous melatonin levels and the restoration of antioxidant enzyme activities to normal basal levels, which effectively suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Furthermore, y5077 inoculation restructured the rhizosphere microbiome, characterized by significant shifts in the relative abundance of specific microbial taxa (e.g., increases in Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota, and decreases in Basidiomycota).

DISCUSSION: These results demonstrate that y5077 acts as a multi-functional bioremediator that integrates toxin degradation with physiological priming and rhizosphere microbial community restructuring, providing a robust and sustainable biological solution for mitigating phloridzin-induced autotoxic stress in apple seedlings.},
}

@article {pmid42662051,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, X and Xu, G and Zhao, L and Tao, Y and Zhang, J and Clark, CEF and Hao, Y and Cao, Z and Li, S and Wang, W},
title = {Microbial DNA methylation links rumen transcriptional activity to methane emission divergence in dairy cows.},
journal = {iMeta},
volume = {5},
number = {4},
pages = {e70153},
pmid = {42662051},
issn = {2770-596X},
abstract = {Genome-resolved methylomics uncovers the first DNA methylation atlas of the dairy cow rumen microbiome. Microbial DNA methylation profiles diverge between low- and high- methane-emitting dairy cows despite limited taxonomic differences. Differential methylation is linked to transcriptional variation in genes involved in carbon metabolism, hydrogen utilization, and methanogenesis.},
}

@article {pmid42662055,
year = {2026},
author = {Gao, Y and Zhang, G and Wang, C and Xu, H and Yu, Z and Jiang, S and Liu, YX},
title = {Wekemo Bioincloud 2026: An AI-enabled platform for standardized multi-omics data analyses.},
journal = {iMeta},
volume = {5},
number = {4},
pages = {e70149},
pmid = {42662055},
issn = {2770-596X},
abstract = {The rapid expansion of multi-omics data has created an increasing demand for accessible and reproducible platforms for integrative analysis. Here, we present Wekemo Bioincloud 2026, a comprehensive upgrade of the original platform, providing 41 standardized workflows (expanded from 22) across nine analytical categories, including a newly introduced correlation analysis module for cross-omics association studies. Visualization capabilities have been substantially expanded to 126 tools (from 65), incorporating artificial intelligence (AI)-guided parameter selection and automated image interpretation to enhance data exploration and result interpretability. In addition, Wekemo Bioincloud 2026 integrates an AI-powered research platform that supports the full research lifecycle, including automated literature synthesis, hypothesis generation, intelligent question answering, experimental design, and journal recommendation. Together, these advances reduce technical barriers, improve reproducibility and interpretability, and enable end-to-end AI-assisted multi-omics research. The platform is freely accessible at https://www.bioincloud.tech/ and supports a broad range of biological and biomedical applications.},
}

@article {pmid42662061,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, H and Feng, S and Liang, L and Tang, M and Wang, Y and Wang, Y and Zhang, Z and Xing, H and Zhang, C and Tian, R and Zhang, S},
title = {Gut microbiota-mediated immune and metabolic dysregulation in coronary artery disease progression and prognosis.},
journal = {iMeta},
volume = {5},
number = {4},
pages = {e70147},
pmid = {42662061},
issn = {2770-596X},
abstract = {The gut microbiota has emerged as a metabolically active endocrine-like organ with a crucial role in coronary artery disease (CAD), yet its contribution to adverse clinical outcomes remains incompletely understood. In this prospective cohort of 319 participants, we integrated metagenomic and metabolomic profiling with longitudinal follow-up over a median of 1.85 years. Fecal microbiota transplantation from patients with CAD transmitted susceptibility to atherosclerosis in antibiotic-treated ApoE [-/-] mice, accompanied by microbiota-induced vascular inflammation mediated through LPS-TLR4 signaling. Gut microbiota-derived aromatic amino acid metabolism was associated with thrombotic risk and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Machine learning identified gut microbial features that improved prospective prediction of MACE. Together, these findings implicate the gut microbiome in CAD progression and support the development of microbiome-based strategies for cardiovascular risk prediction and prevention.},
}

@article {pmid42662153,
year = {2026},
author = {Ni, Z and Xie, J and Zhang, Z and Zhang, K and Ding, J and Chang, M and Su, Y and Zhang, Y and Yao, M and Wang, C and Yan, Y and Fang, W and Gao, H and Tian, X and Li, Y and Zhu, X and Zhang, W and Liao, W and Xu, G and Chen, G and Lv, X and Yu, C and Pan, W and Molodtsov, V and Li, L and Gao, Y and Zhou, W},
title = {Microbiome and aging: Trajectories of microbiome age across human ecosystems and their systemic effects.},
journal = {iMeta},
volume = {5},
number = {4},
pages = {e70148},
pmid = {42662153},
issn = {2770-596X},
abstract = {The "microbiome age," a computationally derived systemic biosignature, is emerging as a pivotal framework for deciphering host aging trajectories and multi-organ health status. Beyond merely cataloging taxonomic shifts within specific niches, this concept integrates the cumulative biological effects of microbial community structure, functional homeostasis, ecological interactions, and host regulatory dynamics over time. Accumulating evidence indicates that a deviation between chronological and microbiome age-termed the "microbiome age gap"-closely correlates with systemic declines in immunomodulation, metabolic robustness, barrier integrity, and neuroendocrine regulation, positioning it as a potent predictor of healthspan and disease risk. A defining feature of microbial aging is the convergence of divergent ecological niches toward a state of dysbiosis. Despite distinct compositional profiles across the gut, oral cavity, skin, and urogenital tract, these ecosystems commonly exhibit diminished stability, functional remodeling, and altered host-microbe interaction modes with advancing age. Concurrently, site-specific signatures persist, linking microbial shifts to distinct physiological dimensions such as metabolic-inflammatory axes, barrier function, and local hormonal environments. In this review, we systematically delineate the theoretical underpinnings and computational strategies for modeling microbiome age. We synthesize current evidence regarding age-related microbial trajectories across diverse body habitats and propose an integrative framework: microbiome age serves dually as a holistic indicator of systemic aging and a sensitive window into localized organ vulnerability. This perspective not only advances our understanding of host-microbe interactions in aging but also opens new avenues for precision stratification, personalized intervention, and healthspan management.},
}

@article {pmid42662458,
year = {2026},
author = {Xu, J and Li, C and Wu, W and Zheng, R and Wu, Y and Zhou, H},
title = {The oral microbiome in relation to systemic maternal conditions and pregnancy complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {Journal of oral microbiology},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2717774},
pmid = {42662458},
issn = {2000-2297},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Alterations in the oral microbiome have been associated with systemic diseases, but evidence regarding maternal conditions and pregnancy complications remains limited. This systematic review evaluated these associations.

METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for studies using high-throughput sequencing to profile the oral microbiome in pregnant women with systemic diseases or adverse pregnancy outcomes. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for alpha diversity indices, while methodological heterogeneity precluded quantitative synthesis of beta diversity and taxonomic abundance.

RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were included, with 11 contributing to the meta-analysis. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was associated with lower Observed richness (SMD = -0.29, 95% CI: -0.55 to -0.03), whereas low birth weight (LBW) was associated with higher Chao1 (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.03-0.88). No significant alpha diversity differences were observed for pre-eclampsia or preterm birth. Differences in beta diversity and taxonomic abundance were reported across several conditions, although findings were heterogeneous.

CONCLUSIONS: Oral microbial richness may be associated with GDM and LBW, but associations with other pregnancy complications remain uncertain. Standardized, large-scale prospective studies are needed.},
}

@article {pmid42662677,
year = {2026},
author = {Henderson, J and Fan, X and Smith, EE and Jaspars, M and George, TS and Gubry-Rangin, C},
title = {Evidence of biological nitrification inhibition in barley to support sustainable nitrogen management.},
journal = {Sustainable microbiology},
volume = {3},
number = {3},
pages = {qvag034},
pmid = {42662677},
issn = {2755-1970},
abstract = {Nitrification drives nitrogen loss in agricultural systems, resulting in leached nitrate and increased emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, thereby reducing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) provides a promising nature-based solution to low-NUE by suppressing nitrifying microorganisms via plant-exuded bioactive metabolites. Although BNI is well documented in several major cereal grasses, evidence of BNI in barley (Hordeum vulgare) is lacking. This study demonstrates barley BNI activity through suppression of rhizosphere ammonia-oxidizer abundance, without a corresponding inhibition of the total prokaryotic community. Several barley lines exhibited strong inhibition of rhizosphere ammonia oxidizers consistent with high-BNI efficiency. The impact of BNI on the rhizosphere microbial community revealed clear differential effects across multiple phylogenetic clades of ammonia oxidizers, revealing that nitrifier clades differ in sensitivity to BNI in the rhizosphere. This led to a decrease in ammonia-oxidizer community richness correlating with BNI activity. The selective inhibition of rhizosphere ammonia oxidizers suggests that further research across diverse soils is needed. This study clearly demonstrates barley BNI activity in soil through suppression of rhizosphere ammonia oxidizers, identifying promising high-BNI lines, and providing a foundation for developing high-BNI barley cultivars to enhance NUE and increase agricultural sustainability.},
}

@article {pmid42662711,
year = {2026},
author = {Marian, M and Stringlis, I and Rolli, E and Barnes, CJ and Compant, S and Sessitsch, A},
title = {Microbiome modulation for sustainable crop production and climate resilience.},
journal = {Sustainable microbiology},
volume = {3},
number = {3},
pages = {qvag032},
pmid = {42662711},
issn = {2755-1970},
abstract = {The microbiome is fundamental to plant performance in agroecosystems, influencing primary productivity and climate resilience. Microbiome modulation refers to the targeted manipulation (or steering) and optimization of microbiota features, including taxonomic structure, diversity, composition, assembly dynamics, stability, functional capacity, interactions, and network architecture. Here, we review the current state-of-the-art knowledge and strategies used for microbiome modulation, encompassing biological interventions such as bacteria, fungi, protists, nematodes, and phages, as well metabolites, compounds, and nutrients derived from plants. We further discuss emerging tools and strategies for next-generation microbiome modulation, including function-oriented, multitrophic defined microbial communities assembled based on ecological traits and interactions across multiple trophic levels to enable their establishment and function within the phytobiome; temperate phages; microbiome transplantation and breeding; and functional synbiotics, defined as combinations of beneficial microorganisms and compounds that improve microbiome health and function. In addition, we highlight key knowledge gaps and research priorities for advancing precision microbiome modulation. Addressing current challenges will require integrated frameworks combining experimental validation in planta and reductionist approaches with in silico modeling and multiomics analyses to better predict, design, and sustain beneficial plant-microbiome outcomes. Overall, microbiome modulation represents a paradigm shift in advancing sustainable and climate-resilient agri-food systems.},
}

@article {pmid42662849,
year = {2026},
author = {Ghafar, A and Mustafa, BE and Khan, M and Gauci, C and Beveridge, I and Gasser, RB and Nijhof, AM and Jabbar, A},
title = {In vitro feeding of nymphal Haemaphysalis longicornis supports moulting to adults and maintains Coxiella-dominated microbiome across life stages.},
journal = {Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {100426},
pmid = {42662849},
issn = {2667-114X},
abstract = {Artificial tick feeding systems (ATFS) enable controlled investigation of tick biology under in vitro membrane-feeding conditions. However, their application to immature stages and microbiome structure during prolonged host-free maintenance remains poorly understood. Here, we extend a recently established ATFS to the nymphal stage of Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick of global significance and the primary vector of Theileria orientalis in Australia. We provide the first integrated assessment of feeding performance, post-feeding development and trans-stadial microbiome composition under in vitro membrane-feeding conditions. Nymphs were fed in vitro across five independent feeding units, achieving high attachment (80-100%) and engorgement success (83-100%), with moulting success of 90.5%. Developmental timing was consistent, with attachment occurring within 1-5 days, detachment within 4-10 days, and moulting 14-25 days post-detachment. Variation in engorgement weight reflected individual heterogeneity while demonstrating reproducible feeding performance. Microbiome profiling revealed a low-diversity bacterial community strongly dominated by a Coxiella-like endosymbiont (CLE) across all life stages. Although alpha diversity differed significantly between unfed nymphs and adults, overall community composition remained broadly stable from unfed nymphs through in vitro-fed adults to their larval progeny. This persisted during extended maintenance without exposure to a live vertebrate host, indicating maintenance of host-symbiont interactions. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ATFS supports nymphal feeding, development to adults and trans-stadial dominance of CLEs in H. longicornis across stages. This work represents a key step toward establishment of a complete in vitro life-cycle system for future studies of tick physiology, symbionts, microbiome-pathogen interactions and control strategies, while advancing the principles of the 3Rs in tick research.},
}

@article {pmid42662892,
year = {2026},
author = {Wakade, G and Liu, SC and Diep, NE and Daniell, H},
title = {Prevention of HNSCC by chewing gum delivery of enzymes/antimicrobials to reduce carcinogenic acetaldehyde produced by pathogenic microbes.},
journal = {Molecular therapy. Oncology},
volume = {34},
number = {3},
pages = {201314},
pmid = {42662892},
issn = {2950-3299},
abstract = {Acetaldehyde, a WHO Group 1 human carcinogen, produced by oral microbes, plays a critical role at the onset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Candida albicans isolated from different HNSCC patient saliva samples produced similar levels of acetaldehyde; the production level increased in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest level observed at 100 mM glucose or ethanol. Streptococci produced acetaldehyde in ethanol-free media, but the level increased up to 500-1,000 mM alcohol, whereas Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis showed ethanol-induced acetaldehyde production, peaking at 170 mM ethanol. Treatment with the antimicrobial peptide protegrin-1 (PG-1) reduced microbial viability and acetaldehyde production but required dextranase and mutanase to gain access by disruption of the extracellular polymeric substance. Microbial or plant-derived β-glucanase, chitinase, and mannanase degraded Candida albicans cell wall and blocked aldehyde release. Collectively, microbes present in HNSCC patient saliva increase acetaldehyde production from glucose and alcohol. Acetaldehyde production is inhibited by enzyme-antimicrobial formulations in chewing gums. Cancer prevention continues to increase survival more than most available treatments. Therefore, data presented here augur well for the clinical evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal chewing gums to control pathogenic microbes and their carcinogenic metabolites at the early stages of HNSCC.},
}

@article {pmid42662912,
year = {2026},
author = {Qi, D and Liu, J and Bai, X and Chen, B and Qiu, F and Sun, C and An, J and Lai, A and Li, X},
title = {Insights into antibiotic resistomes from gut meta-genome-assembled genomes of the free-range chickens.},
journal = {Veterinary and animal science},
volume = {33},
number = {},
pages = {100762},
pmid = {42662912},
issn = {2451-943X},
abstract = {Antibiotic resistance is a growing global threat, and the chicken gut microbiome is a significant reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). To investigate the presence of ARGs in free-range chickens, which are in closer contact with humans and live in closer proximity to human settlements. In this study, we used metagenomic sequencing to characterize the resistome of the chicken gut. We collected 120 fecal samples from free-range chickens across four Chinese provinces and constructed both metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and comprehensive gene catalogs to investigate microbial community structures and ARG distributions. A total of 2,146 MAGs were reconstructed, encompassing 660 species from 26 phyla, forming a comprehensive genomic catalog of the chicken gut microbiota. We identified 254,316 ARGs representing 159 unique resistance genes across 35 antibiotic classes, with multidrug, tetracycline, glycopeptide, and peptide resistance being most prevalent. Notably, ARG distribution showed strong regional variation, influenced by environmental factors and local farming practices. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), averaging 33.8 per MAG, were positively correlated with ARG abundance (R = 0.77), underscoring their role in facilitating resistance gene dissemination. Specific MAGs-including strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae-harbored hundreds of ARGs and virulence factors, highlighting potential high-risk vectors for resistance spread. Our findings reveal a diverse and regionally dynamic antibiotic resistome in the chicken gut, shaped by microbial composition, environment, and host factors. This study provides a valuable genomic resource and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions and surveillance strategies to mitigate antibiotic resistance in poultry production systems.},
}

@article {pmid42663042,
year = {2026},
author = {Araujo, ASF and de Almeida Lopes, AC and Martins, LDV and Ferreira, GDNC and da Costa, RM and Rocha, SMB and Mendes, LW and de Medeiros, EV and Pereira, APA},
title = {Phytohormone-microbiome interactions and epigenetic regulation of plant stress responses and priming.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/erag417},
pmid = {42663042},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Plants continuously face fluctuating environmental conditions, requiring tightly coordinated regulatory systems to balance growth and stress responses. This review synthesizes current knowledge on phytohormones as central integrators of plant-microbiome interactions, highlighting their dual role as internal regulators and ecological gatekeepers that shape microbiome assembly and function. Phytohormones, such as auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, salicylic acid, and jasmonates, dynamically regulate plant development, immunity, and rhizosphere chemistry, thereby influencing microbial recruitment and activity. In turn, plant-associated microbes actively modulate hormonal pathways through biosynthesis, degradation, and interference with signaling and transport processes, thereby reconfiguring plant physiological responses. Emerging evidence demonstrates that these interactions underpin microbial priming, enabling enhanced responsiveness to subsequent stresses without constitutive defense costs. Such primed states are frequently associated with epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, which contribute to stress memory and may persist across generations. We propose that microbiome-driven hormonal regulation represents a key mechanism for plant adaptation to environmental stress and that its integration can offer promising opportunities to enhance resilience, reduce agrochemical dependence, and improve agricultural sustainability under climate change.},
}

@article {pmid42663459,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhao, J and Chen, X and Wang, X and Cui, Y and Zhuge, J and Fang, H and Hua, Z},
title = {Clinical application of BALF-mNGS in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with suspected invasive pulmonary aspergillosis: differentiating infection from colonization, microbiome features, and clinical impact.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0104526},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01045-26},
pmid = {42663459},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) not only causes high morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients, but also occurs in immunocompetent individuals. Differentiating infection from colonization is challenging, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing (BALF-mNGS) may aid diagnosis, microbiome profiling, and clinical assessment. We retrospectively analyzed patients with suspected IPA who underwent BALF-mNGS between December 2021 and March 2025. Patients were classified by immune status. IPA diagnosis was based on EORTC/MSGERC 2020 criteria in immunocompromised patients, while immunocompetent cases were adjudicated using an integrated clinical, radiological, and microbiological assessment. A total of 178 patients were finally included and classified according to immune status into an immunocompromised group (n = 77) and an immunocompetent group (n = 101). Aspergillus_ reads per ten million (RPTM) values were significantly higher in infection versus colonization cases in both groups, with optimal cut-offs of 24 (gray zone: 22-60) for the immunocompromised group and 33 (gray zone: 17-48) for the immunocompetent group. Microbiome analysis revealed distinct community structures between infection and colonization groups, with Aspergillus remaining significantly enriched after false discovery rate (FDR) correction in immunocompromised patients, while no taxa remained significant after FDR correction in immunocompetent patients. BALF-mNGS guided antifungal therapy, avoiding unnecessary treatment in colonized patients, and higher Aspergillus_RPTM was associated with increased 90-day mortality in immunocompromised patients. BALF-mNGS may accurately distinguish Aspergillus infection from colonization and reveal microbial shifts, particularly in immunocompromised patients. It can guide targeted antifungal therapy, avoid unnecessary treatment, and higher Aspergillus_RPTM was associated with 90-day mortality in immunocompromised patients, suggesting its potential value for risk stratification.IMPORTANCEBALF-mNGS with quantitative thresholds improves differentiation between Aspergillus infection and colonization. It reveals distinct lung microbiome patterns under different immune statuses, extending beyond simple pathogen detection. Higher Aspergillus burden is associated with worse outcomes in immunocompromised patients, suggesting its potential value for risk stratification.},
}

@article {pmid42647083,
year = {2026},
author = {Lv, R and Jiang, Z and Zhong, Y},
title = {The role of gut-lung axis-targeted nursing strategies in immune regulation of COPD.},
journal = {Acta microbiologica et immunologica Hungarica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1556/030.2026.02947},
pmid = {42647083},
issn = {1588-2640},
abstract = {Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is featured by persistent airflow limitation and chronic inflammation. Considerable evidence highlights the role of the gut-lung axis, suggesting that disruption of gut microbial balance may contribute to aggravated systemic and pulmonary inflammation. This research intended to assess the impacts of a structured gut-lung axis-targeted nursing intervention on immune-inflammatory parameters, gut microbiota, and clinical outcomes in patients with stable COPD. The study involved the randomization of 115 patients to either the intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group received a 12-week multimodal program, which included personalized high-fiber/probiotic nutrition, customized exercise plans, and stress management techniques. Patients in the control group did not receive the multimodal program and instead received routine care. The findings indicated that the intervention notably lowered serum IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP. Microbiome analysis further revealed that the intervention significantly enhanced α-diversity (Shannon and Chao1), enriched beneficial butyrate-producing genera (Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Bifidobacterium), and reduced the relative abundance of potential pathogens (Enterobacteriaceae), indicating a favorable shift in gut microbial ecology. Compared with the control group, the intervention group also experienced fewer moderate-to-severe exacerbations and showed greater sustained improvement in quality of life (SGRQ and CAT scores). In summary, a comprehensive nursing strategy centered on the gut-lung axis can regulate gut microbiota, alleviate systemic inflammation, lead to a reduction in exacerbation frequency and an improvement in the quality of life among patients with stable COPD, thus presenting a promising supplementary strategy to conventional care.},
}

@article {pmid42647084,
year = {2026},
author = {Díaz-Díaz, LM and Estremera-Rodriguez, L and Rojas-Correa, M and Quintana, MDC and Madziar, C and Hickey, DC and Vargas Robles, D and Méndez, Y and Santiago, A and Bermudez, D and Olendzki, B and Torres, EA and Maldonado-Contreras, A},
title = {Diet quality, gut microbiome, and inflammatory signatures in Puerto Rican adults with Crohn disease: a multidimensional analysis.},
journal = {Inflammatory bowel diseases},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ibd/izag161},
pmid = {42647084},
issn = {1536-4844},
support = {//Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Diet is increasingly recognized as a modifiable factor influencing gut microbiome and outcomes in Crohn disease (CD), yet data in underrepresented populations remain limited. We evaluated diet quality, dietary patterns, gut microbiome composition, inflammatory markers, and patient-reported outcomes in adults with CD from Puerto Rico.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 60 adults with CD enrolled prior to dietary intervention in a parent study. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour recalls and evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), and exploratory dietary pattern analysis. The gut microbiome was assessed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Clinical outcomes included fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), a 96-cytokine panel, short Crohn Disease Activity Index (sCDAI), and short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (sIBDQ). Associations were evaluated using unadjusted and adjusted models with false discovery rate (FDR) correction.

RESULTS: Overall diet quality was poor and characterized by low intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber, alongside high intake of saturated fat, added sugars, and animal-derived protein. Four dietary patterns were identified: vegetable-rich, dairy-rich, fruit-rich, and coffee/sweetener-rich. Participants adhering to the fruit-rich pattern exhibited the highest diet quality scores. Higher HEI-2015 scores were associated with greater gut microbial diversity and differences in overall microbiome composition. Participants with greater adherence to the vegetable-rich pattern showed modest increases in microbial diversity. Exploratory analyses suggested that higher fruit intake and adherence to a fruit-rich dietary pattern were associated with lower fecal calprotectin and CRP levels, whereas adherence to a vegetable-rich pattern was associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and adherence to a coffee/sweetener-rich pattern was associated with a worse symptom burden. However, no associations between dietary metrics and inflammatory markers, cytokines, or clinical outcomes remained significant after FDR correction. Most participants were in clinical remission despite substantial impairment in HRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS: Adults with CD in Puerto Rico exhibited poor diet quality that was associated with gut microbial diversity and exploratory differences in clinical outcomes. While these findings support the influence of diet on the microbiome and clinical outcomes, larger longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether dietary improvements can influence disease outcomes this underrepresented population.},
}

@article {pmid42647124,
year = {2026},
author = {Grubmüller, E and Meier, DV and Kreil, M and Schmit, L and Scharl, E and Takata, M and Weig, A and Steiger, S},
title = {Parental niche construction buffers microbial and competitive challenges and drives offspring dependence in burying beetles.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {123},
number = {35},
pages = {e2617749123},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2617749123},
pmid = {42647124},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {STE 1874/6-3; 518 Project number: 277139873).//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Coleoptera/microbiology/physiology/growth & development ; Larva/growth & development/microbiology/physiology ; *Microbiota ; Female ; Ecosystem ; },
abstract = {Parents across diverse taxa modify the biotic or abiotic environments of their offspring. Such modifications may constitute ecological inheritance and are central to developmental niche construction, whereby organisms shape developmental conditions and selective pressures experienced by the next generation. Despite its theoretical importance, parental niche construction is often studied under simplified conditions or by focusing on single components of care, limiting our understanding of how multiple parental modifications interact in ecologically relevant contexts, whether they buffer environmental heterogeneity, and how this shapes offspring development and evolutionary trajectories. Using the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides, we investigated how parents jointly modify chemical and microbial properties of vertebrate carcasses, a highly contested resource on which offspring develop. We show that under natural microbial and competitive conditions, prehatch care enhances larval survival and growth, alters cadaveric volatile emissions, and reduces carcass attractiveness to competitors. While soil type shapes carcass-associated microbial communities, parental care buffers these environmental effects, creating a more consistent microbiome and reducing environmentally induced larval mortality. Larvae of the related species Ptomascopus morio, which lacks prehatch carcass preparation, survived equally well on prepared and unmodified carcasses, whereas N. vespilloides larvae showed reduced survival on unmodified carcasses. This contrast is consistent with the hypothesis that N. vespilloides larvae have evolved a reliance on a parentally constructed developmental environment. Together, these findings show that parental care can constitute an integrated form of niche construction that reshapes developmental environments, enhances offspring performance, and may promote evolutionary feedback leading to increased offspring dependence on parental care.},
}

Animals
*Coleoptera/microbiology/physiology/growth & development
Larva/growth & development/microbiology/physiology
*Microbiota
Female
Ecosystem

@article {pmid42647153,
year = {2026},
author = {Sidiq, MK and Mohammed, SM and Alghofaili, F and Mohammed, SJ and Ahmad, SD and Najmuldeen, HH},
title = {Breast Milk Bioactive Components and Early-Life Epigenetic Programming: Implications for Nutrigenomics and Population Health.},
journal = {Journal of the American Nutrition Association},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-22},
doi = {10.1080/27697061.2026.2719480},
pmid = {42647153},
issn = {2769-707X},
abstract = {Multifactorial diseases cannot be fully explained by genetic variation alone, highlighting the importance of epigenetic mechanisms that integrate early-life environmental exposures with long-term health outcomes. Within the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework, human breast milk has emerged as a critical regulator of early-life epigenetic programming. Breast milk-derived bioactive components, including non-coding RNAs, extracellular vesicles, immune factors, hormones, and human milk oligosaccharides, actively modulate DNA methylation, chromatin structure, and gene expression involved in immune, metabolic, and developmental pathways, according to recent mechanistic, clinical, and epidemiological evidence. From a nutrigenomic perspective, breast milk represents a highly individualized exposure shaped by maternal genetics, physiology, and environment, potentially influencing infant gene regulation during sensitive developmental windows. This concept provides a biological basis for exploring "milk kinship," a culturally recognized relationship established through shared breastfeeding, as a model of shared early-life exposure. Available evidence indicates that common exposure to breast milk bioactive signals provides a biologically plausible mechanism for partial convergence of epigenetic regulation among unrelated infants. However, direct human studies demonstrating measurable epigenetic or long-term health effects associated with milk kinship remain scarce. Integrating current evidence supports a hypothesis-driven framework linking epigenetics, nutrigenomics, and population health while identifying important knowledge gaps. Longitudinal, multi-omics studies are needed to determine whether shared lactational exposure produces stable, functionally relevant epigenetic signatures and whether these influence disease susceptibility or prevention across the life course.KEY TEACHING POINTSBreast milk contains diverse bioactive components, including microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, human milk oligosaccharides, immune factors, hormones, and growth factors, that may influence infant gene regulation, immune maturation, metabolic programming, and epigenetic development during critical early-life windows.Shared breastfeeding provides a biologically plausible model for examining potential epigenetic convergence among milk siblings through common exposure to milk-derived regulatory signals; however, this hypothesis remains speculative, and direct human evidence demonstrating measurable or persistent epigenetic convergence among milk siblings is currently lacking.Longitudinal, multi-omics studies integrating epigenomic, transcriptomic, microbiome, and detailed breastfeeding data are needed to determine whether shared lactational exposure produces functionally relevant molecular signatures and whether these signatures have implications for health and disease across the life course.},
}

@article {pmid42647164,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Y and Cheng, E and Peters-Samuelson, BA},
title = {Sex differences in the gut microbiome and related metabolites: role in cardiometabolic disease.},
journal = {Gut microbes},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2721752},
doi = {10.1080/19490976.2026.2721752},
pmid = {42647164},
issn = {1949-0984},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Female ; *Sex Characteristics ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/microbiology/metabolism ; Animals ; Male ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism/genetics ; *Metabolic Diseases/microbiology/metabolism ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones/metabolism ; Sex Factors ; },
abstract = {Sex differences in major cardiometabolic diseases (CMD), such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and cardiovascular disease, have been increasingly recognized across the life course. During the reproductive stage, women generally have a more favorable cardiometabolic risk profile than men, but their risk of experiencing CMD significantly increases after menopause. Emerging evidence suggests that sexually dimorphic gut microbiota and gut microbiota-related metabolites (GMRMs) may contribute to such sex disparities. However, existing findings are heterogeneous and underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this review, we synthesize the evidence examining sex differences in gut microbial diversity, overall composition, taxa abundances, and levels of GMRMs across key life stages, including pre-puberty, adolescence, and different phases of adulthood (with emphasis on pre- and post-menopausal periods). We summarize potential biological mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism in the gut microbiome and GMRMs, emphasizing the central role of sex steroids, along with contributions from immune function and other host and environmental factors. We further integrate evidence linking sexually dimorphic microbial taxa (e.g., Akkermansia muciniphila, Eubacterium, Ruminococcus, and other Firmicutes taxa) and GMRMs (e.g., microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and trimethylamine N-oxide) to key cardiometabolic pathways involving inflammation, glucose and lipid metabolism, and vascular function. Finally, we identify critical knowledge gaps and emphasize the need for future large longitudinal studies that would integrate repeated measurements of the gut microbiome, untargeted metabolomics, and sex steroid hormones across the life course. Such approaches are essential to clarify biological pathways and inform sex-specific microbiome-based interventions for CMD prevention and management.},
}

Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology
Female
*Sex Characteristics
*Cardiovascular Diseases/microbiology/metabolism
Animals
Male
Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/metabolism/genetics
*Metabolic Diseases/microbiology/metabolism
Gonadal Steroid Hormones/metabolism
Sex Factors

@article {pmid42647236,
year = {2026},
author = {Sanchis-Sanchis, E and de la Rubia Ortí, JE and Sancho-Cantus, D and Cunha-Pérez, C and Casaña-Mohedo, J},
title = {The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Nutritional Interventions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Pathophysiological Mechanisms, Neuroinflammation, and Non-Motor Manifestations-Scoping Review.},
journal = {Pathophysiology : the official journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology},
volume = {33},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {42647236},
issn = {1873-149X},
abstract = {Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder in which systemic pathophysiological alterations significantly contribute to disease progression and non-motor manifestations, such as depression and anxiety. The microbiota-gut-brain axis represents a critical bidirectional pathway in which intestinal dysbiosis and epithelial barrier disruption catalyze central neuroinflammation. This scoping review synthesizes evidence from 43 empirical and analytical studies across 28 countries and maps the findings under the WHO International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework. Pathophysiological data reveal a profound taxonomic shift in patients with ALS, characterized by severe depletion of neuroprotective, butyrate-producing genera (Akkermansia and Prevotella) and enrichment of pro-inflammatory Enterobacteriaceae. This dysbiotic state leads to structural damage to the intestinal mucosa, alteration of Paneth cells, and downregulation of tight junction proteins (zonulin), triggering a "leaky gut" phenomenon. Subsequent systemic translocation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induces TLR4-mediated endotoxemia, microglial hyperactivation, and accelerated motor neuron apoptosis. Conversely, therapeutic modulation via Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT), psychobiotics, and metabolic interventions (ketogenic or Mediterranean diets) has demonstrated significant efficacy in restoring epithelial integrity, mitigating mitochondrial hypermetabolism, and reducing emotional distress. This review identifies a critical research gap in the microstructural characterization of the enteric nervous system in ALS. Incorporating microbiome-targeted biomarkers into clinical protocols is crucial for implementing a stratified, multi-systemic therapeutic strategy aimed at enhancing patient prognosis and psychological well-being.},
}

@article {pmid42647328,
year = {2026},
author = {Merino-País, M and López-Ortiz, S and Emanuele, E and Imbimbo, C and Imbimbo, BP and Lista, S and Santos-Lozano, A},
title = {Physical Exercise and Gut Microbiota: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease in Experimental Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {42647328},
issn = {2411-5142},
abstract = {Background and Objectives: The concept of the gut-muscle-brain axis encompasses the intricate, multidirectional interactions between the gut microbiota (GM), physical exercise (PE), and the central nervous system. Within this framework, gut dysbiosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given that cognitive functions in AD appear to benefit from PE, it is plausible to hypothesize that these improvements may be partially mediated by PE-induced alterations in GM taxonomy. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of PE in the GM and their implications for AD. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus following the PRISMA guidelines up to July 2025 for preclinical controlled trials that assessed the effects of PE on the GM of AD animal models. A random-effects model meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled effect of PE on GM frequency or composition. This study received no external funding. Results: Eight studies were included in the systematic review (sample size, n = 126), of which two could be meta-analyzed. We found that PE significantly reduced Actinobacteria abundance (MD = -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.008 to -0.002; p = 0.001) with no statistically significant evidence of heterogeneity (I[2] = 89.60%, Q = 0.102, p = 0.950) or publication bias observed (Begg's test, p = 0.296), but no significant effects were found for other phylums or genera. Conclusions: PE appears capable of modulating the GM of animal models with AD in a selective and heterogeneous manner. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms by which this is possible and to determinate its impact on the pathogenesis of the disease.},
}

@article {pmid42647759,
year = {2026},
author = {Sánchez-Sanz, A and Baranzini, SE},
title = {The Gut Microbiome in Multiple Sclerosis.},
journal = {Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {e200638},
pmid = {42647759},
issn = {2332-7812},
mesh = {Humans ; *Multiple Sclerosis/microbiology/immunology/metabolism ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology/immunology ; },
abstract = {Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS whose risk and course are shaped by both genetic and environmental factors, among which the intestinal microbiota has emerged as a key, potentially modifiable contributor. People with MS frequently display altered gut microbiota, characterized by depletion of fiber-fermenting, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing commensals, and expansion of taxa associated with mucus degradation and proinflammatory metabolism. These compositional shifts are paralleled by broad changes in blood and CSF metabolites, including reduced SCFAs, tryptophan-derived aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands, and secondary bile acids. In addition, several reports highlight the accumulation of aromatic amino acid-derived phenolic and indolic compounds and specific lipid mediators linked to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. In this up-to-date review, we synthesize evidence from experimental models and human studies showing how microbial metabolites can influence MS pathogenesis through converging mechanisms: modulation of gut and blood-brain barrier integrity; shaping of T-cell and B-cell responses; direct effects on microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte lineage cells after crossing into the CNS; and modulation of neural circuits, particularly those involving the vagus nerve. Finally, we highlight current gaps, including the need for longitudinal, harmonized multiomic cohorts, and mechanistic studies integrating microbiome, metabolome, and host readouts across gut, blood, and CNS. Overall, available data support a model in which coordinated disruption of the gut microbiota-metabolite axis, rather than any single pathogen, contributes to MS, opening avenues for microbiota-based and metabolite-based biomarkers and therapies aimed at restoring immune and neuroglial homeostasis.},
}

Humans
*Multiple Sclerosis/microbiology/immunology/metabolism
Animals
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology/immunology

@article {pmid42647974,
year = {2026},
author = {Szopiński, M and Wojcieszyńska, D},
title = {Small organisms, significant impact: Unveiling NSAIDs interactions with model species.},
journal = {Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {300},
number = {},
pages = {107981},
doi = {10.1016/j.aquatox.2026.107981},
pmid = {42647974},
issn = {1879-1514},
abstract = {Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are among the most commonly used pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs. When they were introduced to the pharmaceutical market, large-scale toxicological studies were conducted to determine their effect on the human body. However, their widespread use contributed to the presence of these drugs and their metabolites in the environment, including soil and water, where they can affect organisms that are not the direct targets of action. Hence, it is extremely important to correctly estimate the toxicity of these drugs on organisms inhabiting various biocenoses. The presented review attempts to summarise the current results on the effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs obtained in studies on model organisms and presents a wider spectrum of issues related to the toxicity of these drugs, including the human microbiome. The paper shows that limiting studies only to typical model organisms, despite the fact that such studies provide a number of answers, may underestimate the negative impact of these compounds in relation to other, less frequently tested microorganisms.},
}

@article {pmid42648172,
year = {2026},
author = {Sless, TJL and Woo, N and Nakla, C and Rehan, SM},
title = {Mapping the eco-holobiont: tripartite interactions of small carpenter bee, floral, and soil microbiomes across an urbanization gradient.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1050},
number = {},
pages = {182231},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.182231},
pmid = {42648172},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Interactions between plants and pollinating insects are essential to the health of many ecosystems, and are also of concern to human agriculture. Work in recent years has increasingly approached pollinator health from a holobiont perspective, considering communities of microbes alongside their hosts. Yet, little research has directly compared microbiomes between these insects and the environmental substrates from which they are largely acquired. We investigated the microbiome composition and structure of small carpenter bees (Ceratina calcarata) alongside directly associated samples of host flowers and soil. This study represents the first tripartite analysis of microbiomes across all three of these strata, shedding new light on the acquisition and maintenance of microbial associates in a wild pollinator species. Overall, we found that nearly all of the most common bacterial and fungal taxa detected in C. calcarata samples were shared across four species of host flowers, while soil samples showed less overlap with either flowers or bees. However, C. calcarata microbiomes still differed significantly from those of their host plants in both alpha and beta diversity, indicating that other factors are important in shaping the microbiome beyond the initial acquisition of taxa. Analysis of bees collected across a land use gradient revealed opposing patterns of association with urbanization for bacteria and fungi respectively. Conversely, variance in microbial communities for flower samples was associated more strongly with seasonality, while soil samples showed little impact of any environmental factors. Ultimately, our results support the role of flowers as a major source by which solitary bees initially acquire microbial associates, some of which are likely filtered from the soil environment. However, compositional differences in the microbiomes of C. calcarata suggest that the structure of these communities is further influenced by additional environmental factors beyond acquisition.},
}

@article {pmid42648292,
year = {2026},
author = {Matsuzaki, R and Caudle, WM and Sampson, TR},
title = {The microbiota at the interface of environmental toxicants and the brain.},
journal = {Cell metabolism},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cmet.2026.08.002},
pmid = {42648292},
issn = {1932-7420},
abstract = {Throughout life, humans are exposed to a diverse array of xenobiotics originating from diet, pharmaceuticals, and environmental contaminants. Positioned at the interface between the host and the external environment, the gut microbiota is uniquely situated to both sense and modify the effects of these exposures prior to systemic circulation and delivery to their host targets. Growing evidence indicates that the microbiota play critical roles in shaping xenobiotic fate through both direct metabolic transformation and modulation of host detoxification pathways, barrier integrity, and immune signaling. In this review, we summarize the impacts of disease-relevant environmental neurotoxicants on both the brain and microbial composition. We further integrate emerging mechanistic insights illustrating how microbiota-dependent processes can influence host toxicant responses and detoxification capacity, ultimately modifying exposure outcomes. Collectively, these findings position the gut microbiota as central mediators between environmental exposures and neurological health, providing a framework to better understand potential risk-modifying relationships.},
}

@article {pmid42648442,
year = {2026},
author = {Fu, G and Chen, L and Wang, Z and Fang, H},
title = {Computational precision nutrition for sarcopenia and associated multimorbidity in ageing.},
journal = {Ageing research reviews},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {103335},
doi = {10.1016/j.arr.2026.103335},
pmid = {42648442},
issn = {1872-9649},
abstract = {Sarcopenia is the age-related progressive decline in both skeletal muscle mass and function. It acts as an exacerbator of multimorbidity, engaging in bidirectional pathological cycles with multiple chronic diseases, and contributes substantially to increased mortality, disability and healthcare costs. Current nutritional support is often limited by a generic one-size-fits-all approach that fails to account for substantial inter-individual variation across genetics, metabolism, lifestyle, gut microbiome composition and other dimensions. This Review charts the progression from established strategies towards preclinical exploration of computational precision nutrition. We first delineate the multifactorial pathophysiology of sarcopenia-including dysregulated muscle protein turnover, chronic inflammageing, and anorexia of ageing-thereby providing critical targets for nutritional intervention. We then describe a conceptual data-driven framework that integrates multi-omics, digital monitoring, and artificial intelligence (AI). This framework has been proposed to operate as a continuous cycle: multidimensional data acquisition feeds AI-powered simulation via digital twins, enabling tailored dietary recommendations and culminating in ongoing refinement through real-time monitoring. However, it is important to emphasise that most components of this framework remain investigational and have not yet been validated in sarcopenia populations. Finally, we discuss the substantial translational challenges-including evidence gaps, practical implementation barriers, and ethical considerations-that must be addressed to determine whether this approach can achieve the vision of more proactive, pre-emptive, and precise nutritional care for sarcopenia.},
}

@article {pmid42648574,
year = {2026},
author = {Trallero, JM and Anaya, BJ and Serrano, DR and Notario-Pérez, F},
title = {State of the art in intravaginal rings: from material engineering to 3D-printed multipurpose delivery systems.},
journal = {Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society},
volume = {399},
number = {Pt A},
pages = {115304},
doi = {10.1016/j.jconrel.2026.115304},
pmid = {42648574},
issn = {1873-4995},
abstract = {Intravaginal rings (IVRs) are redefining women's health by enabling sustained, localized and user-independent drug delivery that overcomes the limitations of conventional vaginal dosage forms. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on next generation IVR technologies, emphasizing the convergence of biomaterials engineering, advanced manufacturing and clinical translation. We critically discuss how key elastomeric platforms -including ethylene-vinyl acetate, silicones and thermoplastic polyurethanes- govern drug release, mechanical performance and compatibility with the dynamic vaginal microenvironment. Particular focus is placed on the technological evolution of IVR fabrication, from traditional injection molding to disruptive additive manufacturing strategies like three-dimensional (3D) printing and photopolymerizable resin-based systems. These emerging technologies unlock unprecedented opportunities for personalized medicine and sophisticated multi-compartment architectures capable of delivering multiple therapeutics with independently tunable release profiles. In parallel, we examine analytical and regulatory considerations underpinning IVR development, including physicochemical characterization, in vitro release testing and bio-relevant in vivo pharmacokinetic and safety models. Beyond their established role in contraception and hormone replacement, IVRs are rapidly expanding into anti-infective and preventative applications targeting candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis and HIV-1 transmission. In this context, multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) are emerging as a transformative strategy capable of simultaneously addressing contraception and sexually transmitted infections within a single long-acting platform. Finally, we discuss the critical challenges that continue to shape the field, including microbiome preservation, user acceptability, regulatory complexity and large-scale manufacturing. Collectively, this review highlights IVRs as a versatile and rapidly evolving drug delivery platform poised to drive the future of personalized and long-acting therapeutics in women's health.},
}

@article {pmid42648638,
year = {2026},
author = {Yeh, YM and Cheng, HT and Chen, CC and Kuo, CJ and Chiu, CT and Le, PH and Chiu, CH},
title = {Age-stratified gut microbiome variation in a Taiwanese cohort.},
journal = {Biomedical journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101035},
doi = {10.1016/j.bj.2026.101035},
pmid = {42648638},
issn = {2320-2890},
}

@article {pmid42649250,
year = {2026},
author = {Perl, A and Banki, K},
title = {Hepatic control of immunometabolism: implications for the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases.},
journal = {Nature reviews. Rheumatology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42649250},
issn = {1759-4804},
abstract = {Autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome, arise from interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers that drive metabolic dysregulation. The liver, a central metabolic and immunological organ, has a key role in initiating and amplifying systemic autoimmunity and organ damage. It functions as an interface between the gut microbiome, nutrients, drugs and environmental toxins. The liver regulates immune cell development, coordinates systemic immune responses through metabolite and cytokine production and modifies self-antigens via oxidation, glycosylation and lipidation. These changes can transform normal molecules into autoantigens. Hepatocytes also produce coagulation, complement factors and apolipoproteins, such as β2-glycoprotein I, a major target of antiphospholipid antibodies. In addition, the liver secretes antioxidants such as glutathione, albumin and paraoxonase-1, which protect lipoproteins from becoming antigenic and reduce risks of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Liver diseases such as steatosis and steatohepatitis have bidirectional relationships with systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome and other rheumatic conditions. Liver cells can also be direct targets of autoimmune responses. Delineating the role of the liver in metabolic control of autoimmunity and inflammation can lead to better understanding of disease pathogenesis, improved clinical diagnosis and identification of new therapeutic targets in rheumatic diseases.},
}

@article {pmid42649273,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, H and Li, Y and Niu, Y and Chen, X and Liu, J and Feng, W and Cao, J and Liu, H and Liu, C and Liang, X and Ge, Z and Wang, J and Feng, X and Cheng, S and Shen, W and Ge, W},
title = {Maternal microbiome promotes offspring ovarian reserve via bile acid metabolism.},
journal = {EMBO reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42649273},
issn = {1469-3178},
support = {32570626//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 32100683//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 24-1-8-xdny-5-nsh//Qingdao's Science and Technology Projects for People's Livehood/ ; ZR2021QC003//| Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ()/ ; ts20190946//Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province of China/ ; tsqn202211194//Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province of China/ ; 6651121003//Start-up Fund for High-level Talents of Qingdao Agricultural University/ ; },
abstract = {The maternal microbiome plays a crucial role in host ovarian function and fertility, yet its influence on in-utero ovarian development in offspring remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that maternal antibiotic-induced microbiome disruption in mice leads to diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in the offspring, while fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) alleviates this effect. Metabolomic analysis reveals that maternal microbiome disruption alters metabolomic profiles in the maternal serum, with pathway enrichment analysis indicating reduced bile acid secretion in the maternal serum of ABX dams. Importantly, supplementation of key bile acid metabolites and transplantation of Lactobacillus gasseri (L. gasseri), a known promoter of bile acid metabolism, to antibiotic-treated dams abrogated maternal microbiome disruption-induced DOR. Additionally, through in vitro fertilization assay, we found that maternal microbiome disruption impaired oocyte quality in offspring, while FMT and supplementation with bile acid metabolites alleviated this effect. Together, our findings highlight the critical role of the maternal microbiome in offspring fertility, potentially through microbially mediated bile acid metabolism in the maternal serum.},
}

@article {pmid42649392,
year = {2026},
author = {O'Leary, K},
title = {Tracing the origins of babies' microbiomes.},
journal = {Nature medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/d41591-026-00042-2},
pmid = {42649392},
issn = {1546-170X},
}

@article {pmid42649394,
year = {2026},
author = {Pulendran, B},
title = {Systems vaccinology and the architecture of human immunity.},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {656},
number = {8129},
pages = {833-842},
pmid = {42649394},
issn = {1476-4687},
mesh = {Humans ; *Vaccinology/methods/trends ; *Vaccines/immunology ; Multiomics ; *Systems Biology/methods/trends ; *Immunity/immunology/genetics ; Vaccination ; Immunoinformatics ; Vaccine Development ; Animals ; Immune System/immunology ; },
abstract = {Vaccination is one of the greatest triumphs in human history. Traditionally, vaccines were designed to stimulate antibody responses that block infection, but this overlooks the immune system's complex and multifaceted defence mechanisms. Here we review the current state of the field of systems vaccinology, which has transformed vaccine research by using vaccines as controlled probes of the human immune system and by applying multi-omics and computational approaches to reveal the nature of human immunity. These approaches have identified molecular signatures that predict the magnitude and durability of immune responses and revealed new human biology, including how host genetics, metabolism and the microbiome shape immunity, and demonstrated that host defence emerges from coordinated immune programs spanning baseline immune state, early response dynamics and tissue-level interactions. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence are beginning to accelerate the distillation of knowledge and understanding from vast multi-omics datasets. These developments position systems vaccinology as a powerful framework for rational vaccine design. However, despite its considerable impact on discovery and human immunology, considerable challenges remain in translating these insights into clinical and regulatory practice. Addressing this translational gap will be essential for realizing the full potential of systems vaccinology to deliver safer, more effective vaccines against existing and emerging infectious threats.},
}

Humans
*Vaccinology/methods/trends
*Vaccines/immunology
Multiomics
*Systems Biology/methods/trends
*Immunity/immunology/genetics
Vaccination
Immunoinformatics
Vaccine Development
Animals
Immune System/immunology

@article {pmid42649409,
year = {2026},
author = {Hitch, TCA and Sakamoto, M and Overmann, J and Clavel, T},
title = {A roadmap to create FAIR collections of microbial strains.},
journal = {Nature microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42649409},
issn = {2058-5276},
support = {445552570//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 513892404//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 564414043//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 395357507//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 403224013//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; 460129525//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; },
abstract = {Microbiology is in the midst of a cultivation renaissance and this is particularly true in microbiome research, where access to isolates enables mechanistic studies. However, to reach that goal, isolates and their (meta)data must be findable, accessible, interoperable and reproducible (FAIR). Many studies have reported the isolation of thousands of microbial strains, but few are publicly accessible. This is partly due to the hurdles faced in creating FAIR resources, such as the additional workload involved in organizing submission to culture collections and curating metadata for each strain. In addition, inconsistent strain identifiers reduce the findability of strains by preventing their use by the community being tracked. These limitations hinder the sustainable growth of scientific knowledge and innovations in microbiome research. Here we propose a roadmap to help scientists create FAIR collections of microbial strains. We provide guidance on the process of establishing a state-of-the-art collection of microorganisms, from project planning to strain deposition and how to name new taxa. By creating FAIR collections of microbial strains, we can safeguard Earth's microbial heritage for future generations.},
}

@article {pmid42649503,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, ZX and Liu, XY and Wu, YX and Xiao, YL and Ge, LP and Wu, SY and Jiang, YZ and Shao, ZM},
title = {Current and future therapies for triple-negative breast cancer.},
journal = {Journal of hematology & oncology},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42649503},
issn = {1756-8722},
support = {BX20240085//Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; SHDC2025CCS018//Clinical Cohort Shanghai/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/therapy/pathology/drug therapy ; Female ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Precision Medicine ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; },
abstract = {Triple-negative breast cancer remains an aggressive and biologically heterogeneous breast cancer subtype. Although the therapeutic landscape has expanded, durable disease control remains clinically challenging in many settings. Existing reviews often organize TNBC therapy by drug class or molecular subtype, which can obscure how treatment response is shaped by interacting biological layers. Here, we review current and emerging therapeutic strategies through a three-layer framework: tumor-cell-intrinsic vulnerabilities, the local immune and stromal microenvironment, and host-level systemic modifiers. We summarize established approaches, including chemotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade, antibody-drug conjugates and PARP inhibition in biomarker-defined settings, and distinguish them from maturing or exploratory strategies such as pathway-directed therapy, epigenetic modulation, anti-vascular combinations, regulated cell-death induction, cellular therapy, vaccines, microbiome-related interventions, liquid biopsy, AI-supported multiomics and adaptive trial designs. This framework integrates evidence level, disease stage, biomarker reliability and patient tolerance into treatment selection for TNBC precision therapy.},
}

Humans
*Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/therapy/pathology/drug therapy
Female
Tumor Microenvironment
Biomarkers, Tumor
Precision Medicine
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use

@article {pmid42649853,
year = {2026},
author = {Boldeanu, L and Ghenea, AE and Plasiciuc, AEC and Boldeanu, MV and Pădureanu, R and Assani, MZ and Pădureanu, V and Siloși, I and Novac, MB and Camen, AB},
title = {Gut Microbiome-Driven Strategies to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance in Microsatellite-Stable Colorectal Cancer.},
journal = {Cancers},
volume = {18},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cancers18162538},
pmid = {42649853},
issn = {2072-6694},
support = {//University of Medicine and Pharmacy/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC) accounts for the vast majority of CRC cases and remains largely resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is an important regulator of antitumor immunity and may contribute to immunotherapy resistance through multiple mechanisms involving the tumor microenvironment. This review aims to summarize current knowledge of the microbiome-immunity-therapy axis in MSS CRC and to explore microbiome-based strategies to enhance immunotherapy responsiveness.

METHODS: A narrative review of the recent literature was conducted, focusing on studies published within the last five years that investigated gut microbiota composition, microbial metabolites, tumor immune regulation, immunotherapy response, and microbiome-targeted therapeutic interventions in CRC. Evidence from mechanistic studies, translational research, clinical investigations, and multi-omics analyses was integrated.

RESULTS: Current evidence indicates that gut dysbiosis contributes to immune resistance in MSS CRC through immune exclusion, myeloid-driven immunosuppression, T-cell dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and altered microbial metabolite signaling. Specific microorganisms, including Fusobacterium nucleatum, enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, pks-positive Escherichia coli, and other CRC-associated pathobionts, have been implicated in tumor progression and modulation of antitumor immunity. Microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan-derived compounds, bile acids, succinate, and inosine represent key functional mediators linking microbial communities to host immune responses. Emerging microbiome-targeted interventions, including fecal microbiota transplantation, next-generation probiotics, postbiotics, selective microbial depletion, and engineered bacterial therapeutics, have shown promising results in preclinical models and early translational or clinical studies, although robust clinical evidence remains limited. In parallel, advances in metagenomics, metabolomics, spatial transcriptomics, and artificial intelligence are facilitating the development of precision immuno-microbiome oncology approaches.

CONCLUSIONS: The gut microbiome functions as a critical regulator of immune resistance in MSS CRC through coordinated effects on microbial composition, metabolite production, and tumor immune remodeling. Microbiome-targeted interventions, combined with multi-omics-based patient stratification, may provide new opportunities to overcome immunotherapy resistance and expand the clinical benefits of immune checkpoint blockade in this traditionally refractory disease.},
}

@article {pmid42649902,
year = {2026},
author = {Yellu, A and Weitzner, AS and Cronin, C and Kim, JK and Lokeshwar, SD},
title = {Perioperative Optimization Strategies in Major Genitourinary Cancer Surgery.},
journal = {Cancers},
volume = {18},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cancers18162588},
pmid = {42649902},
issn = {2072-6694},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To evaluate current and emerging perioperative optimization strategies in genitourinary surgery and assess their potential to improve surgical outcomes, particularly in patients with modifiable risk factors.

METHODS: A literature review was conducted using PubMed databases examining perioperative interventions relevant to patients undergoing surgery for genitourinary cancers. Areas of focus included enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, nutritional optimization, exercise prehabilitation, smoking cessation, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, and gut microbiome modulation. Evidence from clinical trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, and current clinical guidelines was reviewed and synthesized.

RESULTS: Current evidence supports the use of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols to reduce acute complications, shorten length of stay and decrease recovery time. Nutritional optimization and exercise prehabilitation demonstrated improved functional and metabolic capacity. Smoking cessation improved wound healing and decreased pulmonary and infectious complications. Emerging evidence suggests GLP-1 RAs offer metabolic benefits, and microbiome-targeted interventions may improve postoperative recovery through gut microbiome diversity preservation, although clinical data remains limited.

CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative strategies demonstrate promising potential to improve outcomes in patients undergoing genitourinary surgeries by addressing modifiable risk factors. Further prospective studies are needed to guide clinical implementation.},
}

@article {pmid42649911,
year = {2026},
author = {Tavartkiladze, A and Tavartkiladze, L and Reiter, RJ and Burnier, M and Ulukaya, E and Turmanidze, R and Revazishvili, P},
title = {Relative Melatonergic Status and Systemic Inflammatory, Oxidative, and Biological Aging Burden in Adults: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Biomarker Analysis.},
journal = {Cancers},
volume = {18},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cancers18162597},
pmid = {42649911},
issn = {2072-6694},
abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Melatonin has circadian, antioxidant, mitochondrial, and immunomodulatory functions, but human data linking relative melatonergic status to coordinated systemic biomarker burden remain limited. We examined this association and tested its internal robustness to alternative score construction, outlier handling, and missing-data assumptions.

METHODS: We performed an adult-only cross-sectional secondary analysis of a deidentified biomarker dataset. Of 322 source records, six participants younger than 18 years and two records without age were excluded, yielding 314 adults. Plasma melatonin and 24 h urinary aMT6s were converted to within-cohort rank percentiles and averaged to form a relative melatonergic-axis score. Equal-weight z-score composites represented inflammation, oxidative damage, antioxidant deficit, and biological aging/biological injury; their mean was the integrated systemic biomarker-burden score. Analyses included Kruskal-Wallis tests; Spearman correlations with bootstrap confidence intervals; standardized regression adjusted for age, sex, and BMI; robust covariance estimates; principal component analysis (PCA), winsorization, leave-one-domain/marker-out analyses, and missing-BMI sensitivity models.

RESULTS: The lower, intermediate, and higher relative melatonergic tertiles included 105, 104, and 105 adults, respectively. The melatonergic-axis score correlated inversely with integrated systemic burden (Spearman ρ = -0.944; 5000-resample bootstrap 95% CI, -0.953 to -0.931; p < 0.001). In age-, sex-, and BMI-adjusted complete-case models (N = 250), each 1 SD higher axis score was associated with a 0.95 SD lower integrated burden (β = -0.949; HC3 95% CI, -0.983 to -0.915; p < 0.001). Results were similar for separate plasma melatonin and aMT6s models, winsorized composites, a PCA-derived score (PC1 explained 75.5% of marker variance; ρ = -0.947), leave-one-domain/marker-out analyses, and missing-BMI sensitivity models.

CONCLUSIONS: Lower relative melatonergic status was associated with a highly coordinated adverse systemic biomarker pattern. The exceptional magnitude of the association requires audit of primary assay provenance and independent external replication. Because cancer, microbiome, and liquid biopsy endpoints were not measured, oncology implications remain untested prospective hypotheses.},
}

@article {pmid42649929,
year = {2026},
author = {Cathomas, M and Fortunato, F and Zamir, E and Keller, MI and Gobin, T and Jötten, L and Gauer, E and Heckler, M and Kong, B and Gaiser, RA and Rompen, IF and Harnoss, JM and Schmidt, S and Kuhn, M and Elinav, E and Bork, P and Michalski, CW and Hank, T},
title = {Tumor Location and Preoperative Biliary Stenting Shape Gut Microbiome Diversity in Pancreatic Cancer.},
journal = {Cancers},
volume = {18},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cancers18162617},
pmid = {42649929},
issn = {2072-6694},
abstract = {Background: Recent evidence suggests that gut microbiome plays a role in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and influences treatment response. However, the association of tumor location and preoperative biliary stenting (PBS) with gut microbial composition and diversity remains poorly understood. Methods: Preoperative stool specimens were prospectively collected from patients with PDAC undergoing surgery between March 2020 and July 2021 at the Department of Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany. Whole-genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed. Microbial diversity was assessed using the Shannon index and Bray-Curtis dissimilarity with principal coordinates analysis. Results: A total of 63 preoperative stool samples were analyzed from 40 patients with pancreatic head (63.5%) and 23 with body/tail tumors (36.5%). Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Microbial community composition differed significantly between tumor locations (Bray-Curtis, p = 0.005), with enrichment of Ruminococcus bromii in body/tail tumors. Among patients with pancreatic head tumors, PBS was associated with reduced alpha diversity (Shannon index, p = 0.04) and depletion of taxa including Eubacteriales and Clostridiales taxa, and members of the genera Raoultella and Prevotella. PBS was associated with a higher rate of major complications > 3a according to the Clavien-Dindo classification (28.6% vs. 3.8%; p = 0.04). Conclusions: PBS was associated with reduced microbial diversity and distinct taxonomic alterations of the gut microbiome. These findings suggest that biliary stenting is associated with microbiome alterations that may be relevant for perioperative risk stratification and warrant further investigation.},
}

@article {pmid42649963,
year = {2026},
author = {Benidovskaya, E and Huyghe, N and Giolito, MV and Coulie, P and Van den Eynde, M},
title = {Integrative Profiling of Tumor and Blood Microenvironments to Uncover Molecular and Immune Determinants of Prognosis and Treatment Efficacy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.},
journal = {Cancers},
volume = {18},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cancers18162651},
pmid = {42649963},
issn = {2072-6694},
support = {Télévie/FNRS 7.4600.23//Fund for Scientific Research/ ; },
abstract = {Metastatic colorectal cancer remains associated with poor prognosis despite major therapeutic advances, highlighting the need for robust biomarkers to refine treatment selection and monitor disease dynamics. This review summarizes emerging predictive and prognostic biomarkers in metastatic colorectal cancer across molecular and cellular layers, encompassing both tissue and circulating biomarkers. At the tissue level, we discuss genomic alterations and mutational signatures, transcriptomic classification systems and immune-related gene expression tools, protein-level immune checkpoint markers, and cellular determinants including immune infiltrates, cancer-associated fibroblasts and microbiome features. At the circulating level, we review biomarkers derived from liquid biopsy and peripheral blood, including circulating tumor DNA kinetics, T-cell receptor repertoire diversity, soluble cytokines and proteins, immune cell phenotyping, and circulating tumor cells. We highlight major challenges limiting clinical translation, including tumor heterogeneity, methodological variability, and the absence of standardized analytical pipelines and thresholds. Finally, we discuss future perspectives, emphasizing the integration of multi-omics biomarkers and artificial intelligence-driven strategies to improve biomarker validation and enable more precise management of metastatic colorectal cancer, particularly for patients with microsatellite-stable tumors who derive limited benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition.},
}

@article {pmid42649970,
year = {2026},
author = {Funamizu, N and Ihara, Y and Tamura, K and Kamei, Y and Umeda, Y},
title = {Microbiome Disturbance, Nutritional Vulnerability, and Treatment Tolerance in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Mechanistic Links and Clinical Readiness.},
journal = {Cancers},
volume = {18},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cancers18162658},
pmid = {42649970},
issn = {2072-6694},
support = {no number//Yakult Bio-Science Foundation (Japan)/ ; },
abstract = {Background/Objectives: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by aggressive tumor biology and profound host vulnerability, including pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), maldigestion, malnutrition, cachexia, sarcopenia, frailty, systemic inflammation, and poor tolerance to multimodal therapy. Gut and intratumoral microbiota have been implicated in pancreatic carcinogenesis, tumor immunity, chemotherapy response, and postoperative outcomes. However, the clinical readiness of microbiome-informed supportive care in PDAC remains uncertain. Results: Current evidence supports plausible mechanistic links among PEI, maldigestion, dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, barrier dysfunction, systemic inflammation, cachexia, sarcopenia, and treatment intolerance. Nevertheless, PDAC microbiome research is limited by major heterogeneity in sampling sites, sequencing platforms, antibiotic exposure, biliary drainage, diet, treatment timing, tumor stage, and analytic pipelines. Evidence is also discordant, particularly regarding alpha diversity and reproducible microbial signatures. Low-biomass tissue contamination and incomplete consideration of fungal and multi-kingdom microbiota further limit interpretation. Conclusions: Microbiome disturbance should currently be viewed as an investigational modifier of nutritional vulnerability and treatment tolerance rather than as a validated clinical biomarker or therapeutic target in PDAC. A clinically responsible framework should distinguish what is actionable now-nutrition screening, PEI management, inflammation and frailty assessment, body-composition evaluation, and treatment-exposure monitoring-from what remains investigational, including microbiome profiling, microbial signatures, probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and metabolite-guided intervention.},
}

@article {pmid42650087,
year = {2026},
author = {Kefala, V and Oikonomou, E and Sfyri, E and Grech, VS and Tertipi, N and Andreou, E and Rallis, E},
title = {Genetic, Lipid, Fungal Microbiome and Neuroinflammatory Links Between Seborrheic Dermatitis and Parkinson's Disease: A Narrative Review.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {17},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/genes17080894},
pmid = {42650087},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {//Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Parkinson Disease/genetics/microbiology/metabolism/pathology ; *Dermatitis, Seborrheic/genetics/microbiology/metabolism/complications/pathology ; *Neuroinflammatory Diseases/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; Skin Microbiome ; alpha-Synuclein/genetics/metabolism ; Skin/microbiology/pathology ; Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2/genetics ; },
abstract = {Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a well- documented prodromal phase during which non-motor symptoms appear years before motor onset. Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is significantly more prevalent in PD patients than in the general population. The biological mechanisms underlying this association have not been integrated into a single framework. Objectives: This narrative review aims to synthesise the available evidence on the molecular, genetic, and pathophysiological mechanisms linking SD and PD. Methods: A literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and ScienceDirect, supplemented by manual searches in OMIM and GeneCards. Results: Four major biological links between SD and PD have been proposed. First, alpha-synuclein deposits are detectable in cutaneous nerve fibres and autonomic fibres innervating sebaceous glands in PD patients and their pattern has been associated with disease subtype and progression. Second, dysfunction in ceramide and sphingolipid metabolism, associated with variants in GBA1, LRRK2, and ZNF750, has been linked to impaired lysosomal function and skin barrier integrity in both brain and skin tissue. Third, Malassezia, a commonly associated organism and possible trigger in susceptible hosts, produces metabolites that activate neuroinflammatory pathways relevant to PD and PD patients show altered Malassezia species composition on their skin. Fourth, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which can be triggered by ceramide accumulation and fungal metabolites, has been proposed as a shared inflammatory mechanism that may operate in both keratinocytes and dopaminergic neurons. Conclusions: SD and PD appear to share overlapping genetic, lipidomic, microbial, and neuroinflammatory features. These associations are consistent with, but do not yet prove, a common pathological basis rather than a coincidental one. SD may therefore represent a potential prodromal feature or risk marker of PD. Future research should examine whether targeted intervention in high-risk SD patients can delay or modify PD onset.},
}

Humans
*Parkinson Disease/genetics/microbiology/metabolism/pathology
*Dermatitis, Seborrheic/genetics/microbiology/metabolism/complications/pathology
*Neuroinflammatory Diseases/genetics/microbiology/metabolism
Skin Microbiome
alpha-Synuclein/genetics/metabolism
Skin/microbiology/pathology
Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2/genetics

@article {pmid42650124,
year = {2026},
author = {De Alcaraz-Fossoul, J and Sawyer, SJ},
title = {Temporal Dynamics of Latent Fingerprint Microbiomes: A First Step to Decoding Crime Evidence.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {17},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/genes17080931},
pmid = {42650124},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {//University of New Haven/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Dermatoglyphics ; *Microbiota/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Skin Microbiome ; Crime ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Latent fingerprints (LFs) have been a cornerstone of forensic identification through conventional friction ridge pattern analysis; however, the microbial communities they harbor remain a largely untapped source of information. Estimation of the time-since-deposition (TsDp) of LFs is still an unresolved challenge in forensic science, as existing 2D and 3D imaging methodologies provide limited temporal resolution. This study investigated whether temporal shifts in LF-associated microbiota could potentially complement dating approaches via genetic analyses.

METHODS: LFs were collected from two healthy donors from both hands, pre- and post-hand washing, across three time points spanning 192 h (8 days) under monitored, but uncontrolled, indoor conditions. LF friction ridges were optically examined via 2D and 3D imaging, while microbial communities were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V3-V4 region. Microbial profiles were analyzed to distinguish temporally stable core microbiota from transient taxa (alpha and beta diversity) and to statistically identify microbial panels associated with donor, handedness, hand-washing status, and/or temporal succession.

RESULTS: A stable core microbiota, dominated by Actinobacteria and Bacilli, persisted across donors, handedness, hand-washing status, and time points. Transient low-abundance taxa, including Nitriliruptoria and Phycisphaerae, exhibited temporal fluctuations influenced by donor characteristics, hand-washing status, and post-deposition interval. Upon excluding time-invariant stable taxa, donor-specific biological profiles comprising 32 and 28 class-rank taxa were selected for each donor, revealing individualized patterns of microbial dynamics.

CONCLUSIONS: LF-associated microbiomes contain both stable and temporally dynamic taxa, with the potential to provide personalized biological information for TsDp estimation. These preliminary findings contribute to the molecular toolkit of forensic microbiomics by laying the foundation for prospective multimodal models integrating LF microbial and topographical data to improve the temporal interpretation of crime evidence touched by bare hands. Further validation with broader donor cohorts and environmental conditions are essential before operational forensic implementation.},
}

Humans
*Dermatoglyphics
*Microbiota/genetics
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
Skin Microbiome
Crime

@article {pmid42650177,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, Z and He, M and Xie, W and Hou, S and Han, L and Yang, C and Yuan, Z and Gui, L and Sun, S},
title = {Effect of Dietary Nitrogen-to-Sulfur Ratio on Rumen Microbiota, Metabolites, and Ruminal Antioxidant Status in Tibetan Sheep.},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antiox15080913},
pmid = {42650177},
issn = {2076-3921},
support = {2022NK169-1//Science and Technology Department of Qinghai Province/ ; },
abstract = {Optimizing the dietary nitrogen-to-sulfur (N:S) ratio is crucial for enhancing ruminal microbial fermentation and nutrient digestibility. This study investigated the effects of different dietary N:S ratios on ruminal antioxidant indices, digestive enzyme activities, immune parameters, volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles, microbial communities, and metabolomic profiles in plateau-type Tibetan sheep. Ninety 2-month-old male Tibetan sheep (initial body weight, 15.55 ± 0.20 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments formulated with N:S ratios of 9.5:1 (HP-H), 8.5:1 (HP-M), and 7.5:1 (HP-L). Sheep fed the HP-H diet exhibited improved ruminal antioxidant indices compared with the other treatments, with CAT and T-AOC activities being higher than those of both the HP-M and HP-L groups, while SOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly higher only compared with those in the HP-L (p < 0.05). Furthermore, ruminal cellulase activity, as well as propionate and butyrate levels, were significantly higher in the HP-H group (p < 0.05). Microbiome analysis revealed that the HP-H diet enriched the relative abundances of Candidatus Saccharimonas, the Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, and uncultured rumen bacteria. Correspondingly, untargeted metabolomics identified higher signal intensities of 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, nervonic acid, arachidonic acid (peroxide-free), and calciferol in the ruminal fluid of the HP-H group relative to the other treatments. In conclusion, when the nitrogen-to-sulfur ratio was 9.5:1, ruminal antioxidant enzyme activities were increased, and the concentrations of propionic acid and butyric acid were increased. The differential microorganisms and metabolites were mainly associated with lipid metabolism, as well as cofactor and vitamin metabolism.},
}

@article {pmid42650215,
year = {2026},
author = {Concetta, SM and Cinzia, L and Giulia, Z and Caterina, L and Gaetano, I and Nicolò, M and Angela, TS},
title = {Functional Foods and Micro- and Nanoplastics: Advances in Precision Nutritional Medicine for Oral-Gut-Brain Axis Health.},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antiox15080951},
pmid = {42650215},
issn = {2076-3921},
abstract = {Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging environmental pollutants due to their persistence and bodily accumulation. Recently, functional foods have received much attention for their ability to reverse or block MNP damage for therapeutic purposes and the potential risk of developing oral-gut-brain axis disorders. Among these, artichoke, spirulina algae, Opuntia ficus-indica, pterostilbene, hydroxycinnamic acids, and quinic acid are rich sources of polyphenols. These bioactive ingredients, especially when combined with probiotics and prebiotics, exhibit significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling and cellular resilience enzymes. Nrf2 activation enhances cellular resilience response, and it may preserve oral epithelial barrier (OEB), intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB), and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, while modulating oral pathogens, gut microbial dysbiosis, and neuroinflammatory processes. However, most of the available evidence supporting these mechanisms derives from in vitro and animal studies, whereas clinical evidence in humans remains limited. Perturbations of Nrf2 due to circulating MNPs may exacerbate selective susceptibility to oral, gut, and nervous system disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although these findings are biologically plausible, the causal relationships and their clinical relevance have not yet been fully established. This review discusses the role of functional foods in maintaining oral-gut-brain health through Nrf2-mediated mechanisms that may mitigate MNP-induced inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The review also examines emerging concepts in precision nutritional medicine, including individual variability in dietary responses, microbiome-related factors, and future personalized strategies for populations exposed to MNPs. Finally, current knowledge gaps, the scarcity of human studies, and the challenges in translating preclinical findings into clinical practice are highlighted, emphasizing the need for further translational and clinical research.},
}

@article {pmid42650281,
year = {2026},
author = {Gashi, N and Dávid, P and Mikolás, M and Fauszt, P and Gál, F and Rácz, C and Molnár, K and Stündl, L and Remenyik, J and Dobos, AC and Paholcsek, M},
title = {Land-Use and Depth-Dependent Assembly of Soil Microbiomes Shapes Ecological Functions, Interaction Networks, and Phytopathogenic Communities Across Crop and Orchard Systems.},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antiox15081017},
pmid = {42650281},
issn = {2076-3921},
abstract = {Soil microorganisms are essential for nutrient cycling, plant productivity, and soil health, yet the relative importance of land-use and soil depth in shaping agricultural microbiomes remains poorly understood. This study investigated soil microbial communities across uncultivated land, alfalfa fields, crop systems (feed corn and sweet corn), and orchard systems (walnut and quince) in the Hajdúnánás region of Hungary using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and soil physicochemical analyses. Microbial alpha diversity showed limited variation among land-use systems but declined significantly with soil depth in both bacterial (Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.00054) and fungal (p = 0.00051) communities. Beta diversity analyses identified soil depth as the primary driver of microbial community composition in both bacterial (R[2] = 0.305, p = 0.001) and fungal (R[2] = 0.277, p = 0.001) communities. In contrast, land-use significantly influenced only fungal community composition (R[2] = 0.250, p = 0.005). Fungal alpha diversity showed significant negative relationships with soil pH and CaCO3, whereas bacterial diversity exhibited only weak correlations. Crop soils contained the highest numbers of unique bacterial and fungal taxa. Functional analyses revealed significant differences in nutrient cycling, plant-growth-related, decomposition, and environmental adaptation functions among land-use systems. In crop soils, topsoil communities were enriched in oxidative stress-related pathways involved in reactive oxygen species detoxification (ROS), redox homeostasis, and stress regulation, whereas subsoil communities showed a greater representation of antioxidant metabolite production functions. Co-occurrence network analyses indicated greater connectivity in perennial systems, particularly alfalfa soils. Analyses of bacterial and fungal species with reported phytopathogenic potential identified stable cores of phytopathogenic species across agricultural systems, with soil pH emerging as the strongest environmental factor associated with the abundance of phytopathogenic species. Overall, soil depth was the primary driver of bacterial and fungal community assembly, whereas land-use primarily shaped fungal community composition and influenced ecological functions, microbial interaction networks, and the distribution of phytopathogenic species.},
}

@article {pmid42650301,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, H and Wu, M and Huang, X and Cao, H and Cao, J and Sun, C and Wang, Y},
title = {Tissue-Specific Bioactive Metabolites and Antioxidant Activity in Minicitrus (Fortunella hindsii) and Responses to a Fruit-Associated Weissella Strain.},
journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antiox15081037},
pmid = {42650301},
issn = {2076-3921},
support = {2026ZDXT02//Agricultural Major Technology Collaborative Promotion Program of Zhejiang Province/ ; 2026SNJF079//the Scientific and Technological Cooperation Project of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department of Zhejiang Province/ ; 2026YFHZ0239//the Science and Technology Program of Sichuan Province/ ; LHZSD24C150001//the Hangzhou Joint Fund of the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023YFD2300604//the National Key R&D Program of China/ ; U25A20688//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 226-2026-00062//the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; },
abstract = {Minicitrus (Fortunella hindsii) is a wild kumquat with potential nutritional and medicinal value, but its tissue-specific bioactive metabolites, antioxidant activity, and endophytes remain poorly characterized. Here, we integrated LC-MS profiling, HPLC quantification, chemical and cellular antioxidant assays, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, bacterial isolation, and treatment experiments across five tissues. Among all the metabolites determined by HPLC, 13 were quantified using authentic standards and 24 were semi-quantified as linarin equivalents. Leaves, stems, and fruits accumulated abundant flavone glycosides, with phloretin-3',5'-di-C-glucoside reaching 1823.19 ± 278.71 μg/g FW in leaves and 847.11 ± 27.28 μg/g FW in fruits, while roots and seeds showed distinct coumarin- and furanocoumarin-rich profiles, respectively. Leaf extracts showed the strongest chemical and cellular antioxidant activities, followed by fruit extracts. Isoorientin 2″-O-rhamnoside and diosmin exhibited strong chemical antioxidant capacity, and several flavone glycosides showed protective effects in cellular assays. Endophytic bacterial communities differed markedly among tissues, with fruit harboring a distinct community dominated by Weissella and Pantoea, which accounted for 65.64% and 19.13% of the relative abundance, respectively. Among two culturable fruit-associated isolates, Weissella sp. SJG-1 treatment was associated with 32.92-104.45% increases in six HPLC-quantified metabolites and higher antioxidant activity of fruit extracts. These findings highlight minicitrus as a source of bioactive metabolites and suggest a potential association between fruit-associated bacteria and fruit functional properties.},
}

@article {pmid42650318,
year = {2026},
author = {Patel, HR and Pammi, M},
title = {Current Evidence, Controversies, and the Future of Biotics in the Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Narrative Review.},
journal = {Children (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/children13080978},
pmid = {42650318},
issn = {2227-9067},
abstract = {Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains one of the most devastating gastrointestinal disorders affecting preterm infants, with substantial mortality and long-term morbidity despite advances in neonatal care. Increasing evidence implicates intestinal dysbiosis, impaired intestinal barrier function, and dysregulated immune responses as central drivers of NEC pathogenesis, making microbiome-targeted interventions a promising preventive strategy. Collectively termed "biotics," these interventions include probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics, each aimed at modulating the developing gut ecosystem. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the efficacy, safety, and clinical applicability of biotics for NEC prevention in very preterm and very-low-birth-weight infants. Randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses involving more than 10,000 infants demonstrate that specific multi-strain probiotic formulations, particularly those combining Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species, reduce NEC incidence and all-cause mortality, although benefits are less consistent in extremely low-birth-weight infants. Prebiotics alone showed a limited impact on NEC prevention, while emerging evidence suggests synbiotics may offer additive or superior protection compared with probiotics alone. Postbiotics represent a novel and potentially safer alternative, especially for the most vulnerable infants, though clinical data remain limited. Despite favorable effectiveness in meta-analyses, probiotics adoption remains variable due to strain heterogeneity, variable product quality, regulatory challenges, and rare but serious safety concerns. Precision microbiome approaches, pharmaceutical-grade formulations, personalized therapies informed by multi-omics profiling, and next-generation delivery systems may drive the future in this field.},
}

@article {pmid42650356,
year = {2026},
author = {Matera, M and Cavecchia, I and Illiceto, MT and Morandin, M and Lenzi, MB and D'Ambrosio, T and Biagioli, V},
title = {Bridging Microbiota Science and Clinical Practice in Pediatric Healthcare: A National Survey.},
journal = {Children (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/children13081016},
pmid = {42650356},
issn = {2227-9067},
abstract = {The human microbiota is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to pediatric and perinatal health. However, little is known about healthcare professionals' preparedness to integrate microbiota-related concepts into routine pediatric and perinatal care. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Italian healthcare professionals involved in pediatric and perinatal care. The questionnaire explored microbiota-related training, self-perceived knowledge, attitudes, clinical practices, microbiota-testing-related approaches, and educational needs. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. Results: A total of 441 participants were included in the final analysis. Participants expressed highly positive attitudes toward the clinical relevance of the microbiota, particularly regarding maternal-fetal programming, neonatal development, preventive medicine, and microbiota education. Self-perceived knowledge was generally higher for basic microbiota concepts and neonatal microbiota development, whereas lower confidence emerged for microbiota-related clinical applications, counseling competencies, and critical interpretation of scientific evidence. Significant variability in microbiota-related knowledge scores emerged across professional backgrounds and healthcare settings (p < 0.001). Previous microbiota-related training was independently associated with higher self-perceived knowledge scores and greater integration of microbiota-oriented approaches into clinical practice. Use of probiotics was reported by 72.6% of participants, whereas microbiota-related diagnostic tests were routinely used by 32.9%. Overall, 91.8% of respondents expressed interest in further microbiota-related education. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals involved in pediatric and perinatal care recognize the growing clinical relevance of microbiota science but report heterogeneous levels of translational preparedness and clinical confidence. Microbiota-related training emerged as a key factor associated with greater preparedness and implementation in clinical practice, highlighting the need for structured multidisciplinary educational pathways and evidence-based integration of microbiome science into pediatric healthcare.},
}

@article {pmid42650391,
year = {2026},
author = {Baghdadi, ZD},
title = {Evidence Drift in Early Childhood Caries Research: A Conceptual Six-Domain Causal-Translation Framework.},
journal = {Children (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/children13081053},
pmid = {42650391},
issn = {2227-9067},
abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a common, preventable, and socially patterned disease, yet the literature on ECC is vulnerable not only to limitations in evidence generation but also to errors in evidence translation. This conceptual framework paper focuses on evidence translation rather than estimating a new treatment effect.

METHODS: Literature and framework development were informed by targeted narrative searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, with an emphasis on ECC literature from 2010 onward and foundational methodological sources. Sources were purposively retained if they clarified an evidentiary domain, a cross-domain bridge, or a competing interpretation; priority was given to systematic reviews, trials, longitudinal and causal studies, natural experiments, clinical guidance, and implementation evaluations. No pooled effect estimates were produced.

RESULTS: Evidence drift is the movement of a finding into a stronger or different claim without adequate bridging evidence. The proposed framework comprises association, mechanism, causation, consequence, disease control, and policy implementation, with commercial and structural determinants operating as a cross-cutting upstream layer. It classifies the inference advanced rather than study design alone and permits primary and secondary domain tags. A four-question test asks whether the research question and conclusion occupy the same domain, what bridge supports the movement, and whether uncertainty is retained. Five trajectories illustrate the framework: vitamin D, dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia, oral microbiome research, silver diamine fluoride (SDF), and sugar taxation. In the SDF case, lesion-arrest evidence is explicitly separated from the still-unproven implementation hypothesis that endpoint-only pathways may create differential standards of care.

CONCLUSIONS: The original contribution is an integrated vocabulary, decision procedure, and validation agenda for ECC evidence appraisal. The framework generates three prespecified, testable hypotheses: (1) trained raters will classify claims with reproducible inter-rater agreement (kappa ≥ 0.70); (2) claims judged to contain evidence drift will be significantly less likely than domain-concordant claims to include an explicit bridge; and (3) using the structured framework will improve the transparency and proportionality of reviews compared with usual appraisal. Prospective testing of content and construct validity, as well as practical utility, in peer review, guideline development, education, and policy evaluation is required before standardized implementation.},
}

@article {pmid42650529,
year = {2026},
author = {Ye, S and Piao, C and Huang, H and Wu, J and Jiang, C and Song, Y},
title = {Chemical Diversity and Microbial Complexity of Liupao Tea Aroma: A Comprehensive Review.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/foods15162832},
pmid = {42650529},
issn = {2304-8158},
abstract = {Liupao tea (LPT), one of China's representative fermented dark teas, develops its unique "red, heavy, aged, and mellow" flavor characteristics. This review provides a comprehensive update on LPT aroma, integrating analyses of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), associated microorganisms, odor-active compounds (OACs), and metabolic pathways of key odor-active compounds (KOACs). With over 2000 VOCs documented, predominated by alcohols (368), hydrocarbons (357), and ketones (351), the total for LPT substantially exceeds the approximately 1000 compounds typically reported for other dark teas. By combining sensory evaluation with techniques such as gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and odor activity value (OAV), KOACs, predominantly comprising alcohols, aldehydes, and methoxybenzene derivatives, were identified as key contributors to the floral, fruity, aged, stale and other notes that define LPT's characteristic aroma. The formation of the aroma compounds is closely linked to microbial metabolism and the enzymatic activities generated by microorganisms. Fungi, including Aspergillus, Rhodotorula, Geosmithia, Wallemia, Penicillium, Blastobotrys, Fusarium, and Xeromyces, and bacteria, including Burkholderia, Ralstonia, and Achromobacter, serve as the primary functional microorganisms driving fermentation and aging. This review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the chemical and microbial complexity of LPT aroma.},
}

@article {pmid42650566,
year = {2026},
author = {Bai, W and Li, M and Ding, B and Hu, M and An, Y and Xie, H and Wen, Q and Chen, L and Zhao, L},
title = {Konjac Glucomannan: From Molecular Architecture to Translational Applications-A Critical Review of Structure-Function Relationships, Emerging Biomedical Frontiers, and Industrial Challenges.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/foods15162872},
pmid = {42650566},
issn = {2304-8158},
support = {255101610001//the 2025 Henan Province Science and Technology R&D Program Joint Fund (Industrial Category) Major Project/ ; },
abstract = {Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a plant-derived polysaccharide with a long history of food use and a rapidly expanding portfolio of biomedical applications. Yet despite decades of research, translation of KGM-based materials from laboratory proof-of-concept to clinical and commercial products remains slow, hampered by unresolved structural controversies, batch-to-batch variability, and a lack of quantitative design rules. This review provides a critical, mechanism-focused analysis of KGM across its molecular architecture, extraction and modification, and translational applications, moving beyond cataloguing uses to evaluate conflicting findings in the literature. We examine how hierarchical structural features-molecular weight, acetylation pattern, and chain topology-govern solution behavior, gelation, and biological performance, and compare KGM with competing biopolymers to define its unique advantages and inherent limitations. Current progress in colon-targeted delivery, wound healing, microbiome modulation, and metabolic health is synthesized, and persistent barriers to translation are evaluated, including the absence of quantitative structure-activity models, limited human pharmacokinetic data, and incomplete toxicological characterization of modified derivatives. We also address longstanding debates over branching frequency, acetylation distribution, and dose-response relationships that have generated inconsistent results across studies. Finally, we outline a research agenda integrating computational polymer design, multi-omics mechanistic studies, and precision nutrition to support development of next-generation KGM biomaterials.},
}

@article {pmid42650625,
year = {2026},
author = {Miulescu, RG and Mușetescu, A and Marin, RC and Muntean, C and Moleriu, RD and Pavel, AN and Roșca, I and Dinică, L and Ilici, A and Coman, OA},
title = {Individualized Nutritional and Microbiome-Oriented Management of Food Allergy-Associated Atopic Dermatitis in Children: A Prospective Real-World Observational Cohort Study.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/foods15162931},
pmid = {42650625},
issn = {2304-8158},
abstract = {Atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergy frequently coexist during early childhood and are increasingly linked through interactions within the gut-skin axis. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of an integrated nutritional and microbiome-oriented management strategy in children with food allergy-associated AD under real-world conditions. This prospective, two-center, real-world observational cohort study included 85 children (median age, 11 months) with AD diagnosed according to the Hanifin-Rajka criteria and confirmed IgE- and/or non-IgE-mediated food allergy. Participants received individualized nutritional and microbiome-oriented management comprising elimination diets, conventional topical therapy, microbiome-directed interventions, and nutritional supplementation tailored to their clinical, allergological, and microbiological profile. Disease severity was assessed using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index at baseline and after approximately 1 and 3 months of follow-up. Cow's milk, egg, and wheat were the predominant food allergens, and 69.4% of children were polyallergic. SCORAD decreased significantly during follow-up, with a mean relative reduction of 51.6% and 63.5% of participants achieving a SCORAD50 response. Food allergy burden independently predicted baseline disease severity, whereas documented gut dysbiosis was associated with polyallergy and greater absolute clinical improvement, although this association lost statistical significance after adjustment for baseline disease severity and should therefore not be interpreted as a favorable prognostic effect of dysbiosis. Baseline SCORAD remained the strongest independent predictor of clinical improvement. Integrated nutritional and microbiome-oriented management was associated with substantial clinical improvement and may represent a valuable adjunct to standard care in children with food allergy-associated AD. Because of the observational, uncontrolled design, these findings describe associations rather than causal treatment effects. These findings support further evaluation of personalized nutritional strategies in randomized controlled trials.},
}

@article {pmid42650632,
year = {2026},
author = {Agustin, M and Hadinata, E and Harbuwono, DS and Trixie, H and Santini, A and Nurkolis, F},
title = {Fruits, Vegetables, and Legumes: Harnessing the Gut-Kidney Axis in Hypertensive Chronic Kidney Disease.},
journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/foods15162938},
pmid = {42650632},
issn = {2304-8158},
abstract = {Hypertension is the most common comorbidity in chronic kidney disease (CKD), affecting roughly 80-85% of patients overall and an even higher proportion in nondialysis CKD G3-G5. This narrative review examines whether, and under what clinical conditions, fruits, vegetables, and legumes can be used safely in adults with hypertensive CKD, especially nondialysis CKD G3-G5, as well as moderate to severe loss of kidney function, paying close attention to the gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, gut-derived uremic toxins, potassium bioavailability, and modifiable clinical risk factors. The clinical effect of plant foods on serum potassium cannot be predicted from total potassium content alone. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2024 guidelines explicitly advise individualized potassium management and emphasize limiting foods rich in bioavailable potassium, especially processed foods, rather than reflexively restricting fruits and vegetables. Across CKD studies, the association between dietary potassium and serum potassium is weak or inconsistent, and the risk of hyperkalemia is modified by kidney function, bowel function, metabolic acidosis, diabetes and hyperglycemia, medications, food processing, and the food matrix itself. Potassium bioavailability varies substantially according to the food matrix, preparation method, portion size, and processing method; some minimally processed plant foods may provide less readily absorbable potassium than potassium-rich processed foods, juices, or potassium additives. Fruits, vegetables, and legumes also provide fiber, resistant starch, and polyphenols that can support saccharolytic fermentation, short-chain fatty acid production, bowel transit, and lower concentrations of some gut-derived uremic toxins. However, blood-pressure and kidney-outcome benefits in CKD are supported more strongly by observational and selected alkali-diet trials than by large microbiome-focused randomized studies. In hypertensive CKD, fruits, vegetables, and legumes should not be universally restricted simply because they contain potassium. A safer and more evidence-aligned strategy is individualized, food-source-aware prescribing that prioritizes minimally processed plant foods, accounts for preparation method and portion size, corrects constipation and acidosis, reviews potassium-raising medications and additives, and monitors serum potassium according to baseline risk.},
}

@article {pmid42650652,
year = {2026},
author = {Toma, EA and Enciu, O and Matache, IM and Porosnicu, AL and Calu, V and Miron, A and Delawan, M and Bydon, M and Popa, MI},
title = {Novel Therapeutic Approaches and Alternatives to Antibiotic Therapy for Drug-Resistant Intra-Abdominal Infections.},
journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antibiotics15080727},
pmid = {42650652},
issn = {2079-6382},
abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among pathogens involved in intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) represents a critical and escalating clinical challenge. The interconnected nature of antimicrobial resistance, spanning human medicine, veterinary practice, agricultural use and environmental reservoirs, has required coordinated international responses based on the 'One Health' principle. This study presents an update on efforts underway worldwide to develop new antibiotics, novel combined antimicrobial agents, and alternatives to classic therapies for IAIs. New antibiotics or compounds with antibacterial activity are currently in various stages of clinical trials, including several fluoroquinolones, beta-lactamase inhibitors, and polymyxin analogues. To reduce the risk of bacterial resistance, various additions to antimicrobial treatments are being explored, such as nanoparticles (NPs), antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), bacteriophages, the CRISPR/Cas system, and probiotics. Each modality offers distinct mechanisms that circumvent established resistance pathways, including multi-target membrane disruption, sequence-specific gene editing, and microbiome restoration. Current preclinical and clinical evidence is synthesized, and key translational barriers, including delivery challenges, safety concerns, regulatory complexity, and the need for IAI-specific pharmacokinetic data are critically examined. In conclusion, the convergence of novel antibiotic agents and non-traditional antimicrobial strategies reviewed herein provides the foundation for a new paradigm in the management of drug-resistant IAIs. The transition from a monotherapy-centric approach to an integrated, multi-modal treatment framework, guided by rapid diagnostics and informed by antimicrobial stewardship, will be essential to preserve therapeutic efficacy against AMR threats of the coming decades.},
}

@article {pmid42650664,
year = {2026},
author = {Dittmer, M and Liegenfeld, SC and Krueger, N and Geffken, M and Delle Coste, A and Schoeller, C and Alio, I and Streit, WR and Stuermer, EK},
title = {Interkingdom Biofilms in Chronic Wounds: The Collaboration of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus Against Conventional Wound Antiseptics in a Wound-like Leucocyte-Rich Human Plasma Biofilm Model (lhBIOM).},
journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antibiotics15080739},
pmid = {42650664},
issn = {2079-6382},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds are frequently associated with biofilms, in which not only bacterial but also fungal pathogens can impair wound healing. Among the most relevant opportunistic pathogens is Staphylococcus aureus; together with Candida albicans, both are part of the human skin microbiome but can also colonize chronic wounds. Interkingdom biofilms formed by these microorganisms have been shown to exacerbate the course of diseases compared to infections caused by either species alone.

METHODS: To address the limited number of studies examining fungal-bacterial interactions in wound environments, leucocyte-rich human plasma biofilm models (lhBIOMs) inoculated with S. aureus and C. albicans were prepared. The efficacy of the commonly used clinical antiseptics octenidine dihydrochloride/phenoxyethanol (OCT/PE) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) was examined using the quantitative suspension method (QSM). In addition, spatial distribution and morphology of the microorganisms within this biofilm model were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

RESULTS: In this study, the presence of S. aureus triggered an increase in the formation of filamentation of C. albicans in contrast to the single-species biofilm. In addition, treatment with the tested antimicrobial agents was effective against C. albicans after repetitive applications and showed a clear reduction against S. aureus. Furthermore, the quantitative analysis of the co-culture revealed increased growth of S. aureus in the control culture compared to the single-species model.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the pathogenic relevance of interkingdom biofilms in chronic wounds and emphasize the importance of effective species-independent antimicrobial treatment strategies.},
}

@article {pmid42650669,
year = {2026},
author = {Tomemori, R and Araki-Sasaki, K and Kanagawa, T and Ohnaka, M and Hisatsune, J and Higasa, K and Imai, H},
title = {Association Between Repeated Prophylactic Antimicrobial Eye Drop Use and Reduced Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Conjunctival and Nasal Commensal Bacteria.},
journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antibiotics15080744},
pmid = {42650669},
issn = {2079-6382},
support = {22K09802//KAKENHI/ ; },
abstract = {Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to clarify changes in the antimicrobial susceptibility of commensal bacteria in the conjunctival sac and nasal cavity associated with repeated use of prophylactic antimicrobial eye drops during intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections. Methods: Patients were divided into Group A, comprising 21 patients before the first use of prophylactic antimicrobial eye drops, and Group B, comprising 26 patients after receiving 20 or more injections. Minimum inhibitory concentration and susceptibility testing were performed on bacteria isolated from the conjunctival sac and nasal cavity using cefmenoxime, ceftazidime, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin. Genetic mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region of Staphylococcus epidermidis, phylogenetic relationships, and the nasal microbiome were also analyzed. Results:Corynebacterium, S. epidermidis, and Cutibacterium acnes were detected in both sites. In Group B, S. epidermidis and Corynebacterium showed reduced susceptibility to quinolones, whereas C. acnes did not. GyrA_S84 and ParC_S80 mutation rates in S. epidermidis were higher in Group B than in Group A. Among the patients with quinolone-resistant S. epidermidis isolated from both sites, 4 out of 10 patients had paired conjunctival and nasal isolates with the same ST type, suggesting that isolates from the two anatomical sites may be genetically related. The nasal microbiome α- and β-diversity did not differ significantly between groups, although exploratory LEfSe analysis suggested candidate taxon-level differences. Conclusions: Repeated prophylactic use of antibiotic eye drops was associated with reduced susceptibility in both the conjunctival sac and nasal cavity.},
}

@article {pmid42650697,
year = {2026},
author = {Ismaiel, A and Almonajjed, MB and Abdelghafar, A and Wardeh, M and Grad, S and Surdea-Blaga, T and Popa, SL and Ismaiel, M and Abosheisha, M and Krauss, AF and Grama, P and Bataga, S and Dumitrascu, DL},
title = {The Cost of the Cure: Antibiotic Exposure as a Risk Factor for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.},
journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antibiotics15080772},
pmid = {42650697},
issn = {2079-6382},
abstract = {The intricate interplay between the gut microbiome and the enteric nervous system remains a paramount focus in understanding the multifactorial pathogenesis of disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), most notably irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While the clinical entity of post-infectious IBS is well-established, the independent, long-term pathophysiological impact of iatrogenic antibiotic exposure is garnering critical attention within neurogastroenterology. This narrative review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current epidemiological and mechanistic evidence positioning antibiotic-induced microbial depletion as a potential predisposing factor for incident IBS. By evaluating recent literature, we highlight epidemiological trends demonstrating a consistent, dose-dependent relationship between cumulative antibiotic courses, particularly broad-spectrum agents, and an elevated risk of developing IBS, independent of prior acute enteric infections. Furthermore, we explore the mechanistic underpinnings of this association, focusing on how systemic antibiotics induce persistent, detrimental alterations in commensal diversity. This resulting dysbiosis initiates a proposed cascade of downstream consequences, including compromised epithelial barrier integrity, persistent low-grade mucosal inflammation, and altered bile acid metabolism. These localized disruptions serve as established triggers for visceral hypersensitivity and dysregulated gastrointestinal motility communicated via the gut-brain axis. Ultimately, this review underscores that antibiotic exposure may act as a significant, modifiable risk factor for IBS pathogenesis. Recognizing this substantial iatrogenic risk reinforces an urgent clinical imperative for stringent antimicrobial stewardship and emphasizes the necessity for future research directed toward prophylactic, microbiome-sparing strategies to mitigate the escalating global burden of DGBIs.},
}

@article {pmid42650708,
year = {2026},
author = {Goroftei, L and Popescu, CM and Profir, I and Jalba, GA and Gurau, G},
title = {Biofilm-Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance in Pediatric Klebsiella pneumoniae Urinary Tract Infections: A Narrative Review of Mechanisms, Clinical Challenges, and Therapeutic Strategies.},
journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antibiotics15080783},
pmid = {42650708},
issn = {2079-6382},
abstract = {Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae are an increasing challenge in pediatric practice due to the combined effects of biofilm formation, multidrug resistance (MDR), and limited therapeutic options for children. Biofilm development promotes bacterial persistence by impairing antibiotic penetration, enabling metabolic adaptation, promoting persister-cell formation, facilitating horizontal gene transfer (HGT), and inducing stress-induced mutagenesis, thereby reducing the effectiveness of conventional antimicrobial therapy. These mechanisms are further compounded by pediatric-specific challenges, including age-dependent pharmacokinetic variability, congenital urinary tract abnormalities, device-associated infections, and the limited availability of validated diagnostic tools for biofilm-associated infections. This narrative review integrates current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying biofilm-mediated antimicrobial resistance with the unique diagnostic, pharmacological, and therapeutic challenges encountered in pediatric patients with K. pneumoniae UTIs. Emerging therapeutic strategies, such as optimized antibiotic combination therapy, bacteriophages, biofilm matrix-degrading enzymes, quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs), antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and microbiome-directed approaches are critically evaluated with particular emphasis on their potential applicability in children. Although several anti-biofilm strategies have demonstrated encouraging results in experimental models, robust pediatric clinical evidence remains scarce. Current international guidelines continue to rely primarily on planktonic antimicrobial susceptibility testing without addressing biofilm-specific therapeutic considerations. In the absence of validated biofilm diagnostics, catheter stewardship and dosing optimization remain the most defensible clinical interventions available today. Broader translation of anti-biofilm strategies into pediatric practice will require dedicated pharmacokinetic studies, standardized biofilm diagnostics, and prospective clinical trials.},
}

@article {pmid42650724,
year = {2026},
author = {Nazir, A and Bava, P and Hussain, A and Amna, T and Chand Jamali, M and Raza, A and Barasarathi, J},
title = {Endophytic Fungal Metabolites as Modulators of Key Signaling Pathways in Chronic Diseases and Aging.},
journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/antibiotics15080799},
pmid = {42650724},
issn = {2079-6382},
support = {19300966.//Abu Dhabi University/ ; },
abstract = {Chronic diseases and aging-related disorders are driven by interconnected mechanisms, including oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and glycation. Targeting these overlapping pathways remains a major challenge for conventional single-target therapeutics. In this context, endophytic fungi have emerged as a promising source of bioactive metabolites with multi-target pharmacological potential. This review provides a mechanistic overview of endophyte-derived metabolites, including alkaloids, terpenoids, polyketides, and phenolic compounds, with a focus on their ability to modulate key signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Nrf2, PI3K/Akt, AMPK, and the AGE-RAGE axis. Evidence from experimental studies suggests that these metabolites exhibit anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic regulatory effects through coordinated modulation of cellular signaling networks. Several endophyte-derived metabolites also possess antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens and may represent a promising source of novel anti-infective agents. Their ability to modulate host immune responses and microbial-associated signaling pathways further highlights their relevance for antimicrobial discovery and microbiome-based therapeutic strategies. Particular attention is given to pathway-level convergence in chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and inflammation-associated disorders, as well as their relevance to aging and health span. The pharmacological potential of these compounds is discussed alongside key limitations, including issues related to bioavailability, reproducibility, and translation into clinical applications. Overall, endophytic fungal metabolites represent a structurally diverse and mechanistically rich resource for the development of multi-target therapeutic strategies. Future integration of metabolomics, genome mining, and advanced disease models will be essential to bridge the gap between experimental findings and clinical application.},
}

@article {pmid42650760,
year = {2026},
author = {Xie, Y and Zhou, Z and Wu, X and Teng, J and Zhang, X and Sun, Y and Chen, L and Ding, L and Yuan, W},
title = {Unraveling Effects and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Phellodendrine on Inflammatory Bowel Disease.},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {16},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biom16081092},
pmid = {42650760},
issn = {2218-273X},
support = {2024QL063//Ningbo youth science and technology innovation leading project/ ; 20212BAB215001//Natural Science Foundation Project of Jiangxi Province/ ; Q20231610//Educational Commission of Hubei Province of China/ ; 2022Y14//Research Project of Wuhan Polytechnic University/ ; YJG-2023-06//Degree and Graduate Education Reform Research Project of Gannan Normal University/ ; CX220078//Gannan Normal University Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates/ ; CX230078//Gannan Normal University Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates/ ; CX240100//Gannan Normal University Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates/ ; CX240113//Gannan Normal University Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates/ ; YCXJ25-B23//Special Fundfor Graduate Student Innovation Gannan Normal University/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Zebrafish ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy/chemically induced/metabolism/pathology ; *Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; Intestinal Barrier Function ; Dextran Sulfate ; Disease Models, Animal ; Inflammation/drug therapy ; Quinolizines ; },
abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Current treatments, including anti-inflammatory drugs and biologics, often have limited efficacy and significant side effects, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Phellodendrine (PHE) is a characteristic ingredient of Phellodendri chinensis, yet its effects and mechanisms on IBD remain elusive. The present study evaluated the potential of PHE for preventing dextran sulfate sodium-induced IBD in zebrafish. PHE effectively reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and modulated polarized macrophages. The qPCR results further confirmed the down-regulation of pro-inflammatory genes and up-regulation of anti-inflammatory factors. Consequently, PHE promoted the resolution of IBD inflammation. PHE also restored intestinal barrier integrity by enhancing MUC2 expression, increasing goblet cell counts, and reducing intestinal permeability of both chemical and physical barriers. In addition, PHE was associated with alterations in the gut microbiome, including a reduction in potentially pathogenic microbes and an increase in beneficial microbial populations. PHE also alleviated oxidative stress. Network pharmacology suggested the potential involvement of the IL-17 signaling pathway, the lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, and the TNF signaling pathway in the preventive effects of PHE against intestinal inflammation in the zebrafish model. In vivo gene expression analysis suggested that JUN, PTGS2, IL1B, DRD2, CALM1, and HSP90AA1 may serve as putative targets of PHE. Collectively, our results indicate that PHE demonstrates potential anti-inflammatory and barrier-protective activities in a zebrafish model of intestinal inflammation. The pharmacological mechanisms by which PHE restores intestinal barriers (microbial, chemical, physical, and immune barriers) include resolving inflammation, decreasing ROS production, and enhancing lipid accumulation in the lumen overlying the intestinal mucus barrier. This study provides novel insights into the preventive effects of PHE against intestinal inflammation in a zebrafish model, suggesting its potential as a candidate for further investigation.},
}

Animals
Zebrafish
*Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy/chemically induced/metabolism/pathology
*Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology
Oxidative Stress/drug effects
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects
Intestinal Barrier Function
Dextran Sulfate
Disease Models, Animal
Inflammation/drug therapy
Quinolizines

@article {pmid42650852,
year = {2026},
author = {He, Y and Gao, J and Li, Q and Zhang, C and Zhai, M and Liu, Y},
title = {Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Disrupts Intestinal Homeostasis Through Gut Microbiota Remodeling and Microbiota-Metabolite Interactions.},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {16},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biom16081186},
pmid = {42650852},
issn = {2218-273X},
support = {82571143//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023ZZ02009//Shanghai Top Priority Research Center Program/ ; No. 2023YFC3605600//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Male ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Hypoxia/metabolism/microbiology ; Mice ; Homeostasis ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Intestinal Barrier Function ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/metabolism/microbiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Metabolome ; Multiomics ; Akkermansia ; },
abstract = {Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), which contributes to systemic metabolic disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying CIH-induced intestinal dysfunction remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of CIH on intestinal barrier integrity, gut microbiota, and host metabolism using a multi-omics approach. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to six weeks of CIH or normoxia. Colonic barrier integrity was assessed by histological and molecular analyses. Gut microbiota was profiled by full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Untargeted metabolomics was performed on fecal and serum samples, followed by integrated microbiome-metabolome analysis. CIH markedly impaired colonic barrier integrity, as evidenced by disrupted crypt architecture, reduced goblet cell abundance, and decreased expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5. CIH also induced gut microbial dysbiosis, characterized by depletion of the beneficial mucin-associated bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila and enrichment of several anaerobic taxa. Metabolomic analysis revealed opposite alterations of PC (20:2/0:0) and LysoPE (20:5/0:0) between feces and serum, whereas melatonin was consistently decreased in both compartments. Integrated multi-omics analysis further revealed close associations between microbial dysbiosis and metabolic remodeling. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CIH disrupts intestinal homeostasis through coordinated alterations in barrier integrity, gut microbiota composition, and host metabolism, providing new insights into the intestinal mechanisms underlying OSA-associated systemic dysfunction.},
}

Animals
Male
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
*Hypoxia/metabolism/microbiology
Mice
Homeostasis
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Intestinal Barrier Function
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
Dysbiosis/metabolism/microbiology
Feces/microbiology
Metabolome
Multiomics
Akkermansia

@article {pmid42650868,
year = {2026},
author = {Rakhimbayeva, Z and Mussayev, A and Oshibayeva, A and Nuskabayeva, G and Kyrykbayeva, S and Begimbekova, L and Khudaibergenova, S and Sadykova, K and Zhagiparova, Z and Aljofan, M},
title = {Mare's Milk for Gut Microbiome Restoration and Immune Recovery After COVID-19 in Children and Pregnant Women: A Hypothesis-Generating Systematic Review.},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {16},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biom16081203},
pmid = {42650868},
issn = {2218-273X},
support = {BR24992814//Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan/ ; },
mesh = {Female ; Animals ; Humans ; Horses ; *COVID-19/immunology/microbiology ; Pregnancy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Milk ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Child ; Dysbiosis ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mare's milk has gained attention as a functional food due to its bioactive compounds and potential microbiome-modulating properties. This systematic review evaluated the evidence on its potential role in gut microbiome restoration and immune modulation following COVID-19, particularly in pediatric and maternal populations.

METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched for studies investigating mare's milk or koumiss and their effects on gut microbiota, immune responses, inflammatory markers, or gastrointestinal outcomes.

RESULTS: Eight studies were included: five examined COVID-19-associated gut microbiome alterations, and three investigated the biological effects of mare's milk or fermented mare's milk. COVID-19 was consistently associated with reduced microbial diversity, depletion of beneficial bacteria, and enrichment of opportunistic pathogens, with some changes persisting after recovery.

CONCLUSIONS: Koumiss demonstrates biologically plausible microbiome-modulating and immunoregulatory properties that may support recovery from COVID-19-associated gut dysbiosis. However, current evidence remains indirect, and clinical studies are needed before recommendations can be made.},
}

Female
Animals
Humans
Horses
*COVID-19/immunology/microbiology
Pregnancy
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology
*Milk
SARS-CoV-2
Child
Dysbiosis

@article {pmid42651018,
year = {2026},
author = {Borbei, R and Brata, VD and Dobrotă, I and Ceteraș, LM and Clim, M and Alexescu, TG and Milaciu, MV and Perne, MG and Gerdanovics, CA and Procopciuc, LM and Cozma, A and Orășan, OH},
title = {Metabolic Syndrome and Pancreatic Cancer: Linking Insulin Resistance, Inflammation, and Carcinogenesis.},
journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {16},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/diagnostics16162616},
pmid = {42651018},
issn = {2075-4418},
abstract = {Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a composite classification defined by heterogeneous combinations of cardiometabolic abnormalities. Several components have been associated with pancreatic cancer (PC), but studies often conflate long-term metabolic exposure, tumor-related prediagnostic metabolic change, and prognosis after diagnosis. This review critically evaluates these three settings. This narrative review searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through April 2026, prioritizing meta-analyses, prospective cohorts, Mendelian randomization studies, clinical studies, preclinical mechanistic evidence, and guidelines. Evidence was interpreted with attention to reverse causation, residual confounding, outcome definitions, and validation. Meta-analyses report a 25-34% higher PC risk among individuals with MetS, with a stepwise gradient across the number of metabolic components; hyperglycemia showed the strongest association among individual components (RR 1.55, 95% CI 1.42-1.70). However, MetS represents multiple versions of exposure, and the epidemiological and clinical evidence remains predominantly observational. Proposed mechanisms involving insulin signaling, adipokines, oxidative stress, epigenetic regulation, and the microbiome are largely preclinical and are not pancreas-specific. New-onset diabetes, rising HbA1c, and involuntary weight loss may mark occult pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, but available risk-enrichment models and biomarkers are insufficiently validated for routine screening. After diagnosis, metabolic status and body-composition measures have been associated with survival and perioperative outcomes, although confounding and cancer-related cachexia complicate interpretation. MetS is consistently associated with PC risk but is neither a single causal exposure nor an established target for PC prevention. MetS alone does not justify pancreatic imaging or biomarker testing. Lifestyle and pharmacologic treatment should follow established cardiometabolic indications; their effects on PC incidence remain unproven. Priorities include component-specific causal studies and prospective validation of risk-enrichment strategies.},
}

@article {pmid42651058,
year = {2026},
author = {Agache, A and Kaalby Møller, L and Eskemose, SR and Selnes, O and Deding, U and Bjørsum-Meyer, T and Al-Najami, I and Høgh, A and Schelde-Olesen, B and Løfberg, C and Kjølhede, T and Rasmussen, MK and Baatrup, G and Koulaouzidis, A},
title = {Colon Capsule Endoscopy in the Routine Diagnostic Pathway for Colorectal Diseases (DanCap): Protocol for a Cluster-Allocated Crossover Trial.},
journal = {Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {16},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/diagnostics16162657},
pmid = {42651058},
issn = {2075-4418},
support = {//Odense University Hospital/ ; },
abstract = {Background/Objectives: Colonoscopy is the standard examination for many symptomatic patients referred for lower-gastrointestinal investigation, but it is resource-intensive and may be a burdensome experience. Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) offers a minimally invasive, sedation-free first-line examination, although clinically important findings, inadequate cleansing or incomplete transit can generate downstream colonoscopy. DanCap aims to compare the costs and clinical consequences of a CCE-first pathway with routine conventional colonoscopy (CC). Methods: DanCap is a single-centre, cluster-allocated crossover trial at Odense University Hospital, Denmark. General practice clinics follow CCE or CC according to the parity of their pre-existing provider number, with pathways crossing after 200 consecutive CCE participants; no trial-generated random allocation sequence is used. Eight hundred symptomatic adults aged >18 years referred for expedited lower-gastrointestinal investigation are planned. CCE participants with suspected cancer, any polyp ≥6 mm, inadequate cleansing or an incomplete examination are referred for colonoscopy. The primary outcome is pathway cost. Registered secondary outcomes and prespecified process measures include polyp and colorectalcancer detection, examination quality, reinvestigation and patient-reported consequences. FIT and microbiome are registered secondary outcomes; participation in the substudy is optional and the analyses are exploratory within the CCEpathway. Primary analyses will follow the assigned pathway and account for GP clinic clustering, period and allocation sequence. Expected Results: The trial will quantify the resource use and clinical consequences of implementing CCE in routine symptomatic practice. Conclusions: DanCap is intended to inform decisions about CCE pathway implementation rather than to establish unbiased whole-cohort test sensitivity or specificity. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06475560; first submitted 20 June 2024 and first posted 26 June 2024. Recruitment began on 27 November 2024; the registry listed the study as recruiting when last updated on 19 March 2026.},
}

@article {pmid42651144,
year = {2026},
author = {Lee, S and Hong, SH and Nam, YJ and Cho, YH and Son, SJ and Hong, CH},
title = {An Integrated Model Based on Gut Microbiota and APOE Genotype for Predicting Dementia Risk.},
journal = {Brain sciences},
volume = {16},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/brainsci16080834},
pmid = {42651144},
issn = {2076-3425},
support = {6637-303//Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency/ ; RS-2025-25303051//Korea Health Industry Development Institute/ ; RS-2022-KHI30309//Korea Health Industry Development Institute/ ; GRRCAjou2023-B02//Gyeonggi Provincal Medical Center/ ; RS-2021-NR056488//National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dementia develops through the combined influence of genetic vulnerability, biological processes, and environmental exposures. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is a well-known genetic contributor to dementia risk, and growing evidence links gut microbial alterations to cognitive decline and cerebrovascular-related pathology. Nevertheless, studies jointly evaluating genetic, microbiome, and clinical information remain relatively scarce. This study examined an integrated framework combining APOE genotype and gut microbiome data for cross-sectional dementia classification.

METHODS: We analyzed 292 participants representing three cognitive stages: subjective memory impairment (SMI), mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Clinical variables, APOE genotype, and gut microbial metagenomic profiles were examined. Associations among genetic risk, Alzheimer's disease pathology, and brain structural changes were assessed, and multivariable models were used to distinguish participants with dementia from those with SMI or MCI.

RESULTS: APOE ε4 carriage was most frequent among participants with dementia, while no ε4 carriers were observed in the SMI group. Gut microbial profiles differed according to the dementia-related genetic-risk category (mild vs. moderate-to-high). The fully integrated model showed a numerically higher cross-validated AUC than models constructed from fewer data domains. Streptococcus, Akkermansia, and Fusicatenibacter were more abundant in the moderate-to-high genetic-risk group; these taxon-level findings were exploratory and based on nominal p-values.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings support an exploratory integrated framework for cross-sectional dementia classification based on genetic and gut microbiome information. Independent longitudinal and multicenter validation is required before the framework can be interpreted as predicting future dementia risk or supporting personalized clinical decisions.},
}

@article {pmid42651642,
year = {2026},
author = {Novoa Díaz, MB and Carriere, P and Vinderola, G and Gentili, C and Cattoni, DI},
title = {The Female Reproductive Microbiome: Mechanistic Insights and Bioengineering Perspectives.},
journal = {Biology},
volume = {15},
number = {16},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biology15161337},
pmid = {42651642},
issn = {2079-7737},
support = {PGI 24/ZB01//Universidad Nacional del Sur/ ; PGI 24/ZB23//Universidad Nacional del Sur/ ; 101182953//European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme/ ; },
abstract = {Microbiota has emerged as a potential regulator of female reproductive health through immunological, metabolic, and endocrine networks. Growing evidence suggests that the composition and stability of the vaginal, uterine, and gut microbiota are associated with fertility outcomes. Disruptions in reproductive tract homeostasis have been linked to infertility, implantation failure, pregnancy loss, and diminished success in assisted reproductive technologies. Beyond local interactions, maternal gut microbiota may influence systemic immunity and metabolic pathways related to vaginal and endometrial microbiota. While these findings highlight the microbiome-based signatures' potential as predictive and prognostic biomarkers, their clinical applicability remains unconfirmed. Evidence is limited by small cohort sizes, methodological and analytical heterogeneity, and lack of standardization, limiting clinical translation. This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the microbiome's role in female reproductive health, highlighting its potential impact on pathophysiology, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies. While this approach allows for a broad conceptual overview, we explicitly note that it is not systematic. As a result, this review is limited by the absence of a standardized search protocol, which may introduce selection bias. Finally, we review advances in microbial engineering and synthetic biology, highlighting engineered living biotherapeutics as promising strategies to improve microbiome-based reproductive medicine.},
}