@article {pmid42083199,
year = {2026},
author = {Xu, C and Zhang, Z and Bai, Y},
title = {Interpreting the asymmetric interaction between yeast and acetic acid bacteria in kefir grains from a metabolic perspective.},
journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)},
volume = {235},
number = {},
pages = {119142},
doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2026.119142},
pmid = {42083199},
issn = {1873-7145},
mesh = {*Kefir/microbiology ; *Kluyveromyces/metabolism ; *Acetic Acid/metabolism ; *Microbial Interactions ; *Acetobacter/metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Metabolomics ; Biofilms ; Food Microbiology ; Fermentation ; },
abstract = {As a naturally complex mixed microbial system, the intricate microbial interactions within kefir grains remain poorly understood, particularly regarding the relationships between yeasts and acetic acid bacteria. To elucidate the strain interaction mechanisms in kefir grains, this study systematically investigated the interactions between kefir-derived yeast (Kluyveromyces marxianus Y7) and acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacter fabarum A26) by integrating species-specific primer-based qPCR quantification, growth status analysis, biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide (EPS) measurement, and non-targeted metabolomics. The results demonstrated that co-culture established an asymmetric interaction pattern dominated by A26, with Y7 continuously adapting. Metabolomics and pathway enrichment analyses (KEGG) revealed that the interactions specifically activated core pathways such as ABC transporters, amino acid biosynthesis, and protein digestion and absorption. Dynamic changes in key metabolites elucidated their functional roles in the interaction: Y7 upregulated phenyllactic acid (as an antagonistic and signaling molecule) and hexylglutathione (antioxidant) in response to stress; the riboflavin secreted by Y7 may provide metabolic assistance to A26; the accumulation of (S)-2-hydroxyglutarate suggested energy metabolism remodeling in Y7; while the upregulation of 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid was associated with biofilm formation. This study is the first to discover a unique EPS metabolic cycle during co- culture: early synthesis followed by degradation, accompanied by the re-accumulation of sucrose, which constitutes a key internal carbon resource recycling strategy. In summary, from the perspective of metabolites and pathways, this research reveals that the two strains establish an efficient symbiotic metabolic system by defining functional roles, driving metabolic division of labor, and achieving resource cycling.},
}

*Kefir/microbiology
*Kluyveromyces/metabolism
*Acetic Acid/metabolism
*Microbial Interactions
*Acetobacter/metabolism
Coculture Techniques
Metabolomics
Biofilms
Food Microbiology
Fermentation

@article {pmid42083270,
year = {2026},
author = {Kelly, KH and Coleine, C and Coshland, C and Stajich, JE},
title = {Novel Glomeromycotina-moss associations identified in California dryland biocrusts.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.71211},
pmid = {42083270},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {CA-R-PPA-211-5062-H//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; DBI-1429826//Division of Biological Infrastructure/ ; DBI-2215705//Division of Biological Infrastructure/ ; S10-OD016290/RI/ORIP NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Drylands, which comprise c. 45% of Earth's land area, host biological soil crusts (biocrusts): symbiotic communities of cyanobacteria, fungi, algae, lichen, and bryophytes that stabilize soil and support key ecosystem functions. Moss-dominated biocrusts are particularly interesting due to their potential to illuminate ancient bryophyte-fungal interactions. To test the hypothesis that mosses in biocrusts host endophytic Mucoromycota fungi and that local climate influences the composition of these fungal communities, we conducted amplicon metabarcoding and microscopic surveys employing fungal staining across sites with varying aridity. We identified novel associations between mosses and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), with phylogenetic analyses revealing distinct fungal communities in moss biocrusts compared with adjacent bare soil. Intracellular branching by fungi resembling Glomeromycotina was observed within healthy Trichostomopsis australasiae (Bryophyta) cells. Moreover, shifts in AMF community composition across different aridity levels within the same moss species highlight the variation in moss-associated Glomeromycotina diversity, composition, and relative abundance. These findings provide critical insights into ancient bryophyte-fungal symbioses, potentially analogous to those enabling early land plant colonization during the Ordovician (c. 470 million years ago). They also underscore the need to understand and protect biocrust microbial communities as aridity intensifies under climate change.},
}

@article {pmid42087236,
year = {2026},
author = {Dokpomiwa, H and Bilgo, E and Failloux, AB},
title = {Unlocking new frontiers in vector control strategies using Aedes aegypti microbiota.},
journal = {Parasites & vectors},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s13071-026-07304-5},
pmid = {42087236},
issn = {1756-3305},
support = {ARISE-PP-143//African Academy of Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Controlling Aedes aegypti, the key vector involved in the transmission of numerous arboviruses, is a major concern, particularly in Africa, where transmission is increasing overall punctuated by annual fluctuations. Traditionally focused on reducing their populations or eliminating their suitable habitats, innovative strategies such as those exploiting microbiota to reinforce existing tools are needed. The microbiota of Ae. aegypti, which is composed of diverse symbiotic microorganisms, is involved in their physiology, reproduction, and ability to transmit pathogens, indicating considerable potential for vector control.

METHODS: Here, we seek to review the current knowledge on the microbiota of Ae. aegypti and its relevance in vector control, with a particular focus on African populations of Ae. aegypti.

RESULTS: First, we provide an overview of two major Aedes vectors and Aedes-borne virus distribution in Africa, their microbiota structure, and some factors likely to influence it, showing that ambient environment is one of the determining factors. Second, we have outlined studies that have explored microbial components involved in the enhancement and attenuation of the vectorial competence of Ae. aegypti worldwide, followed by an overview on African Aedes mosquito populations. We then examined the impact of global changes on the vector‒microbiota complex, and by extension, on the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases in Africa. Finally, we analyzed the added value of strategies exploiting the mosquito microbiota and the obstacles limiting their large-scale implementation.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this review highlights the promising use of microbiota for the control of Ae. aegypti while identifying future research directions for its large-scale deployment in Africa.},
}

@article {pmid42073058,
year = {2026},
author = {Benninga, MA and Schäfer, KH and Piloquet, H and Stanton, C},
title = {The Gut in Early Life-Postnatal Challenges.},
journal = {Children (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/children13040480},
pmid = {42073058},
issn = {2227-9067},
abstract = {The neonatal development period from the time of birth can be considered the period of greatest physiological changes throughout the human lifespan. These changes are partly due to dietary or environmental factors and are also modulated by genetic, neuronal, and humoral influences. The focus of research is increasingly on the microbial colonization of the neonatal intestine, since the establishment of a healthy, symbiotic newborn microbiota not only corresponds closely with nutrient metabolism, immune functions, and growth, but also with the brain as part of the so-called "gut-brain axis". At the same time, a critical time window of opportunity opens up for the early infant microbiota, which is accessible to modulating approaches in favor of normal infant development. Although the definition of "normal" microbiota in infants still remains challenging, the microbiota of infants delivered at term can be discussed as the gold standard-provided they were exclusively breastfed and have not been exposed to antibiotics. Advances in sequencing technologies now also allow us to identify and characterize the microbiota at the strain level and to provide the scientific rationale for new approaches to modulate the early-life microbiome in a more targeted and personalized way-applicable also for formula-fed children who cannot be supplied with human milk. This review addresses the challenges associated with the "healthy" development of a newborn during the first weeks and months of life and discusses potentially modifiable external factors in light of the requirements for the establishment of a functional gut microbiota, gastrointestinal system, and gut-brain axis.},
}

@article {pmid42074052,
year = {2026},
author = {Jiang, Y and Li, Y and Zhang, Y and Jin, J and Cao, Y and Wang, Y and Sun, Z},
title = {Characterization of Six Complete Mitochondrial Genomes and ITS Sequences from Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm.: A Phylogenetic Study and Comparative Analysis.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms27083407},
pmid = {42074052},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {CARS-21//China Agriculture Research System/ ; KJ2019-001//Research of development of rejuvenation technology of Gastrodia elata Ningqiang in Shaanxi Province/ ; },
mesh = {*Genome, Mitochondrial ; *Phylogeny ; *Armillaria/genetics/classification ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; Open Reading Frames/genetics ; Codon Usage ; },
abstract = {Armillaria species hold significant ecological and economic importance and they play a vital role in the growth of traditional Chinese medicine Gastrodia elata (G. elata). In this study, we assembled and compared the mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of six Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P. Kumm. (A. mellea) strains isolated from the main G. elata-producing region of Hanzhong, China. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing confirmed that all six strains form a monophyletic clade. Their mitogenomes (120,775 to 120,839 bp) exhibit a highly conserved architecture, each containing 16 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 23 open reading frames (ORFs), 27 tRNAs, and two rRNAs. Codon usage and amino acid frequency were strikingly similar among the six strains, with a strong AT bias. In contrast, comparisons with other Armillaria species revealed marked differences in gene order, repeat structures, and selection pressures. Phylogenetic analyses based on PCGs further resolved the close relationship among the six strains while highlighting distinct molecular variation across species. On the whole, these findings demonstrate that A. mellea strains co-evolving with G. elata maintain a highly uniform mitochondrial genome architecture, suggesting strong purifying selection or recent divergence within this symbiotic population. The pronounced differences from other Armillaria species at the levels of gene arrangement and selection pressure imply that mitochondrial gene rearrangement may have accompanied species diversification in the genus. By providing the first complete mitogenomes of A. mellea from a major G. elata cultivation area, this study not only expands the genomic resources for Armillaria but also establishes a foundation for understanding how mitochondrial variation might influence fungal growth, adaptation, and symbiotic efficiency with G. elata.},
}

*Genome, Mitochondrial
*Phylogeny
*Armillaria/genetics/classification
RNA, Transfer/genetics
Open Reading Frames/genetics
Codon Usage

@article {pmid42074121,
year = {2026},
author = {Daskalova, E and Lee, JS and Zahmanova, G and Minkov, I},
title = {Integrated Symbiotic Pleiotropy: Long Non-Coding RNAs and Disordered Proteins Interweaving the Functional Layers of the Eukaryotic Cell.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms27083478},
pmid = {42074121},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {BG16RFPR002-1.014-0003-C01//the European Regional Development Fund through Programme Research Innovation and Digitalisation for Smart Transformation/ ; MUPD25-BF-004//Plovdiv University/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Intrinsically Disordered Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics/metabolism ; *Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism ; Humans ; Animals ; *Genetic Pleiotropy ; Evolution, Molecular ; },
abstract = {Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and RNA-protein complexes (RNPs) are increasingly recognized as central to the regulatory complexity of modern eukaryotes. This review proposes that the remarkable diversity of eukaryotic systems arises from the long-term integration of ancient RNA/RNP mechanisms, layered with innovations introduced by successive symbioses. We outline four interconnected levels of symbiosis contributing to this process: (1) molecular symbiosis, involving dynamic assemblies of RNAs, proteins, and membraneless organelles (MLOs); (2) genome symbiosis, driven by the expansion of non-coding and repetitive DNA; (3) intracellular symbiosis, initiated by mitochondria acquisition; and (4) intercellular symbiosis, rooted in the cellular cooperation that enables multicellularity. We highlight lncRNAs and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) as versatile mediators that interweave interactions across scales, predominantly within phase-separated condensates. Building upon these multi-level processes, we propose the framework of integrated symbiotic pleiotropy-a concept where molecular components acquire layered functional roles as a direct consequence of successive symbiotic acquisitions. This paradigm unites information layering, functional moonlighting, molecular tinkering, and exaptation into a coherent trajectory for eukaryotic evolution.},
}

*Symbiosis/genetics
*Intrinsically Disordered Proteins/genetics/metabolism
*RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics/metabolism
*Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism
Humans
Animals
*Genetic Pleiotropy
Evolution, Molecular

@article {pmid42075132,
year = {2026},
author = {Rodero, MDR and Drazdienė, L and Muñoz, R},
title = {Photosynthetic Biogas Upgrading Using Microalgal-Bacterial Consortia: Fundamentals, Process Optimization and Challenges.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14040735},
pmid = {42075132},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {CLU-2025-2-06, UIC320 and UIC379//This work was supported by the Department of Education of the Regional Government of Castilla y León and co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)/ ; },
abstract = {Biogas is a key renewable energy vector that can support the transition toward a net-zero carbon economy. Its direct use as a natural gas substitute is limited because it must be upgraded to meet CH4 purity specifications required for injection into the gas grid or for use as a vehicle fuel. This review summarizes current progress in photosynthetic biogas upgrading, an emerging biotechnology based on the symbiotic action of microalgal-bacterial consortia capable of supporting gas purification with nutrient recovery in a single integrated process. This biotechnology relies on two stages: an absorption unit that enables gas-liquid mass transfer of the biogas pollutants, and a photobioreactor in which CO2 and other contaminants are removed. Optimal system performance is strongly influenced by the liquid to gas (L/G) ratio, with values between 0.5 and 1.0, typically balancing effective CO2 removal and limited CH4 dilution. High-alkalinity nutrient media (1.5-2.5 gIC L[-1]) and pH > 9 remain essential to sustain the chemical gradients driving CO2 mass transfer. Robust microalgae/cyanobacteria such as Chlorella vulgaris and Pseudanabaena sp. frequently dominate these systems. Recent efforts in the biostimulation of photosynthesis are presented based on their potential to enhance biomass productivity and CO2 removal, which could decrease the footprint of the process and facilitate its large-scale adoption for biomethane production.},
}

@article {pmid42075205,
year = {2026},
author = {Xin, Y and Chen, L and Ijaz, M and Chen, R and Manzoor, N and Alrafaie, A and Wang, X and Luo, J and Li, B and Shou, L},
title = {Symbiotic Bacterial Diversity, Functional Profiling and Antibiotic Susceptibility of the Red Imported Fire Ant.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14040808},
pmid = {42075205},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2024-02-08-00-12-F00045//Shanghai Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project/ ; PSAU/2026/R/1447//Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University/ ; },
abstract = {The red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, is a globally invasive pest that causes substantial ecological, agricultural, and public health challenges. Conventional control strategies primarily depend on chemical insecticides, which present environmental risks and limited long-term efficacy. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the bacterial microbiota of S. invicta and compared it with a sympatric non-target ant species (Pheidole nodus) to explore the ecological significance and biocontrol potential of symbiotic bacteria. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the symbiotic bacterial community of S. invicta exhibited markedly higher richness and diversity. A total of 1651 amplified sequence variants (ASVs) were identified, of which 1089 ASVs are unique to the RIFAs, and 460 are unique to non-target ants. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) highlighted 33 biomarker taxa (score > 6.5), with strong enrichment of Stenotrophomonas, Serratia, Pseudomonas, Luteibacter, Bradyrhizobium, Brucella, Smaragdicoccus, Gordonia, and Aeromonas. Functional predictions and enzymatic assays in vitro demonstrated that dominant cultivable genera, particularly Stenotrophomonas (SI-7, SI-17), Serratia (SI-1, SI-3, SI-6, SI-18), and Pseudomonas (SI-2, SI-8, SI-9, SI-11, SI-19), exhibit substantial proteolytic and lipolytic activity, suggesting key roles in nutrient metabolism and host ecological adaptability. Antibiotic susceptibility profiling further revealed that florfenicol shows broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against these dominant symbionts. These findings indicate that disrupting dominant symbiotic bacteria may impair host physiology and thus serve as a targeted control strategy. Overall, the study elucidates the diversity, functional potential, and biocontrol applicability of the S. invicta microbiome, providing a foundation for developing sustainable, microbiome-based pest management approaches.},
}

@article {pmid42075233,
year = {2026},
author = {Mousa, WK and AlShami, R and Ghemrawi, R},
title = {Shared Microbial Blueprints Underlying Symbiotic Plasticity in Desert Plant Endophytes.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14040836},
pmid = {42075233},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {SWARD-F23-020.//Sandooq Al Watan/ ; },
abstract = {The desert ecosystem harbors a resilient microbial community that sustains plant life under extreme stress. Understanding the endophytic microbiota of desert flora provides key insights into how these microorganisms enable plant survival and maintain ecological balance in arid landscapes. To date, the endophytic bacterial communities of dominant desert plants in the Arabian Peninsula have not been comprehensively characterized. Here, we investigated the endophytic microbiota of five co-adapted desert species, namely, Schweinfurthia papilionacea, Sesuvium verrucosum, Ochtocloa compressa, Helianthemum nummularium, and Convolvulus arvensis. These plants coexist in hyper-arid habitats and exhibit exceptional tolerance to drought, salinity, and nutrient scarcity. We hypothesized that, despite their phylogenetic divergence, these plants host functionally convergent microbial communities shaped by desert selection pressures. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we obtained 3.4 million high-quality reads from 25 samples. Clustering at 97% similarity revealed 35 phyla and 17 dominant genera, highlighting notable microbial richness and ecological complexity. Alpha-diversity indices showed comparable species richness across hosts, while beta-diversity indicated community differentiation driven by environmental filtering. The dominant phyla included Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, Cyanobacteriota, and Bacillota, reflecting microbial adaptation to extreme desert conditions. Functional pathway prediction revealed enrichment of genes associated with DNA repair and protein turnover, suggesting metabolic flexibility and enhanced survival under stress. Overall, this study provides a comparative metagenomic insight into the endophytic bacterial communities of five desert plant species, uncovering a consistent pattern of functional convergence across diverse hosts. The findings suggest the presence of shared functional traits among the endophytic microbiota examined here, offering preliminary evidence for microbial contributions to plant resilience in arid environments.},
}

@article {pmid42075297,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, X and Qin, Z and Wang, H and Tao, X and Xia, J and Zhao, Y and Yi, P and Ma, Y and Wang, X and Ma, X and Li, N and Zhong, Q and Yao, G},
title = {Seasonal Dynamics of Skin Microbiota and Metabolites in Transhumant-Grazed Altay Sheep.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14040901},
pmid = {42075297},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2022TSYCJC0026//the "Tianshan Talent" Youth Science and Technology Top Talent Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/ ; },
abstract = {To explore the seasonal variation patterns of the skin microecology of Altay sheep under transhumant grazing conditions, skin swabs were collected from 60 free-grazing Altay sheep at seasonal transition nodes in the Altay region. Metagenomic sequencing combined with untargeted metabolomics was used to characterize their bacterial community structure, functional pathways, and metabolite profiles. The results showed that the skin microecology of Altay sheep presented obvious seasonal variation patterns. In spring, 35 of the 39 highly abundant bacteria were environmentally derived, five proliferation-related pathways were significantly enriched, and the levels of five metabolites associated with microbial community regulation and skin barrier defense were elevated. In summer, the abundance of three skin symbiotic bacteria increased, the activities of eight pathways mainly related to biofilm formation were significantly enhanced, and the contents of five metabolites primarily associated with membrane lipid homeostasis and selective bacteriostasis increased. In autumn, the abundances of nine radiation-resistant and cold-tolerant strains increased, together with the elevated abundance of two opportunistic pathogens; five repair-related pathways were active, and the levels of four anti-inflammatory and repair-associated metabolites were synchronously increased. In winter, the abundance of two cold-tolerant strains increased, the activities of pathways related to nitrogen metabolism and energy synthesis were enhanced, and one lignan compound was identified as the key metabolite. These findings elucidate the seasonal dynamic patterns of the skin microecology of Altay sheep and provide a theoretical basis for research on the adaptive mechanisms and seasonal health management of Altay sheep and other sheep in alpine regions.},
}

@article {pmid42075315,
year = {2026},
author = {Guimarães, MB and Helbourn, CCBR and Gonçalves, GO and Gonçalves, MBM and Silviera, D and Bazzo, YMF and Reis, PEDD and Magalhães, PO},
title = {Endophytic Fungi as a Promising Source of Bioactive Compounds for Wound Healing: A Systematic Review.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14040918},
pmid = {42075315},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {88887.964924/2024-00 / 23038.003820/2024-15//Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)/ ; 00193-00002383/2023-07.//Federal District Research Support Foundation (FAPDF)/ ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi (EF) inhabit internal plant tissue in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with their host plant. EF synthesizes metabolites that are structurally similar or identical to those found in their host plants, which include alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and organic acids. These molecules have promising therapeutic effects, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. Wound healing has earned attention in recent years because of its relation to chronic pathological diseases. This systematic review scanned the available scientific literature database about the wound-healing properties of EF biomolecules. Amongst 994 works, 24 were screened after abstract and full-text reading. The studies were published between 2014 and 2026, in twelve countries. In total, 16 studies presented in vivo assays, 11 studies presented in vitro assays, and 3 studies presented both assays. Most studies identified molecules, which include melanin, benzoic acid, terpenes, sesquiterpenes (purpurolide), extracellular polysaccharides, exopolysaccharides, carotenoids, fatty acids, proteins, pyrones, quinones, and hydrocarbon acids, among others. A meta-analysis was not conducted due to high heterogeneity across extracts, methodologies, and outcomes. All studies showed wound-healing properties from EF extracts. The findings suggest a positive effect of EF extracts on wound-healing properties and the need for standardized in vitro and in vivo protocols.},
}

@article {pmid42075458,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, T and Wang, F and Su, S and Yan, L and Hao, Z and Xu, J and Han, H and Wu, Y and Li, D and Zhang, S},
title = {Engineering Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation for Agriculture: Predominant Role of Host Plants and Fine-Tuning Regulation.},
journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/plants15081256},
pmid = {42075458},
issn = {2223-7747},
support = {32472204//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 1090124002//Scientific Startup Foundation for Doctors of Northwest A&F University/ ; 2452024100//Scientific Startup Foundation for Doctors of Northwest A&F University/ ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) can provide a sustainable and self-sufficient nitrogen (N) source for plants. Since its discovery, SNF has remained a central focus of both breeders and fundamental researchers. For decades, extending the utility of SNF to broader agricultural systems has been considered a promising strategy to reduce reliance on synthetic N fertilizers, thereby lowering production costs and mitigating environmental pollution caused by N overuse. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the molecular and regulatory mechanisms governing SNF in legume plants and highlights emerging strategies to optimize and extend its application in agricultural systems. Particular emphasis is placed on approaches that aim to achieve dominant, fine-tuned, and controllable regulation of N fixation to support sustainable crop production.},
}

@article {pmid42076831,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, M and Cui, J and Zhang, H and Tian, H},
title = {Decoding TaSPX-7A's governance of wheat-mycorrhizal dependence from genome-wide association to molecular mechanism.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.71229},
pmid = {42076831},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {31972497//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021YFD1900700//the National Key R&D Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) establishes symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to improve mineral nutrient acquisition. Mycorrhizal dependence (MD) reflects the growth response to the symbiosis, but the biological mechanisms underlying wheat MD are still unclear. We used genome-wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptome analyses, and performed gene overexpression and dual luciferase assays to investigate the regulation of wheat MD. We identified 182 significant MD-associated quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and focused on TaSPX-7A in QTL173 as the key candidate gene. Overexpressing TaSPX-7A increased wheat MD, and TaMADS-5D repressed TaSPX-7A expression. The deletion of the TaMADS-5D binding site in the TaSPX-7A promoter was associated with higher TaSPX-7A expression in positive MD wheat. Promoter polymorphism-mediated differential expression of TaSPX-7A likely underlies natural MD variation in wheat. Our study reveals TaSPX-7A as a key regulator of MD and advances the mechanistic understanding of wheat AM symbiosis.},
}

@article {pmid42077790,
year = {2026},
author = {Fan, X and Zhou, X and Wang, L and Zhang, X and Shen, Y and Xiao, Y and Wang, H and Deng, L and Xie, Y},
title = {Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiomes in Parasitic Roundworms Reveals Phylogeny-Associated Community Structure and Functional Adaptation.},
journal = {Transboundary and emerging diseases},
volume = {2026},
number = {},
pages = {2764696},
pmid = {42077790},
issn = {1865-1682},
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Toxocara/microbiology ; Female ; Male ; *Ascaris/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; },
abstract = {Roundworm nematodes are globally distributed zoonotic parasites that inhabit the intestinal tract of various mammals. Although these parasites reside in the host's guts, their own intestinal ecosystems remain poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that helminths may harbor distinct gut microbiomes that contribute to their physiology and host interactions, yet cross-species comparisons are lacking. Here, we performed full-length 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize and compare the gut microbiomes of four major roundworm species-Ascaris suum (As), Baylisascaris schroederi (Bs), Toxocara cati (Tc), and Toxocara vitulorum (Tv). Across 38 individual worms, we identified 359 bacterial taxa dominated by Enterobacteriaceae, with Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Klebsiella pneumoniae forming a conserved core community. Despite this compositional similarity, beta-diversity and hierarchical clustering analyses revealed that microbial community structure was primarily determined by parasite phylogeny and roundworm sex, not host diet. Functional prediction using PICRUSt2 indicated clear species-specific enrichment in metabolic pathways, such as carbohydrate metabolism in Bs and xenobiotic metabolism in As, reflecting adaptive divergence of microbial functions. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that roundworm gut microbiomes exhibited taxonomic conservation but functional specialization, shaped by the evolutionary history of the parasites themselves. This study established a conceptual framework viewing the parasite as the primary host of its microbiome and provided new insights into the co-evolutionary relationships between helminths and their symbiotic bacteria.},
}

Animals
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Phylogeny
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Toxocara/microbiology
Female
Male
*Ascaris/microbiology
Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification

@article {pmid42078675,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, X and Dong, LL and Jin, XX and Liu, XJ and Gao, M and Fang, J},
title = {Composition and Diversity Characteristics of Gut Microbiota during the Development of Telchinia issoria (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e73596},
pmid = {42078675},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) was a traditional economic crop of high commercial value, whose cultivation was threatened by the leaf-feeding pest Telchinia issoria. This study investigated how the gut microbiota of T. issoria shifted across its larval, pupal, and adult stages using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We found that Pseudomonadota and Bacillota dominated across all stages, with stage-specific enrichments of key genera: Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia in early larvae, Acinetobacter and Culicoidibacter in mid-instars, Serratia in late larvae, Enterococcus in pupae, and Pseudomonas in adults. Alpha diversity exhibited a U-shaped pattern during larval development, decreasing initially before rising again, with the lowest overall diversity observed in the pupal stage. Beta diversity confirmed distinct community structures in pupae and adults. Functionally, as predicted by PICRUSt2 based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing data, carbohydrate metabolism was enriched in pupae, whereas pathways associated with amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism were significantly decreased relative to other developmental stages. Correlation analysis suggested that elevated temperature may contribute to the decreased diversity observed in this study, which warranted further verification under controlled temperature gradients. This work establishes a foundational understanding of stage-specific microbial symbiosis in T. issoria and offers insights for future research into lepidopteran gut microbial ecology and potential biocontrol applications.},
}

@article {pmid42080277,
year = {2026},
author = {Uyeno, D and Tosuji, H and Ohtaka, A},
title = {A New Species of Branchiobdellidan Symbiotic on Freshwater Crabs from Southern Japan, with a Supplemental Re-Description of Cirrodrilus kawamurai.},
journal = {Zoological science},
volume = {43},
number = {2},
pages = {180-188},
doi = {10.2108/zs250083},
pmid = {42080277},
issn = {0289-0003},
mesh = {Animals ; Japan ; *Brachyura/physiology/parasitology ; *Symbiosis ; Animal Distribution ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity ; Female ; Male ; Fresh Water ; },
abstract = {Cirrodrilus osumi sp. nov. (Clitellata: Branchiobdellida: Branchiobdellidae) is described based on the specimens on the freshwater crab Geothelphusa exigua Suzuki and Tsuda, 1994 (Decapoda: Potamidae) collected from headwater areas in Osumi Peninsula, Kagoshima, southern Japan. Although the new branchiobdellidan resembles the continental East Asian Cirrodrilus kawamurai (Yamaguchi, 1934) in having four membranous large dorsal lobes on the peristomium, it differs by having shorter dorsal lobes and four pairs of small teeth in the jaws. Additionally, Ci. kawamurai is partially redescribed based on Yamaguchi's original slide collection. The Bayesian inference tree using partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences supported that the new species is genetically more closely related to a congener from the Korean Peninsula than to the endemic congeners from northern Japan. The finding of the new species in this study represents the record of the 12th species of the genus Cirrodrilus Pierantoni, 1905 from Japan, as well as the first record of a branchiobdellidan associated with freshwater crabs in East Asia.},
}

Animals
Japan
*Brachyura/physiology/parasitology
*Symbiosis
Animal Distribution
Phylogeny
Species Specificity
Female
Male
Fresh Water

@article {pmid42081472,
year = {2026},
author = {Lertkulvanich, F and Warrit, N and Nipitwattanaphon, M},
title = {Evolutionary adaptation and mitogenomic diversity of spiders associated with Nepenthes smilesii Pitcher Plants in Thailand.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {5},
pages = {e0348143},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0348143},
pmid = {42081472},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {Animals ; *Spiders/genetics/physiology/classification ; Thailand ; *Genome, Mitochondrial ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {Symbiosis is a close physical interaction between organisms, shaped by species-specific traits and environmental factors. The tropical pitcher plant, Nepenthes, exemplifies a predator-prey relationship; however, certain small invertebrates benefit from the pitcher plant without being subjected to predation. For example, spiders from the Thomisidae family inhabit the digestive fluid of the plant without being digested, preying on the organisms captured by the plant. These spiders offer a valuable model for investigating evolution driven by specialized niches compared to free-living relatives. This study characterized the mitogenomes of four spiders residing within the pitchers of Nepenthes smilesii in the Phu Kradueng National Park, Thailand: Thomisus sp., Henriksenia sp., Epidius sp. (Thomisidae), and Pseudopoda sp. (Sparassidae). The mitochondrial genomes measured 14,731 bp, 15,888 bp, 14,289 bp, and 14,533 bp, respectively, each consisting of 37 genes, characteristic of metazoan mitogenomes. Higher rates of nonsynonymous substitution were observed in the ND2, ND5, and ND6, genes of these pitcher-associated spiders compared to free-living species of the same families, indicating the evolutionary drivers linked to the pitcher plant environment. Distinct gene rearrangements were identified in the three Thomisids, including the duplication of two control region-like sequences in Henriksenia sp., while Pseudopoda sp. exhibited a typical mitogenome structure. The phylogenetic tree constructed using all 13 protein-coding genes provided significantly stronger bootstrap support compared to the tree based on 600 bp COI sequences. It also revealed that Thomisus sp. and Henriksenia sp. are clustered within a single monophyletic clade, while Epidius sp. was more diverse and formed a paraphyletic group relative to the rest of Thomisidae family. These results provide essential data for systematic studies and illuminate the co-evolutionary genomic signatures of pitcher plant-spider associations.},
}

Animals
*Spiders/genetics/physiology/classification
Thailand
*Genome, Mitochondrial
Phylogeny
Symbiosis
*Evolution, Molecular
*Adaptation, Physiological/genetics
*Biological Evolution

@article {pmid42082045,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, Y and Yang, Q and Yang, L and Yang, X and Zhao, X and Zhao, S},
title = {Unveiling the interactions of 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (8:2 FTSA) with the earthworm-microbe symbiosis in soil.},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {128247},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128247},
pmid = {42082045},
issn = {1873-6424},
abstract = {8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (8:2 FTSA), an important per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) found in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs), is frequently detected in soil. However, the interactions of 8:2 FTSA with soil-terrestrial invertebrate systems are poorly understood. This study investigated the biotransformation, toxicity, microbiome shifts, and microbial degradation of 8:2 FTSA in a soil-earthworm system through in vivo, in vitro, and multi-omics analyses. Earthworms efficiently accumulated 8:2 FTSA and biotransformed it into 11 distinct PFAS via α/β-oxidation mediated by metabolic enzymes, with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as the predominant metabolite. 8:2 FTSA induced significant oxidative stress, activated metabolic detoxification, and caused potential neurotoxic effects in earthworms. Furthermore, 8:2 FTSA exposure disrupted the microbial communities in the earthworm-soil system, with greater sensitivity observed in communities on the earthworm skin and in the soil compared to those in the gut. Predicted functional profiling further suggested that the gut microbiota may have greater potential for xenobiotic transformation, whereas the skin microbiota exhibited a host-dependent and low-activity phenotype. Raoultella ornithinolytica, isolated from earthworm gut and skin, transformed over 68% of 8:2 FTSA in 6 days via α/β-oxidation. Our findings advance the understanding of 8:2 FTSA interactions with the soil-earthworm system and provide a critical foundation for assessing its ecological risk in terrestrial environments.},
}

@article {pmid42082585,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, G and Huang, Y and Muckli, L and Faccio, D},
title = {Symbiotic brain-machine drawing via visual brain-computer interfaces.},
journal = {npj biomedical innovations},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42082585},
issn = {3005-1444},
support = {EP/T00097X/1, EP/Y029097/1, EP/ Z533166/1//UK Research and Innovation/ ; },
abstract = {Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are evolving from research prototypes into clinical, assistive, and performance enhancement technologies. Despite the rapid rise and promise of implantable technologies, there is a need for better and more capable wearable and non-invasive approaches whilst also minimising hardware requirements. We present a non-invasive BCI for iterative selection-based mind-drawing that infers a subject's internal visual intent through iterative selection of adaptive visual probes presented on a screen encoded at different flicker-frequencies and analyses the steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs). Gabor-inspired or machine-learned policies dynamically update the spatial placement of the visual probes on the screen to explore the image space and reconstruct simple imagined shapes within approximately two minutes or less using just single-channel EEG data. Additionally, by leveraging stable diffusion models, reconstructed mental images can be transformed into realistic and detailed visual representations. Whilst we expect that similar results might be achievable with e.g. eye-tracking techniques, our work shows that symbiotic human-AI interaction can increase BCI bit-rates by more than a factor 5x, providing a platform for future development of AI-augmented BCI.},
}

@article {pmid42082875,
year = {2026},
author = {Bürgi, L and Golaz, D and Pessi, G and Bigler, L},
title = {Siderophore-metal complexes in Paraburkholderia phymatum: structure elucidation of phymabactin.},
journal = {Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42082875},
issn = {1572-8773},
support = {310030_215282//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; },
abstract = {The symbiotic interaction between rhizobia and host plants takes place inside root nodules. Besides reducing atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, which is then used by the plant to grow in nitrogen-deficient soils, certain rhizobia produce siderophores which enable iron uptake from the soil. Siderophores are strong iron chelators due to their hydroxamate, catecholate or carboxylate functional groups. In this work, the siderophores of the beta-rhizobial genus Paraburkholderia were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). In particular, the production of the novel siderophore phymabactin by Paraburkholderia phymatum was confirmed and the structures of eleven derivatives were elucidated by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Phymabactins, consisting of a linear tetrapeptide backbone with hydroxamate and hydroxy-carboxylate groups, are structurally closely related to an already described family of siderophores called ornibactins. The acyl chain found in phymabactin derivatives is made up of eight, ten or twelve carbon atoms, contrarily to the more hydrophilic ornibactin derivatives with shorter acyl chains. Interestingly, spontaneous metal complexation of phymabactin derivatives with aluminum was observed. To explore this complexation in more detail, the collision cross sections (CCS) of phymabactins, ornibactins and corresponding metal complexes were determined by trapped ion mobility spectrometry. The CCS values of aluminum-phymabactin complexes were smaller than those of iron-phymabactin complexes, while an inverse relationship was observed for ornibactin complexes. In summary, this study discloses the molecular structures of phymabactins and investigates their metal complex formation.},
}

@article {pmid42068598,
year = {2026},
author = {Xu, M and Cheng, K and Cai, Z and Chen, G and Zhou, J},
title = {Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic insights into Ruegeria profundi-driven protective responses in coral holobionts against Vibrio coralliilyticus infection.},
journal = {Microbiological research},
volume = {309},
number = {},
pages = {128530},
doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2026.128530},
pmid = {42068598},
issn = {1618-0623},
abstract = {In the context of climate-driven coral reef degradation, opportunistic pathogens such as Vibrio coralliilyticus are emerging as significant secondary threats, acting in synergy with thermal stress to accelerate coral bleaching and mortality. In this study, we investigated the role of Ruegeria profundi in mitigating V. coralliilyticus-induced bleaching. Specifically, the responses of coral holobiont members to pathogenic and probiotic influences were evaluated using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. We found that the presence of V. coralliilyticus enhanced the metabolic potential of the coral-associated bacterial community, particularly regarding carbohydrate utilization and virulence. Conversely, R. profundi reduced the relative abundance of pathogenic Vibrio species by over 50% and broadly suppressed the expression of virulence genes within the coral-associated bacterial community, including a > 2-fold downregulation of genes involved in quorum sensing and flagellar assembly. Transcriptomic data indicated that immune-related genes in the host were upregulated, whereas photosynthesis-related genes in photosymbiotic microalgae were downregulated in response to V. coralliilyticus infection. R. profundi significantly promoted apoptosis resistance and antimicrobial peptide activity in the host and enhanced photosynthesis in photosymbiotic microalgae (p < 0.05). Furthermore, R. profundi significantly suppressed virulence gene expression in the coral-associated bacterial community (p < 0.05). Collectively, our results indicated that R. profundi orchestrates a tripartite defense mechanism involving the coral host, its associated bacterial community, and symbiotic microalgae, effectively mitigating pathogen-induced dysbiosis and bleaching. These findings have promising implications for microbiome-based strategies in coral reef restoration.},
}

@article {pmid42069946,
year = {2026},
author = {Guo, R and Guo, Y and Shu, R and Qian, J and Wang, J and Li, R and Qin, T and Wang, Z and Tian, H and Wu, M and Zhou, L and Guo, X and Zhang, S},
title = {STREMI: a dual-function upstream ORF-encoded regulator of mitochondrial cristae architecture.},
journal = {EMBO reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42069946},
issn = {1469-3178},
support = {32470723//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 32300645//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 32541029//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 82170331//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 32371253//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; U21A20337//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; N/A//ZJU | Startup Foundation for Hundred-Talent Program of Zhejiang University/ ; N/A//ZJU | Startup Foundation for Hundred-Talent Program of Zhejiang University/ ; N/A//National Special Support Program for High-Level Talents of China, Young Top-Notch Talents Program/ ; 2020C03017//Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province (Key R&D plan of Zhejiang Province)/ ; },
abstract = {Eukaryotic mRNAs typically encode a single functional polypeptide, a principle challenged by the discovery of widespread non-canonical peptide-coding ORFs within 5'UTRs. However, their functional significance at the protein level remains underexplored. Using a four-layered pipeline, we identify 14 human transcripts predominantly transcribed in polycistronic forms, each encoding two conserved proteins. Focusing on the SLC35A4 transcript, we show that its 5'UTR encodes a mitochondrial inner membrane-localized microprotein that we name STREMI (SLC35A4 stress response regulating MICOS interactor). Sharing topology and motifs with the MICOS core subunit MIC10, STREMI regulates mitochondrial cristae morphogenesis in mice and human cells. Additionally, the STREMI-encoding uORF mediates stress-responsive translation of SLC35A4-a Golgi nucleotide sugar transporter-upregulating its translation during the integrated stress response. Evolutionary analyses indicate that these bicistronic transcripts likely arose through transcriptional readthrough following retroposition. We propose a mechanism of "gene symbiosis" that enables functional partitioning and coordinated translation of protein pairs from bicistronic transcripts.},
}

@article {pmid42070045,
year = {2026},
author = {Protasov, E and Mies, US and Spröer, C and Bunk, B and Treitli, SC and Platt, K and Brune, A},
title = {Convergent evolution of intestinal lineages in the phylum Methanobacteriota.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42070045},
issn = {2049-2618},
mesh = {Phylogeny ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; *Evolution, Molecular ; *Intestines/microbiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Representatives of the phylum Methanobacteriota occur in various anoxic environments, but only members of the genera Methanosphaera and Methanobrevibacter exclusively colonize the digestive tract of animals. Recent phylogenomic analyses revealed that the genus Methanobrevibacter, which harbors the majority of the intestinal species, is severely underclassified and represents a family-level taxon, "Methanobrevibacteraceae", that evolved entirely in the digestive tract of animals.

RESULTS: Comparative genome analysis of 158 species of Methanobacteriota, including uncultured representatives in the Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB), demonstrated that the intestinal lineages are clearly separated from the remaining members of the phylum. They differ from the non-intestinal lineages in genome size, GC content, coding density, an increased number of pseudogenes and adhesin-like proteins, and show numerous adaptations to the copiotrophic gut environment. A decreased biosynthetic potential led to a dependence on other community members and limits the dispersal of intestinal species into other habitats, which is reflected in coevolutionary patterns with their major host groups among arthropods, ungulates, and primates. Certain lineages even engaged in symbiotic associations with intestinal protists, presumably benefiting from the H2 produced by the hydrogenosomes of their anaerobic hosts.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal that the transition of free-living Methanobacteriota to a host-associated lifestyle involves the same genomic changes that were previously recognized in gut bacteria and bacterial endosymbionts of protists, reflecting resemblances between the two prokaryotic domains that are caused by evolutionary convergence in similar environments.},
}

Phylogeny
Animals
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics
*Evolution, Molecular
*Intestines/microbiology

@article {pmid42070477,
year = {2026},
author = {Perfeito, FG and Cerqueira, A and Frankenbach, S and Veloso, T and Vidal, T and Pereira, JL and Serôdio, J and Oliveira, MB and Mano, JF},
title = {Unraveling the potential and challenges of photosynthetic microalgae for oxygenating engineered tissues.},
journal = {Biomaterials advances},
volume = {186},
number = {},
pages = {214911},
doi = {10.1016/j.bioadv.2026.214911},
pmid = {42070477},
issn = {2772-9508},
abstract = {Hypoxia remains a major barrier to the viability and function of engineered large tissue constructs. Conventional strategies such as oxygen-releasing biomaterials and pre-vascularization have shown partial success, often constrained by scalability and long-term sustainability. Co-culturing photosynthetic microalgae and animal cells offers an alternative by establishing living oxygen factories that locally convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and thus mitigate hypoxia. Despite the promise of this symbiotic approach, inherent challenges remain, including physiological incompatibilities between microalgae and animal cells, susceptibility to prolonged exposure to light by animal cells, and nutrient competition. In this perspective, we first highlight the potential and challenges of co-cultures between microalgae and animal cells. The discussion is then followed by showcasing experimental strategies for optimizing photosynthetic oxygen delivery in a continuous millimetric three-dimensional extracellular matrix-mimicking environment. Using alginate hydrogel beads containing Chlorella vulgaris and L929 cells, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept in which light-driven oxygenation significantly enhanced animal cell viability and functionality up to 7 days of culture. Relevant setbacks in the replication of results were met between independent experiments, revealing that the proposed hybrid cultures still face difficult-to-control aspects. While emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies and reliable optimal predictors of co-culture performance, our findings strengthen the compatibility of Chlorella vulgaris with animal cells in culture, as well as the potential of microalgae as a sustainable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly oxygen source for the next generation of advanced engineered tissues, in vitro models, and future food systems. Importantly, this study does not aim to achieve sustained oxygen-autonomous constructs, but instead defines the compatibility window, transient benefits, and reproducibility limits of direct microalgae-animal cell co-culture under standard animal culture conditions.},
}

@article {pmid41851245,
year = {2026},
author = {Azmi, SZK and Kurnia, D and Nurpalah, R and Virgianti, DP and Padilah, R and Nafisah Ruswadi, LF and Subroto, T},
title = {Characterization of anticariogenic mycosymbiotic fungi associated with the medicinal plant Piper crocatum.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41851245},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The escalating antibiotic resistance in oral pathogens, particularly Streptococcus mutans, necessitates the discovery of alternative bioactive scaffolds. While Piper crocatum (red betel) is an ethnobotanically significant plant, its symbiotic mycobiota remains a negligible niche compared to heavily mined species like P. nigrum or P. betle. This study explored the diversity of fungal syimbiont from P. crocatum as potential anticariogenic agents. Fungal samples were isolated from leaves collected across 13 locations in Tasikmalaya, Indonesia. Purification for each fungi was conducted using the hyphal tip transfer technique, yielding 66 axenic isolates. Phenetic characterization was employed as a dereplication strategy to select ten representative based on 33 morphotypes for screening. Similarity analysis was conducted using the Jaccard coefficient via the UPGMA, then visualized in RStudio using the ape and ggtree packages to generate a phenetic dendrogram. One representative isolate from each major cluster was selected for bioactivity screening, with priority given to isolates producing visible extracellular exudates. Results indicated a positive correlation between colony pigmentation and bioactivity, with isolate t5-059 exhibiting the strongest inhibition against S. mutans (21.5 mm). Molecular identification via ITS rDNA resolved the bioactive strains as Colletotrichum truncatum (t5-059), Colletotrichum cliviae (t-9052), Torula canangae (t10-062), and Aspergillus clavatonanicus (t1-007). The recurrence of these specific taxa across geographically heterogeneous sites supports the hypothesis of host filtering, where P. crocatum selects for a core microbiome. These findings highlight P. crocatum as a reservoir of unique fungal associates capable of producing potent metabolites for oral health applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-41703-z.},
}

@article {pmid42062822,
year = {2026},
author = {Hung, SW and Yu, MY and Liu, CH and Huang, TC and Peng, JH and Jang, NY and Kuo, CH and Yang, YL and Ho, YN and Chiang, EI and Hwang, HH and Huang, CC},
title = {Endophytic Biostimulant Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Enhances Banana Growth and Primes Immunity Against Fusarium Wilt.},
journal = {Physiologia plantarum},
volume = {178},
number = {3},
pages = {e70913},
doi = {10.1111/ppl.70913},
pmid = {42062822},
issn = {1399-3054},
support = {MOST 107-2321-B-005-009//National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan/ ; MOST 108-2321-B-005-004//National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan/ ; MOST 109-2321-B-005-025//National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan/ ; MOST 110-2321-B-005-008//National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan/ ; 110AS-1.6.1-BQ-B3//Ministry of Agriculture of Taiwan/ ; //Ministry of Education of Taiwan (the Higher Education Sprout Project)/ ; },
mesh = {*Fusarium/physiology ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology/immunology ; *Musa/microbiology/growth & development/immunology/drug effects ; *PQQ Cofactor/pharmacology/metabolism ; *Endophytes/physiology/metabolism ; Burkholderia ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; Disease Resistance ; },
abstract = {Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is a redox cofactor derived from prokaryotes that participates in various biological processes involving dehydrogenase enzymes. Previous field trials identified a PQQ-producing endophyte, Burkholderia seminalis 869T2, which enhances banana growth and reduces Fusarium wilt incidence from 24.5% to 3.4%. While more recent studies have confirmed its agricultural benefits across multiple plant species, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, integrated omics and imaging mass spectrometry were employed to investigate the role of PQQ in planta. Our results indicate that PQQ achieves these outcomes by modulating key aspects of plant energy metabolism, including the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and NAD/NADP pathways. In addition, PQQ appears to influence phytohormone signalling pathways and trigger systemic plant resistance. Consistent with these molecular responses, exogenous PQQ enhanced root and shoot development and improved resistance to Fusarium infection. Collectively, these findings indicate that the endophyte functions as a biostimulant through PQQ production, coordinating plant metabolism and defence to counter pathogen invasion. This study provides mechanistic insight into plant-endophyte mutualism and highlights the potential of both PQQ and PQQ-producing endophytes as biostimulants for sustainable agricultural applications.},
}

*Fusarium/physiology
*Plant Diseases/microbiology/immunology
*Musa/microbiology/growth & development/immunology/drug effects
*PQQ Cofactor/pharmacology/metabolism
*Endophytes/physiology/metabolism
Burkholderia
Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism
Disease Resistance

@article {pmid42063193,
year = {2026},
author = {Martín-Vivaldi, M and Martínez-García, Á and Peralta-Sánchez, JM and Schaub, M and Arlettaz, R and Martín-Platero, AM and Martínez-Renau, E and Barón, MD and Ruiz-Rodríguez, M and López-Hernández, E and Martínez-Bueno, M and Valdivia, E and Soler, JJ},
title = {The uropygial gland of the European hoopoe as a symbiotic organ.},
journal = {Animal microbiome},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42063193},
issn = {2524-4671},
}

@article {pmid42064303,
year = {2026},
author = {Kirolinko, C and Yacullo, M and Blanco, F and Zanetti, ME},
title = {Hormone-modulated transcription factors orchestrating the root nodule symbiosis.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1811506},
pmid = {42064303},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Transcription factors play essential roles modulating gene expression during plant development and the adaptation to environmental cues through the control of morphogenetic programs. In the root nodule symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia, two coordinated morphogenetic programs are activated by the perception of bacterial signals: the organogenesis of the nodule, a lateral root organ specialized in nitrogen fixation, and the infection process that allows the bacteria to colonize the nodule. These programs are influenced by the action of phytohormones, mainly auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, gibberellin, and brassinosteroid, which act modulating the activity of different families of transcription factors. In the past years, significant advancements have been made in understanding how transcription factors of the NIN (Nodule Inception), GRAS (GIBBERELLIN-ACID INSENSITIVE (GAI), REPRESSOR of GA1 (RGA), and SCARECROW (SCR)), ERF (Ethylene Response Factor), ARF (Auxin Response Factor), LBD (Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain), and SHI/STY (SHORT INTERNODES/STYLISH) families function at different developmental stages of bacterial infection and nodule formation and differentiation. Here, we review recent advances of this hormonal-mediated modulation of transcription factors with key roles in the root nodule symbiosis and their evolutionary origin from other developmental programs, as well as their post-transcriptional regulation by small RNAs. We also provide a perspective on how epigenomic approaches can shed light on how these transcription factors influence chromatin remodeling at loci containing key symbiotic genes.},
}

@article {pmid42064316,
year = {2026},
author = {Sidek, NB and Itoh, S and Aramaki, T and Yamasaki, Y and Tsujimoto, H and Shirai, K and Hanada, K},
title = {Salicylic acid signaling controls the colonization behavior of Colletotrichum tofieldiae in Arabidopsis thaliana.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1770854},
pmid = {42064316},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Plant-microbe interactions strongly influence plant growth and nutrient acquisition, and their outcomes depend on nutrient availability. The root endophyte Colletotrichum tofieldiae (Ct) promotes growth in Arabidopsis thaliana under inorganic phosphate (Pi) limitation, but its effects under Pi sufficiency and the role of salicylic acid (SA) signaling remain unclear. Here, we examined Pi-dependent growth responses, nutrient accumulation, and SA signaling in wild-type (WT) and SA-deficient ics1 mutant plants co-cultivated with Ct under low, moderate, and high Pi conditions (25, 150, and 625 µM). Under low Pi, Ct significantly enhanced WT growth, increasing leaf number and root length by 41.8% and 50.5%, respectively, and promoting biomass accumulation, with fresh and dry weight increases of 104% and 232% relative to uninoculated controls. Growth promotion was reduced at moderate Pi and shifted toward growth suppression under high Pi. Elemental profiling using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) revealed pronounced Ct-mediated nutrient accumulation under Pi limitation. At low Pi, phosphorus content increased by 281%, accompanied by significant increases in K (70.1%), S (84.5%), and Ca (73.2%). In contrast, at moderate and high Pi, Ct consistently enhanced P accumulation, while changes in K, S, and Ca were not significant. Ct colonization induced expression of the SA-responsive marker gene PR1, particularly under low Pi. In contrast, ics1 mutants failed to exhibit Ct-induced growth promotion and instead displayed growth suppression across all Pi conditions. Together, these findings demonstrate that Pi availability and ICS1-mediated SA biosynthesis jointly determine the outcome of the Arabidopsis-Ct interaction.},
}

@article {pmid42065704,
year = {2026},
author = {Beraldo, CS and Franco, DC and van Nouhuys, S and Duplouy, A},
title = {Temperature at parental generation affects bacterial communities associated with offspring for both host and parasitoid.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiag046},
pmid = {42065704},
issn = {1574-6941},
abstract = {The thermal conditions experienced during development can affect host-associated microbial communities. We still know little about whether such effects similarly persist across life stages between different species. In particular, it is unclear if the bacterial communities of closely interacting species, such as hosts and their endoparasitoids, exhibit similar responses to thermal conditions. We reared two generations of the Melitaea cinxia butterfly and its specialized parasitoid wasp, Hyposoter horticola, at three temperatures in the laboratory (26, 28, and 31°C). We found that the two species harbour different bacterial communities as adults, with the parasitoid exhibiting higher bacterial richness than its host butterfly. When the parental generation of the butterfly was exposed to high temperatures, the F1 generation exhibited increased bacterial richness but a reduced diversity (Shannon index). The opposite effect was observed for its parasitoid, but only for the wasps infected with Wolbachia, which appears sensitive to thermal conditions. Collectively, these results highlight that the bacterial communities of insect hosts and their parasitoids are distinct units, differently susceptible to environmental thermal conditions, particularly to temperatures experienced at the parental generation.},
}

@article {pmid42058216,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, H and Yang, Y},
title = {Abnormal characteristics of intestinal microenvironment in HIV immunological non-responders.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1796163},
pmid = {42058216},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; *Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/pathology/microbiology ; *HIV Infections/immunology/drug therapy/virology ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; *Cellular Microenvironment/immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use ; Th17 Cells/immunology ; },
abstract = {Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most dangerous diseases threatening global public health. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is currently the primary treatment for people living with HIV (PLWH). However, some patients are classified as immunological non-responders (INRs), defined by the failure to achieve adequate CD4[+] T cells reconstitution despite continuous viral suppression, and are associated with inferior clinical outcomes. This behavior may be linked to the ongoing dysfunction of the intestinal microenvironment. Although PLWH exhibit similar clinical changes such as intestinal mucosal injury, barrier failure, and microbial community problems, intestinal microenvironment abnormalities in INRs are more severe. The specific manifestations include persistently low levels of intestinal CD4[+] T cells with limited reconstitution, along with a significant reduction in the proportion of Th17 cells, leading to severe impairment of mucosal anti-infective capacity and immune regulatory function. Additionally, elevated levels of pro-inflammatory mediators drive chronic inflammation, thereby exacerbating tissue damage. Furthermore, microbial dysbiosis is more pronounced, characterized by a marked decrease in beneficial symbiotic bacteria and an expansion of opportunistic pathogens. In contrast, immunological responders showed some degree of recovery in these indicators. These pathological features are not only associated with a higher risk of disease progression and complications in INRs but also provide a theoretical basis for developing adjuvant treatment strategies targeting intestinal immune reconstitution. In addition, we summarize the current mainstream definitions of INRs and propose a more robust definition. This review systematically elaborates the pathogenic mechanisms and potential intervention strategies underlying intestinal microenvironment abnormalities in INRs and holds important clinical value for improving the long-term prognosis of patients and advancing individualized treatment.},
}

Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology
*Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/pathology/microbiology
*HIV Infections/immunology/drug therapy/virology
Dysbiosis/immunology
*Cellular Microenvironment/immunology
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use
Th17 Cells/immunology

@article {pmid42058539,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, N and Buil, J and Li, QR and Chowdhary, A and Zhou, SQ and Kang, YQ and de Hoog, S},
title = {Lineage-specific endosymbiosis in Mucorales: restriction of Mycetohabitans to the genus Rhizopus.},
journal = {Current research in microbial sciences},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {100595},
pmid = {42058539},
issn = {2666-5174},
abstract = {Endosymbiotic bacteria have been reported in mucoralean fungi, yet their taxonomic distribution, range of ecological niches, and host specificity remain incompletely understood. Clarifying the occurrence of these bacterial partners across clinical and environmental Mucorales is essential for understanding their evolutionary and biological significance. In this study, we screened 578 isolates of Mucorales from both clinical and fermented food sources, including 360 from mucormycosis patients in The Netherlands, 40 from COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) patients in India, and 178 foodborne isolates from fermented soybean foods in China. Although 16S rRNA gene amplification revealed the presence of bacteria in sixteen mucoralean isolates, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated intracellular localization in only five of them. In all five cases, the endobacteria were identified as Mycetohabitans, and all corresponding fungal hosts belonged to Rhizopus species, suggesting that bacterial endosymbiosis within Mucorales is primarily restricted to this genus. Notably, a Rhizopus homothallicus isolate was found to harbor Mycetohabitans sp., with 98.37% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type of M. rhizoxinica, forming a separate phylogenetic clade and potentially representing a novel lineage. Endosymbionts were not detected in foodborne Mucorales from China, consistent with the predominance of Mucor species in these samples. Together, these results demonstrate a lineage-specific association between Mycetohabitans and Rhizopus species and highlight a lineage-dependent pattern across ecological niches. This study provides a systematic approach to evaluating fungal-bacterial symbiosis and offers a basis for future investigations into the functional and ecological roles of endosymbiotic bacteria in Mucorales.},
}

@article {pmid42059617,
year = {2026},
author = {Jacobs, J and Lum, A and Mina, E and Morey, CN and Lee, DD and Gutierrez, E and Dionisio, J and Mirchandani, C and Sylvester, L and Nakamoto, A and Loucks, H and Wanket, C and Cisneros, A and Calicchio, A and Enstrom, AN and Headrick, C and Okamoto, F and Heath, HD and Malukhina, K and Russell, P and Nag, S and Gillespie, T and Sobolewski, W and Truong, Z and Russell, SL},
title = {Complete de novo assembly of Wolbachia endosymbiont of contemporary Drosophila simulans using long-read genome sequencing.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0099225},
doi = {10.1128/mra.00992-25},
pmid = {42059617},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {We present a contemporary high-quality, complete de novo assembly of Wolbachia pipientis (wRi Merrill 23, OZ411647), an alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont of Drosophila simulans (D. simulans). This assembly was generated using long-read sequencing of wRi-infected D. simulans embryos collected from Merrill College at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in October 2023.},
}

@article {pmid42059669,
year = {2026},
author = {Schwarzhans, A and Boutry, J and Tökölyi, J and Cyran, N and Kunert, M and Horn, M and Collingro, A},
title = {Stable association of a chlamydial symbiont with the freshwater predator Hydra suggests broad host potential.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrag104},
pmid = {42059669},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Symbiotic associations between microorganisms often involve eukaryotes partnering with microbes for nutrient exchange, protection, and resource acquisition. Bacterial lineages like the Chlamydiota have evolved entirely symbiotic lifestyles, exploiting their eukaryotic hosts for energy, diverse metabolites, and shelter. The study of environmental chlamydiae - outside the well-studied vertebrate host range - has revealed diverging interactions on the mutualism-parasitism spectrum. This highlights their potentially important roles in host-microbe interactions underscoring the relevance of obtaining isolates from diverse environments and hosts. Here, we describe an isolate of a chlamydial symbiont of the freshwater cnidarian Hydra. The symbiont could be isolated and stably maintained in insect cell lines and represents a member of the recently described family-level lineage Chlamydiae Clade III for which we propose the name Endochlamydiaceae. Fluorescence and electron microscopy reveal the symbiont morphology and its endodermal location. Comparative genomics shows the isolate, named Endochlamydia hydrae, encodes a conserved set of genes involved in host invasion, communication, and pathogenicity. Instead of displaying unique genomic adaptations to its animal host, E. hydrae shows signs consistent with ongoing genome reorganisation and streamlining, suggesting a more recent host shift. Screening for closely related 16S rRNA gene sequences in public environmental microbiomes also indicates a broader host range. Moreover, exploration of environmental Hydra oligactis populations revealed they might serve as host for a wider spectrum of chlamydial species. This study highlights the evolutionary success of chlamydiae and their genomic toolkit to infect a wide range of hosts and their ecological significance by interacting with diverse organisms.},
}

@article {pmid42060930,
year = {2026},
author = {Hewezi, T and Krishnan, HB and Garcia, K and Ohtsu, M},
title = {Symbiotic and Pathogenic Interactions in the Rhizosphere.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {39},
number = {2},
pages = {154-157},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-04-26-0033-FI},
pmid = {42060930},
issn = {0894-0282},
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology/parasitology ; *Plants/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; },
abstract = {The rhizosphere is one of the most dynamic biological environments on Earth. Within this narrow zone surrounding plant roots, plants interact constantly with diverse communities of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, and nematodes. These interactions range from mutually beneficial associations that enhance nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance to detrimental relationships that compromise plant health and agricultural productivity. Understanding the molecular and ecological processes governing these interactions is therefore central to plant biology and sustainable agriculture. This Focus Issue of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions brings together 14 research and review articles that explore the complex system of relationships that shape plant health in the rhizosphere. The studies span beneficial associations such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and symbiotic microbes, as well as pathogenic interactions involving bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, and plant-parasitic nematodes. Collectively, these contributions highlight emerging concepts in microbial recognition, immune regulation, microbial community assembly, and effector-mediated host manipulation. By integrating perspectives from molecular genetics, functional genomics, microbiology, and ecology, this special issue highlights recent advances in our understanding of rhizosphere interactions and illustrates how these findings may inform new strategies for improving crop resilience and sustainable agricultural production. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.},
}

*Rhizosphere
*Symbiosis
Plant Roots/microbiology/parasitology
*Plants/microbiology
Soil Microbiology
Plant Diseases/microbiology
Host-Pathogen Interactions

@article {pmid42062035,
year = {2026},
author = {Xie, D and Li, P and Zhang, L and Shang, R and Li, J and Liu, K and Lin, H and Wang, S and Jiao, W},
title = {Penicipenoids A-G, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory cadinane sesquiterpenoids with rearranged carbon skeletons from the marine sponge symbiotic Penicillium sp. 5975.},
journal = {Chinese journal of natural medicines},
volume = {24},
number = {5},
pages = {632-640},
doi = {10.1016/S1875-5364(26)61181-8},
pmid = {42062035},
issn = {1875-5364},
mesh = {Animals ; *Penicillium/chemistry ; *Porifera/microbiology ; Zebrafish ; *Antioxidants/chemistry/pharmacology/isolation & purification ; *Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry/pharmacology/isolation & purification ; Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes/chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; *Sesquiterpenes/chemistry/pharmacology/isolation & purification ; },
abstract = {Seven new sesquiterpenes, named penicipenoids A-G (1-7), were isolated from rice-based fermentation cultures of the marine sponge-derived fungus Penicillium sp. 5975, together with ten known analogues (8-17). Their structures were elucidated using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, supported by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Penicipenoid A (1) features an unprecedented sesquiterpene scaffold characterized by a tricyclo[4.4.1[1,6]0[2,7]]hendecane core. Penicipenoid D (4) contains an unusual furan substructure within the cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid class, while penicipenoid F (6) represents a rare norsesquiterpene derivative lacking the carbon atom at the C-7 position. The in vivo anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds were evaluated using transgenic fluorescent zebrafish models. Penicipenoids A-C (1-3) exhibited anti-oxidant activity in metronidazole (MTZ)-treated transgenic zebrafish embryos, whereas penicipenoid E (5) demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory activity in CuSO4-induced transgenic fluorescent zebrafish embryos.},
}

Animals
*Penicillium/chemistry
*Porifera/microbiology
Zebrafish
*Antioxidants/chemistry/pharmacology/isolation & purification
*Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry/pharmacology/isolation & purification
Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes/chemistry
Molecular Structure
*Sesquiterpenes/chemistry/pharmacology/isolation & purification

@article {pmid42062242,
year = {2026},
author = {Prioux, C and Carrasco-Acosta, M and Prigione, V and Venice, F and Tignat-Perrier, R and Allemand, D and Ferrier-Pagès, C and Varese, GC},
title = {Hidden Fungal Diversity of the Precious Mediterranean Red Coral Corallium rubrum.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {18},
number = {3},
pages = {e70353},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70353},
pmid = {42062242},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {//Government of the Principality of Monaco/ ; //Catalina Ruiz Programme-ULPGC contract, co-funded by the European Social Fund/ ; //Gobierno de Canarias-Consejería de Universidades, Ciencia e Innovación y Cultura/ ; IR0000005//European Commission-NextGenerationEU, Project SUS-MIRRI.IT 'Strengthening the MIRRI Italian Research Infrastructure for Sustainable Bioscience and Bioeconomy'/ ; },
mesh = {*Anthozoa/microbiology ; Animals ; *Fungi/classification/isolation & purification/genetics ; *Biodiversity ; Mediterranean Sea ; Phylogeny ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Corals maintain complex symbiotic relationships with diverse microorganisms, including fungi, which are often overlooked but represent a critical component of the coral holobiont. This study explores the fungal diversity associated with the tissue and skeleton of the red coral Corallium rubrum, a key species in Mediterranean Marine Animal Forests (MAFs). Using a culture-based approach, we recovered a broad spectrum of fungal diversity, dominated by Ascomycota such as Penicillium, Cladosporium and Aspergillus. The discovery of numerous taxa with known bioactive properties underscores the potential ecological and biotechnological relevance of coral-associated fungi. At the same time, the presence of species such as Aspergillus sydowii, which is considered pathogenic under elevated temperatures, raises concerns about coral vulnerability during increasingly frequent Mediterranean marine heatwaves. These taxa should be further investigated to evaluate their pathogenic potential. Overall, our results expand current knowledge of coral-fungal associations, providing a foundation for future work on their ecological significance, role in coral resilience and potential applications in biotechnology.},
}

*Anthozoa/microbiology
Animals
*Fungi/classification/isolation & purification/genetics
*Biodiversity
Mediterranean Sea
Phylogeny
Symbiosis

@article {pmid42051102,
year = {2026},
author = {T, M and Gowda, J and M, R and Goudanavar, P and Akondi, BR},
title = {Mobilising Computational Strategies in Enzyme Inhibition: Reconciling Therapeutic Innovation and Environmental Integrity from Molecular Targets to Ecosystem Disruptors.},
journal = {Current drug metabolism},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.2174/0113892002420090251206171649},
pmid = {42051102},
issn = {1875-5453},
abstract = {Enzyme inhibition has become a cornerstone of modern therapeutics, targeting key molecular pathways implicated in cancer, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases. This review explores diverse strategies of enzyme inhibition from classical active site-directed inhibitors to innovative biofilm-targeting enzymatic cocktails, emphasising their clinical utility. Beyond medicine, enzyme inhibitors are routinely employed to modulate nitrogen fixation, methanogenesis, and microbial dynamics in industrial and environmental settings. However, this dual-edged sword reveals its paradox: the very agent that heals can also harm. Their ecological persistence and bioaccumulation risks disrupt microbial ecosystems, foster antibiotic resistance, and affect non-target organisms. This review navigates the fine line between pharmaco-logical promise and environmental peril, evaluating risk assessment frameworks, mitigation strategies, and forward-looking approaches such as high-throughput screening, machine learning, and enzyme engineering. Ultimately, it advocates for a symbiotic integration of pharmaceutical innovation and environmental stewardship to create eco-friendly strategies that can enhance therapeutic efficacy without compromising ecological balance.},
}

@article {pmid42052549,
year = {2026},
author = {Nassif, N and El-Khoury, JR},
title = {Understanding media's leverage in the national elite sport ecosystems.},
journal = {Frontiers in sports and active living},
volume = {8},
number = {},
pages = {1788596},
pmid = {42052549},
issn = {2624-9367},
abstract = {Media's role in elite sport has grown exponentially from the second part of the 20th to the first part of the 21st century. It encompasses many aspects such as visibility, revenue generation, fan engagement, athlete branding, event promotion, policy decisions, international benchmarking, national pride, and cultural influence. A strong and symbiotic relationship between elite sports and the media is essential for sustained success and growth in the modern sports industry. The objective of this paper is to highlight the leverage that media has in a country's national elite sport ecosystem. This evaluation will consist of two frameworks of analysis, one that explains media's structural role in nations' success in international competitions, and another which explains its capacity to elevate sport into an instrument of power in international relations. This research identifies the unique position that media has in a country's national elite sport ecosystem and is recommended for theoretical advancement and practical application.},
}

@article {pmid42053873,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, P and Zou, Z and Wu, Z and Feng, Y},
title = {Ubiquitination as a multi-layer regulatory network in legume-rhizobium symbiosis.},
journal = {Plant cell reports},
volume = {45},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {42053873},
issn = {1432-203X},
support = {AMLKF202510//the open funds of the State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/ ; 24KJB180002//Natural Science Foundation of The Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis/physiology ; *Ubiquitination/physiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology/metabolism/physiology ; *Rhizobium/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) by legumes is essential for sustainable agriculture, providing plant-available nitrogen while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. The establishment of legume-rhizobium symbiosis requires tightly regulated host signaling to coordinate rhizobia infection, nodule development, and nitrogen fixation, while preventing excessive colonization or immune activation. Accumulating evidence indicates that ubiquitination, mediated by E1, E2, E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes, plays a central role in controlling multiple stages of this process. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on ubiquitination-mediated regulation of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, with a focus on early symbiotic signaling and nodule development. We highlight key E3 ligases that modulate Nod factor receptor homeostasis, receptor-associated kinases, transcription factors, and infection thread growth, and discuss how ubiquitination interfaces with nutrient and stress signaling pathways. Finally, we outline key knowledge gaps and discuss the potential of manipulating ubiquitination pathways to improve nodulation efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency in crops.},
}

*Symbiosis/physiology
*Ubiquitination/physiology
*Fabaceae/microbiology/metabolism/physiology
*Rhizobium/physiology
Nitrogen Fixation/physiology
Signal Transduction
Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics
Plant Root Nodulation
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology

@article {pmid42054996,
year = {2026},
author = {Cornwallis, CK and Van Nuland, ME and Wegmann, A and Manley, BF and Elhance, J and Stewart, JD and Daws, C and Venturini, AM and Hynson, NA and Peay, KG and Kiers, ET and West, SA},
title = {Symbiotic fungi underlie the regeneration potential of island rainforests.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2026.03.087},
pmid = {42054996},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Symbioses can be vital on islands, where low species diversity leaves few alternative partners and the failure of associations can cascade into broader community collapse. Key to the functioning of many island ecosystems is the rainforest tree, Pisonia grandis (pisonia). Pisonia attracts nesting seabirds whose guano delivers intense nutrient pulses that fuel coral reef ecosystems. Symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi have been hypothesized to be crucial for capturing and distributing these nutrients to pisonia trees. However, little is known about the factors that influence the distribution of mycorrhizal fungi on islands. Here, we map the diversity and distribution of mycorrhizal fungi in relation to pisonia and other tree species across Palmyra Atoll, the most remote island on Earth that is a US territory in the Northern Line Islands. We found that pisonia is obligately associated with specific Tomentella fungi that are able to survive in the extreme nutrient environments created by seabird feces (guano). Tomentella was widespread in soils across different habitats, and its abundance was predicted by distance to pisonia. In addition, burrowing by crabs, the dominant group of land animals on Palmyra Atoll, was associated with increased fungal diversity, including new or globally rare fungal species. These findings support the hypothesized critical role of mycorrhizal fungi for key atoll tree species, indicating that fungal distributions may affect the success of restoration projects. More broadly, this work highlights the importance of specific interactions between species in isolated island ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid42056285,
year = {2026},
author = {de Souza, RF and Dutra E Silva, S and Teixeira, MF and Silva Neto, CME and Sousa, CM and de Moura, JB},
title = {Underground Baristas: ecology of mycorrhizal fungi in Cerrado coffee cultivation.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-49789-1},
pmid = {42056285},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {The symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and coffee plants can improve nutrient use and crop resilience in low-fertility tropical soils. In this study, the activity and diversity of AMF in the rhizosphere of 35 Coffea arabica genotypes grown under Brazilian Cerrado conditions were characterized. Spore density, root colonization, and community composition were assessed by morphological characterization of field-collected spores and by multivariate analyses (CCA, PCA, and hierarchical clustering). No significant differences in spore density or root colonization were detected among the genotypes, which suggests a predominantly generalist symbiotic pattern under the uniform edaphoclimatic and management conditions of the experiment. Even so, 13 AMF genera were recorded, indicating substantial community diversity, with Glomus, Claroideoglomus, and Racocetra occurring most frequently. Ordination and clustering analyses revealed only subtle differences in community composition and no clear genotype-based grouping. These findings support the ecological relevance of AMF in Cerrado coffee systems and indicate that mycorrhizal monitoring may assist in integrated soil management and the future design of locally adapted fungal consortia.},
}

@article {pmid42046096,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, T and Zhang, B and Liang, H and Huang, J and Sun, Y and Wei, Z and Manullang, C and Huang, H and Lin, S},
title = {Dual urea utilization enzyme systems in Symbiodiniaceae coral symbionts under warming.},
journal = {BMC biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12915-026-02610-x},
pmid = {42046096},
issn = {1741-7007},
support = {42206116//Natural Science Foundation of China grants/ ; 2024A1515011467//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; LTMB202302//Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Biotechnology of Hainan Province open fund/ ; MELRS2325//MEL Visiting Fellowship of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science/ ; FJHY-YYKJ-2024-1-18-6//Fujian Province Marine Service and Fishery High-Quality Development Special Fund Project/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Urea has been shown to be important as a nitrogen (N) nutrient for coral holobionts, but the mechanism underpinning urea utilization by symbiotic algae is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the molecular pathways underlying urea utilization in the Symbiodiniaceae family and the responses of these pathways to different N-nutrient conditions and heat stress through comprehensive genomic screening, multi-omics analysis and stable isotope pulse-chase experiments.

RESULTS: Genome screening revealed that two urea hydrolysis systems, urease (URE) and urea amidolyase (UAL), were present in Symbiodiniaceae, positioning this lineage as one of the few non-green algae that possess UAL. Furthermore, our data reveal an interesting evolutionary trajectory of UAL. While subunit DUR2 occurs in most symbiodiniacean genomes sequenced to date, only two species (Cladocopium goreaui and Cladopium c92) possess the complete UAL system (DUR1 with DUR2). In the phylogenetic tree of UAL sequences, Symbiodiniaceae clustered more closely with coral symbiotic bacteria than with other eukaryotes, but show clear distinct genetic features such as GC content and codon usage, suggesting evolutionary horizontal gene transfer from bacteria. Furthermore, ex-hospite C. goreaui exhibited better growth and achieved higher maximum specific growth rates when urea was provided as the sole nitrogen source, compared to ammonium. Notably, when experimenting on the Cladocopium-dominating Pocillopora damicornis holobiont using [15]N isotope tracer, we found that under heat stress (HS) conditions, the in-hospite Symbiodiniaceae significantly increased urea uptake but decreased NO3[-] and NH4[+] uptake. Omics analyses suggest that responses to different nitrogen, light, and temperature conditions were more likely mediated by UAL.

CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals two distinct urea utilization systems in the coral ecosystem and their differential responses to warming, highlighting the importance of urea as N-nutrient when facing global warming.},
}

@article {pmid42047250,
year = {2026},
author = {Miller, BW and Lim, AL and Bailey, J and Cleofas, MJB and Lacerna, N and Altamia, MA and Seale, JT and Robes, JMD and Naka, H and Manoil, C and Haygood, MG and Schmidt, EW and Concepcion, GP},
title = {Butuanimides, Fatty Acid Synthesis-Inhibiting Antibiotics from Symbiotic Bacteria.},
journal = {ACS chemical biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acschembio.6c00130},
pmid = {42047250},
issn = {1554-8937},
abstract = {With the ongoing antibiotic drug resistance crisis, new molecules with new mechanisms of action are essential. Here, we characterized quorum sensing-regulated butuanimides from symbiotic γ-proteobacteria, Teredinibacter sp. 2052S, which kill Gram-positive bacterial and human cells with micromolar and submicromolar potencies, respectively. Butuanimides share a peptide-imide moiety with andrimid-class antibiotics that target bacterial acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), the rate-limiting step in fatty acid biosynthesis. Similarly, site-directed mutagenesis in Acinetobacter baylyi identified the ACC carboxyl transferase (CT) subunit as responsible for butuanimide antibacterial activity. The andrimid-like peptide-imide moiety is attached to a longer, halogenated polyene chain that initiates with an unusual starter unit likely derived from phenylalanine. The resulting epoxyquinone is unstable in solution over a period of hours to days, enabling redox control of antibiotic action. Comparison of the hybrid polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthetase (PKS-NRPS) biosynthetic gene clusters of butuanimides and andrimid suggests the repurposing of a key phenylalanine-derived motif. The butuanimide structures link the thailandamide- and andrimid-class ACC inhibitors, which should aid ongoing efforts in the development of ACC inhibitors to treat multidrug-resistant infections.},
}

@article {pmid42047849,
year = {2026},
author = {Pires, TG and de Oliveira Filho, LCI and de Liz Ronsani, A and Klauberg-Filho, O},
title = {Ecotoxicological effect of imidacloprid on spore germination of phylogenetically distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {36},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {42047849},
issn = {1432-1890},
}

@article {pmid42048341,
year = {2026},
author = {Xuefeng, X and Xiu, T and Gang, H and Lu, X and Rui, H and Yue, Z},
title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve drought toleration in Cinnamomum migao H.W.Li seedlings by increasing plant growth, nutrient uptake and biomass accumulation.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {21},
number = {4},
pages = {e0347670},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0347670},
pmid = {42048341},
issn = {1932-6203},
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology/metabolism ; *Droughts ; Biomass ; *Cinnamomum/microbiology/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; China ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; Stress, Physiological ; Soil Microbiology ; Fungi ; },
abstract = {Drought stress is a primary factor reducing field crop productivity, and its impact is predicted to intensify and occur more often because of human-influenced environmental and climate changes. Which exerts a critical influence on plant growth and distribution, especially in semi-arid Karst regions including southwest China. Cinnamomum migao H.W.Li (C. migao), a tree in the Cinnamomum genus of Lauraceae family, is a medicinally important tree species endemic to southwest China. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbiosis mitigates drought stress in plants, yet the inoculation method affects the establishment and function of this symbiosis remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted an experiment examining the influence of different AMF (Funneliformis mosseae (F. mosseae) and Claroideoglomus etunicatum (C. etunicatum) their combination (Mixed)) on C. migao seedlings. AMF colonization rates, root vigor, seedling growth and biomass, soil physicochemical properties, and enzyme activities were measured. The results showed that all three AMF treatments significantly enhanced the growth, plant biomass, and soil enzyme activity of C. migao seedlings. Among them, C. etunicatum demonstrated the most effective overall promotion. Therefore, the application of AMF, particularly C. etunicatum, can enhance the drought resistance of C. migao, which supports its large-scale cultivation and offers insights for ecological restoration in semi-arid regions.},
}

*Mycorrhizae/physiology
*Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology/metabolism
*Droughts
Biomass
*Cinnamomum/microbiology/growth & development/metabolism
Plant Roots/microbiology/growth & development
Symbiosis
China
Nutrients/metabolism
Soil/chemistry
Stress, Physiological
Soil Microbiology
Fungi

@article {pmid42048464,
year = {2026},
author = {Ishigami, K and Jang, S and Yoshioka, A and Morimura, H and Yokota, A and Moulin, L and Lirette, AO and Takeshita, K and Nakane, D and Mergaert, P and Kikuchi, Y},
title = {A Trojan horse pathogen breaking through partner-choice barriers in the insect gut.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {123},
number = {18},
pages = {e2533244123},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2533244123},
pmid = {42048464},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {22KJ0057//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 22H05066//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 22H05068//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 22H05068//MEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 18KK0211//JSPS-CNRS Bilateral Open Partnership Joint Research Project/ ; 18KK0211//JSPS-CNRS Bilateral Open Partnership Joint Research Project/ ; RS-2024-00336247//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0007//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0007//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Burkholderia/pathogenicity/physiology ; *Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; *Heteroptera/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Mutualistic symbioses are potentially vulnerable to exploitation, particularly in hosts that acquire symbionts from the environment, where harmful exploiters inhabit. The independent evolution and persistence of intricate partner-choice mechanisms in many symbioses testify the threat by specialized exploiters of mutualisms, although only few have been documented in nature. We report here a lethal "Trojan horse" pathogen, Burkholderia sp. SJ1, exploiting the stinkbug-Caballeronia gut symbiosis. This bacterium resembles symbionts by using wrapping motility to traverse the host's sorting organ, inducing symbiotic organ morphogenesis and colonizing it. Unlike mutualists, however, it resists host digestion for nutrient acquisition, breaches the gut epithelium, and causes sepsis, rapidly killing the host. Colonization of the symbiotic organ is essential for its lethality. This case shows how pathogens can exploit mutualisms, highlighting the evolutionary pressures shaping partner-choice mechanisms and the fragility of even highly specialized mutualisms.},
}

Animals
*Symbiosis
*Burkholderia/pathogenicity/physiology
*Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology
*Heteroptera/microbiology

@article {pmid42048646,
year = {2026},
author = {Mooney, BC},
title = {Symbiosis saboteur: Ribonuclease PR10 executes nodule cell death.},
journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology},
volume = {126},
number = {2},
pages = {e70906},
doi = {10.1111/tpj.70906},
pmid = {42048646},
issn = {1365-313X},
}

@article {pmid42036782,
year = {2026},
author = {Song, B and Zeb, J},
title = {The mosquito midgut harbors stable bacteria that enhance host hemolymph immunity.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70720},
pmid = {42036782},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//City University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong./ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mosquito symbionts have the potential to control mosquito-borne diseases by reducing vector competence through direct or indirect interactions with pathogens. However, the microbiome of field-collected mosquitoes is often unstable, and it remains unclear whether certain symbiont species can both colonize their hosts stably and modulate host immunity. In this study, we collected second-instar Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens larvae from field water sources in Hong Kong and reared them to fourth-instar larvae and adults under laboratory conditions. We investigated microbiome changes from water to mosquito midguts and identified stable bacterial species (≥ 0.01% relative abundance) across mosquito stages using 16S rRNA-based bacteriome analysis. We further isolated symbiotic bacteria on culture plates, screened stable species by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, and evaluated their functional potential.

RESULTS: Mosquito microbiomes were influenced by water source, developmental stage, and host species. Taxonomically, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes dominated mosquito midguts. Each mosquito species maintained four stable bacterial species (≥ 0.01% relative abundance) throughout development. We confirmed culturable Comamonas thiooxydans as a stable symbiont of Culex pipiens and Vibrionimonas magnilacihabitans in Aedes albopictus. Genomic predictions suggested their involvement in antimicrobial peptide synthesis. Functionally, these bacteria enhanced host survival and increased hemolymph antimicrobial activity against Erwinia carotovora subspecies carotovora 15 (ECC15), but not across mosquito species.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that mosquitoes harbor generally unstable bacterial communities with only a few species-specific stable symbionts, which may contribute to host survival and immune function. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid42036985,
year = {2026},
author = {Sun, Y and Kramer, N and Melarkey, MK and Altera, AK and Tresguerres, M and Wangpraseurt, D and Chen, S},
title = {A 3D-Bioprinted Artificial Coral Platform for Investigating Structural Effects on Microalgal Photophysiology.},
journal = {ACS biomaterials science & engineering},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6c00243},
pmid = {42036985},
issn = {2373-9878},
abstract = {Coral skeletal morphology and optical properties play critical roles in regulating light distribution to symbiotic dinoflagellates and shaping their growth and photosynthetic performance. However, existing experimental approaches lack precise control over skeletal microgeometry and optical scattering, limiting comprehensive studies of coral photophysiology. Here, we present a 3D bioprinted artificial coral platform integrating engineered hydrogel-based tissue with tunable skeletal structures to investigate coral-algal light interactions. Diffusion-optimized hyaluronic acid glycidyl methacrylate (HAGM) hydrogels supported robust growth and photosynthesis of encapsulated dinoflagellates. Using natural coral skeletons from shallow and mesophotic environments, we demonstrate that algal growth within the HAGM tissue layer is regulated by the underlying skeletal morphology. We further fabricated artificial coral skeletons with fine-scale corallite geometries by incorporating cellulose nanocrystals to enhance light scattering. Evaluation under varying light intensities revealed photosynthetic performance trends consistent with those observed under natural conditions. This platform provides a controllable in vitro model for studying coral-algal photophysiology.},
}

@article {pmid42037241,
year = {2026},
author = {Thieme, MW and Nishiguchi, MK},
title = {Lighting the way: how the squid-Vibrio model can inform thermal impacts on symbiotic dynamics.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {229},
number = {8},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1242/jeb.251773},
pmid = {42037241},
issn = {1477-9145},
support = {DBI-2214028//National Science Foundation/ ; 80NSSC18K1053//NASA Astrobiology Institute/ ; //University of California, Merced/ ; //University of California, Merced/ ; },
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology ; *Vibrio/physiology ; Temperature ; Biological Evolution ; },
abstract = {As global temperatures are shifting, so too is the landscape of organismal fitness and, by extension, the role of the symbiotic microbes they house. As these host-microbe partnerships grapple with changing environments, current research struggles to keep pace with the complexity of microbial symbioses acclimating, adapting and evolving as environmental conditions change around them. Wild-caught organisms have been used to test adaptation to extreme environments, but extrapolating and interpreting data on how separate partners within a symbiosis respond to detrimental conditions is difficult. The beneficial association between bobtail squids and bioluminescent Vibrio bacteria is a model that has been used for over three decades to uncover evolutionary and ecological mechanisms of symbiogenesis. The system is highly amenable to a broad range of physiological and molecular techniques and has been used to study many dimensions of symbiotic interactions. This beneficial association has demonstrated that host selection of environmentally available Vibrio symbionts can be influenced by various abiotic conditions, such as temperature. Complex biochemical communication has been charted extensively between host and symbiont, revealing universally conserved traits that are temperature sensitive. Additionally, temperature can influence co-evolution of the partners, and this system can be used to predict symbiotic cooperation over evolutionary time scales. While one model system cannot provide exhaustive insight, the bobtail squid-Vibrio mutualism has laid extensive, pioneering groundwork that can be used to develop targeted questions about symbioses under changing climates.},
}

*Symbiosis
Animals
*Decapodiformes/microbiology/physiology
*Vibrio/physiology
Temperature
Biological Evolution

@article {pmid42037529,
year = {2026},
author = {Underwood, TJ and Jorrin, B and Turnbull, LA and Poole, PS},
title = {Pea plants conditionally sanction less effectively fixing rhizobia at the level of whole nodules rather than single cells.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/erag191},
pmid = {42037529},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Legumes sanction root nodules containing rhizobial strains with low nitrogen fixation rates (less effectively fixing). Pea (Pisum sativum) nodules contain both undifferentiated bacteria and terminally differentiated nitrogen-fixing bacteroids. It is critical to understand how sanctions act on both bacteria and bacteroids, and how they differ. In addition, less effective strains could potentially evade sanctioning by entering the same nodule as an effective strain i.e., piggybacking. P. sativum was co-inoculated with pairwise combinations of three strains of rhizobia with different effectiveness, to test whether ineffective strains can evade sanctions in this way. We assessed the effect of sanctions on nodule populations of bacteria and bacteroids using flow cytometry and the effects on nodule internal structure using confocal microscopy. We show that sanctioning lowered bacteroid populations and caused a reduction in the size of bacteria. Sanctions also precipitated an early change in nodule cell morphology. In nodules containing two strains that differed in their nitrogen-fixation ability, both were treated equally. Thus, peas sanction whole nodules based on their nitrogen output, but do not sanction at the cellular level. Our results demonstrate peas conditionally sanction at the whole nodule level, providing stability to the symbiosis by reducing the fitness of ineffective strains, but cannot target individual strains in a mixed nodule.},
}

@article {pmid42037654,
year = {2026},
author = {Peng, X and Liu, Q and Li, Q and Huang, X},
title = {Geographical Divergence and Environmental Drivers of the Symbiotic Bacterial Community Structure in a Koelreuteria-Feeding Aphid Species Complex.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {e73580},
pmid = {42037654},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria play a crucial role in the life history of insects. Aphids and their diverse symbiotic bacteria serve as an excellent model for studying the bacterial-insect symbiotic relationship. Our recent study revealed that the aphid Periphyllus koelreuteriae, an important ornamental pest specifically feeding on Koelreuteria plants and widely distributed in the temperate and subtropical regions of China, is actually a species complex that includes three species (P. koelreuteriae, P. blackmani, and P. guangxuei). To characterize the composition and abundance of the symbiotic bacterial communities within this species complex, we employed Illumina NovaSeq high-throughput sequencing to assess symbiotic bacterial diversity and further investigated the associations between symbiont community profiles and aphid species, geographic populations, and host plants. The results show that two dominant symbiotic bacteria were detected, namely Buchnera and Serratia. The mean relative abundance of Buchnera exhibited the trend: P. guangxuei (88.41%) < P. blackmani (95.36%) < P. koelreuteriae (98.51%), which are distributed in subtropical highland, subtropical humid, and temperate regions, respectively, whereas Serratia showed the opposite pattern. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that latitude (LAT) and the minimum temperature of the coldest month (BIO6) are critical environmental factors affecting the composition of symbiotic bacteria in the P. koelreuteriae species complex. The relative abundance of Buchnera significantly decreased with decreasing latitude and increasing minimum temperature of the coldest month, whereas the relative abundance of Serratia exhibited the opposite. These results indicate that the composition and abundance of symbiotic bacteria in this species complex are influenced by both aphid species and geographic-climatic conditions, with latitude (LAT) and the minimum temperature of the coldest month (BIO6) identified as key environmental factors shaping the community structure. This study elucidates the distribution patterns of symbiotic bacteria across closely allied aphid species and along environmental gradients, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding the ecological adaptation mechanisms of this aphid species complex and laying a scientific basis for developing targeted integrated management strategies in the future.},
}

@article {pmid42039907,
year = {2026},
author = {Ganimet, Ş and Yıkmış, S and Karrar, E and Aljobair, MO and Mohamed Ahmed, IA and Althawab, SA},
title = {Bioactive potential of green tea kombucha with propolis: in vitro bioavailability investigation.},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1811711},
pmid = {42039907},
issn = {2296-861X},
abstract = {Kombucha tea, which is frequently preferred among functional drinks, is prepared by fermenting sweetened tea with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Kombucha has various therapeutic potentials thanks to its rich bioactive components and high antioxidant capacity. Propolis, which has health benefits like antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-tumor, can be added to improve the nutritional content of kombucha tea. The effectiveness of bioactive compounds in a beverage is linked to how well these compounds are absorbed by the body. Bioavailability refers to the portion of a dietary nutrient or bioactive compound that is usable for physiological processes and can be stored in the body. In this study, the in vitro bioavailability of green tea kombucha with propolis was investigated by adding propolis to improve kombucha tea's nutritional content. The study used the response surface methodology to obtain optimized green tea kombucha with propolis (GTK-P). Bioactive compound contents, bioavailability levels, and sensory analysis parameters of GTK-P samples and propolis-free kombucha (GTK) samples at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days were investigated comparatively. According to the results, bioactive compound content increased in both GTK and GTK-P samples as the storage period progressed. However, GTK-P had significantly higher bioactive compound concentrations and intestinal recovery rates (% recovery) relative to the GTK control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, GTK-P increases its therapeutic potential as a functional beverage with higher bioactive compound content and bioavailability. These findings reveal that kombucha with propolis could be a favorable functional food in terms of health-promoting effects.},
}

@article {pmid42040280,
year = {2026},
author = {Ledger, T and Renlund, A and Cantillo-González, Á and Poupin, MJ and González, B},
title = {Aluminum stress responses and beneficial bacterial traits in Medicago legumes.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1801139},
pmid = {42040280},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {Legumes of the genus Medicago are agronomically important forage crops that also enhance soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation. Beyond their agricultural value, Medicago species show promise for the ecological restoration of degraded soils, particularly through their symbiotic associations with soil microbial communities (rhizobacteria). However, in acidic soils-common in degraded environments-the presence of toxic metals such as aluminum (Al) poses a major constraint to plant establishment and microbial functioning. However, the specific impacts of Al stress on each symbiotic partner-and on the dynamics of their interaction-remain poorly understood. This review systematizes and describes recent advances in the effects of Al on Medicago legumes, which underlie increased tolerance to metal phytotoxicity, and aims to identify synergistic functions among plant and microbial partners. Al produces morphological and functional changes in Medicago species. Key strategies for metal tolerance involve detoxification mechanisms, such as organic acids production, that effectively mitigate the stress caused by metallic ions. Diverse plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) contribute significantly to each of these strategies, either by the direct production of metal-chelating compounds or by the induction of metal sequestration and/or transport functions in the host. These microorganisms, alone or in combination, display traits that can influence Al mobilization and removal for phytoremediation applications. Mechanisms underlying the effect of PGPR on Medicago gene expression during metal exposure have begun to be elucidated, as has the role of symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizae. Additional studies employing transcriptomics, metabolomics, and genetic engineering are also necessary to fully understand their impact on common metal stress responses and tolerance mechanisms in the genus Medicago.},
}

@article {pmid42042025,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, C and Shen, Y and Qi, L and Sun, X},
title = {From "Omics" to Field: Deciphering the Stress Adaptation Networks and Breeding Potential of Medicago ruthenica L.},
journal = {Current issues in molecular biology},
volume = {48},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cimb48040365},
pmid = {42042025},
issn = {1467-3045},
support = {2025-ZJ-717//the Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province/ ; 2023QHSKXRCTJ28//Qinghai Province Kunlun Talent "Young and Middle-aged Scientific and Technological Talent" Support Project/ ; 2023-SF-A5//Major Science and Technology Project of Qinghai Province/ ; 54M2025006//2025 Graduate Student Innovation Project of Qinghai Minzu University/ ; },
abstract = {Medicago ruthenica L., a superior forage crop within the genus Medicago (Fabaceae), is endowed with remarkable stress tolerance and an abundance of bioactive compounds, conferring significant ecological and forage value. Existing reviews primarily focus on a single research direction, and the most recent findings are dated, failing to cover breakthroughs at the molecular level. This paper systematically synthesizes the latest research progress in five key areas: genetic diversity and genomic studies, biotic stress responses, abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms (drought, salinity, and low temperature, etc.), utilization (including genetic breeding, ecological restoration, and forage development), and future research prospects. This review addresses critical gaps in existing literature, particularly regarding advances in genomic sequencing, biotic stresses, and research on stress-associated microorganisms. Research indicates that M. ruthenica exhibits extensive genetic diversity, and its genome contains numerous positive selection signals associated with stress resistance. It can tolerate multiple abiotic and biotic stresses through morphoplasticity, physiological metabolic regulation, and transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, its symbiosis with microorganisms such as rhizobia significantly enhances its stress tolerance. M. ruthenica demonstrates outstanding application potential in degraded grassland restoration and high-quality forage production. Future research should focus on mining stress-resistant genes, optimizing molecular breeding techniques, and integrating artificial intelligence into breeding practices. That will facilitate its transformation from a regional endemic resource to a commercially viable functional species, thereby providing robust support for ecological security and the sustainable development of grassland-based livestock husbandry in cold and arid regions.},
}

@article {pmid42042367,
year = {2026},
author = {Lai, Y and Fan, C and Zhang, Z and Yan, R and Zhu, D and Yang, H},
title = {Transposable Element-Driven Genomic Plasticity: Unveiling the Evolutionary Mechanisms of Lifestyle Transition and Ecological Adaptation in Endophytic Fungi.},
journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {12},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/jof12040273},
pmid = {42042367},
issn = {2309-608X},
abstract = {The genomic basis underlying the remarkable ecological flexibility of endophytic fungi (EF), particularly their potential to transition between symbiotic, saprophytic, and pathogenic lifestyles, remains poorly understood. Through comparative genomics of 75 Ascomycota and a validation set of 36 Fusarium genomes, we uncovered a distinct pattern of genome evolution in EF, contrasting with the well-known "gene loss" model in obligate symbionts. Our analysis reveals that EF genomes are significantly expanded, primarily driven by the accumulation of DNA transposable elements (TEs). Crucially, this TE-mediated genomic plasticity is coupled with the retention and significant expansion of gene families for both saprotrophy and potential pathogenesis. We propose a novel "dual-trophic potential" model: TE-driven genomic expansion and plasticity provide the genetic raw material for EF to maintain a versatile repertoire of ecological tools, facilitating adaptive shifts across the endophytic-saprophytic-pathogenic continuum. This study reframes our understanding of fungal endophytism from a static symbiotic state to a dynamic, genetically enabled ecological strategy.},
}

@article {pmid42042409,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, X and Ye, Z and Wu, S and Lv, Y and Ren, Y and Luo, Q and Yang, H},
title = {Insect Gut Microbiota-Research Strategies and Perspectives.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17040367},
pmid = {42042409},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {2024YFA0917000//the National Key R&D Program of China/ ; },
abstract = {Insects are widely distributed across the globe and exhibit strong adaptability in diverse living environments, a capability closely linked to the diversity of their gut microbiota. The composition of insect gut bacteria varies with species, living environment, diet, and development stage. In recent years, the widespread application of culture-independent strategies based on molecular biology techniques has provided substantial information for studies on the interaction mechanisms between insects and their gut microbiota. However, culture-dependent strategies aimed at isolating pure cultures remain indispensable. Only by integrating multi-techniques such as bacterial isolation and pure culture, axenic insect technology, and molecular biology can in-depth research be conducted on key gut bacteria of insects. This review summarizes culture-dependent and -independent strategies used for the analysis of the diversity and functions of insect gut microbiota, focusing on the traditional methods and new strategies for microbial cultivation, multi-omics techniques, and axenic insect technology. Recent studies showed that the application of integrated techniques is powerful for illustrating the microbial function and evolution of gut microbiota, and the interactions between intestinal bacteria and their hosts. Studies have shown that the insect gut microbiota plays important roles in the promotion of host growth and development by regulating host metabolic pathways, contributing to host nutrition, and supporting the host in defending against pathogens or degrading toxic compounds. Future research directions and strategies are also proposed, providing insights into further exploration of the interaction mechanisms between symbiotic insect gut bacteria and their hosts, as well as future applications in various fields.},
}

@article {pmid42042479,
year = {2026},
author = {Kan, Y and Wang, R and Zhang, B and Liu, Y and Liu, R and Zhang, Z and Zhang, Z and Ayra-Pardo, C and Li, D},
title = {Contrasting Toxicity Classes Differentially Affect Gut Microbiota Composition in Honey Bees.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17040437},
pmid = {42042479},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {251111113200 and 231111111000//Key Research Project of Henan Province/ ; 2024.10667.CEECIND//Portuguese FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the Scientific Employment Stimulus program/ ; },
abstract = {Honey bees rely on a specialized gut microbiota for nutrition, detoxification, and immune function, yet the effects of emerging insecticides on this symbiotic system remain poorly understood. We compared the acute toxicity and short-term gut microbiota responses of Apis mellifera ligustica workers exposed to two insecticides with contrasting toxicity classes: the highly toxic emamectin benzoate-lufenuron (EB-LFR) and the low-toxicity ecdysone agonist RH-5849. EB-LFR was associated with observed reductions in core gut symbionts (Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, Lactobacillus), a transient increase in Bifidobacterium, and the detection of opportunistic taxa such as Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter hormaechei. In contrast, RH-5849 was associated with broad reductions in beneficial bacteria without detectable pathogen emergence, suggesting a more moderate alteration of microbiota composition. Because microbiota analyses were based on single pooled samples per treatment, these results represent exploratory, qualitative insights into early microbial responses. Together with acute toxicity data, the findings suggest that insecticides with contrasting toxicity classes may differentially affect gut microbiota composition in honey bees and highlight the value of incorporating gut microbiota endpoints into pesticide risk-assessment frameworks to better anticipate sublethal effects on pollinator health.},
}

@article {pmid42042783,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, J and Huang, S and Lai, Y and Wang, P and Wang, F and Pan, D and Zhao, F and Gong, H},
title = {Effects of Aeromonas veronii and Its Vaccine on Immune-Related Gene, Liver Transcriptomics, and Gill Microbiota in Crucian Carp.},
journal = {Vaccines},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/vaccines14040307},
pmid = {42042783},
issn = {2076-393X},
support = {2023YFD2400702-2//National Key Research and Development Program of China Stem Cell/ ; CARS-45//China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA/ ; 0202020023//Guangdong Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/ ; },
abstract = {Background: Aeromonas veronii is an important bacterial pathogen in crucian carp and can cause serious disease outbreaks and substantial economic losses in aquaculture. Objectives: To evaluate how A. veronii infection and its inactivated vaccine modulate immune responses in Carassius auratus. Methods: 270 juveniles were allocated into three groups: a saline-injected control group (Ctrl), a vaccination group receiving an inactivated A. veronii vaccine (Vac), and an artificial infection group (AIG) subjected to stimulation. Liver, spleen, head kidney, gill, and intestine samples were collected from fish after anesthesia. The relative transcript levels of IgM, IgD, BAFF, MHCII, CD4, BCL6, MyD88, and NF-κB were quantified. For liver transcriptome analysis, the effective library concentration was determined. And the 16S rRNA gene resulting reads of fish gill symbiotic microbiota were processed for downstream bioinformatic analysis. Results: The results showed that the Vac achieved an RPS of 73.33%, and vaccination significantly upregulated multiple immune-related genes in different fish organs. With BAFF transcription across organs emerging as a robust sentinel readout. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of BAFF between other genes were all ≥0.8. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that AIG had more DEGs than Vac (5885 vs. 4008) and Ctrl (6910 vs. 6178), respectively. Some genes in AIG revealed significant over-representation of immune pathways, such as BCL6, MyD88, and NF-κB. The fish gill microbiota comprised a diverse set of low-abundance taxa, the phylum level was dominated by Proteobacteria and Fusobacteriota across all groups; whereas, the Vac group remained broadly closer to the Ctrl group in overall composition. Conclusions: These results indicated marked post-challenge immune-metabolic coupling in the liver, and suggested coordinated immunophysiological interplay between the liver and the spleen. Gill microecology of symbiotic bacteria was affected by vaccination or challenge reactions, which in turn affects the health of the gills or the organism itself.},
}

@article {pmid42045908,
year = {2026},
author = {Sousa, B and Chiavassa, A and Delgado, L and Gomes, R and Mendes, C and Serpa, J},
title = {Metabolic reprogramming and molecular crosstalk at the cancer-endothelial interface in ovarian carcinoma.},
journal = {Molecular cancer},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12943-026-02673-y},
pmid = {42045908},
issn = {1476-4598},
support = {2025.00998.BDANA//Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/ ; UIDB/04462/2020, UIDP/04462/2020 and LA/P/0087/2020//Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41845220,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, W and Li, J and Zhao, X and Hu, X and Wang, G and Zhang, Q and Zheng, H and Bai, P and Miao, L and Wang, X},
title = {Comprehensive genome-wide identification of the NPF gene family and functional characterization of GmNPF6.8 regulating root development in soybean.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41845220},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {2208085MC61//the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province/ ; U24A20394//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family (NPF) plays a key role in nitrate uptake, transport, and nitrogen use efficiency in plants. Although NPF genes have been widely studied in many species, their genomic organization, evolutionary patterns, and functional roles in soybean remain unclear. Soybean is an important legume with high nitrogen demand and the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis.

RESULTS: In this study, 126 GmNPF genes were identified in the Wm82.a4.v1 genome. These genes were classified into 8 subfamilies and were unevenly distributed across 19 chromosomes. Family expansion was mainly driven by segmental duplication. Ka/Ks analysis indicated strong purifying selection. Promoter analysis revealed cis-regulatory elements associated with light response, phytohormone signaling, and abiotic stress. Expression profiling across tissues showed clear spatial and temporal patterns for 112 GmNPF genes. GmNPF6.8 was predominantly expressed in roots. Under low-nitrogen conditions, many GmNPF genes were differentially expressed. GmNPF5.13, GmNPF5.5, GmNPF7.13, GmNPF7.12, GmNPF7.14, and GmNPF2.11 were significantly upregulated, whereas GmNPF6.8 and GmNPF6.9 were significantly downregulated in soybean roots. Genetic diversity analysis of GmNPF6.8 in 4,068 soybean accessions identified 3 coding-region haplotypes. GmNPF6.8[Hap1] showed clear evidence of strong artificial selection. Subcellular localization assays confirmed that GmNPF6.8 is localized to the plasma membrane. Overexpression of GmNPF6.8 in Arabidopsis and soybean hairy roots significantly reduced root length and root density. It also altered the expression of key genes involved in root development. Further analysis showed that GmARF11 directly binds to the promoter of GmNPF6.8 and represses its transcription.

CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified the genomic and evolutionary features of the GmNPF family and identified GmNPF6.8 as a negative regulator of root development. These findings provide a potential target for improving nitrogen use efficiency in soybean breeding.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-026-08559-x.},
}

@article {pmid42033317,
year = {2026},
author = {Perez-Etayo, L and Salvador-Bescós, M and Aragón-Aranda, B and Alonso-Urmeneta, B and Moriyón, I and Conde-Álvarez, R},
title = {Isolation of luminescent symbiont bacteria from marine cephalopods: a practical activity for the study of bacterial quorum sensing.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnag050},
pmid = {42033317},
issn = {1574-6968},
abstract = {This work describes a laboratory activity designed to illustrate the phenomenon of bacterial Quorum Sensing (QS), a communication mechanism in bacterial communities. The activity focuses on the bioluminescence production regulated by QS of bacteria that live in symbiosis with cephalopods. This activity targets undergraduate students in biology, biochemistry, or other sciences and aims to promote their interest in microbiology and to help students to understand the role and mechanism of QS in microorganisms by means of a visual example of symbiotic interactions between bacteria and animals. At the same time, students are expected to develop lab skills in bacterial isolation, pure culture obtention and interpretation of microbiological results. The work also provides references and resources to help students understand the subject and teachers assess student learning.},
}

@article {pmid42033327,
year = {2026},
author = {Williams, CE and Tacoaman, YFL and Fontaine, SS and Logan, ML},
title = {The lizard microbiome: patterns, drivers, and functional implications.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology letters},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnag049},
pmid = {42033327},
issn = {1574-6968},
abstract = {The lizard microbiome is a dynamic community that plays a crucial role in the health and survival of these animals. As global change poses significant threats to lizard populations around the world, understanding the interactions between lizards and their microbial communities is increasingly important. Here, we synthesize a rapidly growing body of research on the composition, diversity, transmission, and functional roles of lizard microbiomes. We discuss the implications of microbiome variation for lizard physiology, as well as the potential for microbiomes to inform conservation strategies for threatened species. Finally, we highlight priorities for future research, which include the need to quantify microbiome diversity and function across additional taxa, as lizards remain underrepresented in the microbiome literature. We also stress the importance of experimental and field research that can reveal the adaptive significance of lizard microbiomes in the face of environmental change. Our synthesis highlights the contributions of lizard microbiome science to the fields of ecology, evolution, and conservation biology and demonstrates how the microbial communities that live in and on lizards enhance our understanding of their biodiversity and inform efforts to protect vulnerable populations.},
}

@article {pmid42033968,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, X and Xi, Y and Fang, K and Li, C and Li, Y and Wang, S and Bi, R and Chi, Z and Tian, J and Zeng, X},
title = {Influence of suspended particulate matter input on phytoplankton community structure in estuarine environments.},
journal = {Marine environmental research},
volume = {219},
number = {},
pages = {108069},
doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2026.108069},
pmid = {42033968},
issn = {1879-0291},
abstract = {Riverine suspended particulate matter (SPM) inputs play a crucial role in regulating phytoplankton sedimentation and stability in estuarine ecosystems, thereby mediating organic matter cycling. However, our understanding of how the physicochemical properties of SPM influence the short-term response mechanisms of phytoplankton remains insufficient. This study focuses on the sedimentation phase following SPM input and employs a controlled microcosm experimental system. Through short-term sedimentation experiments, it thoroughly investigates the effects of SPM particle size and surface charge on the sedimentation behavior and community composition of marine phytoplankton. The results show that SPM sedimentation substantially decreased phytoplankton biomass in seawater, with sedimentation rates increasing significantly as SPM particle size decreased. Surface charge also strongly enhanced phytoplankton sedimentation. In terms of community composition, SPM markedly altered phytoplankton structure by significantly reducing the relative abundance of Bacillariophyta and Dinophyta while increasing that of Heterokontophyta. Among the examined factors, SPM particle size emerged as a primary driver of these changes. Additionally, SPM inputs increased the relative abundance of microalgae-associated symbiotic bacteria, and combined with the changes in community composition and the results of co-occurrence network analysis, it is hypothesized that the enriched microalgae-associated bacteria may form potential ecological associations with phytoplankton under SPM disturbance conditions. Overall, this study provides new insights into the short-term responses of marine phytoplankton to riverine SPM input during the initial sedimentation phase, and offers preliminary mechanistic references for understanding particulate matter-driven plankton dynamics in estuarine systems.},
}

@article {pmid42034058,
year = {2026},
author = {Uchida, T and Yamashita, H and Shimada, G and Kawamitsu, M and Shoguchi, E and Shinzato, C},
title = {Genomic insights into photosymbiosis in giant clams and comparisons with coral strategies.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2026.03.075},
pmid = {42034058},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Giant clams are representative bivalves in coral reef ecosystems that host photosynthetic dinoflagellates extracellularly and rely on their photosynthates, functioning as "solar-powered animals." Unlike corals, which harbor intracellular dinoflagellates, the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary history underlying this symbiosis remain largely unknown. In the present study, we integrated chromosome-scale genome assembly, transcriptome profiling, and bleaching experiments involving giant clams, Tridacna crocea, to explore the genetic basis of extracellular symbiosis. Signals associated with sterol transport by Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2) proteins and carbon-concentrating mechanisms suggest that giant clams share some nutrient exchange strategies with corals. Strikingly, the nitrate transporter NRT2, a "plant-like" gene previously thought to be absent in animals, represents an unexpected evolutionary retention that enables nitrate-based nutrient supply, highlighting a fundamental difference from coral symbiosis. Our findings reveal both conserved and distinct molecular strategies of photosymbiosis in reef-dwelling marine invertebrates and provide insights into evolution and ecological resilience of coral reef ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid42034993,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Zhu, W and Zhong, Y and Li, Y and Wen, T and Chen, J and Wang, P},
title = {Medicago phosphate exporter PHO1.3 regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-08850-x},
pmid = {42034993},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {32300251//National Natural Sciences Foundation of China/ ; 2024JJ4029//Department of Science and Technology of Hunan Province/ ; 2025T180746//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; },
}

@article {pmid42035497,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, Z and Yu, H and Gang, D and Lu, Q and Ji, H and Mu, J and Zheng, X and Qi, J and Hu, C and Qu, J},
title = {Alterations in the ecological amplitude of summer-dormant submerged macrophyte serve as sensitive indicators for the ecological risk of PFAS in water.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {511},
number = {},
pages = {142184},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.142184},
pmid = {42035497},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {The gaps in aquatic biological monitoring during cold seasons compromise the accuracy of year-round water quality and contaminant risk assessments. To address this challenge, this study surveyed over 350 aquatic plant species worldwide and selected a summer-dormant submerged macrophyte (Potamogeton crispus) for research. Through a mesocosm experiment, the exposure responses of P. crispus to typical emerging contaminants (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS) were investigated, demonstrating that the ecological amplitude of P. crispus can be used as an indicator of PFAS risk during low-temperature seasons. Results revealed significant PFAS accumulation in plant tissues, particularly in leaves, with bioaccumulation factors for PFOA reaching 412.71 L/kg in leaves, which is 4-17 times higher than those of short-chain PFAS. Under PFAS exposure, P. crispus maintains physiological stability and reduces oxidative damage through adaptive phenotypic plasticity involving multi-level antioxidant defense and photosynthetic regulation. Metabolomic analysis identified significant perturbations in nucleotide metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and ascorbate metabolism pathways. The assembly and dispersion strategies of symbiotic microbial communities shift from stochastic-dominated to deterministic-dominated processes as PFAS concentrations increase. A partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) confirmed the effects of traits and ecological functions of P. crispus through both direct accumulation and indirect interference. This study proposes the feasibility of using P. crispus as a sensitive bio-indicator for PFAS risk assessment during low-temperature seasons and supports future ecological monitoring and restoration strategies.},
}

@article {pmid42035689,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Yang, X and Liu, X and Feng, J and Xie, S and Lv, J},
title = {Calcium-mediated cross-kingdom carbon-iron metabolism coordination boots microalgal activity in high-sludge microalgal-bacterial symbiosis system.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {405},
number = {},
pages = {129729},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129729},
pmid = {42035689},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Robust microalgal activity is critical for the microalgal-bacterial symbiosis system (MBSS) to enable wastewater resource recovery, but microalgal performance can be affected by high concentrations of sludge. Ca[2+] may regulate microalgal performance. Nevertheless, the mechanism of Ca[2+]-mediated regulation, particularly under high concentrations of sludge, remains unclear. This study integrated physiological and genomic analyses to investigate microalgal responses to sludge (100-800 mg/L) and Ca[2+] supplementation (10-50 mM). Results showed that high-concentration sludge (400-800 mg/L) reduced microalgal growth, pigment synthesis, and photosynthetic efficiency by 65.6%-86.6%, 20.1%-39.2%, and 1.6%-7.0%, respectively, while Ca[2+] restored these parameters by up to 39.9%, 39.7%, and 8.5%. At the genetic level, Ca[2+] activated microalgal Ca[2+] signaling pathways (43.9%-226.4% increase in CaM, CDPK, and CBL). It upregulated antioxidant enzyme genes (76.1%-373.0% increase in SOD, CAT, and POD) to mitigate cell damage and photosynthetic genes (e.g. 95.0%-260.9% increase in psbA and rbcL) to restore chloroplast function. Concurrently, Ca[2+] promoted bacterial central carbon metabolism genes (e.g., 1.6%-26.2% increase in CS, IDH and OGDH) to increase CO2 release for microalgal carbon fixation and recruited siderophore-producing bacteria (e.g., 120.6%-154.3% increase in Sphingopyxis) to improve iron bioavailability for microalgal photosynthesis. Therefore, a positive feedback loop was formed through the supplementation of Ca[2+]. Microalgal photosynthesis supplied organic carbon/O2 for bacteria, while bacterial metabolism provided CO2 and iron for microalgae. Collectively, Ca[2+] optimized microalgal activity via cross-kingdom coordination of carbon-iron metabolism, offering a mechanistic basis for optimizing MBSS applications in wastewater treatment and biological resource recovery by using Ca[2+] as an effective regulator.},
}

@article {pmid42035947,
year = {2026},
author = {Painenao, CA and Taladriz, JG and Neculpán, MN and Vargas-Straube, MJ and Bojko, J and Ceballos, R and Fernandez, N and Navarro, PD},
title = {From blueprint to biocontrol: Integrating complete genome, metabolic profiling and in vivo evaluation of Xenorhabdus magdalenensis IMI397775 for insect pest control.},
journal = {Journal of invertebrate pathology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108640},
doi = {10.1016/j.jip.2026.108640},
pmid = {42035947},
issn = {1096-0805},
abstract = {The symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus magdalenensis has a complex life cycle that alternates between a mutualistic relationship with the native entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema australe and a pathogenic stage with the insect host. Although several nematode-bacteria are well studied, the S. australe-X. Magdalenensis complex, originally isolated from southern Chile, remains poorly understood. In this study, we provide the first complete circular 4.086 Mb genome of the Xenorhabdus magdalenensis IMI397775 strain and genomically and chemically describe the bacteria at their ecological stages: in the IJs' receptacle as symbionts and in the insect's hemolymph as pathogens. We conduct a genomic analysis of X. magdalenensis IMI397775 using genmarks and Prokka for functional annotation and comparative tools to assess the evolutionary history of the most related Xenorhabdus spp. Genomic data were integrated with biochemical metabolic profiling using the API 50 CG test to validate the genotype-phenotype relationship. Our results showed an architecture of IMI397775 strain characterized by 20 rearrangements relative to X. doucetiae, its closest relative, suggesting a rapid evolutionary diversification. The identification of 25 BCGs with low similarity to known databases, and over 60% of which may encode novel molecule positions, makes this strain an important reservoir for natural product discovery. Our in vivo evaluation of CFS confirms that the genomic potential of this strain may be a potent biological tool with high efficacy and a potential candidate for the development of new-generation biopesticides.},
}

@article {pmid42036711,
year = {2026},
author = {Gao, Y and Wang, H and Dai, X and Gao, D and Zeng, W and Lambers, H and Hu, M and Meng, S and Yang, F and Kou, L and Fu, X},
title = {Mycorrhizal type shifts the controls on tree root exudation from soil-driven to carbohydrate-driven mechanisms.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.71216},
pmid = {42036711},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {31971634//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32330071//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32471848//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ZR2023QC300//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; XBS2456//the Annual New Talent Research Project of Jinan University/ ; },
abstract = {Exudation is crucial for carbon and nutrient cycling in forests. However, the underlying mechanism controlling exudation in mature trees, especially its dependence on mycorrhizal type, remains unknown. Based on the control of carbon acquisition by roots, we propose an updated 'push-trade-off-pull' framework for exudation. We investigated three controlling categories, that is, nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) in branches and roots, root functional traits, and soil nutrients, as proxies for 'push', 'trade-off', and 'pull', respectively, over exudation for trees colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in subtropical forests of China. The NSCs, root traits, and soil nutrients together controlled exudation of trees, particularly distinguishing AM from ECM species. Soil nutrients dominantly impacted the exudation of AM species (47%), that is, increased exudation linked with decreased soil nutrients, supporting the 'pull' effect. However, the NSCs mainly mediated that of ECM species (56%), that is, enhanced exudation associated with declined NSCs, which rejects the 'push' effect. For the 'trade-off', greater exudation was correlated with greater root branching for AM and with lower root tissue density for ECM species. Our findings highlight the mycorrhizal symbiosis-dependent mechanism of exuded carbon that provides a new perspective for understanding exudate-mediated belowground carbon cycling in forests.},
}

@article {pmid42033197,
year = {2026},
author = {Haldar, I and Arif, W and Devaraju, P and Sihag, KK and Srirama, S and Balakrishnan, V and Srinivasan, P and Ramasamy, A and Rahi, M},
title = {First report of Culex flavivirus and its association with Wolbachia in Culex quinquefasciatus from Puducherry, India.},
journal = {Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/trstmh/trag047},
pmid = {42033197},
issn = {1878-3503},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Symbiotic insect-specific viruses, such as Culex flavivirus (CxFV), are increasingly recognized for their ability to modulate arboviral replication in mosquitoes. However, the prevalence of CxFV in Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from Puducherry, India-a region previously endemic for filariasis-and its interaction with the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia pipientis, remain unexplored.

METHODS: Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were collected from villages in and around Puducherry. A total of 150 pools were screened for CxFV by PCR targeting the NS-5 gene and the amplicons were sequenced. Further, 100 individual mosquitoes were tested for both CxFV and the relative density of Wolbachia.

RESULTS: The study identified a CxFV prevalence of 3.73% (95% CI 2.27-5.46) among the mosquito pools by Bayesian estimation approach. Phylogenetic analysis classified the circulating strain as genotype 2 of CxFV. The median relative density of Wolbachia was observed to be 0.170 (IQR 0.009-0.683) in CxFV-positive mosquitoes and 0.132 (IQR 0.021-0.570) in CxFV-negative mosquitoes, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Thus, with the first report on the circulation of CxFV-infected mosquitoes in Puducherry, the study highlights a probable lack of association between the relative density of Wolbachia and CxFV.

ACCESSION NUMBERS: The raw sequence reads have been deposited in GenBank (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/) with the following accession numbers: PQ586414, PQ586415, PQ586416, PQ586417, PQ586418, PQ586419, PQ586420, PQ586421, PQ586422, PQ586423.},
}

@article {pmid42027002,
year = {2026},
author = {Singh, A and Mir, NR and Sharma, R and Singh, AD and Sharma, M and Ohri, P and Bhardwaj, R and Kapoor, N},
title = {Unveiling the Power of Strigolactones in Abiotic Stress Management: A Comprehensive Review.},
journal = {Biotechnology and applied biochemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/bab.70175},
pmid = {42027002},
issn = {1470-8744},
support = {221610017140//University Grants Commission/ ; },
abstract = {In the face of continuous climate change, environmental stress has become a major threat to agricultural productivity. To address these challenges, one key strategy is the application of phytohormones like abscisic acid, ethylene, auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, salicylic acid, jasmonates, brassinosteroids, and strigolactones (SLs). These hormones are important for supporting overall plant growth under stress, as they activate the key signaling pathways that help plants adapt to adverse conditions and mitigate productivity losses. Among these crucial phytohormones, SLs have gained attention for their unique act in plant adaptation to stress. Strigolactones are a newly identified class of phytohormones synthesized from carotenoids and were first identified as ecological signals involved in triggering the germination of parasitic seeds and facilitating symbiotic interactions between plants and beneficial microbes. Further studies have revealed their involvement in diverse developmental processes, such as root growth, shoot branching, reproductive development, and leaf senescence. Hence, the present review focuses on the roles of SLs in plant development and stress responses, covering their discovery, biosynthesis, and signaling pathways. It emphasizes the significance of SLs in mitigating abiotic stresses, including heavy metal toxicity, thermal stress, nutrient deficiencies, and oxidative stress. Finally, it outlines the future research directions and the potential of SLs to enhance plant resilience and productivity in changing environments.},
}

@article {pmid42027295,
year = {2026},
author = {Sangodkar, N and Gonsalves, MJ and Nazareth, DR},
title = {Methanotrophy dominated symbiosis in novel species Gigantidas niobengalensis from the cold seeps of Krishna-Godavari basin.},
journal = {FEMS microbes},
volume = {7},
number = {},
pages = {xtag014},
pmid = {42027295},
issn = {2633-6685},
abstract = {Bathymodiolus mussels, which are prominent invertebrates at cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, are known for hosting symbiotic microbes within their gills. In this study, the microbial communities associated with the gills of novel bathymodioline mussel Gigantidas niobengalensis from an active cold seep site of Krishna-Godavari (K-G) basin was investigated by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The average abundance of culturable methanotrophs in the gill tissues was 3.4 ± 0.9 × 10[4] CFU g[-1] with average methane oxidation rates of 1.71 ± 0.04 to 1.89 ± 0.02 µM g[-1] d[-1] under aerobic and 1.86 ± 0.001 to 1.98 ± 0.005 µM g[-1] d[-1] under anaerobic conditions. Metagenomic analysis revealed dominance of methanotrophs within the microbial communities comprising of >55% bacterial and >28% archaeal methanotrophs; with phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Euryarchaeota, and Crenarcheaota being prevalent. Functional classification highlighted methane metabolism (20%) and carbon fixation (22%) as major energy metabolism pathways. This study represents the first metagenomic characterization of gill-associated symbionts in the novel cold seep mussel G. niobengalensis from the Indian Ocean. The findings fill a knowledge gap on chemosynthetic symbioses in Indian cold seep ecosystems and provide insights into metabolic adaptation of G. niobengalensis in the cold seep ecosystem.},
}

@article {pmid42027459,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, F and Wang, Z and Hu, Y and Wu, X and Liu, L and Yang, H and Zhang, Y and Wang, Y and Hong, G},
title = {Mechanisms by stand density regulates soil multifunctionality via soil environment and microbial network topology in a Pinus sylvestris plantation.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1796389},
pmid = {42027459},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {In arid sandy plantations, stand density critically regulates belowground ecosystems, yet its effects on microbial network complexity, stability, and function are not fully understood. This study examined Pinus sylvestris var. mongholica plantations along a density gradient (Very high density (VHD): 2,450 trees ha[-1], High density (HD): 1,633 trees ha[-1], Moderate density (MD): 1,067 trees ha[-1], Low density (LD): 583 trees ha[-1]) at two soil depths (0-20, 20-40 cm) in the Otingdag Sandy Land, integrating soil physicochemical, enzymatic, and microbial network analyses. Key findings were: (1) Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, key enzyme activities [urease (URE), acid phosphatase (PHO), and nitrate reductase (NR)], and ecosystem multifunctionality showed a unimodal response, peaking at medium densities. (2) Microbial responses diverged: bacterial α-diversity changed but composition remained stable, whereas fungal composition was highly density-sensitive. Mid- to low densities promoted more complex, modular, and stable microbial networks. Mantel tests identified pH, URE, and Ammonium nitrogen (NH4[+]-N, AN) as key drivers for bacterial phyla, and pH, Soil organic carbon (SOC), Total nitrogen (TN), PHO, and Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) for differentiating Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. (3) Random Forest regression identified microbial network stability as the top predictor of multifunctionality, surpassing diversity. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) analysis revealed that stand density enhances multifunctionality primarily by improving the soil environment, with microbial networks acting as environment-dependent regulators. This study demonstrates that moderate stand densities optimize microbial network resilience and ecosystem multifunctionality in sandy plantations, providing a novel perspective from microbial network stability.},
}

@article {pmid42028466,
year = {2026},
author = {Wei, C and Sun, S and Wang, Y and Liu, L and Pearson, S and Wang, Y and Dorjee, T and Mace, E and Jordan, D and Yang, Y and Tao, Y},
title = {Complete telomere-to-telomere genomes of cowpea reveal insights into centromere evolution in Phaseoleae.},
journal = {Horticulture research},
volume = {13},
number = {4},
pages = {uhaf359},
pmid = {42028466},
issn = {2662-6810},
abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a versatile legume crop providing a critical source of grain, vegetable and forage globally. Cultivated cowpea is classified into two main subspecies, subsp. sesquipedalis for fresh-pod vegetable and subsp. unguiculata for grain production. Here, we present two complete telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assemblies for the grain-type inbred lines HJD and vegetable-type FC6 through integrating PacBio HiFi reads, Oxford Nanopore ultralong reads, and Hi-C data. The T2T genomes demonstrated improved contiguity, completeness, and accuracy compared to existing genomes, revealing clear telomeric and centromeric features. Comparative analysis of the T2T genomes highlighted inversions underlying subspecies divergence in cowpea. Evolutionary analysis uncovered contraction of gene families related to symbiosis in HJD, consist with its reduced root nodules compared to FC6. Distribution and composition of tandem repeat arrays and transposable elements in centromeric regions were largely conserved in cowpea, but displayed pronounced variation among Phaseoleae. Furthermore, frequent shifts of centromeric locations coincided with inversions found in Phaseoleae. Overall, this study provides a set of fundamental resources for cowpea improvement and enhances our understanding of cowpea subspecies divergence and genome evolution in Phaseoleae.},
}

@article {pmid42029765,
year = {2026},
author = {Boyno, G and Tatar, NA and Usta, M and Teniz, N and Demir, S},
title = {Integration of whey and mycorrhizal symbiosis: a sustainable biocontrol strategy against Zucchini yellow mosaic virus in squash.},
journal = {Mycorrhiza},
volume = {36},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {42029765},
issn = {1432-1890},
}

@article {pmid42031051,
year = {2026},
author = {Wan, K and Xu, H and Cao, B and Wang, G and Chi, R and Xiao, C},
title = {Synergistic effects of phosphorus and fluorine on the structural and metabolic strategies of microbial communities in phosphogypsum stockpiles.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {124578},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2026.124578},
pmid = {42031051},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {The continuous leaching of phosphorus (P) and fluorine (F) from phosphogypsum (PG) stockpiles poses an increasing threat to surrounding soil environments. Microorganisms play a crucial role in soil nutrient cycling; however, the effects of P and F on their community structure and function remain unclear. Therefore, this study analyzed the form and content of P and F at five elevation-gradient sampling locations within a PG stockpile and investigated their effects on microbial community structure and metabolic function. Results showed that P and F in the PG stockpile, influenced by pH as well as Fe, Al, and Ca levels, existed primarily as Fe/Al-P (4.36 ± 0.94 - 12.27 ± 0.79%), Ca-P (11.93 ± 0.87% - 47.51 ± 9.21%), Res-P (38.94 ± 11.06 - 81.67 ± 1.38%), and Res-F (77.63 ± 1.66 - 90.15 ± 0.26%). In the central locations of the PG stockpile (L1 - L3), the dominant microbes were the tolerant bacteria Sphingomonas and Occallatibacter and the plant-symbiotic fungi Rhizophagus and Glomus. They accounted for 10.47 ± 2.87 - 11.43 ± 6.20% and 5.16 ± 3.34 - 5.63 ± 1.46% of the bacterial communities, and 30.31 ± 6.61 - 62.78 ± 3.87% and 5.37 ± 3.60 - 11.59±0.74% of the fungal communities, respectively, showing positive correlations with P and F levels. Piecewise structural equation modeling indicated that pH indirectly regulates microbial metabolism by influencing P, F, nutrient, and metal ion levels. Consequently, both pH and the multifunctionality index of microbial C, N, P metabolism increased with distance from the stockpile. This study provides a foundation for the management and ecologically remediating PG stockpiles.},
}

@article {pmid42031854,
year = {2026},
author = {Yuan, Y and Wu, L and Zhang, J and Chen, C and Zhou, Q and Chen, Y},
title = {Mechanisms underlying rhizosheath dynamics in Kengyilia hirsuta in response to alternating drought and rewatering.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-49036-7},
pmid = {42031854},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {31802123//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Under increasing frequency of extreme climate events, plant adaptation to alternating drought-rewatering stress is critical. Kengyilia hirsuta, a pioneer forage grass in alpine desert ecosystems, relies on rhizosheath formation for drought resistance. This study conducted indoor pot experiments with six water treatments: three drought-rewatering cycles (W1-W3, re‑watered to 10%, 25%, and 40% of field capacity, FC) and three sustained drought levels (W4-W6, maintained at 10%, 25%, and 40% FC). Root architecture, biomass allocation, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization, and rhizosheath formation were examined over three successive 7‑day periods (T1-T3). Results revealed dynamic responses of rhizosheath accumulation to water regimes: maintained 25% FC (W5) significantly promoted rhizosheath biomass, maintained 40% FC (W6) enhanced early‑stage development, and re‑watering to 10% FC (W1) boosted later‑stage formation. AMF colonization increased progressively, with total colonization rising from 41.51% at T1 (day 7) to 61.40% at T3 (day 21). The W5 treatment consistently exhibited the highest vesicle, arbuscule, and hyphal colonization, along with increased soil spore density and hyphal density by T3. Root morphological traits-including tip number, volume, hair length, and hair density-also peaked under W5. Structural equation modelling identified AMF colonization (total effect: -0.90) and root hair traits (total effect: +0.80) as pivotal regulators of rhizosheath formation. This negative total effect of AMF colonization does not indicate overall inhibition, but rather reflects the feedback regulation intensity mediated by microbial competition and the carbon allocation trade-off within the plant-fungal symbiosis under resource-limited conditions. These factors interact through biomass allocation, root architecture, and soil microenvironment, forming a multidimensional adaptive network. These findings elucidate the ecophysiological mechanisms of plant-AMF collaboration in rhizosheath formation under water fluctuation, supporting the selection of stress‑tolerant grasses for restoring desertified grasslands.},
}

@article {pmid42020953,
year = {2026},
author = {Flatau, R and Bickley, CD and Altamia, MA and Gasser, MT and Distel, DL},
title = {Metabolic potential structures gill symbiont communities in two common shipworm species.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrag089},
pmid = {42020953},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Shipworms (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) are the most prolific wood consumers in marine environments. These wormlike marine bivalves digest wood using carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) produced by intracellular bacterial endosymbionts housed within their gills. Although several shipworm species are known to host multiple co-occurring symbiont species, the factors that influence symbiont community assembly, including the phylogenetic identity and metabolic capabilities of the symbionts, remain poorly understood. We sequenced gill symbiont metagenomes from multiple specimens of two shipworm species, Teredo bartschi (22 specimens) and Lyrodus pedicellatus (14 specimens), which have sympatric distribution in the wild, and which were reared together in laboratory co-culture. From these metagenomes, we assembled 90 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) representing seven distinct symbiont species. The metagenome of each host specimen contained between 1 and 5 symbiont species, with each including at least one nitrogen-fixing symbiont. Six of the seven identified symbiont species were found in both host species, demonstrating a lack of host species specificity in these symbioses. We identified patterns of symbiont occurrence and co-occurrence in these two hosts and used these patterns to constrain the core set of CAZyme and nitrogen-fixation gene classes necessary to support host survival. Our results indicate that, in these two host species, symbiont community composition reflects the symbionts' capabilities for carbohydrate degradation and nitrogen fixation, rather than strict species-specific mechanisms of host and symbiont sorting.},
}

@article {pmid42022125,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, S and Xie, L and Yan, Z and Ma, J and Zhao, R},
title = {Hybrid expert system for robust detection of rare sequence signals: a computational proof-of-concept in host-dominated backgrounds.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1821073},
pmid = {42022125},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Deciphering microbial symbiosis in robust environmental and host-associated systems increasingly depends on the reliable recovery of weak biological signals from sequencing data dominated by non-target background. In practice, low-abundance symbiont-derived signatures are often obscured by background DNA, recurrent technical artifacts, and context-dependent false-positive calls, limiting the accuracy of downstream ecological and functional inference. Here, we present SymbioFilter, a hybrid expert system designed to improve the specificity and stability of rare-signal detection in host-associated microbiome sequencing data with substantial background noise. (i.e., overwhelming host-derived DNA, recurrent alignment errors, and sequencing artifacts). Specifically, this framework is intended for specialized usage cases where standard host-depletion strategies fail, such as capturing minor microbe-induced host somatic mutations or rare microbial homologs, which reflect subtle and intimate interactions between microbes and the host. SymbioFilter integrates three coordinated layers: (i)ensemble-based candidate detection, (ii)machine-learned background/noise discrimination using an XGBoost classifier, and (iii) rule-guided suppression of artifact-prone genomic regions using curated repetitive and blacklist annotations. Rather than relying on a single decision rule, the framework combines probabilistic classification with expert-defined constraints to preserve weak true signals while reducing recurrent false positives. This design specifically targets analytical failure modes common to host-dominated and low-input datasets, where precision is frequently compromised by rare-event noise. As a stringent proof-of-concept benchmark, we evaluated SymbioFilter in synthetic gradient spike-in datasets. Crucially, to ensure rigorous computational evaluation with an absolute ground truth-a standard that is currently unattainable in complex, real-world microbiome samples at ultra-low abundances-we utilized plasma cfDNA-like low-frequency conditions as a highly controlled, demanding proxy. Across gradient abundance levels, the framework consistently reduced false-positive inflation, improved agreement with the known ground truth, and maintained stable classification performance. Compared with a baseline pipeline and a widely used variant-calling workflow, SymbioFilter achieved lower mean squared error, stronger true-positive/true-negative balance, and consistently high precision-recall behavior, particularly under the most challenging low-abundance settings. Although validated here in a proxy benchmark environment, the computational principles of SymbioFilter address a broader class of sequencing problems central to microbial symbiosis research: identifying rare, functionally relevant biological signals in complex, noise-prone backgrounds. By providing a transferable, modular, and open computational strategy for robust signal recovery, SymbioFilter offers a useful methodological foundation for future studies of host-microbe interactions, resilient community assembly, and symbiosis-associated ecosystem stability. The code is freely available for academic use at https://github.com/hello-json/SymbioFilter.},
}

@article {pmid42023664,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, HH and Chen, XW and Xing, MG and Zhao, YX and Zhang, MM and Cai, QY and Li, H},
title = {Nanoplastics interfere with plant-mycorrhizal communication and limit plant growth.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrag101},
pmid = {42023664},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {More than 80% of land plants form symbiotic relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi for nutrient uptake. As emerging soil pollutants, nanoplastics (NPs) accumulate in both crop and AM fungal tissue, posing non-negligible toxicity and health risks. However, whether and how NPs can impact plant-AM fungal partnership throughout the symbiotic process remains poorly understood. Here, using axenic root-fungal culture, fluorescence NP tracking, and real-time symbiotic signal monitoring, we show that during pre-colonization phase, NPs reduced spore germination rates (-48%) due to the NP accumulation on spore surface, hindering symbiotic signal perception. During the colonization phase, NPs entered fungal cells, disrupted organelles, and accelerated hyphal senescence, consequently reducing hyphal branching length (-22%) and secondary spore production (-32%). In real-world soil, inoculation of secondary spores (reproduced under NPs) formed fewer arbuscule structures (-46%) within maize roots with reduced carbon allocation to AM fungus, leading to lower hyphal length density (HLD) (-24%). During the post-colonization phase, lower HLD impaired the well-known function of phosphorus (P) mineralization by hyphae-enriched bacteria, reduced soil available P (-5.7%) and maize shoot P (-20%), eventually resulting in compromised plant performance. Our findings reveal an integrated yet largely underexplored mechanism of how NPs hinder plant performance by disrupting the dynamic relationship between plants and their symbiotic partners. In a broader context, understanding the alteration of plant-microbial interaction (rather than separately) under emerging stress can provide ecologically relevant implications for sustaining agricultural and terrestrial ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid42023686,
year = {2026},
author = {Virjamo, V and Repo, T and Lehto, T},
title = {Freezing tolerance and recovery of arbuscular-mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal Thuja occidentalis.},
journal = {Tree physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpag048},
pmid = {42023686},
issn = {1758-4469},
abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis increases nutrient uptake of the host plant, and it can also improve their stress tolerance. Roots are considered as the most frost sensitive plant parts. However, the freezing tolerance of mycorrhizas, and especially arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) is poorly understood. Here, we studied the freezing tolerance and recovery of AM and non-mycorrhizal (NM) Thuja occidentalis (L.). After a simulated summer and autumn, whole-plant freezing tests were done using seven exposure temperatures from 5°C to -45°C. Then freezing damage of needles was assessed by relative electrolyte leakage (REL). The seedlings were kept for two weeks in long-day recovery conditions with day temperature either 10°C or 22°C, and then visual damage, shoot and root mass, nutrient concentrations and mycorrhizal colonization were analyzed. Before the frost exposure, AM plants had higher P concentrations and similar growth as NM plants. Needle freezing tolerance was -23°C (corresponding to lethal temperature for 50% of specimens) and was not affected by AM. Visual investigation after the recovery period showed a similar result. Lower foliar N concentration and root mass in seedlings exposed to -18°C in both AM and NM plants suggests that fine-root damage had taken place already before -18°C. Recovery in 22°C increased nutrient uptake and growth only in seedlings exposed to +5°C and -5°C, but specific root length increased also after -18°C. AM plant shoots grew less than NM ones during the recovery period. AM increased foliar N during recovery in all non-lethally exposed seedlings, and P concentrations in seedlings exposed to +5°C and -5°C. This was due to a concentration effect by the lower dry mass increment. These results suggest that the functioning of AM fungi can be limited by short growing seasons or in cold soil conditions, which may affect their distribution in cold regions.},
}

@article {pmid42024426,
year = {2026},
author = {Kabir, AH and Thapa, A and Pant, B and Khan, M and Saiful, SA and Talukder, SK},
title = {Trichoderma afroharzianum behaves differently in interaction with pea plants under varying iron availability.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxag107},
pmid = {42024426},
issn = {1365-2672},
abstract = {AIMS: Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 is widely recognized for enhancing plant stress resilience, yet its effects in pea plants may vary depending on iron (Fe) availability.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed the impact of T22 on pea grown under differential Fe status through integrated physiological and omics analyses. We found that the benefits of T22 are highly context dependent, demonstrating improvements in photosynthesis and Fe/N accumulation under Fe deficiency but minimal effects under sufficiency. RNA-seq identified 262 DEGs under Fe deficiency and 555 DEGs under Fe sufficiency following T22 inoculation, with the latter primarily associated with basal metabolic functions, indicating potential colonization costs rather than adaptive responses. Particularly, T22 inoculation upregulated symbiosis-related genes (Nodule-specific GRPs, Major facilitator, sugar transporter-like), Fe transporters (NRAMPs, HMAs), and redox-associated genes (Glutathione S-transferase, Glutathione peroxidase) in the roots under Fe shortage, reflecting a coordinated response to enhance nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance. Microbiome profiling revealed that T22 reshaped the root community by enriching several bacterial taxa such as Comamonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae and Mitsuaria under Fe deficiency. These enriched bacterial taxa may act as potential 'helpers' to T22 by providing complementary beneficial effects under Fe deficiency. In contrast, under Fe-sufficient conditions, microbial restructuring was largely limited to the enrichment of Rhizobiaceae and Pararhizobium. Fungal taxa showed minimal changes, except for the enrichment of Paecilomyces in response to T22 under Fe-deficient conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that T22 acts in a context-dependent manner, with bacterial enrichment varying with Fe availability, while fungal taxa were largely unaffected.},
}

@article {pmid42026456,
year = {2026},
author = {Pandharikar, G and Mathe-Hubert, H and Gatti, JL and Simon, JC and Poirié, M and Frendo, P},
title = {Plant and aphid genotypes modulate legume rhizobium-induced defense against aphids.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-08737-x},
pmid = {42026456},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {ANR-11-LABX-0028//LABEX SIGNALIFE/ ; },
}

@article {pmid42015150,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, J and Li, Y and Zhan, Z and Liu, X and Shi, M and Xu, K},
title = {Gene loss and vesicular transport remodeling underpin heterotrophic adaptations of scleractinian corals.},
journal = {BMC biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12915-026-02582-y},
pmid = {42015150},
issn = {1741-7007},
support = {41930533//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; KEXUE2019GZ04; KEXUE2020GZ02//the Senior User Project of R/V KEXUE of the Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Azooxanthellate scleractinian corals, which lack symbiotic dinoflagellates, occur from shallow waters to deep-sea environments. In deep-sea benthic ecosystems, they serve as foundation species and are considered highly vulnerable to environmental disturbances. However, their genomic diversities and the genetic basis of their fully heterotrophic lifestyles remain poorly understood.

RESULTS: In this study, the genome of a deep-sea solitary coral, Polymyces sp., was sequenced. Integrated with the published genomes of the deep-sea colonial coral Desmophyllum pertusum and two shallow-water azooxanthellate corals Dendrophyllia cribrosa and Catalaphyllia jardinei, the adaptive mechanisms of fully heterotrophic lifestyles were investigated. For genomic diversity comparisons, Illumina short-read data for deep-sea (Polymyces sp., D. pertusum, and Madrepora oculata) and zooxanthellate corals (Porites australiensis) were generated. The results indicated that reduced genomic diversity was found in azooxanthellate scleractinians compared with zooxanthellate relatives. Signatures of recent inbreeding were detected in Polymyces sp. and D. cribrosa, potentially contributing to their low recent effective population sizes and the endangered status of D. cribrosa. Lineage-specific gene losses affecting circadian rhythm, immunity, and autophagy were also detected in the above two species, suggesting overly streamlined energy-saving trade-offs that may impair functional flexibility. Interestingly, the cosmopolitan deep-sea D. pertusum retained complete light-sensing and circadian clock complements, whereas deep-sea Polymyces sp. with evidence of recent inbreeding showed substantial reductions, suggesting that photosensitivity and biological clocks may remain important for ecological success even in the deep-sea environment. Convergent adaptations were supported by concordant patterns of gene-family contraction and positive selection shared among the four azooxanthellate scleractinians. The contractions were concentrated in functions related to photosensitivity, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial processes, consistent with life in dark and oligotrophic habitats, whereas significant signatures of positive selection were detected on vesicle transport-related genes, highlighting the key roles of vesicle-mediated endosomal pathways in a photosymbiosis-free lifestyle.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a genomic perspective on the evolution of heterotrophic strategies in scleractinian corals and highlights conservation concerns for nonsymbiotic corals under accelerating global stressors.},
}

@article {pmid42015498,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhou, Y and Yu, G and Lu, D},
title = {The ubiquitin code of receptor kinases in plants.},
journal = {Journal of integrative plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jipb.70267},
pmid = {42015498},
issn = {1744-7909},
support = {2023M742277//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 32400262//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Ubiquitination is a central mechanism that regulates receptor kinases (RKs) in plants, where the ubiquitin code controls RK stability, endocytosis, and kinase activity, ensuring precise signaling during development and immunity. As transmembrane signaling hubs, RKs are dynamically controlled by E3 ubiquitin ligases, whose activity is itself regulated by RK phosphorylation, forming intricate feedback loops. Ubiquitination directs RKs toward degradation via either the endocytic-vacuolar or 26S proteasome pathways, with emerging evidence suggesting functional interplay between these routes. Beyond proteolysis, ubiquitination can also directly suppress RK activity. Phosphorylation of E3 ligases by activated RKs or their co-receptors modulates ligase activity, substrate binding, and ubiquitin chain linkage, enabling dynamic signal regulation. This reciprocal control establishes a sophisticated network that maintains receptor homeostasis and signaling fidelity. Despite significant progress, key questions remain about degradation pathway integration, structural mechanisms of E3-substrate-E2 complexes, and crosstalk with other post-translational modifications. Elucidating these regulatory circuits will deepen our understanding of RK-mediated cellular signaling and provide strategies to enhance crop resilience and symbiotic efficiency.},
}

@article {pmid42016316,
year = {2026},
author = {Pröts, P and Ott, JA},
title = {From muscle to gland: The reorganization of the terminal bulb within the symbiotic Stilbonematinae (Nematoda, Desmodoroidea).},
journal = {Journal of nematology},
volume = {58},
number = {1},
pages = {1-17},
pmid = {42016316},
issn = {0022-300X},
abstract = {The Stilbonematinae live in symbiosis with ectosymbiotic bacteria covering their cuticle, which evidently constitute their food. In different Stilbonematinae genera, two pharynx types are found, depending on the arrangement of the bacterial coat. Species descriptions show that most Stilbonematinae species with a thick multilayer of symbionts have a two-part pharynx with a predominantly muscular posterior bulb. In contrast, in cases of a thin monolayer of bacteria, the nematodes predominantly show a three-part pharynx with a distinctly swollen muscular corpus at their anterior end. This indicates a shift of the main pumping structure from the terminal bulb to the anterior corpus. Consequently, the amount of contractile filaments in the terminal bulb should decrease. Using phalloidin staining in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy, we measured and compared the filamentous actin (F-actin) volume in the posterior bulb in several Stilbonematinae species representing both pharynx types. Two-part pharynges had a larger relative F-actin volume in the terminal bulb than three-part pharynges. In the latter, prominent gland tissue occupied most of the space between the reduced muscles. This supports our hypothesis of two distinct feeding modes: ingestion of large amounts of food in species with a two-part pharynx ("gourmands") requiring a muscular terminal bulb vs discriminant grazing on a thin bacterial coat in species with a three-part pharynx ("gourmets").},
}

@article {pmid42016819,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, Y and Shi, J and Li, X and Wang, W and Zhong, Y},
title = {Coordination of PTI and ETI in legume-rhizobium mutualism.},
journal = {aBIOTECH},
volume = {7},
number = {2},
pages = {100042},
pmid = {42016819},
issn = {2662-1738},
abstract = {The plant immune system plays crucial roles in interactions with microbes- both pathogenic and beneficial. During the past few decades, great progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant immune responses, including during legume-rhizobium mutualism. Here, we summarize recent progress uncovering the roles of the two layers of plant immunity, pathogen-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), in the association between legumes and rhizobia. We propose that crosstalk occurs between PTI and ETI in legumes to regulate symbiotic interactions with rhizobia. This concept enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationships between plant immunity and legume-rhizobium mutualism.},
}

@article {pmid42016948,
year = {2026},
author = {Dong, M and Li, X and Hu, X and Sun, S},
title = {Leaf Fungal Endophyte Differs Among Plant Functional Groups in an Alpine Meadow.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {e73239},
pmid = {42016948},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Although numerous studies have documented the differences in leaf fungal endophyte (LFE) communities among various plant species inhabiting the same environments, the disparities in LFE among distinct species groups have rarely been examined at the community level. The composition and structure of the LFE community are known to be influenced by the abundance of host plants and the leaf functional traits at the species level. Given that various plant functional groups exhibit differences in relative abundance and leaf functional traits, we hypothesize that these distinct plant functional groups may support unique LFE communities, which are likely correlated with their specific functional demands. In this study, we investigated LFE community across 45 plant species, which were categorized into four functional groups: grasses, legumes, dicot forbs, and monocot forbs from an alpine meadow, utilizing high-throughput sequencing techniques. We assessed the differences in LFE among the plant functional groups and analyzed these differences in relation to plant abundance and leaf functional traits. The LFE community exhibited significant differences among plant functional groups. The dicot forbs demonstrated a higher richness of LFE compared to the other three functional groups. Ascomycota was found to be the dominant phylum across all plant functional groups. Additionally, marker operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with a symbiotic lifestyle were more prevalent in legumes than in the other three functional groups. Leaf mass per area is identified as the primary determinant of variation in LFE community across different plant functional groups, with water content and leaf nitrogen concentration serving as secondary factors. Furthermore, species abundance also plays a significant role in explaining the variation observed in LFE. Our research enhances the understanding of microbial-plant interactions and indicates a potential role of LFEs in shaping community structure and dynamics.},
}

@article {pmid42016957,
year = {2026},
author = {Neff, EE and Gould, AL},
title = {Geographic Structure Without Co-Divergence: Genomic Insights Into a Highly Specific Symbiosis Between Siphamia Cardinalfish and Their Bioluminescent Symbiont.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {e73200},
pmid = {42016957},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Symbiotic relationships with microorganisms are fundamental to life on Earth, yet relatively little is known about how these interactions persist through time, how they co-diverge, and to which degree they are genetically constrained. In this study, three cardinalfish species in the genus Siphamia, S. tubifer, S. mossambica, and S. fuscolineata, from locations throughout the hosts' broad Indo-Pacific distribution were analyzed for patterns of genetic divergence along with their luminous bacterial symbionts. Using whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the fish light organs, we investigated whether the specificity of the association is maintained across host species and over a broad geographic range and whether there are patterns of symbiont divergence associated with either host or geography. The results indicated that the light organ symbionts of all three Siphamia species examined were Photobacterium mandapamensis, suggesting high specificity of the symbiosis is conserved. There was evidence of biogeographic structure in the symbiont between the three sampling regions, but no co-diversification between the hosts and their symbionts (p = 0.92). However, an analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between two S. tubifer populations from Japan and the Philippines indicated moderate genetic differentiation in the host (F ST = 0.043) with phylogenetically distinct clades of symbionts. Overall, these findings indicate that the association between Siphamia hosts and P. mandapamensis is highly conserved, yet there is significant genetic diversity within the symbionts driven by geography and possibly host ecology.},
}

@article {pmid42016983,
year = {2026},
author = {Nandi, S and Stephens, TG and Chille, EE and Goyen, S and Bay, LK and Bhattacharya, D},
title = {Metaproteome Analysis of Short-Term Thermal Stress in Three Sympatric Coral Species Reveals Divergent Host Responses.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {3},
pages = {e73275},
pmid = {42016983},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {Anthropogenic climate change has contributed to the accelerating loss of coral reefs worldwide. This crisis has led to a myriad of studies aimed at understanding the basis of coral resilience to support reef conservation. Here, we compare physiological, proteomic, and metabolomic responses to acute thermal stress to identify both diverged and conserved stress response strategies and molecular markers of bleaching susceptibility in three different coral species. We find species-specific responses with the thermally sensitive Acropora hyacinthus exhibiting a rapid decline in endosymbiont physiology (~19% decline in photosynthetic efficiency and a -1.88 fold change in abundance), coupled with one-third of proteins showing a reduction in abundance. In contrast, Porites lobata displayed a delayed physiological and proteomic (~5% initial; ~14% prolonged) response to stress, suggesting greater resilience. Stylophora pistillata initially showed shifts in the proteome (~11%) followed by colony "bail-out", that is, rapid tissue loss. Overall, we observed markedly different responses in most biochemical pathways in the three coral species. Nonetheless, some known biomarkers of stress, including heat-shock proteins, showed conserved, cross-species responses to thermal stress with differences in temporal abundance reflecting bleaching resistance. Metabolomic profiling revealed an increase in stress-associated dipeptides and free amino acids in all three species, although species-specific and temporally variable responses occurred. Our results underscore the species-specific nature of coral responses to thermal stress and highlight proteomic signatures associated with symbiosis breakdown, offering mechanistic insights into coral bleaching susceptibility and resilience. Overall, these findings enhance our ability to identify early-warning indicators of bleaching and underscore the challenges associated with the development of universal coral stress biomarkers.},
}

@article {pmid42019001,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, J and Wang, W and Guan, Y and Dong, R and Duan, Y and Xiao, A and Li, H and Guo, B and Guo, X and Zhu, H and Cao, Y},
title = {Nodulin cleavage by the cysteine protease CYP35 promotes soybean root nodule senescence.},
journal = {The Plant cell},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/plcell/koag123},
pmid = {42019001},
issn = {1532-298X},
abstract = {In legumes, symbiotic root nodules undergo senescence in response to developmental or environmental cues. This process determines the maintenance and nitrogen-fixing capacity of the root nodules, but the molecular mechanisms underlying its initiation are poorly understood. The cysteine protease CYP35 is a positive regulator of nodule senescence in soybean (Glycine max), but its substrates remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that CYP35 promotes nodule senescence by cleaving a subset of Nodule-Enriched Nodulin proteins (NENs). Sequence and phylogenetic analyses indicate that CYP35 is a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, with Cys149 as a key catalytic residue. CYP35 physically interacts with a distinct subfamily of eight NENs, NEN1-8. Soybean quadruple and quintuple nen mutants obtained by multiplex gene editing develop nodules with accelerated senescence and reduced nitrogenase activity, whereas over-expression of NEN2 or NEN5 delays senescence and enhances nodule function. CYP35 proteolyzes NEN2, NEN5, NEN6, and NEN7 in vitro and cleaves NEN2 in vivo in a Cys149-dependent manner. Our findings establish a direct molecular link between cysteine protease-mediated Nodulin cleavage and the onset of nodule senescence in soybean, providing insights into the regulation of nodule lifespan and nitrogen fixation.},
}

@article {pmid42020388,
year = {2026},
author = {McGaley, J and Orvošová, M and Schneider, B and Chiu, CH and Roth, R and Bowden, S and Hope, MS and Davis, JL and Khalif, W and Wallington, EJ and Paszkowski, U},
title = {Symbiotic phosphate transporter dynamics in rice expose functional plasticity of the arbuscules.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-71496-8},
pmid = {42020388},
issn = {2041-1723},
abstract = {Mutualism in the symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plants is based upon the exchange of carbon for soil minerals, with phosphate being of central importance. The exchange of nutrients occurs when the fungus transiently colonises root cells, producing hyphal structures called arbuscules. The movement of phosphate from fungus to plant is well established, however its coordination and regulation at the ephemeral arbuscules remains elusive. Here, non-invasive imaging captures the complete growth and collapse of the arbuscules in unprecedented resolution, revealing heterogeneity in arbuscule development. Tracking the dynamics of rice PHosphate Transporter 1;11 (OsPHT1;11/ PT11) as a proxy for symbiotic phosphate transport shows consistent localisation across diverse arbuscules. However, we uncover phosphate-responsive variability in PT11 abundance, representing an essential, cellular-level layer of nutrient regulation. Such plasticity in arbuscule phosphate uptake capacity evidences uncoupling of arbuscule presence and arbuscule function, thereby demonstrating that arbuscules are not identical units of nutrient exchange.},
}

@article {pmid41959305,
year = {2026},
author = {Bagchi, B and Van Vlaenderen, L and Wheeler, T and Provencal, E and Conner, WR and McGuire, K and Cooper, BS and Shropshire, JD},
title = {Temperature-sensitive cytoplasmic incompatibility across divergent Wolbachia partly reflects cifB transcription, not endosymbiont density.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41959305},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {P20 GM103474/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R35 GM124701/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Maternally transmitted Wolbachia bacteria are common in insects, with many strains altering host reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). CI kills embryos fertilized by Wolbachia-bearing males unless those embryos also carry Wolbachia, which favors females with Wolbachia and drives the endosymbiont to higher frequencies in host populations. Strong CI now underpins successful applications that rely on maintaining pathogen-blocking Wolbachia transinfections in vector populations to reduce arboviral disease transmission. Temperature modulates CI strength (the proportion of embryos killed), with consequences for Wolbachia prevalence in natural and transinfected populations. Yet the mechanisms regulating temperature-sensitive CI-strength variation are poorly understood. We quantified CI strength across eight divergent Drosophila-associated Wolbachia strains at four temperatures (18°C-26°C), while characterizing development time, Wolbachia and Wovirus densities, and transcription of the CI-inducing gene cifB. Four of eight Wolbachia strains exhibited temperature-sensitive CI, three of which induced CI at multiple temperatures. Of these three, two expressed significantly more cifB at the temperature yielding stronger CI, whereas testes Wolbachia density did not predict CI strength. Notably, cifB-transcript levels were consistently decoupled from Wolbachia and Wovirus densities, suggesting that cifB transcription is not regulated solely by symbiont abundance. We also report temperature-sensitive rescue of CI, Wolbachia-associated developmental acceleration, and strain-specific Wovirus-Wolbachia covariance. Our findings reveal temperature as a pervasive modulator of Wolbachia-host interactions at multiple levels and extend evidence that cifB transcription partly predicts variable CI strength across strain identities, male ages, and now temperatures. CI variation unaccounted for by cifB transcription points toward additional regulatory or post-transcriptional mechanisms that we discuss.},
}

@article {pmid42008187,
year = {2026},
author = {Bai, X and Kong, K and Liu, M and Wang, Y and Li, W and Zhou, J and Wu, H and Yin, C and Zhang, Y},
title = {Diversity, antibacterial and phytotoxic activities of culturable gut fungi from the insect Anax parthenope.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxag099},
pmid = {42008187},
issn = {1365-2672},
abstract = {AIMS: Insect gut fungi, as specialized symbiotic microorganisms, represent a valuable source for the discovery of novel bioactive metabolites. This study aims to explore the diversity and bioactivity of culturable gut fungal communities in Anax parthenope.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 53 fungal strains from the gut of A. parthenope were distributed across three classes in 22 genera. Antibacterial tests showed that 10 strains exhibited antibacterial activity against at least one pathogenic bacterium. Phytotoxic tests indicated that 16 strains showed significant phytotoxic activity against Echinochloa crusgalli with inhibition rates exceeding 80%, and 11 strains showed potent phytotoxic activity against Abutilon theophrasti with inhibition rate exceeding 70%. Furthermore, four metabolites were isolated from the Alternaria sp. QZB-4. Compound 2 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), with inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 17.0 and 11.7 mm respectively, which were comparable to those of the positive gentamicin sulfate. Compound 3 also showed moderate antibacterial activity against Xoo and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) with the IZD of 12.2 and 12.3 mm, respectively, which were less effective than those of positive control. In addition, at a concentration of 100 μg·mL-1, compounds 1 and 3 exhibited strong phytotoxic activity against E. crusgalli and A. theophrasti, with inhibition rates of 90% and 93%, respectively, which were slightly lower than those of the positive 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid with the inhibition rate of 100%.},
}

@article {pmid42010874,
year = {2026},
author = {Johnston, BG and Garing, MR and Klein, AR and Chan, WY and Nitschke, MR and van Oppen, MJH},
title = {Heat-evolved coral photosymbionts exhibit dampened stress responses across distinct physiological contexts.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.71177},
pmid = {42010874},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {//Australian Research Council/ ; //Paul G. Allen Family Foundation/ ; //Australian Government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which support RRAP/ ; AS233/IRM/20458//Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation/ ; },
abstract = {Experimental evolution under elevated temperatures has generated heat-evolved (HE) strains of Symbiodiniaceae that enhance coral bleaching tolerance. However, the biomolecular mechanisms underlying this resilience remain poorly understood. We conducted a laboratory heat-stress experiment and applied synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy to examine physiological and biomolecular responses of HE (strain: SS8) and wild-type (strain: WT10) Cladocopium proliferum to thermal stress across three physiological contexts: in hospite, expelled, and cultured. In hospite, both strains exhibited heat-induced increases in free amino acids, phosphorylated compounds, and lipids, coupled with reduced protein content - hallmarks of cellular stress. SS8, however, showed a dampened response overall, in line with an improved thermotolerance based on holobiont phenotypes. Expelled and in hospite cells shared broadly similar biomolecular profiles, though expelled cells of both strains responded less strongly - indicating expulsion may relieve host-imposed stress. Cultured cells differed from in hospite and expelled cells but showed similar strain-specific trends. WT10 responded strongly to heat stress - displaying depleted amino acids, phosphorylated metabolites, and disrupted lipid balance - whereas SS8 mounted a relatively muted metabolic response. These findings support the potential of HE symbionts for reef restoration, highlight the importance of physiological context in assessing Symbiodiniaceae thermotolerance, and the utility of single-cell FTIR microspectroscopy.},
}

@article {pmid42011849,
year = {2026},
author = {Huang, J and Cao, S and Ma, W and Yang, Z and Han, Y and Yu, X and Xue, J and Lu, H and Ma, H and Wu, C},
title = {Biomimetic Symbiotic Engineering: Mycelial Bioceramics to Activate Energy Metabolism for Enhanced Osteogenesis.},
journal = {Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e16328},
doi = {10.1002/adma.202516328},
pmid = {42011849},
issn = {1521-4095},
support = {32225028//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32130062//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52572309//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 121631ZYLH20240014//Joint Research Unit Plan of Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; 23SW0200Y//Jiangsu Research Institute of Advanced Inorganic Materials Industrialization Fund Project of the Biomedical Materials Innovation Center/ ; 2023YFB3813000//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2021249//Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; 24520750100//Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality/ ; },
abstract = {The repair of bone defects remains a considerable challenge, primarily due to the lack of biomimetic hierarchical structures and the insufficient supply of bioenergy in implants. Inspired by the symbiotic structural relationship between mycelium and plants, we developed a biomimetic engineering strategy to construct mycelial bioceramics. This strategy enabled directing the growth of mycelium within bioceramic scaffolds, resulting in the spontaneous generation of a hierarchical structure. Such a hierarchical structure was attributed to the spontaneously microscale porous network of mycelium and the channel structure of the three-dimensional (3D) printed bioceramic scaffold. In addition, the mycelial bioceramics could release a variety of bioactive components, including glucose, calcium ions, and other ions. Hierarchical structure and bioactive components synergistically promoted cellular energy metabolism and osteogenic differentiation by enhancing glycolysis and the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) process. Furthermore, the mycelial bioceramics effectively activated the YAP/Piezo pathway, driving key mitochondrial biogenesis processes. The siYAP experiment combined with mRNA sequencing demonstrated that the elevated energy metabolism subsequently regulated osteogenic differentiation via PI3K-AKT signaling. In vivo studies using a rabbit femoral defect model demonstrated that mycelial bioceramics could improve cellular energy metabolism and ultimately enhance osteogenesis. In conclusion, the mycelial symbiotic strategy presents a novel approach in designing functional bioceramics for accelerating bone regeneration. Moreover, it may shed light on harnessing microorganisms for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.},
}

@article {pmid42013452,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, W and Zhang, CL and Yang, YL and Gao, L and Zeng, Y and Luo, Z and Dong, X and Zhang, X and Chen, X},
title = {A Bone Marrow-Targeted Nanomodulator as a Histone Lactylation Inhibitor for Reversing Immune Tolerance in Multiple Myeloma.},
journal = {ACS nano},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acsnano.5c21396},
pmid = {42013452},
issn = {1936-086X},
abstract = {The metabolic-epigenetic symbiosis between tumor cells and macrophages in the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) plays a crucial role in immune evasion and therapeutic resistance in multiple myeloma. Here, we present a copper-based nanomodulator, NanoCURE (Cu-activated Reprogramming Eraser), that targets the glycolysis-lactate-lactylation axis to reprogram metabolism and epigenetics in the BMM. To construct NanoCURE, lactate oxidase (LOx) and bortezomib (BTZ) are coencapsulated within a tumor-activated Cu[2+] nanoassembly, facilitating bone marrow (BM)-specific delivery via an in vivo hijacking monocyte/macrophage pathway. Mechanistically, NanoCURE acts as a multifunctional modulator that disrupts the metabolic-epigenetic positive feedback loop by directly blocking histone lactylation through site-specific binding while simultaneously suppressing the upstream Akt/mTOR/c-Myc signaling axis. Moreover, NanoCURE can trigger the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to mitochondrial dysfunction that amplify epigenetic interference. Consequently, these synergistic effects effectively disrupt the metabolic and epigenetic support of MM and reverse immunosuppressive M2 macrophage polarization to enhance the therapeutic effect of proteasome inhibitors in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Furthermore, NanoCURE achieves precise bone marrow enrichment via monocyte hijacking while maintaining low systemic copper levels, thereby ensuring high biosafety, preserving hematopoietic integrity, and exhibiting no observable organ toxicity. In summary, this work introduces a carrier-as-drug platform that targets the glycolysis-lactate-lactylation axis to enable in situ metabolic-epigenetic-immune reprogramming, offering a promising strategy to overcome therapeutic resistance in multiple myeloma.},
}

@article {pmid42014089,
year = {2026},
author = {Cesar, CS and Miranda, VH and Silveira, ER and de Oliveira, TA and Cogni, R},
title = {Virus infection significantly decreases insect fitness: a meta-analysis.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {293},
number = {2069},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rspb.2025.3143},
pmid = {42014089},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; //Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Insecta/virology/physiology ; *Genetic Fitness ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; },
abstract = {Organisms are constantly at risk of being infected by pathogens such as viruses, which can impose substantial fitness costs on hosts. In insects, viral infections are widespread, yet the magnitude of their effects on host fitness and the factors shaping this variation remain poorly quantified. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the degree to which viral infection affects the fitness (survival and fecundity) and fitness-related traits (development time and body size) of insect hosts, and which factors may influence the impact of viral infection on hosts, such as whether the insect host is a disease vector and whether the insect is new or the natural host of the virus. We gathered 953 effect sizes from 145 studies. Overall, viruses significantly reduce host fitness, especially their survival. The reduction in fitness was higher in non-vector than in vector insects, and no difference was observed between infections in new and natural hosts. These findings show that viruses exert severe harmful effects on hosts by decreasing their fitness. More broadly, our findings highlight the potential for viral infection in wild insect populations to influence the occurrence and persistence of symbiotic bacteria, such as Wolbachia.},
}

Animals
*Insecta/virology/physiology
*Genetic Fitness
Host-Pathogen Interactions