To systematically analyze the current status and research trends and identify the key research hotspots in the field of gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome (MetS) from 2005 to 2024, thus providing references for future research and intervention strategies. Relevant literature on gut microbiota and MetS was retrieved and screened from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package bibliometrix were used to analyze the publication trends, countries and institutions, research themes, and emerging hotspots. A total of 4 210 relevant publications were included. The annual number of publications showed an increasing trend, which was particular rapid after 2010. China and the United States led in publication output, and major research findings were published in journals such as Nutrients, Gut, and Nature. Research hotspots primarily covered the fields of nutrition and diet, biochemistry and molecular biology, and microbiology. Keyword evolution analysis revealed a shift from early descriptive studies on gut microbiota composition to mechanism investigations focusing on dysbiosis-related pathways such as energy metabolism, inflammatory responses, and gut-organ axes. Co-occurrence analysis further indicated that key microbial metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids and bile acids) and microbiota-targeted interventions (e.g., probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation) had become focal points in recent studies. This bibliometric study comprehensively summarizes the research landscape of gut microbiota and MetS and highlights emerging trends and directions. Given the limitations of conventional therapies in terms of targeting specificity, patient adherence, and long-term safety, microbiota-based interventions offer a promising breakthrough for the prevention and treatment of MetS, providing valuable theoretical support for future precision medicine.

Probiotic products have attracted increasing attention for their potential to modulate the microbiota. However, most commercial products are designed for oral administration, and their probiotic properties relevant to topical use in the reproductive tract remain insufficiently evaluated. [Objective] To assess the probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) derived from probiotic products, with a particular focus on their potential for topical application, thus providing scientific evidence for their use in vaginal health. [Methods] Seven common oral probiotic products (P1-P7) containing at least two different LAB species were selected from major e-commerce platforms via keyword screening, along with one clinical probiotic product (P8). LAB strains were isolated and identified from these products. We evaluated the acid tolerance, as well as the growth characteristics under different pH conditions, of the isolates by culturing them in the media of varying pH values. The antimicrobial activities of the isolates were determined via co-culture assays with pathogenic microorganisms, while hemolysis assays and genomic comparison were conducted to assess safety. [Results] The isolation rates of LAB strains from P1 to P8 were 50.0% (2/4), 0 (0/4), 66.7% (2/3), 12.5% (1/8), 33.3% (2/6), 40.0% (2/5), 0 (0/7), and 100.0% (1/1), respectively. Most strains grew well at pH 6.0-7.0, and some maintained growth at pH 4.0. Strains P4 and P8 exhibited superior acid tolerance to the others. The inhibitory effects of different strains against common vaginal pathogens varied significantly. Strains P1-2, P5-1, P6-1 and P6-2 demonstrated moderate to strong broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against all tested pathogens. Other isolated strains except P8 exhibited inhibitory activity against Gardnerellavaginalis, while strain P8 showed weak inhibitory activities against the tested pathogens. Strains P4, P5-2, P6-1, and P6-2 achieved inhibition rates exceeding 99.73% against Candidaalbicans across all three tested inoculum concentrations, and strain P5-1 reached an inhibition rate of over 94.64%. None of the strains exhibited β-hemolytic activity, and no antibiotic resistance or virulence genes were detected. [Conclusion] Several LAB isolates from commercial probiotic products exhibited notable inhibitory activities against pathogenic microorganisms and demonstrated good safety profiles. Topical administration may therefore offer greater practical value in promoting female reproductive tract health.

Soil-borne diseases are currently the most significant type of plant disease restricting crop production and threatening food safety. The rhizosphere microbiome, often regarded as the “second genome of plants”, has shown considerable potential in controlling soil-borne crop diseases. The use of rhizosphere microbes to control soil-borne diseases offers many advantages, such as being environmentally friendly, efficient, and broadly applicable, which makes it a hot topic in rhizosphere microbe research. In this review, we first introduced rhizosphere microbes and their potential for controlling soil-borne crop diseases. Subsequently, by integrating the latest research advances, we systematically summarized seven mechanisms of microbial control against soil-borne diseases and categorized them into three pathways: (1) direct interactions between microbes and pathogens; (2) direct and indirect interactions between microbes and plants; (3) indirect interactions among microbes. Furthermore, we reviewed the current applications of the rhizosphere microbes in controlling soil-borne crop diseases. Finally, we analyzed the key research challenges in using rhizosphere microbes for soil-borne disease control and discussed potential solutions, aiming to provide references for advancing the green control of soil-borne diseases.

[Objective] As soil acidification in southwestern China becomes increasingly severe, the labile phosphorus pool is transformed into a non-labile phosphorus pool, which reduces the availability of soil phosphorus, affecting crop yield and wasting phosphate fertilizer resources. In this study, we prepared a biochar-immobilized phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial agent with biochar as the carrier and a strain capable solubilizing both organic phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus as the immobilized strain and then optimized the preparation conditions. Furthermore, this bacterial agent was evaluated in terms of the stability and the solubilizing effects on insoluble phosphorus. [Methods] Selective media were used for the isolation of phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria from plant rhizosphere soil. The molybdenum-antimony colorimetric method was employed to quantify the ability of bacteria to solubilize phosphorus. The bacterial strain was identified through physiological and biochemical tests and molecular biological analysis. The immobilized bacterial agent was prepared by the adsorption method, and the preparation conditions were optimized by single factor experiments. The prepared agent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the metabolic spectrum of organic acids and phosphatase activity were qualitatively and quantitatively tested by HPLC and the fluorescence method, respectively. [Results] The strain Klebsiella sp. was isolated for immobilization, and its abilities to solubilize lecithin and tricalcium phosphate were 236.5 mg/L and 200.3 mg/L, respectively. Genome analysis showed that the strain N107 carried 27 genes related to organic and inorganic phosphorus solubilization. The optimized preparation conditions were biochar addition of 30.0 mg/mL, N107 inoculation amount of 6.0%, immobilization temperature of 30.0 ℃, and immobilization time of 12.0 h. The bacterial agent prepared under the optimal conditions increased the phosphorus-solubilizing capacity for lecithin and tricalcium phosphate by 24.0% and 22.5%, respectively, compared with the free bacterial strain. The biochar-immobilized phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial agent contained more oxygen-containing functional groups, compared with the original biochar, its total specific surface area and external surface area increased by 61.9% and 165.1%, respectively. The mechanism of phosphorus solubilization by the immobilized bacterial agent was preliminarily analyzed. The results showed that the levels of tartaric acid, citric acid, and total acids changed significantly and the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases in the culture medium were effectively improved, although the types of organic acids secreted by the agent had no obvious changes. The structural equation model showed that pH value was closely related to phosphatase activity and organic acid content, and the immobilized bacterial agent can promote the activation of insoluble phosphorus by increasing phosphatase activity and organic acid content. [Conclusion] The immobilized phosphorus-solubilizing bacterial agent prepared in this study provides a good bioremediation material for the activation of insoluble phosphorus. This study provides an innovative perspective for developing green remediation strategies based on microbiomes.

Interferon gamma-inducible protein 16 (IFI16), a pivotal member of the pyrin and hematopoietic expression, interferon-inducible nature, and nuclear localization (HIN) domain-containing protein (PYHIN) family, possesses a unique molecular structure that enables it to recognize diverse nucleic acid molecules within cells. As a key immunoregulatory factor, IFI16 participates in the transduction of innate immune signaling through multiple pathways and plays a significant role in host antiviral defense. This review systematically summarized the molecular characteristics of IFI16 and its regulatory mechanisms in innate immunity and viral infection, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the development of therapeutic targets and antiviral drugs.

[Objective] To investigate the antifungal activity of Kobusin against Trichophyton interdigitale and its underlying mechanisms. [Methods] The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Kobusin was determined by the broth microdilution assay. The inhibitory effect of Kobusin on spore germination was observed microscopically, while that on hyphal radial growth was assessed on the agar plates containing Kobusin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the morphological alterations in hyphae. Fluorescence microscopy and nucleic acid and protein leakage assays were employed to evaluated cell membrane integrity. Malvern Zetasizer was used to measure the changes in Zeta potential. A microplate reader was used to measure transmembrane potential, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) activities, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP levels, as well as succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activities. [Results] Kobusin exhibited a MIC of 39 μg/mL against T. interdigitale, significantly inhibiting spore germination and hyphal growth. SEM revealed severe ultrastructural damage to hyphae. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed compromised membrane integrity, evidenced by increased nucleic acid and protein leakage and disrupted Zeta/transmembrane potentials. Meanwhile, Kobusin significantly increased the MDA content and ROS accumulation, inhibited the activities of AKP, SOD, CAT, and POD, markedly reduced MMP, decreased ATP synthesis, and weakened the activities of SDH and MDH. [Conclusion] Kobusin exerts antifungal effects by inhibiting spore germination and hyphal growth, disrupting cell membrane and cell wall integrity, interfering with membrane potential stability, inducing oxidative stress damage, and impairing mitochondrial energy metabolism.

Siderophores are low-molecular-weight, high-affinity iron-chelating molecules produced by bacteria in response to iron deficiency. Pseudomonas secrete siderophores to efficiently chelate insoluble Fe³⁺ in the environment, which is a crucial mechanism for their adaptation to iron-limited conditions. This article systematically reviews the types, structural characteristics, biosynthetic pathways (the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase,NRPS), and regulatory mechanisms of siderophores in Pseudomonas. Several regulatory factors at multiple levels were vitally elucidated, including Fur protein, σ factors, quorum sensing, and two-component system. Moreover, siderophores not only promote iron absorption in plants and bioremediation to remove pollutants but also are virulence factors in pathogen infection and factors in microbial spoilage. The siderophore-iron complex can be specifically recognized and actively taken up by bacteria, which is known as the “Trojan horse” mechanism, enabling covalently conjugated antibiotics to enter the cell and thus significantly boosting antibiotic efficacy. Future research should delve into the molecular regulatory networks and microbial interaction mechanisms to promote the application and development of siderophores in agriculture, medicine, and environmental protection.

The global prevalence of obesity and its associated metabolic disorders keeps rising, presenting a major challenge to public health. The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in obesity onset and development, and its dysbiosis and dysfunction are closely associated with obesity and its complications. This review synthesizes the pathological mechanisms underlying the heredity, neuroendocrine, chronic inflammation, and the gut microbiota-metabolism axis of obesity. Then, we explore the positive and negative regulatory effects of opportunistic pathogens (e.g., Desulfovibrio spp., Megamonas spp.) and putative beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus spp., Akkermansia muciniphila) on obesity. Furthermore, we summarize the mechanisms by which these signature gut microbes drive the development of obesity-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. We firstly propose a gut microbiota trajectory hypothesis to delineate the interrelationships between these representative gut microbial signatures and the onset and progression of obesity and its complications. Finally, the review discusses future research directions and the potential for developing early diagnostic technologies based on these microbial signatures. Collectively, this work aims to provide novel strategies for the early diagnosis and precision intervention of obesity and related metabolic disorders, thereby advancing the development of personalized therapeutics.

Chloroquine, a low-cost antimalarial agent, has garnered significant interest due to its extensive research foundation and potential anti-tumor and antiviral properties. Chloroquine exhibits broad-spectrum inhibitory effects against diverse human and animal pathogenic viruses in vitro. Its antiviral efficacy has been demonstrated against Zika virus and feline coronavirus in vivo. The primary action mechanisms of chloroquine include inhibition of viral binding to host cells and subsequent internalization, modulation of viral nucleic acid recognition pathways, blockade of autophagosome maturation, and regulation of cytokine secretion in the immune response. This review systematically summarizes the antiviral effects and mechanisms of chloroquine, providing a theoretical foundation for the future development of chloroquine and its derivatives as antivirals.

[Objective] To explore the control effects of Streptomyces TOR3209 and its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on tomato Fusarium wilt and mine the differentially expressed genes related to disease resistance, thus providing effective strategies for the development of environmentally friendly biofungicides. [Methods] Strain TOR3209 suspensions of different concentrations (1.0×10¹, 1.0×10³, 1.0×10⁵, and 1.0×10⁷ CFU/mL) were co-cultured with tomato seedlings, and Fusarium equiseti was inoculated on the seedlings. The disease severity was graded. The co-culture experiment of VOCs from strain TOR3209 with tomato seedlings was conducted in a micro-greenhouse to evaluate the effect of VOCs on tomato seedlings infected by F. equiseti. Transcriptomic analysis was conducted on tomato seedlings with significant disease resistance to mine the differentially expressed genes induced by VOCs, which were then verified by RT-qPCR. [Results] The suspensions of strain TOR3209 at different concentrations all had control effects on tomato Fusarium wilt. Among them, the 1.0×10⁷ CFU/mL suspension had the best control effect (P<0.01). The biocontrol effects of different quantities of small dishes cultured with strain TOR3209 on tomato Fusarium wilt were significantly different from that of the control group. The group of 30 small dishes showed the best control effect (P<0.01). The transcriptomic analysis showed that the expression levels of disease-resistance genes encoding CXE17, LRR-RLK, F-box, TIP1-1 Aquaporin, and Peroxidase were upregulated. Fluorescence quantitative analysis indicated that co-culture of VOCs from the strain with tomato seedlings upregulated the expression levels of disease-resistance genes, indicating that the transcriptomic sequencing results were reliable. [Conclusion] The VOCs of strain TOR3209 effectively prevent and control tomato Fusarium wilt caused by F. equiseti infection by inducing the upregulated expression of disease-resistance genes in tomato seedlings. The findings lay a theoretical foundation for the research and development of biofungicides for the prevention and control of Fusarium wilt.