In natural soils, phosphorus predominantly exists in stable forms such as chelated inorganic phosphorus, resulting in low levels of available phosphorus. To cope with phosphorus limitation, woody plants typically form symbiotic associations with ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) to enhance phosphorus acquisition. Studies have indicated that ECMF exhibit limited capacity to directly solubilize chelated inorganic phosphorus. However, they can recruit phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in the hyphosphere by releasing specific compounds, thereby facilitating the desorption of chelated inorganic phosphorus. Nevertheless, comprehensive reviews analyzing the role of plant-ECMF-bacteria tripartite systems in phosphorus cycling remain scarce. This article introduces the conceptual framework of plant-ECMF-bacteria tripartite systems, elucidates the physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms underlying phosphorus cycling among ECMF, mycorrhiza helper bacteria, and host plants, and discusses future research directions for optimizing plant phosphorus acquisition through the tripartite systems.

Antibodies serve as critical effector molecules in mediating vaccine-induced protection. While antibody-mediated immunity has traditionally been attributed primarily to neutralization, where the fragment antigen-binding (Fab) domain blocks viral entry by preventing the interaction between viruses and host cells, accumulating evidence underscores the pivotal role of the crystallizable fragment (Fc) domain in orchestrating broader immune responses. By interacting with Fc receptors or complement receptors on effector cells such as natural killer cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, the Fc domain activates multiple innate immune pathways and elicits a spectrum of non-neutralizing antiviral effector functions. These include antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), antibody-dependent complement deposition (ADCD), and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Although the evaluation of Fc-mediated functions is more complex than the measurement of neutralizing antibody titers, the contribution of such functions to vaccine efficacy is increasingly recognized. This review provides a comprehensive overview of Fc-mediated immune effector mechanisms, highlights their critical roles in antiviral vaccine-induced protection, and summarizes recent advances in Fc function assays, with the aim of supporting the rational design and immunogenicity evaluation of next-generation viral vaccines.

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a widespread and highly toxic heavy metal contaminant commonly found in industrial effluents from electroplating, metallurgy, and dye manufacturing. Due to its strong oxidizing nature, high solubility, and severe biological toxicity, Cr(VI) is recognized as a priority contaminant to be managed in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Although conventional treatment technologies can rapidly reduce Cr(VI) concentrations, they often entail high costs, pose risks of secondary pollution, and are susceptible to environmental fluctuations. Bioreduction of Cr(VI) has emerged as a promising alternative, offering advantages such as low energy requirements, environmental compatibility, and operational sustainability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the core mechanisms underlying Cr(VI) bioreduction, which involve key chromate reductases, intracellular and extracellular electron transfer pathways, gene regulatory networks, and adaptive strategies of microbial communities under stress. Furthermore, we discuss the synergistic contributions of metabolic pathways, such as denitrification and sulfur cycling, to elucidate electron competition and pathway modulation in complex multi-contaminant systems. Subsequently, we analyze the effects of environmental parameters including pH, temperature, Cr concentration, and electron donor types on bioreduction efficiency. Representative studies are discussed to illustrate detoxification performance, community succession, and ecological restoration outcomes under field conditions. Finally, this review envisions future advances in microbial remediation through the application of synthetic biology to construct engineered microbial strains, the use of multi-omics technologies to elucidate metabolic pathways, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with in situ sensing technologies for dynamic regulation. It further outlines a developmental framework centered on “intelligent detection-adaptive response-multifunctional coordination”, providing both a theoretical foundation and technological guidance for the in situ remediation of Cr(VI) contamination.

Chitin is the second largest renewable resource only after cellulose on Earth. Chitinases are the key enzymes for degrading chitin. Chitinases of the glycoside hydrolase family 19 (GH19) mainly exist in higher plants. In recent years, microbial GH19 chitinases have been widely discovered. This paper reviews the research progress in microbial GH19 chitinases regarding their distribution, structures, enzymatic properties, and applications and prospects the research directions in the future.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and abnormal bowel movements. Its pathogenesis involves multiple factors such as imbalance of gut microbiota, immune activation, and dysfunction of the gut-brain axis. Although conventional therapies can alleviate symptoms temporarily, the limitations such as drug side effects and insufficient efficacy persistence have made microbial-targeted therapy a research hotspot. Probiotics are live microorganisms and have been proven to be beneficial to human health. Studies have shown that probiotics inhibit pathogen adhesion through competitive colonization, regulate immune responses, and repair the intestinal barrier function through metabolic products, thereby improving intestinal motility and osmotic balance. This review discusses the specific effects and potential pathways of probiotics on constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and distension, and mental symptoms in IBS patients. However, the clinical application of probiotics still faces challenges, including strain heterogeneity, host individual differences, and the lack of standardized treatment plans. In the future, it is necessary to combine multi-omics technologies to screen biomarkers, develop individualized intervention strategies, and optimize efficacy through dynamic monitoring, which are expected to provide more precise microbial-targeted therapy for the treatment of IBS.

The gut microbiota maintains a close dialogue with the host’s immune system, being capable of influencing immune responses through various pathways. It has been extensively documented that synchronous regulation of the gut microbiota and the host immune response exerts immunoenhancing, anti-inflammatory, and gut homeostasis-maintaining effects. By systematically reviewing the relevant literature published in the past three years, this article first elaborates on the interactions between the gut microbiota and the host’s immunity via multiple routes. It further summarizes recent studies on natural products that exert immunomodulatory functions (encompassing both immunoenhancing and anti-inflammatory actions) through gut microbiota pathways. Regarding immune dysregulation diseases, this review further elucidates how natural products achieve precise regulation of the host immune function by optimizing the gut microbiota structure, regulating microbiota-immune signaling pathways (e.g., NF-κB, TLR, and MAPK), maintaining intestinal barrier homeostasis, and intervening in microbiota-derived metabolites (such as short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan-indole derivatives). Additionally, this article discusses the process by which the gut microbiota enhances the immunomodulatory effects of natural products through metabolic conversion and biotransformation of natural products into highly active secondary metabolites. The immunoregulatory effects of natural products through the gut microbiota may become a potential therapeutic strategy for immune-related disorders.

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.

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.

The mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) is one of the most economically important cultured fish species in Asian countries. With the expansion of artificial farming, infectious diseases have become a major threat to the mandarin fish farming industry, posing a challenge to its sustainable development. Siniperca chuatsi rhabdovirus (SCRV) is a major pathogen infecting this fish species. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in the research on SCRV, yet no comprehensive review is currently available. This paper summarizes and discusses the research advances in SCRV, including viral characteristics, virus rescue, host-virus interactions, and prevention strategies, while also analyzing the current challenges in this field.