Highlights SidL is an actin-dependent adenylyltransferase that targets host glycolysis SidL adenylates 3PG to produce 2-AMP-3PG Expression of SidL in human cells disrupts glycolysis and blocks mTORC1 signaling Production of 2-AMP-3PG by SidL occurs early during the Legionella infection cycle Summary The large effector arsenal of the bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila has been a rich source of biochemistry, highlighting the immense diversity of strategies deployed in ho

Highlights An introduced analytical framework quantifies taxon–community associations to identify computationally inferred candidate keystone taxa. Application to five PVTGs identifies 121 candidate keystone taxa, most of which are population-specific, with a reproducible subset across traditional populations. Several candidate keystone taxa associated with lower community dispersion also show consistent associations with multiple disease conditions, highlighting priorities f

Highlights This review provides a mechanistic classification of bacterial neurotoxins. Neurotoxins are discussed as modulators of neural and neuroimmune networks. Emerging links between bacterial neurotoxins and the gut–brain axis are highlighted. The role of neurotoxins in neurodegenerative disorders is critically evaluated. Engineered neurotoxin platforms show promise for targeted neural therapeutics. Current translational opportunities and limitations in precision neurolog

Highlights Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency aggravates offspring obesity Vitamin B12 deficiency reduces B. pseudolongum in dams and offspring Loss of B. pseudolongum during lactation worsens obesity in offspring Restoring B. pseudolongum or acetate alleviates this obesity via Ffar2-Ehhadh Summary Vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy and lactation is common, yet its mechanistic impact on reproductive outcomes and offspring health remains poorly understood. Here, we show that

Highlights Engineered GSDMs are tailored as VIDAs to sense viral protease VIDA is inert without infection and has potent antiviral effects in vitro and in vivo VIDA elicits a “kill-and-alert” antiviral immune response in mice AI-driven accelerated evolution generates safer and more potent VIDAs Summary While gasdermin (GSDM)-mediated pyroptosis is a potent immune effector, its antiviral potential remains largely untapped. Here, we introduce viral protease-initiated lytic cell

Highlights Bulk meta-transcriptomics separates recurrent and condition-specific responses. Heat ramp triggers a broader, more structured program than heat shock. WGCNA, GO and motif analyses identify recurrent non-specific modules. Heat ramp-specific signatures link ribosome biogenesis and proteostasis. Stress-responsive modules show limited overlap with evolutionarily young genes. Abstract A central challenge in biology is to distinguish transcriptional responses that recur

Highlights Seeds can transmit a subset of associated bacteria to the next plant generation. Seed-associated bacteria can influence germination, nutrient acquisition, and pathogen suppression. Seed-focused SynComs enable tests of bacterial persistence, seed-to-seedling transfer and effects on crop traits. Abstract Seeds represent specialized, low-biomass microbial niches that facilitate the transmission of the plant-associated microbiota from one generation to another. Residin

Highlights NiV as a highly pathogenic zoonotic agent, poses a persistent and severe threat to global public health. This review systematically reviews the viral structure and pathogenic mechanisms of NiV. This review summarizes the progress and breakthroughs in vaccine development and addresses current research limitations. The review provides theoretical support for the precise prevention and control of NiV. Abstract Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic agent, p

Highlights Pristine river ecosystem hosts ESBL ARGs, like blaTEM and blaCTX-M. The Yamuna River hosts multidrug, fluoroquinolone, fosfomycin, and β-lactam resistance genes. Predominance of biofilm-forming bacteria and their co-occurrence with the ARGs. Abstract Freshwater ecosystems are important reservoirs and transmission pathways for antibiotic resistance genes (ARG), yet host-mediated microbial selection and anthropogenic pressure on fish gut resistome remain poorly chara

Highlights Qdr3 coordinates cellular homeostasis in C. auris. qdr3 deletion remodels mitochondrial function. Loss of Qdr3 alters biofilm architecture and extracellular matrix production. qdr3 deletion enhances virulence. Qdr3 links membrane transport, mitochondrial function, and virulence. Abstract Candida auris (also known as Candidozyma auris) relies on extensive transporter networks to maintain cellular homeostasis and adapt to environmental stress, yet the broader regulat

Highlights C. albicans Th17 cells are restricted to a few proteins contained in fungal EVs The oral mucosa is a major reservoir of Th17 cells, dominated by C. albicans reactivity C. albicans-reactive Th17 cells are shared between oral and gut tissues Homeostatic C. albicans Th17 cells adapt pathogenic traits in Crohn’s disease Summary The commensal yeast Candida albicans is a major inducer of human mucosal Th17 cells. How C. albicans drives Th17 cell responses at homeostasis,

Highlights Single-cell Raman spectroscopy coupled with D2O labeling was first applied to Vibrio splendidus persisters. V. splendidus persisters are metabolically active rather than fully dormant. Persisters show remodeled cellular components with decreased nucleic acids and increased lipids and polysaccharides. Vitamin C inhibits persisters by suppressing the stringent response, providing a green anti-persister approach. Abstract Persister cells, a multidrug-tolerant bacteria

Highlights Sublethal oxytetracycline and CuCl2 elevated per-cell 18S rDNA/rRNA copy numbers, disrupting allometric scaling with cell volume in two ciliated protists. Oxytetracycline selectively increased rRNA: rDNA ratios, revealing stressor-specific ribosomal regulation. Both stressors induced persistent intragenomic polymorphisms of 18S rRNA gene. Pollutant-induced ASV inflation may bias microbial diversity estimates. Abstract Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes serve as foundationa

Highlights Bedtime probiotic intake retains 100,000x more bacteria than daytime intake. Oral-origin L. reuteri strain colonizes better than the non-oral isolate. Probiotic persistence varies widely interindividually, some individuals retain strains 7+ days. Supragingival plaque shows highest proportional probiotic abundance by site. Higher probiotic levels correlate with greater pocket depth reduction in periodontitis. Abstract The clinical application of probiotics for oral

Highlights The global regulator ppGpp plays a central role in controlling AIEC virulence. Loss of ppGpp impairs virulence across in vitro and in vivo infection models. Two candidate biomarkers with discriminatory potential for AIEC identification were defined. Abstract Strain LF82 belongs to the Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) pathotype, found in 21% to 63% of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Many studies have explored its specific virulence mechanisms, but AIEC isola

People who live together share more oral and gut microbes with each other than with other people in their communities, according to a study published June 15, 2026, in the Cell Press journal Cell Press Blue. This was true regardless of the cohabitants’ relationships—siblings, parents, and offspring all shared similar numbers of microbial strains, and romantic partners shared even more oral (but not gut) microbes with each other, likely due to kissing. The research, covered in

Abstract Pit mud (PM) microbiota play a vital role in Baijiu flavor formation, yet its ecological and functional succession during maturation remains incompletely elucidated. Here, physicochemical profiling, amplicon sequencing, and metagenomics were integrated to investigate 5-, 15-, and 30-year PM of Sichuan Tang Dynasty Laojiao cellars. Bacteria dominated the community (82.59%), followed by Archaea (16.99%), with Lactobacillus acetotolerans, Ruminococcaceae CPB6, and Metha

Highlights Microbial pantothenic acid (PA) supply is reduced in individuals with MetS panC enables B. fragilis to supply PA to the colonic microenvironment B. fragilis PA biosynthesis preserves the gut barrier and alleviates MetS Microbial PA sustains KLF4 via the PANK2/3-CoA axis to support differentiation Summary Pantothenic acid (PA), or vitamin B5, can be synthesized by gut commensals, but the contribution of microbial PA to metabolic health remains unclear. Here, we find

Highlight Bacterial isolates showed positive or negative effects on barley growth. GR effects were neutralized by GP and NA isolates in SynCom. GP isolates suppressed GR via contact-dependent T6SS activity. Cytokinin produced by GP/NA; Variovorax degraded IAA. Root microbiome shaped by fertilization and season, not inoculation. Abstract Microbial communities in plant roots are shaped by complex interbacterial interactions, yet how these interactions translate into plant fitne

Highlights Deficiency of MrMFS1 was confirmed to underlie to the accelerated growth. No morphological or physiological alterations were observed upon deletion of MrMFS1. The deletion mutant exhibits enhanced stress tolerance and insecticidal activity. MrMFS1 mediates the proton-coupled efflux of acetic acid. Abstract Identifying potential growth and virulence regulons that contribute to the efficacy of biopesticides has long been a central focus of biocontrol research. A shor