Gut health is increasingly recognized as vital in both human and veterinary medicine. A balanced gut microbiota in domestic animals supports health, growth, and productivity. Probiotics (beneficial live microbes), prebiotics (non-digestible components that feed probiotic bacteria), and synbiotics (a combination of both) are emerging as effective dietary supplements for enhancing gut function and overall performance. Probiotics strengthen the gut barrier, suppress harmful microbes, and regulate immunity. Prebiotics selectively boost beneficial bacteria, whereas synbiotics improve the survival and activity of probiotics in the gut. Studies across species—including cows, pigs, poultry, sheep, and goats—have highlighted various benefits to using probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. These additives have been shown to improve milk yield, weight gain, immune function, and meat and egg quality while reducing disease incidence and enhancing nutrient absorption. However, challenges remain in selecting effective strains, determining optimal dosages, and ensuring cost-efficiency and regulatory compliance. Despite these hurdles, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics represent promising tools for improving animal welfare and farm productivity. Continued research is essential to maximize their potential and support a more sustainable and resilient livestock industry.
Stomata are turgor-driven microscopic epidermal valves of land plants. The controlled opening and closing of the valves are essential for regulating the gas exchange and minimizing the water loss and eventually regulating the internal temperatures. Stomata are also a major site of pathogen/microbe entry and plant defense system. Maintaining proper stomatal density, distribution, and development are pivotal for plant survival. Arabidopsis is a model plant to study molecular basis including signaling pathways, transcription factors, and key components for the growth and development of specific organs as well as the whole plant. It has intensively been studied and found out the driver for the development and patterning of stomata. In this review, we have explained how the MAPK signaling cascade is controlled by TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM) receptor-like protein and the Erecta (ER) receptor-like kinase family. We have also summarized how this MAPK cascade affects primary transcriptional regulators to finally activate the main three basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) principal transcription factors, which are required for the development and patterning of stomata. Moreover, regulatory activity and cellular connections of polar proteins and environmentally mediated ligand–receptor interactions in the stomatal developmental pathways have extensively been discussed in this review.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent environmental contaminants that pose a significant threat to ecosystems and human health due to their exceptional chemical stability and resistance to degradation. Conventional remediation methods-such as activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange, and advanced oxidation-primarily transfer PFAS between phases rather than achieving complete mineralization, resulting in the generation of secondary waste. Microbial bioremediation has emerged as a promising, sustainable strategy. Several bacteria, fungi, and cyanobacteria can transform or defluorinate PFAS under environmentally relevant conditions, yielding less fluorinated intermediates. Enzymatic studies have identified oxygenases and reductive dehalogenases as key catalysts in the cleavage of C-F bonds. Moreover, recent evidence indicates that the gut microbiota can adsorb and sequester PFAS, facilitating fecal elimination and reducing systemic toxicity. Advances in synthetic biology now enable the engineering of microbial systems, including probiotic strains, with enhanced PFAS uptake and degradation capabilities. However, significant challenges remain; current microbial pathways primarily act through partial transformation rather than complete mineralization, often accumulating stable fluorinated intermediates. True mineralization is constrained by low enzymatic efficiency, narrow substrate specificity, and the difficulty of translating laboratory success to complex environmental matrices. This review critically synthesizes current progress in microbial and probiotic bioremediation of PFAS, emphasizing enzymatic mechanisms, microbial pathways, and integration with conventional treatment systems. By engaging with these limitations alongside promising advances, we provide a balanced assessment of the feasibility of microbial and engineered probiotic approaches, highlighting knowledge gaps and future directions for developing safe, scalable detoxification technologies.
Cholera, a disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, remains a pervasive public health threat, particularly in regions with inadequate water sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, such as Bangladesh. This review explores the complex interplay between water pollution and cholera transmission in Bangladesh, highlighting how contaminated water bodies serve as reservoirs for V. cholerae. A key focus is the potential role of probiotics as a novel intervention approach for cholera prevention and management. Probiotics are promising as an adjunctive approach to existing therapies as they can enhance gut barrier function, induce competitive exclusion of pathogens, and modulate host immune responses. Recent probiotic advancements include engineering strains that disrupt V. cholerae biofilms and inhibit their virulence. Integrating probiotics with traditional cholera control measures could significantly enhance their effectiveness and provide a multifaceted approach to combating this persistent disease. This review aims to shed light on the potential of probiotics in revolutionizing cholera management and to offer insights into their application as both preventive and therapeutic tools in the fight against this enduring public health challenge.