Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), which are a form of microbial dysbiosis in freshwater environments, are an emerging environmental and public health concern. Additionally, the freshwater environment serves as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose a risk of transmission during microbial dysbiosis, such as cyanoHABs. However, the interactions between potential synergistic pollutants, cyanoHABs, and ARGs remain poorly understood. During cyanoHABs, Microcystis and high microcystin levels were dominant in all the nine regions of the river sampled. The resistome, mobilome, and microbiome were interrelated and linked to the physicochemical properties of freshwater. Planktothrix and Pseudanabaena competed with Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria during cyanoHABs. Forty two ARG carriers were identified, most of which belonged to Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria. ARG carriers showed a strong correlation with ARGs density, which decreased with the severity of cyanoHAB. Although ARGs decreased due to a reduction of ARG carriers during cyanoHABs, mobile gene elements (MGEs) and virulence factors (VFs) genes increased. We explored the relationship between cyanoHABs and ARGs for potential synergistic interaction. Our findings demonstrated that cyanobacteria compete with freshwater commensal bacteria such as Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, which carry ARGs in freshwater, resulting in a reduction of ARGs levels. Moreover, cyanoHABs generate biotic and abiotic stress in the freshwater microbiome, which may lead to an increase in MGEs and VFs. Exploration of the intricate interplays between microbiome, resistome, mobilome, and pathobiome during cyanoHABs not only revealed that the mechanisms underlying the dynamics of microbial dysbiosis but also emphasizes the need to prioritize the prevention of microbial dysbiosis in the risk management of ARGs.

Many Bacillus species are among the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that promote the growth of many different plant species. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Bacillus thuringiensis KNU-07 on the growth of pepper plants and the soil microbiota. We also designed primers specific for the strain KNU-07 to monitor the population in pepper-cultivated soil. Accordingly, a strain-specific primer pair was designed using a database constructed from 16,160 complete bacterial genomes. We employed quantitative PCR (qPCR) to track the abundance of the strain KNU-07 introduced into pepper-cultivated soil using the strain-specific primers. Our study revealed that the strain was found to possess plant growth-promoting (PGP) activities, and it promoted the growth of pepper plants. The soil bacterial community structure due to the application of the PGPR strain was significantly changed after six weeks post-inoculation. In addition, based on qPCR analysis, the population of the introduced strain declined over time. In this study, application of a PGPR strain increased the growth of pepper plants and changed the soil bacterial community structure. The successful results of monitoring of a bacterial strain’s population using a single strain-specific primer pair can provide important information about the quantification of bio-inoculants under non-sterile soil conditions.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive pollutants found in environments and food, with humans experiencing continuous exposure. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a major plastic contaminant detected in food and beverages. However, the chronic effects of environmentally relevant, physically abraded PET‐MPs on health, on the liver, remain elusive. This study investigates the hepatotoxicity of the PET‐MPs following long‐term exposure, with a focus on the gut–liver axis interactions and transcriptomic responses. Male mice are exposed to PET‐MPs (5 mg week ⁻¹ ) from 5 to 34 weeks of age. Environmentally mimetic PET particles are prepared by grinding plastic bottles. Prolonged exposure to MPs for 29 weeks led to increased adiposity and obesity. The mice exposed to PET‐MPs developed hepatomegaly, steatosis, and early‐stage fibrosis. Transcriptome data revealed the downregulation of genes involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism and the upregulation of lipid droplet and fibrotic pathway genes. Gut microbiota is also significantly changed, with a decrease in Bacteroides and Lachnospiraceae , which maintain gut homeostasis. Disruption of bile acid metabolism and fecal color change further indicated impairment of the gut–liver axis. These findings provide new toxicological insights and emphasize the requirement to reassess the public health risks posed by long‐term MPs ingestion.

An intermittent fasting regimen is widely perceived to lead to various beneficial health effects, including weight loss, the alleviation of insulin resistance, and the restructuring of a healthy gut microbiome. Because it shares certain commonalities with this dietary intervention, Ramadan fasting is sometimes misinterpreted as intermittent fasting, even though there are clear distinctions between these two regimens. The main purpose of this study is to verify whether Ramadan fasting drives the same beneficial effects as intermittent fasting by monitoring alterations in the gut microbiota. We conducted a study involving 20 Muslim individuals who were practicing Ramadan rituals and assessed the composition of their gut microbiomes during the 4-week period of Ramadan and the subsequent 8-week period post-Ramadan. Fecal microbiome analysis was conducted, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were assessed using liquid-chromatography–mass spectrometry. The observed decrease in the levels of SCFAs and beneficial bacteria during Ramadan, along with the increased microbial diversity post-Ramadan, suggests that the daily diet during Ramadan may not provide adequate nutrients to maintain robust gut microbiota. Additionally, the notable disparities in the functional genes detected through the metagenomic analysis and the strong correlation between Lactobacillus and SCFAs provide further support for our hypothesis.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum) production faces significant challenges from soil-borne pathogens, particularly Phytophthora capsici, which induces root rot and damping-off diseases. Management of this pathogen remains challenging owing to the scarcity of resistant cultivars and the ineffectiveness of chemical control methods. A single strain has been used to prevent pathogenic disease, and this approach limits the exploration of consortia comprising different genera. In this study, we isolated five bacterial strains (Bacillus sp. T3, Flavobacterium anhuiense T4, Cytobacillus firmus T8, Streptomyces roseicoloratus T14, and Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis A6) from the rhizosphere of healthy pepper plants. We then applied this 5-isolate synthetic microbial community (SynCom) to Capsicum annuum to evaluate its efficacy in improving pepper resilience against P. capsici. The SynCom members exhibited phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production, catalase activity, siderophore synthesis, and strong antagonism against P. capsici. The SynCom reduced disease severity and enhanced the growth of pepper plants. Furthermore, the beneficial genera such as Bacillus, Fusicolla, and Trichoderma, significantly increased in the rhizosphere of pepper after the application of the SynCom. Microbial functional prediction analysis revealed that these microbial shifts were associated with nitrogen cycling and pathogen suppression. Our SynCom approach demonstrates the effectiveness of microbial consortia in promoting the growth of pathogen-infected plants by reprogramming the microbial community in the rhizosphere.