This study aimed to isolate salt-tolerant pectinolytic bacteria from the rhizosphere of a salt marsh plant and utilize their pectinases for the clarification of detox juice preparation. Sixteen halophilic bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum. The isolates were screened for pectinase activity, and two strains, ASA21 and ASA29, exhibited the highest pectinase production in the presence of 2.5% NaCl, reaching 13.3 and 14.1 IU mL⁻¹, respectively. The strains were identified as Bacillus paralicheniformis and Paenibacillus sp. by 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Growth kinetics and pectinase production studies revealed that both strains produced pectinase during the log phase, with ASA29 demonstrating higher growth and pectinase titers. The pectinase from ASA29 exhibited enhanced activity in the presence of 3% NaCl. The pectinases from both strains were applied for the clarification of detox juice prepared from beetroot, carrots, and apples. The use of 20 IU mL⁻¹ pectinase from ASA29 for 2–3 h yielded > 96% juice with high total phenolic content and antioxidant activities. This study highlights the potential of salt-tolerant pectinolytic bacteria from the rhizosphere for biotechnological applications, particularly in the clarification of juices with high salt content.

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are closely linked metabolic disorders in which gut microbial alterations interact with host epigenetic regulation to influence inflammation, insulin sensitivity, and energy homeostasis. This review examines the gut microbiome–epigenetics interface in these conditions by integrating mechanistic evidence with a Scopus-based bibliometric analysis of publications from 2016 to 2025, thereby providing both disease-focused synthesis and field-level context. Bibliometric mapping identified 1,153 documents from 515 sources authored by 5,445 researchers, with a marked annual growth rate of 27.79%, indicating rapid expansion of this interdisciplinary area. Mechanistically, current evidence converges on three major epigenetic domains: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA regulation. Microbiota-derived metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids, folate-related methyl donors, and other bioactive compounds, influence enzymes such as DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylases, as well as downstream chromatin marks and microRNA networks relevant to metabolic dysfunction. In obesity and type 2 diabetes, recurrent findings include reduced abundance of butyrate-producing taxa and enrichment of pro-inflammatory or endotoxin-associated bacteria, although these patterns remain heterogeneous across populations, study designs, and analytical methods. Accordingly, the review emphasizes that phylum-level or taxa-level associations should be interpreted cautiously and that causality remains incompletely resolved. A key contribution of this review is the combined evaluation of mechanistic pathways, context-dependent microbial signatures, and translational limitations within a single framework. Overall, microbiome-targeted interventions remain promising but insufficiently validated, and progress toward clinical application will require longitudinal, multi-omics, and interventional studies that directly link specific taxa, metabolites, and epigenetic modifications.

Crown rot, primarily caused by the fungus Colletotrichum musae and related pathogens, significantly impacts the postharvest quality and marketability of bananas. The increase in regulatory constraints and the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains highlight the urgent need for sustainable, residue-free alternatives. This research demonstrates that cell-free extracts (CFE) of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens effectively inhibit crown rot and activate host defence mechanisms in tissue-cultured banana plantlets. Treatment with CFE at 100 µg mL-1 reduced lesion formation by up to 78% and significantly decreased fungal biomass, providing protection comparable to that of a commercial fungicide. Molecular analyses revealed significant overexpression of defence-related genes, including PAL, PR5, CHI, and WRKY. Additionally, there was an increased accumulation of defence-associated proteins and phenolic compounds. Metabolomic and biochemical assessments showed enhanced structural and chemical barriers in the treated tissues. These findings provide mechanistic evidence that bacterial metabolites, even in the absence of living cells, can both inhibit pathogen colonization and activate systemic resistance pathways. The research supports the potential of B. amyloliquefaciens CFE as a sustainable and effective alternative to traditional fungicides for combating postharvest crown rot.

Purpose: There is an immense need to develop new antiviral compounds that are effective and have little side effects. Natural compounds provide a good candidate that is gaining popularity. Probiotics as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and plant-derived medicines as star anise extract have been investigated to treat viral diseases, cancer, and inflammation. This work aimed to investigate the antiviral effect of probiotics ( Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ) and (star anise) against Herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) and Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Patients and methods: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and star anise extract had been prepared and tested against vero cell lines for cytotoxicity assay. The antiviral effect of L. plantarum and star anise against HSV-1 and VSV was evaluated by titration calculation (TCID50). The expression of MX genes were measured in infected cells before and after treatment with L. plantarum and star anise. Results: We found that L. planterum is more effective against HSV-1 and caused 2.5 log reduction in virus titre while star anise extract is more effective against VSV and caused 1.25 log reduction in virus titre. Evaluation of MX genes expression revealed higher expression in HSV-1 infected cell treated with L. planterum and VSV infected cells treated with star anise extract. Conclusion: L. planterum and star anise could be useful antiviral natural compounds that have minimal side effects Plain language Summary: Both Herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) and Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) caused infection characterized by lytic lesions. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and star anise had shown promising antiviral effects. So, we investigated the antiproliferative effect of L. plantarum and star anise against HSV-1 and VSV by assessment of virus titre before and after treatment and assessment of MX gene coding for antiviral proteins. We found that L. plantarum and star anise could inhibit proliferation of HSV-1 and VSV and increase expression of MX gene. L. plantarum and star anise could be good antiviral candidate.

Environmental surveillance is important to monitor and mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this context, sewage and its marine outfalls remain a hot spot for spreading AMR among pathogens. This study investigated the presence of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in sewage effluent and marine sewage outfalls in Saudi Arabia. Water samples were collected from Jeddah’s southern and central marine outfalls and non-impacted sites. The isolates (n = 120) were identified through biochemical tests and MALDI-TOF. Resistance to antibiotics in the isolates was initially screened through phenotypic methods. Species-specific markers and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were amplified through PCR. The presence of ARGs was also quantified in the isolates and in the environment through qPCR. The data indicated a higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in sewage effluent (63.3%) compared to marine water (50%). Sewage-borne MRSA exhibited higher resistance to various antibiotics. PCR detection confirmed the presence of mecA in MRSA isolates. Virulence genes encoding microbial surface components and recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs) were more prevalent in sewage isolates. Particularly, genes responsible for biofilm formation were more prevalent in the isolates from sewage samples. qPCR revealed a higher abundance of mecA, fnbB and bbp in sewage-derived isolates. Statistical analysis confirmed the strong influence of the sewage environment on the prevalence of drug-resistant isolates. Screening of environmental DNA further validated sewage as a reservoir of resistance and virulence determinants. These findings highlight the role of sewage outfalls in disseminating ARGs and virulent S. aureus strains, emphasizing the need to improve wastewater treatment and environmental surveillance strategies.