Droplet size and surface hydrophobicity enhance bacterial plasmid transfer rates in microscopic surface wetness

Hydration conditions as a critical factor in antibiotic-mediated bacterial competition outcomes

Antibiotic secretion plays a pivotal role in bacterial interference competition; yet, the impact of environmental hydration conditions on such competition is not well understood. Here, we investigate how hydration conditions affect interference competition among bacteria, studying the interactions between the antibiotic-producing Bacillus velezensis FZB42 and two bacterial strains susceptible to its antibiotics: Xanthomonas euvesicatoria 85-10 and Pseudomonas syringae DC3000. Our results show that wet-dry cycles significantly modify the response of the susceptible bacteria to both the supernatant and cells of the antibiotic-producing bacteria, compared to constantly wet conditions. Notably, X. euvesicatoria shows increased protection against both the cells and supernatants of B. velezensis under wet-dry cycles, while P. syringae cells become more susceptible under wet-dry cycles. In addition, we observed a reciprocal interaction between P. syringae and B. velezensis, where P. syringae inhibits B. velezensis under wet conditions. Our findings highlight the important role of hydration conditions in shaping bacterial interference competition, providing valuable insights into the microbial ecology of water-unsaturated surfaces, with implications for applications such as biological control of plant pathogens and mitigating antibiotic resistance.IMPORTANCEOur study reveals that hydration conditions, particularly wet-dry cycles, significantly influence antibiotic-mediated competition between bacterial species. We revealed that the effectiveness of antibiotics produced by Bacillus velezensis against two susceptible bacterial species: Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas varies based on these hydration conditions. Unlike traditional laboratory environments, many real-world habitats, such as soil, plant surfaces, and even animal skin, undergo frequent wet-dry cycles. These conditions affect bacterial competition dynamics and outcomes, with wet-dry cycles providing increased protection for some bacteria while making others more susceptible. Our findings highlight the importance of considering environmental hydration when studying microbial interactions and developing biological control strategies. This research has important implications for improving agricultural practices and understanding natural microbial ecosystems.

Droplet microfluidics: unveiling the hidden complexity of the human microbiome

The human body harbors diverse microbial communities essential for maintaining health and influencing disease processes. Droplet microfluidics, a precise and high-throughput platform for manipulating microscale droplets, has become vital in advancing microbiome research. This review introduces the foundational principles of droplet microfluidics, its operational capabilities, and wide-ranging applications. We emphasize its role in enhancing single-cell sequencing technologies, particularly genome and RNA sequencing, transforming our understanding of microbial diversity, gene expression, and community dynamics. We explore its critical function in isolating and cultivating traditionally unculturable microbes and investigating microbial activity and interactions, facilitating deeper insight into community behavior and metabolic functions. Lastly, we highlight its broader applications in microbial analysis and its potential to revolutionize human health research by driving innovations in diagnostics, therapeutic development, and personalized medicine. This review provides a comprehensive overview of droplet microfluidics' impact on microbiome research, underscoring its potential to transform our understanding of microbial dynamics and their relevance to health and disease.

Effect of Steam Flash-Explosion on Physicochemical Properties and Structure of High-Temperature Denatured Defatted Rice Bran Protein Isolate

The effects of Steam Flash-Explosion (SFE) on the physicochemical properties and molecular structure of high-temperature denatured defatted rice bran protein isolate (RBPI) were investigated. The mechanism of SFE treatment on high-temperature denatured defatted RBPI was revealed. The analysis of the physical and chemical properties of RBPI showed that the surface hydrophobicity, characteristic viscosity, and thermal stability of rice bran protein isolate were significantly affected by the pressure of saturated steam and pressure holding time. Under the conditions of 2.1 MPa and 210 s, the surface hydrophobicity index decreased significantly from 137.5 to 17.5, and the characteristic viscosity increased significantly. The peak temperature of denaturation decreases from 114.2 to 106.7 °C, and the enthalpy of denaturation decreases from 356.3 to 231.4 J/g. The higher structure (circular dichroic spectrum and endogenous fluorescence spectrum) of rice bran protein isolate was analyzed by volume rejection chromatography (SEC). The results showed that steam flash treatment could depolymerize and aggregate RBPI, and the relative molecular weight distribution changed greatly. The decrease in small molecules with poor solubility was accompanied by the increase in macromolecules (>550 kDa) soluble aggregates, which were the products of a Maillard reaction. The contents of free sulfhydryl and disulfide bonds in high-temperature rice bran meal protein isolate were significantly increased, which resulted in the increase in soluble aggregates containing disulfide bonds. Circular dichroism (CD) analysis showed that the α-helix content of the isolated protein was significantly decreased, the random curl content was increased, and the secondary structure of the isolated protein changed from order to disorder. The results of endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the high-temperature rice bran meal protein isolate was more extended, tryptophan was in a more hydrophilic microenvironment, the fluorescence intensity was reduced, and the tertiary structure was changed. In addition, the mean particle size and net surface charge of protein isolate increased in the aqueous solution, which was conducive to the development of the functional properties of the protein.