Interactions among microorganisms open up a new world for anti-infectious therapy

Unveiling the Etiopathogenic Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Periodontitis

Periodontitis, a prevalent and costly oral disease, remains incompletely understood in its etiopathogenesis. The conventional model attributes it to pathogenic bacteria, but emerging evidence suggests dysbiosis involving bacteria, herpesviruses, and an exaggerated host immune response. Among herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) closely links to severe periodontitis, yet the mechanisms underlying EBV-related pathogenesis remain elusive. This study examined the presence, methylation patterns, and infection states of EBV in gingival tissues from healthy patients and those with periodontitis. It also assessed gene expression differences associated with EBV through whole-genome transcriptomic profiling in healthy and periodontitis-affected tissues. EBV DNA was found at similar frequencies in healthy and periodontitis tissues, suggesting common EBV infection even before disease manifestation. In healthy tissues, mostly unmethylated EBV genomes indicated lytic infection in gums, consistent with the literature on lytic EBV spread in epithelia and continual significant virus release in the saliva of healthy carriers. Conversely, EBV DNA in periodontitis tissues showed both methylated and unmethylated patterns, suggesting a mix of latent and lytic genomes. This indicates the coexistence of latent EBV in B-cells and lytic EBV in plasma cells (PCs), linking EBV presence with both cell types in periodontitis. Whole-genome transcriptomic analysis revealed distinct expression profiles in EBV-positive periodontitis tissues, with upregulated genes associated with inflammatory/immune responses and B-cell and PC markers, while downregulated genes were related to epithelial structure and organization. The EBV-positive periodontitis signature differed distinctly from that of EBV-positive healthy gums, eliciting only a typical viral-induced immune response. These findings provide new insights into EBV physiopathology in the gum, notably assigning a direct etiopathogenetic contribution to EBV in periodontitis. The results suggest a model where EBV can commonly, and apparently asymptomatically, spread in healthy gingiva but may also aggravate inflammation in the context of gum dysbiosis, involving infiltration of B-cells and PCs and loss of epithelial integrity.

Recent Advances in Gut Microbiome Modulation: Effect of Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Postbiotics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Prevention and Treatment

The human gastrointestinal tract contains trillions of microbes that affect the body. Dysbiosis in the composition of gut microbiota is one of the leading causes of chronic inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a global public health challenge and millions of people in the world are suffering from this disease. It is a recurring inflammatory disease that affects different parts of the human digestive system. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the two main types of IBD with similar clinical symptoms. The increasing incidence and severity of IBD require new treatment methods. The composition of the gut microbiota can be modified using dietary supplements such as prebiotics and bacterial supplements called probiotics. Furthermore, the effects of the microbiome can be improved by using paraprobiotics (non-viable, inactivated bacteria or their components) and/or postbiotics (products of bacterial metabolism).

Microbiome Dynamics: A Paradigm Shift in Combatting Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases have long posed a significant threat to global health and require constant innovation in treatment approaches. However, recent groundbreaking research has shed light on a previously overlooked player in the pathogenesis of disease-the human microbiome. This review article addresses the intricate relationship between the microbiome and infectious diseases and unravels its role as a crucial mediator of host-pathogen interactions. We explore the remarkable potential of harnessing this dynamic ecosystem to develop innovative treatment strategies that could revolutionize the management of infectious diseases. By exploring the latest advances and emerging trends, this review aims to provide a new perspective on combating infectious diseases by targeting the microbiome.

Inhibition of Polymicrobial Biofilms of Candida albicans-Staphylococcus aureus/Streptococcus mutans by Fucoidan-Gold Nanoparticles

The polymicrobial proliferation and development of complex biofilm morphologies by bacterial and fungal pathogens in the host are some of the key factors contributing to the failure of antimicrobial treatments. The polymicrobial interaction of Candida albicans and some bacterial species has been extensively studied in both in vitro and in vivo model systems. Alternative strategies for disrupting polymicrobial interaction and biofilm formation are constantly needed. Among several alternative strategies, the use of nanoparticles synthesized using a natural product in the treatment of microbial infection has been considered a promising approach. The current study aimed to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a natural product, fucoidan, and to test their efficacy against mono and duo combinations of fungal (Candida albicans) and bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus/Streptococcus mutans) biofilms. Several methods were used to characterize and study Fu-AuNPs, including UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, FTIR, FE-TEM, EDS, DLS, zeta potential, and XRD. The concentration-dependent inhibition of early-stage biofilms and the eradication of mature biofilms of single species of C. albicans, S. aureus, and S. mutans have been observed. Early biofilms of a dual-species combination of C. albicans and S. aureus/S. mutans were also suppressed at an increasing concentration of Fu-AuNPs. Furthermore, Fu-AuNPs significantly eradicated the established mature biofilm of mixed species. The treatment method proposed in this study, which involves the use of marine-bioinspired nanoparticles, is a promising and biocompatible agent for preventing the growth of polymicrobial biofilms of bacterial and fungal pathogens.