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Journal articleSingh S, Darawshy F, Erlandson K, et al., 2026,
Lower airway dysbiosis in nontuberculous mycobacteria-positive bronchiectasis is associated with neutrophil extracellular trap-predominant severe phenotypes.
, Am J Respir Crit Care Med, Vol: 212, Pages: 936-951RATIONALE: The discoveries of neutrophilic inflammation and Pseudomonas-dominant pulmonary dysbiosis have helped pave the way for host-directed therapy in bronchiectasis. Substantial knowledge gaps still remain about the interplay between neutrophilic signatures and microbes in nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD), a phenotypically diverse lung infection that is increasingly prevalent in the United States and other parts of the world. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the lower airway microbiota and neutrophilic traits in NTM-negative (NTM-) and NTM-positive (NTM+) bronchiectasis. METHODS: 16S rRNA gene sequencing, cell counts, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) immunoassays were performed on bronchoscopic lower airway samples in 200 bronchiectasis subjects (108 NTM-, 92 NTM+). A preclinical model of oral commensal microaspiration and NTM infection was used to profile the murine lower airways with flow cytometry and a NET assay. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Lower airways of NTM+ bronchiectasis patients were enriched with Mycobacterium and oral commensals (eg, Veillonella, Prevotella, and Streptococcus). NET levels were higher in NTM+ BAL fluid. Mycobacterium and oral commensals co-occurred with NET and neutrophils in network studies. Distinct oral commensal taxa were associated with severe disease phenotypes such as cavitary disease and exacerbators. In a murine microaspiration model, the combination of oral commensals and Mycobacterium led to a sustained proinflammatory immune response marked by an increase in Th17 cells, γδT cells, and PD-1+ T lymphocytes as well as higher NET levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses showed that distinct microbiome features beyond the primary pathogen can contribute to neutrophilic inflammation and severe disease phenotypes in bronchiectasis/NTM-LD.
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Journal articleZhao Y, Gu H, Ledesma-Amaro R, et al., 2026,
Magnetically actuated β-glucosidase immobilized on oak chips for enhanced wine aroma release.
, Food Res Int, Vol: 231β-Glucosidase (BGL) plays a key role in wine aroma enhancement by hydrolyzing glycosidic precursors; however, its application is limited by instability under harsh winemaking conditions. To address this, we developed an integrated biocatalytic system by immobilizing an acid-tolerant BGL onto functionalized magnetic oak chips (NFOak) via oriented Ni2+-histidine coordination. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the fabrication of a porous, magnetic cellulose scaffold. The immobilized BGL exhibited significantly enhanced stability against winemaking stresses (low pH, high ethanol) compared to the free enzyme. Furthermore, magnetic actuation of the biocomposite improved its hydrolytic performance, likely attributed to enhanced mass transfer. When applied to Chardonnay and Marselan wines, the magnetically actuated system effectively hydrolyzed glycosidic precursors, markedly increasing the concentrations of key volatile compounds-such as linalool and ethyl benzoate associated with fruity and floral aroma profiles. The treatment also induced subtle modulations in wine color and phenolic composition. Safety assessments confirmed no nickel leaching and oenologically acceptable iron levels. This work provides a sustainable and efficient strategy for controllable aroma modulation, combining the oenological benefits of a natural oak carrier with the operational controllability of magnetic actuation.
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Journal articleYang H, Yuen FW, Ryan MJ, et al., 2026,
Pathogenicity of Fusarium xylarioides, the Causal Pathogen of Coffee Wilt Disease, in Coffee Seedlings and an Alternate Host, Tomato Fruit
, Plant Pathology, Vol: 75, ISSN: 0032-0862Widespread crop cultivation has offered more opportunity for pathogens to evolve resulting in the emergence of new virulence and lifestyle patterns. Alternate hosts surrounding a crop field can also help pathogens survive, spread and provide inoculum for subsequent growing seasons. Examining pathogen hosts under laboratory conditions can explain disease emergence mechanisms. Here, we studied four strains of Fusarium xylarioides, a soil-borne, vascular fungal pathogen that causes coffee wilt disease collected over several decades and preserved in the CABI culture collection. We observed that these fungi can colonise tomato fruits as an alternate host to coffee and used these to test the pathogenicity of historic F. xylarioides and F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici strains. Expression of effector genes in F. xylarioides was compared in both the primary (coffee) and an alternate plant host (tomato). We used pathogenicity assays on coffee seedlings and tomato fruits by fungal staining, diagnostic end-point PCRs and real-time quantitative PCRs to verify the infection of both plant hosts. Passaging through coffee seedlings (infection followed by re-isolation of the pathogen) resulted in increased effector gene expression and enhanced pathogenicity. These findings indicate that alternate hosts may act as reservoirs for the pathogen, with implications for disease persistence and spread. A clearer understanding of plant disease cycles is therefore essential for the development of effective management strategies aimed at mitigating impacts on global food production.
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Journal articleVerweij PE, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Amilon K, et al., 2026,
Closing the gap on antifungal resistance.
, Nat Med, Vol: 32, Pages: 1586-1591 -
Journal articleButler L, Awan AR, Ellis T, et al., 2026,
Engineering non-ribosomal peptide synthesis: tuning the antibiotics engine of the microbial world.
, Crit Rev Biotechnol, Vol: 46, Pages: 501-521Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthetases produce chemically diverse peptides in nature, many of which have antimicrobial properties, providing an opportunity to use synthetic biology to fine tune them for pharmaceutical applications. Major challenges remain with total and semi-synthesis of these complex peptides with specific bioengineering methodologies being developed to increase low yields and enhance bioactivity. Here we review major advances in engineering non-ribosomal peptides with a focus on improvements made to achieve better yield and bioactivity. This can be achieved through: engineering precursor metabolites, altering metabolic flux, introducing strong promoters and regulators, and redirecting metabolism to biosynthetic gene clusters which can then be expressed natively or heterologously. We also review glycopeptide antibiotics as a promising opportunity for engineering through synthetic biology for the biosynthesis of novel non-ribosomal peptides.
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Journal articleChalmers JD, Haworth CS, Flume P, et al., 2026,
Mucoactive therapies and the European Respiratory Society guideline for adult bronchiectasis: what now after the CLEAR trial?
, Eur Respir J, Vol: 67 -
Journal articleGhataora JS, Ellis T, 2026,
Rewiring holobiont systems with synthetic biology.
, Trends Biotechnol, Vol: 44, Pages: 1312-1329Holobionts are complex communities comprising a host and its diverse microbiota. Their intricate relationships are crucial for biological processes like nutrient uptake, immune function, and environmental adaptation. However, understanding these complex interactions remains challenging. We review how synthetic biology can help address these challenges. We highlight advances in bacterial biosensor design, engineering interkingdom communication, surface display, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) systems to both understand and manipulate holobiont interactions. We also highlight progress in engineering non-model microbiota members and provide rationale for a new field at the intersection of holobiont research and synthetic biology, which we term de novo holobiont design. The integration of synthetic biology with holobiont research promises to deepen our understanding of host-microbiota relationships and open new frontiers in biotechnology.
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Journal articleWilliams TJ, Kermani NZ, Gonzales-Huerta LE, et al., 2026,
A Role for Non-Canonical Caspases in Fungal Allergic Airway Disease.
, Clin Exp Allergy, Vol: 56, Pages: 576-578Inhibition of the murine ortholog caspase‐11 reduces neutrophilia and inflammatory cytokine levels. Wedelolactone or its derivatives offer a potential therapeutic approach for mixed or steroid‐resistant inflammation in allergic fungal airway disease.
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Journal articleIbrahim T, King FJ, Toghani A, et al., 2026,
A helper NLR channels organellar calcium to trigger plant immunity.
, Science, Vol: 392, Pages: 499-505Upon activation, plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptors are known to assemble into oligomeric resistosomes that insert into the plasma membrane, forming calcium (Ca2+)-permeable channels and triggering immunity. Here, we found that the RPW8-like coiled-coil NLR (CCR-NLR) N requirement gene 1 (NRG1) primarily targets organelles instead of the plasma membrane. Unlike canonical CC-NLRs, activated NRG1 accumulated at the chloroplast envelope and channeled stromal Ca2+ into the cytosol. AlphaFold modeling of the NRG1 resistosome revealed an unusually long amino-terminal membrane-insertion structure that could span the double membrane of the chloroplast. Nanobody-mediated relocalization showed functional membrane specificity: Chloroplast trapping abolished activity of the canonical helper CC-NLR NRC4 but not NRG1. NRG1 orthologs, from nonflowering lineages to angiosperms, targeted chloroplasts, suggesting that organelle-centered defense dates back at least ~360 million years. We propose that CC-NLR diversification has enabled compartment-specific immune signaling to capture diverse Ca2+ stores.
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Journal articleCanizales J, Schofield S, Shamji MH, et al., 2026,
Patterns of mouse allergen–specific IgE and IgG4 in contemporary animal research environments
, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, ISSN: 0954-7894
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