Novel anti-herpes simplex activity of Chryseobacterium indologenes: Genomic and metabolomic insights
Date
2025-04-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type
Article
Publisher
Academic Press
Series Info
Microbial Pathogenesis ; Volume 204 , July 2025 , Article number 107534
Scientific Journal Rankings
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a pathogenic virus responsible for various diseases, necessitating alternative
antiviral strategies for HSV-1 treatment. Given the antiviral properties of lactic acid (LA), we screened rhizobacteria from the maize (Zea mays L.) rhizosphere for organic acid production. Among the isolates, SR50, SR126,
and SR135 exhibited significant LA production, confirmed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
analysis. Their antiviral efficacy against HSV-1 was evaluated by determining IC50 values and selectivity indices
(SI = CC50/IC50), with SR50, SR126, and SR135 displaying SI values of 135.14, 10.74, and 2.17, respectively.
SR50, identified via 16S rRNA sequencing as Chryseobacterium indologenes, was selected for further antiviral
analysis. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of SR50 demonstrated 73.3 % inhibition of viral adsorption, 60 %
virucidal activity, and a 46.7 % reduction in viral replication. Metabolomic profiling using Gas ChromatographyMass Spectrometry (GC-MS) identified short- and long-chain organic fatty acids. Whole Genome Sequencing
(WGS) revealed a 4,581,372 bp genome encoding diverse biosynthetic pathways, including siderophores, plant
hormones, terpenoids, polyketides, and other bacterial secondary metabolites. Additionally, genes encoding
lactaldehyde dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase confirmed the presence of lactic and acetic acid
biosynthesis pathways. This study presents the first report of C. indologenes SR50 exhibiting anti-HSV-1 activity,
highlighting its potential as a novel antiviral resource.
Description
SJR 2024
0.825 Q2
H-Index
107
Keywords
Antiviral, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Herpes simplex virus, Organic acids, Rhizobacteria, Zea mays ecosystem
Citation
Amer, M. A., Wasfi, R., Ashour, H. M., & Hamed, S. M. (2025). Novel Anti-Herpes Simplex Activity of Chryseobacterium indologenes: Genomic and Metabolomic Insights. Microbial Pathogenesis, 107534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107534