Pathogens

Background: Biofilm-associated infections remain a major challenge in modern medicine due to their high resistance to antibiotics and immune defences. Advances in materials science, chemistry, and nanotechnology have led to the development of innovative, non-antibiotic approaches to prevent or eradicate biofilms. Methods: This review summarises antibiofilm strategies reported between 2020 and 2025, grouped into chemical, enzymatic, physical–photonic, nanomaterial-based, and biological hybrid categories. Results: Chemical methods such as silver-based chemical systems, nitric oxide donors, and biosurfactants disrupt bacterial membranes, generate reactive oxygen species, and inhibit quorum sensing. Enzymatic coatings with DNase I or lysostaphin effectively reduce Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis biofilms, showing stability after sterilisation and high biocompatibility. Physical–photonic techniques, including photocatalytic and light-activated coatings, provide controllable and renewable antibacterial activity. Nanomaterials such as silver nanomaterials, chitosan-based carriers, magnetic ferrites, and catalytic nanozymes enable targeted, ROS-mediated biofilm disruption. Biologically derived systems, including bacteriophage hydrogels and plant metabolites, offer eco-friendly, biocompatible alternatives. Conclusions: Recent antibiofilm innovations mark a transition from conventional antibiotics to multifunctional and adaptive systems integrating chemical, enzymatic, and physical mechanisms for effective biofilm control on medical surfaces.

Canine hookworms represent some of the most globally prevalent parasitic nematodes affecting dogs and pose a significant zoonotic risk to humans, in whom they can induce cutaneous larva migrans. Infection with these parasites may lead to blood loss, anaemia, and, in severe cases, mortality—particularly in young puppies. The present study reports a confirmed case of Ancylostoma caninum infection in a 15-month-old dog in the Slovak Republic. The infected dog presented with severe, persistent diarrhoea, and haematological examination revealed a decrease in erythrocyte and haemoglobin levels, as well as mild eosinophilia. Coprological examination confirmed the presence of nematodes belonging to the family of Ancylostomatidae. Following the initiation of anthelmintic therapy, adult individuals were recovered from the faeces. Based on distinct morphological characteristics, the parasites were presumptively attributed to the species A. caninum. Subsequent molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (COX1) and the ribosomal ITS regions definitively confirmed the species A. caninum. Our findings confirm that this is the first molecularly confirmed case of this species in Central Europe. This hookworm is predominantly found in warm and humid climatic regions. Its recent detection in Slovakia, a country characterised by a temperate climate, may suggest a northward expansion of its geographic range, potentially facilitated by ongoing climatic shifts associated with global climate change.

Accurate pathogen diagnosis is fundamental for effective crop disease management. In Kenya, a pathogen causing significant damage in potato farms was initially misidentified as Phytophthora infestans. This study aimed to correctly identify this pathogen and explore initial control measures using a polyphasic approach. The methodology integrated morphological observation, pathogenicity testing, and molecular analysis using ITS and EF1-α gene sequencing. The results confirmed the pathogen’s identity as Fusarium equiseti, with morphological features consistent with this species and molecular sequencing showing 99.6% identity to reference strains. This is the first official report of Fusarium equiseti as a potato pathogen in Kenya. Furthermore, in vitro assays evaluated the efficacy of native fungal endophytes for biocontrol. Four endophytes inhibited the pathogen’s mycelial growth by over 70%, with Trichoderma atroviride isolate ICIPE 710 exhibiting the highest inhibition rate of approximately 91%. This research shows that effective identification of pathogens is crucial for proper management of diseases, ensuring timely control, saving resources and reducing crop losses. This study identified the native endophyte Trichoderma atroviride strain ICIPE 710 as a promising biocontrol candidate. The critical next step is to validate its efficacy in field trials for future development as a sustainable, practical alternative to chemical fungicides.