Search Results (474)

Effective flood management in agricultural fields has become increasingly important due to the rising frequency and intensity of rainfall events driven by climate change. This study investigates the applicability of urban flood analysis models—SWMM (1D) and K-Flood (2D)—to irrigated agricultural fields with artificial drainage systems. A case study was conducted in a rural area near the Sindae drainage station in Cheongju, South Korea, using rainfall data from an extreme weather event in 2017. The models simulated inland flooding and were validated against flood trace maps provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis showed a true positive rate of 0.565, a false positive rate of 0.21, and an overall accuracy of 0.731, indicating reasonable agreement with observed inundation. Scenario analyses were also conducted to assess the effectiveness of three improvement strategies: reducing the Manning coefficient, increasing pump station capacity, and widening drainage channels. Among them, increasing pump capacity most effectively reduced flood volume, while channel widening had the greatest impact on reducing flood extent. These findings demonstrate the potential of urban flood models for application in agricultural contexts and support data-driven planning for rural flood mitigation. Full article

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a preeminent seafood-borne pathogen, imposing significant economic burdens on global aquaculture. The escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains has accentuated the critical urgency for developing sustainable biocontrol strategies. In this study, a bacteriophage designated vB_VPAP_XY75 (XY75) was isolated and biologically characterized to establish an effective control against V. parahaemolyticus. XY75 exhibited remarkable specificity toward V. parahaemolyticus, effectively lysing 46.2% of the target strains while showing no lytic activity against non-target bacterial species. Morphological characterization confirmed its taxonomic assignment to the Myoviridae family, featuring an icosahedral head (40 ± 2 nm) and contractile tail (60 ± 2 nm). XY75 demonstrated strong environmental tolerance, remaining stable at pH 4–11 and temperatures as high as 50 °C. At an optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI = 0.01), XY75 achieved a peak titer of 8.1 × 10¹⁰ PFU/mL, a 5 min latent period, and burst size of 118 PFU/cell. Critically, XY75 reduced V. parahaemolyticus in salmon by more than 5.98 log CFU/g (99.9%) within 6 h at 4 °C, demonstrating exceptional cold tolerance and lytic activity. Genomic analysis confirmed that no virulence or antibiotic resistance genes were present. These results establish XY75 as a safe and efficacious biocontrol candidate for seafood preservation, with particular utility under refrigerated storage conditions. Full article

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for a range of severe infections and nosocomial outbreaks. Phage-based therapy and biocontrol represent effective strategies to combat the prevalence of A. baumannii. This study reports a novel phage, BUCT775, capable of specifically lysing A. baumannii, and investigates its physiological properties, genomic characteristics, in vivo therapeutic efficacy, and environmental disinfection performance. Phage BUCT775 is a podovirus that forms clear, well-defined plaques with an average diameter of 2.5 ± 0.52 mm. It exhibits a broad range of temperature stability (4–55 °C) and pH stability (pH 3–12). The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) for phage BUCT775 is 0.01. At an MOI of 0.01, it demonstrates a latent period of approximately 10 min and exhibits a high burst size. Genomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis revealed that phage BUCT775 belongs to the order Caudoviricetes and the family Autographiviridae. Its genome has a G + C content of 39.3% and is not known to contain virulence genes or antibiotic resistance genes. Phage BUCT775 exhibited significant therapeutic effects on A. baumannii-infected G. mellonella larvae, increasing the 120 h survival rate of the larvae by 20%. Additionally, phage BUCT775 efficiently eliminated A. baumannii in the environment, with an average clearance rate exceeding 98% within 3 h. These studies suggest that phage BUCT775 holds significant potential for application in phage therapy and environmental disinfection. Full article

Piperine, a phytochemical alkaloid, exhibits notable anticancer properties in several cancer cell types. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which piperine induces cell death and apoptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, focusing on oxidative stress and key signaling pathways. Using MTT assay, flow cytometry, gene overexpression, and Western blot analysis, we observed that piperine significantly reduced cell viability, triggered G1 phase cell cycle arrest, and promoted apoptosis in DLD-1 cells. In addition, piperine effectively suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis in other CRC cell lines, including SW480, HT-29, and Caco-2 cells. These effects were associated with increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mediated by the regulation of mitochondrial complex III, NADPH oxidase, and xanthine oxidase. Additionally, piperine modulated signaling pathways by inhibiting phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, activating p38 and p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Pretreatment with antimycin A, apocynin, allopurinol, and PD98059, and the overexpression of p-Akt significantly recovered cell viability and reduced apoptosis, confirming the involvement of these pathways. This study is the first to demonstrate piperine induces apoptosis in CRC cells through a multifaceted oxidative stress mechanism and by critically modulating PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling pathways. Full article

The two probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus helveticus MIMLh5 and L. acidophilus NCFM exhibit homology, are both equipped with an S-layer made up of highly homologous proteins and are capable of stimulating Th1-inducing signals in dendritic cells. In this study, we aimed to compare the two strains as regards the thickness of the S-layer and their capacity to induce the production of the two Th1-inducing cytokines IL-12 and IFN-β. For both bacteria, stimulation with an increasing number of bacteria led to the higher and prompter production of IL-12 and IFN-β, but at all MOIs tested, the IL-12 response induced by NCFM was always the strongest. For both bacteria, the induction of IL-12 peaked at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2–5, while IL-10, known to inhibit the induction of IL-12 cytokines, was induced more slowly and continued to increase at a higher MOI. By employing specific inhibitors, MIMLh5 and NCFM were also shown to activate different MAP kinase pathways. Endocytosed MIMLh5 showed higher survival in the DCs compared to NCFM. In the presence of mannan, previously shown to accelerate endosomal killing of Gram-positive bacteria, the survival of MIMLh5 was strongly decreased, and IL-12 increased to a level close to that induced by NCFM without the addition of mannan, indicating the importance of rapid endosomal degradation for a strong IL-12 response. When measuring the S-layer thickness, MIMLh5’s S-layer appeared to be more than twice the thickness of NCFM and exhibited an elastic modulus approximately twice as high, which is a measure of a cell’s resistance to an applied mechanic stress. When the two strains were depleted of S-layer protein, the elastic modulus was comparable. Together, our data suggests that the thicker S-layer of MIMLh5 compared to NCFM may contribute to its endosomal survival, thus reducing its capacity to induce IL-12. This may constitute an important parameter in the selection of probiotic bacteria for specific purposes. Full article

Background: Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for pediatric patients with end-stage kidney disease. However, transplantation in children weighing < 15 kg remains challenging due to limited donor availability and higher surgical and medical risks. We report our 35-year single-center experience in this population, focusing on perioperative and long-term outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed kidney transplants performed from 1987 to 2023 in children weighing < 15 kg. Data on demographics, donor type, complications, immunosuppression, and outcomes at 2, 5, and 10 years (including survival, graft function, rejection, infections, and urological issues) were collected. Outcomes were compared between deceased and living donors and between recipients weighing < 10 kg and ≥10 kg. Results: Ninety-six transplants were included (mean age 3.3 years; mean weight 11.1 kg), 80 from deceased and 16 from living donors. Most patients (69.8%) had been treated with peritoneal dialysis. Median follow-up was 120 months. Patient survival was 95.8%; graft survival was 78.1%. Eight grafts (8.3%) were lost to renal vein thrombosis, all in deceased-donor recipients (p = 0.60). Preserved renal function (eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m²) declined from 80.4% at 2 years to 66.0% at 5 years and 18.0% at 10 years. Graft survival at 10 years was significantly lower in children < 10 kg vs. ≥10 kg (49.6% vs. 80.3%, p = 0.003). CAKUT was associated with higher urological complication rates (p = 0.017). No significant differences emerged between living and deceased donor groups. Conclusions: Transplantation in children < 15 kg is feasible with good outcomes, but those <10 kg present lower graft survival at 10 years. Multidisciplinary assessment and center experience are key to optimizing results. Full article

Canine otitis externa caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a relevant disease in veterinary medicine. Given P. aeruginosa’s high priority status for the development of new antimicrobials, innovative strategies like bacteriophage therapy are essential. Lytic bacteriophages are viruses with high specificity for their bacterial hosts, making them a promising therapeutic choice in both human and veterinary medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of bacteriophages JG005 and JG024, first characterized in terms of their biofilm-forming ability and antimicrobial susceptibility profile, against P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from dogs with otitis externa,. Bacteriophages titer, host range, and activity were assessed against P. aeruginosa biofilms via microtiter assays using crystal violet and Alamar Blue. JG024 showed lytic activity against 61.2% (n = 30/49) of the isolates, while JG005 showed lytic activity against 38.8% (n = 19/49) of the isolates. Crystal violet quantification showed that JG005 can promote strong microbial suppression of 60% (n = 6/10) and 50% (n = 5/10) of the isolates at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 and 100, respectively. JG024 presented strong microbial suppression of 20% (n = 2/10) of the isolates regardless of the MOI level tested. These phages show promising potential as an innovative treatment for canine otitis externa caused by P. aeruginosa, but further studies are needed before future clinical use. Full article

The high pathogenicity rate of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) has resulted in substantial economic losses for humans and the breeding industry. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop new alternatives to mitigate antibiotic use. Phage therapy has demonstrated promising results in numerous studies. In this study, lytic phages targeting CRPA were isolated from feces and river water samples in Shandong, China. A total of 94 phage strains with CRPA as hosts were obtained, exhibiting lysis rates that ranged from 29% to 76% for P. aeruginosa derived from humans and different types of animals (n = 246). We further examined five representative phages, the host bacteria of which were CRPA from clinical patients and poultry, and these phages included two myoviruses and three podoviruses. Their optimal multiplicities of infection (MOIs) ranged from 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁵, with latent periods of less than 5 to 15 min and burst durations of 140 to 175 min, resulting in burst sizes of 133 to 352 PFU/cell. All five phages exhibited the ability to survive at temperatures up to 60 °C and within pH levels of 3 to 11. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that these five phages were all double-stranded DNA phages and did not possess resistance genes or virulence factors. The two myoviruses, sharing similar sequences, were classified into the genus Pakpunavirus, with a size of 92,509 bp and 92,293 bp, 149 to 152 ORFs and 20 to 22 tRNAs. In contrast, the three similar podoviruses belong to the genus Phikmvvirus and all contained a perforin–lyase system, with a size of 43.35 kb, a GC content of 62%, 49 to 50 ORFs and 16 to 20 tRNAs. A spray disinfection experiment demonstrated that the phage cocktail exhibited a high sterilization effect after spraying and showed good efficacy against cement and metal surfaces. This study provides foundational information for further research into the elimination of CRPA in the environment. Full article

This scoping review investigates the digital transition of critical energy infrastructure (CEI) in maritime ports, which are increasingly vital as energy hubs amid global decarbonisation efforts. Recognising the growing role of ports in integrating offshore renewables, hydrogen, and LNG systems, the study examines how digital technologies (such as automation, IoT, and AI) support the resilience, efficiency, and sustainability of port-based CEI. A multifaceted search strategy was implemented to identify relevant academic and grey literature. The search was performed between January 2025 and 30 April 2025. The strategy focused on databases such as Scopus. Due to limitations encountered in retrieving sufficient, directly relevant academic papers from databases alone, the search strategy was systematically expanded to include grey literature such as reports, policy documents, and technical papers from authoritative industry, governmental, and international organisations. Employing Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR (scoping review) guidelines, the review synthesises insights from 62 academic and grey literature sources to address five core research questions relating to the current state, challenges, importance, and future directions of digital CEI in ports. Literature distribution of articles varies across continents, with Europe contributing the highest number of publications (53%), Asia (24%) and North America (11%), while Africa and Oceania account for only 3% of the publications. Findings reveal significant regional disparities in digital maturity, fragmented governance structures, and underutilisation of digital systems. While smart port technologies offer operational gains and support predictive maintenance, their effectiveness is constrained by siloed strategies, resistance to collaboration, and skill gaps. The study highlights a need for holistic digital transformation frameworks, cross-border cooperation, and tailored approaches to address these challenges. The review provides a foundation for future empirical work and policy development aimed at securing and optimising maritime port energy infrastructure in line with global sustainability targets. Full article

Background: Since the massive outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Korea in 2010–2011, cloven-hoofed livestock have been immunized with serotype O and A vaccines across the country. Other serotypes of FMD vaccines were stockpiled in overseas FMD vaccine factories as antigen banks. Once a manufacturing facility has been established in South Korea, the overseas antigen banks will be replaced by domestic one. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the commercial potential of the previously developed SAT2 vaccine candidate (SAT2 ZIM-R). Methods: The optimal condition was determined at various virus concentrations, infection times, and pH levels, resulting in 0.01 MOI for SAT2 ZIM-R for 24 h infection at a pH of 7.5. Results: When the SAT2 ZIM-R virus was produced in flasks from 40 to 1000 mL in fivefold increments, all scales of production yielded > 7.0 µg/mL of antigens. Using a bioreactor, 5.6 µg/mL of antigens was recovered from a 1 L viral culture. The optimal conditions of viral inactivation kinetics were determined to be 1 mM of binary ethyleneimine (BEI) treatment at 26 °C for 24 h, with approximately 91% of the antigen being retained after virus inactivation. When the SAT2 ZIM-R experimental vaccine was administered twice to pigs, the neutralizing antibody titer increased approximately 500-fold after booster immunization. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the antigen productivity, viral inactivation kinetics, and immunogenicity of the SAT vaccine strain in pigs. In the future, the SAT2 ZIM-R vaccine may be a useful candidate vaccine for a domestic antigen bank. Full article

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen and a major cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. This study aimed to isolate and characterize phages with lytic activity against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains to enable antibacterial alternatives. Eight phages (AKO8a, PS118, B612, MCR, IDQ7, 89P13, CRL20, and CIM23) were isolated and subjected to genomic, phylogenetic, and functional analyses. Antibacterial activity was assessed in vitro against A. baumannii strain AbAK04 by measuring optical density over 17 h at multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of 0.1, 1, and 10, using a repeated-measures design with time as a crossed factor and MOI as a nested factor. Tukey’s post-hoc test identified significant bacterial growth reductions of 57–72% (p < 0.001). Specifically, phages PS118 and 89P13 reduced growth by 71% at MOI 10; CIM23, B612, and CRL20 achieved 68% reduction at MOI 1; and MCR reduced growth by 64% at MOIs 0.1 and 1. Notably, lytic phage MCR encodes a glycosyl hydrolase family 58 (GH58) enzyme, potentially contributing to its antibacterial activity. Genomic analyses confirmed absence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, with all phages classified as novel species within the Kagunavirus genus. These findings support the use of these phages as promising candidates for in vivo evaluation. Full article

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a common antibiotic-resistant pathogen, posing significant public health threats worldwide. It is a major cause of ocular infections, mostly linked to contact lens wear. P. aeruginosa often produces biofilm during infections, and these are also associated with antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy is emerging as a promising approach for treating multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa. Objective: This study aimed to assess the antibiofilm effects of six phages against P. aeruginosa biofilms isolated from patients with corneal infections. Method: This study examined P. aeruginosa strains for their ability to form biofilms using crystal violet assay. Six P. aeruginosa bacteriophages (DiSu1 to DiSu6) were used, which were isolated from sewage water in Melbourne, Australia. Spot tests were used to assess phage sensitivity. The effect of phages against P. aeruginosa strains was determined using time–kill assay and efficiency of plating. The ability of phage to inhibit biofilm formation over 24 h or reduce preformed biofilms was also studied and confirmed using confocal laser scanning microscopy with Live/Dead staining. Result: After 24 h of incubation, all tested P. aeruginosa strains formed moderate to strong biofilms. All P. aeruginosa strains were sensitive to at least four of the six phages. The highest level of bacterial growth inhibition in the liquid infection model was observed when phages were applied at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 100. Certain bacteria/phage combinations were able to inhibit biofilm formation over 24 h, with the combination of strain PA235 and phage DiSu3 producing the highest inhibition (83%) at a MOI of 100. This was followed by the combinations of PA223/DiSu3 (56%), and PA225/DiSu5 (52%). For the reduction in preformed biofilms, the best combinations were PA235 (90%), PA221 (61%), and PA213 and PA225 (57% each), all with DiSu3 after 3 h. However, exposing the biofilm with phages for over 24 h appeared to promote phage resistance as there was evidence of biofilm growth, with the only combination still showing a significant reduction being PA221/DiSu3 (58%) at MOI of 100. Conclusions: This study showed that the effect of phages against P. aeruginosa is concentration (MOI) dependent. Phages at higher MOI have the ability to disrupt, inhibit, and reduce P. aeruginosa biofilms. However, prolonged exposure of the biofilm with phages appeared to promote phage resistance. To enhance phage efficacy and address this form of resistance, further studies utilizing phage cocktails or a combination of phages and antibiotics is warranted. Full article

Access to safe, clean drinking water is a critical challenge across many resource-constrained settings, especially in developing economies. Large-scale water treatment technologies are often available in urban areas, whereas such centralized systems are unavailable in rural and remote areas due to high infrastructure costs, rugged terrains, and maintenance challenges. To address this challenge, point-of-use (PoU) water treatment systems can fill this critical gap. This study critically evaluates the role low-cost PoU water treatment solutions play as a promising alternative to address water access and quality aspects in remote rural areas. The study explores the present state of global water sources, the challenges of water scarcity and pollution, and the limitations of existing large-scale treatment technologies. It highlights the motivation behind PoU systems and provides an in-depth analysis of various low-cost technologies, including operational principles, performance efficiency, and economic viability. Embedded in this study is a concise evaluation of the sustainability of these solutions in addressing water access and quality challenges in resource-limited regions. Finally, the study proposes solutions and perspectives on improving PoU systems and scale-up of the systems for large-scale applications to facilitate increased access to clean and safe water. Full article

Background/Objectives: Largemouth bass rhabdovirus (Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus, MSRV) disease causes high mortality in largemouth bass farming. Therefore, vaccine development is critical for largemouth bass prevention against MSRV. Methods: An attenuated strain, denoted as MSRV-0509, was selected through intraperitoneal injection and immersion challenge assays, followed by plaque purification. The biological characteristics of MSRV-0509, including optimal inoculation dose, replication kinetics, thermostability, pH resistance, chloroform tolerance, and storage viability, were determined via viral titration. Spatiotemporal distribution patterns in largemouth bass post-intraperitoneal injection or immersion infection were quantified by qPCR. Immunoprotective efficacy was evaluated through intraperitoneal and immersion vaccination. Mechanistic insights were explored via relative qPCR and serum neutralization assays. Safety was assessed by single-dose overdose immunization and virulence reversion experiments. Results: An attenuated strain MSRV-0509 was screened through a challenge assay, exhibiting complete avirulence in largemouth bass compared to the virulent strain SCRV-T6. MSRV-0509 demonstrated optimal replication at low MOI (0.0001) in CPB cells, with peak titers (10^8.3 TCID₅₀/mL) at 96 h post-infection. The virus showed susceptibility to high temperatures, lipid solvents and acidic conditions, with prolonged stable storage viability at −80 °C. Tissue distribution revealed the spleen as the primary target after intraperitoneal injection, while immersion restricted infection to gills, with rapid clearance by 3–6 dpi. Vaccination trials identified 5 × 10² TCID₅₀/fish via intraperitoneal injection and 10^6.0 TCID₅₀/mL via immersion as effective immunizing doses, providing 100% relative survival post-challenge. Immune gene expression and serum neutralization showed Th1 and Th2 activation via intraperitoneal injection (elevated IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-10, IgM), whereas only the Th1 response was activated after vaccine immersion. No abnormality and mortality were observed in single overdose vaccination and virulence reversion experiments, confirming that MSRV-0509 was safe. Conclusions: These results proved that MSRV-0509 could be a promising vaccine candidate to protect largemouth bass from MSRV disease. Full article

Aeromonas salmonicida is a common spoilage bacterium found in refrigerated fish. In this study, a virulent bacteriophage was isolated from wastewater using A. salmonicida AS08 as the host, and it was designated as TSW001. Based on morphological characterization and whole-genome analysis, bacteriophage TSW001 was classified within the genus Tedavirus. Biological characterization revealed that TSW001 maintained a stable titer within a temperature range of 4~60 °C, a pH range of 4~9, and a salinity range of 50~1000 mM. The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) for TSW001 was 0.1, with a short latency period of approximately 10 min and a burst size of approximately 68 PFU/cell. When applied during the cold storage of large yellow croaker, the A. salmonicida count in the fish juice decreased by approximately 2.1~2.3 log₁₀ CFU/mL over the first two days, while the count in the fish fillets decreased by approximately 1.1~1.8 log₁₀ CFU/g. Furthermore, TSW001 demonstrated the ability to inhibit the formation of A. salmonicida biofilms. These results suggest that phage TSW001 is a promising biological antimicrobial agent for controlling A. salmonicida during the cold storage of seafood. Full article