Search Results (392)

Background: Previously identified asthma-susceptibility genes account for a small part of asthma heritability and their role in asthma pathogenesis is unclear. We explored associations between genetic variants in the 17q21 locus, CDHR3 (cadherin-related family member 3), coding a receptor for Rhinovirus-C, preschool wheeze and asthma at 7 years. Methods: Four genetic variants in the 17q21 locus (rs8076131, rs12603332, rs8079416, rs3859192) and rs6967330 in CDHR3 were studied regarding associations with preschool wheeze and asthma at 7 years. We compared 125 cases, enrolled during an acute wheezing episode, with 96 healthy controls at preschool age (6–45 months). A total of 99 of 125 children attended the follow-up at 7 years old. Cases with asthma (N = 68) and without asthma (N = 31) at 7 years old were compared regarding genetic variants and other clinical parameters. Results: Rs8076131 (AA vs. GG) was associated with preschool wheeze (OR 3.50, p = 0.001), and asthma at 7 years (OR 8.55, p = 0.002). Rs12603332 (CC vs. TT) was related to asthma at 7 years irrespective of rhinovirus infection at inclusion or current signs of airborne allergy (aOR 7.17, p = 0.016). The association of rs6967330 with asthma was restricted to children with specific genotypes in the 17q21 locus; rs8076131-AA (p = 0.028), rs8079416-CC (p = 0.006), and rs3859192-TT (p = 0.042). Rhinovirus infection at inclusion was significantly related to asthma exclusively in homozygotes rs8079416-CC (p = 0.032) and rs3859192-TT (p = 0.027). Conclusions: Our results highlight the impact of asthma heritability by reporting strong associations between the 17q21 locus and asthma in a high-risk cohort. The association of rs6967330 in CDHR3 and early-life rhinovirus infection with asthma at school age might be dependent on specific genotypes in the 17q21 locus. Full article

Airborne bacteria exhibit high taxonomic diversity and a well-documented capacity to influence human health through pathogenic infection, allergenic sensitization, and immunomodulatory or commensal exposure. However, characterization of the airborne bacterial community structure, and particularly the seasonal dynamics, size-resolved distribution, and functional potential of predicted potential pathogens in Qingdao, a coastal megacity on the Yellow Sea, remains limited. Results revealed pronounced seasonal variation in community structure: Staphylococcus, Lactobacillus, Escherichia–Shigella, and Klebsiella were consistently dominant across all samples. LEfSe analysis identified Staphylococcus as significantly enriched in autumn, supporting its utility as a robust seasonal biomarker (LDA > 3.5, p < 0.05). This genus is predominantly associated with human sources and comprises opportunistic pathogens, thereby posing a potential risk to human health. Significant compositional divergence between summer and autumn communities was observed as a higher beta deviation index, whereas there were no statistically significant differences between particle size groups. The Chao and Shannon indices were consistently higher in PM₁₀ than in PM_2.5 across all seasons; however, this size-associated difference reached statistical significance only for autumn PM₁₀ (p < 0.05), indicating a seasonally amplified effect of coarse particulate matter on microbial richness and evenness. These analyses provide new insight into the total airborne bacterial and potential pathogens in an urban coastal environment. Full article

Providing a healthy environment in schools, particularly during a global pandemic, is crucial to saving occupants’ lives and reducing infection rates. This paper proposes a novel desk local exhaust ventilation (DLEV) system that uses a local exhaust diffuser integrated into a classroom desk. The performance of the system in providing a healthy and comfortable indoor thermal environment and reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection was assessed numerically. The assessment combined indoor thermal comfort indices and the bioaerosol dispersion behavior of airborne particles. The study was completed in a typical classroom layout, in which the results show that the DLEV system meets thermal comfort requirements by maintaining the gradients of vertical temperature within an acceptable range. The DLEV system increases the air motion in the breathing zone while keeping it within the recommended range of <0.25 m/s. The PMV and PPD indices are within recommended comfort levels for all but three occupants. Most notably, the DLEV system substantially reduces the concentration of bioaerosols, especially around the occupants’ head. This system works by capturing and removing the virus-rich aerosols exhaled by infected subjects before they disperse in the classroom. This lowers the risk of infection among healthy subjects. These findings confirm the effectiveness of the DLEV system in enhancing both thermal comfort and indoor air quality, making it suitable for environments where specific goals regarding occupants’ health and thermal management are required, such as in a classroom of healthy and infected subjects. Full article

Background: Nosocomial infections, or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), represent a significant global health challenge frequently associated with invasive medical procedures and extended hospitalizations. This study was designed to evaluate the current level of knowledge and the perceptions of inpatients regarding HAIs within a high-risk tertiary hospital in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2024 to February 2025 at a tertiary facility in the Qassim region. The study population included 500 inpatients aged 18 years and older who consented to participate. Data were collected via individual interviews using a closed-ended questionnaire, which assessed demographics, knowledge and perceptions of HAIs on a 4-point Likert scale. Results: Among 500 study participants, good knowledge, fair knowledge and poor knowledge regarding HAIs were demonstrated by 57%, 38.4% and 4.6%, respectively. More than 98% of participants achieved a perception score of above 70%, indicating a profoundly positive perception level. Knowledge was significantly associated with age (p = 0.018), educational status (p < 0.01), and nationality (p < 0.01). Participants most commonly recognized contaminated hospital beds (95.6%), airborne transmission (91.2%), and unsterilized equipment (90%) as the potential modes of infection transmission. Conclusions: Sustaining ongoing infection prevention efforts and fostering improved awareness among inpatients regarding HAIs are of paramount importance in implementing effective public health prevention measures. Full article

Airborne microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly reported in indoor, outdoor, and occupational air, but their aerobiological significance remains incompletely defined. This narrative review proposes the aeroplastic exposome as a cautious, testable framework for evaluating airborne MNPs as interfaces among aerosol transport, biological and chemical loading, aeroallergen co-exposure, inhalation, respiratory deposition, clearance, and airway immune response. Evidence from environmental monitoring, indoor and occupational exposure studies, and human respiratory-sample and lung-tissue detection studies supports the occurrence of airborne MNPs, the plausibility of inhalation exposure, reported detection in human respiratory samples, and experimental hazard under selected conditions. However, evidence that airborne plastic particles routinely carry bioaerosols or aeroallergens remains insufficient or model-dependent. The aeroplastic exposome is therefore not proposed as a disease entity, validated exposure metric, or established explanation for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrosis, infection, or cancer. Instead, it is a framework for organizing testable questions about polymer identity, aerodynamic fraction, morphology, aging state, biological loading, co-exposure context, deposition, clearance, epithelial–immune responses, and host susceptibility. Priority research needs to include standardized airborne sampling, same-particle polymer–bioaerosol–allergen characterization, exposure-relevant aerosol systems, factorial co-exposure experiments, and prospective human studies with repeated personal exposure assessment. Full article

Airborne transmission represents a primary route of influenza virus dissemination. In animal infection models, conventional intranasal instillation fails to recapitulate the physiological features of natural respiratory infection. Existing aerosol-based challenge methods—including whole-body inhalation and oronasal exposure—face limitations in precise quantification of the delivered infectious dose. Moreover, oronasal exposure systems require specialized, high-cost instrumentation. This study established an economical and dosing-controlled aerosol challenge method utilizing a lung fluid quantitative nebulizer, which can deliver aerosolized virus directly to the lower respiratory tract via endotracheal intubation. The count median aerodynamic diameter (CMAD) of aerosols generated by the nebulizer was 2.28 μm. We compared pulmonary deposition efficiency and pathogenicity between lung-delivery aerosol inhalation and conventional intranasal instillation of PR8 influenza virus in mice. The pulmonary deposition rate for the aerosol inhalation was 63.1%, with an LD₅₀ of 31.1 EID₅₀; in contrast, intranasal instillation achieved a pulmonary deposition rate of 20.0% and an LD₅₀ of 115.0 EID₅₀. Histopathological analysis revealed significantly more severe lesions in lungs of mice challenged via lung-delivery aerosol inhalation relative to those receiving intranasal instillation. Furthermore, using a guinea pig model and a recombinant PR8 virus expressing Gaussia luciferase (PR8-Gluc), we demonstrated that pulmonary aerosol inhalation resulted in both more homogeneous spatial distribution and higher viral loads across lung tissues. Our results demonstrate that animals are more sensitive to lung-delivery inhaled virus than virus delivered by intranasal instillation. This study provides an optimized, economical, and technically straightforward aerosol challenge method with controlled administered dosing for viral infection models. Full article

Indoor-air research has largely examined infection, microbial ecology, immune effects and antimicrobial resistance separately, leaving the pathway from indoor biological sources to chronic respiratory outcomes insufficiently integrated. This narrative review synthesises evidence on indoor airborne pathogens and non-viable microbial components as health-relevant biological exposures beyond acute infection. Literature published between 2000 and February 2026 was reviewed from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, supplemented by guidance from WHO, ECDC, US EPA and ASHRAE. Viable microorganisms and non-viable components, including endotoxin, β-(1→3)-glucans, microbial DNA and extracellular vesicles, engage epithelial pattern-recognition pathways and promote inflammatory signalling. Findings included 6.5% higher TNF-α and 5% higher IL-8 per log-unit increase in fungal-spore exposure among sawmill workers; uncontrolled asthma in 45% of moisture- or mould-exposed versus 33% of non-exposed children; airborne resistance-gene and mobile-element loads of 0.55–479.44 copies/m³ in hospital departments; and a 32.8% reduction in viral diversity, but no significant reduction in high viral exposure, following classroom HEPA filtration. These findings support biological plausibility but reveal a fragmented evidence base dominated by observational studies, heterogeneous sampling and limited longitudinal exposure–response data. Indoor bioaerosols should be considered continuous exposures within the exposome, requiring research and regulation across microbiology, environmental engineering, medicine and public health. Full article

Climatic changes are heavily affecting the sustainability of vegetable crops crucial for food supply worldwide, mainly in subtropical countries. One of the main threats to food security is the spread of diseases caused by plant viruses, favored by irregular rains and extreme temperatures, which reduce crop yield and quality. During a preliminary field survey carried out in two provinces of Angola in 2024, a few symptomatic plants of tomato, habanero pepper, common bean and a wild weed were sampled. These plants generally showed dwarfing, yellowing and leaf curl and were submitted to high-throughput sequencing to detect any viral agent. The evidence of mixed infections of several polyphagous viruses with RNA or DNA genomes, variously affecting the selected plants, was assessed from the sequence analysis and further confirmed for most samples by molecular tests, like (RT)-PCR or qPCR. Emerging polero-, begomo and tobamoviruses were denoted as infecting these plants. A novel, previously unknown carlavirus was also described in a wild weed. Most of those viruses are efficiently mechanically transmitted or airborne vehiculated by insect vectors. Although based on a limited number of samples, this study provides a first insight into the diversity of viruses infecting vegetable crops in Angola. It also highlights the pressing need for a broader monitoring to better understand virus distribution and epidemiology, and suggests the use of virus-free seeds to reduce the potential risk to crop production. Full article

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), traditionally recognized as a mosquito-borne alphavirus that causes febrile illness and debilitating arthralgia, has increasingly been associated with atypical organ involvement, including respiratory manifestations. These observations raise important questions regarding whether respiratory symptoms reflect severe systemic disease or signal previously underappreciated respiratory exposure routes. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on respiratory complications of CHIKV infection and to evaluate the plausibility of respiratory or aerosol-associated transmission. A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE (Ovid) identified five eligible studies spanning clinical virology, outbreak surveillance, epidemiology, and experimental aerosol models. Across human studies conducted in India, Réunion Island, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, respiratory presentations—including pneumonia, dyspnea, and respiratory failure—were uncommon but consistently associated with increased hospitalization and mortality risk. Respiratory symptoms generally arose in the context of respiratory viral coinfections, systemic inflammation, or cardiopulmonary decompensation rather than primary viral tropism for the respiratory tract. Only one non-human primate study directly evaluated aerosol exposure, demonstrating that cynomolgus macaques could be infected via inhaled CHIKV, confirming biological plausibility but showing no evidence of enhanced respiratory pathology. Importantly, no epidemiologic data support human-to-human airborne or droplet transmission. Collectively, available evidence indicates that respiratory involvement serves as a marker of disease severity rather than a transmission route. Nonetheless, rare aerosol-acquisition events in laboratory settings underscore the need for continued vigilance, strengthened surveillance, and re-evaluation of respiratory risks as climate change and viral evolution expand CHIKV’s global footprint. Full article

Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) has become a central amplification strategy for decentralized molecular diagnostics because it operates rapidly at mild temperatures and requires far less thermal control than PCR. Its analytical value increases substantially when paired with microfluidic and paper-based platforms, where sample handling, reagent delivery, amplification, and signal readout can be organized within compact, low-power, and field-compatible formats. This review examines recent progress in microfluidic and paper-based RPA systems across biomedical diagnostics, food safety testing, environmental monitoring, and One Health biosurveillance. Particular attention is given to integrated device architectures, including centrifugal chips, capillary-driven platforms, microfluidic paper-based analysis devices (μPADs), electrochemical biosensors, CRISPR-assisted assays, digital microfluidic systems, and sample-to-answer cartridges. Biomedical applications now span respiratory viruses, reproductive and emerging infections, bacterial and parasitic diseases, pharmacogenomic markers, and cancer-related biomarkers. RPA-enabled platforms are moving steadily into food safety and environmental surveillance, covering pathogen detection, seafood and dairy monitoring, agricultural disease control, antimicrobial-resistance tracking, and airborne pathogen screening. At the same time, the field is shifting toward more intelligent diagnostic formats. Smartphone imaging, artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted interpretation, digital partitioning, cloud connectivity, and automated quality control are increasingly being built into rapid testing workflows, giving these systems greater portability, consistency, and decision-making value. Despite this progress, practical deployment still depends on robust sample preparation, multiplex stability, quantitative reliability, reagent storage, scalable fabrication, and regulatory validation. Continued convergence of RPA chemistry with microfluidics, paper devices, CRISPR recognition, electrochemical readout, and data-assisted interpretation is expected to support more robust and accessible molecular diagnostic workflows. Full article

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major global health issue, characterized by persistent airflow limitation, chronic inflammation, and progressive tissue remodeling. Its clinical and molecular heterogeneity, combined with the lack of resolutive therapies, underscores the urgent need for advanced experimental tools to improve understanding and therapeutic development. Traditional 2D cell culture systems, though historically useful, fail to replicate the complexity of the human lung. In this review, we analyze the remarkable relevance of advanced 3D models for studying COPD pathophysiology, including epithelial injury and regeneration, extracellular matrix remodeling, and interactions with environmental triggers such as cigarette smoke and airborne pollutants. Three-dimensional in vitro models, such as ALI cultures, lung organoids, and lung-on-a-chip platforms, PCLS, and lung ECM-derived hydrogels offer more physiologically relevant environments to investigate epithelial dysfunction, immune responses, and host-pathogen interactions. We discuss the contribution of viral and bacterial infections to COPD exacerbations, and explore how 3D models have become essential tools for modeling these events. We also highlight recent advances in personalized medicine that use patient-derived organoids and ALI cultures for drug screening and biomarker discovery. Furthermore, we examine the therapeutic potential of probiotics and extracellular vesicle-associated microRNAs to modulate inflammation and epithelial repair. Collectively, these innovative systems represent powerful platforms to promote precision medicine in COPD. Full article

Background: Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents are highly susceptible to healthcare-associated infections, and prevention is challenging given frailty, dementia, communal living, and resource constraints. Environmental surface and air contamination contribute to transmission. Novel no-touch automated disinfection technologies have been studied in hospitals, but evidence specific to LTCFs is scarce. This scoping review summarizes recent LTCF-focused interventions, their effectiveness, and implementation considerations. Methods: This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus for observational or experimental studies evaluating environmental disinfection in LTCFs/nursing homes, excluding body decolonization, non-LTCF settings, and reviews/protocols. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data via Covidence. This review has been registered on OSF (Open Science Framework). Results: Of 1491 records, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria (6 from the USA, 1 from Australia): one cluster randomized trial, one interrupted time series studies, three prospective observational studies, and two pre–post designs. Interventions included physical methods (HVAC-integrated UV/UVGI, continuous UVGI) and chemical approaches (dry hydrogen peroxide, room fogging plus chlorine dioxide wipes, hydrogen peroxide wipes). Outcomes were heterogeneous (surface SARS-CoV-2 RNA, COVID-19 attack/case rates, airborne/surface microbial loads, and one clinical endpoint—acute respiratory illness). Several studies reported reductions in environmental or airborne bioburden; however, UV-based studies did not demonstrate statistically significant reductions in clinical infections. Certainty was limited by small numbers, non-randomized designs, and diverse outcome measures. Conclusions: No-touch automated disinfection methods appear promising as supplements to standard infection prevention control bundles for reducing environmental contamination in LTCFs. Nevertheless, consistent clinical benefits are unproven. Rigorous, LTCF-tailored, adequately powered trials with standardized clinical and environmental outcomes, plus implementation and cost-effectiveness evaluations, are needed. Full article

Upper respiratory tract infections and inflammatory nasal disorders are highly prevalent in childhood and represent a major cause of morbidity and healthcare utilization. Humans are continuously exposed to airborne microorganisms, allergens, and pollutants. Although the nasal mucosa provides effective mechanical and immunological defenses, these mechanisms may be impaired by inflammation, environmental pollutants, and mucociliary dysfunction, increasing susceptibility to infection and airway inflammation. Nasal irrigation (NI) contributes to the restoration of nasal homeostasis by mechanically removing mucus, pathogens, allergens, and inflammatory mediators, while also improving mucociliary clearance (MC), mucus rheology, and epithelial barrier function. Hypertonic solutions (HS) may provide additional osmotic and decongestant effects. Current evidence suggests that NI is a safe and well-tolerated adjunctive intervention that may improve symptoms and support mucosal function in acute and chronic upper airway diseases. This narrative review provides an updated overview of NI, with particular focus on pediatric populations. This paper integrates the pathophysiological mechanisms of mucociliary dysfunction, environmental exposures, and pediatric-specific anatomical and functional characteristics into a unified framework to understand the role of NI in childhood respiratory diseases. Clinical indications, administration techniques, solution selection, safety aspects, and age-specific practical considerations are discussed, highlighting the importance of appropriate technique, caregiver education, and adherence to basic hygiene principles. Full article

Mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract provides the first line of defense against airborne pathogens, yet most current vaccines fail to induce strong and durable immune responses at these sites. Respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses, and coronaviruses, remain major global health threats, in part due to their ability to evade long-term mucosal protection. Although systemic vaccination generates robust circulating immunity, it induces limited local responses, particularly secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA), which is critical for preventing viral entry and transmission at the airway surface. The mechanisms regulating B cell responses within the airway mucosa are not fully understood. B cell–activating factor (BAFF), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily, has emerged as an important context-dependent regulator of mucosal B cell immunity. BAFF is produced by airway epithelial cells and multiple myeloid populations, including dendritic cells and neutrophils, and is rapidly induced during respiratory viral infection through type I interferon–dependent pathways. Functionally, BAFF supports B cell survival, differentiation, and class-switch recombination, promoting the generation of antibody-secreting plasma cells and enhancing IgA production. In the lung, these effects align with early, intermediate, and late stages of the response, supporting initial local antibody production, the formation of inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT), and the development of tissue-resident memory B cells that sustain long-term immunity. Although BAFF plays an essential role in mucosal immunity, its activity requires tight regulation to maintain immune balance. Current evidence supports BAFF as a promising immunomodulatory component and highlights its potential as an adjuvant platform for enhancing mucosal vaccine efficacy, warranting further investigation as a potential adjuvant in this context. Full article