Search Results (1,578)

The widespread occurrence of pharmaceutical contaminants, especially ciprofloxacin (CIP), in aquatic environments has created an urgent need for efficient and environmentally friendly water treatment strategies. In the present study, a green manganese oxide palm leaf biochar (MnO₂/PL biochar) nanocomposite was synthesized by depositing MnO₂ nanoparticles onto palm leaf-derived biochar utilizing Acacia nilotica pod extract as an eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agent. Structural and surface characterization using SEM, EDX, FTIR, XRD, and BET verified the successful synthesis of the composite and revealed a substantial enhancement in its textural properties, leading to an approximately 42-fold increase in specific surface area, from 1.7 to 71 m²/g. The MnO₂/PL biochar exhibited excellent CIP adsorption performance, achieving 95% removal efficiency. The Langmuir model provided the best fit to the equilibrium data, indicating monolayer adsorption behavior, with a maximum adsorption capacity (Q_max) of 24 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics were most accurately described by the pseudo-second-order model (R² = 0.999), indicating that CIP uptake was governed by interactions with available active sites on the composite surface. The enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic effects of the porous biochar structure and MnO₂ nanoparticles, which promoted multiple adsorption interactions. Furthermore, the regeneration study demonstrated that the MnO₂/PL biochar retained 81% of its initial CIP removal efficiency after four adsorption–desorption cycles, indicating good reusability and potential for repeated application. The MnO₂/PL biochar composite shows strong potential as a sustainable adsorbent for antibiotic removal from wastewater. Full article

Background: Monitoring antibiotic consumption represents an important objective for antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals. The aim of this study was to analyze antibiotic consumption patterns in three Romanian hospitals. Methods: A five-year retrospective study was conducted using monthly pharmacy consumption data from three Romanian hospitals for the years 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Antibiotic consumption was quantified using defined daily doses (DDD) per 100 bed-days. Antibiotics were grouped using the World Health Organization AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification. Results: The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in overall antibiotic consumption among the three hospitals (p < 0.001). A significant annual correlation between hospitalization days and antibiotic consumption was observed for some years in two of the facilities. Post hoc analysis confirmed statistically significant differences across all AWaRe category pairwise comparisons. Watch antibiotics had the highest consumption rates (over 60%). By therapeutic classes, the highest overall consumption was for cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, penicillins, and carbapenems. Cefuroxime accounted for the highest cumulative consumption, followed by ceftriaxone, meropenem, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole. Conclusions: Antibiotic consumption differed among the participating hospitals and study years. Monitoring antibiotic consumption provides valuable information on hospital antibiotic utilization patterns and can support evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals. Full article

Efficient and reusable photo-Fenton catalysts require the rational integration of photocatalytic platforms, effective H₂O₂ activation sites, and practical immobilization strategies. Herein, nitrogen-vacancy-rich tubular g-C₃N₄ (HCNT) was prepared as the photocatalytic platform. Iron (II) phthalocyanine (FePc) was then loaded onto HCNT to form the FePc/HCNT composite for antibiotic degradation. The FePc/HCNT composite was further immobilized in a poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane, denoted as FePc/HCNT-PVDF, to facilitate catalyst recovery and reuse. Benefiting from the micrometer-scale tubular morphology, the FePc/HCNT remained exposed on the membrane surface, preserving accessible catalytic interfaces and reducing encapsulation within the polymer matrix. The tubular architecture facilitated reactant transport, while surface nitrogen vacancies enhanced photogenerated-carrier separation and utilization. Component-dependent experiments revealed that FePc served as the primary center for H₂O₂ activation, whereas HCNT functioned as a defect-engineered tubular photocatalytic platform that promoted photogenerated-carrier separation and reactive oxygen species formation. The optimized FePc/HCNT achieved 94% oxytetracycline degradation within 60 min, with an apparent rate constant of 0.04462 min⁻¹, approximately 11 times higher than bulk g-C₃N₄, and exhibited broad-spectrum degradation capability toward various organic pollutants, including rhodamine B, tetracycline, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin. The FePc/HCNT-PVDF membrane removed 90% of oxytetracycline within 60 min and maintained stable performance over ten cycles. This work provides insights into the integrated roles of nitrogen vacancy regulation, FePc-mediated H₂O₂ activation, and morphology-assisted membrane immobilization in the development of reusable g-C₃N₄-based photo-Fenton catalysts. Full article

As a class of low-cost and broad-spectrum antibiotics in wide aquaculture use, residues of tetracyclines (TCs) are imperiling aquatic organisms and public health worldwide, leading to a high demand for TC removal from the aquaculture environment. In addition, considerable consumption of thick-shell mussels generates massive mussel shell waste, and their treatment has been an economic and environmental issue. Herein, a low-cost and high-efficiency mussel shells-based material was successfully prepared for TC removal by thermal modification of shell waste of Mytilus coruscus. Morphological and structural characterizations revealed the phase transformation of calcium carbonate to calcium oxide. The shell-based material calcined at 1050 °C (MC1050) yielded a Langmuir-fitted maximum removal capacity (q_m) of 68.0 mg/g towards oxytetracycline (OTC). Thermodynamic calculations indicate that OTC removal by MC1050 is a spontaneous and endothermic process. OTC removal by MC1050 is likely achieved via multiple co-existing pathways, where Ca-OTC co-precipitation driven by CaO-phase hydration and resultant high-pH conditions dominates, accompanied by auxiliary surface-interaction contributions. Furthermore, MC1050 achieves removal efficiencies exceeding 96% for the ten target TCs spiked at 20 μg/L in real-world freshwater and marine aquaculture effluent matrices. Overall, the developed shell-based material shows promising performance for wastewater treatment and facilitates the resource utilization of waste mussel shells. Full article

Background: Chronic cough is a major determinant of impaired quality of life and recurrent exacerbations in bronchiectasis. The BEAT-COUGH Study evaluated the effectiveness of adjunctive oral erdosteine plus nebulized amikacin during acute exacerbation and long-term maintenance in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Methods: The BEAT-COUGH Study was a prospective, two-center observational study (VCC:37/2023) with a 52-week follow-up. A total of 164 adults with HRCT-confirmed bronchiectasis, a Modified Reiff Score > 10, acute exacerbation, and positive sputum microbiology were enrolled. Eighty-two patients received standard care alone, and 82 received standard care plus oral erdosteine and nebulized amikacin (250 mg twice daily during exacerbation, followed by once daily during maintenance). A total of 144 patients completed maintenance follow-up. Cough severity was assessed using a 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with VAS < 20 mm defining a satisfactory response. Secondary outcomes included exacerbation frequency, duration, time to first exacerbation, exacerbation-free days, sputum rheology, microbiology, hospitalization, antibiotic use, and healthcare costs. Results: Adjunctive therapy produced significantly higher satisfactory cough responses during both acute exacerbation and maintenance (both p < 0.001). Combination therapy reduced the duration of mild, moderate, and severe exacerbations by 39.97%, 37.30%, and 30.26%, respectively (all p < 0.0001); prolonged time to first exacerbation and exacerbation-free days (all p < 0.0001); and reduced moderate and severe exacerbations while increasing the proportion of exacerbation-free patients (p = 0.00019). Significant improvements were observed in sputum viscosity and clearance (90.3% vs. 19.4%), sputum volume (94.4% vs. 13.9%), and sputum color (91.7% vs. 13.9%) (all p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Adjunctive erdosteine plus nebulized amikacin significantly improved cough control, sputum rheology, exacerbation outcomes, and healthcare utilization, supporting its role as an effective adjunctive strategy for exacerbation-prone non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Full article

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has renewed interest in bacteriocins and other antimicrobial peptides as promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. In this context, in vitro cell-free protein synthesis (IV-CFPS) provides a rapid and versatile platform for the production and functional evaluation of bacteriocins, enabling antimicrobial screening without the limitations associated with cellular expression, low production yields, or peptide toxicity. In previous studies, we demonstrated the utility of IV-CFPS for the production and characterization of a broad range of bacteriocins. More recently, integration of IV-CFPS with split intein-mediated ligation (SIML) enabled the production and functional evaluation of circular bacteriocins, thereby expanding the repertoire of bacteriocins accessible to cell-free synthesis and screening. Here, we further expand the capabilities of the IV-CFPS/SIML platform through three complementary bacteriocin engineering strategies. First, SIML was applied to the backbone circularization of naturally linear bacteriocins, demonstrating that SIML-mediated circularization can be extended beyond naturally circular bacteriocins. Second, the platform enabled the modular assembly of chimeric bacteriocins through the ligation of the translocation/receptor-binding (T-R) and cytotoxic (C) domains of either the same or different colicins. Finally, we developed a proof-of-concept inducible protein trans-splicing system in which bacteriocin circularization is triggered by the addition of a complementary split intein component, thereby providing temporal control over peptide activation. These results establish IV-CFPS/SIML as a versatile platform for programmable bacteriocin engineering and substantially expand its applications beyond the production of naturally circular bacteriocins. Full article

Enterococcus lactis KUST2812 is a halotolerant strain isolated from broad bean paste (BBP). It shows strong potential as a safe fermentation starter due to its high survival rate (98.32% in 18% NaCl), absence of hemolytic activity, and susceptibility to clinically relevant antibiotics, with resistance limited to intrinsic traits. Growth and metabolic dynamics suggest that salt stress decouples growth from tyrosine catabolism: while 6% NaCl significantly inhibited bacterial cell growth, tyrosine depletion occurred within 12 h under 6% NaCl, compared with the 96 h required under non-saline conditions. Multi-omics analyses suggest a molecular network associated with this tyrosine conversion under salt stress. Two tyrosine decarboxylase genes (tdc) were upregulated by 1.85- and 6.50-fold, respectively. The tyrosine-specific transporter gene tyrP was upregulated 4.99-fold, and the protein synthesis-associated gene tyrS was upregulated 4.93-fold. These changes collectively support a diversified tyrosine utilization strategy of E. lactis KUST2812. Moreover, coordinated responses involving the Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter system, compatible solute transporters, and oxidative stress markers contributed to the metabolic basis for salt adaptation of this strain. Evaluation in BBP fermentation suggested that E. lactis KUST2812 may reduce tyrosine accumulation without causing a significant increase in tyramine. These findings offer a potential microbial resource and a theoretical basis for managing tyrosine-related quality issues in fermented foods. Full article

Uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI) management is increasingly challenging due to antibiotic treatment failure (TF). This retrospective, observational cohort study used Optum’s de-identified Electronic Health Record dataset (January 2017–September 2022) to investigate the impact of antibiotic TF (defined as a second oral antibiotic prescription, administration of an intravenous antibiotic, or an emergency department visit/hospitalization with a new primary diagnosis of urinary tract infection <28 days post index) on clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among women with uUTI. Eligible patients were female, aged ≥12 years, with an outpatient diagnosis of uUTI and one or more empirically prescribed oral antibiotics within ±5 days of diagnosis (index). Adjusted risk ratios (aRR) of adverse clinical outcomes were assessed ≤12 months post index (observation period), and rate ratios of all-cause and UTI-related HCRU during the index episode and observation period were observed. Of 376,004 patients, 62,873 (16.7%) experienced TF, while 313,131 (83.3%) did not. Patients with TF had significantly higher risk (aRR [95% CI]) of recurrent UTI (1.23 [1.21, 1.25]) and acute pyelonephritis (1.77 [1.70, 1.84]) (both p < 0.001) versus those without. Patients with TF had significantly greater all-cause and UTI-related HCRU versus patients without. Overall, patients with TF had significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes and greater HCRU than patients without TF. Full article

The treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients who inject drugs (PWID) is complex and challenging. These patients face stigma in the healthcare system, as well as higher mortality, longer length of hospital stay, higher rates of recurrent infections, and lower likelihood of antibiotic completion. Standard treatment for IE involves several weeks of antibiotics. For PWID, these prolonged courses often mean intravenous antibiotics administered in the inpatient setting for at least 4 to 6 weeks, which increases both healthcare costs and the risk of patient-directed discharge against medical advice. Effective treatment of IE in PWID involves a combination of addiction management and appropriate antibiotic therapy. To promote rational use of healthcare resources and optimize antibiotic stewardship, novel approaches to antibiotic therapy must be utilized. This review discusses evidence supporting treatment strategies outside of the inpatient hospital setting, including outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT), long-acting lipoglycopeptides, and oral antibiotic therapy for the treatment of endocarditis. Optimal treatment of IE in PWID involves support from a multidisciplinary healthcare team, management of substance use disorder, and effective antibiotic therapy. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus is an ESKAPE pathogen, defined by its ability to evade antibacterial treatment, and together with S. epidermidis is a leading Gram-positive cause of wound infection. The emergence of methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant strains further limits conventional antibiotic treatment. The staphylococcal endolysin LysSte134_1 was produced recombinantly, its proper folding confirmed by zymography, and its lytic activity demonstrated against planktonic cultures of both S. aureus and S. epidermidis. The combination of LysSte134_1 with 10% 1,3-propanediol and Zn²⁺ increased CFU reduction in both species relative to LysSte134_1 with Zn²⁺ alone. In a murine wound model, topical application of LysSte134_1 significantly reduced the bacterial burden in wound tissue, achieving a 2–3-log reduction in MRSA and below the detection limit for S. epidermidis. Treatment was accompanied by normalization of peripheral leukocyte counts and a shift in the serum cytokine profile from a sustained pro-inflammatory state with elevated IL-6, IL-17 and IL-10 toward levels comparable to non-infected controls. These results suggest the potential utility of LysSte134_1 as a component of topical antibacterial formulations and support further investigation in models of staphylococcal wound infection. Full article

Early-life antibiotic exposure is a critical environmental trigger for developmental metabolic disorders and long-term obesity risk. Lactational enrofloxacin exposure exerts potential metabolic programming toxicity, but its long-term effects and underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. This study aimed to investigate the persistent influences of lactational enrofloxacin exposure on postnatal growth, lipid metabolism and adipogenesis in mouse offspring and explore the potential gut microbiota-associated regulatory mechanism. A combined in vivo and in vitro approach was utilized. In vivo mouse models with lactational enrofloxacin exposure were established to assess growth phenotypes, serum lipid profiles, adipose morphology, and gut microbial composition via high-throughput sequencing. Antibiotic cocktail treatment was performed to deplete gut microbiota. In vitro 3T3-L1 cell models and pharmacological inhibition assays were used to investigate the downstream signaling pathway. Lactational enrofloxacin exposure was associated with disrupted postnatal growth, persistent weight gain, fat accumulation and progressive dyslipidemia in offspring. Adipose expansion was mainly attributed to adipocyte hyperplasia. It triggered sustained gut dysbiosis, increased Gram-negative Proteobacteria, and elevated circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels (systemic endotoxemia). Microbiota depletion largely reversed these metabolic abnormalities. In vitro, LPS facilitated preadipocyte differentiation and lipid deposition, consistent with activation of a PPARγ-dependent mechanism (putatively via TLR4). Our findings suggest that lactational enrofloxacin exposure is associated with persistent fat accumulation and lipid metabolism disorders in offspring and support a key role for the gut microbiota–LPS–PPARγ signaling pathway, with TLR4 as the putative upstream receptor, in this process. These findings provide insights into the developmental metabolic toxicity of early-life fluoroquinolone exposure and offer a theoretical basis for preventing early-onset metabolic diseases. Full article

Pharmaceutical-contaminated wastewater from medical facilities and households can cause ecological damage. In this study, 100% natural fruit peels, namely lime (LP), orange (OP), kiwi (KP), fig (FP), and pomegranate (PP) peels, were investigated as low-cost adsorbents for the removal of diclofenac (DCF), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and amoxicillin (AMX), an antibiotic, from aqueous solution. The goal of this study was to use food waste as a source for wastewater treatment. According to the results, natural fruit peels were effective for DCF removal (C₀ = 100 mg/L), with KP achieving a high removal efficiency (98.9%, 345.18 mg/g) at pH 3.0). The most promising materials (OP, KP, and FP) were further modified using MgO suspension followed by alkaline treatment with NaOH (OP-Mg, KP-Mg, and FP-Mg), resulting in enhanced performance for AMX removal (65.1%, 286.61 mg/g at pH 3.0, C₀ = 50 mg/L). The maximum short-term uptake capacity was reached within 15 min, and kinetic and isotherm models were applied to describe the adsorption data. The Langmuir expression gave the better description of the concentration dependence for both pharmaceuticals, at equilibrium for DCF and at a fixed contact time of 15 min for AMX. SEM, FTIR and XRD characterization techniques provided information on the adsorption mechanisms, as well as confirming the successful modification with Μg. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that natural fruit peels were effective in the removal of pharmaceuticals and at the same time offer potential cost and environmental advantages through waste valorization and relatively simple preparation, supporting the principles of the circular economy, through the utilization of food waste as sustainable materials for water treatment. Full article

Due to limitations in the use of antibiotics as feed additives to promote growth, the development of safe, effective, and environmentally friendly antibiotic alternatives is a critical and urgent research priority in animal nutrition and veterinary medicine. Plants contain abundant active substances, which are important sources for developing new feed additives or discovering new active substances. Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (A. adenophora) is an herb native to Central America and a globally invasive species that has spread across Asia, Australia, Africa, and other continents. Studies indicated that it possesses a complex chemical composition, with over 100 constituents identified, including terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which exhibit diverse biological activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, insecticidal, acaricidal, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antitumor, and gut health regulation effects. However, it also possesses distinct toxicity, primarily targeting organs such as the intestines, liver, and spleen, causing tissue damage by activating specific signaling pathways. This may limit its utilization as a feed additive or in medical drug development. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the botanical characteristics, geographic distribution, phytochemical composition, biological activities, and toxicological effects of A. adenophora. We also discussed its potential application and current challenges. We hope this review can promote its development and utilization as potential feed additives or medicinal resources. Full article

Organic waste causes severe pollution, while agriculture lacks quality fertilizers. Solid-state fermentation solves both issues. Nevertheless, traditional methods are slow and lead to nitrogen loss. They also emit greenhouse gases and yield uneven products. This fails to reach modern low-carbon standards. We urgently need efficient solid-state fermentation systems. Therefore, this review summarizes recent advances in parameter optimization and cutting-edge innovations. Firstly, key solid-state fermentation operational parameters, such as carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, aeration frequency, temperature, humidity and pH, are analyzed. The optimization of these parameters facilitates nitrogen retention and mitigates pollutant emissions. Secondly, emerging enhancement strategies are discussed. Elaboration on the electron-shuttle effect of modified biochar and advances in synthetic microbial consortia is provided. For process coupling, the mechanisms of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) combined with solid-state fermentation are explored. Bioelectrochemically assisted solid-state fermentation (MCFT/BFC) based on Direct Inter-Species Electron Transfer (DIET) is also examined. Furthermore, feasible mitigation approaches for pollutants including greenhouse gases and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are summarized. Subsequently, the applications of mathematical models, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence in solid-state fermentation are introduced. Finally, current challenges in large-scale application and risk management are analyzed. Future prospects involving multi-omics, life cycle assessment (LCA), and functional customization are discussed. Low-carbon solutions for high-value waste utilization are provided in this review. Full article

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) remains the principal driver of urinary tract infections (UTIs), utilizing sophisticated immunoevasive strategies that consistently outmaneuver host defenses and conventional clinical management. This review synthesizes current evidence highlighting the development of recurrent UTIs (rUTIs). Particular emphasis is given to the transition of UPEC into intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) and quiescent intracellular reservoirs (QIRs)—survival phenomena primarily characterized across specialized mammalian and cellular models. By highlighting the translational evidence gaps surrounding these intracellular sanctuaries, and the challenge of directly extrapolating these model-derived dynamics to human recurrent UTIs (rUTIs), alongside the role of extra-urinary niches, we provide a comprehensive view of the mechanisms driving recurrence. A critical assessment of the UPEC virulence arsenal, involving molecular mechanisms that regulate fimbrial phase variation resulting in evading host immune surveillance, to specialized adhesins, like FimH, which tightly bind uroplakin receptors, triggering host actin rearrangements via rho-GTPase signaling and facilitating bacterial internalization, is also addressed. Additionally, we integrate the roles of cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 (CNF1) and hemolysin A (HlyA) in promoting cytosolic escape, host cell survival, and long-term persistence. Finally, this review presents a multidisciplinary framework evaluating next-generation non-antibiotic strategies, including bacteriophage therapy, vaccines, phytotherapy, probiotics, and estrogen therapy. By critically assessing their efficacy and clinical maturity across a spectrum of preclinical models and human trials, we evaluate the potential to navigate translational limitations to effectively disrupt the infection cycle. Full article