Search Results (6,807)

Background/Objectives: Central nervous system (CNS) infections remain a significant public health challenge and require rapid and accurate diagnosis to guide clinical management. Although the incidence of bacterial meningitis has declined owing to widespread vaccination, viral etiologies continue to dominate CNS infections. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological trends, age distribution, and seasonality of CNS infections using multiplex PCR. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected between January 2021 and December 2022 from patients with CNS infections at King Abdulaziz Medical City. A BioFire FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel was used to detect pathogens. Patient demographics, pathogen distribution, and seasonal trends were analyzed. Results: A total of 2,460 CSF samples were tested, of which 130 (5%) were positive for at least one pathogen. Viral pathogens accounted for 82.3% of the infections, with human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) (31%) and enterovirus (EV) (20%) being the most common. Bacterial pathogens represented 17.7% of the cases, with Streptococcus pneumoniae (6%) and Escherichia coli K1 (5%) being the predominant bacterial agents. The highest infection burden was observed in infants aged 0–6 months, with a marked male predominance. Seasonal analysis revealed multiple peaks in viral infections, particularly of HHV-6 and EVs, whereas bacterial infections were sporadic, with Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus pneumoniae peaking in October and November. Conclusions: Viral infections, particularly HHV-6 and EVs, dominated CNS infections, with distinct seasonal and age-related variations. These findings underscore the value of multiplex PCR in improving the rapid diagnosis of CNS infections and aiding in timely treatment and antimicrobial stewardship. Full article

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) deposits are hardened, sticky, insoluble solids that accumulate in sewage systems globally. These deposits contribute to pipe blockages and sanitary sewer overflows, releasing pathogens and pollutants into the environment, posing significant environmental and public health risks. Current removal methods are labor-intensive and costly, emphasizing the need for alternatives. While biological strategies offer a viable alternative, the microbial breakdown of FOG is poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the potential of individual microbial strains and synthetic microbial communities to biodegrade wastewater-derived FOG deposit samples. These biological agents were applied to a range of FOG samples, and biodegradation was assessed through visual observations such as color change or gas bubbles, particle size, cell counts, pH, weight loss, and changes in fatty acid profile. Results demonstrate that microbial augmentation can enhance FOG degradation, offering an alternative or complementary approach for reducing maintenance burdens and preventing sewer blockages. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major global threat to human health. Among multidrug-resistant pathogens, MRSA is a leading cause of severe nosocomial infections, urgently demanding the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. Nature, particularly Actinomycetota, remains a prolific source of potent bioactive compounds to combat pathogens. This review analyzes recent advancements in anti-MRSA compounds from Actinomycetota. We highlight the most promising bioactive metabolites, their sources, mechanisms of action, and current limitations. Our analysis identified numerous compounds with potent activity against MRSA, including chromomycins, actinomycins, diperamycin, lunaemycin A, lactoquinomycin A, and weddellamycin, which exhibit submicromolar minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The renewed interest in exploring Actinomycetota de novo is directly driven by the AMR crisis. Furthermore, bioprospecting efforts in underexplored ecological niches, such as mangroves and marine sediments, have proven highly promising, as these habitats often harbour unique microbial communities producing novel metabolites. These findings underscore the critical importance of ecology-driven drug discovery in expanding the antimicrobial arsenal and effectively addressing the global health challenge of MRSA and other resistant pathogens. Full article

Apple scab poses a significant threat to wild apple orchards in the Ili region of Xinjiang, yet the pathogen responsible and its disease dynamics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify the causal agent of apple scab in wild apples and elucidate its disease development pattern to support effective monitoring and control strategies. Field surveys were conducted regularly from 2023 to 2025 in fixed plots and sample trees of Malus sieversii. A total of 29 isolates were obtained from diseased fruits collected in Xinyuan and Huocheng counties using tissue isolation and single-spore purification. Pathogenicity was confirmed via Koch’s postulates, and the pathogen was identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Scab symptoms first appeared on leaves in late April (during leaf expansion, disease index 0.34) and on fruits in early June (during fruit enlargement, disease index 0.57). The disease index peaked in late August (47.24 on leaves; 22.51 on fruits), followed by fruit drop at month-end and leaf abscission in late September. The pathogen overwintered mainly in remaining or fallen diseased leaves (isolation rate 17.71%), serving as the primary source of initial infection in the following growing season. The pathogen causing apple scab in Xinjiang wild apple orchards was identified as Venturia inaequalis. Overwintered infected leaves were confirmed as the key primary inoculum source. These findings clarify the taxonomic identity of the pathogen and its epidemic pattern, providing a theoretical basis for disease management. Full article

Azaleas (Ericaceae) are among the most diverse ornamental plants, celebrated for their cultural and economic significance. R. simsii has been extensively utilized in horticulture as a parent species for both “pot azalea” cultivars and various cultivars grown in the warmer regions of China. From 2021 to 2023, approximately 15% of R. simsii in nurseries situated in the Xuanwu District, Nanjing, exhibited symptoms of wilting and chlorosis. Investigations revealed that these symptoms were caused by a pathogen responsible for crown and root rot. Strains were isolated from the roots of affected plants. The morphology of the colonies was predominantly radial to stellate, characterized by intercalary and terminal hyphal swelling. The sporangia appeared spherical, pyriform, or ovoid with a single papillae. For accurate identification, the 28S rDNA gene (Large subunit, LSU), cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COXI), and cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COXII) genes were amplified through PCR and then sequenced. The species was identified as P. vexans after completing the phylogenetic analysis. Healthy R. simsii plants were infected with zoospores and developed symptoms similar to those of natural infection. Furthermore, the morphological characteristics of the isolates from the experimentally infected plants were similar to those of the original inoculated strains. This study identified P. vexans as the pathogen causing root rot in R. simsii. During the sampling process, several strains were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of healthy rhododendron plants. Based on this, research was immediately initiated to explore whether there are specific bacterial species in the soil that have the potential to inhibit the occurrence of root rot. Additionally, an endophytic bacterial strain BL1 was isolated from rhizosphere soil and subjected to Whole-Genome Shotgun (WGS) sequencing, thus constructing a bacterial genome framework for this isolate. The strain BL1 was identified as Bacillus licheniformis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of P. vexans causing crown and root rot of R. simsii in China. In this study, we also focused on exploring the potential of biological control agents against P. vexans. The isolation and identification of the endophytic bacterial strain BL1 (Bacillus licheniformis) from the rhizosphere soil of healthy soil show strong in vitro antagonism, identifying it as a promising candidate for future biological control studies of root rot in R. simsii. The genomic component analysis and coding gene annotation of BL1 provide insights into its genetic makeup and potential mechanisms of action against pathogens. However, these findings are based on in vitro assays. Therefore, further research, including in planta experiments, is essential to confirm the efficacy of BL1 in controlling P. vexans infections in R. simsii and to evaluate its potential for practical application. Full article

The growing emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens drives the need for new antibacterial agents. Punicalagin exhibits efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but its specific antibacterial mechanisms remain unclear. This study unveiled the specific antibacterial mechanism of punicalagin against MRSA via phenotypic and transcriptomic analyses. Punicalagin was found to induce severe cell wall damage and membrane disruption. Competitive binding assays identified lipoteichoic acid (LTA) as a potential target, and transcriptomic analysis further revealed that punicalagin downregulated key genes involved in cell wall synthesis (murA, murE) and LTA biosynthesis (dltA-D), consistent with the disruption of the cell wall. Additionally, punicalagin disrupted membrane homeostasis by inhibiting fatty acid synthesis (fabD, fabZ) and amino acid metabolism (dapA, dapB), leading to increased membrane permeability, which aligned with the phenotypic manifestations of membrane damage. Collectively, this work links phenotypic changes to specific gene expression patterns, unveiling that punicalagin inactivates MRSA via the multi-pathway regulation of the cell wall (LTA) and membrane function—providing insights for combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens in food safety and clinical settings. Full article

Mannose is a natural monosaccharide that plays a central role in host–pathogen interactions and has emerged as a versatile scaffold for designing anti-infective agents. This review summarizes recent advances in mannose-based glycoconjugates with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic activity. In bacteria, FimH antagonists prevent Escherichia coli adhesion, while mannose-functionalized materials disrupt Pseudomonas and Burkholderia biofilms or enhance delivery of anti-tubercular drugs. In virology, mannose-containing dendrimers, glycopolymers, and nanoparticles inhibit HIV, SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, HPV, and HSV by targeting viral glycoproteins or blocking lectin-mediated transmission. Mannose-decorated vaccines and nanocarriers also show promise against fungal pathogens and parasites. Continued optimization of presented structures could lead to the promising candidates for clinically applicable therapies. Full article

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a highly prevalent vaginal infection characterized by a dysbiotic shift in the vaginal microbiota, with Gardnerella vaginalis acting as a principal pathogen. Despite its association with adverse reproductive outcomes, BV remains underexplored from both mechanistic and therapeutic standpoints. Standard antibiotic regimens frequently fail due to high recurrence rates driven by multidrug-resistant (MDR) G. vaginalis strains and biofilm formation. In response, natural compounds and nutraceuticals, owing to their intrinsic antibacterial, antibiofilm, and immunomodulatory properties, have emerged as promising candidates for alternative BV therapies. In this paper, we first compile and critically evaluate preclinical and clinical evidence on the efficacy of plant extracts, essential oils (EOs), probiotics, vitamins, proteins, fatty acids, and enzymes against G. vaginalis, emphasizing their mechanistic insights in restoring vaginal microbial balance. Next, we focus on the integration of these bioactive agents into engineered nanosystems, such as lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs), polymeric carriers, and inorganic nanostructures, to overcome limitations related to solubility, stability, and targeted delivery. Nonetheless, comparative studies, combination therapies, and recent patent developments are discussed to highlight how naturally derived molecules can enhance antimicrobial potency and reduce cytotoxicity. In conclusion, these platforms demonstrate superior in vitro and in vivo efficacy, offering a paradigm shift in the management of BV. Key challenges include scalable manufacturing, regulatory approval, and comprehensive safety assessment. Future research should prioritize standardized nanoparticle (NP) synthesis, detailed pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiling, and well-designed clinical trials to validate nature-inspired, nanoengineered therapies against G. vaginalis-induced BV. Full article

This study explores the green synthesis of silver-doped lanthanum oxide (La/Ag), silver-doped yttrium oxide (Y/Ag), and silver-doped lanthanum–yttrium oxide (La/Y/Ag) nanocomposites using Catharanthus roseus extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanocomposites were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques to confirm their morphology, composition, crystallinity, and functional groups. La/Ag, Y/Ag, and La/Y/Ag exhibited significant catalytic activity in the reduction and degradation of methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), acridine orange (AO), and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Optimization studies showed that La/Ag achieved complete MB reduction within 3 min, while La/Y/Ag reduced MO in 90 s. Both catalysts maintained high activity over multiple cycles, with only slight efficiency loss. In real water media, La/Ag and La/Y/Ag achieved reduction efficiencies of 98% and 97%, respectively. La/Ag also demonstrated excellent photocatalytic degradation of AO under UV light, achieving complete degradation in 80 min, and 98% degradation in tap and seawater samples. Additionally, the nanocomposites demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens, with varying inhibition levels across species. Full article

Background: This randomized clinical trial compared the effects of topical irrigation with a desiccant agent (HybenX Oral Tissue Decontaminant, HBX) combined with full-mouth ultrasonic debridement as well as scaling and root planing (FMUD-SRP) versus conventional non-surgical periodontal therapy (US-SRP). Methods: Three quadrants per patient with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥ 5 mm were randomly assigned to (i) the control group (US-SRP only), (ii) test group 1 (HBX + US-SRP at baseline, HBX 1T (one time)), or (ii) test group 2 (HBX + US-SRP across three sessions, HBX 3T (three times)). Clinical parameters included probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), gingival recession (REC), and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), recorded at baseline (Tbase), 45 days (T45d), and 90 days (T90d). Microbiological sampling was conducted for all sites at Tbase, T45d, and T90d to assess periodontal pathogens. HBX-treated sites received gel application for 60 s, followed by a saline rinse and US-SRP. Results: Significant differences were found between groups in PPD (p = 0.04) and CAL (p = 0.02) at T45d versus Tbase, while BOP, PI, and REC showed no significant inter-group differences at T45d. The HBX 3T group demonstrated greater pathogen reduction compared to the control and HBX 1T groups, except for one bacterial species. Conclusions: All treatments improved clinical and microbiological parameters. Even if single and triple applications of HBX showed similar clinical results, the repeated application achieved greater bacterial reduction. Full article

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox (MPX) outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 23 July 2022, and 14 August 2024, respectively, underscoring the confirmed and concerning global spread of the disease. A gap exists in our fundamental understanding of the mpox virus (MPXV), despite its genetic relatedness to the variola virus (VARV). This knowledge deficit is evident in the performance of current medical countermeasures; vaccines and antiviral therapies adapted from smallpox programs demonstrate only partial efficacy and are constrained by issues of safety and suboptimal effectiveness against MPXV. In this context, the development of MPX-specific vaccines and antiviral drugs has become a critical priority in the global effort to combat MPX. However, MPXV employs multiple strategies to evade host immune responses, such as producing specific and poxvirus homologous proteins that suppress both innate immunity (including the six principal innate immune signaling pathways and antiviral strategies, notably the interferon [IFN] pathway) and adaptive immunity, thereby complicating vaccine and drug development. Insights from research on vaccinia virus (VACV) and VARV may inform the investigation of MPXV pathogenesis and immune evasion mechanisms. Drawing on relevant scientific literature, this review systematically examines key aspects of MPX infection, pathogenicity, and immune evasion, as well as the coordination between innate and adaptive immune responses. Furthermore, this review elucidates the current application and deployment landscape of the three principal therapeutics and three major vaccines for MPX, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for future research and development of vaccines and targeted antiviral agents. Full article

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is arguably the most devastating pathogen in human history. Paleogenomic studies indicate its presence as early as the Neolithic era. It evolved from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, with divergence estimates ranging from 1500 to 20,000 years ago, most often placed around 5000 years ago. Its natural reservoirs are wild mammals, particularly rodents, with fleas serving as vectors, while humans are incidental hosts. Over time, Y. pestis has acquired multiple virulence factors that disrupt immune responses and can lead to rapid, often fatal disease. Because the bacterium is maintained in wildlife cycles and can spill over to domestic animals, eradication is difficult, if not impossible. Nevertheless, mitigation is achievable using a One Health approach integrating human health, animal health, and the health of the environment. Neither vaccines nor monoclonal antibodies are currently licensed in most Western countries, thus, antibiotics remain the mainstay of therapy. Timely administration, ideally within 24 h of symptom onset, is critical, particularly in pneumonic forms. Phage therapy is under investigation as a potential treatment. Though often neglected in high-income settings, plague remains endemic in several regions, with the highest burden reported in Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Full article

Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) possesses broad resistance, biofilm formation, and high virulence characteristics. Therefore, developing new therapeutic strategies against this pathogen is urgent. This work reports kaempferol (kol) and kaempferin (kin) bound to the active site of β-lactamase and interacting with key residues, thereby inhibiting its activity. In addition, kol and kin reduced the secretion of β-lactamase to the external environment, then the shielding effect of β-lactamase to β-lactam antibiotics was weakened, and finally, the bactericidal ability of ampicillin (Amp) to MRSA was enhanced. Kol and kin relieved the inflammatory responses of J774 cells induced by MRSA and improved the survival of Galleria mellonella (G. mellonella) infected by MRSA when combined with or without Amp. These data suggest that kol and kin have the potential to be developed as anti-MRSA infection agents, which would broaden the application prospects of these compounds. Full article

The global surge in multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens has created an urgent imperative for innovative antimicrobial strategies. Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii demonstrate remarkable antibiotic resistance and dominate hospital-acquired infections. These bacteria often form biofilms, a complex community structure that shields them from immune system phagocytosis, resists antibiotic penetration, and enhances their survival in hostile environments. In clinical cases, these bacteria often form mixed biofilms and lead to treatment failures. Phages and their derivatives have emerged as promising candidates in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria. Lys22, an endolysin derived from an enterococcus phage, has been cloned and demonstrated to possess a broad host range, effectively targeting E. faecalis, various Staphylococcus species, and A. baumannii. When applied to the biofilms formed by these bacteria, Lys22 was found to significantly inhibit both simple and complex biofilms in vitro. Virulent genes, including agrA, sarA, and icaA in S. aureus; asa1, cylA, and gelE in E. faecalis; and OmpA and lpsB in A. baumannii were also downregulated by Lys22. Notably, Lys22 also exhibited a robust protective effect against dual or triple infections involving E. faecalis, S. aureus, and A. baumannii in a zebrafish embryos model, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent in combatting multi-bacterial infections. Full article

Fungi from the genus Trichoderma have been extensively studied and used as biological control agents (BCAs) because of their versatile mechanisms of action. These include triggering systemic resistance, directly inhibiting pathogens, promoting plant growth, enhancing tolerance to abiotic stress, and producing auxins. However, the widespread application of the most studied Trichoderma strains has been limited by discrepancies between their potential results observed in controlled environments and the outcomes in greenhouses and field conditions. These differences are associated with context dependency, influenced by strain-specific traits, crop genotype, soil properties, and environmental factors. In this review, we examine the mechanisms of action, current challenges, and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of local strategies and detailed characterization of native strains to boost the effectiveness of Trichoderma-based products in sustainable agriculture. Full article