Elimination Of Pathogens Research Articles

Modulation of Innate Immunity via Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) for Antiviral and Antitumor Therapies

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are vital components of the innate immune system, playing a crucial role in detecting pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). This review explores the modulation of innate immunity via PRRs for antiviral and antitumor therapies. PRRs, including toll-like receptors (TLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), initiate immune responses that enhance the recognition and elimination of pathogens and tumor cells. TLRs, for instance, trigger pro-inflammatory cytokine production and activate dendritic cells, facilitating adaptive immune responses. The therapeutic potential of PRR agonists is significant; they can be used as standalone treatments or in combination with existing antiviral and cancer therapies. PRR agonists enhance vaccine efficacy, promote robust antiviral responses, and improve the recognition of tumor antigens. Additionally, oncolytic viruses can exploit PRR pathways to stimulate innate and adaptive immunity against tumors. However, challenges such as the risk of excessive inflammation and the need for targeted delivery of PRR agonists remain. Future research should focus on optimizing PRR-targeted strategies to harness their full therapeutic potential while minimizing adverse effects. This review highlights the promising role of PRRs in enhancing immune responses and discusses their implications for developing innovative antiviral and antitumor therapies. Keywords: Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), Innate immunity, Antiviral therapies, Antitumor therapies, Immune modulation

Local Electric Field-Incorporated In-Situ Copper Ions Eliminating Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Drinking Water

Background/Objectives: Pathogen inactivation and harmful gene destruction from water just before drinking is the last line of defense to protect people from waterborne diseases. However, commonly used disinfection methods, such as chlorination, ultraviolet irradiation, and membrane filtration, experience several challenges such as continuous chemical dosing, the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and intensive energy consumption. Methods: Here, we perform a simultaneous elimination of pathogens and ARGs in drinking water using local electric fields and in-situ generated trace copper ions (LEF-Cu) without external chemical dosing. A 100-μm thin copper wire placed in the center of a household water pipe can generate local electric fields and trace copper ions near its surface after an external low voltage is applied. Results: The local electric field rapidly damages the outer structure of microorganisms through electroporation, and the trace copper ions can effectively permeate the electroporated microorganisms, successfully damaging their nucleic acids. The LEF-Cu disinfection system achieved complete inactivation (>6 log removal) of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, and bacteriophage MS2 in drinking water at 2 V for 2 min, with low energy consumption (10−2 kWh/m3). Meanwhile, the system effectively damages both intracellular (0.54~0.64 log) and extracellular (0.5~1.09 log) ARGs and blocks horizontal gene transfer. Conclusions: LEF-Cu disinfection holds promise for preventing horizontal gene transfer and providing safe drinking water for household applications.

Signaling by neutrophil G protein-coupled receptors that regulate the release of superoxide anions.

In human peripheral blood, the neutrophil granulocytes (neutrophils) are the most abundant white blood cells. These professional phagocytes are rapidly recruited from the bloodstream to inflamed tissues by chemotactic factors that signal danger. Neutrophils, which express many receptors that are members of the large family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), are critical for the elimination of pathogens and inflammatory insults, as well as for the resolution of inflammation leading to tissue repair. Danger signaling molecular patterns such as the N-formylated peptides that are formed during bacterial and mitochondrial protein synthesis and recognized by formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) and free fatty acids recognized by free fatty acid receptors (FFARs) regulate neutrophil functions. Short peptides and short-chain fatty acids activate FPR1 and FFA2R, respectively, while longer peptides and fatty acids activate FPR2 and GPR84, respectively. The activation profiles of these receptors include the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. Activation of the oxidase and the production of ROS are processes that are regulated by proinflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor α and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The receptors have signaling and functional similarities, although there are also important differences, not only between the two closely related neutrophil FPRs, but also between the FPRs and the FFARs. In neutrophils, these receptors never walk alone, and additional mechanistic insights into the regulation of the GPCRs and the novel regulatory mechanisms underlying the activation of NADPH oxidase advance our understanding of the role of receptor transactivation in the regulation of inflammatory reactions.

Use of Granulocyte Transfusions in the Management of Severe Infections Among Children with Neutropenia.

Background/Objectives: Infections remain the leading cause of mortality among neutropenic patients with haematologic malignancies, making effective infection management crucial. Achieving a sufficient neutrophil count is essential for the elimination of pathogens. Granulocyte concentrate (GC) can be a treatment option for neutropenic patients with severe infections. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and impact on survival of GC transfusions in neutropenic children with severe infections treated over the past 13 years in a single centre. Methods: The retrospective study analysed clinical data from 60 children (median age 9.5 years) who received GC transfusions at our centre. Granulocytes were collected by apheresis from donors stimulated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The majority of the patients (70%) were diagnosed with acute leukaemia. The main indications for GC were severe pneumonia (45%) and bacterial sepsis (38.33%). Results: The patients received 1 to 29 GC transfusions for 1 to 70 days, with a median time of administration of 3 days. Neutrophil counts increased to >1000/µL within a median of 5 days. GCs were well tolerated by most patients. One patient presented symptoms of anaphylaxis, the other acute lung injury related to transfusions, and alloimmunisation was reported in one patient. Of the patients analysed, 78.33% survived the infection that justified GC administration. We did not observe significant differences in survival depending on the aetiology of the infection. Conclusions: Based on our research, GC appears to be a beneficiary for neutropenic children with severe infections and reduces infection mortality rates. However, further well-designed randomised trials are needed to define its role in this setting.

Targeted Elimination of the Oral Pathogen to Overcome Chemoresistance of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Biologically Derived Nanotherapeutics.

Local oral microbiota are closely related to the tumorigenesis and therapeutic response of oral cancer. In this study, we have validated that oral commensal Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is highly responsible for chemoresistance and contributes to the poor therapeutic outcome of traditional chemotherapy. Accordingly, the biologically derived nanovesicles from ginger (GDNVs) with excellent P. gingivalis elimination ability are explored to transport the clinically used drug paclitaxel (PTX) for potentiating the therapeutic efficiency. Taking advantage of active targeting and inhibition abilities of GDNVs against P. gingivalis, the PTX-loaded GDNVs nanosystem (P-GDNVs) can enrich in the P. gingivalis-colonized tumor tissues and effectively inhibit the growth of P. gingivalis for downregulating the IL-6/pSTAT3/P-gp pathway, thereby reducing the efflux of intracellular drugs to overcome chemoresistance. By evaluating both P. gingivalis-infected tumor cells and P. gingivalis-infiltrated tumor-bearing mice, P-GDNVs show a much enhanced tumor cell killing effect, as compared with free PTX. This naturally occurring nanotherapeutic system represents an effective bioactive material for targeted elimination of host microbiota to boost therapeutic response, showing great promise to combat commensal microbiota-rich tumors.

A Polyphenol Decorated Triplex Hybrid Biomaterial: Structure-Function, Release Profiles, Sorption, and Antipathogenic Effects.

Herein, nonwoven alkali modified flax substrates were coated with incremental levels of chitosan, followed by immobilization of tannic acid, via a facile "dip-coating" strategy to yield a unique hierarchal "triplex" hybrid biomaterial, denoted as "THB". The characterization of the physicochemical properties of THB employed complementary spectroscopic (IR, Raman, and NMR) techniques, which support the role of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions between the components: chitosan as the secondary biopolymer coating and the tertiary adsorbed polyphenols. XRD and SEM techniques provide further structural insight that confirms the unique semicrystalline nature and porous hierarchal structure of the biocomposite. The THBs present a polyphenol kinetic release profile that follows the Korsmeyer-Peppas model that concurs with Fickian diffusion for heterogeneous polymer systems. Furthermore, these systems demonstrate a tailored solvent uptake capacity (up to 4 g/g) in aqueous PBS media. Antipathogenic activity tests revealed 95% elimination of pathogens (E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans) at a dose of 50 mg for the THB system. The trend in the structure-property relationships for the THB systems indicates synergistic effects of electrostatic multiform interactions between protonated chitosan and the polyphenol units. Herein, we report the first example of a unique hierarchal biomaterial via a facile design strategy for diversiform roles as responsive adsorbents for environmental remediation to biomedical applications (e.g., controlled release, topical administration, or antimicrobial surface coatings).

Full-spectral response of mesoporous Z-scheme nanoheterojunction NaYF4:Yb,Tm@ZnO/BiOI photocatalysts for simultaneous contaminant and pathogen elimination in wastewater

The increasing contamination of water bodies demands effective and economical solutions for wastewater treatment. This study introduces a novel Z-scheme photocatalyst, NaYF4:Yb,Tm@ZnO/BiOI (UZB), synthesized via a simple chemical route. UZB exhibits exceptional photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of 95.1 %, 88.7 %, and 56.3 % for methyl orange under full spectrum, visible, and near-infrared light, respectively. The integration of heterostructures within UZB promotes efficient charge carrier separation, significantly boosting its photocatalytic activity. When applied to actual wastewater, UZB markedly reduces chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) by 94.1 % and 53.2 %, respectively, and also effectively decreases turbidity and ammonia concentrations. Additionally, UZB shows strong antibacterial effects against S. aureus and E. coli, with inhibition rates of 93.9 % and 92.0 %, though some cytotoxicity is noted. These results underscore UZB's potential as a highly efficient photocatalyst for the simultaneous removal of organic pollutants and pathogens from wastewater, supporting its application in industrial water treatment systems.

Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Pillararene-Embedded Covalent Organic Frameworks with Amplified Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy for the Targeted Elimination of Periodontitis Pathogens.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive drug delivery systems possess immense potential for targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutics. However, the rapid responsiveness to ROS and sustained release of antibacterial drugs are often limited by the challenging microenvironment of periodontitis. Integrating ROS-responsive drug delivery systems with photocatalytic technologies presents a strategic approach to overcome these limitations. Herein, a pillararene-embedded covalent organic framework (PCOF) incorporating the antibacterial prodrug thioacetal (TA) has been developed to treat periodontitis. This drug-loaded nanoplatform, namely TA-loaded PCOF, utilizes the self-amplifying ROS property to enhance therapeutic efficacy. PCOFs demonstrate exceptional photosensitivity and ROS generation capabilities when employed as drug carriers. When exposed to ROS, TA within the nanoplatform was activated and cleaved into cinnamaldehyde (CA), a highly potent antibacterial compound. By leveraging visible light to activate the site-specific infection targeting, TA-loaded PCOF effectively alleviated periodontitis, thereby advancing the field of antibacterial drug delivery systems.

Catecholamines Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammation through β2 Adrenergic Receptor Activation- and PKA Phosphorylation-Mediated TLR4 Downregulation in Macrophages.

Inflammation is a tightly regulated process involving immune receptor recognition, immune cell migration, inflammatory mediator secretion, and pathogen elimination, all essential for combating infection and restoring damaged tissue. However, excessive inflammatory responses drive various human diseases. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is known to regulate inflammatory responses; however, the detailed mechanisms underlying this regulation remain incompletely understood. Herein, we aimed to study the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of action of the ANS in RAW264.7 cells. Quantitative PCR and immunoblotting assays were used to assess lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) expression. The anti-inflammatory effects of catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine) and acetylcholine were examined in LPS-treated cells to identify the receptors involved. Catecholamines inhibited LPS-induced TNFα expression by activating the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2-AR). β2-AR activation in turn downregulated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) by stimulating protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation, resulting in the suppression of TNFα levels. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of catecholamines on LPS-induced inflammatory responses, whereby β2-AR activation and PKA phosphorylation downregulate TLR4 expression in macrophages. These findings could provide valuable insights for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and anti-inflammatory drug development.

Exploration of tuina for the treatment of acute pharyngitis based on "Tianyou (TE 16) and five regions" in Huangdi Neijing

The paper explores the thoughts and manipulations of tuina at "Tianyou (TE 16) and five regions" for the treatment of acute pharyngitis based on "Tianyou (TE 16) and five regions" in Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic). "Tianyou (TE 16) and five regions" refer to the special acupoints of yang meridians, mostly located at the neck region. It is the "window" of the head and neck, acting on dispersing wind and regulating qi and blood by opening the "window". Acute pharyngitis is caused by the invasion of exogenous wind and heat to the throat or by re-attack of exogenous factors and heat accumulation in the lung and stomach. Pathogenic wind and heat is the chief causative factor. Based on the theory and location of "Tianyou (TE 16) and five regions", the manipulations of tuina, i.e. point-pressing, plucking and smoothing, are operated to open "huyou" (door and window) of the head and face, combined by bleeding at the ear apex so that the path is opened for pathogen elimination. As a result, the pathogenic wind and heat are dispelled, qi movement is promoted and the throat is benefited.

Siglec-G Suppresses CD8+ T Cells Responses through Metabolic Rewiring and Can be Targeted to Enhance Tumor Immunotherapy.

CD8+ T cells play a critical role in cancer immune-surveillance and pathogen elimination. However, their effector function can be severely impaired by inhibitory receptors such as programmed death-1 (PD-1) and T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-3 (Tim-3). Here Siglec-G is identified as a coinhibitory receptor that limits CD8+ T cell function. Siglec-G is highly expressed on tumor-infiltrating T cells and is enriched in the exhausted T cell subset. Ablation of Siglec-G enhances the efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in suppressing solid tumors growth. Mechanistically, sialoglycan ligands, such as CD24 on tumor cells, activate the Siglec-G-SHP2 axis in CD8+ T cells, impairing metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, which dampens cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activation, expansion, and cytotoxicity. These findings discover a critical role for Siglec-G in inhibiting CD8+ T cell responses, suggesting its potential therapeutic effect in adoptive T cell therapy and tumor immunotherapy.

The efficacy of antimicrobial solutions against multispecies bacterial biofilm with or without negative pressure wound therapy in an in vitro wound model.

Biofilm is the major challenge in chronic wound management. Instilling a wound cleansing solution aids in wound bed cleaning and infectious pathogen elimination. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) improves the wound-healing process. This study investigated the efficacy of two antimicrobials (Vashe Wound Cleanser and Prontosan Wound Irrigation Solution) against a multispecies bacterial biofilm with or without NPWT in an in vitro wound model. A mixed multispecies biofilm containing Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Acinetobacter baumannii was developed and verified by scanning electron microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization. The efficacy of Vashe and Prontosan against multispecies biofilm with or without NPWT was evaluated by colony-forming unit (cfu) of each species and total bacterial number, and visually confirmed by live/dead stain and confocal microscopy. Prontosan reduced biofilm cell numbers significantly: 6 instils over 24 h resulting in 3.86 ± 0.14 cfu log10 reduction without NPWT and 4.75 ± 0.13 cfu log10 reduction combined with NPWT (P < 0.01) and 12 instils over 48 h resulting in 5.24 ± 0.11 cfu log10 reduction without NPWT and biofilm eradication with NPWT (P < 0.001). NPWT alone or combined with Vashe failed to reduce multispecies biofilm numbers significantly over 24 or 48 h. Prontosan significantly reduced biofilm cell numbers, with better efficacy over 48 than 24 h, emphasizing the necessity for persistent and robust treatment. NPWT enhanced the effectiveness of Prontosan instillation. However, NPWT alone or combined with Vashe showed limited efficacy and difficulty when combating the multispecies biofilm in vitro.

200 Transcriptomics analyses of mink spleen infected by Aleutian Disease

Abstract Aleutian disease (AD) is one of the most challenging mink diseases that causes high mortality and affects several economically important traits. Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) targets multiple organs and among them, the spleen is one of the major targeted organs. Transcriptomics has been widely used to reveal genes and biological pathways and identify biomarkers for early detection or prevention of diseases. This study aimed to identify genes and pathways related to the host response to AD infection in the spleen via transcriptomic study. Twelve (3 sets of 4 full-sibs) AMDV-free black male mink were housed in the clean section of the animal housing facility at the AD Research Centre (Truro, NS, Canada) between 4 to 7 d before inoculation. Before inoculation, sampling, and euthanasia, animals were anesthetized. The viral inoculum was a 10% (W/V) passage 2 of AMDV prepared from the spleens of mink infected with a local strain and stored at − 80 °C. Animals were intranasally inoculated under sedation with 60 µL of the viral homogenate, corresponding to approximately 300 to 700 ID50. Infected mink were humanely euthanized and the spleen tissues were collected for RNA isolation at 24h (d 1), 48h (d 2), and d 7. Libraries were prepared from total RNA using the Illumina TruSeqTM RNA kit, and were sequenced using the HiScanSQ platform, producing 101 bp reads from each end. The raw RNA-Seq data were cleaned using Cutadapt V1.4.2 and after the cleaning process was completed, 942,803,540 paired-end reads remained to be used in downstream analysis. Differential gene expression analyses revealed most (168) significant differentially expressed (DE) genes between d 1 and d 0 (Control or ADMV-free mink) while fewer DE genes (23) were between d 7 and d 0 (Table 1; Figure 1). A total of 19 DE genes are identified between three pair comparisons and seven of them are directly involved in immune response (FGL2, TLF8, LRP1, SERPINB9, MSR1, C3, PLA2R1, and XCR1). Gene enrichment analyses revealed pathways related to innate immune and fat metabolism which are important for the host mechanism to fight against infections. One of the important pathways is neutrophil degranulation which functions as aiding in the elimination of pathogens and the initiation of the inflammatory process. In conclusion, the current study provides insight into the transcriptomic profiles of the spleen in mink infected with AD. Identified candidate genes might be used for functional studies or as prior information for markers or genomic selection against AD in mink. Further studies in other tissues or single-cell RNA sequencing might deliver more comprehensive pictures of host responses to AD infections.

Global awareness of antigenic peptides - Unraveling the impact on sickle cell anemia patients in the presence of pathogens: A narrative review.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic blood disorder characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin S (HbS), leading to sickle-shaped red blood cells and various complications, including increased susceptibility to infections. The presence of antigenic peptides, short amino acid sequences derived from pathogens or altered self-proteins, plays a crucial role in immune responses. This review explores the global awareness of antigenic peptides, their role in immune responses in SCA patients, and the challenges and opportunities in managing infections within this vulnerable population. Antigenic peptides are central to the adaptive immune response, facilitating the recognition and elimination of pathogens by T-cells. In SCA, altered antigen presentation and impaired T-cell responses due to chronic inflammation, functional asplenia, and ongoing hemolysis contribute to increased susceptibility to infections. Pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae pose significant risks to SCA patients, highlighting the importance of robust immune responses mediated by antigenic peptides. Strategies such as vaccination and immunotherapy aim to enhance immune function by targeting specific antigenic peptides, thereby reducing infection rates and improving patient outcomes. Advances in genomics and proteomics offer insights into individual variations in antigen presentation and immune responses, guiding the development of tailored therapeutic interventions. Global collaborations are essential to address disparities in healthcare access and implement effective preventive measures, ensuring equitable outcomes for SCA patients worldwide.

Preloading Long-Chain Quaternary Ammonium Groups to Synthesize a High-Efficient Anion-Exchange Resin for Eliminating Bacterial Contaminants in Drinking Water.

Bacterial contamination in drinking water is a global health concern, necessitating the development of highly efficient treatment techniques. Anion-exchange resins (AERs) have long been employed for removing anionic contaminants from drinking water, but their performance for bacterial contamination is poor. Here, we develop a novel AER (AER6-1) with exceptional bactericidal effects and ultrafast adsorption rates of extracellular DNA (eDNA) (2.2- and 11.5-fold compared to other AERs) achieved through preloading quaternary ammonium groups (QAGs) with hexyl chain (-C6-N+-) on the resin exterior and successively grafting QAGs with a methyl chain (-C1-N+-) inside a resin pore. The AER6-1 outperforms other commercial AERs and ultraviolet disinfection, exhibiting superior elimination of total bacteria, potential pathogens (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), eDNA, and antibiotic resistance genes (mexF, mexB, and bacA) in actual drinking water, while maintaining a comparable anion exchange capacity with other commercial AERs. Theoretical calculations of density functional theory and xDLVO combined with XPS elucidate the crucial roles of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic force provided by the resin skeleton and -C6-N+- in cleaving the bacterial cell membrane and increasing the adsorption kinetics on eDNA. This study broadens the scope of AERs and highlights an effective way of simultaneously removing bacterial and anionic contaminants from drinking water.

Innovative approaches for enhanced nutrient (N and P) removal and biosecurity in marine recirculating aquaculture systems using biofloc and ultrafiltration combined systems

Marine recirculating aquaculture systems (marine RAS) are increasingly utilized for their high productivity and minimal environmental impact. However, effective nutrient management and biosecurity measures remain crucial for sustainable operation of marine RAS. This study successfully established a simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) process using a biofloc technology (BFT)–ultrafiltration (UF) combined approach. A stable autotrophic marine nitrification system was rapidly initiated within 23 days using a ceramic ring (CR)–granular activated carbon (GAC)–UF process (CGUF), followed by the substitution of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) for GAC filter to achieve rapid start-up of SND in 24 h (CG/PUF). Soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) was removed in-situ via biofloc adsorption. The co-existence of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (Candidatus_Nitrosopumilus) and denitrifying bacteria (Stenotrophomonas, Ruegeria and Ilumatobacter) synergistic promoted the SND start-up in CG/PUF process. Stenotrophomonas emerged as the keystone species which closely linked to amoA/B/C, hao and nosZ genes (p < 0.05). The CG/PUF process effectively enhanced the biosecurity of marine RAS, with 100 % elimination of potential pathogens (Vibrio and Tenacibaculum). UF membrane could maintain fluxes at 15 L∙ m−2∙ h−1 (LMH) for 180 days, with a 2-day intermittent hydraulic flushing keeping transmembrane pressure below 50 kPa. These findings provide insights for broader application of BFT–UF combined process in marine RAS.

Photodynamic coatings kill bacteria on near-patient surfaces in intensive care units with low light intensities

Surfaces in close proximity to patients within hospitals may cause healthcare-associated infections. These surfaces are repositories for pathogens facilitating their transmission among staff and patients. Regular cleaning and disinfection of these surfaces provides only a temporary elimination of pathogens with inevitable recontamination. Antimicrobial coatings (AMCs) of such surfaces may additionally reduce the risk of pathogen transmissions. To evaluate the efficacy of a standard and a novel photodynamic AMC, even at very low light intensities, in a field study conducted in two ICUs at our university hospital. The microbial burden was determined on three coatings: standard photodynamic AMC (A), a novel photodynamic AMC (B), and an inactive AMC as control (C). The control coating C was identical to standard coating A, but it contained no photosensitizer. During a three-month period, 699 samples were collected from identical surfaces using eSwab and were analysed (cfu/cm2). Mean values of all surfaces covered with control coating (C) showed a microbial burden of 5.5 ± 14.8cfu/cm2. Photodynamic AMC showed significantly lower mean value of 1.6 ± 4.6cfu/cm2 (coating A; P < 0.001) and 2.7 ± 9.6 (coating B; P < 0.001). When considering a benchmark of 2.5cfu/cm2, the relative risk for higher microbial counts was reduced by 52% (coating A) or 40% (coating B), respectively. Both photodynamic AMCs offer a substantial, permanent risk reduction of microbial counts on near-patient surfaces in ICUs with low light intensities.

The role of phagocytic cells in aging: insights from vertebrate and invertebrate models.

While the main role of phagocytic scavenger cells consists of the neutralization and elimination of pathogens, they also keep the body fluids clean by taking up and breaking down waste material. Since a build-up of waste is thought to contribute to the aging process, these cells become particularly pertinent in the research field of aging. Nevertheless, a direct link between their scavenging functions and the aging process has yet to be established. Integrative approaches involving various model organisms hold promise to elucidate this potential, but are lagging behind since the diversity and evolutionary relationship of these cells across animal species remain unclear. In this perspective, we review the current knowledge associating phagocytic scavenger cells with aging in vertebrate and invertebrate animals, as well as put forward important questions for further exploration. Additionally, we highlight future challenges and propose a constructive approach for tackling them.

Efficient elimination of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in hyperthermophilic sludge composting

Composting is widely applied in recycling ever-increasing sewage sludge. However, the insufficient elimination of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in conventional compost fertilizer poses considerable threat to agriculture safety and human health. Here we investigated the efficacy and potential mechanisms in the removal of antibiotics and ARGs from sludge in hyperthermophilic composting (HTC) plant. Our results demonstrated that the HTC product was of high maturity. HTC led to complete elimination of antibiotics and potential pathogens, as well as removal of 98.8 % of ARGs and 88.1 % of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). The enrichment of antibiotic-degrading candidates and related metabolic functions during HTC suggested that biodegradation played a crucial role in antibiotic removal. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that the reduction of ARGs was attributed to the decline of ARG-associated bacteria, mainly due to the high-temperature selection. These findings highlight the feasibility of HTC in sludge recycling and provide a deeper understanding of its mechanism in simultaneous removal of antibiotics and ARGs.

A INTERAÇÃO ENTRE COVID-19 E O SISTEMA IMUNOLÓGICO: MECANISMOS E IMPLICAÇÕES CLÍNICAS

The infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, triggers a series of immune responses in the host organism. These responses, while essential for pathogen elimination, can also cause significant damage to host tissues. This work details the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection, from its structure to the processes of viral entry and replication, as well as the mechanisms related to infection and activation of the immune system, which can culminate in a cytokine storm. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies, vaccines, and alternative therapies that were urgently released during the pandemic. Continuous research, especially related to the immune response, is necessary to enhance knowledge and preparedness for future pandemics.