We examined the BVDV test records of 3769 farm holdings from one laboratory involved in a national BVDV eradication programme with the objectives (1) to investigate the utility of the spot test to identify BVDV infected herds correctly; (2) to explore the possible reasons for false positive results and (3) to examine the frequency with which herds subsequently had a BVDV persistently infected (PI) calf born. During the 12-month study, 283 (7.5%) farm holdings were identified as BVD not negative based on the presence of antibodies to BVDV. Follow-up testing was carried out in 131 (3.5%) and in 79 (2.1%) of those, results were not consistent with BVDV infection. The main cause of false positive spot tests was transient antibodies in animals younger than 270 days of age, consistent with the persistence of maternally derived antibodies. BVDV PI births were found on 34 farm holdings (0.9%), in herds that were identified by the spot test as BVD not negative, as well as in herds identified as BVD negative. Farm holdings with spot tests with more than 40% of the samples positive for antibody and those with more than 20% and less than 40% were, respectively, 27.7 and 25.0 times more likely to have a PI born than those that had a negative spot test. However, farm holdings with at least one positive, but no more than 20% of the samples positive for antibody, were 3.9 times more likely to have a PI born than those in which no antibody positive animals were detected. We concluded that ignoring the presence of single antibody positives in the spot test could be counterproductive to the objective of national BVDV eradication.

To summarize individual patient data (IPD) on extended-duration nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NMV-r) for persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised adults and describe outcomes by regimen. We conducted a systematic review with IPD synthesis (PRISMA-IPD; PROSPERO CRD42025642455), searching databases through December 2025 and restricting eligible reports to January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025 (Omicron-era focus). IPD were obtained for 39 patients from four low-risk-of-bias cohort studies (n = 30) and institutional cases (n = 9) meeting predefined criteria for persistent infection. We summarized outcomes after last-line extended NMV-r and report exploratory, unadjusted subgroup descriptions for monotherapy (n = 27) and combination regimens (n = 12). Median age was 63 years. Patients had prolonged viral replication (median 58 days) before receiving extended NMV-r (median 10 days). Persistent infection after last-line extended therapy occurred in 5/38 (13.2%) evaluable patients. Persistence was observed in 2/26 (7.7%) evaluable monotherapy and 3/12 (25.0%) combination-therapy recipients; because regimen selection was nonrandom and baseline risk differed between groups, these subgroup proportions are descriptive and should not be interpreted as comparative effectiveness. All-cause mortality and adverse events (AEs) were rare (each 1/39; 2.6%). In this selected observational IPD cohort, clearance after last-line extended NMV-r-containing therapy was commonly reported, and serious AEs were uncommon. Comparative inferences are limited by small sample size, imprecision, and confounding by indication; prospective studies are needed. PROSPERO registration CRD42025642455.

Optimization and evaluation of 3AB3 indirect ELISA for detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus nonstructural protein antibodies in sheep.

Novel isatin-chalcone molecular hybrids endowed with potent antistaphylococcal properties: In vitro and mechanistic insights.

Three-year outcomes following retained intramedullary nails (DAIR) in early fracture related infections: A prospective case series.

This review summarizes current evidence on the general epidemiology, routes of central nervous system (CNS) invasion, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment considerations associated with neurological complications of respiratory viral infections. Greater awareness of the neurological impact of respiratory viral infections is crucial to improving patient outcomes and mitigating long-term burden of these diseases. Recent studies have reinforced the association between respiratory viral infections and a broad spectrum of neurological complications. Evidence accumulated during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has expanded this awareness, and emerging data suggest that immune-mediated mechanisms such as glial cell activation, rather than direct viral neurotropism alone, play a central role in CNS injury. Although diagnostic limitations still exist, some advances have been made to increase specificity of resources available for clinicians, particularly PCR and immunologic profiling. Furthermore, vaccination against certain respiratory viruses may reduce the risk of subsequent neurodegenerative disease, highlighting the potential impact of preventive strategies on long-term neurological burden. Establishing causality between respiratory viral infections and subsequent neurological dysfunction remains challenging given the ubiquitous nature of many respiratory viruses and their capacity to cause lifelong latent or persistent infection. Even though some efforts have been made to optimize diagnosis and treatment, addressing these challenges will require further coordinated efforts across clinicians, researchers and healthcare policymakers.

Increased survival of Staphylococcus aureus co-cultured with Gram-negative pathogens against antibiotics.

PERSISTENT ORAL INFECTIONS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS IN ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS.

Reprogramming NF-κB signaling in cervical cancer: Implications for immune microenvironment and therapeutic resistance.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is one of the deadly viruses first reported in Wuhan City, Hubei province, China, and is responsible for causing the pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a health emergency worldwide on January 30th and a pandemic on March 11th, 2020. Persistent respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 can vary significantly between individuals, including respiratory symptoms like dyspnea, chronic cough, chest pain, fatigue, sore throat, bronchitis, sleep disturbance, etc. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the frequency of persistent respiratory symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December, 2022 to April, 2023, to assess the frequency of respiratory symptoms post-COVID-19 infection among the medical and non-medical students who were infected with COVID-19, whether vaccinated or not. Results and Discussion: The study included 382 medical students from the Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, who participated in this study. Most were females, i.e., 72 %, and the rest were males, which were 28 %. Most of the students were vaccinated (95.3 %) with Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (71.7 %) with two doses (71.2 %). The students were infected with COVID-19 and some of them were infected before vaccination (62.6 %) and the rest (21.7 %) after vaccination. After their recovery from COVID-19, whether vaccinated or not, they had respiratory symptoms and other clinical manifestations. Regarding respiratory symptoms, intermittent cough (47.4%), dry cough (46.6%), and chronic cough (40.6%) were the most common respiratory symptoms that persisted for sixty days. Among other symptoms, headache was the most common one (39.5%), followed by fever (22.5%). Conclusion: The most common respiratory symptoms were intermittent cough, dry cough, and chronic cough that persisted for sixty days.

Multifunctional natural herbal extracts Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo composite gel for infected wounds healing.

Double-stranded (ds)RNA viruses infect a wide range of hosts, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, and this group includes many important pathogens. While acute infections of these viruses are well understood, less is known about dsRNA virus persistence. We studied persistent infection of a bacterial dsRNA virus, cystovirus phi6, in Pseudomonas syringae. In this virus-host interaction, intracellular phage particles are continuously produced without host cell lysis, deviating from other known persistent phage infection strategies. Our findings show that persistent dsRNA virus infection can benefit the host: persistence does not affect host growth but protects it from subsequent phi6 infections. Nevertheless, the persistently infected host remains susceptible to other viruses, promoting the formation of new viral genotypes, and highlighting the importance of persistent infections in viral evolution. Furthermore, understanding the carrier cell phenomenon is relevant for the development of phi6-based biocontrol of Pseudomonas infections in crops.

Infected diabetic wounds remain a major clinical challenge owing to the complex pathological microenvironment characterized by persistent bacterial infection, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), prolonged inflammation, and impaired angiogenesis. Herein, we report a triple-responsive, injectable, adhesive, and self-healing hydrogel (RCGel) designed to dynamically regulate the diabetic wound microenvironment and promote efficient tissue regeneration. RCGel was constructed through reversible Schiff-base and boronate-ester cross-linking between CMCS-PBA and OChS-DA and was incorporated with rosmarinic acid-cerium nanoparticles. RCGel exhibited a sustained and potent ROS-scavenging capability. Meanwhile, RCGel enabled on-demand photothermal antibacterial therapy under mild near-infrared irradiation, effectively eradicating MRSA and P. aeruginosa. In vitro studies demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility, reduced intracellular ROS levels, macrophage M2 polarization, and enhanced angiogenic potential. In vivo, RCGel significantly accelerated wound closure, suppressed infection and inflammation, promoted neovascularization and collagen deposition, and improved tissue remodeling in both diabetic noninfected and MRSA-infected wound models, without evident systemic toxicity. Overall, this work presented a microenvironment-adaptive multifunctional hydrogel dressing that integrated antibacterial, antioxidative, immunomodulatory, and pro-regenerative functions, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for infected diabetic wound treatment.

Bacterial-infected wounds pose substantial therapeutic challenges due to persistent infection, sustained inflammation, and a hypoxic microenvironment. Photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy are promising nonantibiotic approaches for bacterial eradication; however, their effectiveness is often limited by restricted oxygen availability in the tissue microenvironment and uncontrolled production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, a nanozyme hydrogel was developed using a metal-organic framework (PCN-224) that combines CuS-mediated photothermal effects with Fe-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4-Fe) redox activity for near-infrared (NIR)-activated targeted therapy. The metal-organic framework integrates photothermal, photodynamic, and nanozyme redox mechanisms to modulate ROS in hypoxic environments. This injectable, self-healing hydrogel conforms to wound surfaces, adheres to tissue, and remains localized at the injury site, enabling precise therapy upon NIR irradiation. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the integrated photothermal, photodynamic, and nanozyme redox activities reduce bacterial load, attenuate inflammation, and restore oxidative balance in wounds. As a result, hydrogel promotes granulation tissue formation, collagen deposition, and skin regeneration in infected wound models.

Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is a predominant pathogen associated with persistent endodontic infections due to its resistance to conventional disinfectants and ability to form robust biofilms. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy and biocompatibility of a novel near-infrared (NIR)-activated photosensitizer, Rose Bengal-conjugated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP-RB), against E. faecalis both in vitro and in vivo. UCNP-RB nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and spectral analysis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under 808nm NIR irradiation was quantified using the 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) probe. Cytotoxicity was assessed in human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) via the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. In vitro antibacterial efficacy against planktonic E. faecalis and 14-day mature biofilms was evaluated at a concentration of 100µg/mL using colony-forming unit (CFU) counts, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, a murine model of apical periodontitis was established to assess the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of UCNP-RB-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) compared to 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) irrigation, with outcomes measured by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The synthesized UCNP-RB nanocomposite successfully converted near-infrared (NIR) light into visible emission, triggering efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. An optimal concentration of 100µg/mL was identified for subsequent experiments. UCNP-RB-mediated aPDT demonstrated potent antibacterial efficacy, achieving a > 99% reduction in planktonic E. faecalis and approximately 90% inhibition of mature biofilm viability (p < 0.05). In vivo, micro-CT analysis revealed that the UCNP-RB aPDT group exhibited a 67% reduction in periapical bone defect volume compared to the untreated control group, indicating significant promotion of periapical healing. The UCNP-RB nanocomposites synthesized in this study exhibited uniform morphology and potent photodynamic activity. At an optimal concentration of 100µg/mL, the system demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy against E. faecalis both in vitro and in vivo, highlighting its potential as an effective agent for endodontic disinfection.

Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms by a Multifunctional Triple Combination of Natural Photosensitisers, Gentamicin, and Colistin.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of acute nosocomial infections, as well as chronic respiratory infections associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). In chronic lung infections, P. aeruginosa populations typically exhibit extensive phenotypic variation, a trait linked to their need to undergo pathoadaptive mutations to counteract host-derived selective pressures. In this study, two clonally related P. aeruginosa isolates, SCPA07 and SCPA08, were identified to coexist in a single bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) sample from a patient with bacterial pneumonia. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was conducted to characterize their genetic background, as well as antimicrobial resistance and virulence gene profiles. A comprehensive analysis of phylogenetic relationships and comparative genomic features of the two isolates was conducted using a panel of bioinformatics tools. Their antimicrobial resistance mechanisms were elucidated via gene sequence analysis and quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). A series of phenotypic experiments, including growth, biofilm formation, environmental stress, and virulence assays, and others were performed to characterize their phenotypic traits. Antimicrobial susceptibility assay showed that both strains were carbapenem-non-susceptible (defined as intermediate or resistant according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines). Genomic analysis revealed that they are 'hypermutator' strains and harbor both the exoS and exoU virulence genes, indicating an increased propensity for persistent host infection and high virulence potential. Both strains harbored mutations in oprD, and exhibited elevated expression of AmpC β-lactamase and the efflux pump MexB, which most likely contributed to their non-susceptibility to carbapenems. Despite harboring nucleotide variations at only ten genetic loci, these two strains exhibited distinct phenotypic traits: SCPA07 showed rapid growth, strong biofilm formation, high virulence, and growth advantages under iron limitation and serum stress; in contrast, its variant SCPA08 had slow growth, poor motility, reduced pyocyanin production, low virulence, and increased tolerance to the host antimicrobials human cathelicidin LL-37 and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These phenotypic variations are proposed to be primarily driven by genetic mutations affecting the O-antigen biosynthesis, iron utilization, Porin D, and other determinants. This study elucidates the divergent adaptive evolutionary strategies of a single exoS+/exoU+ P. aeruginosa clone within the host during bacterial pneumonia, as well as their critical role in shaping the bacterium's virulence and adaptability, which sheds light on the within-host evolution dynamics of P. aeruginosa populations during their pathogenesis and persistence in the lung.

With antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains rapidly increasing and the development of antibacterial drugs stagnating, alternative solutions are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising therapeutics due to their structural diversity and broad-spectrum activity against pathogens. This versatility is particularly attractive for combating drug-resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is notorious for causing persistent and biofilm-related infections. In this study, we engineered a series of tryptophan-arginine-rich antimicrobial peptides, i.e., DVFLGREEWWWWWWC (D6W), DVFLGREEWWWRWWWC (D6W1R), and DVFLGREEWWRWWRWWC (D6W2R), specifically targeting S. aureus. The DVFLG domain confers selective affinity toward S. aureus, while tryptophan- and arginine-rich segments promote bacterial membrane disruption. Structural analysis reveals that these peptides adopt a mixture of α-helix or β-sheet conformations and spontaneously self-assemble into fibrillar or oligomeric supramolecular structures. Among the three peptides tested, D6W2R exhibited the highest antibacterial activity, consistent with trends observed in the molecular dynamics simulations. Beyond eradicating planktonic bacteria, the resulting peptide nanofibers effectively inhibit biofilm formation and disrupt established biofilms. Notably, their antibacterial performance is preserved under ex vivo and in vivo conditions while exhibiting minimal toxicity toward mammalian cells. These results demonstrated that self-assembled peptides can encode potent, selective antibacterial activity against MRSA, especially against biofilm-related infections.

Medical device-associated infections remain a major clinical challenge due to the rapid formation of microbial biofilms on device and implant surfaces. Biofilms are estimated to be involved in approximately 65% of microbial infections and up to 80% of chronic infections. Once established on device surfaces, these biofilms exhibit profound antibiotic tolerance, making infections difficult to eradicate, prone to relapse, and often necessitating invasive device removal, thereby imposing substantial clinical and economic burdens. These biofilms drive persistent infections that are highly tolerant to systemic antimicrobials because of restricted drug penetration, reduced metabolic activity, and adaptive resistance. Catheter-related bloodstream infections exemplify these impacts, contributing to elevated morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. When drug therapy fails, device removal is often required but may not be feasible for high-risk patients. Nanotechnology offers an emerging solution through interface-engineered surfaces and targeted antibiofilm strategies. Nanostructured coatings can inhibit initial microbial adhesion, while nanocarriers can penetrate established biofilms and deliver high local concentrations of antimicrobial agents with minimal systemic exposure. This review summarizes the mechanisms of biofilm formation, the limitations of current treatments, and recent advances in nanotechnology-based approaches for preventing and eradicating device-associated biofilms, and discusses the key challenges for clinical translation.

Acute hepatitis B (AHB), an acute manifestation triggered by hepatitis B virus infection, has emerged as a significant international public health concern, particularly endangering women of childbearing age (WCBA) who are prone to persistent infection, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and mother-to-child transmission threats. However, research on acute hepatitis B lags, mainly focusing on chronic cases or clinical treatments. This study aims to quantify its global disease burden from 1990 to 2021 among women of childbearing age and predict epidemiological trends to inform targeted prevention and control strategies. Data of AHB burden from 1990 to 2021were obtained from the GBD 2021 via Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx). Frontier analysis was utilized to find the unrealized health potential. The age-period-cohort model was applied to analyze trends across different age groups, periods, and birth cohorts. The joinpoint regression model was used to identify significant changes in data trends over time. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was utilized for forecasting future epidemiological trajectories. A decreasing trend in age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life-years rates (ASDR) was observed among the women of childbearing age worldwide from 1990 to 2021. The disease burden was disproportionately higher in low socio-demographic index (SDI) regions. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model revealed that by 2050, the ASIR and ASPR show similar downward trends, as do the ASMR and ASDR, but the latter decline less steeply than the former. The global disease burden of AHB in WCBA was declining, which is consistent with the vaccination and perinatal prevention, yet marked geographic disparities persist in low-resource regions. Modeling projections show that continued declines may contribute to progress toward the WHO viral hepatitis elimination goals, but vaccine coverage, safe injection and sufficient prevention of mother-to-child transmission remain essential. Not applicable.