Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected certain demographics in England, exacerbating existing health disparities. Effective therapeutics are a critical line of defence against COVID-19, particularly for patients at elevated risk for severe disease. Surveillance systems were established to monitor usage of COVID-19 therapeutics in hospital and community settings and inform stewardship. Three antiviral therapies: nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid®), remdesivir (Veklury®), and molnupiravir (Lagevrio®); and two neutralising monoclonal antibody therapies (nMAbs): sotrovimab (Xevudy®) and casirivimab with imdevimab (Ronapreve®); were in use in England between July 2020 to April 2023. This paper aims to illuminate trends in the utilisation of COVID-19 therapeutics treatment in both hospital and community settings, stratified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) in England. Chapter 3 of the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance (ESPAUR) report 2022 to 2023 also discusses the epidemiological surveillance of these five directly-acting antiviral COVID-19 therapeutics use in England between 2022 to 2023.

The serendipitous discovery of antiparasitic drugs, such as quinine and artemisinin from plant origin reveals that the search for new chemical pharmacophores from medicinal plants is valuable. The present study sought to explore the antiplasmodial, antileishmanial, and antitrypanosomal activities of extracts from Lippia adoensis. Crude extracts of L. adoensis leaves and twigs, which were obtained by extraction using 70% ethanol in water, were assayed for antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum 3D7 and Dd2 through the SYBR green I-based fluorescence assay; and for antileishmanial, antitrypanosomal, and cytotoxic effects on Leishmania donovani, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, and Vero cells, respectively, using the resazurin colorimetric assays. The phytochemical analysis of the extracts was performed using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) feature-based detection and molecular networking flow on Global Natural Product Social (GNPS). As a result, the crude extracts from L. adoensis inhibited growth of P. falciparum (3D7 and Dd2) (IC50s; (3D7): 10.008 and 97.467 μg/mL; (Dd2): 29.48 and 26.96 μg/mL), L. Donovani (IC50s: 22.879-10.522 μg/mL), and T. brucei brucei (IC50s: 2.3085-55.06 μg/mL). The extracts were found to be non-cytotoxic to Vero cells, thus yielding median cytotoxic concentrations (CC50s) above 100 μg/mL. The LC-MS tandem molecular networking flow predicted that the extracts contain valsafungin A and bacillamidin on the first cluster, and fatty acids, ketone and aldehyde derivatives on the second cluster. Overall, the present study demonstrated the antiparasitic effects of L. adoensis extracts, thus justifying the use of this plant in the traditional treatment of fever and malaria conditions. Nevertheless, detailed metabolomic studies and antiparasitic mechanisms of action of the extracts are expected to unveil the potential antiparasitic hit compounds.

Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem. The human gut microbiome is implicated in the dynamics of antibiotic resistance acquisition and transmission, with the gut microbiota thought to play a crucial role. This study aimed to determine the potential influence of human gut bacteria microbiota on the gut resistome and the relationship between gut background microbiota and Escherichia coli resistome. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was used to systematically review studies that characterised gut microbiota and resistome using metagenomic analysis and/or those that reported gut E. coli resistome in healthy individuals. Changes in the diversity and abundance of bacterial gut microbiota and the resistome across different groups and the microbiota composition of the gut harbouring antibiotic-resistant E. coli were summarised. Findings suggest that lower bacterial microbiota diversity is likely associated with an increased abundance of the overall gut resistome. Age-related differences were observed, with younger infants exhibiting lower microbiota diversity and higher ARG abundance compared to older infants and adults. Studies that reported correlation revealed positive correlations between the compositional relative abundance of Proteobacteria and ARGs abundance, mainly driven by members within the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly E. coli. This study also revealed that human gut microbiome studies that investigate gut resistome using metagenomic sequencing approaches in apparently healthy individuals are at least uncommon.

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic human pathogen and a leading cause of bloodstream infections. It can acquire different antibiotic resistance genes, leading to treatment failure. Aim: We elaborate on the genomic characteristics; antibiotic resistance, virulence, pathogenicity, phylogenomics and clonal diversity of S. aureus implicated in bloodstream infections. Six multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. aureus, three methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and three methicillin-sensitive S. aureus obtained from blood cultures underwent whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. All isolates carried different permutations and combinations of resistance genes including, blaZ, mecA, aac(6')-aph (2''), ant(9)-Ia, ant(6)-Ia, mepR, fosB, norA, norC, lmrS, arlS, arlR, mgrA, kdpD and sdrM. We found 6 spa types (t9475, t355, t045, t1265, t1257, and t7888) with varying profiles of virulence genes responsible for immune invasion, enterotoxins, adhesion/biofilm, haemolysins, and leukotoxins. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (Luk-PV) was found in one MSSA isolate. Two SCCmec types IVd(2B) and I(1B) were identified. Isolates belonged to four multilocus sequence types (MLSTs), the most common of which was ST5 (n=3). The STs were clustered into two clonal complexes CC5 and CC8. We found two MRSA clones typed as ST5-CC5-t045-SCCmec_I(1B), and the human-associated MRSA endemic clone ST612-CC8-t1257-SCCmec_IVd(2B). The insertion sequences IS30 and IS6 associated with virulence were found in two isolates. The presence of virulent MDR S. aureus in bloodstream infections poses a clinical concern because of limited treatment options and increased risk of mortality.

The global antibiotic resistance crisis, driven by antibiotic overuse and misuse, is multifaceted. This study aimed to assess the microbiological and genetic characteristics of raw retail pork meat, including the isolation, antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), whole genome sequencing (WGS) of selected indicator bacteria, antibiotic residue testing, and metagenomic sequencing. Samples were purchased from 10 randomly selected retail stores in Gauteng, South Africa. Samples were aseptically separated, with a portion sent to an external laboratory for isolating indicator bacteria and antibiotic residue testing. Identification of the isolated bacteria was reconfirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). AST was performed using the Microscan Walkaway system. WGS and metagenomic sequencing were performed using the Illumina NextSeq 550 instrument. The isolated E. coli and enterococci exhibited little phenotypic resistance, with WGS revealing tetracycline resistance genes. Isolated bacteria and meat samples all harboured tetracycline resistance genes, and the antibiotic residue concentrations were within acceptable limits for human consumption. In the metagenomic context, most identified bacteria were of food/meat spoilage and environmental origin, with the resistome analysis primarily indicating beta-lactam, tetracycline and multidrug resistance genes. Further research is needed to understand the broader implications of these findings on environmental health and antibiotic resistance.

The present study aimed at investigating the in vitro and in vivo susceptibility of malaria parasites to crude extracts and fractions from Polyalthia suaveolens, Uvaria angolensis, and Monodora tenuifolia. The ethanolic extracts were prepared by maceration, and were further partitioned using water, dichloromethane, hexane, and methanol. The most promising fraction was subjected to column chromatography and the sub-fractions tested for activity in vitro. The antiplasmodial effect of extracts and fractions was tested against the Chloroquine resistant (PfK1) strain in 96 wells microtiter plate format using SYBR green florescence assay. The promising fraction was further assessed for cytotoxicity and acute toxicity in Swiss albino mice and subsequently against the rodent malaria parasite, P. berghei. Qualitative phytochemical screening was also performed on the promising fraction. The methanol fractions exerted the overall better effect with that of the twigs of P. suaveolens (PStw(Ace)) showing the highest potency with a IC50 value of 3.24 µg/mL followed by the fractions of leaf of M. tenuifolia (MoTel(Ace), IC50= 3.84 µg/ml) and stem bark of P. suaveolens (IC50= 4.90 µg/ml). The phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, lactones, and phenols in the more active fraction of P. suaveolens (PStw(Ace)). The chromatographic fractionation of this fraction led to 12 sub-fractions with PS8 sub-fraction being the most active (IC50= 4.42 µg/mL). In vivo, oral administration of 2000 mg/kg b.w of fraction PStw(Ace) in mice showed no signs of toxicity. Also, fraction PStw(Ace) at 400 mg/kg b.w exerted the highest suppressive effect against P. berghei strain B throughout the 4 days experiment (% parasitaemia below 5.2%). Overall, the results achieved supported the use of the three plants in the traditional treatment of malaria in Cameroon. More interestingly, the methanolic fraction of the twigs extract from P. suaveolens might be of interest in future development of an antimalarial phytodrug.

Porcine parvovirus 8 (PPV8), a novel virus in the Parvoviridae family, was first identified in 2022 in lung samples of domestic pigs from China. Retrospective analyses showed that it had been circulating in China since 1998, but no other countries had reported its presence so far. A recent study conducted in South America did not detect any PPV8-positive samples in that region. Here we report the detection of PPV8 in Hungarian and Slovakian pig farms and the estimated prevalence of the virus in Hungary. Altogether 2230 serum, 233 oral fluid, and 115 processing fluid samples were systematically collected from 23 Hungarian and 2 Slovakian pig farms between 2020 and 2023. A real-time quantitative PCR method was developed to detect the viral genome. Our results revealed the presence of PPV8 on 65% of the Hungarian farms and on both Slovakian farms included in our study, marking its first detection in Europe. Oral fluid samples showed the highest positivity rates, reaching up to 100% in some herds. The viral genome was successfully detected in serum and processing fluid samples too, but with significantly lower prevalence rates of 4% and 5%, respectively. Genetic analysis of 11 partial VP2 sequences demonstrated high similarity to the original Chinese strain but with unique amino acid mutations, suggesting possible local evolution of the virus. Our study presents the first scientific evidence of PPV8 infection outside of China and offers a comprehensive assessment of its prevalence in the Hungarian pig population. Further research is required to understand its potential impact on swine health.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a growing crisis in both human and veterinary medicine. We evaluated the use of two categories of antibiotic alternatives – heavy metals and essential oils – in beef cattle, and their effects on gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. In this randomized controlled field trial, we measured the impact of supplemental zinc and menthol on antimicrobial resistance among commensal enteric bacteria of feeder cattle. Fecal suspensions were plated onto plain- and antibiotic-supplemented MacConkey and m-Enterococcus agar for quantification of total and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp., respectively. Temporal effects on overall E. coli growth were significant (P< 0.05); however, there were no significant effects on antibiotic-supplemented agar. Zinc was associated with significant increases in growth on erythromycin-supplemented m-Enterococcus agar. Cattle fed zinc exhibited significantly higher macrolide resistance among fecal enterococci isolates.

Diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, especially among children. Recent epidemiological studies conducted in developing countries identified Shigella species as the most predominant pathogenic bacteria responsible for diarrhea. Antimicrobial therapy is necessary for Shigella infections; however, the rapid emergence of resistance against existing antimicrobials in Shigella spp. poses a serious global health problem. To identify alternative antimicrobial compounds with activity against Shigella species, the pathogens responsible for bacterial diarrhea. In this study, we have applied antibacterial phenotypic screening to identify potent anti-Shigella compounds across a broad chemical diversity, including selected acetaminophen derivatives containing benzothiazoles backbone, and their combination with certain antibiotics. In continuation to our effort in searching potent antimicrobial compounds, we have found this time around that two acetaminophen derivatives containing benzothiazoles backbone (4a and 4b) could inhibit the growth of Shigella flexneri with common MIC value of 12.5 µg/ml. These compounds were established through a time-kill kinetics’ study to be bactericidal. Meanwhile, the 2-aminobenzothiazoles (1a and 1b) used for the synthesis of compounds 4 (a & b) were found to be poorly active (MIC: 100 µg/ml) against this pathogen. Combination studies of 4a and 4b with the least susceptible antibiotics (ceftriaxone and cotrimoxazole) demonstrated synergistic anti-Shigella activity. The present study demonstrates that the azobenzothiazole dyes 4 (a & b) can be repurposed as potential anti-Shigella compounds, which can serve as scaffolds for the development of new agents against infectious diarrhea caused by Shigella and other enteric pathogens, especially in developing countries.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is widely used in public healthcare facilities; this exposure can result in the development of bacterial tolerance to disinfectant, which has known links to antibiotic cross-resistance. However, the mechanism through which cross-resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants develops remains ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the phenotypic, and transcriptomic changes caused by disinfectant exposure in gram-negative bacteria and determine the cause of cross-resistance to antibiotics. The results demonstrated that the misuse of disinfectants plays an important role in the emergence of disinfectant resistance and in the increase in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance may occur from exposure of gram-negative bacteria to subminimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of NaOCl. Ten passages of gram-negative bacteria in increasingly higher subMICs of NaOCl disinfectant was sufficient to increase the MIC to >2,500 µg/ml NaOCl, particularly in K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. To determine the development of cross-resistance to antibiotics due to NaOCl exposure, the MICs for each antibiotic before and after exposure of each strain to sublethal concentrations of NaOCl were compared. After overnight incubation with a sublethal concentration of NaOCl, a statistically significant increase in MIC was only observed for imipenem (P<0.01). Investigation of the mechanism of cross-resistance by means of transcriptome analysis revealed that 1,250 µg/ml NaOCl-adapted K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa strains increased resistance to imipenem due to increased expression of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) efflux pumps, such as AcrAB-TolC and MexAB/XY-OprM. Therefore, we suggest that exposure to NaOCl can influence the expression of RND efflux pump genes, contributing to imipenem cross-resistance.

Biofortification refers to the increase in the amount of essential vitamins or provitamins or minerals in crops to improve the nutritional status of the people, which is largely intended to alleviate the problem of micronutrient malnutrition. I argue that biofortification may not be an effective weapon to fight against the hidden hunger since it demonstrates limited capacity on nutritional enhancement and can negatively impact the socio-economic fabric of the society in many different ways. Finally, I suggest a couple of alternatives that might meet the challenge more efficiently than biofortified crops.

The global increase in population has placed significant pressure on food security, leading to the emergence of aquaculture as a vital source of aquatic foods. However, rising costs and the limited availability of fishmeal in aquafeeds have spurred the search for alternative protein sources. While plant-based ingredients have been integrated into commercial aquafeeds, they come with challenges, including low protein content, palatability issues, and the presence of antinutritional factors. In this context, fish silage, derived from fish waste and discarded fish, stands out as a promising alternative technology due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability attributes. The production of fish silage involves the addition of organic/inorganic acids or lactic acid bacteria to homogenized fish waste. This process yields a valuable mixture rich in peptides, free amino acids, and partially hydrolyzed proteins, offering significant nutritional benefits for animal diets. Beyond its nutritional advantages, fish silage contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the impact of waste disposal and enhancing the value of fish waste. The objective of this review is to promote sustainable practices in the aquaculture industry in response to the increasing demand for high-quality feed nutrients. To achieve this, it includes an analysis of research results related to silage technology, an appraisal of the advantages and disadvantages of using fish silage as a feed additive, and a focus on emerging trends in this field.

Today, legislative framework addresses the metal alloys’ corrosion issues, demanding the re-striction of use of the probable carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction at humans (CMG) metals, like nickel, cobalt and chromium, and demand to develop new biomaterials. Therefore, the aim of this research is to evaluate and compare ion release of standard dental alloys and their hypoallergenic equivalents. Six types of orthodontic alloy wires (nickel-titanium (NiTi), coated NiTi, stainless steel (SS), Ni-free SS, cobalt-chromium (CoCr), and titanium-molybdenum (TMA) were immersed into artificial saliva of pH 5.5 and 6.6. Release of metal ions was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) after 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. Data analyses were done using analysis of variance, results with P

The banana, also known as plantain in some places, is a tropical fruit widely consumed and appreciated around the world. Its scientific name is Musa paradisiaca and it belongs to the Musaceae family. This fruit is native to Southeast Asia but is currently cultivated in various tropical and subtropical regions, is harvested throughout all the year and planted in 130 countries, 75% of which is produced mainly in India, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and China. The use of some post-harvest treatments (gradening, modification of the atmosphere, coatings and refrigeration, among others) are important for guarantee of safe, healthy and high-quality foods in the century XXI. This review details mechanical damage after harvest, management of environmental parameters (temperature and relative humidity), control of gases involved in storage and transportation, treatment with wax, coatings, the use of antifungal compounds and packaging necessary for the export of the fruit.

Hyaluronic acid, in the form of a gel or viscoelastic colloidal solution, is currently used for viscosupplementation of joints affected by osteoarthritis, but its effectiveness is under debate in relation to newer alternatives. Based on meta-analytical arguments, the present article reinforces the opinion that there are still no decisive arguments for its complete replacement, but for its use adapted to the peculiarities of the disease manifestation and of the patients. A “broad” comparison is first made with almost all alternatives studied in the last decade, and then a meta-regression study is performed to compare and predict the effect size induced by viscosupplementation and platelet-rich plasma therapies. If they are computerized, the developed models can represent tools for clinicians in determining the appropriateness of the option or not for viscosupplementation, in a manner adapted to the pain felt by the patients, to their age, or to other clinical circumstances. The models were generated using the latest algorithms for meta-analysis and meta-regression implemented in the R language and assembled in different R packages. All primary data and necessary R scripts are provided in accordance with the philosophy of reproducible research. Finally, HA-based products, currently under circumspection, are still clinically useful.

The application of antimicrobials in aquaculture primarily aims to prevent and treat bacterial infections in fish. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials in fish farming may result in the emergence of zoonotic antibiotic-resistant bacteria and subsequent transmission of resistant strains to humans via food consumption. From recently, AMR emerged as a significant public health concern in the aquaculture ecosystem and fisheries. The aquatic environment serves as a potential reservoir for resistant bacteria, with aquaculture practices providing an ideal breeding ground for AMR due to the excessive use of antimicrobials to prevent and treat diseases. The mutual inter-connection of intensive fish farming systems with terrestrial environments, food processing industry and human population creates pathways for the transmission of resistant bacteria, exacerbating the problem further. One Health concept, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, enables a holistic approach to address the challenges posed by AMR. By understanding the evolution of such approach, the future of aquaculture, being the important source of a global animal protein supply, can be safeguarded. Risk mitigation strategies for AMR should be based on One Health concept to contribute to sustainable aquaculture practices that protect human and animal health, ensure food safety and protection of environment.

Dispersion of antibiotic in livestock farming represents a health concern worldwide, contributing to the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria through animals, the environment, and humans. Phenolic compounds could be alternatives to antibiotics, once drawbacks such as low water solubility, bioavailability, and reduced stability are overcome. Although nano- or microsized formulations could respond to these shortcomings they do not represent cost-effective options. Here, three phenolic compounds, obtained from wood processing manufacturers, were characterized, revealing suitable features such as antioxidant activity, size, and chemical and colloidal stability for in-field applications. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of these colloidal suspensions was measured against six bacterial strains isolated from livestock. These particles showed different inhibition behaviors: Colloidal chestnut was effective against one of the most threatening antibiotic resistant pathogens such as S. aureus but was ineffective toward E. coli. On the other hand, colloidal pine showed a weak effect on S. aureus but specificity toward E. coli. The present proof-of-concept points at colloidal polyphenols as valuable alternatives for antimicrobial substitutes in the livestock context.

Essential oils (EOs) have been gaining popularity in the past decades among researchers due to their potential to replace conventional chemicals used in the fight against pests, pathogenic and spoilage microbes and oxidation processes. EOs are complex mixtures with many chemical components the content of which depends on many factors – not just the plant genus, species or subspecies, but also chemotype, locality and climatic conditions, phase of vegetation, method of extraction and others. Due to this fact, there’s still much to study, with antimicrobial effect being one of the key properties of EOs. There are many methods that have been frequently engaged by researchers for in vitro evaluation; however, although the research has been going on for decades, an internationally accepted standard is still missing. Most of methods are based on time-proven standards used for testing of antibiotics. Due to the specific properties of EOs and their components, such as volatility and hydrophobicity, many modifications of these standard procedures have been adopted. The aim of this review is to describe the most common methods and their modifications for testing of antimicrobial properties of EOs and to point out the most controversial variables which can potentially affect results of the assays.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a glioma and the most aggressive type of brain tumor with a dismal average survival time, despite the standard of care. One promising alternative therapy is boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), which is a noninvasive therapy for treating locally invasive malignant tumors, including glioma. BNCT involves boron-10-released radiation directly into tumor cells with minimal damage to healthy tissues. This therapy lacks clinically approved targeted blood-brain-barrier-permeating delivery vehicles for therapeutic drug/ boron-10. Nanoparticles, particularly gold nanoparticles (GNPs), are selective and effective drug-delivery vehicles because of their desirable properties, facile synthesis, and biocompatibility. This review discusses historical and current GNP therapeutic applications as a drug delivery vehicle for treating glioma. Furthermore, GNPs loaded with therapeutic drugs, imaging agents, and GBM-targeting antibodies/ peptides to treat GBM will be discussed. Additionally, the importance of upper and lower limits on therapeutic efficacy will be described and explored followed by highlighting their advantages, limitations, and possible toxicity. Recent research and selected important findings for GNP-mediated pharmaceutics in GBM will also be considered.

The severity of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak demand from countries to adopt extreme measurements of social isolation to stop the spread and flatten the curve of contamination. Although social isolation measures may have negative impacts on economy, historically it has been showed to be more effective in saving lives and less damaging to economy than not adopting these measurements during a viral pandemic. In Brazil, despite the positioning of the president against social isolation due to the consequent economic recession, the rapid spread of the virus has worried the governors of the Brazilian states, which are thus managing stringent social isolation measurements to avoid the advance of the virus. Since one of the main strategies to guarantee progress and economic growth in Brazil has been the exploitation of natural resources from the Amazonia biome, here we discuss the importance of this biome to Brazilian economy during the post-pandemic recession and highlights potential strategies to burst the economy without promoting Amazonia destruction. We show that, together with the REDD+ and the Amazon Fund, the Forest bonds represents good strategies to burst Brazilian economy in a sustainable way, showing that it is possible to improve the commodities without increasing Amazonia deforestation or the greenhouse gases emissions. Amazonia is a biome of global importance for the avoidance of another global crisis, which will occur if we reach the climatic tipping point of 1.5°C. Thus, governmental actions should go towards its preservation, not exploitation and depletion. The commitment of the government with environmental conservation is paramount so that these economic strategies have positive results, especially in a post-pandemic scenario, where the economy will be extremely weakened. The COVID-19 brings us a lesson regarding how our attitudes can impact the world, and what we can expect from a global crisis. Perhaps we can apply these lessons and focus on change our economy towards a sustainable direction to avoid another global crisis in the years to come.

The end of life and circularity of products is an increasingly important issue, driven by concerns over their environmental impact and emerging regulations. Natural materials such as leather should be an obvious choice in the design of sustainable, circular products. Several ‘trendy’ alternative materials have been developed that are presented as sustainable alternatives to leather. This research compares the potential for leather and ‘trendy’ materials in composting conditions. The capacity of a material to biodegrade at the end of its life will influence its potential to be part of a circular economic model. The results show that most of the alternatives are poorly compostable. A notable exception was Piñatex® which showed 65.25% disintegration and 59.84% biodegradability while leather largely showed good disintegration and biodegradability. Plants grown in vegetable tanned leather compost produced 74% more top leaf growth than the blank. Vegetable tanned and chromium-free leather produce compost with an ecotoxicology profile that is favourable for use in agriculture. The results show that through its capacity to produce composts, leather has the potential to contribute to the circular economy. In contrast, trendy alternatives had a very limited capacity for biodegradation and would create waste issues at the end of their life.

Plants from the Myrtaceae family are well known to contain considerable amounts of volatile compounds, ranging from oxygenated monoterpenes to hydrogenated sesquiterpenes, and others, which exhibit antimicrobial activity. One such plant includes Syzygium aromaticum that has been extensively used to treat a number of disorders, including bacterial and fungal infections. Thus, the scientific validation of the essential oil (EO) of Syzygium aromaticum vis-à-vis Candida and Cryptococcus species is valuable. To this end, the present study sought to investigate the antifungal activity of EO from S. aromaticum (clove) leaves and flower buds against Candida and Cryptococcus species. The antioxidant activity of S. aromaticum’s essential oils is also elucidated. The EO was extracted from fresh leaves and floral buds of S. aromaticum using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The as-prepared essential oils were further evaluated for antifungal activity against Candida and Cryptococcus species using a microdilution method. The phytochemical analysis of the EOs was assessed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant activities of the EOs were evaluated using standard methods. As a result, the GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of volatile compounds, such as eugenol (87.08%), β-caryophyllene (6.40%) and acetyleugenol (4.45%) as the major constituents of EO from the flower buds ; and eugenol (90.54%) and β-caryophyllene (24.65%) as the major components of the leaf’s EO. The eugenol-rich essential oils exhibited significant antifungal effects against Candida species (common MIC value: 200 ppm) and Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC value: 50 ppm), as well as antioxidant activity. Overall, essential oils of S. aromaticum demonstrated an-tioxidant and antifungal effects, thus validating the ethnopharmacological use of this plant in the treatment of fungal infections. However, antifungal mechanisms of action, in-depth toxicity and in vivo experiments, and pharmacokinetics are warranted to support the use of this plant in ethnomedicine.

Rice production is important for global food security but given its large water footprint, efficient irrigation management strategies need to be developed. Expansion of rice growing area is larger than any other crop in Africa due to increasing demand for rice. Three rice irrigation management alternatives with the system of rice intensification (SRI) were field-evaluated against the conventional continuously flooded system (CF) in Tanzania. Production systems included: (1) CF (50 mm ponding depth for the entire season); (2) SRI (40 mm ponding for 3 days and no irrigation for next 5 days); (3) 80% SRI (80% of the SRI ponding); and (4) 50% SRI (50% of the SRI ponding). Experimental evaluation of the four systems was conducted for both wet and dry seasons. For the dry season, the SRI and 80% SRI produced higher yields of 9.68 tons/ha and 11.45 tons/ha and saved 26% and 35% of water, respectively compared to the CF (8.69 tons/ha). The yield advantage of the 80% SRI and SRI over the CF was less during the wet season with 6.01 tons/ha and 5.99 tons/ha of production, and water savings of 30% and 14%, respectively compared to the CF (5.64 tons/ha). The 50% SRI had lowest yield of all for both seasons, 7.48 tons/ha and 4.99 tons/ha for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Statistically, the 80% SRI treatment outperformed all other treatments over the two seasons with an additional yield of 1.57 tons/ha and 33% (345 mm) water savings compared to the CF. Economic productivity of water (US$/ha-cm) over two seasons was highest for the 80% SRI ($20.27/ha-cm), while it was lowest for the CF ($12.89/ha-cm). Water saved by converting from the CF to the 80% SRI (1.98 million ha-cm) can support a 50% expansion in the current rice irrigated area in Tanzania. Even without irrigation expansion, the 80% SRI can increase rice production by 1.5 million tons annually while enhancing water availability for industrial and environmental uses (e.g., ecological preserves) and help achieve food security in Tanzania and the greater sub-Saharan Africa.

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) comprise a large group of compounds of mostly plant origin. The best-known compound is hyperforin from St. John's wort with its antidepressant, antitumor and antimicrobial properties. Chemical synthesis of PPAP variants allows the generation of compounds with improved activity and compatibility. Here we studied two synthetic PPAP-derivatives, PPAP 23 and PPAP 53, as to their antimicrobial activity. While PPAP 23 is insoluble in water, PPAP 53, the sodium salt, is water-soluble. In vitro, both compounds exhibited good and comparable activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Both compounds had no adverse effects on Galleria mellonella wax moth larvae, even at high concentrations. However, they were unable to protect the larvae from infection with S. aureus because components of the larval coelom neutralized the antimicrobial activity; a similar neutralizing effect was also seen with serum albumin. In a septic arthritis model triggered by S. aureus PPAP23 decreased the formation of abscesses and bacterial load in kidneys, and in a mouse skin abscess model topical treatment with PPAP 53 resulted in an approximately two-fold reduction in S. aureus counts. PPAP 23 and PPAP 53 also showed high growth inhibiting activity against anaerobic Gram-positive pathogenic gut bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile. Based on these results, we envision potential application of PPAP 23 and PPAP 53 in the topical treatment of wound infections with Gram+ pathogens, and their oral use in intestinal infections with C. difficile.

Relative to several model bacteria, the ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis is shown here to have an elevated resistance to exogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) – both, with regard to peptide bulk concentration in the medium, and the numbers of peptide molecules per cell. By monitoring integration of the AMPs in the bacterial cell membrane and observing the resulting effect on membrane energy-coupling, it is concluded that the membranotropic effects of the tested AMPs in Z. mobilis and in Escherichia coli are comparable. The advantage of Z. mobilis over E. coli apparently results from its uncoupled mode of energy metabolism that, in contrast to E. coli, does not rely on oxidative phosphorylation, and hence, is less vulnerable to disruption of its energy-coupling membrane by AMPs. It is concluded that the high resistance to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) observed in Z. mobilis not only proves crucial for its survival in its natural environment but also offers a promising platform for AMP production and sheds light on potential strategies for novel resistance development in clinical settings.

In 2014, a whistleblower reported that many U.S. veterans died while waiting for care at the Phoenix VHA. Problems with veteran’s care through 2018 reveal ongoing and systematic problem. In March 2018, the VA Inspector General identified critical deficiencies at the Washington, DC VA Medical Center including failures to track patient safety events accurately, ineffective sterile processing, and more than 10 thousand open or pending prosthetic / sensory aid consults. The VHA clearly has problems with access and quality in a budget-constrained environment. In this policy analysis, four separate interventions that address the gap between the magnitude as well as the use of the VHA’s fixed budget versus access and cost expectations are explored. These policy interventions include maintaining the status quo, returning to a “VHA-only” option, transitioning to a CMS central payer system, and consolidating care under the DoD TRICARE insurance plans. An objective evaluation suggests that extending TRICARE to veterans while phasing out the VHA’s care responsibilities, while politically unpalatable, would likely provide the best of four possible solutions under various criterion weighting schemes. A central payer solution under the CMS would also be viable consideration. A Friedman’s test with Wilcoxon rank sum post-hoc tests suggests that TRICARE patient perceptions of quality are superior to VHA and non-VHA / non-DoD (p<.001), that access provided by the TRICARE program is ranked second in terms of venue acceptance only to the CMS solution set based on primary provider acceptance, and that the cost per beneficiary of a TRICARE solution ($6.5K / beneficiary) is far better than a VHA-only solution ($14.0 K / beneficiary), the CMS central payer solution ($12.2K / beneficiary), or the status quo (between $12.2K and $14.0K / beneficiary). The intent of this paper is to provoke thoughtful consideration of solutions for providing access to high-quality healthcare for veterans within our outside of the VHA. In this policy analysis, separate interventions that address the gaps between cost, quality, and access are explored. These policy interventions include maintaining the status quo, returning to a VHA-only option, transitioning to a CMS central payer system, and consolidating care under TRICARE.

Conventional farming relies on large-scale, intensive crop production using mechanical tillage and synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which, despite being economically beneficial, can be environmentally destructive, whereas organic cropping system offers a more sustainable alternative with less harmful environmental impact. But is organic system more beneficial for soil health than conventional? In this study, we focused on evaluating the functional potential of soil for the conversion of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, as well as measuring the actual activity of enzymes involved in these cycles. We used Chernozem soil samples from fields that were managed using organic (OCS) and conventional (CCS) methods as the objects of our study. Another objective of the study was to compare two methods: profiling of functional genes of the microbial community and measurement of actual enzyme activity. The comparison of OCS versus CCS indicates that functional gene profiling and enzymatic activity measurements similarly capture qualitative differences between these systems, but diverge in how they assess quantitative differences. A combination of these two methods for assessing soil conditions appears to be promising. Overall, the study demonstrated that the agronomic practices used in the conventional cropping system not only preserved the functional properties of the soil microbiome but also significantly enhanced its microbiological activity for nutrient bioconversion compared to the organic cropping system. However, the question remains as to how long the conventional system can sustain its high potential.

Escherichia coli is an indicator microorganism in One Health antibiotic resistance surveillance programmes. The purpose of the study was to describe and compare E. coli isolates obtained from pigs and human contacts from a commercial farm in South Africa using conventional methods and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Porcine E. coli isolates were proportionally more resistant phenotypically and harboured a richer diversity of antibiotic resistance genes, as compared to human E. coli isolates. Different pathovars, namely ExPEC (12.43%, 21/169), ETEC (4.14%; 7/169), EPEC (2.96%, 5/169), EAEC (2.96%, 5/169) and STEC (1.18%, 2/169) were detected at low frequencies. Sequence type complex (STc) 10 were the most prevalent (85.51%, 59/169) among human and porcine isolates. Six STcs (STc10, STc86, STc168, STc206, STc278 and STc469) were shared at the human-livestock interface according to multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Core genome MLST and hierarchical clustering (HC) showed that human and porcine isolates were overall genetically diverse, but some clustering at HC2 to HC200 were observed. In conclusion, even though the isolates shared a spatio-temporal relationship, there were still differences in the virulence potential, antibiotic resistance profiles, and cgMLST and HC according to the source of isolation.

Rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella serotypes host-adapted to cattle is of increasing concern to the beef and dairy industry. The bulk of the existing literature focuses on AMR post-slaughter. In comparison, the understanding of AMR in Salmonella among pre-harvest cattle is still limited, particularly in Texas, which ranks top five in beef and dairy exports in the United States; inherently, the health of Texas cattle has nationwide implications for the health of the United States beef and dairy industry. In this study, long-read whole genome sequencing and bioinformatic methods were utilized to analyze antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in 98 isolates from beef and dairy cattle in the Texas Panhandle. Fisher exact tests and elastic net models accounting for population structure were used to infer associations between ARGs and antimicrobial phenotypic profiles and metadata. Gene mapping was also performed to assess the role of mobile genetic elements in harboring ARGs. ARG were found to be statistically different between the type of cattle operation and Salmonella serotypes. Beef operations were statistically significantly associated with more resistance genes compared to dairy operations. Salmonella Heidelberg, followed by Salmonella Dublin isolates, were associated with the most ARGs. Additionally, specific classes of ARGs were only present within mobile genetic elements.

Finding, safe and reliable alternatives to fungicides is one of the most actual challenges in agriculture. In this regard, our experiment investigated the effectiveness of different elicitors, botanical extracts and essential oils to control grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis) on strawberry plants. Furthermore, the defence mechanisms activated in plants after treatments were investigated. The trial was conducted in field conditions under plastic tunnel with strawberry plants ‘Elsanta’. In the first experiment, a group of strawberry plants was treated before flowering with elicitors [acibenzolar-S-Methyl – (BTH), chitosan], botanical extracts (seaweed extract, alfalfa hydrolysate) and essential oils (thyme and juniper) to evaluate their ability to reduce the incidence of grey mould infection on flowers. In the second experiment, another group of plants was treated before and after experimental inoculation with P. aphanis. Results indicated that the incidence of flower infected by B. cinerea was significantly reduced by thyme and juniper essential oils, showing values that were not significantly different from the commercial fungicide penconazole (positive control). As a consequence, final yield of essential oil-treated plants was +27% higher as compared to control. No significant differences emerged for other tested products against grey mould. However, gene expression analysis showed an up-regulation of FaEDS1, FaLOX and PR gene expression (FaPR1, FaPR5, FaPR10) in leaves treated with BTH. The other tested natural substances also elicited defence-related genes, however at a lower level than BTH. In the experiment, all treatments applied prior inoculation significantly reduced the incidence and severity of powdery mildew as compared to control. At 28 days after inoculation, chitosan and thyme essential oil applications performed similarly to their positive controls (BTH and penconazole, respectively), showing a significant reduction of disease incidence (by -84 and -92%) as compared to control. Post-inoculum application of essential oils showed similar effective action to fungicide (penconazole) in reducing incidence and severity of powdery mildew. These results indicate that the tested substances could be used as alternatives to fungicides for the control of grey mould and powdery mildew in strawberry, therefore representing a valuable tool for the control of these fungal diseases under the framework of the sustainable agriculture.

The antimicrobial resistance to clinically approved antibiotics is rapidly increasing worldwide. Staphylococcus aureus is a critical contributor to deaths associated with antibiotic resistance. In this regard, the search for natural compounds is quite active, that alone or in combination with other agents can be effective as new antibacterial agents. The antibacterial activity of essential oils has presented an increasing interest during the last years and was effective even on multidrug-resistant strains. The present study aims to investigate the interaction effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) with some conventional antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus tested by agar methods. For this purpose, we selected S. aureus ATCC 29213 and five clinical isolates representative of the species. The essential oil was analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analysis of the Oregano essential oil revealed the main component to be carvacrol (81,20%). Concentration 2.5% (v/v) OEO was combined with drugs proposed by EUCAST, 2024, specifically penicillin, cefoxitin, erythromycin, gentamycin and tetracycline. The research results showed that the combination of OEO with penicillin, cefoxitin, erythromycin, and tetracycline enhanced the antimicrobial activity of the antibiotics against S. aureus in almost all cases. The area of suppression remained identical (but not smaller) in the unaffected cases. When comparing the effects of the GEN-OEO combination and GEN against most S. aureus strains, a decrease in antimicrobial activity was reported by the diffusion agar method.

In recent years, bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics has become a major concern in the medical field. The global misuse of antibiotics in clinics, personal use, and agriculture has accelerated this resistance, making infections increasingly difficult to treat and rendering new antibiotics ineffective more quickly. Finding new antibiotics is challenging due to the complexity of bacterial mechanisms, high costs and low financial incentives for the development of new molecular scaffolds, and stringent regulatory requirements. Additionally, innovation has slowed, with many new antibiotics being modifications of existing drugs rather than entirely new classes. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a valid alternative to small molecule antibiotics offering several advantages, including broad-spectrum activity and a lower likelihood of inducing resistance due to their multifaceted mechanisms of action. However, AMPs face challenges such as stability issues in physiological conditions, potential toxicity to human cells, high production costs, and difficulties in large-scale manufacturing. A reliable strategy to overcome the drawbacks associate with the use of small molecule antibiotics and AMPs is the combination therapy, namely the simultaneous co-administration of two or more antibiotics or the synthesis of covalently linked conjugates. This review is intended to cover and critically analyze the design, synthetic strategies, antibacterial activity and, when possible, the cytotoxicity of antibiotic-AMPs conjugates.

Description of a novel bovine antimicrobial peptide and its antimicrobial spectrum. RNA isolation and RT-PCR were done from various tissues. DCD peptide was synthesized, and antimicrobial activity was analyzed. Bovine dermcidin gene contains five exons intermittent by 4 introns. Bovine DCD-mRNA was 398 bp with ORF 336 bp. Bovine DCD was expressed in skin and blood. Analysis of the amino acid compositions revealed that cysteine was repeated 6 times indicating the presence of 3 disulfide bonds that play role in the peptide stability. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus bovis, and Enterococcus faecalis were affected by Bovine DCD peptide. Highest antimicrobial effect was at 50 and 100 µg/ml. The effect on Escherichia coli and Candida albicans was slightly low. In all bacteria, Bovine DCD peptide activity did not affect by varying pH values, but in Staphylococcus aureus, the activity was affected greatly at pH 4.5 and 5.5. The optimum salt concentrations were 100 and 50 mM NaCl with all bacterial strains and E. coli, respectively. In case of C. albicans, the antimicrobial activity of Bovine DCD peptide decreased with increasing the pH value regardless the NaCl concentration. The pH 6.5 of the sweat buffer was the optimum for the Bovine DCD peptide activity.

Feed additive antibiotics have been used for many decades as growth promotors or antibacterial substances world-wide. However, the adverse impacts of using antibiotics in animal or poultry feeds were informed. Therefore, searching for alternatives such as probiotics, prebiotics, phytobiotics, post-biotics, bacteriophages, enzymes, essential oils, or organic acids (OAs) became urgent. The OAs are produced by beneficial intestinal bacteria through the fermentation process of carbohydrates. The OAs and their salts are still used as feed preservatives. They have been long added to feed in order to minimize contamination and growth of harmful bacteria and fungi, reduce the deterioration, as well as prolong the shelf life of feed commodities. Moreover, they have been mostly added to poultry feed as a blend to obtain a maximum beneficial effects. The supplementation of poultry with OAs could improve the growth performance parameters and carcass traits, promote utilization of nutrients, boost the immune response, and inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, this review article provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of using OAs-antibiotics alternative in reducing the microbial load, enhancing the performance parameters in broilers and layers, improving the gut heath, as well as boosting of the immune response.

Salmonella infection is one of major challenges to the poultry industry because of its pressing effects on health of poultry, food safety and human well-being that later may devastate economic losses to the poultry sector. The paper reviews public health implications and the use of antibiotics together with the risk of drug resistance. In recent years, the usage of probiotics in poultry industry has been growing to mitigate an increasing pressure to adopt sustainable farming practices. The mechanisms which probiotics may control Salmonella and important criteria for selecting effective probiotics in poultry are reported. Various studies highlighting the additional benefits of probiotics in poultry production in addition to Salmonella controls are also included. While probiotics offer promise in enhancing poultry health, challenges and limitations in their utilization must also be carefully considered.

The chemical investigation of the anti-yeast methanol extract from the stem bark of Terminalia mantaly led to the isolation of seven compounds: 3-O-methyl-4-O-α-rhamnopyranoside ellagic acid (1), 3-O-mehylellagic acid (2), arjungenin or 2,3,19,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oïc acid (3), arjunglucoside or 2,3,19,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oïc acid glucopyranoside (4), 2α,3α,24-trihydroxyolean-11,13(18)-dien-28-oïc acid (5), stigmasterol (6), stigmasterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7). Their structures were established by means of spectroscopic analysis and comparison with published data. Compounds 1-5 were tested in vitro for activity against three pathogenic yeast isolates, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei. The activity of compounds 1, 2 and 4 were comparable to that of the reference compound fluconazole (MIC values below 32 µg/ml) against the three tested yeast isolates. They were also tested for inhibitory properties against four enzymes of metabolic significance: Glucose-6-Phosphate Deshydrogenase (G6PD), human erythrocyte Carbonic anhydrase I and II (hCA I and hCA II), Glutathione S-transferase (GST). Compound 4 showed highly potent inhibitory property against the four tested enzymes with overall IC₅₀ values below 4 µM and inhibitory constant (Ki) <3 µM.

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-negative bacterium that causes superficial and deep infections that can be mild or potentially fatal. Recently, the bacterium has gained significant attention due to the increased incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains that make treatment with antibiotics dif-ficult. Owing to the MDR strains, alternative therapies such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) have emerged as good options to treat non-systemic infections. PDT combines a photosensi-tiser (PS) with light and oxygen to generate free radicals that destroy bacterial structures such as the plasma membrane, matrix, and genetic material. This systematic review aimed to identify the ef-fectiveness of PDT delivered using different types of hydrogels for treating wounds, burns, and contamination by S. aureus. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Bibliographic research was conducted using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Only full articles published in English between 2013 and 2024 from any country of origin (without restrictions) were included. The research was carried out from 15 June 2023 to 15 June 2024 and did not use any automatic biblio-graphic search tool. The articles collected were identified using keywords and selected using in-clusion and exclusion criteria in accordance with the PRISMA protocol. Seven articles were in-cluded that presented a good set of evidence associated with the use of PDT against S. aureus in in vitro and in vivo studies. To conclude, PDT can effectively complement antimicrobial therapy against S. aureus, in the healing of wounds and burns. The effectiveness of this technique depends on the PS used, hydrogel type, and lesion location. Some studies have already demonstrated the ef-fectiveness of PDT but most were in vitro and a few in vivo. Further studies are required to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of PDT delivered via hydrogels in in vivo models of bacterial infection.

Offshore electricity production, mainly by wind turbines, and eventually floating PV in the future, will contribute to increase renewable energy production, as well as their dispatchability. The need for that energy evacuation and the implementation of the hydrogen economy are challenges that arise the evaluation of such energy facilities for the direct production of hydrogen. The analysis of the alternatives for the evacuation of offshore renewable electricity for the production of hydrogen is presented. The analysis includes discussion about the current state of the art of hydrogen pipelines and subsea cables, as well as the storage and bunkering system that is needed on shore. The main options for energy evacuation will be via an electric subsea cable to produce hydrogen onshore, or by pipeline, depending on the capacity of the offshore plant. For low capacity, an electric subsea cable is the best option. For high capacity renewable offshore plants, pipelines start to be competitive for distances above aprox. 450 miles.

This review article focuses on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming healthcare in Africa, specifically in combatting infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and antimicrobial resistance. We provide a comprehensive overview of the significance of AI in the healthcare industry, highlighting its urgency and importance in addressing these specific health challenges in Africa. We begin by discussing the role of AI in infectious disease surveillance and outbreak detection. We explore how AI technology can be employed for real-time tracking and prediction of outbreaks, providing examples of successful AI applications in infectious disease surveillance within the African context.Next, we examine the potential of AI-enabled diagnosis and treatment for faster and more accurate diagnoses of infectious diseases and NTDs. We highlight specific examples of AI applications in diagnosing and treating these diseases in Africa, showcasing the potential of AI to improve clinical outcomes and save lives.Furthermore, we focus on how AI-driven drug discovery and development can expedite the search for new treatments for infectious diseases and combat antimicrobial resistance. We present examples of AI applications in drug discovery within the African context, illustrating the potential for AI to revolutionize the development of effective therapeutics.In addition, we delve into how AI-powered public health interventions can enhance the design and implementation of targeted interventions. We explore how AI can optimize resource allocation and facilitate data-driven decision-making processes, providing examples of AI applications in public health in Africa.Finally, we address the challenges and limitations of implementing AI in combatting infectious diseases, NTDs, and antimicrobial resistance in Africa. We discuss potential barriers and ethical concerns surrounding AI applications in healthcare, aiming to encourage informed and responsible utilization of AI technologies.Overall, this review emphasizes the importance and potential of AI in combatting infectious diseases, NTDs, and antimicrobial resistance in Africa. It positions AI as a catalyst for revolutionizing healthcare in the region, leading to more effective disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, drug discovery, and public health interventions.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat linked to increased morbidity and mortality. It has the potential to return us to the pre-antibiotic era. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs are recognized as a key intervention to improve antimicrobial use and combat AMR. However, implementation of AMS programs remains limited in Africa, particularly in Rwanda. This qualitative study, conducted at King Faisal Hospital (KFH) in Rwanda, aimed at assessing current prescription practices to identify areas for improvement and promote adherence to AMS principles. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed, revealing four emerging themes. First, emerged on AMS activities that were working well which includes availability of microbiology laboratory results, and prescription guidelines as factors influencing antibiotic prescription adjustments. Second, Implementations challenges to AMS which identified the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics, limited local data on AMR patterns, stock-outs of essential antibiotics, Thirdly, the importance of adhering to AMR management guidelines at KFH was underscored. Lastly, participant recommendations centered on regular training for healthcare workers, widespread dissemination of AMR findings across departments, and the enforcement of antibiotic restriction policies. These actions can improve prescription behaviors, upholding the highest standards of patient care, and strengthening the nascent AMS program.

New antiviral agents are essential to improving treatment and control of SARS-CoV-2 infections that can lead to the disease COVID-19. Antimicrobial peptoids are sequence-specific oligo-N-substituted glycine peptidomimetics that emulate the structure and function of natural antimicrobial peptides but are resistant to proteases. We demonstrate antiviral activity of a new peptoid (TM9) against the coronavirus, murine hepatitis virus (MHV), as a closely related model for the structure and antiviral susceptibility profile of SARS-CoV-2. This peptoid mimics the human cathelicidin LL-37, which has also been shown to have antimicrobial and antiviral activity. In this study TM9 was effective against three murine coronavirus strains, demonstrating the therapeutic window is large enough to allow use of TM9 for treatment. All three isolates of MHV generated infection in mice after 15 min of exposure by aerosol using the Madison aerosol chamber and all three viral strains could be isolated from the lungs throughout the 5-day observation period post-infection, with the peak titers on day 2. MHV-A59 and MHV-A59-GFP were also isolated from liver, heart, spleen, olfactory bulbs, and brain. These data demonstrate that MHV serves as a valuable natural murine model of coronavirus pathogenesis in multiple organs, including the brain.

Metals play vital roles in biological systems, with iron/heme being essential for cellular and metabolic functions necessary for survival and/or virulence in many bacterial pathogens. Given the rise of bacterial resistance to current antibiotics, there is an urgent need for the development of non-toxic and novel antibiotics that do not contribute to resistance to other antibiotics. Gallium, which mimics iron, has emerged as a promising antimicrobial agent, offering a novel approach to combat bacterial infections. Gallium does not have any known functions in biological systems. Gallium exerts its effects primarily by replacing iron in redox enzymes, effectively inhibiting bacterial growth by targeting multiple iron/heme-dependent biological processes and suppressing the development of drug resistance. The aim of this review is to highlight recent findings on the mechanisms of action of gallium and provide further insights into the development of gallium-based compounds. Understanding the mechanisms underlying gallium’s biological activities will enhance its therapeutic application across various medical fields, offering promising avenues for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancer, and inflammatory conditions.

Out of a worldwide annual incidence of ~150 million cases for urinary tract infection (UTI), >25% of outpatient prescriptions of oral antimicrobial treatment (OAT) are for cystitis not complicated by sepsis. OAT aids the immune cells infiltrating urothelium to eliminate uropathogens attaching and invading urothelium amidst hyperosmotic urine. This adaptability of uropathogens and the short interval between Penicillin sale and the first antimicrobial resistance (AMR) report suggests that AMR is a 3.8 billion years old evolutionary conserved heritable trait of surviving environmental threats through exponential proliferation of mutant strains selected by Darwinian principle. Therefore, OAT success with minimal AMR can be ensured by antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) following the principle of 5Ds -drug, dose, duration, drug-route, and de-escalation. While convenient to administer, the onset of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for OAT in urine is a window of opportunity for uropathogens to survive the first contact with OAT and the descendant colonies armed with AMR are likely to survive subsequent higher urine OAT levels. Meanwhile, intravesical antimicrobial treatment (IAT) delivers the first strike well above MIC. The root cause analysis of AMR dovetails with the strengths, weaknesses, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analysis of OAT in this interdisciplinary review.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization issued a practical approach and Global Action Plan to control the threatening emerging antibacterial resistance. One of the main basis of this plan is the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASPs). This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists’ awareness and perception towards antimicrobial resistance and ASPs in Jordan. Thus, a qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews with twenty community pharmacists. Convienience sampling was used in the study. Qualitative analysis of the data yielded four themes and eleven sub-themes. All the respondents showed good understanding about the causes of antimicrobial resistance. The most important causes reported by them was the non-restricted prescription of antimicrobials. Most of the pharmacists believed that they are competent to provide ASPs, however, they believed that there are several barriers against the implementation of ASPs in community pharmacies in Jordan. Barriers demonstrated by the pharmacists, including organizational obstacles, resources obstacles, and personal obstacles. As a conclusion, this study revealed several barriers against the implementation of ASPs in community pharmacies in Jordan. Incorporating ASPs in the community pharmacy settings requires proper pharmacist training, several academic disciplines team efforts, and good pharmacy practice of antimicrobial guidelines.

The global need for rapid diagnostic methods for pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is underscored by the increasing bacterial resistance and limited therapeutic options, especially critical in sepsis management. The evolution from traditional phenotype-based methods to rapid molecular and mass spectrometry techniques has significantly decreased result turnaround times, improving patient outcomes. Despite advancements, the complex decision-making in antimicrobial therapy often exceeds the capacity of many clinicians, highlighting the importance of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP). These programs, integrating mHealth and eHealth, leverage technology to enhance healthcare services and patient outcomes, particularly in remote or resource-limited settings. However, the application of such technologies in antimicrobial management remains underexplored in hospitals. The development of platforms combining antimicrobial prescription data with pharmacotherapeutic algorithms and laboratory integration can significantly reduce costs and improve hospitalization times and mortality rates. Yet, the effectiveness of empirical antibiotic therapy, influenced by rapid diagnostic tests, becomes cost-effective when error rates exceed 20%, emphasizing the need for technological integration in ASPs to combat the rising challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and healthcare sustainability.

The Chromogranin A (CgA)-derived peptide Catestatin (CST: hCgA352-372) is highly conserved (>90% in 90% species) in mammalian species. The highest-evolved primates show 58.8% similarity with the lowest-evolved monotremes. CST was initially identified as a physiological brake in catecholamine secretion by inhibiting nicotinic-cholinergic signaling. CST also inhibits desensitization of catecholamine secretion, indicating that CST can act both as a cholinergic antagonist (short-term) and as a cholinergic agonist (long-term). The long-term effect sustains catecholamine secretion during stressful situations. CST is now established as a pleiotropic hormone: it affects the cardiovascular system by lowering blood pressure and cardiac contractility, enhancing baroreflex sensitivity, increasing heart rate variability, and promoting angiogenesis; and it increases insulin sensitivity by reducing inflammation, inhibiting hepatic glucose production, attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inducing glycogen production. The present review will highlight the important direct and indirect effects of CST, CST1-15 (aka cateslytin), D-CST1-15 (where L-amino acids were changed to D-amino acids), and human variants of CST (Gly364Ser-CST and Pro370Leu-CST) on microbial growth inhibition and their potential as therapy for antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microbes.

The current concerns of both society and materials industries about the environmental impact of thermoset composites, as well as new legislation, have led the scientific sector to search for more sustainable alternatives to reduce the environmental impact of thermoset composites. Until now, to a large extent, sustainable reinforcements have been used to manufacture more sustainable composites and thus contribute to the reduction of pollutants. However, in recent years, new alternatives have been developed such as thermosetting resins with bio-based content and/or systems such as recyclable amines and vitrimers that enable recycling/reuse. Throughout this review, some new bio-based thermoset systems as well as new recyclable systems and sustainable reinforcements are described and a brief overview of the biocomposites market and its impact is shown.

On the primitive Earth, both L- and D-amino acids would have been present. However, only L-amino acids are essential blocks to construct proteins in modern life. To study the relative stability of D-amino acid substituted peptides, a variety of computational methods were applied. Ten prebiotic amino acids (Gly, Ala, Asp, Glu, Ile, Leu, Pro, Ser, Thr, and Val) were previously determined by multiple meteorite, spark discharge, and hydrothermal vent studies. Some previously reported early Earth polypeptide analogs were focused on in this study. Tripeptides composed of only Asp, Ser, and Val exemplified that different positions (i.e., N-terminus, C-terminus, and middle) made a difference in the minimal folding energy of peptides, while the chemical classification of amino acid (hydrophobic, acidic, or hydroxylic) did not show a significant difference. Hierarchical cluster analysis for dipeptides with all possible combinations of the proposed ten prebiotic amino acids and their D-amino acid substituted derivatives generated five clusters. Primordial simple polypeptides were modeled to test the significance of molecular fluctuations, secondary structure occupancies, and folding energy differences based on these clusters. We found peptides with α-helices, long β-sheets, and long loops are usually less sensitive to D-amino acid replacements in comparison to short β-sheets. Intriguingly, amongst 129 D-amino acid residues, mutation sensitivity profiles presented that the ratio of more to less stable residues was about 1. In conclusion, some combinations of a mixture of L- and D-amino acids can potentially act as essential building blocks of life.

Oral candidiasis is a common problem among immunocompetent patients. The frequent resistance of Candida strains to popular antimycotics makes it necessary to look for alternative methods of treatment. The authors conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The objective of this review was to determine whether curcumin-mediated aPDT and blue light could be considered as an alternative treatment for oral candidiasis. PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane Library databases were searched using a combination of the following keywords: (Candida OR candidiasis oral OR candidosis oral OR denture stomatitis) AND (curcumin OR photodynamic therapy OR aPDT OR photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy OR PACT OR photodynamic inactivation OR PDI). The review included in vitro laboratory studies with Candida spp., in vivo animal studies, and randomized control trials (RCTs) involving patients with oral candidiasis or prosthetic stomatitis, published only in English. The method of elimination of Candida species in the studies was curcumin-mediated aPDT. 757 studies were identified. Following the analysis of the titles and abstracts of the studies, only 42 studies were selected for in-depth screening, after which 26 were included in this study. All studies evaluated the antifungal efficacy of curcumin-mediated aPDT against C. albicans and non-albicans Candida. In studies conducted with planktonic cells solutions, seven studies demonstrated complete elimination of Candida spp. cells. The remaining studies demonstrated only partial elimination. In all cases, experiments on single-species yeast biofilms demonstrated partial, statistically significant inhibition of cell growth and reduction of biofilm mass. In vivo, curcumin-mediated aPDT has shown good antifungal activity against oral candidiasis also in an animal model. However, its clinical efficacy as a potent therapeutic strategy for oral candidiasis requires further RCTs.

In Tunisia, olive is the most cultivated fruit crop while in the north where rainfall exceeded 400mm.year-1, the olive growing area is in widely extension in marginal soil with high slope gradient. Thus, the inclusion of cover crops is a sustainable solution to increase the ecosystem productivity, improve the soil fertility and oil yields. But, in Tunisia a few study were investigated the effect of legumes cover crop on the olive productivity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term (two cropping seasons s 2021 and 2022) effects of different seeded cover crops and soil management practices on the cover crops and soil characteristics, as well as enzymes activities and related microbial diversity. Six intercropping were tested in rainfed olive orchards (cv.Chétoui): Spontaneous vegetation (Spont), Wheat, Vetch, Oat, Fenugreek, mixture Vetch-Oat and compared to control (3 periodic tillage/year without intercropping). During the first cropping season, cover crops were cut as animal feed and only residues were incorporated into the soil. While, during the second year, all cover crops biomass were incorporated into the soil. Results indicate that the dry biomass and carbon uptake were significantly higher in grasses species (Wheat and Oat). But, highest level of nitrogen was found in Fenugreek cover crops. As compared to control, all cover crops including spontaneous vegetation increased soil organic matter and macronutrient level, mainly phosphorus. The most activity of β-glucosidase, phosphatase and arysulphatase was found in the cover crops plot of wheat and oat. In addition, this study improve that the utilization of the carbon sources was dominated by amides, amine and amino-acids in the fenugreek plot; while it was dominated by polymers and carboxylic acids in the case of wheat and oat.

In practice, a post-extractivist vision for farmer communities in the Amazon demands the study and demonstration, in the field, of alternative economic activities that are not based on resource extraction but on adding value to currently generated residual biomass. Following principles of bioeconomy, this study presents an experimental analysis of a retort burner and a pilot-scale auger-type pyrolysis reactor used to convert coffee husks generated in a post-harvesting facility of a farmer´s cooperative into thermal energy and biochar, respectively. The study shows that use of coffee husks, whether for combustion or pyrolysis processes, can supply the thermal energy required by the post-harvesting processes. The combustion or pyrolysis of coffee husks avoids its accumulation and decomposition while replacing the fossil fuels used in post-harvesting operations, reducing costs and making the farmers independent of fossil fuel subsidies. Unlike combustion, the CO concentration in the flue gas during the pyrolysis process was below the eco-design standard of 500 mg/Nm3. According to the European Biochar Certificate, carbonized coffee husks can be regarded as biochar for soil amendment and carbon sequestration. A study is required to assess the ability of cooperatives to generate and trade carbon credits linked with the application of biochar in their cropping systems.

In this study, global response analysis was performed to explore the mechanism of action of Usnic acid and its synergy with Norfloxacin, a well-known quinolone antibiotic to which MRSA clinical isolates showed resistance (MIC, 500 µg/mL). Microdilution assay, growth kinetics, microscopic analysis, and cell-based assays consistently showed that Usnic acid possess strong anti-staphylococcal activity (MIC, 7.8 µg/ml), causes cell leakage, modulates efflux pump activity, and synergizes with Norfloxacin against multi-drug resistant clinical isolate MRSA 2071. Whole cell proteome profiling using gel-free based nano-LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS revealed several proteins whose expression was significantly modulated by Usnic acid and Norfloxacin alone or in combination. Usnic acid downregulated the abundance of RNA polymerase subunits (RpoB, RpoC), carbamoyl phosphate synthase large subunit (PyrAB), chaperone (GroEL), and adenylosuccinate synthetase (PurA). Interestingly, proteins found to be upregulated in the presence of Usnic acid and Norfloxacin included oxidative stress-related proteins such as peroxidase (Tpx), alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AphC), and general stress protein (UspA). This study clearly showed that Usnic acid affects numerous cellular targets and can potentiate the action of Norfloxacin. Furthermore, an in-vivo study emphasized the use of Usnic acid to develop as a safe phytopharmaceutical to repurpose old antibiotics through combination therapy against MRSA infections.

Background: In antibiotic naïve populations, there is a strong association between the use of an antimicrobial and resistance to this antimicrobial. Less evidence is available as to whether this relationship is weakened in populations highly exposed to antimicrobials. Individuals taking HIV PrEP have a high intake of antimicrobials. We previously found that there was no difference in the prevalence of pheno- and genotypic antimicrobial resistance between two groups of PrEP clients who had, and had not, taken antimicrobials in the prior 6-months. Both groups did, however, have a higher prevalence of resistance than a sample of the general population. Methods: In the current study, we used zero-inflated negative binomial regression models to evaluate if there was an individual level association between the consumption of antimicrobials and 1. the minimum inhibitory susceptibilities of oral Neisseria subflava and 2. the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes in the oropharynges of these individuals. Results: We found no evidence of an association between the consumption of antimicrobials and the minimum inhibitory susceptibilities of oral Neisseria subflava or the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes in these individuals. Conclusions: We conclude that in high antimicrobial consumption populations, the association between antimicrobial consumption and resistance may be attenuated.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising solution to tackle bacterial infections and combat antibiotic resistance. However, their clinical application has been hindered by their vulnerability to protease degradation and toxicity towards mammalian cells. To overcome these challenges, our study aims to develop a method to enhance the stability and safety of AMPs, applicable to effective drug-device combination products. KR12 antimicrobial peptide was chosen and in order to further enhance its delivery and efficacy, HIV TAT protein-derived cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) was fused to form CPP-KR12. A new product, CPP-KR12@Si, was developed by forming silica nanoparticles with self-entrapped CPP-KR12 peptide using the biomimetic silica precipitability due to its cationic nature. Peptide delivery from CPP-KR12@Si to bacteria and cells was delivered at a slightly delayed rate with improved stability against trypsin treatment and a reduction in cytotoxicity over CPP-KR12. Finally, the antimicrobial potential of CPP-KR12@Si/bone graft substitute (BGS) combination product was demonstrated, which is coated with CPP-KR12 in the form of nanoparticles on the surface of BGS. Self-entrapped AMP in silica nanoparticles is a safe and effective AMP delivery method that will be useful for developing a drug/device combination product for tissue regeneration.

In this study, considering the peroxidase-like activity of the SiO₂@AuNPs nanocomposite, their biochemical properties including, pH stability, cycling stability, shelf stability, and kinetic parameters were investigated. The results revealed that the as-mentioned SiO₂@AuNPs nanocomposite reveal its maximal activity at pH=4.0 along with saving 83.3% of its maximal activity at pH=5.0. Besides, the reusability and shelf-storage studies exhibited that the SiO₂@AuNPs nanocomposite retained 90% and 100% of its initial activity after 5 operational cycles and 30 days of storage, in order. The kinetic parameters of the as-prepared nanozymes were calculated using Menten kinetic model, revealing a V_max of 1.35 µM min^-1 and a K_m as low as 0.06 mM for the SiO₂@AuNPs nanocomposite. Based on the results of this work, the as-prepared SiO₂@AuNPs nanocomposite with intrinsic peroxidase-like activity shows high substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency along with excellent cycling- and shelf-stability, making them suitable for application in peroxidase-mediated reactions instead of the native enzyme.

The consumer’s acceptability of hamburgers elaborated with the flank of culling cows in which the content of salt or fat had been partially replaced was studied. A mixture of potassium chloride, potassium ferrocyanide and sodium ferrocyanide was used as substitutes for the salt. Oat flakes or a mixture of chia and flax seeds were used as substitutes for the fat. The hamburgers were tasted by 34 consumers. Consumers did not detect significant differences between the control and the rest of the formulations. Neither the gender nor the age of the consumers influenced the sensory appraisal. However, many comments regarding texture failures were recorded. Therefore, the substitution of salt and / or fat in the composition of hamburgers made with the flank of cows is a viable alternative for the commercialization of these pieces of low commercial value as long as the texture of the same is adjusted to resemble it to the control.

The development of multidrug resistance by pathogenic bacteria and yeast is a significant medical problem that needs to be addressed. One possible answer could be the combined use of antibiotics and silver nanoparticles, which have different mechanisms of antimicrobial action. Nanoparticles can be combined with antifungal agents in the same way. Biogenic silver nanoparticles synthesized using environmentally friendly technology using extracts of biologically active plants are an effective nanomaterial that needs to be comprehensively investigated for implementation into medical practice. In this study, the synergistic effects arising from their combined use with antibiotics and fungicides against various bacteria and yeasts, included in the ESKAPE list, were studied. Effective concentrations of substances were established, recommendations for the studied pathogenic species were presented and the effect of destruction of the bacterial membrane was illustrated. The most significant synergistic effect was manifested in pathogenic candida and brewer's yeast.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cattle raised in North America. At the feedlot, cattle are subject to metaphylactic treatment with macrolides to prevent BRD, a practice that may promote antimicrobial resistance and has resulted in an urgent need for novel strategies. Mannheimia haemolytica is one of the major bacterial agents of BRD. The inhibitory effects of two amphipathic, α-helical (PRW4, WRL3) and one β-sheet (WK2) antimicrobial peptides were evaluated against multidrug-resistant (MDR) M. haemolytica isolated from Alberta feedlots. WK2 was not cytotoxic against bovine turbinate (BT) cells by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. All three peptides inhibited M. haemolytica, with WK2, being the most efficacious against multiple isolates. At 8-16 µg/ml, WK2 was bactericidal against Mh 330 in broth and at 32 µg/ml in the presence of BT cells, reduced the population by 3 logs CFU/ml without causing cytotoxic effects. The membrane integrity of Mh 330 was examined using NPN (1-N-phenylnaphthylamine), and ONPG (o-Nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside) with both the inner and outer membranes being compromised. Thus, WK2 may be a viable alternative to the use of macrolides as part of BRD prevention and treatment strategies.

The purpose of this review is to present the current role of ultrasound-based techniques in the diagnostic pathway of prostate cancer (PCa). With overdiagnosis and overtreatment of a clinically insignificant PCa over the past years, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) became recommended for every patient suspected of PCa before performing a biopsy. It enabled targeted sampling of the suspicious prostate regions, improving the accuracy of the traditional systematic biopsy. However, mpMRI is associated with high costs, relatively low availability, long and separate procedure or exposure to the contrast agent. The novel ultrasound modalities such as shear wave elastography (SWE), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) or high frequency micro-ultrasound (MicroUS) may be capable of maintaining the performance of mpMRI without its limitations. Moreover, the real-time lesion visualization during biopsy would significantly simplify the diagnostic process. Another value of these new techniques is the ability to enhance the performance of mpMRI by creating the image fusion of multiple modalities. Such models might be further analyzed by artificial intelligence to mark the regions of interest for investigators and help to decide about the biopsy indications. The dynamic development and promising results of new ultrasound-based techniques should encourage researchers to thoroughly study their utilization in prostate imaging.

New antimicrobial approaches are essential to counter antimicrobial resistance. The drug development pipeline is exhausted with emergence of resistance resulting in unsuccessful trials. The lack of an effective drug developed from the conventional drug portfolio has mandated the introspection into the list of potentially effective unconventional alternate antimicrobial molecules. Alternate therapies, that are clinically explicable forms include monoclonal antibodies, antimicrobial peptides, aptamers and phages. Clinical diagnostics optimizes the drug delivery. In the era of diagnostic-based applications, it is logical to draw diagnostic based treatment for infectious diseases. Selection criteria of alternate therapeutics in infectious disease include detection, monitoring of response and resistance mechanism identification. Integrating these diagnostic applications is disruptive to the traditional therapeutic development. The challenges and mitigation methods need to be noted. Applying the goals of clinical pharmacokinetics that include enhancing efficacy and decreasing toxicity of drug therapy this review analyses the strong correlation of alternate antimicrobial therapeutics in infectious diseases. The relationship between drug concentration and the resulting effect defined by the pharmacodynamic parameters are also analyzed. This review analyzes the perspectives of aligning diagnostic initiatives into the use of alternate therapeutics with a particular focus on companion diagnostic applications in infectious diseases.

Eco-labels are an instrument for enabling informed food choices and supporting a demand-sided change towards a more and urgently needed sustainable food system. Lately, novel eco-labels that depict a product’s environmental life-cycle assessment on a multi-level scale are being tested across Europe’s retailers. This study elicits consumers preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for a multi-level eco-label. A Discrete Choice Experiment was conducted in Austria. Individual partworth utilities were estimated by means of Hierarchical Bayes. Results show higher WTP for a positive evaluated multi-level label, revealing consumers’ perceived benefits of colorful multi-level labels over binary black-and-white designs. Even a negative evaluated multi-level label showed higher WTP compared to no label, pointing towards limited effectiveness of eco-labels. Respondents’ preferences for eco-labels were independent from their subjective eco-label knowledge, health consciousness, and environmental concern. The attribute “protein source” was most important, and preferences for animal-based protein source (beef) was strongly correlated with consumers’ meat attachment, implying that a shift towards more sustainable protein sources is challenging and sustainability labels have only a small impact on the meat product choice of average consumers.

Pseudomonas donghuensis P482 exhibits broad antibacterial and antifungal activity, primarily related to the production of 7-hydroxytropolone (7-HT). However, the restricted nutritional conditions (viz. mineral medium with single carbon source) diminished the antagonistic activity of P482. In this study, we unveil profiles of the secondary metabolites from P482 and its selected mutants, using nutrient-diluted (10% tryptone soy broth, TSB) and nutrient-restricted (M9 with either 0.4% glucose or 0.4% glycerol as a sole carbon source) media to explore differences in the quantity and quality of the secondary metabolites produced. No 7-HT was found to be synthetized by P482 under restricted nutritional conditions. However, both the wild-type and the tested mutants of P482 still did express some antagonistic activity towards the plant pathogenic bacteria tested. Based on these results, we postulate that 7-HT is not the sole antimicrobial compound produced by P. donghuensis P482 and that other antimicrobials may be involved in P482 antagonistic activity under limiting-nutrient conditions.

This scoping review examines global strategies and enterprises for sustainable solid waste management, with a focus on alternative landfilling approaches. The study collected and analyzed a significant number of documents from different regions, revealing Asia as the major contributor (for the collected documents) (48.7%), followed by North America (24.3%) and Europe (15.8%). Recycling emerged as the most effective alternative waste treatment method, representing 52.3% of the documented approaches, with industrial recycling (22.6%) and residential/non-residential recycling (20.2%) as prominent categories. Food waste was a significant concern across regions, constituting 21.4% of the collected documents. Composting was widely adopted (15.4%) due to its simplicity and benefits for gardening and soil improvement. Other methods like biogas extraction, reusing, raising awareness, incinerating, redistributing, reducing, and fermentation accounted for 13.1% cumulatively. The study highlights the need for tailored waste management solutions based on regional challenges and successful practices. Promoting recycling infrastructure, composting, and waste reduction approaches are crucial to achieving sustainable waste management aligned with SDGs. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing between regions are essential to improve inefficient waste management mechanisms. Integrating the findings into policymaking and industry practices can lead to a more sustainable future with reduced environmental impact.

Authentic learning opportunities that simulate full scale design and construction experiences using real materials offer ideal experiential learning environments for construction and civil engineering students by challenging students to apply building concepts in practical settings. However, the excessive cost of real building materials required for this mode of education limits access to the vast majority of students. As a result, educational researchers have explored potential alternatives to provide cost-effective experiential learning through activities using mock-up materials (e.g., plastic straws, popsicle sticks) and simulation of experiences using immersive technologies (e.g., virtual reality or augmented reality). While some of these alternatives approximate the environment and others provide physical interaction with mock-up materials, the lack of authenticity in the building materials used introduces some apparent differences between the “authentic” learning environments and their cost-effective approximations. Therefore, this research aims to identify the learning processes reported by students and faculty who participated in authentic learning experiences to understand the ways in which this mode of education offers unique value to construction education. Their interview responses illustrated characteristics of authentic learning experiences that were believed to be critical to the learning process, some of which included: working in groups; interdisciplinary participants; and use of real construction materials. Although some of these characteristics are intrinsically linked to the use of real materials, others do not explicitly refer to interaction with real materials. This may indicate to aspects of the authentic learning processes that educational researchers can strategically target through more cost-effective learning environments like virtual and augmented reality. The contribution of this paper is in identifying the characteristics of authentic learning experiences that may guide educational investment and research innovations that aim to replicate some of these learning experiences through more accessible learning environments.

Bacterial infections have attracted the attention of researchers in recent decades, especially due to the special problems they have faced, such as their increasing diversity and resistance to antibiotic treatment. The emergence and development of the SARS-CoV-2 infection stimulated even more research, to find new structures with antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Among the heterocyclic compounds with remarkable therapeutic properties, benzimidazoles and triazoles stand out, possessing antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-Alzheimer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidiabetic, or anti-ulcer activities. In addition, the literature of the last decade reports benzimidazole-triazole hybrids with improved biological properties compared to the properties of simple mono-heterocyclic compounds. This review aims to provide an update on the synthesis methods of these hybrids, along with their antimicrobial and antiviral activities, as well as the structure–activity relationship reported in literature.

Human exposure to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through food is now very imperfectly understood, creating a significant gap in the design of interventions. The interchange of AMR genes and the transfer of AMR bacteria from animals to humans through the food chain necessitate comprehensive methods to risk reduction. With a focus on AMR in bacterial species isolated from food products, foods (of both animal and non-animal origin), and ambient samples, the current meta-analysis gathered up-to-date information on the epidemiology of AMR in animal-source food chain. As a result, the combined prevalence of AMR across the various food sources was calculated. From the 18,784 food samples obtained as a result of selected publications, 7,676 (40.9%) samples were contaminated, including 4343 (56.6%) and 3363 (43.4%) samples from Taiwan and India, respectively. Meat (chicken, pork, and beef), fish and milk all have moderate to medium potential for AMR exposure to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative foodborne pathogens such S. aureus, Clostridium, E. coli, Salmonella, etc. Antibiotic resistance to β-lactam, fluoroquinolone, carbapenem etc, is present in the majority of food samples. The results of this study emphasize the persistent danger of antimicrobial residue in animal-derived foods in Taiwan, India, and other nations with comparable customs.

As the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes is increasing in microbes, we are facing the return of the preantibiotic era. Consecutively, the number of studies concerning antibiotic resistance and its spread in the environment is rapidly growing. Next generation sequencing technologies are widespread used in many areas of biological research and antibiotic resistance is no exception. For the rapid annotation of whole genome sequencing and metagenomic results considering antibiotic resistance, several tools and data resources were developed. These databases, however can differ fundamentally in the number and type of genes and resistance determinants they comprise. Furthermore, the annotation structure and metadata stored in these resources can also contribute to their differences. Several previous reviews were published on the tools and databases of resistance gene annotation, however, to our knowledge, no previous review focused solely and in depth on the differences in the databases. In this review, we compare the most well-known and widely used antibiotic resistance gene databases based on their structure and content. We believe that this knowledge is fundamental for selecting the most appropriate database for a research question and for the development of new tools and resources of resistance gene annotation.

Whether there is any inclination between structures and functions of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is a mystery yet to be unraveled. AMPs have various structures associated with many different antimicrobial functions, including antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral activities. However, none has yet reported any antimicrobial functional tendency within a specific category of protein/peptide structures nor any structural tendency of a specific antimicrobial function with respect to AMPs. Here we examine the relationships between structures categorized by three structural classification methods (CATH, SCOP and TM) and seven antimicrobial functions with respect to AMPs using an enrichment analysis. The results show that antifungal activities of AMPs were tightly related to two-layer sandwich structure of CATH, knottin fold of SCOP, and the first structural cluster of TM. The associations with knottin and TM cluster 1 even sustained through the AMPs with a low sequence identity. Besides, another significant mutual enrichment was observed between the third cluster of TM and anti-gram-positive-bacterial/anti-gram-negative-bacterial activities. The findings of the structure-function inclination further our understanding of AMPs and could help us design or discover new therapeutic potential AMPs.

Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs), as immune effectors synthesized by a variety of organisms, not only constitute a robust defense mechanism against a broad spectrum of pathogens in the host, but also show promising applications as effective antimicrobial agents. Notably, insects are significant reservoirs of natural AMPs. However, the complex array of variations in types, quantities, antimicrobial activities, production pathways of AMPs, and evolution of AMPs across insect species presents a significant challenge for immunity system understanding and AMP applications. This review covers insect AMP discoveries, classification, common properties, and mechanisms of action. Additionally, we summarize the types, quantities, and activities of im-mune-related AMPs in each model insect. We also conducted the first comprehensive investigation into the diversity, distribution, and evolution of 20 types of AMPs in model insects, employing phylogenetic analysis to describe their evolutionary relationships and shed light on conserved and distinctive AMP families. Furthermore, we summarize the regulatory pathways of AMP production through classical signaling pathways and additional pathways associated with Nitric Oxide, insulin-like signaling, and hormones. This review advances our understanding of AMP as guardians in insect immunity system and also unlocks a gateway to insect AMP resources, facilitating the use of AMPs to address food safety concerns.

The growing congestion in delivery rooms and maternity wards in Israeli hospitals is the underlying issue of the current study. The study sought to examine various alternatives for an effective public policy aimed at reducing congestion. The choice of Israel as a case study derives from its conspicuous imbalance between supply and demand in the maternity, resulting from the high demand for prenatal and birthing services on one hand and the low supply, both in absolute terms and relative to OECD countries, of medical resources such as physicians, nurses, and hospital beds. The research findings present fertility and birth data for Israel in the last decade, which are leading to increased congestion and crowding in delivery rooms and maternity wards at local hospitals. At the same time, two possible alternatives are proposed for designing and implementing public policy capable of contributing to the regulation of this congestion. One alternative is the option of home birth and the second is promoting the establishment of private birthing centers outside the hospitals. The research conclusions indicate that policy makers in Israel must anticipate the increasing congestion in hospital delivery rooms and maternity wards and expedite efforts at designing alternative solutions before the emergence of a crisis situation that will make it essential to identify immediate solutions. The study recommends exploring and advancing the adoption of the two alternatives simultaneously as part of public policy, in the assumption that the increasing demand for pregnancy and childbirth services in Israeli society will persist and therefore it is necessary to act to increase the supply of childbirth facilities.

Natural and sustainable plant-based antioxidants and antimicrobials are highly desirable for improving food quality and safety. The present investigation assessed the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of active components from Alkanna tinctoria (herb) roots, also known as Ratanjot root. Two methods were used to extract active components: microwave-assisted hot water (MAHW) and ethanol and air-dried. MAHW extract yielded 6.29% while the ethanol yielded 18.27%, suggesting superior Ratanjot root extract powder (RRP) solubility in ethanol over water. The ethanol extract showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than the MAHW extract. Gas chromatography and mass-spec analysis revealed three major phenolic compounds: Butanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-; Arnebin 7, and Diisooctylpthalate. The color attributes (L*, a*, b*, hab, C*ab) for the ethanolic and MAHW extracts revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in all the above parameters for both types of extracts, except for yellowness (b*) and chroma (C*ab) values. The ethanol extract exhibited antimicrobial activity against 14 bacterial species, with a signifi-cantly higher inhibitory effect against Gram-positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) than the Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and Escherichia coli). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were both 25 mg/ml for the Gram-negative bacteria, while the MIC and MBC concentrations varied for Gram-positive bacteria (0.049 - 0.098 mg/ml and 0.098 - 0.195 mg/ml) and the antimicrobial effect was bactericidal. The antimicrobial activities of RRP extract remained stable under broad temperature (37-100°C) and pH (2-6) conditions, as well as during refrigerated storage for 30 days. Application of RRP at 1% (10 mg/g) and 2.5% (25 mg/g) levels in a cooked chicken meatball model system prevented lipid oxidation and improved sensory attributes and retarded microbial growth during refrigerated (4°C) storage for 20 days. Furthermore, the RRP extract was non-toxic when tested with sheep erythrocytes and did not inhibit the growth of probiotics, Lacticaseibacillus casei, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. In conclusion, the study suggests that RRP possesses excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, thus making it suitable for food preservation.

Linear programming formulations of forest ecosystem management (FEM) problems proposed in the 60s have been adapted and improved upon over the years. Generating management alternatives for forest management planning is a key step in building these models. Global forests are diverse, and a variety of models have been developed to simulate management alternatives. Climate change has made forest management calculations even more complex, requiring flexibility, diverse parameters, models, and methods. Despite this complexity, consistent concepts can be applied in developing management alternatives for forest management planning. This work describes iGen, a flexible forest prescription generator that applies the AI technique Rule-Based System (AI-RBS). iGen projects the state and associated inputs and outputs for a set of management units using rules from its knowledge base. An Inference Engine uses the rules to simulate a set of prescriptions in a tree-like graph structure. Without needing IT specialists, forest managers can describe the potential development of their forest through variables, rules, formulas, functions, and procedures. A key feature of iGen is that it is not limited to, adapted to, or focused on any specific region, landscape, forest condition, projection method, or yield function. Instead, it aims to maximize generality, enabling it to address a broad range of FEM problems. This article introduces iGen, explaining its concepts, structure, and algorithms through two FEM problems: natural regeneration with shelterwood harvests and plantation/coppice. For data and iGen source programs, visit github.com/…/iGen.

Coccidiosis remains a major disease and economic challenge for the global poultry industry. Coccidiosis in chickens is caused by seven Eimeria species that target specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract and cause malabsorptive or haemorrhagic disease. These Eimeria species infect segment-specific epithelial cells and thus need to navigate the host’s indigenous microbiome and intestinal defences to establish an infection and cause disease. Good husbandry practices, prophylactic use of anticoccidial drugs and/or live parasite vaccination have been the primary control measures employed but there are challenges with vaccination and growing constraints on anticoccidial drug use. This review, therefore, considers available information on the key steps of the infection process, notable microbiome- or host-related changes occurring, and the (potential) influence of dietary ‘alternatives’ to anticoccidial drugs. There is good available evidence to indicate that some phytogenics, prebiotics, probiotics, betaine, n-3 fatty acids, as well as carbohydrase enzymes and anti-IL-10 antibodies, can (beneficially) modulate at least some of these features in coccidiosis-specific challenge studies. As a minimum, these anticoccidial drug ‘alternatives’ could support the establishment of a desirable host microbiome and optimum immune system development. It is important to better understand the potential of these ‘alternatives’ in commercial production and how they can complement, or reduce, the use of anticoccidial drugs.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising class of bioactive molecules with the potential to combat infections associated with medical implants and biomaterials. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of antimicrobial peptides in medical implants and biomaterials, along with their diverse clinical applications. The incorporation of AMPs into various medical implants and biomaterials has shown immense potential in mitigating biofilm formation and preventing implant-related infections. We review the latest advancements in biomedical sciences and discuss the AMPs that were immobilized successfully to enhance their efficacy and stability within the implant environment. We also highlight successful examples of AMP coatings for the treatment of surgical site infections (SSIs), Contact lenses, Dental Applications, AMP-Incorporated Bone Grafts, Urinary tract infections (UTIs), Medical Implants, etc. Additionally, we discuss the potential challenges and prospects of AMPs in medical implants, such as effectiveness, instability and implant-related complications. We also discuss strategies that can be employed to overcome the limitations of AMP-coated biomaterials for prolonged longevity in clinical settings.

Forty-eight Pasteurella multocida isolates were recovered from porcine pneumonic lungs collected in Norwestern Spain (2017- 2019). These isolates were characterized for their minimal inhibition concentrations to twelve antimicrobial agents and for the appearance of eight resistance genes: tetA, tetB, blaROB1, blaTEM, ermA, ermC, mphE and msrE. Relevant resistance percentages were shown to teracyclines, sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim and tiamulin, thus suggesting that P. multocida isolates were mostly susceptible to amoxicillin, ceftiofur, enrofloxacin, florfenicol, marbofloxacin and macrolides. 29.2% of isolates were resistant to more than two antimicrobials. The tetracycline resistance genes (tetA and tetB) were detected in 22.9% of the isolates, but none was positive to both simultaneously; blaROB1 and blaTEM genes were found in one third of isolates but both genes were detected simultaneously in only one isolate. ermC gene was observed in 41.7% of isolates, a percentage that decreased until 22.9% for msrE; finally, ermA was harboured by 16.7% and mphE was not found in any of them. Six clusters were established based on hierarchical clustering analysis on antimicrobial susceptibility for the twelve antimicrobials. Generally, it was unable to foresee the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for each family and the association of each particular isolate inside the clusters established from the presence or absence of the resistance genes analyzed.

The antimicrobial peptide LRGG (LLRLLRRGGRRLLRLL-NH2) was designed and chemically synthesized in a study conducted by Jia et al. Gram-negative bacteria were found to be sensitive to LRGG and exhibited a high therapeutic index. Genetic engineering methods were used to create the prokaryotic fusion expression vector pQE-GFP-LRGG, and the resulting corresponding fusion protein GFP-LRGG was subsequently expressed and purified. The precursor GFP was then removed by TEV proteolysis, and pure LRGG was obtained after another round of purification and endotoxin removal. The prokaryotic-expressed antimicrobial peptide LRGG displays a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect on gram-negative bacteria and can eliminate 99.99% of E. coli within 100 minutes at the minimal MIC concentration. Compared to the chemically synthesized LRGG, the prokaryotic-expressed LRGG exhibits similar temperature, pH, salt ion, serum stability, and cell selectivity. Furthermore, prokaryotic-expressed LRGG showed excellent therapeutic effects in both the infection model of cell selectivity and no embryotoxicity in a Galleria mellonella infection model. The mechanism by which LRGG causes bacterial death was found to be disruption of Gram-negative cell membrane.

Since ancient times, various scientists and doctors have utilized different herbs to heal diseases. Due to the rise in drug resistance and the negative effects of chemosynthetic drugs, researchers and the general public around the world have become more interested in medicinal herbs and plant metabolites/extracts. This is due to its non-toxicity and several health benefits when used to treat diseases in clinical and medical settings. Ocimum basilicum is one such plant, possessing a wide range of bioactive phytochemicals including alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, cardiac glycosides, steroids and glycosides, as well as complex pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, wound healing and antiviral properties. The results of many studies on Ocimum basilicum plant extracts are collected and presented in this review. The plant extracts have an excellent potential to be used as medicinal raw materials and exhibit an extensive variety of therapeutic capacities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral properties.

The leaf essential oils from five Eucalyptus spp.: E. astringens, E. camaldulensis, E. lehmanii, E. leucoxylon and E. sideroxylon growing in the same plantation area and conditions (plants with the same age and subjected to the same agronomic practices) were analyzed and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. The essential oil yields ranged from 0.14 to 0.96% (w/w), and their chromatographic profiles were resolved into 48 compounds; among them, 11 were common to all essential oils. Terpenoids (oxygenated mono, and sesquiterpenes) dominated (55.66-76.67%) the oil profiles. Although 1,8-cineole (21.97-50.93%) was found as the main oxygenated monoterpene in all examined essential oils, principal component analysis observed and confirmed an interspecific chemical variability. Additionally, a set of distinctive chemical markers that could serve as a reliable tool for discrimination of Eucalyptus species and for authentication and quality control purposes (for commercial samples) has been defined for each essential oil. The antimicrobial disc-diffusion assay results revealed that all essential oils were endowed with a strong antimicrobial activity, with those derived from E. camaldulensis, E. lehmanii and E. leucoxylon being the most active.

Pathogenic microorganisms can cause a range of infectious diseases and are often treated with antimicrobial agents. The rise of antimicrobial resistance caused by inappropriate use of these agents in various settings has become a global health threat. There is, therefore, a need to find new and effective agents to combat infections caused by resistant pathogens. Nanotechnology has seen significant growth and development in recent years and has a wide range of applications in various fields, including health, agriculture, and industry. This novel area offers the potential for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) with antimicrobial activity, such as iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). The use of IONPs is a promising way to overcome antimicrobial resistance or pathogenicity because of their ability to interact with several biological molecules and to inhibit microbial growth. This review focuses on the most common green synthesis methods for producing IONPs using bacteria, fungi, plants, and organic waste, as well as the most common methods for the characterization of these IONPs. Finally, it summarizes their application as promising antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral agents.

The prominent cultivation of lemongrass relies on the pharmacological incentives of its essential oil. The lemongrass essential oil (LEO) has a significant amount of citral (mixture of geranial and neral), isoneral, isogeranial, geraniol, geranyl acetate, citronellal, citronellol, germacrene-D, and elemol in addition to numerous other bioactive compounds. These components confer various medicinal activities to LEO including antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. These attributes are commercially exploited in pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food preservations industries. Furthermore, the employment of LEO in the treatment of cancer opens a new vista in the field of therapeutics. Although different LEO components have shown promising anticancer activities in vitro, these effects have not been assessed yet in humans. Further studies on the anticancer mechanisms exerted by lemongrass components are required. The present review intends to provide a timely discussion on the relevance of lemongrass extracts in cancer and health treatment, and in food industry applications.

A series of derivatives of trans-3-(2,4,6-trimethoxy phenyl)-4,5-dihydro isoxazolo-4,5-bis(aroylcarbohydrazide) and of trans-3-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)4,5-dihydroisoxazolo-4,5-bis[carbonyl-(4’phenyl)thiosemi- carbazide (9) were synthesized from trans-3-(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-4,5-bis(hydrazenocarbonyl) Isoxazole (8). The structures of the Compounds were elucidated by elemental and spectral (IR, NMR, and MS) analysis. The compound 9 show activity against some bacterial species. Whereas, no activity was observed for compounds 10a, 10b and 10c against all bacterial species. The antioxidant activity of new compounds has been screened. Compound 9 showed higher antioxidant activity using the DPPH and ATBS method.

Background: Public misconception and demand for the indication of antibiotics could lead to inappropriate prescribing and consumption. Successful treatment can only be achieved when the public and industrial users have knowledge on antibiotic use and resistance. This survey is aimed to assess antibiotic usage and knowledge regarding antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among undergraduate students of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), public university located in Brunei Darussalam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Antibiotic Resistance, Multi-country public awareness survey distributed online. Students at UBD were invited to participate in the online survey through internal email. The questionnaire consisted of 5 sections: demographic information, antibiotic usage, knowledge on antibiotics, antibiotic resistance (AMR) and use of antibiotics in agriculture. Data were analyzed descriptively and appropriate inferential statistics was used accordingly. Cronbach’s alpha was also done to determine the internal consistency. The section on antibiotic use and knowledge showed good internal consistency of Cronbach’s alpha 0.66 and 0.86 respectively. Research ethics approval was obtained from the PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). Results: A total of 145 students returned the complete questionnaire. The result of the study found that 50% of the students had good level of knowledge of antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance with a mean total knowledge score of 11.4 out of 14. Respondents reported the use of antibiotic in the past (69%). Many of the students could identify the use of antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infection. However, there were also students who incorrectly thought that antibiotics can be used for cold and flu (43%) and fever (41%). Moreover, 76% of the respondents mistakenly believed that antibiotic resistance is the result of the body becoming resistant to antibiotics. Only 12% of the respondents were found to have poor knowledge in the study. Conclusions: Misconceptions in regards to the use of antibiotics for conditions related to viral illnesses was noticed among the respondents in our study. Thus, improving knowledge on antibiotics is crucial to address those beliefs.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Candida auris presents a formidable global health challenge, causing severe healthcare-associated infections with high mortality rates. Its ability to colonize surfaces and resist standard disinfectants undermines traditional hygiene practices, prompting an urgent need for novel strategies. Ultraviolet C (UVC) light offers a promising approach due to its rapid and broad-spectrum germicidal efficacy. This review comprehensively examines the current knowledge of UVC LED technology in combating C. auris, highlighting its effectiveness, limitations, and potential applications in healthcare hygiene. UVC light has potent activity against C. auris, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. UVC can reduce C. auris on contaminated surfaces, aiding in transmission prevention. This review explores implementation strategies, including mobile UVC systems for targeted disinfection of high-risk areas and equipment, integration into air handling units (AHUs) to continuously disinfect recirculating air, and incorporation into water treatment systems. Current limitations in our understanding of UVC safety and effectiveness necessitate further research to optimize application protocols and ensure treatment safety while maintaining efficacy against C. auris. Integrating UVC disinfection technology into infection control programs holds promise for strengthening hygiene practices that will curb the global spread of C. auris and improve patient outcomes.

The current research is focused on the discovery and optimization of an effective cosmetic carrier of alpha-bisabolol as a first step in the development of a cosmetic product with cleansing and antimicrobial action for facial skin hygiene. A micellar solution of Poloxamer 407 was selected as a cosmetic base because of the good washing ability, easy application, and high tolerability of this polymeric surfactant. The solubilization capacity of a 5% micellar solution with respect to α-bisabolol was investigated by applying varying solubilization techniques and increasing concentrations of the oily active substance. The test samples were subjected to an accelerated physical stability test, viscosimetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), foamability test, and antimicrobial screening. In the course of research, the advantage of the film-hydration method over direct solubilization was demonstrated by the narrower size distribution and smaller hydrodynamic size of the micellar nano-carriers (ranging from 29.02-116.5 nm) and the respective higher physical stability of the dispersions. The optimized composition was found to possess a suitable for application on large skin areas viscosity in the temperature range from 20°C to 40°C (3.4-2.3 mPa.s). Preservation of the washing capacity of the micellar solution in the presence of solubilized α-bisabolol was established. The active composition demonstrated inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and fungicidal activity against Candida albicans. The study concludes that the optimal concentration of α-bisabolol to be solubilized in a 5% Poloxamer 407 micellar solution by the film-hydration technique is 1% considering the desirable physical endurance and antimicrobial activity.

Antimicrobial peptides provide a powerful toolkit for combating multidrug resistance. Combatting eukaryotic pathogens is complicated by the fact, the intracellular drug targets in the eukaryotic pathogen are frequently homologs of cellular structures of vital importance in the host organism. The entomopathogenic bacteria, (symbionts of entomopathogenic nematode species), release a series of non-ribosomal templated antimicrobial peptides, some may be potential drug candidates. The ability of an entomopathogenic nematode /entomopathogenic bacterium symbiotic complex to survive in a given polyxenic milieu is a coevolutionary product, explaining that those gene complexes which are responsible for the biosynthesis of different non-ribosomal templated antimicrobial protective peptides (including those which are potently capable to inactivate the protist mammalian -pathogen Leishmania and the gallinaceous bird pathogen Histomonas) are co-regulated. Our approach is based on comparative antimicrobial bioassays of the culture media of the wild-type and regulatory mutant strains. We concluded that Xenorhabdus budapestensis and X. szentirmaii are excellent sources of non-ribosomal templated antimicrobial peptides, that are efficient antagonists of the mentioned pathogens. Data on selective cytotoxicity of different cell-free culture media encourages us to forecast that the recently discovered “easy-PACId” research strategy is suitable for constructing EPB strains producing and releasing single, harmless, non-ribosomal templated antimicrobial peptides with considerable drug, (probiotic) -candidate potential.

The aim of this study was characterization of some dairy drinks based on Milk Serum regarding major whey proteins (WP) and free amino acids (FAAs) using reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) methods. The studied WP, -lactalbumin (-La), bovine serum albumin (BSA), -lactoglobulin A (-Lg A) and -lactoglobulin B (-Lg B) were separated on Aeris XB-C18 column at 214 nm detection. The RP-HPLC method was validated by selectivity, linearity (R2 ≥0.99), sensitivity (LOQ, 1.35–10.08 µg mL−1), accuracy (recovery 96.79-103.07%) and precision (% RSD ≤ 4.13%). The total studied WP in studied dairy drinks varied between 1.42 and 3.047 g·L-1. The chromatographic profile of FAAs (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, histidine, arginine, glycine, threonine, alanine, tyrosine, cysteine, tryptophan, methionine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine and lysine) was determined in lyophilized concentrate of Milk Serum by RP-HPLC using pre-column derivatization reaction with orthophthalaldehyde (OPA). The total studied FAAs in studied samples varied between 1.103 and 1.119 mg·g-1. Moreover, the Milk Serum showed bacteriostatic activity against two bacterial strains Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The obtained results confirm that dairy drinks based on the Milk Serum constitutes a valuable sources of bioactive components with benefits for human healthy nutrition.

Açaí, a fruit from the Amazon, is valuable both economically and nutritionally. Its seeds, often discarded, can be transformed into bio-oil through pyrolysis (a thermochemical degradation process of residual biomass), providing a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. This study investigates how temperature and molarity influence the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of the produced bio-oil. Tests were conducted using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and assays to evaluate antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities at different temperatures (350, 400, and 450 °C) and molarities (0.5 M, 1.0 M, and 2.0 M). Phenolic compounds were the most abundant in the bio-oil (55.70%), followed by cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons (11.89%) and linear hydrocarbons (9.64%). Despite a reduction in oxygenated compounds, the bio-oil maintained bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus across various temperature ranges, particularly at 350 °C. Antioxidant activity was highest at 350 °C and at lower molarities. Additionally, lower concentrations of acid impregnation exhibited cytotoxic effects at higher temperatures. Thus, bio-oil from açaí seeds produced via pyrolysis demonstrates potential for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, suggesting viability for further testing at dilutions with lower cytotoxicity.

TThe following three objectives were tested in this study: (1) investigate the utility of low-altitude remote sensing using UAS technology to compare the effects of different N application systems in rice production; (2) use spatial extrapolation to scale up plot-level generated to farmer field rice yield data based on crop spectral signatures, and (3) predict and map out rice productivity as a function of N placement systems. Images were captured on a UAV platform at midseason of the rice crop. Orthomosaics were developed for selected fields in rice-producing zones. Grain yields were assessed from low, medium, and high crop health plots delineated based on NDVI values. On the plot scale, UDP outyielded non-UDP by 0.84%. Individual plot yield data were scaled up to the farmer field level through Jenks natural breaks classification and es-tablishing an empirical relationship between OSAVI and plot yields. Assessment of the scaled-up field levelfield-level data also confirmed the superiority of UDP N man-agement over the non-UDP systems in promoting rice yields. Scaling up plot scale da-ta to whole field levels also facilitated generating and mapping expected yield maps for individual farmer fields in the three zones studied. This study has established a tangible simple but tangible protocol protocol for predicting and mapping rice yields in small-scale farmer fields using UAS data.

Globally increasing antibiotic resistance has been connected to the use of antibiotics in medical, veterinary, and agricultural medicine, contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Asia and Europe. The main objective of this study was to correlations of antimicrobial-resistant of various pathogens in three compartments: humans, animals and the environment in India and Germany. A systematic search was carried out in Medline via PubMed, Google Scholar, and science direct, including studies published in 2022. Out of 532 papers, 24 were considered for meta-analysis. This study reveals that in India, β-lactam is highly resistant in animals. Quinolone, on the other hand, was highly resistant in humans. Furthermore, in the environment and integrated studies, aminoglycosides and β-lactams is resistant. While in Germany, a high rate of AMR resistance in all three sectors was reported in β-lactam. However, E. coli was the most frequent pathogen in both countries and is highly resistant to β-lactam, followed by cephalosporin in all the compartments. Monitoring and evaluating antibiotic-sensitivity patterns and developing proper antibiotic regimens may lead to improved outcomes for inhibiting and controlling E. coli infections in various parts of the world.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern in healthcare, and the misuse of antibiotics is contributing to the problem. Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been proven to help reduce antibiotic consumption, promote appropriate use, and decrease the incidence of AMR and related side effects. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of ASPs on antibiotics consumption and AMR spread in a Southern Italy. Most of the APSs consisted of applying infection control guidelines and WHO recommendations on antibiotic consumption. The results of the study showed that during the study period, the number of hospitalizations increased by 24%, while the total amount of antibiotics administered decreased from 52.1 to 38.6 defined daily doses (DDD) per 100 bed-days. There was also a significant increase in the number of rectal swabs taken to detect carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), while the positivity rate of these infections decreased significantly. Moreover, the hospital recorded a decrease in the incidence of several infections, including CRPsA, MRSA, PDR, and VanA infections. This study provides further evidence that ASPs can be effective in reducing antibiotic consumption and preventing the spread of AMR. By promoting the appropriate use of antibiotics and implementing infection control measures, we can help preserve the effectiveness of these life-saving drugs and promote better patient outcomes. However, more efforts are needed to improve healthcare practices and reduce related costs. In conclusion, we urge healthcare providers to implement ASPs in their institutions and help combat the growing threat of AMR. By doing so, we can ensure that antibiotics remain effective for future generations.

Microalgae are a source of carotenoids, phycocyanin, phenol, amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, sulfated polysaccharides, pigments, and other bioactive molecules with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and fat-burning properties. The increasing incidence of infectious processes, including tuberculosis, caused by antimicrobial resistant strains of microorganisms necessitates the search for alternative sources of compounds with antimicrobial activity, including microalgae. In this study, the antimicrobial properties of marine and freshwater microalgae extracts were evaluated against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Water, dimethyl sulfoxide, and ethanol were used as extractants. The obtained microalgae extract exhibited cytotoxicity against splenocytes and, to a lesser extent, against peritoneal macrophages of CBA mice. The bacteriostatic effect of the microalgae extracts against bacteria and mycobacteria was demonstrated by MTT test. In addition, activation of bacterial and mycobacterial growth was observed in a number of cases with high levels of microalgae extracts in the medium. In an expression model of tuberculosis in mice, a decrease in mycobacterial load in the lungs and spleen was observed. Thus, microalgae have moderate to weak antimicrobial activity.

Staphylococcus aureus is a microorganism frequently associated with implant-related infections, owing to its ability to produce biofilms. These infections are difficult to treat because antimicrobials must cross the biofilm to effectively inhibit bacterial growth. Although some antibiotics can penetrate the biofilm and reduce the bacterial load, it is important to understand that the results of routine sensitivity tests are not always valid for interpreting the activity of different drugs. In this review, a broad discussion on the genes involved in biofilm formation, quorum sensing, and antimicrobial activity in monotherapy and combination therapy is presented that should benefit researchers engaged in optimizing the treatment of infections associated with S. aureus biofilms.

The global spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbial infections is currently one of the most severe risks to global public health, with 10 million fatalities expected by 2050 unless action is taken. Nanotechnology has revolutionized science and medicine. The reliance on nanotechnology is growing. Nanoparticles have distinct properties that improve biological, chemical, and physical properties studied for various uses. A significant area of attention in the synthesis of nanoscale modulators is the utilization of crude formulations, retro-synthesized, and pure chemicals, mainly from herbal sources, with fewer adverse effects. Green chemistry has devised a tangential technique for synthesizing metals and metal oxides to produce nanoparticles. Plant extracts (leaves, stems, and shoots) and microorganisms (bacteria, fungus, and yeast) are used as reducing intermediates to make nanoparticles. Studies in microbiology have shown that nanoparticles kill bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. These green nanoparticles contain antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects. Most nanoparticles have high antibacterial properties, indicating they may be used to combat diseases and biological contaminants. These nanoparticles have antibacterial action against pathogenic microorganisms that cause serious illnesses, including multidrug-resistant pathogens. The current research will pave the way for future applications and improved methods for producing nanoparticles, paving the way for an innovative route in nano-life sciences with widespread recognition.

The members of the Liliaceae family have been regarded as an excellent source of biologically active compounds. However, the work on antimicrobial potential and characterization of the bioactive fractions of Lilium philadelphicum flower is limited and needs to be explored. The present study reports the antimicrobial potential, anti-inflammatory and anticancer potential of the bioactive fraction extracted from the flower of L. philadelphicum (Red Lily) and characterization of these bioactive compounds. The antimicrobial activity was tested against nine different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of methanolic extract of L. philadelphicum flower against Acinetobacter bouvetii, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Bacillus subtilis MTCC 121, Candida albicans MTCC 183, Klebsiella pneumoniae MTCC 3384, and Salmonella typhi MTCC 537 were 25, 50, 12.5, 50, 100 and 50 μg mL-1, respectively. The phytochemical analysis of the extract reveals the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, coumarins, and quinones. The cytotoxicity of the partially purified compound against the HepG2 cell line in MTT assay demonstrates up to 90% cell viability with a bioactive compound concentration of 50 μg/ml. However, with the increase in bioactive compound concentration up to 1000 μg/ml results into nearly 80% cell viability, just a minor decline in cell viability suggests the importance of bioactive compounds for suitable therapeutic applications. Spectroscopic studies of the bioactive compound by UV-Visible spectroscopy, FT-Infra Red spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) as well as its phytochemical analysis suggests the presence of terpenoids moiety, responsible for the antimicrobial property of L. philadelphicum flower.

The development of new and effective antimicrobial compounds is an urgent need with the emergence of resistant bacteria. Natural plant flavonoids are known to be effective molecules but their activity and selectivity have to be increased. Based on previous aurone potency, we designed new aurone derivatives bearing acetamido and amino groups at the position 5 of the A ring and managing various monosubstitutions at the B ring. A series of 31 new aurone derivatives were first evaluated for their antimicrobial activity with five derivatives being the most active (compounds 10, 12, 15, 16, and 20). The evaluation of their cytotoxicity on human cells and of their therapeutic index (TI) showed that compounds 10 and 20 have the highest TI. Finally, screening against a large panel of pathogens confirmed that compounds 10 and 20 possess a large spectrum antimicrobial activity, including on bioweapon BSL3 strains, with MIC values as low as 0.78 µM. These results demonstrate that 5-acetamidoaurones are far more active and safest compared with 5-aminoaurones, and that benzyloxy and isopropyl substitutions at the B ring are the most promising strategy in the exploration of new antimicrobial aurones.

Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome triggered by infection and accompanied by high mortality, with antimicrobial resistances (AMRs) further escalating clinical challenges. Rapid and reliable detection of causative pathogens and AMRs are key factors for fast and appropriate treatment, in order to improve outcome in septic patients. However, current sepsis diagnostics based on blood culture is limited by low sensitivity and specificity while current molecular approaches fail to enter clinical routine. Therefore, we developed a Suppression PCR-based selective enrichment sequencing approach (SUPSETS), providing a molecular method combining multiplex suppression PCR with Nanopore sequencing to identify most common sepsis-causative pathogens and AMRs using plasma cell-free DNA. Applying only 1 mL of plasma, we target eight pathogens across three kingdoms and ten AMRs in a proof-of-concept study. SUPSETS was successfully tested on first ten clinical samples and revealed comparable results to clinical metagenomics while clearly outperforming blood culture. Several clinically relevant AMRs could be detected additionally. Furthermore, SUPSETS provided first pathogen and AMR-specific sequencing reads within minutes of starting sequencing, thereby potentially decreasing time to results to 11 - 13 hours and suggesting diagnostic potential in sepsis.

Herein, we report a stimuli responsive hydrogel with inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli prepared by chemical crosslinking of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCs) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). The hydrogels were prepared by esterification of chitosan (Cs) with monochloroacetic acid to produce CMCs which was then chemically crosslinked to HEC using citric acid as the crosslinking agent. To impart a stimuli responsiveness property to the hydrogels, polydiacetylene-zinc oxide (PDA-ZnO) nanosheets were synthesized in-situ during the crosslinking reaction followed by photopolymerization of the resultant composite. To achieve this, ZnO was anchored on carboxylic groups in 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) layers to restrict movement of alkyl portion of PCDA during crosslinking CMCs and HEC hydrogels. This was followed by irradiating the composite with UV radiation to photopolymerize the PCDA to PDA within the hydrogel matrix so as to impart thermal and pH responsiveness to the hydrogel. From the results obtained, the prepared hydrogel had a pH dependant swelling capacity as it absorbed more water in acidic media as compared to basic media. Incorporation of PDA-ZnO resulted in a thermochromic composite responsive to pH evidenced by a visible colour transition from pale purple to pale pink. Upon swelling, PDA-ZnO-CMCs-HEC hydrogels had inhibitory activity against E. coli attributed to the slow release of the ZnO nanoparticles as compared to CMCs-HEC hydrogels.

Antibiotics are commonly used to treat infectious diseases. However, massive and inappropriate antibiotics usage cause many problems including the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To avoid this issue, in modern countries the interest of using probiotics in feed supplementation to promote health and prevent or treat intestinal infectious diseases in companion animals like dogs has been increasing. We evaluate the probiotic potential of Lactobacilli isolated from healthy dogs faeces. The isolated Lactobacilli were first confirmed by 16SrRNA sequencing, then in vitro tests were conducted to assess survival potential of Lactobacilli under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and adhesion ability to gut epithelia, effects on epithelial barrier function, anti-inflammatory activities, effects on defensin peptides (beta-defensin 3) and inhibitory effects on common pathogens. Lactobacilli showed considerable potential to survive in simulated gastrointestinal environmental conditions, low pH, high bile salt concentrations along with good adhesion properties with MODE-K cells. Pathogenic bacterial growth and their adhesion to MODE-K cells was significantly inhibited by Lactobacilli. Real-time PCR analyses further demonstrated that L. acidophilus strain AR1 and AR3 inhibit Salmonella-induced proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, 1ꞵ) production and reinforce expression of tight junction protein (occludin). None of the strain induce mRNA expression of beta-defensin 3 in MODE-K cells. Based on in vitro results the L. acidophilus strain AR1 has potential to be supplemented in canine feed. However, further in vivo studies investigating health-promoting effects are awaited.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials is one of the major drivers of the AMR pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the rate and quality of antimicrobial prescription and use at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, a tertiary referral and teaching hospital. A point prevalence survey (PPS) of antimicrobial prescription was conducted using the Global PPS tool, including the healthcare-acquired infections (HAI)-module. On the day of PPS, 39.3% (145/369) of the patients were prescribed at least one antimicrobial. Out of 259 prescribed antimicrobials, 232 (89.6%) were antibacterials of which 151 (65.1%) belonged to the Watch-group of the WHO AWaRe classification. Top three antibiotics prescribed were cefotaxime (87; 37.5%), parenteral metronidazole (31; 13.4%); and meropenem (23; 9.9%). Stop/review of the prescribed antimicrobials was documented in 27/259 prescriptions (10.4%). Surgical prophylaxis (SP) was prescribed for more than one day in 83.3% of 61. Samples for culture were sent for 27.1% (63/232) of all prescribed antibiotics. This PPS showed a high usage of Watch antibiotics, prolonged surgical prophylaxis and other poor-quality indicators. Therefore, there is an urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship interventions.

Background: Heracleum sphondylium, a medicinal plant used in Romanian ethnopharmacology, proved to have a remarkable biological activity. The escalating concerns surrounding antimicrobial resistance led to a special attention to new efficient antimicrobial agents based on medicinal plants and nanotechnology. We report the preparation of a novel, simple phytocarrier that harnesses the bioactive properties of H. sphondylium and silver nanoparticles (HS-Ag system). Methods: The H. sphondylium low-metabolic profile was determined through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization–quadrupole time-of-flight–mass spectrometry. The morphostructural properties of the innovative phytocarrier were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using total phenolic content, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in vitro assays. The antimicrobial activity screening against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli was conducted using the agar well diffusion method. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay estimated the in vitro potential cytotoxicity on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. Results: A total of 88 biomolecules were detected, such as terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, phenylpropanoids, iridoids, amino acids, phytosterols, fatty acids. HS-Ag phytocarrier heightened efficacy in suppressing the growth of all tested bacterial strains compared to H. sphondylium and exhibited a significant inhibition of HeLa cell viability. Conclusions: The new HS-Ag phytocarrier system holds promise for a wide range of medical applications. The data confirms the capacity to augment pertinent theoretical understanding in the innovative field of antimicrobial agents.