Associations between endometrial swab bacteriology and cytology findings and live foal rates in Thoroughbred broodmares in the United Kingdom.

Background: To date, relationships between pre-covering endometrial swab cytology and bacteriology and fertility outcomes in Thoroughbred broodmares in the United Kingdom are unknown and could aid clinical decision making.

Objectives: To investigate associations between cytology and bacteriology findings from the last endometrial swab taken in the breeding season (15 February to 15 July) and live-foal rates (predicted mean probability of producing a live foal) in UK Thoroughbred broodmares.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Novel image-based titration method for potency testing of diphtheria toxoid in Vero cell assay.

The potency of diphtheria toxoid is determined by titrating neutralizing antibody levels in immunized mice using the Vero cell assay. The WHO manual recommends titration by determining the cytotoxic endpoint through measuring cell metabolism and observing cell morphology under a microscope, which has been conducted in our laboratory; however, the former is time-consuming and the latter subjective. To address these limitations, we have developed a novel endpoint determination method based on cell image analysis.

Development of an In Vitro Electrical Impedance Model to Assess Cytotoxicity and Antifungal Efficacy of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Aspergillus fumigatus causes fatal infections in immunocompromised individuals, with the increasing number of azole-resistant strains leading to high mortality rates. This study aimed to develop a novel in vitro model using electrical impedance to continuously evaluate interactions between A. fumigatus and human cells and antifungal agent efficacy.

An updated view of metabolic handoffs in microbiomes.

From the human gut to the deep ocean, diverse microbial communities underpin essential ecosystem processes. Limited understanding of the dynamics and interactions that shape these communities, however, constrains efforts to culture, investigate, and harness their potential. Further, these knowledge gaps restrict the ability to predict microbial responses to broader biodiversity declines and global change.

Systematic review and modelling of seroprevalence in humans, Europe, 2000 to 2021.

BACKGROUND is a zoonotic protozoan capable of infecting warm-blooded animal species and humans. Although toxoplasmosis presents mostly as mild or asymptomatic infection in immunocompetent individuals, in unborn children and people with weakened immune systems, the disease can be severe with ocular, neurological or multi-systemic manifestations and even death.AIMWe aimed to collate and analyse data on seroprevalence in humans to model and compare age-dependent prevalence in geographic regions in Europe.

Integrative microbiome- and metatranscriptome-based analyses reveal diagnostic biomarkers for peri-implantitis.

Peri-implantitis is a severe biofilm-associated infection affecting millions worldwide. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify taxonomic and functional biomarkers that reliably indicate peri-implantitis by utilizing paired data from full length 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (full-16S) and metatranscriptomics (RNAseq) in 48 biofilm samples from 32 patients. Both full-16S and RNAseq analyses revealed significant differences between healthy and peri-implantitis samples, with a shift toward anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria in peri-implantitis.

Ancient and dominant: a novel feline immunodeficiency virus subtype "X-EGY" identified in Egyptian cats associated with high prevalence.

Background: Data on the epidemiology and molecular characterization of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in Egypt are limited. This study aimed to estimate FIV prevalence in 240 Egyptian cats during 2022–2024 using three diagnostic techniques: two point-of-care antibody detection kits (Anigen and SNAP) and one end-point PCR targeting the gene. FIV infection is defined as positivity in at least two of the three diagnostic methods or PCR alone confirmed by sequencing, Additionally, FIV-associated clinicopathological abnormalities were assessed, and, for the first time in Egypt, circulating FIV subtypes were identified through partial sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of all gene-positive samples ( = 10), along with 4 additional gene-positive samples.

Methanolic extract and nanosilver of Feijoa sellowiana reduce Salmonella typhimurium infection in female BALB/c mice.

Increasing resistance to antibiotics has led to research into new treatment options. Recent studies suggest the use of plant extracts as an alternative strategy. Feijoa is widely known for its efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens.

In Vivo Emergence of Podovirus Resistance via Mutation During Phage-Antibiotic Treatment of Experimental MSSA Endocarditis.

Phage therapy shows promise as an adjunct to antibiotics for treating Staphylococcus aureus infections. We previously reported a combined flucloxacillin/two-phage cocktail treatment selected for resistance to podovirus phage 66 in a rodent model of methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) endocarditis. Here we show that resistant clones harbor mutations in , which encodes a glycosyltransferase essential for β-GlcNAcylation of wall teichoic acid (WTA).

Microbial Load and Diversity of Bacteria in Wild Animal Carcasses Sold as Bushmeat in Ghana.

The demand for wild animal meat, popularly called "bushmeat", serves as a driving force behind the emergence of infectious diseases, potentially transmitting a variety of pathogenic bacteria to humans through handling and consumption. This study investigated the microbial load and bacterial diversity in bushmeat sourced from a prominent bushmeat market in Kumasi, Ghana. Carcasses of 61 wild animals, including rodents (44), antelopes (14), and African civets (3), were sampled for microbiological analysis.

Synergistic Antimicrobial Activity of BrSPR20-P1 Peptide and Silver Nanoparticles Against Pathogenic Bacteria.

Bacterial infection is a cause of life-threatening diseases. The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria exacerbates this situation, highlighting the need for the discovery of new antimicrobial agents. Our previous study identified a novel antimicrobial peptide, BrSPR20-P1 (P1), which showed potential activity against MRSA.

Investigating the Mechanism of Antimycobacterial and Antiproliferative Activity of (E)-N'-Benzylidenepyrazine-2-Carbohydrazides and their Derivatives.

A series of 33 (E)-N'-benzylidenepyrazine-2-carbohydrazides and their derivatives were synthesized and tested for biological activity. Benzylidene derivatives with 2-OH substitution on the phenyl ring (18: R = 2-OH, 21: R = 2,3-diOH, and 22: R = 2,4-diOH) exhibit various biological activities. Compounds 18 and 21 demonstrate antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra, M.

Optimization of a molecularly defined tuberculin formulation: recombinant fusion proteins and epitope surgery.

Unlabelled: Bovine tuberculosis is an infectious livestock disease of global economic and zoonotic importance. Surveillance programs are largely dependent on the skin test that utilizes purified protein derivatives (PPDs) of tuberculin. PPDs suffer from a number of limitations regarding their production, characterization, and performance.

Analysis of subsp. predicted outer membrane proteins (OMPeomes) in 21 clinical samples: variant sequences are predominantly surface-exposed.

The incidence of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease caused by the subsp. (TPA), has been surging globally despite effective antibiotic therapy. A new strategy for syphilis control is the development of a multi-component syphilis vaccine with global efficacy, which requires the identification of surface-exposed candidate vaccinogens and the determination of their antigenic diversity within circulating TPA strains.

Rickettsioses Seropositivity in Malaysia: A Six-Year Trend, 2016-2021.

Background: Rickettsioses are diseases caused by obligate intracellular non-motile coccobacilli transmitted via arthropods. The most common rickettsioses are scrub typhus (ST), typhus group rickettsioses (TGR), and spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGR). This study aims to provide information and insight into rickettsioses seropositivity among suspected patients in East and Peninsular Malaysia over a six-year period from 2016 to 2021.

Dominance of toxigenic strains and the appearance of the emerging PCR ribotype 955 in hospitals in Silesia, Poland.

Introduction: Toxigenic strains of are the leading cause of healthcare-associated bacterial infections in Poland. In the Silesian Voivodeship, with 4.5 million inhabitants, the incidence of infection (CDI) in 2023 reached 65.

Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles: A New Frontier in Antiviral Therapy Against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1.

Herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1) causes a wide spectrum of diseases in humans, including skin and mucosal ulcers, encephalitis, and keratitis. Acyclovir is regarded as the gold standard for treating infections with this virus. However, there are certain drawbacks to using this drug, such as its ineffectiveness against treatment-resistant virus strains.

Gut Dysbiosis Allows Foodborne Salmonella Colonization in Edible Crickets: A Probiotic Strategy for Enhanced Food Safety.

Aims: Edible insects, including crickets, represent a promising protein source, yet concerns over foodborne pathogens limit consumer acceptance. This study investigated whether gut microbiota modulates colonization by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) in the two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus).

A call for caution in the biological interpretation of viral auxiliary metabolic genes.

Virus-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) are non-essential genes that increase viral fitness by maintaining or manipulating host metabolism during infection. AMGs are intriguing from an evolutionary perspective, as most viral genomes are highly compact and have limited coding capacity for accessory genes. Advances in viral (meta)genomics have expanded the detection of putative AMGs from viruses in diverse environments.

Severe Scrub Typhus with Acute Kidney Injury: Urine PCR Evidence from an East Coast Malaysian Cluster.

Scrub typhus (ST) is caused by (OT) infection, which is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected chiggers. The clinical presentations range from mild to life-threatening multi-organ dysfunction. This report describes a cluster of ST cases involving five oil palm estate workers in Pekan district, Pahang, Malaysia.

Predictive analysis of all-cause mortality of previously untreated pulmonary tuberculosis patients complicated by hypertension.

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for all-cause mortality of previously untreated pulmonary tuberculosis patients complicated by hypertension and construct a predictive model.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of inpatients with previously untreated pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by hypertension from 2019 to 2021 in Changsha Central Hospital. Patients' survival status and cardiovascular events were collected through telephone follow-up.

Young lungs cared enough? India's frontiers in diagnosing pediatric TB.

This review provides an insight into pediatric tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in India. Significant challenges still exist in the accurate diagnosis of pediatric TB due to the paucibacillary status of the bacilli and the nonspecific clinical symptoms. Despite advancements in newer diagnostics that allow for rapid identification of TB and detection of drug resistance in children, their sensitivity is compromised due to these challenges.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of carbapenem encoding genes among carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria isolated from North Casablanca, Morocco.

Carbapenem resistance genes in Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) are a major cause of critical infections and are considered an urgent public health concern. The present study aimed to describe the prevalence of CR-GNB and the dissemination of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase genes in clinical isolates from Casablanca, Morocco. Firstly, the strains were collected and identified using phenotypic and biochemical methods, then the antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated by the disc diffusion assay to screen isolates resistant to carbapenems.

Improved detection of isoniazid-heteroresistant subpopulations by droplet digital PCR compared to MeltPro TB assay.

Unlabelled: Drug resistance in (Mtb), especially isoniazid (INH) resistance, challenges tuberculosis control. This study evaluated droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) against the traditional MeltPro TB assay. A total of 77 INH-resistant samples from Beijing Chest Hospital, China, underwent ddPCR, drug susceptibility testing, and Sanger sequencing.