Pathogens最新文献

Background: Infections in hand surgery represent a clinically relevant complication, particularly in trauma-related procedures and in the presence of internal fixation devices. Data specifically addressing microbiological profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns in hand surgery remain limited. Methods: A monocentric retrospective observational study was conducted, including 72 patients treated for hand surgery infections between January 2024 and June 2025. Microbiological isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were analyzed and stratified according to the clinical scenario, including trauma-related infections and infections associated with internal fixation devices. Monomicrobial and polymicrobial infections were evaluated separately. Results: Trauma-related infections accounted for 77.8% of cases, of which 64.3% were monomicrobial and 35.7% polymicrobial. Monomicrobial trauma-related infections were predominantly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, with methicillin resistance detected in 25.0% of cases. Polymicrobial trauma-related infections showed greater microbiological complexity but limited antimicrobial resistance. Infections associated with internal fixation devices represented 22.2% of cases and demonstrated a higher proportion of polymicrobial infections. Across all subgroups, no extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales or carbapenem-resistant organisms were identified. Conclusions: This study fills an important evidence gap by characterizing pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in a dedicated hand surgery cohort, an area where published microbiological data remain limited compared with other orthopedic subspecialties. Hand surgery infections exhibit distinct microbiological and resistance profiles depending on the clinical scenario and microbial complexity. Despite frequent polymicrobial involvement, high-level antimicrobial resistance remains uncommon, supporting the value of local microbiological surveillance to guide empirical therapy.

HPV DNA-positive women with ASC-US/LSIL cytology represent a heterogeneous risk group in cervical screening and require efficient triage. We evaluated a genotype-specific 7-type HPV E6/E7 mRNA assay (PreTect HPV-Proofer 7; types 16/18/31/33/45/52/58) in a real-world quality-assurance cohort at Nordland Hospital (Bodø, Norway). Among HPV-positive women with ASC-US/LSIL reflex cytology, 225 had sufficient residual liquid-based cytology material and a valid mRNA result; 175 had complete follow-up (2022-2025) and were included. Overall, 44.6% (78/175) were mRNA-positive (ASC-US 45.2%; LSIL 43.3%). For CIN2+, sensitivity was 63.4%, specificity 61.2%, PPV 33.3%, and NPV 84.5%; CIN2+ risk was 33.3% in mRNA-positive versus 15.5% in mRNA-negative women (RR 2.16, 95% CI 1.23-3.78). For CIN3+, risk was 14.1% versus 6.2%. Genotype-specific PPVs were highest for HPV33, HPV18, HPV16, and HPV31. In a referral simulation, mRNA-guided triage reduced baseline colposcopy referrals by 55% and decreased colposcopies per detected CIN2+ by ~30%, while 15 CIN2+ and 6 CIN3+ occurred in the mRNA-negative group and would be expected to be detected at 12-month follow-up among women with persistent HPV positivity. Genotype-aware HPV E6/E7 mRNA triage improves risk stratification and may increase screening efficiency.

Background: The lack of a short-course of safe and effective macrofilaricidal therapy for lymphatic filariasis (LF) hinders elimination efforts, especially in the endgame scenario. Preclinical studies in mice demonstrated that high-dose rifampicin (RIF) plus albendazole (ALB) produced macrofilaricidal effects within seven days, prompting this randomised, open-label, parallel-group, interventional phase II pilot trial to determine the efficacy of high-dose RIF plus ALB against LF in humans. Methods: In three LF-endemic districts of Ghana's Upper East Region, circulating filarial antigen (CFA)-positive individuals aged 18 to 55 years identified using the Alere Filariasis Test Strip were enrolled into the study. The participants were randomised through a centralized computer-generated randomisation into four treatment arms. They were treated according to the arm they were assigned to and followed up at 4-, 6-, 12-, and 18-months post-treatment to monitor changes in CFA status and levels, as well as adverse events. Outcome assessors were blinded to minimize assessment bias. Results: A total of 69 eligible participants were randomised into four treatment arms: RIF (35 mg/kg/day) + ALB (400 mg/day) for 7 days (n = 17), RIF (35 mg/kg/day) + ALB (400 mg/day) for 14 days (n = 18), ALB alone for 14 days (n = 17), and an untreated controlled group participating in standard mass drug administration (n = 17). All regimens were well tolerated, with no serious adverse events. Even though CFA positivity declined across all groups, with maximal reductions at 18 months, the RIF + ALB 7-day regimen consistently showed the highest decline, while ALB alone was the least effective. RIF + ALB groups exhibited early antigen decline by 4 months, unlike comparator groups, where reductions occurred from 12 months. Conclusions: These findings suggest macrofilaricidal activity of high-dose RIF plus ALB, supporting further trials in larger, microfilaraemic populations. The trial was registered in the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry on 9 September 2020 under the code PACTR202009704006025.Funding was by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 2 (EDCTP2), with grant code TMA2018SF-2451-ASTAWOL, and by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung-BMBF) under agreement with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through agreement number: 81204851.

Bovines are suitable hosts and can be affected by fly infestations. Flies pose a significant threat to cattle livestock in Latin America (LA), causing substantial economic repercussions to animal production (reduced productivity, veterinary expenses, and decreased animal welfare) and damage to human health. The most important flies affecting cattle in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay are Haematobia irritans, Dermatobia hominis, and Cochliomyia hominivorax. Due to production losses and the consequent economic costs associated with these flies, control measures must be implemented, primarily relying on insecticidal products. However, decision-making for preventing and treating animals with insecticides varies due to differences in environmental conditions across countries and regions, production systems, animal populations, infestation levels, animal welfare, and the prevalence of myiasis, among other factors. Although insecticides remain the most effective option for fly control in cattle, resistant populations have developed, rendering them less effective. To overcome fly resistance to insecticides, non-chemical (mechanical, environmental, biological, and genetic) methods are being integrated into alternative control and eradication strategies. The use of integrated livestock fly control contributes to safeguarding animal, public, and environmental health. This review is designed to support individuals and institutions, both civil and governmental, addressing the ongoing challenge posed by flies affecting livestock.

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Pasteurella multocida is a pathogen of numerous mammal and bird species. Based on capsular antigens, five capsular types of P. multocida (A, B, D, E, and F) are distinguished. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of multiplex PCR and MALDI-TOF MS for the identification and capsular typing of P. multocida strains isolated from rabbits. A total of 115 field strains previously classified as P. multocida, isolated in Poland between 1999 and 2020, were analysed. Multiplex PCR was applied for simultaneous species identification and determination of capsular types. Most strains belonged to capsular type A (87.8%), while capsular types D (8.7%) and F (3.5%) were detected less frequently. The examined strains were subsequently identified by MALDI-TOF MS, which correctly assigned all strains to the species P. multocida. The results demonstrate that multiplex PCR is a rapid and reliable alternative to conventional species identification and serological capsular typing of P. multocida. In addition, MALDI-TOF MS proved to be a valuable tool for accurate species-level identification. The application of these methods in routine clinical microbiology laboratories may significantly improve the speed and reliability of P. multocida identification.

A detailed mathematical model has been developed for the dynamics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a single cell. It provides a platform for a better quantitative understanding of the biochemical kinetics of the HBV lifecycle. The model is used to study the sensitivity of virus growth, providing a clear ranking of intracellular virus replication processes with respect to their contribution to net viral production. The stochastic formulation of the model enables the quantification of the variability characteristics in viral production, the probability of productive infection and the secretion of protein- and genome-deficient viral particles. An essential difference in infection efficiency between deterministic and stochastic models has been revealed. For example, in the case of MOI=1, the mean value of the total number of mature virions released during the lifecycle of the infection in the stochastic model is 1.06, whereas, in the deterministic model, its value is less than one thousandth and thus close to 0. The model is also used to quantitatively predict the effect of combinations of direct-acting antivirals, such as small interfering RNAs, capsid inhibitors and nucleoside analogues. The model shows that the inhibitory effect of siRNA on viral production is approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that of nucleoside analogues and capsid inhibitors.

The genus Xanthomonas comprises devastating plant pathogens responsible for significant yield losses in globally critical crops such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), citrus (Citrus L. spp.), cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms driving Xanthomonas pathogenicity, including the type III secretion system (T3SS) that translocates effector proteins, transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) that reprogram host transcription, and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) that promote biofilm formation and immune evasion, which collectively enable host colonization, immune suppression, and disease progression. Rapid adaptation through genomic plasticity and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) exacerbates challenges in disease management by facilitating evasion of host defenses and environmental stressors. Economically, Xanthomonas spp. inflict billions in annual losses through crop damage, trade restrictions, and eradication efforts, disproportionately affecting resource-limited regions. Emerging antibiotic resistance and climate-driven shifts in pathogen distribution further threaten food security. Sustainable strategies, such as CRISPR-based genome editing to disrupt susceptibility genes, biocontrol agents (e.g., Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp.), and nanotechnology-driven antimicrobials offer promising alternatives to conventional copper-based and chemical controls. This review underscores the urgent need for integrated, climate-resilient management approaches to mitigate the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of Xanthomonas diseases, bridging genomic insights with innovative control measures, to address escalating threats posed by these pathogens in a changing global climate.

Nutritional immunity is a major facet of host defense, wherein the host immune system strategically limits pathogen access to critical nutrients, including iron, zinc, vitamins, lipids, and amino acids, to repress microbial proliferation and virulence. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the molecular mechanisms that power nutrient immunity, including metal homeostasis, nutrient competition, transporter modulation, hormonal regulation, and direct antimicrobial actions. We examine nutrient-specific strategies employed by the host, such as iron-withholding mechanisms, vitamin deprivation, and copper-mediated toxicity. We also explore how diverse pathogens, including extracellular, intracellular, and eukaryotic pathogens, adapt to these hostile nutritional landscapes through siderophore diversification, regulatory integration, and metabolic rewiring. Comparative genomic analyses reveal convergent evolution in nutrient acquisition systems, illuminating the dynamic arms race between host restriction and microbial evasion. We examine the immunological mechanisms that regulate nutritional immunity. Further, we discuss the translational potential of nutritional immunity, cutting across nutrient-based therapies, host-directed interventions, and emerging diagnostic biomarkers. Finally, we suggest future directions that synergize nutritional immunity with microbiome ecology, global malnutrition, and personalized medicine. By elucidating the interconnection between metabolism and immunity, this review highlights the therapeutic promise of starving or toxifying the pathogen to save the host.

Aquaculture of molluscs and crustaceans represents an important and expanding sector within global food production. The intensification of these systems has been accompanied by an increased prevalence and severity of infectious diseases, which continue to constrain productivity and sustainability. Current disease management approaches include biosecurity measures, husbandry practices, therapeutics, and selective breeding, which have shown limited efficacy against many emerging pathogens affecting invertebrate species. Unlike finfish, aquatic invertebrates lack adaptive immunity and rely exclusively on innate immune mechanisms, limiting the effectiveness of traditional vaccine strategies. There is growing interest in immunostimulants that enhance innate defenses and support immune priming or trans-generational immune priming (TGIP). This review summarises the current understanding of immune defence mechanisms in molluscs and crustaceans and examines recent progress in the development of immunomodulators and prophylactic interventions aimed at improving health outcomes and disease resilience in invertebrate aquaculture.