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Dental plaque is a complex microbial biofilm that contributes significantly to the onset of oral diseases and related infections. The initial attachment of primary colonizers to the salivary pellicle, which coats the tooth surface, is a critical first step in plaque development. Primary colonizers use pili on their cell surfaces to facilitate attachment to host surfaces and other bacteria. Pili-mediated adhesion and interbacterial coaggregation promote oral biofilm growth. Recent structural studies of primary colonizers and other oral bacteria have provided new insights into the role of pili in dental plaque formation. Understanding the molecular intricacies of pilus assembly and adhesion paves the way for the development of antiadhesive approaches to control dental plaque formation. Disrupting initial bacterial attachment by targeting pili- and pili-mediated interactions may offer a promising strategy to prevent oral biofilm development and associated infections. This review provides updates on pili and pilus components in oral bacteria, with a focus on the primary colonizers of dental plaque from a structural perspective.

This study aims to review recent literature on the delayed re-emergence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and to discuss its epidemiological characteristics, treatment strategies, and future research directions for global MP prevention and control. Through a systematic review of the recent relevant literature, the epidemiological changes in MP and the rate of increase in drug resistance during and after the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed. Moreover, the main treatment strategies for MP, including traditional antibiotics, immunomodulators, and combination therapy, were comprehensively analyzed. The results demonstrated that nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic exerted a marked reduction in MP detection rates. However, subsequent to the progressive relaxation of NPI measures, a resurgence of MP infections has been observed across multiple global regions, accompanied by an escalating prevalence of antimicrobial resistance—particularly concerning macrolide antibiotics. The investigation further conducted systematic analyses of current therapeutic regimens for MP infection, providing critical evaluations of their respective clinical advantages and limitations in practical application. This study proposes strategies for MP's delayed recirculation control amidst its changing epidemiology and drug resistance, offering a scientific basis and practical suggestions for global MP prevention.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common hepatic disease. In the cirrhotic phase, the characteristic manifestations of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) disappear, making a diagnosis challenging. During January 2018 and December 2022, all explanted livers with a pre-transplantation clinical diagnosis of NASH-related cirrhosis were included in this study. The clinical data of the patients, the disease duration prior to transplant, and laboratory data were extracted from documents. Concurrently, the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides and special stains were examined. Among the 2229 liver transplantations, 242 cases (11%) were due to the clinical diagnosis of pure NASH (71% = male, 29% = female). The patients' ages ranged from 28 to 74 years. The criteria for diagnosing NASH, including steatosis, ballooning degeneration, and lobular inflammation, were present in only 66%, 47%, and 3% of cirrhotic livers, respectively. Glassy cytoplasm, glycogenated nuclei, and small cell change were other common histologic features. Diagnosis of NASH in the cirrhotic phase is challenging because the characteristic features of NASH, particularly steatosis, may be non-significant or even completely disappear. In this situation, other histological findings, such as glycogenated nuclei or glassy cytoplasm, may help suggest NASH as a potential diagnosis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by high recurrence and metastasis, resulting in low patient survival. Dysbiosis of intestinal flora increases CRC metastasis risk. Mesalazine, an anti-inflammatory drug with proven antitumor activity, is commonly used to treat CRC in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but whether it mediates CRC hepatic metastasis by affecting key flora is unknown. An animal model of CRC liver metastasis was established by injecting HCT116 cells into the spleens of mice and treated with mesalazine. Mouse feces were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze the abundance of intestinal flora. In vitro experiments demonstrated that mesalazine inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC by modulating Bacteroides fragilis. Rescue experiments validated molecular mechanisms. Mesalazine inhibited CRC hepatic metastasis and reduced the abundance of Bacteroides fragilis in the feces of CRC hepatic metastatic mice by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. In vitro experiments showed that mesalazine inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC by affecting Bacteroides fragilis, mainly through the histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3)/Wingless/Int/Beta-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin) axis. The study elucidated the mechanism by which mesalazine inhibited CRC liver metastasis through the HDAC3/Wnt/β-catenin axis by affecting the abundance of Bacteroides fragilis, which provided a new idea for CRC treatment.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are multifunctional cells that wield considerable influence in the shaping and modulation of the immune system. In immunotherapy, DC therapy has emerged as a dynamic and versatile approach with significant potential for combating viral infections. As elucidated through the exploration of HIV, and viral hepatitis, the trajectory of DC therapy is marked by tangible progress and transformative potential. Insights gained from ongoing studies can lead to the design of more effective vaccines that harness the power of dendritic cells, potentially providing long-lasting immunity against viral infections. However, optimizing DC therapy presents several challenges that require dedicated efforts. This review focuses on the potential of DC-based vaccines as a treatment for chronic viral infections like HIV, HBV, and HCV, where the virus remains in the body and causes long-lasting problems with the immune system.

To explore immune, microbial, and gene expression alterations in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), assessing their potential as diagnostic markers. Thirty participants, 20 with ASD (15 male, 5 female) and 10 healthy controls, underwent collection of saliva, blood, and stool. Serum cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-α) were quantified via ELISA. RT-qPCR assessed corresponding gene expression in blood and saliva. Stool cultures yielded bacterial isolates identified by 16S rRNA sequencing methods. Diagnostic accuracy of cytokines was evaluated using ROC curves. Familial history revealed Down syndrome in 25% of ASD families. Stool cultures produced 31 isolates, predominantly Escherichia (23 E. coli, 5 E. fergusonii, including enterohemorrhagic strains). ASD patients exhibited significantly higher serum cytokine levels (mean ± SE, pg/mL): IL-1β 2275.9 versus 429.3; IL-6109.9 versus 47.6; IL-17A 1457.7 versus 963.6; TNF-α 367.2 versus 148.8 (p < 0.01). Cytokines were strongly intercorrelated, and ROC analysis showed excellent diagnostic potential. Gene expression mirrored serum findings, while salivary cytokine expression varied. Cytokine expression correlated closely with serum protein levels. ASD in this Iraqi cohort is characterized by strong pro-inflammatory signatures and microbial dysbiosis, with IL-6 and TNF-α emerging as potential biomarkers. These markers warrant further investigation for early diagnosis and targeted interventions.

The most common fungal infections in humans are caused by five species of Candida including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei. Although they generally cause non-severe, mild infection, Candida species cause life-threatening bloodstream infection (candidemia) and infection of internal organs (invasive candidiasis) in patients with compromised immunity or treated with invasive medical devices. The recent evolution of multidrug resistance among Candida species, the limited choice of antifungal medicines, and the reluctance of drug manufacturers to discover novel medicines are projecting Candida infection as a major global health threat. We stress here the importance of exploring fungi from less studied and extreme habitats and varying the culture conditions to increase the chance of finding novel anti-Candida drugs. We also bring into focus a crowd sourcing model involving students, faculty and research labs to reduce the time and cost of discovering such novel drugs.

This study investigates a hybrid wastewater treatment system combining a biofilm-based Algal Turf Scrubber (ATS) with a membrane-coupled High Rate Algal Pond (ATS-MHRAP) for shrimp aquaculture effluents. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to compare microbial composition, functional pathways, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) across attached biofilm (ATS1) and suspended biomass (ATS2, HRAP1) under three nutrient loading stages. Biofilm samples (ATS1) exhibited higher microbial richness and evenness, with Shannon index values up to 9.25, compared to 6.93 in suspended cultures. Functional pathways enriched in ATS1 included nitrogen cycling, amino acid metabolism, and terpenoid biosynthesis, with elevated expression of amoA, nirK, and nirS genes under moderate loading. These traits coincided with higher removal efficiency of COD (up to 88.6%), phosphate (82.1%), and total nitrogen (73.4%). ARGs were more diverse in ATS1, with up to 11 resistance classes detected, including β-lactam and sulfonamide genes co-occurring with intI1, indicating possible horizontal gene transfer. The ATS-MHRAP system offers a robust and biologically enriched platform for nature-based aquaculture wastewater treatment. Our findings reveal microbial and functional differentiation between attached and suspended communities, with implications for optimizing dissolved oxygen, nutrient ratios, and retention time.