International Journal of Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Investigation of Bacterial Infections and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns Among Clinical Isolates in the Center of Iran.","authors":"Sara Naseri, Maryam Sadeh, Mehdi Fatahi-Bafghi, Mahmood Vakili","doi":"10.1155/ijm/4694690","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/4694690","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Bacterial infection is a considerable problem in hospitals. Thus, this study was executed to appraise the rampancy of bacterial infections, antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, and molecular characterization of isolates among patients in Bafgh Hospital in Yazd, Iran, in 2020. <b>Methods:</b> In the current study, we surveyed 103 isolates of 400 clinical specimens from early March 2020 to September 2020 in Bafgh Hospital. We assessed phenotypic traits and antibiotic resistance with standard microbiological methods. Phenotypic methods were also performed to identify extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in Gram-negative bacilli, inducible clindamycin resistance, and methicillin resistance in <i>Staphylococcus</i> according to CLSI guidelines. Molecular identification of isolates was done by conventional PCR 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Furthermore, we investigated the prevalence of resistant genes including <i>bla</i> _TEM, <i>bla</i> _PER-2, <i>bla</i> _CTX-M, <i>bla</i> _SHV, and <i>bla</i> _VEB-1 in Gram-negative bacteria and the <i>mec</i>A gene in staphylococcal species. <b>Results:</b> From 400 different clinical specimens, 103 isolates of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were isolated. Based on phenotypic and molecular methods, most common isolates were <i>Escherichia coli</i> (53 isolates), followed by <i>Klebsiella</i> spp. (18 isolates), and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (16 isolates). The highest resistance was found in Gram-positive bacteria to erythromycin (66.67%) and penicillin (55.56%), while considering Gram-negative bacteria, the most resistant was cefixime (49.41%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (47.05%). In addition, out of 16 <i>S. aureus</i> isolates, 62.5% and 17.65% were resistant to methicillin and clindamycin, respectively. Among 83 Gram-negative isolates, 22.89% were ESBL-positive. The prevalence of <i>bla</i> _SHV, <i>bla</i> _PER2, <i>bla</i> _TEM, <i>bla</i> _CTX-M, and <i>bla</i> _VEB-1 genes was 78.31%, 59.03%, 40.96%, 30.12%, and 0%, respectively. <b>Conclusions:</b> The outbreak of bacterial infections is relatively high in hospitals. Recognizing risk agents for bacterial infections and restricting the administration of multidrug-resistant antibiotics is a substantial measure that must be taken to prevent patient mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"4694690"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12357780/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacterial Isolates From Orthopedic Posttraumatic Surgical Infections in Northern Ghana: ES<i>β</i>L Detection and Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Trends.","authors":"Fredrick Gyilbagr, Williams Walana, Alexis D B Buunaaim, Ezekiel Kofi Vicar, Jacob Nii Otinkorang Ankrah, Emmanuel Antwi Boasiako Frimpong, Rukaya Baanah Alhassan, Ibrahim Sibdow Baako, Alahaman Nana Boakye, Samuel Addo Akwetey, Akosua Bonsu Karikari, Gideon Kofi Helegbe, Stephen Tabiri","doi":"10.1155/ijm/9949633","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/9949633","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a critical challenge globally and are aggravated by rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we evaluated the bacterial profile, AMR patterns, and ES<i>β</i>L characterization of isolates from patients diagnosed with SSI after trauma orthopedic surgery. <b>Methods:</b> This prospective study was carried out at Tamale Teaching Hospital from September 2023 to May 2024. Patients were asked to provide demographic data. Samples were also collected from patients suspected of SSI and cultured for bacterial isolation, identification, and AMR characterization. <b>Results:</b> In all, 210 patients were recruited for this study, and 14 (6.7%) out of 19 suspected cases developed SSI. Of 19 specimens, 14 (73.68%) were culture-positive, yielding 22 isolates. Monomicrobial growth were 7 (50.0%) and polymicrobial growth 7 (50.0%). Among the isolates, 3 (13.64%) were Gram-positive and 19 (86.36%) were Gram-negative bacilli. <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (5, 22.73%) were the most common isolates, followed by <i>Klebsiella</i> spp. (4, 18.18%). ES<i>β</i>L-positive isolates were 3 (23.08%). PCR confirmed the expression of CTXM and SHV genes by two <i>Klebsiella</i> spp. and the CTXM gene by <i>Proteus vulgaris</i>. <b>Conclusion:</b> Gram-negative bacteria, particularly <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, were the dominant isolates from surgical sites after trauma orthopedic surgery. Among the Gram-positives, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> was dominant. Among the Enterobacterales isolates, ESBL production was detected in three cases (23.08%), with two <i>Klebsiella</i> spp. harboring CTXM and SHV resistance genes, and CTXM in one <i>Proteus vulgaris</i>. The current study has revealed varied resistant patterns of AMR, with CTXM and SHV as common ES<i>β</i>L genes among the isolates. The clinical identification of CTX-M and SHV genes could guide clinicians to consider alternative treatments to optimize therapeutic outcomes and limit the spread of resistant pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"9949633"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12352993/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144873103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacteriome Diversity of Soil Islands Associated With Bromeliads From Ironstone Outcrops in the Brazilian Pantanal.","authors":"Fernanda M R Godoy, Gecele M Paggi, Aline P Lorenz, Jeferson V Ramos, Daniel G Franco, Fernando M L Calarge, Nayara F L Garcia, Marcus V S Urquiza, Jolimar A Schiavo, Nalvo F Almeida, Marivaine S Brasil","doi":"10.1155/ijm/6374781","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/6374781","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Knowledge about the diversity and distribution of microorganisms in natural environments is essential for understanding the dominant microbial groups and predicting their ecological functions. This study is aimed at describing the bacteriome diversity in soils associated with bromeliads in the Brazilian Pantanal region, utilizing genomic approaches. We analyzed the 16S rRNA gene from soil environmental DNA (eDNA) samples linked to <i>Bromelia balansae</i> and <i>Deuterocohnia meziana</i> (Bromeliaceae), which inhabit ironstone outcrops in the Pantanal. The analysis revealed Ktedonobacteraceae as the most abundant bacterial group, showing a mean relative abundance of 22.8% ± 15.5% in <i>B. balansae</i> and 33.5% ± 18.4% in <i>D. meziana</i> soils. Other highly abundant families were Chthoniobacteraceae and Pyrinomonadaceae, each exceeding 14.5% mean abundance. Despite the similarities in bacteriome composition between the bromeliads, beta-diversity analysis revealed phylogenetic distinctions across localities. The São João and Vale do Paraíso Farms, which experience the highest human impact from livestock farming, showed considerable differences, with 25 and 13 exclusive taxa, respectively. The environmental stresses of ironstone outcrops, such as high insolation and thermal variation, likely favor specific taxa adapted to these conditions. Understanding the bacteriome diversity in these unique habitats is crucial for promoting sustainable use and conserving the Pantanal's biodiversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"6374781"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12321424/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144784262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of Deep Sequencing to Evaluate Transitions in Microbial Communities in Stranded <i>Sargassum</i>.","authors":"Afeefa A Abdool-Ghany, Kristina M Babler, David Bogumil, Sarah Pollock, Jiayu Li, Schonna R Manning, Helena M Solo-Gabriele","doi":"10.1155/ijm/3915271","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/3915271","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Deep sequencing technologies can be used to evaluate pathogens in environmental samples. The objective of this study was to use this technology to evaluate <i>Sargassum</i> samples that were characterized by different stranding times, one classified as short-term stranded (STS) and another classified as long-term stranded (LTS) <i>Sargassum</i>. Nine replicates of the STS <i>Sargassum</i> showed a range in Shannon diversity between 3.04 and 3.38, whereas 11 replicates of LTS showed a range between 1.17 and 1.22. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis showed distinct differences between STS and LTS by about 0.5 coordinate units, while variations within replicates ranged by 0.1 coordinate units. Comparison between the two <i>Sargassum</i> samples showed a greater abundance of <i>Vibrio</i> species in STS <i>Sargassum</i> when compared to LTS <i>Sargassum</i>, with major pathogenic forms observed for <i>Vibrio alginolyticus</i> (11%), <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> (1.5%), and <i>Vibrio vulnificus</i> (0.29%). Additional known human pathogens were observed, including <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, <i>Legionella pneumophila</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, as well as the presence of gut commensals and fecal coliforms. Overall results show that deep sequencing analysis of these environmental samples was reproducible. Given the abundance of pathogenic bacteria, more research is needed to evaluate the risk of disease transmission as <i>Sargassum</i> strands and decomposes on coastal beaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"3915271"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12303635/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144730356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiparametric Optimization of Data-Dependent Acquisition Towards More Holistic Bacterial Metabolite Coverage Through Molecular Networking.","authors":"Adivhaho Khwathisi, Amidou Samie, Asfatou Ndama Traore, Ntakadzeni Edwin Madala","doi":"10.1155/ijm/4388417","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/4388417","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prokaryotic organisms rely on a limited array of metabolites for survival, which varies according to their natural environment. For example, soil-borne bacteria produce diverse metabolites, such as antibiotics, to thrive in their competitive surroundings, inhibiting the growth of nearby competing bacteria. The structural diversity of these compounds offers great analytical challenges, since there is no universal acquisition setting that can be applied to achieve their comprehensive coverage. Therefore, the use of a single experimental setup inevitably hinders the comprehensive metabolite coverage, which would affect the outputs. To address this, we propose employing a design of experiment (DoE) approach through the central composite design (CCD) to enhance the metabolite detection and broaden the coverage of the data-dependent acquisition (DDA) mode of the UHPLC-qTOF-MS technique. Our study reveals that altering collision energy significantly enhances metabolite coverage compared to adjusting the DDA threshold of detection. Furthermore, the ability of global natural product social (GNPS)-based molecular network models to annotate metabolites is greatly influenced by data acquisition settings, particularly affecting MS² data. Interestingly, molecular networks constructed from averaged spectral data obtained through randomly selected DDA settings outperform those generated using customized settings through DoE modeling. This study demonstrates that in untargeted LC-MS metabolomics, both collision energy and intensity threshold independently enhance metabolite coverage in untargeted metabolomics. However, their combined use results in even greater coverage. Consequently, we recommend adopting group-based optimization over single-point optimization for more comprehensive metabolite coverage and in-depth exploration. However, caution should be taken in order to balance between robust data and redundancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"4388417"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12303636/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144730355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phylogenetic Diversity and Extracellular Enzymatic Activities of Yeasts and Yeast-Like Fungi Isolated From <i>Qualea grandiflora</i> (Vochysiaceae) in Cerrado Areas in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil.","authors":"Jaqueline Silva Vieira, Dailane Amaral de Almeida, Rodrigo Oliveira Pessoa, Magno Augusto Zazá Borges, Henrique Maia Valério","doi":"10.1155/ijm/2663995","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/2663995","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Brazilian savannah, Cerrado, a Brazilian phytophysiognomy, is an entire biome that contains as well as other Brazilian ecosystems, a vast biodiversity of microorganisms associated with native plants. Plant species of the Cerrado have attracted attention due to the still limited knowledge regarding their associated microbiota and the possible applications of these microorganisms. Considering that wildflowers are rich reservoirs of yeast diversity, the present study isolated 58 yeast strains from flowers of <i>Qualea grandiflora</i> from two areas of Cerrado <i>sensu stricto</i> in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The isolates were evaluated for producing extracellular enzymes in cellulase, amylase, xylanase, protease, tannase, and pectinase tests. We used the YNB agar diffusion method (Difco) supplemented with specific substrates for each enzyme. The strains were identified by analyzing the sequences of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (26S) rRNA gene and compared to the sequences deposited on GenBank. Fifty-eight strains were isolated, and 14 genera were identified, of which 18 species were yeasts, two species were yeast-like fungi, and three were yeast-like strains to which it was not yet possible to assign the species they belonged to. Among the identified species, the phylum Ascomycota predominated; exceptions were the isolates of the yeast <i>Papiliotrema laurentii</i> and the fungus <i>Anthracocystis heteropogonicola</i>, both belonging to the phylum Basidiomycota. In the enzymatic tests, 44.8% of the strains tested presented an enzymatic profile in solid medium, being capable of producing at least one of the enzymes studied, with the species <i>Coniochaeta rhopalochaeta</i> showing the greatest cellulolytic activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"2663995"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12283212/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144690161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic Characterization and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Isolates From Intensive Care Units in Vietnam.","authors":"Thanh Truc Tran, Phuc Hoang Bui","doi":"10.1155/ijm/7578951","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/7578951","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, an opportunistic pathogen, is responsible for a wide range of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), particularly in patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Carbapenem-resistant <i>A. baumannii</i> (CRAB) is of particular concern due to its extensive multidrug resistance (MDR) and limited treatment options. In Vietnam, CRAB has become increasingly prevalent, with resistant mechanisms primarily attributed to the presence of <i>blaOXA-23</i> and <i>blaNDM-1</i> genes. This study investigates the clinical characteristics and genomic epidemiology of three CRAB isolates (ICU773, ICU400, and ICU399) from a tertiary-care hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. The isolates exhibited high resistance to a wide range of antibiotics, including carbapenems, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones, while maintaining susceptibility to colistin. Whole-genome sequencing was used to analyze the genomic profiles, resistance genes, and sequence types of the isolates. All three isolates possessed <i>blaOXA-23</i> and additional resistance genes such as <i>blaADC</i> and aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AMEs). MLST analysis revealed distinct genetic lineages, with ICU773 and ICU400 belonging to Sequence Types 2/195 and 2/Novel and ICU399 to Sequence Types 571/804. In silico analysis further identified several efflux pump genes and other resistance mechanisms, including the presence of the <i>adeABC, adeFGH</i>, and <i>AbaQ</i> pumps. These findings highlight the complexity of CRAB's genomic diversity and resistance mechanisms in the region, underscoring the urgent need for continuous surveillance and novel therapeutic strategies to combat this growing healthcare threat.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"7578951"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12283191/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144690160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emerging Trends of Beta-Lactamases in Western Nepal: A Growing Public Health Concern.","authors":"Rajan Paudel, Niranjan Nayak, Bipin Chapagain, Elina Shrestha, Deependra Hamal, Dharm Raj Bhatta, Bishnu Raj Tiwari","doi":"10.1155/ijm/3559197","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/3559197","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Clinically challenging bacterial infections are caused by microorganisms producing extended-spectrum <i>β</i>-lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC <i>β</i>-lactamase (AmpC), and carbapenemases, which confer antibiotic resistance and may result in treatment failure. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenemase-producing clinical isolates of <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. <b>Methods:</b> This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 362 isolates of <i>E. coli, K. pneumoniae</i>, and <i>P. aeruginosa</i> from urine, blood, pus, sputum, swab, and endotracheal (ET) tube tips were obtained from patients attending Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, during March 2022 to October 2022. Phenotypic confirmation of ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenemase was done by combined disk test and modified Hodge test. <b>Results:</b> The prevalence of ESBL among isolates was found to be 58.3%. Confirmative tests showed 65.3% <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, 30.2% <i>K. pneumoniae</i>, and 17.7% <i>E. coli</i> were AmpC producers. Among the carbapenem-resistant isolates, 81.7% showed phenotypic evidence of carbapenemase production based on the modified Hodge test. Additionally, 9.9% and 5.2% of isolates demonstrated phenotypic characteristics suggestive of metallo-<i>β</i>-lactamase (MBL) and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> carbapenemase (KPC) activity, respectively. <b>Conclusion:</b> The ESBL production was the predominant mechanism of resistance to <i>β</i>-lactam drugs, followed by AmpC and carbapenemase production. Routine identification and monitoring of these organisms, followed by detection of <i>β</i>-lactamase production, optimize the effective management and prevention of antimicrobial resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"3559197"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12279432/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144682615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Confluence of HIV-1 and HIV-2: Implications for Disease Progression and Insights for Therapy.","authors":"Edwin Magomere, Charles Ochieng' Olwal, Becky Ewurama Tetteh, Mark Appeaning, Thumbi Ndung'u, George Boateng Kyei, Peter Kojo Quashie","doi":"10.1155/ijm/3145677","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/3145677","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Two distinct types of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), namely, HIV-1 and HIV-2 exist. HIV-1 is responsible for the global pandemic and has an aggressive pathogenesis. On the contrary, HIV-2 is not only less aggressive but also confined to West and Central African regions. Even after four decades of HIV research, a scalable cure or effective vaccine against HIV remains elusive. Consequently, the concept of a functional cure or vaccine, targeting to limit disease progression, allowing sufficient time for the immune response to clear the virus, has gained traction. Efforts to identify new therapeutic targets for development of a functional cure have focused on elite controllers, that is, individuals who naturally control HIV-1 infection in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. However, little progress has been associated with these efforts perhaps due to the scarcity of elite controllers, who make up only 0.15% of HIV-1 infected population globally. A distinct but largely unexplored subset of HIV patients comprise HIV-1 and HIV-2 dually infected individuals. This group of patients naturally presents with an attenuated disease progression phenotype akin to natural controllers. In this review, we discuss the attenuated disease progression phenomenon in dually infected individuals and offer potential explanations for this unanticipated observation. Additionally, we propose potential therapeutic and/or vaccine strategies that could leverage interactions of HIV-1 and HIV-2. Such strategies are likely to inform alternative therapeutics. A thorough understanding of the mechanism underlying the attenuated disease progression phenotype in HIV dually infected individuals is crucial for the design of a functional cure.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"3145677"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12271722/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144674728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Blood Donor Serological Screening in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A 7-Year Retrospective Study on Transfusion-Transmitted Infections.","authors":"Amr J Halawani, Afnan J Hawsawi, Latifa A Jaber, Saeed M Kabrah, Turki M Maghrabi, Khaled M Alobaid, Alaa A Kaki, Ayman M Aljabri, Adel S Alsaedi, Mohammed M Alharbi, Abdullah F Alhazmi, Hani A Alsaedi, Ahmed S Almalki, Fatima A Alharthi, Yahya H Almalki, Abdullah M Alotaibi, Rakan M Abu-Harba, Ahmad F Arbaeen, Hesham A Malak, Mohammad O Sabbag, Rani O Alnabati","doi":"10.1155/ijm/3257549","DOIUrl":"10.1155/ijm/3257549","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Screening donated blood for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) is a critical component of transfusion safety, particularly in high-demand regions such as Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. This study is aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of TTI markers among blood donors at King Abdulaziz Hospital-Makkah (KAHM) over a 7-year period. <b>Methods:</b> In this retrospective study, 17,661 individuals who donated blood at the KAHM, Saudi Arabia, from January 2017 to December 2023, were included. The prevalence of TTI markers was assessed and categorized by year, gender, age, type of donors (whole blood and apheresis), and category of donation (replacement and volunteer). In addition to ABO group testing, commercially available kits were used for serological tests. <b>Results:</b> Among donors, 74 (0.42%) were reactive for HBsAg, 1419 (8.03%) for HBcAb, and 1295 (7.33%) for HBsAb. Other reactive cases included HCV (0.29%), HIV (0.06%), HTLV-I/II (0.05%), and syphilis (0.44%). No cases of malaria were reported. Statistically significant variations were observed across years for HBsAg (<i>p</i> = 0.007), HBsAb, and HBcAb (<i>p</i> < 0.001), suggesting changes in infection exposure, immunity, or donor screening efficiency. Male donors represented 97.17% of the cohort, and replacement donors were more prevalent (54.75%) than volunteers. <b>Conclusion:</b> The overall prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in Makkah was low, affirming the effectiveness of current screening protocols. However, the relatively high prevalence of hepatitis B core antibodies indicates prior exposure among a notable proportion of donors. Yearly fluctuations in seropositivity suggest evolving epidemiological patterns, warranting continuous surveillance and targeted public health interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":"2025 ","pages":"3257549"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12259301/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144636912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}