Microbial pathogenesis最新文献

{"title":"Development of chitosan-functionalized PLGA/alginate polymeric nanoparticles for controlled doxycycline release in pediatric Streptococcus pneumoniae infections","authors":"Haiqin Wang,&nbsp;Yan Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108240","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108240","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> continues to be a leading pathogen responsible for severe respiratory related diseases among children, often demanding prolonged treatment with antibiotics. In this study, we developed a chitosan-modified PLGA/alginate nanoparticles for controlled doxycycline delivery (CS-PLGA/Alginate@Doxy NPs) with the goal of improving therapeutic effect while reducing dosing frequency and treatment-related difficulties. The fabricated NPs demonstrated a well-defined spherical structure with an average diameter close to 50–70 nm, a stable negative surface charge, and a notably high drug encapsulation capability, confirming their suitability for inhalation-based antimicrobial therapy. <em>In vitro</em> drug release studies confirmed sustained Doxy release over 72 h under different pH conditions. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against of <em>S. pneumoniae</em>, showing significantly improved bactericidal activity compared to free Doxy and other combinations. Further, the crystal violet assay and fluorescent microscopy analysis reveals that, the <em>S. pneumoniae</em> biofilm thickness was significantly reduced with visible disintegration of EPS matrix when exposed to CS-PLGA/Alginate@Doxy NPs. Cytocompatibility assays on fibroblast (L929) and human lung epithelial cells (L-132) confirmed the safety profile of the CS-PLGA/Alginate@Doxy NPs for pediatric use. The results proposed that the fabricated CS-PLGA/Alginate@Doxy NPs signifies a promising targeted delivery platform for the effective management of pediatric pneumococcal infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108240"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145794352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intestinal parasitic infections associated with nutritional status and inflammatory markers among young children in Huye district, Rwanda","authors":"Wellars Twahirwa ,&nbsp;Patrick Nemeyimana ,&nbsp;Xavier Nyandwi ,&nbsp;Jean D'Amour Iradukunda ,&nbsp;Jean Felix Muneza ,&nbsp;Philbert Kanimba ,&nbsp;Khadijat O. Adefaye ,&nbsp;Noel Gahamanyi ,&nbsp;Nadine Rujeni","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108237","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108237","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a public health issue affecting young children in low and middle income countries (LMICs). These factors may induce malnutrition, as well as systemic and/or intestinal inflammation, depending on the species, intensity of infection, and host response. This study aimed at determining the effect of intestinal parasites on nutritional status and inflammatory responses in pre- and school-aged children in rural areas of the southern province of Rwanda.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study involving 127 children under 12 years of age was conducted at two health centers in Huye District, Southern Province, Rwanda, from January to February 2022. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic information, feeding habits, anthropometric measurements, and information on infection/malnutrition risk factors. Stool samples were collected to test for intestinal parasites by using microscope, while serum was collected to measure (anti)inflammatory markers [interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), total protein, and C-reactive protein (CRP)].</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The overall prevalence of IPIs was 38.6 %, with <em>Entamoeba coli</em> being the most prevalent (21.3 %), Q1: Although <em>E. coli</em> is non-pathogenic, its high prevalence serves as an indicator of fecal–oral contamination and poor environmental sanitation. Thus, it reflects the same exposure pathways responsible for pathogenic intestinal parasites. Its detection therefore signals ongoing transmission risks and inadequate hygiene conditions that contribute to the overall public health burden. followed by <em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em> (18.1 %), <em>Entamoeba histolytica</em> (11.8 %), and <em>Trichuris trichiura</em> (1.6 %). Coinfections accounted for 12.6 % of the infections. Moreover, 48.0 %, 25.2 %, and 9.4 % of the children were stunted, underweight, and stunted, respectively. Underweight, IL-10, and total protein levels were significantly associated with IPIs. Our findings also indicated that food supplements had a significant positive effect on stunting.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><em>Ascaris lumbricoides</em>, <em>Entamoeba histolytica</em>, and <em>Trichuris trichiura</em> were the predominant parasites. Intestinal parasitic infections in preschool children and schoolchildren affect the nutritional status, possibly through chronic inflammation. Further mechanistic investigations will shed more light on the regulation of the inflammatory response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108237"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145735215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Telomycin nanoparticles from Streptomyces abietis: Effects on hepatorenal function, antioxidant activity, immune responses, and histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) challenged with Staphylococcus aureus","authors":"Rewan Abdelaziz ,&nbsp;Alshimaa A. Khalil ,&nbsp;Rania Ali ,&nbsp;Mohamed Taha Yassin ,&nbsp;Fatimah Olyan Al-Otibi ,&nbsp;Mohamed Ragab AbdelGawwad ,&nbsp;Shaimaa A.A. Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study investigated the antibacterial efficacy of telomycin nanoparticles (TNPs). Telomycin, a bioactive metabolite of <em>Streptomyces abietis</em> PP752347, was loaded onto chitosan nanoparticles. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC₅₀) of telomycin against pathogenic strains of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> was determined to be 1.0 ± 1.00 μg/mL and 2.0 ± 1.00 μg/mL, respectively, against different strains. Meanwhile, the (MIC₅₀) of TNPS against the same strains was .125 ± 1.00 μg/mL and 1.0 ± 1.00 μg/mL, respectively. Morphological changes in <em>S. aureus</em> treated with TNPS were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the bioactive metabolite extracts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while SEM was employed to characterize the nanoparticles. For the <em>in vivo</em> experiment, 120 African catfish (<em>Clarias gariepinus</em>) were divided into four groups: the first group served as the negative control (neither challenged nor treated); the second group (TNPS) received TNPS treatment (100 μg/L); the third group (SA) represented the positive control, infected with <em>S. aureus</em>; and the fourth group (SA + TNPS) was infected with <em>S. aureus</em> and treated with TNPS. Infected fish (SA and SA + TNPS groups) received an intraperitoneal injection of <em>S. aureus</em> (1.6 × 10⁶ CFU/mL). The findings demonstrated that all infected groups exhibited noticeable clinical signs resulting from <em>S. aureus</em> infection. TNPS administration via immersion significantly reduced the negative impacts of infection on liver and kidney biomarkers, innate immune responses, antioxidant levels, serum gonadotropic hormones, and hepatic expression levels of both Caspase-3 and TNF-α. TNPS treatment significantly (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) alleviated <em>S. aureus</em>–induced clinical symptoms and hepatorenal dysfunction. It enhanced innate immunity (lysozyme, nitric oxide, MPO, and IL-1β expression), antioxidant capacity, and sex hormone levels, while reversing histopathological alterations in the liver, kidney, spleen, and ovaries. Furthermore, TNPs reduced hepatic expression of both Caspase-3 and TNF-α. These findings indicate that TNPs (100 μg/L) is safe for African catfish and exhibits potent antibacterial activity, supporting its potential as a promising and eco-friendly therapeutic agent for aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108241"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145788013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring bacteriophages as potential tools for combating multi drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: Isolation, characterization, genomic insights, and in vitro evaluation","authors":"Rahma E. Ali ,&nbsp;Amal S.M. Abo-Senna ,&nbsp;Rasha A.S. El-Safty ,&nbsp;Aliaa Aboulela","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacteriophages are promising alternatives to antibiotics for combating multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens such as <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em>, a major cause of hospital-acquired infections. In this study, two <em>K. pneumoniae</em>-specific phages, vB_Kpn_RAH1 and vB_Kpn_RAH2, were isolated from sewage using an MDR clinical isolate (KP26) as the host. Their morphological, physicochemical, and genomic characteristics were analyzed. Both phages exhibited <em>Siphovirus</em>-like morphology, and the genome sizes of RAH1 and RAH2 were 46,784 bp and 59,380 bp, respectively. The phages were stable at 25–37 °C and pH 7–9 but were sensitive to high temperatures (80–90 °C), extreme pH, and prolonged UV exposure. Killing-curve assays confirmed strong bactericidal activity, with MOI 0.1 producing the most sustained bacterial reduction (90–97 %), while higher MOIs showed reduced long-term efficacy. The phage cocktail exhibited superior and prolonged inhibition of <em>K. pneumoniae</em>, outperforming RAH1 and RAH2 individually. One-step growth analysis revealed burst sizes of approximately 400 virions for RAH1 and 250 for RAH2. Host-range analysis indicated narrow specificity for both phages, whereas their cocktail displayed a broader lytic spectrum, lysing 9 of 15 clinical isolates. The absence of lysis in non-<em>Klebsiella</em> species emphasizes the high specificity of the phages, supporting a targeted therapeutic approach while minimizing unintended effects on the host microbiota. Genomic analysis confirmed that RAH1 and RAH2 are novel species lacking antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes. RAH2 is strictly lytic, whereas RAH1 is temperate. The strictly lytic nature and favorable genomic features of RAH2 support its potential as a candidate for therapeutic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108274"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent advances in food preservation through antimicrobial carbon dots-based food packaging: Environmental sustainability and future trends","authors":"Ajahar Khan,&nbsp;Zohreh Riahi,&nbsp;Jun Tae Kim,&nbsp;Jong-Whan Rhim","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food contamination and health concerns due to foodborne pathogens have highlighted the need for novel antimicrobial agents to replace conventional packaging methods that use chemical preservatives. In terms of food safety, nanotechnology offers a variety of opportunities for the food sector, anticipating consumer demand for affordable, nutritious, and refined foods. In this regard, carbon dots have attracted significant attention as potential antimicrobial nanomaterials due to their structural versatility, ease of functionalization, and unique physicochemical, optical, non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties. This review provides a systematic overview of the antimicrobial effects of carbon dots against various foodborne microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which are necessary for evaluating sustainable food preservatives. Important concerns such as health, environmental, and safety issues, along with an overview of the targeting mechanisms between carbon dots and foodborne pathogens, are also discussed. Research advances in the development of carbon dots -integrated biopolymer-based antimicrobial food packaging systems are highlighted, focusing on their effectiveness in preserving the quality of fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and bakery products. Finally, challenges and potential future directions in the development of antimicrobial carbon dots are explored to provide a comprehensive understanding of the structure-activity linkages of carbon dots for microbial targeting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108271"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combination of endolysin LysK04 and cinnamaldehyde potentially inhibits Gram-negative pathogens via outer membrane disruption and peptidoglycan hydrolysis","authors":"Harshitha N,&nbsp;Adrija Saha,&nbsp;Abhijith Mandal,&nbsp;Swati Rout,&nbsp;Sunil S. More,&nbsp;Susweta Das Mitra","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phage-derived endolysins are emerging as promising antibacterial agents due to their ability to enzymatically degrade the conserved peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls. However, their exogenous application against Gram-negative bacteria is limited by the presence of the impermeable outer membrane. This study aimed to enhance the antibacterial activity of an endolysin (LysK04) by evaluating the outer membrane–permeabilizing potential of a plant-derived compound cinnamaldehyde.</div><div>The LysK04 gene was cloned, expressed, and purified, and its peptidoglycan hydrolytic activity was confirmed through Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS), which identified characteristic muropeptide fragments. Molecular docking analyses further demonstrated strong binding affinity of LysK04 toward N-acetylglucosamine–N-acetylmuramic acid (NAG–NAM) motifs. The permeabilizing capability of cinnamaldehyde was demonstrated against <em>K. pneumoniae</em> using N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN) uptake and o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) assays, confirming its ability to disrupt the outer membrane.</div><div>Cinnamaldehyde potentiated the bacteriolytic activity of LysK04 and facilitated biofilm disruption when used in combination. Checkerboard assays demonstrated synergistic or additive interactions (FICI: 0.1265–0.762) with favorable drug reduction indices against high-risk carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative pathogens, including <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em>, <em>Acinetobacter baumannii</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>. Time-kill assays revealed &gt;5 log₁₀ CFU/mL bacterial reduction, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) showed extensive structural damage in co-treated cells. These findings indicate that cinnamaldehyde acts as an effective adjuvant by permeabilizing the outer membrane and facilitating endolysin access to its peptidoglycan substrate, supporting phyto–enzyme combinations as a promising therapeutic strategy against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108262"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145834462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Equisetin targets membrane integrity and transcriptional networks to combat multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis","authors":"Xiao-Le Han ,&nbsp;Jiang Chen ,&nbsp;Tao Zhou ,&nbsp;Jianming Xu ,&nbsp;Le Dai ,&nbsp;Yi Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates the natural product Equisetin as a potent agent against multidrug-resistant <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em> (MDR <em>E. faecalis</em>). Equisetin exhibited strong antibacterial activity (MIC = 5.84 μg/mL) by disrupting membrane integrity, inducing protein/DNA leakage, depolarizing membrane potential, elevating ROS, and depleting ATP. It also inhibited biofilm formation and showed minimal hemolytic activity without inducing resistance. Transcriptomics revealed upregulation of DNA repair/stress genes and downregulation of metabolic/protein synthesis genes, indicating a multi-target mechanism. These findings position Equisetin as a promising candidate for treating MDR infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108215"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145635886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic diversity, haplotyping, integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic insights in Fusarium stalk rot of maize","authors":"J. Harish ,&nbsp;M.K. Prasannakumar ,&nbsp;R. Karan ,&nbsp;B.P. Maruthi Prasad ,&nbsp;K.N. Pallavi ,&nbsp;H.C. Lohithaswa ,&nbsp;G. Punith ,&nbsp;Noor Ayesha","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Maize stalk rot is a major constraint to crop productivity, caused by a complex of <em>Fusarium</em> species. This study investigated the diversity, genetic structure and host-pathogen interactions associated with stalk rot in Indian maize. Phylogenetic analysis of isolates collected during 2022–2023 identified species from three major complexes: <em>Fusarium fujikuroi</em> (FFSC), <em>F. incarnatum</em>-<em>equiseti</em> (FIESC) and <em>F. solani</em> (FSSC), with <em>F. verticillioides</em> being the predominant pathogen. Genetic analysis using ITS, <em>TEF-1α</em> and <em>RPB-2</em> markers revealed high within-population variability and moderate differentiation across populations. DNA polymorphism and neutrality tests suggested intense selection pressures and population expansion events, especially at the <em>TEF-1α</em> and ITS loci. Transcriptomic analysis of infected maize revealed 6948 differentially expressed genes. Upregulated genes were associated with fungal recognition, cell wall degradation and antimicrobial compound production, while downregulated genes indicated suppression of photosynthesis, protein folding and cytoskeletal functions. KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted significant changes in pathways related to lipid metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, oxidative stress and energy reallocation. Biochemical assays confirmed the elevated activity of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (cellulase, β-glucosidase and pectate lyase), peaking at 4–6 days post-infection, supporting their role in tissue maceration. LC-MS/MS-based metabolite profiling revealed a clear metabolic shift in infected maize, characterized by an increased accumulation of secondary metabolites, including flavonoid glycosides and phenylpropanoids, in contrast to the dominance of primary metabolism in healthy tissues. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the genetic, biochemical and metabolic responses of maize to stalk rot, underscoring the need for management and resistance breeding strategies targeting diverse <em>Fusarium</em> species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108245"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145768488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioprocess and genetic advances enhancing Beauveria bassiana biocontrol efficacy","authors":"Prakash Kolanchi,&nbsp;Nandha Saminathan,&nbsp;Dineshkumar Selvaraj,&nbsp;Aravinthraju Krishnamoorthy,&nbsp;Kavin Palanivelu,&nbsp;Annamalai Aruchalam","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Beauveria bassiana</em> is a widely exploited entomopathogenic fungus that has emerged as a central component of ecologically sustainable pest management. Recent years have witnessed rapid progress across its biological understanding, technological development, and application potential. This review synthesizes contemporary advances spanning infection biology, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, strain development, bioprocess engineering, formulation science, and genetic improvement. At the molecular level, multi-omics studies have elucidated the coordinated regulation of surface adhesion, cuticular penetration, host immune modulation, dimorphic transitions, and toxin production, revealing gene networks that govern virulence, stress tolerance, and ecological adaptation. These insights have informed improved strategies for strain isolation and high-throughput phenotypic screening, enabling the selection of isolates with enhanced pathogenicity, environmental robustness, and endophytic competence. Parallel advances in solid-state and submerged fermentation, supported by agro-industrial substrates and data-driven optimization, have strengthened large-scale production of infective propagules with consistent quality. Such gains are further reinforced by modern formulation approaches, including oil-based dispersions, encapsulation systems, nanoemulsions, and seed-coating technologies, which collectively improve spore stability, persistence, and delivery under heterogeneous field conditions. More recently, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing and pathway engineering have opened new avenues for precision enhancement of virulence traits, metabolic output, and abiotic stress resilience. Despite these achievements, the broader adoption of <em>B. bassiana</em> remains constrained by variable field performance, slower speed of action relative to chemical insecticides, strain-dependent efficacy, and regulatory and quality-control challenges. By integrating fundamental biology with technological innovation and practical limitations, this review provides a coherent framework for advancing <em>B. bassiana</em> from laboratory optimization to reliable field implementation, underscoring its promise as a next-generation, environmentally aligned biocontrol agent in modern agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108272"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145878698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Demonstration of antigenic site 3 in foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype A using neutralizing monoclonal antibody resistant mutants","authors":"S. Shanmuganathan ,&nbsp;Samriddhi Dubey ,&nbsp;R. Hema Sayee ,&nbsp;V. Bhanuprakash ,&nbsp;Sivarama Krishna Gollapalli ,&nbsp;Shreya Gopinath ,&nbsp;Suresh Basagoudanavar ,&nbsp;B.P. Sreenivasa ,&nbsp;Jitendra Kumar Biswal ,&nbsp;Madhusudan Hosamani","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108265","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108265","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a major viral infection in cloven-hoofed animals, causing significant economic losses worldwide. The etiological agent, Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV), exists in seven distinct serotypes (O, A, C, Asia 1, SAT 1–3), each with multiple subtypes. High mutation rate in FMDV often leads to the emergence of new antigenic variants, complicating vaccine development and control efforts. In this study, we focused on mapping antigenic determinants in the vaccine strain of FMDV serotype A. Using escape mutants generated with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, we successfully mapped antigenic site 3. Furthermore, critical residues within antigenic site 1, (VP1 positions, 193/194 and 148) were identified in this serotype. Collectively, structural analyses reveal that antigenic sites across all FMDV serotypes are highly conserved, underscoring their potential as targets for broad-spectrum vaccine strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"211 ","pages":"Article 108265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145849469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}