Microbial pathogenesis最新文献

{"title":"In vitro induction of resistance to fluconazole and caspofungin in Candida parapsilosis complex species: Implications for virulence and cross-resistance to other antifungals","authors":"Beatriz Virgínia da Silva ,&nbsp;Diego Batista Carneiro de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Izabella Thays Jacob Felix ,&nbsp;Rayane Taísse de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Rebeca de Oliveira Bezerra ,&nbsp;Gabriel Antonio Nogueira Nascentes ,&nbsp;Anderson Assunção Andrade","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the effects of progressive exposure to fluconazole (FLC) and caspofungin (CSF) on resistance development and virulence traits in the <em>Candida parapsilosis</em> complex. Seventeen isolates (6 <em>C. parapsilosis</em> sensu stricto, 6 <em>C. orthopsilosis</em>, and 5 <em>C. metapsilosis</em>) were exposed to increasing concentrations of FLC and CSF, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined pre- and post-exposure. Significant increases in MICs for FLC and CSF were observed. Notably, induced resistance to one antifungal agent influenced susceptibility to other antifungals, with an inverse relationship between the MICs of azoles (FLC, itraconazole, and voriconazole) and echinocandins (CSF, anidulafungin, and micafungin). Additionally, there was a significant increase in amphotericin B MICs in samples with induced resistance to both FLC and CSF. Resistance phenotypes remained largely stable after subculturing in antifungal-free media. Antifungal exposure enhanced biofilm formation but did not significantly affect the secretion of key hydrolytic enzymes (esterase, phospholipase, protease, and haemolysin). <em>In vivo</em> virulence remained unchanged post-resistance induction, as assessed using the <em>Galleria mellonella</em> model. Our findings highlight the adaptability of <em>C. parapsilosis</em> complex species to antifungal pressure, underscoring the need for continuous surveillance and the development of novel therapeutic strategies to manage infections caused by these pathogens. The increase in biofilm formation following antifungal exposure presents additional challenges for infection management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108117"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313302","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":"Natural LuxS inhibitors enhance antibiotic sensitivity in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli","authors":"Nannan Wang ,&nbsp;Mingjun He ,&nbsp;Dan Yang ,&nbsp;Lijuan Cao ,&nbsp;Xun Zhou ,&nbsp;Renyong Jia ,&nbsp;Yuanfeng Zou ,&nbsp;Lixia Li ,&nbsp;Xu Song ,&nbsp;Cuomu Wujin ,&nbsp;Zhongqiong Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The quorum sensing (QS) system facilitates bacterial cell-to-cell communication in response to population density, regulating various physiological processes such as biofilm formation and virulence gene expression. Inhibiting QS has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of conventional antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens. This study aimed to identify natural products that can specifically target LuxS, a key regulatory protein in the QS system of <em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>), through computational predictions of protein-natural product interactions. Among the 918 screened natural compounds, rhein (RHE), myricetin (MYR), and dihydromyricetin (DMY) exhibited the highest potential for binding to LuxS. Experimental validated confirmed the QS-inhibitory activity of these compounds, demonstrating that all three compounds significantly reduced autoinducer-2 (AI-2) synthesis, inhibited biofilm formation, and downregulated the expression of <em>luxS</em> and its associated genes. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis studies verified that MYR and DMY interact with specific binding sites on LuxS protein to modulate its activity. Notably, synergistic antibacterial effects were observed between RHE or DMY and colistin, as well as between DMY and chloramphenicol, against multidrug-resistant <em>E. coli</em>. In summary, this study identifies RHE, MYR, and DMY as promising QS inhibitors and supports the therapeutic potential of targeting the QS system to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108111"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318586","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":"An integrated paradigm to understand the antibacterial and antifungal potential of bimetallic core-shell platinum silver (Pt@Ag) nanoparticles: A one health approach","authors":"Aagam Lalit Bamb ,&nbsp;Sanjana Varma ,&nbsp;Tejas Subhash Gade ,&nbsp;Shahaji Palaskar ,&nbsp;Koteswara Rao Vamkudoth ,&nbsp;Niraj Vyawahare ,&nbsp;Pallavi M. Chaudhari ,&nbsp;Bhushan P. Chaudhari","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The concurrent occurrence of various microbial infections escalates the need to develop new treatments that can tackle multiple microbes and improve clinical outcomes. This study reports the synthesis and comprehensive evaluation of core-shell platinum-silver nanoparticles (Pt@AgNPs) designed to elucidate the antimicrobial effects while ensuring biocompatibility. The synthesis protocol was meticulously optimized to investigate the impact of precursor concentrations and reagent conditions. High-end characterization confirmed the formation of a well-defined core-shell structure with spherical morphology, crystalline nature, a face-centred cubic (FCC) lattice, high monodispersity, and stability, with a mean size of 20.344 ± 4.492 nm. The antimicrobial potential of Pt@AgNPs was validated through a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay, revealing potent activity with MIC values of 15.6 μg/mL for <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> and 3.9 μg/mL for <em>Escherichia coli</em>. Antibiofilm assay demonstrated significant inhibition of biofilm formation by <em>P. aeruginosa</em> at concentrations as low as 3.9 μg/ml. The nanoparticles also exhibited notable antifungal activity, as indicated by an inhibition of 65.19 % for <em>Aspergillus niger</em> and 61.82 % for <em>Fusarium verticillioides</em>. Furthermore, hemocompatibility was noticed with the hemolysis assay, and the antioxidant properties of nanoparticles, assessed through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, underscored their potential to mitigate oxidative stress. This integrative study positions Pt@AgNPs as a promising platform for combating the occurrence of co-infections. The core-shell nanoparticle serves as a versatile tool in antimicrobial defence, exhibiting antibacterial, antifungal, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activity. Thus, it highlights their commercial translational potential as a next-generation antimicrobial intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108120"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318584","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":"Host-pathogen interplay in African swine fever virus: Immune evasion and genetic resistance driving prevention and control strategies","authors":"S. Arutkumaran ,&nbsp;Rajib Deb ,&nbsp;S. Shanmathi ,&nbsp;Gyanendra Singh Sengar ,&nbsp;Soumendu Chakravarti ,&nbsp;Pranab Jyoti Das ,&nbsp;Seema Rani Pegu ,&nbsp;Ana L. Reis ,&nbsp;Vivek Kumar Gupta","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Since the first described outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which is caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), in Kenya, over a century ago, no approved commercial vaccine is widely available to prevent the disease. Research has focused on two main aspects of the disease. Firstly, targeting the virus virulence factors by identifying proteins responsible for host immune evasion that can be targeted to develop vaccine candidates. Novel strategies, including mRNA-based vaccines and synthetic ASFV genomes with reverse genetics, enable safe, immunogenic, and rapid development of live-attenuated and subunit vaccine candidates. Secondly, by identifying host determinants that confer resistance to ASF. ASFV infects both domestic pigs and wild boars irrespective of age and breed, causing nearly 100 % mortality. Warthogs and bushpigs, natural hosts of ASFV, show no clinical signs despite developing viremia, likely due to distinct innate and adaptive immune responses, epigenetic modifications, and environmental factors. Genetic and epigenetic investigations of this tolerance, focusing on type I interferon (IFN) induction and NF-<em>κ</em>B pathways, which are often targeted by viral immune evasion proteins. Understanding these interactions and genetic variations between tolerant/resistant and susceptible animals may guide vaccine development and the creation of tolerant/resistant breeds. This review covers the ASFV genome, transmission, pathogenesis, virus's immune evasion strategies, and the host immunological response against ASFV.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108119"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145318585","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":"Biologically synthesized selenium nanoparticles from cell-free supernatant of Lysinibacillus odysseyi with therapeutic potential","authors":"Susila Mangudi,&nbsp;Srinivasan Pappu","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108109","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108109","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent research on the biosynthesis of nanoparticles with bacteria has increased due to their eco-friendly approaches, and the delivery of drugs to targeted cells through nanoparticles has also increased. This study describes the biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles from the cell-free supernatant of <em>Lysinibacillus odysseyi</em> (PP112153). Characterization through UV–Vis spectroscopy shows a peak at 279 nm. FT-IR indicates that the reduction and stabilization of Se ions to SeNPs were caused by the presence of functional groups in the CFS. Zeta potential shows −70.1 mV (indicating more stability), particle size at 85.8 nm, and XRD indicates a crystalline nature with a peak index of 29.45°. The biological activities of SeNPs were examined through antioxidant assays, with maximum percentage inhibition at 10 μg/ml by DPPH (81.51 %), phosphomolybdate antioxidant (83.79 %), nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging (69.91 %), and FRAP assay showing higher values at 2 μg/ml (OD at 0.51). The antibacterial activity shows the highest zone of inhibition at 10 μg/ml against <em>E. hormaechei</em> (28 mm), and for antibiofilm activity, the maximum percentage inhibition was observed at 100 μg/ml for <em>S. saccharolyticus</em> (85.7 %), with significant inhibition. Anti-inflammatory activity was highest at 100 μg/ml, with a percentage identified as 78.36 %, showing notable results. Toxicity analysis revealed mortality in a dose-dependent manner, with an LC₅₀ value of 775 μg/ml for 48 h, indicating significant compatibility and low toxicity. Selenium nanoparticles were biosynthesized for the first time using the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of <em>L. odysseyi</em>, demonstrating significant biological activities and requiring further exploration for therapeutic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108109"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313385","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":"Peach diseases in a changing climate: Pathogens, resistance, and sustainable solutions","authors":"Muhammad Atiq Ashraf ,&nbsp;Ahmad Sattar Khan ,&nbsp;Fareeha Shireen ,&nbsp;Shumaila Nawaz ,&nbsp;Saqib Ayyub ,&nbsp;Samim Mohibullah ,&nbsp;Muhammad Asim ,&nbsp;Talha Riaz ,&nbsp;Burhan Khalid ,&nbsp;Muhammad Azam ,&nbsp;Muhammad Ateeq","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peach (<em>Prunus persica</em>) is a globally significant fruit crop, valued for its nutritional benefits and economic importance. However, its cultivation is impacted by diseases caused by fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens, leading to substantial pre- and post-harvest losses. Climate change exacerbates these challenges by altering pathogen behavior, host susceptibility, and disease dynamics. This review synthesizes current knowledge on major peach pathogens including brown rot (<em>Monilinia fructicola</em>) and powdery mildew (<em>Podosphaera pannosa</em>), bacterial diseases like bacterial spot (<em>Xanthomonas arboricola</em>), and viral threats, including peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd), their resistance mechanisms, and sustainable management strategies under changing climatic conditions. We highlight the role of genetic and induced resistance, alongside modern breeding techniques, in developing climate-resilient peach varieties capable of withstanding biotic and abiotic stresses. Additionally, we discussed integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, emphasizing cultural practices, biological control, and targeted chemical control to minimize environmental impact. By critically comparing existing reviews, this work underscores its novelty in linking climate-driven disease risks with resistance deployment and digital agriculture. Future research should prioritize elucidating pathogen adaptation mechanisms, identifying and functionally characterizing novel resistance genes, and integrating advanced biotechnological and digital tools for early disease detection and precision management. This review provides a critical strategic framework for researchers, growers, and policymakers aimed at enhancing orchard resilience and ensuring sustainable peach production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108110"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313364","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":"Clinical perspective of multiple drug resistance tuberculosis: An overview","authors":"Arpit Raj ,&nbsp;Vikrant Abbot ,&nbsp;Kapil Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rational drug design and development of new medication requires an appropriate understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of <em>anti</em>-TB drugs. Nevertheless, the implementation and processing of drugs were not quite effective at the early stage of development that results in massive challenges in treating TB. Tuberculosis is one of the most common illnesses that kills people by attacking the parenchymal tissues of the lungs. Even the presence of <em>anti</em>-TB approved drugs in market suffering a failure due to evolving bacterial that possess resistant and responsible for MDR and XDR. The paradigm shift in <em>Anti</em>-TB medication shown by nanotechnology approach because of its distinct physio-chemical and optical properties, nanotechnology shows an emerging interdisciplinary science that offers a great chance for the prompt and accurate detection and differentiation of Mycobacteria. In this nanoscale approach, medication was encapsulated by NPs that can reduce dosing requirements. With several advantage, it is now being used as both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures since past ten years. To invade this alarming situation, this article will give shed on all the recent approaches that were made to make the <em>Anti</em>-TB drug more therapeutic and efficacious. It also covers government's initiative plans that were helpful in reducing the TB.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108115"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313396","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":"Treatment of Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections in Macrobrachium rosenbergii using bioactive compounds from marine Actinomycetes – an alternative to synthetic antibiotics","authors":"Haimanti Mondal,&nbsp;John Thomas","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural products from certain marine microorganisms have been used as an alternative to antibiotics in recent times for the treatment of infectious diseases in aquaculture. Marine <em>Actinomycetes</em> are the most prolific secondary metabolite producers. The aim of the present study was to extract the bioactive compounds from marine <em>Actinomycetes</em> extracts which can be used as a bioactive feed in treating the bacterial infection in prawns. This study investigated the antibacterial potential of <em>Actinomycetes</em> isolated from marine sediments against two aquatic pathogens, <em>Aeromonas hydrophila</em> and <em>Vibrio parahemolyticus</em>. A total of 17 distinctive colonies were screened and amongst them, 2 showed a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The strains were characterized based on cultural, morphological, and biochemical methods. 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed the isolates as <em>Microbacterium marinum</em> and <em>Kocuria rhizophila</em> falling under <em>Actinomycetes.</em> 7 purified compounds extracted from the two strains showed a good inhibition zone of 10–17 mm against <em>A. hydrophila</em> and 11–21 mm against <em>V. parahemolyticus</em> respectively. The survival rate of <em>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</em> after the bioactive feed treatment was found to be 80–90 %. The immunological, biochemical and antioxidant enzymatic activities showed increased activities and disease resistance. The gene expression analysis with immune genes by qRT-PCR revealed enhanced immune response. A difference in the data was regarded as statistically significant when the p significance value was less than or equal to 5 (<em>p</em> ≤ 0.05). The present study developed an alternative antimicrobial therapeutic treatment as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics against aquatic bacterial pathogens that can benefit the aquaculture farmers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108116"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313327","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":"Nuclear factor IX could facilitate porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) replication and suppresses retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and toll-like receptor 3 (TLR-3)-mediated type I interferon transcription","authors":"Xibao Shi ,&nbsp;Yuqi Xing ,&nbsp;Hao Chen ,&nbsp;Keqi Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaozhuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaomin Fan ,&nbsp;Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuyao Wang ,&nbsp;Siyu Peng ,&nbsp;Aiping Wang ,&nbsp;Gaiping Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108102","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108102","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the RNA virus with the highest mutation rate and threatens the global swine industry, with no effective control methods available. Therefore, identifying host factors involved in PRRSV replication could provide antiviral targets. In this study, we found that PRRSV infection up-regulated nuclear factor IX (NFIX) expression in MARC-145 cells. Importantly, over-expression of NFIX promoted PRRSV replication, whereas knockdown of NFIX inhibited PRRSV replication. Furthermore, we identified NFIX as a novel negative regulator of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)- and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3-mediated type I interferon (IFN-I) transcription, as it suppressed the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated interferon regulatory factor 3 (pIRF3), an essential transcription factor for IFN-I production. In conclusion, PRRSV infection up-regulated the expression of NFIX, and this novel host factor promoted PRRSV replication and suppressed RIG-I/TLR-3-mediated IFN-I production by blocking pIRF3 nuclear translocation. These findings suggested that NFIX may be a potential host target for anti-PRRSV drug development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108102"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313367","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":"Amelioration of ochratoxin A-Induced immunotoxicity and lymphoid tissue injury in poultry using pumpkin seed supplementation: A natural feed-based approach","authors":"Munaza Aslam ,&nbsp;Muhammad Imran ,&nbsp;Muhammad Kashif Saleemi ,&nbsp;Muhammad Naveed Anwar ,&nbsp;Shamshad Ul Hassan ,&nbsp;Muhammad Auon ,&nbsp;Maria Jamil ,&nbsp;Asfand Yar","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study tested pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita spp.) against OTA toxicity in broilers. One hundred forty chicks were divided into seven groups: control, OTA (400 ppb), PS (200 or 400 mg/kg), OTA + PS (200 or 400 mg/kg), and OTA + commercial binder. Broilers fed OTA-contaminated diets showed a 37 % reduction in feed intake and 32 % decrease in body weight gain compared to control. Birds also exhibited clinical deterioration, with weekly clinical scores declining from 12 in controls to 6 in the OTA group by week 5, reflecting reduced activity, watery feces, and poor feathering. OTA suppressed humoral immunity, lowering total anti-SRBC titers from 7.0 ± 1.0 in controls to 5.0 ± 1.0, and reduced IgG titers by ∼30 %. Cellular immunity was impaired, with significant reductions in lymphoproliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHAP) and macrophage phagocytic activity. Histopathologically, OTA exposure led to lymphoid organ atrophy, lymphocytic depletion, and epithelial damage in both the bursa of Fabricius and thymus. Birds receiving PS-supplemented diets, particularly at 400 mg/kg, demonstrated improved feed consumption, restored humoral and cellular immune responses, and preserved tissue architecture with efficacy comparable to the commercial toxin binder. This suggesting PS may offer a practical and natural alternative to synthetic binders for mitigating OTA toxicity in poultry. These protective effects may be attributed to the bioactive constituents of pumpkin seeds, such as antioxidants, polyphenols, and unsaturated fatty acids, which are known for their immunomodulatory properties. This suggests that PS may offer a practical and natural alternative to synthetic binders for mitigating OTA toxicity in poultry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108112"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145313373","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}