Microbial pathogenesis最新文献

{"title":"Drug repurposing with non-antibiotic strategies against S. aureus and molecular profiling of resistance genes in Nile tilapia","authors":"Laiba Shafique ,&nbsp;Peng Zhu ,&nbsp;Youhou Xu ,&nbsp;Wardah Hassan ,&nbsp;Fariha Latif ,&nbsp;Muhammad Abdul Manan ,&nbsp;Shakeela Parveen ,&nbsp;Muhammad Farhan Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108033","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> is a major food-borne opportunistic pathogen that poses a significant public health threat, leading to severe tissue infections, bacteremia, and often life-threatening illness. While <em>S. aureus</em> has been extensively studied in livestock and poultry products in China, there is a notable lack of data regarding its presence and characteristics in aquatic products. This study investigates the prevalence, antibiotic resistance (ABR), its molecular profiling, and treatment regimens of <em>S. aureus</em> isolates from <em>Oreochromis niloticus</em> (Nile tilapia). A total of 300 tilapia samples from various fish markets showed an overall <em>S. aureus</em> prevalence of 31.67 %. ABR profiles revealed significant resistance to commonly used antibiotics, such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (65 %) and tetracycline (55 %), highlighting the widespread emergence of resistance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed strong clade support for resistance gene clusters, such as MecA/C, ErmA, and TetK. Motif analysis showed distinct motifs, indicating their role in ABR mechanisms. Physiochemical properties showed that β-lactams and macrolides have a hydrophilic nature, and the tetracycline class exhibited a hydrophobic nature. BlaZ and MecA exhibit the highest occurrence of GATA, potentially emphasizing the regulation by transcription factors in the resistance to β-lactams group, while TEM exhibited a high frequency of GATA, YY1, and OCT1, implying these factors may regulate β-lactamase production. Through synergy evolution, one synergistic and three additive interactions were identified, indicating its potential for novel combination therapies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Our study findings underscore the severity of ABR in aquaculture, highlighting the importance of effective antibiotic strategies. The comparative analysis of treatment efficacy also highlights the need for alternative strategies to control bacterial infections. Overall, our work offers valuable insights into resistance mechanisms and future management approaches for combating MDR pathogens in aquaculture settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 108033"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057355","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":"Native oregano essential oil: Phytochemical composition, antibacterial and synergistic activities with oxytetracycline against multi-drug resistant (MDR) Bacteria","authors":"Faiqa Munir ,&nbsp;Manal ,&nbsp;Saeed Ahmed ,&nbsp;Waseem Safdar ,&nbsp;Sayed Afzal Shah ,&nbsp;Muhammad Kashif Maan ,&nbsp;Raees Khan ,&nbsp;Aman Karim","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Essential oil, particularly extracted from the aromatic plant <em>Origanum vulgare</em> (OEOs), exhibits antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. In the current study, <em>Origanum vulgare</em> essential oil, a native herb of Pakistan, was tested against two novel MDR bacterial strains. These potential pathogens, isolated from the gut, have shown resistance to several antibiotics. The results indicated that the harvesting time significantly affected the oil yield, especially when the plant was collected in September 2024 during its full bloom. Extraction was performed using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus. The oil was tested against both strains: a Gram-positive bacterium, <em>Bacillus licheniformis</em>, and a Gram-negative bacterium, <em>Pseudomonas azotoformans</em>. Results demonstrated that oregano essential oil significantly inhibited the growth of both species, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.25 μl/mL. The fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was calculated after applying synergism using a checkerboard assay for both strains with the sensitive antibiotic oxytetracycline. <em>Bacillus licheniformis</em> exhibited a synergism value of 0.37, indicating strong synergism, whereas for <em>Pseudomonas azotoformans</em>, the FICI index was 0.50, reflecting successful synergism. This synergism helps to increase the efficacy of antibiotics and essential oils. Time-kill assays for oregano essential oil (OEO) demonstrate that within 7 h of incubation with OEO, it can completely kill Bacillus licheniformis, whereas for Pseudomonas azotoformans, the time required extends to 8 h. This approach could provide a sustainable solution for addressing the global antimicrobial resistance disease burden while also possibly reduce the economic burden for developing countries like Pakistan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 108034"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057354","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":"PA0328 is associated with virulence and immune evasion in carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa","authors":"Yuan He ,&nbsp;Yongli Song ,&nbsp;Yating Zhang ,&nbsp;Lingge Su ,&nbsp;Shuang Qin ,&nbsp;Chunyan Wu ,&nbsp;Guibo Song","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107920","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107920","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> is a major nosocomial pathogen. Its persistence in hospital environments and ability to evade host immune responses are closely linked to multiple virulence factors.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of <em>PA0328</em> in controlling key pathogenic traits of carbapenem-resistant <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> (CRPA), particularly its interactions with host immune cells.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An extensively drug-resistant CRPA isolate from a COPD patient (BALF sample) was colistin-resistant and biofilm-proficient. It served as the basis for transposon mutagenesis. We identified <em>PA0328</em> as a critical regulator of virulence. Functional assays confirmed its role in modulating pyocyanin production, biofilm formation, bacterial motility, and macrophage interaction. The gene expression analysis were used to explore its regulatory targets, especially quorum sensing-associated pathways.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><em>PA0328</em> was identified as a pivotal regulator of multiple virulence processes. It modulates pyocyanin synthesis, biofilm dynamics, and motility. Notably, <em>PA0328</em> fine-tunes macrophage interactions by balancing bacterial adhesion and resistance to phagocytosis, which was essential for CRPA survival and dissemination in the host. Mechanistically, <em>PA0328</em> repressed quorum sensing-related genes, unveiling a regulatory axis controlling CRPA virulence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><em>PA0328</em> plays a central role in orchestrating CRPA pathogenicity by regulating multiple virulence-related processes and macrophage responses. It represents a promising target for anti-virulence therapies against CRPA infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 107920"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057356","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":"Novel Enterococcus faecium P2 as a probiotic for mitigating Clostridioides difficile infection","authors":"Yihong Cui ,&nbsp;Qianying Jia ,&nbsp;Han Yan ,&nbsp;Xinping Hua ,&nbsp;Yu Tan ,&nbsp;Wenwen Jian ,&nbsp;Xue Gong ,&nbsp;Kim Hayer ,&nbsp;Siyi Xing ,&nbsp;Yi Zhang ,&nbsp;Jing Liu ,&nbsp;Yuan Wu ,&nbsp;Abbas Yadegar ,&nbsp;Tianle Gu ,&nbsp;Zeng Tu","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108028","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Clostridioides difficile</em> (<em>C. difficile</em>) is a well-recognized pathogen responsible for severe intestinal disorders, including pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. Probiotics have shown considerable promise in the prevention and management of gastrointestinal diseases. In this study, we isolated <em>Enterococcus faecium</em> (<em>E. faecium</em>) P2 from the feces of a healthy child and evaluated its probiotic efficacy against <em>C. difficile</em> infection (CDI) using a mouse model. <em>In vitro</em> assessments demonstrated that <em>E. faecium</em> P2 exhibits high safety, tolerates gastrointestinal stressors, forms robust biofilms, and inhibits both the growth and biofilm formation of <em>C. difficile</em>. <em>In vivo</em>, prophylactic administration of <em>E. faecium</em> P2 prior to CDI onset significantly alleviated intestinal damage, as evidenced by reduced average total clinical scores and lower mortality rates. Furthermore, <em>E. faecium</em> P2 upregulated the expression of intestinal mucosa-associated proteins, including MUC-2 and the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Claudin-1, indicating a protective effect on the intestinal barrier. <em>E. faecium</em> P2 also modulated the inflammatory response by decreasing pro-inflammatory factors and increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Fecal microbiota analysis revealed that <em>E. faecium</em> P2 helps restore the microbial balance disrupted by CDI. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of <em>E. faecium</em> P2 as a probiotic candidate for the prevention of CDI.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 108028"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040692","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":"Chemical characterization and in vitro evaluation of the antifungal activity of Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. extracts against Candida spp. and their potential mechanisms of action","authors":"Maria Janielly Castelo Branco Silveira ,&nbsp;Vitória Pessoa de Farias Cabral ,&nbsp;Daniel Sampaio Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Lara Elloyse Almeida Moreira ,&nbsp;Érica Rayanne Mota da Costa ,&nbsp;Amanda Cavalcante Leitão ,&nbsp;Thaís Lima Ferreira ,&nbsp;Lívia Gurgel do Amaral Valente Sá ,&nbsp;João Batista de Andrade Neto ,&nbsp;Cecília Rocha da Silva ,&nbsp;Manoel Odorico de Moraes ,&nbsp;Bruno Coelho Cavalcanti ,&nbsp;Islay Lima Magalhães ,&nbsp;Selene Maia de Morais ,&nbsp;Daniela Ribeiro Alves ,&nbsp;Solange de Oliveira Pinheiro ,&nbsp;Wildson Max Barbosa da Silva ,&nbsp;Paulo Riceli Vasconcelos Ribeiro ,&nbsp;Kirley Marques Canuto ,&nbsp;Hélio Vitoriano Nobre Júnior","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increase in antifungal resistance requires finding alternatives to combat fungal infections, particularly those caused by species of the <em>Candida</em> genus. <em>Caryocar</em> spp., known as pequi, is a plant used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. We analyzed the chemical composition and evaluated the activity of three extracts of <em>C. coriaceum</em> Wittm. against <em>Candida</em> spp. strains in both their planktonic and biofilm forms, and investigated their possible mechanisms of action. The results demonstrated antifungal activity of the leaf extracts against <em>Candida</em> spp. strains, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 512 μg/mL, although with limited effect on biofilms. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography analysis identified four main classes of compounds: flavonoids, hydrolyzable tannins, carboxylic acids, and hydroxy acids. Mechanistic analysis indicated the generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial depolarization, DNA damage, and reduced cell density due to the induction of apoptosis. The extracts exhibited low cytotoxicity toward human lymphocytes. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was observed when the extracts were combined with amphotericin B, revealing a potentially synergistic association against <em>Candida</em> infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 108031"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040714","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":"Evaluation of the immunoprotective effect of gel 01 hydrogel inactivated vaccine against Pasteurella multocida infection in chickens","authors":"Jiayu Chen ,&nbsp;Yi Sun ,&nbsp;Yujiao Hu ,&nbsp;Jing Xia ,&nbsp;Xinfeng Han ,&nbsp;Yong Huang ,&nbsp;Min Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Avian <em>Pasteurella multocida</em> (<em>Pm</em>) infection is a contagious bacterial disease causing huge economic loss in the poultry industry worldwide. Vaccination is the most widely used strategy to prevent avian <em>Pm</em> infection, however fowl cholera still frequently outbreaks, leading to huge economic losses to the poultry production. In this study, the genotypes of 16 strains of <em>Pm</em> isolated from Sichuan poultry farm between 2007 and 2022 were identified. Based on the identified genotypes of <em>Pm</em>, an inactivated Gel 01-adjuvanted <em>Pm</em> vaccine was prepared and its immunoprotective effect was comparatively assessed against aluminum hydroxide-adjuvanted, propolis-adjuvanted inactivated vaccines, and the commercial live attenuated <em>Pm</em> vaccine (G₁₉₀E₄₀). These results indicated that all 16 strains of avian <em>Pm</em> were identified as genotype A: L1. The Gel 01-adjuvanted inactivated <em>Pm</em> vaccine could provide 80 % protection, which is higher than that of aluminum hydroxide-adjuvanted inactivated vaccine (70 %), propolis-adjuvanted inactivated vaccine (70 %), and commercial live attenuated <em>Pm</em> vaccine (50 %). The Gel 01-adjuvanted inactivated <em>Pm</em> vaccine reduced pathological damage and provided high antibody level. The results demonstrated that A: L1 is the predominant genotype of avian <em>Pm</em> in the Sichuan region, and the Gel 01 adjuvant provided better immune enhancement than aluminum hydroxide and propolis adjuvant. The Gel 01 adjuvant can be used as a candidate adjuvant for avian bacterial vaccines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108027"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040671","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":"Indole modulates lipoteichoic acid-induced inflammatory response in duck intestinal epithelial cells","authors":"Wei Yan ,&nbsp;Aiwen Zhu ,&nbsp;Bingqian Zhong ,&nbsp;Qiwei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The microbial metabolite indole not only affects gut microbiome function but also regulates intestinal homeostasis and the immune response. Indole is primarily located in the intestinal tract; however, its effects on duck intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) under lipoteichoic acid (LTA) stimulation remain unknown. In this study, primary duck IECs were isolated, and their identity was verified using immunofluorescence staining and specific gene expression profiling. The proliferative activity of IECs was detected using the CCK-8 method. The viability of IECs under varying LTA concentrations was detected using the MTT assay. The mRNA levels of <em>TNF-α</em> and <em>IL-1β</em> under varying LTA concentrations and of <em>TNF-α</em>, <em>IL-6</em>, <em>TGF-β1</em>, <em>claudin-1,</em> and <em>ZO-1</em> under varying indole concentrations were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression levels of <em>NF-κB-Rel</em> and NF-κB-p65 in IECs subjected to a combination of LTA (40 μg/mL, 24 h) and indole (50 mg/L, 24 h) were detected using qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. We observed a reduction in IEC viability with increasing LTA concentrations. <em>In vitro</em>, LTA (40 μg/mL, 24 h) treatment significantly induced the mRNA expression of <em>TNF-α</em> and <em>IL-1β</em> in IECs (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). However, indole (50 mg/L, 24 h) treatment significantly reduced their expression (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01), whereas it significantly increased mRNA levels of <em>TGF-β1, claudin-1,</em> and <em>ZO-1</em> (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01) under LTA (40 μg/mL, 24 h) treatment. The mRNA expression of <em>NF-κB-Rel</em> significantly decreased in the LTA + indole group (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) compared to that in the LTA group. Grayscale value analyses revealed that the LTA + indole group had lower phosphorylated-NF-κB-p65/NF-κB-p65 ratios for the total and cytoplasmic protein fractions of IECs than those of the LTA group (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, indole reduces the inflammatory response in LTA-treated duck IECs by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, which may also maintain the function of the intestinal epithelial barrier by enhancing the mRNA expression of genes encoding tight junction proteins (<em>claudin-1</em> and <em>ZO-1</em>) in ducks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"209 ","pages":"Article 108030"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145040652","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":"Digital polymerase chain reaction combined with propidium monoazide (PMA) without PMA enhancer detects viable but non-culturable Campylobacter jejuni cells","authors":"Md. Jannat Hossain ,&nbsp;Yasuo Inoshima ,&nbsp;Ayaka Okada","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> is the leading cause of foodborne illness in humans, typically after consuming contaminated chicken meat, and it holds significant public health importance. <em>C. jejuni</em> enters viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state in response to various environmental stressors, including low temperatures and nutrient starvation. VBNC cells are undetectable using conventional culture-based methods. Propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment allows the sole detection of viable cells. Detection of VBNC <em>C. jejuni</em> cells using digital PCR (dPCR) has not been reported previously. Therefore, we compared the quantitative PCR (qPCR) and dPCR methods to establish a novel condition for effectively detecting viable <em>C. jejuni</em> cells. Culturable, dead, and VBNC cells were prepared by spiking 25 g of chicken meat for two rounds of PMA treatment. Additionally, PMA enhancer, a substance that enhances the differentiation between viable and dead gram-negative bacteria, was used along with PMA treatment. VBNC cell was suppressed by PMA enhancer treatment in PMA-qPCR. Dead cell detection was successfully suppressed using PMA treatment alone; however, viable cells were undetected under 1 × 10⁴ colony-forming unit (CFU) per 25 g using PMA-qPCR. In contrast, dPCR successfully detected viable, including VBNC, in all concentrations tested, and dead cell was effectively suppressed under 1 × 10⁵ CFU/25 g. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on VBNC <em>C. jejuni</em> cell detection using PMA-dPCR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 108020"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033722","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":"Isolation and characterization of Proteus mirabilis bacteriophage T2 and its application","authors":"Chaoxiang Jia ,&nbsp;Xinyan Yao ,&nbsp;Ting Qin ,&nbsp;Dai Peng ,&nbsp;Linlin Huang ,&nbsp;Yi Liu ,&nbsp;Saiyu Zhang ,&nbsp;Yingqian Han ,&nbsp;Yang Liu ,&nbsp;Yanbin Yang ,&nbsp;Guoyu Yang ,&nbsp;Hua Wu ,&nbsp;Juan Geng ,&nbsp;Yueying Wang ,&nbsp;Heping Li","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Public health problems caused by foodborne illnesses have become increasingly serious. Although it was usually regarded as an opportunistic pathogen causing urinary tract infections in humans, recent years have seen an increasing number of foodborne infections related to <em>P. mirabilis</em>. Therefore, it was crucial to develop effective strategies to control this bacterium. In this study, the bacteriophage T2 isolated from cattle dung formed numerous clear plaques with a diameter of approximately 3 mm on the bacterial lawn of <em>P. mirabilis</em> Y22 using a double-layer agar method. Electron microscopic and genomic DNA analyses suggested that phage T2 was a recently discovered virulent phage, classified under the genus <em>Novosibovirus</em> within the subfamily <em>Slopekvirinae</em>. Analyses of phylogeny and genomics indicated that there was a relatively close evolutionary relationship with <em>Proteus</em> phage. Notably, phage T2 exhibited excellent environmental adaptability and showed stable lytic activity across a wide range of pH values (4–10) and temperatures (20–50 °C), even in a 3 M NaCl solution. Phage T2 has the ability to inhibit and kill <em>P. mirabilis</em> Y22 in a dose-dependent manner in LB broth, and phage T2 was capable of significantly inhibiting biofilm formation and breaking down established biofilms. The growth of <em>P. mirabilis</em> Y22 in milk and sausage was successfully suppressed at an MOI of 100 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). Moreover, phage T2 can lyse and kill bacteria in <em>G. mellonella</em>, thereby increasing their survival rate. These results indicated that the lytic phage T2 could be a promising candidate for managing <em>P. mirabilis</em> contamination in food products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 108021"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033624","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":"Immunohistochemical and molecular confirmation of West Nile Virus associated polioencephalomyelitis in a mule from Southern Brazil","authors":"Mariana de Mello Zanim ,&nbsp;Maria Constanza Rodriguez ,&nbsp;Felippe Danyel Cardoso Martins ,&nbsp;Marcelo Fernandes Camargos ,&nbsp;Selwyn Arlington Headley","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2025.108025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>West Nile fever is a zoonotic arboviral disease caused by the West Nile Virus (WNV), responsible for deaths in humans, mammals, and birds with associated neurological manifestations. All previous investigations of WNV from Brazil were based primarily on serological and molecular analyses and in humans, equids, and birds in the northern and southeastern regions of the country. This study describes the pathological and molecular findings observed in a mule, from the state of Paraná, southern Brazil, that died during an outbreak involving equids with clinical manifestations of a neurological disease. The central nervous system (CNS) of a mule that died after presenting clinical manifestations of a neurological disease was evaluated by histopathological, immunohistochemical (IHC), and molecular analyses. Histopathology revealed lymphocytic polioencephalomyelitis in most areas of the CNS evaluated and choroiditis at the lateral ventricle. An IHC assay based on the WNV glycoprotein E demonstrated positive intracytoplasmic immunoreactivity within neurons, endothelial cells, and ependymal cells from several parts of the CNS with histopathological evidence of disease. Molecular testing amplified the NS5 region of the <em>Flavivirus</em> genus from the cerebrospinal fluid and brain of the mule. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the strain detected in this animal clustered within the WNV Lineage Ia. Additionally, rabies was not identified and the principal infectious neurological disease agents of equids were discarded by molecular testing. These findings confirmed that this animal was infected by WNV and developed a related neurological syndrome. Additionally, this report represents the few confirmed demonstrations of WNV-associated neurological disease in horses worldwide. Furthermore, the detection of intralesional antigens within the choroid plexus may suggest a possible entry of WNV into the CNS of equids. The detection of WNV in southern Brazil indicates the dissemination of this virus to other geographical regions of this continental nation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"208 ","pages":"Article 108025"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033628","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}