Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection最新文献

{"title":"A detoxified E. coli heat-labile toxin LTh(αK) as a mucosal immunomodulator against acute respiratory viral infection: Proof-of-concept in a SARS-CoV-2 rodent model.","authors":"Donna Shu-Han Lin, Fang-Ching Yeh, Ying-Shih Su, Yu-Shen Hsu, Mingi Chang, Shu-Wei Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Acute respiratory viral infections remain a global health burden, and current vaccines induce limited mucosal immunity at the respiratory epithelium. Host-directed strategies that strengthen innate mucosal responses may offer broader protection. LTh(αK), a genetically detoxified E. coli heat-labile toxin with established adjuvant safety, was evaluated for its capacity to enhance mucosal immunity and mitigate respiratory viral injury, using SARS-CoV-2 as a representative challenge model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>LTh(αK) was tested as a mucosal vaccine adjuvant and as a host-directed immunotherapy. C57BL/6 mice received an intranasal LTh(αK)-adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S2P) vaccine; serum IgG and IgA and Th1/Th2 cytokines were measured. Syrian golden hamsters received intranasal LTh(αK) after viral challenge, with assessment of clinical parameters, viral titers, histopathology and cytokine transcription.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As an adjuvant, LTh(αK) increased S-specific serum IgG and IgA and Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels. As immunotherapy, LTh(αK) attenuated infection symptoms but did not significantly reduce virus titers at any site or time point, while significantly increasing interferon-beta (IFNβ) transcription in the cranial lung lobe. Overall histopathological lesion scores were significantly lower in LTh(αK)-treated animals at 3 days post-challenge (dpc), a difference not sustained at 5 or 7 dpc. Ultrastructural examination additionally showed increased monocyte activation and reduced mucin production, hemorrhage and lung parenchyma destruction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>LTh(αK) enhanced Th1/Th2 balanced humoral immunity, including S-specific serum IgA, and attenuated early lung injury without reducing viral burden. These proof-of-concept findings support LTh(αK) as a candidate host-directed mucosal immunomodulator for acute respiratory viral infections and warrant further evaluation of its translational potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149119159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid and accurate diagnosis of bloodstream infections: A multiplex real-time PCR assay with selective microbial enrichment for direct whole-blood detection and positive blood culture confirmation.","authors":"Zhao Xiaoyi, Geng Mingjun, Chen Diandian, Yang Wenshuo, Peng Huiqiong, Li Ying, Li Jiaxuan, Ju Leyang, Cao Jingrong","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bloodstream infections (BSIs) remain a critical clinical challenge with high morbidity and mortality, yet conventional blood culture-based diagnostics delayed timely antimicrobial therapy due to long turnaround times. This study evaluated a rapid BSI diagnostic method combining selective microbial enrichment with multiplex real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with a focus on direct whole-blood detection as the primary innovation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The enrichment-PCR assay targets 16 common BSI pathogens. Technical performance was confirmed using 479 Gram-stained positive blood culture bottles (May-October 2025, two centers), with conventional culture + MALDI-TOF MS as the reference standard. Direct whole-blood detection was then prospectively evaluated in 50 patients with suspected BSI, using a composite reference standard of blood culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Clinical impact was assessed by analyzing time savings and antimicrobial therapy adjustments.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In positive blood culture bottles, enrichment-PCR generated results in 2 h (vs. 18-24 h for conventional methods), achieving 97.48% overall concordance with reference standards (95% CI: 95.65%-98.56%). In the 50-patient direct whole-blood cohort, enrichment-PCR identified all 14 culture-confirmed cases (100% concordance) and detected 6 additional culture-negative infections that were validated by mNGS. Direct testing reduced the median time to pathogen identification from blood collection to approximately 4 h, compared with a median of 19.6 h to blood culture positivity. Among the 6 culture-negative, PCR-positive cases, early identification led to targeted antimicrobial adjustments in 5 of 6 patients. One false-positive result was observed. The enrichment step reduced Ct values by 3-4 cycles (10-fold sensitivity gain; P < 0.001), achieving a limit of detection of 100 CFU/mL.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This enrichment-PCR assay enables rapid, accurate BSI diagnosis, with the direct whole-blood application providing a meaningful clinical time advantage over culture-based methods. Preliminary data suggest potential for detecting culture-negative BSI and guiding early antimicrobial decisions, although validation in larger cohorts is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149009529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advances in the role of house dust mite allergen components in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases.","authors":"Chao-Fan Guo, Yan Wang, Yi-Nuo Wang, Meng Zhang, Yu-Rui Mao, You-Peng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>House dust mites (HDMs) represent one of the most prevalent indoor aeroallergens globally and are closely associated with type 2 immune-mediated conditions, including allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. To date, over 30 HDM allergenic components have been identified and are classified into proteases, lipid-binding proteins, structural proteins, and proteins with uncharacterized functions based on their structural and biological features. Among these, allergens from group 1, 2, and 23 exhibit robust immunoglobulin E(IgE)-binding activity and play pivotal roles in allergic sensitization and inflammatory cascades. HDM allergens disrupt epithelial barrier integrity, activate cell surface receptors, and promote the maturation of dendritic cells via Toll-like receptors, thereby driving type 2 immune responses. Furthermore, recent studies indicate that HDM allergens modulate the homeostasis of the immune microenvironment by affecting metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and ferroptosis. Traditional diagnostics and treatments heavily rely on crude mite extracts, which are limited by their complex composition, batch-to-batch variability, and a heightened risk of adverse reactions. Conversely, component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) and allergen immunotherapy (AIT) present novel avenues for precision medicine. This review systematically delineates the classification, structural characteristics, and immunopathogenic mechanisms of HDM allergen components in allergic diseases. It further summarizes recent advances in precision diagnostics and targeted interventions, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for the individualized clinical management of allergic diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149002968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0158 negatively regulates the cGAS-STING pathway mediated type I IFN production and enhances intracellular survival.","authors":"Zhengzhong Xu, Min Geng, Zhihong Yao, Dandan Zhang, Shasha Fu, Jiaxu Wan, Aihong Xia, Chengkun Zheng, Xiang Chen, Xin-An Jiao","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Type I interferons (IFN) play an important role in the host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection and disease pathogenesis. Although M. tb has evolved several mechanisms to evade host immune surveillance, the mechanism used to regulate type I IFN expression remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, genome-wide high-throughput loss-of-function screening was performed to screen M. tb determinants that regulate the Type I IFN pathway, and the role for M. tb Rv0158 in inhibiting type I IFN responses was identified in vitro and in vivo.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The M. tb coding protein Rv0158 was identified among many transposon (Tn) insertion mutants, which increased the expression of IFN-β and some pro-inflammatory cytokines. The results suggested that Rv0158 is associated with reduced STING protein levels and suppression of cGAS-STING-mediated innate immune responses, suggesting that Rv0158 may indirectly facilitate STING degradation or modulate its stability through host-interacting partners. Rv0158 also down-regulated the transcription of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and increased the bacterial load in mice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, our finding identified a new bacterial factor Rv0158, these results reveal an important role for M. tb Rv0158 in inhibiting Type I IFN responses, which improves our understanding of the immune evasion mechanisms of M. tb.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148992635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Injectable agents and hearing loss in the treatment of patients with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a nationwide multicenter prospective study.","authors":"Chou-Jui Lin, Chi-Jung Chiang, Shun-Tien Chien, Yi-Wen Huang, Chih-Bin Lin, Jen-Jyh Lee, Chih-Hsin Lee, Ming-Chih Yu, Chen-Yuan Chiang","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Monitoring for hearing loss is an integral component of active tuberculosis drug-safety monitoring and management, enabling the evaluation of injectable drug doses and risk factors associated with treatment-emergent hearing loss.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Pure-tone audiometry was performed at baseline and monthly. Brock classification was used to classify the severity of hearing loss. The cumulative doses and body weight standardized cumulative doses was quantified. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed for assessment of factors associated with treatment-emergent hearing loss.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 196 patients without severe hearing loss at baseline, 89 (45.4%) had treatment-emergent hearing loss and 46 (23.5%) had treatment-emergent severe hearing loss. In multivariable analysis, aged more than 65 years old (adjHR 13.31, 95% CI 3.78-46.85) and mild hearing loss at baseline (adjHR 2.98, 95% CI 1.12-7.96) were significantly associated with treatment-emergent severe hearing loss. The minimum cumulative doses of injectable agents used was 3.2 g in those without gradable treatment-emergent hearing loss, 11.6 g in those with mild treatment-emergent hearing loss, 32.4 g in those with moderate hearing loss was, and 9.8 g in those with severe hearing loss (Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, p-value = 1.00); and the minimum body weight standardized cumulative doses were 100, 200, 500, and 100 mg/kg, respectively (Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test: p-value = 0.84).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Treatment-emergent hearing loss was common and may occur at relatively low cumulative doses of injectable agents used. Whenever injectables are indicated, it is pivotal for TB programmes to establish robust protocols for monitoring ototoxicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149009536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of COVID-19 on TB care cascade and transmission in Taiwan, an interrupted time series analysis.","authors":"Po-Wei Chu, Hsiu-Yun Lo, Pei-Chun Chan, Hsien-Ho Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>During the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan's non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were expected to disrupt tuberculosis (TB) services. Rather than TB service collapse, reductions in TB notifications were observed. This study evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the TB care cascade and community transmission in Taiwan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted an interrupted time series analysis on national registry data (2015-2021) to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on TB notifications, healthcare utilization, and care cascade timeliness. Latent TB infection (LTBI) positivity among close contacts served as a proxy for transmission.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the two pandemic waves, cumulative TB notifications fell by 6.0% (95% CI: 5.5%-6.5%) and 11.8% (95% CI: 10.9%-12.6%), respectively, paralleling outpatient visit and culture submission declines. Nevertheless, proxies for patient and health system delays, sputum smear-positivity, and care cascade timeliness remained stable. Treatment success and mortality during TB treatment remained consistent with pre-pandemic trends. Community transmission did not uniformly decline; overall LTBI positivity showed wave-specific immediate drops (-8.0% and -14.2%) followed by positive rebound slopes. This \"drop-and-rebound\" pattern was concentrated predominantly in non-household contacts aged 25-64 years.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In a setting with effective COVID-19 control via NPIs and a resilient healthcare system, adverse impacts on TB care were minimized, while community transmission declined. Taiwan's experience highlights the collateral benefits of stringent NPIs in mitigating dual infectious disease burdens.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149066074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical characteristics and antifungal susceptibility of uncommon Candida species causing candidemia in Southern Taiwan.","authors":"Shih-Chuan Pan, Po-Hsun Chang, Geng-Lou Lin, Yin-Shiou Lin, Ing-Kit Lee, Yi-Chun Chen, Chen-Hsiang Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Candidemia caused by uncommon Candida species (species other than Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida krusei) is reported to be an emerging issue. Our study aimed to examine clinical features and risk factors associated with mortality of patients who had uncommon Candida species infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients infected with uncommon Candida spp. candidemia were investigated at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan from 2014 to 2025. Identification of Candida spp. was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry or molecular method. In vitro susceptibility test was conducted using the broth microdilution method. The clinical manifestation and risk factors associated with 30-day all-cause mortality were analyzed. We also summarized antifungal susceptibility profiles of each isolate to eleven antifungal agents, including novel agents isavuconazole and manogepix.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 75 patients, Meyerozyma guilliermondii (n = 23) was the most frequently identified species. Older age (AOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11) and ICU admission (AOR, 4.52; 95% CI, 1.13-18.13) were associated with increased 30-day all-cause mortality, whereas abdominal surgery was associated with decreased mortality (AOR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.84). M. guilliermondii exhibited elevated fluconazole MICs, while species-specific outcomes varied substantially. No significant association was observed between 30-day all-cause mortality and empirical antifungal therapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Uncommon Candida species exhibited diverse antifungal susceptibility patterns. Host-related factors were associated with 30-day all-cause mortality, whereas no significant association was observed between early antifungal treatment metrics and mortality in this cohort.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148992580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of clinical and laboratory manifestations of dengue in multicenter cohorts from southern Taiwan during the 2014-2015 and 2023 outbreaks.","authors":"Chen-Yu Wei, Chun-Yu Lin, Yen-Hsu Chen, Yu-Yao Chiu, Chung-Hao Huang, Min-Han Hsieh, Tzu-Chao Lin, Wen-Hung Wang, Ko Chang, Po-Liang Lu, Yu-Te Tsai","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that caused a large outbreak in Taiwan in 2023. Some published studies about this outbreak suggest higher disease severity while we observed the opposite epidemiological trend in the southern part of Taiwan. Therefore, we conducted comparative analysis for clinical manifestation and disease severity between two outbreak periods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 4009 cases diagnosed at one medical center and two regional hospitals in Taiwan, including 3588 cases from 2014 to 2015 and 421 cases from 2023. Moderate-to-severe dengue was defined as dengue with warning signs or severe dengue by World Health Organization (WHO) definitions. The factors associated with dengue severity were assessed by multivariate logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The proportion of moderate-to-severe dengue was significantly lower in 2023 (P < 0.001), even after adjusting for covariates (adjusted odds ratio 0.259, P < 0.001). In 2023, patients were generally less symptomatic and exhibited fewer warning signs, particularly mucosal bleeding. Compared with the 2014-2015 outbreak, the 2023 outbreak was characterized by a lower white blood cell nadir, platelet nadir occurring 1 day later (7 vs. 6 days after symptom onset), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels peaking 3 days later.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In conclusion, manifestations of dengue patients during the 2023 outbreak in southern Taiwan might be less severe, compatible with our clinical observation. The different clinical and laboratory features in 2023 included a lower frequency of warning signs-particularly mucosal bleeding-as well as a platelet nadir occurring 1 day later, and serum AST levels peaking 3 days later. These findings suggest that dengue manifestations differ between outbreak periods in Taiwan and may reform patient management during future outbreaks. Further research is warranted to verify these findings and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149002989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond seropositivity: SARS-CoV-2 IgG responses in high-risk COVID-19 patients.","authors":"Matteo Domenico Marsiglia, Roberta Rovito, Antonella Amendola, Daniela Colzani, Lennart Mariën, Giulia Marchetti, Elisa Borghi, Camilla Tincati, Silvia Bianchi","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding the clinical relevance of anti-Spike IgG antibodies in the Omicron era remains crucial for optimizing the management of vulnerable patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between humoral immunity, virological features, and host factors in high-risk individuals infected during the Delta-Omicron transition.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We investigated 120 high-risk patients with early COVID-19 in Italy, with sampling performed shortly after symptom onset. Humoral immunity was assessed using a quantitative anti-Spike IgG assay and an ACE2-RBD receptor-binding inhibition assay. Plasma viral load (RNAemia) and viral variant typing were performed. Multivariable regression models were used to explore associations among immune markers, virological characteristics, vaccination status, age, and comorbidities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At baseline, 67.5% (81/120) of patients were IgG-seropositive and were older than seronegative individuals. Anti-Spike IgG titers correlated strongly with wild-type RBD-ACE2 binding inhibition overall (r = 0.80), with a stronger correlation in Delta infections (r = 0.91) than Omicron infections (r = 0.64). Higher IgG titers showed a trend towards lower viral load in Delta but not in Omicron infections. Omicron infection was independently associated with significantly higher RNAemia. Among seropositive patients, vaccination was associated with lower IgG titers but higher ACE2-RBD inhibition capacity. Increasing age correlated positively with IgG titers, while the number of risk factors correlated negatively. RNAemia was frequent but was not associated with long-COVID.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlight variant-specific limitations of anti-Spike IgG as a universal marker of protection and support the need for integrated serological and virological assessment to guide antiviral and monoclonal antibody strategies in vulnerable populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148978618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cyclospora cayetanensis infection: current insights into foodborne outbreaks, diagnostic challenges, molecular epidemiology, and future directions.","authors":"Yu-Chaun Tseng, Chiung-Tzu Hsiao, Yu-Jen Wang, Po-Ren Hsueh","doi":"10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmii.2026.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cyclospora cayetanensis causes prolonged or relapsing watery diarrhea and is an important cause of foodborne outbreaks, most often associated with contaminated fresh produce. Recent multistate outbreaks in the United States have highlighted how short product shelf life, complex supply chains, incomplete ingredient-level exposure data, and limited availability of implicated foods hinder timely source attribution. This review examines foodborne outbreak epidemiology, clinical and diagnostic challenges, molecular epidemiology, treatment, and priorities for surveillance and research. PubMed/MEDLINE was searched through August 27, 2026, supplemented by reference screening and targeted searches of public health, regulatory, governmental, and Taiwan-based academic sources. Available evidence shows that molecular assays and genotyping improve case detection and cluster identification, but their interpretation depends on organism burden, assay design, specimen quality, detailed epidemiological interviews, and product traceback. Presumptive molecular findings generated by non-species-specific or insufficiently validated assays should be distinguished from species-confirmed results, and molecular clustering should not be considered equivalent to source attribution. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole remains the treatment of choice, whereas effective alternatives for patients unable to receive sulfonamides are lacking. In Taiwan, currently available evidence remains insufficient to define the burden of cyclosporiasis and the extent of local transmission. Future priorities include harmonized diagnostic and reporting criteria, validated food and environmental testing, improved molecular resolution, and risk-based surveillance linking clinicians, reference laboratories, epidemiological investigators, and food-safety authorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":56117,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology Immunology and Infection","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148978653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}