Screening and in silico characterization of prophages in Helicobacter pylori clinical strains.

The increase of antibiotic resistance calls for alternatives to control Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium associated with various gastric diseases. Bacteriophages (phages) can be highly effective in the treatment of pathogenic bacteria. Here, we developed a method to identify prophages in H.

Phage SEP1 hijacks stationary cells' metabolism to replicate.

In nature, bacteria often survive in a stationary state with low metabolic activity. Phages use the metabolic machinery of the host cell to replicate, and, therefore, their efficacy against non-dividing cells is usually limited. Nevertheless, it was previously shown that the phage SEP1 has the remarkable capacity to actively replicate in stationary-phase cells, reducing their numbers.

Walk or be walked by the dog? The attachment role.

Background: The human-animal bond has been recognized as having positive effects on the health and well-being of both humans and pets. The present study aims to explore the influence of attachment on physical activity (PA), lifestyle, and health outcomes of dog owners (DO), highlighting the mutual benefits resulting from the relationship between DO and dogs.

Methods: Thirty-eight DO and their dogs participated in this study.

Functional fitness trends among older adults in Portugal between 2008 and 2018: Keeping up with a healthy aging process.

Objectives: Maintaining a healthy aging process is vital to combating and delaying the adverse health outcomes faced by the growing older adult population, where a key aspect to achieving healthy aging is the preservation of functional fitness. This study aims to present trends on the functional fitness of Portuguese older adults between 2008 and 2018 and build new normative reference standards for the Senior Fitness Battery Tests.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Comparison of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Integration into Non-Woven Fabrics Using Different Functionalisation Methods for Prospective Application as Active Facemasks.

The development of advanced facemasks stands out as a paramount priority in enhancing healthcare preparedness. In this work, different polypropylene non-woven fabrics (NWF) were characterised regarding their structural, physicochemical and comfort-related properties. The selected NWF for the intermediate layer was functionalised with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) 0.

Efficacy of bethanechol chloride in the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Porpuse: Salivary glands sustain collateral damage following radiotherapy (RT) to treat cancers of the head and neck, leading to complications, including xerostomia and hyposalivation. This systematic review (SR) with meta-analysis was performed to determine the effectiveness of bethanechol chloride in preventing salivary gland dysfunction in this context.

Materials And Methods: Medline/Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, LILACS via Portal Regional BVS and Web of Science were searched electronically in accordance with the Cochrane manual and reported PRISMA guidelines.

CkP1 bacteriophage, a S16-like myovirus that recognizes Citrobacter koseri lipopolysaccharide through its long tail fibers.

Citrobacter koseri is an emerging Gram-negative bacterial pathogen, which causes urinary tract infections. We isolated and characterized a novel S16-like myovirus CKP1 (vB_CkoM_CkP1), infecting C. koseri.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in the Portuguese Population: What Has Changed from 2008 to 2018?

Purpose: Assessment of trends in physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) is important for evaluating the effectiveness of national policies and setting goals to improve population PA. This study describes changes in measured PA and ST through motion sensors of the Portuguese population from 2008 to 2018.

Methods: PA and ST were measured with accelerometry from individuals (≥10 yr) participating in the 2008 ( n = 4 532) and 2018 ( n = 6 369) Portuguese PA Surveillance Systems.

Distance to Natural Environments, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Body Composition in Women: An Exploratory Analysis.

A growing body of evidence indicates that living close to nature is associated with better health and well-being. However, the literature still lacks studies analyzing the benefits of this proximity for sleep and obesity, particularly in women. The purpose of this study was to explore how distance to natural spaces is reflected in women's physical activity, sleep, and adiposity levels.

An in vitro fermentation model to study the impact of bacteriophages targeting Shiga toxin-encoding Escherichia coli on the colonic microbiota.

Lytic bacteriophages are considered safe for human consumption as biocontrol agents against foodborne pathogens, in particular in ready-to-eat foodstuffs. Phages could, however, evolve to infect different hosts when passing through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This underlines the importance of understanding the impact of phages towards colonic microbiota, particularly towards bacterial families usually found in the colon such as the Enterobacteriaceae.

Connectedness to Nature Does Not Explain the Variation in Physical Activity and Body Composition in Adults and Older People.

Connectedness to nature (CN) is a significant predictor of pro-environmental behaviours, human health and well-being. However, research on how this connection to the natural world might promote a more active lifestyle and improve body mass composition according to gender is lacking. This study investigated the influence of CN on physical activity (PA) and body composition in adults and older people.

The interactions of bacteriophage Ace and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli during biocontrol.

Strictly lytic phages are considered powerful tools for biocontrol of foodborne pathogens. Safety issues needed to be addressed for the biocontrol of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) include: lysogenic conversion, Shiga toxin production through phage induction, and emergence/proliferation of bacteriophage insensitive mutants (BIMs). To address these issues, two new lytic phages, vB_EcoS_Ace (Ace) and vB_EcoM_Shy (Shy), were isolated and characterized for life cycle, genome sequence and annotation, pH stability and efficacy at controlling STEC growth.

Insights into the genome architecture and evolution of Shiga toxin encoding bacteriophages of Escherichia coli.

Background: A total of 179 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) complete genomes were analyzed in terms of serotypes, prophage coding regions, and stx gene variants and their distribution. We further examined the genetic diversity of Stx-converting phage genomes (Stx phages), focusing on the lysis-lysogeny decision and lytic cassettes.

Results: We show that most STEC isolates belong to non-O157 serotypes (73 %), regardless the sources and geographical regions.

Are intraoral stents effective in reducing oral toxicities caused by radiotherapy? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Statement Of Problem: Intraoral stents have been provided to minimize acute and chronic toxicities induced by radiotherapy, including oral mucositis, salivary changes, trismus, radiation-related caries, and osteoradionecrosis. However, a systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary to determine their effectiveness.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of intraoral stent use and determine whether these prosthetic devices can reduce radiation dosage to nontargeted oral tissues and adverse effects related to head and neck radiation.

The Protective Effect of Biofilm Matrix against Phage Predation.

is a major causative agent of nosocomial infections, mainly associated with the use of indwelling devices, on which this bacterium forms structures known as biofilms. Due to biofilms' high tolerance to antibiotics, virulent bacteriophages were previously tested as novel therapeutic agents. However, several staphylococcal bacteriophages were shown to be inefficient against biofilms.

Bacteriophages to control Shiga toxin-producing - safety and regulatory challenges.

Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) are usually found on food products due to contamination from the fecal origin, as their main environmental reservoir is considered to be the gut of ruminants. While this pathogen is far from the incidence of other well-known foodborne bacteria, the severity of STEC infections in humans has triggered global concerns as far as its incidence and control are concerned. Major control strategies for foodborne pathogens in food-related settings usually involve traditional sterilization/disinfection techniques.

Current challenges and future opportunities of phage therapy.

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health challenge worldwide, whose implications for global health might be devastating if novel antibacterial strategies are not quickly developed. As natural predators of bacteria, (bacterio)phages may play an essential role in escaping such a dreadful future. The rising problem of antibiotic resistance has revived the interest in phage therapy and important developments have been achieved over the last years.

A Tailspike with Exopolysaccharide Depolymerase Activity from a New Providencia stuartii Phage Makes Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Susceptible to Serum-Mediated Killing.

is emerging as a significant drug-resistant nosocomial pathogen, which encourages the search for alternative therapies. Here, we have isolated phage Stuart, a novel podovirus infecting multidrug-resistant hospital isolates of this bacterium. Phage Stuart is a proposed member of a new subfamily genus, with a 41,218-bp genome, direct 345-bp repeats at virion DNA ends, and limited sequence similarity of proteins to proteins in databases.

Young head and neck cancer patients are at increased risk of developing oral mucositis and trismus.

Objectives: To evaluate cancer treatment-related toxicities in young head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

Material And Methods: A total of 44 patients were included in the present retrospective cohort study, which was designed to access oral toxicities of cancer treatment in young (< 45 years of age, Group I, n = 22) and old (> 58 years of age, Group II, n = 22) HNC patients with similar tumor stage and treatment protocols. Oral mucositis (OM), xerostomia, dysphagia, dysgeusia, trismus, and radiodermatitis were assessed during days 7th, 21st, and 35th of head and neck radiotherapy (HNRT) according to previously validated scales (World Health Organization criteria and the National Cancer Institute and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.

A Lytic Providencia rettgeri Virus of Potential Therapeutic Value Is a Deep-Branching Member of the Genus.

is emerging as a new opportunistic pathogen with high antibiotic resistance. The need to find alternative methods to control antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the recent advances in phage therapy motivate the search for new phages able to infect spp. This study describes the isolation and characterization of an obligatory lytic phage, vB_PreS_PR1 (PR1), with therapeutic potential against drug-resistant PR1 is a siphovirus.

Characterization and genomic analyses of two newly isolated Morganella phages define distant members among Tevenvirinae and Autographivirinae subfamilies.

Morganella morganii is a common but frequent neglected environmental opportunistic pathogen which can cause deadly nosocomial infections. The increased number of multidrug-resistant M. morganii isolates motivates the search for alternative and effective antibacterials.

Characterization and genome sequencing of a Citrobacter freundii phage CfP1 harboring a lysin active against multidrug-resistant isolates.

Citrobacter spp., although frequently ignored, is emerging as an important nosocomial bacterium able to cause various superficial and systemic life-threatening infections. Considered to be hard-to-treat bacterium due to its pattern of high antibiotic resistance, it is important to develop effective measures for early and efficient therapy.

The role of bacteriophages in periodontal health and disease.

The human periodontium health is commonly compromised by chronic inflammatory conditions and has become a major public health concern. Dental plaque, the precursor of periodontal disease, is a complex biofilm consisting mainly of bacteria, but also archaea, protozoa, fungi and viruses. Viruses that specifically infect bacteria - bacteriophages - are most common in the oral cavity.