Small and Versatile Cyclotides as Anti-infective Agents.

Plants provide an abundant source of potential therapeutic agents, including a diverse array of compounds, such as cyclotides, which are peptides known for their antimicrobial activity. Cyclotides are multifaceted molecules with a wide range of biological activities. Their unique topology forms a head-to-tail cyclic structure reinforced by a cysteine knot, which confers chemical and thermal stability.

Association of poultry vaccination with interspecies transmission and molecular evolution of H5 subtype avian influenza virus.

The effectiveness of poultry vaccination in preventing the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIVs) has been debated, and its impact on wild birds remains uncertain. Here, we reconstruct the movements of H5 subtype AIV lineages among vaccinated poultry, unvaccinated poultry, and wild birds, worldwide, from 1996 to 2023. We find that there is a time lag in viral transmission among different host populations and that movements from wild birds to unvaccinated poultry were more frequent than those from wild birds to vaccinated poultry.

Elucidating assembly and function of VirB8 cell wall subunits refines the DNA translocation model in Gram-positive T4SSs.

Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are widespread nanomachines specialized in the transport across the cell envelope of various types of molecules including mobile genetic elements during conjugation. Despite their prevalence in Gram-positive bacteria, including relevant pathogens, their assembly and functioning remain unknown. This study addresses these gaps by investigating VirB8 proteins, known to be central components of conjugative T4SSs in Gram-positive bacteria.

Tularemia in a Psoriasis Patient on Biologic Therapy After Relocation to Western South Dakota.

Background: Francisella tularensis is an aerobic, gram negative coccobacillus bacterium that causes tularemia. F. tularensis spreads primarily through ticks, biting flies, droplet inhalation, contaminated mud or water, or infected animal bites, and it can survive in animal carcasses with the most common mode of transmission occurring via inoculation into the skin and inhalation/ingestion.

EARLY REFEEDING AFTER COLORECTAL CANCER SURGERY REDUCES COMPLICATIONS AND LENGTH OF HOSPITAL STAY.

Background: Multimodal protocols such as Acceleration of Total Postoperative Recovery and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery propose a set of pre- and post-operative care to accelerate the recovery of surgical patients. However, in clinical practice, simple care such as early refeeding and use of drains are often neglected by multidisciplinary teams.

Aims: Investigate whether early postoperative refeeding determines benefits in colorectal oncological surgery; whether the patients' clinical conditions preoperatively and the use of a nasogastric tube and abdominal drain delay their recovery.

Spatiotemporal profile of an optimal host response to virus infection in the primate central nervous system.

Viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are a major cause of morbidity largely due to lack of prevention and inadequate treatments. While mortality from viral CNS infections is significant, nearly two thirds of the patients survive. Thus, it is important to understand how the human CNS can successfully control virus infection and recover.

Platelet mass index, systemic immune-inflammation index, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as practical markers in childhood brucellosis.

Objective: Brucellosis is a multisystem infectious disease and may cause an increase in acute phase reactants. This study aimed to examine the platelet mass index (PMI), the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in children with brucellosis and to determine their roles in focal involvement.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included 69 patients with brucellosis and a control group of 69 healthy children.

Respiratory virus detections in children presenting to an Australian paediatric referral hospital pre-COVID-19 pandemic, January 2014 to December 2019.

Acute respiratory infections cause significant paediatric morbidity, but for pathogens other than influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2, systematic monitoring is not commonly performed. This retrospective analysis of six years of routinely collected respiratory pathogen multiplex PCR testing at a major paediatric hospital in New South Wales Australia, describes the epidemiology, year-round seasonality, and co-detection patterns of 15 viral respiratory pathogens. 32,599 respiratory samples from children aged under 16 years were analysed.

Protect or prevent? A practicable framework for the dilemmas of COVID-19 vaccine prioritization.

Determining COVID-19 vaccination strategies presents many challenges in light of limited vaccination capacity and the heterogeneity of affected communities. Who should be prioritized for early vaccination when different groups manifest different levels of risks and contact rates? Answering such questions often becomes computationally intractable given that network size can exceed millions. We obtain a framework to compute the optimal vaccination strategy within seconds to minutes from among all strategies, including highly dynamic ones that adjust vaccine allocation as often as required, and even with modest computation resources.

Age-specific abnormal glucose metabolism in HIV-positive people on antiviral therapy in China: a multicenter case-control study.

Background: Update, the link between HIV infection and abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the impact of HIV infection on AGM, including insulin resistance (IR), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: A multicenter case-control study was conducted in Zhejiang province, China.

Clinical Characteristics of Virologically Confirmed Respiratory Syncytial Virus in English Primary Care: Protocol for an Observational Study of Acute Respiratory Infection.

Background: There are gaps in our understanding of the clinical characteristics and disease burden of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among community-dwelling adults. This is in part due to a lack of routine testing at the point of care. More data would enhance our assessment of the need for an RSV vaccination program for adults in the United Kingdom.

Sex Differences in Long COVID.

Importance: A substantial number of individuals worldwide experience long COVID, or post-COVID condition. Other postviral and autoimmune conditions have a female predominance, but whether the same is true for long COVID, especially within different subgroups, is uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate sex differences in the risk of developing long COVID among adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

[Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of cytomegalovirus (Orthoherpesviridae: ) genetic variants from children and immunocompromised patients in central Russia].

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a DNA-containing virus that is widespread worldwide and is of great importance in infectious pathology of children and adults. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of CMV among children and immunocompromised patients in the Nizhny Novgorod region (central Russia) and to perform a phylogenetic analysis of the identified strains.

Materials And Methods: DNA samples of CMV detected in frequently ill children and adult recipients of solid organs were studied.

Endothelial activation and dysfunction caused by influenza A virus ().

Annual epidemics of influenza result in 3-5 million cases of severe illness and more than 600 000 deaths. Severe forms of influenza are usually characterized by vascular endothelial cells damage. Thus, influenza A viruses, including subtypes A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), as well as highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, can infect the vascular endothelium, leading to activation and subsequent dysfunction of these cells.

Efficacy of Ceftazidime-avibactam in treating Gram-negative infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) has emerged as a promising treatment option for Gram-negative infections, particularly those caused by CAZ-Non-Susceptible (NS) pathogens. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the efficacy and safety of CAZ-AVI in these challenging infections.

Methods: We systematically queried EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and PubMed/Medline for studies published until September 15, 2024.

Enhanced antitumor efficacy of nanostructured lipid carrier co-loaded with docetaxel and 5-fluorouracil for targeted gastric cancer therapy.

This study presents nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) co-loaded with Docetaxel (DCT) and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) as a targeted therapeutic approach for gastric cancer (GC). Using nanoprecipitation, NLC-DCT/5-FU were synthesized and exhibited an average particle size of 215.3 ± 10.

Haplotypes of Chloroquine Resistance Marker Genes Among Uncomplicated Malaria Cases in Lagos, Nigeria.

Drug resistance resulting from mutations in Plasmodium falciparum, that caused the failure of previously effective malaria drugs, has continued to threaten the global malaria elimination goal. This study describes the profiles of P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) and P.

Clinical presentation and outcome of patients with endogenous endophthalmitis.

Purpose: The study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, risk factors, microbiological findings, and visual outcomes, as well as patient and eye survival, of patients diagnosed with endogenous endophthalmitis (EE).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 29 eyes from 21 patients diagnosed with EE.

Results: The mean age of presentation was 56.

Disseminated protothecosis in a dog coinfected with Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia canis.

Protothecosis is a severe, emerging opportunistic infection caused by the saprophytic, achlorophyllous microalgae of the genus Prototheca. Though uncommon, human and animal cases are increasing worldwide, making awareness of this fungal-like pathogen important in both human and veterinary medicine. We report a fatal case of disseminated protothecosis caused by P.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Breath Tests to Detect Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious infection and one of the world's leading causes of death from a single infectious agent. Currently, TB diagnosis can be established via mycobacterial cultures, Acid Fast Bacilli smear and molecular studies. In the ever-evolving landscape of medical advancements, breath tests have shown considerable promise.

Telomere shortening in donor cell-derived acute promyelocytic leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report.

Donor cell leukemia (DCL), in which malignancy evolves from donor's stem cells, is an infrequent complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) derived from donor cell is extremely rare and only four cases have been reported to date. Herein we report a case of donor cell-derived APL developing 32 months after haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using posttransplant cyclophosphamide for myelodysplastic syndromes.

Healthy Aging and the Gut Microbiome in People With and Without HIV.

Background: Aging-related comorbidities are more common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to people without HIV. The gut microbiome may play a role in healthy aging; however, this relationship remains unexplored in the context of HIV.

Methods: 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted on stool from 1409 women (69% with HIV; 2304 samples) and 990 men (54% with HIV; 1008 samples) in the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study.

Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces fermentation products impact performance and the fecal microbiome in weanling pigs inoculated with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Background: Enterotoxigenic F4 E. coli (F4-ETEC) pose an economic threat to the swine industry through reduced growth, increased mortality and morbidity, and increased costs associated with treatment. Prevention and treatment of F4-ETEC often relies on antimicrobials; however, due to the threat of antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use is being minimized, and hence alternative control methods are needed.

A systematic review to determine the effect of strategies to sustain chronic disease prevention interventions in clinical and community settings.

This review assessed the effect of strategies designed to sustain the delivery of evidenced based interventions (EBIs) which target behavioural risk factors linked to leading causes of chronic disease in clinical and community settings. Seven electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled studies published from earliest record to November 2022. Studies were included if they tested a strategy to sustain the delivery of an EBI within clinical or community settings.