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Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are vectors of various pathogens of public health concern and replacing conventional insecticides remains a challenge. In this regard, natural products represent valuable sources of potential insecticidal compounds, thus increasingly attracting research interest. Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. (Burseraceae) is a medicinal plant whose oleo-gum resin is used in food, cosmetics, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals. Herein, the larvicidal potential of its essential oil (EO) was assessed on four mosquito species (Aedes albopictus Skuse, Aedes aegypti L., Anopheles gambiae Giles and Anopheles stephensi Liston), with LC 50 values ranging from 4.42 to 16.80 μg/mL. The bio-guided EO fractionation identified furanosesquiterpenes as the main larvicidal compounds. A GC-MS-driven untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed 32 affected metabolic pathways in treated larvae. The EO non-target toxicity on Daphnia magna Straus (LC 50  = 4.51 μL/L) and its cytotoxicity on a human kidney cell line (HEK293) (IC 50 of 14.38 μg/mL) were also assessed. This study shows the potential of plant products as innovative insecticidal agents and lays the groundwork for the possible exploitation of C. myrrha EO in sustainable approaches for mosquito management., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest in this manuscript., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

The first evidence that Orthopoxvirus induced the expansion in vivo and the recall of effector innate Vδ2   T-cells was described in a macaque model. Although, an engagement of αβ T-cells specific response in patients infected with human monkeypox (Mpox) was demonstrated, little is known about the role of γδ T-cells during Mpox infection. IFN-γ-producing γδ T-cells in the resistance to poxviruses may a key role in inducing a protective type 1 memory immunity. We analyzed the kinetics of Vδ2   T-cell response from the acute phase up to three months after Mpox infection. Fourteen MSM subjects (5 PWH, 35.7%) were enrolled in a longitudinal study from May to July 2022. Blood samples were collected in the early phase of infection (T1, T2) and at 3 months (T3M) post-symptom onset. Vδ2   T-cell profiles (CD45RA/CCR7), activation/exhaustion markers (CD38/HLA-DR/CD57/PD-1/TIM-3), cytokine production (IFN-γ/TNF-α) and CD107a expression were assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry. Ten healthy donors (HD) were used as a control group. At T1, Vδ2   T-cell frequency of patients decreased, and effector memory Vδ2   T-cells increased with respect to HD. Activation/exhaustion markers were higher than HD. Vδ2 functionality decreased at T1 related to HD, and it was associated with CD38 and HLA-DR higher expression as well as TIM-3. Vδ2   T-cells restored their profile at T3M. The presence of effector/activated Vδ2   T-cells in the early stages of Mpox infection and their capability to activate quickly, producing pro-inflammatory cytokines, may be useful to enhance the early adaptive response to human Mpox, maintaining a protective memory/effector T-cell response.

Introduction: Torque Teno Virus (TTV), an "orphan" virus with unclear pathology, has been associated with various diseases and immune dysfunctions. This study investigates the link between TTV viremia and clinical markers in patients with severe to very severe COPD undergoing respiratory rehabilitation., Methods: We analyzed 102 elderly COPD patients, stratified by TTV viremia levels (< or ≥ 4 log10 copies/mL). Clinical markers-including mortality, inflammatory-oxidative parameters (Lymphocyte/Monocyte, Neutrophil/Lymphocyte, and Platelet/Lymphocyte ratios), IL-6 (measured via ELISA assay), and DNA damage (assessed via comet assay)-were evaluated., Results: Of the patients, 62.75 % had TTV viremia levels > 4 log 10 copies/mL. No associations were found between TTV levels and sex or obesity. However, higher TTV viremia correlated with increased DNA damage and significantly lower 5-year survival probability., Conclusion: Patients with TTV levels ≥ 4 log 10 copies/mL exhibited the lowest survival probability, though DNA damage emerged as a stronger determinant of outcomes. This study raises key scientific questions on the role of TTV in COPD. Specifically, it explores whether TTV may serve as a potential marker for poor prognosis in COPD and whether rehabilitation strategies for these patients could be customized based on DNA damage and/or viremia., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sitophilus oryzae , Tribolium castaneum , Tribolium confusum , Oryzaephilus surinamensis , Rhyzopertha dominica , Tenebrio molitor , Trogoderma granarium , Acarus siro , and Alphitobius diaperinus represent significant arthropod stored-product pests worldwide. To combat these noxious arthropods, the current study examines the pesticidal effect of essential oils (EOs) derived from four aromatic plants, i.e., Illicium verum Hook. F., Citrus reticulata Blanco, Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal, and Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. Considering the challenge of pesticide resistance, the current study focuses on assessing the efficacy of these EOs as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic insecticides. Two EO concentrations (500 and 1000 µL/kg wheat) were applied to different life stages of these pests in the bioassays. Mortality rates were monitored over several days under controlled environmental conditions. The findings demonstrated that C. reticulata and I. verum EOs had elevated insecticidal effects, especially against larval stages, resulting in 100% mortality in several species. On the contrary, M. myristica and X. aethiopica EOs showed less overall efficacy despite their potency against some pests. Both I. verum and C. reticulata EOs outperformed the positive control, pirimiphos-methyl, in several assays. The results of the current study highlight the potential of several EOs as effective alternatives in reducing synthetic pesticide use for integrated pest control management.

The mechanisms underlying post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are a topic of debate. This study examined the presence of SARS-CoV-2 microRNA (miRNA)-like small RNAs in extracellular fluids and their potential link to PASC by using a quantitative stem-loop RT-PCR MiRNA assay. Initially, it was demonstrated that three previously identified SARS-CoV-2 miRNA-like small RNAs, specifically svRNA 1 and 2 and miR-07a, were significantly expressed in infected cells in vitro and released into the supernatant following infection by different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Then, the expression of three SARS-CoV-2 small RNAs was studied in both nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and sera from 24 patients at their initial COVID-19 diagnosis (T0) and in sera collected 91 to 193 days post-diagnosis (T1). Notably, 11 out of 24 patients (46%) reported PASC consequences. All NPS samples showed SARS-CoV-2 small RNA expression with an altered cytokine network during acute infection, but it did not correlate with PASC outcomes. Serum samples had similar small RNA statuses, though PASC patients, notably at T1, but not at T0, displayed reduced overall positivity compared to those without PASC. The host target expression of SARS-CoV-2 small RNAs was not significantly different between groups. This suggests a need for further research into SARS-CoV-2 small RNA and its role in viral behavior and PASC consequences.