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Human enteric viruses and emerging viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, influenza virus and monkeypox virus, are frequently detected in wastewater. Human enteric viruses are highly persistent in water, but there is limited information available for non-enteric viruses. The present study evaluated the stability of hepatitis A virus (HAV), murine norovirus (MNV), influenza A virus H3N2 (IAV H3N2), human coronavirus (HCoV) 229E, and vaccinia virus (VACV) in reference water (RW), effluent wastewater (EW) and drinking water (DW) under refrigeration and room temperature conditions. The decay of infectious viruses was analyzed using a monophasic decay model, which largely showed that human enteric viruses exhibit remarkable persistence in water samples. MNV infectivity decreased significantly after 14 days in EW at room temperature compared to 84 days under refrigerated conditions, with decay rates of 0.230 log TCID 50 /day at room temperature and 0.040 log TCID 50 /day under refrigeration. A gradual decline in HAV infectivity was observed at room temperature, whereas at refrigerated temperature, infectious viruses were recovered even after 98 days. HCoV-229E, IAV H3N2 and VACV were completely inactivated in DW and EW at room temperature between 7 and 21 days, with longer stability observed under refrigeration. The decay of IAV H3N2, HCoV-229E and VACV in EW and DW was also assessed in parallel using RT-qPCR to determine genome persistence and viability PCR to determine intact viral capsid persistence. Overall, our results suggest that viability PCR is not suitable for tracking virus decay in water under real-world environmental conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic copolymer commonly used in the electronics, automotive, and construction industries. In the aquatic environment, the formation of microplastics from larger-sized plastic waste occurs naturally, induced by physical, chemical, and biological processes that promote the aging of these particles. Here, we investigated the interactions between the freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca and ABS microplastics (10-20 μm) (pristine and after accelerated aging) over 7 days of exposure. At the end of the exposure period, we evaluated the ability of H. azteca to fragment the ABS particles, as well as the changes in its oxidative stress biomarkers (SOD, CAT, MDA, and GST) as the result of ABS exposure. H. azteca promoted a significant fragmentation of ABS particles. The ratio of this biofragmentation was more pronounced in pristine particles. Despite the absence of significant changes in the mortality of exposed organisms, alterations in the oxidative stress biomarkers were observed. The results demonstrate the ability of H. azteca to fragment pristine and aged ABS microplastics and, the consequent susceptibility of these organisms to the effects of microplastic exposure.

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor remains a great threat for the beekeeping industry, for example contributing to excessive winter colony loss in Canada. For decades, beekeepers have sequentially used the registered synthetic varroacides tau-fluvalinate, coumaphos, amitraz, and flumethrin, leading to the risk of resistance evolution in the mites. In addition to the widespread resistance to coumaphos and pyrethroids, a decline in amitraz efficacy has recently been reported in numerous beekeeping regions in Canada. The goals of this study were to assess the evolution of resistance to amitraz in Canadian mite populations and to evaluate the presence and incidence of mutations previously associated with resistance to amitraz and pyrethroids in V. destructor. Our bioassay results confirmed the presence of amitraz-resistant mites in the population of Alberta. These phenotypic results were complemented by targeted genotyping of the octopamine receptor gene Octβ 2 R which revealed the presence of the mutation Y215H in 90% of tested apiaries with local allele frequencies ranging from 5 to 95%. The phenotypic resistance showed a significant correlation with the presence of this mutation across apiaries. In parallel, the L925I and L925M mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel were identified in 100% of the tested apiaries with frequencies ranging from 33 to 97%, suggesting that resistance to pyrethroids remains widespread. These results support the notion that the practice of relying on a single treatment for a prolonged period can increase rates of resistance to current varroacides. Our findings suggest the need for large-scale resistance monitoring via genotyping to provide timely information to beekeepers and regulators. This will enable them to make an effective management plan, including rotation of available treatments to suppress or at least delay the evolution of resistance in V. destructor populations., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Objectives: This study assesses the effectiveness of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody, in preventing medically attended respiratory syncytial virus-lower respiratory tract infections (RSV-LRTIs) in a large primary care network in Spain, in both overall and catch-up infants aged younger than 10 months., Methods: The 2023-2024 immunization campaign with nirsevimab in Spain targeted all infants born after April 1, 2023. Those born after October 1 received it at birth in hospitals, whereas others received it through a catch-up program. The MEDIPRIM network of primary care centers recruited all infants with LRTI for RSV polymerase chain reaction testing and employed a test-negative design approach to estimate the effectiveness of nirsevimab., Results: The study included 160 infants; 141 (88%) of them received nirsevimab and 128 belonged to the catch-up group (88% received nirsevimab). Overall, RSV was detected in 44 infants (27.5%). Within the catch-up group, 37 (28.9%) were positive for RSV. The overall effectiveness was 75.8% (95% credible interval: 40.4-92.7), and 80.2% (95% credible interval: 44.3-95.4) in infants belonging to the catch-up group., Conclusions: This study underscores the effectiveness of nirsevimab in preventing medically attended LRTI in infants in outpatient settings and emphasizes the importance of a catch-up immunization program to reduce the disease burden in primary care.

Increasing industrial pollution and certain hazardous agricultural practices have led to the discharge of heavy toxic metals into the environment. Among different bioremediation techniques, biomineralization is the synthesis of biomineral crystals extracellularly or intracellularly. Several bacteria, such as Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus sphaericus have been found to induce heavy metal precipitation and mineralization for bioremediation. This article summarizes the different biomineralization mechanisms of bacterial-induced heavy metal biomineralization, mainly microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP), microbial-induced phosphate precipitation (MIPP), and microbial-induced sulphide precipitation (MISP). Moreover, bacterial structures such as cell wall, biofilm, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) influence mineralization and control bacterial compartmentalization of heavy metal precipitation. Several genes control the efficiency of biomineralization in bacteria, such as ureA, ureB, ureC, phoA, dsrA, dsrB, dsrC, dsrD, dsrE, luxS, and ompR. This biomineralization mechanism provides new and broad prospects for its application in soil improvement, industrial applications, and wastewater treatments. In addition, bacterial genetic modification holds immense potential for advancing the biomineralization process to meet diverse environmental and industrial needs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Surajit Das reports financial support was provided by Science and Technology, Government of Odisha. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB), continues to be a major contributor to global mortality rates. To effectively combat this pandemic, TB control has to be enhanced in several areas, including point-of-care diagnostics, shorter and safer drug regimens, and preventative vaccination. The latest findings have highlighted autophagy as a host-defense mechanism that eradicates many invading bacteria, including M. tb. Thus, novel approaches like the stimulation of autophagy using various pharmaceutical drugs can be undertaken to deal with this noxious pathogen. The present study has been formulated to evaluate the anti-mycobacterial potential of Furamidine, a DNA minor groove binder (MGB). Initially, a non-cytotoxic concentration of Furamidine (10 µM) was used to assess its impact on the intracellular persistence of mycobacteria in differentiated THP-1 (dTHP-1) cells. Furamidine treatment compromised intracellular mycobacterial growth compared to control cells. Autophagy, a well-known host-defensive strategy, was investigated as a possible contributor to revealing the mechanism of action. Multiparametric approaches such as LC3-I to II conversion, protein level expression of different autophagic markers, and MDC staining were employed to study autophagic response that conclusively suggested the autophagy induction potential of Furamidine in dTHP-1 cells. Further, elevated LC3-II expression and increased autophagic vacuole accumulation under Baf-A1 treatment demonstrated the positive regulation of autophagic flux upon Furamidine treatment. Mechanistic investigations showed increased intracellular calcium (Ca 2+ ) level expression, SIRT1, pAMPK, and FOXO3a activation upon its treatment. Inhibition of Ca 2+ level expression suppressed Ca 2+ -mediated-FOXO3a level in Furamidine-treated cells. Furthermore, administering various inhibitors hampered the Furamidine-induced autophagy that impacted intracellular mycobacteria clearance. These results conclude that Furamidine triggered the Ca 2+ /pAMPK/SIRT1/FOXO3a pathway, causing less mycobacterial load in dTHP-1 cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests concerning the content of this article. The authors declare that none of their known financial or interpersonal conflicts seemed to have influenced the research presented in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Biofilm formation is a key adaptive response of marine bacteria towards stress conditions. The protective mechanisms of biofilm matrixome proteins against heavy metals (Pb and Cd) induced oxidative damage in the marine bacterium Bacillus stercoris GST-03 was investigated. Exposure to heavy metals resulted in significant changes in cell morphology, biofilm formation, and matrixome composition. Biofilm-encased cells showed lower oxidative damage. Biofilm matrixome protein exhibited major conformational changes, with 100 % α-helix turned to 62.33 % and 69.64 % of random coil under Pb and Cd stress, respectively. Fluorescence quenching kinetics revealed slow interactions between biofilm matrixome proteins and heavy metals (Kq values < 2.0 × 10 10 ). Thermodynamic analysis showed negative ∆G (-16.02 kJ/mol for Pb and -17.45 kJ/mol for Cd) and binding dissociation constant (KD) (1530 ± 157 μM for Pb and 875 ± 97.4 μM for Cd), indicating a stronger binding affinity of biofilm matrixome to heavy metals. Pb stress led to overproduction of detoxification proteins (YnaI, KhtS, Bacillopeptidase F), competence and sporulation proteins (RapF, CSSF, XkdP), while Cd exposure leads to overproduction of proteins involved in protein misfolding repair (YlxX, cysteine-tRNA ligase, YacP), DNA repair (YfkN), and redox balance (cysteine synthase, YdiK). The findings highlight the resilience of B. stercoris GST-03 to heavy metal stress in biofilm mode., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Surajit Das reports financial support was provided by Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, India., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tenacibaculum maritimum is a Gram-negative marine fish pathogen. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of strain SP9.1, representing the emerging serotype O4. Selected as a model for pathogenesis studies, this genome provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of virulence and adaptation, complementing existing data for serotype O1.

Natural debris deposited by the sea is essential for the functioning of the beach ecosystem. As tourist demands on the coast grow, aesthetic values become more important, and the indiscriminate cleaning of debris spreads from urban to natural beaches. A change in beach debris management is needed to ensure that organic debris plays its role where the sea has deposited it., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The author declares no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) remains a significant concern among children under 5, despite vaccination efforts. This study assessed IPD prevalence and associated risks in pediatric population., Methods: An observational, retrospective, multicenter study in Comunidad Valenciana, Spain, of IPD cases in children under 13 from January 2012 to September 2022. Data from the CV Microbiology Surveillance Network (RedMIVA) and medical records were reviewed., Results: A total of 379 IPD cases in 377 patients were analyzed, predominantly males (54.11 %) under 5 (81.17 %). PCV13 vaccination notably reduced PCV13-serotypes IPD (p=0.0002), except serotype 3. Pneumonia was common, with half having underlying conditions (50.40 %). Worse outcomes occurred in patients with neurological disorders (ANOVA, p=0.57). Vaccine failures often involved underlying conditions (63 %) and serotypes 3 and 19A. Immunodeficiencies may relate to recurrent IPD, but evidence is limited., Conclusion: Despite vaccination, IPD still impacts children, influenced by immunological status, affecting severity and mortality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Marta Garrido-Jareño (MGJ): conceived of the presented idea and wrote the manuscript. Francisco Javier Roig-Sena (FJRS): provided part of the epidemiological data of the patients to carry out the study. Elvira Pérez-Pérez (EPP): provided part of the epidemiological data of the patients to carry out the study. Ana Gil-Brusola (AGB): conceived of the presented idea and were involved in planning and supervised the work. José Luis López-Hontangas (JLLH): discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript. Eulogio Valentín-Gómez (EVG): discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript. Antonio Pineda-Lucena (APL): discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript. Javier Pemán (JP): conceived the study and were in charge of overall direction and planning. Discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Bacteria commonly live in a spatially organized biofilm assemblage. The metabolic activity inside the biofilm leads to segmented physiological microenvironments. In nature, bacteria possess several pleomorphic forms to withstand certain ecological alterations. We hypothesized that pleomorphism also exists within the biofilm, which can be considered as the fundamental niche for bacteria. We report a distinct pattern of cell size variation throughout the biofilm of Bacillus subtilis. Cell size heterogeneity was observed in biofilm development, wherein the frequency of long cells is higher in outer regions, whereas lower in inner regions. Moreover, compared to planktonic cells, bacteria in the biofilm mode reduce their geometric ratio from 8.34 to 3.69 and 2.65 in the outer and inner regions, respectively. There were no significant differences observed in nutrient diffusion from the outer to the inner region, and more than 73 % of cells in the inner region were viable. However, the inner and middle regions were more acidic than the outer of the biofilm. Conclusively, growth rate-independent cell size reduction at low pH suggests that the resulting phenotype switching within biofilm was observed due to the pH gradient of neutral to acidic from the outer to the core of the biofilm. This gradient of H + ions concentration may create exploitative stress within the biofilm, which could favor specific pleomorphic cells to thrive in their specialized niches. By understanding the cell size variation in response to the local environment, we propose a model of biofilm formation by pleomorphic cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Increasing industrialization and urbanization have contributed to a significant rise in wastewater discharge and exerted extensive pressure on the existing natural energy resources. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a sustainable technology that utilizes wastewater for electricity generation. MFC comprises a bioelectrochemical system employing electroactive biofilms of several aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, such as Geobacter sulfurreducens, Shewanella oneidensis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ochrobacterum pseudiintermedium. Since the electroactive biofilms constitute a vital part of the MFC, it is crucial to understand the biofilm-mediated pollutant metabolism and electron transfer mechanisms. Engineering electroactive biofilm communities for improved biofilm formation and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion can positively impact the bioelectrochemical system and improve fuel cell performance. This review article summarizes the role of electroactive bacterial communities in MFC for wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation. A significant focus has been laid on understanding the composition, structure, and function of electroactive biofilms in MFC. Various electron transport mechanisms, including direct electron transfer (DET), indirect electron transfer (IET), and long-distance electron transfer (LDET), have been discussed. A detailed summary of the optimization of process parameters and genetic engineering strategies for improving the performance of MFC has been provided. Lastly, the applications of MFC for wastewater treatment, bioelectricity generation, and biosensor development have been reviewed.

A multifaceted experimental design, including factorial design, Face-centered composite design (FCCD), and mixture design, was implemented to explore competitive interaction and adsorption behavior of chromium [Cr(VI)], lead [Pb(II)], and cadmium [Cd(II)] by the immobilized extracellular polymer (EPS) based biosorbent of Pseudomonas aeruginosa OMCS-1, in single and ternary metal solution. The prepared biosorbent preferentially adsorbed Cr (47.6 mg/g), Pb (46.38 mg/g), and Cd (42.02 mg/g) in single metal system, and Pb (43.32 mg/g), Cr (40.03 mg/g) and Cd (35.9 mg/g) in multiple metal system. Adsorption behavior of all metals was successfully interpreted by the Freundlich isotherm model (R 2 > 0.988), confirming multilayer sequestration. The Cr, Pb, and Cd biosorption rate followed second-order kinetics (R 2 > 0.997), validating chemisorption as predominant mechanism in adsorption. The alternation in the structural morphology of EPS Ca-alginate beads and Cr, Pb, and Cd accumulation, suggesting heavy metal adsorption onto immobilized biosorbent. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of multi-metal loaded biosorbent showed additional crystalline phases, indicating adsorption of metal ions. The significant (p < 0.0001; one-way ANOVA) increase in the zeta potential of Cr, Pb, and Cd loaded EPS Ca-alginate beads revealed the electrostatic interaction between biosorbent and metal ions. The hydroxyl, amine, carboxyl, and phosphate groups of formulated biosorbent contributed for metal sequestration. The adsorption-desorption efficiency retained by the biosorbent after fourth cycle was 35.41 ± 0.2% and 51.44 ± 0.98% for Cr, 51.58 ± 0.15% and 63.98 ± 0.24% for Pb, and 30.68 ± 0.13% and 60.39 ± 0.46% for Cd, respectively. The EPS Ca-alginate beads can potentially eliminate heavy metals from multi-metal contaminated water., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Surajit Das reports financial support was provided by Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bacterial biofilm is a structured bacterial community enclosed within a three-dimensional polymeric matrix, governed by complex signaling pathways, including two-component systems, quorum sensing, and c-di-GMP, which regulate its development and resistance in challenging environments. The genetic configurations within biofilm empower bacteria to exhibit significant pollutant remediation abilities, offering a promising strategy to tackle diverse ecological challenges and expedite progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Biofilm-based technologies offer advantages such as high treatment efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability compared to conventional methods. They significantly contribute to agricultural improvement, soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration, thereby supporting SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 13 (Climate action), and SDG 15 (Life on land). In addition, biofilm facilitates the degradation of organic-inorganic pollutants from contaminated environments, aligning with SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life below water). Bacterial biofilm also has potential applications in industrial innovation, aligning SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure). Besides, bacterial biofilm prevents several diseases, aligning with SDG 3 (Good health and well-being). Thus, bacterial biofilm-mediated remediation provides advanced opportunities for addressing environmental issues and progressing toward achieving the SDGs. This review explores the potential of bacterial biofilms in addressing soil pollution, wastewater, air quality improvement, and biodiversity conservation, emphasizing their critical role in promoting sustainable development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The existing literature provides limited insights into the dynamics of phytoplankton communities and the spatial heterogeneity of physicochemical parameters in multisystem cascade reservoirs (interconnected reservoirs derived from different rivers). The existing studies are concentrated on cascade reservoirs (interconnected reservoirs derived from the same river). To address this knowledge gap, the aims of the present study were as follows: (1) investigate the spatial heterogeneity, within and between reservoirs, of geochemical parameters associated with the eutrophication process, considering total phosphorus, chlorophyll-a, pheophytin, and metals (chromium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, iron, and manganese); (2) evaluate sediment quality at the designated locations; (3) assess differences in the richness and concentration of sedimentary photopigments between the reservoirs. Application of principal component analysis revealed discernible gradients for the abiotic variables, although the differences were not statistically significant (one-way PERMANOVA test, p > 0.05). The observations suggested a tendency towards spatial homogeneity within and between the reservoirs. The metal concentrations were consistent with regional reference values, while phosphorus levels in the sediment approached the threshold for classification as pollution (~ 2000 mg/kg). Analysis of pigments indicated low dissimilarity among the reservoirs, which could be mainly attributed to the eutrophication process and high connectivity of the sampled areas. To counteract ongoing biotic homogenization, it is essential to reduce nutrient inputs and invest in ecological protection and restoration programs. The analysis of sedimentary photopigments provides an efficient and cost-effective alternative way to assess phytoplankton communities., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination is a serious hazard to marine environments, affecting ecosystems and marine life. However, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of marine bacteria constituting various hydrophilic and hydrophobic functional groups sequester petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs). In this study, interaction of EPS of Pseudomonas furukawaii PPS-19 with PHs such as crude oil, n-dodecane, and pyrene and its impact on PHs adsorption was investigated. Protein component of EPS was increased after treatment with PHs. Red shift of UV-Vis spectra implied change in molecular structure of EPS. Functional groups of proteins (CO, NH 2 ) and polysaccharides (C-C, C-OH, C-O-C) predominantly interacted with PHs. Interaction with PHs affected secondary structure of EPS. Change in binding energies of corresponding functionalities of C 1s, O 1s, and N 1s confirmed the interaction. Disruption of crystalline peaks led to increased pore size in EPS primarily due to the increase in surface electronegativity. Static quenching mechanism unveils formation of complex between fulvic acid of EPS and PHs. Relative expression of alg8 gene was significantly increased in the presence of n-dodecane (6.31 fold) (P < 0.05; One way ANOVA). n-dodecane and pyrene adsorption capacity of Immobilized EPS was significantly higher (356.5 and 338.2 mg g -1 , respectively) (P < 0.001; One way ANOVA) than control. Adsorption rate fits into the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. This study establishes that interaction of PHs causes structural and physical changes in EPS and EPS could be used as an adsorbent material for the sequestration of PHs pollution., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Gastroenteritis and hepatitis are the most common illnesses resulting from the consumption of food contaminated with human enteric viruses. Several natural compounds have demonstrated antiviral activity against human enteric viruses, such as human norovirus and hepatitis A virus, while little information is available for hepatitis E virus. Many in-vitro studies have evaluated the efficacy of different natural compounds against human enteric viruses or their surrogates. However, only few studies have investigated their antiviral activity in food applications. Among them, green tea extract, grape seed extract and carrageenans have been extensively investigated as antiviral natural compounds to improve food safety. Indeed, these extracts have been studied as sanitizers on food-contact surfaces, in produce washing solutions, as active fractions in antiviral food-packaging materials, and in edible coatings. The most innovative applications of these antiviral natural extracts include the development of coatings to extend the shelf life of berries or their combination with established food technologies for improved processes. This review summarizes existing knowledge in the underexplored field of natural compounds for enhancing the safety of viral-contaminated foods and underscores the research needs to be covered in the near future., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Plastic pollution is becoming a global problem due to its ubiquitous occurrence and the impacts detected for many species. However, the research about plastics in nests of terrestrial bird species has remained relatively overlooked in comparison to those devoted to marine ecosystems. Here we study the occurrence and patterns of use of anthropogenic material in nests of two passerine birds, the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) and the European serin (Serinus serinus), breeding in an orange tree cultivation in Mediterranean Spain. Our results show that both species use extensively plastic debris as nest material; almost 71% of the European serin nests and 96% of nests of Eurasian magpies contained plastic debris. Furthermore, by analyzing the plastic debris availability in the agricultural landscape surveyed we confirmed a selection pattern in the two species. Thus, both species preferably select plastic filaments over other plastic debris. The Eurasian magpie does not select plastic based on size or color but the European serin avoid black plastics prefer smaller fragments in comparison to the average size available. Moreover, we suggest the apparent similarity of plastic filaments with the natural materials typically used by these species, as well as how they use the plastic in their nests could influence their selection behavior. More studies focused on terrestrial birds inhabiting human modified habitats could offer a deeper approach to how plastic debris interacts with wildlife in different ways., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cellulose degrading bacterial diversity of Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem, India, was uncovered and the cellulose degradation mechanism in Bacillus haynesii DS7010 under the modifiers such as pH (pCO 2 ), salinity and lead (Pb) was elucidated in the present study. The abundance of cellulose degrading heterotrophic bacteria was found to be higher in mangrove sediment than in water. The most potential strain, B. haynesii DS7010 showed the presence of endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidase with the maximum degradation recorded at 48 h of incubation, with 1% substrate concentration at 41 °C incubation temperature. Two glycoside hydrolase genes, celA and celB were confirmed in this bacterium. 3D structure prediction of the translated CelA and CelB proteins showed maximum similarities with glycoside hydrolase 48 (GH48) and glycoside hydrolase 5 (GH5) respectively. Native PAGE followed by zymogram assay unveiled the presence of eight isoforms of cellulase ranged from 78 kDa to 245 kDa. Among the stressors, most adverse effect was observed under Pb stress at 1400 ppm concentration, followed by pH at pH 4. This was indicated by prolonged lag phase growth, higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lower enzyme activity and downregulation of celA and celB gene expressions. Salinity augmented bacterial metabolism up to 3% NaCl concentration. Mangrove leaf litter degradation by B. haynesii DS7010 indicated a substantial reduction in cellulolytic potential of the bacterium in response to the synergistic effect of the stressors. Microcosm set up with the stressors exhibited 0.97% decrease in total carbon (C%) and 0.02% increase in total nitrogen (N%) after 35 d of degradation while under natural conditions, the reduction in C and the increase in N were 4.05% and 0.2%, respectively. The findings of the study suggest the cellulose degradation mechanism of a mangrove bacterium and its resilience to the future consequences of environmental pollution and climate change., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Prof. Surajit Das reports financial support was provided by India Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 25-year-old Caucasic female was referred to our clinic after suffering from infectious keratitis in the right eye for a month. The patient was a contact lens user and had no history of ocular trauma. Furthermore, the patient did not report any relevant antecedent. The main complaint was intense photophobia and pain. Infectious keratitis remains one of the main complications of contact lens wear and can become a therapeutic challenge in some patients. Although the most frequent causal agent is bacterial, other causes such as herpes virus, Acanthamoeba or fungi should be considered when antimicrobial therapy does not work as expected clinically. Fungal keratitis normally appears on previously damaged corneas, but it can also develop in contact lens wearers. Beauveria bassiana is an unusual pathogen which has been diagnosed more frequently lately per the clinical reports in the last 30 years, so it can be included in the diagnostic scheme when a fungal keratitis is suspected. In clinical management, AS-OCT may be a functional tool to assess the evolution and monitor the response to microbial agents and surgery. Although more studies are needed, some characteristic features have been described and can help to diagnose a fungal keratitis against other infections. AS-OCT can also play an important role in monitoring the corneal scarring after the keratitis episode, and it may be useful to plan post-infection therapy for visual rehabilitation.

Candida auris is an emerging, multidrug-resistant yeast that causes systemic infections, mainly in hospitalized or immunosuppressed patients. This pathogen has a high mortality and morbidity rate. This study aims to evaluate the antifungal potential of micafungin (MICA) encapsulated in a nanoemulsion (NEM) against four clades of C. auris and other non- C. auris species. The antifungal potential of MICA and NEM was evaluated by determining mature biofilm inhibition (0.78-50 µg/mL). The antifungal activities of MICA and NEM (5.92 mg/Kg) were evaluated using an in vivo model of Galleria mellonella . The results showed that NEM intensified the antibiofilm action of MICA, especially in 48 h mature biofilms. In vivo results displayed a higher effectiveness of NEM against all clades of C. auris tested, inhibiting the fungal load in the hemolymph and tissues of G. mellonella with a difference of 3 log10. In addition, C. auris infection caused granulomas surrounded by hemocytes, mainly at the lower and upper ends. Conversely, C. albicans developed pseudohyphae, biofilms, filaments, and chlamydospores. In conclusion, encapsulation of MICA in a nanoemulsion enhances its antifungal activity against mature biofilms of C. auris . This strategy may be considered a therapeutic approach for the control of infections and the dissemination of this new global health threat.

Fecal-orally transmitted gastroenteritis viruses, particularly human noroviruses (HuNoVs), are a public health concern. Viral transmission risk through contaminated water results underexplored as they have remained largely unculturable until recently and the robust measuring of gastroenteritis viruses infectivity in a single cell line is challenging. This study primarily aimed to test the feasibility of the human intestinal enteroids (HIE) model to demonstrate the infectivity of multiple gastroenteritis viruses in wastewater. Initially, key factors affecting viral replication in HIE model were assessed, and results demonstrated that the reagent-assisted disruption of 3D HIE represents an efficient alternative to syringe pass-through, and the filtering of HuNoV stool suspensions could be avoided. Moreover, comparable replication yields of clinical strains of HuNoV genogroup I (GI), HuNoV GII, rotavirus (RV), astrovirus (HAstV), and adenoviruses (HAdV) were obtained in single and multiple co-infections. Then, the optimized HIE model was used to demonstrate the infectivity of multiple naturally occurring gastroenteritis viruses from wastewater. Thus, a total of 28 wastewater samples were subjected to (RT)-qPCR for each virus, with subsequent testing on HIE. Among these, 16 samples (57 %) showed replication of HuNoVs (n = 3), RV (n = 5), HAstV (n = 8), and/or HAdV (n = 5). Three samples showed HuNoV replication, and sequences assigned to HuNoV GI.3[P13] and HuNoV GII.4[P16] genotypes. Concurrent replication of multiple gastroenteritis viruses occurred in 4 wastewater samples. By comparing wastewater concentrate and HIE supernatant sequences, diverse HAstV and HAdV genotypes were identified in 4 samples. In summary, we successfully employed HIE to demonstrate the presence of multiple infectious human gastroenteritis viruses, including HuNoV, in naturally contaminated wastewater samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has lately arised as a promising tool for monitoring and tracking viral pathogens in communities. In this study, we analysed WBE's role as a multi-pathogen surveillance strategy to detect the presence of several viral illness causative agents. Thus, an epidemiological study was conducted from October 2021 to February 2023 to estimate the weekly levels of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV), and Influenza A virus (IAV) in influent wastewater samples (n = 69). In parallel, a one-year study (October 2021 to October 2022) was performed to assess the presence of pathogenic human enteric viruses. Besides, monitoring of proposed viral fecal contamination indicators crAssphage and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) was also assessed, along with plaque counting of somatic coliphages. Genetic material of rotavirus (RV), human astrovirus (HAStV), and norovirus genogroup I (GI) and GII was found in almost all samples, while hepatitis A and E viruses (HAV and HEV) only tested positive in 3.77 % and 22.64 % of the samples, respectively. No seasonal patterns were overall found for enteric viruses, although RVs had a peak prevalence in the winter months. All samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with a mean concentration of 5.43 log genome copies per liter (log GC/L). The tracking of the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) was performed by both duplex RT-qPCR and next generation sequencing (NGS). Both techniques reliably showed how the dominant VOC transitioned from Delta to Omicron during two weeks in Spain in December 2021. RSV and IAV viruses peaked in winter months with mean concentrations 6.40 and 4.10 log GC/L, respectively. Moreover, the three selected respiratory viruses strongly correlated with reported clinical data when normalised by wastewater physico-chemical parameters and presented weaker correlations when normalising sewage concentration levels with crAssphage or somatic coliphages titers. Finally, predictive models were generated for each respiratory virus, confirming high reliability on WBE data as an early-warning system and communities illness monitoring system. Overall, this study presents WBE as an optimal tool for multi-pathogen tracking reflecting viral circulation and diseases trends within a selected area, its value as a multi-pathogen early-warning tool stands out due to its public health interest., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Probiotics are valuable microorganisms effective in reducing malnutrition-related infections in children. In this work, a collection of lactobacilli strains representative of traditional Andean fermented beverages was in vitro screened for their capability to survive the gastrointestinal transit, to adhere to the intestinal epithelium and to compete under simulated conditions of the child gut microbiota. The results allowed the selection of the riboflavin overproducing strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CECT 9435 based on its good rate of survival under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions when included in a food matrix representing the fortified food supplement Incaparina. The strain also showed good adhesion to HT29 cells producing mucus and outstanding performance in E. coli competition for the adhesion to this epithelial cell line. L. plantarum CECT 9435 gut performance was also evaluated in the child intestinal microbiota simulated in a dynamic gut model (BFBL simulator). The viability of the probiotic candidate in the gut conditions was high during the 7-day intervention period, reaching over 1 × 10 7 counts in each of the reactors simulating the three colonic regions. The transient viability of L. plantarum CECT 9435 within the child gut microbiota and its adhesion capacity to intestinal cells could facilitate the strain potential benefits as probiotic added to fortified supplementary foods destined to malnourished children., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ancient lakes contain unique and very vulnerable fauna. Determining and understanding the origin of such biodiversity is a key factor in promoting conservation and management actions in some of the most singular ecosystems on the planet. Lake Ohrid in the Balkans is known as a natural laboratory for speciation, containing a high number of endemic species. However, the identity and origin of the planktonic cladoceran Diaphanosoma is uncertain. Representatives of the genus were long considered to have invaded the lake, but recent morphological studies have suggested that they belonged to the endemic taxon in the Balkans, D. macedonicum . Here, phylogenetic methods based on two mitochondrial gene fragments ( COI and 16S) were used to identify Diaphanosoma specimens from the ancient Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa in the Balkans and compare them with other species in Europe, including those living in nearby water bodies. Molecular evidence showed that D. macedonicum was constrained to the ancient lakes Ohrid, Prespa, and Mikri Prespa, which suggests reproductive isolation within the lakes. Phylogenetic analyses supported previous morphological assessments and situated D. macedonicum within the D. mongolianum species group, which contains three sibling species ( D. mongolianum , D. lacustris , and D. macedonicum ). Nuclear markers are needed to study intraspecific gene flow in these organisms and discard a potential formation of hybrids.

Bacteria thrive in biofilms embedding in the three-dimensional extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Functional Amyloid in Pseudomonas (Fap), a protein in EPS, efficiently sequesters polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Present study reports the characterization of Fap fibrils from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PFL-P1 and describes the interaction with pyrene to assess the impact on pyrene degradation. Overexpression of fap in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells significantly enhances biofilm formation (p < 0.0001) and amyloid production (p = 0.0002), particularly with pyrene. Defibrillated Fap analysis reveals FapC monomers and increased fibrillation with pyrene. Circular Dichroism (CD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) unveil characteristic amyloid peaks and structural changes in Fap fibrils upon pyrene exposure. 3D-EEM analysis identifies a protein-like fluorophore in Fap fibrils, exhibiting pyrene-induced fluorescence quenching. Binding constants range from 5.23 to 7.78 M -1 , with ΔG of -5.10 kJ mol -1 at 298 K, indicating spontaneous and exothermic interaction driven by hydrophobic forces. Exogenous Fap fibrils substantially increased the biofilm growth and pyrene degradation by P. aeruginosa PFL-P1 from 46 % to 64 % within 7 days (p = 0.0236). GC-MS identifies diverse metabolites, implying phthalic acid pathway in pyrene degradation. This study deepens insights into structural dynamics of Fap fibrils when exposed to pyrene, offering potential application in environmental bioremediation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rubber wastewater contains variable low pH with a high load of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, suspended solids, high biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Ureolytic and biofilm-forming bacterial strains Bacillus sp. OS26, Bacillus cereus OS36, Lysinibacillus macroides ST13, and Burkholderia multivorans DF12 were isolated from rubber processing centres showed high urease activity. Microscopic analyses evaluated the structural organization of biofilm. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix of the biofilm of the strains showed the higher abundance of polysaccharides and lipids which help in the attachment and absorption of nutrients. The functional groups of polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids present in EPS were revealed by ATR-FTIR and 1 H NMR. A consortium composed of B. cereus OS36, L. macroides ST13, and B. multivorans DF12 showed the highest biofilm formation, and efficiently reduced 62% NH 3 , 72% total nitrogen, and 66% PO 4 . This consortium also reduced 76% BOD, 61% COD, and 68% TDS. After bioremediation, the pH of the remediated wastewater increased to 11.19. To reduce the alkalinity of discharged wastewater, CaCl 3- and urea were added for calcite reaction. The highest CaCO 2 and urea were added for calcite reaction. The highest CaCO 3 , 2% urea, and 0.0852 mM of nickel (Ni 2 , 2% urea, and 0.0852 mM of nickel (Ni 2+ ) as a co-factor which reduced the pH to 7.4. The elemental composition of CaCO 3 precipitate was used as soil stabilizer. The precipitate filled the void spaces of the treated soil, reduced the permeability by 80 times, and increased the compression by 8.56 times than untreated soil. Thus, CaCO 3 precipitated by ureolytic and biofilm-forming bacterial consortium through ureolysis can be considered a promising approach for neutralization of rubber wastewater and soil stabilization.3 precipitated by ureolytic and biofilm-forming bacterial consortium through ureolysis can be considered a promising approach for neutralization of rubber wastewater and soil stabilization., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Prof. Surajit Das reports financial support was provided by Department of Biotechnology (NER-BPMC), Government of India., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Investigation of undiagnosed cases of infectious neurological diseases, especially in the paediatric population, remains a challenge. This study aimed to enhance understanding of viruses in CSF from children with clinically diagnosed meningitis and/or encephalitis (M/ME) of unknown aetiology using shotgun sequencing enhanced by hybrid capture (HCSS)., Methods: A single-centre prospective study was conducted at Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital, Barcelona, involving 40 M/ME episodes of unknown aetiology, recruited from May 2021 to July 2022. All participants had previously tested negative with the FilmArray Meningitis/Encephalitis Panel. HCSS was used to detect viral nucleic acid in the patients' CSF. Sequencing was performed on Illumina NovaSeq platform. Raw sequence data were analysed using CZ ID metagenomics and PikaVirus bioinformatics pipelines., Results: Forty episodes of M/ME of unknown aetiology in 39 children were analysed by HCSS. A significant viral detection in 30 CSF samples was obtained, including six parechovirus A, three enterovirus ACD, four polyomavirus 5, three HHV-7, two BKV, one HSV-1, one VZV, two CMV, one EBV, one influenza A virus, one rhinovirus, and 13 HERV-K113 detections. Of these, one sample with BKV, three with HHV-7, one with EBV, and all HERV-K113 were confirmed by specific PCR. The requirement for Intensive Care Unit admission was associated with HCSS detections., Conclusion: This study highlights HCSS as a powerful tool for the investigation of undiagnosed cases of M/ME. Data generated must be carefully analysed and reasonable precautions must be taken before establishing association of clinical features with unexpected or novel virus findings., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The adsorption behavior and interaction mechanisms of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa OMCS-1 towards chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) were investigated. EPS-covered (EPS-C) cells exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.0001; two-way ANOVA) removal of Cr (85.58 ± 0.39%), Pb (81.98 ± 1.02%), and Cd (73.88 ± 1%) than EPS-removed (EPS-R) cells. Interactions between EPS-heavy metals were spontaneous (ΔG<0). EPS-Cr(VI) and EPS-Pb(II) binding were exothermic (ΔH<0), while EPS-Cd(II) binding was endothermic (ΔH>0) process. EPS bonded to Pb(II) via inner-sphere complexation by displacement of surrounding water molecules, while EPS-Cr(VI) and EPS-Cd(II) binding occurred through outer-sphere complexation via electrostatic interactions. Increased zeta potential of Cr (29.75%), Pb (41.46%), and Cd (46.83%) treated EPS and unchanged crystallinity (CI XRD =0.13), inferred EPS-metal binding via both electrostatic interactions and complexation mechanism. EPS-metal interaction was predominantly promoted through hydroxyl, amide, carboxyl, and phosphate groups. Metal adsorption deviated EPS protein secondary structures. Strong static quenching mechanism between tryptophan protein-like substances in EPS and heavy metals was evidenced. EPS sequestered heavy metals via complexation with C-O, C-OH, CO/O-C-O, and NH/NH 2 groups and ion exchange with -COOH group. This study unveils the fate of Cr, Pb, and Cd on EPS surface and provides insight into the interactions among EPS and metal ions for metal sequestration., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Surajit Das reports financial support was provided by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, India., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Vegetables are globally associated with a considerable number of foodborne outbreaks caused by viral infections, specifically human norovirus. In fresh produce industry, washing represents a critical step for food safety as process wash water (PWW) needs to be maintained at appropriate microbial quality to prevent water-mediated cross-contamination. This study aimed to explore the disinfection efficacy of chlorine (free chlorine, FC), chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ) and peracetic acid (PAA) in PWW against infectious human norovirus and Tulane virus (TV). First, we tested the extent of TV inactivation in baby leaf, bell pepper, and vegetables mix PWW and monitored the viral decay by cell culture. Then, inactivation kinetics were defined for infectious human norovirus exposed to FC, ClO 2 and PAA in baby leaves PWW using the human intestinal enteroids (HIE) system. Finally, kinetic inactivation models were fitted to TV reduction and decay of sanitizers to aid the implementation of disinfection strategies. Results showed that >8 log 10 human norovirus and 3.9 log 10 TV were inactivated by 20 ppm FC within 1 min; and by 3 ppm ClO 2 in 1 min (TV) or 5 min (norovirus). PAA treatment at 80 ppm reduced ca. 2 log 10 TV but not completely inactivated the virus even after 20 min exposure, while 5 min treatment prevented norovirus replication in HIE. TV inactivation in PWWs was described using an exponential decay model. Taking these data together, we demonstrated the value of applying the HIE model to validate current operational limits for the most commonly used sanitizers. The inactivation kinetics for human norovirus and TV, along with the predictive model described in this study expand the current knowledge to implement post-harvest produce safety procedures in industry settings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The historical impacts of eutrophication processes were investigated in six subtropical reservoirs (São Paulo, Brazil) using a paleolimnological approach. We questioned whether the levels of pigment indicators of algal biomass could provide information about trophic increase and whether carotenoid pigments could offer additional insights. The following proxies were employed: organic matter, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, photosynthetic pigments (by high-performance liquid chromatography), sedimentation rates, and geochronology (by 210 Pb technique). Principal component analysis indicated a gradient of eutrophication. In eutrophic reservoirs (e.g., Rio Grande and Salto Grande), levels of lutein and zeaxanthin increased over time, suggesting growth of Chlorophyta and Cyanobacteria. These pigments were significantly associated with algal biomass, reflecting their participation in phytoplankton composition. In mesotrophic reservoirs, Broa and Itupararanga, increases and significative linear correlations (r > 0.70) between pigments and nutrients are mainly linked to agricultural and urban activities. In the oligotrophic reservoir Igaratá, lower pigment and nutrient levels reflected lesser human impact and good water quality. This study underscores eutrophication's complexity across subtropical reservoirs. Photosynthetic pigments associated with specific algal groups were informative, especially when correlated with nutrient data. The trophic increase, notably in the 1990s, may have been influenced by neoliberal policies. Integrated pigment and geochemical analysis offers a more precise understanding of eutrophication changes and their ties to human factors. Such research can aid environmental monitoring and sustainable policy development., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Short-term adaptive evolution represents one of the primary mechanisms allowing species to persist in the face of global change. Predicting the adaptive response at the species level requires reliable estimates of the evolutionary potential of traits involved in adaptive responses, as well as understanding how evolutionary potential varies across a species' range. Theory suggests that spatial variation in the fitness landscape due to environmental variation will directly impact the evolutionary potential of traits. However, empirical evidence on the link between environmental variation and evolutionary potential across a species range in the wild is lacking. In this study, we estimate multivariate evolutionary potential (via the genetic variance-covariance matrix, or G-matrix) for six morphological and life history traits in 10 wild populations of great tits ( Parus major ) distributed across Europe. The G-matrix significantly varies in size, shape, and orientation across populations for both types of traits. For life history traits, the differences in G-matrix are larger when populations are more distant in their climatic niche. This suggests that local climates contribute to shaping the evolutionary potential of phenotypic traits that are strongly related to fitness. However, we found no difference in the overall evolutionary potential (i.e., G-matrix size) between populations closer to the core or the edge of the distribution area. This large-scale comparison of G-matrices across wild populations emphasizes that integrating variation in multivariate evolutionary potential is important to understand and predict species' adaptive responses to new selective pressures., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE) and European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEN).)

The monoclonal antibody nirsevimab was at least 70% effective in preventing hospitalisations in infants with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Spain (Oct 2023-Jan 2024), where a universal immunisation programme began late September (coverage range: 79-99%). High protection was confirmed by two methodological designs (screening and test-negative) in a multicentre active surveillance in nine hospitals in three regions. No protection against RSV-negative LRTI-hospitalisations was shown. These interim results could guide public-health decision-making.

DIVULSUPERBAC (DSB) is an outreach project involving a Service-Learning component aimed at the educational community. Launched in 2019, it has involved Biology degree students in a Microbiology-focused initiative within the Valencian Community (Spain) for four academic years. The DSB project includes various outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the threat posed by superbugs among preuniversity students. Under the supervision of their professors, university students created an exhibition featuring 14 infographics on antimicrobial resistance. These infographics were presented at 23 high schools (HS), where university students explained the issue to HS students (aged 15-16) and assessed their understanding of the topic. The activity was supported by HS teachers. Surveys indicated scores of around 4 out of 5 in terms of overall scientific interest and knowledge gained about antibiotic resistance. These positive results have inspired us to expand the project to other regions of the world., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)

The drug-resistant pathogenic yeast Candidozyma auris (formerly named Candida auris) is considered a critical health problem of global importance. As the cell wall plays a crucial role in pathobiology, here we performed a detailed bioinformatic analysis of its biosynthesis in C. auris and related Candidozyma haemuli complex species using Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as references. Our data indicate that the cell wall architecture described for these reference yeasts is largely conserved in Candidozyma spp.; however, expansions or reductions in gene families point to subtle alterations, particularly with respect to β--1,3--glucan synthesis and remodeling, phosphomannosylation, β-mannosylation, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) proteins. In several aspects, C. auris holds a position in between C. albicans and S. cerevisiae, consistent with being classified in a separate genus. Strikingly, among the identified putative GPI proteins in C. auris are adhesins typical for both Candida (Als and Hyr/Iff) and Saccharomyces (Flo11 and Flo5-like flocculins). Further, 26 putative C. auris GPI proteins lack homologs in Candida genus species. Phenotypic analysis of one such gene, QG37&#95;05701, showed mild phenotypes implicating a role associated with cell wall β-1,3-glucan. Altogether, our study uncovered a wealth of information relevant for the pathogenicity of C. auris as well as targets for follow-up studies., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)

Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant pathogen yeast that produces nosocomial outbreaks, due to its ability in colonizing the skin, mucous membranes and surfaces. Rapid diagnosis is essential to control its spread. The aim of this study was to compare the Eazyplex® Candida auris kit (AmplexDiagnostics GmbH) for the rapid identification of patients colonized with C. auris, with the reference method used in our institution (culture and identification by MALDI-TOF). This easy-to-perform test allows obtaining a fast result, in ~30 min. First, we achieved a preliminary study from previously characterized Candida species colonies obtained from 51 clinical samples, with 100% agreement between culture isolation and the Eazyplex® Candida auris LAMP. Second, 152 epidemiological surveillance samples (pharyngeal and axillary-rectal swabs) were tested retrospectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 91.8%, 98.8%, 98.2% and 94.5%, respectively. Eazyplex® Candida auris showed acceptable results compared with culture in detecting C. auris from surveillance samples with the advantage of single-test and shorter time for handling and result than culture, in addition to its great specificity, positive and negative predictive values., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Bacopa monnieri (BM) is traditionally used in human diseases for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. However, its anticancer potential has been poorly understood., Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the detailed anticancer mechanism of BM against oral cancer and to identify the bioactive BM fraction for possible cancer therapeutics., Results: We performed bioactivity-guided fractionation and identified that the aqueous fraction of the ethanolic extract of BM (BM-AF) had a potent anticancer potential in both in vitro and in vivo oral cancer models. BM-AF inhibited cell viability, colony formation, cell migration and induced apoptotic cell death in Cal33 and FaDu cells. BM-AF at low doses promoted mitophagy and BM-AF mediated mitophagy was PARKIN dependent. In addition, BM-AF inhibited arecoline induced reactive oxygen species production in Cal33 cells. Moreover, BM-AF supressed arecoline-induced NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation through mitophagy in Cal33 cells. The in vivo antitumor effect of BM-AF was further validated in C57BL/6J mice through a 4-nitroquinolin-1-oxide and arecoline-induced oral cancer model. The tumor incidence was significantly reduced in the BM-AF treated group. Further, data obtained from western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis showed increased expression of apoptotic markers and decreased expression of inflammasome markers in the tongue tissue obtained from BM-AF treated mice in comparison with the non-treated tumor bearing mice., Conclusion: In conclusion, BM-AF exhibited potent anticancer activity through apoptosis induction and mitophagy-dependent inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in both in vitro and in vivo oral cancer models. Moreover, we have investigated apoptosis and mitophagy-inducing compounds from this plant extract having anticancer activity against oral cancer cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Bacteria thriving in the mangrove ecosystem are major drivers of elemental cycles. Climate change and environmental stressors (heavy metals) influence the performance of these microorganisms, thereby affecting the biogeochemical cycle. The present study reports the genotoxic effect of climatic and heavy metal stressors on mangrove bacteria and their adaptation strategies. Comparative analysis between two bacterial strains, Bacillus stercoris GST-03 and Pseudomonas balearica DST-02 isolated from the Bhitarkanika mangrove ecosystem, Odisha, India, showed cellular injuries in response to various stressors as evident by declined growth, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and resulted DNA damage. B. stercoris GST-03 showed more tolerance towards acidic pH, whereas P. balearica DST-02 showed higher tolerance towards UV exposure and heavy metals (Lead and Cadmium). The adaptation strategies of the strains revealed a significant role of GST in ROS scavenging activity and the involvement of Nucleotide excision repair or SOS response pathways. However, irreparable DNA damage was observed at pH 9 and 200 ppm Cd in B. stercoris GST-03, and at pH 4, 1000 ppm of Pb and 200 ppm of Cd in P. balearica DST-02. The current findings provide a broad overview of bacterial response and adaptability concerning future climate and environmental changes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Surajit Das reports financial support was provided by Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria caused by the excessive use of antibiotics has led to the urgent exploration of alternative antimicrobial solutions. Among these alternatives, antimicrobial proteins, and peptides (Apps) have garnered attention due to their wide-ranging antimicrobial effects. This study focuses on evaluating the antimicrobial properties of Solanum lycopersicum heme-binding protein 2 (SlHBP2), an apoplastic protein extracted from tomato plants treated with 1-Methyl tryptophan (1-MT), against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst). Computational studies indicate that SlHBP2 is annotated as a SOUL heme-binding family protein. Remarkably, recombinant SlHBP2 demonstrated significant efficacy in inhibiting the growth of Pst within a concentration range of 3-25 μg/mL. Moreover, SlHBP2 exhibited potent antimicrobial effects against other microorganisms, including Xanthomonas vesicatoria (Xv), Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), and Botrytis cinerea. To understand the mechanism of action employed by SlHBP2 against Pst, various techniques such as microscopy and fluorescence assays were employed. The results revealed that SlHBP2 disrupts the bacterial cell wall and causes leakage of intracellular contents. To summarize, the findings suggest that SlHBP2 has significant antimicrobial properties, making it a potential antimicrobial agent against a wide range of pathogens. Although further studies are warranted to explore the full potential of SlHBP2 and its suitability in various applications., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The family Halomonadaceae is the largest family composed of halophilic bacteria, with more than 160 species with validly published names as of July 2023. Several classifications to circumscribe this family are available in major resources, such as those provided by the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN), NCBI Taxonomy, Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB), and Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria (BMSAB), with some degree of disagreement between them. Moreover, regardless of the classification adopted, the genus Halomonas is not phylogenetically consistent, likely because it has been used as a catch-all for newly described species within the family Halomonadaceae that could not be clearly accommodated in other Halomonadaceae genera. In the past decade, some taxonomic rearrangements have been conducted on the Halomonadaceae based on ribosomal and alternative single-copy housekeeping gene sequence analysis. High-throughput technologies have enabled access to the genome sequences of many type strains belonging to the family Halomonadaceae ; however, genome-based studies specifically addressing its taxonomic status have not been performed to date. In this study, we accomplished the genome sequencing of 17 missing type strains of Halomonadaceae species that, together with other publicly available genome sequences, allowed us to re-evaluate the genetic relationship, phylogeny, and taxonomy of the species and genera within this family. The approach followed included the estimate of the Overall Genome Relatedness Indexes (OGRIs) such as the average amino acid identity (AAI), phylogenomic reconstructions using amino acid substitution matrices customized for the family Halomonadaceae , and the analysis of clade-specific signature genes. Based on our results, we conclude that the genus Halovibrio is obviously out of place within the family Halomonadaceae, and, on the other hand, we propose a division of the genus Halomonas into seven separate genera and the transfer of seven species from Halomonas to the genus Modicisalibacter , together with the emendation of the latter. Additionally, data from this study demonstrate the existence of various synonym species names in this family., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2023 de la Haba, Arahal, Sánchez-Porro, Chuvochina, Wittouck, Hugenholtz and Ventosa.)

Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) water fluctuation creates high water level (HWL) and low water level (LWL) condition in TGR aquatic ecosystem. HWL fluies significant nutrients, mainly introducing carbon and nitrogen into the ecosystem. The nitrogen input is a concern for water quality management of TGR since the possible eutrophication caused by nitrogen spike. Sediment denitrification is widely recognized as the dominant nitrogen removal process in freshwater ecosystem. Therefore, the response of TGR sediments microbiome to the input nitrogen flucatution is crucial for both nitrogen balance and the eutrophication status of the ecosystem. Using high throughout sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and the predicted denitrification enzyme, and qualitative PCR of denitrification functional genes, we investigated how TGR sediments denitrification microbiome respond to the input nitrogen flux during two seasonal water fluctuation events. Concomitant to expected input carbon and nitrogen, we observed distinct microbial community structure and denitrification microbiota in HWL and LWL, and also in seasonal sampling events. Sediments pH, total nitrogen and nitrate were the significant impact factors in shaping the microbial community structure. Important denitrification microbiota (e.g., Saprospiraceae, Gemmatimonadaceae, Pseudomonas) are the main taxa of the microbial community and also showed water level and seasonal variation. The relative abundance of denitrification enzyme (nar, nir, nor, nos) and function genes (nirS, nirK, nosZ) were higher in LWL than HWL. Denitrification enzyme were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the nitrate concentration. In addition, the relative abundance of denitrification enzyme and function genes increased during the transition from 2014 HWL to 2015 LWL. Results suggested that TGR sediments denitrification is nitrate concentration dependent. The denitrification microbiome is initially inhibited due to high nitrate input, then they developed denitrification ability in response to high nitrate concentration., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study is to analyse prokaryotic names which honour persons, eponyms, from a gender perspective. Data were retrieved from the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature. Excluding new combinations, the etymologies of 23 315 unique names at the rank of genus, species and subspecies were analysed. A total of 2018 (8.7 %) names honour persons (eponyms), for which the development of the female share over time was further investigated. Women started to be honoured very recently (1947) compared to men (1823). Moreover, only 14.8 % of all prokaryotic eponyms refer to females. This ratio has hardly improved since 1947, although the number of women whose contributions to microbiology could have been recognized has increased over time. In contrast, about 50 % of prokaryotic names derived from mythological characters refer to females. To reduce this gender gap, we encourage authors proposing new taxon names to honour female scientists who can serve as role models for new generations.

Manglicolous filamentous fungi release extracellular lignolytic enzymes that can readily degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The present study emphasizes the role of the extracellular enzyme in phenanthrene degradation by the manglicolous fungus Trichoderma sp. CNSC-2 isolated from the Indian Sundarban mangrove ecosystem. The removal efficiency reached 64.05 ± 0.75 % in 50 mg l -1 phenanthrene-amended mineral salt medium at pH 5.6 after 10 days of incubation. Phenanthrene removal was optimized at different pH, nutrient sources, and Cu 2+ concentrations. The degradation significantly increased to 67.75 ± 4.32 % at pH 6 (P < 0.0001). The addition of Cu 2+ (30 mg l -1 ) increased the degradation to 78.15 ± 0.36 % (P < 0.0001). The validation experiment confirmed the increase in phenanthrene degradation up to 79.9 ± 1.67 % under optimized conditions. The Lac1 and CytP 450 genes encoding for extracellular and intracellular enzymes, respectively, were identified. The GC-MS derived phenanthrene degradation metabolites, i.e., phthalic acid, isobutyl 2-pentyl ester derivative, 1, 2 benzene dicarboxylic acid, butyl 2-methyl propyl ester derivative, TMS derivative of benzoic acid and 3,5 dihydroxy benzoic acid determined two possible metabolic pathways. The laccase enzyme activity was higher in the presence of Phe+Cu 2+ (P < 0.0001), indicating the enzyme induction potential of PAH and Cu 2+ ions. Purified laccase had a molecular weight of 45 kDa and was highly stable at pH 4-6 and temperature 20-50 °C. The enzyme retained 47 %, 87 %, and 63 % of enzyme activity at 30 mg l -1 concentration of Pb 2+ , Cd 2+, and Hg 2+ . However, laccase activity was induced by 1.37 folds in the presence of 30 mg l -1 Cu 2+ concentration. Thus, the study suggests the potential role of Trichoderma sp. CNSC-2 in phenanthrene degradation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Urban areas provide a constant and predictable supply of anthropogenic processed food. The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus Linnaeus, 1758), a declining urban bioindicator species, has recently been reported to have a high level of oxidative stress, with urban diet or pollutants proposed as the potential cause. In this study, we aimed to experimentally determine the effects of two urban trophic resource types (bar snack food leftovers and pet food) on sparrows' physical condition, plasma biochemical nutritional parameters, and blood oxidative status in captivity. To exclude the potential previous effect of urban pollutants, 75 House Sparrows were captured from a rural area in SE Spain and kept in outdoor aviaries. Individuals were exposed to one of three diet treatments: control diet (fruit, vegetables, poultry grain mixture), bar snack diet (ultra-processed snacks), or cat food diet (dry pellets) for 20 days. Blood samples were collected before and after diet treatments to analyze the relative change rates of 12 variables, including physical condition, nutritional status, and oxidant-antioxidant status. A principal component analysis was run to identify gradients of variables covariation, and Generalized Linear Mixed Models were used to determine the effect of diets on each selected PC and on raw variables. The bar snack diet led to signs of anemia and malnutrition, and females tended to lose body condition. The cat food diet increased oxidative stress indicators and protein catabolism. Unbalanced urban diets can affect the body condition and nutritional physiology of House Sparrows and may also induce oxidative stress despite the absence of environmental pollution., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)