bims-fagtap 2026-02-08 papers

bims-fagtap

Biomed News

on Phage therapies and applications

Issue of 2026–02–08
34 papers selected by
Luca Bolliger, lxBio

Comment on "Phage therapy for KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae decolonization in high-risk patients: The KIDNAP Study Protocol".
Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections: current status, challenges, and prospects of phage therapy.
Clinical and economic impact of wound care in the UK: a critical review of Guest's publications, 2015-2025.
From bacterial predators to partners: phages in agriculture.
Global research trends in bacteriophage and gut microbiota: a bibliometric and visual analysis from 2012 to 2025.
Phage as control strategy against the foodborne pathogen, Bacillus cereus.
Characterization and antibiofilm efficacy of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage HKPH_J3.
Clinical studies in wound care are not easy: some remarks and personal observations.
Bioburden and wound infections: reduction, identification and management.
Phage vB_AbaM_MU1 for biocontrol of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) isolated from wound infection.
Staphylococcus species infected by a bacteriophage with a tail that is both curved and contractile.
Therapeutic milestones against multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: from legacy antibiotics to Zosurabalpin.
Combatting antibiotic resistance: challenges and emerging therapeutic strategies.
Bovine serum albumin nanoparticles improve bacteriophage stability and antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
New Perspectives in the Treatment of Bronchiectasis.
High-throughput methods leveraging robotics and computer vision for the development of therapeutic phage cocktails.
Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of diabetic foot: A comprehensive review.
Can phage-antibiotic combinations overcome uropathogenic Escherichia coli regrowth? evidence from in vitro and in vivo models.
Clinician's Guide to Artificial Intelligence: Technical Foundations of Machine Learning.
A longitudinal profiling of microbiome of diabetic foot ulcers shows functional role of microbial communities in wound worsening and chronicity.
Tools and approaches to study the human gut virome: from the bench to bioinformatics.
Isolation, characterisation and potential applications of a novel bacteriophage targeting beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus saprophyticus.
Temporal machine learning framework for diabetic foot ulcer healing trajectory prediction.
An AI Tutorial for Speech and Language Therapists: Translating Concepts From the AI Literature Into Accessible Knowledge and Clinically Relevant Applications.
Resistance of uropathogens to gepotidacin: a systematic review of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility studies.
Clinical Decision Support Systems in Generalist Practice: Utilizing Clinical Decision Support Systems Tools to Improve Clinical Decisions and Patient Outcomes.
Impact of Cetylpyridinium Chloride and Zinc Mouthwash on Oral Health and the Microbiome.
Periodontal Disease and Infertility: Probing the Depths of This Potential Connection.
Epidemiological and characteristic differences of hypervirulent and classical Klebsiella pneumoniae: a clinical and genomic study in Southern China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mucosa-associated bacteria and metabolites in inflammatory bowel disease: from inside to insight.
Antibiotic therapy failure and clinical outcomes in scrub typhus patients from Guangzhou city, southern China.
Bacterial immune activation via supramolecular assembly with phage triggers.
A comprehensive biomechanical phenotyping framework for diabetic foot ulcer risk stratification using multi-modal gait analysis and machine learning.
Biofilm formation and associated biomechanical traits co-segregate with multidrug resistance in typhoidal Salmonella.

Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2026 Feb 04. pii: S0924-8579(26)00022-1. [Epub ahead of print] 107733

Comment on "Phage therapy for KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae decolonization in high-risk patients: The KIDNAP Study Protocol".

Yinjia Lou, Yiqing Han.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2026.107733
Front Microbiol. 2025 ;16 1723885

Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections: current status, challenges, and prospects of phage therapy.

Bo Yan, Can Yan, Yafang Ding, Siyi Cai, Yujin Wang, Elvis Agbo, Xianyun Xu, Kunhao Qin, Qiang Fu.

  The emergence of drug-resistant bacterial infections has profoundly impacted global public health. Key pathogens include multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-PA), MDR Acinetobacter baumannii, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Among these pathogens, MDR-PA carries numerous virulence factors that induce extensive tissue destruction. Its inherent ability to form biofilms promotes chronic infection persistence and multidrug resistance, leading to mortality rates up to 40%. Currently, antibiotics remain the mainstay for the treatment of MDR-PA infections. Nevertheless, the escalating prevalence of drug resistance has rendered conventional antibiotic regimens increasingly recalcitrant. Consequently, the imperative for innovative antimicrobial therapeutic modalities to combat Pseudomonas aeruginosa has intensified in the realm of public health. In this context, phage therapy, with its precise bactericidal activity and high host biosafety, has emerged as a compelling alternative. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advancements in phage therapy targeting MDR-PA, covering clinical applications, current therapeutic approaches, and emerging technological platforms. It further dissects the resistance mechanisms encountered during treatment and puts forward novel counterstrategies to address antimicrobial resistance challenges-including optimized phage-antibiotic synergy, phage genome engineering, and dynamic adaptive therapeutic frameworks-aimed at advancing clinical translation.

Keywords:  MDR-PA; antimicrobial resistance; bacteriophage; infections; therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1723885
Br J Nurs. 2026 Feb 05. 35(3): S24-S30

Clinical and economic impact of wound care in the UK: a critical review of Guest's publications, 2015-2025.

Jackie Stephen Haynes.

  Wound care in the UK has long been challenging, clinically complex and economically burdensome. Wounds affect millions of patients annually, costing the NHS billions of pounds. Despite the scale of this problem, wound care services have historically been subject to fragmentation, variable clinical practice, delayed interventions, a lack of coordinated policy focus and poor data collection. Between 2015 and 2025, this situation has persisted in the face of increasing pressure on NHS resources, rising patient demand and growing evidence of suboptimal outcomes, particularly for chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers and venous leg ulcers. This article critically analyses the literature relating to clinical and financial outcomes of wound care in the UK from 2015 to 2025 published by Professor Julian Guest. Critically analysing Guest's publications on wound care is important for several reasons, especially in relation to clinical and policy-making contexts in the latest NHS plans; it is essential to understand what strategies have worked, what gaps remain and how future services should be designed. There is a pressing need to synthesise the decade of research and policy developments in wound care. This article serves to critically appraise the progress and effectiveness of recent efforts.

Keywords:  Clinical and financial outcomes; Health economics; NHS policy; Service delivery; Wound care

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2025.0421
New Phytol. 2026 Jan 30.

From bacterial predators to partners: phages in agriculture.

Zahra Salehimoghaddam, Alexander P Hynes, Rebecca T Doyle.

  Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are critical players for shaping the taxonomic and functional composition of plant-associated microbiomes. Yet, their roles in plant health remain overlooked, along with their implications for sustainable agriculture. While phages are recognized as bacterial predators, they can also promote bacterial survival and competitiveness. Here, we highlight the roles phage play in shaping soil microbiomes and promising phage-based applications for sustainable agriculture. Ongoing research highlights the diverse roles of phages in regulating bacterial populations, enhancing nutrient cycling, improving stress tolerance, and suppressing soil-borne pathogens - microbial traits that directly link to plant health. Additionally, emerging applications such as bioremediation, phage-based biosensors, and microbiome engineering underscore phages' potential to revolutionize sustainable farming and optimize agricultural productivity.

Keywords:  bacteriophages; biocontrol agent; phage‐bacteria coevolution; plant growth promotion; soil microbiome; sustainable agriculture

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.70959
Front Microbiol. 2025 ;16 1738456

Global research trends in bacteriophage and gut microbiota: a bibliometric and visual analysis from 2012 to 2025.

Hui-Fang Kuang, Xiong-Yilang Jiang, Song-Yan Tie, Kun Lian, Mu-Yi Hao, Hang Xu, Xiao Huang, Yi Yang, Qian Guo, Jie Li, Ling-Li Chen.

   Background: The gut microbiota constitutes a complex microbial ecosystem that plays a fundamental role in host metabolism and immune homeostasis. As the most abundant viral entities in the gut, bacteriophages are increasingly recognized as key modulators of microbial community structure and function. Nevertheless, the global research landscape and thematic evolution of bacteriophage-gut microbiota studies have not been systematically evaluated.
Methods: Publications related to bacteriophages and the gut microbiota published between 2012 and 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. Bibliometric and visual analyses were conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago to examine publication trends, countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and research hotspots.
Results: A total of 687 articles and reviews were included. The annual number of publications increased steadily, with accelerated growth after 2018 and a peak in 2023. China ranked first in publication output, while the United States demonstrated strong centrality in global collaboration networks. The University of California, San Diego and the University of Copenhagen were identified as leading institutions. Highly productive authors included Colin Hill, Bernd Schnabl, Zhang Yue, Li Shenghui, and Ross R. Pau. Frontiers in Microbiology and Nature are the most influential journals in this field. Keyword analyses revealed major research hotspots, including viral metagenomics, antimicrobial resistance, phage-microbiota-immune interactions, and the transition from phage therapy toward microecological and immunomodulatory interventions.
Conclusion: Research on bacteriophage-gut microbiota interactions has shifted from descriptive profiling to mechanistic and translational studies, driven by advances in viral metagenomics and phage culturomics. Increasing attention has been directed toward disease-associated phage-microbiota interactions, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease, as well as the development of precision interventions such as phage therapy and engineered phages. This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of global research trends and highlights emerging directions for future microbiome research.

Keywords:  CiteSpace; VOSviewer; bacteriophage; bibliometric analysis; gut microbiota

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1738456
Arch Microbiol. 2026 Feb 02. 208(4): 164

Phage as control strategy against the foodborne pathogen, Bacillus cereus.

Rakhey Vysakh Nedumpilly Puthenveedu Haridas, Sarita G Bhat.

  Bacillus cereus is a significant foodborne pathogen due to its toxin production and resilient spores and biofilms that survive conventional sterilization methods. Bacteriophages and endolysins have shown considerable potential for controlling B. cereus in foods and on food-contact surfaces. Despite this, no recent review has comprehensively addressed phages as a control strategy against B. cereus. This review summarizes recent research on the application of B. cereus phages and endolysins in various food matrices and surfaces. Phage DZ1 reduced B. cereus counts by 4.21 log10 CFU/mL in milk after 6 h, with bacterial counts remaining undetectable for up to 72 h, while PlyB13S endolysin at 0.8 µM removed over 60% of B. cereus biofilms on polystyrene surfaces. The review also highlights strategies combining phages with germinants to target spores, as well as phage cocktails, engineering, and encapsulation approaches to overcome limitations such as a narrow host range and environmental instability.

Keywords:  Bacillus cereus; Bacteriophage; Biocontrol; Endolysin; Phage-derived proteins; Public health

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-025-04679-4
Int J Med Microbiol. 2026 Jan 31. pii: S1438-4221(26)00008-1. [Epub ahead of print]322 151706

Characterization and antibiofilm efficacy of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage HKPH_J3.

Jinyue Zhang, Yao Li, Tianheng Xue, Haoyu Li, Hanqi Wei, Xiaoxiao Li, Wanlian Zhang, Shihao Song.

  In recent years, due to the spread of antibiotic resistance, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has emerged as an ESKAPE super-resistant pathogen, posing a major threat to current therapies. Phage therapy is currently one of the most promising treatment methods. In this study, we isolated a novel strongly lytic phage HKPH_J3, which is a linear double-stranded DNA of 38008 bp with a GC content of 64.6 %, and contains no harmful genes. Phage HKPH_J3 is a member of the Casadabanvirus genus, and there are subtle genetic differences between it and homologous phages. Phenotypic analysis revealed that phage HKPH_J3 has efficient and stable lytic activity and strongly inhibits and degrades the biofilm of P. aeruginosa PAO1. Moreover, the phage HKPH_J3 significantly inhibited the cytotoxicity of P. aeruginosa PAO1, and in the G. mellonella model, phage HKPH_J3 significantly improved larval survival. In addition, we studied the phage-resistant P. aeruginosa mutant J3yd_PAO1. The infection pressure of phage HKPH_J3 causes a nonsense mutation in the type IV pili (T4P) biogenic protein PilP of P. aeruginosa PAO1, which hinders the folding of the functional domain of the PilP protein and may affect the expression of type IV pili (T4P), inhibiting the adsorption of phage HKPH_J3 and ultimately leading to phage resistance. In summary, phage HKPH_J3 has practical application value in treating drug-resistant P. aeruginosa infections. However, the development of phage resistance in bacteria hinders their application, and the resistance mechanism of bacteria is a key strategy for their survival and reproduction. And, the potential mechanism of bacteria-phage interaction is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the phage-resistance mechanism of J3yd_PAO1, which helps to increase our understanding of phage-resistant regulation and lays the foundation for the application of phage therapy and the study of bacteria-phage evolution mechanisms.

Keywords:  Antibiofilm; Multidrug resistance; Phage therapy; Phage-resistance; Pseudomonas aeruginosa

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm.2026.151706
J Wound Care. 2026 Feb 02. 35(2): 187-192

Clinical studies in wound care are not easy: some remarks and personal observations.

Michel He Hermans.

  The execution of clinical trials in wound care significantly differs from, and is frequently more challenging than, those involving pharmaceutical agents. Populations presenting with wounds (such as trauma and ulcers) are typically heterogeneous, and often exhibit a range of comorbidities and secondary factors that influence both the nature of the lesion itself and the trajectory of wound healing. Typical comorbidities in patients with ulcers include diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and polypharmacy is common. Trauma-related complications, such as haemodynamic or septic shock, are frequently observed in extensive burns and other major trauma. Such complexity presents substantial obstacles to generating statistically robust and reliable outcomes, either because a consistent patient cohort is difficult to find, or extensive stratification may be necessary when different cohorts of patients with different types of lesions are put together into a single trial population. This article highlights several of the methodological and operational challenges that can arise when conducting a wound care study and tries to create some upfront awareness of the pitfalls for such studies. The author has been a chief medical officer and independent consultant to the wound care industry for >35 years, and some statements in this article are based on his personal experience and observations.

Keywords:  clinical trials; comorbidities; diabetes; trauma; ulcer; wound; wound care; wound dressing; wound healing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12968/jowc.2025.0043
Br J Nurs. 2026 Feb 05. 35(3): S16-S23

Bioburden and wound infections: reduction, identification and management.

Victoria J Clemett.

  Wound infection delays wound healing, which has a negative impact on patient wellbeing and treatment costs. This article outlines an evidence-based and person-centred approach to the assessment, management and reduction of bioburden and wound infection. It highlights that effective infection and inflammation control commences with prevention. Nurses are pivotal in this approach, optimising the environment and wound bed to reduce bioburden, and taking account of the patient's existing health conditions to enable an effective host response.

Keywords:  Biofilm; Chronic; Wound care; Wound infection; Wounds; Wounds and injuries

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2024.0439
Virol J. 2026 Feb 06.

Phage vB_AbaM_MU1 for biocontrol of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) isolated from wound infection.

Hadeer Sabry, Mai M Zafer, Mohamed Abdelmoteleb, Ayat M Hassan, Adel A El-Morsi.

   BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) continues to pose significant public health in clinical settings due to its remarkable genomic plasticity and resistance to available therapeutic drugs, including carbapenems. Bacteriophage has emerged as an optimistic solution capable of addressing such drug resistance dilemma. This study represents a comprehensive characterization of a novel Acinetobacter phage with potential application against CRAB-associated wound infections.
METHODS: Sewage sample was obtained, processed, and enriched with A. baumannii M13 phage(s) for the purpose of phages' isolation. The isolated phage was examined using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and identified in terms of host range and efficiency of plating through spot test and plaque assay, respectively. Phage stability was screened following thermal, pH and ethanol assays. Replication kinetics were investigated through adsorption and single step growth curve. Furthermore, the in-vitro antibacterial potential was verified through measuring the optical density of the treated M13 culture at different Multiplicity of infections (MOIs) over 6 h shaking incubation. This is in tandem with preliminary screening of the vB_AbaM_MU1 safety through genomic and phylogenetic analysis of the isolated phage.
RESULTS: A novel lytic Acinetobacter phage vB_AbaM_MU1 was isolated and categorized as T4-like Myovirus with genomic size 167.200 bp, which was classified into the family Straboviridae in class Caudoviricetes, based on morphological and genomic analyses. It showed lytic efficiency against 9/17 CRAB strains. Infectivity and structural integrity revealed thermal stability up to 60℃, pH tolerance within pH range (3-11), sensitivity to different EtOH concentrations (10%, 50%, 75%, and 95%). In addition, vB_AbaM_MU1 displayed distinctive infection kinetics with 6 min adsorption, short latent (over 30 min), and high bursting (326 PFU/infected cell). The in-vitro bacteriolytic infectivity revealed robust and steady antibacterial action at MOI of 1 and above.
CONCLUSION: These findings provide a strong, well-justified foundation for considering vB_AbaM_MU1 phage as successful candidate for phage therapy in treating CRAB- induced wound infections.

Keywords:   A. baumannii ; Bacteriophage therapy; CRAB; Phage characterization; vB_AbaM_MU1

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-026-03066-9
mBio. 2026 Feb 06. e0382925

Staphylococcus species infected by a bacteriophage with a tail that is both curved and contractile.

Sabrina Suhani, Yan Li, Laura Perlaza-Jiménez, Denis Korneev, Cara Press, Tze Y Thung, Han-Chung Lee, Joshua J Iszatt, Ralf B Schittenhelm, Christopher J Stubenrauch, Rhys A Dunstan, Joshua M Hardy, Anthony Kicic, Trevor Lithgow.

  Using a selective plating strategy for staphylococci, we surveyed the local community wastewater and purified 16 independent isolates representing the following seven species of Staphylococcus: S. cohnii, S. equorum, S. lentus, S. nepalensis, S. sciuri, S. shinii, and S. xylosus. Staphylococcus aureus was not detected. The wastewater also served as a source to identify a bacteriophage (phage), referred to here as JS1, that could infect all these species of Staphylococcus, as well as a range of clinical S. aureus strains, including methicillin-resistant isolates. The class Caudoviricetes are tailed phages, and classification systems recognize the following three major morphotypes: the Myo-like (medium-to-long, straight, contractile tails), Sipho-like (long, flexible, non-contractile tails), and Podo-like (very short, rigid tails). Electron microscopy showed that JS1 virions have 252 nm long, curved, contractile tails. Curvature analysis showed that this represented a range with a 1/R value of 7.6 ± 1.3 μm-1, where R is the radius of curvature. Phage JS1 also encodes hydrolases that are assembled onto the phage virions. One of these hydrolases, JS1_0224, was biochemically characterized and found to etch regions from the Staphylococcal cell wall. The possibility that these on-board hydrolases and the curvature of the long contractile tails are advantageous to the phage for navigating through the cell wall of these various species of Staphylococcus is discussed.IMPORTANCEPast work has seen over-representation of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates in genome and biology studies on staphylococci. Here, we show by a selective plating analysis of municipal wastewater that independent isolates representing seven other species of Staphylococcus were recovered (S. cohnii, S. equorum, S. lentus, S. nepalensis, S. sciuri, S. shinii, and S. xylosus), as readily identified in the samples. Genome sequence analysis revealed some species-specific antibiotic resistance profiles across the strains, and a bacteriophage was isolated that had a cross-species host range. Using this broad biological approach to analyze staphylococci has identified a phage with a broad killing range, and this phage is morphologically distinct from the three known types of tailed phages.

Keywords:  MRSA; phage therapy; structural proteins; virion morphology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03829-25
Arch Microbiol. 2026 Feb 02. 208(4): 177

Therapeutic milestones against multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: from legacy antibiotics to Zosurabalpin.

Jaya Malik, Shilpy Singh, Dharmsheel Shrivastav, Ved Vrat Verma, Ravi Kant Pal, Manoj Kumar Mishra, Varun Kumar Sharma.

  Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Acinetobacter baumannii represents a critical global health challenge, particularly in intensive care settings where the pathogen causes severe, refractory infections. As a leading member of the ESKAPE group, A. baumannii has accumulated extensive resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, including carbapenems, resulting in the widespread emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) strains. This review provides a chronological overview of the evolution of antimicrobial therapies used against A. baumannii, spanning the early era of penicillins and tetracyclines to contemporary agents such as eravacycline and ceftazidime-avibactam. We delineate the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance development, including carbapenemase production, robust RND efflux systems, horizontal gene transfer, biofilm formation, and the global dissemination of high-risk international clones (IC1-IC9). The compounding impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the spread of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) is also examined. A special emphasis is placed on Zosurabalpin, a first-in-class macrocyclic peptide antibiotic with a unique mechanism of action that targets the LptB2FG complex essential for lipooligosaccharide (LOS) transport and outer membrane assembly. Preclinical data and emerging clinical findings highlight its potent activity against highly resistant CRAB strains and its ability to circumvent conventional resistance pathways, marking it as a promising candidate in the antimicrobial pipeline. Finally, we evaluate the limitations of current treatment modalities and explore emerging strategies, including phage therapy, novel target discovery, and non-traditional therapeutics, offering a forward-looking perspective on restoring and sustaining effective anti-Acinetobacter interventions.

Keywords:  Acinetobacter baumannii; Antimicrobial resistance; Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB); Hospital-acquired infections; Multidrug-resistant organisms; Zosurabalpin

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-026-04721-z
Future Microbiol. 2026 Feb 07. 1-17

Combatting antibiotic resistance: challenges and emerging therapeutic strategies.

Aarshu Acharya, Ankit Kumar Singh, Shweta Tiwari, Bhavya Kaushal, Joyabroto Ghosh, Ankit Kumar, Amit Kumar Singh, Rashmi Prabha Singh.

  The discovery of antibiotics marked a crucial milestone in medical history, widely credited for its pivotal role in saving countless lives. However, the escalating resistance of microbes to traditional antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics) now jeopardizes the effectiveness of these life-saving drugs. The World Health Organization adopted a Global Action Plan (GAP) in 2015, recognizing the looming threat to human health posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As of 2019, 4.95 million global deaths are attributed to AMR, with 1.27 million deaths recorded in that year alone. In this review, a thorough literature survey was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using keywords related to AMR, antibiotic action, the mechanisms of AMR, and treatment of AMR. There was a primary focus on alternative therapies and innovative medicinal advancements, such as bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, probiotics, and synthetic inhibitors for ppGpp nucleotide messengers as potential treatment options to reduce our dependence on antibiotics. These innovative strategies broaden the currently limited scope of treatments against the emerging resistant strains of microorganisms.

Keywords:  Antibiotic resistance; alternative treatments; antimicrobial resistance (AMR); global health; multidrug-resistant bacteria

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/17460913.2026.2627823
Sci Rep. 2026 Feb 03.

Bovine serum albumin nanoparticles improve bacteriophage stability and antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Gustavo Aparecido da Cunha, Giovana Soares Marangoni, Maria Fernanda Romboli Durante, Lais Sanchietta, William Permagnani Gozzi, Matheus Luca Carotta Gabriel, Luiz Cosme Cotta Malaquias, Carine Ervolino de Oliveira, Lara Ambrosio Leal Dutra, Gabriel Magno de Freitas Almeida, Luiz Felipe Leomil Coelho.

  Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen characterized by high antimicrobial resistance, which poses significant challenges for treatment. Phage therapy offers a targeted alternative but is limited by the poor stability of phage and phage cocktails under physiological conditions. Here, we report the encapsulation of the anti-P. aeruginosa phage VAC1 in bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (NPPha) to increase their stability and antimicrobial performance. NPPha displayed high encapsulation efficiency (> 95%), sustained phage release, and preserved infectivity for up to five days at 37 °C, while showing no cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. In vitro, compared with free VAC1, NPPha significantly reduced bacterial growth and promoted a > 10⁵-fold increase in phage replication. In a murine model of acute lung infection, NPPha reduced the bacterial burden, increased phage recovery in the lungs, and lowered tissue injury, although survival rates did not improve. These findings highlight the use of albumin-based nanoparticles as a simple, low-cost strategy to stabilize bacteriophages and potentiate their antibacterial activity, with potential applications in phage therapy against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa.

Keywords:  BSA; Nanoparticles; Phage therapy; Pseudomonas aeruginosa

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38106-5
Arch Bronconeumol. 2026 Jan 09. pii: S0300-2896(26)00004-9. [Epub ahead of print]

New Perspectives in the Treatment of Bronchiectasis.

Angela Tramontano, Mariagiovanna Caporaso, Giulia Macciocchi, Edoardo Simonetta, Mattia Nigro, Stefano Aliberti.

  Bronchiectasis is a chronic, heterogeneous respiratory disease. Its pathogenesis involves airway inflammation, chronic infection, impaired mucociliary clearance, and progressive lung damage. Despite recent approval of Brensocatib, current management relies mostly on off-label therapies, highlighting the need for evidence-based strategies. Given the heterogeneity of bronchiectasis, precision medicine approaches that integrate patient phenotypes, endotypes, and disease severity are crucial. Mapping the current landscape of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) highlights the efforts to improve patient outcomes and translate mechanistic insights into clinical practice. This review underscores the shift toward individualized, mechanism-based therapy in bronchiectasis management providing a comprehensive overview of current and emerging therapeutic approaches in bronchiectasis, focusing on ongoing and recent RCTs.

Keywords:  Airway infection; Airway inflammation; Bronchiectasis; Clinical trials; Emerging therapies; Precision medicine

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arbres.2025.12.008
Nat Commun. 2026 Jan 30.

High-throughput methods leveraging robotics and computer vision for the development of therapeutic phage cocktails.

Taylor J R Penke, Aeron Tynes Hammack, Lana J McMillan, Ethan Baker, Pearl Wilcock, Nick Healy, Morgan K Y Wall, Naomi Chavez, Iain Wright, Hannah H Tuson, Sara Woessner, Ashley Trama, Cameron J Prybol, Eyra Dordi, Ava Ghobadian, David G Ousterout, Nicholas R Conley, Paul Garofolo.

We present the high-throughput automated screening techniques that are being used to develop bacteriophage-based therapeutic products currently under investigation in human clinical trials to combat urinary tract infections1. By integrating modern liquid handling robotics, standardized phenotypic assays, and computer vision-based enumeration, we established a platform capable of reproducibly screening large collections of phages against clinically derived bacterial strain panels. This approach enabled systematic assessment of phage-bacteria interactions at scale, facilitating the identification and optimization of phage cocktails with broad in vitro activity. Although bacteriophage therapy has long been investigated as a strategy for treating bacterial infections, few frameworks exist for developing phage combinations in a reproducible and scalable manner. The methods outlined here address this gap and aim to support the broader development of therapeutic assets available to combat antibiotic resistance.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68684-x
Foot (Edinb). 2026 Jan 28. pii: S0958-2592(26)00002-7. [Epub ahead of print]66 102225

Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of diabetic foot: A comprehensive review.

Tirumala Reddy Pavithra, Rajaganapathy Kaliyaperumal.

   BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) represent one of the most debilitating and costly complications of diabetes mellitus, leading to substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burden. Their global incidence continues to rise in parallel with the increasing prevalence of diabetes and aging populations.
OBJECTIVE: To critically review the epidemiology, pathophysiological pathways, and contemporary management strategies of diabetic foot, with emphasis on translational advances and emerging therapeutic directions.
METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted utilising the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for publications from 2015 to 2025 employing the terms 'diabetic foot ulcer,' 'management,' 'therapy,' 'regeneration,' and 'emerging treatment.' Only studies published in English that concentrate on clinical or translational advancements in diabetic foot care were included. Reviews, case reports, and irrelevant articles were omitted. Following the evaluation of 286 records, 132 studies were selected for synthesis.
RESULTS: Chronic hyperglycemia drives neuropathy, vasculopathy, and persistent inflammation, impairing the normal wound healing cascade. Standard management-including glycemic control, debridement, infection management, pressure offloading, and advanced dressings-remains essential. However, novel therapies such as bioengineered skin scaffolds, recombinant growth factors, stem cell applications, nanotechnology-based delivery systems, and negative-pressure wound therapy are transforming the field. Despite technological promise, widespread implementation remains challenged by regulatory and economic constraints.
CONCLUSION: The future of diabetic foot care lies in multidisciplinary, precision-based paradigms integrating smart biomaterials, gene therapy, artificial intelligence, and telemedicine. These convergent technologies hold the potential to revolutionize wound healing outcomes and reduce the global burden of diabetic complications.

Keywords:  Chronic Wound Healing; Diabetic Foot Ulcer; Hyperglycemia; Multidisciplinary Care; Peripheral Neuropathy; Technology

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foot.2026.102225
Virol J. 2026 Feb 06.

Can phage-antibiotic combinations overcome uropathogenic Escherichia coli regrowth? evidence from in vitro and in vivo models.

Salsabil Makky, Assmaa H Hussein, Amira A Mohamed, Kareem Essam, Mona M Agwa, Marwa M Abd ElAziz, Ayman El-Shibiny.

  Phage therapy is currently gaining attention as a promising alternative for treating multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, most studies have reported bacterial regrowth in vitro after hours of co-incubation with phage-host bacteria. In this study, we evaluated whether using a phage alone or combined with gentamicin could delay or prevent bacterial regrowth in vitro, in human urine, and in a rat model. The previously characterized lytic phage vB_Eco_ZCEC08 was combined with gentamicin to target clinical Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) infection. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of gentamicin against the resistant EC08 clinical isolate were determined, revealing high gentamicin resistance (MIC = MBC, 500 µg/mL). Time-killing assays demonstrated that combining ½ MIC gentamicin (250 µg/mL) with the phage at different multiplicities of infection (MOIs) effectively controlled bacterial growth and prevented regrowth, even after 72 h, in both in vitro culture media and urine. Notably, the phage's growth exhibited distinct dynamics when used alone versus in combination with gentamicin in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The combination showed higher replication rates in both urine and the rate model. For the in vivo experiments, bacterial counts showed significant reductions with both phage therapy and combination therapy compared to gentamicin monotherapy. Histopathological analysis of the tissues treated with the combination presented better tissue integrity than either monotherapy. These findings support the potential of phage-antibiotic combinations as an effective strategy against MDR-UPEC infections, highlighting the need for further studies to optimize treatment regimens for clinical applications.

Keywords:  Antibiotic resistance; ESKAPEE; Multidrug-resistant bacteria; Phage therapy; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-026-03067-8
Med Clin North Am. 2026 Mar;pii: S0025-7125(25)00123-3. [Epub ahead of print]110(2): 287-305

Clinician's Guide to Artificial Intelligence: Technical Foundations of Machine Learning.

Andrew W Schroeder, Zachary Tran, Kevin Sexton, Arnold D Salzberg.

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly integrating into clinical practice, from imaging interpretation to decision support; however, many clinicians lack a foundational understanding of how AI systems are constructed, trained, and evaluated. This article presents a technical framework covering fundamental concepts of machine learning, including traditional algorithms, deep neural network architectures, data modalities, training paradigms, evaluation metrics, and model interpretability. By outlining key principles and practical considerations, we aim to empower health care professionals to critically assess AI tools, anticipate their limitations, and integrate these technologies safely and effectively into patient care.

Keywords:  Artificial intelligence; Clinical decision support; Explainable AI; Machine learning; Medical imaging; Model validation

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2025.07.010
Curr Res Microb Sci. 2026 ;10 100544

A longitudinal profiling of microbiome of diabetic foot ulcers shows functional role of microbial communities in wound worsening and chronicity.

Chandni Sachdeva, Seetharam Shiva Prasad, Kallya Rajgopal Shenoy, Annappa Kudva, Lakshminarayana Badareesh, Bharath S Veerabhadrappa, Sunil M Krishna, Thokur Sreepathy Murali.

  Microbial communities in infected diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) play a critical role in wound morbidity and healing outcomes. While cross-sectional studies that profile the microbial communities using culture-independent approaches are available, we conducted a longitudinal microbiome analysis of 30 diabetic individuals to elucidate the relationship between microbial composition, host factors, and wound healing trajectories. Using a 16S rRNA-based metagenomic approach, we characterized the core microbial communities associated with DFU. Alpha diversity analysis revealed significant differences between DFU microbiome from same individuals across visits, and between DFU and non-DFU cohorts, while no significant differences in beta diversity was observed. Core microbiome analysis identified Pseudomonas to be consistently present across all cohorts, higher abundance of Escherichia and Prevotella in DFU samples across visits while Acinetobacter and Morganella were predominant in non-DFU wounds. Healed DFUs were enriched in Alcaligenes and Corynebacterium while worsened DFUs showed increased abundance of Enterococcus and Serratia. In amputated individuals, Escherichia was found in high abundance, while Staphylococcus was reduced. DFU subjects with high HbA1c levels (7.3-14.9%) had higher abundance of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, while Prevotella and Escherichia were abundant in individuals with lower HbA1c (<7.2%). Functional predictive profiling of microbiome communities using MicrobiomeAnalyst showed significant differences between healed and worsened DFUs, especially related to genes with roles in wound healing, drug resistance, biofilm formation, tissue invasion and pathogenicity. Our findings provide insights into the microbial ecology of DFUs, while the longitudinal screening of microbes associated with DFU revealed microbial dynamics and their probable role on wound outcome.

Keywords:  16S rRNA sequencing; Chronic wounds; Diabetic foot ulcers; Longitudinal sampling; Microbiome; Wound healing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmicr.2025.100544
mSystems. 2026 Feb 04. e0100225

Tools and approaches to study the human gut virome: from the bench to bioinformatics.

Haley Anne Hallowell, Justin Malogan, Jotham Suez.

  The human gastrointestinal tract is home to a diverse community of microorganisms from all domains of life, collectively referred to as the gut microbiome. While gut bacteria have been studied extensively in relation to human host health and physiology, other constituents remain underexplored. This includes the gut virome, the collection of bacteriophages, eukaryotic viruses, and other mobile genetic elements present in the intestine. Like gut bacteria, the gut virome has been causatively linked to human health and disease. However, the gut virome is substantially more difficult to characterize, given its high diversity and complexity, as well as multiple challenges related to in vitro cultivation and in silico detection and annotation. In this mini-review, we describe various methodologies for examining the gut virome using both culture-dependent and culture-independent tools. We highlight in vitro and in vivo approaches to cultivate viruses and characterize viral-bacterial host dynamics, as well as high-throughput screens to interrogate these relationships. We also outline a general workflow for identifying and characterizing uncultivated viral genomes from fecal metagenomes, along with several key considerations throughout the process. More broadly, we aim to highlight the opportunities to synergize and streamline wet- and dry-lab techniques to robustly and comprehensively interrogate the human gut virome.

Keywords:  bacteriophages; bioinformatics; human microbiome; human virome

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.01002-25
Sci Rep. 2026 Feb 05.

Isolation, characterisation and potential applications of a novel bacteriophage targeting beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

O Gopika, Niti Sarat, Maanya Manikandan, S Sumana, P C Parvathi Mohanan, Ajith Madhavan, R Sandeep Varma, Samiran Mahapatra, Bipin G Nair, Sanjay Pal.



Keywords:  Antimicrobial resistance; Bacteriophages; Biofilm; Opportunistic infections; Staphylococcus saprophyticus

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35899-3
Biomed Eng Online. 2026 Feb 05.

Temporal machine learning framework for diabetic foot ulcer healing trajectory prediction.

Reza Basiri, Asem Saleh, Shehroz S Khan, Milos R Popovic.

   OBJECTIVES: Diabetic foot ulcer management relies predominantly on reactive treatment adjustments based on current wound status. This study developed an accessible machine learning framework using routinely collected clinical metadata (no imaging required) to predict healing phase transitions at the next clinical appointment, enabling proactive treatment planning with an integrated recommendation system.
METHODS: Longitudinal data from 268 patients with 329 distinct ulcers across 890 appointments were analyzed. Features (n = 103) including temporal measurements normalized by inter-appointment intervals were engineered. An Extra Trees classifier was optimized via Bayesian hyperparameter tuning with impurity-based feature selection and sequential augmentation to predict three transition categories: favorable, acceptable, or unfavorable. Threefold patient-level cross-validation ensured robust performance estimation.
RESULTS: Feature selection identified 30 essential predictors, achieving 70.9% dimensionality reduction. The optimized classifier demonstrated 78% ± 4% accuracy with balanced category performance (per-class F1 scores: 0.72-0.84) and average AUC of 0.90. Historical phase features dominated predictive importance. The integrated treatment recommendation system achieved 88.7% within-category agreement for offloading prescriptions across all chronicity levels. Dressing recommendations demonstrated chronicity-stratified performance, with match rates declining from 83.7% for acute wounds to 5.6% for very chronic wounds, appropriately reflecting clinical reality that treatment-resistant wounds require individualized therapeutic experimentation.
CONCLUSIONS: This framework demonstrates potential for next-appointment trajectory prediction using accessible clinical metadata without specialized imaging, pending prospective validation. The chronicity-dependent recommendation performance appropriately distinguishes wounds amenable to standardized protocols from treatment-resistant cases requiring iterative experimentation.

Keywords:  Clinical decision support; Diabetic foot ulcer; ExtraTrees; Healing phase classification; Longitudinal analysis; Machine learning; Temporal prediction; Treatment optimization

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-026-01529-2
Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2026 Mar-Apr;61(2):61(2): e70201

An AI Tutorial for Speech and Language Therapists: Translating Concepts From the AI Literature Into Accessible Knowledge and Clinically Relevant Applications.

Ana Oliveira-Buckley, Barry O'Sullivan, Cristina McKean, Pauline Frizelle.

   BACKGROUND: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly discussed as a tool that can support speech and language therapy (SLT). However, clinical adoption of AI requires improved AI literacy among clinicians. AI is a rapidly evolving and often inconsistently defined field that can be difficult to navigate. Despite the definition provided by the EU AI Act, AI terminology can feel abstract for non-technical readers.
AIMS: To provide a foundational understanding of AI tailored for SLTs, by translating complex concepts into accessible language and organising them across three levels: (i) AI techniques (how AI works); (ii) AI capabilities (what AI can do) and (iii) clinical applications (how AI can support SLT).
METHODS: This tutorial is informed by foundational AI literature, established AI taxonomies, relevant SLT literature and regulatory and ethical guidelines. Clinical analogies are used to explain technical concepts, with additional technical detail signposted where relevant. Existing and conceptual examples illustrate the relevance of AI across paediatric SLT practice.
MAIN CONTRIBUTION: This tutorial provides: (i) a clinician-focussed interpretation of the EU AI Act definition; (ii) an organisation of key AI concepts into techniques, capabilities and clinical applications; (iii) a production-line model for mapping clinical needs to AI design choices and (iv) a practice-focussed discussion of ethical and regulatory considerations.
CONCLUSION: AI is best understood as a set of techniques that enable specific capabilities, which in turn support clinical applications. This tutorial promotes the safe, ethical and accountable use of AI as a tool that can support rather than replace clinicians.
WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject Current Artificial Intelligence (AI) literature is typically designed for technical audiences, making it difficult for clinicians to interpret. This can hinder the effective and responsible integration of AI into clinical practice. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This tutorial provides a clinician-focussed explanation of AI, structured across three levels: (i) AI techniques (how AI works); (ii) AI capabilities (what AI can do) and (iii) clinical applications (how AI supports practice) in paediatric speech and language therapy. It also addresses key challenges, ethical considerations and regulatory requirements relevant to clinical contexts. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? This tutorial lays the groundwork for informed engagement with emerging AI tools. It prepares clinicians to evaluate how different AI techniques and capabilities may support core clinical tasks (e.g., assessment, therapy planning and delivery).

Keywords:  artificial intelligence; child; language therapy; speech therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.70201
Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2026 Jan 29. pii: S0924-8579(26)00012-9. [Epub ahead of print] 107723

Resistance of uropathogens to gepotidacin: a systematic review of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility studies.

Matthew E Falagas, Laura T Romanos, Eleni D Katritsi, Iva D Tzvetanova.

   INTRODUCTION: Gepotidacin is a new triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic approved for the treatment of female patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs). Its bactericidal activity stems from its unique ability to inhibit both DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus for relevant publications. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resistance breakpoints were used.
RESULTS: An analysis of 23,711 isolates from 15 studies demonstrated a consistently low resistance to gepotidacin across various bacterial species and resistance phenotypes. Among Enterobacterales isolates, the resistance and intermediate category was 0%-6.8% and 0%-8%, respectively. For Gram-positive bacterial uropathogens, susceptibility to gepotidacin was 99.2% and 100% in 2 studies for Enterococcus faecalis isolates and ranged from 66.7% to 100% for Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolates. Resistance among extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales isolates ranged from 0% to 0.6%. Resistance among multidrug-resistant (MDR), defined as resistant to ≥3 relevant antibacterial classes, Gram-negative uropathogen isolates (323 MDR Escherichia coli, 27 MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 21 MDR Proteus mirabilis in one study, as well as 244 MDR E. coli isolates in another study) was 0%. Similarly, resistance to gepotidacin was 0% in Enterobacterales isolates resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, mecillinam, cefadroxil, fluoroquinolones, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
CONCLUSION: Gepotidacin has very good antimicrobial activity against a variety of pathogens that cause uUTIs. Importantly, it retains activity against uropathogen isolates that exhibit resistance to other antibiotics commonly used for UTIs making it a useful addition to a physician's therapeutic arsenal.

Keywords:  “E. faecalis”; “Enterobacterales”; “GSK2140944”; “Gepotidacin”; “S. saprophyticus”; “resistance”; “triazaacenaphthylenes”

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2026.107723
Med Clin North Am. 2026 Mar;pii: S0025-7125(25)00117-8. [Epub ahead of print]110(2): 191-207

Clinical Decision Support Systems in Generalist Practice: Utilizing Clinical Decision Support Systems Tools to Improve Clinical Decisions and Patient Outcomes.

Andrew P Bain, Derek Ngai, Philip A Bernard.

  Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) can impact clinical care through improved care processes and improved patient outcomes. For the generalist, CDSS play a key role in the optimal management of both acute and chronic conditions, as well as prevention and screening. Understanding of automation bias and alert fatigue as well as robust institutional CDS governance is essential to successful delivery and maintenance of decision support. With the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, AI-enabled CDSS offer exciting opportunities to personalized, high quality decision support, innovation, collaboration, and education surrounding CDSS will help ensure improved experiences for both clinicians and patients.

Keywords:  CDS; Clinical decision support; Generalist; Primary care

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2025.07.004
Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2025 Sep;46(Suppl 2): 5-8

Impact of Cetylpyridinium Chloride and Zinc Mouthwash on Oral Health and the Microbiome.

Meghan A Berryman.

The widespread use of antimicrobial mouthwashes highlights the importance of understanding their impact on both clinical outcomes and the oral microbiome. This literature review seeks to critically evaluate the current academic knowledge regarding the clinical efficacy of mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and zinc lactate in reducing plaque, gingivitis, and oral malodor, with a particular focus on its interactions with the oral microbiome. Clinical trials have validated the efficacy of CPC and zinc lactate in enhancing oral health metrics, although the long-term impact of their combined use on the oral microbiome warrants further exploration. CPC and zinc lactate in a mouthwash is particularly effective against oral biofilms. While bacteria has the potential to develop resistance against antiseptics, there is no evidence at this time to suggest that CPC and zinc lactate influences resistance in the oral cavity. However, there is evidence that CPC and zinc lactate in combination may be superior to other antibacterial mouthwashes at controlling periodontal pathogens while promoting a healthy and balanced oral microbiome. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, multi-omics investigations to elucidate the nature and extent of these interactions across diverse bacterial communities. The capacity of CPC and zinc lactate to support a healthy oral microbiome, without promoting antimicrobial resistance, underscores their combined potential as a safe and effective oral hygiene solution.
Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2025 Oct;46(9): 423-428

Periodontal Disease and Infertility: Probing the Depths of This Potential Connection.

Kallie Krueger, Maninder Kaur, Maria L Geisinger.

Infertility is a complex condition affecting both males and females. While the contributing causes are known to be multifactorial, the prevalence of infertility continues to rise. Recent research explores the potential relationship of periodontal disease and infertility. Periodontal disease, one of the most common oral diseases and the leading cause of tooth loss, is a low-grade, chronic infection leading to host inflammatory activation and, ultimately, destruction of oral hard and soft tissues. Periodontal disease has been associated with systemic inflammation and common chronic inflammatory diseases and conditions, including diabetes mellitus, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. This article reviews current evidence underscoring the association between periodontal disease and infertility, the proposed mechanisms of action of these associations, and implications for clinical practice. Focus on the relationship between oral and reproductive health highlights the importance of interprofessional, patient-centered treatment to provide comprehensive, whole-person healthcare to promote optimal overall wellness.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2025 ;15 1701929

Epidemiological and characteristic differences of hypervirulent and classical Klebsiella pneumoniae: a clinical and genomic study in Southern China during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yushan Jiang, Nianqing Kong, Zhuolin Li, Weiling Wu, Yifei Xie, Zhujun Zeng, Tingting Peng, Chenguang Shen, Shi Ouyang.

   Introduction: Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) has emerged as a significant public health threat owing to its ability to cause invasive infections. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and epidemiological associations of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) and classical K. pneumoniae (cKp) among patients treated at a tertiary hospital in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China, during the period from January to December 2022, in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Method: A total of 97 non-duplicated K. pneumoniae isolates and corresponding clinical data were collected. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, hypermucoviscosity phenotyping, sequence typing, capsular serotyping, and whole-genome sequencing were performed. Hypervirulent strains were identified by the presence of the rmpA, rmpA2, iucA, iroB, peg-344, and peg-589 genes.
Results: Among the 97 isolates, 40 (41.2%) were classified as hvKp. Compared with cKp, hvKp was significantly more likely to cause bacteraemia (P < 0.05) and less likely to cause urinary tract infections (P < 0.05). The K20 capsular serotype was significantly associated with hvKp isolates (P < 0.05). The multidrug resistance rate among hvKp strains (22.5%) was markedly lower than that among cKp strains (56.63%), and extended-spectrum β-lactamase production was more common in cKp strains. Multilocus sequence typing identified 29 sequence types, including 24 novel types. Whole-genome sequencing of a multidrug-resistant hvKp isolate (Kp00198874) revealed an ST11-K64 strain resistant to all tested antibiotics.
Discussion: The prevalence of hvKp increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in Guangdong, China. The isolates identified in this study represent sporadic infections, and the emergence of ST11-K64 hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (hv-CRKp) highlights the urgent need for continued surveillance and vigilance regarding hvKp-associated bacteraemia.

Keywords:  Klebsiella pneumoniae; community-acquired infection; drug resistance; hypervirulence; multilocus sequence typing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1701929
NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2026 Jan 30. 12(1): 35

Mucosa-associated bacteria and metabolites in inflammatory bowel disease: from inside to insight.

Xinyu Wang, LinLin He, Yue Dong, Xiali Qin, Hu Zhang, Bangmao Wang, Sinan Wang, Hailong Cao.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic gastrointestinal inflammation with complex etiologies, where gut microbiota and metabolites have emerged as key pathogenic factors. While earlier studies predominantly focused on fecal bacteria, recent research has shifted to mucosa-associated bacteria, which reside in the intestinal mucus layer and directly interact with the epithelium-critical for IBD pathogenesis. This review synthesizes evidence showing that IBD patients exhibit mucosa-associated bacteria dysbiosis, characterized by increased facultative anaerobes and reduced beneficial taxa, alongside altered mucosal metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Notably, mucosa-associated bacteria-driven metabolic changes show promise as early diagnostic markers for IBD. Mechanistically, mucosa-associated bacteria directly modulate intestinal barrier integrity and immune responses via pathways like TLR4-mediated inflammation and mucin degradation, distinct from luminal microbiota studied in fecal samples. This review highlights novel therapeutic strategies targeting mucosa-associated bacteria and mucosal metabolites, including probiotics, phage therapy against AIEC, and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for localized anti-inflammatory action. Understanding the mucosa-specific microbiota-metabolite-host interactions is pivotal for advancing precision medicine in IBD, bridging gaps in prior fecal-focused research.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-025-00887-4
Sci Rep. 2026 Feb 06.

Antibiotic therapy failure and clinical outcomes in scrub typhus patients from Guangzhou city, southern China.

Jiali Long, Yuancheng He, Kuibiao Li, Xinwei Wu, Zhoubin Zhang, Yuehong Wei.

  Antibiotic therapy failure in scrub typhus (ST) has raised concerns about first-line antibiotic efficacy, necessitating reevaluation of recommended antibiotic therapies. A multicenter retrospective analysis included 2029 non-severe ST patients hospitalized in Guangzhou from 2012 to 2018. Antibiotic therapy failure was defined as needing to switch initial antibiotics due to persistent fever, clinical deterioration, or clinician-assessed need. The clinical outcomes of three antibiotic therapies were compared. Antibiotic therapy failure led to significantly greater medical needs, as evidenced by prolonged hospital stays (8 vs. 7 days, P < 0.001), longer antibiotic courses (7 vs. 5 days, P < 0.001), increased incidence of fever lasting over 5 days(19.7% [200/1821] vs. 11.0% [41/208], P < 0.001), and increased hepatic complication rates (29.8% [62/208] vs. 20.3% [370/1821], P = 0.002). Therapy failure rates varied substantially among antibiotics, being highest for chloramphenicol (32.4%, 99/306), intermediate for azithromycin (20.5%, 53/258), and lowest for doxycycline (3.8%, 56/1465). Furthermore, failure manifestations was antibiotic-specific. Azithromycin failure was associated with cardiovascular-type severe ST (RR: 3.87, P = 0.026), whereas chloramphenicol failure was correlated with hepatic-type severe ST (RR: 2.37, P = 0.008). Antibiotic therapy failure adversely affected ST outcomes with distinct, antibiotic-specific clinical patterns. Tailored monitoring and timely antibiotic switching are essential to reduce treatment failure burden and improve patient prognosis.

Keywords:  Antibiotic therapy faliure; Antibiotic-specific clinical patterns; Disease progression; Scrub typhus

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38264-6
Nature. 2026 Feb 04.

Bacterial immune activation via supramolecular assembly with phage triggers.

Tong Zhang, Yifei Lyu, Christina R Beck, Naseer Iqbal, Renee Barbosa, Alireza Ghanbarpour, Michael T Laub.

Bacteria use diverse mechanisms to protect themselves against phages1-6. Many antiphage systems form large oligomeric complexes, but how oligomerization is regulated during phage infection remains mostly unknown7-12. Here we demonstrate that the bacterial immunity protein ring-activated zinc-finger RNase (RAZR) assembles into an active, 24-meric ring around the circumference of large ring structures formed by two unrelated phage proteins: a putative recombinase and a portal protein. Each multi-layered, megadalton-scale complex enables RAZR to cleave RNA nonspecifically to inhibit translation and restrict phage propagation. The recognition of unrelated phage proteins that form rings with similar diameters indicates that these proteins not only bind to RAZR but also enforce a geometry crucial to activation. The lack of large ring structures in the host probably prevents auto-immunity and RAZR activation before infection. The infection-triggered oligomerization of RAZR mirrors pathogen-induced oligomerization in eukaryotic innate immune complexes13, underscoring a common principle of immunity across biology.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-10060-8
Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2026 Jan 17. pii: S0268-0033(26)00008-2. [Epub ahead of print]133 106753

A comprehensive biomechanical phenotyping framework for diabetic foot ulcer risk stratification using multi-modal gait analysis and machine learning.

Mohsen Jafarzadeh, Ali Tavakoli Golpaygani, Farhad Tabatabaei Ghomshe.

   BACKGROUND: Current diabetic foot ulcer risk assessment methods lack precision in identifying high-risk biomechanical phenotypes. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive biomechanical profiling framework integrating multi-modal gait analysis with machine learning for enhanced ulcer risk stratification.
METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we analyzed214 participants: active diabetic foot ulcer patients (n = 68), diabetic controls without ulceration (n = 73), and healthy controls (n = 73). We implemented a multi-modal assessment protocol combining high-resolution plantar pressure mapping, wearable inertial sensors, 3D motion capture, and electromyography. Machine learning algorithms included unsupervised learning for phenotyping and supervised learning for predictive modeling, validated through nested cross-validation.
FINDINGS: Diabetic foot ulcer patients demonstrated significantly elevated forefoot pressures (metatarsal 1: 21.3 ± 4.8 vs 15.2 ± 3.1 N/cm2, p < 0.001), altered pressure-time integrals, and cautious gait patterns (velocity: 1.12 ± 0.14 vs 1.45 ± 0.16 m/s, p < 0.001). K-means clustering revealed four distinct biomechanical phenotypes with differential ulceration risks (OR: 3.2-8.7). The random forest model achieved 94.3% accuracy (95% CI: 91.2-96.8%) in classifying diabetic foot ulcer risk using six key biomechanical features, substantially outperforming conventional methods. Dynamic center of pressure analysis identified previously unrecognized instability patterns predictive of ulcer development 6-8 months before clinical presentation.
INTERPRETATION: We identified and validated novel biomechanical phenotypes with differential ulcer susceptibility. The integration of machine learning with multi-modal gait analysis enables precise risk stratification and personalized prevention strategies, representing a paradigm shift from reactive treatment to proactive, phenotype-specific diabetic foot care.

Keywords:  Biomechanics; Diabetic foot ulcer; Gait analysis; Machine learning; Phenotyping; Wearable sensors

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2026.106753
J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2026 Feb 03.

Biofilm formation and associated biomechanical traits co-segregate with multidrug resistance in typhoidal Salmonella.

Mehveen Iqbal, Shaista Urooj, Noor Ul Huda, Fouzia Zeeshan Khan, Zulqarnain Hassan, Anum Khan, Nisar Ahmed Shar, Muhammad Naseem Khan, Anila Siddiqui, Abdul Basit Khan, Saeed Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Mirani.

Typhoidal Salmonella continues to pose a severe public health threat, with its management increasingly complicated by the rise of antimicrobial resistance. This study investigated 50 clinical isolates of Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) and S. Paratyphi to delineate the association between antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and nanoscale mechanical traits. Our results revealed that 22% of isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR), displaying the classical resistance pattern against ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Among these resistant isolates, 54% formed biofilms, and this trait was strongly associated with multidrug resistance; 100% of MDR isolates were biofilm-positive (p = 0.001). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a distinct "hard-shell" bio-mechanical phenotype in biofilm-positive isolates, exhibiting significantly higher stiffness (31.3 ± 9.8 vs. 8.2 ± 2.3 kPa), adhesion force (17.8 ± 4.6 vs. 5.4 ± 1.4 nN), and surface roughness (11.6 ± 3.2 vs. 3.6 ± 1.0 nm) (p < 0.001 for all). This mechanical reinforcement was accompanied by a 2.7-fold increase in cell surface hydrophobicity (80.4 ± 8.9% vs. 30.3 ± 11.9%) and a 13.5-fold enhancement in desiccation survival (40.4 ± 10.7% vs. 3.0 ± 2.9%). Correlation analysis revealed these traits are highly interdependent (ρ = 0.78--0.89, p < 0.001), forming a cohesive "hard-shell" persistence phenotype. In summary, multidrug-resistant Salmonella possesses a unified trait that enhances its structural strength, ability to adhere, and environmental survival.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-026-00899-y