bims-fagtap 2025-11-02 papers

bims-fagtap

Biomed News

on Phage therapies and applications

Issue of 2025–11–02
twenty-one papers selected by
Luca Bolliger, lxBio

Phage to ESKAPE: Personalizing Therapy for MDR Infections-A Comprehensive Clinical Review.
Editorial: Bacteriophage therapy in orthopedics-Key questions and emerging answers.
Phage Therapy as a Novel Alternative to Antibiotics Through Adaptive Evolution and Fitness Trade-Offs.
Isolation, functional characterization and antibiofilm properties of a lytic Enterococcus phage RG1 against multidrug resistant E. faecium.
Is a Bacteriophage Approach for Musculoskeletal Infection Management an Alternative to Conventional Therapy?
Exploration of bacteriophage therapy as a viable alternative to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections: A comprehensive in vitro and in vivo evaluation.
Engineered Phage-Guided Nanotherapeutic Systems for Precision Antibacterial Therapy: Hacking Bacterial Resistance Mechanisms.
Controlling drug-resistant bacteria in Arabian horses: bacteriophage cocktails for treating wound infections.
A machine learning approach to predict strain-specific phage-host interactions.
One in 6 Common Bacterial Infections Are Resistant to Antibiotics, WHO Warns.
Application of Biomaterials in Diabetic Wound Healing: The Recent Advances and Pathological Aspects.
Multifaceted Antibiotic Resistance in Diabetic Foot Infections: A Systematic Review.
Biological Nanoparticles for Enhancing Chronic Wound Regeneration.
Global high-risk clones and multidrug-resistant serotype strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from surgical site infections in low-resource settings.
Silver Nanoparticle-Silk Protein Nanocomposites: A Synergistic Biomimetic Approach for Advanced Antimicrobial Applications.
Artificial intelligence-enabled hydrogels: innovations and applications.
Synthetic Polymer-Based Interventions in Wound Healing: A Clinical Perspective on their Efficacy and Limitations.
From AI-Assisted In Silico Computational Design to Preclinical In Vivo Models: A Multi-Platform Approach to Small Molecule Anti-IBD Drug Discovery.
Bacterial and host interactions in Staphylococcus aureus-induced septic arthritis-understanding pathogenesis and exploring therapeutic strategies.
The Renaissance Wound Man: Parallels with today's understanding of wound repair.
Applications of artificial intelligence in rehabilitation: technological innovation and transformation of clinical practice.

Pathogens. 2025 Oct 07. pii: 1011. [Epub ahead of print]14(10):

Phage to ESKAPE: Personalizing Therapy for MDR Infections-A Comprehensive Clinical Review.

Andrea Marino, Stefano Stracquadanio, Federica Cosentino, Alberto Enrico Maraolo, Agnese Colpani, Andrea De Vito, Nicholas Geremia, Alice Nicolosi, Alessandra Oliva, Bruno Cacopardo, Giuseppe Nunnari.

  The proliferation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) ESKAPE pathogens-Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.-constitutes a critical global health crisis, rendering conventional antibiotics increasingly ineffective. This comprehensive review evaluates the re-emerging potential of bacteriophage therapy as a personalized treatment for infections caused by these organisms. Phages, being viruses that specifically infect and lyse bacteria, offer significant advantages, including high specificity that spares host microbiota, self-replication at the infection site, and potent activity against biofilms. This paper synthesizes current preclinical and clinical evidence, including compassionate-use cases, for phage therapy against each of the ESKAPE pathogens. While case reports and small studies demonstrate considerable success, particularly in salvage therapy for otherwise untreatable infections, significant challenges remain. These include the narrow host range of phages, the potential for bacterial resistance, unpredictable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, and a complex, non-harmonized regulatory landscape. The review highlights that phage-antibiotic synergy and the use of phage cocktails are promising strategies to overcome some of these limitations. Future progress in phage therapy will depend on standardized manufacturing, robust clinical trials to establish dosing and efficacy, and the development of adaptive regulatory pathways. Phage therapy is positioned not as a replacement for antibiotics but as a vital adjunctive tool in the armamentarium against MDR infections, heralding a move towards a more personalized approach to infectious disease management.

Keywords:  ESKAPE pathogens; antimicrobial resistance (AMR); bacteriophage therapy; biofilm; phage–antibiotic synergy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14101011
J Orthop Traumatol. 2025 Oct 27. 26(1): 70

Editorial: Bacteriophage therapy in orthopedics-Key questions and emerging answers.

Filippo Migliorini, Fabrizio Rivera, Jörg Eschweiler.

  Musculoskeletal infections remain among the most challenging conditions in orthopaedic practice, often requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy, repeated surgical interventions, and extensive rehabilitation. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance and the persistence of bacterial biofilms further complicate management, particularly in chronic osteomyelitis, infected fracture fixations, and periprosthetic joint infections. In this context, bacteriophage therapy has re-emerged as a promising adjunctive strategy. Bacteriophages offer targeted antibacterial activity, including the ability to disrupt biofilms and self-replicate at the site of infection. Contemporary approaches, such as phagograms, customised phage cocktails, and local delivery techniques, have addressed many historical limitations related to phage specificity and accessibility. A growing number of case reports and small clinical series have documented successful applications of phage therapy in orthopaedic infections, with encouraging safety profiles and infection resolution in refractory cases. Early-phase clinical trials are now systematically evaluating the feasibility, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of phage therapy in musculoskeletal settings. Furthermore, synergistic effects with antibiotics and the potential to overcome biofilm-related antibiotic tolerance highlight the added therapeutic value of this approach. While regulatory and manufacturing challenges persist, the integration of bacteriophages into multidisciplinary orthopaedic care marks a paradigm shift toward precision microbiology. Rather than replacing conventional treatment, phage therapy complements surgery and antibiotics, offering a biologically rational and patient-specific adjunct in the fight against recalcitrant infections.

Keywords:  Bacteria; Infections; Musculoskeletal medicine; Orthopaedic surgery; Trauma surgery; Virus

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s10195-025-00892-5
Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 Oct 17. pii: 1040. [Epub ahead of print]14(10):

Phage Therapy as a Novel Alternative to Antibiotics Through Adaptive Evolution and Fitness Trade-Offs.

Song Zhang, Juhee Ahn.

  The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires solutions that extend beyond conventional antibiotics. Bacteriophages (phages) provide targeted antibacterial action but face two key limitations: (1) their narrow natural host ranges and (2) the rapid emergence of evolved bacterial resistance. This review focuses specifically on evolved resistance and highlights two complementary strategies to overcome it by using phage-adaptive evolution and manipulating bacterial fitness trade-offs. Adaptive evolution accelerates phage/bacteria coevolution under host-mediated and environmental selective pressures such as receptor variability, bacterial resistance mutations, and nutrient limitations, resulting in phages with broader host targeting within resistant populations and enhanced lytic activity. Simultaneously, bacterial resistance to phages often leads to fitness costs, including restored antibiotic susceptibility or reduced virulence. These strategies support the rational design of phage/antibiotic combinations that suppress resistance and enhance therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we clarify the distinction between intrinsic host range limitations and evolved resistance, focusing on how adaptive strategies can specifically counter the latter. We discuss the underlying mechanisms, practical applications, and significance of this approach in clinical, agricultural, and environmental areas.

Keywords:  adaptive evolution; antibiotic resistance; fitness trade-offs; host range expansion; phage therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14101040
Sci Rep. 2025 Oct 29. 15(1): 37819

Isolation, functional characterization and antibiofilm properties of a lytic Enterococcus phage RG1 against multidrug resistant E. faecium.

Rakesh Kumar Singh, Riya Anand, Ajeet Singh, Zinnu Rain, Pradyot Prakash, Ganesh Kumar Maurya.

  Enterococcus faecium, a multidrug-resistant (MDR), commensal human pathogen, frequently causes nosocomial infections and imposes serious threat to public health, which demanded more research for the development of alternative therapeutics against them. Bacteriophage therapy as an alternative to antibiotics has reappeared as therapeutics against MDR bacterial infections. Here, we isolated and characterized a novel lytic phage, RG1, from the Ganga River against E. faecium ATCC 35667 and checked their efficacy against several clinical isolates of E. faecium. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the RG1 belongs to genus Efemquintavirus, and has a dsDNA genome of 41,364 base pairs with 35.54% GC content, which encodes 65 putative open reading frames without any virulence, antibiotic resistance or lysogeny genes. Bacteriophage RG1 displayed high stability across different pH, temperatures and chloroform concentrations. The phage RG1 exhibited antibacterial and antibiofilm activity over both ATCC and clinical isolates of E. faecium likely due to its wider host range, which paves the way inside the precision phage therapy. Interestingly, the presence of ribose, maltose and trehalose sugars showed more suppression of bacterial growth of MDR E. faecium isolate in presence of the phage RG1, while sugar alcohols synergistically supported host lysis by this phage. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of the phage RG1 against the MDR E. faecium under clinical setup.

Keywords:  Antibiotic resistance; Biofilm; Enterococci; Phage therapy; Sugar molecules

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-21701-3
Life (Basel). 2025 Sep 29. pii: 1534. [Epub ahead of print]15(10):

Is a Bacteriophage Approach for Musculoskeletal Infection Management an Alternative to Conventional Therapy?

Jörg Eschweiler, Christian Fischer, Filippo Migliorini, Johannes Greven, Thomas Mendel, Philipp Kobbe, Steffen Langwald.

  Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to public health. The growing resistance of bacteria to commonly used antibiotics necessitates the search for and development of alternative treatments. Bacteriophage (or phage) therapy fits this trend perfectly. Phages that selectively infect and kill bacteria might represent, in some cases, the last therapeutic option. This overview provides case examples and discusses the potential development of phage therapy, examining its ethical and legal considerations in the context of current clinical practices. Additionally, it explores the advantages of utilizing phage products in patients for whom existing therapeutic options are limited or unavailable. Further clinical studies are necessary to broaden the understanding of phages, their dosage, and a standardised delivery system. These efforts are essential to ensure that phage-based therapy is not viewed as experimentation but as a routine medical treatment. Bacterial viruses are unlikely to become a miracle cure or a panacea for infections, but they may find an important role in medicine. Full legalisation of this treatment could help solve the problem of multidrug-resistant infectious diseases on a global scale.

Keywords:  adjunctive therapy; biofilm disruption; compassionate use; multidrug-resistant bacteria; personalised medicine; phage cocktails; regulatory challenges

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/life15101534
Bioinformation. 2025 ;21(7): 2176-2180

Exploration of bacteriophage therapy as a viable alternative to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections: A comprehensive in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Tarang Mehta, Saket Verma, Amberpreet Kaur Khangura, Niva Mahapatra, Khushboo Shrivastava, Sameer Gupta.

  Antibiotic resistance in pathogens like E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a major threat to global health, with limited treatment options. This study systematically evaluated the efficacy of bacteriophage therapy in vitro and in vivo against multidrug-resistant strains. Phage treatment led to significant bacterial reduction (up to 4.5 log10 CFU/mL) and improved survival rates in mice (up to 85%). Synergistic effects with antibiotics and preservation of gut microbiota were observed without adverse reactions. These findings highlight phage therapy as a promising, targeted, and safe alternative for managing resistant infections.

Keywords:  Bacteriophage therapy; multidrug-resistant bacteria; phage-antibiotic synergy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.6026/973206300212176
Pharmaceutics. 2025 Oct 02. pii: 1288. [Epub ahead of print]17(10):

Engineered Phage-Guided Nanotherapeutic Systems for Precision Antibacterial Therapy: Hacking Bacterial Resistance Mechanisms.

Bandar Aldhubiab, Rashed M Almuqbil.

  Antibiotic resistance (ABR) poses a critical global public health challenge necessitating immediate action. Without prompt interventions, infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria could surpass the annual mortality rates of all cancers combined by 2050. Phages are one of the most abundant biological entities on earth that specifically infect and replicate in bacterial cells and can act as potential alternatives to antibiotics. Nanotechnology provides a favorable solution to overcome various challenges linked with phage therapy. Developments in nanotechnology, including nano-encapsulation, offer solutions to various clinical as well as pharmacological challenges by improving delivery efficacy, ensuring controlled release, and protecting phages from environmental degradation and immune clearance. The synergistic actions of phage-guided targeting and the strong bactericidal potential of engineered nanocapsules (NCs) could effectively eradicate multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria while diminishing off-target activities. Potential applications of engineered phage-guided nanotherapeutic systems have already been explored in terms of phage/nanocarrier cocktails, enhanced antibacterial activity, effective treatment of nosocomial infections, wound healing, and disruption of bacterial biofilms. The present review focuses on comprehensively discussing the advances in phage-guided NCs along with their mechanisms in enhancing precision antibacterial therapy. In this regard, numerous in vitro and in vivo study findings have been summarized in this review. Moreover, various approaches to overcome and optimize the pharmacokinetic profiles of phage-guided NCs have been discussed.

Keywords:  antibiotics; bacterial biofilms; encapsulation; nanotherapeutic systems; phages; resistance

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101288
Front Vet Sci. 2025 ;12 1609955

Controlling drug-resistant bacteria in Arabian horses: bacteriophage cocktails for treating wound infections.

Esraa Khalid, Yasmine H Tartor, Ahmed M Ammar, Rewan Abdelaziz, Yasser Mahmmod, Adel Abdelkhalek.

  Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health issue requiring a coordinated response. This study investigated for the first time the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance phenotypes of bacteria causing infections in Arabian horses, and the potential of bacteriophage therapy for wound treatment. One hundred clinical samples from infected Arabian horses, presenting respiratory disorders, diarrhea, abortion, wound, and ocular infection, were examined using direct sample multiplex PCR and phenotypic methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the recovered isolates was performed using panels of 37 antibiotics and broth microdilution method. Bacteriophages were isolated from horse manure. A bacteriophage cocktail was used for treating infected wounds in Arabian horses. Streptococcus equi was the most predominant pathogen isolated from respiratory infections (17/29, 58.6%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9/29, 31.03%, each), and Escherichia coli (7/29, 24.13%). Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium ovis biovar equi were the most frequently isolated bacteria from pyogenic infections. All isolated bacteria showed resistance to multiple antibiotics. Streptococcus spp. exhibited extensive drug resistance (XDR) with complete resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, amikacin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and cefotaxime. All Staphylococcus spp. displayed multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. Staphylococci isolates were highly resistant to fusidic acid, β-lactams, and tetracyclines. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, fosfomycin, and cephalosporines were ineffective against Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Ticarcillin, clavulanic acid, and colistin were ineffective against P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Pan-drug-resistant (PDR) P. aeruginosa isolate was detected in the infected wound. Two lytic bacteriophages (vB_Pae_LP125 and vB_Pae_LS225) from the Podoviridea and Siphoviridea families were isolated from the horse manure. Both phages were stable across various temperatures and pH levels. In vitro tests showed significant lytic activity against a wide range of bacterial strains. The DNA genomes of all phages displayed distinctive restriction fragment length polymorphism. A bacteriophage cocktail (vB_Pae_LP125 and vB_Pae_LS225), when combined with gentamicin, improved wound healing in infected horses. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the wound closure % among the gentamicin group and phage cocktaoil+gentamicin groups on days 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14. This study highlights the widespread antibiotic resistance in bacteria infecting Arabian horses and posing significant challenges to equine infection management. Bacteriophage therapy shows promise as a potential treatment for wound infections.

Keywords:  Acinetobacter baumannii; Arabian horses; antimicrobial resistance; bacteriophage; biosecurity; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; one health; wound

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1609955
Sci Rep. 2025 Oct 31. 15(1): 38249

A machine learning approach to predict strain-specific phage-host interactions.

Pamela Yael Camejo, Felipe Rojas, Antonio Ossa, Rodrigo Hurtado, Daniel Tichy, Christian Pieringer, Michael Pino, Paola Mora-Uribe, Soledad Ulloa, Rodrigo Norambuena, Eduardo Tobar-Calfucoy, Matías Aguilera, Victoria Rojas-Martínez, Onix Cifuentes, Andrea Sabag, Nicolas Cifuentes, Daniel San Martín, Claudia Infante, Pablo Cifuentes, Hans Pieringer, Luis E León.

  The use of bacteriophages for biological control of bacterial infections is a promising approach to combat antimicrobial resistant bacteria. Prediction of phage-bacteria interactions is key to identify sensitive bacterial strains to phage therapy. Since these interactions are governed by multiple biological mechanisms, it is not a simple task to predict the outcome of a phage infection, which varies even among strains from the same species. In this study, machine learning-based models capable of predicting the host range of phages from sequencing data were developed. Models were trained using phage-bacteria protein-protein interactions (PPI), predicted from PPI databases, and a host-range dataset obtained from experimental assays with 10 Salmonella enterica and 3 Escherichia coli bacteriophages. The performance of prediction models differed among bacteriophages, ranging from 78 to 92% of accuracy in the case of Salmonella and 84-94% in Escherichia phages, with the highest accuracy (94%) achieved for E. coli phage CBDS-07. Results demonstrated the effectiveness of using PPI as a feature to design ML models for phage-bacteria phenotype prediction.

Keywords:  Bacteriophages; Machine-learning models; Protein-protein interactions.

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-22075-2
JAMA. 2025 Oct 31.

One in 6 Common Bacterial Infections Are Resistant to Antibiotics, WHO Warns.

Shravya Pant.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2025.17534
Pharmaceutics. 2025 Oct 02. pii: 1295. [Epub ahead of print]17(10):

Application of Biomaterials in Diabetic Wound Healing: The Recent Advances and Pathological Aspects.

Chenglong Han, Rajeev K Singla, Chengshi Wang.

  Diabetic wounds, especially diabetic foot ulcers, pose a major global clinical challenge due to their slow healing and high infection susceptibility. Their typical pathological features include impaired angiogenesis, chronic hypoxia, persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, bacterial colonization, and neuropathy. Traditional treatment methods have limited efficacy, creating an urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. In recent years, biomaterials have emerged as a research focus in diabetic wound treatment, owing to their biocompatibility, versatility, and tissue regeneration potential. This article comprehensively reviews the pathological mechanisms of diabetic wounds. It also summarizes the application progress of biomaterials in diabetic wound healing. Over the past decade, researchers have explored the properties, mechanisms of action, and roles of various natural and synthetic biomaterials. These biomaterials include DNA nanomaterials, peptide hydrogels, cells, exosomes, and cytokines. These biomaterials play significant role in promoting angiogenesis, regulating inflammation, inhibiting bacteria, and enhancing cell proliferation and migration.

Keywords:  DNA nanomaterials; biomaterials; cytokines; diabetic wounds; extracellular vesicles; peptide hydrogels

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101295
Microorganisms. 2025 Oct 06. pii: 2311. [Epub ahead of print]13(10):

Multifaceted Antibiotic Resistance in Diabetic Foot Infections: A Systematic Review.

Weiqi Li, Oren Sadeh, Jina Chakraborty, Emily Yang, Paramita Basu, Priyank Kumar.

  Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are a significant complication in patients with diabetes, often leading to severe clinical complications including amputation and increased mortality rates. The effective management of these infections is complicated by the rise in antibiotic resistance among the microbial populations involved. In this paper, we undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the bacterial profiles, as well as their antibiotic resistance patterns in DFIs, encompassing studies published between 2014 and 2024. A total of 28 studies were selected from several databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect, published from 2014 to 2024, specifically focusing on diabetic foot infections and antibiotic resistance. Diabetic foot infections arise from a combination of factors, including peripheral neuropathy, poor circulation, and immune system impairment, making diabetic patients prone to unnoticed injuries, impaired wound healing, and a higher risk of infections. The severity of DFIs often depends on the size and depth of the ulcers, with larger, deeper ulcers posing additional risks of infection and complications, such as osteomyelitis and sepsis. Our study synthesizes information on the total isolates of microbes, their resistance to one or more groups of antibiotics, and resistance panel results across multiple antibiotics, including amoxicillin/clavulanate, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and others. We meticulously catalog the resistance of key bacterial strains-Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and others-highlighting patterns of resistance to single and multiple antibiotic groups. This systematic review also analyzes the correlations of various comorbidities reported by the diabetic foot infection patient populations in the included studies with multiple antibiotic resistance patterns. Subsequently, this analytical review study addresses the rising prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and underscores the need for antibiotic stewardship programs to promote judicious use of antibiotics, reduce the spread of resistant strains, and enhance therapeutic outcomes. In addition, the review discusses the implications of resistance to empirical antibiotic treatments, underscoring the necessity for tailored antibiotic therapy based on culture and sensitivity results to optimize treatment outcomes.

Keywords:  Gram-negative bacteria; antibiotic resistance; antimicrobial stewardship; bacterial pathogens; comorbidities; diabetic foot infection; diabetic foot ulcer; multidrug resistance

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102311
Cells. 2025 Oct 21. pii: 1637. [Epub ahead of print]14(20):

Biological Nanoparticles for Enhancing Chronic Wound Regeneration.

Daniil Zotikov, Natalia Ponomareva, Sergey Brezgin, Anastasiia Kostyusheva, Anastasiya Frolova, Vladimir Chulanov, Alexander Lukashev, Peter Timashev, Dmitry Kostyushev.

  Chronic wounds (CWs) represent a growing global health concern with profound clinical and socioeconomic implications. Studies indicate that approximately 15% of CWs remain unhealed one year after the initial treatment. At the same time, it is assumed that from 1% to 2% of the population of developed countries will suffer from chronic wounds during their lifetime. CWs severely impair patients' quality of life. Current therapies (compression bandages, antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen, and skin grafts) face limitations, including toxicity, contraindications, inefficacy in patients with comorbidities like diabetes, and high cost. Biological nanoparticles (BNPs), particularly extracellular vesicles (EVs), emerge as transformative solutions due to their innate biocompatibility, targeted biodistribution, and multifunctional regenerative properties. This review examines the mechanisms by which BNPs promote CW healing and drug delivery. Innovative BNP delivery platforms (chitosan hydrogels, alginate films) are evaluated, enabling sustained release and responsiveness to the wound microenvironment. Clinical advances, including exosome-laden hydrogels that accelerate healing in diabetic ulcers, underscore BNPs' potential to overcome conventional therapy limitations. By addressing the challenges of both pathophysiological complexity and healthcare system burden, BNPs demonstrate the potential to improve patient outcomes in the management of chronic wounds.

Keywords:  VEGF; anti-bacterial; bioprinting; diabetic ulcer; immunity; infection; regeneration; scaffolds

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14201637
Microbiol Spectr. 2025 Oct 30. e0031425

Global high-risk clones and multidrug-resistant serotype strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from surgical site infections in low-resource settings.

Beverly Egyir, Rhodalyn Tagoe, Nicholas T K D Dayie, Jeannette Bentum, Christian Owusu-Nyantakyi, Daniel Kwaku Baka, Blessing Kofi Adu Tabi, Appiah-Korang Labi, Noah Obeng-Nkrumah, Eric Behene, Salamatu Ibrahim, Felicia Owusu, Francis Adjei, Bright Agbodzi, Selassie Kumordjie, Julian Adinkrah, Awuiwenyuei Annankra, Isaac Yeboah, William Asiedu, Michael Adufutse, Philip Asare Annor Nyinaku, Edward Owusu Nyarko, Edward Asumanu, Harriet Manu, Naiki Attram, Robert D Hontz, Anne Fox, Hugo Miranda Quijada, Terrel Sanders.

  Surgical site infections (SSIs) caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pose significant challenges in healthcare, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Understanding the genomic characteristics and antimicrobial resistance profiles of P. aeruginosa isolates is crucial for informing appropriate treatment and guiding infection prevention and control strategies. P. aeruginosa isolates recovered from SSIs were analyzed using whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The isolates were identified using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS) system, and their antibiotic susceptibilities were determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and interpreted with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Whole-genome sequencing was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform, and sequence data were analyzed using free online bioinformatics tools, including CARD-RGI, ResFinder, PAst, VFDB, and MLST. Between July 2018 and September 2023, 563 patients were enrolled in a surgical site infection study, which led to the recovery of 82 P. aeruginosa isolates. The isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (n = 23, 28.05%), gentamicin (n = 20, 24.39%), piperacillin-tazobactam (n = 13, 15.85%), cefepime (n = 12, 14.63%), ceftazidime (n = 12, 14.63%), meropenem (n = 10, 12.20%), and amikacin (n = 8, 9.76%). Multidrug resistance was noted in 10 isolates (12.20%), with three isolates resistant to all antibiotics tested (n = 3, 3.7%). Sequence data revealed international high-risk clones: ST308 and ST773 (n = 5 each, 6.10%), ST244 (n = 4, 4.88%), ST446, ST357, and ST654 (n = 2 each, 2.44%), and ST235 (n = 1, 1.41%). Newly identified sequence types ST4287, ST4288, ST4289, ST4521, ST4522, ST4523, and ST4524 were also detected. Serotype O11 (n = 28, 34.15%) was the most prevalent, followed by O5, O6, and O4. Key virulence genes, such as algD, lasB, exoS, plcH, toxA, and plcN, were also detected. The identification of both high-risk and novel clones, coupled with diverse resistance and virulence factors, underscores the need for continuous surveillance of circulating strains. Employing advanced technologies, such as whole-genome sequencing, is essential for guiding infection control and treatment strategies in Ghanaian hospital settings.IMPORTANCESurgical site infections (SSIs) caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a major challenge to patient care, particularly in low-resource settings. This study reveals extensive genomic diversity, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence profiles among P. aeruginosa isolates from SSIs in Ghanaian hospitals. The detection of globally recognized high-risk clones ST235, ST308, and ST773, alongside several novel sequence types, suggests ongoing genomic evolution and the potential for regional dissemination. The presence of resistance to last-line antibiotics and key virulence factors highlights the therapeutic and public health challenges in low and middle-income countries. These findings underscore the urgent need for genomic surveillance, strengthened infection prevention and control, and targeted antimicrobial stewardship programs to inform treatment strategies and health policies across Ghana and the broader African region.

Keywords:  Pseudomonas aeruginosa; antimicrobial resistance; low-and middle-income countries; public health surveillance; whole-genome sequencing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00314-25
Biomimetics (Basel). 2025 Oct 05. pii: 669. [Epub ahead of print]10(10):

Silver Nanoparticle-Silk Protein Nanocomposites: A Synergistic Biomimetic Approach for Advanced Antimicrobial Applications.

Mauro Pollini, Fabiana D'Urso, Francesco Broccolo, Federica Paladini.

  The escalating global crisis of antimicrobial resistance demands innovative therapeutic strategies that transcend conventional approaches. This comprehensive review examines the groundbreaking synergistic integration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with silk proteins (fibroin and sericin from Bombyx mori) to create advanced nanocomposite materials for biomedical applications. While extensive literature exists for AgNPs and silk proteins individually, a limited number of studies have explored their synergistic combination. This review consolidates this fragmented knowledge to establish the foundational framework for an emerging field. The unique properties of silk proteins as natural reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents enable environmentally friendly AgNPs synthesis while creating intelligent therapeutic platforms with emergent properties. These hybrid materials demonstrate superior performance in terms of antimicrobial efficacy, biocompatibility, and accelerated wound healing compared to the individual components. The nanocomposites exhibit broad-spectrum activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens while maintaining exceptional biocompatibility and promoting tissue regeneration. This integration represents a promising evolution toward biomimetic therapeutic platforms that work in harmony with biological systems, offering sustainable solutions to contemporary healthcare challenges.

Keywords:  antimicrobial nanocomposites; biomedical applications; green synthesis; silk proteins; silver nanoparticles; wound healing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10100669
J Mater Chem B. 2025 Oct 30.

Artificial intelligence-enabled hydrogels: innovations and applications.

Shenhong Zhang, Hao Wang, Feifan Liu, Yujing Su, Kang Han, Yongli Liu, Fangxia Guan, Hongtao Liu, Shanshan Ma.

Due to the excellent biocompatibility and adjustability, hydrogels have broadened their application in different fields, such as 3D printing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensing. However, traditional hydrogel research is confronted with low screening efficiency and insufficient design and characterization methods. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a revolutionary tool for hydrogel research. AI technologies such as machine learning and deep learning have driven hydrogels towards intelligence and functionality. This article reviews the innovations of AI in the design and performance optimization of hydrogels, as well as their multi-scenario applications, such as 3D printing, environmental detection, and wound healing. Finally, the limitations, challenges and strategies for AI-driven hydrogel research are discussed. In conclusion, the cross-integration of AI and hydrogels has become an important trend of scientific research, providing new tools for the research of new hydrogel materials.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d5tb01944c
Curr Pharm Des. 2025 Oct 23.

Synthetic Polymer-Based Interventions in Wound Healing: A Clinical Perspective on their Efficacy and Limitations.

Debasish Tripathy, Sudhanshu Ranjan Rout, Ivy Saha, Jitu Halder, Tushar Kanti Rajwar, Vineet Kumar Rai, Deepak Pradhan, Ajit Mishra, Ritu Mahanty, Priyanka Dash, Chandan Das, Bibhanwita Satpathy, Biswakanth Kar, Goutam Ghosh, Goutam Rath.

   INTRODUCTION: Wound healing is a complex and dynamic biological process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Conventional wound dressings provide only passive protection and fail to maintain an optimal healing microenvironment. Synthetic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and polyethylene glycol (PEG), have emerged as promising materials in advanced wound care due to their tunable physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and enhanced therapeutic functionality.
AIM: This review aims to evaluate the potential of synthetic polymers in wound healing applications, focusing on their structural and functional advantages, challenges, and opportunities in the development of nextgeneration wound dressings.
METHODOLOGY: A comprehensive literature review was conducted on recent developments in polymer-based wound dressings. In this review, we conducted a systematic literature search across Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed for publications between 2015 and 2025. The search strategy employed keywords, such as "wound healing", "polyvinyl alcohol", "polycaprolactone", "poly(lactic-coglycolic acid)", "polyethylene alcohol", "physicochemical characteristics", "drug delivery capabilities", and " clinical trial" to capture the research landscape.
RESULTS: Synthetic polymers demonstrated significant potential in overcoming limitations of natural biomaterials, such as poor mechanical strength and rapid degradation. PEG-based hydrogels exhibited excellent hydrophilicity and sustained drug release. PCL scaffolds offered mechanical durability and supported tissue regeneration. PLGA allowed controlled therapeutic release through tunable degradation, while PVA ensured prolonged wound protection due to its structural stability. Polymer modifications, including crosslinking and blending, further enhanced wound healing efficacy.
CONCLUSION: Synthetic polymers provide versatile platforms for designing multifunctional wound dressings with improved healing outcomes. Future research should emphasize biodegradable, patient-specific, and smart wound dressings integrating controlled drug delivery, infection prevention, and angiogenic stimulation, thereby revolutionizing wound management practices.

Keywords:  Polyvinyl alcohol; poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid); polycaprolactone; polyethylene glycol; wound healing.

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2174/0113816128433361251009063909
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Oct 13. pii: 1536. [Epub ahead of print]18(10):

From AI-Assisted In Silico Computational Design to Preclinical In Vivo Models: A Multi-Platform Approach to Small Molecule Anti-IBD Drug Discovery.

Joya Datta Ripa, Sarfaraz Ali, Matt Field, John Smithson, Phurpa Wangchuk.

  Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, is a multifactorial inflammatory condition of the intestinal tract driven by a complex interplay of genetic factors, immune system dysfunction, and gut microbiota alterations. This review aims to synthesize current advancements in modern drug development strategies for IBD. It emphasizes the integration of computational modelling, cell-based experiments, and animal model studies to enhance translational outcomes. Methods: To compile this review, an extensive literature search was performed utilizing PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases for English-language research and review articles published between 2000 and 2025 using keywords such as "IBD," "molecular docking," "bioinformatics," "organoids," "animal models," and "network pharmacology," among others. A total of 199 peer-reviewed studies were identified for inclusion based on relevance, transparency, and methodological robustness. Results: The review outlines a range of cutting-edge approaches to IBD drug discovery. These include computer modelling, molecular docking, and network analysis to accelerate early-stage target prediction and drug screening. The review further highlights the critical importance of utilizing 2D and 3D cell culture systems in parallel with advanced animal models. It emphasizes the critical integration of computational predictions with biologically relevant in vitro and in vivo validations to improve the reliability and efficiency of drug development. Conclusions: The integration of computer modelling, cell culture systems, and animal studies provides a revolutionary paradigm for accelerating drug discovery to IBD and other diseases enabling personalized and more effective treatment approaches.

Keywords:  Inflammatory Bowel Disease; animal models; bioinformatics; drug discovery; in vivo; network pharmacology; organoids; small molecules

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101536
Front Microbiol. 2025 ;16 1687243

Bacterial and host interactions in Staphylococcus aureus-induced septic arthritis-understanding pathogenesis and exploring therapeutic strategies.

Zhicheng Hu, Cecilia Engdahl, Rille Pullerits, Majd Mohammad, Tao Jin.

  Septic arthritis is a severe and rapidly destructive joint infection, primarily caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The interplay between bacterial virulence factors and host immune responses determines disease progression and clinical outcomes. This review discusses the key bacterial factors that contribute to septic arthritis, including S. aureus cell wall components, surface proteins, and secreted toxins. In parallel, host-related factors, such as aging, immune responses, and genetic predispositions, are examined in conjunction with the impact of S. aureus infection on bone integrity and osteoimmunological mechanisms. Finally, this review highlights emerging therapeutic approaches, including targeted anti-virulence strategies, immune modulation, and anti-osteoclastogenic interventions, in mitigating joint damage. Understanding the multifaceted interactions between S. aureus and the host immune system is crucial for advancing treatment strategies and reducing morbidity associated with septic arthritis.

Keywords:  Staphylococcus aureus; antibiotic resistance; bacteriophage therapy; immunity; osteoimmunology; septic arthritis; vaccines; virulence factors

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1687243
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2025 Oct 10. pii: S1748-6815(25)00592-3. [Epub ahead of print]

The Renaissance Wound Man: Parallels with today's understanding of wound repair.

H Fletcher, P Martin.

  The image of the "Wound Man" first appeared in surgical texts from the late fourteenth century where it served as an illustrated guide to what medical practitioners might be called upon to treat. Across various incarnations, the Wound Man was depicted as suffering from wide-ranging injuries including cut and stab wounds, dog bites, thorn scratches, and insect stings. This article examines the figure of the Renaissance Wound Man, focusing in particular on the illustration featured in Hans von Gersdorff's Feldtbuch der Wundartzney (Field Book of Wound Medicine) which was first published in 1517. Through our consideration of this image and its accompanying text, we explore the relationship between von Gersdorff's early approaches to wound healing and modern treatment of wounds. Combining our expertise in sixteenth-century German medical practice and current scientific and clinical approaches, we discuss the differences and surprising similarities between the two. Von Gersdorff's text reveals an early understanding of anesthesia/analgesia, debridement, inflammation reduction, infection prevention, wound scarring, and fracture management. We discuss each topic separately, considering how von Gersdorff's advice relates to modern clinical practice and scientific understanding.

Keywords:  History; Renaissance; Sixteenth-century Germany; Surgery; Wound Man; Wound healing

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2025.10.008
SLAS Technol. 2025 Oct 27. pii: S2472-6303(25)00119-0. [Epub ahead of print] 100360

Applications of artificial intelligence in rehabilitation: technological innovation and transformation of clinical practice.

Haoyang Liu, Qiurong Xie.

  The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into rehabilitation science is revolutionizing traditional therapeutic models, offering innovative solutions that enhance the precision, efficiency, and accessibility of rehabilitation services. This review explores the diverse applications of AI in rehabilitation, focusing on key technologies such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics. A key innovation is the proposed AI-empowered rehabilitation model, which transforms fragmented processes into an interactive, adaptive system with real-time assessment during interventions. AI-driven advancements in impairment assessment, intervention planning and delivery, post-discharge care, and patient education are driving a shift from experience-driven to data-model-driven rehabilitation systems. Notable AI-driven applications include AI-powered exoskeletons for motor rehabilitation (e.g., in stroke recovery), NLP-driven cognitive therapy, and tele-rehabilitation platforms that enable remote monitoring and adaptive interventions. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including data limitations, ethical concerns, regulatory requirements, and clinical integration barriers. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure AI's responsible and effective deployment in rehabilitation. This review highlights the transformative potential of AI in rehabilitation and emphasizes the need for continued research and validation to optimize patient outcomes and accessibility.

Keywords:  AI; Artificial intelligence; Personalized medicine; Personalized rehabilitation

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slast.2025.100360