Salmonella is one of the leading causes of foodborne illnesses worldwide, with the ability to contaminate a wide range of sources. The identification of the frequently contaminated sources is vital for improving the management of Salmonella infections and outbreaks. As there is growing concern on bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents globally, it is crucial to monitor the resistance of Salmonella to antimicrobial agents for effective treatment of salmonellosis and prudent use of antibiotics. The epidemiology of Salmonella, including outbreak patterns, serovars prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles, could differ by region. Therefore, assessing the local status of Salmonella is crucial for implementing targeted interventions. This review provides an overview of foodborne disease and Salmonella-related outbreaks in Malaysia, focusing on Salmonella's sources of isolation, serovars and antimicrobial resistance patterns. In Malaysia, food poisoning outbreaks remain a recurring public health issue, and Salmonella is one of the main causative agents with fatal cases. However, the true burden of salmonellosis is difficult to determine as data on non-typhoidal salmonellosis are lacking. Salmonella was detected in both human and non-human samples, with S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis being the most common serovars. Salmonella isolates in Malaysia exhibited a wide range of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, with notably high resistance to erythromycin and penicillin. The review highlights the need for continuous surveillance of Salmonella infections, encompassing both typhoidal and non-typhoidal salmonellosis, as well as systematic monitoring of contamination sources and antimicrobial resistance patterns to improve understanding and ensure effective management of salmonellosis in Malaysia.
Several bioceramics have been developed to promote bone repair. However, postoperative infections in the implanted area may led to in bone resorption. The widespread use of antimicrobials has contributed to the increased prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, posing an additional challenge to therapeutics. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and resistance-inducing potential of two bioceramic formulations, 45S5 bioglass and borosilicate bioglass (BVBS), against multidrug-resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibacterial activity was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and time-kill kinetics. Resistance-inducing capacity was assessed by bacterial growth after 48 h of exposure to 800 mg/mL of each bioceramic. Bioglass 45S5 demonstrated greater antimicrobial activity, with an MIC of 50 mg/mL for E. coli and P. aeruginosa and 100 mg/mL for MRSP, and complete eradication of the strains after 8 h. BVBS presented an MIC of 100 mg/mL for E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and 200 mg/mL for MRSP, with complete bacterial elimination within 24 h. No resistance induction was observed for 45S5 in any of the strains, and BVBS showed this effect only on E. coli and P. aeruginosa strains. The results indicate that both formulations were effective against multidrug-resistant bacteria, with bioglass 45S5 being the most promising alternative due to its greater antimicrobial efficacy and lack of resistance induction.
The urgent need for new molecules capable of targeting multidrug-resistant microorganisms has redirected bioprospecting efforts toward less explored marine environments and their associated communities, such as marine mycobiota. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungi isolated from various seaweed species and infer the mechanisms of action and chemical profile of most potent fungal extracts. Simultaneously, it intended to contribute to a better understanding of ecological requirements of each fungal species. Thirty-one ascomycetous fungi were recovered from the seaweed hosts, with a higher representation of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. Only two fungal species revealed notable antimicrobial abilities: Penicillium rubens synthesised extracts with pronounced antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, while extracts of Penicillium brevicompactum inhibited the growth of Candida albicans. Although similar activities have been described in a few previous studies, this is the first report of a markedly inhibitory effect against a pathogenic yeast demonstrated by P. brevicompactum. Moreover, the mechanisms of action underlying these activities were explored for the first time in this study. Specifically, the antimicrobial activities demonstrated by fungal extracts were likely mediated by membrane potential imbalance and DNA damage, associated with the presence of L-norvaline and formylphosphonate. Despite the overall consistency of the results, slight to pronounced differences were also observed in the antibacterial activities and mechanisms of action of the extracts from P. rubens strains. These findings support the hypothesis that marine fungal species possess, and express distinct metabolic profiles shaped by micro- and/or macro-environmental factors.
Plant-based serine protease inhibitors represent a promising class of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic relevance. In this study, serine protease inhibitor-enriched peptide fractions were isolated from Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, and Momordica charantia. Fractions were enriched using ammonium sulfate precipitation, followed by ion-exchange chromatography, and characterized using preliminary physicochemical approaches, including SDS-PAGE (≈ 1-15KDa), UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared analysis, and amino acid profiling. The peptide-enriched fractions exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus thurigiensis, with MIC values in the mg/ml range, consistent with partially purified natural fractions. Antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger was observed at approximately 4 mg/mL. In a plant-based Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) model using Nicotiana leaves, the peptide-enriched fractions reduced lesion development, indicating measurable antiviral activity. In this experimental system, the maximum inhibition ranged from approximately 58% to 86% depending on the assay format. Thrombolytic assays demonstrated moderate clot lysis (up to 42.95%) with low hemolytic activity under the tested conditions. Molecular docking suggested potential interactions between peptide motifs and serine protease targets, providing a basis for experimental evaluation. Consistent with this, enzyme inhibition assays demonstrated serine protease inhibitory activity, with IC50 values ranging from 0.15 nM (ASP fraction) to 24 µM (ZOP fraction). Kinetic analyses further revealed distinct modes of inhibition, including competitive, uncompetitive, and mixed mechanisms, depending on the fraction evaluated. As structural identity and purity were not confirmed using the mass spectrometry-based approaches, these findings should be interpreted as an early-stage functional assessment. Definitive structural characterization and further biological validation are necessary to clarify their mechanistic and translational relevance.
Biofilm-associated infections represent a major clinical and biological challenge due to their ability to persist within host tissues while evading immune clearance and antimicrobial therapy. These structured microbial communities profoundly alter host immune signaling, particularly cytokine and chemokine networks, leading to sustained inflammation and tissue damage. Despite advances in antimicrobial development, biofilms continue to undermine treatment efficacy by promoting antibiotic resistance, dysregulated gene expression, and chronic inflammatory states, especially in wounds, implanted medical devices, and respiratory infections. Key challenge lies in complex bidirectional interactions between biofilm components and host immune pathways, which result in maladaptive immune responses rather than effective pathogen elimination. The novelty of this study lies in its integrated analysis of biofilm-mediated cytokine and chemokine dysregulation across bacterial and fungal biofilms, emphasizing molecular mechanisms, immune cell reprogramming, and host-specific determinants of disease progression. The purpose of this work is synthesizing current evidence on how biofilms modulate inflammatory signaling; identify critical regulatory pathways involved in chronic infection, highlighting emerging therapeutic strategies targeting both microbial persistence and immune imbalance. Major outcomes include bacterial biofilms like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and polymicrobial wound biofilms, illustrating altered cytokine profiles, immune gene regulation, delayed wound healing, and tissue remodeling. The review also addresses biofilm-driven immune dysfunction in chronic wounds and respiratory diseases, linking molecular signaling events to clinical outcomes. Hence, understanding cytokine and chemokine dysregulation in biofilm-associated infections is essential for the development of immune-informed, personalized therapeutic strategies, and future interventions must integrate antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and immunomodulatory approaches to achieve durable clinical success.
Patagonian fungi are an underexplored source of secondary metabolites with promising antimicrobial potential, a topic of growing relevance given the global spread of antibiotic resistance. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of 85 fungal isolates from Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucoromycota; 49 fungal conditioned media displayed inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in a 96-well OD₆₀₀ microplate assay. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Lysinibacillus sphaericus were the most sensitive Gram-positive strains, while Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the highest susceptibility among Gram-negative species. Complete inhibition of S. aureus was achieved in the conditioned-media assay by Arthrinium arundinis, Cladosporium sp., Graphilbum sp. 2, and Postia balsamea, with Graphilbum representing a previously unreported antimicrobial genus. In the conditioned-media microplate assay, potent antibacterial activity (> 99.5%) against all 5 tested bacterial strains was recorded for Allantophomopsis sp., Aureobasidium sp., Coniochaeta sp., Graphilbum sp. 2, and Mucor pyriformis, most of which have not been previously associated with antibacterial activity against Bacillus or Klebsiella genus. Marked inhibition of S. aureus and K. pneumoniae laboratory strains was observed for Arachnopeziza aurelia, Coprinellus sp., and Poria sp. Remarkably, Umbelopsis (Mucoromycota) inhibited all bacteria strains tested in the conditioned-media assay, revealing previously unreported antibacterial activity for this genus. Several extracts retained measurable but variable antibacterial activity in disk-diffusion assays producing inhibition zones against selected bacterial strains. Chemical profiling of active extracts revealed cyclic dipeptides (diketopiperazines) as recurrent metabolites and a unique family of unknown compounds exclusively found in Graphilbum sp. 2, representing its first metabolomic characterization. Overall, these results identify Patagonian fungi as a valuable reservoir of bioactive metabolites with potential as new natural antimicrobial agents.
The present study provides a comprehensive assessment of mahua flower extracts, with a focus on their antibacterial and antibiofilm potential against ESKAPE pathogens. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS based phytochemical profiling revealed that abundant bioactive constituents of dry flowers resulted in increased phenolic contents and were enriched in flavonoids. The antioxidant potential was confirmed through DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays. It was found that dry flowers presented relatively high radical scavenging activity. Owing to their improved stability and traditional significance, dry flowers were selected for antimicrobial assays. The methanolic extract had the lowest MIC values against E. faecalis (MTCC-439) and S. aureus (MTCC-740). Biofilm inhibition was confirmed through both qualitative and quantitative methods. The multiple bioactive compounds identified through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS contribute to antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity. These findings highlight the therapeutic ability of the mahua flower as a potential source of natural antimicrobial agents for the management of MDR infections and biofilm-associated complications.
Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is an emerging nosocomial pathogen, with violet-pigmented strains representing a rare and possibly neglected but clinically important subset. We report a case of a 62-year-old man with end-stage renal disease on dialysis who presented with fever and cough. Blood cultures from central and peripheral lines grew violet-pigmented, non-lactose fermenting colonies on MacConkey agar, later identified as Burkholderia contaminans sequence type 922 (ST922) via a multimodal approach. Initial phenotypic methods (VITEK-2, API20NE and MALDI-ToF) and 16S rDNA sequencing were inconclusive; however, multilocus sequence typing confirmed ST922, a strain previously reported in India and associated with nosocomial outbreaks. The isolate was susceptible to ceftazidime, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, minocycline, and meropenem. The patient responded well to intravenous ceftazidime, with subsequent blood cultures yielding no growth. Notably, antimicrobial susceptibility varied geographically, with some ST922 isolates resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges in Bcc speciation and highlights the value of molecular tools such as MLST. The detection of this strain in Malaysia raises concerns about global dissemination, potentially via contaminated medical devices or water systems. Early recognition of violet-pigmented Bcc in resource-limited settings can facilitate prompt, targeted treatment. This report underscores the need for environmental surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship to prevent spread, while reinforcing Bcc's ecological adaptability and clinical significance, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
The growing threat of antibiotic resistance underscores the urgent need to investigate alternative antimicrobial agents, including bacteriocins or bacteriocins like peptides. The purpose of the present work was to isolate and characterize bacteria from sheep milk that produce antibacterial substances. A strain identified as Mammaliicoccus sciuri 1SH was isolated and its extracellular peptides were extracted and partially purified by ethyl acetate. Sodium dodecyl sulphate poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis revealed a substance with a molecular weight of about 70 kDa. Activity was characterized across varying pH (2.5-8.5) and temperature (25-80 °C) ranges, demonstrating optimal activity between 25-37 °C and pH 6.5-7.4. Enzyme treatment with pepsin and pancreatin significantly reduced the activity, confirming its proteinaceous nature. The antibacterial substance demonstrated antibacterial activity against 26 clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1.125-70 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) 6.5-75 µg/mL. Growth kinetic tests demonstrated that growth of Escherichia. coli was suppressed in a dose-dependent way. Mechanistic studies revealed that the peptide induces DNA and protein leakage, indicating membrane disruption as a potential mode of action. Furthermore, the peptide demonstrated significant anti-oxidant activity (IC50: 13.5 μg/mL) and anti-inflammatory properties (IC50: 11 μg/mL). Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR) analysis identified key functional groups associated with the peptide. This study marks the first characterization and partial purification of a peptide derived from M. sciuri isolated from sheep milk, underscoring its potential as a promising antimicrobial agent with additional functional attributes.
Bacterial infections of the central nervous system (CNS) remain life-threatening disorders with high mortality, largely due to limited drug permeability across the blood-brain barrier and dose-dependent toxicities of conventional antimicrobials. Here, we report a two-dimensional magnesene nanosheet generated by low-temperature ultrasound exfoliation of magnesium crystals via selective activation of dislocations and slip systems. The resulting material releases abundant Mg2+ ions at the bacterial interface, inducing localized magnesium overload and mechanical disruption of membrane integrity. This dual physicochemical stress impairs membrane-associated transport in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, ultimately triggering rapid bactericidal effects. Magnesene exhibits potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in vitro, and analysis of clinical cerebrospinal fluid samples from CNS-infected patients further confirms its translational potential in reducing microbial burden. In rat CNS infection models, magnesene markedly suppresses bacterial proliferation and attenuates neuroinflammation. As a novel inorganic nanomedicine, magnesene offers a promising strategy for combating refractory CNS infections and may broaden therapeutic options against diverse microbial pathogens.
Newer methicillin-resistant antimicrobials are needed to address the rising prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and coagulase-negative (MRCONS) infections. We describe two contrasting, recalcitrant staphylococcal infections successfully managed using early transition to the oral benzoquinolizine antibiotic alalevonadifloxacin, highlighting its utility in complex clinical settings. Two high-severity cases of staphylococcal infections are presented. Patient 1, a 58-year-old metastatic lung and orthopedic implant infection on hemodialysis, developed catheter-associated MRSA sepsis with bacteremia, endocarditis, and metastatic lung and orthopedic implant infection. Patient 2, a 41-year-old male with a prior craniotomy, presented with a chronic cranial wound infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus hominis (MRCONS) originating from an infected ex vivo bone flap. Both patients initially received intravenous therapy and were transitioned to oral alalevonadifloxacin upon availability of susceptibility data. Levonadifloxacin susceptibility testing showed an MIC of 2 µg/mL for MRSA and 0.047 µg/mL for MRCONS-SCV. Patient 1 received 7 weeks of oral therapy aligned with POET recommendation for endocarditis, while Patient 2 completed 8 weeks of oral therapy consistent with OVIVA-based management of osteomyelitis. Despite significant challenges, both patients demonstrated rapid clinical improvement, resolution of infection, and no relapse during follow-up. These cases support oral alalevonadifloxacin as an effective and safe step-down option for complex MRSA and MRCONS infections, including endocarditis, osteomyelitis and meningitis. Alalevonadifloxacin (prodrug of levonadifloxacin) offers a promising oral treatment option when conventional agents are not suitable.
Corbichonia decumbens is a medicinal plant with limited comprehensive scientific investigation reported to date. The present study evaluated the phytochemical constituents and multifunctional activities of aqueous extract of C. decumbens leaves. In vitro antioxidant scavenging activity was analyzed using DPPH, H2O2, ABTS radical scavenging assays, while anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated by nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assay in RAW 264.7 cell lines, and antidiabetic activity assessed using the dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. In our present study, the aqueous extract of C. decumbens leaves showed significant results in all radical scavenging assays, DPPH (IC50 - 75.38 ± 3.46 μg/mL), H2O2, (IC50 - 82.79 ± 2.24 μg/mL), ABTS (IC50 - 85.07 ± 2.27 μg/mL), NO inhibition (IC50 - 98.42 ± 1.71 μg/mL), and DNS (IC50 - 102.98 ± 3.95 μg/mL) against the control. The MTT assay was employed to study the cytotoxic properties of the extract, in breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), which demonstrated dose and time-dependent cell depletion with an IC50 value of 91.75 ± 0.89 μg/mL and an IC90 value of 209.99 ± 2.30 μg/mL, respectively. The extract revealed multi-target antimicrobial efficacy against eight bacterial and two fungal strains, along with promising antithrombotic potential and the presence of diverse therapeutically bioactive phytochemical constituents.
Berberine is known to be a major bioactive compound from the plant Berberis aristata. As a quaternary isoquinoline alkaloid, berberine exhibits superior stability and pleiotropic antimicrobial efficacy compared to its phytochemical counterparts, owing to its unique cationic structure and multi-targeted mechanism of action. This study evaluated the anti-pathogenic potential of B. aristata root extract and its primary bioactive constituent, berberine, against a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain of Chromobacterium violaceum. Investigations utilized in vivo survival assays with the model host Caenorhabditis elegans, phenotypic characterization of virulence determinants (biofilm, hemolytic activity, efflux activity), and whole-transcriptome sequencing to elucidate disrupted molecular pathways. Berberine demonstrated significantly higher potency than both the crude extract and six conventional antibiotics, effectively attenuating pathogen virulence and inhibiting efflux mechanisms without the induction of resistance. Transcriptomic and RT-PCR analyses confirmed that berberine targets the bacterial denitrification pathway through the significant downregulation of nirK and norB genes. These findings advance the literature by demonstrating berberine as a useful nontraditional antibacterial agent that exerts its anti-pathogenic effect through the simultaneous genetic and phenotypic suppression of bacterial virulence.
The development of biomass composites that simultaneously achieve strength, toughness, and low density remains a persistent challenge in materials science. Recent advances, inspired by hierarchical architectures in natural biomaterials, have driven significant efforts toward engineering biomimetic composites with enhanced mechanical performance and multifunctionality. The sawtooth oyster (Crassostrea spp.), a common marine organism, exhibits a unique serrated shell microstructure that offers substantial inspiration for biomimetic design. Leveraging this biological principle, we developed an ultrathin ZIF-67/wood composite (0.2 mm thickness) through the integration of bionic structural engineering, in situ growth of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and optimized hot-pressing techniques. This composite achieves an exceptional tensile strength of 304 MPa while maintaining low density, thereby reconciling the traditional strength-toughness trade-off. Furthermore, it demonstrates integrated functionalities including hydrophobicity, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, acid resistance, and UV shielding, establishing a novel paradigm for designing high-performance biomimetic composites.
Fragaria indica stem, leaf, and root extract was used to assess the antimicrobial activity against bla-TEM beta-lactamase producing Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli. Ethanolic extracts of F. indica leaves exhibited a maximum zone of inhibition of 20 ± 1.2 mm (p <= 0.001), 18 ± 1.4 mm (p <= 0.001), and 16 ± 1.5 mm (p <= 0.001) against E. coli, S. flexneri, and S. typhi, respectively. To identify different compounds, the bioactive ethanolic leaf extracts were further processed for HPLC, GC-MS, ADMET, and docking analysis. In the ethanolic leaf extract, 19 phenolic compounds were identified in HPLC analysis. Three phenolic compounds, including Isorhamnetin-3-rutinoside, 5, 7-Dihydroxy-4' -methoxyflavone, and Luteolin, were for the first time reported in F. indica. In GC-MS analysis, sixteen compounds were identified. From the literature search, among the identified compounds, AlphaHimachalene, 1,3-Diphenyl-1-((trimethylsilyl)oxy)-1(Z)-heptene, 1H-Benzocycloheptene, Bicyclo[5.2.0] nonane, cis-1,1,3,4-Tetramethylcyclopentane, Bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-cis-2,3-diyl Carbonate, BetaHimachalene and 2-methylene-4,8,8-trimethyl-4-vinyl were reported for the first time in F. indica. Two compounds, including Alpha-Himachalene and Bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-cis-2,3-diyl carbonate, having good water solubility, drug likeness, and medicinal characteristics, were selected for docking analysis. Docking of Alpha-Himachalene and Bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-cis-2,3-diyl carbonate showed interaction with Pro-26, Phe-22, and Ala-23 residues of bacterial bla-TEM beta-lactamase. Similarly, Bicyclo[2.2.2] octane-cis-2,3-diyl carbonate interacts with amino acid residues of Ala-235 and Ser-233 of bla-TEM beta-lactamase. Further studies will help to characterize the anti-infective compounds against bla-TEM producing foodborne bacterial pathogens.
PROSPECT (PRimary screening Of Strains to Prioritize Expanded Chemistry and Targets) is an antimicrobial discovery platform based on chemical-genetic interaction profiling of compounds against a pool of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) hypomorphs, each depleted of an essential gene. We now report a novel N-oxolan-3-yl pyrazole carboxamide inhibitor, BRD1554, with selective activity against strains depleted of polyketide synthase 13 (Pks13), an essential polyketide synthase in mycolic acid synthesis, and Rv2581c, an uncharacterized protein similar to glyoxylase II enzymes. PCL analysis, our previously described reference-based approach to PROSPECT mechanism of action (MOA) assignment, predicted Pks13 was the likely target, implicating its thioesterase domain. We synthesized a more potent analogue 1554-06 and assigned the absolute stereochemistry of the active 3R,4S diastereomer, which had an MIC90 of 3.0 μM against Mtb H37Rv. Expression profiling and the identification of resistance-conferring mutations in the thioesterase domain of Pks13 were consistent with the PCL prediction. Stereoisomers of 1554-06 inhibited recombinant Pks13 thioesterase domain in a stereospecific manner, consistent with their whole cell activity, and computational docking revealed the structural basis for the observed specificity, thereby confirming Pks13 thioesterase domain as the target. We observed unique chemical-genetic interactions between inhibitors of the different Pks13 domains and different Mtb detoxifying enzymes, including Rv2581c. These results highlight how PROSPECT can not only immediately reveal, with domain-level resolution, the MOA of new inhibitors, allowing the integration of biological insight into early prioritization, but can also illuminate genetic interactions linked to those mechanisms that could inform synergy predictions for combination therapy.
Hemolysins are a varied group of bacterial toxins that play a significant role in making microbes more harmful by disrupting host cell membranes and affecting host-pathogen interactions. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria produce hemolysins, which help them acquire nutrients, avoid the immune system, damage tissue, and spread. This review offers a detailed look at bacterial hemolysins, emphasizing their classification, structural differences, and how they work at a molecular level. It discusses the role of hemolysins in how microbes' function and cause disease, as well as their interactions with host cell responses. The review summarizes current methods for detecting and characterizing hemolysins, highlighting progress in both analytical and molecular techniques. Furthermore, it examines recent advancements in targeting hemolysins through strategies that reduce their harmful effects and therapeutic inhibition. By connecting mechanisms with new intervention strategies, this review stresses the significance of hemolysins in microbial biology and their potential as targets for new antimicrobial methods.
The aim of the current scoping review is to provide an in-depth view of the disinfection methods using various forms of nanoparticles in endodontics. After registration (https://osf.io/jwq37), a search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Ebsco, and Lilacs. The research question based on the Population, Concept, and Context model framework was, "What are the efficient nanoparticles used for disinfection in the field of endodontics?" Studies that investigated different types of nanoparticles for disinfection in natural teeth (ex vivo) were included, while those from laboratory studies without involving natural dentin were excluded. Out of 1039 studies, 60 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included. Studies used a variety of nanoparticles in different forms, including nanoparticle-incorporated solutions, irrigants, medicaments, and sealers, tested against different organisms (mono-species and multispecies biofilms). These findings provide insights into the disinfection potentials of various nanoparticles in ex vivo models. While the clinical research remains uncertain, the results of the current review highlight the antimicrobial effect of nanoparticles under controlled conditions. Further clinical studies are necessary to establish effectiveness and translational potential in endodontic practice.
Rodents occupy a pivotal position at the interface of humans, animals, and the environment, making them a fundamental component of One Health frameworks. Both commensal and sylvatic rodent species act as reservoirs, amplifiers, and sentinels for a wide diversity of zoonotic pathogens, while simultaneously delivering key ecosystem services that influence biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and landscape structure. Spillover of pathogens between rodents, humans, livestock, and other wildlife occurs bidirectionally, enabling pathogen persistence, evolution, and emergence, particularly in rapidly changing socio-ecological systems. Invasive and synanthropic rodent species can profoundly disrupt ecosystems, contribute to biodiversity loss, and erode dilution effects that otherwise reduce disease transmission. At the same time, rodents serve as sensitive bioindicators of environmental contamination, antimicrobial resistance, and ecosystem degradation due to their close association with agriculture, waste streams, and human settlement. This narrative synthesis argues that rodents should be explicitly placed at the center of One Health programs, particularly within the scope of integrative zoology, which seeks to unify ecological, evolutionary, and health-related perspectives. Drawing on more than two decades of multidisciplinary research, largely from sub-Saharan Africa, this paper synthesizes current understanding of rodent ecology, pathogen diversity, and environmental change, while highlighting the RatZooMan project as an early exemplar of a rodent-focused One Health approach. We expand existing concepts, remove disciplinary silos, and identify future research directions that reconcile zoonotic disease prevention with ecosystem integrity and sustainable development.
In order to identify more effective antimicrobial agents against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (Cms), which has the capacity to cause severe reductions in potato yields, nine quercetin derivatives (2a-2i) were synthesized. All synthesized derivatives were structurally confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR and HRMS. In comparison with quercetin, the majority of the derivatives (2a, 2b, 2c, 2g, 2h, 2i) exhibited significant antibacterial activity. Among them, compound 2b (7-isopentenyloxy-4'-chloroflavonol) exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against Cms, with DIZ of 16.70 ± 0.35 mm and MIC of 0.08 mg/mL. Furthermore, in in vivo antibacterial activity assay, 2b demonstrated significant protective activity (88.04% ± 3.98%) and therapeutic activity (83.64% ± 10.91%), which were both significantly superior to positive control (71.79% ± 5.64% and 62.55% ± 4.41%, respectively). It was determined that 2b disrupted cell walls, increased cell membrane permeability, and depolarized cell membranes, leading to significant leakage of essential ions from the cells. The activities of various key enzymes were found to be significantly reduced. In summary, the studies demonstrated that 7-isopentenyloxyflavonol derivatives exhibit potent antibacterial activities against Cms, providing some new insights for future applications of 7-isopentenyloxyflavonol derivatives in combating Cms.