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First identification and molecular subtyping of Blastocystis spp. in donkeys in Aksaray province, Türkiye.

Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist worldwide that can infect humans and animals. Although its molecular epidemiology in Türkiye is mostly focused primarily on humans and livestock, equids have received limited attention despite their traditional roles and frequent contact with humans and other animals in rural environments. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence and subtype (ST) distribution of Blastocystis spp. in donkeys in Aksaray Province, providing the first molecular data on donkeys in Türkiye. A total of 182 fresh fecal samples were collected from donkeys in nine villages within Aksaray province. Genomic DNA was extracted, and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene fragment of Blastocystis spp. was amplified via PCR analysis. Positive isolates were sequenced bidirectionally for identification and subsequent phylogenetic analysis of Blastocystis in donkeys. The overall molecular prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in donkeys was 4.4% (8/182). The infection rate was higher in young donkeys (under 3 years old; 8.33%) than in adults (3 years or older; 2.46%). However, this difference was not statistically significant. Sequence analysis of the positive PCR products revealed the presence of one known livestock-specific subtype, ST10. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the ST10 isolates characterized in this study clustered with isolates identified from different hosts. This study provides the first molecular data on Blastocystis presence in donkeys in Türkiye. The exclusive detection of ST10 suggests potential cross-species transmission, likely facilitated by the traditional practice of co-housing donkeys with other animals in confined barns. These findings indicate that donkeys may contribute to Blastocystis transmission, underscoring the importance of a "One Health" approach in future epidemiological surveillance.

Animals

Associations Between Antiparietal Cell Antibody Values and Atrophy in a South and Southeast Asian General Population.

GOALS: To investigate the association between atrophy severity and antiparietal cell antibody (APCA) levels in South and Southeast Asia. BACKGROUND: APCA is an autoantibody that damages gastric parietal cells; autoimmune gastritis (AIG) is a chronic gastric inflammatory disease related to APCA and severe predominant corpus atrophy. Although a positive APCA result is a key clinical diagnostic tool for AIG, its rates vary widely among ethnic groups, and its exact relationship with AIG and predominant corpus atrophy remains unclear. STUDY: Associations between histopathology-assessed and endoscopy-assessed atrophy, APCA positivity rates, Helicobacter pylori status, and pepsinogen levels were investigated in 1982 symptomatic patients from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal. RESULTS: Overall, 38.5% of participants were negative for Helicobacter pylori infection, while 57.6% had a current infection. A positive APCA result, defined as a titer >10, was present in 44.0% of participants (95% confidence interval: 41.8%-46.3%, 873/1982). Pathologic atrophy, corpus atrophy, and predominant corpus atrophy were found in 8.7% (169/1982), 5.1% (101/1982), and 4.1% (81/1982) of participants, respectively. Positive APCA rates significantly differed among countries (10.6% to 63.8%, P <0.001). No significant correlation was found between APCA results and the presence or severity of atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Although APCA positivity was high among symptomatic patients from South and Southeast Asian countries, few had severe predominant corpus atrophy or positive pepsinogen tests, which suggests a low rate of AIG in this population. Long-term surveillance of APCA-positive individuals is necessary to determine the clinical significance of a positive APCA result without AIG.

Humans

S-layer-phage interaction in Clostridioides difficile.

Successful infection by a bacteriophage requires the injection of the phage genome into the cytoplasm of the host bacterium. To achieve this, an infecting phage must traverse the layers of the host cell envelope, including the membrane(s) and the cell wall. This process is further complicated in bacterial species that produce a proteinaceous S-layer on the outermost surface of the cell. Surprisingly little is known about the mechanistic basis of these early stages in the phage lifecycle, and even less is known about infection of S-layer producing bacteria. Recent advances in structural biology, particularly in cryoEM, have dramatically improved our understanding of the structures of both bacterial S-layers and phage virions separately, but we still lack a molecular view combining both phage and S-layer in the process of infection. Here, we review our current understanding of phage-S-layer interactions, using the human pathogen Clostridioides difficile as an example host.

Clostridioides difficile

Systematic review of the mutations in the active antigenic site &#xd8; of the prefusion F protein of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) following the implementation of monoclonal antibody prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibody (mAb) nirsevimab, which targets the antigenic site &#xd8; of the prefusion F protein (pre-F) of RSV, was introduced for RSV prophylaxis in several countries. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted between January 1, 2022, and July 31, 2026 for studies analyzing substitutions within the epitope of pre-F RSV protein, which is the target of nirsevimab, after the implementation of the mAb. We searched across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ClinicalTrial.gov for studies involving children with confirmed RSV infection, that conducted genomic analysis. RESULTS: Seven studies (five observational and two randomized controlled trials) including 2156 RSV-positive samples (RSV-A: 1347, RSV-B: 809) were analyzed. RSV-A strains showed limited variability within antigenic site &#xd8;, with K65R being the most common substitution and K209E being the only intermediate-resistance RSV-A substitution. RSV-B strains demonstrated substantially higher substitution frequencies, particularly involving I206M, Q209R, and S211N. Most identified substitutions appeared to represent naturally occurring polymorphisms and retained susceptibility to nirsevimab, while multiple RSV-B substitutions and combinations involving residues 64-68 and 204-208 demonstrated reduced susceptibility or high-level resistance. Resistance-associated variants were detected in 28 of 2156 (1.3%) RSV-positive samples and exclusively among nirsevimab breakthrough infections. In a sub-analysis restricted to nirsevimab-treated individuals, resistance-associated variants were significantly more frequent among RSV-B than RSV-A (9.8% vs 0.5%; p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). CONCLUSION: Most substitutions that were detected within the nirsevimab antigenic site reflect ongoing natural RSV evolution and do not significantly affect nirsevimab susceptibility. However, detection of resistance-associated variants highlights the importance of continuous genomic and phenotypic surveillance.

Humans

Public health, public protest: The role of health burdens and healthcare access in protest mobilisation.

Health and politics are intertwined, yet few studies have examined the association between health and protest. This study examined whether population health burdens were associated with protest incidence and whether healthcare access modified these associations. Analysis was based on an unbalanced 2004-2023 country-year panel, combining protest counts from ACLED with rates for 22 GBD causes. Mixed-effects negative-binomial models estimated incidence-rate ratios (IRRs) with interactions for healthcare access (&#xb1;1 SD). Two-way fixed-effects Poisson models were estimated as a benchmark to distinguish cross-national associations from within-country dynamics. Health burdens were systematically, but heterogeneously, associated with protest. Rates for several non-communicable burdens were associated with protest, notably musculoskeletal disorders (IRR 1.72, 95% CI 1.37-2.15), neoplasms (1.24, 1.06-1.44), substance-use disorders (1.32, 1.12-1.56) and HIV/AIDS and other STIs (1.24, 1.12-1.38). Higher healthcare access generally attenuated health-protest associations. Fixed-effects models confirmed several associations (e.g. HIV/AIDS, neoplasms) but revealed that others (e.g. maternal/neonatal disorders, enteric infections) were driven primarily by cross-national differences. Population health burdens were associated with cross-national variation in protest mobilisation. Chronic, non-communicable burdens were associated with heightened protest, whereas poverty-linked and early-life burdens were associated with lower mobilisation. Healthcare access was associated with attenuation of these relationships.

Humans

New World screwworm: a re-emerging parasitic threat.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: New World screwworm (NWS) is an emerging parasitic threat in Central America and Mexico, which is spreading northward into the southern United States. Here we highlight the changing epidemiology, lifecycle of the NWS fly, clinical presentation, identification, treatment, and potential complications of NWS myiasis. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite decades of successfully containing NWS flies south of the Darien Gap in southern Panama, NWS flies reemerged in the Central America region in 2023 and have continued to spread northward ever since. On 3 June 2026, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the identification of an NWS infestation in a young calf in southern Texas. In addition to describing the current epidemiology of the NWS outbreak, we present information about clinical presentation and management of NWS myiasis in patients and include representative cases of patients who experienced NWS myiasis. SUMMARY: This review provides important epidemiologic and clinical updates to an emerging parasitic threat so clinicians can understand the risks and clinical management for patients with suspected NWS myiasis.

Animals

Syndemics, violence and injury: exploring historical relationships between infectious disease epidemics and violent crime in South Africa.

This paper explores historical and contemporary intersections between mass-mortality epidemics and violent crime in South Africa, focusing on four major epidemics - Spanish Flu, tuberculosis, HIV, and Covid-19. The study integrates epidemiological data and contextual historical information such as crime statistics, archival records, and secondary scholarship to explore whether epidemic-driven mortality crises are associated with subsequent changes in violence and injury profiles. With the possible exception of gendered violence, the study finds little evidence that earlier epidemics directly contributed to rapid or sustained increases in violent crime, despite causing substantial adult mortality and long-term social and economic disruption. A comparison between epidemic and socio-economic profiles strongly suggests that the significant increases in violent crime recorded after the Covid-19 pandemic are highly localised, and may be more strongly related to lockdown responses, including alcohol restrictions, rather than the effects of disease itself.

Humans

Obinutuzumab or Tacrolimus in Primary Membranous Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Studies of obinutuzumab, a type II anti-CD20 antibody, have shown efficacy in the treatment of hematologic cancers and autoimmune diseases. An evaluation of the efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab in patients with primary membranous nephropathy is needed. METHODS: In a phase 3 trial, we randomly assigned adults with primary membranous nephropathy in a 1:1 ratio to receive intravenous obinutuzumab or oral tacrolimus. The primary end point was complete remission (defined as a urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio of 0.3 or lower and a stable estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) at week 104. Key secondary end points were complete or partial remission at week 104, complete remission at week 76, a sustained reduction in the eGFR of at least 30%, duration of complete remission, and change in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Fatigue T score from baseline to week 104. Fixed-sequence hierarchical testing was performed. Safety was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients underwent randomization. At week 104, complete remission was observed in 26 of 71 patients in the obinutuzumab group and in 4 of 70 patients in the tacrolimus group (37% vs. 6% with multiple imputation for missing data; adjusted difference, 31 percentage points; 95% CI, 18 to 44; P<0.001). The analyses of complete or partial remission at week 104 and complete remission at week 76 also showed a significant treatment effect. The analysis of a sustained eGFR reduction did not show a significant treatment effect; thus, subsequent end points in the hierarchy were not formally tested for significance. Adverse events of grade 3 or higher were reported in 16 patients (22%) in the obinutuzumab group and in 13 patients (19%) in the tacrolimus group; serious adverse events occurred in 12 (17%) and 10 (14%), respectively. There were 61 and 57 infections per 100 patient-years in the obinutuzumab and tacrolimus groups, respectively; 3 and 4 serious infections per 100 patient-years; and 11 and 14 serious adverse events per 100 patient-years. Adverse drug reactions with obinutuzumab included infusion-related reactions, respiratory tract infections, and neutropenia. One patient in each group died during escape therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Obinutuzumab was superior to tacrolimus in inducing complete remission in patients with primary membranous nephropathy. (Funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche; MAJESTY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04629248.).

Adult

A host-encoded prophage targets a Candidate Phyla Radiation bacterium and shapes episymbiotic interactions.

The Patescibacteriota, also known as the Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR), represent a large lineage of ultrasmall bacteria with highly reduced genomes and obligate dependence on bacterial hosts. Although genomic analyses have revealed CRISPR-Cas and restriction-modification systems in many CPR genomes, no cognate bacteriophages (phages) have been isolated, leaving CPR-phage interactions unexplored. Nanosynbacter lyticus TM7x, the first cultivated CPR bacterium, grows episymbiotically on its host, Schaalia odontolytica XH001, in the human oral microbiome. Here, we identify Xhp1, an inducible prophage of XH001 that is preferentially activated during episymbiosis with TM7x. Released Xhp1 particles infect prophage-free XH001 via distinct strategies determined by host growth mode, establishing lysogeny under planktonic conditions but driving lytic infection during surface-associated growth. Xhp1 also binds efficiently to TM7x and exhibits limited infection under the conditions tested, indicating direct phage-CPR interactions. Importantly, TM7x modulates Xhp1 availability in a spatially dependent manner. In planktonic culture, free-floating TM7x reduces lysogenic conversion of XH001&#x394;Xhp1, consistent with TM7x acting as a phage sink that lowers effective phage concentration. In contrast, during surface-associated growth, TM7x increases XH001&#x394;Xhp1 susceptibility to lytic infection, likely by locally concentrating phage particles within a constrained niche. These results demonstrate that CPR bacteria can regulate viral encounter rates through spatial organization. In spatially structured environments such as oral biofilms, such modulation may shape infection dynamics and community structure. Together, this work characterizes the first CPR-targeting phage and reveals a an important role for phages in CPR-host bacteria interactions.

Prophages

Culture of infectious human norovirus isolated from live contaminated oysters.

Human noroviruses are a major cause of foodborne outbreaks worldwide. Filter-feeding shellfish, such as oysters, can bioaccumulate these viruses in their digestive tissue when grown in sewage-impacted coastal areas and are often implicated in norovirus foodborne outbreaks. Despite the high sensitivity of current molecular assays, these methods for norovirus detection in shellfish fail to distinguish between infectious and non-infectious particles. Assessing norovirus infectivity in shellfish remains a challenge due to the lack of suitable isolation methods that maintain capsid integrity. In this study, a protocol for isolating infectious norovirus from oyster tissues, based on chloroform-butanol elution and polyethylene glycol concentration (CB-PEG), was optimized for the recovery of human norovirus GI and GII. While CB-PEG method recovered various norovirus GI and GII genotypes, it was less efficient at the genomic level than a protocol based on proteinase K elution (adapted from ISO 15216) and showed genotype-dependent viral recovery rates. By optimizing the flocculation step, we improved the method's compatibility with human intestinal enteroid (HIE) cultures. Using this approach, we successfully quantified infectious norovirus GII.3 titers recovered from artificially-contaminated live oysters. Interestingly, infectious virus was better isolated following a freezing step of the digestive tissues, with titers ranging from 13 to 40 TCID50/mL for positive samples. In conclusion, this study established an optimized methodological approach for the relative quantification of infectious norovirus GII.3 in shellfish, paving the way for future research on viral persistence and inactivation strategies in this foodstuff.

Norovirus

Molecular Diagnostics for WHO Priority Bacterial Pathogens: A Bibliometric Mapping of Diagnostic Platforms, Resistance Markers, and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Trends.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constrains effective treatment and carries implications for infection control, surveillance, and public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) priority bacterial pathogen framework has intensified the need for diagnostic innovation by redefining research priorities around organisms combining high disease burden with complex resistance profiles. Molecular diagnostics have accordingly moved beyond culture-based workflows, integrating rapid pathogen identification, resistance-marker detection, genomic surveillance, and clinical decision support. The present study conducted a bibliometric mapping of the literature on WHO priority pathogens. Rather than addressing resistance at a general level or a single pathogen or technology, it integrates priority pathogens, molecular platforms, and resistance markers within a single framework, tracing their joint thematic and temporal evolution along an explicit pathogen-platform-marker axis. Scopus-indexed articles and reviews (2000-2025) were retrieved, yielding 1746 publications after screening adapted from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Analyses used Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny, R, and VOSviewer. The literature expanded markedly after 2018, led by China and the United States. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Enterococcus faecium, and the Enterobacterales-carbapenemase axis constituted the principal thematic cores, whereas conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) and whole-genome sequencing were the dominant platforms. Overall, the field has evolved from pathogen detection into an AMR-centered translational domain encompassing resistance prediction, genomic epidemiology, surveillance, and clinical decision support. Diagnostic development, stewardship, and surveillance depend on hybrid workflows coupling rapid marker-targeted assays with genome-based characterization, delivering actionable resistance within clinically meaningful timeframes, and extending coverage to underrepresented pathogens and platforms.

Humans

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiling Identifies a Core Gene-Metabolite Axis Driving African Swine Fever Virus Replication in the Soft Tick Ornithodoros lahorensis.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes an incurable swine disease with nearly 100% mortality, posing a catastrophic threat to global pig production. The soft tick Ornithodoros lahorensis acts as a critical biological vector that sustains persistent ASFV replication and mediates long-distance viral transmission, yet the molecular mechanisms governing ASFV-tick interplay remain poorly understood. Here, we integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics to systematically dissect molecular changes in O.&#xa0;lahorensis across three infection stages: Uninfected control, early infection (7&#x2009;days post-infection, dpi), and late persistent infection (21 dpi). Multi-omics integration revealed that ASFV extensively remodels tick host metabolism, predominantly activating purine/pyrimidine metabolism, lipid biosynthesis, and energy metabolism. We further characterized a conserved regulatory module consisting of 12 core genes and 8 signature metabolites that collectively support ASFV genome replication and virion assembly. Three hub metabolic genes (TK1, ATP5F1B, and IMPDH) were selected for functional validation via siRNA silencing in ticks; individual gene silencing suppressed ASFV loads by 89.2%, 91.5%, and 87.8%, respectively (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001***). This work represents the first comprehensive multi-omics investigation of ASFV infection in O. lahorensis. We identified tick-specific molecular targets to block vector-mediated ASFV spread and established a standardized multi-omics analytical pipeline for tick-virus interaction research. Our findings elucidate the mechanistic basis of long-term ASFV persistence in soft ticks and deliver novel actionable clues for developing vector-targeted ASF intervention strategies.

Animals

Impact of Contact Lens Use on Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Fungal Keratitis: An 8-Year Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical characteristics, microbiological profiles, treatment strategies, and outcomes between contact lens-associated (CL) and noncontact lens-associated (non-CL) fungal keratitis. DESIGN: Retrospective, comparative clinical cohort study. METHODS: A review of culture-proven fungal keratitis treated at a tertiary referral center between 2018 and 2025 was conducted. Cases were categorized as CL or non-CL-associated. Demographic, clinical, microbiological, treatment, and outcome data were analyzed and compared between groups. RESULTS: Thirty-seven eyes were included, comprising 16 CL and 21 non-CL cases. CL users presented earlier than non-CL patients (median 7 vs 14 days, P = .007) and had fewer associated ocular risk factors (31% vs 81%, P = .001). Baseline visual acuity and infiltrate size did not differ significantly between groups. Candida species were isolated in 21% cases, Fusarium in 16% and Aspergillus in 8%. Fusarium (19% vs 13%) and Candida (24% vs 19%) infections were slightly more frequent in non-CL cases. Overall, filamentous fungi were the predominant organism group. Topical voriconazole was the most frequently used antifungal agent (78%). All CL-associated cases resolved with medical therapy alone, with a median time to resolution of 38 days (IQR 22-58). In contrast, 76% of non-CL cases resolved medically (median 42 days, IQR 32-76), while 23% required therapeutic keratoplasty (P = .04). Final visual acuity was comparable between groups (logMAR 0.2 vs 0.5, P = .56). CONCLUSION: Contact lens-associated fungal keratitis is characterized by earlier presentation and fewer underlying ocular comorbidities, with favorable outcomes achieved through medical therapy alone. Despite similar microbiological profiles and treatment approaches, noncontact lens-associated fungal keratitis more frequently follows a complicated course requiring surgical intervention.

Humans

An Overview of Red Breast Syndrome: A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Literature and a Single-Center Case Series.

Red breast syndrome (RBS) is an uncommon inflammatory complication that may occur following implant-based breast reconstruction and can clinically mimic surgical-site infection. This qualitative systematic review, based on comprehensive PubMed and Scopus searches, summarizes the existing literature on RBS, focusing on its etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic characteristics, and therapeutic approaches following breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrices (ADMs). A management protocol is proposed based on available data, and a single-center case series is presented from our Hospital, including patients who developed RBS after direct-to-implant reconstruction with ADM between January 2022 and December 2024. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising case reports, case series, and retrospective or prospective cohort studies. The reported incidence of RBS ranged from 0% to 29.6%. Proposed etiologies include endotoxin contamination, residual cellular debris, delayed hypersensitivity reactions, and lymphatic or vascular impairment of mastectomy flaps. Most reports described localized erythema confined to the area of the ADM, with normal inflammatory markers and negative imaging findings, whereas antibiotic therapy frequently failed to achieve improvement. Corticosteroids represented the most consistently effective treatment, although some cases required ADM removal or replacement. In our institutional case series (n = 8), symptom onset occurred between 4 weeks and 7 months postsurgery. Inflammatory markers remained within normal limits, imaging rarely demonstrated fluid collections, and symptoms resolved within days to weeks with corticosteroid therapy or conservative management. This review consolidates current evidence, proposes a diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm and highlights the need for prospective investigations and manufacturer-level endotoxin testing to elucidate pathogenesis and optimize clinical management. Level of Evidence: 2 (Risk) For image description, please refer to the figure legend and surrounding text.

Humans

Randomized controlled trial comparing 7-day fexuprazan-based and 14-day rabeprazole-based triple therapies for Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: Fexuprazan is a newly developed potassium-competitive acid blocker used for the treatment of acid-related gastrointestinal diseases; however, clinical data regarding its efficacy in Helicobacter pylori eradication are lacking. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a 7-day fexuprazan-based triple therapy regimen compared with a 14-day rabeprazole-based triple therapy regimen for H. pylori infection in Korean patients. METHODS: A randomized controlled single-center study was conducted to compare the eradication rates between 7-day fexuprazan (40&#x2009;mg)-based triple therapy (with 1&#x2009;g amoxicillin and clarithromycin 500&#x2009;mg administered twice daily) and 14-day rabeprazole (20&#x2009;mg)-based triple therapy for H. pylori eradication. The primary endpoint was the success rate of H. pylori eradication, determined using the 13C-urea breath test. Safety outcomes were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients were randomly assigned to the fexuprazan and rabeprazole groups. In the full analysis set, eradication rates were 80.00% (32/40) in the fexuprazan group and 82.05% (32/39) in the rabeprazole group. In the per-protocol set, eradication rates were 83.78% (31/37) and 88.89% (32/36), respectively (P = 1.000 and P =.737). The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was 70.00% (28/40) in the fexuprazan group and 66.67% (26/39) in the rabeprazole group, with no significant difference between groups (P =.812); both regimens were well tolerated. Among patients with clarithromycin-susceptible strains in full analysis set, eradication rates were 93.10% (27/29) in the fexuprazan group and 87.09% (27/31) in the rabeprazole group (P =.672). In the per-protocol set, eradication rates for susceptible strains were 96.42% (27/28) in the fexuprazan group and 93.10% (27/29) in the rabeprazole group (P = 1.000). CONCLUSION: Seven-day fexuprazan-based triple therapy demonstrated eradication efficacy comparable with that of 14-day rabeprazole-based therapy in treatment-na&#xef;ve Korean patients with H. pylori infection. The fexuprazan-based regimen showed a similar safety profile and comparable incidence of adverse events with that of the rabeprazole-based regimen.

Humans

Emergence of a Novel, Phenotypically Difficult-to-Detect Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Clone (ST117/CT7799).

A significant increase of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) infections was observed in South-Eastern Austria since 2024. The prolonged outbreak is caused by a novel vanB-VREfm clone (ST117/CT7799, "VREfmstyr"). This study characterizes the atypical difficult-to-detect resistance phenotype and assesses the genomic relatedness of the isolates. Patient and outbreak characteristics were investigated including whole genome sequencing of the isolates. Sensitivity of broth microdilution (BMD), gradient tests (GT), disk diffusion (DD), and automated susceptibility testing (VITEK2) was compared. The performance of commercial screening media was evaluated. From sporadic detections in early 2024 case numbers began to rise during the year. In 30/31 (97%) of all cases, intra-hospital transmission was considered likely and an association with invasive procedures was identified in most cases. Core genome multilocus sequence typing revealed only six allelic differences between VREfmstyr isolates collected in a 12-month period, all belonging to the E. faecium ST117/CT7799 lineage. BMD detected vancomycin resistance (MIC&#x2009;>&#x2009;4&#x2009;mg/L) in no more than 16/31 (52%) of isolates after 24&#x2009;h incubation, while GT and DD misclassified all isolates. Only prolonged incubation improved the performance of these assays. VITEK2 analysis, however, correctly classified all 31 isolates. Of four commercially available VRE-screening agars, only one was capable of detecting VREfmstyr after 24&#x2009;h incubation. The emergence and clonal dissemination of VREfm ST117/CT7799 reveals a serious diagnostic gap as commonly used diagnostic algorithms fail to reliably detect this resistance phenotype. Our findings should help to further evaluate the true geographical distribution and clinical significance of this novel VREfm clone.

Enterococcus faecium

Pre-transport dietary chitosan improves the physiological robustness of juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) by modulating antioxidant and inflammatory responses.

The acute stress caused by long-distance transport can lead to oxidative damage, immune dysfunction, and health deterioration in fish. This study evaluated dietary chitosan as a pre-transport nutritional strategy for juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Five experimental diets contained chitosan at 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0&#x202f;g/kg, designated as p0, p25, p50, p75, and p100, respectively, for 56&#x202f;d. The effects of dietary chitosan were evaluated using growth performance, feed utilization, digestive function, antioxidant capacity, nonspecific immunity, and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Then, fish from the p0 and p50 groups underwent a 12-h transport stress test, with samples collected before, during, and 7&#x202f;d after transport. Dietary chitosan improved most of these parameters. Among the treatment groups, p50 and p75 showed the best overall performance. The dose-response analysis further indicated that the appropriate dietary inclusion range was 5.0-7.5&#x202f;g/kg. Under transport stress, fish in the p50 group exhibited more stable antioxidant enzyme responses and lower lipid peroxidation, as indicated by reduced MDA levels. Consistent with these enzyme responses, antioxidant-related genes remained relatively stable. At the same time, expression patterns related to the Nrf2-Keap1 and NF-&#x3ba;B signaling pathways suggested that 5.0&#x202f;g/kg chitosan alleviated transport-induced oxidative damage and inflammation. Dietary chitosan also attenuated pro-inflammatory gene induction and altered the temporal expression patterns of anti-inflammatory genes. Overall, 5.0-7.5&#x202f;g/kg dietary chitosan is suitable for juvenile largemouth bass, and 5.0&#x202f;g/kg may serve as an effective pre-transport dietary inclusion level.

Animals

Simultaneous Administration of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine With Other Recommended Vaccines Among Adolescents Aged 13-17 years, National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen), United States, 2023.

PURPOSE: To investigate the percent of adolescents who receive human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine with one or more other vaccines recommended for adolescents in a single medical visit. METHODS: Data from the 2023 National Immunization Survey-Teen were analyzed. Timing of receipt of HPV vaccine, tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY), and influenza vaccine was assessed using provider-reported vaccination histories. RESULTS: In 2023, among adolescents aged 13-17 years, 69.5% received HPV vaccine with one or more other vaccines recommended for adolescents in a single medical visit. In addition, 47.8% received specifically HPV vaccine, Tdap, and MenACWY together in a single medical visit. DISCUSSION: The HPV vaccine is commonly given with other vaccines recommended for adolescents in a single medical visit. These findings demonstrate variation in simultaneous vaccination patterns, suggesting that flexibility in the recommended adolescent vaccination schedule allows for different approaches to vaccination across clinical settings and family preferences while maintaining adherence to the recommended schedule.

Humans