Brucellosis is an infectious and highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by species of the genus, and it holds significant economic and public health importance. This disease is endemic in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Brucellosis primarily affects individuals who come into contact with animals or animal products, making it an occupational hazard. Various factors influence the prevalence of brucellosis; thus, seroprevalence studies are significant for diagnosis and determining control measures. This study aims to assess the prevalence of brucellosis in cattle in Bannu District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, using serological and molecular techniques. Altogether, 384 blood samples were collected from cattle and initially screened using the Rose Bengal plate test and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A structured research proforma was used to analyze the association between infection and various risk factors. All positive samples were tested for pathogens using AMOS polymerase chain reaction. The overall prevalence of brucellosis was 18.75% through the Rose Bengal plate test and 8% by indirect ELISA. AMOS polymerase chain reaction confirmed the presence of in four ELISA-positive animals. Statistical analysis using the chi-Square test revealed a significant association ( < 0.05) between brucellosis seroprevalence and risk factors such as grazing practices, breeding protocols, repeat breeding, and a history of abortion in cattle. Brucellosis in the study area raises serious concerns for animals and public health. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of effective prevention and control measures for the livestock population.

Korea's unique climate and agricultural environment suggest that the gut microbiome of honey bees may possess distinctive compositions influenced by regional factors. With the decline in honey bee populations and rising health challenges, understanding the role of gut microbiomes is essential for enhancing honey bee health and their resilience to environmental stressors. To explore caste-specific gut microbiota and identify microbial signatures associated with honey bee health, this study examined the gut microbial composition of worker bees, queen bees, and drones of using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Analysis of beta diversity and species richness demonstrated significant differences between worker bees and both drones and queens, with no significant differences identified between drones and queens. Notably, dominated all groups, comprising 98.6% of the drones, 95.4% of the queens, and 68.3% of the workers. Additionally, was prominent in queens (4%), whereas (23%) and (4.7%) were notably enriched in workers. Drones and queens exhibited similar gut microbiome profiles, while workers displayed distinctly different compositions. These findings underscore the variation in gut microbiota composition and potential functional roles across honey bee castes. Such microbial distinctions may reflect caste-specific roles and physiological demands within the colony. Future research should investigate the physiological roles of gut microbiota and their contributions to environmental resilience, paving the way for microbiome-based strategies to promote honey bee health. This study lays a crucial scientific foundation for conserving the honey bee ecosystem and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Understanding gut microbiome diversity in endangered chimpanzees () is crucial for their effective conservation. This study characterized the age-related dynamics of the fecal microbiota in captive juvenile (< 5 years), adolescent (5-10 years), and adult (> 15 years) chimpanzees reared in Shanghai and Hangzhou Zoos using 16S rRNA sequencing and demonstrated significant ontogenetic shifts in the microbiota composition. Alpha diversity peaked in adolescents (significantly higher Ace/Chao1/Observed Species; < 0.05), with the greatest number of unique OTUs (1,139). Community structures significantly differed between the age groups (ANOSIM = 0.121). Furthermore, the captive diets drove the fundamental restructuring of the core phyla. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was considerably lower in captive individuals than in wild conspecifics. The discriminative taxa were also analyzed. Notably, the abundance of increased significantly in adults (5.44% ± 4.43%) compared to younger groups (< 1.26%), whereas that of decreased with age. These findings demonstrate the regulatory role of age in determining gut microbiome in captivity, which is potentially attributed to physiological transitions and dietary adaptations, which present a basis for microbiome-informed health monitoring and age-specific dietary management for the welfare of captive chimpanzees.

Rotavirus is a principal infectious agent of diarrhea in both animals and humans, causing acute gastroenteritis with symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Bovine rotavirus (BRVA) not only causes illness in cattle but also poses a risk to human health through direct transmission or reassortment among different virus strains. Here, quantitative RT-PCR for the NSP5 gene was applied to pinpoint BRVA in six fecal specimens from calves. A positive sample was identified and further examined using MA104 cells to isolate the virus. The isolate was then identified through RT-PCR, indirect immunofluorescence assays, and transmission electron microscopy. Genotyping and phylogenetic examination of the entire genome were performed via standard bioinformatics methods. A unique G10P[11] rotavirus strain, named SHH2023001, was identified in a fecal sample from a calf suffering from severe diarrhea in Shanghai, China. Whole genome sequencing revealed a unique genomic configuration of G10-P[11]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A11-N2-T6-E2-H3 for the 11 segments. Notably, these segments likely result from reassortment events involving rotavirus strains from humans, cattle, sheep, and horses. This study is the first to report the G10P[11] genotype constellation in Shanghai, highlighting the genetic diversity and potential for interspecies transmission of calf rotavirus.

An extremely halophilic archaeon named strain PRR65 was isolated from a salt crystal of salted seaweed knots which were purchased from a supermarket in Wuhu, China. It exhibited an ability to hydrolyze starch. Strain PRR65 is a coccus. Its growth range and optimum concentration for NaCl are 2.0-5.1 M and 3.4 M, respectively, and it requires magnesium ions (with an optimum concentration of 0.01 M). Homology search of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain PRR65 shows the highest sequence similarities with GX3 (96.97%). The basic growth conditions and many other physicochemical characteristics of strain PRR65 are distinct from those of other species within its genus. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acid identity (AAI), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain PRR65 and its close relatives were 88.97%, 86.47% and 39.2%, respectively. The DNA G + C content (mol%) for strain PRR65 is 67.2%. Based on a polyphasic taxonomic approach integrating phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic markers, and comprehensive phylogenetic and genomic analyses, strain PRR65 represents a novel species within the genus . The name sp. nov. is proposed, with the specific epithet reflecting the organism's notable amylolytic activity. The type strain is PRR65 (= MCCC 4K00175 = KCTC 4323).

As the demand for sustainable agriculture grows, the use of agricultural by-products for organic fertilizer production has garnered substantial attention. This study investigates the nutrient dynamics and microbial diversity during the composting of tomato straw using nanomembrane aerobic composting and conventional composting methods. Over 28 days, we measured temperature, pH, moisture, electrical conductivity, and nutrient levels. The results indicate that nanomembrane aerobic composting achieved a higher initial temperature, thereby accelerating the decomposition of organic matter and promoting nutrient conversion. The nanomembrane treatment maintained higher organic carbon content and increased total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium relative to conventional composting. Microbial profiling revealed marked differences in fungal diversity between treatments. Key fungal phyla were more abundant in nanomembrane compost, suggesting enhanced microbial activity. In contrast, bacteria were undetectable on the third day of fermentation, raising questions about their role in the middle and late stages of composting. This study demonstrates that nanomembrane aerobic composting can enhance composting efficiency and organic fertilizer quality by optimizing environmental conditions and promoting microbial activity. Nanomembrane aerobic composting promotes a more controlled succession of fungal communities, which may play a crucial role in the fermentation process. It is noteworthy that during the composting process, bacteria gradually became undetectable as fermentation progressed, whereas fungi were consistently present throughout the experiment. It might suggest to the researchers that fungi, rather than bacteria, may play a more significant role in the fermentation process of organic fertilizers.

Cases of invasive infection caused by have been gradually increasing, but less attention has been paid to its clinical characteristics and drug resistance. This study conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of patients with -positive results admitted to a tertiary hospital in Yancheng between January 2020 and December 2024. Data were extracted from case notes and electronic medical records. There were 249 cases of detected, with community-acquired infections (44.98%), colonization (46.59%) and hospital-acquired infections (8.43%). Of these, the three departments with the highest detection rates were pediatrics (22.09%), urology (19.68%), and stomatology (11.65%). Primary specimen sources included secretions (23.30%), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (23.30%), urine (20.48%), and blood (17.67%). In terms of years, the detection rate of infection showed an annual increase, while antimicrobial resistance remained stable with a decrease in the year 2024. Our analysis identified associations between patient ages and infection type, specimen source, and antimicrobial resistance profile. Furthermore, we observed distinct resistance patterns across different infection types. These findings underscore the need for enhanced hospital surveillance measures to monitor antimicrobial resistance trends and nosocomial infection patterns associated with .

is a bacterium sensitive to desiccation. Its use in disinfectant testing methods is important given its association with hospital-acquired infections. According to PNEN 14561:2008, obtaining a sufficient number of cells on a glass test surface under clean conditions after the drying process is essential for evaluating the bactericidal effectiveness of disinfectants. Does reducing the drying temperature of glass carriers contaminated with under clean conditions from the standard-recommended 37°C ± 1°C to 24°C ± 1°C improve bacterial recovery after drying? The recovery of from glass surfaces after drying was performed by the procedure specified for the water control, as outlined in PN-EN 14561:2008. Additionally, in the 24°C ± 1°C, the glass carriers were inoculated onto TSA medium, whereas at 37 °C ± 1°C the number of was determined in hard water following the contact time. The mean recovery of (6.37 log ± 0.12 log) was significantly higher in the 24°C ± 1°C variant compared to the 37°C ± 1°C variant (5.60 log ± 0.24 log). At 24°C ± 1°C, remained on the glass carrier after recovery, whereas at 37°C ± 1°C, the bacteria were detected in hard water. Lowering the drying temperature did not allow recovery of at the level required by PN-EN 14561:2008. The reduction in recovery resulted from bacterial detachment into hard water and retention on the carrier surface.

Pharyngeal and laryngeal cancer (PLC) encompasses a range of aggressive malignancies associated with substantial clinical impact, underscoring the need for novel preventive and therapeutic measures. Mendelian randomization (MR) serves as an effective methodology for assessing causal associations based on genetic variants as instrumental tools. It reduces biases such as confounding and reverse causation prevalent in traditional observational studies. This research sought to investigate the causal relationships between oral microbial taxa and PLC using a two-sample MR approach. The goal was to identify specific oral microbiota that may directly contribute to the development of PLC and could serve as potential biomarkers or targets for therapeutic intervention. A two-sample MR analysis was conducted to assess the causal impact of 3,117 oral microbial taxa on the risk of PLC. Instrumental variables (IVs) were selected based on genome-wide significance ( < 1 × 10), minimal linkage disequilibrium (r < 0.001), and robust strength (F > 10). The primary evaluation employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) approach, complemented by sensitivity analyses (including weighted median, weighted mode, simple mode, MR-Egger regression, and MR-PRESSO) to account for pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Bidirectional MR was performed to examine possible reverse causation. The forward MR analysis identified 14 oral microbial taxa that are casually linked to PLC risk ( < 0.01). Seven taxa were associated with elevated PLC risk, with odds ratios spanning 2.51 to 3.23, whereas seven taxa demonstrated protective effects, with odds ratios ranging from 0.36 to 0.52. Sensitivity analyses, encompassing Cochran's test, MR-Egger intercept, and MR-PRESSO, validated the reliability of these results, indicating no notable heterogeneity or pleiotropy. Bidirectional MR analyses detected no evidence of reverse causation, suggesting that these oral microbiotas likely act as upstream contributors to PLC development rather than downstream outcomes. This MR analysis identifies 14 oral microbial taxa causally linked to PLC, with seven increasing risk and seven conferring protections. These findings underscore the role of oral microbiota in PLC pathogenesis and highlight potential microbial mechanisms. Further research is needed to elucidate their roles and explore their use as biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

With the increasing number of immunocompromised hosts, the epidemiological characteristics of fungal infections have undergone enormous changes worldwide, including in China. The epidemiology of fungal infections is diverse and varies worldwide depending on geography, host immune status, and infection site. Fungal infections continue to be associated with significant morbidity and death rates and with increased financial burdens on the health care system. Therefore, understanding the contemporary epidemiology of fungal infections is important. The medical records of 75,001 inpatients from January 2018 to December 2023 at Henan Provincial Infectious Disease Hospital were analyzed in this retrospective study. A total of 3,550/75001 (4.73%) patients presented increasing fungal infections, predominantly (3.12%), (0.59%), and (0.50%) over the years. The detection rate of fungal infections varied across departments in the following order: AIDS (19.26%), ICU (19.04%), Tuberculosis (4.41%), and other non-infectious departments, such as Surgery and Oncology (1.42%) and Hepatology (0.71%). Compared with urban patients, rural patients (6.79%) had a significantly greater fungal detection rate (3.48%) (χ = 429.89, < 0.001), primarily , and . The fungal detection rate among patients with infectious diseases has been increasing annually, with variations in the pathogenic spectra. Therefore, clinical attention is essential for pathogen detection to achieve prompt diagnosis and targeted antifungal treatment.

Carbapenems, as the preferred treatment for multidrug-resistant , are increasingly facing issues of insufficient therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of clinical isolates to carbapenems. The whole genome sequencing revealed various β-lactamase genes, including the intrinsic genes and , as well as the acquired (n = 6), and (n = 10) in 40 carbapenem-resistant (CRPA) isolates. These isolates were categorized into 18 different sequence types, with ST235 (n = 6) and ST270 (n = 10) being the most prevalent. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed that the collected isolates can be divided into two evolutionary branches, with some exhibiting high homogeneity. Isolates belonging to ST207, ST235, ST270, and ST277 may have contributed to small-scale outbreaks of infection in the hospital. A total of 5 different class 1 integrons, including a new gene cassette array -, were detected in this study. All 40 CRPAs were found to have mutations in the outer membrane porin OprD. The efflux pump gene showed the highest overexpression frequency at 55.00% (22/40). The CRPAs that overexpress showed a higher resistance rate to various antimicrobial agents than those with normal levels of expression ( < 0.05). Of 40 CRPAs, four isolates carried four antimicrobial resistance mechanisms simultaneously ( , OprD mutation, high expression of efflux pump, and biofilm formation). To the best of our knowledge, a new gene cassette array of class 1 integron, --)--, was reported for the first time in this study.

In this study, we systematically analyzed the ecological response mechanism of the intestinal fungal community of the endangered species, the Himalayan vultures (), concerning the survival differences between wild and captive environments. Based on its high-throughput sequencing technology, the key features such as species composition analysis, α/β diversity assessment, principal coordinate analysis, and correlation network analysis revealed that the captive environment led to the complexity of the fungal community structure, the turnover of the core flora, and the increase in the complexity of the intergeneric interactions network. It was further shown by FUNGuild functional annotation that the relative abundance of undefined saprotroph functional taxa in the wild population was significantly higher than that in the captive population, corroborating the adaptive advantage of its intestinal fungal community to the scavenging ecological niche. This study reveals for the first time the potential effects of captive stress on Himalayan vultures from the perspective of gut fungi, providing key microbiomic evidence for optimizing the conservation strategy of endangered raptors, and at the same time expanding the functional cognitive system of gut fungi in highland carrion-feeding birds.

Bacteriophage-based biocontrol is a cost-effective, sustainable strategy with low ecological impact, which can control the growth of bacteria such as that impacts public health problems. This work aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the implementation of bacteriophages as a biocontrol strategy to prevent the contamination of meat products with . The search was performed by two field experts to avoid reviewer bias. The initial search identified 2,695 bibliographic sources, of which 2,480 were discarded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria, which were the origin of phage, application method, phage taxonomy, pathotype and meat products, getting 157 articles because they were duplicates, and 47 because they lacked the necessary numerical data. Finally, 11 articles were selected for quantitative analysis. Likewise, phage characteristics ( < 0.05) and pathotype ( < 0.05), showed that the bacteriophage-bacteria ratio is an item that should be taken into account for the design of bacteriophage application strategies. This meta-analysis evaluates the use of phages in the reduction of in meat products, considering multiple methodological criteria. Studies were included that specify the origin of the phages (natural or modified), their method of application (direct in meat, in solution, in aerosol, etc.), their taxonomic classification, as well as the pathotype of the target (EHEC, ETEC, etc.). In addition, the different types of meat products were analyzed, including beef, pork, and chicken. These criteria help clarify the factors affecting phage therapy efficacy in the meat industry.

infection (CDI), is the most common healthcare problem primarily involving the colon of individuals who's gut microbiota has been disrupted. Proteobacteria (officially updated and recognized as Pseudomonadota), a minor gut-associated microbial community within a healthy host, could serve as a metric for CDI. However, the alterations of specific members of Proteobacteria in the context of CDI are not thoroughly understood. Based on the summary data of microbiome from 7,738 participants in the Dutch cohort, linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was used to explore the causal effect of 207 gut microbiome on CDI. Secondly, we performed a Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the causal relationship between 31 microbiota taxa affiliated with Proteobacteria and CDI. Finally, three significant taxa ( < 0.05, OR > 1) were utilized to conduct the mediation analysis of 1,400 metabolites based on a two-step Mendelian randomization study (two-step MR). The inverse-variance weighted method was conducted as a primary analysis to estimate the causal effect, and the robustness of the results was tested via sensitivity analysis using multiple methods. Bivariate LDSC analysis identified a strong correlation between four populations affiliated with Proteobacteria (, Pasteurellales and ) and CDI. In two-step MR, Burkholderiales order exerted detrimental effects on CDI by decreasing the levels of 3-hydroxylaurate (OR 0.896; 95%CI, 0.803-0.998; = 0.047), indicating that metabolite did act as mediator between gut microbiota and CDI. We conducted a study to assess the relations between genetically predicted gut microbiota and metabolite levels with CDI. These results highlight the potential of targeting Burkholderiales and 3-hydroxylaurate as a new antimicrobial strategy against CDI.

Previous research has demonstrated a connection between an unbalanced gut microbiome (GM) and lung diseases, suggesting that gut bacteria may affect lung health through the "gut-lung" axis. However, the direct connection between GM and pulmonary embolism (PE) is unclear. Mendelian randomization studies were used to investigate GM's genetic relationship with PE. A total of 18,340 independent genewide association studies (GWAS) yielded single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to the GM, which were then used as instrumental variables in a multiple regression analysis (MR) to examine the effect of GM on the risk of PE within the IEU Open GWAS project, which included 2,118 PE cases and 359,076 controls. The principal analytical methodology utilized in this research was inverse variance weighting (IVW), complemented by assessments for pleiotropy and heterogeneity to confirm the results' resilience. The findings of this study are predominantly derived from the IVW method, providing evidence for causal associations between four distinct genera of GM and the risk of PE. Specifically, our analysis suggests that ( = 0.031), ( = 0.038), ( = 0.032), and ( = 0.049) may be linked to a decreased likelihood of developing PE. Importantly, our analysis yielded no evidence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy. In this MR study, we have established through genetic analysis that specific GM are significantly involved in the development of PE, underscoring the connection between the gut-lung axis and suggesting avenues for future research into the impact of GM on PE.

is a significant pathogen in postpartum women and neonates. This study aimed to determine its prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility, clinical features, and associated risk factors in tertiary care hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 384 clinical samples were collected from postpartum women (n = 192) and neonates (n = 192) in maternity wards. isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods, and antibiotic susceptibility was assessed via the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. The typing was performed through PCR and sequencing. Clinical features and risk factors were analyzed statistically. The overall prevalence of was 14.3% (55/384), with 16.7% in postpartum women and 11.9% in neonates. Isolates exhibited high sensitivity to β-lactams (penicillin ≥ 95%, ampicillin ≥ 91%) but moderate resistance to cephalosporins (cefepime ~12%) and macrolides (erythromycin 23.5-29.0%). Fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines showed the highest resistance rates (ciprofloxacin 38.7-43.5%, tetracycline 32.1-37.5%). Molecular typing revealed diverse types, with 44, 77, and 12 being predominant. Fever and sepsis were common, with postpartum women experiencing more wound infections (33.3%) and neonates exhibiting respiratory distress (55.6%). Significant risk factors included prolonged labor (> 18 hours, = 0.030) and premature rupture of membranes ( = 0.039) in mothers, preterm birth ( = 0.013), and neonatal resuscitation ( = 0.028) in neonates. The study highlights a substantial burden of infections and increasing antibiotic resistance. Enhanced surveillance, antibiotic stewardship, and targeted infection control strategies are crucial to mitigating morbidity and mortality in these high-risk groups.

Microbial diversity plays a crucial role within the plant rhizosphere ecosystem, serving as a pivotal indicator of plant health and stability. In order to explore the correlation between the growth of mycorrhizal seedlings and the nutrition and microbial diversity of the ectomycorrhizosphere, the soil of the ectomycorrhizosphere with different growth conditions was used as the research object, and the ITS1 region and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology were used to explore the inter-relationship. The findings indicated that the primary phyla within the rhizosphere soil microbial communities of various mycorrhizal seedlings were comparable, although their relative abundances varied. The relative abundance of in good-growing mycorrhizal seedlings (CHTG) was 17.87% and 15.58% higher than in medium-growing (CHTM) and bad-growing (CHTB), respectively. Comparing the diversity indexes Chao1, Shannon and Simpson, it was found that CHTG had the lowest richness. Redundancy analysis (RDA)/canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) analysis revealed that was positively correlated with soil pH and negatively correlated with available nitrogen, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available potassium, and available phosphorus. Rhizosphere core species analysis showed that symbiotic Ascomycota dominated the rhizosphere soil fungi, and the bacterial community was composed mainly of Proteobacteria. There was a positive correlation between most genera of bacteria and fungi. This study proved that in the bionic cultivation of , the growth of mycorrhizal seedlings can be promoted by adjusting the pH to weakly alkaline and enhancing the advantages of in the soil flora, without adding other nutrients, which provides a theoretical basis for the establishment of truffle plantations, soil improvement and ecosystem stability.

Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality in children. While metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has the potential to detect all the microorganisms in pneumonia patients, the relationship between these microorganisms and the patients' clinical characteristics remains to be established. Fifty-five children, diagnosed with severe pneumonia and undergoing tracheal aspirate (TA) mNGS for pathogen detection at The Heilongjiang Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital between July 2021 and November 2022, were included in this study. The clinical characteristics, pathogen distribution, and microbiome features of these children were analyzed. Results showed that the rate of mixed infections was notably high (80%, 44/55), with bacterial-viral infections being the most common. (MP), , and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were the most common pathogens in this cohort. Furthermore, RSV and were the most prevalent pathogens in children younger than 12 months (infants), while MP and were more commonly identified in children between 12 and 144 months. Increased richness and diversity of the microbiota were observed in the TA of the older children. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified that RSV and were the specific species associated with infants. In contrast, and were significantly enriched in the older children. In addition, the top 20 most abundant species exhibited correlations with neutrophil count and C-reactive protein. This study emphasizes the significance of employing mNGS to understand better the clinical characteristics and microbial diversity in pediatric patients with severe pneumonia.

The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) provides a home to diverse flora and fauna, and its ecosystems are unique worldwide. The study focused on the bharal, an endemic species found in the QTP and adjacent regions. We applied viral metagenomics technology to extract samples from the feces of 10 wild bharal. Viral nucleic acids were isolated, enriched, and sequenced from these samples, revealing the presence of a novel strain of Astroviridae virus. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence comparison identified this virus as part of the Mamastro-virus, forming a cluster with other Mamastrovirus species. Recombination analysis confirmed a multiple recombination event, suggesting that the new strain may be a potential recombinant. Additionally, nearly complete genome sequences of viruses belonging to the family Circoviridae were characterized, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on genotyping and predicted amino acid sequence analysis of the rep protein. Overall, this study helps us better understand the viral communities in the gut microbiome of the rare bharal. Moreover, the new recombinant discovered in this study will provide insights into the origin, genetic diversity, and evolution of bharal from the QTP and play a crucial role in future research on its presence in the intestinal ecology of sheep.

In recent years, several modern therapies in orthopedics have been introduced, and these have been significantly influenced by the development of innovative medical devices made from various biomaterials. All orthopedic procedures involving the use of medical devices can lead to the occurrence of postoperative infectious complications, generally referred to as biomaterial-associated infections (BAIs). Currently, the classical antimicrobial treatment of BAIs consists mainly of systemic antibiotic therapy, which does not provide adequate clinical efficacy and is associated with the risk of many adverse effects. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to develop various methods to limit BAIs locally. Most of them involve the development of bioactive coatings or modified surfaces of biomaterials capable of releasing various antimicrobial substances. Applying such solutions in bone surgery is primarily related to the anti-infective protection of bone scaffolds, which is currently one of the most advanced and promising techniques in regenerative medicine. Using scaffolds in the damaged tissue provides an artificial structure that supports cell growth in the appropriate spatial configuration and restores the mechanical properties of the damaged bone in a short time. Therefore, the long-term protection of bone scaffolds against infection is crucial for achieving complete therapeutic success and currently represents one of the most significant challenges in bone surgery. This article presents selected strategies for modifying bone scaffolds that have been developed to reduce the risk of BAI.

This study aimed to explore the combined detection of secreted frizzled-related protein-2 (SFRP2), Syndecan-2 (SDC2), and (Fn) in fecal samples for early colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Public datasets were analyzed to evaluate the expression of SFRP2, SDC2, and Fn. The study included 30 pairs of tissue and 196 fecal samples. Gene expression of SFRP2, SDC2, antigen adhesinA (fadA), and N-utilization substance G (nusG) was measured by qPCR. Correlations with Ki67, P53 expression, and immune infiltration were examined. The diagnostic performance of the combined markers was assessed using ROC curve analysis. SFRP2 and SDC2 were underexpressed ( < 0.001), while Fn was notably enriched in CRC ( < 0.0001). Expression of SFRP2 and SDC2 correlated with immune cell infiltration, whereas Fn abundance showed a negative correlation with immune infiltration. ROC analysis indicated that the combined detection of these markers outperformed single-gene tests, CEA, and FOBT in early CRC detection. This combined detection approach offers a promising, non-invasive, and cost-effective method for early CRC screening.