Search Results (489)

Background/Objectives: The search for natural alternatives in breast cancer (BC) management has spurred interest in plant-derived extracts, particularly oregano variants and their bioactive compound carvacrol (Cv). However, Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) infusion (MoI) remains unexplored. This study aimed to chemically characterize MoI and compare its anticancer effects with Cv across BC cell lines, including aggressive triple-negative (TN) subtypes. Methods: MoI was analyzed for composition, antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, total phenols/flavonoids), and phytochemical profile (FTIR, HPLC). Anticancer activity was assessed via MTT and LDH assays. Results: MoI exhibits strong antioxidant capacity and concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects, with IC50 values ranging from 0.08 to 0.18 mg/mL across BC lines, significantly higher (i.e., less cytotoxic) than Cv IC50 of 121–211 µM. Importantly, MoI displayed markedly lower cytotoxicity toward non-cancerous cells (IC50 0.18 mg/mL) compared to Cv (IC50 110 µM). Conclusions: While both agents reduced metabolic activity, Cv induced a more acute suppression. These findings position MoI as a promising, selective candidate for BC therapy, particularly for poor-prognosis subtypes like TN BC, warranting further mechanistic investigation. Full article

Shikonin, a dietary naphthoquinone phytochemical from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has gained attention for its anticancer potential. Preclinical studies show that shikonin regulates multiple programmed cell death pathways, including apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis, through mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and kinase-mediated signalling. Beyond cytotoxicity, shikonin suppresses metastasis by blocking epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and downregulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). It also disrupts tumour metabolism by targeting pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) and modulating the Warburg effect. Evidence further indicates that shikonin can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy, thereby contributing to the reversal of therapeutic resistance. To address limitations related to solubility and bioavailability, novel formulations such as nanoparticles, liposomes, and derivatives like β,β-dimethylacrylshikonin have been developed, showing improved pharmacological profiles and reduced toxicity in experimental models. Overall, the current literature identifies shikonin as a promising dietary phytochemical with diverse anticancer activities, therapeutic synergy, and formulation advances, while highlighting the need for clinical studies to establish its translational potential. Full article

The functionalization of textiles with nanomaterials through green synthesis offers a promising pathway for sustainable material innovation. This study explores the in situ green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto cotton fabrics using Solanum tuberosum (potato) peel extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesis conditions were optimized by varying silver nitrate concentration, extract volume, temperature, pH, and reaction time, after which the optimized protocol was applied for fabric treatment. The presence and distribution of AgNPs were confirmed through UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The treated fabrics demonstrated strong and durable antibacterial performance, with inhibition zones of 23 ± 0.02 against Escherichia coli and 16 ± 0.01 against Staphylococcus aureus. Notably, antibacterial activity was retained even after 20 washing cycles, demonstrating the durability of the treatment. Mechanical testing revealed a 32.25% increase in tensile strength and a corresponding 10.47% reduction in elongation at break compared to untreated fabrics, suggesting improved durability with moderate stiffness. Air permeability decreased by 8.8%, correlating with the rougher surface morphology observed in Scanning Electron Microscopy images. Thermal analysis showed a decrease in thermal stability relative to untreated cotton, highlighting the influence of AgNPs on degradation behavior. Overall, this work demonstrates that potato peel waste, an abundant and underutilized biomass, can be used as a sustainable source for the green synthesis of AgNP-functionalized textiles. The approach provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy for developing multifunctional fabrics, while supporting circular economy goals in textile engineering. Full article

The antifungal effect of catechin and extractives from Prosopis juliflora was studied against one white rot fungus, Trametes versicolor (TV), and one brown rot fungus, Poria placenta (PP). The mentioned extractives from Prosopis julilfora were crude mesquitol and pure mesquitol. Tebuconazole was used in this study as a known fungicide against the two named fungi. Wood preservation using the current synthetic fungicides can be harmful to the environment and toxic to animals and plants. To help solve these problems, fungicides can be mixed with natural extractives to act synergistically as wood preservatives. Most of these natural extractives contain polyphenols, which are secondary metabolites, having good antioxidant properties, which may inhibit radical species involved in wood cell polymer defects. In this study, 1000 ppm and 5000 ppm of crude mesquitol, pure mesquitol and catechin had a very good growth inhibition against TV and PP. Thus, the concentrations were used to assess their synergistic response when mixed with lower inhibitory concentration of tebuconazole. The results showed that there was an additive effect in a combination of 0.1 ppm tebuconazole with 1000 ppm pure mesquitol for PP, 0.5 ppm Tebuconazole with 1000 ppm crude mesquitol and pure mesquitol for PP and 0.5 ppm tebuconazole with 1000 ppm pure mesquitol for TV. The other remaining combinations of 1000 ppm/5000 ppm of the samples with 0.1 ppm/0.5 ppm tebuconazole all had synergistic effect. This data suggests that a combination of polyphenols (catechin and extractives) with tebuconazoles can be useful sources for preparation of fungicides and wood preservatives for agricultural use and wood durability, respectively. Full article

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with limited therapeutic options and inconsistent response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Emerging evidence indicates that tumor-associated bacteria may shape immune signaling and alter immunotherapy outcomes. Here, we investigated whether Staphylococcus aureus invades TNBC cells, persists intracellularly, and modulates PD-L1 expression. Methods: Using eFluor450-labeled S. aureus for flow cytometry, gentamicin protection assays, CFU quantification, and transmission electron microscopy, we assessed bacterial uptake and persistence in six TNBC cell lines and a non-tumorigenic control. PD-L1, TLR2, and STAT1 activation were evaluated after infection or TLR2 ligand treatment ± IFN-γ. Results: At multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10, S. aureus internalized into 67% of MDA-MB-468 and 54% of MDA-MB-231, with intermediate uptake in Hs578T (27%) and BT-549 (24%) and only 0.5–9% in low-uptake lines (MDA-MB-453, CAL-51, MCF-12A). High-uptake lines exhibited marked cytotoxicity and reduced proliferation, with MDA-MB-468 showing an 82% drop in viability at 2 h and a 74% decrease after 5 d, whereas low-uptake lines showed minimal impact. Persistence lasted >7 d in MDA-MB-231 but only 3–5 days in others. IFN-γ plus S. aureus significantly amplified PD-L1, with up to a 2.9-fold increase in MDA-MB-468 and 1.5-fold in MDA-MB-231, but no effect in low-uptake lines. TLR2 agonists modestly increased PD-L1 in high-TLR2-expressing lines and synergized with IFN-γ. These effects were accompanied by STAT1 phosphorylation, supporting a TLR2/STAT1 axis linking bacterial sensing to immune checkpoint regulation. Conclusions: Together, these findings identify S. aureus as a modulator of immune signaling in TNBC and highlight the potential for microbial factors to influence ICI responsiveness. Targeting tumor–bacteria interactions may represent a novel strategy to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in breast cancer. Full article

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) adheres to host cells and persists intracellularly, causing chronic inflammation and significant economic losses in the cattle industry. The role of host cell apoptosis in this host–pathogen interaction remains unclear. This study isolated and identified the M. bovis Xinjiang strain XJ01 from diseased cattle in China. XJ01 exhibited typical “fried egg” colony morphology, distinct biochemical characteristics, and a 1.02 Mb genome (29.33% GC content) encoding 939 genes, including 93 unique genes. Functional analysis under optimal infection conditions (MOI = 1000, 24 h) revealed that XJ01 induced significant apoptosis and reduced viability in bovine macrophages (BoMac). This was accompanied by mitochondrial homeostasis disruption, characterized by increased Bax expression and suppressed Bcl-2 levels. Transcriptome analysis identified 9926 differentially expressed genes. KEGG pathway enrichment indicated significant activation of apoptosis and P53 signaling pathways, with Gadd45 and XIAP identified as key regulators. Mechanistic validation demonstrated that Gadd45 overexpression or XIAP knockdown enhanced Bax expression, inhibited Bcl-2, increased apoptosis rates, and consequently significantly reduced intracellular bacterial load at 24 h post-infection. Conversely, suppressing Gadd45 or overexpressing XIAP promoted pathogen survival. Collectively, this study reveals that M. bovis XJ01 activates host stress signaling to upregulate Gadd45 and suppress XIAP, thereby triggering mitochondrial apoptosis as a mechanism to eliminate intracellular bacteria—illustrating a self-limiting antibacterial mechanism. Full article

Foodborne pathogenic biofilms pose significant challenges to food safety due to their enhanced resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic antibiofilm activity of oregano essential oil (OEO) from Lippia graveolens and the lytic bacteriophage phiLLS against six foodborne bacteria. GC–MS analysis achieved a 100% identification ratio, revealing that OEO was mainly composed of carvacrol (58.9%), p-cymene (28.6%), γ-terpinene (2.9%), and caryophyllene (2.6%). The MIC and MBC of OEO were 1 and 2 mg/mL, respectively, for all strains except E. coli BALL1119 (MIC = 2 mg/mL). We assessed biofilm biomass by crystal violet (CV) staining and metabolic activity using the TTC assay under both individual and combined treatments, monitored 9-hour planktonic growth kinetics to calculate Bliss and HSA synergy indexes, and employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize nanoscale alterations in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli BALL1119 biofilms. Combined OEO (2 mg/mL) and phiLLS (MOI 1) treatments achieved significantly greater biofilm biomass reduction than single agents, notably yielding >70% inhibition of S. aureus biofilms (p < 0.05) and a Bliss synergy index of 10.8% in E. coli BALL1119 growth kinetics, whereas other strains were additive. In biofilm assays, S. aureus and Salmonella spp. showed the highest reductions in biomass (CV) (71.0% and 67.8%, ΔHSA = 27.0% and 17.4%; ΔBliss = 21.1% and 13.8%) and metabolic activity (TTC) (68.6% and 48.5%). AFM revealed that OEO alone smoothed the extracellular matrix (averaging a 35% reduction in roughness), whereas the combined treatment caused fracturing (≈68 nm roughness) and prominent lytic pits. Although variability in S. aureus biofilm architecture precluded statistically significant pairwise comparisons, AFM topography and consistent trends in Ra/Rz parameters provided clear visual corroboration of the significant reductions detected by CV and TTC assays. These complementary data indicate that OEO primes the biofilm matrix for enhanced phage-mediated collapse, offering a green, two-step strategy for controlling resilient foodborne biofilms. Full article

The persistent evolution of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates novel antiviral strategies. This study evaluated the anti-HIV prodrugs tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) for repurposing against SARS-CoV-2, assessing key pharmacological indices (CC₅₀, EC₅₀, cytostatic effect, and therapeutic window). In vitro screening in Vero E6 cells measured cytotoxicity (via CCK-8/MTT assays) and antiviral activity against Kazakh B.1 and Wuhan strains. TDF (50 µg/mL) reduced high viral loads (MOI 2) by ~2 log₁₀ (100% inhibition), with minimal cytotoxicity (≥75% viability). TAF achieved near-complete suppression (100% inhibition) at 50 µg/mL, exhibiting dose-dependent inhibition (68–100%) at lower viral loads (MOI 0.01). Both prodrugs showed enhanced antiviral activity with prolonged exposure (96 h). Synergy assessments demonstrated favourable combination indices (CI < 1). Electron microscopy confirmed virion integrity post-treatment. These findings highlight TDF and TAF as promising candidates against SARS-CoV-2, with particular potential for targeting lymphoid reservoirs—sites implicated in persistent viral reservoirs that may contribute to long COVID pathogenesis. Further clinical validation is warranted. Full article

The emergence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella poses a significant threat to global public health and food safety, necessitating the urgent search for new strategies to replace conventional antibiotics. Phages are viruses that can directly target bacteria and have garnered attention in recent years for their development as antibiotic alternatives. In this study, 4458 samples were collected from farms, supermarkets, and human feces, yielding 65 strains of Salmonella, which were serotyped using multiplex PCR. Subsequently, a lytic phage was isolated and identified using the dominant serotype of Salmonella as the host bacterium. We further explored the biological characteristics of this phage through host range, growth properties, and genomic analysis. Finally, we analyzed the potential of the phage to block the cross-host transmission of Salmonella, combining PFGE Salmonella classification, strain sources, and phage lytic phenotypes. The results showed that phage gmqsjt-1 could lyse 69.23% (45/65) of Salmonella, of which 75.56% (34/45) were resistant strains. The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) for gmqsjt-1 was 0.01, with a latent period of about 10 min, maintaining high activity within the temperature range of 30 to 60 °C and pH range of 2 to 13. No virulence or resistance genes were detected in the gmqsjt-1 genome, which carries two tail spike proteins (contain FAD binding_2 superfamily, the Tail spike TSP1/Gp66 N-terminal domain, and the Pectin lyase fold) and a holin–lysozyme–spanin lytic system. Phylogenetic classification indicates that phage gmqsjt-1 belongs to a new genus and species of an unnamed family within the class Caudoviricetes. PFGE classification results show a high genetic relationship among human, farm animal, and food source Salmonella, and the comprehensive lytic phenotype reveals that phage gmqsjt-1 can lyse Salmonella with high genetic correlation. These results suggest that this novel lytic Salmonella phage has the potential to inhibit cross-host transmission of Salmonella, making it a promising candidate for developing alternative agents to control Salmonella contamination sources (farms), thereby reducing the risk of human infection with Salmonella through ensuring food system safety. Full article

Candidemia is a highly prevalent invasive fungal infection caused primarily by C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata (currently Nakaseomyces glabratus), C. tropicalis, and C. krusei (currently Pichia kudriavzevii). Risk factors for the development of candidemia include steroid-induced immunosuppression used in solid organ or hematopoietic transplantation, and neutropenia secondary to infectious or tumorous processes. Alterations in the gut microbiota in people living with HIV, caused by antiretroviral therapy, increase the possibility of colonization by C. albicans. Likewise, the presence of a central venous catheter, parenteral nutrition, and abdominal surgery stand out as the main risk factors for the development of candidemia. New diagnostic tools have been developed for the diagnosis of this mycosis that allow the identification of the main species, from improvements in conventional stains such as calcofluor white, which increases sensitivity, as well as technologies such as T2 Candida, MoiM assay, biomarker panel (1,3 β-D-glucan, C-reactive protein, presepsin, and procalcitonin), and, more recently, the development of biosensors for the identification of Candida spp. Regarding treatment, the use of micafungin and anidulafungin in patients with obesity defined by a BMI > 30 kg/m² has shown higher survival rates and therapeutic success. Meanwhile, newer antifungals such as rezafungin and fosmanogepix have demonstrated excellent results in the treatment of these patients. Therefore, this review aims to update the epidemiology and risk factors of candidemia, as well as analyze the diagnostic tools and treatments currently available. Full article

Background/Objectives: The consumption of liquid egg products is rising. While thermal pasteurization improves safety and shelf life, it can affect product quality. Furthermore, egg products continue to cause many foodborne illnesses, especially those caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis). Bacteriophages (or phages) are an effective alternative to specifically fight foodborne bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate (i) the stability of phage vB_SeEM_UALMA_PCSE1 (PCSE1) under different conditions of temperature and pH; (ii) the effect of multiplicity of infection (MOI) and temperature on phage efficacy; (iii) the bactericidal effect of phage PCSE1 against S. Enteritidis in liquid whole eggs compared to thermal pasteurization; and (iv) the effect of both treatments on the physicochemical and functional properties of liquid whole eggs. Methods: For this, stability tests, bacterial growth inhibition assays in culture media and liquid eggs, and physicochemical and functional analyses were conducted. Results: Phage PCSE1 was (i) stable at pH 7 and 8, and at 4, 25, and 37 °C for 56 days; (ii) effectively prevented S. Enteritidis growth in TSB (reduction of 1.8, 4.5, and 4.5 log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL at 4, 10, and 25 °C, respectively, relative to the bacterial control); (iii) controlled S. Enteritidis in liquid whole eggs at 25 °C (reduction of 5.8 log CFU/mL relative to the bacterial control) comparable to pasteurization (reduction of 5.2 log CFU/mL); and (iv) preserved eggs’ properties, contrarily to pasteurization. Conclusions: These findings suggest PCSE1 is a promising strategy to fight S. Enteritidis in liquid egg products, though further studies on shelf-life are needed. Full article

Effective flood management in agricultural fields has become increasingly important due to the rising frequency and intensity of rainfall events driven by climate change. This study investigates the applicability of urban flood analysis models—SWMM (1D) and K-Flood (2D)—to irrigated agricultural fields with artificial drainage systems. A case study was conducted in a rural area near the Sindae drainage station in Cheongju, South Korea, using rainfall data from an extreme weather event in 2017. The models simulated inland flooding and were validated against flood trace maps provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis showed a true positive rate of 0.565, a false positive rate of 0.21, and an overall accuracy of 0.731, indicating reasonable agreement with observed inundation. Scenario analyses were also conducted to assess the effectiveness of three improvement strategies: reducing the Manning coefficient, increasing pump station capacity, and widening drainage channels. Among them, increasing pump capacity most effectively reduced flood volume, while channel widening had the greatest impact on reducing flood extent. These findings demonstrate the potential of urban flood models for application in agricultural contexts and support data-driven planning for rural flood mitigation. Full article

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a preeminent seafood-borne pathogen, imposing significant economic burdens on global aquaculture. The escalating prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains has accentuated the critical urgency for developing sustainable biocontrol strategies. In this study, a bacteriophage designated vB_VPAP_XY75 (XY75) was isolated and biologically characterized to establish an effective control against V. parahaemolyticus. XY75 exhibited remarkable specificity toward V. parahaemolyticus, effectively lysing 46.2% of the target strains while showing no lytic activity against non-target bacterial species. Morphological characterization confirmed its taxonomic assignment to the Myoviridae family, featuring an icosahedral head (40 ± 2 nm) and contractile tail (60 ± 2 nm). XY75 demonstrated strong environmental tolerance, remaining stable at pH 4–11 and temperatures as high as 50 °C. At an optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI = 0.01), XY75 achieved a peak titer of 8.1 × 10¹⁰ PFU/mL, a 5 min latent period, and burst size of 118 PFU/cell. Critically, XY75 reduced V. parahaemolyticus in salmon by more than 5.98 log CFU/g (99.9%) within 6 h at 4 °C, demonstrating exceptional cold tolerance and lytic activity. Genomic analysis confirmed that no virulence or antibiotic resistance genes were present. These results establish XY75 as a safe and efficacious biocontrol candidate for seafood preservation, with particular utility under refrigerated storage conditions. Full article

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for a range of severe infections and nosocomial outbreaks. Phage-based therapy and biocontrol represent effective strategies to combat the prevalence of A. baumannii. This study reports a novel phage, BUCT775, capable of specifically lysing A. baumannii, and investigates its physiological properties, genomic characteristics, in vivo therapeutic efficacy, and environmental disinfection performance. Phage BUCT775 is a podovirus that forms clear, well-defined plaques with an average diameter of 2.5 ± 0.52 mm. It exhibits a broad range of temperature stability (4–55 °C) and pH stability (pH 3–12). The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) for phage BUCT775 is 0.01. At an MOI of 0.01, it demonstrates a latent period of approximately 10 min and exhibits a high burst size. Genomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis revealed that phage BUCT775 belongs to the order Caudoviricetes and the family Autographiviridae. Its genome has a G + C content of 39.3% and is not known to contain virulence genes or antibiotic resistance genes. Phage BUCT775 exhibited significant therapeutic effects on A. baumannii-infected G. mellonella larvae, increasing the 120 h survival rate of the larvae by 20%. Additionally, phage BUCT775 efficiently eliminated A. baumannii in the environment, with an average clearance rate exceeding 98% within 3 h. These studies suggest that phage BUCT775 holds significant potential for application in phage therapy and environmental disinfection. Full article

Piperine, a phytochemical alkaloid, exhibits notable anticancer properties in several cancer cell types. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which piperine induces cell death and apoptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, focusing on oxidative stress and key signaling pathways. Using MTT assay, flow cytometry, gene overexpression, and Western blot analysis, we observed that piperine significantly reduced cell viability, triggered G1 phase cell cycle arrest, and promoted apoptosis in DLD-1 cells. In addition, piperine effectively suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis in other CRC cell lines, including SW480, HT-29, and Caco-2 cells. These effects were associated with increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mediated by the regulation of mitochondrial complex III, NADPH oxidase, and xanthine oxidase. Additionally, piperine modulated signaling pathways by inhibiting phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, activating p38 and p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Pretreatment with antimycin A, apocynin, allopurinol, and PD98059, and the overexpression of p-Akt significantly recovered cell viability and reduced apoptosis, confirming the involvement of these pathways. This study is the first to demonstrate piperine induces apoptosis in CRC cells through a multifaceted oxidative stress mechanism and by critically modulating PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling pathways. Full article