The treatment of meat processing wastewater (MPWW) is crucial to mitigating its environmental impact but remains challenging due to its high organic content and contents of nitrogen and solids.

The novelty of this work lies in evaluating the treatment and valorization of real MPWW with variable composition, as well as the process scalability, in a fed-batch raceway reactor while exploring the synergistic microbial interactions within the system. A microalgae-based consortium with proven bioremediation capacity was used as biomass. In batch assays, the microalgae-based biomass thrived in raw MPWW, demonstrating synergistic interactions with the native wastewater microbiome that facilitated organic carbon and total nitrogen removal. In sieved and sedimented MPWW, the COD removal rates were higher (1097.5±22.2 mg L⁻¹ day⁻¹) than in raw MPWW (828.5±60.5 mg L⁻¹ day⁻¹), and the microalgae growth rate also improved. In a laboratory-scale raceway reactor, in fed-batch mode, COD removal rates ranging from 181.3 to 806.3 mg L⁻¹ day⁻¹ were achieved, despite variable wastewater composition. The nitrogen mass balance indicated that ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite were consumed. The increase in photosynthetic pigments’ concentration throughout operation, from 0.4 to 17.9 µg mL⁻¹, demonstrated robust microalgae growth under variable wastewater compositions. The biomass microbiome, initially dominated by microalgae from the Chlorophyta and Ciliophora phyla, evolved to include other eukaryotic taxa (including yeast and fungi) and likely bacteria. The microbiome's adaptability and its microbial diversity appeared to be key drivers in enhancing biological removal processes.

This work advances microalgae-based processes for treating and valorising MPWW by highlighting microbial ecology’s role in system resilience and efficiency and giving insights in process scalability, showcasing its robustness for real-world applications.

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by National Funds from FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia—through the project MobFood (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-024524/SI-47-2016-10). The authors thank the CBQF scientific collaboration under FCT project UIDB/50016/2020.

Background.It is well-documented that numerous pathogenic microorganisms present in hospital settings exhibit diminished susceptibility to various biocidal agents, including but not limited to hydrogen peroxide, alcohols, chlorhexidine, iodophors, triclosan, and benzalkonium compounds. Previous reports have also highlighted the cross-resistance between biocide exposure and bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, it is necessary to search for effective methods of pathogen eradication. One of such effective methods is nonthermal plasma. It seems that due to the complex and diverse mechanisms of pathogen destruction, the development of bacterial resistance/tolerance to this eradication method is unlikely.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sublethal exposures of S. aureus to nonthermal plasma on some cell surface properties, biofilm formation efficiency, and the possibility of inducing tolerance of pathogenic bacteria to this biocidal technique.

Methods. Plasma inactivation of S. aureus inoculated on the surface of glass plates was performed using a DBD reactor operating at atmospheric pressure with air as working gas. The effects of multiple exposures to sublethal doses of plasma on the ability of cells to auto-aggregate, surface hydrophobicity, the ability to form biofilm on different surfaces, and changes in decimal reduction time (D) were assessed.

Results. Exposure of planktonic bacteria to nonthermal plasma for 2 min and 11 s results in 90% bacterial mortality (D). Destruction of the biofilm formed on the glass surface turned out to be more difficult. It was shown that the auto-aggregation properties and the hydrophobicity of cells significantly decreased after plasma treatments compared to control cells and the degree of these changes increased with the number of exposures to plasma. These changes in the surface structures of bacteria suggested that the ability of these pathogens to form biofilms may be limited. Our results showed that DBD plasma remained an effective biocidal method even after multiple exposures.

Endophytic bacteria live alongside rhizobia in the nodules of legumes and can boost soil fertility by enhancing stress tolerance, producing growth-promoting hormones, and improving nutrient absorption.

The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize endophytic bacterial strains from the nodules of Lathyrus. A total of 301 strains were collected through direct sampling or trapping from soil samples gathered from different regions in Algeria. Twelve potential plant growth-promoting strains were then selected for their high inorganic phosphate-solubilizing ability. These strains were screened for enzymatic activities, including cellulase, protease, esterase, and urease production, which are critical for nutrient mobilization and plant growth promotion. API NE strips were used to obtain a comprehensive biochemical profile of the isolated endophytes.

The results demonstrated that oxidase exhibited the highest level of positive isolates, followed by DNase. Significant enzymatic activities were observed for pectinase and lipase, while moderate levels were detected for esterase and cellulase activities. Urease showed low levels of positive isolates, and none of the isolates tested positive for gelatinase. These findings underscore the metabolic diversity and potential agricultural benefits of the endophytic isolates in enhancing soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and plant health. The API 20 NE results revealed that glucose and arabinose assimilation, along with esculin hydrolysis, had the highest levels of positive isolates. β-galactosidase was also notable. Moderate activity levels were observed for arginine dihydrolase, while lower levels of positive isolates were seen for nitrate reduction, tryptophan deamination, and gelatin hydrolysis.

The promising enzymatic activities and plant growth-promoting traits of these endophytes make them suitable candidates for the development of eco-friendly agricultural inputs aimed at enhancing crop productivity and sustainability.

Introduction: Endophytic fungi were isolated from medicinal plants on the assumption that these would possess the ability to produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites that might help deter the plant pathogens.

Methods: The plant Pterocarpus santalinus was collected from the campus of the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru (13.0801° N, 77.5785° E), in the year 2014-15. Endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaf, stem and flower (if available), as described by Shweta et al. (2010). Endophytes were screened against the soil-borne plant pathogens by a dual culture assay and a double-plate assay. Mechanisms were confirmed using SEM and GC-MS. Data were statistically analyzed.

Result: In this study, involving four pathogenic fungi and an endophytic fungus, Trichoderma harzianum isolated from Pterocarpus santalinus, show that besides mycoparasitism, VOCs play a major role in antagonism. In the double-plate assay, the endophytic T. harzianum significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of three of the four pathogens (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Fusarium oxysporum), while that of Macrophomina phaseolina was not affected. The GC-MS profile of the VOCs of the endophytic T. harzianum and their interaction with pathogens showed the presence of different classes of VOCs. The VOC profiles of endophyte–pathogen depended on the interacting pathogen, suggesting a species-specific response. In the presence of M. phaseolina, the VOC repertoire was subdued and in some cases not detected. Such dynamism in the chemical warfare between the endophyte and pathogenic fungi is little known and could be potentially interesting for unraveling the molecular mechanisms of VOC induction. Soybean seeds pre-treated with the endophyte T. harzianum showed significantly reduced mortality upon infection with S. rolfsi and S. sclerotiorum compared with those not enriched with the endophytes.

Conclusion: Understanding the immediate mechanisms involved in this endophyte-mediated resistance against pathogens could lead to a more effective use of endophytes in disease control in the future.

Introduction

Otitis externa is estimated to account for 5-20% of all ear-related visits to Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) clinics, of which 10-25% were attributed to otomycosis. Our study aimed to identify the fungal pathogens associated with otomycosis and to evaluate their antifungal susceptibility in a low-resource-setting community.

Methods

The study was conducted in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, from January to June 2024. A total of 300 patients with a clinical diagnosis of otitis externa were recruited from the otorhinolaryngology clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Two swab samples were collected from each patient for mycological examinations. The first swab was evaluated for microscopy using KOH mount and Gram Staining. The second swab was subjected to fungal culture on SDA. Isolates were identified using other mycological examinations where necessary, including the sequencing of the fungal rDNA. In vitro AFST against Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Ketoconazole, and Nystatin was performed using the disk diffusion method according to the CLSI guidelines.

Results

Out of 300 patients, 117 subjects (39.0%) were mycologically positive. Females (69.0%) and the age group ≤10 years (44.3%) were the most affected. Cases were predominantly unilateral in 285 (95%) patients involving the right ear (71.7%). Ear itching (95.7%) and pain (89.0%) were the most common presentations. The markedly observed risk factors were frequent ear cleaning (88.0%) and ear manipulation with a foreign object (76.3%). Aspergillus species and Candida species were present in 90 (77.0%) and 27 (23.0%) cases, respectively. Isolates showed high sensitivity to Voriconazole and Nystatin but poor response to Ketoconazole and Fluconazole.

Conclusion

Otomycosis accounts for 39% of otitis externa seen in our center, mostly presenting with pruritus and otalgia. Awareness campaigns to the general population on predisposing factors might significantly reduce the incidence of otomycosis.

The understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which pathogens like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites operate, particularly in relation to their host interactions, is essential to effectively develop therapeutic lead candidates. Protein–protein interactions serve as fundamental components of cellular protein complexes and pathways and play a crucial role in determining protein functionality. The yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening method remains a valuable tool for analyzing the interactomes of various model organisms and pathogens, as well as for investigating host–pathogen interactions.

In order to achieve reproducible and comprehensive Y2H outcomes, we developed a patented mating protocol that allows 83 million interactions to be tested, on average, per screen. Additionally, we used a domain-based strategy to create highly intricate, random-primed cDNA/genomics libraries with several million independent clones in yeast derived from several bacteria and viruses, such as Caulobacter crescentus, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, as well as human tissues, rodents, flies, and plants. The use of protein domain libraries allows for the isolation of multiple independent fragments for each interactant, facilitating the immediate identification of minimally interacting domains and the calculation of confidence scores.

We used this methodology to investigate biological pathways in Staphylococcus aureus. A total of 26 essential proteins from S. aureus were screened against our highly complex genomic library of the same organism. Among the identified proteins are critical genes associated with cell wall biosynthesis, cell division, and antibiotic resistance to allow for an understanding of the underlying molecular pathways and the development of therapeutic targeting and antimicrobial resistance research. The resulting protein interaction map identified 167 CDSs that are connected by 191 protein–protein interactions (PPIs), and, on average, every bait protein has 9.6 PPIs and can therefore can serve as a foundational resource for identifying potential new targets for antimicrobial drug development and future treatments.

Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the need for precise and reliable methods to assess immune responses, improve viral surveillance, and evaluate vaccine efficacy. This study employs flow cytometry in conjunction with magnetic beads functionalized with SARS-CoV-2 S-proteins to quantify virus-specific antibodies. Compared to ELISA, this method offers superior specificity, higher sensitivity, reduced background interference, and more precise quantitative assessment.

Methods
Magnetic beads coated with the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein were incubated with human serum samples to capture virus-specific antibodies. These bead-antibody complexes were subsequently analyzed using flow cytometry. Antibody–bound beads were differentiated from unbound beads based on fluorescence intensity detected by flow cytometry. Bound antibodies were labeled with fluorescently conjugated secondary antibodies specific for human immunoglobulins, resulting in increased fluorescence intensity compared to unbound beads, enabling precise quantification and differentiation. The results obtained were validated against the commercially available anti-SARS-CoV-2 QuantiVac IgG ELISA assay.

Results
Flow cytometry demonstrated remarkable sensitivity and specificity in detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at serum dilutions of 1:100 and 1:400. The results closely aligned with commercial ELISAs, confirming the accuracy and reliability of this alternative diagnostic method.

Conclusion
Flow cytometry utilizing magnetic bead-coupled S-protein presents a robust and precise tool for evaluating COVID-19 antibody responses. This technique enhances existing serological diagnostic platforms by significantly reducing background interference and enabling precise antibody quantification and provides valuable insights into immune response assessments in both clinical and research settings.

Acknowledgment
This research was conducted in collaboration with the National Laboratory of Virology and the Flow Cytometry Core Facility at the University of Pécs. Funding was provided by the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office of Hungary through grants 2020-2.1.1-ED-2020-00100 and RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00010.

Bovine are susceptible to various infections caused by a variety of pathogens. Due to their low immunity or poor hygiene conditions, they succumb to diseases, contributing to an important set of problems. These include animal welfare, productivity losses, uncertain food security, and loss of income and health. Fungal diseases with respect to their correlation to infection have not been explored.

In this study, we aimed to understand the effects of fungi in bovine by extracting and analyzing blood and milk samples from infected mastitis, as well as evaluating the rate of growth, general topography, reverse pigmentation, and microscopic examination for mycelial studies and slide culture. Mycelial studies will be performed to further identify these fungi. The fungal culture slide will be prepared by the tease mount technique using methylene blue stain. The slides will then be analyzed to characterize the fungi. Identification will be performed according to the guidelines recommended by Larone.

The research methodology used will benefit the farmers by reducing the cost on herbal medicine and the treatment of fungal pathogenesis by lowering the price of treatment and medication. Comparatively, in regular treatment checks, it takes 5-7 days for treatment and 7 days for recovery, whereas ethno veterinary formulations take 5 days and recovery takes 3 days.

This study shows that when bovine are infected with diseases such as mastitis, they can also succumb to opportunistic pathogens that are commensal. Due to their weakened immune system, during an infection, these fungal pathogens can take advantage and cause pathogenesis in bovine. This is the first study on the opportunistic pathogenesis of fungal pathogens during an infection in bovine. Further studies have to be carried out in order to study the mechanisms and roles involved in pathogenesis.

The effects of replacing polyethylene row covers in artichoke production with legume and non-legume cover crops were investigated at Rodale Organic Institute in Camarillo, CA. The treatments included plastic film mulching (PFM) and cover crops: Buckwheat, Kurapia, Crimson Clover, and White Clover with four replicates. While various studies have established the benefits of PFM versus bare soil and cover cropping versus bare soil in agriculture, few studies have directly compared plastic with legume and non-legume cover crops.

The phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) test on soil provides a generalized community profile. Microbial biomass is measured; bacteria, fungi, and protozoans can be differentiated, along with subgroups such as Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, saprophytes, and mycorrhizae. Functional Diversity Analysis is provided. The PLFA analysis was performed by Trace Genomics during year 2 post production. Kruskal–Wallis tests were performed for the response variables to determine if cover cropping treatments were comparable to the control. A positive Kruskal–Wallis Chi-square test was followed up with the Dunn test used for multiple comparisons between groups, using the Holm correction.

There was a trend toward the plastic treatment having the lowest total bacteria biomass, the lowest fungi–bacteria ratio, lower levels of saprophytes, and less total microbial biomass in the plastic treatment. The results showed that the treatment was significant in determining the functional diversity index; plastic tended to have a lower functional diversity index than white clover (p=0.015); the Dunn Test was negative (p-adj=0.076). The treatment was significant in determining the mass of Arbuscular mycorrhizae in plots (p=0.010). Arbuscular mycorrhizae biomass was different between the plastic and Kurapia treatments, according to the results (p-adjusted=0.023).

The main result of the PLFA analysis showed that Arbuscular mycorrhizae biomass was significantly higher in the Kurapia treatments than the plastic controls. These results, combined with soil fertility analysis, will inform growers on best practices in organic artichoke cropping.

Introduction: Gestational toxoplasmosis (GT) results from Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy, potentially causing severe fetal complications. Studying GT in Brazil is crucial to understanding clinical outcomes and gaps in epidemiological records.

Methods: A descriptive analysis of GT cases recorded in DATASUS from 2019 to 2024 was conducted. Data were extracted from the notification module in SINAN. Cases were classified into four outcomes: blank, cure, death due to GT, and death from other causes.

Results: The data showed 58,912 reported cases. Of these, 36,182 (61.4%) recovered, while 22,654 (38.4%) had unknown outcomes. Deaths totaled 76, with 39 attributed to GT and 37 to other causes.

Annual analysis revealed the highest notifications in 2022 (12,447 cases, 24.6%), followed by 2021 (11,093 cases, 22%) and 2023 (10,849 cases, 21.5%). The lowest numbers were in 2019 (8,436 cases, 14.3%) and 2024 (6,961 cases, 13.8%). Comparing pre-pandemic (2019) and post-pandemic years (2020-2024), the average number of reported cases remained stable, suggesting little impact from the pandemic.

Conclusions: GT remains a significant concern in Brazil, with 58,912 cases between 2019 and 2024. Most cases (61.4%) recovered, but 38.4% had unknown outcomes, reflecting gaps in reporting. The 76 deaths, including 39 from GT, highlight its severity. The 2022 peak may reflect improved surveillance or outbreaks, while the 2024 decline suggests control or underreporting. The stable case average pre- and post pandemic suggests minimal pandemic impact. However, limitations include unexamined confounders and high missing data rates, which may affect accuracy. Strengthening reporting, monitoring pregnant women, and investing in prevention are key to reducing GT's impact.