The ability of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria to develop antibiotic-resistant biofilms enables their ongoing survival in various environments. In this study, MgO NPs were synthesized using an environmentally sustainable green method mediated by Brassica rapa. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the synthesized MgO nanoparticles were evaluated against clinical isolates of A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli. These nanoparticles were checked for their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities by broth microdilution assay and microtiter plate assay. The biogenic MgO NPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity with an MIC of 125–250 µg/ml and bactericidal effects at 500–1000 µg /ml. Planktonic growth inhibition exceeded 90
The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections is a serious threat to human health. Biofilm formation and limited antibiotic penetration reduce the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics, highlighting the need for more effective drug-delivery strategies. Niosomes, as promising vesicular drug delivery systems, have shown potential to enhance antibiotic efficacy. This study aimed to encapsulate cefoxitin in niosomes and evaluate its antibacterial effect against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Cefoxitin-loaded niosomes were prepared by thin-layer hydration. Physicochemical properties were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of free cefoxitin and cefoxitin-loaded niosomes were investigated using microdilution and microtiter plate assays, respectively. Time–kill kinetics were further performed to evaluate bacterial killing kinetics. The findings showed the synthesized niosomes were spherical with a size of 142.3 nm. The release of cefoxitin from niosomes was 62.69
Viral infections pose a persistent global threat, driven by emerging pathogens and rising antiviral resistance. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) generate reactive oxygen species via a photosensitizer (PS) and light, offering broad-spectrum antiviral potential. However, evidence on efficacy remains fragmented and spans mechanistically distinct applications ranging from ex vivo pathogen reduction to localized clinical treatment. This systematic review synthesizes available data on photosensitizer-mediated antiviral effects, therapeutic applications, and limitations, explicitly distinguishing PDI (ex vivo/environmental inactivation) from PDT (in vivo treatment). This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for studies published between January 1990 and April 2026. Peer-reviewed original articles evaluating the antiviral effects of photosensitizer-mediated PDI or PDT in vitro, in vivo, or in clinical settings were included. Studies employing direct UV irradiation without a photosensitizer or light-independent antiviral mechanisms were excluded from the primary evidence synthesis. Two reviewers independently screened studies, assessed eligibility, and extracted data. Due to substantial heterogeneity in viral targets, photosensitizers (PSs), light parameters, and outcome measures, findings were synthesized narratively. Risk of bias was assessed using design-appropriate tools. Of 242 records, 30 studies (22 in vitro/ex vivo, 4 animal, and 4 clinical) were included. PDI achieved multi-log reductions against enveloped viruses, while non-enveloped viruses required higher PS concentrations and light doses. Common PSs included methylene blue, porphyrins, phthalocyanines, and Rose Bengal, riboflavin, and ruthenium complexes. Based on the limited and heterogeneous clinical data available, the safety profile of PDI in transfusion-related applications and PDT in mucocutaneous applications appears promising but remains to be conclusively established. Photosensitizer-mediated PDI exhibits potent in vitro antiviral activity, particularly against enveloped viruses, through oxidative damage to viral components. However, the evidence is almost entirely preclinical, and current evidence does not support conventional PDT as a clinically feasible treatment for systemic viremia; its most realistic antiviral applications remain localized accessible infections and ex vivo pathogen reduction. Future extracorporeal or targeted light-delivery strategies may eventually expand these boundaries, but no such approach has yet been clinically validated. Further clinical studies are warranted for specific indications, particularly ex vivo blood product decontamination and localized mucocutaneous infections.
Effective treatment of tuberculosis is often hampered by anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATB-DILI). This study aimed to identify the key targets and mechanisms by which gut microbiota metabolites regulate ATB-DILI. Integrative bioinformatics was used to screen for common targets shared by gut microbiota metabolites and ATB-DILI. The target list was refined through protein-protein interaction network and hub gene analyses. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on the core targets, followed by construction of a microbe–metabolite–target regulatory network and evaluation of drug-like properties of candidate metabolites. A total of 58 common targets were identified, which were further narrowed down to 14 important targets. Six core targets (IL-6, NFE2L2, CXCL8, VEGFA, TLR4, and EGFR) were distinguished through hub gene analysis. Functional enrichment indicated that these targets are centrally involved in xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress regulation, and inflammatory responses. Network analysis revealed that specific gut microbes and their metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids, jointly regulate these core targets. Butyrate and equol emerged as promising candidates based on drug-like property screening. This study presents a multi-target immune-metabolic network through which gut microbiota influences ATB-DILI, providing a mechanistic basis for microbiota-targeted interventions. Future preclinical studies are warranted to validate these targets and assess the effectiveness of the identified metabolites.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major seafood-borne pathogen whose pathogenesis and environmental fitness depend on the regulator ToxR, but the scope of its regulon has remained undefined. We used RNA-seq to compare the transcriptomes of wild-type RIMD2210633 strain and an isogenic ΔtoxR strain at the peak of toxR expression, revealing 603 differentially expressed genes (348 down-regulated and 255 up-regulated in the mutant). ToxR predominantly functions as an activator of gene expression under the tested conditions. The regulon includes 32 regulatory genes, 13 c-di-GMP metabolism genes, the type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1) cluster (up-regulated in the mutant), all detectable T3SS2 genes and tdh2 (down-regulated in the mutant), differentially regulated type VI secretion system (T6SS1/T6SS2) genes, lateral flagellar genes, the scv genes, the mfpABC operon, and multiple porins. These findings establish ToxR as a central hup integrating the expression of genes associated with virulence, stress adaptation, biofilm development, and second-messenger signaling, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding how V. parahaemolyticus orchestrates its complex lifestyle during host colonization and environmental transitions.
