The ongoing epidemic outbreak of mpox virus infection in Africa raises worldwide health concerns due to its potential for rapid international spread. The immediate risk of mpox to Southeast Asian nations, which are geographically distant from the region, is currently low. However, the global experience of COVID-19 has demonstrated that proactive measures are essential to prepare for any potential cases that may arise from travel or trade. A vaccine and antivirals against the mpox virus do exist, yet supply of both is very limited and their access is inequitable. In all but high-income countries, confirmatory molecular diagnostic testing is also not performed routinely by most microbiology diagnostic services, especially those in the mainstream public sector. Therefore, detection, infection control, and prevention rely heavily on community surveillance of suspected cases based on clinical presentation. The potential threat posed to Vietnam, a lower-middle income country in Southeast Asia, illustrates the current inadequacy of epidemiological surveillance and pathogen control. The World Health Organization declaration of mpox as a “public health emergency of international concern” is a global wake-up call to action. The escalation of a virulent and contagious infectious disease in another continent should be very closely monitored by each nation’s public health authorities. Moreover, capacity to rapidly instigate preventive measures relating to transmission routes, exposure settings, and vulnerable populations should be improved.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exerted a profound influence on the global community over the past few years. As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to mutate, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges to public health. The serotype is defined as a distinct variant within a microbial species, characterized by specific immune reactions. It has previously been used to study various pathogens, such as human papillomavirus and dengue virus.SARS-CoV-2 serotype classification has been proposed by different groups recently. At present, the main prevalent variants of the SARS-CoV-2 have been classified into six distinct serotypes. SARS-CoV-2 serotype classification has been applied in areas such as surveillance, early warning, and vaccination, etc. Consequently, we reviewed previous studies and propose further perspectives for future applications of SARS-CoV-2 serotypes classification.

Cancer cells primarily rely on anaerobic glycolysis for energy, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect, which drives rapid growth, immunosuppression, and tumor microenvironment acidification. In stark contrast, the heart, a tissue remarkably resistant to cancer relies predominantly on fatty acid oxidation (FAO) for its energy demands. This distinctive metabolic resilience inspired the development of a comprehensive therapeutic approach: the Akl metabolic reprogramming diet (AMRD). Unlike conventional strategies that target genetic mutations, AMRD exploits metabolic vulnerabilities, aiming to reprogram cancer cell metabolism from glycolysis to FAO. Central to this approach is the “Akl effect,” a concept proposing that excessive glycolipid accumulation impairs glucose transporter function, forcing cancer cells into a compensatory glycolytic state. By redirecting metabolic pathways toward FAO, AMRD induces metabolic stress, disrupts biosynthetic pathways, and selectively triggers apoptosis in cancer cells. Unlike typical ketogenic diets, AMRD incorporates tailored lipid profiles, moderate protein intake, and controlled carbohydrate levels to maximize metabolic flexibility in healthy tissues while restricting cancer cell metabolism. This dietary strategy has demonstrated potential against glycolysis-dependent cancers like breast cancer, glioblastoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. By increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through enhanced FAO, AMRD imposes oxidative stress that overwhelms cancer cells’ impaired antioxidant defenses, while healthy cells with intact redox homeostasis effectively neutralize ROS. As a precision-based, low-toxicity approach, AMRD represents a paradigm shift in cancer therapy, leveraging the heart’s metabolic resistance to develop a restorative, whole-body strategy against aggressive tumors. This innovative approach has the potential to redefine metabolic cancer therapy.

Steroid hormone biosynthesis is mediated by cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (cytP450scc) enzyme, a rate-limiting step involved in the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone in gonads. This enzyme is accompanied by electron-transferring enzymes, such as adrenodoxin and adrenodoxin reductase, all localized to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Immunostaining was performed on mouse ovarian tissue sections at various stages of folliculogenesis using antisera generated against cytP450scc, adrenodoxin, and adrenodoxin reductase. Additional staining was conducted using the CF488A-conjugated phalloidin and CF555-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin lectin to identify different stages of folliculogenesis and ovulation cycle. Staining for lectin-binding moieties and phalloidin was observed in the zona pellucida region of early preantral and antral follicles. Expression of P450scc, adrenodoxin, and adrenodoxin reductase enzymes was detected in thecal cells of primordial, primary, and secondary follicles, as well as interstitial stromal cells. The findings presented here may contribute to identifying the specific roles of cytP450scc-expressing cells in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome and autoimmune primary ovarian insufficiency, including cases caused by autoimmune oophoritis.

Mothers with certain autoimmune disorders give birth to children who develop autism at over twice the rate as mothers without these disorders. While many maternal autoimmune disorders increase the risk of several types of mental disorders in offspring, lupus and Hashimoto’s disease are most pronounced, doubling the risk of autism. Thus, these two conditions may place a significant immune load on the developing fetus, presumably coinciding with critical periods in fetal nervous system development. This maternal immune activation may be further impacted by environmental stressors that, along with genetic mechanisms, further compromise fetal development. It is thus critically important for prenatal care to be multidisciplinary, particularly for women with autoimmune disorders. Managing the environmental oxidative stressors may help mitigate the increased risk due to autoimmune disorders and allow fetal development to proceed on schedule. Given that the environmental stressors such as malnutrition, infection, and pollution can adversely affect fetal development, implementing proactive strategies to address these factors during pregnancy, combined with improved early screening of children, would offer significant societal benefits. This review examines evidence for a link between maternal autoimmunity and considers mechanisms that may be in play to increase the propensity of autism development.

Rabies continues to pose a significant fatal zoonotic threat, with approximately 59,000 human deaths reported annually, despite the disease being mostly preventable through vaccination. Recently, several notable scientific advancements have been made, including the determination of the pre-fusion conformation of the rabies virus glycoprotein (RABV-G), structure-guided antigen design strategies to enhance immunogenicity, and the development of mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNPs) delivery platforms encoding RABV-G. Pre-clinical models have shown that these mRNA-LNPs platforms induce neutralizing antibody titers that are approximately ten-fold higher than those elicited by traditional inactivated vaccines. Heterologous prime-boost vaccination regimens integrating inactivated rabies virus with mRNA boosters have demonstrated synergistic efficacy, achieving 100% protection with evidence of potential durability in non-human primate models. However, several critical knowledge gaps remain, such as the structure of the full-length or ectodomain of pre-fusion RABV-G, the mechanisms underlying pH-driven conformational changes of RABV-G and its fusion process, the binding mechanisms of different viral receptors, and the induction of long-term protection. Future breakthroughs will hinge on integrating technological innovation with global accessibility to achieve the “Zero by 30” rabies elimination initiative. This requires coordinated efforts to translate cutting-edge research into scalable, affordable interventions that address both scientific challenges and public health gaps.

The maturation of the immune system is not an isolated, genetically pre-programmed process but rather the outcome of a deeply integrated partnership between host and microbial communities, a phenomenon we term developmental symbiosis. This review synthesizes evidence from evolutionary biology, ecology, and immunology to describe how symbiotic relationships shape immune trajectories across the human lifespan. We begin by addressing the co-evolutionary foundations of this partnership, illustrating how ancient microbial encounters drove the selection of key molecular components, including pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognition by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the viral origins of recombination-activating genes. Moving away from a siloed structure, we examine the lifespan chronologically, integrating mechanistic insights with clinical pathology for each developmental window. We detail the unique immune behaviors of the prenatal period, specifically the window of heightened tolerance, followed by the critical priming events of neonatal colonization, the expansive education of infancy, the hormonal modulations of adolescence, and the dysbiotic shifts of aging. Within each stage, we highlight how environmental disruptions, such as antibiotic use or delivery mode changes, can permanently recalibrate immune set-points. Finally, we evaluate the current status of therapeutic modulations, including probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, emphasizing the need for precision interventions that are tailored in accordance to the temporal specificity of immune development.

Fish production is threatened by frequent disease outbreaks, especially bacterial diseases that cause significant economic losses.This study characterized the key virulence gene profiles of Aeromonas hydrophila and Lactococcus garvieaeisolated from diseased Nile tilapia in southern Zambia and assessed genotype–lesion associations. A total of 163 clinically affected tilapia were examined, from which A. hydrophila(43%) and L. garvieae(22%) were recovered predominantly from brain and kidney tissues. Virulence gene screening showed that A. hydrophilaexhibited low-frequency profiles dominated by hemolysin A (hlyA) (20.5% in broodstock) and elastase (ela) (11.5% in grow-out), while aerolysin (aerA) and enterotoxin (act) were infrequently detected. L. garvieaedisplayed a hemolysin-skewed profile, with hly2being most prevalent (27.3% in broodstock; 21.4% in grow-out), hly2detected only in broodstock, and capsule gene cluster (CGC) and fibronectin-binding protein (fbp) genes occurring rarely. Significant gene–lesion associations linked aerAand elawith pale gills (r= 0.41, p <0.01; r= 0.24, p= 0.05, respectively), actwith skin discoloration (r= 0.27, p=0.02), and demonstrated inverse correlations between hlyAand fins (r= −0.4, p <0.001) or hepatic hemorrhages (r= −0.27, p= 0.02) in A. hydrophila. In L. garvieae, hly3correlated with enlarged liver (r= 0.23, p <0.001), corneal opacity (r= 0.15, p= 0.05), and gill necrosis (r= 0.21, p= 0.01), while hly2and capsule genes were associated with skin discoloration (r= 0.18, p= 0.02; r= 0.24, p <0.001, respectively). Overall, virulence determinants occurred at low frequencies and in limited combinations, suggesting the circulation of less virulent strains and underscoring the value of genotype-informed surveillance for improving disease control in tilapia aquaculture.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB) poses a significant threat in cardiac surgical units due to its ability to survive on surfaces, intrinsic multidrug resistance, and association with high morbidity and mortality. Between June 15 and June 30, 2025, a tertiary cardiac care center in Karachi, Pakistan, identified an unusual cluster of CRAB infections among post-operative cardiac surgery patients, prompting a systematic outbreak investigation. A  multidisciplinary outbreak response team conducted an investigation on July 1 and July 2, 2025. Cases were defined as patients developing laboratory-confirmed CRAB infections with onset ≥48  h after hospital admission and within 30 days of cardiac surgery. Active case finding included medical record review and surveillance cultures. Direct observations assessed hand hygiene compliance, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and environmental cleaning using standardized checklists. Environmental surveillance cultures were obtained from high-touch surfaces in operating rooms (ORs) and intensive care units. Fingerprint cultures from 10 healthcare workers (five from each setting) were screened for CRAB colonization. Seven patients developed CRAB infections: four ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAPs), two central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), and one surgical site infection. The median age was 67 years (range 58–74), and the male-to-female ratio was 6:1. Four patients (57.1%) died, of whom two had VAP and two had CLABSI. All isolates demonstrated identical resistance profiles, including resistance to carbapenems, β -lactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, with susceptibility to tigecycline and minocycline. Environmental cultures were negative. Fingerprint cultures identified CRAB colonization on one OR technician’s hands, with a susceptibility profile matching patient isolates. Observational audits revealed suboptimal hand hygiene, inadequate environmental cleaning between procedures, and inadequate compliance with PPE protocols. Our investigation revealed healthcare worker hand colonization and lapses in infection control practices as the primary drivers of CRAB transmission and underscored the critical need for sustained, resource-appropriate infection control interventions and continuous vigilance to prevent multidrug-resistant organism outbreaks in similar healthcare environments.

Pharmaceutical pediatric products—whether sterile or non-sterile—must meet the relevant microbiological quality standards to ensure safety and efficacy. During production and use, many pharmaceutical pediatric products are vulnerable to contamination from a wide range of microbial species. Young children under 5 years of age and infants are particularly vulnerable to harmful and accidental infections due to their immature immune systems and limited prior exposure to antigens. When these young children consume pharmaceutical preparations of inadequate microbiological quality, they may be exposed to serious health risks. Maintaining the safety and efficacy of non-sterile pediatric pharmaceutical products, as well as safeguarding children’s health, depends on their microbiological quality. Pharmaceutical pediatric products are widely used in India; therefore, it is essential to assess their microbiological quality and overall safety. This study examines the microbiological quality of 26 pediatric drug products. Using compendial methods, the pediatric drug products were analyzed for the presence of specified microorganisms, total yeast and mold count, and total aerobic microbial count. Based on the study’s findings, three of the pediatric drug products showed microbial contamination levels above the maximum acceptable limits specified in the Indian Pharmacopoeia. The pediatric drug products under examination did not contain the specified microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is advised that current good manufacturing practices and appropriate hygiene measures be strictly followed when manufacturing, handling, and dispensing these products; therefore, microbial quality control is crucial to prevent contaminated products from reaching the market and to protect public health.

Respiratory viruses—including influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and respiratory syncytial virus—remain major global health challenges, contributing to substantial morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Although vaccines and antiviral agents, such as oseltamivir, ribavirin, and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), have advanced disease management, their effectiveness is often compromised by the rapid mutation of viruses, the emergence of drug-resistant strains, and adverse toxicities. These limitations underscore the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Natural products have attracted growing attention as promising antiviral candidates due to their remarkable structural diversity, multi-target mechanisms, and generally favorable safety profiles. They can inhibit viral entry, replication, and assembly while simultaneously modulating host immune and inflammatory responses. In addition, natural compounds may act synergistically with existing antivirals, enhancing efficacy and reducing the risk of resistance. Despite ongoing challenges in pharmacokinetics, standardization, and clinical validation, natural products represent a compelling frontier for the development of broad-spectrum, safe, and effective antiviral therapeutics.