Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have emerged as a serious challenge of global public health crisis. The overuse and misuse of conventional antibiotics have dramatically accelerated the emergence, evolution and worldwide spread of drug-resistant bacterial strains, necessitating urgent exploration of novel antibacterial strategies. Bacteriophages serve as natural bacterial predators offering distinct advantages including high host specificity, autonomous self-replication capabilities and cost-effective large-scale production. However, wild-type phages present significant clinical limitations due to their narrow host ranges, susceptibility to rapid immune clearance and poor penetration of bacterial biofilms, which severely restrict their therapeutic applications. The convergence of synthetic biology, nanotechnology and advanced gene editing technologies has accelerated the development of engineered bacteriophage platforms, providing programmable, scalable and clinically translatable pathways to overcome these inherent biological constraints. Here, we systematically delineate four fundamental strategies for engineered bacteriophage development. Chemical modification utilizes reactive functional groups such as amino, carboxyl and thiol moieties on capsid proteins through esterification, amidation or click chemistry reactions to achieve precise drug conjugation and surface functionalization. In vivo editing encompasses ultraviolet or chemical mutagenesis for random mutation induction, homologous recombination for targeted genetic alterations, recombineering methodologies including electroporation-mediated bacteriophage recombination engineering, and CRISPR-Cas systems for precise genome editing to enable exact genetic reconstruction and host range reprogramming. In vitro synthesis leverages genome engineering platforms where intact phage genomes are transferred into yeast or host bacteria to facilitate highly efficient homologous recombination, enabling large DNA fragment assembly and cross-gene host range expansion without bacterial toxicity constraints. Directed evolution combines artificial selection through mutation library screening with rational design approaches involving chimeric receptor binding protein construction or site-specific mutagenesis, effectively balancing the discovery of unknown adaptive pathways with targeted host specificity modification. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss therapeutic applications across diverse clinical scenarios. Engineered bacteriophage effectively disrupt bacterial biofilms through sophisticated functionalized delivery platforms including nanozyme-conjugated phages, phage-liposome nanoconjugates and bio-responsive hydrogels, demonstrating significantly enhanced bactericidal efficiency compared to unmodified free phages. These bioengineered vectors attenuate bacterial virulence and resensitize pathogens to antibiotics by delivering CRISPR-Cas systems or base editors to disrupt critical virulence factors such as pili, capsule synthesis machineries and quorum sensing systems, or by inactivating antibiotic resistance determinants including beta-lactamase genes. As an intelligent nanomedicine delivery platform, engineered bacteriophage enable precise pathogen elimination an through photocatalytic reactive oxygen species generation, immunomodulatory interventions, or controlled release of antibacterial drugs. Furthermore, oral administration of engineered bacteriophage facilitates microbiota modulation, which selectively eliminate intestinal pathogens while preserve beneficial commensal microbiota, thereby restoring microbial community balance and preventing complications associated with dysbiosis. Finally, we critically analyze persistent challenges including host strain matching complexity, evolution of bacterial resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetic optimization requirements, optimal administration route selection, large-scale production quality control standards and clinical dosing determination protocols. Through multidisciplinary integration of synthetic biology, infectious disease medicine and immunology, future translational medicine studies of bacteriophage should establish comprehensive technical platforms encompassing rapid phage screening, intelligent rational design, rigorous in vivo evaluation and standardized clinical validation processes, ultimately advancing engineered bacteriophage from laboratory innovations to clinically approved therapeutics for effectively combating MDR bacterial infections.

Objective: To explain process of developing basic veterinary clinical performance guidelines, based on frequently observable clinical manifestations, thereby supporting competencybased veterinary education in Korea. Methods: A structured review of learning outcomes established by Korean Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (KAVMC) was conducted by a planning committee including veterinary educators, practitioners, and advisory members. Owner-oriented descriptions were used to frame each performance task, and each was mapped to corresponding learning outcomes. These tasks were aligned with learning outcomes recommended by the KAVMC to support the development of communication, clinical reasoning, and performance-related competencies among veterinary students, thereby enhancing day-one clinical readiness. Results: In total, 63 clinical manifestations for a guidebook format that can be used for clinical education were identified and categorized by organ systems that are described in language understandable to animal owners. Conclusions and Relevance: The basic veterinary clinical performance guidelines based on common clinical manifestations would serve as a vital component in veterinary education to reinforce core graduation competencies.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of low molecular weight heparin bridging therapy for patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair who with long-term oral antiplatelet agents.Methods:The propensity score matching and retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 126 patients undergoing tension-free inguinal hernia repair who with long-term oral antiplatelet agents and admitted to Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China) from January 2017 to January 2025 were collected. There were 120 males and 6 females, aged (74±9)years. Of the 126 patients, 77 patients who discontinued antiplatelet agents alone before inguinal hernia repair were set as the drug withdrawal group, and 49 patients who discontinued antiplatelet agents with low molecular weight heparin bridging therapy before inguinal hernia repair were set as the bridging group. Observation indicators: (1) propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching; (2) intraoperative and postopera-tive conditions; (3) follow-up. Comparison of measurement data with normal distribution between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Comparison of measurement data with skewed distribution between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Propensity score matching was performed using the 1∶1 nearest neighbor matching method. The caliper value was set as 0.1. Results:(1) Propensity score matching and comparison of general data of patients between the two groups after matching. Of the 126 patients, 90 patients were success-fully matched, with 45 cases in each of the drug withdrawal group and the bridging group. After propensity score matching, the elimination of hernia ring size, activated partial thromboplasmin time and surgical method factors confounding bias ensured comparability. (2) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions. After propensity score matching, patients using plasma drainage tubes during the operation in the drug withdrawal group and the bridging group were 8 and 1, respec-tively, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.05). The visual analogue scale scores of patients in the drug withdrawal group and the bridging group at 48 hours after surgery were 2(range, 1-2) and 2(range, 2-3), respectively, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( Z=-2.57, P<0.05). (3) Follow-up. After propensity score matching, all 90 patients were followed up after surgery for 16.5(range, 9.0-30.0)days. During the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in pain, seroma, incisional infection, readmission within 30 days after surgery getween two groups (P>0.05). No serious thrombotic events occurred in either group of patients, and no patient died. Conclusion:Compared with patients who discontinued antiplatelet agents alone before surgery, preoperative low molecular weight heparin bridging therapy after discontinua-tion of medication is safe and feasible for patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair who with long-term oral antiplatelet agents, in additon to less plasma drainage tubes using during the operation and without more risk of bleeding, but more postoperative pain.

Objective To examine the changing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in 52 hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were collected from 52 hospitals between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was tested using Kirby-Bauer method or automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems according to a unified protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)guidelines(2023 edition).Results A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were isolated from all age groups,especially elderly patients.The proportion was 11.1％(1 032 strains)in children,significantly lower than the proportion in adults.About half(46.5％,4 310/9 261)of the strains were isolated from patients at least 60 years old and 42.3％(3 919/9 261)of the strains were isolated from young adults.Most isolates(71.1％)were isolated from sputum and respiratory secretions,followed by urine(10.7％)and blood samples(8.1％).B.cepacia isolates were highly susceptible to the five antimicrobial agents recommended in the CLSI M100 document(33rd edition,2023).B.cepacia isolates showed relatively higher resistance rates to meropenem and levofloxacin.However,the resistance rates to ceftazidime,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,and minocycline remained below 8.1％.The percentage of B.cepacia strains resistant to levofloxacin was the highest compared to other antibiotics in any of the three age groups(from 12.4％in the patients＜18 years old to 20.6％in the patients aged 60 years or older).Conclusions B.cepacia is one of the clinically important non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria.Accurate and timely reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility test results and ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance are helpful for rational prescription of antimicrobial agents and proper prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

Objective To summarize the changing prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales based on the data of CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021 for improving antimicrobial treatment in clinical practice.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a commercial automated susceptibility testing system according to the unified CHINET protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)M100 31st ed in 2021.Results Over the seven-year period(2015-2021),the overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE)was 9.43％(62 342/661 235).The prevalence of CRE strains in Klebsiella pneumoniae,Citrobacter freundii,and Enterobacter cloacae was 22.38％,9.73％,and 8.47％,respectively.The prevalence of CRE strains in Escherichia coli was 1.99％.A few CRE strains were also identified in Salmonella and Shigella.The CRE strains were mainly isolated from respiratory specimens(44.23±2.80)％,followed by blood(20.88±3.40)％and urine(18.40±3.45)％.Intensive care units(ICUs)were the major source of the CRE strains(27.43±5.20)％.CRE strains were resistant to all the β-lactam antibiotics tested and most non-β-lactam antimicrobial agents.The CRE strains were relatively susceptible to tigecycline and polymyxins with low resistance rates.Conclusions The prevalence of CRE strains was increasing from 2015 to 2021.CRE strains were highly resistant to most of the antibacterial drugs used in clinical practice.Clinicians should prescribe antimicrobial agents rationally.Hospitals should strengthen antibiotic stewardship in key clinical settings such as ICUs,and take effective infection control measures to curb CRE outbreak and epidemic in hospitals.

Objective To characterize the changing species distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of respiratory isolates in hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Commercial automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems and disk diffusion method were used to test the susceptibility of respiratory bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents following the standardized technical protocol established by the CHINET program.Results A total of 589 746 respiratory isolates were collected from 2015 to 2021.Overall,82.6％of the isolates were Gram-negative bacteria and 17.4％were Gram-positive bacteria.The bacterial isolates from outpatients and inpatients accounted for(6.0±0.9)％and(94.0±0.1)％,respectively.The top microorganisms were Klebsiella spp.,Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Haemophilus spp.,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Escherichia coli,and Streptococcus pneumoniae.Each microorganism was isolated from significantly more males than from females(P＜0.05).The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)was 39.9％.The prevalence of penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae was 1.4％.The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL)-producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae was 67.8％and 41.3％,respectively.The overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli,K.pneumoniae,Enterobacter cloacae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Acinetobacter baumannii was 3.7％,20.8％,9.4％,29.8％,and 73.3％,respectively.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 96.1％in Moraxella catarrhalis and 60.0％in Haemophilus influenzae.The H.influenzae isolates from children(＜18 years)showed significantly higher resistance rates to β-lactam antibiotics than the isolates from adults(P＜0.05).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria are still predominant in respiratory isolates associated with serious antibiotic resistance.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance should be strengthened in clinical practice to support accurate etiological diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.

BACKGROUND:Microplastics are a common environmental pollutant that can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract,liver and kidney,and reproductive system.However,little is known about the effects of microplastics on the prostate.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different charge-modified polystyrene microplastics on prostate tissues of male mice and its mechanism.METHODS:A total of 48 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a control group,an unmodified microplastic group,a negatively charged microplastic group,and a positively charged microplastic group using a random number table,with 12 mice in each group.The mice in the control group were given ddH2O by gavage;the mice in the unmodified microplastic group were given unmodified polystyrene microplastics by gavage,and the mice in the negatively charged microplastic group and the positively charged microplastic group were given negatively charged polystyrene microplastics and positively charged polystyrene microplastics by gavage,respectively,once a day for 4 consecutive weeks.The body weight,drinking water,and food intake of the mice were detected every week.After gavage,the prostate mass,prostate coefficient,prostate histopathological morphology,inflammatory factor expression,microplastic accumulation in the prostate tissue of the mice,and the mRNA and protein expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and vascular endothelial growth factor were compared among the groups of mice.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)With the prolongation of microplastic exposure time,the body weight of mice in the unmodified microplastics group and the positively charged microplastics exposure group was significantly suppressed.(2)After exposure to microplastics,they could enter the urinary system of mice,including prostate and bladder tissue.Among the mice in the positively charged microplastic group,the prostate mass and prostate coefficient increased most significantly.(3)Compared with the control group,the mass concentration and mRNA expression of interleukin 6,interleukin 1β,and tumor necrosis factorα were increased in the prostate tissue of the other three groups of mice(P＜0.05).Among them,the positively charged microplastic group exhibited most obvious increase.(4)Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the prostate tissue of mice in the unmodified microplastic group,negatively charged microplastic group,and positively charged microplastic group showed obvious proliferation of prostate epithelial cells and matrix,a significant increase in acini,and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells.Masson and Sirius red staining showed that compared with the control group,the prostate tissue of mice in the other three groups had obvious fibrosis.Immunohistochemical staining showed that compared with the control group,angiogenesis in the prostate tissue of mice increased in the other three groups(P＜0.05).(5)Compared with the control group,the mRNA and protein expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1αand vascular endothelial growth factor were increased in the prostate tissue of the other three groups of mice(P＜0.05),among which the negatively charged microplastic group and the positively charged microplastic group exhibited more significant increase.(6)The results show that polystyrene microplastics can enhance the release of inflammatory factors in mouse prostate tissue,promote angiogenesis in prostate tissue by activating the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α/vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway,and provide nutrition support for prostate hyperplasia and fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinically isolated Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis in hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021,and provide evidence for rational use of antimicrobial agents.Methods Data of H.influenzae and M.catarrhalis strains isolated from 2015 to 2021 in CHINET program were collected for analysis,and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disc diffusion method or automated systems according to the uniform protocol of CHINET.The results were interpreted according to the CLSI breakpoints in 2022.Beta-lactamases was detected by using nitrocefin disk.Results From 2015 to 2021,a total of 43 642 strains of Haemophilus species were isolated,accounting for 2.91％of the total clinical isolates and 4.07％of Gram-negative bacteria in CHINET program.Among the 40 437 strains of H.influenzae,66.89％were isolated from children and 33.11％were isolated from adults.More than 90％of the H.influenzae strains were isolated from respiratory tract specimens.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 53.79％in H.influenzae strains.The H.influenzae strains isolated from children showed higher resistance rate than the strains isolated from adults.Overall,779 strains of H.influenzae did not produce β-lactamase but were resistant to ampicillin(BLNAR).Beta-lactamase-producing strains showed significantly higher resistance rates to these antimicrobial agents than the β-lactamase-nonproducing strains.Of the 16 191 M.catarrhalis strains,80.06％were isolated from children and 19.94％isolated from adults.M.catarrhalis strains were mostly susceptible to both amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefuroxime,evidenced by resistance rate lower than 2.0％.Conclusions The emergence of antibiotic-resistant H.influenzae due to β-lactamase production poses a challenge for clinical anti-infective treatment.Therefore,it is very important to implement antibiotic resistance surveillance for H.influenzae and guide rational antibiotic use.All local clinical microbiology laboratories should actively improve antibiotic susceptibility testing and strengthen antibiotic resistance surveillance for H.influenzae.

Objective To examine the diagnosis and treatment of disseminated infection caused by Enterocytozoon bieneusi in a child with leukemia and improve the awareness of the pathogen in clinical and laboratory practice.Methods A case of disseminated infection caused by Enterocytozoon bieneusi in a child with leukemia in Shanghai Children's Hospital was retrospectively analyzed,including diagnosis and treatment details.Similar cases were identified from PubMed,Wanfang Data,VIP,and CNKI databases since database establishment until June 30,2024,using search terms"Enterocytozoon bieneusi".The relevant literature was reviewed.Results This child had acute lymphoblastic leukemia as the underlying disease and was admitted to hospital for antimicrobial treatment due to fever and abdominal discomfort.The case was considered bacterial infection complicated with Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection,confirmed by detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae in blood and detection of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in blood and ascites by metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS).The treatment was switched to tigecycline plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole at a sufficient dose,which resulted in resolution of symptoms.Six months later,the patient suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia and bone marrow depression,Enterocytozoon bieneusi disseminated infection,septic shock.Her family gave up treatment and the child died.Literature review indicated that most patients infected with Enterocytozoon bieneusi had underlying conditions such as organ transplantation,AIDS,and leukemia associated with poor immunity.The onset symptoms are diarrhea,abdominal discomfort,and fever.Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected by using methods such as modified Masson's trichrome stain,fluorescent calcofluor white staining,molecular detection techniques,and immunofluorescence.The patients were treated with drugs such as albendazole,nitazoxanide,fumagillin,and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.Conclusions Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus that infects immunocompromised patients and can cause abdominal discomfort,diarrhea,fever,and even disseminated infection and death.Conventional laboratory methods cannot culture Enterocytozoon bieneusi.Molecular detection techniques can be used to identify the pathogen early.

This study analyzed the burden and trends in enteric infections in China from 1990 to 2021 from a One Health perspec-tive.Data on mortality associated with enteric infections were extracted from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease(GBD)database.The analysis focused on assessing the mortality rates of enteric infectious diseases attributed to various etiologies and risk factors,along with the age and sex distribution,from 1990 to 2021.Average annual percentage change(AAPC)was used to assess the total changes in disease burden.The age-standardized mortality rate of intestinal infections in China decreased from 9.642/100 000 in 1990 to 0.439/100 000 in 2021,with an AAPC of-57.103%(95%CI:-57.118%to-57.088%).In 2021,Rotavirus,Norovirus,and Crypto-sporidium were the top three etiologies contributing to disease burden,with mortality rates of 1.020/100 000,0.040/100 000 and 0.079/100 000,respectively.A significant variation in etiology distribution was observed across age groups:Rotavirus,Shigella,and Crypto-sporidium dominated among children under 5 years of age,whereas Cryptosporidium,Norovirus,and Clostridioides difficile were more prevalent in older populations.Risk factor analysis indicated that unsafe water sources and poor sanitation accounted for 73.394%of all enteric disease-related deaths.In conclusion,the burden of enteric infections in China markedly declined from 1990 to 2021,and sig-nificant variations in the etiological spectrum and disease burden were observed across age groups.The persistent effects of unsafe wa-ter sources and poor sanitation underscore the need for targeted interventions to further decrease the burden of these diseases.Our find-ings highlight the success of public health interventions in decreasing the burden of enteric infections in China,while emphasizing the need for targeted measures to address disparities in high-risk populations and improve environmental sanitation.