1.Engineered Bacteriophages for The Treatment of Multidrug-resistant Bacterial Infections
Yu-Ying CHEN ; Chun-Mei HUANG ; Jin-Zhi PAN ; De-Liang LIU ; Yang ZHOU ; Gui-Qin DAI ; Peng-Fei ZHAO ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Ming-Bin ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1581-1596
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.
2.Efficacy and Safety of Blinatumomab in Adult Patients with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Ya-Lei HU ; Yong-Feng SU ; Yang LI ; Xuan ZHENG ; An WANG ; Yi-Zhi WANG ; Lei XU ; Chun-Ji GAO ; Liang-Ding HU ; Dai-Hong LIU ; Xiao-Ning GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1571-1576
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of blinatumomab in adult patients with relapsed/refractory(R/R)or measurable residual disease(MRD)positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia(B-ALL)in the real world.Methods:The clinical data of 30 B-ALL patients received at least 1 course of blinatumomab therapy in the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 1st,2021 to December 31st,2023 were retrospectively analyzed,including pre-treatment baseline clinical feature,post-treatment complete response(CR),CR with partial hematologic recovery(CRh),CR with incomplete hematologic recovery(CRi),complete MRD response rate,MRD response rate(MRD<10-4),overall survival(OS),and disease-free survival(DFS),as well as drug-related adverse reactions.Results:Among 5 patients who were not assessed 4 were MRD negative and 1 did not receive bone marrow biopsy.In the R/R B-ALL group(13 cases),11 patients achieved CR/CRh/CRi and 10 patients achieved complete MRD response.In MRD+group(12 cases),9 patients achieved overall MRD response and 7 patients achieved complete MRD response.The median follow-up time was 8.4(95%CI:6.3-10.4)months.The median OS was 15.5(95%CI:0.7-30.3)months in the R/R group,while not reached in the MRD+group.The median DFS of the two groups were not reached.Drug-related adverse reactions occurred in 22 patients,and pyrexia was the most common(13 cases).Grade ≥3 adverse reactions occurred in 15 patients,and neutropenia was the most common(9 cases).Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 6 patients,including 5 cases with grade 1 and 1 case with grade 3.No patients interrupted therapy or died due to drug-related adverse reactions.Conclusion:Blinatumomab is effective in the treatment of R/R or continuous MRD+B-ALL with acceptable adverse reactions.
3.Cost-effectiveness and mortality risk impact on elderly health management of essential public health services:A case study in Henan Province
Zhi-ping GUO ; Rong-mei LIU ; Neng-guang DAI ; Yi LI ; Tong JIN ; Qiu-ping ZHAO ; Hao SHI ; Chun-rong BAO ; Yan-qing MIAO
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(11):17-24
Objective:To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and impact on mortality of health management services for the elderly aged 65 years and older in national essential public health service project.Methods:Based on the data of county-level medical institutions in Henan Province from 2019 to 2024,the Random Forest Method was used to construct a counterfactual framework to predict the hospitalization expenses under the unmanaged scenario,and then the cost-benefit ratio(BCR)and net income were calculated.Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the effect of health management on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease mortality in the elderly.Results:A total of 962 955 elderly patients were included,451 119(46.85%)were included in the management group.The average hospitalization cost of the management group was significantly lower than that of the non-management group(P<0.05).Except for 2020-2021,BCRS in 2019 and 2022-2024 were 6.34,2.05,4.45 and 6.60,respectively.The risk of all-cause death was reduced by 76.96%,and the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular death was reduced by 75.57%in the elderly patients included in the management group compared with those not included in the management group.Suggestions:It is necessary to establish a health outcomes-based evaluation system and promote the transformation and upgrading of the service model from single chronic disease management to"integrated health services with multi-disease management".
4.Sodium lactate modulates TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway for treatment of right heart failure
Zhong-jian ZHANG ; Xiao-ying LUO ; Di QU ; Chun-liu QIAN ; Ting ZENG ; Zhi-ling HE ; Jia-jie LIAO ; Shuang LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(10):1843-1849
Aim To investigate the effects of sodium lactate(NALA)on right heart failure induced by monocrotaline(MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial hy-pertension in rats and to reveal the underlying mecha-nisms.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly allocated into four groups,with ten rats in each group,namely,MCT group,NALA group,and NALA+MCT group;the MCT and NALA+MCT groups were administered a single intraperito-neal injection of MCT at 60 mg·kg-1 to induce pul-monary hypertension,and one week later,the NALA and NALA+MCT groups received intraperitoneal in-jections of NALA at 0.1 g·kg-1(once a day,for 5 weeks),while the CON and MCT groups received e-qual volumes of physiological saline(once a day,for 5 weeks);right heart function was assessed using echo-cardiography,right ventricular and pulmonary artery remodeling were evaluated via histopathological sec-tions,and the expression levels of ANP,BNP,and in-flammatory factors were measured by ELISA,along with assessments of oxidative stress levels,Western blot detection of the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Results Compared to the CON group,the MCT group exhibited increased RVSP and RVHI,decreased right heart function,in-creased collagen fiber deposition,and elevated oxida-tive stress and inflammatory factor expression,and the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signa-ling pathway increased(P<0.05);compared to the MCT group,the NALA+MCT group showed reduced RVSP and RVHI,improved right heart function,atten-uated pulmonary vascular remodeling,decreased ex-pression of ANP,BNP,inflammatory factors,and H2O2,along with increased antioxidant enzyme expres-sion,and the expression levels of proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion NALA can inhibit right ventric-ular remodeling in rats with pulmonary hypertension,and the underlying mechanism may involve the allevia-tion of inflammatory responses and oxidative stress through the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
5.Effects of Gynura divaricate polysaccharide on gouty nephropathy induced by dry yeast combined with adenine in rats
Chun-ting ZHI ; Yu-hua WEI ; Miao ZHANG ; Zu-ding LIU ; Hua ZHU ; Li-ba XU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(4):1137-1143
AIM To study the protective effect of Gynura divaricate polysaccharide on gouty nephropathy(GN)induced by dry yeast combined with adenine in rats.METHODS Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group,the model group,the allopurinol group(42 mg/kg),and the low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose G.divaricate polysaccharide groups(140,280,560 mg/kg).All the rats except those of the normal group were induced into GN models by intragastrical dosing of yeast(5 g/kg)and adenine(100 mg/kg)and intervened with corresponding drug administration simultaneously.After 35 days,the rats had their levels of creatinine(Cr)and uric acid(UA)in serum and urine detected and their fraction excretion of uric acid(FEUA)value determined;their kidney mass and volume measured and their levels of kidney index and density calculated;their renal pathological changes checked by HE staining;their renal GLUT9,URAT1,ABCG2 and OAT1 mRNA expressions dectected by RT-qPCR;and their renal GLUT9,URAT1,ABCG2 and OAT1 protein expressions dectected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,each dose of G.divaricate polysaccharide group displayed decreased levels of kidney mass,kidney volume and kidney index(P<0.01);increased levels of kidney density(P<0.05,P<0.01);decreased serum levels of UA and Cr(P<0.01);increased urine levels of UA and Cr(P<0.01);increased FEUA value(P<0.01);decreased GLUT9,URAT1 mRNA and protein expressions(P<0.05,P<0.01);and increased ABCG2,OAT1 mRNA and protein expressions(P<0.05,P<0.01);and more alleviated renal histological aberrations.CONCLUSION G.divaricate polysaccharide exerts good protective effects against yeast/adenine-induced GN in rats probably through down-regulating protein expression of GLUT9,URAT1 and up-regulating ABCG2 and OAT1.
6.Analysis of biotypes and genetic diversity of five non-major pathogenic Brucella species
Miao WANG ; Ying-qi WANG ; Chun-fang LIU ; Song-nan DU ; Zhi-guo LIU ; Zhen-jun LI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(2):136-141
This study was aimed at analyzing the biotypes and genetic diversity characteristics of five non-major Brucella species,to provide a scientific basis for understanding the species diversity of Brucella and strengthening pathogen monitoring and control.According to the biotypes(species,hosts,isolation locations,and time)and MLVA-16 genotypes(MLVA-16 lo-cus data,MLVA-11 genotypes)of five non-major pathogenic Brucella in the international MLVA database,we used Bionu-merics 8.0 software and PHYLOVIZ2.0 online software to analyze the geographical origin and genetic diversity characteristics of strains.A total of 227 strains were studied,including 121 Brucella ceti,47 B.pinnipedialis,37 Brucella ovis,11 B.mi-croti,and Brucella neotomae.The greatest host diversity was observed for B.ceti,followed by B.pinnipedialis and B.mi-croti.B.ceti was distributed in European and South American countries;B.pinnipedialiswas distributed in Europe;and B.microti.was distributed in the Czech Republic,Austria,and Hungary in Central Europe.B.ovis was widely distributed in Af-rica,Argentina,Australia,Brazil,Greece,the United States,Spain,and France.The MLVA-11 genotypes of different types of Brucella showed high polymorphism and large differences,thus suggesting that the strains have different geographical ori-gins.MST analysis indicated that the studied strains were divided into four branches(BCⅠ-Ⅳ),among which B.ceti was di-vided into two different branches(BC-Ⅰ and BC-Ⅱ),the strains of other types formed different branches(or sub-branches),and the strains of different types showed clear regional and dominant host characteristics.Genetic correlation analysis of strains of the Brucella genus revealed that non-major pathogenic Brucella had clear genetic,distribution,and host spectrum differ-ences with respect to four classical pathogenic Brucella species.Five non-major pathogenic Brucella strains presented unique genetic evolutionary patterns,geographical distributions,and host tropism characteristics,thereby providing new insight for understanding the biological and genetic diversity of those Brucella strains.
7.Predictive efficacy of multimodal MRI-based machine learning models for glioblastoma multiforme MGMT promoter methylation states
Hong-lin LI ; Shi-ting HU ; Zi-heng ZHOU ; Bing LI ; Zhi-ping QI ; Ruo-qi LI ; Kai LIU ; Chun-feng HU ; Hai-tao GE
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):7-13
Objective To explore the predictive efficacy of several multimodal MRI-based machine learning models for the promoter methylation states of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase(MGMT)of glioblastoma muliforme(GBM)patients in terms of the GBM heterogeneity and the complexity of the tumor microenvironment.Methods Firstly,the multimodal MRI images of 317 GBM patients from The University of Pennsylvania Glioblastoma(UPENN-GBM)dataset were pre-processed,with four sequences involved in including T1-weighted imaging(T1WI)sequence,T1-weighted contrast-enhanced imaging(T1CE)sequence,T2-weighted imaging(T2WI)sequence and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequence,and the radiomics features were extracted for two regions of interest(ROIs)such as the tumor core region and the tumor edema region.Secondly,the data of the 317 GBM patients were randomly divided into a training set(254 cases)and a test set(63 cases),which underwent normalization with Z-scores and feature selection and dimensionality reduction with Lasso regression.Finally,three models were established respectively with particle swarm optimization-support vector machine(PSO-SVM),C-support vector classification(C-SVC)and adaptive boosting(adaptive boosting(Adaboost)algorithms,and the predictive efficacy of the three models for glioblastoma multiforme MGMT promoter methylation states were evaluated in terms of accuracy and AUC.Results The Adaboost model based on T2WI sequence and radiomics features of the tumor core region had the highest predictive efficacy with accuracy and AUC values of 67%and 0.74,respectively,higher than those of other combinations of sequences,models and regions of interest.Conclusion The multimodal MRI-based machine learning models can be used for the prediction of glioblastoma multiforme MGMT promoter methylation states,which provides powerful support for personalized treatment and prognostic assessment of GBM.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):7-13]
8.Analysis of biotypes and genetic diversity of five non-major pathogenic Brucella species
Miao WANG ; Ying-qi WANG ; Chun-fang LIU ; Song-nan DU ; Zhi-guo LIU ; Zhen-jun LI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(2):136-141
This study was aimed at analyzing the biotypes and genetic diversity characteristics of five non-major Brucella species,to provide a scientific basis for understanding the species diversity of Brucella and strengthening pathogen monitoring and control.According to the biotypes(species,hosts,isolation locations,and time)and MLVA-16 genotypes(MLVA-16 lo-cus data,MLVA-11 genotypes)of five non-major pathogenic Brucella in the international MLVA database,we used Bionu-merics 8.0 software and PHYLOVIZ2.0 online software to analyze the geographical origin and genetic diversity characteristics of strains.A total of 227 strains were studied,including 121 Brucella ceti,47 B.pinnipedialis,37 Brucella ovis,11 B.mi-croti,and Brucella neotomae.The greatest host diversity was observed for B.ceti,followed by B.pinnipedialis and B.mi-croti.B.ceti was distributed in European and South American countries;B.pinnipedialiswas distributed in Europe;and B.microti.was distributed in the Czech Republic,Austria,and Hungary in Central Europe.B.ovis was widely distributed in Af-rica,Argentina,Australia,Brazil,Greece,the United States,Spain,and France.The MLVA-11 genotypes of different types of Brucella showed high polymorphism and large differences,thus suggesting that the strains have different geographical ori-gins.MST analysis indicated that the studied strains were divided into four branches(BCⅠ-Ⅳ),among which B.ceti was di-vided into two different branches(BC-Ⅰ and BC-Ⅱ),the strains of other types formed different branches(or sub-branches),and the strains of different types showed clear regional and dominant host characteristics.Genetic correlation analysis of strains of the Brucella genus revealed that non-major pathogenic Brucella had clear genetic,distribution,and host spectrum differ-ences with respect to four classical pathogenic Brucella species.Five non-major pathogenic Brucella strains presented unique genetic evolutionary patterns,geographical distributions,and host tropism characteristics,thereby providing new insight for understanding the biological and genetic diversity of those Brucella strains.
9.Predictive efficacy of multimodal MRI-based machine learning models for glioblastoma multiforme MGMT promoter methylation states
Hong-lin LI ; Shi-ting HU ; Zi-heng ZHOU ; Bing LI ; Zhi-ping QI ; Ruo-qi LI ; Kai LIU ; Chun-feng HU ; Hai-tao GE
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(6):7-13
Objective To explore the predictive efficacy of several multimodal MRI-based machine learning models for the promoter methylation states of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase(MGMT)of glioblastoma muliforme(GBM)patients in terms of the GBM heterogeneity and the complexity of the tumor microenvironment.Methods Firstly,the multimodal MRI images of 317 GBM patients from The University of Pennsylvania Glioblastoma(UPENN-GBM)dataset were pre-processed,with four sequences involved in including T1-weighted imaging(T1WI)sequence,T1-weighted contrast-enhanced imaging(T1CE)sequence,T2-weighted imaging(T2WI)sequence and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequence,and the radiomics features were extracted for two regions of interest(ROIs)such as the tumor core region and the tumor edema region.Secondly,the data of the 317 GBM patients were randomly divided into a training set(254 cases)and a test set(63 cases),which underwent normalization with Z-scores and feature selection and dimensionality reduction with Lasso regression.Finally,three models were established respectively with particle swarm optimization-support vector machine(PSO-SVM),C-support vector classification(C-SVC)and adaptive boosting(adaptive boosting(Adaboost)algorithms,and the predictive efficacy of the three models for glioblastoma multiforme MGMT promoter methylation states were evaluated in terms of accuracy and AUC.Results The Adaboost model based on T2WI sequence and radiomics features of the tumor core region had the highest predictive efficacy with accuracy and AUC values of 67%and 0.74,respectively,higher than those of other combinations of sequences,models and regions of interest.Conclusion The multimodal MRI-based machine learning models can be used for the prediction of glioblastoma multiforme MGMT promoter methylation states,which provides powerful support for personalized treatment and prognostic assessment of GBM.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(6):7-13]
10.Establishment of a rapid fluorescence immunochromatographic assay for avian influenza virus subtype H5N6
Hui LI ; Li LIU ; Yi-sheng ZHOU ; Zhi-hong ZHANG ; Qian-qian SI ; Ru-xia WANG ; Zhi-qiang DENG ; Yi-bing FAN ; Liang JIN ; Jie SUN ; Chun-hua YANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(3):243-248,283
In view of the characteristics of H5N6 subtype avian influenza virus(AIV)that it has both high pathogenicity and the risk of cross-species transmission,posing a serious threat to the poultry farming industry and public health security,in order to effectively prevent and control the spread of H5N6 avian influenza,a rapid,sensitive and specific detection technolo-gy was established in this study.The specific monoclonal antibodies against the neuraminidase N6 protein of avian influenza A virus subtype H5N6 were obtained through hybridoma and monoclonal antibody technology.These antibodies were coupled and labeled with carboxyl-functionalized fluorescent quantum dots,along with previously prepared specific antibodies against the hemagglutinin H5 protein.A rapid fluorescence immunochromatographic detection method for the H5N6 subtype of avian influ-enza virus was established according to the principle of double-antibody sandwich immunochromatography.This method a-chieved a detection sensitivity of 1 ng/mL for recombinant hemagglutinin H5 subtype protein and 0.1 ng/mL for recombinant neuraminidase N6 subtype protein.Moreover,the method exhibited no cross-reactivity with other influenza subtypes or patho-gens,such as Newcastle disease(ND),infectious bronchitis(IB),and infectious laryngotracheitis(ILT),thus demonstrating good specificity.The method effectively identified the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5 subtype and directly distin-guished the H5N6 subtype with good accuracy.The fluorescent quantum dot immunochromatographic typing detection method established herein met the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy requirements for H5N6 subtype detection,and can be further used for rapid detection of the H5 and H5N6 subtypes of avian influenza virus.

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