Respiratory virus infections are among the most common illnesses worldwide, with a clinical spectrum ranging from the common cold to severe pneumonia. These infections can produce significant complications, especially in patients belonging to high-risk populations, including the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and patients with underlying medical conditions.Relaxation of public health measures following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a shift in respiratory virus epidemiology, underscoring the growing importance of rapid and accurate diagnostic approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of major respiratory viruses, including their structural characteristics, modes of transmission, specimen collection and transport guidelines, diagnostic methodologies, and virus-specific infection control strategies. Integration of molecular diagnostics with effective infection control plays a critical role in enhancing public health. Infection prevention strategies tailored to each virus’s transmission route are essential for patient safety and public health. This review aims to support improving clinical diagnostics and contribute to more effective public health strategies for viral respiratory infection management.

Cell-based artificial platelet production has made remarkable progress over the past three decades, driven by the need for safe and stable platelet sources in the face of donor limitations and transfusion-related risks. This review provides a chronological overview of the evolution of in vitro platelet production from various cell sources (CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and others) and highlights key advances in the field. We outline developments from the foundational experiments of the 1990s, through the introduction of iPSCs in the mid-2000s, to the adoption of three-dimensional culture and bioreactor technologies in the late 2010s and the emergence of clinical trials in the 2020s. In addition, we discuss future perspec‑ tives, including the role of advanced gene editing and scalable biomanufacturing technologies in accelerating clinical translation. This comprehensive review underscores the promise of artificial platelet production technologies for clini‑ cal applications and discusses the remaining challenges, such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory hurdles.The recent completion of the first human clinical trials using iPSC-derived platelets marks a significant milestone, pointing to a future in which patient-specific or human leukocyte antigen-universal platelets may be transformed into transfusion medicine and regenerative therapies.

Taxonomy includes classification, nomenclature, and identification. Identification assigns unknown fungi to species based on their strain characteristics. Traditionally, fungal taxonomy relied on morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits. However, advancements in molecular phylogeny, especially multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), have revolutionized fungal taxonomy. MLSA combines phylogenetic and genetic approaches. Although effective, MLSA may not fully reflect biodiversity or distinguish between closely related species.Polyphasic taxonomy integrates genotypic, phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic data into a consensus classification system. Polyphasic taxonomy was first applied to Rhodotorula glutinis in 2001 and is now widely accepted. Phenotypic traits, such as protein profiles and chemotaxonomic markers, analyzed using techniques such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, are effective for yeast and filamentous fungi. Genotypic data from DNA/RNA sequencing, compared with data from databases such as Index Fungorum and MycoBank, aids species identification and synonym verification. Despite its practicality, the polyphasic approach lacks strict guidelines, resulting in varied interpretations.

Taxonomy includes classification, nomenclature, and identification. Identification assigns unknown fungi to species based on their strain characteristics. Traditionally, fungal taxonomy relied on morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits. However, advancements in molecular phylogeny, especially multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), have revolutionized fungal taxonomy. MLSA combines phylogenetic and genetic approaches. Although effective, MLSA may not fully reflect biodiversity or distinguish between closely related species.Polyphasic taxonomy integrates genotypic, phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic data into a consensus classification system. Polyphasic taxonomy was first applied to Rhodotorula glutinis in 2001 and is now widely accepted. Phenotypic traits, such as protein profiles and chemotaxonomic markers, analyzed using techniques such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, are effective for yeast and filamentous fungi. Genotypic data from DNA/RNA sequencing, compared with data from databases such as Index Fungorum and MycoBank, aids species identification and synonym verification. Despite its practicality, the polyphasic approach lacks strict guidelines, resulting in varied interpretations.

Taxonomy includes classification, nomenclature, and identification. Identification assigns unknown fungi to species based on their strain characteristics. Traditionally, fungal taxonomy relied on morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits. However, advancements in molecular phylogeny, especially multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), have revolutionized fungal taxonomy. MLSA combines phylogenetic and genetic approaches. Although effective, MLSA may not fully reflect biodiversity or distinguish between closely related species.Polyphasic taxonomy integrates genotypic, phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic data into a consensus classification system. Polyphasic taxonomy was first applied to Rhodotorula glutinis in 2001 and is now widely accepted. Phenotypic traits, such as protein profiles and chemotaxonomic markers, analyzed using techniques such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, are effective for yeast and filamentous fungi. Genotypic data from DNA/RNA sequencing, compared with data from databases such as Index Fungorum and MycoBank, aids species identification and synonym verification. Despite its practicality, the polyphasic approach lacks strict guidelines, resulting in varied interpretations.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally, leading to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because a significant proportion of the COVID-19 confirmed cases were concentrated in the capital metropolitan area of South Korea, and a large proportion of the population in the area had been adequately vaccinated against COVID-19, we conducted a seroprevalence surveillance study focusing on the residents of the capital metropolitan area in South Korea. Methods: We used a quota-sampling method to obtain blood samples from 1,000 individuals per round, equally stratified across seven age categories and sexes and regions, from five medical institutions located within the capital metropolitan area of South Korea. During five consecutive months (rounds) between January 2022 and May 2022, a total of 5,000 samples were analyzed for anti-spike (S) and anti-nucleocapsid (N) antibodies. Results: High anti-S seropositivity was observed in all age groups, which corresponded to the vaccine coverage during the study period. Both the cumulative incidence based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the estimated seroprevalence based on anti-N seropositivity increased in the fourth and fifth rounds, which corresponded to April 2022 and May 2022. Seroprevalence coincided with the cumulative incidence during the first three rounds, but exceeded from the fourth survey onwards when infection with omicron variants was increased rapidly in Korea. Conclusion Seroprevalence confirmed the number of infection cases outside of PCR testing-based surveillance. Seroepidemiological surveillance can help us understand vaccine responses and detect hidden infections, thereby providing appropriate public health guidance for achieving population-level immunity.