Human respiratory infections caused by coronaviruses can range from mild to deadly. Although there are numerous studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), few have been published on its Omicron variant. In order to remedy this deficiency, this study undertook a bibliometric analysis of the publishing patterns of studies on the Omicron variant and identified hotspots. Automated transportation, environmental protection, improved healthcare, innovation in banking, and smart homes are just a few areas where machine learning has found use in tackling complicated problems. The sophisticated Scopus database was queried for papers with the term “Omicron” in the title published between January 2020 and June 2022. Microsoft Excel 365, VOSviewer, Bibliometrix, and Biblioshiny from R were used for a statistical analysis of the publications. Over the study period, 1917 relevant publications were found in the Scopus database. Viruses was the most popular in publications for Omicron variant research, with 150 papers published, while Cell was the most cited source. The bibliometric analysis determined the most productive nations, with USA leading the list with the highest number of publications (344) and the highest level of international collaboration on the Omicron variant. This study highlights scientific advances and scholarly collaboration trends and serves as a model for demonstrating global trends in Omicron variant research. It can aid policymakers and medical researchers to fully grasp the current status of research on the Omicron variant. It also provides normative data on the Omicron variant for visualization, study, and application.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing foodborne serious illnesses can be found in contaminated food. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the pathogens, genes, and antimicrobial residues present in raw milk and meat. We collected 40 raw milk and 40 beef samples using the aseptic method from various parts of the Faisalabad metropolis, Pakistan. The samples were cultured on blood, MacConkey, and UTI chrome agar. The VITEK 2 compact system was used for microbial identification and determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations. Antimicrobial resistance genes for extended-spectrum β-lactamases, methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, and carbapenem resistance were identified using molecular techniques. ELISA was used to determine the tetracycline residue level in each sample. The beef samples showed polymicrobial contamination with 64 bacterial isolates, with Escherichia coli (29; 45.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (11; 17.1%) predominating. The milk samples showed polymicrobial contamination with 73 bacterial isolates, with E. coli (22; 30%), K. pneumoniae (12; 16.4%), and S. aureus (10; 13.6%) forming the majority. Twenty-eight (43.7%) isolates from beef harbored tet genes, nineteen (29.6%) bla_CTX-M, and fourteen (21.8%) bla_NDM-1, and twenty-six (35.6%) isolates from milk harbored tet genes, nineteen (26%) bla_TEM and bla_CTX-M, and three (4%) bla_NDM-1. Twenty-two (55%) each of the beef and milk samples exceeded the maximum residue limit for tetracycline. Polymicrobial contamination by bacteria possessing bla_CTX-M, bla_TEM, bla_NDM-1, bla_OXA, mecA, and tet genes was identified in food samples. The high tetracycline residue levels pose a serious health risk to consumers.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is a new emerging variant of K. pneumoniae that is increasingly reported worldwide. The variant hvKp is known to cause severe invasive community-acquired infections such as metastatic meningitis, pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) and endophthalmitis, but its role in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is little known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hvKp among hospital-acquired (HA) K. pneumoniae infections in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to compare between hvKp and classical K. pneumoniae (cKP) regarding antimicrobial resistance pattern, virulence and molecular characteristics. The study was cross-sectional and included 120 ICU patients suffering from HA K. pneumoniae infections between January and September 2022. K. pneumoniae isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and detection of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) production by the Phoenix 100 automated microbiology system, string test, biofilm formation, serum resistance assay, and detection of virulence-associated genes (rmpA, rmpA2, magA, iucA) and capsular serotype-specific genes (K1, K2, K5, K20, K57) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of 120 K. pneumoniae isolates, 19 (15.8%) were hvKp. The hypermucoviscous phenotype was more significantly detected in the hvKp group than in the cKP group (100% vs. 7.9%, p ≤ 0.001). The rate of resistance to different antimicrobial agents was significantly higher in the cKP group than that in the hvKp group. Fifty-three strains were identified as ESBL-producing strains, which was more frequent in the cKP group than in the hvKp group (48/101 [47.5%] vs. 5/19 [26.3%], respectively, p ≤ 0.001). The hvKP isolates were highly associated with moderate and strong biofilm formation than cKP isolates (p = 0.018 and p = 0.043 respectively). Moreover, the hvKP isolates were highly associated with intermediate sensitivity and re sistance to serum in the serum resistance assay (p = 0.043 and p = 0.016 respectively). K1, K2, rmpA, rmpA2, magA and iucA genes were significantly associated with hvKp (p ≤ 0.001, 0.004, <0.001, <0.001, 0.037 and <0.001, respectively). However, K5, K20 and K57 were not associated with hvKp. The hvKp strains have emerged as a new threat to ICU patients because of their ability to cause more severe and life-threatening infections than cKP. The string test alone as a laboratory test for screening of hvKp has become insufficient. Recently, hvKp was defined as hypermucoviscous- and aerobactin-positive. It is important to improve the awareness towards the diagnosis and management of hvKp infections.

Naegleria fowleri is a rare but deadly pathogen that has emerged as an important global public health concern. The pathogen induces primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rapidly progressive and almost always fatal life-threatening brain infection. The devastating impact of N. fowleri and the high mortality rate underscores a deeper understanding and the development of innovative strategies to tackle this issue. Despite various studies that have been conducted on N. fowleri, a comprehensive review that integrates recent findings and addresses critical gaps in understanding remains lacking. This review provides a detailed overview of N. fowleri epidemiology, transmission dynamics, phylogenetic diversity, state-of-the-art diagnostic techniques, therapeutic approaches, and preventive measures. We identified 488 PAM cases globally, reported since 1962, with the highest numbers in the US, Pakistan, and Australia. A phylogenetic analysis of 41 N. fowleri ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2 region-based sequences showed genotypic diversity, with genotypes II and III being the most prevalent in Asia, North America, and Europe. Effective approaches to preventing N. fowleri transmission include applying free chlorine to water in storage tanks, taking precautions while swimming, and performing ablution with sterilized water (e.g., boiled or distilled) while avoiding deep inhalation of water, especially in regions with high water contamination. This review highlights the global impact of N. fowleri, future surveillance strategies, prompt diagnosis, potential therapeutic options, and vaccine development to prevent PAM outbreaks. It highlights the importance of joint government and public health efforts to combat this deadly pathogen.

A strain of Bacillus cereus was isolated from the Saudi Red Sea coast and identified based on culture features, biochemical characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences. EPSR3 was a major fraction of exopolysaccharides (EP_S) containing no sulfate and had uronic acid (28.7%). The monosaccharide composition of these fractions is composed of glucose, galacturonic acid, and arabinose with a molar ratio of 2.0: 0.8: 1.0, respectively. EPSR3 was subjected to antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. The results revealed that the whole antioxidant activity was 90.4 ± 1.6% at 1500 µg/mL after 120 min. So, the IC₅₀ value against DPPH radical found about 500 µg/mL after 60 min. While using H₂O₂, the scavenging activity was 75.1 ± 1.9% at 1500 µg/mL after 60 min. The IC₅₀ value against H₂O₂ radical found about 1500 µg/mL after 15 min. EPSR3 anticytotoxic effect on the proliferation of (Bladder carcinoma cell line) (T-24), (human breast carcinoma cell line) (MCF-7), and (human prostate carcinoma cell line) (PC-3) cells. The calculated IC50 for cell line T-24 was 121 ± 4.1 µg/mL, while the IC₅₀ for cell line MCF-7 was 55.7 ± 2.3 µg/mL, and PC-3 was 61.4 ± 2.6 µg/mL. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined for EPSR3 using different methods as Lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory assay gave IC₅₀ 12.9 ± 1.3 µg/mL. While cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitory test showed 29.6 ± 0.89 µg /mL. EPSR3 showed potent inhibitory activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and coagulase-negative staphylococci. The exposure times of EPSR3 for the complete inhibition of cell viability of methicillin resistant S. aureus was found to be 5% at 60 min. Membrane stabilization inhibitory gave 35.4 ± 0.67 µg/mL. EPSR3 has antitumor activity with a reasonable margin of safety. The antitumor activity of EPSR3 may be attributed to its content from uronic acids with potential for cellular antioxidant and anticancer functional properties.

As per a recent study conducted by the WHO, 15.4% of all cancers are caused by infectious agents of various categories, and more than 10% of them are attributed to viruses. The emergence of COVID-19 has once again diverted the scientific community’s attention toward viral diseases. Some researchers have postulated that SARS-CoV-2 will add its name to the growing list of oncogenic viruses in the long run. However, owing to the complexities in carcinogenesis of viral origin, researchers across the world are struggling to identify the common thread that runs across different oncogenic viruses. Classical pathways of viral oncogenesis have identified oncogenic mediators in oncogenic viruses, but these mediators have been reported to act on diverse cellular and multiple omics pathways. In addition to viral mediators of carcinogenesis, researchers have identified various host factors responsible for viral carcinogenesis. Henceforth owing to viral and host complexities in viral carcinogenesis, a singular mechanistic pathway remains yet to be established; hence there is an urgent need to integrate concepts from system biology, cancer microenvironment, evolutionary perspective, and thermodynamics to understand the role of viruses as drivers of cancer. In the present manuscript, we provide a holistic view of the pathogenic pathways involved in viral oncogenesis with special emphasis on alteration in the tumor microenvironment, genomic alteration, biological entropy, evolutionary selection, and host determinants involved in the pathogenesis of viral tumor genesis. These concepts can provide important insight into viral cancers, which can have an important implication for developing novel, effective, and personalized therapeutic options for treating viral cancers.