The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the criticality of an accurate and rapid diagnosis in order to contain the spread of the virus. Knowledge of the viral structure and its genome is essential for diagnosis development. The virus is still quickly evolving and the global scenario could easily change. Thus, a greater range of diagnostic options is essential to face this threat to public health. In response to the global demand, there has been a rapid advancement in the understanding of current diagnostic methods. In fact, innovative approaches have emerged, leveraging the benefits of nanomedicine and microfluidic technologies. Although this development has been incredibly fast, several key areas require further investigation and optimization, such as sample collection and preparation, assay optimization and sensitivity, cost effectiveness, scalability device miniaturization, and portability and integration with smartphones. Addressing these gaps in the knowledge and these technological challenges will contribute to the development of reliable, sensitive, and user-friendly NAAT-based POCTs for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases, facilitating rapid and effective patient management. This review aims to provide an overview of current SARS-CoV-2 detection methods based on nucleic acid detection tests (NAATs). Additionally, it explores promising approaches that combine nanomedicine and microfluidic devices with high sensitivity and relatively fast ‘time to answer’ for integration into point-of-care testing (POCT).

Pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba are causative agents of a sight-threatening infection of the cornea known as Acanthamoeba keratitis, which is often associated with the misuse of contact lenses. However, there is still a question remaining to be answered, which is whether these micro-organisms are present on the ocular surface of healthy individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba on the ocular surface in healthy patients and also in those with other ocular surface infections. Sterile Schirmer test strips were used to collect samples from a group of patients who attended an ophthalmology consultation at the Hospital del Norte, Icod de los Vinos, Tenerife, Canary Islands. Most of the patients (46 individuals, 79.31 %) presented ocular surface pathologies such as blepharitis or conjunctivitis; the rest did not present any pathology. None of the patients included in the study wore contact lenses. The collected samples were cultured in 2 % non-nutrient agar plates and positive plates were then cultured in axenic conditions for further analyses. Molecular analysis classified all isolated strains as belonging to Acanthamoeba genotype tbl4, and osmotolerance and thermotolerance assays revealed that all strains were potentially pathogenic. Furthermore, all strains were assayed for sensitivity against voriconazole and chlorhexidine. Assays showed that both drugs were active against the tested strains. In conclusion, the Schirmer strip test is proposed as an effective tool for the detection of Acanthamoeba on the ocular surface.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health crisis, driving the need for alternative antimicrobial strategies. Phage therapy has re-emerged as a promising approach due to its specificity and ability to evolve against bacterial resistance mechanisms. However, therapeutic implementation is often challenged by factors such as phage stability, immune clearance, and site-specific delivery. Encapsulation technologies offer a potential solution, enhancing phage bioavailability, systemic circulation, and therapeutic action at the infection site. This review explores the latest advancements in phage encapsulation within the context of nanomedicine-based delivery systems, including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, hydrogels, nanofibers, and inorganic nanoparticles. Each system is analyzed regarding its impact on phage stability, pharmacokinetics, and host-pathogen interactions, with a particular focus on applications in clinical and preclinical models of phage therapy. Liposomal and polymeric nanoparticle encapsulation enhance phage persistence in systemic circulation and protect them from degradation. Hydrogels and nanofibers improve localized phage delivery for wound healing applications, while inorganic nanoparticles and stimuli-responsive nanocarriers facilitate targeted delivery for intracellular and respiratory infections. By leveraging nanotechnology-driven encapsulation, phage therapy can overcome key delivery challenges, expanding its potential for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. This approach opens new possibilities for precision antimicrobial therapies, reinforcing phage therapy as a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics.

Phage therapy is still in its infancy, but it is increasingly promising as a future alternative for treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To investigate the effect of phages on Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC), we isolated 113 environmental phages, grown them to high titres, and assayed them on MABC clinical strains through the spot test. Of all the phages, only 16 showed killing activity. Their activity was so temperate to MABC that they could not generate any plaque-forming units (PFUs). The Appelmans method of directed evolution was carried out to evolve these 16 phages into more lytic ones. After only 11 of 30 rounds of evolution, every single clinical strain in our collection, including those that were unsusceptible up to this point, could be lysed by at least one phage. The evolved phages were able to form PFUs on the clinical strains tested. Still, they are temperate at best and require further training. The genomes of one random parental phage and three random evolved phages from Round 13 were sequenced, revealing a diversity of clusters and genes of a variety of evolutionary origins, mostly of unknown function. These complete annotated genomes will be key for future molecular characterisations.