Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a widely used therapy for blood cancers and primary immunodeficiency. Following transplant, the thymus plays a key role in immune reconstitution by generating a naive αβT cell pool from transplant-derived progenitors. While donor-derived thymopoiesis during the early post-transplant period is well studied, the ability of the thymus to synchronize T cell development with essential tolerance mechanisms is poorly understood. Using a syngeneic mouse transplant model, we analyzed T cell recovery alongside the regeneration and function of intrathymic microenvironments. We report a specific and prolonged failure in the post-transplant recovery of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). This manifests as loss of medulla-dependent tolerance mechanisms, including failures in Foxp3+ regulatory T cell development and formation of the intrathymic dendritic cell pool. In addition, defective negative selection enables escape of self-reactive conventional αβT cells that promote autoimmunity. Collectively, we show that post-transplant T cell recovery involves an uncoupling of thymopoiesis from thymic tolerance, which results in autoimmune reconstitution caused by failures in thymic medulla regeneration.

This study developed a novel zeolite/activated carbon nanocomposite (Zeo/AC) for the simultaneous removal of carcinogenic Congo Red (CR) and Crystal Violet (CV) dyes, with subsequent energy recovery. The material was synthesized via a green ball milling-hydrothermal method and characterized thoroughly. The Zeo/AC nanocomposite demonstrated exceptional adsorption performance, achieving record capacities of 752.6 mg g⁻¹ for CR and 908.3 mg g⁻¹ for CV at 55 °C and neutral pH. Adsorption was rapid, reaching equilibrium within 60 minutes and following pseudo-second-order kinetics (R² > 0.998). The process was endothermic and spontaneous. The intermediate pHpzc (6.1) enabled efficient dual-dye removal via synergistic mechanisms: electrostatic attraction for cationic CV and π–π stacking/pore filling for anionic CR. Statistical physics modeling confirmed physisorption-dominated interactions (ΔE ≈ −12 kJ mol⁻¹). The composite exhibited excellent regenerability, retaining >82% capacity over five cycles. As a proof-of-concept for a circular economy, the dye-saturated adsorbent was successfully repurposed as an electrode for urea electro-oxidation, delivering a current density of 15.45 mA cm⁻². The synthesis method and application were validated as environmentally friendly by greenness assessment tools (AGREEprep, BAGI, RGB12). This work presents a sustainable, dual-function material for advanced wastewater treatment and resource valorization.

Aeromonas hydrophila, a gram-negative coccobacillus bacterium, can cause various infections in humans, including septic arthritis, diarrhea (traveler’s diarrhea), gastroenteritis, skin and wound infections, meningitis, fulminating septicemia, enterocolitis, peritonitis, and endocarditis. It frequently occurs in aquatic environments and readily contacts humans, leading to high infection rates. This bacterium has exhibited resistance to numerous commercial antibiotics, and no vaccine has yet been developed. Aiming to combat the alarmingly high infection rate, this study utilizes in silico techniques to design a multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) candidate against this bacterium based on its aerolysin toxin, which is the most toxic and highly conserved virulence factor among the Aeromonas species. After retrieval, aerolysin was processed for B-cell and T-cell epitope mapping. Once filtered for toxicity, antigenicity, allergenicity, and solubility, the chosen epitopes were combined with an adjuvant and specific linkers to create a vaccine construct. These linkers and the adjuvant enhance the MEV’s ability to elicit robust immune responses. Analyses of the predicted and improved vaccine structure revealed that 75.5%, 19.8%, and 1.3% of its amino acids occupy the most favored, additional allowed, and generously allowed regions, respectively, while its ERRAT score reached nearly 70%. Docking simulations showed the MEV exhibiting the highest interaction and binding energies (−1,023.4 kcal/mol, −923.2 kcal/mol, and −988.3 kcal/mol) with TLR-4, MHC-I, and MHC-II receptors. Further molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated the docked complexes’ remarkable stability and maximum interactions, i.e., uniform RMSD, fluctuated RMSF, and lowest binding net energy. In silico models also predict the vaccine will stimulate a variety of immunological pathways following administration. These analyses suggest the vaccine’s efficacy in inducing robust immune responses against A. hydrophila. With high solubility and no predicted allergic responses or toxicity, it appears safe for administration in both healthy and A. hydrophila-infected individuals.

The RAS gene family is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers. In KRAS, mutations of G12D and G12C are common. Here, 52 iridoids were selected and docked against 8AFB (KRAS G12C receptor) using Sotorasib as the standard. As per the docking interaction data, 6-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-8-O-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester (dock score: −9.9 kcal/mol), 6′-O-trans-para-coumaroyl geniposidic acid (dock score: −9.6 kcal/mol), 6-O-trans-cinnamoyl-secologanoside (dock score: −9.5 kcal/mol), Loganic acid 6′-O-beta-d-glucoside (dock score: −9.5 kcal/mol), 10-O-succinoylgeniposide (dock score: −9.4), Loganic acid (dock score: −9.4 kcal/mol), and Amphicoside (dock score: −9.2 kcal/mol) showed higher dock scores than standard Sotorasib (dock score: −9.1 kcal/mol). These common amino acid residues between iridoids and complexed ligands confirmed that all the iridoids perfectly docked within the receptor’s active site. The 100 ns MD simulation data showed that RMSD, RMSF, radius of gyration, and SASA values were within range, with greater numbers of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors. MM/PBSA analysis showed maximum binding energy values of −7309 kJ/mol for 6-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-8-O-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester. FMO analysis showed that 6-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-8-O-acetylshanzhiside methyl ester was the most likely chemically reactive molecule. MEP analysis data highlighted the possible electrophilic and nucleophilic attack regions of the best-docked iridoids. Of all the best-docked iridoids, Loganic acid passed Lipinski, Pfizer, and GSK filters with a similar toxicity profile to Sotorasib. Thus, if we consider these iridoids to be KRAS G12C inhibitors, they will be a boon to mankind.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a serious infection-causing pathogen in humans and animal. In particular, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is considered one of the major life-threatening pathogens due to its rapid resistance to several antibiotics in clinical practice. MRSA strains have recently been isolated in a number of animals utilized in food production processes, and these species are thought to be the important sources of the spread of infection and disease in both humans and animals. The main objective of the current study was to assess the prevalence of drug-resistant S. aureus, particularly vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and MRSA, by molecular methods. To address this issue, a total of three hundred samples (200 meat samples from cattle and sheep carcasses (100 of each), 50 hand swabs, and 50 stool samples from abattoir workers) were obtained from slaughterhouses in Egypt provinces. In total, 19% S. aureus was isolated by standard culture techniques, and the antibiotic resistance was confirmed genotypically by amplification nucA gen. Characteristic resistance genes were identified by PCR with incidence of 31.5%, 19.3%, 8.7%, and 7% for the mecA, VanA, ermA, and tet L genes, respectively, while the aac6-aph gene was not found in any of the isolates. In this study, the virulence genes responsible for S. aureus’ resistance to antibiotics had the highest potential for infection or disease transmission to animal carcasses, slaughterhouse workers, and meat products.

This study developed a lysozyme–dequalinium chloride-loaded Zn–Fe layered double hydroxide (LDH)–chia seed mucilage matrix for enhanced antimicrobial efficacy and sustained drug delivery. The optimized formulation (15% w/v Zn–Fe LDH–chia seed hybrid) achieved encapsulation efficiencies of 93.30 ± 1.92% (lysozyme) and 88.74 ± 1.71% (dequalinium), with a particle size of 153.77 ± 5.79 nm, PDI of 0.18, and zeta potential of +26.44 ± 1.21 mV, ensuring stability and mucoadhesion. Surface morphology, structure, drug loading, and thermostability were confirmed using various techniques. In vitro release studies showed sustained drug release over 24 h. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated inhibition zones against S. mutans (24.33 ± 2.03 mm), S. aureus (14.67 ± 0.88 mm), S. sobrinus (11.45 ± 0.887 mm), and K. pneumoniae (20.33 ± 2.03 mm). MIC/MBC analysis indicated high susceptibility of K. pneumoniae (MIC = 13.00 ± 2.60 μg mL⁻¹, MBC = 20.83 ± 5.23 μg mL⁻¹, P < 0.001) and S. mutans (MIC = 15.60 ± 1.05 μg mL⁻¹, MBC = 26.07 ± 5.23 μg mL⁻¹, P < 0.01), with S. sobrinus showing moderate sensitivity (MIC = 49.66 ± 4.32 μg mL⁻¹, MBC = 72.93 ± 6.43 μg mL⁻¹). MBC/MIC ratios below 4 confirmed bactericidal action. The formulation reduced S. mutans biofilm formation by 90.1 ± 1.2% at the highest tested concentration. Cytotoxicity evaluation showed a CC50 of 306.6 μg mL⁻¹, demonstrating improved cytocompatibility compared to the free components.