Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are escalating health and veterinary threats in the Global South, driven by environmental change, human activity, and socioeconomic vulnerability. Ticks transmit bacterial, viral, and protozoal pathogens, causing significant public health and economic burdens. Climate shifts and land-use changes have expanded tick habitats, intensifying disease transmission. This review examines the distribution of major tick species in the Global South and explores how ecological disruptions influence disease dynamics. Regional case studies from Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia highlight the impact on human health, livestock productivity, and food security. Addressing this growing threat requires integrated One Health strategies, improved public awareness, enhanced veterinary services, and investment in surveillance and vaccine development. International cooperation and strong policy frameworks are vital to mitigate the spread and impact of TBDs.

Nutritional immunity is a major facet of host defense, wherein the host immune system strategically limits pathogen access to critical nutrients, including iron, zinc, vitamins, lipids, and amino acids, to repress microbial proliferation and virulence. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the molecular mechanisms that power nutrient immunity, including metal homeostasis, nutrient competition, transporter modulation, hormonal regulation, and direct antimicrobial actions. We examine nutrient-specific strategies employed by the host, such as iron-withholding mechanisms, vitamin deprivation, and copper-mediated toxicity. We also explore how diverse pathogens, including extracellular, intracellular, and eukaryotic pathogens, adapt to these hostile nutritional landscapes through siderophore diversification, regulatory integration, and metabolic rewiring. Comparative genomic analyses reveal convergent evolution in nutrient acquisition systems, illuminating the dynamic arms race between host restriction and microbial evasion. We examine the immunological mechanisms that regulate nutritional immunity. Further, we discuss the translational potential of nutritional immunity, cutting across nutrient-based therapies, host-directed interventions, and emerging diagnostic biomarkers. Finally, we suggest future directions that synergize nutritional immunity with microbiome ecology, global malnutrition, and personalized medicine. By elucidating the interconnection between metabolism and immunity, this review highlights the therapeutic promise of starving or toxifying the pathogen to save the host.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), also known as Hughes syndrome, is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent thrombosis and pregnancy complications, accompanied by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). These antibodies target anionic phospholipids or protein–phospholipid complexes within cell membranes, contributing to the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Although anticoagulation therapy remains the cornerstone of APS management, it often fails to prevent complications, particularly in obstetric and thrombotic cases. As autoimmune diseases become increasingly linked to alterations in the gut microbiome, this study investigates the complex interaction between gut bacteria and immune modulation in APS. We explore how disruptions in the gut microbiome may influence the development of autoimmune conditions, with a specific focus on APS. By identifying key microorganisms potentially involved in this gut–immune axis, we aim to provide insights into novel preventive and control approaches. Future research should focus on harnessing the gut microbiome to develop more effective treatments that target both the immune system and microbial populations in APS patients.

Antibodies are highly specialized glycoproteins produced by B cells in response to antigenic stimulation. They are a major component of the adaptive immune system and play a key role in host defenses by detecting, neutralizing, and eliminating foreign antigens. Over the years, their roles have transcended mere immune biomarkers due to their unique specificity, affinity maturation, and structural versatility, making them indispensable tools in biomedical research, including vaccine design, therapeutic development, and diagnostics. In this work, we examine the structural and functional basis of antibody bioactivity while highlighting key engineering strategies, including Fc modification, glycosylation engineering, and the development of novel antibody formats. We also considered the application of engineered antibodies in infectious disease and cancer prevention and treatment, focusing on current challenges, and proposing emerging directions that position antibody engineering as a transformative approach in future biomedical research and innovation.

Wildlife animals have integral significance in ecological and economic stability. They are becoming extinct. One of the key roots of endangerment is tick-borne diseases. Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria are major parasites transmitted by obligatory hematophagous arthropods known as ticks to wildlife, livestock, and humans. In the current study, the creation of novel primers and optimization of a multiplex PCR assay to detect hemoparasites were done. Blood samples were collected from a total of 60 captive Gazella bennettii, family Bovidae, and Axis porcinus, family Cervidae, from different wildlife parks and zoos in Punjab, Pakistan. Both families were targeted during sampling to increase the sample count and obtain a variety of ungulates. Microscopy was performed using the Giemsa staining method, and 40 samples tested positive, which were then proceeded with PCR. Total genomic DNA was extracted for molecular detection by PCR. This study comprised three sets of newly designed primers based on genus to optimize multiplex PCR for melting temperature and crosslinking among primers. The results of our multiplex PCR assay were completely consistent with monoplex PCR using newly designed primers. Results of multiplex PCR revealed the presence of total hemoparasitic species infection in 65% of samples, whereas individual infections of Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria were recorded as 25%, 0%, and 40%, respectively. PCR provided accurate results supported by sequencing. This multiplex PCR assay provides a valuable complementary tool in routine, simultaneous, early, and accurate detection of Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria genera that helps control antibiotic resistance and save endangered species. Wildlife animals have integral significance in ecological and economic stability. They are becoming extinct. One of the key roots of endangerment is tick-borne diseases. Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria are major parasites transmitted by obligatory hematophagous arthropods known as ticks to wildlife, livestock, and humans. In the current study, the creation of novel primers and optimization of a multiplex PCR assay to detect hemoparasites were done. Blood samples were collected from a total of 60 captive Gazella bennettii, family Bovidae, and Axis porcinus, family Cervidae, from different wildlife parks and zoos in Punjab, Pakistan. Both families were targeted during sampling to increase the sample count and obtain a variety of ungulates. Microscopy was performed using the Giemsa staining method, and 40 samples tested positive, which were then proceeded with PCR. Total genomic DNA was extracted for molecular detection by PCR. This study comprised three sets of newly designed primers based on genus to optimize multiplex PCR for melting temperature and crosslinking among primers. The results of our multiplex PCR assay were completely consistent with monoplex PCR using newly designed primers. Results of multiplex PCR revealed the presence of total hemoparasitic species infection in 65% of samples, whereas individual infections of Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria were recorded as 25%, 0%, and 40%, respectively. PCR provided accurate results supported by sequencing. This multiplex PCR assay provides a valuable complementary tool in routine, simultaneous, early, and accurate detection of Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria genera that helps control antibiotic resistance and save endangered species.

Background: Cholera and COVID-19 represent a dual burden on healthcare systems, especially in low-resource settings. Despite their significant impact, data on their co-occurrence and interaction remain unreliable. This is primarily due to limited and fragmented data availability, which affects our understanding of the relationship between these two diseases. This systematic review aims to address these gaps by summarizing the current state of knowledge and identifying specific data deficiencies. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search was limited to studies published from January 2020 to December 2023. Specific search terms included “cholera and COVID-19 co-infection,” “cholera outbreaks during COVID-19,” and “impact of COVID-19 on cholera.” The Studies were selected based on predefined criteria, including relevance to the topic, quality of the data, and geographical scope. The Studies were selected based on predefined criteria, including relevance to the topic, quality of the data, and geographical scope. Results: A total of 18 studies were identified, encompassing a range of geographic locations and study designs. A meta-analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (95% confidence interval, CI=0.80, 0.99) between COVID-19 and cholera coinfection and comorbidity in Africa and Asia. Specifically, the correlation was observed between the frequency of cholera cases and the incidence of COVID-19, highlighting how the pandemic exacerbated cholera outbreaks in certain regions. Conclusions: The findings highlight the essential need for improved data collection and surveillance to better understand and manage the dual burden of cholera and COVID-19. The systematic review also highlights significant publication bias and data limitations, suggesting that future research should focus on addressing these gaps through enhanced data collection methods and rigorous analysis. Recommendations include developing targeted interventions to improve vaccination coverage and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices, alongside strategies to counteract misinformation about vaccines. PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42023485040