The increasing incidence of hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens poses a major clinical challenge. Nearly all medical devices are vulnerable to bacterial biofilm formation, which acts as a protective coating against the host defense systems and antibiotics. The persistence of biofilm infections, accounting for around 65% of all microbial infections, and poor conventional treatment outcomes has driven interest in alternative approaches like bacteriophage therapy. This review encompasses key aspects of biofilm biology, taking into account the clinically significant ESKAPE pathogens, and provides an in-depth analysis of the role of phage agents in biofilm control as a new biofilm control strategy. Diving deeper into the mechanisms of phage-mediated processes, the review examines how bacteriophages penetrate and disrupt biofilm architecture and evaluates current therapeutic strategies that exploit these actions, acknowledging their limitations and considering possible future directions.

The skin microbiome plays a pivotal role in maintaining skin homeostasis, immune regulation, and barrier integrity. Dysbiosis, characterized by altered diversity and function of the microflora, contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne vulgaris, hidradenitis suppurativa, rosacea, and photoaging. This narrative review, based on searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, summarizes current evidence on the role of topical probiotics in the prevention and management of inflammatory dermatoses, drawing mainly on studies from the past decade and, where relevant, earlier works published between 1975 and 2025. Evidence indicates that topical probiotics modulate local immune responses, enhance antimicrobial peptide synthesis, inhibit pathogenic microorganism colonization, and support skin barrier regeneration. Additional benefits include accelerated wound healing and reduced environmental damage. However, study results are heterogeneous, and designs vary, with limited data on long-term effects, particularly in paediatric and immunosuppressed populations. Topical probiotics are a promising therapeutic approach for chronic inflammatory dermatoses linked to microbiota dysbiosis. They can restore microbial balance, support barrier function, suppress pathogenic microorganisms, and promote skin regeneration. Despite consistent reports of clinical improvement and improved cutaneous defence mechanisms, small sample sizes, methodological heterogeneity, and the absence of standardized dosing regimens limit current evidence. Long-term safety data are limited, especially for vulnerable patient groups. Rigorous randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols and larger, diverse populations are needed to confirm efficacy, ensure safety, and guide clinical implementation.

Chronic inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis, are systemic immune-mediated disorders driven by dysregulated immune responses. The gut–skin axis is a bidirectional network linking intestinal microorganisms, their metabolites, and host immunity. It connects microbiome composition and function with systemic inflammation and cutaneous pathology, shaping disease-specific mechanisms such as Th2/IL-4/IL-13-mediated barrier dysfunction in AD and Th17/IL-23/IL-17-driven hyperproliferation in psoriasis. Microbiota-derived metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan-derived aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands, and bile acid-dependent FXR/TGR5 signaling, modulate immune homeostasis and epithelial integrity. Gut dysbiosis, impaired metabolite production, and barrier dysfunction disrupt regulatory networks, amplifying inflammation. Microbiota-targeted interventions, including probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and precision nutrition, may serve as adjunctive therapies, although further well-controlled clinical studies are needed. Integrating multi-omics, metabolomics, and functional microbial profiling, alongside investigations of the gut mycobiome and virome, will be critical to identify predictive biomarkers and optimize therapeutic strategies. These concepts remain mechanistically compelling but largely theoretical, requiring validation in longitudinal and interventional studies.

Rotavirus remains one of the leading causes of severe gastroenteritis, particularly among infants and young children, despite the introduction of effective vaccines. Although the global burden of rotavirus-associated morbidity and mortality has decreased in recent years, significant challenges remain regarding accurate diagnosis, optimal clinical management, and equitable access to preventive measures. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of rotavirus infections. Particular emphasis is placed on post-guideline research emerging after the publication of the Evidence-Based Guidelines from the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), offering updated perspectives on therapeutic strategies and clinical practices. In addition, this review discusses the expanding role of molecular diagnostic methods, which offer enhanced sensitivity and specificity in the detection of rotavirus, and evaluates novel antiviral agents under investigation. By integrating and analyzing the most relevant research published within the past decade, we aim to delineate key progress, identify persistent gaps in knowledge, and propose future directions for research and clinical application.

Introduction: Xenotransplantology, the field of transplantation involving organs or tissues between different species, holds great promise for addressing the global organ shortage crisis. However, the development of new technologies without proper legislative preparation raises significant moral and ethical considerations. This paper provides an overview of the current state of xenotransplantology, highlighting its revolutionary potential alongside the moral dilemmas it entails. Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to assess current social, ethical, religious, and legal trends regarding the issue of xenotransplantation. Materials and methods: To obtain up-to-date information concerning trends in xenotransplantation, a review of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, along with the latest legislative reports in both Europe and Poland, was performed. Conclusions: Firstly, the authors briefly report on the current situation concerning transplantology and the widely spread organ donor crisis. Next, the issue of species boundaries and the moral status of non-human animals is addressed. The assessment of ethical implications of utilizing animals as organ donors is examined, along with the legal acts regulating this issue. Moreover, the authors attempt to evaluate the cultural and religious differences related to this concern. Furthermore, this study discusses the allocation and distribution of xenotransplants, considering issues of justice, fairness, and access to this innovative medical technology. Lastly, the paper delves into the risks and uncertainties associated with xenotransplantation, including the possibility of cross-species disease transmission and intensified course of organ rejection disease.

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a major nosocomial pathogen that poses a significant threat to global health owing to its remarkable capacity for antimicrobial resistance, environmental persistence, and virulence. These adaptive traits are closely associated with its quorum-sensing (QS) network, particularly the AbaI/AbaR system. Current evidence indicates that AbaI/AbaR-mediated signalling coordinates biofilm formation, surface-associated motility, antimicrobial tolerance via modulation of efflux pump activity, oxidative stress responses, and membrane integrity, as well as biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance and stress adaptation, thereby enhancing bacterial survival and fitness. Furthermore, QS signalling contributes to epithelial cell injury and to the modulation of innate immune responses during infection, whereas its effects on adaptive immunity remain poorly understood. This review summarises current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying AbaI/AbaR-mediated signalling, its role in regulating A. baumannii infection-relevant phenotypes and host–pathogen interactions, as well as the therapeutic potential of quorum quenching (QQ) strategies in attenuating A. baumannii virulence, while highlighting key knowledge gaps that warrant further mechanistic and translational investigation.