Zoonotic diseases, which constitute 60% of all human infectious diseases, present substantial risks to public health, economies, and livelihoods. These diseases emerge at the human-animal-environment interface, with occupational exposure representing a critical yet underexamined dimension of zoonotic risk. Workers in high-risk sectors such as agriculture, wildlife management, and laboratory research face elevated exposure to zoonotic pathogens, often under conditions of inadequate preventive measures and resource constraints. Neurological disorders resulting from zoonotic infections, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, encephalitis, and meningitis, illustrate the severe health consequences for occupational groups. Cases linked to swine hepatitis E virus, West Nile virus, Streptococcus suis, and Baylisascaris procyonis underscore the urgent need for robust surveillance and targeted interventions. The Ecohealth approach, integrated with the One Health framework, provides a transformative model for managing zoonotic risks by addressing the upstream drivers of disease emergence. By emphasizing environmental stewardship, ecological balance, and socio-economic equity, Ecohealth fosters sustainable preventive strategies. Occupational medicine is crucial in linking workplace safety with public health through tailored risk management, enhanced surveillance, and targeted education. Despite these frameworks, significant barriers persist, including data gaps, underreporting of occupational diseases, and insufficient coordination among health sectors. Addressing these challenges requires implementing standardized occupational health surveillance systems, enhancing reporting mechanisms through digital tools, and promoting cross-sectoral data-sharing initiatives. Successful models, such as sentinel surveillance programs in agricultural sectors and integrated biosurveillance networks, demonstrate the feasibility of these strategies. Leveraging these approaches can facilitate early detection, improve reporting accuracy, and support evidence-based interventions.

This study investigates the distribution and concentration of microplastics (MPs) across the littoral profile of a beach, from dune base to offshore sector, including an estuarine channel and Sabellaria alveolata bioconstructions. The research was conducted at Pino di Lenne beach (Taranto, Ionian Sea), a wave-dominated, microtidal littoral system representing a unique natural laboratory with minimal anthropogenic pressure. An eco-friendly extraction protocol was used, combining methods that were already known in the literature. Olive oil proved highly effective in isolating a wide range of MP densities from sediment samples. Statistical analysis identified key accumulation zones, with the highest mean concentrations found in the submerged sandbar (2435 MPs/kg), Sabellaria bioconstructions (2324 MPs/kg), and the base of the dune (2065 MPs/kg). Fibres were the predominant morphology across all sub-environments. Distribution is interpreted as controlled by hydrodynamic processes and biological activity. The submerged beach drives MP transport, with the sandbar and shoreface acting as dynamic sinks. Sabellaria bioconstructions function as biological trap, actively incorporating MPs into their tubular structures. The dune base acts as a sink for wind-blown and storm-deposited plastics. These sub-environments function as critical littoral traps for MPs, essential for developing targeted monitoring and remediation strategies in similar coastal systems.

Background/Objectives: Herpesviridae have been increasingly investigated as possible contributors to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) because of their neurotropism, lifelong latency, and capacity to modulate inflammatory and amyloid-related pathways Methods: This structured narrative review, based on a systematic literature search, examined original studies published between December 2020 and December 2025 on the association between human herpesviridae and AD. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using a PRISMA-informed screening framework. Results: The available evidence was heterogeneous across viruses and study designs. HSV-1 emerged as the most consistently implicated virus, supported by epidemiological, biomarker, neuroimaging, and experimental studies, although contradictory findings were also reported. VZV was mainly associated with AD through vascular, inflammatory, and vaccination-related evidence, with several studies suggesting lower dementia risk after zoster vaccination. CMV, EBV, and HHV-6 showed biologically plausible but less consistent associations, whereas HHV-7 and HHV-8 were supported only by limited or indirect evidence. Across studies, the proposed mechanisms included chronic neuroinflammation, vascular injury, amyloid and tau dysregulation, host immune responses, and cumulative infectious burden. Conclusions: Overall, the literature suggests that the relationship between herpesviridae and AD is not uniform and that HSV-1 appears to be the most relevant candidate. However, methodological heterogeneity, possible reverse causation, and unequal study intensity across viruses limit firm conclusions. More robust longitudinal and subtype-specific studies are needed to clarify causal relevance.

Background: Mechanization in olive harvesting has improved productivity but introduced new ergonomic challenges, particularly related to vibration exposure and sustained overhead work. This study investigates the acute and short-term physiological effects of using an electric olive harvester through objective instrumental assessment. Methods: Ten healthy male volunteers performed a standardized 15-min simulated harvesting task using an electric olive harvester. Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of bilateral deltoid, biceps, and triceps were assessed by myotonometry at baseline (T0), immediately post-task (T1), and after 2 h recovery (T2). Infrared thermography evaluated cervical, dorsal, and lumbar skin temperature at the same timepoints. Results: Significant, side-dependent alterations in myotonometric parameters were observed, with marked increases in tone and stiffness of dominant upper-limb muscles and asymmetric adaptations between limbs (p < 0.001, large effect sizes). Infrared thermography revealed significant post-task reductions in skin temperature across spinal regions, with a partial return toward baseline within the 2 h observation window (p < 0.01). These findings describe short-term, task-related thermoregulatory responses following sustained work. Conclusions: Even short-term use of electric olive harvesters induces measurable biomechanical and thermophysiological stress. The integrated use of myotonometry and infrared thermography provides a sensitive, field-adaptable framework for early ergonomic risk detection and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in agriculture.

Baloxavir marboxil and Oseltamivir in patients with influenza A, demonstrating that Baloxavir produced faster symptom resolution when administered early, with no increase in adverse events and consistent real-world effectiveness Host-directed strategies are represented by Sun et al.,(https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1591473) who evaluated the regulatory role of RIOK3 in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. RIOK3 deletion impaired type I interferon signaling, increased viral replication, and altered macrophage inflammatory responses, highlighting RIOK3 as a potential therapeutic target for modulating innate immunity and reducing immunopathology Finally, Coppola et al. (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592647) provide an innovative perspective on synergistic immune protection in lentiviral infection, demonstrating that combined use of Rhesus cytomegalovirus-vectored SIV vaccines and neutralizing antibodies enhances viral control following challenge, beyond the effects of either modality aloneSeveral contributions address SARS-CoV-2 from molecular, computational, clinical, and methodological perspectives, underscoring the continued need for multidisciplinary research amid ongoing viral endemicity.(https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1438827) report a compelling case series of two very elderly patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and SARS-CoV-2 who were successfully treated with sequential antiviral therapy-sofosbuvir/velpatasvir followed by nirmatrelvir/ritonavir-resulting in complete clearance of both viruses without adverse reactions, and sustained HCV remission after nine months. with bimodal age peaks in young and older women. High-risk genotypes HPV52, HPV58, and HPV16 predominated, and hr-HPV positivity was strongly associated with cytologic and histopathologic abnormalities, especially in CIN II/III lesions. Importantly, agestratified analysis revealed declines in vaccine-preventable genotypes among women under 30 following the rapid uptake of nonavalent vaccination since 2022.At the molecular level, Cao et al. (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1515258) investigated the functional impact of the P16L variant of HPV16 E5, showing that the substitution enhances proliferation, migration, and colony formation while inhibiting apoptosis in epithelial cells. Variants influenced the expression of Cyclin D1 and BAX, suggesting that naturally occurring oncoprotein polymorphisms may modulate oncogenic potential and contribute to clinical heterogeneity Together, these studies highlight both the population-level success of vaccination programs and the importance of understanding viral genetic variation that may influence pathogenicity.The Special Issue brings together a diverse body of research examining emerging pathogens across human, veterinary, and vector-borne systems, collectively underscoring the essential role of integrated genomic, ecological, and epidemiological surveillance. Within this context, Salem et al. (https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1560851) offer a conceptual contribution that elucidates the phenomenon of immune imprinting across orthoflaviviruses. Their analysis demonstrates how original antigenic sin can shape the hierarchy of memory B-cell responses following sequential flavivirus exposures, at times producing cross-neutralizing protection but in other circumstances favoring nonneutralizing antibody profiles capable of driving antibody-dependent enhancement, particularly in dengue. The immunological model presented illustrates the delicate balance between immune memory and viral escape and highlights the need for vaccines designed to elicit broad, cross-reactive immunity across diverse antigenic landscapes.A complementary example of viral emergence in the veterinary context is provided by Goraichuk et al., (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1428248), who document the first detection of avian metapneumovirus subtype A (aMPV-A) in the United States. By sequencing complete and near-complete viral genomes, the authors identify previously unreported mutations in the G glycoprotein, a key determinant of receptor binding and tissue tropism. Their validation of a refined RT-qPCR assay capable of differentiating viral subtypes with high sensitivity enhances the diagnostic capacity necessary for early detection, enabling better control measures within poultry populations and refining regional surveillance strategies.In a related examination of zoonotic potential, Markarian and Abrahamyan (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1486792) synthesize recent advances in Sosuga virus research, emphasizing progress in understanding its replication dynamics and pathogenic determinants. Given the virus's origin in bat reservoirs and its phylogenetic affinity to highly pathogenic paramyxoviruses such as Nipah and Hendra viruses, the authors argue for the urgent expansion of One Health-based surveillance frameworks to better characterize spillover risks and improve preparedness for potential future outbreaks.Emerging viral diversity is also evident in the study by Hu et al., (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1500146) who report the presence of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV) in Jiangxi Province and identify segmental reassortment events among genotypes C4, C5, and J1. Although viral RNA was not detected in animal or tick samples collected around confirmed cases, phylogenomic and recombination analyses demonstrated clear evidence of genetic exchange. The identification of reassortant strains in humans but not in sampled vectors or reservoir hosts suggests gaps in ecological sampling and highlights the ongoing need for comprehensive surveillance in regions experiencing newly recognized transmission. Diagnostic capacity likewise emerges as a central theme in the work of Wang et al., (https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1475273) who developed a highly sensitive duplex qPCR assay capable of distinguishing between classical (GI) and variant...