Recurrent outbreaks of a disease in pond-cultured juvenile and subadult Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp in several districts in China remain an important problem in recent years. The disease was characterized by “white tail” and generally accompanied by mass mortalities. Based on data from the microscopical analyses, PCR detection and 16S rRNA sequencing, a new Vibrio harveyi strain (designated as strain HLB0905) was identified as the etiologic pathogen. The bacterial isolation and challenge tests demonstrated that the HLB0905 strain was nonluminescent but highly virulent. It could cause mass mortality in affected shrimp during a short time period with a low dose of infection. Meanwhile, the histopathological and electron microscopical analysis both showed that the HLB0905 strain could cause severe fiber cell damages and striated muscle necrosis by accumulating in the tail muscle of L. vannamei shrimp, which led the affected shrimp to exhibit white or opaque lesions in the tail. The typical sign was closely similar to that caused by infectious myonecrosis (IMN), white tail disease (WTD) or penaeid white tail disease (PWTD). To differentiate from such diseases as with a sign of “white tail” but of non-bacterial origin, the present disease was named as “bacterial white tail disease (BWTD)”. Present study revealed that, just like IMN and WTD, BWTD could also cause mass mortalities in pond-cultured shrimp. These results suggested that some bacterial strains are changing themselves from secondary to primary pathogens by enhancing their virulence in current shrimp aquaculture system.

BackgroundVulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common vaginitis caused by Candida species,a frequently recurring condition. Fungal azole-resistant strains with azole-resistance have developed for long and wide explosion to the first-line antifungal azole agent. Bovine lactoferrin (BLF) is a protein from transferrin family secreted by the bovine mammary tissue. Its various biological functions are well known, especially the pronounced antifungal activity.ResultsIn the current study, we constructed a Lactobacillus casei strain (L.casei/pPG612.1-BLF), which secreted BLF encoded by a mature secretion vector plasmid pPG612.1, and evaluated its antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo. In a two-layer agar plate in vitro assay, the number of C. albicans CFUs decreased and the average colony size shrunk upon exposure to L. casei/pPG612.1-BLF. In a murine VVC model, the infection burden of mice intra-vaginally pre-inoculated with L. casei/pPG612.1-BLF was lower than in control groups. Furthermore, the infection burden in mice with VVC was reduced when the animals were continually given L. casei/pPG612.1-BLF as a topical treatment for 5 days.ConclusionCombined, these results suggested that the L. casei/pPG612.1-BLF strain is a promising preventative and therapeutic anti-VVC agent, highlighting the possibility of employing the probiotic L. casei as a vehicle for biotherapy in the female genital tract and exploiting the natural antibiotic antimicrobial peptides for other applications.

Background Native mitral valve infective endocarditis (IE) plagues patients and surgeons alike because of its high mortality and recurrence rates as well as poor prognosis. Mitral valve repair (MVP) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) are two main surgical methods. However, the question of which benefits patients more remains controversial. Thus, we conducted a meta‐analysis to systematically review the two approaches, focusing on the early survival rate and long‐term outcomes. Methods A meta‐analysis and systematic review were conducted using studies sourced from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane literature databases to compare MVP and MVR, with data extracted for baseline characteristics, mortality, survival, recurrent endocarditis, and valve reoperation. Risk ratio (RR) or hazard ratio (HR) values were calculated, and publication bias was tested. Results A total of 17 relevant publications with a total population of 3759 patients, with 1180 patients having undergone MVP and 2579 patients having undergone MVR, respectively, were analyzed. Patients who underwent MVP may benefit from a lower risk of early mortality (RR, 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39–0.66; p < .00001), a higher long‐term survival rate (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.58–0.81; p < .001; I2 = 0%), and a lower risk of recurrence (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.40–1.09; p = .10; I2 = 0%). However, a similar risk of reoperation was observed for both groups (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.36–2.91; p = .96; I2 = 43%). Conclusion This meta‐analysis suggests that MVP may lead to better outcomes compared to MVR. Among patients with mitral valve IE, MVP can reduce in‐hospital mortality, improve long‐term survival, and has a lower risk of recurrent endocarditis. As a result, MVP may be suitable as a primary treatment choice and should be considered whenever possible in most IE patients.

Histatin5 (Hst-5) is a member of the histatin family of antimicrobial peptides secreted by human parotid and submandibular glands. With the natural antibacterial activity, it plays an important role in the first-line barrier of oral cave against pathogens, especially for the fungal intrusion. In this study, we explored the utility of Hst-5 in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis, a common condition of women of the childbearing age. We used a synthesized Hst-5 over five consecutive days as the topical treatment in a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis. According to the fungal colony counts, fungal burden in the vagina lavage dropped remarkably after treatment with Hst-5. Furthermore, cytological analysis of the lavage fluid indicated that the number of cast-off cells including cornified epithelial cells and inflammatory cells also decreased; histological evaluation of the vagina tissue revealed less fungi adhering to the vaginal wall in treated animals than in controls. Combined, these results suggested for the first time the potential utility of Hst-5 as a topical treatment for vulvovaginal candidiasis, uncovering the possibility of exploiting the natural antibiotic peptides in other aspects.