Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute

Schistosomiasis remains a major neglected tropical disease with persistent transmission despite decades of control programs. Recent discoveries of schistosome-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) have introduced new opportunities for precise, non-invasive molecular diagnosis. These miRNAs, often encapsulated in extracellular vesicles (EVs) or associated with Argonaute proteins, are stable in host biofluids and reflect active infection, worm burden, and pathological status. Therefore, this commentary aims to summarize current advances in schistosome-derived miRNAs for molecular diagnosis, discuss the major challenges limiting their field deployment, and propose future priorities for translational development. Accumulating evidence from both experimental models and human studies supports the diagnostic value of schistosome-derived miRNAs, with several candidates demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity across Schistosoma species. However, despite this promise, translation to field applications remains limited. Major challenges include low detection sensitivity in low-intensity infections, lack of standardized reference materials, absence of harmonized workflows, and dependence on complex laboratory infrastructure. Structural barriers-such as insufficient policy support, weak diagnostic infrastructure, and global inequities in resource allocation-further constrain deployment in endemic regions. Bridging these gaps demands a shift from exploratory discovery to translational and equity-centered development. In summary, although schistosome-derived microRNAs have demonstrated strong diagnostic potential across experimental and clinical settings, their impact remains limited by technological, infrastructural, and policy-related challenges, particularly in endemic regions. Future priorities should emphasize affordable, point-of-care diagnostic platforms, establishment of shared databases and international standards, and integration of molecular tools into national surveillance and elimination programs. Aligning technological innovation with accessibility and health equity will be crucial to transform schistosome miRNA biomarkers from laboratory findings into practical tools for global schistosomiasis control and elimination.

Macrophages are essential for host defense, yet how parenchyma-residing macrophages detect pathogens without direct contact remains unclear. Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that infects the brain. Using in situ imaging of mouse model, we showed that brain-resident microglia vigilantly detect capillary-residing C. neoformans prior to its blood-brain barrier transmigration, but are less responsive to nonencapsulated fungi or parenchyma-injected C. neoformans. Microglia migrate to and enwrap leaky capillaries harboring fungi, leading to fungal uptake but not clearance, instead promoting fungal growth. Microglial response is triggered by released capsule components, rather than the assembled capsule. In particular, glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) plays a critical role by activating endothelial cells to release nucleotides which act on microglia P2Y12. Our findings revealed a novel paradigm by which microglia detect pathogens without direct contact, offering new insights for microglia-directed antifungal therapies.

This study was conducted to investigate tick species that may harbour severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) and Babesia microti in the provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Zhejiang, as well as in Shanghai in the central and eastern parts of China. Between March and September 2023, 721 pools of ticks were collected belonging to three genera and five species: Haemaphysalis longicornis (n = 612; 84.9%), Haemaphysalis fusca (n = 94; 13.0%), Rhipicephalus microplus (n = 10; 1.4%), Amblyomma testudinarium (n = 3; 0.4%), and Haemaphysalis wellingtoni (n = 2; 0.3%). The SFTSV-positive pool rate was 20.0%, 13.0%, 5.8%, and 4.1% in Xinyang, Henan; Songjiang, Shanghai; Lu'an, Anhui; and Zhoushan, Zhejiang, respectively. SFTSV was detected in all five tick species collected. Among the SFTSV-positive pools, H. longicornis constituted the highest proportion (83.9%, 78/93), whereas pools containing R. microplus and H. wellingtoni each represented the lowest proportion (1.1%, 1/93). Babesia microti was assayed only in these SFTSV-positive tick pools, and co-infection was found in both H. longicornis and H. wellingtoni, though it was most frequent in H. longicornis.

Bacterial infections pose a threat to the health of animals and humans, and biofilm formation exacerbates the microbial threat. Therefore, new antimicrobial agents to address this challenge are much needed. In this study, some new amphipathic compounds derived from the natural product coumarin were designed and synthesized by mimicking the structure and function of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Compound 15 exhibited strong inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC29213 and four clinical isolates, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 1 to 4 μg mL-1. It also demonstrated rapid bactericidal activity and a low propensity for resistance development. The in vivo activity of compound 15 was supported by good antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects in a mouse wound infection model. More importantly, the good immunomodulatory effects, biofilm formation inhibition and biofilm clearance were detectable in the treatment of compound 15, which made it a potential antibacterial candidate for controlling S. aureus forming biofilm infections.

IntroductionThe Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), one of the most extreme environments on Earth, provides a unique natural setting for exploring viral diversity and evolution under conditions of high altitude, hypoxia, and intense ultraviolet radiation. The yak (Bos grunniens), a key endemic ruminant species of the QTP, plays an essential ecological and economic role, yet its fecal virome remains poorly characterized.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed 43 yak fecal samples collected from Yushu, Qinghai Province, and constructed nine metagenomic libraries to investigate the composition, diversity, and phylogenetic characteristics of the yak fecal virome.ResultsMetagenomic sequencing generated approximately 463 million raw reads, of which 2.87 million were classified as viral. The viral reads in the sequenced libraries were primarily composed of single-stranded DNA viruses (92.46%), particularly members of Smacoviridae, Circoviridae, and Genomoviridae, whereas RNA viruses such as Picornaviridae accounted for a minor fraction (0.71%). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that several circular single-stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) virus and picornavirus genomes share high similarity with known ruminant-associated viruses, while forming independent evolutionary clades, suggesting potential cross-species transmission among plateau animals. The large-scale divergence within Smacoviridae further reflects extensive lineage expansion under the plateau’s extreme environmental pressures.DiscussionCompared with our previous yak virome study, this work provides independent and complementary insights into the genomic and evolutionary characteristics of key viral taxa. Overall, our findings expand the genomic landscape of the yak fecal virome and highlight the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau as an important reservoir for exploring viral diversity, evolution, and host–environment interactions in extreme ecosystems.