10 February 2026

A retrospective metatranscriptomic study of respiratory pathogens causing adult community-acquired pneumonia in Wuxi, China, before the pandemic

"This pre-pandemic (2018–2019) study uses metatranscriptomics to establish a baseline for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) etiology in hospitalized adults in Wuxi, China.It reveals a polymicrobial landscape: dominant bacteria (e.g., Streptococcus, oral anaerobes suggesting aspiration), active viruses (parainfluenza, etc.), and rare fungi.Notably, it discovers a novel Rhinovirus B strain and a divergent picobirnavirus.This baseline is vital for interpreting post-COVID respiratory pathogen trends, highlights aspiration in CAP, and demonstrates metatranscriptomics' power for unbiased pathogen detection and novel virus discovery in clinical surveillance."

Rodolfo García-Contreras, Handling Editor

3 February 2026

No evidence for quorum sensing during egg hatching in the cestode Schistocephalus solidus

"This article will contribute significantly to the topic."

Dimitri de Araujo Costa, Handling Editor

2 February 2026

Autotrophic methylotrophy with no methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) in a strain of fluorescent Pseudomonas

"This work establishes Pseudomonas as capable of a previously unknown, highly distinctive form of C1 metabolism."

Rodolfo García-Contreras, Handling Editor

8 January 2026

Biodegradation of plastic waste by yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae)

"The article addresses a major environmental concern and demonstrates some novel evidence of the role of gut bacteria in breaking down environmental plastic. As such, I think it is significant and will be of interest."

Matthew Barnett, Handling Editor

18 December 2025

The clinical significance of gut microbiota of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with functional abdominal bloating and distension

"This is a landmark study in respiratory-gastroenterology crossover. It proves the gut microbiome is a missing piece in COPD management and offers actionable, stool-based biomarkers (especially Enterococcus faecium and fungal taxa) for diagnosing and treating FABD."

Rodolfo García-Contreras, Handling Editor

18 December 2025

Preliminary insights into the gut microbiota of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Vietnam

"Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects >20% of joint diseases in Vietnam, increasingly in young patients. This pilot study (22 new RA patients vs. 20 controls) found distinct gut microbiota profiles in RA: enriched Lactococcus, Solobacterium, Faecalibaculum, Corynebacterium; reduced Bacteroides. Profiles correlated with disease activity and antibodies. It highlights gut microbes as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets in Vietnamese RA."

Rodolfo García-Contreras, Handling Editor

18 December 2025

A systematic review of the role of methylase genes in antibiotic resistance: co-existence with extended spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenemase genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae

"The systematic review discuss the role of key methylase genes (armA, rmtB, rmtC) in K. pneumoniae, which, along with co-existing β-lactamase (blaCTX-M, blaSHV) and carbapenemase (blaKPC, blaNDM) genes, drive resistance to critical antibiotics like aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, and carbapenems. Predominantly reported in Europe and Asia, these resistance mechanisms underscore a global challenge, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic antimicrobial stewardship to combat rising resistance rates."

Rodolfo García-Contreras, Handling Editor

28 November 2025

Genomics, population dynamics, immune evasion and resistance determinants foster the competence and global dissemination of Klebsiella pneumoniae

"This article reveal an important issue of antibiotic resistance among Klebsiella pneumoniae."

Morteza Saki, Handling Editor

26 November 2025

Efflux systems driving resistance and virulence across biological domains

"This research underscores efflux pumps (EPs) as key drivers of multidrug resistance in bacteria, fungi, and cancer cells, while also contributing to virulence, biofilm formation, and persistence. It highlights their role in treatment failure, limitations of current detection methods, and the potential of emerging technologies like CRISPR and efflux pump inhibitors to combat resistance, despite clinical challenges."

Rodolfo García-Contreras, Handling Editor

19 November 2025

Effect of rainfall on metagenomics in a sewage environment in Hongta District, Yuxi city, Yunnan Province

"This study, the first to analyze Hongta District’s sewage microbiome, links high enteric disease prevalence to microbial communities. Metagenomic sequencing showed Proteobacteria dominance, with higher virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in urban areas and dry seasons. These findings highlight the need for improved sewage surveillance and discharge to reduce public health risks."

Rodolfo García-Contreras, Handling Editor