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Evolutionary Origins and Virulence Determinants of ST25 Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Swine: Genomic Insights and Functional Validation
No full textThe global spread of multidrug-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-HvKp), among which carbapenem-resistant strains are of major concern, poses a severe threat to public health due to its high mortality rate and extremely limited treatment options. While human-derived HvKp strains are well-studied, animal-origin variants remain poorly characterized. Here, we isolated a HvKp strain KPB from a swine farm in China, exhibiting high mortality and extreme virulence (LD50 = 20 CFU). Phylogenomic analysis of 342 K. pneumoniae genomes revealed that the swine-derived KPB (sequence type 25 [ST25] lineage) clusters closely with clinical isolates, suggesting zoonotic transmission risks. Targeted mutagenesis identified wcaJ/wzc-mediated capsule synthesis as the critical virulence determinant, with capsule-deficient mutants showing 100% reduced lethality in mouse infection models. Building on this, we developed a phage therapy achieving 100% survival in infected mice at 101 PFU doses. These findings highlight the evolutionary convergence of animal and human HvKp strains and propose phage-based strategies as a promising countermeasure against infections due to HvKp. Our study underscores the urgency of One Health surveillance to mitigate zoonotic threats
Zivilgesellschaftliches Handeln und operativer Katastrophenschutz: Der Berliner Stromausfall im Januar 2026
No full textAmnesty International and the Global Negotiation of Homosexuality, 1974–91
No full textThis article examines how the rights of gays and lesbians became acknowledged as human rights through discussions within Amnesty International (Amnesty) in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. The author argues that Amnesty, the world's leading human rights organization at the time, played a key role in this process. It examines discussions among members and decision-makers about whether to recognize people imprisoned solely because of their homosexuality as prisoners of conscience alongside lobby campaigns from the gay and lesbian, later queer movements, from 1974 and until 1991, when Amnesty changed its policy and began working for incarcerated queer people. In terms of activism, the role of ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersexual Association, is highlighted. The article suggests that Amnesty's policy change was the result of a combination of factors internal and external to the organization: through the production of knowledge about homosexual prisoners, through activism that ranged from lobbying to direct action, through deal-making between different human rights interests, and through a changed geopolitical situation that created a window of opportunity
Optimal Regularity of Area Maximizing Hypersurfaces in Minkowski Space
No full textIn 1982, Bartnik and Simon proved that area maximizing hypersurfaces are smooth, strictly spacelike and maximal (mean curvature zero) away from a singular set which consists of light rays connecting boundary points. Around the same time, Leon Simon conjectured that area maximizing hypersurfaces ought to be of class C^{1,1} across their singular set, and pointed out that, if correct, this regularity statement could not be improved to C^2 in view of a certain example. In this paper, we prove Leon Simon’s conjecture.1982 bewiesen Bartnik und Simon, dass flächenmaximierende Hyperflächen glatt, streng raumartig und maximal (mittlere Krümmung Null) sind, abgesehen von einer singulären Menge, die aus Lichtstrahlen besteht, die Randpunkte verbinden. Etwa zur gleichen Zeit stellte Leon Simon die Vermutung auf, dass flächenmaximierende Hyperflächen über ihre singuläre Menge hinweg der Klasse C^{1,1} angehören müssten, und wies darauf hin, dass diese Regularitätsaussage angesichts eines bestimmten Beispiels nicht auf C^2 verbessert werden könne, sollte sie zutreffen. In diesem Artikel beweisen wir Leon Simons Vermutung
Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Enterobacterales and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Pigs in Rwanda
No full textThis pilot study investigated the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GC-R) Enterobacterales in conventionally kept domestic pigs and their environment across four districts in Rwanda. A total of 114 swabs (nasal, rectal, manure, dust) from 29 farms were collected and processed to isolate resistant bacteria. Thirty-two 3GC-R Enterobacterales were detected. Escherichia coli predominantly harboring blaCTX-M group 1 β-lactamase genes, alongside Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, all displaying extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes. Four MRSA isolates, all belonging to clonal complex 398 and SCCmec type IV, the typical livestock MRSA, were recovered from nasal and environmental samples. Multidrug resistance was frequently observed. The co-occurrence of β-lactamase genes, non-β-lactam resistance genes, and virulence factors such as fimH and loci associated with extraintestinal pathogenic and enteropathogenic E. coli. The detection of both MRSA and 3GC-R Enterobacterales in the present study indicates pigs and their farm environments as reservoirs of WHO priority pathogens in Rwanda, highlighting a potential public health risk in the context of extensive human–animal–environment interaction. These findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated One Health surveillance and comprehensive AMR control strategies addressing both animal and environmental reservoirs to support Rwanda’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance
Potential of tormentil rhizome ethanolic extract and its postbiotic metabolites for inhibiting enterotoxigenic E. coli growth: Implications for functional food applications
No full textTormentil rhizome ethanolic extract (TREE), rich in polyphenols, used in beverages and known for gastroprotective properties, represents a promising plant-based ingredient for functional food development. After ingestion, TREE undergoes metabolism by gut microbiota, generating bioactive postbiotic metabolites (TGMs). TREE/TGMs might be effective against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) - a major cause of diarrhea and intestinal barrier dysfunction.
This study evaluated the antimicrobial and antiadhesive properties of TREE and TGMs using in vitro, postbiotic, and ex vivo microbiota models. TREE showed dose-dependent ETEC inhibition, with complete suppression at 5 mg/mL. At lower concentrations, both TREE and TGMs delayed the lag phase, reduced growth rate, and impaired adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells. Notably, TGMs retained activity in complex environments such as fecal water and microbiota cultures, though efficacy varied with microbiota composition.
These findings support the potential of TREE in functional foods or dietary supplements targeting gut health and ETEC-related disorders
Evoking of the Silenced Memories of Russo-Chechen Wars in the Context of Internal Tourism
No full textThis paper proposes a differentiative approach to analyzing Russian society by highlighting the different vantage points within the multi-national nature of contemporary Russia, its complex imperial legacy, and territorial variations. Focusing on how coloniality as condition reveals itself in tourist settings in Chechnya, it examines the evaluations of the region generated by tourists and their encounters with its sensitive past. The article also seeks to illuminate an important intersection between the geopolitics of tourism and memory politics by exploring the mechanisms of evoking a “forgotten,” politically challenging past on the individual level
South–South security cooperation and the (re)making of global security governance
No full textThis article introduces the Special Issue ‘South–South Security Cooperation and the (Re)making of Global Security Governance’. The contributions explore security-driven South–South interactions across the globe, assessing empirical, theoretical, and normative aspects. Our aim is to decentre debates on global security governance, traditionally focused on Northern-led cooperation, and to move beyond simplistic and simplifying assessments of South–South engagements. The Special Issue particularly highlights the ambiguities of South–South security cooperation, including varying degrees of global North involvement and differing interpretations of ‘security’ and ‘South–South’ among the involved actors. The contributions examine the practical outlook, normative consequences, and embeddedness of these cooperations within global hierarchies, and their implications for global security governance. This article sets the stage for this endeavor. Unpacking the categories ‘South’, ‘security’, and ‘cooperation’, we first provide a working definition of South–South security cooperation. Next, we offer a historical perspective, emphasising the role of legacy effects, institutional structures, geopolitical junctures, and international hierarchies in shaping South–South security cooperation. The concluding section presents the contributions to the special issue and discusses the implications of South–South security cooperation for understanding contemporary changes in global security governance
Exploring the diversity within EANA and AbGradE as mirror of the European astrobiology community
No full textSince its foundation in 2001, EANA (European Astrobiology Network Association, http://www.eana-net.eu/) has organized annual meetings to foster and strengthen the astrobiology community within Europe. The growth of the European astrobiology community over the years is reflected not only in the growing participation at the annual EANA meeting but also in the foundation of the graduate network AbGradE (Astrobiology Graduates in Europe, https://abgrade.eu/) with many activities, meetings and workshops organized since 2014, including several joint events with EPEC (the EuroPlanet Early Career network), as well as the foundation of the European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) in 2019.
The EANA Executive Council consists of national representatives from currently 21 European (and affiliated) countries with active astrobiology groups, networks or societies, as well as representatives of the early-career AbGradE network. The EANA network and especially the Executive Council therefore directly promote a broad and diverse representation of many career stages as well as nationalities including normally underrepresented countries. After more than two decades of a formal astrobiology network in Europe, it is time to explore and evaluate the actual obtained diversity within EANA and AbGradE with respect to nationality, gender and career status of our members based on our annual meeting participation, and to reflect on future measures to further improve the diversity and inclusiveness of our networks and events.
We find that while our annual events are very diverse with respect to career stage, gender and research disciplines, a few aspects leave room for improvement, including especially a more balanced representation of different countries with astrobiology research within Europe and beyond. We discuss different equality, diversity and inclusivity measures that can be implemented for future EANA and AbGradE meetings in Europe to better represent the full astrobiology community within our networks