Peer Reviewed Electronic ISSN: 3079-2959

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Showing matching articles 1 - 10 of 10 items
Open Access Pages: 1-16

Ethical Challenges and Considerations in One Health Approaches to Emerging Infectious Diseases: A Descriptive Review

Shoaib Shafqat, Zahid Shahbaz, Rahmeen Ajaz, Hafiz Shaheer Ahmad
Abstract

The One Health framework has emerged as a central paradigm for addressing emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) by recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Despite increasing global adoption, the ethical dimensions of One Health remain conceptually fragmented and inconsistently operationalized across research, governance, and policy. This descriptive review synthesizes ethical challenges associated with One Health approaches to EIDs across six interrelated domains: animal ethics and welfare, public health ethics, environmental and planetary ethics, governance and policy, research ethics in outbreak settings, and emerging ethical frameworks. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and conceptual scholarship, the review identifies four major cross-cutting ethical tensions. First, anthropocentric priorities continue to dominate One Health implementation, subordinating animal welfare and ecological integrity to human-centered outcomes. Second, tensions between collective welfare and individual rights become acute during outbreaks, imposing disproportionate burdens on marginalized populations. Third, persistent distributive, procedural, and epistemic injustices shape global and local responses, especially affecting low- and middle-income countries, indigenous communities, and non-human populations. Fourth, a substantial implementation gap exists between the articulation of ethical principles and their translation into enforceable institutional practice. The review further incorporates emerging ethical challenges related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within One Health contexts, empirical evidence from major outbreaks including COVID-19, Ebola, and avian influenza, and perspectives from Global South scholarship to address equity dimensions. Emerging frameworks, including One Health Ethics, Planetary Health Ethics, ethics of care, indigenous relational ethics, and epistemic justice approaches, offer promising foundations for more inclusive governance, yet remain insufficiently integrated into operational decision-making. The review argues that One Health ethics must evolve into a rigorous interdisciplinary field supported by practical governance tools, equitable research frameworks, transparent accountability mechanisms, and inclusive policymaking. Without such developments, the transformative potential of One Health will remain ethically and institutionally constrained. 

Open Access Pages: 13-28

Transforming Cancer Care by Transitioning from Traditional Chemotherapy to Advanced CAR-T Cell Immunotherapy

Zeeshan Ahmad Bhutta, Ayesha Kanwal, Tahreem Kanwal
Abstract

The treatment for cancer has undergone a paradigm shift in recent years due to the introduction of cellular-based targeted therapies and immunotherapy, particularly Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cell Therapy. This narrative review examines the biology of how CARs function, along with the advances made in the development of CAR construct design over the last 3 decades. These advances include the addition of co-stimulatory signals such as CD28 and 4-1BB in the new generation CARs that improved T Cell proliferation and longevity. There have been multiple different Cancer types that have demonstrated a high degree of effectiveness using CAR-T Cell therapy, and the US FDA has approved the use of CAR-T Cell therapies for treatment of certain hematological malignancies, specifically B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. However, there remains a significant limitation for the use of CAR-T Cell therapies for solid tumor therapies. Three major limitations preventing CAR-T Cell therapies from being used as an effective treatment for solid tumors include the existence of an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), the physical barriers preventing T Cells from migrating to tumor sites, as well as tumor antigen heterogeneity preventing treatment efficacy. This review discusses potential emerging modalities for overcoming some of these limitations, including the development of "armored" CAR-T Cells, the use of multi-antigen targeting strategies to prevent antigen escape, and the development of combinatorial approaches to modulate the TME. Lastly, this review discusses future opportunities in the development of CAR-T Cell therapies, including the development of "off-the-shelf" allogeneic CAR-T Cells, in vivo gene delivery systems to create CAR-T Cells, and gene editing via CRISPR/Cas9 systems to increase the safety profile of CAR-T Cells and expand their therapeutic application beyond blood cancers.

Open Access Pages: 1-7

CRISPR in Cancer Biology and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Therapy: Precision Genome Editing at the Frontier of Oncology and Viral Pathogenesis

Jindong Gao, Mengdi Zhang, Linjia Gao, Lei Kuang, Tuniyazi Maimaiti, Ling Zhao, Qinghua Shang, Changmin Hu
Abstract

CRISPR has become a revolutionary tool for cancer biology and therapy with unprecedented precision for genome editing. Besides cancer, CRISPR is also under research for possible use in the treatment of viral diseases, such as Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), a serious livestock problem. Through enabling gene modifications to be made to individual genes, CRISPR is used in identifying oncogenic drivers, characterizing tumor suppressor networks, and designing innovative therapeutics. This review focuses on the various uses of CRISPR for cancer studies with special attention to methods like gene knockout, gene activation, and base editing that each has a great potential for correcting oncogenic mutations and restoring tumor suppressor activity. Moreover, CRISPR's capacity to regulate viral replication, as that of BVDV, signifies its dual role in oncology as well as in viral pathogenesis. Interventions based on CRISPR such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy and synthetic lethality are essentially revolutionizing cancer therapy by improving immune responses and capitalizing on the specificity that is characteristic of cancer cells. However, off-target effects, tumor heterogeneity, and ethical dilemmas remain onerous challenges for clinical application. CRISPR delivery systems, despite playing a central role in advancing cancer therapies, also have prospects in optimizing the effectiveness of treatment against viral pathogens like BVDV. Advances in delivery systems using nanoparticles and viral vectors are mitigating against these challenges and improving efficacy and specificity of CRISPR reagent in vivo. In addition to this, continued progress in new technologies such as prime editing and base editing is predicted to improve precision and efficacy of CRISPR-based therapy. Since CRISPR technology is continuously developing, CRISPR's potential to treat both cancer and viral infections, like BVDV, simultaneously will be instrumental in precision medicine. This review highlights the revolutionary potential of CRISPR to revolutionize cancer treatment paradigms and brings hope for more effective and individualized therapy. With potential developments to emergent and potentiated CRISPR tools and reagents, it is predicted that they will play a center stage role in precision oncology and promote better patient results.

Open Access Pages: 1-17

From probiotics to fermentation: A review of microbes in food and supplements

Ijaz Usman Ali, Sibgha Tul Fatima, Hina Naz, Ahmad Waheed
Abstract

Microorganisms have a crucial role in processing food and preservation, as well as enhancing the nutritional and sensory qualities of food products. Microorganisms are utilized as additives for altering the nature of a substance and have a significant role in fermentation. Molds (e.g., Penicillium roqueforti and Geotrichum candidum), yeasts (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and lactic acid bacteria are used to increase the shelf life of foodstuffs and the nutritional quality of processed foods in the fermentation process. Acetic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria are used in applied microbiology to increase the flavor of different manufactured foods. Further, bacteria, in the form of probiotics, are involved in the processing of food. Various strains of different bacteria are used as probiotics to increase the quality and preservation of foodstuffs. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are used to produce prebiotics and postbiotics as well. This article discusses the many ways that microorganisms may be added to food and supplements such as probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and symbiotics in order to fulfill the world's food demand and make up for the scarcity of arable land. It also discusses the future prospects and challenges of this field.

Open Access Pages: 18-29

Unveiling the Hidden Link of Biosecurity in Preventing Vaccine Failure in Livestock: An Updated Review

Arooba Fatima, Maaria Raheel Spaul, Hira Khan, Muhammad Muneeb, Mian Muhammad Awais, Zahid Kamran, Zeeshan Ahmad Bhutta
Abstract

The growing global population has amplified the demand for food, making the international trade of livestock a significant threat to animal and public health due to the increased risk of zoonotic disease transmission through animal movement or the consumption of their products. Biosecurity measures (BSMs) and vaccination are two essential tools that, when effectively implemented, can significantly reduce the spread of diseases from livestock. However, their failure not only escalates the burden of disease but also compromises food security and public health. Weak or poorly enforced BSMs can undermine the efficacy of vaccinations, creating challenges against disease prevention efforts. Conversely, robust BSMs such as nutritional and environmental management, routine monitoring of disease, farm management, and hygiene provide a critical foundation for successful vaccination programs by minimizing disease exposure and ensuring vaccine effectiveness. Inappropriate vaccination administration, inadequate cold chain management, and the frequency of immunosuppressive illnesses are also reported as contributing factors to vaccine failure. This review delves into the interconnected roles of BSMs and vaccination, unveiling the importance of the implementation of biosecurity principles in preventing vaccine failure. It also explores how the integration of biosecurity practices and vaccination strengthens animal health systems, mitigates zoonotic risks, and enhances overall food safety. Future research should concentrate on integrated biosecurity techniques by strengthening on-farm biosecurity protocols, proper handling and administration of vaccines, careful disease surveillance, and awareness programs thereby increasing the resilience of our livestock industry against notable diseases.

Open Access Pages: 18-28

Beyond Brain-Eating Amoebas: Current Insights into Naegleria fowleri Identification, Prevalence, and Treatment

Ijaz Usman Ali, Muhammad Shoaib Akhtar, Hina Naz, Ahmad Waheed, Ijaz Ahmad, Jawad Ahmad, Inam Ullah, Muhammad Mumtaz Tahir, Feruza Ravshanovna Zokirova
Abstract

Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” is an opportunistic, free-living protozoan responsible for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but almost invariably fatal infection of the central nervous system. This thermophilic amoeba thrives in warm freshwater environments such as lakes, hot springs, and poorly maintained swimming pools. It can survive under high temperatures, making it more prevalent in regions with warm climates and developed countries, including Australia, Europe, and the United States. This review summarizes current evidence on the global prevalence, clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and treatment strategies related to N. fowleri infections. Epidemiological data indicate that approximately 26.4% of global freshwater sources contain Naegleria species, with the highest prevalence recorded in the Americas at 33.2%. Infected individuals typically present with acute symptoms such as severe headache, high fever (101–105°F), neck stiffness, seizures, altered mental status, and coma, with disease progression often resulting in death within one to two weeks of symptom onset. Despite advances in supportive care and antimicrobial therapy, the case fatality rate remains over 90%. Conventional diagnostic methods include microscopy, culture, serology, imaging, and molecular techniques such as real-time PCR; however, delays in diagnosis often hamper timely treatment. Therapeutic regimens traditionally involve a combination of antifungal and antimicrobial agents, including amphotericin B, azoles, azithromycin, and miltefosine. Although amphotericin B is considered the gold standard due to its potent amoebicidal activity at concentrations as low as 0.01 μg/ml, its poor solubility and high toxicity can cause significant adverse effects such as nephrotoxicity, hematologic complications, and systemic symptoms like headache, vomiting, and fever. Additionally, in vitro studies have shown that N. fowleri may develop resistance to miltefosine at concentrations up to 40 μg/ml. This review underscores the critical need for early and accurate diagnostic tools, safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives, and greater public awareness to prevent exposure and improve patient survival. Further research is urgently required to develop novel treatment options and reduce the devastating impact of this neglected but deadly pathogen.

Open Access Pages: 1-12

Parasites as drivers of host diversification, including domestication

Janko Skok
Abstract

Parasites are ubiquitous evolutionary agents that, among other things, drive the diversification of hosts. This could also apply to animal domestication, one of the most striking evolutionary processes generating phenotypic diversity, which has recently been proposed as a parasite-mediated process (“The parasites-mediated domestication hypothesis”, PMD). The PMD is based on the fact that parasites can alter the (neuro)endocrine system (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, gut-brain axis, thyroid secretion, etc.), influence gene expression and ontogenetic systems, including neural crest cell development, and thus modulate physiological, behavioural and developmental components underlying the domestication. In this article, domestication is therefore placed in the context of parasite-driven diversification. The rationale for the parasite-mediated domestication process and associated diversification is supported by explanations of possible underlying mechanisms in light of the pioneering work of the Belyaev fox experiment and the later proposed hypothesis on the role of neural crest cells. Finally, a framework for plausible comparative and experimental approaches to test the PMD is proposed. Placing domestication in the context of the parasite-driven host diversification process provides a broad perspective for future research in the field of animal evolution and domestication.

Open Access Pages: 16-17

Wildlife Conservation with The Impact of Human Activities

Samina Shabbir, Mohsin Nawaz, Maryam Riaz, Ramsha Gul, Sonia Munawar, Khadija Zainab, Nosheen Sarwar
Abstract

The continuing devastation of natural habitats is still one of the most important and acute challenges that wildlife conservation programs are presented with in the contemporary world. The insistent encroachment of agricultural lands, the irrepressible expansion of urban areas, and the widespread deforestation for various uses, including logging and mining activities, has all contributed heavily to the destruction and subdivision of critical biotas that are necessary for sustaining a rich diversity of forms of life. With the human population expanding continuously at unprecedented levels, it is almost inevitable that the rate of contacts between humans and a rich diversity of animal forms increases proportionally. This increased contact between humans and a large number of animal forms causes a substantial increase in rates of disease transmission among different animal populations that also brings with it the potential for those diseases to get transmitted to humans. Therefore, this highlights disease monitoring and management as important and priority domains of wildlife conservation programs that are necessary for containing and reducing risks posed by these diseases. Early detection of outbreaks of emergent diseases by properly organized and effective monitoring programs can be capable of having a pivotal role to play in preventing future epidemics by allowing for instantaneous and effective responses to be taken everywhere and anywhere that they are required.

Open Access Pages: 2-15

A Narrative Review on The Beneficial Effects of Lactobacillus Probiotics Against Necrotic Enteritis in Poultry

Sehar Razzaq, Qazal Hina, Muhammad Muneeb, Rana Haider Ali, Arooj Fatima, Muhammad Asnan, Waqar Iqbal, Muhammad Tahir Sarfraz Khan
Abstract

Necrotic enteritis is an important disease of poultry that causes economic loss to the broiler industry. Clostridium perfringens is an important bacterium that is responsible for causing necrotic enteritis. Antibiotics are mainly used to control C. perfringens but due to resistance antibiotics are banned in many countries like Canada, Hong Kong, and the European Union. Many alternatives such as probiotics, essential oils, and postbiotics have been developed to control C. perfringens. Among them, probiotics are very important because they can increase beneficial bacteria in the intestine, create a competitive environment in the gut region, and prevent the adhesion and colonization of pathogenic bacteria such as C. perfringens. Probiotics cause immune system modulation, reducing inflammatory markers such as cytokines. Lactobacillus based probiotics also cause weight gain, improve feed conversion ratio, and decrease mortality in poultry which in turn increase profit margin. Several studies have reported that when poultry populations were challenged with C. perfringens then these probiotics prevented intestinal lesions, provided anti-inflammatory effects to the intestine, prevented damage to the villi, and did not allow C. perfringens to form its colony in the intestine. The main aim of this review paper is to explain the updated information on necrotic enteritis, the damages caused to the gut, and the mechanism of actions through which Lactobacilli work against C. perfringens.