ScienceRise: Biological Science

Characteristics of the structure and composition of the oropharyngeal microbiota in patients with acute tonsillitis depending on smoking status

Nataliia Kravets — 2025-09-30

The aim of the study was to compare alpha and beta diversity indices, assess the overall structure and identify taxa of the oropharyngeal microbiota in patients with acute tonsillitis under the influence of smoking.

Materials and methods. 54 samples of oropharyngeal swabs from patients with acute tonsillitis were analyzed, which were divided into groups, namely Group 1 (26 people), who smoked, and Group 2 (28 people), who did not smoke. To assess alpha diversity, the Shannon, Simpson, Pielu, Fisher and Chao-1 indices were used, for beta diversity, the Whittaker, Harrison, Wilson-Schmidt and Bray-Curtis indices. The PAST v.4.03 program was used with PERMANOVA, ANOSIM (9999 permutations) and SIMPER statistical analysis.

Results. Analysis of the results of alpha-diversity indices did not reveal statistically significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). The results of beta-diversity indices demonstrated a greater diversity of microbial communities in group 1 (smokers) (Whittaker indices 3.59 vs. 3.05; Harrison indices 0.33 vs. 0.28). The results of multivariate analyses (PERMANOVA, ANOSIM) did not reveal statistically significant differences in the structure of the microbiome of patients with tonsillitis (p > 0.05). SIMPER analysis demonstrated that α-hemolytic streptococci (20.28%), Neisseria spp. (19.59%) belong to taxa responsible for 74.58% of the total intergroup differentiation of the oropharynx, however, they show different colonization densities (5.15 in smokers vs. 4.96 in non-smokers for α-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. and 1.50 in smokers vs. 2.21 in non-smokers for Neisseria spp.)

Conclusion. Regardless of smoking status, the oropharyngeal microbiota of patients with acute tonsillitis is characterized by taxa similarity. However, in patients who smoke, increased variability of microbial communities is observed, in particular, a decrease in commensal bacteria of the genus Corynebacterium spp., a tendency to increase β-hemolytic streptococci and the appearance of fungi of the genus Candida spp., which may affect the course of the inflammatory process

Evolution of insulin production technologies: from historical discoveries of the molecule structure to modern innovations

Olha Kaliuzhnaia — 2025-09-30

The aim of the study is to assess the current state of the pharmaceutical market for insulins, including historical stages of studying the structure of the insulin molecule and its properties, which formed the basis for the development of commercial preparations and analogs, as well as analysis of promising biotechnological approaches to improve the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials and methods. The materials used were scientific publications, official websites of manufacturing companies, FDA and EMA databases, clinical trial registries. Methods of content analysis, comparative, analytical, and generalization of information were applied.

Results and discussion. The results indicate that recombinant insulin preparations (from rapid-acting analogs to long-acting ones) provide better glycemic control but are limited by high development and production costs. Innovations include combined preparations with GLP-1 agonists, glucose-sensitive insulins, and oral forms, which face bioavailability challenges.

Conclusions. The analysis points to the evolution of insulin production technologies from determining the molecule structure and implementing recombinant DNA technologies, which enabled the transition to human recombinant preparations and analogs. The market offers preparations with various profiles (from ultra-rapid to ultra-long), including biphasic mixtures, improving glycemic control. Combinations of insulin with GLP-1 agonists, amylin analogs (pramlintide), and the development of glucose-sensitive insulins have potential for personalized therapy but are limited by technical challenges (stability, biocompatibility). Oral forms face low bioavailability, but the use of nanotechnology and effective excipients opens prospects for improving accessibility and effectiveness of DM treatment

Strategies for combating antibiotic resistance: seeking new solutions

Yevheniia Vashchyk — 2025-09-30

The aim: study of innovative world strategies of fight with antibiotic resistance.

Materials and methods. The study was conducted by analyzing available scientific literature, open sources in the databases Google Scholar, PubMed, Clarivate, Web of Science, Scopus, etc., as well as the results of our own research.

The results. The Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, developed by WHO, was approved in 2015, and in 2023, it was found that 134 out of 194 countries, including Ukraine, which is 69% of the world's countries, had officially adopted national action plans. However, today there are difficulties in effective communication between all countries and the full implementation of the Global Plan, national action plans due to the fact that developing countries have limited resources for the necessary measures. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes are extremely dangerous for human health, which can be compared to a time bomb. Therefore, the fight against antimicrobial resistance requires the consolidation of the work of various industries and should be based on the following areas: the development of partnership programs to optimize the use of antibiotics; the introduction of effective intelligent control and prevention systems; financing programs for the development of new antimicrobial drugs and alternative treatment methods; increased control and intensification of monitoring of the development and spread of resistant microorganisms.

Conclusions. The main reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes are livestock farms, hospitals, sewage treatment plants and agricultural lands, so the strategy to combat antibiotic resistance should be based primarily on One Health approaches. The solutions proposed by scientists to combat antimicrobial resistance - new antibiotics; pro-, pre-, symbiotic drugs; enzymes for the destruction of biofilms, adhesion inhibitors and associated therapy with adjuvants or phages - have a positive effect, but currently still require regulatory intervention for large-scale use. Effective control of antimicrobial resistance requires investment, training of specialists, raising public awareness, comprehensive policies and regulatory systems that ensure a balance between public health protection and the appropriate use of antibiotics