Transmission Of Agents Research Articles

Pioneer of epidemiology and anesthesiology – John Snow (1813–1858)

IntroductionJohn Snow, a British physician of the 19th century, played a pivotal role in challenging prevailing medical beliefs during his time. His groundbreaking studies on the cholera epidemic led to the rejection of the miasma theory and the establishment of the link between contaminated water and the spread of the disease.AimThis study aims to explore the contributions of John Snow to the fields of anaesthesiology and epidemiology, focusing on his significant findings and methodologies.Material and methodsThis study utilizes a literature review approach to examine John Snow's contributions to anaesthesiology and epidemiology. Searches were conducted in databases using relevant keywords, focusing on peer-reviewed articles and authoritative sources. The data was qualitatively synthesized to extract key insights into Snow's methodologies and findings, aiming to provide a brief overview of his impact on medical science.Results and discussion:John Snow (1813-1858) is celebrated as a pioneer in epidemiology and anaesthesiology. He identified contaminated water as the source of the 1854 cholera outbreak in London, establishing the basis for modern epidemiology. Snow's innovative mapping of cholera cases was crucial in controlling the epidemic. He also advanced anaesthetic techniques, notably using chloroform on Queen Victoria during childbirth, improving the safety of anaesthesia. His work remains influential in both fields.Conclusions:John Snow's pioneering work significantly impacted the development of anaesthesiology and epidemiology. His insights into cholera transmission and anaesthetic agents, along with his seminal publication On Chloroform and Other Anaesthetic, continue to inspire advancements in medical science. Snow's legacy underscores the importance of evidence-based medicine and the pursuit of knowledge in addressing public health challenges.

First report of lily mottle virus naturally infecting lily (Lilium asiatica) in Texas, USA.

Lily (Lilium asiatica) is an important plant grown for its range of flower colors and heavy scent. In March 2024, potyvirus-like symptoms consisting of light-yellow mottling and mosaic were noticed on 12/20 lily plants in a private property in Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas. Two symptomatic plants (WTX1 and WTX2) were sampled randomly for virus diagnosis. The leaf extracts of both samples were negative for the potyvirus group using Agdia's Poty ImmunoStrip® (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, IN, USA). However, rub-inoculation of the extracts onto healthy Nicotiana benthamiana and Vigna unguiculata plants (n=4, each) induced mild mottle symptoms on the systemic leaves of both herbaceous test plants 20 to 28 days post inoculation, indicating the presence of a mechanically transmissible agent in the samples. No virus-like symptoms were observed on the mock-inoculated plants (n=1, each) of both species. To test for suspected potyvirus infection, 2-µg of total nucleic acid extracts (Dellaporta et al. 1983) from WTX1 and WTX2 were used for complimentary DNA (cDNA) synthesis with Oligo(dT) primer and the PrimeScript 1st strand cDNA synthesis kit (Takara Bio, USA). One microliter aliquot of each cDNA served as template in 12.5-µl conventional PCR reaction volumes with 5 U Taq polymerase (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN), and two pairs of degenerate primers targeting the partial cylindrical inclusion (CI) gene and the helper component protease (HC-Pro) of potyviruses (Ha et al. 2008). The expected ~700-bp DNA product of each gene target was amplified from both samples. The amplicons were excised, gel eluted (Zymoclean™ Gel DNA Recovery kit) and cloned individually into the pJET1.2/Blunt vector (Life Technologies). Recombinant plasmids from two transformed Escherichia coli cells per cloned DNA insert were Sanger sequenced. BLASTn analysis of each gene-specific nucleotide (nt) sequence fragment revealed their identities (83 to 92 % nt) as lily mottle virus (LMoV; genus Potyvirus) at 93 to 98% query coverage. In pairwise comparison, the obtained sequences of LMoV isolates from TX specific to the CI (GenBank accession nos. PQ037260-61) and the HC-Pro (PQ037262-63) shared ~99% nt and 100% amino acid (aa) identities with each other and ~91-92% nt and 98-100% aa identities with the closest isolate, Bate5 (JN127341) from Australia. Based on these results, a pair of LMoV-specific primers (LM_v109-F: 5'-GGCCAGTAATGTGCACAAGC-3' and LM_c527-R: 5'-TCGCTGTAGCTAGCGACGTAC-3') was newly designed to target the partial CI gene, internal to the 700-bp fragment obtained above with the generic primers. The primer pair was used to screen each of the mechanically inoculated test plants by RT-PCR as previously described above. The expected 438-bp fragment of the LMoV CI gene was amplified from all the inoculated plants of both N. benthamiana and V. unguiculata; the results were confirmed by Sanger sequencing as described above. The mock-inoculated plant of each experimental host plant tested negative for LMoV. LMoV is a quarantine pest and was previously reported in the U.S. (Brierley and Smith, 1944) and other lily-producing parts of the world, such as the Netherlands, China, Korea, and Brazil. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed report of the virus in Texas, thus expanding its geographical range. Testing of lily foundation stocks before propagation is essential to prevent further spread of LMoV via planting material.

Transmission and Agreement: Reading and the Contemporary Northern Irish Novel

Transmission and Agreement: Reading and the Contemporary Northern Irish Novel. This paper evaluates the capacity of the contemporary Northern Irish novel to act as an agent of transmission for a ‘post-Troubles’ readership, one distanced by a generation from the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that symbolised the partial end of sectarian violence. The critic Liam Harte suggests that “no part of modern Europe (if not the world) has greater claim than Northern Ireland to the mantle of most-narrativized region”, but the transmissive function of fictional works in this context remain under-critiqued. Here, I assess the aspirations of novelistic narrative to cater for what Premesh Lalu has described, in the context of post-apartheid South African art forms, as ‘psychic repair’ (Undoing Apartheid, 2023). The essay engages the 2018 novel Milkman, by Northern Irish author Anna Burns, to ask how fictional narrative transmits the detail of the past across a generation first, in parallel to other literary and artistic genres, and second, in relation to an expanding archive of ongoing legal tribunals and government incentives directed towards the production of an ‘official history’ for Northern Ireland. Through attention to the self-conscious foregrounding of forensic reading practice by Burns and fellow writers, I show the necessary place of fictional recovery in the field of political and cultural memory. Keywords: Troubles, Northern Irish fiction, transmission, memory, generation

Gestantes vivendo com HIV e crianças expostas ao HIV em Santa Catarina, dados epidemiológicos de 2015 a 2021

Vertical transmission is the transmission of an infection or disease from the mother to her fetus in the womb or newborn during childbirth. The main routes of contagion are pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. To prevent transmission, all pregnant women should be investigated and monitored during the gestational period, at the time of delivery and in the puerperium. The follow-up of pregnant women in prenatal care includes the performance of several laboratory tests to identify the presence of infectious agents of vertical transmission, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), guiding the treatment of the pregnant woman and avoiding infection of the fetus, also providing guidance on the possibilities of prevention. Considering the high number of HIV cases in the state of Santa Catarina, especially in the Alto Vale Itajaí region, the present study aims to present the epidemiological profile of HIV/AIDS indicators of the population of the state of Santa Catarina, specifically pregnant women and children exposed to HIV, in the period from 2015 to 2021. It is an epidemiological, retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of a historical series, also presenting information on the factors involved in vertical transmission of HIV and prevention strategies. The parameters evaluated in this study, collected from the Epidemiological Indicators Panel of the Department of Chronic Conditions Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections, were: number of children exposed to HIV, age of children exposed to HIV, number of HIV-infected pregnant women (GVHIV) and monitoring of these in relation to HIV viral load (CV) and CD4+ T lymphocyte count (CD4+) at the beginning of antiretroviral therapy. Although the systematization of the number of pregnant women with HIV and children exposed to the virus in the state of Santa Catarina shows annual differences in the period evaluated, the trend line referring to the number of GVHIV shows a small increase over the years, while the trend line for the number of children exposed to the virus reveals a slight decrease, which can be elucidated by the expansion of the health team and the improvement in surveillance in the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV that has occurred over the years. The percentage of pregnant women with HIV VC lower than 50 copies/mL showed a gradual increase in the years evaluated, while the percentage with VC greater than 50 copies/mL showed a decrease. During the period evaluated in this study, less than 50% of the GVHIV had a CD4+ count and, among these, approximately 20% had CD4+ less than 350 cells/mm³ at the beginning of antiretroviral therapy. Failure to perform CD4+ counts may be related to an increase in the number of pregnant women with a VC of less than 50 copies/mL. Thus, CD4+ counts would be performed primarily in pregnant women with VC greater than 50 copies/mL and part of them with greater depletion of this cell type. In summary, this study shows the evolution of the treatment and follow-up offered to GVHIV and, consequently, to their children. It also reinforces the importance of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prenatal follow-up strategies.

Climate change is aggravating dengue and yellow fever transmission risk

Dengue and yellow fever have complex cycles, involving urban and sylvatic mosquitoes, and non‐human primate hosts. To date, efforts to assess the effect of climate change on these diseases have neglected the combination of such crucial factors. Recent studies only considered urban vectors. This is the first study to include them together with sylvatic vectors and the distribution of primates to analyse the effect of climate change on these diseases. We used previously published models, based on machine learning algorithms and fuzzy logic, to identify areas where climatic favourability for the relevant transmission agents could change: 1) favourable areas for the circulation of the viruses due to the environment and to non‐human primate distributions; 2) the favourability for urban and sylvatic vectors. We obtained projections of future transmission risk for two future periods and for each disease, and implemented uncertainty analyses to test for predictions reliability. Areas currently favourable for both diseases could keep being climatically favourable, while global favourability could increase a 7% for yellow fever and a 10% increase for dengue. Areas likely to be more affected in the future for dengue include West Africa, South Asia, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and the Amazon basin. A possible spread of dengue could take place into Europe, the Mediterranean basin, the UK and Portugal; and, in Asia, into northern China. For yellow fever, climate could become more favourable in Central and Southeast Africa; India; and in north and southeast South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. In Brazil, favourability for yellow fever will probably increase in the south, the west and the east. Areas where the transmission risk spread is consistent to the dispersal of vectors are highlighted in respect of areas where the expected spread is directly attributable to environmental changes. Both scenarios could involve different prevention strategies.

Phase I/II trial of healthy donor fecal microbiota transplant (hdFMT) in PD-1 relapsed/refractory (R/R) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

TPS8648 Background: A significant portion of patients (pts) with advanced NSCLC either do not respond or become refractory to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy administered alone or in combination with platinum chemotherapy. In addition to tumor-intrinsic mechanisms supporting resistance to anti-PD-1, the gut microbiome is a major tumor-extrinsic regulator of responses to anti-PD-1. In mice, gut microbiota modulate therapeutic activity of anti-PD-1 ICI, and administration of gut commensals or responder-derived fecal microbiota transplantation (R-FMT) promotes anti-PD-1 efficacy. Longitudinal analyses of gut microbiome samples from ICI-treated cancer pts suggests key bacterial species are associated with favorable response, although limited concordance among the identified species has been reported across studies. We and others have previously demonstrated that microbiome modulation reversed anti-PD-1 resistance in anti-PD-1 R/R melanoma, and augmented benefit of anti-PD-1 monotherapy in ICI-naïve melanoma. We hypothesize that intestinal dysbiosis mediates anti-PD-1 resistance in anti-PD-1 R/R NSCLC, and that hdFMT may resensitize NSCLC to PD-1 blockade. Methods: This is an investigator-initiated, phase II trial of hdFMT with pembrolizumab (P) in pts with R/R NSCLC progressed on prior anti-PD-1 based therapy alone or in combination with platinum chemotherapy. Pts must have measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, no untreated CNS metastases, and no contraindications to FMT administration. hdFMT is derived from non-obese, healthy, adults aged ≥18 to <70, with no chronic diseases, and no recent antibiotic exposure. Donors are screened broadly for transmissible agents including SARS-CoV-2 using bookend screening. hdFMT is processed to make fecal infusates and orally bioavailable capsules. Eligible pts receive P 200mg every 3 weeks (Q3W). hdFMT is administered endoscopically on D1, and D42, and thereafter via capsules until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Response is assessed at D73, and thereafter Q12W. Pts undergo tumor biopsies at baseline and at W8, with optional post-progression biopsy. Primary endpoint: overall response rate (ORR) assessed using RECIST v1.1 by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR). Secondary endpoints include: safety, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and landmark PFS/OS. Key translational endpoints include immune activation (tumor tissue, blood), metagenomic engraftment, and transcriptomic analyses of intestinal luminal myeloid cells and exfoliome. The null hypothesis that the true ORR is 5% will be tested versus a 1-sided alternative hypothesis of ≥25%, using Simon’s minimax two-stage design (type I error 0.04, power 0.9, when true response rate is 0.25). PFS and OS will be estimated via Kaplan-Meier method. Enrollment has commenced. Clinical trial information: NCT05669846 .

Prevalence of HBV Co-infections with HCV and HIV among Blood Donors in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Blood is a life-saving resource. Despite the significance of blood transfusion in saving a millions life in emergencies and medical treatment, the safety of blood transfusion faced challenges of transmitting life threatening transfusion transmissible infectious agents such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The study was carried out to determine the sero-prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV and co-infections among blood donors in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A total of five hundred (500) prospective blood donors age ranged from 18 to 60 years attending Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital between May to November, 2019 were recruited for the study. Prospective study was based on questionnaires administered to generate socio-demographics and a 5ml venous blood samples were obtained from each blood donors and the plasma was used for determination of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV using immunoassay rapid test kit (RTK) Diaspot, Belgium and HIV-1 and HIV-2 Determine Alere Medical ,Japan and further tested with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Biorad Monolisa, France). The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV were 4.8%, 1.2% and 1.8% respectively, while co-infections with HBV/ HIV and HBV/HCV were 0.2% and 0.2% respectively and there was no case of triple infections among the blood donors. The incidence rate was high in HBV followed by HIV and HCV. The use of RTK and ELISA for screening of blood donor for HBsAg, anti HCV and HIV in terms of their sensitively and specificity showed that ELISA is more sensitive than RTK while RTK is more specific than ELISA. From the retrospective study age and gender distribution was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A significance difference was observed between married blood donors and HIV infection (P < 0.05) and also blood donors with history of blood transfusion showed statistical significant to HBV and HCV (P < 0.05). The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infections among blood donors were found to be statistically associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, surgical operation, multiple sex partners and tattooing (P < 0.05). This study shows that the prevalence of HBV infection in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State ,Nigeria was higher than HCV and HIV, hence there is need to increase public awareness of the socio-cultural practices that contribute to the transmission of infection.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion diseases.

Prion diseases share common clinical and pathological characteristics such as spongiform neuronal degeneration and deposition of an abnormal form of ahost-derived protein, termed prion protein. The characteristic features of prion diseases are long incubation times, short clinical courses, extreme resistance of the transmissible agent to degradation and lack of nucleic acid involvement. Sporadic and genetic forms of prion diseases occur worldwide, of which genetic forms are associated with mutations in PRNP. Human to human transmission of these diseases has occurred due to iatrogenic exposure, and zoonotic forms of prion diseases are linked to bovine disease. Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis of these disorders. Clinical tools for diagnosis comprise brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid tests. Aggregation assays for detection of the abnormally folded prion protein have a clear potential to diagnose the disease in peripherally accessible biofluids. After decades of therapeutic nihilism, new treatment strategies and clinical trials are on the horizon. Although prion diseases are relatively rare disorders, understanding their pathogenesis and mechanisms of prion protein misfolding has significantly enhanced the field in research of neurodegenerative diseases.

Climate change affects the spread of typhoid pathogens.

Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (Salmonella Typhi). Syndromes in patients vary from asymptomatic carriers to severe or death outcomes, which are frequently reported in African and Southeast Asian countries. It is one of the most common waterborne transmission agents, whose transmission is likely impacted by climate change. Here, we claimed the evidence and consequences of climate-related foodborne and waterborne diseases have increased and provided possible mitigations against Typhoidal Salmonella dissemination.

Mothers as nation-building agents in Kazakhstan: the effect of neoliberalism

With one-third of the population being children, Kazakhstan is a young state that now has a life-turning moment. High share of children may be both a curse and an opportunity for the country to strive and flourish, and it depends highly on the interaction of the many actors that influence development of children. In Kazakhstan, traditional perception of gender roles in family led to the disbalanced and increased role of mothers in raising children, and, thus, making them the primary and the main agents of national code and values transmission. Simultaneously, global neoliberalization of all spheres of life led to the responsibilization of mothers not only for moral upbringing, but also for most of strategically important decisions that shape their future lives. Eventually, it is mothers who create and define the new citizens. In my study, I focused on 3 generations of mothers in 3 families to see the transforming perceptions of their role in nation-building processes, what values they believe necessary for developing in their children, how neoliberalism affected their engagement in the children’s lives, and whether social class has an influence on nation-building in Kazakhstan. The results showed that the perception of a mother’s role is changing through generations, and now raising children is considered totally a private matter. Mothers of the last generation are primary and only decision-makers about their kids – sometimes sharing this only with their husband. This may be beneficial for government in short terms, because such mothers don’t expect any support from state, but in the long run this may lead to the decreased sense of belonging to a country in their children.

Trabalho na pandemia da covid-19: estratégias de enfrentamento e repercussões entre os profissionais da saúde

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop a theoretical model about frontline care work during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the ways of coping and the repercussions on the health of the professionals involved. This is a qualitative research with a methodological reference of Grounded Theory in the structuralist approach of Strauss and Corbin, carried out in a university hospital. With theoretical sampling of the population and formation of two sample groups, 24 professionals participated, including nurses, physiotherapists, doctors and nursing technicians. Data collection was carried out with in-depth interviews. Data analysis occurred through open, axial and selective coding, using the Atlas Ti 22.0 software. The results achieved made it possible to elucidate the theoretical model with the central category Working on the care frontline in the COVID-19 pandemic’, supported by five categories, according to the paradigmatic circumstances of the conditions; action/interaction; and the consequences. The theoretical model developed may contribute to the planning and development of institutional strategies for coping with critical periods, characterized by increased demand for health services, the presence of a highly transmissible etiological agent and, mainly, impact on the health of professionals, with suffering and illnesses among those involved in the care front line.

Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Vertically Transmitted Viruses in Ducks.

To investigate the distribution and genetic variation in four vertically transmitted duck pathogens, including duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), duck circovirus (DuCV), duck hepatitis A virus 3 (DHAV-3), and avian reoviruses (ARV), we conducted an epidemiology study using PCR and RT-PCR assays on a duck population. We found that DHBV was the most prevalent virus (69.74%), followed by DuCV (39.48%), and then ARV (19.92%) and DHAV-3 (8.49%). Among the 271 duck samples, two, three or four viruses were detected in the same samples, indicating that the coinfection of vertical transmission agents is common in ducks. The genetic analysis results showed that all four identified DuCV strains belonged to genotype 1, the DHAV-3 strain was closely clustered with previously identified strains from China, and the ARV stain was clustered under genotype 1. These indicate that different viral strains are circulating among the ducks. Our findings will improve the knowledge of the evolution of DuCV, DHAV-3, and ARV, and help choose suitable strains for vaccination.

The design and psychometric evaluation of a COVID-19 social stigma questionnaire in nurses

BackgroundThe patient’s fear of social reactions, the disease stigma, and being a transmission agent is a psychological and social consequence of contracting some diseases, especially infectious ones, in any society. The present study aimed to design and psychometrically evaluate a COVID-19 social stigma questionnaire in nurses.MethodsThis mixed-method study was conducted using a sequential exploratory approach according to the Creswell method in Mazandaran Province (Iran) during 2021-22. The study was performed in three phases: (1) a qualitative phase to explain the key concept, (2) designing the scale items, and (3) an experimental phase with the scale psychometric evaluation. In the first phase, nurses’ experiences regarding the concept of COVID-19 social stigma were evaluated using a qualitative method with an inductive qualitative content analysis approach. In this phase, the lived experiences of 12 nurses working at hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences were extracted through in-depth interviews with semi-structured questions and analyzed by conventional content analysis. The main classes are contradictory feelings, rejection, and adaptation strategies. In the second phase, the designed items were validated by determining face validity, content validity, and construct validity using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In addition, the scale’s reliability was determined through internal consistency and stability.ResultsFollowing the study’s first phase, a pool of questions with 64 initial items was formed. After evaluating face and content validity, the number of items was reduced to 24 cases. An excellent total content validity (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.93 was calculated for the scale. According to EFA outputs, three factors accounted for the most variance (52.82%), and four items were excluded in this phase. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) statistic and Bartlett’s test of sphericity were calculated at 0.776 and P < 0.001, respectively. The results of Cronbach’s alpha (0.796) and intraclass correlation (0.793) indicated the correlation and internal consistency of the scale.ConclusionThis scale can help healthcare managers and policymakers apply necessary protective measures by evaluating the social stigma of COVID-19 in nurses and emerging infectious diseases that may occur in the future.

The Cultural Impact of Video Games: A Systematic Review of the Literature

The growing relevance of video games in the social landscape requires an in-depth evaluation of the bidirectional influences of these adjacent contexts, among which the educational and cultural contexts stand out. This permeability allows the study of the cultural aspects surrounding the production and use of video games as tools for cultural dissemination. Our research enunciates, recognises, analyses and evaluates the impact of these tools with the aim of being taken into consideration by the scientific community and the general population, who most frequently consume, use and socialise through video games around the world. Based on this, a systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out using the Prisma 2020 Protocol, using the WOS and SCOPUS databases as documentary sources, and the selection of research articles that explore the cultural aspects of video games according to pre-established criteria. The final sample (N = 45) was subjected to a study that posed 12 research questions around which this work is structured. As a result, it is evident that video games have a direct impact on the transmission of culture. Patterns and agents of cultural representation, transmission and communication were identified, allowing researchers to evaluate the impact of video games on culture and to approach this object of study from an academic perspective, helping to open up other lines of research related to the influence of video games on the assimilation of culture, the learning of relevant issues related to it or the transmission of specific cultural elements.

Ovine placental explants: A new ex vivo model to study host‒pathogen interactions in reproductive pathogens

Reproductive failure is one of the main performance constraints in ruminant livestock. Transmissible agents such as Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are commonly involved in the occurrence of abortion in ruminants, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. While in vivo models are optimal for the study of abortion pathogenesis, they have a high economic cost and come with ethical concerns. Unfortunately, alternative in vitro models fail to replicate the complex in vivo placental structure. To overcome the limitations of currently available models, we developed an ex vivo model based on the cultivation of fresh and cryopreserved sheep placental explants, enabling the biobanking of tissues. Reproducible and simple markers of tissue integrity (histology, RNA concentrations), viability (resazurin reduction), and functionality (synthesis of steroid hormones) were also investigated, allowing a clear quality assessment of the model. This work shows that, similar to fresh explants, tissues cryopreserved in ethylene glycol using slow freezing rates maintain not only their structure and function but also their receptivity to T. gondii and N. caninum infection. In addition, the findings demonstrate that explant lifespan is mainly limited by the culture method, with protocols requiring improvements to extend it beyond 2 days. These findings suggest that cryopreserved tissues can be exploited to study the initial host‒pathogen interactions taking place in the placenta, thus deepening the knowledge of the specific mechanisms that trigger reproductive failure in sheep. Importantly, this work paves the way for the development of similar models in related species and contributes to the reduction of experimental animal use in the future.

A discovery down under: decoding the draft genome sequence of Pantoea stewartii from Australia's Critically Endangered western ground parrot/kyloring (Pezoporus flaviventris).

Pantoea stewartii, a plant pathogen, is primarily transmitted through contaminated seeds and insect vectors, with the corn flea beetle (Chaetocnema pulicaria) being the primary carrier. P. stewartii is a bacterium belonging to the order Enterobacterales and can lead to crop diseases that have a significant economic impact worldwide. Due to its high potential for spread, P. stewartii is classified as a quarantine organism in numerous countries. Despite its impact on agriculture, the limited genome sequences of P. stewartii hamper understanding of its pathogenicity and host specificity, and the development of effective control strategies. In this study, a P. stewartii strain (C10109_Jinnung) was discovered in the faecal matter of the Critically Endangered western ground parrot/kyloring (Pezoporus flaviventris) in Australia, which to our knowledge is the first reported P. stewartii genome from a bird source. Whole-genome sequencing and phylogenomic analysis of strain C10109_Jinnung, obtained from a captive psittacine, provides new insights into the genetic diversity and potential transmission route for the spread of P. stewartii beyond insects and plants, where P. stewartii is typically studied. Our findings provide new insights into the potential transmission route for spread of P. stewartii and expand the known transmission agents beyond insects and plants. Expanding the catalogue of P. stewartii genomes is fundamental to improving understanding of the pathogenicity, evolution and dissemination, and to develop effective control strategies to reduce the substantial economic losses associated with P. stewartii in various crops and the potential impact of endangered animal species.

Biological Effect of Peronema canescens Jack on The Surface Changes of Alginate Mold

Background. The patient’s oral cavity is one of the transmission agents that has the potential for cross-infection. Saliva adhering to the surface of the alginate mold, apart from containing a lot of microorganisms, also disrupts changes in the alginate surface due to changes in salivary pH. Sungkai leaves (Peronema canescens Jack) contain active compounds that can maintain the alginate constituent elements’ integrity and alginate’s surface properties. Objective. This study aimed to determine the biological properties of Peronema canescens Jack on changes in the alginate impression surface by immersion and spraying methods. Materials and Methods. The research material comprised 72 alginate impressions totaling six groups (12 samples/group). The sample categories used matrices and stainless steel rings and were measured within 5, 10, and 15 minutes. Changes in the alginate impression surface were observed using a stereo microscope. Results. Soaking and spraying with Sungkai leaf extract within 5 and 10 minutes did not affect the surface of the mold, while spraying within 15 minutes was within standard clinical limits. Conclusion. Sungkai leaf extract can maintain the integrity of alginate impressions by immersion and spraying techniques.

Aktivitas Antibakteri Bahan Cetak Berbasis Ekstrak Natrium Alginat dari Alga Merah (Kappaphycus alverezii) terhadap Lactobacillus acidophilus

Alginate impression material is a material that is often used for impression tissue in the oral cavity, and can be one of the agents of infection transmission in dental practice. Microorganisms can adhere to the mold such as Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria. L. acidophilus were isolated from active caries and were considered as secondary invaders in the dental caries invasion process. The development of impression materials that have antibacterial capabilities needs to be done, one of which is by using materials derived from red algae (Kappaphycus alverezii). This plant contains a lot of alginate which is the main components of the cell wall, consisting of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium alginate salts. Synthesizing sodium alginate from red algae and analyzing the antibacterial activity of sodium alginate-based impression materials from red algae against L. acidophilus. Extraction of alginate from red algae using the acid method and conversion of alginic acid to sodium alginate by adding NaOH. The impression material is made with the addition of sodium alginate. Antibacterial activity test by well diffusion method. This study consisted of 3 groups, namely control (K), red algae sodium alginate extract (P1), and impression material with red algae sodium alginate extract (P2). Groups K, P1 and P2 had an average inhibition zone of 0 mm, 15.56 mm, 17.22 mm, respectively. Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney test showed significant differences between groups. Impression material based on sodium alginate extract from red algae has strong antibacterial activity against L. acidophilus.

Generating enhanced mucosal immunity against Bordetella pertussis: current challenges and new directions.

Bordetella pertussis (Bp) is the highly transmissible etiologic agent of pertussis, a severe respiratory disease that causes particularly high morbidity and mortality in infants and young children. Commonly known as "whooping cough," pertussis is one of the least controlled vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide with several countries experiencing recent periods of resurgence despite broad immunization coverage. While current acellular vaccines prevent severe disease in most cases, the immunity they confer wanes rapidly and does not prevent sub clinical infection or transmission of the bacterium to new and vulnerable hosts. The recent resurgence has prompted new efforts to generate robust immunity to Bp in the upper respiratory mucosa, from which colonization and transmission originate. Problematically, these initiatives have been partially hindered by research limitations in both human and animal models as well as potent immunomodulation by Bp. Here, we consider our incomplete understanding of the complex host-pathogen dynamics occurring in the upper airway to propose new directions and methods that may address critical gaps in research. We also consider recent evidence that supports the development of novel vaccines specifically designed to generate robust mucosal immune responses capable of limiting upper respiratory colonization to finally halt the ongoing circulation of Bordetella pertussis.

The 21st century disaster: The COVID-19 epidemiology, risk factors and control

The 21st century will be indelible in the world as ruin of the outbreak of COVID-19 was arose in Wuhan, China has now spread all over the world, up to August 2020. This study was based on the factors affecting the epidemiology of this virus in human societies of global concern. We studied the articles published in journals on various aspects of nCoVID19. The Wikipedia and WHO situation reports have also been searched out for related information. Outcomes were followed up until 2020. The COVID-19 is a virus with pandemic potential which may continue to cause regular infection in human. The pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 threatened public health across the globe in form of system as reflected in the shape of emergency. Approximately 21 million humans are infected and 759,400 have lost their lives till 2020 in all over the world. We have described epidemiological features, reservoirs, transmission, incubation period, rate of fatality, management including recent clinical chemotherapeutic approach and preventive measurements and masses which are at risk of COVID19. This virus causes viral pneumonia when it attacks on respiratory system and multiple failure which can leads to life threatening complications. It is believed to be zoonotic importance although it is not clear from which animal and how it is transmitted. Zoonotic transmission of COVID-19 has not yet known by science. The current study will help to establish a baseline for early effective control of this rapidly spreading severe viral illness. The available data on COVID-19 indicates that older males with comorbidities would have been more infected, which can result in severe respiratory complications. Implementation of preventive measurements, investigation of proper chemotherapeutics and detection of cross species transmission agents must be ensured.