Biological Threats Research Articles

Humanized Antibodies. Modern Developments and Prospects for the Creation of Medical Protectors Against Biological Threads and Hazards

Passive immunization is the variant of the immunization, in which antibodies are introduced into the body in quantities, sufficient to provide a therapeutic effect. One of the «windows of opportunity» for passive immunization is an urgent post-exposure prophylaxis of infectious diseases and their preventive therapy, especially in the absence of chemotherapy drugs suitable for these purposes or their insufficient effectiveness. The existing heterologous drugs based on hyperimmune sera are highly reactogenic, and obtaining donor human immunoglobulins is associated with a number of ethical and technical restrictions. Therefore, biotechnologies that make it possible to obtain, on an industrial scale, low-reactogenic preparations of chimeric monoclonal antibodies with partially human specificity, as well as recombinant antibodies with fully human specificity, have enormous prospects. This trend is called «humanization of antibodies.» The purpose of this article is to analyze modern developments and to show the prospects for creating humanized antibodies specific to antigens of pathogens of especially dangerous infections and toxins as medical biological protection agents. The sources of the research are English-language studies and the scientific literature available via the Internet. The research method is an analysis of scientific sources on the topic being studied from the general to the specific. Results and discussion. The history of the creation of specific prevention drugs based on heterologous and homologous sera/immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies is presented. It has been shown in the article, that humanized specific monoclonal antibodies are widely used currently for the treatment of a number of severe chronic diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, immunoinflammatory bowel diseases, malignant tumors). Conclusion. Recently, there has been an increase in numbers of both scientific research and developments, and drugs of recombinant antibodies already approved for use in clinical practice, specific to antigens of pathogens of especially dangerous infections and toxins - potential agents of bioterrorism, such as the anthrax microbe, botulinum toxins of various types, plant toxins ricin and abrin, ebolaviruses, coronaviruses. Such drugs can also be used as medical protectors against biological threats and hazards.

Impact of handgun ownership and biological sex on startle reactivity to predictable and unpredictable threats

Impact of handgun ownership and biological sex on startle reactivity to predictable and unpredictable threats

UV-C Light Intervention as a Barrier against Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 continues to impact human health globally, with airborne transmission being a significant mode of transmission. In addition to tools like vaccination and testing, countermeasures that reduce viral spread in indoor settings are critical. This study aims to assess the efficacy of UV-C light, utilizing the Violett sterilization device, as a countermeasure against airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the highly susceptible Golden Syrian hamster model. Two cohorts of naïve hamsters were subjected to airborne transmission from experimentally infected hamsters; one cohort was exposed to air treated with UV-C sterilization, while the other cohort was exposed to untreated air. Treatment of air with UV-C light prevented the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from the experimentally exposed hamster to naïve hamsters. Notably, this protection was sustained over a multi-day exposure period during peak viral shedding by hamsters. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of the UV-C light to mitigate against airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission. As variants continue to emerge, UV-C light holds promise as a tool for reducing infections in diverse indoor settings, ranging from healthcare facilities to households. This study reinforces the urgency of implementing innovative methods to reduce airborne disease transmission and safeguard public health against emerging biological threats.

МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЕ И ОЦЕНКА БИОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ РИСКОВ НА ЭНДЕМИЧНЫХ ПО КОНГО-КРЫМСКОЙ ГЕМОРРАГИЧЕСКОЙ ЛИХОРАДКЕ ТЕРРИТОРИЯХ ТУРКЕСТАНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ И ШЫМКЕНТСКОЙ ГОРОДСКОЙ АГЛОМЕРАЦИИ

The Republic of Kazakhstan has adopted and put into effect the Law of the RK No. 122-VII dated May 21, 2022 “On Biological Safety of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, regulating and defining at the state level the basic principles and preventive measures to protect the population from possible biological threats, assessment and prediction of biological risks in the country. In modern conditions of global real epidemic (COVID-19) biological threats, as never before, there is an urgent need to develop standard methods for assessing, modeling and forecasting biological risks necessary for the organization and implementation of preventive measures for the biological protection of people living in areas unfavor-able for natural focal infections.This publication announced the results of research work on the development of a concept (working hypothesis) of a mathematical model for assessing biological risks and predicting the activity of endemic natural foci of the CCHF in certain administrative regions of the Turkestan region.It is assumed that the developed model of mathematical modeling will undergo statistical validation and adjustment based on the incidence rates of the population and the infection of ticks with the CCHF virus, obtained following the results of the epidemic season in August-September 2023 in the endemic territories of Zhambyl, Kyzylorda and Turkestan regions.

The GIBACHT fellowship: a multilateral initiative for strengthening capacity in biosafety and biosecurity towards pandemic preparedness.

The German Biosecurity Programme was launched in 2013 with the aim to support partner countries overcome biological threats including natural outbreaks or the intentional misuse of highly pathogenic agents. As part of this programme, this paper describes the development and implementation of a multilateral biosafety and biosecurity training initiative, called 'Global Partnership Initiated Biosecurity Academia for Controlling Health Threats' (GIBACHT). To achieve its objectives, GIBACHT implemented a blended-learning approach with self-directed, distance-based learning phases and three training-of-trainer workshops. The programme follows Kirkpatrick's model of learning to guarantee sustainable effects of improved knowledge and skills. One hundred nine fellows from 26 countries have been trained in seven cohorts. Many GIBACHT alumni have established additional biosafety/biosecurity trainings in their home countries. The knowledge exchange is strengthened by the implementation of a Moodle-based alumni network. GIBACHT has the potential to contribute to strengthening the capacities of partner countries in Africa, the Middle East, and South and Central Asia to respond and build resilience to biological threats.

Poxviruses from the Concept of One Health.

In the last 4years, the world has experienced two pandemics of bat-borne viruses. Firstly, in 2019 the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic started and has been causing millions of deaths around the world. In 2022, a Monkeypox pandemic rose in various countries of the world. Those pandemics have witnessed movements and initiatives from healthcare and research institutions to establish a worldwide understanding to battle any future pandemics and biological threats. One Health concept is a modern, comprehensive, unifying ways to improve humans, animals, and ecosystems' health. This concept shows how much they are intertwined and related to one another, whether it is an environmental, or a pathological relation. This review aims to describe Poxviridae and its impact on the One Health concept, by studying the underlying causes of how poxviruses can affect the health of animals, humans, and environments. Reviewing the effect of disease transmission between animal to human, human to human, and animal to animal with pox viruses as a third party to achieve a total understanding of infection and viral transmission. Thus, contributing to enhance detection, diagnosis, research, and treatments regarding the application of One Health.

Від епідемій минулого до сьогодення і хвороби х, досвід боротьби та перспективи

People have faced epidemics and pandemics since ancient times, without yet understanding either their nature, their consequences, or how to protect themselves and prevent their spread. Each infectious disease has its own history, features related to the virulence of the pathogen, the mechanism of its transmission, contagiousness, which depend on the epidemic potential of the pathogen, the intensity of the epidemic process of infection, and the consequences for eachindividual and society in general. Every year, new human microorganisms appear, among which viruses play a leading role,new parasitic systems are formed or already existing parasitic systems change, in which a person becomes the biological host of one or another pathogen. It is shown that zoonotic microorganisms prevail among human pathogens, in particular among emergent ones. Viruses predominate among pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential. The article examines the chronology of major epidemics and pandemics, starting with an unknown disease in China 5,000 years ago and ending with monkeypox, the spread of which began in May 2022. Considerable attention is paid to current infectious diseases with pandemic potential, namely zoonotic influenza, emerging coronavirus infections (SARS, MERS, COVID-19), Ebola and Zika diseases, re-emerging monkeypox. A list of 10 potentially pandemic infectious diseases, which WHO has identified as priority, is provided, which also includes disease X. Taking into account the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, all countries, including Ukraine, need to make a lot more efforts to achieve a truly adequate level of preparedness for preventing biological threats and responding to future challenges. It is noted that preparations are currently underway for the adoption of the WHO Convention, an agreement or another international document on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, the draft of which is currently undergoing the coordination stage. The implementation of its provisions at the international and national levels will contribute to increasing the effectiveness of international and national biosecurity systems and strengthening the potential for combating biological threats. It is emphasized that the national biosafety system in Ukraine needs significant improvement in the direction of strengthening the system of epidemiological surveillance of infectious diseases. Key words: epidemic, pandemic, emergent infection, pathogen, MERS, COVID-19, monkeypox, disease X.

Validating Disaster Medicine Experts’ Feedback Outcome Using Artificial Intelligence Computing Techniques

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to use artificial intelligence (AI) computing techniques to determine if they can validate the findings of a previously published thematic analysis article focusing on disaster medicine experts’ open-ended feedback about Middle East and North African countries (MENA) for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. Methods Automated text analytics techniques were employed to explore and visualize the semantic essence of the experts’ feedback through word vector transformation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for dimensionality reduction. The t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE) is another more advanced dimensionality reduction technique that enhanced the capturing of the determined components. Results Two prominent clusters emerged from the full textual data set representing word similarities groups in the original data set, denoting a thematic group of ideas that experts have emphasized in their responses. Upon deep reading the text feedback, the themes linked preparedness with different training types, such as tabletop exercises and policies/legislation. The findings are in line with currently adopted practices. Conclusions While AI methods demonstrated their valuable application in disaster medicine and helped validate the experts’ recommendations objectively, they should be approached cautiously, as they can be complex and challenging to comprehend fully.

Effective feature selection based HOBS pruned- ELM model for tomato plant leaf disease classification.

Tomato cultivation is expanding rapidly, but the tomato sector faces significant challenges from various sources, including environmental (abiotic stress) and biological (biotic stress or disease) threats, which adversely impact the crop's growth, reproduction, and overall yield potential. The objective of this work is to build deep learning based lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture for the real-time classification of biotic stress in tomato plant leaves. This model proposes to address the drawbacks of conventional CNNs, which are resource-intensive and time-consuming, by using optimization methods that reduce processing complexity and enhance classification accuracy. Traditional plant disease classification methods predominantly utilize CNN based deep learning techniques, originally developed for fundamental image classification tasks. It relies on computationally intensive CNNs, hindering real-time application due to long training times. To address this, a lighter CNN framework is proposed to enhance with two key components. Firstly, an Elephant Herding Optimization (EHO) algorithm selects pertinent features for classification tasks. The classification module integrates a Hessian-based Optimal Brain Surgeon (HOBS) approach with a pruned Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), optimizing network parameters while reducing computational complexity. The proposed pruned model gives an accuracy of 95.73%, Cohen's kappa of 0.81%, training time of 2.35sec on Plant Village dataset, comprising 8,000 leaf images across 10 distinct classes of tomato plant, which demonstrates that this framework effectively reduces the model's size of 9.2Mb and parameters by reducing irrelevant connections in the classification layer. The proposed classifier performance was compared to existing deep learning models, the experimental results show that the pruned DenseNet achieves an accuracy of 86.64% with a model size of 10.6 MB, while GhostNet reaches an accuracy of 92.15% at 10.9 MB. CACPNET demonstrates an accuracy of 92.4% with a model size of 18.0 MB. In contrast, the proposed approach significantly outperforms these models in terms of accuracy and processing time.

Introduction to Treating Patients Exposed to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Threats: A Military Medical Case-Based Curriculum.

Ensuring proficiency in responding to, evaluating, and treating chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) casualties is a critical component of military medical student education. To meet this objective, we developed a case-based CBRN curriculum that can serve as a model to address potential curricular gaps for civilian prehospital, UME, and GME programs. The curriculum was administered in two sessions, 1 month apart, each with individual student preparation, including an optional asynchronous online module and a review of clinical practice guidelines. Session one consisted of a 2-hour introductory lecture, followed by a student reflection. Session two consisted of a 1-hour small-group case study, designed as a multimodal exercise with a corresponding computer-based worksheet and knowledge check. Forty-five teams consisting of three to four second-year medical students (N = 170) completed the sessions and course survey. Sixty-four percent of student teams were extremely or quite satisfied with what they learned, 62% found the materials very or quite relevant to their needs, and 69% rated the instructional materials as extremely or quite understandable. Student feedback included designating additional time for worksheet completion. A case-based training on CBRN patient care earned positive ratings for the clarity of instruction, the impact on students as learners, and the feasibility of the training. Future training evolutions could track student completion of prework, extend the allotted time for activity completion, and evaluate curricular effectiveness through pre-post measurement of students' confidence in their ability to care for a CBRN patient.

Total Length–Weight Relationships and Condition Factor of Invasive Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) in Caohai Lake, China

Caohai Lake, hailed as a gem on the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, is currently being faced with serious biological invasion threats. Among the most influential invasive species, the Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) is causing various adverse effects on the lake’s ecosystem. However, there has been little attention paid to this issue for a long time. In light of this, this study conducted a sample collection in August 2022 to investigate the total length–weight relationships (LWRs) and condition factors (K) of the target species with the aim of providing fundamental data for the upcoming ecological restoration in Caohai Lake. The results are as follows: (1) P. clarkii was distributed throughout the lake, with females exhibiting larger body sizes than males; (2) the LWRs were expressed as: W♂ = 2 × 10−6 TL3.66 (R2 = 0.90 and n = 227); W♀ = 4 × 10−6 TL3.39 (R2 = 0.95 and n = 259), both showing positive allometric growth pattern and indicating, the weight gain rate of males is significantly faster than that of females during the growth period; (3) the K was 0.27 ± 0.04%, indicating robustness in P. clarkii in the lake. These findings underscore that urgent scientific measures should be taken to handle the rapid invasion of P. clarkii in Caohai Lake.

Ferromagnetic carbon/graphite: from CBRN Defense to sensors applied to oncology as a promising way to detect and fight cancer and tumors/ neoplasms

The emerging field of multifunctional sensors for different application sectors requires high sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility, mechanical flexibility, and low cost for a wide range of applications, from medicine to security and defense. While many national defense institutions and services have developed sensors to detect chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats (i.e., for CBRN Defense), better sensors are needed as well as the ability to feed the right data quickly into command centers for analysis and action on threats. All these new devices depend on new material like the so-called nanocarbons, with novel properties and morphologies. For example, nanocarbons, such as graphene, are beginning to be obtained from the use of pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to manufacture sensors for the detection of substances that can be used as chemical warfare agents. On the other side of novel applications, nanostructured materials are beginning to be used in nanomedicine. This is the case of nanostructured carbon used as a drug carrier. This is the main subject of the present article. Despite all the incredible and recent advances in all technological areas, including those applied to medicine, depending on the stage of detection, cancer is still a difficult-to-treat disease associated with a negative prognosis. Each year, the American Cancer Society estimates the number of new cancer cases and deaths in the United States and compiles the most recent data on population-based cancer occurrence and outcomes. As expected, it shows that cancer is one of the leading causes of death, accounting for millions of deaths worldwide each year. All over the last decade, new techniques and methods for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases based on new materials and new morphologies have emerged. Many of the basic technologies of medical physics are well-established, using well-understood physics principles. Clinical applications of those technologies have improved spectacularly, in many cases because of improvements in physics and engineering. In this context, new materials have been playing an important role. Carbon is starting to be one of those materials with promising applications in medicine, especially ferromagnetic carbon/graphite. The occurrence of magnetism in carbon-based materials has been the subject of many investigations and some controversy over the past four decades, given the enormous interest in the possibility of producing carbon-based magnetic materials free from metallic elements like Fe, Co, and Ni. Exactly two decades ago, in 2004, we presented to the scientific community a very low-cost chemical route to reach one of the most sought-after materials in the history of science: pure organic carbon-based magnetic material stable at room temperature. The prospect of carbon-based magnetic materials like that, has been of immense fundamental and practical importance. Information on atomic-scale features was required for a better understanding of the mechanisms leading to carbon magnetism. That came out only in 2015, when we published an article at Nature Scientific Reports, reporting strong and incontrovertible results proving that magnetism in this material was genuine and independent of the presence of any magnetic impurity. We presented experimental confirmation that its magnetism originates from defects in the atomic structure. Those results were obtained from direct measurement of the local magnetic field using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance associated with the numerical results obtained from DFT (Density-Functional Theory) calculations. In this review, exclusively about our own work, we describe the obtention and main properties of carbon-based nanostructured magnetic material and how it is starting to be one of those materials with promising applications in medicine. Here, we give a comprehensive and complete view of our search looking for the obtention of this material, which is stable at room temperature and is free from metallic ferromagnetic elements. Besides its chemical obtention and properties, here we show its use from magnetic bio-hybrid matrices until the so-called MAGUS® (MAgnetic Graphite Universal System), a sensor with promising applications in oncology aiming to detect and fight cancer and tumors/neoplasms. The paper is organized as follows: (a) in section 1 we give the scope and purpose of the article; (b) in section 2 we describe the discovery, the intrinsic nature, the nanofluid behavior, and the potential for both a drug delivery system and the use for diagnosis or imaging of carbon-based nanostructured magnetic material; (c) in section 3 we show the detailed methodology and explanation of why the methods were chosen following the same order of those topics of section 2; (d) in section 4 we show and discuss the obtained results and we answer all research open questions; and (e) in section 5 we give the conclusions. At the end, we give a list of references, most of which are our own.

Tracking the footsteps of Burkholderia mallei: determination of the molecular differences and potential resistance genes.

Chemical biological radiological nuclear threats are at an important point in the agenda of world health today, as they can cause mass deaths. B. mallei attracts attention as a potential biological warfare agent due to its features such as multidrug resistance, a rapid transmission mechanism via aerosol, the absence of a complete treatment protocol for the infection it causes, and the absence of an approved vaccine for protection against the bacteria. B. mallei suspect samples must be studied by experienced personnel in biosafety level III laboratories. B mallei is a difficult and troublesome pathogen to diagnose and many unknowns about B. mallei today. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the molecular differences and potential resistance genes of B mallei strains. Determination of the molecular differences and potential resistance genes of B mallei strains with new bioinformatics approaches by comparatively examining the data of 29 B mallei strains, 10 of which were isolated from Türkiye, on the genome list of the National Biotechnology Information Center (NCBI). According to the genome annotations of the origins, the origin containing the highest number of CDS which is 5172 was found as the 11th strain obtained in Türkiye in 1949. The origin with the highest number of pseudogenes was determined as 23,344 (China 7) origin. Two hundred and eighty-five pseudogenes found in this strain were obtained from a knee effusion in Myanmar. According to chromosome 2 data, B. mallei strain was determined as the most similar strain to ATCC 23344, line 11 with NCTC 10229 strain, and SAVP1 strain was determined as the least similar strain. When the antimicrobial resistance gene markers of the isolates included in the study were examined, amrA and amrB, qacG ade, Burkholderia pseudomallei Omp38 were found to be carrying. In terms of public health, it was thought that the data obtained as a result of our study about B mallei, which is defined as a biological weapon, is very valuable for creating treatment protocols to be applied to possible epidemics in the future. In addition, the available genetic epidemiological data of these strains belonging to a category that is dangerous to work with in a laboratory environment were reviewed.

Safety and Decontamination Procedures for Infectious Sample Handling

Biosafety protocols play a critical role in safeguarding laboratory personnel, the environment, and the public from risks associated with handling infectious samples. With the increasing prevalence of emerging pathogens and complex research activities, the development and adherence to stringent decontamination, risk assessment, and regulatory standards have become indispensable. Modern decontamination technologies, such as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, cold atmospheric plasma, and deep eutectic solvents, have enhanced the efficacy of pathogen inactivation, offering tailored and environmentally friendly solutions for diverse laboratory needs. Risk assessment frameworks, including quantitative microbial risk assessment models, provide structured methodologies to evaluate potential exposure pathways and establish effective mitigation strategies. These frameworks have been augmented with AI-driven monitoring systems, improving compliance in high-containment facilities such as Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) and BSL-4 laboratories. Meanwhile, standardized biosafety guidelines bridge regional disparities, ensuring consistent practices in pathogen handling and containment. Modular biocontainment units and advanced laboratory designs further complement these standards by addressing scalability and operational efficiency. Compliance is fortified through regular audits, ongoing personnel training, and the integration of ethical considerations into research practices. Simulation-based education and regulatory oversight reduce violations and enhance preparedness for unforeseen challenges. Collaboration between international regulatory bodies, laboratories, and the public fosters innovation and trust, aligning efforts to combat global biosafety threats. As biosafety challenges evolve, the integration of emerging technologies, harmonized protocols, and comprehensive training remain central to advancing laboratory safety. A multi-faceted approach that combines risk mitigation, technological innovation, and global cooperation ensures readiness against current and future biological threats while maintaining ethical integrity and operational excellence. This dynamic and adaptable biosafety framework underscores the importance of resilience in the face of complex and evolving risks.

Региональные страховые рынки Российской Федерации: динамика развития в постковидный период

The continuing interest in the insurance market of both experts in the field and ordinary citizens who need insurance services highlights the importance of analysing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic consequences, which significantly affected the activities of insurance market participants in 2021. While the insurance market has largely overcome the negative effects of the pandemic, its consequences still influence the market’s development. The analysis of changes will help develop theoretical and practical recommendations to minimise the consequences of biological threats in the future. The study aims to assess the insurance market in the post-COVID period based on the results of insurers’ activities in 2021 by types of insurance in federal districts of the Russian Federation and to determine development dynamics, the degree of penetration and the need for insurance services in regions. To this end, official statistics were used to examine insurers’ activities by comparing and summarising metadata, considering regional characteristics of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It is hypothesised that while emergency conditions affect all sectors of the economy and the social sphere, the insurance market remains stable and quickly adapts to changes. The study concluded that all types of voluntary and compulsory property insurance are presented in the Russian insurance market; in comparison with the pre-COVID period, the insurance sector showed an increase of 17.46 %; a positive trend of increasing fees in almost all regions indicates an increase in the penetration of insurance services. The global events of 2022 have also seriously affected the insurance industry, thus, it can be expected that the insurance sector will undergo a significant transformation in the future.

Synsor: a tool for alignment-free detection of engineered DNA sequences.

DNA sequences of nearly any desired composition, length, and function can be synthesized to alter the biology of an organism for purposes ranging from the bioproduction of therapeutic compounds to invasive pest control. Yet despite offering many great benefits, engineered DNA poses a risk due to their possible misuse or abuse by malicious actors, or their unintentional introduction into the environment. Monitoring the presence of engineered DNA in biological or environmental systems is therefore crucial for routine and timely detection of emerging biological threats, and for improving public acceptance of genetic technologies. To address this, we developed Synsor, a tool for identifying engineered DNA sequences in high-throughput sequencing data. Synsor leverages the k-mer signature differences between naturally occurring and engineered DNA sequences and uses an artificial neural network to classify whether a DNA sequence is natural or engineered. By querying suspected sequences against the model, Synsor can identify sequences that are likely to have been engineered. Using natural plasmid and engineered vector sequences, we showed that Synsor identifies engineered DNA with >99% accuracy. We demonstrate how Synsor can be used to detect potential genetically engineered organisms and locate where engineered DNA is being introduced into the environment by analysing genomic and metagenomic data from yeast and wastewater samples, respectively. Synsor is therefore a powerful tool that will streamline the process of identifying engineered DNA in poorly characterized biological or environmental systems, thereby allowing for enhanced monitoring of emerging biological threats.

Poxviridae Pneumonia.

Poxviridae family includes several viruses that infecting humans usually causes skin lesions only, but in some cases their clinical course is complicated by viral pneumonia (with or without bacterial superinfections). Historically variola virus has been the poxviridae most frequently associated with the development of pneumonia with many large outbreaks worldwide before its eradication in 1980. It is still considered a biological threat for its potential in biological warfare and bioterrorism. Smallpox pneumonia can be severe with the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death. Vaccinia virus, used for vaccination against smallpox exceptionally, in immunocompromised patients, can induce generalized (with also lung involvement) severe disease after vaccination. MPXV virus occasionally can cause pneumonia particularly in immunocompromised patients. The pathophysiology of poxviridae pneumonia is still an area of active research; however, in animal models these viruses can cause both direct damage to the lower airways epithelium and a hyperinflammatory syndrome, like a cytokine storm. Multiple mechanisms of immune evasion have also been described. The treatment of poxviridae pneumonia is mainly based on careful supportive care. Despite the absence of randomized clinical trials in patients with poxviridae pneumonia there are antiviral drugs, such as tecovirimat, cidofovir and brincidofovir, FDA-approved for use in smallpox and also available under an expanded access protocol for treatment of MPXV. There are 2 (replication-deficient modified vaccinia Ankara and replication-competent vaccinia virus) smallpox vaccines FDA-approved with the first one also approved for prevention of MPXV in adults that are at high risk of infection.

Non-vaccinal prophylaxis of tularemia.

Tularemia is a re-emerging zoonosis in many endemic countries. It is caused by Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative bacterium and biological threat agent. Humans are infected from the wild animal reservoir, the environmental reservoir or by the bite of arthropod vectors. This infection occurs through the cutaneous, conjunctival, digestive or respiratory routes. Tularemia generally manifests itself as an infection at the site of entry of the bacteria with regional lymphadenopathy, or as a systemic disease, particularly pulmonary. It is often a debilitating condition due to persistent symptoms and sometimes a life-threatening condition. There is effective antibiotic treatment for this disease but no vaccine is currently available for humans or animals. Due to the complexity of the F. tularensis life cycle and multiple modes of human infection, non-vaccine prophylaxis of tularemia is complex and poorly defined. In this review, we summarize the various individual prophylactic measures available against tularemia based on the different risk factors associated with the disease. We also discuss the currently underdeveloped possibilities for collective prophylaxis. Prophylactic measures must be adapted in each tularemia endemic area according to the predominant modes of human and animal infection. They requires a One Health approach to control both animal and environmental reservoirs of F. tularensis, as well as arthropod vectors, to slow the current expansion of endemic areas of this disease in a context of climate change.

Genome-Wide Identification, Expression and Interaction Analyses of PP2C Family Genes in Chenopodium quinoa.

Plant protein phosphatase 2Cs (PP2Cs) function as inhibitors in protein kinase cascades involved in various processes and are crucial participants in both plant development and signaling pathways activated by abiotic stress. In this study, a genome-wide study was conducted on the CqPP2C gene family. A total of putative 117 CqPP2C genes were identified. Comprehensive analyses of physicochemical properties, chromosome localization and subcellular localization were conducted. According to phylogenetic analysis, CqPP2Cs were divided into 13 subfamilies. CqPP2Cs in the same subfamily had similar gene structures, and conserved motifs and all the CqPP2C proteins had the type 2C phosphatase domains. The expansion of CqPP2Cs through gene duplication was primarily driven by segmental duplication, and all duplicated CqPP2Cs underwent evolutionary changes guided by purifying selection. The expression of CqPP2Cs in various tissues under different abiotic stresses was analyzed using RNA-seq data. The findings indicated that CqPP2C genes played a role in regulating both the developmental processes and stress responses of quinoa. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of six CqPP2C genes in subfamily A revealed that they were up-regulated or down-regulated under salt and drought treatments. Furthermore, the results of yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that subfamily A CqPP2Cs interacted not only with subclass III CqSnRK2s but also with subclass II CqSnRK2s. Subfamily A CqPP2Cs could interact with CqSnRK2s in different combinations and intensities in a variety of biological processes and biological threats. Overall, our results will be useful for understanding the functions of CqPP2C in regulating ABA signals and responding to abiotic stress.

Development of UV reactor controller in ballast water treatment system to minimize the biological threat on marine environment

Development of UV reactor controller in ballast water treatment system to minimize the biological threat on marine environment