Body Secretions Research Articles

The first detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the wastewater of Bucharest, Romania

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been previously used as a tool for pathogen identification within communities. After the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) outbreak, in 2020, Daughton proposed the implementation of a wastewater surveillance strategy that could determine the incidence of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) nationally. Individuals in various stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including presymptomatic, asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, can be identified as carriers of the virus in their urine, saliva, stool and other bodily secretions. Studies using this method were conducted to monitor the prevalence of the virus in high-density populations, such as cities but also in smaller communities, such as schools and college campuses. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of wastewater surveillance in Bucharest, Romania, and wastewater samples were collected weekly from seven locations between July and September 2023. RNA (ribonucleic acid) extraction, followed by dPCR (digital polymerase chain reaction) analysis, was performed to detect viral genetic material. Additionally, NGS (next generation sequencing) technology was used to identify the circulating variants within the wastewater of Bucharest, Romania. Preliminary results indicate the successful detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, providing valuable insights into the circulation of the virus within the community.

The Alchemy Limerence of Love and Lust - Get Your Life Back from Incredibly Painful Vagus Nerve Simulation

Love biologist Dawn Maslar states that hormones such as dopamine and vasopressin are important for a man to begin falling in love. Oxytocin, a hormone released when you hug a loved one, is very important in building and strengthening love in men in later stages. The left vagal nerve runs down the left side of your neck, and the right vagal nerve runs down your right side. This nerve extends all the way from your brain to the large intestines: down your neck, through your chest, around your heart, around your lungs, and through your abdomen and intestines. Cause of Pheromones continue to be an exciting area of research. Currently, the 16-androstenes, and in particular androstadienone is fairly well characterized as a pheromone for women. They are present in male axillary sweat and possibly in other bodily secretions. While this is going on, cholecystokinin suppresses gastric emptying so your stomach won't deliver any more food until the first batch is done. It also suppresses your appetite while you're digesting, by making your stomach feel physically full and by activating vagal nerves in your stomach wall.

A Review of Cold-Wet Mizaj and Phlegm Dominance Indices in Persian Medicine

Background: Personalized medicine, an emerging approach, considers individual differences to tailor treatments optimally. Persian medicine (PM) incorporates individual differences through Mizāj (temperament). A comprehensive understanding of each Mizaj type's characteristics is essential in designing standardized diagnostic tools. Objectives: This study aims to explore the attributes of one of the most significant Mizaj groups, namely cold-wet Mizaj, and its subtypes, including cold-wet Su-e-Mizaj (dystemperament), as well as phlegm dominance in PM sources. Methods: Persian medicine literature, including the Canon of Medicine, was reviewed for relevant concepts. Reliable scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and MagIran, were searched using keywords such as Mizaj, temperament, Su-e-Mizaj, dystemperament, cold-wet dystemperament, phlegm, and Balgham. The obtained results were studied and categorized. Results: Out of the 196 articles obtained related to Mizaj, 16 investigated indices. No studies were found on the indices of cold-wet Mizaj and phlegm dominance separately. PM sources exhibit high congruence in describing the characteristics of cold-wet Mizaj. Specifically, emphasis is placed on characteristics such as coldness and softness of the skin to the touch, high fat mass, pale and white complexion, excessive body secretions, weakness and slowness of physical and physiological actions, low vitality, timidity, poor memory, and slow-wittedness. In cold-wet dystemperament, symptoms are more severe, and in the presence of phlegm, a feeling of heaviness is also mentioned as a specific symptom. Conclusions: By compiling indices of cold-wet Mizaj/dystemperament and phlegm dominance, this study can contribute to the development of standardized PM questionnaires, facilitating a personalized approach to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Human Sputum Proteomics: Advancing Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Respiratory Diseases with Enhanced Biomarker Analysis Methods

Many ailments can be diagnosed while they are asymptomatic, meaning that the patient has no signs or symptoms of a progressing disease. If caught in their initial stage of formation, these disorders can be effectively treated, leading to successful outcomes; curative therapies can halt illnesses from advancing, thus improving the quality of life and long-term survival of the patient. Still, cutting-edge upgrades in precision technologies are necessary for early, reliable, affordable, and rapid disease detection, but also vital for the well-being of people and the future of global public health. The emerging role and utility of non-invasive and repeatable diagnostic test approaches for the detection of health conditions have been exemplified by liquid biopsies based on genomic biomarkers. As such, biological fluids permit any measurable molecular indicator or signature (e.g., proteins) to provide valuable information on an individual’s wellness and/or disease. Among the bodily secretions used for non-invasive diagnostics is sputum, a complex viscous gel-like biopolymeric network that has gained growing recognition as a rich source of biomarkers of airway infections and pulmonary diseases, and serves as a determinant to reveal other illnesses. As per the World Health Organization, the burden of respiratory conditions is exacerbated by factors ranging from considerable subjection to air pollution and occupational contaminants to tobacco smoking and second-hand smoke, in addition to poor socio-economic status. Due to the likely increase in these determinants, respiratory tract ailments are on the rise, affecting the health of many individuals, in addition to putting stress on healthcare facilities and services worldwide. The aim of this study was to perform a narrative review of sputum constituents with an emphasis on proteins and glycoproteins assessed as possible biomarkers of lung and other organ diseases. A search was conducted using mucus, sputum proteomics, sputum biomarkers, and point-of-care testing as keywords employing Google, PubMed (MEDLINE), and Web of Science, selecting the most referenced and related papers of the last decade. We, therefore, highlight the need to use expectorated or induced sputum specimens as a routine sample source for testing valuable protein biomarkers to diagnose these chronic disorders, predict inflammation and disease progression, as well as monitor the effectiveness of treatments. Further, we discuss the urgent need for fast and reliable point-of-care methods to detect and quantify crucial protein biomarkers in sputum specimens, and the limitations faced when dealing with their complex matrices.

Deciphering the chemical language of inbred and wild mouse conspecific scents.

In most mammals, conspecific chemosensory communication relies on semiochemical release within complex bodily secretions and subsequent stimulus detection by the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Urine, a rich source of ethologically relevant chemosignals, conveys detailed information about sex, social hierarchy, health, and reproductive state, which becomes accessible to a conspecific via vomeronasal sampling. So far, however, numerous aspects of social chemosignaling along the vomeronasal pathway remain unclear. Moreover, since virtually all research on vomeronasal physiology is based on secretions derived from inbred laboratory mice, it remains uncertain whether such stimuli provide a true representation of potentially more relevant cues found in the wild. Here, we combine a robust low-noise VNO activity assay with comparative molecular profiling of sex- and strain-specific mouse urine samples from two inbred laboratory strains as well as from wild mice. With comprehensive molecular portraits of these secretions, VNO activity analysis now enables us to (i) assess whether and, if so, how much sex/strain-selective 'raw' chemical information in urine is accessible via vomeronasal sampling; (ii) identify which chemicals exhibit sufficient discriminatory power to signal an animal's sex, strain, or both; (iii) determine the extent to which wild mouse secretions are unique; and (iv) analyze whether vomeronasal response profiles differ between strains. We report both sex- and, in particular, strain-selective VNO representations of chemical information. Within the urinary 'secretome', both volatile compounds and proteins exhibit sufficient discriminative power to provide sex- and strain-specific molecular fingerprints. While total protein amount is substantially enriched in male urine, females secrete a larger variety at overall comparatively low concentrations. Surprisingly, the molecular spectrum of wild mouse urine does not dramatically exceed that of inbred strains. Finally, vomeronasal response profiles differ between C57BL/6 and BALB/c animals, with particularly disparate representations of female semiochemicals.

Deciphering the chemical language of inbred and wild mouse conspecific scents

In most mammals, conspecific chemosensory communication relies on semiochemical release within complex bodily secretions and subsequent stimulus detection by the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Urine, a rich source of ethologically relevant chemosignals, conveys detailed information about sex, social hierarchy, health, and reproductive state, which becomes accessible to a conspecific via vomeronasal sampling. So far, however, numerous aspects of social chemosignaling along the vomeronasal pathway remain unclear. Moreover, since virtually all research on vomeronasal physiology is based on secretions derived from inbred laboratory mice, it remains uncertain whether such stimuli provide a true representation of potentially more relevant cues found in the wild. Here, we combine a robust low-noise VNO activity assay with comparative molecular profiling of sex- and strain-specific mouse urine samples from two inbred laboratory strains as well as from wild mice. With comprehensive molecular portraits of these secretions, VNO activity analysis now enables us to (i) assess whether and, if so, how much sex/strain-selective ‘raw’ chemical information in urine is accessible via vomeronasal sampling; (ii) identify which chemicals exhibit sufficient discriminatory power to signal an animal’s sex, strain, or both; (iii) determine the extent to which wild mouse secretions are unique; and (iv) analyze whether vomeronasal response profiles differ between strains. We report both sex- and, in particular, strain-selective VNO representations of chemical information. Within the urinary ‘secretome’, both volatile compounds and proteins exhibit sufficient discriminative power to provide sex- and strain-specific molecular fingerprints. While total protein amount is substantially enriched in male urine, females secrete a larger variety at overall comparatively low concentrations. Surprisingly, the molecular spectrum of wild mouse urine does not dramatically exceed that of inbred strains. Finally, vomeronasal response profiles differ between C57BL/6 and BALB/c animals, with particularly disparate representations of female semiochemicals.

Considering traditional Chinese medicine as adjunct therapy in the management of chronic constipation by regulating intestinal flora.

Chronic constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders worldwide. Due to changes in diet, lifestyle, and the aging population, the incidence of chronic constipation has increased year by year. It has had an impact on daily life and poses a considerable economic burden. Nowadays, many patients with chronic constipation try to seek help from complementary and alternative therapies, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often their choice. The intestinal flora play an important role in the pathogenesis of constipation by affecting the body's metabolism, secretion, and immunity. Regulating the intestinal flora and optimizing its composition might become an important prevention and treatment for chronic constipation. TCM has unique advantages in regulating the imbalance of intestinal flora, and its curative effect is precise. Therefore, we reviewed the relationship between intestinal flora and chronic constipation as well as advances in research on TCM as adjunct therapy in the management of chronic constipation by regulating intestinal flora. Some single Chinese herbs and their active ingredients (e.g., Rheum palmatum, Radix Astragalus, and Cistanche deserticola), some traditional herbal formulations (e.g., Jichuan decoction, Zengye decoction, and Zhizhu decoction) and some Chinese patent medicines (e.g., Maren pills and Shouhui Tongbian capsules) that are commonly used to treat chronic constipation by regulating intestinal flora are highlighted and summarized. Moreover, some external forms of TCM, and especially acupuncture, have also been found to improve intestinal movement and alleviate constipation symptoms by regulating intestinal flora. We hope this review can contribute to an understanding of TCM as an adjunct therapy for chronic constipation and that it can provide useful information for the development of more effective constipation therapies.

Assessment of Hand-Washing Knowledge and Practice among Nursing Undergraduates in Saudi Arabia.

The present study investigated the knowledge and practice of hand hygiene among entry-level nursing students at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants and Methods: A cross-sectional, institutional-based study was conducted among Saudi nursing students over a period of four months at the King Saud University College of Nursing, using a structured, self-administered questionnaire that assessed demographics, knowledge, and the practice of hand washing. A response rate of 95% was obtained. Of the 304 respondents, 66.1% (n = 201) were males. The majority of the students (94.2%) agreed that direct or indirect contact was the most important route for the transmission of healthcare-associated infection. In addition, most of the students washed their hands after contact with body secretions (89.5%), while 83.2% of them washed their hands before and after contact with patients. Furthermore, 83.6% of them applied soap water during hand washing, while 59.9% of the students used an alcohol-based hand rub for hand hygiene. Our results found that female students reported higher mean knowledge score of 10.09 ± 1.27, compared to male students 9.63 ± 1.48, indicating a significant association between the mean knowledge score of hand washing and gender (p=0.004). Similarly, the mean practice score was higher among female students (5.00 ± 1.25), in comparison to male students 4.62 ± 1.46, with a significant association between gender and mean practice score (p=0.037). The findings of this study revealed that Saudi nursing students exhibit adequate knowledge and practice of hand washing. However, the current findings revealed variation in the knowledge and practice scores with respect to gender. The present results could support students and health care professionals in improving their hygienic practice, which may help to provide the optimum therapeutic benefits to patients.

A CLINICAL CASE STUDY OF HYPERTHYROIDISM AND ITS AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

Hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis is a disorder of the thyroid gland resulting in hypersecretion of thyroid hormones, namely T3 and T4, that, in turn, result in the diminished secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone. All these events lead to hyperactivation of metabolism and sympathetic nervous system, resulting in symptoms of increased body secretions, diarrhoea, palpitation, raised blood pressure, fatigue and intolerance to heat. Also, there are symptoms of increased appetite and weight loss and menstrual and erectile dysfunction. In Ayurveda, there is no concept of hormones. On an Ayurveda basis, body and disease are dosa, dhatu and mala, so after reviewing Ayurveda text, Hyperthyroidism seems to be aggravated Pitta-Vata disorder leading to teekshana agni (increased digestive fire) and ati- mala pravritti (frequent stools), ati sweda (excessive sweating), vishrata (smell of raw meat), alpa sukra (oligospermia), alpa putra (less progeny) etc. A 25-year-old female, already diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism, came to OPD of Kayachikitsa CBPACS. On evaluation, it seems that the patient has symptoms of aggregated Pitta Vata; with Ayurvedic medicine, the patient is completely cured and values of TSH raised from 0.030 µIU/ml to TSH- 4.01 µIU/ml within normal limits.

Unravelling the Psychological Impact of Trimethylaminuria: Insights into the Management Strategies

Trimethylaminuria (TMAU), colloquially known as fish odour syndrome, is a rare metabolic disorder characterised by the body’s inability to properly metabolise Trimethylamine (TMA), resulting in a distinctive and unpleasant fishy odour in bodily secretions. This comprehensive review explores the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, genetic basis, diagnostic challenges, and psychological impact of TMAU, along with management strategies. Genetic mutations affecting the flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) enzyme, which is responsible for TMA metabolism, contribute to the condition’s hereditary nature. Diagnosis can be challenging due to intermittent symptoms and overlaps with other conditions, such as Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS). The psychosocial impact of TMAU can be profound, leading to embarrassment, social isolation, and mental health issues. Management strategies include dietary modifications, supplements, antibiotics, and hygiene measures to alleviate symptoms. Despite advances in understanding TMAU, further research is needed to enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic approaches, ultimately improving the quality of life for affected individuals.

Hamlet or Shakespeare’s Anatomy of Death

The final act of Hamlet (c. 1600) opens on an uncanny scene in which the young prince is contemplating Yorick’s skull, while he ponders upon the mysteries of life and death. The graveyard scene constitutes ‘an extended interlude’ (Belsey, 37, 1997) in the play with its extensive meditation on mortality. This article offers a critical reassessment of how Shakespeare strips away the characters’ outward persona to expose the reality of the world of death. The play is informed with strong iconographical, philosophical, spiritual and theatrical resonances of death raising the dramaturgical issue of staging death on the Elizabethan and Jacobean stage. Moreover, these echoes and reverberations convey a rather accurate picture of one’s perception and understanding of death in Renaissance England. Much in the same way the anatomist’s ruthless scalpel reveals the secrets of the human body, the playwright’s pen bares the hidden truths of death as it does away with the false representations and appearances of the mundane world, rendering the invisible, visible.

ABH status sekretora među studentima univerziteta u kalabaru, Nigerija

Introduction: Secretor status is a critical component of human biology that depends on specific glycoproteins in body fluids and secretions. Its importance lies in its significant impact on health and disease, making it a compelling subject for medical research. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and understanding of secretor status among undergraduates at the University of Calabar, Nigeria. The findings could revolutionize our understanding of secretor status and open new research opportunities. Materials and Methods: The study used across-sectional approach, analyzing blood samples from 100 undergraduate students using the adsorption-inhibition method. Most participants were single (94.0%), and the majority were 100-level students (51.0%). 48 students were in the 21 to 28-year range, while 6.0% were 30 or older. Results: The findings of this study are significant, revealing that a substantial proportion of the participants were secretors, 82 (82.0%), while 18 (18.0%) were non-secretors. Interestingly, most participants (83.0%) were unaware of their secretor status, indicating a potential knowledge gap. Blood group O had the highest number of secretors, 58 (96.7%), followed by blood group A 11 (55.0%), blood group B 7 (63.6%), and the minor blood group AB 6 (66.7%). The most prevalent ethnic group was found among the Efiks (18.1%) followed by Yakurr (16.6%) and the least the Ijaws (3.8%). Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of public education and awareness regarding secretor status and its impact on health and disease.

Physiological Aspect of Agni and its Role in Metabolic Activities: A Review

In the Ayurvedic medical system, Agni represents the primary force governing digestion and metabolism within the body. It manifests as the active component in bodily secretions responsible for catalyzing digestive and chemical processes. Physiologically Agni performs functions of digestion, absorption and assimilation of ingested food. Jatharagni holds a central position as it influences the functioning of both Bhutagni and Dhatvagni. Physiologically Jatharagni transforms ingested foods into Rasa and Mala. The Bhutagnis act on specific elemental components of food, nourishing the corresponding elements within the body. The Dhatvagnis operate on respective tissues, breaking them down into different parts. The overall transformative process led by Agni contributes to the maintenance of vital aspects such as Bala, Arogya, Ayu, Prana, Swasthyam, Varnam, Utsaha, Prabha, Ojha and Teja. Agni serves as a critical factor in transforming ingested substances of diverse origins into a uniform nature, converting consumed food into energy. Keywords: Ayurveda, Agni, Digestion, Metabolism, Paka

“Everyone does it but no one really wants to talk about it”: roles and meanings of bodily secretions in the confines of distance running groups

ABSTRACT Bodily secretions such as urinating, expectorating, defaecating and flatulating during distance running often play an integral part in the distance runner’s routine, but to a large degree remain undiscussed in public. The aim of this study is to deconstruct this taboo topic by shedding light on the nexus between secretions and their sociocultural meanings and implications in the confines of running groups. Drawing on Douglas’s (1970) conceptual framework of the physical and social body-system, the paper provides a novel examination of bodily secretions and their dictated norms and assigned symbolic meanings. The contribution of this paper is to address the lacuna of research that focuses on the runner’s (lived) body in times of secretion and the way it is navigated in the process of being in and belonging to a running group. An ethnographic research design of three years was implemented in two running groups, using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The data presented suggest that while the running social body often restricts the novice runner’s corporeal body in times of secretion, veteran runners seem to be looser and more unauthorised in the social system, treating their bodies and their secretions with less restraint and less feeling the need to hide or to be embarrassed by their secretions. Moreover, it is evident that bodily secretions are highly gendered. In this context, in contrast to male runners in the study, female runners are drastically more vigilant regarding the way they might be perceived, both to themselves and to others.

Incorporating Antimicrobial Activity During Synthesis of New Acid-Azo Dyes: Thermal Stability and Application on Various Fabrics.

Textile materials are susceptible to microbial attack as they provide suitable conditions for their growth. The microbes grow with normal body secretions on garments. These microbes are responsible for the weakening, brittleness, and discoloration of the substrate. Furthermore, they cause many health issues to the wearer, including dermal infection, bad odour etc. They threaten the human health as well as create tenderness in fabric. Usually, antimicrobial textiles are prepared by applying antimicrobial finishes after dyeing, which is an expensive approach. Concerning these adversities, in the present study, a series of antimicrobial acid-azo dyes have been synthesized by incorporating antimicrobial sulphonamide moiety into the dye molecules during its synthesis. A commercially available sulphonamide-based compound, sulfadimidine Na-salt was used as a diazonium component and coupled with different aromatic amines to get desired dye molecules. Since dyeing and finishing are two separate energy-intensive processes, in the current research work, an approach to combine both processes in one step has been adopted that would be economical, time-saving, and environment friendly. Structures of the resultant dye molecules have been confirmed using different spectral techniques such as Mass spectrometry, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, FT-IR, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. Thermal stability of the synthesized dyes was also determined. These dyes have been applied to wool and nylon-6 fabrics. Their various fastness properties were examined using ISO standard methods. All the compounds exhibited good to excellent fastness properties. The synthesized dyes and the dyed fabrics were screened biologically against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, resulting in significant antibacterial activities.

A novel allele of FUT2 gene containing a deletion of nine bases (c.461_469delGGACCTTCT) in a Chinese Han blood donor.

The FUT2 gene is responsible for the synthesis of the H antigen in body secretions. It is highly polymorphic and population specific. We investigated the FUT2 gene polymorphism in Chinese blood donors and found a novel deletion mutation in one non-secretor individual. This study aimed to identify mutation(s) responsible for a non-secretor phenotype. The Lewis blood group of a Chinese Han blood donor was typed using the standard serological technique and the FUT2 gene of the sample was analysed by Sanger sequencing. Clone sequencing was performed for determining the haplotype of the FUT2 gene. Bioinformatics tools were used for predicting the effect of the deletion on the FUT2 gene. A novel nine-base deletion (c.461_469delGGACCTTCT) in the FUT2 gene was identified in a Chinese Han blood donor. Two haplotypes Se390,418 and se204,249,461_469del,772,993 were determined by clone sequencing. According to the prediction of bioinformatics tools, the mutation at c.461_469delGGACCTTCT might not influence the activity of the Se enzyme. We identified a new FUT2 mutation, the deletion of nine bases (c.461_469delGGACCTTCT), in a Chinese Han blood donor. This deletion was reported for the first time.

Monkeypox virus infection: A clinical review based on the 2022 global outbreak

Monkeypox (mpox) is a zoonotic infection caused by an orthopox DNA virus of the family which causes smallpox. The new outbreak of mpox was first reported in Europe in May 2022, which led to cases being reported in non-endemic countries across the globe. The main modes of human-to-human transmission are through bodily secretions or contact with skin sores. More than 83,000 cases of mpox have been reported globally in 110 affected countries, with 72 confirmed deaths. The predominant mode of transmission is through animal-to-human infected body fluids. The main clinical presentation of patients with mpox is with mucocutaneous manifestation with a range of recorded descriptions of the skin lesions. Most of the patients recover without any medical intervention as mostly the disease is self-limiting. The usual supportive care is needed. Although there is no specific treatment, yet antivirals are used for the treatment of mpox which were originally developed for use in patients with smallpox. At present, there are two available vaccines which can mitigate the risk of developing mpox. The timely global collaboration between the World Health Organization and different countries has helped to mitigate the public health impact of mpox.

Unveiling the possible floral visitors and invisible pollination networks from Deep RNA-seq Profile

Floral visitors are key components of successful plant sexual reproduction, although the lack of systematic monitoring, limits our understanding of the status of visitors to flowers. The classical methods of identification and quantification of floral visitors may require ecologists to reach and observe tall trees in dense forests and knowledge of entomology and taxonomy. The advancement of next-generation sequencing technologies has revolutionized traditional analytical methods in many fields. The pollen gets deposited on animals’ bodies, and the salivary glands, muscle cells, and secretions may retain on the flower parts. These insect body parts and secretions collected with flowers contain information about the insects that visit those flowers. By considering this, we present a workflow from freely available bioinformatics software for floral visitor detection based on the hypothesis that a small amount of Illumina Hi-seq RNA data is sufficient for detecting floral visitors. We assembled the workflow using deep Illumina Hi-seq data generated for Cinnamomum verum flowers and field observations. The workflow was also validated using five additional datasets from NCBI. Assembly was performed de novo and eliminated the redundancy. For the taxonomy analysis, assembled transcripts were blasted against insect taxid using DIAMOND BLAST. The same procedure was followed while randomly extracting 1-5 GB of raw data separately, examining the number of species and insect specific genes on the output. The floral visitors detected in transcriptome data of cinnamon were confirmed in the field. Interestingly, >95% of the floral visitors detected from the complete transcriptome data are represented in 1 GB of data. It needs about 0.1g of tissue to generate 1–5 GB of data for an affordable price. More importantly, this workflow could be utilized as the foundation for a detailed study of any plant species, which would help to streamline the identification and quantification of pollinators.

HIV infection.

The AIDS epidemic has been a global public health issue for more than 40 years and has resulted in ~40 million deaths. AIDS is caused by the retrovirus, HIV-1, which is transmitted via body fluids and secretions. After infection, the virus invades host cells by attaching to CD4 receptors and thereafter one of two major chemokine coreceptors, CCR5 or CXCR4, destroying the host cell, most often a T lymphocyte, as it replicates. If unchecked this can lead to an immune-deficient state and demise over a period of ~2-10 years. The discovery and global roll-out of rapid diagnostics and effective antiretroviral therapy led to a large reduction in mortality and morbidity and toan expanding group of individuals requiring lifelong viral suppressive therapy. Viral suppression eliminates sexual transmission of the virus and greatly improves health outcomes. HIV infection, although still stigmatized, is now a chronic and manageable condition. Ultimate epidemic control will require prevention and treatment to be made available, affordable and accessible for all. Furthermore, the focus should be heavily oriented towards long-term well-being, care for multimorbidity and good quality of life. Intense research efforts continue for therapeutic and/or preventive vaccines, novel immunotherapies and a cure.

Coxiellosis in Livestock: Epidemiology, Public Health Significance, and Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Ethiopia.

Coxiellosis is a zoonotic disease that is prevalent globally and can pose significant challenges, especially in less developed countries like Ethiopia. Coxiella burnetii is responsible for causing an infection called Q fever in humans and coxiellosis in ruminants. Pneumonia and endocarditis are the only signs that characterize the acute and chronic forms of Q fever, respectively. Ruminants exhibit symptoms such as abortion during the later stages of pregnancy, impaired fertility, perinatal death, premature delivery, and reduced birth weight. C. burnetii infection typically spreads among healthy cattle via tick bites and exposure to infected cattle or their bodily secretions. The primary source of human infection is through the ingestion of contaminated milk and milk products, but transmission through aerosols and dust generated during livestock operations is also common. Cattle, sheep, camels and goats are the primary sources of human infection, and the bacterium can be found in various bodily fluids of infected animals. Several factors, including host characteristics, environmental conditions, and management practices, can potentially affect the occurrence of C. burnetii infection in livestock, such as cattle, camels, sheep, and goats. Coxiellosis is prevalent in Ethiopia's pastoral and mixed cattle management systems, as individuals frequently interact with cattle and are therefore more prone to exposure to the C. burnetii bacterium. Vaccination and biosecurity measures are effective techniques for managing C. burnetii infection. Therefore, it is crucial to implement appropriate mitigation strategies, raise awareness about the spread of C. burnetii infection, and conduct further studies on C. burnetii infection in high-risk groups.