Potential Entry Research Articles

Network Modeling for Post-Entry Management of Invasive Pest Species in the Philippines: The Case of the Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Crop shifting is considered as an important strategy to secure future food supply in the face of climate change. However, use of this adaptation strategy needs to consider the risk posed by changes in the geographic range of pests that feed on selected crops. Failure to account for this threat can lead to disastrous results. Models can be used to give insights on how best to manage these risks. In this paper, the socioecological process graph technique is used to develop a network model of interactions among crops, invasive pests, and biological control agents. The model is applied to a prospective analysis of the potential entry of the Colorado potato beetle into the Philippines just as efforts are being made to scale up potato cultivation as a food security measure. The modeling scenarios indicate the existence of alternative viable pest control strategies based on the use of biological control agents. Insights drawn from the model can be used as the basis to ecologically engineer agricultural systems that are resistant to pests.

Estimating the causal effects of work-related and non-work-related stressors on perceived stress level: A fixed effects approach using population-based panel data.

Prolonged or excessive stress can have a negative impact on health and well-being, and stress therefore constitutes a major public health issue. A central question is what are the main sources of stress in contemporary societies? This study examines the effects of work-related and non-work-related stressors and perceived social support on perceived stress within a causal framework. Panel data were drawn from two waves (2013 and 2017) of the population-based health survey "How are you?" conducted in the Central Denmark Region. The analytical sample comprised 9,194 subjects who had responded to both surveys. Work-related and non-work-related stressors included major life events, chronic stressors, daily hassles and lack of social support. Perceived stress was measured with the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Data were analysed using fixed effects regression in a fully balanced design. The largest effects on PSS were seen in own disease, work situation and lack of social support. Other stressors affecting the perceived stress level were financial circumstances, relationship with partner, relationship with family and friends, and disease among close relatives. Most variables had a symmetrical effect on PSS. The results point to the need for comprehensive policies to promote mental health that span life domains and include both the individual and the group as well as organizational and societal levels. The study indicates that there are multiple potential entry points for stress prevention and stress management. However, it also shows that disease, work situation and social support weigh heavily in the overall picture. This points to the healthcare system and workplace as key institutional venues for action.

In Planta Study Localizes an Effector Candidate from Austropuccinia psidii Strain MF-1 to the Nucleus and Demonstrates In Vitro Cuticular Wax-Dependent Differential Expression.

Austropuccinia psidii is a biotrophic fungus that causes myrtle rust. First described in Brazil, it has since spread to become a globally important pathogen that infects more than 480 myrtaceous species. One of the most important commercial crops affected by A. psidii is eucalypt, a widely grown forestry tree. The A. psidii-Eucalyptus spp. interaction is poorly understood, but pathogenesis is likely driven by pathogen-secreted effector molecules. Here, we identified and characterized a total of 255 virulence effector candidates using a genome assembly of A. psidii strain MF-1, which was recovered from Eucalyptus grandis in Brazil. We show that the expression of seven effector candidate genes is modulated by cell wax from leaves sourced from resistant and susceptible hosts. Two effector candidates with different subcellular localization predictions, and with specific gene expression profiles, were transiently expressed with GFP-fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Interestingly, we observed the accumulation of an effector candidate, Ap28303, which was upregulated under cell wax from rust susceptible E. grandis and described as a peptidase inhibitor I9 domain-containing protein in the nucleus. This was in accordance with in silico analyses. Few studies have characterized nuclear effectors. Our findings open new perspectives on the study of A. psidii-Eucalyptus interactions by providing a potential entry point to understand how the pathogen manipulates its hosts in modulating physiology, structure, or function with effector proteins.

Novel mono- and multivalent N-acetylneuraminic acid glycoclusters as potential broad-spectrum entry inhibitors for influenza and coronavirus infection

N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is a glycan receptor of viruses spread in many eukaryotic cells. The present work aimed to design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a panel of Neu5Ac derivatives based on a cyclodextrin (CD) scaffold for targeting influenza and coronavirus membrane proteins. The multivalent Neu5Ac glycoclusters efficiently inhibited chicken erythrocyte agglutination induced by intact influenza virus in a Neu5Ac density–dependent fashion. Compared with inhibition by Neu5Ac, the multivalent inhibitor with 21 Neu5Ac residues on the primary face of the β-CD scaffold afforded 1788-fold higher binding affinity inhibition for influenza virus hemagglutinin with a dissociation constant (KD) of 3.87 × 10−7 M. It showed moderate binding affinity to influenza virus neuraminidase, but with only about one-thirtieth the potency of that with the HA protein. It also exhibited strong binding affinity to the spike protein of three human coronaviruses (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), with KD values in the low micromolar range, which is about 10-time weaker than that of HA. Therefore, these multivalent sialylated CD derivatives have possible therapeutic application as broad-spectrum antiviral entry inhibitors for many viruses by targeting the Neu5Ac of host cells.

Respiratory syncytial virus entry mechanism in host cells: A general overview.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that causes acute respiratory infections in neonates and older adults. To infect host cells, the attachment glycoprotein (G) interacts with a cell surface receptor. This interaction determines the specific cell types that are susceptible to infection. RSV possesses a type I fusion protein F. Type I fusion proteins are metastable when rearrangement of the prefusion F occurs; the fusion peptide is exposed transforming the protein into postfusion form. The transition between the prefusion form and its postfusion form facilitates the viral envelope and the host cell membrane to fuse, enabling the virus to enter the host cell. Understanding the entry mechanism employed by RSV is crucial for developing effective antiviral therapies. In this review, we will discuss the various types of viral fusion proteins and explore the potential entry mechanisms utilized by RSV. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms will provide valuable insights for the development of novel approaches to treat RSV infections.

Chemiluminescence-Based Assay to Monitor Early Oxidative Bursts in Soybean (Glycine max) Lateral Roots.

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst assay is a valuable tool for studying pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) in plants. During PTI, the interaction between pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) leads to the rapid production of ROS in the apoplastic space. The resultant ROS can be measured using a chemiluminescent approach that involves the usage of horseradish peroxidase and luminol. Although several methods and protocols are available to detect early ROS bursts in leaf tissues, no dedicated method is available for root tissues. Here, we have established a reliable method to measure the PAMP-triggered ROS burst response in soybean lateral roots. In plants, lateral roots are the potential entry and colonization sites for pathogens in the rhizosphere. We have used important PAMPs such as chitohexaose, flagellin 22 peptide fragment, and laminarin to validate our method. In addition, we provide a detailed methodology for the isolation and application of fungal cell wall components to monitor the oxidative burst in soybean lateral roots. Furthermore, we provide methodology for performing ROS burst assays in soybean leaf discs with laminarin and fungal cell walls. This approach could also be applied to leaf and root tissues of other plant species to study the PTI response upon elicitor treatment. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst assay in soybean lateral root tissues Alternate Protocol: ROS burst assay in soybean leaf discs Support Protocol: Isolating fungal cell wall fractions.

Performance Assessment and Mitigation of Timing Covert Channels over the IEEE 802.15.4

The fast development and adoption of IoT technologies has been enabling their application into increasingly sensitive domains, such as Medical and Industrial IoT, in which safety and cyber-security are paramount. While the number of deployed IoT devices increases annually, they still present severe cyber-security vulnerabilities, becoming potential targets and entry points for further attacks. As these nodes become compromised, attackers aim to set up stealthy communication behaviours, to exfiltrate data or to orchestrate nodes in a cloaked fashion, and network timing covert channels are increasingly being used with such malicious intents. The IEEE 802.15.4 is one of the most pervasive protocols in IoT and a fundamental part of many communication infrastructures. Despite this fact, the possibility of setting up such covert communication techniques on this medium has received very little attention. We aim to analyse the performance and feasibility of such covert-channel implementations upon the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol, particularly upon the DSME behaviour, one of the most promising for large-scale time critical communications. This enables us to better understand the involved risk of such threats and help support the development of active cyber-security mechanisms to mitigate these threats, which, for now, we provide in the form of practical network setup recommendations.

Cybersecurity in the Smart Grid: Vulnerabilities, Threats, and Countermeasures

This research paper comprehensively explores and investigated the Smart Grid's architectural vulnerabilities, analyzing evolving threat landscapes, and proposing strategic defense measures. It uncovers vulnerabilities arising from legacy system integration, communication network weaknesses, and unauthorized access risks, creating potential entry points for cyber adversaries targeting critical energy infrastructure. Addressing emergent threats like advanced persistent threats, ransomware, and supply chain compromises, the study evaluates an array of countermeasures, including encryption, authentication protocols, intrusion detection systems, anomaly detection algorithms, patching, and incident response plans. Emphasizing the importance of collaborative information sharing, the research advocates for a collective approach involving energy providers, cybersecurity experts, regulatory bodies, and governmental agencies. Such cooperation fortifies the Smart Grid's overall cybersecurity stance and prepares societies to counter the persistent tide of cyber threats as the Smart Grid continues shaping the future of energy distribution, safeguarding vital infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted energy services, and enhancing societal resilience

Investment decisions and financial leverage under a potential entry threat

This study examines investment and financing decisions for a pioneering firm and agency costs of debt in the presence of a potential competitor’s entry threat. It demonstrates that the pioneer’s high leverage induces the competitor to enter the market in a downturn and creates exposure to the risk of forced bankruptcy, apart from expediting its market entry in an upturn. Therefore, the potential entry threat hinders the pioneer from debt financing, and thus mitigates agency conflicts between shareholders and bondholders due to straining shareholders’ self-interest to expedite investment decisions at bondholders’ expense. As Mauer and Sarkar (2005) show that debt financing creates the overinvestment problem to expedite investment decisions in the absence of a potential entry threat, it remains in its presence. The results also provide empirical implications for the relationships among potential entry threats, debt financing, and investment decisions in uncertain nascent industries.

Enabling pathways for sustainable livelihoods in planned relocation

The planned relocation of entire communities to less hazard-exposed destinations is an increasingly salient climate change adaptation strategy but often results in maladaptive livelihood outcomes. There needs to be understanding of how planning decisions affect outcomes—relocated people’s access to sustainable livelihoods, including physical, economic, natural, human, social and cultural assets. Here, drawing on data from 14 completed flood-related relocation cases, we use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis and find that planning decisions, alone and taken together, contributed to sustainable livelihood outcomes. Relocation processes initiated and driven by community members had better outcomes than government-driven processes, adding a global comparative perspective to prior findings. Speed and transfer dynamics were also critical, with different implications for small and large communities. As a result, multiple pathways of planning decisions can lead to better outcomes, highlighting potential entry points for policy to promote more sustainable and people-centred planned relocation.

Biosynthesis of ZnO nanobiohybrids and evaluation of their bioactivity on sperm quality of Mus musculus biomodels

ZnO nanobiohybrids were obtained using a synthesis route structured to take account of the requirements of green chemistry, using garlic extract. This material was characterized using infrared, Raman and XPS spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy, along with EDS spectroscopy to determine its elemental composition. XRD showed that the solid was amorphous. TEM micrographs indicated that it had a lamellar structure, of width < 15 nm and length < 100 nm. The Raman spectrum revealed characteristic ZnO bands affected by the presence of the garlic biomolecules. The results led us to consider that the nanobiohybrid structure would be core (ZnO)–shell or capping (garlic biomolecules). The biological activity of these nanostructures was then evaluated considering their potential entry through the respiratory tract and interaction with spermatogenesis, specifically their effect on sperm quality of the Mus musculus biomodel. For this, in a programmed manner, several biomodels were exposed to atmospheres containing the synthesized nanobiohybrids at different concentrations (6, 15, and 40 ppm). Following euthanasia, sperm samples were collected. On carrying out the corresponding tests, the ZnO nanobiohybrids did not show a significant effect on the sperm quality parameters evaluated - concentration, motility and vitality of Mus musculus. Given the organic nature of the capping, the potential negative effects of nanoparticulate ZnO could be reduced.

Milk Transmission of Mammalian Retroviruses.

The transmission of viruses from one host to another typically occurs through horizontal or vertical pathways. The horizontal pathways include transmission amongst individuals, usually through bodily fluids or excretions, while vertical transmission transpires from mother to their offspring, either during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. While there are more than 200 human pathogenic viruses to date, only a small number of them are known to be transmitted via breast milk, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the latter two belonging to the family Retroviridae. Breast milk transmission is a common characteristic among mammalian retroviruses, but there is a lack of reports summarizing our knowledge regarding this route of transmission of mammalian retroviruses. Here, we provide an overview of the transmission of mammalian exogenous retroviruses with a focus on Orthoretrovirinae, and we highlight whether they have been described or suspected to be transmitted through breast milk, covering various species. We also elaborate on the production and composition of breast milk and discuss potential entry sites of exogenous mammalian retroviruses during oral transmission.

The power of the Paris Agreement in international climate litigation

AbstractClimate litigation has reached the international level with several requests for advisory opinions from international courts and tribunals, and human rights treaty bodies addressing climate change‐related human rights violations. The Paris Agreement will likely be relevant in many of these and other cases to come, whether directly in disputes about its application or interpretation, or indirectly in informing the interpretation of other international agreements, such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It could also inform the due diligence standard contained in customary international environmental law. This article first examines normative elements of the Paris Agreement that may become relevant in the interpretation of other international norms. It then identifies some potential entry points of legal influence of these elements in the interpretation and application of other international law, especially the ECHR and UNCLOS. The article argues that the legal influence of the Agreement goes above and beyond the ‘legal fold’ in which it was adopted and can inform the interpretation of other international treaties and norms. ‘Paris‐aligned’ interpretation, taking into account the diligence standards contained in the Agreement, could impact on the contemporary understanding of international law more generally. Such interpretation might be necessary to avoid undermining the relevance of the Agreement. Importantly, it suggests that Paris‐aligned interpretation of other international treaties can provide a positive feedback loop towards effective implementation of, and compliance with, the Paris Agreement. Eventually, such Paris alignment may enhance legal consistency between diverse parts of international law and break down fragmented silos.

Disparities in the impacts of co-management on fishers’ livelihoods

AbstractNatural resources are widely managed through collaborative governance arrangements (e.g., co-management) which often result in the uneven distribution of costs and benefits among fishers. Discrepancies in how a fisher is impacted by co-management relative to other fishers or others in the community (i.e., disparity) can negatively affect fishers’ wellbeing, their support for management, and subsequently, ecological outcomes. Yet, disparities in the distribution of social impacts from co-management have rarely been assessed. We address this gap by examining disparities (losses and gains) in perceived livelihood impacts from co-management. Losses (or gains) occur when a fisher experiences a more negative (or positive) impact on their livelihood relative to other fishers or others in the community. We used data from interviews with 1191 fishers associated with 48 coral reef co-management arrangements across Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea to examine how socioeconomic and institutional characteristics were associated with losses and gains from co-management. Overall, we found that more fishers perceived equality than disparities in the distribution of co-management impacts. Of those that perceived disparities, more fishers perceived losses than gains. We also found that disparities could be predicted by a range of socioeconomic characteristics, including distance to markets and wealth, and institutional characteristics of the co-management regime, such as gear, access, and area restrictions. This study provides insights on potential entry points that could be used by managers and policy-makers to promote equitable co-management of small-scale fisheries, such as the reduction of losses by increasing participation in decision-making processes, fostering conflict resolution mechanisms, prioritizing gear restrictions over area restrictions, and reducing poverty.

Apple's Financial Outlook: A Comprehensive Analysis of its Stock Performance

As traders, investors, and analysts try to decide whether to buy, sell, or hold Apple Inc. shares, Apple Stock Prediction is a crucial component of the financial market. It is difficult to forecast the future value of Apple's stock due to market volatility and a variety of unknown events, including shifts in customer tastes, political unpredictability, and global economic trends. Therefore, it is essential to use a variety of techniques to find the most effective strategy for forecasting Apple's stock price. To ascertain the intrinsic value of a stock, fundamental analysis examines financial statements, market patterns, and economic conditions. This method looks at the sales, profit margins, and cash flow of Apple Inc. as well as its overall financial performance. On the other hand, technical analysis examines past market data, such as price and volume, to spot patterns and trends that can predict future price movements. Charts, graphs, and other visual aids are used in this strategy to pinpoint potential entry and exit positions for trading Apple's stock. Multi-Layer Perceptron is a kind of artificial neural network that mimics the actions of the human brain and has been successfully used to analyze large amounts of complex data. In contrast, XGBoost is a machine learning algorithm that makes predictions using previous data, making it perfect for predicting the future movement of Apple's stock.

A phase 2 study of HER3-DXd in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

1004 Background: HER3-DXd is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of a fully human anti-HER3 IgG1 monoclonal antibody (patritumab), attached to a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor via a tetrapeptide-based cleavable linker that has shown promising efficacy in pts with HER3-expressing MBC (Krop, 2022). This 3-part Phase 2 study examines efficacy of HER3-DXd across MBC subsets and defines the pt population likely to derive greater benefit (NCT04699630). Methods: Part A is reported here (Data cutoff 6Sep2022). Pts had HER2 negative MBC with measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, 0-2 prior chemo and prior endocrine therapy (ET) + CDK4/6 inhibitor for hormone receptor (HR)+ BC, or 1-3 prior chemo for triple negative BC (TNBC). Prior treatment (tx) with anti-HER3 agents and ADCs with exatecan derivatives were prohibited. Pts provided pre-tx tissue to evaluate the association of biomarker expression with progression free survival at 6 months (PFS6months). Primary endpoints for Part A are objective response rate (ORR) and PFS6months. Secondary endpoints are safety/tolerability, duration of response (DOR), and clinical benefit rate (CBR) (CR, PR or SD ≥180 days). Results: 60 pts were treated in Part A: median age 57.5 y, 98.3% female; median 5 prior lines of therapy (range 1-15). 32% had TNBC. 48% were HR+. 48% had liver and 32% had lung metastases. HER3 membrane expression was evaluated by overall % membrane positivity at 10X. 47/60 (78%) pts provided evaluable samples at baseline. Among evaluable pts, 64% (30/47) had HER3 expression ≥75%, 28% (13/47) had 25-74% expression and 8% (4/47) had &lt;25% expression. The median tx duration was 5.2 mos and 21 pts remained on tx at data cut-off. All pts experienced a tx emergent adverse event and 93% of pts experienced a tx related AE (TRAE) with Gr ≥3 TRAE in 19 pts (32%). The most common (≥ 25%) any grade TRAEs were nausea (50%), fatigue (45%), diarrhea (37%), vomiting (32%), alopecia and anemia (30% each). 7 pts (12%) experienced a serious AE (SAE), including 4 pts (7%) with a related SAE (interstitial lung disease, nausea/vomiting, pneumonitis, thrombocytopenia). 15% of pts experienced a dose reduction and 23% experienced a dose interruption due to an AE. 3 pts died while on tx, 2 unrelated to tx 1 cause unknown. ORR was 35% (95% CIs 23.1, 48.1) for all pts, and the CBR was 48% (95% CIs 35.2, 61.6). Pts with ≥75% HER3 expression had an ORR of 33% and CBR of 50%, pts with HER3 25-74% expression had an ORR of 46% and CBR of 54%. There were 4 pts with HER3 &lt; 25% expression, limiting efficacy assessment. The median DOR was 10.0 mos (95% CIs 5.5, NA). The PFS6months was 60% for all pts, 50% for pts with HER3 ≥75%, and 70% for pts with HER3 25-74%. Conclusions: HER3-DXd had an acceptable safety profile, and the data further confirm the clinical activity in MBC in heavy pre-tx MBC across the broad range of HER3 expression levels. Parts B and Z are ongoing and data from this report support the potential entry of HER3-DXd into the therapeutic paradigm in MBC. Clinical trial information: NCT04699630 .

In Silico and In Vitro Evaluation of Some Amidine Derivatives as Hit Compounds towards Development of Inhibitors against Coronavirus Diseases.

Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and influenza A virus, require the host proteases to mediate viral entry into cells. Rather than targeting the continuously mutating viral proteins, targeting the conserved host-based entry mechanism could offer advantages. Nafamostat and camostat were discovered as covalent inhibitors of TMPRSS2 protease involved in viral entry. To circumvent their limitations, a reversible inhibitor might be required. Considering nafamostat structure and using pentamidine as a starting point, a small set of structurally diverse rigid analogues were designed and evaluated in silico to guide selection of compounds to be prepared for biological evaluation. Based on the results of in silico study, six compounds were prepared and evaluated in vitro. At the enzyme level, compounds 10-12 triggered potential TMPRSS2 inhibition with low micromolar IC50 concentrations, but they were less effective in cellular assays. Meanwhile, compound 14 did not trigger potential TMPRSS2 inhibition at the enzyme level, but it showed potential cellular activity regarding inhibition of membrane fusion with a low micromolar IC50 value of 10.87 µM, suggesting its action could be mediated by another molecular target. Furthermore, in vitro evaluation showed that compound 14 inhibited pseudovirus entry as well as thrombin and factor Xa. Together, this study presents compound 14 as a hit compound that might serve as a starting point for developing potential viral entry inhibitors with possible application against coronaviruses.

The Effect of Sustained Transparency on Electoral Accountability

AbstractTransparency is expected to strengthen electoral accountability. Yet, initiatives disseminating politician performance information directly prior to elections have reported mixed results. We argue that to be effective, transparency needs to be sustained: The dissemination of politician performance information needs to occur early, regularly, and predictably throughout the term. Using a formal model of electoral accountability under nonprogrammatic and uneven party competition, we study how sustained transparency affects a string of decisions by various actors in advance of elections: incumbents' running choices, parties' nomination strategies, and potential challengers' entry decisions. We show how these effects shape the candidate slate and ultimately electoral outcomes, conditional on incumbent performance and the incumbent party's relative strength. We test our theory using a field experiment involving 354 subnational constituencies in Uganda, and find robust support for the idea that sustained transparency can improve electoral accountability even in weakly institutionalized electoral settings.

Machine Learning Modeling of Aedes albopictus Habitat Suitability in the 21st Century

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is an important vector of arboviruses that cause diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and zika. The vector is highly invasive and adapted to survive in temperate northern territories outside its native tropical and sub-tropical range. Climate and socio-economic change are expected to facilitate its range expansion and exacerbate the global vector-borne disease burden. To project shifts in the global habitat suitability of the vector, we developed an ensemble machine learning model, incorporating a combination of a Random Forest and XGBoost binary classifiers, trained with a global collection of vector surveillance data and an extensive set of climate and environmental constraints. We demonstrate the reliable performance and wide applicability of the ensemble model in comparison to the known global presence of the vector, and project that suitable habitats will expand globally, most significantly in the northern hemisphere, putting at least an additional billion people at risk of vector-borne diseases by the middle of the 21st century. We project several highly populated areas of the world will be suitable for Ae. albopictus populations, such as the northern parts of the USA, Europe, and India by the end of the century, which highlights the need for coordinated preventive surveillance efforts of potential entry points by local authorities and stakeholders.

Development of Bioluminescent Virulent Aeromonas hydrophila for Understanding Pathogenicity.

Virulent Aeromonas hydrophila (vAh) strains that cause motile Aeromonas septicemia (MAS) in farmed channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) have been an important problem for more than a decade. However, the routes of infection of vAh in catfish are not well understood. Therefore, it is critical to study the pathogenicity of vAh in catfish. To this goal, a new bioluminescence expression plasmid (pAKgfplux3) with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene was constructed and mobilized into vAh strain ML09-119, yielding bioluminescent vAh (BvAh). After determining optimal chloramphenicol concentration, plasmid stability, bacteria number-bioluminescence relationship, and growth kinetics, the catfish were challenged with BvAh, and bioluminescent imaging (BLI) was conducted. Results showed that 5 to 10 µg/mL chloramphenicol was suitable for stable bioluminescence expression in vAh, with some growth reduction. In the absence of chloramphenicol, vAh could not maintain pAKgfplux3 stably, with the half-life being 16 h. Intraperitoneal injection, immersion, and modified immersion (adipose fin clipping) challenges of catfish with BvAh and BLI showed that MAS progressed faster in the injection group, followed by the modified immersion and immersion groups. BvAh was detected around the anterior mouth, barbels, fin bases, fin epithelia, injured skin areas, and gills after experimental challenges. BLI revealed that skin breaks and gills are potential attachment and entry portals for vAh. Once vAh breaches the skin or epithelial surfaces, it can cause a systemic infection rapidly, spreading to all internal organs. To our best knowledge, this is the first study that reports the development of a bioluminescent vAh and provides visual evidence for catfish-vAh interactions. Findings are expected to provide a better understanding of vAh pathogenicity in catfish.