title: Transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2 activates hepatitis C virus infection

text: The human liver reacts to hepatitis C virus (HCV) with a balanced response consisting of host anti‐ and proviral activities. To explore these subtle host responses, we used oligonucleotide microarrays to investigate the differential gene expression between two groups of liver samples with high and low HCV loads (>100‐fold difference). We identified and validated 26 genes that were up‐regulated in livers with high HCV loads, including transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Trypsin inhibitors inhibited the infection of Huh7‐25‐CD81 cells with cell‐culture–derived HCV (HCVcc) of Japanese fulminant hepatitis 1 isolate at the postbinding and entry step, and trypsin enhanced HCVcc infection at an early stage of infection. Several major transmembrane serine proteases, in particular, furin and hepsin, were detected in Huh7‐25‐CD81 cells, but TMPRSS2 was not. Huh7‐25‐CD81 cell clones stably expressing TMPRSS2‐ WT (wild type) and inactive TMPRSS2‐mutant genes showed positive and negative enhancement of their susceptibility to HCVcc infection, respectively. The enhanced susceptibility of TMPRSS2‐WT Huh7‐25‐CD81 cells was confirmed by knockdown of TMPRSS2 using small interfering RNA. The cell‐surface protease activity of TMPRSS2‐WT cells was markedly active in the cleavage of QAR and QGR, corresponding to amino acid residues at P3 to P1. Conclusion: The cell‐surface activity of a trypsin‐like serine protease, such as TMPRSS2, activates HCV infection at the postbinding and entry stage. Host transmembrane serine proteases may be involved in the sensitivity, persistence, and pathogenesis of HCV infection and be possible targets for antiviral therapy. (Hepatology 2015;61:438‐447)


Vaccine Protects Against SARS In Mice


Flavivirus‐Induced Up‐regulation of MHC Class I Antigens; Implications for the Induction of CD8(+) T‐Cell‐Mediated Autoimmunity


title: Preventing healthcare‐associated infection: risks, healthcare systems and behaviour

text: More than 177 000 potentially preventable healthcare‐associated infections (HAIs) occur per annum in Australia with sizable attributable mortality. Organizational systems to protect against HAI in hospitals in Australia are relatively poorly developed. Awareness and practice of infection control by medical and other healthcare staff are often poor. These lapses in practice create significant risk for patients and staff from HAI. Excessive patient exposure to antimicrobials is another key factor in the emergence of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria and Clostridium difficile infection. Physicians must ensure that their interactions with patients are safe from the infection prevention standpoint. The critical preventative practice is hand hygiene in accord with the World Health Organization 5 moments model. Improving the use of antimicrobials, asepsis and immunization also has great importance. Hospitals should measure and feed back HAI rates to clinical teams. Physicians as leaders, role models and educators play an important part in promoting adherence to safe practices by other staff and students. They are also potentially effective system engineers who can embed safer practices in all elements of patient care and promote essential structural and organizational change. Patients and the public in general are becoming increasingly aware of the risk of infection when entering a hospital and expect their carers to adhere to safe practice. Poor infection control practice will be regarded in a negative light by patients and their families, regardless of any other manifest skills of the practitioner.


Immune‐Mediated Encephalitis: On the Role of Antigen‐Presenting Cells in Brain Tissue


title: Integrated bus transit scheduling for the Beijing bus group based on a unified mode of operation

text: This paper presents an applied study of scheduling buses and drivers for the Beijing Bus Group (BJBUS), the largest bus company in China. This is pioneering research in China for bus transit scheduling using computers based on a unified mode of operation. It is anticipated that the research fruits and experiences obtained would be of benefit to other bus operators in China. The bus transit scheduling problem in BJBUS is first presented in the paper. The particular characteristics are pointed out, which are different from those in developed countries, while many are common in China. After a brief review and analysis of the appropriateness of some currently successful approaches, the paper focuses on reporting the solution ideas and methods for BJBUS, especially those developed to solve the specific problems of BJBUS, such as scheduling buses with built‐in meal periods, multi‐type bus scheduling, restricting drivers to one or two particular buses, etc. Finally, the implementation and computational results are reported before the concluding remarks.


title: Antiviral Antibodies in Dogs in the Netherlands

text: SUMMARY: Antiviral antibodies in dogs in the Netherlands A collection of more than 700 canine sera, coming from open and closed populations and from kennels with frequent neonatal mortality, were screened for the prevalence of antibodies to canine adenoviruses, canine herpesvirus, polyoma virus, REOviruses, parainfluenza viruses, equine influenza viruses and vomiting and wasting disease virus of pigs. The data from the different groups were compared and related to the results of similar studies carried out in other countries. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Virus‐Antikörper bei Hunden in den Niederlanden Antivirale Antikörper in Hunden in den Niederlanden. Über 700 Sera von Hunden aus der offenen Population, isolierten Kollektiven sowie aus Zwingern mit hoher Welpensterblichkeit wurden auf Antikörper gegen die folgenden Viren untersucht: canine Adeno‐ und Herpesviren, Polyomavirus, REOviren, Parainfluenzaviren, Pferdeinfluenzaviren und das porcine „vomiting and wasting disease”‐Virus. Die aus den verschiedenen Kollektiven erhaltenen Werte wurden untereinander verglichen wie auch mit den Ergebnissen ähnlicher Erhebungen im Ausland. RÉSUMÉ: Anticorps antiviraux chez des chiens aux Pays‐Bas On a recherché des anticorps contre les virus suivants sur plus que 700 sérums de chiens pris dans la population ouverte, dans des collectivités isolées et dans des chenils avec forte mortalité des chiots: Adeno‐ et Herpesvirus canins, Polyomavirus, REOvirus, Parainfluenzavirus, Influenzavirus du cheval et le virus du «vomiting ans wasting disease» du porc. Les valeurs obtenues dans les différentes collectives ont été comparées entre elles et également avec les résultats de recherches semblables faites à l'éranger. RESUMEN: Anticuerpos antivirales en perros de los Países Bajos Se examinaron más de 700 sueros sanguíneos de perros de la población abierta, colectivos aislados y perreras con mortalidad elevada de cachorros en cuanto a la presencia de anticuerpos contra los virus siguientes: adeno y herpes caninos, polioma, REO, parainfluenza, influenza equina y de la enfermedad del vómito y extenuación en porcinos. Se compararon entre sí los valores obtenidos en los diversos colectivos, así como también con los resultados de pesquisas semejantes Ilevadas a cabo en el extranjero.


title: Structural and Functional Characterization of Gene Products Encoded in the Human Genome by Homology Detection

text: Availability of the human genome data has enabled the exploration of a huge amount of biological information encoded in it. There are extensive ongoing experimental efforts to understand the biological functions of the gene products encoded in the human genome. However, computational analysis can aid immensely in the interpretation of biological function by associating known functional/structural domains to the human proteins. In this article we have discussed the implications of such associations. The association of structural domains to human proteins could help in prioritizing the targets for structure determination in the structural genomics initiatives. The protein kinase family is one of the most frequently occurring protein domain families in the human proteome while P‐loop hydrolase, which comprises many GTPases and ATPases, is a highly represented superfamily. Using the superfamily relationships between families of unknown and known structures we could increase structural information content of the human genome by about 5%. We could also make new associations of domain families to 33 human proteins that are potentially linked to genetically inherited diseases. IUBMB Life, 56: 317‐331, 2004


title: Acute and chronic changes in the microcirculation of the liver in inbred strains of mice following infection with mouse hepatitis virus type 3

text: The acute and chronic effects of mouse hepatitis virus type 3 on the microcirculation of the liver in both semisusceptible C3HeB/FeJ and fully resistant A/J mice were studied. In the C3HeB/FeJ mice, abnormalities of microcirculatory flow were noted as early as 12 hr after infection and by 24 hr, localized avascular foci appeared. Disturbances were characterized by granular blood flow, sinusoidal microthrombi, distortion of sinusoids by edematous hepatocytes and necrotic lesions. Following the acute infection, Day 10, two patterns of chronic disease were observed. Eighty percent of the mice developed chronic granulomatous hepatitis whereas in the remaining 20% a more severe chronic aggressive hepatitis was observed which was characterized by ongoing hepatocellular necrosis and a marked mononuclear cell infiltrate. In both cases, in vivo microcirculatory abnormalities were found predominantly around visible lesions. Onset of the microcirculatory abnormalities was found to be concomitant with a rise in monocyte related procoagulant activity. Procoagulant activity rose acutely and remained elevated throughout the chronic phase but was higher in animals with severe disease. In contrast to the above, normal blood flow and histology were seen in the resistant A/J mice at all times following infection, and procoagulant activity remained at basal levels despite active viral replication as demonstrated by immunofluorescence studies and recovery of infectious virus. These observations suggest a role for monocyte procoagulant activity in the development of microcirculatory abnormalities following mouse hepatitis virus type 3 infection which may be important in the pathogenesis of the disease.


title: VERTICAL MIGRATION AND AVOIDANCE CAPABILITY OF EUPHAUSIIDS IN THE CALIFORNIA CURRENT

text: Comparisons of day and night vertical distributions of euphausiids at the same stations make it possible to estimate 1) the extent of vertical migration of the furcilia, juveniles, and adults of the Euphausiacea (Crustacea) species, or 2) their ability to avoid the net in the daytime, or both. Seven species of Euphausia and one of Thysanopoda migrated more than 300 m, rising to near the surface at night. Adults of Nematoscelis (three species) migrated vertically but were bounded at upper limits by the thermocline at all but the most inshore stations. Nyctiphanes simplex and Stylocheiron carinatum were short‐distance (ca. 150–0 m) migrants. The extent of vertical migration was greatest in the most offshore central water, intermediate for midcurrent species, and least for coastal. Nonmigrants included all Stylocheiron species (except S. carinatum), Thysanoessa gregaria, and two Nematobrachion species. S. affine, S. suhmi, and T. gregaria inhabited the homogeneous layer. Apparent increases with depth in their daytime densities arise from avoidance of nets in the upper layers. This is minimal at ca. 100 m, where day and night densities are nearly equal.


title: Some chronic rhinosinusitis patients have elevated populations of fungi in their sinuses,

text: OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To measure the populations of 36 fungi in the homes and sinuses of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and non‐CRS patients. STUDY DESIGN: Single‐blind cross‐sectional study. METHODS: Populations of 36 fungi were measured in sinus samples and in the home vacuum cleaner dust of CRS (n = 73) and non‐CRS patients (n = 16) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Etest strips containing amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, fluconazole, and voriconazole were used to test the susceptibility of seven potentially relevant fungi. RESULTS: Seven fungi (Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides types 1 and 2, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium crustosum, and Penicillium chrysogenum type 2) were discovered at very high concentrations in some CRS patients. In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of these seven fungi demonstrated species specific sensitivities. Four CRS patients with marked elevations of fungal populations in their sinus samples underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. After surgical treatment, the fungal populations were reduced by several orders of magnitude. CONCLUSIONS: Seven fungi were found in very high concentrations in the sinuses of some CRS patients. Not one of the five common antifungal agents could control all seven of these fungi based on in vitro tests.


title: Parental behaviour in Maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus at Belo Horizonte Zoo

text: There is limited information on the reproductive behaviour of the Maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus. Although it is a monogamous species, little is known about the ♂'s role in the rearing of pups. In 1994 a comparative study of the behaviour of two ♀♀ with new‐born pups was carried out at Belo Horizonte Zoo to try to establish the ♂'s role in rearing: one ♀ was housed alone with her pups throughout the observation period; the other ♂ was housed with the ♀ and pups for the first month and alone with the pups for the second month of observation. The applied methodology for behaviour evaluation was instantaneous sampling (scan). The behaviour of each adult was recorded at one‐minute intervals. Location in the enclosure and spatial proximity were also recorded. The results suggest that Maned wolves are inactive for large parts of the day and that they prefer secluded areas within an enclosure. The results also suggest that only the ♂ is directly involved in rearing the offspring and that ♀ participation is limited to protection only. The time that the ♂ stays with the pups is at a maximum on the days immediately following birth, but this time decreases considerably as the pups grow. At around day 50, when lactation has ceased, contact between the ♂ and pups is minimal and the pups have their own resting places within the enclosure. These resting places, inside the burrows or thick vegetation, are rarely shared with others.


title: Extending the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model to presence/absence data: A case study on North American breeding birds and biogeographical shifts expected from climate change

text: Understanding how species composition varies across space and time is fundamental to ecology. While multiple methods having been created to characterize this variation through the identification of groups of species that tend to co‐occur, most of these methods unfortunately are not able to represent gradual variation in species composition. The Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model is a mixed‐membership method that can represent gradual changes in community structure by delineating overlapping groups of species, but its use has been limited because it requires abundance data and requires users to a priori set the number of groups. We substantially extend LDA to accommodate widely available presence/absence data and to simultaneously determine the optimal number of groups. Using simulated data, we show that this model is able to accurately determine the true number of groups, estimate the underlying parameters, and fit with the data. We illustrate this method with data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Overall, our model identified 18 main bird groups, revealing striking spatial patterns for each group, many of which were closely associated with temperature and precipitation gradients. Furthermore, by comparing the estimated proportion of each group for two time periods (1997–2002 and 2010–2015), our results indicate that nine (of 18) breeding bird groups exhibited an expansion northward and contraction southward of their ranges, revealing subtle but important community‐level biodiversity changes at a continental scale that are consistent with those expected under climate change. Our proposed method is likely to find multiple uses in ecology, being a valuable addition to the toolkit of ecologists.


title: Discovery of sympatric cryptic species within Gekko hokouensis (Gekkonidae: Squamata) from the Okinawa Islands, Japan, by use of allozyme data

text: An electrophoretic survey of samples of the gekkonid lizard, Gekko hokouensis, from the East Asian islands demonstrated that two genetically divergent, but morphologically almost identical, entities occur on five islands of the Okinawa Group, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. These entities, while sharing all of the external character states diagnostic of G. hokouensis, exhibited fixed allele differences at six to eight out of 30 loci examined and great overall genetic distances [Nei’s (1978) D = 0.489–0.654]. On Kumejima and Tonakijima Islands of the Okinawa Group, the two entities were collected together from identical microhabitats. These results indicate that the two entities represent separate biological species. Genetic comparisons of these two cryptic species from the Okinawa Group with ‘G. hokouensis’ from other island groups revealed that one occurs broadly in the insular region of East Asia, whereas the other is restricted to the Okinawa Group. Implications of the present findings for the morphological evolution of ‘G. hokouensis’ are also discussed.


title: Seroepidemiology of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus Infections Using Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus as Antigen

text: SUMMARY: By indirect immunofluorescence on pig thyroid cells infected with transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus of swine, antibodies were detected in sera from cats after experimental infection with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) virus material. Also antibodies could be demonstrated in body fluids from 21 field cases where FIP had been diagnosed by clinical and post mortem examination and in most sera (91%) from catteries with a FIP history. In randomly selected open population samples 16% of seropositive animals were detected whereas none of 109 sera from a barrier‐contained closed breeding colony gave a positive reaction. No TGE neutralizing antibodies could be found in our sera and peritoneal fluids. The possibility of an antigenic relationship between FIP and TGE viruses is discussed. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Seroepidemiologie der Infektionen mit dem Virus der felinen infektiösen Peritonitis unter Verwendung des transmissiblen Gastroenteritisvirus als Antigen Mit Hilfe der indirekten Immunofluoreszenz auf TGE‐virusinfizierten Schweineschilddrüsenzellen wurden in den Seren von experimentell mit FIP‐Virusmaterial infizierten Katzen Antikörper nachgewiesen. Auch in den Körperflüssigkeiten von 21 Spontanfällen, in denen FIP klinisch und pathologischanatomisch diagnostiziert worden war und in den meisten Seren (91%) aus Katzenzuchten mit einer FIP‐Anamnese konnten Antikörper angezeigt werden. In Stichproben von klinisch unauffälligen Katzen befanden sich 16% seropositive Reagenten, wohingegen alle 109 Seren von Katzen aus einer geschlossenen SPF‐Zucht negativ ausfielen. Neutralisierende Antikörper gegen das TGE‐Virus konnten in unseren Seren und Aszitesflüssigkeiten nicht gefunden werden. Die Möglichkeit einer antigenen Verwandtschaft zwischen den FIP und TGE Viren wird diskutiert. RÉSUMÉ: Séroépidémiologie des infections avec le virus de la péritonite infectieuse du chat utilisant le virus de la gastroentérite transmissible du porc comme antigène Dans des sérums felins aprés infection expérimentale avec le virus de la FIP on a démontré des anticorps par immunofluorescence indirecte sur cellules de la thyroïde porcine infectées avec le virus de la TGE. Aussi dans 21 sérums des chats où la FIP a été diagnostiquée par examens cliniques et anatomo‐pathologiques et dans la plupart (91%) des sérums provenant des élevages avec une anamnése FIP, des anticorps ont été démontré. Dans la population féline normale il y avait 16% des animaux séropositifs tandis qu'aucun sérum des 109 échantillons provenant d'une colonie SPF ne donnait pas de réaction positive. Des anticorps neutralisants contre le virus de la TGE n'étaient pas démontrable dans nos sérums et liquides ascitiques. La possibilité d'une relation antigénique entre les virus de la FIP et de la TGE est discutée. RESUMEN: Sueroepidemiología de infecciones con el virus de la peritonitis infecciosa del gato utilizando el virus de la gastroenteritis transmisible porcina como antígeno Por medio de inmunofluorescencia indirecta en células tiroideas del cerdo infectadas con el virus de la gastroenteritis transmisible porcina (TGE) se mostraron anticuerpos en sueros de gato después de una infección experimental con el virus de la peritonitis infecciosa (FIP). También en los líquidos ascíticos de 21 animales en los cuales la FIP fué diagnosticada mediante exámenes clínicos y postmortales y en la mayoría (91%) de sueros obtenidos de varias gaterías con problemas de FIP se pudo evidenciar la presencia de anticuerpos. En la población abierta se logró mostrar 16% de animales sueropositivos mientras que todos los 109 sueros obtenidos de un colectivo aislado SPF eran negativos. No se pudo evidenciar anticuerpos neutralizantes contra el virus de la TGE en nuestros sueros y líquidos ascéticos. Se discute la posibilidad de una relación antigénica entre los virus de la FIP y de la TGE.


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title: An immunoprobe to measure Rubisco concentrations and maximal photosynthetic rates of individual phytoplankton cells

text: The cross‐reactivity of an immunological probe to the key photosynthetic enzyme Rubisco (ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) was characterized as part of a larger effort to determine maximal photosynthetic rates of individual phytoplankton cells. Polyclonal antiserum was produced against purified Rubisco from the marine diatom Chaetoceros gracilis. The results of western immunoblotting demonstrated that the antiserum reacted positively with Rubisco from 38 species of algae and higher plants and failed to react with only three species of dinoflagellates and one prochlorophyte species. However, the binding affinity or the strength of the cross‐reaction for the polyclonal antiserum with purified Rubisco varied among species. The antiserum was then affinity purified against spinach Rubisco and its binding affinity for purified Rubisco determined by ELISA. Two taxonomic groupings resulted: one with high‐binding affinity (these species included chrysophytes, bacillariophytes, prymnesiophytes, and chlorophytes) and the other with low‐binding affinity (dinophytes and cyanophytes). Rubisco concentration per cell and light‐saturated rates of photosynthesis were highly correlated for cultures of the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii. These results indicate that affinity‐purified antiserum can be rigorously characterized for use in quantifying Rubisco concentration and for assessing the maximal photosynthetic potential of individual phytoplankton cells.


Organ‐Specific Autoimmunity: A 1986 Overview


title: Mucosal immunity and tolerance: relevance to vaccine development

text: Summary: The mucosal immune system of mammals consists of an integrated network of lymphoid cells which work in concert with innate host factors to promote host defense. Major mucosal effector immune mechanisms include secretory antibodies, largely of immunoglobulin A (IgA) isotype, cytotoxic T cells, as well as cytokines, chemokines and their receptors. Immunologic unresponsiveness (tolerance) is a key feature of the mucosal immune system, and deliberate vaccination or natural immunization by a mucosal route can effectively induce immune suppression. The diverse compartments located in the aerodigestive and genitourinary tracts and exocrine glands communicate via preferential homing of lymphocytes and antigen‐presenting cells. Mucosal administration of antigens may result in the concomitant expression of secretory immunoglobulin A (S‐IgA) antibody responses in various mucosal tissues and secretions, and under certain conditions, in the suppression of immune responses. Thus, developing formulations based on efficient delivery of selected anti‐gens/tolerogens, cytokines and adjuvants may impact on the design of future vaccines and of specific immunotherapeutic approaches against diseases associated with untoward immune responses, such as autoimmune disorders, allergic reactions, and tissue‐damaging inflammatory reactions triggered by persistent microorganisms.


title: Molecular mimicry: Can epitope mimicry induce autoimmune disease?

text: Mimicry of host antigens by infectious agents may induce cross‐reactive autoimmune responses to epitopes within host proteins which, in susceptible individuals, may tip the balance of immunological response versus tolerance toward response and subsequently lead to autoimmune disease. Epitope mimicry may indeed be involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as post‐viral myocarditis or Chagas disease, but for many other diseases in which it has been implicated, such as insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitis or rheumatoid arthritis, convincing evidence is still lacking. Even if an epitope mimic can support a cross‐reactive T or B cell response in vitro, its ability to induce an autoimmune disease in vivo will depend upon the appropriate presentation of the mimicked host antigen in the target tissue and, in the case of T cell mimics, the ability of the mimicking epitope to induce a proliferative rather than anergizing response upon engagement of the MHC‐peptide complex with the T cell receptor. B cell presentation of mimicking foreign antigen to T cells is a possible mechanism for instigating an autoimmune response to self antigens that in turn can lead to autoimmune disease under particular conditions of antigen presentation, secondary signalling and effector cell repertoire. In this review evidence in support of epitope mimicry is examined in the light of the necessary immunological considerations of the theory.


title: Evapotranspiration and water source of a tropical rainforest in peninsular Malaysia

text: To evaluate water use and the supporting water source of a tropical rainforest, a 4‐year assessment of evapotranspiration (ET) was conducted in Pasoh Forest Reserve, a lowland dipterocarp forest in Peninsular Malaysia. The eddy covariance method and isotope signals of rain, plant, soil, and stream waters were used to determine forest water sources under different moisture conditions. Four sampling events were conducted to collect soil and plant twig samples in wet, moderate, dry, and very dry conditions for the identification of isotopic signals. Annual ET from 2012 to 2015 was quite stable with an average of 1,182 ± 26 mm, and a substantial daily ET was observed even during drought periods, although some decline was observed, corresponding with volumetric soil water content. During the wet period, water for ET was supplied from the surface soil layer between 0 and 0.5 m, whereas in the dry period, approximately 50% to 90% was supplied from the deeper soil layer below 0.5‐m depth, originating from water precipitated several months previously at this forest. Isotope signatures demonstrated that the water sources of the plants, soil, and stream were all different. Water in plants was often different from soil water, probably because plant water came from a different source than water that was strongly bound to the soil particles. Plants showed no preference for soil depth with their size, whereas the existence of storage water in the xylem was suggested. The evapotranspiration at this forest is balanced and maintained using most of the available water sources except for a proportion of rapid response run‐off.


Zaldivar‐Riverón, A., Areekul, B., Shaw, M. R. & Quicke, D. L. J. (2004). Comparative morphology of the venom apparatus in the braconid wasp subfamily Rogadinae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Braconidae) and related taxa. —Zoologica Scripta, 33, 223–237. The morphology of the venom apparatus intima in representatives of 38 genera of the problematic braconid wasp subfamily Rogadinae and other cyclostome braconids was investigated and a preliminary phylogenetic analysis for the group was performed with the information obtained. Despite the limited number of characters, the data suggest several relationships at various taxonomic levels. The venom apparatus in the Clinocentrini and the Stiropiini is relatively unmodified and similar to that found in other genera previously placed within a broader concept of the Rogadinae (e.g. genera of Lysitermini, Pentatermini, Tetratermini, Hormiini) and also to that of the Betylobraconinae. The presence of a cone of filaments located inside the secondary venom duct near to its insertion on the venom reservoir/primary venom duct is proposed as a synapomorphy for the tribe Rogadini to the exclusion of Stiropiini, Clinocentrini and Yeliconini. Other features of the secondary venom duct and its insertion on the venom reservoir/primary venom duct support a number of relationships between the genera of the Rogadini and also within the large genus Aleiodes. A clade containing 15 Rogadini genera (Bathoteca, Bathotecoides, Bulborogas, Canalirogas, Colastomion, Conspinaria, Cystomastacoides, Macrostomion, Megarhogas, Myocron, Pholichora, Rectivena, Rogas, Spinaria and Triraphis) is supported by the presence of a thickened and short secondary venom duct, whereas the different members of Aleiodes (excluding members of the subgenus Heterogamus) and Cordylorhogas are distinguished by having a recessed secondary venom duct with well‐defined and numerous internal filaments. New World Rogas species exhibit a unique venom apparatus and may not be closely related to the Old World ones. Features of the venom apparatus of the enigmatic genus Telengaia and the exothecine genera Shawiana and Colastes suggest that the Telengainae and Exothecinae are both closely related to the Braconinae, Gnamptodontinae, and possibly to the Opiinae and Alysiinae. An unsculptured venom reservoir was found in one specimen of the type species of Avga, A. choaspes, which is consistent with it occupying either a very basal position within the cyclostome braconids or belonging to a recently recognized ‘Gondwanan’ clade that also includes the Aphidiinae.


title: The Effect of Mouse Hepatitis Virus Infection on the Microcirculation of the Liver

text: Mouse hepatitis virus type 3 infection results in strain‐dependent liver disease. The effects of mouse hepatitis virus type 3 on the microcirculation of the liver in both fully susceptible (Balb/cJ) and fully resistant (A/J) mice were studied. In Balb/cJ mice, 6 to 12 hr following infection, abnormalities in liver blood flow were observed which consisted of granular blood flow in both terminal hepatic and terminal portal venules. In addition, sinusoidal microthrombi were present predominantly in periportal areas. By 24 to 48 hr, liver cell edema and small focal lesions were prominent. At 48 hr, thrombi and hepatocellular necrosis were widespread, and blood was shunted from damaged areas into patent sinusoids. In sharp contrast to these abnormal findings, normal streamlined blood flow was present in the resistant A/J animals at all time points following infection. Since large amounts of virus were demonstrated by immunofluorescene in and by recovery and growth from livers of both resistant and susceptible strains, the presence of the virus per se cannot explain the abnormalities observed.


title: The role of the neutral amino acid transporter B(0)AT1 (SLC6A19) in Hartnup disorder and protein nutrition

text: Hartnup disorder (OMIM 234500) is an autosomal recessive disorder, which was first described in 1956 as an aminoaciduria of neutral amino acids accompanied by a variety of symptoms, such as a photo‐sensitive skin‐rash and cerebellar ataxia. The disorder is caused by mutations in the neutral amino acid transporter B(0)AT1 (SLC6A19). To date 21 mutations have been identified in more than twenty families. SLC6A19 requires either collectrin or angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 for surface expression in the kidney and intestine, respectively. This ties SLC6A19 together with more complex functions such as blood‐pressure control, glomerular structure, and exocytosis. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(6): 591–599, 2009


title: PERICARDITIS ASSOCIATED WITH TICK‐BORNE Q FEVER

text: A case of pericarditis associated with Q fever is described. Transmission was probably via an arthropod vector, which was most likely the kangaroo tick Amblyomma triguttatum. Complete recovery occurred in association with the use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory agents only. This is a rare presentation of Q fever implicating transmission by a novel vector.


Variability of hepatitis C virus


title: Promising Trends in Access to Medicines

text: It is a vast understatement to say that the problem of access to medicines in developing countries is complex. Access is limited by a range of factors including inability to pay, a lack of infrastructure, and corruption in some countries. Surrounding and exacerbating these structural and technological problems is the layer of legal rights created by patents and their licensing that complicate and render more expensive the preparation and delivery of needed medicines, particularly those that need to be adapted to the social, health and cultural environment of developing countries. This article provides a survey of innovative strategies that aim at maximizing the potential of patents to facilitate the development and delivery of medicines against diseases, the burden of which falls principally on developing country populations. To understand the context in which these strategies are being proposed and implemented, the article reviews the battles over access to medicines beginning in the late 1980s. It then surveys some of the principal suggestions put forward to better direct innovation systems in addressing the critical health needs of the world’s majority including advance market commitments, patent buy‐outs, prize funds, public–private partnerships and patent pools.


title: Plant species richness of nature reserves: the interplay of area, climate and habitat in a central European landscape

text: Aim To detect regional patterns of plant species richness in temperate nature reserves and determine the unbiased effects of environmental variables by mutual correlation with operating factors. Location The Czech Republic. Methods Plant species richness in 302 nature reserves was studied by using 14 explanatory variables reflecting the reserve area, altitude, climate, habitat diversity and prevailing vegetation type. Backward elimination of explanatory variables was used to analyse the data, taking into account their interactive nature, until the model contained only significant terms. Results A minimal adequate model with reserve area, mean altitude, prevailing vegetation type and habitat diversity (expressed as the number of major habitat types in the reserve) accounted for 53.9% of the variance in species number. After removing the area effect, habitat diversity explained 15.6% of variance, while prevailing vegetation type explained 29.6%. After removing the effect of both area and vegetation type, the resulting model explained 10.3% of the variance, indicating that species richness further increased with habitat diversity, and most obviously towards warm districts. After removing the effects of area, habitat diversity and climatic district, the model still explained 9.4% of the variance, and showed that species richness (i) significantly decreased with increasing mean altitude and annual precipitation, and with decreasing January temperature in the region of the mountain flora, and (ii) increased with altitudinal range in regions of temperate and thermophilous flora. Main conclusions We described, in quantitative terms, the effects of the main factors that might be considered to be determining plant species richness in temperate nature reserves, and evaluated their relative importance. The direct habitat effect on species richness was roughly equal to the direct area effect, but the total direct and indirect effects of area slightly exceeded that of habitat. It was shown that the overall effect of composite variables such as altitude or climatic district can be separated into particular climatic variables, which influence the richness of flora in a context‐specific manner. The statistical explanation of richness variation at the level of families yielded similar results to that for species, indicating that the system of nature conservation provides similar degrees of protection at different taxonomic levels.


title: Initial Lung Lesions in Two Calves Experimentally Infected with Haemophilus somnus

text: The initial lung lesions in two calves intrabronchially inoculated with Haemophilus somnus are described. The animals were euthanized within 7 h after challenge. The in situ location of H. somnus and accompanying lesions were examined by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Inoculation with H. somnus resulted in the development of acute pulmonary lesions within 3.5 h. H. somnus antigen was demonstrated only within the luminal spaces of the airways and in one area of bronchio‐associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). As observed by TEM, the bacteria were phagocytized by both neutrophils and alveolar macrophages. Antigen was never demonstrated in the pulmonary intravascular macrophages.


title: Major vault protein plays important roles in viral infection

text: Viral replication and related protein expression inside the host cells, and host antiviral immune responses can lead to the occurrence of diverse diseases. With the outbreak of viral infection, a large number of newly diagnosed and died patients infected with various viruses are still reported every year. Viral infection has already been one of the major global public health issues and lead to huge economic and social burdens. Studying of viral pathogenesis is a very important way to find methods for prevention, diagnosis, and cure of viral infection; more evidence has confirmed that major vault protein (MVP) is closely associated with viral infection and pathogenesis, and this review is intended to provide a broad relationship between viruses and MVP to stimulate the interest of related researchers.


title: Safety procedures of coagulation factors

text: Abstract Two main types of safety procedures must be applied to biological products, including plasma derivatives: (i) preventive procedures and (ii) elimination procedures.Prevention includes epidemiological control of donor populations; checks on each donor’s health condition; analysis of each donation for the main pathogens using serological methods; additional analysis of all plasma for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and the B19 virus, using nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAT). A 60 days or longer inventory hold of all plasma donations is applied, to allow additional time to discard previous donations from potential seroconverting or otherwise rejectable donors.Elimination procedures minimize the low residual risk of transmitting pathogens, including unknown or previously undetected ones. Since the introduction 20 years ago of solvent‐detergent treatment, very effective against enveloped viruses (HIV, HBV, HCV, West Nile virus, SARS, avian influenza virus etc), there have been no known cases of transmission of this type of pathogens by products manufactured according to this procedure. Other inactivation procedures such as pasteurization, dry‐heat or nanofiltration may prove equally effective. In addition, dry‐heat treatment and nanofiltration are capable of effectively eliminating non‐enveloped viruses (HAV, B19 virus). Recent studies show that the B19 virus is much more sensitive to heat (in lyophilized state or by pasteurization) and acid pH than previously thought.Although there is no evidence for the transmission of classic transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) through blood or blood‐products transfusion, four possible cases have been reported in the United Kingdom involving transmission by non‐leukoreduced blood components of the agent that causes variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob Disease (vCJD), a disease linked to the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) which took place in that country. However, there are no cases of human TSE (classic or variant) transmission by plasma‐derived products. Analytical methods capable of detecting the vCJD agent in patients’ brains (where high titres are found) and other tissues (such as the spleen, appendix and lymph nodes, where much lower concentrations are found) are unable to detect the agent in blood or plasma from patients with vCJD, even in the clinical phase of the disease. Experiments by Grifols and other groups show that the capacity of the production processes to eliminate vCJD agent models is many orders of magnitude greater than the maximum expected load of the agent. In this regard, the efficacy of precipitation, affinity chromatography, depth filtration and nanofiltration are particularly notable.


title: Construction of a multiplex allele‐specific PCR‐based universal array (ASPUA) and its application to hearing loss screening

text: We demonstrate a new method, using a universal array approach termed multiplex allele‐specific PCR‐based universal array (ASPUA), and applied it to the mutation detection of hereditary hearing loss. Mutations in many different genes may be the cause of hereditary hearing loss, a sensory defect disorder. Effective methods for genetic diagnosis are clearly needed to provide clinical management. Owing to the broad genetic basis of this condition, clinical assay of such a highly heterogeneous disorder is expensive and time consuming. In ASPUA, the allele discrimination reaction is carried out in solution by multiplex allele‐specific PCR and a universal solid phase array with different tag probes is used to display the PCR result. The purpose of developing the ASPUA platform was to utilize the rapidity and simplicity of the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) with the detection power of microarray hybridization. This is the first report of the combination of these two technologies, which allow for the completion of allele‐specific detection of 11 of the most frequent mutations causing hereditary hearing loss in under 5 hr. The ASPUA platform was validated by accurately analyzing 141 patient samples that had been previously genotyped for GJB2, GJB3, SLC26A4, and MTRNR1. In addition, we also developed a simplified assay by using streptavidin‐coated magnetic beads instead of fluorescence for signal display that can be assessed through a conventional light microscope. We demonstrate that the ASPUA platform is rapid, cost‐effective, and easily‐used, and is especially appropriate for mutation detection in clinical genetic diagnostics. Hum Mutat 29(2), 306–314, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


100 years on: the Spanish Flu, pandemics and keeping nurses safe


title: Prioritizing Zoonotic Diseases: Differences in Perspectives Between Human and Animal Health Professionals in North America

text: Zoonoses pose a significant burden of illness in North America. Zoonoses represent an additional threat to public health because the natural reservoirs are often animals, particularly wildlife, thus eluding control efforts such as quarantine, vaccination and social distancing. As there are limited resources available, it is necessary to prioritize diseases in order to allocate resources to those posing the greatest public health threat. Many studies have attempted to prioritize zoonoses, but challenges exist. This study uses a quantitative approach, conjoint analysis (CA), to overcome some limitations of traditional disease prioritization exercises. We used CA to conduct a zoonoses prioritization study involving a range of human and animal health professionals across North America; these included epidemiologists, public health practitioners, research scientists, physicians, veterinarians, laboratory technicians and nurses. A total of 699 human health professionals (HHP) and 585 animal health professionals (AHP) participated in this study. We used CA to prioritize 62 zoonotic diseases using 21 criteria. Our findings suggest CA can be used to produce reasonable criteria scores for disease prioritization. The fitted models were satisfactory for both groups with a slightly better fit for AHP compared to HHP (84.4% certainty fit versus 83.6%). Human‐related criteria were more influential for HHP in their decision to prioritize zoonoses, while animal‐related criteria were more influential for AHP resulting in different disease priority lists. While the differences were not statistically significant, a difference of one or two ranks could be considered important for some individuals. A potential solution to address the varying opinions is discussed. The scientific framework for disease prioritization presented can be revised on a regular basis by updating disease criteria to reflect diseases as they evolve over time; such a framework is of value allowing diseases of highest impact to be identified routinely for resource allocation.


title: Respiratory inflammation and infections in high‐performance athletes

text: Upper respiratory illness is the most common reason for non‐injury‐related presentation to a sports medicine clinic, accounting for 35–65% of illness presentations. Recurrent or persistent respiratory illness can have a negative impact on health and performance of athletes undertaking high levels of strenuous exercise. The cause of upper respiratory symptoms (URS) in athletes can be uncertain but the majority of cases are related to common respiratory viruses, viral reactivation, allergic responses to aeroallergens and exercise‐related trauma to the integrity of respiratory epithelial membranes. Bacterial respiratory infections are uncommon in athletes. Undiagnosed or inappropriately treated asthma and/or allergy are common findings in clinical assessments of elite athletes experiencing recurrent URS. High‐performance athletes with recurrent episodes of URS should undergo a thorough clinical assessment to exclude underlying treatable conditions of respiratory inflammation. Identifying athletes at risk of recurrent URS is important in order to prescribe preventative clinical, training and lifestyle strategies. Monitoring secretion rates and falling concentrations of salivary IgA can identify athletes at risk of URS. Therapeutic interventions are limited by the uncertainty of the underlying cause of inflammation. Topical anti‐inflammatory sprays can be beneficial for some athletes. Dietary supplementation with bovine colostrum, probiotics and selected antioxidants can reduce the incidence or severity of URS in some athletes. Preliminary studies on athletes prone to URS indicate a genetic predisposition to a pro‐inflammatory response and a dysregulated anti‐inflammatory cytokine response to intense exercise as a possible mechanism of respiratory inflammation. This review focuses on respiratory infections and inflammation in elite/professional athletes.


title: Clinical assessment of Optivate(®), a high‐purity concentrate of factor VIII with von Willebrand factor, in the management of patients with haemophilia A

text: Summary. Factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates have revolutionized the treatment of patients with haemophilia A. Concerns over the transmission of viral infections through these products have been addressed through stringent, donor‐screening procedures and robust antiviral manufacturing steps. Bio Products Laboratory has developed a high‐purity FVIII product with von Willebrand factor, Optivate(®). Its safety, tolerability and efficacy as prophylaxis and treatment of bleeds have been established in long‐term studies. Seventy previously treated patients with severe haemophilia A, with ≥20 exposure days, were recruited into two long‐term, multicentre, open‐label studies. The protocols were virtually identical. Patients received Optivate(®) either prophylactically or on‐demand. A mean of 159.0 EDs were experienced over 11 320 infusions. Under both conditions, Optivate(®) was well tolerated. Only 10% of patients experienced a treatment‐related adverse event; the most commonly reported were headache (4% of patients) and dizziness (3% of patients). The mean number of bleeds/patient over the 2 year treatment period was 23.5 during prophylactic use and 70.4 during on‐demand use. In patients treated prophylactically, clinical responses to breakthrough bleeds were rated by physicians as excellent or good and as very helpful or helpful by patients in 95% of bleeds. Clinical responses for on‐demand patients were rated as excellent or good by physicians and helpful or very helpful by the patients for 91% of bleeds. There were no viral transmissions or inhibitors. The studies confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of Optivate(®) in both prophylactic and on‐demand management of patients with haemophilia A.


title: Pathogenicity of Hemagglutinating Encephalomyelitis (Vomiting and Wasting Disease) Virus of Pigs, using Different Routes of Inoculation

text: SUMMARY: Forty‐eight pigs were inoculated by different routes with the VW 572 isolate of the hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis (vomiting and wasting disease) virus. All piglets inoculated by the combined oral — nasal route (16) or into the infraorbital nerve (3) became sick after an incubation period of 5 days. Six of the 7 pigs inoculated into the stomach wall, 6 of the 8 pigs inoculated intramuscularly and 3 of the 5 pigs inoculated intracerebrally became ill after an incubation period of 3–3.5 days. None of the pigs inoculated either intravenously or into the abdominal cavity or into the stomach lumen became sick. All diseased pigs showed the vomiting and wasting syndrome. In oronasally inoculated pigs, killed during the early stages of disease, the virus was reisolated consistently from the tonsils and respiratory tract but irregularly from the pons + medulla and the stomach wall. Pigs inoculated by other routes were positive for virus when sick. All except one of the pigs which remained healthy had seroconverted. The site of virus replication which gives rise to the vomition could not be determined. It was concluded from the present studies that virus spread within the body occurs along nerve pathways. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Die Pathogenität von hämagglutinierendem Enzephalomyelitis‐Virus (Kümmern und Erbrechen) bei Shweinen nach Infektion über vershiedene Inokulationswege Achtundvierzig Schweine wurden übegr verschiedene Inokulationswege mit dem VW 572‐Isolat des hämagglutinierendtn Enzephalomyelitis‐Virus (Kümmern und Erbrechen) infiziert. Alle Schweine, die entweder kombiniert oro‐nasal (16) oder über den Infraorbitalnerv (3) infiziert wurden, erkrankten nach einer Inkubationszeit von 5 Tagen. Sechs der sieben über die Magenwand inokulierten, 6 oder 8 intramuskulär und 3 der 5 intrazerebral infizierten Tiere wurden nach einer Inkubationszeit von 3–3,5 Tagen krank. Bei den Schweinen, die intravenös oder in die Bauchhöhle bzw. direkt in den Magen inokuliert wurden, kamen Erkrankungsfälle nicht vor. Alle erkrankten Schweine zeigten das Syndrom des Kümmerns und Erbrechens. Von oro‐nasal infizierten Schweinen, die während des Frühstadiums der Erkrankung getötet wurden, konnte das Virus regelmäßig von den Tonsillen und dem Respirationstrakt und gelegentlich vom Gewebe des Pons‐Medulla‐Bereiches sowie aus der Magenwand reisoliert werden. Von Schweinen, die nach Infektion über andere Routen erkrankten, ließ sich immer Virus isolieren. Alle Tiere, die nicht erkrankten (mit Ausnahme eines Ferkels) bildeten jedoch Antikörper. Der Ort der Virusvermehrung, mit dem das Erbrechen zusammenhängt, ließ sich nicht ermitteln. Die Ergebnisse der vorgelegten Untersuchungen lassen den Schluß zu, daß die Virusausbreitung im Körper über die Nervenbahnen erfolgt. RÉSUMÉ: Pathogénicité du virus hémagglutinant de l'encéphalomyélite du porc (dépérissement et vomissement) après infection par différents modes d'inoculation 48 porcs ont été infectés selon différents procédés d'inoculation avec l'isolement VW 572 du virus hémagglutinant de l'encéphalomyélite (dépérissement et vomissement). Tous les porcs infectés soit par la voie combinée oronasale (16) soit par le nerf infraorbital (3) tombèrent malades après une incubation de 5 jours. 6 des 7 animaux infectés par la paroi stomacale, 6 des 8 par voie intramusculaire et 3 des 5 intracérébralement tombèrent malades après un temps d'incubation de 3–3,5 jours. Il n'y a pas eu de maladie chez les porcs inoculés par voie intraveineuse, dans l'abdomen ou directement dans l'estomac. Tous les porcs malades ont présenté le syndrome de dépérissement et de vomissement. Chez les animaux infectés par voie oro‐nasale et sacrifiés au début de la maladie, on a pu régulièrement réisoler le virus à partir des amygdales et de l'appareil respiratoire, parfois du tissu de la région «Pons‐Medulla» et de la paroi stomacale. Le virus a toujours été isolé chez les porcs tombés malades après un mode d'infection différent. Tous les animaux qui ne furent pas malades (à l'exception d'un porcelet) formèrent des anticorps. L'endroit de multiplication du virus lié au syndrome de vomissement n'a pas été déterminé. Les résultats de ces essais permettent de conclure que la propagation du virus dans le corps se fait par voie nerveuse. RESUMEN: La patogeneidad del virus hemoaglutinante de la encéfalomielitis (hipotrepsia y vómitos) en el cerdo tras infección a través de vías diversas de inoculación Se infectaron cuarenta y ocho cerdos a través de diferentes vías de inoculación con el aislamiento VW 572 del virus hemoaglutinante de la encéfalomielitis (hipotrepsia y vómitos). Todos los cerdos infectados bien con arreglo al procedimiento combinado buco‐nasal (16) o bien a través del nervio infraorbitario (3) enfermaron tras un tiempo de incubación de 5 días. Seis de siete animales inoculados a través de la pared gástrica, 6 de 8 por vía intramuscular y 3 de 5 por vía intracerebral enfermaron tras un tiempo de incubación de 3–3,5 días. No se registraron casos de enfermedad en los cerdos inoculados por vía intravenosa o en la cavidad abdominal resp. directamente en el estómago. Todos los cerdos que enfermaron presentaban el síndrome de hipotrepsia y vómitos. De los cerdos infectados por vía buco‐nasal, que se sacrificaron durante el estadio precoz de la enfermedad, se pudo reaislar el virus con regularidad de las tonsilas y del tracto respiratorio y, en ocasiones, del tejido correspondiente al ámbito puente de Varolio‐medula, así como de la pared gástrica. Se logró siempre aislar virus de cerdos que enfermaron tras infección por otras vías. Sin embargo, todos los animales que no enfermaron (excepción hecha por un lechón) produjeron anticuerpos. No se logró descubrir el lugar en donde se multiplicaba el virus, hecho relacionado con los vómitos. Los resultados de los estudios presentados permiten llegar a la conclusión de que la propagación del virus en el organismo acontece a través de las vías nerviosas.


title: Vulnerability of rat and mouse brain cells to murine hepatitis virus (JHM‐strain): Studies in vivo and in vitro

text: The pathogenicity and cell tropism of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV‐JHM‐strain) in the developing mouse (Balb/c) and rat (Wistar and Lewis) brain were analysed. Intracranial infection of Balb/c mice at postnatal day 5 induced a lethal encephalitis in all animals. Of Wistar rats infected at day 2 or 5 after birth, 30 to 70%, respectively, survived. The distribution of viral antigen was studied in frozen brain sections of animals that died after infection; astrocytes were found to be the major virus‐infected cell type throughout the central nervous system. More than 75% of the surviving rat pups developed paralysis, but viral antigen was detected in only few brain cells and not in astrocytes. The cell tropism of MHV‐JHM was examined further in virus‐infected glial cell cultures derived from brains of rats or mice. In the glial cultures derived from Wistar rats, only oligodendrocytes were infected, whereas in cultures derived from mouse or Lewis rat brain viral antigen was detected in both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Infection of astrocytes led to the formation of syncytia and degradation of the cytoskeleton. Infected rat oligodendrocytes gradually disappeared from the cultures because of cell death. These phenomena indicate that, besides an indirect autoimmune response triggered by infected astrocytes, direct virus‐induced injury to astrocytes or to oligodendrocytes can have a dominant role in the neuropathogenicity of mouse hepatitis virus. The present results underscore the importance of species and developmental stage of experimental animals in the neurotropism and pathogenicity of MHV‐JHM.


title: An historical overview of selected rare ruminants in captivity

text: In assessing the situation revealed by the survey, we concluded that in general when sufficient numbers of founders were available and attention paid to the animals general and specific needs, including preventative medicine, the captive populations have done reasonably well. Is is obvious that some small groups, such as the small African antelope and the duikers, need highly specialised care and there is a great deal of work still to be done on their husbandry. The mountain or alpine species have been fairly successful with the goats showing the greatest adaptability. We feel there are grounds for optimism for the future of such animals as the Rocky mountain goat, the Japanese serow and even the Blue sheep. Of those species whose captive future is still in doubt, particularly those which are threatened in the wild, our researches indicate that concentrated efforts should be made to obtain sufficient founder stock to establish self‐sustaining populations as a hedge against total disaster in the wild. We felt that the evidence was strong that any of the ungulate species reviewed could be successfully maintained in captivity given the right circumstances. Basically, the husbandry procedures of all the reporting zoos were similar, although, of course, each zoo had its own variations. In some cases these measurably affected the success of the animal population. In the last 20 to 25 years inter‐zoo co‐operation and sharing of information has greatly expanded. Nevertheless we would now urge that even more emphasis should be put on the exchange of information to provide each zoo with up‐ to‐date data which would ensure that all zoos are kept abreast with the 'state of the art. With such a spirit of co‐operation the prospect of managing species as total captive populations appears to be practical and promising.


title: Distribution of Trichoptera communities in the Hozgargantacatchment (Los Alcornocales Natural Park, SW Spain)

text: The distribution of Trichoptera of the Hozgarganta River (Los Alcornocales Natural Park, SW Spain) in relation with environmental factors was examined. Three groups of species were recognised according to the altitudinal gradient. In the headwaters the caddisflies Rhyacophila fonticola, Lepidostoma hirtum, Silonella aurata, Allogamus gibraltaricus, Hydropsyche infernalis and Diplectrona felix predominated; in the constrained section of the tributaries Polycentropus kingi, Chimarra marginata, Hydropsyche iberomaroccana, R. fonticola and Tinodes sp. prevailed; finally, in the main channel H. iberomaroccana, C. marginata, Hydropsyche lobata, Leptocerus lusitanicus and Rhyacophila munda were the most important species. A direct ordination analysis (CCA) was used to describe assemblage changes among sites and corroborated that conductivity and temperature were the variables that best explained Trichoptera distribution. The temporal analysis showed changes in the Trichoptera diversity and richness in permanent stretches, as well as variations in the structure of the communities according to the season. We identified autumn‐winter species (H. infernalis, H. siltalai, H. lobata, R. fonticola and R. munda ) and summer ones (Ithytrichia sp, Oxyethira unidentata, Mystacides azurea and Setodes argentipunctellus ). In the basin we distinguished permanent, intermittent and ephemeral reaches with similar caddisfly richness and diversity, however the species composition associated with each one was different. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


title: Isolation of a Virus Closely Related to Feline Panleukopenia Virus from Dogs with Diarrhea

text: SUMMARY: Parvovirus‐like particles were demonstrated by negative contrast electron microscopy in feces of dogs involved in outbreaks of a contagious diarrhea in the Netherlands. The virus was isolated in a continuous cell line in which it produced intranuclear inclusion bodies. It showed a close antigenic relationship with feline panleukopenia virus: a two‐way cross‐reaction was observed in hemagglutination inhibition, immune electron microscopy, immunofluorescence and serum neutralization tests. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Isolierung eines mit dem Virus der felinen Panleukopenie verwandten Virus von Hunden mit Diarrhoe Parvovirus‐ähnliche Partikel wurden mit Hilfe der Negativkontrast‐Elektronenmikroskopie während eines Ausbruches von kontagiöser Diarrhoe in Fäces von Hunden in den Niederlanden nachgewiesen. Das Virus wurde in einer permanenten Zell‐Linie isoliert, in der intranukleäre Einschlußkörperchen nachgewiesen werden konnten. Es zeigte eine nahe Antigenverwandt‐schaft mit dem Virus der felinen Panleukopenie. Eine beiderseitige Kreuzreaktion wurde beobachtet in der Hämagglutinationshemmung, Immunelektronenmikroskopie, Immunofluoreszenz und im Serumneutralisations‐Tests. RÉSUMÉ: Isolement d'un virus très proche au virus de la panleucopénie féline chez des chiens diarhéiques Des particules ressemblant aux parvovirions ont été démontrées au microscope électronique (contraste‐négatif) dans les matières fécales des chiens diarrhéiques aux Pays‐Bas. Le virus était isolé sur une ligne cellulaire continue dans laquelle il produisait des corpuscules d'inclusion intranucléairs. Le virus manifestait un parenté antigénique avec le virus de la panleucopénie féline: des réactions croisées dans les deux sens étaient observées, utilisant des méthodes d'inhibition d'hémagglutination, immunomicroscopie électronique, immunofluorescence et séroneutralisation. RESUMEN: Aislamiento de un virus estrechamente relacionado con el virus de la panleucopenia felina en perros con diarrea Partículas semejantes a parvoviriones fueron demostrados por medio de microscopía electrónica (contraste negativo) en muestras fecales de perros durante endemias de diarrea infecciosa en los Paises Bajos. Se mostró el aislamiento del virus en una línea celular continua en donde producía corpúsculos de inclusión intranucleares. El virus tiene una relación antigénica estrecha con el virus de la panleucopenia felina: reacciones cruzadas en ambos sentidos fueron observadas por medio de pruebas de inhibición de la hemaglutinación, inmunomicroscopía electrónica, inmunofluorescencia y sueroneutralización.


title: Indoor bioaerosol dynamics

text: Inhaling indoor air is the primary means by which humans are exposed to bioaerosols. Considering bacteria, fungi, and viruses, this study reviews the dynamic processes that govern indoor concentrations and fates of biological particulate material. Bioaerosol behavior is strongly coupled to particle size; this study emphasizes the range 0.1–10 μm in aerodynamic diameter. The principle of material balance allows concentrations to be determined from knowledge of important source and removal processes. Sources reviewed here include outdoor air introduced by air exchange plus indoor emission from occupants, occupant activities, and moldy materials. Important mechanisms that remove bioaerosols from indoor air include air exchange, deposition onto indoor surfaces, and active filtration. The review summarizes knowledge about size‐dependent particle deposition in different regions of the respiratory tract, techniques for measuring indoor bioaerosols, and evidence for diseases caused by airborne exposure to bioaerosols. Future research challenges and opportunities are highlighted.


title: Molecular systematics of the Philippine forest skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Sphenomorphus): testing morphological hypotheses of interspecific relationships

text: Skinks of the genus Sphenomorphus are the most diverse clade of squamates in the Philippine Archipelago. Morphological examination of these species has defined six phenotypic groups that are commonly used in characterizations of taxonomic hypotheses. We used a molecular phylogeny based on four mitochondrial and two nuclear genes to assess the group's biogeographical history in the archipelago and examine the phylogenetic validity of the currently recognized Philippine species groups. We re‐examined traditional characters used to define species groups and used multivariate statistics to quantitatively evaluate group structure in morphometric space. Clustering analyses of phenotypic similarity indicate that some (but not all) members of previously defined species groups are phenotypically most similar to other members of the same group. However, when species group membership was mapped on our partitioned Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis, only one species group corresponds to a clade; all other species group arrangements are strongly rejected by our phylogeny. Our results demonstrate that (1) previously recognized species group relationships were misled by phenotypic convergence; (2) Sphenomorphus is widely paraphyletic; and (3) multiple lineages have independently invaded the Philippines. Based on this new perspective on the phylogenetic relationships of Philippine Sphenomorphus, we revise the archipelago's diverse assemblage of species at the generic level, and resurrect and/or expand four previously recognized genera, and describe two new genera to accommodate the diversity of Philippine skinks of the Sphenomorphus group. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, 1217–1243.


title: Comparative genome organization of the major histocompatibility complex: lessons from the Felidae

text: Summary: The mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has taught both immunologists and evolutionary biologists a great deal about the patterns and processes that have led to immune defenses. Driven principally by human and mouse studies, comparative MHC projects among other mammalian species offer certain advantages in connecting MHC genome characters to natural situations. We have studied the MHC in the domestic cat and in several wild species of Felidae. Our observations affirm class I and class II homology with other mammalian orders, derivative gene duplications during the Felidae radiation, abundant persistent trans‐species allele polymorphism, recombination‐derived amino acid motifs, and inverted ratios of non‐synonymous to silent substitutions in the MHC peptide‐binding regions, consistent with overdominant selection in class I and II genes. MHC diversity as quantified in population studies is a powerful barometer of historic demographic reduction for several endangered species including cheetahs, Asiatic lions, Florida panthers and tigers. In two cases (Florida panther and cheetah), reduced MHC variation may be contributing to uniform population sensitivity to emerging infectious pathogens. The Felidae species, nearly all endangered and monitored for conservation concerns, have allowed a glimpse of species adaptation, mediated by MHC divergence, using comparative inferences drawn from human and mouse models.


title: Characterization of an animal model of metastatic colon carcinoma

text: Although numerous animal tumor models have been used to study colon carcinoma, few display metastatic properties. We have characterized an animal tumor model that has 3 properties essential for the study of metastasis of colon carcinoma cells: epithelial cell origin; a reproducible pattern of metastatic behavior and the ability to be propagated both in vitro and in vivo to facilitate identification of biochemical correlates of metastasis. The KI2/TR cell line was derived from a transplantable colon carcinoma induced by dimethylhydrazine in the BD‐IX rat strain. Transmission electron microscopy of KI2/TR cells demonstrated junctional complexes, desmosomes and surface microvilli characteristic of gastrointestinal epithelial cells. The epithelial cell origin of KI2/TR was confirmed by demonstrating the presence of keratin, a marker of epithelial cells, but not vimentin, a constituent of mesenchymal cells. Secretion of CEA and Ca19‐9 antigens by KI2/TR cells in vitro was below the sensitivity of the assays (1 ng/ml and 6 U/ml respectively). KI2/TR cells produced tumors following s.c. injection into syngeneic BD‐IX rats, allogeneic RNU/rnuDF rats and xenogeneic CRL:nu/nuBR mice. Macroscopic lung metastases were observed in animals from all 3 groups. Distal lymph node metastases were more frequent in BD‐IX rats than in nude rats or mice. The histological appearances of all tumors and metastases were similar, showing a moderate to poorly differentiated glandular carcinoma. Intrasplenic injections of KI2/TR cells in nude mice resulted in liver colonization. Preferential growth of tumor cells at sites of trauma was also observed. The results show that the KI2/TR system can be used as a model to study metastasis of colon carcinoma cells and may find utility in the testing of chemotherapeutic agents against metastatic lesions.


title: Revision of the coral genus Acropora (Scleractinia: Astrocoeniina: Acroporidae) in Indonesia

text: The coral genus Acropora is reviewed from Indonesia for the first time, following detailed collections made at 131 sites and additional material collected from approximately 40 sites throughout the archipelago during the period 1993–6. Eighty‐three species are recorded, four of these (Acropora halmaherae, A. awi, A. plumosa and A. simplex) new to science, six first described in 1994 and six in 1997. Records are compared with specimen‐based records from localities worldwide. The species of Acrokora occurring in Indonesian waters include five recorded only from the Indian Ocean and Indonesia, seven recorded only from the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and Indonesia, and a further 10 species apparently endemic to Indonesia, as well as widespread Indo‐Pacific species. Two species (A. jacquelineae Wallace, 1994 and A. batunai Wallace, 1996) are recorded only from north central Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and two species (A. russelli Wallace, 1994 and A. turaki Wallace, 1994) only from north central Indonesia and north western Australia. The findings contribute to a new view of the corals of the Indo‐Pacific ‘centre of diversity’ as a composite fauna with origins in a number of events in space and time.


NSAIDS May Hamper Fertility


title: Tolerance and autoimmunity in TCR transgenic mice specific for myelin basic protein

text: Summary: T‐cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice provide the ability to follow the maturation and fate of T cells specific for self‐antigens in vivo. This technology represents a major breakthrough in the study of autoimmune diseases in which specific antigens have been implicated. Proteins expressed within the central nervous system are believed to be important autoantigens in multiple sclerosis, TCR transgenic models specific for myelin basic protein (MBP) allowed us to assess the role of tolerance in providing protection from T cells with this specificity Our studies demonstrate that T cells specific for the immunodominant epitope of MBP do not undergo tolerance in vivo and that TCR transgenic mice are susceptible to spontaneous autoimmune disease. The susceptibility to spontaneous disease is dependent on exposure to microbial antigens, MBP TCR transgenic models expressing TCRs specific for the same epitope of MBP but utilizing different V(α) genes exhibit differing susceptibilities to, spontaneous disease. These data support the idea that genetic and environmental differences play a role in susceptibility to autoimmunity MBP TCR transgenic models are playing an important role in defining mechanisms by which infectious agents trigger autoimmune disease as well as defining mechanisms by which tolerance is induced to distinct epitopes within self‐antigens.


title: Assessment of hazard metrics for predicting field benthic invertebrate toxicity in the Detroit River, Ontario, Canada

text: Numerical sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) are frequently used to interpret site‐specific sediment chemistry and predict potential toxicity to benthic communities. These SQGs are useful for a screening line of evidence (LOE) that can be combined with other LOEs in a full weight of evidence (WOE) assessment of impacted sites. Three common multichemical hazard quotient methods (probable effect concentration [PEC]‐Q(avg), PEC‐Q(met), and PEC‐Q(sum)) and a novel (hazard score [HZD]) approach were used in conjunction with a consensus‐based set of SQGs to evaluate the ability of different scoring metrics to predict the biological effects of sediment contamination under field conditions. Multivariate analyses were first used to categorize river sediments into distinct habitats based on a set of physicochemical parameters to include gravel, low and high flow sand, and silt. For high flow sand and gravel, no significant dose–response relationships between numerically dominant species and various toxicity metric scores were observed. Significant dose–response relationships were observed for chironomid abundances and toxicity scores in low flow sand and silt habitats. For silt habitats, the HZD scoring metric provided the best predictor of chironomid abundances compared to various PEC‐Q methods according to goodness‐of‐fit tests. For low flow sand habitats, PEC‐Q(sum) followed by HZD, provided the best predictors of chironomid abundance. Differences in apparent chironomid toxicity between the 2 habitats suggest habitat‐specific differences in chemical bioavailability and indicator taxa sensitivity. Using an IBI method, the HZD, PEC‐Q(avg), and PEC‐Q(met) approaches provided reasonable correlations with calculated IBI values in both silt and low flow sand habitats but not for gravel or high flow sands. Computation differences between the various multi‐chemical toxicity scoring metrics and how this contributes to bias in different estimates of chemical mixture toxicity scores are discussed and compared. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:410–422. © 2016 SETAC


title: Context of diversification of the viviparous Gyrodactylidae (Platyhelminthes, Monogenoidea)

text: Using four criteria proposed a decade ago by Brooks & McLennan to identify a case of adaptive radiation indicates that the evolutionary history of the viviparous clade of the Gyrodactylidae is dominated by nonvicariant processes. The viviparous clade, with 446 species, has significantly more species than its sister clade (one species), and high species richness was shown to be an apomorphic trait of only the viviparous gyrodactylids within the Gyrodactylidae. Reconciliation of the phylogenetic tree of the viviparous Gyrodactylidae with that of its hosts showed a low probability for cospeciation suggesting that adaptive modes of speciation and not vicariance were predominant during the historical diversification of the clade. The proposed hypothesis suggests that the Gyrodactylidae originated on the South American continent about 60 Mya after geographical dispersal and host switching of its common ancestor to demersal freshwater catfishes by a marine ancestor. Development of hyperviviparity and the consequent loss of ‘sticky’ eggs in conjunction with other symplesiomorphic and apomorphic features allowed rapid diversification coupled with high dispersal to new host groups and geographical areas by viviparous members of the Gyrodactylidae.


“THE CLASSIFICATION OF VIRUSES; WHY, WHEN, AND HOW”


Annie B Cunning Lecture – Nutrition and infections in Australian Aboriginal children


title: Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte escape viral variants: how important are they in viral evasion of immune clearance in vivo?

text: Summary: Although viral variants which are not recognized by epitope‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) have been shown lo arise during a number of persistent virus infections, in many cases their significance remains controversial: it has been argued that the immune response is sufficiently plastic to contain their replication. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which amino acid changes in viral proteins may affect epitope recognition by virus‐specific CTL, and discuss the viral and immunological basis for the emergence of viral variants bearing such amino acid changes during infection. We then consider the impact that viral variation may have on the host CTL response and its ability to contain virus replication. We argue that the emergence of a viral variant demonstrates that it must have an in vivo replicative advantage, and that as such, the variant must tip the balance between virus replication and immune control somewhat in favor of the virus. Further, we suggest that although the immune response can evolve to recognize new viral epitopes, the CTL generated following such evolution frequently have a reduced ability to contain virus replication. We conclude that this escape mechanism likely does make a significant contribution to persistence/pathogenesis during a number of different virus infections.


title: Fungal Speciation Using Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (QPCR) in Patients With and Without Chronic Rhinosinusitis

text: Objectives/Hypothesis: The objectives of this study were to determine the mycology of the middle meatus using an endoscopically guided brush sampling technique and polymerase chain reaction laboratory processing of nasal mucous; to compare the mycology of the middle meatus in patients with sinus disease with subjects without sinus disease; to compare the responses on two standardized quality‐of‐life survey forms between patients with and without sinusitis; and to determine whether the presence of fungi in the middle meatus correlates with responses on these data sets. Study Design: The authors conducted a single‐blind, prospective, cross‐sectional study. Methods: Patients with sinus disease and a control group without sinus disease were enrolled in the study. A disease‐specific, validated Sinonasal Outcomes Test survey (SNOT‐20) was completed by the subjects and a generalized validated Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 Survey (SF‐36) was also completed. An endoscopically guided brush sampling of nasal mucous was obtained from the middle meatus. Fungal specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) was performed on the obtained sample to identify one of 82 different species of fungus in the laboratory. Statistical analysis was used to categorize the recovered fungal DNA and to crossreference this information with the outcomes surveys. Results: The fungal recovery rate in the study was 45.9% in patients with sinus disease and 45.9% in control subjects. Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis had a mean SNOT‐20 score of 1.80 versus the control group mean score of 0.77 (P < .0001). SF‐36 data similarly showed a statistically significant difference between diseased and control populations with controls scoring a mean of 80.37 and patients with chronic rhinosinusitis scoring a mean of 69.35 for a P value of .02. However, no statistical significance could be ascribed to the presence or absence of fungi recovered, the type of fungi recovered, or the possible impact of fungi on the quality‐of‐life survey results. Conclusion: The recovery rate of fungi from the middle meatus of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and a control population without chronic rhinosinusitis is 45.9% using QPCR techniques. No direct causation with regard to fungal species or presence was proven; however, a species grouping for future studies is proposed based on trends in this data and other reports. Disease‐specific outcomes surveys revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups.


title: Role of aminopeptidase N (CD13) in tumor‐cell invasion and extracellular matrix degradation

text: We have investigated the effect of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for aminopeptidase N/CD13 on the invasion of human metastatic tumor cells into reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel). The invasion of human metastatic tumor cells (SN12M renal‐cell carcinoma, HT1080 fibrosarcoma and A375M melanoma) into Matrigel‐coated filters was inhibited by an anti‐CD 13 MAb, WM15, in a concentration‐dependent manner. However, this MAb did not have any effect on tumor‐cell adhesion and migration to the extracellular matrices, which may be involved in tumor‐cell invasion. MAb WM15 inhibited the degradation of type‐IV collagen by tumor cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. We also found that WM15 inhibited hydrolysing activities towards substrates of aminopeptidases in 3 different tumor cells. Since our previous study indicated that bestatin, an aminopeptidase inhibitor, was able to inhibit tumor‐cell invasion, as well as aminopeptidase activities of murine and human metastatic tumor cells, cell‐surface aminopeptidase N/CD13 may be partly involved in the activation mechanism for type‐IV collagenolysis to achieve tumor‐cell invasion, and anti‐CD13 MAb WM15 may inhibit tumor‐cell invasion through a mechanism involving its inhibitory action on the aminopeptidase N in tumor cells.


title: Virulent and attenuated canine distemper virus infects multiple dog brain cell types in vitro

text: Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) produces an encephalitis in dogs that varies with viral strain. We have studied the cell tropisms of two virulent strains (CDV‐SH and CDV A75–17) and an attenuated strain, Rockborn (CDV‐RO), in cultured canine brain cells. Infected cell types were identified by double immunofluorescent labeling of specific cell markers and viral antigens. All viral strains studied produced infection in astrocytes, fibroblasts, and macrophages. Neurons were not infected by CDV A75–17 but were rapidly infected by CDV‐SH and CDV‐RO. Multipolar oligodendrocytes were very rarely infected by any of the virus strains. In contrast, a morphologically distinct subset of bipolar oligodendrocytes were commonly infected by CDV‐SH and CDV‐RO. The kinetics of infection in the astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neurons, and macrophages varied between strains. Both CDV‐SH and CDV‐RO rapidly infected bipolar oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, neurons, and macrophages by 14 days post infection while infection by CDV A75–17 was delayed until after 28–35 days post infection. The differences in the growth kinetics and cell tropisms for some brain cells, exhibited by the three viral strains examined in this in vitro study, may relate to the different CNS symptoms that these strains produce in vivo.


title: Mortality factors affecting the leaf‐mining stages of Phyllonorycter (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) on oak and birch: 2. Biology of the parasite species

text: Parasitic Hpenoptera attacking Phyllonorycter species mining leaves of oak and birch were studied at a Cheshire locality during 1974. The host developmental stages killed, and attacked, by each parasite species are analysed. Smaller species and males tend to kill earlier Phyllonorycter instars than do larger species and females, and certain of the endoparasites as well as the ectoparasites must discriminate between small hosts which receive haploid eggs and large hosts which receive diploid eggs. Host‐feeding is very widely practised, and facultative hyperparasitism is engaged in by all except the braconids and a few specialized chalcids. The biology of a parasite species generally allows its allocation to one of three groups according to the size of host larva that it attacks, whether it is endoparasitic or ectoparasitic, whether or not the host continues to develop after parasitization, the extent of its hyperparasitic behaviour, its reproductive capacity, and the width of its host range. Different strategies, together with different specific host and habitat preferences, provide the basis for parasite complexes of high species diversity.


title: Novel perspectives for hepatitis A virus therapy revealed by comparative analysis of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis A virus RNA replication

text: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are two positive‐strand RNA viruses sharing a similar biology, but causing opposing infection outcomes, with HAV always being cleared and HCV establishing persistence in the majority of infections. To gain deeper insight into determinants of replication, persistence, and treatment, we established a homogenous cell‐culture model allowing a thorough comparison of RNA replication of both viruses. By screening different human liver‐derived cell lines with subgenomic reporter replicons of HAV as well as of different HCV genotypes, we found that Huh7‐Lunet cells supported HAV‐ and HCV‐RNA replication with similar efficiency and limited interference between both replicases. HAV and HCV replicons were similarly sensitive to interferon (IFN), but differed in their ability to establish persistent replication in cell culture. In contrast to HCV, HAV replicated independently from microRNA‐122 and phosphatidylinositol 4‐kinase IIIα and β (PI4KIII). Both viruses were efficiently inhibited by cyclosporin A and NIM811, a nonimmunosuppressive analog thereof, suggesting an overlapping dependency on cyclophilins for replication. However, analysis of a broader set of inhibitors revealed that, in contrast to HCV, HAV does not depend on cyclophilin A, but rather on adenosine‐triphosphate–binding cassette transporters and FK506‐binding proteins. Finally, silibinin, but not its modified intravenous formulation, efficiently inhibited HAV genome replication in vitro, suggesting oral silibinin as a potential therapeutic option for HAV infections. Conclusion: We established a cell‐culture model enabling comparative studies on RNA replication of HAV and HCV in a homogenous cellular background with comparable replication efficiency. We thereby identified new host cell targets and potential treatment options for HAV and set the ground for future studies to unravel determinants of clearance and persistence. (Hepatology 2015;62:397–408


Mycobacteria and the Skin


title: Prevalence and Risk Factors for Bacterial Food‐Borne Zoonotic Hazards in Slaughter Pigs: A Review

text: The Hygiene Package and Regulation EC‐2160/2003 require information flow from farm to slaughterhouse to enhance European consumers protection in a ‘farm to fork’ approach. This obligation especially concerns food‐borne zoonotic hazards transmitted to humans through pork consumption, such as thermophilic Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Yersinia enterocolitica. Prevalence estimates of these four hazards are affected by the sampling strategy and diagnostic procedure. Individual prevalence estimates for pig carriage (from digestive contents or lymph nodes collected at slaughterhouse) were higher than individual prevalence estimates for pig shedding (from faeces). Among risk factors described in the literature, poor pen cleaning and disinfection after pig departure to slaughterhouse and poor bio‐security measures are of major significance. Moreover, whereas wet feed increases the risk of pig infection by L. monocytogenes, dry feed is a risk factor for Salm. enterica. Mixing batches of pigs, notably in fattening herds, represents a risk for the transmission of Salm. enterica and Y. enterocolitica. Whereas small herds are more infected by thermophilic campylobacters and Y. enterocolitica, higher prevalence of Salmonella is observed in large herds due to a more frequent mixing of batches. Antibiotic treatment during the finishing period increases the risk of transmission of Salm. enterica. The forenamed elements should be taken into account to characterize farms in a risk assessment approach and to improve zoonotic hazard management in the pork food chain.


Prise en charge des cancers du sein pendant la pandémie de COVID 19 : le CNGOF se mobilise


Coronavirus y radiología. Consideraciones sobre la crisis


The importance of being a Neurologist (during a dramatic pandemic)


Scalp Verruca from Barber Clippers: an Epidemiologic Assessment of a Common Fomite


title: Inactivation of interleukin‐8 by aminopeptidase N (CD13)

text: Aminopeptidase (APN) was found to degrade interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and inactivate its chemotactic activity. The chemotactic activity of IL‐8 was decreased by APN or neutrophil plasma membranes dose‐ and time‐dependently. The chemotactic activity was not inactivated in the presence of bestatin or WM15 monoclonal antibody. The expression of IL‐8 was measured by flow cytometry. On lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, IL‐8 expression increased for 60 min and then decreased markedly. In contrast, on treatment with LPS and bestatin, the expression of IL‐8 increased continuously for at least 120 min. These results suggest that the expression and release of IL‐8 from phagocytic cells are regulated by the proteolytic effect of APN on IL‐8. J. Leukoc. Biol. 57: 129–134; 1995.


title: Rat tracheal organ culture supports replication of parainfluenza 1 (6/94) virus and promotes 6/94 virus rescue from latently infected human brain cells

text: Rat tracheal organ culture (TOC) supported replication of parainfluenza 1 (6/94) virus. Cell‐associated and cell‐free viruses were found after primary infection of TOC. In contrast to other mammalian systems, rat TOC was capable of maintaining 6/94 virus infectivity after primary infection. Rat TOC may be considered a potential indicator system that could be used to detect virus latent in human tissue.


title: Evaluation of a new enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of rhinovirus infection

text: This study describes the evaluation of a newly developed ELISA for the direct detection of rhinovirus antigens in nasal washings. Of 54 volunteers inoculated with 100 TCID(50) of human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV‐2), 50 (96.6%) and 32 (59%) excreted antigen and virus on at least 1 of 3 days investigated, respectively. Thirty‐three (61%) had significant rises in rhinovirus‐specific IgA by ELISA. Twelve (22%) developed symptoms of colds. Generally the ELISA detected antigen more frequently in volunteers later in the course of infection and provided evidence of infection in a higher proportion of asymptomatic compared with symptomatic volunteers. On the other hand, virus isolation detected virus more frequently earlier in the course of infection and in a higher proportion of symptomatic compared with asymptomatic volunteers. We conclude that rhinovirus antigen detection by ELISA is a simple, rapid, sensitive, and practical test to diagnose a rhinovirus infection and potentially a viable alternative to virus isolation.


title: Morphometric patterns in Recent and fossil penguins (Aves, Sphenisciformes)

text: A total of 622 skin specimens, 527 skeletons, and myological data compiled by Schreiweis (1972) were used to investigate morphometric patterns within and among the 18 Recent species of Spheniscidae, and to compare the family with a fighted species, the common diving‐petrel (Pelecanoides urinator), considered by some authorities to be similar to the flighted ancestor of penguins. Fossil penguins also were studied using measurements from 111 skeletal elements representing 18 species. Most external and skeletal measurements follow interspecific rankings in body mass; the latter span a 30‐fold range from 1 kg in Eudyptula minor to 30 kg in Aptenodytes forsteri. Flighted Pelecanoides is only one‐tenth the mass of the smallest spheniscid. Wing areas and body masses of penguins maintain approximate geometric similitude among species; the allometric coefficient is 0.62 ± 0.04. Several skeletal elements are less derived in conformation in the fossil penguins than in modern confamilials. Despite great variation in the lengths of wing and leg skeletons, penguins show relative consistency in proportions of wing elements; pelvic proportions were more variable within the Spheniscidae. Proportions within both limbs are distinctly different from those of Pelecanoides. Analysis of correlation structures within species of penguin revealed three major subsets of skeletal variables that are highly intercorrelated: trunk‐skull lengths, appendicular‐trunk widths, and appendicular lengths. Within these groups, measurements tend to separate by anatomical region and, to a lesser degree, by limb. Canonical analysis of skin and skeletal measurements revealed groupings of spheniscids on the basis of size and relatively complex shape variables. Cluster analyses of taxa on the canonical variates confirmed the similarity of congeners in Eudyptes, Eudyptula and Spheniscus; species of Aptenodytes and, to a lesser degree, Pygoscelis, are more heterogeneous. A cluster analysis of principal components of myological measurements tabulated by Schreiweis (1972) corresponded closely with phenetic groupings using external and skeletal variables. A canonical contrast between spheniscids and Pelecanoides indicated that the families differ in a relatively complex skeletal dimension that only in part reflects overall size. Multivariate assessment of sexual dimorphism in external and skeletal variables indicated that: Eudyptula is least dimorphic; Aptenodytes, Eudyptes, Megadyptes and Spheniscus are moderately dimorphic; and Pygoscelis is most dimorphic. Pelecanoides shows comparatively low dimorphism. Among‐species and within‐species first principal components of skeletal measurements (multivariate axes of skeletal ‘size’) differ from one another in their orientation, and both deviate from isometric size. The first principal component for skeletons of Pelecanoides also deviated from isometric size, but the direction of this allometry is fundamentally different from that in penguins. Estimates of body mass for fossil penguins, based on principal components of available skeletal measurements, indicate that fossil species ranged from 3 kg to 81 kg in total mass; the largest fossil species was approximately 2.5 times as massive as the largest extant spheniscid. Much of the morphometric variation in the Spheniscidae is explainable on locomotory, ecological and thermodynamic grounds, and the associated phenetic groupings conform broadly with traditional generic classifications. The evolutionary significance of mensural correlations, allometric trends and differences between fossil and Recent species are discussed, and the need for a phylogenetic analysis of this highly specialized family of winged‐propelled diving birds is stressed.


Introduction: why don't HIV/AIDS policies work?


21st Annual Symposium 25–27 September 2008 Rhodes, Greece Programme of the 21st annual meeting on: Peripheral Nerve, Neuromuscular and Muscle Disease


title: Studies of an outbreak of acute hepatitis A: II. Antibody changes to cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus

text: The acute and convalescent sera from 14 schoolchildren with acute hepatitis A were tested for antibody changes to 70 viral antigens. Marked decreases were noted in the levels of antibody to cytomegalovirus in 5 of the 14 children and in the levels of antibody to herpesvirus type 1 in 3. No such changes were noted in 9 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy control children from the same classes.


European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine‐Companion Animals


title: Two Nursing Home Outbreaks of Respiratory Infection with Legionella sainthelensi

text: OBJECTIVE: To describe outbreaks of infection caused by Legionella sainthelensi occurring in older residents of two nursing homes and to determine risk factors for the development of infection. DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology and a case‐control study. SETTING: Two nursing homes (140 beds and 254 beds in nursing homes A and B, respectively) located in southern Ontario, Canada, experiencing outbreaks of respiratory tract infection in July and August 1994. SUBJECTS: Case‐residents of the two nursing homes who met clinical and laboratory criteria for Legionella infection. Control‐residents were defined as those who were in the homes during the outbreaks and were asymptomatic. MEASUREMENTS: Active surveillance was conducted in both nursing homes to identify symptomatic residents. Residents with fever or respiratory tract symptoms had nasopharyngeal swabs taken for viral antigen detection and culture, urine for Legionella antigen detection, and acute and convalescent serology for viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Legionella. Chest X‐rays were performed, and an attempt was made to obtain blood and sputum cultures. Water samples from shower heads, faucets, and air conditioning units were collected for Legionella culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. A case‐control study was done to assess possible risk factors for legionellosis. RESULTS: Twenty‐nine cases — 17 in nursing home A; 12 in nursing home B — were identified. Four (14%) case‐residents had documented pneumonia and four case‐residents died. Univariate analysis revealed that a history of stroke (odds ratio (OR) 2.3 (95% CI, 1.0–5.3)), eating pureed food (OR 4.6 (95% CI, 1.6–12.7)), and having fluids administered with medication (OR 2.5 (95% CI, 1.0–5.9)) were significant risk factors. Cases were less likely to wear dentures (OR .4 (95% CI, .2‐.9)) or to eat solid food (OR .3, (95% CI, .1‐.6)). Only eating pureed food remained significant in a multivariable analysis (OR 4.6 (95% CI, 1.6–13.0, P = .01)). CONCLUSION: This report describes outbreaks of legionellosis in two nursing homes, representing the first reported outbreaks of infection caused by Legionella sainthelensi. The association with illness of dietary characteristics indicative of swallowing disorders suggests that aspiration was the most likely mode of infection. The diagnosis of legionellosis should be considered during outbreaks of respiratory infection in nursing homes. J Am Geriatr Soc 47:547–552, 1999.