bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attitude and utilization of ChatGPT among registered nurses: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Lin Hui‐Ling , Liao Li‐Ling , Wang Ya‐Ni , Chang Li‐Chun
Published: July 2024

Aim

This study explores the influencing factors of attitudes and behaviors toward use of ChatGPT based on the Technology Acceptance Model among registered nurses in Taiwan.

Background

The complexity of medical services and nursing shortages increases workloads. ChatGPT swiftly answers medical questions, provides clinical guidelines, and assists with patient information management, thereby improving nursing efficiency.

Introduction

To facilitate the development of effective ChatGPT training programs, it is essential to examine registered nurses’ attitudes toward and utilization of ChatGPT across diverse workplace settings.

Methods

An anonymous online survey was used to collect data from over 1000 registered nurses recruited through social media platforms between November 2023 and January 2024. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for data analysis.

Results

Among respondents, some were unfamiliar with ChatGPT, while others had used it before, with higher usage among males, higher‐educated individuals, experienced nurses, and supervisors. Gender and work settings influenced perceived risks, and those familiar with ChatGPT recognized its social impact. Perceived risk and usefulness significantly influenced its adoption.

Discussion

Nurse attitudes to ChatGPT vary based on gender, education, experience, and role. Positive perceptions emphasize its usefulness, while risk concerns affect adoption. The insignificant role of perceived ease of use highlights ChatGPT's user‐friendly nature.

Conclusion

Over half of the surveyed nurses had used or were familiar with ChatGPT and showed positive attitudes toward its use. Establishing rigorous guidelines to enhance their interaction with ChatGPT is crucial for future training.

Implications for nursing and health policy

Nurse managers should understand registered nurses’ attitudes toward ChatGPT and integrate it into in‐service education with tailored support and training, including appropriate prompt formulation and advanced decision‐making, to prevent misuse.
Why do managers announce the intention to sell large assets?
Authors: de Jong Abe , Ghazizadeh Pouyan , Schlingemann Frederik P. , Shazia Farhan
Published: July 2024

Nearly one‐third of asset sale announcements are preceded by a public statement of the intent to sell. These voluntary disclosures generate significant average returns of 1.1%. Pre‐announcements bias returns around the actual asset sales toward zero. Due to opportunistic managerial behavior, pre‐announcements occur after poor stock performance and CEO turnover. Managers also opportunistically exercise options around the pre‐announcements and receive potential benefits from the uptick in stock prices. Although we find no effect of pre‐announcements on long‐term operational performance, we do observe a negative effect on stock returns using three and four‐factor models.
Comparison of the Burden and Temporal Pattern of Hospitalisations Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Before and After COVID‐19 in New Zealand
Authors: Turner Nikki , Aminisani Nayyereh , Huang Sue , O'Donnell Jane , Trenholme Adrian , Broderick David , Paynter Janine , Castelino Lorraine , Grant Cameron , McIntyre Peter
Published: July 2024

Background

Changes in the epidemiology of illnesses caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection following the COVID‐19 pandemic are reported. The New Zealand (NZ) COVID‐19 situation was unique; RSV community transmission was eliminated with the 2020 border closure, with a rapid and large increase in hospitalizations following the relaxation of social isolation measures and the opening of an exclusive border with Australia.

Methods

This active population‐based surveillance compared the age‐specific incidence and seasonality of RSV‐associated hospitalizations in Auckland, NZ, for 2 years before and after the 2020 border closures. Hospitalisation rates between years were compared by age, ethnicity (European/other, Māori, Pacific and Asian) and socioeconomic group (1 = least, 5 = most deprived).

Results

There was no RSV transmission in 2020. In all other years, hospitalisation rates were highest for people of Pacific versus other ethnic groups and for people living in the most deprived quintile of households. RSV hospitalisation rates were higher in 2021 and 2022 than in 2018–19. The epidemic peak was higher in 2021, but not 2022, and the duration was shorter than in 2018–19. In 2021, the increase in RSV hospitalisation rates was significant across all age, sex, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. In 2022, the increase in hospitalisation rates was only significant in one age (1– < 3 years), one ethnic (Asian) and one socioeconomic group (quintile 2).

Conclusions

COVID pandemic responses altered RSV‐related hospitalisation seasonal patterns. Atypical features of RSV hospitalisation epidemiology were the increase in rates in older children and young adults, which lessened in 2022. Despite these variations, RSV hospitalisations in NZ continue to disproportionately affect individuals of Pacific ethnicity and those living in more socioeconomically deprived households. Whilst future public health strategies focused on RSV disease mitigation need to consider the potential shifts in epidemiological patterns when the transmission is disrupted, these variances must be considered in the context of longer‐standing patterns of unequal disease distribution.
Experiences of family carers in providing care to children with intellectual disabilities in India: A qualitative evidence synthesis
Authors: Cithambaram Kumaresan , Corby D. , Rajendran Shankar Shanmugam
Published: July 2024

Background

India has a significant prevalence of people with intellectual disabilities. Despite their higher prevalence, they receive poor support. Therefore, this review aims to explore the experiences of family carers in providing care for children with intellectual disabilities in India.

Methods

A qualitative evidence synthesis was undertaken, searching databases such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycInfo up to October 2023. Grey literature was also searched for unpublished studies, with two reviewers assessing methodological quality. Eleven eligible studies, mostly qualitative in design, were included in the review. The data synthesis followed a thematic approach.

Results

The synthesis found five themes representing family carers' experiences and perspectives. These were ‘resilience and acceptance’, ‘parental response’, ‘care dynamic’, ‘preparing for transition to adulthood’ and ‘parental advocacy’.

Conclusion

Family carers hold diverse views, while almost all consider providing care complex and challenging, with few positive experiences.
Decline in use of high‐risk agents for tight glucose control among older adults with diabetes in New York City: 2017–2022
Authors: Zhang Jeff , Kanchi Rania , Conderino Sarah , Levy Natalie K. , Adhikari Samrachana , Blecker Saul , Davis Nichola , Divers Jasmin , Rabin Catherine , Weiner Mark , Thorpe Lorna , Dodson John A.
Published: July 2024

Background

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of inappropriate tight glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions in New York City, and to identify factors associated with this practice.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the INSIGHT Clinical Research Network. The study population included 11,728 and 15,196 older adults in New York City (age ≥ 75 years) with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, and at least one other chronic medical condition, in 2017 and 2022, respectively. The main outcome of interest was inappropriate tight glycemic control, defined as HbA1c <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol) with prescription of at least one high‐risk agent (insulin or insulin secretagogue).

Results

The proportion of older adults with inappropriate tight glycemic control decreased by nearly 19% over a five‐year period (19.4% in 2017 to 15.8% in 2022). There was a significant decrease in insulin (27.8% in 2017; 24.3% in 2022) and sulfonylurea (29.4% in 2017; 21.7% in 2022) medication prescription, and increase in use of GLP‐1 agonists (1.8% in 2017; 11.4% in 2022) and SGLT‐2 inhibitors (5.8% in 2017; 25.1% in 2022), among the total population. Factors associated with inappropriate tight glycemic control in 2022 included history of heart failure (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.38), chronic kidney disease ([aOR] 1.93), colorectal cancer ([aOR] 1.38), acute myocardial infarction ([aOR] 1.28), “other” ([aOR] 0.72) or “unknown” ([aOR] 0.72) race, and a point increase in BMI ([aOR] 0.98).

Conclusions

We found an encouraging trend toward less use of high‐risk medication strategies for older adults with type 2 diabetes and multiple chronic conditions. However, one in six patients in 2022 still had inappropriate tight glycemic control, indicating a need for continued efforts to optimize diabetes management in this population.
Use of chronic care management service among Medicare beneficiaries in 2015–2019
Authors: Jang Jieun , McCarthy Ellen P. , Olivieri‐Mui Brianne , Shi Sandra M. , Park Chan Mi , Oh Gahee , Sison Stephanie Denise M. , Kim Dae Hyun
Published: July 2024

Background

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced chronic care management (CCM) services in 2015 for patients with multiple chronic diseases. Few studies examine the utilization of CCM services by geographic region, sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics.

Methods

We used 2014–2019 Medicare claims data from a 5% random sample of fee‐for‐service beneficiaries aged 65 years or over. We included beneficiaries potentially eligible for CCM services because they had multiple chronic conditions (1,073,729 in 2015 and 1,130,523 in 2019). We calculated the proportion of potentially eligible beneficiaries receiving CCM service each year for the total population and by geographic region, sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics.

Results

The proportion of beneficiaries with two or more chronic conditions receiving CCM services increased from 1.1% in 2015 to 3.4% in 2019. The increase in CCM use was higher in the southern region, among dually eligible beneficiaries and beneficiaries with a greater burden of chronic conditions (2–5 conditions vs ≥10 conditions: 0.7% vs 2.0% in 2015; 2.1% vs 7.0% in 2019) and frailty (robust vs severely frail: 0.6% vs 3.3% in 2015; 1.9% vs 9.4% in 2019). Nearly one out of five recipients did not continue CCM service after the initial service.

Conclusion

We found that CCM service is being used by a very small fraction of eligible patients. Barriers and facilitators to more effective CCM adoption should be identified and incorporated into strategies that encourage more widespread use of this Medicare benefit.
Postoperative use of sleep aids and delirium in older adults after major surgery: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lee Su Been , Park Chan Mi , Levin Raisa , Kim Dae Hyun
Published: July 2024

Background

Sleep aids are commonly prescribed to treat sleep disturbance, a modifiable risk factor for postoperative delirium in older patients. The use of melatonin receptor agonists in the postoperative period has been increasing. The comparative safety of melatonin receptor agonists, zolpidem, and temazepam remains uncertain.

Methods

This retrospective study included 22,083 patients ≥65 years old who initiated melatonin receptor agonists, zolpidem, or temazepam after major surgery in the Premier Healthcare Database 2009–2018. We performed propensity score‐based overlap weighting and estimated the risk ratio (RR) and risk difference (RD) of postoperative delirium as the primary outcome and a composite of delirium or new antipsychotic initiation, pneumonia, and in‐hospital mortality as secondary outcomes.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 78 (SD, 7) years and 50% were female. There was no significant difference in the risk of postoperative delirium among patients treated with melatonin receptor agonists (3.4%, reference group), zolpidem (2.9%; RR [95% CI], 0.9 [0.7–1.2]; RD [95% CI] per 100 persons, −0.3 [−1.1 to 0.6]), and temazepam (3.1%; 0.9 [0.7–1.1]; RD [95% CI] per 100 persons, −0.5 [−1.2 to 0.3]). The risks of delirium or new antipsychotic initiation, pneumonia, and in‐hospital mortality were also similar among all groups.

Conclusions

Melatonin receptor agonists were not associated with a lower risk of postoperative delirium and other adverse outcomes compared with zolpidem and temazepam in older adults after major surgery.
The AaBBX21–AaHY5 module mediates light‐regulated artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L.
Authors: He Weizhi , Liu Hang , Wu Zhangkuanyu , Miao Qing , Hu Xinyi , Yan Xin , Wen Hangyu , Zhang Yaojie , Fu Xueqing , Ren Li , Tang Kexuan , Li Ling
Published: July 2024

The sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin is an important anti‐malarial component produced by the glandular secretory trichomes of sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua L.). Light was previously shown to promote artemisinin production, but the underlying regulatory mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), a central transcription factor in the light signaling pathway, cannot promote artemisinin biosynthesis on its own, as the binding of AaHY5 to the promoters of artemisinin biosynthetic genes failed to activate their transcription. Transcriptome analysis and yeast two‐hybrid screening revealed the B‐box transcription factor AaBBX21 as a potential interactor with AaHY5. AaBBX21 showed a trichome‐specific expression pattern. Additionally, the AaBBX21–AaHY5 complex cooperatively activated transcription from the promoters of the downstream genes AaGSW1, AaMYB108, and AaORA, encoding positive regulators of artemisinin biosynthesis. Moreover, AaHY5 and AaBBX21 physically interacted with the A. annua E3 ubiquitin ligase CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1). In the dark, AaCOP1 decreased the accumulation of AaHY5 and AaBBX21 and repressed the activation of genes downstream of the AaHY5–AaBBX21 complex, explaining the enhanced production of artemisinin upon light exposure. Our study provides insights into the central regulatory mechanism by which light governs terpenoid biosynthesis in the plant kingdom.
Capturing patient mobility levels in the hospital: An examination of nursing charting and behavioural mapping
Authors: Stewart Eric , Collector Loannis , Friedman Lisa Aronson , Gares Maddie , Funk Karli , Gopie Caitlin , Vincent Lydia , Young Daniel L. , Hoyer Erik H.
Published: July 2024

Aims

Our study aimed to (1) validate the accuracy of nursing mobility documentation and (2) identify the most effective timings for behavioural mapping.

Design

We monitored the mobility of 55 inpatients using behavioural mapping throughout a nursing day shift, comparing the observed mobility levels with the nursing charting in the electronic health record during the same period.

Results

Our results showed a high level of agreement between nursing records and observed mobility, with improved accuracy observed particularly when documentation was at 12 PM or later. Behavioural mapping observations revealed that the most effective timeframe to observe the highest levels of patient mobility was between 10 AM AND 2 PM.

Conclusion

To truly understand patient mobility, comparing nursing charting with methods like behavioural mapping is beneficial. This comparison helps evaluate how well nursing records reflect actual patient mobility and offers insights into the best times for charting to capture peak mobility. While behavioural mapping is a valuable tool for auditing patient mobility, its high resource demands limit its regular use. Thus, determining the most effective times and durations for observations is key for practical implementation in hospital mobility audits.

Implication for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Nurses are pivotal in ensuring patient mobility in hospitals, an essential element of quality care. Their role involves safely mobilizing patients and accurately charting their mobility levels during each shift. For nursing practice, this research underscores that nurse charting can accurately reflect patient mobility, and highlights that recording the patient's highest level of mobility later in the shift offers a more precise representation of their actual mobility.

Reporting Method

Strobe.

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.
Clash of mosquito wings: Larval interspecific competition among the mosquitoes, Culex pipiens, Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti reveals complex population dynamics in shared habitats
Authors: Bursali Fatma , Ulug Derya , Touray Mustapha
Published: July 2024

Globalisation, climate change and international trade are the factors contributing to the spread of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Ae. aegypti into new areas. In newly invaded habitats, these non‐native species can serve as arbovirus disease vectors or increase the risk of disease spill over. These mosquitoes continue to emerge in new areas where they have or will have overlapping ranges with other resident mosquito species. The study investigates how invasive Aedes mosquitoes compete with the native Culex pipiens in Türkiye, which might affect the overall mosquito population dynamics and disease transmission risks. Both Aedes species exhibited contrasting responses to interspecific competition with Cx. pipiens. While Ae. albopictus suffers reduced emergence primarily in larger containers with abundant food, Ae. aegypti surprisingly thrives in mixed cultures under all food conditions. Adult Cx. pipiens emergence drops by half against Ae. albopictus and under specific conditions with Ae. aegypti. Competition influences mosquito size differently across species and life stages. Culex pipiens females grow larger when competing with Ae. aegypti, potentially indicating resource advantage or compensatory strategies. However, Ae. albopictus size shows more nuanced responses, suggesting complex interactions at play. Understanding how invasive and native mosquitoes interact with each other can provide insights into how they adapt and coexist in shared habitats. This knowledge can inform effective control strategies. The study highlights the differential responses of invasive Aedes species and the potential for managing populations based on their competitive interactions with the native Cx. pipiens. It can contribute to improved monitoring and prediction systems for the spread of invasive mosquitoes and the associated disease risks.
Oral Mucositis and Nutritional Status in Children Who Underwent Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Comparison Between Nonmalignant and Malignant Primary Diseases
Authors: de Castro Fabíola Germano , de Paula Eduardo Fernanda , Bezinelli Leticia Mello , Hamerschlak Nelson , Netto Gabriele Zamperlini , Fernandes Juliana Folloni , Corrêa Luciana
Published: July 2024

Background

There is a lack of studies analyzing the association between oral mucositis (OM) and nutritional imbalance in children during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The aim of this study was to compare the risk factors for OM and nutritional imbalance during HSCT in pediatric patients with nonmalignant diseases (NMD) and malignant diseases (MD).

Methods

Data on age, sex, primary disease, transplantation type, conditioning regimen, GVHD prophylaxis, gastrointestinal toxicity, OM, percent body weight loss or gain, nutritional repositioning, and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively collected from the 132 medical records. The data were then compared between patients with NMD (n = 70) and MD (n = 62).

Results

OM had a similar severity between the groups. The primary risk factor for OM in the NMD group was the conditioning regimen with busulfan, while in the MD group it was GVHD prophylaxis with cyclosporin and methotrexate. OM did not have an impact on body weight loss or gain in any of the groups. In the NMD, body weight gain due to fluid overload was more pronounced and associated with a lower age range. OS was similar between the groups and was not affected by OM.

Conclusions

OM pattern was similar in pediatric patients with or without MD, but the factors that determined these oral lesions were different. There were disparities in body weight changes between the two groups, and these changes were not associated to OM.
Evaluation of Somatic Antigens of Adult Toxocara helminthes for Detection of Human Toxocariasis
Authors: Navi Zahra , Falak Reza , Mohebali Mehdi , Molairad Mohammad Bagher , Zarei Zabihollah , Aryaeipour Mojgan , Rahimi Foroushani Abbas , Zibaei Mohammad , Rokni Mohammad Bagher
Published: July 2024

We aimed to develop an indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate the presence of specific IgG against Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati somatic antigens on the serum of patients with toxocariasis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for indirect‐ELISA were calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis and Youden's J using Likelihood ratio. All statistics were analysed and graphs are plotted using GraphPad Prism version 8.4.3 (Graph Pad Software, La Jolla, CA, USA), with 95% confidence interval (CI). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for T. canis were 100%, 82%, 79% and 100%, respectively. The mentioned variables for T. cati were 97%, 82%, 78% and 98%, respectively. Five immune reactive bands of 38, 40, 72, 100 and 250 kDa were common in both species. Toxocara crude antigens were highly immunogenic in human sera. Immunoreactive bands against T. canis compared to T. cati somatic antigen were about two times more. Unlike Toxocara excretory‐secretory antigen, that was homologue in two species, somatic antigens of T. canis and T. cati showed different immunoreactive bands in our western blot.
Remittances and Livestock Management in Agropastoral Households in Rural Kyrgyzstan: Telecoupled Impacts of Globalization☆
Authors: Scott Christian Kelly , Mack Elizabeth A. , Chi Guangqing , Kelgenbaeva Kamilya , Henebry Geoffrey M.
Published: July 2024

Agropastoralism and international labor migration are livelihood strategies that are interconnected as dominant ways of life across rural Kyrgyzstan. A prevalent rural livelihood strategy—agropastoralism—is closely tied to agrarian semi‐nomadic ways of life that link families and communities to the surrounding mountain environment. Another livelihood strategy—international labor migration—links or telecouples communities and income streams to transnational family structures, international labor markets, and distant economies. This article examines four hypothetical relationships between key elements of these two livelihood strategies. The relationship between remittances, pasture access, and livestock holdings is examined by analyzing 1,815 household surveys from southern rural Kyrgyzstan. We find remittances and livestock holdings have a significant positive relationship when a household is receiving a large amount of remittances, but not when the remittances received are modest. We also find that access to more distant, productive pastures is positively associated with the receipt of any amount of remittances. These findings demonstrate the ways in which migration and remittances can impact livestock management and agropastoral livelihoods at different levels of remittance reception.
Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 infusion in preterm piglets does not affect growth parameters of skeletal muscle or tendon tissue
Authors: Tangbjerg Malene , Damgaard Ann , Karlsen Anders , Svensson Rene B. , Schjerling Peter , Gelabert‐Rebato Miriam , Pankratova Stanislava , Sangild Per Torp , Kjaer Michael , Mackey Abigail L.
Published: July 2024

Prematurity has physical consequences, such as lower birth weight, decreased muscle mass and increased risk of adult‐onset metabolic disease. Insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) has therapeutic potential to improve the growth and quality of muscle and tendon in premature births, and thus attenuate some of these sequalae. We investigated the effect of IGF‐1 on extensor carpi radialis muscle and biceps brachii tendon of preterm piglets. The preterm group consisted of 19‐day‐old preterm (10 days early) piglets, treated with either IGF‐1 or vehicle. Term controls consisted of groups of 9‐day‐old piglets (D9) and 19‐day‐old piglets (D19). Muscle samples were analysed by immunofluorescence to determine the cross‐sectional area (CSA) of muscle fibres, fibre type composition, satellite cell content and central nuclei‐containing fibres in the muscle. Tendon samples were analysed for CSA, collagen content and maturation, and vascularization. Gene expression of the tendon was measured by RT‐qPCR. Across all endpoints, we found no significant effect of IGF‐1 treatment on preterm piglets. Preterm piglets had smaller muscle fibre CSA compared to D9 and D19 control group. Satellite cell content was similar across all groups. For tendon, we found an effect of age on tendon CSA, and mRNA levels of COL1A1, tenomodulin and scleraxis. Immunoreactivity for elastin and CD31, and several markers of tendon maturation, were increased in D9 compared to the preterm piglets. Collagen content was similar across groups. IGF‐1 treatment of preterm‐born piglets does not influence the growth and maturation of skeletal muscle and tendon.
A role for synapsin tetramerization in synaptic vesicle clustering
Authors: Song Sang‐Ho , Augustine George J.
Published: July 2024

Although synapsins have long been proposed to be key regulators of synaptic vesicle (SV) clustering, their mechanism of action has remained mysterious and somewhat controversial. Here, we review synapsins and their associations with each other and with SVs. We highlight the recent hypothesis that synapsin tetramerization is a mechanism for SV clustering. This hypothesis, which aligns with numerous experimental results, suggests that the larger size of synapsin tetramers, in comparison to dimers, allows tetramers to form optimal bridges between SVs that overcome the repulsive force associated with the negatively charged membrane of SVs and allow synapsins to form a reserve pool of SVs within presynaptic terminals.

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In Other Journals
Authors: McCartney Melissa , Ash Caroline , Szuromi Phil , Kelly Priscilla N. , Ray L. Bryan , Stern Peter , Suleymanov Yury
Published: July 2024

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
Can ‘cow flu’ be eliminated—or is it too late?
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: July 2024

Feeble government response and lack of industry cooperation hamper U.S. control efforts
Selective host autophagy is induced during the intracellular parasite
Toxoplasma gondii
infection controlling amino acid levels
Authors: White Matthew D. , Angara Rajendra K. , Dias Leticia Torres , Shinde Dhananjay D. , Thomas Vinai C. , Augusto Leonardo
Published: July 2024

Toxoplasma gondii,
a widespread parasite, has the ability to infect nearly any nucleated cell in warm-blooded vertebrates. It is estimated that around 2 billion people globally have been infected by this pathogen. Although most healthy individuals can effectively control parasite replication, certain parasites may evade the immune response, establishing cysts in the brain that are refractory to the immune system and resistant to available drugs. For its chronic persistence in the brain, the parasite relies on host cells’ nutrients, particularly amino acids and lipids. Therefore, understanding how latent parasites persist in the brain is crucial for identifying potential drug targets against chronic forms. While shielded within parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs) or cysts,
Toxoplasma
exploits the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER) metabolism to sustain its persistence in the brain, resulting in host neurological alterations. In this study, we demonstrate that
T. gondii
disrupts the host ER homeostasis, resulting in the accumulation of unfolded protein within the host ER. The host counters this stress by initiating an autophagic pathway known as ER-phagy, which breaks down unfolded proteins into amino acids, promoting their recycling. Our findings unveil the underlying mechanisms employed by
T. gondii
to exploit host ER and lysosomal pathways, enhancing nutrient levels during infection. These insights provide new strategies for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.

IMPORTANCE

Intracellular parasites employ several mechanisms to manipulate the cellular environment, enabling them to persist in the host.
Toxoplasma gondii
, a single-celled parasite, possesses the ability to infect virtually any nucleated cell of warm-blooded vertebrates, including nearly 2 billion people worldwide. Unfortunately, existing treatments and immune responses are not entirely effective in eliminating the chronic persisting forms of the parasite. This study reveals that
T. gondii
induces the host’s autophagic pathway to boost amino acid levels in infected cells. The depletion of amino acids, in turn, influences the persistence of the parasite’s chronic forms. Significantly, our investigation establishes the crucial role of host endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-phagy in the parasite’s persistence within the host during latent infection.
Strain variation in the
Candida albicans
iron limitation response
Authors: Xiong Liping , Goerlich Katharina , Do Eunsoo , Mitchell Aaron P.
Published: July 2024

Iron acquisition is critical for pathogens to proliferate during invasive infection, and the human fungal pathogen
Candida albicans
is no exception. The iron regulatory network, established in reference strain SC5314 and derivatives, includes the central player Sef1, a transcription factor that activates iron acquisition genes in response to iron limitation. Here, we explored potential variation in this network among five diverse
C. albicans
strains through mutant analysis, Nanostring gene expression profiling, and, for two strains, RNA-Seq. Our findings highlight four features that may inform future studies of natural variation and iron acquisition in this species. (i) Conformity: In all strains, major iron acquisition genes are upregulated during iron limitation, and a
sef1
Δ/Δ mutation impairs that response and growth during iron limitation. (ii) Response variation: Some aspects of the iron limitation response vary among strains, notably the activation of hypha-associated genes. As this gene set is tied to tissue damage and virulence, variation may impact the progression of infection. (iii) Genotype-phenotype variation: The impact of a
sef1
Δ/Δ mutation on cell wall integrity varies, and for the two strains examined the phenotype correlated with
sef1
Δ/Δ impact on several cell wall integrity genes. (iv) Phenotype discovery: DNA repair genes were induced modestly by iron limitation in
sef1
Δ/Δ mutants, with fold changes we would usually ignore. However, the response occurred in both strains tested and was reminiscent of a much stronger response described in
Cryptococcus neoformans
, a suggestion that it may have biological meaning. In fact, we observed that the iron limitation of a
sef1
Δ/Δ mutant caused recessive phenotypes to emerge at two heterozygous loci. Overall, our results show that a network that is critical for pathogen proliferation presents variation outside of its core functions.

IMPORTANCE

A key virulence factor of
Candida albicans
is the ability to maintain iron homeostasis in the host where iron is scarce. We focused on a central iron regulator,
SEF1
. We found that iron regulator Sef1 is required for growth, cell wall integrity, and genome integrity during iron limitation. The novel aspect of this work is the characterization of strain variation in a circuit that is required for survival in the host and the connection of iron acquisition to genome integrity in
C. albicans
.
Dengue virus non-structural protein 3 inhibits mitochondrial respiration by impairing complex I function
Authors: Sousa Bruna G. , Mebus-Antunes Nathane C. , Fernandes-Siqueira Lorena O. , Caruso Marjolly B. , Saraiva Georgia N. , Carvalho Clara F. , Neves-Martins Thais C. , Galina Antonio , Zingali Russolina B. , Zeidler Julianna D. , Da Poian Andrea T.
Published: July 2024

Dengue virus (DENV) infection is known to affect host cell metabolism, but the molecular players involved are still poorly known. Using a proteomics approach, we identified six DENV proteins associated with mitochondria isolated from infected hepatocytes, and most of the peptides identified were from NS3. We also found an at least twofold decrease of several electron transport system (ETS) host proteins. Thus, we investigated whether NS3 could modulate the ETS function by incubating recombinant DENV NS3 constructs in mitochondria isolated from mouse liver. We found that NS3pro (NS3 protease domain), but not the correspondent catalytically inactive mutant (NS3proS135A), impairs complex I (CI)-dependent NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity, but not the activities of complexes II, III, IV, or V. Accordingly, using high-resolution respirometry, we found that both NS3pro and full-length NS3 decrease the respiratory rates associated with malate/pyruvate oxidation in mitochondria. The NS3-induced impairment in mitochondrial respiration occurs without altering either leak respiration or mitochondria’s capacity to maintain membrane potential, suggesting that NS3 does not deeply affect mitochondrial integrity. Remarkably, CI activity is also inhibited in DENV-infected cells, supporting that the NS3 effects observed in isolated mitochondria may be relevant in the context of the infection. Finally,
in silico
analyses revealed the presence of potential NS3 cleavage sites in 17 subunits of mouse CI and 16 subunits of human CI, most of them located on the CI surface, suggesting that CI is prone to undergo proteolysis by NS3. Our findings suggest that DENV NS3 can modulate mitochondrial bioenergetics by directly affecting CI function.

IMPORTANCE

Dengue virus (DENV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide, affecting about 400 million people yearly. Despite its importance, many molecular aspects of dengue pathogenesis remain poorly known. For several years, our group has been investigating DENV-induced metabolic alterations in the host cells, focusing on the bioenergetics of mitochondrial respiration. The results of the present study reveal that the DENV non-structural protein 3 (NS3) is found in the mitochondria of infected cells, impairing mitochondrial respiration by directly targeting one of the components of the electron transport system, the respiratory complex I (CI). NS3 acts as the viral protease during the DENV replication cycle, and its proteolytic activity seems necessary for inhibiting CI function. Our findings uncover new nuances of DENV-induced metabolic alterations, highlighting NS3 as an important player in the modulation of mitochondria function during infection.
Autoclaving is at least as effective as gamma irradiation for biotic clearing and intentional microbial recolonization of soil
Authors: King William L. , Grandinette Emily M. , Trase Olivia , Rolon M. Laura , Salis Howard M. , Wood Harlow , Bell Terrence H.
Published: July 2024

Sterilization is commonly used to remove or reduce the biotic constraints of a soil to allow recolonization by soil-dwelling organisms, with autoclaving and gamma irradiation being the most frequently used approaches. Many studies have characterized sterilization impacts on soil physicochemical properties, with gamma irradiation often described as the preferred approach, despite the lower cost and higher scalability of autoclaving. However, few studies have compared how sterilization techniques impact soil recolonization by microorganisms. Here, we compared how two sterilization approaches (autoclaving; gamma irradiation) and soil washing impacted microbial recolonization of soil from a diverse soil inoculum. Sterilization method had little impact on microbial alpha diversity across recolonized soils. For sterile soil regrowth microcosms, species richness and diversity were significantly reduced by autoclaving relative to gamma irradiation, particularly for fungi. There was no impact of sterilization method on bacterial composition in recolonized soils and minimal impact on fungal composition (
P
= 0.05). Washing soils had a greater impact on microbial composition than sterilization method, and sterile soil regrowth had negligible impacts on microbial recolonization. These data suggest that sterilization method has no clear impact on microbial recolonization, at least across the soils tested, indicating that soil autoclaving is an appropriate and economical approach for biotically clearing soils.

IMPORTANCE

Sterilized soils represent soil-like environments that act as a medium to study microbial colonization dynamics in more “natural” settings relative to artificial culturing environments. Soil sterilization is often carried out by gamma irradiation or autoclaving, which both alter soil properties, but gamma irradiation is thought to be the gentler technique. Gamma irradiation can be cost prohibitive and does not scale well for larger experiments. We sought to examine how soil sterilization technique can impact microbial colonization, and additionally looked at the impact of soil washing which is believed to remove soil toxins that inhibit soil recolonization. We found that both gamma-irradiated and autoclaved soils showed similar colonization patterns when reintroducing microorganisms. Soil washing, relative to sterilization technique, had a greater impact on which microorganisms were able to recolonize the soil. When allowing sterilized soils to regrow (i.e., persisting microorganisms), gamma irradiation performed worse, suggesting that gamma irradiation does not biotically clear soils as well as autoclaving. These data suggest that both sterilization techniques are comparable, and that autoclaving may be more effective at biotically clearing soil.
CemR atypical response regulator impacts energy conversion in
Campylobacteria
Authors: Noszka Mateusz , Strzałka Agnieszka , Muraszko Jakub , Hofreuter Dirk , Abele Miriam , Ludwig Christina , Stingl Kerstin , Zawilak-Pawlik Anna
Published: July 2024

Campylobacter jejuni
and
Arcobacter butzleri
are microaerobic food-borne human gastrointestinal pathogens that mainly cause diarrheal disease. These related species of the
Campylobacteria
class face variable atmospheric environments during infection and transmission, ranging from nearly anaerobic to aerobic conditions. Consequently, their lifestyles require that both pathogens need to adjust their metabolism and respiration to the changing oxygen concentrations of the colonization sites. Our transcriptomic and proteomic studies revealed that
C. jejuni
and
A. butzleri,
lacking a
Campylobacteria
-specific regulatory protein,
C. jejuni
Cj1608, or a homolog,
A. butzleri
Abu0127, are unable to reprogram tricarboxylic acid cycle or respiration pathways, respectively, to produce ATP efficiently and, in consequence, adjust growth to changing oxygen supply. We propose that these
Campylobacteria
energy and metabolism regulators (CemRs) are long-sought transcription factors controlling the metabolic shift related to oxygen availability, essential for these bacteria’s survival and adaptation to the niches they inhabit. Besides their significant universal role in
Campylobacteria
, CemRs, as pleiotropic regulators, control the transcription of many genes, often specific to the species, under microaerophilic conditions and in response to oxidative stress.

IMPORTANCE

C. jejuni
and
A. butzleri
are closely related pathogens that infect the human gastrointestinal tract. In order to infect humans successfully, they need to change their metabolism as nutrient and respiratory conditions change. A regulator called CemR has been identified, which helps them adapt their metabolism to changing conditions, particularly oxygen availability in the gastrointestinal tract so that they can produce enough energy for survival and spread. Without CemR, these bacteria, as well as a related species,
Helicobacter pylori
, produce less energy, grow more slowly, or, in the case of
C. jejuni
, do not grow at all. Furthermore, CemR is a global regulator that controls the synthesis of many genes in each species, potentially allowing them to adapt to their ecological niches as well as establish infection. Therefore, the identification of CemR opens new possibilities for studying the pathogenicity of
C. jejuni
and
A. butzleri
.
A 2D nanoflower-like ordered mesoporous Bi
12
ZnO
20
catalyst with excellent photocatalytic antibacterial properties
Authors: Li Jingmei , Liu Shuai , Zhan Chenming
Published: July 2024

The ordered mesoporous ZnO was successfully synthesized using the template method in this article, and Bi ions were etched into ZnO to form two-dimensional nanoflower structures of Bi
12
ZnO
20
with NA
3
SSA as a guiding agent. The crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of the photocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometer(EDS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV-vis DRS). Under illumination conditions, the obtained materials exhibited excellent bactericidal ability against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as effective inhibition against fungi. Among them, the bactericidal effect of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was found to be the most rapid, achieving a sterilization rate of 100% within 30 min of light irradiation. Even after three cycles of antibacterial activity testing, the Bi
12
ZnO
20
material still demonstrated good photocatalytic performance. The nanoflower-shaped materials provide an enhanced fluid adsorption capacity and more active centers for photocatalytic reactions while also improving light absorption capacity, photogenerated electron-hole separation efficiency, and electron transport efficiency. The cytotoxicity assessment of Bi
12
ZnO
20
revealed no significant toxic effects. Therefore, this study presents a nanoflower-shaped material with highly efficient photocatalytic antibacterial properties for applications in production and daily life; it holds significant importance in eliminating harmful bacteria and plays a crucial role in environmental protection.

IMPORTANCE

The flower-shaped photocatalytic material Bi
12
ZnO
20
, consisting of nanoparticles, was successfully synthesized in this study. Rigorous antibacterial experiments were conducted on various fungi using the material, yielding excellent results. Furthermore, the application of this material for antibacterial treatment of livestock and poultry manure sewage in real-life scenarios demonstrated remarkable efficacy.
Sample-to-answer direct real-time PCR detection of
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
,
Ehrlichia
spp., and
Babesia
spp. infections in whole-blood specimens
Authors: Colasante Georgia , Makari Keana , Hummel Tara I. , Murphy Caitlin
Published: July 2024

Emerging tick-borne illnesses, such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, or ehrlichiosis, are caused by obligate intracellular pathogens that have clinically comparable presentations. Diagnostics used in laboratories today are serologic assays and blood smear analyses, which have known diagnostic limits. This study evaluated the performance of a sample-to-answer direct real-time PCR laboratory-developed test for the multiplex qualitative detection of
Anaplasma
,
Babesia
, and
Ehrlichia
DNA in whole-blood specimens. Compared to two standard-of-care (SOC) methods, the DiaSorin tick-borne laboratory-developed test for
Anaplasma
detection demonstrated a positive percent agreement (PPA) and negative percent agreement (NPA) of 100% (95% CI, 0.80 to 1.0) and 89% (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.97), respectively with a discordant rate of 9.3% against microscopy. After discordant resolution, the NPA increased to 100%. For
Babesia
, the test demonstrated a PPA of 100% (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.0) and NPA of 100% (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.0). Compared to a SOC PCR method
Anaplasma
samples showed a PPA of 100% (95% CI, 0.66 to 1.0) and NPA of 100% (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.0).
Ehrlichia
results showed a PPA of 100% (95% CI, 0.69 to 1.0) and NPA of 100% (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.0). The total percent agreement was 98% (95% CI, 0.95 to 0.99) with a κ statistic of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.90 to 0.99) or almost perfect agreement compared to SOC methods. This laboratory-developed test for detecting
Anaplasma
,
Babesia
, and
Ehrlichia
DNA provides rapid and reliable detection of tick-borne infections without nucleic acid extraction.

IMPORTANCE

This work demonstrates that detection of tick-borne illnesses, such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, or ehrlichiosis, can be performed directly from whole blood with no extraction. The assay described here has a high positive and negative percent agreement with existing methods and is used as the standard of care. An increasing incidence of tick-borne illness combined with shortage of well-trained technologists to perform traditional manual testing, testing options that can be adapted to various lab settings, are of the utmost importance.
Brilacidin, a host defense peptide mimetic, potentiates ibrexafungerp antifungal activity against the human pathogenic fungus
Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: dos Reis Thaila Fernanda , Diehl Camila , Pinzan Camila Figueiredo , de Castro Patrícia Alves , Goldman Gustavo H.
Published: July 2024

Aspergillus fumigatus
is the primary etiological agent of aspergillosis. Here, we show that the host defense peptide mimetic brilacidin (BRI) can potentiate ibrexafungerp (IBX) against clinical isolates of
A. fumigatus
. BRI + IBX can inhibit the growth of
A. fumigatus
voriconazole- and caspofungin-resistant clinical isolates. BRI is a small molecule host defense peptide mimetic that has previously exhibited broad-spectrum immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory activity against viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
In vitro
, combination of BRI + IBX plays a fungicidal role, increases the fungal cell permeability, decreases the fungal survival in the presence of A549 epithelial cells, and appears as a promising antifungal therapeutic alternative against
A. fumigatus
.

IMPORTANCE

Invasive fungal infections have a high mortality rate causing more deaths annually than tuberculosis or malaria.
Aspergillus fumigatus
causes a series of distinct invasive fungal infections have a high mortality rate causing more deaths annually than tuberculosis or malaria.
A. fumigatus
causes a spectrum of distinct clinical entities named aspergillosis, which the most severe form is the invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. There are few therapeutic options for treating aspergillosis and searching for new antifungal agents against this disease is very important. Here, we present brilacidin (BRI) as a synergizer o fibrexafungerp (IBX) against
A. fumigatus
. BRI is a small molecule host defense peptide mimetic that has previously exhibited broad-spectrum immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory activity against bacteria and viruses. We propose the combination of BRI and IBX as a new antifungal combinatorial treatment against aspergillosis.