Large-density field theory, viscosity, and "2kF2k_F" singularities from string duals

We analyze systems where an effective large-N expansion arises naturally in gauge theories without a large number of colors: a sufficiently large charge density alone can produce a perturbative string ('tHooft) expansion. One example is simply the well-known NS5/F1 system dual to $AdS_3\times T^4\times S^3$, here viewed as a 5+1 dimensional theory at finite density. This model is completely stable, and we find that the existing string-theoretic solution of this model yields two interesting results. First, it indicates that the shear viscosity is not corrected by $\alpha'$ effects in this system. For flow perpendicular to the F1 strings the viscosity to entropy ratio take the usual value $1/4\pi$, but for flow parallel to the F1's it vanishes as $T^2$ at low temperature. Secondly, it encodes singularities in correlation functions coming from low-frequency modes at a finite value of the momentum along the $T^4$ directions. This may provide a strong coupling analogue of finite density condensed matter systems for which fermionic constituents of larger operators contribute so-called "$2k_F$" singularities. In the NS5/F1 example, stretched strings on the gravity side play the role of these composite operators. We explore the analogue for our system of the Luttinger relation between charge density and the volume bounded by these singular surfaces. This model provides a clean example where the string-theoretic UV completion of the gravity dual to a finite density field theory plays a significant and calculable role.Comment: 28 pages. v2: added reference

Genome sequencing of a camelpox vaccine reveals close similarity to modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)

Camelpox is a viral contagious disease of Old-World camelids sustained by Camelpox virus (CMLV). The disease is characterized by mild, local skin or severe systemic infections and may have a major economic impact due to significant losses in terms of morbidity and mortality, weight loss, and low milk yield. Prevention of camelpox is performed by vaccination. In this study, we investigated the composition of a CMLV-based, live-attenuated commercial vaccine using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The results of this analysis revealed genomic sequences of Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA)

Developing One Health surveillance systems.

Abstract: The health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the environment are inter-dependent. Global anthropogenic change is a key driver of disease emergence and spread and leads to biodiversity loss and ecosystem function degradation, which are themselves drivers of disease emergence. Pathogen spill-over events and subsequent disease outbreaks, including pandemics, in humans, animals and plants may arise when factors driving disease emergence and spread converge. One Health is an integrated approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize human, animal and ecosystem health. Conventional disease surveillance has been siloed by sectors, with separate systems addressing the health of humans, domestic animals, cultivated plants, wildlife and the environment. One Health surveillance should include integrated surveillance for known and unknown pathogens, but combined with this more traditional disease-based surveillance, it also must include surveillance of drivers of disease emergence to improve prevention and mitigation of spill-over events. Here, we outline such an approach, including the characteristics and components required to overcome barriers and to optimize an integrated One Health surveillance system

Developing One Health surveillance systems

The health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the environment are inter-dependent. Global anthropogenic change is a key driver of disease emergence and spread and leads to biodiversity loss and ecosystem function degradation, which are themselves drivers of disease emergence. Pathogen spill-over events and subsequent disease outbreaks, including pandemics, in humans, animals and plants may arise when factors driving disease emergence and spread converge. One Health is an integrated approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize human, animal and ecosystem health. Conventional disease surveillance has been siloed by sectors, with separate systems addressing the health of humans, domestic animals, cultivated plants, wildlife and the environment. One Health surveillance should include integrated surveillance for known and unknown pathogens, but combined with this more traditional disease-based surveillance, it also must include surveillance of drivers of disease emergence to improve prevention and mitigation of spill-over events. Here, we outline such an approach, including the characteristics and components required to overcome barriers and to optimize an integrated One Health surveillance system

Developing One Health surveillance systems

The health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the environment are inter-dependent. Global anthropogenic change is a key driver of disease emergence and spread and leads to biodiversity loss and ecosystem function degradation, which are themselves drivers of disease emergence. Pathogen spill-over events and subsequent disease outbreaks, including pandemics, in humans, animals and plants may arise when factors driving disease emergence and spread converge. One Health is an integrated approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize human, animal and ecosystem health. Conventional disease surveillance has been siloed by sectors, with separate systems addressing the health of humans, domestic animals, cultivated plants, wildlife and the environment. One Health surveillance should include integrated surveillance for known and unknown pathogens, but combined with this more traditional disease-based surveillance, it also must include surveillance of drivers of disease emergence to improve prevention and mitigation of spill-over events. Here, we outline such an approach, including the characteristics and components required to overcome barriers and to optimize an integrated One Health surveillance system.</p

One Health : a new definition for a sustainable and healthy future

No abstract available.http://www.plospathogens.orgdm2022Medical Virolog

Late-onset neonatal sepsis in Arab states in the Gulf region: two-year prospective study

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Arab states in the Gulf region and to describe the main causative organisms and their antibiotic resistance. Methods: This observational prospective cohort study was conducted over a 2-year period in five NICUs in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. LOS was defined as the growth of a single potentially pathogenic organism from blood or cerebrospinal fluid in infants >3 days of age with clinical and laboratory findings consistent with infection. Results: Seven hundred and eighty-five cases of LOS occurred among 67 474 live births. The overall incidence of LOS was 11.63 (95% confidence interval (CI) 10.84–12.47) per 1000 live births, or 56.14 (95% CI 52.38–60.08) per 1000 admissions. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Klebsiella spp were the most common organisms, causing 272 (34.65%) and 179 (22.80%) of LOS cases, respectively. No evidence of a seasonal variation in the incidence of Klebsiella spp or in the incidence of all Gram-negative organisms was found. More than half of the Klebsiella spp were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins. Conclusion: LOS poses a major burden in this area, which could be due to the increasing care of premature babies. Gram-negative organisms, particularly Klebsiella spp, are having an increasing role in LOS in this region, with high levels of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins. NICUs in the area should create a platform through which to share experience in reducing neonatal sepsis and contribute to a common antibiotic stewardship program

Culture-proven early-onset neonatal sepsis in Arab states in the Gulf region: two-year prospective study

Objective: To investigate the incidence and the pattern of causative organisms of culture-proven early-onset sepsis (EOS) in Arab states in the Gulf region. Methods: Five neonatal care units participated in this 2-year prospective study in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Data were collected prospectively using a standardized data collection form. EOS was defined as the growth of a single potentially pathogenic organism from blood or cerebrospinal fluid in infants within 72 h of birth, with clinical and laboratory findings consistent with infection. Results: Out of 67 474 live births, 102 cases of EOS occurred. The overall incidence of EOS was 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.2–1.8) per 1000 live-births, ranging from 2.64 per 1000 live-births in Kuwait to 0.40 per 1000 live-births in King Abdulaziz Hospital in Saudi Arabia. The most common causative organism of EOS was group B Streptococcus (GBS; 60.0%), followed by Escherichia coli (13%). The incidence of invasive GBS disease was 0.90 per 1000 live-births overall and ranged from 1.4 per 1000 live-births in Kuwait to 0.6 per 1000 live-births in Dubai Hospital. Conclusions: The incidence of EOS and the patterns of the causative organisms in the Arab states in the Gulf region are similar to those in developed countries before the era of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. Efforts should be made to improve intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis in the Arab state setting, which could avert large numbers of GBS infections

Laboratory-acquired infections and pathogen escapes worldwide between 2000 and 2021: a scoping review.

Laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) and accidental pathogen escape from laboratory settings (APELS) are major concerns for the community. A risk-based approach for pathogen research management within a standard biosafety management framework is recommended but is challenging due to reasons such as inconsistency in risk tolerance and perception. Here, we performed a scoping review using publicly available, peer-reviewed journal and media reports of LAIs and instances of APELS between 2000 and 2021. We identified LAIs in 309 individuals in 94 reports for 51 pathogens. Eight fatalities (2·6% of all LAIs) were caused by infection with Neisseria meningitidis (n=3, 37·5%), Yersinia pestis (n=2, 25%), Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S Typhimurium; n=1, 12·5%), or Ebola virus (n=1, 12·5%) or were due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (n=1, 12·5%). The top five LAI pathogens were S Typhimurium (n=154, 49·8%), Salmonella enteritidis (n=21, 6·8%), vaccinia virus (n=13, 4·2%), Brucella spp (n=12, 3·9%), and Brucella melitensis (n=11, 3·6%). 16 APELS were reported, including those for Bacillus anthracis, SARS-CoV, and poliovirus (n=3 each, 18·8%); Brucella spp and foot and mouth disease virus (n=2 each, 12·5%); and variola virus, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and influenza virus H5N1 (n=1 each, 6·3%). Continual improvement in LAI and APELS management via their root cause analysis and thorough investigation of such incidents is essential to prevent future occurrences. The results are biased due to the reliance on publicly available information, which emphasises the need for formalised global LAIs and APELS reporting to better understand the frequency of and circumstances surrounding these incidents

Performance of an Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) in Comparison to Some Commonly Used Serological Tests for the Diagnosis of Brucellosis in Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Serological tests may represent an essential tool for the diagnosis of camel brucellosis; however, concerns arise in the scientific community regarding the direct transposition from cattle and small ruminants without adequate validation. The present study was made to compare four serological tests for the diagnosis of brucellosis in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). In terms of sensitivity, our results show that the Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) shows the higher value of sensitivity, 98.67% (95% Confidence Level (C.L): 94.36&ndash;99.99%), followed by the Fluorescence Polarization Assay (FPA) with 95.05% (95% C.L: 88.23&ndash;99.51%), then the Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (c-ELISA) with 94.94% (95% C.L: 88.25&ndash;99.45%) and, finally, the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) with 68.95% (95% C.L: 56.55&ndash;80.69%), which is the only test showing a significantly lower sensitivity compared to the others. On the other hand, our study revealed no significant difference in terms of specificity between all the tests under study, with a range from 99.06% (95% C.L: 98.34&ndash;99.64%) for the ICT to 99.92% (95% C.L: 99.64&ndash;100%) for the RBT. The ICT was found to be comparable in terms of sensitivity and specificity with the most commonly used tests for camel brucellosis. The results of the present study are of paramount importance for designing surveillance and control measures for brucellosis in camel populations