In vitro comparison of currently available and investigational antiviral agents against pathogenic human double-stranded DNA viruses: A systematic literature review

Background: Double-stranded (ds) DNA virus infections often occur concomitantly in immunocompromised patients. We performed a systematic search of published in vitro activity for nine approved and investigational antivirals to understand the spectrum of in vitro activity against dsDNA viruses. / Methods: A literature search was performed (PubMed and the WoS Core Collection) using keywords related to: 1) targeted approved/developmental antivirals (acyclovir, artesunate, brincidofovir, cidofovir, cyclopropavir (filociclovir), foscarnet, ganciclovir, letermovir, and maribavir); 2) pathogenic dsDNA viruses; 3) in vitro activity. We summarized data from 210 publications. / Results: Activity against ≤3 viruses was documented for maribavir (cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus), and letermovir, while activity against > 3 viruses was shown for ganciclovir, cidofovir, acyclovir, foscarnet, cyclopropavir, artesunate, and brincidofovir. The EC50 values of brincidofovir were the lowest, ranging from 0.001 to 0.27 μM, for all viruses except papillomaviruses. The next most potent agents included cidofovir, ganciclovir, foscarnet, and acyclovir with EC50 values between 0.1 μM and >10 μM for cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and adenovirus. / Conclusion: Most of the identified antivirals had in vitro activity against more than one dsDNA virus. Brincidofovir and cidofovir have broad-spectrum activity, and brincidofovir has the lowest EC50 values. These findings could assist clinical practice and developmental research

Radiochemical experiments for an introductory course in physical science

A new curriculum in radiochemistry for undergraduate chemistry is described.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43115/1/10967_2005_Article_BF02039680.pd

Comparison of PFGE and antibioresistance profiles of Salmonella enterica serotype Derby isolated from pig and human salmonellosis in France

In France, Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhimurium and Derby are the most often isolated serotypes in pigs. On the other hand, serotype Derby ranks usually between 3rd and 4th in prevalence among human serotyped isolates in France. In 2006 and 2007, 150 and 127 human isolates were respectively collected by the French National Reference Center for Salmonella. The aim of this study was to evaluate the similarity between human and pig serotype Derby isolates on both their Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns after Xbai restriction and on their antimicrobial resistance profiles

Tigecycline use in serious nosocomial infections: a drug use evaluation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tigecycline is a novel antibiotic with activity against multidrug resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of tigecycline use in serious hospital-acquired infections (HAI)</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Prospective observational study of tigecycline use was conducted in a 1500 beds university hospital. From January 1, 2007 and January 31, 2010, 207 pts were treated with tigecycline for the following indications: intra-abdominal, pneumonia, bloodstream and complicated skin and soft tissue infections and febrile neutropenia. The therapy was targeted in 130/207 (63%) and empirical in 77/207 (37%) patients. All bacteria treated were susceptible to tigecycline. Median duration of tigecycline therapy was 13 days (range, 6-28). Clinical success was obtained in 151/207 (73%) cases, with the highest success rate recorded in intra-abdominal infections [81/99 (82%)]. Microbiological success was achieved in 100/129 (78%) treated patients. Adverse clinical events were seen in 16/207 patients (7.7%):</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Considering the lack of data on tigecycline for critically ill patients, we think that the reported data of our clinical experience despite some limitations can be useful for clinicians.</p

Evaluation of Alternative Methods of Tunnel Composting (submitted by the European Composting Network)

Two alternative methods for the production of compost from certain category 3 animal by-products (catering waste and processed foodstuffs of animal origin) were assessed. The first proposed a minimum temperature of 55°C for 72&nbsp;h; the second 60°C for 48&nbsp;h, each with a maximum particle size of 200&nbsp;mm. The proposed composting processes were assessed by the BIOHAZ Panel&nbsp;for their efficacy to achieve a reduction of 5 log10 of Enterococcus faecalis or Salmonella Senftenberg (775W, H2S negative) and a 3 log10 reduction of the infectivity titre of thermoresistant viruses, such as parvovirus, in the composted material, as set out in Annex V, Chapter 3, Section&nbsp;2 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011. The assessment of the BIOHAZ Panel&nbsp;exclusively focused on the ABP raw materials (catering waste and processed foodstuffs) intended for human consumption. The applicant did not provide any validation experiments with direct measurement of the reduction of viability of endogenous indicators or spiked surrogate bacteria. However, from thermal inactivation parameters reported in the literature, it can be concluded that the proposed composting standards can achieve at least a 5 log10 reduction of Enterococcus faecalis or Salmonella Senftenberg 775W. The applicant did not consider thermoresistant viruses as a relevant hazard and therefore did not provide any data from direct measurements of the reduction of infectivity of spiked thermoresistant viruses, nor provide data from validation studies undertaken at national level or data from literature supporting the efficacy of the proposed composting standards on thermoresistant viruses. However, thermoresistant viruses should be considered to be a relevant hazard in this context and validation data should have been provided accordingly. The BIOHAZ Panel&nbsp;considers that the evidence provided by the applicant does not demonstrate that the requirements of Annex V, Chapter 3, Section&nbsp;2 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 are achieved

Update of the list of qualified presumption of safety (QPS) recommended microorganisms intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) provides a generic pre-assessment of the safety ofmicroorganisms intended for use in the food or feed chains, to support the work of EFSA’s ScientificPanels. QPS assessment allows a fast track evaluation of strains belonging to QPS taxonomic units(TUs): species for bacteria, yeast, fungi, protists/microalgae and families for viruses. QPS TUs areassessed for their body of knowledge and safety. Safety concerns related to a QPS TU are reflected,when possible, as‘qualifications’, which should be tested at strain and/or product level. Based on thepossession of potentially harmful traits by some strains,filamentous fungi, bacteriophages, oomycetes,streptomycetes,Enterococcus faecium,Escherichia coliandClostridium butyricumare excluded fromthe QPS assessment.Between October 2019 and September 2022, 323 notifications of TUs werereceived, 217 related to feed additives, 54 to food enzymes, food additives andflavourings, 14 to plantprotection products and 38 to novel foods. The list of QPS-recommended TUs is reviewed every6 months following an extensive literature search strategy. Only sporadic infections with a few QPSstatus TUs in immunosuppressed individuals were identified and the assessment did not change theQPS status of these TUs. The QPS list has been updated in relation to the most recent taxonomicinsights and the qualifications were revised and streamlined. The qualification‘absence ofaminoglycoside production ability’was withdrawn forBacillus velezensis. Six new TUs received the QPSstatus:Bacillus paralicheniformiswith the qualification‘absence of toxigenic activity’and‘absence ofbacitracin production ability’;Bacillus circulanswith the qualifications for‘production purposes only’and‘absence of cytotoxic activity’;Haematococcus lacustris(synonymHaematococcus pluvialis) andOgataea polymorpha, both with the qualification‘for production purposes only’;Lactiplantibacillusargentoratensis;Geobacillus thermodenitrificanswith the qualification‘absence of toxigenic activity

Scientific Opinion on the update of the list of QPS-recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA (2017–2019)

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) was developed to provide a safety pre-assessment within EFSA for microorganisms. Strains belonging to QPS taxonomic units (TUs) still require an assessment based on a specific data package, but QPS status facilitates fast track evaluation. QPS TUs are unambiguously defined biological agents assessed for the body of knowledge, their safety and their end use. Safety concerns are, where&nbsp;possible,&nbsp;to be confirmed at strain or product level, and reflected as ‘qualifications’. Qualifications need to be evaluated at strain level by the respective EFSA units. The lowest QPS TU is the species level for bacteria, yeasts and protists/algae, and the family for viruses. The QPS concept is also applicable to genetically modified microorganisms used for production purposes if the recipient strain qualifies for the QPS status, and if the genetic modification does not indicate a concern. Based on the actual body of knowledge and/or an ambiguous taxonomic position, the following TUs were excluded from the QPS assessment: filamentous fungi, oomycetes, streptomycetes, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli and bacteriophages. The list of QPS-recommended biological agents was reviewed and updated in the current opinion and therefore now becomes the valid list. For this update, reports on the safety of previously assessed microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts and viruses (the latter only when used for plant protection purposes) were reviewed, following an Extensive Literature Search strategy. All TUs previously recommended for 2016 QPS list had their status reconfirmed as well as their qualifications. The TUs related to the new notifications received since the 2016 QPS opinion was periodically evaluated for QPS status in the Statements of the BIOHAZ Panel, and the QPS list was also periodically updated. In total, 14 new TUs received a QPS status between 2017 and 2019: three yeasts, eight bacteria and three algae/protists

Hospital-onset clostridium difficile infection rates in persons with cancer or Hematopoietic stem cell transplant: A C3IC network report

A multicenter survey of 11 cancer centers was performed to determine the rate of hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (HO-CDI) and surveillance practices. Pooled rates of HO-CDI in patients with cancer were twice the rates reported for all US patients (15.8 vs 7.4 per 10,000 patient-days). Rates were elevated regardless of diagnostic test used

Update of the list of QPS-recommended biological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 15: suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until September 2021

The qualified presumption of safety (QPS) approach was developed to provide a generic pre-evaluation of the safety of biological agents. The QPS approach is based on an assessment of published data for each agent, with respect to its taxonomic identity, the body of relevant knowledge and safety concerns. Safety concerns are, where possible, confirmed at the species/strain or product level and reflected by ‘qualifications’. The QPS list was updated in relation to the revised taxonomy of the genus Bacillus, to synonyms of yeast species and for the qualifications ‘absence of resistance to antimycotics’ and ‘only for production purposes’. Lactobacillus cellobiosus has been reclassified as Limosilactobacillus fermentum. In the period covered by this statement, no new information was found that would change the status of previously recommended QPS taxonomic units (TU)s. Of the 70 microorganisms notified to EFSA, 64 were not evaluated: 11 filamentous fungi, one oomycete, one Clostridium butyricum, one Enterococcus faecium, five Escherichia coli, one Streptomyces sp., one Bacillus nakamurai and 43 TUs that already had a QPS status. Six notifications, corresponding to six TUs were evaluated: Paenibacillus lentus was reassessed because an update was requested for the current mandate. Enterococcus lactis synonym Enterococcus xinjiangensis, Aurantiochytrium mangrovei synonym Schizochytrium mangrovei, Schizochytrium aggregatum, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii synonym Chlamydomonas smithii and Haematococcus lacustris synonym Haematococcus pluvialis were assessed for the first time. The following TUs were not recommended for QPS status: P. lentus due to a limited body of knowledge, E. lactis synonym E. xinjiangensis due to potential safety concerns, A. mangrovei synonym S. mangrovei, S. aggregatum and C. reinhardtii synonym C. smithii, due to lack of a body of knowledge on its occurrence in the food and feed chain. H. lacustris synonym H. pluvialis is recommended for QPS status with the qualification ‘for production purposes only’