Livestock-associated MRSA colonization of occupational exposed workers and households in Europe: a review

The worldwide escalation in antibiotic resistant microorganisms has sustained the increasing concerns regarding antibiotics extensive use in animal food industry, which can result in a selection pressure that is driving the emergence of strains such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Human MRSA infections are a well-known cause of numerous hospitalizations and deaths associated with extremely high mortality rates for invasive infections. Both animals and humans can become bacterial reservoirs of Livestock Associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) in which colonization predisposes to staphylococcal acquisition in clinical settings and to transfer the infection to others including household members. Biomonitoring of occupational exposed individuals which spend several hours per day in direct contact with MRSA-positive animals and thus are irrefutably exposed to a high risk of nasal colonization is imperative in order to develop effective preventive strategies. Here we performed an extensive review regarding the prevalence of LA- MRSA colonization in both occupational exposed individuals and their house-holds in a European context.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Detecting and Characterising atmospheric gravity waves on Mars' atmosphere - Final results using data from OMEGA/Mars Express

We present the final results from the detection and characterisation of mesoscale waves on the lower clouds of Mars [1] using images from the Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l’Eau, les Glaces et l’Activité (OMEGA) [2] onboard the European Mars Express (MEx) space mission [3]. We used image navigation and processing techniques based on contrast enhancement and geometrical projections to characterise morphological properties of the detected gravity waves (GW), such as horizontal wavelength or packet length. Our study covers 25 months of data spanning from Jan. 2004 to Jan. 2006, and from June to July 2007, corresponding to a one Martian year [MY26- MY27]. Out of 148 detected wave packets, we were able to characterise 61 across more than 4000 images covering a broad region of the Martian globe. Our results reveal that waves exhibit an average horizontal wavelength of 23 km, which is consistent with previous observations [4,5]. We also extend the study by characterising their packet width, length and orientation. Taking advantage of the large dataset available from the OMEGA instrument, we also conducted a spatial and temporal investigation of the waves, namely their occurrence in specific local times and solar longitudes. Our characterisation showed a higher frequency of GW during daytime hours, particularly within the 13-15 LTST range. Concerning the solar longitude that is a measure of the Martian seasons, we noted that GW activity is prevalent during the winter season in both hemispheres, suggesting a relationship between seasonal variations and gravity wave generation, which was previously mentioned in the literature [6–8]. We will also present the preliminary results of GW using the HRSC instrument

Identification of tetracyclic lactams as NMDA receptor antagonists with potential application in neurological disorders

N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are crucial for the normal function of the central nervous system (CNS), and fundamental in memory and learning-related processes. The overactivation of these receptors is associated with numerous neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, NMDAR is considered a relevant therapeutic target for many CNS disorders. Herein, we report the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a new scaffold with antagonistic activity for NMDAR. Specifically, a chemical library of eighteen 1-aminoindan-2-ol tetracyclic lactams was synthesized and screened as NMDAR antagonists. The compounds were obtained by chiral pool synthesis using enantiomerically pure 1-aminoindan-2-ols as chiral inductors, and their stereochemistry was proven by X-ray crystallographic analysis of two target compounds. Most compounds reveal NMDAR antagonism, and eleven compounds display IC values in a Ca entry-sensitive fluo-4 assay in the same order of magnitude of memantine, a clinically approved NMDAR antagonist. Docking studies suggest that the novel compounds can act as NMDAR channel blockers since there is a compatible conformation with MK-801 co-crystallized with NMDAR channel. In addition, we show that the tetracyclic 1-aminoindan-2-ol derivatives are brain permeable and non-toxic, and we identify promising hits for further optimization as modulators of the NMDAR function.This work was supported by FCT (Fundaç~ao para a Ci^encia e a Tecnologia, I.P.) through iMed.ULisboa (UID/DTP/04138/2019), Principal Researcher grant CEECIND/01772/2017 (M. M. M. Santos), and PhD fellowships SFRH/BD/117931/2016 (M. Espadinha) and SFRH/BD/121664/2016 (R. Lopes). Financial support from FCT and Portugal 2020 to the Portuguese Mass Spectrometry Network (Rede Nacional de Espectrometria de Massa e RNEM; LISBOA-01-0145- FEDER-402-022125) is also acknowledged. M.I.R.-F. thanks funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (grant RTI2018-093955-B-C21) and the technical assistance of Ms. Cristina Tortosa (European contract for young professionals). C.d.l.R. thanks funding from Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain (grant PI16/01041 and PhD fellowship FI17/00079 for L. Viejo)

Contamination of public transports by Staphylococcus aureus and its carriage by biomedical students: point-prevalence, related risk factors and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant strains

Objectives: To analyse the contamination of public transports by Staphylococcus aureus and assess its carriage by biomedical students, focussing on the point-prevalence, related risk factors and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant strains. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolated from handrails of buses (n = 112) and trains (n = 79) circulating in Porto and from nasal swabs of local university students (n = 475) were quantified, characterized by molecular typing methods and related to possible risk factors. Results: The MRSA prevalence in buses (16.1%) was not significantly different from trains (8.9%). There was also no identifiable association between the counts of MSSA and MRSA in buses and trains and the number of travellers in each sampling day, specific routes (including those passing by main hospitals) or other risk factors. Of the students, 37.1% carried S. aureus, and having a part-time job or smoking were found to be risk factors for carriage. EMRSA-15 (ST22-SCCmecIVh) was the prevalent MRSA clonal lineage, found not only in the buses (n = 14) and trains (n = 2) but also in the single MRSA-carrier among the students. The characteristics of the community-associated Southwest Pacific MRSA clone were found in a single ST30-IVa isolate, which may suggest a recent SCCmec acquisition by an MSSA background in the community. Conclusions: The spread of EMRSA-15, a common hospital-associated lineage, among different public transports and as a nasal coloniser is of concern and warrants adequate public health control measures

The Role of Digital Connectivity in Supply Chain and Logistics Systems: A Proposed SIMPLE Framework

Part 2: Fourth Industrial RevolutionInternational audienceIndustry 4.0 and its related-cutting edge technologies are generating unprecedented changes and bringing complex challenges in practically all types of business. In this context, new concepts such as digital connectivity, interconnection, and interoperability emerged as highly disruptive approaches for logistics systems and supply chain management (SCM). To shed more light on these complexities and see how companies organized in a SCM model can adopt, implement and operate in a digital connectivity model, this study proposes a framework, namely SIMPLE. To develop the framework, we employed a literature review approach, focusing on recent studies published in journals. After the literature analysis, six dimensions related to digital connectivity in supply chains and logistics emerged, namely Smart, Innovative, Measurable, Profitable, Lean, and Excellence (SIMPLE). This framework brings opportunities for future studies, while providing important insights into the dynamics of digital connectivity in logistics and supply chains. Therefore, these SIMPLE framework dimensions should enable the actors involved in organizations’ operations to interact adequately and harmoniously so as to maximize the value generated in the network