A single residue substitution in the receptor-binding domain of H5N1 hemagglutinin is critical for packaging into pseudotyped lentiviral particles

© 2012 Tang et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Background: Serological studies for influenza infection and vaccine response often involve microneutralization and hemagglutination inhibition assays to evaluate neutralizing antibodies against human and avian influenza viruses, including H5N1. We have previously characterized lentiviral particles pseudotyped with H5-HA (H5pp) and validated an H5pp-based assay as a safe alternative for high-throughput serological studies in BSL-2 facilities. Here we show that H5-HAs from different clades do not always give rise to efficient production of H5pp and the underlying mechanisms are addressed. Methodology/Findings: We have carried out mutational analysis to delineate the molecular determinants responsible for efficient packaging of HA from A/Cambodia/40808/2005 (H5Cam) and A/Anhui/1/2005 (H5Anh) into H5pp. Our results demonstrate that a single A134V mutation in the 130-loop of the receptor binding domain is sufficient to render H5Anh the ability to generate H5Anh-pp efficiently, whereas the reverse V134A mutation greatly hampers production of H5Cam-pp. Although protein expression in total cell lysates is similar for H5Anh and H5Cam, cell surface expression of H5Cam is detected at a significantly higher level than that of H5Anh. We further demonstrate by several independent lines of evidence that the behaviour of H5Anh can be explained by a stronger binding to sialic acid receptors implicating residue 134. Conclusions: We have identified a single A134V mutation as the molecular determinant in H5-HA for efficient incorporation into H5pp envelope and delineated the underlying mechanism. The reduced binding to sialic acid receptors as a result of the A134V mutation not only exerts a critical influence in pseudotyping efficiency of H5-HA, but has also an impact at the whole virus level. Because A134V substitution has been reported as a naturally occurring mutation in human host, our results may have implications for the understanding of human host adaptation of avian influenza H5N1 virusesThis work was supported by grants from the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases of Hong Kong (RFCID#08070972), the Area of Excellence Scheme of the University Grants Committee (grant AoE/M-12/-06 of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China), the French Ministry of Health, and the RESPARI project of the Institut Pasteur International Network

Characterize the main adverse events with harm reported in a Teaching Hospital in Minas Gerais

Background and Objectives: adverse events are a major public health problem. The purpose of the study was to characterize the main adverse events with harm reported in a teaching hospital in Minas Gerais. Methods: this is a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study with quantitative approach, which assessed the reports on adverse events, carried out between January 2015 and December 2018. Pearson’s chi-square test was applied in order to verify the association between categorical variables. Cramer’s measure V was calculated to assess the degree of association between the respective variables. In the observation of statistically significant results, the Z test was applied to compare proportions with adjustments by the Bonferroni method. Results: a total of 445 adverse events were reported, being the highest number in 2018 (61.8%) involving “Abrasion and friction” process (44.7%), which correspond to grades 3 and 4 pressure injuries. Most adverse events were reported by the Emergency Unit (29.2%), and serious harm (7.6%) and deaths (1.3%) were more prevalent in this place. There was a statistically significant association between types of harm and types of incidents (

The pathogenesis of low pathogenicity H7 avian influenza viruses in chickens, ducks and turkeys

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Avian influenza (AI) viruses infect numerous avian species, and low pathogenicity (LP) AI viruses of the H7 subtype are typically reported to produce mild or subclinical infections in both wild aquatic birds and domestic poultry. However relatively little work has been done to compare LPAI viruses from different avian species for their ability to cause disease in domestic poultry under the same conditions. In this study twelve H7 LPAI virus isolates from North America were each evaluated for their comparative pathogenesis in chickens, ducks, and turkeys.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All 12 isolates were able to infect all three species at a dose of 10⁶50% egg infectious doses based on seroconversion, although not all animals seroconverted with each isolate-species combination. The severity of disease varied among isolate and species combinations, but there was a consistent trend for clinical disease to be most severe in turkeys where all 12 isolates induced disease, and mortality was observed in turkeys exposed to 9 of the 12 viruses. Turkeys also shed virus by the oral and cloacal routes at significantly higher titers than either ducks or chickens at numerous time points. Only 3 isolates induced observable clinical disease in ducks and only 6 isolates induced disease in chickens, which was generally very mild and did not result in mortality. Full genome sequence was completed for all 12 isolates and some isolates did have features consistent with adaptation to poultry (e.g. NA stalk deletions), however none of these features correlated with disease severity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The data suggests that turkeys may be more susceptible to clinical disease from the H7 LPAI viruses included in this study than either chickens or ducks. However the severity of disease and degree of virus shed was not clearly correlated with any isolate or group of isolates, but relied on specific species and isolate combinations.</p

ANÁLISE COMPARATIVA ENTRE A SABESP E A CAESA NO CONTEXTO DE GESTÃO AMBIENTAL E SANEAMENTO BÁSICO NO BRASIL

A água é um recurso vital para a saúde pública e o desenvolvimento socioeconômico, e o saneamento básico é um fator essencial para garantir o acesso seguro a esse recurso. Este artigo visa comparar os dois extremos do ranking Instituto Trata Brasil com a situação de distribuição de água e o tratamento de esgoto no Brasil e assim analisar as práticas de saneamento básico entre as duas empresas responsáveis, a SABESP (Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo), que opera em São Paulo e possui a certificação ISO 14001, e a CAESA (Companhia de água e esgoto do Amapá), responsável pelo estado do Amapá, que não possui essa certificação. A pesquisa explora a relação entre as certificações de qualidade e a eficácia dos serviços de saneamento, destacando as disparidades nos índices de acesso à água e esgoto entre os dois estados. Os resultados evidenciam a importância das certificações na melhoria da qualidade dos serviços prestados e na promoção do desenvolvimento sustentável

Isolation of avian influenza virus (H9N2) from emu in China

This is the first reported isolation of avian influenza virus (AIV) from emu in China. An outbreak of AIV infection occurred at an emu farm that housed 40 four-month-old birds. Various degrees of haemorrhage were discovered in the tissues of affected emus. Cell degeneration and necrosis were observed microscopically. Electron microscopy revealed round or oval virions with a diameter of 80 nm to 120 nm, surrounded by an envelope with spikes. The virus was classified as low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV), according to OIE standards. It was named A/Emu/HeNen/14/2004(H9N2)(Emu/HN/2004). The HA gene (1683bp) was amplified by RT-PCR and it was compared with other animal H9N2 AIV sequences in GenBank, the US National Institutes of Health genetic sequence database. The results suggested that Emu/HN/2004 may have come from an avian influenza virus (H9N2) from Southern China

Influenza A Viruses from Wild Birds in Guatemala Belong to the North American Lineage

The role wild bird species play in the transmission and ecology of avian influenza virus (AIV) is well established; however, there are significant gaps in our understanding of the worldwide distribution of these viruses, specifically about the prevalence and/or significance of AIV in Central and South America. As part of an assessment of the ecology of AIV in Guatemala, we conducted active surveillance in wild birds on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Cloacal and tracheal swab samples taken from resident and migratory wild birds were collected from February 2007 to January 2010.1913 samples were collected and virus was detected by real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) in 28 swab samples from ducks (Anas discors). Virus isolation was attempted for these positive samples, and 15 isolates were obtained from the migratory duck species Blue-winged teal. The subtypes identified included H7N9, H11N2, H3N8, H5N3, H8N4, and H5N4. Phylogenetic analysis of the viral sequences revealed that AIV isolates are highly similar to viruses from the North American lineage suggesting that bird migration dictates the ecology of these viruses in the Guatemalan bird population

Self-reported health conditions, quality of Primary Health Care and associated factors according to sexual and gender minorities

Introduction: Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites, transsexuals, transgenders, queers, intersexes, asexuals, pansexuals and other sexual and gender minorities constitute a population that has been little studied regarding the use and care in health services. Objective: From this perspective, the general objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of Primary Health Care according to members of sexual and gender minorities. Methods: This is an evaluative research, with a cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical design and a quantitative approach, performed by means of a web survey in Brazil. The script for data collection addressed sociodemographic characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, self-reported health conditions and the 23 items of the Primary Care Assessment Tool, reduced version for adult users. Results: The results represent 314 LGBTQIAP+ people, predominantly young, white, cisgender, homosexual and bisexual, from the five Brazilian regions, highlighting the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. The use of alcoholic beverages and other substances, the weight change and the presence of mental diseases were the most frequent self-reported health conditions. Primary health care was mostly evaluated with low overall scores, thus indicating low quality. The attributes “community guidance” and “coordination” (care integration) were marked by negative evaluations, indicating small extension. People belonging to sexual and gender minorities who worked, had kidney problems, had been hospitalized recently and that had their gender identity and sexual orientation known by health professionals were more likely to evaluate the Primary Health Care as good. Conclusion: This work points out as weaknesses in the care of the LGBTQIAP+ population the following atributes: family guidance, accessibility, longitudinality and available services, which can be prioritized to improve the quality of Primary Health Care in the Brazilian Unified Health System

Desenvolvendo estratégias lúdicas para o ensino remoto / Developing ludic strategies for remote teaching

A inserção da gamificação e outras estratégias lúdicas no processo de ensino e aprendizagem é, na atualidade, uma estratégia importante para tornar as aulas de biologia mais flexíveis, dinâmicas e atrativas. Com a inserção da gamificação principalmente, espera-se, de acordo com Fardo (2013 apud Silva, 2019) “aumentar o grau de envolvimento e motivação que normalmente encontramos nos jogadores quando em interação com os games” e, consequentemente, uma postura mais ativa do aluno no processo de construção do seu conhecimento. Com metodologias mais ativas de ensino almeja-se colaborar não só para a melhoria da qualidade do processo de ensino e aprendizagem, como também o desenvolvimento da escola, a fim de acompanhar as transformações da sociedade e colaborar de forma mais significativa para a disseminação do conhecimento. Neste sentido, este trabalho objetiva complementar a prática cotidiana do professor de biologia com estratégias de ensino mais lúdicas para tornar as aulas remotas mais descontraídas, atraentes e ainda auxiliar os alunos na melhor compreensão do conteúdo em desenvolvimento. A partir do conteúdo ensinado, semanalmente foram preparadas, pelos alunos do curso de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas que participam do PIBID – IFTM, estratégias complementares às aulas do professor regente com vídeos e jogos diversos. O desenvolvimento do projeto deu-se com turmas do primeiro ano do ensino médio regular da Escola Estadual Francisco Cândido Xavier, de Uberaba/MG. As atividades foram planejadas e executadas semanalmente utilizando-se de recursos como confecção de vídeos, jogos de questionário, roda aleatória, labirinto e outros onde os alunos puderam jogar em momentos assíncronos ou de forma síncrona com a turma toda. Apesar de ainda se encontrar em desenvolvimento, os resultados foram muito positivos, pois, de acordo com testemunhos dos alunos, foi permitido a eles reverem conteúdos já estudados outrora de forma mais sistemática para uma forma lúdica e divertida. A ludicidade facilitou a abordagem de temas mais complexos para os alunos, além de propiciar momentos agradáveis de interação entre a turma em tempos de ensino remoto

A molecular and antigenic survey of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus isolates from smallholder duck farms in Central Java, Indonesia during 2007-2008

Background: Indonesia is one of the countries most severely affected by H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in terms of poultry and human health. However, there is little information on the diversity of H5N1 viruses circulating in backyard farms, where chickens and ducks often intermingle. In this study, H5N1 virus infection occurring in 96 smallholder duck farms in central Java, Indonesia from 2007-2008 was investigated and the molecular and antigenic characteristics of H5N1 viruses isolated from these farms were analysed