The roles of FGF and Wnt signaling during maxillary barbel regeneration in the Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) maxillary barbel is an integumentary sense organ that contains skin, glands, pigment cells, taste buds, nerve fibers, blood vessels and a putative lymphatic. Like other zebrafish organs, the maxillary barbel can regenerate most of its tissues after amputation. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control this regeneration. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and wingless (Wnt) signaling are required for the control of zebrafish caudal fin regeneration; due to the similarities between the fin and the maxillary barbel, these regulatory networks may play a role in barbel regeneration as well. In this study, I explored the roles of FGF and Wnt signaling during barbel regeneration by detecting the expression of crucial genes in each pathway. These experiments revealed that many FGF and Wnt pathway members are expressed during early barbel regeneration. To test the necessity of these signaling pathways, I used a variety of in vivo molecular techniques to inhibit candidate genes in barbel regenerates. Results indicated that both pathways play important roles in barbel regrowth; however, some differences between barbel and fin regeneration were observed. Activating a dominant negative fibroblast growth factor receptor (dnfgfr1) reduced the length of barbel regenerates by 60% but completely prevented fin regeneration in the same fish. Interestingly, zebrafish homozygous recessive for a point mutation in fgf20a did not show any inhibition of barbel regeneration, although this ligand was essential for fin regeneration. When the canonical Wnt inhibitor drug IWR-1 was applied to wild type fish, barbel regenerate length decreased by nearly 50%, but was not completely prevented as in fin regenerates of the same fish. Finally, experiments transgenically overexpressing the Wnt antagonist notum1a (nom1a) dramatically inhibited regeneration in both barbels and tails, highlighting this molecule as a potential novel regulator of Wnt-dependent regeneration in zebrafish. These are the first results that describe the molecular mechanisms of zebrafish barbel regeneration. Understanding the similarities and differences between regenerating barbels and other organs could help uncover any molecular themes or, in contrast, any variations that control regeneration. Altogether, this project has established the zebrafish maxillary barbel as yet another accessible and productive model for vertebrate regeneration studies

Taxonomy of North American fish Eimeriidae

Taxonomic descriptions, line drawings, and references are given for the 30 named and 5 unnamed species of North American fish Eimeriidae. In addition, a key was developed based on available morphologic data to distinguish between similar species. Taxa are divided into two genera: Eimeria (27 species) which are tetr&sporocystic with dizoic, nonbivalved sporocysts, and Goussia (3 species) which are tetrasporocystic with dizoic, bivalved sporocysts that lack Stleda bodies and have sporocyst walls composed of two longitudinal valves. (PDF file contains 24 pages.

Species of Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in Shrews from Alaska, U.S.A., and Northeastern Siberia, Russia, with Description of Two New Species

Fecal samples (n = 636) from 10 species of shrews collected in Alaska (n = 540) and northeastern Siberia (n = 96) were examined for the presence of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). Five distinct oocyst morphotypes were observed. Three types were consistent with oocysts of previously recognized coccidia species from other shrew hosts. These were Eimeria inyoni, E. vagrantis, and Isospora brevicauda, originally described from the inyo shrew (Sorex tenellus), dusky shrew (S. monticolus), and northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), respectively. We found 5 new host records for E. inyoni, 3 for E. vagrantis, and 3 for I. brevicauda. The 2 additional oocyst morphotypes, both from the tundra shrew (Sorex tundrensis), are putative new species. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria beringiacea n. sp. are subspheroidal, 17.7 × 15.6 μm (14-24 × 13-20 μm) with a length (L)/width (W) ratio of 1.1 (1.0-1.4); these lack a micropyle (M), an oocyst residuum (OR), and a polar granule (PG). Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 10.3 × 6.1 μm (7-14 × 4-8 μm), with a L/W ratio of 1.7 (1.3–2.3) and have a Stieda body (SB), Substieda body (SSB), and sporocyst residuum (SR). Oocysts of Eimeria tundraensis n. sp. are spheroidal to subspheroidal, 24.8 × 23.5 μm (23-26 × 22-25 μm), with a L/W ratio of 1.1 (1.0-1.2); these lack a M and OR, but a single PG is present. Sporocysts are elongate ellipsoidal, 15.4 × 8.3 μm (13-17 × 7-9 μm), with a L/W ratio of 1.9 (1.4-2.1) and have a SB, SSB, and SR

Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) of the Mammalian Order lnsectivora

The coccidia (protistan phylum Apicomplexa Levine, 1970) comprise a large group of obligate intracellular parasites commonly found in all classes of vertebrate hosts and in some invertebrates. This review focuses on those species within the Eimeriidae because they are among the most prevalent and speciose of all parasite groups, and there is no taxonomic summation currently available for those species that infect insectivores. All published species descriptions in the genera Cyclospora, Eimeria and Isospora that infect insectivores are reviewed and evaluated. Some of the named species are invalid, either because rules concerning the naming of new species (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) were not followed and/or the original description was so incomplete as to be of little use; such names have been relegated to species inquirendae. The mammalian order Insectivora has seven families composed of 66 genera and 428 species. There are no coccidia described from three families: Chrysochloridae, Nesophontidae and Solenodontidae. In the Erinaceidae, only Erinaceus, Hemiechinus and Hylomys have valid coccidia described from them; in the Soricidae, only six genera, Crocidura, Suncus (Crocidurinae) andBlarina, Cryptotis, Neomys, and Sorex (Soricinae) have valid species described; in the Tenrecidae, only Hemicentetes and Setifer have valid species; and in the Talpidae, only Condylura, Mogera, Neurotrichus, Parascalops, Scalopus, Scapanus, Talpa and Urotrichus (Talpinae) have valid species described. In all, 75 eimeriid coccidia are known from insectivore hosts including 48 Eimeria, 22 Isospora and five Cyclospora species; 45 species inquirendae are noted

Electronic decision support systems at point of care: trusting the deus ex machina

The document attached has been archived with permission from the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Justin J Beilby, Andre J Duszynski, Anne Wilson and Deborah A Turnbul

Epidemiological Analysis of SARS-CoV-2: Three Papers Examining Health Status, Response Bias, and Strategies for Engagment

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)The emergence of the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic created tremendous impact on humanity beginning in late 2019. Public health researchers at Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health responded by conducting research into the etiological profile of the virus, including a large Indiana state-wide population-based prevalence study in early 2020. Methods Data on demographics, tobacco use, health status, and reasons for participating in the population prevalence study were used to conduct three retrospective cross-sectional studies. The first study assessed the association of self-reported health and tobacco behaviors with COVID-19 infection (n=8,241). The second study used successive wave analysis to assess nonresponse bias (n=3,658). Finally, participants demographics were characterized by who responded to text, email, phone calls, or postcards and by the number of prompts needed to elicit participation (n= 3,658). Results The first study found self-identified health status of those reporting “poor, “fair” or good” had a higher risk of past or current infections compared to “very good” or “excellent” health status (P <0.02). Positive smoking status was inversely associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection (p <0.001). When assessing the sample for non-response bias (n=3,658), 40.9% responded in wave 1 of recruitment, 34.1% in wave 2 and 25.0% in wave 3 for an overall participation rate of 23.6%. There were no significant differences in response by waves and demographics, being recently exposed or reasons for participating. In the final study, compared to males, females made up 54.6% of the sample and responded at a higher rate to postcards (8.2% vs. 7.5%) and text/emails (28.1 vs. 24.6%, 2= 7.43, p 0.025); and responded at a higher percentage after 1 contact (21.4 vs. 17.9%, 2 = 7.6, p 0.023). Conclusion This research contributed to the scientific understanding of the etiological picture of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, the current study used a novel method that public health practitioners can easily implement to detect non-response bias in primary data collection without advanced statistical methods. Finally, the current study allows researchers to focus not only on the modality of inviting participants, but the frequency of invitations needed to secure specific populations, reducing time and resources

Biotic and Abiotic Effects on Endoparasites Infecting \u3ci\u3eDipodomys\u3c/i\u3e and \u3ci\u3ePerognathus\u3c/i\u3e Species

Between 1989 and 1998, 3,504 rodents of the genera Dipodomys and Perognathus were collected from 4 permanent collecting sites on the University of New Mexico’s Long Term Ecological Research station, located on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR), Socorro County, New Mexico. All animals were killed and examined for endoparasites (acanthocephalans, cestodes, coccidia, and nematodes). The present report focuses on 3 endoparasite groups, cestodes, coccidia, and nematodes. Specific analyses address how prevalence changes were related to abiotic factors such as habitat, season, or precipitation, and how prevalence of each parasite species in each host species differed in relation to host age, host sex, host reproductive status, host body mass, host density, parasite-parasite interactions, and host specificity. A logistic regression was used to determine which host characters and which abiotic factors are correlated with a parasite infection. Significant variables for at least half of the parasites include season, site, and winter precipitation. However, no parasite prevalences were correlated, and significant variables were not identical between parasites, indicating that each parasite species varied independently and that no generalizations can be drawn. The parasite prevalences in these rodents on the SNWR vary in independent and complex ways

Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Infecting Cricetid Rodents from Alaska, U.S.A., and Northeastern Siberia, Russia, and Description of a New \u3ci\u3eEimeria\u3c/i\u3e Species from \u3ci\u3eMyodes rutilus\u3c/i\u3e, the Northern Red-Backed Vole

During the summers of 2000, 2001, and 2002, 1,950 fecal samples from 4 families, 10 genera, and 16 species of rodents in Alaska, U.S.A. (N = 1,711), and Siberia, Russia (N = 239) were examined for coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). The 4 families sampled were Dipodidae (jumping mice), Erethizontidae (New World porcupines), Muridae (mice, rats), and Cricetidae (voles, lemmings). Nineteen oocyst morphotypes were observed, of which 10 were consistent with descriptions of known coccidia species from murid hosts, 8 were similar to oocysts described previously from other genera than those in which they are found here (and are called Eimeria species 1-8), and 1 is described as new. In the Dipodidae, all from Alaska, 0/15 Zapus hudsonius had coccidian oocysts in their feces when examined. In the Erethizontidae, all from Alaska, 0/5 Erethizon dorsatum had oocysts when examined. In the Muridae, all from Russia, 0/5 Apodemus peninsulae had oocysts when examined. In the Cricetidae from Alaska, we found the following infections: 15/72 (21%) Lemmus trimucronatus,/i\u3e (Eimeria spp. 3, 4, 5); 10/29 (34%) Microtus longicaudus (Eimeria saxei, Eimeria wenrichi); 41/88 (47%) Microtus miurus (Eimeria coahiliensis, Eimeria ochrogasteri, Eimeria saxei, Eimeria wenrichi); 278/405 (68%) Microtus oeconomus (E. ochrogasteri, E. saxei, E. wenrichi); 116/159 (73%) Microtus pennsylvanicus (E. saxei, E. wenrichi); 9/52 (17%) Microtus xanthognathus (E. wenrichi); 218/699 (31%) Myodes rutilus (Eimeria cernae, Eimeria gallati, Eimeria marconii, Isospora clethrionomydis, Isospora clethrionomysis, and a new Eimeria species); 34/187 (18%) Synaptomys borealis (Eimeria spp. 6, 7, 8, Eimeria synaptomys). In the Cricetidae from Siberia, we found the following infections: 5/24 (21%) Alticola macrotis (Eimeria spp.1, 2); 0/5 Dicrostonyx torquatus; 1/11 (9%) Lemmus lemmus (Eimeria sp. 3); 30/48 (52%) Mi. oeconomus (E. saxei, E. wenrichi); 5/53 (9%) Myodes rufocanus (E. cernae, E. gallati, I. clethrionomydis, the new Eimeria sp.); 21/85 (25%) Myodes rutilus (E. cernae, E. gallati, E. marconii, the new Eimeria sp.); 0/8 Myopus schisticolor. Oocysts of the new species, found in both My. rutilus (Alaska, Siberia) and My. rufocanus (Siberia), are ellipsoidal with a striated outer wall and measured 30.6 × 20.5 (27–33 × 19–23) μm; micropyle and oocyst residuum absent, but a polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 14.5 × 9.1 (13–16 × 8–10) μm; Stieda body, sub-Stieda body and sporocyst residuum are present

Should we still give our asthmatic patients written individualised management plans?

The document attached has been archived with permission from the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Andrew M Thornett, Jonathan W Newbury and Andre J Duszynsk

Population Point Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Based on a Statewide Random Sample — Indiana, April 25–29, 2020

During April 25–29, 2020, Indiana conducted statewide random sample testing of persons aged ≥12 years to assess prevalence of active infection and presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2; additional nonrandom sampling was conducted in racial and ethnic minority communities to better understand the impact of the virus in certain racial and ethnic minority populations.Nir Menachemi reports a grant from State of Indiana which funded this study. Virginia Caine reports that she is a member of the MMWR Editorial Board. Brian E. Dixon and William F. Fadel report grants from the Indiana State Department of Health. Paul K. Halverson reports a grant from the State of Indiana. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed