Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Health

Climate change is a global health emergency, with impacts felt most acutely by vulnerable populations and communities. This paper explores health risks from climate change in a global context, setting out key risks and actions towards addressing these. In the context of COP27, it draws in a focus on Egypt as a case study throughout to exemplify the risks faced by countries which are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. This policy working paper has been produced by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Egypt, with contributions from the UK Universities Climate Network, through an academic collaboration ahead of COP27 in Egypt in 2022

A calcineurin–Hoxb13 axis regulates growth mode of mammalian cardiomyocytes

10.1038/s41586-020-2228-6Nature5827811271-27

Detection of Candida albicans anti-mannan antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for diagnosis of invasive candidiasis in human and cattle

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in human and animals, early diagnosis and management are a challenge. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the usefulness of Candida albicans anti-mannan antibodies testing by using ELISA in diagnosis of invasive candidiasis in human and cattle. Sixty-nine serum samples (45 from immunocompromised patients and 24 from diseased cattle suspected to suffer from systemic candidiasis) were examined by indirect ELISA to detect anti-mannan IgG and compared with the routine culture techniques. Mycological examination of different human and cattle biological samples (n=177) was performed while, C. albicans was detected in 69 % and 83 % of human and cattle respectively. The results of ELISA were 10 (22.2%) positive, 5 (11%) equivocal cases in human patients and 15 (62.5%) positive in diseased cattle. A positive serum IgG response for mannan antigens discriminated IC from exclusively candida positive cultures. In addition, the sequential observation of anti-mannan antibodies could contribute to early diagnosis of invasive candidiasis in human and cattle. In this way, more efficient management of IC and earlier initiation of antifungal therapy can be achieved

Virulence, Resistance Profile, Antimicrobial Resistance Genes of ESBLs, XDR Escherichia coli Isolated from Ducks

Ducks are possible carriers of zoonotic diseases to humans. Public health is impacted by the widespread dissemination of Enterobacteriaceae carrying extended-spectrum-lactamase (ESBL) genes. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from Egyptian ducks, as well as the molecular characteristics of ESBLs to ESBLs genes and non-ESBLs genes, were studied.15% E. coli isolates were recovered from duck, and all of them were virulent as hemolytic and congo red positive. All ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were resistant to tetracycline, and nalidixic acid and 83.3% of isolates were also resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, penicillin, both ceftazidime, and cefotaxime. Recovered ESBL-producing E. coli strains harbored qnrA, tetA, sul1, blaTEM, blaCTX-M, aadA1, blaOXA-1, and blaSHV antimicrobial-resistance genes with a prevalence of 100%, 100%,83.3%, 83.3%, 83.3%, 75%, 58.3%, and 41.6%, respectively. 33.3% of the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were MDR, and 66.7% were recognized as XDR. The extension of ESBLs- E. coli threatens public health should be carefully monitored.

Biofilm production by pathogens associated with canine otitis externa, and the antibiofilm activity of ionophores and antimicrobial adjuvants

Otitis externa (OE) is a frequently reported disorder in dogs associated with secondary infections by Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and yeast pathogens. The presence of biofilms may play an important role in the resistance of otic pathogens to antimicrobial agents. Biofilm production of twenty Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and twenty Pseudomonas aeruginosa canine otic isolates was determined quantitatively using a microtiter plate assay, and each isolate was classified as a strong, moderate, weak or nonbiofilm producer. Minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of two ionophores (narasin and monensin) and three adjuvants (N-acetylcysteine (NAC), Tris-EDTA and disodium EDTA) were investigated spectrophotometrically (OD570nm ) and quantitatively (CFU/ml) against selected Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas biofilm cultures. Concurrently, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of planktonic cultures were assessed. 16/20 of the S. pseudintermedius clinical isolates were weak biofilm producers. 19/20 P. aeruginosa clinical isolates produced biofilms and were distributed almost equally as weak, moderate and strong biofilm producers. While significant antibiofilm activity was observed, no MBEC was achieved with narasin or monensin. The MBEC for NAC ranged from 5,000-10,000 µg/ml and from 20,000-80,000 µg/ml against S. pseudintermedius and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Tris-EDTA eradicated P. aeruginosa biofilms at concentrations ranging from 6,000/1,900 to 12,000/3,800 µg/ml. The MBEC was up to 16-fold and eightfold higher than the MIC/MBC of NAC and Tris-EDTA, respectively. Disodium EDTA reduced biofilm growth of both strains at concentrations of 470 µg/ml and higher. It can be concluded that biofilm production is common in pathogens associated with canine OE. NAC and Tris-EDTA are effective antibiofilm agents in vitro that could be considered for the treatment of biofilm-associated OE in dogs.Wei Yee Chan, Elizabeth E. Hickey, Stephen W. Page, Darren J. Trott, Peter B. Hil