Immunological and pathological outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 challenge following formalin-inactivated vaccine in ferrets and rhesus macaques

There is an urgent requirement for safe and effective vaccines to prevent COVID-19. A concern for the development of new viral vaccines is the potential to induce vaccine-enhanced disease (VED). This was reported in several preclinical studies with both SARS-CoV-1 and MERS vaccines but has not been reported with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We have used ferrets and rhesus macaques challenged with SARS-CoV-2 to assess the potential for VED in animals vaccinated with formaldehyde-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (FIV) formulated with Alhydrogel, compared to a negative control vaccine. We showed no evidence of enhanced disease in ferrets or rhesus macaques given FIV except for mild transient enhanced disease seen 7 days after infection in ferrets. This increased lung pathology was observed at day 7 but was resolved by day 15. We also demonstrate that formaldehyde treatment of SARS-CoV-2 reduces exposure of the spike receptor binding domain providing a mechanistic explanation for suboptimal immunity

Global spatial risk assessment of sharks under the footprint of fisheries.

Effective ocean management and the conservation of highly migratory species depend on resolving the overlap between animal movements and distributions, and fishing effort. However, this information is lacking at a global scale. Here we show, using a big-data approach that combines satellite-tracked movements of pelagic sharks and global fishing fleets, that 24% of the mean monthly space used by sharks falls under the footprint of pelagic longline fisheries. Space-use hotspots of commercially valuable sharks and of internationally protected species had the highest overlap with longlines (up to 76% and 64%, respectively), and were also associated with significant increases in fishing effort. We conclude that pelagic sharks have limited spatial refuge from current levels of fishing effort in marine areas beyond national jurisdictions (the high seas). Our results demonstrate an urgent need for conservation and management measures at high-seas hotspots of shark space use, and highlight the potential of simultaneous satellite surveillance of megafauna and fishers as a tool for near-real-time, dynamic management

Análise comparativa entre técnicas morfométricas aplicadas a Odontesthes bonariensis (Valenciennes) e Odontesthes humensis De Buen (Osteichthyes, Atherinopsidae) Comparative analysis among two different morphometric techniques used in Odontesthes bonariensis and Odontesthes humensis (Atherinopsidae)

<abstract language="eng">The objective of this study was to compare two different morphometric methodologies - traditional measurements and truss networks - based on two species of silversides, Odontesthes bonariensis (Valenciennes, 1835) and O. humensis De Buen, 1953, to determine which of the methods results in more reliable distinction between groups. The traditional measures do not represent the true fish form because it does not take into account alometric variations or distinct growth stages. The measures with truss networks extend over the fish form thoroughly resulting in complete representation of the fish's body when homologous morphologic points are connected. The two sets of measures used in the principal components analysis resulted in two groups. The first principal component presented similar positive coefficients, being interpreted as a variation of "size", due to different stages of fish growth. The second component presented positive and negative coefficients, with different values that were interpreted as changes in the "shape" of the organisms. As the groups overlapped partially on the second component axis (the one that represents shape), data were adjusted to exclude the size effect. The first component, then, presented positive and negative coefficients that were related to changes in the shape of organisms. The variables with positive coefficients were related to the anterior area of the body, while the negative coefficients were associated with the caudal peduncle. These variables were the same ones found in both the adjusted and non-adjusted analysis. This study showed that measures with truss networks represented more clearly the difference between groups of O. bonariensis and O. humensis, than with the traditional measures

Reply to: Shark mortality cannot be assessed by fishery overlap alone

Abstract not availableNuno Queiroz ... Simon D. Goldsworthy ... et al

Global spatial risk assessment of sharks under the footprint of fisheries

Effective ocean management and the conservation of highly migratory species depend on resolving the overlap between animal movements and distributions, and fishing effort. However, this information is lacking at a global scale. Here we show, using a big-data approach that combines satellite-tracked movements of pelagic sharks and global fishing fleets, that 24% of the mean monthly space used by sharks falls under the footprint of pelagic longline fisheries. Space-use hotspots of commercially valuable sharks and of internationally protected species had the highest overlap with longlines (up to 76% and 64%, respectively), and were also associated with significant increases in fishing effort. We conclude that pelagic sharks have limited spatial refuge from current levels of fishing effort in marine areas beyond national jurisdictions (the high seas). Our results demonstrate an urgent need for conservation and management measures at high-seas hotspots of shark space use, and highlight the potential of simultaneous satellite surveillance of megafauna and fishers as a tool for near-real-time, dynamic management.Nuno Queiroz, Nicolas E. Humphries, Ana Couto, Marisa Vedor ... Simon D. Goldsworthy ... Paul J. Rogers ... et al

The polygenic nature of hypertriglyceridaemia: implications for definition, diagnosis, and management

Item does not contain fulltextPlasma triglyceride concentration is a biomarker for circulating triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and their metabolic remnants. Common mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridaemia is typically multigenic, and results from the cumulative burden of common and rare variants in more than 30 genes, as quantified by genetic risk scores. Rare autosomal recessive monogenic hypertriglyceridaemia can result from large-effect mutations in six different genes. Hypertriglyceridaemia is exacerbated by non-genetic factors. On the basis of recent genetic data, we redefine the disorder into two states: severe (triglyceride concentration >10 mmol/L), which is more likely to have a monogenic cause; and mild-to-moderate (triglyceride concentration 2-10 mmol/L). Because of clustering of susceptibility alleles and secondary factors in families, biochemical screening and counselling for family members is essential, but routine genetic testing is not warranted. Treatment includes management of lifestyle and secondary factors, and pharmacotherapy. In severe hypertriglyceridaemia, intervention is indicated because of pancreatitis risk; in mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridaemia, intervention can be indicated to prevent cardiovascular disease, dependent on triglyceride concentration, concomitant lipoprotein disturbances, and overall cardiovascular risk