The Neglected Intrinsic Resistome of Bacterial Pathogens

Bacteria with intrinsic resistance to antibiotics are a worrisome health problem. It is widely believed that intrinsic antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens is mainly the consequence of cellular impermeability and activity of efflux pumps. However, the analysis of transposon-tagged Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants presented in this article shows that this phenotype emerges from the action of numerous proteins from all functional categories. Mutations in some genes make P. aeruginosa more susceptible to antibiotics and thereby represent new targets. Mutations in other genes make P. aeruginosa more resistant and therefore define novel mechanisms for mutation-driven acquisition of antibiotic resistance, opening a new research field based in the prediction of resistance before it emerges in clinical environments. Antibiotics are not just weapons against bacterial competitors, but also natural signalling molecules. Our results demonstrate that antibiotic resistance genes are not merely protective shields and offer a more comprehensive view of the role of antibiotic resistance genes in the clinic and in nature

Deep Phenotyping of Post-infectious Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (PI-ME/CFS) is a disabling disorder, yet the clinical phenotype is poorly defined, the pathophysiology is unknown, and no disease-modifying treatments are available. We used rigorous criteria to recruit PI-ME/CFS participants with matched controls to conduct deep phenotyping. Among the many physical and cognitive complaints, one defining feature of PI-ME/CFS was an alteration of effort preference, rather than physical or central fatigue, due to dysfunction of integrative brain regions potentially associated with central catechol pathway dysregulation, with consequences on autonomic functioning and physical conditioning. Immune profiling suggested chronic antigenic stimulation with increase in naïve and decrease in switched memory B-cells. Alterations in gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and metabolic pathways were consistent with cellular phenotypic studies and demonstrated differences according to sex. Together these clinical abnormalities and biomarker differences provide unique insight into the underlying pathophysiology of PI-ME/CFS, which may guide future intervention

'Orientation module' to increase ease of access to online discussion forum for postgraduate students

Evidence from evaluation studies indicated that ensuring a smooth start to the semester would enhance the experience of online learning for both students and staff. The development and evaluation of an 'Orientation Module', that combined technical and social purposes, is reflected on here. The module was found to significantly increase the ease with which students accessed their online learning environment

Service innovation in e-education: practicing what we preach

All too often the realm of marketing theory seems to sit somewhere apart from that of marketing practice. The following paper presents the experiences of a team of academics who applied Services Marketing principles to the delivery of postgraduate online marketing education in an Australian university. This involved focussing on risk reduction and trust building, prior to and during the service encounter. Emphasis was placed on the need for security, justice and self-esteem (Bowen and Schneider 1999). Research in the form of student surveys and interviews with e-moderators and support staff was undertaken. The results indicated that this focus led to students feeling more comfortable in the online environment, which in turn, enhanced their learning experience. Research outcomes included adopting this 'service focus' for future semesters, replicating the research, which will enable longitudinal analysis, and a proposal to develop a 'virtual service centre' for online students

An orientation module for online marketing education

Universities and higher education institutions are rapidly implementing online teaching systems as both a primary platform for distance education, and as a supporting element for oncampus Marketing courses. In order to maximise the confidence, and subsequent activity levels, of learners using these systems, an online orientation module was developed, based on the first two stages of Salmon's five-step model. It was shown that students involved in the orientation module commenced active participation in their live subject sites sooner than nonorientated students and their initial levels of input into their online discussion forum were higher. However it remains unclear whether the initial impetus of an orientation module has long-lasting positive effects on the online learning experience

Critical issues to understanding IMC in the future: an academic and practitioner developed integrated marketing communications curriculum for the 21st century

The Delphi technique is applied to establish which concepts and issues prominent communications industry practitioners deem vital to the make-up of a leading edge Masters level subject in marketing communications. The outcomes of the study are twofold. Firstly, it identifies and ranks a series of issues and concepts that experts regard critical to understanding and implementing IMC in the future. Secondly, it provides substantive insight into the way in which a Delphi process can contribute to knowledge that is crucial to the development of a contemporary, vocationally relevant Integrated Marketing Communications course

Building online resources for post graduate online course delivery: reflections, frustrations and lessons learnt

This paper discusses a number of important issues confronting teaching staff responsible for the development and delivery of online materials. It provides practical insights for the developments of online subject and courses

Delphi revisited: a concise method for industry consultation on curriculum

The Delphi method is a useful and well-respected way of gathering information from a panel of experts. However, in the past it has been time-consuming and clumsy to administer. Here it was modified to be a concise communication tool with a select group of industry leaders for the development of an integrated marketing communications curriculum at postgraduate level. The Delphi iterations were closely focussed and delivered in a time and resource efficient manner. The first part aimed to gather as much diversity of opinion as possible. The results of this were the basis for a second part, a Nominal Group Technique, or face-to-face Delphi. In this meeting structure staff discussed the development of the curriculum using quality input from business leaders. Through this relatively contained effort by the participants, industry input was easily and effectively incorporated into a subject which needs to respond to a rapidly changing business environment. This paper describes, and gives examples of, the processes undertaken