Characterisation of the lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis gene cluster in campylobacter species

The extensive genetic variation in the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) core biosynthesis gene cluster, a majority of which occurs in the LOS outer core biosynthesis gene content present between lgtF and waaV, have led to the development of a classification system; with 8 classes (I-VIII) for Campylobacter coli (C. coli) LOS region and four groups (1-4) with 23 classes (A-W) for Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) LOS region. The aim of this work was to characterise the C. jejuni and C. coli LOS biosynthesis loci with special emphasis on their classes’ distribution and also to determine the role of LOS in mediating the host immune response. Analysis of the LOS locus gene content in 50 C. jejuni clinical isolates and 703 publicly available C. jejuni genome sequences revealed that the class B (Group 1) was the most abundant LOS locus class in C. jejuni. Two novel C. jejuni LOS types were identified from the GenBank database which may have arisen due to interspecies and intraspecies LOS gene recombination. In silico analysis of LOS locus gene content in 564 publicly available C. coli genome sequences identified previously unknown LOS inner core biosynthesis genes; all were located between waaF and gmhA and occurred in 5 C. coli LOS locus types (I, II, III, V, VIII). It was also determined that class III is the most abundant LOS locus type in C. coli and the environmental niches are the major reservoirs of C. coli. Moreover, this work highlighted that live and heat killed cells of both C. jejuni and C. coli, as well as, extracted LOS activate the NLRP3 [Nucleotide binding oligomerisation domain (NOD) like receptors with pyrin domain–containing 3] inflammasome dependent signalling in a human monocytic cell line, THP-1. However, C. jejuni 11168 LOS mutant live cells and its modified LOS with altered lipid A and lack of LOS core oligosaccharides both stimulated significantly reduced Caspase-1 and IL-1β compared to the wild-type 11168 live cells and LOS, which indicated that variation in LOS structure can alter NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This work extends the understanding of the Campylobacter LOS locus classification system and determines that LOS plays an important role in the development of host immune response during Campylobacter infection

A Scientist's Guide to Achieving Broader Impacts through K-12 STEM Collaboration.

The National Science Foundation and other funding agencies are increasingly requiring broader impacts in grant applications to encourage US scientists to contribute to science education and society. Concurrently, national science education standards are using more inquiry-based learning (IBL) to increase students' capacity for abstract, conceptual thinking applicable to real-world problems. Scientists are particularly well suited to engage in broader impacts via science inquiry outreach, because scientific research is inherently an inquiry-based process. We provide a practical guide to help scientists overcome obstacles that inhibit their engagement in K-12 IBL outreach and to attain the accrued benefits. Strategies to overcome these challenges include scaling outreach projects to the time available, building collaborations in which scientists' research overlaps with curriculum, employing backward planning to target specific learning objectives, encouraging scientists to share their passion, as well as their expertise with students, and transforming institutional incentives to support scientists engaging in educational outreach

An Updated Classification System and Review of the Lipooligosaccharide Biosynthesis Gene Locus in Campylobacter jejuni

Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is an integral component of the Campylobacter cell membrane with a structure of core oligosaccharides forming inner and outer core regions and a lipid A moiety. The gene content of the LOS core biosynthesis cluster exhibits extensive sequence variation, which leads to the production of variable cell surface LOS structures in Campylobacter. Some LOS outer core molecules in Campylobacter jejuni are molecular mimics of host structures (such as neuronal gangliosides) and are thought to trigger neuronal disorders (particularly Guillain-Barré syndrome and Miller Fisher syndrome) in humans. The extensive genetic variation in the LOS biosynthesis gene cluster, a majority of which occurs in the LOS outer core biosynthesis gene content present between lgtF and waaV, has led to the development of a classification system with 23 classes (A-W) and four groups (1-4) for the C. jejuni LOS region. This review presents an updated and simplified classification system for LOS typing alongside an overview of the frequency of C. jejuni LOS biosynthesis genotypes and structures in various C. jejuni populations

Positive Findings of Blood Cultures in Febrile Children Presenting with Thalassemia Major in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To assess status of bacterial pathogens in thalassemia major patients presenting with fever in a tertiary care hospital  Methods:  A retrospective descriptive study was conducted at –removed for blind review---from November, 2020 to October, 2021 in which 102 patients of thalassemia major who presented with fever and were suspicious of having septicemia were enrolled. Their demographic characteristics and pathological findings were noted in this study. Standardized approach was followed for blood withdrawal and sample collection required for performing blood cultures. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 21.  Results:  Females were in majority. Total 57 (56.0%) of patients had positive blood culture. The most frequent bacterial pathogen was Klebsiella pneumonia 13 (12.7%), followed by E-coli 11 (10.7%), staphylococcus aureus 7 (6.8%), pseudomonas 8 (7.8%) and streptococcus type pathogens 6 (5.8%).  Conclusion:  Positive culture findings were high in the thalassemia major patients who presented with fever. 

Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Salmonella Species in Children in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Objective: To determine the recent antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella species in children in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics of Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, Bhara Kahu, from 18th March 2020 to 31st January 2021. A total of one hundred and seventy-eight (n=178) patients of either gender having age between 1 month to 12 years who had signs and symptoms of enteric fever and positive blood culture report of Salmonella species were enrolled in this study through non-probability, consecutive sampling. The demographic characteristics of patients along with the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the Salmonella species were recorded on the predesigned proforma and analyzed through SPSS version 25. Results: Out of the total of 178 patients, reports of blood cultures of 164(92.1%) patients showed Salmonella Typhi while those of 14(7.9%) patients showed Salmonella Paratyphi. Out of the total of 178 Salmonella cases, 11(6.2%) were extensively drug-resistant and 58(32.6%) were multidrug-resistant. All XDR cases were of Salmonella Typhi. Out of 14 Salmonella Paratyphi, 2(14%) were MDR but no XDR Salmonella Paratyphi was found.  Nalidixic acid had the highest resistance (96.4%) followed by sulphamethoxazole (65.5%). Azithromycin had the least resistance (0%) followed by imipenem (1.8%), piperacillin-tazobatam (1.9%), and meropenem (2%). Resistance of ceftriaxone was 20.8% and that of ciprofloxacin was 28.2%. Conclusion: No resistance of Salmonella species against azithromycin was found in our study. The presence of XDR typhoid fever cases and the rising resistance of Salmonella species to ceftriaxone and carbapenems are very alarming. To prevent this resistance, we should reserve carbapenems for complicated cases of resistant typhoid fever only. Minocycline and pipercillin-tazobactam are two other good cost-effective drugs in resistance to typhoid fever

Demarginalizing Interdisciplinarity in IS Research: Interdisciplinary Research in Marginalization

This paper reports on the second Workshop of a World University Network (WUN) Research Development Funded project on “The trans-nationalization of Indigenous movements: The role of digital technologies” at the University of Southampton, UK. The workshop explored interdisciplinarity and how interdisciplinary collaboration can help scholars study complex social phenomenon, such as the ways in which marginalized Indigenous communities use and shape digital technologies (such as social media) to enhance their cause. The workshop brought together scholars from diverse disciplines to engage in a critical debate. In addition to scholars from information systems, scholars from history, political science, geography, literature, arts, and anthropology came together to discuss how marginalized Indigenous communities can use digital media. The workshop highlighted the need for more interdisciplinary research and called for more critical approaches to bring such marginalized topics to the forefront of research in information systems. We consider three broad areas of inquiry in this paper: demarginalizing methodology for interdisciplinary research, interdisciplinary perspectives for demarginalization, and interdisciplinary contexts for demarginalization

Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Use of Digital Technologies by Marginalized Groups

This paper reports on a workshop hosted at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in September, 2018. The workshop, called “Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Use of Digital Technologies by Marginalized Groups”, focused on discussing how marginalized groups use digital technologies to raise their voices. At the workshop, a diverse group of scholars and doctoral students presented research projects and perspectives on the role that digital technologies have in activist projects that represent marginalized groups that have gained momentum in the last few years. The studies and viewpoints presented shed light on four areas in which IS research can expand our understanding about how marginalized groups use digital technologies to address societal challenges: 1) the rise of cyberactivism, 2) resource mobilization for cyberactivism, 3) cyberactivism by and with marginalized groups, and 4) research methods for examining how marginalized groups use digital technologies

Health and wellbeing amongst older people research in Northamptonshire

The Ageing Research Centre of the University of Northampton (2014-current), in collaboration with the East Midlands Research into Ageing Network (EMRAN) is pleased to compile this brochure on research activity associated with older people across the county of Northamptonshire. This provides a comprehensive overview of activity that is relevant and of value to practice, identifying research outcomes that have real significance to age-related health and wellbeing. The brochure provides a summary of research activity over the last five years from academic, clinical and professional colleagues and demonstrates cross sector networks of collaboration around the common agenda of aging. Such collaboration will enhance the capacity of research understanding across the county and provide information and support for the needs of older people, their families and carers. The translation of research outcomes into practice is essential if we are to promote wellness, independence and healthy aging within the county and beyond and I would like to thank all contributors for their commitment and hard work in the production of this brochure