Widespread movement of invasive cattle fever ticks (Rhipicephalus microplus) in southern Texas leads to shared local infestations on cattle and deer

Background: Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is a highly-invasive tick that transmits the cattle parasites (Babesia bovis and B. bigemina) that cause cattle fever. R. microplus and Babesia are endemic in Mexico and ticks persist in the United States inside a narrow tick eradication quarantine area (TEQA) along the Rio Grande. This containment area is threatened by unregulated movements of illegal cattle and wildlife like white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus). Methods: Using 11 microsatellite loci we genotyped 1,247 R. microplus from 63 Texas collections, including outbreak infestations from outside the TEQA. We used population genetic analyses to test hypotheses about ecological persistence, tick movement, and impacts of the eradication program in southern Texas. We tested acaricide resistance with larval packet tests (LPTs) on 47 collections. Results: LPTs revealed acaricide resistance in 15/47 collections (32%); 11 were outside the TEQA and three were resistant to multiple acaricides. Some collections highly resistant to permethrin were found on cattle and WTD. Analysis of genetic differentiation over time at seven properties revealed local gene pools with very low levels of differentiation (F-ST 0.00-0.05), indicating persistence over timespans of up to 29 months. However, in one neighborhood differentiation varied greatly over a 12-month period (F-ST 0.03-0.13), suggesting recurring immigration from distinct sources as another persistence mechanism. Ticks collected from cattle and WTD at the same location are not differentiated (F-ST = 0), implicating ticks from WTD as a source of ticks on cattle (and vice versa) and emphasizing the importance of WTD to tick control strategies. We identified four major genetic groups (K = 4) using Bayesian population assignment, suggesting multiple introductions to Texas. Conclusions: Two dispersal mechanisms give rise to new tick infestations: 1) frequent short-distance dispersal from the TEQA; and 2) rare long-distance, human-mediated dispersal from populations outside our study area, probably Mexico. The threat of cattle fever tick transport into Texas is increased by acaricide resistance and the ability of R. microplus to utilize WTD as an alternate host. Population genetic analyses may provide a powerful tool for tracking invasions in other parts of the world where these ticks are established

Biomarkers of pineal region tumors: A review

Background: The pineal gland, a small, pinecone-shaped organ deep within the brain, is responsible for producing melatonin. The gland consists of pineal parenchymal cells and glial cells that can form neoplasms. Pineal region neoplasms can also arise from germ cells and adjacent structures. This review focuses on detection of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of germ cell tumors and pineal parenchymal cell tumors, as these types comprise most neoplasms specific to the pineal region.Methods: For this review, we searched PubMed using the following keywords: biomarkers, germ cell tumor, germinoma, melatonin, pineal, pineal gland, pineal neoplasm, pinealoma, pineal parenchymal cell tumor, pineal region, and pineal tumor. We limited our search to full-text English articles and identified other relevant sources from the reference lists of identified articles.Results: Serum and CSF biomarker assays have a role in cases of suspected pineal germ cell or parenchymal neoplasms. Biomarkers including alpha-fetoprotein, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, and placental alkaline phosphatase inform diagnosis and treatment and are important for monitoring germ cell tumor response to treatment. No biomarkers are currently available that inform diagnosis or treatment of pineal parenchymal tumors, although melatonin assays may have a role in monitoring response to treatment.Conclusion: Serum and CSF biomarkers in conjunction with clinical and radiographic evidence of a pineal region mass can inform the decision whether to undertake stereotactic biopsy or surgical excision or whether to proceed straight to medical treatment

The association between human cytomegalovirus and glioblastomas: a review

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was reported in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) over a decade ago and this finding has the potential to increase our understanding of the disease and it offers an alternative tumor-specific therapeutic target. Due of this promise, there is a fair amount of time, energy and money being directed towards understanding and utilizing this connection for eventual therapeutic purposes. Nevertheless, the association between GBM and HCMV remains controversial. Several studies have reported conflicting results, further undermining the potential clinical value of this association. In this review, the authors will discuss the latest developments on this evolving issue. Specifically, the results of the latest studies, both positive and negative, will be discussed. Furthermore, potential theories to explain discrepancies reported in the literature will be proposed. Clinical implications including potential targets for anti-HCMV therapy and the latest developments in anti-HCMV therapy will be presented. Finally, solutions to remedy this controversial issue in neuro-oncology will be offered

Long-range dispersal moved Francisella tularensis into Western Europe from the East

For many infections transmitting to humans from reservoirs in nature, disease dispersal patterns over space and time are largely unknown. Here, a reversed genomics approach helped us understand disease dispersal and yielded insight into evolution and biological properties of Francisella tularensis, the bacterium causing tularemia. We whole-genome sequenced 67 strains and characterized by single-nucleotide polymorphism assays 138 strains, collected from individuals infected 1947-2012 across Western Europe. We used the data for phylogenetic, population genetic and geographical network analyses. All strains (n= 205) belonged to a monophyletic population of recent ancestry not found outside Western Europe. Most strains (n= 195) throughout the study area were assigned to a star-like phylogenetic pattern indicating that colonization of Western Europe occurred via clonal expansion. In the East of the study area, strains were more diverse, consistent with a founder population spreading from east to west. The relationship of genetic and geographic distance within the F. tularensis population was complex and indicated multiple long-distance dispersal events. Mutation rate estimates based on year of isolation indicated null rates; in outbreak hotspots only, there was a rate of 0.4 mutations/genome/year. Patterns of nucleotide substitution showed marked AT mutational bias suggestive of genetic drift. These results demonstrate that tularemia has moved from east to west in Europe and that F. tularensis has a biology characterized by long-range geographical dispersal events and mostly slow, but variable, replication rates. The results indicate that mutation-driven evolution, a resting survival phase, genetic drift and long-distance geographical dispersal events have interacted to generate genetic diversity within this species

Family Caregiving Amidst Age-Associated Cognitive Changes: Implications for Practice and Future Generations

As the number of older adults has increased, so has the prevalence of age-associated needs, including cognitive changes. Correspondingly, more than 43 million people provide care for an older family member whose needs range from basic household maintenance to 24-hour care. Those who serve aging families exclusively or work with multigenerational families face the challenges of inaccurate and/or incomplete information, confusing and unreachable services, and uncertainty about managing stress and ways to foster resilience within multigenerational family systems. Thus, the purpose of this article is to highlight the prevalence of age-associated cognitive changes and how they relate to the short- and long-term family resilience processes. More specifically, this article is directed to orient practitioners to the critical roles caregivers play, and individual, relational, and sociological dynamics of cognition, care, and resilience are discussed. The authors provide an overview of assumptions and outcomes related to caregiving, as well as considerations for care recipients, including personhood and empowerment. Finally, because practitioners become a key ingredient in navigating the normative and nonnormative processes of aging, the authors provide a checklist of relational processes to focus on when working with aging families, along with specific recommendations for practice for family life educators and marriage and family therapists

Phylogeography of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> in the Country of Georgia Shows Evidence of Population Structuring and Is Dissimilar to Other Regional Genotypes

<div><p>Sequence analyses and subtyping of <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> strains from Georgia reveal a single distinct lineage (Aust94) that is ecologically established. Phylogeographic analysis and comparisons to a global collection reveals a clade that is mostly restricted to Georgia. Within this clade, many groups are found around the country, however at least one subclade is only found in the eastern part. This pattern suggests that dispersal into and out of Georgia has been rare and despite historical dispersion within the country, for at least for one lineage, current spread is limited.</p></div

<i>Bacillus anthracis</i> phylogenetics in Georgia.

<p>A) Established phylogeny of <i>B. anthracis </i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102651#pone.0102651-Pearson1" target="_blank">[2]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102651#pone.0102651-Price1" target="_blank">[6]</a>–<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0102651#pone.0102651-VanErt1" target="_blank">[8]</a>. Terminal subgroups representing sequenced strains are shown as stars, and intervening nodes representing collapsed branches appear as circles. The highlighted yellow box (part of the Aust94 lineage) indicate the phylogenetic location of Georgian strains. Stars within the highlighted yellow area represent the three Georgian strains sequenced for this study. The number of Georgian strains is indicated in red. B) Expansion of the Aust94 group and canSNP subgroups within the Georgian lineage. The number and origin of isolates are shown for each node and stars or red arrows indicate the locations of the sequenced strains. Shapes of nodes correspond to geographic location. (C) Phylogeography of 272 <i>B. anthracis</i> isolates falling in the Aust94 group are mapped across the country of Georgia at a district level. The heat map legend indicates the number of isolates per subgroup found in a given district.</p

Melt-MAMA primers targeting canonical SNPs for 8 new phylogenetic branches discovered in this study^a.

a<p>Melt-MAMA, melt-mismatch amplification mutation assay; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; con, concentration.</p>b<p>Ames Ancestor reference genome (NC_006570).</p>c<p>SNP states are presented according to the top strand in the Ames ancestor AE017334 D: Derived SNP state; A: Ancestral SNP state.</p>d<p>Melt-mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA), A: Ancestral; D: Derived; C: Common. Primer tails and antepenultimate or penultimate mismatch bases are in lower case.</p>e<p>Final concentratinon of each primer in Melt-MAMA genotyping assays.</p