OXSR1 inhibits inflammasome activation by limiting potassium efflux during mycobacterial infection.

Pathogenic mycobacteria inhibit inflammasome activation to establish infection. Although it is known that potassium efflux is a trigger for inflammasome activation, the interaction between mycobacterial infection, potassium efflux, and inflammasome activation has not been investigated. Here, we use Mycobacterium marinum infection of zebrafish embryos and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of THP-1 cells to demonstrate that pathogenic mycobacteria up-regulate the host WNK signalling pathway kinases SPAK and OXSR1 which control intracellular potassium balance. We show that genetic depletion or inhibition of OXSR1 decreases bacterial burden and intracellular potassium levels. The protective effects of OXSR1 depletion are at least partially mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome activation, caspase-mediated release of IL-1β, and downstream activation of protective TNF-α. The elucidation of this druggable pathway to potentiate inflammasome activation provides a new avenue for the development of host-directed therapies against intracellular infections

First Records of Net-winged Midges (Diptera: Blephariceridae) from Papua New Guinea, with Description of a New Species

Curupirina papuana sp. n. and an unnamed species of a probably new genus of Apistomyiini (Diptera:Blephariceridae) are described from the Ok Tedi, a tributary of the Fly River, Papua New Guinea. This is the first report of the family from the island; its zoogeographical significance is discussed with reference to the long-presumed role of the island in the evolution and disperal of the tribe Apistomyiini

Measuring fish catch and consumption: Practical methods for small‐scale fisheries based on length as an alternative to weight‐based approaches

Small-scale fisheries are recognised as making important contributions to nutrition and economic development despite a lack of accurate quantitative information on catches and consumption. While direct measurement remains the most appropriate way of collecting such data, it is impractical at large scales. Instead, household surveys based upon informant recall of fish caught and/or consumed are frequently used. However, the accuracy of weight recall by informants (even over short recall periods) has not been established. Using data from household surveys, the accuracy and precision of catch and consumption estimates derived from: (a) asking informants to recall weights of fish caught and (b) asking respondents to recall lengths of fish caught and converting to weight were tested. Length-based methods, using visual aids to assist recall, were more accurate, precise and correctable. These methods could be useful for catch estimation, especially where fish are processed, sold or consumed shortly after capture

Analysis of mycobacterial infection-induced changes to host lipid metabolism in a zebrafish infection model reveals a conserved role for LDLR in infection susceptibility.

Changes to lipid metabolism are well-characterised consequences of human tuberculosis infection but their functional relevance are not clearly elucidated in these or other host-mycobacterial systems. The zebrafish-Mycobacterium marinum infection model is used extensively to model many aspects of human-M. tuberculosis pathogenesis but has not been widely used to study the role of infection-induced lipid metabolism. We find mammalian mycobacterial infection-induced alterations in host Low Density Lipoprotein metabolism are conserved in the zebrafish model of mycobacterial pathogenesis. Depletion of LDLR, a key lipid metabolism node, decreased M. marinum burden, and corrected infection-induced altered lipid metabolism resulting in decreased LDL and reduced the rate of macrophage transformation into foam cells. Our results demonstrate a conserved role for infection-induced alterations to host lipid metabolism, and specifically the LDL-LDLR axis, across host-mycobacterial species pairings

Well-based Monitoring Schemes for the South West Hub Project, Western Australia

The South West Hub CCS project (SW Hub) in Western Australia is proceeding to reduce uncertainties related to injectivity, capacity and containment through a well drilling, coring and logging program. This study provides reviews of well designs for in situ tests and well-based monitoring methods at CO2 storage sites. Wells are expensive and complex engineering undertakings, and their design including size, geometry and materials, greatly impacts on the type of data that can be collected and techniques for monitoring that can be performed at a site. There is no ‘one size-fits-all’ monitoring well, but there is a tool-box or ensemble of solutions that can achieve a broad range of relevant monitoring objectives given constraints of site characteristics and budgetary limitations. For the SW Hub, a multi-well, multi-use and multi-completion monitoring scheme is proposed that combines the benefit of four different types of monitoring wells in addition to equipping the injector: 1) a well completed in the reservoir for conformance monitoring with additional completion above the storage complex, 2) a well completed above the confining layer for ensuring containment, 3) a well completed in the reservoir in the vicinity of an identified fault for monitoring potential across-fault migration and fault re-activation risks and 4) a well for fault leakage surveillance above the storage complex

Understanding barotrauma in fish passing hydro structures: a global strategy for sustainable development of water resources

CGIAR Research program on water, land and ecosystems:uniting agriculture and nature for poverty reduction Freshwater fishes are one of the most imperiled groups of vertebrates, and population declines are alarming in terms of biodiversity and to communities that rely on fisheries for their livelihood and nutrition. One activity associated with declines in freshwater fish populations is water resource development, including dams, weirs, and hydropower facilities. Fish passing through irrigation and hydro infrastructures during downstream migration experience a rapid decrease in pressure, which can lead to injuries (barotrauma) that contribute to mortality. There is renewed initiative to expand hydropower and irrigation infrastructure to improve water security and increase low-carbon energy generation. The impact of barotrauma on fish must be understood and mitigated to ensure that development is sustainable for fisheries. This will involve taking steps to expand the knowledge of barotrauma-related injury from its current focus, mainly on seaward-migrating juvenile salmonids of the Pacific Northwest, to incorporate a greater diversity of fish species and life stages from many parts of the world. This article summarizes research that has examined barotrauma during fish passage and articulates a research framework to promote a standardized, global approach. The suggested approach provides clearly defined links to adaptive development of fish friendly technologies, aimed at mitigating the threats faced by global freshwater fisheries from the rapid expansion of water infrastructure