Epidemiology, geographical distribution, and economic consequences of swine zoonoses: a narrative review

We sought to review the epidemiology, international geographical distribution, and economic consequences of selected swine zoonoses. We performed literature searches in two stages. First, we identified the zoonotic pathogens associated with swine. Second, we identified specific swine-associated zoonotic pathogen reports for those pathogens from January 1980 to October 2012. Swine-associated emerging diseases were more prevalent in the countries of North America, South America, and Europe. Multiple factors were associated with the increase of swine zoonoses in humans including: the density of pigs, poor water sources and environmental conditions for swine husbandry, the transmissibility of the pathogen, occupational exposure to pigs, poor human sanitation, and personal hygiene. Swine zoonoses often lead to severe economic consequences related to the threat of novel pathogens to humans, drop in public demand for pork, forced culling of swine herds, and international trade sanctions. Due to the complexity of swine-associated pathogen ecology, designing effective interventions for early detection of disease, their prevention, and mitigation requires an interdisciplinary collaborative ‘‘One Health’’ approach from veterinarians, environmental and public health professionals, and the swine industry

Nucleoside-Diphosphate-Kinase of P. gingivalis is Secreted from Epithelial Cells In the Absence of a Leader Sequence Through a Pannexin-1 Interactome

Nucleoside-diphosphate-kinases (NDKs) are leaderless, multifunctional enzymes. The mode(s) of NDK secretion is currently undefined, while extracellular translocation of bacterial NDKs is critical for avoidance of host pathogen clearance by opportunistic pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis. P. gingivalis-NDK during infection inhibits extracellular-ATP (eATP)/P2X7-receptor mediated cell death in gingival epithelial cells (GECs) via eATP hydrolysis. Furthermore, depletion of pannexin-1-hemichannel (PNX1) coupled with P2X7-receptor blocks the infection-induced eATP release in GECs, and P. gingivalis-NDK impacts this pathway. Ultrastructural and confocal microscopy of P. gingivalis-co-cultured GECs or green-fluorescent-protein (GFP)-P. gingivalis-NDK transfected GECs revealed a perinuclear/cytoplasmic localization of NDK. eATP stimulation induced NDK recruitment to the cell periphery. Depletion of PNX1 by siRNA or inhibition by probenecid resulted in significant blocking of extracellular NDK activity and secretion using ATPase and ELISA assays. Co-immunoprecipitation-coupled Mass-spectrometry method revealed association of P. gingivalis-NDK to the myosin-9 motor molecule. Interestingly, inhibition of myosin-9, actin, and lipid-rafts, shown to be involved in PNX1-hemichannel function, resulted in marked intracellular accumulation of NDK and decreased NDK secretion from infected GECs. These results elucidate for the first time PNX1-hemichannels as potentially main extracellular translocation pathway for NDKs from an intracellular pathogen, suggesting that PNX1-hemichannels may represent a therapeutic target for chronic opportunistic infections

Diagnostic challenges in a patient with cognitive and motor disturbances: is it Huntington's disease?

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities usually during their prime working years and there is no cure. HD is known as the quintessential family disease because every child of a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the faulty gene. Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 to 50, and worsen over a 10- to 25-year period. Ultimately, the weakened individual succumbs to pneumonia, heart failure or other complications. Everyone has the gene that causes HD, but only those that inherit the expansion of the gene will develop HD and perhaps pass it on to each of their children. Every person who inherits the expanded HD gene will eventually develop the disease. Over time, HD affects the individual’s ability to reason, walk and speak. Hereby, we describe the case of a 35-year-old patient with HD presenting with cognitive and motor disturbances to underline the diagnostic challenges and differential diagnostic options.

NLRX1 modulates differentially NLRP3 inflammasome activation and NF-κB signaling during Fusobacterium nucleatum infection

NOD-like receptors (NLRs) play a large role in regulation of host innate immunity, yet their role in periodontitis remains to be defined. NLRX1, a member of the NLR family that localizes to mitochondria, enhances mitochondrial ROS (mROS) generation. mROS can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, yet the role of NLRX1 in NLRP3 inflammasome activation has not been examined. In this study, we revealed the mechanism by which NLRX1 positively regulates ATP-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation through mROS in gingival epithelial cells (GECs). We found that depletion of NLRX1 by shRNA attenuated ATP-induced mROS generation and redistribution of the NLRP3 inflammasome adaptor protein, ASC. Furthermore, depletion of NLRX1 inhibited Fusobacterium nucleatum infection-activated caspase-1, suggesting that it also inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome. Conversely, NLRX1 also acted as a negative regulator of NF-κB signaling and IL-8 expression. Thus, NLRX1 stimulates detection of the pathogen F. nucleatum via the inflammasome, while dampening cytokine production. We expect that commensals should not activate the inflammasome, and NLRX1 should decrease their ability to stimulate expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8. Therefore, NLRX1 may act as a potential switch with regards to anti-microbial responses in healthy or diseased states in the oral cavity

Gurzil

Divinité chez les Laguatan* de Tripolitaine d’après Corippe (Johan., V, 22-26). Au moment d’engager le combat, les Laguatan lâchaient sur l’ennemi un taureau représentant leur dieu Gurzil. Ce dieu était né de l’accouplement du dieu Amon*, sans doute celui de Siwa*, et d’une vache. Cette divinité jouissait d’un culte organisé qui semble avoir dépassé celui qui était rendu aux dieux locaux africains ou aux simples génies*. Corippe mentionne, en effet, chez les Laguatan, la présence d’idoles en ..

Comparative Pathogenesis of an Avian H5N2 and a Swine H1N1 Influenza Virus in Pigs

Pigs are considered intermediate hosts for the transmission of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) to humans but the basic organ pathogenesis of AIVs in pigs has been barely studied. We have used 42 four-week-old influenza naive pigs and two different inoculation routes (intranasal and intratracheal) to compare the pathogenesis of a low pathogenic (LP) H5N2 AIV with that of an H1N1 swine influenza virus. The respiratory tract and selected extra-respiratory tissues were examined for virus replication by titration, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR throughout the course of infection. Both viruses caused a productive infection of the entire respiratory tract and epithelial cells in the lungs were the major target. Compared to the swine virus, the AIV produced lower virus titers and fewer antigen positive cells at all levels of the respiratory tract. The respiratory part of the nasal mucosa in particular showed only rare AIV positive cells and this was associated with reduced nasal shedding of the avian compared to the swine virus. The titers and distribution of the AIV varied extremely between individual pigs and were strongly affected by the route of inoculation. Gross lung lesions and clinical signs were milder with the avian than with the swine virus, corresponding with lower viral loads in the lungs. The brainstem was the single extra-respiratory tissue found positive for virus and viral RNA with both viruses. Our data do not reject the theory of the pig as an intermediate host for AIVs, but they suggest that AIVs need to undergo genetic changes to establish full replication potential in pigs. From a biomedical perspective, experimental LP H5 AIV infection of pigs may be useful to examine heterologous protection provided by H5 vaccines or other immunization strategies, as well as for further studies on the molecular pathogenesis and neurotropism of AIVs in mammals

Interactions between porcine respiratory coronavirus and bacterial cell wall toxins in the lungs of pigs

Since porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) has spread in the swine population worldwide. Although uncomplicated infections pass undetected or with mild clinical symptoms, PRCV is a well-known factor in the development of the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC). Previous research has suggested a role for bacterial cell wall toxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), as secondary agents involved in PRDC. A variety of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumour necrosis factor

Organizational learning in a remote working environment

Organizations are existing in constantly changing environments which require them to be flexible and adaptive to be able to persevere and develop further. One of the ways of utilizing change in order to generate organizational advancement is through organizational learning. Moreover, one of the biggest drivers of organizational learning processes are crisis situations. In the last decade, one of the biggest crisis situations for both organizations and individuals has been the COVID-19 pandemic. It has forced organizations to reorganize work practices due to government-imposed restrictions, introducing remote working and reliance on digital technology on a scale never seen before. This new reality has had many influences on organizational life and provides a need for better understanding of its consequences. The objective of this master thesis is to aid in this process with focusing on the area of overlap between organizational learning and remote working. With this in mind, this master thesis explores the following research question “What consequences does remote working have for organizational learning?”. The study is based on data gathered through 12 interviews with consultants and specialists at NAV Kontaktsenter. As a pilar of the welfare-state, NAV has had an important role during the pandemic, with high public expectations regarding adaptability and reliability. Secondary data gathered through reviewing internal documents and statistics to provide more context for the findings of the study. This master thesis reviews the ways in which remote working has influenced different aspects of organizational learning through the Organizational Learning framework devised by Lyman et al. (2019). The different aspects are divided into contextual factors, mechanisms associated with organizational learning and outcomes of organizational learning. This study has found that the changes in work mode have had positive consequences at the individual level with members becoming more self-reliant and employing practices for deliberate learning, which in turn has led to developing task-related skills. At the group level, the study has found negative implications for interactions, developing relationships, and learning through observation and listening in on conversations. Despite this, the study has found that learning at the organizational level has been ensured through developing new systems, routines, and infrastructure to counteract the new IV working situation. The overall results point to the fact that remote working has not had a negative effect on organizational learning as the organization has managed to fulfil its desired outcomes