Intestinal Microbiota Shifts towards Elevated Commensal Escherichia coli Loads Abrogate Colonization Resistance against Campylobacter jejuni in Mice

Background: The zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial foodborne enterocolitis in humans worldwide. The understanding of immunopathology underlying human campylobacteriosis is hampered by the fact that mice display strong colonization resistance against the pathogen due to their host specific gut microbiota composition. Methodology/Principal Findings: Since the microbiota composition changes significantly during intestinal inflammation we dissected factors contributing to colonization resistance against C. jejuni in murine ileitis, colitis and in infant mice. In contrast to healthy animals C. jejuni could stably colonize mice suffering from intestinal inflammation. Strikingly, in mice with Toxoplasma gondii-induced acute ileitis, C. jejuni disseminated to mesenteric lymphnodes, spleen, liver, kidney, and blood. In infant mice C. jejuni infection induced enterocolitis. Mice suffering from intestinal inflammation and C. jejuni susceptible infant mice displayed characteristical microbiota shifts dominated by increased numbers of commensal Escherichia coli. To further dissect the pivotal role of those distinct microbiota shifts in abrogating colonization resistance, we investigated C. jejuni infection in healthy adult mice in which the microbiota was artificially modified by feeding live commensal E. coli. Strikingly, in animals harboring supra-physiological intestinal E. coli loads, colonization resistance was significantly diminished and C. jejuni infection induced enterocolitis mimicking key features of human campylobacteriosis. Conclusion/Significance: Murine colonization resistance against C. jejuni is abrogated by changes in the microbiot

The Public Interest Approach to Gambling Policy and Research

Peer reviewe

All in the family: help-seeking by significant others of problem gamblers

Problem gambling can significantly affect the lives of concerned significant others (CSOs) of problem gamblers, especially family members, but little is known about their help-seeking activities and experiences. This paper explores help-seeking by CSOs of problem gamblers and their related motivators and barriers. A telephone interview was administered to 48 CSOs who called an Australian gambling helpline seeking assistance for themselves and/or a person with gambling problems. Key motivators for seeking help (through helplines, non-professional sources, and self-help measures) were concerns the gambling might become a major problem, negative emotions, problems maintaining normal daily activities, concerns for dependents’ welfare, and health concerns. Barriers included wanting to solve the problem on their own, and shame. Findings highlight the need to better equip CSOs to assist both the person with gambling problems towards treatment and recovery and to protect their own physical, emotional, social and financial wellbeing

Reasons for using web-based counselling among family and friends impacted by problem gambling

Despite the range of free services available in Australia, few family and friends of&nbsp;people with problem gambling access them. Over recent years, the Australian&nbsp;gambling help service system has expanded to include web-based counselling.&nbsp;Family and friends make up approximately 15% of people accessing this new&nbsp;modality, however little is known of the reasons for choosing this form of assistance&nbsp;over other interventions. This research aimed to understand the reasons family and&nbsp;friends choose to use single-session web-based counselling over other modes (i.e.,&nbsp;face-to-face and telephone), as well as why they would recommend it to other&nbsp;affected people. The study involved 63 participants (70% intimate partners, 13%&nbsp;children, 6% friends, 5% parents, 6% other family members) who completed openended&nbsp;questions on reasons for using and recommending web-based counselling,&nbsp;with over three-quarters of the sample seeking help for the first time. A descriptive&nbsp;content analysis revealed multiple overlapping themes, including ease of access&nbsp;(41.3% of reasons for choosing), privacy and anonymity (17.5%), and a preference for&nbsp;the characteristics inherent in the therapeutic medium (23.8%). We also found webbased&nbsp;counselling provided a pathway into services (11.1%) and that the intervention&nbsp;provided was viewed as helpful and a reason for recommendation (34.9% of reasons&nbsp;for recommending). This research provides important new information on the help seeking&nbsp;preferences of family and friends. Future research is required to understand&nbsp;the relationship between reasons for use, help-seeking preferences and the&nbsp;effectiveness of single-session web-based counselling for people affected by problem gambling.</span