Anti–Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Antibodies in Antiphospholipid Antibody–Positive Patients: Results From the Antiphospholipid Syndrome Alliance for Clinical Trials and InternatiOnal Networking Clinical Database and Repository

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to elucidate the presence, antigen specificities, and potential clinical associations of anti–neutrophil extracellular trap (anti-NET) antibodies in a multinational cohort of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody–positive patients who did not have lupus. METHODS: Anti-NET IgG/IgM levels were measured in serum samples from 389 aPL-positive patients; 308 patients met the classification criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome. Multivariate logistic regression with best variable model selection was used to determine clinical associations. For a subset of the patients (n = 214), we profiled autoantibodies using an autoantigen microarray platform. RESULTS: We found elevated levels of anti-NET IgG and/or IgM in 45% of the aPL-positive patients. High anti-NET antibody levels are associated with more circulating myeloperoxidase (MPO)–DNA complexes, which are a biomarker of NETs. When considering clinical manifestations, positive anti-NET IgG was associated with lesions affecting the white matter of the brain, even after adjusting for demographic variables and aPL profiles. Anti-NET IgM tracked with complement consumption after controlling for aPL profiles; furthermore, patient serum samples containing high levels of anti-NET IgM efficiently deposited complement C3d on NETs. As determined by autoantigen microarray, positive testing for anti-NET IgG was significantly associated with several autoantibodies, including those recognizing citrullinated histones, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, laminin, MPO–DNA complexes, and nucleosomes. Anti-NET IgM positivity was associated with autoantibodies targeting single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. CONCLUSION: These data reveal high levels of anti-NET antibodies in 45% of aPL-positive patients, where they potentially activate the complement cascade. While anti-NET IgM may especially recognize DNA in NETs, anti-NET IgG species appear to be more likely to target NET-associated protein antigens

Tracking data highlight the importance of human-induced mortality for large migratory birds at a flyway scale

Human-induced direct mortality affects huge numbers of birds each year, threatening hundreds of species worldwide. Tracking technologies can be an important tool to investigate temporal and spatial patterns of bird mortality as well as their drivers. We compiled 1704 mortality records from tracking studies across the African-Eurasian flyway for 45 species, including raptors, storks, and cranes, covering the period from 2003 to 2021. Our results show a higher frequency of human-induced causes of mortality than natural causes across taxonomic groups, geographical areas, and age classes. Moreover, we found that the frequency of human-induced mortality remained stable over the study period. From the human-induced mortality events with a known cause (n = 637), three main causes were identified: electrocution (40.5 %), illegal killing (21.7 %), and poisoning (16.3 %). Additionally, combined energy infrastructure-related mortality (i.e., electrocution, power line collision, and wind-farm collision) represented 49 % of all human-induced mortality events. Using a random forest model, the main predictors of human-induced mortality were found to be taxonomic group, geographic location (latitude and longitude), and human footprint index value at the location of mortality. Despite conservation efforts, human drivers of bird mortality in the African-Eurasian flyway do not appear to have declined over the last 15 years for the studied group of species. Results suggest that stronger conservation actions to address these threats across the flyway can reduce their impacts on species. In particular, projected future development of energy infrastructure is a representative example where application of planning, operation, and mitigation measures can enhance bird conservation

Варшавское восстание 1944 г. / М. Кметова, М. Сырны

After the German campaign at the beginning of World War II (1939), Poland was divided between nazi Germany which occupied the west and center of the country, and the Soviet Union which occupying the Eastern regions. The controversial relationship with Moscow has seen several diametrical breaks from a positive alliance after the invasion of the Soviet Union by the Axis powers in 1941, to a very critical relationship with the USSR after the revelation of the so-called Katyn massacre in 1943. With the approach of the Eastern Front to the frontiers of pre-war Poland, massive Polish Resistance was also activated to get rid of nazi domination and to restore of pre-war Poland. The neutralization of possible claims by the Soviets on the disputed eastern areas (Western Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania), respectively to prevent the crushing sovietization of Poland, it was also intended to serve a clear and world-wide resistance act in the sense of liberating at least Warsaw from the German occupation. This was to prevent the repeat of the situation in the east of the country, where the Red Army and the Soviet authorities overlooked the merits and interests of the Polish Resistance and Polish authorities. The contribution will therefore focus on the analysis of the causes, assumptions, course and consequences of the ultimate outcome of the unsuccessful efforts of the Armia Krajowa and the Warsaw inhabitants to liberate the city on their own and to determine the free post-war existence of the country.После начала немецкой кампании во Второй мировой войне (1939) Польша была разделена между нацистской Германией, оккупировавшей запад и центр страны, и СССР, занявшим восточные районы. В годы Второй мировой войны отношения Польши с Москвой были нестабильными. С приближением Восточного фронта к границам довоенной Польши массовое польское Сопротивление активизировалось, стремясь избавиться от господства нацистов и восстановить былую территорию страны. Освобождение силами Сопротивления хотя бы Варшавы могло способствовать нейтрализации возможных претензий Советского Союза на спорные восточные районы (Западная Украина, Беларусь, Литва), предотвращению полной советизации Польши, а также не допустить повторение ситуации на востоке страны, где Красная Армия и представители советской власти не обращали внимания на заслуги и интересы польского Сопротивления и польских властей. Анализируются причины, ход и последствия неудавшихся попыток Армии крайовой и жителей Варшавы самостоятельно освободить город и тем самым создать условия для свободного послевоенного существования страны

Virulence and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from rooks

With regard to antibiotic resistance studies in various model animals in the urban environment, the presented study focused on the rook, many behavioural and ecological aspects of which are important from an epidemiological point of view. A total of 130 Escherichia coli strains isolated from rook faeces during a two-year period (2011–2012) were investigated for antibiotic resistance and virulence. Resistance to ampicillin (60%) and streptomycin (40%) were the most frequent, followed by resistance to fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin-22% and enrofloxacin-24%), tetracycline (18%), cotrimoxazol (17%) and florfenicol (14%). Ceftiofur resistance occured in 10.7 % of strains and cefquinom resistance in 1.5 % of strains. Twenty-five E.coli strains with a higher level of MICs of cephalosporins (over 2mg/L of ceftazidime and ceftriaxon) and fluoroquinolones were selected for detection of betalactamase genes (CTX-M, CMY), plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance qnrS, integrase 1, and for APEC (avian pathogenic E.coli) virulence factors (iutA, cvaC, iss, tsh, ibeA, papC, kpsII). Genes of CTX-M1, CMY-2, integrase 1, papC, cvaC, iutA were detected in one strain of E.coli, and qnrS, integrase 1, iss, cvaC, tsh were detected in another E.coli. DNA microarray revealed the absence of verotoxin and enterotoxin genes and pathogenicity islands. The results show that rooks can serve as a reservoir of antibiotic-resistant E. coli with avian pathogenic virulence factors for the human population, and potentially transmit such E.coli over long distances

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases in Escherichia coli from municipal wastewater

Introduction and objective Over the past decades, awareness of the environmental load of resistant organisms has increased. The presented paper focuses on antibiotic resistance and detection of resistance genes in environmental E. coli and on the evaluation of biofilm formation in ESBLs (extended spectrum beta-lactamase) producing E. coli isolated from an urban wastewater treatment plant. Material and Methods Wastewater samples and artificially added polystyrene pellets were used as the source for E. coli isolation. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of 19 antibiotics were determined according to CLSI (2013). Biofilm formation was investigated by crystal violet or resazurin methods. CTX-M, carbapenemases, qnrS, mobile elements and virulence factors were determined by PCR. Clonal relatedness of strains was detected by principal component analysis by a Maldi biotyper. Results ESBL phenotype was detected in 26% of environmental strains. CTX-M, CMY-2 and qnrS genes of antibiotic resistance were detected. IMP gene together with integron 1 in one ertapenem resistant E. coli was also recorded. There was no evident correlation between antibiotic resistance, virulence and biofilm production. Conclusions Conclusions. The results showed that the wastewater is a source of ESBLs, carbapenemases and plasmid fluoroquinolone resistance. Strains with biofilm production, antibiotic resistance of CTX-M group, CMY-2, qnrS genes and virulence factors present a potential environmental health risk

Antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from a poultry slaughterhouse

The aim of the study was to investigate the antibiotic resistant E. coli strains isolated from bioaerosols and surface swabs in a slaughterhouse as a possible source of poultry meat contamination. The highest air coliforms contamination was during shackling, killing and evisceration of poultry. The strains showed resistance to ampicillin (89%), ceftiofur (62%) and cefquinome (22%), while resistance to ampicillin with sulbactam was only 6%. Resistance to streptomycin and gentamicin was detected in 43% vs. 14% isolates; to tetracycline 33%; to chloramphenicol and florfenicol in 10% vs. 18% isolates; to cotrimoxazol in 35% isolates; to enrofloxacin in 43 % isolates. The higher MIC of ceftazidime (3.6 mg.l-1) and ceftriaxon (5.2 mg.l-1) revealed the presence of ESBLs in 43% of isolates. From 19 selected phenotypically ESBL positive strains, 16 consisted of CMY-2 genes, while CTX-M genes were not detected by PCR. Maldi tof analysis of selected E. coli showed a clear clonal relatedness of environmental strains from various withdrawals