Khalas!: Institutionalized SWANA Erasure, Resilience, and Resistance In Higher Education

The question of SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) diasporic identity formation has been widely debated in area studies, ethnic studies, and the burgeoning field of Arab American Studies with scholars such as Sarah Gualtieri (2009), Nadine Naber (2012), and Neda Maghbouleh (2017) arguing that people of SWANA descent are racial minorities even though the U.S. government classifies them as white.  However, these works have not adequately addressed SWANA racialization in the context of higher education following 9/11.  This co-authored paper closely examines institutionalized SWANA erasure from the shared intersectional perspective of one faculty member, one graduate student, and two undergraduate students at a California State University campus in Southern California.  Specifically, in this co-authored paper, we draw on our individual and collective co-organizing experiences to illustrate (a) the persistence of specific structural inequities that SWANA heritage people face in the academy, (b) the multilayered impact of these educational barriers, and (c) our wide range of ongoing activist responses to them.  We say “khalas!” (enough!) to systemic oppression and argue that the ultimate antidote to institutionalized SWANA erasure is solidarity within and between marginalized subjects at every level of academia in the service of anti-racist education.  In conclusion, this co-authored paper uplifts SWANA resilience and resistance in California’s most diverse public university system to shed new light on the understudied issue of how higher education perpetuates SWANA racialization.&nbsp

Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium in animal and human isolates from Jordan

Little is known about the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium in Jordan and to date, only one genotyping study has been conducted on Cryptosporidium isolates from Jordanian children. In the present study, a total of 284 faecal samples from Jordanian cattle, sheep, goats and chicken and 48 human faecal samples were screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium using an 18S quantitative PCR (qPCR) and a C. parvum/C. hominis specific qPCR at a lectin locus. Of these, 37 of 284 animal faecal samples were positive by qPCR at the 18S locus giving an overall prevalence of 11.6%. The point prevalence of Cryptosporidium in chickens, sheep, horses, cattle and goats ranged from 4.8% (chickens) to 18.7% (cattle). A total of six species were detected; C xiaoi (n = 9), C andersoni (n = 7), C ryanae (n = 5), C. parvum (n = 4), C baileyi (n =1) and a genetically distinct and potentially novel species in two isolates from horses. Sub-genotype analysis of the 4 C. parvum isolates at the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) locus identified subtype IlaA19G2R1 (n=2) and IIaA16GR1 (n=2). For the human samples, 4 positives (8.3% prevalence) were detected. Of these, two were C. parvum (subtypes IldA20G1 and IIaA15G2R1) and two were C hominis (subtypes 1bA9G3 and 1bA10G2R2). Further studies are required to better understand the epidemiology and transmission of Cryptosporidium in Jordan

Prevalence of Giardia Assemblages Among Equines in Jordan

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 equine holding (326 horses and 74 donkeys) samples to determine the prevalence of Giardia assemblages A, B, and E in Jordan. Identifying the Giardia assemblages was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a screening test and PCR-RFLP targeting β-giardin loci. In addition, polymerase chain reaction targeting triose phosphate isomerase gene specific for assemblages A and B were used as confirmatory. Thirty-four samples tested positive by ELISA for Giardia with an apparent prevalence of 8.5%. The PCR-RFLP test confirmed Giardia assemblages in 30 of the 34 ELISA-positive samples giving a true prevalence of 7.7% (95% confidence interval: 4.8–10.1). Of the 30 positive animals/holdings, 18, 4, and 8 had assemblages A, B, and E. Assemblage A was significantly (P < .05) more prevalent when compared to assemblages B and E. The total infection rates of Giardia, assemblages B and E were significantly (P < .05, chi-square) higher in donkeys 14.8%, 2.7%, and 5.5% compared to horses 5.8%, 0.6%, and 1.2%, respectively. Analysis of risk factors revealed that only season was significantly associated with the different Giardia assemblages. Autumn (odds ratio [OR] = 0.09) was associated with Giardia infection regardless of the assemblage type as reducing factor. The odds of infection of assemblages A and E increased in winter (OR = 6.8) and spring (OR = 4.5), respectively. Giardia assemblages A, B, and E infect both horses and donkeys in Jordan with potential impact on human and animal health, and the odds of infections is significantly associated with season

Modelling habitat suitability in Jordan for the cutaneous leishmaniasis vector (Phlebotomus papatasi) using multicriteria decision analysis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a zoonotic vector-borne neglected tropical disease transmitted by female Phlebotomine sand flies. It is distributed globally but a large proportion of cases (70–75%) are found in just ten countries. CL is endemic in Jordan yet there is a lack of robust entomological data and true reporting status is unknown. This study aimed to map habitat suitability of the main CL vector, Phlebotomus papatasi, in Jordan as a proxy for CL risk distribution to (i) identify areas potentially at risk of CL and (ii) estimate the human population at risk of CL. A literature review identified potential environmental determinants for P. papatasi occurrence including temperature, humidity, precipitation, vegetation, wind speed, presence of human households and presence of the fat sand rat. Each predictor variable was (a) mapped; (b) standardized to a common size, resolution and scale using fuzzy membership functions; (c) assigned a weight using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP); and (d) included within a multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) model to produce monthly maps illustrating the predicted habitat suitability (between 0 and 1) for P. papatasi in Jordan. Suitability increased over the summer months and was generally highest in the north-western regions of the country and along the Jordan Valley, areas which largely coincided with highly populated parts of the country, including areas where Syrian refugee camps are located. Habitat suitability in Jordan for the main CL vector—P. papatasi—was heterogeneous over both space and time. Suitable areas for P. papatasi coincided with highly populated areas of Jordan which suggests that the targeted implementation of control and surveillance strategies in defined areas such as those with very high CL vector suitability (>0.9 suitability) would focus only on 3.42% of the country’s total geographic area, whilst still including a substantial proportion of the population at risk: estimates range from 72% (European Commission’s Global Human Settlement population grid) to 89% (Gridded Population of the World) depending on the human population density data used. Therefore, high impact public health interventions could be achieved within a reduced spatial target, thus maximizing the efficient use of resources

Influence of PST and PHF heating conditions on the swirl flow of Al+Mg+TiO2 ternary hybrid water-ethylene glycol based nanofluid with a rotating cone

Swirl flow heat exchangers are commonly used in industrial processes such as power generation, chemical processing, and refrigeration. They can be used for both heating and cooling applications and can be designed to handle a wide range of fluid flow rates and temperatures. This study investigated the influence of PST (prescribed surface temperature) and PHF (prescribed heat flux) heating conditions on the swirl flow of Al+Mg+TiO2 ternary hybrid water-ethylene glycol (50/50) based nanofluid with a heated rotating cone. The governing ordinary differential equations were derived from the partial differential equations using the proper similarity transformations. The problem was solved using the Shifted Legendre Collocation Method (SLCM), which is a powerful numerical method. The results showed that the PST heating conditions had a significant impact on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the ternary hybrid nanofluid. Under PHF heating conditions, the swirl velocity distribution was leading to a noteworthy influence. The use of the Al+Mg+TiO2 ternary hybrid water-ethylene glycol based nanofluid resulted in a significant enhancement in the convective heat transfer coefficient. The SLCM method provided accurate and efficient numerical solutions for the problem, demonstrating its suitability for simulating complex fluid flow and heat transfer problems

Expression plasticity of Phlebotomus papatasi salivary gland genes in distinct ecotopes through the sand fly season

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sand fly saliva can drive the outcome of <it>Leishmania </it>infection in animal models, and salivary components have been postulated as vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis. In the sand fly <it>Phlebotomus papatasi</it>, natural sugar-sources modulate the activity of proteins involved in meal digestion, and possibly influence vectorial capacity. However, only a handful of studies have assessed the variability of salivary components in sand flies, focusing on the effects of environmental factors in natural habitats. In order to better understand such interactions, we compared the expression profiles of nine <it>P. papatasi </it>salivary gland genes of specimens inhabiting different ecological habitats in Egypt and Jordan and throughout the sand fly season in each habitat.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The majority of investigated genes were up-regulated in specimens from Swaymeh late in the season, when the availability of sugar sources is reduced due to water deprivation. On the other hand, these genes were not up-regulated in specimens collected from Aswan, an irrigated area less susceptible to drought effects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Expression plasticity of genes involved with vectorial capacity in disease vectors may play an important epidemiological role in the establishment of diseases in natural habitats.</p

Phlebotomus papatasi SP15: mRNA expression variability and amino acid sequence polymorphisms of field populations

Citation: Ramalho-Ortigao, M., Coutinho-Abreu, I. V., Balbino, V. Q., Figueiredo, C. A. S., Mukbel, R., Dayem, H., . . . McDowell, M. A. (2015). Phlebotomus papatasi SP15: mRNA expression variability and amino acid sequence polymorphisms of field populations. Parasites & Vectors, 8, 14. doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0914-2Background: The Phlebotomus papatasi salivary protein PpSP15 was shown to protect mice against Leishmania major, suggesting that incorporation of salivary molecules in multi-component vaccines may be a viable strategy for anti-Leishmania vaccines. Methods: Here, we investigated PpSP15 predicted amino acid sequence variability and mRNA profile of P. papatasi field populations from the Middle East. In addition, predicted MHC class II T-cell epitopes were obtained and compared to areas of amino acid sequence variability within the secreted protein. Results: The analysis of PpSP15 expression from field populations revealed significant intra-and interpopulation variation.. In spite of the variability detected for P. papatasi populations, common epitopes for MHC class II binding are still present and may potentially be used to boost the response against Le. major infections. Conclusions: Conserved epitopes of PpSP15 could potentially be used in the development of a salivary gland antigen-based vaccine.Additional Authors: Lobo, N. F.;Mahon, A. R.;Emrich, S. J.;Kamhawi, S.;Collins, F. H.;McDowell, M. A

Profiling of human acquired immunity against the salivary proteins of Phlebotomus papatasi reveals clusters of differential immunoreactivity

Citation: Geraci, Nicholas S., Rami M. Mukbel, Michael T. Kemp, Mariha N. Wadsworth, Emil Lesho, Gwen M. Stayback, Matthew M. Champion, et al. 2014. “Profiling of Human Acquired Immunity Against the Salivary Proteins of Phlebotomus Papatasi Reveals Clusters of Differential Immunoreactivity.” The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 90 (5): 923–38. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0130.Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies are among the primary vectors of Leishmania major parasites from Morocco to the Indian subcontinent and from southern Europe to central and eastern Africa. Antibody-based immunity to sand fly salivary gland proteins in human populations remains a complex contextual problem that is not yet fully understood. We profiled the immunoreactivities of plasma antibodies to sand fly salivary gland sonicates (SGSs) from 229 human blood donors residing in different regions of sand fly endemicity throughout Jordan and Egypt as well as 69 US military personnel, who were differentially exposed to P. papatasi bites and L. major infections in Iraq. Compared with plasma from control region donors, antibodies were significantly immunoreactive to five salivary proteins (12, 26, 30, 38, and 44 kDa) among Jordanian and Egyptian donors, with immunoglobulin G4 being the dominant anti-SGS isotype. US personnel were significantly immunoreactive to only two salivary proteins (38 and 14 kDa). Using k-means clustering, donors were segregated into four clusters distinguished by unique immunoreactivity profiles to varying combinations of the significantly immunogenic salivary proteins. SGS-induced cellular proliferation was diminished among donors residing in sand fly-endemic regions. These data provide a clearer picture of human immune responses to sand fly vector salivary constituents

Antibody response to sand fly saliva is a marker of transmission intensity but not disease progression in dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum

BACKGROUND: Antibody responses to sand fly saliva have been suggested to be a useful marker of exposure to sand fly bites and Leishmania infection and a potential tool to monitor the effectiveness of entomological interventions. Exposure to sand fly bites before infection has also been suggested to modulate the severity of the infection. Here, we test these hypotheses by quantifying the anti-saliva IgG response in a cohort study of dogs exposed to natural infection with Leishmania infantum in Brazil. METHODS: IgG responses to crude salivary antigens of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis were measured by ELISA in longitudinal serum samples from 47 previously unexposed sentinel dogs and 11 initially uninfected resident dogs for up to 2 years. Antibody responses were compared to the intensity of transmission, assessed by variation in the incidence of infection between seasons and between dogs. Antibody responses before patent infection were then compared with the severity of infection, assessed using tissue parasite loads and clinical symptoms. RESULTS: Previously unexposed dogs acquired anti-saliva antibody responses within 2 months, and the rate of acquisition increased with the intensity of seasonal transmission. Over the following 2 years, antibody responses varied with seasonal transmission and sand fly numbers, declining rapidly in periods of low transmission. Antibody responses varied greatly between dogs and correlated with the intensity of transmission experienced by individual dogs, measured by the number of days in the field before patent infection. After infection, anti-saliva antibody responses were positively correlated with anti-parasite antibody responses. However, there was no evidence that the degree of exposure to sand fly bites before infection affected the severity of the infection. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-saliva antibody responses are a marker of current transmission intensity in dogs exposed to natural infection with Leishmania infantum, but are not associated with the outcome of infection