Moon Zoo: citizen science in lunar exploration

The Moon Zoo Team describe how citizen scientists can get involved and explore the Moon online

Association between effectiveness of tuberculosis treatment and cytochrome P-4502E1 polymorphism of the patients

Context: The risk of antituberculosis (TB) drug‑induced liver injury could be determined by patients’ genotype polymorphism of the xenobiotic‑metabolizing enzymes. To find the meaning of cytochrome P‑4502E1 (CYP2E1) polymorphism in TB patients. Corresponding of CYP2E1 polymorphism in TB patients with the level of isoniazid and rifampicin as well as for the outcome and toxicity development during inpatient TB treatment. Methods: CYP2E1 genotype was detected with the help of polymerase chain reaction and endonuclease analysis. The level of rifampicin, isoniazid, diene conjugates (DC), and catalase activity in the blood was determined spectrophotometrically. We have considered medical records at the beginning and at the end of inpatient treatment. Statistical Analysis Used: Kruskal–Wallis, ANOVA, and Chi‑square tests were used in this study. Results: The concentration of rifampicin 6 h after its intake was 17.6% higher in carriers of slow metabolizer (SM) CYP2E1 genotype than in patients with rapid metabolizer (RM) genotype that proved a participation of hepatic enzyme CYP2E1 in metabolism of rifampicin. According to obtained results in TB patients with RM genotype, the indexes of cytolysis (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) and bile stasis (gamma‑glutathione transferase) were higher comparatively to SM genotype both before and after inpatient treatment. This correlated with a higher concentration of DC in the blood (+8.6%) and lower plasma catalase activity (−50.0%) in the patients with RM genotype comparatively with the patients with SM genotypes. Conclusion: Polymorphism of CYP2E1 genotype is an important criterion for the development of hepatotoxicity before and during TB treatment while increased rifampicin level has no influence on it

Hepatitis C Virus in people with experience of injection drug use following their displacement to Southern Ukraine before 2020.

Acknowledgements: We acknowledge the assistance of public health workers from the non-governmental organisations “Alliance for Public Health” and “Way Home” in collection of epidemiological and behavioural data and biological samples, and their ongoing efforts of providing preventative measures and infection management to at risk populations in Ukraine. We also express our sincere gratitude towards study participants. We thank Rowena Bull and Chaturaka Rodrigo for their advice with MinION based hepatitis C sequencing protocols.BACKGROUND: Due to practical challenges associated with genetic sequencing in low-resource environments, the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in forcibly displaced people is understudied. We examined the use of field applicable HCV sequencing methods and phylogenetic analysis to determine HCV transmission dynamics in internally displaced people who inject drugs (IDPWID) in Ukraine. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we used modified respondent-driven sampling to recruit IDPWID who were displaced to Odesa, Ukraine, before 2020. We generated partial and near full length genome (NFLG) HCV sequences using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) MinION in a simulated field environment. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods were used to establish phylodynamic relationships. RESULTS: Between June and September 2020, we collected epidemiological data and whole blood samples from 164 IDPWID (PNAS Nexus.2023;2(3):pgad008). Rapid testing (Wondfo® One Step HCV; Wondfo® One Step HIV1/2) identified an anti-HCV seroprevalence of 67.7%, and 31.1% of participants tested positive for both anti-HCV and HIV. We generated 57 partial or NFLG HCV sequences and identified eight transmission clusters, of which at least two originated within a year and a half post-displacement. CONCLUSIONS: Locally generated genomic data and phylogenetic analysis in rapidly changing low-resource environments, such as those faced by forcibly displaced people, can help inform effective public health strategies. For example, evidence of HCV transmission clusters originating soon after displacement highlights the importance of implementing urgent preventive interventions in ongoing situations of forced displacement

Hepatitis C Virus in people with experience of injection drug use following their displacement to Southern Ukraine before 2020.

BackgroundDue to practical challenges associated with genetic sequencing in low-resource environments, the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in forcibly displaced people is understudied. We examined the use of field applicable HCV sequencing methods and phylogenetic analysis to determine HCV transmission dynamics in internally displaced people who inject drugs (IDPWID) in Ukraine.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we used modified respondent-driven sampling to recruit IDPWID who were displaced to Odesa, Ukraine, before 2020. We generated partial and near full length genome (NFLG) HCV sequences using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) MinION in a simulated field environment. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods were used to establish phylodynamic relationships.ResultsBetween June and September 2020, we collected epidemiological data and whole blood samples from 164 IDPWID (PNAS Nexus.2023;2(3):pgad008). Rapid testing (Wondfo® One Step HCV; Wondfo® One Step HIV1/2) identified an anti-HCV seroprevalence of 67.7%, and 31.1% of participants tested positive for both anti-HCV and HIV. We generated 57 partial or NFLG HCV sequences and identified eight transmission clusters, of which at least two originated within a year and a half post-displacement.ConclusionsLocally generated genomic data and phylogenetic analysis in rapidly changing low-resource environments, such as those faced by forcibly displaced people, can help inform effective public health strategies. For example, evidence of HCV transmission clusters originating soon after displacement highlights the importance of implementing urgent preventive interventions in ongoing situations of forced displacement

Hepatitis C Virus in people with experience of injection drug use following their displacement to Southern Ukraine before 2020

Abstract Background Due to practical challenges associated with genetic sequencing in low-resource environments, the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in forcibly displaced people is understudied. We examined the use of field applicable HCV sequencing methods and phylogenetic analysis to determine HCV transmission dynamics in internally displaced people who inject drugs (IDPWID) in Ukraine. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we used modified respondent-driven sampling to recruit IDPWID who were displaced to Odesa, Ukraine, before 2020. We generated partial and near full length genome (NFLG) HCV sequences using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) MinION in a simulated field environment. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods were used to establish phylodynamic relationships. Results Between June and September 2020, we collected epidemiological data and whole blood samples from 164 IDPWID (PNAS Nexus.2023;2(3):pgad008). Rapid testing (Wondfo® One Step HCV; Wondfo® One Step HIV1/2) identified an anti-HCV seroprevalence of 67.7%, and 31.1% of participants tested positive for both anti-HCV and HIV. We generated 57 partial or NFLG HCV sequences and identified eight transmission clusters, of which at least two originated within a year and a half post-displacement. Conclusions Locally generated genomic data and phylogenetic analysis in rapidly changing low-resource environments, such as those faced by forcibly displaced people, can help inform effective public health strategies. For example, evidence of HCV transmission clusters originating soon after displacement highlights the importance of implementing urgent preventive interventions in ongoing situations of forced displacement

GRAIL gravity constraints on the vertical and lateral density structure of the lunar crust

International audienceWe analyzed data from the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission using a localized admittance approach to map out spatial variations in the vertical density structure of the lunar crust. Mare regions are characterized by a distinct decrease in density with depth, while the farside is characterized by an increase in density with depth at an average gradient of ∼35 kg m −3 km −1 and typical surface porosities of at least 20%. The Apollo 12 and 14 landing site region has a similar density structure to the farside, permitting a comparison with seismic velocity profiles. The interior of the South Pole-Aitken (SP-A) impact basin appears distinct with a near-surface low-density (porous) layer 2-3 times thinner than the rest of the farside. This result suggests that redistribution of material during the large SPA impact likely played a major role in sculpting the lunar crust