Comparative analysis between a low pathogenic and a high pathogenic influenza H5 hemagglutinin in cell entry

Avian influenza viruses continue to threaten globally with pandemic potential. The first step in a potential pandemic is the ability of the virus to enter human cells which is mediated by the viral surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA). Viral entry of influenza is dependent upon the processing of the HA0 polypeptide precursor protein into HA1 and HA2 which is mediated by host cellular proteases. The sequence of the cleavage site which is recognized by host proteases has been linked with pathogenesis of various influenza viruses. Here we examined the effects of cleavage site sequences between a highly pathogenic H5N1 strain and a low pathogenic H5N2 strain to determine their effects on viral entry. From this analysis we determined that at the level of viral entry, the only observed difference between the low and high pathogenic strains is their ability to be cleaved by host cellular proteases

Review of 250 Consecutive Cases of Vaginal Mesh Surgery for Genital Organ Prolapse

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the success and complications of vaginal mesh surgery performed in 250 successive cases. Design: This study had a retrospective design. Materials and Methods: An analysis was performed of vaginal mesh surgery for complaints of stage II or greater pelvic organ prolapse (POP) from September 2008 to November 2010. A composite score that included subjective criteria of absence of a bothersome bulge, and objective criteria based upon Pelvic Organ Prolapse?Quantification (POP-Q) stagePeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140094/1/gyn.2013.0056.pd

Evaluating the Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges on Seychelles' Critical Infrastructure: Summary for Policy Makers

The Republic of Seychelles, like other island nations, is at risk from anthropogenic climate change. Adapting to future climate change requires making difficult decisions under conditions of uncertainty. While the uncertainty cannot be fully resolved, informed adaptation decisions can be made by broadly appraising the various dimensions of risk—climate hazards, exposure, and vulnerability—posed by sea level rise and storm surge to Seychelles’ critical infrastructure. Global climate models, local climate feature projections, and local climate trends were synthesized to create five climate scenarios to guide Seychelles’ adaptation decision-making. Vulnerability maps were created by combining local climate and socioeconomic data into a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) format. This report concludes with a list of recommendations aimed at better protecting Seychelles’ critical infrastructure from sea level rise and storm surge and fostering climate-resilient development. In addition to this report, the project developed online risk maps and a Climate Scenario Planning Toolkit, all of which were designed to meet the needs of local stakeholders. This work is part of a larger effort by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), known as the Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI), which aims to close knowledge gaps regarding climate adaptation. In this capacity, it will serve not only to guide the Seychelles Government’s approach to climate change adaptation but may also aid other island nations facing similar climate risks.Master of ScienceSchool for Environment and SustainabilityUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155352/1/Seychelles Summary for Policymakers.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155352/3/Summary for Policymakers_368.pdfDescription of Seychelles Summary for Policymakers.pdf : Summary for Policy Maker

Evaluating the Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges on Seychelles' Critical Infrastructure

It is well known that low-lying coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to changes in sea level and storm surges. Nevertheless, speciic impacts on particular geographies, namely the Indian Ocean region, remain unclear. The Seychelles, a small island developing state, is particularly vulnerable to these impacts. This project aims to narrow the existing knowledge gap on potential impacts of sea level rise and storm surges on critical infrastructure. To carry this out, a literature review was completed to understand the current state of critical infrastructure and adaptation in the Seychelles. Stakeholder interviews were conducted with government oicials, local and international nongovernmental organizations, and private sector parties to understand the social, economic, and cultural importance and vulnerability of critical infrastructure. In addition, interviews assessed current adaptation strategies to protect this infrastructure and barriers to implementing those measures. Historical sea level data was combined with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data to generate a hazard map illustrating the geographic distribution of sea level rise and storm surge impacts on the main island of Mahé. These maps, along with images and interview indings were compiled in an ESRI-hosted, interactive Story Map. The report concludes with a list of recommendations to better protect the Seychelles’ critical infrastructure from sea level rise and storm surges. The inal report will become part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative (LAKI) where it will serve to guide not only the Seychelles Government’s approach to climate change adaptation but also other island nations facing similar climate risks.Master of ScienceSchool for Environment and SustainabilityUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148836/1/Evaluating the Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Storm Surges on Seychelles' Critical Infrastructure_047.pd

Analysis of hemagglutinin-mediated entry tropism of H5N1 avian influenza

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Avian influenza virus H5N1 is a major concern as a potential global pandemic. It is thought that multiple key events must take place before efficient human-to-human transmission of the virus occurs. The first step in overcoming host restriction is viral entry which is mediated by HA, responsible for both viral attachment and viral/host membrane fusion. HA binds to glycans-containing receptors with terminal sialic acid (SA). It has been shown that avian influenza viruses preferentially bind to α2,3-linked SAs, while human influenza A viruses exhibit a preference for α2,6-linked SAs. Thus it is believed the precise linkage of SAs on the target cells dictate host tropism of the viruses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrate that H5N1 HA/HIV pseudovirus can efficiently transduce several human cell lines including human lung cells. Interestingly, using a lectin binding assay we show that the presence of both α2,6-linked and α2,3-linked SAs on the target cells does not always correlate with efficient transduction. Further, HA substitutions of the residues implicated in switching SA-binding between avian and human species did not drastically affect HA-mediated transduction of the target cells or target cell binding.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that a host factor(s), which is yet to be identified, is required for H5N1 entry in the host cells.</p

Global change drivers and the risk of infectious disease

Anthropogenic change is contributing to the rise in emerging infectious diseases, but it remains unclear which global change drivers most increase disease and under what contexts. We amassed a dataset from the literature that includes 1,832 observations of infectious disease responses to global change drivers across 1,202 host-parasite combinations. We found that biodiversity loss, climate change, and introduced species were associated with increases in disease-related endpoints or harm (i.e., enemy release for introduced species), whereas urbanization was associated with decreases in disease endpoints. Natural biodiversity gradients, deforestation, forest fragmentation, and most classes of chemical contaminants had non-significant effects on these endpoints. Overall, these results were consistent across human and non-human diseases. Context-dependent effects of the global change drivers on disease were common and are discussed. These findings will help better target disease management and surveillance efforts towards global change drivers that increase disease.One-Sentence SummaryHere we quantify which global change drivers increase infectious diseases the most to better target global disease management and surveillance efforts