Health promotion perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic: The importance of religion

In this article we examine the importance of religion for COVID-19 health promotion. We advance three main arguments. First, religion plays an important role in affecting how likely it is that people will become infected with COVID-19. Second, religion should not be seen as a ‘problem’ with regards to COVID-19 but as an important part of the worldview and lifestyle of many people. Third, there are valuable health promotion lessons we can learn not only from the intersection of religion and other infectious diseases, but also from approaches taken within science education. Contentious science topics such as evolution and vaccine hesitancy have been effectively communicated to those with a religious faith who are disposed to reject them by reframing and considering religion as a worldview and treating those who do not accept standard scientific theories sensitively. Religion has much to contribute to health promotion, including introducing perspectives on life’s meaning and on death that can differ from those held by many without religious faith. Furthermore, religious leaders are important gatekeepers to their communities and can therefore play a vital role in policy implementation, even when that policy makes no overt reference to religion. Our contention is that by working with those of faith in the context of COVID-19, health promotion can be enhanced

C-C chemokine receptor type five (CCR5): An emerging target for the control of HIV infection

When HIV was initially discovered as the causative agent of AIDS, many expected to find a vaccine within a few years. This has however proven to be elusive; it has been approximately 30 years since HIV was first discovered, and a suitable vaccine is still not in effect. In 2009, a paper published by Hutter et al. reported on a bone marrow transplant performed on an HIV positive individual using stem cells that were derived from a donor who was homozygous for a mutation in the CCR5 gene known as CCR5 delta-32 (Δ32) (Hütter et al., 2009). The HIV positive individual became HIV negative and remained free of viral detection after transplantation despite having halted anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment. This review will focus on CCR5 as a key component in HIV immunity and will discuss the role of CCR5 in the control of HIV infection

The β Cephei star HD 167743

The β Cephei star HD 167743 was observed from three different observatories in the years 2006 and 2007. The data sets were collected through the filters Johnson UBV and Strömgren uvy. First analyses show six independent and five combination frequencies

Mutations in C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) in South African individuals

BACKGROUND: The importance of the C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) in HIV infection and disease progression was recognized with the discovery of the Δ32 allele. Individuals homozygous for this mutation lack functional CCR5, and are almost completely resistant to HIV infection. Heterozygous individuals display decreased cell surface CCR5, which slows disease progression. Phenotypic expression of CCR5 is heterogeneous and its relation to genetic mutations in the CCR5 gene is not currently known for the South African population. This provided the rationale for investigating genetic variation in low CCR5 expressers in South Africa. METHODS : Flow cytometry was used to measure the phenotypic distribution of CCR5 in 245 individuals by assessing both the percentage of CD4 + CCR5+ T-cells and CCR5 density. RESULTS: Genotypic data revealed 70 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), four insertions, and the Δ32 deletion within the 65 individuals selected for sequencing. The Δ32 mutation was detected only in the Caucasian group and included a single homozygous individual with an absence of CCR5 expression. A total of eight previously described open reading frame (ORF) mutations were found in this study, as well as 12 novel mutations with two in the ORF. Greater genetic diversity was present in the black South African group, with 39 mutations being exclusive to this group. Conclusions: Using a unique approach to genotype in individuals with lower CCR5 expression we have identified novel SNPs which could affect HIV infection.http://www elseviercom//loc ate/ijidhb2014ay201