51 research outputs found
The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance
INTRODUCTION
Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic.
RATIONALE
We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs).
RESULTS
Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants.
CONCLUSION
Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century
Experimental and theoretical insights into photochemical transformation kinetics and mechanisms of aqueous propylparaben and risk Assessment of its degradation products
Kinetic and mechanism studies of musk tonalide reacted with hydroxyl radical and the risk assessment of degradation products
Photodegradation of cyanine and merocyanine dyes . Dyes and Pigments
Abstract The photodegradation kinetics for some cyanine and merocyanine dyes was studied by UV-visible spectroscopy and the results show that the fading process follows quasi-first-order or zero-order kinetics in acetonitrile. In other experiments, the principal photodegradation products of the dyes were identified with the aid of GC/MS, and it was found that those cyanine dyes holding a positive charge had higher photostability than the corresponding merocyanines. The relationship between photostability and chemical structure was established using PM3 and AM1 MO calculations. Experimental results in this regard suggest that the species associated with the photodegradation of cyanine dyes may be the semioxidized dye free radical cation, Dye Ăľ : . The transient absorption spectra of Dye Ăľ : were determined by nanosecond pump and probe spectroscopy.
Laser photolysis study of anthraquinone in binary mixtures ofionic liquid [bmim][PF6] and organic solvent
Photochemical properties of the ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumhexafluorophosphate [bmim][PF6] and its binary mixed solutions with organic solvent(DMF and MeCN) were investigated by laser photolysis at an excitation wavelength of 355nm, using anthraquinone (AQ) as a probe molecule. It was indicated that the triplet excitedstate of AQ (3AQ*) can abstract hydrogen from [bmim][PF6]. Moreover, along with thechange of the ratio of RTIL and organic solvent, the reaction rate constant changes regularly.Critical points were observed at volume fraction VRTIL = 0.2 for RTIL/MeCN and VRTIL =0.05 for RTIL/DMF. For both systems, before the critical point, the rate constant increasesrapidly with increasing VRTIL; however, it decreases obviously with VRTIL after the criticalpoint. We conclude that the concentration dependence is dominant at lower VRTIL, while theviscosity and phase transformation are dominant at higher VRTIL for the effect of ionic liquidon the decay of rate constant
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Laser photolysis study of anthraquinone in binary mixtures of ionic liquid [bmim][PF6] and organic solven
NOVEL CORE–SHELL MAGNETIC NANOGELS SYNTHESIZED IN AN EMULSION-FREE AQUEOUS SYSTEM UNDER UV IRRADIATION FOR POTENTIAL TARGETED RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS
GC-MS analysis of off-odor volatiles from irradiated pork
The main compounds of off-odor volatiles from irradiated refrigerated vacuum-packaged pork were analyzed by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The analytical results showed that the main compounds of off-odor volatiles were dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, S-methyl thioacetate, and methanethiol. It was proved that the off-odor volatile came from irradiated S-containing amino acid and thiamin
Advanced Oxidation Kinetics and Mechanism of Preservative Propylparaben Degradation in Aqueous Suspension of TiO2 and Risk Assessment of Its Degradation Products
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