Genome-Wide Association Analysis Pinpoints Additional Major Genomic Regions Conferring Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe)

Soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) (SCN) is the most destructive pest affecting soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in the U.S. To date, only two major SCN resistance alleles, rhg1 and Rhg4, identified in PI 88788 (rhg1) and Peking (rhg1/Rhg4), residing on chromosomes (Chr) 18 and 8, respectively, have been widely used to develop SCN resistant cultivars in the U.S. Thus, some SCN populations have evolved to overcome the PI 88788 and Peking derived resistance, making it a priority for breeders to identify new alleles and sources of SCN resistance. Toward that end, 461 soybean accessions from various origins were screened using a greenhouse SCN bioassay and genotyped with Illumina SoySNP50K iSelect BeadChips and three KASP SNP markers developed at the Rhg1 and Rhg4 loci to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and a haplotype analysis at the Rhg1 and Rhg4 loci. In total, 35,820 SNPs were used for GWAS, which identified 12 SNPs at four genomic regions on Chrs 7, 8, 10, and 18 that were significantly associated with SCN resistance (P < 0.001). Of those, three SNPs were located at Rhg1 and Rhg4, and 24 predicted genes were found near the significant SNPs on Chrs 7 and 10. KASP SNP genotyping results of the 462 accessions at the Rhg1 and Rhg4 loci identified 30 that carried PI 88788-type resistance, 50 that carried Peking-type resistance, and 58 that carried neither the Peking-type nor the PI 88788-type resistance alleles, indicating they may possess novel SCN resistance alleles. By using two subsets of SNPs near the Rhg1 and Rhg4 loci obtained from SoySNP iSelect BeadChips, a haplotype analysis of 461 accessions grouped those 58 accessions differently from the accessions carrying Peking or PI 88788 derived resistance, thereby validating the genotyping results at Rhg1 and Rhg4. The significant SNPs, candidate genes, and newly characterized SCN resistant accessions will be beneficial for the development of DNA markers to be used for marker-assisted breeding and developing soybean cultivars carrying novel sources of SCN resistance

International self-report delinquency (ISRD4) study protocol: background, methodology, and mandatory items for the 2021/2022 survey

This document describes the background and methodology of the fourth round of the International Self-Report Delinquency study (ISRD4). Drawing from the fields of criminology, public health and cross-national methodology, the ISRD is an ongoing multi-national research study that aims to describe and explain adolescents’ experiences with crime and victimization, to test criminological theories, and to develop recommendations for prevention and interventions. The project relies on a common research protocol, which standardizes questionnaire content and administration, and prescribes comparable sampling procedures in participating countries enabling the collection of common data across all of them. The ISRD4 Study Protocol describes the standard sections of the ISRD4 questionnaire (core and sweep-specific), for both the school-based as well as the internet-based samples. In addition to the core ISRD items, the ISRD4 questionnaire includes new items related to cyber-offending and –victimization, discrimination, and perceptions of violence and revenge motives. The protocol also describes the rationale for including an internet-based survey as a complement to the school-based survey. The document aims to provide a detailed set of guidelines for participating national teams but will also be of interest to researchers interested in youth victimization and offending, theory-testing, and cross-national methodology. Fieldwork in approximately 40 countries began in 2020 and will conclude by the end of 2022

Prevalence of Malaria and Anaemia among HIV Infected Pregnant women Receiving Co-trimoxazole Prophylaxis in Tanzania: A Cross Sectional Study in Kinondoni Municipality.

HIV-infected pregnant women are particularly more susceptible to the deleterious effects of malaria infection particularly anaemia. In order to prevent opportunistic infections and malaria, a policy of daily co-trimoxazole prophylaxis without the standard Suphadoxine-Pyrimethamine intermittent preventive treatment (SP-IPT) was introduced to all HIV infected pregnant women in the year 2011. However, there is limited information about the effectiveness of this policy. This was a cross sectional study conducted among HIV-infected pregnant women receiving co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in eight public health facilities in Kinondoni Municipality from February to April 2013. Blood was tested for malaria infection and anaemia (haemoglobin <11 g/dl). Data were collected on the adherence to co-trimoxazole prophylaxis and other risk factors for malaria infection and anaemia. Pearson chi-square test, Fischer's exact test and multivariate logistic regression were used in the statistical analysis. This study enrolled 420 HIV infected pregnant women. The prevalence of malaria infection was 4.5%, while that of anaemia was 54%. The proportion of subjects with poor adherence to co-trimoxazole was 50.5%. As compared to HIV infected pregnant women with good adherence to co-trimoxazole prophylaxis, the poor adherents were more likely to have a malaria infection (Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR = 6.81, 95%CI = 1.35-34.43, P = 0.02) or anaemia (AOR = 1.75, 95%CI = 1.03-2.98, P = 0.039). Other risk factors associated with anaemia were advanced WHO clinical stages, current malaria infection and history of episodes of malaria illness during the index pregnancy. The prevalence of malaria was low; however, a significant proportion of subjects had anaemia. Good adherence to co-trimoxazole prophylaxis was associated with reduction of both malaria infection and anaemia among HIV infected pregnant women

A community effectiveness trial of strategies promoting intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine in pregnant women in rural Burkina Faso

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for pregnant women (IPTp-SP) is currently being scaled up in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite high antenatal clinic (ANC) attendance, coverage with the required two doses of SP remains low. The study investigated whether a targeted community-based promotion campaign to increase ANC attendance and SP uptake could effectively improve pregnancy outcomes in the community.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between 2004 and 2006 twelve health centres in Boromo Health District, Burkina Faso were involved in this study. Four were strategically assigned to community promotion in addition to IPTp-SP (Intervention A) and eight were randomly allocated to either IPTp-SP (Intervention B) or weekly chloroquine (Control). Primi- and secundigravidae were enrolled at village level and thick films and packed cell volume (PCV) taken at 32 weeks gestation and at delivery. Placental smears were prepared and newborns weighed. Primary outcomes were peripheral parasitaemia during pregnancy and at delivery, placental malaria, maternal anaemia, mean and low birth weight. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of women with ≥ 3 ANC visits and ≥ 2 doses of SP. Intervention groups were compared using logistic and linear regression with linearized variance estimations to correct for the cluster-randomized design.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SP uptake (≥ 2 doses) was higher with (Intervention A: 70%) than without promotion (Intervention B: 49%) (OR 2.45 95%CI 1.25–4.82 p = 0.014). Peripheral (33.3%) and placental (30.3%) parasite rates were significantly higher in the control arm compared to Intervention B (peripheral: 20.1% OR 0.50 95%CI 0.37–0.69 p = 0.001; placental: 20.5% OR 0.59 95%CI 0.44–0.78 p = 0.002) but did not differ between Intervention A (17.4%; 18.1%) and Intervention B (20.1; 20.5%) (peripheral: OR 0.84 95%CI 0.60–1.18 p = 0.280; placental: OR 0.86 95%CI 0.58–1.29 p = 0.430). Mean PCV and birth weight and prevalence of anaemia and low birth weight did not differ between study arms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The promotional campaign resulted in a major increase in IPTp-coverage, with two thirds of women at delivery having received ≥ 2 SP. Despite lower prevalence of malaria infection this did not translate into a significant difference in maternal anaemia or birth weight. This data provides evidence that, as with immunization programmes, extremely high coverage is essential for effectiveness. This critical threshold of coverage needs to be defined, possibly on a regional basis.</p

Diminazene resistance in Trypanosoma congolense is not caused by reduced transport capacity but associated with reduced mitochondrial membrane potential

Trypanosoma congolense is a principal agent causing livestock trypanosomiasis in Africa, costing developing economies billions of dollars and undermining food security. Only the diamidine diminazene and the phenanthridine isometamidium are regularly used, and resistance is widespread but poorly understood. We induced stable diminazene resistance in T. congolense strain IL3000 in vitro. There was no cross‐resistance with the phenanthridine drugs, melaminophenyl arsenicals, oxaborole trypanocides, or with diamidine trypanocides, except the close analogues DB829 and DB75. Fluorescence microscopy showed that accumulation of DB75 was inhibited by folate. Uptake of [3H]‐diminazene was slow, low affinity and partly but reciprocally inhibited by folate and by competing diamidines. Expression of T. congolense folate transporters in diminazene‐resistant T. b. brucei significantly sensitized the cells to diminazene and DB829, but not to oxaborole AN7973. However, [3H]‐diminazene transport studies, whole genome sequencing and RNA‐seq found no major changes in diminazene uptake, folate transporter sequence or expression. Instead, all resistant clones displayed a moderate reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential. We conclude that diminazene uptake in T. congolense proceed via multiple low affinity mechanisms including folate transporters; while resistance is associated with a reduction in Ψm it is unclear whether this is the primary cause of the resistance

Listening for policy change: How the voices of disabled people shaped Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme

Voice has become an important yet ambivalent tool for the recognition of disability. The transformative potential of voice is dependent on a political commitment to listening to disabled people. To focus on listening redirects accountability for social change from disabled people to the ableist norms, institutions and practices that structure which voices can be heard in policy debates. In this paper, I use disability theory on voice and political theory on listening to examine policy documents for the National Disability Insurance Scheme in light of claims made by the disability movement. Although my study finds some evidence of openness in the policy development stage, the scheme falls short of valuing the diverse voices of disabled people as partners in shared dialogue

Rapid Scaling Up of Insecticide-Treated Bed Net Coverage in Africa and Its Relationship with Development Assistance for Health: A Systematic Synthesis of Supply, Distribution, and Household Survey Data

Stephen Lim and colleagues use several sources of data to estimate the changes in distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets across Africa between 2000 and 2008, and to analyze the link between development assistance and net coverage

Congenital Plasmodium falciparum infection in neonates in Muheza District, Tanzania

BACKGROUND\ud \ud Although recent reports on congenital malaria suggest that the incidence is increasing, it is difficult to determine whether the clinical disease is due to parasites acquired before delivery or as a result of contamination by maternal blood at birth. Understanding of the method of parasite acquisition is important for estimating the time incidence of congenital malaria and design of preventive measures. The aim of this study was to determine whether the first Plasmodium falciparum malaria disease in infants is due to same parasites present on the placenta at birth.\ud \ud METHODS\ud \ud Babies born to mothers with P. falciparum parasites on the placenta detected by PCR were followed up to two years and observed for malaria episodes. Paired placental and infant peripheral blood samples at first malaria episode within first three months of life were genotyped (msp2) to determine genetic relatedness. Selected amplifications from nested PCR were sequenced and compared between pairs.\ud \ud RESULTS\ud \ud Eighteen (19.1%) out of 95 infants who were followed up developed clinical malaria within the first three months of age. Eight pairs (60%) out of 14 pairs of sequenced placental and cord samples were genetically related while six (40%) were genetically unrelated. One pair (14.3%) out of seven pairs of sequenced placental and infants samples were genetically related. In addition, infants born from primigravidae mothers were more likely to be infected with P. falciparum (P < 0.001) as compared to infants from secundigravidae and multigravidae mothers during the two years of follow up. Infants from multigravidae mothers got the first P. falciparum infection earlier than those from secundigravidae and primigravidae mothers (RR = 1.43).\ud \ud CONCLUSION\ud \ud Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites present on the placenta as detected by PCR are more likely to result in clinical disease (congenital malaria) in the infant during the first three months of life. However, sequencing data seem to question the validity of this likelihood. Therefore, the relationship between placental parasites and first clinical disease need to be confirmed in larger studies

Insecticide-Treated Nets for the Prevention of Malaria in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND: Protection from malaria with insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) during pregnancy is widely advocated, but evidence of benefit has been inconsistent. We undertook a systematic review of randomised trials. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Three cluster-randomised and two individually randomised trials met the inclusion criteria; four from Africa (n = 6,418) and one from Thailand (n = 223). In Africa, ITNs compared to no nets increased mean birth weight by 55 g (95% confidence interval [CI] 21–88), reduced low birth weight by 23% (relative risk [RR] 0.77, 95% CI 0.61–0.98), and reduced miscarriages/stillbirths by 33% (RR 0.67, 0.47–0.97) in the first few pregnancies. Placental parasitaemia was reduced by 23% in all gravidae (RR 0.77, 0.66–0.90). The effects were apparent in the cluster-randomised trials and the one individually randomised trial in Africa. The trial in Thailand, which randomised individuals to ITNs or untreated nets, showed reductions in anaemia and fetal loss in all gravidae, but not reductions in clinical malaria or low birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: ITNs used throughout pregnancy or from mid-pregnancy onwards have a beneficial impact on pregnancy outcome in malaria-endemic Africa in the first few pregnancies. The potential impact of ITNs in pregnant women and their newborns in malaria regions outside Africa requires further research