Virus genomes reveal factors that spread and sustained the Ebola epidemic.

The 2013-2016 West African epidemic caused by the Ebola virus was of unprecedented magnitude, duration and impact. Here we reconstruct the dispersal, proliferation and decline of Ebola virus throughout the region by analysing 1,610 Ebola virus genomes, which represent over 5% of the known cases. We test the association of geography, climate and demography with viral movement among administrative regions, inferring a classic 'gravity' model, with intense dispersal between larger and closer populations. Despite attenuation of international dispersal after border closures, cross-border transmission had already sown the seeds for an international epidemic, rendering these measures ineffective at curbing the epidemic. We address why the epidemic did not spread into neighbouring countries, showing that these countries were susceptible to substantial outbreaks but at lower risk of introductions. Finally, we reveal that this large epidemic was a heterogeneous and spatially dissociated collection of transmission clusters of varying size, duration and connectivity. These insights will help to inform interventions in future epidemics

Nutritivne vrednosti komposta, vermikomposta i dugoročni efekat na status plodnosti zemljišta

The principal aim of this study was to examine the nutrient release pattern from two types of composts and long-term implications on soil fertility status. An incubation experiment was carried out in the laboratory to determine the nutrient release patterns from compost and vermicompost mixed with soil at different application rates of SC30, SC70, SC120 and SV30, SV70 SV120 respectively for 21 days. Initial pre-incubation analysis of the compost material used for the experiment showed that both the compost and vermicompost had high nutrient content. The results further revealed that the different rates of compost and vermicompost application to soil had significant influence on the slow, gradual release process, indicating the long-term effect the organic fertilizers could exert on soil fertility statusGlavni cilj ove studije je bio ispitivanje obrazca oslobađanja hranljivih materija iz dva tipa komposta i dugoročne posledice na status plodnosti zemljišta. Izvršen je eksperiment inkubacije u laboratoriji da bi se utvrdili obrasci oslobađanja hranljivih materija iz komposta i vermikomposta pomešanih sa zemljištem, pri različitim količinama kombinacijama primene SC30, SC70, SC120 i SV30, SV70 SV120, tokom 21 dan. Početne pre inkubacijske analize kompostnog materijala korišćenog za eksperiment pokazale su da i kompost i vermikompost imaju visok sadržaj hranljivih sastojaka. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da su različite količine unetog komposta i vermikomposta u zemljište imale značajan uticaj na spor, postepen proces oslobađanja, hranljivih materija, što ukazuje na dugoročni efekat koji organsko đubrivo može da ima na status plodnosti zemljišta

Identification of \u3ci\u3ebla\u3c/i\u3e\u3csub\u3eOXA-51-like\u3c/sub\u3e, \u3ci\u3ebla\u3c/i\u3e\u3csub\u3eOXA-58\u3c/sub\u3e, \u3ci\u3ebla\u3c/i\u3e\u3csub\u3eDIM-1\u3c/sub\u3e, and \u3ci\u3ebla\u3c/i\u3e\u3csub\u3eVIM\u3c/sub\u3e Carbapenemase Genes in Hospital \u3ci\u3eEnterobacteriaceae\u3c/i\u3e Isolates from Sierra Leone

We describe the results of a molecular epidemiological survey of 15 carbapenemase-encoding genes from a recent collection of clinical isolates from Mercy Hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone. The most salient findings revealed that (i) 60% of the isolates harbored multiple carbapenemase genes; (ii) the blaDIM-1 gene, which has previously only been reported in The Netherlands, is also circulating in this environment; and (iii) blaOXA-51-like and blaOXA-58 genes, which were thought to reside exclusively in Acinetobacter species, can also be found in members of the Enterobacteriaceae

Incentives and enablers to improve adherence in tuberculosis

CITATION: Wiysonge, C. S. U. et al. 2015. Incentives and enablers to improve adherence in tuberculosis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 9: Art. No.: CD007952, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007952.pub3.The original publication is available at https://www.cochranelibrary.comBackground: Patient adherence to medications, particularly for conditions requiring prolonged treatment such as tuberculosis (TB), is frequently less than ideal and can result in poor treatment outcomes. Material incentives to reward good behaviour and enablers to remove economic barriers to accessing care are sometimes given in the form of cash, vouchers, or food to improve adherence. Objectives: To evaluate the effects ofmaterial incentives and enablers in patients undergoing diagnostic testing, or receiving prophylactic or curative therapy, for TB.https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007952.pub3/fullPublisher's versio

Afri-Can Forum 2

CITATION: Mukudu, H., et al. 2016. Afri-Can Forum 2. BMC Infectious Diseases, 16:315, doi:10.1186/s12879-016-1466-6.The original publication is available at https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.comENGLISH ABSTRACT: We are pleased to present peer reviewed forum proceedings of the 2nd synchronicity forum of GHRI/CHVIfunded Canadian and African HIV prevention and vaccine teams Forum objectives ∙GHRI-funded capacity building and HIV prevention research teams presented highlights of achievements ∙Teams discussed how to jointly build on achievements for sustainability ∙Provided an opportunity for inter-team collaboration, synchronize best approach to capacity building, mentoring of new researchers and building leadership ∙Provided opportunities for informal discussions and networking among the teams. ∙Teams learnt about recent advances in the area of African regulatory and ethics review process ∙The forum proceedings was a special supplement in an openaccess journal was producedhttps://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/supplements/volume-16-supplement-2Publisher's versio

Virus genomes reveal factors that spread and sustained the Ebola epidemic

The 2013-2016 West African epidemic caused by the Ebola virus was of unprecedented magnitude, duration and impact. Here we reconstruct the dispersal, proliferation and decline of Ebola virus throughout the region by analysing 1,610 Ebola virus genomes, which represent over 5% of the known cases. We test the association of geography, climate and demography with viral movement among administrative regions, inferring a classic 'gravity' model, with intense dispersal between larger and closer populations. Despite attenuation of international dispersal after border closures, cross-border transmission had already sown the seeds for an international epidemic, rendering these measures ineffective at curbing the epidemic. We address why the epidemic did not spread into neighbouring countries, showing that these countries were susceptible to substantial outbreaks but at lower risk of introductions. Finally, we reveal that this large epidemic was a heterogeneous and spatially dissociated collection of transmission clusters of varying size, duration and connectivity. These insights will help to inform interventions in future epidemics