Immunologic and Molecular Characteristics of Encephalitozoon-Like Microsporidia Isolated from Humans and Rabbits Indicate That Encephalitozoon cuniculi Is a Zoonotic Parasite

To assess the zoonotic potential of Encephalitozoon-like microsporidia, we isolated and cultivated spores from specimens of urine, respiratory secretions, and stool from six patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus and from nine rabbits. Because spores of Encephalitozoon-like species are indistinguishable by microscopy, we characterized the isolates by western blot analysis and by restriction enzyme analysis of the small subunit (SSU) rDNA after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. We identified Septata intestinalis in one patient and Encephalitozoon hellem in two symptomatic patients. Encephalitozoon cuniculi was found in all rabbits and in three patients. One of these patients had clinical manifestations of infection with this parasite (severe interstitial pneumonitis). We observed abatement of symptoms and cessation of parasite excretion when these patients were treated with albendazole. Our findings suggest that E. cuniculi may be pathogenic in humans and that it is a zoonotic parasit

TBVAC2020: Advancing tuberculosis vaccines from discovery to clinical development

TBVAC2020 is a research project supported by the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission (EC). It aims at the discovery and development of novel tuberculosis (TB) vaccines from preclinical research projects to early clinical assessment. The project builds on previous collaborations from 1998 onwards funded through the EC framework programs FP5, FP6, and FP7. It has succeeded in attracting new partners from outstanding laboratories from all over the world, now totaling 40 institutions. Next to the development of novel vaccines, TB biomarker development is also considered an important asset to facilitate rational vaccine selection and development. In addition, TBVAC2020 offers portfolio management that provides selection criteria for entry, gating, and priority settings of novel vaccines at an early developmental stage. The TBVAC2020 consortium coordinated by TBVI facilitates collaboration and early data sharing between partners with the common aim of working toward the development of an effective TB vaccine. Close links with funders and other consortia with shared interests further contribute to this goal

Concert recording 2022-04-06

[Track 1]. Three pieces / Igor Stravinsky -- [Track 2]. Sonata for clarinet and piano. II. Lebhaft / Paul Hindemith -- [Track 3]. Fantasiestücke, op. 73. I. Zart und mit Ausdruck ; II. Lebhaft, leicht / Robert Schumann -- [Track 4]. Duo for clarinet and piano. I. Allegro / Norbert Burgmüller -- [Track 5]. Sonata for clarinet and piano. II. Allegro animato / Camille Saint-Saëns -- [Track 6.] Set for clarinet. III. Vite / Katherine Hoover -- [Track 7]. Ballade, bass clarinet & piano / Eugène Bozza -- [Track 8]. Introduction, theme and variations / Carl Maria von Weber -- [Track 9]. Five Bagatelles. IV. Forlana / Gerald Finzi -- [Track 10]. Six studies in English folksongs. V. Andante tranquillo ; VI. Allegro vivace -- [Track 11]. Grand duo concertant. I. Allegro con fuoco / Carl Maria von Weber

Concert recording 2022-04-06

[Track 1]. Three pieces / Igor Stravinsky -- [Track 2]. Sonata for clarinet and piano. II. Lebhaft / Paul Hindemith -- [Track 3]. Fantasiestücke, op. 73. I. Zart und mit Ausdruck ; II. Lebhaft, leicht / Robert Schumann -- [Track 4]. Duo for clarinet and piano. I. Allegro / Norbert Burgmüller -- [Track 5]. Sonata for clarinet and piano. II. Allegro animato / Camille Saint-Saëns -- [Track 6.] Set for clarinet. III. Vite / Katherine Hoover -- [Track 7]. Ballade, bass clarinet & piano / Eugène Bozza -- [Track 8]. Introduction, theme and variations / Carl Maria von Weber -- [Track 9]. Five Bagatelles. IV. Forlana / Gerald Finzi -- [Track 10]. Six studies in English folksongs. V. Andante tranquillo ; VI. Allegro vivace -- [Track 11]. Grand duo concertant. I. Allegro con fuoco / Carl Maria von Weber

Crowdsourcing snake identification with online communities of professional herpetologists and avocational snake enthusiasts

Species identification can be challenging for biologists, healthcare practitioners and members of the general public. Snakes are no exception, and the potential medical consequences of venomous snake misidentification can be significant. Here, we collected data on identification of 100 snake species by building a week-long online citizen science challenge which attracted more than 1000 participants from around the world. We show that a large community including both professional herpetologists and skilled avocational snake enthusiasts with the potential to quickly (less than 2 min) and accurately (69–90%; see text) identify snakes is active online around the clock, but that only a small fraction of community members are proficient at identifying snakes to the species level, even when provided with the snake's geographical origin. Nevertheless, participants showed great enthusiasm and engagement, and our study provides evidence that innovative citizen science/crowdsourcing approaches can play significant roles in training and building capacity. Although identification by an expert familiar with the local snake fauna will always be the gold standard, we suggest that healthcare workers, clinicians, epidemiologists and other parties interested in snakebite could become more connected to these communities, and that professional herpetologists and skilled avocational snake enthusiasts could organize ways to help connect medical professionals to crowdsourcing platforms. Involving skilled avocational snake enthusiasts in decision making could build the capacity of healthcare workers to identify snakes more quickly, specifically and accurately, and ultimately improve snakebite treatment data and outcomes

Deciphering the molecular basis for nucleotide selection by the West Nile virus RNA helicase

The West Nile virus RNA helicase uses the energy derived from the hydrolysis of nucleotides to separate complementary strands of RNA. Although this enzyme has a preference for ATP, the bias towards this purine nucleotide cannot be explained on the basis of specific protein–ATP interactions. Moreover, the enzyme does not harbor the characteristic Q-motif found in other helicases that regulates binding to ATP. In the present study, we used structural homology modeling to generate a model of the West Nile virus RNA helicase active site that provides instructive findings on the interaction between specific amino acids and the ATP substrate. In addition, we evaluated both the phosphohydrolysis and the inhibitory potential of a collection of 30 synthetic purine analogs. A structure-guided alanine scan of 16 different amino acids was also performed to clarify the contacts that are made between the enzyme and ATP. Our study provides a molecular rationale for the bias of the enzyme for ATP by highlighting the specific functional groups on ATP that are important for binding. Moreover, we identified three new essential amino acids (Arg-185, Arg-202 and Asn-417) that are critical for phosphohydrolysis. Finally, we provide evidence that a region located upstream of motif I, which we termed the nucleotide specificity region, plays a functional role in nucleotide selection which is reminiscent to the role exerted by the Q-motif found in other helicases