Pseudo-nitzschia kodamae sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae), a toxigenic species from the Strait of Malacca, Malaysia

A recent field survey of Pseudo-nitzschia species from coastal waters of Malaysia demonstrated the presence of a novel morphotype, P. sp. Port Dickson, in the Strait of Malacca. In this study, we revisited the site and established five clonal cultures of this morphotype, assessed the strains’ morphology and genetics, and delineated it as a novel species. As observed by electron microscopy, these strains showed morphological features identical to those of the previous field specimens designated as P. sp. Port Dickson. The cells differ from other Pseudo-nitzschia species in the P. pseudodelicatissima complex sensu lato by their lower densities of fibulae, striae and band striae in 10 mm. Molecular data of the nuclear encoded large subunit ribosomal rRNA gene and the internal transcript spacer region (ITS) further supported the delineation of this novel lineage. Based on both morphological and molecular data, P. sp. Port Dickson is considered to represent a new species, for which we propose the name Pseudo-nitzschia kodamae sp. nov. Production of domoic acid (DA) in the strains was examined by FMOC–LC–FLD. Only strains of P. kodamae were observed with a peak corresponding to DA, giving a concentration of 1.2– 42.5 pg DA cell�1. Screening of Pseudo-nitzschia caciantha, Pseudo-nitzschia batesiana, Pseudo-nitzschia fukuyoi and Pseudo-nitzschia lundholmiae cultures from the same waters, however, showed no detectable DA. This is the first report of a potentially toxigenic Pseudo-nitzschia species from the region

Pediatric cataract, myopic astigmatism, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and primary open-angle glaucoma co-segregating in a family

Purpose: To describe an Australian pedigree of European descent with a variable autosomal dominant phenotype of: pediatric cortical cataract (CC), asymmetric myopia with astigmatism, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: Probands with CC, FEVR, and POAG were enrolled in three independent genetic eye studies in Tasmania. Genealogy confirmed these individuals were closely related and subsequent examination revealed 11 other family members with some or all of the associated disorders. Results: Twelve individuals had CC thought to be of childhood onset, with one child demonstrating progressive lenticular opacification. One individual had severe retinal detachment while five others had dragged retinal vessels. Seven individuals had POAG. Seven individuals had myopia in at least one eye ≤-3 Diopters. DNA testing excluded mutations in myocilin, trabecular meshwork inducible glucocorticoid response (MYOC) and tetraspanin 12 (TSPAN12). Haplotype analysis excluded frizzled family receptor 4 (FZD4) and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5), but only partly excluded EVR3. Multipoint linkage analysis revealed multiple chromosomal single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interest, but no statistically significant focal localization. Conclusions: This unusual clustering of ophthalmic diseases suggests a possible single genetic cause for an apparently new cataract syndrome. This family’s clinical ocular features may reflect the interplay between retinal disease with lenticular changes and axial length in the development of myopia and glaucoma

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three available genomic nomenclature systems for SARS-CoV-2 to all sequence data from the WHO European Region available during the COVID-19 pandemic until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation. We provide a comparison of the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.Peer reviewe

Study of a US cohort supports the role of ZNF644 and high-grade myopia susceptibility

Molecular Vision18937-944MVEP

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Adults in Asia: An Analysis of National Income Level on Incidence and Etiology

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the commonest hospital-acquired infection (HAI) in intensive care. In Asia, VAP is increasingly caused by resistant gram-negative organisms. Despite the global antimicrobial resistance crisis, the epidemiology of VAP is poorly documented in Asia. Methods: We systematically reviewed literature published on Ovid Medline, Embase Classic, and Embase from 1 January 1990 to 17 August 2017 to estimate incidence, prevalence, and etiology of VAP. We performed a meta-analysis to give pooled rates and rates by country income level. Results: Pooled incidence density of VAP was high in lower- and upper-middle-income countries and lower in high-income countries (18.5, 15.2, and 9.0 per 1000 ventilator-days, respectively). Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 3687 [26%]) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 3176 [22%]) were leading causes of VAP; Staphylococcus aureus caused 14% (n = 1999). Carbapenem resistance was common (57.1%). Conclusions: VAP remains a common cause of HAI, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and antibiotic resistance is high

Human brucellosis exposure in confirmed cutaneous anthrax cases, Dien Bien, Vietnam with an update on human prevalence regionally

Anthrax and brucellosis are important zoonoses worldwide. Often, they are reported separately with separate control strategies in livestock; routine vaccination for both accompanied by culling for brucellosis. The status of both diseases is poorly understood in Vietnam. In Vietnam, anthrax has been identified as a priority zoonotic disease for control in a One Health Circular (#16, 2013). Vietnam has a likely substantial, but poorly understood, brucellosis risk. There were no data available for Vietnam in the 2006 global assessment. Brucellosis rates are unknown, but the disease has been confirmed for humans and livestock, including recent genotyping in southern provinces. Here, we implemented the fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) using the Sentry 200 handheld FPA reader (Ellie Labs) and the B1002 test kits (based on an O-polysaccharide for Brucella abortus, which also reacts with B. suis and B. melitensis). We performed tests on human and animal samples. Human serum samples (collected 2011-2016) were randomly selected from the NIHE serum bank and livestock samples were provided from NCVD and NIHE (2015 - 2018); additional swine samples were provided by ILRI. We are currently running active hospital surveillance across six provinces in northern Vietnam, with 1,018 samples collected to date and 312 tested. We confirmed 1.39% human exposure to brucellosis (5/359; 95% CI: 0.045% - 3.22%). Four of those exposures were detected in Dien Bien province and two of those were confirmed cutaneous anthrax cases. The two co-infections were detected in family members from a single household in 2011 with the remaining two cases independent of each other in 2015. The fifth case was reported from Ha Nam province in 2016. These results suggest brucellosis may be widespread underappreciated/underreported in Vietnam. Preliminary results from ongoing surveillance suggest similar prevalence rates. We tested 1107 animals. While human samples were limited to northern Vietnam, animal samples were widely distributed. Domestic swine from southern Vietnam were 9.4% (17/180) seropositive. A second group of swine samples from ILRI had 2.2% seroprevalence (11/500). The remaining samples represented domestic cattle/buffaloes; all sero-negative. Our results suggest brucellosis surveillance for Vietnam is warranted and future policy might list brucellosis as reportable

Mutations in SCO2 are associated with autosomal-dominant high-grade myopia

10.1016/j.ajhg.2013.04.005American Journal of Human Genetics925820-826AJHG

Aspects of urinary tract infections and antimicrobial resistance in hospitalized urology patients in Asia: 10-Year results of the Global Prevalence Study of Infections in Urology (GPIU)

10.1016/j.jiac.2017.11.013Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy244278-283JICH