Evaluation of a fecal shedding test to detect badger social groups infected with Mycobacterium bovis

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is an economically important disease affecting the cattle industry in England and Wales. bTB, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, also causes disease in the Eurasian badger (Meles meles), a secondary maintenance host. Disease transmission between these two species is bidirectional. Infected badgers shed M. bovis in their faeces. The UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) organised a comparative trial to determine the performance of tests in detecting M. bovis in badger faeces for the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Here we present the performance of the existing Warwick Fast24-qPCR test, and its modified version based on a high-throughput DNA extraction method (Fast96-qPCR). We found Fast24-qPCR to have a sensitivity of 96.7% (95%CI 94.5-99%, n=244) and a specificity of 99% (95%CI 97.8-100%, n=292). Fast96-qPCR requires further optimisation. Determining the disease status of badger social groups requires multiple tests per group. Therefore to increase specificity further, we independently repeated the Fast24-qPCR test on positive samples, increasing stringency by requiring a 2nd positive result. Fast24-qPCR with repeat testing had a sensitivity of 87.3% (95%CI 83.1-91.5%, n=244), and a specificity of 100% (95%CI 100-100, n=201) on an individual sample level. At the social group level, this repeat testing gives Fast24-qPCR high herd specificity, while testing multiple samples per group provides high herd sensitivity. With Fast24-qPCR we provide a social group level test with sufficient specificity and sensitivity to monitor shedding in badgers via latrine sampling, delivering a potentially valuable tool to measure the impacts of bTB control measures

Estrategias defensivas contra el malestar psicológico entre los trabajadores

O artigo propõe contribuir para a saúde mental dos trabalhadores. Para tanto, buscou-se, como pano de fundo, um breve contexto histórico do trabalho. A expansão do modelo capitalista, na segunda metade do século XX, acarretou um aumento progressivo do tempo e da dedicação ininterrupta ao emprego, o que repercutiu sobre a saúde do trabalhador. Este trabalho avaliou o perfil do trabalhador de sucesso, o sofrimento presente no contexto do trabalho e como Dejours e Nietzsche percebem tragicamente o sofrimento, como inerente à vida, inevitável. Além disso, buscou entender como ambos percebem a utilização de defesas contra o sofrimento nessas organizações de trabalho e as estratégias defensivas contra o sofrimento, que podem trazer o equilíbrio ou o desequilíbrio. E, por último, enfatizou a importância de profissionais críticos e de um espaço que facilite o processo de sofrimento como equilíbrio. A pesquisa adotou o método qualitativo, por meio de uma revisão de literatura, utilizando como referencial teórico a Psicodinâmica do Trabalho e a Filosofia. Identificou-se, com base nos autores estudados, que a dor e o sofrimento são inerentes ao trabalho e que ambos têm caráter constituinte na subjetividade dos trabalhadores.This article is meant to consist in a contribution towards worker’s mental health understanding. To achieve this goal, we tried to briefly present, as background scenery, the context of work from a historical perspective. The expansion of the capitalist model, in the second half of the 20th century, engendered a progressive increase in the number of average working hours per worker and a continuous increase in time expenditure related to work issues, which seem to be issues that caused tangible effects on workers general health. This work has tried to pursue an evaluation of the successful worker profile, seeing suffering as a relatable presence in his or her working context and, as Dejours and Nietzsche tragically realize, in the understanding of suffering as an unavoidable and inherent feature of life. Besides that, the present article sought to understand precisely how these authors relate themselves with the perception of suffering within working organizational context and how they relate to defensive strategies aimed at mitigating it - which may bring dubious results given that they may either increase or decrease workers mental health condition. Finally, the present study emphasizes the importance of professionals capable of critical thinking and, also, of a working space that enables the perception of suffering process as a form of making mental health equilibrium achievable to the average worker. The research methods of choice were qualitative analysis review of bibliographic sources, and the adopted theoretical framework was technically related with literature in the fields of Psychodynamics of Work and Philosophy. The established result is that pain and suffering are meant to be understood as something inherent to every form of work activity that has a defining character in worker’s subjectivity.El artículo estudia la contribución a la salud mental de los trabajadores. Para ello, buscamos, como antecedente, un breve contexto histórico de la obra. La expansión del modelo capitalista en la segunda mitad del siglo XX supuso un progresivo aumento del tiempo y una dedicación ininterrumpida al empleo, lo que repercutió en la salud de los trabajadores. Este trabajo evaluó el perfil del trabajador exitoso, el sufrimiento presente en el contexto laboral y cómo Dejours y Nietzsche perciben trágicamente el sufrimiento como inherente a la vida, inevitable. Además, se buscó comprender cómo se percibe tanto el uso de defensas contra el sufrimiento en estas condiciones laborales como las estrategias defensivas frente al sufrimiento, que pueden traer equilibrio o desequilibrio. Y, finalmente, destacó la importancia de los profesionales necesarios y un espacio que facilite el proceso de sufrimiento como equilibrio. La búsqueda adoptó el método cualitativo, a través de una revisión de la literatura, utilizando como marco teórico la Psicodinámica del Trabajo y la Filosofía. A partir de los autores estudiados, se identificó que el dolor y el sufrimiento son inherentes al trabajo y que ambos tienen un carácter constituyente en la subjetividad de los trabajadores

Multilayered regulation of TORC1-body formation in budding yeast

The target of rapamycin kinase complex 1 (TORC1) regulates cell growth and metabolism in eukaryotes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, TORC1 activity is known to be controlled by the conserved GTPases, Gtr1/2, and movement into and out of an inactive agglomerate/body. However, it is unclear whether/how these regulatory steps are coupled. Here we show that active Gtr1/2 is a potent inhibitor of TORC1-body formation, but cells missing Gtr1/2 still form TORC1-bodies in a glucose/nitrogen starvation-dependent manner. We also identify 13 new activators of TORC1-body formation and show that seven of these proteins regulate the Gtr1/2-dependent repression of TORC1-body formation, while the remaining proteins drive the subsequent steps in TORC1 agglomeration. Finally, we show that the conserved phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P) binding protein, Pib2, forms a complex with TORC1 and overrides the Gtr1/2-dependent repression of TORC1-body formation during starvation. These data provide a unified, systems-level model of TORC1 regulation in yeast.National Institutes of Health [R01GM097329, T32GM008659]This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

O etileno afeta a qualidade fisiológica e a longevidade dos pimentos ornamentais em vaso

Ethylene triggers several deleterious responses on ornamental plants. This investigation aimed to evaluate several physiological responses to ethylene on the post-production of potted ornamental pepper cultivars. Plants of the ‘Espaguetinho’, ‘Etna’, ‘Peppa’ and ‘Karneval’ cultivars were grown in pots. When they reached the appropriate commercial stage, that is, 50% of the plants in a population showed at least 30% fully ripe fruits, they were treated as follows. Plants were subjected to external control, internal control, and exposure to 10 µL L-1 ethylene for 48 h. ‘Etna’ exhibited an intermediate response to the exposure to 10 µL L-1 ethylene for 48 h. ‘Espaguetinho’, ‘Peppa’ and ‘Karneval’ were classified as highly sensitive to ethylene, with discard on the first day of shelf life. The leaves from all cultivars showed a strong response to ethylene than the fruits. This study revealed different levels of sensitivity to ethylene depending on the cultivars and species. The exposure to 10 µL L-1 ethylene for 48 hours affects the quality and the longevity of the pepper cultivars evaluated, drastically reducing the shelf life. This study thus paves the way for further investigations to reduce ethylene responses, extending the shelf life in the post-production phase of pepper cultivars.O etileno desencadeia diversas respostas deletérias em plantas ornamentais. Esta investigação teve como objetivo avaliar as respostas do etileno na pós-produção de cultivares de pimenta ornamental em vasos. As plantas das cultivares 'Espaguetinho', 'Etna', 'Peppa' e 'Karneval' foram cultivadas em vasos e ao atingirem a fase de comercialização, ou seja, 50% das plantas com pelo menos 30% dos frutos totalmente maduros, foram submetidas aos tratamentos: controle externo, controle interno e exposição a 10 µL L-1 de etileno durante 48 horas. 'Etna' exibiu resposta intermediária à exposição a 10 µL L-1 de etileno por 48 horas. 'Espaguetinho', 'Peppa' e 'Karneval' foram classificados como altamente sensíveis ao etileno, com descarte no primeiro dia de vida útil. As folhas de todas as cultivares mostraram maior resposta ao etileno do que os frutos. A exposição a 10 µL L-1 de etileno por 48 horas afetou a qualidade e a longevidade das cultivares de pimenta avaliadas, reduzindo drasticamente a vida de prateleira. Este estudo permite, portanto, novas investigações de forma a reduzir as respostas ao etileno, prolongando a vida útil na fase de pós-produção das cultivares de pimenta

Performance of a non-invasive test for detecting mycobacterium bovis shedding in European badger (meles meles) populations

The incidence of Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, in cattle herds in the United Kingdom is increasing, resulting in substantial economic losses. The European badger (Meles meles) is implicated as a wildlife reservoir and is the subject of control measures aimed at reducing incidence in cattle populations. Understanding the epidemiology of M. bovis in badger populations is essential to direct control interventions and understand disease spread; however, accurate diagnosis in live animals is challenging and currently uses invasive methods. Here we present a non-invasive diagnostic procedure and sampling regime using field sampling of latrines and detection of M. bovis with qPCR, the results of which strongly correlate with the results of immunoassay testing in the field at the social group level. This method allows M. bovis infection in badger populations to be monitored without trapping and provides additional information on the quantity of bacterial DNA shed. Our approach may therefore provide valuable insights into the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis in badger populations and inform disease control interventions

The variability and seasonality of the environmental reservoir of Mycobacterium bovis shed by wild European badgers

The incidence of Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, has been increasing in UK cattle herds resulting in substantial economic losses. The European badger (Meles meles) is implicated as a wildlife reservoir of infection. One likely route of transmission to cattle is through exposure to infected badger urine and faeces. The relative importance of the environment in transmission remains unknown, in part due to the lack of information on the distribution and magnitude of environmental reservoirs. Here we identify potential infection hotspots in the badger population and quantify the heterogeneity in bacterial load; with infected badgers shedding between 1 × 103 − 4 × 105 M. bovis cells g−1 of faeces, creating a substantial and seasonally variable environmental reservoir. Our findings highlight the potential importance of monitoring environmental reservoirs of M. bovis which may constitute a component of disease spread that is currently overlooked and yet may be responsible for a proportion of transmission amongst badgers and onwards to cattle

Cell wall response of field grown Populus to Septoria infection

Due to its ability to spread quickly and result in tree mortality, Sphaerulina musiva (Septoria) is one of the most severe diseases impacting Populus. Previous studies have identified that Septoria infection induces differential expression of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes. However, more extensive characterization of changes to lignin in response to Septoria infection is lacking. To study the changes of lignin due to Septoria infection, four field grown, naturally variant Populus trichocarpa exhibiting visible signs of Septoria infection were sampled at health, infected, and reaction zone regions for cell wall characterization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and acid hydrolysis were applied to identify changes to the cell wall, and especially lignin. FTIR and subsequent principal component analysis revealed that infected and reaction zone regions were similar and could be distinguished from the non-infected (healthy) region. NMR results indicated the general trend that infected region had a higher syringyl:guaiacyl ratio and lower p-hydroxybenzoate content than the healthy regions from the same genotype. Finally, Klason lignin content in the infected and/or reaction zone regions was shown to be higher than healthy region, which is consistent with previous observations of periderm development and metabolite profiling. These results provide insights on the response of Populus wood characteristics to Septoria infection, especially between healthy and infected region within the same genotype

Outreach:Impact on Skills and Future Careers of Postgraduate Practitioners Working with the Bristol ChemLabS Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Postgraduate engagement in delivering outreach activities is more commonplace than it once was. However, the impact on postgraduate students (typically studying for a Ph.D. degree) of participating in the delivery of these outreach activities has rarely, if ever, been recorded. The Bristol ChemLabS Outreach program has been running for ca. 17 years, and in that time, many postgraduate students have been involved (approximately 500), with around 250 typically for up to 3 years. We sought to investigate the impact of outreach engagement on postgraduate alumni who were involved in the program for over 3 years (32) and how the experiences and training of the outreach program had impacted on their careers postgraduation. Thirty of the 32 postgraduates engaged and ∼70% reported that their outreach experience had influenced their decision making on future careers. Many respondents reported that the skills and experiences gained through outreach participation had contributed to success in applying for and interviewing at their future employers. All respondents reported that outreach had helped them to develop key skills that were valued in the workplace, specifically, communication, teamwork, organizational skills, time planning, event planning, and event management. Rather than a pleasant distraction or an opportunity to supplement income, all participants noted that they felt there were many additional benefits and that this was time well spent. Outreach should not be viewed as a distraction to science research but rather an important enhancement to it provided that the program is well constructed and seeks to develop those delivering the outreach activities

Household water treatment uptake during a public health response to a large Typhoid Fever outbreak in Harare, Zimbabwe

Locally manufactured sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) solution has been sold in Zimbabwe since 2010. During October 1, 2011–April 30, 2012, 4,181 suspected and 52 confirmed cases of typhoid fever were identified in Harare. In response to this outbreak, chlorine tablets were distributed. To evaluate household water treatment uptake, we conducted a survey and water quality testing in 458 randomly selected households in two suburbs most affected by the outbreak. Although 75% of households were aware of chlorine solution and 85% received chlorine tablets, only 18% had reportedly treated stored water and had the recommended protective level of free chlorine residuals. Water treatment was more common among households that reported water treatment before the outbreak, and those that received free tablets during the outbreak (P < 0.01), but was not associated with chlorine solution awareness or use before the outbreak (P > 0.05). Outbreak response did not build on pre-existing prevention programs.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Global Disease Detection and Emergency Response, the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, the United Nations Children’s Fund-Zimbabwe, Welthungerhilfe- Zimbabwe, and Population Services International-Zimbabwe.http://www.ajtmh.orgam201

Hepatitis C infection: eligibility for antiviral therapies

peer reviewedBackground Current treatments of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) are effective, but expensive and susceptible to induce significant side effects. Objectives To evaluate the proportion of HCV patients who are eligible for a treatment. Methods In a database comprising 1726 viraemic HCV patients, the files of 299 patients who presented to the same hepatologist for an initial appointment between 1996 and 2003 were reviewed. Results Patients' characteristics were age 43.1 +/- 15.6 years, 53% male and 92% Caucasian. The main risk factors were transfusion (43%) and drug use (22%). Genotypes were mostly genotype 1 (66%), genotype 3 (12%) and genotype 2 (10%). These characteristics were not different from those of the whole series of 1726 patients. A total of 176 patients (59%) were not treated, the reasons for non-treatment being medical contraindications (34%), non-compliance (25%) and normal transaminases (24%). In addition, 17% of patients declined therapy despite being considered as eligible, mainly due to fear of adverse events. Medical contraindications were psychiatric (27%), age (22%), end-stage liver disease (15%), willingness for pregnancy (13%), cardiac contraindication (7%) and others (16%). Only 123 patients (41%) were treated. A sustained viral response was observed in 41%. The treatment was interrupted in 16% for adverse events. Conclusions The majority of HCV patients are not eligible for treatment. This implies that, with current therapies, only 17% of patients referred for chronic HCV become sustained responders. Some modifications of guidelines could extend the rate of treatment (patients with normal transaminases), but an important barrier remains the patients' and the doctors' fear of adverse events