Zoonotic Endocarditis: Is the feather mightier than the sword?

The common causes of infective endocarditis (IE) in South Africa are Staphylococcus aureus, the viridans streptococci and Bartonella species. Infection with Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a rare cause of IE that is usually associated with occupational exposure and can be acquired from humans and animals. It was fi rst reported in 1912 by Gunthar, and thereafter fewer than 60 cases have been reported. We describe a case of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae induced endocarditis in Cape Town, South Africa. S SAHeart 2022;19:24-2

Genetic diversity of Brazilian isolates of feline immunodeficiency virus

We isolated Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) from three adult domestic cats, originating from two open shelters in Brazil. Viruses were isolated from PBMC following co-cultivation with the feline T-lymphoblastoid cell line MYA-1. All amplified env gene products were cloned directly into pGL8MYA. The nucleic acid sequences of seven clones were determined and then compared with those of previously described isolates. The sequences of all of the Brazilian virus clones were distinct and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all belong to subtype B. Three variants isolated from one cat and two variants were isolated from each of the two other cats, indicating that intrahost diversity has the potential to pose problems for the treatment and diagnosis of FIV infection

Methods for determining the emission of greenhouse gases in swine farming.

ABSTRACT: Swine production systems contribute to emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, and CH4) and ammonia (NH3) into the atmosphere. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate methods for determining the emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases (GHG) in a commercial swine production unit with natural ventilation during the finishing phase. The concentrations of gases in the air were measured using a gas analyzer (INNOVA 1412), and the flow emission was calculated by considering the ventilation rate and the differences in gas concentration between the interior and exterior of the installation. The results showed that the emission flow obtained via the simplified method in [g per swine h-1] was 2.689, 0.30, 4.39, 13.55, and 3.273 for CO2, N2O, CH4, NH3 , and water vapor, respectively. The flow obtained using the continuous method in [g per swine h-1] was 574, 0.67, 19.50, 5.84, and 7.2 for CO2 , N2 O, CH4 , NH3 , and water vapor, respectively. The proposed simplified method was highly accurate for estimating GHG emissions from swine production systems with natural ventilation. Resumo: Os sistemas de produção de suínos contribuem com emissões de gases de efeito estufa (dióxido de carbono - CO2 , óxido nitroso - N2 O e metano - CH4 ) e amônia - NH3 para a atmosfera. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar metodologias para determinação das emissões de amônia e gases de efeito estufa em uma unidade de produção comercial de suínos durante a fase de terminação, que possui ventilação natural. Foram medidas as concentrações de gases no ar pelo analisador de gases (INNOVA 1412) e foi calculada a vazão de emissões considerando a taxa de ventilação e as diferenças de concentração de gases entre o interior e o exterior da instalação. Os resultados mostraram que a vazão de emissão obtida pela metodologia simplificada em [g suíno por hora] foi: 2,689 para CO2, 0,30 para N2 O, 4,39 para CH4 , 13,55 para NH3 e 3,273 para vapor d’água. A vazão obtida para a metodologia contínua em [g suíno por hora] foi de 574 para CO2 , 0,67 para N2 O, 19,50 para CH4 , 5,84 para NH3 e 7,2 para vapor d’água. A metodologia simplificada foi altamente precisa para estimar as emissões de GEE em sistemas de produção de suínos com ventilação natural

Miscarriage and stillbirth following maternal Zika virus infection in nonhuman primates.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is associated with congenital defects and pregnancy loss. Here, we found that 26% of nonhuman primates infected with Asian/American ZIKV in early gestation experienced fetal demise later in pregnancy despite showing few clinical signs of infection. Pregnancy loss due to asymptomatic ZIKV infection may therefore be a common but under-recognized adverse outcome related to maternal ZIKV infection

<i>Gaia</i> Data Release 1. Summary of the astrometric, photometric, and survey properties

Context. At about 1000 days after the launch of Gaia we present the first Gaia data release, Gaia DR1, consisting of astrometry and photometry for over 1 billion sources brighter than magnitude 20.7. Aims. A summary of Gaia DR1 is presented along with illustrations of the scientific quality of the data, followed by a discussion of the limitations due to the preliminary nature of this release. Methods. The raw data collected by Gaia during the first 14 months of the mission have been processed by the Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) and turned into an astrometric and photometric catalogue. Results. Gaia DR1 consists of three components: a primary astrometric data set which contains the positions, parallaxes, and mean proper motions for about 2 million of the brightest stars in common with the HIPPARCOS and Tycho-2 catalogues – a realisation of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) – and a secondary astrometric data set containing the positions for an additional 1.1 billion sources. The second component is the photometric data set, consisting of mean G-band magnitudes for all sources. The G-band light curves and the characteristics of ∼3000 Cepheid and RR-Lyrae stars, observed at high cadence around the south ecliptic pole, form the third component. For the primary astrometric data set the typical uncertainty is about 0.3 mas for the positions and parallaxes, and about 1 mas yr−1 for the proper motions. A systematic component of ∼0.3 mas should be added to the parallax uncertainties. For the subset of ∼94 000 HIPPARCOS stars in the primary data set, the proper motions are much more precise at about 0.06 mas yr−1. For the secondary astrometric data set, the typical uncertainty of the positions is ∼10 mas. The median uncertainties on the mean G-band magnitudes range from the mmag level to ∼0.03 mag over the magnitude range 5 to 20.7. Conclusions. Gaia DR1 is an important milestone ahead of the next Gaia data release, which will feature five-parameter astrometry for all sources. Extensive validation shows that Gaia DR1 represents a major advance in the mapping of the heavens and the availability of basic stellar data that underpin observational astrophysics. Nevertheless, the very preliminary nature of this first Gaia data release does lead to a number of important limitations to the data quality which should be carefully considered before drawing conclusions from the data

Complexes Formed in Solution Between Vanadium(IV)/(V) and the Cyclic Dihydroxamic Acid Putrebactin or Linear Suberodihydroxamic Acid

The ability of microbial siderophores to coordinate metal ions, particularly Fe(III), continues to generate interest in the poten-tial applications of these bioligands in the environment and medicine.13 Siderophores produced by terrestrial and marin

Modification of Collagen by 3-Deoxyglucosone Alters Wound Healing through Differential Regulation of p38 MAP Kinase

Background: Wound healing is a highly dynamic process that requires signaling from the extracellular matrix to the fibroblasts for migration and proliferation, and closure of the wound. This rate of wound closure is impaired in diabetes, which may be due to the increased levels of the precursor for advanced glycation end products, 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG). Previous studies suggest a differential role for p38 mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) during wound healing; whereby, p38 MAPK acts as a growth kinase during normal wound healing, but acts as a stress kinase during diabetic wound repair. Therefore, we investigated the signaling cross-talk by which p38 MAPK mediates wound healing in fibroblasts cultured on native collagen and 3DG-collagen. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using human dermal fibroblasts cultured on 3DG-collagen as a model of diabetic wounds, we demonstrated that p38 MAPK can promote either cell growth or cell death, and this was dependent on the activation of AKT and ERK1/2. Wound closure on native collagen was dependent on p38 MAPK phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2. Furthermore, proliferation and collagen production in fibroblasts cultured on native collagen was dependent on p38 MAPK regulation of AKT and ERK1/2. In contrast, 3DG-collagen decreased fibroblast migration, proliferation, and collagen expression through ERK1/2 and AKT downregulation via p38 MAPK. Conclusions/Significance: Taken together, the present study shows that p38 MAPK is a key signaling molecule that plays