36 research outputs found
Repurposing blood glucose test strips for identification of the antimicrobial colistin
The presence and fate of antimicrobial residues in the environment is a subject of growing concern. Previous researchers have demonstrated the persistence of residues in soil and water. Additionally, antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern, particularly to public health, animal health and economic development. In this study, a low cost, commercial blood glucose meter was explored as the basis for detecting antimicrobial residues in conjunction with a microorganism sensitive to this residue. A microbial bioassay was developed based on the metabolic response of Geobacillus stearothermophilus, a sensitive bacteria used in the determination of antimicrobial residues in food products, by measuring changes in glucose as a result of metabolic activity. After optimizing experimental conditions, this sensing strategy was tested using bacterial cultures in the presence of colistin, a last-resort antibiotic used for human and animal health. Growth of G. stearothermophilus was measurable as a change in glucose concentration after 2â4 h incubation at 60 °C, when LB media was supplemented with 100 mg/dL of glucose. The lowest measured colistin concentration that resulted in inhibition of growth was 1 mg/L colistin and an increase in lag phase resulted at 100 ”g/L colistin. To increase the sensitivity of the assay, we then added a sub-inhibitory concentration of chloramphenicol to the media and found that growth inhibition could be achieve at a lower colistin concentration of 8 ”g /L. These results provide a promising basis for a future low-cost sensor to identify antimicrobial residues from environmental samples in the field
Towards direct detection of tetracycline residues in milk with a gold nanostructured electrode
Tetracycline antibiotics are used extensively in veterinary medicine, but the majority of the administrated dose is eliminated unmodified from the animal through various excretion routes including urine, faeces and milk. In dairy animals, limits on residues secreted in milk are strictly controlled by legislation. Tetracyclines (TCs) have metal chelation properties and form strong complexes with iron ions under acidic conditions. In this study, we exploit this property as a strategy for low cost, rapid electrochemical detection of TC residues. TC-Fe(III) complexes in a ratio of 2:1 were created in acidic conditions (pH 2.0) and electrochemically measured on plasma-treated gold electrodes modified with electrodeposited gold nanostructures. DPV measurements showed a reduction peak for the TC-Fe(III) complex that was observed at 50 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl QRE). The limit of detection in buffer media was calculated to be 345 nM and was responsive to increasing TC concentrations up to 2 mM, added to 1 mM FeCl3. Whole milk samples were processed to remove proteins and then spiked with tetracycline and Fe(III) to explore the specificity and sensitivity in a complex matrix with minimal sample preparation, under these conditions the LoD was 931 nM. These results demonstrate a route towards an easy-to-use sensor system for identification of TC in milk samples taking advantage of the metal chelating properties of this antibiotic class
Rapid intrapartum test for maternal group B streptococcal colonisation and its effect on antibiotic use in labouring women with risk factors for early-onset neonatal infection (GBS2): cluster randomised trial with nested test accuracy study
Background: Mother-to-baby transmission of group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the main cause of early-onset infection. We evaluated whether, in women with clinical risk factors for early neonatal infection, the use of point-of-care rapid intrapartum test to detect maternal GBS colonisation reduces maternal antibiotic exposure compared with usual care, where antibiotics are administered due to those risk factors. We assessed the accuracy of the rapid test in diagnosing maternal GBS colonisation, against the reference standard of selective enrichment culture. Methods: We undertook a parallel-group cluster randomised trial, with nested test accuracy study and microbiological sub-study. UK maternity units were randomised to a strategy of rapid test (GeneXpert GBS system, Cepheid) or usual care. Within units assigned to rapid testing, vaginal-rectal swabs were taken from women with risk factors for vertical GBS transmission in established term labour. The trial primary outcome was the proportion of women receiving intrapartum antibiotics to prevent neonatal early-onset GBS infection. The accuracy of the rapid test was compared against the standard of selective enrichment culture in diagnosing maternal GBS colonisation. Antibiotic resistance profiles were determined in paired maternal and infant samples. Results: Twenty-two maternity units were randomised and 20 were recruited. A total of 722 mothers (749 babies) participated in rapid test units; 906 mothers (951 babies) were in usual care units. There was no evidence of a difference in the rates of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (relative risk 1.16, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.64) between the rapid test (41%, 297/716) and usual care (36%, 328/906) units. No serious adverse events were reported. The sensitivity and specificity measures of the rapid test were 86% (95% CI 81 to 91%) and 89% (95% CI 85 to 92%), respectively. Babies born to mothers who carried antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli were more likely to be colonised with antibiotic-resistant strains than those born to mothers with antibiotic-susceptible E. coli. Conclusion: The use of intrapartum rapid test to diagnose maternal GBS colonisation did not reduce the rates of antibiotics administered for preventing neonatal early-onset GBS infection than usual care, although with considerable uncertainty. The accuracy of the rapid test is within acceptable limits. Trial registration: ISRCTN74746075. Prospectively registered on 16 April 2015
International collaborative follow - up investigation of graduating high school studentsâ understandings of the nature of scientific inquiry: is progress Being made?
Understandings of the nature of scientific inquiry (NOSI), as opposed to engaging students in inquiry learning experiences, are included in science education reform documents around the world. However, little is known about what students have learned about NOSI during their pre-college school years. The purpose of this large-scale follow-up international project (i.e. 32 countries and regions, spanning six continents and including 3917 students for the high school sample) was to collect data on what exiting high school students have learned about NOSI. Additionally, the study investigated changes in 12th grade studentsâ NOSI understandings compared to seventh grade (i.e. 20 countries and regions) studentsâ understandings from a prior investigation [Lederman et al. (2019). An international collaborative investigation of beginning seventh grade studentsâ understandings of scientific inquiry: Establishing a baseline. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 56(4), 486â515. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21512]. This study documents and discusses graduating high school studentsâ understandings and compares their understandings to seventh grade studentsâ understandings of the same aspects of scientific inquiry for each country. It is important to note that collecting data from each of the 130+ countries globally was not feasible. Similarly, it was not possible to collect data from every region of each country. A concerted effort was made, however, to provide a relatively representative picture of each country and the world
Neotectonics of the SW Iberia margin, Gulf of Cadiz and Alboran Sea: a reassessment including recent structural, seismic and geodetic data
We use a thin-shell approximation for the lithosphere to model the neotectonics of the Gulf of Cadiz, SW Iberia margin and the westernmost Mediterranean, in the eastern segment of the Azores-Gibraltar plate boundary. In relation to previous neotectonic models in the region, we utilize a better constrained structural map offshore, and the recent GPS measurements over NW Africa and Iberia have been taken into account, together with the seismic strain rate and stress data, to evaluate alternative geodynamic settings proposed for the region. We show that by assuming a relatively simple, two-plate tectonic framework, where Nubia and Eurasia converge NW-SE to WNW-ESE at a rate of 4.5-6 mm yr-1, the models correctly predict the amount of shortening and wrenching between northern Algeria-Morocco and southern Spain and between NW Morocco and SW Iberia, as estimated from both GPS data and geological constraints. The consistency between modelled and observed velocities in the vicinity of Gibraltar and NW Morocco indicates that forcing by slab sinking beneath Gibraltar is not required to reproduce current horizontal deformation in these areas. In the Gulf of Cadiz and SW Iberia, the modelling results support a diffuse Nubia-Eurasia Plate boundary, where the convergence is accommodated along NNE-SSW to NE-SW and ENE-WSW thrust faults and WNW-ESE right-lateral strike-slip faults, over an area >200 km wide, in good general agreement with the distribution of the seismic strain rate and associated faulting mechanisms. The modelling results are robust to regional uncertainties in the structure of the lithosphere and have important implications for the earthquake and tsunami hazard of Portugal, SW Spain and Morocco. We predict maximum, long-term average fault slip rates between 1-2 mm yr-1, that is, less than 50 per cent the average plate relative movement, suggesting very long return periods for high-magnitude (Mw > 8) earthquakes on individual structures.publishe
Persistent KSHV infection increases EBV-associated tumor formation In vivo via enhanced EBV lytic gene expression
The human tumor viruses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) establish persistent infections in B cells. KSHV is linked to primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and 90% of PELs also contain EBV. Studies on persistent KSHV infection in vivo and the role of EBV co-infection in PEL development have been hampered by the absence of small animal models. We developed mice reconstituted with human immune system components as a model for KSHV infection and find that EBV/KSHV dual infection enhanced KSHV persistence and tumorigenesis. Dual-infected cells displayed a plasma cell-like gene expression pattern similar to PELs. KSHV persisted in EBV-transformed B cells and was associated with lytic EBV gene expression, resulting in increased tumor formation. Evidence of elevated lytic EBV replication was also found in EBV/KSHV dually infected lymphoproliferative disorders in humans. Our data suggest that KSHV augments EBV-associated tumorigenesis via stimulation of lytic EBV replication
Surface waves tomography and non-linear inversion in the southeast Carpathians.
A set of shear-wave velocity models of the lithosphere\u2013asthenosphere system in the southeast Carpathians is determined by the non-linear inversion of surface wave group velocity data, obtained from a tomographic analysis. The local dispersion curves are assembled for the period range 7\u2013150 s, combining regional group velocity measurements and published global Rayleigh wave dispersion data. The resolution of the tomography data is improved using a priori information about the shallow crustal velocity structure. The lithosphere\u2013asthenosphere velocity structure is reliably reconstructed to depths of about 250 km for 27 cells with size 1\u25e6
71\u25e6. The adopted non-linear inversion method computes a set of acceptable velocity models for each cell. Local smoothness optimization (LSO) is applied to select the representative cellular structures and the three-dimensional shear-wave velocity model of the studied region is assembled. Interpretation of the obtained structure shows that the thickness of the lithosphere in the region varies from about 90 km to 170 km and the asthenosphere can be as deep as about 150 km. Mantle seismicity concentrates where the high-velocity lid is detected just below the Moho. The obtained results are in agreement with recent seismic refraction, receiver function, and travel time P-wave tomography investigations in the region. The similarity among the results obtained from different kinds of structural investigations (including the present work) highlights some new features of the lithosphere\u2013asthenosphere system in southeast Carpathians, such as the relatively thin crust under Transylvania basin and in the Vrancea zone
Structure and rheology of lithosphere in Italy and surrounding
We define the structure and rheology of the lithosphere in Italy and surrounding, combining the cellular velocity models derived from nonlinear tomographic inversion with the distribution vs. depth of hypocentres to assess the brittle properties of the Earth\u2019s crust. We average, over cells sized 1
71 degree, the mechanical properties of the uppermost 60 km of the Earth, along with seismicity, grouping hypocentral depths in 4-km intervals. For most of the cells, the earthquake energy is concentrated in the upper crust (4\u201312 km). For some regions, where orogenic processes occur, the release of earthquake energy is shallower and limited to the uppermost 10 km of the crust. Ambiguities in the structural models are minimized considering the hypocentral distribution, mainly to define the location of the Moho boundary, when its identification, based on shear-wave velocities, is not straight- forward
Modelling of earthquake-induced tsunami in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
A number of tsunamigenic zones in the Eastern Mediterranean region were investigated. Historically, the strongest tsunami waves are excited in the Hellenic and Cyprus arcs, the Aegean Sea and the Levantine coast. We modelled the generation of tsunami specifying the epicenter, the focal mechanism, and the maximum of the observed magnitude for each considered tsunamigenic zone. Our approach is based on the numerical simulations of tsunami waves, performed by the code UBO-TSUFD, developed in the University of Bologna. Initial displacement of the sea floor is calculated in accordance with OkadaÌs formulas. We focused our discussion on the tsunami impact on the coasts of Karpathos, Cyprus and Levantine countries. Tsunami parameters are computed for each scenario and results are used to build maps of the computed maximum tsunami heights. Synthetic mareograms are simulated for several points near some important coastal cities of the study area
LIGHT/LTÎČR signaling regulates self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic and leukemia stem cells.
The production of blood cells during steady-state and increased demand depends on the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and differentiation. Similarly, the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) is crucial in the pathogenesis of leukemia. Here, we document that the TNF receptor superfamily member lymphotoxin-ÎČ receptor (LTÎČR) and its ligand LIGHT regulate quiescence and self-renewal of murine and human HSCs and LSCs. Cell-autonomous LIGHT/LTÎČR signaling on HSCs reduces cell cycling, promotes symmetric cell division and prevents primitive HSCs from exhaustion in serial re-transplantation experiments and genotoxic stress. LTÎČRÂ deficiency reduces the numbers of LSCs and prolongs survival in a murine chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) model. Similarly, LIGHT/LTÎČR signaling in human G-CSF mobilized HSCs and human LSCs results in increased colony forming capacity in vitro. Thus, our results define LIGHT/LTÎČR signaling as an important pathway in the regulation of the self-renewal of HSCs and LSCs